Numb (Linkin Park)

Inko's face fell. She wasn't angry or upset, just disappointed. She knew this was going to happen, or expected it. Still, there was a steel in her eyes as she looked back at Izu and I, a warm smile on her face.

"Alright boys. I think it's time to settle down for a nap. Go wash up and lay down. If you're good, I'll have katsudon ready when you wake up." She looked like she was about to break down.

"Okay mommy." Izuku murmured.

"Alright mommy." I spoke. Izuku was still holding my hand, so I just guided the nearly catatonic boy down the hallway. On the way I saw a wall of photos, the vast majority of which starred two boys. One was easily Izuku, that smile on his face and those bright green eyes unmistakable.

The other was a boy the same age as Izuku, probably his twin. He had green eyes too, but a darker shade, more akin to an evergreen. He had straight black hair that covered one of his eyes, and a sheepish half smile. Akatani. Me.

At the center of the collage was a family photo, taken when Izuku and Akatani were just babies. Hisashi looked unassuming—mousy, with long dark hair and thick-rimmed glasses. He was tall but lanky, swallowed by an oversized flannel jacket and worn jeans. Inko and Hisashi sat on a park bench, caught mid-laughter, like they'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. Inko held Izuku in her arms, his tiny form slumbering peacefully in her arms. Hisaishi held Akatani in his arms, the baby's tiny hands yanking on his hair.

Hisashi had so much love in his eyes.

And now he was gone.

But I'm here.

So I led Izuku into the first room on the left, the bathroom. He just stood there as I wiped his face down with a washcloth, and numbly took the offered toothbrush.

I started working on myself, some unpleasant crust on my face and some light stains on my arms, the usual dirty kid stuff.

After Izu and I finished our washing up, I led him to our bedroom. It was a small room, split in two. The left half had All Might posters and figurines all over it, the bedsheets were a yellow and blue affair, themed after the pro hero.

The other half, to my dismay, was Endeavor themed. There were posters, an Endeavor bookshelf, even an Endeavor bedspread.

Izu limply walked over to his twin sized mattress and curled up under the covers. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, leaving me there standing alone.

I took a deep breath, the shuddering exhale racking my small body.

Okay. I thought. Izu is asleep, Inko is preoccupied. I can freak out now.

I collapsed onto my new bed, the familiar scent of detergent and the softness of the covers clashing violently with the chaos in my mind. My body recognized this place. I didn't.

I buried my face into my pillow.

And screamed.

Hard.

WHAT THE FUUUUCKKKKK.

I lay there, breathless, my chest heaving against the mattress. Unmoving. Unthinking.

No. I know what happened.

It was that fucking gateway. But what WAS it? Why bring me here?

To My Hero Academia??

*Ding*

What was that? Can't you see I'm freaking…. out…. here…. My thoughts petered off as I raised my head to see a panel staring back at me. It read-

Why do YOU think you're here, Daniel Jones?

My stomach dropped.

How could I POSSIBLY know that???? I internally raged.

*Ding* A new panel layered over the first one.

C'mon Daniel. You don't remember the little challenge you made? Right before you died?

What do you mean, 'Challenge'? I was just talking with my friends, the only think I can think of is talking about Deku- oh fuck.

Got it in one! You said you could do it better, right? Then do it. Besides, you got nothing better to do. Of course, I could always just send you back to the void~

NO! Please no! Not that endless hell. Never again. I'll play your game.

Oh. I didn't know Lumi's realm was that bad. I'm sorry. Look dude, I took an interest in your soul and wanted to give you a little challenge. You'll even be getting system out of it. Not all bad, eh?

I took a breath. This entity, whoever it is, didn't seem to be a bad person, per-se, but they definitely weren't someone I should fuck with.

I accept. The taste of defeat lingering on my tongue, humiliating.

Good boy~

If text could purr, it would have.

*Ding*

Welcome to The PR System!

Name: Akatani Midoriya

Age: 4

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Stands: N/A

Skills: N/A

Alright. Name is Akatani Midoriya, Age four, all check. No skills feels insulting but okay... Alignment Chaotic Good? Understandable. Stands? Like JoJo's? This feels familiar…

Welcome to Phantom Resonance!

Hey! This is intellectual property! I reject it! I refuse! Pay me royalties!

Oh shut up, you big baby. It's a system, isn't it? Not to mention, you already know all about it. It's a free bonus~

I guess… I grumbled Doesn't mean I appreciate the copyright infringement.

You will. Eventually. My time is almost up, so I'm going to go now. Bye~

~Love, Tenebris~

Tenebris? Her name is just Latin for dark? Lame.

I groaned, rolling over on my bed, staring at the ceiling fan. The panel followed, like a gnat.

I lay there, contemplating the status panel.

Well, I now knew why I was here. Apparently, I was too cocky on the discord call. I said I'd give Izuku a strong role model, and now I'm in a prime position for that. Seems like I put my foot in my mouth, huh?

And this system… it's a spitting image of Phantom Resonance's beta screen. Back before I scrapped the alignment system and polished up the UI. I'd say… Alpha 1.3? That feels right. And that's my system now.

Hell, at this point I hadn't even developed a proper quest book yet, just random prompts and achievements. I wonder how that's going to translate.

I took a breath, finding myself drained. Not just emotionally either, apparently four year olds don't have that great of stamina.

I'll just take a nap and work things out when I wake up…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Boys! Dinner's ready!"

"Mm comin mama. Hold on." I mumbled, sitting up on my bed. I looked across the room at Izuku, just to see him staring at the ground, unblinking.

"C'mon Izu. We gotta go eat. It's kastudon, your favorite." I said, standing up and walking over to him.

The only indication he'd heard me was raising his hand, intending for me to grab it. I did.

I half-dragged the kid to the kitchen, where Inko had made Katsudon for both of us. The food smelled heavenly, with a faint fruity smell that must have come from some secret recipe.

I smiled and looked up at her. "Smells great, mama. Thank you."

"I'm glad you like it, dear." She turned towards me, a smile on her face. I could tell she'd been crying though. She had big red puffy eyes and her voice was hoarse.

I helped guide Izuku to his chair, sitting him down at the table. It was difficult, because he refused to let go of my hand, but I wasn't going to make him. I sat in the chair next to him.

I dug my chopsticks into the katsudon, which tasted even better than it smelled. It might not have actually been that good, but since it was the first thing I've eaten since purgatory, it tasted like heaven.

Dinner was a quiet affair, only the sound of the silverware hitting the plates accompanying our thoughts.

Suddenly, Inko spoke up, staring into her food the entire time.

"Boys, your father got a job overseas, in America. Apparently, he was promoted to overseeing their entire Japanese branch. Isn't that exciting?"

Izuku perked up instantly.

"Daddy's in America? Isn't that where All Might is from!?" The little boy's face gleamed, like he couldn't be happier we'd been abandoned.

"That's right baby! Daddy's in the country All Might is from!" Inko responded, sounding enthusiastic, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

I just sat there blankly as Izuku and Inko talked about America. Izuku had no idea what happened and probably wouldn't know for years. From Akatani's memories, Inko already had a steady job using her quirk as a doctor, so we wouldn't suffer from lack of income for quite a while. We already stayed at a daycare centre for most of the day, or Auntie Mitsuki's house if they were closed, or if we just didn't want to go.

Hell, most parents keep up the whole Santa Claus lie for eight to ten years, and those kids don't want to believe nearly as much as Izuku.

My chopsticks clinked against the bottom of the bowl, signifying I'd finished my dinner.

"Dinner was great, Mama. It's good to hear daddy's ok. Can I go take a bath?" I asked, just to get some time alone. Luckily, Akatani had been bathing himself for half a year at this point. I don't know if I could survive the indignity of being washed by my mother.

"Of course baby." Mama Inko replied. "Rinse your dishes first."

"Ok Mama. I love you."

"Love you too, baby."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ah man, that hit the spot. It's been such a long day. I thought as I stepped out of the shower. As I was reaching for a towel, I caught my reflection in the mirror.

A small boy looked back at me. He was scrawny, with long black hair reaching down to his shoulders. He had a stubborn fringe over his right eye, the left a deep evergreen.

This… this is me now. Dan Jones is dead. If I'm being honest with myself, he has been for a while.

I run my hands through my hair, pulling it back, free of my face. I see two sets of freckles, identical to Izuku's.

I wonder if my family cares I'm dead… Mom would be upset, but she'll move on. Damian is probably having a party right now. Especially since I named him my sole beneficiary.

I quickly got dressed in some footy pajamas, fortunately I had one that wasn't Endeavor themed.

That reminds me. If I'm here, I have to help the Todorokis. As far as I know, I only have a little longer before Touya goes apeshit. But how am I going to do anything? I'M FUCKING FOUR!

I stepped out of the bathroom to a house draped in darkness. I stare out the living room window, seeing that it's pouring rain.

Huh. Guess I took too long in the shower. Oh well, I need to go to bed anyways. Despite that nap earlier, I'm exhausted.

I turn down the hall to mine and Izuku's bedroom, only to see Mama Inko standing in the doorframe. I can hear Izuku watching Herotube videos in the room.

"Who is he? The guy's already saved 100 people, at least, and it hasn't even been ten minutes. This is… This is crazy! I can't believe it!"

I know that video. Both as Akatani and Dan. Izuku watches that video every night before bed… but this time is different.

"Look! He's got more!"

I could hear All Might's deep, rumbly laugh. "Fear not citizens. Hope has arrived. Because I am here."

There it was. The iconic line. The one that made an entire country safe. The line so impactful that it made an entire country rely on one man, to the point that when he retired the country fell with him. The one that is responsible for…

"See that, mom?" Izuku asked in a small, broken voice.

"There's always a smile on his face, no matter how bad things get." His voice was being colored by desperation.

"Even when things seem impossible, he never gives up."

Izuku turned to look at Inko, tears building in his eyes, a desperate smile on his face.

"Do you think I can be a hero, too?"

Inko started slowly walking towards him, tears streaking down her face.

I respond first.

"Of course you can Izu. You can be a hero."