9

Chapter Text

Izuku talked.

His mother listened. 

He told her what he remembered from those hard early years; the empty longing and having too much time with nothing to spend it on. Her hand gripped his tighter when she learned he was completely alone six out of seven days of the week, and the only sound on the abandoned planet was his own footsteps.

Then his voice got lighter as he told her about his training, cleaning the beach so long ago. It had been so satisfying , that day he finally saw the sunrise on perfect sand, not a single piece of debris in view. His Mom smiled when he told her about his ever-growing training routine, and how proud he was of it. 

Izuku glanced at the kitchen, where Aurora and Akari were out of earshot. He told her of traveling the planet, falling in love with a goddess without even realizing it. He felt so nostalgic, the memories wrapping around him warm like his cloak. 

Izuku told her about his teacher, a hardened softie who loved games and their years sparring on his beach until night came, and her husband that Izuku co-owned a cat with.

His mother looked amazed when he vividly described Heaven and its beautiful cities, landscapes that would take lifetimes to fully explore. 

He didn't tell her about the sky - the worst pain he'd ever felt. Only Aurora knew about that. 

But he did tell his Mom of the Arena, of feeling truly recognized for the first time he could remember and crowds cheering.

His Mom looked down when he told her of the wedding, of how purely happy he was. Izuku could feel her pride, but there was so much guilt in her eyes with it.

Finally, Izuku told her about Akari. How fast she learned, grabbing onto knowledge with both hands, and how amazing her magic already was. 

Izuku talked until his throat was dry. 

His mother didn't say anything for a long moment when she finished, fingers fidgeting together. She looked back at him, aching sad yet no more tears came. 

"1000 years..." Mom whispered, so quietly he almost missed it. "Oh my god, Izuku, I-I'm so sorry I left you."

Izuku stilled. He didn't know what to do.

Carefully, he pulled her into a delicate hug, looking for the words to say.

"I forgot what your voice sounded like." Izuku blurted. His mother flinched in his arms, but he kept going, he had to. "It's been so many years that I can barely remember you, the details slowly fading no matter how hard I cling to them." Izuku took a breath. "But I do have a video. There's no sound, but I can clearly see that bright green trying to teach tiny baby me something. I keep messing up, over and over, but you never faltered or stopped and when I finally got it you were just so proud ." 

"I still remember how warm you are, that you give the best hugs in the universe, I still remember you cheering me up with katsudon, I still remember you, Mom." The tears felt like dropping a burden, a light touch sliding down his cheeks.

Mom smiled at him, something vulnerable and soft but determined. "I'm so sorry I was gone."

"But I'm here now, and I'm never leaving again."

Izuku smiled back, and green eyes matched as they stood up. 

"Ready to meet the rest of our family?" 

His mother's eyes went wide, the realization starting to set in. 

"I have a granddaughter ."

Izuku laughed.

"Yep."

Izuku led his mother into the kitchen to meet his wife and daughter. He saw Aurora's eyes note their tear tracks, then soften at the expression on his face. 

"Hi!" Akari said brightly. "I'm Akari. You're Dad's mother, right?"

Mom nodded. She was shorter than Akari, reaching her chin. 

"Can I call you Grandma then?"

Mom choked, almost bursting into tears again. " Of course you can honey." 

She then looked at the goddess next to her. "You're Aurora, right?" 

Aurora nodded. "Hello, Midoriya. It's great to finally- "

Mom cut her off a hug, embracing her daughter-in-law. 

"Thank you for being here for Izuku, for making him so incredibly happy. And please, just call me Inko."

A soft smile formed on Aurora's face. "Okay, Inko."

Humanity had finally returned from their unwilling vacation.

Everybody was back from whatever world they had been sent to. Some brought back stronger quirks and magic, while others returned completely changed from their experiences. Five years was a long time to humans, apparently.

The media deemed the event "The Drift", the time all of humanity drifted away in search of new worlds. Around the world, people compared their otherworldly adventures, stories spreading like wildfire as loved ones and friends reunited, 

The world's governments were immediately on top of the aftermath. Magic was treated like an extra emitter quirk, needing to be registered. The new influx of abilities made it easy for Izuku to register his family with new identities, almost no one bothering to thoroughly check through records.

The line to the registry had been pretty long. Izuku wished he had brought a book.

Izuku and Aurora were now both listed as 40 years old, since having a biological daughter Akari's age wouldn't make any sense otherwise. Akari passed for 20; a young adult by human standards.

Izuku wrote down a mutant enhancement quirk to explain his and Akari's strength, and then just labeled their magic. They just needed to show their magic, and it would be approved. He had to keep reminding himself that humans had only known about magic for 5 years, especially when Akari's complex light display left them speechless. 

Aurora was easier, with an "energy quirk" that she used along with her light magic interchangeably. They were all listed under the Midoriya surname, something Izuku would really need to get used to hearing again.

And just like that, Izuku's entire family was legally human. 

A few months were given for humans to adjust, to take time off whatever jobs or education they had to go back to. It was more courtesy really; people would be with their family as much as possible after being gone for so long. 

Not every family had been separated, of course. Plenty of people seemed to have been sent to the same place, and reports showed that anyone in contact had been whisked off together. 

Izuku didn't want to think about how differently his life could have gone if he had drifted like that.

"-wings Dad! He has wings!"

Izuku walked along the road with Akari, sounds buzzing around them. It was a Kuro year; the cat resting on Izuku's shoulder. He didn't seem to worry about all the new presences around him. 

They were off to buy groceries - something Izuku hadn't had to do in centuries.

"Pointing is rude, Akari." 

"I can't help it! It's so strange seeing people with mutations, especially the really cool ones..."

Mutant quirks were really interesting, since they were nothing like magic or anything Izuku had ever seen before. It was like those humans had gone through another stage of evolution.

"I know, but-" Izuku trailed off, his daughter already walking up to the winged boy, waving to get his attention on the crowded street.

Izuku sighed, deciding to watch. 

"Hello! Those are your wings, right?" Akari asked.

The boy stared back at her, confused. His bright yellow wings shifted slightly. "Yeah? Who else's wings would I have?"

"Just checking. I'm Akari, by the way." 

"Is that your given name or..." 

Akari's eyes widened. "Right, sorry. Akari...Midoriya."

"I'm Haruto Fuji. You were interested in my wings?" 

"Yeah, Har-" Izuku coughed. "-Fuji. Not really used to the whole 'family name' thing yet. Your wings seem really beautiful. Are they made of feathers? Can you fly?" Akari fired off, excited.

Fuji slowly unfurled his wings, careful of the people passing around them. They reached his full wingspan, a wide two meters around the teenager. 

"Thank you. They're made out of some kind of feathers, you're right. I can fly, though it tires me out after a while." Fuji answered.

"What's it like living with wings?" 

Fuji thought for a moment. "Well, I remember how painful it was to grow them." His wings shivered from the memory. "They're pretty cool now, though. The main problem is that I need to wear custom shirts, and how they get in the way sometimes." 

"Can I uh..." Akari raised a hand in question, not sure if she was crossing some kind of line or not. 

Fuji nodded, a hint of pink on his cheeks, and Akari gently felt his wings. Her fingers trailing through feathers as she moved her hands along them in wonder. 

"This is amazing, they're so soft and fluffy! I wish I had wings-wait, the feathers are turning red..." Akari glanced back, seeing the poor boy's face turn a similar color. "Oh, they're related to your emotions- I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I'm just super curious about things."

Fuji waved it off. "It's fine, don't worry about it. You're right, they turn red when I'm embarrassed...like just now. I don't hate this color really, when my wings are red it's kind of like I'm Hawks." 

Akari tilted her head in confusion. "Who?"

"Hawks...?" Fuji repeated, seeing her blank look. "You know, the third-ranked hero? He has those huge red wings? I guess it has been five years, but he's still really famous for all his rescues." 

"Huh. Sounds like a cool guy."

"I know right! There aren't too many heroes with quirks like mine, but he's my inspiration to be one. I want to swoop in and save people, just like he does." 

"So you're going to become a...hero?" 

Fuji nodded, excited. "Yep! That's why I want to get into U.A University, though no one really knows what the exam this year is going to be like..." 

He was cut off by a call, and he pulled out a device, eyes wide. "Oh no, my mom's going to kill me. I really need to go. I'll see you again?" 

Akari waved as he rushed off. "Thanks for letting me feel your wings!"

The sunny yellow feathers flickered back into red as Fuji ran out of view.

"Huh."

"You forgot I was here, didn't you?" Izuku asked, amused. 

Akari jumped, startled. "Wha-oh. I kind of did, sorry." 

"I do that sometimes too. Focus isn't really a bad thing."

"Dad, why was he that embarrassed?" Akari asked. 

"He can probably feel through his wings pretty well if they're connected to his emotions. Imagine if a stranger felt your hair like that, even after asking."

"Oh. That makes sense. I should apologize or something, right?"

"Probably."

They walked into the grocery store, buying and thanking the cashier. It really was strange for Izuku. He had a salary in Heaven, of course, and was used to paying for things there. But on Earth, there hadn't ever been anyone to pay. 

They left the store as night started to fall, familiar streetlights showing the road. Cars were slowly trickling into usage, and more and more people were out getting used to their planet again.

Then a portal appeared in the middle of the street, stretching wide.

 Out of it came a wolf, its fur an unnatural, eye-catching orange. The portal closed behind it soundlessly, and most of the humans backed away from the clear threat.

The creature was large, taller than Izuku while it was on all fours. 

"Huh, so that's a monster." It was one thing hearing about monsters, but seeing one in all of its glory was different. Red eyes flickered around wildly, and Izuku heard someone scream somewhere behind him.

"Are you going to kill it?" Akari asked.

Izuku shrugged, walking forward. The wolf's head snapped to him, growling as he stepped closer. 

"Hello," Izuku said. "Are you here to-"

The wolf lunged, jaw wide, and Izuku's hand instantly swung in a deadly arc. He sliced through the center and the monster erupted into golden dust, its blood not even having time to fall before its existence was gone.

"Guess so."

Akari wrinkled her nose at the dust now covering his shirt. "Killing actual monsters is a bit messy. I think I like Mom's light animals more."

"I mean, the body vanishes. No need to clean up a giant wolf corpse." Izuku reasoned.

Izuku waved off the thanks of the passerby, and Akari watched him closely as they kept walking.

"Dad, what do you think of heroes?"

"Is this because of that boy earlier? Or what happened just now?" 

"Both."

Izuku hummed, considering. "I love the idea of saving people, of rescuing. Though I don't really know much about heroes yet, I'm sure my old notebooks have something." 

"You have notebooks from before the Drift?" Akari asked.

"Yep."

"Huh. They've just been sitting there for 1000 years?'

"Couldn't throw them away. I guess I thought they would be useful when humanity came back someday."

Akari paused in consideration.

"Dad, can I become a hero?"

"You know you would need to leave Arcadia for three years while you attend hero school, right?"

Akari shrugged. "I'm already ahead of the other gods, three years won't make any difference. Besides, this sounds like it'll be more interesting. I know I'll have to be on Earth more if I become a hero."

"Akari, you're amazing enough to do whatever you put your ridiculous amount of energy into. But..."

"But?"

"Please ask your mother first."

"Why do you want to be a hero, Akari?"

"To save humans, I guess. I have this much power, but I don't really have much to use it for. Plus, Fuji's doing it."

"Who?" 

"Kid with colorful wings we met earlier." Izuku answered for her.

"Sure. I would never stop you from saving people, and your father's trained you pretty well. Izuku, you're going too, right?"

"Wait, what?" Akari said.

Izuku nodded. "I don't know much about my old self, but he definitely wanted to be a hero. It sounds interesting, and being a hero would let us use our abilities more easily too." He thought of the monster and the panic and fear the humans around him had at the sight. "And Japan definitely needs more heroes right now."

"Are you going to take the licensing exam?" Aurora asked. "I heard that it's an easier thing to get into now, with that need. It's not like you can attend U.A as a student with Akari." 

"No..."

Izuku raised his phone, opening U.A's website.

"...but maybe they could use a teacher."

Aizawa Shouta was tired.

This was nothing new, of course. He had always been something of an insomniac, and being an underground pro hero hadn't helped. Then, he'd started teaching high schoolers.

But then the Drift happened. Aizawa was suddenly warped away to another planet on patrol one night and told that he would have to stay there for five years.

Monsters were real and could be found on several planets of all kinds of types. Sure, why not. In a world with Quirks, something like that was easy to accept.

Aizawa was sent to Antica, one of the world's infested with dangerous wolves. The government was focused on killing these monsters, funding a group of Slayers. Aizawa was a logical person: if he was going to survive, and if he was going to continue to be a hero when he came back to Earth, then he needed to learn how to kill monsters. 

And so he did. His capture scarf was reinforced, durable enough to restrain giant canines and he learned how to use a sword to slice them to pieces. Interestingly, he could use Erasure on mana to forcibly suppress it and prevent magical attacks, but besides that, it had zero use against the wolves of Antica. 

So he trained as hard as he could to efficiently destroy the creatures he fought, as well as anything that might be on Earth.

Five years later, he was back at U.A with his chaotic, terrifying boss.

Nezu didn't seem to have changed those who didn't know him. A fluffy, adorable person in a suit, innocent impression only slightly marred by a large scar. But Aizawa could see the harder glint in his eyes, the tighter grips. 

But right now, his eyes were curious in a way that made Aizawa feel a headache appear in advance.

"Aizawa. Please sit down! I've found something quite interesting."

Aizawa sighed, taking his usual seat across from Nezu's desk. "That's pretty concerning to hear from you, you know.."

In response, Nezu turned his computer towards him with a grin.

Aizawa's eyes widened. In the clip, a giant wolf appeared from a portal and a white-haired man effortlessly cut through a giant wolf with nothing but his hand. Behind him, a girl stood without a hint of fear, despite the monster. They talked casually before walking away as if nothing had happened.

A Sunset Wolf. Aizawa honestly hated the name, but it fits. Bright yellow fur like the sun, they were incredibly fast. Their bite was highly toxic, and the monster had set the sun on many bright slayers. They were classified as a B-Class monster, in the new ranking Earth's governments were creating.

"Either an immense strength enhancement ability or some kind of cutting quirk. It's not vigilantism, because it's a pretty clear case of self-defense. Vigilante laws are pretty outdated now after drifting, anyway. Why are you showing me this?"

"Izuku Midoriya, 40. Has a family, as well as an impressive quirk and magical ability. And..."

Nezu paused dramatically.

"...applied for the position of Heroics Teacher, just a week after the Sunset Wolf incident."

"What."

No one applied to be a teacher at U.A. Nezu invites them, not the other way around. Especially since the Drift, where people were going into the new licensing test the hero commission set up. Aizawa knew firsthand how valuable fighters were when dealing with monsters. 

Nezu clapped his paws. "It's intriguing, isn't it? I've never heard of him before! So is he a vigilante coming into the light after drifting? A civilian who got enough experience to think they could teach heroics? Or maybe a new player entirely?"

"I'm going to find out."

Aizawa watched a man enter the room, closing the door behind him lightly. 

Midoriya's hair was pure white, but his eyes lived up to his surname. They scanned the room in an instant, landing on Nezu - but not in disgust, simply interest. 

"Hello. My name is Midoriya Izuku. You're the Principal of this school, correct?"

"That's right! I'm Nezu, the one who could be a dog, or a mouse, or a bear!" 

Nezu gestured for the man to sit, and the man took his seat gracefully. "Tea?"

Midoriya nodded, and Nezu smiled before pouring him a cup. Nezu leaned back after the man took it, a smile across his face. But Aizawa could see hints of the brain behind the scenes, gears shifting at a rapid pace as he analyzed the man in front of him. 

What was completely terrifying was Midoriya doing the same thing. Green eyes gazed back like they were sifting through a database, lighting up with curiosity when they trailed across Aizawa's capture scarf and then appearing thoughtful when he saw his forehead and eyes as if he had already figured out his quirk.

"You sent us an application to teach at U.A. We don't get applications very often, so understandably I was quite surprised."

"Do you not accept applications, then? I found the form on the school's website, and may have assumed too much." 

"Normally, I send invitations to join our staff. Quality staff is essential for a school, after all, especially one of the finest ones in heroics. However, all things have exceptions." 

Nezu's eyes narrowed, a bit of the innocent act vanishing. "Like you, Midoriya Izuku. Why is it that a teenager with no known quirk, rumored to be the last quirkless in some medical circles, appears after the Drift, now 40 years old? Not to mention having a quirk, magic, and a family. Your physical form clearly supports the story, along with your post-drift records. Yet with access to information from before, it's a little suspicious, correct?"

Midoriya sipped his tea, calm. "You're operating under the assumption that the Drift lasted five years. And it probably did, for both of you."

Aizawa spoke for the first time. "Are you saying..."

"Most humans drifted for a five-year period. Humanity isn't the only race that was drifted, though, and I've seen drifters who had been on my planet for a decade. As for me, I was sent there for twenty. You can imagine what meeting my mom again on Earth was like."

"I had considered that something like that would be possible, but currently all statements point to a drift period of just five years. 20 years is quite a long time, and long enough to fall in love and have a daughter that's nearly an adult. You must have a great knowledge of the magic listed on your record, with two decades of practice."

Midoriya laughed like he was remembering an inside joke. "Yeah. I do. I've trained a lot, both my mana and my body." 

"'Titan'. A mutant enhancer allowing the user to exponentially gain strength through training. It makes sense that you wouldn't have discovered a quirk like that before drifting. Where did you drift, Midoriya-san?"

Midoriya's voice grew fond, almost wistful. "The planet I drifted to was called Arret. It was quiet and peaceful. There were no monsters and almost no other people. But it was very beautiful. I started training, wishing to grow stronger, and eventually met my Sensei." 

"Was this Sensei from Earth as well?" Aizawa asked.

Izuku shook his head. "No, she isn't. Sensei is incredibly strong. My technique was mostly self-taught, but she sparred with me often and helped me grow. That's how I discovered my ability."

"And your reinforcement magic?"

"My wife was a natural at magic. She helped show me the basics, and from there..." Midoriya picked up his empty cup, and Aizawa watched purple energy flow into and around it like a transparent shell. Then Midoriya let go of it.

The cup hit the floor with a thud, yet remained perfectly intact.

"Fascinating." Nezu noted. "Reinforcement magic isn't very versatile, but enhancing objects seems to be quite useful."

"This was a very refreshing interview. Your exam will be in a week, so please return then."

Midoriya smiled, thanking him and nodding to Aizawa before walking out of the office. 

Aizawa watched his boss slowly drink the rest of his tea once Midoriya left. Nezu's composture was still perfect, but his eyes were a bit too wide and his thoughts seemed to be moving faster and faster.

Nezu's paw was shaking when he set his cup down. 

"High Spec is a useful quirk, one that has served me well so far. Enhanced intelligence to where an animal can live in a human's world, and then far beyond that. I wouldn't have gotten this far, survived this far, if I didn't have the ability to analyze potential threats as well as I do."

"Everyone has weaknesses. How limited Thirteen's combat experience is, how Snipe relies heavily on bullets, how your quirk, Eraserhead, fails against mutants and is overall useless without higher skill than the enemy. How Endeavor isn't completely immune to his own heat. Even All Might has weaknesses: a grievous injury in his side that probably wouldn't have been healed if he hadn't drifted to such a lucky planet and the other; his own naivety. Everyone has weaknesses," Nezu repeated. "Ones that my quirk lets me instantly breakdown and analyze, from abilities to behavior to physical condition."

His next sentence made Aizawa's over-caffeinated blood freeze. 

"So then how does that man have none?"