It was pitch black, the only thing that I could see were a glowing pair of cat-like eyes. They held a bored, yet curious expression, like a cat who's just eaten but has spotted something shiny.

A lone light bulb hung from the ceiling, swaying to-and-fro in the non-existent wind. The bare concrete floors were cracked and unforgiving to bare feet. The silence was unbearable, it was a pause before a war, the calm before the storm. I felt my throat tighten.

Suddenly there was a high-pitched scream of absolute terror. The lazy expression of the cyan eyes changed back and forth from pain to fear. Finally, the screaming stopped and the expression set to an insane glint in her eyes and a demonic, skin-splitting grin began to creep up her face. Taking small, slow steps to the middle of the room, she began to hum. I could hear the clanking of metal and the screeching of something being sharpened. I couldn't move.

All of a sudden the noise stopped and dead silence took its place. After what seemed like hours there was a click and a dim light filled the room. It held no warmth or comfort, if anything it added to the chill that the off-putting room wore like a cape. The eyes narrowed with disgust at a corner of the room, glaring daggers at an invisible menace.

She quickly spun on her heel and grabbed the weapon she had left on the table.

It was a knife, a beautiful knife. The ebony handle was delicately carved to resemble a crows claw. The blade was a tarnished silver with a pattern of brambles snaking up the centre of the blade as if it was trying to choke the metal. The blade's blood stained tip was curved up viciously, ready to rip someone's organs apart.

The demonic girl giggled childishly and began to creep down the wooden halls of the abandoned house. The discoloured rose wallpaper was peeling off the thin plaster walls and the floor boards were old and splintering and some of them had already collapsed, a major safety hazard. There were holes in the roof and the lichen covered tiles were falling off but the girl didn't care, it was a roof over her head and place to sleep. She skipped outside, into the streets and I was compelled to follow her.

Her white hair glistened in the dreary moonlight curtained in a sheet of clouds. The summer night was drowsy, almost drunk, as the people of the small town were in a deep slumber. She grabbed a rusty pipe and started to drag it against the concrete, making a devastatingly shrill sound that caused dogs to start howling. She hopped and skipped into the middle of town. The young girl let out a deranged chuckle as her Quirk played around with her mind and body like a helpless puppet in the moonlight.

It only got worse because then she started to sing.

"Ring, a ring a Rosie." The demented and possessed voice rang out into the street.

She drags the metal pipe across the ground while marching in a circle.

"The evil thing that knows me," her usually silvery voice was drowning in insanity.

"Ashes, ashes," she began to sing softer but the words still echoed in the empty streets and people began to wake.

"They all fall DOWN!" She bangs the pipe on the ground and let's out a strangled laugh that resonated throughout the streets.

Like rats to the Pied piper, people started to flock towards the centre of town, drawn by her voice.

"Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb" the girl slowly drawled out the words making it sound even more psychotic.

"Whose fleece was white as snow" She dragged the pipe on the street, drawing shapes as she went. A small crowd began to form, completely hypnotized. I tried to stop them, somehow I knew, but nothing worked.

"Followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day," Her singing started to devolve to that of an ancient record player. She started to herd the people into smaller groups, carefully cataloguing them from best to worst.

"And never returned!"

And with that she grabbed a healthy and young looking woman from group 1 and dragged her away into the night.

•~•

"NO!"

I jumped out of bed as the recent nightmare and suppressed memories rushed around my head in a panicked frenzy causing my brain to go into overdrive.

No matter what I do, she still haunts me. My mind constantly reminding me of the broken young girl I had left behind. The one I couldn't save.

Breath in and out. In and out...

I put my head between my knees and slowly rocked myself back and forth, trying to calm down.

Then my alarm blared, sounding like a war siren to my overwhelmed senses. My heart leaps up into my throat.

I stumble around my room, searching for where I had hid that infernal noise maker the night before. It was in my shoe, charging. I scrambled to turn it off, once I had, I realise an important fact; I was still at the bar. I had stayed over the entire night! The thought goes on the backburner; however, as worry and fear drown me once again.

"Nothing bad has happened, calm down." I scold myself while pacing around the spartan, broom closet sized room -- a blanket draped over my shoulders. Eventually, my heart dropped down from my throat and back to between ribs, where its supposed to be.

I slowly emerged from out of the thick, woolen blanket and plodded across the hall to the decently sized bathroom that everyone shared. I grabbed my comb from the side of the sink and tried to tame my mane of hair with it and some hot water, which did nothing. I didn't have any gel left and all my other products were at the dorms. Sighing, I slip the comb into my robe's pocket.

A there was nothing else I could do, I fiddled with my hair so that it could my new...eyebrow piercing? (Don't remember how that happened) and used my fingers to tug the knots out so that it would look like a puffy cloud. I was thankful I had such a long fringe, it completely covered my eyebrow, because I honestly have no idea how else I'm supposed to cover this new piercing up.

Semi-satisified with the results I shuffle back to 'my' room. I slip into my too-large uniform and successfully tied my tie terribly, which was oddly enough hard to do. I finished off my morning routine with the usual lathering of concealer over my scars and my retreating dark circles. Before going down stairs I got into character, the naive, care-free smile and a determined mindset in place. Then I raced downstairs so that I could grab some cereal before the others ate it all.

To my suprise, however, only Kurogiri was there. It was then when I looked properly at my phone, it was only six o' clock, school started at eight-thirty! I hadn't needed to rush. Another sigh escapes my lips.

I plopped myself down on one of the bar stools before muttering a good morning to Kurogiri. He just waved a tendril of mist at me before turning his attention back to his book. I ate my Cheerios in silence, left the empty bowl on the counter, and signalled to Kurogiri that I was leaving with a wave of my hand and started to walk to the door.

"Wait! Don't you want me to take you?" He queried with that slightly British accent of his, expression unchanging.

I shook my head, a rueful smile on my face, "I think I'll walk, I got time." I sent him a wink and snuck out the door before he could say anything else.

I strolled down the dusty street and peered at my surroundings. It wasn't a pretty sight, but it was familar as I had lived here for most of my life -- Mertsuana. The bar is located in down town Mertsuana but my childhood home is in upper town Mertsuana, which, still wasn't much when compared to the city but, it was clean and had decent facilities.

My signature red, over-sized sneakers slapped noisily on the empty road. It was no doubt that people were awake and bustling about but, usually those types didn't want to be seen or heard. The sun had awoken fully now and bathed the shanty town in a golden glow making the usually dreary place seem like a painting or photograph. I had almost stopped to admire the beauty; the light reflecting off the tin roofs, the rays making shapes between the clothes on the lines and casting shadows of the crooked buildings onto the cold street. It felt rather philosophical literally walking into the light and leaving behind the dark.

•~•

I managed to make it into the city proper at seven on the dot, walked to the metro station, bought a ticket, and hopped on the next train. Things were going smoothly...until they were not.

"Hey look! Isn't that Izuku Midoriya from the Sports Festival?" A random guy in the crowd signalled me out.

Again! Seriously?

I just awkwardly smiled at the crowd that had started to form around me (praises and pointers falling from their lips) after that idiot pointed me out. One question after the other bombarded me and congratulations were accompanied with claps on the back. I was squished and tugged like some rag doll between toddlers. When I finally wriggled my way out onto the station, my clothes were rumpled, my hair was scruffy and I was out of breath. "What on earth could possess people to enjoy that sort of attention!" I muttered to myself while leaning against a pillar, catching many weird looks. Oh it's nothing, just a teenager having a panic attack. No need to take a single minute out of your busy schedule to check on him!

Once my meltdown had come to an end I could begin the 20-minute walk to school. I fixed my hair and patted down the creases in my uniform as I walked.

When I arrived outside the gargantuan and overly extravagant building that was Yuuei, I had managed to look half decent at least.
It was still really early, so I didn't have to worry about Aizawa--that guy is still suspicious of me--or that many students.

I tiptoed through the long and winding hallways and after what seemed like hours, finally arrived at my locker and collected all my books and emptied my bag of all things I didn't need for the first couple of lessons. I wandered around and eventually landed up at class 1-A's comically large door and opened the door silently.

To my disappointment I wasn't the first one to arrive to class. As always our regular square was there, most probably came here an hour ago or so and school only starts in 45 minutes! Then there was Bakugo, Kirishima, Sato, Momo and Koda. I give a quick scope around the class, a habit I haven't been able to give up since my time in the Slums. I practically skip over to my desk and place my small shoulder book bag down on my desk.

Then I go over to Iida's desk.

"Morning Iida." I say to him with a jovial smile.

"Morning Midoriya." He says politely while putting his book down.

"Um Iida. I heard- I heard about your brother and I'm sorry. I know what happened is horrible and you must be devastated but please don't go after him. Don't let revenge over-load your vision." He visibly tenses at that sentence. I know how he feels.

I also sought vengeance and I got it but it isn't fulfilling at all. It's consuming.

After 10 minutes of awkward silence he spoke. "No. Don't be sorry Midoriya. It's not your fault. And please don't worry, I'll-I'll be fine"

You're lying. No one can be fine after that.

I felt a wave a guilt wash over me, the only reason Tensei is out of commission is because of Stain, and he was only there because I ordered him to be there. On the other hand though I am furious with him, Ingenium wasn't on the list and I had made clear that for the time being he could only kill those on the list or else I couldn't give him what he wanted, more quirks.

Even though he hates conceited power hunters, he himself is one, so hypocritical but I guess everyone is in their own way.

Just as I was about to respond the shrill bell sounded through the halls. I gave him a small sorry smile and went over to my place on the other side of the class.

The door slammed open and the sleep deprived caterpillar made his appearance in his scruffy yellow sleeping bag. He shuffled over to his desk and shed his second skin before picking up a small remote from his desk.

Mr Aizawa switched on his computer and a projector appeared from somewhere in the roof.

"The sports festival has ended and I'm sure you've noticed the rise in your popularity-"

"It was like we were celebs or something." Kaminari jeers and promptly got a marker shot at his forehead.

"Don't you dare interrupt me again." Mr Aizawa growls with a scary look in his eyes which I have only ever seen in worst of villains.

"As I was saying, your popularity has risen and now the next step in your journey has begun. Internships." He smirks and pulls up a chart.

"Here are all the offers." He says while pointing to the screen.

"Normally it's more even but this year, there are large differences in offers."

Todoroki, the runner-up, got the most offers by far. The second and first aren't even close.

Bakugo, the winner, came second.

I got the third most votes. Then Tokoyami, Mina, Uraraka, Iida...

There were some distraught looks on my classmates faces.

"Don't worry there are still offers coming in and even if you don't get any offers there are agencies you can choose from that take volunteers/interns." Mr Aizawa was going to say something else but then the bell interrupted him and if looks could kill everyone in the school would dead by now.

He clears his throat. "There is a certain thing you will need to do before you go on your internship though-"

Class A froze. A test. A pop quiz. An assessment. Another training exercise. Their thoughts bashed around in a panicked frenzy.

"You need to choose Hero names. But I'm not qualified so someone else will be taking this class and that person will be-"

"Me!" A vixen's voice made its way to our ears and it was none other than the R-rated hero herself, Midnight.

The class let out joyous shouts and sighs of relief and I hear Mineta muttering perverted things to himself in the corner.

"A Hero's name is what makes a hero, it could be a once off thing or it could be your name for life-" and that is where I stopped listening. She rambled on about reasons for Hero names and then hands out white boards to everyone.

Aoyama goes up first and I predict he has something absolutely ridiculous, crazy and wierd and something to do with glitter. And I was right, he has an over the top name that is so stupid that no one could ever accept-

"It's perfect but I say shorten the 'cannot' to 'can't' and remove the 'I'. There you go, you will now be known as Can't Stop Twinkling !" Midnight announced triumphantly.

I shove my head into my hands with utter shame and wonder what on earth has society come to. My inner feelings were announced with the class's surprised outburst and obnoxiously loud side comments.

"Who's next?" Midnight says eagerly scanning the crowd of concentrating students. I begrudgingly raised my hand.

I had spent hours thinking about a good and non-revealing name. Hell we even held a meeting about it. I needed something heroic and easy to remember but something that had deep meaning, well appeared to anyway.

I slowly made my way up to the podium. I gave everyone a nervous smile and dramatically showed everyone my name.

They were all shocked.

"Really Midoriya, I thought that name was an insult?!" Iida cries in surprise.

I nodded and gave everyone a heart-warming smile.

"Yes it was but from now Deku is the name of a Hero!" I declare in an over the top voice which could rival All Might's except I was squeakier and cuter.

"Great name, super cute, it kinda sounds like You can do it in Japanese. I approve." Midnight says swaying her hips and making her handcuffs around her wrists jangle.

I sat down and put my head down on my desk but as soon as I closed my eyes, Aizawa came in and asked if he could borrow me for the rest of the lesson.

Midnight looked puzzled as to why he would need me of all people but Aizawa was staying tight-lipped and refused to say anything.

"Midoriya please go with Mr Azaiwa." Midnight says in a flirty tone, only hell knows what she is thinking.

I sprung up and walked over to him and gave him my best bunny smile to which everyone around me melted and almost fainted from the amount of cuteness, but Mr Aizawa wasn't affected, he just briskly walked through the door and I had to almost sprint to catch up to him.

That is when I knew something was up, since when does Mr Aizawa move with such speed! I started to worry, there are so many things that could've gone wrong.

He abruptly stopped at the Principle's office and opened the door.

My heart leapt into my throat and I wanted to break out into a nervous sweat, my worst nightmare had become a reality.

I was being questioned by the Detective Tsukauchi, the human lie detector.

No one can lie to him.

How am I going to wiggle my way out of this one!

A/N

Dun, dun, dun

Hey all, now I want to tell you something unbelievable.

We passed the 1000 views mark!!!😃😄👏🎆🎊🎉

It's exhilarating and a serious boost to my self confidence. Whoop, whoop🎉🎊

So this why my dear readers I have published chapter 17 2 WEEKS EARLY That's right. Your welcome. Things are getting real now though.

Will Izuku be able to outsmart the detective and principal Nezu.

~J