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Yuga was only four years old and he already knew that he was the most amazing person in the world.
That's what his parents told him. From the moment he stepped onto the Earth, they've done nothing but shower him in love and praise. He could simply take a breath and they would gush over how incredibly talented he was.
Of course they should. He was the Yuga Aoyama, after all!
His extended family adored him too. They all lived in France so he could never visit that often, but when he could, he was treated like royalty. They loved bringing him lavish gifts like authentic European chocolates, expensive clothing with lots of sparkles (which they knew was his favorite), and even a tiny little plush dog named Toutou that he carried around everywhere. Every one of his family members thought he was the best kid in the entire world. He could make them laugh and smile just from being himself. He was just that awesome!
His family moved to Japan when he was only two years old. Yuga quickly adapted to the changes in the surrounding culture thanks to his high intelligence. And before long, he became just as fond of Japan as he was of France.
Yuga's parents never stopped coddling him. Naturally, he began to believe that even strangers saw his superiority.
The naive boy was in for a rude awakening.
The first day of kindergarten came quickly. Yuga could tell that his parents were nervous, but they didn't need to worry about him! He could handle everything that came his way!
"You can't bring Toutou with you, Yuga," his mother said when Yuga instinctively reached for his favorite friend. Confused, he gazed up at her before she also pulled his hand away from his face. "And you have to stop sucking your thumb like that."
"Porquoi?" he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. He noticed the way his mother's frown was less confident than normal, and it made him wonder why.
Her face was stern. "Because the other kids won't like that." Before Yuga could say anything more, she held his hand and led him to the door. "Come on, mon chou. Papa's waiting for us in the car."
That was a little odd–his mother never looked that nervous before. But she was worried over nothing–the other kids would surely love him!
…Right?
When they first entered the kindergarten classroom, Yuga was ecstatic to see how many other kids there were. He wasn't shy about meeting them at all–once they realized who he was, they'd be drawn to him like moths to a lamplight, and he could dazzle their minds by revealing his awe-inspiring talents. His twinkling grin was always a crowd-pleaser.
But there was something Yuga was quickly realizing about the other kids. On first appearance, they seemed like your average class of kindergartners–chaotically running about the room, playing violently with toys, screeching loudly…the frivolity of youthfulness. But there was a distinct difference between Yuga and the other kids–one that he never thought would be a problem.
They all had quirks.
Okay, it wasn't all of the kids–there were two or three of them gathered in a circle, not paying the others any mind as they calmly stacked their blocks without using any sort of quirk. But the rest of the kids were enthusiastically showing off their quirks as if this was the first time they could. Some could project cool beams and shapes from their hands, some could grow animal horns and claws, some could make things move with their mind, and one kid even had extendable arms. If Yuga had to be honest...it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen.
France was a bit different than Japan. In France, quirks were more treated like myths because they were so rare. They weren't nearly as widespread as they were in the United States and Japan. So Yuga never had to worry about fitting in with the other French kids.
Now that Yuga was in Japan, he didn't fit in at all.
Yuga's outer appearance began to change. His confidence faded away in mere seconds, only to be replaced with the same nervous feelings his parents had been trying to hide from him. Intimidated, he took a few steps backwards, instinctively reaching for his mother's side and cowering behind her.
"What's wrong, mon chou?" He could hear the anxiety in his mother's voice as he dug his head into her side. "Why don't you play with the other kids?"
"I don't want to," he said, tears beginning to gather in his eyes.
"You were so excited to see them before," his father pointed out, kneeling next to him and pulling him away from his mother. "Why did you change your mind?"
The way his parents were so insistent with their questions told Yuga exactly what they were thinking. They knew what the problem was. They just didn't want to believe it.
Yuga would never fit in with the other kids if he didn't have a quirk.
The mixture of fear and sadness in Yuga's heart made the tears fall right out of his eyes, and he cried, "I don't want to be different from everyone else..."
His parents were silent for a moment, only giving him horrified stares that made him want to go straight home and hide in their arms until all of the bad feelings went away.
But that wasn't allowed. Yuga would have to go through his first day of kindergarten no matter how afraid he was.
The first day was very hard for him. He was on the brink of tears the entire time, unable to disguise his fear of standing out. But once that first day passed and he got to know the other kids, he learned that he was indeed not the only kid without a quirk. The few quirkless kids weren't as remarkable as the others, but they were humble and nice to be around, their lack of desire to brag about their quirks making them good company. Yuga enjoyed being around them, and soon enough, he forgot that he wanted a quirk in the first place. He might not belong with the kids with quirks, but he did fit in with his quirkless comrades. And that made him happy enough!
But his parents weren't happy about it. Even when Yuga promised them that he was okay with being quirkless, they were very stressed about his differences. They wanted more than anything for him to fit in–and not with the quirkless kids. They wanted him to have a quirk, even if it was impossible.
So they did anything they could to find him a quirk.
The obvious first step was to schedule him an appointment with a quirk specialist for an evaluation that every kid his age received. When Yuga was evaluated, he learned that the way his bones were shaped meant that he would never get his own quirk. He was forced to be quirkless for the rest of his life.
At that point, Yuga had already accepted the reality of his quirklessness, so the doctor's words didn't affect him at all. But his parents were in absolute anguish. They begged and pleaded to the doctor, asking over and over if there was anything they could do to change Yuga's future…
"Hmm…" The doctor adjusted his golden goggles, turning to Yuga and back to his parents with his eyes narrowed in thought. "As you know, there is no way to change someone's genetics. Your son will never naturally develop his own quirk. However…I might have a solution to your problem."
Yuga had never seen his parents' eyes light up so quickly as they did right then.
"Yes, please!" his mother eagerly nodded.
"We will do anything!" his father concurred. "What do we need to do?"
There was something about the doctor's expression that made Yuga uneasy. The doctor stared intensely at his parents, his one eyebrow raised. "You will do anything?"
"Yes!!" By now his parents were practically kneeling at the doctor's feet from the way they bowed so deeply. Yuga wondered if he should do the same.
But…I don't need a quirk.
Still, his parents obviously wanted him to get a quirk if they were willing to sacrifice anything just for his sake. So he didn't argue.
The doctor smiled for a moment before he turned back to Yuga. The way he stared at him almost felt predatory, and it made Yuga shrink away slightly. "Your son is exactly the person we need."
Yuga had a bad feeling about this. But his parents were overjoyed, his father happily shaking Yuga and his mother crying from how delighted she was. How could Yuga ever destroy their happiness?
His parents were doing him a huge favor. He would finally fit in, like he had always wanted to!
…Or at least that's how his parents saw it.
Eventually the doctor explained the plan. He knew a man who had the power to grant anyone a quirk he already owned. Apparently such an ability was the quirk he was born with. This man would meet the Aoyama family at their house and then transfer one of his many quirks to Yuga. His parents agreed to the doctor's proposal in a heartbeat.
When the man visited the Aoyama household, Yuga wasn't allowed to see him at first. His parents told him to be a good child and sit patiently in his room until he was allowed to come downstairs. Yuga knew what they were doing. Whenever they had new guests over, his parents would break the ice by sharing a few of their expensive imported wines they had collected over the years. Since Yuga was only six years old, he wasn't allowed to participate–not even if he only drank sparkling grape juice.
But that was okay. Because all of his patient waiting meant he'd finally get a quirk!
Soon enough, it was time! Yuga excitedly ran down the stairs, making sure not to knock down any of the surrounding decorations from his excitement, and entered the dining room.
The man seated across from his parents looked very sophisticated and mature. He wore a black tuxedo that was plain but bold, and his face was shaped from many years of aging yet void of a single wrinkle. There was a certain energy coming from his presence that Yuga couldn't explain, but it immediately mystified him. When the man's eyes landed on Yuga, the raw power of his gaze made the boy freeze on the spot. But then the man's expression softened, and he smiled. "Ah, you must be Yuga Aoyama."
Yuga couldn't speak right away. At first he wasn't sure why, but then he felt the lump in his throat and he realized that he was scared.
"Say hello to your guest, Yuga," his father encouraged after a moment of silence.
"Bonjour," Yuga was finally able to say, pushing down his fear. Why was he scared when this man was about to change his entire life?
His mother beckoned Yuga to come closer, so he did. "Our guest's name is All For One," she explained.
Yuga tilted his head. "His name…is All For One?" That was a very odd name for a person.
"That's not his actual name, son," his father said with a laugh. "It's like his superhero name."
The only thing Yuga said was, "Oh."
The man was closely watching Yuga with the same hunger as the doctor. It made Yuga uncomfortably squirm in place, and he felt the urge to hide behind his parents as usual. But he knew they wouldn't like that, so he told himself to be brave, standing a bit taller as All For One finally sat back in his chair.
"So he's not familiar with my name, either," All For One noted, giving Yuga a moment of relief as he turned his pensive gaze to his parents.
"No, none of us have ever heard of your name," his mother admitted. "I don't understand how. Your generous acts of giving quirks to those who need it deserve to be recognized!"
All For One smiled–a tiny yet powerful gesture. "Don't worry about that. You will never forget my name, I'll make sure of that."
Yuga didn't understand why, but All For One's words sent a sudden chill down his spine, making him feel even more uncomfortable. But his parents didn't have the same reaction. They continued their endless thanking, gushing over how amazing of a person All For One was. Seeing how high of a pedestal they were putting All For One on was making Yuga a bit jealous, but he tried to mask his frown with an awkward grin.
They didn't waste much time. Before long, All For One began the quirk transferring process by putting his hand on top of Yuga's head. His hand was cold to the touch, and it made Yuga flinch. He wasn't supposed to move during the process, but he was so scared he wasn't quite sure if he could move at all.
A few seconds later, the process was done. Yuga had his very own quirk! His impossible dreams had somehow become a reality--and it was making him very, very happy. Unable to contain his excitement, he tested his new quirk out. A tiny sparkling ray of light shot through the air, hitting the wall and nearly knocking down the family portrait hanging above them all. The realization that he finally had his very own quirk made Yuga's face break out into a giddy smile, and he happily hopped around the room, squealing, "I got a quirk!!"
The unfortunate thing about quirks was that they all came with their downsides. Yuga wasn't aware of this at first. But then he felt a sudden stab of pain in his stomach, and he fell to the floor, helplessly clutching his abdomen before his bowels decided that they didn't want to correctly function anymore.
And that was the beginning of Yuga's tummy problems.
One embarrassing change of clothes later, All For One called Yuga over. Still a bit upset over how badly his quirk had malfunctioned, Yuga tried to hide his shame by looking as confident as he could. All For One paid no mind to Yuga's shame or his accident, instead placing his icy cold hand on Yuga's shoulder and staring intently into his eyes. "I've given you the quirk that you so badly desired. Do you promise that you will always come to my aid in times of need?"
That offer felt like it came out of nowhere. Yuga was still a bit distracted by his shame to focus on the implication of All For One's words, so he nodded his head without much conscious thought and said, "Oui."
All For One's gaze lingered for a moment, his eyes deep as he calmly smiled. "Good."
Was that it? After his awful accident, Yuga was pretty much done with their hangout at that point. He looked back at his parents, wishing that he could tell All For One to leave without being seen as rude.
However, All For One had other plans.
Right when Yuga thought the night was over, All For One stepped towards his parents. "I would like to end our night on a…different note, so to speak."
His parents were confused yet obedient. "Yes," his mother nodded, "what is it?"
"This generous act I have performed for you…it's more than just an act of kindness." It almost felt like All For One's voice had changed. Or maybe that was Yuga's imagination. Still, there was something new about All For One's disposition, almost like the lighthearted flair from his words had been stripped away until they weren't so lighthearted anymore. "You can consider this act a contract. I have done something for you, and your son has promised to return the favor."
His parents were quiet for a moment, exchanging confused glances. "Yes…that is what we agreed to," his father said, a hint of caution in his voice.
"Then it is set in stone," All For One stated. "You will not tell anyone about this agreement. You will not tell anyone that your son got a quirk from me. You will not tell anyone that you know me at all. Is that agreed?"
"Of course, sir," his parents both said.
"And you will not ever think of breaking our contract," All For One continued, his face slowly growing darker the more he talked. The sudden transformation was making Yuga scared, and he took a few steps closer to his parents.
His parents once again agreed. "Of course."
Then All For One smiled. "Then follow me." He didn't hesitate to walk out of the room, beckoning the Aoyama family to follow him to the front door.
There was a sinking feeling of dread in Yuga's chest. He didn't like the way All For One was speaking. He didn't like the way All For One's eyes targeted him like that. But he had no choice as his parents dragged him along.
All For One brought them…to the back of a prison.
"As I have explained to you, your son is not the first person I've worked with," All For One started, walking through the shadows as they snuck along the side of the prison. The Aoyama family followed suit, staying as quiet as they could as per All For One's request.
"I don't understand what this has to do with a prison," his mother hesitantly said, the tautness in her voice catching Aoyama's attention. Even his parents were nervous now.
All For One's smile was innocent enough, but the ferocity in his gaze spoke to his irritation. "Do not interrupt me."
Aoyama's dread had grown so powerful that he was afraid he'd get an upset stomach all over again.
"As I said, I have worked with many people throughout my lifetime. The ones who've had the brightest futures were the ones who obeyed my every command no matter what. They are the people who I know I can put my full trust into." Then All For One stopped, the group now standing right next to the corner of the prison's side. Only a few more steps and they could see the front of the prison.
"Would you like to know what happens to people who don't keep their promise?"
Yuga didn't like seeing the way his parents' skin had grown so pale so quickly. Their horrified stares were the only reaction they had to All For One's question, too intimidated to give a proper answer. Yuga was just as afraid to act, only staring along with his parents.
"Then take a look yourselves."
His parents didn't move at first. All For One had stepped aside, inviting them to take a peek around the corner. But his parents could only stare at each other with the most terrified expressions Yuga had ever seen on them.
Yuga didn't like this at all.
"Go on, now. You don't want to waste my time…"
Those words spurred his parents to move, and they hurried to peek around the edge, Yuga trailing behind them.
When Yuga could finally see around the corner, he didn't quite understand what he was looking at. All he saw was a man resting on the ground in a weird position, his arms and legs splayed out in an unnatural manner. Yuga was confused about why the man decided to take a nap right at the entrance of the prison. Then he saw the substance covering the man.
"Maman…what's the red stuff on that guy?"
It was only when he saw his parents' faces that he realized what the red substance was.
"The man you see in front of you was rather foolish. We made an agreement years back. He was doing such a good job obeying my requests, too. And yet he still betrayed me, choosing his friends over me by sharing all of my plans. The poor fool thought I couldn't hear him, but in actuality, he'd sealed his fate as soon as he broke his contract. Right after he stepped out of jail, my friends decided to pay him a visit. You can see how that fared for him."
The man lying on the ground was dead.
Yuga was so terrified he was afraid to even breathe too loudly. He could feel All For One's gaze on his back, and it made him want to desperately cry, run away, hide–do anything to escape the awful feeling of knowing just how big of a mistake his family had made.
But there was no going back now. The man his family had thought had been their savior had turned into their manipulator, leaving them victims to whatever wills and desires he had for the world.
As Yuga forced himself to look back at the devil he'd mistaken for a man, he saw how sickeningly happy All For One looked, his face lit up with the joy of knowing how much power he held over the Aoyama family. Yuga would never forget the way his eyes bore into him like a starving animal cornering its prey. With a pleased smile, All For One ended the night with a few select words:
"I look forward to working with you, Yuga."