Chapter Text
Death was a fickle topic whenever it was brought up in conversations, especially now during the war. Izuku and his friends held out hope- foolish hope that they could outlive the cruelties of war, to live another day and see their once dreamed of jobs as Pro Heroes come to fruition. They were children when the war started, the second year of U.A. High School. They were all children when they were pulled into a war adults went in. He and his classmates were all child soldiers in the making.
Scars from the war had amassed on his body, in his heart- his soul and his mind, chipping away at him slowly. He could also see the wear and tear his fellow friends and classmates were going through. Each new injury, each new bruise, each new death. Their smiles dimmed every day, their hope diminished slowly, that spark- that hope that everything would all be okay slowly faded overtime. Morale was at an all time low, and they all knew it. He knew it. Even Kacchan stopped screaming all that loud. Well, he still did it, of course, but it was more out of desperation than pride.
“I was 4 when I learned that the world was never fair-”
Izuku saw his teachers, the principal and other heroes try to stop what were essentially teenagers- kids- in the eyes of the law, from getting dragged in. From child soldiers being made. But to no avail. The HSPC took one look at the toll the war was taking on the Pro Heroes and decided that they needed more people to fight in the war against villainous forces. He could see the way his Mr.Aizawa's eyes held guilt when he announced that the class would have to fight- that anyone with a hero license would have to fight. For the betterment of society, for their future, for their families safety. For everyone.
“...I’m sorry. We, the faculty at U.A. aim to provide a safe learning environment to future generations of heroes- however, our hands are tied as we are being forced to allow students with a hero license to fight in the war. Once more, we, the staff, are sorry..”
Izuku saw the way his mom cried when she heard the news, clinging and sobbing, begging for him not to leave her- to not go to war. She was inconsolable, wrapping him in her warm eyes and crying into his shoulders. She had always been so kind and emotional, it hurt him. It hurt him to see her hurt. He never wanted to burden her but this felt like he already did what he wanted to avoid.
“-no, nonono- my baby! Don't go please- please don't go…”
He remembers the day he told her about how he developed a quirk. He remembers the way she looked at him with confusion but had a glimpse of hope in her eyes. Had her quirkless son developed a quirk? Izuku wonders if she finally felt happy that he did. That she finally relieved that she won't have to face anymore scrutiny from the public or the social stigma anymore. He could see the way her shoulders seem less tense each day when she gets home from work. However, he sees that tension returning whenever she receives news that he gets hurt. He wonders if she still thinks he is still a fragile kid in her eyes.
“Izuku?”
“I have a quirk mom…”
“Oh, my baby-”
The media caught wind of it. It was a matter of time anyways, the HSPC and hero schools could never keep it under wraps. The media, always like sharks swimming around in the ocean, lurking for blood to be spilt and converging on it in a flash. Waiting for the next big news to flash to the public- no matter who it hurts. It could never be hidden, it was too much of a big deal. 'Child Soldiers' the tabloids labeled. The media was never fair, no, they were never kind. Two-sided as always. In one they worship and cheer a rising hero and in the next they cheer at their downfall. Always spouting news, following the latest trends or sniffing out any horrific, heart wrenching, and headline worthy stories. Before that faded away into the background, collecting dust and new sob stories got pulled to the front and into the spotlight.
“This just in! Many hero schools- along with U.A. are now employing children in the war! We will try to get an interview with an official. Stay tuned for it at seven.”
He saw some cry out at the outrageous news. Perhaps in a morale act or a moral dilemma. But it was fruitless and they could ultimately do nothing about it. What could they do? Fight in the war themselves? Take the place of future heroes and endanger themselves?
No, they couldn't do that. They don't have the experience nor the knowledge of fighting villains. So they couldn't do anything about the students fighting. They couldn't take their place. Even if they did, vigilante laws were still in place. Outrage may be quelled, but it still simmered underneath the surface, waiting before it all comes to a head and erupts.
“Is it true?”
“Huh? What true?”
“That hero schools are now employing child soldiers?”
“Yeah… yeah, it is. I’ve already pulled out my kid- you better pull out yours before something bad happens-”
Everything was going fine. Minor losses were taken in the eyes of the government. Even if heroes were getting hurt and mutilated beyond repair, even if most of them quit their jobs at the sight of imminent danger, even if they were killed with each battle taking place. Ms. Midnight is dead- she died, she isn't coming back-
It's fine. The world moves on.
So why did it feel like something bad would happen soon?
Three years.
It's been three years, or at least he thinks it has been- time slows along like a snail's pace - and this dreadful war keeps dragging along. There doesn't seem to be an end to it. No light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing. With all their planning and manpower, things should've been solved by now.
Izuku is now twenty. Each birthday that passed felt more and more like a drag on his body. He should be glad that he and all his classmates are alive. He should. But he can't, not when their losses outweigh their wins. Not when each day the risk of losing one of his dear friends grows. He feels more jaded and numb nowadays. He didn't like this feeling but it crawled and twisted in him until it became the norm.
Musutafu, what was once a populated and bustling city, was now a wasteland. Buildings crumbled as they were standing. Streets that were lined with crowds now are filled with rubble falling from said buildings. Fire lingered here and there from all the fighting and battles. What was once loud chatter turned into roars from nomus which traverse the ruins of a ghost city. Every now and then, an explosion goes off in the distance bringing another building or skyscraper down. He wonders if his home is still standing? Probably not, but it would be nice to see it un-damaged.
For the sake of normality. For the sake of preserving what little remainder of his childhood he had left. For the sake of having something to return to once everything was over- if it ever will be.
Last month, many citizens were evacuated out of the warzone filled city, to other prefectures. Ones that haven't been sacked by war yet. Including his mom and Kacchan’s parents. It was always a desperate and mad scramble to get the defenseless citizens away from the nomus running around the area.
Izuku looks over, scanning the city on a tall and seemingly undamaged skyscraper. He wonders how many more veteran heroes will quit this time around? Last round it was a group of them, then again, there aren't many heroes left to quit. Not that they really could, moral obligation and all. Heroes were seemingly dwindling too much. Deaths were claiming too many lives from their sides. Even if the Japanese government tried calling in more heroes from overseas, it wouldn't be enough to fill their empty ranks.
Citizens who had strong physical or emitting quirks had also joined the ranks, protecting where the heroes couldn’t. Last he checked in, they were all stationed at U.A. The last stronghold of the city.
Izuku sometimes wondered what if he hadn't accepted All Might’s offer to inherit his quirk. He wonders what would've happened if he gave up being a hero altogether on that fateful day, if All Might couldn't have found him to make his proposal, if he didn't even get to the scene of that slime villain. Would All Might have found a better holder for One for All? Would this war still have happened? Was he the reason for all of this still continuing?
The vestiges in his head hums and shrieks loudly in the echoes of his mind, dragging him out of his downward spiral of ‘what ifs’.
Izuku could only let out a shuddering breath, realizing he was sitting on the roof. He could only reply with a weak laugh of his own, holding a hand to his chest, listening to his own heartbeat skitter along. He could feel the thrumming of a familiar energy course inside of him, pulling more of him back into reality.
Right. This was no place to be distracted. He could have a small breakdown later when it's his turn to rest.
“HELP!”
He snaps his head towards his side, where the scream was coming from. A red X forms along his face as green lightning starts dancing around him as he gets up and off of the roof. He leaps and jumps off the roof towards the sound, racing against the wind with precision.
Resting time was over.
Three years, three months.
The rest of the veteran heroes gathered at U.A, around a meeting table- one that would’ve been used by the teachers to discuss and plan for the school year. Months have passed, and things seem bleak as ever. Even with all the effort, pain, time and sacrifice they’ve put into, they were only at a stalemate against All for One and Shigaraki.
Kouda’s pigeons have scanned the city and received news that Shigaraki will be planning another gambit like the first earlier into the war. And along with this gambit, potentially releasing more nomus into other prefectures. That was not the worst news yet, as Kouda’s critters also reported a moment later that the attack will be directed at the last stronghold of Musutafu, U.A. If U.A. falls, then the other prefectures will be dragged into the battles without U.A. holding All for One’s forces back.
It was not like they had any other choice. Meeting Shigaraki in a face-to-face battle will most likely lead to most- if not all of them dying. With the villain’s power growing stronger and stronger the longer All for One stays in his body.
Izuku takes a glance around at his group, the one that he has worked with since the beginning of all of this.
Momo seemed much more skinny than ever, like she would collapse any moment. Food reserves had been low ever since Shigaraki had cornered them and destroyed any supply line they had. Food has been lacking and with her quirk needing sustenance to create more weapons and resources for them.
Shoto was always bordering frostbites and burns. His dual quirk has been pushed to its limits multiple times, especially that fight against Dabi- Touya. Permanent scars mark his body with a permanent reminder of everything that happened.
Kacchan was always sweating just to fill up his grenade gauntlets just to be able to meet a nomu head on. His hearing worsened each day with each loud explosion that was created. Scars also marred his body, with one being from when he was stabbed by a spike like Nighteye- except he survived with the help of Edgeshot.
And Eri- little Eri who he promised that he would protect her smile- was working overtime with her own quirk. Healing and reversing damages just so that they could continue to be on the frontlines, defending from Shigaraki’s attacks. Fighting for a future to even exist.
Their senseis are all protecting the civilians while watching the generation of heroes that they’ve only taught for a year take to the battles head on. The generation that got dragged into more villain shenanigans than any other year. 1A, he wished that he could go back in time and appreciate the time he had back then. Especially since this was their future.
“Deku”
Izuku snaps out of his thoughts, glancing at Kacchan.
“Kacchan, will we make it?” he asks suddenly, not able to stop the words before it comes out his mouth.
“I- of course we will Deku! We made it this fucking far, we can crush these dumbasses and save the world. Why? Why are you asking-”
“It’s fine Kacchan,” Izuku reassures him, interrupting the blond, “I wasn’t sure why I asked that. Just, ignore it and focus on the task at hand.”
He ignores the look Kacchan gave him.
One last gambit.
One last gamble.
Izuku grunts in pain, biting the inside of his cheeks to prevent himself from screaming out in pain. As much control as he gained over his quirk, he still couldn’t stop the bone-breaking from happening if he pushed his body too far. He wanted to scream out for his fellow friends and old classmates but they were all caught up in their own battles.
He looks ahead of him, Shigaraki- or was it All for One? - was doing his usual villain monologue, buying them some time. It was the usual destroying society and rebuilding it in his vision. Other times it was laughing at the hero's failures. This time was never any different.
Izuku picks himself up, he always has. He activates his quirk once more, feeling the lightning dance around his skin before launching himself at Shigaraki with all the force he could muster in his tired body.
He could feel rage pour over from its little box hidden away in the corner of his heart. He desperately wanted to save Shigaraki, for Nana, but it seems he was far too gone. With every plea for the crazed man to return to his senses, nothing but mockingly laughter returned.
Izuku was tired of watching his friends get hurt protecting what was left of society in Musutafu. He screams in anger with every taunt as he continues punching at a hundred percent and just letting his quirk loose. Smoke Bomb and black whip were also working alongside float, making him look like an eldritch being.
He didn’t plan his strength too well in his mad anger, piercing his hand through Shigaraki's chest. Izuku holds his breath as he watches Shigaraki scream at him, grabbing his arm which is now decaying slowly in grey dust.
He could hear explosions and ice shattering rings in the background as he punched his hand through Shigaraki’s face. He hopes his friends forgive him for this unheroic act.
He hopes Nana forgives him for his attempt on Shigaraki.
Last he could feel was pain burning through his body before darkness gave way and swallowed his vision whole. He could faintly hear the vestiges scream for him, the cacophony of their voices fading into the void almost like they were being ripped away from his side.
So this was it. This was the end.
Izuku would be lying if he didn't have any lingering regrets. He wishes he was still alive just to see his friends, teachers and mom again. He wishes he was still alive to graduate and become a hero along with his friends and peers. But most of all, he wishes he was still alive to save people with a smile.
At least Shigaraki was defeated- even if he had to kill him. It was the only silver lining in this depressing situation of his. Izuku hoped the villain's death sticked, otherwise Japan will still be very much screwed.
So why was it that when everything was finally became quiet that it suddenly became loud once more.
“Kiku, darling, look,” a light feminine voice coos, “Our little girl is so adorable~”
“Oh?” a second voice, much deeper yet still light and warm, “Is little Yumi finally waking up?”
When Izuku finally regains the energy to open his eyes, he looks up at the unfamiliar faces that grace his view. Tiredness and disoriented from everything still lingered in his mind as he observed his surroundings. He was lying on a soft patch of grass with flowers surrounding him. The flowers were in full bloom, all in a variety of blue.
There was a woman picked him up and a man looking down at him, both of them wearing fond and happy expressions. What?-
The woman has long wavy blue hair, dancing behind her in waves. Her heterochromia of sapphire and gold eyes gleaming down at him with joy. And the man. He had white long hair, tied behind him in a ponytail. His own silver eyes looking down at him with that same look in his eyes like the woman.
“Oh my, had fun watching daddy planting flowers all day?” the woman teases him, booping his face making him scrunch it. Wait. Her? Daddy? He didn’t have a dad last he checked.
“Oh she definitely did,” the man shoots back, caressing his face. Who were they talking about? What were they doing here? What was he doing here? Is this a ploy from All for One?-
“Here, let me carry her darling,” the man speaks up once more, gently carrying him from the woman’s hold.
Izuku lets them, not able to gather all the information needed to act accordingly. But that's when he started piecing all of it together. And the final nail in the coffin was when the man brought him in front of a large window, a different reflection staring back at him.
When he looked at himself, he saw a little girl who looked like a toddler looking back at him. His hair wasn’t green anymore but pure white. His eyes weren’t a dark forestry green but a heterochromia of silver and gold. What would have been his hero costume was now a little pale blue dress along with socks.
Oh.
Oh no.
He looks down at his hands, being surprised why he sees small chubby hands. He still can’t accept it. Izuku remembers dying alongside Shigaraki. He remembers dying. How was he still alive- no less in a new body?