A few years before the U.A. Entrance Exam. Kael Ishiro is running solo as a vigilante. Rain lingers in the air over a shadowed Musutafu alleyway.
The night was quiet, but not peaceful.
A low groan echoed from behind a stack of trash bins. A man in a business suit writhed on the ground, clutching a broken wrist. Two others lay unconscious nearby, their weapons scattered across the wet concrete.
Kael stood above them, his face unreadable in the dim light.
Tendrils of deep black shadow, faintly laced with shimmering red, retracted from the collapsed bodies back into his arms. The light hiss of DarkBind dispersing into his sleeves was the only sound he allowed himself to hear. Quick. Clean. Efficient.
He didn't linger. He turned to leave.
But then—a snap of movement.
A scarf whipped forward like a striking serpent.
Kael twisted just in time to avoid it catching his throat. The tail brushed past his cheek as he dropped low, eyes narrowing.
Another figure dropped silently from above, landing with a soft thud in front of him.
Tall. Dressed in black. Goggles glowing faintly in the dark.
Eraser Head. A sort of Dark Knight that Kael read about in a Hero Data Book. They said that if you rely solely on your Quirk, then this man was your Kyrptonite.
Kael's jaw tensed.
"You've been active in this district for two weeks," he said flatly. "Fast, brutal, and clean. But you're not sanctioned."
Kael didn't answer. His eyes scanned the distance—three exits. Two were high. One behind Eraser Head.
"I'm not here to play Hero," he said coolly. "And I don't care about your laws. If someones in danger, I'm going to help regardless."
"I'm not saying you shouldn't." His tone remained dry. "You're strong. But strength without restraint is just damage waiting to happen."
Kael didn't flinch.
"Tell that to the three men who won't be causing any harm tonight, or to the countless others who will be able to return home to their families tonight."
No matter how right he was, being a Vigilante was Illegal. Although they have good intentions, the way they go about fulfilling those intentions are what makes them frowned upon.
Eraser head's scarf darted forward again—faster this time. Kael ducked, rolled sideways, and flicked out a tendril, aiming for the edge of a rooftop.
But nothing happened.
DarkBind fizzled and dispersed.
Kael's eyes snapped toward Eraser heads—now glowing faintly red.
'He's erasing my Quirk. No just Darkbind either. Balancekeeper as well..'
"Tch."
Kael didn't panic. He stepped backward, staying low, calculating.
"Who are you really?" He asked. "That Quirk doesn't match any registry I've seen."
That was due to Darkbinds Orginal user never registering his Quirk.
Kael smirked faintly. "Then your registry needs an update."
"You're a threat to civilian lives and your own. Stop this now!"
"Only a threat to the people who deserve it."
A beat passed between them, the kind where movement could erupt any second.
Kael's hand inched toward the knife at his boot—not to use it, but to distract Eraser Head.
Then—click.
Eraser Head blinked. And that split second was enough.
Kael moved as DarkBind surged back into his arms the instant his Quirk released. Two tendrils shot upward, latching onto a fire escape. In one fluid motion, Kael launched himself high into the air, twisting between metal railings and vanishing onto the rooftop.
He didn't follow behind him however.
From above, Kael paused just long enough to look down. Their eyes met.
He didn't shout. Didn't chase. Just stood there, watching for the vigilantes next move.
Kael grinned then disappeared into the night without another word, Eraser Head turning towards the unconscious men on the ground. They were thugs that he was tracking down, waiting for the right moment to strike.
'We wait for an opening, but they take it as soon as they see any opportunity. That difference between Heroes and Vigilantes is why this world is so…'
He wrapped them up in his scarf and made a break back towards his base, never seeing or encountering the Vigilante again.
…
"The judges for the exam weren't rational enough. Someone like you should never be allowed to enroll in this school."
"Huh…? You erased it?! And wait, those goggles! Oh my God!" Izuku stepped back a bit. "Y-You're the Erasure Hero, Eraser Head, the Hero who can erase the Quirk of anyone you look at!"
Kael knew it. That man was the one he met that day. The man who made Kael more cautious in battles. The man who could take away all his Quirks in his arsenal just by looking at him.
"Erasure Hero? Who's that?" The class murmured. Yumi glanced over at Kael who had a look of admiration on his face.
"One of the strongest heroes out there. Anyone who solely relies on their Quirk doesn't stand a chance against him."
Aizawa stepped closer towards Izuku. "From what I've observed, you can't control your Quirks Full power, meaning you can't use it efficiently at all. So tell me, did you believe someone would come save you after you crippled yourself again?"
"No, that's not what I was—!" His scarf flew out and enveloped Izuku, pulling him in front of Aizawa's frame.
"No matter what you're intentions are, you would be nothing more than a liability in battle. You have that same reckless passion as another overzealous Hero I know. One who saved a thousand people by himself and became a legend. But even with that drive, your worthless if all you can do is throw a single punch before breaking down."
Kael noticed Aizawa eyeing someone out of the corner of his eye. Looking in that direction, he saw a large man in a yellow suit and tie staring at Aizawa and Izuku.
'W-What the hell?! All Might??' Kael eyes enlarged. The worlds strongest Hero and the sybol of peace standing just a few feet away, hiding behind a wall.
'Is he…'
"Im sorry Midoriya. You have no chance of becoming a Hero."
Izuku's eyes widened, and his brows furrowed. Aizawa released him, returning his 'impractical' Quirk and giving him one more chance.
Izuku, deep in thought, clenched his fists. Kael sighed and attempted to approach him, but Yumi intervened.
"Let him do it on his own. He has to learn.." Kael stared at Yumi, processing her words before finally agreeing with them. Kael wanted to help Izuku. He could tell him right now how to control that power, but..
Yumi was right. To grow, you have to take matters into your own hands and recognize your strengths. "U.A. is a school that nurtures the next generation of students into the future heroes of society. I will trust Aizawa's judgment and Izuku's resolve."
Izuku clenched his jaw and took a final stance. A surge of energy surged through him, this time confined to his pointer finger.
"SMAAAASSSHHH!"
The ball soared into the sky, shattering the sound barrier and sending gusts of wind and debris flying. Kael's eyes widened in awe as it vanished from his view.
Everyone was astounded by the immense power Izuku displayed. Bakugo's eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed Izuku's exceptional abilities. 'No way! That annoying nerd actually possesses a Quirk now.'
"The only other person I've witnessed exerting that immense raw physical power is All Might himself," Kael couldn't believe it. Now, he comprehended the reason behind Izuku's limbs breaking every time he utilized this power.
If harnessed to its full potential without the detrimental consequences of bodily damage, that Quirk held the potential to rival Balancekeeper.
"767.35" Aizawa saw the score on his screen.
"Mr. Aizawa..!" He looked up and saw Izuku making a fist, tears being held back by the excruciating pain as he bit his lip to hold them back.
"I…I can still move!"
"Oh?!" Aizawa's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on Izuku. He witnessed unwavering resolve, indomitable determination, and a student who was determined to prove to everyone that he possessed the qualities necessary to become a Hero.
…