Eighty percent of the population of this world has some kind of superpower; they're called Quirks. With the introduction of Quirks came villains -- with villains came heroes. Among these heroes, there was one who was the greatest of them all: All Might.
This story, however, isn't about All Might -- not entirely. It's about me, Peter Parker.
When I was five years old, my parents shipped me off to live with my Aunt Mei and Uncle Ben in Japan. When I first came to Japan, I was bullied by the other students for being American. However, the bullying stopped by the time my Quirk manifested, and the bullies directed their attention toward this Quirkless kid in my class. I never really talked to the kid, but I'll never forget the day his and my fates became somewhat intertwined.
Class had ended, and most of my classmates had departed. The Quirkless boy was surrounded by bullies, all following the leader of the pack, the spikey-haired blonde named Katuski Bakugo.
"I don't know what you're doing, Deku, but we aren't done."
He called the green-haired, Quirkless boy 'Deku', but that wasn't his real name. People only called him that to make fun of him. I didn't understand the pun since Japanese was my second language, but I think I heard Bakugo say it means 'useless'. Bakugo snatched Deku's notebook and held it over his head. One of Bakugo's lackeys squinted at the cover before bursting out in teary-eyed laughter.
"Don't tell me you're taking notes on how to become a hero! So pathetic."
I watched from the doorway with my hand squeezing one of my backpack straps.
What an asshole... I thought. But then again, it's better him than me. Bakugo is the strongest there is, and I've never even thrown a punch in my life. I'd rather not get involved. Sorry, Midoriya, you're on your own.
"Please give that back..." Deku mumbled, his hand outstretched toward his notebook. Bakugo scoffed before using his Quirk to cook the notebook well done.
"That's so mean..." Deku muttered as Bakugo tossed the tattered notebook over his head and out the third-floor window.
Bakugo placed a hand on Deku's shoulder, his palm charring the Quirkless boy's shoulder. "Don't even think of applying. Or else."
Bakugo and his cronies took their leave, stopping just before the doorway. With that crooked smirk of his, Bakugo showed half his face to Deku before giving him one last piece of advice.
"Y'know, if you really wanna be a hero that badly, there might just be another way. Just pray that you'll be born with a Quirk in your next life and then take a swan dive off the roof of the building."
How awful. In a way, Quirkless people were a marginalized group. Telling a kid to kill himself for the way he was born is just so cold... But I've heard Bakugo say worse.
Bakugo scoffed; meanwhile, I was still standing in the doorway.
"Outta my way, white boy," he said, shoving me aside.
This is how the world works. I thought to myself. There are those who are at the top and those who are at the bottom. If you can't be number one, then at least make sure you aren't absolute last. Never be that guy.
I contemplated asking the Quirkless kid if he was alright, but if the others found out, I would become an easy target. I had to look out for myself. Me. Numero uno. So I walked home.
Truly, I felt bad for the kid. Being Quirkless was hard enough, but being bullied for it must've been a living hell. In the end, though, I could only remind myself that it was better him than me.
When I was about halfway home, I could hear a commotion coming from behind me. When I turned, I saw a green sludge monster straggling down the street, cash spilling from its wet flesh. The guy wasn't really a monster, though; he was just some poor guy whose Quirk mutated his body enough that he no longer appeared human. If I looked like that, I'd probably live a life of crime too.
He was coming right for me, but I could tell that he wasn't going to attack me -- he was simply trying to run away with his spoils. And so, I stepped to the side, giving him ample room to pass.
Sure, with my Quirk, I might've been able to slow him down enough for the police to catch him, but I didn't think it would be worth the hassle. Besides, it's like I said earlier, I had to look out for myself. Numero Uno.
I would regret that decision.
A few minutes later, I found a car accident that this sludge monster had caused. There were three cars involved, and an old man was wedged between a building and a car bumper, impaling his chest.
As I got closer, I realized who this old man was. It was Ben.
I called out to him as I ran past the cops and paramedics. They tried to stop me, only letting me through after I kept shouting that the man was my uncle.
I'd made it just before Uncle Ben took his last breath, but before he did so, he had some final words for me.
"Peter... Thank God I was able to hold out long enough to talk with you one last time..."
Uncle Ben knew that I would be taking this route home; he'd often walk me back halfway. If only he'd stayed home that day! If only I'd left class sooner instead of watching that Quirkless kid get bullied! If only -- if only I stopped that villain when I had the chance. Uncle Ben wouldn't have been dying in front of me.
"Remember when you were a little boy and you said that you wanted to be like All Might?" Ben laughed blood as he recollected the past.
"Save your energy, Uncle Ben. Help is on the way!"
"No, Peter. My body is basically cut in half. This bumper is the only thing holding me together. I only have a little while left, so just listen."
"Your Aunt Mei and I... We didn't do a good enough job of encouraging your dream of being a hero. For that, I am sorry. You can be a hero, Peter. You're stronger than you know; trust me. Just remember these words: With great power, there must also come great responsibility. I love you, Peter. Tell your aunt that I love..."
And that was it. Uncle Ben was gone, just like that. Just moments later, I saw All Might fly past us. He looked directly at me, his eyes apologizing for being too late. He wasn't smiling like he would on TV.
When I got home, I explained to Aunt Mei what happened, and the two of us wept until there weren't any tears left to shed. That night, I saw a post online that showed All Might catching the villain, but before then, I saw something that made my stomach turn. The villain was holding Bakugo hostage, and the heroes were too afraid to make a move. But out of everyone in the city, do you know who dared to save him? That damed Quirkless kid. Deku -- no Izuku Midoriya.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Midoriya desperately attacked the villain and began clawing at him to break Bakugo free. For the last decade, Midoriya was Bakugo's punching bag, his toy to let off some steam and inflate his nasty ego. Despite it all, Midoriya, the weakest of them all, risked his life to save him...
If I had even a sliver of that courage, I could have saved Uncle Ben, but I didn't. I was nothing more than a coward -- a coward less brave than a weakling without a Quirk. I couldn't even finish watching the video before I threw my phone so hard, it exploded against my wall.
I didn't have the heart to tell Aunt Mei that it was my fault that Uncle Ben died. For months, I contemplated taking my own life; the only thing that stopped me was knowing that Mei would be all alone if I did that.
One night, I just couldn't take it anymore. I needed to blow off some steam. I headed downtown, swinging from building to building using the webs from my Quirk.
However, I stopped in my tracks upon hearing a familiar phrase.
"You can be a hero!"
I turned to see All Might displayed on a television, his smile as radiant as ever. "That's right, you can be a hero! Applications for U.A. High School close within the next two days, so don't forget to sign up!"
Uncle Ben's final words then echoed in my skull. "With great power, there must also come great responsibility."
Right. Putting my anger out on some poor street thug isn't going to bring Ben back. If I get into U.A. and I become a hero, maybe I can prevent some kid out there from feeling how I feel now. I can stop someone else's uncle, father, or mother from sharing the same fate as Ben. This is what you wanted, right, Ben? This is why you held out until you could speak to me one last time? I'll do it, then. I'll be a hero. I'll become the number one hero, even better than All Might!
Two months passed, and I found myself among other students in front of the massive metal door leading to the U.A. training grounds. Here, they would test our abilities to see who was worthy enough to join the elite at U.A. High. To no surprise, I saw Bakugo there; however, I also saw Midoriya, who'd clearly changed since the last time I saw him.
His big, round eyes were still trembling as they always would, but his body had transformed. His muscles were even bigger than mine; he must've undergone some serious training over the break. At first, I was ashamed of myself, remembering how Midoriya stepped up against that villain while I couldn't. I pushed those feelings aside and instead used Midoriya's presence as motivation for myself. If he, of all people, was there, then I knew that I belonged there as well.
I won't let you down, Uncle Ben!