My Hero Academia - Rift

Writers note - Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by to give this one a shot. I'm just going to give a quick bit of a heads up on what to expect and what I hope to subvert in a hopefully not shitty way.

First; this is an isekai story but unlike all the others (at least thatI have read myself) the main character has no prior knowledge or background in the world of MHA. Hopefully this provides to be equal parts refreshing and infuriating as events happen that we might know but the "self-insert" doesn't.

Second; the MC's quirk revolves around using Magic the Gathering cards as the means of doing things. You don't need to know the card game as things will be explained/touched on and it's not like two characters are going to sit down for a card battle. This is more high stakes, so things are going to have to be translated to have an irl effect beyond some of the more obvious (summoning creatures) but knowing the game might make it more enjoyable.

This will be based on my real world decks, and with real story world implications that become major hurdles or handicaps to use or consider, so no "op" b.s. on casting everything and ruling the world by showing how super special awesome Mary Sue/Gary Stu is. After all, drama builds conflict builds a more interesting story. Or at least that's my hope. Also no Jace popping in and fucking shit up either, this is a MHA story with M:tG flavors. Think this way: If you can cast tcg cards in real life, how do you think that would work?

Third and finally, I might touch some romance things. I'm not going to force it if I can help it. Shoehorning in pairings that don't flow is just garbage that can be cut overall. If I do though (force it that is, I'm only human), I'm going to stick to the background characters. I'm thinking maybe Lady Curious, we'll see where it goes. Well if you saw all this, hopefully that'll keep you interested and dashed some fears. I'm not a huge writer, so please enjoy and try not to be too rude if I mess up some obvious or not so obvious MHA or M:tG detail. I'll go back and do any corrections if it wasn't too unintentional, or maybe I'll try to roll with whatever and just accept it as "this universe's canon." For example, MHA says the year is 20XX, but many found that implausible and calculated a more appropriate sounding year, which is what I went with instead. Also don't expect me to know so many facts, funny enough I read way more fanfics of the show than actually watching it or reading the manga, so I more or less am going off the similar threads. Otherwise enjoy the fic for what it is: fanfiction.

Prologue: Dead and back commander. Dead and back.

It is 2161.

The world is a hectic one. It's a deadly one. Yet… it's a glorious and exciting one. This was due to the dawn of powers and abilities ever thought possible before appropriately named "quirks." No one knows exactly how they exist, mingle, mutate, or act, but those with and without quirks have been shifting steadily into a new reality where the mundane have been replaced…

…by super heroes.

"Woah, so cool!" "I want to be a hero, I want to save everyone!" "Being a hero is everything! Fame and fortune here I come!" The idea of a hero was reborn from the ashes of the old stories leading to preventing simple muggings to stopping nationwide destruction, all to fit a new generation and what it represented. Flashy, stylish, and more, and it caught the imagination of everyone one way or another.

Such as in the Sero household.

A young boy, only four years old, was practically glued to the television as the latest hero vs villain fight was live broadcasted. Within this small comfortable family apartment, his father chuckled to himself.

"Look at him, the kid's hooked!" "Well of course he is. Point to me a child or even most adults that aren't enticed by these people in spandex." Koga Sero scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "W-well okay you got me there." Thoughts floating to a certain desk drawer full of collectable pinups he had before shaking it out of his mind.

His wife Sanka continued. "I'm just worried if Hanta is going to set himself up for disappointment later in life. Sure his quirk hasn't fully developed yet, but he's got a similar mutagen like us coming in already." She reached for her elbow and revealed a slot within. Pulling at it some clear material, it slid out until with a sharp tug ripped off. She used the Cellophane to finish wrapping away the recent dinner they all finished.

Koga hummed, looking back at his excited child who still bounced watching the fight happen on the television. It's unfortunately likely, he thought, since the most basic of theories that I seen say quirks can combine, he might end up with a tape like quirk. I'm not sure how one can be a hero with something like that, but like hell I'm not going to be the cool supportive parent here! "Thing is he can end up with a fingernail growing quirk for all it matters but as long as he sets his mind to it he can do anything." Sanka smiled in response, moving to put the dish away.

Heh, score one for me.

—

Hanta couldn't help but wave his still stubby little arms mimicking every fight he saw on screen. Pow, bam, bop, zam! Oh how he was going to be the biggest hero ever! He's going to be like those super cool guys on screen! Well maybe not soon, but one day! He heard his mom answer a knock on the door, and it sounded like one of her friends. Hanta wasn't listening that well as they talked about their day or whatever adults do. It's nice, but don't they see what's happening on tv?! That's when things shook.

The floor shook, the walls, everything! Wait…

That's not an earthquake… Hanta heard screams for help and explosions so that must mean… He gasped and eyes went wide. "Heroes!" Hanta ran to the front door to look, taking advantage of the adults momentary distraction. He snuck out to the porch, and saw a newbie hero fighting a villain! Oh no, the new guy looks like he was being overpowered! "You can do it! You can beat him!" Then there was an explosion. It looked like a fuel truck was hit. He heard his mom scream "Hanta NO!" Hanta blinked. He didn't see what hit his head. It didn't travel that fast. It didn't fly that hard. But for a very young boy, the impact was enough. Hanta was rushed to the hospital.

No one knew as his body kept breathing yet…

That day, Hanta died.

It is 2024.

The world is a stressful one. It's a plain one. Yet, it's an overall calm and safe one. At least here in the land of first world problems while we can still consider ourself a first world country.

I… am no one special. I work long hours, I have my hobbies, and I'm not all that bright. Guess you can say I'm as average as they come. Yay, go us average people. So as an adult with no life, I decided I needed a change. Something to get me out of the house. Boy, that turned out to be a mistake. Anyways, ever heard of a little card game called… Magic the Gathering? Hey, wait, what do you mean who care's about that nerd shit?!

Truth be told, I only really do it to go out and socialize. It's fun don't get me wrong. It's my new obsession after growing out of yu-gi-oh from high school a long time ago, I'm just not great at it. Timing man, it gets to me. I keep missing the "when's" but you know what? I'm not a huge competitor at heart. Maybe if I was more aggressive but I digress.

So why does any of this matter?

It was when I was finally going home….

Okay, I was a bit distracted. I came out of my game with a headache which I only get after playing that game for five or so hours, I was driving on auto-pilot, and some bug happened to smack me right in the center of my ear while I was going 55 with the windows down. It was a cocktail of lightheadedness and distractions that prevented me from reacting in time.

Next thing I knew: bam. Another car decided it didn't need to check both ways before getting on the highway. And in a shower of twisted metal, that's how I died.

Beeping.

A soft beeping. Was that a heart monitor? Everything ached, but really it was my head that felt splitting. My arms felt so weak that even I couldn't even lift them. Blurry eyes revealed the world slowly from the bright lights overhead to the white sheets I was in. I couldn't stop a squeak of a moan. Thats when all hell broke loose for me.

"HANTA!" A woman's voice cried out and I was hugged, followed by a mans. I couldn't see them, I felt dizzy, but they were voices I never heard of before and also knew my entire life.

I was in pain, confused, relieved, lost, found, and so much more, so I did the only thing I could and that my body was screaming out for. I grabbed back as best I could and cried.