Aizawa dropped Shinsou off first then dropped off Izuku. He made no attempts to get into his business anymore tonight and he was thankful for the silent walk back home. They managed to gather more evidence and caught three people. His teacher had been working on this mission for four months and they were finally getting some where.
Izuku dropped on his bed at two thirty three and groaned. His body hurt and he was exhausted. At least his classes did need to start until nine. He was kind of glad he could stay home most of the time until Saturday night. He was in the UA dorms, Saturday night to Tuesday night. Sometimes he just felt it was better to be home with his mom than being where everyone would annoy him.
No one argued with the special treatment that Izuku and Shinsou got but they were sacrificing sleep and a social life for their work study. It was something they and their parents had to sign waivers for because of the lack of sleep and the mental stress. The two boys had another three months before they got a two month break from school since it would be summer vacation.
Izuku didn't feel much different. He would be seventeen during their summer vacation. He was getting closer and closer to making it to the goal he had recently decided on. Next year would be his last year of school. He made it.
He drifted in and out until he was finally out for some actual sleep.
X
X
At seven forty five, his alarm went off and he smelled the warm aroma of coffee that smelled of delicious lies of how much he would feel alive after drinking it. He walked into the kitchen still in his hero costume to see his mother making chocolate chip pancakes and her hair was wrapped up in a towel like she just showered. His heart clench at the sight.
"M-Mom…."
"Hey baby."
She placed the plate on the table for him.
"I know but I swore I saw him at the grocery store! He gave me a short wave and disappeared into the crowd. It made me feel a little better that he stills thinks of us after all this time. That's all I could ask for."
Izuku smiled- a big genuine smile.
"Alright."
The two of them sat in silence while shoveling food into their bodies and drinking coffee. She dressed quickly and was out before he left. Izuku got on his school uniform and grabbed his gym clothes. All Might snagged him extras since he went through gym clothes almost as much as Todoroki.
Izuku went to leave, pulling the door open to see Toshinori standing there ready to knock. The blonde man laughed and waved to him.
"I thought we could walk together!" he stated with paper cup holder in his free hand with two drinks.
"Oh, alright. I didn't expect you to be here," the teen said with a chuckle as he locked the door, "Sorry I'm a little slow this morning."
"Shouta said you guys did excellent last night! He looked happy for the coffee I gave him. I hope it helps, I spiked it with two shots of espresso."
The boy laughed, "That actually sounds great!"
"Well, I got yours with just one in it. I hope that's ok!" the older hero said with a smile, "Don't wanna stunt your growth too much."
Izuku grinned. It was a great morning even though it was cold as hell. It was about to be March and it was still snowing on and off. They said it would be colder than usual in the spring but the snow wouldn't accumulate- hopefully.
"Is your mother still ok with your new work study? I know it's been months and everything but still…."
"She's still ok with it. So far I've only ruined one black Deku costume. I'm glad for that but I can say the green ones are seeing the worst of the action."
All Might laughed, "I suppose so. You and young Bakugou really love going all out against each other."
Izuku smiled, "I like pushing my limits."
Silence fell between them until the school came into view.
"Can I ask why you suddenly changed?"
Izuku stopped walking. All Might had not once asked for an explanation. He was glad for that. He didn't want to tell him why exactly. He would be afraid his mother would get in trouble too. He couldn't risk anything until he was absolutely sure.
"I met someone."
The blonde man glanced down at him. The look on his face…. was concerning.
"Aizawa sensei said something that stayed with me. At first I wanted to save just anyone and everyone. Then he said something that made me think. He tried to save a woman. She had kids but he failed. If he had saved her, he would've saved more than just her- he would've saved her kids too. I don't know if the person I want to save will save the millions and it probably would but they deserve it no matter the cost."
The hero took a drink of his coffee.
"I saved Eri and I saved millions probably. I know a lot of people thought I only saved one girl. Like I saved Kouta. Those that slip through the cracks are the ones I want to save. There are more than enough heroes to save the millions. I just want to save the few. I don't care how it will look later on. It will be bad probably and I'm ok with that."
"That's…. a lot to hold in yourself. What makes you think you will be alone when doing it?" the man asked.
Izuku glanced up at him with a hard look in his usually soft green eyes.
Oh no.
"I probably will be. I'm more than ok with that."
X
X
Izuku joined his friends, seeing that Aizawa looked more alive than he usually did. He smiled knowing it was thanks to All Might. It seemed Eraserhead's opinion of his mentor had changed in the last couple of months. He could only assume that Aizawa was sharing the success of their mission with the older hero to ease his mind.
Shinsou gave him a big nod with a tired smile. Izuku returned the same look as he sat down.
Izuku's brain had barely time to pay attention. All he could think was….. was he sure he wanted this? He liked it a lot better that was for sure. Not much happened during the day compared to the night time patrol.
I want to be sure. I have to be. I know I am but I need to know…. If he's still the same.
He went to his free period after lunch and caught up on his other stuff. Shinsou somehow waited last minute every single time and still passed. He was a little jealous of that.
Izuku got to his math work and started at it. He sighed and pulled out his phone. He went back to that article about the woman with the age reversing quirk. She had an email on the article for people to contact her.
He tapped on it. Gmail popped up, the cursor blinking waiting for him to type his words. What could he say that didn't make him sound like a lunatic?
Shit.
He took in a deep breath and started typing.
To: AgeReverseQueen145
From: AllMightLoverJ15
Subject: I can pay $300
Email: My name is Izuku Midoriya. I know this is unusual but I need a favor. I can pay for it more than your asking but I need a favor for my age to be reversed to eight. Make it temporary.
He hit send and waited. He honestly didn't expect her to answer back so quickly.
From: AgeReverseQueen145
Email: What did you have in mind?
From: AllMightLoverJ15
Email: Can we meet around six? Where would you prefer?
From: AgeReverseQueen145
Email: How about the Hobby Aisle Store? I need to go there anyways.
From: AllMightLoverJ15
Email: Of course. Thank you so much.
She didn't messaged back. He slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Now, I have to get to work once school lets out.
X
X
Izuku went home first. He grabbed his backpack and stuffed things he thought he would need… Stuff he wanted. He shoved in some clothes for when he shrank some. They still smelled the same as the day his mom washed them for Tomura. Just annoy the shit out of the villain, he packed in an All Might shirt.
He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote to his mother.
Mom,
I'm sorry but I have to make sure I'm doing the right thing. I might be gone for a few weeks and I hope you can respect that. I'm sorry for any grief it will cause but I have too do it. I know you will understand and you can ground me later if it will make you feel better.
I love you
Izuku
The young hero went to his room, grabbed about seven hundred dollars just in case. He shoved it into his pocket carefully and then grabbed something to eat in the kitchen.
His heart was pounding in his ears. He could not believe he was doing this. It felt so surreal. He wouldn't have done something so reckless….. but he had no choice. He would probably still continue with his underground hero study because that would be best but it was because of Tomura he wanted too. He was the reason for this all.
He also wanted to make his mom happy.
Inko stayed quiet about it often but after this morning, she cared. He was surprised she was attached to the villain but he didn't question it. Something could've happened between them and she probably felt like a mother figure towards him. He was in no place to pass judgement when he was doing something more ludicrous.
About five fifteen, he left the apartment. He felt sad he couldn't just take his mother with him but it would be dangerous. It was hard to say how the League of Villains would feel with a child running into their hideout looking for their leader. He wasn't stupid to think some of them would be ok with him waltzing in like he was welcomed there just because he looked like a little kid.
He made it to Hobby Aisle. This was the same place his mother came to get the fabric for his hero costumes when she had time to make them. He needed to be thankful for the things she did. Tomura was right, he needed to make sure she never had to work again. He didn't care if he had to work two jobs- he would do it for her. He was young and he could handle it. If Aizawa sensei could, he would.
He waited on the bench near the door with his back pack. He felt nervous meeting this lady. She would probably think he's nuts but he didn't care. He wanted to make sure this was what he wanted. If Tomura was the same then he would decide what to do from there.
Exactly at six, the woman walked in. She looked over at Izuku with a questioning glance. He just realized he didn't tell her what he looked like. He gave her an awkward wave making her frown but she walked over to him anyways.
"Izuku Midoriya?"
He nodded quickly.
"Do I know you?" she asked.
"I don't know. I go to UA."
Her eyes lit up, "You were in the sports festival the last two years right? You were the kid who broke his fingers in the first fight?"
He nodded his face turning bright red.
"You did a lot better this time around. Good job."
"T-thanks."
"I do have to shop while I'm here. Let's talk."
Izuku got up with her, carrying his back pack. The two of them went down the yarn aisle first. She started grabbing very bright colors and placing it in her basket.
"So, what does a UA student want with going back to their younger self. You don't look sick."
He chewed his lip. How in the hell was he going to explain anything to her without sounding like a psycho.
"It can't be silly if it means something to you."
He gave her a quick nod.
"Someone I know got his age reversed. He is not the best…. kind of person. I feel like the time we spent while he was in kid form was life changing for the both of us. I feel I know what I want but I need to know if he's still changed. I feel like if I am a kid I can kind of force him to care for me for a short while and get the feel of how to help."
She just stared at him like he was nuts.
"Little boy, you realize-
"I know!" he said louder than he meant too, "But this….. this I can't explain. I have to save them."
He stopped in front of cart. His big green eyes watered.
"I know it's selfish but all I care about is him. If I save him then I can probably save the millions."
"You're not convincing me."
Izuku let go of her basket and grabbed her arm. She glared at him as he leaned in.
"I have to do this. I don't give a shit how nuts it is."
"I've heard worse things. I….."
She looked off to the side.
"Are there more than just the one you want to save?"
"If they let me yes."
Her eyes narrowed, "Just millions? Like an inspirational story?"
"Could be but more like lives. A…. whole country."
The woman looked uneasy. Izuku couldn't blame her but he couldn't reveal too much at once.
"Pay for my stuff and we will call a deal," she said quietly.
He finished shopping with her.
"What do you do with all the yarn?" he asked.
"I make blankets in my spare time. The only people I cannot help are babies. My quirk only works on those age of five and up. It makes me sad and I like making blankets for those I can't help."
That was awful.
"I'm so sorry."
Izuku paid for everything like he said he would. The two of them went outside to her car.
"I wish I could save those babies too," she whispered, "All I can offer is a warm blanket for comfort. Then as I make them, it's still not enough."
She unlocked her car.
"Your words didn't mean a damn thing to me but the look in your eyes told me otherwise. They tell me everything. Get in."
X
They sat in her car the longest time. Neither one of them said anything for over twenty minutes. Izuku had left his phone at home. He didn't want anyone to find out where he was from his phone location. He really hoped his mother wasn't mad.
"How do you know I'm not a serial killer?" she asked finally.
Izuku stiffened up a little, clenching his fists.
"I'll take that risk."
She sighed loudly.
"Fine. Let's do this."
She drove to a small park with a pond. There wasn't a lot of people there. The two of them walked around until they made it to the bushes that were at least four feet tall. The two of them stood there for a minute.
"This is a good spot. Did you bring some clothes to change into?"
He nodded eagerly.
"Alright then."
She rubbed her hands together for a whole minute until they gave off a soft green glow. She touched his freckled cheeks carefully like she was afraid he would break. For a moment he felt tingly then his body felt so sore and tired. His stomach felt like funny like he was on a roller coaster and then it all stopped. He opened his eyes.
He looked up at her. She was about a foot and a half taller than him now. He forgot he was small for his age at eight.
"You are the most adorable child I had ever seen."
"Thanks," he said blushing.
He stood there in his underwear and shorts pooled at his feet. Izuku opened his backpack and started pulling out everything he needed to change.
"I have an address. Can you take me to it?" he asked.
"Sure."
He pulled on his underwear that had All Might colors on them and then some black shorts. He took off his big ass shirt and then put on a black shirt with cat face in the middle. He slipped on the shoes he had bought Tomura when he was little. They were slightly big but they would work. He unzipped the front and handed her a piece of yellow paper.
"This is the address."
"That's on the far side of town…. Um are you sure?"
"Yea, I'm sure that's the place."
"Alright..." she said sounding unsure.
Hell he didn't blame her- he was unsure.
They walked back to the car with her holding his hand. He did his best to hide his green curls with a black beanie. They drove to the address he had given her. She parked a half block away. He went to get out but she grabbed his wrist.
"Please be careful. Here is my phone number. You have twelve days before you start losing days. If you make it twenty days, you will lose eight days- you'll be eight days younger. I will have to return you to normal myself because it'll start accelerating after that."
"Ok."
Izuku took the post it note and placed it in his front pocket of his backpack.
"Thank you."
"If I don't hear from you in fifteen days, I will come back."
He nodded and got out. She watched as he made it the front of the weird looking house before driving off. He really thought she was going to change her mind and drag him back to the city. He cracked his knuckles and sighed.
Here goes nothing.
Izuku made it to the door. It looked worn down and bent up like someone charged at it more than once. This wasn't the best place in town it seemed and that was to be expected. He felt nervous, his palms sweating and his heart was thumping hard in his chest.
Just knock.
He wiped his hands on his pants again and then knocked.
After a minute, he did it again but louder.
Still no answer. He tried the door knob but it locked.
I know I'm right. I know for sure I'm damn right.
He beat on the door as hard as he could…. He was eight years old again after all.
"FUCK!" someone shouted from the other side, "Fucking shit man, I'm coming!"
Izuku didn't recognize the voice yelling at him. He stiffened a little letting out a shaky breath. This is it.
Shit shit shit shit-
The front door swung open. Izuku's eyes widened at the man with staples and purple scars. His eyes were a piercing blue color and he had black hair with white roots poking out?
Dabi? Tomura mentioned Dabi once.
"What the fuck? Why are you here? Don't you know this is a bad part of town short shit?" he snapped.
"I don't care," his stated his voice shaking.
"Get lost ya little shit-
"No! Where's Tomura?!" Izuku shouted.
"Who the fuck-
Much to Izuku surprise- One for All was still working in his tiny body. He lunged forward, the top of his head accidentally hitting the villain in the balls. He shouted and almost dropped to his knees. Izuku skid through the living area it looked, crashing into the wall near the hallway.
He stood up with his knee bleeding from the collision but he ignored it, trying to get up. Dabi started coming at him, walking funny still.
"YA LITTLE FUCK-
"Where is he?!" Izuku shouted.
He took off down the hallway until he reached the end. He tried the door at the end but it was locked. So was the other two doors on his sides. Dabi entered the hallway with blue flames in his hands looking pissed off and maniac at the same time.
Izuku plastered himself against the locked door.
"You stupid bastard! I will kill you!"
