Normal POV
Izuku didn't quite know how to feel; he couldn't find the words or a way to explain the jumble of emotions coursing through his body. Several feelings were confusing him. On one hand, he was happy, since his business had started off very well, to the point that he'd earned enough to cover half the cost of Inko's hospital stay, using the emergency card funds to cover the rest. On the other hand, he couldn't stop thinking that they might catch him and track down the information he'd been publishing on his website.
Not all the information was compromising; primarily, that designated for specialized advice posed no risk. It was the other areas that worried him, as they could have a greater impact on third parties. This was confirmed by the news.
Although at first he had decided not to dwell on the potential consequences of what his information could generate, he soon realized that the facts would come to light, especially with his subscriptions to various news channels and forums that broadcast information about the heroes instantly.
A couple of days after their first deal, notifications started flashing on his phone from the various websites he was registered on. He managed to resist looking at them during class, but once he was back at his apartment, the temptation was too strong.
Sitting in front of his computer in the privacy of his room, he logged into the websites where he was registered with his normal account to see what had happened, finding different headlines:
AirJet hero ambushed in the streets of Hokuto AirJet hospitalized due to malfunction of its support equipment Villain achieves victory against hero AirJet What happened in the battle between AirJet and the Stealthy Villain?
Izuku clicked on one at random and began to read: "Today at noon, in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, a battle took place that shocked much of the population. Although the occasional victory of the dark forces of Villainy is not common in this age of light, today one of those surprising cases occurred: the hero AirJet ended up being defeated by the Stealth Villain. The attack occurred while AirJet was chasing a petty mugger; his Jetpack suffered an unforeseen malfunction, and a sneak attack from behind destabilized his flight, causing him to plummet. The Villain took advantage of this to block his other propulsion systems the moment he activated them, presumably using an air encapsulation Quirk, causing aa traffic jam that resulted in the explosion of the hero's support equipment. This caused his defeat, leaving AirJet incapacitated and with numerous injuries due to the damage to his support suit.
The information mentioned in the news made Izuku remember everything he had exchanged with the user: the support suit, how the one-way quirk worked, the special attacks and blind spots… every piece of information he had shared had been used in the attack.
Upon reading it, he couldn't help but run to the bathroom to vomit. He was aware that the information could be misused, but in his hope and innocence, he hoped that wasn't the case. Even so, he didn't give himself time to dwell on his guilt, because as soon as he cleaned up the traces of vomit, a message arrived on his new disposable phone: it was from the user, thanking him for the information and mentioning that he would send more people willing to pay for his services.
"More clients," his brain told him, and he immediately connected that with more revenue… which meant more money. So he focused solely on that, without considering that a hero had ended up injured because of the information he'd given. Even to clear his mind of the incident before leaving, he checked other news stories that didn't mention what had happened, finding that some of the villains he'd leaked information about had been captured and defeated.
With his mind a little calmer, he took out enough cash and headed to the train station, intending to go to an internet café in Nagano this time. On the way, he remembered a costume shop he'd seen earlier and decided to stop in. There he bought more props: makeup, wigs, false teeth, and some prosthetics. Shopping done, he continued on to the café, though he didn't put anything on yet to avoid being recognized inside.
He greeted the cashier, ordered a cheap drink, and found the most secluded and hidden computer in the store. He inserted his Hatsume device along with his USB drive, as he always did before starting a business. Once he logged in, he noticed that the private chat notification bar was now four times the number of messages he was used to.
— It seems that at this rate I won't have to spam anymore, since the customers themselves will do enough advertising — he whispered to himself, before continuing to work.
Mrs. Hatsume could only watch with amusement as young Midoriya became frustrated and even gave himself small electric shocks while wiring one of his many special projects, with the advice of hisHer husband, Enkei. A large man who, like his daughter, usually wore work overalls and had his bubblegum-blue hair in dreadlocks tied back in a ponytail, oddly matching his goatee. Hatsume couldn't help but notice that the teenager was dedicated, though with serious self-confidence issues; she saw it in how he downplayed his coursework or how he kept to himself among the other students.
Even so, Midoriya remained steadfast in his goals. Hatsume suspected he was using his courses for something more than just learning. At first, she thought it was to improve his references and skills with a view to getting into a school. Yes, he had mentioned that they would be useful for something, but he never specified what, so Hatsume accepted that explanation. Later, when someone asked him which school he planned to attend, he admitted he didn't know.
It was then that Hatsume realized his approach was more personal: protecting and securing their projects from potential hacks. Upon reviewing his registration record, she noticed his birthday and decided to give him that device from her brand. She could still see the young man's face light up with excitement and gratitude. After that, Hatsume sensed a greater affinity between Midoriya and them; he even asked them questions about the family's Quirks to help them improve their use of them, as a way of thanking them for all the support he'd received. Thus, she understood that the boy was exceptional at Quirk analysis.
Therefore, after discussing it with her husband, they offered him help to improve his equipment, expanding his skills in both analysis and technical work. Midoriya gladly accepted, without demanding any compensation, even though they offered to pay him as an intern or give him a larger discount on classes. He flatly refused, stating: "This kind of learning is my greatest gain and investment."
The moment brought her to the present scene: watching the teenager working alongside her husband on one of the day's errands. Hatsume snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of the gadget powering up, followed by Midoriya's small, triumphant shout.
— You've got talent, kid. You could even compete with my daughter in the UA support course if you keep this up.
— It's not that big of a deal, you're the one who guided me through it all.
"Stop undervaluing your work, kid. You're good, and this improvement we made to the directional bracelets is thanks to your knowledge of their quirks,"
Hatsume said, just as a bell rang at the entrance of the support item shop. "And just in time, they might be the customers for the order. Will you come with me to deliver them?"The offer was genuine, and the boy knew it. He took the bracelet and accompanied Enkei, who was already chatting with the newly arrived customers. As they crossed the threshold, both Mrs. and Mr. Hatsume understood the reason behind the boy's shy and reserved demeanor.
— Deku? What's a quirkless loser doing in a prop shop?
— came the disdainful voice of a black-haired teenager. The Hatsume family turned towards Izuku, who stood motionless in the doorway.
"That's a good question, Kaze," interrupted a girl with orange hair, Izuku's classmate. "It's interesting that you're in a place like this, Deku. Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask why you let someone like him work here?"
The condescension in the young men's voices was evident as they looked at Izuku with disdain. He simply kept his head down, trying not to be noticed.
"Boy, I don't understand your statements," Enkei feigned ignorance, keeping his guard up, and silently signaled his wife to be alert.
"Deku, you didn't tell these honorable people anything. How mean of you... but, as I said before, the boy over there"—he pointed to the boy—"is Quirkless."
The word landed like a bombshell. The teenagers were stunned, and for a moment Izuku thought he would have to distance himself from the Hatsume family, apologize, and never get involved with them again. Until he heard Enkei's firm voice:
— We heard you the first time, kid. That's why I say I don't understand what you're trying to say.
— It's Quirkless.
- AND?
— What do you mean by "and", sir? You don't seem to understand what it means.
"Of course I understand, kid. We can see that you quirkists are being very rude," Murasakime said, firmly approaching the two teenagers, who took a step back.
"You can take your bracelet that Izuku was kind enough to upgrade, and leave."
The young people were stunned. They had never seen anyone, apart from Izuku's mother, defend him or take his side. Clumsily, they placed the money on the table.
Mr. Hatsume took the bracelet, gave Izuku a reassuring smile, and handed it to the teenagers, who left without protest.
- Thank you.
— You're welcome, kid. Don't let his words get to you.
— But they were telling the truth… I am Quirkless —sadness could be heard in his voice.— That's it, kid… do you remember what I told you about quirks when we first met?
— That peculiarities are tools and that they depend on who uses them.
"Exactly. And you don't specialize in just one, but in several." Her frankness was striking, but her calm turned to bewilderment when she saw the tears in the boy's emerald eyes. "Don't cry, those boys were rude."
"No, it's not that. I'm just happy," Izuku said, flashing a bright smile. That was more than enough for the Hatsume family.
The moment was shattered by an explosion on the roof, followed by the classic scream of a mother and daughter, bringing a semblance of normalcy back to the young green-haired man. Finally, the adults closed both shops and focused on their projects, asking no questions, but maintaining a constant presence. Izuku knew, in that instant, that he wasn't alone and that he had others on his side.
Could you give me some power stones? :)
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