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By the time Izuku was eleven, he had concocted a forty-seven step plan to success.

It featured, of course, copious workouts. Two years into said plan, Izuku gets up at five everyday ('A true hero always rises early to greet the sun!') and starts the day with a jog. Though jog is a bit of misnomer, considering he currently sprints ten miles every morning at a heart attack inducing pace. His forty-seven step plan details twenty mile jogs by the end of the year.

After panting his way back up his steps, Izuku rearranges the furniture. He heaves the couch to and fro, carefully lifting so he doesn't scuff the floor in any way. Otherwise, his weight set will be nailed to the floor and his mom will make Youth a swear word for the swear jar again.

Izuku lost all eighty five dollars of his savings the last time she did that.

His day continues with a mountain of breakfast, a weary sigh from his mother- always followed by a smile though- and continues on with his bouncing step to school.

School is where the forty-seven step plan gets a little tricky to follow.

According to Izuku's new bible (Lee's Instagram and motivational workout tips) fighting without a cause or direct permission is unforgiveable. Lee details in his holy works that organized fighting championships and defences of the public are fine, but Izuku knows that a school yard brawl is the last thing his favourite hero (in training) would condone.

Kacchan, however, makes this self-made rule hard to follow.

Said blond, ever since the day where Izuku first stood and declared his promise of Youth to the world, has made it his mission to challenge Izuku at every turn. He frequently sits next to Izuku for the shear purpose of growling at him and telling him that he'll defeat him. He makes sure he's always on opposing teams from Izuku in gym. He picks up school yard brawls, and corners Izuku immediately upon leaving school. Even the cafeteria isn't safe. Kacchan once jumped on top of Izuku's lonesome table, and challenged Izuku to an arm wrestling competition while his foot was in Izuku's soup.

Izuku has learned the mysterious ways of following Lee's code though. It was difficult, at first. Kacchan's attention is the most flattering thing Izuku has ever experienced, and the boy is a good fighter. Scuffing against him would surely train Izuku to fight better, and rekindle the bonds of friendship between them…

But alas, following Saito Ren's code of conduct takes precedence.

He can't be the second quirkless hero if he keeps messing around challenging a childhood 'rival' after all.

So Izuku has learned the tips and tricks of the tried and true trade of ignoring loud explosive idiots demanding attentions from the boy they love- er, the rival they aspire to defeat. Izuku pretends he can't hear Kacchan. Blinking up at the boy and saying, "Mah, did you say something Kacchan?" is always sure to send said boy into a tizzy that gets him off track of his original challenge. He has learned the fatal art of the 'nonresponse'. Choking down even his mutterings in Kacchan's presence has become second nature, to ensure the boy is less likely to notice and attack him.

It's a work in progress, but step eight- 'No idealized rivalships'- is surely more important to becoming a hero for all of society than just focusing on one explosive blond.

Izuku hasn't actually met Lee (yet), but he's sure that this is what the quirkless hero (in training) would approve of. A guy that focuses so much on body positivity and self-growth probability wouldn't condone some senseless fight club relationship with a guy he should instead 'form bonds of youthful friendship with'.

That has to wait until Kacchan stops spontaneously ambushing him, though, which will hopefully be soon. (Izuku isn't holding his breath though. Kaachan is persistent. I'ts already been years.)

And so Izuku's life has continued for the two and a half years since that fateful sports festival. In accordance with step twelve- 'Gain combat experience'- Izuku has joined a local hero preparatory fighting club. They don't teach a specific fighting style, as the class is structured to aid hero hopefuls, but they do still hold tournaments with regulated rules.

Izuku used to kiss the mat after every spar. He was small, weak, and quirkless. They almost didn't even let him join the club- he only got in because the 'quirked or no entry' policy was relaxed after the riots.

Now, Izuku wins four matches out of five, and is slotted by his sensei to likely win the upcoming Juniors tournament in Tokyo.

It's exciting, and wonderful to see tangible improvement in his skill. But Izuku is even more excited for the steps to come. Number twenty nine- apply to UA. Number thirty- get into UA. Number thirty six- work at Fatgum's agency, to follow in the fan-called 'Green Beast's' internship footsteps. And in the far, far future, Number forty seven… Meet Saito Ren, otherwise known by his hero name, 'Rock Lee', and thank him for saving his dreams of being a hero.

Just thinking about the steps gets Izuku excited. He has another year and a bit before he becomes a student at UA ('becomes', because ifs are 'unyouthful'), but he's already keening at the chance to fully embrace his future as one of the next quirkless heroes.

Because, in half a year, there will finally be a quirkless hero to start the trend.

Rock Lee graduates in less than three months.

Izuku internally squeals as he turns a bend, his thoughts racing as he continues his jog. Rock Lee graduates soon, and will become a full-fledged sidekick. And once he's a sidekick…

His merchandise will come out.

Izuku pauses in his run, and fist pumps the air. Then he continues on without further pause.

Eventually, Izuku comes to the beach where, lately, he's been working on his strength training. It's been slow going because Izuku was so weak at first, and he was busy with his other extracurricular activities, such as helping at the local soup kitchen, but progress has been made. More than a third of the beach has been cleared of debris, and as Izuku grows stronger and stronger, pushing past the foolish limits the world enforces, his work speed increases.

Izuku rushes to the duffel bag he left under a wood pallet lined with a tarp, and he pulls out the straps and wraps his mom made him buy so that he would haul the garbage safely, without accidently wrecking his back.

He sets his sights on a nearby tire. He breathes in, and then out. And with mind enforced strength, he begins to pull the tire he has outfitted with straps- all the way to the actual dump.

It would have been easier with a truck to do the hauling down the road, but Izuku has always looked on the bright side- it just means more training. And so what if people used to give him looks when he was young and scrawny and weak, struggling to carry garbage down the unkempt road? True heroes push on relentlessly despite any outside naysayers. The old granny who used to give him the stink eye when he started even smiles at him now.

All while hauling the tire, Izuku continues to lightly jog. He ignores the graffiti lining the alleyway, the titles that state 'quirkless = worthless', 'Saito sucks', and 'Grow a toe joint'. Those older spray painted words have been overwritten, after all.

'Quirkless Revolution' is written overtop in massive, beautiful letters. The logo of the recent internet group growing in strength, a hand raised in a profound 'good guy thumbs up', paints the wall as well.

It incites in Izuku more strength to carry on. He's part of that group, and proud to be.

You don't need a quirk to be a hero.

You don't even need a quirk to simply matter.

Youth, Izuku thinks to himself, and he also mutters, describing and visualizing in his head all the fighting tactics he's been learning.

Youth, he continues to think, and he focuses on the news article from so long ago proclaiming Saito's move to the hero course- the first quirkless hero course student in history.

"Youth", Izuku says aloud. He doesn't think about the weight of the tire behind him as he pulls it the remaining kilometer.

Izuku instead thinks about the distant day where he will carry out step forty-seven, and smile at Saito Ren while giving him a thumbs up.

In three months, Saito will become the first quirkless hero.

In reality, he has already been Izuku's hero since the moment he said the words Izuku always wanted, always needed, to hear.

"How Youthful!" A voice suddenly interrupts.

Izuku nearly trips on the loose gravel, but he regains his footing, and slows to a stop as the tire loses momentum and halts behind him. No one in this area ever stops Izuku- they know that he's training hard, and they understand how focused he is. So who…

Izuku turns around.

And promptly chokes.

"You- you- S-s-s-Saito REN?"

Saito Ren smiles, two feet from Izuku. He takes another step closer (a step that makes Izuku's stomach lurch while his eyes attempt to bug out of his head) and tilts his head down so that he's only slightly looming above Izuku. The older boy's wide, dark eyes are peering into Izuku's own. They're intense, inescapable, and it's all mildly comical because Saito's eyebrows are even bushier in person, and what kind of hair product does the boy use to make his bowl cut that shiny, and-

And then Saito smiles.

"Yes! It is I, the Green Beast, Rock Lee!" Saito point a finger directly in Izuku's face, and Izuku's eyes cross to track the appendage. "And YOU! You are the one I've been hearing about! The helpful green one!"

"My name is Midoyriya Izuku, I'm your biggest fan ," Izuku tries to say. What really comes out is a strangled sounding "Mame'riyaku, erBIGFAN." Izuku internally dies afterwards.

Saito is apparently unaware of Izuku's soul trying to escape his body, because he just jovially laughs and steps towards the tire. "Please! Let me help you drop this off- I wish to speak with you, and see for myself if all the rumours are true!"

Izuku dazedly comes across from Saito, abandoning the tires straps, so that they can both haul up either end of the tire. It's like lifting a feather, because Saito is easily carrying all the weight himself.

Rumours? Izuku distantly thinks. He can't comprehend much of what's going on, beyond him and Saito rushing to the dump, dropping of the tire, and then suddenly returning to the beach.

Saito takes in the beach with a beaming grin, and he nods as he observes the (miniscule, absolutely miniscule, Izuku panics) work he has accomplished to clean the beach so far.

Tears prick at the corner of Saito's eyes as he turns towards Izuku again. "T-this is incredible! The things I heard during my recent internship were true!" Heard? What did he hear, Izuku thinks. Saito's recent internship was with the pro-hero Nighteye, wasn't it? That's nowhere close, so how…

Saito carries on regardless. He enters Izuku's space again, and clasps his hands on Izuku's shoulders, heedless of Izuku's sudden squeak. Saito sniffles. "This must have been how Gai-sensei felt, when he found me training," he whispers. Saito bows his head for a moment, before raising his head again. His fervent eyes lock with Izuku's. "Please let me train you!"

Izuku freezes.

"…much experience teaching…"

What did Saito just say?

"…ai-sensei, but that was years ago. I've always wanted my own disciple…"

He couldn't have, could he?

''…only after I rejected Nighteye's proposal that I realized I must spread Youthful teachings instead…"

He just asked Izuku to be his, his-

"…Others have caught my eye, but none so green with life as…"

His student. His student? Izuku always dreamed of asking Saito to mentor him! Not the other way around!

"…Neji, and I have no true rival beyond societal expectations this time around, but I swear I am strong enough to teach…"

Holy shit Saito Ren just offered to teach him.

"…please accept my humble offer-"

"YES!"

Saito pauses. "Yes?" he asks. His eyes widen. "You want me to teach y-"

"YES!"

Saito trembles. "My own student… Gai-sensei, I will teach this boy all I know. What's your name?"

"MIDORIYA IZUKU!"

Tears well in Saito's eyes. "Izuku!" he exclaims, and his hands clench at Izuku shoulders.

He stares imploringly at Izuku. Deep within Izuku, some sluggish animal instinct, possibly fueled by youth, or whatever mind trip is making him currently hallucinate the sunset around them, makes him say, "Saito, um, well… Lee-sensei?"

Saito spasms. "IZUKU!"

W-well then, "LEE-SENSEI!"

"IZUKU!"

"LEE-SENSEI!"

And there, on the beach, Izuku can only distantly think as his hero hugs him, so much for the forty-seven step plan.

XXX

Yagi suddenly coughs on a mouthful of blood, which instantly has Tsukauchi on alert. "Toshinori, what's wrong?" he hurriedly asks. "I thought you actually stayed within your time limit today. Did you get injured?"

Yagi waves away his friends concerns, though he does pause to take the proffered tissue. He wipes away the blood dribbling from his mouth, before frowning from his seat in Tsukauchi's office.

"I-I don't know. I just, suddenly, felt a great sense of loss. Like I had missed out on something important, something spectacular…"

Tsukauchi hums. "Maybe this has something to do with Nighteye suddenly canceling that meeting he had planned with you."

All Might shrugs. "I don't know. Nighteye withdrawing a possible successor hasn't dwelled too much on my mind- it never felt earth shattering. This, though- this felt…"

Yagi pulls at the lose cloth of his hero costume around his chest. "This felt painful. This felt like a loss."

Tsukauchi watches his friend another moment, before sighing.

"Yagi, did you try to eat fried chicken again without pureeing it?"

Yagi freezes.

Tsukauchi narrows his eyes. "Yagi, you know you have to take care with your stomach!"

"It's absolutely disgusting, an affront to fried foods everywhere," Yagi grumbles.

"Which isn't an excuse! So help me, I will hunt you down with a blender in hand and force feed you smoothies."

"Look at the time! I should get back to my hero-shift."

"TOSHINORI YOU SIT YOUR ASS BACK DOWN THIS INSTANT-"

As All Might departs (breaks a window to escape) Tsukauchi's office, their conversation is left behind.

It dwells on All Might's mind for a while, but is forgotten the next time he chokes on his own blood. Who believes in weird premonitions anyways, right? It probably didn't matter that much.

…Right?

XXX

"And here!" Lee-sensei exclaims, "Is your green spandex, along with…"

Izuku trembles with anticipation.

"…Your LEG WARMERS!"

Izuku's eyes gleam.

(Elsewhere, Bakugo Katsuki and All Might pause, and cringe for no apparent reason.)