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1Midoriya Izuku wants nothing more than to become a hero. Not only does he have the desire, but the determination to see it through -- too bad he doesn't have a Quirk. But that's a disadvantage, not a ''dealbreaker'', right? Lots of professional heroes have managed to succeed while despite not being able to apply their quirks to every challenge they face...
2
3Like Eraserhead. Which is why Izuku turns up on his doorstep in order to ask for his help after spending weeks tracking him down. Aizawa wasn't exactly looking to take on some second-year middle schooler as a student, yet here he is.
4
5Thus begins ''Erased Potential'', a ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' fanfic by ''theslytherinpaladin'' exploring a world where Izuku aims to become a quirkless superhero under Aizawa's strict instruction.
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7The fic can be read on Website/FanfictionDotNet [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12522681/1/Erased-Potential here]] (discontinued there as of chapter 55) and Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/11088315/chapters/24735288 here]].
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9----
10!!''Erased Potential'' contains examples of:
11
12* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Because of both Aizawa handing him the BreakTheHaughty treatment and Izuku [[GrewASpine refusing to take his crap anymore]], Bakugou is forced to mature faster than he does in canon and is the one to [[spoiler:save Uraraka from the zero-pointer instead of Izuku]].
13* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: In canon, Bakugou and Uraraka are {{friendly rival}}s, with Uraraka having a crush on Izuku. Here, Uraraka is much friendlier overall to Bakugou after he saved her life and lacks her crush on Izuku.
14* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
15** When Katsuki approaches Inko for the first time in years, he initially catches himself when about to call Izuku 'Deku', only to slip up later. Inko calls him out on it, and when he tries to defend it as 'just a stupid nickname'...
16--->'''Inko:''' "You started to call him that name when you first got here, but you cut yourself off. Didn't you? If you didn't think there was anything wrong with it, if it was really just a silly nickname, then why would you do that?"
17** Shouto's first match ends with his opponent bitterly stating, "I yield. That's all that matters to you anyway, right?" He's unable to bring himself to answer.
18* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Izuku's observational skills are part of why Aizawa agrees to start training him in the first place, and some of his mental exercises include honing his ability to quickly gather information.
19* BackhandedApology: {{Downplayed}}. When Nedzu manipulates Toshinori into revealing Izuku's status as a recommendation student to Class 1-A, all Izuku wants from Nedzu is an apology. While Nedzu does just that, absolutely ''no one'' buys the idea that Nedzu actually regrets his decision. Especially because Nedzu first tries to dodge out of it.
20* BadassNormal: Izuku vows to become a hero without a quirk, using his [[AwesomenessByAnalysis analysis skills]] and a variety of gadgets to compensate. [[spoiler:It becomes an EnforcedTrope when he actively turns down One For All, wanting to become the Number 1 hero using his own abilities.]]
21* BotheringByTheBook:
22** One of the ways Aizawa intends to get revenge upon Nedzu for his 'logical ruse' is by making staff meetings 'a living hell'. How? [[spoiler:By not intervening to stop Hizashi from running his mouth when he normally would have stepped in.]]
23** Similarly employed by [[spoiler:Midoriya Inko]] after they join U.A.'s staff.
24* TheChessmaster: Nedzu. Once he becomes aware of Izuku's existence, he immediately starts weaving plans around him, setting several events into motion [[spoiler:and bringing him to Toshinori's attention]]. Later, he neglects to tell Toshinori that Aizawa and Izuku were trying to keep his position as a recommendation student a secret so that Toshinori would unwittingly reveal it to Class 1-A, reasoning that it would be better if they knew this sooner rather than later.
25* CondescendingCompassion:
26** Yoshida-sensei regards Izuku's desire to become a Hero as a TragicDream due to his Quirklessness, and attempts to humiliate him into giving up on U.A. so he can focus on something more achievable.
27** Upon learning that Izuku is Quirkless, Tenya goes straight into this. Izuku's having none of it:
28--->'''Tenya:''' "I do not mean to overstep--"\
29'''Izuku:''' "Starting your sentence that way means that you're ''definitely'' going to overstep, and that you know you're going to before you even say anything."
30* ConditionedToAcceptHorror: Denki. Izuku and Mei are ''horrified'' when he casually mentions how overusing his Quirk fries his brain, with Mei immediately declaring that he's inspired a new project: preventing that.
31* CruelToBeKind: Yoshida-sensei appears to think he's being this when he asks his second-year students to list off their plans for the future specifically so he can try and convince Midoriya to give up on U.A., as he considers that a waste of his time and talent.
32* CurbStompCushion: Goes both ways during the USJ incident: Izuku struggles against Shigaraki, but still manages to land some good hits on him, especially when [[spoiler:Shigaraki's attempt to disarm him blows up in both their faces]]. On the flip side, [[spoiler:All Might completely ''wrecks'' the Nomu once he arrives, forcing the League to retreat... but they dealt far more damage to Class 1-A before reinforcements showed up than their canon counterparts]].
33* DemotedToExtra: While in canon Mineta was one of the recurring members of Class 1-A, here his [[DirtyKid perverted antics]] get him booted out during the first training exercise and [[PutOnABus moved to Gen Ed]]. Justified in that the author dislikes him and didn't want to give him a major role.
34* DominoMask: Izuku incorporates one into his hero outfit as a homage to the comics that inspired him.
35* DoubleMeaningTitle: ''Erased Potential'' refers to how Izuku's potential to be a hero has gone ignored due to his Quirklessness, as well as the WhatIf scenario itself. Eventually, it gains another potential meaning when [[spoiler:Aizawa faces the possibility of losing his own Quirk]].
36* EntertaininglyWrong: Rave mistakenly believes that Izuku and Inko are Aizawa's secret family, whose existence he supposedly denies in order to keep them safe.
37* EntitledBastard: After learning what Izuku's been doing, Bakugou decides that he wants in, expecting Eraserhead to automatically agree to start training him instead. Suffice to say, the lesson he receives instead isn't exactly what he anticipated.
38* FacialHorror: Happens in Chapter 48 when [[spoiler:Shigaraki gets his hand on Kaminari]], and again when [[spoiler:he disintegrates Izuku's eskrima rods enough to make them explode, catching both Izuku and himself in the blast]].
39* FailureToSaveMurder: Outrage over this drives two people to villainy, as [[spoiler:Rave holds Aizawa personally responsible for his sister Atsuko's death during a HostageSituation, and drags their brother into helping him get revenge]].
40* FirstNameBasis: PlayedWith; Before the Sports Festival begins, Izuku is stunned when [[spoiler:Katsuki of all people]] starts calling him by his first name. When asked about this, they claim it would be strange if they called him 'Midoriya' instead, and that [[spoiler:Deku was a stupid nickname anyway]].
41* FromACertainPointOfView: Nedzu's official statement regarding the League's assault on the USJ is that an attack had been attempted, but was ultimately thwarted when All Might arrived on the scene with several other teachers. While technically true, this omits how ''long'' it took for them to arrive, as well as the amount of damage the League was able to do before then.
42* GameBreakingInjury: In the wake of the USJ incident, [[spoiler:Aizawa himself]] faces the grim possibility that their injuries have rendered them unable to use their Quirk anymore.
43* GoneHorriblyRight: Nedzu thought he could deal with the parental concerns raised in the wake of the League's attack by appointing [[spoiler:Midoriya Inko]] as part of U.A.'s staff. Unfortunately for him, it turns out that they take their new job ''very seriously'', and are much better at it than he intended them to be.
44* GrewASpine: While Izuku was already determined enough to hang onto his dreams in the face of others constantly telling him they were impossible, under Aizawa's tutelage he gains the strength to stand up for himself more often. Bakugou and the rest of his middle school classmates first become aware of this shift when Izuku calmly shuts down their teacher's attempt to humiliate him into giving up on U.A.
45* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
46** While fighting Izuku, Shigaraki decides to taunt him by disintegrating his equipment. Specifically, his [[spoiler:eskrima rods. Which blow up in his hands]].
47** Nedzu runs into this when he opts to try and manage Inko's concerns after the League's assault by [[spoiler:employing her as a liaison between U.A. and the parents]]. He ''clearly'' believes that this will enable him to manipulate her, only to discover that [[SilkHidingSteel she's perfectly capable of standing up to him]], and more than happy to ''make him'' listen to her concerns.
48* HopeSpot: During the League of Villains' attack on the USJ, Izuku briefly thinks that [[spoiler:Aizawa managed to cancel out Shigaraki's Quirk]] before registering that no, [[spoiler:his head is still down]].
49* InSpiteOfANail:
50** Though the circumstances surrounding it are very different, with [[spoiler:Nedzu pointing Toshinori towards Izuku]] and all, [[spoiler:Toshinori still offers Izuku the chance to become his successor]].
51** Uraraka is still threatened by the zero-pointer during the entrance exam. [[spoiler:Midoriya isn't there, having gotten in on recommendation, and ''Bakugou'' saves her instead]].
52** The League of Villains still attacks the USJ, and Midoriya and Asui both end up in the water training area, though [[spoiler:Kaminari is with them]].
53** A guardian still considers pulling their child from Yuuei in the wake of the USJ attack. Instead of Inko, it's [[spoiler:Kaminari Koharu, Denki's grandmother]].
54** Shouto still makes a declaration of war against the rest of Class 1-A; however, Izuku and Katsuki miss it.
55** Shouto's first match during the Sports Festival is still a CurbStompBattle, but [[spoiler:he's up against Monoma, who takes his defeat far worse than Sero]].
56* InnocentlyInsensitive: Toshinori ''means'' well, really, but his decision to [[spoiler:offer Izuku One for All]] comes off as a slap in the face. Best summarized by Izuku's thoughts on the matter:
57-->''Every word from All Might had been well intended, but they sat ice cold and burning in the pit of Izuku's stomach. All Might didn't believe in him. He had watched him, had seen what Izuku was already capable of, and had decided that it would never be enough.''
58* IronicEcho: Nedzu uses one of Aizawa's favorite turns of phrase against him when he pulls off a 'logical ruse' of his own: [[spoiler:falsely convincing Izuku that he'll lose his recommended spot if he can't beat all of the students Aizawa expelled]].
59* JerkassHasAPoint: Izuku is well aware that being Quirkless is a natural disadvantage. He also privately acknowledges that someone like Tenya, who grew up surrounded by Pro Heroes, would be very familiar with just how dangerous their line of work is and have plenty of reason to be concerned.
60* JerkassRealization: Shouto has a glimmer of one following his first match in the Sports Festival, when [[spoiler:Monoma calls him out for taking out his anger on him and won't let him free him from the ice]].
61* LikeMotherLikeDaughter: Just like Mei, Natsumi refers to her inventions as her babies.
62* LockedOutOfTheLoop:
63** {{Defied}} with Inko. One of the first conditions Aizawa sets before he agrees to train Izuku is that he has to get his parent's permission first, and he keeps Inko well informed of all developments.
64** Aizawa also defies this once Toshinori gets involved, being ''highly'' unamused by Toshinori's attempts to justify approaching Izuku to discuss some kind of secret ''without'' getting clearance from his mother or instructor first.
65** After getting to know Inko better, Toshinori muses that had he insisted upon this, he could have ended up the subject of a rather unflattering headline: "Symbol of Peace Murdered by Righteous Mother's Fury".
66* LoopholeAbuse:
67** There are no laws forbidding someone without a quirk from applying to U.A. or becoming a pro. It's simply never happened yet.
68** As Inko points out to Nedzu, ''she'' may have signed a confidentiality agreement with him, but she consulted with many '''other''' concerned parents, and there's nothing stopping any of ''them'' from speaking to the media if he ignores her proposal to keep the Sports Festival as a private, untelevised school event.
69* MortonsFork: Shouto regards being stuck with mandatory counseling in the wake of the USJ incident as one: if he says too much, Endeavour will punish him for tarnishing the family name and his ever-so-precious image. If he ''doesn't'' say anything, however, then she won't clear him to return to school, and his father will punish him for ''that'' instead.
70* MotiveRant: Rave and Asahi both get one about why they're after Eraserhead; [[spoiler:they blame him for the death of their little sister. However, Izuku takes advantage of Asahi's attempt to explain his motives by attacking before he can finish]].
71* NiceJobBreakingItHero: {{Downplayed}} with the Sports Festival. Kadano Eiko planned to release the damning information she'd obtained regardless; however, U.A.'s decision to make the Sports Festival a more private affair creates a media lull that Kadano's more than happy to exploit, plotting to drop her bombshell right into that gap.
72* NotHelpingYourCase:
73** When Toshinori first approaches Izuku here, he unintentionally sets off his 'stranger danger' senses, and his poor choice of words keeps making matters worse. Once Aizawa arrives, Toshinori manages to make an even '''greater''' mess by completely failing to read the room or the [[PapaWolf dangerous vibes]] coming off of his fellow hero.
74** When Tenya approaches Izuku to express his doubts about his ability to pursue his chosen path safely, Izuku cuts him off before he can start. Tenya's refusal to accept the out gracefully and back off only makes Izuku more annoyed with him.
75** When Izuku tells Nedzu that he wants an apology for his behavior, Nedzu's immediate response is to pretend he didn't hear him, followed by a non-apology, making clear that he considers his actions completely justified. This leads to Aizawa threatening to quit outright, with Hizashi and Toshinori backing him up.
76** In the wake of the USJ incident, Nedzu manages to alienate and enrage Inko and other aggrieved parents even further by suggesting that the attack will prove to have been 'a valuable learning experience' for their children. All while trying to gloss over [[spoiler:just how many of them needed to be hospitalized]] in the aftermath.
77* NotQuiteTheRightThing: While ensuring that Class 1-A gets some therapy after the traumatic events at USJ is a good idea, Nedzu's decision to make 'clearing' it a mandatory requirement for returning to school is seen as less so. Inko points out that this places pressure upon the students to consider faking their recovery in order to make it back to class.
78* OpenMouthInsertFoot: When he tries to talk to Izuku before the Sports Festival, Katsuki opens with "You owe me a rematch," before getting frustrated and correcting himself.
79* {{Paparazzi}}: Kadano Eiko, a reporter who firmly believes that when it comes to money versus morals, people choose the former every time.
80* PointOfDivergence:
81** U.A.'s Entrance Exam unfolds differently thanks to [[spoiler:Midoriya's absence, as he got in via recommendation instead, with Bakugou's CharacterDevelopment leading ''him'' to be the one who intervenes and helps Uraraka with the zero-pointer]]. As a result, [[spoiler:Uraraka is now bound and determined to befriend him]].
82** During the USJ attack, [[spoiler:Kaminari]] holds onto Midoriya's hand tightly enough to end up with him and Asui in the water training zone.
83** Kurogiri only sends half of the class through his portals, and [[spoiler:successfully redirects Thirteen's black hole against the remaining students while Tenya makes his break for help]].
84** When Shigaraki goes after Izuku and his friends directly, [[spoiler:Aizawa ''does not'' look up in the nick of time, and Denki shoves Tsuyu out of the way, getting grabbed in her place]].
85** Because Toshinori has yet to pass on One for All, he ends up [[spoiler:having a significantly easier time taking down the Nomu]].
86** The League's assault on the USJ has farther-reaching consequences, and Nedzu's questionable attempts to manage the fallout lead to [[spoiler:Inko being hired by U.A.]] and an agreement to make the Sports Festival private rather than broadcasting it for the world -- and villains -- to see.
87** Due to Mineta being booted down to Gen Ed, it's well-known that there's an open slot in Class 1-A. As a result, Shinsou is not the only one vying to earn a transfer, and chose not to go with his classmates to openly challenge 1-A in order to avoid putting himself on their radar.
88** Thanks to the timing of Kadano's article, [[spoiler:Stain drops his original plans for who he intended to target in Hosu in favor of going after Endeavor instead]].
89* RageQuit: Aizawa, Toshinori and Hizashi threaten to quit should Nedzu continue [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating]] them and Izuku after he tricked Toshinori into revealing his recommendations status to Class 1-A.
90* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: All Might proves to be one. [[spoiler:As soon as he figures out that he's done wrong with Izuku when he asked if Izuku could be his successor, he immediately starts asking what he should have done, and apologizes to all relevant parties. He then visits Izuku personally and lays out his reasons for wanting Izuku to be his successor, apologizes again, then says that he'll help Izuku anyway at Yuuei because he ''does'' think Izuku has great potential to be a hero. He even specifically mentions that Izuku has made his choice and he won't offer again (although Izuku suspects that All Might still wants him to take on the power anyway).]]
91* RefusalOfTheCall: Played with in regards to [[spoiler:the whole situation with All Might. Izuku wants to be a hero, but rejects Toshinori's offer of One for All, having already revolved to become a hero ''without'' a Quirk.]]
92* ScarsAreForever: Izuku's injuries from Shigaraki's assault leave him with a collection of thin scars where [[spoiler:the shrapnel from his exploding escrima rod struck]]. Kaminari is also left with [[spoiler:a zig-zagging scar across his cheek]].
93* SecretChaser: Bakugou pretty much immediately realizes that Izuku's hiding ''something'', and sets out to determine exactly what it is.
94* SecretKeeper:
95** Izuku selects [[spoiler:Kaminari Denki]] as the first among his classmates who he wants to reveal the truth about Aizawa being his sponsor to, making them into one of these. It isn't just about trusting them, though; Izuku wants to do this so [[spoiler:Denki might be willing to trust ''Aizawa'' more and open up to him about his Quirk's side effects]].
96** On the flip side of this, said classmate confides in ''him'' in turn after [[spoiler:All Might proposes that he become the next bearer of One for All]].
97* SecretSecretKeeper: {{Downplayed}}; Chapter 64 reveals that [[spoiler:Ashido Mina]] suspects that their friends are hiding something from them, and that it has something to do with [[spoiler:their teacher]]. Despite their curiosity, they're willing to wait, reasoning that [[spoiler:Aizawa couldn't give them permission to share anything with her while he was in a coma/recovering from his injuries]].
98* SkewedPriorities:
99** It really says something about Bakugou that his reaction to [[spoiler:interrupting a kidnapping attempt]] is to [[spoiler:attack Izuku demanding to know ''why'' somebody considers him ''worth'' kidnapping]].
100** Endeavor is honestly ''disappointed'' that his son was spared the worst that the League of Villains' assault on the USJ had to offer, seeing the horrific attack as nothing more than a wasted opportunity for Shouto to demonstrate his strength.
101** Inko takes Principal Nedzu to task for mishandling the USJ, scolding him for being more concerned about managing the press and protecting Yuuei's image than about the students who got caught in the crossfire.
102* TakingTheBullet: Happens during the USJ attack when [[spoiler:Denki shoves Tsuyu away from Shigaraki]].
103* TemptingFate: As he's heading to school for the first time after the USJ assault, Denki reflects upon recent events and thinks about how, for the first time since the attack, things feel like they're actually going to be okay again. The very next scene reveals that [[spoiler:somebody is breaking their silence regarding their suspicions about Endeavor... but rather than going to the authorities, they're selling that information to a reporter]].
104* ThereAreNoTherapists: {{Averted}}; in the wake of the League of Villains attacking the USJ, all of the students of Class 1-A have to be evaluated by therapists before they can return to school. This proves especially challenging for Shouto, who sees this as a MortonsFork.
105* TooCleverByHalf: This is one of Nedzu's {{Fatal Flaw}}s: he ''knows'' that he's brilliant, and tends to disregard the viewpoints of others when making his plans, arrogantly presuming that he knows what's best and that things will always work out in his favor.
106* TranquilFury: Aizawa goes into this quite often, such as when [[spoiler:All Might attempts to offer Izuku One for All]].
107* TricksterMentor: Nedzu. {{Deconstructed}} in that while he seems to mean well, his manipulations mean that by the time school starts, Izuku is now paranoid over what will and what won't be some test or manipulation by Nedzu. After Toshinori is tricked into revealing that Izuku is in U.A. on recommendation, Nedzu's own staff start distrusting him as well.
108* UnwittingPawn: Toshinori is repeatedly manipulated by Nedzu in his efforts to use Izuku to his advantage. As of Chapter 40, this has led to [[spoiler:Toshinori joining Aizawa and Hizashi's threat to quit U.A., with Aizawa resolving to keep Toshinori in the loop to make him harder to trick]].
109* WhamEpisode: The USJ attack goes ''significantly'' worse than its canonical counterpart. By the time the dust settles, [[spoiler:over half of Class 1-A needs medical attention, with several requiring serious treatment. Shigaraki is also severely injured, and clearly blames Izuku and Denki for the worst of his injuries]].
110* WhamLine:
111** "My name is Yagi Toshinori, and I'm here to speak to you about [[TheChooserOfTheOne a proposition]] for young [[spoiler:Kaminari Denki]]."
112** "I'm sorry, [[spoiler:Aizawa-San]] but the probability is high that [[GameBreakingInjury you will never be able to use your Quirk again]]."
113* WTHCostumingDepartment: InUniverse, Aizawa ''does not approve'' of the {{Canon}}ical uniforms, seeing them as emphasizing marketability over function. He's especially disgusted with what they offered for Yaoyorozu. This is blamed on Yuuei branching out and working with other suppliers; when Aizawa contacts their original supplier, they're just as horrified and help salvage what they can while completely redoing others.
114* XanatosGambit: Nedzu sets up one when he [[spoiler:pits Izuku against the latest batch of students Aizawa expelled]]. Whatever the outcome, he [[spoiler:gets plenty of footage to show the school board in order to secure and justify his recommended spot. Oh, and Izuku's spot was never in question- what ''was'' was the opportunity for the expelled students to come back. So either those students would shape up and prove themselves worthy, in which case U.A. wins, or they don't, which means that U.A. still wins for not having awful students, and either way Izuku shows off his stuff to people, which justifies his placement]]. For Nedzu, there wasn't a "Lose" scenario here. ...Save for losing [[spoiler:Aizawa and Izuku's trust and respect]], anyway.

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