So this is the rewritten version of the original work. You'll find some differences if you've read it before.It's still a plunny so expect irregular updates, if any. There are currently two more chapters in development so there will be four chapters in total at least, including this one, if I ever run out of brain juice.
Enjoy!
Quirks were the manifestation of humanity's evolution. Those born with one liked to assume they understood everything about it, but that was far from true. Researchers and enthusiasists alike poured years and years to discover the true nature of quirks. Yet despite their admirable goal, this exact line of thinking was what brought pain and suffering into the world.
Nezu became a sapient being from chance, but that exact chance led him into a world of unimaginable pain, one he'd rather sacrifice his intelligence for just so he could forget all about it. But that was a wishful thinking. If he couldn't change the past, then the next best course of action was to guide the world toward a future without such cruelty.
The man who was guiding him, a researcher at this facility, tried to strike a conversation regarding his experience as a product of science. His name-tag read "Li Zhanyu", but he insisted on Nezu calling him Tao. Nezu called him annoying instead. In his head of course. It wouldn't do to be rude just because his tour guide was trying to be friendly.
"So tell me. What exactly are you researching here," Nezu asked.
Tao smiled and began explaining. "A few months ago, we found a child with a very unusual quirk. Usually the topics of souls and afterlife are limited to only metaphysic discussion, but the child's quirk proved our assumption wrong."
"So they can see ghosts?"
"Not quite." Tao stopped in front of a door and led him in. "Here we are. You can ask the details from the boy himself."
The room was akin to a child nursery minus the wires and contraptions all over the floor. Sitting in the middle of the room was the aforementioned child. Innocent and ignorant of the potential horror this place could bring onto him.
Nezu dismissed Tao and approached him.
"Hello!" Nezu greeted with a big smile he knew children liked.
"Oh, hello," the boy replied shyly as he put away the book he was reading. It was a colourful comic depicting anthomorphic animals. If the plushie in his lap wasn't enough, the way his eyes glowed at seeing Nezu was proof that his situation was indeed a blessing in disguise. "What are you?"
That was his cue.
"Am I mouse? A dog? A bear? But indeed, my real indentity is…" he drawled out for dramatic effect. "A concerned citizen of this country! And the principal of UA, but that's not important."
"You're the principal of UA?" The boy's smile gets brighter every second. Ah, children.
Nezu nodded. "You can call me Nezu. What's your name? And who's your friend here?"
"Takato. I'm 9 this year." He held up the plushie. "This is Impmon, my best friend."
"Do you know why you're here?" Nezu asks with a smile, but inside, he was watching out for any signs of mistreatment.
Takato nodded. "Li-san said my quirk is unusual. They want to study it to understand it better."
"Does it hurt whenever they study you?"
"Not really. Just tickles a bit. But I did get headaches when they brought that dog here."
Nezu narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me more."
"They asked me to move a dying dog's soul into a dead puppy. Then they shocked the puppy to bring it to life. The dog was too happy at being able to move again I got… what did they say? Overwhelmed?"
Nezu frowns. "I see. So you can read minds?"
"Just the souls that I touch."
"Do your parents agree with this study?"
"They said if I'm hurt anywhere, they'll pull me out immediately."
Nezu smiles at Takato. "Okay, then, Takato. Thank you for answering my question." He gave the boy a few Yen. "Here, have this. Buy some candy."
"Thank you, Nezu-san!"
When he exited the room, the government agent overseeing the facility greeted him.
"So, was that proof enough that we're not mistreating anyone?" Yamaki Mitsuo asked with an arrogance of a typical evil organization mastermind. Except he wasn't evil, at least not until Nezu could prove it.
Nezu looked at the man in the eye. "The dogs. Where'd you find them?"
Yamaki took off his sunglasses to stare him back. "Believe it or not, that wasn't planned. We found the dead puppy outside the facility. One of our researchers took his chance at fame and contacted a nearby animal center to ask for an old dog. You'd be happy to know he and his team have since been transferred somewhere else."
Nezu crossed his arms. "Where's the dog now?"
"In a loving home. Safe from any further experiments."
"Yet you won't stop experimenting on the boy."
"We did. Tao insisted the most and told his parents to pull him out but Takato wanted to continue. He said his quirk is finally useful. The only reason we let him is to make sure he doesn't try it again when he's on his own. He probably told you it was just a headache, but he was actually out for three days."
"Alright." Nezu uncrossed his arms. "For now, I'll allow it. If I were to see any suspicious behavior, I'll shut down this study forever. But only on one condition."
"And that condition is?"
"You let me oversee it. I want the boy and this whole facility under my watch. I'll fund you of course, but you have to follow my rules."
"The higher ups won't like it," Yamaki said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Nezu smirks. "Oh, no they won't."
