"Every change has consequences."

- Author

Izuku's POV

I landed silently atop the building, my eyes locking onto the scene below. The villain was an imposing figure—his massive muscles swelling with each passing second, a clear sign of his quirk. His spiky sandy blond hair and piercing black eyes were impossible to ignore, especially with that devilish grin plastered across his face as he faced off against two exhausted heroes. They were using their water-based quirks to create a shield, protecting the civilians fleeing in every direction.

But something about this guy felt too familiar. Augmented muscles granting strength, speed, and durability-this could only be Muscular. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. He looked different, though-missing the eye he would later lose in battle. And those two heroes? They were Kota's parents, the Water Hose duo. My heart sank. This was no coincidence. I had to act.

Muscular drew back his fist, ready to strike the final blow. Without thinking, I shot off the rooftop like a missile. My repulsors powered up, propelling me with devastating speed. I landed a solid kick to his face, sending him crashing through a car, the metal groaning under the impact. I followed up with a taunt, landing gracefully and striking a cocky pose.

"Hey, big guy!" I called, keeping my voice light. "You've been hitting the gym, huh? Looks like you're compensating for something!"

Muscular didn't take kindly to the jab. He rose with a growl, wiping blood from his nose. "That was a strong kick. Who the hell are you?"

"I'm Silent," I said, cracking a grin beneath my mask. "And I'm about to make you regret getting out of bed this morning."

Muscular smile twisted into something more sinister. "Let's see what you've got, Silent!"

I drew my dual tonfas, the metal gleaming in the moonlight. The repulsors in my boots whirred to life, and I shot forward like a bullet. Muscular raised his arms to block, but I was already anticipating his moves. He was fast, but I was faster. I feinted left and then slid right, narrowly avoiding a punch that would have sent me flying.

Muscular roared in frustration, his fist sweeping around in a brutal arc. "Stay still, you annoying little pest!" The punch came too fast, too heavy. I ducked under it just in time, feeling the wind of it past my head. As I came up, I jabbed my tonfa into his side, aiming for the soft spot between his ribs. He grunted, but the blow barely fazed him. His skin was thick and tough, almost like steel.

"Didn't even flinch? Okay, that was impressive," I muttered, rolling backward to put some distance between us. I needed a new plan.

Muscular's eyes were wild with rage, and he launched himself at me, swinging his massive arms with the force of a wrecking ball. I dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding his blows, but his punches were like thunder. Each one left craters in the pavement, and the sound of his strikes echoed through the night.

"That was close," I thought, sweat beading on my forehead. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.

I had to think quickly. Muscular's quirk enhanced his physical strength, speed, and durability, and his body had become a near-impenetrable fortress of muscle. My tonfas weren't enough to break through. I needed to outmaneuver him. I took a breath and leapt backward, activating the repulsors in my boots to propel myself into the air.

"Catch me if you can, big guy!" I shouted, flipping backward into the sky. Muscular growled and charged after me, faster than I expected. He leaped into the air, his fists swinging with a speed that made my heart race.

I barely managed to dodge his first punch, the shockwave from the impact slamming into my chest and rattling my ribs. "Okay, I really need to stop taunting him," I muttered, wincing as I spiraled backward. My boots kicked in again, propelling me upward just in time to avoid his second blow, but the force of his attacks sent ripples through the air.

Muscular's body slammed into the side of a building, sending chunks of concrete flying. He was relentless, moving like a storm. I dove in, grabbing a handful of metal strings from my utility belt. "Let's see if you can handle this."

I fired them from my fingertips, wrapping them around his massive limbs with precision. The moment they made contact, the metal strings dug deep into his flesh, tightening around his arms, legs, and neck.

"Let me go, you bastard!" Muscular snarled, thrashing against the ropes.

I grinned, pulled on the strings to reinforce the hold. "Yeah, not happening."

I sent a surge of electricity through the metal threads, my eyes gleaming with confidence. The electrical currents coursed through the wires, snaking into Muscular's body. His muscles twitched violently as the electricity surged through him. His eyes bulged in pain, and he screamed in agony, his body convulsing.

"Aaaahhhhhh!!!" Muscular's voice cracked as his muscles locked in place, his entire body spasming under the onslaught. The electricity was having the desired effect; his muscles contracted uncontrollably, tearing at the seams. His quirk was turning against him, and the powerful bursts of electricity scorched his body, sending him into a spiral of pain.

His movements slowed as his body burned under the electrical torture, but even in his pain, Muscular's pride wouldn't allow him to give up. His muscles bulged as he fought against the restraints, his body struggling to break free.

"You think you've won?" Muscular growled, his voice strained. "This isn't over, Silent!"

I shook my head, releasing the electrical flow. "Oh, it's over. Trust me."

Muscular collapsed to the ground, his body smoking from the burns. The Water Hose duo was safe, standing to the side, battered but alive. I quickly turned to them, my tone softening as I addressed them.

"You guys alright?" I asked, my voice more casual than I felt.

Kanami, Kota's dad, staggered forward, shaking his head. "We'll live. Thanks to you. You-" he glanced at his wife, who was still catching her breath. "We didn't expect a vigilante to show up."

I shrugged, grinning beneath my mask. "Eh, I wasn't doing anything else tonight. You two were doing well, though. Almost made me think I didn't need to step in."

Kota's mom, who was now standing with her husband, gave me a tired smile. "You saved us, Silent. We can never repay you for this."

I gave her a wink. "Oh, don't mention it. I've got a habit of saving heroes in distress."

Kanami chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. "You've got guts, kid. And some serious skills. We could use someone like you on the team."

I smirked, tapping my mask. "Maybe. But I work better alone."

With that, I turned toward the knocked-out Muscular, the sirens growing louder. "I'll let the police...

"Handle him. You two should get some rest. This has been a hell of a night."

The duo nodded in agreement, and with one last look at Muscular's unconscious form, I shot off into the sky, leaving them behind.

I landed back at my garage condo, feeling the weight of the fight finally hit me. My suit was a bit more worn than usual, and my muscles ached, but the job was done. The Water Hose duo was alive, and the civilians were safe.

Back at my garage condo, I peeled off my suit, letting out a sigh. "Man, that was intense. I need a vacation."

Who would've thought the Water Hose duo was still alive? I'd always thought they'd been killed two years ago, leaving Kota to despise heroes. If I did the math right, Iz was 15 when he learned about their deaths. That made me about 13 now, and I'd just saved them from a fate that should've been set in stone.

The thought of changing the timeline made my head spin, though. The consequences of messing with fate were unpredictable. The butterfly effect could turn everything upside down, and I knew I had to be careful. Every decision I made could alter the future in ways I couldn't foresee.

I grabbed my journal and started writing down everything that had happened, documenting the changes I'd made and any possible consequences. Afterward, I tossed my journal aside and put on my pajamas. I still had school tomorrow, and it was going to be a long day.

The sound of my alarm jolted me awake at 5 a.m. I dragged myself out of bed and headed downstairs to make breakfast. As I sipped my coffee, I caught the news report on the television.

"Breaking news: A man named Goto Imasuji, known as Muscular, was arrested after attacking a populated area. The Water Hose duo, heroes Kota and Kanami, reported that they had been holding off the villain to allow civilians to escape. However, they were quickly overpowered, only to be saved by a mysterious figure-Vigilante Silent."

The report continued, showing a still image of me gliding through the air with my glider and another of me using the metal strings to restrain Muscular.

"Silent, whose identity remains unknown, is reported to have used advanced technology to restrain the villain and ultimately defeat him. Authorities claim that Silent's gadgets are of unknown origin and have raised concerns about their legality. The Hero Public Safety Commission (HPSC) has stated that Silent may be in possession of stolen technology, and they have issued a statement calling for his apprehension for vigilantism and theft."

"What?" I blurted out, nearly spilling my coffee in shock. "Stealing? These gadgets are mine! I made them with my own hands!"

The news anchor continued with a serious tone. "The Water Hose duo, despite being injured, expressed their gratitude toward Silent, stating that without his intervention, many civilians would have perished. They thanked him for saving their lives and those of others."

I smiled, feeling a rush of satisfaction. It was nice to be recognized—even if they didn't know who I was. The thought of Kota's parents living and thriving, no longer victims of a future they shouldn't have had, made it all worth it.

But then, the words "stolen gadgets" echoed in my mind again. The HPSC claiming my gear was stolen? That was a slap in the face. They knew the gear was state-of-the-art, and they wanted it. It wasn't a coincidence that they made that statement. I had a feeling that they were trying to discredit me, steal my work, and twist the narrative.

"Bastards…" I muttered, clenching my fist. "They want to control everything—my tech, my reputation. If they can steal my gear and paint me as a criminal, they think they'll have a reason to take me down."

I tried to stay calm, but the injustice of it all gnawed at me. They were trying to make it seem like I was some petty thief, some rogue element that needed to be removed. But I wasn't going to let them get away with it.

"Calm down... Calm down..." I repeated in my head, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

The HPSC was known for doing dirty work behind the scenes, maintaining their hold on power and control over the hero system. They couldn't stand a vigilante like me messing with their established order, especially when my technology was cutting-edge. They didn't care about saving lives—they only cared about control.

I had a choice to make. I could expose them right now—tear down their lies and show the world their true nature. But doing so would cause chaos, and no one would be able to clean up the mess once it started. A sudden fall of the HPSC would spark riots, confusion, and a breakdown of trust in the system. People would be lost in the chaos, and I couldn't risk that.

No, I would have to wait.

I stared at the TV for a few more moments, taking in the anger boiling inside me. It was clear that the HPSC wanted my tech. They wanted to control the narrative. If I acted too rashly, they'd get the chance to turn everything against me. Instead, I needed to play it smart.

I could get close to their servers. I could hack into their systems, gather the dirt they were hiding, and expose it when the time was right. But for now, I needed to stay low, stay under the radar. The HPSC wasn't going to stop their dirty work until someone pushed back hard enough. And that someone was going to be me. I just needed to bide my time.

As I finished my breakfast, I grabbed my journal and started jotting down my thoughts. I'd made changes to the timeline already, and I needed to keep track of every little thing that could cause a ripple effect. I had to be methodical—this wasn't a game. I couldn't just go around changing things and hope it all worked out.

Every change has a consequence.

I made a mental note to stay alert. I couldn't let the HPSC get too comfortable. I needed to find the cracks in their system, the weak points, and exploit them.

After finishing my breakfast and getting ready for school, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection of my mask. The vigilante life was unpredictable. The people I saved didn't know my face, but they were alive because of the risks I took. And though I wasn't fighting for recognition, it was still hard not to want some acknowledgment for my efforts.

"One day," I muttered to myself, "the truth will come out."

I grabbed my bag and headed out, determined to get through the day. School was the last place I wanted to be, but I had to play the part. After all, the best way to blend in as a vigilante was to stay inconspicuous in public.

Later that evening, as I sat at my desk in the condo, I reviewed everything I'd written in my journal. I had made sure to track every shift, every minor detail that could lead to larger consequences. The Water Hose duo was alive. The timeline had already shifted in a major way.

But what else would change? What else had I altered by saving them?

I grabbed my bag and headed out, determined to get through the day. School was the last place I wanted to be, but I had to play the part. After all, the best way to blend in as a vigilante was to stay inconspicuous in public.

I thought back to the fight with Muscular. My heart raced just thinking about the adrenaline, the way my body felt as I dodged his massive attacks, and how I felt when I decided to use electricity on the metal strings. It had worked, but it wasn't a solution I could use on everyone. Some enemies would be harder to outmaneuver. Some villains wouldn't be so easy to take down.

And then there was the HPSC. They were going to come after me, no matter what. I could feel their eyes on me already. But they wouldn't stop me.

For now, I have to remain silent. But I won't let their lies stand forever.

The system is broken.

That's all for today's chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!