Chapter 3: Letters and Family
Izuku and his mom had finally arrived at UA with its massive ornate walls and gates where carriages and civilians a like traveled in and out. Izuku excitedly went through one of their storage crates and pulled out a piece of parchment and a graphite stick.
"What are you doing Izuku?" chuckled Inko.
"I have to start writing to Kacchan and let him know that we made it safely," grinned Izuku.
- Summer, Day 20, Year XX05 -
Dear Kacchan,
We finally made it to UA and it's just as incredible as we imagined. The canals go all throughout the city. Some houses and storefronts have water entrances as well as land for merfolk who can't change into a human form.
There are also heroes everywhere! We actually passed hero Mt. Lady escorting an All for One loyalist to the dungeons.
When we got to our new home it looks so fancy with stone walls instead of wood. Mom says that my uncle paid for everything. I hope I get to meet him some time soon. Once we said our good-byes to Uncle Masaru, we unpacked and had dinner.
I'm not going to lie Kacchan, I already miss you, Auntie, and Uncle. I'm sure I'll see you again soon though when you come here to take the hero exam.
Your Friend,
Deku
- Spring, Day 4, Year XX08 -
Dear Kacchan,
School was rough again, I know you keep telling me not to let them push me around but, it's hard when they trap and hold me down with their magic… Other than that, I'm glad you're exceling in school as always Kacchan! You'll be an amazing hero!
Mom's been doing good with her job as an assistant to my uncle. Who, by the why, I still have yet to even meet. Mom says it's because he's just been really busy is all, as he is a member of the city council.
I do worry about mom though; she's been starting to look tired every time she gives me a new low quality mana crystal for the week. I really hope she's not getting sick.
Your Friend,
Deku
- Fall, Day 30, Year XX12 -
Dear Kacchan,
I'm so tired, the bullying had gotten worse. At the very least it has taught me how to treat my own injuries maybe I can teach you when you get here. I know you want to be here Kacchan but, you know Auntie and Uncle barely have enough money to support Uncle Masaru's business trips. I also won't tell mom because she has other things more important to worry about.
Plus, I think mom has gotten worse to the point she can barely get out of bed some days. She tells me not to worry as I guess my uncle is paying for the house and food now. So, every week we have one of my uncle's attendants come by and restock our food supply. Mom still somehow manages to give me a new mana crystal every week.
However, they are starting to feel like they are not enough. Like for example this last week after a hearty dinner I had still felt hungry, but not for food… I'm scared of what that might mean Kacchan… I hope to see you soon…
Your Friend,
Deku
- Winter, Day 31, Year XX14 -
Kacchan,
She's gone… Mom's gone Kacchan…
Apparently, mom wasn't actually making enough money to by prefilled mana crystals. So, she was getting empty low-grade crystals and was filling them with her own mana. It caused her health to deteriorate. Uncle for some reason never helped with the crystals, but he found it just fine to help with everything else.
I feel so dejected but, at the same time frustrated… and I don't know what to do Kacchan… Supposedly my uncle is going to be picking me up soon as I'm going to be living with him now in the city council building. I really don't want to go with him as throughout this whole time I've never even met him once, not even to help out with the mana crystals…
Maybe when you finally come to UA next year, I can stay with you Kacchan.
Your Dear Friend,
Deku
Izuku sniffled as he went over his letter one last time. It's only been a couple of days since his mom's funeral. Since then, he's locked himself in his room. Only ever leaving for food. It took until now for Izuku to work up enough energy and motivation to write a letter to Katsuki. To at the very least let him know what's going on. It was also the day he would be escorted to meet with his uncle. As the thought of meeting his uncle crossed his mind there was a knock on the front door.
"That must be him," sighed Izuku as he placed the letter into his rucksack and answered the door.
There standing at the door was a tall thin man with black hair tied back into a ponytail. Behind him was a fancy horse drawn carriage.
"Hello Master Izuku, I have come to pick you up and escort you to the city council building per the request of Councilor Yoichi," said the man.
"Oh, ok," replied Izuku sullenly.
The man then went to the carriage door and opened it for Izuku. Izuku gave the man his thanks before taking out his letter and placed it in his mailbox before getting onto the carriage. The trip to the city council building was quite quick as it was located in the center of the city. It was also a very hard to miss building as it was large and ornate with several canals going in and out of the build along with a couple of land entrances.
The carriage stopped in front of the building at one of the entrances that had a canal and land entrance side by side. As the carriage driver opened the door and Izuku exited. He spotted a pale white mer with pale green markings waiting patiently in the canal. What caught Izuku off guard about this mer was how gaunt and sickly he looked despite the small glitter in his emerald eyes.
"Izuku it is good to finally see you," said the mer.
"You must be Uncle Yoichi," said Izuku.
"Yes, I am. Please follow me and I will explain where you will be staying. I would also like to talk to you about your parents."
Yoichi then guided Izuku into the building. Yoichi did not say anything until they had entered an empty hallway.
"Izuku, you do know that you're a hybrid, right?" asked Yoichi.
"Yeah, I'm a Mer-Human hybrid," answered Izuku.
Yoichi gave a sad sighed "That is unfortunately a lie nephew." Yoichi stopped swimming to face Izuku.
"W-What do you mean uncle?"
"You are actually a Mer-Leviathan hybrid. Your mom was a beautiful emerald reef mer. While your father, my brother, is a sea serpent leviathan."
"I-I'm a Leviathan hybrid?" stuttered Izuku in shock "W-Wait that makes you a leviathan. H-How are you not imprisoned or trying to eat anyone?"
"Izuku, do you know who makes up the UA city council?"
"I-If I remember right, they are the founders of the city as well as some were elected officials."
"Correct, I am the first founder, Yoichi Shigaraki. Also one of the few that had sealed my brother away, All for One, or as you know him as Hisashi Shigaraki."
Izuku's knees buckled from the shock "B-B-But I thought dad was part of the rebellion against All for One!"
"No, I'm sorry to say that you mom had lied. You are the son of none other than the Lord of Leviathans, All for One. I also have a very important question for you. The mana crystals your mom was giving you, have they been leaving you oddly hungry?"
Izuku took a long moment to recover enough from his shock to stand back up and answer "A-A little, why?"
Yoichi gave another sad sigh before leading Izuku to an opened and heavily reinforced metal door. Next to the door was a human guard standing next to it.
"In order for me to live in the city without eating anyone my core had to be sealed. It had to be empty while I was maintaining a mer-form. However, before they could seal my core, I had handle being in a permanent stat of mana starvation."
"Wait, that's why you look so skinny and sickly."
"Unfortunately, in order for you to not be immediately banished to the deepest trench with your father. You will have to go through the same process. I'm sorry nephew, but this is for you own good as well as for this city's people. It will be a very painful process. You will feel the pain of starvation while your body is forcing you to go into your Mer-form. Don't worry, you'll get used to it pretty quick."
The guard then grabbed Izuku's shoulder a little too roughly.
"W-What?!" Exclaimed Izuku shaking in fear.
Before Izuku could ask about anything more he was pushed into the room. The heavy door slamming closed behind him with a loud click indicated the door was locked.
"You will still get regular meals every day, however you will be mana starved. I know you will be able to handle it nephew. I will see you again when you stabilize."
Izuku then heard a splash of water indicating that Yoichi had left. Izuku then curled into a ball before lifting his head to look around the room. Beside the platform he was sitting on, the rest of the room was basically one large indoor pool.
In the pool was a sandy floor with kelp and coral arrangements. While every now and then a small school of fish would pass through them. In the far corner of the pool, Izuku could spot a large cave entrance.
"I guess that's where I'll be sleeping once I change forms," murmured Izuku to himself "I just hope it won't be too painful."
Slowly I think I'm getting better with my grammar.