Making Decisions

The day started normally enough for Izuku Midoriya. A scrawny, short fourteen-year-old boy with bright green eyes, freckles, and a mop of fluffy green hair. He woke up, brushed his teeth, showered, and was having breakfast. So, when an emerald green, translucent screen appeared floating in front of his face, he was naturally surprised and almost chocked on his meal. 

Izuku's mother - Inko Midoriya - quickly rushed over to check on him and make sure he was okay.

Seeing her worried eyes on him and seemingly oblivious to the screen floating nearby, Izuku tried to stay calm and asked if Inko had seen anything strange. She said no and asked what was wrong.

Izuku just brushed her concern off - saying he was fine and just been seeing things. He then watched her go back to cleaning despite her concerned expression. He then quickly finished his breakfast while repeatedly glancing at the screen. Once he was done, he put his dishes away and retreated to his room to panic - the screen following behind him at a constant distance.

Now, pacing in his room, Izuku frantically thought, "What's going on!? Where did this screen come from!? Why is it following me!? Did I get hit by a Quirk!? What am I supposed to do!? What's going to happen to me!? What if Mom gets caught up in it!!? Why couldn't she see it? Do I need to leave the house!!? How long would I have to be gone!!? How will I live!!? What if-"

Breaking Izuku from his spiraling was the screen suddenly whipping in front of his face and emitting a loud noise like a bullhorn.

The sudden movement and noice startled Izuku and caused him to fall on his backside. While trying to sooth the pain and wondering if Inko heard that, the screen then got in his face again - causing him to hunch in on himself, lean back, and brace himself for another loud noise.

When none came, Izuku cautiously opened his eyes and saw the screen still hovering inches from his face. Seeing that nothing was going to happen, he began to relax. As if in response to this, the screen moved away and returned to its original distance of just under arm's length from him.

It was only now that Izuku noticed the black writing across the screen. Swallowing heavily, he hesitantly read the words:

Greetings, Midoriya Izuku! Due to your overwhelming popularity within the omniverse, forces beyond your understanding have seen fit to bestow upon you the 'Decision System'. As the main character of the current chapter of your reality, your actions have a profound effect on not only those around you but on the universe itself. This system will make the effect you have even more profound. You will be granted opportunities, choices, and options that will reshape your reality.

Would you like to begin the tutorial?

[Yes]

[No]

Izuku blinked absently as he finished reading the words on the screen. He understood the words but none of it made sense. Popularity? Main character? System reshaping reality? He completely blocked out the point about who gave this to him - choosing to just accept that he would not understand.

Eventually, Izuku's curiosity outweighed his confusion and disbelief. He reached out and tapped [Yes]. There was a synthetic *DING*. The writing then changed and he read:

To simplify matters, the decisions you will be prompted with will fall into four categories: Canon, Goal, Desire, and Random. For each decision you make, a ripple will be sent out that alters reality according to your decision. The resulting deviation in your reality may be small or large. However, be aware that changes could build up over time to bring great prosperity or disaster, so be careful.

Canon-oriented Decisions relate to events as they were originally meant to take place. Prior to each 'point of canon' you will be prompted with a decision that will influence events as they were originally intended to happen. In this way, you can bring things to a better or worse conclusion.

Goal-oriented Decisions are generated once a month and will focus upon an established goal. Later in the tutorial, you will be prompted to input a goal and be given an immediate decision relating to it. These decisions will have to do with either furthering your goal in one fashion or another or it will have to do with the shape of your goal - further clarifying what it is you want.

Desire-oriented Decisions are born of your sincere and honest desire to do or achieve something. These differ from goal-oriented decisions in that where a goal is a far-reaching prospect, desire-oriented decisions are in the moment and instantaneous.

Random-oriented Decisions are randomly generated choices you will be presented with. Their intention is to be 'fun' and provide you with a sense of enjoyment from the system. These decisions can seem inconsequential, but should be approached with the same seriousness as others.

Be aware that, while you should take this seriously, you are also advised to simply 'do what you want'. So long as you face any issues that come your way, you should be able to handle them and the system will support you.

[Continue]

Izuku's anxiety and confusion were beginning to well up. Nothing about this seemed real or even possible. Magic screens that will let him alter reality? Maybe he had finally gone crazy like everyone said.

On the other hand, if this was true… Tempted to see where this goes, Izuku hit [Continue]

For the sake of 'intrigue' and 'suspense', you are warned not to inform others of the system's existence. While it is fine if they somehow figure it out themselves, you doing anything to inform them of it will result in them gaining access to some limited features of the system.

They will gain the same limited immunity to reality changes as you where they are still subject to change but will be aware of any changes that take place and remember the unaltered reality.

They will also receive their own prompts to make reality altering decisions. However, their options will be limited to canon-oriented decisions, and decisions relating to your established goal.

Be careful who you trust.

[Continue]

Gulping, Izuku immediately grew concerned at the warning. If this were all true, letting this sort of power fall into the wrong hands could end in disaster. Before his mind could spiral at the implications, he quickly hit [Continue].

Tomorrow is your first day of your final year of junior high school. It also happens to be the day canon begins. You will now be presented with a canon-oriented decision based on tomorrow's events.

Because this is the tutorial, this decision is not your intended canon-based decision that will be generated tomorrow, but it may still influence events.

[Is Bakugo Katsuki your friend?]

[Yes]

[No]

Izuku froze at the question presented to him. He wanted to hit [Yes] but…as much as he admired Katsuki's strength, determination, bravery, etc. He honestly could not say they were 'friends'. He reluctantly moved his hand toward [No] but then stopped.

"Wait," Izuku thought - his mind running in overdrive from various bubbling emotions. A thought had occurred to him that left his mind at war between feelings of excitement, hope, panic, anxiety, etc. "If reality changes according to my decisions…then, if I hit [Yes]…does that mean Kacchan and I could be friends again…"

Izuku's mind began to spiral on whether it was right for him to do such a thing or not. Part of him was still in disbelief that this was real as it would mean believing what the screen had said about him being popular or a main character. However, It turned out he did not need to think too much about it as he heard what had become a familiar *DING* of an option being chosen

His head shot up and Izuku saw he had subconsciously tapped the [Yes] option.

The writing then changed with more information being added to the two choices. The [Yes] option was highlighted in white while the [No] option had been grayed out.

[Is Bakugo Katsuki your friend?]

[Yes, Bakugo Katsuki is your friend. During your time at Aldera Junior High, Katsuki realizes his behavior is that of a bully and unbecoming of a hero. So, he tried to better himself and has returned to being your friend. It is now harder for you to make new friends.]

[No, Bakugo Katsuki is not your friend. During your time at Aldera Junior High, Katsuki's behavior has worsened and grown increasingly abusive toward you. His redemption is far more arduous and it will be difficult for him to make any friends, but it is far easier for you to make friends.]

The words on the screen then vanished and a pulse was released from it that spread outward.

Izuku now had a faint recollection of events as the screen described but still remembered how things actually were. This made him look at the screen in a mix of awe and fear as he began to question if this really was real - though he had not yet ruled out a Quirk messing with him.

New words appeared after a few seconds.

Please input goal.

[________________]

[Confirm]

Under the blinking line, the bottom portion of the screen had become a keyboard.

After staring at it for a moment, Izuku hesitantly complied and reached out toward the screen. However, as he did, his expression darkened somewhat. All he had ever wanted to be was a hero. To save people with a smile and let them know everything would be okay. Like the Symbol of Peace and Number One Hero All Might.

However, Izuku was born Quirkless - with no special power of his own to make his dream a reality. But he still tried. Memories of everyone putting him down and telling him to give up on his dream flowed through his mind as he slowly typed away.

Please input goal.

[I want to be a hero, even if I don't have a Quirk. To have people see my smiling face and know everything is going to be okay. To be like All Might.]

[Confirm]

He then tapped on the option to confirm and heard the familiar *DING* before the words in front of him changed.

Goal accepted. You will now be given a decision relating to your goal. You will only receive one such decision a month and will not receive another until next month. During this one month cool down, you are free to change your stated goal whenever you want. This does not affect the cool down.

To change goal, concentrate heavily on your new goal and a prompt will appear asking if you wish to change your currently stated goal.

Are you ready for your goal-oriented decision?

[Yes]

[No]

Anxiety, excitement, hope, and hesitation began to war within him again and Izuku quickly pressed the option to continue.

[What kind of hero will you be?]

[Strong and Fast]

[Smart and Skillful]

Seeing the options presented to him, Izuku paused and thought about it for a moment. His immediate impulse was to select [Strong and Fast] to be more like All Might. However, two important things stood out to him.

First of all, looking at himself, Izuku did not seem strong or fast. He got good grades and might be smart. Plus, he liked analyzing Pro Heroes. It seemed like [Smart and Skillful] might fit him better. The reality changing features of the screens might fix that, but that brought him to his second issue.

How would this change things? Izuku's previous decision claims that Katsuki was now his friend but he'd have trouble making new friends, but if he had decided they were not friends, then Katsuki would be worse off for it.

Looking at it like two sides of the same coin, Izuku had a premonition that if he chose [Strong and Fast] he would become strong and fast, but with the alternative being [Smart and Skillful], he was worried what sort of consequences would come from his choice.

Selecting [Smart and Skillful], the screen *DING* again and the words changed to add descriptions with his selection being highlighted and the other option grayed out.

[What kind of hero will you be?]

[You will be a Strong and Fast hero! Heroes are a profession relying on their physical abilities, so obviously they are stronger and faster than normal people - even if it does come at the cost of them being a little reckless. Unfortunately, this becomes true of the villains who try and rival the heroes - becoming stronger and recklessly destructive.]

[You will be a Smart and Skillful hero! Heroes are tasked with stopping villains but, more importantly, protecting innocent lives. They must do their jobs with precision and efficiency - minimizing collateral damage and loss of life. Unfortunately, villains must also be clever to contend with heroes - becoming clever themselves.]

The words on the screen again vanished and the screen released a pulse Izuku associated with a shift in reality.

Izuku himself felt changed. Not really different, but his mind was more…Focused? Less scattered? Like even if he was spiraling, he would not get lost in his own head? He was not really sure how to put it, just that something felt different.

After a few seconds, the words 'Tutorial complete' flashed on the screen and then it disappeared all together. Izuku was not sure what to make of the situation and blinked absently.

In the next moment, Izuku rushed to his bookshelf to grab a fresh notebook, went to his desk, titled it 'Decision Making System', and began scribbling away.

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Unbeknownst to Izuku, the system did not actually retroactively change anything but merely shifts things as necessary. His decision for Katsuki to be his friend did not change history so much as adjust the context of certain events to bring about the current result.

The decision to be a smart and skillful hero required even less adjustments. Heroes would simply begin performing more intelligently and with more skill and no one would notice the change.

This was not the case for a certain principal. Due to having an intelligence-based Quirk, this particular change would cause it to spike. An advantage of being an animal meant he had instincts far sharper than a human. Combined with his experience as a Pro Hero and the sudden improved functionality of his Quirk, he suddenly sat up in his seat and tilted his head curiously.

He could not tell what it was, but something was different. His intelligent mind subconsciously formed a puzzle but had no pieces. Deciding to put the matter aside but trusting his instincts, Nezu turned to his computer, opened a document, and put three simple words.

"Something had changed."

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Author's Note (please don't skip)

I'm writing this here because I know I skip most Author' notes. I would like to call for my readers to leave a comment for any decisions they would like to have made in the story. It could be anything.

I will also, at the end of all future chapters post the decisions to be made next chapter to let readers have some influence on how the story progresses. There aren't really any important decisions next chapter that aren't canon. So, I'll post a joke decision and you can vote if it is an actual one or not:

[When posing for the cameras, Mt. Lady has a wardrobe malfunction.]