My hero academia:Am I worthy?

A clear mind comes with a strong body, and no matter how society denies the quirks, they always strive for comfort and peace, but the essence of humanity is always in stress, disharmony, and the struggle for survival. With the development of quirks, as well as society as a whole, old customs and traditions have taken a back seat, giving priority to more powerful tools like quirks, but the law of the jungle and human struggle can never be removed from life. Be a predator or become prey for bigger fish.

Article: Why, with the development of quirks, have we begun to lose our essence as humans?

Reading the article's headline, Venom delved even deeper into human existence as an alien organism connected to a human child-host named Izuku Midoriya, who is currently gaining strength after yesterday's brainstorming session. The search for various pieces of information led to the thought that humans are a strange form of life by nature. They are ready to desperately believe in things that never existed and do not exist, yet they are willing to kill each other when it is written in their own faith:

"You have heard that it was said of old, 'You shall not murder'; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment."

"Whoever kills a person not for murder or spreading wickedness on the earth is as if he killed all people; and whoever saves one is as if he saved all people."

"And whoever intentionally kills his neighbor, for him is the punishment of Gehenna, in which he will dwell forever. The Creator of worlds and people has become angry with him, cursed him, and prepared a great punishment for him."

Venom did not understand the whole nature; he was not human but had a mind and thoughts like a rational being, and while continuing to study all the information he had at his disposal, he became increasingly convinced that human nature and what they strive for are contradictory in nature.

BRRRRRRRR!!!!

The alarm clock rang, waking Midoriya from sweet dreams; it was time for him to go to school, and he was still recovering from the brainstorming session and dinner with the Todoroki family. Not wanting to get up, but even worse was disappointing Fuyumi by being late for her class, and wrestling with the desire to sleep a little longer, he begrudgingly turned off the alarm, getting out of bed and lazily heading to the bathroom. After taking a refreshing shower and coming to his senses, he noticed Venom engrossed in reading something, ignoring him as he usually sarcastically joked, irritating yet drawing attention.

"Did you find something interesting?" Izuku asked, raising an eyebrow, to which Venom turned his head, meeting Izuku's emerald eyes full of anticipation.

"I found your main problem: your emotional inadequacy." Izuku, hearing this main problem, was surprised but at the same time glad that his new neighbor in his body was helping to solve his issues.

"Surprise me," Izuku said with a smile, watching Venom, who had a predatory and toothy grin that he did not hide from him.

Izuku approached the table where an open laptop lay. Venom, absorbed in his thoughts, did not tear his gaze from the screen, but his creepy toothy grin did not fade. Izuku, tensing at the unexpected statement, sat down across from him.

"Come on," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What is this 'main problem'?" Venom slowly turned to him, his eyes shining.

"Your problem is that you are afraid to be yourself," he began, like a doctor announcing a diagnosis.

"You constantly strive to be useful, to be acknowledged. But it's not because of your spirit, as you think. It's because of fear."

"Fear?" Izuku frowned, but in his voice sounded uncertainty and panic as deep inside he buried the answer to his question. Midoriya was not stupid; he always found answers to his questions, but due to his emotional immaturity, he often refused to accept the truth, considering it a painful topic in his soul. No matter what the truth was, it was not easy for him to accept, and if he did accept it, the inner worldview he had built over time would waver or even collapse like a house of cards.

"Yes. You are afraid that without this, no one will accept you. You consider yourself weak, and that's why you desperately try to prove the opposite to everyone else." Izuku sighed heavily, trying to suppress his irritation at the mention of a topic he often tried to avoid even from himself, but now there was no escaping it.

"Maybe that's true, but is it bad to strive to be better? Is it bad to want to help others?" Venom quietly laughed, but there was nothing warm in his laughter, just a sneer at the desperate argument the host had reserved for such questions, but Venom already had a counter-argument prepared for such a case.

"You are not striving to be better," he said, his voice becoming low and cold, grinning wider as he watched the panicked face of his host.

"You are trying to hide your shortcomings. You are afraid that if you stop running, everyone will see you for who you really are. An ordinary quirkless boy who dreams of greatness but doesn't know how to achieve it." Venom voiced the most painful topic for Midoriya, and now he was trying to deny everything, but by denying the truth, he made the wound even deeper, creating lies for himself.

"That's not true!" Izuku snapped, his voice shaking as his mind tried to escape this conversation.

"I... I know why I do this! I want to be a hero, so..."

"So what?" Venom interrupted, moving closer and looking into Izuku's soul, who was trying to look away but was not very successful at it.

"To save the world? To save the people who hate you for who you were born? You want their approval, but why, Izuku? Why do you want to be a hero for those who do not value you? For those who consider your life a failed joke?" These words struck Izuku painfully. He turned his gaze toward the window, but Venom was not about to stop.

"You think that heroism is the path to happiness," he continued, controlling his muscles, pulling Izuku's head toward him so that he would look firmly into his eyes, where uncertainty and fear could be read; his voice now sounded almost softly.

"But happiness, Izuku, starts from within. And inside you is chaos. You have not reconciled with your anger, your pain. You stuffed them so deep that they are now devouring you from within." Izuku was silent. His face was tense, and his nervous system, along with his mind, ordered him to run with all his might, but he was tired. Tired of running, tired of taking ridicule, tired of the weakness he found in himself but had no resolve to eliminate. And now, when he is a hero outside the law, this is his last chance to prove not only to himself but to show his mind that he is significant for himself.

"Do you know what makes a person whole?" Venom asked, his voice becoming serious and his smirk disappearing, and he hid his teeth. Izuku shook his head, still not raising his gaze, realizing the weakness of his mental state despite his resolve.

"Acceptance. Not from others, but from yourself. Do you want to be a hero? Then first become a person. Accept your weaknesses, your dark side. Only then will you be truly strong and formidable, finding peace. Denial will only lead to more pain, but accepting yourself as a person worthy of everything will bring you order in your soul." Izuku clenched his fists; his voice was quiet, and looking down, he whispered.

"And what if I can't? What if it's too hard?" Izuku had no more arguments; he realized his weakness but still refused to accept it. Venom smirked, but this time his expression showed something akin to understanding.

"Then you will always run like a hamster, running in circles but never reaching the finish line, resulting in an unfulfilled dream and old age filled with regrets about an unfulfilled dream. And runners never become predators." Izuku raised his head, their gazes met. In Venom's eyes was a strange mix of cruelty and wisdom, and Izuku felt that these words were the truth.

"Okay, I accept my weakness and am ready to face my fears, but before I do that, I will try to find inner peace," he finally said, taking a deep breath and exhaling to calm his nervous system. Venom grinned satisfactorily.

"Now that looks like a person. Have you already found a place for us to train and strengthen the body?" Venom asked with anticipation, waiting for decisive action from Izuku.

Having knowledge of sports and understanding how the human body works thanks to athlete analysis, he had stored this knowledge deep in the corner of his mind for the right moment, and there was no better moment than now.

Izuku lowered his gaze to his hands, clenching them into fists. He pondered Venom's words, reflecting on how much time he had spent running away from his own fears and weaknesses. His body trembled, but not from fear; rather, from a sudden surge of determination. He took a deep breath and stood up from the chair.

"You're right," he said, looking at his reflection in the window, watching the morning sun peek through the clouds.

"I'm tired. Tired of feeling inadequate all the time. Tired of hiding behind smiles and empty promises to myself." He turned to Venom; his gaze was firm, despite a slight shadow of doubt.

"But I can't allow myself to give up. If I want to be strong, if I want to protect those dear to me, I must start with myself. My moral duty is to protect and help people solve their problems, but if I can't deal with my own weakness, then I can't help others." Venom watched his host closely, sensing a change in his attitude.

"So what are you going to do, little man?" he asked with interest, his voice now sounding calmer but still mocking.

"A training program," Izuku replied, his voice steady.

"A completely balanced one. I can no longer afford weak spots. My body must be ready for any challenge."

Izuku's Training Plan:

1. Strengthening the back and arms

Pull-ups: 5 sets to maximum for developing the latissimus dorsi muscles.

Bent-over dumbbell rows: 4 sets of 12 repetitions to strengthen the muscles responsible for endurance and stability.

Various types of push-ups. From regular to knuckle push-ups, changing their positions.

Grip program: using expanders and pull-ups with weights to strengthen the wrists.

2. Strengthening the legs

Weighted squats: 4 sets of 10 repetitions for quadriceps and glute muscles.

Dumbbell lunges: 3 sets of 12 repetitions for each leg for balance and stability.

Box jumps: 5 sets of 15 jumps for explosive strength.

Sprinting: 6 sprints of 100 meters for endurance and speed.

3. Cardio and endurance

Long-distance running: 5 kilometers every morning.

Shadowboxing.

4. Calmness and flexibility

Meditation every morning.

Jump rope until failure.

Izuku wrote all this down in a notebook, methodically pondering every detail. Venom looked over his shoulder, his tone shifting to one of more respect.

"Well, well, you are finally starting to take this seriously." Izuku smiled slightly, but his eyes still held the same determination.

"I don't want to be the one who disappoints himself anymore, Andy. If I am weak, then it's only temporary. Every day I will grow stronger until my weakness turns into strength." He sighed, closing the notebook.

"I'm tired of being the one who looks up at others. Tired of my body and mind not working in unison. Tired of self-pity. I know it will be hard, but I need this. And I'm tired of being looked down upon." Venom smiled with his predatory grin.

"Now that looks like a true predator. Now let's get to work. We have a job to do."

Izuku nodded and looked at his hands. These hands would no longer be a symbol of weakness. They would become a symbol of his strength and determination to change himself.

"We have an hour and a half for school, and I think I'll spend half an hour meditating to calm down, because I feel that one careless word from a passerby and I'm ready to jump at him with my fists." Venom snarled and watched as he sat on the floor in a lotus position, placing his hands on his knees, relaxing his body and arms.

"Don't rush; we have plenty of time," Venom whispered, indulging in the calmness along with his host. Closing his eyes, taking a deep breath and exhaling, Izuku plunged into his mind and his desires. He found nothing; he remained sitting in one spot, wishing for harmony, but as he sank deeper, he heard quiet familiar voices he had heard before but didn't know to whom they belonged. They all repeated the same thing, further escalating his mind, and hearing quiet voices gradually turned into sounds of despair and anguish calling for help, but no one heard him except himself.

His pulse raced. His mind was tearing apart. The voice was screaming. Agony suffocated. Darkness surrounded him. Self-destruction became inevitable. There was no escaping this nightmare.

His pulse — a loud drum. Thoughts tightened into a noose. The whisper grew louder, calling to him. Agony within him. Fear grew. His body betrayed him. His mind screamed in pain. Is someone here... or is it just me?

"You won't leave. Never." The voice grew louder, piercing his mind like a dagger.

His mind was tearing apart. Something was chasing him. There was nowhere to run. Thoughts vanished into emptiness. Is this the end... or just the beginning?

You are weak, you are afraid. This truth tears my mind apart; it's torture, it's torture for me; I can't hold on. There is no harmony; it never existed, it doesn't exist, and it will not exist. A mistake, it's all a mistake; you are a mistake, dreams are a lie. Run, run, run or submit.

Izuku wanted to reject these words, but each of them was painfully true. The agony in his chest transformed into a dull thud. His heart felt ready to burst out of his chest. Hearing whispers turning into screams of anguish begging to be released, he felt overwhelmed.

"WEAKNESS!!! DECEIT!!! LIE!!! FEAR!!! HYPOCRISY!!!"

Something's happening

Mind destructing, agony inside of me

My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia

Something's happening

Mind destructing, agony inside of me

My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia

Denying

(Something's happening)

The rising

(Mind destructing, agony inside of me)

The crying, I'm dying

(My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia)

Denying, the rising

The crying, I'm dying

Denying, the rising

The crying, I'm dying

Denying, the rising

The crying, I'm dying

Denying, the rising

The crying, I'm dying

Something's happening

Oh my goodness, agony inside of me

My pulse is racing, it's this paranoia

ALLMIGHT ?????????

He lied to me, he laughed at me

He hates on me, he lied to me

He shot at me, he hates on me, he's using me

Fragility

Afraid of me, he's dead to me

He lied to me, he laughed at me

He hates on me, he's using me

He's dead to me, he is my enemy

They lied to me, they laughed at me

They hate on me, they're using me

Afraid of me, they're dead to me

They lied to me, they shot at me

They hate on me, they're dead to me

And now they're all my enemies

KILL ALLMIGHT!!!!!!

Izuku suddenly opened his eyes, breathing heavily. His heart was pounding so hard it felt ready to burst from his chest. He was covered in cold sweat, and his hands trembled like a trapped beast. Venom was silent, but his presence felt like something oppressive, like a foreign body that suddenly became part of him.

"This... This isn't me..." Izuku whispered, looking at his trembling hands. He struggled to get the words out, as if they were stuck in his throat.

"Are you sure?" Venom's voice sounded quiet, but there was a hint of mockery in it. "That was you, Izuku. Those were your thoughts. Your hatred. Your fear."

"No!" Izuku shouted, getting up from the floor. His legs felt like jelly, but he managed to stay on his feet. "It's... It's you making me think like this! It's you!"

"I merely amplify what was already within you," Venom replied calmly. His tone was cold and sobering. "Do you want to blame me? Please. But know that these thoughts are yours. They have always been yours."

In the heat of the moment, Izuku accused Venom, even though he knew he was wrong about him; he was still emotionally unstable and was trying to escape the whispering desires, but after a minute, everything ceased, and Izuku no longer heard them, but for how long?

"What did you hear and see, Izuku?" Venom asked in a malicious tone, poking his head out from Izuku's body, who was holding his head, trying not to recall those words.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have blamed you, Andy." Venom merely snorted and returned to Izuku's body. Looking at the clock, Izuku saw that the time indicated it was time for school. Quickly getting dressed and grabbing a quick bite from the fridge, Izuku left home, locking the door behind him and hurrying towards school.

"There's our bus," Venom said internally, seeing the bus standing at the stop.

"Hey, wait!!!" Izuku shouted, but the doors closed in front of him, and he crashed into them. As he approached the front of the bus, he knocked on the door, but the driver decided not to listen and drove off, leaving Izuku standing alone at the stop.

"What a jerk," Venom hissed in anger, and feeling the accumulated rage within Izuku, he became alert, but Izuku breathed heavily, trying to calm down, and although it was difficult, he managed.

"Fuyumi won't forgive me for this," Izuku said, adjusting his eye patch. Opening his phone, he checked when the next bus would arrive and, seeing that the next bus would come in 45 minutes due to the impending storm, he felt nearly defeated but refused to lose hope.

"What are you planning?" Venom asked, watching as Izuku prepared to run.

"Seven kilometers to school, we have 26 minutes until class starts; we have to run without stopping." On the last word, Izuku ran fiercely, but he had never been great; this was his first serious workload.

Izuku, gritting his teeth, ran forward, ignoring the burning in his muscles and the heavy breathing. Venom remained silent, sensing that any words would only distract his host. The asphalt beneath his feet became slippery, and the cold wind lashed at his face, but Izuku did not stop.

"Faster..." he muttered through clenched teeth, pushing himself, even though his legs were already refusing to move.

Halfway to school, the sky darkened, and large drops of rain began to fall on his face. At first, the rain was light, but soon it turned into a downpour. Water quickly streamed down his face, soaking under his clothes and penetrating to his very skin. His clothes were drenched, making each step heavier.

"Wonderful," Venom said sarcastically, watching what was happening. "Let's hold a marathon in the rain. Maybe a thunderstorm will start too?"

"Shut up," Izuku exhaled, struggling to keep running. He felt his legs growing heavier, but thoughts of Fuyumi and her disappointment kept him moving forward.

When Izuku finally reached the school gates, the bell signaling the start of class had already rung. His clothes were soaked through, his hair stuck to his forehead, and the eye patch covering his eye had slipped slightly, but he did not adjust it.

He entered the building, leaving wet footprints on the floor behind him. There was so much water in his shoes that every step made a quiet splashing sound. Izuku slowly opened the door to the classroom where everyone was already seated. As soon as he entered, the attention of everyone was immediately drawn to him.

"What the...," someone began, but was interrupted by a loud collective laugh.

"You look like a wet chicken!" shouted one of his classmates, and everyone burst into even louder laughter.

Izuku said nothing in response. He was too tired even to think of a retort. Walking to his seat, he sat down, breathing heavily and leaving a wet spot on the chair.

"Midoriya!" came a strict voice. It was Fuyumi, standing at the board. Her face was full of disappointment.

"You're late," she said in a reprimanding tone, and looking at his soaked appearance, Fuyumi chose not to say anything, ignoring it.

Izuku lifted his gaze to her but was unable to utter a word. His mind was clouded with fatigue and cold. He simply lowered his head, accepting her words as just punishment.

Fuyumi, seeing his state, fell silent, but her gaze remained stern. She mumbled something under her breath and continued the lesson, while Izuku sat quietly, unable to defend himself or fight back. There were quiet chuckles and whispers in the class, but he chose to ignore them, focusing on just not falling asleep right there.

The lesson continued, and the wet Izuku sat at his desk, thinking about how he would complete all the physical exercises he had written in his notebook. His thoughts were interrupted by the whispers of his classmates who were looking at him and quietly laughing, despite Fuyumi's lesson. The bell rang, and Izuku wanted to go home and forget about this day, but someone roughly touched his shoulder.

"Deku, hey hey, you can't be late for class." Izuku turned his head and met the gaze of the source of the sound, and it was Bakugo. The ash-blond smirked at him, looking into his eyes; his teeth were bared, and his eyes expressed disgust.

"What do you want?" Izuku whispered through clenched teeth, holding back his urge to break his bones out of anger. Bakugo was surprised at this but couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.

"You and I, outside," he said in an authoritative tone, and looking around, Izuku felt how his sycophants surrounded him from all sides.

"I'm not in the mood, go home." Bakugo did not take his words as a refusal; on the contrary, he saw it as a call to action. He leaned his head closer to Izuku's ear and whispered into the irritated Izuku's ear.

"Don't think yesterday's incident went unpunished. Grown some courage? I'll wipe that arrogant face into powder." With contempt, Bakugo touched his shoulder, and just like last time, he began to warm his palm against his skin; his sycophants smirked at Bakugo's actions, satisfying his ego with their flattery.

"I'm tired of this," rage boiled even in Venom, who was actively trying to intervene, remained silent, keeping quiet, as the malicious intent of his host indicated that something interesting was about to happen. Bakugo stood, grinning wider, but how surprised he was when Izuku grabbed him by the ear and began to pull with unprecedented force.

"Let go, that hurts! Quirkless bastard!" Bakugo shouted. Upon releasing his grip, Izuku immediately kicked Bakugo in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain.

"Fight!!! Fight!!! Fight!!!" they shouted, unaware of the danger of the situation. Katsuki regained his breath and looked at Deku with murderous intent, who was expressing absolutely nothing.

"You're dead man damn nerd!!" Bakugo's friends continued to chant the same thing, surrounding them and standing tall. Bakugo lunged at him, trying to choke him, but nothing came of it. Izuku grabbed his fingers, bending them carefully so as not to break them, deliberately avoiding touching his palms.

— "How did he find out about my weakness?" — Katsuki wondered, but his thoughts were interrupted by Izuku's fist plunging into his solar plexus. A couple of drools spilled from Bakugo's mouth, splattering Izuku's face. Izuku no longer wanted to endure and, to resolve his mental issues, he needed to change his life for the better by getting rid of the old defenseless Izuku who wasted his time justifying his insignificance. Now that he had the determination to change his fate, he was obligated to rid himself of those who caused him pain through their own methods: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Without hesitation, Izuku took a classic boxing stance, covering his jaw with his left hand and slightly extending his right hand forward, which caused Bakugo to smile.

— "What useless movements? Did you watch too many movies?" — Bakugo waved his hands carelessly, trying to hit Izuku in the face, but Izuku blocked every punch. Due to the imperfection of his defense, he still took one hit to the ribs, failing to react in time, but he paid no attention to it as [Regeneration] restored him instantly. His goal was not to beat up Bakugo but to humiliate him, to put him in his place, just as he usually liked to do.

— "I regret showing you mercy in childhood. I should have used my quirk stronger to burn your face when I fell off the log," — Bakugo spat, attempting to affect Izuku's emotions, but he merely frowned, letting the words pass him by. Unable to endure all the humiliations, the green-haired owner blocked him and landed a precise punch to Bakugo's face. While he lost his balance, Izuku forcefully shoved him down, landing on his stomach and stepping on his sweaty palms. Although Bakugo tried to pull away, Venom's strength was stronger than his efforts, and Izuku began painting Bakugo's face red with his palm and the back of his hand. His cheeks were red, and each slap to the face reflected years of bullying, every mockery in his life. Surprisingly, he felt pleasure as he watched the self-satisfied Bakugo lose his former confidence.

Izuku paused his hand for a moment, as if savoring the sight of the exhausted Bakugo. His face was flushed from the blows, and blood trickled from his split lip. The classmates surrounding them suddenly fell silent, realizing that the situation had gone too far.

Izuku leaned closer to Bakugo, his eyes cold as ice. His voice came out low and quiet, but every word pierced like a knife.

— "You were always loud, Katsuki. Always yelling as if it made you stronger. But you know what? All your 'strength' is nothing more than an illusion. You boast about your quirk like a child with a new toy, but without it... You are an empty shell." Bakugo gritted his teeth, trying to free his hands, but Izuku's and Venom's strength was insurmountable. He denied all the words, and the anger and desire to beat up the green nerd grew exponentially, but everyone was watching the helpless Bakugo losing his former confidence.

— "Funny, isn't it?" — Izuku continued, his voice growing harsher. — "You called me weak, pathetic, quirkless. And now look at yourself. You're lying here like a crushed worm. This is you, Katsuki. Just a cowardly boy who attacks those who can't fight back. Remember when everyone kissed your ass when you awakened your quirk, but without it, who are you? Just a coward who can scream like a pig." — He pressed harder with his foot on Bakugo's hands, causing him to cry out in pain. Bakugo wanted to retort, but immediately received a punch to the face, making him realize that in this fight, he was not the main one.

— "You kept saying I was worthless. But you have no idea what it's like to survive when everyone is against you. You're a privileged bastard with a golden spoon in your mouth, always being catered to. You had 'strength,' support, confidence. And what did I have? Nothing. Just my own will and... hatred for people like you." Izuku sank lower, almost whispering in Bakugo's ear:

— "You screamed at me, humiliated me, tried to break me. But you know, Katsuki, you never broke me. You only made me stronger. And now... I'm here. And you are merely clinging to your superiority. It's hard to even call you a hero; you're just an empty vase." Bakugo tried to respond, but Izuku roughly slapped his cheek, forcing him to fall silent again.

— "How many years have you bullied me? Five? Ten? All these years, you thought I was under your heel. But guess what? Now you're under mine." Classmates watched the scene in horror and astonishment. No one had ever seen Izuku like this. Even Fuyumi, approaching the crowd, froze in place, unable to intervene immediately.

Izuku abruptly released Bakugo, allowing him to breathe, but did not let him rise. He leaned over him, staring directly into his frightened eyes:

— "I'm not afraid of you, Katsuki. And I will never let you humiliate me again. If you try to do anything, I will destroy you. And this is not a threat... it's a promise."

With those words, Izuku stood up, surveying the classmates who hastily parted, allowing him to pass. For a moment, his gaze met Fuyumi's, but he said nothing, simply stepping out of the circle and heading for the door, leaving behind the humiliated Bakugo, who was still trying to get up from the floor. Fuyumi, seeing Izuku's cruelty and thirst for revenge, hurried after him to discuss what had happened, and no, she would not punish him, just talk to him about it.

Once outside in the hallway, Izuku made his way alone toward the exit, communicating with Venom.

— "That was magnificent. Did you see his humiliated face, Izuku? He deserved it, always deserved it!" — Venom cheered inside the host, but Izuku felt a pleasant tremor in his hands from the finally achieved justice he had sought, but no one would have done it for him. Satisfied with his actions, he smiled slightly, but deep down he understood that violence in this way would lead to a dead end, if not worse consequences.

At that moment, a familiar voice called from behind him, caring and gentle but with notes of a cold December wind.

— "Wait!" — Izuku turned around and saw Fuyumi, who was hurrying towards him. She looked anxious but not angry. Izuku stopped, watching her catch up.

— "We need to talk," — she said quietly, restrained but firm.

— "If you came to punish me, don't bother," — Izuku replied coldly, preparing for another round of accusations.

— "I'm not going to punish you," — her voice trembled, and she unexpectedly added: — "Just... go into the classroom. Please." For a second he hesitated, then, exhausted, nodded and followed her into the empty classroom.

Inside, Fuyumi closed the door behind her, trying to find the right words. She didn't know where to start. Seeing the cruelty with which Izuku had unleashed on Bakugo, she felt a mix of anxiety, confusion, and helplessness.

— "You understand that I can't just turn a blind eye to what happened," — she began, crossing her arms over her chest.

— "But I want to know... why? Why did you do it?" — Izuku stood with his back to her, looking at the desks. His shoulders trembled slightly, and after a few seconds he slowly turned to Fuyumi.

— "Why? Do you really want to know?" — His voice sounded dull, as if he were barely holding back a flood of emotions.

— "Yes," — she replied, trying to maintain a soft but confident tone.

— "I'm not defending Bakugo. I saw how he treats you. But this... this wasn't like you, Izuku. You're a good person, but everyone has their reason for acting this way, and I want to know the reason for this." Izuku closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and without saying a word, began rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. His arms were covered in numerous scars: thin, deep, fresh, and old. Some looked like cuts, others like burns. Fuyumi gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. He had never told or shown her such scars, and now the full picture was revealed to her.

— "This is only the beginning," — said Izuku, then unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, exposing his chest and shoulders. There were scars, bruises, and signs of old injuries there as well.

— "This is all him," — he breathed out, looking directly into her eyes. — "This is everything he did to me. Years of humiliation, beatings, mockery. Everything I endured from Bakugo, and no one ever stopped him. No one."

Fuyumi was left speechless. Tears filled her eyes, and she couldn't take her gaze off the scars on Izuku's body.

— "Why didn't you tell anyone?" — she finally whispered, gathering her words. Seeing Izuku's eyes and trembling lips, she approached him, but as he tried to protect himself from her, he took steps back.

— "I tried," — his voice trembled. — "But no one listened. Everyone thought it was normal, that I should 'be stronger,' that without a quirk I am worth nothing. They were all on his side." His voice broke, and he, unable to bear it, covered his face with his hands, shrinking from the overwhelming emotions.

Fuyumi took a step forward, then another, until she was right next to him.

— "Izuku..." — she said, and her voice sounded warm, almost motherly, reminding him of the care he hadn't heard in so long. He couldn't hold back anymore and broke down in tears. Tears flowed from his eyes, and he finally allowed himself to show all the pain he had hidden for years. Fuyumi gently hugged him, holding him close.

— "It's alright," — she whispered. — "I'm here. It's alright." Izuku buried his face in her shoulder, tightly hugging her in return.

— "I can't live like this anymore. I'm tired. I want to forget my shame," — he sobbed.

— "I know," — she replied, stroking his back. — "I know. And I will help you, I promise. You are not alone, Izuku." They stood like that for several minutes until his sobs calmed down and his breathing became steadier. Fuyumi didn't let him go, letting him feel that he was not alone.

— "I'm... I'm really tired," — he whispered, his voice trembling, but there was more vulnerability in it than anger. Before her, he could not be angry; she had become more than just a teacher, and the Todoroki family had supported his dream even though they saw him for the first time. Izuku wanted to be strong and promised to be, but in the face of a close person, he wilted like a child.

— "I understand," — she replied, squeezing him a bit tighter. — "You've been too strong for too long. But now you don't have to do it alone."

He hugged her tighter, feeling her warmth, her support, and it felt so unfamiliar that it made his head spin. He didn't know that people could be so kind, didn't know that someone could see in him something more than weakness.

— "But being strong doesn't mean staying silent about your pain. It means finding the strength to move on, even when it's hard," — she said with notes of maternal love, allowing Izuku to trust her more. Although she understood his pain, she was not going to overlook such an incident.

— "Izuku, go home, and although I will shock you, you don't have to come to school tomorrow." Reluctantly, Izuku released her, and with green eyes, he looked at her, not fully understanding the meaning of her words.

— "But... but why?" — he whispered in shock, buttoning his shirt.

Taking a deep breath and removing her glasses, Fuyumi looked at him with a caring gaze.

— "Take a rest, Izuku. I will take responsibility for this. You had a hard day, and I won't let this incident with Bakugo slide. I will definitely talk to him." Izuku froze, still processing Fuyumi's words. Her voice was soft yet firm, filled with a determination he hadn't expected to hear. He felt grateful for her support, but the thought that she was going to talk to Bakugo caused him anxiety.

— "Fuyumi-san..." — he began uncertainly, looking down and not understanding the meaning of it all.

— "Do you think this will change anything? Bakugo... he's always been like this. No one can deal with him."

She stepped closer, placing her hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

— "If nothing changes, everything will stay the same," — she said with a hint of softness, but her resolute gaze indicated that she was not going to back down. — "Bakugo needs to understand that his actions have consequences. I can't allow him to continue behaving like this, even if it means I have to talk to him one-on-one."

Izuku frowned. He wanted to warn her, wanted to say that Bakugo could be cruel and arrogant. But her confidence seemed to dull his anxiety.

— "He won't listen... He thinks he can get away with everything," — he muttered, clenching his hands into fists.

— "Maybe so," — she replied calmly. — "But I have to try. And not just for you, Izuku, but for him." — Izuku blinked in surprise, not expecting such a response.

— "For him?" — he repeated.

— "Yes," — Fuyumi lowered her hands, her gaze warming. — "Bakugo doesn't realize that he is harming himself by pushing people away and humiliating them. His pride is his weakness. If he continues to live like this, one day it will lead him to bigger problems. Maybe he needs someone to tell him the truth. You are not the only student in my class; if I have the opportunity to help, I will use it just like I did with you." — Izuku thought. He didn't want to pity Bakugo, but Fuyumi's words made sense.

— "Are you sure this will help?" — he asked quietly.

— "I don't know," — she admitted honestly. — "But if there's a chance that he thinks about it, I have to try. Tomorrow I will talk to him one-on-one to make him understand that his behavior is unacceptable."

Izuku nodded, feeling mixed emotions. On one hand, he was grateful to Fuyumi for her support, on the other — he was scared for her. But her determination inspired hope.

— "Alright..." — he finally said. — "But if he starts getting angry or yelling, it's better not to continue. He can be... unpredictable."

Fuyumi smiled, her gaze warming again.

— "Thank you, Izuku. I will be careful. And you go home and rest. You've earned it."

Izuku looked at her one more time, nodded, and straightening his back, headed for the exit. Fuyumi watched him go, and then turned to the window, looking at the gray sky. Tomorrow's conversation promised to be difficult, but she knew it was necessary. Bakugo needed to understand that his actions affected not only those around him but also himself.

— "What a wonderful woman, marry her," — Venom teased, laughing internally at Izuku's embarrassment.

— "She's beautiful, caring, smart, and has good connections. No other way to describe her than an ideal woman." — Venom continued to stoke the fire, embarrassing his host.

— "Spare me your lustful thoughts. She resembles more of my mother's figure than a love interest. She cares for me, and I am very grateful to her for that. She will be the best teacher I have ever seen in my life, and I do not intend to overlook her care." — Izuku countered Venom's jabs, but he accepted them since he had not noticed any particular desire or eagerness to have her over him.

— "You're a strange person, Izuku Midoriya. You want to be strong, but in front of close people, you're soft. It's quite contradictory if you understand what I mean." — Izuku left the school, and under the pouring rain, he headed to his stop. With several students, he waited for the bus under the symphony of the pouring rain and the March cold that made him shiver at the slightest breath.

— "I understand; at least I'm not one of those scoundrels who are ready to insult others for the satisfaction of their ego. And it's still too early for me to talk about strength. All this is written on paper, and in real life, I haven't applied my methods." — Concluded Izuku as he sat on the bus.

The bus was crowded as usual at this time of day. Izuku, soaked to the bone from the rain, stood holding onto the handrail. He had already gotten used to the tightness and the stares from those around him, which seemed to pierce through him. His attention was drawn to an elderly woman trying to stand with a cane in her hands.

— "Allow me, I will give you my seat," — said Izuku, getting up and pointing to his seat.

The woman looked at him, first with surprise, then with disdain, as if his kind gesture was something outrageous.

— "Oh, you quirkless," — she stretched, sitting down. Her voice was loud enough for the entire bus to hear.

— "Do you think you can look decent? People like you shouldn't even exist in this world." — Izuku remained silent, trying to keep calm.

— "Exactly," — someone from the crowd supported. — "You quirkless ones are just pretending to be good, but in reality, you always envy those who have powers."

— "And look at the hero?" — another passenger scoffed. — "You'd be better off sitting at home and not getting in people's faces."

The words hit Izuku like blows, one after another, but he stood still, even though everything was boiling inside him.

— "These people..." — Venom whispered inside his head, his voice hoarse and dangerous. — "They are insulting you. You could show them who is stronger here. Just give me freedom."

— "No," — Izuku replied mentally, gritting his teeth. — "They say this out of hatred, which feeds their fear. I won't stoop to their level."

— "You're just standing there, letting them do this?" — Venom exclaimed. — "They need to know you're not weak."

Izuku took a deep breath, trying to ignore the sharp comments. He looked out the window, watching the raindrops slide down the glass and taking note of the drops that continued to pierce him with their stares until a notification on his phone caught his attention.

**Izuku Midoriya Account:**

**Balance: 126670¥**

**Sent: Hisashi Midoriya +100000¥**

— "For now, at least we have money for food," — Venom huffed, watching the green numbers on Izuku's account.

— "Money comes every week, so I won't starve," — Izuku smiled, watching the rainy road, where raindrops splashed in different directions.

Finally, after enduring several disdainful glances, he arrived home, throwing his bag aside and changing into something more comfortable.

— "Well, I think now is not the best time to run outside; it would be ideal if I did some physical exercises at home," — Izuku muttered, watching the raging rain.

— "Makes sense," — Venom added.

— "So, as far as home exercises go, I have several training methods."

**Regular Push-Ups: 30×3 sets**

**Diamond Push-Ups: 10×2 sets**

**Squats: 30×3 sets**

**Plank: 30 seconds for 4 sets**

**Crunches, etc.**

**Fragment: Home Workout of Izuku**

Izuku stood in the middle of his room, gazing at the workout schedule he had pinned to the wall. The rain continued to beat furiously against the glass, creating a rhythmic backdrop for his preparation. He exhaled, loosened his shoulders, and began with the first exercise.

**Push-Ups (30 repetitions, 3 sets)**

Izuku took the plank position, placing his hands shoulder-width apart. Slowly lowering himself down, he felt his muscles begin to work as his chest got closer to the floor. Each lift was accompanied by a hoarse exhale.

— "One... two... three..." — he quietly counted.

By the twentieth repetition, his arms started to tremble, but he didn't stop. By the last repetition of the first set, his face was already glistening with sweat, and his breathing became heavier.

— "Not bad, Izuku," — Venom's voice sounded in his head. — "But you're too slow."

— "Shut up, I'm just starting," — he exhaled, turning onto his back to catch a little breath before the next set.

The second set turned out to be even more challenging: his muscles burned like fire, but he kept moving, gritting his teeth. After the third, he practically collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily.

**Diamond Push-Ups (10 repetitions, 2 sets)**

— "Well, are we moving on to the 'diamonds'?" — Venom asked with a smirk.

Izuku placed his palms together, forming a diamond shape, and took the plank position again. The first five repetitions went relatively easily, but then the muscles in his triceps began to tremble.

— "Feel that?" — Venom teased. — "Those are your weaknesses, kid."

— "Shut up..." — Izuku exhaled, pushing himself up with his last strength.

On the tenth attempt, he collapsed back onto the floor, completely drained.

**Squats (30 repetitions, 3 sets)**

Standing up, Izuku stretched his hips and began squatting. He went down low enough to feel the muscles in his legs and glutes tightening to their limit.

— "This is already better," — noted Venom. — "But you could use some weight on your shoulders."

— "Shut up, you just enjoy this," — Izuku exhaled, continuing to move in a steady rhythm.

By the third set, his legs were burning, but he finished the exercise, nearly falling into the chair after the last repetition.

**Plank (30 seconds, 4 sets)**

Izuku got on his elbows, straightening his body into a straight line. Seconds dragged on slowly, each moment feeling like an eternity. Venom, as if mocking, began to count aloud.

— "One... two... three..." — he stretched out the words.

— "Can you be quieter?" — Izuku whispered, gritting his teeth.

In the third set, his stomach began to quiver, and his breathing became erratic. In the fourth, he literally collapsed onto the floor as soon as the last seconds rang out.

**Crunches (20 repetitions, 3 sets)**

The last exercise. Izuku lay on his back, bent his knees, and crossed his arms over his chest. Each movement upwards felt like climbing a mountain: the muscles in his abs protested, but he did not give up.

— "You look like a fish out of water," — Venom scoffed, watching his efforts.

— "Thanks for the support," — Izuku replied sarcastically, continuing to crunch.

By the end of the last set, his breathing was heavy and labored. He fell onto the carpet, staring at the ceiling. Sweat dripped from his forehead, leaving wet traces on the floor.

**Workout Finale**

— "You're soaking wet," — noted Venom. — "Why don't you do a few more sets?"

— "This isn't funny," — Izuku exhaled, getting up and heading to the window. The raging rain still reminded him of the harshness of the world outside this room.

— "In any case, you're doing well, kid," — Venom said, his voice sounding slightly softer. — "But tomorrow we'll add some weight."

Izuku smirked, looking at his reflection in the wet glass.

— "Well, tomorrow it is," — he said, wiping sweat from his face.

— "You couldn't exactly and perfectly perform everything you wrote, but at least you tried," — Venom praised in his manner.

— "Well, the more repetitions I do, the better I will handle these exercises. I will buy some training tools in the future," — Izuku replied, taking off his sweaty shirt.

— "And what are you planning to buy?" — Venom asked with interest.

— "Dumbbells, a barbell, an expander, and some tools for improving my body. I'm not trying to become a bodybuilder for a Mr. Olympia magazine. My main goal is to get my body in shape within six months for martial arts," — Izuku quickly went through all his goals for the near future.

— "Hmm, how about shadow boxing? One of the important things for improving endurance," — Venom reminded Midoriya, putting him in an awkward position, but lately, he had not backed down from his words.

— "I haven't forgotten about that."

Izuku stood in the middle of the room, barefoot on the wooden floor. His breathing was still heavy from the exhausting workout, but he wasn't going to stop. The lamp hanging from the ceiling cast a soft light, creating a long shadow on the wall.

— "So, young fighter, are you ready to show what you can do?" — Venom's sarcastic voice echoed.

— "This isn't for show," — Izuku quietly replied, clenching his fists. — "It's to learn." He took a deep breath, positioned his feet shoulder-width apart, slightly bent his knees, and raised his hands into stance. His fists were at chin level, with his elbows protecting his body.

Izuku took the first step forward, instantly throwing a left jab into the emptiness. His fist sliced through the air with a slight whistle. Then he quickly returned his hand to guard and added a right uppercut that seemed aimed directly at the chest of an invisible opponent.

— "Faster!" — Venom demanded.

— "Focus on accuracy!" — Izuku reminded himself, leaning to the left as if dodging a punch.

He kept moving, each step precise, each movement deliberate. The punches followed one after another: jabs, hooks, and crosses. Sometimes he blocked, sometimes he ducked, as if surrounded by enemies.

— "Imagine you're fighting a real opponent," — Venom continued, fueling Izuku's fighting spirit. — "A muscle-bound thug stands before you, his fists ready to tear you apart."

Izuku instantly pictured a giant figure of a villain with a maniacal grin. His heart raced faster. He stepped back and then threw two punches in quick succession — a left jab and a right hook.

— "Your dodge was too slow," — Venom noted as Izuku took a step back.

— "I know," — he exhaled, returning to his guard and adding a series of quick punches.

Izuku picked up the pace. His fists sliced through the air time and again, and his footwork became faster. He bounced from foot to foot, creating a rhythm similar to a dance. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't notice it.

Each movement was accompanied by thoughts:

"What will the opponent do? A punch to the face? A blow to the body? Or maybe he'll try to grab me?"

He spun, dodged, and attacked again. The room filled with the sound of his heavy breathing and the thud of his feet on the floor.

— "Good rhythm, kid," — Venom praised. — "But you're forgetting about defense."

— "I haven't forgotten," — Izuku retorted, raising his hands higher and covering his face.

Finally, he imagined that the enemy had been defeated. Izuku froze, breathing heavily, but his fists were still clenched. His body trembled from fatigue, but his gaze remained focused.

— "That wasn't bad," — Venom summarized. — "But you still have a lot to learn."

— "Yeah, but at least I started," — Izuku whispered, lowering his hands and allowing his body to relax.

He stepped back, looking at his shadow, which now seemed less intimidating. This shadow was his enemy, but also his ally.

— "So when are we going on patrol?" — Venom asked, observing the tired face of his host, who felt fatigue in every cell of his body. His muscles and legs ached from the overload, and his chest along with his abs burned from the torn minor muscles from the training.

— "Obviously not now," — Izuku replied with a weary voice, to which Venom's smirk widened, and trying to make a quick movement, his body felt a sharp pain echoing throughout.

— "Ouch!" — he groaned in pain at the moment he tried to raise his arm sharply.

— "There will be results in the future. And I think tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity to patrol. If there is Izuku Midoriya, then there is also Silent Phantom," — Izuku whispered, heading towards the bathroom.

****

In a dark office lit only by the dim light of headlights, several figures sat, specifically two: a henchman and a boss. After the failed assassination attempt on the bridge, the organization's reputation had plummeted.

— "That was a perfectly planned assassination, and you want to tell me you couldn't handle some idiot in a mask?" — the boss of the criminal group expressed his displeasure with an annoyed tone. They had failed to kill an important figure in their operations, and the bridge explosion also failed due to one person's fault. The henchman standing before the boss felt fear but did not show it, as he was afraid to express his emotions in front of a boss who did not forgive mistakes.

— "I apologize, sir. We almost handled everything perfectly; we even bribed some heroes in that area so that no one could intervene before the main heroic forces arrived. But we didn't expect Silent Phantom to show up," — the henchman said in a steady tone, fearing the boss's anger.

— "Your incompetence has led to losses. Who will return the money we spent?" — He slammed his hand on the table, almost activating his quirk but controlled himself to avoid breaking anything.

— "I understand, sir, and we are actively working to make up for the losses. Underground fights and the prostitution district are running smoothly, and within a week, we will recover the money," — the henchman said politely, bowing and extending his hand, asking for mercy from the boss. The boss, realizing that the situation was extremely precarious, decided to calm down, even though he was holding back his anger to avoid destroying the room along with the henchman.

— "In any other case, I would have cut off your hand, but find information on Silent Phantom. Don't kill him; just invite him to us. If he doesn't want fame, then we will buy him," — the boss said with a cunning smirk, throwing his legs on the table and staring at the ceiling.

— "What are you standing there for? Get out of my office." — The henchman quickly left the office, bowing to the boss as he headed towards the broker of the criminal world.

****

— "Who do we have here? Did Muscle and Vine fail to defeat the masked avenger, right, Takamura?" — the Broker asked with a smirk, sorting through several papers with his hands.

— "Laugh as much as you want, but I need information on Silent Phantom." — The smile on the broker's face faded at the request of his client. Setting the papers aside, his distinctive mole under his lip clearly indicated his emotions more than the expression on his face.

— "You're not the only one looking for him. He's like hot merchandise; everyone wants to pounce on him. I have no information on him; he's as elusive as a shadow and there have been no recorded close confrontations with anyone. His identity is in question, and no one knows who he is. If he were a hero, information about him would be on my desk," — the henchman recounted everything he knew, frowning at the secrecy of the new avenger and the low voice of the broker, who was fixing his hair.

— "Great, there's nothing on him that could somehow advance this case," — the henchman groaned, looking into the broker's eyes.

— "My informants are actively trying to track him down. Not only does your organization want him dead, but others do too, and even regular thugs want his head for their collection." — The broker searched for the necessary papers and finally found them but did not show them to his client.

— "Muscle and Vine are dead; he coldly killed them, and you want to say you have no evidence against him?!" — The conversation rose to a higher pitch, and the henchman's patience was wearing thin if it were not for the boss's decision.

— "I have information on what he looks like, but his quirk is unknown to all of us."

— "How much?" — Takamura responded, sitting at the table.

— "700,000¥ and you will get to see what he looks like." — At the amount, Takamura's eyes widened, and for a photo, he was ready to pay such a sum?

— "Fine, here's your money." — A stack of bills fell onto the broker's table, and with a sly grin, he handed the photograph to Takamura.

— "Black coat, black mask with white lenses, and a fedora," — he mentally recited, observing the blurred photographs of Silent Phantom.

— "Is that all you have?" — Takamura grumbled discontentedly but decided to keep his composure.

— "Had there been more information, I would have offered it to you." — The broker watched Takamura, who was frowning while studying the blurry photographs. His thin fingers drummed on the table, creating a tense rhythm in the dimly lit room.

— "You surprise me, Takamura," — the broker said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, taking the money from the table. — "Usually, people leave without paying if they don't get what they want."

— "Don't test my patience," — Takamura shot back, not taking his eyes off the photographs. — "These pictures say nothing. I need more specifics. Where did you get them from?" — The broker sighed as if he was tired of such questions.

— "They are from one of my guys in the city, Mustafa. He accidentally spotted Silent Phantom on surveillance cameras when he was walking on the roof of some old building. The quality leaves much to be desired, but that's all I have."

Takamura squinted, studying the shots even more closely. The blurry silhouette was indeed barely distinguishable, but some details revealed more. The black coat billowed in the wind, and his contrasting mask with white lenses added a terrifying touch.

— "This place... what building is it?"

— "An old high-rise, long abandoned. It has been used as a hideout by small gangs for a long time, but something made them flee that night. They say he tracked them down and neutralized them all. Those who survived are either in the hospital or hiding far away from the city."

Takamura frowned, putting the photographs in the pocket of his coat.

— "If he's really as dangerous as you say, why didn't you report this information to the police?" — The broker laughed, his voice low but filled with coldness.

— "The police? They only get in the way. Silent Phantom is a problem everyone wants to solve. But you know what I realized? No one understands how to deal with him. He's impossible to catch. Everyone who tried is either in the hospital, on the run, or dead like Muscle. And I, Takamura, prefer to stay alive."

Takamura stood up from the table, throwing a piercing glance at the broker.

— "If your informants learn anything, you will inform me immediately. I will pay. But next time, if you give me more nonsense, we will talk differently. Understood?"

The broker simply smiled, his calmness unshaken.

— "You will get what you pay for, Takamura. Just remember: in this world, sometimes it's better not to know too much. Silent Phantom could be your last mistake."

Takamura irritably turned and headed for the exit. The broker watched him leave, then returned to his papers, muttering to himself:

— "They all think they can catch him. Fools. This guy is something else. Something even I can't understand yet..."

Silence returned to the dim room, broken only by the scratching of the broker's pen as he plunged back into his notes.

**Next Chapter**

**The Target: Silent Phantom**