「Huh, that man is big. Interesting quirk, gigantification and a shark mutation. I'll have to write it down.」
Izuku Midoriya, 38+14 years-old, was having a normal walk to Aldera Middle School, jotting down notes about the big dude wreaking havoc in the city. (It's true, it's true, he could use All Fiction to make the space that he had to travel to get to the school nothing, but where's the fun in that?) Kamui Woods held him off, and a new hero, Mt. Lady, knocked him out last-second. He's not one to complain about hero's personalities, like some in the crowd are. 「Hey, there's a big asshole in my class who's gonna be a hero. There's an even bigger asshole right here who's gonna be a hero! Not literally, neither of us have gigantification quirks. But it's not like she committed a crime, or something!」 Like he has the balls to say something like that. No, he'll play it safe, blend in with the crowd, get to school relatively on time. He's got new Mt. Lady merchandise to check out later today, after all. Don't need detention marring that.
Even after his memories came back, it seems he could never shake his passion for heroism.
Like he even wants to, heh. It's Shounen Jump come to life, really. Real life superhero society! Both the 38 year-old him and the 14 year-old him agree; not that their different entities, though - literal superheroes are kinda neat.
He's gonna become one after all. He needs to end All For One's pitiful existence somehow, and he'd rather not have the cops on his back for doing so.
Okay, maybe he's in over his head with that one. But he has other reasons! Like being an ally of the weak! Fighting from the inside to dismantle an oppressive socially darwinistic organization like the Hero Public Safety Commission! Messing with Katsuki!
He's got a bone to pick with the Hero Public Safety Commission, after their new 'review the licenses of those with weak quirks to make sure they aren't coasting off other's achievements' policy. But that pales in comparison to the last goal. It's mostly the last goal, if he's being honest. Which he's not, but when is he anyways? It's sort of his thing at this point.
It's the little things that keep him going. Anshin'in's casual banter in the morning, the Weekly Shounen Jump (still being published, by the way! Araki-sensei is on Part 54 now, though that's in Ultra Jump, also still being published. Oh, come off it, it was only a matter of time before you realized he used the metaphorical Stone Mask, he's abnormal enough, and no 386 year-old could ever hope to have skin still as unblemished as he does.), and the cacophonous screeching of the most plusest plus to exist in this reality, Katsuki Bakugou, when the world doesn't hand him everything he wants on a silver platter. Ah, he can't wait for the sweet taste of reality check.
After all, he's still making Katsuki think he's powerless. Just, well, slightly luckier and slightly more resilient than usual.
He's still quirkless, and that's really all Katsuki cares that he is.
He'd be deluding himself if he wasn't giddy imagining the look on his face when quirkless loser Deku suddenly crushed him in the Yuuei entrance exams.
Or when he'll actually see the look on his face when he reveals Book Maker!
Later down the line, he might even grant him the courtesy of truly explaining All Fiction. God, the utter weight of the toppling of his mental hierarchy on his simulated face.
…
Damn, he has some untapped issues he needs to address, apparently. Just another Monday for him.
Honestly, Anshin'in, or in this incarnation, Hatsume Najimi still being alive shouldn't have been a surprise to him.
She's got 12,858,051,967,633,858 skills, according to her, of course she'd have an asspull reincarnation skill in there somewhere.
He still honestly didn't expect it. If tears were shed moments after breaking-and-entering, without the breaking since he could appear with a thought, into some random Kyoto home, it was just the Midoriya reflex, nothing more.
Staying at her house became a more permanent arrangement in the end as well. All For One was paying off the foster system to say he was accounted for, anyways, so it's not like he could just forsake shelter.
I mean, he could. But he values the intricacies of human life. If he wanted to erase what made him human, he would have done it the second he ripped his new housemate's face off.
The Hatsume's were well accommodating. They couldn't replace his mother, but we're not going down that rabbit hole again, that's not a good idea. Nope. Bottling up. Anyways, Anshin'in has a fraternal twin.
Right? It's weird isn't it? Especially because they were both born on April 18th, and if what Anshin'in tells him is correct, she rematerialized the day he was born… so… what happened to the other Hatsume Najimi? Where did that three-month old ego go? He's had one too many sleepless nights thinking about it. Which is one. One is too many nights to not sleep over the Mystery of Hatsume Najimi. It's better to just not think about it, he's long figured out.
So yeah, Mei is a bit eccentric. She's a gearhead with no sense of boundaries, but if you get to know her and get past her calling her inventions her "babies", she's honestly a fun person to talk to, and well, just, be around.
Fuck, he's starting to sound like an older brother. Which is weird, because he's technically younger? And so is Anshin'in? In this incarnation, Mei, by order of birth, is the oldest of the three kids taking residence at the Hatsume household. It's rather strange. Seems like a cosmic punchline.
Ah, he forgot to mention, Anshin'in looks the same except for her eyes and hair. It's funny how genetics goes out the window for plot convenience, but who is he to judge?
Anshin'in is rubbing off on him, dammit.
So yeah, eyes and hair. She's got pink hair, same style. She's also got fractals in her eyes.
Oh, did he mention her genetic quirk is an exact replica of Parasite Seeing? Sure is funny how that works. However, this leads him back to the dark path that is the Mystery, which he has sealed off for the mere implications of it.
Mei's quirk is similar, sure, she can zoom in five kilometers and have 20/20 vision from the point she zoomed to. 「Still, sure is convenient, huh.」
Anshin'in has her quirk registered as The End, though. Almost fully replicable by her, and she doesn't want to get arrested when she's actually somewhat challenged.
So yeah. Mei and Najimi. Honestly, their parents are pretty normal. Own a support company that they founded. It's not the biggest, but it's got good cred in the industry labor base for being much more generous to their employees than the sweatshops that are the current top-dogs.
He'd have half a mind to say Mei's eccentricities come from Anshin'in's influence, but there's a part of him that knows Mei would have grown to be like this anyways. He's fond of her eccentricities, so it's not a problem in the end.
He still doesn't know if abnormalities are still popping up these days. It's surprisingly difficult to discern most from quirks, and people get so in their own head about their quirks these days he wouldn't be surprised if most abnormalities these days just end up augmenting their genetic abilities. He could ask Anshin'in. That's admitting defeat though.
Izuku also was unable to transfer schools since his sole guardian, Hisashi, for some reason got off his fucking beach chair in Hawaii or something to tell the school that he won't sign off on a transfer. So, he would rely on his Minus until he graduates. He likes to make Katsuki think he walked all the way from Kyoto to Musutafu though, so he usually just teleports into a random Musutafu alleyway and walks the rest of the way there.
Which sucks, because while annoying Katsuki is his favorite pastime these days, he'd rather be going to school with Mei and Anshin'in. At least he would have allies there.
Fun fact about Izuku, he doesn't like being beat up daily. Shocker. Not like he's gonna do anything about it though, public power use without a license is illegal! He's a man of the law, or, to be accurate, a man of the "I don't want the police to become another problem I have to deal with so I only break the law in cases where I know no one is watching and I disagree with the law enough to be petty." He's definitely on board with the "no using quirks to beat up fellow children" law, which isn't enforced nearly as much as it should be, to be honest.
Speaking of Katsuki…
"If you really wanna be a hero so bad, here's a neat tip! Take a swan dive off the roof and pray for a quirk in your next life!"
Ah.
To be honest, he was zoning out most of the day. Katsuki blowing up his notebook snapped him out of it, where is it now? Ah, yeah, the koi pond.
Izuku, in all honesty, wasn't very affected by these words. He'd heard worse over both his existences. However…
However…
It would be rather unfortunate if he started using that sort of language with those who are not as mentally resilient as him.
He needs to uproot this one before it grows over.
Truth be told, he kind of cares for Katsuki, in a really weird, fucked up way. He's a victim of a greater force, and if you really want to psychologically break him, you could root out his deeply suppressed inferiority complex in public. Izuku hasn't done that. He tells himself it's because it's too easy, but it's honestly mostly because it's too cruel. He refuses to admit it, though.
He needs to play the hate sink again.
So, he'll traumatize Katsuki. Make him fear for his Yuuei admittance.
「The corner seat window is not closed. The mesh is not strong enough to stop a person falling out of the window.」
He plastered on his best poker face, and slightly unmasked his dead eyes. Don't blink, make eye contact with him. Now, while staring at him, plaster on a manic grin. 「Alright, Kacchan! Thanks for the tip! I'm gonna go try it right now! I'll let you know how it goes next time I see you.」 Walk over to the window, make eye contact again, keep staring, fall backwards out the window.
And, All Fiction.
Suddenly, he was upright on the sidewalk below.
He waited for Katsuki to come to the window to see the results of his work. Once he sauntered over…
Plaster on the shining eyes. Hunch your shoulders slightly, slouch somewhat. 「Didn't work. Oh well.」 He faked a pout. 「Let me know if you have any other ideas, Kacchan!」 And now, the grand finale. Dead eyes, wide smile, piercing eye contact.
「I mean, I would literally die for a quirk.」
That took more energy out of him then he would like to admit. Honestly, he might have gotten a bit rusty with all the genuine emotions he was conveying for the past couple decades of his life cut short.
He'll have to practice, he guesses. Can't ever be too cautious.
Izuku was not having a good day.
After suffocating to death, which, even if he can come back, isn't fun, he made the stupid decision of grabbing on to All Might's legs as he leapt into the sky. He wasn't scared, the G-Force was annoying though, he tells himself.
And then he had to ask him that question.
A part of him was still seeking validation, apparently.
「Can someone who's fated to constantly lose become a hero like you?」
It's not like his answer was wrong. In fact, All Might probably gave him more credit than he deserves, if he's being honest. Hell, he even showed him that injury. He honestly didn't know about that. It's probably why he has that grudge against All For One.
"Kid, if you can overcome that self-doubt, you can do anything you put your mind to. But right now…"
"You'd be a liability in the field if you keep second-guessing yourself like this."
He's sure All Might meant it to be a motivational statement… but…
He's a Minus. A born-loser. He's weak. He's nothing. He's a pebble on the side of the road. Not even a footnote in the history books. He's pathetic. He's an antagonist. 「Worthless, good-for-nothing, quirkless piece of shit Deku-」 And he's spiraling again. Can't do that on the field, he'd get someone killed. He can't even be sure anymore that his power will bring them back, if he's fighting the wrong person.
He thought he was over this kind of self-degradation. Guess Anshin'in was right. He can't ignore the 14 years of being Izuku.
So he was brooding. Sue him. He could teleport home whenever he felt like it. He didn't want to talk to Anshin'in right now. Once again, sue him. He'll take it up in court. It's not illegal to throw yourself a pity party while wandering the streets of Musutafu.
While wielding a thousand-yard stare as he paced from alley to alley, he noticed something in the sky.
「Shit.」
It's kind of pathetic, for someone who's so immortal he's lived not one, but two lives, but… he's not good with fire.
It's got nothing to do with his first life. Don't get him wrong, initially, getting cooked alive sucked. But it's not like he didn't get used to it eventually.
Yet…
「Mom, wake up, please… don't be dead, mom… I can't lose you… I won't- I can't- I-」
Ugh.
He'll go check it out. There's a slim chance All For One is directly behind that fire… and it's not like he can take anything else from him. There's nothing left to take.
That is the sludge villain.
Oh.
He accidentally spread his loser aptitude to All Might for a bit.
「Oh no.」
"Wasn't All Might chasing that villain earlier?"
"Yeah, I wonder how he got away."
「This… admittedly… is my fault.」
He was transfixed on the scene.
"My quirk isn't suited for this!"
He could end this in an instant if he wasn't such a coward.
"Dammit… I'm outta time…"
The mutterings of the crowd were blending together.
"He's got a kid!"
Another hostage? Fuck.
That's…
Katsuki.
Goddammit.
「Goddammit.」
And just like that, there was a screw in his hand and movement in his legs.
If he aims for the eyes, the villain will flinch.
Making his movements predictable enough for him to be impaled with a screw from- 「Book Maker.」 He muttered, under his breath. 「You've been reduced down to my level.」
It was all a blur after that. All Might stepped in, overextending his limit, saving the day.
He's pretty sure the pro heroes on the scene were lecturing him. He wasn't processing any of it.
Eventually, he was walking in the general direction of his residence. He wasn't together enough to trust himself not to fuck up an All Fiction teleport. Wait, that's Katsuki, isn't it?
He's starting to regret those thoughts about the look on his face already.
"Oi, nerd."
His sneakers were looking red as always.
"Where'd you pull that quirk from? Your ass?"
Stop.
"Have you been hiding your quirk from me this whole time? Have you been looking down on me?!"
Please.
"ANSWER ME!"
"DAMMIT, KATSUKI, PLEASE!" Ah. He dropped his mask. And his brackets.
He took a second to breathe. He could at least afford himself his dignity.
「Not now- please, not right now. This wasn't supposed to- please- I want to go home.」 His words were getting jumbled. 「I'm so tired. Today has been really bad. I can't deal with this right now. Please. I want to go home. Let me go home.」
He's pretty sure Katsuki was staring at him, wide-eyed. He wouldn't know, though. He's too busy admiring the way his laces cross over each other.
After a moment of tense silence…
"Tch. Damn nerd. Fine. Go cry to your sister. I'm sure she'll replace Auntie for you if you believe hard enough." And damn, how did he not notice how bulky these sneakers are? "Don't think this means you've won. If you look down on me like that again, I'll blow your fucking head off. I'm not a damsel in distress. I don't need saving. Shitty Deku." Ah, he walked off. He was wondering why that last half was getting quieter near the end.
It's not like this day can get any worse?
"I AM HERE!"
He shouldn't have phrased that as a question. He's here to lecture him, isn't he?
If he deserves a lecture from anyone today, it's All Might. Not only did he accidentally free a criminal from his grasp, but he ran in recklessly towards a villain who he himself used the last of his time limit to save, causing him to have to overextend himself.
"Kid, you alright?" Somewhere in between his spiral he transformed down to Small Might. "I'm not in a position to be judging, but you look like death worn over. Have you been getting enough sleep?"
Ah, right, of course, the mask.
Fuck it, he's too tired to slip it back on.
「You know how that's your true form? This is mine, right here. I've had a really hectic day, too much to keep up appearances. I mean… I guess I've had worse, but I'm pretty sure I slip then too.」
Go ahead, All Might. Feel free to laugh or pity the pathetic Minus before you. He'd probably be the only one he'd let that go unanswered for, honestly.
"Oh. Anyways... Kid, I've come to thank you…" 「What?」 "and, well, to revise what I said earlier." 「No, wait, you were right. Don't pity me!」
"I also have a proposal."
「Eh?」
"Without you… If I hadn't heard your story…I'd have been nothing but fake muscles and insincerity, so thank you!" What?
No.
「All Might… no, don't take the blame for this. It was my fault. I mean, I don't regret asking you that question, and well, you really should triple check yourself for any luggage you've got when you jump, but I knocked the bottle off you and caused him to escape and take a hostage. I'm sorry.」
"Don't knock yourself, kid! Of all the people at the scene, it was only you, quashing your self-doubt, who bought time for that young man! You spurred me to action!"
Don't do this, All Might, please.
"It is a common tale in the upstarts who would soon become the globe's top heroes! Many of them claim that their bodies simply moved before they could think!"
He's not worth it, he doesn't…
Fuck.
Why are the memories rushing back now? Really cliché.
"I'm sorry, Izuku, I'm sorry!"
「Even if I'm hated! Even if I'm despised! Even if I'm useless! I want to prove that I'm better than the main characters!」
"CRAWL BACK UP, KUMAGAWA MISOGI! I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY I GET TO SAVE YOU!"
Those aren't even good flashbacks, goddammit, it's like the mangaka skimmed his life trying to find quotes to push a point, but it was midnight, day of the deadline, and the coffee would only last so long.
He really needs to stop assimilating Anshin'in's world view.
"That's what happened to you back there, yes?!"
He's not even gonna mentally interject now. He'll let All Might have his cool speech moment.
"You can be a hero."
Damn, that was so cool. He's moved to tears. What a great delivery. Definitely the only reason he's crying. Definitely.
Shut up.
A/N: funny thing, it took me a week to write the first chapter, but it took me a day to write the second. Openers are truly hard.
To be fair, half that time was me worrying about negative feedback and rechecking my notes, but I mean, that's part of the process too.