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MHA Season 2 Episode 2 “What it takes to be a Hero”
Lyrics to “Never Enough” by Five Finger Death Punch
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“It’s not bad to have a Dream, young Man… just make sure your dreams are attainable, Realistic, understand?” as the scrawny man left the roof, a surprise voice sounded behind the young Middle schooler.
“Huh, so that’s what happened to the so-called Symbol of Peace,” the gravelly young man said, stepping from the shadows of the air conditioners, “I’m glad I was up here already when you two landed.”
“Who…” The green-haired teen turned around, surprised at the blue-haired stranger scratching his neck, near what seemed to be… a bloody dust pile? “You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?”
“Seems like the kind of information that’s more valuable kept to yourself,” The stranger said, looking at the scrawny teen, “He didn’t even ask if you had any other stats. Mana and strength aren’t the only stats that make a good party member. What about your Dex or Int stats?”
“I… if you’re asking if I do anything else… I like to do Quirk analysis,” Izuku offered shyly. He didn’t even know why he was talking to this guy. He seemed like he might be a villain of some kind… definitely a gamer though by the way he was talking, “I haven’t been able to get into any gyms to do any other kind of training. They don’t usually take quirkless kids.”
“Your Dex can be trained up,” blue hair dismissed, “Let me see this analysis.”
“I…” No one ever wanted to see his analysis… even if he suspected this man of villainy… showing him some publicly available information couldn’t hurt… right?
After looking at it a moment, Blue hair whistled, grinning, “You’re a good strategist. I could use a scout. Could probably train you into a rogue.” He handed the book back, reaching to the dust pile and picking up the only intact thing there, wiping it off and handing over a cheap burner phone, “This has one number on it, my burner. It’s untraceable, so don’t bother going to the police with it, but when you get tired of the heroes looking down on you, my side could use your skills.”
“By your side… You mean the Villains,” Izuku said nervously.
“See? You’re smarter than that blond oaf could ever be,” The other chuckled, pulling out his own phone, “The name is Shigaraki Tomura. You’ll be hearing about me pretty soon. Probably sooner now that I finally know what that asshole’s actual weakness is. You don’t have to tell me your name unless you’re ready to join. I’m not going to threaten a good player.”
Shigaraki put his phone to his ear, asking for pickup, and then stepping through a black portal that appeared next to him. Izuku tried not to panic as he rushed down the stairs. That was a genuine villain. A genuine villain who gave him his phone number on a burner phone from a pile of dust that was probably once a person.
As soon as Izuku hit the ground, he heard sirens and a very familiar explosion nearby. Oh god, Kacchan was in trouble! Rushing to the sound, he found a crowd forming around his former best friend, drowning in… oh Kami, that was the same villain that had tried to kill him earlier! Why weren’t the Heroes doing anything? Izuku didn’t take too long. He’d been there. He knew what that felt like, so he rushed in, throwing his backpack, aiming for the eyes, the obvious weak point of this man. He got him distracted and away from Kacchan… and All Might rushed in and punched the villain away before disappearing.
Izuku knew, intellectually, that All Might vanished because he’d already run out his limit saving him earlier, but did he have to do it so dramatically?
Once the Drama was over, Death Arms rounded on Izuku, berating the boy, and trying to tell him that his actions could count as vigilantism… until Izuku pointed out that under statute 143, that was defined as the usage of a quirk without a license to stop a crime, and he didn’t have a quirk.
“That’s worse, kid! You could have gotten yourself KILLED! What were you even thinking?” The large pro asked.
Izuku couldn’t help it. The day had been stressful enough, Two Villains, one of them twice, and being berated by every hero he’d met. The only one who seemed to encourage him had been that strange villain on the roof. He snapped.
I'm so fed up with everyone around me
No one seems to care
The green-haired boy stood, getting ready to walk away, turning back to say something more.
I'm just so far gone and nothing's gonna change
I'll never be the same
It's always do this, do that
Everything they want to
I don't wanna live that way (No!)
Every chance they get they're always
Pushing me away
When the large hero reached out to stop the small boy from leaving, he pushed his hand off his shoulder.
It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be
Izuku ran off at that, wiping tears from his face. He didn’t even notice Kacchan following him until he heard the words, “What the hell was that about, Deku? What do you think you are, huh?”
Izuku spun around, glaring at his former friend through watery eyes.
It's all so messed up and no one ever listens
Everyone's deranged
I'm just so fucked up and I'm never gonna change
I lay it all to waste
Izuku knew he was shouting at this point; he didn’t care.
They're always say this say that
Nothing that you want to
I don't wanna live that way (No)
Every chance they get they're always
Shoving me aside
This time, Deku pushed Kacchan away, and Katsuki was too shocked to do anything about it.
It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be
I'm done!
Izuku stomped away from his shocked bully, wiping the tears from his face, pulling the phone from his pocket, and looking at it as he heard a familiar voice come out of the nearby alleyway.
“I saw what you did, helping that boy when you had no power to assist you. Your action spurred me into action. I think you can be a real Hero, kid. I have a quirk… I can give it to you. With my quirk, you can become a True Hero.” All Might said.
In the end we're all just chalk lines on the concrete
Drawn only to be washed away
For the time that I've been given
I am what I am
Izuku looked up at his former Hero. He’d had this transferable quirk this entire time, and he said he couldn’t be a hero without even knowing him.
I'd rather hate you for everything you are
Than ever love you for something you are not
Izuku dialed the number in his phone
I'd rather you hate me for everything I am
Than have you love me for something that I can't
“Well, Well, Well, I wasn’t expecting to get this call so soon, Scout,” The rough voice of the villain, Shigaraki, said happily, “What do you want?”
“I’m going home to get my analysis books. Can you pick me up with your portal quirk guy?” Izuku asked, voice roughened with anger and tears as he stormed away from All Might.
“What changed your mind?” Shigaraki asked.
It's never enough, it's never enough
No matter what I say
It's never enough, no it's never enough
No matter who I try to be
It's never enough, no, it's never enough
No matter how I try to change
Izuku looked at his mother when he entered the house, carrying his shoes to his bedroom instead of leaving them, having every plan of leaving from his bedroom.
“Izuku! I saw you on TV! You have no idea how worried I was watching my baby run in like that! You're too delicate for that,” Inko started, stopping short when Izuku turned his angry, cold stare on her.
It's never enough, never, never enough
I'll never be what you want me to be
Izuku had never shouted at his mother before, and Inko didn't know how to react when Izuku ran into his bedroom afterwards.
One phone call and one portal later, Izuku stood in a strange bar, 13 journals in his backpack along with a few changes of clothes.
“Welcome to the League of Villains, Scout. Why don't you introduce yourself?” Shigaraki asked.