Chapter Text
Why was this kid so Goddamn familiar?
He stared up at the screen that had that boy’s face plastered on it. He had just won the first round of the sports festival. The more Enji peered at the screen, the more the kid gave him deja vu. He almost wished his image stayed up for longer so he could study it better.
Whatever. Maybe it was just his imagination. After all, he came here for Shoto. He doesn’t need to get distracted.
Even so, he kept his eyes peeled for whenever the kid’s face appeared on the screen. There it was again. And again. And again. He needed to be paying attention to Shoto, but every time he did, this kid would grab his attention right back. It was almost irritating.
Where the hell did he know him from? He doesn’t know of many children. Did he rescue him at one point? Was he on the news? He was in Shoto’s class, maybe he just wormed his way into his memory. His quirk was similar to All Might’s, was that it? He was generic-looking, so maybe he just confused him for someone else.
He tried to brush it off but it kept bugging him. Shoto was about to fight him. He went to go look for him, himself. Maybe if he was up close, he could either figure out who he was or realize he’s not familiar.
Since he was bigshot Endeavor and Shoto’s father, he had no trouble getting to where the students should be. They said his son would be somewhere over here, so maybe he’ll run into him , instead. He turned a corner and heard a familiar voice screech his name.
That boy! There he was!
Endeavor went on about something along the lines of the boy being a good rival for Shoto, which was true, but he couldn’t get his mind off of his appearance. He kept running his mouth so the boy wouldn’t realize how put-off he was. Seeing him in person, he was sure he knew him from somewhere. The subtle green color hidden in his hair. The shape of his eyes. Those distinct freckles. His mannerisms. That nervous look he has. The way he fidgets.
Once he got through whatever he was saying, he turned to leave. He needed to get away from him. This was driving him insane.
“Endeavor…” That voice. It was in a much different tone than he was speaking earlier. It was more serious. Enji looked at him. He kept talking. He asked him something. Oh, that voice. That look . It was like a distant memory behind a foggy glass. The last piece that tied his whole appearance together.
“Todoroki-kun isn’t you.” The stern determination in his eyes as he said that to him. Similar words echoed through his head as if someone said them far away.
… isn’t you… stop comparing… different people…
It was all coming together now. The fog was thinning but some of the pieces still didn’t fit. He couldn’t be someone he knew way back then, could he? He knows who he reminds him of now. He’s sure of it, but… he can’t be him, it was impossible. Could they be related?
He dropped it. He needs to focus on Shoto and only Shoto. He’ll push this to the back of his mind like he always had. He continued on his way.
He doesn’t care about him anymore anyway.
Midoriya stood there next to the others, petrified stiff. The tension in the air made it hard to breathe. This is All For One. The one who tore apart All Might all those years ago. He doesn’t think even his fellow classmates know just how powerful he is, but oh, they feel it. His power was evident in the thick air.
He tried to calm down and force air into his lungs. They still needed to get Kacchan. He tried moving when Iida firmly grabbed his arm.
“You know, I’ve been wondering…” They all froze solid. “Who’s hiding over there?” A new wave of dread overtook them. His chest was wound up so tight it, it was going to choke him. He felt nauseous but too afraid to puke.
“Come on out now.” He’s persistent. Someone has to go. He knows they’re there. He can’t let his friends go. He crouched down and whispered, “You guys stay here”. With that, he jumped over what was left of the wall before they could grab and stop him.
“ Young Midoriya?!- ”
Facing the monster head-on was even more terrifying. The thing had no eyes, yet it felt like he could see through his soul. His face was hidden behind a horrifying industrial-looking mask.
“Midoriya? Well, well, just my luck. This is the boy, isn’t it?” Jagged black sprouted from him and jolted in his direction. “Oh, don’t be shy. Come here~”
Before he realized it, the black tendrils were around him and he was inches from the monster. His breath caught in his throat. His lungs burned. He couldn’t breathe. Tears stung his eyes but didn’t fall as if they were too afraid to be in the monster’s presence, as well. His mind was blank with terror. His body down to his fingertips felt like an empty, painful static.
“Now, what are you doing here, my child?” The words were spoken way too kindly, but he could feel the malicious weight of them.
“You’ve made things so easy for me.” His horrific smile widened. Deku’s stomach turned inside-out. “Now all I have to do is wipe out All Might for good and there will be no one left to stop me.”
What?
“I’m going to enjoy this…”
Midoriya doesn’t remember what happened after that man’s hand slowly inched toward his face.
Bright light poured through his cracked eyelids as he came to. He groggily tried to move his arm over his face to block it out. He felt lethargic and heavy.
What happened?
“Hey! What’re you doing there?” someone distant shouted.
What? Who was that?
He peeled his eyes open a little more. It took him a second to adjust to the light. A figure suddenly loomed over him, blocking the sun.
“Were you actually asleep? You can’t be on this property!” Midoriya jerkily picked his head up. He was on the ground in short grass. He looked around him. There were no destroyed buildings. The guy above him seemed urgent, so he started to get up.
“Where am I?...”
“You’re on private property. This facility is a hazardous factory of Kamino Ward and you have to leave.” He looked at the building behind him. Huh. It almost looked kinda familiar. He allowed the security guard to escort him out as he unlocked the gate for him. Kamino Ward, huh? Wasn’t he doing something here?
“How did you even get in? Damn junkies,” the guard mumbled. Izuku stayed silent. He didn’t know either. He walked in a direction down the street. There were few people walking about. His memories were fuzzy. He checked his pockets. He had his wallet that had his school ID, train pass, keys, thirty bucks, and some coupons. The usual.
What was he doing here? His mind kept slipping to a faint sense of deep-rooted fear, but he couldn’t figure out why?
It all came in a flood. His breath caught in his throat. They were rescuing Kacchan! Izuku stopped walking and leaned against a wall. All For One was there. He started to shake. All For One… he saw him… and then what? He still couldn’t figure out why he was here. What happened to him? How long was he out for? Where in Kamino Ward was he? Where was everybody?
People were starting to stare. He continued to walk in the same direction just to feel like he was going somewhere. He took a deep breath. Okay. He just needed to get back home or to the school. He vaguely remembered where the train station was, so he set off in that direction.
He looked at the people around him. Hm. Kamino Ward sure was different in the daytime. It’s almost like everyone has a different style.
Eventually, he came across a sign that gave directions to the train station. Oh, thank God. He was always awkward asking for directions.
The whole trip there was almost surreal. Everything seemed off for some reason. He finally reached the station and swiped his card at the turnstile. Though the light didn’t turn green and it wouldn’t let him through. Huh? That’s weird, it should still be good for another four months.
Eventually, he gave up and went to go talk to the service workers, not wanting to make the people behind him wait any longer. He told them the problem and presented them with the card. The lady took it and peered at it, seeming confused.
Didn’t the train workers have different uniforms? Maybe it was just in Kamino.
She stared at it for an uncomfortably long time. Then she asked him “You said you’ve been using this for a while now?” He nodded. She looked again.
“Well, this is definitely a legitimate card, but it seems the date is wrong. See?” She held out the card so he could get a better look. What was wrong with the date?
“Are you the one who bought this?”
“No. My mother did.”
“Well, then we’ll need her to come down and show us your registration and receipt. This does look legitimate though, so we’ll give you a temporary card. It’ll be valid for a month. In that time, you’ll need to get a new card. Okay?” She smiled and he nodded an “okay” as well.
It worked this time around in the turnstile. That’s weird. He’s never had problems like this before. Did All For One’s powers mess with it or something?
He took another look at the schedule. Even the schedule seemed different than earlier. He would still get home soon, but it was just odd. This train station seems so old-school, too. He couldn’t read the traditional clock on the far wall. He wished he knew what time it was. The trains aren't crowded, so it wasn’t morning or afternoon rush hour.
Once he was dropped off at his residential area, he knew things were wrong. Little hints of it were everywhere. That store looks newer. There should be a building there. Where was the usual old lady sitting on her porch? These trees are smaller. There should be a different fence here.
His stomach started to turn.
He just needed to go home and see his mother. He needed that solid piece of familiarity for him to lean on, then everything would be alright. He’ll figure the rest out later.
He finally got to his street. He started running for the door as soon as the house was in sight. Please be normal, please be normal. There were no flowers in the front, but it was his home, he knew it. He slowed down as he got to the yard.
Why was there a “For Sale” sign out front?
He took out his keys and slowly stepped up to the front door. Each step coiled the anxiety in his gut. He checked the home address number again. Yes, this was his home. He put the key in the slot. It fit. The key turned and the door was unlocked. He didn’t want to see what was on the other side, but he had to know. He pushed the door open.
It was empty. Everything was gone.
Or better yet, nothing was ever there.
He took a shaky step inside. The air was stagnant. He left the door ajar as he stepped further in, letting everything sink in. His hands shook. He slowly picked up pace as he looked around, checking every room, every corner as if he’s suddenly going to turn around and everything will be alright, and his mother will be there with her arms out waiting to hug him now that he’s back from a dangerous mission.
He looked for anything- anything - to show that this wasn’t happening. To prove his mind wrong and show him he’s not really alive at the wrong time . That he’s not in some alternate dimension or in the past and can’t get back .
He collapsed in the middle of someone else’s living room. Izuku curled up into a ball and let the tears come. He wailed loudly into his sleeves. His sobs had him breathless. Every time he tried to calm down his wheezing, dread crept back and had him a mess again.
He was in the past.
He couldn’t deny it anymore. That’s why everything was different. Everything was newer, younger. All For One somehow brought him to the past. Everything he had was gone. He had no home. His mother was gone. Everyone he knew and loved didn’t exist. He had finally managed to make some friends, people he cared about, and they’re all gone.
How far into the past was he? What year was it? Did he know anyone older that was alive right now? His grandparents died when he was young, so he never really knew them. He didn’t know anything about his father’s side of the family. He doesn’t want to look for his younger mom and risk some Back to the Future shit. Not like he’d be able to find her, anyway. He frustratedly wiped away his tears.
What does he do? What can he do? Where does he go? He can’t stay there in someone else’s vacant home. He wasn’t even enrolled in school.
He collapsed on the ground completely. He lay there on the fresh carpet that was void of all the stains of his childhood. The tears kept rolling, but calmer now. Less of an agitated wail and more of a hopeless sadness.
What the Hell does he do? Should he try to go back to UA? They might have some answers. He could go back to the place he came from in Kamino Ward? That would probably be a dead-end, though. A daring thought crossed his mind. He could look for All For One. Although, there was no way in Hell he’d ever search a monster like that out ever again. He’d rather stay here in misery than face him again.
He peeled himself off the ground. He took a deep breath. Well, he has to do something . He still has his school ID, so maybe they’ll listen to him, or at least allow him in. He started his walk of shame back to the train station. Should he tell them he’s from the future? That might cause a bit of an uproar. People would be paranoid about time travel then. What about himself? If he does something drastic, will it change the future where he’s from? Has it already been accounted for? How long will he stay here?
He tried to ignore that last thought and forced the tears back in. He’ll figure it out. He’ll figure it out.
The time between getting from his house to being dropped off again was a blur. He tried to stay out of his head and avoid the looming thoughts that plagued his mind. Somewhere along the way to the school, a man was selling newspapers. He bought a copy for a quarter. It was probably for the best that he get in touch with what’s going on around him since he was unfamiliar. He decided to sit down in a semi-familiar cafe to read it real quick.
He read the clock in the corner. 2:23 PM. UA was around the corner and closed around 4:30. He has time.
“QUIRKS ARE RUINING THE WORLD ” Well, that was some headline. Though, the article seemed to mean it as he delved into why exactly that was. “Ever since the first ‘quirk’, as people call them, was discovered in XXXX, the world has been thrust into wonder and amazement. What was impossible has now become possible! More and more unique and strange abilities have popped up over the years to the point that now 65% of the entire world population now has some form of supernatural ability. The still arguably new occupation, heroism, is now a possibility, such as the popular equipped hero, Yoroi Musha has taken up.
“However, with all the new possibilities unfolding, chaos and panic unfold, as well. Even with all of the new heroes popping up, there are many who choose to use their abilities for selfish reasons. The crime rate has been highest in recent years than ever in history. People live in fear and paranoia of what strange things could happen to them or a loved one. Someone could be robbed blind or kidnapped so much easier with these strange ‘quirks’ people have now. Some ‘quirks’ are so bizzare, one can only wonder how human they are. Where is the line between humans and otherkin? What is becoming of humans now? Lawmakers don’t know what to do or how they should suppress quirk-usage.
“Furthermore, the formation of ‘quirks’ has kept society as a whole from advancing. One would think the wide array of abilities people now have would lead to new discoveries and innovations, but instead, we are stuck where we are until we can figure out these abilities. People are now trying to accommodate everyone’s new ‘quirks’ instead of advancing technology. ‘Quirks’ have made us take a step back. In addition, with new powers constantly coming into play, it seems things will not get better. We must continually make adjustments to everyday life just to make life comfortable again.
“Things used to be simple. ‘Quirks’ open more doors for us as people, but they also bring more to fear. They are no longer considered ‘new’ but we will continue to struggle as a society until we can find something to place our faith in.”
Izuku let out a breath and rubbed his temples. That certainly wasn’t good for his anxiety. So the world is afraid of quirks, especially strange quirks that they don’t know what to do about. Great. Guess he wasn’t going to tell the school about his situation, or anyone for that matter. He looked at the top of the article. So that’s what year it is.
He glanced at the clock. He needs to go. He wasn’t sure what he’d do once he got to the school, but he’ll figure it out once he got there. During his walk there, he looked at what he was wearing. He’s gonna need a new uniform. Maybe that’ll be the first thing he does. These thrift store clothes just might not cut it. A split-second thought passed through his head and he grabbed at his chin. Oh, thank God the goatee isn’t still there.
A thought came to him during his walk.
How old was All Might?
If it really was year XXXX, then wouldn’t he be alive right now? No one really knew how old he was, but judging from online forum estimates and how long he’s been a hero, the chance was likely. He believed Endeavor, who was about forty-five, had always been trying to surpass him, so they could either be about the same age or All Might is a little older. He really wished he had his hero notebooks with him.
Wait a minute! Endeavor was forty-five in the present! Considering the year, wouldn’t he be in highschool right now? He went to UA too, right?
He supposed the information didn’t really help him. It’s not like he was close with Endeavor, but it would still be bizarre to see him in the hall with him. This brought his hopes up a little. Maybe All Might really does go to UA right now. It wasn’t much, but it was something to put his hopes into.
Midoriya smirked. Even now, he was his pillar. Something to put his hopes into.
He found himself in front of the school quicker than he’d hoped. He half expected the alarm to go off as he walked through the gate, but he guessed they didn’t have that kind of security yet.
Finding the Student Service kiosk wasn’t difficult. Some things in the building seemed to change, but the main building was about the same. He asked for a new uniform and they complied without question. Knowing what some quirks do to uniforms, this probably wasn’t an unusual thing. He silently thanked God that it was only fifteen bucks. He also half expected the money he gave them to be no good, but they didn’t say anything so he didn’t either. He took a peek at their calendar on their desk just to be positive about the date.
The end-of-the-day bell already rung, so there were some students in the hall. There were probably clubs going on right now. Not to mention, if the schedules are similar, the hero course should be going on a bit longer than the rest of the classes, since they have training along with coursework.
He wasn’t in the uniform, so he probably stuck out a bit. He decided to go down to the locker rooms and change. He should probably go ahead and take a shower while he’s at it.
The locker rooms haven’t changed much, but the water seems to take a heck of a lot longer to warm up. They apparently used to provide a bar of soap to share instead of expecting them to bring some themselves. It was honestly a little gross and people could steal it easily, but this was convenient or him right now.
The sound of voices and shuffling halfway through his shower made him freeze. He had to force himself to breathe again. It was probably just the hero course and wouldn’t be a problem. But students meant talking, and they might ask some questions he’s not yet ready for. He kept facing the wall as they started to round the corner, their voices becoming more clear.
“Y’all wanna get food after this?” “Man, he beat your ass!-” “Oh, shut-up” “Hey, you using the showers?-” Locker doors opened and shut. Bare feet on tile padded around him. He felt a few curious glances his way. He took a breath. Maybe they would let him be.
“Hey!” Oh, God. That was a stern voice. It was so close. It was directed at him, wasn’t it? The other voices around them hushed.
“Are you from the hero course? The other classes use the gym locker room across the way.” The same voice. Oh, damn, he forgot he was supposed to use a different locker room! He was so used to this one. Izuku internally groaned. He craned his head to look behind him. Fiery blue eyes tore through him. The boy was tall and muscular with a scowl. He had no shirt on, so his intimidating muscles were on display.
He tried to squeeze out a response. “I- well I just-”
“Aw, come on, Enji! Leave the kid alone.” An even taller boy bounced his way over. He looked like he was radiating light with the way his yellow hair blocked one of the overhead lights, shining through the strands.
“We’re not friends. Don’t call me that-”
“I’m sure he’s just new. You expect him to walk to the other side of the school buck naked and wet?” The other kid grunted at this. He glared at him one more time before deciding he wasn’t worth it and stomping off. He seemed familiar for some reason. Was it his spiky hair and personality? He probably just reminded him of Kacchan.
The giraffe with the glowing blonde halo stepped up and turned on the shower next to him. Izuku wasn’t sure why, but he felt painfully familiar, too. Moreso, even. As he wracked his brain to find out why, the boy’s words brought him back.
“So, are you new here?” His smile is bright too. His whole demeanor is peppy and it makes him feel a little less anxious. Maybe talking to this guy won’t be so bad.
“Yeah.” He figured he’d just roll with it. It’s easier. “I mean I’ve been here before, but I’m just getting used to things.”
“You from the hero course?”
“I am, yeah.”
“Oh, sweet. You’re probably from another class then.” Please don’t ask any more questions.
“Anyway, don’t mind Enji, he’s always like that. Guy’s got a hot temper. So what’s your name?” Oh, okay, he can answer that- wait, no he can’t he’s in the past.
“I’m Midori….” He gave him a look. Oh, wait, he could have just gone with “Deku”. Shit.
“Midori? As in ‘green’?” He nodded and could feel him observing his green features, He smiled brighter.
“That’s cute.” Midoriya’s pretty sure his heart has never fluttered this hard before. Now he’s glad he went with Midori. “Nice to meet you, Midori. I'm Yagi.”
Yagi? Yagi Yagi Yagi. That was familiar, right? Or was it just common? Has he heard it somewhere before? Well, this is the past, maybe he just knew of them once they’re older? Maybe? It was on the tip of his tongue.
He must have noticed the look on his face because he asked, “Is something the matter?”
“Huh? Oh, no just- you seem familiar I guess…” He gave a shrug.
“I mean probably. I’m a little popular here. You might have seen me at the sports festival.”
“Ah, that might be it.” He rolled with it for now. It’ll work. Yagi turned to talk to some others in the room. Izuku let out a breath. He was just about done and was about to head out when he overheard someone talking to Yagi.
“That fight with you and Todoroki was close-” His ears perked at Todoroki .
“Yeah, I guess. He’s still pretty serious about beating me. Guy’s gonna blow a casket one day-”
He stopped listening. Todoroki. It couldn’t be his Todoroki, of course. It’s year XXXX. Endeavor’s in high school. He turned his head to the fuming and beaten up boy showering alone in the corner. His red hair. His demeanor. His strong, stubborn stance.
That was Endeavor, wasn’t it? Hold on, there was someone Endeavor couldn’t beat? Wait a minute, of course there was. All Might. He turned his head back to the blonde . The blonde who has two long bangs in the front and messy hair currently held down by water. The blonde who is incredibly tall. The blonde with muscles. The blonde who always smiles.
Izuku turned off the water and stumbled out of the shower area in a haze. He barely remembered to grab a towel to dry off with. His thoughts were going a mile a minute. He was just talking to All Might. It’s not like that wasn’t a usual occurrence, but he was in the past. What does that mean for the future? Did he alter anything? What about when he meets him again later? Will he remember him? What’s gonna happen?
He’s shaking when he puts on his new pants. It’s hot in the room. The steam from the showers was getting to him maybe. He just needs to sit down. The room was starting to shift, spin almost, in jagged motions. White prickled the corners of his vision. When did the others sound so distant? Muffled even?
Water. He needs water. His vision was completely static now.
He doesn’t remember falling.
Everything was foggy when he woke up in thin sheets. Was somebody talking to him? There was a soft, muffled voice that slowly gained clarity.
“-Glad to see you awake, honey. Can you say something?”
“Huh?” His voice was hoarse.
“Alright, I’ll take it.” Where was he? “It seems the heat from the showers might have gotten to him. He just needs some water and rest. Thank you for bringing him here.” It took him a second to realize she was talking to someone else.
His eyes focused on the small girl sitting next to him. She was actually kinda cute. She had a pink visor and her coat was familiar. Her hair was in a bun- oh my God he’s looking at Recovery Girl .
“You’re welcome, Recovery Girl!” A chipper voice.
“Welcome.” A grumpy voice. A pause. More muffled sound.
“Y’know, you really didn’t have to come-”
“And leave all of the helping people up to you? Not happening, Mr. Hero.”
“Mm-kay~” Midoriya’s eyes finally adjusted to take in the other two in the room. Sure enough, there was a familiar halo of blonde framing a too-handsome-to-be-normal face. The spiky red poof and angry eyes were present, as well.
“Well, good morning, sleeping beauty!” Midoriya was positive his face reddened at that. All Mi- Yagi moved to sit in the seat next to him before turning to see the other heading out the door.
“Hey, are you getting your stuff? Could you get mine, too?”
“Get your own shit.” He slammed the door.
“He’ll grab it.” He waved his hand dismissively. It was just them then. Where did Recovery Girl go?
“Recovery Girl asked us to watch over you while she’s on her break. Just to see if you needed anything.” He hadn’t realized he asked that out loud. “She said you can go in half an hour if your feeling better.”
This… this was All Might, huh? The day is almost over, what does he do? Does he seek help? Does he have any other option? Should he try to talk to Yagi?
At first, Yagi lead the conversation, bright smile on display as he talked about the hero class and what to expect since he’s new and all. He warned him about certain people and teachers and gave him some pointers.
“Um, All- Yagi? Can I ask you something?” He sat up straighter.
“Hm? Sure. What’s up?”
“I… I need help… but I don’t know who to turn to, and I’m running out of options.” He leaned in, listening. “I- so- I’m not from here.”
“Yeah, you’re new, right?”
“Well, yeah, but… I mean I’m not… supposed to be here…”
“Like, in this school?” He was getting confused now.
“No, I… I go here technically, I’m just… not from this... time period. ”
“Huh?” He lost him. “Like, you’re from the future or somethin’?”
“Yes, actually.”
“Uh-huh. Okay.” He didn’t believe him. “Here, drink some water. You must have really bumped your head on the way down.” Oh. He took a sip. He doesn’t believe him. The sound of a bag being dropped brought him back out of his thoughts.
“Here’s your shit.”
“Ah! I knew you’d bring it~”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“What do you mean?”
“You always run off somewhere after practice.” Yagi checked his watch.
“Oh, shoot! You’re right! Nana’s waiting! You’ll look after him, right? Later!” He grabbed his stuff and left in a hurry.
Izuku looked between Endeavor and the door where his only possible savior just left. He felt bad. “S-sorry…”
“It’s fine. I’m the one who should be looking after you, anyway.” He sounded like he was actually humble for a second. “It was my quirk that made you pass out.” It is? Enji must have noticed his confused expression.
“I got irritated and my flames activated in the showers. That’s what caused all of the steam and made the heat go to your head. You were probably dehydrated.” Oh. Enji took Yagi’s spot next to him and crossed his arms.
“Y’know, compared to everyone who tries to find a reason to talk to Yagi, you definitely had the most interesting story.”
“What? Oh, that? Just nonsense. I must have hit my head.” Please just drop it.
“You know, you’re not very good at lying.” His blue eyes pierced him. “Spill it.”
Endeavor was stubborn. When someone gets that look in their eyes, he knows it means they won’t let it go. Kacchan gets that look a lot.
Well, here goes.
“Well… I was saying how… I’m not from here…”
“From this ‘time period’.” He finished. Izuku cringed. It definitely sounds absurd coming from someone else.
“Yeah. This is… this is the past for me.” He looked skeptical but waited for him to continue. “Someone’s quirk did this to me and sent me here. I go to this school and I’m in the hero course, it’s just… I’m not supposed to be here. Right now, that is.”
“Hmph. So what year are you from?”
“XXXX. About thirty years from now.” Enji seemed to be a lot more interested at that. He unfolded his arms.
“Can you tell me anything about me from the future so I know you’re not just delusional?”
“Hmm… I don’t want to alter the future or... ‘spoil’ anything, but… I guess I could give advice? I don’t really know you well, but I know of you. Uh, I know you’re competitive, but don’t let it blind you. Losing or coming second isn’t the end of the world.” He didn’t seem satisfied with that.
“Hmph. Sounds like a vague fortune.” He leaned back again. “How do I know for sure you're from the future?”
“I guess you’ll just have to trust me? If you want to, I guess… I don’t know what else to do.”
“Why did you tell Yagi first?”
“He’s… he’s my mentor. I’m pretty close to him. I honestly didn’t recognize him at first, he looks a lot different when he was younger.”
“What does he look like later, with you?”
“Well, his features are more… dramatic? I guess? And he’s a lot bulkier. He’s also even taller , believe it or not. He still smiles a lot, though.”
Enji sighed and rubbed his neck.
“Well, normally, this sort of thing would be impossible and I definitely want to call it bullshit, but you do seem sincere.”
“You… do you believe me?”
“I believe that you believe it.” Oh. Midoriya’s heart fell. “I don’t want to believe you, but considering all the unknowns about quirks still and the way you talk, I guess it could be plausible.” Oh! He’s still a bit skeptical, but at least he got further with him. “Of course, you could also be tripping balls from hitting your head, so I’m going to walk you home tonight.” Home? Home to where?
The half-hour was about up so they headed out. Enji prompted him to tell him more about his life. Little snippets to help crack the code. They make it to the train station and Izuku is just blabbering away about his classmates and their quirks and their training together. It’s a pleasant distraction and fools him into thinking everything is okay.
It all falls apart when the train stops and their walking home. Izuku slows down. Enji turns to him.
“Well?”
He starts walking again and they head in the direction of Midoriya’s “home”. The one with the good memories gone sour he doesn’t want to face. The one that holds the reality he can’t handle. They show up at the doorstep to the house that wasn’t his. Enji eyes him curiously. He walks up and unlocks the door, opening it to the vacancy. He steps inside.
“Well, this is it. My home.” Izuku’s throat tightens. Enji looks worried now. He moves further inside. Enji follows. He points to the big empty room like he was gesturing to something specific.
“This is the living room. It’s pretty plain but the couch is comfy.” He moves on. “This is the kitchen. It’s small but cozy. Mom usually is cooking by about this time-” His voice cracks. He moves on. Enji still follows.
“The bathroom… the laundry room… my room.” He swings the door open to another vacant room. “It’s mostly hero merch. I’ve always been a big fan of heroes.” He was crying in earnest now. Tears streamed down his face and Todoroki had no idea what to do about it. Izuku leaned against someone’s wall, collapsing against it. He stayed like that for a couple of minutes.
Enji spoke up when his crying slowed.
“Come on.” Izu looked up and took the hand Enji offered.
They left that house and starting in the direction of… somewhere.
“Where are we going?” Midoriya’s voice sounded wrecked.
"You’re staying at my house tonight.” Izuku wanted to start crying again. He choked out a quiet “thank you” in response.
Thankfully, his house wasn’t too far away from his. They didn’t have to take the train again. Their trip was quiet this time. His tears dried.
Enji’s house was a bit bigger than his but still one story. There weren’t many plants outside. Inside was a very traditional Japanese style. They left their shoes at the front.
“So who all do you live with?”
“My mother and father. Although right now, they’re away on a business trip for about a month, so I’m here alone.” Oh. He sounded very formal when speaking about his parents. He showed him to his room. It was very plain aside from a cluttered desk.
“I’ll get the futon, you can stay here.”
“Thank you.”
Enji doesn’t seem nearly as bitter as the famous Endeavor is now. He’s still rude sometimes but he can put his attitude aside. Once everything is set up, he lays down while Enji does homework at his desk. Todoroki spares him a glance.
“Do you want to tell another story?”
“I’m not sure what to talk about now.”
“Uh.. maybe crushes or something? We can gossip like girls. Anyone you ever dated?” It’s clear he’s not the best at small talk, but he’s making an effort for him, so he’ll play along.
“Well… there’s only one person I’ve ever dated, but I dated them for roughly two years.” Enji whistles at that. “Though I’ll admit it probably wasn’t… the healthiest relationship, though,” he spoke quieter. He could practically feel Enji raise his eyebrows, so he continued.
“I sort of just dated them because they wanted to, I guess? I mean, I guess I liked them, but… they didn’t really… ask me if I wanted to, but I really liked them so I went along with it.” Todoroki kept listening.
“He would kind of… bully me a little… when we were younger.” He didn’t notice Enji tense at his change from “they” to “he”. “He didn’t want anyone to know that we were dating but he would still be with me in private at times. I just... did whatever he wanted.” He doesn’t know why he’s telling this to Endeavor of all people considering his own mother didn’t know, but he needed to let out something. He needed some sort of catharsis today.
“I guess I’m making it sound worse than it was, or maybe it was kinda bad. Anyway, he’s gotten a lot better recently. I would have preferred he didn’t end up in my class where he could still be mad at me for some reason, but his yelling has gotten less frequent. I think he’s starting to respect me a little more. Whatever. It’s not like I regret anything. I still love him. I’d probably still do anything for him, even if he won’t do anything back.” He didn’t notice Enji completely turned around in his chair, looking at him now.
“He’s always been so good at everything. He’s amazing. His drive to become the best hasn’t faltered for twelve years. He won the sports festival last year.” He looked over at Enji.
“So what about you? Any precious sweethearts?” He shook his head.
“None.”
“No crushes?”
“No. Those are just distractions. My main focus is on school and hero training. I have to become the best.” That sounds recited. Like someone’s been telling him that for years. He’s heard that tone before. From Shoto.
He couldn’t bring himself to talk about it as his eyelids were getting heavy. The stress was finally wearing him out.
“Well don’t work yourself too hard. Taking a break isn’t so bad.” He yawned.
Today has been so surreal. He thinks about how he reached out to All Might yet ended up with Endeavor. He doesn’t know what he’s doing to the future, but he’s just desperate for something solid to lean on. He can only wish that when he wakes up, it’ll all go back to normal.