DannyPanthom619: You're right~ Shizuka's experiences will be different than Izuku's, some aspects more than others. Some might be the same, though. Shizuka's also still in the growing process. She's only three years old, and her view and thoughts will unconsciously minicked those around her eventually. Even if she's a reincarnation, she's still in the body and brain of a little kid who's impressionable.

wildtrance: Of course, to Katsu Shizuka's a precious person. He literally calls her "his equal", so of course he'll protect her even though she doesn't need it. But by this he's placing her below him, not an equal. Shizuka will rectify that soon, don't worry. And Sunshine Incarcerate? That's priceless! I like it! Maybe she'll actually have a Quirk like that hehe ;)

Guest00197: Wow, high praise! Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoy this! And though the AU isn't showing much in this chapter — YES, MAY THE PLOT GODS GIFT US WITH THE IMPOSSIBLY AMAZING IDEAS AND STORIES~

Phantom Aficionado: Thank you, I'm glad you like my story. Shizuka is currently still struggling with the Fem!Izuku thing, but I'll address that issue soon! And about the protagonist, well, that's less of a role and more a destiny. Shizu's already set as the protagonist, but the All for One problem is something that isn't coming for at least 3 chapters more. So please just sit tight and enjoy the ride XD.

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iv. Down, Down the Rabbit Hole

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"What do you mean you were sick?"

I gave him a blank stare. "That's exactly what I meant."

Kacchan gave me a suspicious look that made me pretty miffed; when'd this brat became so untrusting to me? "So the last two days you were sick?"

"Yeah," I told him, "I was feeling a bit under the weather." Unmentioned was the little trip Mama and I took to the hospital.

"I'm sorry."

Kacchan stared at me for a few seconds, before apparently deciding that I was saying the truth and nodded his head. The excited spark was back in his eyes. "Whatever. Shi, look what I can do now!"

Without waiting for my answer, he raised his hand in front of him, brows furrowed in concentration. The glare he was shooting could've burned his own hands with their sharpness.And then realization hit me. Is he... Trying to activate his Quirk?

Last week, after he first activated his Quirk, he hadn't managed to do it again. No matter how hard he concentrated or how angry he got, the explosions still wouldn't appeared.

But now, I mused, it's different.

There, in his sweaty palms, were the smallest of sparks. They appeared and went in less than three seconds, so brief and little but they were there nonetheless. And if Kacchan's tired huff is any indication, it was because he'd worked hard for it. It was something earned, and I remembered a saying from Before:

No pain, no gain.

"Good job, Kacchan." I gave a genuine smile, heart warmed. His huge smile turned into something else — eyes crinkled, dimples showing slightly, and his red eyes seemed to shone brighter than ever.

Kacchan was smiling in happiness and pride.

And if he shouted and cursed at my flying hug, well, I knew he didn't mean any of it.

I was so proud at him.

The figure of a looming boy, with fire in his eyes and strength in his grin and conviction in every steps he takes... He was shaping up nicely at the form of the blushing boy in my embrace.

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Enji is a good hero.

He is one of the best there ever is. He specialized in combat and cities, and always makes sure he did a quick work of the villains. Time is precious, and no one wanted him to make a bigger wreck of the surroundings than there was. That's fine, that's logical and acceptable and Enji acknowledges that his Quirk is potent and dangerous. So Enji always made sure he was only in one place for no more than necessary, and the next second he was already moving to the next place that needed a hero.

But what's not acceptable is his defeat.

Ever since he was a little boy, no more older than 9, he aspired to be the No. 1 hero. He wants to be above everyone else, so that no one would be able to belittle or underestimate him. He wanted to make a name for himself, wanted the whole world to fear and adored him at the same time. He wanted to be The Hero.

But instead, just as he was rising on the rank, a new figure appeared. In a ridiculous Silver Age costume, the figure blazed in to rescue more than a hundred civilians stucked in the burning city, with ease as if it wasn't any problem. He was smiling, laughing, like the other heroes hadn't tried and failed — even him — to do so. As if the mysterious enemy wasn't strong at all, and though their fight was intense and dragging, he emerged victorious and still grinned afterwards as if he wasn't exhausted at all.

All Might. They called him The Victorious Hero, and they predicted he'll become no. 1 in no time. And they were right.

Not only he became no. 1, he's also the Symbol of Peace. And it had been nearly a decade since then, and Enji was still stuck beneath All Might. Always the No. 2, never the priority, never the best.

The hero name he was convinced the people would looked up to, became a name he loathed and felt indifferent at once.

Endeavor. The Flaming Hero.

The number two. The second.

He doesn't understand. Why? Why him? Why does All Might have to be No. 1? Every single year the ranking is counted, All Might's name is always on the very top, with golden crowns and massive applause and everything Enji wanted more than anything else. But everytime, All Might never failed to look surprised, and was always flustered and uncomfortable at the attention so why him.

( Deep inside, he knew why. All Might's always so bright and pure and everything good, even though he's not good at socializing, but he truly cares for everything. His smile, even at the worst situation, never failed to pick others' up. They give the will to fight, to not give up. Everyone know All Might will never let them down. Enji knows. )

Regardless of all his hard work, Enji never made it as No. 1. And it's not just because of the bumbling fool that is All Might, but because of the peers and people. The vote of the rank is always on their hands, and they never chose him.

Even though Enji's Quirk, Hellfire, is amazing, even though he now have more than 50 sidekicks and more fighting for the position, even though the people always thanked him after a job done well—

Enji doesn't understand giving up. But he does understand searching for another way.

If Enji couldn't beat All Might, then at least he'll make someone does. Someone of his own blood, under his tutelage, that bring his convictions and mind with them every step they take.

It's only logical to have kids.

So he searched for women who have amazing and potent Quirks, something suitable with his own. And he found her, coming from a middle-class family that was threatening into bankruptcy, with a Quirk that enable her to generate ice as much as she wants.

Mizuno Rei. And with a little bribe of money, she soon became Todoroki Rei. And then, as per their contract, they have kids. Four of them, now, as the last three wasn't what he'd hoped, but Shoto's split appearance might indicate an inheritance of both fire and ice.

So Enji was quite happy with the life he has now. Everyone in the house knows he's the head, no one dared to go against his word except for the rare stunt Hitomi sometimes pulled. A bit of discipline, and everything went as it should be.

And of course, that was the moment Endeavor falls.

A strong villain with a poor match of his Quirk, and Endeavor was set to knock him out with some burns, but his partner who was supposed to be unconscious had waken up at the last seconds and Endeavor was hit. A painful use of his Quirks and a pair of unconscious villains later, Endeavor hit the floor.

He stayed in the peaceful feeling of nothingness for who knows how long. For a little while, there was nothing. Some snippets of conversations of the doctors and nurses, but nothing else. It was peaceful. It was also too quiet and unsettling. And yet Enji couldn't find the courage to wake up. The nothingness felt too comforting.

What happened to the world while he was gone? He wondered. What happened to the compound? What about his rank, his status, the villains he caught?

He realized, then, no one actually really needed him. The world has All Might and other heroes, and his household doesn't really need him to stay that way. He was just a shadow figure, just there, being the Head and no. 2 because someone have to. If it wasn't him, someone else could've done it.

"Don't give up."

In the confine of his mind, the voice echoed and snapped him. It felt like waking up, as if he was drowsing before.

"Don't give up. Keep fighting."

Enji struggled to open his eyes. He's tired of this, he wants to be awake and do something and find it those bastard villains are imprisoned yet.

When he finally opened his eyes, it was to the sight of a curly hair slipping away through the door. The quiet click indicated she locked the door, and all was silent once again.

Enji fell into an exhausted sleep once again.

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"Who are you?"

The voice startled me so bad it made me jump and turned around. In the bed, fully awake, was the stoic figure of the fragile man I saw a week ago. His green eyes stared daggers at me, and I felt very much like a caught thief. I wasn't, though, so I tried to shove the humiliated blush off and said the first thing in my mind:

"Have you showered?"

By the frown he was sending me, I could tell he didn't appreciate my smart mouth. I didn't meant to say that, as I was usually a rather polite person, but I feigned a nonchalant attitude.

He's intimidating and I can tell he's used to get what he want, but I can't let that get to me.

"I mean, um, how are you? My name is Midoriya Shizuka by the way." I tried to smile, but it fell quick at the sight of his deepening frown.

"You're not supposed to be here."

A sentence of disapproval tone, and I froze up. What... did that suppose to mean? Here, where? This world — this universe? Did he somehow know about my rebirth thing? Maybe it's his Quirk?!?

He raised an eyebrow (while still frowning. I didn't know how he did that, but mind you, frowning is looking up to be his specialty) at my silently panicking form, "How did you manage to sneaks in? The door is always locked and only two people have the key. One is currently looking at you."

Oh, phew. Crisis averted. "I picked the lock," I showed him my trusty booby pins, smiling innocently in the way that always irked Kacchan. Instead, the man seemed curious and disgruntled at the same time.

"Enji-san, aren't you supposed to be in a coma?" I asked, discreetly searching his person for indications. His face was free of blemishes and even the breathing mask wasn't there anymore. The casts around his leg and hands also seemed to be thinning. He didn't look like he was just in a coma, not that I know what it looked like.

How'd he be able to heal so much in a week? I wondered.

"How do you know my name?" The green eyes sharpened, and his voice was akin to a bark with how demanding it was.

"I read."

"So you've been here before." He concluded with a strange glint in his eyes.

"Ah... Um, I-I was just l-lost...?" The meek reason disappeared under the bloodlust grin he gave me.

"You dare to sneak into a place obviously private and locked, not once, but twice. And who knows how many times you've done it with me sleeping?" I cowered now. "I could've charged you with prison for at least a year."

"W-w-waaah! Please don't, Enji-san — Enji-sama!" I waved my hands around me in a frightful gestures. "I didn't mean anything bad, I swear! I-I'll do anything—"

"Anything?"

The frightening grin was back.

Oh no, Shizuka, what'd you gotten yourself into?

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I didn't get to found out what he meant by anything, as we were caught by a nurse. The nurse was just doing her regular check-up, and surprised — what an understatement — to find me there. She'd inquired how I get in, and even scolded me, but Enji had stopped her by saying that he allowed me to. And to tell the receptionist to add "Midoriya Shizuka" under those with the permission to visit him.

At that, the nurse had given Enji a strange look, as if wondering how and why this little girl but clamped her mouth shut. Instead, she did the check up without another word, almost as if she was respectful or fearful toward Enji. Said man paid her no mind, instead saying that he expected me to be back an hour earlier tomorrow. The clear dismissal had me riled up but the clear threatening gleam in his eyes reminded me.

I had no way of knowing if he was right, and if he didn't, well, didn't he looked rich? He could just bribed the police if he wanted to. Even the nurse seemed respectful to him.

Who's evil enough to send a three years old kid into a prison for a year and possibly more?

Enji, that's who.

When I arrived home, the sun was already setting.

The street was shining with shadows of burnt orange and fading red from the sky. It was beautiful, but a reminder that I was late. And true, when I got home, Mama was already waiting at the door.

"Shizuka-chan! Where've you been?" She fretted, hugging me for a second before wringing her hands worriedly. I appreciated her worries, I really do, but I knew it was all because of my newly found Quirkless status. She felt guilty, as if it was all her fault. My reassuances that it wasn't went unheard.

But I also knew that this was her way of reconnecting with me. She was trying her best, and it would be unfair of me if I denied her that. Beside, I knew I was starved of parental attention anyway. So I relished it all with a tired smile. Walking six blocks to the hospital and then five blocks back was tiring to my little body. Sometimes I forgot how young I was now.

"I was just playing with Kacchan, Mama. I forgot the time, sorry." I quietly said, taking off my jacket.

"Oh..." The relieved sigh clenched my heart. I smiled, feeling guilty that I made her worry so much. She brightened quickly though. "Do you want to take a bath first or dinner? I made a Katsudon, Shizu-chan." She smiled, looking excited.

"Can I have a bath first, Mama?"

"Of course! Ah, do you us to have a bath together, honey? I missed our little bath, you know."

No need to say, I zipped out there faster than I'd ever run before.

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Thank you for reading~

For those also readers of Trouble With A Capital T, I wanted to say that I don't know when I'll update next. Honestly, I'm focusing on Skyscraper first, as I wanted to catch up to the chapters (at least until chapter 6), and I owed you guys so much. You've stuck with me even though this is my first story and I'm a shitty writer. So I promise I'll try my best. Trouble might get an update in-between, but only if inspiration hit me hard.

Please reviews and comments, because those are my inspiration and motivation for writing. I'll see you soon xxx