Chapter 1: Reincarnation
As the black-haired man charged forward, the dark world swirled with madness and blood. One arm was missing while the other clutched a broken sword, attempting to stab the frail man wearing a helmet. A force in front of him shattered the weapon, leaving the black-haired man screaming obscenities. A soundless figure approached him from behind, stabbing through his chest. The world faded as his thoughts raged, wishing he could have taken revenge for himself and his allies.
The black void consumed him, leaving his soul to drift endlessly in its ink.
"I failed," Guts thought, frowning deeply. The man felt he couldn't cry or sob from the empty feeling in his chest. Drifting through the darkness, Guts felt his body disappear like ashes in the wind. His spirits lifted slightly at a small light in the distance. "What's that?" He thought, drifting closer toward the sparkling visage.
Upon closer inspection, Guts found the light coming from a hole or a doorway. The bright room illuminated more as the man touched the ground under his feet. The astral form Guts had become visible, showing himself in white clothes. He walked further, curious about the nature of this endless room. Eventually, Guts found an odd figure made of light, waiting for him in similar clothing.
"We did not expect you to find us, Guts," The figure spoke with an androgynous voice, "Nor did we expect your life to end as it did." The figure reached a hand to Guts, the palm facing the limitless sky. "We offer you the chance to live again in a different world. The hardships you've faced will stay in your mind, but we hope you find happiness in your new life. You will find no demons or magic because this world operates differently."
Guts blinked and furrowed his brow, about to say something, but he found he couldn't make a sound. Frustrated, he allowed the figure to explain further.
"We have disconnected your spirit from the world you came from, allowing none of your old enemies or allies to follow in your steps. Consider this an apology for the life you have lived, Guts. We certainly wish you had more love than you had pain. Allow us this chance to recompensate for your pain," The figure asked, some sorrow in their voice.
"I accept," Guts said before the figure spoke further. The spirit's patience had quelled his rage, for the time being, allowing the ability to speak.
The figure of light beamed before Guts, forcing him to strain both of his eyes. After the brightness faded, he realized he could see through both eyes again, as if Guts had never lost his vision. The man looked at his arm, no longer missing as he flexed it. The moment soon ended as the entity called upon him.
"Prepare yourself, Guts. We will now send you to your new world," The figure of light waves its hand, showing a white portal to their side. "You will be reborn again to acclimate yourself to your new life. We hope you experience happiness and love more than in your previous life. Go," It stated, fading away into the white room.
Guts prepared himself, sighing as he walked through the portal.
Izuku Midoriya was Guts's new name. He thought it was strange but considered the name average since his surroundings were more advanced and highly different from his world. His hair was curly and green, and his body was similar to his previous life. Izuku's face had freckles and deep green eyes that matched his hair.
The boy turned from his toy All Might and then gazed toward his mother, who had called his name.
"Izuku, I made katsudon for lunch!" She exclaimed, making the boy rise to his feet and sprint to his mother. The slight smile on Izuku's face grew as his mother swooped him into her arms.
"In this new world, I have a mother named Inko Midoriya. She is the light that made me smile the first time I saw her in this new place," Izuku thought while hugging his mom, "I will keep her from harm and make her smile as often as possible." He looked into his mother's eyes with love in his heart, who looked back at Izuku with the same passion.
As Inko carried her four-year-old son to the dining table, she pecked him on the cheek with loving kisses. Izuku chuckled and scrambled like any child his age from the affection before he sat at the table to eat. Inko giggled at her son's silly expressions and how he savored every bite. Katsudon was his favorite food because his mom made it. It was the first meal he ate when he could eat solid foods, falling in love with it at the first bite.
"Thank you, mom!" Izuku exclaimed, finishing the plate, "I love you." His face beamed with pride as he looked at Inko.
"I love you too, my little Izuku," Inko replied, taking the plates and heading into the kitchen. Izuku followed and jumped on a step stool to help rinse the dishes after his mom scrubbed them. "You're such a big help with the chores, Izuku. Why don't you play with your toys while I finish up? We'll head to the quirk doctor after I finish cleaning."
Izuku nodded and hugged Inko before returning to the living room. He picked up the All Might toy and exchanged it for the practice sword in the toy box. Inko thought it was strange for Izuku to be interested in swords or any weapons but chalked it up as a boy thing she didn't understand. The young boy calmed himself and underwent a small training exercise, using slow movements to gather his strength.
"Just because I'm in a new world doesn't mean I won't keep myself prepared for anything. I have to protect my mom and my friends, even if Kacchan is a bastard at times," Izuku mused silently. Soon after, Izuku finished burning his muscles and put the sword in the toy box. Then he grabbed a small rag from the bathroom and wet it before cleaning himself of sweat. Inko waited in the living room for her son, smiling brightly because of the intelligent boy he was. When Izuku returned to the living room, he joined his mom as they walked out of the apartment.
The drive to the quirk doctor was longer than expected due to a villain messing with the stop lights, causing a few detours and traffic accidents. As the officers arrested the illegal quirk user, Izuku noted in his to carry several quirk canceling cuffs in the future as the police did. Soon the traffic was clear, and Inko's car moved effortlessly through Musutafu's streets.
The small office building that provided quirk therapy and the diagnosis came into view as Inko parked the car in the parking lot. She ushered Izuku while holding his hand, passing by the Bakugou family as they left the building. Katsuki had nitroglycerin sweat which made explosions that the blonde was excited to see in action. The face Izuku's friend made caused him to smile in response, an unspoken agreement on the power and utility of his quirk.
It didn't take long for the mother and son duo to find the appointed Doctor Garaki for Izuku's quirk diagnosis. The small room provided comfort and privacy for the routine checkup before the doctor and his assistant tested the ability for a quirk manifestation in another room. After reviewing the x-ray and several test results, the doctor looked solemnly at the young boy and slumped his shoulders.
"I'm sorry to say this, Izuku, but you're quirkless," The doctor stated, causing Izuku's smile to vanish. Inko jumped slightly, confusion on her face.
"Are you sure?" She worriedly asked as she looked at Izuku, who was shocked at the information.
"I'm afraid so. Your son has an extra pinky joint, indicating he will never develop a quirk. I'm sorry," The doctor sighed, looking at the papers on his desk.
Izuku stared at the doctor for some time, and then his gaze drifted to his hands. He felt his blood boil, despair and hatred entering his mind before his mom hugged him tight. The comfort washed away his rage, replacing it with love and security. Izuku looked at his mom, tears begging for release from his eyes. Inko took her son's silence as confirmation that he understood what was said and rubbed circles on his back.
"Thank you, Doctor," Inko said as she guided her son out of the room.
On the ride home, Izuku gazed into the air. His thoughts were blank as he rode the waves of unstable emotions, trying to keep a stoic face. Inko glanced at Izuku after they parked, watching him mindlessly stare at nothing. She brought Izuku inside the apartment, holding his hand to guide him as they entered his room. Izuku blinked and looked around as if he suddenly woke up.
"I'm quirkless," Izuku stated, then looked at his mom. She sadly smiled at her son, kneeling to look him in the eye. He smiled back, the tears in his eyes flowing down his cheeks. "Being quirkless doesn't matter. That means I'll have to work harder than anyone else, then they'll see me as the hero I want to be!" Izuku exclaimed, surprising Inko. Her tears started flowing, and her pride swelled as she held her strong-willed son.
"Yes, and I'll be here to help you," Inko said through the broken sobs as she and her son happily cried.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, KACCHAN!" Izuku screamed. Katsuki Bakugou hissed in anger, followed by mocking sounds from his cronies, Fingers, and Wings. The rage on Izuku's face appeared as he stood before a fallen kid, protecting them from his long-time rival.
"What are you going to do, Deku? Beat me? You're a worthless Quirkless. You can't protect anyone, SO STAY OUT OF MY WAY!" Katuski yelled, gathering sparkling explosions along his arms. Izuku took a firm stance as the kid he protected ran off to find a teacher.
"I won't allow you to become a villain, Kacchan! As long as I breathe, you'll pay for the pain you cause!" Izuku stated, sprinting toward Katsuki and his surprised goons. Fingers launched a barrage of his elongated digits, trying to trap Izuku, while Wings flew above to dive-bomb the green-haired kid. Both attacks from Fingers and Wings jumbled together as Izuku side-stepped toward Katsuki, his muscles bulging as he leaped toward the blonde menace.
An explosion was focused on Izuku, blowing him a fair distance from Katsuki. Izuku tumbled in pain but stood up quickly, a ferocious scowl on his face as blood trickled down from Izuku's forehead, irritating his eye and giving him a red-tinted vision. His muscles ached and screamed at the bruised and battered joints.
"WATCH WHO YOU'RE CALLING VILLAIN, DEKU! I'LL KILL YOU!" Katsuki shouted, his arms wreathed in small explosions. Before the violence could continue, a few teachers intervened, pulling both of the raging children from each other. The teachers scolded the green-haired boy for the next few hours while Katsuki's mom dragged her son home. Soon, Inko brought Izuku home, scolding him lightly for getting in another fight with Katsuki. Izuku acknowledged his mother's sentiment and punished himself with his training sword, exercising for hours.
Izuku might be a young 8-year-old boy, but his size was more significant than Katsuki and his cronies. Inko grew accustomed to Izuku's habits of getting stronger after his diagnosis as Quirkless. The muscles on Izuku's body rippled with strength, radiating the sweat as it burned off his body. Izuku's stoic face remained as he lifted heavy weights and ran in place.
After finishing his shower, Izuku headed toward the kitchen but stopped in the middle of the hallway as he heard his mother talking on the phone.
"Hisashi, when will you come home?" Inko asked, "Izuku hasn't seen you since he was three years old. Could you ask for some time off soon?" The noise from Inko's phone was deafening in the house's silence, making Izuku's shoulders stiffen. He doesn't remember his father's appearance but has an idea of his body type. After a moment, Izuku peeked around the corner, watching his mom talk on the phone.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE ALREADY USED YOUR VACATION DAYS?! DID YOU NEVER THINK TO CALL OR VISIT NOT ONLY YOUR SON BUT YOUR WIFE?!" Inko's scream bellowed through the apartment, shaking Izuku to his core. Seeing his mother shaking with rage was new to him, filling him with similar emotions. Suddenly the room grew cold as Inko stumbled, clutching the phone. "D-divorce?! Why..." Inko stuttered, her shaking voice alerting Izuku to run into the room and hold her up. The action surprised his mother, but she didn't question it as Izuku helped her sit down.
The call didn't last long, the voice on the other side uncaring as they shut the phone off before Inko could respond. Izuku heard his mother mutter about women in the call's background, teasing Hisashi for not paying attention to them. Inko's eyes drifted toward Izuku and flinched from what she saw. The tears that fell from Inko's face were hot as they dripped onto the phone.
Izuku was fuming with rage as his veins rose to the surface of his skin. Heat emanated from him in a dangerous manner close to a furnace or over-heated radiator. Inko stared at her son, surprised at the sudden power radiating from her son.
"He's a dead man walking," Izuku stated, making Inko flinch at the severe and deadly intent in her son's voice. "I'll take care of you, mom. I always will," Izuku promised, light shining deep in his eyes. The mother tried to speak, her voice hitching in her throat. Inko held onto her son, softly apologizing between her sobs.
17-year-old Izuku waited patiently at his desk for class to start while the rowdy students around him chatted. The only student that shared his silence was Katsuki Bakugou, whose legs were on his desk as he relaxed in a "bad boy" pose. Izuku found Katsuki's behavior despicable, given that they used to be best friends before the blonde got his quirk. Since Bakugou got his power, he seemed to be an explosive narcissist to anyone and everyone, trying to be the dominant dog in every room. The class went silent as their teacher walked into the room, carrying a handful of papers.
"I'd hand these papers out so you can figure out your future," The odd-haired teacher stated, "But I know you want to go the hero route!" The teacher threw the papers in the air, causing the class to erupt with their quirks. "Hey! I know you guys are excited but don't use your quirks in class!" Yelled the teacher, forcing the class to groan. Katsuki stood on his desk, popping sounds from sweat dripping off his arms.
"Who are you extras kidding?! I'm going to be the number one hero! Greater than any of you, who will be nothing but sidekicks to some b-class heroes," Katsuki exclaimed, earning groans and angered responses. He swiftly turned to some students. "TRY ME! I'M AIMING FOR UA, THE BEST OF THE BEST!"
The students in the class commented on the difficulty of UA's entrance exam before Katsuki boasted about his passing grade for the mock exam. The blonde states his goal of surpassing All Might as the top hero.
"As I see here, Izuku Midoriya also applied for UA," The teacher remarked, looking over his class roster. All eyes in the classroom stared at Izuku, who was looking out the window at the time. Laughter erupted after a few seconds, the class howling about the Quirkless kid trying to become a hero. Izuku squinted, annoyed at his surroundings.
Katsuki slammed his crackling hand on Izuku's desk, prompting a death glare from the green-haired boy. Izuku's face left the blonde speechless for a second before he returned to his threatening nature.
"What are you thinking, Deku?! You're QUIRKLESS! You can never hope to beat me!" The raging pomeranian howled, annoying Izuku. The silence inside the room crept on as Izuku stared at Katsuki, his dark green eyes boring deep into the blonde.
"I have nothing to say to you, Bakugou," Izuku returned to the window while a stunned Katsuki stared at him. The blonde registered that Izuku didn't call him Kacchan, and it shut off all his rage. The classmates surrounding the two fell silent, looking back to their teacher, who attempted to diffuse the situation by bringing up the topic of class that day. For the rest of the day, Katsuki stared at Izuku.
As Izuku packed his things, he found that he was unbothered by any classmates. Katsuki was nowhere in sight until Izuku started walking out of the school, hearing a familiar voice call to him. Izuku turned, facing Katsuki outside of the school.
"What do you want?" Izuku asked, clearly impatient. Katsuki wasn't behaving like he typically did, looking at the ground as he held his fists to his sides.
"I need to talk to you," Katsuki grumbled, the anger slowly boiling under the ice of his emotions. Izuku sighed, lowering his backpack to the ground as he crossed his arms. The boy's eyes furrowed, gazing at the blonde.
"Speak," Izuku ordered, causing Katsuki to flinch at the harsh tone. The blonde slowly looked up at Izuku, finally looking the bigger kid in the eye.
"Why did you call me Bakugou?" Katsuki asked, his voice slightly shaky. Izuku stared deep into the blonde's red eyes, seeing determination and fear welling in the crimson abyss.
"You stopped being my friend a long time ago, Bakugou. You don't deserve my kindness because of how you have tortured and bullied everyone around you. I once thought you were going to be the greatest hero, but now all I see is a selfish child with lofty goals," Izuku stated, "I can only hope that one day you wake up and realize how you lost your only friend." Katsuki recoiled as if he had been bit by a snake. Before Katsuki could reply, Izuku grabbed his backpack and walked down the road, leaving the blonde to stare at his broad back with a shattered expression. If one were to look closely, the blonde shed a single tear.
After a few minutes, Izuku found himself walking under a bridge with sewer access, sighing as he thought about the day.
"I truly hope Kacchan can wake up from his stupidity. I want my friend back," Izuku thought, frowning as his shoulders slumped.
A sudden noise erupted from the sewer, exploding in a slime that shot toward Izuku. The boy dodged to the side, rolling across the pavement to escape the sludge.
"Give me your body, kid. I didn't know he was in the area," The villain commanded, charging Izuku again. Izuku quickly shed his backpack, pulling his kendo sword from it and dodging the sludge villain again. The boy thought that since the villain was slime-based, the only weaknesses he would have were his eyes and mouth due to their visibility. Izuku struck the eyes with extreme precision, causing the sludge villain to howl in pain. "AAAGH! YOU DICK! OW!"
Izuku didn't relent, slamming his sword across the teeth and eyes of the slime villain. The green-haired boy knew that the villain had higher stamina than he did, so he opted to end the fight as quickly as possible, repeatedly striking the weak spots until the villain submitted. The plan would have been a success if the villain wasn't faster than Izuku, quickly wrapping the boy in his slimy embrace as sludge poured into Izuku's mouth.
"Fiesty little shit! Good thing your body is big enough to hide me, or I would have killed you," The slime stated, trying to force its sludge into Izuku's mouth. The boy's rage shook the villain to his core from the killing intent. Izuku gripped the villain's eyes as the slime stilled long enough for him to squeeze them tight, causing the sludge villain to writhe in pain. Izuku was thrown into the wall, cracking several tiles with his weight and bruising his body. A loud noise interrupted the scene as a blonde man leaped from the sewers.
"SMASH!" The man yelled, punching the air before the villain, making the air rush like a whirlwind and splattering the villain across the alley. Izuku's voice croaked as he coughed, trying to thank the man as he sat up painfully. "Don't move, young man! How badly are you hurt?" The tall blonde asked, sounding familiar to Izuku as he cleared his eyes.
"All Might?" The boy asked, receiving a smile from the hero in plain clothes. Izuku's pain flared as he tried to stand, groaning in pain from the bruises on his back and the blood trickling down his face. A guess could estimate that the boy cracked his head against the wall from the previous throw.
"That's right! I'm surprised you held out so long against this villain. Let me check your injuries," All Might requested as he approached, helping Izuku to his feet as he scanned the young boy.
"When you're quirkless, you tend to use everything you have to fight back against anyone," Izuku grumbled, causing a surprised look from the blonde hero, "I've been practicing swordsmanship and hand-to-hand fighting since I was diagnosed quirkless. Any edge I can learn early in life will help me be a great hero." The boy looked up at All Might, noticing the stunned look of his favorite hero.
"To be able to fight against something like that villain for so long without a quirk," The hero thought aloud, "You're incredible." The statement made Izuku smile, then winced at the pain again. The hero flinched and worriedly looked at Izuku's injuries. "I'll bring you to a hospital for your injuries. I'm sorry I didn't come here fast enough," the hero apologized, his eyes drooping.
"It's okay," Izuku stated, "He's fast and slippery. I can help collect the villain, given you have bottles or something." The boy gazed across the alley, then at All Might.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, young man." All Might gathered a few bottles from a recycling bin for the pair to collect the sludge villain. The process took a few minutes, allowing Izuku to ride off the adrenaline and experience the actual pain he was experiencing. There were a few cracked ribs and a bleeding bruise on the top of his head. All Might steadied Izuku as he aided the young man down the street.
"I should text my mom or call her. She'll be worried," Izuku stated. A small chuckle escaped him before wincing in pain. All Might sighed, then realized his time limit had run out as he puffed into a cloud of steam. Izuku stared at the faded figure All Might became, then his face softened. "Is this your true form then, All Might?" The blonde nodded, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yes. I was injured a few years ago in a significant battle. My opponent was powerful, and it took everything in my power to stop him," All Might's voice was small and hurt, causing Izuku to look down at the man's hand pressed to his side. "I pushed my limit today. I can only do three hours of hero work these days." All Might's gaze turned up at the young man, an unasked request filtering through his eyes.
"I won't tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me," Izuku stated with a sad smile. All Might smiled softly, then produced a phone from his pocket.
"I'll have a car to bring us to a hospital. Ah, I forgot to ask your name, young man," All Might said in sudden realization. Izuku chuckled through the pain of his cracked ribs.
"Izuku Midoriya," The boy stated, then looked his hero in the eye, "What's yours?" The blonde shifted in place, sweat rolling down his face. After a tense moment of silence, the hero resolved himself.
"Toshinori Yagi," Mr. Yagi said quietly. Izuku nodded, testing the name on his tongue for a moment. Toshinori sighed, grateful for his new companion's secrecy.
"Thank you, Mr. Yagi. I owe you one," Izuku said with a smile that made his eyes shine. Toshinori smiled the same way, his electric blue eyes lighting up. The pair decided to wait on a bench near the next street before the car came to pick them up. Izuku called his mom and filled her in on the situation, quickly explaining that All Might had saved him from a villain. Toshinori was again thankful as the boy didn't mention the hero's weakness. Toshinori ensured that an officer had received the bottles of the sludge villain before Izuku and himself entered the car.
After a fast ride to the hospital, Izuku was bandaged and lying on a cot at the hospital. He was talking to his idol in his skeletal form before his mother entered the room, bawling her eyes out at the visage of her son. The hero assumed his alternate identity as the secretary of All Might while talking with Inko, briefly explaining the situation while soothing the mother's worries. Izuku smiled as they exchanged numbers for any follow-up calls if the family needed them. Toshinori let Izuku have his phone number because he wanted to speak with him later.
Izuku was allowed to go home the next day after a doctor with a healing quirk accelerated the healing of his bones. He spent most of the day in bed, reading books or talking to his mom. Since it was the weekend, Inko could stay home and take care of Izuku. She typically worked the same hours Izuku had school, so they didn't miss each other too long. A knock on his door piqued his interest as the night grew longer.
"Come in," he said, allowing the entrance of his guest. Izuku was surprised to see Katsuki standing there, shock across the blonde's face. After a moment, Izuku gestured for the young Bakugou family member to sit in the desk chair. Katsuki nodded and closed the door before sitting down. The green-haired boy's voice cut off as Katsuki opened his mouth.
"What happened," Katsuki's question was more of a demand, but Izuku decided not to yell at the blonde.
"Sludge villain attacked me. He was trying to escape All Might after stealing a purse," Izuku said, "He tried to hide in my body, but I fought tooth and nail until help arrived." Katsuki's face seemed to grow softer as Izuku spoke, less angry than ever. "I was slammed into a wall, cracked a few ribs, and a cut on top of my head. I should be good to train again by Friday," Izuku stated, flexing an arm to test the bruised muscle.
"You're so cool sometimes," Katsuki whispered loud enough for Izuku to hear, making the green-haired boy whip his head to the blonde in surprise. He saw Katsuki's eyes wet with unshed tears, slightly shaking. "You train so hard every fucking day, even though you're quirkless. It's fucking awesome," Katsuki sobbed, the tears falling from his face for the first time since they were little kids. Izuku sat up, ignoring the dull pain from his body as he leaned toward the blonde. "I'm always one step behind you, chasing you as you fight everything on your own. Why can't you be a stepping stone like everyone else?"
"Kacchan," Izuku rasped, feeling his breath hitch.
"No! I don't deserve that name," Katsuki cried, hands over his eyes. "I treat everyone like shit, stomping everything until I get my way. Just like you said, I'm just a selfish kid," The blonde sobbed, nearly falling out of the chair before Izuku grabbed him. Katsuki flinched as Izuku hugged him, holding the blonde tight.
"It's okay, Kacchan. I'm not going anywhere," the green-haired boy promised, rubbing his friend's back as the blonde sobbed into his shoulder. "I'll be by your side now, so you don't need to worry about me anymore." Katsuki clutched to Izuku, letting his emotions take over as he cried into the giant boy's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Katsuki apologized, "I'm so sorry, Izuku." The blonde choked, making Izuku tear up as well.
"It's okay. We're good now," Izuku promised, letting his tears fall.
Neither boy noticed the pair of moms peeking from the doorway with happy faces, seeing the rivalry finally dissolve between their children. Inko and Mitsuki shared a tissue box to relieve the tears in their eyes.