Izuku "Deku" Midoriya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wannasmash) wrote2021-08-02 05:45 pm
wannasmash) wrote2021-08-02 05:45 pm
Entry tags:
App: Deer Country
Canon update 2022-01-17
Canon update 2022-06-02
• Character Name: Izuku "Deku" Midoriya
• Age: 16
• Canon: My Hero Academia. Chapter 217 "The New Power and All For One". English volume published February 4, 2020.
• Items Coming Along: Hero costume, including Iron Soles, Air Force Gloves, respirator mask with attached cowl, and belt pouches with emergency items like first aid
• Content Warnings for Character:
Midoriya specifically: ableism-flavored Quirk discrimination, broken bones, cannibalism (blood... and hair I guess??), finger injuries, harassment/bullying, mind control, self-endangerment, self-harm, violence involving minors
Additional CW for canon up to canon point: abuse (verbal and physical) to adults and minors, arranged marriage, drug abuse, drug trafficking, small-scale eugenics, human experimentation, impalement, mental disorders (including personality disorders and PTSD), murder, needles/darts, nudity (conveniently censored, includes minors), organized crime, pedophilia (flirting), possession, Quirk discrimination, sexual harassment, vivisection (human child), vomit
This app will contain unmarked spoilers.
• History: Wikia filled with unmarked manga spoilers
• Core Relationships:
Aizawa: Homeroom teacher, Pro Hero
According to him, Midoriya inspires by example and raises the bar for how hard a student can work to become a hero. This is high praise from someone who was initially going to expel him for having no potential and being a danger to himself. Aizawa is responsible for some of Midoriya's more level-headed decisions, being one of the first people to admonish him to get better control of his Quirk. However, he also fostered his class's high potential by accelerating their lessons and pushing for early Provisional Licenses. Aizawa gave Midoriya a chance to work with the Pro Heroes raiding the Shie Hassaikai, because he knew Midoriya was driven to save Eri--and because Midoriya might just break the law and go anyway.
Some of his classmates have caused their share of trouble, but it's mild-mannered Midoriya who's been a huge problem child. To Aizawa, the worst kind of student is one who takes unnecessary risks and endangers themself. This is, unfortunately, Midoriya's trademark.
All For One: Mortal enemy, Shigaraki's mentor, also the name of his Quirk
A shadowy puppet master and powerhouse with the ability to give and take Quirks. He was the unwitting originator of One For All's power, when the power-stocking Quirk he forced on his defiant younger brother mixed with his preexisting Quirk that gives Quirks to others. From this younger brother, One For All has since been cultivated and passed on by several people with the intention of stopping All For One. Midoriya is the 9th. When he saw All For One in battle, Midoriya experienced his first paralyzing fear of death. All Might defeated All For One using the last remnants of his Quirk. Midoriya is now the only One For All user. All For One currently awaits his sentence in a high-security prison. His protege, Shigaraki, is still at large.
All Might: Mentor, schoolteacher, former wielder of One For All, arguably the greatest hero of all time
Midoriya, an All Might fanboy, met his idol in junior high. He asked All Might if someone who was Quirkless could become a hero. All Might gave him the realistic answer, that it would be impossible and dangerous. When a Quirkless Midoriya ran out to save Bakugou despite having no power, All Might was spurred to action despite his injury. All Might had just spoken with him about how Pro Heroes risked their lives, but it was Midoriya who rushed out into danger that other Pros on the scene balked at. It was foolish, but it struck at the heart of what All Might believed it took to be a hero. All Might knew then that he had found his successor.
Midoriya looks up to his mentor while turning a blind eye to his flaws (vagueness, lack of teaching skill, unsustainable self-sacrifice). After multiple villain attacks on his students, and Midoriya's medical report showed worrying damage to his ligaments, All Might apologized and promised Midoriya's mother in earnest that he would devote himself to protecting and teaching him properly. Midoriya started as his fan, then became his student, and then pretty much like a son to him.
Bakugou: Classmate, childhood friend, explosive rival
Midoriya admired Bakugou's confidence since before his Quirk manifested. However, Midoriya's strong urge to help people alienated Bakugou over the years. Bakugou hated being seen as weak. If Midoriya offered to help him, Bakugou thought he, weak and Quirkless, was looking down on him.
Bakugou came to hate the sight of Midoriya unwittingly intruding on his sphere--in childhood, junior high, and then the U. A. Hero Course. Yet Midoriya was there, seemed to have their idol All Might in his corner, improved at an alarming rate, and even copied some of his techniques. Midoriya failed to tell Bakugou it wasn't because he was trying to trick or make fun of him, but because he admired him.
It wasn't until after an unsanctioned, explosive fight that they talked properly for the first time, let alone tried to respect (rather than admire, envy, or fear) each other's strengths. Bakugou put two and two together and knew something was funny about Midoriya's Quirk. All Might revealed why. Now a proper rival instead of a personal bully, Bakugou began to regularly check in on his progress, hoping to challenge him whenever he moved forward.
Eri: Little girl, abused by Overhaul, friend
She reached out to him, but Midoriya was delayed in saving her while he had to wait for the investigation into Overhaul to progress. This weighed heavily on him; every day his spirit felt ready to break. He and Togata vowed to save her. When Midoriya saw that Eri was still traumatized after being saved from Overhaul, he put all his efforts into making sure she had a fun time during her visits to U. A. This was also part of saving her. He reminded her that no matter what Overhaul had said, her Quirk was not a curse, but a blessing. Midoriya took his own lesson to heart, reminding himself that, even if One For All resembles All For One's power, and it could be difficult to control, it's all in how he uses it as a hero.
Gran Torino: Internship boss, All Might's teacher, Pro Hero
He originally requested Midoriya as an intern because he felt All Might, his former student, wasn't being a good enough teacher. Gran Torino saw that Midoriya was copying All Might too much and told him to think outside the box. Gran Torino was instrumental in inspiring Midoriya to think of a way to use One For All in an effective way that didn't hurt himself. Every time Midoriya fights now, he makes use of Gran Torino's lesson. As All Might's former teacher, he sees a lot of him in Midoriya.
Iida: Classmate, close friend, fought Stain, Bakugou rescue team
One of the first U. A. students to befriend Midoriya, the blustery but earnest Class President is Midoriya's "dad friend". He encourages Midoriya to do his best and stay on the straight and narrow. However, he also looks up to Midoriya's strong drive and instinct to save others.
Just before their internships, the Hero Killer, Stain, put Iida's Pro Hero brother out of commission. A brooding Iida didn't take Midoriya up on his invitation to talk it out. Midoriya regretted not saying more, because Iida went on to pursue Stain in revenge. Midoriya tracked him down and made it clear that he would help him, even if he didn't ask for it, because that's what makes a true hero. So, Iida was very upset after summer camp when Midoriya agreed to go rescue Bakugou. He was worried they might pursue vigilante justice and go to their death in the same way he almost did. He agreed to come along in order to pull them away if a fight was likely. Iida knows that once Midoriya sets his mind on saving someone, he won't stop.
Months later when he saw Midoriya troubled about his work-study, Iida paid him back his invitation to talk it out. He even quoted Midoriya's own words back at him, showing it was a direct result and appreciation of Midoriya trying to reach out back then. Though Midoriya couldn't speak due to a police gag order, he inwardly thanked Iida.
Inko Midoriya: Mother
Midoriya's not afraid to do or say the hard things for the people he cares about, something that runs in the family. Inko was even willing to pull him out of his beloved school if it meant protecting him properly. All Might called this strong. Midoriya, though the possibility upset him at the time, understood why, and the role he had played in ignoring her concerns until then. He and his mother are very close. They even share the same habit of bursting into tears. (Sad tears, happy tears, angry tears, he cries them all.) Her worry over his injuries spurred him to make a greater effort to become a strong, dependable hero no one has to worry about.
Overhaul: Enemy, abuser of Eri, leader of the Shie Hassaikai yakuza, also the name of his Quirk
Midoriya's work-study was his first experience of the criminal underworld. Midoriya was shocked to learn that Overhaul was experimenting on Eri to make Quirk-erasing bullets for his drug war. Overhaul mortally wounded Nighteye, erased Togata's Quirk, and manipulated and tossed Eri in their battle. Despite pushing Midoriya's rage buttons in every way, Midoriya's objective remained to save Eri. He retained enough presence of mind to take their fight to the air to avoid unnecessary damage to the surrounding buildings. To him, Overhaul is the shadow over Eri's happiness.
Shigaraki: Mortal enemy, All For One's protege, Midoriya's foil
He and his villains attacked U. A.'s USJ training dome and gave Midoriya's class their first taste of the world of villains. Since then, Class 1-A doesn't stand around and hesitate like most first years normally would. In a frightening meeting in a mall, Shigaraki threatened to use his Quirk to kill Midoriya and innocent bystanders unless he acted naturally and answered his questions, effectively holding him at gunpoint. This taught Midoriya an important lesson about hostage situations. The police praised him for not panicking or attacking, which would have resulted in death. Shigaraki orchestrated the attack on Midoriya's summer training camp and kidnapped Bakugou in an attempt to turn him to his side. He's been scheming and keeping tabs on Midoriya and his classmates. Midoriya otherwise doesn't know him very well.
Sir Nighteye: Work-study boss, Togata's mentor, Pro Hero, former All Might sidekick, Shie Hassaikai raid
Sir Nighteye accepted Midoriya at his hero agency in order to persuade him to give One For All to his more skilled protege, Togata. The only thing that came close to impressing Sir Nighteye about Midoriya was the hidden thought behind his actions. They were both super All Might fans, but this did not prevent Nighteye from leveling harsh criticism at him. In Midoriya, he saw All Might's insane zeal to save others. He felt it was self-destructive, especially in the wake of his Quirk's future vision of All Might's death. Nighteye's words and the circumstances surrounding his death dealt a blow to Midoriya's confidence as All Might's successor. Nevertheless, as he was dying, Nighteye insisted that Midoriya had changed the future he saw. Midoriya took Nighteye's hope of a bright future full of smiles and referenced it during his next fight with a villain.
Todoroki: Classmate, close friend, Endeavor's son, fought Stain, Bakugou rescue team
Midoriya gained a friendship with Todoroki when he convinced him to set aside his consuming hatred for his father and accept himself (by... yelling at him and breaking his own bones... in the middle of their tournament match... This is how you make friends, right?). Midoriya knew he should have just tried to participate normally, but he had to speak up when he knew why Todoroki was in turmoil. Luckily, Todoroki had the insight to get what Midoriya was saying, and the maturity to figure out how to do it. He contacted his mother and grew closer to his siblings. Midoriya was just the catalyst, but his influence had far-reaching effects.
Up against Stain, Todoroki reminded Iida not to forget the person he wanted to become, as he once had. Todoroki, Midoriya, and Iida share the secret that they illegally fought Stain. If not for their unwavering focus on becoming true heroes, Iida would have permanently lost his way--and his life.
Outside of combat, Midoriya supports Todoroki on his path to see with eyes unclouded by hate. Midoriya knew that Todoroki joined Endeavor's agency for his internship as a learning experience, something he could not have done if he was still consumed by hatred for his father. Midoriya supports whatever decision Todoroki feels comfortable doing.
Togata: Upperclassman, friend, Sir Nighteye's protege, Shie Hassaikai raid
A strong, experienced upperclassman, Togata exemplified All Might (and Midoriya's) heroic ideals. He agreed to introduce Midoriya to Nighteye simply because helping him was what a hero would do. After Nighteye died and Togata's Quirk was erased, Midoriya wondered if Nighteye was right, and if Togata would have been able to prevent tragedy if he'd been One For All's successor instead. Togata committed himself to remaining cheerful for Eri's sake, helping watch her on his sabbatical. Midoriya tried to put on a brave face like him, but this resulted in him throwing himself into his schoolwork in a manic way.
Uraraka: Classmate, close friend, Shie Hassaikai raid
One of his first friends at U. A. With her cheery personality, she helped bring Midoriya out of his shell. She was usually close at hand, asking him his opinion or about stuff he'd like to do, when otherwise he wouldn't have spoken beyond his weird habitual muttering. She was responsible for changing the meaning of "Deku" from Bakugou's insult into praise.
Midoriya's drive inspired a dramatic change in Uraraka. She turned down his help for her match in the Sports Festival to avoid dependency, and chose her internship specifically to work on her weak points. This, in turn, inspired Midoriya. She decided to place her crush (and the resulting jealousy) aside because it was distracting her from her goal of becoming a hero. While she couldn't give it up entirely, doing this enabled her to grow and learn as a hero and a person.
Though Midoriya didn't know the specifics of this, he benefited from having her as a strong teammate as well as a strong friend. They were able to work seamlessly together during the Provisional Licensing exam because of their battle-tested trust in each other. When Midoriya's Blackwhip went out of control, Uraraka jumped into action despite the danger and had the idea for Shinsou to stop it with his Quirk. Midoriya was frightened, and later thanked them for helping him.
Kindness
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Midoriya feels very deeply. His emotions are honest and tend to be written all over his face. His kindness is what drives him to go so out of his way for others. It is one of his strongest traits, and something that sets him apart from other characters in his canon, genre, and protagonists in general. He has a massive case of hero complex. He follows his instinct to save others without question. He prioritizes this selflessly without worrying about his own fear or what others will think of him. His instinctive drive and will for this is so strong that it influences others in powerful ways. It convinced All Might to make him his successor, the next Symbol of Peace.
Charisma
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Bullied all the way until high school, particularly by Bakugou, he used to be a shy nonparticipant who apologized for everything, flinched when someone was mean to him, and didn't stand up to insults thrown his way. He didn't have any friends in junior high, so he threw himself into his fanboy hobby of taking notes on heroes. Though his hobby helps with observation and strategizing, he tends to overthink and doubt things. He even mutters these thoughts out loud, distracting his classmates. It's become a running gag. This shows years of not being used to the company of his peers, and the single-mindedness with which he concentrates on something he cares about.
He used to be at a loss of anything good to say in the moment when someone needed emotional help, as with Todoroki when he gave him his backstory, Iida when he was leaving for his internship, and Kouta at summer camp. This happens less now. Since he ended up helping people, sometimes belatedly, and they appreciated his help, he's gained more confidence.
When he feels strongly about something, he can communicate and get through to people, but otherwise he's terrible at front-facing work. He got docked points for his inexperience calming down mock victims in his Provisional Licensing exam. He also failed to project confidence during his first job interview.
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His mentors encouraged him from the start to at least act more confident. As a hero, people have to put their trust in him. At first, Midoriya jumped into action only out of necessity, the struggle written clearly on his face. He was hesitant to stand out or lead until his Provisional License exam, when he advised his whole class to stick together. He has since grown into a hero that even the most doubtful Pro Hero can believe in. He most recently spearheaded his team's strategy in a training exercise, where Mineta, who had bonded with him over being scared in USJ, remarked that he kind of missed the old, timid Midoriya.
Strategy
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Though it started as a hobby, his notetaking and overthinking means he is quite the strategist. Though he was scared himself, he came up with a plan to escape danger during the USJ attack. He also constructed plans on the fly for his classmates to guard (then chase after, then rescue) Bakugou. He was the first to voice his prediction that U. A. students would be targeted during the Provisional License exam, and the first to predict Togata's moves. He tackles a challenge holistically, whether by grasping desperately at anything he's learned, or showing the fruits of his training. He always keeps something up his sleeve. Bakugou has always said this pisses him off. Read: It presents a challenge to a rival naturally gifted with talent, smarts, and loads of raw combat instinct.
The Successor
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He struggled to see himself as a worthy successor of One For All. While Midoriya was comparing himself to everyone else in the Sports Festival, he suggested to All Might that someone else be the successor. All Might had to reassure him that he exceeded expectations, and there was something that only he could draw out. Sir Nighteye placed further doubt on him by comparing him to the indomitable Togata. Midoriya dwelled on this in the aftermath of the Shie Hassaikai raid.
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Later, Midoriya busied himself with mastering new moves. He bested the villains Gentle Criminal and La Brava without severely injuring himself or needing help. Things were looking up. Then, Blackwhip manifested, and it was like he was back at square one, struggling to control his own Quirk. However, this time, he had a guide. One For All contained the vestiges of its previous holders, including the original user of Blackwhip. His support--the support of One For All itself--was enough to quell his fear of his own Quirk. Remembering All Might taking him as his successor, his origin story, made him feel like he could do anything.
Saving people... with feelings!
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Midoriya is approachable, kind, and reaches out to others. This also makes him pretty good with little kids. Kouta and Eri were reluctant to open up to anyone, but Midoriya got through to them. If he thinks someone is in trouble, including emotional trouble, he tends to meddle even when he's not asked to. While All Might praises this as the essence of being a hero, application has mixed results in Midoriya's case.
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Despite his best efforts to be a great friend in high school, he was inexperienced at it. He hesitated to speak immediately to Todoroki at the Sports Festival and Iida just before their internships, and it cost him. Had he collected his thoughts and spoken up, he and/or his friends might not have been so seriously injured in the aftermath.
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Midoriya could no longer afford to stay shy and quiet when it really mattered. He even spoke up to the irascible Bakugou during their final exam match against their teacher. He was shocked to hear Bakugou say he'd rather lose the fight against All Might than work with Midoriya. He reminded Bakugou that his dream, what he always admired about him ever since they were kids, was to be a hero who came out on top no matter how difficult.
Not very All Might-ish of him
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Normally, he has to be actively pushed to insult another person. However, rarely, when he gets into more emotionally-charged pitched fights, he can show abrasive or aggressive behavior. He picked it up from Bakugou, the image of victory in his mind, though Midoriya doesn't go to his casually explosive lengths. Nevertheless, it's not strictly necessary to yell at people or call them idiots. It hits harder, coming from the usually mild-mannered Midoriya, and he doesn't particularly like it himself. Ultimately, it stems from his anger at seeing allies or innocent people hurt, though occasionally he might direct it at a rival who's being particularly stubborn. Blackwhip manifested because a sparring opponent insulted his friend.
+/-???
Even more rarely, in the face of death or directly after seeing an enemy seriously hurt someone he cares about, he may go into a berserker-like rage. This may summon hysterical strength, accidentally go over his One For All percentage limit, or lower his sense of self-preservation. However, he doesn't lose his sense of self. He remains a person who saves others.
The Student
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By default, Midoriya is polite, a diligent student, and works well with others. He's not a born leader, but he can lead or follow by virtue of his drive, tenacity, and strategy. He learns from trial and error. For big failures, like failing to save someone right in front of him, he can get devastated. Initially failing to save Bakugou or Eri brought him to tears. However, he doesn't give up. Midoriya works hard, forces himself to think creatively to use a Quirk he isn't familiar with, takes instruction without fuss, recognizes his weaknesses, and learns anything he can from those around him. He has to, because he wasn't blessed with natural talent.
Comradery
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When Iida turned down his invitation to team up during the Sports Festival, and Uraraka similarly refused his help with a strategy for her match against Bakugou, Midoriya learned to help friends grow by cultivating healthy competition instead of pulling his punches or encouraging codependency. (Bakugou took more emotional elbow grease, but they got there eventually.) It wasn't his first instinct to be competitive, but to realize his impossible dream, he believed he had to work harder than anyone. He still encourages and builds trust with comrades, firmly believing they can grow stronger together rather than apart.
I'm Fine
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Even while being mostly open about how he feels, Midoriya is developing a bad habit of hiding pain in order to reassure others. He sees reassuring others as part of being a hero. Todoroki told him that heroes do cry, and that it was OK to, but Midoriya didn't take that lesson to heart. Faced with surpassing All Might, and with the heavy burden and origin of his Quirk, he's been saying "I'm fine" through broken bones, physical and emotional exhaustion, and even after Sir Nighteye's death. Midoriya has the unhealthy potential to run himself into the ground for the sake of others. He's made of tough stuff, but never trust Midoriya when he says he's "fine."
• Canon Powers:
One For All: A superpower ("Quirk") where the power of previous holders is cultivated and given from one person to the next, accumulating an impressive total. It manifests most obviously as super strength. Using 100% will shatter a cliffside--and his bones. He can comfortably use 8% of this power, jump-kicking up an alley, kicking through a concrete wall, or holding up a steel beam. He can briefly overclock at 20%. He can also indirectly hit at long-range with air pressure like an air cannon.
One For All can aid in the breaking of mind control (only tested with Shinsou's), due to the vestiges of its previous holders within it, who are presumably not subject to said mind control. They offer no initial resistance, however. (The vestiges of One For All's previous holders are too close to appable characters. Should I limit their interaction with Midoriya in some way, maybe to vague feelings such as "wake up!" or "you're doing it wrong"?)
Blackwhip is a whip-like energy that can restrain, hit, and swing around. He can't control it, so that power is too dangerous to use now, but it will manifest slowly with training. He aims to both increase his usable percentage of super strength by getting more swole, and gain control over Blackwhip.
Float: Float himself high in the air, effectively weightless
Danger Sense: Sense threats in the area, can also be used to read moves.
Smokescreen: Thick harmless smoke quickly generated from the body. A full blast can cover a few city blocks.
Fa Jin: Store kinetic energy of repeated movements and choose when to release it. Powerful when combined with super strength.
• Blood Type:O Warmblood
• Omen: Eastern phoenix
• Blessed Day: July 15 (birthday)
• Patron Pthumerian: The Reckoning. Midoriya's not so sure about her whole... killing thing...
• Blood Power Manifestation: Nope. Fitting that he's "Quirkless" when it comes to blood. Canon powers will grow instead.
One: Hotel Fen. CW: being stuck in an elevator, ghost of an axe murderer, violence involving minors
Two: Deer Country. CW: brief non-explicit nudity, temporary memory loss, being in a placenta, more CWs may be added to threads in progress
• Player Name: Tea
• Player Age: Definitely 18+ lol
• Player Contact:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
misosoupaddict
• Permissions: Here.
Canon update 2022-06-02
Character Base
• Character Name: Izuku "Deku" Midoriya
• Age: 16
• Canon: My Hero Academia. Chapter 217 "The New Power and All For One". English volume published February 4, 2020.
• Items Coming Along: Hero costume, including Iron Soles, Air Force Gloves, respirator mask with attached cowl, and belt pouches with emergency items like first aid
• Content Warnings for Character:
Midoriya specifically: ableism-flavored Quirk discrimination, broken bones, cannibalism (blood... and hair I guess??), finger injuries, harassment/bullying, mind control, self-endangerment, self-harm, violence involving minors
Additional CW for canon up to canon point: abuse (verbal and physical) to adults and minors, arranged marriage, drug abuse, drug trafficking, small-scale eugenics, human experimentation, impalement, mental disorders (including personality disorders and PTSD), murder, needles/darts, nudity (conveniently censored, includes minors), organized crime, pedophilia (flirting), possession, Quirk discrimination, sexual harassment, vivisection (human child), vomit
This app will contain unmarked spoilers.
Character Background
• History: Wikia filled with unmarked manga spoilers
• Core Relationships:
Aizawa: Homeroom teacher, Pro Hero
According to him, Midoriya inspires by example and raises the bar for how hard a student can work to become a hero. This is high praise from someone who was initially going to expel him for having no potential and being a danger to himself. Aizawa is responsible for some of Midoriya's more level-headed decisions, being one of the first people to admonish him to get better control of his Quirk. However, he also fostered his class's high potential by accelerating their lessons and pushing for early Provisional Licenses. Aizawa gave Midoriya a chance to work with the Pro Heroes raiding the Shie Hassaikai, because he knew Midoriya was driven to save Eri--and because Midoriya might just break the law and go anyway.
Some of his classmates have caused their share of trouble, but it's mild-mannered Midoriya who's been a huge problem child. To Aizawa, the worst kind of student is one who takes unnecessary risks and endangers themself. This is, unfortunately, Midoriya's trademark.
All For One: Mortal enemy, Shigaraki's mentor, also the name of his Quirk
A shadowy puppet master and powerhouse with the ability to give and take Quirks. He was the unwitting originator of One For All's power, when the power-stocking Quirk he forced on his defiant younger brother mixed with his preexisting Quirk that gives Quirks to others. From this younger brother, One For All has since been cultivated and passed on by several people with the intention of stopping All For One. Midoriya is the 9th. When he saw All For One in battle, Midoriya experienced his first paralyzing fear of death. All Might defeated All For One using the last remnants of his Quirk. Midoriya is now the only One For All user. All For One currently awaits his sentence in a high-security prison. His protege, Shigaraki, is still at large.
All Might: Mentor, schoolteacher, former wielder of One For All, arguably the greatest hero of all time
Midoriya, an All Might fanboy, met his idol in junior high. He asked All Might if someone who was Quirkless could become a hero. All Might gave him the realistic answer, that it would be impossible and dangerous. When a Quirkless Midoriya ran out to save Bakugou despite having no power, All Might was spurred to action despite his injury. All Might had just spoken with him about how Pro Heroes risked their lives, but it was Midoriya who rushed out into danger that other Pros on the scene balked at. It was foolish, but it struck at the heart of what All Might believed it took to be a hero. All Might knew then that he had found his successor.
Midoriya looks up to his mentor while turning a blind eye to his flaws (vagueness, lack of teaching skill, unsustainable self-sacrifice). After multiple villain attacks on his students, and Midoriya's medical report showed worrying damage to his ligaments, All Might apologized and promised Midoriya's mother in earnest that he would devote himself to protecting and teaching him properly. Midoriya started as his fan, then became his student, and then pretty much like a son to him.
Bakugou: Classmate, childhood friend, explosive rival
Midoriya admired Bakugou's confidence since before his Quirk manifested. However, Midoriya's strong urge to help people alienated Bakugou over the years. Bakugou hated being seen as weak. If Midoriya offered to help him, Bakugou thought he, weak and Quirkless, was looking down on him.
Bakugou came to hate the sight of Midoriya unwittingly intruding on his sphere--in childhood, junior high, and then the U. A. Hero Course. Yet Midoriya was there, seemed to have their idol All Might in his corner, improved at an alarming rate, and even copied some of his techniques. Midoriya failed to tell Bakugou it wasn't because he was trying to trick or make fun of him, but because he admired him.
It wasn't until after an unsanctioned, explosive fight that they talked properly for the first time, let alone tried to respect (rather than admire, envy, or fear) each other's strengths. Bakugou put two and two together and knew something was funny about Midoriya's Quirk. All Might revealed why. Now a proper rival instead of a personal bully, Bakugou began to regularly check in on his progress, hoping to challenge him whenever he moved forward.
Eri: Little girl, abused by Overhaul, friend
She reached out to him, but Midoriya was delayed in saving her while he had to wait for the investigation into Overhaul to progress. This weighed heavily on him; every day his spirit felt ready to break. He and Togata vowed to save her. When Midoriya saw that Eri was still traumatized after being saved from Overhaul, he put all his efforts into making sure she had a fun time during her visits to U. A. This was also part of saving her. He reminded her that no matter what Overhaul had said, her Quirk was not a curse, but a blessing. Midoriya took his own lesson to heart, reminding himself that, even if One For All resembles All For One's power, and it could be difficult to control, it's all in how he uses it as a hero.
Gran Torino: Internship boss, All Might's teacher, Pro Hero
He originally requested Midoriya as an intern because he felt All Might, his former student, wasn't being a good enough teacher. Gran Torino saw that Midoriya was copying All Might too much and told him to think outside the box. Gran Torino was instrumental in inspiring Midoriya to think of a way to use One For All in an effective way that didn't hurt himself. Every time Midoriya fights now, he makes use of Gran Torino's lesson. As All Might's former teacher, he sees a lot of him in Midoriya.
Iida: Classmate, close friend, fought Stain, Bakugou rescue team
One of the first U. A. students to befriend Midoriya, the blustery but earnest Class President is Midoriya's "dad friend". He encourages Midoriya to do his best and stay on the straight and narrow. However, he also looks up to Midoriya's strong drive and instinct to save others.
Just before their internships, the Hero Killer, Stain, put Iida's Pro Hero brother out of commission. A brooding Iida didn't take Midoriya up on his invitation to talk it out. Midoriya regretted not saying more, because Iida went on to pursue Stain in revenge. Midoriya tracked him down and made it clear that he would help him, even if he didn't ask for it, because that's what makes a true hero. So, Iida was very upset after summer camp when Midoriya agreed to go rescue Bakugou. He was worried they might pursue vigilante justice and go to their death in the same way he almost did. He agreed to come along in order to pull them away if a fight was likely. Iida knows that once Midoriya sets his mind on saving someone, he won't stop.
Months later when he saw Midoriya troubled about his work-study, Iida paid him back his invitation to talk it out. He even quoted Midoriya's own words back at him, showing it was a direct result and appreciation of Midoriya trying to reach out back then. Though Midoriya couldn't speak due to a police gag order, he inwardly thanked Iida.
Inko Midoriya: Mother
Midoriya's not afraid to do or say the hard things for the people he cares about, something that runs in the family. Inko was even willing to pull him out of his beloved school if it meant protecting him properly. All Might called this strong. Midoriya, though the possibility upset him at the time, understood why, and the role he had played in ignoring her concerns until then. He and his mother are very close. They even share the same habit of bursting into tears. (Sad tears, happy tears, angry tears, he cries them all.) Her worry over his injuries spurred him to make a greater effort to become a strong, dependable hero no one has to worry about.
Overhaul: Enemy, abuser of Eri, leader of the Shie Hassaikai yakuza, also the name of his Quirk
Midoriya's work-study was his first experience of the criminal underworld. Midoriya was shocked to learn that Overhaul was experimenting on Eri to make Quirk-erasing bullets for his drug war. Overhaul mortally wounded Nighteye, erased Togata's Quirk, and manipulated and tossed Eri in their battle. Despite pushing Midoriya's rage buttons in every way, Midoriya's objective remained to save Eri. He retained enough presence of mind to take their fight to the air to avoid unnecessary damage to the surrounding buildings. To him, Overhaul is the shadow over Eri's happiness.
Shigaraki: Mortal enemy, All For One's protege, Midoriya's foil
He and his villains attacked U. A.'s USJ training dome and gave Midoriya's class their first taste of the world of villains. Since then, Class 1-A doesn't stand around and hesitate like most first years normally would. In a frightening meeting in a mall, Shigaraki threatened to use his Quirk to kill Midoriya and innocent bystanders unless he acted naturally and answered his questions, effectively holding him at gunpoint. This taught Midoriya an important lesson about hostage situations. The police praised him for not panicking or attacking, which would have resulted in death. Shigaraki orchestrated the attack on Midoriya's summer training camp and kidnapped Bakugou in an attempt to turn him to his side. He's been scheming and keeping tabs on Midoriya and his classmates. Midoriya otherwise doesn't know him very well.
Sir Nighteye: Work-study boss, Togata's mentor, Pro Hero, former All Might sidekick, Shie Hassaikai raid
Sir Nighteye accepted Midoriya at his hero agency in order to persuade him to give One For All to his more skilled protege, Togata. The only thing that came close to impressing Sir Nighteye about Midoriya was the hidden thought behind his actions. They were both super All Might fans, but this did not prevent Nighteye from leveling harsh criticism at him. In Midoriya, he saw All Might's insane zeal to save others. He felt it was self-destructive, especially in the wake of his Quirk's future vision of All Might's death. Nighteye's words and the circumstances surrounding his death dealt a blow to Midoriya's confidence as All Might's successor. Nevertheless, as he was dying, Nighteye insisted that Midoriya had changed the future he saw. Midoriya took Nighteye's hope of a bright future full of smiles and referenced it during his next fight with a villain.
Todoroki: Classmate, close friend, Endeavor's son, fought Stain, Bakugou rescue team
Midoriya gained a friendship with Todoroki when he convinced him to set aside his consuming hatred for his father and accept himself (by... yelling at him and breaking his own bones... in the middle of their tournament match... This is how you make friends, right?). Midoriya knew he should have just tried to participate normally, but he had to speak up when he knew why Todoroki was in turmoil. Luckily, Todoroki had the insight to get what Midoriya was saying, and the maturity to figure out how to do it. He contacted his mother and grew closer to his siblings. Midoriya was just the catalyst, but his influence had far-reaching effects.
Up against Stain, Todoroki reminded Iida not to forget the person he wanted to become, as he once had. Todoroki, Midoriya, and Iida share the secret that they illegally fought Stain. If not for their unwavering focus on becoming true heroes, Iida would have permanently lost his way--and his life.
Outside of combat, Midoriya supports Todoroki on his path to see with eyes unclouded by hate. Midoriya knew that Todoroki joined Endeavor's agency for his internship as a learning experience, something he could not have done if he was still consumed by hatred for his father. Midoriya supports whatever decision Todoroki feels comfortable doing.
Togata: Upperclassman, friend, Sir Nighteye's protege, Shie Hassaikai raid
A strong, experienced upperclassman, Togata exemplified All Might (and Midoriya's) heroic ideals. He agreed to introduce Midoriya to Nighteye simply because helping him was what a hero would do. After Nighteye died and Togata's Quirk was erased, Midoriya wondered if Nighteye was right, and if Togata would have been able to prevent tragedy if he'd been One For All's successor instead. Togata committed himself to remaining cheerful for Eri's sake, helping watch her on his sabbatical. Midoriya tried to put on a brave face like him, but this resulted in him throwing himself into his schoolwork in a manic way.
Uraraka: Classmate, close friend, Shie Hassaikai raid
One of his first friends at U. A. With her cheery personality, she helped bring Midoriya out of his shell. She was usually close at hand, asking him his opinion or about stuff he'd like to do, when otherwise he wouldn't have spoken beyond his weird habitual muttering. She was responsible for changing the meaning of "Deku" from Bakugou's insult into praise.
Midoriya's drive inspired a dramatic change in Uraraka. She turned down his help for her match in the Sports Festival to avoid dependency, and chose her internship specifically to work on her weak points. This, in turn, inspired Midoriya. She decided to place her crush (and the resulting jealousy) aside because it was distracting her from her goal of becoming a hero. While she couldn't give it up entirely, doing this enabled her to grow and learn as a hero and a person.
Though Midoriya didn't know the specifics of this, he benefited from having her as a strong teammate as well as a strong friend. They were able to work seamlessly together during the Provisional Licensing exam because of their battle-tested trust in each other. When Midoriya's Blackwhip went out of control, Uraraka jumped into action despite the danger and had the idea for Shinsou to stop it with his Quirk. Midoriya was frightened, and later thanked them for helping him.
Character Personality Through Key Moments
Kindness
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Midoriya feels very deeply. His emotions are honest and tend to be written all over his face. His kindness is what drives him to go so out of his way for others. It is one of his strongest traits, and something that sets him apart from other characters in his canon, genre, and protagonists in general. He has a massive case of hero complex. He follows his instinct to save others without question. He prioritizes this selflessly without worrying about his own fear or what others will think of him. His instinctive drive and will for this is so strong that it influences others in powerful ways. It convinced All Might to make him his successor, the next Symbol of Peace.
Charisma
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Bullied all the way until high school, particularly by Bakugou, he used to be a shy nonparticipant who apologized for everything, flinched when someone was mean to him, and didn't stand up to insults thrown his way. He didn't have any friends in junior high, so he threw himself into his fanboy hobby of taking notes on heroes. Though his hobby helps with observation and strategizing, he tends to overthink and doubt things. He even mutters these thoughts out loud, distracting his classmates. It's become a running gag. This shows years of not being used to the company of his peers, and the single-mindedness with which he concentrates on something he cares about.
He used to be at a loss of anything good to say in the moment when someone needed emotional help, as with Todoroki when he gave him his backstory, Iida when he was leaving for his internship, and Kouta at summer camp. This happens less now. Since he ended up helping people, sometimes belatedly, and they appreciated his help, he's gained more confidence.
When he feels strongly about something, he can communicate and get through to people, but otherwise he's terrible at front-facing work. He got docked points for his inexperience calming down mock victims in his Provisional Licensing exam. He also failed to project confidence during his first job interview.
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His mentors encouraged him from the start to at least act more confident. As a hero, people have to put their trust in him. At first, Midoriya jumped into action only out of necessity, the struggle written clearly on his face. He was hesitant to stand out or lead until his Provisional License exam, when he advised his whole class to stick together. He has since grown into a hero that even the most doubtful Pro Hero can believe in. He most recently spearheaded his team's strategy in a training exercise, where Mineta, who had bonded with him over being scared in USJ, remarked that he kind of missed the old, timid Midoriya.
Strategy
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Though it started as a hobby, his notetaking and overthinking means he is quite the strategist. Though he was scared himself, he came up with a plan to escape danger during the USJ attack. He also constructed plans on the fly for his classmates to guard (then chase after, then rescue) Bakugou. He was the first to voice his prediction that U. A. students would be targeted during the Provisional License exam, and the first to predict Togata's moves. He tackles a challenge holistically, whether by grasping desperately at anything he's learned, or showing the fruits of his training. He always keeps something up his sleeve. Bakugou has always said this pisses him off. Read: It presents a challenge to a rival naturally gifted with talent, smarts, and loads of raw combat instinct.
The Successor
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He struggled to see himself as a worthy successor of One For All. While Midoriya was comparing himself to everyone else in the Sports Festival, he suggested to All Might that someone else be the successor. All Might had to reassure him that he exceeded expectations, and there was something that only he could draw out. Sir Nighteye placed further doubt on him by comparing him to the indomitable Togata. Midoriya dwelled on this in the aftermath of the Shie Hassaikai raid.
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Later, Midoriya busied himself with mastering new moves. He bested the villains Gentle Criminal and La Brava without severely injuring himself or needing help. Things were looking up. Then, Blackwhip manifested, and it was like he was back at square one, struggling to control his own Quirk. However, this time, he had a guide. One For All contained the vestiges of its previous holders, including the original user of Blackwhip. His support--the support of One For All itself--was enough to quell his fear of his own Quirk. Remembering All Might taking him as his successor, his origin story, made him feel like he could do anything.
Saving people... with feelings!
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Midoriya is approachable, kind, and reaches out to others. This also makes him pretty good with little kids. Kouta and Eri were reluctant to open up to anyone, but Midoriya got through to them. If he thinks someone is in trouble, including emotional trouble, he tends to meddle even when he's not asked to. While All Might praises this as the essence of being a hero, application has mixed results in Midoriya's case.
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Despite his best efforts to be a great friend in high school, he was inexperienced at it. He hesitated to speak immediately to Todoroki at the Sports Festival and Iida just before their internships, and it cost him. Had he collected his thoughts and spoken up, he and/or his friends might not have been so seriously injured in the aftermath.
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Midoriya could no longer afford to stay shy and quiet when it really mattered. He even spoke up to the irascible Bakugou during their final exam match against their teacher. He was shocked to hear Bakugou say he'd rather lose the fight against All Might than work with Midoriya. He reminded Bakugou that his dream, what he always admired about him ever since they were kids, was to be a hero who came out on top no matter how difficult.
Not very All Might-ish of him
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Normally, he has to be actively pushed to insult another person. However, rarely, when he gets into more emotionally-charged pitched fights, he can show abrasive or aggressive behavior. He picked it up from Bakugou, the image of victory in his mind, though Midoriya doesn't go to his casually explosive lengths. Nevertheless, it's not strictly necessary to yell at people or call them idiots. It hits harder, coming from the usually mild-mannered Midoriya, and he doesn't particularly like it himself. Ultimately, it stems from his anger at seeing allies or innocent people hurt, though occasionally he might direct it at a rival who's being particularly stubborn. Blackwhip manifested because a sparring opponent insulted his friend.
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Even more rarely, in the face of death or directly after seeing an enemy seriously hurt someone he cares about, he may go into a berserker-like rage. This may summon hysterical strength, accidentally go over his One For All percentage limit, or lower his sense of self-preservation. However, he doesn't lose his sense of self. He remains a person who saves others.
The Student
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By default, Midoriya is polite, a diligent student, and works well with others. He's not a born leader, but he can lead or follow by virtue of his drive, tenacity, and strategy. He learns from trial and error. For big failures, like failing to save someone right in front of him, he can get devastated. Initially failing to save Bakugou or Eri brought him to tears. However, he doesn't give up. Midoriya works hard, forces himself to think creatively to use a Quirk he isn't familiar with, takes instruction without fuss, recognizes his weaknesses, and learns anything he can from those around him. He has to, because he wasn't blessed with natural talent.
Comradery
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When Iida turned down his invitation to team up during the Sports Festival, and Uraraka similarly refused his help with a strategy for her match against Bakugou, Midoriya learned to help friends grow by cultivating healthy competition instead of pulling his punches or encouraging codependency. (Bakugou took more emotional elbow grease, but they got there eventually.) It wasn't his first instinct to be competitive, but to realize his impossible dream, he believed he had to work harder than anyone. He still encourages and builds trust with comrades, firmly believing they can grow stronger together rather than apart.
I'm Fine
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Even while being mostly open about how he feels, Midoriya is developing a bad habit of hiding pain in order to reassure others. He sees reassuring others as part of being a hero. Todoroki told him that heroes do cry, and that it was OK to, but Midoriya didn't take that lesson to heart. Faced with surpassing All Might, and with the heavy burden and origin of his Quirk, he's been saying "I'm fine" through broken bones, physical and emotional exhaustion, and even after Sir Nighteye's death. Midoriya has the unhealthy potential to run himself into the ground for the sake of others. He's made of tough stuff, but never trust Midoriya when he says he's "fine."
Deer Country Attributes
• Canon Powers:
One For All: A superpower ("Quirk") where the power of previous holders is cultivated and given from one person to the next, accumulating an impressive total. It manifests most obviously as super strength. Using 100% will shatter a cliffside--and his bones. He can comfortably use 8% of this power, jump-kicking up an alley, kicking through a concrete wall, or holding up a steel beam. He can briefly overclock at 20%. He can also indirectly hit at long-range with air pressure like an air cannon.
One For All can aid in the breaking of mind control (only tested with Shinsou's), due to the vestiges of its previous holders within it, who are presumably not subject to said mind control. They offer no initial resistance, however. (The vestiges of One For All's previous holders are too close to appable characters. Should I limit their interaction with Midoriya in some way, maybe to vague feelings such as "wake up!" or "you're doing it wrong"?)
Blackwhip is a whip-like energy that can restrain, hit, and swing around. He can't control it, so that power is too dangerous to use now, but it will manifest slowly with training. He aims to both increase his usable percentage of super strength by getting more swole, and gain control over Blackwhip.
Click for spoilers for Chapter 313 (beyond my chosen canon point).
In addition to gradually increasing the super strength to 45%, these are known latent parts of One For All that awaken later in canon and may awaken in Deer Country without a canon update. They, too, require training:Float: Float himself high in the air, effectively weightless
Danger Sense: Sense threats in the area, can also be used to read moves.
Smokescreen: Thick harmless smoke quickly generated from the body. A full blast can cover a few city blocks.
Fa Jin: Store kinetic energy of repeated movements and choose when to release it. Powerful when combined with super strength.
• Blood Type:
• Omen: Eastern phoenix
• Blessed Day: July 15 (birthday)
• Patron Pthumerian: The Reckoning. Midoriya's not so sure about her whole... killing thing...
• Blood Power Manifestation: Nope. Fitting that he's "Quirkless" when it comes to blood. Canon powers will grow instead.
Writing Samples
One: Hotel Fen. CW: being stuck in an elevator, ghost of an axe murderer, violence involving minors
Two: Deer Country. CW: brief non-explicit nudity, temporary memory loss, being in a placenta, more CWs may be added to threads in progress
The Player
• Player Name: Tea
• Player Age: Definitely 18+ lol
• Player Contact:
• Permissions: Here.