Izuku walked out of the bathroom with a smile on his face. He wanted to do everything on his list, and he wanted to do it soon. Not because he was impatient, but because the very thought of remaining weak gnawed at his chest like a parasite.
He looked around at the children playing in the hallway of the preschool, some laughing as they chased each other, others crying over spilled toys or unfair games. A smirk tugged at his lips.
' They don't got a clue in world what they're doing. ' he thought, shaking his head slowly, almost pityingly.
Walking back into the small classroom, Izuku returned to his low desk and pulled out a battered green notebook with the label Hero Analysis #13 on the cover. He flipped through a few pages, filled with obsessive sketches and notes about heroes, combat styles, and Quirks. His younger self had once poured hours into this, but now...
' As useful as this is, I won't have any need for it right now. I just need to write everything I need to know about the future and how I can invest early on so I can be at least as wealthy as Momo. I'm not planning on surviving on grant money. ' he thought, reaching into his tiny backpack to pull out a pencil.
He began jotting down fragments of what he could still remember—emerging tech companies, early Quirk support gear manufacturers, and certain incidents that would become major turning points in hero society.
At that very moment, Izuku was just 4 years old. His limbs were small, his voice still squeaky when he spoke out loud, and yet his mind held memories far beyond this age. He hadn't had his Quirk evaluated yet. From what his memories told him, that would happen in about three months. Not that he was looking forward to it.
' Wait… am I going to become Kryptonian or just get Superman's powers? ' he wondered, biting the back of his pencil.
Suddenly, a calm, unfamiliar voice echoed in his mind, smooth yet heavy like thunder wrapped in velvet:
[ You will become Kryptonian. No human can survive from gaining his powers. Which is why when you receive 1%, I would recommend you go somewhere far, so nobody can hear you scream in agony. ]
His eyes widened slightly. The classroom around him, once filled with the sound of scribbling crayons and cheerful hums, now seemed distant. The words sank into his chest like a cold stone into water.
' Damn. Then again, no pain, no gain… literally. ' he thought with a nervous chuckle, though goosebumps crawled up his arms.
He closed the notebook. It suddenly felt heavier in his hands.
The path ahead was going to hurt—bad. But for once in his life, he wasn't afraid. He was preparing for greatness. Even if it broke him first.
He continued scribbling in his notebook, each word etched with precision and urgency. Every major event he could recall from the next few years—USJ, Kamino, the Rise of the League, Nighteye's death, the Public Safety shifts—was documented with grim clarity. He noted every agency that rose to prominence, every hero worth investing in, every piece of information that could give him a head start.
Stock trends, development companies tied to hero support tech, and even small-time firms that would boom after certain disasters—he was building a roadmap not just to survive, but to dominate.
After filling in the last bullet point, he closed the notebook with a small sigh of satisfaction, placing it neatly into his schoolbag. His mind, however, wandered elsewhere—specifically to the persona he'd need to maintain when he got home.
' Man she was bad. Sadly, I'm really into incest. Though Bakugo's mom isn't exactly safe from that either. ' he thought with a mischievous smirk stretching across his childlike face.
A few hours later…
School was out. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the pavement. His mother, Inko Midoriya, stood waiting at the gate with her usual warm smile. They walked hand-in-hand through the neighborhood, her presence comforting and familiar.
"How was school today?" she asked, swinging their arms gently.
"It was nice. I had lots of fun with Kacchan and everyone else," he said with a convincing smile.
"You look happier than usual. Did something good happen? Wait—don't tell me—did you finally get your Quirk?" she asked, eyes lighting up with hopeful curiosity.
' She really is a mother. How perceptive of her. ' Izuku thought, glancing at her with a fond, amused look.
"Umm, not really. I'd have told you if I did. I think I'm just a late bloomer. I'm sure it'll start to develop in a few months," he replied, keeping his tone optimistic.
"Let's hope so," Inko said, nodding. "Remember, your checkup is in three months. It's been two months since your birthday, and there's still no sign. That's why I booked the date for December. Maybe you just need a little more time."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm sure I'll get it before then. For now, I want to start exercising, so I'll be stronger by the time my Quirk shows up," he said with bright eyes.
Inko smiled, visibly touched. "That's a great idea! Maybe I should do the same. I think I'm starting to gain a little weight."
The two laughed as they turned the corner and reached their home. The sun was beginning to dip, casting a golden glow over the yard.
Inko went straight into the kitchen to start dinner, humming a tune as she chopped vegetables. Izuku, wasting no time, stepped into the backyard, still in his school uniform. He rolled up his sleeves and began working out. Or at least, he tried to.
Push-ups proved harder than expected.
' Freakin' flimsy-ass arms. How the hell am I supposed to do anything when I can't even manage a single push-up? I need to make weights somehow. ' he thought, collapsing onto the grass in frustration.
As he stared at the cloudless sky, an idea sparked.
' The beach… of course! That trash heap is filled with all kinds of junk. I could find scrap metal, tires, maybe even old gym equipment if I'm lucky. If not, I'll make my own. '
He grinned to himself. Tomorrow after school, he'd go there.
With his goal set, Izuku stood up and ran back inside. He made a beeline for the bathroom, stepping into the warm water of the bathtub. As the steam began to rise, he looked down at his tiny, undeveloped body.
' I miss my old body… I had a hammer between my legs. ' he thought dryly, sighing as he leaned back.
A voice echoed inside his mind again—smooth, cryptic, and almost amused:
[ You can get it back… if you complete the assignment in two weeks. ]
Izuku blinked, then chuckled.
' I guess I know what I'm doing. ' he thought, determination flickering behind his eyes like a lit match ready to ignite.
TO BE CONTINUED