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Chapter Text

Her heart ran rampant in her chest; she could hear her breathing quicken. The influx of memories scrambled her already jumbled thoughts. It was supposed to be over; the scenarios were long over. It’s been two years, how could her life fall back to shit. She could hear the destruction behind her, and even feel the overwhelming power of the 10th Akatani’s successor.

She could remember moments that were and weren’t hers. A life years ago, a worldline that was loved by another. She remembered the pang of jealousy and joy in her heart as those two grinned like idiots dressed in black and white suits respectively, the soul-crushing feeling of knowing that they’d be each others but her’s they’ll never be. The part that cried her heart out on the darkest of nights, knowing they shouldn't have been greedy. No, they should've been content with 49% of Shouto. How the memories of Kyōka Yaoyorozu who lived to write.  How she loved a girl who knew Kyōka’s heart would never belong to her.

She looked back as the world went quiet.

He was tall and slender, with freckles and crimson eyes that shone in his destruction. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Him , but subtle differences set them apart. His eyes were cold and unyielding, unlike the familiar bright green ones with nine-prong stars that she knew so well. Those eyes had been hardened by a long and strenuous life, filled with sacrifices she could only know. Not malice and satisfaction at death.

Father and son were nothing alike, but the Prophet thought otherwise. Despite the similarities, the Regressor had a heart of gold. Once, despite how many years had passed, he was still a child at heart. He was only fifteen years old and too young to become a monster. 

She sneered at the man, words flowed with the pain of the ten lives she prophesied in her writing. Kyōka Jirou was many things, someone who gave up wasn’t on the list. Black flames flickered in her hand as a legacy burned. The man was at her, held in the air by her throat she could only spit in his face.

As she felt the pain of her throat being squeezed and saw black spots covering her vision, she could only recall the last message she got.

---

Ready for a redo, let’s begin 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'. - Constellation, Endless Voyage  

~*~

The sound of raindrops hitting the ground echoed through the cemetery as Katsuki sat in front of a grave. He never thought he would find himself here, not in a long time. It was a nightmare he never wanted to experience, especially after the first few weeks of school. But here he was, two weeks after it all happened. Two weeks since he pushed Izuku Midoriya over the edge, or rather two weeks since he put the idea in his head. It was a Monday when it happened, and now it was Friday. The funeral occurred on Wednesday afternoon, but Katsuki found himself back at the cemetery again. He stared at the grave, unsure of what to do. It was the final resting place of his childhood best friend, the boy he had tormented since the diagnosis.

Katsuki sat motionless in front of the grave. The rain was pouring down relentlessly, creating a sombre atmosphere. Suddenly, he noticed a shadow reflecting off the grave. He turned to see a boy standing beside him, holding an umbrella over his head. The boy was around the same age as Katsuki, with straight white hair and a slight curl at the ends. The rain made it seem like his hair was straight, but Katsuki noticed the curls upon closer inspection. The boy had a soft smile on his face that reminded him of Izuku's gentle smile. The boy's green eyes were the same shade as Izuku's but with a unique difference. Instead of pupils, the boy had nine-pronged stars in each eye. The boy even had freckles like Izuku. It was uncanny how much he resembled his childhood friend. Katsuki wondered if he was hallucinating or if there was something more to this strange encounter.

“It’s not your fault, Kacchan.” 

Katsuki was startled, looking at the boy. He knew... he knew he had caused Izuku’s suicide.

“I don’t blame you.”

Katsuki froze before his head snapped towards the boy, who slowly walked away. He wanted to call out, demand what he meant, but he already knew. That boy was Izuku, and that was his ghost. Because it couldn't be anyone else, he felt dumb after all that it was De- Izuku, and he didn't realise until the fact was thrown in his face. Midoriya Izuku was alive and Katsuki was taking that secret to the grave. 

~*~

He shot up, and he felt the phantom pain of hitting concrete. Blood was running down his face, and bright red eyes wide from the edge of that ever-looming building. His eyes went back into focus. They shone brightly with nine-prong stars. His eyes drifted to the coffee table, a set of clothes and a note placed on top. His eyes drifted to thigh tops and red high-tops. His expression became grim as he looked at the gakuran uniform he wore.

The uniform reminded him of everything he hated about himself, every reason he had let himself fall. But now wasn’t the time to hate himself, he could do that at the funeral. Let Midoriya Izuku be put to rest and have Akatani Mikumo be reborn.

~*~

She stared at the TV in annoyance, it had only been a week and he was already on the news. Shoto Todoroki ran away, it was a scandal. After all the allegations against Endeavour, he lost custody of the remaining Todoroki children. But after the incident, he got it back. Now with Shoto gone, the allegations are back again.  She hoped Himura had a plan that didn’t involve him sacrificing himself.

After figuring out a plan for the latest stunt, she’ll need to figure out how to get in contact with the duo.

~*~

Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi was tired, more so than ever. Two weeks ago, the son of Endeavour, Shouto Todoroki, went missing, followed by the incident with Izuku Midoriya. Not even a week later, Kyoka Jirou went missing. He was in charge of the Todoroki case while Sansa was in charge of the Jirou case. And then, a vigilante calling themself Salvation showed up. Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe it was bad luck, but he didn't believe that. He believed in facts and hard evidence, so it couldn't be a coincidence, and he had a feeling Salvation had something to do with it.

~*~

Moya Jū-Hoshizora was not satisfied with what he saw. Bakugou Katsuki was depressed, and it wasn't as entertaining for him as he had hoped. Moya knew what Katsuki had done to Shishō, and he was not happy about it. Although Shishō might have forgiven Katsuki a few times, those were complicated situations. The fact that Shishō could have died before they met properly made Moya very angry.

But now was the time for Moya to be a good Samaritan and give a speech about hope and other inspiring things. Although Shishō was a bad influence, the vestiges were not any better. Moya's golden eyes, with ten-prong stars, glowed as he smiled, and so did the face of the figure that grabbed him.

~*~

Kinzoku didn’t want to be a soldier anymore, not for the HPSC. He grew up in their program, just like Hawks and Lady Nagant. His quirk wasn't Steel, nor was his name Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu. Who names their kid Iron Iron and has it repeat? Kinzoku Tetsuyama was a kid who grew up in a random apartment in Kabukichō, one of Japan's red-light districts. His quirk, Steelsmith, allows his body to become steel and transform his limbs into most bladed weapons. He could even turn into a sword! But after an act of public quirk use, his older sister sold him off to the Commission as protection from the Doctor, hoping it’d keep him away from the man who worked with their mother.

When he was sent to UA, he wasn’t surprised. The Commission always wanted the rat and his school in their hands. When he read the file of who he’d be for the unforeseeable future, he was upset. They could have just said he could make parts of his body into weapons, it would be so much easier. 

So when he got into UA, he was shocked at the liveliness of his yearmates. He hadn’t been around such excitement since his recruitment. Did none of these posers understand what they were signing up for? Only the Todoroki and Iida boys understood, mostly Todoroki. But his eyes were open during the sports festival. Shouto Todoroki vs Izuku Midoriya was a sight to be seen. If Todoroki was still in the hands of his mother's family, he’d be just like Kinzoku, a weapon. And then there was Midoriya. He would make quite the weapon. He moved like a pro at times, but his eyes were always glazed over like it was his subconscious. Whatever it was, the Commission wanted him. But he was likely All Might’s kid, so it was a pipe dream.

But then the scenarios hit and his cover was blown, but it didn’t matter anymore. It was the apocalypse and he was too busy fighting demon kings and Greek gods to care about secret identities.

But he found himself back in the place he had dreaded for five long years and it was like reliving the nightmare all over again. He was fifteen and desperately needed to find the others. First, the children, and then the rest. He knew where to start. Izumi Kota was probably still living with his uncle while Tenko's whereabouts remained unknown, most likely still connected to Tomura. The situation was a mess, and being dropped five years into the past was a nightmare. Half a decade in the scenarios was a long time, and he couldn't do it alone. He needed help but doubted that Akatani would return to UA, let alone go anywhere near All Might.

But he knew there was someone left, someone he knew that could help, and it wasn't Himura. He would say he was lucky that Mera was part of Dekuto, and Giran was still a sly bastard who was loyal to Dekuto.

~*~

As he stood on the building, the sound of the subway echoed through his ears, a constant and familiar background noise in the city. Despite the distraction, his thoughts were focused on the task at hand. He needed to return to Mikumo soon, but something caught his attention. Glancing down at the alley below, he saw three figures engaged in what appeared to be a mugging. His instincts kicked in and Without hesitation, he made a split-second decision to jump down into the alley. He’d shot forward, grabbing the gun and backhanded them in the face. Grabbing the back of his head and slamming his head into his knee. Bringing him up and slamming his head into the wall. 

He spun on his heel, slamming his steel-toed boots onto the other mugger’s face. The man collapsed into a heap on the floor. He turned to the woman, but she was gone. He tied the men up and stood at the sound of approaching sirens.

In a sudden motion, black wings spread from his back, revealing themselves in all their glory. He turned his gaze upwards, staring intently at the sky above. His white coat, now billowing behind him, created a striking contrast against the darkness of his wings. The intensity of his heterochromatic eyes seemed to intensify, as he took a deep breath and readied himself. And then, without warning, he shot into the sky like a speeding bullet.

Shouto was tired, 9873... 1864... 999... were numbers to others but for the Director, the Puppet, and the King it was lifetimes.

Shouto Himura-Todoroki was tired.

Chapter Text

Shinsou had always hated his quirk, no matter what his moms said. Sure, he wasn’t bullied, nor was he avoided. It was just that everyone spoke with such caution like he was some dangerous villain, but he wasn't. He wanted to prove them wrong because he thought he could be a hero. Villain quirk or not, he just wanted to prove them wrong. He could only long for what he can't have until he makes it happen.

So on one fateful day when he was walking past an alley and spotted a mugging, it was like his dreams had come true; this was only the beginning.

“Just hand the money over.” A gruff man spoke, his fingers had turned to knives. Shinsou paused, ducking behind the wall. He wanted to help the skeleton guy but… an idea popped into his head, an illegal idea but an idea.

"Yo, dicks for brains, you know All Might’s in the area. Fuck off before he gets here." He drawled, as he sauntered into the alley. His hands were in his pockets as he put on his most bored expression.

“Fuck off, ki-” The man began before his eyes were vacant like clockwork. 

“Go to the nearest police station, and request to speak to Detective Shinsou Koharu. Spill every crime you’ve committed to her.” He ordered, before turning to the blond man.

“Are you alright? Do I need to call an ambulance?”

The man shook his head, pausing to think before handing him a card.

“Thank you so much. I work at Might Tower, and your display of heroics today was amazing. Are you interested in heroics?”

That was the day his fate changed. The moment he became a hero: the Voice Hero, Simon.

And did he mention that this was the story of how he became the world's greatest hero?

---

3 months into his training, Shinsou was asked if he wanted the Number 1 hero’s quirk. An ability passed down from generation to generation. Hearing how he was going to be the ninth shocked him. No wonder All Might had been so strong; quirks hadn’t even made it to the 7th generation, and All Might was the eighth. But before it, All Might decided he’d be upfront about everything, and he was. All for One, One for All’s brother quirk. But the most jaw-dropping thing was All Might’s first successor, Midoriya Izuku. He had heard about him. People at his school talked about it, and Aldera was under a lawsuit from a very pissed-off Midoriya Inko. Midoriya Izuku was a boy his age, and he was quirkless. But after a day of training, Midoriya decided to test fate… and he had become a statistic.

Fate was a cruel and unfair thing, but so was life.

~*~

He woke up in a cold sweat, as he shot up… he was supposed to be dead. He died for the peop- no the story he loved. He was a Dokkaebi, a streamer, a plaything for probability. That was all he was but… he had died… He scrambled out of the soft bed he was in and he‘d rush towards the nearest door. Slamming into it as it swung open, he glanced into the mirror.

Gold eyes stared back at him, he scrambled back. He… he had an incarnation body…

He gazed at himself in the mirror, his eyes wide. He then opened his streaming window and watched the live scenario that was currently taking place. He was on Earth before the scenarios began, which was around a year away. He turned to the mirror, calming down slightly. At least he looked like the Great Dokkaebi he was, with his red eyes, curly white hair, and three horns.

As he held his head, the incarnation body's memories flooded in, causing him to stumble back and fall into the tub. As he sat there, dazed, one thought came to his mind.

Eri

He quickly rose to his feet, hastily leaping out of the tub, and rushed out of the bathroom. With an urgent pace, he darted down the winding corridors of the compound. As he arrived at the door, he slammed his hand on it, and it transformed into an open door. She stood before him there, and he couldn't believe his eyes. He fell to his knees, overwhelmed with emotion. It was a rare moment for him since he used to be a cold and unfeeling being, concerned only about the number of views he received. But as he watched history being made, watched as Dekuto defied all odds, he didn't know how to feel. He was so proud of the story he helped make. Maybe it was when he died, but he couldn't tell the difference anymore whether he was Human or Dokkaebi.

Bihyung was overwhelmed.

~*~

As the duo grappled for the Jade, they flung curses like they were candy at each other. Akatani lit up in gold sparks as a fable was reawakened.

[Fable, ■■■ has woken from its slumber]

[The Star Stream is announcing the status of the constellation who doesn’t have a name]

[The Star Stream is announcing the status of the constellation who doesn’t have a name]

As the smoke cleared it revealed a shocked Shouto and a grinning Mikumo.

 [The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is staring at The constellation ‘Demon King of Liberation’]

As indirect messages flooded in, Akatani kicked Shouto back. The other slammed into a wall, still shellshocked.

“Well what are you waiting for, you have to choose. Me or him.”

With that Moya was off, before he was wrapped in black tendrils. His sword was raised above Shouto. His gold eyes met green, as he tried not to break down. He chose Shouto, he was more loyal to Akatani than Shouto. Even though the two were lovers and had a kid together, seriously what did Shishō see in him?

“Shishō, you said to choose and I did!”

“I wanted to give the illusion of choice, but I already decided for you.”

And that was Kyoka’s signal, rushing at Akatani. With that, the fighting became a blur. Slowly but surely the others joined in, all except one. Shouto staggered to his feet, glaring at Mikumo.

“Come on Shouto aren’t you a prophet? You saw how this’ll end.”

Shouto hardened his determination, as tears welled in his eyes as he rushed at Midoriya. The sword in his hand, stabbed through the other’s chest. 

“Midoriya… I’m-”

“Shouto, shut up. You think I did this because I could, suck it up Himura! It’s me or you to the end, because I’ll drag you to the end of the scenarios with me!”

Shouto froze, he didn’t even get to apologise. But as he heard a choked sob, he’d turn to the indirect message to his right.

[You’re Fate has been changed]

[You’re Fate has been realised]

[Incarnation Shouto Himura will kill the one he loves most]

“What did you do? Midoriya, what did you do!”

His true voice slipped out as he screamed, the familiar green sparks were gold as the probability storm raged on. Indirect messages overflowed… three… three whole nebula… the fate they had invoked had been changed and stopped.

Shouto Himura was alive.

~*~

Who knew being a bodyguard for hire at an underground fighting club was a reasonable income, like seriously Ochako thought working as a bartender in the grey was paying bills but damn. Ochako Uraraka, despite her bubbly personality back at UA, was one of the members of Dekuto with the most blood on her hands. She was the Judge of Apocalypse and the incarnation of Uriel, the Absolute Good and Leader of Eden. She’d be damned if she was underestimated, so getting a presence in the underground before UA was good. Hopefully, she’ll be recognised at the USJ so there won’t be anyone in her path to the Nomu.

As she watched the fight from the booth she was in, she glanced at her two companions. Moya and Neito. She had often worked with Moya, like when Akatani and Shouto destroyed the Absolute Throne together or during the cage match between Akatani and Nirvana when they were sent to ‘take care’ of the Neutral King. Neito not so much.

She was so used to fighting, she couldn’t let it go. She was going to UA whether or not the others did. After all, she was Dekuto’s sword.

~*~

As soon as she got back, she felt a newfound sense of determination. She'd be a combat medic, driven by a desire to be a valuable asset in any situation. She was not willing to be left behind, She wouldn’t allow her companions to drag her to the finish line. Being a second-year student at UA, she felt that she was in a prime position to delve into her specialisation.

After only three months, she was already starting to see the fruits of her labour. Winning the second-year sports festival was no small feat, but it gave her the confidence she needed to push herself even further. She realized that she was stronger than she had ever thought possible and that she was capable of achieving great things with her newfound strength. She was determined to keep improving and catch up to her peers, and she felt like she had earned the nickname 'The Immortal Doctor'.

~*~

Katsuma didn’t like how things ended. He had returned home to his sister, but things had changed. His sister had taken her own life, and she had used his hands to do so. He had survived because that's what she had wanted. He had assisted Dekuto from the sidelines, helping to organise everything, and working with Akatani when needed. He was essential, but that was all he was good for. He always found himself on the sidelines, and his sister had given up her life for a useless freak like him.

He desperately wanted to help but he didn’t know where to start…

~*~

It hurt, he didn’t like how it made him feel. Who was Tenko Himura and who was Kota? He doesn’t remember having siblings; it was just him, Sensei, the doctor, and Kurogiri. Having a sibling never crossed his mind, let alone a family that large. He felt wrong and he didn’t know why. But a part of him was missing, he could follow the tugging but that meant accepting those weren’t dreams. Those were memories of someone else; it meant he’d have to face reality…

Tomura Shigaraki never accepted reality…

He never could…

Chapter Text

One for All is a powerful quirk that is perfect for a regressor. It is a unique ability that accumulates power from one generation to the next, even reaching the tenth generation. However, it has one significant flaw - incompatible with other quirks. Hikage Shinomori, or Fourth died at the age of 40 from old age, which was later theorised to be due to One for All only working with individuals without quirks and having accelerated his ageing process. However, the truth is that it was because of the absence of the star stream. 

Yagi Toshinori, also known as Eighth , was unique among One for All users for living past 40. Unlike his predecessors, he had no fables, which contributed to his longevity. In contrast, Midoriya Izuku had a Fable that was ever-changing, a Fable known as "For the want of a nail." 

He was the Symbol of Change, his whole life was uncontrollable—the son of All for One but a hero at heart.

But Midoriya Izuku is a long-dead boy, and only Akatani Mikumo is left.

~*~

Sasaki Mirai wasn’t a big fan of planes, not after the scenarios. Being stuck in America with his intern wasn’t the best experience. But stepping into Japan meant being on his radar, Akatani Mikumo didn’t scare him. Not enough to keep him out of Japan, that is. The beauty of it all was he was a reliable and respected hero, all he needed was to spread the info about Akatani Mikumo to the HPSC and his two biggest headaches were at each other's throats. Akatani will stain his hands with the blood of the Hero Commission and the boy’s father will eliminate the biggest threat to him. 

Don’t get him wrong, he didn’t necessarily hate Akatani Mikumo. It’s just that blood is thicker than water and that boy was his father’s son.

It’s not that Midoriya did anything wrong, Mirai knows what he did wasn’t right. Midoriya had trusted him, he held Toshinori’s quirk. Toshinori made the boy his successor, it’s just that Midoriya was too strong and there was no one to keep him in check. What happened to Hoshi was a shame, but no toddler made it to the 46th scenario.

As he registered that the plane had landed, he stood. He was back in Japan and it reeked of Dekuto. Seems like he wasn’t the only one with plans for change.

~*~

Shigaraki’s hand filled with light, his voice scratchy as he smiled at Akatani. Shouto staggered to his feet, he pushed his body. This wasn’t how it’d end, not for Akatani. Their eyes met and there was anger, surprise, and then recognition. But not of Shouto, but of this. Like he could remember this happening. Like it’s happened before…

3rd turn Akatani couldn’t use Blackwhip… nor could he use Fa Jin or Gearshift…

What turn was this really..?

His side burned in immense pain, tears pricked in his eyes. This hurt like a bitch, he spewed blood out of his mouth as he realised most of his lower torso was gone.

“Shouto!”

That was the first time Akatani called him by his first name, it has only been Todoroki. He liked it, Akatani’s voice made it sound nice… should he call him Mikumo now? Right, he was dying. 

Their conversation afterwards was mostly a blur, but he knew not even Hadō could heal him. As black filled his vision he couldn’t remember why he was freaking out. It must have just been something Mikumo did.

~*~

He sat across from the man known as Re-Destro, the two had very different ideas regarding the world. Re-Destro believed in only quirks and it’s strength. While Kai knew quirks weren’t power, he knew Akatani Mikumo was quirkless but he stood as the strongest incarnation. Truly the strongest were those who discarded quirks and grew from skill.

The Meta Liberation Army [MLA] would fall when the scenarios began, no doubt about it. But they were a problem now and he needed them out of his way. He’d introduce them to Fables and they could run wild. Start a cult for all he cares, just get out of his way.

“I suppose your new look has something to do with why you called this meeting?”

“It’s just some rebranding.”

He had opted for black dress pants and paired them with pristine white sneakers. His white button-up shirt was neatly tucked in, with the first few buttons undone. He had replaced his green bomber jacket with a black one with white fur instead of purple. A streak of his hair was white, and a set of horns poked out of his hair. His left eye was red, as he grinned. His gloves were firmly on. 

“And who’s the girl?”

“My daughter, Biyoo.”

Ruby-red eyes and horns that stick out of her hair. She was wearing a long black skirt, a fully buttoned white top, and a trench coat similar to the one her other father wore.

"Quirks are useless, it's not true power. We as humans possess a much greater power; it's called fables."

"If you brought me here to change my mind and to believe the bullshit you do, I suggest allowing me to leave." 

“I know someone who is quirkless but could take on an army, believe me when I say quirks aren’t truly power.” 

Re-Destro stared at him, his hands slammed against the table. He’d sit up, pushing his hair back.

“Sorry, it’s just-”

“You said someone quirkless could take on an army?”

He leant forward, a grin on his face.

“Let me tell you the story of Dekuto Company.”

~*~

She lay in her bed, tired as she sat up. Unlike her hero form, she wasn’t blonde nor were her eyes as vibrant. She was just as tall, however, likely because of her nature as a half-giant. She lived an ocean away from the others, but they’d have to wait until she got stronger. The scenario was going to drop her in Murim, it was her home, and she almost lost it. She couldn’t lose her home to such an Outer God, nor could she lose Akatani. He never came back after passing through the Final Wall, but he kept living, that was for sure.

But her apprentice was gone like the wind, she’d never see his smile or see how he looked at his successor. She’d never hear how he’d laugh nor how he grinned like there was no tomorrow. She’d never say it to his face but he felt like the son she never had. 

Akatani wasn’t going to be left to drift in space for years on end. 

~*~

His slacker of a protege, where could he start? Turns out he didn’t even learn [Electrification] , the {怠惰} Taida used [Bookmark] . Kaminari Denki was a lot of things, a poor teacher wasn’t one of them. So he was going to hunt the Taida down and teach him.

But in the meantime, he’d need to change his quirk registration and train his quirk also named Electrification. After all, UA awaited and Japan’s number-one here course program wasn’t going to not let him in. On the plus side, the Taida was going to be there. So things were going to go well.

~*~

Death can change a man, in many ways you could call it redemption. It changed him in many ways, but two were the most important: when he tried to play hero and was crushed, and when Shouto Himura-Todoroki killed him. He wasn't the same boy who used to peek into the girls' changing room, nor was he the same person as he was in previous scenarios. He was a librarian who lived behind the fourth wall and organized books in the great library that was Shouto Himura's head. 

He wasn't the same person who fell in love with the only person he knew who was like him, the Regressor . At the end of the day, Nirvana Moebius and Minoru Mineta were dead. He was only a shell of what was left, with memories of a boy who never truly got to change and the memories of a Reincarnator who only got the chance to change in death.

Himura was their salvation. But they weren't going to make a cult about it. Nirvana knew the guy like the back of their hand, despite it possibly being seen as an invasion of privacy. Nirvana lived in the guy's head, and there wasn't much he could hide from them. They also just happened to be stuck with the guy for an indeterminable amount of years. 

Truly, no one could tell how long they had been travelling on that train for - not the [Fourth Wall] , not [Eater of Dreams] , The [Theatre Master] , and certainly not Nirvana. 

Who was he kidding, the fourth wall probably knew but was just messing with them. But now is the time to change. After all, they were a year or so from the beginning of the scenarios. They had lots of time. They missed being a librarian, but it wasn't worth actively searching for Himura just to put them back behind the fourth wall.

~*~

Okuta Kagerō or Giran didn’t expect to be sitting across from Eraserhead. It felt impossible, but the scenarios would also seem impossible. But here he was, the underground broker Giran, speaking to the equivalent of the number one hero of underground heroics. If you asked him, this was a pain. When he left the Hero Public Safety Commission all those years ago, he didn't expect to have to interact with heroes much. But he was face to face with Eraserhead, who asked him about the vigilante Salvation . It was a shame that he was an unpaid contract worker for Dekuto . It was also a shame that Salvation just so happened to be three representatives of the stupid company. He'd never admit it, but he was quite fond of the others. Even Akatani was tolerable.

So, here he was, evading answers and questions - well, not exactly, it was more like dancing around the subject and not giving clear-cut answers. But the man across from him already looked, the best way to put it, pissed, and he probably wasn't able to keep being so cryptic.

~*~

He sat on a couch, small arms wrapped around his waist and a head in his lap. Kiseki, she was here. He ran his hand through her almost white hair, smiling at her. Here she was, not on the island with the [Apocalypse Dragon] nor in Asmodues’ hands. Here she was, nine again. If he could go back and change anything, he’d make every mistake all over again. Just to be here with his daughter, and free from pain, for now, that is.

He pushed his hair out of his face, his hand brushing against his horns. Right, he’d have to explain that. At least his right horn was broken, he could cut off the left but he was going to. He grabbed a hair tie from the coffee table, pulling his hair back. He was lucky that he had a few vacation days left, but as his phone rang he’d spot a familiar number.

Seems like his ‘vacation’ was over, shame. He felt like holding onto the files for a few more days. But when the ‘Emperor of Steelsword’ called, he called.

~*~

He walked on the power lines, his gaze fixed ahead, his mind trying its best to ignore the noise around him. The air was filled with the sounds of drunk people yelling, the honking of cars, and the rumbling of trains nearby. All the sounds seemed to echo in his head as if magnified by the silence he had grown accustomed to. It had been a long time since he had been in a place with so much life, so much commotion. It almost felt like a phantom limb, a sensation he couldn't quite comprehend. His favourite commentary, the one he always relied on to make sense of things, was silent. Not even the vestiges were saying anything. Neither were the voices; his head was silent. It was never silent; it was either the vestiges or the other turns. He had stopped counting years ago; it had been 75,000 years, maybe more. His mind was never silent either; the vestiges were either saying or commenting on something, or the other turns were giving him advice. It had never been this silent, this quiet.

If you had asked Midoriya Izuku, he'd always say he hated loud noises, whether it be explosions or the name 'Deku' spelling from anyone's lips. Noise often meant danger for the quirkless boy. It was anxiety and a built-in trauma response.

A staff glided off the power lines, trying to knock him off his feet, as his gaze met with someone he had grown used to. A being almost as old as him in the [Star Stream] , the two could feel it. There was a faint hint of ozone in the air with something on the horizon. A storm was brewing, the air felt cold but also hot, and there was an ever-looming pressure on his shoulders. He could feel the phantom pains of lightning dancing across his skin.

The presence of the [Star Stream] weighed on his shoulders. He could feel it deep in his bones. The scenarios would come sooner or later, and if he knew any better, he was going to be right in the middle.

 The Regressor could feel change on the horizon.

[Constellation, The Most Ancient Liberator has descended to the scenario]

Chapter Text

He stood to his feet, looking down at the man he’d fallen for without knowing. After remembering the 0th turn and going through the 1865th turn, he’d had two plans at the very end. Midoriya Izuku, Akatani Mikumo, or whatever you’d call him, was a liar. He gripped the pocket watch in his hand. He exchanged a glance with the Regressor . 

Curly white hair, dull green eyes with nine-prong stars, freckles, tan skin, scars that peaked from under his black [Infinite Dimension Space Coat] and his black turtleneck with a silver collar and buckle, he wore steel-toed red high-tops, and the metal mouth guard from his hero costume. Finally, the pocket watch around his neck.

No words needed to be spoken. They were one in the same. And he lied about not being able to regress.

[Stigma, Regression is evolving]

---

“Just how many more lives like this one am I supposed to go through? He realised that, if he were to get to the end of all the scenarios, he needed to kill off his emotions, that he must not live his life. And so, he decided to become not ' Midoriya Izuku ', but the ‘Regressor, Akatani Mikumo ', instead.”

---

One drifted through space, and the other regressed. The companions of the 1864th didn’t see it coming, but they should’ve guessed he’d do anything.

~*~

Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi sat at his desk, a file spread out in front of him. The case of Todoroki Shouto's “disappearance” had become a perplexing mystery. It simply made no sense, Todoroki Shouto was put up for adoption. It was nearly over a decade ago.

It had been suspicious that the Todoroki family, had given Shouto up when their eldest Touya awakened the ice half of his quirk, truly a mess of conspiracies. But the file in front of him said otherwise, Todoroki Shouto was missing and was supposed to be with his family. Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi prided himself on the truth, and he knew a thing or two about quirks that could change the world. 

The real question was why?

~*~

“Sorry, I was trying to catch up with my friends.”

He stumbled, looking at the boy who had just run into him. Natsuo and Fuyumi had stopped, glancing back at him. The boy spun around. He was already bowing slightly. 

‘I’m sorry, Sir.”

The boy apologised, again as he got out of his bow and took in the kid’s appearance. White hair that fell to his shoulders with strands of red on his left, a scar on the left side of his face, and heterochromatic teal on his left and grey on his right.

“It’s fine, honestly.”

The boy glanced behind himself before bowing again and running off. 

Touya caught up with his siblings, glancing back at the boy. Now, thinking about it, he couldn’t remember what he looked like.

~*~

It was painful to stand next to them. Yaoyorozu had gone home when the barrier was removed. All that remained in the house was a note disowning her. The Yaoyorozu heiress simply couldn't be a killer, even if it meant life or death.

So standing with them hurt, being with them hurt. She blinked back into awareness as a purple-haired boy (?) bowed at the waist before her parents.

“I’m Mineta Minoru-”

She blinked dumbly at him. Mineta? No, this couldn’t be hi- how stupid of her to forget. Mineta Minoru was Nirvana. Which explained the new appearance. Curly purple hair that fell to their shoulders, and purple eyes that faded to gold, they were even taller standing at 150 cm (4’11) instead of 108 cm (3’6).

She had completely blanked out until an arm was looped with hers, heading to a group she vaguely recognised.

“So, Yaomomo. You ready?”

She could only nod, allowing her sibling in all but blood to drag her.

~*~

He looked up at the night sky, silently counting the stars as he could hear the nightlife of Downtown Mustafu. He was sitting on a roof when he heard the sound of someone landing behind him, and his Fable responded to theirs like muscle memory.

[Fable, 9th has begun its storytelling]

[Fable, 10th has begun its storytelling]

[Fable, 9th has responded to its successor]

[Fable, 10th has responded to its predecessor]

Moya Jū-Hoshizora loved his Shishō with all his lives, every version of himself that held One For All. For OFA stockpiles Fables and every version of himself that holds OFA remembers, he was a regressor who had never regressed.

“Moya, I’m sorry.”

Is he apologising? Shishō never apologised. He was a cruel man with his twisted liberation. No matter how much he loved Akatani Mikumo. He was still cruel. He was a twisted man who left those he cared about for someone he chose was more important. 1863 , he’d died that many times to just meet a man as cruel as him. 

“Himura's salvation was cruel. Like rescuing a drowning person with a blade, those saved by him were inflicted an unhealable wound.”

Uraraka said that, one of Shouto’s most loyal companions. Akatani loved a man who didn’t care about himself, a man who killed himself over and over again. And Shishō was the same. He hated and loved him. Akatani Mikumo’s liberation was twisted. Like rescuing a person and then making them fight their way out. They’d be indebted to him, but the scars that came along wouldn’t heal.

But was he talking to Akatani Mikumo… His soul sang the song of a boy who became one of the world's greatest heroes and the song of the same boy who lost it all and got back up.

“Who am I talking to?”

He questioned, as he looked into the eyes of the man who’d lived thousands of times over.

“The real me.”

Shishō fidgeted with the ring on his finger, the wedding… Moya almost forgot… at the end of the 1864th turn, those two got married, and it all came crashing down. The true Midoriya Izuku died when he agreed to become the Regressor , and Akatani Mikumo died the moment he regressed to the 1866th turn.

The Regressor sat down next to him, and he let his Fables do the heavy lifting.

[Fable, Hell of Eternity has begun its storytelling]

~*~

She felt the sun beating down on her, she had her arm thrown over her eyes to shield them from the light. She dropped the letter off, glancing up at the school she had loved once.

She breathed deeply, remembering the plan. Thankfully they had Cathleen or Breaking The Sky Sword Saint , ready to fix any stupid thing they’d done. Finally, everything would be in place.

Whether The Scenarios Began or Not.

~*~

[Constellation, Queen of the Darkest Spring has descended to the scenario]

[Constellation, Father of the Rich Night has descended to the scenario]