Chapter 4: Proposition

July

Roppongi ward

Might Tower

"Seems our future seeing user has finally moved again."

"Hmm." Nighteye frowned as he replayed the videos that caught the debacle online. Multiple screens and angles as cross-references.

Featuring on the screen was a recent villain that was warding off two heroes, around twenty to thirties, white hair and a growing beard, dressed in the most tasteless flamboyant suit.

The whole scene would've been comical as two heroes fought a villain over a jar of pickles but what caught their attention was the small figure that dashed to the sides. It was a brief glimpse but it was enough to capture their complete attention.

A black tendril, trailing beneath the hoodie as the small figure rounded the corner before disappearing. It was so brief that they've dismissed it if not for the message delivered to Torino today.

From the direction, time, and area, it was a cinch to match him. Not to mention the way they purposefully ensure a low profile only helped that theory.

The way it seems, it looks their lead was coming back from the delivery before getting caught on camera.

Yet, this development also brought up another question.

Was this gentle criminal part of the group, simply hired muscle or acquaintances with the rope user?

Nighteye frowned and pushed his glasses upwards, looks like he'll have to add another entry of possible leads.

"Hmm, another fame-seeking punk. Looks like we got our hands full." Torino then gestured to a brown box in the middle of their table. They had it thoroughly screened beforehand, and confirmed it was from the same user.

A small little hanged charm was dangling at the side of the opened box, filled with papers and several thick brown envelopes laid side by side. Each had their names on it alongside a warning.

"For your eyes only, huh" Torino waved at it as he shared a look with Nighteye, the latter having a growing sense of unease. His fingers tapped at the side before glancing at the clock.

Barely a moment he did that, the metal door slid open and revealed All Might, coming in with a little scruffed appearance on his hero suit.

"You're late." Torino immediately said as he glanced at him, making All Might flinched in response and placed both hands together apologetically.

"Sorry, there were several people in need of help. So I-"

"Fine, come, we received a second message." Torino waved it off as he nodded his head to the object in question. Picking up the top one, he went right to the point. "All for One possible headquarters is in the Kamino ward."

All Might eye widened at that before bristling, his hair on edge, and gaining a dangerous tone that doesn't fit his heroic image. "...Is it?"

"It's only a possibility, since it details the concentration of these...artificial living beings, or 'Nomus', as he called them," Torino read through one paper before flipping it to another, nose turning in disgust. "Says that they used human corpses and then stuffed them with multiple quirks until they're nothing more than soldiers used at the whim of All For One command."

All Might grip his fist tight enough that the knuckles turned white, face impassive despite the tremblings of his shoulder and gritting teeth. The tension now thick enough that it can be cut with a knife as Nighteye struggled to breathe momentarily.

"Additionally, it says the culprit responsible for this is a doctor from Hosu hospital, named Kyudai or Daruma Ujiko." Torino quickly continued tapping his chin.

"I'll look into it." Nighteye felt like he had heard that name before, wasn't that the person in charge of a hospital foremost in its liberty for using quirk?

"He warns that there's some of these... high-end nomus. One that apparently has intelligence, multiple quirks, and enhanced enough that some could rival you in pure physical strength and speed, Toshi."

"Also, there a dozen or more of these." Torino glanced back up and looked straight at All Might.

That left an unsettling silence between all of them as it felt like a graveyard.

It seemed like an exaggeration but assuming it was true…

"All For One, Gigantomachia, and now this-" Nighteye rubbed his temple and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in trying to figure out where to even start.

"Don't worry about All For One, I'll handle him," Toshinori assured him with a thumbs up and smile before placing a hand on his shoulder. Taking a weight of him immediately as Nighteye nodded.

"Striking them together isn't necessary. If this...doctor is what we assume is true and has a hospital," Torino began to strategize and ways to tackle the problem. "Defeating All For One will no doubt lead him there."

"Defeat? He survives?"

"One of the possible outcomes," Torino passed the papers to him, pointing to the multiple highlight points. "Our user says this what he saw but I think it could be just conjecture for his part."

"In any case, taking down All For One then striking the hospital, this will take a long time to prepare without his notice." All Might decided their course of action, it wasn't that much of a difference in the plan they had.

"Leave it to me, and if it's a trap, I can prepare counter-measures for it." Nighteye volunteered, not to mention if he can rope in other heroes and the government, they'll be able to deal a blow that All For One won't recover at all.

"Hmph, any luck finding our trouble maker?" Torino said suddenly as he looked to Nighteye, who only disappointedly shook his head.

"Nothing, the rope user must be absolutely obscure or very good at hiding."

"Is there something wrong?" All Might noted the sterner tone than usual even as Torino clicked his tongue at Nighteye.

"Look at the last page."

All Might flipped to the last page before coming across the last paragraph, slowly his eyes widened as he read through it.

-This is the last message I'll send, please, don't let the worse come to pass. I'm also sorry for the trouble I caused.

Goodbye.

Last message? All Might didn't like the implications of that, it seemed almost like a last will.

"...I'll find him." Nighteye eyed at it as he pushed his glasses back though his hands were tense and rigid, veins clearly seen.

All Might didn't add anything further, knowing just how hard Nighteye worked as the previous six months had them racked up an impressive number of villains arrested. Both public and underground.

"Hmm." Torino didn't add anything else but he did nod his head towards the envelopes addressed specifically for them. "What about those?"

"They did say for our eyes but nothing to prevent us from sharing with one another." All Might pointed out, salving most of their concerns. After all, the future seeing quirk user would've seen such a scenario popping up.

With that, Night went first as he picked up his own envelope. Slowly opening it with bated breath.

Reading through it, the first thing that he noted was that instead of cut-out or typed, the letter was handwritten.

Dear Nighteye

In eight years or so, you will die.

That sentence sent a shock through him as he felt his blood drained and pale at that. His attention focused on the multitude of ways he could meet his end as the urge to use his own quirk to check if it was really true before he clamped it down ruthlessly.

"Is something wrong?" All Might asked apprehensively, snapping Nighteye out of his panic as the latter adjusted his spectacle.

"Perfectly fine, excuse me for my...reactions. I shall read this more quietly." Nighteye quipped back, making his partner and teacher share a glance.

Returning his full attention to the letter, he continued on stoically.

During the fight between All Might and All for One, All Might will be seriously injured and in desperation or fear, you used your quirk to see the future of All Might.

You saw that All Might will die in five years after defeating All For One and try to convince him to stop but he didn't, leading to a split between the two of you afterward.

Nighteye narrowed his eyes, feeling the sting of shame and pain together. This was worse than knowing he will die, to think that not only All Might will be injured but also splitting away from him…

You're afraid that your quirk makes things set in stones, and that it cannot be changed no matter what once you see it.

But that's not true.

What? Nighteye swallowed in trepidation, his hands shaking.

The future can be changed. I changed it after all, so can you.

The rest of the letter was then followed with typed words, detailing critical information but Nighteye's mind wasn't on that.

It's always been a niggling fear about his quirk, for all its power, that fear had always been at the back of his head. To both see and confirm that the future is changeable, no less from someone who also has a quirk similar to his, assured him greatly.

"Everything alright, Mirai?" All Might asked once again but this time, it was gentler.

It took Nighteye a moment to realize he was smiling. With a quick nod of his head and adjusting his glasses, he replied confidently. "Yes, yes it is."

"I'll go next then." All Might reached out for his own but Torino interrupted him in a deadpanned voice.

"I'm going to be dead in eight years' time."

"What?!" All Might snap his head to Torino while Nighteye cocked his head, the latter piecing which event that could possibly happen.

"From old age?" Nighteye suggested, eliciting a rough grunt of laughter from Torino. Well acquainted with the former beliefs in humor.

"Nothing that graceful." Torino waved it off before sighing, his shoulders slumped. "It says here that I'll possibly die when fighting Nana's-Shigaraki Tomura after he inherits All For One."

Inherit?

"All For One actually decides to transfer his quirk?" All Might stammered, unable to believe it.

Sure, he knew that Tomura would be his protege but to think he'll transfer his actual quirk to him as well…

Torino's thin-lipped and stiff face twitched but he soldiered on.

"Says here that it was the furthest that he saw and beyond that, it was a blank for him," Torino said before placing it on the table for them to read. His shoulders lowered, making his shrinking aging figure look even smaller now. "Terrific."

"I won't let it happen." All Might said but Torino shot him a skeptical glance.

"You can't-Read yours first." Torino bit back his comment before gesturing to the letter that Toshironori was holding, the latter nearly ripping it apart as he opened it quickly.

A quick glance had him gummed up, partially from shock and another was unbridled rage.

All For One survives the fight, escapes, and wounded you to the point that you'll deteriorate to nothing but skin and bones, even with All For One weakened severely, you nearly lost the second round.

To my knowledge, you were taunted by him to the point you gave him an opening. He was injured to the point he looked dead but the doctor managed to revive him.

So that's what happens? Toshinori felt a heavy weight on his shoulders and heart as he heard of his future failings.

In the case where things do not change, Tomura will establish an organization called the League of Villains. After a hostile takeover, they'll merge with the Meta Liberation Army to launch a revolution.

"The Meta Liberation Army? Destro organization still lives?" Toshinori felt a lump formed in his throat, there was barely anything about them nowadays ever since Destro's death.

I'm unsure where it'll be exactly or the exact numbers but they'll have multiple companies, one of whom is called Detnerat. You'll have to find out yourself.

That's a bit irresponsible, ain't it. He stumbled when he read that part, so far most information had been so concise but he assumes that's the limit of the user's quirk.

After the second fight, you soon retire in order to focus on teaching at UA academy.

Me? A teacher? He can't imagine that since he doubted that he was teacher material.

Also, you'll select a successor and be teaching him at UA. You will know who it is when the time comes.

That got his full attention, feeling a slight slack of his jaw before grinning ear to ear. Bringing his mood back as memories of Shimura Nana and his early days under her tutelage came.

It certainly left a burning curiosity within him to know who he would select. No doubt, he will certainly choose someone worthy of being a hero through and through!

After your second fight, eight years later, Nighteye dies-

He doubled over before steadying himself, this is what can possibly happen in the future. Not one that was set in stone.

Even if it was...he'll move heaven and earth to prevent that from ever happening.

-during an operation in arresting the Shie Hassakai. Most important part, you have to rescue a six-year-old girl called Eri Chisaki.

She'll develop a quirk that can reverse the time of what she touches, up to being able to reverse someone's wounds away since they return to a state before it happens.

A quirk that reverse time? It seems outlandish but if it was true, such a quirk would be amazing! Sickness or debilitating or permanent wounds, gone just like that! It was truly a blessed quirk and with a power that can be hailed as a miracle!

Partly the reason why she was abandoned by her mother when she accidentally reversed her father till he disappeared and then experimented on by Kai Chisaki to create quirk nullifying bullets.

He narrowed his eyes and knuckles turned white at that while blood rushed to his head. The implication of that...displeased him greatly.

Crack!

Blinking, he looked to the sides and realized that the reinforced floor had webs of cracks under his foot. Chuckling and coughing nervously, eyes lingering on Nighteye before waving it away with a smile and thumbs up. "It's alright, nothing to worry about."

That had both giving a skeptical glance but he resumed reading.

Please, rescue her. Don't let her suffer and be unable to smile.

The written words at the end were messier, rushed, and felt incomplete. It's only when he flipped to the other page where it transitioned into typed words and detailed things far more carefully.

With that, he took a moment to breathe as he let his arm rested on his thigh. Shoulders lowered, eyes downcast and no words to say.

Likewise, Nighteye and Torino didn't say anything as the hum of the air-conditioner and ventilation the only thing heard between them. Each of them burdened with the future to come.

Then, with a clap on his thighs, Toshinori stood up firmly. "Nighteye, the letter, it says in eight years time-"

"I'll die?" Nighteye finished what he wanted to say before gesturing to his own letter. "Mine says that I discovered something similar with my quirk and that you'll also die around that time frame."

"I suppose it could be worse for me." Torino resignedly looked at his own letter with shoulders slumped. Noting in particular there isn't any way for him to avoid his fate.

"Master."

"It's fine," Torino grunted as he folded his arms and closed his eyes. "I lived long enough,"

"I just need to settle things before it comes to it." He solemnly looked at his fist before gripping it tightly.

"Perhaps, it can be averted? Nighteye pointed out, checking out All Might's own letter and his own, fingers tapping as he compared the timeline with one another before reaching out for Torino's letter. "If it's correct, this Eri could possibly help."

"Doubtful and she's still a child." Torino handed his letter to him, bringing all them to that attention, Nighteye looked away bashfully for a moment as he took the letter.

"Then, we should prepare for what's to come first." All Might stood up, he may not be able to plan things out in the long term like how Nighteye or Torino does but he was determined to do what it takes as the symbol of peace. "Our friend has provided as much information as they can, it's up to us now to deliver on it."

"Hmph, of course." Torino gave an approving look alongside Nighteye's own nod.

This time. Nighteye felt a fire that burned within him, more so now that there's a thread of hope.

We'll change the future, and tell the world.

We're here.

"Hmm, there's a second letter here?" Torino raised his eyebrow as he emptied the box, prompting All Might to catch it before it hit the floor.

Addressed to me again? He wondered what it was as he tore and flipped it open, a quick glance had him intrigue but soon doubled over when he reached the main crux.

"One For All can utilize the quirks of past users?!"

Age 8

Kurogane Tatewaki household

Scritch, scritch, scritch.

"And so in the early 21st century, the existence of quirk first emerged in Qian Qian city?"

Qing Qing City

"Oh, okay,"

Pencils danced across papers as both of Kurono's hands wrote together simultaneously on two separate notes together side by side.

Kurono's eyes glanced back and forth between their writing and Crona's, checking if everything was correct.

And done! Easy peasy. See? homework not even worth a sweat if you do it consistently. Kurono laughed mentally before sighing, followed by a long period of regret. Took me only twenty years to figure it out.

Crona winced at that, wondering how it took so long on that.

Compared to learning how to walk together, doing this was much easier as it was simply copying down notes.

I was metaphorically speaking, and I went through university. Schoolwork is a piece of cake compared to that.

Crona nodded at it as he placed both pencils down, slowly clearing the table as they turned around in their chair and getting up.

Their room was sparse with any decorations, barring the study table, computer, and study materials. A futon was rolled up nicely into one corner of the room which was where they often sleep, it made them much more comfortable at night.

It was spacious enough for a growing kid of age six all the way to perhaps young adulthood. Kurono was glad since all the empty space sets him at ease while allowing Crona to be comfortable too.

That thought however was thrown out of the window as they both heard the door to their room clicked open, straightening them up immediately even as the familiar red hair of Ayuna popped right into their room.

"Oh, you finished your homework? Great job!" Their ever cheery mother came in, still wearing the lab coat as the scent of antiseptic lingered off it.

"Welcome back, mama." Crona greeted her with a smile before Kurono followed up, a slight change as he bowed. "I could've opened the door and heated up dinner for you if you called."

"Aw, thank you but I didn't want to interrupt your studies." Ayuna chuckled and pat his head affectionately, her smile reminding Crona a lot like Marie. To Kurono, it just brought a strong sense of nostalgia.

"Also, just a little talk," Ayuna said as she pointed upwards with a finger before taking a seat on the chair, placing them on her lap. "About the...project you asked me to help."

"Yes?" Kurono asked with bated breath, surely the possibility to do so is there with their blood?

"...I want it to be clear." Ayuna changed her tone as she furrowed her brows at him. "You aren't being forced to do this by anyone else, right?"

A shook of their head followed that sentiment, leading Ayuna to sigh even deeper.

"I cannot in good conscience suggest such a project. Let alone go along with it." She half-chastised and glanced away.

"B-But, the possibilities!" Kurono indignantly said. He had written the whole thing down in an official proposal, even with all applications and people that they can save even!

Crona's head felt like splitting on that day when he glanced at the large amount of physical and electronic books that they went through.

"It is not so simple," Ayuna said gently as she took a moment to consider the proper words to explain to them. "Inventions can only go so far, more so when it originates from a...unique source."

"I can donate plenty of blood, so long I'm still alive and healthy." Kurono pointed out.

"Kuro, it's not that. The amount of blood you can make is only so finite compared to what the world needs." Ayuna waved her hand to the sides, an eyebrow rose as she tapped him on the nose. "And I know you're very well aware of that."

"It's alright, so long I can make even a few to help others, it's worth it." Kurono raised their hands, a will followed by Crona, and blood flowed outwards from their hands with a sickening sound, much to their mother's dismay.

A short focus, the blood thinned and formed itself into the shape before they handed it over to Ayuna. "See? I did my study completely to make this stomach."

"There's the concern of compatibility, each being needed to fit an individual size, nevermind the biological reaction like digestion, alkaline lining, and chemical reaction." Ayuna annoyedly pushed the prosthetic organ lookalike back to Kurono as she continued her explanation methodically. "That's also not getting into the checkup and follow up, who knows how long your prosthetic organs can last?"

"It's a great suggestion but just not practical." She gave it straight to him, knowing how stubborn he can be.

I suppose that's one thing you definitely got from your father. Ayuna sighed mentally, for such a brilliant child, Kurono was adamantly stubborn at times.

"How about my blood?"

"You know I can't do that-"

"Then if I donate my blood in your hospital and have you examine it, there'll be no problem with it!" Kurono quickly latched onto a new solution, driving Ayuna to shut that avenue completely with a poke to their forehead.

"No."

Is what I said, but I'm just no good huh? Ayuna sighed deeply as she had her head buried in her arms, regretting every ounce of her weak will to refuse her only child request.

Looking upwards to see the familiar desk and private office that she was granted due to her position as the top specialist in Hematology, the small picture frame of Kurono, her and Kurogane proudly stood amidst all her work.

Although when her eyes glanced down to the hand-carry portable chiller, it turned into irritation and disgust as she sighed.

Might as well get it over with. Ayuna told herself, reaching up and taking the chiller with her.

"Morning, doctor!"

"Ah, good morning!" Waving, smiling, and greeting both the patients as well as staff on the way to the labs. Taking a look at the multiple patients, Ayuna found it comforting to see them in good or recovering health.

The different variety of quirks and biology make up too! It had nearly turned medical knowledge upside down as there were so many things to cope with and understand.

Despite a hundred years since the emergence of quirks, they still barely scratch the surface of quirks and its origins, nevermind the future development of quirks.

It was a fascinating subject, one that nearly rivals the early period of medicine where humans were still finding and scrambling for early medicine.

Ayuna shook it away when she realized her humming getting louder. More so when she was already at the labs. The reinforced and tightly sealed glass door halted her as she dug into her pockets.

She briefly swiped her card, before placing her thumb on a pad. A moment later, it opened up for her and the much cooler air flowed through the corridor. Making her way in and then sanitizing her hands and changing lab coat as the chiller was scanned and checked for any contamination.

Once cleared, Ayuna made her way further in until she reached an empty lab. Taking a microscope lens, glass holder, she then finally took hold of the chiller and opened it.

Sitting in the middle was a plastic bag filled with liquid the color of tar pitch, refraining from the queasiness that comes when she sees her own son's blood and focusing on a purely academic mind, Ayuna took a small blood sample for examination.

O-negative, born from O-negative and AB. Rare but not unheard. Ayuna listed Kurono's blood details, tweaking the microscope to get a closer look at the samples. Aside from the color, viscosity, and density, there was nothing odd about the blood.

Blood cells are still working and quite robust, similar to mine. Ayuna then turned and had a few small blood samples that are from other donated blood bags. Drawing Kurono's blood and then injecting them together into a small round glass slide before focusing it again.

The black blood integrated with the other sample perfectly as there didn't seem to be any breakdown, just like how her own quirk works.

However, if it's exactly like mine...

Ayuna narrowed her eyes when the other donor's blood suddenly began to be more active, almost like it was being rejuvenated. It didn't take long for the blood cells to be active enough that it was as if it hadn't been drawn out already.

Her breathing hitched but she forced herself to remain calm, it was exactly as she thought.

Constant usage and training of her blood quirk had given her minor regeneration as a byproduct but it also had the unintended effect of passing the effect to the receiver for a while, at least, as long as the blood cells were still alive.

It was partly why she had such a prestigious position aside from her own expertise.

Ayuna rested her head in her palms and tapped her fingers, deep in thought as she gritted her teeth.

Kurono's own blood was a match for her despite being so young and he still had room for growth.

The black blood would indeed save a lot of people, the application of it as a prosthetic organ wasn't a far fetched idea anymore since they just lack the proper material until now. Combined with the solidification half, it was the near-perfect building block.

Curiosity rose as Ayuna gripped her hands tightly, she wondered just what other wonders the black blood held. Perhaps if she experimented it more with others-

No, no. I can't do that. Pushing that thought away firmly, this wasn't just some sample but her child's blood. She already turned down that avenue.

Idly, her eyes were drawn back to the microscope and the sample of blood.

Maybe.

I will just study it a bit longer, and if it doesn't work out then that's that.

After all, she had to be sure and even her own blood quirk can only last so long, so if Kurono's black blood quirk was similar to hers then it will degrade over a period of time.

A twitch at the edge of her lips slowly curled upwards before grinning, the logic of it made sense since she was doing it for her child's sake. Returning to the microscope as she continued to observe and noted down whatever she could from it.

It was just a professional and mother concern.

That's all.

Age 10

Tokyo

Yutaparuh Park

Greeneries of many sorts bloomed and grew alongside the tall trees, the sun shone brightly with nary a cloud in the skies. Painting a very picturesque scenery as kids played alongside their friends in the park.

One of them was taking a high risk as they stood up from a tree that stood three stories high. Two of their friends looked on, one worried while the other cheered excitedly.

"Alright." A pink hair child said before crossing their arms together, then feeling a prick on the back, right underneath their shoulder bones, two globs of black liquid poured outwards with a lurch before solidifying itself into the shape of a wing.

Without any hesitation, they then shot forward and leaped off the tree. Shaking and rattling the thick branch that sends leaves falling down like a shower below.

Birds perched upon the tree flew away from this sudden rumble and was greeted by a surprise as another fellow joined them in their flight side by side, the size difference sent them into a panicked and hurried pace as they swerved away haphazardly in hurried wing beats.

Both Kurono and Crona, focused to their utmost limit, could not contain their glee as the edges of their lips turned into a full-blown smile.

"He's flying! He's really flying!"

"I can't believe it! It actually worked-Wait, hold up, that's the pond you're heading towards!"

"I know, Ojiro!" Kurono said as he worked together with Crona, the latter ceding control of the wings, and banked to one-side to avoid dropping into the man-made pond.

Swerving through the air, trying to beat their wings to stay up but all it did was drop the altitude even faster. Their heart rapidly pounding as the ground got closer before they switched to gliding instead.

Alright, feet together and roll! Kurono commanded as Crona was placed into the forefront once again, the latter left arm gripped his right and did exactly what was told.

What was supposed to be an attempt to land turned into a rough fall as their momentum shot them forward, sliding on the grass and ground roughly then tumbling like a barrel until they came to a forceful stop.

"Kurono! You alright!?" Ojiro panicked as he raced forward, followed by Toga as they checked on him.

Crona lifted their head slowly before feeling some dirt in their mouth, instinctively, Kurono spat them out to the side and responded on their behalf. "Disgusting."

"That was amazing, you actually flew around. Can you carry me and fly around?" Toga squatted next to them in her blue plaid dress and sunny straw hat, head cocking to the side as she looked entranced at their wings with a quick lick of her lips.

"I don't think he should. That was way too dangerous, just like I said." Ojiro joined them as he helped carry them to their feet, the latter reprimanding them harshly. "I told you that it was a bad idea."

"Yeah, it is," Kurono said as Crona apologetically lowered his head, a motion that his wings wrapped around him. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, you should keep trying until you succeed!" Toga pat Kurono's head affectionately and encouraged him on, making Ojiro develop a tic on his forehead.

"What made you think you can even fly anyways? You weigh a ton." Ojiro huffed as he pointed the obvious even as Toga brushed out the dirt from Kurono clothing, the latter settling for a tight black and white clothing that seemed to suit a girl more than a guy.

"Oh, just...I saw a bird and thought I could do it. That's all." Crona muttered at first before giving a lame excuse as they looked away.

To be honest, they've been trying to replicate their previous flight mode, true black dragon. Kurono was insistent that they relearn how to do it since it was essential in moving around quickly.

That and he also loved the freedom of flying around, it felt comfortable and liberating. Something that Crona shared and understood as well.

"Sigh, you really think that-?" Ojiro deadpanned to him though seeing the switch in the facial expression of Kurono, it did little to convince him. "I will tell your mother if you try it again."

"Now that is just punching below the belt, bro." Kurono blurted out before clamping it down and let Crona take over for the moment, meekly, they rubbed the back of their head and shuffled their feet together. "Please don't tell them."

Ojiro waved it off even as his friend dismissed the wings back into him with a sullen look, wondering how he became the sensible one among them.

Though, it does pain him to admit that it was cool for a brief moment when Kurono was soaring through the air.

However, it feels like Kurono is constantly rushing, especially when it comes to heroics and his own quirk. Always pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable since quirk shouldn't be used in public so blatantly.

Granted, it was a loose rule compared to others but Ojiro can't help but be concerned. Not helping was Toga, who kept encouraging Kurono to do it and further driving him up the walls.

"But you know, why don't you just do that trick?" Toga interrupted Ojiro's and Kurono's thoughts as she pointed out with a finger.

"Trick?"

"The one where you make your blood go 'boing!' like that." Toga flicked her fingers, opened her mouth, and gulped the air. That motion had Kurono and Crona tilted their head together as they mimicked Toga's gesture.

"You mean this?" Crona focused a tiny blob of blood no different than the size of candy out from the tip of his fingers and had it hovered briefly.

"That one!" Toga said before quickly moving forward to gulp it down in a swift motion, licked off the end of her lips, and let out an approving smacking noise. "Mmm, tasty as always!"

Ojiro squirmed uncomfortably at that, no matter how many times he sees it, eating someone's blood that easily was going to always unnerve him.

Though...Ojiro gave a glance to Kurono who seemed utterly unfazed by it, he hadn't believed the entire story at first about Toga's condition until she showed off her quirk to him.

It was just something instinctive that came deep within him, primal revulsion and disgust.

Clearing his head at that, he wondered what's the point of it. A sentiment shared by Kurono as he questioned her with a raised brow. "Did you just do that to get a snack?"

"Yup!" Toga's mischievous smile came before giggling and smacking Kurono's shoulders repeatedly. "Just kidding, just kidding!"

"You should watch your consumption, you know. It can't be healthy."

"It's so good though!" Toga pouted before changing the topic quickly as she raised her finger again. "But why don't you just make yourself float?"

"...Come again?" Kurono said even as his eyes glanced to the side.

I'm not sure what she meant, I never floated, I just fly with the help of Ragnarok. Crona shuffled his feet at that, also confused at her statement.

"You know, like just now what you did." Toga mimed his movement with a finger again. "Why don't you just use it to float and then fly?"

"...She has a point, didn't you just float your blood for a moment?" Ojiro said after a moment of thought before realizing that detail.

Both Kurono and Crona stared wide-eyed like an owl before they turned to one another mentally before wrapping his own head.

"How did we not figure that out?" Kurono wanted to bury his head inside the ground at something so obvious, Crona being forcefully placed into the main control of the body as Kurono took over the mental side.

"It never came to mind. Ragnarok usually handles it." Crona quietly said as they sighed, feeling embarrassed at not thinking about it.

Toga giggled at the display, sometimes the two of them were so silly and thought too much over obvious solutions. Ojiro tilted his head at the back and forth Kurona's conversation with himself.

"You probably shouldn't have pointed it out to him," Ojiro whispered to her, snapping her attention to the tail boy, the latter thick tail swished nervously as Kurono was deep in thought, mumbling away.

"Why not? Kurono is going to keep doing it until he succeeds," Toga shrugged her shoulders at that with a grin. "Also, it's great to see him smile!"

"Well, I suppose you're not wrong on that." Ojiro rubbed the back of his head, noting usually how little the former smiles outside of their circle.

"I got it!" Kurono suddenly snapped into action, jolting the two of them as he held Ojiro by the shoulders. "Ojiro, I need you to carry and then fling me like a stone!"

"Absolutely not." The latter is already feeling a headache coming.

"I guess this works," Kurono said half-heartedly, his eyes closed in concentration as he focused on making the blood within him lighter.

His arms right now around Toga's shoulder as she carried him piggy-back style around leisurely with a smile.

Ojiro wiped the sweat off his forehead, fortunate enough that he managed to convince and suggest another way to practice.

"Hey, Kurono?" He supposed it was as good a time as any to actually ask.

"Yeah?"

"Why are you always doing such crazy things with your quirk?" Ojiro bluntly asked as he raised a hand to punctuate his question. "Like, this is pushing it even more than the usual."

There's this weird sense of tension and stress with Kurono since the start of the year, jumpier, and always dreading. Even when he tried something crazy, it was always done in a safer manner at least.

Now, this latest stunt was just too far. Perhaps he was just imagining it but Ojiro just couldn't shake that feeling off.

Kurono didn't say anything, just nodding, tilting, and shifting his glance sideways to himself.

Such a thing would have been off-putting or rude but Ojiro has known Kurono for two years that this was normal. Well, normal for him.

It earned him little friends beyond the two of them.

"I need to get stronger," Kurono responds after a while, talking much more softly and gently. "There are many things coming, so I need to be strong."

"What's coming?" Ojiro wondered, puzzled at such an answer but Kurono seemed to keep quiet for a moment.

"...I am the son of an underground hero," He slowly answered in a quiet tone, keeping his focus even as they walked towards a gentle slope. "Trouble finds me eventually, be it someone dad arrested or a villain out to make a point."

That doesn't answer anything. Ojiro frustratedly thought and held his words back, sure that answer made sense but it seemed so...practiced and false.

"Ne, Kuro?" Toga who has been observing and listening to their conversation the whole time in silence finally spoke, slightly strained but she continued to carry Kurono despite his lightened weight.

"Yes?"

For a moment, Ojiro swore that it sounded like two different voices speaking but shook it off.

"Ojiro's a nice person, and he's always worried about you." Toga smiled at Ojiro, much to his chagrin and surprise. "Just like me!"

"So, be nice to him. Okay?" She gently said even as shifted Kurono upwards to get a better grip on his legs.

"..." A furrowed brow appeared on Kurono's face, prompting another response from Toga before she suddenly felt the weight quickly increase and halted in her tracks.

She steadied herself quickly by planting her feet and leg wide, feeling the strain now as she was carrying nearly equal bodyweight.

Then to her shock, the weight kept increasing until her shoulders burned and it was like carrying lead.

"Sorry! I'll lighten it immediately!" Kurono panicked as they lost focus for a brief moment. Ojiro also moved to intervene by moving his tail to support her.

"No!" Toga shouted loudly and held herself, veins and her body straining with sweat pouring out of her forehead but she stubbornly refused to yield. Slowly, she managed to get into a proper position and held onto Kurono all this time.

"N-Not heavy at all!" Toga gritted her word out through a smile as she looked at Kurono despite her body straining to carry his weight. "Se-See? I can carry you!"

"And s-so can Ojiro!" She pointed out, knowing just how Ojiro was probably feeling.

After all, she experienced that feeling plenty of times. Wanting to hear a straight answer but the adults always saying it's alright and not telling her.

She didn't want that, especially not between her precious friends.

That left a quiet air between them before Kurono and Ojiro shared a look with one another, the former sighed and closed his eyes. In a heartbeat, the weight slowly lightened as Toga managed to slowly stand straight up again.

"I'm sorry, Mashirao." Kurono said in a formal fashion before their voice changed into a more insecure and nervous tone. "We really are."

We? Ojiro raised an eyebrow at that.

"I wasn't lying that there are dangers in being a superhero only son. Have you not noticed that lately, that the number of villains is getting lesser and lesser?"

"Yeah, due to All Might."

"But the number of villains arrested had completely stopped."

That had Ojiro in a bind as he scrunched his eyebrows at that. Wasn't it obvious, there are fewer villains all around and meant less arrest to make? A sentiment mirrored by Toga as she too tilted her head sideways at that.

"This means no new arrest was made, at all," Kurono explained further as he waved his hand to the side. "So, it's highly possible that the villains are organizing themselves into larger groups."

Ojiro made the connection, realizing where it was going as Kurono nodded his head.

But the real reason was that this was the year where All Might and All For One decisive clash happens.

Should we help out? Crona asked Kurono, currently focusing on the task of lightening their black blood.

No, absolutely not, we will get crushed. We need to be as strong as you were during the battle on the moon with the Kishin. The least. Kurono did not want to take any chance in screwing things up. He has already helped as much as he can.

"Alright, I think that is enough for now." Patting Toga's arm repeatedly to prompt her release, a moment passed but Toga continued on which had them repeat the gesture.

Still, Toga ignored them.

"Toga?" Crona addressed her as they looked to her side.

"Yes!" She quickly swiped her head around to face them, face flushed, and answering in a flustered way. "Want me to keep carrying you?"

"No, thank you. You carried us enough." Crona said, much to her disappointment as she stopped, crouched, and let them go.

"I don't mind carrying you forever-" She quietly mumbled to herself but Kurono quipped back.

"With my natural weight?"

"Just need to get stronger then!" Prompting an inward sigh from Kurono and chuckle from Crona mentally before the latter took over gently with a nudge.

They then got onto their knees and then looked towards Toga. "Here, you're tired, right?"

Before they even finished the sentence, Toga glomped on their back. Nearly sending them sprawling forwards to the ground, thankfully, they managed to hold their balance and carried Toga easily.

She smiled and latched onto him closer, even going so far as to nibble on his ear lightly which prompted an annoyed look.

"Stop it," Crona squirmed uneasily at Toga teasing even as Kurono resisted the urge to drop her on the floor. "Please, I can't handle such a thing-"

Ojiro could only laugh at the two as they walked home, noting that it was getting close to evening.

Still, Kurono was right. To be a hero, they need to be strong. It looks like he'll have to focus more on his training.

Well, I have the best partner. Ojiro's eyes fell onto Kurono and Toga.

UA Academy

The most prestigious hero academy in Japan, its fame reaches even beyond the borders of its nation and throughout the world. Plenty of famous and notable heroes graduated from its grounds.

In turn, it spared no expenses in cultivating and creating the environment for it. Following its own motto, Plus Ultra.

This also extends not just to its heroic course but also the general student and business course as well as its Alumni.

One of whom today, sought out a particular old hand and staff member at the medical office. A cornerstone for its school and faculty some might say.

"You know, Ayuna. You could have at least informed me beforehand on what you're planning to show me." A weary voice said as they sat down at the table across one another.

"Apologies for that, Miss Shuzenji," Ayuna said as she bowed forwards to her former teacher and still active staff, Recovery Girl. She then displayed a basket full of fruits, candies, and tea. "I brought some gifts if you like."

"Put it to the side, so how's your family?" Recovery Girl asked as she waved her hands to the side.

"Great! My husband has been able to come back on time nowadays with fewer villains in the area." Ayuna smiled and leaned forwards as she rested her elbows on the table. "Also, Lil Kuro will be going on a school trip with his friends!"

"That's good." Recovery Girl hummed at that, recalling just how worried sick Ayuna was during the early years of parenthood. Seeking every professional advice, including hers.

"But I'm worried, what if he gets lost, or someone kidnaps him. Or even a villain attack-"

"Now, now. I'm sure it'll be fine. A chick will never grow up until you let it leave the roost." Soothing Ayuna fears and worrying tendency by offering her some candy. To which Ayuna accepted the minty sweets.

"Thank you." Ayuna smiled at her gesture before changing her tone as she got to the heart of the matter. "I'm here because I believe I might have made an incredible discovery."

Recovery Girl tilted her head at that even as Ayuna reached to the side, pulling a miniature cooler box and placed it at the center of the table. Opening it and letting the cold air misted from it, she was greeted with a capsule that contained black liquid.

"This is what I'm here to talk about."

"Your son's quirk, black blood?" Recovery Girl tutted, not liking where this was going.

"Yes, the more I research into it. The more amazing it becomes-" Ayuna said as she waved her hands and went into explaining what she found so far.

Each point just further made Recovery Girl worried and concerned but she kept a still face, listening and seeing the full scope of the matter.

"So the full scope of his quirk isn't only able to help others, using it as a base material for prosthetics reduce the chance of rejection and additionally impart regeneration, even if only temporarily."

"...I will not condone the use of quirk being used so freely in medical practice when the donor is still too young, even if it really is as miraculous as you said." She looked at the content of the capsule, shaking her head disapprovingly. No doubt, Ayuna already violated plenty of regulation that would've gotten her fired or banned from the world of medicine if it gets out. "After all, you of all people should know it best."

"True but it's not so simple." Ayuna's head drooped and her shoulders sagged before she brought up a small thumb drive and placed it next to the box. "Here, it contains all the data I gathered over two years during my study, if you take a look at it, you'll understand why."

"I'm not taking it."

"I just need someone to know about this. In the worst case, should someone ever realize the extent of my child's quirk-" Ayuna bit her lower lips and clenched her hands tightly around her arm to bow deeply while pleading. "Please, teacher Chiyo."

Chiyo Shuzenji's hands twitched at that, it's been years since she was called that by Ayuna. Still, she adamantly shook her head and remained firm in her decision by not touching the thumb drive.

The two remained in their seats, the silence between them similar to that of a graveyard as they kept their gaze onto one another.

"It's not just his quirk alone, it's also what it does to other blood quirks." Ayuna finally revealed the heart of the problem through clenched teeth.

That grabbed Shuzenji's attention fully as she straightened her hunched back as much as possible.

"The black blood can integrate itself with the host body and once it does, it's able to last far longer than any other blood cell."

"How did you find out about this data-" 'Shuzenji's eyes widened as she rose up from her seat with the help of her cane, surely, Ayuna hadn't dared to tread that far! "Ayuna, you didn't-!"

"I did not use anyone else!" Ayuna snapped back indignantly before settling back into her seat. Raising her hands and placing two fingers on her wrist, taking a slow breath to calm herself down before continuing. "I used it on myself instead."

"That's hardly better and you know it!" A sharp thud of her cane rapped on the floor, echoing throughout the room as Ayuna flinched at that but the latter pushed on.

"I calculated and researched all other possible avenues first, accepting a blood transplant was simply a matter of time and considering the nature of it. I was the most suitable candidate."

Shuzenji frowned heavily at that as her hand twisted around her cane, it was still against every proper procedure but then again, this was Ayuna. Leaning back against her chair in resignation on what's been done, she focused back on the topic. "What of it then?"

"The first and only blood transplant I did was one and a half years ago. Yet, when I checked on my own blood just this week, the original batch of black blood is still there."

Does that means-

"It was able to last permanently?"

"Inconclusive, it might also be due to my quirk."

Shuzenji tapped her fingers on the cane, deliberating as her eyes bore into Ayuna. The latter of whom looked back to her straight and true. "Then this...quirk enhancement factor?"

Ayuna nodded as she raised her hand before taking a blood lancet out from her pocket, meant for blood testing and making small punctures, and applied it to her fingers quickly before showing it to Shuzenji.

At the tip, crimson liquid flowed before slowly, it changed to a darker color before turning into pitch black. Making Shuzenji's heart beat faster, was when more of it came out to a blop the size of a marble and hovered an inch away from the tip of her finger.

If that wasn't enough, Ayuna then closed her eyes, focused by gritting her teeth and clenched her fist tightly. Slowly, the sphere of blood that hovered changed its density. From liquid, it hardened itself until it became solid before it succumbed to gravity and fell.

Quickly, Ayuna caught it in mid-air and then showed it to Shuzenji. The latter of whom nearly lost their grip on their cane.

"T-That's not what your quirk could do." Shuzenji states with a grim look with raised fingers.

"Indeed, I do not think it's impossible for others with similar blood quirks to do the same thing since it's able to bond with all types of blood perfectly." Ayuna looked at the marble with fascination before placing it onto the table. "Although it needs nearly all of my concentration to do so, perhaps it depends on the quirk strength as well?"

"I doubt it, after all, this may just be compatibility." Shuzenji's eyes went to the capsule, no wonder Ayuna was so obsessed over it. A quirk that can impart its power to other blood using quirks?

These types of quirks were rare and studying them was a gold mine of information on the quirk factor.

Curse her curious mind. Shuzenji closed her eyes before deeply exhaling, fingers tapping on the cane rapidly.

"That's possible." Ayuna shrugged her shoulders before leaning forward. "I'll also need UA's help to further research into this. I have the proposal inside the thumb drive as well."

"Why not I-Island?"

"I do not want this to go public, especially because it's my son. I don't want others to look at him as a blood bag or resource." Ayuna folded her arms and replied quickly at the questioning look of her teacher, her eyes drawn to the side before she added. "I considered Detnerat as a second option but they're a recent company, far too risky."

Shuzenji hummed approvingly to that as she closed the cooler, took the thumb drive, slid it into her pocket, and sat down. "I'll hand the proposal to Principal Nezu, it'll be discussed and reviewed."

"Thank you!" Ayuna said with her head bowed, that her teacher decided not to throw her out after what she did was something she was already grateful for.

"However," Recovery Girl rapped the floor sharply with her cane again, jolting Ayuna as she snapped her attention back onto her and was met with a dark face and tone from the former. "You're to bring your son and we'll inform him of what we're doing and planning. Additionally, any further projects will only be done when he's the age of consent. Okay?"

"Of course."

"Hmph, then I think you should get going." Recovery Girl grumbled as she slowly stood up, prompting Ayuna to also stand up as the latter quickly went to her side to help her out but she waved it away. "Good grief, even when it isn't related to work, it's always upsetting me-"

"Haha, apologies. Are the heroic course students still reckless as ever?" Ayuna chuckled as she changed the topic and brushed her hair back, anything to take off her mind for the moment.

"Don't remind me, just the other day-" Shuzenji continued on as Ayuna felt calmer by talking to her teacher once again, noting that the past two years had been nothing but her research.

Hmm, when had I been so focused on it...was it the time around I injected the blood into myself? Ayuna hummed as she helped Shuzenji and opened the door for her much to the latter's chagrin and chastisement that she was not that old just yet.

Perhaps I could afford a break here and there. She shrugged and pushed it aside, feeling a lot better now talking to her mentor.

As the two left the room, unaware that the solid marble of the black blood laid on the table, forgotten by Ayuna completely.

Author's note:

Sorry that it took so long, I should've gotten this out much earlier but I couldn't find a good breakpoint and thus, continue it on.

Next chapter would be the first arc where I'll get into the major divergence from canon. I hope I'll be able to deliver the work without disappointing you all before we start the UA academy arc.