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Chapter Four
All Might's face told him everything, a face that spoke of anger. Good.
All For One raised her by holding her neck, he could feel her cervical vertebral discs cracking.
"Drop her!" All Might yelled.
"Just do what I said," All For One said calmly. "Or else," he kept the sentence unfinished.
The other heros were not making any move. It was All For One's turn to make the move.
Just when he was about to throw the woman in a random direction, he felt a chilling feeling behind him.
"Hoo," a childish voice, they said. "What do we have here? A new type of cursed spirit? Cursed energy user? Nah, you're just a punk who doesn't know his place."
All For One looked turned his head and at the boy, he was grinning like a maniac. The boy wasn't supposed to have a quirk, then how did he release such killing intent?
"Move away, young man!" All Might screamed, still breathing heavily, exhausted from his last attack. "He is a villain."
"A villain?" The boy's grin got wider. "Maybe I should show him a real hero!" The boy raised one of his hands and spoke in a clear, yet confident voice. "Cursed Technique: Red."
All For One found himself airborne, seemingly breaking through walls like a ball. The woman in his hand was long gone.
"There," Gojo said as he gently put the woman in All Might's hand. "Take her away, let me take care of this."
All Might didn't argue, he wasn't in his best right now. With a nod, he leaped away from the mall.
A crack split the air, a jagged tear in reality that deposited Satoru Gojo in the heart of a decaying city. Rubble crunched under his white boots as he surveyed the scene. It reeked of cursed energy, a potent cocktail swirling with a darkness he hadn't encountered before.
"So, you're the cause of all this," Gojo drawled, his voice laced with boredom despite the wrecked cityscape before him.
From the shadows emerged a tall figure, shrouded in a tattered cloak. All For One stepped forward, his yellow eyes gleaming with an unsettling hunger.
All For One chuckled, a dry rasping sound. "eager, I see. But underestimating your opponent is a costly mistake, especially against someone who can take all you have to offer."
Gojo's lips curved into a playful smirk. "Taking all I have to offer? Sounds like you know what you're getting into." He unleashed a surge of cursed energy, the air crackling around him. "Infinity is on."
The world shimmered. Gojo's technique, a hereditary ability that warped space around him, made him untouchable. All For One narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering across the distorted space.
"Interesting," he muttered. "A barrier of infinity, is it? But barriers can be broken."
All For One lunged, his hand outstretched. Gojo sidestepped effortlessly, the attack passing harmlessly through the warped space.
"Is that all you've got?" Gojo taunted. "Disappointing for a villain with such a grand reputation."
All For One ignored the barb. He circled Gojo, a predator stalking its prey. 'This Infinity... troublesome. But his defenses can't possibly be infinite.' A plan began to form in All For One's mind, a strategy to exploit the limits of Gojo's technique.
The battle had begun, a clash between two titans, each with their own brand of power and arrogance. Gojo, the sorcerer with limitless defense, and All For One, the villain who craved to take everything, locked in a deadly dance.
All For One shot forward, a blur of malice and raw power. He threw a punch, aiming not for Gojo himself, but for a stray piece of debris hovering near the sorcerer. Gojo, ever confident in his Infinity, didn't react. The debris shattered against the invisible barrier, disintegrating into dust.
'As expected,' All For One thought, a cruel smile spreading beneath his mask. 'The barrier can't protect everything within its domain.' He lunged again, this time hurling a larger chunk of concrete. Gojo, with a slight flick of his wrist, redirected the debris around himself, sending it hurtling back towards All For One. The villain sidestepped with surprising agility, the concrete exploding harmlessly behind him.
"You think you're so clever, hiding behind your little void," All For One sneered. "But it consumes cursed energy, doesn't it? How long can you maintain it before you run dry?"
Gojo's smirk faltered for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered. "Trying to wear me down, punk? Not a bad strategy, but one with a flaw." He snapped his fingers, and a series of translucent blue boxes materialized around All For One, effectively caging him within his own limited space.
"Huh," All For One grunted, surprised by the sudden confinement. "A prison technique? How quaint." He lashed out with a burst of dark energy, but it dissipated harmlessly against the cursed energy boxes.
"These boxes," Gojo explained, his voice laced with amusement, "they don't just block attacks. They also restrict cursed energy flow. Let's see how you fight without your little quirks."
A vein pulsed on All For One's temple. "You underestimate me, boy. I don't need quirks to overpower you." He surged forward, his body emitting a strange distortion. The cursed energy boxes creaked in protest as they strained to contain this new, raw power.
Gojo's eyes narrowed behind his blindfold. The Infinity boxes, usually unyielding, were warping under the pressure of All For One's unknown power. A flicker of concern crossed Gojo's face for the first time in the fight.
"This isn't good," he muttered to himself. He wasn't sure what All For One was doing, but it was clear the villain possessed a trump card Gojo hadn't anticipated. The very air crackled with a chaotic energy, threatening to tear through the carefully constructed boxes.
With a final surge of effort, All For One shattered the confines of the technique. The cursed energy boxes exploded outward, showering the debris-littered landscape in a rain of blue shrapnel. Gojo, caught off guard by the sudden release of pressure, stumbled back a few paces.
"Impressive," Gojo said, a grudging respect tinging his voice. "You're stronger than I expected."
All For One stood tall, his form crackling with an ominous energy. "Strength is a relative term, boy. You may have mastered space, but true power lies in mastering everything." He lunged at Gojo, his hand outstretched, fingertips glowing with a malevolent light. "Now, let's see how you handle a quirk I've been saving just for All Might. But I guess..."
Gojo raised his hand, ready to activate Infinity once more. But a sliver of doubt gnawed at him. What new quirk had All For One stolen? Was his Infinity strong enough to withstand it? The uncertainty, a rare sensation for the sorcerer, fueled his determination to end the fight quickly.
The air crackled with a chaotic energy, a surge of malice unlike anything Gojo had ever encountered. All For One, his form wreathed in a dark aura, embodied the very essence of cursed energy, twisted and amplified by his unknown quirk.
Gojo, for the first time in the battle, felt a sliver of genuine concern. He wasn't sure what he was facing, but the sheer power radiating from All For One sent shivers down his spine. His Infinity technique, usually unyielding, felt strangely… fragile.
With a battle cry that echoed through the ruined cityscape, All For One lunged. His hand, outstretched and crackling with ominous energy, was aimed not at Gojo himself, but at the very fabric of reality around him. Gojo instinctively activated Infinity, the familiar barrier snapping into existence.
But this time, it was different. The space around Gojo shimmered, warped under the strain of All For One's attack. The edges of the Infinity barrier crackled, threatening to shatter completely. Gojo gritted his teeth, pouring more cursed energy into the technique to maintain the fragile shield.
"This won't hold for long, boy!" boomed All For One, his voice distorted with dark energy. "This quirk… it's called Domain Overwriting! It breaks down any barrier and imposes my will on reality itself!"
Gojo's brow furrowed. Domain Overwriting? A quirk that could shatter his Infinity? This was unlike anything he'd faced before. He knew he couldn't stay on the defensive. He needed to go on the offensive, and fast.
With a surge of his own cursed energy, Gojo unleashed a powerful blast of Hollow Purple, a technique that reversed cursed energy flow and could potentially nullify All For One's attack. The opposing energies collided in a blinding flash of light, the very air screaming in protest.
The resulting explosion tore through the devastated city, leveling what few structures remained. The shockwave rippled outward, shattering windows in buildings miles away. Gojo, shielded by his Infinity barrier, felt the aftershock buffet him. He winced, momentarily disoriented.
When the dust settled, the battlefield resembled a crater. All For One stood amidst the rubble, his figure shrouded in smoke, his mask cracked but otherwise unharmed. Gojo stood opposite him, his white coat singed and tattered at the edges.
"An impressive counter," All For One rasped, his voice strained. "But not enough." He raised a hand, and the swirling smoke around him coalesced, revealing a pulsating sphere of dark energy. "This, boy, is your end."
Gojo narrowed his eyes behind his blindfold. He'd never seen a condensed form of cursed energy like that before. It pulsed with a malevolent power that threatened to overwhelm even his Infinity. 'This is bad,' he thought. 'Even with Infinity, I can't defend against something like that forever.'
He needed a new plan, and fast. His gaze darted around the battlefield, searching for an opening, any kind of advantage. His eyes landed on a shard of a fallen building, jutting out from the ground like a jagged spear. An idea, desperate but possible, flickered in his mind.
"You think you can overwhelm me with brute force?" Gojo taunted, his voice laced with a bravado he didn't quite feel. "Let's see how you handle a little misdirection!" With a surge of cursed energy, he propelled himself towards the shard of debris, maneuvering with his inhuman speed.
All For One, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tactics, hesitated for a moment. By the time he reacted, Gojo was already a blur, using the debris as a makeshift ramp to launch himself high into the air. The sphere of dark energy streaked past where Gojo had been a moment earlier, embedding itself deep within the ground and creating a miniature crater.
Gojo hung suspended in the air, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He raised a hand, palm facing All For One. 'Alright,' he thought, channeling his cursed energy. 'Here goes nothing.'
A crimson aura flared around his hand, condensing into a blazing red orb that crackled with an energy far exceeding anything All For One had witnessed thus far. This was Gojo's Cursed Technique Reversal: Red, a technique that reversed his Limitless ability and unleashed a devastating repulsive force.
"Red!" Gojo roared, hurling the orb towards All For One.
The villain's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't anticipated this sudden shift in tactics. The red orb streaked through the air, leaving a trail of scorched earth in its wake. All For One, realizing the immense power it contained, couldn't risk a direct confrontation.
With a snarl, he channeled his stolen quirk, Hyper Regeneration, accelerating his body's functions to their peak. He blurred out of the way just as the Red orb slammed into the spot where he had been standing.
The impact sent shockwaves radiating outward, the very ground splitting open like a spiderweb. All For One, thrown off balance by the sheer force of the attack, stumbled back. He glared at Gojo, a mixture of rage and begrudging respect flickering in his yellow eyes.
"An unexpected trick, child," he rasped, his voice laced with a hint of awe. "But it seems your little bluff is up. How many more of those attacks can you muster before your cursed energy runs dry?"
Gojo, a smirk playing on his lips despite the severity of the situation, landed back on the broken battlefield. "Enough to finish you," he declared, his voice ringing with renewed confidence. The air crackled with cursed energy once more, a silent promise of the fierce battle to come.
Gojo hung suspended in the air, a crimson aura erupting from his hand. It coalesced into a blazing red orb, a miniature sun crackling with the power of his cursed technique reversal, Red. This wasn't just any Red though. As he molded the energy, a second, far more subtle shift occurred. Deep within the inferno, a cerulean glow pulsed faintly – the manifestation of his other technique, Blue.
Gojo understood the risky nature of this gambit. Red, by design, repelled everything, a terrifying force that pushed matter and cursed energy alike to the farthest reaches. Blue, on the other hand, attracted everything, a technique used for sealing cursed spirits. Combining them was like trying to control a miniature supernova – immensely powerful, but dangerously volatile.
"This might just end us both," Gojo muttered to himself, the strain of focusing both techniques evident in his voice. Yet, the alternative – All For One realizing his full potential – was far worse.
With a battle cry that echoed through the ruined cityscape, Gojo launched the orb. It streaked towards All For One, a crimson meteor tinged with an unsettling azure luminescence. The villain's eyes widened in surprise. This wasn't the standard Red he'd anticipated.
All For One, ever reliant on his stolen quirks, activated Hyper Regeneration, pushing his body to superhuman speeds. He blurred sideways, narrowly avoiding the direct impact. But as he did, a strange sensation washed over him. An invisible pull, like a colossal hand reaching out from the heart of the red orb, tugged at him, trying to yank him back into its path.
The combined effect of Red's repulsion and Blue's attraction sent the orb on a bizarre, unpredictable trajectory. It curved sharply, chasing after All For One like a heat-seeking missile. The villain, thrown off balance by the unexpected pull, was forced to use all his agility to dodge the erratic orb.
Gojo, seizing this momentary advantage, descended from the sky with incredible speed. His hand, cloaked in a shroud of condensed blue energy, slammed into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, ripping fissures through the already-ruined concrete.
"Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void!" Gojo roared.
The space around him warped, distorting reality itself. Buildings crumbled inwards, their materials folding into a hidden dimension. All For One, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his surroundings, found himself trapped within Gojo's limitless domain, a world devoid of physical form, a sensory void.
"You're cornered," Gojo's voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere, laced with a hint of satisfaction. "Now, let's see how you handle a world with knowing everything but without doing anything."
All For One's roar echoed through the endless white expanse of Gojo's Unlimited Void domain. The villain, a formless entity adrift in the sensory void, writhed in defiance. His stolen quirks, the very foundation of his power, had withered and died within the domain's nullification field. Yet, a primal fear that had been dormant for centuries had been replaced by a chilling resolve.
Gojo's disembodied voice chuckled from the boundless white. "Empty barks from a cornered dog. Enjoy the silence, punl. It'll be the surest sign of your defeat."
But the amusement in Gojo's voice was tinged with a sliver of unease. The domain, a technique he relied upon to neutralize even the most potent of cursed spirits, was trembling under the strain of All For One's unexpected counter. A maelstrom of raw, chaotic energy, a darkness unlike anything Gojo had encountered before, churned within the void, threatening to tear a hole through the very fabric of his reality.
Gojo, ever the gambler, had taken a calculated risk. By using his cursed technique reversal, Red, infused with the attractive pull of Blue, he'd not only cornered All For One but also gambled on draining the villain's stolen quirks within the void's nullification field. It was a desperate maneuver, a last-ditch effort to end the fight before his own immense cursed energy reserves depleted.
The gamble, however, seemed to be backfiring spectacularly. All For One, stripped of his stolen power, had unearthed a wellspring of raw, primal energy that defied definition. It was a power that predated quirks themselves, a chaotic force that resonated with the very essence of destruction.
Sweat beaded on Gojo's forehead, a physical manifestation of his internal turmoil despite being incorporeal within his own domain. For the first time in the battle, a sliver of genuine fear pricked at his heart. Could his Infinity falter against such an unknown force? Could this be the end?
The answer came swiftly, and with a horrifying certainty. The chaotic energy within the void pulsed once, twice, and then with a deafening roar, ripped a jagged tear through Gojo's domain. The once pristine white space fractured, shards of reality peeling away like decaying wallpaper.
Gojo roared in defiance, pouring all his cursed energy into maintaining his collapsing technique. His voice, strained and raw, boomed through the fractured reality. "This isn't over, punk! I won't let you win!"
But the villain's laughter, a chilling cascade of dark amusement, echoed through the breaking world. "Foolish child! You cannot contain what you don't understand! This is the will of All For One, and it will consume everything!"
The tear in the domain widened, revealing a glimpse of the real world – the ruined cityscape bathed in the ominous glow of the impending chaos. Gojo, desperate to contain the breach, unleashed his signature technique – the Infinity barrier. But the barrier, usually unyielding, flickered and strained under the pressure of the chaotic energy.
In that split second, Gojo knew his Infinity alone wouldn't hold. He needed something more, something with the power to erase not just cursed energy, but the very concept of the attack itself. With a deep breath, he channeled his cursed energy, a torrent of swirling blue and red.
"Hollow Purple!" Gojo roared, unleashing his most potent technique.
A sphere of pure cursed energy, devoid of color and intent, materialized in his hand. It wasn't a violent attack, but a silent erasure, a technique that reversed the flow of cursed energy and annihilated it at its very core.
Gojo hurled the sphere of Hollow Purple at the tear in the domain, a desperate last act to prevent the chaotic energy from spilling out and consuming the world. The sphere, a beacon of hope in the midst of despair, hurtled towards the ever-widening breach.
The impact was silent, devoid of any flashy explosion. The sphere of Hollow Purple simply touched the chaotic energy, and then – silence. The chaotic energy, the darkness that threatened to engulf everything, simply ceased to exist. The tear in the domain flickered for a moment before snapping shut, leaving behind a pristine white expanse once more.
Gojo, panting heavily, deactivated his domain. The real world materialized around him, the ruined cityscape bathed in the soft glow of the dawn. He looked around, searching for any sign of All For One, any indication that the villain had survived the encounter with Hollow Purple.
But there was nothing. No trace of darkness, no lingering aura of malice. All For One, it seemed, had been utterly erased from existence. Gojo, for the first time in the fight, allowed himself to fall.
Before losing consciousness, a childish voice spoke.
"Who are you?"
"That's 19,000 Yen," said the barber, handing back some change.
"Keep it," Satoru said with a grin, flipping a coin into the tip jar.
"Thank you," the barber replied, bowing. "Hope to see you again!"
Satoru stepped outside and admired his new look in the mirror. He gave his reflection a cheeky kiss. "Look at you, Mr. Handsome," he chuckled, earning some funny stares from people walking by. "Don't fall too hard for me!"
His hair was now as white as snow, and his eyes, hidden behind blue contacts, sparkled like ice. Dressed in a royal purple sweatshirt and pants, he looked like he had just walked out of a storybook. The round glasses he wore were just for show, to keep his bright eyes a secret.
One might wonder how Satoru got the cash for his fancy new style.
Turns out, the Gojo family had a bank account nobody knew about. And guess what? The Midoriyas were actually related to the Gojos. A little snooping around, and Satoru found himself a nice little treasure.
Interesting.
"Would you stop being a total embarrassment!" Midoriya said from inside their mindscape.
"What?" Gojo pouted. "It's necessary for the mission, remember?"
"I understand that this disguise is necessary but acting like this is not!" Retorted Midoriya.
"Brat."
"Old man."
"You… how dare you! YOU DARE MOCK MY BEAUTY AND YOUTH! Take that back!"
"Umm…" a low voice interrupted their debate. "Are you okay, kero?"
"Huh?" Satoru looked to see a girl in green. Oh, a frog girl. That's new. She has that weird hairstyle too. Totally halloween material
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"I am absolutely fine, kid… eh… Frog-girl!" Satoru said with a grin. God, she needs a sunglass, that smile will make her blind. "I was just admiring the beauty in front of me."
"You are bold, aren't you?" She showed no sign of emotion.
"No, no, don't get the wrong idea. I was talking about myself."
"So you are a narcissist." She remarked.
"I just happened to be an admirer of beauty."
The Frog-Girl sighed and left.
"Gojo!" Midoriya's voice echoed through the mindscape.
"What now?" Gojo replied, his gaze never leaving the street.
"You can't just speak to her in that manner. It's disrespectful."
Satoru Gojo, unfazed, continued his stride, the gravel crunching beneath his feet. "And you're the expert?" he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips. "Come on, we have more pressing matters. Our 'mission'—what's your understanding of it?"
Midoriya hesitated, his mind racing. "The same as yours, I suppose."
"Humor me," Gojo insisted, his eyes twinkling with a challenge.
With a sigh, Midoriya relented. "The Nursery has set us a two-day deadline to locate our mother."
"Correct. But ponder the reason behind it."
Midoriya furrowed his brow. "To evaluate our stealth abilities and our aptitude for tracking, I presume."
"Spot on," Gojo acknowledged, his approval evident.
Yet, doubt clouded Midoriya's thoughts. "But doesn't this seem a tad too straightforward?"
"Does it?" Gojo's question hung in the air, almost rhetorical.
"Well, we could simply inquire around and—"
"Without raising suspicion," Gojo interjected sharply.
Midoriya paused, the realization dawning on him. "You mean to find her without alerting the Nursery?"
"Can you?" Gojo's voice was now a whisper, barely audible over the city's din.
"I… I can try, but it won't be easy."
"That's the point," Gojo stated, a knowing look in his eye. "The true test lies in the subtlety of our approach, the finesse of our execution. Remember, it's not just about finding her—it's about proving ourselves."
"Now what happens when a hero shows up?" Gojo asked.
"We… uh… surrender? Ask for an autograph?"
"No, dummy," Gojo sighed. "We fight back, show them what we can do."
Their conversation was interrupted by a booming voice that echoed through the streets. "Foul villain terrorizing innocent civilians! Fear not, for I, the hero Backdraft, am here to dispense justice!"
A burly man with a flame-retardant mask and a steam-powered backpack landed heavily in front of them. He glared at Satoru, his eyes narrowing at the teenager's flamboyant outfit. "Alright, punk, what's your game?"
Satoru, ever the showman, grinned. "Whoa there, hero. No need to get your circuits in a twist. We're… I am just… admiring the scenery."
"Scenery, huh?" Backdraft scoffed. "This isn't a tourist trap, kid. This is hero business. Now spill it. What are you planning? You were staring at that bank for fifteen minutes!"
Midoriya, ever cautious, nudged Satoru. "Maybe we should cooperate? Explain we're new to the city?"
Satoru, however, seemed to relish the situation. He winked at Midoriya. "Nah, where's the fun in that? Besides, a little test run never hurt anyone, right?" Before Midoriya could protest further, Satoru lunged towards Backdraft with surprising speed.
Backdraft, caught off guard by the teenager's sudden movement, activated his quirk. A blast of scorching steam erupted from his backpack, engulfing the area in a thick cloud. But Satoru, his white hair momentarily obscured by the vapor, seemed to anticipate the attack.
"Infinity!" Satoru muttered, a blue shimmer barely visible within the steam. Backdraft's attack harmlessly dissipated around him, leaving the hero bewildered.
"What the...?" Backdraft sputtered, his steam momentarily cutting out. He couldn't see anything through the dense cloud.
Satoru, using his limited visibility to his advantage, reappeared behind Backdraft in a blur. With a playful jab to the hero's pressure point, he rendered Backdraft unconscious. The burly man crumpled to the ground with a soft thud.
Midoriya, his mind reeling from the display of Satoru's power and unorthodox tactics, couldn't help but blurt out, "You knocked out a pro hero?!"
Satoru chuckled. "Relax, it was just a little pressure point thingy. He'll be fine in a few minutes. Besides, consider it a valuable lesson, kid. Sometimes, the best offense is a good defense... or a well-placed jab to the funny bone."
"That's not funny, Gojo!" Midoriya exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of exasperation and grudging respect. "We need to get out of here before someone else sees this!"
Satoru, with a mischievous glint in his eye, held up a finger. "Before we go, let's leave him a little parting gift." With a mischievous grin, Satoru rummaged through Backdraft's utility belt and retrieved a pair of bright pink, sequined handcuffs. He then proceeded to secure Backdraft's wrists with a flourish.
"There," Satoru said, clapping his hands together. "Now that's a sight to behold. Consider it a fashion statement, hero-style!"
Midoriya groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You're impossible, Gojo!"
Satoru approached the hospital reception with a practiced ease.
The receptionist, a woman with a tired smile and weary eyes, looked up from her computer screen. "Can I help you?" she inquired politely.
Satoru, with a practiced charm that even surprised Midoriya, leaned forward. "Good morning, ma'am. We're here to visit a patient. Inko Midoriya, room...?" His voice trailed off, feigning uncertainty.
The receptionist tapped away at her keyboard. "Ah, yes, Ms. Midoriya is in room 207, on the third floor. Family only, I'm afraid."
A pang of worry shot through Midoriya. Family only. They were technically here under false pretenses, two entities inhabiting one body. Satoru, however, seemed unfazed.
"Family, you say?" he chuckled, his voice dripping with a practiced sincerity. "Consider us distant relatives. We just heard the news and wanted to pay our respects."
The receptionist hesitated, her gaze flickering between them. Satoru, sensing her apprehension, flashed a winning smile that could disarm a villain. "We understand if we can't see her. Perhaps you could just tell her we were here?"
The woman's demeanor softened slightly. "Well, alright then. But please keep it short, there are other patients who need rest."
Relief washed over Midoriya. They were in. Satoru, with a quick thank you, steered them towards the elevators, his steps purposeful despite the turmoil within.
Reaching the third floor, they navigated the sterile corridors, a tense silence hanging between them. Midoriya, overwhelmed with a mix of emotions – fear, anticipation, and a sliver of hope – felt a cold sweat prickle his skin. He was about to meet his mother, the woman he barely knew.
Satoru, ever the pragmatist, nudged him telepathically. "Alright, here's the plan. I'll use my teleportation to get us inside the room, and my presence erasure to mask our auras. We have a limited window, so make the most of it."
Midoriya gulped, his voice a mere whisper in their mindscape. "Are you sure this is safe? What if someone senses us?"
"Relax, kid," Satoru replied, using his childhood nickname for comfort. "I've done this a hundred times. Trust me."
With a deep breath, Satoru focused his cursed energy. The world around them shimmered for a split second, and then they were standing inside room 207. The sterile scent of disinfectant filled their senses.
Midoriya's heart hammered against his ribs as his eyes fell upon the figure lying on the bed. Inko Midoriya, pale and gaunt, was hooked up to a web of machines, her chest rising and falling with a shallow rhythm. Her once vibrant green hair was dull and lifeless, splayed across the white pillow.
A wave of emotions – grief, anger, and a fierce protectiveness – threatened to overwhelm Midoriya. This frail woman, barely clinging to life, was his mother. The woman who had carried him, nurtured him, and sacrificed so much for him. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision.
Satoru, sensing his emotional turmoil, placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture of support. Midoriya, grateful for the grounding presence, took a step closer to the bed.
He reached out, his hand hovering hesitantly over his mother's pale one. The warmth of her skin, a stark contrast to the coolness of the sterile sheets, sent a jolt through him. It was the first time he had ever touched her.
"Mom," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "It's Satoru. I'm here."
Silence. The machines whirred rhythmically, a constant reminder of her precarious state. But as Midoriya spoke, a single tear rolled down Inko's cheek, tracing a glistening path down her pale face.
Was it a coincidence? A response to his voice, a flicker of recognition from the depths of her coma? Midoriya clung to that sliver of hope, his heart swelling with a fierce determination.
He wouldn't give up on her. He would find a way to save her, to bring her back to him. Together, he and Gojo would unravel the secrets of their past, of the experiment that had brought them together, and find a way to heal not just his mother, but the fractured world they now inhabited.
In that sterile hospital room, bathed in the pale glow of medical equipment, Satoru and Midoriya stood vigil beside Inko's comatose form. The silence was broken only by the rhythmic hum of the machines and the quiet sniffles escaping Midoriya's nose.
Gojo, ever the stoic observer, watched Midoriya with a mix of curiosity and concern. He understood the depth of Midoriya's emotions, the yearning for a mother he barely knew, the fear of losing her forever. It was a primal human bond, something even he, hardened by years of Jujutsu battles, could recognize.
"She's beautiful," Gojo whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Gojo's gaze flickered to Inko's face. He saw a woman with gentle features, a hint of Midoriya's signature green hair peeking out from under the white hospital cap. There was a peaceful serenity in her slumber, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Midoriya.
"She has your face, you know," Satoru said softly, hoping to offer some comfort.
Midoriya looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Really?"
"Yeah," Satoru confirmed. "The same big, doe-eyed look. You must have gotten them from her."
A shaky smile tugged at the corner of Midoriya's lips. "Thanks, Gojo. I guess that makes sense."
Their moment of connection was shattered by a sudden beeping from one of the machines. The rhythmic pulse quickened, turning into a rapid, erratic pattern. Midoriya's heart lurched.
"What's happening?" he cried, his voice tinged with panic.
Satoru, his gaze fixed on the monitor, reacted instinctively. He surged forward, his blue cursed energy flaring around his hand. "Infinity!" he muttered, a barrier snapping into existence just as the machine let out a loud alarm.
A surge of electrical current crackled from the malfunctioning equipment, arcing towards Inko's bed. Satoru's barrier, invisible to the naked eye, deflected the current harmlessly.
The sudden burst of cursed energy triggered the presence erasure technique, making them invisible to any potential witnesses who might have been alerted by the alarm. But the incident had disrupted the peaceful vigil.
A flurry of nurses rushed into the room, their faces etched with concern. Satoru deactivated his technique as they swarmed around Inko, checking her vitals and resetting the faulty equipment.
Midoriya, shaken from the near tragedy, remained by the bed, his eyes glued to his mother's face. The nurses, oblivious to their presence, worked with practiced efficiency.
"Looks like a power surge," one nurse mumbled, her voice barely audible. "We should run a full diagnostic just to be safe."
"I agree," another nurse replied, her gaze flickering to the now-functioning monitor. "Let's get Dr. Hayashi in here too."
As the nurses bustled around them, Gojo and Midoriya exchanged a silent look. They couldn't stay much longer. The risk of discovery was too great.
"They lied!" Midoriya yelled in the mindscape. "They lied! They told us she was sick, but she is dying!"
"Calm down, boy." Gojo said. "Anger will get you nowhere."
With a mental nudge, Gojo communicated their departure plan. Midoriya understood. They had to leave before the doctor arrived.
One last time, Satoru leaned down and whispered in his mother's ear, his voice laced with a promise. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll find a way to bring you back."
Then, with a final flicker of Satoru's cursed energy, they vanished from the sterile room, leaving no trace of their presence behind.
Outside the hospital, under the cloak of a starlit night, they materialized on a rooftop overlooking the cityscape. The cool night air whipped around them, a stark contrast to the sterile warmth of the hospital.
"We need to find a way to heal her," Midoriya said, his voice trembling with determination. "But how?"
Gojo, his gaze fixed on the glittering cityscape, remained silent for a moment. "There are possibilities," he finally said, his voice thoughtful. "But they'll be risky. We'll need to tread carefully."
"I don't care how risky it is," Midoriya declared, his voice firm. "I won't lose her. Not again."
Gojo nodded, a flicker of respect igniting in his eyes. "Then let's start planning, kid. We'll find a way to save your mother, even if it means turning the world upside down."
Satoru's boots hit the ground with a soft thud as he emerged into the dimly lit alley, his heart racing from the thrill of the jump. He straightened his jacket and stepped forward, the shadows of the narrow space dancing around him. The city's hum was a distant murmur, but it was a voice that caught his attention—a voice that made him freeze in his tracks.
"Young Midoriya," called a deep, familiar tone, echoing off the walls.
Satoru whirled around, his muscles tensing, ready for anything. His eyes searched the darkness until they landed on a towering figure stepping out of the shadows.
"All Might?!" he gasped, disbelief etching his features. It was as if Midoriya himself had taken the reins, his presence felt in Satoru's wide-eyed stare.
The hero approached, his cape billowing behind him like a flag of hope. "I've been on your trail for years," All Might declared, his voice a mix of relief and determination. "Every lead, every snippet of news that hinted at your whereabouts—I followed them all."
Satoru's voice wavered, betraying his inner turmoil. "Why? Are you here to... to take me in?" The thought of confronting his idol sent shivers down his spine.
All Might's chuckle was warm, dispelling the chill in the air. "No, my boy, not at all," he reassured, his smile as bright as the sun breaking through clouds. "After that fateful day, I made sure your mother received the care she needed. But you, Satoru, you vanished like a whisper in the wind. Rumors reached me that you were hidden away, your powers locked up lest they turn against us."
Satoru's stance softened, his curiosity piqued. "But why search for me?" he inquired, the edge of his fear now dulled.
The hero's grin never wavered as he replied, "It was the look in your eyes, lad. A look of pure justice, the spirit of a true hero. It's a look I chase every dawn when I face my reflection, yet it's a fleeting thing, hard to hold onto. But you, you had it in spades—unfiltered, raw, alongside a power that was nothing short of astonishing..."
All Might's gaze drifted skyward, lost in a moment of reverence.
"My own mentor wore that smile, and it was no facade," he continued, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "That genuine smile, it stirred something deep within me. And so, I've scoured the world for you."
"To be a hero?" Satoru's voice was now a whisper of hope, a dream on the cusp of reality.
"Absolutely, young man," All Might beamed, his grin stretching even wider. "You see, in my eyes, you've always been a hero. I believe UA High School is where you belong."
Satoru's brow furrowed. "But the Nursery..."
"I know all about it," All Might interjected, his tone firm yet encouraging. "That's precisely why you must enter UA under a guise. I have every confidence you'll triumph in the entrance exam. Declare 'I am here!' at the Sports Festival, and once you've made a name for yourself, the Nursery will be powerless to touch you."
Satoru nodded, a light of understanding igniting in his eyes. "I see..."
"And it doesn't end there," All Might pressed on. "A pro hero will take you under their wing for an internship. Then comes the provisional license test."
"Once you've conquered these challenges," All Might concluded, "the Nursery's grip will loosen, and you'll be free."
Satoru's lips curved into a determined smile. "I believe you're right..."
Inside the mindscape, Gojo grinned.
"Well," he said. "I guess it can't be helped, but… it's nothing we can't do," an image of a smiling child popped in his mind. "Believe it!"
TBC