When you look up at the sky, what do you see? Do you see stars, do you see the moon, or do you live in a town where the stars are replaced by the soft, city lights. Do you see any light at all, or do you live in darkness? A sea of endless possibilities plague my mind at night as everyday for me is a night in the stars. I've been living here for a while, a place far away from any reality, and peaceful without noise. Sometimes I miss the feeling of existing near other people, but the feeling of simply drifting away in this soft ocean of space gives me comfort. For here, there are no responsibilities, no judgement, and most importantly, no power. This tranquil dream of mine has lasted for eons, and never yet have I felt true desire to return back to the place that despised the blood of someone like myself.
I was a beast of the shadows that controlled the strings of destiny itself. Some people could call me a god with the abilities I possessed, yet here I was; helpless. The scene reminded me of one I had watched a long time ago on a screen from my childhood. I was the genie that sat waiting in the bottle, except for me there was no master and there never would be. I was never 'trapped' here. It's just the safest place for me to be… me.
I remember her face in these stars… She used to ardently adore me, yet now she was a mere shadow in my mind that ripped away pieces of my very existence. She stole my heart, soul, and body; I am now just a bundle of a mind and memories, drifting still within this realm of space. Never before in the years that I've been up here did I think that I would ever see something looking human. After all, I haven't seen my reflection in eons. Yet there he was, a small looking boy who was no older than twelve or younger at most. He was crying while holding his head as if to stop the violent heaves of breath he took at every second.
Why was he panicking? He would be fine here, it was a safe place. But the closer I drifted to him, the more darkness seemed to conquer the area around us. The stars that were once so precious for their lights began to die out quickly. Using my hand to slowly reach towards the boy, I never expected for him to turn so drastically to stare at me. His eyes reminded me of the sea with how beautifully green they were. It was as if someone threw an emerald into a pond of jade. Those eyes of his were so beautiful, so why was he crying? Those tears that welled up like useless crystals as they dragged his cheeks into cries of despair.
The only thing that filled the silence besides his continuous sniffling and cries were his mutters. He muttered words that I couldn't completely comprehend. He spoke in jitters of nervous panic as I tuned in to his words.
"I-I Want… I-I want to be…" he spoke pitifully as tears melted any confidence he had in those words.
The closer I came to him, the more his appearance intrigued me, he looked of Japanese descent but his very being was strange and peculiar. His eyes were those startling green gems and his hair was a curly mess of black, rooted, green wefts. Only a second seemed to pass by before his eyes dulled again as he squeezed them tight to rid them of the salted agony that plagued him. I felt my own body float towards him in a sort. My own dark eyes connecting in a electric flare to the his, which was ironic as the minute my hand barely grazed his clothing a powerful shock exploded between us. Bright, white light blinded me as I felt searing pain overcome my body. When I opened my eyes… Nothing was the same anymore: my tranquil garden of stars and a moon were gone, the planets that used to comfort me were gone, the lights and soft spinning of the world as I floated around were gone; instead, all I felt was pain.
Screams erupted forth from my mouth in powerful waves as I felt something that I had missing for years return to me; a human body. I felt the tears that prickled at my eyes as storms of memories hit me one by one. I felt my body convulse wildly as the senses of feeling returned to my body. Pain mixed with awe as I opened these eyes of mine. The world was a blurry mess with loud beeping echoing throughout the white room. I felt comfort in the soft bedding underneath me, and I felt warmth from the human that was hugging my arm. Everything hurt as for the next five minutes everything in my body was aching with convulsions that zapped energy through my bones and life through my veins. Tears fell from my own cheeks as droplets of water covered my arm from the person who failed at my side. The peace and quiet finally joined me when more white blobs moved around and ushered the other figure out of the room. It took a few seconds to realize that I was in a hospital bed. And even more to comprehend that I was alive in another body, the boy who I saw earlier and I had switched places. The world before me in my eyes was bright, it was a stark contrast to the dark and miserable world of my own past.
Hours seemingly past as time moved forward casually. Several doctors came into the room to explain to me my situation, rather the boy's past situation that was now mine. Apparently, he had tried to commit suicide; a sad thought to most as it was revealed to be this body's age.
"Midoriya-san, you were found at lying unconscious and gravely injured from jumping off the roof of your junior high. Do you recall any of this?" The doctor asked me with a certain edge in his voice that I couldn't discern.
It had been like this for the past few minutes. He'd ask questions retaining to my memories and I would answer no. Obviously, I knew of the boy's memories, but with my own personality clashing against his… I couldn't answer that I was still him. This body was now mine, his memories were his. Today would be a new start. But every time I answered with a no, the lady in the corner who held my hand with frivolous anxiety would choke on her tears.
"No, I don't remember anything about my junior high nor any type of depression, once again; I don't remember anything at all. Everything but a mere blank state for me, I am sorry. But I cannot answer any of your questions as desired," I spoke back calmly as I mulled over my own thoughts at the time.
The lady in the corner choked back another sob that rose in her throat. I recognized her as the past, owner's mother. She shared the same green eyes as well as his green locks, although hers was a much lighter shade.
The doctor spoke again, shifting his posture as my responses only seemed to trouble him, "Midoriya-san, do you remember anything about the lady next to you?"
I could only look at the crying woman that clung to my arm, I knew she was this boy's mother, yet even though her son couldn't remember anything, she still loved him. Was it the human bond of familiarity that linked her to him still, or was it the fact that she pined for her little boy again? I couldn't tell which was the truth, but I remembered the words of the boy as he curled up and muttered those words.
"I want to be a hero…"
Huh. I could never imagine myself being on the side of the law that abided every law and little rule that same to tongue. The lady next to me continued to weep as my lack of response continued the eerie silence in the room.
"Like I said, I don't remember anything. I don't remember family, not friends, nor school," I spoke softly as I remembered the boy's shuffled appearance with jittery words.
The woman who I came to recognize as this body's mother continued to weep as the doctor let out a stilled sigh, "Your son has retrograde amnesia, the best treatment he can get right now is to be put in a familiar environment and just be brought through it all again. He needs to re-learn what it means to be 'Izuku'," he spoke solemnly as my mother quipped her head in a nod.
It felt odd calling the woman my mother, this current life felt extraordinarily separate from my original life. This soul of mine was forever tainted, but this body was fresh and innocent, yes it was broken, but darkness had not yet plagued it as it did mine. This skin was pure and white, like marble without any impurities, that was until I caught gaze of the scars that riddled my new wrists and arms.
The two argued in front of me as the woman I understood from the boy's memories to be named Inko fought the doctor's decisions for rehabilitation or mental institutions.
"Even if he doesn't remember anything, he is still my son! He may be quirkless, but that doesn't make him trash! He is Izuku!" She screamed out at the aging doctor as I turned my head with a slight glance.
While she was small in height but stout reasonably, she was explosive and loving. She reminded me slightly of a world I read of, a familiar thought of a red haired woman with seven children, all powerful, not like her's which was of one and powerless. My gaze met hers and she let out tears as her grip on my other arm tightened with reassurance.
"We'll get your memories back, Izuku! I promise, and we don't need a doctor who is convinced you are ill!" She hacked back at the man before helping me up and ushering us through the door.
It was long walk down the cold hallways, in which there was no life to be seen. It was hard for me to comprehend everything at first. The fact that the previous owner of this body jumped off a roof. That this body had been comatose and nearly brain dead for a week. Doctors had predicted that Izuku Midoriya would die off within the month by unplugging him from life support. It was a miracle that the body regained consciousness, and that I came forth through this tragedy. My own grip tightened, the nails of these fingers digging into perfect palms of naive childhood.
This boy… Facing the tragedy and anguish of those years ahead was subdued to misery because of what I was told was 'quirklessness', a growl grew in my throat. I was furious at the memories that flooded my mind. Yes, the child was weak and he had to learn how to be strong, but what right did that give the high and mighty to push him down even further? To the point where he committed suicide? I looked up at the sky through the windows of the hospital halls, I hope that wherever the original Izuku was, he was happy and at peace. Because now, it was my turn, and I would fulfill his dream to the best of my ability, and avenge him of the misdeeds of the powerful who sharpened their fangs in the dark.
Those of great power would pay…
Katsuki Bakugou was the first name of my list.
And with that, we left the dreaded white rooms of the hospital and into the streets of Japan. There was much to learn about this world, especially those who I would have to defeat and conquer… The limited memories of the past owner of this body gave me a general understanding of the advancements in humankind since my reign across the world. But the universe should fear me, for this body was much more powerful than my last.
After all, what use is a quirk when you know magic? And what use is having an extra toe-joint when your body has unlimited mana? There is none, for all power comes from the running beat of your heart, from the electric pulse that sparks through your brain. All power comes from life, and every action needs a cause.
This world would rue the day that they crossed me, and the young boy named Izuku Midoriya.