Wanderer in Time

July 3, 2317. 14:30. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy What could Izuku say about studying at UA? That it's difficult, with a completely different curriculum and a hellish system she has to manage along with time jumps? Oh yes, exactly that. It has been four days since she discovered her gift of tempus vagus. Four days since her life was turned upside down. She travels through time, meets her father, studies, and lives at UA, while her mother is on a long business trip! A week ago, if someone had told her this would happen, she would have thought they were crazy. Her relationships with classmates were neutral. Midoriya hadn’t managed to make any real friends yet—all had already formed their own groups. But, to be fair, they didn’t bother or insult her. On the contrary, if she asked for help, they didn’t refuse, and everyone was generally polite. The only exception was Bakugo, who didn’t miss an opportunity to insult or shove her. Izuku often caught his thoughtful glances but preferred to ignore them and avoid unnecessary interactions. She had enough of her own concerns. It was a long lunch break. Midoriya had already eaten in the cafeteria and was now sitting in class, studying her father's journal. He described important events from his life, even meeting her during his first uncontrollable jump! Apparently, this would happen in her future! And also meeting her mother! Oh God, she really hid him in the restaurant’s storeroom when villains were chasing him! It was all read in one breath. Izuku smiled, noting her dad's writing talent. The adventures he described were all sorts of things—funny, dangerous, creepy, and frightening. Sometimes it even felt like she was reading another thrilling book. Turning the page, her green eyes landed on a family tree and widened, eagerly reading each line. This was the tree of everyone who had ever had the time traveler gene! There were even notes made by her own hand. Apparently, she would add them in her future when she would move the chronograph to 2301. The tree currently looked like this:

Succession of Generations of tempus vagus

1. Vasily Ledkovsky (1778? — 1822);

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2. Alice Ledkovskaya (1823 — 1856);

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3. Christian Shade (1857 — 1888);

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4. Astrid Frost-Shade (1889 — 1939);

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5. Benjamin Frost (1940 — 2012);

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6. Jeanne Li-Frost (2013 — 2066);

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7. Kiang Li (2067 — 2105);

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8. Arista Allen-Li (2106 — 2163);

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9. Killian Allen (2164 — 2211);

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10. Anna Asakura-Allen (2212 — 2273);

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11. Hisashi Asakura (2274 — 2301 Moved to the past. Died on 03.12.2173);

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12. Izuku Midoriya(Asakura) (2301 — present day);

Izuku was upset when she read the date of her father's death but quickly composed herself. After all, nothing prevented her from visiting him while he was still alive. It also amused her that her father was right when he said their family tree had so much mixed heritage. And who would have thought there were even Russians! They were actually the very first ones to exhibit this gene! Turning the page again, she saw the next diagram:

Owners of “One for all” and approximate dates they held this power:

2195-2200 — Yoichi Shigaraki

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2200-2215 — Second

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2215-2231 — Third

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2231-2257 — Hikage Shinomori

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2257-2265 — Daigoro Banjo

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2265-2271 — En

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2271-2280 — Nana Shimura

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2280-2317 — Toshinori Yagi

"How strange? The names of the Second and Third are not listed. Why? And All Might... Does this mean he has already chosen his successor and passed on his power?" Midoriya frowned, rereading the line. "Dad said to unite with the owner of 'One For All.' But if the power has been passed to someone else, who should I look for now? Maybe I should ask Nezu about it?" Izuku turned the page again, which this time listed the main facts about tempus vagus. Let's see:

1. Time jumps are possible only up to the farthest date the first tempus vagus traveled to. In our case, that is 1501, the 16th century;

2. A new tempus vagus is born only after the death of the previous one. Typically, after a year. (However, this rule can be broken if the previous tempus vagus has completely moved to the past with possibility of returning to their present. In such a case, the gift may pass to the nearest blood relative who is about to be born.)

3. If you jump in time with a working chronograph, the time period in which you lived is erased for you, and the specified date become your present. (But! If the chronograph is not working and you moved it to the past as an object, nothing changes.);

4. It is impossible to travel through time with other people. The only exception is inanimate objects;

5. Each tempus vagus has a special ability to aid them in their mission;

6. It is not possible to travel to the time in which you were born and are already living. The closest date you can jump to is one month before the birth of the tempus vagus;

7. The tempus vagus gene appears ar 16 years old. It cannot be detected ar any other age;

8. It is impossible to jump to the future, as it is not written;

9. Each tempus vagus must close The time loop if they created one;

10. You cannot interfere with events that may affect your present;

11. Under no circumstances should you cross paths with your past self. It will disrupt the arrangement of temporal forces. And tempus vagus must always adhere to time frames and laws;

12. All tempus vagus have the same blood type. That’s why there’s no need to load each traveler’s blood into the chronograph.

"Well, at least this is all neatly laid out." — Izuku smirked slightly, memorizing the bundle of the most basic facts. — Hey! What are you reading, Midoriya? — a loud male voice startled the girl. Standing next to her desk was a red-haired boy. What was his name again? Kirishima? — Oh, just — Izuku shrugged and quickly closed the journal, — a book. It belonged to my father. — Some sort of family heirloom? How cool! — the boy gave a thumbs up, then said, — I wanted to ask! Do you want to go to McDonald's with Kaminari and Ashido after school? We can get to know each other better and befriend! — I would love to, Kirishima-kun. — Izuku smiled sadly. — Unfortunately, I have to decline. After the next class, I have a special session with Principal Nezu that will last late into the evening. The one subject I have in place of hero training. — Too bad. — Eijiro looked disappointed, then asked with interest, — If it’s not a secret, what are you studying in those sessions? — I’m afraid I can’t answer that. — Izuku sighed. It’s not like she could tell her classmate that they were studying historical events in detail with Nezu and then she would travel through time using the chronograph to prevent uncontrollable jumps. — You’re strange. — Kirishima said thoughtfully. — And very mysterious. You don’t talk about yourself. Even Bakugo doesn’t want to talk about you, though, as everyone understands, you’ve known each other for a long time. Why? — We don’t get along very well. — Izuku sighed, then quietly admitted. — To be honest, I can’t stand him. — Why... — Eijiro started to ask another question when he was called. He awkwardly scratched his head and smiled. — Sorry, I have to go. Izuku just nodded. Once he left, she reopened her father’s journal and immersed herself in reading. The Art History class with Midnight went quickly, and now Midoriya was heading to the Principal’s office. He had sent her a text yesterday saying he had an important discussion with her today. And now the girl was more intrigued than ever. Did it concern the theory that she could will herself to travel through time? They had tried to test this theory the day before yesterday, but it had not worked. Perhaps the principal had come up with something related to this? Knocking and waiting for an invitation, the time traveler entered the room. Nezu was sitting at the table, drinking tea. In the corner, wrapped in his favorite yellow sleeping bag, Aizawa was dozing. — Oh, Midoriya-chan! — the principal exclaimed energetically, looking up at her. — I’m glad you came! Did you receive my message yesterday? — Yes, Nezu-san. Is something wrong? — she sat down on a chair, folding her hands in her lap. — Oh, nothing much! — the director quickly reassured her. — Actually, we’re having a debate with Aizawa-san about a mission I’d really like to assign to you! — A mission? — the girl looked at the teachers in surprise. — Yes. — Aizawa replied, opening his eyes. — The director wants to give you a secret hero-level assignment. I’m against it. First, you’ve just transferred to the academy and haven’t fully adjusted yet. Second, we promised your parents that we wouldn’t put you in danger. In my opinion, this mission is too dangerous for a child who has just discovered their powers and isn’t even able to protect themselves. — Actually, I studied self-defense at the police academy. — Izuku hesitantly countered. — That doesn’t change the fact that you’re not ready. Put you against even the weakest villain with a Quirk — you won’t be able to do much. The followers of All For One are not to be underestimated. Even pro heroes can struggle against them. And if you end up in another time where neither I nor the others are around, anything could happen to you. We can’t take that risk. — Aizawa cut in. — But only Midoirya-chan can undertake this mission, Aizawa-san. — Nezu said matter-of-factly, taking a sip of tea from his cup. — Also, sources indicate that it was at this age that the new time traveler began their active operations. We need to adhere to the timeline. Yes, it’s very dangerous and goes against the promise we made. But it’s the only way we can ensure victory over many villains. Midoirya-chan, the choice is yours. If you refuse, I will understand. What I’m proposing is indeed very dangerous. — What is the essence of your mission? — Izuku asked seriously, clenching her fists. — I’ll start from the beginning. — The director moved his cup aside and clasped his hands together. — You probably know that last year a senior student, with the support of other heroes, managed to eliminate an organization called "The Eight Death Declarations." They were developing a weapon capable of permanently stripping humanity of Quirks, but they only created a drug that weakens it. With prolonged use of this drug, the Quirk eventually disappears permanently. So, what am I getting at? I want to assign you the following mission — to deliver this drug to all previous holders of "One For All" in the past. And help them ensure that each dose ends up in All For One’s blood. We even made it so that the drug is undetectable! This way, you’ll significantly weaken him in the past before the present moment, and when he emerges in our time, heroes will be able to defeat him! — But why not just send the recipe for this drug to the past? — the student asked. — Because they won’t be able to recreate it. You see, the drug is made from the blood of a girl with a special Quirk. She was born only seven years ago. And without her blood... — Creating this drug will be impossible since the blood of this girl is the key. — Izuku finished for him. — Exactly! — Nezu nodded. — We’re not forcing you, Midoirya-chan. We’re just offering. It’s a very dangerous assignment, especially for a regular student. There will be no heroes around you to protect you if something goes wrong. So, think carefully about this. — I really hope you refuse, troublesome child. — Aizawa sighed. — I’ll consider your words. — Izuku replied, feeling conflicted. — May I go? I need to jump to the past using the chronograph in the next hour. — Of course. — The director responded. — Be careful. — Of course. With mixed feelings, Izuku left the director’s office and headed straight to the dormitory. What should she do? How should she proceed? On the one hand, she would significantly weaken the enemy, but on the other hand, how would she even approach him? Even with the previous holders of "One For All," it seemed unrealistic. The only thing that came to mind was a gun, or rather, bullets soaked with the drug, but there’s no guarantee that would be sufficient. What if the effect isn’t right? Or using special darts? Entering her room, Izuku sighed quietly and sat on the bed. She needed to collect her thoughts and prepare for the next jump into the past. What time should she aim for this time? Her hand found the book she had started reading the previous evening. It resembled a regular history textbook, only it was written by a tempus vagus, so it could easily be called another diary. Izuku opened the page where she had left off and noticed another note from her father.

»…In 2198, I visited Shigaraki Yoichi. He wasn’t surprised when he learned who I was. He said he was acquainted with the current tempus vagus. And that before me, he was visited in Hospital No.1 in Musutafu by another tempus vagus, who introduced herself as Izumi Shade. He even remembered the exact date and time of her appearance — 09.07.2195, around 2 PM. However, he was unsure how long she stayed. He told me a bit about her. Only that she has given him information about the future. He didn’t reveal any more details.»

Izuku thought. It was definitely talking about her. But why did she introduce herself under a different name? Similar, yes, but still different. And took on the surname of someone from past tempus vagus. To throw off All For One? Most likely, that’s it. “What if I just wanted to meet the first holder of 'One For All'? After all, I need to decide whether to take the mission proposed by the director. And to do that, I need to know who I’ll be dealing with. So, why not? I think I know what to do.” — Izuku closed the diary and took out the chronograph from under the desk. The girl was about to go straight to the past but stopped. There was a reason she introduced herself with a different name. This meant she needed to ensure at least partial disguise. Her school uniform quickly went back into the closet. Instead, Izuku put on dark jeans, a black hoodie, and sneakers. She tied her hair up into a high, voluminous bun and then quickly covered the freckles on her cheeks with foundation. Her eyes still stood out too much. Then she remembered she had colored contact lenses from last year's carnival. And within a minute, the mirror reflected a short girl with amber eyes, in plain clothes, and with dark hair tied up. Now she was ready. So, now she could start. Time needed to be set in the chronograph. And while the date was clear, the exact time wasn’t. Maybe three hours would be enough? After all, it was unknown how long it would take her to orient herself in the past. Of course, her father gave her a map, which should be accurate up to around 2250, but who knows how things might go? Nodding to herself, she decided to be cautious with the time and began inputting the necessary numbers into the device. 09.07.2195, 13:00 — 16:00 Everything was ready. Midoriya felt a rush of anxiety. Previously, she had never been alone; her father or Aunt Ari had always been there to guide her. This time, she was venturing into an unknown time on her own. What if something went wrong? "No. Everything will be fine. I feel like everything will be okay. I can handle this. After all, I'm a future hero! Besides, I have to start doing things on my own sometime!" Midoriya said resolutely, pressing the button and inserting her finger into the slot. A quick prick — and blood flowed into the time machine’s core. The device’s screens lit up with a green light. Then familiar sparks swirled around as Midoriya felt the ground disappear beneath her feet. With a jolt, she dissolved into an emerald flash…

* * *

July 9, 2195. 13:00. North Valley Park Midoriya landed on her feet with a jump and finally managed to stay upright. As soon as she arrived in the past, she began to look around. The weather was cloudy. Overall, the park hadn't changed much since the 2130s, except it had shrunk due to the construction of a new building. Could it be the future UA Academy? Midoriya couldn’t say. Then a couple of thoughts struck her. Where was she supposed to find Yoichi Shigaraki? Her memory recalled the note — Hospital No. 1 in Musutafu. Alright, that part was clear. Next question — how would she recognize him? What did he look like? Midoriya almost groaned in despair. What a fool she was! She should have learned what he looked like before jumping into the unknown! And if Aizawa-sensei found out about her recklessness, she'd be in for a long lecture about not traveling to unsafe times, unknown locations, and unknown people! "Alright. There’s no turning back. I’ll just go to the hospital and ask about Shigaraki Yoichi. Damn it, what if they don’t let me in? And how do I present myself? As a friend? A relative? He’ll probably say he doesn’t know anyone by that name! Fine, I’ll figure something out on the way," Midoriya thought as she headed out of the park. According to the map, it would take about twenty minutes by transport to reach the hospital. However, she had no money with her, so she would have to walk, which would take almost an hour. Midoriya strolled slowly through the gloomy streets of the city, observing her surroundings. People rushed about, absorbed in their own concerns. On one of the small squares, a rally against Quirks was taking place. They were called abominations and urged to rid society of such people. Inside, her heart clenched. In the future, things would be entirely different. People would start glorifying and relying on unusual powers. Even too much. Ordinary people would become outcasts. It would be hard to believe that discrimination against Quirks had ever existed. She quickened her pace and passed the demonstration, pulling her hoodie’s hood over her head. As much as she wanted to prove that Quirks were great and could be used for good, she couldn’t do anything. Moreover, she wasn’t allowed to. Midoriya remembered her father's words well. She couldn’t interfere with the course of events under any circumstances. Even the smallest change could alter her present forever. A few more stops to check the map, and she arrived at a modern five-story panel building. Well-maintained lawn, flower beds. Quite a pleasant atmosphere. She climbed the steps, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door. She had not come up with anything on the way. She hoped her improvisation wouldn’t fail her. It was quite quiet inside. The only sounds were the clacking of a keyboard and a nurse’s quiet murmuring at the reception desk. Summoning all her resolve and hoping for luck, Midoriya approached the nurse. "Hello!" Midoriya greeted, pulling back her hood. "I’m looking for Yoichi Shigaraki! I was told he is in your hospital!" "Hello," the nurse replied with slight suspicion. "Yes, we have a patient by that name. What is your relation to him?" "I…" Midoriya hesitated for a moment, then an utterly wild idea popped into her head. Yoichi was the brother of All for One, right? So… "I’m his niece! I just arrived from the USA with my mother! I wanted to visit Uncle Yoichi, but my father said he’s in the hospital now! That’s why I came to see him!" Midoriya wanted to laugh. What strange ideas came to her in emergency situations! She had to invent that she was the daughter of the Great Evil! When she tells her father and Aunt Ari, they’ll laugh till they drop! "I didn’t know Shigaraki-san had a daughter," the nurse mused, eyeing her with suspicion. "Though, he never talked about all his relatives when he brought your uncle to us. Alright, you can visit him. What’s your name? I need to record it in the visitor log." Midoriya’s heart sank. Name… That was why she had given a false identity. The nurse seemed too suspicious. She would probably report her to All for One soon, and she would have to run. And to prevent him from finding her in the future, she used… "Izumi Shade," the name slipped easily and naturally from her lips, as if it had been planned. "Shade?" The nurse raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, you see, my father is quite famous in certain circles," Midoriya awkwardly laughed, mentally praying that the woman wouldn’t change her mind about letting her in. "So my parents decided to give me my mother’s surname to avoid drawing too much attention." "Ah, I see! Yes, indeed, many influential people in our time hide their children. " The tension on the nurse's face eased immediately. She wrote down her name and continued, "Your uncle is currently out for a walk in the backyard. When you leave the building, turn right and go around the corner. He is likely sitting in his favorite gazebo." "Thank you very much!" Midoriya dashed out of the hospital, following the indicated route. Her instincts told her that she had little time for a conversation with Yoichi, so she needed to hurry. In the backyard, there was no one except a young man sitting in the gazebo. He was pale, emaciated, and looked frail. His white hair fell freely to his shoulders. He wore ordinary hospital pants and a white shirt. Midoriya stopped a little distance away. Damn, she had no plan for this conversation! What if he didn’t believe her and called security? But it was too late to stop now. She was already here, and retreating was pointless. "Excuse me, are you Yoichi Shigaraki?" Midoriya asked as she approached him. The man lifted his tired green eyes to her. "Yes, that’s me," he confirmed with a nod. "And you are?" "You can call me Izumi Shade. I came to you with an important matter because it affects the future of many people," Midoriya said quietly, looking around once more. It seemed no one was watching for now. "The future? Sit down," Yoichi said with a friendly smile, gesturing to the empty bench. "What are you talking about, child? And what does it have to do with me?" "First, tell me, have you heard anything about tempus vagus?" Midoriya decided to start from the beginning. If the records were correct, this man wouldn’t expose her. "Tempus vagus?" Yoichi raised his eyebrows in surprise, then his eyes lit up with recognition. "So you’re a descendant of Killian?" "If you mean Killian Allen, then yes," Midoriya nodded. She wasn’t yet familiar with Aunt Ari’s grandson, but she made a mental note to meet him soon. "You definitely have a family resemblance," the man smiled. "I know your… how should I say this? Grandfather? Predecessor? We studied together. We were good friends. He shared his secret about your family’s gift with me, but my brother overheard our conversation, and now Killian has to hide… " He fell silent abruptly and looked dejected. "In any case, now it’s clear how HE learned about tempus vagus…" Midoriya whispered. "I’m very sorry," Yoichi said sincerely. "Something must be happening in the future if you are here. And it involves my older brother if you came to me." "Unfortunately, yes," Midoriya nodded. "I can’t reveal everything since I don’t know much myself. So I’ll tell you what I know, and only the most important parts." Midoriya began to explain to Yoichi about All for One, his plans, and goals, as well as what had been offered to her in her time. She also explained about One For All, convincing Yoichi that he was not useless. Shigaraki, listening to her story, clenched his fists tightly. Unlike his older brother, he had always had a strong sense of justice and a desire to help others. He had never denied that his older brother had already gone too far, but in the future… Could he really be so manipulative with the lives of many people? Especially when they were descendants of his friends. But even knowing the future, there was little he could do. He was too weak. — Your story, Izumi-chan, sounds unreal. But I believe you. — Yoichi said after the girl finished speaking. — I can’t believe I have a Quirk. Or that my own brother could be so vile towards his loved ones. — I’m sorry for upsetting you, Shigaraki-san. — Izuku said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. — But I think you are strong enough to handle this. — You’re very kind. — He smiled faintly, looking at her with hopeful eyes. — And I’m glad you decided to trust me and talk before making any responsible decisions. It might be selfish of me, but I will ask you to take this. If there’s a way to start stopping my brother right now, it needs to be done. But for now, I’m tied up here in this hospital and can’t do much. Try to deliver this medication to my friend. — Shigaraki looked around and whispered quietly. — He recently started a resistance movement against my brother. Everyone only calls him by his nickname—The Second. You’ll find their base at the B*** warehouse. Tell them I sent you. In turn, I will let him know about you in advance. And yes… Say, Izumi Shade isn’t your real name? — It’s not. — The girl nodded. — I also adjusted my appearance a bit. Makeup and contact lenses work wonders. They shouldn’t recognize me in the present, so please give your friend my pseudonym. And please, promise me that no one else will know about me except for The Second. — Of course. I already let down Killian. I won’t make that mistake again. — The man nodded seriously. — There’s one more thing. — Izuku suddenly thought. We must adhere to the time frame, right? Which means… — Please remember this date, month, year, and time. In three years, another tempus vagus will visit you. You can tell him about me, but don’t reveal everything. This is so he can leave me information in the future. — Understood. — The man nodded, then tensed as he saw a black car driving past the gates. He immediately stood up and said: — You need to leave now! My brother is already here! If he sees you here, there will be problems! — How do I do that? I still have about an hour left. — Izuku looked fearfully at the corner where the car had just disappeared. — There’s a bush around the corner, and behind it, there’s a hole in the fence. I think you can slip through it. Run with all your might. I’ll delay them as much as I can. Go! As much as she didn’t want to leave the man alone, Izuku listened and ran away from the hospital. Indeed, there was a hole in the specified place that she easily slipped through. Panicking, she looked around and, hearing the rumble of coarse male voices, dashed into the courtyards, hoping to hide behind the buildings. However, someone still spotted her. — There she is! The boss said to catch that girl! — a shout came from behind. Feeling the adrenaline surge in her head from fear, Izuku sped up. She couldn’t be caught! She couldn’t! Weaving through alleys like a rabbit, she raced ahead, barely noticing the road. Her lungs were burning, and her eyes frantically searched for a place to hide. And, as luck would have it, she found nothing. Damn! Aizawa-sensei was right! Everything is too dangerous! There’s no one who could help her if something goes wrong! And nothing that could help her avoid danger! Her legs came to a sudden stop when, like a mountain, a huge muscular man appeared in front of her. To the right, to the left… And behind… She was trapped. — Caught up with you! Now be a good girl and come with us! — one of the thugs said venomously. “What do I do? What do I do?! I need an exit! I have to get away from them! I want to go back to my time!” — Izuku mentally screamed as the thugs closed in on her. Help came, strangely enough, from her own Quirk. Izuku suddenly felt the familiar nausea and was inexplicably glad about it. As soon as one of the thugs reached out to grab her, her feet lifted off the ground, and she vanished in an emerald flash…

* * *

July 3, 2317. 19:25. Japan, Musutafu. Central Street Izuku literally jumped out of thin air but managed to do a roll and land on her feet. She once again praised the training at the police academy and the hard work she put into it. Her breath was ragged, and the adrenaline was still coursing through her veins. The girl looked around frantically and was surprised to find herself on a familiar street in the center of Musutafu. It seemed she was incredibly lucky. She had managed to return to the present earlier than the Chronograph’s designated time. Was that even possible? She would need to ask her father about it. Taking a deep breath and glancing around furtively, Midoriya hurried towards UA Academy. She was still shaken from the experience. What if her Quirk hadn’t worked and she had been captured there? They would have caught her, and All for One would have found a way to keep her in that time! Lost in thought, the student didn’t notice when she bumped into someone. — Sorry! — Izuku exclaimed, stepping back two paces. — It’s fine! — Kirishima turned around and then stared in surprise. — Midoriya? Is that you? — Um… — Izuku was genuinely flustered. Her disguise wasn’t as good as she thought if a classmate she’d known for only a few days recognized her. She then slowly replied: — Hi, Kirishima-kun. How did you recognize me? — By your voice. I have a good memory for voices. — The boy answered, looking her up and down in astonishment. — Are you wearing contacts? Why? Your eye color is much better. And what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you had a meeting with the principal? — Eijiro squinted. — Yes, that’s right. — Izuku nodded in agreement, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. — I have a special… assignment from the principal! That’s why I’m wearing some sort of disguise! I needed to find a clue to understand it! Can you believe it? Nezu-san scattered them all over the city! — She nervously laughed. This isn’t working. He doesn’t believe her, that’s clear from his eyes. — Alright. — Kirishima stretched out, still doubtful. — If you don’t want to talk, that’s your choice. I’ll pretend to believe you. But are you free now? We’re just about to head out! The practice ran a bit long! Let’s grab a bite at McDonald’s! — Sorry, I can’t, Kirishima-kun. — Midoriya forced a smile, noticing a noisy group approaching from a distance. And, as luck would have it, Bakugo was there. That was the last thing she needed right now. — I need to get back to UA to report to the principal about the work I’ve done. And I don’t have any money with me. And, to be honest, I’d rather not see Kacchan again. — She decided to add some truth. In any case, that last point should be a strong argument. — I’ll pay for you! And don’t worry about Bakubro! He won’t bother you with us! Come on, Midoriya! — The redhead tried to convince her. — Sorry, another time! — The girl shook her head frantically, feeling a new wave of panic. — I need to get back urgently! I’m expected! We’ll talk later! Bye! With that, Izuku ran away as fast as she could, leaving the surprised boy watching her disappear into the crowd. Just a few minutes later, Eijiro was joined by Kaminari, Ashido, Sero, and Bakugo. — Kirishima, why are you standing there? Did you see a ghost or something? — Denki nudged him on the shoulder. — No. — The redhead shook his head, blinking. — I just ran into Midoriya. I invited her to join us, but she flatly refused. And she was even stranger than usual. All tense, her hands were shaking like she was scared of something. She looked like she was being chased by a horde of villains. And she ran off so fast. She could have outrun Iida at that speed. — Maybe she really was being chased? — Ashido asked, a bit worried, trying to spot the newcomer in the crowd. — Who would care about that useless Deku? Villains? Don’t make me laugh. She doesn’t even have a Quirk. — Bakugo snorted but tensed up. Something was definitely off with that nerd lately — he noticed that clearly. Even her strange avoidance of everyone, including him. It was as if she was deliberately avoiding everyone, hiding some secret. And their teacher was paying a lot of attention to her. Newbie, sure, but even with them, Aizawa didn’t fuss like this. Something was definitely wrong. It wasn’t for nothing that she was shoved into their class. — Bakubro, you’d better not say anything! She told me she didn’t want to go because of you too! — Kirishima glared at his friend. — What the hell?! What does that have to do with me?! — Katsuki exploded. — Well, you did drive her to a nervous breakdown even though she didn’t even last five minutes in the office. I’m not surprised. — Mina reproached him. — Oh, just forget about the newbie! Leave her be! We’ll be friends another time! — Sero waved his hand. — Let’s go to McDonald’s, I’m starving! Everyone agreed. And only Bakugo remained unusually thoughtful throughout their meal.

* * *

Izuku darted back to her room, locked the door, and slid down it. Her heart was pounding wildly after the long run, and her legs were weak. She wearily tilted her head back, wondering if she should tell Aizawa or Nezu about everything. If she did, they would probably forbid her from carrying out the mission. On the other hand, it would be unfair to those who helped so much. But thinking about Yoichi’s exhausted appearance, who asked her to agree to this plan and help him fight All for One… Izuku simply couldn’t let him down. I wonder if he’s okay? With a heavy sigh, the girl got up and began to freshen up. She quickly removed her contacts and changed into her pajamas. To distract herself from the troubling thoughts, she sat down to do her homework, but no matter how hard she tried, she kept thinking about what had happened. When all the assignments were completed with difficulty, she lay on her bed and continued reading the journal, trying to find any further information about Yoichi. But there was nothing. No further entries or mentions. There were only notes about The Second, the leader of the resistance movement in 2198, who conducted a liberation operation, taking down one of All for One’s hideouts. Midoriya wearily sank into her pillow and closed her eyes. That’s enough. She would think about all of this later. She was too tired from the day. With these thoughts, the girl fell into a restless sleep…

* * *

July 4, 2317. 09:05. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy — This is a very bad idea, troublesome child. I’ll repeat: it’s a very bad idea. — Shota Aizawa said sternly after hearing the student's decision. Now that the break had arrived, Midoriya had taken him aside and told him about her agreement to undertake the secret mission. Moreover, she had already sent an affirmative response to Nezu, who had responded with undisguised joy, stating that preparations for everything necessary would begin. — I know. — Izuku sighed. — I’m fully aware of the risks. I know you won’t be able to help me on the other side. Anything could happen to me. I know it’s very dangerous. But… If I can help even in this way, be useful, if I can influence the current situation… Please, Aizawa-sensei. Let me use my Quirk for good. — Your father would kill me if he knew about this. — Shota sighed heavily. — Not to mention, we promised your mother that you would be safe. You don’t have to put yourself at risk and get involved in adult affairs. — But I’m already involved in these affairs. — Izuku insisted, looking into the teacher’s eyes resolutely. — I’ve been involved in all of this since before I was born. If you think about it, I don’t really have a choice. And besides… Sensei, it’s my Quirk. I’m free to use it as I wish. And right now, I want to help make sure that, by our time, THIS person is as weakened as possible. — Alright. — The hero conceded, realizing that arguing was futile. — Then your schedule will change. You’ll have combat training with me. We’ll need to order the necessary weapons and equipment from the support department. I take it you want to start acting immediately? — Yes. — The time traveler replied firmly. — And where are you rushing off to… — The teacher yawned. — Time is a treacherous river, Aizawa-sensei. I understand the responsibility that rests on my shoulders. Every action I take has weight. So, the timelines and loops must be adhered to within the designated time if we want the present to be as it is. I can’t go against these laws. — She replied. The bell rang. The teacher and student headed back to class. No one noticed Bakugo, who had been standing behind the wall and had heard the entire conversation, frowning more intensely with each passing minute. Katsuki wouldn’t admit to anyone that he had decided to follow the teacher and the nerd after they left the classroom. But he certainly felt it was worth it. He needed answers! But now he had even more questions! Why did Deku agree to some secret mission proposed by the principal? And it’s too dangerous for her? What does “...won’t be able to help me on the other side...” mean? There won’t be heroes around? She’s supposed to spy on villains? But why trust such a Quirkless failure with something like that? And what does “the timelines and loops must be adhered to within the designated time” mean? Why did Aizawa say he promised her parents to take care of her?! What the hell is going on here?! He wanted to pin the nerd to the wall and shake out the whole truth. But Bakugo knew her well since childhood. She wouldn’t crack under any circumstances, no matter how much she was threatened or how scared she was. She wouldn’t say anything. She’d rather die than talk. However, Katsuki would do everything to find out what the hell was going on and what mess this Deku had gotten herself into. Grumbling, he headed back to class. The bell had already rung.

* * *

— Alright, I admit, you do have decent combat skills. — Aizawa nodded in satisfaction after the short sparring session. Izuku was breathing heavily, leaning on her knees. Since she had given her consent, the homeroom teacher now trained her every day after classes. And during physical education as well. While everyone else was practicing techniques, their homeroom teacher was beating her up. And what did she tell him? The police academy placed great emphasis on hand-to-hand combat. And before that, the girl had been attending wrestling classes for just over a year. When she was in middle school, she had asked her mother to enroll her in a combat sports club. The teacher there was a retired pro hero, so the training was tough, making her want to quit at first. However, her dream of becoming a hero was stronger, so she had to endure. Eventually, she became accustomed to the demands. And now, all those skills came in handy. Although she might not be able to do much against a real pro, she could disable someone for a while and make a getaway quite realistically. — I’ve noticed something. — Aizawa continued thoughtfully, looking at the student. — For an ordinary person without a Quirk, you have a very high speed. And I have a theory I want to test. Do you mind? — No. What’s the theory? — Izuku asked, surprised, looking at the instructor. — It’s about your speed. I want you to try to outrun the fastest of my students. If you don’t succeed, you’ll run penalties. Iida! Come here! — The hero called for the class representative. — Yes, Aizawa-sensei! — Ingenium exclaimed, shaking off his sports suit. — I want to conduct a speed race. Give Midoriya a good competition. — The man requested. — But teacher, this would be unfair to Midoriya-chan! I’m much faster even without using my Quirk! — Tensei protested. — It’s just an experiment. — The teacher sighed heavily. — Let’s go, the distance is one hundred meters. Everyone else, clear the field! A couple of minutes were spent preparing. All the classmates lined up behind Aizawa and watched with interest as Midoriya and Iida warmed up before the race. The homeroom teacher brought a special robot that recorded the results at the required distance. Everything was ready. Izuku looked at the boy with engines and couldn’t even imagine how she might outrun him. But she didn’t want to run penalties — their sensei was a beast. So, determined, she looked forward and focused. She could do it! The whistle blew. The students instantly took off. The class representative was already far ahead, leaving Izuku with no hope. But in the next moment, the hum of time played in her ears. No, she didn’t feel she was about to teleport. It was something else. Step. Faster, with all her might! Second step. Everything around seemed to slow down. Third step. Even faster! Another step. Push harder! She could do it! And another step. She didn’t even notice when she caught up with Tensei. Aizawa nodded as he watched. Just as he thought. This girl might not only travel through time but also manipulate it. She slows everything around her, thus getting ahead quickly. Meanwhile, for everyone else, the flow of time remains unchanged. Classmates, seeing the newcomer suddenly catch up with their class representative, gaped in shock. Especially Bakugo, who simply couldn’t believe his eyes. — Midoriya Izuku, 6.03 seconds! — The robot’s voice announced. — Iida Tensei, 6.04 seconds! The girl abruptly slowed down and barely stayed on her feet. She breathed deeply and rapidly, realizing she had hardly breathed throughout the race. The hum of the clock in her ears faded, and her consciousness cleared. Time around seemed to return to its usual flow. What just happened? Midoriya looked over and saw the class representative staring at her with deep amazement. Her classmates weren’t far behind. Everyone was shocked that, for a fraction of a second, the Quirkless newbie had managed to outrun the fastest in their class! — I was joking yesterday when I said Midoriya-chan, with her running speed, could outrun our class representative… — Kirishima said in shock. Unfortunately, his comment was heard by everyone in the grave silence. “How. The. Hell. Is. This. Possible?!” — Katsuki thought furiously, unable to believe what he had seen. — So, do you have a speed Quirk, Midoriya-chan? — Iida asked, adjusting his glasses. — Did Bakugo-kun lie to us, saying you were Quirkless? At any rate, you’re a worthy opponent! Sorry for underestimating you at first! — Um… It’s okay. — The girl replied, not knowing what to say. She didn’t have any Quirk. Looking at Aizawa, Izuku realized. He wanted to test whether her increased natural speed was due to her Quirk or the Tempus Vagus gene. And, of course, the latter turned out to be true, if she recalled the sensations during the race. Then everyone returned to their activities, and Aizawa called Midoriya aside to inform her about minor changes in their training. The focus would now be on speed and endurance. And the green-haired girl felt this was just the beginning of hellish days. Meanwhile, Katsuki, clenching his fists, glared at her back with a dark look.

* * *

July 10, 2317. 14:18. Japan, Musutafu. UA Academy, Shota Aizawa’s office — So! — Nezu began excitedly, clapping his paws. — Midoriya-chan, I need to ask you again. Are you absolutely sure you want to take on this mission? — Yes. — Izuku nodded decisively, adjusting her fingerless gloves and the strap of her small backpack. It had taken a week to prepare for her first venture into the past as an unofficial hero. Aizawa had pushed her to her limits during these days while preparing the drug and special equipment. The dark gear included an elastic suit with an exoskeleton, boots with iron soles, and gloves with impact-enhancing plates. Izuku had declined a mask, opting instead for makeup and contact lenses. Her hair, like before her mission with Yoichi, was gathered in a tight bun. When she looked in the mirror, she was shocked. The reflection was that of a true underground hero! It was decided that she would jump to the past for two and a half hours, in the early morning. And, of course, she would do this from Aizawa’s office. The chronograph was already prepared and waiting for its moment. — Did you remember everything? As soon as you find this Second, give him the drug and return. No improvisation. You’re not ready yet, and you can’t rely on just one support suit. — Aizawa said sternly, though his eyes betrayed his anxiety. — I understand, Aizawa-sensei. You can count on me. — The girl replied firmly. Izuku approached the chronograph and began inputting the necessary numbers with familiar movements. She didn’t know the exact date, so she decided to go by guesswork. ‘‘05/17/2198, 05:00 — 07:30’’ Pressing the green button boldly, Midoriya inserted her finger into the slot. A familiar injection followed, and her blood flowed into the core of the machine. The chronograph lit up with a bright green light, and, under the anxious gazes of Aizawa and Nezu, she disappeared in an emerald flash...

* * *

May 17, 2198. 05:00. North Valley Park Izuku jumped down to the ground effortlessly and looked around. Since it was early morning, there were no people around. The building she had seen in 2195 had expanded, taking on the appearance of a high-rise building vaguely resembling one of UA’s wings. But that didn’t matter. Sitting on a bench, she took out a map and began studying it. She hoped that the warehouse mentioned by Yoichi was still there. The journey to the warehouse took over an hour if walking through inconspicuous streets. But safety came first, and the green-haired girl had promised Aizawa to be cautious. There was no choice. Folding the map and stowing it in her suit pocket, tempus vagus headed along the planned route. The student almost ran, frequently glancing around. Occasionally she stopped to catch her breath and check the map, feeling like a heroine from an action movie searching for a villain's base. But this wasn’t a film—it was reality, which was truly dangerous. Still, she lost too much time on the road. By the time Izuku finally reached her destination, she had less than an hour left before her return. A man with deep scars on his face and smoking a thick cigarette stood at the entrance to the warehouse. His nervousness was evident in his gestures. Taking a deep breath, Izuku stepped out from behind the trees and walked straight towards him but stopped ten paces away as a rifle was immediately pointed at her. — What do you want, kid? Get out of here before I start shooting. — the man gruffly said. — I come in peace. — Izuku raised her hands, swallowing a lump of fear. — I’m looking for the Second. Is he here? — Why do you need our leader? — the man stiffened, tightening his grip on the rifle. — I’m from Shigaraki Yoichi. I have a message. — Identify yourself. — the guard demanded. — Izumi Shade. — Izuku gave her alias, biting her lip in anxiety. — Don’t make a move. I’ll shoot to kill. — With that, the man pulled out a radio. — Second, there’s a girl here. Name’s Izumi Shade. Says she’s sent by Shigaraki Yoichi. — /Let her in/ — came the reply from the radio after a few seconds. — Heard that? Hurry up and come inside. Go straight down the corridor and turn left. — The man, checking around carefully, opened the door. No need to repeat. Izuku swiftly slipped inside and found herself in a dark, gloomy corridor illuminated by dim lamps. The door closed behind her, cutting off any retreat. Overcoming her anxiety, she moved forward along the indicated route. Her heart raced as she turned left and, after a few meters, entered a large room cluttered with boxes. In the center, a few people were sitting in a circle. They radiated a tense atmosphere, as if expecting an attack. Noticing her, they all turned their heads sharply and reached for their weapons. But one of them waved his hand and asked everyone to step aside. Reluctantly, they left him. The man then gestured for her to follow him and led her to a small empty room. — So, you are Izumi Shade, the one Yoichi wrote about over two years ago? — The man, with red hair and severe scars across his nose and forehead, asked calmly, stopping a few steps from her. He looked at her with deep, piercing red eyes, as if trying to understand the person before him. — Yes. — Midoriya nodded slightly. — And you are the Second, right? — Receiving an affirmative nod, she asked again: — How much has Yoichi-san told you about me? — In his message, he only mentioned that you would come to us sooner or later. And asked me to listen to and trust you. Since my friend asked me, I cannot refuse. Why are you here, child? — This may sound strange. The thing is, I’m here to carry out a special mission. — Izuku began. — I’ve traveled from the future to carry out a special task in your time to weaken All For One before my present. In 2195, I visited Yoichi-san to find out whom I should contact to deliver a special drug that will weaken this villain. — From the future, huh… — The Second pondered for a few seconds. — What kind of drug? Why are you delivering it, and why did you decide to help us? Why not just give us the recipe? — The drug weakens a Quirk with each administration and eventually eliminates it altogether. — Izuku explained. — As for why I’m the one delivering it… My family carries a special gene that allows time travel. People like me are called tempus vagus. All For One wants to acquire my power, so I’m doing everything to ensure he’s weakened in my present, at least partially. That’s why I’m helping you. I could give you the recipe, but you wouldn’t be able to recreate it. The base of the drug is the blood of a girl with a special Quirk. And she won’t be born for another hundred years, if not more. — So you want to weaken All For One in the past to make it easier to defeat him in the future. And to do that, you’ve traveled through time to deliver the drug made in the future. Did I understand correctly? — The Second asked for clarification. — Yes. Moreover, once you administer this drug to All For One, he will start to weaken immediately. It will also make it easier for you to fight him. — Izuku nodded, pulling out a small case from her backpack containing vials of pink medicine. — Take this. Along with the vials, there are syringes and special bullets for administering the drug. — This is quite a surprise. — The man took the case. — If it weren’t for Yoichi, I might not have believed your words. Although, it’s clear that you mean no harm. Hah… I never expected to receive support from the future. Nevertheless, you’ve just given us a chance for a successful operation. I have little idea how to inject this bastard with the drug, but I think I’ll figure it out. — If it’s not a secret, what operation are you referring to? — Izuku asked. — The operation to rescue Yoichi from All For One’s captivity. — The red-haired man sighed. — The day Yoichi wrote to me about you, All For One took him from the hospital and has been holding him ever since. We needed time to find out where he was kept. Tomorrow, we’re going to free him. — So it’s my fault… — The time traveler’s shoulders slumped. — If I had known what my jump that day would lead to... — It’s not your fault. — The Second shook his head. — Since Yoichi chose to buy you time, it means you’re worth it. In any case, I understand him now. Thank you, Izumi-chan. — I have a few minutes left. — Glancing at her watch, Izuku said. Damn, she had lost a lot of time by taking a longer route! She should have allowed for extra time! — Lastly, I want to ask you not to tell anyone that I am a tempus vagus. I am taking a great risk. — Don’t worry, I understand. Consider this secret will go to the grave with me. — The man replied seriously. — When will you visit us again? — I think it will be about three days for you. I can't be sure. — Izuku shook her head, feeling herself about to return. — In that case, I'll arrange a pass for you. I'll say you're supplying us with weapons. I'll be expecting you again, Izumi-chan. — Until we meet again. With those words, the girl's feet lifted off the ground, and she vanished in an emerald flash...