Izuku found himself surrounded by a bunch of All Might merchandise. "All Might! More All Might! And even more All Might!" He was a little kid, letting out an excited shout. "He's everywhere I look! Yay!" Izuka opened the door, also the same age as him. She giggled, opening up her palms and revealing stars from her hands. "I'm so glad that you showed everyone your Quirk, big sister!"
"I've heard your wish, future hero, and now it's coming true!" A familiar voice boomed, causing Izuku to get excited. "Because I am here!"
The twins turned around to see All Might himself in the bedroom. "It's the real All Might! Best day ever!" He hopped up and down from the last three words.
All Might placed the two on his shoulders, pointing up ahead. "Let's start hero-ing, Young Midoriyas. No. Deku and Callista! Together, we will save the world!"
"Yeah!" Izuku cheered happily at the idea.
Meanwhile, Izuka found herself in preschool...the day that people were showing off their Quirks. She glanced around in confusion before her class and brother surrounded her. "Midoriya, your Quirk is so cool!" A little girl gushed at her.
"Yeah!" Izuku shouted happily at the girl, who looked at her sparkling hands. Katsuki gave her a small smirk as he looked impressed. Izuka glanced around at all the kids and then beamed happily at them. She realized that she was letting people know her Quirk without having to hurt Izuku in the process.
"I'll become a strong hero!" She laughed, waving her hands in the air. The whole class of kids cheered while waving their arms.
"I've heard you've got your Quirk, little one!" Izuka turned around to see All Might approaching, causing the kids to cheer again.
"This is so cool!" Izuku jumped up and down happily.
"Stop," Yoichi suddenly spoke up from behind both of the twins, causing them to freeze. "What you're seeing is not reality. Don't forget yourselves."
The twins reappeared in Izuku's room side by side, wearing their hero costumes. Everything around them started to disappear, turning into a neighborhood around them. "Huh? Where are we?"
"What is this?" Izuka murmured in confusion, not too surprised to see Izuku next to her.
They looked up ahead to see Nana Shimura smiling at them. "You're dreaming. Stuck in some sort of twisted fantasy realm," She informed as...up ahead were their classmates still living out their dreams. En, Bruce, and Kudo had joined them as well.
"These are the spirits of those who are currently being affected by the villain's Quirk," En explained as they continued to stare. Daigoro, Hikage, and Toshinori's vessel were with them too.
"Even if you try to wake up, you won't be able to escape," Daigoro told the two, all of the previous users surrounding the duo.
"You must find another way out," Yoichi stated...and then they disappeared into thin air.
"Another way out? Okay, how?" Izuku wondered as Izuka stared at everyone.
"I think it's safe to say that we can't force ourselves out with our Quirks. That woman seems pretty powerful just like Dark Might was," She pointed out, though had no idea how that was even possible...
Izuku glanced over his shoulder, seeing a mansion in the distance. Although it was far...he could see two people faintly. One of them looked familiar with the red hair... "Is that...?" He murmured, getting Izuka's attention. She turned around to see Giulio, causing her to lightly gasp.
He poured out a cup of tea for Anna. "Giulio. Sit down and join me," She offered cheerfully with a smile. "Have a cup."
"Me? No," He placed down the pot...having all of his limbs intact instead of having his right arm a robotic one. No eyepatch either on him. "That wouldn't be proper, Ms," He then gave her the cup of tea.
"Why are you so mean to me?" She scoffed with a big pout, looking back at him. She then let out a small chuckle, and he returned it. The twins blinked up at him, realizing that Giulio was in a dream-like state as well. But unlike them, he couldn't break out of it. The two then gasped as Anna dropped her cup, and it shattered on the table. She started to shake uncontrollably for some reason.
"I-I'm right here!" Giulio stammered in alarm, the flowers appearing around her. The man placed a hand on her right shoulder, a glow coming from his right arm. He then put all of his energy into it...until the petals disappeared, leaving Anna still. Giulio stepped back afterwards, kneeling behind the chair and panting.
"Giulio..." She frowned sadly towards him. "I'm sorry. My Quirk brings torment. I hate that you suffer. You can't even leave the mansion," She turned away from him.
The red-haired man let out a deep breath, looking up at her. "I don't mind. I know my duty, and I'm happy to do it," He confessed to Anna without regrets.
"You can take my power away," She stated as he got onto his feet. "Make me feel like a normal person. I owe so much to you, but...I fear...I don't know what I would do without you."
"I'll always be here," Giulio reassured the woman, his hands clasped together.
She slowly looked up at him. "You mean it?"
He simply gave a smile in return. "Of course, Ms. It's my job to serve you," He reached out to start cleaning up. She faltered as she looked away, her face seeming to be disappointment...
So. That's what this is about, The woman with the daydream power thought with an amused smile. Your motivations are quite admirable. But...I suspect you could become a problem She waved an arm towards a man, who stepped forward. His arms moved around, stretching out in front of him.
In the dream world, Giulio was caught off guard when Anna gripped his neck, trying to choke him. "Ms. Anna. Stop this. Why are you..." He grunted out, a look of evil in the woman's eyes...
The twins ran up to the mansion, seeing what was happening. "Giulio!" The two shouted up at him.
"This is a fantasy! It isn't real! Come on, you have to snap out of it!" Izuku yelled up at their friend.
"What are you...saying?" He groaned out, trying to stop Anna in front of him.
"He's right! Think about it, you have your arm back!" Izuka looked up at the man, who stared at his intact hand...realizing that they were telling the truth.
"I still have my right arm?" He then blinked, knowing now that this wasn't his life anymore. "Yes, I see." The twins are right His eyepatch lifted up, revealing that even his right eye was robotic. It moved around and in his dream, he moved his right arm. "This is all because...of you!" He managed to fire his bullet at the woman's arm, causing her to fall to the ground. Once her Quirk was turned off, everything went back to normal. The man trying to choke Giulio woke up and yelped, immediately moving away. Giulio was left coughing while trying to get his breath back.
The woman groaned while glaring towards him. "You pest...How did you escape me? It shouldn't be possible."
Anna stepped up, since she was now free of her brainwashing. "Giulio...?" She murmured in recognition, the other people who were unconscious starting to wake up.
"Hello, Ms. Anna," Giulio greeted her politely and she gasped happily.
"It's really you!" She ran down the stairs, only for him to point his gun at her. She flinched and came to a stop.
"Put that away!" Izuku glared towards the man.
"Stop it, she's not listening to them anymore!" Izuka ran to stand in front of Anna and Giulio, holding out her arms.
Anna looked at the rifle, letting out a small gasp. She could tell in his eyes...that he was doing this for a reason.
"Promise me, Giulio," Anna pleaded with him tearfully. "If anything bad happens...before I lose control of myself...please kill me!"
With that in mind, she closed her eyes to accept her fate. Giulio gritted his teeth...and then fired, but Izuka made no effort to move. "No, don't!" Anna pleaded to not kill Izuka, squeezing her eyes shut. However...she didn't hear any shouts from anyone else. She looked up...to see that Izuku had stepped in, moving up the rifle in the sky to prevent Izuka from getting shot.
Giulio turned towards Izuku first. "Step aside, and Callista, get out of my way," He demanded, gritting his teeth furiously. "LET GO AND MOVE!"
"I won't stand here and watch you shoot her or my sister. Do you understand me?!" Izuku glared up at the man.
"I will absolutely not move! Not if you still plan on going through with this!" Izuka narrowed her eyes at Giulio. After all that had happened ever since encountering Dark Might...she still couldn't believe that he was ready to kill Anna without prompt. Especially since Anna herself didn't show any ill will of her own volition.
Anna let out a scream, causing them to look up. She and the black-haired woman were being lifted up into the sky towards a balcony. They recognized the man as Dark Might's butler, causing the three to gasp sharply. Giulio pushed past both twins, dropping a glass-framed photo of Anna. Izuka yelped as she fell backwards onto the stairs. He ran up the stairs, moving up his pistol to fire. However, Anna and the woman disappeared as the shots hit the balcony and the area surrounding it. And then they were gone, the entire structure disappearing into thin air. Giulio stopped firing once the balcony disappeared. Everyone stopped to stare at the man, his fist clenching tightly.
Izuka sat up, staring at him while panting. Izuku faltered and then reached out his hand. "We'll find a way-"
"Damn it!" Giulio shouted, running over and grabbing Izuku by the collar. "Why would you interfere?! You're no hero. You're a nuisance!"
"HEY!" Izuka yelled, running over to grab at his hands. Ochaco and the other classmates were starting to wake up.
"You two meddle around in other people's problems when you have no idea what's going on. Fools!" Giulio gritted his teeth at the twins. "This may have been my last chance to stop Ms. Anna!"
"We couldn't let you hurt her," Izuku defended with a frown. "Because when you aimed your gun, it looked like you were in agony!" Giulio gasped at him deducing it, dropping his angry expression. "From what I can tell, deep down, what you really want is to help her, not kill her!"
"Are you really that invested into killing her when you react like that? There are other ways to help someone other than resorting to murder!" Izuka spoke up furiously at the man.
"Obviously!" Giulio pushed the two away from him, confusing the two. "The only reason I'm here is to help her!" He then let out a small sob, hanging his head. "But it's too late now...killing her is the only option I have."
"I don't get why you'd have to do something so drastic!" Izuku spoke up and Izuka nodded in agreement.
"Because she told me it's what she wants," He informed the twins and the girl froze, her eyes shaking. "Ms. Anna's Quirk is Overmodification. It's a power that's constantly activated. When she touches someone, she transforms their Quirk Factor." And that was why flowers were usually around when someone got into physical contact with her. "It allows that person to temporarily enhance or alter their power. They get a boost. However, if she touches someone who's incompatible with her ability, pain shoots through their body instead." Izuka blinked, looking at her brother and realizing that was why he fell while trying to save Anna earlier. "She never said it, but I think she was afraid of human contact her whole life...the first time I met her, she was confined to her room."
Someone opened up the door to Anna's room, her back turned to the door.
"Secluded and alone, like a princess in some fairytale."
Anna looked out the window with a blank face.
"She showed no emotion. Never smiled. Never cried."
Anna gasped sharply, kneeling a little in pain. Her father turned to Giulio with a small frown.
"The bigger problem is that if she doesn't release a certain amount of her Quirk...it turns against her body."
Giulio ran over to the little girl, bending down in front of her. She was sweating like crazy as he reached out to her.
"She's racked with painful seizures."
Anna saw him and immediately turned away, not wanting to hurt him. He just gave a small smile and reached out again.
"That's why I was hired. To help her."
Her hair started to turn black as he touched her shoulder, his right hand glowing blue.
"My Quirk is Neutralization. When I touch someone with my right hand, I can nullify their Quirk. I was able to take away her pain."
He moved his hand away once she was back to normal, causing her to look up in shock. He was panting, but then smiled as if it didn't bother him.
Anna ran out to the balcony table, the water next to them. "Come on. You're walking so slowly!" She called out and sat down with a happy hum. Giulio walked over with a tea tray ready for the both of them to enjoy.
"Anna can finally live something close to a normal life," Mr. Scervino stated to Giulio after watching them. "I'm thrilled. This wouldn't have been possible without your aid. We're all so grateful to you."
"Think nothing of it," Giulio smiled towards his right hand. "I should really be thanking you for taking in a lost soul with no family of his own. You gave my life purpose," He bowed gratefully to the man in front of him.
"But Giulio, this job means you're confined to our mansion and can't leave Anna's side," Mr. Scervino pointed out; because of Anna's Quirk, she could never go outside and interact with others. It was for the safety of everyone else...
"My current life is far better than the one I previously led," Giulio stated, not too bothered by his new life. "I'm well fed, and my compensation is more than adequate. I can't imagine complaining about these circumstances."
Mr. Scervino let out a small sigh, turning in his chair. "Every year that passes, Anna's Quirk grows stronger. There may come a day when you can't subdue her power with your own."
"I'll help her," Giulio declared with a glare. "Even if it costs me my life."
Later that night, Anna was enduring another seizure. Giulio was gripping her hand gently, using his Neutralization. She breathed slowly as it took a bit compared to other times for her power to calm down. She then weakly opened her eyes. "Please. Swear to me. If I'm...if I ever lose control of my power and you can't stop me..." Giulio faltered as she had tears in her eyes. "I want you...I want you to take my life," She looked at him pleadingly.
He gasped sharply from the request. "Ms. Anna, no," He couldn't imagine doing that to her...
"It's getting worse. My mind gets hazy every time I have a seizure. I'm scared," She admitted in terror, not wanting to hurt others with her power...especially her father or Giulio. "If I lose control of my Quirk, I won't be the person I am now." His breath escaped him as he stared at the girl in bed. "Promise me, Giulio," More tears appeared in her eyes. "If anything bad happens...before I lose control of myself...please kill me!"
His eyes shook at her, unable to say anything...
And then the Scervino house was on fire.
"Before that could happen, the Gollini Family somehow found out about Ms. Anna's ability."
Most of the other servants were lying on the ground, surrounded by fire...
"They attacked the mansion...and killed Mr. Scervino."
Mr. Scervino was lying on the ground, blood coming from his chest and mouth... "GIULIO!" Anna cried out while being carried over her shoulder. "Don't let them take me!" She cried out in fear of what they would do to her.
"Be strong, Ms. Anna," Giulio was trapped underneath the rubble, particularly the right side of his entire body. "I swear I'll find you!" The fire continued to rage, falling in front of Giulio as that was the last time he would see the mansion again...
"They took her. Used her. And so I'm here...to fulfill my promise," Giulio finished, the twins continuing to stare at him. Izuka's eyes softened from the story. She couldn't imagine what either of them had gone through...
"But why kill Anna when there's a possibility you can save her? Your Quirk-"
"Have you looked at me?!" Giulio interrupted Izuku, showing his robotic right arm...and his hand was the same. The twins gasped in realization. "I can't use my power anymore. I couldn't save her if I tried to," He fell towards the staircase in defeat.
"We're sorry," Izuku murmured sadly for him.
"When she does lose control of her power, the Quirk she's modifying will transform infinitely, and the person she's enhancing will become...unstoppable," Giulio looked towards the photo of Anna that he had dropped. "I won't let that happen..."
"Giulio..." Izuka whispered while clenching her fist in front of her heart.
"...Just now, when you and the two of us were both stuck inside that villain's illusion. We watched as you and Anna smiled at each other," Izuku pointed out to the man. "You looked at her with care and kindness. I don't think you have it in you to go through with your plan."
"Even if you could...would you really be okay with being known as a murderer?" Izuka implored to Giulio, causing him to glance up at her. "You'd be willing to live with that for the rest of your life, even if she asked you to?"
"I haven't smiled since that awful day...I don't remember how to," He explained, feeling hopeless...
"Then we'll make you remember, Giulio," Izuku ran up to him. "My sister and I will save Anna and make sure both of you can smile again!"
Giulio growled while gripping him by the collar again. "How are you going to do that?! We don't have time for hypotheticals," He pushed the boy away again. "If she loses control, we're done! The whole world could be destroyed! We don't have any choice but to end her life!" His lip quivered and then he bowed his head. "Weren't you listening? This is what she wanted."
Ochaco slowly stepped up to the photo on the ground, picking it up. The twins watched as she frowned, holding it out. "But now she has us to help too."
Giulio didn't respond as Tenya stepped up, taking off his helmet. "I may not know the particulars of what's happening to her, but I absolutely believe we should find another way to aid Anna in her struggle."
Kyoka looked up while helping someone. "It sounds like her power hasn't been dialed up to eleven yet."
"There must be more than one way to keep her ability in check," Momo smiled while making supplies.
"We have a lot of experience with temporary Quirk erasure," Tsuyu looked over to them.
"You're not the only solution to the problem," Hanta gave a casual shrug after fixing someone's arm.
Giulio gasped from what they were saying, faltering.
"First things first. We save the babe," Minoru smiled, hands on his hips.
"We'll figure the rest out after she's back," Denki had a small smile on his face.
"Totally!" Toru agreed with the both of them.
"Even if the chances seem slim to you now..." Shoto started off, surrounded by a group of people.
"It's too early to give up on her," Mezo finished for the red/white haired boy.
"And I agree with my classmates," Mashirao smiled as he sat up from the staircase.
Ochaco smiled while holding out the photo, Giulio surprised at their determination. He reached out with his hands to take it, not saying a word.
"If you lend us a hand, we can save Anna together," Izuku offered the man in front of him.
"We just have to go Plus Ultra, right?" Izuka smiled, clenching her fists in determination.
He looked up, believing their words and looking up in silent agreement. He then turned to Izuka specifically. "You...have someone you care for a lot too, huh? I could tell by what you said. So what would you do if you were me?"
"Uh?" She blinked from the sudden question, humming with a small smile. "Well...obviously, I'd do everything I could to save him. I wouldn't be able to go through with killing him even if he did ask, which...I don't think he would. He'd want me to fight to ensure survival. Uh," Izuka flinched as she hadn't seen Katsuki for hours. "Speaking of, where-"
A wall was blasted open from the inside, alarming everyone. "What are ya standing around for?" Katsuki stepped out into the open with the others. "We've got a fake All Might to explode," He glared and then tossed something to the ground, causing it to break. He turned to the side, finally seeing Izuka after it had been hours of fighting and searching. "Izuka!"
"Katsu!" She beamed to see him, running up to the boy and giving him a big hug. He flinched, but closed his eyes, wrapping an arm around her waist casually. Feeling her warmth definitely was helping him, even if he wouldn't say it.
"They said you were dead..." He murmured in relief, his other arm pushing her head close. Of course, he didn't believe it, he was just glad that she was okay. Granted, she had that bruise on her jaw...he examined it for himself, gritting his teeth. "Should've killed him when I had the chance."
"Dead?!" She recoiled back to look up at him, grunting in annoyance. "Tell me who, and I'll kick their ass into another galaxy!"
Katsuki blinked and then chuckled in amusement. "I wouldn't worry about that, kitten. I handled it my own way."
"More like with torture," Fumikage corrected, causing Izuka to laugh sheepishly. She should've known Katsuki would resort to that...
"I can't take you anywhere, can I...?" Izuka murmured at Katsuki in disbelief, who flinched in defense.
"You're the one who left! Don't do that again!" He warned angrily, causing her to blink. She then gave a small knowing smile, as she knew he meant to not scare him like that again. Their other classmates smiled at them as well.