Phantom Bat

Green Slides into Knight

One minute everything is fine, the next it's chaos. One minute the sky is the limit and the stars are nearly in reach, the next it all seems like a lie… something impossible to reach… a dream dashed and something you don't deserve. A single moment can change everything… a single word… a name…

Over the years quirks, meta abilities, and powers of all kinds had begun to become the norm. Aliens were real, and the world was constantly shifting with every new hero that came along. Different countries handled the change in different ways. America with its mix of both recognized and grudgingly accepted heroes and vigilantes, Bialya and Kahndaq with their meta empowered tyrants Queen Bee and Black Adam, but Japan had a different approach.

The Hero Safety Commission created the Hero System. A process that entailed proper licensing, education, and oversight for powered individuals. Due to this only the top echelons of the hero community could act on their soil unless they were a part of said system. Only a few members of the newly created Justice League were given partial access, but this was fine. Japan had All Might, the Symbol of Peace, their own ‘super man’ that was said to be able to stand on par with Superman, the world's Symbol of Hope.

As a citizen of Japan, Inko Midoriya lived under the Hero Commissions protection and followed their ‘suggestions’. Children were given yearly physicals to help with any power onsets or special needs requirements. The day Inko Midoriya died will haunt her son for the rest of his life.

They had gone to the doctor to give the four year old his yearly check up, but got troubling news. Izuku was part of the growing minority, the quirkless. Despite other countries having heroes without declared powers, the Commission was adamant that every hero had to have some power. Purely tech based heroes were banned from their system and viewed as ‘too vulnerable’ for licensing.

This broke Izuku's heart. He had dreamed of being a hero, of saving the day with a smile like his idol, but in a single moment that dream seemed to be torn away by a callous uncaring world by way of an older doctor who couldn't seem to care less. Inko knew what she needed to do, but she wasn't sure she was strong enough to do it. Instead of heading home, Inko guided her son to an ice cream parlor around the corner like she had promised before that disastrous appointment. She had intended it as a reward and a celebration of good news, but now it would have to serve a new purpose.

Inko was young. A woman in her early twenties with a thin frame and long green hair. She wasn't a supermodel, but she radiated a warm maternal energy that put people at ease and made her ‘cute’ at the bare minimum to anyone who spent any time around her. Her son Izuku had short black hair and intelligent blue eyes. They both had a constellation of freckles on their cheeks that went nearly unseen unless they blushed, something not all that hard to do since they were both easily flustered by the slightest praise.

When they arrived at the parlor, Izuku was still disheartened. His usual constant energy and happy ever friendly demeanor had been torn away… like his dreams seemingly were. Inko watched him absently pick at his Rocky Road, and it nearly broke her heart, so she made a choice. Reaching out she touched his tiny hand and got his attention. With a smile and a whisper she stated, “Don't give up, my little hero.” Izuku looked ready to break, so she took his hand, “None of that now. I… I think it's time we reach out to your father.”

Izuku blinked in confusion, “I have a dad? I thought you said-”

Inko's smile became a bit forced, but she kept it in place, “I know what I said, but it's complicated. He lives in a complicated world. I didn't want you wrapped up in all of it, but he's… he's a good man. I might not be able to help you become a hero without a quirk, but I'm sure he can… if that's something you still want.”