The next morning was fairly interesting as I prepared for my third day at U.A. As I was making breakfast I could hear a small commotion coming from Uncle Charlie's room. "Sorry ladies, I need to go have a conversation with my nephew but I'll gladly see any of you again tonight after my patrols. Don't worry, if its meant to be I'll find you." A few seconds later, Uncle Charlie wandered out in a royal purple robe newspaper in hand as he sat down at the table. I had very rarely seen Uncle Charlie turn down early morning activities, so whatever was about to happen was going to be awkward for sure. "Good morning Sport, how are you this morning?"
I flipped my omelet before turning to the man. I got an eyeful of some woman in a crumpled clubbing outfit kiss my uncle on the cheek as she headed to the door. "I'm doing alright Uncle Charlie, what do I owe the pleasure of this conversation too?" Uncle Charlie hesitated, still looking at his newspaper before folding it and putting it down on the table.
"I've never made it a secret how my quirk works, and right now, it's screaming at me to be right here at this table having this conversation. The last time it was this loud, I walked into the hospital right as the ambulance pulled up that day. Seeing as you don't look like I need to be calling 911, there's something on your mind. We've played it straight with each other since the accident and I don't intend to change that now. You need help, I'm here." A second girl looking a little more put together than the first one wandered in also kissing my Uncle before exiting. Uncertainty circled my brain. Could I share some information with Uncle Charlie? While I was certain it wouldn't get out if I told him, there wasn't much he could do to help me. Uncle Charlie was not someone I considered to be full of sound advice nowadays even if I had hung on his every word as a kid. Ah well, ill give him a little bit and maybe a second perspective might give me an answer,
"You're right, we've always been straight with each other. I am going through some uh... unique situations that are confidential in nature. Is there a third woman in there we should wait for before I get into it?" I gestured towards Uncle Charlie's room, knowing his tendencies usually went in threes. The man quite unashamedly shook his head.
"No, I knew I had to go easy last night after all." Uncle Charlie tapped his head and gestured to the coffee pot. "Would you mind sport, I get the feeling this is gonna be a serious conversation I should be alert for." Nodding I grabbed a coffee cup and went to fill it, organizing my thoughts in my head. Handing him his cup and putting my omelet on a plate I sat down across from Uncle Charlie.
"I uh, have some friends who are potentially going to get into some trouble. They could get hurt if I do nothing, but if I interfere they might not learn some important things they need to. I worry that ultimately there's nothing I can do, that I'm doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past." Uncle Charlie leaned back in his chair, appearing to think on this for a few moments. and sipping at his coffee.
"Perhaps there is a midground, where you can reduce the risk while also still allowing your friends to do what they have too. As to the feeling like theres nothing you can do, I struggled with that when I was younger. The pull always demanding I go where it says used to make me feel like a puppet on strings." Uncle Charlie mused.
"I don't see how there can be, I also don't think I can say anything without ruining everything. I feel powerless, forced to watch events playout by destiny or fate." Oh lord, that sounded super teenage angsty. Uncle Charlie however took that at face value. He finished his coffee and put his mug on the table, leaning forward and looking me in the eye.
"My quirk makes sure I'm always exactly where I need to be, whether I want to be or not, its a pull that I just can't fight, and while there are many perks, I sometimes struggle with the idea that I am not in control of my actions. That ultimately I have no free will. Ultimately it comes down to this. There are some Heroes who fight simply for the money. There were others who fight for what they believe in, whether that's their comrades, or the innocent, or for whatever. The hero who dies for money and the hero who dies for their beliefs are both dead, but there's a difference between them. One death meant something. The other didn't." Uncle Charlie finished this unusually depressing sentence "Ultimately, its not what I do that matters, but why I do it. I am a Hero because I want to help people and make the world a better place. And I deeply enjoy the after-work perks." Uncle Charlie smiled like he had made a great joke, and I forced a smile back to him. What good was reliving this if all I was going to see everything happen for a second time?
"What if all I'm going to do is watch everyone die?" Uncle Charlie stood up, heading over to the counter where he grabbed a paper towel. He grabbed my plate and wrapped my untouched omelet up for me before handing it back to me.
"Appreciate the time you have now squirt. It's no use worrying about things that haven't happened yet. Unless I'm mistaken, this pull means I need to get to my patrols, and you need to get to school." Uncle Charlie turned to go get dressed and I didn't feel any better than I had before our short conversation. What had been the point of all that universe? If you are out there destiny, why send me back at all? Were my friends fated to die? Was I being punished because of my past sins? I started to the door, feeling far more depressed than I had when I first started this morning.
The walk to U.A was uneventful, and though the press tried to get in my way and ask me questions about All Might, I was able to force my way through them making sure to hurry so I couldn't be late. My conversation with Uncle Charlie had taken up anytime I could have used to talk to the press. Not that I know what I would have said had I the time anyway. Probably for the best.
Aizawa-Sensei sure loved to be dramatic. "I'm sorry to have to spring this on you but." He noticeably paused to build tension. That man, he enjoyed stringing us along for sure. To be fair there probably weren't many enjoyable perks from teaching at UA. "We need to pick a Class president. My classmates went crazy all volunteering. It wasn't that important, Iida and Yayorozo had made admirable Class representatives the whole time we were at school. Hold up, this wasn't something critical, it was a silly school job that as far as I could tell had made no difference in the long run. Of course, this was the perfect time to try to change something. Looking at my classmates, I tried to remember who had gotten even votes to compete against Iida or Yayorozo, it was a short little thing I hadn't cared enough about to remember. I had voted for myself I think, I remember no one else had voted for me. I bet Midoriya had gotten a vote or two last time around, that could be proof of change if he got elected! Yes, I would put my vote in for him, and hopefully, he'd get vice president, or there would be a tie, or literally anything would be different.
Midoriya got Class president with four votes and Iida got zero. That was odd, surely I hadn't changed that much that Iida would be ignored like that? I couldn't remember anything significant Iida had done... Didn't Midoriya make some sort of speech for him? I wonder why that hadn't happened this time. Oh well, this was proof of change and that's all that mattered.
Morning classes were uneventful and I had lunch alone once again. The sirens went off which caused a short panic that I watched with amusement. Watching teenagers panic over a simple alarm reminded me just how young everyone around me was. I of course sat still and finished my lunch. I remembered nothing had happened besides everyone getting stuck in the hallway while Iida had made a commotion and calmed everyone down. We had called him Emergency Exit Iida for a few weeks after that before the name had died. It just hadn't really rolled off the tongue well enough, and I think after USJ no one had been willing to make fun of the man who had brought the teachers to our rescue anymore.
When we returned to the class, Midoriya and Yaoyarozo stood at the front of the class, and I felt a sort of Deja Vu start to fill my mind. Dread filled the place my stomach should be at. "In the end, I think that Iida would be a better man for the job after all!" No no no, this was not happening. "You proved yourself able to unify people so coolly and it's my judgment that Iida becoming class president would be the right choice!" As people around me shouted there encouragement I just sat there in stunned silence as Iida took Midoriyas place at the front of the classroom. It had to be fate or destiny right? I was doomed to repeat everything. I was really going to be forced to sit here and watch my friends die one by one.
"Hey Shouta, we've got a request from the big cheese for the little listener Mineta to go to his office for a one on one performance!" Present Mic said through the open door as Aizawa nodded annoyingly.
"Fine, Mineta your excused to go see Principal Nezu, when you are finished there we will be out at the exercise field for you to rejoin us." I got up from my chair, walking towards Present Mic to join him in the hallway, I guess it only made sense. the first time around I had a meeting about what lines I needed to make sure I did not cross to be allowed to continue to go to the school, even though I hadn't repeated my same worrying behavior, there was no getting out of it. Everything was doomed to happen all over again. There was nothing I could do. I felt like raging against the universe, I wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all. This was surely Hell having to repeat this all over again, Eri hadn't sent me back in time, she had killed me and this was my just punishment for the crimes of my youth. Since my sins had been wanting to observe my classmates in such a disgusting manner I was getting my wish. I was probably getting to observe them die. Probably repeatedly for all eternity. What the hell was even the point of all this?
As I walked mindlessly into the Principals office, I was surprised to see Uncle Charlie here as well. Nezu smiled at me and gestured to the open seat next to Uncle Charlie. "Please Mineta, have a seat. Your Uncle was just about to tell me why he asked for this meeting today." Looking at Uncle Charlie as I sat down, I was very confused about what was going on. I didn't think he was here the first time around and did Nezu say it was his idea for the meeting?
"Thank you Mr. Nezu, as you are probably aware, my quirk tells me where I need to be though the why is not always apparent. I could tell I needed to be here right now at this time, though I am uncertain as to the why. My nephew and I had an interesting conversation this morning that I believe may be in part responsible for this." Nezu nodded at this like it was the most natural thing in the world before turning to me and quirking an eyebrow.
"Well young Mineta, it seems that this meeting is up to you. While I can understand that you may wish to keep your feelings to yourself, I would hope you'll put your trust in us." Nezu folded his hands in his lap while looking at me. I looked to Uncle Charlie for help, but he was leaning back in his chair with an equally patient look.
The feeling of desperation clawed at my insides. I couldn't let it all happen again. I couldn't. "There is going to be an attack at UA in a few weeks." I felt the words rush out of my mouth before I could stop them or think of a better way to say it. Neither Uncle Charlie or Nezu did anything other than continue to listen patiently. The silence pressed at me as they waited for answers. If I told them, it wouldn't be solely my responsibility anymore. Was that cowardice on my part, did I just want other people to blame if it all went wrong? What if by telling them I fucked it all worse, what if things changed to the point that I couldn't save everyone anymore? What if I made things worse and made the possibility of someone else giving this a try impossible.
"Mineta... It is not weakness for Heroes to ask for help for problems that are so much bigger than them." Principal Nezu stared me deep in the eyes, compassion emanating from him that I was grateful for. Nezu had a reputation for advanced intellect, even if I hadn't ever seen it in person or up close. Did I trust him enough to share the information with him and use it wisely? Would he even believe me? What if I got myself locked up in a asylum. What if they believed I was the traitor? Stop. It was now or never, and I was not going to sit on an opportunity to have help.
"I'm not certain how much either of you will believe about what I'm about to say, but I can't fix this alone, I'm not the right person for this. I'm from the future where an evil organization has taken over Japan, and possibly the world, though I don't know how far they had gotten. It all starts with an attack on the USJ attempting to kill All Might as he was scheduled to teach Disaster Response." God, saying it out loud made it sound completely crazy.
"Go on." Principal Nezu prompted me while giving me the same look of polite interest that he had been giving before. A look at Uncle Charlie showed the same level of Interest, with no condemnation. That threw me for a loop
"Wait, do you... do you two believe me?" Uncle Charlie smiled at me and nodded. Slightly giving me a warm feeling I hadn't thought my Uncle would ever be responsible for instilling in me.
"I know you sport, you are a lot of things, but you wouldn't lie about something like this. Did you think I wouldn't notice that you have been completely different since just before school started? We may not be very close, but I could tell something had you worried." He turned to Nezu to get his response.
"I'm afraid Mineta it's not so simple on my end. I neither believe nor doubt you. In this world, there are many unusual and amazing quirks so it is not impossible. However, you would not be the first student to suffer under the weight of the expectations placed upon them. I will have to verify your story." Nezu commed to his secretary. "Please clear my schedule for this afternoon, I fear I will be needed here."