The Girl from the Future & The Encounter from the Past!

In the courtyard of U.A. High School, Izuku sat on one of the benches with a worried expression on his face as he slowly rubbed Eri's back. "Feeling better now?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, much better," Eri said, wiping her eyes. "Thank you for bringing me out here and sorry you had to see that. It's just seeing your counterpart die on the screen was really overwhelming for me... and with my counterpart being there, it felt too real."

"It's alright, I understand," Izuku said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I mean, even I am a little put off after seeing that, but I find it comforting that my counterpart was able to live a satisfied and fulfilling life, as well as having a warm family that loved her."

"Me too," Eri said, smiling. "I would have loved growing up with you as my older brother. Honestly, it felt like I did when I started living with you and Mom. But sometimes... sometimes I can't help but think how great it would have been to avoid all the things we went through as children."

Suddenly, Izuku tensed as Eri mentioned his childhood. "So you know about..."

"Your quirkless childhood, about One for All and its sentient nature, or how you purposefully wear those meme t-shirts to get a reaction out of people for shits and giggles," Eri asked, grinning mischievously at him.

"...Yes," Izuku replied after a long, hard pause, still staring at her. "I guess I did tell you everything, huh? Well, I would really appreciate it if you kept all of that a secret until inevitably one of those universes reveals it to everyone. Especially that last one."

"Don't worry, you can trust me with this," Eri reassured him. "Besides, it's honestly too hilarious when I wear my own meme tops, inspired by yours of course, and Mom blames you for ruining my taste in fashion."

"Hey, now that doesn't seem fair," Izuku pouted momentarily before they both shared a laugh.

Then Izuku's expression became serious as he asked, "How did you find out about One for All? When did I tell you about it?"

A strained smile appeared on Eri's face at Izuku's question. "You know, the thing is..." Suddenly, Eri halted mid-sentence, a perplexed expression crossing her face.

"That was strange," Izuku noted, observing Eri's sudden pause. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, but for some reason, the words just vanished from my mouth when I was trying to tell you about..." once again, Eri abruptly stopped mid-sentence. "It's strange, it seems like something is preventing me from telling you about..."

"It's alright, don't force it," Izuku reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure it's the work of the same entity that is showing us all these other universes. Maybe they don't want you to tell me something important that is going to happen or has a chance of happening in the future."

"Seems like it," Eri said. She gave another try to tell him about something but once again was unable to do so. "Well, I guess you will need to find out why you told me about One for All at your own pace."

"Okay, let's forget about it for now. I have another question for you," Izuku said, and Eri finally ceased her futile attempts to defy whatever restrictions were placed upon her by some unknown entity. "You know, I love that you've started calling my mom 'Mom'," he said with a gentle smile. "When did that happen?"

"Actually, I don't know or remember, to be honest," Eri replied with a pensive expression on her face. "It was like one of those things or habits that you pick up and don't realize when you did because it feels natural to do so, you know."

"Hmm... was it similar for us as well?" Izuku asked, while Eri raised her eyebrow questioningly. "It's just that..." he rubbed the back of his head. "...it feels like we became a lot closer to each other than I thought we would. It feels like we are more than a troubled girl who is getting help from a boy who saved her. It feels like we are..."

"Like real siblings," Eri finished his sentence with a gentle smile. "Yeah, it did happen over time when I started living with you, Mom, and Uncle Toshi."

"Uncle Toshi?" Izuku scratched his head, trying to recall why that name sounded familiar. "Wait... Toshi... Toshi... Toshinori!" Izuku's eyes widened as he snapped his head towards Eri. "You mean All Might lives with us!"

"Yeah, he's a fantastic storyteller, especially when it comes to his own adventures as the No. 1 Hero. And let me tell you, that man can cook," Eri confirmed with a grin.

"Hmm... Does that mean Mom and All Might... you know..." Izuku said awkwardly, fidgeting his fingers nervously.

"Are they romantically involved with each other?" Eri asked. Izuku nodded. "No, they're not," she replied, chuckling at Izuku's relieved sigh. "But they're great friends who bond over who can fuss more when you do stupid and reckless stuff," she added, grinning as Izuku scratched his cheek with an embarrassed chuckle. "On a serious note, both Mom and Uncle Toshi are great platonic partners for each other. With you busy with your job and me busy with college, they keep each other entertained with various hobbies. They're good for each other."

"Well, as long as they're happy, it's fine, I guess," Izuku said, followed by a momentary silence that lingered between them for a few minutes.

"Earlier, you asked me if our bond grew naturally, and to an extent, yes, it did. But," Eri said, breaking the silence, "if I'm being honest, there was an incident that solidified in my mind that you're a person I can call family, regardless of whether we're related by blood or not. An incident that made me think, 'Yes, I do have a big brother, and he is Izuku Midoriya!'"

"Do you want to share it?" Izuku asked, curious about what had solidified Eri's faith in him.

"Hmm... I guess I could," she said. "Well, it happened eight years ago, when I was 11. I still remember. It was a Sunday, and I had gone to the market to get some groceries when..."

*Flashback*

"With this, I'm done with the list!" little eleven-year-old Eri said cheerfully as she placed the bag of lettuce in her shopping bag. Then she thanked the shopkeeper and started walking back towards her house.

"Hehe, Mom said I can keep whatever change remains after shopping," Eri giggled to herself as she placed the spare coins in her own money pouch that resembled a rabbit. "This time, I'm going to buy something amazing for Izu for his birthday!" she muttered to herself.

Then, as Eri was happily skipping towards her house, someone suddenly called out to her, "Eri? Is that you!?"

Upon hearing her name, Eri turned around to see an older woman with long white hair looking at her with wide eyes. Beside her was an old, white-haired man wearing a kimono, who looked equally shocked and surprised.

"It's really her... she has grown so much," the old man said with a wistful sigh.

"Eri, come here and give your mother a hug," the white-haired woman crouched down and gestured for Eri to come to her.

However, instead of moving towards her, Eri suddenly froze on the spot as panic and fear gripped her heart. Who could blame her? Out of nowhere, a woman appeared and claimed to be her mother... the same mother who had abandoned her... left her with Overhaul who did all those terrible things to her.

"Eri, sweetie, don't you remember me? It's your mother," the woman repeated, her voice taking on a syrupy sweetness that made Eri's skin crawl. She held out her arms, but Eri took a step back, clutching her shopping bag tightly as if it could shield her from the unwelcome encounter.

The old man beside her looked at Eri with a mix of sorrow and pity. "Eri, we've missed you so much. We've been looking for you."

Eri shook her head, taking another step back. Memories of the painful experiments, the loneliness, and the fear flooded her mind. She could still feel the cold, clinical touch of Overhaul's hands, and hear his voice telling her how she was nothing but a curse.

The woman's smile faltered for a moment before she forced it back into place. "Sweetheart, come on, come to me, your mother. You're acting like a spoiled brat right now."

Eri's eyes filled with tears, a mixture of fear and anger welling up inside her. "Stay away from me," she shouted, despite her shaking voice. "You're not my mother!"

The woman's face hardened, the facade of kindness slipping away. "Eri, don't be like this. We're your family. You have to come with us."

Eri turned and ran, her small legs carrying her as fast as they could. She could hear the woman calling after her, but she didn't stop. She didn't look back. She didn't care about the shopping bag she dropped or the spare coins she had saved for Izuku's birthday present. All she knew was that she had to get away, she had to get to the one person she knew could keep her safe.

However, just as she rounded the corner, she collided with someone. Eri hurriedly looked up to apologize, but when she did, her entire being flooded with relief as she laid her eyes upon the familiar mess of green hair.

"Izu!" Eri cried out and clung to Izuku, wrapping her arms around his waist as if her life depended on it.

"Eri, what's wrong?" Izuku asked, concern etched on his face and in his voice as he gently stroked her hair.

Meanwhile, Eri clung to him harder, tears streaming down her cheeks. "They're back. She's back. They want to take me away."

Suddenly, Izuku's demeanor changed. His eyes hardened, and he shifted into his hero persona. "Eri, calm down and tell me what's going on," he said, using every technique he knew to calm a civilian. "Who is trying to take you away?"

Before Eri could answer, her mother and the old man appeared from around the corner.

"Eri! There you are!" Eri's mother narrowed her eyes at the little girl while panting a little. "Young lady, what do you think you're doing making us run like that!? And who is this? Stop clinging to him like that!"

Instead of replying, Eri continued to bury her head in Izuku's stomach, refusing to even look at the woman. Izuku, meanwhile, stood tall, placing a protective hand on Eri's head as he faced the woman and the old man. His eyes, usually warm and friendly, were now burning with fury.

"I'm Izuku Midoriya," he said in a firm and steady voice. "And I'm Eri's brother and one of her official guardians."

Eri's mother sneered, her earlier facade of sweetness completely gone. "Guardian? What right do you have to claim my daughter? We are her family."

Izuku's grip on Eri's shoulder tightened slightly in a silent reassurance. "Family doesn't abandon their children to monsters. Eri has been through enough. She's not going anywhere with you."

Seeing that the situation was heating up, the old man stepped forward, attempting to play the role of conciliator. "You are Pro Hero Deku, aren't you?" he asked calmly. "The boy who put Kai behind bars."

"Yes, I was part of the operation with Sir Nighteye, Lemillion, Ryukyu, and others," Izuku replied, narrowing his eyes. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"No, not at all," the old man shook his head. "To be honest, after what he did to me and little Eri over here, I don't think I have any right to defend that boy. It's only thanks to one of the visiting doctors from Brazil, who somehow managed to wake me up from my comatose state," he said, then did something that surprised both Izuku and Eri's mother. He bowed before Izuku. "Izuku Midoriya, thank you for saving Eri from Kai and correcting my mistake."

"Dad! What are you-" Eri's mother began, but was quickly cut off by her father's glare.

"Now don't be mistaken, Midoriya, what I said to you, my gratitude was from my heart. That said, young man..." the old man's eyes sharpened, "...you don't understand. We've been looking for her. We just want to take her home. Eri's own, rightful home."

"Home? Where exactly is that? With that woman who blamed her young daughter for a quirk accident and abandoned her?" Izuku stared at Eri's mother with disgusted eyes. "And you," Izuku turned his gaze towards the old man, "...instead of making your daughter understand the situation, you went along with her and handed Eri over to Overhaul! That psychopath! No! You don't deserve to call yourselves her family."

Eri's mother's face twisted in anger. "You have no idea what you're talking about," she yelled. "My husband died, and my own daughter killed him!" She didn't notice how Eri stiffened for a moment before starting to sob again, clutching Izuku's waist even harder. "I needed a break. I couldn't bear to see her in front of my eyes!"

"Oh really!?" Izuku sneered at her. "Let's consider your excuse for a moment. But then where were you all these years, huh? Don't tell me you didn't know what the hell was going on here in Japan," he said, trying to hold his emotions in check. "So why come back now? Why all of a sudden do you feel the need to be a mother to Eri again?"

Eri's mother seethed in rage, unable to form any reply. Instead, she just scoffed and said, "I don't owe you any answers or explanations. All I know is that Eri is my daughter, and I have every right to take her."

"Izu, please..." Eri's grip on Izuku's shirt tightened, "...please don't let them take me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Izuku looked down at Eri, his expression softening for a moment. "Eri, you are my sister," he said gently, stroking her hair. "You're not going anywhere. I promise."

He then turned back to the pair of father and daughter. "Eri stays with me. If you try to take her, you'll have to go through me," he said in a steeled voice.

"Are you sure you want to do that, young man?" the old man asked calmly, though his agitation towards Izuku's behavior was clearly evident in his eyes. "You're still young, and you have an excellent career and life ahead of you. Trust me when I say this, you don't want to do this."

"Are you really taking her side after what she did to her own blood, her own daughter?" Izuku asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"I know what she did was wrong... unforgivable even but..." the old man sighed heavily. "...at the end of the day, she is my daughter, and her happiness is my first priority. And I am ready to destroy anything and anyone who stands in the way of that," he said in a threatening tone.

"Trust me, sir, much better and stronger people than you have tried and if you try anything against Eri or the rest of my family, you'll get to join them in failure," Izuku said firmly, locking eyes with Eri's mother as if daring her to try anything against him.

Eri's mother's eyes flashed with fury, but before she could respond, the old man put a hand on her arm. "There's no point in arguing on the street like this," he said quietly. "We'll find another way. Perhaps challenge this legally. After all, the law will always lean heavily towards you, her real mother, compared to these outsiders."

"Fine, if you say so," Eri's mother scoffed as she glared at Izuku one last time before turning on her heel and walking away, the old man following closely behind.

Izuku watched them until they were out of sight, then knelt down to Eri's level. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay now," Eri nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Thank you, Izu."

"What are you thanking me for, silly?" Izuku chuckled and pulled her into a gentle hug. "You're safe, Eri. You're with your family. We won't let anything happen to you," he said, picking up the dropped shopping bag and Eri's money pouch. "Come on, let's go home. Mom is making Katsudon for dinner tonight, and we can get apple candies on the way if you want."

Eri's face immediately brightened up upon hearing about the apple candies, and she enthusiastically nodded at his words.

*Flashback End*

"Wow, I really said that..." Izuku asked with a stunned expression on his face.

"Yep, you did. And I still think you looked so damn cool at that time," Eri said, giggling to herself.

"But still, the nerve of those people to try and take you by force," Izuku frowned, glaring at the ground. "It must have been quite an experience, huh?"

"Yeah, it was," Eri nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. But then she smiled and tangled her hand with Izuku's. "But I managed to get through it with you and Mom with me."

"I'm glad you did," Izuku returned the smile. "So what happened after that? Did your mother try to challenge us legally for your custody?"

"Oh, she never got a chance," Eri said. "Within a week after that incident, we filed a restraining order against both my mother and her father. Meanwhile, you asked big sis Toru to find out why my mother just popped back into our lives out of nowhere, and it turned out that she received an offer from some European University that wanted to test my quirk," Eri said, staring at the ground while clutching her fist.

"Apparently, quirks that can affect time directly are quite rare, and my mother's friend who works there found out about me and told the university about me and my quirk," Eri continued with a frown. "The European University offered my mother some kind of deal that included money, a house, and whatnot for giving them permission to study my quirk."

"That bitch!" Izuku muttered, his anger evident in his voice before he realized it. He quickly turned towards Eri with an apologetic smile. "Sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Don't be," Eri shook her head. "Even though she birthed me, that woman can never be my mother... not like Mama Inko anyway."

"So your mother didn't try to challenge the restraining order?" Izuku asked.

"From what I heard, she wanted to, but her father convinced her not to," Eri explained. "Apparently, he wasn't the big-shot mob boss he used to be in the past. After you guys raided Overhaul's lair and saved me, the government seized all the assets of the Shie Hassaikai, and by the time he woke up from his coma, no one wanted to get involved with him, especially after learning that he was trying to go against you and the lawyers from the infamous legal department of Yaoyorozu Corporation. So in the end, he decided to cut his losses and sold his remaining personal assets before moving to a different country with his daughter."

"Well, I'm glad that the issue resolved itself before anyone got seriously hurt by this ordeal," Izuku said with a relieved sigh.

Then a silence lingered between them before Eri spoke again. "You know, this entire ordeal ended in under a week, but what I saw during that time finally melted away what little fear I had of being unwanted," she said with a smile. "I had a front-row seat during that entire week, watching how tirelessly you worked to keep my mother away from me. I saw firsthand how many people you reached out to for advice and consultation on the lawful actions we could take to prevent my mother from taking me away. I still remember how you assured me that you would do whatever it took to keep me safe, regardless of the cost or the favors you had to ask."

"And it's not just you, you know," Eri continued. "Even Mom, Uncle Toshi, Big Bro Mirio, and everyone close to you came forward to offer whatever help they could. Honestly, it was overwhelming for me to see so many people doing all of this for me," she said, dabbing her eyes.

Izuku didn't offer any reply. Instead, he just pulled Eri into a side hug, kissing her temple while Eri closed her eyes and leaned onto his shoulder.

After a moment passed, Izuku asked, "Shall we head back? Others must be waiting for us."

Eri nodded as she got up, and Izuku followed suit. Just as they were about to head back, Eri noticed a frown on Izuku's face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't know how I feel about you being taller than me," Izuku said, folding his arms.

Eri couldn't help but burst out laughing at his comment. "Now you know how I normally feel," she said with a grin.

"Wait! Does that mean I'm going to become taller in the future?" Izuku asked excitedly.

"Who knows?" Eri said with mock innocence. "Besides, I think I prefer you being tiny like this since I get to play big sister now," she said, ruffling his hair.

"Hey! Don't mess up my hair!" Izuku protested, chasing after Eri who ran forward, laughing with glee.

To be continued...