Wanderer in Time

May 20, 2198. 11:30 AM. Japan, Musutafu. Resistance Base — Warehouse B*** "Did everything go well? Were you able to administer the first dose of the All for One drug?" Izuku asked, looking at the men. As promised, she visited them after the rescue operation had been completed. To her great relief, everything had been resolved successfully and in their favor. However, the story Yoichi told about his brother's torture and how he passed on the quirk cast a shadow over the outcome. Midoriya could only sigh—this meant that "One for All" was born, and now the quirk would be passed on like a torch from one person to another. "Yes," the Second nodded. "We were lucky that in the heat of the battle, he didn't notice the dart. Everything went smoothly, and even the effect of his quirk weakened. That was enough for our squad to successfully complete the mission. Thank you again, Izumi-chan." "I also need to thank you," Yoichi smiled weakly. "Thank you for agreeing to take on this mission, and for warning me about my brother. I might not be able to defeat him—I'm too weak and exhausted. That's why I’ve already passed my quirk to the Second, so he can continue the fight." "So now 'One for All' is with you?" Izuku addressed the Second. "Yes," the man nodded. "It's hard to believe that such power exists now. Who wields it in your time?" "I can't say for sure," Midoriya shook her head. "The last person I know who had it was a hero called All Might. Who knows, he might have already passed it on." "You know, Izumi-chan, I would really like for 'One for All' to end up with you someday," Shigaraki said sincerely, looking warmly at the girl. "You would be a worthy successor—brave, willing to help everyone, to save them. You risk your own life." "If you'd told me that a year ago, Yoichi-san, I would have been happy," Izuku smiled sadly. "But things turned out differently. My life was literally turned upside down two weeks ago, and I'm still adjusting. I think if I were entrusted with 'One for All' as well, I would be torn apart. For now, being tempus vagus is enough for me." "How much time do you have left?" the Second asked. "About five minutes," Izuku said, glancing at her watch. "I need to get outside. Last time, I ended up in the basement of a residential building in my time. Luckily, the door wasn't locked, or I would have been stuck there for a while." "Then let's go." A few minutes later, they were all outside. The Second, unable to resist, took out a cigarette and lit it. Shigaraki, casting a mildly reproachful glance at him, turned back to Izuku, who was waiting for the familiar sensation of the return jump. "When will you visit us again, Izumi-chan?" Yoichi asked, looking up at the clear sky. "I can't say," Midoriya shrugged. "There’s almost nothing in the records about which time periods I visited in the past." "In any case, the drug you gave us should last for about a year or two," the Second said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I think you can visit us closer to the year 2200. If, of course, we live that long." "Don't be so pessimistic, Second," Yoichi chuckled slightly. "But I agree, anything is possible. So, with your permission, we'll warn our successors about you, Izumi-chan." "I don't mind," Izuku nodded, starting to feel the time countdown. "Besides, I know the time intervals you live in, so I'll visit you within those limits." "We'll be waiting for you, Izumi-chan," the Second nodded. "Goodbye…" With these words, Izuku disappeared in a bright emerald flash...

* * *

July 13, 2317. 09:00 AM. Japan, Musutafu. Eastern District The girl landed on her feet and exhaled in relief. This time, she didn’t end up in a basement like before but near it. Who knew that a residential complex had been built on the site of that warehouse? Sighing, Midoriya sent a message to Aizawa-sensei, informing him that everything went well and she was heading back to the academy. She had been asked to jump into the past early this morning, as they were leaving for U.S.J. with the class at twelve o'clock. When Izuku asked why she was going somewhere where she would be completely useless, Eraser Head responded that it was part of the training. The green-haired girl needed to learn to react quickly during a catastrophe, and the territory of the Unforeseen Simulation Joint was the perfect training ground for that. So, she needed to be at the school parking lot with the others by noon. Not that Izuku was against it. On the contrary, she was excited about the trip. She was allowed to wear her costume! Thirteen would be there! And… All Might. She still had mixed feelings about him. On top of that, there was an uneasy feeling gnawing at her. It was already 11:30 when Midoriya was approaching the academy. She wasn’t in a rush and even managed to grab a quick bite. Fortunately, she didn’t need to change clothes—nowadays, she almost always traveled to the past in her hero costume, except when visiting the time in which her father lived. The UA parking lot already had a bus ready. Gradually, her classmates gathered and boarded it. Izuku quickly climbed into the bus and took a seat in the back corner. “Oh wow! Midoriya, you’re coming with us!” Uraraka exclaimed, sitting down next to her. “Yeah.” The time traveler smiled sourly. The bus started moving as soon as Aizawa finished checking everyone. It seemed that Thirteen and All Might would make their way to the disaster zone on their own. “This will be your first time at U.S.J., right? I’m sure you’ll love it there!” Ochako said enthusiastically. “Oh, Midoriya is with us?” Kirishima said loudly. “Great! We can chat a bit while we’re on our way!” “Everyone’s really curious to know more about you, ribbit,” Asui added. “You’re always so quiet and quickly leave to see Principal Nezu, ribbit.” “What do you want to know?” Izuku asked hesitantly, looking at everyone. “Well, for example, where did you study before? What are your lessons with Principal Nezu about? Oh, and your quirk! We shouldn’t have listened to Bakugo, who insisted you didn’t have one! It’s so cool! Iida finally has a real competitor!” Ashido babbled excitedly. “That’s right! We absolutely have to race again, Midoriya-chan! This time, I’ll beat you!” Iida declared determinedly. “I used to study at a local police academy,” the green-haired girl decided to answer Mina’s questions. “My lessons with Principal Nezu are pretty standard: history, quirk analysis, tactics, and strategies... Since I have the opportunity, I aim to become an underground hero. They do most of the work. As for my quirk, I can’t tell you much. I don’t even know all my abilities. I’m sorry.” “Why were you transferred to UA?” Kaminari asked. “Mostly because of my abilities,” Izuku answered evasively. For the rest of the trip, Midoriya felt like she was being interrogated. Her classmates were curious about everything! Favorite food, birthday, hobbies, what it was like to study at a police academy. They even asked about her watch, since such models were now rare. The time traveler felt immense relief when the bus finally stopped and Aizawa told everyone to get off. The training complex was indeed enormous. Izuku’s mouth even fell open in surprise at the scale of the structure. The entrance was higher than the rest of the complex. A long staircase led down from the spacious platform to the central square. In the middle of the square, right in the center of the large dome, stood a similarly round fountain. From that spot, one could access the other zones: the storm, ruins, fire, landslide, mountain, and water zones. Midoriya couldn’t wait to explore everything here. She briefly wondered what had been on this site before the magnificent structure was built. As soon as they entered the territory, they were greeted by Thirteen and All Might. The latter, in a cheerful voice and with his signature smile, began calling the roll, checking if all the students were present. “Midoriya Izuku?” the number one hero called her name. The girl, gathering her courage, raised her hand to indicate she was there. “Oh! I heard you had a new student, but I haven’t had the honor of meeting her yet! I was told she’s studying under a special program! I’m glad to finally meet you! Welcome to UA, young Midoriya!” “Th-thank you,” the tempus vagus replied quietly, exhaling. Of course, he didn’t recognize her. After all, two years had passed, and she was in disguise. In any case, it was for the best. “Well, since everyone is here, I think…” Suddenly, All Might was interrupted by a black portal that opened right near the center of the square. A horde of villains poured out of it. The students made for the exit, but their path was blocked by the same man who had brought all these criminals here. He introduced himself as Kurogiri and, strangely enough, was very polite for a villain. He even explained the purpose of their attack. It turned out to be quite simple. An organization called the “League of Villains” wanted to destroy All Might, which is why they showed up during the lesson he was supposed to teach as the third instructor. While the villains droned on, Aizawa quickly assessed the situation and immediately sent Iida back to UA for help. “… And since the final boss is here, we can deal with him!” the man covered in disembodied hands said with a note of madness. It seemed he was the leader. His face was hidden behind tangled white hair and a disembodied hand, just like the others on his body. The villain’s skin was deathly pale with a greenish tint, identical to the skin on the disembodied hands from some corpses. Just the sight of him was terrifying. No, more than that—it inspired primal fear. Suddenly, the villain’s crimson eyes locked directly onto her, and Izuku could have sworn they widened in surprise and pure rage. “YOU!!!” the villain roared, hurling one of his hands at her. Acting on pure instinct, Midoriya dodged the attack. “It was you!!! You’re the cheater! The biggest cheater here!!! Forget the final boss, Kurogiri, plans have changed! I want that girl!” The girl’s heart sank in fear. What did this villain want from her? Why was he after her? Out of the corner of her eye, Izuku caught a worried look from Aizawa, who was already preparing for battle. “Shigaraki Tomura, why the sudden change in our plan?” the misty villain asked calmly. “She’s a damn cheater!!! I remember her!!! I remember her perfectly!!!” the leader yelled. “It was her that day!!!” Then he screamed at her with desperation and hatred. “Why?! Why didn’t you save me then?! Why did you leave me to die?! Answer me!!!” Izuku’s eyes widened in fear. What was this villain talking about? Shigaraki? He was All for One’s successor? Something inside her twisted unpleasantly. Didn’t save him? Left him to die? But she was seeing him for the first time! Unless... something was going to happen in her future. But what could possibly make her abandon someone in need? That wasn’t like her at all! “Answer me, Izumi Shade!!! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME TO DIE THEN?!” Shigaraki continued to scream. All Might, Thirteen, and Aizawa looked at the student, trying to figure out what the new girl had gotten herself into and why she was being called by another name. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Izuku managed to respond, summoning her courage. Inside, everything was churning. He knew her alias from the past… “Hm…” the villain suddenly fell silent, then continued in a grave voice. “Yes, sensei warned me about this. But it doesn’t matter. Our goal has changed. Heroes, give me that cheater, and we promise to leave peacefully this time.” “I don’t know what this is about, but no one is giving you this girl,” All Might said seriously, preparing to attack. Izuku, meanwhile, frantically tried to figure out what to do. The villains had now targeted her instead of All Might. If she were alone, it would be much simpler, but now her classmates were here… She needed to lead the danger away from them. Buy some time. “Aizawa-sensei, I’m counting on you,” Midoriya said through gritted teeth. “Don’t you dare, problem child!” Eraser Head growled, but it was too late. “Hey!” Izuku shouted at the top of her lungs. “If you want me, then come on! Let’s see if you and your gang can catch me!” With those words, the girl bolted, running wherever her eyes led her. ‘‘Everyone, after that girl! Bring her to me alive!’’ Shigaraki ordered, and the villains rushed after the student. Tomura himself and Kurogiri began fending off All Might and Aizawa. The classmates watched in silent shock. Are villains really after the new girl? Why did they call her by a different name? "Deku… Are you really spying on the villains? And now they've found out and want to kill you?" Katsuki gritted his teeth, analyzing the situation. After all, why else would those creeps be after that nerd? “Kirishima, I just remembered how you said that a horde of villains was after Midoriya... Looks like you were right. You sure you don't have some kind of quirk for predicting things?” Mina asked in a trembling voice, recalling his recent joke. “No…” Eijiro barely managed to whisper. "Everyone, follow me immediately!" Thirteen commanded. "I'll lead you to a safe place!" Thirteen quickly led the students to a bunker, specially designed for such situations. As soon as everyone was securely locked inside, the hero raced to help the new student who had bought them some time…

* * *

Izu was running headlong, not paying attention to where she was going, while dodging quirks left and right. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and fear gripped her soul with icy hands. They yelled at her to stop, threatened to break her legs and rip off her limbs. They told her to surrender. But she stubbornly ran forward, fully aware that she must not fall into the hands of these villains. After all, they worked for All For One. Midoriya cursed the fact that she had already used the chronograph today. If only she could jump through time right now… Wait… She can! It’s happened before! She’s jumped before when she genuinely wanted to escape! She just needed to concentrate. To call upon the power. This was her gift; she could use it anytime! Even without a time machine! “Come on, come on!” Izu prayed. “I need to be somewhere safe! Somewhere they can’t reach me! I can do this! I can!” The familiar ticking noise filled her ears, growing louder and louder. The nausea returned, and sparks began to flicker. Dodging another villain's attack, Midoriya felt a surge of relief as her feet left the ground, and an emerald flash carried her away through time. “Damn it! We lost her!” one of the villains cried out in frustration. “Where did she go?!” “Shigaraki’s going to kill us!!!” groaned another in despair. “Maybe if we rough up a few of the kids, he’ll forgive us?” a third suggested meekly. “They’ve probably already been taken to safety while we were chasing after that slippery girl! What speed…” “Let’s head back. We've got nothing to lose.” The villains arrived just in time to see All Might send Nomu flying out of the training complex with his signature punch. Aizawa was keeping Shigaraki from using his quirk, while Thirteen battled Kurogiri. The students, as they had suspected, had already been taken to a safe place. “Where’s the girl?! Where’s that damn cheater?!” Shigaraki yelled, noticing the approaching heroes arriving as reinforcements. “We don’t know! She suddenly vanished into thin air!” one of the villains reported hysterically. Aizawa exhaled in relief. Midoriya was safe. Or at least as safe as she could be. It was certainly better for her to be in the past until all this was over. “Damn NPCs!!! You let the main cheater get away!!!” Shigaraki raged, scratching his neck until it bled. “Shigaraki Tomura, calm yourself. We need to leave,” Kurogiri said with icy calm, retreating behind his protégé. “This can’t be the end! This can’t be how the game ends!” Shigaraki ranted, as the misty villain began pulling him into a portal. The boy spat out with hatred, “This time, it's our loss, but next time, we’ll get that little cheater! Tell Izumi Shade she won’t escape us! And you, All Might! Next time, you’re finished, Symbol of Peace!” With these words, the main villains disappeared. The remaining ones were apprehended by the heroes. Thirteen and Aizawa weren’t too badly hurt, unlike All Might, who had battled Nomu. All the students were safe too. The only thing missing was Midoriya Izu, but Eraserhead reassured them that she was okay and would be back soon. At least, he hoped so…

* * *

November 11th, 2260. 18:40. Japan, Musutafu. Old Amusement Park Midoriya emerged from the emerald flash and landed gracefully on her feet. She braced her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. It worked! She managed to escape the villains using the power of tempus vagus consciously! And without the chronograph! But... where was she now? The girl looked around. She was in a park, very old and even abandoned. Only a few people were around, mostly elderly folks or athletes. The crimson sunset cast a bright streak of light across everything — it was most likely late evening. And judging by the leaves falling from the trees, it was autumn. “Izuku? What are you doing here?” came a dry voice. “Excuse me?” Midoriya turned around and saw a short woman of advanced age before her. Not old, no. It was hard to call her that because she looked very well-groomed. An elegant dark coat, fastened tightly, a gray scarf, and neat boots — everything emphasized her aristocratic appearance. Her light hair, with a few strands of gray, was styled in a high, elegant coiffure. Her facial features were European, but her black eyes were typically Japanese and seemed to look straight into one's soul. “Hm…” the stranger said thoughtfully. “Judging by your reaction, you don’t know me yet, do you? What year is it for you?” “2317,” Midoriya replied in shock and immediately tensed, mentally kicking herself. She shouldn’t be talking to strangers so freely! “Ah, I see. You’ll only visit me for the first time in 2318, if I remember correctly, not before then,” the woman nodded to herself, and then, noticing the teenager's reaction, she softly added, “You don't need to be afraid of me. Let’s sit down.” Izuku, casting a wary glance at the lady, cautiously sat down on the bench beside her. While she didn't feel threatened by the woman, it was still wise to stay alert. “I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Anna Asakura-Allen.” Midoriya's eyes widened at this. The woman chuckled at her reaction. “That’s right. I’m your great-grandmother and also a *tempus vagus*. You can call me Grandma Anna for now. Tell me, was this an uncontrolled jump? You look very confused.” “In a way,” Izuku relaxed a bit. “Villains were chasing me. I tried with all my might to reach out to my gene and time travel, even though I’d already used the chronograph today. I managed it, but... what year is it now?” “It’s November 11th, 2260. And it’s 6:47 PM,” Anna informed her. “As for the jumps, yes, every *tempus vagus* can, with strong enough desire, force themselves to travel through time by sheer will. Our predecessor, Jeanne Lee-Frost, was the only one who perfected this skill. She could move to any date without the chronograph's help. And to any point in the world. She could even control how long she stayed, be it days or weeks in the past. By the way, it was with her help that the chronograph was developed.” “I see... And where are we?” Izuku asked curiously. “Oh!” the woman's face lit up with enthusiasm. “This is my favorite park! I used to walk here often. Forty years ago, it was thriving, but now, unfortunately, it’s been abandoned,” her enthusiasm quickly turned to sadness. “Sometimes time is relentless to everything, isn’t it? I’m actually glad we have the ability to travel through time. We can always see our loved ones again.” “I’m glad, too, in a way,” Midoriya smiled, looking at the sunset. “If it weren't for this gift, I wouldn’t have met my dad. And I wouldn’t have met my grandmothers. But I’m scared. It’s such a big responsibility. Everything has changed so suddenly, and I constantly feel the weight of danger on my shoulders. Grandma Anna, you’ve seen me from the future, right? Please tell me, will I make it?” “More than that, dear,” Asakura nodded, gently ruffling her great-granddaughter’s hair. “And you’ll be happy. That’s why I’m at peace about my descendants.” “Thank you,” warmth spread through Izuku’s soul. “By the way, try not to wear those lenses! They don’t suit you at all! Your natural green color is much prettier! Trust me, I know a thing or two about fashion! Natural beauty is everything!” Anna declared passionately. “I don’t wear them for beauty,” Midoriya shook her head. “They’re part of my hero costume.” “I can’t believe my granddaughter has no sense of style!” Asakura said in mock outrage. “At least switch to blue or gray! They’d suit you better!” “I’ll think about it!” the girl laughed. They talked for a while longer. Izuku noted that it was very interesting and calming to be with Grandma Anna. The woman wanted to tell her so much but didn’t even know where to start. Often, she would drift off-topic, muttering and analyzing things aloud. This made Midoriya burst into laughter! So that’s where she got that habit from! After an hour, the familiar ticking sound began playing in her ears, and a slight nausea appeared. The space in front of her eyes started to blur in the usual way. It was time to return to the present. “Goodbye, Grandma Anna,” Izuku managed to say before disappearing in a bright emerald flash. “See you again, little Izuku,” Anna said with a gentle smile as she rose from the bench and headed towards the park’s exit.

* * *

July 13th, 2317. 2:03 PM. Japan, Musutafu. U.S.J. Zone Izuku landed not far from where she had disappeared and immediately looked around. The villains were nowhere to be seen, but the voices of the teachers could be clearly heard. Most likely, the battle was already over. The student cautiously made her way back to where the others were, trying to stay out of sight just in case her assumptions were wrong. Fortunately, she was right. The villains had already been captured and taken away. All her classmates were present, and the teachers were discussing something anxiously. “We can't find Midoriya Izuku anywhere! We’ve searched everywhere!” Thirteen said in a panic. “It's okay! I’m here!” the time traveler stepped out from her hiding place as soon as she realized they were talking about her. Everyone turned toward her in unison. “I told you she was fine and that there was no need to worry,” Aizawa sighed in relief, but then he gave her a stern look that clearly said an interrogation was inevitable. “No need to worry? That’s not like you, Aizawa!” All Might objected angrily. “Young Midoriya acted recklessly by allowing a crowd of villains to chase her! And why are they even after her? How could you have admitted a student who endangers other students?!” Izuku flinched and hung her head low. Once again, her childhood idol was treating her horribly. First, he shattered her dream, and now he was claiming she was a threat to everyone else. As if she didn’t already know how dangerous she was to everyone! She knew… That’s why she just wanted to lead the danger away, to buy them all time. She wanted to help. Her hands clenched into fists on their own. It seemed like the conflict with the Symbol of Peace was some kind of family curse, no less. In any case, it was starting to make sense why her father always spoke so harshly about Toshinori Yagi. “I have my own theories, which I’ll keep to myself,” Aizawa said in a grave tone. “And I’ll deal with my student personally. I’ll decide whether her presence is a threat to everyone. Don’t forget that the villains originally came for you, All Might. So, you’re no less of a threat to everyone. You should thank this child for giving us the chance to get the students to a safe place.” “WHAT THE HELL, DEKU?! YOU THINK YOU’RE SOME KIND OF HERO?!” Bakugo lost his temper and lunged at the girl, but he was immediately restrained by the capture tape of their homeroom teacher. “WHY DID YOU, A USELESS PIECE OF TRASH, SURRENDER TO THE VILLAINS?! WHAT THE HELL STARTED HAPPENING AS SOON AS YOU SHOWED UP AT UA?! ANSWER ME, QUIRKLESS LOSER, WHY IS EVERYONE SO CONCERNED ABOUT YOU?! WHAT KIND OF DAMN SECRETS HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN JUST TWO WEEKS?!” “That’s none of your business,” Izuku said slowly, deliberately, as she raised her head. Her face was twisted with pure anger, and tears of bitterness streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her patience had evaporated after everything that had been said. Her nerves finally gave out after all the reprimands. The flood of emotions she had been holding back for years burst forth. “But I can let you in on one secret! I’m doing way more than you right now! More than all of you! Even more than you, All Might! I’m doing a job that none of you can do! I’m trying to make your lives easier! Oh, and you know what, Bakugo, All Might! When you crushed my dream of becoming a hero, I took your advice! I did it for the first time when the ‘Symbol of Peace,’” she spat the words with venom, “left me on that rooftop! Yes, Bakugo! You won’t believe it! I took a damn leap of faith! With a prayer to be born with a Quirk in my next life! But I was saved and convinced to live! To wait! I was told that I could still become what I wanted! And then I took your advice, All Might! Even though you shattered my dream, I still wanted to be a hero! So, I went to study at the damn police academy! And then my life was turned upside down, and now I’m here! And if you don’t like it, that’s your problem! Don’t you dare blame me for being a target! Because any promising student here is a target, and we have a whole class of them! Not to mention you, All Might! Yes, I acted recklessly! But I knew what I was doing!” Everyone listened in shock as the new student yelled. Her words were filled with pain, helplessness, and despair. Katsuki, still in his bandages, even stopped struggling, trying to believe what he was hearing. His childhood friend’s screams echoed in his mind. It couldn’t be true that this nerd had jumped off a roof… All Might frowned, trying to remember. This girl was definitely familiar to him. Where had he seen her? Suddenly, a flash of memory struck him like lightning. His mind brought up the image of that very fan who had asked him on the rooftop if it was possible to become a hero without a Quirk. And of course, he had told her there was no chance. And this girl, after his words… The Symbol of Peace felt sick. If she hadn’t been saved, it would mean that because of him, a child would have taken her own life… Aizawa released Bakugo and quickly approached Midoriya. Grabbing her by the arm, he pulled the sobbing teenager along with him, saying that they would make their way back on their own. He left the rest to be taken care of by the other teachers…

* * *

In UA's Eraserhead's office, the atmosphere was grim. After Izuku recounted in a lifeless tone what had happened at the U.S.J., Nezu darkly insisted that she also talk about her suicide attempts. He then concluded that she needed therapy with Hound Dog. And so, she was obligated to see the psychologist every week. “What concerns me more is how the villains knew you. And why their leader said that you didn’t save him,” Aizawa mused, looking at the student. “I don’t know what he meant. I swear,” Izuku replied quietly. “In the past, I introduced myself as Izumi Shade. As a precaution. Maybe if I had been in a different costume and without lenses, they wouldn’t have recognized me. And why I didn’t save him… It’s probably something that hasn’t happened to me yet. But even so, I can’t imagine what would stop me from saving someone.” “Most likely,” Nezu took a sip of tea, “your Quirk might have given you an understanding at that moment that if you saved that villain, you would change your present. This is just a hypothesis, but the most likely one. In any case, Midoriya-chan, it’s becoming too dangerous for you. Since the villains know about you as Izumi Shade, try not to appear in that form in the city. And even without a disguise. We can’t take that risk.” “The worst part is that the villains now know I’m studying here. Because of me, UA is at risk,” the student said, her voice filled with guilt. “Don’t worry about that. UA has excellent defenses, and professionals teach here,” Aizawa responded succinctly. “And don’t forget that All Might works here. The villains’ primary target was him, so you’re not putting anyone at risk.” “Your teacher is right, Midoriya-chan,” the principal nodded. “Continue your studies peacefully. Once the supply of the drug is ready, you’ll resume your mission. In the meantime, go and rest. And don’t forget to visit Hound Dog.” Izuku could only nod stiffly and head back to the dorm. The day had certainly been exhausting, especially on an emotional level.

* * *

July 14th, 2317. 07:45 AM. UA Academy With a heavy heart, Midoriya pushed the classroom door open and tried to enter as inconspicuously as possible. However, her efforts were in vain, as everyone in the room immediately turned their heads toward the entrance. Lowering her head, Midoriya ignored their stares and walked to her seat on unsteady legs. It was fortunate that she now sat at one of the back desks. Although, even that didn’t save her. As soon as she sat down, her classmates immediately surrounded her. “Midoriya, are the villains really after you? Is that why you ran off so quickly back then?” Kirishima’s quiet question cut through the oppressive silence. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know myself,” Izuku whispered. But what was she saying? Of course, she knew. She just didn’t expect them to come after her so quickly. “Why did that villain call you Izumi Shade?” Uraraka asked, her insides churning at the sight of the new student’s downtrodden appearance. “That’s my alias. I didn’t think they knew about it,” Izuku answered quietly and briefly. “What did that person mean when he said you didn’t save him?” Ojiro asked. “I don’t know,” Midoriya shook her head, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes again. She wanted so badly to share all of this with someone, but she couldn’t. “You’re carrying too much darkness within you,” Tokoyami calmly observed. “But you shouldn’t be afraid to share that darkness with others.” “You don’t understand… It’s too dangerous a secret. I can’t tell you anything. At least, not now,” the green-haired girl swallowed thickly, feeling a tremor in her voice. “If it’s so dangerous, then what were the teachers thinking when they let you transfer here?! You’re putting everyone in danger!” Mineta shrieked hysterically, only to be immediately hit hard with a textbook. “Shut up, idiot! You have no right to say that! If Midoriya-chan is here, then she’s being protected for a reason!” Ashido defended the newcomer, angrily waving the book she had just used to whack their classmate. “Especially since the villains originally came for All Might,” Yaoyorozu added thoughtfully. “His presence also puts the entire academy at risk. But no one is blaming him or kicking him out. So, we have no right to treat Midoriya that way either. If she needs protection, then as heroes, we should help her.” “Exactly!” Iida adjusted his glasses and looked decisively into the newcomer’s eyes. “Midoriya-chan, we’ll protect you! You can count on us! That’s the class rep’s promise!” “Our class rep is right!” Kaminari raised his thumb. “You can rely on us!” “Secrets are secrets, but you can always come to us if you need anything,” Jiro nodded. “You’re part of Class A. We all help each other,” Koda responded kindly. “Thank you… Thank you so much…” Izuku wiped her tears away, feeling warmth spread through her heart at her classmates’ support. “Is it true that you tried to commit suicide, ribbit?” Asui asked bluntly, frowning a little. “You said back then that Bakugo and All Might were to blame, ribbit.” “Uh… Well…” Midoriya hesitated. “I might have gone too far… My nerves got the better of me, and I said a lot of things I shouldn’t have…” “So, it’s true?” Sato asked seriously. “It’s a long and unpleasant story,” Izuku sighed. “Kacchan and I have known each other since childhood, and he often bullied me. At some point, he went too far. And then I happened to meet All Might and asked him if I could become a hero. He just told me the truth, and I… I overreacted. But that’s all in the past now.” “Playing the victim, Deku?” Katsuki growled venomously, who had been listening intently to the entire conversation. “You’d better shut up, Bakugo!” Uraraka exclaimed angrily. “You’ve always acted like a jerk, and now this! How can you even call yourself a hero after driving someone to suicide?!” “You have no right to take away someone’s dream and decide their fate,” Kirishima responded reproachfully. “I’m more shocked by All Might. That’s the last thing I expected from the number one hero,” Shoji shook his head. “You all—” Bakugo started to shout but abruptly fell silent when he saw the stern gaze of their homeroom teacher as he entered the classroom. “Are you going to keep chatting? Take your seats. We’re starting the lesson,” Aizawa interrupted the brewing conflict. The class time passed quickly and, surprisingly, fairly easily. During the breaks, classmates would approach Izuku, pulling her into their groups. She got along with almost everyone, except Bakugo, Todoroki, Mineta, and Aoyama. The latter just repelled her with his excessive brightness and boasting. It also became much easier for Midoriya when they stopped asking her about her Quirk and secrets. They all decided together that she would tell them everything when the time was right. In the meantime, they promised to help and protect her if anything happened. After classes, Izuku spent an hour in therapy with Hound Dog. He turned out to be a true professional and, most importantly, he had known her father once! He also knew about the tempus vagus Quirk. Therefore, surprisingly, the girl was able to share all her worries with him with a calm mind. After the therapy session, she emerged more composed and confident in her abilities.

* * *

July 21st, 2317. 2:20 PM. UA Academy A week had passed. A calm, ordinary week. Except for the fact that Bakugo and All Might kept trying to catch Izuku for a conversation. With the first one, it was clear—her classmates tried to avoid him, and Katsuki himself believed that Midoriya was playing the victim, which was why he wanted to "talk" to her. But with All Might, nothing was clear. In any case, the green-haired girl successfully avoided both of them. Sometimes, her classmates even helped her with that. Today, during lunch, Izuku received a message from Nezu, saying that a new batch of the serum was ready and that she could continue her secret mission. This meant that she would have to ask Aizawa-sensei to give her the suit, then set an approximate date, and once again travel to the past. “You look defeated. Did something happen?” Uraraka asked with concern as she sat across from her, finishing her portion of rice. Of all her classmates, Izuku had grown closest to this girl, as well as Iida. She even walked them to the school gates every day. They were, of course, very surprised when they learned that she lived in the teachers' dormitory at UA, but they understood—it was for her safety, after all. “After classes, I have a difficult practice session with Nezu-san. So, I’ll leave right after the lessons and won’t be able to walk you and Iida to the gates. And I don’t even know what to expect. For some reason, I feel uneasy,” Midoriya sighed, trying to guess what awaited her in the past this time. Would everything go well? An ominous feeling had settled firmly in her chest. “That’s strange,” Ochaco shrugged. “But I’m sure you have nothing to worry about, Midoriya-chan! They won’t send you running from villains!” her classmate joked. Izuku could only give a crooked smile. They won’t? That’s exactly what she ended up doing every time she found herself in the past, especially on her secret mission. And if she were to return to the present outside the academy, she would have to run then too. She wondered if there had ever been a peaceful time. Even in the pre-Quirk era, there were plenty of problems. Still, it would be interesting to visit those times… “By the way, Midoriya-chan!” Uraraka suddenly perked up. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, where did you get that watch? It’s so old and unusual!” “Huh?” Izuku glanced at her wrist, where the watch was. “My father gave it to me. I used to have two, but I gave one to a boy a long time ago. It was his birthday, and I didn’t have a gift with me, so I gave him the other watch.” “Wow! That’s so kind of you, Midoriya-chan! It must be an interesting story! Will you tell me more?” “Sorry, Uraraka-san. Not now, but I’ll definitely tell you someday,” Izuku smiled slightly. The girls chatted for a while longer about trivial things, unaware that a boy with multi-colored hair was listening to their conversation. A pair of heterochromatic eyes were fixed on the girl’s wrist, where a painfully familiar watch was displayed. The same kind that his older brother had. He remembered it vividly, as it was old and rare even in those days. Recalling his brother’s story about how a dear person had given him the watch as a birthday gift, Todoroki Shoto frowned. Perhaps it was worth keeping an eye on this strange new girl. She might know something about the missing Toya. After classes, Aizawa handed Midoriya her hero costume without any questions. And, with a typical “problem child” remark, he asked her to be careful. The green-haired girl simply nodded, as she wasn’t sure of anything herself. Then, in the principal’s office, she received another case with all the necessary items. Taking it, Izuku headed to the dormitory, where she changed, masked her freckles and eye color again, and, after packing everything into a backpack, began preparing the chronograph. If her memory served her right, the Second had asked her to visit sometime around the year 2200. Since she didn’t have exact dates, she had to decide for herself what day, month, and time to jump to. After some thought, the girl set the date on the chronograph: “October 17th, 2200, 19:00–21:00” Swallowing a lump of anxiety, Izuku pressed the green button. Her finger was pricked as usual, and the blood of the *tempus vagus* rushed to the core of the time machine. The transparent glass lit up with a green glow, and a wind picked up. A bright emerald flash enveloped Midoriya, and then she disappeared…

* * *

October 17th, 2200. 19:00. Japan, Musutafu. North Valley Park Once on the spot, Izuku didn’t waste any time and followed the now familiar route towards Warehouse B***. An hour later, she was already there. The guard recognized her without any problems, reported her arrival over the radio, and then let her inside. Midoriya was immediately met by Yoichi and the Second. Their faces were very tense. They quickly led her to a well-insulated room, not only locking the door behind them but also checking it for listening devices. “What’s going on? Did something happen?” Izuku asked seriously, looking at the holders of “One for All.” “A spy was recently caught,” the Second said grimly. “He joined our resistance group a year ago. It’s a good thing you didn’t show up during that time. If he had learned about you, he would have reported you to All for One immediately. Unfortunately, we’ll have to relocate the base urgently. I can feel it in my bones that he’ll be here soon.” “How will I find you now to deliver everything you need?” the girl asked, pursing her lips. “We’ve thought about that,” Yoichi said. “And we’ve decided to create a special cache where we’ll leave you the coordinates of the base. You can find this cache here.” He handed her a folded envelope. “As far as I remember, you mentioned that this building still exists today.” “When do you plan to leave?” Izuku asked, taking the case from her backpack and handing it to the Second, who immediately took out the serum and distributed it into his pockets. He handed the remaining ones to his friend. “Tonight.” No sooner had the Second said this than the ground began to shake, and dirt started to fall from the ceiling. A loud alarm sounded. “ATTACK! THEY'RE HERE!” came a shout from the corridor. “Damn it!” The men immediately jumped to their feet, opened the door, and rushed into the corridor. Izuku darted after them. The corridor was completely destroyed, as was this part of the building. The smell of blood hit her olfactory receptors, and her eyes widened in horror. In a single moment, many comrades had been slaughtered. And amidst all this bloody chaos stood HIM. A tall, blond man with blood-red eyes in a sharp suit. All for One. The incredible and terrifying power radiating from him made it impossible for Izuku to move a finger. Fear gripped her body as if she were completely encased in stone. “What a horrifying power! How can anyone possibly fight against this?! How many gallons of serum would it take to weaken such a monster?!” Midoriya thought in terror, desperately trying to pull herself together. “It’s been a while, heroes,” the villain said leisurely, surveying his opponents. His gaze paused only for a moment on the girl, but All for One didn’t sense anything special in her. A nobody, just like his little brother once was. “Second, get her out of here! I’ll distract my brother!” Yoichi growled, shielding them with his body and resolutely facing his relative's satisfied smirk. “Damn it…” The Second cursed, torn. He couldn’t abandon his friend, but he also couldn’t allow the girl to be harmed. “How noble. And far too naive of you, dear little brother, to think I would let your friends leave alive,” All for One’s icy voice seemed to cut to the bone. Black and red lightning formed around him. The Second managed to knock them to the ground, saving them from the instant attack. The impact from the fall seemed to restore feeling to their limbs. The Second and Midoriya immediately jumped to their feet. “Get out of here, Izumi! Run as far as you can! We’ll handle this!” the Second demanded, dodging another attack from the enemy. “N-no! I can’t leave you!” the girl exclaimed, dodging the villain's lightning with inhuman speed. “Izumi?” All for One raised an eyebrow, hearing the familiar name. He fixed a hard stare on the girl, as if trying to memorize her face. “Could it be the same Izumi Shade who claimed to be my daughter and visited you in the hospital a couple of years ago, dear ototo?” “That’s none of your business!” Yoichi growled, white lightning of residual “One for All” energy crackling around him. He struck his brother, managing to knock him back, then shouted again: “Second, get out of here! Go now!” Realizing there was no other choice, the Second grabbed Izuku’s hand, then shouted a final farewell to his friend: “Wait for me! I’ll be back soon!” They ran. Ran, dodging all the attacks as they went. Besides All for One, the base was surrounded by many of his followers. For the first time, Izuku applied her combat skills outside of training. The inhuman speed granted by the *tempus vagus* gene allowed her to quickly take down the opponents in her path. Mentally, she praised Aizawa-sensei more than once for including endurance training in her program. At some point, they managed to shake off their pursuers. “How much time do you have left?” the man hissed, tying off a wound on his side. One of the pursuers had managed to land a hit. “Ten minutes,” Izuku replied, checking her watch. “Run back to the place where you jump. And keep your eyes open. You’ll find all the coordinates in the designated spot,” the hero said briskly. “And now, I have to get back to Yoichi.” “I can’t leave you!” Midoriya stubbornly pursed her lips, though she was trembling with fear. “There’s nothing you can do to help right now!” the Second snapped harshly, fixing her with a stern look. “He’s too powerful, and God forbid he finds out who you are! Besides, you don’t have much time! Go! I or my successors will wait for you in two years!” He’s right. She can’t do anything for them now. Especially since All for One now knows her face and will surely start hunting her in this timeline. All she can do is return to the present safely, as she promised Aizawa-sensei. “Take care…” Izuku whispered, forcing herself to leave. The Second gave a decisive nod and then quickly disappeared around the corner. The girl caught the sound of pursuers and also dashed away. There was very little time left. It couldn’t be said that the rest of the journey went smoothly. No, she was still being chased, and a wide variety of quirks were being used against her. Midoriya was approaching the park when the space around her finally began to blur, and green sparks shone brightly in the evening darkness. In an instant, an emerald flash carried her back to 2317…