Curate, connect, and discover
For kids, turning four was the year that would make or break them. In a hero-based society, quirks dictated worth.
Izuku’s life was considered over the moment he was confirmed to be quirkless. After losing everyone who cared for him and being bullied by those he was close with for everything he said or did, Izuku shut down.
Izuku developed symptoms of a severe social phobia at the ripe age of six. Inko was shattered, watching as her brilliant and bright child faded away. Not only did she start getting reports from the school that Izuku wasn’t speaking at all, he no longer talked with her.
Midoriya pointed and shook his head to speak. With the silence, Izuku started to cry a lot more. Despite all of that, Izuku did technically speak every day. It was only one phrase. Inko could barely hear it with Izuku's face buried in her shoulder.
“I love you, Mom.”
Izuku never left the house and strayed far away from the playground after he returned home with bruises one eventful day. Inko didn’t want him to leave anyways. Inko felt better knowing he was safe at home. Even after Izuku went completely mute at six, he still had aspirations to become a hero. He continued his hobby of writing in his notebooks and buying All Might merchandise.
Izuku's shut-in habits carried on for the rest of elementary all the way through middle school. Izuku had no friends and he didn’t bother trying to pursue having a social life. Having no distractions allowed him to focus on school. He had the highest score in his class for a reason. He often tied with Katsuki for first place in terms of intelligence. Katsuki didn’t like that.
Even if Izuku admired Katsuki from afar, he never let his biggest bully notice. Izuku avoided Katsuki to the best of his ability. Even if Izuku made effort to stay away, Katsuki chased. He'd never admit it, but he stalked Izuku.
Katsuki hadn't planned on spying on Izuku in the beginning. He assumed Izuku was ignoring him to act higher than him. Then it turned into spying. It was a shock to Katsuki after following Izuku, to find seeing that he refused to speak to anyone. If necessary, he’d use sign language to convey a message or write it down.
Once it became clear to Katsuki that Izuku was mute and not ignoring him, the situation shifted a bit. Suddenly he waited for the moment when he'd hear Midoriya's voice again. He wanted to know if it deepened or if it was still high-pitched and girly. Soon it sank in that he'd most likely never hear Midoriya's voice again.
In most of their classes, when you were called on, you answered the question on the board. You didn’t have to really say it out loud unless it was necessary for the subject matter. Izuku was able to get through school with close to no problems. He endured the bullying and pushed forward.
Inko had done her best to help. She tried everything in the book: speech therapy and child psychologists, and she sought out a pediatrician. Not much could be done. She tried all the tricks they offered her: shaping, self-modeling, and the list goes on.
It became clear the trigger of it was bullying and the traumatizing experience he endured at the ripe age of four. His dreams were shattered and everyone turned their back on him at a time when he needed support the most.
Izuku did see a therapist to open up about his bullying, but still only ever used sign language. When Izuku was being confronted by his bullies (classmates and teachers) he never once spoke. He had no desire to be a part of the world that surrounded him. He enjoyed submerging himself in the quiet.
Despite the odds, Izuku managed to save Katsuki from the sludge villain and impress Toshinori. Izuku had spoken to Toshinori, feeling safe and excited enough to use his words. Just like that, Izuku was on his way to obtaining the most power quirk to currently exist.
Izuku built a really strong bond with Toshinori, discussing his life and how he was selectively mute. Toshinori was grateful Izuku opened up about his life. While Izuku dedicated ten months to training from U.A. Toshinori dedicated ten months to learning sign language. While he didn’t have to use it to speak to Izuku, he wanted to make it easy for Izuku to talk to him.
Izuku probably had no one in his life that he could easily talk to by using sign. Izuku most likely had to write everything out for people to understand. It wasn’t ideal when he was Izuku’s mentor.
Izuku makes it into U.A. High and kept to himself. On the first day Uraraka thanked Midoriya for saving her. Iida greeted Izuku, beyond impressed with Izuku’s bravery. Izuku made it known he was mute, but he could hear. While it didn’t make them hate him, it kinda created a barrier in terms of communication. Everyone was beyond nice, but Izuku didn’t really click with anyone.
Being the current wielder of One for All, Izuku took control of how to handle his quirk development. As a result, Izuku was more open with Aizawa. He explained that he didn’t have a lot of experience with his quirk. His body had to become strong enough to withstand the tole his quirk would have on him. Aizawa recognized that Izuku had spent his time preparing for his quirk since he couldn’t train something he legitimately couldn’t use.
Aizawa was the second person to earn Izuku’s trust. Izuku still didn’t say more than a few words and he didn't speak to Aizawa if others were present. No other teachers or students had heard Midoriya’s voice.
Kirishima and Todoroki were the first two to hear Midoriya’s voice out of the class. Katsuki was also there, but it was the first time he’d heard Izuku speak since he was six.
It was during the USJ attack. Izuku leaped into action to save Toshinori.
“You stupid villain!”
If it hadn’t been in the heat of the moment, the three would’ve been more surprised by him speaking rather than the fact Izuku was about to die. Katsuki was undeniably unnerved. He was so used to the idea of Izuku’s voice still being exactly how it was nine years ago. It really got to him when Izuku’s voice was significantly deeper and he sounded so angry you could hear the words ripping through his vocal cords.
Then the sports festival came around, it went smoothly at the start. Izuku won the first event, had a great group during the second event, and was now in the final event. Izuku was against Shinso first. Ojiro was very aware Izuku was mute, but he was now aware Izuku could speak if he chose to. After filling in Izuku about Shinso’s ability to brainwash a person once they speak, Izuku thanked Ojiro. It meant a lot to him for Ojiro to seek Midoriya out to help him.
When the round started, Shinso went on a tangent. Izuku listened but ignored the anger that brewed in his gut. Shinso may have been saying those things simply to provoke Izuku, but it was extremely disrespectful for his life story to be assumed by someone he never met before.
Izuku had to fight quirkless considering he could really hurt Shinso if he used his quirk. He couldn't control his output so there was a slim chance he could kill Shinso. So they duked it out. It didn’t take too long for Izuku to knock Shinso out of bounds.
When going against Todoroki, Izuku knew what he was dealing with. Todoroki had told Izuku about his reasons for not using his second quirk: fire.
Midoriya understood what Todoroki was feeling. The effects of how he was treated by being quirkless resulted in a long list of problems. Izuku couldn’t begin to imagine the effects abuse had on him, not to mention the dysfunctional family not providing any help.
Izuku saw past all of that and knew Todoroki needed help. While he wasn’t going to throw away the competition, he wasn’t going to let Todoroki struggle either.
Izuku found himself yelling at Todoroki. Izuku wanted to test the waters, but ultimately just had to push Todoroki’s buttons. Despite the pain both Todoroki and Izuku were enduring from their battle. This match was a lot more than just winning the sports festival.
Then came workplace internships to gain experience. Hosu was under attack and the Stain incident occurred. Izuku managed to become a “true hero” alongside All Might. It was impressive considering Izuku is the second person Stain has claimed to be a true hero. The situation brought Izuku, Todoroki, and Iida closer together.
When final exams rolled around, working with Katsuki to go against Toshinori was a strange situation. Katsuki was still beyond temperamental. Everyone knew the two didn’t along and Katsuki was still hostile towards Izuku. The fight was brutal and the two teens had their air knocked out of their lungs more times than they could count.
Izuku still had yet to speak directly to Katsuki. Katsuki overheard Izuku talking, but Izuku still hadn’t spoken to Katsuki. Imagine his surprise when he is punched in his puke-covered face by Izuku to hear his yelling.
“Don’t you dare say you’d rather lose!”
The final exams ended and summer arrived. Summer would've gone great yet their "summer vacation: went horribly wrong. The league of villains decided to ambush the teens.
Izuku hadn't spoken the entire trip until he was alone with Kota. He hated seeing Kota give up on the world just like he did. After all the child was only five. In hopes to change Kota’s fate, he spoke up.
“If you reject it that harshly, the only person getting hurt is yourself,” explained Izuku, patient with the kid who had an explosive personality like Katsuki.
While Kota didn’t react well to Izuku’s advice, he was enraptured by Izuku’s voice. When he kicked Midoriya in the balls, Mandalay shunned him but also revealed Midoriya was mute.
Muscular appears and he is out for blood. Muscular tried to kill Kota and Izuku was not going to let it happen. In a fit of panic and rage, Izuku screamed out. Seeing Kota use his quirk in desperation ignited a fire in him.
“As if… I’d let you kill him!”
Not even moments later, Katsuki was kidnapped and in the midst of despair, Izuku couldn’t stop the scream that echoed through the forest. That also didn’t stop his scream that conjoined with the crowds in the final battle between All Might and All for One. It seemed as if the world was coming back together just to fall apart again.
During the provisional hero license exam, Izuku once again had to scream. It was targeted at Todoroki and Yoarashi for almost getting Shindo killed.
“Dammit! What are you two doing!”
Izuku’s blunt choice of words helped the two get their asses back into order and focus on the mission at hand. Soon enough the provisional hero license exam ended and the results were in.
While Todoroki and Katsuki were away for their required remedial course, Izuku would face his biggest battle yet. Alongside the big three, a handful of his classmates, and some pro heroes, Izuku was to rescue a wonderful girl name Eri and help defeat the villain Overhaul.
Izuku was a lot more vocal in this fight for Eri’s sake. Despite his mind holding him back at the thought of others hearing, he shut it down and kept his focus on Eri. Nothing matter except saving Eri. Calling out to Eri was the most freeing and horribly exhilarating thing.
After recovery and returning back to school, it was time to prepare for the school festival. For a bit, things were perfect. Izuku could fall back into the shadows and relax. He didn’t have to speak and could enjoy time with Mirio and Eri.
Eri was amazed that Izuku was selectively mute. That meant she was super special for Izuku to have spoken to her. Izuku was fond of her reaction, flashing her a bright smile.
One weekend class 1-A wanted to go to the mall. Aizawa decided it was also the perfect time to show Eri the outside world. Eri stuck with Izuku, missing him from not seeing him much after the school festival.
Todoroki and Katsuki for some odd reason were the two that wandered around Izuku. You could blame their curiosity on Eri. She was stuck on his hip yet they had no idea how she knew Izuku. The mission Izuku was a part of was confidential.
Things never went smoothly with class 1-A. Aizawa had taken Eri for a bit while Izuku went to the bathroom. Despite his keen eye, Aizawa lost Eri. Izuku knew something fishy was happening. The last time he was in the mall, he was attacked by Shigaraki.
Half of the class stayed inside the mall while the other half was to observe the outside in case she wandered off far. Izuku, Todoroki, and Katsuki are stationed outside. Izuku was on the top floor of the mall, running around on the catwalk.
Izuku has no clue where to look or what to do. The panic settled in and people were everywhere. While everything in his head is screaming at him to return to the quiet and retreat, Izuku talked a deep breath and calls out into the world.
“Eri-chan!”
Izuku was turning around in circles, his mind reeling at the fact she could be anywhere. Todoroki and Katsuki heard Izuku call out and started head over. While they were trying to get to Izuku, Izuku spotted something out of the ordinary.
A car was approaching. Whoever was at the wheel drove sporadically. Taking a look at the diver, he immediately recognized the man as a villain. Seeing no one was in the car, Izuku went to work.
Stepping onto the railing, Izuku jumped off and down a level. Izuku ran forward, launching himself down the building. Once reaching the ground, Izuku landed right before the speeding car. Katsuki was blasting his way over, screaming for Izuku to get out of the way. From his view, the driver was now trying to swerve out of the way, but they weren’t going to make it.
Todoroki was sending out ice, trying to build an ice barrier between Izuku and the car. Despite their worries, Izuku had it under control. Izuku turned away from the car, drew back his leg, and t-boned the car with a single kick.
Katsuki and Todoroki stilled, seeing Izuku demolish the car with ease. When the two caught up to Izuku, they soon realized this was going to be the getaway driver. Moments later Aizawa alerts everyone Eri was found and the villain was arrested. Todoroki informs Aizawa about what happened and another police officer was sent their way.
Izuku and Eri were reunited. Eri jumped into Izuku’s arms and Izuku rested her on his hip. When the police came for a statement, Izuku grabbed a pen and wrote it down. He was not in the mood to talk.
Todoroki had no problem with Izuku’s silence and sighed to himself. “I thought you were going to die back there.”
“Yeah! What the hell was that nerd! Trying to get yourself killed?” shouted Katsuki.
Izuku smirked at the two before shrugging and walking away with Eri. While Katsuki was left standing there with a pissed frown, Todoroki mindlessly followed after his friend with a smile.
Silence was a bitch.
The end!