The Architect Of Time's First On-Screen Fight

[This chapter might be a bit annoying but don't worry, I will make sure Izuku gets a lot of aura in the future.]

I walked down the familiar streets toward Aldera Junior High.

It had been ten years since that day—since I first heard Chronos' voice, since time itself had stopped at my will.

A decade of secrecy.

A decade of training in silence.

I wasn't the same powerless, quirkless boy I used to be.

I had learned—little by little—how to control my authority over time. It wasn't perfect. I couldn't use it for long without feeling exhausted, and sometimes, time would stutter on its own if my emotions got too strong. But compared to back then? I was stronger.

But no one knew.

Not my mother. Not my teachers. Not even Kacchan.

Especially not Kacchan.

I sighed, gripping my bag strap as I stepped through the school gates.

My life hadn't changed much on the outside. To everyone else, I was still 'Deku,' still the same quirkless loser who admired heroes from afar. And I let them believe that.

Because if they knew the truth—if they knew what I was truly capable of—what would they do?

What would he do?

I shook the thought away as I entered the classroom.

"Morning, nerd."

I flinched, barely dodging the explosive hand that ruffled my hair before shoving me into my seat.

"Kacchan..." I sighed, already feeling the heat from his quirk.

Bakugo sat down with his usual smirk, but his eyes flickered over me like he was searching for something. He had been like this for years—watching me, trying to figure me out.

Because he knew.

Not the full truth, but something.

Ever since that day, he knew I wasn't normal.

And that terrified him.

"So, you still sticking to that dumb dream, huh?" he sneered, propping his feet on his desk.

I stiffened, my hands curling into fists.

"Of course," I muttered.

His smirk twitched. "Tch. Whatever."

He turned away, but I caught the slight tension in his jaw.

He knew I wasn't giving up. And deep down, that pissed him off more than anything. I wasn't hiding my power without reason, I was saving it for the U.A.

Back then, Chronos suggested me something, he told me that with the sheer amount of power I have, I might be in danger due to 'some individuals', who are they? I don't know.

The tension between me and Kacchan had never faded over the years. He still treated me like the quirkless loser he had always known, but there was a difference now—a hesitation in his actions, a question in his glare. He didn't know what, but he knew something had changed.

I wasn't worried about him.

I was worried about what would happen when the world found out.

When I let them see what I truly was.

Suddenly, the teacher barged in, excited for some reason, is he aut-? Never mind, that was rude. 

The class fell into a hushed murmur as our homeroom teacher strolled in, his face practically glowing with excitement. I barely had time to brace myself before he threw his arms up dramatically.

"Alright, class! Third year is almost over, and it's time to think about your future!" His grin widened. "I would pass out career surveys, but… I know what you all want to do!"

A wave of energy rippled through the room. Some students cheered, others pumped their fists in the air. We all knew where this was going.

"You're all aiming for the hero course, aren't you?"

Papers and notebooks flew into the air as my classmates roared in agreement.

I smiled to myself. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

"Oi, teach, don't lump me in with these extras," Bakugo scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm the only one here with a real shot at U.A."

The class groaned, but no one argued.

U.A. High was the best hero school in the country, and its entrance exam was no joke. Only the best of the best got in.

I felt my fingers twitch.

I was going to get in too.

"And let's see… Oh, Midoriya! You're aiming for U.A. as well?" the teacher said, glancing at his sheet.

The room went silent.

Then—

Laughter.

Loud, mocking, cruel.

"Deku?! U.A.? No way!"

"He's quirkless! How's he gonna pass the entrance exam?"

"Maybe they have a time-wasting category?"

I felt my chest tighten, but I kept my expression neutral. This wasn't new.

"SHUT UP!" Bakugo shouted. "You damn extras, Deku's probably better quirkless than some of you with quirks, I'm talking about you, Kazama, you and your 'nose-lengthening' quirk, it sucks ass."

The class erupted into laughter again, but this time, it wasn't at me.

Kazama turned red with embarrassment, his elongated nose twitching as he tried to come up with a retort. "Screw you, Bakugo!" he yelled, but it didn't have much weight. Even the teacher had to stifle a chuckle.

I blinked, a little stunned.

Bakugo… defended me?

No. That wasn't it.

This wasn't about me. This was about him keeping his superiority over the class.

Still, I couldn't ignore the fact that he had acknowledged me—acknowledged that I wasn't weak.

I glanced at him, but he wasn't looking at me. His arms were crossed, his usual scowl in place, but his hands… they were twitching.

He was frustrated.

Why?

I already knew the answer.

Because no matter how much he called me "Deku," no matter how much he tried to convince himself I was still beneath him…

A part of him didn't believe it anymore.

And that scared him.

"Tch. Whatever," Bakugo muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Not like it matters. Deku's got no chance."

*Snap* 

Now, it is the end of the day,

The final bell rang, echoing through the halls of Aldera Junior High. Students rushed out of the classroom, eager to leave, their chatter filling the air.

I took my time packing my things, moving with a deliberate slowness. I wasn't in a hurry.

"Oi, nerd."

I sighed before even turning around. "What is it, Kacchan?"

Bakugo stood by my desk, arms crossed, his usual scowl in place. But his crimson eyes weren't burning with anger. No, it was something else.

Something like... frustration.

"You serious about this?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.

I met his gaze. "About what?"

"Tch, don't play dumb," he spat, but there was no heat behind it. "You're really gonna try for U.A.?"

I should've expected this. He was still trying to wrap his head around it. Around me.

I zipped up my bag and threw it over my shoulder. "Yeah. I am."

Bakugo's hands twitched, tiny sparks crackling at his fingertips. "You know you won't make it."

"You don't know that," I replied, my voice steady.

He clicked his tongue. "Whatever, Deku. Just don't come crying to me when you fail."

With that, he left, not saying a word. 

I watched as Bakugo disappeared through the doorway, his steps heavier than usual. He was mad—no, frustrated. Not because he thought I was weak, but because he couldn't understand me anymore.

That made two of us.

With a deep breath, I adjusted my bag and stepped out into the quiet halls of Aldera. The usual walk home stretched before me, familiar yet distant in my mind. My thoughts drifted, lingering on the words of Chronos from all those years ago.

"Some individuals may come for you, Izuku. Your power is beyond mortal comprehension. Use it wisely, and hide it well."

I had listened.

For ten years, I had lived in the shadow of my own potential, pretending to be nothing but an ordinary, quirkless boy. But soon… that would change.

As I turned a corner, my footstep faltered.

The air felt… wrong.

A ripple, a distortion, something unnatural wove through the atmosphere. The world around me was still moving—cars passed, people walked—but to me, time itself had shifted.

I knew this feeling.

Someone was watching.

I tensed, subtly scanning my surroundings. Nothing seemed out of place, but my senses screamed otherwise. The faintest trace of something else laced the air, a presence just beyond my perception.

I forced myself to walk on, keeping my breathing even.

If they wanted to come for me now, they wouldn't find an easy target.

Not anymore.

I reached the entrance to the tunnel I passed every day. The dim underpass stretched ahead, a shortcut home I had walked a thousand times. Today, though, I hesitated. I was very skeptical, so I focused as I activated my powers, trying to peak into the future.

I gasped, pulling myself back to the present as a cold sweat formed on my brow. My breaths came faster, heart pounding against my ribs. Whatever was waiting for me in that tunnel... it wasn't ordinary.

Someone was there.

Someone who shouldn't be.

I clenched my fists, steadying myself. Running wasn't an option. If they were after me, they'd find me eventually. And if I turned away now, it would only confirm their suspicions.

I took a breath and stepped forward.

The tunnel swallowed me in its dim, artificial glow, the distant hum of the city muffled by the enclosed space. My footsteps echoed, the sound bouncing off the concrete walls.

Then—halfway through—I stopped.

The air had thickened.

It was here.

"Well, well... what do we have here?"

I turned slowly.

The Sludge Villain.

I had seen him in the news before—small-time criminal, but dangerous nonetheless. He had no solid form, no real weakness, able to smother and suffocate anyone who got too close.

"You're alone, huh? Lucky me."

It lunged.

Time froze.

Not just metaphorically—literally.

The villain's body halted mid-motion, its tendrils suspended like twisted sculptures in the air. The sound of the city dimmed into silence, the world itself locking into place.

My heart was steady.

I wasn't the same helpless child from before.

I stepped forward, weaving between the frozen tendrils with ease. The villain, stuck in time, remained unaware.

My fingers twitched.

I could end this right now—crush him in an instant, trap him in a moment he could never escape from.

But no need to go so far as in exactly 4.23 seconds, All Might was gonna make an appearance.

I exhaled, steadying my pulse as I moved. Four seconds. That was all I had before All Might arrived.

I shifted my stance, eyes locked onto the Sludge Villain's frozen form. [Time only stopped for the sludge.]

One second.

I reached forward, brushing my fingertips against the sludge, forcing time to constrict around it. The once-fluid mass became stiff, like a gelatinous statue.

Two seconds.

The villain's eyes darted wildly. He could see. He could think. But he couldn't move. His expression twisted in confusion and panic.

Three seconds.

I curled my fingers into a fist. "You picked the wrong target," I muttered, applying pressure. The space around him contracted, forcing his body to shrink inward, compacting like he was being crushed by an invisible force.

Four seconds.

A powerful gust of wind roared from behind.

"HAHAHA! HAVE NO FEAR—FOR I AM HERE!"

I blinked, and in that instant, I let go. Time resumed. The villain barely had time to react before a massive, muscular fist slammed into him, sending him splattering against the tunnel walls.

All Might landed with a thud, grinning as he dusted off his hands. "Well, that takes care of—" He paused, glancing at me.

I straightened up, brushing off my uniform. My heart was calm. My breathing steady.

All Might narrowed his eyes. "Young man... were you just—?"

I smiled. "Oh, uh… nope! Just standing here."

The Number One Hero stared for a moment, then let out a booming laugh. "HAHA! WELL, GOOD THING I SHOWED UP WHEN I DID!"

"Yeah!" I chuckled nervously. I stopped time again as I quickly pulled out my notebook and pen. Resume. "All Might! I'm your biggest fan, can you please sign this notebook?"

His smile brightened, and he took the notebook with his signature enthusiasm. "OF COURSE, YOUNG MAN!" He scribbled his autograph with a dramatic flourish before handing it back.

As All Might handed back my notebook, his grin faltered slightly. His gaze lingered on the cover.

"Hmm?" He tilted his head. "Midoriya Izuku… 'A Hero's Analysis #13'?"

My stomach dropped.

"Ah—uh—y-yeah!" I stammered, trying to keep my cool. "I-I've been studying heroes since I was little! Y-you're my favorite, All Might!"

His grin returned, but his eyes held a sharpness now. "Dedicated, huh? That's good, young Midoriya!"

Crisis averted… for now.

I couldn't help but smile. Even if this was just an act, this moment still felt… special.

"Thank you so much!" I said, bowing slightly.

"HAHA! ALWAYS GLAD TO INSPIRE THE YOUTH!" He gave me a thumbs-up, but his gaze lingered on me for a moment too long.

I felt a flicker of unease. Did he notice something?

I needed to leave before he got suspicious.

"Well, I should get going! Thanks again, All Might!" I turned on my heel, ready to walk away.

But the second I moved—

WHOOSH!

A gust of wind. A powerful grip.

Before I could react, All Might grabbed my shoulder.

"Now, now, young man!" he said cheerfully, his grip like iron. "I still have some questions for you!"

Damn it.

My heart skipped a beat. This wasn't supposed to happen.

My mind raced through my options, but before I could act—All Might leaped.

The world blurred around me. The buildings, the streets, everything became a streak of color as we soared through the air at incredible speeds. The sheer force of his jump left my stomach in knots.

I had no choice but to let him carry me. I couldn't risk exposing my abilities now.

Within seconds, we landed on the rooftop of a tall building. The wind rushed past me as I staggered slightly, catching my balance.

All Might, still smiling, turned to face me. But this time, his gaze wasn't just heroic enthusiasm.

It was sharp.

"You know, young man," he began, placing his hands on his hips, "most people would be a bit more shaken up after being attacked by a villain."

I stiffened.

"I mean," he continued, tilting his head slightly, "you didn't even flinch when I showed up. And that Sludge Villain—he looked… off. Like something held him in place for a moment."

His eyes locked onto mine.

"Tell me, Midoriya-shonen… What exactly happened down there?"

I kept my face neutral. My mind raced for an excuse.

This was bad.

I had been careful. Careful for ten years.

But even the slightest mistake was enough to make a man like All Might suspicious.

I forced a nervous chuckle. "Uh… I-I guess I was just in shock? Everything happened so fast, I didn't really process it!"

All Might didn't reply right away. He just watched me. Studying me.

For a brief second, I felt an overwhelming weight—like his presence alone could crush me.

Then, suddenly—

PSHT

Smoke exploded from his body.

I instinctively stepped back as the towering Symbol of Peace… shrank.

The muscular, confident hero was gone. In his place stood a thin, skeletal man with deep sunken eyes, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"...Huh?" I blinked.

This… wasn't right.