Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A tiny alarm rings within a tiny apartment.

In this apartment lived a boy named Midoriya Izuku, but it was not his arm that reached out at his bedside clock. A slender, petite hand emerged from under the covers, tapping the snooze button with careless ease.

The alarm clock shattered into a thousand pieces from the impact.

A frightened, confused squeal echoed through the room, and a girl sat up in Izuku’s bed. Her hair was a ruffled curtain of bright emerald, blonde highlights falling across a pair of heterochromatic eyes. She stared at the ruins of the clock, gears and plastic strewn all over the floor.

Green and yellow pupils grew wide as the girl looked at her trembling hands, then at her ample bosom. Deep, uneven breaths escaped her wobbly lips, tears beading at her eyes. The girl leapt from the comfort of Izuku’s bed and sprinted into the bathroom, gasping when she saw the mirror. 

“It wasn’t a dream…” she mumbled, poking herself in the chest and recoiling. “It wasn’t a dream!”

The girl reached down between her legs and felt around, her expression twisting into one of dawning comprehension and absolute horror.

“Oh no.”

[Yesterday. Fifteen minutes before The Incident.]

Izuku was a Quirkless fourteen year-old who wondered if he should die.

That’s what his once childhood friend Bakugo Katsuki had been telling him for the past few months. Ever since that day in the creek, Bakugo had hated him. Izuku didn’t understand. Why? Did Bakugo really hate him so much, just because he didn’t have a Quirk? All Izuku ever wanted was for them to be friends again.

Why?

The bitter taste of iron lingered in Izuku’s mouth. He limped a little as he walked through the lonely streets of Musutafu City, leaving wet footprints behind him. Bakugo and his cronies beat him senseless again, this time even throwing his shoes into the school’s swimming pool.

Izuku sniffed. He was cold, that’s all. It wasn’t like he was crying or anything.

The Musutafu bridge stuck out in the distance, a monument to the economic powerhouse of Japan. Izuku walked towards it as if he was in a trance, not really feeling like going home tonight. His mother worked the night shift anyway, so nobody would be there to greet him.

So here he was, lonely little Izuku. All alone atop a bridge.

Izuku frowned and glanced down at the dark waters below, reflecting the moonless night above. Bakugo’s words still rang in his head like a bell, thunderous and echoing. Useless, worthless Deku. You should just disappear. You’re nothing, less than nothing. Fuck off, you piece of trash.

He remembered the fists, the heat, the smoke. How long could he keep living like this? Perhaps it was a trick of the light but Izuku could have sworn he saw his reflection laughing at him, beckoning him closer.

Just die already, shitty fuckin’ Deku!

So he spat at it.

“Go to hell, Kacchan.” Izuku muttered under his breath, fists clenched. “Just for that, I’m gonna live as long as I can.”

If only he was brave enough to say that to his face. Naturally, Izuku didn’t want to die. No matter what Bakugo said, how hard he beat and bullied him, Izuku refused to break. If anything it made him stronger.

But with that strength came introspection. Izuku knew how his Quirklessness made him an outcast, a social pariah. Even if he worked his entire life, he knew he simply couldn’t match up to his explosive bully when it came to physical prowess. The reason for it was simple; as long as one had a Quirk, they were an evolved human. A metahuman.

With the prefix “meta” meaning “beyond”, it was an appropriate term for the people of the new century. These new humans were leagues stronger, tougher, smarter… a far cry from the old humans of the past. Unfortunately, Izuku belonged to the latter.

Izuku sniffed again. He knew he wasn’t being realistic. A Quirkless hero? Sure, there’d been one or two in the past. Some of them even fought with tech. But they trained hard for years, whereas he didn’t even have the motivation to pick up a dumbbell. To be fair, it was pretty hard to do anything when you got the shit beat out of you on a daily basis. Even so, Izuku didn’t want to give up. Not now, not ever. He would keep his chin up and keep moving forward.

The same could not be said for the other boy on the bridge.

[Five minutes before The Incident.]

Izuku didn’t see him at first, the other boy’s black gakuran school uniform camouflaging him within the shadows until the headlights of a truck flashed across the bridge’s length. He was staring at the water like Izuku had been.

But he was standing on the wrong side of the bridge’s safety railing, standing over the edge precariously. His tattered shoes were placed neatly to the side. The boy’s bare feet were placed against dirty red metal, one foot already dangling over the edge. Another step and he’d fall right into the river below, into certain death. 

“H-hey.” Izuku started to move before he even knew it. “Hey, you!”

The boy turned to look at him, brown eyes red and bloodshot. It was clear he’d been crying recently. His messy, light brown hair billowed in the wind, and Izuku took note of how small the boy was. But a middle school uniform… they had to be around the same age.

“Wait, please!” Izuku gasped, coming to a stop from his sudden sprint. “Please, d-don’t jump.”

“Why not?” the other boy said slowly, turning to him. “I’ve got nothing left. Nothing but these bruises.”

Another truck barrelled down the lonely bridge, its lights illuminating the boy’s face. A black eye and bruised cheek decorated one side of it.

“Nothing.” he repeated, voice dead and lifeless. “Nothing left to live for. They beat me, hurt me, laugh at me… I’ve had enough of it all. I just want it to be over. Maybe if I jump, everyone will know.”

His hollow eyes met Izuku’s green ones.

“Maybe then I’ll finally be something.”

“I… I was called nothing too.” Izuku gulped, frantically trying to stop the other boy from jumping by any means necessary. He barely even knew what he was saying. “They called me Deku.”

“Like the tree?” the boy asked. “Or the wooden doll?”

Buy time. I’ve got to keep him talking.

“The doll. They got it from my name, you see.” Izuku replied, nodding along. “My, um, my name’s Midoriya Izuku. Who are you? I, um, what’s your Quirk?”

The smaller boy blinked, as if he was hearing the question for the first time in his life.

“...I’m Matsuda Kenji.” he said. “My Quirk allows me to make Sleeping Gas.”

As much as Izuku would have liked to geek out and find out everything he knew about a new Quirk, he knew he had a responsibility to help save this person’s life. He instead ran a dozen different responses through his head, picking the best one that would hopefully stall for more time.

“T-that sounds really cool! U-um, are you planning on using it for work when you grow up? I’m sure you’ll make a great hero!”

Izuku was not a trained negotiator. He wasn’t even good at socializing. But he was going to do his best to distract the suicidal boy anyway, using topics he was keen about.

“Aren’t you gonna tell me what your Quirk is?” Matsuda ignored his question. “Everyone laughs at me for mine.”

“Why would they laugh? Your Quirk has tons of heroic applications!” Izuku began, then winced and shied away. “I, um, I don’t have one, by the way.”

The other boy’s eyes widened at that last part.

“Oh. Is that why?” His gaze focused on Izuku’s own bruises and wet shoes.

“Y-yeah.”

Matsuda looked him up and down, a hint of sadness clouding his features.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“Not as much as you, it seems.” Izuku extended his hand. “C-come on. We can talk this out. Get a sandwich or something.”

The boy looked at him tiredly, then at the water below. There was no trace of anger within those eyes, just exhaustion. Izuku knew how it felt to be tired of everything, to just want it to be over so he could finally have some peace and quiet. Every time he tried to tell someone they just pushed him away. Izuku would not make the same mistake they did.

Matsuda took his hand after a long minute of contemplation, and Izuku saved his first life.

Perhaps it was nerves or the reality of the situation finally crashing down, but Izuku collapsed to his knees the moment Matsuda was safely away from the edge. The other boy actually bent down to check on him as Izuku hyperventilated, barely able to believe what just happened.

“A sandwich?” Matsuda asked, eyes still dull. “Really?”

“I-I was hungry!” Izuku exclaimed. “Sorry, I didn’t know what to say.”

Izuku stood up and blinked. Now that he could get a proper look at him Matsuda really was tiny, with Izuku being a full head taller. The short haircut the younger boy sported didn’t manage to detract from his girlish features, and the unblemished side of the boy’s face had pale creamy skin that many women would be jealous of. His school life must have been pretty rough.

“We can talk more later. Now let’s—” Izuku began.

[Musutafu City, Japan. The Incident.]

Izuku heard it before he saw it. A high-pitched sound that cut through the night sky like a razor through flesh. 

He and Matsuda looked off into the distance, where there was a crack like an aircraft going supersonic, followed by the same, haunting sound. It chilled them down to the bone. A sound that could make grown men cry.

A young girl screaming in pure agony.

They saw it high up in the air, a trail of sparkling light in the wake of a golden fireball. Two shadows chased after the miniature sun, a pair of winged demons pursuing Helios’ chariot. Izuku and Matsuda could only watch, frozen where they stood as the battle happened above.

The fireball kept screaming, with Izuku not understanding what he was seeing at first. He thought it was a battle between hero and villain, but this was something else. The shadows dived down and around the fireball, clawing and biting with each pass. A pair of eagles, tearing out the liver of Prometheus. The two boys were not prepared when the trio headed for the bridge, and right at them. 

A series of sharp cracks split the air when the light accelerated, smashing into the bridge with the force of a runaway freight train. The deafening impact was mere meters away from the two boys, sending them flying backwards and rolling painfully across the asphalt. It was a miracle that the bridge remained empty, with no speeding cars that would have crushed them into paste when they landed.

From the fireball’s crater and dust rose a girl. A Magical Girl. That was the first thing Izuku thought of when he saw her, the only way he could describe her. A figure from the Saturday morning anime he used to watch had come to life.

Disbelief slowed his movement, his thoughts, his common sense. A closer look pulled back the veil and reminded him of a harsh reality. The Magical Girl was broken, bleeding, sobbing. Her blonde hair was burned and torn in places, her golden dress dyed red with blood. A river of crimson ran from her eyes, nose and ears, the girl putting a hand to her belly to stop her insides from falling out. 

“Nho…” she managed to choke out, voice wet and gurgling. Her jaw was broken. “Nhot like thish.”

A pair of demons descended near the fallen angel, their hands and mouths bright red with her blood. Their jet-black wings blasted a gust of wind across the area, causing dust to swirl and churn around everyone like a sandstorm. Matsuda took a step back in fear, but Izuku refused to move.

That girl is going to die. She’s going to die if I don’t do anything.

“What are you doing?!” Matsuda hissed, now very much wanting to live. “We gotta get out of here!”

“W-we have to help.” Izuku turned to him, eyes wide with terror. “Matsuda-san, use your sleeping gas Quirk on them! Knock them out!”

“What? They’re villains, dumbass!” Matsuda trembled, grabbing his hand. “A hero will help her later—”

“We have to help her now!” Izuku shouted, beginning to retrieve a handkerchief from his bag. “Use your Quirk!”

In hindsight, maybe he should have just kept his big mouth shut. His sudden shout attracted everyone’s attention, including the two monsters. They turned to face him, and Izuku wished they hadn’t.

One of them was eyeless, completely faceless save for a thin flap of skin that served as its mouth. Beneath that skin were eight pedipalps, grasping and twitching. The other monster had too many eyes, an entire cluster of them all across its face and neck. This one hooted like a monkey, and slowly advanced towards Izuku while flailing like a madman.

Whatever they were, they weren’t human. Not anymore. Both abominations had exposed brains, wet and pulsating under the dim street lights lining the bridge’s edge. They charged, and Izuku screamed. 

Time seemed to move in slow motion as they leapt for him, arms outstretched. In the background he could still see the injured Magical Girl from before, crying. She looked towards the sky, then back at them. Was she preparing to run? He could hear the shuffling of feet and a pair of arms grabbing, trying to pull him away. Why wasn’t Matsuda using his Quirk? He should have asked him about it earlier…

A massive hand coated in jet-black skin was closing around his head, ready to crush it like an empty soda can. Was this how he died?

As it turned out, it wasn’t. The Magical Girl came swooping down, a falling star in the shape of a person. Her sparkling fist cut across both the monsters’ faces in a vicious right cross, dodging a hammerfist that shook the entire megastructure. The section of the bridge they were all on started to collapse from the blow, steel shrieking and twisting while concrete crumbled like plaster. She grabbed him and Matsuda to fly off the bridge in an attempt to help them escape, and Izuku couldn’t help but notice how young she was. She was his age, maybe a little older.

There was no more time to think when a serrated blade the color of night burst out of the girl’s chest, splashing both boys with her blood. Izuku tasted iron on his tongue. She screamed again, something in her voice snapping. The blade was an elongated arm of one of the monsters, and Izuku saw it smile as it drew closer. 

Though heavily wounded, she refused to submit. The girl stood tall and defiant, now with something to protect. Never had they let her get this close. She drew up strength from out of nowhere, her left hand pulling at the arm stuck in her wound while her right hand glowed with an otherworldly golden light. Both boys held on to her waist for dear life.

A thunderous crack split the air when her hand broke the sound barrier… and cored through the monster’s head like a bullet through cheese. The other monster raised its fist to smash her face in, and Izuku made his move.

A pocketful of coins were hurled right at the monster’s multiple eyes and exposed brain with all the force he could muster. The distraction only lasted for a split second, but it was enough for the girl to twist her hand outward and wrench at its brain. Her fingers dug into soft pink flesh like glowing hooks, the beast letting out an unholy shriek as it lost all control of its motor functions.

Whatever she did crippled it. It fell like a rock and into the river below, and so did the other monster’s corpse when she pulled its arm out of her with a pained whimper. Just like that, it was over. The ending to the battle was just as jarring as the start, the chaos fading out like smoke on the wind.

Izuku’s head was pounding, his breathing short and ragged. Five minutes or less. All of that, all that lunacy and madness in the span of how long it would take for him to make a sandwich. The boy nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all, or perhaps at how glad he was to be alive.

He didn’t feel like laughing anymore when the Magical Girl began to fall with them still in her grip. 

The girl’s eyes were closed, her golden glow now flickering like a faulty lightbulb. Izuku understood what was happening at a glance. She’d been running on fumes, and that final attack used up the last of whatever was keeping them afloat. Matsuda began to howl as they plummeted, all three of them heading for the icy waters below.

No, no, no!

“Wake up!” Izuku cried, the wind roaring in his ears alongside Matsuda’s terrified screams. “Miss, wake up!”

The water was a sheet of black glass, racing up at them. At that speed and height they would splatter against it like bugs on a car’s windshield. Izuku saw the reflection of Mustafu City, and wondered for the third time that night if he was going to die.

No… No, mom… Back then, what I wanted you to say was…

Izuku cupped the girl’s face, refusing to give in. 

“You can do it!” he shouted. “Wake up!”

And wake she did.

Her eyes fluttered open, and the world tilted on its axis. The three of them were a water drop tumbling into an endless well, three in one and one in three. Izuku did not know how long they kept falling, but they must have hit the water by now.

They didn’t. A pitch-black abyss surrounded the trio, swallowing them whole. They were in a lightless, sunken place; dancing shadows and clouds of fog meeting Izuku’s gaze. A rainbow shone like a beacon at the very end of the darkness. His mind couldn’t comprehend what was happening, and neither could Matsuda. The boy kept screaming all the way down…

He finally stopped when he turned into a swirl of purple light. Izuku looked down at his hands to find that he too had transformed, his body now a blurred cloud of glowing emerald. Between them the girl was a plume of golden-yellow flames. Izuku saw how her color mixed with theirs, green-yellow, and yellow-purple.

Power surged through him like an electric current. Power, overwhelming. Fire from Prometheus. It was from this inferno that Izuku rose, reborn. A newborn springing from the blood of a god, made in her image.

A new pair of yellow and green eyes opened just in time to see a purple streak shoot off into the night sky. The last thing Izuku remembered was a little voice who asked which way to go.

Home. Let’s go home.

[Musutafu City, Japan. Now.]

“It wasn’t a dream.” Izuku said to himself… herself. She had a female body now. “Oh God, it wasn’t a dream!”

It took everything in Izuku not to freak out and scream her head off. Her immediate thoughts were in regards to the lack of a certain something in her pants, like what any rational man would do first. Then she began breathing slowly and deeply in an effort to calm herself, staring at her new body in the mirror. Her fluffy hair was neater and so much longer, a lighter shade of green that cascaded all the way down to the small of her back.

The girl in the mirror was more cute than beautiful, heterochromatic yellow and green eyes wide with disbelief. There were no freckles on her soft, round cheeks, the blemishes replaced with what looked like a pair of black clover-shaped symbols. Izuku gave one of the symbols a cautious poke and then a little pinch, only to find that it wasn’t some sort of sticker or a tattoo. It was a natural part of her skin.

“Oh nooooo.” she groaned, twirling about in her pajamas. “Oh nonono, this can’t be real…”

But it was. The new body was nothing like her old one, and Izuku felt as though a veil had been lifted over her eyes. Her reflexes, senses, and strength seemed to be a hundred times better than what she had before. Just tapping the alarm clock earlier was enough to smash it into pieces. Izuku wondered what would happen if she punched something with all her might.

On the bright side, she was very pretty. Izuku blushed as she faced her reflection once more, hardly able to believe it was her. She looked like the kind of girl boy-Izuku would have a massive crush on yet wouldn’t dare to talk to, all sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Izuku shook her head rapidly. Focus, dummy. Her thoughts drifted back to the suicidal boy on the bridge. She remembered him screaming, then transforming into a ray of dazzling purple light. There was a rainbow—

The girl held her head, a sudden, throbbing pain squeezing through her temples like a vice grip. Everything went fuzzy when she tried to think about the rainbow. Izuku groaned, searching for her phone. She found it placed neatly on her desk like always, as if the events of the night before had never even happened. 

The fact that she was wearing her male form’s All Might pajamas didn’t escape her. Had she just flown home, changed, and went to sleep subconsciously? The thought of it scared her to the core. 

Shaking fingers typed the words ‘Musutafu Bridge’ into the smartphone’s search bar and Izuku was rewarded with a series of news articles reporting about last night’s incident.

All of them were inaccurate. Izuku soon found out that no one knew of what truly transpired, with the majority of faraway eyewitness accounts detailing the battle as just another fight between three unknowns, a vigilante and two villains. The reports mostly detailed the collapse of the bridge’s central section, the fight itself a mere footnote. There wasn’t any news about a missing boy either, so Matsuda must have gotten away. He had to.

“Izuku?” a woman’s voice called out, knocking at the bedroom door. “Are you in there?”

Oh no.

Izuku wasn’t thinking when she flung the windows open and jumped out, barely even realizing what she was doing. Her hands were cupped against her mouth as she inexplicably hovered just above the window, eyes wide while Midoriya Inko walked into her son’s room and looked around.

“Huh. I could have sworn I heard something…”

Only when she left did Izuku look down at herself in amazement, finding emerald particles sparkling around her. It was a veil of light that shimmered atop her skin, a coating of fairy dust that kept her afloat.

“I can fly?” Izuku whispered.

She proceeded to shoot into the morning sky, leaving a trail of twinkling green in her wake.

“I can fly!”

The young girl soared, all fears and worries temporarily pushed aside in the face of exhilarating joy. Izuku had been powerless all her life, but now she felt as though she had all the power in the world. Somehow the Magical Girl’s power had been passed on to her, an intoxicating gift that was far beyond her wildest dreams.

Thinking about the girl that saved her life caused a shift in the air, a brilliant glow suddenly overlapping her clothes. Alarm surged through her at first, only to be replaced with confusion when the glow solidified into a flowing green and white dress.

“Oh wow…” Izuku whispered. She wondered if this was her Quirk which finally awakened, the power to mimic another person’s looks and abilities.

She glided above the river that led to the Musutafu bridge, admiring her reflection in the water. Besides the dress a pair of emerald and gold earrings now decorated her cute little ears, a dull golden brooch shaped like a flower styling a portion of her voluminous hair into a ponytail.

Izuku’s giggling turned into a rapturous cheer as she rocketed upwards, pure joy thundering through her veins while she spun and danced in the air. The dream of a Quirkless, useless Deku had finally come true.

Soon she reached the bridge from yesterday, glancing around for any sign of the other Magical Girl. Repair crews and their construction bots were carefully milling about the edge of the damaged segment, but there was no trace of the girl or the monsters that attacked her. Izuku even did a quick search of the riverbank below, and still found nothing. She hoped she managed to get away safely. The only proof that the entire incident even happened was her new body.

Izuku’s thoughts turned to her old, Quirkless original body and wondered how her new power worked. One of the things she discovered was that the twinkling particles around her were actually some sort of forcefield, shielding her from the wind whilst she flew atop the city at the speed of a fighter jet. It must have been what allowed her to fly too, seeing as the golden girl had a similar glow around her body.

As for her male form, there had to be a way to switch back. That was how it worked in those shows she watched as a kid, so her new powers should work the same way.

Hopefully.

Eventually Izuku landed on the rooftop of a nearby skyscraper to do a little experimenting, half out of necessity and half out of worry. If she couldn’t change back to boy-Izuku, she’d be living like this for the rest of her life. While not a particularly awful fate, she wasn’t sure if she wanted that. For one, what would her mother think when she realized that her son was now her daughter?

Knowing her, she’d probably faint.

“Okay…” Izuku took a deep breath, trying to ignore how sweet her voice sounded. “Okay, I can do this! I just have to focus!”

She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating with all her might. An emerald pupil peeked open half a minute later to see if it’d worked. Nope, she was still shiny and pretty.

“Eh. Um, maybe there’s a device that allows me to transform?” Izuku looked around, then started patting herself down and checking her pockets. The frilly dress didn’t have any, and she turned bright red after glimpsing an equally frilly bra beneath the cloth. “O-oh. Sorry.”

She fiddled with her earrings and brooch, expecting there to be a button or something. She even held them up and did a little pose, wondering if it’d work that way. Unfortunately, nothing happened.

“There’s got to be a way to change back somehow… Maybe if I focus on the idea of turning back into a boy?” Izuku began mumbling, dozens of theories and ideas coming to mind. “U-um, change!”

She felt ridiculous as she held her hand out, wriggling her fingers awkwardly.

“Reverse! Transform?” 

She tried various other words and girly phrases. Still nothing. Izuku was getting really worried now. Maybe saying it and posing would work? This Quirk, or whatever weird power it was, seemed to work based on those old TV shows for children. No harm in trying. Izuku struck a pose, mimicking a famous masked hero from the Golden Age. 

“Henshin!”

The rooftop was bathed with a sudden flash of light, a loud bang resonating from where Izuku once stood. When the radiance faded the pretty magical girl was no more, and standing where she stood was weak, freckled, plain-faced Izuku who was still in his All Might pajamas.

“I’m back…” Izuku whispered, staring at his hands with relief. “I did it. I did it!”

He could still feel the power thrumming within him, just waiting to be unleashed. Izuku smiled like a child on Christmas day, tears starting to bead at his eyes. He wasn't useless. He wasn’t nothing. He wasn’t a Deku. With this new power…

He could be a hero.

“Wait, how do I get down from here?”

[x]

Izuku naturally kept his new abilities a secret from everyone, even his own mother. He wasn’t planning on telling anyone except maybe the other Magical Girl from yesterday, just to give her his thanks. If he ever found her, that is. There was still no news of her despite him trawling through the internet, so he really hoped she was okay.

The next day arrived, and it was time to go back to school.

Aside from Bakugo and his cronies, most of the class tended to ignore Izuku out of fear that they’d end up like him. Sure, they laughed when Bakugo laughed, but none of them outright targeted him like the blonde boy did. They were content to leave him alone to his mumbling.

As for Izuku he was busy taking down notes in Hero Analysis for the Future , sketching girl-Izuku in her dress while speculating on what she could and should do. He still hadn’t picked a hero name for her yet. ‘Clover’, because of the markings on her cheeks? ‘Luminous’, because of the sparkling aura around her? He’d have to do some more thinking.

Unlike all the days he spent in Aldera Middle School, Izuku was smiling today. He grinned dumbly throughout the entire school period, not even daunted that his classmates mocked him after their homeroom teacher mentioned how Izuku wished to enter the infamous U.A. High School after graduation. He just ignored them, keeping his head down when they laughed and jeered.

His cheerfulness soon faded when Bakugo strode up to his desk after class, two of his pals following behind.

“Oi, Deku.” Bakugo growled, crimson eyes narrowed with hate. “What the fuck do you think you’re smiling about, huh?!”

He tore the notebook out of Izuku’s hands, glancing at the title.

“What’s that, Bakugo-kun?” one of the nameless extras asked. “Hero Analysis for the Future. Seriously? How lame!”

“C-come on, give that back!” Izuku stood, his lower lip trembling.

Bakugo said nothing, not even bothering to open the notebook as he placed it between his palms. There was an explosion and Izuku’s heart sank, his neat little book now scorched and smoking.

The blonde bully casually tossed Izuku’s hard work out the window, glaring at the boy he once called his best friend.

“I’ll be the first and only hero from this shitty public school. Get that through your fucking head.” Bakugo’s expression twisted into a malicious grin. “In other words… don’t even think of applying, shitty Deku.”

His smoking palm landed on Izuku’s shoulder, and crushing fear spiked into Izuku like a thousand barbs. But beneath that fear was something new, a tiny little ember that grew within the green-haired boy. A flame of courage. Izuku looked right into the blonde’s eyes, hands curling into fists.

“Go to hell, Kacchan.” Izuku spat.

Bakugo blinked, clearly surprised at the sudden retort. Then the words sank in and his face twisted with rage, and before Izuku knew it an explosion bloomed across the right side of his face. The boy fell with a yelp of pain, ears ringing, vision blurred.

A brutal kick lanced into his gut, Izuku gasping as the air was driven from his lungs. Bakugo snarled, stomping on him while the poor boy curled up into a ball in a desperate attempt to protect himself.

“What was that, huh?! Did you finally grow a backbone, you little creep?!” Bakugo sent an explosion down at him, the heat so strong that it scorched his clothes. “Guess what, you’re still nothing. You’re just a worthless, Quirkless, Deku!”

The blonde placed his shoe on Izuku’s head, grinding his heel down to drive in the point.

“Don’t you ever forget it, nerd. You wanna be a hero so bad?” Bakugo kicked him one last time, his cronies snickering. “If you think you’ll have a Quirk in your next life, go take a swan dive off the roof!”

Bakugo and his bullies soon left, but not before they hauled Izuku’s backpack into the air and dumped its contents out the window. Izuku sniffed as he got up unsteadily, limping his way down the corridors. His fists were still held tight in resentment.

“Oh, Midoriya-kun.”

His homeroom teacher from earlier blinked, then looked away when Izuku made eye contact. He’d clearly seen the state the boy was in, the bruises, the burns. Yet he still looked away. He always did, no matter what Izuku said. Eventually, Izuku just stopped speaking to him.

“...Try not to fall down the stairs again.” the man grumbled and walked away.

Izuku glared at his back, fury roiling in his heart. His teacher clearly cared more about his paycheck than his students, more concerned about how the school would get a reputation boost if Bakugo actually did get into U.A. The little ember in his chest cried out at the injustice, and Izuku swirled the blood in his mouth before spitting it out at his feet.

The boy ventured to the back of the school, gathering his belongings that were dropped from the fifth storey. He eventually found his notebook floating in one of the fish tanks, nibbled at by hungry koi.

“That’s not food, dummy…” Izuku sighed, pulling out the book. A drop of blood ran down his nose and fell into the tank, one of the large fishes gulping that down instead. “Ew.”

Izuku cleaned himself up to the best of his abilities, not wanting to make his mother worry. He decided to turn his thoughts away from Bakugo and towards his new powers, still wondering what he should call her. He hadn’t even come up with a name for his Quirk yet. Was it even a Quirk? Or was it actually the other girl’s power that she had somehow transferred to him?

Izuku scoffed. A Quirk that could be passed down to others? How ridiculous.

Whatever. He continued to walk home, heading into a tunnel. A name, a name… it had to be cute. Catchy! A Hero’s name reflected what they wanted to be. What did Izuku want to be? A hero who always saved the day, just like All Might. Someone who inspired hope in others whenever they appeared. Someone people could call a—

“—medium-sized body to hide in.”

Izuku froze, head swiveling about. Behind him stood a tidal wave of dark green mud in the vague shape of a man, sickly yellow eyes with red pupils boring into the boy. Izuku took a step back, but it was too late when the wave crashed down on him, the revolting green sludge invading his mouth and nose in a matter of seconds.

A villain?!

“Don’t worry, I’m just hijacking your body.” the sludge villain gurgled, coiling around Izuku’s thin body like an anaconda. “It’ll only hurt for about forty-five seconds, then it’ll all be over. I’m saved.. You’re a real hero, kid.”

No! Izuku panicked, clawing at the sludge only for his fingers to rake through it harmlessly.

“I’m fluid, kid. Just give up already…”

Izuku refused to. He would never give up, not now, not ever. Beneath his feet his notebook fluttered open, the page displaying the sketch of his alternate Magical Girl form. The boy clenched his teeth, and managed to say a single word even with his mouth choked with sludge.

“Henshin!”

He exploded in a flash of light and sound.

The monster reeled back with a screech of pain, parts of its sludge body burnt and smoking while the sections closest to Izuku had been vaporized completely. Izuku growled and wound up a fist, a furious yell building up in her throat.

Her arm lanced forward in a haymaker, splattering the villain all over the walls of the tunnel with a wet, disgusting pop when he burst like a soap bubble.

“Eh?”

Izuku blinked and looked at her gloved fist, then at the walls covered in villain. After a moment she raised her arms in victory, yelling with triumph.

“Yeeeeeaaaahhhh!” Izuku cheered and pointed at the unconscious pair of eyes on the ground, the villain knocked out by her punch. “That’s what you get! Woohoo~!”

The manhole cover behind her exploded off the road and hit the ceiling with a deafening clang, a muscular arm hauling an all too familiar figure through the cavity.

“Have no fear!” All Might announced, his smile wide as ever. “I AM—”

Izuku froze, staring at the number one hero. All Might stared back, halting in surprise once he noticed how his target was already defeated.

“—here. Huh, that’s new.” All Might coughed, then straightened. “It seems that you’ve already taken care of this brute in self-defense, young miss! For that, you have my gratitude! Apologies for getting you involved in my villain hunt, but he was quite the slippery one!”

“W-w-w-wha…” Izuku's eyes widened with awe, ignoring the pun. “You’re All Might! The number one hero!”

“Yes! It is I.” All Might flexed his massive arms, dressed in his civvies instead of his hero outfit. The trademark All Might smile and flex! “Now don’t you worry, I’ll clean this up in a flash!”

So he did. All Might zoomed about for a few seconds and the villain was successfully stuffed into a large bottle which the hero then shoved into one of his pockets. Izuku couldn’t stop squealing in excitement, having finally met her idol in person. 

“All Might, it’s really you! I-I’m a big fan! Huge! Super-huge! I’ve got almost all your posters and collectibles and… Oh, I need an autograph! Um, w-where…” Izuku stammered, searching around for her backpack until she realized it vanished along with her male body. Her notebook was still on the ground so she quickly grabbed it, opening it only to find the hero’s signature already there. “Uwaaaa, you already signed it! Oh my gosh, thank you so much~!”

“No problem, young miss! That’s a very nice cosplay, by the way.” All Might gave her a winning smile and a thumbs up. The trademark All Might thumbs up! “Or are you an aspiring hero, young lady? I never got your name.”

“O-oh! I’m…” Izuku looked around, red from embarrassment. “I’m, um…”

As if by fate she happened to see an advertisement featuring the Snake Hero: Uwabami, the supermodel tossing her lustrous hair back while promoting the bottle of shampoo clutched between her head-snakes.

‘All new Black Mamba shampoo. No more frizzles, no more split ends! Absolutely miraculous!’

“I’m Miracle!” Izuku announced with confidence. “It’s a real honor to meet you, sir!”

“The honor is all mine, Miss Miracle! Keep up the good work!” All Might laughed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must bring this fellow to the authorities!”

“W-wait, that’s it?”

“No time for a meet-and-greet, I’m afraid.” All Might crouched low, tensing his legs to jump. “A pro hero battles not only evil, but also time. Until next time…”

Then he leapt into the sky, the force of his jump generating a blast of wind so strong Izuku had to quickly hold her skirt down.

“...Thanks for your support!”

The number one hero was gone, now a dot in the distance. Izuku stared blankly at it, then turned her attention to the man’s autograph in her notebook. All Might’s autograph.

She hugged it close to her chest, letting out another happy little squeal. She got to meet All Might, talk to him, and even got his autograph!

This is the best day ever!

[Chapter 1 End]

Chapter Text

It was the weekend, and Izuku felt like a brand new person.

Technically she was a brand new person, but being in a different body took some time to get used to. She’d done some minor experimentation and theorizing in the two days since the incident, making some startling discoveries along the way. Izuku glanced down at her costume as she hovered just above the seawater, a girl in a frilly green-and-white dress smiling back at her.

The white, flower-shaped choker on her neck barely felt like it was there, the chest area sporting a cute green ribbon that was topped with an alabaster four-pointed flower. Her arms ended in a pair of pristine gloves made of some strange, unknown material; soft as silk yet breathable like Egyptian cotton. She blushed and did a little twirl, still a little embarrassed at the prospect of being in a skirt. Then again, it was super comfy. Under the ruffled skirt was a pair of fluffy bloomers to prevent any accidental pantyshots, which was nice since she would be flying most of the time. Finally, her feet were clad in a pair of white heels with green highlights and ribbons, somehow much more comfortable than what ladies on the internet described wearing them would be like.

It turned out that the entire outfit itself was part of her power, able to manifest or withdraw at a moment’s notice. The twinkling forcefield that surrounded her was a completely different thing, constantly on even when she didn’t have the dress manifested. Perhaps the clothing was a secondary function of her Quirk. Dispelling the dress simply revealed her to be wearing what her male form was wearing before he transformed. That’d be useful.

Then there was the transformation itself, so unlike what she’d seen in those kid shows. No sparkling colors, no music, no magic pocket mirrors or whirling ribbons. Instead of a musical number her transformation was more like a flashbang grenade detonating, her two bodies swapping instantaneously. Izuku managed to figure out that the body not in use was sent to some sort of ‘alternate space’, with everything they were wearing going along for the ride. She’d even tried keeping her phone’s camera on when she swapped bodies to see if she could capture some footage, but all it recorded was static. Static, on a modern smartphone. Her power was weird.

Izuku shrugged, blasting off further towards the sea of Japan to do some power testing. There wasn’t a soul for miles around, a perfect space for her to practice some aerial maneuvers. The air started to wrap around her in a cone as she accelerated, going faster by the second. Shock diamonds formed beneath her feet, the water below parting in her wake.

Faster, Izuku thought, excitement burning in her core like an engine. Faster, faster!

She began pushing into the sound barrier, a visible vapor cone swirling around her body like a ballerina’s tutu. The girl grinned, marveling at how invincible she felt. This was power, and the freedom that came alongside it.

“Wooooooohooooooo~!” she screamed with delight, finally breaking the sound barrier with an ear splitting crack. 

The sonic boom she caused was heard for approximately thirty miles, with local fishermen and merchant ships just perceiving it as another military exercise. 

Izuku giggled and let her fingertips skim along the sea, creating a massive spray of water. She was fast, and just as strong. Nearly invulnerable. At that speed her fingers should have been ripped clean off just by making contact, but here it was as though she was cutting through a lazy stream. 

Mach 1. Is that my limit? Izuku thought, becoming a green and white blur atop the waves. Better not push it too far for now.

She spotted a coast guard vessel on the way back, quickly avoiding it by flying low and changing course. A minute later she was back in Japan, landing on Dagobah beach after a quick and sharp deceleration. This body could withstand extreme g-forces too. Excellent.

Dagobah beach had been beautiful once, before people started using it as a dumping ground. Izuku remembered coming here with her parents, watching the sunset while the ocean waves washed against the shore. Now all the waves did was pull and push the trash everyone dumped in and out of the beach in a loop, the sea spray rusting tons of metal and causing a deep, iron-like stench to permeate through the air. 

Izuku decided to use the beach as a training ground whilst cleaning it up. All that junk made for good practice dummies, and no one was coming to clear it anyway. Two birds with one stone.

“Okay…” Izuku did a few stretches and hopped from side to side to hype herself up. “Alright, okay!”

She started with some light footwork, followed by a little shadow-boxing. High kicks soon followed, then speed drills to test her explosiveness. Her fists and feet cut through the air, the power of her own attacks still astonishing her.

Enhanced reflexes, lightning fast. Izuku thought to herself, mentally recording down every single detail. I can think faster and learn faster, too.

Izuku had been watching martial art tutorials, absorbing a variety of different styles like a sponge with water. Skills that would have taken years to master could be familiarized in half the time with her superhuman brain.

A flurry of punches was unleashed at an abandoned pickup, crumpling the derelict vehicle like a pancake. She then proceeded to lift it up, holding it over her head with ease. It didn’t make sense at all. To have the raw strength to do that she would have needed muscles the size of beach balls. Instead she was lithe and slim, built more like a ballet dancer than a brawler.

Izuku reasoned it must be the forcefield, what she called her Glitter, doing the heavy lifting, with the true power being in her mind to project it around her. Invulnerability, flight, strength. The perfect trifecta of abilities once thought to be the pinnacle of superhuman prowess during the Golden Age of Heroes.

The girl giggled but quickly calmed down, careful not to get too full of herself. According to her notes, overconfidence was responsible for almost 40% of hero-related casualties. She had to be careful, especially with how hard she could hit.

More practice and training was needed. Whereas everyone got their Quirk at the age of four, Izuku had been Quirkless for the first fourteen years of her life. A sudden influx of overwhelming power wasn’t exactly a boon. One misstep, and she could accidentally kill someone with a single punch. Power and control was always inversely proportional, so she decided to take it down a notch. 

Izuku faced an abandoned refrigerator, pulling her hand back. 70% output should do it.

“Hah!”

The sound of her fist hitting the metal was like a car crash, sending the large appliance flying backwards and skipping across the waves like a pebble before it finally spun apart into pieces from its own repeated impacts with the water.

“...Oops.” she muttered sheepishly. “Okay, maybe 60%. 50%? Hmm…” 

She practiced for the next few hours, hauling trash to the correct dumping zones during her breaks. Izuku knew she had to work twice as hard as everyone else just to catch up. In terms of combat experience and Quirk usage she had zero, nada. She intended to change that before the U.A entrance exam started.

As time passed she began getting a better feel for her new body, all sorts of theories and questions running through her mind. Izuku was slowly becoming used to the power thrumming through her, learning its strengths and limitations. Flying around at max speed earlier tired her out quickly, and so did launching rapid-fire punches at 100%. It was like she was a rechargeable battery, with a limited amount of energy to work with. 

Izuku wondered if her ‘capacity’ could be increased. Knowing how Quirks worked, it probably could. Quirks were like muscles—the more one used them, the stronger they would get. In her case she was already terrifyingly strong, so she needed to learn how to reign it in and get it under control or risk having it run wild.

Next came ranged power testing. If her power was anything like those children shows, Magical Girls would have the ability to shoot some sort of beam or energy attack, usually from their hands or feet. Izuku aimed at a pile of trash and thrust her hand outward, focusing on her palm.

“Shoot!”

Absolutely nothing happened. The girl pouted and wriggled her fingers for good measure, trying to project her twinkling forcefield outward. It stubbornly refused, sticking to her body like a second skin. 

Hmmm. Maybe if I… Izuku thought back to how she’d first transformed when she did a cute pose. It’ll be super embarrassing, though. Oh well, it’s not like anyone’s watching.

“L-like this?” Izuku cupped her hands together to form a heart shape, half-expecting an actual beam of energy to manifest. “Love-Love Beam~♥!”

She did not expect a naked man to pop out of the sand.

“Eh?” the man blinked.

“Ah.” Izuku said, still stuck in her pose.

Then she screamed, voice high-pitched and shrill.

“GYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAA!” Izuku cried out, panicking. “A pervert!”

“Wait, no, miss! I’m sorry, I didn’t expect anyone to be here—”

The words went unheard as she grabbed fistfuls of sand off the beach, throwing them at the naked man. It was fortunate that the attacks somehow phased through him, because they impacted the ground behind him with the force of shotgun blasts. Izuku paused but still held her hands up, ready to launch another volley.

“Miss, please calm down. My bad, I really didn’t know anyone would be here!” the blonde man… no, the teenager raised one hand in surrender while preserving his modesty with the other. “This was supposed to be my new training ground, you see. I’m a student at U.A. who got tasked to clean this place up.”

Izuku’s eyes lit up at the mention of the prestigious school, but still had her guard up. 

“Oh yeah? Prove it!” she huffed.

“I, uh, don’t carry an I.D. with me. Because I’m…” he gestured at himself. “Y’know. It’s part of my Quirk.”

Izuku threw another fistful of sand at him, this time with the strength of a normal person. It still phased through his body harmlessly.

“Why’d you do that?” he asked, more bemused than annoyed.

“T-to check if you’re lying. What kind of Quirk requires you to be naked?”

“My Quirk is called Permeation. It allows me to become intangible, so everything slips through me.”

“Intangibility. If so, why can you see and hear me? Light and sound should be able to pass through you too, unless… a targeted effect? Keeping your head and feet tangible while the rest of your body isn’t?” Izuku squinted at him, mumbling to herself. “That must take a lot of concentration and practice… Your clothes fall through you and—wait, didn’t I see you at last year’s U.A Sports Festival? You were the streaker on the track!”

“I’m never gonna live that down, am I?” the blonde smiled and stretched his hand out. “I’m Togata Mirio. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Miracle, and wish I could say the same.” Izuku looked at his hand as if she was presented with a live snake. Like hell she was going to touch that. “Are you really gonna pretend that you’re not just standing there butt-ass naked?”

“Oh, right. You mind if I uh…”

Izuku raised an eyebrow and the tall boy quickly turned and retreated back into the ground. She glanced at his wide back as he went, noting his impressive physique. All it did was confirm that she still had a male mind, seeing as she wasn’t the least bit attracted to his body. If anything, it made her want to work even harder as boy-Izuku. 

Mirio returned a minute later, now properly dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. Izuku finally relaxed once he showed her his U.A. identification card, confirming that he was who he claimed to be. 

“So, uh, Miracle-san, right?” Mirio began, going with the flow and not questioning her name. “You figured out my Quirk real fast! Are you intending on joining U.A?”

“Pretty much. Do they really make students clean up public places, or is this like an extra-credit thing?” Izuku mused, hauling another abandoned refrigerator atop her shoulder.

“It’s the latter. I was hoping to clean this place up and do some training at the same time, but it looks like you beat me to it.” Mirio admitted. “What’s up with the Magical Girl outfit?”

“Same reason why you were naked.” Izuku said, turning red. “It’s a part of my Quirk.”

“Really? That’s amazing!” Mirio laughed, backing away when she sulked. “No, no, I’m not laughing at you. It’s just nostalgic. Everyone used to watch those shows as a kid, so it's pretty surreal seeing you make it work in real life.”

“Believe me, I didn’t choose to be this way either.” Izuku mumbled, embarrassed. “But I’m happy with what I’ve got.”

“That’s the spirit! You gotta work with what you have!” Mirio cheered, his smile as brilliant as the morning sun. “With a Quirk like yours, I’m sure you’ll get into the Hero Course!”

“Uh, yeah, thanks.” Izuku winced, shying away awkwardly. 

She got the feeling that most people wouldn’t see it that way when they found out how her Quirk actually worked. Changing from a powerless boy to an uber-powerful girl wasn’t exactly common. Izuku was sure this guy had no bad intentions, but she couldn’t help but feel a little worried when she thought about how people would react to her. Would they turn away in disgust, shock, and anger?

The girl wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the answer. Instead she glanced at her phone, faking a face of alarm.

“O-oh, would you look at the time!” she gasped. “Sorry Togata-san, but I’ve got to get home for dinner!”

“Eh? It’s 3pm.”

“Pre-dinner! I-I’m eating for two.” Izuku paused, reddening. “Wait, that came out wrong.”

“Um, congratulations?” Mirio said hesitantly, unsure how to react.

“No, it’s not, I, um, gah!” the girl fumbled her words, slowly hovering into the air. “N-nevermind. See you around!”

“See ya, Magical Girl Miracle!” Mirio waved as she shot off into the horizon, leaving a sparkling trail behind her. “She can fly too? Man, what an interesting Quirk…”

He then glanced around the beach, noting that it’d been completely cleared of all trash. That girl must have spent the entire morning cleaning it all up, all by herself. Mirio smiled, knowing that someone like her was going to go far in the world of heroes.

[x]

Izuku continued to fly circles high above the city as Miracle, still testing her Quirk. She could feel herself reaching a limit of sorts, running out of power after continuously boosting forward every other minute.

So there’s a limited amount of energy I have, which corresponds to how much time I have left. The less power I use, the longer I can stay as Miracle.  

She wondered what would happen if she exhausted her reserves, and slowly began descending to a safe height. Perhaps she would return to becoming boy-Izuku? If that was the case, it’d be best to find out her limit now. She shuddered at the thought of her identity being revealed mid-fight, and her male form couldn’t fly so a mid-air transformation would turn him into a red stain on the pavement.

A loud kaboom pulled her out of her thoughts, Izuku turning to the source and spying a column of black smoke in the distance. A fire? She quickly checked her remaining reserves, satisfied. 

Izuku arrived on the scene to see a building being evacuated, choking black smoke flooding through the windows and doors. The huge logo on the front told her it was a bank, dozens of civilians streaming out in a panic. She analyzed the situation, her mind processing every minute detail.

Smoke, but no fire. Light, but no actual heat. Smoke bomb, or Quirk? Non-toxic. Meant to simulate fire to incite panic. White van near entrance, already waiting. Getaway vehicle.

“This is a distraction.” Izuku whispered, biting her lip. 

Should she interfere? There were no heroes around but getting involved meant vigilantism, which was considered a crime. From her notes she estimated it would take maybe two minutes or even three for a local hero to arrive, then they would be busy with trying to put the nonexistent fire out to notice anything wrong. Whoever planned this had done their homework.

Four men in blue electrician uniforms were running out the doors, and in the chaos nobody noticed the heavy duffel bags they were carrying. If she didn’t do anything now they’d get away with it…

One of the men shoved an old lady out of the way as the group of thieves raced towards the van, and Izuku made up her mind. In the blink of an eye she quickly caught the lady before her head could smash against the concrete steps, then righted her before somersaulting away and into the path of the bank robbers.

Izuku landed right in front of them, blocking the path to their getaway vehicle. They froze, and she gave them what she hoped was a friendly smile.

“Hi there! I’m afraid your transaction wasn’t successful.” the Magical Girl said sweetly. “I’m gonna need you to hand those over.”

The men exchanged glances, then dropped the bags and nodded as one.

“Get her!”

They attacked, assuming she was a hero. Izuku sure felt like one, dodging the incoming projectiles and Quirk effects that were sent her way with casual ease. She expected to be afraid or terrified at the prospect of actually fighting villains and criminals, but this was fun! Absolutely exhilarating. It was a game of back and forth as she slipped and weaved between their attacks like a boxer, downing each opponent with a single punch to the liver. Izuku was careful not to hit too hard, precisely managing her output…

One of the thieves let out a pained wheeze when she hit a little off target, feeling a rib break atop her knuckles. 

“O-oops. Sorry…” Izuku said, genuinely apologetic. 

“Fuckin’ bitch!” the last man roared, his massive fist headed straight for her face.

Izuku caught it with a gloved hand, matching his glare with one of her own. She began to squeeze, the pain actually bringing the larger man to his knees. He reached around his waistband for something, and she brought up her other hand just in time to catch a crossbow bolt aimed at her eye. A crossbow? Really?

“Don’t do that.” she told him, kneeing him in the chin to knock him out.

The screeching of rubber on asphalt reminded her of the last loose end, and Izuku threw the bolt right at the getaway vehicle. With her strength it traveled at the speed of a bullet, lodging itself into the back left tire and causing it to veer off course and crash into a lamppost. Just like that it was over, and Izuku opened one of the bags to check the contents.

Each bag the thieves were carrying was stacked to the brim with bills and documents, Izuku letting out a low whistle before quickly refocusing. Right, a hero had to make sure that everyone was alright.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” she asked the old woman from earlier, quickly checking on her.

“I-I’m fine, young lady.” The old woman glanced at the unconscious criminals. “Oh my. Were they…?”

“Robbing the bank? Yeah.” Izuku focused on the building, narrowing her eyes. She could still hear the shuffling of feet and loud coughing within. Someone was still trapped inside. “One moment, please.”

She turned into a green and white blur and shot into the smoke, returning a few seconds later with a nauseated-looking couple in her arms. The crowd watched in awe as the unknown hero gently put them down, then began cheering once they realized she’d foiled the robbery. 

Izuku’s cheeks burned bright red when they started crowding around her, giving their thanks while asking for her name. Not only was she unaccustomed to all the attention, but the fact that she was wearing a skirt only made things worse. Blaring sirens soon reached her ears, a quartet of police cars rounding the corner. A hero was with them too, riding atop one of the cars like a majestic knight.

“Um, gotta go!” she said quickly.

Izuku took off just as the officers stepped out of their vehicles, leaving the stunned crowd behind while the police stormed the area.

The last of her energy was used up to fly home, Izuku letting out a tired sigh as she landed on the balcony of her apartment. To her surprise she didn’t change back into Izuku when she finally ran out of power, the Magical Girl form disintegrating into a stream of green particles and revealing a blonde girl beneath the costume. She was wearing what boy-Izuku was wearing before he transformed, clad in a simple t-shirt and shorts.

“H-huh? What the…” Izuku rushed into the bathroom, studying her new form in the mirror. “A secondary form?”

Unlike Miracle, the girl in the mirror didn’t have a hint of the color green in her entire body. She had short hair in a neat bob cut in contrast to the Magical Girl form’s fluffy long ponytail, large innocent eyes staring back into Izuku’s.

“Ah! If this Quirk is based off a TV show, then this must be like a ‘civilian’ mode. I suppose it’ll come in handy for disguise purposes…” Izuku mumbled, poking herself in the cheek. Soft, with no clover-shaped markings. “Wait a minute.”

She blinked, examining herself carefully. Light blonde hair and yellow eyes were paired with a feminine face that was a bit plainer than Miracle’s. Still very cute, though. The golden Magical Girl on the bridge had blonde hair too. Izuku didn’t get a good look at her face since she was covered in blood, but a pit of worry and suspicion was growing in her stomach.

“Are you her?” Izuku asked herself, waiting for a response. “Did I somehow fuse with you or something?”

No such luck. No voices in her head called out, and no magical mascot creatures popped out from nowhere. Izuku let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, relaxing her shoulders. She still had so much to learn about this weird Quirk. 

Just as she was about to swap bodies she sniffed the air, catching the scent of smoke and seawater. Yellow eyes grew wide with embarrassment when she realized that this body required maintenance too, and now she needed a shower.

“I-I guess it can’t be helped.” Izuku mumbled, red as a tomato. “It should be okay, r-right?”

It was not okay. Izuku had her eyes closed throughout the entire ordeal, letting out a small squeak every time she brushed against something soft. Were all girls this soft? She didn’t know if it was okay to still feel this way, especially since it was her own body. She used a towel to prevent herself from further skin-on-skin contact, only using her hands to wash her hair. 

The young heroine kept her eyes closed even as she toweled herself dry and got dressed, biting back a curse when she realized she only had boys’ underwear. It’d have to do for now, but she promised herself she’d do some shopping soon. The girl in the mirror was still blushing when she finally reopened her eyes, hair still a little wet. Tiny glittering particles told her that the forcefield was still up even in this power-saving ‘civilian mode’.

“That felt so wrong…” Izuku took a deep breath, looking down at her small, petite hands. “Okay, fun’s over.”

A part of her didn’t want to change back, but she knew it was for the best. At the end of the day her Quirk allowed her to have two bodies, one significantly stronger and able to utilize the Quirk to its full potential. The other was just… her old self. But that didn’t mean she could just stay as her girl form forever. 

“Henshin.” Izuku whispered.

There was a sharp bang and a flash of light. Izuku was back as a boy, plain-looking as ever. He groaned, hands curling into fists and unclenching. This sucked. He was Deku again, and he felt like a loser. He’d felt like a loser for the past ten years of his life. In contrast, his female form was everything he’d ever wanted to be. Strong, fast, and powerful in ways that he couldn’t even have imagined. A beautiful, perfect hero.

He was just… him. Weak, worthless Deku.

Izuku shook his head rapidly, pushing the dark thoughts to the back of his mind. It was time to cook dinner anyway.

The bank robbery replayed itself in his head while he began to prepare the ingredients, and Izuku winced. Why had he done that? Vigilantism was a crime, but it was as though his body moved by itself when he saw someone getting hurt. 

Checking the news on his phone revealed that there was some news about Miracle, though it was largely just witness reports of some mysterious girl in a frilly outfit stopping the criminals and rescuing a couple trapped in the smoke. No one had gotten pictures of her face but there was one blurred photo of her flying off into the distance just as the police arrived.

It’d been a mistake. He was aiming for U.A, so the last thing he needed was a criminal record. Yet deep down in his heart he knew it’d be wrong to just step back and let the entire incident happen.

Did I do the right thing?

Izuku honestly didn’t know. Maybe he could ask that boy on the beach about what he should have done. Surely U.A. taught their students about scenarios like those.

Thinking about the tall boy made Izuku realize how unfit he currently was. Somehow it felt as though everyone was better than him. Even his female form was physically fitter, lithe and lean while he was skinny and small.

Izuku sighed. No better time than now to start. He got down on his hands into a push-up position on the kitchen floor, and began.

“One, two, three…”

[x]

The next day was spent doing more training in the skies of Musutafu, Izuku having recovered all her energy after a good night’s sleep. She still continued trying to fire out beams but to no avail. It seemed that her powerset allowed her to be an infighter, specializing in up close and personal fights. Izuku preferred it that way.

Thunderous booms and panicked screams echoed from the city below, Izuku pausing in confusion and heading down to see if she could help. At first she hesitated but there was this pull in her head that beckoned her closer, like iron filings to a magnet.

She arrived on the scene to find something most peculiar. There was some sort of… monster running wild through the neighborhood, letting out a bellowing roar as a group of five heroes tried to stop it.

The creature was an ugly, inhuman thing; covered in pale, wrinkly skin that flexed and undulated over its quadruped body with every movement. From above Izuku thought it looked like a giant human hand, then realized that was exactly what it was supposed to be. Its four limbs ended in gigantic fingertips, a pinkish nail on each ‘hoof’. The middle finger of the hand was its ‘head’, a pair of antennae shaped like fingers twitching sporadically. Even its mouthparts were in the shape of five fingers arranged in a grasping grip, spraying drool everywhere as it screeched and howled at the heroes surrounding it.

“Whoa…” Izuku whispered.

One of the heroes that she recognized as Kamui Woods leapt onto the beast’s back, his branches coiling around its neck while he attempted to wrangle it like a wild horse. The monster bucked and screamed, charging around in a blind panic until it raised its front feet into the air and slammed them back down.

To everyone’s surprise dozens of grasping hands erupted from the ground, the asphalt constructs grabbing Kamui Woods and flinging him through a wall. They’d assumed that the beast was a transformed human with a heteromorphic Quirk, not expecting a second emitter-type Quirk to be present. Kamui Woods emerged from the rubble, charging right back into the fight while one hand was held to his ear communicator.

“Lacquered Chain Prison!” he yelled, but the beast broke through his binding branches as if they were made of matchwood. “Backup, we need back—oof!” 

The monster kicked him with its hind legs like an angry bull, the impact scattering wooden splinters everywhere and sending the young hero spiraling into the air. Izuku caught him right before he hit the concrete, joining the fight since the heroes looked to be outmatched.

“Kamui-san! Are you alright?” she gasped.

“I’ll live.” he coughed painfully. “Wait, who the hell—”

Izuku didn’t let him finish, zooming into battle after putting him down. Every time the beast stomped it created more of those hands from any inorganic material nearby, the strange constructs having bound the rest of the heroes to nearby walls and even the road. 

“Hey! Hey, stop!” Izuku yelled.

To her surprise, the monster actually did stop. Izuku hadn’t planned for that and was at a loss for words when it turned around to face her.

Those eyes. It had a pair of brown, human eyes burning with intelligence. The creature studied Izuku with a strange intensity, but didn’t attack. Instead, it bowed at her.

Wait, what?

Izuku didn’t have time to contemplate what she just witnessed when a blast of orange energy sailed over her head and smashed into the creature, causing it to let out a shriek of anger. One of the heroes from earlier had broken free and was now shooting fireballs at it with an outstretched palm, fury in his eyes.

“Die, monster!”

“No, wait!” Izuku tried to say but the enraged hero rushed past her, more focused on glory and revenge than actually solving the problem. She suspected that the entity only attacked in self-defense, and it proceeded to use its Quirk once again in retaliation.

This time the summoned hands were clenched into fists. A barrage erupted from the ground, mercilessly slamming into the hero over and over until Izuku quickly grabbed his unconscious body and pulled him away to safety. She hovered in front of the monster’s face, holding out her arms in an effort to calm it down. 

“Hey, hey! Whoa, it’s alright!” she cried out, trying to reach the person inside the monster. “Um, sir, ma’am? Can you hear me?”

Just then even more heroes arrived with reporters trailing behind, capturing the scene of Izuku standing alone against the beast. They charged in and fired with their Quirks, once again aggravating the creature. Izuku let out a groan of exasperation, not sure what to do.

One of the heroes picked up a truck and hurled it at the hand-monster, only for it to be deflected by a well-timed wall of linked concrete hands. The vehicle instead spun wildly through the air… headed right for the crowd of reporters.

Izuku moved before she could think. The cameras were still rolling when Izuku caught the pickup truck with her bare hands right before it crushed the crowd, her tiny body supporting all that weight while still hovering. The men and women below her gaped, unable to believe their eyes.

“Everyone okay?” Izuku asked, gently placing the vehicle down. 

One of the reporters nodded dumbly, and that was enough for her to race back into battle. When she arrived the monster had already defeated most of the heroes there, with only Kamui Woods still standing while the rest were downed or chained by stone hands. 

“Stop!” Izuku commanded. 

The beast obeyed just like before, turning towards Izuku. Unfortunately Kamui Woods had been winding up a punch a few moments prior and couldn’t halt his attack in time. His fist struck straight and true, the monster screeching and refocusing on him instead. It charged, and when the hero dodged to the side it continued galloping right at the frightened crowd.

“Oh, come on!” Izuku groaned and shot forward to protect them again, but to her shock the beast reared up on its hind legs and stopped before it trampled the crowd underfoot.

It… doesn’t actually want to hurt anyone?

Terrified screams brought her back to reality. Izuku flew towards the monster who was still roaring, chambering a fist.

“Sorry about this.” she closed in, aiming for its head. “Smash!”

Her knuckles impacted with a meaty crunch, finally incapacitating the monster when its head hit the road hard enough to crack the asphalt. Izuku let out a huff as the crowd behind her cheered, waiting to see if it would get up.

It let out a loud, pitiful moan of pain and collapsed into a whirlwind of multicolored particles. Izuku reeled back in shock, grabbing at what had once been the monster only for the particles to fall through her fingers like sand.

“What was that…?” Izuku whispered in amazement.

“Miss, miss! Could we have a statement?”

“Are you a new hero? What’s with the Magical Girl theme?”

“Miss, over here! Is this your debut?”

The girl turned to face them, suddenly finding over a dozen cameras and microphones pointed in her general direction. She took a step back in fear, legs turning to jelly under their combined gazes until a single thought ran through her mind.

What would All Might do?

He would smile. He’d tell everyone watching that everything was going to be okay.

“I’m Miracle, a magical warrior of love and peace!” Izuku gave the viewers a great big smile, her hand held up with a ‘peace’ sign. “Nice to meet you!”

The gathered crowd cheered and clapped even as Izuku rocketed into the sky moments later, covering her face in embarrassment. Magical warrior, love and peace? That’s the best she could come up with? It was so… girly! Damn it, she should have said ‘peace and justice’ instead! There went her chances of being a super-cool, ultra-manly hero like All Might. Well, maybe she could still be cool and tough like Mirko. She was a girl, and she made it work…

“You there! Stop right there, vigilante!”

Hm?

There was a hero behind her, white vapor trailing from a jetpack on his back. Izuku recognized him as the Buster Hero: Airjet. She thought for a moment then decelerated in an instant, allowing him to zoom past when he overshot. The girl watched with interest as multiple flaps opened up in the man’s armor, creating drag and letting him slow down for a sharp turn.

“Miss, I’m gonna need you to come with me. What you just did was—”

“Hi there, Airjet!” Izuku smiled, thrusting her notebook and a pen into his face. “Can I have your autograph?”

“Eh? Oh, um, sure.” Airjet signed the book, blinking when he saw the sketch of himself within. “Wait, is that me?”

“Thank you so much!” Izuku cheered, sliding the notebook back into a hidden compartment near the back of her dress. “Bye-bye~!”

“What the—hey!”

Airjet kept chasing her, but Miracle was faster. She slipped between buildings and broke line of sight, dispelling the dress and turning back into her civilian form. A moment later she landed within an alley and jogged out into the street, blending in with the pedestrians milling about. The Buster Hero arrived only moments later, searching around but finding nothing.

“I’ve lost her. Unknown vigilante last spotted on sixth avenue, tightening the perimeter.” Airjet was speaking into his helmet’s radio, but Izuku could hear him with her enhanced sense of hearing. 

“Wow, look mommy! A hero!” 

“Is that Airjet? Hey man, keep up the good work!”

Various civilians pointed and waved at Airjet, Izuku doing the same while smiling. This Quirk made things so easy. She began to head home with a skip in her step, satisfied with a new autograph in her collection. In contrast to how worried boy-Izuku felt about vigilantism, she was positively thrilled to have the opportunity to help people after years of being weak and useless. 

Maybe she should just be a girl forever.

[x]

Izuku groaned when he thought of yesterday’s events, hands steepled atop his classroom desk. He’d broken the law again! Even though he was clearly in control as a girl, there seemed to be some sort of compulsion that drove him to fight crime and defeat bad guys when he was in that form. Was it another aspect of his Quirk? He knew from his notes that Quirks could affect their users' minds, and his was definitely doing something weird to him. His female form was more bubbly and confident, but also much more reckless. There was no doubt that the Quirk was influencing his personality a little. Izuku made a vow to stay true to himself whenever possible.

He knew he shouldn’t, yet the thought of people getting hurt because of his inaction was worse than the fear of being labeled as a criminal. If Miracle hadn’t stopped that creature, the heroes would have attacked it even more and someone might have gotten seriously hurt in the chaos. Overall her participation yielded positive results, so Izuku was willing to let it slide.

What was that thing anyway? The boy pondered as he drew it from memory, largely ignoring the teacher’s droning since he’d already studied the lesson material in his free time. Izuku’s pencil danced across the paper of his notebook, sketching the hand monster in precise detail.

It could be the effect of someone’s Quirk. Maybe an escaped laboratory subject, or part of someone’s body that grew and mutated when they detached it? Hmm… 

Whatever it was, it clearly didn’t want to actually hurt anyone. Izuku knew that most of the collateral damage was caused by the heroes trying to take it down instead.

The school day passed faster than usual, and Izuku quietly packed his bags and headed home before Bakugo or his pals could corner him. Business as usual.

Izuku took his usual path home, doing a little window-shopping on the way back. He caught himself looking at department stores, remembering that he still had to buy undergarments and clothes for his other self. It’d be nice for her to have some outfits of her own instead of wearing his weird t-shirts. They were a bit too loose on her since he had bigger shoulders, even if they were rather comfortable.

A sharp pull in his head alerted Izuku to something going on in the distance. Looking up he could see a column of smoke in the distance, police cars racing towards the source of the disturbance.

Again?

Izuku began running, slipping into an alley to transform. Miracle exploded from the darkness after a flash of light, flying towards the chaos. 

She was met with not a villain attack, but a monster rampaging just like yesterday. This time it was a great, feathered serpent with six wings and eyes, its bus-sized, translucent body flashing periodically like a strobe light. Various heroes were trying to ground it, small explosions blossoming atop the entity’s skin as it swam above the city like an eel.

Izuku watched the battle for a moment, waiting to see if the heroes needed help. They definitely did, seeing as all their attacks seemed to slide off it like water off a raincoat. It’d been the same yesterday with that hand monster; with only her attacks seeming to have any actual effect.

Why me in particular? Izuku wondered.

No matter. Izuku descended to help the local heroes, hovering right in front of the serpent’s path. It’d been swimming through the air lazily and ignoring everything thrown at it, but the moment it saw Izuku it reacted in alarm, rearing back and flaring its wings outward to appear larger.

Is it afraid of me? No, it knows I can hurt it when the other heroes can’t. The girl realized with a fair bit of shock. How does it know?

Low rumbling filled the air when the serpent began vibrating its wings like a hornet, its threat display solely directed at Izuku. It had no mouth, instead relying on its body to communicate. Izuku still found herself puzzled, trying to figure out what it was. 

The beauty of it mesmerized the civilians below, many of them pointing up and recording the creature on their phones. Izuku could hear them whispering and murmuring, some of them even saying it looked like an Angel.

Angel. That name would suffice for these mysterious beings.

The Angel, as she dubbed it, began turning away after realizing she wasn’t intimidated at all, choosing flight over fight. It descended and began snaking its way through the city, forcing the heroes to pursue it through the urban jungle.

“Stop!” Izuku tried.

It was no use. Unlike the hand creature the translucent serpent didn’t obey Izuku at all, writhing and flexing as it surged through the city streets like a wave of glass. Pedestrians screamed and dived out of the way, the heroes raining down attacks upon the Angel from above. 

That clearly annoyed it because the creature suddenly shuddered and bursts of intense white light flashed from its body, focusing into beams that struck at the heroes who attacked it. This action confirmed Izuku’s earlier theory that the Angels only retaliated in self-defense. It was far too late by then, the creature's laser beams now sweeping across the area in a wide, cutting arc. She watched in horror as one cut a car in half, but was left astonished when the passengers within were completely unharmed. The beam had swerved to avoid them, the Angel somehow capable of bending light itself.

“Cut it out!” Izuku snapped, grabbing onto the beast’s tail and driving her feet into the road.

The Angel dragged her along for a few meters until Izuku dug her heels in, pulling at the beast while it whirled and shook in her grip like a fish on a line. It was strong, terrifyingly so. If it’d actually wanted to kill the heroes, it could have done so simply by ramming into them with its sheer mass and speed. Instead, it was trying to get away, to escape. 

“Just calm down!” Izuku wrestled with it, her grip slipping on its translucent glass skin. “I know you’re angry, but please! You’re scaring everyone!”

Another rumbling note, this one higher-pitched. It was getting pissed off. The Angel released another blast of laser fire, making the heroes back off while Izuku still held it in place.

“Don’t make me do this!” she yelled, pulling a fist back. 

In the end, she didn’t have to do anything. A bolt of purple plasma struck the Angel right on the crown of its skull, causing it to crash into the ground unceremoniously. The entity let out a final low, pained rumble before starting to disintegrate into those familiar multicolored particles, defeated by that single attack. Izuku looked up to see who had finished it off, about to give them a piece of her mind until she saw who it was.

Dark purple hair arranged into twintails billowed in the wind, a pair of heterochromatic eyes so very much like Izuku’s boring into him. Her frilly dress was a deep purple with white highlights, featuring a goth-lolita style compared to Izuku’s Mahou-Kei aesthetic.

A twinkling, purple Magical Girl stared down at Magical Miracle Midoriya, pearly-white teeth bared in an innocent, childlike grin.

“Sup, Deku.” she giggled. “Still up for that sandwich?”

[Chapter 2 End]

Chapter Text

Izuku felt as though the world had slowed to a crawl, everything grinding to a halt as if time itself had turned to tar. She could hear everything, see everything, yet she couldn’t believe what was right in front of her.

Hovering before her was a sparkling, purple Magical Girl, her lips peeled back in an innocent, childlike grin. 

“Sup, Deku. Still up for that sandwich?”

Izuku connected the dots almost instantly. Besides Bakugo and her class, only one other person knew that dreadful, hated name. Her thoughts flashed back to that night on the bridge, the incident that blessed her with a power she could call her own. Back then, there was that other boy on the bridge…

“Matsuda-san?” Izuku whispered under her breath.

The other girl tilted her chin upwards, looking pleased as punch. She knew exactly who Izuku was.

“Both of you, freeze! Hands in the air!”

The two Magical Girls whirled around to find that they were surrounded by heroes on all sides, some capable of flying to match their elevation while the others targeted them from the ground. Izuku and Matsuda drew closer and put their backs against each other, knowing the other was the only ally they had in this situation.

“U-um, wait!” Izuku tried, but Matsuda held up both fists.

“The happy reunion can wait since there’s no use talking to these punks.” she hissed, fuchsia light spilling between her fingers. “Come on, we’re shooting our way out!”

“Wha—no!” Izuku exclaimed, appalled. “No one’s shooting anyone!”

“They’d beg to differ.” Matsuda's features twisted into a grimace.

A jumbled cacophony of orders was directed at them when all the heroes started shouting, all at once. The red-faced men and icy-faced women all but demanded their immediate surrender.

“Get down on the ground and put your hands behind your head, slowly!” one of the heroes called out, aiming his arm-cannon at them. “Under the anti-vigilantism act, we are authorized to use lethal force if necessary! Stand down, now!”

“We aren’t even doing anything!” Izuku cried out, trying to defuse the situation. “Wait, please!”

“This is your third and final warning! Stand down, or we will—”

“You ain’t doing shit.” Matsuda grabbed Izuku’s hand.

The girl let out a scream of surprise when she was suddenly yanked into the air alongside her new comrade. Both of them rose like rockets, instantly accelerating from zero to sixty and outspeeding the heroes in the blink of an eye. Some of them opened fire, Quirk effects and projectiles from support items crisscrossing when the two bobbed and weaved through the barrage.

“How fast can you fly?” 

“Um, Mach 1!”

“Then let’s do this!”

The speed limit became more of a speed suggestion when the two girls became streaks of green and purple. A pair of news choppers filming the battle with the Angel started to give chase but were instantly rebuffed when Izuku and Matsuda hurtled past them with vapor cones wrapping around their small bodies. The helicopter pilots peeled away, bracing for the inevitable—

Kaboom.

The sonic boom they caused rattled windows and walls, everyone in the nearby vicinity looking skywards. Behind them the pursuing heroes were left in shock while the two girls made their escape, parting clouds with their sheer speed. Moments later they were gone, their sparkling trails leading into the horizon dissipating like smoke on the wind.

Matsuda was laughing, overjoyed as they flew higher and higher. Izuku began to laugh too, both from exhilaration and the adrenaline surging through her veins. This was true freedom and power… but they needed to be responsible with it.

Izuku slowed once they breached the stratosphere, far above Japan. The air in the Mesosphere was still somehow breathable to her, even if it was a little thin. Matsuda slowed to match her pace, then turned around to greet Izuku with that big smile still plastered on her face.

To her surprise the purple-clad girl gave her a tight hug, Izuku hugging her back awkwardly. Soft. Very soft.

“Matsuda-san!” Izuku gasped, pulling away and coming back to her senses. “You’re okay!”

“Oh, I’m better than okay.” Matsuda grinned, twirling about to show off her new body. “I feel incredible. Invincible! Glad to see that you’re the same.”

“A-ah, this?” Izuku mumbled. “Um, this Magical Girl Quirk… you got it too!”

“All thanks to that girl on the bridge. Somehow, her powers were transferred to us.” Matsuda looked down at Japan. “Come on, we’ve lost them. Let’s talk while we get something to eat, Midoriya-san.”

“Sure! But, um, where would we go?” Izuku stammered. “Every hero in the city’s probably on the lookout for us.”

Matsuda’s grin grew even bigger.

“Who said we had to go back to Musutafu?”

Izuku followed her fellow Magical Girl all the way to the outskirts of Japan, to the north of the country in Hokkaido. It was colder and windier than Musutafu would ever be, but to the girls the freezing wind might as well have been a pleasant breeze for their superhuman bodies. They descended together, powering down into their female civilian forms.

Izuku was dressed in a thick All Might hoodie while Matsuda was in a simple jacket and jeans, the two of them touching down next to a large structure shaped like an inverted ‘V’. This was a monument Izuku had saw pictures of online, but now she got to see it with her own two eyes. A black plaque was placed at its base, a single sentence describing both the monument and where they were.

‘The Northernmost Point In Japan’.

“Wow…” Izuku whispered, jolting when she heard the snap of a camera behind her.

Matsuda was busy taking selfies, making ‘peace’ signs towards her phone while framing the monument in the background. She tilted her head for Izuku to join in and the other girl did so shyly, not very used to taking any photos at all. The two of them posed for several more photos, laughing and giggling to themselves as they did. To passerbys it just looked as if they were tourists enjoying their vacation, though some of them did raise an eyebrow at how lightly they were dressed compared to the locals who were suited up in multiple layers.

Soon the girls wandered into the quiet town of Wakkanai, settling down in a warm and comfy little restaurant at the center of it. Unfortunately there weren’t any sandwiches on the menu, but they did order a bowl of ramen each for themselves.

Izuku took the opportunity to study Matsuda’s civilian form. She was a brunette, her hair a shade of light purple arranged in a neat braid compared to Izuku’s blonde bob cut. The biggest difference between Matsuda’s male and female forms was her face; the girl’s eyes a pair of golden jewels with slitted pupils. A single sharp fang protruded from the left side of her mouth, giving her an almost feline grin when she smiled.

Even Matsuda’s movements were catlike, with slow, lazy motions that could turn lightning fast in the blink of an eye. She was playing with a 500 yen coin while they waited for their orders to arrive; tossing the small object from side to side then rolling it across her fingers, followed by spinning it atop her fingertip on its edge. Those movements should have been near impossible, but she made it look easy with her enhanced dexterity. 

“So, Midoriya-kun. How have you been?” Matsuda laughed, flicking the coin at her. “Having fun? Saw you on the news, by the way.”

“You did?” Izuku blinked, her hand catching the tiny projectile with a soft thwap. 

“Magical Girl Miracle.” Matsuda fished out her phone, showing a social media feed that featured Izuku’s alternate form front and center. “It’s been all over Qwoter since yesterday.”

Indeed it was. The posts with pictures of Miracle had reached thousands of re-qwotes at the very minimum, Izuku’s eyes widening with shock at the amount of positive feedback she was getting. She expected hate and vitriol about how lame and girly she was, not… this. There were even multiple hashtags dedicated to her.

A quick analysis made Izuku understand most of the good reception. It was mostly nostalgia. Miracle was like a TV character leaping out of the screen, reminding everyone of the simple times of their childhood. Before the stresses of work and adulthood. Before the daily threat of villainy and annual economic crises. Miracle, or rather, the idea of the Magical Girl she represented, was a callback to a better time for all of Japan. 

People actually liked her! She hadn’t felt liked in… years. Izuku couldn’t help it and began to cry.

“Uwaa…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Matsuda reeled back, wincing. “Dude, stop! Boys don’t cry.”

“B-but I’m a girl now so it should be okay, right?” Izuku sniffled before quickly wiping away her tears, knowing she was making a scene. “S-sorry.”

“Miss, are you alright?” A nearby waitress rushed over, concerned. “Do you need any help?”

“It’s f-fine.” Izuku blubbered, still sniffing a little. “I’m just happy, that’s all.”

“I see. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell us!”

The waitress went back to work after leaving Izuku with a bunch of tissues, and Matsuda sighed with relief. Izuku on the other hand felt that it was strange that someone even cared. Whenever she was crying or looked even remotely saddened as her male form everyone just ignored her, gave her a wide berth, or even gave her disgusted looks. Having someone besides her mother actually care for once felt different.

“You alright?” Matsuda tried.

“I’m… okay. I’m okay.” Izuku blew her nose into a tissue. “Sorry.”

“You sure do apologize a lot, don’t you.” Matsuda held out a hand before Izuku could say it again. “Ah-ah-ah! You’re a Magical Girl now. Smile, be confident!”

“I-I’ll try. Yeah, heroes have to smile.” Izuku mumbled, glancing at the phone once more.

‘Magical Girl Miracle to the rescue!’ read the caption below the images, showing multiple scenes of Izuku saving the crowd from being squished and defeating the Hand Angel from yesterday.

Miracle had a big, wobbly smile in the photo, all sweet and innocent. Unlike those tropes in anime and manga where a Magical Girl’s features would be blurred or obscured by magic, her face was caught in 16K high definition by the news cameras. She gulped, thanking her lucky stars that she had a civilian form.

“At least you had a great introduction.” Matsuda grumbled and fiddled with her phone. “I sure as hell didn’t.”

She flipped it back towards Izuku, the screen now displaying Matsuda as her Magical Girl form. Whoever had taken the photo got an amazing shot of her in combat, the girl’s face frozen in a nasty snarl as she landed an uppercut on what looked like an octopus made of black cables. A few other photos showed her attempting to strangle it with its own tentacles.

‘Magical Girl Mustard on the job!’ The caption read in neat bold letters.

“You look absolutely amazing.” Izuku said. “But, um, ‘Mustard’?”

“I know what you’re thinking and no, I wasn’t hungry.” Matsuda held her head high, confident in her choice. “It’s a name I’ve been holding on to since I was a kid.”

“So you had dreams of being a hero too? Huh.”

“Ha ha ha. A hero, yeah.” Matsuda laughed mirthlessly, looking away. “Let’s go with that. Pity you picked your own name before I found you. We could have been ‘Lettuce’ and ‘Mustard’.”

“Why the food theme?” 

“Well, I thought you liked sandwiches.”

“That was one time!” Izuku sputtered, blushing. “Why ‘Mustard’ anyway, if you don’t mind me asking. You’re purple.”

“Mustard, like the gas.” Matsuda explained, opening her palm atop the table. “See?”

A wisp of thick purple gas escaped from her skin, wafting into the air and burning up into nothing. Matsuda flexed her fingers, letting out a quiet hum of contemplation.

“Oh.” Izuku said and nodded in understanding. “It’s your original Quirk!”

“Not exactly. Whatever happened to us that night gave us this Magical Girl power…” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I think it also boosted my Quirk. I can’t make my regular knockout gas when I’m like this; it’s superheated now.”

“Turning it into plasma?” Izuku whispered back excitedly. “Wow!”

“I know, right? My Quirk, it’s different when I’m a girl.” Matsuda grinned. “It’s like I’ve got so much energy in me… The original can’t even hold a candle to it now.”

Izuku didn’t miss how her pupils seemed to glimmer with an otherworldly purple light for a moment, a deep, resonating hunger in those eyes. She knew it well—a desire for power when one had been powerless all their life.

“Was it really just knockout gas?” Izuku ventured, trying to remind the other girl not to forget about her original self. “I’m sure it was a good Quirk.”

“It really wasn’t.” Matsuda shook her head. “I wasn’t immune to it, you see. Any time I’d try to use it and defend myself… well.”

Izuku imagined it in her head and winced. 

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. It’s all in the past now.” Matsuda suddenly brightened, ribbons of purple plasma swirling between her fingers. “With this power… heh. The future belongs to us, baby. I mean, look at us! We’re so damn pretty even without makeup. No need for any foundation or concealer at all!”

“Huh.” Izuku ran a finger down her own smooth cheek. “Wait, how do you know how to use that girl stuff?”

“None of your beeswax.” Matsuda huffed. “Either way, it’s awesome.”

A young waiter brought their two bowls of chashu ramen, blushing like an idiot after the two thanked him happily. Izuku had no idea what that was about, shrugging it off once she realized the other girl was squinting suspiciously at her.

"W-what is it? Do I have something on my face?"

"How are you bigger than me?" Matsuda pouted, blatantly staring at Izuku's chest. "Wait a minute..."

"Eh?" Izuku blinked, not quite sure what she was talking about.

Matsuda reached across the table and gave Izuku a light smack on her ample bosom. The blonde let out an embarrassed yelp, clutching at her chest protectively.

"W-w-what was that for?!" Izuku wailed, cheeks flushed.

"We're both girls, so it's fine." Matsuda lowered her voice to an urgent whisper. "Why aren't you wearing a bra?"

Warmth crept up Izuku's cheeks like a house on fire, her petite hands squeezing shut atop her lap.

"Well, um… I don't know how to put one on." she mumbled. "And I don't have any."

"That's no excuse! Second thing I did after I woke up like this was to buy clothes and underwear online." Matsuda said. 

"What was the first thing?"

"Freaked out and jumped through the window."

"That's exactly what I did!"

"But I digress." The purple-haired brunette cleared her throat in distaste. "Tell you what, let's go do some shopping after this. The only reason you can walk around dressed in such a tacky outfit is cuz you're cute. It wouldn't work when you're a guy. I mean, what are those?"

"My sneakers?" Izuku's gaze shot downward and she wiggled her signature red footwear from side to side. "I don't think they're tacky…"

"Fine, I guess they can stay. But they have to match with the rest of your outfit!" Matsuda sniffed, turning her pert little nose upwards. "There's this thing called color theory, and you look like you just picked whatever was lying around and got dressed with your eyes closed—"

Izuku looked away, cheeks bright pink as Matsuda trailed off in slow realization.

"You didn't."

"It feels wrong to look…" 

"You did!" Matsuda exclaimed in disbelief. "Come on, dude! It's your body now, don't be ashamed. What, did you shower with your eyes closed too?"

"Um, yeah?" Izuku admitted, causing the brunette to let out a hearty laugh. "B-but Matsuda-san, I don't think I can look because I still like girls even when I'm like this."

"Same here, straight as an arrow." Matsuda shrugged. "Browsed through a Herogals magazine this morning and still found the girls smoking hot. The latest edition has a pin-up of Midnight in a bunnysuit."

"Really?" Izuku perked up with interest, then quickly shook her head to refocus. "Wait, t-that's not the point! How did you manage to, um, y’know."

“Look at myself? Just think of it as your own body, and not someone else’s.” Matsuda said. “Trust me, you’ll get used to it. You’d better, or you won’t be able to take care of that body properly.”

“Urgh.” Izuku winced. “Okay, I’ll try.” 

Their chatter came to a stop when the two girls began to dig into their ramen, thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was absolutely delicious, and Izuku couldn’t remember the last time she ate a meal with someone other than her mother. Then she got another look at the monster Matsuda had been fighting after looking at her phone.

“Did you feel it too? That pull in your head.” Izuku tapped on the device’s screen. “There was this hand creature yesterday, and that glass snake thing from earlier… I felt drawn to them somehow. As if I had to confront them or something.”

“Those monsters? Yeah. It’s like some sort of compulsion or urge to intervene, but strangely enough it doesn’t work on villain attacks.” Matsuda slurped her ramen hungrily. “Maybe those freaks have something to do with this weird power?”

“Well, um, I’ve been calling them ‘Angels’...”

“Angels it is, then. Whatever they are, they seem dead-set on causing a scene wherever they go.” Matsuda huffed. “While you were fighting that hand monster yesterday I was trying to catch this weird-ass octopus thingy. At first I thought it was some kind of villain, but this thing…”

“It behaved more like an animal, didn’t it?” Izuku said quietly.

“Exactly! Funny thing was, it had a Quirk. A real powerful one! It kept thrashing around and causing chaos, always teleporting whenever someone screamed.” Matsuda pounded the table and leaned in closer. “Get this: it had sonokinesis. It could turn itself into sound and travel along other soundwaves, including the screams of human beings! Ain’t that something. Finally beat it when it got tired after a while.”

“The one I fought had a Quirk too. At least, it looked like one.” Izuku muttered. “It could summon these hands whenever it stomped the ground… no, it was somehow manipulating and reshaping the environment itself. What the heck are these things?”

“Monsters-of-the-week, that’s what.”

“Then it’s our job to stop them.”

“Pffft. As if! Let the heroes handle it, I only fought that one ‘cause I was nearby. I just came looking for you so I helped with the snake, but I’m not about to bust my ass fighting more monsters.” Matsuda scoffed. “I’ve got better things to do.”

“W-what? Wait, you can’t do that. As Magical Girls, it’s our duty!” Izuku protested. 

“To kick ass and take names? Yes. To risk our lives for no damn reason? Hell no.” Matsuda slurped her ramen again. “Look man, what’s in it for us? We don’t even get paid. In fact, what we just did is called vigilantism. Unlicensed Quirk usage, serious crime, clause 558, minimum of 2 years in prison. Ring a bell?”

“Ugh. B-but…” Izuku took a moment to have some more of her own ramen before it got cold. “I just can’t help it. When I see somebody about to get hurt, it’s like my body just moves on its own.”

“Ain’t you a goody-two-shoes… These hero pricks are professionals, dude. Trained for battle. We’re just two girls in frilly dresses. It’s their job to deal with monsters, villain attacks, whatever. Taxpayer dollars at work.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking at first.” Izuku admitted. “But did you see the heroes try to fight an Angel? It’s like they’re barely hurting them. For some reason, we’re the only ones who can take them down quickly.”

“Of course we are.” Matsuda sighed. “Why us?”

“I… I don’t know. But I know these Angels…” Izuku gulped down more ramen. “I don’t think they wanna hurt anyone. Not unless they get attacked first.”

“Really.” Matsuda looked dubious, tapping at her phone. “Then how do you explain that?”

Izuku leaned in for a closer look and the blood drained from her face. Matsuda’s phone was tuned in to a livestream of an ongoing battle in the middle of a city, two monstrous creatures roaring to the skies while surrounded by a multitude of cops and heroes.

The twin Angels looked nothing alike but moved like a team, covering for each other’s weaknesses while bolstering their strengths. The one that drew the most attention looked vaguely like a gorilla, if a gorilla was blue and had three faces and six of each limb. It was a brutish, grotesque figure that rampaged mindlessly, bursts of air pressure from its hands tossing away the nearby police cars like children’s toys.

The second Angel was the one that made Izuku do a double-take. This one looked… human. It was a glowing, yellow-white curvaceous female figure, the entity’s legs ending in jagged lightning bolts. It, or rather, she, had the power to control electricity, drawing power from the surroundings and causing lights and screens all around the two to flicker. The camera feed stuttered when she looked directly at the viewfinder and smiled.

She had no eyes, three empty holes in the middle of her face staring right at everyone watching the video.

“Where is this?” Izuku whispered. 

“Hutta City.” Matsuda clicked her tongue. “About fifteen klicks away from here?”

“We have to help!”

“No we don’t. Let’s see how this plays out first.” Matsuda sprawled out across the table lazily, already finished with her ramen. “Let’s see if our taxpayer dollars are being put to good use.”

Izuku reluctantly obliged, wanting to see if the heroes could handle it themselves too. The pair watched as multiple heroes leapt into battle, only to be defeated within seconds by the two Angels. Their Quirks seemed to do minimal to no damage at all to the entities, only aggravating them.

Both of them winced when the Lightning Angel pointed upwards and called down a thunderbolt to strike an unlucky hero, zapping him with a horrifying crack when he just stood still incompetently. He fell like a sack of bricks, armor charred and smoking. Strangely enough the hero wasn’t dead, the flashy attack simply rendering him unconscious. They could still see him breathing when the cameras zoomed in.

“Well, I know which party I'm voting for next year.” Matsuda grumbled. “Useless fucks.”

“We’re underage. We can’t even vote yet!” Izuku pointed out.

“Oh yeah.”

The only upside was that she did notice a pattern that was playing out as the Angels fought. As she suspected, they never attacked anyone unless they were attacked first. The Angels instead targeted buildings, vehicles, and the environment around, seeming to have the goal of causing as much damage as possible without actually hurting anyone. As absurd as it sounded, they really did behave like the 'bad guy monsters' in a Saturday morning cartoon or anime.

Why? Izuku thought, trying to understand the strange beings. Why would they do this?

The Wind Angel roared, all six hands clenched into fists and beating against its muscular chest. Its partner seemed to laugh silently atop its back, cupping her hand against her mouth in the imitation of a giggling, sophisticated woman. Izuku’s eyes widened when she realized they were purposely waiting for the panicking civilians to clear the area before they started their next attack, conjuring a whirlwind filled with lightning that began to tear up the street like a giant spinning top.

Wind and Lightning. An act of God.

“I’ve seen enough.” Izuku declared, rising from her seat. “Let’s go.”

“I can't stop you, can I? Fine, fine. Lead the way, little miss hero.” Matsuda sighed, rolling her eyes. "Here we go again."

After paying the two girls sprinted out into the street and down an alley, their Magical Girl regalia manifesting atop their bodies with a thought. Hair lengthened and darkened, flowing dresses overlapping casual wear. Miracle and Mustard leapt into the sky, headed straight for Hutta City.

[x]

The situation was worse than they thought. In the scant few minutes they’d taken to travel there the whirlwind had grown to become a miniature hurricane, streaks of brilliant yellow lightning cutting through the roiling dark clouds like glowing knives. It was a spectacle that drew the eyes of everyone around, news choppers and emergency vehicles surrounding the disaster’s perimeter.

“When we land, do a pose.” Matsuda told her as they hurtled downward into the street.

“What?” Izuku asked. “Why?”

“Just do it! You’re a Mahou Shoujo, you have to pose.”

The two Magical Girls landed right in the path of the hurricane, and Izuku struck the coolest pose she could think of. Matsuda followed suit and a menacing aura seemed to radiate from them, stunning both the nearby rescue workers and heroes who were trying to figure out what to do. A news crew who'd been reporting the incident quickly focused its sole camera on them.

“I should have said cute. A cute pose, not this!” Matsuda hissed.

“Well, it got their attention.” Izuku argued back.

Indeed it did. The hurricane suddenly stopped spinning, impossibly coming to a halt and dissipating into nothingness. The two Angels emerged from the strewn debris, looking more curious than enraged. That soon changed when Mustard charged forward, one hand already pulled back and coated in her signature purple plasma.

“I’ll take the big guy, you take the sparky lady!”

“Wait, I wanted to—”

Matsuda’s plasma knuckle duster connected with one of the Wind Angel’s faces and it let out a warbling cry of fury, bringing all six of its fists down onto where she stood only a split second before. The battle had begun.

“—talk.” Izuku groaned, then straightened in alarm when the Lightning Angel was suddenly inches away from her face. It could teleport. “Um, hi?”

The Angel smiled at her.

“Take ‘em down, take ‘em down! Engage all targets!” one of the heroes behind them yelled. “All units, open fire!”

“What about the two in green and purple?”

“I said engage all targets!”

Izuku didn’t even have time to cry out a warning when they fired, their Quirk effects and concussion rounds bouncing off her Glitter forcefield harmlessly. The same thing happened to the Angel, but instead of shielding herself like Izuku the entity shrieked, electrical arcs branching off it like a Tesla coil. It surged at the heroes, roaring a challenge.

"What the hell are you doing?!" One of the firefighters grabbed the arm of a nearby hero in an attempt to stop him. "Those girls are on our side!"

"No, they're not! They're unlicensed individuals interfering with official hero business, and so are you." the hero sneered and shoved the man back roughly. "Stay out of this, civilian."

They continued firing while the police and rescue workers could do nothing but watch helplessly, both Izuku and Matsuda now under fire from both the heroes and Angels.

A fireball sizzled past Izuku's head when she ducked, hitting the beast she was fighting instead. The female Angel growled, teleporting in a burst of static electricity and yellow light. It reappeared in the midst of the heroes with a thunderclap, eliciting cries of panic when it started attacking in a wordless rage.

The Angel’s hands were defibrillators, her mere touch zapping whatever she made contact with and throwing her targets backwards. Just as she was about to crash into the commanding hero Izuku leapt forward and grabbed her hand, forcing her to stop.

“Hey—”

Apparently the Angel recognized that as a hostile action, because Izuku got a fistful of thunder for her efforts. The lightning-clad fist that cut across her cheek had enough force behind it to take a man’s head off, her Glitter sparkling wildly as it tanked most of the impact. Most of it. Izuku’s head snapped backward from the blow, stunned for a moment until she regained her bearings.

She knows she can hit us hard enough to kill a regular human, that we can take it. This one can think.

“Ow. Okay, not cool!” Izuku raised her arms into a defensive position.

The Angel hissed, darting at her. Twelve rapid-fire strikes lanced into her guard in the span of a second, Izuku tanking the assault while forming a fist with her right hand.

She recalled the martial art lessons she watched online, applying the techniques. Her fingertips dug themselves into the base of her palm like a steel plate, curling inwards to form a tight fist. The taste of metal filled her mouth when its hand closed around her wrist in a vice-grip, and Izuku found her body locking up involuntarily. It took a moment to realize that the Angel was electrocuting her with enough energy to power a small building.

She pushed through the pain, going beyond it. The girl's feet gripped the ground, her hips twisting, her chest and back muscles working in tandem. It all culminated in a single, devastating…

"Smash!"

Miracle's fist met the Angel's face like an eighteen-wheeler colliding with a deer on a highway. The entity was hurled backwards into an empty bus, practically folding the multi-ton vehicle in two with an enormous crash.

"Yes!" Izuku cheered, only to have the celebration cut short when the other Angel backhanded her into a building.

Her world spun when she crashed through several walls, chunks of concrete and rebar flying everywhere. The impact itself should have crushed her bones into powder and snapped her spine like a toothpick, but Izuku got up as if it was nothing serious.

She sprinted out of the rubble only to find the simian-like Wind Angel waiting for her. It was a gargantuan wall of muscle that leered at her from above, and suddenly Bakugo was standing in its place, towering over her trembling form; useless, worthless, shitty little Deku who should just kill herself, take a swan dive off the roof —

No. Izuku bit her lip, squeezing her hands shut to stop them from shaking. I'm not that person now.

Its intimidating howl turned into a pained wheeze when Izuku tackled it, driving her shoulder into its gut. The Magical Girl went for a double-leg takedown by pulling against the back of one of its knees, only for the creature's other legs to stabilize it. The attempt wouldn't have worked; it had six legs in total, spread below its waist like some sort of abstract, muscular spider-monkey.

Mustard rushed in to help her only to let out a yelp of pain when a yellow thunderbolt hit her right in the back. The Lightning Angel was rising from the wreckage of the bus, audibly charging up with a low electrical whine.

"Ow, fuck! That hurt, wait—" Mustard cursed again when a second bolt from the heavens hit her right between the shoulder blades. "Ow, what the fuck, I just got struck by lightning!"

She turned her attention to the caster, Izuku and Matsuda switching dance partners.

The Wind Angel brought all six of its fists downward, Izuku catching the attack with both hands. The ground beneath her heels spiderwebbed with cracks, then ruptured upwards when the beast tried to crush her into the dirt.

Spinning to the right she pirouetted on one heel, then weaved past a barrage of fists in a perfect Dempsey Roll. This one could think too, and if it thought like a person… it could be fooled like one.

Izuku feinted left and the Angel fell for it, her overhand right lancing into its cheek. The Goliath stumbled, disoriented but still fighting. She immediately retracted her hand with an alarmed squeak when the beast's jaw snapped shut on the space it had occupied moments earlier. The damn thing had tried to bite her!

"Come on, really?!" Izuku muttered under her breath, preparing a combo. "Okay, let's do this."

One, one, one. A trio of left jabs were sent right into the Angel's flat, wide nose. Her knuckles crumpled the smooth cartilage, the beast staggering backward in pain.

Two. Her heavy right cross cut across her opponent's cheek with a wham. Izuku felt bone shattering under her fist. Behind her Matsuda landed a side kick into the Lightning Angel, its body carving a deep trench into the road. Izuku barely noticed that the heroes were still firing at all of them, several concussion rounds and a few energy projectiles bouncing off her Glitter.

Three. Izuku's left hook smashed into the Angel's temple. She'd put enough power behind that attack to crush a man's skull like a ripe melon but the Angel was far more durable, merely discombobulated from the blow.

Four! Izuku crouched down, her legs tensing until she leapt upward in a vicious uppercut, her knuckles meeting the Angel's chin with a sickening crunch. The beast was lifted a meter off the ground before falling onto its back, finally down for the count.

Matsuda was about to finish off the other Angel on her end, having wrapped her arms around the beast's waist. The small girl's back arched, lifting her taller opponent effortlessly while her heels rose from the ground. 

The Magical Girl suplexed the Lightning Angel into the pavement with a snarl, ignoring the electric current surging through her body as she did. The impact was a crash of thunder, sending sparks climbing into the air and causing anything electronic to flicker momentarily.

It was over. The two girls let out simultaneous exhales of relief once the Angels started disintegrating into multicolored particles, signaling their defeat. Izuku and Matsuda regrouped, hi-fiving each other as they met. 

The news cameras rolled, capturing the moment. Before the crews could roll in to ask any questions the heroes renewed their assault, interrupting what would have been a joyous celebration.

Multiple voices shouting ‘get down on the ground’ and surrounding them really ruined the moment. Instead of complying, the two Magical Girls performed a polite curtsy to the cameras, floating into the air shortly afterwards to get away. Izuku gave the group a small, nervous smile and waved while Matsuda stuck her tongue out and pulled down on one eyelid childishly.

Izuku and Matsuda simply flew off, away from the furious heroes and curious reporters. It was only when they’d ascended beyond the clouds did Izuku speak again.

“I can’t believe we just did that.” she said. “Oh man…”

“We saved the day, lighten up!” Matsuda grinned. “Tell you what, let’s go shopping.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, right freakin’ now. I think we deserve that at the very least.”

The two girls picked a random city on their journey across the country, their flight granting them the power to travel to wherever they wanted. 

They had ice cream for dessert and went shopping for clothes, Izuku’s smile growing as more time passed. She’d forgotten how nice it was to hang out with a friend. 'Friend'… the word seemed alien to her. She hadn’t gotten any of those since she was four years old—all the other kids were too afraid of Bakugo to even try to talk to poor little Izuku.

Trying on clothes was both fun and embarrassing. Ultimately she still got dressed with her eyes closed, refusing to let Matsuda into the changing room with her. For underwear she just got the shop assistant to help find out her size, the kind older woman simply doing so with an understanding nod and without asking any questions. It was clear she’d done this before.

Before they knew it the sun was already setting, dying the evening sky a beautiful red-orange when the pair finally walked out of the shopping mall. Izuku and Matsuda exchanged numbers, smiling and laughing as they did. The blonde thought everything turned out okay until she saw the way Matsuda seemed to wilt slightly when she had to go home.

“Hey… you okay?”

“Hm? Yeah! Yeah… I’m alright. Just didn’t feel like going home.” 

Matsuda looked away, but Izuku didn’t miss how the brunette clenched her hands into fists before relaxing.

“I had lots of fun today.” Matsuda smiled, giving her a quick hug. “So, uh, thanks.”

“M-me too.” Izuku returned it. “See you again soon?”

“Yeah. See ya…” 

They parted ways at last, with Matsuda flying off into the horizon. Izuku watched her go, wondering what that strange look on her face was for. Even though the other girl tried so desperately to hide it, Izuku saw a glimpse of her true feelings. When she’d mentioned going home, she seemed so… sad.

Problems at home, then. It’s not my place to talk to her about it when we just met.

Izuku went home with a heavy heart, still worrying about her new friend. In the end she pushed those horrid thoughts away in favor of inspecting her new purchases.

The girl held up a matching set of bra and panties, frowning as she inspected them. They were so… lacy. Matsuda was adamant that they had to match. Why, though? It wasn’t like anyone was going to see it.

Izuku sighed and put them on anyway, still keeping her eyes closed. The fabric was really smooth compared to the boxers her male form wore, strangely comfortable despite the way they hugged her hips. The bra gave her the most trouble, and it took a few minutes of fumbling around blindly before she figured out how the hooks worked.

She opened her eyes and turned bright pink. The blonde girl in Izuku’s mirror was now dressed in lacy underwear, blinking back at herself with both shame and embarrassment in her eyes.

So pretty…

Thankfully she quickly got a hold of herself and got dressed, tossing on one of her male form’s shirts. It didn’t fit her quite as well, too loose on her more petite frame. Izuku frowned. She was still the same height, so why was it so much bigger? The t-shirt drooped past her waist, the text reading ‘T-shirt’ slightly warped by the curves of her chest. She shrugged and put on some shorts to complete the outfit, twirling around and admiring herself in the mirror.

It was weird. She was wearing the same outfit as boy-Izuku yet she looked so much better in his clothes. Izuku sighed, wandering into the kitchen to begin dinner preparations. As she began she wondered how she was going to keep the feminine clothes and underwear a secret from her mother. Since Inko worked the night shift most of the time Izuku reasoned that she would do the laundry for her girl-self in the morning, then have it dry and keep it under her bed in one of the ‘secret’ spots.

Then again, the magazines she kept under there were suspiciously clean even though she hadn’t read them in ages… 

Izuku huffed and got herself a cup of water, gulping it down slowly. She needed a new hiding spot for the clothes, then. Best to find it before her mother came home after midnight.

The girl was still sipping her cup when she heard footsteps behind her. Izuku froze, pure terror rooting her feet to the spot. Impossible. Someone was in her house—

She whirled around to come face-to-face with a bewildered Inko, the older woman’s eyes wide with confusion. Both of them stared at each other for a moment, the silence seeming to extend for an eternity until a set of dropped keys finally hit the ground with a quiet clink.

“Who the heck are you?!” Inko screamed.

[x]

The President of the Hero Public Safety Commission gulped down her third glass of whiskey, brows furrowed as she replayed the footage on the laptop.

A pair of Magical Girls smiled and curtsied to the audience, all pretty and glittering after their victory with a duo of anomalous entities. The scene looked as if it’d come straight out of an anime, two beautiful heroes appearing to save the day and leaving without any reward directly after.

“There’s no doubt about it. It’s them. We knew this day would come.” The President’s voice was a harsh, cold statement of finality. “They’re back. The monsters are back.”

“Are you sure, ma’am?” her assistant, Mera Yokumiru, usually looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. Now he looked like he hadn’t slept in months. “It could just be some dumb kids playing vigilante.”

“Look at the way they sparkle, and that hideous strength.” The President pursed her lips and brought her hands to her temples. “It’s too specific to be just a coincidence. You know what we have to do.”

Mera gulped, eying the aged manila folder on her desk. Splotches of dried blood were still on its cover, a warning to the horror contained within.

“Contact General Nakamura. I want at least two elite JSDF battalions at the ready.” The President said grimly. “Have our boys find out everything they can about these two new Magical Girls. Names, friends, families. Everything, leave no stone unturned. Do we still have the X-66 jets the Americans loaned us for that training exercise?”

“Yes, but—”

“Have them ready to sortie. Make sure they deploy with DEWS, we’ll need them.”

“The Americans will ask questions.” Mera tried.

“So they will. Stall them.” The President said. “We can’t let this get out.”

“With all due respect, ma’am, it’s already out.” Mera said. “It’s on TV and the internet. Should we…?”

“No. Trying to censor them from the public would draw too much suspicion. What we need now is a surgical, precision strike.”

The President pinched the bridge of her nose, already knowing she was going to regret her next move. A can of worms from the past had been dug up and opened. Once you open a can of worms, you need a bigger can to get them all back in.

“Contact Agent Intelli.”

[Chapter 3 End]

[Bonus: Alternate cover featuring Izuku's Civilian and Magical Girl forms]

Oh my God she's so cute.

The Queen of Clubs represents 'justice', 'truth', 'courage', and 'change'.

You can do it.

'Dekiru'.

Chapter Text

Intelli Saiko was busy preparing for a lovely evening dinner. The pale girl had just finished a quick shower, done her nails, and got dressed in one of her best outfits. 

She inspected herself in the mirror, letting out a quiet hum of satisfaction. Not too flashy nor shabby. Picture perfect. Her hair was fashioned into a hime-cut and cascaded down her back like a silver waterfall, perfectly straight all the way down to her waist.

Saiko was finally ready to head out with a smile on her face. It promptly disappeared when her phone rang with a specific chime, the screen displaying two words that soured her mood for the entire night.

‘Unknown caller'.

Her knuckles grew white around the small device before relaxing, the girl answering the call with a low sigh.

“Hello?” Saiko answered, eyes closed. Her lips pursed into a thin line of displeasure as the caller began speaking. “Mm-hm.”

She turned around and marched right back towards her wardrobe without a second thought, preparing a new outfit. What a shame, especially since she’d spent so much time getting ready earlier.

“Uh-huh.” Saiko continued nonchalantly, browsing through the neatly arranged assortment of jackets and blazers. “Where?”

The girl listened idly, noting down every detail while multitasking. Gray or black? Hmm. Definitely black. 

With one hand still on the phone she put on a black tie, grimacing in discomfort. She hated the damn things but her next assignment called for professionalism. Showing up in the casual outfit she had on earlier would just slow things down. 

“Alright. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Saiko ended the call, taking a quick glance in the mirror. A pale girl in a dark blazer paired with a skirt stared back at her, eyes cold as ice. A single, golden monocle adorned her left eye, the girl placing a cute beret atop her head to complete the outfit.

She made her way to the condominium’s elevator and headed to the helipad. A chopper was already waiting for her, engines spooled up and ready to go at a moment’s notice. The HPSC didn’t spare any expenses when it came to dealing with problems.

“Where to, ma’am?” the pilot asked once she stepped in.

“Tartarus.” Saiko said.

She took the opportunity to make another call via the helicopter’s built-in phone, idly looking down at the city below as they began the journey to Japan’s most famous maximum-security prison. The line rang once, twice, before the recipient picked up.

“Yo! What’s up?” A cheery voice on the other end answered.

“Hello, Hatsume-san?” Saiko began evenly. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to reschedule tonight’s meeting.”

“Ah, shoot. Wanted to share some new designs with you, too. Work again?” A small pause. “ Wait, are you on a bird?”

“I’m not leaving the country again, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Saiko said. “Just a little off the mainland.”

“Gotcha. Dinner next weekend?”

“That’d be lovely.” Saiko smiled. “See you around, Hatsume-san.”

“Seeya! I’m off to make more babies~”

Her smile vanished the moment the call ended, Saiko coming back to reality while rain pounded on the helicopter’s windows relentlessly. The girl spent some time contemplating her next moves all while sipping some tea from a thermos she’d brought along, formulating a plan of action. With her free hand she texted a contact within the prison and made a few arrangements, eying her phone from time to time to skim over the details she got.

Lightning flashed in the skies above. The roaring wind caused some turbulence, but it was nothing the military-grade aircraft couldn’t handle. A few minutes later they entered Tartarus airspace, Saiko leaning against the window and eying the automated gun emplacements on the island that tracked her craft like hawks watching a sparrow. One round from any of those massive guns could turn them into a flaming piñata. 

The pilot radioed in for their landing to be authorized and soon they touched down on the island itself. Two tall, lanky six-armed men were waiting on the helipad as an escort, stiffening when Saiko stepped out into the rain under her black umbrella. These two remembered her.

“I’ll be back in half-an-hour or so.” Saiko told the helicopter pilot who nodded in response. “Get yourself a coffee or something in the meantime.”

She turned her attention to the two elite guards that escorted her into the building, slightly amused at their silence. Their horned helmets hid their faces and any expressions Saiko could use to psychoanalyze them. She idly wondered if they’d implemented that after the last time she was here.

“Gyges-san, Briareos-san.” she smiled, not caring at the way one of the men’s hands trembled and curled into fists. “Long time no see.”

The men said nothing as they escorted her deeper into the bowels of the metal hellhole. The Yutani Counterquirk Maximum Security Special Prison, more commonly known as Tartarus, was in fact an artificial island that extended all the way down to the ocean floor, most of its inmates imprisoned beneath the waves. Any escape attempts via breaching the walls would simply result in one digging themselves a watery grave.

When Saiko stepped into the elevator with the two men they still kept their silence, with only Gyges acknowledging her existence by pushing one of the buttons that indicated their next location. B-07. 

As above, so below.

Unlike regular visitors, someone of Saiko’s standing didn’t need any documentation. The regular HPSC personnel handled most of the heavy lifting, but Saiko was a specialist. There were certain privileges she enjoyed.

The hallway they entered next was lined with automated gun turrets, robots and towering mechs that tracked the trio’s every move, stone-faced prison guards standing behind reinforced glass windows watching her closely. She spied what must have been a new recruit; he was young, doe-eyed, and reacted with shock when he saw her.

‘What’s a kid doing here?’ he asked the man next to him. The glass made the next room soundproof but she read their lips easily.

‘That ain’t no kid. Look at the badge on her shirt collar, she’s one of them freaks.’ the older man growled. ‘A Praetorian.’

‘Shit, for real?’ A female guard drew closer to the glass, eyeing Saiko curiously. ‘She’s so young…’

‘Wait, what are you guys talking about?’ The rookie blinked, so naive and innocent.

‘You don’t know? A few years back, the government had this thing called Project Praetor where they’d take kids and do all sorts of fucked up things to them. Human augmentation. ’ the veteran guard said. ‘ They were trying to make supersoldiers; warriors and thinkers. They’d pierce and stimulate these children’s brains directly from behind their ears…’

Saiko’s scars itched and she tuned them out. Annoying. The badge on her shirt collar gleamed a dull gold under the irritating fluorescent lights, two spears crossed over a round shield. A totem to represent her sacrifice for the nation.

Gyges and Briareos stopped when they reached a checkpoint, simply standing apart to allow for a weapons check. Saiko rolled her eyes and started depositing her hidden blades atop the cold steel table.

The guard manning the counter raised an eyebrow when she finally put down her seventh and last knife.

Rule of knives. Always carry more than one.

Once they were sure she was clean the trio made their way into the prisoner block, ignoring the cries and wails of the incarcerated within. Some sobbed, others raged. Some made crude and vulgar gestures towards Saiko, promising things that could scar a regular person’s mind for weeks. She’d seen worse.

Along the way Saiko stopped at one cell in particular, Gyges and Briareos stiffening when she made her way closer to the glass. They said their first words to her when she knocked on it politely.

“Ma’am. Step away from the glass.” Briareos said.

“Miss Intelli, that isn’t advisable.” Gyges began moving closer, his brother backing him up. “You’re not cleared to interact with Prisoner #4501—”

Saiko ignored them. Oh, now they had a reason to speak to her. The thin man huddling in the corner of the cell looked up, eyes sunken and hollow as he stared at her.

“Hello, Moonfish.” Saiko said. “How are you feeling?”

Moonfish rose to his full height, towering above her when he got closer. Months ago he would have leapt across the cell, teeth scratching at the reinforced glass in an attempt to tear her to pieces. Now he looked much better, bearing a semblance of sanity.

“Hello.” Moonfish echoed. “I’m doing… okay. Very sleepy. Medicine… makes me slow. But think clearer.”

“That’s good to hear. Why are you still in a straitjacket?”

Moonfish looked down at his bindings and chains, then back up at Saiko.

“I asked for it. Can’t let him get out again.”

“I see. Farewell, then.” Saiko waved, then leaned in towards Gyges. “Up the dosage.”

The six-armed man simply nodded, saying nothing.

They finally reached their destination, another cell with a reinforced glass door instead of a metal one. These were for the less threatening villains the prison held, with the supermax at the very bottom of the facility holding the most dangerous individuals. The man she was here to see today was barely a blip on the radar, much less a footnote.

The Sludge Villain rumbled to life upon seeing visitors in front of him, surging against the glass like a living tidal wave of green. He snarled and howled incoherently, beating against the barrier like the barbarian he was. The moment he saw Saiko his grin grew dark, sickly yellow eyes sweeping over her body hungrily.

“You brought me fresh meat, warden? Come on, throw her in here! Lemme have a little fun!”

Saiko frowned. He wanted to behave like an animal? Then she would treat him like one. She held her hand out behind her and Gyges slipped a small remote onto her palm. There was only one button on it, and Saiko pressed down with a sense of satisfaction.

The cell lit up with blue light, the Sludge Villain letting out an agonizing screech of pain as an electric current tore through his semi-solid body. He cursed and swore, thumping against the glass with all his might.

“You goddamn little whore! When I get out of here, I’m going to—”

Saiko pressed the button once more.

“Aaarrggghhh, fuck! Gonna kill you! Gonna fill your lungs with sludge, burst out every one of your holes—”

She pressed the button again.

And again.

And again.

Soon the Sludge Villain was a smoking, whimpering pile on the ground, Saiko observing him carefully while sipping from her thermos. She did not reel back when he pounded the glass in one last futile attempt to scare her, merely dangling the remote in front of him to remind him of his place.

“W-wait. Don’t—”

Saiko smiled and hovered her finger over the button.

“Don’t! Stop, stop!” The Sludge Villain begged, defeated. “Okay, I’ll talk.”

“That’s more like it.” Saiko sat down on a chair Briareos had pulled out of nowhere, crossing one leg over the other. “Mr… Sludge, was it? Well, no matter. We have no need for names down here. I’m going to ask some questions, and you’re going to answer them. I promise I won’t shock you again if you answer honestly.”

The villain nodded, shrinking down to sit on the floor. Saiko pulled out a pen and notepad, scribbling on the pristine paper.

“Do you remember how you got caught? Tell me the details.”

“All Might.” The Sludge slurred. “I robbed a bank, and… All Might was chasing me. He caught me in the end.”

“Of course he did.” Saiko sipped her tea. “In his official report All Might made a note on how you were knocked unconscious by a civilian before he apprehended you. What did this civilian look like?”

“It was a… a girl. About your age.” the sludge’s eyes flickered across her petite form again. “Bright green hair with yellow highlights. Clover symbols on her cheeks, like the playing cards. Dressed in this weird, cutesy outfit. Like one of them cosplayers.”

“Interesting.” Saiko said, taking down a few more notes. “How did it happen?”

“I was trying to take a hostage when she appeared out of nowhere. I nearly had him!” the Sludge Villain complained. “There was this bright flash of light and she was there, ready to hit me. The light burned, and when she punched me it felt like the world was exploding. Just… poof. Gone. I didn’t even see it coming.”

Saiko paused, raising an eyebrow. Her pen cut bold lines into the paper as she underlined a few key words.

Hostage. Light. Girl. Clover. Outfit.

“This hostage you mentioned. What did he look like?” 

“Uhh… Dark green hair, standard black gakuran uniform.” Sickly yellow eyes narrowed in concentration. “Plain-looking kid. I think he had freckles.”

“You think ?” Saiko said dangerously.

“Okay, he definitely had them!” the Sludge Villain reiterated. “Green hair, freckles, plain looking. That’s all I can remember, I swear!”

“I see. That narrows it down, doesn’t it boys?” Saiko smiled.

Gyges and Briareos said nothing, shifting uneasily behind her.

“Tough crowd.” the pale girl shrugged and reached into her pocket, pulling out two photos. “One last thing. Do you recognize these two individuals?”

She put the photos against the glass. They contained two nondescript individuals, a short raven-haired woman in her late twenties and a thin, bald young man. 

“Should I?”

“Think hard.” Saiko warned. “You’d better.”

“Nah, I don’t recognize them.” The Sludge Villain leaned back smugly, liquid lips peeled back into a leer. “Can’t help you there, girlie. You’re gonna have to find these two nobodies by yourself.”

“They weren’t nobodies.” Saiko raised her thermos, gulping down the last of her tea. “This is Kawashima Takashi, age 33. Recovering cancer patient.”

She tapped on the bald man in the photo, and the Sludge Villain’s smile slipped off his face. A hint of recognition flashed within his eyes. 

“Hey, wait…”

“This is Okawa Kiyomi, age 27.” Saiko pointed at the woman in the other photo, letting her finger trail down the image until it rested on the woman’s belly. “And Okawa Satoshi, age 0.”

She let the truth sink in, watching the Sludge Villain’s eyes widen in horror.

“When you robbed that bank, you tried to take over two people in your escape before you found your third target under that bridge. Two of them, whose bodies were too weak to host you. One of them had been undergoing chemotherapy. The other was pregnant.” Saiko’s voice was cold enough to freeze helium. “You murdered three innocent people that day.”

“I… I didn’t know…” the villain gasped, his sludge form trembling. “I didn’t mean to—”

“But you did. I don’t have the right to enact justice on you here and now…” Saiko snapped her fingers at the camera. “But I can do this .”

Gyges and Briareos seemed surprised when a guard entered the corridor with a cart, not knowing she arranged it beforehand. The guard stopped in front of the Sludge Villain’s cell, his face set in grim fury and disgust. Saiko placed her empty thermos in front of the glass, drawing attention to it.

“When All Might brought you in, he did so with you stuffed into two soda bottles. Interesting how you can fit in such a small space.” Saiko tapped on her thermos. “I hereby revoke your right to stay in this cell. Instead, you’ll be staying in a canister around the size of this thermos until your trial. No light, no sound, nothing. You’ll be all alone with your thoughts for the next few months. Reflect on that.”

“No! You can’t fucking do this!” The Sludge Villain shrieked, panicking. “I have rights! Y-you promised!”

“I promised I wouldn’t shock you again, and I didn’t.” Saiko wasn’t smiling anymore. Beside her the machine on the cart was powering on, a vacuum that would suck up the villain and force him into space no human should ever fit in. “Rights? This is Tartarus.”

The Sludge Villain banged against the glass with his shoulder, yelling desperately and cursing at all of them. Saiko picked up her thermos and turned away, having gotten all she needed from the criminal.

“Put him in the bottle.” she commanded, and began her exit out of hell.

The hallway was filled with the Sludge Villain’s screams as the machine began to pull him into it like water draining from a bathtub. He cried, sobbed and howled as it took more and more of him into itself.

Then there was silence, followed by the squeak of cart wheels on clean tiles that echoed in the dark.

[x]

Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi was glancing at the bottom of his coffee cup. 

The coffee machine was broken. Again. Evidenced by the grumbling of his fellow officers as they gathered around for the briefing he was hosting. 

“Alright, settle down.” Tsukauchi cleared his throat, quieting the small crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen. Anybody have any questions before we begin?”

His cat-headed colleague, Tamakawa Sansa, raised his hand. 

“Anybody have any questions not related to when the coffee machine will get fixed?”

Sansa put his hand down.

“Okay. Let’s get down to brass tacks.” Tsukauchi thumbed a remote while simultaneously pushing a box of donuts across the table. “Everyone take a donut, thanks for your hard work last week.”

A dozen hands reached for the box, and a murmur of contentment rippled across the room. It was for morale, Tsukauchi reasoned. Yeah. Morale.

“Back on topic. The recent cases involving Anomalous Entities, or ‘Entities’ for short, have no known pattern attached to them. These Entities were at first thought to be related to the ‘Spontaneous Villain’ incidents that took place in Naruhata a few years back, but our informants and deep-cover operatives in the underground tell us that the flow of the drug known as ‘Trigger’ is still as per normal.” Tsukauchi continued, his laser pointer circling the image of a map projected on the screen. “We’re expanding the scope of our investigation. The incidents seem to be escalating based on the number of individuals involved and the frequency of occurrence, so the Hero Association has deemed it necessary to attach a pro-hero to help out. Everyone, you’ve already met Aizawa-san, aka Eraserhead. He’ll act as a liaison.”

Multiple heads turned towards what looked like a homeless man sleeping in the corner. Only the way his tired eyes peeked through his messy shoulder-length hair indicated that he was awake.

“As you guys already know, Eraserhead's Quirk allows him to neutralize any and all Quirks he looks at. He’s coming along so we can hopefully stop these Entities before they can start rampaging.” Tsukauchi continued. “No one even knows that these things are. But what we do know is that these creatures will not attack as long as they are not provoked.”

One of the officers raised his hand, and Tsukauchi motioned for him to continue.

“If we know that, why hasn't the Hero Association told their boys to not hit them?”

Tsukauchi hesitated. 

“Protocol dictates that we treat these Entities as villains in order to find a way to neutralize them as quickly as possible. Any damage caused is considered collateral." Aizawa answered for him, every head in the room turning to his corner. "I don't like it either, but the Association has ordered all heroes to respond with appropriate force if and when we encounter any one of these creatures. In other words, they're throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks."

A ripple of murmurs circulated the room. The underlying implication was there, plain to see for anyone who was even remotely aware of these incidents. The Hero Association couldn't find a way to deal with these things, and were more concerned about their reputation than actually solving the problem at hand. The two unlicensed vigilantes succeeding where they failed only made things worse, bruising the pride and egos of the people at the top. Tsukauchi sympathized with his sleepy-eyed friend, but there was nothing either of them could do. It was simply above their pay grade.

"Moving on." Tsukauchi coughed. "Conventional weapons and tactics appear to be near useless against these creatures. Though we've proven they can be harmed by powerful Quirks as seen in yesterday's briefing, there's only two individuals that have been able to combat them effectively."

He clicked on his remote, and a video of two girls standing side by side appeared on the main screen. The pair curtsied to the cheering crowd while two defeated Entities faded away into particles behind them.

"This is the last few seconds of the first high-quality video of the two of them working together. You can find the rest online." Tsukauchi said. "I'm sure there's no need for any introduction to Japan's newest vigilantes; Magical Girls Miracle and Mustard."

More murmurs swept through the room. For most of them it was the first time actually seeing the two vigilantes' faces up close, many having dismissed news of the pair as a joke or novelty at first. That soon changed when the girls proved they could hold their ground against the Entities, their power easily equivalent to at least a pro hero in the top 100.

"Shit." an officer said. "They're so young."

"Fuckin' hell… look at this one." Another man breathed, glancing over Miracle's childish smile with worry. "She's just a kid. No older than my son."

"They've got to be what, fifteen, sixteen?" someone asked.

"Try fourteen." One of the female officers spoke up. "My daughter's that age, and she's around their size and height."

"We've got to stop them before they hurt themselves or worse, someone else." A senior officer said. "Any leads?"

"Facial recognition is spotty at best. No known matches in our database or in any of the juvenile detention centers." Tsukauchi listed. "We're working on getting the records from the various Middle Schools in the areas which these two have appeared in, but we've still got zero leads so far. It's like they're ghosts in the system."

The detective took a moment to catch his breath, his gaze traversing the room. 

"Whoever these girls are, they've shown themselves to be capable of dealing with the Entities. Some of the higher-ups suspect they might even be related to the creatures somehow. That's why the Commissioner General has authorized the use of live munitions in order to capture these two for interrogation—"

A wave of protest erupted around the table.

"—capture by any means necessary. I know, I know. Look, I don't want to enforce it either." Tsukauchi sweated. "But the chief is ready to eat my ass if we don't comply. If it's not me giving the order, it's gonna be someone else. Best we can do is use tranq and suppressor rounds instead."

He pulled one out of his pocket and held it up for them to see. The bullet seemed to gleam with malice, its razor sharp needle tip glinting under the light.

"Titanium tipped, with a Quirk suppressant payload. Subsonic, non-lethal." Tsukauchi told them. "Every one of you will receive a box of twenty each."

"No." Sansa said, standing.

The room quieted when the two officers' gazes met, a pregnant silence filling the air. Tsukauchi's tone was cold and even, every word that left his lips measured with restrained frustration.

"What do you mean, 'no'?"

"It doesn't matter if they're non-lethal rounds or not." Sansa clarified, his catlike eyes narrowed to slits. "I ain't shooting no kids."

"Those kids have enough power to collapse buildings with their bare hands. You saw how the green one caught a truck as if it was a pillow." Tsukauchi tried, exasperated. "The purple one shoots plasma from her hands, for goodness sake. The heroes have proven that the two of them can take it—"

"That's the thing, boss. I'm no hero, I'm just a cop." Sansa said. "And if being a so-called hero means firing on children, you can count me out. I didn't sign up for this shit."

"Hey, watch your mouth. Who the hell do you think you are?!" A senior officer demanded. "You'd better follow that order, or you're out of a job. Insubordination is a serious charge, boy."

"No, he's right." Another officer defended Sansa. "We're supposed to protect civilians, and now the top brass is telling us we're free to go weapons hot on a buncha kids?"

"That's not what they meant and you know it—"

"How's that boot polish taste on your tongue?"

Then the arguing began, the entire room bursting with an explosion of noise as everyone tried to speak at the same time. It took a moment or two for everything to calm down but not before a few choice swears and accusations were let loose with only their discipline preventing fists from flying. The group decided to take a collective five-minute break before continuing the briefing.

Tsukauchi groaned and sat down next to Aizawa, content to let them simmer down. His colleagues usually weren't this unruly, but everyone was on edge lately. Tensions were running high ever since the Hero Asscociation kept blaming the Police for their own incompetence, despite knowing full well that the officers weren't trained or equipped to deal with the strange creatures. 

The Association made the cops their scapegoat when the complaints started rolling in, not giving a damn about the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to stall the Entities while their own Heroes sometimes even refused to intervene; claiming that their Quirks 'weren't suited for the situation'. It was absolute chaos, with Tsukauchi caught right in the center of it all.

"Sometimes I really hate this shit." The veteran detective growled, massaging his temples.

"Me too." Aizawa said quietly, his tired eyes still focused on the screen.

Magical Girl Miracle smiled back at him. From the footage he'd seen she really wasn't faking that innocent demeanor. She seemed like such a sweet girl, so how did someone like her get involved in this mess?

Aizawa brought his hands together under his chin, thinking. They'd get to the bottom of this eventually, but first they needed to find out who these 'Magical Girls' really were. Two girls in middle school… he'd better start looking, then.

The underground hero continued to stare at Miracle's picture, burning her face into his memory. Aizawa exhaled, muttering three words under his breath.

"Who are you?"

[x]

Midoriya Inko stared at the girl sitting across from the dinner table, not quite sure what to make of the entire situation.

She’d come home to find a complete stranger in her house, making dinner. As if that wasn’t weird enough, the stranger was wearing her son’s clothes. Inko’s eyes narrowed, scouring over the girl’s face and finding a pair of frightened yellow eyes that matched her gaze for a moment before quickly looking back down again. The small girl squirmed uncomfortably, her hands clenched and trembling atop her lap.

“Now that we’ve all calmed down, let’s try this again.” Inko sighed, placing her palms onto the table. “Who are you, and what are you doing in my house?”

The blonde flinched, shrinking into herself.

“I-I’m… um, I’m M-Mi…” she said in an awfully small voice.

Inko leaned in a little closer. This girl looked like she couldn’t have hurt a fly.

“I’m Mikumo Akatani!” the blonde girl said timidly, eyes flickering upwards to meet Inko’s again. “Um, I’m a f-f-friend of your son M-Midoriya-kun. He, um, let me in. N-nice to meet you.”

“Of course he did.” Inko sighed, leaning back with hidden relief. Not a thief, then. “Care to explain why you’re cooking?”

“I-I was hungry.” Mikumo mumbled. “Um, I-I made some for you too…”

Inko sniffed the air. The fragrant scent of Katsudon lingered in the air, still warm and delicious. A second, stronger fragrance was there too, the older woman blinking when she recognized it. Beef stew, her favorite. This girl knew what she liked? Izuku made it from time to time, but usually it’d be cold by the time she got back from work. 

She stood and made her way over to the stovetop, raising the lid of a pot and looking within. The stew smelled amazing, and when she sampled it… Not bad. Not bad at all.

“This is exactly the way Izuku makes it.” Inko said quietly, looking back at the blonde. “Did he teach you?”

Mikumo looked confused for a moment before nodding rapidly, lips arranged in a tiny, wobbly smile. Inko didn’t react outwardly, but a strange sense of nostalgia thrummed within her. Hmmm. A girl who was wearing her son’s clothes, who knew how to cook his mother’s favorite meal…

"Hmm. Let me ask you a few questions. What's Izuku's favorite food?" Inko tested her.

"Katsudon."

"His favorite hero?"

"That's easy. It's All Might."

"His Quirk?"

"He doesn't have one." Mikumo answered without a moment's hesitation. "U-um, it makes no difference to me."

Inko smiled to herself, satisfied. Mikumo knew her son well, could cook, and didn't care that her baby boy was Quirkless. Most people shunned the Quirkless and treated them like second-class citizens, but this girl…

She would be a great daughter-in-law.

“Are you Izuku’s girlfriend?” Inko asked, hoping she'd say yes.

Mikumo blinked. Then she choked on empty air, blushing furiously as her cheeks reddened. 

“No! N-no, I mean—! We’re just f-friends, I swear!” she exclaimed, pupils turning to dizzying spirals. “He, I, Um, we’re not—”

The girl continued the sputter unintelligibly and Inko couldn’t help the small smile that crept across her face. She was so adorable! Even her muttering was exactly like Izuku’s. 

Well, I suppose she can tell me when she’s ready.

“Okay, I get it.” Inko laughed. “Friends it is, then. To be honest, I’m glad he actually has a friend he can count on. He hasn’t had any of those in ages—ah, forget I said that, Mi-chan. Can I call you that?”

Mikumo winced, looking awkward. “Sure?”

“Right. So the two of you are close enough to the point where you can wear his clothes?”

“U-um. It’s a long story…”

“We have all night, sweetheart.” Inko grinned. “At least till Izuku comes home, then ohhh boy. Do I have questions for him.”

“Oh, he won’t be back that early.” Mikumo straightened, fiddling with her fingers nervously. “Y-you know how he’s been doing lots of training recently, right? He just went for a night run so he’ll probably be back sometime after midnight. You should just go to sleep first instead of waiting.”

“Did he, now?” Inko’s eyes narrowed.

“Y-yeah, he totally did.” Mikumo stammered. “I… He told me you would only be back after midnight too, so, um, I was planning to leave after I made dinner for you two.”

Something fishy was going on here, but Inko couldn’t quite put her finger on it. This girl seemed so familiar, from the way she spoke to her mannerisms. If Inko had a daughter she imagined it would be someone like Mikumo, a bundle of nerves and sunshine just like her Izuku.

“So he told you that too? I see you’ve made yourself comfortable.” Inko said. “But here’s the thing, Mikumo-chan. Why are you here, specifically? Give me the short version.”

“Um… There’s trouble at my home and I don't have anywhere else to go.” Mikumo admitted, looking ashamed of herself. “Midoriya-kun told me I could stay here from time to time until things were sorted out, so I brought my stuff, and um, myself.”

Inko closed her eyes, lips pursed in thought. Of course he would do that. Her son had a good heart, and would always offer help to those in need. Then the reality of the situation came crashing down. 

Oh my god, my son brought a homeless girl home.

“I’m not actually homeless…” Mikumo said timidly, Inko not even realizing she’d said her thoughts out loud. 

The woman stood, beginning to walk around the rectangular table. Poor Mikumo started panicking, hands held up in surrender while tiny tears beaded at her eyes.

“I-I’ll only be here from time to time, I swear! Please, I won’t trouble you—”

Her words were cut short when Inko engulfed her in a warm hug, holding her tight. Mikumo seemed to turn into a block of solid ice, freezing where she sat until Inko started patting her on the back.

“It’s okay.” she whispered, her tone soft and motherly. “Sweetheart, you can stay here as long as you need to. You’re gonna be okay.”

Mikumo hugged her back, trembling a little. The girl seemed so afraid of her, shying away when Inko finally let go. 

“Oh, you must be hungry. Come, let’s have dinner!” Inko straightened, going into housewife-mode. “We can talk while we eat. I’d love to hear about how you and Izuku met…”

Mikumo seemed to wilt like a dying flower.

[x]

“So let me get this straight.” Matsuda leaned back to dodge a mean left hook. “You are now your own girlfriend.”

“No, she thought I was my girlfriend!” Izuku explained, ducking low to avoid the high kick that scythed above her head. “I managed to make her think that ‘Mikumo’ was just a friend.”

"'Mikumo Akatani?'" Matsuda grinned. "Boyish name. Sounds cute."

"Thanks. I came up with it on the fly." Izuku said shyly.

“How did she even catch you? Like hell I’d be caught in my female form at home. Always took a shower at a nearby swimming complex and transformed afterwards.”

“I should have done that… B-but won’t there be girls there when you shower?”

“Dude, we’re girls.”

“Oh, right.”

Izuku and Matsuda continued talking while sparring in their civilian forms, the two Magical Girls training since the past few days had been rather uneventful aside from a few petty crimes they stopped. No Angels, either. Now that it’d been cleared of trash Dagobah Beach became the perfect training ground, its pristine sands and beautiful morning sunrise view making for a great motivational backdrop.

“I mean, it’s not like I spy on them or anything.” Matsuda shrugged, closing in with her guard up. “Besides, I can’t do anything since I don’t have a—”

“Yes, okay, you don’t have to remind me!” Izuku sputtered, going into her own guard stance as well. “Back on topic. So I told her I was just a friend who needed some place to stay from time to time, and it worked!”

The two girls circled, testing each other's defenses with light jabs and kicks. What was considered to be 50% strength for them could still easily shatter concrete and bones alike. Luckily for them, the impacts at that level hardly hurt thanks to their enhanced durability. They were already strong in their civilian forms, and the Magical Girl forms and costumes only boosted their strength even further. For lack of a better term, they were overpowered.

“Pffft. You keep believing that, man.” Matsuda chuckled. “So what happened next?”

“I waited for her to fall asleep before I flew out of the house and transformed.” Izuku said. “We had a talk the next day.”

“Was it about the birds and the bees?”

“No! No, it wasn’t. She was just checking if my story matched Mikumo-chan's. She told me to take good care of her. It was so embarrassing… thinking about is just, gyyaaa! She asked me if I was into blondes and I said yes in the heat of the moment…”

One-two. Low kick. Backspin elbow.

The two girls exchanged glancing blows, performing acrobatic dodges while striking and weaving. Matsuda got the upper hand for a moment when she landed a painful calf kick, but Izuku recovered and shoulder-checked her. She worked with the momentum and wrapped her lithe legs around the fallen girl’s, trapping her in a figure four leg lock.

“Shit. Okay, lemme figure out how to get out of this one…” Matsuda winced.

“You can do it.” Izuku offered, holding constant and even pressure. “There we go, there we go!”

Matsuda twisted her core and rolled, forcing Izuku to do so as well. That was enough for her to loosen her grip, and the brunette escaped the hold and jumped back to her feet almost instantly. They were learning from each other, adjusting to each other’s punches and kicks, elbows and knees. The fun part was how they both had two bodies that shared one mind, so anything they observed in their male forms could be quickly learnt and adapted when they swapped to their female bodies. Whenever they weren’t busy the two of them made an effort to watch all sorts of combat-related videos, from pro MMA fighters in the octagon to pro Heroes fighting villains on the street. The former was more applicable than the latter heavily relied on their Quirks.

“What was the story you gave?”

“Well, um, I lied through my teeth.” Izuku admitted guiltily. “I lied to my mom… but it was a white lie. I just told her that ‘Mikumo Akatani’ and ‘Midoriya Izuku’ helped each other with homework, and a friendship was formed just like that. Is that how people make friends?”

“Don’t look at me, man.” Matsuda said. “Hell if I know.”

Izuku dodged an incoming fist, but it was a feint as Matsuda dropped low into a tackle and sent them both into the sand. The brunette straddled her, taking a mounted position while Izuku brought her arms up to guard her face. 

“That’s it, arms up, keep your arms up!” Matsuda warned, pummeling against her guard. “Don’t let me trap you there!”

The blonde bucked her hips and threw her opponent over her, the two of them jumping back to their feet and circling like a pair of tigers. 

“Peek-a-boo or Philly-shell?” Izuku mused, shifting her arms. “Which is better?”

“Philly-shell for me. I can’t see shit when I use Peek-a-boo.” Matsuda took on the aforementioned stance. “Either way our arms aren’t big enough, so maybe just dodging is better.”

“Good point.” Izuku said. “Okay, then I’ll try Peek-a-boo.”

They exchanged a few more blows, Izuku parrying and letting a body shot glance off her defense. She never knew how good it felt to exercise, to have her heart pumping while the adrenaline lit a fire within. She definitely needed to try it as boy-Izuku.

Red sneakers blurred with movement, throwing up sand with rapid steps. Matsuda forced her to defend by stepping in low and close, then broke her guard with a powerful uppercut. Slim arms tightened around Izuku’s neck when she circled around in an instant, trapping her in a rear naked choke. Something soft pressed against her back, causing the blonde to blush.

“Heh heh heh. How you gon’ get outta this one, big boy—whoa!”

Izuku’s only response was to reach down and grab the back of the other girl’s knee, throwing her upwards with a surge of superstrength. Matsuda pinwheeled into the air and made a complete rotation before crashing back down again, right on her back.

“Ow.” the brunette complained.

“Should have lifted me off the ground.” Izuku extended her hand.

Matsuda took it, getting back up again with her help. 

“Alright, time out.” she sighed, making a ‘T’ with her hands. “Take five.”

The two of them took a break, sitting down on the edge of the main path parallel to the beach. They simply admired the sunset while cooling down, wiping the sweat from their brows while sipping at bottled water. Izuku wasn’t too sure about the training bra she had on at first, but apparently it did its job. 

A few boys their age gave them lingering looks as they walked by the pair. Izuku blinked, wondering what that was about. She wasn’t wearing anything cute, just a regular dry-fit t-shirt and PT shorts. For a moment she wondered if the sweat was making her look weird before shrugging to herself, deciding she didn’t really care.

“Dude, check this out.” Matsuda leaned in closer, showing Izuku her phone. “Do you use Qwoter?”

“Not really, why?”

“We’re trending again. See that?” she scrolled a little, Izuku looking confused at the memes some users had made of them. “You have no idea how popular we are! Man, if only we actually got paid like heroes.”

“I just wanted to help people, like All Might.” Izuku mumbled. “I don’t think the Hero Ranking system should be based on popularity…”

“That’s just how it is. But being popular has its own perks. We got fanart, fan videos, but most importantly, this.” Matsuda pointed to one tag in particular. “Hashtag MMAngel. People online have figured out we’re good at fighting Angels, so they devised this method to inform us of when one appears.”

“They’re calling them ‘Angels’ too?” Izuku squinted at the screen. “Not that I’m complaining. As long as it works.”

“Technically the government is calling them ‘Anomalous Entities’, people just started associating the abbreviation ‘A.E’ with the word ‘Angel’.”

“Huh. So how does this… taggy thingy work?”

“It’s supposed to trend when an Angel appears. I’ve set my phone to notify me when it does—”

Matsuda’s phone started lighting up with notifications the moment the words left her mouth, causing the two girls to blink in surprise.

“Like that?” Izuku asked quietly.

“Shit.” Matsuda groaned. “Back to work, then.”

[x]

Miracle and Mustard touched down in Korusan City, the two Magical Girls looking up at the site of the Angel’s assault. Izuku wondered why nothing happened for the past few days, trying to find a pattern behind the Angels. This time the entity took up residence between two office buildings downtown, a massive silken structure hanging between them. The Heroes were already attacking it, large segments of the pristine white chrysalis blackened with scorch marks.

“Oh no…” Matsuda groaned, staring at it with visible dread. “Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

Two gargantuan, insectoid legs peeked out of the cocoon, another two wrapped around a bus full of people. The passengers within screamed for help, begging to be freed as the Angel finally showed itself.

“It’s a spider.” Izuku said in disbelief, watching its eight-eyed head peer around at the surrounding heroes before darting back into the nest. “A really, really big spider.”

That was a bit of an understatement. This Angel was the biggest one they’ve encountered so far, a creature the size of a large ferry. Most of its body was hidden by the gigantic cocoon-like nest it spun around itself, but from what they could see it resembled a tarantula, its hairy legs covered in white fur. The same legs curled around the bus tighter, dragging the vehicle deeper into the nest while its occupants screamed again.

Both Magical Girls charged in, prioritizing the hostages. They surged past the reluctant heroes, diving right into the midst of the creature’s den.

To their surprise they found it cowering in the corner, two of its front legs raised in a threat display while it pressed itself against the far wall with the bus still in its grip. Its crimson eyes met the girls', the singular horn protruding from its forehead starting to glow with an eerie golden light.

“What’s it doing?” Mustard exclaimed, raising a fist coated with plasma. “Don’t you hurt them, you eight-legged freak!”

“Wait!” Miracle held up a hand, inching closer. “Wait.”

The emerald Magical Girl started edging forward, keeping her movements slow while raising her hands. Matsuda looked skeptical but didn’t open fire, trusting her battle-buddy to know what she was doing.

Trapped hostages begged for her to save them but Izuku simply nodded and held a finger to her lips, motioning for them to calm down. Thankfully, they did. The Spider Angel’s horn stopped glowing, all eight of its orblike eyes focusing on her. Izuku could see it trembling.

“It’s afraid.” Izuku realized, her voice echoing across the chamber. “It’s afraid!”

Matsuda put her hands down, the plasma dissipating from her palms to show that she meant no harm. She started to get closer as well, and when they were right in front of the Angel it seemed to shrink back into a defensive position, worried that they might hurt it.

“I understand now.” Izuku whispered, eyeing the scorch marks that peppered the arachnid’s body. “You only took those hostages so they would stop attacking you, right?”

The Spider Angel said nothing but rubbed its pedipalps back and forth rapidly, stridulating and warning them not to come any closer. Its urticating setae were hairy spikes, ready to be launched at them like a hail of arrows. Yet the creature didn’t attack, backing away in fear. It was more afraid of the heroes than they were of it.

Miracle took a step forward and the Angel raised its body, showing her a pair of ebony fangs the size of utility poles. The message was clear.

“What are you doing?!” Matsuda hissed.

“Trust me. It’s okay, big guy. Um, big girl?” Izuku tried. “I’m gonna need you to let those people go, okay? You’re scaring them and everyone outside.”

Eight crimson eyes looked between the two Magical Girls, then at the bus below it. Izuku now knew that it could understand her.

“Please, let them go.” Izuku told the Angel. “If you do, we’ll get them to safety and try to talk the heroes outside into not shooting at you. Can you do that for me?”

The Angel seemed to consider it for a moment. Nine whole heartbeats of silence passed, Izuku finally exhaling with relief when it gently pushed the bus towards them. Beside her Matsuda let out a breath as well, relaxing slightly now that innocent lives weren’t in danger.

“Thank you. Now, let’s—”

An ominous rumbling shook the nest like a baby’s rattle, followed by the acrid scent of burning silk. The Spider began quaking with fear, looking upwards with dread. Miracle and Mustard followed its gaze, up to a point in the ceiling where the structure was starting to smolder.

Angry orange flames burst through the webbing like a chainsaw, a burning man leaping through one of the many breaches he created. His face was aflame with the power of his Quirk, a roaring conflagration already building up in his hands. Izuku recognized him in an instant, the hero’s signature flames causing the surrounding temperature to skyrocket.

Number Two Hero, Endeavor.

“There you are, bug.” Endeavor growled, preparing to attack. “Time to exterminate you.”

There was no doubt. This was the man the Angel was so afraid of, who’d attacked it earlier. Izuku marched forward in an attempt to stop the confrontation, stepping between the paths of the two.

“Endeavor-san, wait! It’s just afraid—”

“Out of my way, girl.” Endeavor barely even looked at her. “I’ll deal with you later.”

His hand burned white-hot and shot forward. A river of fire burst from the man’s palm like a raging torrent, ready to roast the Angel where it stood. The giant creature began to panic, climbing around the walls of its nest with surprising speed and agility that belied its size.

“Wait!” Matsuda leapt forward, but stumbled a moment later when something struck her on the left shoulder. “Ah, fuck! What the hell?”

The crack of a rifle’s report echoed only half a second later. 

She reached up to the puffy sleeve of her dress and pulled something off, throwing it to the ground. A bullet with a metal tip. Izuku’s eyes widened, and she turned towards the direction of the shot—

Her hands came up just in time to catch the bullet before it hit her face. The sniper rifle’s booming report reached her ears once more and she dropped the projectile in disbelief.

They’re shooting at us.  

“Goddamn it!” Matsuda spat, wrenching her hand upwards. A wave of plasma cut down the webbing above, giving them some cover.

Endeavor didn’t stop. Dazzling flames leapt from his arms and set the structure ablaze, with everyone still within. The passengers trapped in the bus kept screaming, terrified from the battle. The Spider Angel’s horn kept glowing, flickering, as if it was hesitating to use its Quirk.

What?

The Flame Hero had no such qualms. Endeavor was a living flamethrower, sending fire everywhere and destroying the foundations of the nest. Countless heat rays lanced from his fingertips but the Angel leapt from wall to wall to avoid them, possessing the traits of a jumping spider. A scattershot of spiked quills filled the air and sped towards Endeavor when the creature flicked its hind legs, the flame hero defending by manifesting a curtain of heat that disintegrated most of them mid-air.

The hostages weren’t so lucky, defenseless when the remaining quills hurtled at them. Matsuda quickly flung her hands outward and created a wall of plasma. Izuku brought her hands together in a thunderclap that created a shockwave. Together, their combined efforts stopped the bus and its occupants from being turned into pincushions.

“Whoa, the ground—” Mustard yelped. “Fuck!”

Silk crumbled beneath them, the foundations weakened by Endeavor’s razing of the nest. The bus entered freefall as the ground fell away into nothingness, both Magical Girls speeding downwards and catching the multi-ton vehicle together. The both of them managed to get the hostages back to solid ground safely after a few seconds of controlled flight, then headed back up to stop the fight.

“Endeavor-san, please stop!” Miracle begged, both her and Mustard stepping into the path of his attack. To his credit, he did stop. “It’ll only attack you if you hurt it!”

“I know.”

“T-then why?”

“Because it is a monster. An abomination.” Endeavor’s steely glare looked right past her and at the Angel. “It’s a hero’s job to destroy monsters.”

Heat rose from the man’s shoulders, distorting the air around him. He was charging up… Izuku recognized the attack pattern, her eyes widening with horror at what he was going to do next. Matsuda snarled, not knowing what was coming and preparing an attack of her own.

“You wanna go, old man?” the purple Magical Girl scowled, plasma roiling off her form. “Bring it on, I can take it!”

“Down!” Izuku yelled, pulling her comrade away before she took the attack head on.

She wasn’t about to risk either of their lives. Even if they could take it, Izuku didn’t know if the sheer heat of Endeavor’s signature finishing move would boil their brains in their skulls. She’d made plenty of notes on him, after all. This was an attack he only used when he got serious… When he wanted to completely and utterly annihilate whatever was in front of him.

“Prominence Burn!” Endeavor roared.

The flames reduced the cocoon into ash and cinders, trapping the Spider Angel within a horizontal pillar of pure energy. It shook with overwhelming pain, burned alive while the windows of the two buildings it made its nest on cracked and shattered from the sheer heat. Izuku could only watch while it twitched and shuddered in agony, and she imagined it would be screaming if it had vocal cords. 

Then it really did scream. 

Izuku clutched her head when a spike of agony struck her brain like a sledgehammer pounding a nail, the Angel sending a psychic distress call out into the world. It was a wail of pitch-black despair, a deafening cacophony of pain that caused her knees to buckle. Four simple words.

It faded as soon as it began, the mental scream fading into nothing. Izuku blinked the stars out of her eyes, gasping for air. Loud choking and coughing from beside her indicated that Matsuda had experienced the very same thing, the horrified look on her face telling Izuku that they’d made the same conclusion.

The Spider Angel was defeated, collapsing into multicolored particles. But that scream, long and painful… it had been with the voice of a child.

Was the creature just a child?

Miracle and Mustard drifted back onto solid ground, dazed and confused. The grateful hostages from earlier cheered from afar while the heroes surrounded the two girls, demanding their surrender. The same heroes who just waited outside the nest, now swooping in to take credit for resolving the situation. The words went unheard, flowing past their ears.

Both of them exchanged a glance before they shot into the air, right past Endeavor who sent a fireball their way. They ignored the attack, ascending higher and higher. Izuku looked back at the scene of the carnage, focusing on where the Spider Angel had been. Now there was nothing left of it or its nest save for ash and dust.

There was nothing left here for either of them.

Why? Izuku questioned. They were so close to getting the Angel to calm down. They’d even successfully convinced it to let its hostages go. Why had things turned out this way?

Because this is the way heroes truly are , a dark part of herself whispered. All they’ve ever cared about was themselves.  

Tears of denial started to bead at her eyes. That wasn’t true. Heroes were supposed to be the pinnacle of justice, paragons of superpowered society. Heroes were… they were…

Izuku and Matsuda flew through the city, zooming past billboards and neon signs that displayed images and advertisements starring so many beloved heroes.

These people were superstars, rock musicians, models, actors, celebrities. They were everything except the heroes they were supposed to be. What of Endeavor, then? Was he a hero? As the man holding the highest tally of resolved cases in history, he must be.

…right?

Izuku didn’t know anymore.

Deep down, maybe she didn’t want to know.

[Chapter 4 End]

Chapter Text

Miracle and Mustard were a pair of twinkling comets that landed in the shadows of Musutafu Park, far from prying eyes and ears. Both girls waited for a moment with their gazes to their skies, waiting for the thundering of helicopter rotors overhead. When none came they both breathed a sigh of relief, knowing they escaped their pursuers.

It was only when they knew they were safe did Izuku open her mouth.

“You okay?” she asked, taking a deep breath.

“Nah.” Matsuda was leaning against a tree, retching and looking nauseated. “Nah, I’m pretty fuckin’ far from okay. What the hell was that?”

“A misunderstanding.” Izuku grit her teeth, hands closed into tight fists. “Damn it!”

There was the sound of splintering wood when Izuku put her fist through the nearest tree, shredding it apart with a single punch. The girl looked surprised at her own moment of uncharacteristic anger, forcibly calming herself a moment later.

“I know that was our best chance to find out where these things are coming from…” Matsuda paced about, checking the spots where she’d gotten shot earlier. “But we can try again.”

Izuku considered her words, checking herself for wounds. A flattened bullet was pulled from the hem of her dress and she quickly crushed it underfoot, wary of any trackers or miniature homing beacons. It'd been a hectic battle. The Spider Angel from before that was just defeated by Endeavor was not only the biggest, but also the smartest one they’d encountered so far. It could understand them, and was listening to them…

And now it was gone.

Gone, but not dead. Izuku somehow got the feeling that none of the Angels they faced so far had actually been killed, even the Spider who got burned alive. For one, most of them looked unconscious when defeated by Miracle and Mustard. They simply disintegrated into colored particles; returned to whence they came, vanquished.

The blonde sighed and let her shoulders sag. All they could do was plan for the next attack and hope for the best. But for now, Izuku had to rest. She’d seen far too much today.

“Henshin.”

A loud bang resonated with a burst of light, and the Magical Girl was no more. In her place stood Izuku in his male form, his tired eyes gazing off into the horizon.

“Yo, the hell do you think you’re doing?” Matsuda asked, her eyebrows shooting into her hairline.

“I’m going home, Matsuda-san.” Izuku groaned. “I’m tired, and… and I don’t know what else to do.”

The two eyed each other for a second, but Matsuda refused to budge. There was a strange glint in her eye when she looked at Izuku, pinning him to the ground with her gaze. It only lasted for a moment before she sighed, nodding with understanding.

“Okay.” she began, running a hand through her hair. “Okay, I think we both need a break after that bullshit. The kind of ‘fuck this, I’m going home’ kind of break. Seeya tomorrow man, peace.”

Izuku’s eyes were glued to her back as she started to walk away, purple particles swirling around her. Her Magical Girl regalia faded away, the girl changing back into her civilian form.

“Aren’t you going to change back?” Izuku called after her.

Matsuda paused, stopping in her tracks. “What do you mean? I did change.”

“No, I mean…” Izuku gestured to himself. “You know.”

It took a moment for her to understand what he meant but the second it did her features scrunched up in disdain, as if the very thought of changing back to a male was offensive to her.

“Oh. That.” Matsuda placed her hands on her hips, tapping one foot nervously. “Y’see, that’s the difference between us, Midoriya-kun.”

Their eyes met for a split second before she looked away.

“I hate being me.”

The purple brunette didn’t spare another glance back and rocketed away before her friend could get another word in, tiny points of sparkling light marking her flight path into night sky. Matsuda flew higher and higher, all the way up into the lower stratosphere.

She let out a breath, watching it fog up before dissipating in the cold air. All this power, all this freedom. She didn’t understand how her friend Izuku could even let go of it without flinching. Every time she changed she felt as if her life was slipping through her fingers, and she would become powerless again.

He didn’t understand. For her, it was almost physically painful to turn back into a weak, effeminate boy. Why would she ever want to change back? Her female form was strong, powerful, and beautiful. The Magical Girl Quirk combined with her Gas Quirk to create something unstoppable, twisting matter itself into its fourth, unstable state as a weapon for her to wield. Plasma ignited atop her fingertips, glowing purple in the dim moonlight. An esoteric energy that was said to have brought forth the birth of stars and galaxies.

Matsuda exhaled and the superheated gas escaped from her lips as well, the girl letting the anger flow through her. Midoriya didn’t understand. No one did. With this kind of power, they could do anything they wanted. Be anything they wanted. Yet he still insisted on fighting the Angels, and what had they gotten for their efforts? Nothing but trouble. The Heroes hated their guts, the cops shot at them, and they still had no answers as to who or what was behind the Angels.

It frustrated her. Why were they doing any of this crap anyway? Helping people? Society never helped her when she needed it, so why the hell was she working so hard to help them?

An old memory of a fist cutting across her cheek resurfaced before she quickly shook it away, snarling. No, that wasn’t her anymore. That wasn’t…

But it will be, a little voice in her head whispered. You’ll have to change back eventually.

Matsuda hissed. That soon turned into a full-on yell of frustration as she let the anger escape her body in the form of plasma. Five plumes of pure energy surged from each of her limbs and her throat, lighting up the night sky like a five-pointed star. The inferno only lasted a few seconds before she calmed down, huffing. 

She descended back down into the city after a minute of casual flight, eventually landing in an alleyway near her house. Now came the hard part.

“Henshin.” she spat out reluctantly.

The alley lit up with a flash of light and a bang. Matsuda Kenji walked out, head hung low. He was a small figure walking home in the dark, weak and unassuming. A boy no one would even give a second look if not for his girlish features.

But that was the part about himself he hated the most.

Matsuda trudged past a shophouse on his way home, spying his reflection in the windows. A tiny, thin frame paired with a feminine face stood in the glass. Those features must have been genetic because he couldn’t bulk up no matter how hard he trained or lifted, always remaining small and cute despite his efforts. This appearance was ideal for a girl, not a boy.

“Disgusting…” Matsuda muttered to himself.

He made it back to his dilapidated apartment, glancing up at it with some dread. It was late. That man should be asleep by now, or at least he hoped. The young boy gingerly tiptoed towards the front door, inserting and turning the key with utmost care.

Stepping in, he held his breath and looked around. A giant figure lay asleep on the couch, countless bottles and cans lying around it while the TV played a sitcom, the device one of the only sources of light in the dark living room.

Matsuda started tiptoeing away until he heard his name.

“Kenji. Where were you?”

Fuck.

“I was out, dad.” Matsuda answered curtly. “With a friend.”

“Didn’t know you had any.”

The young student said nothing but tried to continue down the hallway until the clanging of cans falling over filled his heart with dread. A loud clicking noise drew closer towards him in step with the rhythm of a heavy foot.

“Oi. Look at me when I’m fuckin' talking to you, boy.” his father said. 

Matsuda trembled but turned around anyway. Before him stood a massive man, more fat than muscle but seeming to be as tall as a tree. The rancid stench of alcohol on the man’s breath hit him like a wall of heat, nearly causing him to choke. Ugly, gnarled sausages for fingers grabbed his face and looked into his eyes.

“Despite your bitch-ass appearance you’re still a man, Kenji. Act like it. Look people in the eyes when you talk, understand?” 

“Y-yes.”

The slap came in hard and fast, ringing out in the dark apartment and leaving a red mark on Matsuda’s face. A laugh track played on the TV's sitcom. The boy didn’t cry out despite the pain and humiliation, knowing the punishment for doing so would be ten times worse than the blow itself.

“Yes what?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Matsuda’s father shoved him to the ground roughly. “Now go get me a beer.”

There was no choice but to do as he was told. Children had to obey their parents, after all. That was the lesson that’d been drilled in him over and over again since the day he could walk. Matsuda stared daggers into his father’s back, the click-click of the older man’s prosthetic peg leg echoing against the wooden floor.

Matsuda got the beer and handed it over just as quickly, doing as he was told. His father simply snatched it out of his small hands when he got close, already lazing back in his chair. The young boy eyed the artificial leg, traitorous little thoughts already rising to the surface of his mind.

Even if he targeted that weak spot first, his father still had his Quirk and was completely immune to his gas. It wouldn’t work.

“Fuck’ you standing around for, boy?” the man growled. “Dinner ain’t gonna cook itself.”

Matsuda said nothing, knowing it was better to keep his head down and mouth shut. He hated this. Living like this. Every moment he was Mustard was a moment away from this place. This wasn’t home. This was just somewhere he slept in.

“...No goddamn respect from kids nowadays. Do they even know who I am?” Matsuda’s father slurred drunkenly, bellowing at nothing. “I was a hero, goddammit! Someone in the top fucking 1000…”

The boy put on the kettle, turning up the heat. Bastard always repeated that fact as if it was something to be proud of, even though years had passed and he was near the bottom half of the ladder at number 995. It wasn’t a big achievement by any means, not even close. The man couldn’t even be called a veteran hero since he’d lost his leg soon after making it there.

Matsuda grit his teeth, wondering why he still served the old cripple like a slave. As Mustard, he could do it. Leave this hellhole once and for all.

Yet still he stayed.

The kettle continued to boil.

[x]

“—and so, the flow of electrons is determined by the potential source whose potential difference is greater…”

Izuku tuned out the teacher’s words, just like always. He’d already studied and mastered the lesson material in advance, so hearing it all a second time didn’t really do much to help. Instead of listening he spent his time sketching Angels in a section dedicated to them in his tattered notebook, the same one Bakugo blew up and threw out the window.

His pen danced across paper, drawing the mysterious beings he and Matsuda encountered from memory. Each one was unique their own way, but they had one thing in common in not wanting to hurt anyone on purpose.

The green-haired brunette frowned. The Angels clearly possessed some form of intelligence, but they weren’t human. If they were, any one of them could have communicated with them via human means like ‘hand’ signals by waving their limbs, or even writing on the ground. Instead, many of the Angels had the traits of animals and behaved like them too.

The Spider Angel from yesterday was no exception. Izuku had scrolled through his newly-installed Qwoter app earlier and managed to find some footage of it on the street before Endeavor attacked. It'd been behaving like a curious child then, poking at everything with its two front legs and not showing a single sign of distress. 

Though it could ‘speak’ at the very end, the Spider Angel behaved more like an animal than a person throughout the entire encounter yesterday. It made things all the more mysterious. These creatures were intelligent, had Quirks, and would simply fade away after being defeated. All signs pointed to them being some sort of simulacrum, like the creatures or minions that some Quirks could create.

Izuku dived deeper into his thoughts. There was a retired hero, Farcaster, who could create eyeball simulacrums to do his bidding. Did Angels work like that, then? Spawning from some undefined source? That theory went out the window when he considered that each Angel looked different from the last and had a completely different Quirk as well. Unless… Multiple individuals were involved?

“...and since you’ve been muttering so much, I suppose you know the answer Midoriya.” 

Izuku looked up as the snickering of his classmates caught his ears. The teacher was staring at him with the look of a man who didn’t get paid enough to care. A quick scan of the whiteboard followed by some mental calculations allowed Izuku to solve the problem.

“Um, point two-three electron volts.”

“Very good. Now, if you subtract from…”

Izuku tuned the world out again, but not before catching the tail end of a glare from Bakugo. Whatever the blonde’s problem was, Izuku didn’t particularly care.

It was then time for lunch, and Izuku ate all alone at the back of the classroom once again. As long as he kept his head down and mouth shut, no one bothered with him. He liked it that way.

"Hey, didja watch the news yesterday? The Magical Girls showed up again."

"I know, right? Ohmigod, they're so cuuuute!"

Izuku flinched, bowing his head lower. Some of his classmates were chattering about his alternate form, singing her praises with enthusiasm.

"—why did she call herself 'Mustard' anyway? Weird name for a girl." one boy asked.

"She said it during her debut." a girl chipped in. "'My name is Mustard, cuz if you get too close imma mess you up!' She's so spunky!"

"I prefer Miracle. She looks like the sweet and innocent type." Another boy sighed dreamily. "She's got such a lovely smile, it's no wonder so many guys want to be her boyfriend."

Izuku tried not to choke on his rice, turning red. What the hell? Were people really saying that about her? It felt weird, and not in a good way.

Then again, he could sort of see where they were coming from. His alternate self still made him blush when he thought of her, both Mikumo and Miracle being exactly his type. Izuku quickly shook his head and refocused on eavesdropping.

"It's weird that they haven't been caught yet, though." One of Izuku's classmates said. "Don't you think it's strange how they're one of the few people who can take down those monsters effectively? I mean—"

"Who the fuck cares about some dumb bitches in shitty dresses?!" Bakugo bellowed out of nowhere, causing everyone to flinch. "Shut the fuck up already!"

"A-ah, yes. Sorry, Bakugo-san…"

The classroom became much more subdued after the blonde's outbursts, everyone tiptoeing around Bakugo as if he was a live grenade waiting to go off. His reign over the class was backed with threats of violence and social ostracization, with Izuku being the prime example of what happened if you displeased him. Bakugo terrorized everyone with his presence alone, lording over everyone like a king.

Like a villain.

The classroom was a microcosm of society at large, where the strongest and most popular individuals ruled. Izuku was beginning to understand now. When an unexpected variable, say, a Magical Girl, was introduced into the equation… it threatened the power base of those at the top.

Izuku simply shrunk into himself even further for the rest of lunchtime. This was the way the world worked.

Whether it was bad luck or the homeroom teacher just not giving a damn, Izuku got assigned to cleaning duty once again, even though he’d already done it the day before. His assigned partner didn’t even bother talking to him before she immediately left after class with the rest of her friends, laughing and unburdened by her supposed duties. 

Well, she was never going to help Izuku in the first place. Nobody ever did.

The rest of the class started to shuffle out now that school was over, going about their business. Izuku was just getting up to get the broom when Bakugo walked past, purposely driving his shoulder into Izuku’s chest roughly.

“Watch where you’re going, Deku.” Bakugo scoffed.

“Hey, you’re the one who bumped into me…” Izuku mumbled.

That didn’t sit so well with the blonde. He whirled around with fury in his eyes, smoke already rising from his palms.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?”

Izuku’s hands closed into fists. 

Do it, a little voice told him. It’d be easy.

The scary thing was that it would be easy. Miracle’s fingers could slip through steel with ease and crush reinforced concrete like it was paper mache. He imagined wrapping those same fingers around Bakugo’s throat and squeezing. One squeeze, and he’d snap the other boy’s neck like a chicken’s. That’s all it’d take.

He quickly banished the thought, unfurling his hands and looking away. Bakugo clearly mistook his hesitation for submission, walking out the door and glancing back at the green-haired boy with triumph.

“That’s what I thought, bitch.” Bakugo smirked. “Fucking freak.”

The bully left soon after and Izuku was left alone with his thoughts. The urge to wrap his hands around Bakugo’s neck and choke the life out of him was still there, albeit muted. It was different. In the past he just fantasized fighting back. Now that he knew how easy it’d be to kill someone with his new Quirk…

Izuku’s arms trembled and he let them fall to his sides, focusing on cleaning duty instead. With power came responsibility. Misuse of power was a one-way ticket to villainy, so Izuku shoved those dark thoughts deep into the depths of his mind and locked them away.

Just like he always did.

Cleaning the classroom took longer than expected. By the time Izuku was done the sky had turned a deep orange. He made his way back and immediately changed into his PT outfit, preparing for a run.

Keys? Check. Earpods? Check. Hydration?

Izuku took several large gulps from his water bottle. Check. Now he was ready to head out—

“My, my. Have you been doing all that training to impress Mikumo-chan?”

The boy jolted, slowly swiveling about to find Inko sitting at the dinner table with the smuggest look he’d ever seen on her face.

“M-mom? I thought…”

“I’m on leave today, sweetheart. Meeting up with an old friend of mine for dinner.” Inko grinned. “To be fair, I also wanted to see Mikumo-chan again—”

Izuku choked.

“—but I suppose she’ll turn up when she wants to. You really like her, don’t you? No wonder you’ve started training so hard out of nowhere!” Inko giggled, cupping a hand over her mouth. “Ooh, my baby boy is growing up!”

“No, mom. It’s not that…” Izuku looked away, blushing. “I… I just finally found some motivation, that’s all.”

“Is that motivation a pretty blonde girl with a wibbly-wobbly smile?” Inko teased.

“I’m not going to answer that.” Izuku dodged the question, because the answer was technically yes. 

"Whatever floats your boat, sweetheart." Inko laughed. "Who knows, we might even see some blonde and green-haired kids running about in a few years."

Hahaha, no.

Izuku tried very, very hard to push that mental image into the detention center of his mind and throw away the key. The last thing he needed was to fall in love with himself like that one weirdo from the Greek myths. 

He also promptly ignored how his own mother inadvertently told him to go screw himself.

After exchanging goodbyes Izuku was out the door, doing a quick warm-up and building up to a light jog. It was kind of funny that gaining the power to turn into a girl finally gave him the push to start working out more in an effort to be more masculine. Mikumo/Miracle was doing her best. Izuku wouldn’t let himself fall behind.

He ran, huffing and puffing while trying to control his breathing. It wasn’t easy especially since he’d been sedentary for so many years, but he knew he had to try. One step, then another. He had to keep moving forward, bit by bit. His lungs burned, throat drying out from all the heavy breathing. It was so very hard to force himself to breathe only through his nose, and sometimes he failed. It just meant that he had more room to improve.

Izuku began to feel the iron taste of blood in his mouth, his legs feeling like they were going to give out at any moment. Around half an hour later he was nearing the five kilometer mark, checking his timing while taking a quick look around.

Slow. I’m still so damn slow!

No one was around, so he began sprinting towards the final stretch. The yellow marker on the ground almost seemed to taunt him, asking if a mere five klicks was too much for a loser like him. Izuku clenched his teeth and raced past it with a sudden surge of speed, tossing his phone and earpods into the air the moment he crossed it.

“Henshin!” 

He transformed in a burst of light, catching the thrown devices with casual ease when they came back down. Izuku sped up significantly, for what was a sprint in her male form was comparable to a light jog in her female form. Her running shoes thundered against the ground, propelling her forward at a pace that would have made an olympic athlete jealous. 

Her golden locks swayed about from side to side, bobbing with every step. She corrected the distraction by reaching up and tying her hair into a short ponytail, feeling much better afterwards.

She kept her body upright, striding forward like a soldier without even breaking a sweat. It felt amazing to exert herself in this form, feeling the power of a superhuman body as the wind rippled through her hair. Now that she had her male body resting in storage, it was time to train the female one. 

Izuku could feel her heart pumping, driving her powerful legs forward. She began to smile despite herself, thoroughly enjoying the way her body was reacting. Five kilometers in this body was nothing. Maybe she’d shoot for fifteen or twenty. Izuku sprinted atop the path, feeling invincible.

Some time later, she stopped. Checking her phone’s running app told her that she’d run a total of twenty-one kilometers in thirty minutes, over four times the distance her male form had done. For a moment she felt a little disappointed at boy-Izuku, but shook it off after reasoning that few natural humans could match her pace. It didn’t mean that she was going to let up on training as a male.

Shadows stretched at her feet, and Izuku looked up into the afternoon sky. It was almost time to head home, she decided. Twinkling particles were left in her wake as she began to fly, her costume forming around her in swirls of dazzling light. 

Power. So much power…

She was full of energy despite the workout from earlier, the long-distance run not even using up a single percent of her reserves. Izuku soared, gliding above the city alongside the pigeons and doves. Now that she’d spent some time analyzing her own abilities she had a basic understanding of how her flight worked. A thrust vector at her feet was applied via her Glitter forcefield, resulting in her signature sparkling trail. However, she worked out that since the Glitter surrounded her entire body, she could apply thrust from any direction.

The forcefield was the key to both her and Matsuda’s powers. Izuku was willing to bet that the other girl’s plasma was generated when the field superheated her gas, then contained it in a ‘bubble’ to allow her to manipulate it in any way she wanted. If she could manipulate her field with such precision, so could Izuku.

Izuku tested her theory, focusing on her midsection. She grinned with satisfaction when it worked, a second thrust vector pushing her skywards with ease. Unlike a traditional aircraft that only had a single vector through its engine, she could have multiple ones all over her body and switch them up at will. The Magical Girl dove into an aileron roll atop the deep blue sea, then changed directions into an impossible near ninety-degree turn. The g-forces caused by those maneuvers at the speed she was flying would have torn an airplane in two but Izuku simply felt some slight discomfort, adjusting her flight pattern and continuing to experiment.

Izuku flew north, not slowing until she saw snow. She didn’t realize how long she’d been flying, only stopping when she noticed the massive field of ice below her.

The girl blinked, realizing she'd flown way past the edges of Japan's borders. She landed in the middle of nowhere, not a soul in sight save for the penguins that waddled away from the small crater she made on impact.

An icy wind that should have chilled her to the bone swept past, Izuku wandering atop the ice shelf with a sense of wonder mixed with resignation. For the first time she realized she could truly go anywhere in the world. An aurora lit up the dark sky above, Izuku’s eyes widening in wonder while she took a quick picture of it. Out here in the frozen wasteland there was no sign of human civilization, no artificial lights that polluted the night. She could see the moon and the stars with crystal clarity, a ghostly orb and countless pinpricks of light against an endless, inky black canvas.

Izuku lifted her hand, petite fingers caressing the image of the moon. She wondered if she could reach it. 

A particularly brave penguin waddled past and nudged her curiously with a flipper. Izuku sat down on the ice and pulled it into a gentle hug, causing the large bird to let out a squawk. It squirmed in her grip for a few moments before quickly giving up, resigning itself to its fate as her temporary hug pillow.

It was smooth and warm, just like one of those heated plush toys children loved. Izuku sighed, petting her new friend lovingly while she checked her phone. Thanks to GPS she could find her way back to Japan, but it was a little worrying to see how far from home she was. No matter, she would still make it back before dinner.

The penguin in her arms chirped and Izuku nuzzled against it, feeling like she was cuddling with a dense bag of sand. The creature turned its gaze skywards, and so did Izuku. She never knew the night sky could look so beautiful. 

Maybe she could stay a little longer.

[x]

Saiko Intelli coughed, waving her hand through the air in a futile attempt to clear away a cloud of dust.

She huffed, looking around the ancient room she found herself in. It clearly hadn’t been cleaned in decades, rows upon rows of bookshelves holding what must have been millions of pages containing classified information from the Dark Age of Quirks. Saiko rooted through them while holding her breath, the only light source being the tiny flashlight she waved about.

The agent soon found what she was looking for under the Class-S section, picking out a tattered manila folder with brown stains on the cover. A closer inspection revealed that the stains weren’t because of some careless employee that spilled some coffee. It was dried blood, the spray pattern indicating a violent altercation involving blunt force trauma. 

Saiko opened the folder and began to read. 

Many pages had been torn out, but there were enough documents left that told her what the folder used to contain. It was a compilation of the Japanese Government’s attempts to create supersoldiers during the Dark Age, highlighting various programs and advancements they’d made throughout that painful era.

“So much black ink…” Saiko whispered, putting the torch in her mouth so she’d have both hands free.

She flipped through more pages, her expression growing with worry. There was no doubt that some of these programs were precursors to Project Praetor, featuring more primitive methods of human augmentation that were all but guaranteed to grant immense power at the cost of mutilating the test subjects into unrecognizable abominations. They knew so little about Quirks back then, so everything was on the table when it came to attempts at enhancing them. Sadly, they still knew painfully little about Quirks even after all that experimentation and research. Everyone agreed that Quirks were more like magic than actual scientific phenomena, pulling energy from nowhere and defying conventional physics.

Saiko grimaced when she turned to the next few pages. Photos of autopsies and ‘success stories’ lined each document, with neat little blurbs detailing the biomechanical and biochemical procedures they went through.

Brain surgery, artificial bone reinforcement, muscular enhancement and tech implants were the standard back then. Saiko frowned, shaking her head. It was so very primitive, and the body had a high risk of rejecting the procedures. Nowadays they just used various drugs coupled with microsurgery, but that didn’t mean it was any more ethical when they were used on children. The reasoning was that a younger body would be able to adapt and grow alongside the augmentations, allowing for more extreme procedures. Saiko disagreed. She knew from experience that the body may heal, but the mind was not always so resilient.

Her scars itched as she continued to read. The data told her that they’d mostly given up on mechanical augmentations after the onset of severe cyberpsychosis in several test subjects, resulting in the deaths of at least an entire team of lab techs. 

Finally, she found what she was looking for. Saiko’s eyes widened with disbelief when she read through what little remained of that particular file. It was… unprecedented. More than just simple human augmentation. Much of the text was smothered with black ink, but from what she could see the program involved the use of two—

Saiko paused, unable to believe what she was reading. That couldn't be right. A blurb at the bottom was written in blue ink, the neat cursive writing addressing the reader.

‘To whoever finds this, please understand that we did not do this for mere scientific curiosity. The world has entered a Dark Age, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to save Japan. The Americans have their Peacekeeper Initiative. The Chinese Union-Imperial has the Shen Hu. Korea has been reunified by the Jinsoyun. Japan must not fall behind in this superhuman arms race, lest we be destroyed entirely. All we do, we do for the sake of peace and prosperity…' 

“Holy shit.” Saiko whispered, flipping to the next page. Long paragraphs described what the file called ‘Weapon M’.

‘..in summary, the major points of the procedure are as follows. With what knowledge we have gleaned of the visitor and her craft, we believe it is possible to access…’

She read on, astounded. The result was the very definition of a ‘superweapon’. This procedure, if performed correctly, could render all conventional weaponry including nuclear bombs to be as obsolete as slingshots. Saiko flipped the pages, wondering why it wasn’t put into use…

“Oh.” she blinked. “So that’s why.”

The agent tried to find out more but the rest of the pages had been torn out haphazardly, leaving nothing behind. Saiko placed the folder back after memorizing the details, her lips drawn into a razor thin line. Those poor test subjects.

There was nothing she could do for them now except preserve their legacy. Those girls were dead and gone, but a remnant of their efforts still persisted in the modern day. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number, waiting for it to connect.

“Tell me you’ve got something, Agent Intelli.” the HPSC President’s voice crackled over the line.

“I do, but you’re not going to like it ma’am.” Saiko reported. “I’m gonna need access to the archives, specifically on what they call ‘Weapon M’.”

There was a long silence on the other end, and Saiko knew she’d caught the president hook, line and sinker. Digging a little too deep was something she prided herself in.

“How do you know about that?” The President’s voice was a low, dangerous whisper. “That’s restricted information, beyond top secret. You were supposed to uncover the identities of the two Magical Girls, so why are you investigating a research program that was shut down over half a century ago?”

“Research program.” Saiko repeated wryly, clipping on her power ascender to the rope she abseiled from. It was a long way to the surface. “That’s strange, ‘cause the ‘m’ in ‘Weapon M’ stands for Mahou . Sound familiar?”

“You’re out of line, Agent Intelli. Return to base and we can discuss the terms of your investigation…”

“What was that? Sorry, I can’t quite… I’m losing you, boss! Losing your signal…” Saiko faked interrupting the transmission in and out for a moment before cutting the call entirely. She ascended up the bottomless elevator shaft, one hand dialing another number as she rose.

If the HPSC wasn’t going to help her, she was going to contact one of her other sources. 

“Hello, Hatsume-san?” Saiko began with a smile. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

[x]

A massive SUV barreled down the dirty street, loud rap music blasting from its speakers. Parents pulled their children away as it passed, not wanting them to even catch a glimpse of the gangsters within. Six bodyguards surrounded one man who sat right in the middle of it, smoking a cigarette.

His name was Giran, and he was one of the few remaining arms and information dealers that could be relied on. 

Giran was good at his job. Very good. If he wasn’t he’d be wearing concrete shoes at the bottom of a river. His connections and cunning ensured he was a key player in the underground, which was why he always found a way out even when apprehended by heroes or the police. Like it or not, both sides of the law needed him.

So it was quite the surprise when his vehicle jerked to a halt, the driver slamming on the brakes when they approached a T-junction. Giran knew they were in a shady part of town, but few would be foolish enough to ambush his easily-recognizable SUV. Must have been some fool that didn’t know how to drive getting in the way, then.

“Man, what the fuck!” the driver yelled, slapping the steering wheel.

“What’s the hold up?” Giran asked.

“I dunno, some dumb bitch in a pink Rayfield just stopped right in front of us—” the driver complained.

Giran’s eyes widened and he ducked down between the seats. 

The world exploded a moment later when bullets ripped through the SUV, turning his bodyguards into swiss cheese. Giran screamed, pushing himself to the floor while the thud-thud-thud of a light machine gun echoed all around him. Blood and gore rained down from above, his attacker holding down the trigger and spraying the armored vehicle with what seemed like a bottomless magazine. Nearby civilians scattered in terror instead of recording, not wanting anything to do with the one-sided firefight. As far as they were concerned it was just another drive-by between two opposing gangs.

Some of his bodyguards were still alive, moaning in pain after the gunfire stopped. Others rose from their cover with vengeance in their eyes, only to be cut down by a second hail of bullets. Giran’s ears were filled with screams and gurgled gasps; the sounds of lives ending. 

The thunder ended soon after the last guard expired, Giran peeking out of the wreckage nervously. He flinched when a small figure jumped atop the ventilated hood of his car, still brandishing the LMG that killed his crew. The arms dealer screamed again when a mechanical arm burst through the roof and tore it off in one smooth motion. 

Giran was a big fish… but there’s always a bigger fish.

“Sup, oji-san.” the girl standing above him wore a feral grin, her single golden eye locking on to his trembling form. “Turn off that bullshit.”

“H-hatsume! Lass!” Giran quickly reached forward and muted the radio, raising his arms in surrender. “I was just coming to see you!”

“Coming in a strange goddamn direction.” Hatsume Mei exhaled, the reinforced armor plating of her mechanical left arm undulating like a wave. “Where’s my money, old man?”

“I have it! I have it, I swear!” Giran said nervously.

“Right now?” Mei let the rifle’s barrel drift towards his face. A soft pink glow was starting to intensify under the eyepatch that covered her left eye.

“N-no, not right now…”

“Then transfer it to me online. It’s the current year, we have internet banking.” Mei huffed, allowing the rifle to drift lower until it was aimed at his crotch. The ammo belt draped across her shoulders jingled when she shrugged. “Goddammit. I make one baby, I expect to get paid. I make a bunch of babies, I expect to be paid on time… not still be waiting a damn week later.”

“Now, now, lass. Let’s not get too hasty. I've just been really busy, that's all.” Giran gulped, giving her a quick smile. “You wouldn’t hurt dear old Giran, would ya? Think of all the money we made together! You seem quite well off yourself.”

“It’s not about the money, oji-san. It’s about sending a message.” Mei cocked her head to the side. “Now get out of the fucking car.”

Giran did as he was told, hands still raised while Mei guided him to her beloved Rayfield with a little friendly persuasion. She popped open the muscle car's trunk, and he groaned.

“Lass, I’ll get you your money. Just give me two days—”

“Get your scrawny ass in the trunk.” Mei demanded with a crazed grin. “I won’t ask again.”

The thin man had no choice but to do so, under the threat of being filled with lead. Mei slammed the trunk shut once he got in, tossing her belt-fed machine gun into the backseat. The Rayfield peeled off onto the main road a moment later, Mei speeding onto the highway without a care for the man trapped in the trunk.

Her phone chimed with a cheery little tune, the girl answering while still keeping one hand on the wheel.

“Hello!”

“Hello, Hatsume-san?” The voice of her friend, Saiko, echoed from the other end. “I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

“I’m on the highway, girl! No biggie. What do you need?” 

“I’ve been working on a case, and I think I’ve found something. Something big.” Saiko said. “I need access to the Government’s Dark Age Archives. There’s a file there that’s been locked away, codenamed ‘Weapon M’.”

“Ah, that’s a tough one. There’s no more digital backups or copies after the Rhode Island accords, so your best bet’s gonna be to find someone who worked on the damn thing. What’s got you so interested anyway?” Mei hit the throttle, shifting up a gear. 

“The two new Magical Girls.” Saiko said after a few seconds. “I think they’ve gotten involved in something they shouldn’t have.”

"And how is that your problem? From what I've seen, they can take care of themselves."

"Hatsume…" Saiko sighed. "Mei. You still remember the promise we made that day?"

She did. Back then Lady Nagant's actions had inadvertently spared them from a fate worse than death. They made a promise to help others like them, a pinkie promise. Mei didn’t take her eyes off the road, but her thoughts started to drift. She remembered the lab, the knives, the goddamn surgery table. If those girls were anything like her and Saiko…

“Shit.” Mei spat. “Me and my bleeding heart. What was it called, uh, ‘Weapon M’?”

“Yes. It had something to do with human augmentation, and I believe it was one of the precursors to Project Praetor…”

“Hey, old man! Bozo!” Mei yelled at the backseat. “Know anything about that?”

A loud, muffled grunt answered her, and Mei smiled. She wrenched the steering wheel to one side, causing her unlucky passenger to cry out in protest.

“Change of plan, oji-san!” The car spun about with an earsplitting screech, performing an illegal u-turn. “You’ve got some ex-military connections, right? Time to put them to good use!”

[x]

Matsuda Kenji dreamed.

He dreamed of blood, pain, and fire. Things no child should ever have to experience.

The boy tossed and turned in his sleep, childhood memories boiling to the surface of his mind. The rage and fear swirled and churned in the whirlpool of his mind, a sickening concoction of trauma condensed into a neat little package.

‘Come here, boy.’

‘Dad, have you been drinking again?’

‘Come here.’

The fingers that closed around his wrist were bands of iron, squeezing hard enough to bruise.

‘Look at you, boy. Skinny little sissy. You look like a motherfuckin’ bitch. Turn that goddamn stove on.’

‘Dad, p-please! Why are you doing this to me—’

‘You do as I say, boy! You give me your respect and your fuckin’ obedience! Look at you! Crying like a bitch, like a dumb fuckin’ cunt! Man the fuck up!’

A sharp impact. Flesh meeting flesh. The sound of droplets hitting the wall. His younger self was crying, sobbing.

‘Aaahhh! D-dad, please, s-stop! No, stop!’

Blood.

‘See what you get when you don’t listen?! Stupid fuckin’ bitch. You’re just like your whore of a mother. You even got her goddamn face even when you're a boy… stop looking at me with her eyes! You keep looking at me like that and I'll carve them right outta your fuckin' head!’

‘Sthop…. Sthop, please…’

Pain.

‘Don’t you ever fucking say no to me, you got that?! You hear me, boy?!’

‘Y-yes. Yes, dad! Yes, I-I hear you!’

‘Good. Now take your hand and put it on the stove.’

Fire.

Matsuda awoke with a gasp, covered with cold sweat. He hyperventilated, looking around in fear until he realized he was still in his tiny room. The monster was in the other one. 

The boy forced himself to calm down, feeling something roll down his cheeks. Had he been crying in his sleep? He quickly wiped them away, sniffing softly.

Boys don’t cry.

Soon he realized what woke him up. His phone was pinging, lighting up with notification alerts. Matsuda squinted at his alarm clock and found it to be the middle of the night, the red LEDs lighting up as ‘4:00pm’.

Matsuda wasted no time and crept out the window, running into the street. He tossed his phone high into the air a moment later, leaping off the ground.

“Henshin!”

There was a flash of light, and he was Mustard again. A powerful, tomboyish Magical Girl that didn’t take shit from anyone. There was a certain poetic irony in how people finally started to see her as masculine once she got the power to turn into a Magical Girl, but Matsuda couldn’t find it in herself to laugh. She hardly ever did.

She grabbed her phone out of the air, flying towards the site of the Angel attack. The clouds overhead blotted out the moonlight, leaving her gliding in complete darkness. It would have been terrifying to Matsuda Kenji, but she wasn’t him right now.

She was Mustard.

“Pick up the phone, come on, pick up…” Mustard muttered anxiously, eyes lighting up when the call connected. “Midoriya-san! Where you at?”

“I’m on my way, but it’s so dark!” Miracle reported. “I… I can’t see…”

Roaring wind echoed in the backdrop of her call. Matsuda bit her lip, looking at the shining lights of the city below them. Five klicks out, and still no sign of the Angel from above. They’d have no choice but to slow down and descend—wait. 

“Midoriya-san! Miracle. You’re above Felucia City, right? I think I can see your trail.” Mustard raised her hand and shot a bolt of plasma directly upward, signaling her location. “You see my flare?”

“I see it! Purple flare, ten o’ clock!”

“Good!” She re-oriented herself so she was flying parallel to her fellow Magical Girl. “Now, look at your three o’clock. You see that?” 

“Yeah! It’s… It’s dark.” Miracle whispered. “There’s no lights over there!”

“The Angel must have damaged the power grid under the city.” Mustard began her descent, right into the shadows. “Meet you there!”

She reached the rendezvous point half a minute later, looking around in the dark. The civilians below her were evacuating from the area, using their phones to light the way. With the streetlights and traffic lights out it was too dangerous to drive, not that the congested roads allowed for travel. Everyone was running, with only police officers and a few nearby heroes preventing the mass of fearful evacuees from turning into a full-on stampede.

“Miracle! Midoriya-san, I don’t see you!” Mustard gripped her phone tight, yelling over the screams below. “Izuku, where are you?”

“I’m here!” The reply was like a weight lifted off her chest, and Miracle came into view. “I am here.”

“Great, now let’s get this bastard.” Mustard looked around, confused. “But where the hell is he?”

“All these people, they’re running from… over there!” 

The two Magical Girls advanced cautiously, not knowing what to expect. They were only ten meters away when they realized it was right in front of them. They couldn’t see it because it was camouflaged against the shadows.

The Angel was the size of an apartment building, a giant creature that hung in the air like some sick parody of a hot air balloon. Its bulbous main body floated high above the street, thousands of snakelike tentacles draping downward and sweeping across the street with eager curiosity. It was touching everything, poking at vehicles and fleeing civilians it brushed against.

“It’s… It’s a…” Miracle gasped, staring at the gargantuan Angel with disbelief.

“A giant fucking jellyfish.” Mustard finished her sentence, her hands lighting up with plasma. "Okay, game face on! What do we do?"

"Wait, you're asking me?" Miracle squeaked.

“You managed to talk to the previous Angel. I’m hoping you can do the same with this one.”

“Um, okay! Okay, lemme try.” Miracle cleared her throat and waved up at the creature. “Hello? Excuse me!”

The jellyfish stopped in its tracks. The top of its ‘head’ pitched downwards to look at them, two swirling orbs of orange and blue acting as its eyes. It wasn’t hostile at all, patiently waiting to see what the two girls would do next. One of its long tentacles had curled around a police car, the Angel waving it around like a child with a toy.

“Hi there, big guy! Easy… easy!” Izuku raised her arms, floating up to look it in the eye. “Nice to meet you. Could you put that down for me?”

The Angel obeyed. Izuku should have been a little more specific, because it smashed the vehicle into the road by whipping its tentacle downward. The crumpled heap of metal creaked before bursting into flames, causing Matsuda to sigh and rub her temples.

“O-kay! Let’s try this again.” Izuku said. “I’m Miracle, and this is my friend Mustard. What’s your name?”

The Jellyfish Angel said nothing, hovering in place and staring at them. Like the Spider Angel, it didn’t seem to have any vocal cords to form words. Just as Matsuda was about to suggest that they try another method the creature’s eyes began to flash, flickering on and off like the headlights of a car.

“What’s it doing?” she asked.

“I… I think it’s trying to talk to us.” Izuku speculated, frowning. 

Bioluminescence within the Jellyfish’s gelatinous skin allowed it to form patterns of color, the creature flashing red, orange, and yellow. It switched to green, blue, indigo and finally violet before turning back to red before restarting the lightshow again.

“Its… cycling though the visible spectrum of light?” Matsuda frowned.

“No.” Izuku whispered. “It’s making a rainbow.”

The Jellyfish stopped, almost as if it heard them. It began a sequence of three short flashes, followed by three long ones and finished with another trio of short flashes. Both Izuku and Matsuda knew what it was doing, confusion clear on their faces. It was something they’d all learned as part of the mandatory villain attack drills all schools across Japan held from time to time. The creature was flashing in Morse code…

Dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot.

S.O.S

Save Our Souls.

Before either of them could get a word in a quartet of floodlights snapped on, brilliant beams of light illuminating the dark streets. The Angel looked upwards at the four Hero Association helicopters surrounding it, reaching for one with reckless naivety. Izuku saw the hero within the craft readying what looked like a rocket launcher atop his shoulder.

“Wait!” The Emerald Magical Girl flew up before Matsuda could react. “No, no, no, stop!”

Too late. The Hero pulled the trigger and a RPG sailed through the air. To everyone’s surprise Izuku caught the rocket and quickly tossed it away, the explosive detonating harmlessly in the sky.

“Magical Girl Miracle. Magical Girl Mustard.” A hero’s voice boomed over one of the helicopter’s nose-mounted loudspeakers. “You are interfering with official hero duties. Stand down now, or we will be forced to open fire.”

“Man, screw you!” Mustard shouted. “We had it under control, and you guys came along and aggravated it? The fuck’s wrong with you?!”

“Everyone, please wait!” Miracle begged, nearly in tears. “We can calm the Angel down! It doesn’t want to hurt anyone, I think its just confused!”

Their words fell on deaf ears, multiple Heroes gathering on the street while the helicopters drew nearer. Both of them could sense the net closing around them, and so could the Angel. It reared up and puffed itself out to look larger, its tentacles rising threateningly.

“Light them up!” someone yelled.

“No!” Izuku cried, shielding the Jellyfish with her own body.

There was a loud fthoonk as one of the heroes below fired a handheld grenade launcher, launching an egg-shaped projectile right at them. Miracle slapped it out of the air but it detonated a moment later, only a meter away from her. She winced but was ultimately unharmed, darting back and forth to deflect more grenades before it reached the Angel.

“Goddammit, why does it always end up like this?!” Mustard howled, waving her arms in a circular motion to create a curtain of plasma. 

Most of the projectiles and Quirk effects melted when they got near it, but some punched through and bounced off her Glitter. Izuku was faring a little worse, having no ranged capabilities to help defend herself and the creature against the hailstorm of attacks. Bullets raked across the Angel’s back and it stiffened, immediately rotating about to face its attacker. Its tentacles wrapped around the helicopter the hero was on, and they could see the metal warping when it squeezed. It raised the vehicle high up into the air, ready to smash it into the ground.

“Stop!” Izuku yelled, causing it to stiffen again. “Please, don’t hurt them!”

The Jellyfish Angel paused, turning to her. 

“They’re scared of you, just like you’re scared of them.” Izuku told it, communicating with the beast. “Let them go.”

It considered her words for a moment before letting the helicopter go, raising one tentacle at her. It hung in the air, as if waiting for her to make contact with it.

“Whatever you two are doing, make it fast!” Matsuda yelled over the gunfire and the sound of Quirk effects firing. She waved her plasma curtain about like a matador taunting a bull. “Damn it, how the hell are we gonna get out of this one?”

Izuku gulped, raising a trembling hand towards the tip of the tentacle. They were so close to understanding each other. If they did, maybe she and Matsuda could even find a way to stop the Angels from appearing. Stop all this pointless panic and fear.

Her fingertip was only an inch away from the tentacle when six rods fell from the sky. 

They stabbed into the earth like a sextet of gigantic spears, the metallic sheen giving way to sparking circuitry within that hummed with malicious intent. The Jellyfish Angel sensed danger and immediately curled into a protective ball, wrapping its tentacles around it to form an impenetrable barrier. It darted backwards, just out of reach of the kill-zone.

Miracle and Mustard were not so lucky.

The rods activated with a high-pitched whine, creating a hexagonal cage of magenta lighting that lit up the entire area. Both Magical Girls screamed as millions of volts surged through their bodies, their limbs locking up involuntarily. 

“GODFUCKINGDAMMIT!” Mustard shrieked, flinging her hand outward to throw a plasma bolt at one of the rods.

To their horror the strange, high-tech weapon seemed to absorb her energy. Miracle shot upwards with a burst of speed but the pink lightning stuck to her, wrapping around her body before tossing her back into the cage like a rubber band rebounding. 

Izuku rose from the crater, looking absolutely furious as she marched up to one of the rods with shaking legs. A single punch was enough to shatter it, and Mustard got up to do the same. Four more left.

The weapon was some sort of capture item, they realized. Neither of them would be going down without a fight. Hovering above them was the Jellyfish Angel, its tentacles attempting to reach down into the cage only to recoil in pain. It was trying to help them.

“Now, now, take it down!” someone yelled.

Multiple explosions manifested above the Angel’s skin like dozens of firecrackers, and the creature finally had enough. It unleashed its Quirk, creating a glacier the size of a building that froze its attackers where they stood. Two helicopters were caught in the attack, held in place within massive blocks of ice.

The Heroes kept attacking, enraging it. The Jellyfish whipped its tentacles about and a wave of fire forced them to back off. Izuku observed its attacks even as she struggled and gasped within the lightning cage.

It can… control the temperature of its surroundings? No… it’s more than that. 

A Hero with a glass Quirk ripped the glass from surrounding windows, directing the broken shards at the Angel in an attempt to slice it into ribbons. Countless pieces of glass shrapnel stabbed into the Jellyfish’s soft body, but it didn’t look hurt at all. If anything, it looked pissed.

That was when it happened. Both girls could hear it ‘speak’, an unintelligible two-syllable word echoing from its nonexistent mouth.

 ̵̡̨̤̲͎̣̩̙͎͎̄̿ ̸̟̺͙̌͆͆̓̋̒͌͘͝ ̷̥̣̲̝͙͍̽̇̇̑̈́͗ ̴̞̙̲̦̦̙̺̆̈́͝ ̴̡̆́̀͝ ̶̖̇͌̃̀̀͘̚ ̸̘͚̯̗̘̀͂̚͜͠͠͠ ̵̝̒̈̕͠ ̷̮͍̹͋̉͗͋͝ ̶̙̭̙̘̮̪͗ ̴̺͎͙̬͎́͂ ̵̧̨̭̥͕̣̜̱̳͋̂̎͊͝͝ ̴̳̘̅̆̊͜͝ ̸̥̬͎͖̲̹͊̀͠ ̸̧̫̳̦̀̂͐ ̸̼͕͠ ̴̡͈̱͂̋̏͋̔̍̇

There was a thunderous boom and a brilliant flash of light, and the Jellyfish disappeared. Floating where it was were two feminine, humanoid figures in white Shrine Maiden outfits, completely identical save for the color of their hair. One had orange, while the other had blue. The two Mikos each raised a hand and waves of ice and fire cut across the street to destroy the rods holding Miracle and Mustard, freeing the Magical Girls.

Izuku and Matsuda shook it off, regaining their senses and getting back into the fight. The pair stared at the Shrine Maidens with confusion, realizing they were both the Jellyfish Angel which had somehow transformed into two beings.

The entities stared back, each of them only having one eye. A brilliant blue pupil gazed at Mustard, while a cold grey one bored a hole into Miracle. Neither Magical Girl could even begin to question what was going on when shouts and angry yells began echoing all around them, reminding them that they were still under attack by the heroes.

Miracle and Mustard put their backs against each other, getting into a fighting stance. The Twin Angels mimicked them, putting their own backs against each other. Together, the four of them stood their ground against an approaching wave of heroes out for blood and glory.

The average hero, as painful as it was for Izuku to admit, was no more than a glorified law enforcement officer with too much power. There were some good people within their ranks, but they were few and far between. Most of them were these bullies who couldn’t care less about collateral damage or resolving the issue peacefully. 

The heroes opened fire again, and Izuku prepared to defend herself.

She didn’t even have to lift a finger when the Twin Angels struck back with simultaneous waves of ice and fire. It was a torrent of heat and frost, pushing the heroes back without seriously injuring any of them. The Angels had heard her plea, trying to minimize casualties.

A tornado of fire and ice rose to the skies above, the pair directing their power up into the air. Izuku gasped when the two Angels began to fade away into particles, and she realized they were using up all their power to grant her and Matsuda a path to escape.

The ice-user of the two Angels looked right at her, its face a blank expanse of pure white skin. Up close she could see it had no features save for two slits where its eyes were supposed to be, with only one holding an eye. It looked at her, then at the night sky above. The message was clear.

Go.

Izuku and Matsuda reluctantly made their escape, soaring through the eye of the firestorm-blizzard and making it to safety above the clouds. Looking down they could see the two Angels fading away into particles, having expended all their power to help them. Both Angels looked up one last time and waved to the Magical Girls.

Izuku bit her lip, watching as they finally collapsed into nothing. They’d been so close to finally understanding what the creatures were, only to have their chance ripped away at the last moment. Izuku resolved to find out what was really going on, her hands clenching into fists as she and Matsuda flew off into the night.

Throughout their journey back she could still remember the feeling of both Angels’ skin on hers. They were chilly yet warm, one being the embodiment of frost while the other was the essence of fire.

Half-hot, half-cold.

[Chapter 5 End]

Chapter Text

It was a normal night in Kurado City.

At least, it was supposed to be until a shrill alarm resounded from a nearby storefront. Curious civilians turned towards the source of the commotion, only to flee in panic when the store’s display exploded outward in a shower of glass. A heavy steel table came flying, smashing into a nearby parked van and flipping it end-over-end.

Three people sprinted out of the wrecked shop, their outfits and demeanor all but screaming the word ‘villain’ to anyone watching. They were clad in red and black, pearl necklaces and gold chains hanging from their arms. Small bags were slung across their backs, overflowing with precious stones and documents.

“Thieves!” a panicked, desperate scream echoed from within the shop. “Villains! Scoundrels!”

“Dammit T, you just wrecked our escape vehicle!” one of the villains howled. “Fan-fucking-tastic!”

“Who cares, we got the goods! Press forward!” another yelled, clad in power armor.

The midday crowd parted before the villains, running for their lives as the trio thundered down main street. A police car hurtled right at them, sirens blaring. 

“F, you’re up!” the lead villain ordered.

Dull yellow light flashed between the palms of the smallest of the three villains, the woman bringing her hands down onto the road. A rippling shockwave erupted from the point of contact, surging forward like a wave until it hit the police car with a thunderous crash. It flipped onto its side, the screech of metal against asphalt filling the air.

“Hahaha! We’re invincible!” The lead villain raised his fist in triumph. “Nothing can stop us…”

Magical Girls Miracle and Mustard descended from the skies and hovered right in front of them, hands on their hips.

“Shit.” one of the villains said.

“Fuck.” another echoed.

“Ah, hello there!” Miracle smiled and gave them a friendly wave. “I don’t think those belong to you. Mind giving them back?”

“Hell no.” The lead villain raised his palm and shot her with a bolt of blue light.

Izuku, as Miracle, simply raised her hand and batted the deadly attack away as if it were an errant child’s ball. The speeding energy bolt crashed into the wall of a nearby building, cracking the concrete. All three villains took a step backward in alarm, clearly not expecting her to shrug the attack off that easily.

“Well now you’ve done it. You guys just won!” Mustard grinned.

“W-Won what?”

“A one way ticket,” The girl’s gloved hands came together, cracking her knuckles. “On the ass-whooping express.”

Both Magical Girls descended upon them like a pair of vultures and chaos ensued. 

Izuku bobbed and weaved, slipping between energy blasts and shockwaves. Once she closed in it was all over for them, her high-heeled kick slicing through the air in a crescent arc and into the lead villain’s temple. The man’s visor shattered into a thousand pieces and he hit the ground hard, out cold from the impact. A vicious backspin elbow was enough to disorient her next opponent with a single hit, sending the female villain stumbling like a punch-drunk boxer.

The villainess launched a few more shockwaves, each containing enough kinetic force to crumple a car. They bounced off Izuku’s guard when she advanced calmly, unphased. By the time the villain recovered from her shock she was in point-blank range, the Magical Girl swinging her into the ground in a flawless judo throw.

Two down. Mustard was dealing with the last villain, playing with her opponent like a cat toying with its prey. The enraged villain was hurling incandescent orbs that detonated into fireballs only seconds after leaving his armored hands, but Mustard was neutralizing the projectiles by encasing them in swirling bubbles of her plasma. 

“Damn you, witch!” he roared, sending a swarm of tiny orange spheres at her.

Mustard responded by charging through the cluster bombs and stomping a dainty foot onto the ground. A wave of plasma manifested from the impact and tossed the man upward, heavy power armor and all. She closed the gap in the blink of an eye and winked, slugging him on the chin with an uppercut. Glowing fingers dug into the villain’s armor and she peeled it apart like an orange before tearing him out, hauling the terrified man into the air. A purple conflagration ignited atop her free hand.

“Mustard!” Izuku said quickly. “He’s had enough.”

Matsuda, as Mustard, frowned but obliged, tossing her opponent aside unceremoniously. The defeated villain smacked into a wall face-first and slid down its length, knocked unconscious.

It was over, just like that. Civilians began peeking out from behind corners and parked cars, rising to their feet and cheering once they realized the threat of villainy was gone. The pair of Magical Girls made a polite bow to the gathered crowd before flying off into the horizon, the shrill wail of police sirens already approaching. They could handle the stolen goods and downed villains.

A sleepy-looking man put down his binoculars, having witnessed the entire exchange from a nearby rooftop. Strained eyes narrowed behind a pair of yellow goggles.

[x]

Izuku relaxed atop her bed, scrolling through the news app on her phone. It was a Saturday afternoon, but Inko was still working. So far things were pretty quiet, and Izuku guessed that it was for the best. In the five days since the Jellyfish Angel’s appearance the girls stopped three villain attacks, rescued two cats stuck in trees, and helped one old lady cross the road. The heroes hated them for it, but at least the civilians they helped seemed pretty grateful.

It was pretty clear by now that they were on the Hero Association’s bad side. There were even rumors on the internet that she and Mustard had a ‘shoot on sight’ order tagged to them. 

Maybe the heroes were just doing their jobs, she thought. Still, it’d be nice if they didn’t escalate that much and engage every Angel they encountered with extreme force. Now that she thought about it, that was the standard procedure for dealing with villains too. She witnessed it countless times before, just like when Mt. Lady first debuted. The modus operandi of nearly all heroes was to shoot first and ask questions later, with the official explanation being to prioritize the safety of any nearby civilians and infrastructure. When an unexpected variable like the Angels showed up, they had no backup plan or procedures.

Small hands gripped the smartphone tightly. With the exception of All Might, the heroes she’d met so far were more focused on eliminating threats rather than helping people. Was that what they were taught in Hero Schools? If she didn’t know any better, she’d think that heroes were more concerned about public relations than actually helping people. She hoped the top 100 heroes had a little more pride in their work.  

A small chime from her phone drew the girl out of her thoughts. 

Matsuda-san: **Yo**

Matsuda-san: **Wanna hang out? I wanna go to a cat cafe for lunch**

Izuku sat up, fiddling with the small device. Texting someone was a novel experience, considering she’d never actually done it before. 

You: **Oh, today?**

You: **Sure, why not.**

You: **When are you free later?**

Izuku sent the text and waited nervously, wondering if she was doing it right. Was this how people texted one another? Long, painful seconds passed, and Izuku began to worry until her friend sent her a time and location. She let out a sigh of relief, not even realizing she’d been holding her breath. Matsuda was her first friend in years, so she was glad they were getting along. 

The schoolgirl stretched with a lazy yawn and flipped off the bed with the grace of an acrobat, rummaging through her wardrobe for an outfit. Thankfully she was somehow allowed to keep her clothes in her male form’s room, and Inko had given her the spare room in the house to prevent a boy and a girl sleeping together. Izuku didn’t know how she still got away with tricking the older woman into thinking Mikumo Akatani and Midoriya Izuku were two different people, especially when they were never seen in the same place together. 

Well, her situation was weird. Izuku refocused and began looking through the clothes again, eventually picking a cute blouse paired with a simple pair of denim shorts. It wasn’t easy being a girl now that she actually was one, having to keep all sorts of things in mind just for a simple outing. As a boy he could just put on a decent outfit and head out, just like that. As a girl, she had to manage her color coordination, her hair, her accessories. That’s what the internet told her.

Izuku huffed. At least she didn’t have to put on makeup; it looked way too complicated and time-consuming. Since she was trying to make sure her male self was as masculine as possible, she reasoned that her female self should be as feminine as possible to match. It was quite the eye-opening experience when a quick search on the web made her realize that she was already a tad too feminine as a boy. 

In Izuku’s mind a girl should be sweet, kind, and empathetic. It didn’t take long for her to realize those were the traits she already liked. In other words, she just behaved like what the boy version of her would find ideal. Honestly, there wasn’t much she had to change. Strangely enough it didn’t feel that weird since she thought of herself as a boy while in her male form, and a girl while in her female one. Her unique perspective due to having two bodies allowed for some interesting revelations. 

The girl glanced at herself in the mirror, changing into the outfit and making sure it fit her nicely. As embarrassing as it was to admit, she was getting used to being a girl. She could finally open her eyes while bathing and take care of herself properly, though she still blushed quite a bit at the sight of a female form. Baby steps, she supposed. 

It also turned out that girls had to be much more careful when it came to taking care of their bodies, especially their skin and hair. A girl’s skin felt really, really different compared to a boy’s.

Izuku took her time walking to the meeting spot, humming to herself cheerily while music played in her special limited-edition All Might earbuds. Her carefree demeanor soon ended when she realized people were looking at her. Throughout the journey Izuku felt multiple eyes tracking her every move, the introverted girl shrinking into herself more with every passing minute. Why was everyone looking? Izuku did a quick check on herself but found nothing wrong with her outfit, still confused and not used to the newfound attention. Ultimately she decided to make herself as small and inconspicuous as possible, keeping her head down until she reached the cafe. 

Just as Izuku predicted, her friend Matsuda showed up five minutes earlier than their agreed meeting time. The brunette was dressed in a t-shirt paired with a jacket and a pleated skirt, the darker colors giving her a tomboyish appearance in contrast to Izuku’s pastel outfit. The words ‘Deep Dope’ were stenciled across her chest, representing her favorite rocker band.

“Sup, Midoriya-san. Or is it Mikumo-san?” she smiled and waved. “Either way, you look great!”

“Hello. Oh, you can call me whatever you’d like.” Izuku waved back shyly. “Um, thanks. You look nice too.”

The girls made their way inside, peering around at the many cats lazing around the cafe. After placing their orders some of the felines came up to them, Izuku letting out a small squeak when a large, gray tabby cat rubbed against her bare leg.

“A-Ah! Hello, kitty…” she mumbled, surprised. Turning to Matsuda, she could see the other girl was already busy playing with another cat in her lap. “Wow, they really like you!”

“Nah, they’re just hungry.” Matsuda wiggled a treat in front of the cats gathered at their table. “Heh. I always wanted to go to one of these.”

“Why didn’t you just do it then? I’ve come alone before.”

“Well, it’s, y’know.” The brunette’s expression twisted into a small frown before she sighed. “It’s not manly. I mean, look around us.”

Izuku did. Sure enough, the cafe’s clientele consisted of mostly women, with the only two men seeming to be on a date with their girlfriends. Still, Izuku knew exactly what the other girl was referring to. She herself had been mocked and bullied countless times for being too soft when she was boy-Izuku, no stranger to the many derogatory slurs that were hurled at guys seen as too effeminate for society’s standards.

“It’s just the way it is.” Matsuda continued, a hint of bitterness in her voice. “All the things I liked weren’t very manly, so now that I’m a girl I’m gonna enjoy it to the fullest. To be honest, I hated this power when I first got it. It was like fate was laughing in my face.”

“What do you mean?” Izuku raised an eyebrow.

“When you think of power, what’s the first image that pops into your head?”

“All Might.” Izuku answered reflexively.

“Exactly! I wanted to be someone like that. A big, tall, buff dude that no one would think of messing with. But that’ll never happen.” Matsuda laughed. “Instead, I got all the power but none of the intimidation factor. Ironic.”

“I think you’re pretty intimidating.” Izuku mumbled. “I’m the one who looks vulnerable. People kept looking at me while I was on my way here. Do I really look like an easy target or something?”

Matsuda paused, giving her a quick once-over before chuckling and shaking her head. 

“Nah, girl. They were looking at you cuz’ you’re mad cute.”

“O-Oh.” Izuku stammered, quickly looking to change the topic. “Hey, I think your cat is trying to escape.”

Sure enough, the orange feline in Matsuda’s grip was wriggling around, allowing itself to be cuddled one last time before it leapt off her lap and rejoined its peers. Both girls giggled and watched the cats play, eventually turning their attention to the drinks when they arrived. Izuku smiled as they enjoyed their coffee. It tasted absolutely amazing, the experience only made better with the added presence of a friend.

Having friends is awesome, Izuku decided.

“I know, right?” Matsuda agreed, Izuku blushing when she realized she’d accidentally muttered her thoughts out loud. “It’s hard to live in this world. What I want is a world that’s easy to live in.”

“A world full of things only you like?” Izuku asked, the words strangely familiar.

“Exactly! Man, you and I are the same, you feel me?” Matsuda nodded. “Well, maybe not exactly the same since you wanna be a hero.”

“You don’t?” Izuku blinked. Nowadays it was the dream of nearly every kid to be a hero.

“Nah. I wanted to be a designer. A fashion designer, if we’re getting specific.” Matsuda said. “My dad… didn’t like that. I was always more inclined towards the arts, and I guessed he thought that made me soft.”

Izuku was silent, allowing her to vent. She knew what it was like to be a disappointment, a failure. The crushing dread and despair that wrung her mind like a vice grip, combined with thoughts at the back of her head that told her how much of a loser she was compared to her peers. On bad days, she could even hear Bakugo’s laughter.

“I loved to draw as a kid. When my dad found out, he got rid of all my sketches and notebooks, tore them right up.” The brunette sulked. “Said they were a waste of time and that I should be training to be a hero instead. I guess the joke turned out to be on the both of us since I never amounted to anything. You’ve seen my male form, and it can barely even be called that. I’m happier as a girl, because at least then I don’t have to feel like I’m useless.”

You’re just a useless, worthless Deku!

The words cut into her thoughts like a thousand tiny knives. All the hurtful things that everyone had ever said about Izuku flashed atop the surface of her mind for a single, infinitesimal moment before she quickly forced it down, grimacing.

“Hey, don’t say that.” Izuku mumbled. “You’ve been helping people with me, Matsuda-san. Without you, we would never have managed to defeat some of those Angels. I’m sure many people see you as a hero now!”

“But I don’t wanna be a hero. I don’t wanna ever be like him.”

It didn’t take a genius to know what the other girl was talking about. Izuku hardly even remembered her own father, but she was willing to bet he was leagues better than the man Matsuda was talking about. For a parent to crush their child’s dream like that…

“Fuck heroes.” Matsuda continued, voice low and angry. “To me, they’re people who hurt their own families just to maintain their egos. They pretend to be guardians of society, but anything that doesn’t fit in their perfect little picture gets swept under the rug or tossed into the trash. They’re rotten to the core, a bunch of maggot-infested apples. We’ve both seen it when we’re Mahou Shoujo.”

“I understand where you’re coming from, but I think you’re generalizing as well. Not all heroes are like that. I mean, look at All Might.” Izuku countered.

“One perfect apple among an orchard of rotten trees. Someone’s got to clean it up.” Matsuda sipped her beverage, then winced and brought a hand to her temple. “God, my head is killing me.”

Izuku was quiet. For a moment she wanted to ask what she meant by that last part, but concern took over and she instead called for a glass of ice water to be delivered to their table. The brunette took a grateful sip, simply nodding in thanks.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, much better. Sorry, I get worked up really easily.” Matsuda admitted. “Haven’t had a headache like that since I failed math class.”

“Oh, maybe I could help with that?” Izuku offered. “The math, I mean.”

“Um, sure? Now that I think of it…”

As lame as it was, the rest of their lunchtime was spent helping Matsuda with her homework. Despite the bullying Izuku was a straight-A student, so she was able to help with many of the academic problems the other girl faced. Thankfully, the change in topic helped Matsuda cool off, and so did the cats. Izuku knew what it was like to feel helpless and angry, lashing out at an unfair world. Nobody had helped her back then, so she was determined not to let someone else feel that pain and loneliness.

Soon it was time for them to part ways, the two teens making their way back home after a friendly goodbye hug. Izuku briefly contemplated flying home after watching Matsuda do so but ultimately decided against it, even if she didn’t have to shift into her Magical Girl form to do so. 

The sun was beginning to set, Musutafu City’s nightlife coming to the surface like mushrooms after rain. Izuku reasoned they must have spent longer time talking than she thought, idly taking in the surrounding lights and the chattering crowd. 

Then she felt it, the strange sensation pulling in her head. Izuku’s eyes widened and her gaze snapped towards a dark alley, her attention drawn to something lurking within. It was an unmistakable feeling of beckoning, pulling her closer and closer.

An Angel.

Here? Izuku looked around, frowning. From the looks of things, nobody had noticed it yet. The crowd was still going about their usual business, blissfully unaware of the danger that lurked only meters away from them. The girl’s hand hovered over her pocket, about to call her fellow Magical Girl for backup before deciding against it.

This was an opportunity. Nobody had noticed it yet, and no heroes were on the way. She finally had a chance to properly communicate with one of the strange creatures they’d been fighting thus far.

Izuku took a deep breath to steel herself and stepped into the alley.

Her enhanced senses acclimated to the surroundings immediately, her vision adjusting to the low light levels while her hearing began to pick up the scampering of mice on the ground. The tiny rodents were fleeing, leaping into drains to escape something deeper within the alley.

Izuku gulped but continued to move forward anyway. It was definitely an Angel. A cacophony of scratching and skittering reached her ears and she soon realized there were dozens of rats headed her way, but before she could even get into a defensive stance they flowed around her like a river around a rock.

The rats ignored her, seemingly terrified of the Angel. Venturing deeper within, Izuku soon realized the cause for their fear.

Even in the darkness of the alley the otherworldly creature was easily visible, its amorphous body colored in an odd, vibrant shade of pink. It took Izuku a few seconds to understand what she was looking at, the creature a gigantic mass of translucent, viscous liquid that towered over her small form.

It turned to face her, and she gasped. 

This Angel was what could only be described as a slime, a large pink shoggoth that wobbled and shook with every movement like an oversized bowl of jelly. Thrashing within its liquid body were a bunch of rats, and Izuku watched in horror as the slime reached into the drains and pipes to pull out even more. It shoved them into itself, the poor rodents struggling and squeaking in vain as they were absorbed into its pinkish mass. It was… drowning them in itself. Toying with the creatures and making them panic.

Despite knowing they were filthy vermin Izuku couldn't help but feel sorry for the rats. Memories of the Sludge Villain came rushing back, the painful sensation of drowning on land still fresh in her mind. She immediately made herself known by clearing her throat, announcing her presence.

“Hey, you!” she yelled. “Let them go!”

Beady black eyes turned to Izuku’s direction and focused on her. The Slime Angel rumbled and shook its body, performing a threat display like an animal protecting its territory.

Who are you to tell me what to do , it seemed to ask.

“I said,” Izuku put her hands on her hips, puffing her chest out. “Let. Them. Go.”

She matched the creature’s gaze, daring it to defy her. Both of them knew who was the stronger out of the two and Izuku reasoned that if all the Angels she encountered so far thought like animals, this one did too. To her excitement the Slime Angel broke eye contact first, establishing her as the dominant one. It slowly began releasing the rats from its body, and Izuku could have sworn she saw it sulking like a petulant child while they scurried away.

In the end, the creature was robbed of its playthings… or meals. It turned to Izuku again, clear annoyance rippling off its gelatinous form.

“Now then.” Izuku smiled, standing a little straighter. “Let’s talk, Mr. Angel.”

[x]

Mei’s fingers drummed along the steering wheel, her eyes squinting at the empty road below. 

In the passenger seat was her friend and fellow Praetorian Saiko, the blonde girl idly playing with a butterfly knife while waiting for their intended target to arrive. The two of them were in Mei’s car which was positioned atop a hill overlooking a long, winding one-way road, and it would have been a somewhat romantic scene straight out of the movies if not for the sniper rifle in Mei’s grip and the tactical load bearing vests they both wore.

Click-click, click-click, went Saiko’s knife.

“Would you stop that? I’m trying to think.” Mei grumbled.

“About what? The mission’s simple. Point and shoot.” Saiko said. “Just make sure you don’t hit the merchandise. Remember, the third vehicle.”

“Easier said than done.” Mei grunted. “So we just capture the HVT and the merchandise, and your contact will get you access to the archives?”

“That’s what he promised. He wants the merch undamaged, though. Didn’t say a thing about the others so I’ll consider them collateral damage. Don’t miss.”

“I never miss. What’s got you so worked up about those Magical Girls anyway? To go this far for them ain’t exactly your usual M.O.”

“It’s not just because I don’t want anyone else to go through what we did, Hatsume-san.” Saiko said wistfully, the knife in her hand flipping end-over-end. “Let’s just say it’s a personal interest. I’ll share the details with you once I get them.”

“Fuck you, pay me instead.” Mei shot back with a wry grin, no real heat in her words. “Can’t believe I’m doing this job for free, you know how expensive these bullets are?”

“Let’s hope they’re worth the money, then. We’ve got company.” Saiko said.

A series of lights crested over the road, revealing a convoy of black SUVs. Both girls stepped out of the car. Mei flipped out her rifle’s bipod and got into position while Saiko monitored the convoy with a pair of binoculars, watching as they slowly made their way into the kill-zone. The blonde checked her watch and phone, nodding to herself a moment later.

“How’s our asset?” Mei asked, adjusting the weapon’s scope.

“Ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.” Saiko told her. “Fire when ready.”

“Right. Here we go…”

Mei took a deep breath and steadied her aim. Mei’s custom weapon charged up with an electrical whine, the coilgun taking a moment to power up before splitting the silent night with a deafening crack when she pulled the trigger. A magnetically accelerated .50 BMG round was sent screaming through the air and into the engine block of the lead vehicle in the convoy. The vehicle screeched to a halt, disabled from the shot.

“Hit.” Saiko said calmly. “Next.”

A second crack echoed atop the hill. The rear vehicle was hit this time, a flash of light blooming under its hood when the engine exploded. 

“Good hit.” Saiko whispered, patting her partner on the back. “Let’s roll.”

The column was effectively halted, now dead in the water on the narrow road. It didn’t take long for the occupants to spill out, waving their weapons and firing wildly into the night in retaliation. Mei and Saiko let them waste their ammo for a while before deciding to move in, activating their jetpacks and gliding across the treetops. Saiko reached for the radio atop her right shoulder and tuned in to a specific frequency while high-tech goggles clicked into place over their eyes.

“Agent Nomu, move in.” she said.

“You heard the lady!” Mei yelled. “Tojo, Fuckface, get ‘em!”

Two massive, gray shapes sprinted through the forest beneath them, making a beeline towards the stranded, panicking convoy. They were faster than both Saiko and Mei, meant to soften up their targets before the pair could arrive. A shock and awe tactic.

In the end, it was mostly shock. The two lumbering Agent Nomus burst out of the treeline like rabid dogs, jumping into the fray and smashing anyone who got in their way. These brutes were captured during a HPSC raid, then fitted with special neural interfaces Mei designed and reprogrammed to serve them.

One shoulder-charged into the convoy and flipped the vehicle over, causing the occupants to scream in terror. The other landed feet first on another SUV’s roof, crushing it and everyone within in a shower of blood and shattered glass. Only the third vehicle containing the merchandise was left untouched, just as planned.

The two Nomus were little more than flesh golems, but they served Saiko and Mei’s needs just fine. They were there to soak up most of the damage and sow chaos in the enemy ranks, and they were doing a fantastic job at the moment. Screams of fear cut through the night as the beasts rip and tore, shrugging off Quirk effects and bullets.

When Saiko and Mei landed it was into a scene of pure carnage, the Nomus leaving twisted and mangled bodies in their wake. Annoyingly, the defenders had rallied around the third and central vehicle and were desperately trying to protect it. 

Saiko and Mei opened fire, bounding from cover to cover while using the Nomus to flush them out. The masked defenders fired back, but their semi-auto pistols paled in comparison to the submachine guns the two girls wielded. It didn’t help that they like to hold their guns sideways like the gangsters they were, missing most of their shots. Their ranks began thinning rapidly once Saiko started closing in with her knives, Mei supporting her from range.

“Covering fire!” Mei yelled over the chaos. “Babies, move in!”

To both girls' surprise one of their Nomus exploded into bloody chunks only a moment after advancing, its killer standing amongst a puddle of blood and flesh that’d once been a wall of muscle. He was a thin man in a bird mask, glaring at them as he reached for the ground with all five fingers.

“That’s our HVT. Overhaul sighted.” Saiko confirmed.

“And he just killed Tojo!” Mei complained. “Dammit, I worked hard on him!”

Overhaul’s fingers touched the asphalt. Matter warped at his touch, the road transforming into a surging rampart of spikes that headed straight for them. Saiko and Mei dodged upwards with their jetpacks but their remaining Nomu got caught in the wave, multiple spikes tearing through its muscular body and holding it in place.

Saiko hurled a handful of knives at the man while Mei fired off a burst. They bounced off a makeshift shield that the man created, but it was a mere distraction as they started closing in and flanking from opposite directions.

“Insolent brats!” Overhaul shrieked, fury in his eyes. “Who sent you?!”

“Boss, they’re—agh!”

One of his lieutenants, Chronostasis, made the mistake of peeking out from his cover at the wrong moment. Mei’s aim was straight and true, the girl sending a round right through the masked man’s right shoulder. Overhaul roared and hit the ground, manifesting a forest of spiked tentacles that raced towards the pink Praetorian.

Mei grinned and held her mechanical arm out, a hexagonal pink energy shield blooming to life before her. Overhaul’s attacks bounced off the barrier, leaving her free to press forward aggressively. The Yakuza head was forced to focus on her, inadvertently allowing Saiko to close in. His next attack detonated the car next to Mei and knocked her off balance, spraying her with a fallen man’s insides. She wiped the blood from her eyes and changed mags, getting back into the fight within mere seconds.

Chronostasis got up, his arrow-like hair spearing towards them in a flash of blue light. Saiko simply slid under the attack, already close enough to cut by the time he got his bearings. When he raised his handgun she was already driving a six-inch blade into his ribs, feeling him gasp when the wind was knocked out of him from the impact.

“Chrono!” Overhaul howled.

That was when Mei’s favorite Nomu out of the two, Fuckface, decided to step in. He dropped from the sky like a meteor and landed with a thunderous crash, missing Overhaul by inches and nearly turning the man into paste. Overhaul screamed and impaled the Nomu with another wave of spikes, temporarily stopping it. The behemoth roared, already tearing its way out of the trap while the girls continued pushing forward.

“Boss… Boss!” a black-clad man sobbed, crawling out of an overturned vehicle and towards Overhaul while cradling his bleeding side. Another gangster was busy helping him up.

Saiko recognized him. This was Nemoto Shin, the man with the Confession Quirk. He’d have to be dealt with, but that Quirk of his could prove useful…

“Hatsume-san, I want him alive.”

“Copy.”

Mei landed right in front of them, gun at the ready. The man helping Nemoto up managed to squeeze off a shot with his gun held sideways, but missed Mei completely. She didn’t allow him to correct his aim, a blast of concussive force erupting from her mechanical arm and sending them flying backwards into the cliff wall. Nemoto was knocked out but his buddy was still dazed and confused, searching for his weapon. The girl strode up to him as if she was on a casual walk, pulling out her sidearm and aiming between his eyes.

“The sights are on top for a reason.” Mei said coldly.

A gunshot rang out, signaling the end of any further Yakuza reinforcements. Overhaul was alone now, three opponents bearing down on him mercilessly. He was bleeding from the head, either from a wound one of the Nomus inflicted or the car crash. It was clear he wasn’t in top form and his opponents sensed weakness, drawn to it like sharks smelling blood in the water.

The Yakuza head was running out of gas, and everyone knew it. The only reason he was still fighting instead of fleeing was the merchandise he was protecting, one that Saiko was eager to get her hands on. Overhaul was keeping his distance, constantly spamming spikes and pillars at them… but Saiko was beginning to see the pattern in his attacks. It was so very predictable once she knew what she was looking for.

Once Saiko found the opening, she struck. The girl bobbed and weaved, threading the needle between his defenses. A triumphant smile full of glee bloomed across her face when she got into range, igniting the beam saber in her grip. 

It was a weapon that was elegant in its simplicity, originally a specialized surgical tool meant for cutting through the tough skin of heteromorphs. The concept was simple; an envelope of arcing plasma suspended between an oscillating electromagnetic field, forming a thin blade that could cut through even the toughest organic shells. Saiko brought the weapon down onto Overhaul’s wrists, lopping his hands off in one clean strike.

The man didn’t even have time to react, only letting out a pained gasp of shock and horror when his cauterized stumps hit the ground. His Quirk functioned through his hands, and without them he was essentially powerless. Saiko didn’t allow him to process the situation at all, immediately jabbing a needle into his neck and pushing down on the plunger.

“High-value target neutralized.” Saiko whispered, catching Overhaul’s now unconscious body. “How’s it going on your end, Hatsume-san?”

“I’m alright.” Mei popped out from behind her cover. “Fuckface, you okay?”

The Nomu in question said nothing, more concerned about pulling out the large shards of concrete embedded in its body. Strangely enough, it didn’t seem to be bleeding. Its single eye and puckered mouth twitched for a moment, but it still seemed to be functioning properly.

“Of course you are.” Mei sighed. “Take these two back to the rendezvous point. A HPSC chopper will be arriving shortly to pick you up.”

‘Fuckface’ did as it was told, hefting Overhaul and Nemoto onto its shoulders and sprinting away into the dark forest. The girls walked over to the boot of the undamaged third SUV and popped it open, finding a large, silver luggage case. The merchandise they were after, their bargaining chip. Just as Mei was reaching for it Saiko stopped her, quickly clamping a hand around her friend’s wrist.

“Wait.” Saiko said slowly. “What is that?”

There was something fixed to the back of the case. Cold metal, flat and black. It was wired to the vehicle itself, and the two of them took a step back when they realized what they were looking at. Two pounds of C4. Seven hundred steel ball bearings. The barely visible housing was peeking out, but Saiko could see enough of the words to know what they were.

‘Front Toward Enemy’.

“Hahaha! Sneaky bastard.” Mei grinned, squinting at the claymore mine. “Overhaul’s parting gift.”

“Can you defuse it?” Saiko asked, doing the same. “I’m not in the mood to be swiss cheese today.”

“Sure, sure. Just give me a few moments…”

Mei began to work. Her artificial left hand unfolded into a multitude of tools, the girl gingerly reaching into the workings of the improvised bomb and slowly disabling it. One wrong step and they’d both be blown to kingdom come, but Saiko was confident Mei could do it.

She was right. Only minutes later Mei was done defusing the bomb, wrenching the now harmless plastic explosive out with a carefree tug. The young tinkerer began salvaging the parts, stashing them away for future projects. Both girls spent another ten minutes inspecting the car and luggage case for any further hidden contingencies or traps before finally snapping the lock and opening it.

A tiny, white-haired little girl tumbled out of the case and onto the road, sobbing in terror. Her large, frightened red eyes looked up at Saiko and Mei, backing away on her bandaged hands and feet. She was a small, fragile thing that curled into herself, hugging her knees. The two girls exchanged a glance and got down on a knee together, Saiko extending a gloved hand.

“Hello, Eri-chan.”

[x]

Izuku couldn’t believe what she had done.

It was unbelievably reckless, not to mention dangerous. No one in their right mind would do what she just did, but it was getting late and the Slime Angel was starting to get more interested in the crowd outside the alley than hearing her out.

So she brought it home. 

Izuku groaned as she shut the door behind her, putting her backpack down. It unzipped itself and the shrunken Slime Angel rolled out, immediately beginning to explore its new surroundings with eager curiosity. A pair of pseudopods shaped almost like rabbit ears sprouted from the top of its head, the slime starting to touch everything.

“What the—hey!” Izuku protested when it grabbed an All Might figurine. “Careful, that's a limited edition!”

It obeyed and put the figure down before looking around again. The Slime Angel could somehow change its size, the giant monstrosity in the back alley having shrunk down to the size of a cat. It continued crawling around Izuku’s room and examining everything it came across, fascinated by her belongings. It seemed to be particularly interested in All Might, making a beeline for a table where Izuku displayed many of her collectibles.

She quickly stood in front of it to protect her precious figurines, but the slime simply produced a set of writhing tentacles that coiled around her limbs. They were cool to the touch and surprisingly dry, hugging her arms and legs like a quartet of gummy snakes. Thankfully, nothing lewd happened since the Angel was still interested in the figurines, the creature lifting Izuku up and putting her aside like how one would rearrange furniture. The creature stopped at the table and stretched itself upward to get a better look, peeking at the small army of All Mights.

“Huh.” Izuku said, observing it carefully. “You like All Might?”

It said nothing, not having a mouth nor vocal cords. Soon it got bored and started wandering around the room again, occasionally taking an interest in Izuku’s belongings. Now that she got a good look, it was actually kind of cute.

The girl retrieved a nearby bag of potato chips and wiggled one in front of the creature, wondering what it ate. Beady black eyes stared at the chip for a moment before ignoring it completely. She didn’t expect it to be so… docile. All the Angels she’d met so far either terrorized their surroundings or minded their own business, and this one seemed like it belonged to the latter category. Izuku’s attention was pulled back to reality when she noticed the slime squeezing itself under the door, attempting to escape.

“Oh no you don’t!” Izuku huffed.

She quickly but carefully grabbed and pulled it into her arms, cradling the creature like a baby. It struggled and squirmed in her grip, but eventually relaxed after realizing Izuku wasn’t going to let go anytime soon. Like it or not, it knew she was the superior of the two and was submissive to her.

Izuku sighed, sitting down onto the bed. All of her earlier questioning was for naught since the two of them were too different. The Angel understood her commands, but not her questions. It was comparable to a dog that could barely interpret what its owner wanted, associating words and commands with specific orders, but not truly communicating on the same level. 

The young girl gently pulled at the slime in her lap, causing it to stretch like taffy. It didn’t seem to mind. She poked at it, and it glanced upward at her before looking away again.

“What am I gonna do with you…” Izuku groaned, letting her shoulders fall.

The Slime Angel wobbled in her lap in response, jiggling like an oversized bowl of pudding. Izuku began petting it, wondering if it was enjoying her company. 

“I can’t just keep calling you Slime Angel.” Izuku thought aloud. “Do you have a name?”

It didn’t reply, instead using its tentacles to search under Izuku’s bed. There it found some of her workout equipment and started playing with them, easily hefting the heavy weights into the air. It put them down after a few moments and started searching again before Izuku drew its attention away by giving it another gentle poke.

“Hmmm, what should I call you?” Izuku wondered. “Slimy? No, too gross. Pinky, because you’re pink?”

That somehow got the Angel’s attention. It rotated about to face Izuku, watching her face intently with its beady little eyes.

“Pudding? Hm… Wait, I’ve got it!” Izuku exclaimed, bopping a fist into her palm. “I’ll call you Jello!”

It reached up and poked at Izuku’s forehead with a tentacle. There was a suction cup on its end, the appendage sticking to her skin.

“Eh? What are you do—”

The room flickered and the creature's eyes began to glow with an eerie, unearthly light. Glimmering particles swirled around it like a miniature sandstorm, surprising Izuku with the sudden movement. She jumped when a sudden, incredibly loud booming voice echoed in her head.

PINKY.

Izuku stood in shock, causing the slime to leap off her lap and onto the floor. There the two of them stared at each other for a few moments, the girl’s breathing quickening by the second.

“Y-you can talk?! How… why… wait.” Izuku blinked. “The tentacle?”

The newly christened ‘Pinky’ said nothing, waiting for her to make a move. Izuku picked it… him up and held it up to eye level, trying to replicate what just happened.

“Can you talk, Pinky?” she asked.

Silence continued to plague the room, but the slime wiggled its tentacles at her. Izuku stopped and wondered if she should. She really, really shouldn’t… but her curiosity won over. 

“Alright.” Izuku took a deep breath. “Show me.”

Long, coiling tentacles sprouted from Pinky’s body once more. Izuku’s breath hitched when they coiled around her waist and limbs but she put her trust in the creature, knowing deep down that it wasn’t trying to hurt her. Pinky lifted her into the air and gently pressed its forehead against hers. It closed its eyes, and so did Izuku.

There was the odd sensation of being dumped into a bath of ice water, followed by what felt like a light electric shock running up her spine. Light and images flashed across her mind’s eye, Pinky’s thoughts and memories transmitted to her brain at the speed of thought.

Izuku gasped. Most of it was incomprehensible colors, sounds, and feelings, the girl a tiny green speck in a sea of endless pink. She could feel Pinky’s influence, the creature extending a thought-anchor for her to hold on to. She did, and began to see what it saw, to understand its memories.

Anger. Frustration. Bitterness.

She sifted through them, past the veil of negativity. Behind that were memories… human memories. The image of a man yelling at her flashed into existence.

‘ —get out of here! No muties allowed.’

‘Quirkist prick! Come on, Ashido-san. We’re leaving!'

A spike of disbelief thundered through Izuku. Pinky was once human?

No. A strong feeling of refusal and wrongness answered her query. The Slime was trying to tell her something, showing one memory after another in a rapid sequence of flashing images and sounds. It was like a video was being played in her head, skipping forward at random intervals.

A memory of a classroom, followed by what looked like a dance class. It didn’t take long for Izuku to realize she was viewing the memories from a first-person point of view, watching through another’s eyes. Pink arms stretched before her, cutting through the air in a beautiful flair.

Izuku watched, fascinated. Another memory showed the owner of those pink arms using her Quirk, droplets of viscous liquid splattering onto a rock. Whatever the liquid touched smoked and melted, reduced to a pile of goo. Acid. Whoever this person was, their Quirk made acid.

A rumble of contentment and agreement touched Izuku’s mind. The girl frowned, trying to understand. The answer was so close, right at the top of her mind. Pinky kept showing her more memories of those pink hands unleashing the acid Quirk, the unique smell and sizzling sound repeating again and again in her head.

Acid? Izuku thought. Is that what you’re trying to tell me? You can use acid?

Agreement, then frustration. Not quite the right answer. She already knew that Pinky wasn’t the person in the memories. He was…

He was…

You are the Acid. Izuku realized. That's what you’re trying to tell me.

Unrestrained delight assaulted Izuku’s mind and senses, a dizzying blast of emotion that nearly washed her away. The girl held on, still in disbelief even as the entity’s waves of joy rolled off her.

You’re a Quirk.

Another memory was transmitted to her. This one was of the pink hands gripping a hairbrush, running a hand through light, curly hair. The owner of those hands was humming a small tune to herself, starting to comb through her hair. To Izuku’s surprise she could feel it, the tugging sensation all too familiar. This wasn’t a memory, but a live feed. A gasp escaped her lips and the owner of those pink hands jolted in surprise, looking around in confusion until they found a mirror.

A pink-skinned teenage girl was looking back at Izuku, her large, frightened eyes dyed black from a slight heteromorph mutation.

“Who’s there?”

Izuku’s vision blurred and spun into a rainbow of colors, suddenly dragged back into the real world. She was in her room again, coughing and sputtering. Pinky lowered her to the ground gently, his tentacles retreating while he hovered into the air. 

“You’re a Quirk!” Izuku exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder. “Wow! You’re… wow! And you can fly now!”

It was closer to floating than flying, really. Pinky hovered in the air, having taken the shape of an orb. Izuku didn’t miss how it now sparkled a little with its own pink Glitter, identical to the forcefield that powered most of her abilities. A quick check ensured that Pinky didn’t steal any of her power; he replicated it. The creature began bumping against the walls and ceilings like a pinball even as Izuku breathed a sigh of relief.

Then the gears started to turn in her head. Izuku frowned, connecting the dots. Pinky replicated her Glitter… no, he probably already had it already. In the moment that their minds were connected he must have learned how to use it to fly from her. That meant all the other Angels had their own forcefields too. 

The other Angels. They’re Quirks too. All this time we’ve been fighting people’s Quirks? Where did they come from, and why are they here? What is even happening?!

Trembling hands came up and ran through golden blonde locks, and cold, icy dread began forming a pit in her stomach. A single, terrible thought just occurred to her. Miracle and Mustard were so effective in defeating Angels because their opposing forcefields interfered with theirs. But that meant… both of them were the same.

She remembered how she got the power to turn into a Magical Girl. That wounded girl on the bridge. The iron taste of her blood. The brilliant rainbow in the midst of a deep, endless abyss. A beautiful, powerful body, surrounded by glittering particles, summoned from an ‘alternate space’.

“Am… Am I an Angel?” Izuku's voice was a tiny whisper, her small body shaking under the revelation. “Am I a Quirk?”

Only silence answered her, the truth hanging above her head like a sword.

[x]

Thousands of kilometers away, a soundless bolt of rainbow lightning split the air.

It hit the sea of Japan, the water sizzling and bubbling from the impact. The air rippled with a shriek of shattering glass, thick lines of darkness branching out in empty space. A crack in the world, an opening to nowhere.

From that nowhere, something reached out. What emerged from the darkness was a creature black as night, its entire body thin and streamlined to resemble a long, wicked knife. Six silver tubes lined its back, like spiracles of some giant insect. Blue exhaust flared from the openings, and the creature broke into a world not of its own. Free to wander and do as it pleased.

The Quirk turned its attention towards the land, a single red eye studying the city on the coastline. It considered heading there immediately, then did a little more thinking. Why rush things? It’d been rushing since the moment it gained awareness. Maybe it should slow down, enjoy itself a little. The creature beheld its new surroundings, and made the closest approximation to a smile. Two words thundered in its thoughts as it raced into the sky.

Ŗ̵̪̽ẽ̸͕̮̯̪̜̿͘͠ć̶̼̖̰̋͝͝i̶̛̖̳̠͆̌̊͘p̸̥̓̋͒̂͊r̷̖̮̒̈́o̵̢̰̮̟̞̾ ̴̨̰̟̈̕B̸͙͚͗̓͒́ṳ̶̥͚̠̒̇̆̾r̶̢͙͔͕̭͑͊͐s̷̞͉͙͂̇̈t̵̝̣̓̿.̴͖̙́͊

[Chapter 6 End]

[Pic related, it's Pinky and Mina.]

Chapter Text

“So let me get this straight.” Matsuda sipped her coffee. “You brought an Angel, one of those monsters that’s been terrorizing Japan and embarrassing heroes, into your home.”

“W-well. It seemed like a good idea at the time?” Izuku stammered.

Matsuda continued to look unamused. The two of them were in one of Musutafu City’s many cafes, currently wondering what to do about the recent revelations Izuku discovered thanks to his new friend, Pinky. The Slime Angel was originally sitting in Izuku’s huge yellow backpack but crawled up onto the table during their discussion, now sucking up his glass of iced tea through a straw. 

“If you say so, dude.” Matsuda grumbled. “Why are you in your male form, by the way?”

“Oh, I’ve made it a point to change back sometimes so I don’t forget who I am.” Izuku said, petting Pinky absentmindedly. “That, and our alternate forms might be the cause for these Angels appearing.”

That got Matsuda’s attention. The girl perked up, sitting a little straighter.

“What do you mean?” 

“I connected the dots with what Pinky here showed me. Think about it. The Angels are Quirks. They come out of nowhere as if by magic, and are incredibly resilient to all forms of physical damage… sound familiar?”

“They’re like us.” Matsuda realized, nodding in apprehension. “Wait, is that why we’re so effective in fighting them compared to regular heroes?”

“I guess so.” Izuku said. “Since Pinky here has his own Glitter forcefield, I’m willing to bet the Angels have it too. Ours interferes with theirs, like how an electromagnetic pulse messes with computers.”

A dry sucking noise broke them out of their discussion. Both he and Matsuda turned to stare at Pinky, who was slurping up the last remnants of Izuku's ice tea. The boy promptly picked up a muffin from his plate and placed it on Pinky’s head, the slime enveloping it moments later. They watched with interest as it began to dissolve within the creature’s translucent, gelatinous body.

“Huh. So, uh, where do they come from?” Matsuda asked.

“I wish I knew. Pinky can’t actually speak, he just showed me some of his memories.” Izuku said. “Or rather, his host’s memories.”

“Of course he belongs to someone.” the brunette hummed. “I wonder if they’ll be able to give us some answers…”

“I doubt it. She seemed like a normal girl our age. Pink skin, black eyes, and horns.” Izuku shook his head. “Even with those distinct features, trying to find one girl in this city would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

“What makes you so certain she’s even here? She might not even be in Japan.”

“Good point. However, I do think Pinky’s host is in this country for two reasons.” Izuku leaned in a little closer. “One, she spoke Japanese in the memories I saw. Two, every Angel we’ve encountered so far has been in Japan. In other words, these ‘Angel Attacks’ are localized incidents.”

“Which adds to the theory that we’re the cause. If we’re drawn to them, they might be drawn to us too. The Angels started appearing right after we got these powers, too.” Matsuda said quietly, looking at her hands. “Well, fuck.”

“Maybe, maybe not. As far as I can tell, none of the Angels have actively sought us out. They seemed to be more interested in destruction and exploring their surroundings.” Izuku muttered, writing in his notebook while he spoke. “In any case, we could test things out by not transforming for a while—”

“Hell no.” Matsuda scowled. “Dude, I may not like being feminine but I like being in this form. It's better than being… me. How about we try to find the source of these things instead?”

“That works too.” Izuku agreed reluctantly, touching his cheek and wincing. “Ow.”

Matsuda raised a brow, inspecting the boy’s face. Izuku tried to hide it but she didn’t let him, leaning forward to get a closer look before she backed off. The bruise on his cheek throbbed and Izuku looked away in shame, eyes suddenly glued to the tabletop.

“What happened?”

“I-It’s nothing.”

“Did your mom hit you?”

“W-wha—no! I just… it was just trouble in school.” Izuku blurted out.

Just like usual. Bakugo had shoved him hard in the school hallway earlier, introducing Izuku’s face to the classroom’s doorframe. Everyone, even the teacher, pretended not to notice and classes just went on as per normal. 

Matsuda scowled, retrieving a small case from her bag. Opening it, he was surprised to find that she was carrying makeup.

“Eh? I thought you didn’t like being feminine.” Izuku mumbled.

“This isn’t what you think it's for.” she shot back. “Turn your face this way.”

After a few minutes of brushing and powdering Matsuda pulled away, showing Izuku his reflection with a pocket mirror. The boy was stunned at how well the bruise was concealed, the ugly purple blemish on his face now reduced to only a slight darkening shade on his skin.

“How did you—”

“People don’t bother you as much when they can’t see that you’re weak.” Matsuda closed the makeup case with a snap. “They’ll pounce on injured prey like lions on a gazelle. People are animals, man.”

“I… I see.” Izuku nodded, knowing all too well what she was talking about.

“I guess it’s the same for these guys.” Matsuda gave Pinky a cautionary poke. “They’re animals too, and they follow the law of the jungle. A wolf doesn’t care for the opinions of sheep, and I guess that’s why they treat Japan like a playground.”

A moment of silence passed as Izuku contemplated the idea. It did make sense, in a roundabout sort of way. 

“Law of the jungle, huh…” Izuku muttered. 

“But if we’re the same type of entity as these Angels, you know what that makes us Magical Girls?”

“What?”

“Apex predators.” Matsuda’s eyes glinted. “Top of the food chain, baby.”

Izuku blinked. Was that why some Angels were visibly alarmed just by seeing them? It must have been. Then there were those who fought, probably to challenge their strength and positions as ‘alphas’. The boy cupped his chin, now deep in thought. Maybe that was why they were causing destruction—perhaps it was their way of marking their territory? But they refused to hurt innocent people… because other Quirks were inside them? There had to be a link somewhere, but he just wasn’t seeing it.

Nevertheless, having Pinky with them proved to be useful in the end. His very existence gave them some clues as to what was really going on, but there were still so many unknowns. This was merely the first step in stopping the Angels for good.

“Think about it.” Matsuda said, snapping Izuku back to reality. “If we really are Angels, we’re the two of the strongest ones who came over from the ‘other side’. I suppose that girl who saved us was the first.”

“If only she were here to tell us what’s happening.” Izuku shook his head. “She was running from those monsters that night too. Other Angels?”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Matsuda shrugged. 

“These powers must be for a reason.” Izuku’s hand tightened around his empty cup. “We have to finish what she started and stop the Angels.”

“Pfft. Now you’re sounding like a real Magical Girl! Like—” She stopped all of a sudden, golden eyes narrowing at something behind him. “Fuck.”

Izuku followed her gaze to a waiter serving another customer a few tables away. Matsuda clenched her fists atop the table, her nails carving short but deep grooves into wood. Fury and seething anger radiated from her eyes and she stood, intending to leave.

“I gotta go.” she said, snatching her bag off the chair.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Izuku asked, worried. “Is that someone you know?”

“Don’t.” Matsuda hissed, her expression hurt and angry. “I just… I can’t be here anymore. See you tomorrow or something, dude.”

She stormed off, leaving Izuku alone with Pinky. The Slime seemed to have noticed Matsuda’s anger, wobbling and twitching eerily until Izuku quickly scooped him up and placed him into his backpack. Could he sense emotions or something? The boy’s gaze turned back to the waiter, who looked to be one of those popular kids in school. He was a pretty-boy with small horns peeking out from his temples. Izuku’s gaze darkened.

A bully, maybe? From Matsuda’s reaction it seemed that way.

Izuku left with Pinky soon after, having lost his appetite.

[x]

Aizawa Shota was not exactly having a good evening.

He spun on his heel, dodging the powerful hammer swing that would have split his head open like a ripe watermelon in the summer heat. With that momentum Aizawa struck, his signature wrap scarf coiling around his opponent’s foot.

The massive, red-armored villain let out a roar of frustration. Tension stretched the binding cloth tight when Aizawa pulled and caused the villain to stumble, his hair rising as Erasure activated. A pair of glowing blue orbs behind the hammer fizzled out, and what should have been an explosive blow that would rupture the asphalt beneath them became a regular swing instead, cracking the road instead of blowing it up.

Unfortunately, Erasure’s nullification didn’t work on heteromorphs like the villain Aizawa was facing. His opponent was absolutely massive and stood at two meters tall, clad in heavy armor that was overlaid with shimmering, holographic panels. The worst kind of adversary for his Quirk.

But no good hero was a one-trick pony.

Aizawa fought dirty, scattering caltrops all across the floor. He was outmatched in terms of pure strength, and one hit from the villain would shatter his bones like cheap porcelain. No getting through that thick armor either. All he could do was evade and trip his opponent, attempting to use the large mutant’s weight against him.

He didn’t expect it when a set of four glowing rings lit up around the villain’s hammer, the weapon hitting the ground in a thunderous shockwave. Orange lighting raced across the ground in screaming arcs, forcing Aizawa to jump. A quick glance made him realize the villain’s Quirk was still suppressed, but his hammer stored ‘charges’ of his power somehow.

A cry of shock came from behind him, Aizawa whirling around to see a woman spasming on the spot. She’d been standing too close and was hit by the lighting wave from the electrical hammer, the smartphone in her hand still recording the fight. Aizawa cursed and leapt at her while the villain charged forward, intending to take her hostage.

Pain flared across his body when the electric current surging through her sparked into him as well, the nosy civilian falling unconscious in his arms. He tried to move but his legs were stunned and refused to respond; so all he could do was shield the woman with his own body when the hammer came down on both of them. Aizawa grit his teeth and prepared for impact.

The hammer halted right before it hit his face, stopped by a dainty, gloved hand. Aizawa stiffened, his eyes trailing up the limb and finding a Magical Girl with poofy, emerald hair.

“Hey, man.” Miracle said to the villain, giving him a cheerful nod.

Even the villain seemed confused, right until Miracle slugged him in the face. She hit like a speeding freight train barreling down the track, that single punch sending the armored mutant villain crashing through a reinforced concrete wall. Aizawa spotted the visible dent in the man’s armored helmet as he slumped downwards, knocked out from the impact.

What incredible power. This girl seemed to be as strong as All Might himself.

Glancing down at the woman in his arms, he did a quick check to ensure that her heart was still beating. Miracle floated a little closer, eyebrows creased together with worry.

“Is she alright?”

“She’ll be fine.” Aizawa breathed a sigh of relief.

He raised an eyebrow when she floated away and picked up the villain’s electrical hammer, giving it a few experimental swings. The weapon weighed at least twenty kilograms by Aizawa’s estimation, but here she was playing with it as if it was made of cheap plastic. It landed with a heavy thump when she dropped it, flying away once she noticed the police and more heroes closing in.

“Eraser Head! Fine work, sir—” a young hero began, jogging up to him.

“Take her.” Aizawa gently pushed the unconscious woman into his arms, and began running.

“Wha—sir, where are you going?”

“After a problem child.”

Aizawa leapt across rooftops and swung from lamposts. He soon spotted Miracle hovering above the street, wearing a large, yellow backpack. It was laughably easy to track her when she wasn’t flying at top speed since she left a literal trail behind her, the ethereal, sparkling particles that surrounded her hanging in her wake like the glitter children used in art class. 

He soon caught up to her, watching as she scanned the surroundings as if she was looking for something. It seemed that she was on patrol, the Magical Girl noticing him when he landed on the rooftop beside her with a thud.

“Miracle.” Aizawa said sternly.

“Hello. Oh, you’re the hero from before.” she waved at him courteously before narrowing her eyes. “Hmm? Wait a minute. You’re Eraser Head, aren’t you?”

The girl reached for something behind her, and so did Aizawa. He was gripping the handle of his knife and preparing to unsheathe it, until the girl blurred forward at him with… a shabby-looking notebook?

“U-um, can I please have your autograph?” Miracle stammered.

“What.”

“I-I mean, if it’s okay with you…”

Aizawa sighed and let the tension flow out of his body, relaxing slightly. Miracle let out a delighted squeal when he signed it for her, the girl hugging the burnt notebook like a precious treasure. Now that she was this close he could get a good look at her, and he was surprised that she was so… small. She really was just a kid.

“Thank you so much, Eraser Head!” Miracle smiled, putting her book away. “It’s a real honor to meet you, sir! I mean, I don’t have any of your merch but I do have a limited edition trading card pack with you included—”

The Erasure Hero raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t even aware he had merch. Much to his surprise Miracle continued to chatter like an excited groupie and started listing down his accomplishments, only stopping when he held out a hand.

“Save it. What are you doing here, problem child?” 

“Well, um, I live here? Wait, I probably shouldn’t be telling that to a stranger.”

“No, I mean…” Aizawa could feel his brows knitting together. “What are you doing patrolling the streets? Isn’t this a school night, young lady?”

“It’s okay, I always finish my homework early. Besides, I’m looking for Angels and bad guys!” Miracle said casually, as if mentioning what day of the week it was. “Mustard and I make quick work of them.”

“Problem child…”

“I’m not a child.” Miracle pouted. “I’m fourteen!”

“That only makes things worse.” Aizawa said, a headache building behind his eyes. “Why don’t you go home and do whatever it is that normal kids do. Study for school. Worry about your outfit for tomorrow. Talk about boys with your friends. Stop your vigilantism as soon as you can, or the Hero Association will only crack down on your actions even harder.”

“I can’t. I have to fight the Angels and send them back to where they came from.” 

Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose, cursing Nezu’s name for assigning him to investigate the Magical Girls. Not only was this girl stubborn, she was also blunt. He really, really didn’t like dealing with kids. 

“Um, please don’t attack me. Especially not with your Quirk.” Miracle said nervously, eyes flickering down at the road far below them. “I use mine to fly so if you erase it, I’ll fall. Like, to my death.”

“You said something about where the Angels come from.” Aizawa refocused, gaze hardening. “What do you know about these creatures?”

“Not much, really. All I can say is that they come from this ‘alternate space’, and I’m trying to find out how to stop them from appearing.” Miracle looked away, fidgeting in the air. “Please tell us if you find any, Mustard and I are working on nonviolent ways to send them home. They only attack people if provoked.”

“Alternate space?” Aizawa repeated. “They have a source, a creator?”

Miracle opened her mouth to reply but jolted when a long, jelly-like tentacle creeped out of her backpack and poked her in the face.

“Pinky, stay put!” she said quickly, bopping the tentacle and causing it to retreat.

“What is that?”

“Nothing! Um, nothing at all!”

Aizawa’s mind connected the dots. A Magical Girl… usually had a mascot animal. Miracle squirmed under his intense gaze and began backing off, giving him a nervous smile.

“I, er, got to go!” she mumbled, waving goodbye. “Keep up the good work, Eraser Head! Thanks for protecting the neighborhood and, um, the autograph!”

She rocketed away before Aizawa could get a word in, turning into a glimmering dot in the distance within seconds. The tired-looking man let out a grunt of annoyance, raising his goggles so he could apply a few eyedrops. At least he’d learned something about the mysterious beings attacking Japan, but he got the feeling the Magical Girl would be a major pain in his neck.

Kids and pets. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

[x]

“Kenji, what the fuck is this?”

Matsuda was silent when the clothes hit the floor with a plop, his father’s furious gaze rooting him to the ground like a spotlight beam of rage. They were clothes, alright… female clothes. He could see the pleated skirt he wore in his female form alongside a pair of thigh-highs he’d been planning to try. At least the ‘Deep Dope’ shirt was unisex.

The boy knew what this looked like, what his father was thinking. He struggled for an answer, knowing silence was the worst one of all. Thinking fast, he decided to try and bullshit his way out. 

“It’s for my p-personal study, dad.” Matsuda blurted out. “For fashion design.”

“You’re still going on about that trash?” the man growled, picking up the clothes. “At least you ain’t prancing around in these like one of ‘em freaks and f——.”

Matsuda tried not to wince as the sound of tearing cloth filled the air, his father ruining his belongings utterly and completely. They were then tossed at his feet, and spat on as if they were garbage. Those were the clothes he’d bought together with Izuku…

“How many times do I have to say this? Why can’t you get it through your thick fuckin’ head, huh?!” Matsuda’s father bellowed, jabbing the boy in the forehead roughly. “You’re a fucking man. Stop doing all this namby-pamby girly bullshit! What kind of man wants to be a goddamn fashion designer? Every one of those losers I see on TV are weirdos and creeps who touch children. Especially that fruit Best Jeanist, I bet he…”

Matsuda tuned him out, weathering the homophobic slurs and nasty comments on Best Jeanist’s hair. Personally he had nothing against gay people and even thought the hero’s hair looked pretty good. The world suddenly blurred before him and he crashed against the wall, reeling from the powerful slap.

“Are you listening to me, boy?!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Sure as hell didn’t look like it. A fuckin’ fashion designer, are you kidding me? You good-for-nothing little shit!” he thundered, alcohol on his breath. “You wanna live among those fuckin’ degenerates, suckin’ some fool’s dick just to survive? No son of mine is ever gonna be one of those freaks!”

His massive hand clamped around Matsuda’s neck like a vice, hefting him into the air like a child’s toy. The boy let out a pained gasp when his back impacted the wall, driving the air out of his lungs.

“D-dad, please.” Matsuda choked, fingers clawing at his neck. “Y-you’re hurting me…”

Purple gas was starting to seep from his skin in panic, but it simply drifted past Matsuda’s senior’s face harmlessly. The man’s eyes were bloodshot, teeth yellowed and stained from constant smoking. 

“Dad…” Matsuda whimpered.

“Look at you. LOOK AT YOU!” he roared right in his face. “So small and fuckin’ weak, barely even a man! If it weren’t for your gas Quirk, I wouldn’t even have thought you were mine. You’re useless, less than useless! When I was your age, I was working two jobs! What the fuck are you doing with your life, boy?! Don’t you realize that no one is coming to save you? You have to be. A. Fucking. Man!”

Matsuda was crying, sobbing. His vision was blurring, darkness clouding the edges as the life was choked out of him. It was true. He was weak, he couldn’t fight back. He didn’t know how, and even if he did he was too powerless…

Something within him was screaming. A little voice, calling out for blood. To be set free.

Kill him. Use my power. Kill him now. 

Matsuda couldn’t understand what was happening. His father wrapped both hands around his neck and started squeezing hard, still ranting and raving in his face drunkenly. The boy’s lungs burned, begging for air.

“See how weak you are? How I could crush you like a bug?! This is the real world, Kenji! This is what happens when you don’t act like a man! The weak should fear the strong, and you’re at the bottom of the food chain. If you wanna be fuckin’ prey, then I’m going to treat you like it!”

Predator… and prey? Matsuda’s thoughts spun round and around.

I can save you. Let me out. Do it.

The kettle was screaming, rattling atop the stovetop. He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. The man was taking his time, slowly driving his thumbs deep and crushing the boy’s trachea. 

“You wanna be like a woman, is that it? Living an easy fuckin’ life while the world bends over backwards for you? Wake the fuck up!” Matsuda’s father spat. “You are not a fucking bimbo! Some whore can sell her body to make money and still have a future, you don’t have a future if you keep doing this stupid shit! What the hell is wrong with you?! When will you finally man up and be the son I wanted you to be and stop being such a disappointment?”

His legs kicked in the air, bouncing off the man’s distended belly uselessly. Matsuda’s desperate clawing didn’t even break the skin, his arms too short to reach his father’s face. A part of him realized that he was going to die. Another wondered if Izuku, his only friend, would be sad that he died. Probably not. He had no one, no one at all. Nobody loved him in this cold, painful world. Izuku should have just let him die that night on the bridge—

“Why can’t you just be normal?!”

Mommy, Daddy, the little birdie’s so cute, isn’t it?

The little voice wrenched at Matsuda’s mind with a scream of boiling rage.

KILL THIS FUCKING ASSHOLE!

Matsuda gathered the tiny amount of air still left in his lungs, and spoke a single word through the tears.

“Henshin.”

[x]

Izuku got the call at 1:00 am, awakening from a deep slumber thanks to his cheery little ringtone. He picked up his smartphone and answered, rubbing his eyes groggily.

“Hello?” Izuku mumbled.

“Midoriya-kun? Izuku?” Matsuda’s female voice spoke on the other end, unsteady. “I… I think I fucked up, man. Big time.”

Izuku sat up straighter, now fully awake.

“Matsuda-san? What’s going on? An Angel?”

“No, I… I did something that I can’t take back. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Matsuda cried out, voice panicky. “He was… and I… I… There’s nothing left…”

“What’s going on?” Izuku asked again, confused. “Matsuda-san, are you okay?”

“No I’m not fucking okay!” she shrieked, causing him to recoil. “I just… I just wanted him to disappear, and—”

“Huh? Who are you talking about?” Izuku flicked on the lights, getting ready to transform and fly over. “Matsuda-san? Kenji?”

Silence hung over the line, and Izuku froze. When Matsuda spoke again, it was with a voice of absolute calm. 

“Ah, it’s fine. I just handled it.” Matsuda said, the hairs on the back of Izuku’s neck standing at the sudden shift in tone. “Don’t worry, Midoriya-kun. It’s alright now.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Shhhh. It’s pretty late, you should go back to sleep.” Matsuda whispered. “You know what, I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. How about we hang out again at the cafe we went to earlier?”

“Huh? But I thought you didn’t want to go back there…” Izuku said.

“It’s fine. Their coffee was pretty good, wasn’t it? See you tomorrow, Midoriya-kun.”

The call ended with a click, leaving Izuku staring at his phone with worry. Something happened, he was sure of it. Then there was the fact that she was in her female form, and he recalled her saying she wouldn’t be caught dead in it at home. But if Matsuda herself said that everything was alright…

Izuku bit his lip. He knew better than to pry, especially since there were times where he felt like being left alone too. For now there was nothing to do but leave her be until the two of them met the next day.

He didn’t sleep much that night, worrying for his friend.

Before Izuku knew it the morning had arrived, the alarm waking both him and Pinky up. The slime jumped at the sudden noise, spilling out of the makeshift bed-basket Izuku had placed him in the night before. Pinky hid under the bed, and Izuku had to slowly pry him out while reassuring him that everything was okay.

After a quick shower he got dressed, ready to head out. Before he went he made sure to check on his mother, noting that she was still asleep. Pinky peeked into the room but lost interest once he found nothing interesting within, nestling within Izuku’s arms. He put the creature back in its basket and gave it a few simple instructions.

“Stay here.” Izuku told it, wagging a finger for emphasis. “Try not to leave this room unless there’s an emergency. My mom doesn’t know you’re here so, um, try not to be seen. Here’s some food and water…”

He placed a bowl of water and a pack of opened biscuits next to Pinky. The slime looked at them, then back at Izuku. Pinky did a little wiggle and seemed to fall asleep in his basket. Izuku smiled and headed off.

Matsuda was already waiting at the same table they were at yesterday, but there was something different about her. Something about the way she smiled at Izuku when he arrived was off. Her eyes seemed even more catlike than usual, golden pupils staring him down with a strange intensity.

“Hello, Midoriya-kun.”

“Hello, Matsuda-san.” Izuku said, sitting down. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yes. You see, I did a whole lot of thinking yesterday after I had a little… incident. What do you think decides the norm, what society sees as normal?” she asked, sipping at her coffee. 

“Normal?” Izuku blinked. “Well, societal pressure I guess?”

“Bingo. But here’s the thing, Midoriya-kun. There are always exceptions to the norm.” Matsuda grinned. “We are that exception. The strongest there is.”

“Matsuda-san?” Izuku ventured, nervous.

“Even the Angels can’t handle us. If the heroes can’t beat them it means we’re stronger by default, right? They can’t stop us. Hell, I don’t think anyone can. In other words, there’s nothing stopping us from doing whatever we want. It’s hard to live in this world and I figured out that maybe instead of living according to its rules, we should live by our own. We’re strong enough for it, after all.”

The semi-scowl that Matsuda always wore was missing. Instead, the way she was smiling now reminded Izuku of a cat playing with a baby bird. A chill ran down his spine, dread pooling in his gut. There was something very wrong here, his instincts screaming at him to run.

“Matsuda-san? I, um, Kenji-kun?” Izuku asked. “D-did something bad happen?”

“My dad died yesterday.” Matsuda smiled. “And I killed him.”

It was as if time itself slowed to a crawl, Izuku’s breath catching in his throat. The words didn’t seem real, said between the hustle and bustle of the cafe, unnoticed by anyone except for him. From the way she said it he could tell she was absolutely serious, yet the boy still refused to believe what he’d just heard.

“He was hurting me. Always hurting me. Last night he nearly killed me.” Matsuda stared at him, unblinking. “So I killed him first. I wish I’d made him burn longer, he died too quickly.”

“W-what are you saying? T-t-this is some kind of joke, right?” Izuku whispered. “Matsuda-san, what you’re saying isn’t normal!”

“Normal? Who gets to decide that? Was me getting bullied and beaten every single day normal? A life of hell on earth, normal?” Matsuda hissed, trembling with rage. “It was normal for them, not me. No. I refuse to be weak anymore. I’m strong, and I’ll make sure everyone knows it. You see that guy behind you?”

Izuku turned to look, seeing the waiter she mentioned yesterday. The tall pretty-boy with the horns growing out his temples.

“That asshole’s one of the people who tormented me in class. Beat me up, took my money, my pride…” Matsuda’s fingers curled into hooks. “So I’m gonna take his life.”

Izuku’s blood ran cold. His mind spun into action, making a thousand plans dedicated to breaking Matsuda out of whatever rage-fueled trance she was caught in, but they all crumbled into nothingness in seconds. He knew that look on her face, having seen it in the mirror once. She finally had enough of it all, and had nothing more to lose.

“Kenji-kun, stop. Don’t do this. Don’t—”

Matsuda stood and transformed, summoning her Magical Girl regalia. Ribbons of flowing purple light surrounded her for a moment, catching the attention of people nearby. Izuku’s jaw dropped, and so did the coffee pot the waiter was holding. It hit the ground with a crash and spilled its contents all over the floor. Even that went unnoticed as people began pulling out their phones, taking pictures of the popular local vigilante, Magical Girl Mustard.

“M-Mustard?” the horned boy, Matsuda’s bully, gasped. “Oh my gosh, I’m a huge fan! Damn, can I get a selfie? My little sis is gonna love this!”

“Is that so?” Mustard whispered. 

She hovered into the air and towards him, ignoring the cheers of delight from all around them. Izuku could only watch, frozen in horror at what was about to happen. She couldn’t be. Not in a public place like this, with all these people watching—

“You shouldn’t have spilled the coffee, asshole.”

Mustard reached out with both hands, grabbing her bully’s head while looking him in the eyes. The boy stared back, bewildered. Loud scraping split the air when Izuku leapt from his chair, arms outstretched.

“Mustard, stop!” Izuku shouted.

“You shouldn’t have spilled the coffee!”

It all happened so fast. Mustard’s eyes glowed bright purple and twin beams of plasma lanced outward, spearing into the bully’s eyes. His undulating, high-pitched scream echoed through the cafe while his eyeballs boiled in their sockets, turning into a pained gurgle when the plasma reached his brain. The boy’s body shook uncontrollably, everyone forced to watch as he convulsed and died right before them.

Mustard dropped the burnt corpse to the ground as if she was discarding a piece of trash, wisps of swirling purple light radiating from her eyes when she turned them to the crowd… and smiled.

Then the screaming started. Everyone started to run for the exits, but Izuku just fell onto his knees in shock, unable to comprehend what just happened. The next thing he knew a blinding wave of purple light rushed outwards when the Magical Girl snapped her fingers, causing Izuku to shut his eyes. The resulting explosion made his ears ring painfully, disorienting him. When he reopened them the cafe was gone, everything except a circular area he, Mustard, and the dead bully were on was scorched to a blackened crisp. She protected him from her plasma, wanting him to see the results.

Izuku couldn’t help it and threw up. Mustard’s plasma wave had bisected people at the waist as they were running for the exits, tears blurring Izuku’s vision when he saw the burnt, charred torsos on the ground. She… she killed everyone in the cafe, even the cooks in the back when the building was torn apart in the blast.

“What have you done?” Izuku trembled, crying. “Matsuda-san, what have you done?!”

She didn’t answer, basking in the death and destruction with a look of utter liberation on her face. People nearby were yelling, screaming into their phones and calling the police about the explosion. They hadn’t seen her yet, not knowing the danger they were in just by being near the area.

Mustard looked down at Izuku with the smile of a tiger. 

“It feels so good, Midoriya-kun. Like you wouldn’t believe. You have someone hurting you too, don’t you?”

Bakugo’s face flashed within Izuku’s mind for a split second.

“I’m gonna kill them all, Midoriya-kun. All the people who hurt me, wronged me… I’m going to pay it back to them tenfold. Make them burn slow and easy.” Mustard giggled. “This is my new normal, and I’m done being nice.”

“Why?! Why would you do this, Matsuda-san?” Izuku sobbed, bursting into tears. “A-all those people, they were innocent! They didn’t do anything to you!”

Mustard whispered something under her breath, looking off into the horizon when she heard the wailing of police sirens. She was estimating their distance, her hands already charging up with crackling arcs of energy.

“W-what?” Izuku asked.

She looked straight at him, her golden left eye flaring with the power of multiple Quirks.

“I’m an Apex Predator.”

Izuku made his choice. He had to stop her here and now, or she’d kill every hero and cop that came at them. The boy swallowed while hot tears rolled down his cheeks, and said the words that changed his life forever.

“Henshin.”

[Chapter 7 End]

Chapter Text

Two Magical Girls stood facing each other in the scorched ruins of a cafe, surrounded by charred corpses. There was a moment of crystalline silence that threatened to shatter at the slightest movement.

The stench of burnt flesh made Izuku want to cry and run away, but she held her ground. She had to. The alternative was letting Mustard do as she pleased, to kill everyone and everything in her way.

“Oi, oi. What do you think you’re doing, Midoriya-san?” Mustard asked, cocking her head to the side. “Ah. You’ve got some scores to settle too, don’t you? Let’s kill them together, then.”

“Stop. Please…” Izuku put up a pair of shaking fists. “Don’t make me do this.”

Mustard gazed upon her with those tiger-eyes, letting out what could have once passed for a tired sigh. Instead she exhaled pure energy, breathing purple flames like a beast of myth.

“Izuku… Miracle. Think about it. We can do whatever we like.” she whispered. “All the people who ever bullied you, hurt you… You’re just gonna let them get away scot-free? After everything they did to you?”

Izuku’s lip trembled, remembering all the times Bakugo beat her, humiliated her. All the times she went home covered in burns and bruises, the stolen belongings, the insults, the laughter. Nine years of it. Mustard’s gaze softened for a moment, knowing what it was like.

She blasted into the skies with a trail of sparkling purple light. Miracle followed after a moment, the two of them turning into streaks of color against the bright morning sky. 

“Mustard, stop!” 

“I never did anything to them, y’know? They just picked on me because I was the weakest, a kid who gets knocked out from using their own Quirk. The others laughed, and the teachers looked away. So it’s okay to pick on those weaker than you, right? That’s the lesson I’ve been taught.”

A pair of tremendous booms echoed above Musutafu City when both girls went supersonic, drawing the attention of everyone around. Mustard’s palms flared with incandescent light, and Izuku saw the target in her flight path. Ondera Middle School, a sister school to Aldera.

“Thank you, my teachers.” The plasma in Mustard’s hands shaped themselves into a pair of spears. 

Izuku charged. She tackled the other girl mid-air, but it was too late. Twin javelins of pure destruction sailed through the air, and Izuku could only watch in horror as they impacted the school’s rooftop and punched into the heart of the building. Glass and concrete shuddered before shattering in a deafening explosion of purple light, reducing the educational institution to a burning ruin.

Mustard didn’t stop to enjoy her work. She immediately turned in the direction of Aldera Middle School, preparing for another attack run. Izuku chased her, teeth grit. It was the weekend, but there might still be people there. Her schoolmates, who’d done nothing—

That’s right, they did nothing. They just watched as Bakugo hurt you day after day.

The invasive, treasonous little thought made Izuku hesitate, just for a second. That single second was all Mustard needed to incinerate Aldera. She thrust her left hand forward and a tiny ember manifested, ethereal energies concentrating atop her palm. All was silent for a moment until the conflagration screamed, unleashing a white-hot plasma beam with the width of a swimming pool. Izuku’s school was vaporized nearly instantly from the blast, the temperature in the surrounding air jumping by thirty degrees.

Civilians screamed in panic, running from the hellish inferno while Mustard raked the beam across the landscape like a child playing with a laser pointer, targeting the homes of her bullies. She made rings of fire that burned inwards to trap some of her tormentors within, ensuring a slow, painful death of being cooked alive. Cars crashed when the roads melted to tar beneath them. Windows shattered, lampposts wilting like dying flowers. Izuku could see people below dropping like flies from the heat alone.

Mustard was a child with a magnifying glass and Musutafu City was an anthill.

“STOP!”

She crashed into her fellow Magical Girl, forcing her hand upwards. Mustard retaliated with a jawbreaking right hook that sent Izuku spinning, the shockwave parting the cloudy skies. Countless fires burned below them, thick columns of black smoke rising into the air. 

“Matsuda-san, please!” Izuku cried. “Why are you doing this?!”

“Matsuda Kenji isn’t here right now.” the other girl replied, a sickeningly sweet blush on her face. “My name is Magical Girl Mustard, and I’m here to save you all~”

Purple lightning arced off her body like a Tesla coil while her left eye flared with a golden hue; a poisonous, unholy light that radiated from the depths of her soul. From the look on her face she was… enjoying what she’d done, relishing in the murder of the people who hurt her. Izuku leapt forward with her fists held tight, knuckles lancing into her jaw. They hit with a sickening crack that split the air, but all Mustard did was wrap her arms around Izuku in a loving hug.

Then she set herself aflame.

Izuku screamed. The pain was unlike anything she’d ever felt before, every nerve in her body lighting up with agony and begging for it to stop. Even taking a breath resulted in burning, excruciating pain, the superheated air clawing at the inside of her lungs like a dozen red-hot pokers. At point-blank range Mustard’s plasma could vaporize steel, Izuku’s Glitter flaring wildly to shield her from the unimaginable heat of a star.

“They deserve to die, Miracle. Every last one of them, for daring to hurt superior beings like us…” Mustard said. “They hurt me when I was weak. It’s only fair that I return the favor.”

The world spun and Izuku found herself soaring backward, crashing through reinforced concrete and steel rebar as if they were wet paper. Her groan of pain turned into a strangled gasp when Mustard’s fingers closed around her throat, wringing her neck like a towel. Countless glass shards spun into the air as she proceeded to grind Izuku’s invulnerable face against the side of an office building with a sudden burst of speed, hurling her into a series of support columns right after. 

They shattered from the impact, and the building began to collapse. Izuku blinked the stars out of her eyes and gasped, flying back into the degrading structure in a desperate attempt to stop it from falling. Even with all her incredible strength she couldn't do it; with such a small surface area she instead pierced through hundreds of tons of falling rubble like an upright nail through a foot. Screams echoed as the building crumbled around her.

She burst from the rubble and dust cloud as an emerald comet, fingers interlocking with Mustard’s when their hands met in a thunderous crash. 

“Stop. Stop…” Miracle begged, tears forming in her eyes.

“I said that too, y’know.” Mustard smiled sadly. “They never did.”

Wisps of plasma escaped between her fanged canines, lighting up the inside of her mouth.

“And now, neither will I.”

Mustard roared. The dragon-breath she unleashed was a wide-angle blast that Izuku barely managed to block, the torrent of pure energy swirling past her like a river around a rock. Behind her the neighborhood burned, turning molten in an instant. The heat flash-boiled the tears on her cheeks and turned them to steam. She rushed through the inferno to deliver a teeth-rattling uppercut that forced Mustard’s mouth shut with a click, followed by a straight punch which sent the other girl flying.

Klaxons blared all across the city, both girls catching the sight of multiple heroes and helicopters converging on their location. They were yelling, screaming at them to stop.

“You might be the only one who can stop me, Miracle.” Mustard laughed. “All this time, we were holding back. Let’s show them what we can really do.”

“Mustard, don’t hurt them—”

“Nobody messes with a Magical Girl.” 

Mustard was a flash of purple that hurtled towards the nearest helicopter, teeth bared in a manic grin. The news cameras captured the moment of her gloved fist headed right at the pilot, about to cave his face in until Miracle shoulder-charged her into a building. The emerald Magical Girl caught her in a rear naked chokehold but Mustard spun like a ballerina, purple bolts of destruction scattering in every direction.

One hit another nearby helicopter and caused its engine to burst into flames, the aircraft spiraling towards the ground. Miracle immediately let go and rushed in to save it, allowing Mustard to escape in the process.

When Izuku finally got the downed chopper back on solid ground the wet thud of a body hitting the floor caused her to jolt. She recognized the blue uniform paired with a pair of heavy-duty gauntlets. Death Arms, a hero she remembered from Mt. Lady's debut. A shower of red rain splattered across the street when Mustard tore another hero in half above, Izuku suppressing a scream of horror.

If I stop to save them, Mustard will kill more. I have to focus on fighting her.

By the time Izuku regained altitude Mustard had killed two more heroes, holding their torsos by their necks. Only the torsos; she’d cut them in half. Though she should have been covered in blood Mustard’s dress looked pristine as ever, her plasma having burnt off any traces of filth.

“No…” Izuku whispered.

“Well, they struck first. I struck back.” Mustard shrugged, still smiling with that lovesick look on her face. “It’s just the way it is, right~? It can’t be helped, right~?”

All around them the heroes fired, Quirk effects and support munitions bombarding both Magical Girls from every direction. When the smoke cleared they were completely unscathed, hovering in the air like a pair of sparkling, invulnerable goddesses.

Miracle surged forward, and so did Mustard. Unstoppable force met immovable object.

Musutafu City burned around them.

[x]

Cold sweat ran down the HPSC President’s face as she watched the live feed. It was only a matter of time, but she didn’t expect it to happen this soon. They weren't prepared enough, and Agent Intelli hadn’t found the source yet.

The command center around them was bustling with activity, numerous operators attempting to coordinate the heroes. A useless effort, seeing as both Magical Girls looked to be nigh-invulnerable. Miracle and Mustard lived in a world of cardboard, and all the previous threat assessments and simulations about them were way off the mark. The President knew it wouldn’t be long before their battle escaped Musutafu and spread to the rest of the prefecture.

According to the reports Mustard was the instigator, while Miracle was trying to save as many people as she could. The purple girl had seemingly lost her mind and was attacking indiscriminately, each blast of her plasma capable of torching an entire city block.

“All units, focus on Mustard.” The President ordered, clenching her teeth. “Miracle is on our side.”

As much as it pained her to admit it, they needed Miracle. If not for her keeping Mustard busy, the body count would have doubled or even tripled. The President pushed her pride aside and focused on the bigger picture. They could handle Miracle later. Right now, all that mattered was containing this catastrophe.

“Get General Nakamura on the horn. Tell him to send everyone—Army, Air Force, Navy, the Marines.” the President spat. “Have our ground troops focus on evacuating the surrounding area, and get the F-50s and X-66s into the air! Line the battleships up on the coast and target Mustard, we’re gonna need the railguns.”

“E-everyone, ma’am?”

“EVERYONE!”

The staff before her jolted, finally rushing into action. She took a deep breath and forcibly calmed herself, trying to think. If they were lucky the X-66s and their energy weapons would have a chance of taking down Mustard. For now, all they could do was hope.

Gasps circled around the room when Mustard hit Miracle with a colossal purple starburst, the plasma somehow containing enough kinetic energy to make the remote drone camera wobble from a distance. Miracle's tiny body punched right through a building before carving a deep ravine into the road, then skipping across the pavement like a thrown pebble atop a lake. She finally stopped against a wall when the back of her head hit the brickwork with an audible crack . There she lay still and unmoving in a crater, burst pipes fountaining water over her petite, doll-like form.

Everyone watched with bated breath as she got up after a moment, standing from a crash-landing that would have pulverized even the toughest heroes. The ground ruptured beneath her as she leapt, speeding back into the fight like an emerald bullet. 

The president glanced at the beaded bracelet on her wrist, a gift from her son after he visited a temple in Osaka. She remembered the atrocities the previous HPSC Administration had committed, their experiments and lies. All the pain and negative karma they accrued was now coming back in the form of a purple Magical Girl. This was to be their repentance, divine retribution for their sins.

She did the one thing she hadn’t done in years, closing her eyes and clasping the bracelet together with both hands.

“God help us.”

[x]

“Saiko-nee?”

“What is it, Eri-chan?” Saiko looked up from her paperwork, glancing at the child standing by the door.

“The TV.” Little Eri pointed, looking worried. “Something’s wrong with the TV.”

“Alright, sweetheart.” Saiko stood and ruffled the little girl’s hair, walking into the living room. “Let’s see what I can—”

She paused upon seeing the screen, eyes widening at the words displayed in bold text. Eri flinched when it began playing a loud, haunting tone that was repeated across the city like an air raid siren. The J-Alert message was on all channels, depicting a map of the general area around Tokyo highlighted in red.

‘THIS IS THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. S-CLASS VILLAIN ATTACK IN PROGRESS.’

‘STAY IN YOUR HOMES.’

Eri sniffed, looking around in fright until Saiko scooped her up with one hand while dialing Mei with the other. The other girl picked up immediately, already aware of the situation.

“Hatsume-san—”

“Saiko, it’s happening. Mustard is razing Musutafu City as we speak.” Mei’s voice echoed from the other end of the line, the sound of rushing wind obvious in the background. “I’ve been ordered to sortie in the Thunderchild.”

“Then it’s worse than I thought.” Saiko bit her lip. “What about Miracle?”

“She’s doing everything she can to stop her, but without a ranged Quirk…” Mei hesitated. “She’s losing, Saiko.”

“So she’s still on our side?”

Before Saiko could get an answer the ground beneath them began to shake, causing her to stumble. People were screaming outside, terrified by what they thought was the beginning of an earthquake. Saiko knew better. Earthquakes didn’t pulse like that. The tremors had a rhythmic cadence, pounding into their bones like the beat of a drum.

They were the impact of punches.

Saiko’s eyes widened. This was beyond anything she ever expected. Miracle and Mustard were going to level the entire city if their fight continued. Eri began to sob with terror, Saiko wrapping her into a tight hug in a futile attempt to calm her down.

“Get them into the air, Hatsume-san! We can’t risk them shattering the faultlines!”

“I see them! They’re in a crater, and Mustard is… she’s…”

Static crackled over the line and the call ended abruptly. Dust drifted down from the ceiling as another tremor shook the entire building, Saiko rushing towards the windows to see what was happening. She could see the two Magical Girls in the distance, twin points of green and purple light that clashed in the horizon. 

Miracle was trying to drag Mustard away from the city, green slamming into purple with an explosion that could be heard from miles around. The shockwave from the impact alone cracked every window below them, and Saiko could actually feel it from where she stood.

She made her decision, grabbing a backpack full of essentials and Eri. They couldn’t stay here, not while those two were duking it out.

Military jets screamed across the sky just as they rushed out the door, Saiko and Eri headed in the opposite direction. She looked up, recognizing the silhouettes. Japanese F-50s flying alongside American X-66s…

…and the Thunderchild prototype Agent Hatsume was piloting.

“Good luck, Mei.” Saiko whispered.

[x]

Midoriya Inko panicked, the entire apartment shaking around her. She rushed around the house and grabbed all she could, her hands full of papers and notes.

Pinky watched it happen, having stuck himself to the corner of the ceiling.

He understood that this was the progenitor of the one that helped him. His origin source. The light within her was similar to the green-haired boy’s, but so much dimmer. It was panicking alongside her, sensing the two Ascended Ones outside fighting for dominance. 

Snaking cracks ran up the walls, Inko freezing in terror just as she finished packing both her and Izuku’s passports. There was an explosion that rocked the earth, shaking the building’s foundations. Pinky remained calm, knowing he would return to the Rainbow World if he was vanquished here. The same could not be said for the other Quirk.

Help. Help. Help.

Pinky listened. The woman’s light was broadcasting on all spectrums, knowing that it was too weak to save its host. It was a tiny candle’s flame in the wind, about to be snuffed out by even the slightest breeze. Now they were at the edge of a hurricane.

Help. Help. Help. Help. Help.

Humans became sad when other humans died. If the progenitor perished, Izuku would be sad. An unacceptable outcome. Pinky reached out, extending his thought-anchor. The little light turned to him, a tiny spark of hope present in its thoughts.

Query. Identify. Danger.

The slime thought for a moment before answering.

***Friend.***

Above Inko the roof crumbled, the apartment building collapsing around her. She screamed, squeezing her eyes shut while clutching on to a wooden frame holding a photo of her and Izuku. The woman sobbed, crying out her son's name.

***Help Friend.***

Pinky swallowed up her despair and terror, growing tenfold. He pounced on her cowering form and enveloped her with his body right before the rubble crushed her, maximizing viscosity while minimizing acidity to form an impenetrable suit of ooze armor. Inko looked around herself in shock as she sat in an air pocket inside him, suspended within his torso. The slime took on a humanoid shape, massive arms lifting the large slab of concrete and steel beams off them. He began digging their way out, grasping fingers melting through the wreckage and clawing to freedom.

“W-wha…?” she gasped.

***Acid Man.***

[x]

Miracle panted, taking in deep lungfuls of air. Her beautiful green-and-white dress was scorched and torn in places, but was already regenerating before her eyes. She didn’t pay it any mind as she readied another heavy punch, pulling her fist back with a roar.

“Smash!”

Gloved knuckles hit Mustard’s face with the sound and force of a bomb detonating. Her rapid-fire punches were an artillery barrage, bombarding Mustard with unrelenting force. The other girl answered with a backhand that struck Izuku across the cheek lightning-fast, snapping her head to the right. They struggled against each other, with Izuku trying to pull her higher into the sky to avoid the city below. Mustard didn’t just use the plasma to burn; it was also added propulsion. Twin jets of plasma bloomed atop her back, like a pair of angelic wings when she spear-tackled Izuku and sent them careening downward. Izuku slammed an elbow down even as her back crashed through trees, buildings, and people.

We can’t stay here! I have to get her as high as possible, where I don’t have to worry about collateral damage—

There was no time to think, and she pushed down all the crushing fear and horror as deep as she could. There was nothing she could do but fight. Her petite arms wrapped around Mustard’s waist and tried to fling her upwards, only for the two of them to flip end-over-end until they crashed into the asphalt below. Cars leapt six inches off the ground from the impact. Every window within three blocks shattered, and those within five cracked. People all around them tried to run, save for one stupid, silly little boy.

“Look, mommy! Heroes! Can you fly, Miss hero?”

“Satoru, no!”

Izuku blinked the blood out of her eyes, dazed and struggling to stand. A boy no older than five was approaching them, and Mustard picked him up by his jacket. A woman she assumed was his mother was screaming, begging her to let him go but Mustard ignored her wails.

“Yes, little boy. I can fly.” Mustard cooed. “Would you like to fly too?”

She can’t be thinking of…

“Up, up—” The purple Magical Girl pitched her arm back, as if she was preparing to throw a baseball.

She was.

“—and away!” Mustard laughed, hurling the child at a nearby building.

Miracle leapt to her feet and the world slowed. Time trickled to a crawl, her enhanced reflexes pushed to the limit when she moved to save an innocent life. The concrete below her ruptured upwards, her Glitter flaring on overdrive to help her attain the speed she needed. Upon her cheeks the clover symbols pulsed, glowing with an unearthly emerald light.

She barely caught the child just as he was about to splatter against the wall like a thrown egg, wincing when she felt something break in his tiny, fragile body. The boy let out a gasp when the wind was knocked out of him, drifting off into unconsciousness a moment later.

Izuku returned back to the horrified mother, who snatched her child out of the girl’s arms the moment she landed.

“I-I’m sorry, I think I might have broken a rib or two…” Izuku stammered. “It was the speed, I couldn’t—”

Her words were left unheard when the woman turned and ran, right as Mustard punted Izuku into the air with a vicious kick to the gut. The Magical Girl’s face met the corner of a rooftop on the way up with a sickening crunch, the sharp pain and sudden disorientation stunning her. Mustard struck her again, knocking her into the bright blue sky. Blood filled the inside of Izuku’s mouth, her limbs flailing like a doll’s.

Stop her. The single thought was the only thing keeping her conscious through the blinding pain. I have to stop her, or everyone will die.

Miracle shot past a helicopter before reorienting herself, catching a glimpse of blonde hair and a blue denim super-suit. Best Jeanist, the Number Four Hero. The Hero Association was starting to bring out the big guns.

It's not enough, Izuku realized. We need both All Might and Endeavor. Where are they?

Mustard was heading right for them, a corona of purple energy flaring around her. Rocketing forward, Izuku met her in another head-on clash that split the skies. She grappled with the other girl, snaking both arms under hers and holding her steady so Best Jeanist could work his magic. The veteran held out a hand and Izuku braced, expecting her clothes to tighten around her… but absolutely nothing happened. Their dresses were completely unaffected by the hero's fiber manipulation Quirk.

Manic, hyena-like laughter filled the air as Mustard cackled, her eyes unleashing twin beams that cut the helicopter in half. An elbow knifed into Izuku’s stomach and she gasped with pain, losing her grip. Best Jeanist escaped with the pilots while they fought, his costume billowing into a cloth parachute.

Roaring jets helped to bring Izuku back into focus, JASDF fast-movers hurtling past in streaks of white and gray. They opened fire on Mustard, guns blazing while missiles rushed off their wings. Heavy caliber rounds that would have perforated tanks bounced off Mustard’s Glitter harmlessly, and she looked up with mild interest.

“Ever seen Endeavor’s special moves?” Mustard smirked and raised her hand, a tiny orb of plasma atop all five fingers. “Hell Spider.”

Heat rays lanced through the air like glowing whips, Mustard sweeping them in a wide arc to catch every missile headed for her. Unlike Endeavor’s attack hers had tracking, the purple beams curving mid-air like heat-seeking rockets until they sliced through the attacking jets like a knife through butter. Izuku leapt in front of one to protect the pilot and the beam cut straight through her dress and into her midsection, the searing pain causing her to cry out. When she looked down the cloth was already healing, while her pale skin remained unmarked and pristine. The lone jet tried to circle around, only for Mustard to snap it in half with an axe kick before Izuku could stop her. Thankfully the pilot managed to eject at the last moment, and Mustard was too busy fighting Izuku to go after him.

She was beginning to understand. The Magical Girl Quirk was already this strong, and Mustard had another Quirk stacked on top of it. Quirks were like muscles—the more one used them, the stronger they would get. Mustard was always in her female form every single time they’d met up, meaning she was keeping the Quirk active far longer than Izuku. The detrimental effects Izuku felt the first time, the way the Quirk altered her personality… Mustard must have had it magnified for her with how long she stayed as a girl. Was she even Matsuda anymore, or had the Quirk corrupted her into something else?

Something more than human.

Behind her a new quintet of jets opened fire with lasers. Mustard dodged three in a flash of purple, but one clipped her on the shoulder while another seared away the tip of one of her twin-tails. She looked at them with mild annoyance, firing another salvo of heat rays. To their surprise spherical shields manifested around the planes and deflected the beams, the jets circling about like sharks smelling blood in the water. Izuku caught sight of the emblem on the wings as they made a collective u-turn, their wide airframes and flying-wing design unlike the contemporary aircraft that attacked earlier.

Their insignia was white five-pointed star atop a dark circle, three stripes of alternating white and red beneath them. The U.S Air Force… pilots from a nearby base?

Mustard didn’t give a damn about foreign policy. Sweeping her hands in a wide arc, she manifested a plasma curtain that rushed towards the jets like a tidal wave. It was too late for them to change course, and Izuku was forced to protect them. Her gloved hands came together in a deafening thunderclap, the powerful shockwave dispersing the curtain into spiraling purple embers.

“Not bad.” Mustard smirked. “How about this, then?”

Five streams of plasma surged from her body, four from her limbs and one from her mouth. They each targeted a different aircraft and Izuku couldn’t protect them all, forced to focus on the one closest to her. The jets twisted and spun in acrobatic, death-defying maneuvers, but the plasma chased them relentlessly like it had a mind of its own. Then it caught them, splashing against their shields… but sheer heat melted the aircrafts within into molten slag. Soon there was only one jet left and it turned about with its gunports glowing, ready to avenge its partners.

Miracle worked together with it, rushing in just as the pilot fired. Twin lasers leapt from Mustard’s eyes and clashed against the attack, piercing straight through. Izuku didn’t look back even when the jet detonated behind her, intent on dragging Mustard to where she couldn’t hurt anyone.

She tackled the other girl and rocketed upwards. Together they breached the stratosphere, then the atmosphere of the planet itself. Izuku held her breath, and pushed.

Space was colder than she ever thought it’d be, but that didn’t stop Mustard. Ordinary flames required three things; heat, oxygen, and a fuel source. Mustard didn’t need any of those. She was the source of the inferno, a walking fusion reactor that seemed to have limitless energy. Izuku grit her teeth and checked her own reserves, finding more than she would ever need. The Magical Girl Quirk had grown exponentially stronger with the Angels they’d defeated and all the training they did together.

Two girls stared at each other in the blackness of space, one with despair and the other with mild interest. There was no air so no sound could be heard, but neither of them needed words to convey their feelings. Izuku hoped she could choke the other girl out in space, but she was holding her breath too. Judging by the feeling in her lungs, they could go on without air for hours.

Mustard, please stop. It’s not too late… Izuku was crying, her tears floating in zero gravity. You’re still my friend…

Mustard shook her head, a sad, melancholic smile on her face. It warped to become a cruel leer, and Izuku realized the loud, crude boy she knew wasn’t there anymore. This was someone else, fused with the darkest parts of his psyche. A demon had possessed Matsuda, wearing his skin like a mask.

She let loose a supernova from atop her skin. 

Izuku screamed soundlessly when the burning light hit her, engulfed by the otherworldly flames. The spherical fireball expanded in all directions like a wave, annihilating everything in its path. Gold and purple lighting carved lines across space, the ephemeral thunderstorm swirling around Mustard like a tornado. Izuku hurtled forward anyway, pushing past the pain and breaking through her limits. The clover symbols on her cheeks flared and flickered before disappearing entirely, power surging through her veins while she clashed with Mustard. A limiter had been broken.

Two godlings fought in the heart of the inferno, green and purple light flashing high above the Earth. Space was filled with explosions when Mustard lashed out with a shotgun blast of plasma orbs, followed by ten heat-seeking beams from each finger. Lines of fuchsia cut across the darkness, trailing behind an emerald comet that zigzagged about at the speed of sound. It wasn’t enough, and Izuku willed herself to go faster. Hit harder.

They crashed through a satellite, scattering debris into Earth’s orbit. Just as Izuku was about to land another punch a bolt of pink struck Mustard in the back, the girl whirling about with a wordless snarl. Reinforcements had arrived, in the form of another jet.

One jet.

The space-worthy aircraft was different from the others before, featuring a bulkier build with four wings instead of two. It charged straight at Mustard, and Izuku thought it was a foolish, reckless move until it opened fire. Whatever it shot at Mustard actually knocked her back, stunning her for a brief moment. There were fragments of it hanging in space, and Izuku recognized the vague shape of giant bullets within the pink bolts when it fired again. A railgun, launching super-dense slugs with uncanny precision.

Mustard attempted to give chase but Miracle was upon her in an instant, her dainty fists raining down blows that could demolish a skyscraper. There was no finesse in her attacks, Izuku launching a barrage full of bitter desperation. The distraction gave the jet enough time to gain some distance, angling itself to launch another watermelon-sized shell at them.

The projectile shot through the air in a blinding bolt, but Mustard wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice. She raised her hand and caught the railgun round, tossing it right back with equal force. The massive slug clipped the jet’s wing but to Izuku’s surprise it transformed to preserve its momentum, mechanical limbs extending outwards while the main body unfolded into a more humanoid form. A single glowing eye flashed upon its head, and they both recognized the pink lightning arcing from its body. The same technology as the lightning cage in Felucia City, during the encounter with the Jellyfish Angel.

YOU.

Mustard’s voice was a resonating hiss of venom that somehow echoed in Izuku’s head, carrying a tone of blinding fury. Her hand sliced across the air in a cutting arc, amputating the cyclopean mech’s legs at the knees. It ignored the loss, still charging forward like a bull. The railgun had been thrown aside in favor of a more close-combat weapon, a massive piledriver erupting from its right arm.

Izuku caught Mustard in a crushing bear hug, lining them both up with the huge metal spike. If there was even a chance of ending this now, this was it. Whoever made that technology had a chance of hurting them—

No such luck. Mustard met the attack head on, biting down on the piledriver’s spike and shattering it with her teeth. Her gaze melted the mech into scrap metal, and Izuku saw the pilot’s spherical cockpit eject just moments before it exploded.

Mustard laughed. She continued laughing all the way down while entering atmospheric re-entry with Miracle, burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere with the downed mech pilot. 

Izuku tried to go after the falling cockpit but Mustard held on tight, her distorted laughter consisting of two voices overlapping.

“Where are you going, Izuku-Izuku?” Fingers that could slip through steel dug into her waist. “It’s a date in the starry sky!”

Izuku didn’t know how long they fell, covered in flames. Though the heat was nothing compared to Mustard’s plasma her heart was hammering in her chest, blood thundering in her ears while the wind rushed past. She realized they could survive even this. If so… what could even hurt them anymore?

Mach 1. Mach 2. Mach 3.

They hit Dagobah beach like a meteor, the explosion creating a crater half a kilometer across. Izuku lay bleeding at the bottom, every cell in her body just screaming, begging for her to stop. She used the pain to keep herself awake instead, as fuel that powered the blaze in the furnace of her soul. Blood leaked from her mouth and ears, the girl forcing herself to stand. It got all over her pretty green and white dress, dying it an ugly red.

Mustard was walking towards her in the crater, sand turning to glass beneath her feet. Seawater rushed in only to instantly turn into clouds of superheated steam upon nearing Mustard. She strode towards Izuku while shrouded, her eerie, golden left eye shining through the veil.

“Mustard…” Izuku choked. “Kenji-kun—”

Her only response was to hit Izuku harder than she ever had before. The Magical Girl’s body sailed backwards for what felt like minutes until she crashed against solid rock and snow, rolling to a stop. When Izuku got up she found herself atop a mountain, hundreds of miles away from the beach they were on moments earlier.

Mt. Fuji.

A fuchsia thunderbolt fell from the skies and slammed Izuku deeper into the rock. Mustard was relentless, hammering away at Izuku’s impenetrable guard with plasma-charged haymakers. An explosion accompanied each punch, breaking the ground apart. Eventually the volcano itself couldn’t take anymore and broke beneath Izuku’s back, scorching magma pooling around them both. Neither girl seemed to notice it, having grown far beyond anything human. Mustard was beginning to get frustrated, knowing Izuku was still capable of fighting on… and yet she continued to shield herself, refusing to do so.

“Fight back!” Mustard howled, her two voices thirsting for blood. “I know you’ve still got plenty to spare, fight back!”

“No!” Izuku cried, sobbing. “Stop! The more we fight, the more we end up destroying everything around us! We can’t hurt anyone anymore!”

“They don’t matter, none of them do! All these little people are no more than ants, just waiting to be crushed underfoot!” Mustard shrieked. “They hurt us when we were weak, so now it’s our turn to do the same!”

A sharp slap that cut across Izuku's cheek hurt more than any of the punches.

"You k-killed them… innocent people and heroes…"

"We're predators, Miracle. A predator improves the stock… Those who survive will grow stronger from the pain, just like we did." Mustard sneered. "Let our existence be a reminder to these so-called heroes that they've grown soft and complacent."

“H-how can you say that? This isn’t right, Matsuda-san! Kenji, please—”

“Kenji’s not here right now!” 

She stomped down on Izuku's stomach, eliciting a scream of pure agony when she drove the heel in deep. 

“Fight!” Mustard roared. “What the hell’s wrong with you, why aren’t you fighting back?!”

“Because you’re my friend!”

Miracle sniffled, looking up with her big, teary eyes when Mustard paused. The emerald Magical Girl was a sobbing mess on the ground, steam sizzling into the air when her tears hit the lava around them.

“I-I’m sorry, Kenji-kun. I should have noticed, or said something, o-or…” Izuku got up, hiccuping. “I couldn’t do anything for you when you were hurting… I’m so sorry!”

Mustard was silent, and for a moment she thought she’d gotten through… until her gloved hands closed around Izuku’s throat like a vice. Mustard poised her thumbs over Izuku’s throat and squeezed, crushing the life out of her. Malice swirled within her golden left pupil.

HE’S MINE.

Izuku felt herself being thrown through the air again, flopping bonelessly like a rag doll. She crashed into the tiny, nearly-deserted town at the base of the mountain, chest rising and falling in erratic breaths. Mustard’s heel stamped on her head a moment later, the asphalt spider-webbing with cracks.

“The weak should fear the strong, and we’re at the top of the food chain now. You’re strong, Miracle. Act like it.”

“No…” Izuku groaned.

“No? If you refuse to use your strength then you’re nothing but prey, waiting to be devoured.” Mustard cocked an eyebrow, grinding her heel. “Is that what you want?”

She looked off into the distance, at the devastation they’d unleashed. 

“Seventeen minutes, that’s how long we fought. We’ve shown them what we’re capable of. No more running, no more hiding… Those with power can make their voices heard, Izuku-Izuku. I refuse to be that weak, spineless little boy who couldn’t even protect himself.” Mustard breathed. “If I can’t kill myself, then I’m going to kill everyone else instead.”

Izuku struggled to stand, but the boot pinning her head down felt like a hundred anvils. Mustard had gone completely off the edge, losing herself to the corrupting madness within.

“It's my turn now. With this power no one will hurt me ever again… and everyone will be able to live as they like."

“W-what?” Izuku whispered.

“I have plans, Izuku.” Her undulating, two-tone voices were back again. “These so-called heroes are the reason for all the suffering we ever faced. Think about it. A society that values power above all—”

Bakugo’s face flashed in Izuku’s mind, the blonde bully sneering in derision while emptying a carton of spoiled milk onto her head. Her classmates’ mocking laughter cut into her very soul, and the teacher did nothing but roll his eyes. She sniffled as she slowly gathered up her wet belongings and notes.

“—and the corrupt heroes that enable it. We’ve both seen it, the fact that heroes are nothing more than clout chasers and glory hounds. This world is rotten to the core because of them, and we have to burn it all down so a new one can take its place.”

“With you… as its queen?" 

"No. As its protector."

"All Might will… stop you…” Izuku grit her teeth, slowly rising against the heel on her skull. “He’ll…”

“All Might? Please.” Mustard scoffed. “What’s the big blue banana gonna do, smile at me? I beat you, Miracle. We’re the two strongest beings on this planet, and I beat you.”

She stomped down again, driving Izuku’s face into the dirt. 

“I BEAT YOU! Me! Mustard, the one and only!” she howled, her two voices overlapping in a distorted screech of victory. “No one can stop me now, not All Might, not Endeavor, and certainly not you! And when you’re back in your weak, pathetic male form I’m gonna tear out your tongue so you’ll never again say the words hen—”

Even when drunk on power and victory Mustard realized her mistake almost immediately, having forgotten her one true weakness hidden in the great shadow of her hubris.

“—shin.” Mustard finished too late, cupping her mouth in horror.

There was a tremendous bang and a flash of blinding light. Izuku leapt to her feet, fingers knifing and ready to plunge into Mustard’s chest, a blistering rage taking hold and demanding that she rip the boy’s heart out while he was weak and vulnerable. To kill him before he killed anyone else.

What Izuku found instead was a thin, frail boy crying in the dirt. Matsuda Kenji was sobbing uncontrollably, hugging his knees to his chest while tears ran down his cheeks. The sight alone was enough for Izuku to pause, the hand poised to stab him trembling in hesitation.

“I-Izuku? Is that you?” Matsuda whispered.

“Matsuda-san?” Izuku asked in disbelief. 

“It wasn’t me. I-I won’t transform again, it wasn’t me.” Matsuda rocked back and forth like a traumatized child, shaking. “It was her. I couldn’t stop her…”

Izuku’s eyes widened in horror. He was telling the truth. Matsuda could transform back into Mustard at any moment and finish her off, but he refused to do so. Instead he was terrified of her; of his own Quirk that somehow gained power over him, to possess him so thoroughly that it brought out the darkest parts of his psyche. 

“Not me. Not me.” Matsuda repeated over and over, his eyes empty and unseeing. 

The Magical Girl Quirk had twisted his mind, taking the reins while forcing him to watch the atrocities they committed together. A part of Izuku wanted to take him away with her, but a loud rumble behind her forced her to rethink her priorities.

Mt. Fuji shook, belching a column of thick gray smoke that soon became bursts of glowing magma. Their battle had destabilized the volcano and it was beginning to erupt. Izuku hesitated but moved into action when her superhuman hearing picked up screams on the other side of the mountain, looking back at Matsuda fearfully before flying off to save the trapped civilians. He was still sitting there, staring at the floor and mumbling to himself incoherently. His mind was gone. 

When Izuku returned after lifting an entire cabin full of people out of the lava’s path the town had already turned into an evacuation gathering point. A few ambulances were busy loading up as many people as they could and Izuku spied Matsuda on a stretcher, catatonic and staring at nothing. The emergency medical technicians had assumed he was one of the many shock victims, carting him away to safety. 

Izuku did nothing but watch, unsure of what to do. Where would she even take him? He was better off being in a hospital where the doctors could help. Matsuda was powerless now, Mustard trapped within him like a genie in a bottle. She got the feeling they would remain that way for quite a while. Izuku instead spent the next few hours in an empty, lifeless daze, locating survivors and helping them evacuate the area. The grateful civilians didn't seem to know she was partly responsible for the disaster.

A pro hero, Power Loader, requested her help in getting the volcano back into a controlled state. She blindly agreed, all too eager to help fix what she and Mustard broke. Wading into the magma under his instruction through a special heatproof earpiece she ventured deeper and deeper, shrugging off the toxic gasses and unbearable heat. Planting his devices deep in the heart of the burning mountain halted the eruption just like he said it would, but when she returned to the surface dozens of heroes surrounded her. All Might was there… and he wasn’t smiling.

“I’m sorry, kid.” Power Loader hung his head. “They were listening in on our comms.”

“Miracle.” All Might growled, making Izuku shake in her shoes with pure terror. “You are under arrest for—”

She didn’t let him finish, leaping into the sky. Alarmed shouts and gunfire echoed below, but no one could catch her. At the speed she was going the dried blood and dirt simply burned away from the air friction upon exiting the atmosphere. Even her wounds had vanished while her dress was immaculate, leaving her pristine and unblemished.

Miracle sniffled, her tears floating away into the dark void of space. She didn’t stop until she landed on the moon, finding a large, flat rock to sit on. There she curled up, hugging her knees and shivering. 

Each and every horror she witnessed was slowly sinking in, crushing her beneath a wave of shame, guilt, regret and fear. Izuku tried to will herself not to cry, but the tears were spilling forth like a dam bursting. It was all her fault. Maybe if she just said something, did something to help her friend…

Matsuda's words echoed in her head. Boys don't cry.

But I'm a girl now, so it's okay, right?

Miracle sobbed into her knees, all alone on the moon. She cried and cried for what felt like hours, her heart broken into tiny little pieces. The pain in her chest wouldn’t go away, stabbing and tearing within her like a twisting, serrated knife.

She didn't dare to head back to Earth, afraid of what she'd find. All she wanted to do was disappear…

A hand landed on her shoulder.

Izuku looked up, still sniffling. All of a sudden she was no longer on the moon, but floating within an empty white void that stretched on for eternity. Two figures were slowly headed towards her, the Magical Girl raising her fists in alarm and panic.

"W-wha, who… what's going on?"

The figures drew closer, and izuku froze. One of them was a non-human creature that Izuku soon realized had to be a Quirk, the entity looking like a pillar of dark red tendons and corded muscle tissue. Its head was an eyeless, jawless human skull that was bleached bone-white, staring into Izuku's soul.

The other was a girl her age, completely naked yet featureless like a mannequin from the neck down. Her golden, catlike eyes were all too familiar, framed by blonde hair tied in two messy buns. Her sad, tired smile revealed a pair of sharp canines.

She was the golden Magical Girl from the bridge, the one who saved her and inadvertently created both Miracle and Mustard.

Izuku's jaw dropped, unable to believe her eyes. There were visible similarities yet startling differences between the strange girl and her own civilian form, but if one put them side by side they could be mistaken for sisters.

"You're…" Izuku began, bewildered.

"Hello, Miracle. Or do you prefer Mikumo-chan, or perhaps Midoriya-kun?" the vestige said with a voice full of melancholic sorrow. “Three in one, and one in three.”

"Who are you?"

"My name is Toga Himiko." The ghostly phantom smiled. "I believe you have something of mine.”

[Midoriya Izuku]

[Quirk: Transform]

[Chapter 8 End]

[End of Arc 1]

Bonus: Young Izuku

Chapter Text

Midoriya Izuku stared at the ethereal girl in front of her, jaw agape. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening, having found herself in an infinite white space of empty nothingness.

“Toga… Himiko?” Izuku said slowly, feeling as if the name was oddly familiar.

“That’s right.” Toga nodded. “Or rather, I’m what’s left of her. A vestige attached to your Quirk, Transform. ”

“My Quirk?” Confused eyes flickered from the blonde to the pillar of twisted red muscle that stood beside her. “I… I don’t understand.”

“You will.” Toga’s image flickered and waned like a dying flame. “All you have to know is that Transform once belonged to me. Now he is yours.”

Transform said nothing but stared blankly at Izuku, the Quirk’s empty eye sockets seeming to bore into her very soul. She matched his gaze nervously, rather alarmed that something like that was living within her.

“I don’t have much time to explain, so I’ll make this short.” Toga continued, grimacing with effort. “The Angels are here because there’s a breach, a hole in reality. Something that shouldn’t be possible.”

A hole in reality? Izuku thought, mind racing. To where?

Deep down, she already knew the answer. It was the same place her other body went whenever she transformed, that haunting incandescence she witnessed that night on the bridge. 

“I remember… a lab. A doctor. He did something to both me and Transform.” Toga said, her voice distorting with every word. “Twisted us round and around until we became… this.” 

She gestured down at herself, and for a split second the beautiful, golden Magical Girl that saved Izuku stood in her place. The illusion faded as soon as it came, her body already starting to dissipate into glittering particles and smoke.

“My original Quirk was to transform into other people by drinking their blood. I remember seeing Transform when I was a kid, in my dreams. He was a beautiful red sparrow… They pulled him apart and put him back together, just like they did to me.”

Izuku remembered that fateful night. The way Toga’s blood splashed across her face and into her mouth.

“Who did this to you?” Izuku whispered.

“I don’t know. It’s like there’s holes in my memory.” Toga clutched her head. “It hurts when I think about—”

“A rainbow.” Izuku interrupted, eyes widening.

“Yes. I’ve been watching you fight these ‘Angels’, Izuku. That rainbow you saw is the breach, which leads to an alternate space. Their home.”

“B-but why?” Izuku paced around, mumbling to herself. “Why would they even come here? This place must be completely alien to them!”

The viridian Magical Girl was now muttering up a storm, all sorts of theories and hypotheses whirling around in her head. If Quirks really did behave like animals, they could be predicted. Mustard’s words of Apex Predators and helpless prey echoed within her thoughts. Quirks were from another world, with possibly its own ecosystem. Izuku had seen enough nature documentaries to guess what was happening. Just like Mustard said, predators improved the stock. They had to change their ways just to survive.  

With the introduction of the breach; a hole that led to this reality, Quirks had found an opportunity. A new land ripe with resources, populated by helpless humans who could hardly even put a dent in most of them.

“They’re an invasive species.” Izuku whispered with alarm. “If they keep coming here…”

“This entire country will soon belong to them. Maybe even the entire planet.” Toga nodded grimly. “Look, Izuku. I may not have liked society as it is, but I’m not going to let millions of people suffer either.”

It took a moment for Izuku to realize that her legs were shaking. A few Angels were already more than what the local heroes could handle. If an entire army of them appeared, she wasn’t sure if she could stop them. Even with all her power, she was only one person.

Toga coughed, wisps of golden smoke trailing from her mouth. She glanced down at her right hand, which was already rapidly disintegrating into nothingness.

“It looks like my time’s running out.” Toga coughed again painfully. “I’m going to disappear soon, so it’s up to you now.”

“M-me?”

“You’re the only one who can stop all of this. Please find out what happened to me.” Toga said, holding herself together by sheer force of will. “If you do, there may yet be a chance of stopping the Angels and Mustard… or rather, the ‘other me’.”

Izuku’s eyes widened. Of course! Both Miracle and Mustard had the same Quirk, but the purple Magical Girl also had her original gas Quirk. If there was a vestige of Toga attached to Transform, Mustard probably had one in her head as well. Izuku reasoned it was why Mustard didn’t attack when she reverted back into Matsuda. 

“The other you must have somehow fused with Matsuda-san’s subconscious desires.” Izuku speculated. “She… she went berserk in Musutafu City!”

“All the more reason for you to find the lab, Izuku. I…”

Toga vanished before she could finish her sentence, and the illusionary world collapsed like a sandcastle hit by a wave. Shaking her head, Izuku blinked the stars out of her eyes and found herself back on the moon. She had a new goal now, a clear purpose. Though the revelation shook her to the core, there was still something she had to do first.

Gulping, she floated into space and headed back to Musutafu City, Japan.

[x]

Hatsume Mei coughed and sputtered, smoke filling the cockpit she was in. The crash landing had been unpleasant, and being on fire wasn’t helping.

“Status report!” she barked, ripping off her helmet and patting the flames away.

“Warning. Oxygen levels low.” A female, computerized voice warned. “Major fracture detected. Internal bleeding detected. Major laceration detected. Blood loss detected. Seek medical attention.”

“Stupid parachute malfunction… stupid Magical Girls…” Mei grumbled to herself, scowling. She popped the canopy, allowing fresh air to seep into the cockpit.

Stepping outside, she was immediately struck by a blinding ray of sunlight. Mei looked around and saw a sea of palm trees, the tropical environment indicating she was a long, long way from home. The girl swirled the blood around in her mouth before spitting it out, reaching for a survival kit.

Mei blinked when she realized her mechanical left arm wasn’t responding, sparking at the elbow. A closer inspection revealed that the servomotors had shattered, the prosthetic having been badly damaged in the crash-landing from space. Mei rolled her eyes and popped the arm off, placing it aside while searching around the cockpit.

First, she had to stop the bleeding. Her patented baby #872 solved that problem by being a biofoam spray that could be used to temporarily seal wounds. Mei inserted the thin nozzle into the large gash along her side and grit her teeth, hissing in pain as the biofoam flooded in. It hurt like a thousand stinging ants crawling inside of her, but the alternative was bleeding out in the middle of nowhere. Not today, Mei told herself.

The next few steps were much simpler. After bandaging her wounds she used her teeth to remove the cap off two syringes, injecting herself with both morphine and a stimulant. Mei felt better almost immediately, her vision and thoughts sharpening. A quick self-diagnosis told her that she had two broken ribs, multiple contusions, a fractured collarbone… the works. If it weren’t for her training, cybernetic implants, and the stimulant, she’d already be down for the count. Mei huffed, retrieving her mech’s Black Box along with a knife and a pistol.

The girl began to walk, the scorching sun blazing high above her. Despite the crash her artificial eye was still working, broadcasting an SOS signal and feeding her GPS data. With all those wounds, a lesser man would die before reaching civilization. Hatsume Mei would be back in Japan by sundown. 

Mei made it to the main road only a few minutes later, the sheer heat rising off the asphalt distorting the air. The pink-haired genius sighed, then blinked when she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle behind her. She held her artificial arm out with her good hand, causing the car to slow. Within it was a family of four, the parents gawking at her while the kids peeked out from the backseat curiously.

Mei wasn’t exactly a sight for sore eyes, her still-smoking flight suit and bloodied bandages painting a grisly image. The way she waved her detached robot arm around only made them more alarmed.

“Aloha!” Mei greeted them with a friendly wave, speaking in English to the obvious tourists. “You guys going in that direction? I’m headed to the Japanese Embassy and I could use a ride.”

The parents nodded dumbly and let her in after a quick discussion after she showed them her government badge. In the backseat the children scooted over to make some space, gazing at her with clear wonder.

“Where’d you some from?” the older sibling asked. “There isn’t a town for miles around!”

“I just came back from space, kid.” Mei let out a low exhale. “It’s a long story.”

“Space? Are you an alien?!”

“No, I went to space with my giant robot to fight a bad guy.” Mei pulled out a calorie bar from her survival kit, biting down and chewing. “I got shot down, so here I am.”

“You have a metal arm?” the younger kid, a boy, whispered with awe while offering her some of his bottled water. “That is awesome, dude.”

“Thanks! I made it myself.” Mei smiled. “Wanna hold it?”

“Can I?!”

“Sure.” Mei held the prosthetic out to him. “Just, uh, be careful with it. You don’t want to activate the taser darts.”

[x]

Miracle began breathing heavily when Musutafu City came into view.

Her battle with Mustard had devastated the entire city, and though she stopped Mustard from completely razing it to the ground there was significant damage to both the infrastructure and the environment. Giant chasms lined some streets, a long trail of emergency vehicles and evacuees slowly but surely trudging out of the disaster zone. A thin layer of dust from the collapsed buildings clouded the air, dying everyone’s clothes white.

Izuku clenched her teeth and headed home, only for her heart to drop when she saw what remained of her apartment. It had crumpled like a pancake, now nothing more than a pile of rubble.

“Mom!”

She landed and immediately began digging, tears streaming down her face. It couldn’t be. Not like this. Izuku began crying again, despair clouding her thoughts when she began finding more and more of her belongings in the rubble. Damaged All Might memorabilia lay all around her alongside the remnants of her home, but Inko was nowhere to be found. The girl bit back a sob, fearing the worst. When was the last time she hugged her mother and told her she loved her?

Just as she was about to burst into tears, movement to the side caught her eye. Something massive was leading a line of people out of the area and onto the main road. Something large… and pink.

“Pinky!” Izuku realized with a gasp. 

What was even more stunning was the woman standing in front of the slime. Midoriya Inko was there, holding the goliath’s finger and leading him around like one would do with a child. It seemed she was guiding people to safety with Pinky’s help, the Quirk’s size both helping to draw attention and help dig around for survivors trapped in the rubble.

Izuku let out a sigh of relief and left them to their devices. Inko seemed to know what she was doing with Pinky’s help, and Miracle was needed elsewhere. She would reward the slime handsomely after all of this was over.

Gilding through the city Izuku gave aid wherever she could, using her enhanced hearing to pick up cries for help. Most people were simply too shell-shocked to react to her presence, while others were grateful to be saved. Izuku’s heart trembled in worry when more than a few looked toward her with glances of anger and fear, but no one dared to speak out.

That soon changed with the appearance of Mt. Lady, who showed up out of nowhere while Izuku was lifting an entire building to free the trapped survivors beneath it.

“You! What are you doing here?!” she thundered, her magnified voice hitting Izuku like a wall.

“I-I’m just trying to help!” Izuku stammered. “Please, we don’t have to fight!”

The giant woman’s meter-wide eyes narrowed with distrust before glancing up at the building Izuku was effortlessly lifting overhead. The battle had been a painful lesson, and Izuku managed to figure out how to lift massive objects without them collapsing in her grip. It took a bit of practice, but she soon learned how to do so. All Izuku had to do was stretch a tiny bit of her Glitter across whatever she was holding, spreading the pressure across a wider surface area. 

“Fine.” Mt. Lady said reluctantly. “But just so you know, there’s a warrant for your arrest.”

Izuku’s heart sank at the words, even after she already knew it after All Might’s earlier confrontation. The heroes saw her as a criminal…

A few loud protests echoed below them, snapping Izuku out of her thoughts.

“That’s bullshit! Miracle saved us all!”

“Yeah! If not for her, this entire city would be gone!”

“Where was All Might?! We want answers!”

The angry civilians were quickly silenced when Mt. Lady held out a hand the size of a pickup truck. 

“Alright, enough! Our main priority is getting everyone out of here, so please cooperate.” Mt. Lady announced. “Line up, the whole lot of you!”

There was much grumbling and muttering but they eventually relented, allowing the gargantuan hero to ferry them to the main road where they joined a long line of evacuees. The sight of the now-homeless and displaced made Izuku’s heart hurt, guilt spiking into her like a spear to the chest. Children were crying while their parents comforted them, the adults lugging heavy backpacks full of whatever they could carry. Cars lay abandoned at the side of the road, a thin coating of both ash and dust beginning to form over everything stationary. Up in the skies the ash cloud from Mt. Fuji lingered, hanging in the air like an ominous symbol of change.

She squashed the horrible feelings and locked them away, focusing on the task at hand. The people here still needed her help. Here, she wasn't a weak, useless Deku. She was Miracle, and she would live up to her name. 

As horrible as it was, the chaos was kept in check by the arrival of more heroes. Many bristled when they saw Miracle, but focused on rescuing survivors and helping with the evacuation effort. Some civilians outright revered her, bowing down and clasping their hands in prayer when she saved them. 

Hour after hour passed, more heroes joining along the way. They were bound by an unspoken agreement not to attack, but Izuku could tell they were raring to go just by the way they moved. She wisely kept her mouth shut for the most part.

“Here, let me help.” Izuku said quietly, floating down when she noticed Mt. Lady struggling to lift the remnants of a multi-story car park.

The giantess hero simply stared as Izuku raised the gargantuan concrete slab she’d been holding with almost careless ease. Behind her the other heroes took a step back, having finally witnessed Miracle’s power in person. Now that they knew she could crush them like ants they were much less hostile, though the change in attitude was more out of fear than respect.

More time passed, with Izuku making every second count. There was a building that started to tilt precariously but with both her and Mt. Lady’s combined efforts they managed to right it again, earning the thanks of the civilians below. The destruction of Mustard’s rampage was widespread, but contained within pockets of localized chaos after most of the fires were quickly extinguished. Even so, the sheer scale of it was mind-boggling. Izuku had to take short breaks at times not because she was tired, but because she was nearly overwhelmed by what she saw. 

Then there were the bodies. Izuku wanted to cry when she saw them, but pushed forward regardless, because that’s what All Might would have done. No doubt he was rescuing others somewhere else in the ruined city. These people… they didn’t deserve to be caught up in all this. Some were buried alive in the rubble, still holding their families. Others were scorched beyond recognition by the flames, and Izuku felt horrified when she saw that some people were vaporized in a way that left human-shaped marks on the nearby walls and floor. Shadows casted by Mustard’s blinding light.

More than a few heroes cried and threw up during the search-and-rescue efforts. Izuku wanted to, but knew she had to stay strong. This was partly her fault, too. She had a responsibility to bear it.

“You… really are something, kid.” Mt. Lady admitted begrudgingly after a while.

“So are you.” Izuku replied, sifting through the mess. “I was there, you know.”

“Hm?”

“I was there.” the small teenager repeated. “During your debut. I… I thought you were really cool.”

Mt. Lady blinked at that, not quite sure what to say to that. Eventually she settled on looking away, slightly embarrassed. 

“Ah, um, thanks. So… what happened between you and Mustard?”

The Magical Girl winced, shame flaring across her expression.

“Mustard was… she was hurting. She was hurting, and I couldn’t help her.” Izuku whispered, clenching her fists. “A demon used her pain to possess her body. It-It wasn’t her fault.”

“A demon?” Mt. Lady raised a giant eyebrow.

Izuku was just about to reply when her ears picked up a single word coming from multiple earpieces. 

“Now.”

She felt it before she saw it, the slight tremor giving away the attack’s direction. Beneath her the ground split apart, opening like a set of gaping jaws that threatened to crush her. Miracle floated out of the way, only for several nets to drop from the sky and right onto her head.

“W-what?” she stammered. “What’s going—”

“Good job drawing her attention away, Mt. Lady! Now, while she’s confused!” someone yelled.

Most of the heroes closed in from all directions, while others stood in shock at what was happening. Izuku could hardly even believe it herself, unable to comprehend why they were doing all this. It was a mistake. She was only helping…

Izuku let the attacks hit her, watching them bounce off her Glitter ineffectively. After a few seconds the heroes stopped, in utter disbelief at how she was completely unscathed. Miracle tore through the steel nets as if they were made of tissue paper, hovering into the air with an expression of pure heartbreak on her face.

“You… you tricked me. Distracted me?” she asked Mt. Lady with a trembling lip.

“No!” the giant hero looked around at her comrades, stunned. “I-I wasn’t—”

Izuku hung her head and didn’t know what to believe, floating away while tears beaded at her eyes. She couldn’t afford to let them see her cry. One last look was directed at Mt. Lady, her gloved hands forming into tight fists.

“I thought you were cool.” Izuku sniffed.

Miracle took to the skies with a series of sonic booms, leaving the heroes behind. They should have been helping people in need, but instead they were scheming to ambush her while she was trying to rescue others. They didn’t want her here.

Izuku spent the rest of the day searching for more victims of the attack, avoiding her so-called fellow ‘heroes’.

[x]

“—recent reports are calling it the worst metahuman-related disaster in recent years, with an estimated death toll of over 5000 people. Among the casualties were five JASDF pilots and four USAF pilots, all of whom gave their lives in an aerial battle to protect the city. The two survivors are Lt. Yukimura Kouya and Lt. Graham Aker, the latter of which is still reported to be in critical condition after his X-66 was shot down by Magical Girl Mustard. Netizens are questioning the absence of All Might in what many are calling the ‘Magical Girl Massacre’ that took place only yesterday— ”

Sir Nighteye turned off the radio with a click, causing his understudy Bubble Girl to let out an annoyed wail.

“Heeeey! Sir, I was listening to that!” she complained.

“You can do that later.” Nighteye said curtly. “Eyes up. They’ll be here any moment.”

Bubble Girl grumbled but obliged, leaning back in her seat. Sir Nighteye was content to wait in silence, drumming his fingers along the steering wheel. Truth be told, he could guess why All Might only showed up in the end stages of Mustard’s assault on Musutafu City. As much as he respected the number one hero, Nighteye knew that All Might would always help wherever he could despite the time limit imposed by his injury. That was just the kind of man he was, and it’d probably cost him dearly when he met his limit some time before the battle began.

The steering wheel creaked under Nighteye’s grip, tensing when another car rolled into the abandoned warehouse they were sitting in. Bubble Girl immediately straightened in her seat, snapping to attention.

“Sir,” she gestured to them worriedly.

“Yes, I can see them.” Nighteye said dryly, stepping out of the vehicle. “Come on.”

Gravel crunched under the other car’s wheels, the pink Rayfield coming to a slow stop just in front of them. Two teenage girls and a child stepped out, causing the veteran hero’s eyes to narrow behind his glasses. Bubble Girl suppressed a gasp, clearly recognizing someone.

“Good afternoon, Sir Nighteye.” A girl with platinum-blonde hair bowed, the gold monocle on her left eye gleaming in the dim light. “And a good afternoon to you too, Bubble Girl.”

“Sup, four-eyes, blueberry.” Another girl with pink hair cackled. “Eri-chan, say hello.”

“Hello…” the small, white-haired little girl hiding behind their legs echoed.

“Good afternoon.” Sir Nighteye adjusted his glasses. “I suppose things went according to plan, Miss Intelli?”

“More or less.” Saiko Intelli shrugged. “You have it?”

Nighteye fished a small data drive out of his coat pocket. Both girls exchanged a glance and nodded, gently urging the child hiding behind them to move forward.

“It’s just like we said, Eri-chan.” Saiko knelt down and gave Eri a big smile. “This man right here is Sir Nighteye, and the blue lady is Bubble Girl. They’re heroes, and they’ll be taking care of you from now on.”

“Heroes?” Little Eri’s eyes lit up in interest before frowning again. “But… but I want to stay with you and Mei-nee…”

“Oh, honey.” Mei knelt down as well, matching Eri’s height. “We’ll still be able to see each other! It’s just that you’ll be safer with them instead of us. With them, you might even be able to go to school!”

“Really?” Eri asked timidly.

“Really.” Saiko answered, nodding. “They’re good people, okay? They’ll take care of you and keep you safe. Mei and I… we can’t do that. We want a better life for you, Eri…”

Eri looked hesitant but eventually nodded, finally ready to join Nighteye and Bubble Girl after a few more words of encouragement. This was the first step of her new life.

“One last thing, Eri-chan.” Mei held up her finger. “Do you remember what I told you?”

“Don’t play with guns.” Eri nodded obediently.

“Good girl.” Mei laughed, giving her a tight hug. “I’m gonna miss you, kid.”

“Goodbye, Eri.” Saiko gave Eri a hug of her own, patting her head lovingly. “We’ll see each other again sometime, okay?”

“Okay… I’ll miss the both of you too. See you around, Saiko-nee, Mei-nee.”

Eri hugged them both, saying her goodbyes. She soon trotted over to Nighteye and Bubble Girl, the two adults exchanging a short greeting before gently ushering her into the car. Bubble Girl kept her occupied while Nighteye talked to the two praetorians, having worked with kids in the past.

Saiko snatched the data drive out of the air when Nighteye tossed it at her, observing it carefully. She pocketed it after a moment, a wide smile on her face.

“Thank you. Pleasure doing business with you.”

“What about…” Nighteye’s gaze slid back to the car to make sure Eri was too far away to hear them. “...you-know-who?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, future boy.” Mei smirked.

“Where is he?” Nighteye asked again, frowning. “It is imperative that I speak to Overhaul. The information he holds, his entire network—”

“Let’s just say he won’t bother anyone, ever again.” Saiko said calmly. “After all, we prefer to keep things under the table. As for the Shie Hassaikai, they will be effectively dismantled. We’ll put the captured assets to good use.”

“Hmm. I’m surprised you handed Eri over, then. Especially if you know what she’s capable of.”

“Let’s not beat around the bush, Sir Nighteye. We both know what’s going to happen if the HPSC gets their hands on her. As far as they’re concerned, the official report lists her as a missing asset. Collateral damage.”

Saiko looked away into the distance, reminiscing about the past.

“Being with me and Mei… that’s no life for a kid. She’s seen enough for a lifetime. I trust you’ll treat her well, hero.”

“So that’s it?” Nighteye questioned. “You’ll just go back to HPSC despite knowing all that? What they will do to her if they find her?”

“Then make sure they don’t. We fulfilled our end of the bargain, Nighteye. I expect you to uphold yours.” Saiko’s calm facade turned ice-cold. “And if you hurt a single hair on that child’s head, we’ll be coming for you.”

“What about Nemoto Shin, one of Overhaul’s lieutenants?” 

“What about him?” Saiko asked, clearly feigning ignorance.

“His Quirk, Confession. It could prove useful if we are able to secure his loyalty…” Nighteye said slowly. “Or he could prove to be a potential threat to our operational security.”

“That’s none of your concern, sir.” Mei grunted, leaning against her car. “The HPSC will handle it.”

“That’s what I don’t get about either of you. Where do your loyalties truly lie?” Nighteye folded his hands behind his back. “One moment you defy the commission, and the next you follow them like loyal hounds. What’s your game here?”

“There is no game here, Nighteye.” Saiko turned away, with Mei already getting into the car. “For someone who can see the future, you sure ask a lot of questions. Good day, sir.”

They drove off just like that, leaving Nighteye to rejoin Bubble Girl in his car. Eri was sitting in the backseat and playing with the young hero’s phone, watching Yaptube videos. Bubble Girl only spoke up after they were on the main road, her voice lowered to a whisper so Eri wouldn’t hear.

“Did you know who that was?!” Bubble Girl whisper-hissed. “That pink girl. I’m pretty sure that’s Hatsume freaking Mei, AKA ‘Toybox’. An A-Ranked villain wanted for the illegal manufacturing of support items! We’re dealing with villains now?!”

“She’s one of ours, Bubble Girl.” Nighteye took a second to give her a look when shock ran across her face. “A HPSC Deep Cover Agent.”

“For real?! Fu—I mean, fudge.” Bubble Girl looked back at Eri hastily before she spoke again. “She looked so young. Then that other girl…?”

“Another one of ours. Agent Intelli.” Nighteye said without taking his eyes off the road. “Callsign ‘Spookshow’.”

“That’s Spookshow? Holy shit. They’re praetorians?! I thought those were an urban legend!” Bubble Girl gasped.

“Language.”

“Sorry. But still… wow.” Bubble Girl folded her arms. “So what was in that data drive you gave them?”

“Access codes to the Dark Age archives.” Nighteye said curtly.

“I dunno, boss. Is it really a good idea to hand them sensitive data like that, especially with their ties to criminal syndicates?” Bubble Girl questioned with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, why did the HPSC even establish a foothold in the Underground? I thought our underground heroes were already doing a great job!”

“Those two know what they’re doing. They’re… specialists, so to speak.” Nighteye pursed his lips. “And to answer your question, it was their mission.”

Bubble Girl blinked, starting to pay attention. “Mission?”

“The Praetorians were designed after Lady Nagant, to complete tasks that required both discretion and subterfuge. I read the files on the two we met earlier. From what little there was, I’ve gathered that they were part of a team assigned to infiltrate every possible avenue of influence in the Japanese Underground.”

“The HPSC seeks to control it?” Bubble Girl asked, thinking of the network of criminal activity and vice taking place in Japan’s underbelly.

“I believe so. The quickest way to grow in that darkness was illegal works and businesses. Thus, the HPSC agents assigned there slowly grew more interconnected with different crime groups and organizations.” Nighteye said carefully. “It’s why Toybox still supplies various criminals with her tech, only for them to get caught later.”

“Whoa. This is a little above my pay grade…”

“The HPSC has fingers in every pie. From what I’ve heard they control most of the casinos and gambling dens in the inner cities.” Nighteye shifted up a gear, speeding up. “Make no mistake, there are minotaurs in this maze. We know about them, they know about us. Just know that they’re there, and they see you.”

“Well that isn’t ominous at all.” Bubble Girl shivered.

“You’ll get used to it.” He shot a glance at the sleepy child in the backseat. “For now, we’ll do what we can as heroes.”

[x]

Toshinori Yagi took a deep breath and shifted into his hero form, wiping the sweat off his brow. It was time for another meeting, but thankfully it was an informal one.

All the bureaucracy and red tape frustrated him to no end, but as Japan’s symbol of peace he had a part to play. Each meeting wore down on his allotted time that he could stay in his hero form, precious time that could be spent on the still-ongoing search and rescue efforts. Miracle was even spotted among the rubble, helping wherever she could.

Yagi’s hands curled into tight fists. He should have been out there too. Instead, he was confined to meeting after meeting full of politicians, reporters, and government desk jockeys. Each of them had their own ulterior motives, and Yagi knew they saw the massacre as an opportunity to advance their own careers. 

The holodisk on his office desk rumbled. It was time, then. Yagi pushed down on the small device, causing light to fill the room in a swirling wave of blue. The radiance soon coalesced into the form of a tall, muscular figure, eight long, blonde tufts of her hair standing upright. Behind her flowed a striped cape reminiscent of an American flag.

The world’s strongest woman, Star and Stripe.

“It’s been quite a while, All Might.” she smiled.

“Hello, Cathleen.” Yagi returned her smile with a strained one of his own. “Good to see you again.”

“I wish I could say the same. Damn, you look stressed. The press really put you through the wringer, huh?” Star shook her head. “But enough small talk. I suppose you already know the reason why I’m calling today.”

“Yes.” Yagi nodded grimly. “Miracle.”

The Magical Girl was a hot topic ever since the massacre caused by Mustard. If not for Miracle, things would have been much, much worse. Public opinion on her seemed to be divided for now, but those on the scene had watched her fend off Mustard more than once. Video footage of her battling the other rogue Magical Girl and now helping with disaster relief was tilting the odds in her favor. 

Yagi didn’t know what to think about her. He recalled meeting her once back then, having already forgotten most of their conversation. The only reason he’d remembered her was due to the strange outfit, and her bright, heterochromatic eyes full of hope. Those same eyes that were filled with fear when he confronted her on the top of Mt. Fuji.

“That girl is possibly the single most dangerous metahuman in all of Asia next to you.” Star continued. “I’ve seen the battle footage, and most people agree that she could give even All Might a good run for his money. But take a look at this.”

Star tapped on a button off-screen, causing a small window to appear. It was a video feed of the moon, and Yagi frowned at the sudden change in topic.

“I don’t understand.”

“Look closely. Zoom and enhance.”

The video zoomed in, and Yagi could feel the breath catch in his throat when he spied a tiny green figure sitting on a rock atop the moondust. 

“Is that…?” he whispered, astonished.

“Miracle. On the moon.” Star nodded, her smile long gone. “The boys at NASA are keeping it quiet, but it's only a matter of time before there’s a leak. Master, she made it there herself, with just her Quirk! When’s the last time someone could even do something like that?”

Yagi was left speechless. Sure, there were people with Quirks who allowed them to fly beyond the speed of sound. Miracle was far more than that, having flight, invulnerability, and strength rolled up into a neat little package. She was an indestructible flying brick, a depiction of what a superhero was supposed to be in the age before Quirks. It seemed that Miracle was crying in the video, having curled up into a ball while two of her flowing emerald locks floated in the low gravity.

Tsuki no usagi.

“This is… unexpected. Unprecedented.” Yagi finally said. “Does anyone else know?”

“The eggheads at the Department of Metahuman Affairs have officially lost their shit. Some are even claiming that she’s the first of a new generation of overpowered metahumans, proof of the fabled ‘Quirk Singularity’ theory.” Star grimaced. “In any case, Uncle Sam isn’t happy. The higher-ups are thinking of using the incident as a reason to launch a joint operation with Japan to take down Miracle.”

“What? They can’t possibly…”

“Four American soldiers lost their lives on foreign soil. As far as they’re concerned, that’s reason enough. And what of Mustard? From what I’ve heard Miracle has yet to comment on what happened to her. For all we know she’s still out there! Everyone’s terrified, master. They’ve even requested for Miracle to be added to the list of S-Class threats.”

“That would make her the first one in a decade since Toxic Chainsaw.” Yagi breathed. “You can’t do that!”

“It’s beyond my jurisdiction, old friend. I’m sorry.” Star shook her head, looking away at something off-screen. “There’s going to be shit coming your way soon, so I thought I’d give you a heads up. I’ve gotta go, but I’ll keep you updated!”

“Star—”

The holo-call cut off with a click and Yagi groaned. He held his head and massaged his temples, crimson dribbling onto the desk below. There was a loud poof of steam and he was back in his true form again, an emaciated skeleton of skin and bones. Yagi sighed, looking at his frail hand. This was the real him. The man behind the hero.

He was getting old. Weak. In his prime he could have rushed to Musutafu faster than a speeding bullet. On the day of the Massacre he’d been overextended, having used up all his time patrolling other parts of the country earlier. By the time he went beyond his limits to transform and make it there both Miracle and Mustard had taken to the upper stratosphere with the military jets.

Yagi coughed up another small stream of blood. He still hadn’t found a successor. The U.A boy with the Permeation Quirk was a promising pick, even cleaning up Dagobah Beach without any complaints. Still, it just didn’t feel right. There was nothing wrong with him, it was just… something in Yagi’s gut holding him back.

Then there was what Shimura and the dreams had told him, the information written in his notebooks. The overloading of the Quirk factor. The fourth user’s premature demise due to old age. If One For All was truly the cause of the man’s deteriorating lifespan…

Yagi shelved the thought. He was the current wielder, so it was his burden to bear for now. Still, a part of him dreaded passing on the Quirk for fear of what would happen to his successor. 

With a sigh he retrieved a manila folder Nighteye had sent him. Even if they were no longer on speaking terms, his old apprentice still dedicated himself to the mission of passing down One For All. It made Yagi feel weak, incompetent. 

He began to read. Nighteye’s dossier contained the names and personal information of possible candidates for One For All’s new host, and Yagi bit back a choke at how young they were. Perhaps Nighteye was a little biased, seeing as most of them were U.A applicants. There was an orange-haired girl with a ponytail, a boy with spiky red hair, a girl with a frog-like appearance…

Yagi read on despite the churning in his gut. His days were numbered, so picking a successor soon was of utmost importance. Miracle’s existence heralded the possibility of future threats that were just like her, only increasing the pressure he felt. His successor had to be strong beyond measure, a beacon that could stand up to walking calamities like the Magical Girls. It was just that… none of them truly felt ‘right’ so far. How could he justify sending any of these poor children to their deaths thanks to One For All?

The ancient Quirk was both a blessing and a curse, a cross for Yagi to bear. 

He knew it was only a matter of time before someone else took the mantle of ‘Symbol of Peace’. What came after was the thing that truly worried Yagi, for he knew that his successor might be the last wielder of One For All. A sacrificial lamb to finally end the curse, once and for all.

Yagi’s eyes burned with shame, but he did his duty and continued to read.

[Chapter 9 End]

Chapter Text

“Come on… where are you…” Izuku bit his lip, looking around at the gathered crowd of people.

All around him were refugees from Musutafu City, all of them having been temporarily relocated to the nearby Kurado City. Tensions were still running high, though there was a silver lining when many of the displaced were finally reunited with their families. Many were hugging and crying in the streets, while others were desperately looking for their loved ones just like Izuku was. 

The authorities began sorting out people by the first letter of their family names, and order was soon restored with them watching. Izuku caught sight of a woman’s disheveled green hair, something pink and squishy atop her head—

“Mom?” Izuku gasped, already breaking into a run. “Mom!”

Inko turned, her eyes red from constant crying. 

“Izuku?” she began, already tearing up into great, heaving sobs. “Izzzuuuuukkkuuuu!”

He met her in a hug, the two of them crying together. They remained that way for quite some time, relieved that the other was alright. Eventually their touching reunion was interrupted by a strange gurgle from atop Inko’s head, with Izuku looking up to see Pinky gazing down on them quizzically.

“Ah!” Izuku blinked when the slime creature leapt into his arms instead. “Pinky!”

To both Midoriya’s surprise the slime jumped off him and began to transform, twisting and warping into the shape of a human child. Izuku’s breath hitched when he laid eyes upon the creature’s unnerving form, somewhat distrubed. It wasn’t human but was mimicking one, all its proportions slightly wrong and uncanny. After a moment of silence Inko extended her hand, the slime holding it obediently.

“So that’s your name…” Inko's smile was a little strained. “Thank you for saving me, Pinky.”

“He did?” Izuku gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you…”

“Izuku, is he your friend?”

“Sort of? Pinky here is Mikumo-chan’s, um…” Izuku struggled to come up with an answer. “Pet.”

Upon hearing his chosen name Pinky wobbled on the spot like a bowl of jelly. Inko looked startled at the apparent revelation that her savior was some sort of Quirked animal but quickly accepted it, reasoning it was why he didn’t speak at all despite her constant stream of questions when they first met.

Together the trio of mother, child and Quirk made their way into their new home. With the severe damage inflicted on Musutafu City all but crippling its infrastructure, the government decided to build temporary housing for the displaced refugees. With Cementoss’ help the work was completed in mere hours, though everyone had to admit the architecture was rather soulless and brutalist. An eyesore on Kurado City, as some would say. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and Izuku was glad they at least had a roof over their heads.

“Here we are!” Inko set her things down, Izuku following close behind. “It’s not much, but it's better than nothing.”

Izuku nodded silently, observing their new apartment. Both the walls and floors were cold concrete, but they’d make do. Guilt burned in his heart at how the citizens of Musutafu would now be living like this. Because of his incompetence, they’d all lost their homes…

“Sorry I couldn’t save your All Might action figures.” Inko shook her head sadly, reaching into one of her bags and pulling out a damaged All Might figurine. “I was trying to save as much as I could, so I could only grab one.”

She passed it over to Izuku, who merely gave it a passing glance. A large crack was running down the middle of All Might’s face, scarring his pristine smile and splitting it in half. Putting the figure aside he wrapped his mother in another warm hug, trembling. He wouldn’t let the tears come up, holding them back with small sniffles.

“I’m just glad you’re okay, mom.” Izuku mumbled.

“Sweetheart?” Inko noticed something was wrong almost immediately. 

She pulled back and took a good look at him, noticing the downcast eyes, the shame in his gaze. Izuku’s lips trembled uncontrollably when she cupped his face, worried.

“Izuku? What’s wrong?” Inko stilled for a moment, tensing. “Was Mikumo-chan…”

“No. She’s fine, mom. I just…” Izuku said, hanging his head.

How would he even begin to tell her what happened? Of his failure to look out for the people he cared about, for his city? His friend had been hurting, and he was too incompetent to even see it. Deep down, he was no better than those who called themselves heroes. It was too late when Izuku felt a tear running down his cheek, and it took everything in him not to burst into tears.

“It’s okay, honey.” Inko mumbled, holding him tight. “It’s going to be alright…”

No it’s not. Things were never going to be alright ever again. 

Izuku tried to say something, but the words refused to come out. He ended up hugging her back again, the roiling shame continuing to strike at his heart like waves crashing against rocks.

Behind them Pink quietly watched the exchange, his eyes glowing in the dim light.

The shame ebbed and flowed, beginning to recede.

[x]

Izuku knew what he had to do, visiting the hospital the very next day.

It took some time sorting through the many shock victims, but Izuku eventually found what he was looking for. The room was completely unguarded, holding a comatose boy on a hospital bed hooked to a ventilator. 

Matsuda Kenji, AKA Mustard.

Izuku pulled up a chair and sat down beside him, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His hands trembled, causing the boy to hold them together. Mustard was akin to a human hydrogen bomb just waiting to go off, and she was right there in front of him. Defenseless.

No. Izuku shook his head. This wasn’t Mustard, who’d unleashed a raging firestorm upon Musutafu City. This was Matsuda Kenji, his friend who’d been abused.

And Izuku just let it happen like a goddamn idiot.

There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words seemed to turn to mush in his mouth. Izuku struggled to even think of what he could do, barely holding back the overwhelming tide of guilt from crushing him entirely. Pinky snaked out of his backpack and rested on his lap, distracting him from the awful sight of Matsuda’s unresponsive form. Admittedly, he did feel a little better after that.

“Hi, Matsuda-kun…” Izuku began shakily. “It’s me again. Midoriya Izuku. I don’t know if you can hear me.”

The other boy said nothing, still as a statue. When Izuku asked the doctors they told him that his friend was catatonic from shock, unable to respond to even the most basic of stimuli. Whatever it was, Mustard was now sealed away within him. Izuku didn’t know what to do, a wild torrent of emotion surging through him.

“My home is gone. Musutafu City is… it’s horrible. How could you? How could I—”

The quiet beeping of the ECG and Matsuda’s soft breathing was the only sound in the room until Izuku started sniffling. Pinky looked up when he felt droplets hitting the top of his head, Izuku shaking as he began to sob silently. The boy buried his face in his hands, trying to hold back the tears but the dam broke and he began to cry.

“I’m sorry…” Izuku sobbed, curling in on himself. “I’m so, so sorry…”

He felt pathetic, unable to help his friend. He should have paid more attention, said something, anything. If he had, maybe none of this would have happened. The blood of over 5000 people was on his hands, on Miracle’s hands. 

It was all her fault.

Pinky let out a little gurgle and placed a pseudopod on Izuku’s head, making him feel somewhat better. It took a moment for him to realize it wasn’t just that. The grief and sadness seemed to drain away like water down a drain, Izuku quickly recoiling from the slime’s touch.

“W-what are you doing?”

Pinky waved a tentacle at himself, then at Izuku’s forehead. The boy struggled to understand, confusion etched across his face until the nearby TV on the wall distracted him.

“—Magical Girl Mustard’s whereabouts are still unknown. Hard to think that the catfight of the century would have such an inconclusive ending, eh folks? Who knows, it might have been over a boy—”

Shut up.

Burning anger lanced through Izuku’s core. How could they even joke about this? 

The Pink Slime on Izuku’s lap gently tapped his forehead with a tentacle and the anger ebbed away. Izuku frowned, remembering what happened when they first met. Pinky could connect to others by touching them…

“You can absorb emotions? Is that what you’re doing?” Izuku asked, confused.

Pinky shook, then stretched his body to form a massive gaping maw before closing it. He repeated the process a few times, trying to tell Izuku something. 

“You breathe them in?” Izuku pondered, right before his eyes widened in realization. “No. You eat emotions.”

The slime nodded and Izuku stood in shock, causing the creature to leap off his lap and onto the hospital bed. 

“Wait a minute. All this time… Is that what you guys have been doing?” Izuku gasped, the new information shocking him to the core. 

Izuku’s brain worked on overdrive, the world slowing down before him. This was the missing link. Quirks fed on emotions, which was why they sought to terrorize without actually killing anyone. All those shock-and-awe displays, the wanton destruction while behaving like monsters from a Saturday morning cartoon… It was all to create a spectacle. To get the most amount of attention possible, which in turn generated an emotional reaction from anyone watching. Earth must have been a rich feeding ground compared to their native dimension, reality, or wherever the Quirks came from. It all made sense now! It also explained why people’s Quirks seemed to get stronger when under high emotional stress.

“B-but why didn’t you just tell me, Pinky?” Izuku frowned. 

The slime said nothing but extended a wiggling tentacle. After a moment of hesitation Izuku touched it to his forehead, waiting for the creature to speak again. This time however a grinding pressure pressed against his skull when a thunderous, booming voice echoed within his thoughts, with Izuku barely able to interpret what Pinky was trying to say.

Head talk hurt you.

“Ow…” Izuku winced and pulled the tentacle away, blinking stars out of his eyes. “Okay, I get it. The first time you did that it sounded like thunder going off in my ear. Is there a way to talk without hurting?”

Pinky nodded, bouncing a little. Izuku took a deep breath and put the tentacle on his forehead again, trying again.

Use Quirk Speak.

Izuku pulled away, confused. “Quirk Speak?”

Multiple holes opened up along Pinky’s body and the creature blew, creating a strange whistling noise. He wasn’t speaking, not truly. But he was making sounds, and when that sound reached Izuku’s ears he could vaguely… feel… What Pinky was feeling.

Of course! Izuku bopped a fist into his open palm, understanding after a few seconds of analyzing the strange behavior. Quirks were all about emotions. Somehow, they also used it to communicate. All the times Izuku had nearly managed to ‘speak’ with a Quirk was when he was emotionally charged. Still, the new method of communication was startlingly rudimentary, almost primitive. 

At least now he knew the basics of talking to Quirks. Not only that, he now had an inkling of what their goals were. A truth of the world was revealed, and Izuku closed his fists in determination. Turning to the unconscious Matsuda, he gripped the other boy’s hand tight and made a promise.

“I’ll come back for you, Matsuda-kun.” Izuku whispered. “Just you wait. I’m gonna get to the bottom of all this, and everything will be alright again.”

Izuku held his head up high, filled with a newfound sense of purpose. He alone knew what was truly going on. It was his responsibility, his duty to stop the Angels now. Glancing at his phone, he finally found the courage to open up the Qwoter app and look at the newsfeed. Searching his hero name revealed that despite the massacre many still supported Miracle, seeing her as the only reason Musutafu City was still standing. 

There were videos of Miracle valiantly defending the city from Mustard, protecting people wherever she could. The majority of the public was now on her side instead of blaming her for the destruction, though Izuku did suppose there was a bit of bias. He wouldn’t have gotten off that easy if Miracle wasn’t a cute girl.

People still believed in her. News of a new Angel appearance was spreading like wildfire, blurry images showing what looked like a great, vaguely triangular shape soaring in the skies above Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan. Something flat and thin with a tapered profile, contrails marking its flight path. A black spindle against the blue-white sky. A Needle Angel.

Netizens were now using a new dedicated hashtag for Miracle, both to tell their stories and signal her for help. Izuku nearly teared up when he read it and the posts it was attached to, hundreds of people describing how she saved them during Mustard’s rampage.

#WeNeedAMiracle

Izuku steeled himself, sniffing. There were people out there that needed his help. Just before he left he adjusted Matsuda’s blanket, making sure that the other boy wouldn’t get too cold. 

It was the least he could do.

[x]

Izuku soared high above the sea in her Magical Girl form, scanning the turbulent waters.

It’d been two hours since she began her search, only to find no sign of the elusive new Angel. Video footage posted on the internet showed it frequenting both the seas and skies near Hokkaido, right along the coastline where Izuku was flying. The girl frowned, squinting her eyes and trying to see if she’d missed anything.

“You see anything, Pinky?” 

The slime perched atop her head let out a gurgle in response. A no, then. She’d brought him along to play the part of negotiator, hoping that he’d somehow help with communicating with the other Angel. There was no harm in trying… that is, if they could actually find the damn thing.

Izuku groaned. She’d been searching for hours, and there was still nothing. Patrolling the coastline earlier didn’t lead to any clues either, though she did wave hello to a few starstruck beach-goers. 

The Magical Girl instead took a break for the moment, working on practicing what Pinky called ‘Quirkspeak’. It was oddly intuitive to her enhanced body, and Izuku soon got the hang of it. The concept was simple; all she had to do was broadcast her thoughts outward with a powerful emotional pulse, and the recipient would be able to interpret her intentions. It was comparable to radio waves, with the wavelength being replaced by the emotion spectrum.

“Let’s try this again, I think I’m getting the hang of it.” Izuku huffed. “Ahem! [Can you hear me]?” 

Pinky bobbed about in front of her face and let out a little warble of confirmation.

“[Okay. How are you feeling?]”

Pinky bored.

“[You’re telling me. Hmm…]” It was a little better, and didn't hurt that much anymore. Izuku thought for a moment and decided to try something. “[Do-re-mi, do-re-mi~ Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti~ dooooe~.]”

The creature looked at her, confused. It could sense that she was trying to cheer herself up, but not sure of the odd sounds that were coming out from her mouth.

“[It’s a really old song.]” Izuku told him, marveling at how sweet her voice sounded. “[Doe, a deer, a female deer~ Ray, a drop of golden sun~]”

Pinky wobbled, hopping from side to side like an excited dog. Izuku smiled, twirling around with him in an aerial dance.

“[Me, a name I call myself~]” Izuku sang, giggling. "[Far, a long, long way to run~]"

Sew, a needle pulling thread~

The Magical Girl froze, her hair standing on an end at the voice of a little girl blaring into her head like a bomb going off. That… wasn’t Pinky. She’d spent enough time with him to recognize his broadcast signature, and this new one was so very different. The emotional pulse hit her like an arrow, carrying a message of curiosity and playfulness. There was a pull in her head, causing her to jolt in surprise.

The Needle Angel was here.

Another pull. Izuku winced and looked about, tensing when something moved out of the corner of her vision. The creature was stalking her like a shark, hiding beneath the clouds like they were waves. She only knew it was there from the way the clouds distorted from its speed, leaving gaping holes or whirling ripples. It could somehow move without making a sound, an eerie silence falling across the area. Trailing behind it were the echoing notes of the song she was singing earlier, the creature mimicking her tune and finishing the rest of the song through its broadcast. It was toying with her.

 La, a note to follow sew~ Tea, a drink with jam and bread~

Izuku clenched her teeth, fists coming up in a guard stance. Pinky positioned himself atop her head and faced backwards, the two of them circling around slowly against the unseen threat. How did it know the rest of the song, a human song? It's voice was that of a child, taunting and playful.

And it all comes back to doe!

Above—

A bellowing roar echoed in the skies, drowning out her thoughts. Now that the sun had set the Angel was perfectly camouflaged against the night sky, Izuku feeling it zoom past but unable to see it. The resulting sonic boom hurled her backwards, stunning her for a second. She wasted no time and gave pursuit, trailing after the high-pitched, screaming sound it made. Pinky reached out with a tendril and tapped on Izuku’s forehead, feeding the Needle Angel’s declaration directly to her brain in a momentary flash of white-hot disorientation.

Challenge me. It demanded.

Izuku pursed her lips. It wanted a… race? Whatever. She went along with the flow, chasing after the great black shape. It was howling, rumbling, and for a moment Izuku thought that was its voice until she barely caught sight of its ‘tail’. Six silver tubes stuck out atop its back, plumes of glowing blue exhaust propelling the creature forward.

Miracle was catching up to it when there was a sudden boom of thunder, the Angel breaking the sound barrier with ease. She followed suit, only to watch in shock and amazement as it began outspeeding her by leagues. The creature was flat and tapered to a needle-sharp point, its perfectly aerodynamic body boasting a single red eye that could dart all about its surface like a pinball. 

The two of them were streaks of black and green, the waves beneath them parting in their wake. Izuku chased the Angel even as it continued to speed right past Japan's borders, entering international waters. Rippling cones of vapor formed around their bodies, massive rooster-tails of seawater billowing upwards.

Up above the stars turned to long belts of light, night turning to day as both Izuku and the Angel ventured into a different continent. The Magical Girl was vaguely aware of the wide, open plains beneath them framed by snow-capped mountains, spotting herds of wild horses galloping below. They raced past the animals with an earsplitting boom, startling some who reared up with frightened yelps.

Izuku was going as fast as she could, but the Angel always seemed to be a few paces ahead. Around them the lush plains turned to sweltering desert, rolling dunes of sand dotting the landscape. A convoy of men with camels pointed up at the pair, but vanished soon after as Izuku and the Angel sped past. The wind was howling, centrifugal force pulling both Izuku and the Needle Angel outward when they made a tight turn to avoid flying right into a sandstorm. They flew through canyons and valleys, soaring past mountains and lakes. Throughout it all the otherworldly creature always kept the lead, boasting its power for all to see. The Needle Angel was a flying engine, staying in the air from its sheer speed alone.

The two of them proceeded to race across continents and seas. It was an exhilarating experience, and for the first time the Magical Girl felt she was truly challenged.

Izuku grit her teeth and pushed, forcing herself forward. The Angel responded in kind, the two of them gradually increasing their speed bit by bit until they were about to go hypersonic. Mach 5. The wind tore at them like a thousand spinning knives both but neither refused to give in, either out of stubbornness or in the Angel’s case; pure spite. Izuku could feel what it was feeling, the creature broadcasting its emotions like a wave. Brilliant, radiating pride, mixed with burning envy and suffocating frustration. Somehow, Izuku got the feeling that it hated to lose. Pinky held on for dear life within Izuku’s yellow backpack, the straps shaking uncontrollably and threatening to snap. The Needle Angel let out a shriek of annoyance when Izuku caught up, pushing itself even further beyond its original limits.

Gotta

Go

FAST

“R̸̥͓̣̳̞̊̆́e̸̟͚̣̣̒́̾͝ċ̶͙̙̱̠̌ḯ̷̢̲̔́̀͜p̵̮̭̹͎̓̚r̶̦͎͇͈͓̕ö̶̰̩͙͚́͑̋͂͆͜ ̴̨̨͛̀͌Ȩ̵̳̖͙̀x̶̰͂̾̂t̷̙͖̖̤̗͗̒͂̓͘è̴̝͐n̸̘̫̣͋̓ͅd̵͉̩̥̙̏̋͌͝!̵̢̧̻̃͋̽̚”

Mach 6. Izuku snarled from the sharp stab of pain in her head and tried matching it, but the Angel was much too fast. Speed was the name of the game, and the Angel was clearly built for it with that tapered, aerodynamic body. Izuku immediately braked and began to slow when her backpack caught fire from the air friction, losing the race.

“A-ah! Pinky, are you alright?” Izuku panicked, quickly patting away the flames and scooping out her slimy friend into a worried hug. 

Thankfully Pinky seemed to be completely unharmed, though a little shaken. Izuku doubted the poor thing had gone that fast in his life, nor would he want to ever again. Behind her the Needle Angel laughed, having finally slowed to a stop once it realized it won.

Ha Ha Ha. You lose.

“Oww…” Izuku winced when the unfiltered psychic declaration jabbed directly into her brain. “Could you tone it down?”

The Needle Angel was gloating at its victory, satisfied. Now that Izuku could actually get a good look she was awed at how alien it seemed. It was an ever shifting triangle of vantablack scales, now hovering in place and studying her with childlike interest. Izuku gently placed Pinky on her head, urging him to enact a plan they’d agreed on earlier.

“Okay, Pinky. Do your thing!”

Pinky wobbled and sent a pulse outward, gesturing excitedly with his tentacles. The Needle Angel responded in kind, spreading its wings outward to form the shape of an inverted triangle. It began making chopping motions with its wings, looking somewhat comical now that it wasn't being an unstoppable speed demon.

“Ask him.” Izuku urged. “Ask him how he got here.”

The same question was posed to Pinky when Izuku first got him, but even he didn’t know the answer. She hoped this new Angel would shed some light on the breach in reality, and her efforts were rewarded when it drew closer.

A spindly arm made of jet-black bone protruded from the center of the creature’s chest, offering her its hand. Izuku took it after a bit of hesitation—

—and she began to see.

She saw the world around her dyed with a rainbow hue, swirling colors racing past them in a multicolored aurora. The girl gasped as a tidal wave of orange crashed down on her, only to find herself unharmed. Behind her Pinky and the Needle Angel were absorbing parts of the wave while it ebbed and flowed around them, almost like they were filter-feeding.

“These are… emotions?” Izuku whispered, watching a current of blue coil around her finger. “Oh wow…”

An infinite rainbow aurora rushed past her, countless shades of color radiating from below. Upon closer inspection Izuku saw that the colors flowed from cities—from humans. Their emotions escaped into the atmosphere like a gas, and when Izuku flew up higher she realized the aurora encircled the entire planet itself. A bubble of churning emotions. A sphere of human thought.

A firmament.

Her heart was hammering, pounding away within her chest. So much power. Izuku knew if she just… let go, and opened herself to it, she could feast. But somehow, she got the feeling that she would no longer be human if she did that. Instead she calmed herself, looking back at Pinky and the other Angel who followed her into the stratosphere. 

“So this is how you see the world.” Izuku whispered. “Thank you for granting me your sight.”

The Needle Angel rumbled, pleased. To Izuku’s shock it began fading away, having expended all its energy in the race earlier and the granting of its gift. Izuku held the creature’s hand and stayed until it fully disintegrated, thinking on what it showed her. One final image was broadcasted into Izuku’s thoughts as a picture, thoughts made tangible by the Angel’s unique method of communication.

In it, the Angel painted a tapestry, a prophecy of great darkness. A cataclysm. Izuku saw the silhouettes of two dragons fighting, lines of blood connecting the beasts. They were brothers, with one dragon having countless heads with gleaming teeth, while the other had nine, shining tails. Both were wounded, battered… and from the shadows something new approached, diving down at the weakened dragons. An abomination. They'd spent so long fighting each other that they were caught by surprise, powerful roars turning to shrill, pitiful squeals. The new adversary screamed with the voice of a thousand tortured children, smothering the world entirely with the stench of burning flesh. The voice invoked a series of terrible, flashing images; fat, wriggling maggots crawling within filth, razors carving crimson lines into flesh, skin flaying back until it began to tear in long, twitching ribbons of pink and white.

Izuku screamed, frightened at the vision. It screamed right back, psychic fingers clawing across the surface of her mind and sinking into the soft gray matter. The vision refused to stop, as if it was an entity of its own. The Magical Girl was forced to watch Earth burn, her blue beautiful planet turning an ugly red, all of humanity shrieking out in simultaneous agony while a pair of burning, hateful golden eyes with slitted pupils watched from above, rage and frenzy made manifest—

Then it was over, just as soon as it began. Izuku retched, tears rolling down her cheeks at the horror of what she witnessed. She wanted to curl up into a little ball and weep, to cry and run away, but the part that was Midoriya Izuku refused to submit. He was a rock that she centered herself upon, a solid foundation on which the tower known as Miracle was built.

“W-why… why did you show me that?” Izuku choked, breathing heavily.

The Needle Angel made no response, and Izuku could only watch as it turned into multicolored particles, rising to be swept into the wave of color above them. Izuku’s thought about the color and watched it rise from the Earth’s surface like a stream, which joined others to form a river, then a lake.

Somewhere beyond that was a sea, and Izuku was sure it was the place Quirks called home. The emerald-haired girl took a few minutes to gather her bearings, but couldn’t stop trembling from the terrible vision. She couldn’t understand, not yet.

“T-the breach that Toga-san mentioned… it’s all around us.” Izuku said, shaken. “These waters that you Quirks swim in. All you had to do was jump to breach the surface.”

Magical Girl Miracle straightened, swallowing all her pain and fear. There would be time for that later. The world needed her now .

“We have to find the lab.” Izuku declared. “An answer to what happened, and how this body came to be. Pinky?”

A small murmur echoed and the slime fixed himself upon her shoulder, ready for a new adventure. Izuku let her glitter swirl around her, relishing the power running through her body. It reassured her, and though Transform’s influence was always at the back of her mind Izuku knew she was in control. 

“Let’s go.” she whispered.

The pair of Magical Girl and Quirk raced off into the horizon, in search of answers.

[x]

Matsuda Kenji curled into a ball, knees brought to his chest. His eyes were squeezed shut, hands clamped over his ears.

The white void within his head was infinite, endless. So was Toga Himiko’s fury.

She raged, howled and screamed behind him, constantly changing between her original form, Matsuda’s female form, and Mustard herself. She was all of them and none of them, a paradox that shouldn’t have been allowed to exist. Here she was imprisoned in the depths of his mind, unable to free herself from the mental prison that encompassed them both.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Kenji whispered, rocking back and forth. “I didn’t do it. I want to go home…”

“Kenji, you’re a pathetic excuse for a human being. Has anyone ever told you that?” Toga spat, pacing around for what seemed like the millionth time. “I’m sick and tired of hearing your ‘I didn’t do it’ and ‘sorries’. You’re me! You understand that, don’t you?! You are me.”

“B-but I wouldn’t hurt people. I wouldn’t kill people.” Kenji sniffed. Toga’s voice was crystal clear no matter how much he covered his ears. “That was you who did that, not me…”

“Boo fuckin’ hoo. Oh yeah, Matsuda Kenji wouldn’t kill anyone, because he’s a stinking, cowardly fucking loser with no goddamn guts!” Toga roared, curling her hands into claws and wringing them in front of him. “Spineless wimp! Snotty little virgin.”

Though Toga couldn’t hurt him, she sure as hell could torment him mentally. The vestige spat on the ground near his feet before stomping away like a petulant child, muttering vile curses under her breath. Kenji whimpered, resigning himself to his fate.

“...and now, I’m trapped in the head of some puny midget, in a goddamn hospital of all places! Because of you!” Toga snarled, her previous form sloughing off her like rotten flesh off a bone. “Because of that little bitch Miracle! When I get out of here… oooooh, when I get out of here…”

She turned to face Matsuda once more, slitted, golden eyes burning with pure hatred.

“I’ll make her wish she could die.”

[Chapter 10 End]

Chapter Text

Miracle descended through the clouds and into a bustling city, occasionally checking her phone’s inbuilt GPS and Coogle Maps app. After a while she found what she was looking for, gently floating downward until her heels met the road with a soft click.

The crowd ahead gasped and began taking pictures, parting while she walked forward nervously. Aside from a few smiles and waves the Magical Girl mostly ignored them, focusing on the task at hand. Once she made it past them her objective was easily spotted; the creature sitting in the river patiently while more civilians watched it with interest from the artificial riverbank.

It was a frog. The massive, bus-sized amphibian stared at Miracle impassively while she approached, not seeming to care about a thing in the world. In fact, it looked… content? There were even some children who were wading around in the waters near it, occasionally poking the giant creature with childlike wonder. 

“Oh dear…” Izuku hurried ahead, worried that it might hurt them. “Excuse me! Please don’t get too close, it’s dangerous!”

Thankfully the children backed away after her warnings, scampering back to their parents to watch from a distance. Izuku drew closer to the Frog Angel carefully, trying not to startle it. Slowly moving back and forth, she quickly realized it was watching her every move. The creature was clearly wary of her, but didn’t seem to have any malicious intentions.

“Um… hello there!” Miracle began.

KERO.

The Frog Angel croaked out a greeting. Unlike all its brethren who came before it, this one was unbothered, moisturized, and happy. Practically flourishing in its newfound surroundings until people noticed and started gathering around it.

“Alright.” The girl took a deep breath to steady herself. “Um, Mr. Frog? Sorry, but I’m gonna need you to go home.”

Giant, reddish-yellow eyes blinked, powerful muscles rippling under the creature’s green skin. Izuku soon understood what it was doing when it wiggled its hips a little, stubbornly burying itself deeper into the riverbed.

“Come on, man. You’re making everyone nervous!” Izuku paused. “Well, they’re not afraid of you now, but you know what I mean. A giant frog monster isn’t something you see everyday.”

Another loud croak was sent her way.

Miracle scratched her head, perplexed. This was the first Angel that didn’t seem to do anything at all. It was just… relaxing, like a normal person would. Despite that, Izuku knew she had finish things fast before the heroes showed up and made a mountain out of a molehill.

“Alright, look. What will it take for you to go home?” she asked.

A long, pink tongue extended from the Frog Angel’s mouth and licked her entire face, causing the girl to back away while coughing and sputtering.

“Bleh!” Izuku gagged, wiping off the horrid slime off herself. “Ew… What was that for? Are you hungry?”

The creature said nothing, leaving Izuku to throw her arms out in exasperation. She should have bought Pinky here, but he was busy keeping an eye on Inko for the time being. Without him acting as an interpreter, it was much harder to understand what an Angel actually wanted.

“Okay.” Izuku breathed. “[What do you need?]”

That caught its attention. The giant amphibian immediately rotated its bulk about to face her once she made the broadcast, signaling its intentions and emotions back to her in Quirk-speak. It turned out that the Frog Angel was indeed hungry, simply taking a break to feast on the emotions around it. Izuku frowned and made a ring with her index finger and thumb before bringing it to her left eye, activating the new ability granted to her by the Needle Angel just a day prior.

True Sight.

Rainbow hues dyed the edge of her vision, and Izuku began to see. Blurry figures appeared behind each person in the gathered crowd, multicolored streams of light radiating off them like heat off an engine. Wisps of fragmented light peeled away from the streams and into the Frog Angel, the creature gorging itself on emotional energy. Izuku winced and stopped soon after, the strange new power being rather taxing both physically and mentally. She’d need more practice to improve.

“[So… you’ll leave after you’re full?]” Izuku tried hopefully.

To her relief the Quirk nodded in response, not at all bothered that its mealtime was being interrupted. After a few more minutes of feeding it actually stayed true to its word, dissipating into a whirlwind of multicolored particles and returning home. It worked. The Angels could be convinced to go home! Izuku supposed its host was a patient one, thankful that the entire incident had gone off without a hitch.

Unfortunately, that was also when the heroes decided to finally show themselves. They popped out of the crowd like termites out of woodwork, support items raised and Quirks flaring. Izuku wasn’t surprised, having been aware of their communications from the moment they arrived thanks to her superhuman hearing. What did surprise her, was the man with red wings hovering right above.

Number Three Hero, Hawks.

He was a young man with hair the color of spun gold, boasting a smile that could melt women’s hearts. A part of Miracle, the part that was boy-Izuku, wanted to punch that smug expression right off his face before quickly collecting herself.

“Hi, little lady.” Hawks greeted her with a smarmy grin.

“Hello, Mr. Hawks.” Izuku said in a little voice, keeping her guard up.

“Please. Mr. Hawks is my dad.” Hawks smiled. “Just Hawks is fine. Heard you like autographs, so here.”

A flat sheet of paper was carried over to her upon two of Hawks’ crimson feathers, Izuku gingerly picking it up and inspecting it with a raised eyebrow. It was a signed photo of Hawks posing for the camera like a supermodel, complete with his trademark cocky grin. Izuku’s eyebrow twitched. In the past she would have been overjoyed to receive a treasure like this, but now it just felt like a bribe.

“Um, thanks. But what do you really want?”

“Quid pro quo, Miracle. I’m technically supposed to be arresting you, but eh,” Hawks shrugged nonchalantly, but she could see the gleam in his eye. “I’d rather we just talk.”

Izuku knew she had to act fast. Both of them knew the plan to charm her had failed completely and utterly, so now Hawks was just trying to buy time for whatever scheme the Hero Association had cooked up.

“What am I being arrested for?” Izuku asked.

“Vigilantism, mostly.” Hawks said. “Along with treason, conspiracy, and vandalism.”

“Vandalism?” Izuku repeated, doing her best to hide her fear.

“Mt. Fuji is a world heritage site. You and Mustard did quite a number on it in your little catfight.” Hawks told her. “Where is she, by the way?”

The man was as subtle as a sledgehammer, but Izuku supposed he was eager for answers too. Behind her she could sense the heroes edging closer and closer, tensing by the second.

“I don’t know.” Izuku said.

“You don’t know?” Hawks asked, folding his arms. “Or are you not willing to tell me? Come on, don’t make this any harder for yourself.”

The heroes stepped closer. Some civilians could tell that something was up and they began backing away nervously, not getting very far due to the crowd who wanted to get a better look at Hawks. The majority of them were too enthralled by the man too fast for his own good, his popularity and magnetic personality drawing them in like groupies to a rockstar. Izuku’s eyes narrowed when she realized what was going on. 

“You… you would use these people as human shields?” Izuku whispered, disillusioned. “Did you really think I would attack you?”

“Mustard certainly did. Our intel says you don’t hurt civilians.” Hawks shrugged. “All of this is just a happy little accident. Let's not call them human shields, they're more like... innocent bystanders. Don't try anything funny. You're the bad guy here, Miracle. We're here to protect everyone from you, not the other way around.”

“You—” Izuku began floating, glittering particles flaring from her body in a threat display. Some of the gathered crowd gasped.

“Ah-ah-ah.” Hawks raised a finger, a dozen feathers now circling the Magical Girl’s neck and poised to spear through her throat. “Let’s not get too hasty now, kid. Come on, we just want to talk… You want to be a hero, don't you?”

Izuku’s only response was to feel around the photo Hawks had given her, tearing it in half to reveal a flexible, paper-thin microchip hidden within. She purposely brought the chip to eye level before crushing it between her fingers right in front of him, signaling that the jig was up.

“So much for Plan B.” Hawks said, his fellow heroes readying themselves behind him. “Alright, Miracle. Just talk to us, and we’ll try to figure out a way to minimize your sentence. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.”

He wasn’t even going to pretend that they didn't want her imprisoned. A few months ago Izuku would have believed him, trusted him with her life. Now she didn’t know what to believe in at all. Just as the world wasn’t black and white, heroes were neither all good nor all powerful. They were flawed people, and Izuku recognized that most feared her power. Others coveted it, jealous of her might. She could see it even without her True Sight, their want and greed apparent in the way they looked at her.

As for Hawks, behind that warm, charming smile was a deadly cold intent that chilled her to the core. Those were the eyes of a soldier. This man was under orders and would do anything to complete them, watching her like the animal he was named after. He was a predator among the other small fries, and he knew it.

But there was always a bigger fish.

“Yeah, nah.” Izuku scanned the area and found her escape route. “I’d rather do it my way.”

The air beneath Miracle’s heels distorted as she finally unleashed the power she’d been charging up, rocketing upwards with a sudden burst of speed. To his credit Hawks reacted in the span of a microsecond, blood-red feathers chasing after her like flying daggers. 

Izuku wanted to escape to the stratosphere, but was still tired out from the race with the Needle Angel. Hawks was relentless, being one of the few heroes capable of nearing her cruising speed while able to attack with his feathers. Though they failed to puncture her glitter the feathers clung to Izuku’s body like wet leaves, sticking out to create massive drag and slowing her down significantly. 

Behind Hawks the other heroes were catching up, bringing with them nets and chains. Izuku even spotted an Iron Maiden containment device propped up on one hero’s back, reinforced just for her. They were dreaming if they thought something like that could hold her, but she wasn't going to take any chances.

Growling, she quickly thought of a plan to lose the pursuers. The only real threat here was Hawks. No matter how much she zigzagged through the city he always seemed to find her again, somehow able to track her movements. Izuku looked down and realized it had to be the feathers, theorizing that the man could somehow see or sense things through them. Judging by the info she had written on him in her hero analysis notebook, he was probably telepathically connected to them too.

“Get off.” Izuku spat, pulling the feathers off her one by one and snapping them in two. 

She knew Hawks could regrow the damn things but hoped it wasn’t hurting him. The rest of the feathers clinging to her immediately let go and started harassing her instead, only for Izuku to destroy them with a series of well-placed punches and kicks. A final feather darted for her head and tried to slink its way into her hair, but Izuku spun about to crunch down on it with her teeth. 

With all the tracking feathers destroyed Izuku made a tight turn and slipped into an alley to escape the pursuing heroes, dusting herself down to make sure no feather fragments remained. If her data was accurate, Hawks could even control his down feathers—

“There you are, brat!” A voice yelled from above, causing Izuku to look up. “That ten million yen is mine!”

A lone hero was hurtling down at her, greatsword in hand. Izuku simply raised her hand and caught the massive blade, the shockwave throwing her attacker backwards. Just as he was about to charge in for another swing something red and black pounced down on him, smashing the hero’s face in and knocking him out cold.

Izuku put her arms in a guard stance, only to drop them immediately when she noticed the mysterious figure drawing a combat knife to plunge it into the unconscious hero’s neck. She darted forward and stopped the attack only inches before it hit the man’s artery, the blade breaking against her palm instead.

The assailant hissed and kicked off her guard in a backflip when Izuku shoulder-charged him, putting herself between him and the downed hero. 

“W-what do you think you’re doing?” Izuku demanded.

Steel rasped as the man drew a jagged katana, bringing the frayed blade up to the light. Even in the shadows Izuku recognized the unkempt, disheveled visage of the man before her, having seen his silhouette on the evening news one too many times.

“A frayed katana. Red and black. Bandages.” Izuku mumbled and took a step backwards, eyes widening in terror. “Y-you’re…”

“Hero killer Stain.” the man introduced himself, advancing with a glare. “Pleasure to finally meet you, Miracle.”

The Magical Girl squeaked in fright when Stain’s katana lanced forward, stopping only inches from her throat. Still, she refused to back down, knowing that doing so would result in the death of the downed hero behind her.

“Step aside.” Stain demanded, lips narrowed to a thin line.

“N-no.” Izuku shook her head, gulping. “No, I won’t! I won’t let you kill him!”

“That scumbag you’re protecting is a known corrupt hero who’s been known to look the other way for money.” Stain edged closer, causing the blade to tickle her neck. “Even now he plans to capture you for the ten million yen bounty on your head.”

“Ten million yen bounty?” Izuku repeated blankly.

Stain let out a snarl of disdain, pressing his katana against her. Miracle still refused to back down, shaking in her shoes but standing defiant in the face of certain death. Up close, he was so much taller than her, stinking of blood, sweat, and grime. Izuku trembled on the spot like a frightened little girl but held her ground. The villain eventually huffed and stepped away, sheathing his weapon while Izuku looked on in bewilderment.

“I was mistaken. You are no true hero… not yet. You’re still so young. All that power, and not even an inkling of how to use it properly.” Stain said, disappointed. “Why would you protect him, even after he attacked you?”

“Because he doesn’t deserve to die.” Izuku replied. “Even if he is a corrupt hero, he’s a human being. Just like you and me.”

“You’re unbearably naive.” Stain just looked annoyed now. “You hold the ideals of a true hero, but only because of your childish optimism. Your inexperience. This man and heroes of his ilk are nothing more than dogs of the state who chase after fame and fortune, a plague on true heroism. A standard must be upheld, and he shall make a fine example of what happens when one strays from the path.”

“N-no!” Izuku stammered. “This isn’t right! You can’t just go around attacking people just because they don’t agree with you! Please, you don’t have to do this!”

“I thought the same once when I was younger. These people aren’t heroes. They’re fakes, pursuing money and power instead of being the paragons of justice society needs them to be. They are a corruption, a perversion of everything the heroes of the golden age stood for. All Might is the last true hero who upholds these ideals, a shining example of heroism.” Stain ranted like a madman. “Heroes shouldn’t seek compensation for their acts—they’re supposed to be the embodiment of self-sacrifice for the greater good. Is that not why you fight, girl? To protect the people you love, for the greater good?”

“I—” Izuku tried to say.

“These ‘heroes’ don’t care. You know that, I can see it in your eyes.” Stain whispered. “Modern heroism is a sham. A disgrace to the word ‘hero’. Just look around you, and you'll see countless advertisements featuring heroes promoting products and services.”

The man spat the words as if they were poison in his mouth, the pure vitriol in his tone almost causing Izuku to flinch.

“They’ve infected every level of society to the point where they are seen as rockstars, celebrities, supermodels. Everything and anything that they need to be in order to obtain more money and power.” Stain continued. “They are nothing more than glorified law enforcement officers, a reactive force rather than an active one. Hypocrites who wear the title of hero like a flag upon their backs, hiding beneath a veneer of patriotism and goodwill; they are divided, disloyal, undisciplined, unfaithful. Valiant before the public and cowardly before enemies. They don’t seek to improve society but instead maintain the status quo, keeping their pockets full at the price of blood spilling in the streets.”

“You’re the only one I see spilling blood here!” Izuku shot back angrily, nearly in tears. He was tearing down her entire worldview, and she refused to admit he was right even if some of his words made sense. “Just who do you think you are?! You call them fakes, but you’re no hero yourself!”

“You are mistaken. I know I am no hero. I am but a reflection of this corrupt hero society. A reaction to ruin. That's the difference between you and me—you insist on maintaining the status quo. I wish to overthrow it.” Stain answered honestly. “The unworthy must be culled for the sake of a better future, and someone must stain themselves with blood.”

“You’re just an extremist.” Miracle argued. “A fanatic.”

“Perhaps. But what are you, Miracle?”

“M-me?” 

“You fight on despite it all. What will you do, when the world turns against you?” Stain’s crimson eyes seemed to glow in the dark, boring into her. “Will you fight for what you believe is right, even if everyone says you’re wrong?”

Izuku thought back to the Angels invading Earth, to her own vigilantism. Mustard was right about one thing. With all her power she could do anything she wanted, be anything she wanted. A lesser person would have the country, maybe even the world eating out of the palm of her hand. For a moment a treacherous little thought bubbled to the surface of her mind; a vision of herself sitting upon a glided throne with everyone who ever hurt her begging for mercy below, bowing to her strength. With this power she could rule as a tyrant.

But Izuku wasn’t that person. She was Midoriya Izuku, and all she ever wanted was to be a hero.

“I’ll continue to do what I think is right.” Izuku answered, eyes flashing with determination. “No matter what everyone else says about me.”

“Then deep down, you and I are the same.” Stain said, satisfied with her reply. “I keep my ideals, and so do you.”

“I-I’m nothing like you!” 

“Is that so? Just you wait, Miracle. Soon you’ll see hero society for the farce it truly is.” Stain countered. “Despite everything you’ve done for them they will hate you, because you are something that will threaten the power they’ve hoarded for themselves. You represent change, and that is something these so-called elites cannot accept. Maintaining the status quo will do you no good. It is better to overthrow it and start anew.”

Izuku was silent but Stain’s words wormed themselves into her brain, digging in with mental fishhooks and claws. 

“No… that’s not true! I—the heroes just need some time to get used to me, that’s all! They know I’m only trying to help.”

“And help you have. You just haven’t helped them. They would throw you under the bus for the sake of their lofty goals and ambitions, just as that one has.” Stain pointed at the unconscious man behind her. “They are afraid of you, girl. People always fear what they cannot control. And what they fear, they must destroy. Mark my words…”

Stain turned to leave, looking over his shoulder with those frightening, intense eyes.

“They’ll never stop coming after you.”

He leapt upwards and kicked off the alley like a ninja, jumping from wall to wall before finally disappearing over a rooftop. Izuku was left there with the downed hero to contemplate his words, making sure to check the man’s pulse before making her own exit.

“I’m not like you.” Izuku sniffed, fists tightening around her fluffy skirt. “I’m not… All I want to do is help people…”

Shaking her head only reinforced the man’s venomous words, and they continued to persist like a stubborn stain.

[x]

Aizawa Shota’s right eye twitched as his best friend Yamada Hizashi yawned for the umpteenth time. To be fair he couldn’t blame him since the meeting they were in was terribly boring, but the least he could do was cover his mouth.

“—this is outrageous! The girl cannot be allowed to roam free unchecked!” one man was saying, ranting and raving at the round table before him. “We must bring her under our control, or risk another Musutafu!”

“And how, exactly, do you propose to do that?” Another man countered. “Need I remind you that your efforts to bring her in by force have done nothing but antagonize her.”

“That was before we knew the full extent of her powers—”

“Rubbish! You’re just unwilling to admit that you were wrong, that your so-called hit squad you keep in your back pocket failed miserably. What we need here is diplomacy, and I propose starting with the girl’s family to bring her over to our side.”

“H-how dare you accuse me of—”

“If the shoe fits, minister…”

“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the war room!”

More arguing ensued between the politicians and Aizawa massaged his temples. With all the politicians, Hero Association higher-ups, and some rear-echelon military personnel, the meeting was turning into more of a massive pain in the neck with every passing second. Beside him the other top heroes shifted uncomfortably in their seats, save for the number one and two heroes.

All Might wasn’t smiling. If anything, his expression looked a little… strained. Aizawa put the thought aside as a new voice took the floor, the man standing to catch everyone’s attention.

“Nevertheless, something must be done about Magical Girl Miracle. My sources have provided me with some interesting new information. Observe.” The man pushed a few buttons on a handheld remote, causing the table’s holoprojector to flicker to life. “This was taken by a farmer in Mongolia.”

Confused, foreign chattering echoed from the hologram recording, the cameraman pointing the viewfinder skywards just in time to catch two streaks of black and green race past. The sonic boom hit only moments later, causing the video to shake.

“Kazakhstan.” the thin man continued, pressing another button.

The scene switched to a group of people riding camels in a convoy, looking around at the sky as a horrific screaming noise cut through the air. The same streaks of black and green zoomed across the sand, skirting the edge of a massive sandstorm.

“Miracle.” Someone breathed. “What does she think she’s doing?!”

“Chasing after an Angel.” The thin man replied curtly. “The governments of those nations have expressed concerns about one of our citizens casually violating their airspace, even if it was to chase down that mysterious creature. Nevertheless, the situation is rapidly devolving. Korea has begun conducting increased aerial exercises, while China has recalled their 5th fleet back to the South China Sea. Our informants tell us that they’re even considering using their SAMs if Miracle or any other Japanese Metahuman should encroach on their airspace.”

“What?!” another man thundered. “This is ridiculous. That girl has no affiliation with the Japanese Government!”

“That may be so, but the other countries don’t see it that way.” A woman coughed, adjusting her spectacles. “Even if the official announcement hasn’t been made yet, many nations around the world are aware that Miracle is considered to be an S-Class Metahuman. This, in their opinion, cannot stand.”

“Why the hell not?”

“It’s simple. There have only ever been a few S-Classes ever since the advent of the exceptional. The ones that aren’t clinically insane or drunk with power are few and far between.” The thin man from before said. “Even now, these individuals are pivotal in determining the delicate power balance of our world. America has Star And Stripe. Japan has All Might. Germany has Pixie. Et cetera. Miracle represents a paradigm shift, a fulcrum to tip the scales in Japan’s favor. Korea and China are anticipating a full-blown invasion of their territories the moment we get her on our side.”

A quiet chill ran throughout the room. There was no doubt that some people would actually consider that, especially when scientists predicted that dwindling resources would become a major issue in the next half-century.

“Miracle is a citizen of Japan first and foremost, and the world has taken note of that. The first ever unaffiliated, S-Class vigilante. The mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine.” An old politician said. “She may be a great boon, but in her current state she is a disgrace to our nation. An asset that we cannot control is akin to a liability. Until we find a way to bring her to heel, the girl is comparable to a walking atomic bomb.”

“Appealing to her peacefully is no longer an option. She often flees at the sight of heroes now—” someone else chimed in.

You people did that. Aizawa thought, scowling to himself. She was willing to talk before.

“—she must be convinced to turn herself in, or we must capture her by force and make her see the error of her ways. Additionally, the other nations are also nervous about the ‘Angels’ that have been appearing throughout Japan. If these creatures truly are connected to her, a thorough interrogation to shed some light on their nature might prove useful.”

Aizawa’s eyes narrowed at the military officer’s words but kept his mouth shut. Judging by the greedy glint in the officer's eye he could tell that the man was planning on either using the Angels or Miracle herself as weapons. The room was doused in the ambitions of men and women who sought power above all, and it disgusted Aizawa. He didn’t sign up for this. Though a few noteworthy heroes had been called to this meeting, none of them had spoken. It wasn’t their place, and politics was never Aizawa’s strong suit.

“That’s why we had our best strategists concoct a plan to neutralize Miracle. Our thinkers have determined some critical points to be exploited, including her apparent weakness to electricity—”

Aizawa tuned them out. They were talking about the poor kid like she was a thing to be acquired, a tool to be utilized in some scheme or power-grab. A quick glance around the room revealed that a few of his fellow heroes thought the same way, but they could hardly do a thing about it. It was simply above their pay grade. Endeavor, however…

Eraser Head frowned. He didn’t like the look on the number two hero’s face, not one bit.

[x]

Aizawa swung through the rainy night, his binding cloth latching onto lamp posts and rooftops.

Much to his displeasure, the Association had him play an important part in the plan to take down Miracle. Operation Guillotine, they called it. Apparently the main gist of it was to lure Miracle into a trap, using his Erasure Quirk to stop her from flying. There would be other heroes to catch her before she fell, and without her Quirk she would just be an ordinary schoolgirl. The entire area would be enveloped in a lightning cage to stop her from flying off, while the other heroes would box her in until Aizawa had her in his line of sight. On paper, Aizawa knew it seemed like a foolproof plan to whoever.

But no plan survives contact with the enemy.

He could tell Miracle was a smart girl from their short interaction, and doubted she’d actually fall for whatever trickery the Association would pull. Then again, the Association was a pit of vipers in Aizawa’s opinion. Scheming, slippery snakes that would utilize every loophole available to gain an edge and get what they wanted. They were merciless hyenas, and Aizawa knew that there was something fishy going on. The only way they would enact such a bold plan was if they knew one of Miracle’s weaknesses, whether it be physical or mental. Even with the apparent threat Miracle represented, she was still a kid. There had to be a way to talk to her and get her side of the story, but the higher-ups were too stubborn to even consider giving an inch to someone they considered a mere child. Aizawa knew that deep down, they were afraid of her. Afraid of what she could do, and the fact that they couldn't seem to control her. In the end, it was only ever about power and control. Lady Nagant had proven that much.

“What was it all for, Shirakumo?” Aizawa whispered under his breath, wondering how they’d gotten to this point.

Swinging around a corner, something caught Aizawa’s eye and caused him to pause. Right there, on a sheltered rooftop…

A girl no older than fifteen sat, her feet dangling over the edge precariously. She was staring wistfully down at the streets down below, sipping at a bottle of Super-Cola.

Aizawa moved. He made sure to land as softly as he could, trying not to startle her. She heard him anyway, looking over her shoulder for a moment before focusing back on the streets below.

“Hey.” The Erasing Hero began.

“Hi.” the blonde girl replied. “You’re… Eraser Head, right?”

“Yes.” Aizawa said, approaching slowly until he was right next to her. “May I sit here?”

“Sure.” she gave him a quick glance as he did. 

The two of them stayed in that quiet silence for a few seconds, the pitter-patter of rain echoing all around them. Aizawa kept his binding cloth at the ready just in case she jumped, but it didn’t seem like she was suicidal. She just looked tired. So very tired. Aizawa thought that those eyes didn’t belong to a child, having seen that same gaze in the mirror everyday. His work as an underground hero made him see things that could never be unseen.

“What’s your name, kid?”

“I’m, um, Mikumo Akatani.” she said in a small voice.

“Nice to meet you.” Aizawa said curtly. “Mind telling me what you’re doing out here?”

“I just—I just needed somewhere to think.” Mikumo admitted, sipping her cola again. “Everywhere else is too noisy, so this is the only place that helps.”

“Not exactly the safest.” Aizawa looked down at the busy streets far below them.

“It’s okay, I can float.” Mikumo demonstrated by rising an inch off the edge before sitting back down again. “Thanks for your concern Mr. Eraser Head, but I’m fine. Really.”

“You don’t look fine. Do you need someone to talk to?”

Mikumo flinched and looked away, Aizawa narrowing his eyes at the odd reaction. He’d seen it before, in troubled youths who didn’t trust adults. Taking a page out of Yamada’s book, he decided to try and establish a rapport with her.

“You can call me Mr. Aizawa.” he said. “I was like you too, once.”

“Hmm?”

“Sitting on the edge of rooftops, brooding…”

“I wasn’t brooding.” Mikumo sulked childishly. “I’m just thinking.”

“Penny for your thoughts?” Aizawa offered. 

The rain pelting their cheap zinc shelter turned to a more gentle, soothing patter when the weather calmed. Mikumo sipped at her cola, and Aizawa couldn’t help but notice how small her hands were. She was petite even for her age, clearly growing more in her front than vertically.

“What would you do…” Mikumo began carefully. “If you felt like you were doing the right thing, but everyone tells you that you’re wrong?”

“I ask myself the same question sometimes.”

“Do you really?”

“More than you think.” Aizawa retrieved a flask from his pocket and took a sip. He cocked an eyebrow when the girl gave him a suspicious look. “It’s water.”

“If you say so.” Mikumo mumbled. “Everyone, even the people I look up to, says I’m wrong. But I know in my heart that it's the right thing to do, even if it makes some people really, really mad.”

“Is whatever you’re doing actively hurting anyone?”

“No. It’s the opposite. If I don't do it, things will get, um, super-messed up.” Mikumo looked away in embarrassment. “I can’t exactly tell you what it is, though.”

Aizawa resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Teenagers and their drama. Still he sat and listened to her worries, knowing the alternative was much worse. Some people often said that the new generation was far too soft, too sensitive, and prone to a multitude of mental illnesses at the drop of a hat. Aizawa knew better. The generation before him said the same things about him and his friends, calling them soft, spineless weaklings who couldn’t handle even the simplest problems. 

The old generation always looked down on the new, an eternal trope that stretched across human history. To criticize what they couldn't understand. Times had changed and this was a brave new world, with new challenges and threats. It was ludicrous how fast the world changed thanks to Quirks, with never before seen socioeconomic problems rearing their ugly heads. With each new generation being stronger than the last, some interesting times were ahead. Miracle was proof of that.

“It’s just that… someone told me something recently that made me question myself.” Mikumo squeezed the cola bottle until it creaked. “All this time, I’ve been trying to do my best to help people. But things never seem to get any better. One bad comment drowns out a dozen good ones. Some people hate me. Like, really, really hate me.”

She stopped to catch her breath and Aizawa simply listened.

“Am I really making a difference here? Or am I just another… another menace?” 

“Why would you say that?” the older man asked.

Mikumo looked away, ashamed.

“One of my friends did something horrible.” she whispered. “Something unforgivable. All because I was too stupid to notice she was hurting. And I… I feel like it’s all my fault.”

Small droplets appeared on her lap and Aizawa groaned internally. He was never good with crying girls, let alone children. Thankfully Mikumo let out a loud sniff before collecting herself, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

“What if I end up doing something horrible too?” she looked up at him with those large, worried eyes. “How do I know if I’m doing the right thing?”

Aizawa matched her gaze evenly before replying. “You don’t.”

The girl blinked, confused. Aizawa opted to elaborate.

“Here’s a secret, kid. No one ever truly knows what they’re actually doing and are just doing the best they can to get by in life.” he said, causing her to tilt her head. “What happened to your friend wasn’t your fault, and you can’t control what someone else does. It’s easy to look back and think about ‘what-ifs’ and ‘if-onlys’. But the past is like a rearview mirror; you can either look back once in a while for introspection, or you can stare at it and crash again. There’s no point in thinking about what could have been, when what will be is right in front of you.”

Mikumo fiddled with her thumbs nervously, seeming to agree. He glanced down at her, gaze softening.

“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, and sometimes it means you have to stand up for what you believe in, even if it’s hard. If you truly believe in something you’ll be willing to fight for it, and if things don’t go your way you will at least know in your heart that you did your best. You have to do what you think is right, not what’s popular. Be smart, follow your heart.”

“Follow my… heart.” Mikumo said slowly.

“You’ve still got a long life ahead of you.” Aizawa said, standing and preparing to leave. “Don’t waste it. See you around, kid.”

“O-oh! Um, thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Mr. Aizawa.” she said meekly, bowing. “It means a lot to me.”

Did it really? Aizawa doubted it. He swung off and continued his patrol, looking back just once to make sure that the girl was okay.

Mikumo waved goodbye to him from the rooftop, so very small against the inky night sky.

[Chapter 11 End]

Izuku, as Miracle:

Doing her best to deal with Angels invading Earth, the Heroes hating her, and crushing guilt about Mustard

The Angels, upon reaching Earth:

Chapter Text

The phrase ‘bull in a china shop’ was an apt description of what was currently happening in Kuat City.

Miracle rode upon the back of a shining, cyan horse with a mane of flowing water and the wide tail of a fish, desperately trying to hold on while it bucked and neighed in a gurgling cadence. A tidal wave manifested below its feet, the creature reminiscent of a mythical beast found in Scottish legends.

The Kelpie Angel, as Izuku dubbed it, continued trying to buck her off its back. In doing so it crashed into nearby storefronts, nearly trampling a group of terrified civilians before she managed to pull it away. Like all Angels the creature was much stronger than it looked, and its strange ability to create and manipulate water wasn’t doing her any favors.

“Easy, girl! Easy!” Izuku yelped, pulling at its slimy mane.

It, or rather, she, let out another gurgling laugh. The Kelpie was treating it all like a game, and Izuku knew she had to stop her soon before anyone got hurt. Water gushed from all four of the creature’s hooves and flooded the street, a stray blast impacting a grocery store.

“My cabbages!”

“Sorry!” Izuku winced. She wondered if insurance would cover that. “Okay, let’s get you out of town.”

She pulled left. The Angel immediately steered right instead.

“Not that way, not that way!”

The Magical Girl and her Magic Water Horse leaped right into oncoming traffic, causing brakes to squeal when multiple drivers slammed onto their brakes simultaneously. Izuku apologized profusely and tried to fly with the Angel still in her grip, but her fingers kept slipping on the creature’s skin. A closer look made her eyes widen in shock when she realized it had the ability to turn itself into water too, her fingers slipping through effortlessly. It was allowing her to ride it.

Play. Play with me.

“If that’s how you want to do this, then fine.” Izuku tapped her heels against its flanks. “Hyah!”

They took to the skies with a blast of water, the Kelpie letting out a whinny of delight. Its mane expanded into a thundercloud that trailed behind them, creating a rainstorm that drenched the onlookers below. Izuku preferred that compared to them disrupting live traffic.

After a few more minutes of flying and looping around above the sea the creature seemed to tire itself out, the two of them eventually landing atop an isolated beach. Izuku got off its back, the smell of seawater clinging onto her.

“Had enough?” Izuku sighed.

A little girl’s giggling echoed in her head. Izuku resisted the urge to roll her eyes, opting to put her hands on her hips instead. 

“[Is that really why you came here?]” Izuku asked. “[Just to play?]”

Lonely. So very lonely.

She paused. This Angel’s voice carried a hint of sorrow and melancholic longing. It nuzzled against her, its watery mane brushing against her cheek while already starting to turn back into multicolored particles to return to whence it came.

“[You can’t… you can’t do things like this.]” Izuku whispered, speaking softly as if to a small child. “[You’ll scare a lot of people. Be a good Quirk, okay?]”

The otherworldly creature whined an apology as it faded away. It was so young. Judging by how it broadcasted its emotions, it was almost like the creature was an infant. A toddler. With the way Izuku’s luck was going, it probably was. It seemed that not all Angels came to Earth to feed. Perhaps some were just bored.

Her phone rumbled with a flurry of notifications a moment later, as if fate itself was listening to her thoughts. Checking it, she received multiple alerts on social media of an ongoing villain attack happening in the neighboring Yavin City.

Izuku groaned, taking to the skies once more. A bath would have to wait. After all…

A hero’s work is never done.

She arrived as Miracle, a shining example of justice. A firefight in the main street between the police and the criminals paused momentarily, both parties looking shocked with jaws agape while their hands tightened around their weapons. The villains had guns. Assault rifles, with drum mags to boot. In the past, Izuku would have been terrified to be on the receiving end of one of those. 

Now? She was more worried about the bullets bouncing off her and hitting someone else instead. The villains soon gathered their wits when Izuku advanced, opening fire. Police officers ducked for cover when high-caliber rounds filled the air, Izuku analyzing the situation in a span of a heartbeat.

A wounded officer lay against his damaged patrol vehicle a few meters ahead, keeping pressure on a gnarly bullet wound on his shoulder. She prioritized him first, leaping over.

“Hi! Do you mind if I borrow your car?” Izuku asked.

“Whuh… huh?” the man answered, barely able to stay conscious. He’d lost quite a bit of blood.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then. Please hold on.”

She scooped the officer up with one hand, the other grabbing the police car by the undercarriage and lifting the entire vehicle to use it as a shield. Izuku calmly walked out of the villains’ arc of fire with the downed officer in her grip, his colleagues watching with disbelief even as she saved his life. Some ducked out of cover and tried to return fire at the villains, only to immediately back off when a burst of incoming bullets impacted with enough force to shatter concrete. The villains had something big with them. By Izuku’s guess, it had to be something that used .50 BMG rounds.

Where in the world were these criminals getting such good equipment? No matter, she supposed the police would handle that later. After putting the wounded officer down she sped back into the fight, taking down three villains in the blink of an eye. She moved so fast that it almost looked like she teleported from one man to another, stunning the last villain. He was a massive turtle-like mutant, wielding a heavy machine gun with one hand like a toy.

The weapon barked, earsplitting staccato cracks filling the air. Heavy, depleted-uranium rounds simply bounced off Miracle, the villain unloading nearly a quarter of the ammo belt until Izuku put her thumb over the muzzle and caused it to jam. To the villain’s credit he acted fast, gripping the gun by its red-hot barrel and bringing it down onto her head like a hammer. The weapon exploded into a thousand pieces upon contact, leaving Izuku completely unharmed. In a final, desperate act he pulled out a huge revolver and fired it into her face at point-blank range, the recoil bucking his arm upwards like the kick of a mule.

With a hand cannon that big her head should have been blown clean off. Instead the bullet crumpled against her eye harmlessly with a loud, terrible crack as if it’d met an impenetrable wall, falling onto the asphalt with a quiet clink.

“...I surrender.” the last villain finally said, dropping his weapons and putting his hands in the air.

“Took you long enough.” Izuku grunted.

Naturally, she slugged him across the face and knocked him out. She was nice, but not that nice. Behind her the police officers began to approach, some looking over her with visible concern.

“Kid, are you alright?” One of the senior officers asked, clearly worried. “I just watched you take a gunshot to the face and… huh. Is that a .44 magnum?”

“You tell me, mister.” Izuku said tiredly, giving him a polite curtsy. “Bye, have a good day.”

“Wha—where are you going, Miracle?”

“Lunch.” Izuku replied, slowly floating into the air. “I’m tired and hungry.”

“Wait a minute, we’ve still got to take your statement! You can’t leave yet!”

“How ‘bout I do anyway~?” Miracle gave them a tired wave. “Byyyyyeeee~.”

She flew off without another word, leaving the stunned officers behind. Truth be told, it wasn’t just because she hadn’t had lunch yet. Staying any longer would risk being approached by a hero, and that was the last thing Izuku wanted. There was still some lingering bitterness when she thought about Hawks.

Thinking about it would do no good except annoy her. Izuku let the tension flow out of her with a low exhale, descending into a dark alleyway soon after. It lit up with a flash, a young boy in an All Might hoodie walking out.

He was tired in more ways than one. It was the kind of tired that sleep couldn’t fix. Izuku had all the power he ever wanted, but being a hero was nothing like he expected. Saving people, beating bad guys, and banishing Angels was a little fun at first, but he soon realized that one mistake could lead to someone losing their life. This wasn’t a game, far from it. 

Perhaps this was how All Might felt. Ultimate power came packaged with ultimate responsibility. It was so very easy to misuse that power, and if Izuku were a lesser person he’d be consumed. 

No use thinking about it now since he already resolved to do his best. Izuku instead got in line with his fellow refugees who were queuing for food. It was something the government had set up since many of the displaced had lost their livelihoods in the attack on Musutafu City.

The boy checked his pockets, finding no money at all. Zip, nada. He was flat out broke, just like the others in the line. At least Inko still had a job thanks to her background as a nurse, tending to the multitude of wounded still recovering from Mustard’s massacre.

An odd-smelling slush of gray and brown filled the cheap, disposable plastic bowl in her hands. Some sort of porridge. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and Izuku simply accepted the meal with his head bowed. This kinda sucked. As Miracle, he could probably dine in the finest restaurants in Japan. Instead here he was, eating gruel that barely even tasted like anything. Izuku found a corner for himself and sat on the ground, quietly munching on the gray sludge.

One could barely imagine the powerful Magical Girl living in a ghetto such as this. Though the government had admittedly tried their best the living conditions were awful, the refugee camp slowly showing signs of turning into a slum while a sense of desperation plagued the air. With nowhere to go the former citizens of Musutafu were forced to stay here, tension and tempers rising with each passing day. The worst part was that Izuku felt responsible for their plight. In a way, this was his punishment.

His thoughts were cut short when the sound of heavy footsteps neared, surrounding him. Izuku attempted to stand and get out of the way, only to pale when he realized who it was.

Before him stood Bakugo Katsuki, his expression curled into an annoyed sneer.

“Well if it isn’t shitty fucking Deku.” Bakugo scowled. “Must be my lucky day.”

Just as Izuku was about to say a timid greeting Bakugo’s fist slammed into his solar plexus, wrenching the air from his lungs. The green-haired boy doubled over in pain, dropping the bowl of gruel in the process. Bakugo caught it before it even hit the floor, making a face of disgust before tossing the contents away. Izuku’s lunch splattered all over the ground with a clatter. The noise attracted a few onlookers but they soon turned away, not willing to interfere. 

“K-kacchan…” Izuku choked, gasping for air on the ground. “Why?”

Bakugo said nothing, repeatedly kicking and stomping on the poor, frightened boy. The old Izuku would have just laid there and taken it like a victim, but things were different now. There was a lapse in the blonde bully’s strikes and Izuku leapt at him like a coiled spring, slamming his forehead into the other boy’s nose.

The act of defiance clearly stunned Bakugo, who'd never expected weak, pathetic little Izuku to fight back. Both boys crashed to the ground in a whirlwind of fists and kicks, scrambling for dominance. Bakugo tried to take a mounted position but Izuku had trained for it in his sparring with Matsuda, twisting into a counter and punching his bully in the face for the first time in his life.

A little voice in Izuku’s head cheered with barely-restrained delight.

Izuku intercepted the incoming right hook with ease, snarling. Bakugo was so damn predictable, like an open book. He proceeded to twist the blonde’s arm into an armbar, causing Bakugo to let out a howl of frustration. Izuku yelped when an explosion burst from Bakugo’s palm and split them apart, the two boys leaping away to take up fighting stances.

Small, crackling pops manifested atop Bakugo’s raised hands like miniature firecrackers. Izuku clenched his teeth and prepared to lash out with his own Quirk, only to immediately freeze.

What was he thinking? If he unleashed Miracle here…

She’d probably maim or even kill Bakugo.

“Alright, break it up you two!” someone yelled.

A tall, lanky man got between the two boys, holding his hands out at them. Bakugo let out a growl and tried to surge forward, only to be pushed back and land right on his ass. He got right back up again but the man stood in his path like a wall, shielding Izuku from his fury.

“Back off, punk. Before we get the authorities.”

We? Izuku thought. A woman with pink hair jogged over, worriedly checking on Izuku. It seemed she was the man’s wife or girlfriend. Bakugo seemed to eye all three of them before finally deciding it wasn’t worth it to get in trouble with the adults, lowering his hands.

“Tch! This isn’t over, Deku.” Bakugo spat before turning away.

Izuku only allowed himself to relax after the bully rounded a corner, the tension in his shoulders fading away. He hadn’t even realized how fast his heart was beating, the orchestra in his chest slowing down into an even metronome.

“You okay, kid?” the woman asked.

“Yeah, I’m… I’m fine.” Izuku breathed. “I’m okay. Thank you, both of you.”

“No worries. Kids these days, I swear…” the man grumbled.

Glancing at his saviors, he noticed that the pair were wearing hi-vis vests with the word ‘Volunteer’ emblazoned upon their backs. 

“What was up with him?” the tall man asked.

“I dunno.” Izuku admitted, looking away. “He just started attacking me out of nowhere.”

“Must be the stress around here getting to him or something. Anyway, here’s some water.” the man held out a bottle to Izuku before turning to leave. “Come on, Kazuho.”

The pair soon left after Izuku thanked them, leaving Izuku standing in the cold with a bottle of water. It was a reminder that there were still people out here who were willing to lend a helping hand, to provide kindness in times of despair and turmoil. He’d have to follow their example.

But first, he’d have to get lunch… again. He’d barely even managed to take a bite before Bakugo knocked it out of his hands. What the hell was his problem anyway? Izuku bit his lip, seething with silent fury. Did Bakugo see him as a target to unleash his frustrations upon, like a punching bag? 

Izuku continued fuming as he made his way back into the alleyway to transform, needing to do so since there was a limit of one bowl per person at the food stands. With his green hair, they were sure to remember him and deny him an additional portion. Mikumo strode out of the alley after a flash of light, her pretty features twisted into a frustrated scowl. She tried calming down but still pouted, kicking a pebble along the road.

Stupid Kacchan… Freakin’ bully… Next time I’ll knock his damn teeth out…

“That’s the spirit! We should break his legs too!”

Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden voice in her head, and Izuku slowly turned to look at the movement at the corner of her eye.

Floating next to her was another Mikumo Akatani. The duplicate was unclothed but completely featureless, her body resembling that of a mannequin. It was her face, but that chilling, lovesick expression was all too familiar.

“What’s up, Izuku-Izuku. Did ya miss me?” Toga Himiko smiled.

[x]

Having lunch with herself was one of the strangest things Izuku had ever experienced. She was sitting on the edge of a rooftop, gulping down a new bowl of tasteless gruel. The people at the food stands even gave her an extra portion for some reason, despite Toga being invisible to everyone but her. She planned to bring it home to Inko.

“So… you’re the Toga Himiko I know, right?” Izuku chewed slowly. “The me inside of me.”

“Obviously.” Toga scoffed, sitting beside her. Her appearance was in constant flux, shifting between her original form, Mikumo, and Miracle. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have revealed myself.”

“Could you at least put some clothes on?”

“That’s the first thing you ask for? Hehehe~”

“Well, it’s kinda embarrassing to see you, or um, me naked…”

“Fair enough.” Toga snapped her fingers and a cute sailor uniform manifested around her. “You’re taking this oddly well. I expected you to freak out… Good job on standing up to that bully, by the way.”

“I’ve had a rough day.” Izuku sighed. “I’m too tired to freak out.”

“More like a rough week. Sheesh. How many villain attacks did you stop so far, five? No, make that six.”

“Wait a minute.” Izuku narrowed her eyes. “Have you been spying on me?”

“It’s more like looking through your eyes from time to time, really. I can’t exactly read your thoughts or memories, but I saw snippets of shared history between you and boomboom boy when you two fought.” Toga lazily floated around him as if she was underwater. “Looks like neither of us could get a break. Sucks to be you and me, huh?”

She proceeded to ignore the flat, annoyed look that Izuku sent her way. Toga was clearly messing with her, albeit lightheartedly. Despite it all she couldn’t help the way her lips tugged upwards in a small smile, the two of them breaking into small giggles afterwards.

“God, we’re a walking disaster…”

“You and me both.” Izuku agreed quietly. “So what are you, really?”

“Me? I think a piece of the original me’s consciousness. All that’s left of her.” Toga whispered. “A fragment of her soul. A Vestige.”

“Are you going to try taking over my body?” Izuku asked slowly, concealing the worry in her tone. “Like you did to Matsuda-kun?”

Toga frowned. “Is that really how you think of me?”

“Can’t blame me for being careful.”

“No, Izuku-chan. I can’t.” Toga sighed. “The thing is, I think I know what happened with your friend and the other me. You’ve noticed how he was always in his female form when you guys met up?”

Izuku nodded, motioning for her to continue.

“When you transform, you become me. I become you. Basically, we become one being." Toga said. “The Mustard you fought in Musutafu City was a personality that was a combination of both me and Matsuda. I can even feel your influence touching my mind as we speak. It’s subtle, but it’s there. In other words…”

“The more I transform, the closer we become. It’s why you can appear before me.” Izuku nodded in quiet acceptance. “I suspected as much. So what now?”

“What now, indeed.” Toga laughed. “That’s the big question, isn’t it?”

The phantom descended to rest herself atop Izuku’s lap and wrapped around her waist, their faces only inches away. Izuku turned bright red at her close proximity, even more so when Toga’s ethereal arms coiled around her in a loving hug before pulling away.

“There’s no need to be afraid of me, Izuku-chan~ After all, I’m you.” Toga said huskily. “Do I look like a girl that would hurt herself?”

“I… Um… I don’t know a thing about you, really. Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” Izuku stammered, trying to keep her wits.

“Oh, you know. It’s the usual sad story. Terrible parents, abusive childhood, the works.” 

“Ah. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, I don’t think I will.” Toga waved off her concerns with a smile. “If anything, I want to know more about you. Why do you do this, this… hero thing? Even after they’ve shown their true nature. Because you want to?”

“Because I need to.” Izuku answered shakily. This was the closest she’d ever been to a girl, even if they couldn’t physically touch each other. “Because the Angels need to be stopped, and we still have to find who did this to you.”

“You, with the weight of the world on your shoulders?” Toga questioned.

“Someone else might get hurt.” Izuku nodded. “I won’t.”

“Hehehe~ I suppose that’s reason enough. You’re the type to sacrifice yourself for others, aren’t you? If it means nobody will get hurt, you’re willing to get yourself nice and bloody.” Toga cooed. “You’re crazy. I like that.”

Izuku’s lip trembled, too awkward and nervous to respond. Toga took notice with a giggle, and her form shifted to match Izuku’s… transforming into Mikumo. She leaned in closer, so close that Izuku could have sworn she felt her breath.

“Shh, shh. Don’t be scared. You’re so cute…” Toga whispered. “I’d never hurt such a pretty, beautiful thing.”

She leaned in to kiss Izuku on the forehead, causing her to let out a surprised squeak. Somehow she was able to feel that despite Toga being an incorporeal Quirk-ghost that existed only within her mind. The vestige leaned away, giggling madly.

“Do your best, Izuku-chan.” Toga smiled. “You can do it.”

The vestige faded away like smoke on the wind a moment later, leaving Izuku all alone on the rooftop. The girl looked at her trembling hand before feeling around her face and noticing how her blush had spread all the way to her ears.

Pure shame mixed with confusion gripped her mind and Izuku wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to cry. When Toga had hugged and kissed her while wearing Mikumo’s visage she felt…

Izuku glanced at her shaking palm.

“I’m so messed up.”

[x]

Izuku entered her new, temporary home, making an appearance as Mikumo just to soothe Inko’s worries. The portly woman looked up in surprise when she realized it wasn’t her son.

“Oh, Mikumo-chan! So good to see you again!”

“Hi, mo—um, Midoriya-san.” Izuku bowed, biting her tongue at the slip-up. “I brought some food for you on Izuku’s behalf.”

“You did? Aww, thank you so much. By the way, your pet slime’s over there on the counter. He seems to like it here!”

Izuku glanced over to see Pinky fast asleep in a basket, Inko having placed a miniature blanket over the slumbering creature. She made a tired smile and sat down on a nearby chair while Inko ate, content to simply relax after all the excitement in the morning. 

“What’s wrong, Mikumo-chan?” Inko asked, noticing her exhausted state. “Is everything alright? Do you have a place to stay? You’re always welcome here, you know.”

“I’m fine, Mrs. Midoriya.” Izuku said. “Just a little tired.”

Running her hands through her hair to tie it into a neat ponytail, Izuku took some time to inspect the golden locks. They were getting longer. Now that she thought of it, her male form was getting a little taller too.

“Tired? Oh dear. Have you been getting enough sleep?”

“Yeah… I just had a lot to do this morning.”

Inko was quiet for a few more moments, hyper-fixating on the word ‘morning’.

“Mikumo-chan, you know you can tell me anything, right? I won’t judge.”

“Um, sure? Thanks, I guess.”

An awkward silence followed, with Izuku not sure why her mother was looking at her like that instead of finishing her meal. It was an odd gaze, scrutinizing and studying her closely. Izuku fidgeted on the spot.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“No, it’s… it’s nothing, dear.” Inko said. “Has Izuku been treating you well?”

“Y-yeah. We had lunch together and ate…” Izuku squinted at the gray sludge. “Whatever that is earlier. It’s pretty gross, but at least I didn’t throw up.”

Inko’s eyes seemed to widen a little at that last part. Her eyes began roaming up and down Izuku’s body, looking more worried by the second.

“W-well. Um. Mikumo-chan, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“You’re not… pregnant, are you?” Inko asked nervously.

Izuku choked on empty air, coughing and sputtering madly while Inko waved her hands about in the air with panic.

“W-w-w-wha—”

“I mean, you were talking about being tired in the mornings and throwing up and Izuku has always been a little too reckless for his own good—”

“No! I’m not, it’s… gyaa!” Izuku held a hand out while the other palmed her forehead. “It’s not like that, Mrs. Midoriya. I’m just a little stressed, that’s all.”

“Oh! That’s good to hear! I mean, no, that’s bad to hear…” Inko stammered, slightly relieved.

Izuku held back another sigh. Mother and child truly were alike, even sharing the same nervous tics and habits. Sometimes Inko even launched into a mumble-storm of her own.

“Izuku and I are fine.” she began, attempting to quickly change the topic. “I’ve heard so much about you from him. These days, you’re all he talks about besides heroes.”

“Huh.” Inko collected herself with a small cough. “Did he… did he ever tell you about his father?”

The mere mention of the man caused Izuku to bite the inside of her cheek, instantly souring her mood.

“N-no.”

“I see. I suppose that’s for the best. We didn’t part in the best of ways, so I was always worried that Izuku secretly resented me for it.”

“What?” Izuku breathed. “No, never! I—he’d never blame you for something like that! I’ve heard nothing but praise about you from him. He… he loves you very, very much.”

Inko’s eyes softened. “Is that so? That boy, really.”

The older woman leaned back into her chair with a soft exhale. Izuku realized she’d found an opportunity and asked a question she would have never dared to in her male form.

“Why did he leave? Um, if you don’t mind me asking.” 

“It’s fine, dear.” Inko looked to the ceiling. “To be honest, I’m not too sure myself.”

Izuku felt her hands balling into fists unconsciously before quickly unclenching them. 

“Was it because Izuku was q-quirkless?”

Though she tried to hide the crack in her voice Inko had noticed it instantly, turning to her with a worried glance.

“No. At least, I don’t think it was.” Inko said. “My husband was a bastard, but he loved Izuku. I know he did.”

Did he really? Izuku bit her lip in frustration but looked down at her lap, not wanting Inko to see her reaction.

“I think he was bored of me. Or perhaps he found someone else in America. He never did return, after all.” Inko continued wistfully. “He just went out to get milk one day when Izuku was four and that was the last I ever heard from him. Never returned my calls either.”

So… he didn’t leave because of Izuku’s Quirklessness? The new information left her scared and confused. All this time she assumed her father had left because she was missing a Quirk, an integral part of society that made her stick out like a sore thumb without one. A failure. A Deku. He would have left even if she had a Quirk? 

That meant that there was something wrong with her instead. Her, Midoriya Izuku.

She couldn’t imagine the problem being Inko. Before she gained weight because of stressing over her son’s Quirkless status Inko was an absolute bombshell, with Izuku faintly recalling how she once overheard a conversation about how the woman had a ton of suitors even after her marriage.

Izuku reasoned that she herself was the problem here. She must have been. Why else would her father leave? Tears beaded at her eyes and threatened to roll down her cheeks, but she willed them to stay. A torrent of negative thoughts coursed through her mind, the girl questioning herself. Why? Was being with her really that hard? What did she do wrong, to be hated so much that he was willing to move to an entirely different continent?

She wished she never even asked the question in the first place, feeling as if she was about to cry. She was never good enough. Not now, not ever. Bakugo, who she once looked up to, hated her guts. The same exact thing happened with the heroes, who even placed a bounty on her.

Was she really that unlikable? She was doing her best…

“Mikumo-chan?” Inko asked, finally noticing her distress. “What’s wrong?”

A rumble in her pocket broke her out of the deluge of dark thoughts. Izuku stood suddenly, her wooden chair scraping across the cold concrete ground with an ugly screech.

“It’s nothing. I…” Her wet eyes met Inko’s. “I should go.”

The schoolgirl left for the door, leaving a stunned Inko behind. Just before she made her exit she paused, hand tightening around the doorframe.

“I’m sure Izuku loves you very much, Mrs. Midoriya.” she sniffed. “He always will.”

“Mikumo-chan, wait—”

Izuku didn’t wait. She was gone the next moment, having leapt off the apartment and taking to the skies before Inko could even see her leave. 

She sniffed, wiping any tears away with an oversized sleeve. Glowing ribbons encircled her and she was Miracle again, flying towards the source of the disturbance her phone had notified her of earlier. Another Angel appearance. Izuku welcomed it.

At least she could be useful there.

[x]

Miracle arrived on the scene, sparkling like a firefly in the midday sun.

It was clear that some sort of evacuation effort was going on, civilians being shepherded out of the area in neat, organized lines of human traffic while the battle went on behind them a few blocks away. Izuku was surprised at the competency of the nearby heroes, especially how quickly they were completing the evacuation. It was almost as if they’d planned for it beforehand.

No matter. She quickly raced to the point of the Angel’s attack, finding multiple heroes trying to reign in a gigantic quadruped that seemed to be made of concrete and earth. It looked like a Tiger with interlocking stripes of gray and brown, so that’s what Izuku called it.

The Tiger Angel turned to her and roared a challenge, swiping the air with a giant paw. Izuku hovered down to its eye level and held out her hand in an attempt to calm it down.

“Hey there, big guy. Everything’s gonna be okay!”

Something was wrong, and Izuku noticed it almost immediately. The first thing that really stood out was her lack of connection with this new Angel. This time she didn’t feel the same, familiar pull in her head that all Angels caused thanks to their shared origins. There was no connection at all even as Izuku fended off several attacks from the Tiger, its massive paw swipes bouncing off her guard.

The second was much more noticeable. Unlike all her other encounters with both Angels and Heroes the latter was holding back, not attacking the otherworldly creature. At first she thought she’d finally gotten through and they were letting her do her thing but upon closer inspection the heroes were tense, solely focusing on her instead of the Angel. Then she heard it, her super-hearing picking up a single sentence through their comms.

“Rabbit is in the snare. Commencing Operation Guillotine.”

It’s a trap!

That was when the Tiger Angel exploded into a torrent of mud and liquid concrete, crashing down on Izuku like a tidal wave. The Magical Girl let out a surprised cry but was swept into it, the mass coiling and hardening around her into a chrysalis.

Izuku exploded out of the makeshift prison moments later, only to find the sky above dyed pink by the sudden appearance of crisscrossing lines of light. They formed a hexagon that spanned over half the city, with her recognizing it as an upgraded, supersized version of the lightning cage from Felucia City. She raced upwards and tried to bust through it with sheer force, hoping that the wider range of the cage would mean a weaker barrier.

Unfortunately that didn’t seem to be the case when the barrier zapped her like a bug upon contact, throwing her backwards into a building with a crackling arc of pink lightning. Izuku groaned in pain and quickly assessed the damage, only to realize the entire building was empty. So were the streets when she flew out of the rubble, finding only heroes that closed in on her like a tightening noose.

The heroes had planned this in advance. This entire farce of a false Angel attack was built just to box her in.

[March 12th, 2XXX, 3:18:21 P.M. 

Operation Guillotine begins. S-Class Metahuman ‘Miracle’ successfully enclosed within focused energy containment field.]

Izuku’s mind raced, considering her potential escape plans. If the sky wasn’t an option, then she would do the opposite. Bracing, she sped to the earth like an Olympic diver and dug into it, only to be tossed right back out a moment later. The concrete twisted itself into a swirling, gooey wave while the earth beneath it clumped together into massive beasts of all shapes and sizes.

She recognized these Quirks, having written about them in her Hero Analysis for the future. They belonged to heroes she idolized, people who she once dreamed of meeting. 

Cementoss and Pixiebob. They’d thought of everything, cutting off all her escape routes.

No, no, NO!

Izuku’s panic only intensified when a new opponent rocketed towards her in a streak of brown and white, whirling about to land a vicious kick that met her guard like the blow of a sledgehammer. The white blur backflipped away, landing on a nearby rooftop and tossing her hair back. 

Rabbit Hero, Mirko.

“Hey there, Miracle. Hear you’re a fast lil’ bugger.” Mirko grinned. “I’m pretty fast too, if I do say so myself—”

Mirko crouched low, preparing to take off like a sprinter on a track.

“—but there’s only room for one rabbit in this town.”

The rabbit-woman was on her in an instant, teeth bared and with battle-hungry gleam in her eye. Izuku turned to flee, the other heroes opening fire on her while Mirko chased.

[ 3:19:10 P.M. 

Mirko engages Miracle in direct melee combat. Battlegroup A assists in corralling Miracle into the target area.]

“Luna Fall!” 

Izuku raised her arms just in time to tank the attack, bucking backwards from the heavy impact. It was incomprehensible. Mirko’s attack had managed to knock her back where a .50 caliber round couldn’t. The raw power in her legs defied physics.

Those very same legs clamped around Miracle’s neck in a vicegrip in the next instance, Mirko twisting about midair to chain another attack into her combo. The world spun about Izuku as Mirko once again defied conventional physics and sent her towards the ground with another signature move. Anyone else subject to such an attack would have had their head torn clean off from the sharp, sudden rotation. 

“Luna Tijeras!!”

Her back hit the asphalt like a meteor, shattering the road in a massive radius. Izuku backflipped off the ground right before Mirko’s heel crashed down on where her face was only a second ago, pupils turning to pinpricks. Around them the other heroes continued to support Mirko, raining down covering fire onto Miracle. Izuku's fists cut through Pixiebob's earth beasts, the golems little more than annoying distractions.

The Magical Girl stomped, deep ravines forming around her heel. A localized earthquake followed, throwing many heroes off balance. They countered with Pixiebob and Cementoss' environment-shaping abilities, but the distraction was enough for her to fly off in search of the cage’s struts. Mirko was in hot pursuit, the heroine becoming a relentless, heat-seeking missile. 

Then the real missiles showed up. Dozens of them, fired from shoulder mounted rocket launchers held by green, mono-wheeled robots. Izuku recognized them as the same robots that were used in the U.A entrance exam, wondering what they were doing here until the missiles detonated right in front of her face.

They unleashed a barrage of different payloads, ranging from wire nets to thermobaric explosives. Izuku bulldozed her way through it all, desperately trying to escape Mirko by racing around a corner with a sharp turn. She then spotted the rabbit hero at her 12 o'clock, backed by a trio of flying robotic drones.

[3:22:37 P.M.

Miracle enters the target area. Eraser Head ability activation confirmed.]

Izuku let out a deafening scream when a sudden, inexplicable sense of excruciating pain seared itself upon her mind like a red-hot brand. She fell from the skies, the crash-landing carving a deep trench into the road below.

Pain. There was only pain that raced along her body like her veins were on fire, the sensation so strong that she was temporarily blinded from the stars exploding in her eyes. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All she could do was scream her lungs out as the pain overtook the primal part of her brain and begged for it to stop.

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—”

“Izuku!” Toga’s voice cried out. “Hang on!”

The blinding pain receded, as if cut in half. Izuku choked as she got up from her knees, staggering and coughing. Behind her Toga’s vestige whimpered, hugging at herself.

“I’ll share… this pain… with you…”

They had to get out of here. Izuku tried to fly, only for her Glitter to spark weakly around her. Whatever this attack was, it was messing with her Quirk. A puddle formed via a burst water pipe nearby, and Izuku beheld her reflection as Miracle.

The unknown attack had done more damage than Mirko and the other heroes combined. Half of Miracle’s form had faded away, revealing the injured, blonde visage of Mikumo underneath. She was split right down the middle with a glowing green line like two pieces from different drawings stuck together haphazardly, her left half still that of an emerald Magical Girl. Her right half was the civilian Mikumo, dressed in her oversized All Might hoodie. Izuku panted with ragged breaths, finding it difficult to even breathe. The pain was still there, just halved and muted.

“Oh no… no, no, no…”

She couldn’t fly. The heroes were surrounding her by the moment. Just as she was thinking it couldn’t get any worse, two massive figures landed right before the deep crater she was in. Two stalks of brilliant, golden hair and a flaming beard caused her heart to drop all the way into her stomach.

All Might and Endeavor had arrived.

[3:22:37 P.M.

Eraser Head unable to fully nullify Miracle’s Quirk. Switching to plan delta. All Might and Endeavor move in to engage.]

“Give it up, Miracle.” All Might said quietly. “There’s nowhere left to run. Don't do this.”

“Nowhere to hide.” Endeavor echoed. 

Despair creeped along the edge of Izuku’s mind, turning her legs to wet noodles. No. Not like this. Everyone was betraying her. First her father, then Bakugo, and now even All Might? It wasn’t fair. What had she done wrong?

All Might moved before Izuku could, his massive hand clamping around her wrist like an iron manacle. She hadn’t even seen him move. 

“Surrender.” All Might demanded. His other hand began reaching for her.

The memory of hands reaching at her body caused both Izuku and the world to still. She couldn’t tell if it was her memory or Toga’s but a sudden rush of panic caused her to jolt, the girl raising a hand in fright.

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” she shrieked, wrenching her hand away.

All Might let go, clearly surprised by her strength. It was easy to forget that despite how frail she looked, Miracle was one of the strongest metahumans in Japan. Endeavor reacted instantly, creating rings of fire that he planned to imprison her with.

Izuku responded by bringing her hands together in a thunderclap.

The kinetic energy unleashed by her hands meeting was akin to a bomb going off, throwing All Might, Endeavor, and all the surrounding heroes to backwards from the shockwave. Mirko was the first to recover, leaping at Izuku while she sprinted out of a shallow crater. An axe kick whistled through the air and aimed for the back of her head, but the Magical Girl spun on her heel and caught the rabbit hero by the foot. She worked with the momentum and tossed Mirko into the horizon, knowing she’d survive the fall.

Endeavor was next. A wave of fire leapt from his palms and cut off her escape route, forcing her to take a detour through an alleyway. Endeavor flooded the alley with his flames, aiming to cook her alive. He wasn’t playing with the kid gloves on.

Then again, he never did.

“Flashfire Fist: Jetburn!”

The attack was a jet-boosted left cross that caught Izuku by surprise, with her barely even managing to slip under it. She responded with an overhand right, pulling her punches so as to not kill the man. There was a meaty crunch when her knuckles met Endeavor’s jaw, sending him flying into a nearby convenience store.

Izuku turned to run, so much slower than her flight would have allowed. The pain was dulling her senses and her reaction speed, and even taking a breath seemed like a monumental effort at times. Only one thing was on her mind now; escape. She had to get out of here before—

All Might skidded across the street in front of her, launching into an attack. His right fist came up, headed right at her face.

“Texas—”

Izuku pulled her arm back to match his swing, calculating to match the angle and speed of his fist.

“—Smash!”

Their knuckles met in a shockwave that split the skies and dispersed clouds. All Might’s expression was one of shock as he witnessed the pale, tiny little girl brace against his unstoppable Texas Smash. In all his years as a hero, he could count the number of people who stopped one of his smashes with one hand. Even in her weakened state caused by Aizawa, Miracle was capable of standing up to him, actually pushing him back.

“Leave me alone!” she screamed.

All Might’s fist slipped against hers when she pushed, his knuckles glancing off her invulnerable cheek. Izuku stepped into his guard, right hand cocking back like the hammer of a revolver.

“Smash!”

Her uppercut met All Might’s jaw in a resounding boom, sending him flying. The number one hero was stunned at the power it contained, with enough strength to match one of his own smashes. Now he understood why the HSPC had such a vested interest in her.

She truly was worthy of the title of S-Class. A true powerhouse like himself. He hadn’t felt like this ever since he fought Toxic Chainsaw all those years ago.

Endeavor got back into the fight, a gargantuan conflagration in the shape of a fist blooming from his right arm. It screamed towards her, melting the asphalt beneath into tar. Miracle countered with another straight, coring through the attack like a rifle bullet through an apple. The number two hero was prepared for that, having used the fireball to hide his next charged attack. Glowing whips of light ignited upon his fingertips, the man thrusting his hands forward to have the heat rays wrap around Miracle like a net. She howled as they tore into her, carving at her flesh like superheated blades.

Izuku screamed when the whips struck her across the back and chest, crouching down to make herself as small as possible. Gunfire echoed from the rooftops, more of U.A’s robots joining the battle.

“Izuku! Izuku, give me control of the body!” Toga yelled, panicking with her.

The Magical Girl grit her teeth, stomping the ground to create temporary shelter with the giant sheets of debris that ruptured upwards. They crumbled under a hail of both gunfire and Quirk effects only seconds later.

“No!” Izuku whimpered. “You’ll kill them!”

“It’s them or us, Izuku! Give me the body or we’re both gonna die!”

She refused, instead focusing on a new sensation of something building within her. Endeavor continued pelting her with fireballs, then a continuous stream of flame when he realized she still wasn’t going down. Izuku could feel the pressure building within her core, and all she had to do was—

LET

GO.

Miracle screamed the loudest she ever had, emerald lightning leaping from her fingertips.

[3:26:40 P.M.

Miracle ability activation. Multiple heroes wounded in action.]

The lightning escaped from somewhere within her like a raging torrent. It didn’t originate from her, no. The destructive energy came from somewhere beyond, carving deep, jagged lines into the surroundings. She didn’t control it, merely channeling the overwhelming power like a conduit. It instantly homed in on her attackers and chained from one target to another, striking them down but leaving them alive. Inorganic material was a completely different story. The lightning didn’t hold back there, shattering buildings and tearing the land asunder. 

Toga’s voice echoed in her head, bubbling with a tone of pitch-black fury.

“Alright, we might be fucked. But if we’re fucked, we’re taking the rest of these cunts down with us.”

The devastation was far beyond anyone ever expected, buildings collapsing while ravines split the streets. If not for the heroes evacuating the civilians earlier, the casualties would have been in the hundreds.

Izuku strode forward as if in a daze, stumbling with her steps. Behind her the lightning branched atop her back, freezing in place. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t lightning on her back at all. They were cracks in reality.

Dozens of eyes and pupils of every shape and size peeked through the cracks caused by Miracle, peering into a world not of their own. They arrayed themselves behind her, looking like the Magical Girl had sprouted a pair of staring, ocular wings. Every single eye twitched and focused on a specific point, the cause of Izuku’s pain. They told her of its source in alien tongues.

Izuku turned to look where they were looking. There, at the far end of the street was a hero in a black outfit and yellow goggles. He was staring right at her while surrounded by a squad of heavily-armored U.A robots. Some sort of power to inflict pain with his gaze alone? 

Earth exploded around her when Izuku’s heel gripped the ground and pushed off, blasting forward. Her fist cored through one robot’s chest before moving on to the next, tearing the mechanical guard contingent to pieces. The hero was yelling something at her, but she didn’t care anymore. All she wanted was for the pain to stop. Emerald lightning lanced off her fingers, frying an entire squadron of drones.

“Kid! Kid, stop!”

She pulled her robotic enemies apart limb by limb, and finally turned her attention to the hero in black. Gloved fingers curled into hooks and she prepared to claw his eyes out…

“Problem child!” the hero yelled, tearing the goggles off his face.

Izuku’s fingers stopped only millimeters away from Eraser Head’s glowing red eyes.

“Mr. Aizawa?” she whispered in a small, trembling voice.

“Yeah.” Aizawa nodded, the red glow from his eyes dimming as he deactivated Erasure. He recognized her civilian half. “Yeah, it’s me.”

With Erasure gone, the constant pain assaulting Miracle’s senses vanished. The girl’s expression was a mix of despair and disbelief, tears beading at her eyes. The dozens of eyes that formed her wings glared at the thin man accusingly before fading away.

“Y-you too, Mr. Aizawa?” Izuku sniffed, finally beginning to cry. “Is this what you call ‘following your heart’?”

Aizawa winced. “I…”

“I thought I could trust you. I thought you were different. W-why…”

Eraser Head said nothing. 

“Why is everyone so mean to me?” Izuku sobbed, crying into her fists.

Aizawa tried to reach for her, only to pause and let his hand fall. He didn’t know what to do in a situation like this. Behind the girl was a scene of absolute carnage, with cars overturned while the debris of buildings lay scattered atop a broken road. The entire place looked like a warzone, but from what he could tell from the comms there weren’t any casualties. Even now, was Miracle holding back?

“...was right.” The Magical Girl whispered something under her breath.

“What?” Aizawa asked.

“Stain was right.” Izuku cried, tears freely rolling down her cheeks. “You’re all fakes.”

Aizawa’s eyes widened. Before he could even activate his Quirk a blue and yellow blur slammed into Miracle from the side, punting her into the air. All Might was back on the field. He saw them from afar and assumed his fellow hero was in trouble.

“DETROIT—”

Izuku raised a hand to catch the incoming attack, then dropped it lifelessly soon after. What was the point of all this? All Might couldn’t stop the attack in time, realizing she was going to let him hit her a split second too late. 

His fist met her midsection with 100% force before he could stop himself. Miracle shot backwards and crashed into a building, then through it. She made no effort to stop, allowing herself to punch through several more. Concrete and reinforced steel shattered beneath her back, but Izuku felt nothing.

Her body finally came to a stop after going though five whole buildings. She got up from the impact crater in a daze, looking up to find a building all too familiar. It was shaped like a ‘H’ after the many heroes it produced over the years, the bright afternoon sun reflecting off the blue glass coating its surface.

U.A High School.

Of course. This was the city that housed the infamous hero school. She’d been so busy worrying about the false Angel attack that she forgot. No wonder the ambush team was able to use so many of those robots.

She could hear the teachers rushing out to defend the school, soon catching glimpses of them approaching. Midnight. Hound Dog. Ectoplasm. Izuku once dreamed of attending the prestigious academy and learning under their tutelage. Now…?

Now she didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Heroes aren't what she thought they would be like. Nothing like the romanticized stories she read in the magazines or online articles. They were ordinary people, and they were flawed. Dreadfully so.

The teachers surrounded Izuku in a circle, Ectoplasm making reinforcements with his clones while Power Loader brought up the rear with some of his custom mechs. Izuku simply looked around the heroes around her, eyes half-lidded.

I’m so tired.

“Izuku," Toga warned, sensing what she was about to do. “Don’t you dare!”

“U.A,” Izuku began, powering down into her civilian form. The least she could do was hear them out.

“Izuku, don’t!” Toga yelled in her head, exasperated. 

“I surrender.” Izuku finished.

[3:32:10 P.M.

Miracle detained by U.A staff. Operation Guillotine completed.]

[Chapter 12 End]

Chapter Text

Midoriya Inko stared at the TV with disbelief, hands clasped in worry.

It was happening again. Live footage from a news helicopter showed a furious battle happening right in the heart of a city, an emerald comet bombarded from all sides by what must have been dozens of heroes. 

Magical Girl Miracle.

Inko watched, horrified as the girl tried to escape from her countless pursuers, only to be repelled at every turn. Even the very sky turned against her, pink lines of light cutting across the horizon to form a cage. Poor little Miracle was desperately trying to find a way out, zooming about in hopes of finding an exit.

Then she fell from grace, plummeting like a bird with clipped wings. All of Japan must have watched her crash into the earth, only to rise again like a vengeful revenant. There was something wrong with her form, half of her body still clad in her Magical Girl regalia. The other half was… dressed in an All Might hoodie? It looked familiar, but the camera footage was too grainy to catch the details.

Whatever the attack was, it seemed to have weakened Miracle. She could fly no longer, instead sprinting across the road like a professional athlete while getting into skirmishes with various heavy-hitters. Inko was shocked at how strong she was, the girl even able to stand up to All Might for some time!

It was clear now that Miracle wasn’t trying to hurt the heroes at all, entirely focused on trying to escape. Soon she was cornered and trapped by Endeavor’s heat rays, and…

That was where it all went wrong.

Miracle screamed, her voice loud enough to reach the news helicopter filming above. Green, crackling lightning exploded out of her, chaining from one hero to another and causing them to fall like dominos. It was like watching a natural disaster unfold in real time. Miracle was turning into the eye of the hurricane, the origin of a swirling maelstrom that tore apart the environment around her. The storm concentrated upon Miracle and turned into blinking eyes with animal pupils, each one moving about independently. They arrayed themselves into wings atop her back, giving her the appearance of an Angel. Oddly enough the heroes were left unharmed despite the devastation, the lightning seeming to be only deadly to anything inorganic.

Miracle continued onward, destroying multiple squadrons of combat robots with a single swing but stopping right before her hand reached an unknown hero’s face. He must have said something to her as she suddenly stopped, beginning to cry. Inko couldn’t help but feel pity for her. 

Then All Might punched her into a building.

Miracle hurtled through the skyline, ragdolled by the impact of his fists. Rubble filled the air when she crash-landed right before U.A High School, only to be surrounded by its teachers only moments later. Inko gasped when the girl powered down to surrender, revealing an all too familiar face when the new cameras zoomed in.

Her shoulders were slumped, blonde locks falling over a pair of golden eyes. She looked so very tired, all the fight having drained out of her at the sight of U.A. Inko’s hands flew to her mouth, the woman trembling in shock.

“Mikumo-chan?” 

[x]

Izuku hugged her knees and shivered, wondering how she ended up in a situation like this.

It was her first time in a detention cell. To Izuku’s surprise it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought it would be. She deduced that it was meant to hold U.A students for one reason or another, and was designed with enough modern comforts to accommodate them. Despite being in a literal dungeon beneath U.A, the conditions were more akin to a hotel room rather than a prison.

Toga didn’t seem to think the same, complaining all the while.

“I can’t believe you decided to surrender.” Toga whined, floating about in the air lazily. Her voice was clearer now, lacking the ethereal, dreamlike quality she had before. “I mean, seriously. Why?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Izuku whispered back, wary of any audio bugs the heroes had in the room. “It was either that, or beat them all into unconsciousness. I couldn’t do that.”

“You and I both know we can.” Toga huffed. “Well, maybe All Might would be a little tougher than the rest…”

“Not what I meant, and you know it.” Izuku said. “I can’t keep punching my problems away. Violence isn’t the answer.”

“Correct. Violence is a question, and the answer is yes.”

“That’s what a villain would say.”

“Guilty as charged.”

Izuku paused at that, looking up at her. Toga continued to float around, an untouchable ghost that existed in her mind alone. 

“You… you were a villain?” Izuku asked nervously. “You never told me that!”

“That’s what the cops called me before the doctor found me. Must have slipped my mind.” Toga said. “It’s hard to remember, it’s like my memory is in bits and pieces. Anyway, that’s not the point!”

Toga got right up in Izuku’s face, jabbing at her forehead with a translucent finger.

“If being a so-called ‘villain’ has taught me anything, it’s that power triumphs all. Without power, we have nothing.” Toga groused. “You, we, have all the power in the world. I need you to understand this; we can do whatever the fuck we wanna do. You don’t have to give an inch to these pricks, let alone your time.”

“That’s the sort of thinking that leads to the persecution of others.” Izuku argued back. “To discrimination against those that are different. What we need to do now is come to a common understanding.”

“That’s why you surrendered? To talk?” Toga sneered. “We can do it on our terms, not theirs. One strike from us and thousands lose their lives. They should be groveling before us!”

“And what good would antagonizing them do? It’ll only lead to more conflict!”

“They started it! Fuck around and find out. You want to turn the other cheek, but what you don’t understand is that just gets you another slap. People will walk all over you if you let them, you little dummy!”

“I still have to try.”

“Haven’t you tried enough? You know what your problem is? You’re too much of a goody-two-shoes.” Toga said, exasperated. “So goddamn gullible. You keep seeing the best in people, looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses. Don’t you get it? No matter how hard you try, sometimes things just won’t work.”

“I… I know that!” Izuku winced. “It’s just…”

“You stubborn little—” Toga fumed, wringing her hands. “You know what? I’ll let you find out for yourself. You wanna be a battered housewife? Fine! But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Why do you hate heroes so much?”

“Why don’t you? After all the shit they did to you, I’m surprised you haven’t gone berserk on them.”

“I still believe in some of them. Not all heroes are like that, you know that.” Izuku said.

“You keep believing that bullshit. I suppose growing up worshiping heroes will blind you to their incompetence and failures.” Toga shot back angrily.

“Why do you have to be so negative?”

“Well, why do you have to be so goddamn positive?” Toga hissed. “Is that the Magical Girl part of you talking? Love and peace, hmm?! Sorry to break it to you, but the world isn’t sunshine and rainbows like a fucking anime. The world is harsh, cold, cruel, and its people have only ever failed me when I needed them.”

“You wouldn’t think like that if you had someone to help you.” Izuku said sadly. 

“I don’t wanna hear that from some loser who’s in love with a girl that doesn’t even exist!” Toga shrieked.

Izuku’s lip trembled and Toga immediately knew she crossed the line. The poor Magical Girl looked as if she was about to burst into tears, Toga quickly descending and sitting down beside her. Izuku began sniffling, and the other girl couldn’t help but feel pity at the swirling whirlpool of emotions that she felt through their shared minds. Shame, embarrassment, self-loathing… it was like a dam breaking, the emotions Izuku felt flooding across her face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that…” Toga began.

“No, you’re right. I’m a total loser.” Izuku said, tearing up. “I can’t help it. I always wanted someone to be nice to me besides my mom. So I… I made Mikumo to be that kind of girl. Someone kind and sweet. Before I knew it, I had these weird feelings for her, me, and… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t even know who I’m supposed to be anymore.”

Izuku hung her head, ashamed.

“I’m a freak, aren’t I?”

Toga was silent for a moment before deciding to speak up.

“My parents called me the same thing.” Toga said. “A freak. A demon-child. All because my Quirk made me think differently. Because I wasn’t normal like the others.”

Izuku looked up with teary eyes, listening intently.

“It’s so easy for me to fall in love.” Toga moved to sit opposite to Izuku atop empty air, her voice a near whisper. “Animals… people…. Heroes, villains, boys and girls. They all… have such beautiful blood flowing through their veins. I can’t help the way I love people.”

“Yeah?” Izuku sniffed.

“Yeah.” Toga nodded. “I just wanted to live the way I wanted.”

“It’s hard to live in this world.” Izuku agreed. “I think… I think a part of me understands why Mustard wanted to change the world. With all this power, it’d be hard not to.”

“To reshape the world in her own image.” Toga chuckled sadly. “It’s what the other me would have wanted. For a place where she could be accepted and loved. Maybe that’s all she ever needed, for someone to love her. For someone to love us.”

Toga placed her forehead against Izuku’s and closed her eyes. She could feel the other girl’s warmth, an incorporeal sensation that echoed across space and time. The two of them were united, two souls in one body.

Foreign memories flooded Izuku’s mind, the hopes and dreams of a little girl wronged by the world. In a garden she found a corpse of a sparrow, found love in life and death. Her Quirk took its shape, dancing upon her chest when she dreamed and slept. As she grew older she kept the sparrow caged inside her, suppressing her naturalborn urges. 

One day, the blood of a loved one was spilled. Toga looked down at her hand and found the knife her Quirk had become. The knife allowed her to become the people she loved, but she filled it with anger and hatred in response to how the world treated her. 

So she brandished a blasphemous blade, to create a world that’s easier to live in.

“We might be abnormal, you and I. Built different.” Toga sniffed. “But we won’t let the world decide what we are. Never again.”

Izuku thought of all the times Bakugo had bullied her, the humiliation, the mocking jeers, the laughter that cut into her skin and ego, tearing her pride and self-esteem to shreds. All the times she wanted to disappear because of the things that he and the other bullies did, because of something that she couldn’t control.

Yet here she was. Still here despite it all. A survivor. 

“I’m scared.” Izuku whispered.

“Me too.” Toga admitted. “But as long as we have each other, we’ll never be alone.”

The two girls held each other in mind and spirit, the living and the dead linked by their individuality.

“Wanna learn how to braid your hair?” Toga asked out of the blue.

“...Sure.” Izuku answered.

She spent the next few minutes fiddling around with her hair, satisfied once it was tied into a neat braid. Toga helpfully shifted her appearance into Mikumo’s, allowing Izuku to appreciate the new hairstyle.

“Do you still want to be a hero, Izuku?”

The question caught her off guard, and it took a moment before Izuku could come up with an answer.

“I still want to help people. To save people, like All Might.” Izuku said softly. “Do I have to be a hero to do that? I mean, I still kinda like All Might, but those other heroes…”

“You don’t wanna be like them. Yeah, I get it.” Toga nodded. “There are always alternative career paths. Ever given any thought about that?”

“Not really. I was always called nothing by everyone except my mom.” Izuku said. “Even the dream of being a hero was just that, a dream.”

“Pfft. Now you’re a super-powerful being that can be a guy when you wanna be, and a girl when you wanna be. You can have your cake and eat it.” Toga scoffed. “Do you have any idea how many people would kill to be in your position? Sheesh. We can be a… J-pop idol?”

“Um, I'll pass. Crowds make me nervous.” Izuku mumbled shyly.

“TigTog E-girl? Boys love that.” Toga suggested.

“Why would I want to attract boys?” Izuku frowned. “Also, I’m bad at video games.”

“VTuber?”

“Isn’t that just an anime E-girl?”

“You’re missing the point!” Toga chided. “We can be anything we wanna be! Dude, we literally have the power of God and anime on our side.”

“I wouldn’t call it that—”

“It’s a doggy-dog world we live in, and we’re top dog!”

“It’s ‘dog-eat-dog’.” Izuku corrected, giggling a little. She knew this was Toga’s way of cheering her up. “Besides, I’m sure there are many other people out there who are stronger than us."

“Then we’re the world’s strongest fourteen-year-old. Anyone tries to mess with us and we’ll be like, zap, mothafucka! Taste mah lightning—”

Toga threw out her hand, wriggling her fingers playfully. Both girls paused when sparks of golden lightning flickered atop the vestige’s palm, causing them to blink in surprise.

“Whoa.”

[x]

“You’ve got to be joking.” Midnight said to her smartphone. “You want me to set a good example for the walking h-bomb? Me, the R-18 hero?”

“That’s right, Kayama-san!” Nezu said cheerfully from the other end. “Now, I’ll be busy holding off the vultures from the HPSC regarding little miss Miracle, so someone needs to be the one she can confide in!”

“Can’t Vlad or Hound do it?” Midnight hesitated. “I don’t exactly fit the image of ‘reliable older role model’ for most kids.”

“You do not. But extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Believe me when I say I have faith in you. Perhaps what Miracle needs isn’t an older male figure, but an older female that is willing to listen and empathize with her. Our reports suggest that she was building up a good rapport with Mt. Lady before those upstarts ambushed her.”

“You mean before they jumped her ass like a bunch of punks? Sheesh, what kind of people are we letting in nowadays?” Midnight’s heels clicked against the cold marble tiles. “And those orders from the HPSC…”

“They don’t apply here. U.A is under my jurisdiction, and what I say goes.” Nezu said calmly. “You can safely ignore that ‘shoot-on-sight’ order.”

“Good. ‘Cause if you’re expecting me to hurt that girl in any way we’re gonna have a problem, boss.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Nezu smiled. “Just talk to her, and be gentle. Find out what she knows about these… Angels, and why she’s here in general.”

“You think she might be connected to him?” Midnight asked, dubious.

“It’s possible. In any case, if she truly is connected to our eternal adversary, All Might will have to be informed. Right now, what Miracle needs is someone she can trust. To fix what young Aizawa has inadvertently shattered. A motherly or older sister figure, perhaps. Make her an offer. Anything. Japan can’t afford to lose her.”

“I’ll try. So basically you’re only picking me because I’m the only woman on the team.” Midnight gave her smartphone the side-eye. “Gee, thanks boss.”

“Now, now. Don’t put it like that.” Nezu’s calm, infuriating smile continued to fill the device’s screen. “You were always one of my best students, Nemuri. I trust you. Nezu out.”

The call ended just like that, leaving Midnight to decipher Nezu’s words and intentions. The mouse-bear-dog man often expected his students to read between the lines, and this was no different. 

Midnight pondered as she walked. The HPSC and their explicit orders to capture Miracle at all costs, despite knowing how unpopular the attempts would be… The ten-million yen bounty… It just didn’t add up. They knew it was bad optics for the hero industry, yet they still encouraged it. The only explanation Midnight could come up with was that the HPSC knew something about Miracle that others didn’t. Something they were so desperate to keep a secret, they were willing to risk public ire.

Her thoughts trailed off as she finally reached the interrogation room. The room itself was more of a precautionary measure ever since one of the kids brought back a villain they’d captured during Midnight’s time as a student. Containing him back then was a difficult affair. Nearly every single U.A staff member was here, including Aizawa. The man looked more tired than usual, his lips set into a thin line of determination. Beside him stood another tall, thin figure, who adjusted his spectacles upon meeting her eyes. He seemed to be engaged in a staredown with Toshinori, All Might, until she arrived.

“Hey, boys.” Midnight greeted the rest of the teachers, then turned to him coolly. “Sir Nighteye.”

“Midnight.” Nighteye returned the greeting with one of his own. “Good to see you again.”

“I wish it were under different circumstances.” Midnight eyed the one-way mirror. “How is she?”

“See for yourself.”

The teacher stepped up to the glass and took a good, hard look. Sitting in a chair with her hands atop the cold steel table was a teenager who looked nervous but was clearly trying to hide it, her eyes still a little red and puffy from crying. Surprisingly enough her hair wasn’t green, her golden locks tied into a small braid. The girl was dressed in an oversized All Might hoodie that was clearly too large for her, the sleeves flopping about whenever she moved her hands. Her wrists were bound with heavy duty Quirk-resistant shackles that were designed to hold brutes three times her size, looking comically huge compared to her petite frame.

She’s so small.

This was Magical Girl Miracle? She didn’t look like much, being a cute, timid-looking girl that would look more at home in a convenience store than a prison cell. Midnight quickly shook off her first impression, not willing to judge a book by its cover. Behind the girl stood two of U.A’s security bots, the submachine guns in their metal hands trained on her.

“Were the bots and guns really necessary?” Midnight sighed.

“Without them she could kill everyone in this room once she transforms, save for All Might.” Vlad King said quietly. “It’s a precaution we have to take.”

“After what we’ve seen her shrug off, those guns ain't nothing but peashooters.” Snipe offered his opinion, thumbing his revolver nervously. “She’s taken rockets and 50 cal to the face without flinching. You might as well throw styrofoam packing peanuts at her.”

“It’s better than nothing, wan.” Hound Dog shrugged. “I don’t like it either.”

“Alright.” Midnight took a deep breath, looking around at the rest of the teachers. “Who’s coming in with me?”

Aizawa opened his mouth, only to snap it shut when Midnight shot a baleful glare at him. Instead All Might stepped up, still in his civilian form. 

“I’ll go. I want to understand her.” Toshinori said. “To see things from her point of view.”

“As do I.” Nighteye volunteered, raising a hand. “My Foresight will come in handy.”

“That’s three.” Midnight counted, nodding. “Okay, just let me do most of the talking. Remember, the last thing we want is to antagonize her. Her idea of heroes has already been tarnished thanks to the HPSC’s efforts. We have to make it clear that all we want to do is talk.”

There was a bit more talk as the trio discussed any useful information they could use with the rest of the teachers. Security footage from the cell Miracle was imprisoned in earlier revealed that she was… talking to herself. They weren’t able to get any audio, but that itself was rather strange. Possible signs of schizophrenia? Midnight shelved it away for later, steeling herself to talk with what must have been a poor, frightened girl.

She knocked on the door three times before entering.

[x]

Izuku looked up from the table when she heard a trio of knocks. Gulping, she remembered the advice Toga gave her earlier, and the words of an old hero from an equally old interview.

The ones who smile are the strongest. As terrified as Izuku was, she had to be strong. To be the Magical Girl fate chose her to be.

The door slid open with a quiet click, three people making their way through. Being the hero fangirl she was, she recognized two of them almost immediately. Leading the way was the R-18 hero Midnight, followed by All Might’s trusted ex-sidekick, Sir Nighteye. The third was a thin, emaciated man she assumed was with the government since he was wearing a suit and tie.

“Oh great, look who it is.” Toga grumbled. “Stripper Supreme, an Overworked Office-worker, and a Spooky Skeleton. Come on, Izuku. Use your feminine charm!”

“My what?” Izuku mumbled under her breath. “I don’t even know how to talk to girls, let alone be one.”

“Good afternoon.” Midnight said, sitting down. She placed a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table.

The two men took seats beside her as well, and Izuku felt as if she was in an interview of sorts. Beside her Toga floated, glaring at the trio of adults spitefully. She didn’t trust adults, not one bit.

“Hello.” Izuku said quietly. “Ms. Midnight.”

Midnight blinked. “You know who I am?”

“I watched your debut. It was… quite something.” Izuku said, blushing.

That was an understatement. Midnight’s debut involved her appearing in public with seemingly nothing on except a few belts and pouches that barely protected her modesty, all while having just defeated a group of villains. It made the headlines the very next day, along with forcing the government to implement modesty limits on hero outfits. A controversial introduction to an admittedly controversial hero.

“I see. These are my associates, Sir Nighteye, and Mr. Toshinori Yagi.” Midnight introduced the two men, who gave simple ‘hellos’ to Izuku.

“Ah, um, hello.” Izuku returned the greetings with a polite bow to each. “I know you too, Sir Nighteye.”

“You do?” the thin man asked.

“I’m a huge fan of All Might, so I’ve read about plenty of adventures and exploits the two of you had together. The Tokyo Tower incident, the Highway Circus Troupe, Toxic Chainsaw… I could go on and on.” Izuku said with a small smile. “It was always a dream of mine to see you and All Might together in person.”

Nighteye’s eyes narrowed into razor-thin slits.

“I don’t mean right now.” Izuku added nervously before looking at the blonde skeleton-man. “And, ah… sorry, I don’t think I know you. No offense.”

“None taken, young lady.” Toshinori chuckled. “Miss… Mikumo Akatani, is that right?”

“Y-yeah.” Izuku said. Of course, Eraser Head must have told them her name. “Are the people I, um, knocked out okay?”

“They’re fine. Somehow, your lightning didn’t leave any permanent damage. A miracle, no pun intended.” Nighteye said curtly.

The girl’s eyes flickered to the cookies on the table nervously. Even if she knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to eat them, she was kinda hungry. They could be laced with some sort of truth serum or Quirk suppressant.

“They’re just regular cookies.” Midnight smiled, taking a random one for herself and biting down. “See?”

Izuku slowly took a few and began munching down on them. It was an obvious ploy to gain her trust but hey, free cookies. Little did she know that her childlike behavior only reinforced the image of a whimsical, otherworldly fairy that many saw her as.

“Izuku!” Toga hissed, voice laced with urgency. “Don’t get too chummy with these guys. Say the line!”

“O-oh, right!” Izuku straightened in her chair. “I want my lawyer.”

“You’re not under arrest. Not here, at least. You’re a minor, and due to the extraordinary circumstances at hand, U.A will be handling any and all legal affairs related to your case.” Nighteye said. “And no, you don’t get a phonecall.”

“Aww man…” Izuku mumbled, looking downcast.

“Don’t listen to him, he’s lying!” Toga howled. “I bet he’s not even a real lawyer! Don’t say anything stupid, and by stupid I mean anything at all!”

“First things first. We just want to talk, Ms. Mikumo.” Midnight assured her. “Let’s start with something simple. Are you related to the Anomalous Entities nicknamed ‘Angels’ in any way, shape or form? You seem to be one of the few individuals that are able to combat them effectively.”

“I… Um, yes? Maybe?” Izuku stammered, not missing the way their eyes widened just the slightest bit. “I’m not too sure, really. All I know is that they don’t want to hurt anyone. They’re just curious about the world.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?” Nighteye inquired, leaning forward with interest. “Do you have any idea about their goals, what they are?”

“Hmm…” Izuku thought for a moment, tapping her chin. The thirty-kilogram cuffs that bound her hands were lifted off the table effortlessly. “I guess you can say they’re like children? No, I’m pretty sure they are children. They're just exploring.”

All three adults in the room exchanged worried glances while Izuku continued to think. It’d be best not to reveal too much for now. After the fiasco that was the heroes attempting to deal with the Angels, Izuku couldn’t trust them with that kind of information. 

“I think we need some elaboration on your part.” Toshinori said slowly. “Children?”

“Well, not actual children, but…” Izuku shrugged. “It’s hard to explain.”

“We’d really appreciate it if you could, honey.” Midnight said softly.

“Don’t call us honey, you hag!” Toga screeched. “Why don’t you go back to your home on whore island?”

“Please.” Izuku said to Toga, before turning back to the adults. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“You can’t or you won’t?” Toshinori asked.

“Both.” Izuku’s golden eyes flicked up to meet his cyan ones, noticing his black sclera.

“Why not?”

“I just can’t.” Izuku repeated, looking away. “Trust me on this.”

If the general public got hold of the information that Angels were actually people’s Quirks, the Quirks of children… there’d be societal upheaval and mayhem. A series of socioeconomic earthquakes that would shatter the planet. The world simply wasn’t ready for it, and Izuku knew that the revelation could possibly destroy modern civilization as they knew it. It would lead to another Dark Age, just as the Advent of the Exceptional had done all those years ago.

“If you say so. Moving on!” Midnight shrugged, earning her a disbelieving glare from Nighteye. “We need to know the reason for Mustard’s rampage in Musutafu City. The ‘Magical Girl Massacre’, as they call it.”

Izuku’s gaze dipped to the table at that, hands turning to fists. 

“Mustard was… unwell.” Izuku admitted. “Her dad was beating her, abusing her. She was hurting on the inside, and I didn’t realize it until it was too late.”

The three adults had varied reactions. Midnight looked saddened at the revelation, Toshinori looked aghast, and Nighteye just… frowned. From what Izuku knew of him, Nighteye often managed the most extreme criminal cases such as human trafficking and domestic terrorism. She guessed he’d seen his fair share of atrocities.

“I know that’s no excuse for her to do what she did.” Izuku continued, shivering. “A-and I tried to stop her, I really did!”

“No one’s saying you didn’t.” Midnight held up her hand placatingly. “We know you did your best. Mustard lost her mind, that much we are certain of now. But where is she?”

“I—”

She’s locked away inside of Matusda-kun.

“—don’t know.” Izuku answered. “She disappeared after we fought, and that’s the last I saw of her.”

It wasn’t technically a lie. Naturally, the three of them still didn’t seem convinced. Why would they? Izuku hadn’t answered a single one of their questions so far, and for good reason. Anything she let slip might screw up the entire world.

“That’s the last we saw of her, too.” Nighteye said. “We’ve been combing the country for any sign of Magical Girl Mustard, but she seems to have gone radio silent. Off the radar. We were hoping you could aid in tracking her since many suspect that she’s still out there.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.” Izuku said weakly. “I can’t help you there.”

“Hmm.” Nighteye looked pensive. He was about to ask something else when Midnight interrupted him again, causing him to grit his teeth.

“There is one thing we were curious about.” Midnight produced the remains of a burnt notebook from out of nowhere, gently placing it atop the table. “This was found among your belongings when we searched you earlier.”

Izuku held her breath. It was her beloved ‘Hero Analysis For The Future’ or rather, what was left of it. Half the book did not survive the heroes’ ambush, its pages torn and tattered. But despite it all it was still legible, containing Izuku’s hard work and information she compiled on each and every hero she’d seen and heard of. Thankfully her smartphone was completely destroyed and lost in the same battle, or else they’d have a whole other slew of problems. Midnight gently turned to the front page and pointed to the name scribbled there.

‘Midoriya Izuku’.

“Who is Midoriya Izuku?” Nighteye asked calmly. “As far as our records show, he’s a Quirkless middle schooler with nothing to his name. A complete nobody, so to speak.”

Guess what, you’re still nothing. You’re just a worthless, Quirkless, Deku!

Oof. That really, really stung. Or, it would have if Izuku wasn’t sweating cold bullets. Toga seemed to sense how upset she was and leapt to her feet, enraged on Izuku’s behalf.

“Shut the fuck up, asshole!” Toga roared, flipping the man off with both hands. “Fuck yo mama, fuck yo daddy—”

“Calm down—” Izuku whispered hurriedly. "He didn't mean it like that…"

“I beg your pardon?” Nighteye raised an eyebrow.

“—fuck yo gran-gran!” Toga continued raging. “I told you, I told you about these hero cunts! They’re just superpowered cops who think they’re better than everyone else! I swear to God, I will swarm; on any motherfucker in a blue uniform…”

Izuku grimaced. It was clear now that the emotional surges that she experienced at times affected Toga as well. It was only natural, since they seemed to draw from the same wellspring of power Quirks did. Emotions were what gave her strength.

“Please answer the question.” Midnight said slowly, noting Izuku’s distressed state. “Is he a friend of yours?”

“He’s… um… he’s…!” Izuku stammered, wracking her brains for a solution.

Nighteye and Toshinori leaned in a little closer, eager to hear her answer. How in the hell was she supposed to bullshit her way out of this? Toga wasn’t exactly helping, still spitting curses only she could hear. A cacophony of vulgarities that existed solely in Izuku’s head. To the three adults the room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop, but to Izuku it was like a constant explosion was going off. In all the chaos, Izuku resorted to the tried and true excuse Inko had created in her misunderstanding.

“He’s my boyfriend!” Izuku blurted out, her cheeks burning red. 

The embarrassment of that single statement was actually enough to break Toga out of her rage-filled tirade, the vestige blinking in surprise at the sudden declaration. She wasn’t the only one, seeing as how the adults seemed rather taken aback at the news.

“Your boyfriend? Really?” Toga asked flatly before looking thoughtful. “No, wait. Go on. This might work!”

“Huh. Tell him that he makes some great notes.” Midnight flipped the torn book to her own entry. “With some help and a few years, I bet he could actually make a living off these.”

“R-really?” Izuku blushed. Nobody ever said anything good about her.

“I agree.” Nighteye said, almost causing Izuku's jaw to drop in shock. Sir Nighteye himself was complimenting her work! “For someone of his age, this is most impressive. Does he know of your… alter ego?”

I am the alter ego.

“No.” Izuku lied. “He doesn’t know I’m Miracle. To him, I’m just a normal girl. But now that I’m here, I’ll have no choice but to break up with him.”

“Why is that?” Toshinori asked, confused.

Izuku resisted the urge to glare at him while Toga certainly didn’t. Could he be any more crass?

“The whole ‘secret identity being revealed’ thing has pretty much just upended our relationship.” Izuku said, faking bitterness. “No thanks to you guys. Just… leave him alone, okay? He doesn’t know anything. Don’t hurt him.”

“As you wish. It’s not like we intended to in the first place.” Nighteye said, writing down something on his notepad. “We’ll be asking him some questions, but we can guarantee that we won’t do a thing to him.”

Holding back the sigh of relief that threatened to escape from her lips was a monumental effort for Izuku. She instead lowered her head, barely even believing that she got away with that. Behind her Toga laughed, scarcely believing what just transpired as well. Their shared existence was built atop lies and one more was merely a drop in the ocean.

“Oh, honey.” Midnight stood and made her way around the table, wrapping her into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

Izuku squeaked when she made contact, engulfed in the older woman’s warmth and missing it when she parted. It was… nice. Hugging someone felt amazing, and it was as if all the tension was draining out of her.

“Quirkless?” Toshinori mused. “Huh…”

Then it came right back when she heard those words. Just as Izuku was about to ask him if there was a problem with that, the air shifted, causing her to flinch. There was something… off about this man. Izuku took a quick look at him with her True Sight and was stunned by what she saw. Despite his frail stature the man radiated power, a rainbow aura flaring around him.

Izuku took a closer look, fascinated. Above each person floated a blurred shape that Izuku soon realized was their Quirks, separated from the real world by a higher plane of existence. The entities sometimes rested upon their host, nuzzling against them. Angels on their shoulders.

Midnight’s Quirk was in the vague shape of a quadruped animal, a pair of foxlike ears jutting out from its head. Nighteye’s took the form of a bird, the creature occasionally spreading its wings. The shape of its head suggested that it was an owl.

But Toshinori… his was different. The man’s Quirk consisted of eight orbs that orbited his head like planets around a sun, taking the form of a miniature galaxy that he wore as a crown. A halo of eight shimmering stars.

The sheer power that rolled off him made Izuku squint, its blinding radiance something she experienced only hours before. It was hard to describe, but she recognized its broadcast signature via her Quirkspeak. It was flaring outward, the familiar, overwhelming power barely contained within the unassuming vessel of the thin man before her. Izuku only encountered one person who was this powerful. This man, he was…

“All Might.” Izuku realized, her heart skipping a beat.

Nighteye froze. Toshinori stiffened but leaned in closer. “Sorry, could you repeat that?”

She was only about 60% sure, but the men’s reactions all but confirmed it. This thin, emaciated man who looked like he couldn’t hurt a fly was All Might, the Number One Hero. His secret identity? Izuku felt the gears in her head grind to a halt before spinning furiously. It made sense… All Might was rarely seen in public in his civvies, and even to this day his Quirk and its effects were unknown. This could be why. He had some sort of transformation Quirk, just like her! The power to turn from a thin, unassuming man into a musclebound god.

“I, um, All Might.” Izuku thought fast, coming up with an excuse. “Could you tell All Might I’m really sorry for punching him? Mr. Aizawa too. I’m sorry for trying to poke his eyes out. It was a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing.”

“Of course, dear.” Midnight said gently. “Frankly, we heroes owe you an apology as well.”

That caught Izuku’s attention, a burning flame of resentment igniting in her heart.

“Then why go after me that hard?” Izuku mumbled. “I was only trying to help.”

“We know.” Nighteye straightened his tie. “But vigilantism is a serious crime. You can’t do these things, Miss Mikumo.”

“I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing while innocent people got hurt.” Izuku tried explaining. “Sometimes the heroes don’t make it in time. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

“No one ever does.” Toshinori said softly.

“It’s not just that.” Midnight said. “There was a standing order to bring you in, no matter what it takes.”

“Kayama.” Nighteye warned, a stern expression crossing his face.

“No, she deserves to know.” Midnight proceeded anyway. “Mikumo-chan, the HPSC is desperate to capture you, even to the point of damaging the precious reputation that heroes have built up over the years. Please, this is important. Did you do anything to them?”

“The HPSC?” Toga repeated, scoffing. “Glow-in-the-dark MOTHERFU—”

“What?” Izuku said blankly. “No, never. Public Safety, right? I don’t even know what they do.”

“I see.” Midnight paused. “Mikumo-chan, this… Magical Girl Quirk of yours. I know it may sound strange, but did someone give it to you?”

Both Toshinori and Nighteye visibly tensed at that, and Izuku knew she had to answer carefully.

Yes.

“No. I was born this way.” Izuku lied, looking confused. “Give it to me? Like, giving me a Quirk? Is that even possible?”

The awkward silence that followed told her that it was. Even if the revelation stunned her, she didn’t let it show on her face. Someone out there was capable of giving other people Quirks. Judging by their reactions, Izuku suspected they were a villain. It made sense now! This was why the HPSC was so focused on capturing her… they probably thought she was connected to the mysterious Quirk-granter. Somebody with an ability like that could fracture entire nations. People born with dual Quirks were always stronger than those with one. If this individual could grant someone an additional Quirk, they could create an army of super-beings. Maybe even some with three Quirks, though that was unheard of.

It made her curious. The power to give Quirks to others… Perhaps he knew of the Angels' true nature as Quirks? Or, he could be the one behind their invasion. Izuku had a new lead.

“Hmm.” Toshinori nodded. “There is something that’s been bugging me. Our records show that you sometimes show up before the local heroes when an Angel attacks. How do you find them? Our rapid-response teams would appreciate any method you have of knowing when an Angel appears.”

“Oh, people have like a hashtag for that.” Izuku answered.

“A what now?” Toshinori repeated, confused.

“A hashtag. It’s like a… a thingy on Qwoter that everyone spams to make popular, which I then notice and head to the scene.” Izuku explained. “As for other Angels that people haven’t noticed, I’m drawn to them by nature.”

“Hmm.” Nighteye looked curious. “Drawn to them how?”

“It’s like a pull, or like a voice in my head that tells me where they are.”

“Fascinating.” Nighteye said while Midnight and Toshinori exchanged worried glances. “Is this voice in the room with us right now?”

“You bet your ass I am, wagie!” Toga spat. 

“Um.” Izuku wasn’t quite sure how to answer. “No?”

“Poweeerrr!” Toga pointed both hands at Nighteye, tiny sparks of gold lightning branching off her fingers. “UNLIMITED POOOWWWAAAAAAA!”

“I see. Just one last thing before we take a break.” Nighteye cleared his throat. “Miss Mikumo, do you know what my Quirk is?”

“Ah. It’s not publicly available knowledge but my b-boyfriend wrote some notes and speculated on it.” Izuku mumbled up a storm. “You have some sort of ability to predict the future, a form of touch-based clairvoyance. Based on the records, it requires physical and eye contact between you and your target, and upon activation creates a simulated reality or something similar that you can observe possible futures in. That’s the key word here; possible. They are mere possibilities that have not yet come to fruition, and as such are subject to change depending on various external factors. The very fact that operations involving you have failed at all means that it’s not 100% foolproof. It’s not ‘future-sight’, but more like a prediction of possible futures. I suppose it has some sort of limit as to how far you can simulate the future, or else you’d be able to stop crime before it happened…”

Izuku trailed off when she realized all three adults were stunned at the sudden influx of information, the girl blushing furiously and looking to the ground.

“That’s surprisingly accurate.” Nighteye said after a moment of silence passed. “Except for one, small detail. My vision of the future is always 100% accurate, no matter how many times I try to change the events I’ve foreseen. One cannot turn the tides of fate.”

His eyes met Toshinori’s, the two men speaking through a glance. The tall hero looked back to Izuku, stretching his hand outwards. Again, the sight of a hand reaching towards her made Izuku tremble for some unknown reason, but she suppressed the sudden spike of fear. 

“May I see your future?” Nighteye requested. “It is of utmost importance if we are to prevent future Angel attacks.”

Izuku looked wary, inching away from his hand as if it were a knife pointed at her.

“Will it hurt?” she asked, worried.

“Not one bit.” Nighteye assured her. “You won’t even notice it.”

Izuku considered it before nodding slowly, putting out her own hand.

“Okay, here.”

“Thank you.” Nighteye said, placing his palm on hers and making eye contact. “This will only take a moment.”

He blinked, pupils turning into eerie purple crosshairs.

[x]

Nighteye knew something was wrong the moment his Quirk activated.

The world of Foresight often took the form of spinning clock faces and rolling film reels. This time Nighteye stepped into an empty white void of absolute nothingness, the blank expanse stretching before him into infinity. 

This never happened before in all years of his work as a hero. Nighteye was stunned, lost for words at the strangeness of it all. By making contact with someone he should have been able to see what transpired in the near future, not… this. 

“What is this?” Nighteye wondered aloud.

“Shhhhh.”

The hero froze before whirling around to find nothing there. Yet, he was certain he heard it. The voice of a young girl, dripping with venom.

“I’d be careful where I was sticking my nose If I were you.”

There it was again. Nighteye looked around but found nothing, the unknown voice seeming to echo from all directions. It was always at the corner of his eye, something rail-thin and blood-red. 

“Where are you?” Nighteye demanded. “Show yourself!”

He soon got his wish. The being that eluded his sight flickered right in front of him for a split second, like a spliced image in a film reel. It was a horrifying creature made of muscle tissue and spiraling tendons but its head was a human girl’s, blonde locks tied into two messy buns. The entity smiled with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth before disappearing. Nighteye tensed when an invisible pressure clasped around his entire body like a pair of giant human hands, forcing him to look up.

Two slits opened up in the infinite white sky, turning to a pair of staring, golden eyes.

“Nighty-night, Nighteye.”

[x]

Izuku wondered if it usually took this long. Nighteye had been staring at her for a whole minute now with his unblinking purple eyes, and it was honestly starting to creep her out.

“Nighteye, what’s wrong?” Toshinori asked, visibly worried when he didn’t respond. “Mirai?”

Nighteye said nothing. Everyone in the room jolted in alarm when a steady trickle of red emerged from his nose and the thin man collapsed onto the table with his eyes still wide open. Izuku recoiled, shocked and confused while Midnight and Toshinori immediately rushed forward.

“Mirai!” Toshinori exclaimed, turning to Izuku. “What did you—”

“I didn’t do anything!” Izuku cried out, terrified. “W-what happened?”

Nighteye’s limp body began to shake uncontrollably, prompting Midnight to unlock the door and call for help while Toshinori dragged him out.

“He’s having a seizure! Get him to Recovery Girl, ASAP!”

The door slammed behind them, leaving poor, confused Izuku still in the interrogation room. She wondered what just happened, slowly sitting down and burying her face into her hands.

“Toga.” Izuku whispered. “Why did you do that?!”

“I had to.” Toga answered without the slightest bit of remorse. “His Quirk, it was… looking into us. If it continued to look, he would have seen your true form.”

“You didn’t have to knock him out!” Izuku spoke into her hand, hiding her conversation with the vestige.

“I didn’t have a choice!” Toga shot back. “I could sense it. His Quirk, can, and will see you. Would you rather I let him do as he pleased, and reveal what you really are? I was protecting you! Protecting us!”

“I… Thank you, Toga.” Izuku mumbled, deciding to trust in her. “But you went a little too far.”

“He’ll be fine. I think.” Toga handwaved her concerns. “So what now?”

“We can’t do anything but wait.” Izuku said. “I think—”

She paused. Something was happening outside the room. It was barely discernible even with her super-hearing, but it seemed like a huge argument was happening outside the door. Before she knew it the heavy steel door opened again, and a single burning man stepped through.

Endeavor.

Izuku tensed at his mere presence, remembering their last encounter. He was so very tall, towering over her like a flaming monolith. The girl shrank timidly when he scrutinized her with a careful eye, eventually sitting down opposite her. Hound Dog entered the room soon after, furious at the intrusion.

“Sir, you can’t just—”

“I can and I will. By the power vested in me as the Number Two Hero by the Hero Association, it is my duty to respond to any and all threats to our society.” Endeavor growled, barely even giving the teacher a backwards glance. “Leave us, lapdog.”

“You—”

“Before I do something that we’ll both regret.”

Hound Dog fumed but was forced to comply, the door closing with a click behind him. Endeavor turned back to Izuku, who swallowed her terror and tried to remain calm. She could feel the temperature of the room subtly rising, unsure of whether it was some sort of intimidation tactic.

“Don’t be scared of him.” Toga growled. “His flames are nothing compared to Mustard’s.”

Izuku steeled herself, letting Toga’s words sink in. She was right. Mustard was a hundred times scarier than Endeavor. She could do this.

“Girl.” Endeavor boomed. "Mikumo Akatani."

“That’s me.” Izuku said in a small voice.

“I’m offering you a deal.” Endeavor continued. “The way I see it, you’re in deep shit right now. The moment you leave U.A’s grounds a metric ton of lawsuits are going to fall right on your head. People aren’t just going to let this go.”

“He’s just trying to intimidate you.” Toga hissed. “Don’t listen to him, Izuku. We have more power in our pinky finger than he does in his entire body.”

“I have the power to help you out of this situation.” Endeavor rumbled. “With my money and connections, I will be able to provide you with the best lawyers money can buy. We’ll be able to sweep each and every one of your crimes under the rug, and all will be forgiven before you even know it. You’ll be able to put all of this behind you.”

Izuku remained skeptical. She was naive, but she wasn’t born yesterday.

“What’s the catch?”

Endeavor pulled out his phone, tapping on it before flipping it over to show her the screen. On it was the picture of a teenager her age with two-toned hair that split right down the middle, the left side of his handsome face marred with a burn scar.

“This is my son, Shoto.” Endeavor said.

“Um…” Izuku blinked. “Okay?”

“I’d like you to get together with him.”

A full three seconds of silence passed before anyone spoke. It was Toga that broke the silence with a guffaw, holding a hand to her stomach and roaring with laughter soon after.

“Oh, this is rich!” Toga laughed. “Pretty boy can’t get a date so he has to get his daddy to do it for him? How pathetic is that?”

“Oh, you want me to be friends with him?” Izuku said, completely oblivious and painfully innocent. “I can do that.”

Toga laughed even harder.

“No, I…” Even Endeavor looked stumped for a second before refocusing. “I want you to marry him.”

Izuku froze, Toga’s raucous laughter ringing in her ears like a bell. The insanity of it all gave her pause until she found her wits.

“W-w-what? Me and him, together?” Izuku stammered, cheeks burning bright red. “But that would mean…”

“Yes. An Arranged Marriage.” Endeavor stated.

“Well, well, well.” Toga said. “What do we have here? A way out. Pretty-boy ain’t too bad of a looker, either… But I was never one to take the free lunch. Never take the free lunch.”

“But why?” Izuku asked, looking directly at Endeavor.

The man looked as if he was deciding whether to tell her the truth before ultimately doing so, revealing his intentions.

“To create something that surpasses All Might and beyond.” Endeavor said softly. “For too long has All Might stood at the pinnacle of Hero Society. I made Shoto to carry on my legacy, chose a wife with a Quirk that paired with mine would create something to go beyond All Might. With a union between you and Shoto, we could create something that would not just be Japan’s number one, but the world’s.”

He wasn’t just talking about an Arranged Marriage, but a Quirk Marriage.

“There it is.” Toga stopped laughing as Izuku’s feelings of disgust and horror flowed across their shared mind. “There it fucking is.”

“My dream was to go beyond All Might.” Endeavor admitted. “With you and Shoto, we can go beyond that. You, girl, are a being of infinite potential. It would be a waste for you to end up with that Quirkless lout.”

The words crept across Izuku's brain like a wave of frost, freezing her in place. Beside her Toga stiffened, twitching.

“What?” Izuku asked carefully.

“A waste. A child between you and your current, well, ex-boyfriend would be a complete waste of your genetic potential. Your Quirk is one of immeasurable power, so it’s mind-boggling to even think of you ending up with someone Quirkless. The mere thought of your child becoming Quirkless when you’ve got such power is frankly, appalling.” Endeavor continued unabashedly. “I assure you, Shoto has one of the most powerful Quirks in Japan. A child between the two of you would be…”

Izuku wasn’t listening anymore, a new feeling crawling up her back and pressing against her temples like a tightening vicegrip. She saw red, barely even able to hold back the burning rage that thrummed within both her and Toga. The two girls unknowingly began to synchronize, united in their shared fury and disgust.

This was the Number Two Hero. A hero that people looked up to. If this was the standard of heroes in modern society… then she wanted no part of it.

“You’re all so selfish.” Izuku and Toga said together.

“What did you say?” Endeavor asked.

Izuku looked up at him, her anger having reached a boiling point before stilling to an absolute calm. A point between rage and serenity.

“Fuck this shit.” Izuku said in two voices, both hers and Toga’s. She pointed at the wall to her right casually. “Love-love beam.”

Lightning erupted from her index finger in a torrent of green, blasting the reinforced wall open. Heavy Titanium-A panels peeled open like a banana, the force of the otherworldly lightning shearing the armored layers of the school away until it reached the outside world. The explosions threw Endeavor right on his ass, multiple alarms blaring throughout the entire school. Izuku stood slowly, gently pushing out the chair behind her. Multiple teachers barged into the room, faces etched with shock as they made the realization that she didn’t have to change into her Magical Girl form to have access to her powers.

Izuku demonstrated just how outmatched they were by snapping off her heavy-duty cuffs as if it was a piece of frayed string.

“Mikumo-chan, stop!” Midnight cried out. “What are you—what did he…”

“You’re making a mistake, girl.” Endeavor said, getting up. “You’re being too emotional. Just calm down, and stop being irrational—”

“Silence.” Izuku ordered. Coiling ribbons of light surrounded her form and she was Miracle again, a miniature whirlwind of Glitter pushing the teachers back. “I’ve had enough. This was a waste of my time.”

Aizawa stepped forward, only to be met with a look of betrayal from Miracle. Her heartbroken expression caused him to pause.

“Are you going to hurt me again, Mr. Aizawa?”

The teacher clenched his teeth and said nothing, but he didn’t activate his Quirk either. Izuku looked away sadly before addressing the others in the room.

“I’m sorry, Miss Midnight.” Izuku sniffed, gesturing around at U.A. “But I don’t belong here. I never did. And now, I don’t want to be.”

“Mikumo-chan, please.” Midnight begged, holding out a hand. “Calm down. I don’t know what he said, but we can make it better. Let’s just talk things out.”

“I—” Endeavor began.

“Shut it!” Midnight snapped before turning to Izuku again. “I’m begging you, Mikumo-chan. Don’t do this. If you do, we can’t guarantee you our protection anymore.”

“What makes you think I need any protection?” Izuku said, Toga’s voice slipping in for a moment. “I was doing just fine until the heroes ambushed me. With a dirty trick, too.”

“It was for your own good!” Midnight tried. Behind her Toshinori tensed, but didn't transform into All Might for some reason.

“Who decided that?” Izuku asked. “The same people who shot at me?”

“It was either the heroes, or the military.” Midnight said. “The higher-ups were convinced that you’re just a kid who has no idea what she’s doing. Don’t prove them right.”

“Yeah? Well I know this; everyone keeps trying to tell me what I can and can’t do.” Izuku said, hands curling into tight fists. “Nah. Imma do my own thing.”

Izuku floated into the air, preparing to make her exit. Just before she did she turned to face them one last time, tiny streaks of gold and emerald lightning branching atop her Glitter particles in a stunning lightshow.

“Screw you guys, I’m going home!” Izuku yelled.

She rocketed away through the breach in U.A, leaving the stunned faculty behind her. A contrail marked her flight path before a thunderous boom disrupted it, the Magical Girl going supersonic before U.A’s auto-turrets could even register her. The sky was beginning to light up with crisscrossing lines of electricity, the heroes attempting to cage her again.

Izuku refused to be a caged bird. Not now, not ever. She wished to soar, and the slithering voice of her Quirk echoed within her mind.

"What is thy wish, o wielder mine?" Transform asked.

"I want wings." Izuku answered.

Dozens of eyes opened up between slits in reality and congregated on Izuku's back, forming a set of eerie, eldritch wings. They hurtled forward and shattered the lightning cage, defying conventional physics and seeming to carve at space itself. Izuku made her escape into the upper atmosphere, the wings fading away once they served their purpose.

A stunned silence fell over the group of adults back at U.A, most of them still in utter disbelief.

“That could have gone better, wan.” Hound Dog said.

Midnight marched over to Endeavor, confronting a man almost twice her size. She was absolutely furious, shaking with anger at what she assumed was all his fault.

“What did you say to her?” she demanded. “What did you do?!”

“She overreacted.”

“Overreacted?!”

“She’s a teenager with too much power, so it was inevitable. I’ve seen something similar from Shoto.” Endeavor shrugged off the blame, letting Midnight’s anger roll off him like water off a duck’s back. “The brat will be back soon enough when she gets tired of fooling around. Seen, not heard…”

Midnight had to physically hold herself back from slapping him. The absolute gall of this man, the shit he got away with just because he was the number two hero… it infuriated her. This wasn’t fair. Now she had an inkling of how Mikumo felt.

“This is why I’ve always hated you, Enji.” Midnight spat, venom in her voice. “You selfish, pompous ass.”

“Think whatever you like.” Endeavor grunted. “I was only offering her a way out of the mess she created.”

“Here I was, thinking you’d change after climbing to the top.” Midnight scowled. “You’re still the same old, overcompensating bastard.”

Endeavor simply ignored her stinging barbs and walked away, not giving a damn about what she thought. 

All he cared about was power.

[x]

Izuku sat on the summit of Mt. Fuji, sulking.

She was currently building a small pyramid of rocks, biding her time and thinking of what to do. Even if Nighteye did promise that he wasn’t going to hurt ‘Midoriya Izuku’ and by extension Inko, she was still a little afraid of going back home. Right, she also had to apologize to him after what Toga did.

The vestige went silent at her request earlier, taking a break and falling into slumber. Izuku sighed when her rock pyramid collapsed, restarting the building process all over again. 

She would still respond to Angel appearances. That much she could do. Villain attacks on the other hand, might be best left for the heroes to deal with. Maybe? She honestly wasn’t sure. If her intervention resulted in innocent people being saved, she was more than willing to help. The problem here was the heroes.

Izuku worked to be the ideal image of a hero she’d known since her youth, someone who saved others and protected people from danger. Whether it be an evil villain, a collapsing building, or a raging river, she would always lend a hand. That was just the kind of person she was.

Japanese society valued conformity, so anything out of the norm was seen to be wrong and unnatural. If so, didn’t that already mean that Izuku was already an outcast? Then it didn’t matter. She could just keep doing her own thing.

Then there was the knowledge that someone out there could give Quirks to others. She supposed such an individual would be invaluable to the HPSC and every nation, so it did explain their desperation if they really thought she was connected to him or her. Someone with the power to give others Quirks… it was way too similar to the incident on the bridge.

Maybe this person did have ties to her after all. But where would she even begin to look? Was he connected to the mysterious ‘lab’ Toga mentioned?

Izuku groaned, rubbing her temples. Being a Magical Girl was tough.

A gurgle caught her attention and Izuku looked up to find Pinky hovering above her, the blob of pink slime floating down into her arms.

“Oh!” Izuku exclaimed, delighted to see him. “Pinky!”

The Slime Angel let out another gurgle, nuzzling against her lovingly. Izuku hugged him back, rubbing her cheek against his soft, springy surface. Hugging others was nice. She made a mental note to do it more often.

“Sorry you had to fly all this way.” Izuku mumbled. “Thank you for coming to see me.”

Pinky said nothing, simply opting to let her hold him. Izuku lay down in the snow, holding the slime against her like a pillow. 

“I’m just gonna… take a break.” Izuku yawned, starting to doze off after the chaos of the entire day. “You’re my only friend, Pinky…”

She soon fell asleep under the stars, still hugging her slimy pet. He hugged her back, comforting her in the only way he knew how. Together they slumbered, Izuku’s stress temporarily forgotten as the slime munched away at her fears and worries. 

Thousands of miles away a pink-skinned schoolgirl awoke with gasp, having dreamt of cuddling with a certain emerald Magical Girl. Ashido Mina stared down at her own hands before feeling around her face, stunned by an odd sense of disorientation. 

“What. The. Fuck.” Mina whispered.

[x]

Saiko Intelli scrolled through her phone, rather amused at all the chaos that was happening on the web. Only a day ago Magical Girl Miracle was captured, interrogated, and escaped from the heroes’ clutches. To make things worse for the heroes, someone hacked into the Hero Association’s servers and retrieved the interrogation footage, uploading it raw and uncut for all to see. 

The resulting fallout was catastrophic. Though U.A staff was courteous and polite, the information that Miracle provided left all of Japanese society stunned. Her comment about Angels being children sparked what looked like the rise of a cult that worshiped them, calling them ‘God’s messengers’, ‘Cherubs’, and ‘Children of God’. Miracle herself was seen as a messianic figure, a prophet to usher in the coming of a new age.

Saiko snorted, wondering why anyone would even believe in that tripe. ‘We can make a religion out of this!’. Of course, it was all grifters who were either after power or money. Mostly the latter. Either way, she watched many fools part ways with their money.

The fact that Miracle actually was a minor sent ripples throughout the community. Many still believed she was just a short woman cosplaying as a younger Magical Girl until they watched the interrogation footage, which made it clear that she was still a kid. Her innocence and naivety only added to the image of a 'Lamb of God’. 

It was balanced by her supposed relationship with one Midoriya Izuku, a Quirkless boy of no renown. This little tidbit was what set social media on fire, and within mere minutes of the footage leaking the names ‘Midoriya Izuku’ and ‘Mikumo Akatani’ were trending worldwide. The fact that a girl with such a powerful Quirk was dating someone with no Quirk at all was seen to be taboo, and many found it abhorrent and unnatural. Some even claimed that Mikumo’s ‘sweet and pure’ image was tainted by the fact that she had a boyfriend. The truth that he was Quirkless sent many reeling in shock, the comments sections filled with phrases like ‘It should have been me’ and ‘what does he have that I don’t’. People struggled to comprehend how a Quirkless nobody landed such a catch, even if he was supposedly unaware of Mikumo moonlighting as a Magical Girl. They called the poor girl a ‘blood-traitor’, a ‘dud-lover’, all sorts of horrendous names and slurs. As if being in a relationship with a Quirkless person was some sort of cardinal sin, like Quirkless people were inferior just because they didn’t have a Quirk.

Surprisingly both Mikumo and Midoriya were ghosts on the net, having no social media presence at all. It confused everyone, since what kind of teenagers didn’t have social media?

That was when the shitstorm intensified. It was revealed by Midoriya’s schoolmates that he was bullied by his own class relentlessly due to his Quirkless status. Many came to his defense, claiming that they would have helped him if not for one reason or the other, bla bla bla. Saiko rolled her eyes. Clout chasers, all of them. The only silver lining was that his school, Aldera, was destroyed in Mustard’s massacre.

A civil war soon erupted on social media, with some defending the two teens while others condemned them. Since Midoriya had no social media accounts the public directed their hate and jealousy at Quirkless support groups instead, vile insults and curses thrown at people who had nothing to do with the situation at all. Many others defended them, but hate always spoke louder than love. A myriad of discussions soon erupted across the internet about whether Quirkless people should be segregated into their own communities to avoid tainting the gene pool, whether they should even be called human, that they were less than human, all sorts of horrible Quirkist ideas coming out of the woodwork from people hiding behind their keyboards. The actual Quirkless suffered, now shunned even more because one of their kind dared to love someone ‘above’ them.

Saiko just watched it all burn, not in the least surprised by their awful behavior. 

Then there was Endeavor. Saiko had literally said the words, ‘why, you stupid bastard’ out loud when she watched the footage. Why in the world did he think it was a good idea to arrange a goddamn Quirk Marriage between his son and Mikumo, Saiko would never know. Then he had the gall to insult her boyfriend and all Quirkless people, right to her face. Saiko would applaud his audacity if it wasn’t so comically Quirkist. 

To no one’s surprise, it pissed Miracle off. She proceeded to showcase one of her hidden abilities; that she didn’t have to turn into a Magical Girl to use her powers. In other words, she could have escaped U.A any time she wanted.

Some people were enraged at Endeavor’s actions and how they caused the loss of a potentially overpowered hero, while others decided to find humor in the absurdity. The memes were already out, with many making fun of Endeavor. Worse still, they made fun of his son. Poor Todoroki Shoto. He didn’t deserve that.

However, Saiko did have to admit that the badly drawn meme of ‘The Virgin Dual-Quirked Trust Fund Baby vs The Chad Quirkless Lad’ was pretty fuckin’ hilarious. She saved it to share with Mei later.

Finally, there was a conspiracy theory going around that Mikumo/Miracle was All Might’s illegitimate love child. It was purely based on the fact that both Mikumo and All Might had blonde hair, which basically amounted to nothing. Still, it made Endeavor’s actions look even worse. Rumors of his supposed manic obsession with All Might were spreading, and it was getting real ugly.

Saiko scrolled a bit more before deciding the fun was over. She had enough information to work with and if the data was accurate, sweet, pure Mikumo-chan was hiding a dirty little secret.

The agent picked up a photo of Midoriya Izuku, then compared it to two other photos of Mikumo Akatani and Miracle before putting them all in the same folder titled ‘Weapon M’.

“I found you.” Saiko smiled. “Magical Girl Miracle.”

[Chapter 13 End]

Midoriya Izuku:

Strongest fourteen-year-old in the world, S-class metahuman, bulletproof, fireproof, lightning hands, can talk to Quirks, capable of hypersonic and space flight, still can't get a girlfriend.

Also Izuku: