Chapter Text
In defence of Izuku Midoriya, he was well aware of how terrible an idea it was to do his homework in bed but could you blame him? Whenever Professor Toshinori starts a lecture on "Inequalities Based on Secondary Sex" - you need to get comfortable. Yagi Toshinori was a legendary man whom Izuku had a lot of respect for, but that man was more talkative than a kid who just discovered how to make noises with their mouth. Rightfully, he was the best man to discuss it - an omega who worked their way up an alpha-dominated industry and brought reform, Toshinori was exemplary.
He just talked. too. much. A three-hour lecture could feel like a six-hour monologue, and heaven forbid they had any seminars. Izuku knew why Counselor Inui made him take Gender Studies as an elective. It meshed well with his overall studies. A Bachelor of Science in Biology with a major in Gender Science. He needed to learn the humanity that gets affected by science. It made sense. He didn't hate the class, he hated how long-winded his lectures were.
If it weren't for these recordings of Professor Toshinori's lectures, he would have failed this class by now. And for the anxious mind of Izuku Midoriya, the idea of failing a class was worse than death.
"But do not fret my young students," said the lecturer as he changed slides, "My young Alphas, especially. I do not diminish you. Contrary to the belief of my detractors, I do believe there is no shortage of good Alphas. Good men and women who want to be good parents and role models to the pups who aspire to be them."
Izuku felt his eyelids going heavy. The all-nighter he pulled last night with Katsuki and Tenya must have been catching up to him.
"I believe that Alphas are sensitive creatures, more so than Omegas. Their desire to protect the pack and their mate makes them vulnerable to the most wretched of feelings. Envy, grief, hate - these feelings can be all-consuming for the best of us. To those Alphas hurt by the world, the world has hurt them and they want to hurt it back."
Fuck, he couldn't fall asleep. He still had that assignment to finish for his Historical Geneology II course. There was no way Professor Aizawa was gonna accept a late assignment.
"There is no shortage of good Alphas - only a shortage of Alphas who are strong enough to save themselves from their torment. In this modern society, Omegas and Betas do not need their Alpha's protection. They need their companionship, their earnestness and their tenacity. They need leaders willing to listen to them. One who can tend to and guide our pups to be capable."
Well, an hour or so rest wouldn't hurt him too much.
"I believe that this world needs our Alphas to go from Guardians to Heroes - people who can lift up others even at their darkest moments."
Besides, even if he doesn't wake up on time - Katsuki would be home soon from Ice Hockey practice anyways.
And there's no way that needy omega would leave him to rest in peace.
KALEIDESCOPE OMNISCIENCE DIMENSIONAL ASSISTANT - "KODA"•••••ONLINE
TRANSMIGRATION SYSTEMS.•••••ONLINE, PREPARING HOST FOR TRANSMIGRATION.HOST NAME: IZUKU MIDORIYA - HOST VERSION 4112 (FROM SUBDIVISION: 212033 - "OMEGAVERSE")
PLACEMENT UNIVERSE: IZUKU MIDORIYA - VERSION 214 (FROM SUBDIVISION 000004 - "QUIRKS")
REWRITING HOST MEMORIES••••••••••UNSUCCESSFUL
ENGAGING IN ERROR 21 COUNTERMEASURES•••••••••••••••UNSUCCESSFUL
ENGAGING IN ERROR 21-A COUNTERMEASURES•••••••••••••••UNSUCCESSFUL
ENGAGING IN ERROR 21-B COUNTERMEASURES•••••••••••••••UNSUCCESSFUL
***
"C'mon, Lil soldier - you can do it!" cheered a strong male voice, "Dadda's rooting for you!"
He was in a warm place - not like the sun when it hung overhead and made the air uncomfortable. It was familiar.
There was warmth, laughter and an aura of comfort that felt like no other.
"Izuku, baby," said a comforting female voice, "Walk for Momma and Dadda! You can do it!"
The young child giggles, "Dadda! Momma!" were his only words before attempting to walk. He takes a single step but doesn't go very far - falling over on his knees. The moment freezes. The worried parents exchange glances. The baby does too - until rolling over laughing, the most infectious sound ever heard. The father throws himself onto the floor and starts laughing too, and the mother joins them. Together, they lie on the wooden floor laughing with big smiles. The house feels warm and joyful. As if the world outside could burn, but nothing would change the love these three had for each other.
KALEIDESCOPE OMNISCIENCE DIMENSIONAL ASSISTANT - "KODA"•••••MANUAL OVERRIDE UNLOCKED
TRANSMIGRATION SYSTEMS.•••••MANUAL OVERRIDE, ACKNOWLEDGED.
TRANSMIGRATION ASSISTANT•••••••••••••••UNLOCKED AND OPERATIONAL.
***
"You fucking quirkless waste of space!" shouted a loud voice, "Why don't you get out of my fucking way, Deku?!"
This memory was cold - but not like a refreshing sip of lemonade, but the bitter taste of coffee brewed too strong.
It was pungent and awful. He felt his heart break with every violent sneer and blow that came that boy's way.
"Kacchan," insisted the boy as he squeezed his bully's fist, "I won't ever give up on you. We will be friends again. I will be a hero!"
A fire of determination was burning deep in that boy's soul. That determination scared the other one, but only a keen observer would notice. They exchanged blows (one-sidedly, mind you) and each attack was filled with so many feelings. Insecurity, insignificance and self-loathing were the ones that came up most frequently. They said words they both regret because they weren't true. They were just attempting to bury the feelings that were real. It was an unfortunate end to a relationship they both cherished.
How could he tell?
Because the minute the green-haired boy ran away, the blonde sunk to the ground and cursed out his name.
ENGAGING IN MANUAL HOST TRANSMIGRATION•••••••••••••••SUCCESSFUL.
IZUKU MIDORIYA (4112) TRANSMIGRATED WITH IZUKU MIDORIYA (214)
UNIVERSE CLEAN UP MEASURES•••••••••••••••67% COMPLETED
***
"You did good, Young Midoriya."
The suffocating scent of smoke. It intermingled with the sharp iron of blood and was carried by a cold, autumn breeze.
Everything should hurt - his bones are broken, and his flesh is scarred, bloodied and bruised. Yet, he is strong. He holds back the tears and looks at his mentor.
"But sir...I failed..." the words can barely leave his shaking lips, "I gave it everything I had and I wasn't enough...!"
"You saved so many lives, Young Midoriya. You were never ready to face All For One - not as you are, not so young. This fight was never yours. It was mine to finish."
"All-Might..."
The man gave him a crooked smile, struggling to contain the blood that was choking his lungs.
"Young Midoriya, hold your head high. When I gave you One For All it was not just your tenacity that impressed me. It was your will, your character and your mind. I give you my vision - as was the vision of my predecessor and hers. Protect this world, just as we have. You are brave and kind, Young Midoriya."
A gentle, loving touch - not too different from the woman and man who held the baby in their arms. The man cusped the boy's cheeks in his hand, a wide smile on his face. In the man's eyes, there was a spark. He was not in pain nor did he suffer with regret. Instead, he looked at that boy like he was the most precious thing on the planet. A spark that told the boy that all was well, and all would be well no matter what.
"Young Midoriya - it's your turn. You are a hero like no other. I believe in you."
"Please, Yagi...I-I'm not ready."
"You will be. You and those other brilliant young minds at U.A. will protect this world."
"Yagi...!"
"I love you, my son."
The man named Yagi goes quiet - his eyes fall shut and his shallow breathing stops. The waterworks from the young man come swiftly after that - and it seems as though the very world started to mourn his loss at that moment - rain pouring down from dark, thunderous clouds above them. The destruction is unparalleled in the surrounding area. Thousands of homes, businesses and buildings were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands must have been displaced. The cause of this destruction was unknown, but a sinister aura leaked from a man in energized chains.
He had no eyes but his smile was haunting.
CONNECTION TO KALEIDESCOPE OMNISCIENCE DIMENSIONAL ASSISTANT - "KODA"•••••••••••ONLINE AND RESPONSIVE.
RECIEVED MANUAL DISCONNECTION REQUEST••••••••••• PROCESSING.
***
"Midoriya, you don't need to force yourself," said a middle-aged-looking man with dark circles, "He was your mentor. I understand if you need time off school to process what happened. No one will blame you."
What a lovely scent in the air. It was a light fragrance, a refreshing scent like the wet grass after the morning rain.
The boy took a deep breath - breathing in the cool night air and watching the city below with that same sparkle in his eyes. The one his mentor had.
"I'm not..." he paused, "I don't wish to wallow in my pain when there's so much I can do moving forward. All-Might...no, Yagi entrusted me with his will. To protect these people, and I will do everything in my power to do that."
He flashed his conversation partner a bright, brilliant smile.
"It's okay, Aizawa. I'm not fine but I will be, so long as I keep moving forward. That's all we can do, right?"
The older man seemed satisfied with that response and gave him a curt smile.
"Damn right, problem child."
WARNING: HOST IS STILL CONNECTED TO SYSTEM! UNIVERSE CLEAN UP MEASURES STILL IN EFFECT - 87% COMPLETE.
SHUTTING OFF SYSTEM NOW MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENECES ON THE TRANSMIGRATION PROCESS.
IN COMPLETE TRANSMIGRATION MAY RESULT IN FAILED MISSION.
DO YOU STILL WISH TO DISCONNECT?>> YES
>NO
***
How beautiful were those feelings - the complex nature of youth, tribulations and growing up - in the flicker of a moment, he felt a lifetime. The moments of pain, suffering and joy. The pride, accomplishment and relief. They were so young, but they felt so much and loved so much. They grieved and they mourned mentors and allies. They lived so much life but there was still so much life to give yet.
What a beautiful world they lived in where it felt like everything was possible because anything was possible.
How unfortunate that he felt like a perverted voyeur experiencing it.
Because despite the way they called his name so affectionately and felt so familiar—
"Izuku! Shoto, Tsuyu and I were going to watch some movies, you coming?"
Because despite the way he felt every injury - every broken bone, torn ligament and bruised flesh—
"Have you been injured in training again? Take better care of yourself, young man!"
Because despite the way he felt overwhelmed by each emotion that penetrated his chest—
"Midoriya...thank you so much for believing in me. If it weren't for you, I would have been swallowed whole by meaningless vengeance."
Because despite the way he wanted to be the one they were calling out to—
"Hey Izuku, could you help me and Kaminari study for our Math exam?"
"Midoriya, where have you been, bro? It's time to pump some iron!"
"Zuchan, I came with Mr. Aizawa and Mirio to visit!"
He was never going to be that person. The real person they were calling out to wasn't him.
His name was Izuku Midoriya but those memories - those beautiful, pure memories - didn't belong to him.
"Where do you think you're going, Shitty Deku?!"
Those memories belonged to a boy named Deku.
CONNECTION TO KALEIDESCOPE OMNISCIENCE DIMENSIONAL ASSISTANT•••••••••••••••SUCCESSFULLY DISCONNECTED.
UNIVERSE CLEAN UP MEASURES HALTED AT 88% COMPLETION
***
"Hey, Zuchan I have a question." asked a little girl with a curious glint in her red eyes, "My teacher got mad when I said a boy in my class should be Deku. We were playing heroes. She said it was a bad word. But that's you, right?"
A small smile lined his lips as he crouched down to her level, "You shouldn't call someone a Deku. She's not wrong, it's not the most polite of words. It's a puppet, someone who can't do anything on their own."
"Then why is your hero name a bad word?"
"Though a puppet may be useless on its own, Eri, I believe it's a vessel that can transform into anything. With the strength of others alongside it - that puppet can do anything. I'm not the strongest in the world but my teachers, my mentors and my friends give me the strength to keep fighting. Just like that useless puppet, I have no use without purpose and my purpose is to protect others. I can do it."
TRANSMIGRATION•••••••••••••••SUCCESSFUL(?)
HOST CONSCIOUSNESS REAWAKENING SEQUENCE iNITIATED•••••3••••2••••1
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW UNIVERSE, IZUKU MIDORIYA.