Author's Pre-chapter Comment:
Thank you for reading the first chapter and welcome back to "Beyond Limits – Izuku's Cursed Odyssey."
Before diving into the next chapter, I'd like to address a question posed by a guest named Im-KingPing in the reviews.
Question by Im-KingPing: Love the story including the original one, although the only part that bugs me from this is the number of "Quarks" he has. The six eyes should be a mutation of the Limittles ability to help perceive the space he's manipulating and not a quirk itself. The Infinity, Blue, Red, and Purple should be visible to others because he can bring imaginary numbers to reality, would it not make sense that people can perceive that panamanian? like color or didstorshins is space. (I remember reading your original story and it bugged me that his powers were not visible to others). That's just my thoughts and opinions about the story so far but I still LOVE! this story and can't wait for the next chapters!
Answer: Thank you for your thoughtful question. When I was writing the first version of this story, I considered giving Izuku a single Quirk called Limitless. However, I realized that in the My Hero Academia universe, they have no concept of Cursed Techniques. From their perspective, the Six Eyes and Limitless would appear as two separate Quirks working together. Therefore, it made more sense from an in-universe perspective for Izuku to have three Quirks rather than one or two. Regarding your second point, I decided that others cannot see the colors because they lack Cursed Energy or the ability to see Cursed Techniques. Izuku's ability to make the imaginary real is limited to the concept of Infinity, thanks to his "Quirk." The colors won't be visible to the average person, and only a few can perceive the space distortions. Those with infrared vision might notice something unusual due to the concentration of energy, which I will explain in a later chapter.
Feel free to ask more questions in the reviews. If they are relevant, like the one above, I will address them before the next chapter.
Without further ado, let us begin this chapter.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Decisions have Consequences
Inko's gaze traveled over the room she had lived in for so many years. Small though it was, the memories housed within its walls were countless. The space was austere, holding only a bed, a desk, and a mirror. Inko had always been frugal, never indulging in makeup, furniture, or other luxuries. The bulk of her income went toward Izuku's schooling and rent, leaving little room for her own desires.
She walked over to the bed and sat down, a faint smile playing on her lips as it creaked under her weight. This bed was as old as she was, a relic from her childhood home that she had brought with her after marrying her husband. She leaned back, propping herself up on her palms, her face etched with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy.
She had truly been in love back then, hadn't she? Defying her family and friends to marry a man with no source of income, she had been blinded by passion and youthful rebellion. Her parents had warned her, but she hadn't listened. They had wed in a church, and upon returning home, she faced the exact treatment she had anticipated. Her father barred her from entering the house, and her mother turned her back on her. Most of her friends had also severed ties, not that she did not expect that.
A week later, while walking through the familiar streets of her childhood, she saw her old bed discarded in a dumpster—no doubt by her father. She brought it home, convincing her husband to let her keep it. Over time, the bed became a cherished memento, a final gift from her parents. It was only two years later that she discovered they were both gone, buried in the cemetery. She visited their graves just once, overwhelmed by guilt and the stark reality of their deaths. The fact that she was not there during her parents last moments would forever etch itself in her already bad conscience.
Inko's lips curved into a soft smile as she remembered that same year, she had been blessed with Izuku—the greatest gift of her life. She recalled staring at the green-haired baby, crying its eyes out with a mixture of awe and love. She still couldn't believe that such a beautiful being could come from her. She had no idea how long she had gazed at him, but at that moment, she knew she would give her life for this child.
Releasing a sigh, she looked up at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. And then... Her husband had disappeared—no contact, no message, nothing. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the planet. She filed a missing person report with the police, but after a year, they brought the news that he was dead, his body found near the forested area of Kyoto.
The news shattered what remained of Inko's spirit. In just two years, she had lost everyone who mattered. It was a brutal time, but she persevered, driven by the need to care for Izuku and herself. Her son was her anchor, the sole reason she held on. She had soon found a job as an accountant in a small firm. It did not pay well but considering the job market, it was the only thing she could get with her Commerce Degree. At least, it paid enough to support both her and Izuku and put two square meals on the table a day.
Thankfully, her one remaining friend, Mitsuki Bakugo, had been a steadfast support during those dark days. But even that friendship hadn't survived. Their last conversation still weighed heavily on her mind. After what Mitsuki's son had done to Izuku, Inko had let her anger flare, unleashing a tirade on the blonde-haired woman. Mitsuki had listened silently, only responding at the end with a quiet, "I am sorry, Inko. I will make sure that never happens."
Inko sighed deeply. She hadn't spoken to Mitsuki since that day and didn't know if she ever could again. The things she had said that day over the phone would hurt any sane person and Mitsuki was a hot-headed one.
Her melancholic thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door to her room. She lifted her head from the bed to see Izuku peeking in.
"Can I come in, mom?" the green-haired boy asked hesitantly.
Inko sat up. "Yes, Izu-chan. Please come in," she said, her voice gentle.
Izuku entered the room, standing before her with a mixture of hesitation and shyness. "Mom? Are you and Aunt Mitsuki not talking?" he asked, avoiding her gaze. He knew his mother would often go to Aunt Mitsuki's house with him right at this hour, but since the last few days she had not even mentioned Aunt Mitsuki's name.
Inko closed her eyes, rubbing the bridge of her nose as tears welled up.
"You know, Mom," Izuku continued, shifting uncomfortably and tracing a circle on the floor with his toe. "I don't want you to lose your friend just because Kac- I mean Katsuki and I fight. Y-You can still be friends with her, right?"
"Oh, Izuku," Inko cried out, pulling her son into a tight embrace. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "When did you become so mature?" she sobbed.
"Please don't cry, Mom! I didn't want to make you cry! I am sorry!" Izuku pleaded, his voice laced with guilt.
Inko started to rock softly, Izuku in her arms, laughter bubbling through her tears. "I'm not crying, silly. These are tears of happiness." She spoke softly, running her fingers through Izuku's hair. 'Please don't grow up so quickly.'
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. Inko let go of Izuku and left her room, approaching the door with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. She opened it to find a young man in a blue-white uniform.
"I'm here to pick you up, ma'am," the young man informed her.
"Oh, has the HPSC President sent you?" Inko asked, giving a suspicious look at the man.
The young man simply provided a nod.
"Please wait a minute. I am coming," Inko informed and closed the door.
"Are we going to meet the President?" Izuku asked from behind her.
"Yes." Inko replied. "Now go and get dressed."
"About Aunt Mitsuki…?"
"Unfortunately, she is away right now with her family," Inko lied with a strained smile.
Izuku looked downtrodden as he murmured, "Oh…"
"Come on! Go get ready!" Inko said encouragingly and pushed Izuku into the house gently.
"Alright. Before your meeting with the President, there are a few things you should know," Yukimiru said, glancing at Inko and Izuku through the rear-view mirror of the sleek black sedan. They were cruising through Tokyo, heading toward the HPSC. Yukimiru sat in the front, next to the driver, while the mother and son were in the back.
"The President is a very busy woman," Yukimiru continued, his expression serious. "She has numerous responsibilities and rarely meets people unless absolutely necessary. But you two are different. Izuku, you might just be the potential successor to All Might once he retires. So, the President is making an exception to meet you." He turned his gaze back to the road. "Truth be told, I was supposed to oversee Izuku's training and development. But for some reason, the President wants to take a more hands-on approach in grooming him as a hero. Something that's never happened before. So, Izuku is quite the special case."
"It sounds like she's doing us a favor by meeting us," Inko remarked, a frown of irritation creasing her forehead. "We didn't ask for her involvement."
"You didn't, but the circumstances did," Yukimiru replied, his tone neutral. "And you should consider yourselves fortunate. Very few people have had the privilege of meeting her in person, and now you're among those select few."
"That doesn't exactly make me feel good," Inko said flatly.
"Well, if it helps, having her as a connection can provide you with significant political leverage," Yukimiru explained matter-of-factly. "She's politically influential and often shares the room with the Japanese Prime Minister and President. Unfortunately, during the height of the Civil War between Heroes and Villains in the Golden Age, Japan's royal family was killed. As a result, the office of the President was established as the head of state. Otherwise, Madam President would have connections with the Emperor himself."
"And how is that going to be useful to us?" Inko asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
"Hm. If you ever decide to run for Prime Minister or if you encounter issues with a politician, the President will likely assist you," Yukimiru said.
Inko stared at him, incredulous, unable to comprehend how he'd reached the conclusion that she or Izuku would run for the Prime Minister's position or get entangled in political affairs. "Thanks. That makes so much sense," she said dryly.
"WOW! We can run for Prime Minister!?" Izuku exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He turned sharply toward Inko. "Mom! Let's run for Prime Minister when I grow up. You can be the Prime Minister, and I'll be the President!"
"N-NO! Izuku! You should never get involved in politics!" Inko exclaimed, desperately trying to steer her son away from this new aspiration. "That's a bad goal," Inko asserted.
"But why?" Izuku questioned, his eyes wide with confusion.
"Because politics is the dirtiest career there is!" Inko exclaimed, her voice edged with panic.
Izuku's eyes sparkled even brighter, and he set his jaw with determination. "All right then. Once I become the strongest Hero, I'm going to run for Prime Minister, and when I win, I'll make politics the cleanest career ever!"
"N-No!" Inko cried, tears welling up in her eyes. Why did her son always have to be such a sweet, naive idiot? Her gaze narrowed, and she shot a dangerous glare at the back of Yukimiru's head.
Yukimiru, who had been amused by Izuku's newfound aspiration, suddenly felt an icy chill run down his spine. He glanced back, his amusement fading quickly when he saw Inko's dark glare, her hair seeming to float behind her like a spectral halo, glowing an almost neon green.
Inko leaned forward, her face now uncomfortably close to Yukimiru's ear. "Look what you did, idiot!" she hissed, her voice laced with fury. "You're corrupting my son! If you so much as corrupt him any further, I will find you and make you suffer the consequences myself."
Yukimiru held his tongue, knowing that if Izuku started training under their tutelage, he would be exposed to even more corruption. Fortunately for him, Inko Midoriya would likely never find out…he hoped.
The rest of the journey to the HPSC was shrouded in silence, with Izuku gazing eagerly at the passing buildings through the window.
When they finally reached their destination, Yukimiru stepped out of the car and opened the door for Inko and Izuku.
"Alright, I will escort you to Miss President's office. After that, you're on your own," Yukimiru informed them.
Inko nodded, taking Izuku's small hand in her own as they followed Yukimiru through the building. They stopped first at the reception desk, where Yukimiru spoke quietly with the female receptionist. He returned a few moments later and gestured for them to follow him further.
Inko and Izuku trailed behind Yukimiru to an elevator. Inside, the lanky man pressed the button for the 111th floor, the topmost level of the building. Four minutes of awkward silence later, they arrived at their destination.
As Inko stepped out of the elevator, she was struck by the unusual atmosphere of the floor. It looked nothing like any office she had ever seen. Directly ahead, a few feet from the elevator, stood a single, heavy metal door secured with large iron bolts around its perimeter. The entire floor seemed to be made of thick metal layers, giving it an eerie, oppressive feel.
Yukimiru approached the door and knocked firmly.
"Come in," a voice called from within.
Yukimiru turned back to the mother-son duo. "Before you go in, a word of warning. Miss President can be very blunt with her words. I suggest you take them lightly. Most of the time, she doesn't mean what she says."
Inko nodded, and Yukimiru pushed the door open. She and Izuku stepped into the room, the heavy door closing behind them with a resounding thud. As Inko looked around, she felt a wave of unease wash over her. The room was large and seemingly designed to intimidate. Directly opposite them was a floor-to-ceiling window stretching the length of the wall, offering a panoramic view of the city below. Before the window sat a lone desk, behind which someone was seated in a high-backed chair, facing outward through the tall window.
"Welcome, Miss Inko Midoriya and Izuku Midoriya," the person in the chair greeted without turning around. The voice was calm and measured, exuding an air of experience and authority. Inko instinctively knew that whoever sat in that chair was not someone to be trifled with.
The chair swiveled around, revealing a middle-aged woman with ash-blonde hair, her expression stoic and steely. She wore a sharp black suit jacket paired with a dress, the picture of professionalism.
"Nice to finally meet you both in person," the President of HPSC said, her tone firm yet polite. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk, and interlaced her fingers, her chin perched atop them. "Please, don't let me keep you standing." She gestured to two cushioned chairs in front of her desk, their Victorian design contrasting with the modern ambiance of the room.
"Thank you," Inko replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at Izuku, who looked just as uncomfortable. Taking his hand, she led him to the chairs before the President's desk.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" the President asked abruptly.
Inko flinched at the blunt question. 'Yukimiru wasn't kidding about her directness,' she thought to herself.
"Y-Yes," Izuku stammered, his nervousness evident.
Inko winced again, cursing herself for not answering quickly enough.
"Hmm," the President hummed thoughtfully. "I've heard that sharing a cup of tea can make important discussions go more smoothly. Would you like some tea, Miss Inko?" Her gaze, emotionless and piercing, never left Inko's face.
Before Inko could respond, something strange happened. A cup of tea appeared out of nowhere on the desk in front of her. "Huh?" she murmured, her eyes widening.
"No?" the President inquired, not waiting for an answer. "How about coffee?"
"I-" Inko began, but again, she felt an odd sensation. A steaming cup of coffee materialized before her on the desk.
"Does that suffice?" the President asked, her tone impassive.
"I… Uh… I would have preferred green tea," Inko managed to say.
"Health conscious? I appreciate that." The President nodded almost imperceptibly.
This time, instead of appearing on the desk, the cup of green tea materialized directly in Inko's hands, startling her.
The President then turned her attention to Izuku. "And what would you prefer, dear?"
"Orange juice!" Izuku exclaimed, and a second later, he was holding a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "Wow!" he exclaimed again, his eyes sparkling with wonder and awe. "Is that your Quirk?"
"Indeed, it is," the President answered, a small, barely detectable smirk playing on her lips.
"What is it?! Can you please tell me?! Please!" Izuku blurted out quickly, unable to contain his excitement.
"Why don't you try to figure it out yourself?" the President countered, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Izuku looked at her with renewed determination. "Alright! I'm going to find out about your Quirk! No matter how long it takes me! Believe it!"
The President hummed and gave a slight nod. Her eyes scanned her desk until they found a paperweight. She picked it up and, without warning, flung it gently towards Izuku, causing a ripple of surprise among the room's occupants.
However, the paperweight never reached Izuku; it stopped a few inches away from the boy, floating in the air as if suspended by some invisible thread.
"So, they were right," the President whispered, her voice a mix of amazement and disbelief. "It definitely is the—"
"What are you doing!?" Inko yelled, outraged at the audacity of the woman to throw a paperweight at Izuku without a care. She jumped out of her seat, slamming her palms against the mahogany desk of the President. "What would you have done if that had hit him!?" Inko hissed.
"I am sorry, Izuku," the President apologized directly, her expression turning serious. She then addressed Inko. "I would have healed him. And if that hadn't been sufficient, I would have arranged for the best doctors in the country to treat Izuku."
"And that makes it better!?" Inko asked, her voice dripping with outrage.
The President shook her head. "Of course, it does not. And for that, I apologize again. My curiosity got the better of me."
Inko glared at the woman and took her seat again. "Don't make that mistake again," the green-haired woman said scathingly.
The President smiled reassuringly. "Of course, Miss Midoriya." She turned her attention back to Izuku. "So, Izuku. That barrier of yours, did it activate itself or did you activate it yourself?"
Izuku let the paperweight fall into his right palm and placed it on the table. "I activated it myself. I have to think about it... kind of... for it to work."
"Interesting," the President murmured almost to herself. "So, pretty much instantaneous activation, hmm?" She stared at Izuku thoughtfully and nodded her head. "Why don't you finish your drink, and then Yukimiru can give you a tour of the facilities you're going to use during your training?"
"Alright!" Izuku exclaimed happily, chugging down his drink. He jumped down from the chair and dashed towards the door.
Watching Izuku run towards the door, the President pressed a button on her desk and said, "Yukimiru. Take Izuku for a tour of the facilities."
"Yes, ma'am," came Yukimiru's voice from the other side of the speaker.
"Now that we have this room to ourselves," the President began once Izuku was out of the room. She looked at Inko and continued, "We can start to discuss a few things."
Inko sat rigidly, her heart pounding like a drum. She was alone in a room with quite possibly the most powerful person she had ever encountered. Fear gripped her, fear for Izuku and for herself. 'What have I gotten myself into?' she wondered, her mind racing.
"You have raised him well," the President stated calmly, stirring a spoon in a cup of tea that had materialized out of thin air. "I see you have not touched your tea. You should not drink cold tea, Miss Midoriya. It is harmful."
"Uh...Uh…I am sorry," Inko stuttered, clutching her cup with both hands. She brought the cup to her nose and took a tentative sniff. Nothing seemed amiss.
"That isn't poisoned, if that's what you're thinking," the President said, her voice crisp and clear.
Inko flinched at the President's cold tone. She looked up to find the President's gaze fixed not on her, but intently on the tea she was stirring.
"You know, Miss Midoriya," the President began, her voice softening slightly, "it is nice to see a caring mother who loves her son and a son who loves her equally in return."
"Uh… Thanks," Inko replied, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected compliment.
"You do not know how cruel this world is," the President continued, taking a sip from her cup. "It is extremely rare for me to find a mother-son duo who are actually on good terms. I have lost count of the number of parents who would sell their children for a handful of cash."
"I-Is it that bad?" Inko asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It must be a blessing to live a life of ignorance and bliss, huh?" The President murmured, her voice low yet carrying clearly in the quiet room. She shifted her chair slightly, allowing her to gaze out the window with just a tilt of her head. "This world… It has been cursed since Quirks came into our society."
"W-Why do you say that?" Inko questioned, wondering why she was even engaging in this conversation.
"You see the news, don't you?" the President asked.
"Yes," Inko answered, her eyes widening slightly at the question.
"The atrocities they show you on the news are just the tip of the iceberg. If they showed what is happening in the shadows, there would be total anarchy."
"W-Why are we having this conversation? I thought you wanted to talk about Izuku?" Inko said, her voice trembling slightly. "But if you keep saying things like this, it will only make me want to withdraw him from here."
"But you can't, Miss Midoriya," the President replied calmly.
"What do you mean?" Inko asked, her brow furrowing with concern.
"Because the moment Izuku awakened his Quirk, his fate was intertwined with the entire world," the President said, her voice carrying a weight that seemed to echo through the room.
"Is that supposed to mean anything?" Inko asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"You don't understand, do you, Miss Midoriya?" the President continued, her gaze unwavering. "Izuku is an extremely special child. His birth may have altered the very fabric of our reality. He is the door that will lead us all out of the darkness. He, Miss Midoriya, is the light at the end of the darkest tunnel."
"You sound like a religious zealot," Inko muttered, her voice laced with unease.
"I apologize if I frightened you, Miss Midoriya," the President said, her tone softening slightly. "Please, forget I said anything."
"Forget what you said? How can I do that?" Inko asked, her voice quivering.
The President chuckled softly, almost to herself. "Just consider it as the delusions of a salesperson trying to convince you to invest in our cause."
Inko remained silent, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
"If you don't mind me asking…" the President began, her voice growing serious again. "Who is Izuku's father?"
"Izuku's… father?" Inko murmured, taken aback. "Why do you want to know?"
"Miss Midoriya," the President uttered her name coldly, causing Inko to physically cringe. "It is important for me to know who exactly Izuku's father is. There are many questions that could be answered if you simply tell me about him."
"I… I'm sorry," Inko said softly. "But I'm not comfortable discussing my husband."
"I understand your reluctance to speak about your late husband, Miss Midoriya," the President insisted, her voice firm. "But it would greatly assist me if I could learn the man's name."
Inko placed her cup on the desk and stood up suddenly. She bowed respectfully. "I am sorry, but I think we have to cut this conversation short. I thought we would be discussing Izuku's training, but it seems you are not interested in him. Thank you for your time. We will be leaving now."
Inko turned around and began walking hastily towards the exit door.
"Wait! Miss Midoriya!" the President called out, rising from her seat and slamming her palms against the desk, her voice cold and stern. "I understand if I made you uncomfortable. I give you my word, you will not hear me mention your husband again. So, please, stop. We can continue our discussion about Izuku's training."
Inko stopped at the door, her hand gripping the knob tightly. "I don't think we have anything to discuss, Madam President. And as for Izuku's training… My son is intelligent enough to figure out his own Quirk, and I will enroll him in a good martial arts class to learn fighting."
"You are not seeing the bigger picture, Miss Midoriya!" the President said, her voice filled with desperation and urgency. "Izuku's Quirk is not only dangerous, but if we do not cultivate it properly, he will never reach the heights of All Might!"
"As I said, Madam President," Inko replied, her voice as cold as ice. She didn't turn around; instead, she kept her gaze fixed on the doorknob. "My son is smart enough to figure out his Quirk. And with or without your help, he is going to be a great hero."
Veins bulged across the President's face as her muscles tightened in anger. Her eyes flashed red, the veins standing out starkly. "You do not understand the dangers that await you, Miss Midoriya!" she hissed through gritted teeth. "Izuku's Quirk will attract predators of the highest degree. Neither of you will be safe. You need us."
"No, Madam President." Inko said, her hand on the doorknob. "It isn't us but you who needs us. And I am quite sure we will be able to manage just fine. After all, we've managed until now. Have a good day."
And with that, Inko walked out of the room.
The HPSC President could only watch as the woman walked away. Her hands rolled into fists, and she cursed loudly. She slumped back into her chair, releasing a sigh before relaxing her tense shoulders. "Damn overprotective parents! No wonder I hate them."
A few seconds later, Yukimiru walked into the room and stood before her desk. "Should we move forward with plan B, ma'am?"
"No," the President said, spinning her chair around to face the large window and stare out at the city. "That won't be necessary. Izuku is bound to come to us in time. Someone like him won't be able to escape his fate for long."
The reflection of the sun through the glass illuminated the room. The President basked in its warmth as she murmured, "All we have to do is wait for the right time."
A month later…
Inko Midoriya stood in her kitchen, methodically preparing dinner for the two of them. The day had been chaotic, but as always, she had made it through. Things had been tense between them since their visit to the HPSC. Izuku had been both sad and angry, upset at her for breaking the deal with the HPSC.
She understood his frustration. Mr. Mera had sold him a dream—the dream of surpassing All Might—and Izuku had believed it with the innocence of a child. But she had stood in his way, shattering that dream.
Yet, her son was a good boy, understanding and kind. Once she explained her worries, he had calmed down. He was no longer angry but still a little sad.
Something about the HPSC felt off to her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was wrong with that woman. And then there was the fact that she couldn't remember her face—not her hair color, not her lips, not her eyes. Nothing. It was as if she had never met her, though she knew she had. Was that her quirk? But wasn't her quirk conjuring something from nothing? The President made no sense to her.
It was a good thing she had walked out of that room that day. She had no idea what the woman would have done to Izuku if she hadn't.
"Izu-chan! Dinner is ready," Inko called out, her voice echoing through the small apartment.
The sound of Izuku's door opening reached her ears, and soon he appeared in the dining room. Inko looked at her son and smiled, though her smile wavered slightly when she saw the thick black sunglasses covering his eyes.
A week ago, when she had returned from work, Izuku had come to her late at night, complaining that his eyes had been irritating him all day. Worried, Inko had taken him to the hospital the very next day. She was grateful to her understanding employer for giving her a half-day leave. But when she had inquired about Dr. Gekko at the hospital, the receptionist informed her that he had resigned. Fortunately, another doctor was arranged to examine Izuku.
After a thorough examination that took nearly an hour, the doctor recommended Izuku wear a blindfold or thick sunglasses. For that day, Izuku had worn bandages around his eyes, but Inko had bought him sunglasses, which he had been wearing since. They seemed to help somewhat.
Izuku took his usual spot at the dining table.
"How was your day, Izu-chan?" Inko asked, taking her seat.
Izuku shrugged. "Like usual. The teachers seem a little friendlier these days."
Inko Midoriya managed a difficult smile, masking the guilt that churned within her. It was another stark reminder that Izuku had endured bullying from both students and teachers for an entire year, and she had been oblivious. She shuddered to think what might have happened if Izuku had never awakened his quirk.
"Oh, and Kacchan didn't come today either," Izuku said, his voice distant. "That makes it a whole month of him being absent. I wonder why?"
"I see," Inko murmured, keeping her gaze fixed on her bowl. She knew exactly why. Rumors had reached her that Katsuki had been sent to a rehabilitation and disciplinary school, prohibited from leaving until his behavior improved. 'Good thing they decided to teach him a lesson,' Inko thought, a bitter edge to her thoughts. 'I wonder how Mitsuki is coping… Maybe I should call her and say sorry. Those things that I said that day… She did not deserve to hear those words.'
"How about you, mom?" Izuku asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
Inko looked up at her son and mustered a smile. "It was boring. You know how it is for me. Just managing balance sheets all day."
Izuku took a bite of the fish and asked, "Why don't you look for a job at another place?"
"I think I will," Inko sighed. "It would be good for me to find something more challenging, not just sitting behind a desk staring at a computer all day. But finding the right job is really difficult."
"I'm sure you can do it, Mom," Izuku said encouragingly.
"Oh~ Thank you, Izu-chan."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, shattering the quiet of their dinner.
"Who could it be at this hour?" Inko questioned, standing up from her chair. She washed her hands in the sink and walked toward the front door.
"Should I come with you?" Izuku asked, his voice laced with concern.
"You eat dear," Inko replied. She approached the door, her hand wrapping around the doorknob, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. She turned the knob and opened the door, her eyes widening in shock.
Standing before her was a dark figure, looming ominously. The man was shrouded in a dark hoodie, the hood concealing his face in shadows. He wore dark pants that matched the rest of his attire.
"M-May I…help you?" Inko asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," the man replied, his voice sending a chill down her spine. "By dying."
Inko's eyes widened in terror, but before she could react, excruciating pain exploded in her abdomen. Her hands shook uncontrollably as her gaze trailed down, horror gripping her heart as she saw the man's hand extended towards her, a knife embedded in her stomach.
"Goodbye, missy!" The man said, yanking the knife out with nonchalance.
Inko staggered backward, her back hitting the wall. She looked up as the man stepped into her home, his intentions clear. "W-What… W-What do you want?" she gasped, coughing up copious amounts of blood.
"Your son, of course," the man sneered, a chilling giggle echoing through the room.
Terror gripped Inko as the man's words carved a chilling path through her mind. "W-Why?" she gasped, her voice choked with agony.
"Heard the kid has three quirks," the man sneered. "You know how valuable that makes him? He'd fetch billions, maybe even trillions of yen with the right buyer." He giggled maliciously.
Inko's voice trembled with rage and pain. "Y-You bastard." The thought lingered, poisoning her mind. 'So, the President was right all along…'
"Mom~" Izuku's voice cut through the air, sharp with concern.
Inko's eyes widened in realization that Izuku was heading toward the hallway. "Mom, are you all right?" Izuku asked as he stepped into the hallway, oblivious to the danger. His gaze finally landed on the dark figure looming in the doorway. His eyes followed the trail of blood, finding his mother crumpled on the floor, a growing pool of crimson beneath her. His eyes widened in horror. "W-Wha…" The words caught in his throat. 'I-Is… Is that blood?'
"So, you're the brat, huh?" The man leered, his gaze raking over Izuku dismissively. "You don't seem like anything special."
"I-Izuku," Inko called out, her voice frail yet urgent. "R-Run!"
Izuku took a step back, hesitating for a split second before turning and dashing toward the kitchen.
The man, surprised by the sudden movement, snapped into action. "Hey, brat! Wait!" He barked, racing after Izuku into the kitchen. As he entered, his gaze flicked to the right, eyebrows rising slightly when he spotted Izuku clutching a plate.
Izuku hurled the plate at the man, who calmly lifted an arm and caught it with ease. "Pathetic!" the man scoffed. "If you think that's going to work." He smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Now, give up this futile attempt and come with me, brat."
But Izuku wasn't deterred. He continued to fling cutlery at the man, each piece caught or deflected effortlessly.
"Are you done?" The man growled, his patience waning.
Izuku, however, was far from finished. Realizing he had momentarily distracted the man, he snatched a knife from the kitchen counter and launched it at him with all his might.
The man's reflexes were swift, but the force of the knife caught him off guard. He raised his arm to block it, but the blade pierced through his flesh, eliciting a hiss of pain. "Damn you kid! Are you trying to kill me!?" he snarled. Indeed, the knife would have killed him had he not intercepted it with his arm, as it was heading straight for his face.
The intruder grunted, his gaze fixed on the knife embedded in his arm. "Now, you're going to pay," he threatened, wrenching the knife free. He discarded the blood-covered blade and scanned the counter for Izuku, only to find the spot empty. "Huh?" Confusion surged within him as he realized the boy was gone.
Suddenly, a weight crashed onto the man's shoulders from behind, causing him to stumble forward. Izuku had used the distraction of the knife to slip out of the man's view, but he knew running wouldn't solve anything. He couldn't leave his mother to die, and the man would catch up to him eventually. So, he grabbed a nail from the corner of the kitchen counter and crept up behind the man. Seizing his chance, Izuku leaped onto the man's back, targeting his shoulders, and drove the nail into the man's right eye.
A horrifying scream ripped from the man's throat as he clutched his injured eye with one hand, grabbing Izuku by the shirt with the other. He flung Izuku to the kitchen floor with brutal force.
Izuku yelped in pain as his back slammed into the hard ground. He scrambled to get up, but before he could regain his footing, the man seized him by the back of the neck, spinning him around to face him. "Look what you did, you fucking brat!" the man bellowed, his voice a mix of agony and rage.
Indeed, Izuku had inflicted significant damage. The man's eye was a bloody mess. "You know, I was going to spare you some hell," the man hissed, both angry and in pain, "but no! I am going to make you my slave. You will rot in hell forever, you bast-" He stopped mid-sentence as pain exploded through his back. The intruder's grip on Izuku loosened, and he slowly stood up, his body rigid with shock.
Izuku dropped to the ground, coughing and gasping from the painful grip the man had had on his neck. His eyes widened as he took in the scene.
The man stood frozen, his eyes turned upward, noticing three knives floating ominously above him. To his right, a dozen forks pointed menacingly toward him. To his left, broken glass bottles dangled dangerously in the air, their sharp edges aimed at him. He was surrounded by kitchen utensils, all seemingly animated with a deadly intent.
The intruder slowly turned around, and his eyes widened further as he saw the green-haired woman standing at the kitchen door, supporting her weight with her hand which were gripping the door frame tightly. Her hair was splayed across her face, casting sinister shadows that made her look like a vengeful demon. Blood dripped from her chin and stomach, yet she stood as if nothing was wrong. Her crystal eyes glowed menacingly, like those of a predator locked onto its prey.
"How. Dare. You. Touch. My. Son," Inko uttered each word with a chilling, demonic intensity. She raised her left hand and faced her palm toward the intruder.
"Listen woman-" the intruder tried to speak, but he never finished his words as Inko closed her fist.
Knives, forks, glass shards, and broken plates—all pierced the intruder in multiple places, including vital spots. Blood gushed from the man's eyes, ears, and mouth, streaming from the countless wounds ravaging his body as he collapsed to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Inko, unable to support herself anymore, crumpled to her knees. With her left hand, she clutched the stab wound on her stomach; her right hand grasped the doorframe for support.
"MOM!" Izuku cried out, sprinting towards his mother, leaping over the intruder's corpse. He knelt beside her, his voice filled with fear and desperation. "Mom… Are you all right?" Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Inko slowly turned her head towards Izuku and offered a pained, blood-streaked smile. "It's all right… Izu," she whispered, only to cough up more blood.
"M-Mom! What should I do? You're bleeding too much!" Izuku pleaded, panic rising in his voice.
Inko raised her weak left hand and pulled Izuku into a trembling embrace. "I-Izu-chan… Remember… Mama loves you… okay?... Never believe… otherwise… M-Mama… loves you… very… much."
"M-Mom! Please don't talk… I-I will call Aunt M-Mitsuki. S-She will know what to do," Izuku sobbed into Inko's chest.
"D-Don't cry, Izu-chan… H-Heroes don't cry… remember?" Inko wheezed, her words punctuated by pain. "And… great heroes… smile through… hardships… and laugh… in the face… of evil." Each word was a struggle, but she pressed on, knowing these were her final words.
"M-Mom. Please don't leave me…" Izuku begged, his body shaking with sobs.
"Izu-chan… Mama… is going nowhere… She will always be there… by your… side… Watching over… you. So… fight… and become… a greater hero… than All Might… I… I," Inko started to sob herself, the agony of her impending death tearing at her heart. "I believe… you, Izuku… I… I will be… watching. Always."
"No! NO! Don't go! Don't go! Please! Why! WHY!?" Izuku's cries echoed through the room.
Finally, Inko's strength gave out, and her left hand, which had been holding Izuku in a desperate embrace, fell to the ground. She smiled weakly, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked into Izuku's. "Be strong… Izuku."
After defying death for those final moments, Inko's body slumped to the ground, lifeless. The green-haired woman closed her eyes forever, leaving her son alone in the dark world, a guilt that would haunt her even in the afterlife.
Izuku stared at his mother's lifeless body, cradled in a pool of her own blood. "M-Mom…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. No reply came. In his mind, he could still hear her warm voice answering his call, but in reality, there was only silence. "M-Mom…" he repeated, tears streaming down his cheeks as he inched closer to her.
Gently, Izuku lifted his mother's head and cradled it against his chest. "Mama…" he sobbed, his body shaking with grief. "Mama… Please don't go." The distant wail of police sirens echoed through the air, a haunting reminder of the chaos outside. Maybe the heroes were on their way, but what did it matter now? His mother was gone. What good were heroes if they couldn't save the ones who needed them most?
Why was the world so cruel? Why did his mother have to die? She had been a model citizen, kind and honest. Yet, she was the one who paid the ultimate price. The injustice burned within him. If there were gods, why hadn't they saved her? Why did they let this happen?
Izuku's mind raced with anger and confusion. Heroes were supposed to protect the innocent, yet a criminal had roamed free, taking his mother's life. The country's justice system had failed. The heroes had failed. If All Might had been there, his mother would still be alive. But Japan was without its symbol of hope, and the other heroes were nothing more than impostors, incapable of keeping the villains at bay.
That day, a large part of Izuku's innocence and childish view of the world died with his mother. The death of a loved one can shatter a person's ideologies and harden their heart, especially when that person is a growing child. In another world, Izuku Midoriya would have a living mother who would watch him become the world's number one hero. In that world, Izuku Midoriya would have a pure and innocent heart, capable of saving even the vilest criminals.
But this was not that world. This world was crueler, more unforgiving. A fire had consumed Izuku's childhood, reshaping his dreams. From the ashes of that fire, a demon rose—a demon that would only grow stronger with time.
A demon that would either consume the world in darkness or free it from the shadows.
Next Chapter: Inko's funeral…?
Author's Post-Chapter comment
Your decisions have consequences.
Hope you guys liked the chapter. I have a feeling you guys won't.
Leave a review if you can. It greatly motivates me to know if my readers are enjoying the story or not. Critique is also welcome and very much appreciated.
Have a nice day, everyone.
Bye.