Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

 Cale pat Raon’s head after the black dragon barreled into his stomach in tears,

 Raon had definitely not been scared that Cale was going to die. No way. That happened way too often to be so scared now.

 Cale murmured soft words of comfort to the sobbing dragon.

 Raon would admit he had been scared this time.

 The black despair clinging to the White Radish had collected into a giant mana bomb, and Raon had been terrified that he wouldn’t be able to save Cale.

 An unfamiliar voice rang in Raon’s ears, asking if he wanted to go on vacation with Cale.

 Raon didn’t recognize the voice, so he ignored it… but he still answered.

 After all that Cale had been through, he deserved a nice rest.

 Raon regretted agreeing after hearing Cale’s furious shouting directed at the god of Death.

‘What did that bastard do now?’

 That bastard sent Cale and Raon to another damn world.

 At least Cale could be free from the lunatic Clopeh for a while.

“AHHHHHH!!!! The god of death informed me that my deity thought of me!!!!!!”

‘Damn bastard god of death. How dare you tell Clopeh what I was thinking… how did I even hear Clopeh from another world?’

 Cale blinked his eyes open, slowly taking in his new surroundings until he saw a blond boy standing beside him.

 Given that Cale was also standing, he was in the body of a child the same relative age as the blonde.

 He was about to wonder where he was, all alone without his family in yet another world, when a voice that shouldn’t be there spoke from the blonde.

“Weak human?”

 Cale whipped around to face the blonde directly, utterly bewildered by the strange turn of events.

“Raon?”

 The blonde puffed out his chest, looking proud that Cale had recognized him.

“It is I! The great and mighty dragon, Raon Miru!”

 Raon was blonde in this strange world, with unnaturally colored red eyes…

 Well, it would have been unnatural in Cale’s original world as Kim Rok Soo.

 Raon studied Cale for a moment before giggling.

“The weak human is a weak broccoli here! Don’t worry human! I will protect you!”

 Raon stared at Cale expectantly as Cale spotted himself in the mirror for a moment.

“Yes yes. Raon is great and mighty.”

 From what Cale had observed, he had green hair and green eyes in this world.

‘Can I have my red hair back? I got comfortable with Cale’s beauty. Please?’

 Cale blinked as his hair swiftly turned red and grew a few inches. His eyes also turned their old color as Cale… and he seemed to now be a younger version of Cale.

 Raon gasped in awe, wondering if he could do the same.

 Raon closed his eyes to sense this world’s mana, which seemed extremely weak compared to their original world.

“Human! This world’s mana is weak. The citizens of this world must also be weak! They are not even as strong as my weakest claw!”

 Raon shared his observations with his favorite person.

 Cale hummed before searching the room for anything that could be used for research.

 Cale smirked once he spotted a laptop on the desk behind him, immediately climbing onto the chair to search up things about this world.

‘Quirks? Abilities… I might need Record for this.’

 Cale clicked through sites and researched about quirks as much as he could until whichever adult was taking care of Cale and Raon arrived.

“Izuku~ Katsuki~ lunchtime!”

 Cale noticed that the woman coming into the room had green hair like Cale used to have.

 She blinked when she saw Cale with a different hair color than he was supposed to have.

“Izuku? What happened to you? Your hair… and your eyes…”

 Cale figure out their names now.

‘So I am Izuku, and Raon is Katsuki.’

 Cale made eye contact with Raon, who nodded. Raon had come to the same conclusion as Cale.

 Cale decided to turn on his acting. He had already analyzed whatever knowledge 'Inko' had on her laptop, and now just had to act on it.

“Mama! I think it’s cause of my quirk!”

 Raon made a funny face seeing Cale acting like a child in person.

 It was different from acting as Naru, since Izuku was four years old.

 Raon realized that a ‘quirk’ could change one’s appearance, and quickly decided what he wanted his quirk to be, since it could be anything.

 Raon changed his hair color to black, and his eyes to blue, to match his true draconic appearance.

 Raon would use his polymorph as his quirk, so he could stick to his dragon form more often.

 Unfortunately for Raon, that wasn’t how the quirk society or laws worked.

“I got my quirk too!”

 Raon announced after using the fragile mana of this world.

“Ah! Good for you, Katsuki-chan! Right, Izuku? You’re happy for your Kacchan, right?”

 Cale nodded with a polite childlike smile.

“Of course!”

 Raon grinned as Inko began to exit the room before pausing.

“Oh! And Izuku, dear. You received a package from someone going by… Bob?”

 Cale’s smile twitched and Raon went slack-jawed as he stared at Cale.

“Human! That’s the death bastard, right?”

 Raon whispered into Cale’s ear so Inko didn’t overhear.

“Yes. It is.”

 Cale’s face would have twitched had he not had impeccable control over his expression.

“Thank you, Mama!”

 Cale spoke sweetly, the tone almost tooth-rotting with how sugary it sounded.

 Inko handed Cale a bag… his bag. That damn bastard was the reason Cale and his youngest were in another world!

At least that damn bastard gave Cale his bag.

 Opening the bag, he found the god of Death’s divine item and the top’s whip too, along with several other pockets of items.

‘I’ll explore all of it later. For now, we need to get used to this world.’

 The wind elementals shifted the air subtly, urging him to grab the whip so they could chatter to him.

‘Not now. Now is not the time for that.’

Chapter Text

 Cale sifted through his bag as Raon sat close beside him, nearly smothering Cale with his proximity.

 Cale couldn’t hold Raon like before since they were both similar sizes, but Raon liked being able to stick close to Cale.

 So far, the bastard that brought them to this world was trying to send a message to Cale through the divine item (which he was ignoring for obvious reasons), and he had found several bottle of mana recovery potions and healing potions.

 There were apple pies tucked into the corner of the bag that had been transformed into a spacial pouch, and a large container of lemon tea.

 Cale shuddered before putting the large container back into the bag.

 The two otherworlders had eaten lunch with Izuku’s mother, acting as normal as possible…

 Although Raon acted way more friendly than the original Katsuki.

 Now that Cale had time to himself, disguised as playtime, he checked the out-of-reach contents of his bag.

 There was the World Tree’s Dagger, which Cale kept hidden from Raon’s sight, and a magic bracelet.

 There was a note attached to the bracelet that explained its functions for Cale, which could be simplified as a stabilizer for his Ancient Powers since the mana of that world was out of sorts and forcibly shifting his plate.

 The bracelet would protect his plate from that world’s energy, and steady his plate so he can hear his Ancient Powers again.

 Admittedly, Cale had felt his mind was too quiet for quite a while.

 He silently slipped on the bracelet, which fitted to his small size.

 The transparent crystals adorning the bracelet changed to a red that matched Cale’s hair.

 Raon decided to take a nap on Cale’s lap as Cale continued checking the bag for anything else.

 Specifically, he was searching for his money.

“Katsuki! Mitsuki is here to pick you up!”

 Raon gasped, shooting upright from where he was lying on Cale.

“Can I stay over? I wanna stay with the weak human!”

 Inko and Mitsuki paused as they registered what Katsuki said.

“Is—is that another new nickname, Mitsuki?”

 Inko wasn’t certain whether her son would take offense to that nickname.

 Izuku wanted to be a hero like All Might, so Katsuki calling him a weak person was insulting.

 Mitsuki glanced back at Inko, confusion in her own gaze.

“I’m not sure… we should check on them.”

 Inko and Mitsuki went back to the room their children were playing in.

 Mitsuki stilled seeing Izuku with longer red hair and reddish brown eyes instead of green like Inko, and Katsuki with black hair and blue eyes instead of the same colors as her own.

“What happened?”

 Mitsuki asked her best friend in a whisper somewhat uncharacteristic of her.

 Inko shrugged with a wry smile.

“They said it was their quirk? I don’t know what it is yet, though. We’ll have to check later.”

 The position of the two playmates startled both parents.

 Izuku was fiddling with the bag, while Katsuki was lying on top of Izuku with such a calm that Mitsuki was wary.

“If Izu-chan can keep Katsuki calm like this, it might be worth just letting Katsuki stay at Inko’s house.”

 Mitsuki murmured to herself within earshot of Inko.

“What about back and forth days? Katsuki stays over tonight, and Izuku goes over to Mitsuki’s place tomorrow?”

 Mitsuki grabbed Inko’s hands, expressing her delight at the idea.

“Yes. Definitely! If that brat can stay this calm, then I’ll accept the proposal!”

 Inko laughed softly, glad her friend was feeling better and acting like normal.

 The two looked back at their children with soft smiles.

“We still need to find out what quirks would change their appearances like that.”

 Cale waited for the two adults to move to another room to discuss the sleepover schedules before pulling out a pouch from his bag.

 Completely disregarding the cintamani for now.

‘My money! It’s useless here, but still. Money is money. It’s gold.’

 Cale hugged the money pouch to himself before tentatively putting it back into the bag.

 Raon snuggled closer to Cale, who sighed at his child’s antics.

 The may be the same age physically in this world, but Cale was first and foremost Raon’s guardian.

 Cale scooped the baby dragon onto himself, lying on the cushion set on the floor before taking a nap.

 Even in his sleep, he never let go of Raon.

 The visit to the doctor was somewhat uneventful, with Cale learning more about this body than he would’ve liked.

 This body was not supposed to have a quirk, and the doctor himself said Cale was quirkless aside from a mutation that changed his hair and eye color.

 A bold lie, is what Inko assumed, but Cale knew the truth.

 He had just asked for his hair to return to normal. No quirk involved.

 After putting on the bracelet though, the voices of his Ancient Powers came in full force.

–Cale!!! Where the XXX are we?!

‘Hello to you too, Crazy Kid.’

–…Do you still have your money?

 Cale decided to ignore the Cheapskate for now.

–Cale! Sob. This body is so weak! Maybe even weaker than your body back home! Do you know how hard I have to work with that bracelet to keep your plate stable inside this body? This body doesn’t even have its own plate!

 The Crybaby had almost been ignored by Cale, had he not started ranting about the differences between their bodies.

‘Hm. Interesting.’

 The other Ancient Powers, except the Glutton, remained quiet as they adjusted to the world.

–I’m hungry. Cale. Eat something. Now. I’m hungry.

‘Yes yes. I too am hungry. I haven’t had lunch yet.’

 Cale would consider his Ancient Powers one quirk of nature, so he didn’t have seven separate quirks. Blood-Drenched Rock and Annual Rings of Life were still kept in his bag, but they weren’t really Cale’s.

 Cale and Inko left the doctor’s office quietly, with Inko glancing at Cale in concern.

 The original Izuku would’ve been devastated to hear he didn’t have a quirk, but Cale was not Izuku and couldn’t care less.

 He would have to research quirkless people when he returned…

“HUMAN!!! The bald man said my quirk was explosions! He was weird!!!”

 Raon lunged on top of Cale, snuggling closer as Cale sighed.

“Explosions are cool. You are still great and mighty.”

 Raon perked up upon hearing Cale, smiling smugly and posing like he usually did as a dragon.

“You’re right, weak Human! I am still great and mighty! Even if explosions are not my quirk!”

 Mitsuki heaved as she arrived out of breath. Raon had ran immediately to find Cale, so she had to hurry to keep up.

“Katsuki, what the hell… do you mean your quirk… isn’t explosions?! You inherited my… quirk!”

 Raon frowned, about to argue that his name was the great and mighty dragon Raon Miru, but Cale pat his head. Stopping the dragon from arguing.

 Raon turned back towards Cale and hugged him with a genuinely sugary-sweet smile.

 They went to Mitsuki’s house, since their first sleepover last night had been at Inko’s, and Raon explained his 'real' quirk.

“I am a great and mighty dragon! Explosions are just a part of my mighty powers!”

 Mitsuki looked at Raon in disbelief.

“None of your family have a dragon quirk.”

“Yes, well. I do! Human says I am great and mighty, so I am great and mighty!”

 The adults giggled at Raon’s cute way of phrasing it.

 By now, they figured out that Raon only called Cale 'human', and just gave everyone else roundabout nicknames.

“Human! Can I turn into a dragon now?!”

 Raon turned his gaze to Cale, searching for permission.

“Not yet. We need to have a large private space. It’s illegal quirk usage otherwise.”

 Mitsuki smirked smugly.

“Well. My house is privately owned land, so there should be fine.”

“Yay!!!!”

–This is a bit… Cale, is this normal here?

 Cale made some distance so they wouldn’t hear Cale talking to himself.

“I am beginning to think so.”

 Raon chose the biggest space outside in the backyard, grabbing as much of the frail mana as he could to polymorph.

 With a burst of mana, Raon turned back into his dragon form, shocking Mitsuki and Inko, who had stayed to watch.

“I am the great and mighty dragon!”

 Raon proclaimed rather loudly, taking a small bit of mana to form a little explosion and thereby explaining the explosion quirk.

“So that’s why Katsuki’s hair changed color!”

 Mitsuki spoke with evident relief.

 Cale just wanted to take a nap. He was tired from walking around too much.

 Inko left as the evening crawled towards them.

 Cale really wasn’t used to having such an expressive mother, as Violan Henituse did her best to be poised as a Duchess.

 Mitsuki brought Cale to Katsuki’s room, while Raon followed behind and held Cale’s hand.

 Mitsuki would have squealed at such a cute sight had she not been slightly unnerved by Katsuki’s change in behavior.

 Cale had yet to show whatever his quirk was, as he was still debating whether to show it or not.

 It might be better to pretend to not have a quirk, to be underestimated.

 The laws were extraordinarily lax towards the quirkless in society, and they cannot legally be arrested for vigilantism, aside from obvious crimes and laws that Cale had already dodged with Alberu.

 Speaking of, he had a cintamani in his bag.

 Cale pulled out his bag once Mitsuki left Cale and Raon alone in the room.

 The cintamani was right underneath the money pouch Cale had hidden.

 Pulling out the cintamani, he wondered who he would call first.

 He had already received an explanation for the cintamani from Death’s divine item, and an excuse that the bastard wanted to give Cale and Raon a vacation.

 The duo connected the cintamani and waited for the other end to make contact.

–Hello? Cale? Is that you? Are you alright?

 Cale immediately took note of everyone in Alberu’s room.

 Eruhaben, Duke Fredo, Ron, Choi Han, Ohn and Hong, and Alberu himself.

“It is an honor to be greeted by the sight of the Roan Kingdom’s brilliant sun so quickly!”

 Cale’s voice was admittedly squeaky since he was four years old, but his scammer smile was already in place.

 Cale went stiff when he heard a familiar voice cooing at 'mini Cale' appearing.

–Aw!!! My little Naru! You are even cuter than when I last saw you, my child!

–Cale. What happened you unlucky bastard for you to be so small?

–Young Master, would you like for this old butler to visit the god of Death so he may assist you in this other world?

–Haiz… what trouble have you gotten yourself into now, Dongsaeng.

–Cale-nim! Can I come help? Do you need me?

–Cale-nya! Youngest! How is it?

–Cale-nya! I found another poisonous plant! Rosalyn-nya teleported us all here a few minutes after you disappeared! Oh! Dongsaeng! Is it fun there?

 Cale decided to answer one at a time as Raon jumped forward in his human appearance.

“It’s weird here! Everyone has powers, and apparently it’s inherited! They didn’t even believe me when I said I was great and mighty! And the mana is so weak and sickly, it’s weaker than the weak human!”

 The group turned serious at that.

–Weaker than the unlucky bastard? That’s serious. Will you be able to teleport home?

 Cale felt iffy as he started answering the questions he hadn’t been able to before, not noticing how the adults who fought over the claim of his father stared at him and wondered how he was so cute.

“Anyway, Fredo. I am not your child. Stop speaking like the god of Death. I am not your child and I am not his child. I just appeared here in his body, but my hair was not red before. It turned red after I convinced that bastard to turn my hair back. Ron, you have your own responsibilities back home, you do not have the time to be here. Choi Han, do not worry. I still have my Ancient Powers here, and Raon is with me. And Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Roan Kingdom’s shining and brilliant sun, Alberu Crossman, I do not know what you may mean. I am grateful that you have even deigned to grant me your attention, hyung.”

–Yes. I suppose I truly am your hyung now that you’re a child.

‘Shut it, hyung. You’re being a bastard on purpose.’

“Hyung, I will accept another golden plaque when I return.”

–You—

“Goodbye!”

–Little Naru—

–Unlucky bastard.

–Young Master—

–Bye youngest!

–Bye bye!

–Haaah…

–See you, Cale-nim!

 Cale waved goodbye to the group and tossed the cintamani into his spacial pouch.

‘I’m not contacting them again. That was way too strange. What was Fredo even doing there?’

“Human! It’s bedtime! This great and mighty dragon misses sleeping beside Hyung and Noona.”

 Cale pat Raon’s head as they went to bed.

“I miss them too, Raon.”

‘It is very different speaking to them, than being beside them.’

Chapter Text

 Raon skipped into the classroom, ready to wake up his sleeping human, before pausing as he took in the familiar sight.

 Cale sat at his desk, sleeping peacefully as the sun illuminated his blood-red hair and made it shine like the roaring flames of the Fire of Destruction.

 His eyelashes fluttered softly with every slight shift, glittering in the light.

 His hair draped over his back in colorful splashes compared to the dark uniform. A uniform that reminded Raon of his Commander outfit.

 Cale looked like a fairy from the stories. Ethereal, mystical, cold, mystifying.

 Even with his hair tied back, his beauty was astounding. Especially with the sun’s rays splayed over him like a dazzling spotlight.

 Raon smirked when he saw the crowd of students and teachers in awe of Cale’s otherworldly beauty.

 The students were there because they all had some sort of crush or admiration for Cale, while the teachers were there because Cale was a brilliant student even without a quirk… and they wanted to appreciate his beauty.

 No one believed he had no quirk, since his allure was far too overwhelming to not be one.

 Raon was the only person in the world, other than Cale himself, to know what Cale’s quirk really was.

 Raon should say quirks, but Cale had clearly said to lump them all in as one powerful nature quirk.

 Even the birds and other wildlife stopped by the school for a glimpse of Cale’s radiant magnificence.

‘Oh. Am I beginning to sound like the crazy Clopeh? Huh. The human is just too pretty!’

 Raon sauntered into the empty classroom, proud that he was Cale’s best friend in this world.

 Cale was still Raon’s wonderful Dad, but it was awkward to refer to him that way when they were the same age.

 The school had already gotten used to Raon’s somewhat eccentric behavior, intimidated by his ‘explosion’ quirk that could make Raon a hero.

 Raon would only be a hero if Cale wanted him to be, because Cale was Raon’s hero.

 From what Loud Mitsuki said about the Katsuki from before Raon and Cale appeared, Cale might’ve preferred being Katsuki so he could pretend to be loud and violent and be as trashy as he wanted.

 The god of Death, however, put Raon there instead since Raon could already blow things up.

 The reason Cale was Izuku and not some other person close to Katsuki, was because Izuku was quirkless, like how Cale wasn’t a mage.

 Well, that’s what Raon believed anyway. That bastard hasn’t said much aside from basic instructions on how to pretend to be normal here.

“HUMAN!!!!!”

 Raon jumped to wake Cale up with a tackle and a hug.

 Most people’s quirks appeared similar to how their personality was like.

 People with explosion quirks had very loud and volatile personalities, but Raon was a cinnamon roll that spread smiles.

“…Raon…? Ah… Kacchan!”

 Cale was all smiles seeing his youngest so joyful, before he turned to the crowd outside the room with a frown.

“What is everyone doing, Kacchan?”

“Oh, them? Watching you sleep!”

 At Raon’s words, the crowd quickly dispersed so Izuku wouldn’t be able to know who was watching him.

 Too bad for them, Cale was Izuku.

“…I see.”

 Raon snuggled closer to Cale, who was now more than a little exasperated.

 Raon was now fourteen, so Cale had expected him to mature somewhat, but Raon would always be Cale’s youngest, so Raon acted like the baby Cale knew.

 Raon’s originally blonde and spiky hair had smoothed down. His hair was longer, but not as long as Cale’s hair that was now exactly the same as his hair in his twenty-year-old body.

 Cale pat Raon’s head with a warm smile. They both missed their family, being in this world for ten years already.

 Somehow, Cale had a feeling that this world also had a novel in his original world, but one he didn’t read.

 He couldn’t know which one for sure, but it definitely was a novel.

 If only a certain bastard had let him read it…

 Raon grabbed Cale’s hand in his own, dragging Cale out of the school to investigate whatever was in the market.

 Raon’s family was apparently rich, given that Katsuki’s family even gave Izuku an allowance, but Cale wasn’t going to complain.

 Being with Raon at the market was certainly a nice experience.

 Raon realized he had left something back at the school, and motioned for Cale to go ahead as he ran back to grab it.

 Cale flipped through his notebook, empty of anything except seemingly random scribbles.

 The notebook had been meant for his analysis on heroes, but he could easily do that in his head instead of wasting space in his notebook.

 The random scribbles were actually small test sketches to see how well the paper worked for drawing, since some paper didn’t act the way one would prefer for a sketchbook.

 He decided to sketch one of his Records of his family as he retraced his recorded path back to his residence for the night.

 Cale was to sleep over at Raon’s place tonight, as part of the pattern.

 The Record Cale was sketching was one of Raon’s favorites.

 The time Cale rescued Raon from Venion.

 Raon’s joyful eyes when he was free was the most memorable part for Cale.

 He sketched Raon’s small dragon body after it was all healed from the torture, a look of wonder as he marveled about how a human could be so kind.

 Cale smiled softly, too engrossed in sketching the moment Raon’s life changed to notice the sludge dripping from the ceiling after he had gone into the tunnel.

 His notebook fell as his body was lifted by the sludge, the villain trying to take Cale’s body.

 Self-defense was a time quirk usage was legal.

‘Cheapskate.’

–Let’s burn this monster!

 Cale heard the Ancient Power’s voice affirm the decision.

 The Ancient Powers were noisy, so Cale tuned them out until he wanted to hear them.

 Rose gold thunderbolts formed in his hands buried by the sludge, burning the villain from the inside as it recoiled and screeched.

 Cale needed an alibi, and quickly. He had noticed a Hero approaching, but he didn’t have the patience to wait for rescue.

“Make it look like someone else helped me.”

 Cale murmured softly to the wind, unable to hear the reply since he wasn’t holding the top’s whip.

 One wind elemental shifted his hair as if patting him in reassurance.

 They would get it done.

 Cale relaxed as the approaching hero immediately tried to capture the retreating villain.

 He hadn’t expected to see All Might, but he really didn’t care.

 After All Might checked on him, Cale leaned down to pick up his notebook.

 Flipping through it to see if it was intact, he realized All Might had written his signature.

“I’m fine, Sir. Next time, if there is one, do not touch my belongings without permission.”

 Cale grit his teeth as he gave the hero a polite smile anyway.

 The hero stood, shocked at Cale’s bold approach, before coming back to his senses.

“Where exactly did that villain escape to?”

 Cale wondered aloud, an obvious ploy to get All Might to leave, which worked.

 Not before All Might apologized profusely for offending Cale.

‘Seriously. All Might is a terrible name. Even worse since he came up with it himself. Almost as bad as White Star and Young Master Silver Shield.’

 Cale shuddered before deciding to go back for Raon.

 He was not leaving his youngest alone with a villain loose.

 Cale turned back the way he came, to find Raon before he goes off.

 As Cale approached Aldera, he spotted fires around the open road.

 Deep blue fires the color of Raon’s eyes. A signal for Cale from the dragon.

“Raon.”

 Cale activated Sound of the Wind, running faster than he would ever willingly go.

“Huma—!”

 Raon’s voice was cut off by a strangled yelp.

 The sludge villain was attacking Raon and distracting him before he could collect enough mana to resist.

“Raon!”

 Cale ran towards the villain, his mind racing miles per second he spent away.

 He couldn’t use Fire of Destruction, in the risk that he would hit Raon.

 There weren’t any plants close enough for the Indestructible Shield, and Sound of the Wind was movement based.

 Dominating Aura. That was the safest one to use.

“You.”

 Cale drew the villain’s attention as he released his aura directed towards the monster.

“Put that child down now.”

 Cale approached slowly now, calm and measured steps as his rage boiled, strengthening the Ancient Power’s influence.

 The sludge recoiled, releasing Raon and trying to escape before Cale clamped down with the Dominating Aura, choking the villain with his own fear.

 The crowd nearby was ignored as they also succumbed to the overwhelming aura.

‘The Blood-Drenched Rock would add a better effect. Good thing I have my bag. All Might would’ve attacked me if I had reached for it earlier.’

 The sludge villain froze, glued to his position as Cale activated the Blood-Drenched Rock in addition to the Dominating Aura.

 The synergy of the two Ancient Powers was no joke.

 Cale approached Raon, the sludge villain making no move to attack again.

 Raon held tightly to Cale, knowing full well that he hadn’t been able to use his powers fast enough, and if it wasn’t for Cale, he would’ve suffered more.

 Cale held Raon, who was shuddering intensely, and glared at the villain who was still frozen to the spot.

 All Might decided to move then, tackling the sludge ineffectively, and Cale reeled his Ancient Powers back in.

“Are you alright, Raon?”

 Cale scanned the dragon for any visible wounds, relaxing minutely when he found none.

“I’m better. Thank you, Human. Human saved me again.”

 Cale smiled softly, reinforcing his body with Super Rock, like the time he almost exploded, to carry Raon in his arms.

 Raon polymorphed into his dragon form to make it easier on Cale, since he was worried about the blood.

 Cale deactivated the Super Rock and carried the very heavy dragon back to their residence.

 Cale put Raon to bed, the dragon having fallen asleep in Cale’s arms, before going to another room to check the news.

 There was mention of a vengeful ghost freezing everyone in place, including the villain, and helping the victim escape before All Might arrived on the scene to get rid of the villain.

 There was no news about when Cale was attacked alone, and All Might had accidentally let the villain escape.

 Aside from being mistaken for a ghost do to the overwhelming aura making it hard for others to look directly at him, he wasn’t on the news.

‘While that is great for me, it only proves that All Might cares more for reputation than what others believe.’

 Cale sighed, disappointed in a hero Raon moderately liked.

 Whenever anyone asked who Raon’s favorite hero was, he always answered that it was his human.

 Cale wasn’t a hero. He was just trash.

 Cale just wanted his slacker life. Why did that bastard send him to a world full of overrated heroes and stereotypical villains? He said it was a vacation!

Chapter Text

 Cale yawned as he left school beside Raon.

 After the sludge incident, there were a rare few who dared to ask if Raon was alright, but other than that, it was mostly uneventful at school.

 People stared at him every time he took a nap, and while Cale knew that he was good-looking, it was not an excuse for them to keep staring.

 Cale flipped through his self-proclaimed sketchbook, showing Raon the memories he drew.

 Raon gasped, and with a nod from Cale, took the book to flip through it himself.

“Wow! The weak human is good at drawing! Really good! It is the same as my memory!”

 Raon giggled as he fell into his memories. Raon’s voice sounded a lot gruffer in Katsuki’s body, but he still had his cute squeaky voice to call for Human.

 With Cale around, he didn’t want to act like a mature dragon, since he could always rely on his dad.

 Cale has never let Raon down.

 Around the others of this world, Raon could act fourteen, but with Cale, Raon could be six again, and relive the time with his family.

“Are we going to call them today?”

 Raon glanced at Cale, wondering.

 Cale had wanted to test the time difference between worlds, and put more and more time between calls.

 Back home, it has been less than two days, while for Cale and Raon, it had been ten years.

 Cale hadn’t wanted to be swarmed by parental figures fighting over him, so Raon put an illusion to make Cale look normal during calls.

 Sure, it was a waste of the mana he had painstakingly collected from this weak world, but it was to help Cale!

 Cale nodded slightly, confirming Raon’s guess.

 Raon grinned, pleased that he had guessed correctly.

 The call had nothing to do with Cale’s sketches, but Cale knew that Raon would’ve wanted to show them to their family.

 Before getting to Mitsuki’s place, they were greeted by a lanky guy reminiscent of a skeleton.

“Ah! It’s you again!”

 Cale and Raon didn’t know who this guy was.

 The only person Cale remembered with blonde hair and the skeleton’s color scheme was All Might, but how could a person just… deflate like that?

“What do you mean, again, Mr. Skeleton Man?”

 Raon asked bluntly, his nicknames shining through.

 Cale sighed, already having figured out that this guy was, in fact, All Might.

‘Or maybe just All Might's skeleton…’

“You were referring to me, correct?”

 Cale put his hands in his pockets, Raon taking that posture as an invitation to jump into his back while grinning.

 Cale huffed as he carried Raon, both knowing how weak his body was.

“Well, I couldn’t find an opportunity to speak to you alone, so I came in front of you both.”

 All Might glanced around warily, seeming kind of awkward.

“Did you need something, All Might?”

 Cale guessed the man’s goal… a bit incorrectly?

“Ah! You realized… a bit. Call me Yagi Toshinori while I’m like this.”

 Mr. Yagi smiled stiffly trying not to take pictures of the children’s cuteness.

 Raon was hugging Cale, looking at Toshinori from over Cale’s shoulder and appearing remarkably innocent.

 Not like someone who blew up mountains and islands to get rid of pests.

“What do you need my human for, Skeleton Yagi-san?”

 Cale had drilled into Raon that in this new world, it was best to say people’s names with 'san' at the end. It was polite.

‘Like how Choi Han refers to you as Cale-nim?’

‘Similar. 'Nim' is from a different language.’

‘Oh! Korean, right?’

‘Yes.’

 Cale waited for All Might to respond to Raon’s question, shaking out of a sudden memory.

“Not quite.”

 All Might looked at Cale more so than Raon.

“Young man. Would you like a quirk?”

 He extended his hand to Cale, Raon hopped away to see better.

 Cale stared at the guy like he was crazy.

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

 Toshinori stumbled over his words. His intelligence network said that Midoriya Izuku didn’t have a quirk, but a genetic mutation that changed his hair and eye color. Children dreamed of being heroes, so why wouldn’t he want a quirk?

‘Getting a quirk from the number 1 hero screams protagonist. I am not the protagonist. I am trash.’

 Cale pulled Raon closer with his signature scammer smile.

 If anyone had a body strong enough to withstand the protagonist’s quirk, it was Raon.

 Raon had been constantly training physically since they arrived so he could protect Cale without relying on the finicky mana, but only increased the intensity when he realized that he nearly failed. Cale had almost been hurt, and Raon would’ve been hurt by the villain.

“Yagi-san, you should give that quirk to Kacchan!”

“Excuse me?”

 All Might floundered to find other words.

“I cannot… let someone with a quirk take it.”

 Cale waved off All Might’s concern.

“Kacchan will be fine! He trains every day to be a hero!”

 Cale grinned brightly, speaking like a normal teenager to glide past any suspicions All Might had.

 Raon jumped eagerly.

“My quirk will let me be strong enough to protect the weak human! I will protect my weak human!”

 Raon’s toothy smile and exuberant demeanor made Cale laugh softly, patting Raon’s head with familiarity.

‘…Why is he calling his friend a weak human?’

 All Might was thoroughly bewildered.

“Very well?”

 He was too confused to properly think, but that might’ve been due to Raon using a little bit of his stored mana to weaken All Might’s mind momentarily, to convince him to give Raon the quirk and let Cale be.

 All Might chose a day to meet Raon and Cale for a test to see if Raon was truly worthy of the quirk.

 The teens saw All Might off, with Cale figuring out exactly what to say when he called his family.

 Toshinori knew he had done his research properly.

 He had gotten Nezu interested, after all, so the information was more-or-less reliable.

 Midoriya Izuku did not have a quirk, and approximately ten years ago he had wanted one to be a hero with Bakugou Katsuki.

 Both had expressed that wish often in their daycare, but they didn’t seem like the children he had just spoken with.

 It was awkward having to explain why he needed information on children to Nezu, but Nezu was a smart rat and figured out that it had to do with his quirk.

 Midoriya had run to rescue Bakugou. Toshinori had seen that.

 The fires flared around the sludge villain and obscured his view of what happened, the villain had been retreating.

 Midoriya was quite perfect to inherit his quirk.

 He had not expected a firm refusal. Not in the slightest.

 Did Midoriya want to rely on his own strength to be a hero? Or did he trust Bakugou to be a bodyguard for him?

 Toshinori couldn’t think straight, so for now he just headed home to sleep off his questions.

 What a strange day, indeed. It had only been, at most, five minutes of conversation.

<Cale. You need to get stronger.>

 Cale had opened the book since it had vibrated for the first time in a while—nearly two years now—and thought that the god of Death was finally going to tell him how to get home.

‘Damn bastard! I don’t need to get stronger! Just let me go home!’

 Just as Cale was about to toss the book down on the floor, it vibrated again.

 If the contents weren’t helpful, he was going to throw it out the window.

<Don’t throw it! Cale, there is a way back!>

 Cale’s fingers tightened around the book’s binding.

“…Go on…”

 He stared at the book, a silent threat that his patience was wearing thin.

 The god of Death shuddered in his divine realm.

<I wasn’t able to contact you, my sweet child, due to the teleportation draining more of my authority than I had permitted. This wasn’t the world you were meant to be sent to, since this isn’t going to be a very relaxing world in a few months.>

“I’m not your damn child. So we were supposed to be sent elsewhere. Continue.”

 Raon was in his dragon form, releasing the tension in his body as he rested on Cale’s shoulder, tail swishing gently. The dragon still couldn’t read the language the bastard used.

<Well, this world pulled on my authority to drag you here instead, needing help so it didn’t collapse. I didn’t inform you earlier since my authority was too weak to explain it all properly.>

“That doesn’t explain the way home.”

 Cale frowned at the book, eyes narrowing.

“Way home?!”

 Raon gasped in excitement as he echoed Cale’s own words.

 Cale pat Raon’s head with a small smile before glaring at the book.

<…well—ahem. Well, you need to get rid of a person who lived in this world much longer than they should have. They had caught the attention of the god of Despair, but only for a few moments before he got bored. That man reeks of the aura of despair, and if you get rid of him, you can be sent home from the sudden power gap caused by his disappearance. The world would be able to send you back safely with less effort than it took to bring you.>

 Cale nodded slowly, taking all the information in.

“I see. Why did I become Midoriya Izuku?”

<Oh. The transmigration? Your experiences are similar enough to the person’s story recorded by this world. Izuku was to be bullied as a child and physically abused by someone close to him. Katsuki has explosive tendencies and was supposed to have an extremely strong quirk. Meant to blow up enormous structures.>

“At least I’m not the protagonist, then. Correct?”

<Ah! My Saint. My child. That… well, Izuku was… uh…>

 Cale’s face quickly paled.

“You’re joking. You’ve got to be kidding… I woke up as this world’s protagonist?”

 Cale hissed venomously, suppressed memories bubbling up viciously as he tried to push them back down.

“You know what? Raon.”

 Raon looked up at Cale from where he had been glaring at the insulting book.

“Yeah, Human?”

 Raon chirped.

“You can be the protagonist instead. I don’t mind.”

 Cale smiled brightly, wishing he could sell the rights of the protagonist to someone willing to buy it, or at all.

“Okay?”

 Raon tilted his head, confused.

“Aren’t protagonists super cool heroes who save people?”

 Raon asked suddenly.

“Not all the time, but usually.”

 Cale answered subconsciously.

“Then the weak human is already the protagonist!”

“No. You can be the protagonist instead.”

 Cale was stiff. He really didn’t want to be a hero or have those fancy cringy titles.

“We can both be heroes! I take the spotlight so no one knows you’re a hero!”

“I’m not a hero, Raon. I am just trash.”

 Raon huffed. His human could be stubborn about this, but only this. If Raon argued about anything else, Cale would concede and agree, but when it was about Cale being a hero or trash, Cale was firm.

“You can watch me train, then! Teach me how to fight like you taught Dodori how to use his attribute! Weak human is good at teaching!”

“Do whatever you want.”

 Cale was just tired of arguing. He wanted to call his family and turn in for the day.

“Haiz…”

 Cale shook his head, grateful that the adults had stepped out for their own business while Katsuki’s father hung around nearby and Raon had put up a soundproof barrier.

“Come to think of it, Raon.”

“Yeah, Human?”

“Can quirks penetrate mana, or are they guided by the mana? Are quirks technically inherited magic, or would your mana be able to neutralize quirks?”

“Oh! Good questions Human! I need to research this. This can be a question we bring to Goldie Gramps and the mage Rosalyn! They could try to recreate the mana environment here to test it, but I don’t know how well be able to do the quirks…”

 Raon hummed, now deep in his own world as he tried to simulate the experiment in his head.

‘Dragons really are great and mighty.’

 Cale took out the cintamani and waited for the connection to stabilize.

–Cale-nim?

 It was Choi Han who answered this time, glowing with joy that he could see Cale this way.

“Who else is with you, Choi Han?”

 Cale got straight to his question, not seeing anyone behind the Korean.

–Ah! Well, Mila-nim, Dodori, and Rasheel came to see when you would be calling. Although Rasheel said that he came to speak with Lord Sherritt-nim and Eruhaben-nim. Should I inform them? Oh, and the children are with Lock.

 Cale smiled, Choi Han was still the same as ever, but then again, it had only been a few days for the family.

“I have measured it, and five years in this world is a day back home.”

 Choi Han froze, his smile sliding off his face in disbelief.

–Cale-nim?

“Hm?”

 Cale tilted his head, curious as to what Choi Han would ask, but already guessing his question.

–It’s been two days. Cale-nim and Raon-nim have been there for ten years?

 Cale nodded, Raon’s tail swishing as he settled down for a nap as he waited for Cale.

 Raon was tired from the weak mana he was using for magic, and he wanted to sleep with his human.

–Cale-nim… is it comfortable enough there? Do you have enough food, Cale-nim? Is it…

 Choi Han trailed off, unable to find the words.

“It is enough, I suppose. Not as good as home, but it’ll do just as well. We’ve already figured out a way back, we just need to get it over with. We’ll be back in less than a day, hopefully. Don’t worry, and tell the others that we’ll be back tomorrow at the latest.”

 Choi Han sighed, visibly relieved.

–How are you going to get home, Cale-nim?

 Choi Han wondered, since Cale had already been there for a decade in that world.

“…Is Clopeh anywhere near where you are, Choi Han?”

 Cale redirected the question with his own, needing an answer before he added fuel to Clopeh’s hyperactivity.

 Choi Han looked away from Cale, scanning his surroundings before slowly answering.

–No.

“Good.”

 Choi Han was a terrible liar, so Cale was relieved.

 Cale did not know that Clopeh had started heading toward Choi Han after Choi Han denied his presence.

“Well, to get back, we need to defeat a villain in this world. Some old guy who lived longer than he was supposed to.”

 Raon mumbled in his sleep about cutting up the bastard keeping them from returning.

 Cale huffed. Raon could always lighten his mood.

 The redhead stroked Raon’s head gently, closing his conversation with Choi Han.

“One last thing. How are the children doing? I’ve only been gone a few days…”

 Choi Han smiled, knowing the cause of Cale’s concern. He was worried for the well-being of the children, knowing that they were strangely attached to him, but that feeling was also reciprocated.

–They are doing well. Another few days might change that, but Cale-nim said he would return.

“I did. And I promise it. I will come back by tomorrow at most.”

 Cale did his best to uphold every promise he made.

 He would come back.

 Choi Han waved farewell, Cale cutting off the connection and heading towards Raon after stuffing the cintamani in his bag.

“Goodnight, Raon.”

“M’night Human.”

 The two otherworlders settled to bed, letting sleep overtake them to wash away their desire to see their family.

‘Can someone tell me why I had to wake up this early?’

 Cale’s face was blank as he stared at All Might standing surrounded by junk on the beach.

 Raon stood beside Cale, looking cutely confused as he tilted his head.

“Young Midoriya! Young Bakugou! Today we test your abilities!”

 All Might posed, back in his hero body instead of just the skeleton.

–Cale. Cale. Cale. Can you and Cheapskate burn up all this trash and be done? We haven’t had breakfast yet.

 The Ancient Powers found it easier to refer to each other by the nicknames Cale had given them, since most of their names were ridiculously long.

 Cale wanted to retort to the Glutton that he was trying to get back to the house for breakfast, but that would’ve concerned Raon and the hero.

 He hissed 'to himself' instead.

“I’m trying to leave so I can eat. I’m not even supposed to be taking any tests. This wasn’t meant to involve me, anyway.”

–Hm… still hungry.

 The Glutton mumbled to herself, knowing full well that she was making Cale sound crazy.

–Since you’re listening, I wonder why you didn’t cough up blood the other day. You used multiple Ancient Powers, so why were you still fine?

 Super Rock addressed both Cale and the Crybaby, trying to solve the mystery.

–I don’t know. At least Cale didn’t get hurt like last time… ugh…

–It was probably because this weak XXX body doesn’t originally have a plate. The absence probably made a solid foundation for Cale’s plate to sit… but that’s probably just my XXX imagination!

 The Crybaby and the Crazy Kid were admittedly loud, but Cale enjoyed hearing their possible theories.

“I appreciate the input, Crazy Kid.”

 Cale mumbled quietly, trying not to catch his companions’ attention.

–Oh! You listened to me!

 Cale could hear the Crazy Kid’s grin.

 All Might was distracted by Raon easily completing multiple courses, commenting consistently about All Might’s terrible teaching habits. His lessons were awful and broke apart fundamentally.

“The weak human is a way better teacher than Not-A-Skeleton Yagi-san!”

 Raon chirped from his position atop a large pile of junk.

 Both turned their attention toward Cale, who sighed and spoke up.

“I am not participating in the test.”

 Cale crossed his arms, sitting on a tossed away bench elegantly as if it was a throne.

“Why not, Young Midoriya? A quirk would make saving others much easier.”

 All Might could not understand the child. Surely a quirk would make rescues easier than without…

“Give it to Ra—Kacchan. I don’t want to be a hero. I’ll have a normal job.”

‘Being a slacker…’

 Cale had almost slipped Raon’s name from habit before his mind took over his tongue.

 Raon giggled, fully aware of Cale’s dream 'job' for the future.

‘Would that be less complicated if I let the villain destroy this world? Nevermind. I would rather be a slacker at home.’

“I will not do any physical training.”

 Cale spoke firmly, as though he was a commander again.

‘Aigoo…’

 All Might conceded hesitantly, concerned for Midoriya.

 It wasn’t normal for a child to not desire to become a hero. Especially in this society.

‘Should I somehow assist Young Midoriya?’

 While Toshinori was thinking, Cale yawned at the early hour, still wondering about breakfast.

‘I have some apple pies in my bag… being called 'young' by someone probably younger than me is a bit weird.’

 Cale settled himself at his seat, investigating his bag before grabbing the top’s whip.

–Cale!

–Kahahahaha! Hi again! Are we gonna cause chaos?! Destruction! Violence!

–…Ignore him. Like always.

–Cale, we were sent to this world with you! It’s not just you and the little dragon!

 Cale nodded at the wind elementals’ enthusiasm, since he hadn’t actually conversed with them properly since he got there.

“Since I am outside, I have a question for you all.”

 The elementals swirled closer to Cale, listening intently for something they could do. They were bored.

“Can you search for information on a man touched by despair, who lived longer than he was supposed to?”

‘I don’t usually keep up with the news unless I have a feeling it’s about me, or Raon.’

–We can do that!

–Yes! We’re gonna get rid of him, right?! Chaos! Death! Destruction! Hahahahah!

–Calm down already. Yes, we can search for information, Cale.

“Thank you. Just information. No harming unless there is a child involved, then take the children somewhere safe.”

 Cale knew it was possible for the wind elementals to move people on the wind currents, so long as they didn’t move too much.

–Yes sir!

–Got it, Commander!

–Woohoo! Destruction! Panic! Turmoil!

‘That's a new one.’

–We’ll be heading off, Cale.

“I’ll hear from you later. Go.”

 The wind elementals departed, the breeze picking up slightly and shifting Cale’s hair delicately and tentatively.

 A passersby had spotted him amongst the trash, their movement unnoticed.

 They had yet to see All Might or Raon nearby, hidden by another mountain of junk, and stood there.

 They stared at Cale, transfixed, and decided to take a picture that could never do such a beauty justice before they left in awe.

 Cale didn’t know it yet, but he was in deep trouble.

Chapter Text

“Human! Can you please take the entrance exam with the great and mighty Raon Miru? I want to be a hero with the weak human!”

 Raon squeezed Cale’s midsection in his dragon form, burying his face in Cale’s side.

 Cale sighed, cupping Raon’s sniffling face in his hands.

“I’ll escort you to the testing area, but do not expect them to let me partake as well. Quirkless are not respected in this society.”

“Why? The human is the strongest human here, even when weak!”

 Raon grumbled in annoyance.

 All Might had resigned to giving his quirk to Raon, and had been pleasantly surprised when Raon could immediately use it effectively.

 Cale had been skeptical as to why All Might would feed Raon hair, though. He couldn’t have done it a better way? Lazy a—

“Weak human! The exam is next week! Is the weak human sure?”

 Raon frowned cutely, a pout forming as he felt like a child with Cale.

 If they both became heroes, going home would be easier.

“If the human can’t be a student, the weak human should be a teacher!”

“Raon… haiz…”

 Cale shook his head with a sigh. Raon would not change his mind.

“I will take the test if they permit me to take the test.”

 Raon grinned, his scales glistening in the lamp light of the backyard.

“Go to sleep now, Raon.”

 They were sleeping in the backyard, camping outside to gaze at the stars.

 Raon had put up a barrier so no bugs bothered them while they studied the sky.

 The stars were different from the ones back home, Cale observed blankly.

 Record would never allow Cale to forget. Especially not the sky back home.

“Yes, human!”

 Raon snuggled closer as they both lay back down into their sleeping bags.

 Raon would be training relentlessly to enter UA, Cale knew he would, and he couldn’t stop the dragon.

 Cale didn’t trust the school to keep the students safe, so he knew he would need to take a different role.

 It was stated in the law that a quirkless person could not be issued a hero license due to safety concerns and the absence of a quirk, so Cale could not enter the hero school even if he applied.

 He would act as a vigilante. It didn’t matter if they somehow caught him since his Ancient Powers would prevent that scenario.

 The wind elementals were still out gathering information, but when they returned, they would act as Cale’s 'quirk' as a vigilante.

‘…I will keep Raon safe. Do not underestimate me.’

 Cale spoke to the world they had landed in. The world that had dragged them away.

 As Cale drifted asleep in the night, the world itself could not help but shudder at Cale’s bloody promise.

 Cale never broke a promise, and that world knew it.

 Nezu stared at the application forms, searching for the names that Yagi Toshinori had brought up a while ago to see if they were on the list.

 He was admittedly curious as to who could steal All Might’s attention so completely.

‘Bakugou Katsuki. Quirk: Explosion override Dragon. Explosion was meant to be his quirk, but instead developed a dragon transformation quirk?’

“Interesting…”

 Nezu couldn’t help but comment audibly.

‘However, that is only one name that Toshinori-san mentioned. Where is Midoriya?’

 Nezu flicked through the files several more times, not finding a single 'Midoriya Izuku' on the list of applicants.

‘Did… did Midoriya reject All Might, too? He didn’t submit an application to UA… a school everyone applies to? Oh ho…’

 An amused grin spread across Nezu’s face.

“Interesting, indeed. Toshinori, this child seems to have piqued my interest as well.”

 Nezu hummed to himself.

‘Then again. That child is quirkless. A sad thing in this society. Even if Midoriya applied, I cannot legally issue him a hero license.’

 Nezu thought it a sad thing, that a law so often overlooked would prevent such a bizarre mind from becoming a hero.

“A pity. Truly.”

 Cale stared at the looming gates with disdain. They seemed tacky compared to Raon’s black castle and the temple.

“Are you sure, Kacchan, that you want to go here?”

 Cale checked again, just to be sure. Even if he had Record, Raon might change his mind.

“I’m absolutely positively sure, Human!”

 Raon piped up enthusiastically, causing Cale to laugh lightly like a father escorting his excited child.

 Raon commented on all the people around them, observing their quirks and chattering about ones he can see and speculating about the ones he couldn’t.

“Weak human, is it natural for humans to be that short?”

 Raon gestured to a startlingly small boy the same age as Katsuki and Izuku, whose hair was an obnoxiously bright purple.

“…It might be, here. This is an odd place, anyway, Kacchan.”

 Cale murmured to the child awaiting his response.

 Raon grinned anyway, anticipating Cale’s reaction.

“I said before, Human, that you would be a better teacher than anyone at this school!”

 Raon spread his arms wide, facing Cale as he walked backwards towards the hero school.

 Cale noticed Raon’s direction before the dragon did, moving to stop Raon from crashing into a small white… rat creature in his path.

“Pardon us… sir. My friend was not paying attention to his surroundings, and I did not react as timely as I would have liked.”

 Cale bowed apologetically to the odd mouse person like a pure Japanese.

 It was easy to remember with Record.

“Oh! No need to concern yourselves further. It is a pleasure to meet you two, Bakugou-san. Midoriya-san.”

 The rat smiled as he spoke politely, Raon and Cale glancing between each other before awkwardly acknowledging the talking rat.

 They really should be used to the weird things of the world.

“You… know us?”

 Cale asked, standing defensively in front of Raon.

 Unbeknownst to Cale, while Raon stood behind him, Raon glared threateningly at the rat. A dark warning to mind his words.

 Nezu couldn’t help thinking to himself about the Bakugou child’s strange behavior.

 His behavior had drastically change after turning four, and he had become an extremely happy child who never parted from Midoriya.

 That smiling personality was what he had been observing before almost being stepped on by the very boy he was studying.

 Nezu had been… surprised, that Midoriya had even noticed him.

 The entrance to UA was especially crowded this year compared to others, so for the odd redhead to notice him was startling.

 Nezu’s observations were proving the report of Bakugou’s personality true, until he spoke directly to the two and Bakugou was moved behind Midoriya.

 As soon as the raven-haired boy left the redhead’s line of sight, his entire demeanor darkened with a thinly veiled threat.

 Even his eyes seemed sharper than just a moment before.

 The child that had been exuberant and joyful, now seemed nearly as menacing as a villain.

‘…Definitely worth further observation. Of them both. A shame I cannot accept the quirkless, no matter how much potential they have. Oh the loopholes in the laws…’

 Nezu lamented the sad circumstances inside his head, still watching the two teens.

“Why of course! At least, one of you more than the other!”

 Nezu finally answered Midoriya Izuku’s initial question, deciding to humor the 'dragon'’s sharp ultimatum.

 Nezu watched as Midoriya glanced back at Bakugou, the latter reverting into a 'cinnamon roll' under the redhead’s gaze.

‘Interesting… how curious.’

 Nezu… could not read Midoriya’s gaze. The rat had learned how to read what hid behind the gazes of most others, a skill Nezu always did his best to use to its fullest, but he could not read Midoriya Izuku’s gaze.

 Not in the slightest.

 In fact, it felt like Midoriya was reading him instead.

 A somewhat chilling thought, but that same chill turned into intrigue.

 Nezu wanted to know why.

 A dangerous notion, anyone who knew Nezu would think.

 Nezu sorely underestimated the mind of the strategist that was Roan’s Supreme Commander.

 Even though he was retired.

 Shouta sighed as he shifted through the different cameras in the exam chamber.

 Nezu had completely blown through whatever budget UA was supposed to have, and now the school was behind on funds.

‘We really need to cut down on that… too bad. It isn't my job and ain't part of my paycheck.’

 Shouta thought to himself. Rather bluntly, one might say.

 He viewed the cameras just outside the main entrance as the crowd slowly thinned.

 He twitched in his seat when he spotted Nezu conversing with two kids.

 One was addressing Nezu directly, apparently not informed about who the rat was, while the other stood behind the talkative redhead with a withering glare aimed at the director of the school.

 Shouta flinched when he saw the slight smile on Nezu’s face from the angle the camera allowed him.

 Nezu was intrigued by them. The problem children.

‘How annoying… haaah…’

 What Shouta didn’t know, however, was that the redhead was only there to escort the brunet.

 The redhead didn’t want to be part of the hero society.

 That ignorance would be Shouta’s undoing. If only he tried to get clarification.

 Shouta didn’t even know he was doomed to make a mistake in front of Cale Henituse himself.

 At least he didn’t know who Cale was.

 Cale motioned for Raon to head to the testing grounds as he continued speaking with the strangely intelligent rat.

 Raon waved at Cale, who smiled and waved back slightly as the dragon bounded over to the exam site.

“Well, Sir Rat-san. What did you want to speak to me about?”

 Cale spoke directly with his blinding scammer smile, being polite even while addressing the clearly-influential person with a nickname.

 The rat smiled in response before introducing himself.

“You may call me Nezu, Midoriya-san!”

 Cale put his hand over his heart in a somewhat fluttering motion.

 The space around him seemed to accentuate his startling beauty as he spoke.

“Very well, Nezu-sama! It is alright if I call you Nezu-sama, right, Nezu-sama?”

 Cale smiled, and the world around him seemed to make his beauty that much more profound.

 The wind stirred his hair to flutter softly, the sun’s rays falling delicately on his being and framing his face, making his hair glow a brilliant fiery and bloody red. Leaves fell around him in an arch, making Cale look ethereal and like one should not refuse whatever he said.

 These leaves, however, fell almost unnaturally as it was still summer.

 Cale did not know how the world itself reinforced his beauty, nor did he know of the impression he left on Nezu and the unknown camera that was watching.

 Both Nezu and Aizawa, who was watching from the cameras, were astounded as to the way nature itself favored the redhead.

 As though this redhead was beloved by the world.

 Cale’s smile stiffened a bit when he noticed that Nezu had yet to answer him.

“Ah… Nezu-sama?”

 Cale didn’t bother crouching and just sat on the floor… not questioning when a blanket was even placed there beforehand.

 The movement seemed to snap Nezu from whatever trance he had been under, also apparently surprised by the timeliness of the blanket’s appearance.

‘I… assume that this world is giving me the blanket. This isn't enough to pay me back for the ten years spent here… but it is a start, I suppose.’

“Do you need to be somewhere right now, Nezu-sama?”

 Cale could guess. Nezu was probably a key figure for the school, which was why the rat was even surveying the applicants personally.

 He would have to research about Nezu later, after thinking of the best way to not be recognized as a vigilante.

 Cale could just get rid of the villain as a vigilante, no need to go this entire roundabout way… but Raon really wanted to have a 'hero license' of his own.

 Cale sighed internally as Nezu nodded and left.

 The rat had never responded to his questions in the end.

 All Might is still questioning why he listened to the Young Midoriya and gave Young Bakugou his quirk instead.

 Bakugou seemed prepared enough to have it… but Midoriya just felt like a better fit.

 Toshinori didn’t want to see Midoriya hurt, actually. It was probably better this way.

 If Midoriya wasn’t hurt, it looked fine. Midoriya gave the impression of someone easily injured.

 Toshinori sighed as he mulled over his new assignment.

 He had to be a teacher at UA.

 He knew he wasn’t even the least bit qualified to be a teacher, if Young Bakugou’s ranting was any indication.

 Bakugou preferred the Young Midoriya as a tutor for All Might’s quirk instead of All Might, who actually owned the quirk before him.

 It made Toshinori stop to think for a bit.

 Why did a boy with a quirk seek advice on how to properly use a quirk from someone without a quirk?

‘…Does Young Midoriya do quirk analysis as a hobby? Does Young Midoriya know better quirk implementation than people raised with a quirk?’

 Toshinori clutched his head as he sat on the couch.

 He had too many questions, but he was really curious as to Young Midoriya’s teaching qualities.

 Young Midoriya was very oddly likable. As though one cannot hate him unless actively opposed to him…

 …He was probably thinking too much. Right?

 Cale really wanted to go home and take a nap.

 Did people just not understand that?

 Anyways, Raon came back to the house looking somewhat dejected, probably because he had just been informed that he would not be getting his results for several weeks.

 Cale wanted to sleep, so Raon quickly set up an area that was passable enough for Cale.

 He just wanted sleep.

 Cale had a really weird day.

Chapter Text

“Human, what do I do?”

 Raon finally asked Cale instead of pacing around him in circles that made him dizzy.

“Well.”

 Cale paused to drink his tea before continuing.

“Students are supposed to sketch out a hero suit they will wear, apparently. Raon has to do the same. A good hero suit will keep you alive.”

 Cale smiled as Raon finally stopped spinning repetitively, looking directly at the redhead.

“Human, will you help the great and mighty Raon Miru? I do not need assistance, but I will accept the weak human’s since the human is knowledgeable about this!”

 Cale chuckled as Raon leaned against him.

“Yes, of course I would assist Raon. Raon does not need my help, but I will help this great and mighty dragon.”

 Cale gently pat Raon’s head as he pulled out the sketchbook.

“What do you want it to look like?”

 Cale sketched Raon’s silhouette on the page and waited for Raon to fill in the details.

 Raon gasped at the level of skill Cale had shown him, since it looked like his shadow.

“I want to look like my true form, but also have pieces to resemble my Noona and Hyung! I want a sword like Strong Choi Han, and a pocket for a spatial magic pouch!”

 Raon rambled about the little details to look like their family as Cale sketched it onto the paper.

 A mask to hide Raon’s face and keep his civilian identity secret, obviously one that works. A hood with his dragon horns and armor plating for protection in case he can’t use his magic in time.

 Long sleeves with armor and little black scales. A black sword to mimic Choi Han’s black yong. Multiple pockets for security reasons, and a suitable space to sheathe the main blade.

 Gloves with retractable claws like Ohn and Hong’s that looked like Raon’s dragon paws. A sac containing poison for an emergency escape, just in case, and a cape that settled over a belt with a lot of rings for storage items. The cape settled like Raon’s dragon tail at his back, with a higher layer to look like his wings.

 Boots with retractable spikes and a paralytic poison for safety, since Raon wanted pieces of Ohn and Hong in his costume’s design.

 Cale smiled and showed Raon the finished work, with the mask having a filtration system and goggles to protect his face.

“Human! This is the best ever! Thank you, Human!”

 Raon jumped at his human with excitement, thrilled for the chance to be someone’s hero in this world.

 Home didn’t need Raon to be a hero, since home had Cale, but Raon wanted to know what being a hero himself was like.

 He wouldn’t usually put himself in harm’s way like this, going to a hero school, but this was the quickest way for them to go home.

 Raon really wanted to try hero-ing though.

 As Raon buried his face into Cale’s side, Cale awkwardly pat Raon’s head with a practiced ease.

‘He must be really excited.’

 Cale laughed softly, which didn’t escape Raon’s attention.

“We should turn this in so your costume is ready.”

 Raon jumped to his feet at Cale’s words, his excitement enviable.

“When should we send it?!”

 Cale glanced away from Raon’s bright eyes.

“I will have to check.”

‘The moment Raon goes into the school, I will patrol the area around so Raon doesn’t get hurt. My precious time off… I already found an acceptable excuse for Izuku’s parents.’

“Ah, Raon…”

 Cale wanted Raon’s opinion on a separate matter.

“Yes, Human? What is it that the weak human needs this great and mighty dragon for?”

 Raon instantly jumped at the opportunity to answer one of Cale’s questions.

“What sort of outfit would look best on me if I was a vigilante?”

 Cale pat Raon’s head, not knowing where in the world Raon’s got all his energy from.

“A vigilante suit… hmm… not like the White Radish’s since we could easily see through his mask. Uh… yes! A suit that covers the weak human’s entire body with protection! Your face too since the weak human hates being recognized! Why?”

 Raon tilted his head as he looked directly at Cale, curious as to the origin of the question.

“Uh! The human doesn’t need to answer, it was merely a passing curiosity!”

 Raon immediately backtracked his question, knowing that Cale was allowed to keep his secrets since Cale was his hero.

 Cale huffed, stroking Raon’s head with affection.

“It’s fine, Raon. I will just make sure you are safe at school.”

 Raon blinked at Cale’s reasoning before slowly nodding.

“Alright, Human! I’ll go turn in my suit now!”

 Raon grinned and ran off with the paper holding the finished sketch.

 Cale shook his head, a fond smile crossing his face as he began to search through his bag.

‘There is some fabric in here. At the left corner. It was dark, and I believe that Ron left it as scrap fabric just in case. Vicious.’

 Cale gripped the fabric tightly once he located it.

‘…It has the same color as Raon's scales.’

 A sad smile etched itself onto Cale’s face.

 Raon needed to stop polymorphing for a while to conserve the fickle mana he had been able to accumulate, so Cale wouldn’t see Raon’s dragon form for a while.

‘I need to stop thinking right now and begin sewing. Better than the 'Real Arm' outfits.’

 Cale chuckled darkly, glad that that situation had been ruthlessly dealt with.

 Raon would never be nervous. Not for his first day in a school filled to the brim with humans, even with weird mutations.

 The weak human had escorted Raon Miru all the way to the school gates. He must be exhausted and wanting to take a nap by now, but he let Raon feel his support.

‘…I love Dad.’

 Raon smiled at Cale, reassured by his presence.

“Don’t get into trouble while this great and mighty dragon is at school, weak human!”

 Raon didn’t make Cale promise, since trouble always seemed to find the redhead no matter where he went.

 Other students passed by with lingering glances at the strange teen escorting a fellow student.

 Those glances were oddly admiring, and not like they were seeing him for the first time. Did something unexpected happen?

“I will certainly try. Do not use bad words while away from me, Kacchan. Children tend to gossip with those in their age group more often than to adults.”

 Cale pat Raon’s head, a firm scolding ready to be delivered by his tone alone.

 Raon giggled, making Cale loosen up slightly.

“I’m serious. Stay safe, Raon.”

 Cale murmured quietly into Raon’s ears as he hugged the dragon.

 Raon nodded, hugging his human back.

“Bye, Human!”

 Raon swiftly departed from the human somewhat weaker than his paw in dragon form.

 He waved to Cale eagerly as he hopped through the gates.

 Raon’s demeanor shifted as Cale was no longer in his sight.

 Raon frowned at the gawking students nearby and disregarded their very existences as he passed by on his way to his class.

‘Class 1-A. Sounds like a bunch of jerks. Top students. Lousy excuses. Haaah… and this great and mighty dragon is one of them. Uck.’

 Cale had said no bad words. That included Raon’s thoughts, as much as he wanted to think them.

 Raon listened to his human because it was his human. He still disliked humans.

 As Raon found his class, he stared blankly at the unimpressive but massive door in his way.

‘Should I blow it up?’

 The door opened before he could ponder anything else, his attitude souring further as he found himself in the classroom with a bunch of noisy classmates.

 Raon didn’t like noisy people who weren’t his family. Such people would disturb Cale whenever he tried to sleep.

‘Maybe it is good that my human didn't enroll with me.’

 Raon locked eyes with one of his new classmates, immediately looking away and disregarding their presence.

“Uh, rude!”

 The pink haired alien girl marched towards Raon, grabbing his arm and quickly dragging him deeper into the room.

 Raon slapped her hand away from his arm, subconsciously rubbing the area she had touched.

“Hi. I’m Ashido Mina, and what you just did was rude!”

 Pinkie introduced herself to a dragon that didn’t give a sh—shadow.

“I’m Bakugou Katsuki, and I don’t give a damn who you are! Don’t touch me without permission, Whiny Pink Torch.”

 Raon didn’t bother looking at the pink human. It was more rude to touch a stranger without permission than to not greet a stranger. Of course he remembered to introduce himself like Cale.

“Whiny Pink Torch? I just gave you my name!”

 A redhead held back Pinkie from lunging at Raon.

 Raon’s attention was immediately focused on his hair.

“Pink Torch is a new one, isn’t it? Nice to meet you, Bakugou-san! I’m Kirishima Eijirou.”

 A blonde followed Red with the introductions, but Raon ignored their words.

‘Red isn't his natural color.’

“Well, it certainly wasn’t pleasant to meet you, Red. And Yellow Airhead.”

 Raon turned away from them with a disappointed shake of his head, only to instantly cover his ears as another classmate started roaring about etiquette.

“It is inappropriate to refer to your classmates in such a way, Bakugou-san!”

 Noisy Blue Metal Guy shouted while moving his hand in a chopping motion.

“Oh shut up Blue Guy! You’re noisy!”

 Raon grit his teeth in irritation. His nerves were already on edge with all the human strangers around him.

“I am Iida Tenya. Refer to me as such, and cease with the rude remarks!”

 Noisy Blue Guy lowered his volume once he became conscious of it, but it was still annoying to the young dragon.

 The thin mana of the world kept making his ears ring endlessly, and the only person that made it quiet was Cale.

 Raon didn’t want to deal with humans who made the ringing louder.

 Raon sighed loudly, not bothering to mute it. He really didn’t like these humans, even if he was the one who technically started it.

“Alright, Class 1-A. Shut it. All of you.”

 A new voice silenced the class, all the students’ heads turned to the new arrival.

‘…Is that a blinding yellow sack? I want one. I'll ask Dad for one later, and he'll think it's atrocious but still get it for me!’

 Raon buried the thought as quickly as it surfaced.

 Cale was going to be tired when he got back, even while sleeping. Asking for such an obnoxious thing would bother the weak human.

 Cale had said that he would make sure Raon’s school is safe. Raon didn’t know what it was Cale had meant.

 The strange sleeping bag continued talking, quickly getting the students to the training yard for a test.

 Raon stood there with no idea how to maneuver through the test.

–HUMAN!!!! These humans are weird!

 Cale frowned as Raon’s voice echoed in his head through magic.

‘Why is Raon using magic during school?’

 He crouched lower on the branch he was standing on, all suited up for his vigilantism escapades.

“Haaah. This kid…”

 Cale shook his head, a smile on his face from the familiar occurrence.

 The smile faded as Cale’s logical reasoning calculated the amount of mana Raon would’ve had to use to send a message from their distance.

 It might be a bit more than a sound-cancelling barrier, from the vast distance alone.

‘…Is Raon using too much mana nowadays?’

 Cale felt concern for his youngest, even as he got rid of a villain trying to jump him from the shadows using the Sound of the Wind to make the enemy dizzy.

 Cale hummed as he thought of a gift for Raon and the cat siblings once they got back.

 The villain behind him finally passed out from the spinning and collapsed, so Cale flung him towards the nearest police station, alarming multiple nearby civilians.

 Cale took off with the wind attribute Ancient Power, eliciting a joyful yell from the Thief as he escaped the scene.

‘A thief through and through.’

 The Super Rock and the Glutton Priestess comforted Cheapskate since he didn’t get to blow anything up.

‘These guys… seriously.’

 Cale sighed and looked for another villain hideout, too close to the school for comfort, to massacre.

 He wasn’t actually killing any of them, just making them feel the fear of death.

 Cale wondered how Raon was doing now, since the dragon didn’t send anymore messages from habit.

 Aizawa Shouta was dumbfounded by the students in his class.

 From the first fifteen minutes of being classmates, Bakugou had gained the enmity of part of the class while also absolutely dominating in the test.

 Shouta didn’t know whether to be impressed or in pain that the kid could so easily make enemies.

 It had all started with the nickname he gave Ashido, and then spiraled out of control as the children kept repeating their names and Bakugou kept objecting to referring them as such.

‘A problem child, indeed. Perhaps the most problematic problem child.’

 Shouta inhaled deeply to collect his thoughts before he sighed at the absurdity of the situation.

 Nezu would have a field day with these problem children.

 Shouta studied the odd interaction between the children before remembering that Bakugou had been an applicant he had seen at the entrance exam. The student had been accompanied by a redhead to the site, but the redhead didn’t apply even though he was the same age.

‘Weird. Too bad, I'm too tired to care.’

 Shouta sighed as most of the students ganged up on Bakugou and chased him around instead of staying still in line.

 At least Endeavor’s son had some decency to pretend to be paying attention.

 Shouta wanted a raise. Or retirement.