Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Have a lovely day.” Su Ishioka smiled sweetly at the concierge. She gathered her luggage and made her way to the elevator. The door opened and she picked up her pace so as not to miss it. A man with blond hair entered the elevator, and seeing her rushing, held the door open for her. She smiled and moved faster. 

As she dragged her small suitcase to the door a large man with a bear head came out of nowhere and knocked her down. She fell to the ground and the contents of her purse spilled out.

“Oh dear,” She mumbled as she tried to pick herself up. 

“Watch where you are going.” The bear man snarled before turning around. 

“Hey! I think you owe her an apology.” The blond man rushed out of the elevator and helped Ishioka up. Su got a good look at him as he asked her if she was ok. She flushed gently when realising that this was All Might. He had recently become the number one hero, a few years ago.  Ishioka nodded in response, embarrassed and grateful at the same time. He packed her stuff back into the purse. And then without any effort pulled her up to her feet. 

“Are you alright ma’am?” He asked with a wide smile on his face.

“Thank you very much sir.” She looked up at him as he literally towered over her. 

“Here, allow me to carry your suitcase ma’am.” All might pick it up with ease.

“Oh you needn't do that, I'm capable of carrying my own luggage.” She tried to insist. All might was already in the elevator.

“What floor ma’am?” He asked her as she entered. 

“You know, you don't need to call me ma’am. I’m much younger than you are.” She smiled teasingly. All Might flustered a bit at that. 

“Oh, I'm sorry. What should i call you?” 

‘My name is Ishioka.”  All Might chuckled and said,

 “Alright Ishioka-san. Just tell me what floor." She smiled and replied, 

"Fourth floor please." They looked into each other's eyes and both knew this was the beginning of something beautiful. 

*** 

“I’m pregnant.” 

All Might dropped his dumbbell on the ground as he heard Ishioka’s voice over the phone. 

“Congrats Su-Chan. But what's that got to do with me?” All might said dumbly as he picked up the dumbbell. He had a feeling on how it concerned him, but was hoping it wasn't true. Ishioka laughed and said, 

"Well, it's your baby, of course." All Might's face went pale. He couldn't believe his ears. He quickly got to his feet and stammered. 

"Are you serious?"

 Ishioka's voice was gentle as she responded, "Yes, I'm pregnant." 

All Might was speechless. He could not be a father. He didn't have time to raise a child. It would risk his future, his career, his life. 

“Are you thinking of… keeping it?”

“ Of course I will Toshinori-San! Oh we’re going to have a baby! I’m so excited.” Ishioka giggled and rubbed her belly on the other side of the line. She was filled with bliss. She was going to start a life with the man she loved and maybe he would finally propose. She did wish the ring came before the baby, but that life. She couldn't wait to share their joy with their friends and family. She knew that they would be supportive and excited. She couldn't wait to start this new chapter in her life.

“I’m sorry. But I can't be in this kid’s life.” 

“What?” Now it was Ishioka's turn to be surprised. “What do you mean? This is YOUR child. Your baby. OUR baby.”

All Might's voice trembled as he continued, "I understand, but I cannot fulfil the role of a father. I will make sure you are taken care of during the pregnancy, financially and otherwise.  I will ensure that you and the baby are taken care of, but I must also sign away my parental rights. " Ishioka pleaded with him to reconsider, but he hung up, his heart light and free with his decision.

★·★·★

Su Ishioka had just given birth in the hospital. The room was filled with the soft cries of her newborn daughter and the bustling sounds of nurses attending to her. All Might, disguised to avoid recognition, stood at a distance, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He watched as Su cradled their baby girl, her face glowing with a mix of exhaustion and joy.

He approached her slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. As he reached her side, he leaned down and gently held her hand, looking at the tiny bundle in her arms. She was a beautiful baby girl. For a brief moment, he felt an overwhelming desire to stay, to be a part of this new life they had created together. He could see the hope in Su’s eyes as she looked up at him.

But then, he steeled himself, knowing the impact the baby would have on his career and lifestyle. He couldn’t risk his reputation, his standing as the number one hero, or the stability of his life. He leaned down and kissed Su on the forehead, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, Ishioka-san. I can’t stay.”

Su’s eyes filled with tears, her voice breaking as she pleaded, “Please, Toshi-san, don’t go. We need you. The baby needs you. I need you.” She reached out to him, her hands trembling.

All Might’s heart ached as he gently placed the baby girl back into Su’s arms, stepping away from them. “I’ll give you some money to support yourselves. But I can’t be in your lives after that. My career... it’s too important. I’m sorry.”

As he turned to leave, Su’s cries grew louder, her sobs echoing in the sterile room. “Please, don’t leave us! Toshi-san!” She screamed, her voice raw with desperation and heartbreak.

 He left the hospital, Su’s anguished cries ringing in his ears, knowing he was doing what he thought was best for his career, even if it broke his heart and hers. 

Chapter Text

“Oh Saeko-Chan, that's the second time this week.” Su sighed and rubbed her temple, her seven-year-old daughter standing sheepishly next to the washroom door. She had ripped another door off of its hinges. 

“Sorry Mommy. I didn’t mean to.” Saeko looked up at Su, her blue eyes sparkling with tears. Su felt a tug at her heart and sighed. She scooped up her daughter in her arms and gave her a hug. 

"It's okay sweetie.  Accidents happen. Just remember, gentle hands ok?" Saeko nodded and Su kissed her forehead. She put her back down and got to work cleaning up the door.

“Was Daddy strong like me?” Su froze. She didn't like talking about Toshinori. Especially after he had left them. She forced a smile and nodded. 

"Yes, your father was very strong." She turned her attention back to picking up the door.

“What’s he like?” Saeko fiddled with the sleeves on her shirt. “You never tell me anything about him..”   Su was silent. She didn't want to tell Saeko the truth. She didn't want to talk about it. Saeko, sensing Su's discomfort, decided to maybe drop the subject.

“Nevermind Mommy, I didn't really wanna know anyways..” Su stood up putting the door aside. Saeko had a right to know at least something about her father. All these years, whenever she asked she would give her a vague response. ‘He’s a deadbeat’ or “He's just a man”. 

“No. You're right. Let's sit on the couch and talk a bit.”  Saeko's face lit up in excitement. She was finally going to get some answers about her father. Saeko quickly ran to sit down on the couch, her heart beating fast with anticipation. Su followed her hesitantly and sat right next to her. 

Su looked down at her daughter, her copy paste. She had all of her features. From her button nose and monolid eyes, to her short yet voluminous hair. She would have been her spitting image-if she didn't have her father colouring. It was as if someone had taken the palette of her father's features and seamlessly overlaid them onto her mother's canvas. She had blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, exact replicas of All Might, so whenever Su looked in them she was reminded of the man she once loved. She thought of how if only he were in their life, he could answer some of her questions and help her Saeko with her Quirk

A few days after Saeko’s birth, All Might had wired her some money, only about a year's worth of the child support he would have paid. She had planned to save that for Saeko’s education, but used most of it when she realised her daughter was sick. Since birth, Saeko has been hit with constant bouts of weakness and fatigue. She complained of soreness in her body, and she bruised and broken bones more frequently than other toddlers. She remembers all the times she had CPS called on her by well-meaning neighbours, due to the amount of bruises she had. Su remembered how many different doctors she took her to, none of which could provide a satisfactory answer to her ailment. Until one finally suggested she see a pricey quirk specialist. After working a few late shifts and hours of overtime at the hotel, she finally scraped enough money to visit Dr. Saito.  She remembers the feeling of relief when the doctor had diagnosed her.

“Congratulations. Your daughter has a strong quirk, which I assume she’s had since birth. Her body is simply too weak for her Quirk. It seems she has a strength and stockpiling quirk. She is notably more physically fit than kids her age, but it's not enough for her quirk.” The specialist had explained as he brought out the forms to register her quirk. “She will grow into it a bit, but we can get her a fitness plan to make her stronger and a nutrition plan to give her extra strength.”

Su immediately knew she inherited this quirk from her father. The only thing he had even given her. Toshinori had told her about his quirk and its history after she once walked in on him in his skinny form. Su deduced that since the quirk had been genetically transferred, it was stronger than it was when passed down traditionally. She had promised to keep his secret and she intended to do so. Despite all the wrong he had done on her, she wasn't one to break promises. It was not the kind of person she was. 

After buying a gym membership, and increasing the amount of protein and calories for her little one, Saeko’s health improved drastically. She almost cried the first time she saw her running around and jumping off of playground equipment unscathed. 

But her newfound health brought new problems. First of all she was super fast. None of the kids wanted to play tag with her since she always won. And wrangling her into bed was always a struggle.  Saeko was also abnormally strong. She was also just a child who didn't know her own strength. She was constantly breaking stuff, knocking over furniture and ripping doors out of their hinges. Saeko couldn't play contact games with other kids as it often ended with the other child in tears. Su had hired a Quirk trainer, to help her understand the power of her quirk and how to control it. With the trainer's help and with age she got better at controlling her strength, but still had slip-ups every now and then. She was such a sweet and gentle child, and it pained Su to see her distance herself from other kids. She had tried reaching out to All Might, hoping he would help but he either did not respond, or shut her down immediately. 

“Mommy?”

Her daughters sweet and expectant voice snapped her out of her thoughts

“What’s he like, Mommy? Daddy?” Saeko said, gripping the arms of the couch a little too tightly. Su placed her hands on Saeko’s.

“Right. Your father. He was a kind man.” Saeko tilted her head.

“Do I look like him?” She asked curiously

“Well, you look a lot more like your mum, but you have his eyes. Your beautiful, beautiful eyes.” She cupped her daughter's face in her hand. “He worked as a hero.”

Saeko jumped at that.

“Really? That's so cool! What kind of hero was he?” Su frowned a little at her questions. Su hesitated, the word "hero" catching in her throat. It seemed too grand for the man who had walked out on them, leaving her to raise their daughter alone. But it was true, wasn’t it? All Might was the greatest hero of them all—just not to them.

“He’s a big hero. He’s important. He was very obsessed with his career. That’s why he left. He was strong physically but mentally, he was weak. He doesn't even know your name.” Su sighed. “He would rather work than…” 

“Than be with me?” Su sighed once again, struggling to find the words to say without upsetting her daughter, but without lying to her.

“Yes. I’m sorry sweetie but he didn't care about us. In this life, you can't depend on a hero to come and save you. You have to take care of yourself. And I guess in a way that's what he did. That's what you and I need to do.” Saeko's eyes welled with tears and she gripped the couch tighter. Su covered her hands, gently prying them loose. 

“Gentle Hands Sae.” Su reminded her child. “ I’m sorry you couldnt have a father. But, it wasn't your fault. I’ll take care of you, ok?” Saeko clung onto her mother and nodded her head.

“What…. Which hero is he? I wanna know who…” Su patted her head solemnly. She wanted to tell her, to be honest, but she couldn’t bear the thought of Saeko seeing her father on TV, idolising a man who had left them behind.

“I'll tell you later. When you're a bit older. You’re too young to understand everything right now. But I promise, when the time is right, I’ll tell you everything.” Su pulled Saeko onto her lap.

Later would never come.

★·★·★

Saeko sobbed over her mother’s open casket, her black dress soaked in tears and snot.  She couldn't help but feel the pain of her loss all over again. She wiped away her tears, knowing she would never get the answers she so desperately sought. 

It had been an accident. A terrible accident. The car came out of nowhere and Su didn't have enough time to react. She had simply pushed Saeko out of the way and taken the full brunt of the car. She bled out on the street, leaving her seven year-old daughter behind in the world.

After the service, Saeko was taken by a social worker, Ms. Tsukumo, who guided her through the process of gathering her belongings. She gave her a box of her mother's belongings and opened a bank account for her new inheritance. There was not much left after her mothers debts were settled, but it was a decent amount.

Ms. Tsukumo had a kind face and spoke sweetly to her, but Saeko couldn't remember anything she said. All she couldn't think about was her mother. The warmth of her arms. The way her quirk gave her a soothing aura. The stories she never got to hear.

★·★·★

Since that day, Saeko had been bouncing from foster home to foster home. Her life became a blur of unfamiliar faces and strange places. Saeko never felt at home in any of the foster homes she stayed in. Each time she moved, she hoped it would be different, that she would find a family who would love her like her mother did. But it always ended the same way—she was too strong, too much to handle. 

She was always careful, always gentle, but accidents still happened. A broken chair, a shattered plate—things that shouldn’t have broken so easily, but did anyway. Foster families grew frustrated when she accidentally broke furniture, tore doors off their hinges, or knocked other kids over without meaning to. They sent her back to the agency, and the cycle began again. She was never able to stay in a home for more than a few months. At first, she cried every time she was “returned”, buT eventually the rejections started to hurt less and less.

School wasn't much better. Her quirk made her stand out in a way that was isolating. She kept to herself most of the time, but sometimes she broke stuff. The teachers saw her as a troublemaker, since they couldn't comprehend that she genuinely couldn't control it. Some of the kids thought she was cool for her super strength, some envied her and others despised her. She often got bullied for ‘looking like a man” with her more muscular appearance. 

Saeko tried to be positive and make friends, but her attempts usually ended in disappointment. She would play games or join in activities with the hope of fitting in, but the results were the same. Broken toys, teary-eyed classmates, hurt egos, and the inevitable explanation that she didn’t mean to cause any harm. No matter how hard she tried to fit in, she was always the girl who could lift a car with one hand and break doors with a flick of her wrist. The kids at school were wary of her, and the teachers treated her with a mix of fear and pity.

By the time she was twelve, Saeko had learned to keep her emotions tightly controlled. She’d grown quieter, more reserved, and had perfected the art of masking her strength. She was removed from her foster homes less often and students mostly left her alone.

Mostly.

One afternoon, while Saeko was eating a snack in the park after school, she noticed a group of kids from her class playing sports in the field. They were running around, laughing and shouting, completely carefree. Saeko stopped and watched them for a while, feeling a pang of loneliness. She wanted to join them, to feel that same joy, but fear held her back.

She looked away from the kids to see a boy standing awkwardly close to her. A boy with dark hair and a serious expression. It was one of her classmates, Shinsou Hitoshi. He wasn't playing with the other kids; instead, he was leaning on a tree near the bench, reading a book. He noticed her gaze and looked at her.

“Hey.” He said nonchalantly. Saeko hesitated, then quietly responded . 

“Hi,” 

“Uh, You’re Ishioka Saeko, right?” She nodded, unsure what to say next. She scooted over on the bench, making room for him to sit.

 “You can sit here if you want.” She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, her sleeve rolling up slightly, revealIng her biceps. He raised his eyebrows and sat next to her. 

He stopped reading his book and was looking at her with a intrigued expression instead. 

“You uh, you’re pretty muscular for a girl.” He said awkwardly.

Saeko’s polite smile immediately dropped into a scowl. She immediately turned around to pack up her stuff. Shinsou panicked.

“Wait, wait! I’m sorry!” He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I just wanted to talk to you.”

Saeko stiffened under his touch, her eyes narrowing.  “I know what people think when they see me,” she said, her voice laced with frustration. “You don’t need to point it out.” 

Shinsou's eyes softened as he withdrew his hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that most girls aren’t built like you. I think it's cool” 

Saeko stared at him for a few more minutes and sighed. She sat back down and resumed her people watching. For a few moments, they sat in silence, watching the other kids play. 

Finally, Shinsou spoke again. “ I just noticed you’re different from most people I know.” Saeko turned back to face him, her expression wary. 

“Different how?”

“Well, you’re not just strong,” Shinsou said thoughtfully. “You seem like you have a lot going on. And you don’t try to show off or act tough. Most people with quirks like yours would.”

“Well, it's not really something to show off. It’s got me in trouble more often than I'd like” She chuckled. “The amount of time I spent in time out in primary broke records.”

Shinsou laughed lightly at her little joke. She brushed her hair out of her face and spoke again.

“I prefer to keep to myself.”

Shinsou snorted. 

Saeko glared again and he quickly added. 

“No no, I just mean I kind of figured it out. You don’t talk much at school.” Saeko glanced at him, then back at the ground. 

“I don’t know how,” she admitted. “I’m scared I’ll hurt someone. Like i said, I used to be really bad at controlling it”

Shinsou was quiet for a moment, then he said, “My quirk’s different, but I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t fit in. People think I’m weird because of it.”

Saeko looked at him curiously. “What’s your quirk?” 

Shinsou hesitated, then sighed. “It’s called Brainwashing. I can control people if they respond to me. But everyone thinks it’s creepy, so they stay away from me.”

Saeko was silent, processing what he said. Then she offered a small smile. “I don’t think it’s creepy.”

Shinsou looked at her, surprised. “Really?”

She nodded. “We’re both different. But maybe… maybe that’s okay.”

Shinsou smiled back. 

“Yeah. Maybe it is.”

★·★·★

Shinsou and Ishioka hung out after school often. He was her safe space, and she was his. A few weeks later, after arriving home, Saeko sat down on her bed and took a deep breath. In the corner of her eyes she noticed the box she had been avoiding since the accident five years ago. Her mothers belongings. Opening it meant accepting that her mother was gone. But maybe it could give her some clues about her father. She was still curious, even after all these years. Maybe she was finally ready to look inside. Saeko slowly got up and pulled the box onto her bed. She sat on the edge of her bed, the box of her mother’s belongings on her lap. With trembling hands, she carefully lifted the lid and peered inside.

The first thing she saw was a stack of old photos. She flipped through them slowly, her heart aching as she saw her mother’s smiling face. There were pictures of the two of them together, Su holding her as a baby, and later, as a toddler, laughing on a playground. But not a single photo of her father.

At the bottom of the box, she found a small notebook. Upon opening it she realised it was a diary. She flipped through the pages, her heart racing as she read the entries.

They started innocuously enough—musings about work, notes about her pregnancy, and loving words about Saeko as a baby. But as she read further, the entries grew darker.

“I can’t believe he left us,” she read. “How could he just walk away like that? How could he abandon his own child? I don’t care what his reasons are; I hate him for what he’s done.”

Saeko’s hands trembled as she read on, the pain in her mother’s words cutting deep into her soul. She reached the last entry, dated just a few days before her mother’s death.

“I saw him on TV today. He was smiling, saving people like he always does. But I know the truth. He’s not a hero. He’s a coward.”

Saeko's breath caught in her throat as she processed the final words. Her hands gripped the edges of the diary, knuckles turning white. 

Her father had been a hero. She knew that already, but which hero? There were so many. Her mother also travelled a lot for her job, so he may not ever be japanese.

Saeko closed the diary, hugging it to her chest. She thought back to all the heroes she had seen growing up, wondering if any of them could be her father. Did she already know him without realising it? Did she idolise him like everyone else?

A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another, until she was crying silently, her shoulders shaking with the force of her emotions. The pain she had kept locked away for so long, the hurt of losing her mother, the loneliness of being passed from one foster home to another—it all came rushing back with a vengeance. Her chest got so tight, she couldn't breathe and felt as though she was going to explode. She stumbled out of her room and ran out the door, yelling something to her foster parents about needing fresh air. She ran until she reached a park nearby. She collapsed near a tree, her heart pounding in her chest.  She looked up at the sky and cried, releasing the pent-up pain that had been bottled up inside her for so long.

“I hate you,” she whispered, her voice raw with anguish. “I hate you, Father. You left us. You left me.”

The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface for years finally erupted. Saeko slammed her fists into the ground, creating small craters in the earth. She screamed into the night, the sound echoing in the quiet neighbourhood. 

But as the echo faded, Saeko felt something else: resolve. She wiped her tears away, her heart hardening with determination. If her father didn’t want to be a part of her life, then fine. She didn’t need him. She remembered her mother’s words: In this life, you can’t depend on a hero to come and save you. You have to take care of yourself.

She would grow stronger on her own, learn to control her quirk better than he ever could, and prove that she didn’t need his help to become someone worthy.

Saeko stood up and made herself a promise. To throw herself into training with renewed vigour. She would become a hero in her own right, not for the glory, not for the fame, but to prove to herself that she was strong enough, good enough, without him. That she could be a better hero than he ever was...

Chapter Text

Saeko gave Hitoshi a fist bump of encouragement. They were about to part ways for the U.A practical exam, as they were in different units. 

“The next time I see you, we’ll both be wearing our uniforms, Hitoshi-kun!” She smiled brightly at him. They had become even closer over these past three years, often training or studying together. 

“Can’t wait.” He responded, offering a small smile in return. Saeko watched as he walked away to the testing area he was placed in. Saeko took a deep breath and made her way to the area. She was donned in a tank top and some baggy sweats. She looked around at her fellow contestant, getting a look at the competition. Then she saw a plain-looking boy with green hair and freckles, sweating profusely and murmuring to himself. 

“Poor kid.” Saeko thought to herself. “He’s practically shaking” He wasn't very good at hiding his nerves. She was nervous too, but she had grown accustomed to hiding her true feelings. Then, a boy with blue hair and engines and his calves approached him.

“Why are you here? Are you taking the exam to mess with everybody else?” He began to interrogate him. Saeko frowned. Who put a stick up his nyash? They were all here for the same thing, weren't they? To become heroes. Albeit, they were all doing it for different reasons but still. She decided to speak up.

“H-hey. Just leave him alone, dude.” She said shakily standing between the two of them. She hated confrontation, but she refused to be a bystander to intimidation tactics. “Don’t judge him till you see him in action. He may surprise you.”

The blue-haired boy looked at her, looking slightly up to meet her eyes since Saeko was a little taller. He opened his mouth, as if to say something when they suddenly heard a voice coming from the intercom. 

“Okay, start!”

Huh?

“There are no countdowns in real battles, run!” Present Mic’s voice boomed at them. Oh shoot. Saeko turned away from the boys and began to run into the arena. She only had ten minutes, And she couldn't spare even a second.

Saeko’s heart pounded as she ran into the arena, her mind racing. The replica city stretched out before her, with towering buildings and narrow alleys. Saeko's eyes darted around, quickly scanning her surroundings for her first target. A low rumble echoed from an alley to her left, and she saw the first villain bot—a massive, 3-point robot, its arms raised and ready for battle.

"Alright, no time to waste," Saeko muttered to herself. She prepared herself to focus her quirk. She had named it “Legacy” many years ago – a name that held both love and pain. To honour the woman who cared for her till the day she died, but also to never forget the man whose legacy, the one he abandoned her for, lingered in the power she now wielded.

She gathered her strength and rushed toward the robot, using her quirk’s enhanced speed to close the distance in the blink of an eye.

The robot's sensors locked onto her, its mechanical eyes glowing red as it prepared to strike. Saeko’s body moved on instinct, launching herself upward with a powerful burst of speed, landing on top of the robot's head. She gritted her teeth as she tapped into her strength, focusing it into a single, powerful blow. 

Legacy, 2%

Her fist collided with the robot's head, the force of the punch causing the bot to crumble to the ground, its lights flickering as it powered down.

“Three points! ” she thought, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

But there was no time to celebrate. Saeko quickly jumped off the fallen robot, her gaze shifting to the rest of the arena. She needed to rack up as many points as possible if she wanted to prove herself. 

Spotting a group of Easy Villain Bots nearby, Saeko wasted no time in engaging them. With a swift movement, she unleashed a barrage of attacks, utilizing her incredible strength to immobilize the robotic adversaries with precision and efficiency.

Seven points.

She barely had time to celebrate when she heard a scream from nearby. A boy with blonde hair was trapped under a piece of debris, struggling as a two-point robot advanced toward him. Saeko dashed toward them, her instincts kicking in.

“Hold on!” she called. With so much as a grunt, she lifted the debris off the boy. He scrambled out, eyes wide with fear. The robot was almost on them.

“Go!” Saeko urged, stepping in front of the boy to shield him. As the robot raised its arm to strike, Saeko clenched her teeth, charged her arm with energy, and punched straight into the bot’s core. The explosion sent sparks flying, and Saeko shielded the boy with her body.

“Are you okay?” Saeko asked, turning to the blonde. The boy nodded quickly. 

“Thank you! I-I’ll get out of here!” He ran off, leaving Saeko to catch her breath.

She continued on, beating bots left and right. 

Thirteen.

Twenty-nine.

Forty-six.

Seventy …. She lost count.

As she sprinted toward the next target, her mind flickered back to the boy with green hair and freckles. She hoped he was okay, that he’d found his confidence. A loud crash interrupted her thoughts. Turning toward the noise, she spotted another villain bot. But this one was different from the others. It was larger and definitely stronger. The Arena Trap. 

Students started fleeing, as there was no point in trying to defeat it when it wasn't worth any points. Saeko turned to do the same, but she saw a girl stuck under some debris. 

And the Arena Trap was coming right for her.

Saeko didn't falter, she couldn't let the girl get hurt. But someone else was faster. She looked surprised to see the same freckled boy leaping in the air towards the arena trap. 

“Well, he definitely surprised me…”

She didn't admire him for too long, because the inevitable debris from his attack would definitely fall on the trapped girl. Saeko lept towards the girl in a single bound. She grabbed the debris, throwing it off of the brunette like it was nothing. 

“Are you okay? Can you walk?” Saeko didn’t wait for a response as she threw the brunette's arm over her shoulder, leading her away from the now falling debris. 

And the now falling boy. 

As he got closer and closer to the ground it became clear that he couldn't stop. A fall from that height would injure him severely, if not kill him. 

“Ah shoot..” She glanced at the girl's injured leg and back at the boy. 

‘Um, if you can get up there, I can make him lighter with my quirk!”

Saeko didn’t hesitate. 

“Hold on.”

She pulled the brunette on her back effortlessly, before taking a step forward, clenching her fists. She could already feel the strain creeping up her arms, but there was no time to think about that now.

Legacy, 1%.

She bent her knees and launched herself into the air, her body cutting through the wind as she closed the distance between her and the falling boy. The round-faced girl was already using her quirk on—Saeko could feel it as she reached out. 

As she reached him, the brunette stuck her hand out and tapped the boy. The boy was noticeably lighter, but he was still falling fast. Gritting her teeth, Saeko grabbed him mid-air, wrapping her arms around his torso to brace the impact.

" Gotcha !" she gasped as they fell together.

The ground was not rushing to meet them as fast as it should have, and they landed on the pavement, with a light thud, Saeko shifting to take the brunt of the impact. 

“Ugh… you guys okay?” she asked breathlessly, looking down at them.

The green-haired boy blinked up at her in shock, eyes wide with disbelief. Then, as if just realizing he was still in one piece, he nodded frantically.

“Y-Yeah! Thank you! I—I didn’t think that through…” he admitted sheepishly.

Saeko let out a small chuckle, “Yeah, no kidding,” she teased, but there was no malice in her tone. “That was crazy… but also kind of cool.”

The boy then seemed to suddenly remember something and scrambled. He began desperately searching for something. 

“Has he not gotten enough points? He’s so strong though..”

A loud buzzer rang across the arena, signaling the end of the exam.

The brunette looked up to her, horror evident in her big brown eyes. 

“I’m so sorry! I caused you two to miss out on points…”

Saeko shook her head frantically, returning to her awkward demeanour now that the adrenaline was starting to rush off.

“Oh no! D-don’t even worry about it! What kind of hero would I be if I left you there? Besides, I'm sure I've got enough points to be considered! And the written part was super easy for me!

The brunette looked skeptical at her words before nodding slowly. 

“Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

Saeko turned to the green-haired boy, who was still frozen in place, staring at the now inactive exam area with a look of pure devastation. His hands trembled at his sides, and his face had gone pale.

“I… I didn’t get any points,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Saeko frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy for him. She had seen what he was capable of—he was strong, but he had focused everything on that one massive attack. 

Before she could say anything, Present Mic’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“THAT’S THE END OF THE U.A. PRACTICAL ENTRANCE EXAM! EXAMINEES, PLEASE EXIT THE TESTING GROUNDS AND AWAIT YOUR RESULTS!”

With that, she scurried off and started toward the exit, rolling her sore shoulders as she went.

She had done all she could. Now, all that was left was to wait.

★·★·★

Saeko sat at the small desk in her room, chewing her nails and staring at the envelope before her. This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for. She had trained her body, her quirk and her soul for the past three years, in hopes of gaining entrance to the top hero school in Japan, if not the world. She and Hitoshi were going to open them at the same time, and then text each other with their acceptance status. She had her message with him already open. Saeko also planned on texting the brunette girl, who she now came to know as Ochaco Uraraka, whom she had exchanged numbers with in the change room. Saeko had been pleased to see she wasn't the only one who still used such an old brand of phone. Her slightly younger foster brother who had an obsession with heroes, was looking over her shoulder, also desperate to see her results. She took a deep breath and tore open the envelope.

A small metallic disc slipped out and clattered onto the desk. Saeko jumped in surprise as the device suddenly lit up, projecting a bright holographic image into the air.

"Young Ishioka!" a booming voice rang out.

Her breath hitched.

“No way!” Her younger brother's voice yelled.

There, in front of her, was All Might.

"I am here with your U.A. Entrance Exam results!" he announced dramatically, flashing a wide grin.

Saeko could only stare, her mouth slightly open.

"First, I must commend you on your outstanding performance in the practical exam! Your strength, speed, and quick decision-making were truly remarkable!" She barely heard him, her focus narrowing in on the screen displaying her results.

Combat Points: 82

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t even realized she had taken down that many bots.

“You got 82 combat points??? You’re a freaking unit dude.” Her kid brother exclaimed.

Rescue Points: 45 

Her heart skipped a beat. That was a thing ?

"You see, young Ishioka," All Might continued, "a hero is not just someone who defeats villains. A true hero also saves those in need! Your actions, saving your fellow examinees, did not go unnoticed!"

Saeko blinked in shock as the total score appeared.

127 points.

“Congratulations on breaking the record for highest number of points accumulated in the exam, by 14 points. I look forward to meeting the Young Hero who surpassed my score.” 

She had beaten the number one hero? 

She made it.

She really made it.

A wave of relief crashed over her, leaving her breathless. The tension that had been gripping her chest for days finally released, and she let out a shaky laugh.

"And so, with great pride, I welcome you to the U.A. Hero Course!" All Might declared. The hologram flickered out,  and the device powered down, leaving Saeko to her thoughts and overactive brother.

Saeko sat there in shock, as her foster brother lost his mind in the background. Saeko's mind was a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Her phone buzzed.

 She chased her brother out of her room and snatched up her phone. 

Hitoshi 😴🧠: Well?

She scrambled to reply.

Saeko: I GOT IN!!!

As she waited for Hitoshi’s response her phone buzzed again, this time a text from Uraraka.

Uraraka 🌸: Did you get your results???

Saeko: I did! I was accepted! :)

Uraraka : I passed too!! We did it!!

Saeko grinned, barely able to contain her excitement. She had spent years training, pushing herself beyond her limits, fighting for this chance. And now, she was officially a U.A. student.

Her phone buzzed again. The notification read “ Hitoshi 😴🧠"

Hitoshi 😴🧠: I failed. 

Chapter Text

Saeko stood in front of the classroom door beaming with pride. 

She had done it. After three years of training her quirk, her body, and her soul, she finally made it to the greatest hero school of all time. 

But beneath that pride, nerves gnawed at her.

What if she didn’t fit in?

What if she wasn’t as strong as the others?

Saeko tried to shake the thoughts out of her head. She had earned her spot here and was just as deserving as everyone else. Hitoshi had made sure to remind her of that, and he’d probably kill her if he knew she was doubting herself.  

“I know how non-confrontational you are, but don’t let anyone give you crap over there, okay? You broke the highest record - you’re more deserving than ANYONE, got it?” 

Saeko smiled softly at the memory. She would always be grateful to Hitoshi. He was always looking out for her. Even though she succeeded where he had failed, he didn't resent her. He was always in her corner. In return, she encouraged him to not give up. She’d begged him to still join her at U.A. in the General Studies course. Students could transfer to the Hero Course later on—it had happened before.

But he wasn't here. Not right now.

She was on her own. 

She glanced up at the largest classroom door she’d ever seen.A bit excessive, but then again, this was U.A.  Go big or go home.

She brushed a golden lock of hair away from her face and tucked it snuggly behind her star hair clip. She patted down her clothes and took a deep breath. 

“Here we go!” She thought ner-citedly and pushed open the door.

The moment Saeko stepped inside, a wave of chatter hit her. The room was massive, rows of desks neatly arranged. Some students were already seated, chatting or sizing each other up. Others stood in small groups, clearly making friends — or enemies…

“Don't put your feet on the desk!”

Saeko paled a little. She recognized that boy as the judgy, blue haired guy from the entrance exam. 

“Don't you think that's rude to the U.A upperclassmen and the people who made the desk?” 

“Nope. What junior high did you go to, you extra?” The other kid, who she didn’t recognize, replied nonchalantly.

“I attended Somei Private Academy! My name is Tenya Iida!” He declared, extending a stiff hand for the scary blond to shake.

“Somei? So you're a damn elite. I'll have fun crushing you.” 

 If Saeko thought the choppy boy, or Iida as she had now come to know, was intense, the blond sitting in front of her was downright terrifying. His face alone was just terrifying, and he resembled a hoodlum, with the way he wore his uniform.

Saeko slowly shuffled away from them. Maybe if she just went to her seat quietly they wouldn't notice her. 

“Hey you!” 

Saeko froze. Maybe he was still talking to the blond boy?

“You, with the star clip!

Damn it.

Slowly, she turned, finding herself face-to-face with Iida, who was now gesturing toward her with sharp, robotic movements. His glasses gleamed under the fluorescent lights.

“You were the lady I met at the entrance exam, correct?”

Saeko nodded hesitantly. Was he stIll upset that she called him out before the exam?

“Uh, yeah, that was me. H-hey, look if I offen—”  He cut her off before she could finish apologising for nothing . 

“I’m from Somei Private Academy! My name is Tenya Iida!” He declared loudly. Again. As if she hadn't heard him the first time. 

“Um…Saeko Ishioka. Nice to meet you.” 

Iida nodded, his posture straightening even further— if that was even possible.

“You displayed remarkable power! An excellent performance, Ishioka-san! It seems I underestimated quite a few people that day…”

Oh. He wasn't mad at her. Thank goodness.

“Oh! Thank you, that’s really…” she trailed off when she realised his attention was drawn away by something — or someone, in the doorway. 

There was a nervous looking boy standing in the doorway with wide eyes. His shoelaces were  untied, his tie poorly done and his messy, curly green hair only added to his flustered appearance. 

Saeko blinked in recognition.

“Hey, that’s the kid who didn't get any points!” She reminisced as Iida stormed over and introduced himself. Again.

 “Midoriya-kun! I must apologize,” Iida announced. “I misjudged you during the entrance exam. I failed to realize the true nature of the test. It was not merely about villain points, but rather a demonstration of one’s willingness to save others. Your actions were the very embodiment of a hero!” 

Midoriya’s face turned a deep shade of red. 

“Ah—uh—I—um—t-thank you?” he stammered. Saeko decided to take this opportunity to sneak back to her seat.

“So he did get in after all. I’m happy for him!” She thought as she put her bag aside. She was just settling in when a cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Hey Stranger!” Saeko turned just as a girl with short brown hair and bright, cheerful eyes bound up to her. She brightened at the sight of her new friend. 

“Hi Uraraka-san! I didn't know we were in the same class! How are you?”

“I’m good! I’m sooo excited! Oh hey! It’s that boy from the entrance exam! I’m gonna put my stuff here and say ‘Hi’, OK?” She didn't wait for Saeko to respond before dropping her bag and bounding over to Izuku. 

Saeko was feeling pretty good so far. She already had a friend in class, and two potential future friends. Maybe this year won't be that bad after all!

“If you’re here to make friends, then you should leave now.”

Saeko held back tears. 

She slowly turned her head towards the door along with the rest of the class. On the floor there was an oversized yellow caterpillar. 

Wait.

That’s not right. 

It was a man in a yellow sleeping bag. 

“Is this our homeroom teacher? Or did a homeless man break into the U.A…?” Saeko thought and then clasped her hands together, secretly praying for the latter. 

“This is a hero course.” He took out what seemed to be one of those disgusting fruit pouches from his suit and slurped it up. He unzipped his suit and emerged from his yellow cocoon like an emo butterfly. 

 “It took you eight seconds to quiet down. That’s not gonna work. Time is limited. You kids are not rational.” The scruffy man looked at a little timer in his hand with disappointment. Or maybe that was just his face.

“Ok, he sounds a lot like a teacher. But maybe he’s just a really committed homeless man who broke in with the dreams of shaping young minds..?”

“I’m your homeroom teacher, Shota Aizawa. Nice to meet you.” 

Damn it. 

Saeko was not the only one shocked by this as the majority of the class exclaimed at his words. Aizawa then pulled something out of his suit. 

“It’s kind of sudden, but put this on and go out into the field.” He showed them the gym uniform they had been given along with the school uniform. Students began rummaging through their bags for said uniform and rushing to the change rooms. 

Saeko followed suit and scrambled with Uraraka to the changing rooms.

“Well, here we go….”