The morning sun streamed through the kitchen windows as Hisashi adjusted his tie, preparing to leave for his business trip. Inko stood by the counter, sipping her tea and trying to suppress her amusement at the scene before her. Hisashi, ever the composed and commanding figure, turned to Izuku, who sat at the dining table with his usual calm expression, a notebook open in front of him and a pen in hand.
Hisashi {placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder, his tone serious}: "Izuku, while I'm away, you're the man of the house. I trust you to maintain order and protect your mother. Can I count on you?"
Izuku glanced up from his notebook, his expression neutral as always.
Izuku {calmly}: "Of course, Father. Order will be maintained, and Mother's safety is my priority."
Inko couldn't hold back a giggle at how seriously her son responded. The image of her thirteen-year-old son, with his perpetually detached demeanor, being given such a grand responsibility was just too much.
Inko {smiling as she set her tea down}: "Oh, Hisashi, you make it sound like you're leaving him in charge of a fortress. It's just the house."
Hisashi {glancing at Inko, raising an eyebrow}: "This is no laughing matter, Inko. Izuku is more than capable of handling the responsibility."
Izuku {looking back at his notebook, speaking without looking up}: "I'll ensure the plants are watered, the house remains secure, and dinner is prepared promptly. There's nothing to worry about."
Hisashi nodded approvingly, giving Izuku’s shoulder a squeeze before stepping back.
Hisashi {grinning slightly}: "That's my boy. You'll make a fine leader one day."
As Hisashi picked up his suitcase and headed toward the door, Inko leaned down toward Izuku, still giggling.
Inko {whispering playfully}: "Man of the house, huh? Does that mean I have to call you 'sir' now?"
Izuku paused his writing, tilting his head slightly as if considering the suggestion.
Izuku {flatly}: "It would be appropriate, given the circumstances."
Inko burst out laughing at her son's deadpan humor, her lightheartedness filling the room. Izuku, unbothered by the reaction, simply returned to his writing, his pen gliding across the paper with methodical precision.
[Transition]
Later that day, as Inko passed by the living room, she noticed Izuku sitting at the coffee table, surrounded by a mountain of papers and drafts. He was working on his latest script under his pen name, "Mr. Ōru Fō Wan," a name that had recently been making waves in the publishing and TV drama industry.
Inko {peeking over his shoulder, curious}: "What's the story about this time, Izuku?"
Izuku {not looking up, his tone as steady as ever}: "It's a political thriller set in a dystopian future. A tale of power, betrayal, and redemption. The protagonist faces a moral quandary about whether to protect his family or his legacy."
Inko {raising an eyebrow, smiling}: "Sounds intense. Is the protagonist inspired by anyone we know?"
Izuku paused for a moment, then turned his calm gaze to his mother.
Izuku {matter-of-factly}: “Partially. Father's obsession with legacy seemed like a suitable model. I exaggerated the drama, of course."
Inko couldn’t help but laugh again, shaking her head as she walked away.
Inko {muttering to herself}: "What am I going to do with these two?"
Throughout the week, Izuku flawlessly handled his "man of the house" duties. He maintained the house like a well-oiled machine, prepared dinner with clinical efficiency, and even kept Inko entertained with his dry humor.
One evening, as they sat down to watch TV, Inko flipped through the channels and stumbled upon a trailer for a new drama:
Narrator {dramatic tone}: "From the mind of Mr. Ōru Fō Wan, the rising star of the industry, comes a story of betrayal and ambition…"
Inko glanced at Izuku, who sat beside her with the same neutral expression he always wore, casually munching on a piece of toast.
Inko {grinning, nudging him}: "Look at you, Mr. Rising Star. Aren't you going to act a little excited?"
Izuku {calmly}: "Why would I be excited? It's just another project. The quality will speak for itself."
Inko sighed, shaking her head with a fond smile.
Inko {leaning back on the couch}: "Man of the house, best-selling author, and TV writer. What *can't* you do, Izuku?"
Izuku glanced at her, tilting his head slightly in thought.
Izuku {flatly}: "I can't whistle."
Inko burst out laughing again, the sound filling the house. Izuku simply turned his attention back to the screen, unbothered and focused as always.
[Transition]
The large Midoriya estate was unusually quiet that afternoon. Izuku sat at his grand mahogany desk in the study, fingers gliding effortlessly over his keyboard as he worked on his latest script for a high-profile client.
Papers were scattered across the surface, annotated in neat, precise handwriting. The soft hum of classical music played in the background, a source of focus rather than distraction for him.
Izuku {murmuring to himself, typing}: "The protagonist's internal conflict is sufficient, but the pacing needs adjustment. Perhaps a flashback sequence..."
He leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen against his chin. Just as he was about to revise the dialogue, a sharp knock echoed through the halls, reverberating off the high ceilings.
Izuku {glancing toward the door, voice calm}: "Unexpected."
Standing, he straightened his crisp white shirt and adjusted the cuffs of his blazer before heading to the double doors. With a practiced motion, he opened them to reveal two individuals—one with a wild, disheveled appearance and a scarf wrapped around his neck, the other a towering skeletal man in an impeccable suit. Between them stood what could only be described as a chimera—a creature resembling a hybrid of a dog, rat, and bear, dressed in a formal vest and tie.
The skeletal man's sunken eyes widened as his gaze fell on Izuku. A moment of silence hung in the air before the man coughed violently, spewing blood onto the pristine marble steps.
Skeletal Man {horrified, wiping his mouth}: "What... What is this?! Is this some cruel joke?! Why does this child look like—like—"
The disheveled man placed a firm hand on his companion's shoulder, silencing him with a sharp glare.
Disheveled Man {sighing, rubbing his temple}: "Calm down, Toshinori. We're here for a reason."
Izuku remained unfazed, his expression as neutral as ever.
Izuku {tilting his head slightly, voice monotone}: "You're trespassing. State your business or leave."
The chimera-like creature stepped forward.
Chimera {smiling politely}: "Ah, my apologies for the intrusion, young Midoriya. I am Nezu, principal of U.A. University. This is Shota Aizawa, one of our esteemed professors, and Toshinori Yagi, also known as All Might."
Izuku's expression didn’t change, though his sharp sapphire eyes briefly flicked over the trio.
Izuku {stepping aside, gesturing inside}: "You may enter. State your purpose quickly; I have deadlines to meet."
The trio exchanged glances before stepping inside. The grandeur of the estate was undeniable—vaulted ceilings, elegant chandeliers, and walls lined with bookshelves stretching to the ceiling. Izuku led them to the sitting room, where he gestured for them to take a seat. He remained standing, hands clasped behind his back.
Nezu {clearing his throat}: "Young Midoriya, we're here with a proposal. Your talents have not gone unnoticed."
Izuku {raising an eyebrow slightly}: "Talents?"
Nezu nodded, gesturing toward Toshinori, who was still pale and eyeing Izuku as if he might sprout horns at any moment.
Nezu {cheerfully}: "Indeed. Your exceptional intellect, your discipline, and your—ah—unique quirk. We would like to offer you a position at U.A. University."
Izuku blinked slowly, tilting his head.
Izuku {flatly}: "I'm thirteen. U.A. is for adults. Is this a mistake?"
Aizawa {leaning back, sighing}: "Not a mistake. We've made exceptions before. You're... a special case."
Toshinori finally found his voice, though it was strained.
Toshinori {gesturing vaguely at Izuku}: "You—you're the spitting image of—"
Aizawa {interrupting, glaring at Toshinori}: "Not the time."
Nezu chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
Nezu {smiling}: "We understand the optics might be... unusual. But your skill set is unparalleled. With proper training, you could become an exceptional hero."
Izuku's expression remained unreadable.
Izuku {calmly}: "You assume I wish to become a hero. I do not."
Toshinori nearly choked again, but Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath.
Nezu {chuckling lightly}: "Of course, of course. But surely someone with your abilities wouldn't want them to go to waste?"
Izuku's gaze shifted briefly to his desk in the other room, where his half-finished script lay waiting.
Izuku {bluntly}: "My abilities are not wasted. I am productive."
Nezu's smile didn't falter, but he leaned forward slightly, his tone softer.
Nezu {gently}: "Think of it as expanding your horizons. U.A. can offer you resources and opportunities you won’t find anywhere else."
Izuku considered this for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he weighed their words.
Izuku {after a pause}: "I will take your offer under advisement. You may leave now."
Toshinori looked as though he wanted to protest, but Aizawa stood, motioning for the others to follow.
Aizawa {gruffly, to Nezu}: "Let's give him time. We've done our part."
As the trio left, Nezu turned back briefly, his smile unwavering.
Nezu {cheerfully, while placing a card on the table}: "Thank you for your time. Give us a call if you've decided."
When the door closed, Izuku returned to his desk, picked up his pen, and resumed his work without missing a beat.
Izuku {murmuring to himself as he wrote}: "A university for heroes... how quaint."
He allowed himself the faintest smirk before refocusing on his script, leaving the peculiar encounter behind as just another chapter in his unconventional life.
[Transition]
The three of them walked in silence down the grand stone steps of the Midoriya estate, the tension so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Toshinori Yagi, still pale from the encounter, clutched his chest as though trying to calm his hammering heart.
Aizawa strode ahead with his hands in his pockets, his face unreadable, while Nezu trotted along at an even pace.
When they reached their car, Toshinori finally stopped, turning abruptly to face the others. His hands were trembling as he pointed back toward the towering mansion.
Toshinori {his voice a mix of horror and urgency}: "That boy—he's his son. His son! Do you understand what that means? All For One is alive, and he's—he's masquerading as some innocent businessman! This is—it's absurd!"
Nezu calmly hopped onto the hood of the car, his usual cheery demeanor dimmed but still present.
Nezu {sitting cross-legged, clasping his paws together}: "Toshinori, I understand your concerns. Believe me, I do. But let's stick to the facts."
Toshinori {gritting his teeth, pacing back and forth}: "The facts? The facts are glaringly obvious! Hisashi Midoriya is All For One! He's been hiding in plain sight, raising a child who—who looks just like him and even talks like him! You saw the boy! He's practically a clone!"
Aizawa leaned against the side of the car, rubbing his temple.
Aizawa {dryly}: "We all saw him, Yagi. No need to shout. The kid is... unsettling, sure. But we can't act on a gut feeling, no matter how strong."
Toshinori {turning to Aizawa, his voice rising}: "It's not a gut feeling! It's the truth! We have enough evidence to—"
Nezu {interrupting, his tone firm but calm}: "Do we, Toshinori? Do we truly have enough evidence? Or are you letting your personal history with All For One cloud your judgment?"
Toshinori froze, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to respond. Nezu continued, his small voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Nezu {calmly, but pointedly}: "Think carefully. Hisashi Midoriya is a respected businessman with no criminal record. There is not a single piece of evidence tying him to All For One, aside from a... striking resemblance. But resemblance is not proof. And as for Izuku..."
Nezu tilted his head, his small black eyes glinting with calculation.
Nezu {continuing}: "The boy has done nothing wrong. He's polite, articulate, and has shown no inclination toward villainy. What do you propose we do? Arrest a child for the crime of existing? Drag his father into court with no evidence to back up your claim?"
Toshinori clenched his fists, his body shaking with frustration.
Toshinori {through gritted teeth}: "Nezu, you know I'm right. That man is All For One. We can't just... sit by and do nothing!"
Nezu sighed, hopping down from the hood of the car and walking up to Toshinori.
Nezu {gently}: "You may very well be right, Toshinori. But the law doesn't operate on intuition or history. It operates on evidence. And right now, 'Hisashi Midoriya' is, by all accounts, an innocent man. Until we find concrete proof, we must tread carefully."
Aizawa pushed off the car and stood beside Nezu, his voice as steady as ever.
Aizawa {calmly}: "He's not wrong, Yagi. We can't just storm in there and drag him off to Tartarus because he looks like your nemesis. That's not how it works."
Toshinori {lowering his head, his voice trembling}: "So what? We just... let him keep living his life, raising that boy, pretending he's some ordinary father? What if Izuku becomes like him? What if—"
Nezu held up a paw, stopping him.
Nezu {firmly}: "What if he doesn't? From what we've seen, Izuku is a remarkable young man. Yes, he has quirks that could rival the most dangerous villains, but his demeanor, his behavior—they don't align with someone raised to follow in All For One's footsteps. Perhaps his upbringing is... more complicated than we know."
Toshinori looked away, his shoulders slumping.
Toshinori {quietly}: "I just... I can't shake the feeling. I've fought All For One for decades, Nezu. I know him better than anyone. That man in there—it's him."
Nezu placed a paw on Toshinori's arm, his tone softening.
Nezu {reassuringly}: "And if it is, we'll find a way to deal with him. But until then, we follow the law. We watch, we gather evidence, and we remain vigilant. For now, that's all we can do."
Toshinori exhaled deeply, nodding reluctantly. Aizawa opened the car door and slid into the driver's seat, glancing back at the others.
Aizawa {gruffly}: "Come on. Let's get out of here before we draw any more attention."
Nezu hopped into the car, and Toshinori followed, his mind still racing with thoughts of the boy and his father. As they drove away, the estate loomed in the distance, its grandeur and mystery casting a long shadow over their thoughts.
For now, there was nothing they could do. But Toshinori silently vowed that he would uncover the truth—no matter how long it took.