A/N: Okay, just a heads-up dear readers, that in my last chapter I re-edited a few things. So if you haven't read the new version, I'd advise you do. However, it's still your choice to do so. Anyway, besides that, I just wanted to say that, in the future, I may continue to do re-edits of already published chapters. I only do this, because I have a major case of OCD. I have to make things absolutely perfect (to my standards), or else I'll feel bad about it. Now, I know this is my problem, and I should be the one trying to overcome it, but I just wanted to make sure this doesn't hinder any of you to continue reading my story. Because I really like you guys/gals reading my story (despite their being only two, maybe four of you that have read my story), and I'd hate the thought that, because of my problem, I made you stop reading. Okay, now that that's out in the open, for those of you still there, let's read on shall we? :)

Chapter 1: Byodo Mutsuki: Origin

"'Level Playing Field'... a quirk that allows one to equalize themselves with another person's quirk... Truly is something to marvel at." the doctor said in intrigue, as he examined the heavily, bruised arms of a young, four year old Mutsuki.

"Yes, well... I'm proud he finally has his quirk, but we mainly came here to get his injuries healed." a woman with noticeably gentle features, luxurious, blond hair, and deep, blue eyes told him, as she sat on the guest seat across from him in his office. It was Mutsuki's mother.

"Y-yes, well..." the doctor then coughed in embarrassment at his unprofessionalism, and quickly resumed to treating Mutsuki's injuries. He then went on to tell them both, "I've concluded that the boy has suffered heavy bruising, which has caused his arms to swell up badly, but it's nothing too severe." he gave a small smile to the woman across from him. The doctor then grabbed a small container, which had the label 'Vitamin K Cream', from one of his cupboards. He then opened the lid, and dipped his fingers into the cream. He then went on to spreading it on both of Mutsuki's arms. "It doesn't hurt too much, does it?" the doctor asked.

"N-not at all, Mister." Mutsuki replied, his voice shaky, and his eyes showing such intensity. This clearly indicated that he was in a bit of pain, but he didn't want his mother to worry.

"Uh-huh." the doctor retorted, clearly not buying Mutsuki's act.

When the doctor had finished spreading the cream, he then began bandaging the arms. Once the bandaging was finished, he went on to tell Mutsuki's mother, "Make sure to put this stuff on his arms two times a day"—he hands the vitamin k cream over to Mutsuki's mother—"it should help with the swelling. Also, change the bandages weekly, and don't make them too tight. We don't wanna suffocate his arms." Mutsuki's mother nodded, and then stood up with the cream in hand, and also adjusting her handbag's strap.

"Thank you, Dr.Tsubasa." she said, as she gave a gracious bow.

"My pleasure." Dr.Tsubasa said, as he tapped his peculiar, green lensed goggles with his finger, and gave a small smile behind his, rather bushy, mustache.

"Now come along, Byodo." Mutsuki's mother said with a smile, as she reached her hand out for him to take. He then did what she said, and hopped off the office bed he was previously sitting on. Once Mutsuki had taken his mother's hand, she told him, "Say 'thank you' to the doctor."

Mutsuki did what his mother asked, and said, "Thank you!"

In response to that, the doctor gave a short wave, and resumed to previous work. The Mutsuki family then took their leave, but as they walked down the hallway, they passed another mother, and her son. They both had dark, green hair, and the boy seemed to have been carrying, what looked to be a small figurine of the popular hero, All Might, in his hand, as he wore a large smile on his face. Their chance meeting was brief, as the two entered Dr.Tsubasa's office.

Once the Mutsukis had left the building, and were outside, Mutsuki's mother then bent down, so that she was facing her son at eye level. This was so that she could speak with him properly. "Okay Mutsuki, are you gonna tell me how you wound up with those bruises?" she asked with a stern, yet still gentle tone.

"You already know how Mom." Mutsuki replied with a smile, attempting to dodge the question.

However, it didn't work, because she then went on to say, "I know that the school called, and said that another boy carried you into the school building with these bruises all over your body. They also said that you wouldn't tell them, nor would you let the other boy tell them, of how you got, said bruises, in the first place." Mutsuki then looked down, avoiding all eye contact with his mother, as he fidgeted with his fingers. "So tell me the truth now Byodo. Who gave you these bruises?" she asked, already deducting that someone had given him these bruises, which came to be a surprise for Mutsuki. So much so, that he looked toward her with a shocked expression.

With the look his mother gave him, Mutsuki was then forced to tell her the truth of what had happened. In relation to that, he then took a deep breath, and explained the story, "I-I got into a fight with some jerks that were picking on this kid Somo. He was the one who took me to see one of the teachers. Anyway, I was using Dad's defensive hero stance move, 'The Harrowing',"—he demonstrated—"to block their punches, but one of them had a quirk that made his hits stronger, so whenever he punched me, it caused me to receive these bruises, but..." he then began to look towards the ground, as tears started coming from his eyes. He tried to rub them away, but they continued to pour out. He then went on to tell his mother, "I'm so sorry Mom! I'm sorry that I go into a fight, and that I lied to you! But please don't be mad at me! I was only trying to help!" after he had finished, his mother then, without hesitance, pulled him into a gentle embrace, as tears laced her eyes. Mutsuki got taken aback by her reaction.

"Don't you ever be sorry for doing something right. I was just worried about you, that's all. And the fact that, on your first day at school, you got attacked, it kinda scared me." she then paused her, and her son's warm embrace to caress the side of his cheek, while also gently rubbing away a small teardrop from his eye. "I'm not mad at you. In fact, I'll never be mad at you Mutsuki, y'know why?" she asked, and Mutsuki replied with a simple shake of his head. "Because you... are my peace of mind." Mutsuki's eyes, and mouth then widened, as he took in what that meant. It meant that in during times when she is stressed, she'll always count on her son to calm her, and to guide her. But peace... is always short-lived.

A while after their tender moment, the Mutsuki's were now on their way home, walking side-by-side while holding each other's hand. During their walk, they made conversation. "Hey Mom, why don't we have a car like everyone else?" Mutsuki asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm sorry sweetie, but that's because me, and your dad don't make a lot of money." she answered, clearly sad that she had to disappoint her son.

"But Dad's a hero, he should be getting a lot of money." Mutsuki said, not understanding why their family wasn't wealthy.

"Well Mutsuki, remember how your dad's a sidekick? Well, depending on which hero they're working for, sidekicks can either get lots of money, or little money. Unfortunately, your dad's a sidekick to a hero who gets him little money." his mother explained.

"What about you Mom?" Mutsuki asked.

"Me? Well, let's just say that my job isn't paying well either. But we're still living, aren't we?" she asked.

Mutsuki then replied with a simple, "Yeah!" which made his mother give a little smile. She then sighed, and said, "Although... I wish this world was a little bit more fair with how it did things. It would make lives much more easier, but that's just fruitless dreaming."

"No it's not Mom! I think your dream is awesome! In fact..."—he then let go of his mother's hand, and pointed it towards the sky—"when I become a hero, I'll make your dream come true, and make a world based on fairness, and equality. That I promise!"

His mother smiled at her son's enthusiasm, but she knew she would have to tell him that it's an impossible dream. But the look on his face kept her from doing so. So instead, she replied with, "Of course you will."

The both of them then resumed their walk home, as the sun began to set. However, in a nearby alleyway, a suspicious figure could be seen pulling something out of his left pocket. It was... a gun.

Minutes later, Mutsuki, and his mother were now walking down a quiet, and nonetheless empty street. Unaware of the person following them. That was until, "Hey! Missy!"

Mutsuki's mother jumped in surprise. She then turned around to see a red-haired man wearing a jet-black jacket with a white singlet, and faded, grey jeans with the leggings slightly ripped, and a pair of rugged, black and white converses. "Oh, you gave me such a fright. I really didn't see there, whew!" she said, as she grabbed onto her chest, attempting to soothe her own heartbeat. Once it had gone down to a suitable pace, she then asked the stranger, "Anyway, is there a problem Sir?"

It was then that he raised the gun in his hand, at eye level with Mutsuki's mother. Her immediate reaction to this was fear, but her fear soon turned into the instinct to protect her child. So, she did what any doting mother would do, and grabbed Mutsuki, as she sprinted away from the gunman.

"Not so fast!" the gunman yelled, as he raised his other hand. An invisible barrier then suddenly appeared out of nowhere, separating Mutsuki from his mother. The force of the separation sent Mutsuki's mother falling on her backside, and Mutsuki himself falling forward, and skidding against the gravel.

Once Mutsuki's mother recovered from the fall, she immediately reached her hand out to Mutsuki, asking him, "Mutsuki! Are you alright?" but by then, it had already been too late. The man behind her had his gun pressed against her head. She gasped in alarm, and all Mutsuki could do was watch as this unfolded, for the barrier was still separating them.

The gunman then went on to say, "I'm glad I finally have your attention. Now, give me all your money." Mutsuki's mother, not wanting anymore trouble, immediately did what he demanded, and handed him her handbag. But not before taking something from said handbag. The gunman then snatched the handbag from her, but before he looted it, he told her, "Stay right there, and don't move! I'll shoot your brains out if you do!" Mutsuki's mother nodded.

As the gunman began rummaging through the handbag, Mutsuki had taken notice of what his mother had in her hand. It was her cellphone, she had taken it before she gave it to the gunman, and was hiding it behind her back. With her phone, she then began to put in the numbers for the hero emergency call. But as soon as she pressed the dial button...

"Hey! What're you doing?!" the gunman ceased his looting, as he dropped the handbag onto the floor, and began walking towards Mutsuki's mother. She wore a fearful expression, as he stalked his way over to her. He then pointed the gun directly at her face, as he demanded, "What's in your hand?"

Mutsuki's mother simply replied with, "N-nothing Sir."

"DON'T LIE TO ME! Show me what you have in your hand right now! SHOW ME!" he demanded furiously. Eventually, Mutsuki's mother gave in, and she handed him her cellular. He then scanned the phone screen, to see what she had done. His eyes widened in both anger, and slight fear. The gunman then screamed, "You... called... the HEROES!"—he then raised the hand that held the gun, and slapped her with it—"YOU BITCH!" he then repointed the gun at her, and was about to pull the trigger. Mutsuki's eyes widened in absolute fear, as his mother turned around to face him, and tell him, "Mutsuki, don't loo—"

BANG!

But before she could finish... she was shot. Red splattered across the ground, as her entire body went limp, and fell towards the ground. Young Mutsuki couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Mom..." he said quietly. No reply.

"Mommy..." he said even quieter, as he placed a hand on the, still activated, invisible wall, facing her unmoving body. Again, no reply.

"Shit! The heroes are gonna be here any minute, better scat." the gunman said, as he placed the smoking gun into his pocket, and fled the scene. With that, the invisible wall separating Mutsuki, and his mother disappeared. But it didn't matter, for she was already dead. All Mutsuki could do was hold onto her head, and silently despair.

The sky turned gray, and sounds of small pitter patter could be heard, signalling that the rain from before had returned. It was as if the world itself was despairing over the loss. Mutsuki didn't care, he was just hoping that the rain would wash all his tears, and all his pain away. For it was a day during Japan's notorious rainy season... that she died.

The sound of something splashing into the nearby fish pond, brought Mutsuki back into the present. "What was that?" he asked his best friend, Somo.

"I-I don't know, but I t-think it fell f-from that window o-over there." Somo replied back, as he pointed to the window above them. Mutsuki then looked at where he was pointing, and noticed a spiky-haired boy in the window who appeared to be conversing with someone.

Mutsuki payed no mind to it, as he then said, "Let's just head home Somo, I'm tired." he gave a small smile. Somo then nodded in agreement, but as the two were walking home, Mutsuki couldn't stop thinking about U.A., and how he was gonna get accepted into it.

The cutoff score this year was said to be 79, so Mutsuki knew he would have to train extra hard for it. However, he had no clue of how to go about his training, for he didn't know of what qualifies to become a hero. It was then, that he came to the sudden realization that he would have to ask his father for help. His hesitance at the thought though, wasn't because they had a strained relationship. It was because his father was always so busy with his hero work, and the second part-time job he took after his mother had died. But if Mutsuki were to have any chance of achieving his mother's dream, he would need to ask his father for assistance. He just hoped his father actually comes home tonight.

After Mutsuki, and Somo parted ways, and said their goodbyes, Mutsuki then continued the rest of the way home. When he got there, the sun had already begun to set. And as he pulled a small, silver key from his pocket, injected it into the doors keyhole, and opened it. He then took a deep sigh of relief. Relief that he was finally home.

He then began taking off his shoes, and leaving them at the door's entrance, as he walked inside. "I'm home!" he shouted, hoping someone would reply. But as always, there was no answer. The house was completely silent, and empty.

He then sighed, and thought to himself, Empty as always huh? Well, better get to making dinner before I starve myself to death. Mutsuki then entered the kitchen. But as he was preparing his meal, he thought to himself again, Hmmm, better make something for Dad aswell, if he shows up.

Awhile later, he made two plates of sashimi with rice, however, one had soy sauce on it, while the other had wasabi. The wasabi one was Mutsuki's, for it was his favourite.

He then went on to glad wrapping the other sashimi dish, and placing it into the fridge for his father to eat later. Mutsuki then sat at the table, and began eating his meal, but not before pressing his hands together, and saying, "I humbly accept this meal."

After he was finished, he then said his thanks, and began washing the dishes he had made. Once that was done, he then took a look outside the window, to see that it was nighttime, and his father was still not home. He let out a disappointed sigh, and was about to head to bed. Suddenly though, the door flung open. Mutsuki turned his head, to see who was at the door.

It was his father, and he was currently wearing his hero costume. His hero constume consisted of a purple, steel helmet mask with no mouth hole, and a large, golden crescent moon symbol attached to the top of his head. He also wore a jet-black, leather suit with purple lines running through his arms, and legs. The suit also had a symbol embedded on its chest of another same-coloured crescent moon, but with a small line going through it. Attached to the suit, were your average leather gloves, boots, and fine-silk cape, just painted a deep shade of purple.

"Dad! You're home early." Mutsuki said, clearly surprised that his father was actually here.

"Yeah, well, it was an easy shift today, for both my jobs." his father replied, as he took off his helmet, exposing long, green, unkept hair which managed to reach just past his shoulders. His green eyes were also exposed, the bags under them clearly showing how tired the man was, despite him previously saying that he had an easy day at work.

"Um... well, your dinner's in the fridge. It's sashimi with rice." Mutsuki told his father, as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Oh! Thanks son, but I'm not hungry. Hey, I forgot to mention that All Might appeared in town today..." Mutsuki then snorted at the aforementioned hero.

"Dad, you know I'm not a fan of—"

"I know, I know. You don't like All Might, which is weird, 'cos a lot of kids your age seem to be infatuated with the guy, and I can't really blame them. I mean, he's literally a god amongst heroes." his father said, clearly also infatuated with the No.1 hero.

"That's exactly the reason why I'm not a fan. He makes it seem like, only he can be a symbol of peace, I mean, shouldn't every hero be that?" Mutsuki asked rhetorically. All his father could do was simply shrug his shoulders. Mutsuki then sighed, and said, "Anyway, Dad, I wanted to ask you about something..."

"You wanna go to U.A., and you want me to help you do it, I know." his father said, as he sat on the nearby recliner.

"You know?" Mutsuki asked, slightly taken aback.

"Of course. When you were a kid, you always used to say how you wanted to be a hero just like me, and how you wanted to go to the same hero school as me. I assumed you still carried those feelings, especially ever since your mother..." he then discontinued what he was about to say. Silence was suddenly, all that could be heard.

Mutsuki's father, trying to leave the deadly silence, then went on to say, "But, you really shouldn't wanna become a hero like me, 'cos I was never good enough. I didn't have the abilities to stand on my own as a pro, so I became a sidekick, and... I stayed that way." he then stood up, and pointed directly at Mutsuki. "I'll help you, but you should become a hero that's all you, not like anyone else. Aspire to be who you wanna be." he then told Mutsuki.

All of a sudden, for some reason, in reaction to what his father said, certain memories began flooding through Mutsuki's mind, as tears began to fall from his eyes. The memory of when he first protected someone, who would later go on to become his best friend, flooded his mind. The memory of when he first discovered his quirk, and when he made a promise to his late mother that he would achieve her dream, flooded his mind. The memory of this current moment flooded his mind, as his father told him, "Byodo, my son... you can be a hero."

And just like that, by tomorrow, Mutsuki, with the help of his father, would be on his way of becoming a hero, and achieving the dream his mother envisioned...

A world born equal.

A/N: What you are about to read next are my little character profiles, with some of my initial input on them, and their creation. I'll most likely, if not always, do these at the end of every chapter for a single character that's been introduced. This one's an exception though, because I couldn't bring myself to separate them.

Character Profiles: Mutsuki's parents

睦月平和: Heiwa Mutsuki/Mutsuki's mother [Age: 36 (when she died)]

Birthday: 4/7

Height: 160 cm

Favourite Things: Her son, and her husband

Civilian Clothes: Heiwa's normal choice of clothing were long, soft-silk dresses that reached nearly past her knees, and a pair of Getas (Japanese sandals)

Behind The Scenes: When writing her, I wanted to make Heiwa a soft-spoken woman with a kind heart, similar to how Midoriya's mother is (minus her nervousness). Her initial design was meant to be of a feminised version of All Might, hence the blond hair, and blue eyes I mentioned in the story. How I picture her is that she's always smiling (like All Might), but for some reason, mostly has her eyes closed. Her given name contains the kanji for "flat" (平, hei), and "sum" (和, wa). However, when written as one word, her name means "peace" (平和, heiwa). As for the surname, I'll delve on that in the next chapter.

It still saddens me that I had to kill her off. :(

睦月平均: Heikin Mutsuki/Mutsuki's father (Hero Name: Night Harrow) [Age: 46]

Birthday: 10/6

Height: 190 cm

Favourite Things: Hot springs, and bonzai

Civilian Clothes: When not as a hero, Heikin actually just wears his part-time job clothes (his part-time job by the way, is a janitor)

Behind The Scenes: Heikin is someone that does his best in everything, but still receives doubt (even by himself). He's also one to try, and find the most amount of seconds in his day to actually make time to relax. I honestly feel apologetic towards this character. It also doesn't help that I envision him as this, sortof, average joe. He truly is a living personification of the hardworking middle class. His given name contains the kanji for "flat" (平, hei), and "average" (均, kin). His name, written as one word, also means "average" (平均, heikin).