.Chapter 4

Izuku sneezed as she stepped out of All Might's car. The oversized pajamas may not have protected her from the chilling weather.

"We'll raid the place," All Might said from the driver's seat. "If what you say about him is accurate, then we should be able to resuce Eri."

Izuku nodded. She wanted to go there. But All Might said it would be too dangerous, regardless of her strength. She was having difficulties moving in this new body, fighting is too much right now.

Last time, heros like All Might were not there in the raid. Hopefully, he would be easily able to complete the task efficiently.

"Please keep me updated, sir,"

He nodded before driving away

Inko and Izuku were making their way back to their apartment, trying to avoid any more mishaps for the day. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow on the neighborhood, and they hoped for a quiet walk home. But fate, as usual, had other plans.

As they turned the corner, they ran into a few neighbours who had clearly been chatting about the latest scandal. One woman, well into her late fifties but with the energy of a teenager, approached them with an eyebrow raised so high it practically touched her hairline.

"So, you de-aged your mother by twenty years?" she said, her voice dripping with curiosity and a hint of jealousy. "And turned yourself into a little girl?"

Izuku, now in the body of a young girl and wishing she could disappear into thin air, muttered, "Yeah..."

The woman leaned in, her eyes sparkling—literally. Her quirk allowed her to see in the dark, which gave her eyes a twinkle that could rival a Christmas tree. "Can you make me 17 again?" she asked, her eyes twinkling more than ever.

Izuku hesitated. "I might be able to de-age you," she said slowly, "but what if I mess up and turn you into a baby? Or worse, a zygote?!"

The woman jumped back as if she had been electrocuted. "A zygote? No thanks! But keep me posted when you master it, okay?"

Izuku nodded quickly, deciding then and there that this power was going to be her best-kept secret. No way was she turning the neighbourhood into a sci-fi horror show. She glanced at her mother, who now looked like she could be Izuku's older sister, and sighed.

"Let's get home before anyone else asks for a do-over," Inko said, shaking her head. "This place is starting to feel like a reality TV show."

As they continued their walk, they heard snippets of conversation from other neighbours, all of whom seemed to have outrageous requests.

"Hey, can you give me wings?"

"Can you make me taller? I always wanted to be a basketball player!"

"Can you make my cat talk?"

Izuku couldn't help but laugh. At least her accidental quirk mishap had brought some humor to the day. But one thing was certain: her powers were way too unpredictable to be used for such petty things. She would have to train hard and learn control before she even considered granting any more wishes.

For now, she just hoped to get home without being asked to perform any more impromptu miracles.

When Inko and Izuku finally made it back to their apartment, the day had already taken them on a rollercoaster ride of weirdness. Inko sighed in relief as she unlocked the door, hoping for a few minutes of calm.

"I really need a bath," Izuku muttered, feeling the weight of the day's bizarre events.

Inko nodded, "A bath sounds like a good idea, sweetie. It'll help you relax."

Izuku shuffled to the bathroom, desperately seeking normalcy. She turned on the faucet, letting the tub fill with warm water. As she started to undress, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror.

She froze.

The person staring back at her was unmistakably a young girl. Izuku's face went from confusion to sheer panic in a heartbeat.

"Mom! MOM!" she shrieked, her voice shooting up several octaves.

Inko, sensing a crisis, rushed to the bathroom door. "Izuku, what's wrong?"

"Everything! Everything is wrong!" Izuku wailed. "I'm... I'm a girl! How am I supposed to take a bath like this? I don't even know what to do!"

Inko opened the door a crack and peeked in, trying to hold back laughter. "Sweetie, it's just a bath. You know how to take a bath."

"But I don't know how to take a bath as a girl!" Izuku cried, flailing in sheer panic. "I don't know what to wash first or how to... Mom, help!"

Inko stepped inside, fighting to keep a straight face. "Izuku, it's not that complicated. Here, I'll help you."

Izuku's face turned crimson. "This is so embarrassing!"

Inko guided her to the tub, showing her how to wash her hair and body. Izuku, mortified and fumbling with the soap, dropped it with a loud 'plop'.

Inko chuckled. "See? Not so bad."

"But what about... you know... the other parts?" Izuku whispered, horrified.

Inko couldn't help but giggle. "Just wash them like any other part, dear. You're not going to break."

Izuku's eyes widened in sheer horror. "This is so awkward! I can't do this!"

"Relax," Inko said, handing her a washcloth. "You'll get used to it. It's just like learning a new skill."

Izuku's brain was still in meltdown mode. "A new skill? Mom, this isn't like learning to ride a bike! This is my body!"

Inko patted her head, still chuckling. "Yes, and you'll get the hang of it. For now, just focus on getting clean."

Izuku grumbled but followed her mom's instructions, her face a permanent shade of red. "This is the worst. How am I supposed to fight villains when I can't even take a bath without freaking out?"

Inko laughed again, ruffling Izuku's hair. "You're a hero, Izuku. You'll figure it out. And until then, you've got me."

Izuku sighed, accidentally splashing water everywhere in her frustration. "Thanks, Mom. But seriously, can we stick to regular training disasters next time?"

Inko smiled, "No promises. Now, hurry up. Dinner's getting cold."

Izuku, still red-faced but a little more relaxed, finished her bath, splashing water everywhere and nearly slipping as she tried to stand up, causing her to yelp and grab onto the side of the tub dramatically. It was awkward, it was embarrassing, but at least she had her mom to help her through it.

After the ordeal of the bath, Izuku stood shivering in a towel, looking around the bathroom as if expecting it to attack her next. Inko, still trying to suppress her giggles, handed her a pink T-shirt with a picture of All Might on it and a pair of green pants."Here, put these on," Inko said, helping Izuku into the clothes. Izuku struggled to get her head through the armhole, finally managing to get dressed with her mother's help.

"I can't believe this is happening."

Inko smoothed out the T-shirt. "You look adorable."

"Mom!" Izuku whined, mortified.

"Well, at least All Might's still with you," Inko said with a smile, pointing to the shirt.

Izuku looked down at the T-shirt with All Might's grinning face and groaned. "Yeah, lucky me."

"Come on, let's get you some dinner," Inko said, leading her out of the bathroom. "You've had a long day."

Just as Inko and Izuku were about to sit down for dinner, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment. Inko glanced at Izuku, who was nervously tugging at her All Might T-shirt.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Inko wondered aloud as she made her way to the door. She opened it to find her friend Mitsuki Bakugo standing there with her son, Katsuki, looking as explosive as ever.

"Hey, Inko!" Mitsuki greeted cheerfully, but then. Her expression shifted to one of confusion and then suspicion. "Who're you? And what are you doing in my friend's apartment?"

Inko smiled sheepishly.

"I need some answers. Who are you, and what are you doing in my friend's house?"

Inko yelled, "Mitsuki, it's me, Inko! Don't you recognize me?"

Mitsuki squinted at her, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Inko? You look like you're in your twenties!"

Inko nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Yeah, there was... an incident with Izuku's quirk. Long story."

Mitsuki's skepticism melted into disbelief. "Izuku's quirk did this to you?"

Inko nodded again, trying to keep her cool. "Yes, it's... complicated."

Mitsuki shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. "Well, this is the craziest thing I've ever seen."

Izuku, now a young girl, felt her cheeks heat up as she struggled to find words. "Uh... Hi, Auntie Mitsuki."

Mitsuki's eyes narrowed. "Inko, who is this girl?"

Katsuki peered over his mother's shoulder, his usual scowl deepening. "The hell? Why's Deku look like that?"

Wow. Kaachan recognised her instantly.

Mitsuki however… she smacked him on his head.

"What the hell was that for, you hag?!"

"Idiot! That's obviously a little girl and Izuku is a fifteen year old boy!"

Inko quickly intervened, trying to diffuse the situation. "Mitsuki, Katsuki, come in. Let me explain."

Mitsuki stood her ground, her hands on her hips. "No way. Not until you tell me who this girl is and why she's in your house."

Izuku tried to step forward but ended up tripping over her oversized pants, nearly face-planting into the floor. "I-It's me, Izuku!"

Mitsuki's suspicion only grew. "Inko, what's going on? Did you adopt a kid or something without telling me?"

Inko sighed, realising this needed a full explanation. "Mitsuki, Katsuki, please come in. This really is Izuku."

Reluctantly, Mitsuki and Katsuki entered, Mitsuki eyeing the young girl suspiciously. "Alright, Inko. You've got two minutes to explain this before I call the police."

Once they were all inside, Inko began to recount the day's events. "So, there was a bit of an... accident with Izuku's quirk."

The room was thick with tension, the air crackling like a live wire, as Inko recounted the day's wild events. "And then, bam! Izuku's quirk went haywire," she said, throwing her hands up for emphasis.

Mitsuki's jaw dropped, her eyes bugging out like saucers. "An accident? What kind of cosmic hiccup turns a strapping young lad into a pint-sized princess?"

Izuku, now sporting tried to blend in with the kitchen decor, wishing she could just poof out of existence. "It was a total mishap! My quirk just... pulled a fast one on me."

Katsuki, the human equivalent of a firecracker, couldn't help but cackle. "Pulled a fast one? More like a faceplant, Deku."

Izuku shot him a look that could curdle milk. "This wasn't my idea, Kacchan!"

Inko, stepping up like the world-class momager she was, her voice a blend of warm cookies and steel. "Katsuki, can it. Izuku's riding the struggle bus enough without you driving it."

Katsuki crossed his arms, a smirk spreading across his face. "Well, well, well, Deku. First, you don't even have a quirk, and now this? A freak-making quirk? A quirk that makes people younger? You really are pathetic. How are you supposed to pass the entrance exam looking like that? How you gonna storm the entrance exam looking like you should be playing with dolls? You should just give up now and better open a beauty parlour instead— you'll do better there."

Izuku's spirits plummeted, and she gazed at the linoleum, feeling about two inches tall. "I... I didn't mean to..." She could've gone all One For All and given Katsuki a makeover with her fist, but no, she wasn't about that life.

"Oh, the irony! Deku, the quirkless wonder, now a walking, talking age-reversal potion. You're a regular Benjamin Button! How you gonna smash through the hero work looking like you belong in daycare? Tell me. Maybe you should ditch the hero gig and start a makeover empire—you'd kill it."

Inko, stepping in like a superhero, her voice a mix of momma bear and drill sergeant. "Katsuki, zip it. Izuku's got enough on her plate without your salt in the wound."

Izuku, feeling a bit awkward witnessing the exchange, cleared her throat. "Um, Auntie Mitsuki, can we eat now? I'm starving."

Mitsuki blinked, finally tearing her gaze away from Inko. "Right, sorry. Let's eat."

Mitsuki sighed, putting a hand on her son's shoulder. "Katsuki, cool it. Let's just sit down and have a meal without causing more drama."

Katsuki rolled his eyes but relented, muttering under his breath as he sat down at the table. Mitsuki shook her head, giving Inko an apologetic look. "Sorry, Inko. You know how he is."

Inko smiled weakly. "It's okay, Mitsuki. Let's just eat."

As they began to serve dinner, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Izuku, still feeling humiliated, picked at her food, trying to avoid Katsuki's piercing gaze.

Eri clutched her small, tattered bag tightly as she huddled in the back of the bus. She had snuck on without a ticket, her heart pounding with fear and excitement. The bus rumbled along the road toward the city of Mustafu, each bump and jolt a reminder of the uncertain journey she had embarked on. Her eyes, wide and filled with a mix of trepidation and determination, gazed out the window as the cityscape came into view.

When the bus finally stopped, Eri slipped out quietly, blending into the bustling crowd that filled the streets. The towering buildings and the sea of people were overwhelming, but she pushed through her fear, driven by a need she couldn't quite understand. She wandered aimlessly, her small frame dodging between hurried pedestrians, her eyes darting from one sight to another.

As she walked past a large shopping mall, something caught her eye. She stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. There, emerging from the mall, was a girl who looked strikingly similar to her, save for her green hair and eyes. The girl was talking with a woman who seemed to be her… older sister. Eri's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding with a mixture of hope and confusion.

'Is she my sister?' The thought echoed in her mind, bringing tears to her eyes. The connection she felt was inexplicable but powerful, pulling at her heartstrings. As the girl and the woman got into a car parked at the curb, Eri's instincts screamed at her to follow them.

Without hesitation, she started running, her small legs pumping as she weaved through the crowd. Her determination was fierce, her focus unwavering. She watched the car pull away, her eyes locked on it with a desperation that bordered on panic. She had to know. She had to find out if this girl was truly connected to her in the way her heart was telling her.

The car turned a corner, and Eri quickened her pace, her breath coming in short gasps. Her legs ached, and her feet were sore, but she didn't care. The possibility of finding family, of discovering a piece of her past, drove her forward. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she didn't stop, fueled by a mixture of hope and fear.

As the car slowed at a traffic light, Eri seized the moment, darting across the street and barely avoiding oncoming traffic. She followed the car through winding streets and narrow alleys, her resolve only growing stronger with each step. The city seemed to blur around her, her entire world narrowing down to the car and the green-haired girl inside.

Finally, the car pulled into a neighbourhood and stopped. Eri hid behind a nearby tree, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the girl and the woman step out and enter a residential area. She took a deep breath, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts and emotions. This was it. She had followed her instincts this far, and now she stood on the brink of discovering the truth.

She needs to watch them first, what if they turn out to be mean?

TBC