Wanderer in Time

June 30, 2317. 09:38. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy Izuku lost her balance and literally crashed into the desk, hitting her arms hard. Inko and Nezu were sitting on the couch, drinking tea, while Aizawa was wrapped in a yellow sleeping bag, dozing by the wall near the door. As soon as the crash was heard, they all simultaneously stared at the younger Midoriya, who was groaning as she got up from the floor. “Izuku!” Inko immediately jumped up and started hugging her daughter. “I was so scared when you suddenly disappeared! Are you okay? Are you hurt?” “Everything's fine, Mom. I'm completely fine,” the time traveler hurried to reassure her, though everything inside was churning. A blatant lie. She was far from fine—and she knew it clearly. She couldn't believe what was happening. Less than a day had passed, and everything had drastically changed. Turned upside down. Three times in the past day. A conversation with her father. Meeting his friends. A bunch of strange secrets, half-truths. Too much to handle. The girl was trying her best to stay calm and not panic—after all, that’s part of being a hero. And yet... “Almost fifteen minutes!” Nezu proclaimed with satisfaction, clicking a timer. “Not bad for the third time! Midoriya-chan, can you tell us what year you were in this time?” “In 2297. This wing wasn’t here before, so I fell to the ground,” the girl replied, brushing off her dusty pants as her mother sighed and returned to the couch. “Yes, indeed, in 2297, the construction of this wing was only being planned,” the principal nodded affirmatively. “Did you see anyone? Or did anyone see you?” “There was only a little boy who told me what year it was. No one else. I played it safe and didn’t tell him anything about my abilities. I blamed it all on a quirk of teleportation and a side effect of temporary memory loss. We didn’t talk much—his parents called him away, and my time ran out,” Izuku briefly explained, deciding not to go into detail. It was only morning, and she was already too exhausted to tell anyone anything. “I see.” Nezu rubbed his paws together with satisfaction. “While you were gone, we started working on your problem! From today, you'll be studying and living at UA Academy!” “What?” the younger Midoriya blurted out in shock, turning her gaze to her mother. “It will be much better this way, dear,” Inko began. “You know very well that UA has a reliable security system. If you live and study here in the present, I'll be at least somewhat reassured. No villain would dare to invade hero territory. Besides, everything you need is here. Principal Nezu will personally grant you access to all historical records and ensure your safety, even in the past.” “But I can’t hide behind the academy’s walls forever. School will end, and then what? Besides, I can’t just stay on UA grounds all the time,” the girl shivered, a bit disheartened. It felt like they wanted to lock her in a golden cage and experiment on her. “You think we’re locking you up like a bird in a cage, but that’s not the case,” Nezu said, placing his tea cup back on its saucer. “You’ll be able to go about your business just like everyone else. You’ll simply be studying at the academy and living in the teachers' dormitory. And, of course, you’ll travel to a fixed date in time using the chronograph.” “Okay,” the girl replied cautiously. “I don’t fully understand what a chronograph is. And is it even here? You mentioned that my father took it with him to the past.” “The chronograph is a special machine that allows *empus vagus to travel to a fixed date for a certain period of time. Using it, you won’t have to worry about uncontrolled jumps anymore. You’ll learn the details a bit later,” Nezu explained. “And of course, it’s hidden within our walls! You brought it to UA in May 2301, along with a letter from your father, and asked us to keep it safe! You still have to do that, to close the time loop, so to speak!” “I understand,” Izuku nodded. “And what class will I be studying in at UA? And overall, can you transfer at the end of the first trimester? I’ve missed a lot.” “Don’t worry about that,” Aizawa responded from his sleeping bag. “You haven’t missed that much; you’ll be able to catch up with the problem children. And you’ll be studying in my class. A spot opened up at the beginning of this year.” “In your class? If I remember correctly, you’re the homeroom teacher of Hero Class 2-A. I don’t have a quirk. How will I study in the hero course?” the green-haired girl said dejectedly, her heart aching with memories from a year ago. “You’ll be on a special program! You’ll attend regular classes with everyone else, but your hero training will be with me! During training, you’ll travel to the past, study all the necessary materials!” Nezu rubbed his paws together with satisfaction. “But don’t say a word to your future classmates or anyone else about being *tempus vagus*! Only I, Aizawa, Recovery Girl, and Hound Dog will know! The fewer people who know, the safer it is for you!” he finished strictly. “I understand,” the girl responded seriously, then looked at her mother. “You said I’d be living in the teachers’ dormitory. Why? Is our apartment not suitable?” “I’m sorry, Izuku,” Inko lowered her head regretfully. “I wanted to tell you today. I’m being sent on a business trip to America in three days for the next six months, if not longer. I was hoping everything would work out and I could leave you here since you’re so responsible. But then all this happened, and... I decided that at the Academy, under the supervision of heroes, you’d be much safer. Even if I stayed, I probably would have sent you to live at UA anyway. I understand that so much has been thrown at you all at once. The last thing I want is to leave you, dear! But it has to be this way! Forgive me!” the woman cried, hugging her daughter tightly. “P-probably, it really is for the best,” Izuku quietly said, leaning into her mother and trying not to cry. “After all, villains are looking for people like me. Who knows what they might think of. They could kidnap you and use you for blackmail. Maybe it’s for the best that you’re leaving. This way, you’ll be safe for a while too,” she tried to convince herself. But she really didn’t want her mom to leave now. It was too hard. “We also considered that, Midoriya-chan! That’s why we’re organizing your move to the teachers’ dormitory today! I’ve already given all the necessary orders for it!” Nezu finished his tea and jumped up. “And now, we’re going to the secret archive! You need to jump using the chronograph right away so that you won’t have any uncontrolled jumps in the next couple of days! And Aizawa-san and your mother will head to your home to pack your things and move!” “Mom?” Izuku looked at her questioningly. “Go with him. The sooner you stop the jumps, the better, dear. I’ll prepare everything in the meantime,” Inko smiled, gently pushing her daughter toward the principal. Izuku had no choice but to nod stiffly and follow the small creature. Honestly, she didn’t even know what to think, what to expect. Things were happening too fast, and she was very confused. The oppressive thoughts were distracted by UA Academy. No wonder she had wanted to attend here—that’s a fact. The corridors were simply enormous, bright, and the ceilings were high. It wasn’t just a hero academy; it was a palace. It even seemed like there was a special scent in the air. Midoriya barely had time to look around, trying to remember every detail around her, sometimes muttering to herself. Pure delight played in her eyes. Nezu, watching this, only chuckled. Such a reaction was seen in everyone who saw UA for the first time. The corridor quickly changed into a basement room. The principal approached one of the walls, then entered something on a panel and scanned his paw. Izuku watched as the scanner lit up green, and then the wall moved aside, letting them in. Nezu gestured for her to enter. With her heart pounding, the girl walked into a small room that resembled a safe and froze. Right in the center, on a table, stood a strange old device that looked like a medium-sized box. Next to it was a large sports bag, containing several bulky notebooks, books, and journals. “This is all yours, Midoriya-chan!” Nezu said cheerfully, noticing her hesitation. “You brought this to us in May 2301 along with a letter from your father! You both asked Aizawa-san and me to keep it safe for your future self! As you can see, we kept our promise! It’s time to return the chronograph and your belongings to you!” “Can I take it all?” Izuku looked at the principal, who nodded vigorously. “Of course! It belongs to you from the very beginning! Your inheritance!” Iizuku approached the table and touched the machine. It was made entirely of steel, with many intricate mechanisms. A thick layer of dust covered it, indicating that no one had visited this room in many years. The machine had an ornate metal handle attached to it, and through the cloudy glass, strange vials, mysterious stones, and needles could be seen. Near the lid were gears with numbers that formed a date and time. "23.12.2003, 12:00-16:00" "Do you know what this date means?" Izuku asked, pointing to the numbers. "Most likely, this was your father's last jump to the past using the chronograph, since these numbers indicate the temporal point the *tempus vagus* wants to travel to," Nezu replied with a shrug. "If I remember correctly, a famous mechanic who built this machine, your ancestor—Benjamin Frost—lived during that time. Unfortunately, I don't know the details. You can ask your father later. For now, take everything, and let's go. We need to hurry because we don't know when your next jump might happen." Nodding, Midoriya carefully placed the chronograph into the bag with the books, sneezing from the accumulated dust. Once everything was ready, they exited the room and headed back to Aizawa's office. Why there? Because it's on the first floor, and if you're going to jump, it's best to do it from there, at least for now. On the way, they encountered some students—the bell had rung for a short break. They were passing by Class 2-A when Izuku heard explosions and a painfully familiar voice. Right. She would be studying with Bakugo now, wouldn't she? It would be interesting to see his face when he finds out. They reached Eraserhead's office without any issues. While the principal locked the door behind them, the girl took the chronograph out of the bag and placed it on the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a white envelope fall back into the bag. Right. Her father had mentioned that he left a letter she should read first. But there were two envelopes. One was signed by her father. The other one... "Is that my handwriting?" Izuku wondered, staring at the time-darkened paper. But one envelope was labeled "To the Heroes," and next to it was a sticker with a stern note: ”To be opened only by Eraserhead or Nezu! And only on November 29, 2317, exactly at 3:00 PM! Not a minute earlier or later! The temporal frame must not be violated under any circumstances! Any time loop must be closed! You’ll understand what I mean! Greetings from the future!” "Nezu-san, this letter is for you and Eraserhead," Izuku said, handing the envelope to the principal. "It says to open it on November 29, 2317, exactly at 3:00 PM. Not before and not after. The temporal frame must be maintained." "If it needs to be opened at the exact time, then everything is definitely not that simple," Nezu nodded solemnly, putting the envelope into his pocket. "I promise to read it on that specific day and hour. I'll even set a reminder." "Thank you," Midoriya smiled, curiously beginning to open her father's letter. There were only two pieces of paper inside. One was a brief set of instructions for using the chronograph. The second contained a message, which the girl began to read.

Izuku,

If you’re reading this message, it means you’ve awakened the time traveler’s gene and have already seen me in the year 2299. I’m glad you’ve finally received my chronograph with all the records. I’m attaching a brief instruction manual to help you figure it out as quickly as possible. I’ll explain everything in detail when we meet in person.

First of all, I ask you to go to April 17, 2131. Please set the chronograph to arrive at 11:00 AM and stay there for at least five hours.

I’ll be waiting for you at the gates of North Valley Park, which used to be located where UA is now. If you’re jumping directly from the academy, it will be easier for you to find me. Don’t dress too warmly—it was a rather hot day.

I look forward for our meeting, my little Izu.

Your father,

Hisashi

"Dad says in his letter to go to April 17, 2131, at 11:00 AM, for five hours, no less. He wants to tell me some details," Izuku said, looking at the principal. "Did he tell you where you'll meet?" Nezu asked. "He writes that there was a park on the site of UA back then. He’ll be waiting for me at the gates at the specified time. So, if I’m going, it should be from here," the girl shrugged and glanced at her attire. Honestly, her jeans, sneakers, and blouse would be fine. "That’s good! Now let's set up your time machine!" They tinkered with the chronograph for about five minutes. The design was quite simple. Once the lid was opened using a special finger slot, the glass inside the machine lit up with white light, indicating that it was working. Then, they set the required date and time interval on the gears. Afterward, Izuku pressed the single green button and placed her finger in the open slot. And that was it. ‘‘’17.04.2131, 11:00-16:00’ Izuku double-checked the date and, with growing anxiety, looked at Nezu again. He nodded encouragingly, assuring her that everything would be fine and there was no need to worry. Swallowing hard, the girl pressed the green button and inserted her index finger into the slot. The device quietly hummed. Suddenly, her finger was pricked to the point of drawing blood, causing Midoriya to nearly flinch. A clock-like hum filled her ears, and the light in the chronograph turned a deep emerald. The outlines of the room, the ground beneath her feet—all began to fade away. The last thing she remembered was the admiration reflected on the principal's face and the bright emerald flash...

* * *

April 17, 2131. 11:00 AM. Japan, Musutafu. North Valley Park Izuku crashed onto the stone path with a loud thud, once again bruising her knees. Unable to hold back, she cursed loudly. It seemed she would still have to learn how to land properly after time jumps. Getting to her feet, she looked around. Indeed, there used to be a park here. But since it was morning, there were hardly any people around. Her eyes quickly found the gate. Izuku approached it, but there was no one there who looked like her father. A sense of unease crept into her heart. What if he forgot? Or wouldn’t come? But contrary to her fears, within a minute, a familiar male figure appeared from around the corner. “Dad!” Midoriya exclaimed, quickly walking toward him. He immediately smiled and headed towards her. “Izuku!” Hisashi hugged his daughter tightly. “How are you? Did you figure out the chronograph?” “Yes,” she nodded. “Nezu-san helped me. I left the machine under his care.” “That’s good. Come with me. We’re expected.” He winked. “Who?” Izuku asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise, following her father to a taxi. “Right, you haven’t studied our lineage yet,” Hisashi muttered, then his green eyes gleamed mischievously. “Well, from 2106 to 2163, there lived Arista Allen-Lee, our grandmother in the fourth or fifth generation—I’m not entirely sure. Like us, she was a *tempus vagus*. In fact, she’s the one who took me in when I had no choice but to jump back in time for good. You know that story already, right?” “Very vaguely,” Izuku shook her head. “Neither Mom nor Aizawa-san nor Nezu explained much to me today. It’s hard for them to talk about it, especially Mom. She misses you.” At these words, the man flinched, and a deep sorrow reflected in his eyes. “I miss her too,” Hisashi replied quietly, opening the taxi door. “In any case, I’ll explain everything when we get there. Get in.” Izuku silently got into the back seat of the car. Her father sat in the front and, after giving the driver an address, they drove off. Midoriya watched the streets in awe—they seemed somewhat familiar yet different. Even the air felt different in this time. While her present had more high-rise buildings tightly packed together, here the buildings were shorter and more spaced out. There was more greenery on the streets, and it was sunny! In about twenty minutes, they arrived at their destination. Izuku gazed in delight at the small, light-colored two-story house surrounded by a low decorative fence. It seemed like a mix of English, Chinese, and Japanese cultures. It appeared her father was telling the truth about their family’s diverse heritage. Even in Izuku’s own appearance, the mixed features and bright green eyes were clearly evident. Making a mental note to memorize the family tree, she followed her father. “We’re here, Aunt Arista!” Hisashi called out cheerfully as they entered the spacious hallway and began taking off their shoes. “You rascal! How many times have I told you not to call me old! I’m too young for that, and you’re not much younger than me!” came a scolding voice, followed by a beautiful woman emerging from around the corner, wiping her freshly washed hands on an apron stained with something white. She was short, with black hair and Eastern European facial features. However, her large, piercing gray eyes and slight accent—possibly English or Chinese—stood out. As soon as she noticed Midoriya, she rushed to embrace her. “Izuku! I’ve been waiting so long to meet you, dear! You can’t imagine how happy I am to have guests from the future! Oh, I hope you like cherry pie! I made it especially for your visit!” “Aunt Arista, you’re scaring my daughter!” Hisashi pretended to be angry, giggling into his fist. Izuku stared in shock at the relative who was now hugging her. Then she glanced at her father, who was clearly amused by his daughter’s reaction. “Oh, I’m sorry!” The woman immediately let go of her. “I guess this rascal didn’t warn you about me,” she shot a stern look at her descendant. “No, he did mention you!” Izuku hastily reassured her, snapping out of her shock. “Well then, Hisashi, you’ll get a piece of pie this time,” Arista said, laughing. “And let me introduce myself properly. I’m Arista Allen-Lee, your great-great-many-times-great-grandmother. But since I’m only 32 now, you can just call me Aunt Arista or Aunt Ari. I’m also a *tempus vagus*, so I’m always here to help with advice or tips! Don’t hesitate to ask! Is this your second jump?” “Fourth,” Izuku replied. “It’s my first jump using the chronograph. Before that, there were three uncontrolled ones. Sorry, I only found out about my ability yesterday, and I’m still in shock. There’s been so much news in the last 24 hours, and I’m still trying to process it all.” “Four jumps in one day?!” Arista exclaimed in horror. “You must have a much stronger gift than any of us. The only one I know who could jump multiple times in one day was Astrid Frost, née Shade. And that was ages ago—in the 20th century! None of her descendants had that ability! But don’t worry, after a jump with the chronograph, you won’t have random jumps anymore.” “That’s somewhat reassuring,” Izuku smiled slightly. She definitely liked this energetic woman. “You must be hungry! Come on, you have to try my signature cherry pie! It’s a favorite at my bakery!” Aunt Arista pulled her toward the kitchen, where the heavenly aromas of fresh pastries and tea were wafting. Before Izuku knew it, Aunt Arista had seated her at the table, placed a plate with a large slice of hot cherry pie and a cup of green tea in front of her. Her father sat across from her, casting a pleading look at his predecessor. The woman chuckled and cut him a slice of pie as well. For a while, they sat in cozy silence, savoring the divine taste of the perfectly baked dessert. Midoriya even closed her eyes in pleasure—she had never tasted anything this delicious. After they finished eating and cleared the dishes, they moved to a spacious, bright living room. Izuku immediately sank into a soft armchair, Aunt Arista settled on the couch, and her father took the other armchair. “I think you should start, Hisashi. We can’t delay any longer; Izuku’s time here is limited.” Aunt Arista’s sudden seriousness made Midoriya tense up, causing her to frown and look at her somber father. “Yes, Aunt Ari. You’re right,” the man sighed. “Izuku, please take this conversation very seriously and stay alert in your own time,” the girl nodded, continuing to listen to her father. “You’ve already been told that I used the chronograph to jump through time and that I’m now bound to the past with no way to return. That era where I lived is erased for me forever. Even if I try to jump with you to the future, it won’t work. It’s a law—*tempus vagus* cannot travel to the future because it’s not predetermined. This was the last resort, but I had no other choice. For me, it was a year ago, but for you—sixteen years, no matter. So, here’s the story. It all started around the 2160s when a man was born with an extremely powerful quirk that allows its user to literally steal others’ quirks and make them his own. He’s known as All for One. As it turned out, he sought unlimited power, control over all humanity and its resources. He soon became the most dangerous villain who was almost at his goal. He only needed two more components to realize his dream. The first is his brother’s power, known as ‘One for All.’ It’s a mutation of two quirks—energy accumulation and transferring it to others via DNA. It’s an incredibly powerful thing, and in your time, it’s probably still with All Might. If that power falls into All for One’s hands, it’s game over.” Izuku froze in disbelief. Her father’s words echoed in her ears like a drum. So, there exists a quirk that can be passed on to someone else? And it’s with All Might? And when she asked him if one could become a hero without a quirk, knowing about the existence of such a power, he told her it was impossible? Her heart clenched painfully, and her lips tightened. How could this be? Why did All Might treat her so hypocritically? Shattering her dream, leaving her alone on the rooftop. She wouldn’t be alive now if that strange boy with the fire quirk hadn’t caught her when she jumped! Her mind was a whirlwind of questions. She wanted to cry, but that was a luxury she couldn’t afford. Right now, she needed to focus on what her father was saying. "The second component," Hisashi continued, "is us—the tempus vagus. All For One doesn't just want power; he wants the ability to travel through time so he can impose his own rules and order in every era. If that happens, it will be a real catastrophe. He'll permanently alter the course of events, an entire history! And one of the most important rules for time travelers is never to interfere in global events. We have no right to change the course of history, to alter it for our own benefit, or to rewrite someone else's fate. Ordinary conversations with people in the past are generally not considered a big deal. But attempting to do something that could affect an entire chain of global events ends badly. For example, if you decide to kill All For One as an infant, there's no guarantee you'd be born in the future at all. It's the butterfly effect. There's also the concept of a 'time loop.' Remember, it has to be closed. Breaking the loop can lead to unpredictable consequences and changes in your present. Here's a simple example: you write yourself a letter to warn yourself about some event, then leave it in the past with someone you know, who is supposed to give it to you on time. This person gives it to you at the appointed hour, and everything happens as it should. Then, after the event, you need to repeat the process—write the letter and give it to the person who needs to deliver it. "I want to add that some events simply cannot be prevented," Arista said. "In any way. For example, if a person is destined to die at a certain hour, we can't help them. There's a certain balance of forces in the world that everyone must observe. This is especially true for tempus vagus. Sometimes Fate itself intervenes in our actions and prevents us from doing too much. For instance, I once wanted to save a boy in the past who was hit by a car. But the gift of a time traveler made me realize that if I did, I would change my present. And I had to step back. Because, as Hisashi already said—any action we take in the past has consequences in the present." "In any case," Hisashi continued, "be extremely careful in the past and don't try to change anything if you want your present to remain the same. But let me continue my story. I grew up with my father and mother, your grandparents. We moved around a lot because All For One's followers never stopped trying to obtain our family's power. A year before I was born, they killed my grandmother and your great-grandmother—Anna Asakura, after first managing to get her blood. As I told you before, our gene can't be detected in any way. This is a fact proven long ago. However, All For One, after conducting some research, discovered that with his Quirk and willingly given blood from a tempus vagus, he could acquire this power for himself. But the blood needs to come from a living carrier of the gene, which is why Shigaraki began searching for those who might have it. Unfortunately, he also knows the birthdates of two future time travelers. He found this out using a prophecy Quirk through blood, which shows the birthdates of two future holders of the unique power. Through our grandmother Anna's blood, All For One learned the exact dates—08/19/2274 and 06/28/2301. Mine and yours, Izuku. So, before my escape, I persuaded your mother to give birth at home and convinced the Healing Girl to alter your birthdate. So you could have a peaceful childhood, unlike mine. I spent my whole life hiding from his persecution, masking myself, and trying not to make too many contacts. He has no moral principles; he could go to any lengths. Wherever I went, Shigaraki always found me. That's his real surname, by the way. In 2301, the situation worsened significantly. I couldn't even walk down the street for a single day and spent most of my time in the past. When your mother told me she was pregnant, I already knew you were the next tempus vagus. And that if All For One found out about your mother, both of you would be in danger. I couldn't risk you any longer. Taking you with me into the past was impossible—time travelers can't transport other people, only inanimate objects. I told Inko everything about myself and asked if she could raise you alone if I had to take extreme measures. She told me she would do everything to protect you. Your mother is a strong woman—I never doubted her. After that, I took All For One on myself entirely. I should mention that every tempus vagus has a special ability, a supplementary one, so to speak. Mine turned out to be the power of suggestion. I managed to convince Shigaraki that I had no connections with any women. Moreover, I even managed to destroy all the evidence pointing to this and convinced his entire entourage of this idea. Of course, I couldn't cover up all my friends, but the main thing was to keep my family safe. Then, at the end of March, after destroying everything that could have pointed to you, I once again tried to hide. But All For One managed to trap me. I had no choice but to jump with the working chronograph into the past. That's how I ended up here." A tense silence hung in the air. Izuku slowly digested what she had heard. In any case, a lot had become clear. Her father didn't abandon her; he was trying to protect her from the greatest Villain. But she was still a target now, wasn't she? The girl's head was spinning. Too many events, too many stories. But the biggest question was—what should she do now? "How did you find out about this whole All For One situation?" Izuku asked. "First from my parents, when I turned sixteen and made my first time jump. Then from Grandma Anna and Great-grandfather Killian. And also from records. I asked past tempus vagus who lived during his appearance to find out as many details as possible. So that in the future, we would have all the necessary information. This is another example of a time loop from personal experience. You should also have my journal by now. In it, I recorded the dates of the 'One For All' holders, from the first to the eighth. By the way, you'll also influence this. After all, if you hadn't told Yoichi about his power, we wouldn't have known about 'One For All.' "So, I'll meet with the past 'One For All' holders? But why?" Izuku was surprised. "I can't tell you, because I don't know everything," her father replied apologetically. "But yes, you will. And my records will help you navigate." "I see..." she mused, then said resignedly, "In the present, the villains have surely already started looking for me, right? And I can't hide forever. Sooner or later, All For One will find me, and then what? What should I do? I just don't know how to process all this. Just yesterday, I was an unnoticed student at the police academy, and now everything has changed so drastically. How did you survive all this?" "Yes, for every tempus vagus, the awakening of the gene is a turning point and radically changes life. I was very scared during my first jump, even though I knew I might be a carrier of this power. But then I got used to it. And I even started to enjoy it. After all, I can see people dear to my heart who have left me. I can go to the 21st century for my favorite dessert. You'll see, you'll get used to it too. Yes, it's all very shocking and disorienting, but one of our family's traits is quick adaptation to the situation. Besides, you have time to prepare." Arista said, sighing, then lifting her eyes to her with a firm gaze. "Judging by Hisashi's stories, you have responsible people on your side. Take advantage of this. Learn to fight, to escape, and in general. Family tree, laws. You should know your strengths and weaknesses by heart. Remember, you have everything, Izuku. The most important thing you should remember first of all is that you are free to use your gift as you see fit, but don't cross the line if it affects your present. You can win, we're sure of it." "Aunt Ari is right, Izuku. You're strong, believe in yourself. You can handle all of this," Asakura encouraged. "I can also suggest trying to talk to the 'One For All' holder. I have confidence that by joining forces in your time, you can put an end to all of this." "Why didn't you do that?" Midoriya asked in surprise. "You think I didn't try? Toshinori Yagi wouldn't even listen to me," the man growled in frustration. "That damn arrogant peacock twirled his finger at his temple and then said it was his business alone as the 'One For All' successor and told me not to interfere." "Toshinori Yagi?" Izuku's eyes widened in confusion. "All Might. That's the hero name he chose for himself. You don't think that clown was named that at birth, do you?" "No, of course not," the girl mumbled, feeling a bitter taste in her mouth at her father's words. After all, no matter how All Might had treated her, he was still her favorite hero. "It's just that his real name wasn't mentioned anywhere, so I was surprised." "Well, yeah, the symbol of peace. What's he got to do with ordinary mortals?" Hisashi snorted venomously, frowning. — Don’t pay attention to him, — Arista smiled. — Your father just didn’t get along with him at work, and he’s still upset about it. — I’m not upset! — Hisashi denied hotly. — Oh, yes you are! — the woman teased him. — Alright, alright! — Izuku interrupted their argument. — I understand. Let’s change the subject. Tell me more about tempus vagus... The rest of the time flew by. Midoriya was treated to a delicious meal and bombarded with countless stories about her unique gift. Most of them were about time jumps, the importance of paying attention to details, and so on. She especially enjoyed listening to Aunt Ari, who told many interesting stories. One, in particular, was about how she met her husband, who was twelve years older than her. William Allen was an Englishman, and she met him fifteen years ago while studying in England. Now they’re raising a son, who’s in his final year of elementary school. Izuku listened to the touching love story with a fluttering heart and secretly dreamed of something similar. It was half past three when Midoriya felt that time was running out. Hisashi immediately called a taxi to the square and set out to see his daughter off. Aunt Arista, before they left, wrapped up the remaining cherry pie and said she’d be eagerly awaiting her next visit. Once they arrived at the location, father and daughter talked for a few more minutes. Asakura gave her a pair of steel mechanical watches so she could keep track of time during her jumps and stay oriented. And then Izuku felt that familiar dizziness, and with a powerful pull, the emerald flash whisked her away...

* * *

June 30, 2317. 5:01 PM. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy grounds Bakugo was walking, deeply lost in his thoughts, oblivious to everything around him. Lately, everything had been a complete mess! The stupid extras were getting on his nerves, the teachers were piling on useless assignments and then disappearing! Eraser Head really outdid himself today! Not only did he answer a phone call right in class, but he also bolted out of there like he was stung in the backside, sending Midnight in his place! And then there was Deku! That stupid girl ignored him yesterday! Where was she running off to in such a hurry that she didn’t even notice him?! She didn’t even look his way! Had he become unworthy of her attention? That little, arrogant... Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a brief green flash before... Bam! "Watch where you're going, you idiot!" Bakugo yelled angrily, getting up from the sidewalk. "S-sorry, Kacchan, I didn’t mean to!" Izuku exclaimed in fright, standing up from the ground. Of course, she was incredibly lucky to be thrown right in front of this explosive jerk! Why does life hate her so much?! Will she ever land normally?! "Deku!" Katsuki growled, glaring at her with malice. "What the hell, you nerd?! What are you doing here?! First you ignore me, and now you're spying on me?!" "Why would I want to spy on you?!" Midoriya snapped, momentarily flustered. She couldn’t exactly tell him she had just returned from the past. So, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I’m waiting for someone!" "And who would that be?" the blonde taunted. "Did you find yourself a boyfriend here?" "She’s waiting for me, Bakugo." Eraser Head's cold voice made the teenagers flinch. He nodded at Izuku and said, "Midoriya, let’s go. Everything is ready, and they’re waiting for you." "Hey, what’s going on here?!" Katsuki shouted indignantly. "This doesn’t concern you, Bakugo. And don’t even think about sticking your nose into other people’s business," Aizawa replied simply, leaving the astonished boy to watch them walk away.

* * *

"How did everything go?" Nezu asked, savoring the pie that the girl had brought for everyone. "It went well," Izuku replied, adjusting the watch on her left hand. "Dad introduced me to Aunt Arista, my grandmother several generations back. We talked for a long time. He told me that All for One was hunting him. He told me about ‘One for All’ and about his escape to the past. Then about my power, tempus vagus. It's all a bit overwhelming; I need time to process everything. By the way, he sends his regards to everyone. Especially to you, Mom. He said he misses you a lot." "Next time, send him my regards, dear," Inko smiled sadly. "We’ve finished up everything on our end. I moved your belongings to the dormitory and even prepared your room." "I’ve also taken care of all the paperwork!" Nezu chimed in. "You’re now officially a UA student! Congratulations!" "This is your pass to all the buildings," Aizawa said, yawning as he handed her a plastic card. Izuku took it, examining it from all angles. "I’ll walk you to the dormitory. On your desk in your room, you’ll find all the necessary textbooks and your schedule. It’s a special one for you, problem child, so be careful. Your school uniform is also ready and waiting for you in your room. Classes start at 8 AM, don’t be late, or you’ll be running penalty laps in PE. Don’t expect any leniency." "Come on, don’t be so strict, Aizawa-san!" the principal said. "I’m strict with everyone." "And you’re like a father to everyone," Nezu chuckled. Eraser Head grimaced but had no rebuttal. Meanwhile, the principal continued, "I think it’s been a long day for all of us! We all need to rest! So, let’s call it a day! See you tomorrow, Midoriya-chan!" The principal left Aizawa’s office. A few minutes later, the others followed. After seeing her mom to the gate and saying goodbye, the hero led Izuku to the teacher’s dormitory, and then to her room. Wishing her a good rest, Eraser Head left the girl to explore her new place. Mom had prepared everything perfectly. She even put the uniform away in the closet. The textbooks were neatly stacked on the desk, and on top of them lay a sheet with her schedule. Izuku glanced at it and nearly groaned. English, math, art history, PE. And where "practical training" should be, it said "individual lessons with Nezu." With a sigh, Midoriya prepared her bag for the next day, got herself ready for bed, set the alarm, and lay down, wondering what to do. Her eyes fell on the bag with the chronograph, which she had taken from Eraser Head’s office. Right, there were some books in there. The girl pulled out one of the books. To her surprise, it was a notebook filled with various observations and theories. She read with interest for a while and soon didn’t even notice when she fell asleep. The long day, full of events, had drained all her energy.

* * *

July 1, 2317. 07:30 AM. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy Dormitory Izuku adjusted her new uniform, which fit her perfectly. It was very unusual to see herself in something different. After fastening her father's watch on her wrist, she picked up her bag and headed towards the exit. Fortunately, her dorm was on the first floor (due to the risk of uncontrolled jumps), so it didn't take long to get there. She arrived fifteen minutes before class started, managing not to get lost. The classroom was already noisy, but Midoriya hesitated to enter. She stood by the far wall, trying not to attract attention. In any case, no one seemed to notice her. A wave of anxiety settled in her stomach, making her nervously fiddle with the strap of her backpack. What should she expect? Would her classmates accept her? What would Kacchan’s reaction be? He was probably still furious about yesterday and would get even angrier. Damn it, why was all this happening to her? How did everything change so abruptly? The bell rang. Izuku looked up in surprise as she saw Eraser Head crawling into the classroom in his yellow sleeping bag. He was indeed crawling, not jumping or walking. The look on his face was one of cosmic injustice, sleep deprivation, and a desperate need for a large cup of coffee. The man immediately noticed her and gestured for her to come over. "Go in when I call you," he mumbled sleepily, wriggling out of the sleeping bag. Midoriya just nodded. She was extremely nervous. Less than a minute later, the hero called her. Izuku, feeling a wave of panic, opened the door with trembling hands and entered the room on unsteady legs. Nineteen pairs of curious eyes were immediately fixed on her. "Okay, this is your new classmate," Eraser Head said drowsily, then turned to her. "Introduce yourself." "Izuku Midoriya. Nice to meet you," she said timidly, bowing. "What the hell?! What are you doing here, Deku?! Is this why you were hanging around here yesterday?!" Katsuki exploded, his face showing deep shock. Izuku flinched but remained silent. "Bakugo, I told you yesterday not to stick your nose into other people’s business," Eraser Head replied on her behalf. "Midoriya has been enrolled in your class as part of a special program. She will be studying with you, but her hero training will be different." "Teacher!" a big guy with glasses suddenly raised his hand. "Yes, Iida?" Eraser Head asked reluctantly. "Isn’t this unfair? Why does the new girl get a special program? I think she should be learning alongside everyone else equally!" "She will be learning equally with you," Eraser Head retorted. "The special program that Midoriya will follow is based on her abilities. They’re different from yours." "What special abilities could a useless failure like Deku possibly have?!" Bakugo yelled furiously. Izuku lowered her head, shrinking. A storm of anger, helplessness, and hurt was rising within her. She wanted to yell at him, to declare that she was not useless! And to be far away from here. Anywhere but surrounded by these looks of pity, confusion, and indignation. She wanted to be somewhere she would be comforted and supported. Suddenly, a familiar nausea surged up her throat. Izuku panicked, and the sound of ticking clocks filled her ears as the space in front of her eyes started to blur. She pressed her hand to her mouth and looked up at Eraser Head with a terrified expression. "Aizawa-sensei, I think I’m going to…" she began with clear panic in her voice. "Understood. Go," the man interrupted, nodding seriously. Izuku dashed out of the classroom at full speed. The nausea intensified, and emerald sparks began to dance in front of her eyes. "I won’t make it! I won’t make it to the exit!" she thought in panic, barely managing to close the classroom door behind her. Then the floor vanished beneath her feet, and she felt the familiar pull... Meanwhile, in the classroom: "What was that just now?" Kaminari asked in confusion. "Bakugo, how could you be so shameless! The new girl didn’t even get five minutes before you drove her to a nervous breakdown!" Ashido yelled indignantly, standing up. The blonde only clicked his tongue in annoyance but remained silent. It seemed he had really overstepped. But what did it matter? Mina continued, "And you too, Iida! What difference does it make what program she’s on?! She has joint classes with us, she’s no different from us!" "We all want to be heroes here. And behavior like that doesn’t look heroic. You shouldn’t act that way, especially you, the class representative. You’re the face of the whole class," Asui said, giving Iida a reproachful look. "You’re right! I’m at fault! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!" Tenya exclaimed, bowing his head. "I’ll definitely apologize to her!" "We need to find her and calm her down! She must be very scared!" Uraraka said sadly, getting up from her seat. "Everyone shut up and stay where you are," Aizawa cut in harshly, heading for the door. "I’ll find her myself." "Damn, I hope she’s okay," Eraser Head thought as he stepped into the corridor. He immediately spotted the girl’s yellow backpack, picked it up, and took out his phone, dialing Nezu. He needed to report the uncontrolled jump.

* * *

January 18, 2298. 16:11. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy Izuku was violently thrown against the wall, hitting the back of her head and right shoulder hard. Groaning in pain, she clutched her head and slid down the wall. “You’re like a snowstorm out of nowhere!” came a familiar, excited child’s voice from above her. Izuku opened her eyes slightly and saw a small hand extended toward her, followed by a playful azure gaze. She immediately recognized him, though his hair was now more white than red since their last meeting. “Hello, Toya-kun,” Izuku smiled as she took his hand and got up from the floor. “Are you okay? You hit yourself pretty hard. Maybe I should take you to Healing Girl?” the boy gestured toward her head. “No, it’s really not necessary. I’m fine,” Midoriya nodded, wincing slightly from the pain. “You’re not good at lying,” he said reproachfully, pointing to a bench along the wall. “At least sit down.” “Can you tell me what today’s…” she began as she sat down. “Year?” the boy interrupted her abruptly, chuckling, then grew serious. “Today is January 18, 2298.” “I see…” she said, noticing his sudden change in mood. “Why do you look so sad?” “Well, it’s my birthday today,” Toya answered reluctantly, sitting next to her. “I’m six years old now. But instead of the promised party, my father set up endurance training for me. I’m not complaining; I’m used to it. Just today he went too far.” Izuku noticed that the boy was almost covered in bandages from head to toe, and his burned chin was heavily smeared with ointment. Her heart ached at the sight. The boy continued, “Mom got scared and brought me here. She’s talking to the medics right now, and I’m waiting here. Healing Girl said everything will heal quickly, but she forbade me from training for at least a week. Dad will be furious when he finds out.” “I’d really like to help you, To-chan. No one deserves to be treated like that,” Izuku said with sympathy, giving him a gentle hug. “I’m sure one day your father will get what he deserves. I’ll find him and show him personally that hurting kids is unacceptable! After all, a true hero’s duty is to help and save others!” “You’re brave! Everyone is usually scared to approach him!” Toya giggled, snuggling up to her. He was very tactile and loved hugs, even though he would never admit it. “I’m not that brave,” Midoriya sighed. “You know, I’m having a tough day too. I was transferred to a new class, and one of my classmates turned out to be an old acquaintance. He always used to bully me and sometimes even hit me. And I can’t fight back. Just like today. He humiliated me in front of everyone. I thought I would yell at him, but I ran away. I just wanted to be far away and not see all that.” “Are you being bullied?” The boy suddenly pulled away, looking at her. There was a flicker of anger in his azure eyes, and the air around them noticeably warmed. “Tell me who! I’ll burn them to ashes!” “Believe me, they’re not worth it. You don’t pay attention to a dog barking at you, do you? It’s the same here. Besides, you’re a future hero, and that means you should rise above all these fools,” Izuku replied softly, feeling warmth in her heart. For the first time, someone wanted to stand up for her. “I’ll still beat them up when I grow up! I’ll find them and beat them up!” the boy stubbornly grumbled, raising his fist engulfed in blue flames, but then yelped and extinguished it. “Until then, don’t run away next time; stand up to them properly! I’m sure you can do it! Your name even reads like ‘I can do it!’” “To-chan…” A smile spread across Izuku’s face. She felt overwhelmed with happiness. For the first time, her name wasn’t twisted or used to call her useless. Instead, she was told she could do everything. “Thank you. No one has ever told me that before.” “They’re just stupid, like you said!” the boy huffed. “And don’t call me To-chan! I’m not little!” “But I call everyone I like that! And To-chan is so cute!” Midoriya giggled, looking at his flushed cheeks. “Fine, call me that!” he waved off, then mischievously glinted his blue eyes and said with a smirk, “But in that case, I’ll call you Princess! Heroes save princesses, right? I’ll save you from those bad classmates!” “Whatever you want!” Izuku laughed, ruffling his hair. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about you all this time,” the boy confessed shyly, squinting happily from the pleasant head pats. “I really wanted to talk to you again. Somehow, when you’re around, I feel calm. I even wished you would come. And you did! So, thank you too! By the way,” he frowned, examining her closely, “are you studying at UA?” “Huh?” Izuku mentally groaned, realizing she was in her school uniform. She needed to think on her feet. Better to be honest. “Yes. I just transferred,” she nodded. “And you’re already being bullied?” Toya flared up again. “So much for future heroes! How can they go into this profession if they bully others?! They’re not heroes; they’re just fakes!” “Unfortunately, there are many who follow popularity. But there are also those who truly deserve to be heroes. I haven’t really met anyone in the class yet, so I can’t say who’s who. You can’t judge a person until you know them, To-chan,” the girl gently replied, continuing to stroke his hair. “Okay, I understand, Princess. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ll find them and beat them up,” the boy grumbled, then changed the subject. “When is your birthday?” “In the summer,” Izuku was about to give her usual date but wanted someone to know her real birthday. “June 28, to be precise.” “Cool! I like summer!” Toya smiled, looking up at her with shining blue eyes. “And I like winter. It’s a magical time of year. Though I like summer too. Especially sunny weather. You know…” Izuku suddenly realized that since her little friend had a birthday, she should give him something. And, of course, she had left her bag in the present. Suddenly, her eyes fell on her watch. Her father gave it to her, but it wouldn’t hurt if she gave one of them to her little protector, right? Midoriya deftly removed one watch and, with a smile, handed it to the surprised Toya. “Here, this is my gift to you. Let it remind you of me and that you’re a real hero! Happy Birthday, To-chan!” “Thank you…” the boy said quietly, bowing his head and taking the accessory with trembling hands before putting it in his shorts pocket. “I’ll treasure it. Oh!” The child picked up his little backpack from the floor and took out a bar of milk chocolate, which he immediately handed to Izuku. “My mom says it’s customary to share something sweet with those you like on your birthday! And I really like you! Take it!” “Thank you, To-chan,” Midoriya accepted the treat. “Toya!” A worried white-haired woman appeared from around the corner. She was quite beautiful, with an air of nobility in her figure. But she exuded exhaustion, fear, and a sense of resignation. “Mom!” the boy turned to her. “This is Izuku! I really like her, so I shared my chocolate with her!” “Oh!” The woman looked at her, then began to babble. “I’m so sorry! I hope Toya didn’t cause you any trouble!” “No, not at all! You have a wonderful son!” Izuku quickly assured her. Suddenly, she felt the familiar knot of nausea. The ticking of time was returning, telling her it was time to leave this year. “I’m afraid I have to go. Take care of yourself, To-chan.” “I’ll be waiting for our next meeting, Princess! I’ll find you wherever you are and beat up anyone who hurts you! I promise!” Toya exclaimed, smiling brightly. “I will too, To-chan. I’ll be waiting…” With these words, the space before her eyes blurred. Izuku felt her legs lift off the floor, and then the familiar tug, pulling her through an emerald flash…

* * *

July 1, 2317. 08:23. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy This time, Midoriya was definitely lucky. She finally managed to land on her feet, but she wobbled badly and almost fell if Sotrigolov hadn’t caught her by the hand. The girl immediately noticed the immense relief on his face when he saw she was okay. "You really scared us, Midoriya-chan," came a voice from below. Izuku flinched, almost dropping the chocolate bar from her hands, and then stared at the principal, who was looking at her thoughtfully. "What year did you get thrown into this time?" "In 2298. Everything is fine," the student quickly reassured them. "I was thrown right into this corridor, but there was no one around. I waited, and then I was brought back." Izuku decided to remain silent about Toya. Who knows what kind of lectures she might face about talking to people from the past. "How could this happen?" Aizawa asked, massaging his temples. "Has enough time passed since the controlled jump?" "No, too little," Nezu shook his head, thinking. "Midoriya-chan should not be thrown uncontrollably through time for another day or so. Unless… Tell me, Midoriya-chan, what did you think about in class before the jump happened?" "I thought that…" Izuku swallowed, realizing where the principal was going with this. "I thought that I wanted to be as far away from Bakugo as possible. I’ve known him since childhood, and he’s always bullied me. In class, I wanted to be somewhere I could be at peace. And I did end up somewhere I could calm down." "Most likely, you can consciously move yourself through time just by wishing to be where you want. We’ll need to test this theory again later. Can you manage until the end of the classes?" Nezu asked. "I think I can," Izuku nodded confidently. She wasn’t feeling stressed and somehow felt sure there wouldn’t be any more jumps in the near future. "Great! Then come to see me right after classes! We’ll discuss what happened!" the creature cheerfully said and went toward his office. "Back to class, troublemaker," Aizawa sighed, handing her the backpack. "We’ve already lost twelve minutes." Izuku took the backpack and followed Sotrigolov back to the classroom. The room was noisy, but what surprised her the most was the shouting, in which Bakugo and someone named Iida were being scolded. When they walked back in, everyone suddenly fell silent and stared at them. The bespectacled guy was the first to recover. He stood up from his seat, stepped out from behind his desk, and approached Midoriya directly. "I’m the class representative of 2-A, Iida Tenya!" he bowed deeply, like a robot. "I apologize for my terrible behavior, Midoriya-chan! I shouldn’t have said those things to you or behaved unbefittingly for a true hero! I also apologize for Bakugo! He had no right to insult you! Please forgive us!" "It’s… it’s okay," Izuku stammered, not expecting such a turn of events. "I’m not angry. I forgive you." "Thank you very much!" he exclaimed cheerfully, visibly relieved. "If you’re done, then," Aizawa yawned, "sit down in your seats. Let’s start the lesson."

* * *

Meanwhile: Japan, Gray Zone. Local Broker Bar A young man with black hair, his body covered in terrible scars and piercings, sat at the bar and slowly sipped on a strong whiskey. It had been a tough night. Then again, when had it ever been easy for him? Gathering information was a difficult job, but one needs to live somehow. It was his job—finding and selling. The bartender emerged from the back room, nodded at him, and carefully handed over a substantial bundle of cash. The black-haired man took the money, counted it, and nodded affirmatively, tucking it into his coat pocket. "Nice watch, Dabi," the bartender said, looking at his left arm, where steel mechanical watches glinted in the dim light. "Haven’t seen one like that in a long time. If it’s not a secret, where did you get it?" "It was a gift," he replied. A hint of thoughtfulness and melancholy flickered in his deep azure eyes. "A very long time ago," the man said quietly, turning and walking away. The black-haired man exited the bar and squinted against the bright light. After waiting a bit for his eyes to adjust, he headed towards his home. "Sunny," the young man thought. "She used to like weather like this. I wonder when we’ll meet again, Princess?"