Izuku is 5 years old.
A Pillar of Lies
Chapter 3: Izuku
Reiki Pharmaceuticals was a titan in the Japanese drug supply industry, with a presence that extended across the globe. Its sprawling headquarters in downtown Osaka boasted a staff of thousands, all working tirelessly to further the company's mission of providing affordable medicine to those in need. The walls of the main lobby were adorned with glossy posters and interactive exhibits showcasing the company's latest breakthroughs in drug research and development, including cutting-edge treatments for cancer, rare genetic disorders, and even quirk-related injuries.
Ichikawa Midoriya was the public face of the company. With his natural charisma and sharp intellect, he could get away with things others couldn't. Yet, despite his acclaim and silver tongue, he was merely a puppet on strings. Those in the upper echelons of Reiki Pharmaceuticals knew well that it was his brother, Hisashi, who pulled them. Hisashi, a notoriously private man, rarely made public appearances or granted interviews. But behind closed doors, he was a force to be reckoned with—feared and respected by all who crossed his path.
The top floors of Reiki's headquarters belonged to Hisashi and his inner circle. Here, opulent furnishings and cutting-edge technology mirrored his wealth and singular drive. Nothing came before his goals, and he would pursue them at any cost. His dedication extended even to his family, especially his son, Izuku, who now lay unresponsive in a hospital bed in a suite on the top floor of the tower.
Izuku's room was bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of the bustling city below. The polished black marble floor, accented with gold, spoke of luxury, yet the room maintained an atmosphere of sterile serenity. Advanced medical equipment hummed softly, their steady rhythm a contrast to the chaos that lay beyond the glass.
Beside him sat a lone woman, her long green hair tangled, her eyes red from crying. Inko Midoriya hardly ever left her son's side. She slept in fits and starts on a stiff vinyl chair, alternating between watching Izuku and staring blankly at the skyline. She was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally—barely managing to keep herself afloat amidst the overwhelming grief that threatened to drown her.
Just a few days ago, a call from Kurogiri had shattered her world. The moment she heard his voice crackle through the line, her heart sank. Her hands trembled as she listened to the news: her son had been in a terrible accident.
She hadn't thought—only moved. Rushing to Reiki's headquarters, tears streaming down her face, Inko arrived at the reception in a daze. All she could think about was Izuku, and the overwhelming fear that she might lose him.
In the waiting room, she paced back and forth, wringing her hands, praying for her son's life. Each minute stretched into an eternity, every second weighed down with dread. Waiting for word from Hisashi or the doctor felt like torture; all she could do was watch and wait, and hope that her baby would pull through.
It had been touch and go for far too long. The moments when Izuku's life hung in the balance were almost unbearable. What if a mistake had been made? What if someone else had been in charge? But she knew Hisashi and the doctor had worked tirelessly to save him. It felt like a miracle, even if it was a fragile one.
The doctor had allowed her to visit Izuku the night before, reassuring her that he was stable and in good health. His words had brought her a fleeting sense of relief, allowing her to let go of the relentless 'what ifs' that had plagued her. He said Izuku was fine, that he was recovering. But when she finally saw him, her heart clenched in fear.
Izuku lay still, his legs swathed in thick white bandages that made them look like two pale, rigid sausages. His arms were covered in scars—mottled pink and white, some raised and bumpy, others thin as threads. The scars trailed up to his shoulders, and Inko couldn't help but imagine they covered his entire body.
She fought to stay calm. Taking a seat beside him, she gently held his hand, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. She whispered words of comfort, telling him how brave he was, how much she loved him. But even as she spoke, her thoughts wandered to Hisashi. She missed him—his presence, his touch, the comfort he once brought. She understood his responsibilities, knew she couldn't expect him to be there all the time. Yet the loneliness was unbearable, like a widow mourning beside her son.
As she sat there, her head resting on her folded arms beside Izuku's bed, her thoughts began to drift. A memory surfaced, vivid and bittersweet—of her younger days, back when she was a hopeful girl dreaming of a happy future. She remembered the warmth of the sun on her face, the laughter of friends, and the simplicity of imagining falling in love and starting a family. Life, though, had taken a very different path.
She had met Hisashi fresh out of college, and he had swept her off her feet with his charisma and intelligence. He was a revolutionary—a man with grand plans for a better world, someone who spoke with unwavering conviction. She had fallen in love with that vision.
Over time, though, she saw the man behind the vision. At first, it was concerning—his ambitions seemed bigger, his methods more ruthless than she'd imagined. But Hisashi had a way with words; every time she had doubts, he calmed her fears, saying just what she needed to hear. And she believed him, every time.
Eventually, something changed within her. Slowly, so gradually that she hardly noticed. It began with small things—a dismissive comment, a belittling remark. Before she knew it, she was too deeply entangled, convinced that Hisashi's way was the right way. That following his lead was in her best interest.
They married not long after—not out of love as she once dreamed, but as a commitment to his ideals. Still, Hisashi maintained the façade that she was his everything. Even when he was busy, he would return to her, chatting about mundane things over a glass of wine and dinner, as if they were any normal couple.
When Izuku was born, Inko was overjoyed. He was the most beautiful little thing, with Hisashi's fluffy white hair and her iridescent green eyes. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she couldn't help but smile as she cradled him. Hisashi seemed just as delighted, but Inko noticed something in his gaze—something cold, calculating. It reminded her of the way he looked at a new hero figurine. Her son wasn't just a child; he was another piece in Hisashi's grand scheme. And she had helped make it happen.
Somewhere along the way, Inko realised she had become a pawn in Hisashi's game—a key piece in giving him a son and a mother to raise that child. Part of her wanted to back out, but it was too late. Hisashi had charmed her with dreams of a new world, whispering promises of her place in it. She wasn't sure if it was for the better or worse, but even if it went against her nature, she felt compelled to follow his command. It was for the greater good, wasn't it?
Yet, no matter what, her love for Izuku remained steadfast. He was her world, and she would make sure he was happy.
Even if his future had already been set in stone.
Inko shook her head, pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind. Izuku needed her now. She took a deep breath to steady herself and resumed her silent prayers, hoping her son would wake up soon. Although she wasn't religious, in moments like this, she reached out to any higher power that might listen.
As if an angel had heard her pleas, she heard a soft, timid voice call out, 'Mommy?'
Inko's heart skipped a beat. Tears streamed down her face as she hugged her son tightly, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. 'Izuku!'
Izuku hugged her back, seeking comfort in her embrace. 'Mommy!'
Inko squeezed him tightly, not wanting to let go, but then she heard a hiss of pain escape his lips. 'Ow, Mommy, you're hurting me.'
Immediately, she loosened her grip, keeping him at arm's length. 'I'm so sorry, Izuku. Mommy didn't mean to hurt you.' She wiped her tears. 'How are you feeling?'
Izuku fidgeted, his hands nervously twisting in his lap. 'Everything stings a little, but I'm okay, Mommy. You don't have to worry.'
Inko smiled, relieved. His injuries were still serious, but she trusted Kyudai, the brilliant doctor in charge. She made a mental note to talk to him later. For now, her priority was staying with Izuku. She gently held his arm, tracing slow circles with her thumb in an attempt to soothe him.
But she could see the nervousness in her son's eyes, the way he twiddled his thumbs. He wanted to tell her something. 'Mommy?' he said, his voice barely a whisper.
'Yes, Izuku?' she asked, curious but overlooking his nervousness, thinking perhaps he was just hungry. She could get him something from the reception or ask one of the staff for help—they were always willing to serve the boss's family.
'I think Kacchan's quirk stopped working. Did I do something wrong?'
Izuku's question sent a jolt of panic through her. What did he mean? Had his quirk awakened? Was that why he was so injured? None of this made sense. She remembered her talks with the doctor—he'd spoken confidently about her son's quirk before it even manifested. But he hadn't mentioned anything like this!
Before she could respond, another voice cut through her thoughts, startling her.
'You did nothing wrong, Izuku.'
She recognized the voice instantly but refused to look in its direction.
'Daddy!'
Her husband stepped closer, and Inko turned to see Hisashi standing behind her. His crimson eyes met hers for only a moment, silently conveying his wish for her to leave them alone. She hesitated, torn between staying with her son and knowing Hisashi had something important to say. But she knew better than to argue with him—she had long since learned to trust his judgement.
Reluctantly, she nodded and stepped back, creating space for father and son to speak privately. She'd make good use of the time to find the doctor.
He had a lot of explaining to do.
-tdr-
The emperor of the Japanese underworld and notorious villain, All For One, sat atop his kingly throne. He let out a theatrical sigh as he thought about the events of the past few days. His son had suffered terrible injuries from his own quirk, and in an effort to save him—his most prized investment—he had lost another. Tenko Shimura was now comfortably in the hands of the heroes. Society had not failed him as he had hoped. His own negligence, combined with some meddling from All Might, had ensured that. Even if he were to take him now, it would serve no purpose. The young Shimura could not be what he needed. Needless to say, his mood was soured.
No matter. The loss of Decay was a shame, but the boy himself was expendable. There were others just like him that he could exploit, others who could become his warped seed. And who knows, maybe the young Shimura still had some use for him. Only time would tell. He'd make sure to keep a watchful eye on the boy.
As the emperor silently planned, staring blankly at his chamber walls, a familiar black portal formed before him.
'What is it now, Kurogiri?' the man asked, his bad mood making him somewhat impatient.
'The young master is awake,' Kurogiri informed him. 'Would you like to go, master?'
His lips curled into a smile. At least something had gone right today. 'Yes, bring me to him.'
The emperor rose from his throne, brushing his suit clean and straightening his tie before stepping through the inky black portal.
The scene around him warped into a dark mass as he stepped out into his personal office in Reiki's headquarters. Despite being on one of the top floors, the office was rather modest, with a thin layer of dust covering the place. He never really worked in this office; it simply acted as a convenient location for Kurogiri to transport him to and from whenever he was needed at the company. He had more refined tastes, anyway.
Before doing anything else, he shifted his eye colour from his natural crimson to a bluish grey. When crafting his newest alias, Hisashi Midoriya, he decided that a more ordinary eye colour would aid in his disguise. Although he wasn't one to change his appearance significantly with each identity, something as simple as this was no trouble for the emperor.
Taking his leave from the office, he made his way up the elevator to the top floor, passing several staff members on the way. A long hallway led him to a set of grandiose vintage doors, and his sharp ears picked up a cry from beyond them. He peeked through the doorway, making an effort to silence his entrance so as not to disturb the scene before him. Inside, he saw his son and wife-in-name embracing each other, weeping in one another's arms.
He quietly observed, letting them have their moment. It was important in times like these that the boy got the emotional touch of his mother, though Inko herself was quite the eyesore. If it were up to him, he'd have had that woman out of the picture long ago, but she meant a lot to Izuku, and as long as she remained in his clutches, she would serve as a good influence on the boy.
He waited briefly, finding a natural opening to make his appearance as his son brought up a question his mother simply wasn't capable of answering. He made a quick comment before flashing his crimson eyes at Inko, silently commanding her to leave. The reluctance in her gaze was clear, but he had trained her well; she would do as she was told.
Moments later, she left, leaving father and son alone.
He took a second to appraise his son, scanning his eyes over the newly formed scars that marred Izuku's body. It was quite a shock to Hisashi how the boy's condition had gone critical the moment he used his quirk. As the doctor had pointed out, had he used his quirk for even a moment longer, his body would have spontaneously exploded on the spot.
He grimaced internally at the thought. While it wasn't completely outside his expectations—some quirks were just too powerful for their users to contain properly, especially at such a young age—it was still unsettling to think that decades of meticulous planning could have been thrown out the window in such a laughable and absurd fashion.
Regardless, he would have the doctor look into mitigating those side effects.
'Izuku, son, we need to discuss the accident and those scars,' Hisashi spoke, his voice carrying a quiet authority, tempered with care. 'Do you remember what happened?'
Izuku averted his eyes and pulled his head down as he slowly shook it. 'I don't want to, daddy.'
This was the reaction he had expected, but he knew he would have to approach the subject delicately if he wanted to manipulate his son properly.
'Calm down, Izuku,' he said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. 'Take a deep breath, in and out.' Hisashi followed his own instructions, letting Izuku match his pace. After a few repetitions, the boy appeared to have calmed down, his emotions in check—for now.
'I got in a fight with Kacchan,' Izuku said, his voice low and shaky. 'He was going to hit me but... I felt something. Kacchan was screaming at me! And I saw my hands sparking. He was trying to use his quirk, but he couldn't, and I...'
Hisashi listened to his son's story with a patient expression. He already knew everything that had happened, thanks to his faithful servant, but it was best for him and his son to be on the same page.
'Izuku, you said your hands were emitting sparks. Perhaps your quirk has emerged?' Hisashi suggested, choosing his words carefully.
'Q-quirk?' Izuku stuttered, his voice laced with disbelief. 'But the doctor said I was quirkless.'
All For One briefly reflected on the matter; he had instructed the doctor to falsely claim Izuku was quirkless. It made things simpler, keeping both the boy and his quirk under control and off the government's radar for a while longer. This way, he could wait comfortably until Izuku was a little older, more malleable, and able to understand the world as Hisashi intended to shape it. When the time was right, he would allow his son to publicly display one of his quirks. Izuku would be a late bloomer, a few years behind his peers, but that wasn't entirely unusual. The delay would also give Hisashi ample time to forge the necessary documents, ensuring that nothing appeared out of place.
'People can make mistakes, my boy,' Hisashi explained. 'Sometimes they miss things. Do you understand?'
'Even you?' Izuku asked.
'Even me.'
It was rare, but true; even he made mistakes sometimes. Nevertheless, it would serve as a useful lesson for Izuku in the future.
Izuku appeared deep in thought for a moment before his emerald eyes flicked back up to meet his father's.
'I have a quirk?' he asked again, still unsure of himself.
'You do.'
A grin spread across Izuku's face, and tears of joy streamed down his cheeks as he looked up at his father, his eyes shining with hope. 'Daddy, does that mean... I can be a hero?'
Hisashi's lips pursed, displeased with his son's obsession with being a hero. It was just one of the behaviours he had yet to correct. Hopefully, it was just a phase, and it would pass on its own. But if not, he could always train it out of him in time.
'We can think about that later,' Hisashi responded, deflecting the topic. 'Right now, let's focus on your quirk. What does it do?'
Izuku nodded, wiping away his tears and taking a moment to ponder. 'Explosions? But why is my quirk like Kacchan's?' That's good observational skills coming from a five-year-old.
'It's true that most quirks are unique. That's because they are usually a combination of the parents' quirks,' Hisashi explained. 'But it's not always that simple. Sometimes quirks can skip generations, or they can manifest in unexpected ways. Though I don't believe that's the case for you, Izuku.'
His son scratched his head in confusion. 'But mommy can move small things, and daddy can breathe fire. How does that make explosions?'
'My quirk isn't firebreath,' Hisashi corrected him.
'What? But I saw you use it!'
'More accurately, only one of my quirks is firebreath,' he clarified.
'Huh?'
'Here, let me show you.' Hisashi opened his right hand as red and black lightning danced across his fingertips before mini fireworks shot out, illuminating the air. Izuku's eyes dazzled in awe at the colourful display, watching as some made shapes of animals high above, while others spun around before fizzling out. It was a minor quirk that he had stolen on impulse. However, it had no practical uses outside of being a simple parlour trick.
Though it might not have been enough to convince his son, he brought out another quirk called Ice Gauntlet. It did exactly as the name suggested—slowly layering sheets of ice on the user's arm until it was fully encapsulated. It was a rather annoying quirk, with no real upside. It didn't give the user any protection from its ice, nor could they remove the gauntlet once created. Its original owner had been more than happy to part with it.
He then pulled out a slightly more useful quirk, exhaling a burst of flames that danced across the ice, turning it into a swirling inferno. Izuku watched in amazement as the flames changed from red to green to blue, quickly melting the ice in its wake.
Izuku looked even more confused. 'B-but how do you have so many?'
'It's true that most people only have one quirk, or sometimes none at all. But there are rare cases where quirks can be transferred or stolen from one person to another.'
It took Izuku a moment to understand what he meant, but it finally clicked in his head. 'Is that your quirk, Daddy? Can you take other quirks?'
Hisashi's lips curved into a slight smile. 'That's right, Izuku. My quirk is called All For One. It allows me to take or give quirks, but I need to make physical contact with my palm to do so. See this?' he pointed to his left hand, where a small but noticeable indent lay at the centre of his palm. 'That's where the quirk is transferred from. I can also store multiple quirks and use them at will. And, if I desire, I can use them at the same time.'
'All For One.' Izuku spoke slowly, articulating the words, letting them roll off his tongue.
His son pondered for a moment before speaking again, slowly putting his words together as he did. 'I think… explosion isn't my quirk.'
'Go on.' He encouraged.
'I think I can take quirks just like you, Daddy. I-I took Kacchan's quirk.'
'But remember, Izuku, you didn't touch the boy, did you?' It was a small detail he wouldn't have known just from his son's story alone—something that might have raised a few questions. However, Izuku was only five; he wouldn't make those connections just yet.
Izuku shook his head. 'I was close, but… I didn't touch him, and…' He briefly glanced down at his palms, feeling the smooth centre, noticing the absence of any indent. 'Maybe… like Mommy, I can take things without touching them.'
'Very good, Izuku!' Hisashi praised, ruffling his son's hair. Izuku seemed to relax, smiling cheerfully at his father.
The scene was quite wholesome for the notorious villain, though it was a somewhat uncomfortable feeling. He shrugged it off, refocusing on the matter at hand. 'I understand you're excited to use your quirk, son. But we must be careful. Using it without proper training could be dangerous. You saw what happened when you used it against Katsuki. Your body wasn't prepared for it. I don't want you to use it until I'm sure you're ready.'
'Not at all?' Izuku pouted, not liking the idea.
Hisashi shook his head. 'We can't have a repeat of what happened, can we? I'll make an appointment with the doctor so you can use your quirk as soon as possible. But I want you to promise me that until then, you won't use it.'
There was a hint of reluctance in Izuku's voice, but he seemed to understand. 'I promise, Daddy.'
Hisashi watched over Izuku as he sat by his side, letting the boy think about everything they had discussed. It was a lot to take in for someone so young, but Izuku was quite intelligent for his age. He'd understand quickly.
'Daddy?'
'Yes, Izuku?' Hisashi responded. It seemed his son already had questions for him.
'Will Kacchan be okay?' Izuku asked, a hint of worry on his face.
'Of course he will,' Hisashi dismissed. Stealing quirks was usually a quick and painless process for the victim, and to his knowledge, no one else had gotten injured. His friend would be fine for now, albeit, without a quirk.
'But he seemed really angry when I took his quirk.'
All For One sighed. So that's what his son had been so worried about. He had hoped Izuku wouldn't make that connection just yet. A quirk like his friend's would have been a great learning tool for him. But All For One knew it was too late for that. The look in his son's eyes was all he needed to see to know that his worries wouldn't go away with time.
'I can give it back to him.'
His son looked up to face him. 'Really?'
'If that's what you want,' he responded. He couldn't have his son regret taking quirks now. It would only hamper his judgement later in life. And there would always be more opportunities down the line.
Izuku nodded.
'Stay still, son,' he requested, placing a hand on Izuku's head. Extending his quirk, he felt around, searching for the spiky blonde's quirk. It appeared as a crimson ball, sparking at the edges, orbiting around a glowing white flame.
Something about the flame captivated him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen in another's quirk. Most quirks, like the spiky blonde's, were spherical, with various colours and textures—some emitted sparks, while others were made of liquids, gases, ice, or fire. But never had a quirk taken on such a different form. All For One imagined his own quirk, and perhaps even his brother's, had similarly striking differences, but it wasn't something he could confirm. He couldn't see his own quirk.
Still, the white flame was tempting, burning brightly like a beacon of light in the abyss of Izuku's core. He wanted to claim it for himself, knowing he would have to try at least once more.
Red sparks flew as he reached out to grasp the flame, his desire to claim it driving him. But it only burned brighter, rejecting his commands with an unsettling ease as his hand rebounded off his son's head.
Failure again...
It was a displeasing realisation to the notorious villain. The quirk had a mannerism akin to One For All, which adamantly rejected being taken. It wasn't completely unexpected, but it meant his schemes would take much longer than he originally anticipated.
Izuku tilted his head in confusion. 'Daddy?'
'Just a moment, son,' he said as he tried again, this time pulling on the crimson sphere. There was a brief amount of resistance as the white flame fought him, attempting to pull the quirk away from his clutches. Though, it eventually gave up as the quirk left his son's body.
All For One pondered as he let the new quirk settle within him. His face remained impassive as he made a mental note of his changes to his plans. Izuku would play a much bigger role, now that he was certain he couldn't take his quirk. It meant that he would have to raise his son well, to become someone who could stand by his side when he made his appearance to the world.
Izuku would be a singular light in the midst of chaos, guiding the people to the future that he had designed. It would just take time.
All For One could wait; he was a patient man after all.
(***)
A/N: Some of you may have noticed that this chapter is much earlier than expected (Hooray a double chapter!) It's mostly because I want to experiment a little with when I publish my chapters to find the right day and time that suits me best. Afternoon on a Saturday seemed okay and Friday wasn't that great, so I'm changing it to an early Sunday (for you EST folks) to see if that's received better. Also yes this was updated on ao3 much earlier. This was mostly do to some problems that occured on ffnet, so I've delayed it to Tuesday. I'll update you with a set day and time once I figure out what works for me. Also, Izuku is 5 and Tenko is 7 (I did de-age Tenko by about 2-3 years) just to fit a bit better into this story. It does bring some events up a bit but it does help with the narrative cohesion so I'm sticking with it. Anyways, back to the real author notes.
All For One is a little sneaky, but what do expect of a centuries old super-villain. He's still the same psychotic and manipulative kleptomaniac we all know and love. Though, who knows. Maybe with a little help from our adorable little white fuzzball, there's still hope for the notorious villain.
Also did anyone spot the strange discrepancy in one specific detail? Leave a comment if you did (No spoilers!)
Whether you loved it or hate it, make sure to leave a comment, as any feedback is welcomed. Also don't forget to follow for more updates in the future.
With that said, till next time.