Chapter Text
(Seventeen Years Ago: Tenko is four)
“Here, little one, how about I take you home?”
“Mm? U-Uh…” The boy glanced first at the outstretched hand, then up at the steely eyes. These eyes burned with a kind of intent that though the child was too young to infer its true meaning, he didn’t like the shiver it gave him.
“W-Who are you again?”
“You don’t quite remember me? I’m your godfather, Tenko-chan. Zen Shigaraki ring a bell?”
“A-Ah… Mm-mm.” Shook his head, stepping back slightly. “M-Mama never said ‘Na-chan and I h-had a godfather?”
As he tried to retreat, this odd man started coming forward, still holding out his hand and speaking in an eerily calm voice.
“That figures, since your parents are so strict. They’re strict to you, right?”
“J-Jus’ Papa… B-But he loves us… I-I think. He hit Mama once b-but she forgave him when he said sorry!”
Backing up, backing up. Following, following. Tenko began to walk a little faster, something he didn’t know was Fear welling in his chest.
“Really? I’m very sorry to hear that, Buddy. Here, let me take you home… Just take my hand.”
Shook his head again, and began looking around. There were three teenagers walking together on the far side of the street. One with black hair, one with dark-purple hair, and another with a kind of bluish-green color to her waves.
Two of them wore UA High jackets over their middle school outfits. Seeing this encouraged him, and despite his lack of knowledge for heroes, the youngest Shimura started edging his way in this direction, beginning to talk louder as he had seen his sister do when talking to strangers.
“I-I don’t know who you are, Mister! I-I want my Mama!”
The boy out of the three teens turned his head, saw him and the creepy guy, and turned to the girls he was with. The seafoam-haired one was younger but looking just as readied as her companions became. All three altered course, coming their way.
Relief flooded the boy, and he called out to the one who looked most like him.
“B-Big brother! G-Good you’re heres! Mama sent you to look for me, r-right?” He had seen Hana refer to lookalike others as siblings or family to discourage possible threats.
The boy nodded, immediately catching on and picking up his pace. “Yes! Yup, Mom sent me for ya, Little Brother, glad that we found you!”
The Man stopped coming after Tenko as the three teens came between them, and his formerly sweet expression turned tense and annoyed.
“Excuse me, Young Man, but this is my godson and I don’t remember seeing you in his family!”
“Adopted and moved out early, what can I say?” The boy shrugged, taking out a tapelike scarf and wrapping it around one wrist loosely– clearly a preparing should combat arise. “Anyways… Nem’-san, would you grab my brother for me? Thanks.”
The purple-haired girl hoisted Tenko into her arms, whispering to him,
“Don’t worry, Lil’ Guy, you’re safe now! Shota is going to deal with this pervert, and Emi and I will take you home!”
--o
Sure enough, Nao Shimura stood anxiously pacing up and down the porch as evening came, only to cry out in joy to see her son being returned by the three young heroes.
“Oh! M-My stars, Ten’-chan, you gave your father and I quite the fright! Come on inside and wash up for dinner, your grandparents will be here soon.”
Turning to the teens, she nodded gratefully. “Thank you for escorting him home. His godfather has been seen around here lately… a-and you could say we’ve chosen to exclude him from Tenko’s childhood.”
“It seems he encountered him, but he didn’t get him, Ma’m, no fear!” Emi chirped with a grin while Shota and Nemuri bowed respectfully, then bringing their eleven-year-old friend along back down the sidewalk as before.
So, Tenko Shimura developed Propulsion Ring instead of Decay. He was quite the little sight, hopping around in the air.