Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku Shimura, aged 14, POV:

I jumped onto the roof, my eyes catching sight of a kid, maybe eleven years old, sitting dangerously close to the edge. His small frame was slumped, and his vacant stare looked like it was fixed on nothing. I walked silently toward him, my footsteps muffled on the rooftop surface. Kneeling beside him, I gently tried to get his attention.

"Hey, bud, can you hear me?" I asked softly. No response.

A pair of red shoes sat neatly beside him. Quirkless, I realized, piecing together his story without him needing to say a word.

Carefully, I scooped him up and moved him ten feet away from the edge before setting him down again. I knelt to his level, my voice calm but firm. "Hey, kid, will you talk to me, please?"

"Why?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "I'm just a waste of space. My parents tell me that all the time."

My heart twisted at his words. "No," I said firmly, making sure he heard me. "You are not a waste of space."

"I'm quirkless," he whispered, tears brimming in his dull eyes. "I'm useless."

"No, you’re not," I insisted. My tone left no room for argument. "Wait here for a second."

I walked back to where his red shoes were left, picking them up carefully. Returning to him, I knelt again and placed the shoes in front of him. "Here, let’s get these on." I slipped the shoes onto his feet, gently but efficiently, and rested a hand on his shoulder.

With a deep breath, I teleported us to the med bay in the Red Star Village, the heart of the quirkless community. "IYASHINO! IYASHINO!" I called out, my voice echoing through the sterile halls.

Iyashino Megami appeared within seconds, her eyes narrowing the moment she saw me. "Shimura, I swear, if this kid has more than a few broken bones, I will bury you alive."

"Hey, I teleported this time!" I shot back indignantly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Any injuries aren’t my fault. Ow!" Her palm struck the back of my head with practiced precision.

Ignoring me, she knelt in front of the boy with a kind, gentle expression. "Hey, kid, it’s okay. I’m going to help you, alright?"

The boy blinked slowly, his gaze finally sharpening as he focused on her. "W-who are you?" he stammered.

"Iyashino Megami," she answered warmly. "You can call me Meg."

"Miss Meg," he mumbled, his voice trembling, "where am I?"

"You’re in the quirkless community, Red Star Village," I answered, stepping into his line of sight. His eyes widened slightly at the sound of my voice.

"You’re the one who pulled me away from the edge," he said quietly.

"You were trying to kill yourself," I replied, my voice softening. "I did what was necessary to make sure you’d still be here come morning."

Megami gave me a look but didn’t comment as she began to heal him. After a few minutes, the boy sat straighter, his fear and pain visibly easing. She gave him a warm smile.

"What’s your name, kid?" she asked.

"Lotus Camtap," he said hesitantly. "I go to ****** school. Only two people who have quirks are nice to us quirkless kids—Shinsou and Kaminari."

I nodded, filing away the information. Megami glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. "Izuku, when you go back out on patrol, contact Nedzu and let him know about this."

"Got it," I replied. "The rat satan is going to love hearing about this."

As soon as the call with Nedzu ended, I sighed and put my phone away. "Yes, Nedzu, I will provide you with any other information," I muttered, mocking his overly formal tone. The sound of faint footsteps alerted me to someone approaching.

I turned, smirking faintly. "Hallo, Vater, du hast mich adoptiert," I teased, trying to lighten the moment with a joke in German.

Eraserhead’s brows furrowed in confusion. "What does that even mean?" he asked, his tone flat as he stood a few feet away, arms crossed.

I flashed a cheeky grin.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You really are impossible, Problem Child."

"And yet you’re still here," I shot back, standing with my hands on my hips. "So, who’s really to blame?"

"Don’t test me," he said, his voice carrying just a hint of exasperated fondness.

"Okay, I'll be there after the school day ends." It was unusual for Nedzu to contact me directly, but if it was urgent, it might involve the case Eraserhead had been working on for the past month.

I slipped into the school unnoticed, navigating the shadows. As I moved through, a second-year student with a permeation quirk phased through the passage above. Without hesitation, I tossed a bundle of clothes at him.

"That should keep your clothes from slipping off again," I said, averting my gaze. My hood shaded my face, adding to the anonymity. "I made them using your DNA, the same way I designed mine."

"That's... cool. What's your quirk?"

"It messes with quirks," I replied shortly. "Anyway, Nedzu's expecting me, so I should go." I turned and walked the opposite way, leaving the student behind.

A few minutes later, I entered into Nedzu's office. Eraserhead sat stiffly in a chair, wearing an outfit that looked like he'd rather set it on fire than endure another second in it. To be fair, my own look wasn’t exactly conventional—a vest layered over a dress shirt, paired with camouflage pants loaded with too many pockets. I looked gayer than Katsuki, but at least I was comfortable.

Quietly, I turned invisible and walked up behind Eraserhead. His loose hair was too tempting to ignore. Carefully, I spelled out "I look straight" with strands of his hair.

"Atlantis, how did you even get in?" Eraserhead asked, not even turning around.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Because H doesn’t mess with my hair unless he’s washing it. Now, how did you get into the school, you little—"

"Language, Shouta," Nedzu interrupted.

"Du bist mein Vater," I said with mock seriousness.

"What?" Eraserhead asked, confused, as I took the seat across from him.

"Shouta, your husband should be arriving shortly," Nedzu said, leaning back in my chair.

Not even three seconds passed before, "SHOUTAAAAAAA!" Present Mic’s voice echoed down the hallway.

"What the fuck?" Eraserhead’s quirk flared to life as the door burst open.

"SHOUTAAAAAA!" Present Mic yelled, barreling into the room. "Shou, why do you look straight?"

I snorted with laughter as Present Mic turned his gaze toward me. "Is this our second child, Shou?"

"Yes," Eraserhead deadpanned. "And also Hitoshi’s brother. Don’t forget Eritrea."

"You know," Nedzu interjected, grinning, "he said the same thing you just did about Shouta."

"That he looks straight?" Present Mic asked, his grin matching mine.

"Seriously, though—he does!" I said, a little too loudly.

"Anyway," Nedzu began, cutting through the banter, "I called Atlantis here because he knows the location of Red Star Village."

"The what?"

"It’s a city," I explained. "Primarily quirkless residents, but there are also people with so-called 'villainous' quirks. Zero crime rate."

A familiar, booming voice suddenly interrupted. "I AM HERE!" All Might announced, stepping into the room.

"And what exactly is a 'villainous' quirk?" All Might asked, his presence commanding as always.

Eraserhead groaned while I subconsciously activated a health analysis quirk. The results weren’t good—he was injured on one side and missing part of his lung. I made a mental note of it for later.

Before I could respond, All Might coughed, and his body shrank as smoke surrounded him.

"Uh... is that normal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because normally—"

"Anyway," Nedzu interrupted, steering the conversation back. "Eraserhead has been working undercover as a substitute teacher at Aldera Junior High for the past month."

"That must have sucked," I muttered.

"What makes you say that?" Eraserhead asked.

"K goes there. He’s told me the only reason quirkless kids feel safe is because of a group of students who protect them, plus a few teachers who don’t care about quirk status. Eraser?"

"Yes, I’ve met that group. The only one I’ve personally interacted with is Katsuki Bakugou."

That motherf—

"Alright," Nedzu said, "here’s the plan. We’re raiding the school. Atlantis, you’ll take the quirkless students and their protectors to the village and assess if their parents are safe to bring as well."

"Understood," I replied.

"Eraserhead, Present Mic, and All Might, you’ll escort the teachers and principal to the police waiting outside."

"Yes, sir," the three heroes responded in unison.

Chapter Text

Izuku Shimura, aged 14 POV:

Katsuki, Ochaco, and Himiko met me at the first corner after Katsuki’s new school, and we immediately set off toward the cat cafe, just the four of us, ready to hang out and talk. Katsuki and I had always walked together, and now, with Himiko and Ochaco in tow, we were the tight-knit group that loved to annoy him at every opportunity.

I ordered the drinks while the others went to our usual booth, and then I joined them, handing out drinks as we sat down. Katsuki helped me figure out which was which like we always did.

“Alright,” I began, catching their attention, “the UA entrance exam won’t just be the surface-level challenges you’re used to. There will be hidden ones. Something to do with rescue or villain scenarios, maybe.”

I paused to let them process that. “That means we need to practice fighting without going all-out on the villains. Katsuki.”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow at me. “What did I do, Izu?”

“You know exactly what you did,” I smirked, looking at him. “Also, they might want us to fight quirkless. So we need to practice that too. And finally, they could throw something like fighting robots at us. They might hide a type of robot and spring it on us without warning.”

Ochaco and Himiko exchanged glances before Himiko spoke up. “Where can we train?”

“We can train at Takoba seaside. It’s a bit of a mess, but it’ll help us build our strength while cleaning it up.”

Katsuki looked a little hesitant but didn’t object. “Is this normal?”

“For him? Yeah,” he replied dryly.

I squeezed his hand under the table and leaned my head on his shoulder, letting my eyes close for a moment. “We have to be prepared. UA can and will throw anything at us. In any circumstance, something bad will happen. I know it. My gut tells me that, and it’s usually right.”

“We know, but don’t overthink this, Izuku.” Katsuki kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arm around me. “Let’s finish our drinks first, then we’ll go to the beach.”

I nodded, snuggling further into him. We finished our drinks, the conversation light and carefree, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something would go wrong.

We finally arrived at Takoba seaside, and though it was cleaner than when I had started cleaning it six years ago, it was still a far cry from where I wanted it to be.

“Come on, let’s get started.” I walked over to a smaller pile of debris I had been working on for the past few months and began to clear it.

We worked together in silence, the sound of our efforts mixing with the waves crashing against the shore. After about three hours, we had cleared about twenty percent of the beach before two unfamiliar voices broke through the calm.

“Hi, I’m Kaminari Denki, and this is Shinsou Hitoshi.”

“Hitoshi?” I blinked, my mind racing. “That reminds me of my elder brother’s name.”

“Really? That’s interesting.” Shinsou replied, looking a bit intrigued.

“We were wondering…” Kaminari began, though it was clear Shinsou had dragged him into this.

“We? You wanted to ask if they wanted help, and dragged me along.”

I smirked. “If you want to help, you’re welcome to join us.”

“Really?” Kaminari grinned. “We’d love to!”

“I don’t have a say in this, do I?” Shinsou asked, looking slightly put off.

“No,” Kaminari answered bluntly.

Katsuki, with his typical deadpan expression, leaned over and spoke to Shinsou. “Hey, just don’t make the golden retriever partner cry and you’ll survive.”

“Is that not the truth?” Himiko shouted, earning a glare from both me and Ochaco.

“Hey!” Ochaco and I yelled at them in unison.

“Are we wrong?” Kaminari smirked, glancing at Shinsou.

“No…” I admitted reluctantly, the group chuckling.

We worked for another few hours, getting about fifty percent more of the beach cleared. The time flew by, and before long, it was almost ten o’clock.

“Guys, I need to go before my mom reports me missing,” Kaminari called out.

“Yeah, it’s probably a good time to call it a night,” I agreed.

We made sure to take Denki home first so that he wouldn’t be roasted alive by his mom, and then I quickly teleported Katsuki, Ochaco, and Himiko home. Shinsou was the last one to go.

When we arrived, I was taken aback when I saw Present Mic standing outside his house. “Hitoshi, thank goodness you’re okay.”

It took me a second to realize who he was. I nodded respectfully, and then Eraserhead stuck his head out from behind him.

“Hitoshi, next time text or call if you’re getting home late,” he said, his voice a bit softer than usual. Then, he turned to me. “Thank you for making sure at least one of my idiot children is safe.”

“No problem, sir. I need to head home now,” I replied.

“I don’t think you should walk around at night like this,” Present Mic said, concern evident in his voice.

“I’ll be fine, sir,” I assured them.

“Are you sure, kid?” Eraserhead asked, his gaze lingering on me.

“I’m sure,” I nodded, giving them a reassuring smile.

“Alright,” he sighed, though I could tell he was still worried. The small family disappeared inside, and I stood there for a moment, quietly letting the events of the night settle in.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Dusk,” I whispered softly to myself as I turned and walked away, tears forming in the corner of my eyes. “I still miss you.”

"You're telling me that the Hassaikai is involved now?" I couldn't keep the shock out of my voice. The whole situation felt like it was spiraling out of control.

"Yeah," Eraserhead sighed, rubbing his temples as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "We thought the worst was over when we got rid of them, but now they're back. It’s not just about our son anymore. It’s a mess, Atlantis."

"I... I didn't realize it would hit him that hard." My voice was quiet, a mix of guilt and concern. "He’s been through so much already. To have that kind of reminder..." I trailed off, feeling my chest tighten.

"Yeah, H's panic attack didn't help things. He’s afraid they’ll come after him again, and if they know about our son, they might target him next." Eraserhead’s voice was low and heavy, the kind of weight I hadn’t heard in his tone before.

"That's... hell," I murmured, my mind racing. "The Hassaikai has too many connections. It’s not just some small threat. They’ll do whatever it takes to get what they want."

"We need to figure out how to stop them before they get to our son." Eraserhead's eyes darkened. "And we need to do it quickly."

I nodded, the severity of the situation sinking in. "Let me help. I know how to track down people like that. I might be able to find their hideout."

Eraserhead hesitated, but then his gaze softened. "I don't want you to put yourself in danger. You’re already dealing with so much."

"But I know what I’m doing," I said, more confident now. "And I can keep it under control. I’ve been through worse, remember?"

There was a long pause, and for a moment, I thought he might object. But then he sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly in resignation. "Fine. But you tell me everything you find. I won’t let you run headfirst into this without a plan."

"Of course." I gave him a reassuring nod, though inside, my heart was pounding. This was bigger than anything I had dealt with before. But I wasn’t about to let it take down the people I cared about.

"Good," he said, the weight in his eyes still present. "I’ll keep watch here. You stay safe, Atlantis."

We entered the city for the entrance exam, the air charged with tension. Four types of robots were scattered throughout the urban landscape: the one-pointer, two-pointer, three-pointer, and the dreaded zero-pointer. I had a feeling there would be more to this exam than just the usual destruction; there had to be rescue and villain points hidden within the chaos. I knew I couldn’t afford to rely solely on rescuing civilians to make it through. 

I spotted an emergency staircase and quickly scaled the building, moving across rooftops to get the lay of the land. My goal was simple—keep the students safe while taking out the robots lurking behind them. I pulled people from harm’s way, and when I saw a few robots threatening groups of students, I quickly took them out. Still, there was no sign of the zero-pointer. 

I kept my eyes peeled, knowing it wouldn’t be a small robot like the others. As the rumble of footsteps reached me, I felt the ground shift beneath my feet. A sinking feeling in my stomach told me exactly what was coming. I cursed in a string of languages under my breath, my eyes scanning the horizon. 

The ground began to shake. Without thinking, I jumped into the air, just as the massive zero-pointer began to tear through the buildings below me. I twisted midair, landing squarely on its metallic head, my hands immediately sending a surge of energy currents from my palms down into the robot’s core. The energy snaked down like tight coils, wrapping around its systems, forcing the machine to slow and eventually freeze in place. 

The mechanical giant groaned as its movements came to a halt, but I kept my hands pressed to its surface, feeding more energy into it to ensure it couldn’t break free. 

I kept my powers tightly controlled, suppressing the urge to let loose. Eraserhead was watching from a distance. I couldn’t afford to let him see everything my quirk could do. He knew I had multiple facets to my abilities, but not the full scope. That would remain hidden for now. 

As the zero-pointer stilled, I allowed myself a brief moment of satisfaction before I heard the distant sound of other students fighting or rescuing. I pushed myself off the robot, preparing for the next stage of the exam. There were more challenges to face, but for now, I’d done my part.

Atlantis left patrol again. I sighed, frustrated and tired. The kid was pushing himself too hard, and I was getting worried. I ran my patrol alone, missing the presence of the bratty yet competent teen. Why would he exhaust himself like this? He had a tendency to overwork, but I couldn’t help feeling like something was off.

I thought back to the entrance exam. There was another student who acted like Atlantis. He had a similar way of thinking, similar abilities. I had already been watching him closely, and after a conversation with Nedzu, we agreed to put him in my class. That way, I could keep an eye on him, make sure he wasn’t hiding anything.

Atlantis didn’t show up for patrol for the next two weeks. That only made my worry grow. I muttered under my breath, “He better be getting some sleep.”

"He's not," Hizashi responded, glancing over at me from across the staff lounge. “You know it. He's doing his usual thing. Kid’s got a stubborn streak.”

“If he isn’t, I’m going to kidnap him and make him sleep,” I grumbled.

Hizashi softened his gaze. “I know you're worried, but you and I both know that Atlantis can handle himself.”

I shook my head, though the weight in my chest didn’t lighten. “Yes, but…”

“No buts, Shouta Aizawa,” Hizashi cut me off, his voice gentle but firm. “Come here, you need sleep too.”

I looked at him skeptically, but he took his jacket off, making a little space for me on his lap. "Come on, love," he coaxed.

Reluctantly, I settled down in his lap, trying to ignore how the exhaustion was starting to wear on me. All Might gave us a surprised glance but said nothing, his own thoughts clearly elsewhere. Hizashi pulled his jacket around my shoulders as I buried my face in his neck, letting the warmth settle over me.

He placed a folder on my lap, but I couldn’t bring myself to focus on it. “You better work on learning your students' names this year,” he teased softly.

“I will,” I mumbled, trying not to give in to the drowsiness pulling at me. “Stop nagging me about it.”

“If you don’t, I’m calling Nemi over here,” he warned with a smile.

“Fine…” I let out a small sigh, still worried about Atlantis. “I’m still worried about him.”

“I know, love. I know we both are.” Hizashi’s voice was a comforting hum as I slowly drifted into unconsciousness, feeling his arms gently around me.

The day before school started, I stood where Atlantis usually met me. There was no sign of him. I waited, but he didn’t show up, and the unease began to creep in again. What had he been up to these past weeks? He wasn’t like this. He wasn’t one to go off the radar. I had seen him pull away before, but not for this long.

Finally, the night before school started, there was a soft thud as Atlantis appeared out of nowhere, his usual rambling spilling from his mouth in another language.

“Sorry, Eraserhead, I had to do a few things for school…” he apologized without even looking at me.

“Atlantis, you’re rambling in a language I can’t understand,” I told him gently, trying to catch his attention.

He blinked, startled, and quickly stopped. “Sorry…”

“It’s okay, kid. It’s normal. My husband will randomly just start talking in English. Our son does the same thing. He’s multilingual too.” I offered a half-smile.

Atlantis gave me a small, almost shy smile in return. “Huh, that sounds fun.”

I chuckled softly, relieved that he was at least somewhat back to his usual self. “Come on, Atlantis. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us.”

2 weeks before school

Shouta thought I didn’t know who Atlantis was, but as Izuku Shimura and another boy stood in front of me, I knew that I had guessed right on the vigilante's identity. The boy had been too careful, too intelligent to be anyone else. His calculated mannerisms, the way he carried himself—it all clicked into place.

I gave them both a small smile, but my thoughts raced. "So, Atlantis, what is it?" I asked, keeping my voice even.

Izuku—no, Atlantis—looked at me with those familiar, sharp eyes. "You know who All for One is, correct?"

The mention of the villain made my ears flick, and I straightened slightly. That name—All for One—had a long, dark history. It piqued my interest, and I leaned forward. "What is this about, Atlantis?"

He gave me a brief, calculated look, his eyes darkening slightly as he spoke. "It’s about my past. I know a lot more than I’ve let on, but there’s something I need to do, something that involves All for One’s influence. I need your help to make sure my plan works."

I had heard bits and pieces about Atlantis's history, enough to know that it was complicated, traumatic, and shrouded in secrecy. Shouta had shared some details, but not enough for me to fully understand the weight of the situation. Still, I could see the determination in the boy's eyes, and I understood that this was not a plea—it was a request for support. "Alright, we can do it," I said after a moment of deliberation. "But if something happens to either one of you, the blame falls on me. This plan is risky, Atlantis. You of all people should understand how your father's anger is."

He flinched at the mention of his father’s wrath, his expression clouded with painful memories. "Please, don’t remind me. The memories still haunt me."

"My apologies," I said softly, my voice tinged with regret. His pain was palpable, and I felt a sharp pang of empathy for the young man in front of me.

Izuku—Atlantis—nodded, his usual calm returning. "Glow, you have the device on your phone. It will record everything that is said. It’s not that we don’t trust your word—"

"It’s to make sure you heard everything if I forget a piece," Glow interjected, speaking up as if this was a usual part of their strategy.

I nodded, understanding. "And to understand the codes you and Izuku’s father are using."

"I understand, Principal Nedzu," Glow confirmed.

"As do I, Nedzu," Izuku—Atlantis—added, his voice steady. The weight of their words was clear. They were prepared.

As the two left my office, I stood there for a moment, my mind racing with the gravity of what was being set into motion. This plan—dangerous as it was—could indeed work. But it came with so many unknowns. I knew the stakes, and I knew that whatever happened, I would bear a heavy responsibility. I had to protect these kids, all of them, no matter the cost.

The door closed behind them, and I took a deep breath. It was time to gather the teachers. They needed to be prepared. Tonight, I called an unexpected meeting. There was no time to waste.

Chapter Text

Shouta Aizawa POV:

Nedzu decided to surprise the staff with a meeting at 9 pm.

"Nedzu, this better be good. If Atlantis does something stupid, and he gets hurt or killed, I'm blaming you," I said, my voice low but carrying the weight of my concern.

"I'm right here, Vati," Atlantis said from behind me, his voice casual but the underlying tension clear.

Vlad King leaned over to his husband, his words barely a whisper. "He still won't admit he has adopted Atlantis."

Snipe's voice was even quieter. "I mean, he pretty much has, with how often he worries about the kid."

I clenched my jaw at the implication, but before I could retort, All Might entered, his frame thin and fragile in his current form.

"Alright, let's start this meeting," Nedzu said, his voice unusually somber. Atlantis moved behind me and Hizashi, his presence still a reminder of how much I wanted to protect him.

"We have gotten word that All for One is still alive," All Might said, his tone filled with dread.

"I'm sorry, who?" I asked, barely containing my shock.

"All for One, the most dangerous villain," All Might clarified, his eyes haunted by the memory of their past battles.

Vlad's voice wavered slightly. "He's one of the most dangerous villains?"

"No, he is the King of the Underworld," Atlantis stated matter-of-factly, his tone grim. "Therefore, the most dangerous of all villains."

A heavy silence settled over the room, and All Might blinked, clearly startled by Atlantis' confidence. "How do you know that?"

Atlantis shrugged, the movement almost too casual. "When you're a kid who was once raised in the Underworld, you tend to know things about it," he muttered, his eyes momentarily distant as if remembering things he wasn’t ready to share.

"Anyways," Nedzu interjected, "Atlantis has managed to gain the trust of the boy who is supposed to be the traitor, and we are going to be controlling what information reaches All for One."

"Nedzu, you can't be serious," Yagi shouted, his voice growing more strained by the second. "If All for One finds out he controls what information reaches him, he will kill the traitor and Atlantis."

"No!" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. "Atlantis isn't doing that. I'm not risking his life like that. He is a child!"

"I am not, Eraserhead," Atlantis retorted sharply, his gaze unwavering. "I have never been a child, and I am the one who can change memories; therefore, I have to do this."

I could feel my chest tighten, frustration boiling up. "Atlantis, there are pros who can change memories; you don't have to be the one who does it."

"Yes, I do, Eraser," he said firmly. "Do they know-"

"Atlantis, enough," I commanded the harshness in my tone breaking through his argument. He huffed, but he didn’t respond further, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. The air was thick with unspoken words, and I could feel the weight of his anger.

The meeting concluded soon after, and Atlantis teleported away before I could say anything else.

As I stood there, my thoughts swirling, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal I saw in his eyes. He was mad at me. I knew I probably deserved it, but it hurt—more than I cared to admit. As much as I denied it, he was my kid. I couldn’t ignore the attachment I had for him, and every time he put himself in danger for some cause, I felt the sting of it, even if he wouldn't admit it.

I wanted to keep him safe. He had no idea how much it hurt to see him act like he didn’t need anyone. But as much stupid shit as he did, he always had a reason for it. He had a responsibility that weighed on him—one he never asked for, but one he took on without hesitation.

And I… I couldn’t protect him from everything.

Oboro Shirakumo POV:

Shouta Aizawa, you fucking dumbass. 

Shouta Aizawa POV:

The new Class 1-A was louder than Atlantis trying to distract a mob—which was saying something, considering that particular stunt had involved an entire bomb. One so loud it was heard for three miles. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. If this was any indication of the year ahead, I was going to need more coffee than usual.

Voices echoed from the hallway as I approached, and I paused, leaning against the corner to listen.

"Guys, the teacher is probably going to be there soon," Shimura's voice rang out. His tone was calm, though there was an edge of exhaustion to it. Likely from staying up late again, knowing him.

"Says the boy who was up until three a.m.," Bakugou shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh, hush," Shimura retorted, effectively shutting him up.

"Is that our class?" Himiko Toga—Vlad and Snipe's daughter—asked. Her voice was curious but laced with a hint of mischief.

"Damn, they're louder than a fucking bomb!" Bakugou muttered, clearly annoyed.

"Says the one who creates explosions," Toga quipped back without missing a beat.

"You drink blood, Himiko," Ochaco countered, his tone sharp.

"You make things float, Ochako," Toga replied, directing her words at Uraraka, who seemed to have joined their conversation.

"Let’s just go in," Shimura interrupted, his patience clearly wearing thin. "And pray that the teacher isn’t inside yet."

That was my cue.

"Why aren’t you four in class yet?" I said, stepping around the corner.

The reaction was immediate. Toga and Uraraka screeched in surprise, practically jumping out of their skins. Bakugou stumbled back a step, eyes wide before quickly masking his shock with a scowl.

"Morning, Mr. Aizawa," Shimura greeted smoothly as if he’d known I was standing there the entire time. He looked far too amused for his own good.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but his expression didn’t falter. There was something about that kid—something sharp and calculating beneath his calm demeanor. He reminded me of someone, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on who.

"Get to class," I said flatly, crossing my arms.

"Yes, sir," Shimura said, ushering the others toward the door.

As they filed into the room, I let out a long sigh. If this was the dynamic on the first day, it was going to be a long year. I just hoped they’d surprise me—preferably not in the way Atlantis always managed to.

Izuku Shimura POV:

After we entered the classroom behind Eraserhead, we sat at our designated seats, the hum of nervous energy filling the air. Everyone was clearly on edge, but I was far more interested in observing their reactions than anything else.

Then, as expected, Eraserhead dropped the bombshell.

"We're doing a quirk assessment test," he said, and I saw the way most of the class tensed up.

I couldn’t suppress the internal sigh. I knew how this went—it was the same every year. The first day was supposed to be about introductions, not a full-blown test of our abilities. But that was Eraserhead for you. He didn’t waste time on the pleasantries.

Fortunately, Kaminari had a terrible sense of time and came in late, saving us from getting started without him. That was the one bright spot—Kaminari always seemed to lighten the mood, even if his timing was less than stellar.

The ten challenges came fast, one after the other, each pushing us to our limits. We completed them in an hour and a half, each of us testing our abilities in ways that would make even the most seasoned heroes sweat. Some were easy; others required more strategy. I kept an eye on the others, gauging where their strengths and weaknesses lay.

When the scores were posted, the class went dead silent. Most of the students were visibly holding their breath, unsure of what the result would be.

I wasn’t worried. I’d seen this all before, back when I watched from the shadows as Atlantis. Eraserhead didn’t expel anyone unless they were truly a waste of time. I’d been a part of that process too many times as the vigilant observer, the one who watched from the edges of the class, hiding my true identity.

But this was usually the first time my classmates would meet my other side, my vigilante counterpart. I’d never actually gotten a score before, so I knew the others had no idea how things really went. They were terrified of being expelled, but most of them would be fine. They were just nervous.

Except for Mineta. He was the only one who truly had reason to worry.

Eraserhead had always hated perverts, and the things Mineta had said about the girls—well, I knew it wouldn’t end well for him. Eraserhead had no patience for that kind of behavior.

I glanced out the window to see Oboro’s ghost floating casually on a light pole. He was grinning, no doubt planning to mess with someone. I knew what he was about to do—he couldn’t resist. With a mischievous flick of his wrist, he decided it was time to annoy Vati and put Mineta in his place.

The ghost’s laughter echoed faintly in the distance. It was barely perceptible, but I knew it was enough to unsettle Mineta.

Shouta Aizawa POV:

I stood at the front of the class, preparing to reveal the scores, when something strange happened.

The control in my hand—just a simple tool I used to adjust the display—suddenly flew out of my grip, as if something had smacked it from my hand.

I froze, my eyes narrowing. What the hell?

There was no reason for it. I had been holding it firmly, with no movement in my hand that would cause it to slip.

But then I saw it—just for a fraction of a second—something that wasn’t there a moment before. A faint shift in the air, an almost imperceptible disturbance.

My instincts kicked in, my gaze scanning the room. The students were focused on the screen, their eyes wide with anxiety as the scores appeared. No one seemed to have noticed anything.

But I knew something had happened. Something...unnatural.

I looked at the control on the floor, still vibrating from its unexpected fall, and frowned. It had definitely been knocked out of my hand.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that someone had interfered. But who? And why?

I stood still for a moment longer, trying to shake the feeling that something—someone—was watching me, playing with me.

The class was still too absorbed in their results to realize the subtle shift in the atmosphere. But I could feel it.

Something was off, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Atlantis hadn’t attended patrols that night, and based on his usual pattern, I knew I wouldn’t be seeing him for more than a week. It was a strange feeling, not having him around. The quietness of the night patrol was unsettling, as if something—someone—was missing. I sighed, rubbing my eyes as I leaned against a lamppost, the late-night chill seeping through my hero costume.

My kid—if I could even call him that—was just as headstrong as I was at his age. That trait in him, that stubbornness to hide his vulnerability behind a wall of fake confidence, always drove me crazy. Atlantis never seemed to know when to stop and just take a break. He’d push himself until he couldn’t anymore.

I thought about how he fought—how relentless he could be in battle. I had never seen anyone other than Izuku Shimura who could take Atlantis on in a fight. There was something about Shimura that seemed to match Atlantis’s fighting style so perfectly.

If I didn’t know better, I would’ve suspected Izuku Shimura was Atlantis’s true identity. The quirk similarities were too hard to ignore—both had the ability to manipulate quirks, to create or destroy on a whim. They were like opposite sides of the same coin.

But there was one thing that set them apart: Shimura knew when to hold back. He understood how to win a fight, whether or not his quirk was involved. Atlantis, on the other hand, couldn’t always gauge when to use his abilities. That stubbornness again.

Their fighting personalities were uncannily alike—calm, quiet, decisive, and always with a plan. But then it hit me—what bothered me the most: their similarities weren’t just personality-based. They were physical too. Both were the same height and the same eye color.

And then there was the left eye—the blind spot. According to Recovery Girl, Shimura was blind in his left eye, just like Atlantis. That was too much of a coincidence.

Kitsu…

I felt a sudden pang of recognition in the back of my mind. Hitoshi had once mentioned something about Kitsu, how he was most likely to use the name his mother had given him. The same name that kept running through my thoughts now.

It wasn’t just the quirks or the fighting styles—it was everything. The more I thought about it, the more the pieces began to fall into place, but something was stopping me from seeing the full picture.

I couldn’t think straight. I felt a tight knot in my chest, one I couldn’t explain. I hated how the more I tried to figure it out, the less I felt like I understood anything at all.

My patrol tonight had been eerily quiet. Not a single encounter, not a whisper of trouble. It wasn’t like the usual chaos that made the job a bit more bearable. I had been searching for something to hold onto, to focus on, but it was all slipping through my fingers.

By the time I ran home, I was exhausted. I didn’t want to think anymore. I just wanted to forget.

The door clicked behind me as I entered the house, the familiar warmth of the place wrapping around me like a blanket. I made my way straight to the bathroom, showering quickly, not bothering to dwell on the thoughts spinning in my head.

When I finally collapsed onto the bed beside Hizashi, my body sagged into him. He wrapped his arms around me, and I let myself be held, just for a moment. It was the only place I felt like I could truly be myself, without the weight of Atlantis’s secrets, the constant stress of my job, or the nagging feeling that I was missing something.

His arms were the only comfort I could rely on right now. And for once, I allowed myself to rest.

Izuku Shimura POV:

The second day at U.A. had arrived, and of course, it was filled with the usual chaos. All Might, as energetic as ever, was teaching us foundational heroics—by making us fight each other.

The ghosts surrounding All Might seemed less than pleased with his teaching methods, their voices echoing with complaints about how this wasn’t the best way to prepare students. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. The spirits had their own opinions, but that didn’t mean they were wrong.

I was the “villain” in the exercise, which meant I was up against Mina and Iida. They seemed confident, but I knew better. As much as I hated to admit it, they weren’t ready for what I was about to throw at them.

I had ten minutes to prepare. I wasn’t going to make this easy for Mina and Iida. They were going to face something that would shake them to their core. I wasn’t going to fight fair either—I never did.

I started with an illusion, one that targeted their worst fears. I focused on creating a vivid and realistic scene tailored to each of them. For Iida, it wasn’t hard to come up with a phobia. I’d been watching him carefully over the past couple of days. He had an irrational fear of dolphins. Dolphins, of all things. I couldn’t help but shake my head as I created an illusion of a dolphin emerging from the shadows, its teeth glinting.

As for Mina, I tapped into something I had learned from her—the fear of squirrels. It was an odd choice, but people’s fears didn’t have to make sense to be effective. I made sure the squirrels around her were no cute, fluffy creatures. No, they were angry, rabid things, and they wouldn’t let her get away. I added the element of height to her fear. If she was going to be afraid of squirrels, she might as well have to face them from a dangerous height.

Then, just for good measure, I decided to mess with the layout of the building itself. I was the only one who knew how to bend the rooms and hallways of the school to my will. I remembered the American board game Chutes and Ladders and based my design on that, with some rooms leading up, others going down, but none near the bomb. I could hear their frantic footsteps already.

My ten minutes were up, and I wasn’t about to make things easy for them. Katsuki, of course, would know I was probably going to mess with the building itself rather than setting any physical traps. But that didn’t matter now. He couldn’t warn them; we had all been separated to plan with our partners.

I didn’t waste any time. I kept track of their movements through the cameras.

Then, Mina screamed.

It sounded like she had just watched a family member crawl out of the ground. I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath. I checked the hallway of fear I had set up for her, and it seemed like the squirrels were doing their job well. Heights were doing their part, too. I wasn’t going to make it easy on her.

I checked in on Iida next. Dolphins. Was that really his fear? I almost laughed aloud, but I stifled it. Iida might’ve been serious, but I couldn’t help but feel amused.

I sighed. Yes, Izuku, dolphins will bite your hand and not say sorry.

Focusing on tracking their movements through the cameras instead. They’d get through it—or they wouldn’t. It wasn’t my problem.

Soon enough, All Might’s voice rang out through the room.

"Students, how did you hack into the security cameras?"

I could hear my friends laughing in the background. It was nice to know they were on my side.

After thirty minutes of chaos, the exercise finally came to an end. We were all lined up, waiting for All Might’s critique. I could feel the tension in the air, and I wasn’t sure whether it was Mina or Iida who was more on edge.

All Might turned to Mina first.

"Alright, what was the first thing you did wrong?"

Mina sighed and answered, her voice flat, "Enter the building."

I raised an eyebrow. Yeah, that seemed about right.

I leaned toward her. "Yeah, sorry about that, but squirrels? Really?" I whispered.

She whispered back, "No, don't be. My cousin got attacked by squirrels when I was younger."

My eyes widened a mix of surprise and understanding crossing her face. She was far from amused, but she understood the kind of fear I had made her face.

All Might turned his attention to me.

"Shimura, what about you?"

I nodded. "The hallway of fear."

"Fair," came the reply from one of the ghosts surrounding All Might. I could feel a faint sense of approval from the spirits—nothing major, but enough to make me smile a little.

The next part was when things got really interesting.

"Okay, but, En," the tallest ghost chimed in, "you're afraid of flowers? Seriously?"

En, a shorter ghost, blushed furiously and pointed an accusatory finger at the only woman in the group.

"I blame her," En said, still flustered.

The woman, Nana, smiled affectionately and rubbed En’s head.

"Meanie," he whispered.

I could hear the playful banter between the ghosts as if they were more real than we were at that moment. Their voices echoed through my mind. I didn’t always understand their dynamics.

Chapter Text

Izuku Shimura POV:

I sat in my seat as the class around me shouted, the girl who once sat behind Mineta approached my desk cautiously. "Shimura, I have a small question to ask."

"I don't mind answering," She never got the chance to ask because-

"Shut up and all of you sit your asses down." Mr. Aizawa wasn't acting normal something was off.

"Who shoved a stick up your ass?" Katsuki muttered.

"What was that, Bakugou?" He hadn't slept for three days.

"Mr. Aizawa, when was the last time you slept?" I asked, my voice careful, but the concern in my words was impossible to hide.

Aizawa shot me a sharp look, his expression hardening. "I don’t think that’s any of your business, Shimura," he snapped, clearly irritated by the question.

I leaned forward slightly, speaking with a calm precision that came naturally to me in these kinds of situations. "Actually, it is. Aggravation can be a side effect of certain quirks, and I don’t sense that’s the case with you. More than three days without sleep, though... that’s concerning." I could see the surprise flicker in his eyes, but I didn’t stop there. I continued, delivering facts that most people wouldn’t even consider. "And it’s not just about the mental toll. Prolonged lack of rest can lead to physical impairments too."

Aizawa didn’t respond, but there was a shift in his gaze, a brief moment of uncertainty. He seemed to be thinking, but I wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily.

"I’m not even asking why you know that," he muttered under his breath, clearly uncomfortable with my observations.

"He’s gone three weeks with maybe eight hours of sleep in total," Katsuki grumbled, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. His words seemed to hang in the air, but there was no anger behind them—only the sharpness of his blunt honesty.

Iida immediately straightened up, his tone stern as he fixed his gaze on me. "Shimura, that is incredibly unhealthy. With that little sleep for that long, you could have seriously hurt yourself!"

The atmosphere in the room shifted. I could feel the tension rising, but I wasn’t going to back down. Sleep deprivation wasn’t something to overlook, and Aizawa’s well-being, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, was something that mattered. And I had decided he was my parent the reason I called him Vati.

Aizawa Shouta POV:

Iida’s voice cut through the air, his usual concern evident as he chided someone about injuring themselves.

"Shimura, you need to be more careful. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this," Iida said, his tone a mixture of worry and frustration.

Shimura's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. His response wasn’t in Japanese. Instead, it was in a language that no one in the room could fully understand—Greek. His words were curt and biting, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something sharper, almost defensive.

"Αν δεν καταλαβαίνεις, δεν έχεις ιδέα τι είναι να είσαι συνεχώς έτοιμος για πόλεμο." Translation: If you don’t understand, you have no idea what it’s like to be constantly ready for war. A tone of anger in his otherwise emotionless voice. 

There was a weight to his words, something raw in the way he said it, like a thread of something deeper and more painful that he hadn’t shared. The room fell silent for a moment.

Iida looked at Shimura, clearly taken aback by the shift in tone. "Shimura..."

The response felt like a wall went up between them, and Shimura’s eyes flicked away as if he regretted saying anything at all. The tension in the room lingered, the underlying meaning of his words still hanging in the air, but Shimura quickly shifted back to his usual guarded self.

"Sorry, Iida," he muttered, his voice softening just enough to break the tension. "It’s nothing."

But we all knew that it was never nothing.

I need to look into Shimura's family

Rat Demon:

May I ask why, Shouta?

He responded to Iida in Greek after talking about not sleeping for three weeks.

Rat Demon:

I wonder how that conversation started.

Me too.

Rat Demon:

Shouta...

Yes?

Rat Demon:

Sleep in Recovery Girl's office. I'm having someone cover your classes for the rest of the day. 

Damn

Rat Demon:

Next time don't mention the sleep habits.

I at least sleep at least four times in a three-week period.

Rat Demon:

And who has to make you?

Problem Child...

After homeroom ended, I made my way to Recovery Girl’s office, a nagging feeling in the back of my mind telling me that if I didn’t go, Nedzu would find out—and then he’d tell Atlantis.

Hizashi had woken me up, trying to get me to the car. He liked doing that, always teasing me about my inability to wake up properly. It was a constant. I could hear his voice echoing in my mind, even now, ranting about how my students were little demons. Of course, they were. It’s what made them all so... memorable.

Hitoshi, on the other hand, had gone off to hang out with Kaminari and the rest of their group. The two of them always seemed to have an unspoken bond, a mutual understanding that neither would admit but everyone else could see. It was almost funny, watching them dance around it, like the little demons they were. They couldn’t just tell each other.

I could already hear Hizashi complaining in the background about my students and their antics, but I didn’t have the energy to engage. The moment I sat on the couch, I was out again, the exhaustion from the past few days pulling me under.

When I woke up, it was to the weight of Hitoshi lying on top of me. The warmth of him against my chest was familiar, grounding. I had about thirty minutes before patrol, but for now, it was just the two of us, the world outside suspended for a brief moment.

Slowly, I shifted him into my arms, carefully, not wanting to wake him. He barely stirred. I stood up, moving with practiced silence, making sure not to disturb the calm that hung in the air.

There were few moments like this—quiet, tender moments with my family. I didn’t show it to anyone else, but with them, I allowed myself to be affectionate. They were my anchor in a world that sometimes felt like it was spinning too fast.

As I carefully tucked Hitoshi into bed, his eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. His voice was barely a whisper, but I heard it clearly.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, kiddo?" I replied, adjusting the blanket around him, making sure he was comfortable.

"Kitsu’s nickname was Atlantis."

I paused, my hand lingering for a moment on his covers. The way Hitoshi said it, so casually, made my heart ache. He rarely spoke about Kitsu, and I knew that if he was bringing it up now, it was important.

I knelt beside the bed, leaning in just slightly. "Do you think Kitsu and Atlantis are the same person?" I asked quietly, my voice steady but searching.

Hitoshi nodded slowly, his eyelids heavy with sleep. "Yeah," he muttered, his voice trailing off.

"You had a sister, too, right?"

"Eri... or Dawn." The words were slurred, barely above a whisper. "My nickname was Dusk."

A sharp pang of sorrow passed through me at the mention of Eri, knowing that the weight of their past was never far from Hitoshi’s mind. But I couldn’t let myself dwell on it now.

"I’ll find out, kiddo. Just get some sleep," I said softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead, the contact light but full of meaning.

Hitoshi's breathing had already deepened, the quiet rhythm of sleep taking over, but I stayed by his side for a moment longer, watching him.

With a final glance, I quietly stepped away and headed to the living room, my mind racing with the implications of Hitoshi’s words. But for now, all I could do was wait and protect him the best I could.

Shimura, Atlantis, and Hitoshi's little brother. My instincts told me they were all tied together somehow, but no matter how hard I analyzed the details, the exact connection eluded me. Shimura’s background was clear enough—raised by a parent who was barely there, always consumed by work. But then there was that strange Greek comment, and something about it didn’t sit right. Atlantis, though… was a mystery, living entirely alone, which in itself was a massive red flag. And then there was Kitsu, Hitoshi’s supposed friend turned adoptive brother, someone Hitoshi had only ever mentioned in passing and whose father remained shrouded in silence. Every thread I pulled on led to more questions. I couldn’t shake the feeling that all these pieces were part of the same puzzle. But what was the picture they formed?

If Atlantis was truly Kitsu, then how did Shimura tie into this?

The thought gnawed at me, but I quickly pushed it away. There were too many questions, too many pieces of the puzzle that didn’t fit together yet. I needed clarity, but it wouldn’t come from overthinking.

Then, I saw him—Atlantis—standing in the shadows, his eyes locked on something on his vigilante phone. The moment I approached, he quickly slipped it into his pocket, as if trying to hide something from me.

"Hey, kid," I called out, my voice low but steady. "Shouldn’t you be in bed?"

He turned toward me, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Shouldn’t you be cuddled next to your husband?" he shot back, the words dripping with just the right amount of teasing.

I could feel my chest tighten, but I didn’t let it show. The way he said it, so casually, was almost enough to throw me off balance. For a moment, I let the words linger in the air, letting his attempt at deflection hang between us.

"What are you doing up this late, Atlantis?" I asked, my voice shifting just slightly to show that I wasn’t buying the act.

His gaze flicked to the ground briefly, but then he stood straighter, his usual confidence returning. "Same thing as you, I bet. Keeping watch. But in my case, it's just... the usual."

I could feel the weight of the words in the room, but I didn't push any further. There was something in the air between us, unspoken and heavy with tension. I couldn’t figure him out, not yet. But I’d keep watching.

"Atlantis, I’m the smartass. You’re the child smartass," I said after a moment of glaring at him, my tone firm but with a touch of amusement.

"Fuck off," he muttered, but I noticed the subtle shift in his expression—the slight curve of his lips. He never saw the small smile hiding beneath my capture scarf.

After a beat of silence, he broke it, his voice turning serious. "You slept in the last three days and not in the past twelve hours, right?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of the exhaustion in my bones. "...yes."

"Home now, Eraser."

Before I could even respond, Atlantis threw a few soft punches, clearly trying to distract me from my own fatigue. But then, just as quickly, he lost his balance, and in a flurry of limbs, he fell on top of me.

The boy gave a small, almost startled "eep," and I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath.

"Sorry..." Atlantis muttered softly, his voice barely audible.

I didn’t let him pull away. Instead, I wrapped my arm around him and tightened it slightly, pulling him into a hug.

"Vati! I need to get up!" he protested.

"You can," I said, though I didn’t let go right away. "Not without breaking a bone, probably yours at that," I added with a teasing edge.

He finally squirmed out of my grasp, standing up with a huff. "Now go to bed!"

"You go to bed, you little demon!" I shot back, though my voice held no real anger.

"Bed bad," he huffed, crossing his arms stubbornly.

"If 'Bed bad,' then why are you telling me to go to bed?"

"Your students don’t need to see me drag you to Recovery Girl’s office because you haven’t slept for three days," he said with a matter-of-fact tone, clearly frustrated with my stubbornness.

I raised an eyebrow at him, but he wasn’t wrong, he had done that before.

"What were you doing before I got here?" I asked a shift in my tone—suddenly more serious, more concerned.

"A couple of off-the-radar villains are planning to kidnap a hero’s kid. I was checking the area that the kid lives in," he answered, his voice laced with annoyance.

"You want help with that?" I asked, a touch of suspicion creeping into my voice.

"No," he said sharply, and I immediately knew something was off.

"Don’t kill the villains, Atlantis," I said, my tone softening but with a firm undercurrent.

"If Dumber didn’t forget that his parents are villains, then this wouldn’t be a problem," he grumbled, his irritation palpable.

"Who’s Dumber?" I asked, trying to pry into whatever was really bothering him.

"My elder brother," he muttered, a hint of annoyance and bitterness in his voice.

"So you’re Dumb?" I quipped, watching as the mischievous spark in his eyes lit up.

"Baby Shark? Really, Atlantis?"

The look in his eyes shifted—mischief, challenge, and something else—something I couldn’t place. But at that moment, I remembered why he mattered to me, he was just a kid, still caught between innocence and the harsh realities of the world he’d been thrust into. And I couldn’t let him keep facing it alone.

"You should really go to bed," I said, my voice softer now, but the weight of my concern clear. "I’m not going to let you stay out here and get yourself hurt."

The air was heavy with unsaid things, but for now, I’d let him be the smartass—just as long as he stayed safe.

Chapter Text

Izuku Shimura, Aged 15, POV:

I landed next to Eraserhead, the weight of the situation settling over me like a blanket of ice. The school had just been broken into—gate, security systems, all of it. This wasn’t just some random incident. Something deeper was at play.

"This isn’t normal."

"Really, Atlantis? I couldn’t tell," Eraserhead’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but there was a hint of concern beneath it. I didn’t care about that right now.

"No," I shook my head, my words becoming more deliberate as I spoke. "This isn’t just reporters managing to destroy an entire gate meant to protect students from them. This is... calculated. There's only one person I can think of who would be able to pull off something of this scale."

Eraserhead’s eyes narrowed, waiting for me to continue. I could feel the weight of their gaze, but I couldn’t afford to let it stop me now. But I did.

Over the next week, I was searching trying to find out how Father was planning his attack. Would he stay hidden, use another? Or would he try to kill All Might directly? I knew that stress would only increase Pheonix's reaction to death seeing as mental stress often was confused with physical stress. Athena's Wisdom helped plan out a countermeasure but I didn't know if it could work against him. I couldn't sleep at all I used concealer to hide the eyebags under my eyes and then my scar. I knew that if Father was a part of this then something was coming something big.

Katsuki held my hand as we entered the USJ, his grip firm but comforting in a way I didn’t often let people see. I was tense, the kind of tightness that came from knowing something was off but not being able to put my finger on it. Katsuki most likely could feel it.

"You okay, nerd?" His voice was low, just loud enough for me to hear, but his tone was less abrasive than usual. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was concerned.

I nodded, keeping my gaze forward as I scanned the area. “Something’s happening today. I can feel it. It's not just a random drill. It feels like a trap... like this is all too perfect.”

Katsuki didn’t respond immediately, but I could tell he was picking up on my unease. He didn’t need to know the specifics to know that I was on edge. We were both used to dealing with this kind of uncertainty. But today... it felt different. Like my father might finally be making his move—coming out of the shadows he’d been lurking in. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all orchestrated, that he had a hand in it.

"You're starting to sound paranoid," Katsuki muttered, but his tone lacked the usual mockery. He was just as aware as I was that something was off.

The closer we got to the center of the USJ, the heavier the air seemed to get. The sound of our footsteps echoed in the empty space, and I could feel the presence of the other students around us. But it wasn’t the students I was worried about.

Then the alarms went off.

A loud, mechanical screech filled the air, and for a split second, I thought my heart had stopped. Everything went silent for a moment as the realization hit.

This was no accident.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath.

The moment the sound of sirens broke the stillness, the doors of the USJ exploded open. Figures—villains—poured in like a flood. My stomach twisted in recognition of the strategy behind it. There was no way this was random. They knew exactly what they were doing.

“Get ready!” Eraserhead shouted, but I was already moving. I could feel the adrenaline surge, but my mind was elsewhere, running calculations.

I was already mapping out every escape route, every potential trap. Father’s quirk, his influence, was undeniable. His reach was vast, and he wasn’t stupid enough to let a chance like this slip by. It was always a matter of when, not if.

“Go. Help the others.” Katsuki's voice cut through my thoughts, but his hand remained on mine for just a moment longer. His eyes locked with mine, and I could see the mix of determination and concern in them. He wasn’t just here for the fight—he was here for me.

And that, right there, was all I needed to know. I was no longer alone in this fight.

 We had been separated I was in the rafters of the USJ dealing with trying not to fall. I activated Athena's Wisdom. I connected to my classmates with Quick Thought Can everyone hear me?

Variations of "Yes, and what the fuck, Shimura?" came into my mind.

Okay, I can see all of you.

That's not creepy at all. Ashido stated

I'm in the fucking rafters, Ashido!

Sure you are.

Oh, so you're the white blob I see near the ceilings. Tsu muttered

"THEY PUT YOU IN THE RAFTERS?" Himiko shouted.

Yeah, send help. I muttered.

Toga can be loud. 

I'm not really surprised. Aizawa monotoned. Also, do you have a plan to get down?

Do I seem like I have another plan besides making sure no one dies?

Aizawa rolled his eyes.

Does anyone else feel like Mr.Aizawa just rolled his eyes at Shimura in his head?

He did.

How can you tell that?

You are currently sharing a mind space—behind you, Tsu—with me. Ashido uppercut the villain on your left then kick the one on your right.

How did you know that would work?

The quirk I'm currently using is called Athena's Wisdom. No, I have no creativity, but Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, strategy,-

Save the history lesson for later and get to the point.

War strategy was one of Athena's main things—Eraserhead, your left side a villain is stirring— but does anyone know the Trojan Horse? Everyone nodded. That was her student's plan according to myths.

Okay, we will ask more later but—wait where's Iida?

He was out the door about twenty seconds ago.

How long is it going to take him to get to the school and then back?

Fifteen minutes.

The battle continued Aizawa was taken down by the nomu at the eight-minute mark. Thirty seconds later All Might entered.

Shimura, what was that noise?

The Symbol of Peace, motherfuckers.

Rude.

"Nomu, kill All Might. I'll deal with Eraserhead." The blue-haired man reached five fingers my quirk showed what was about to happen. Eraser would die in less than sixty seconds. Not caring about the possible injuries I jumped down, managing to grab the villain's hand before he could hurt my teacher. I quickly broke his wrist and made it harder to be healed by shifting the pieces around slightly the villain grabbed at me managing to grab my shoulder and pull me over. His quirk spread faster than I had in my vision of it killing Eraser. I broke the bones of his other hand. He couldn't attack now that he had both hands broken. "Kurogiri, we're leaving."

Yaoyorozu make a rope to hold unconscious villains and prevent them from escaping Jirou, Denki, Katsuki and everyone else knock the villains the fuck out.

Is Mr. Aizawa okay?

I knew better than to answer. He was on the edge of death. We need to end this the teachers will be here in two minutes. Everyone stay safe and don't come to the central plaza. It's become dangerous.

Everyone acknowledged my words, and I turned off the quirk. All Might was the real reason I didn't want anyone in the central plaza. The teachers fortunately arrived at the correct time and Thirteen was taken to a special facility for their injuries.

Recovery Girl had both Aizawa and myself taken to her office I tried to stand but I crumpled like a paper bag and passed out.

Chapter Text

Aizawa Shouta POV:

I watched the kid in the bed next to mine as he began to stir. His breathing was shallow, and I could see the faint tremors in his fingers. Every inch of him looked like it had been through hell—broken ribs, fractured bones, and who knows what else. According to some of the other students, this kid had jumped down from the rafters, broken Shigaraki's wrist, had his shoulder grabbed and decayed by the villain, and still managed to break the villain's other fucking hand. That kind of power could only be a few people in this world. And one of them was definitely Atlantis.

Shimura Izuku pushed himself up and sat up straight in less than thirty seconds, ignoring the pain I was certain was stabbing him from every direction.

"Lay back down, Shimura," I ordered, my voice low but firm.

He didn’t seem to register the urgency in my words at first. He looked over at me, his eyes narrowing for a moment as if trying to read me. I watched him glance at the injuries on my body, the bruises, the cuts, the way I could barely move without wincing. And I saw it—the flash of something behind his eyes. It wasn’t fear or concern, but something... different.

"Shimura, lay back down," I repeated, louder this time, trying to cut through the fog in his mind.

He blinked, meeting my gaze. His expression shifted, his lips barely moving as he asked, "Why?"

I couldn't keep the edge out of my voice. "Half of your fucking bones are broken," I whispered-shouted, barely holding in the frustration at his stubbornness.

He glanced down at himself. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he paused. The shift in his demeanor was small but noticeable. "Oh..."

I let out a frustrated exhale, shifting my body to turn away from him. "How the fuck did you not feel that?"

Izuku’s lips curled into a familiar smirk, the one I had come to recognize as his "You-don’t-need-to-know" smile.

"Yes, I do need to know," I pressed, narrowing my eyes at him.

He muttered under his breath, the words barely audible. "Damn it."

I shook my head, an exhausted laugh escaping my lips. "You're something else, kid."

The room fell into silence for a moment, the kind of silence that was only broken by the sound of both our breathing, labored but not quite in pain anymore.

It was clear that this kid, whether Atlantis or not, had an uncanny ability to power through anything. I was starting to get the feeling that I would never understand the full extent of his strength or the layers of his complexity.

But if he didn't start reacting to pain soon, he wouldn't make it. And that I wasn't ready to deal with.

Tomura Shigaraki’s POV:

That brat! The nerve of him! Not only did he sneak up on me like some ghost, but he also had the audacity to break my wrist and hand. My hands! Both of them! Now I can’t even use my quirk properly, and it’s going to take months for my wrist to heal.

Every time I think about the crack of my bones under his grip, it makes my blood boil. That kid—no, that thing—wasn't normal. I should’ve seen him coming, should’ve been able to crush him, but there he was, glowing like some... angel.

A faint silver light surrounded him; it wasn’t just in my head—I saw it. The way it shimmered, almost like he had some blueish-silver halo over his head, like some twisted hero from a storybook.

What the hell was his quirk? It wasn’t just strength. It was something... different. Something more.

My hands throbbed as I stared at the cracks in my skin, the ache shooting up my arms. That brat was dangerous. I don’t care what it takes—I’ll figure out who he is, what he’s hiding, and the next time we meet...

...I’ll make sure he’s the one who’s broken.

Oboro Shirakumo (Kurogiri Spirit) POV:

For a brief, fleeting moment, I felt like me again. It wasn’t much—just enough to push through Kurogiri’s grip, enough to act, to help.

I managed to steer my body, and my actions, to get the students to safety. They didn’t know it was me, of course. To them, it was just the same shadowy figure they’d been fighting. But I knew. And I knew Shouta. I knew what he’d do to protect these kids. Even if that meant his death.

I focused on moving them to spots that would give them a fighting chance—behind debris, out of sight, anywhere that could keep them alive for just a little longer. Each action felt like dragging myself through mud, fighting against the overwhelming pull of Kurogiri trying to take back control.

But then... the battle was nearly over. The pull grew stronger, and I couldn’t hold on any longer.

Kurogiri’s grip snapped back into place, forcing me back under. My thoughts blurred, my movements no longer my own. Still, as the haze took over, I caught a glimpse of one of Shouta’s students—smart, quick-thinking—getting Tenya out the door.

That little spark of relief was enough to ease the weight of losing control again. They’d survive. At least for now.

I just wish I could’ve done more. Wish I could’ve spoken to Shouta, and told him I was still here... even if only for a moment.

Katsuki Bakugou POV:

That dumbass nerd! What the hell was he thinking?! Jumping down from the rafters, breaking Shigaraki’s wrist, getting his shoulder decayed, and still breaking the villain’s other hand? He could’ve died!

I’d seen the aftermath—his limp, broken body being dragged out of the fight. I knew Izuku was insane, but this? This was a whole new level of recklessness.

As soon as the chaos was over, I stormed to Recovery Girl’s office. I wasn’t sure what I was planning to say—maybe yell at him, demand an explanation for why he always felt the need to play the hero even when it meant getting himself killed. But when I got there, she stopped me before I could even get inside.

"You can’t see him yet," she said firmly. "He’s unconscious and needs rest. Come back tomorrow after he wakes up."

“What do you mean I can’t see him?” I growled, clenching my fists. “He’s my—!” I cut myself off, biting down on the words before they spilled out.

Recovery Girl raised an eyebrow at me, her usual sharpness softened. “Bakugou, he’s in bad shape. Most of his ribs are broken, and he’s lucky to be alive. Let him rest. He’ll need it.”

I wanted to argue, but I knew she was right. I couldn’t do anything for him now except wait.

As I left the office, my mind raced. Izuku wasn’t just a dumbass; he was my dumbass. And tomorrow, when I finally got to see him, I was going to make damn sure he understood just how much of an idiot he was for scaring me like that.

Izuku Shiumra POV:

I stared at the ceiling, lost in the haze of my own thoughts. Father’s presence lingered in the shadows, always there, always watching. It was suffocating, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was waiting for the right moment to pull me back into his world of control.

"What's going through your head, kid?" Mr. Aizawa’s voice broke through the silence, pulling me back to the present.

"I have no idea how to explain it," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Okay, we'll talk step by step. What do you feel emotionally?" His tone was steady, but I could sense the concern behind it. He was trying to understand me, to gauge how I was holding up. That was just how he was.

"I don't know... I never actually learned how emotions feel, so that doesn't help," I admitted, my voice quiet now. Emotions were a foreign concept to me—something I had never been taught to process, not by him, not by anyone. How could I explain that to someone who seemed to understand everything so easily?

Mr. Aizawa’s expression softened slightly, though the concern remained in his eyes. "Okay, we'll come back to that. What happened during the fight?" he asked, his voice gentler now.

"I had been transported to the rafters..." I paused, and suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head. It was like a burst of light and heat, reminding me of all the pain I had locked away.

"What happened?" he asked, urgency in his voice.

"Eye," I whispered, barely able to get the word out. "My father split my eye in half when I was younger... I was four, I think." My hand instinctively reached up to touch my left eye, the one that had been forever changed by him. "Mom and I aren't anywhere near him now though, so don't worry about me." The lie slipped out, a defense mechanism to push away the worry. It was easier to pretend.

Mr. Aizawa was silent for a moment, his eyes studying me before he spoke again. "May I see your eye, Shimura?"

I froze. No one had asked to see it before, not in the way he was asking now. I hadn’t even looked at it in years—didn't want to see the reminder of how much I had lost. But his tone wasn’t one of judgment. It was more like he wanted to understand. He wasn’t going to make me face it if I wasn’t ready.

Slowly, I lowered my hand, my fingers hovering just above my eye as I prepared myself to let him see what had been done to me.

Himiko Toga POV:

Dad and Papa had been talking in their office for the past hour, their voices low but serious. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I knew it had to be about the USJ attack. The air in the house was heavy—like the three of us were waiting for something, but no one knew what.

Thirteen had been hurt. Badly. I’d seen them pale and trembling, their suit torn and stained with blood. Recovery Girl said they were stable, but their injuries would take time to heal. I overheard someone mention they’d been sent to a specialized facility for treatment. Their back... I couldn’t stop picturing it. It looked so bad.

Thirteen was only five years older than the oldest students at U.A., yet they’d thrown themselves into danger without hesitation. That thought stuck with me. They were so young, but they carried themselves like a pro. It made me wonder if I could ever do the same.

Ochaco had been taken to another part of the USJ during the attack. I didn’t know if she was okay until much later, and the panic of not knowing had been unbearable. Momo had managed to find me amidst the chaos. She was so calm under pressure, it was almost unreal.

Together, we’d run for the entrance with Denki and Jirou. My legs felt like jelly, but I didn’t let myself stop. Not when there were villains everywhere, not when people were counting on us.

I couldn’t get the image of Thirteen out of my head. Their back was going to be painful. I’d seen Recovery Girl’s face when she’d looked at them—she was worried, and that made me worry even more.

It felt like everything was changing. The attack wasn’t just some random event; it was a reminder of how dangerous things really were. And now, I had to figure out what that meant for me—what it meant for all of us.

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My dear Readers,

I apologize to everyone reading. I am currently rewriting many of my stories. As well as I am dealing with a bit of drama in my friend group, and I have a lot on my to-do list, so I do apologize profusely for not posting. I have simply changed how the stories are going to go.

Thank you for your understanding. I plan to start posting again in October at the earliest and December/January at the latest. I hope you understand I am still human, and I do have to deal with things before they get worse.

-Broken Sunray