The whispers followed Izuku like a trail of smoke as he made his way back to class. His footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, each sound amplified by the tense silence that seemed to spread before him. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, casting strange shadows that danced across the walls as he walked. His purple veins pulsed gently beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power that now coursed through his body. Students peeking from classroom doorways quickly ducked back inside at the sight of him. Their hushed conversations carried through the thin walls:
"Did you hear? He took down Bakugo in less than a second..."
"Those eyes... they're like something out of a horror movie..."
"Are his veins glowing...?"
"Isn't that the quirkless freak?"
Izuku kept his face neutral, though internally he felt a complex mix of emotions churning in his chest. Part of him wanted to smile at their fear – a dark satisfaction after years of being the one who was afraid. But another part ached with a deeper sadness. Even with a quirk, he was still an outsider. The only difference now was that they feared him instead of mocking him.
When he reached Class 3-B, he paused at the door. Through the window, he could see Katsuki's empty desk – the explosive boy had presumably been taken to the nurse's office. The rest of the class sat in unusual silence, their usual morning chatter replaced by tense whispers and darting glances.
Izuku slid the door open. The whispers died instantly. Every head snapped forward, students suddenly finding their textbooks fascinating. Mr. Tanaka fumbled with his chalk, nearly dropping it as Izuku walked to his seat. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"As I was saying," Mr. Tanaka continued shakily, "the Meiji Restoration began in..."
Izuku tuned him out, his mind wandering to the nurse's office where Katsuki lay unconscious. He hadn't meant to hit him quite that hard – his control over his enhanced speed was still imperfect. But maybe it was for the best. Maybe now Katsuki would finally understand what it felt like to be on the receiving end of violence.
In the nurse's office, Katsuki Bakugo's consciousness returned slowly, like wading through thick fog. The first thing he registered was pain – his jaw throbbed with a deep ache that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. His back felt like it had been slammed by a truck, every muscle screaming in protest as he tried to move.
"Stay still," the nurse's stern voice cut through his daze. "You took quite a hit."
Katsuki's eyes snapped open, memories flooding back. Deku – no, not the Deku he knew – standing there with those haunting purple eyes. The world blurring, and then... darkness.
His hands clenched into fists, small explosions popping between his fingers. But for the first time in his life, the anger was mixed with something else. Something that made his stomach twist uncomfortably. Fear. Fear that someone could finally compete with him, fear that he wasn't the strongest anymore.
He had always seen Deku as beneath him – a pebble in his path to greatness. But what he'd felt in that moment, when those glowing eyes had locked onto his... it wasn't the gaze of someone weaker. It was the look of someone who could erase him from existence without breaking a sweat.
"That damn nerd..." Katsuki muttered, but the usual venom in his voice was diluted by uncertainty. He pressed a hand to his jaw, wincing at the tenderness. "What the hell kind of quirk is that?"
The nurse gave him a knowing look. "The kind that should remind you that power isn't everything, young man. Perhaps this will teach you to think twice before antagonizing others."
Katsuki wanted to snap back, to rage against the implication that he had learned any kind of lesson. But his jaw ached too much to argue, and somewhere deep in his mind, a seed of respect had taken root – not that he'd ever admit it.
For the first time, someone had truly beaten him. Not with luck or circumstance, but with raw power and skill. And it had been Deku – the same Deku he'd tormented for years. The realization sat heavy in his stomach as he stared at the ceiling, his pride wrestling with a new and uncomfortable reality. The nurse sighed as she checked Katsuki's vitals one final time, her hands moving with practiced efficiency. "Well, nothing seems permanently damaged," she said, her tone clipped. "Though that bruise will take a few days to fade completely. You can return to class – but," she added sharply as Katsuki began to rise, "Try to have restraint, I don't want to see you here again young man"
Katsuki clicked his tongue, but said nothing. The warning in her voice was clear enough. As he stood, his muscles protested, sending sharp jolts of pain through his back. One punch. One goddamn punch from Deku had done this to him. The thought made his blood boil – but the anger felt different now, tinged with something that felt uncomfortably like respect. The hallway seemed longer than usual as he made his way back to class, each step measured and careful. His usual stomping stride was gone, replaced by a cautious gait that spoke volumes about how much his body ached. When he reached the classroom door, he hesitated – just for a moment – before sliding it open.
The atmosphere inside was strange, almost surreal. Students who normally would have greeted him enthusiastically now seemed absorbed in their work, their eyes carefully avoiding both him and the purple-haired figure sitting quietly at his desk. Katsuki moved to his seat without a word, ignoring the whispers that followed him. As soon as the lunch bell rang, the classroom erupted into barely contained chaos. Most students fled quickly, but Hiro Tanaka – a boy who had frequently joined in mocking Izuku – lingered behind. Katsuki watched with narrowed eyes as Hiro approached Izuku's desk, wearing what had to be the most artificial smile ever attempted by a human being.
"Hey, Midoriya!" Hiro's voice was sickeningly sweet, dripping with false friendship. "That was pretty amazing earlier! I had no idea you had such an awesome quirk!" He leaned against Izuku's desk, trying to appear casual despite the nervous sweat beading on his forehead. "We should totally hang out sometime! Maybe you could tell me more about your powers?" Izuku slowly looked up from his notebook, his glowing purple eyes fixing on Hiro with an intensity that made the boy flinch. The veins in Izuku's neck pulsed faintly, casting small shadows across his collar.
"Funny," Izuku said quietly, his voice carrying a chill that made several nearby students shiver. "Last week you were calling me 'quirkless loser' and throwing my shoes in the toilet." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Now you want to be friends?"
Hiro's smile wavered, but he pressed on, desperation clear in his voice. "Come on, man, that was just... you know, kids being kids! We were just joking around!" He laughed nervously. "But seriously, what kind of quirk is that? The way you moved – it was like you teleported or something!" The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Izuku stood slowly, his chair scraping against the floor with an ominous screech. The antimatter glands beneath his skin began to glow faintly, creating a constellation-like pattern across his visible skin. Hiro stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"My quirk is called Anti-Flux," Izuku said, his voice steady but cold. "And I'm not interested in being friends with someone who only sees value in power." He gathered his things, the purple glow fading as he controlled his emotions. "Find someone else to kiss up to." From his desk, Katsuki watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. The Deku standing there now was nothing like the scared, stuttering kid he'd known for years. This Deku carried himself with confidence – no, more than that. He carried himself with authority.
As Izuku walked past Hiro, who had frozen like a deer in headlights, the would-be sycophant finally found his voice again. "Y-you can't talk to me like that!" he squeaked, though his voice betrayed his fear. "Just because you have a quirk now doesn't mean–" Izuku stopped at the door, turning just his head to look back. The motion was subtle, but the way his eyes glowed in that moment made Hiro's words die in his throat.
"Actually," Izuku said softly, "it means exactly that. You all made it very clear that having a quirk is what matters in this world." His lips curved into a small, sad smile. "I'm just playing by the rules you taught me."
With that, he left the classroom, leaving behind a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop. Hiro slumped against a desk, legs shaking. Several students exchanged nervous glances. And Katsuki... Katsuki stared at the door long after Izuku had gone, his mind churning with thoughts he couldn't quite process.
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The school day passed in its usual blur, Izuku keeping to himself, eyes down, shoulders tight, ignoring the fake smiles and soft voices of classmates trying to curry favor now that he suddenly mattered. Their stares felt like buzzing flies — constant, irritating, and impossible to fully tune out. When the final bell rang, he moved on autopilot: notebooks, pens, bag. He reached for the last notebook — the most important one — only for a familiar scarred hand to press down on it firmly. Izuku froze. Katsuki stood there, face unreadable. Not angry. Not smirking. Just… blank. And that expression alone put Izuku on edge.
"Care to tell me what the hell happened to you, nerd?" Katsuki asked, voice low and surprisingly calm. "Where'd that quirk come from?"
That calmness felt wrong. Like Katsuki had been replaced by some quiet, simmering version of himself that Izuku wasn't sure he trusted. Izuku slid the notebook out from under Katsuki's hand, slipped it into his bag, and stood up. "Follow me. I'd rather not say anything with half the school eavesdropping." Some part of him — buried deep under years of insults and explosions — still didn't want to hate Katsuki. Some stupid, stubborn part held onto the kid they used to be. The one who ran around with him in the park. The one who used to grin genuinely, before ego and quirks twisted everything.
Katsuki scoffed lightly but fell in step behind him. "Fine. But where are we going, nerd?"
"My home," Izuku replied plainly.
Katsuki blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. He didn't argue though. Just shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and followed as if pulled by curiosity he couldn't suppress. The walk was quiet — awkwardly so. Katsuki kept staring at Izuku's back, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. Izuku pretended not to notice. When they reached the apartment complex, Izuku unlocked the door and stepped inside.
"Mom, I'm home. I brought Kacchan over," he called out. Inko turned from the stove, apron on, hair slightly frazzled from her usual flustered cooking mode. She was making Katsudon — the smell was unmistakable, warm and nostalgic. The good kind of heavy. The moment she saw Katsuki, her eyes widened with pure joy, the kind only a parent figure could muster. "Oh—Katsuki!" she gasped, immediately abandoning the pot on the stove and rushing over. Before Katsuki could react, she pulled him into a tight hug. Katsuki's entire body stiffened like he'd been hit with a stun grenade. "H-Hey—hey! Auntie Inko—c'mon—" But he didn't pull away. Not really. His arms hovered awkwardly at his sides before, very hesitantly, one hand tapped her back in some vague attempt at reciprocation. Izuku had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, earning a glare from Katsuki. Inko finally let him breathe, holding him at arm's length, eyes sparkling. "Look at you! You've gotten so tall! And those muscles — oh my! How have you been? It's been so long!" Katsuki grumbled, cheeks dusted pink. "Tch. I've been fine. Just… y'know. Busy."
Inko giggled warmly. "Still trying to act tough, I see." Izuku watched the scene with a strange mixture of warmth and discomfort. It was like looking at a life that could've been. One where they stayed friends. One where things didn't fracture beyond repair. "Mom," Izuku said softly, snapping her attention. "Can we talk in my room? It's important."
Inko's expression sobered instantly. She nodded, gently patting Katsuki's arm. "Of course. I'll finish dinner. You two go ahead." Izuku gestured down the hall, heart thudding in his chest. Katsuki followed, but not before sending a confused, slightly conflicted glance toward Inko — like he couldn't reconcile being treated with affection after years of being the aggressor. Once they stepped into Izuku's room and Izuku shut the door behind them, the air grew heavier. Katsuki crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Alright, nerd. We're alone. Talk." Izuku turned toward him, eyes glowing faintly — a subtle pulse Katsuki noticed immediately.
Izuku let out a long, tired breath as he sat on the edge of his bed, the springs creaking softly beneath him. Katsuki dropped into the desk chair across from him, arms crossed, legs spread like he owned the place—but the tiniest flicker of unease betrayed him.
"Well…" Izuku began, rubbing the back of his neck, "for starters, I nearly died." Katsuki's eyes snapped wide. It was subtle, but for Katsuki, it may as well have been a scream of shock. His jaw tightened—a memory flashing across his face. Those awful words he'd spat hours earlier. "And no," Izuku added sharply, "I didn't take a swan dive." Katsuki bristled. "I–I wasn't thinking that, dumbass!" he snapped, but the guilt in his voice cracked through. Izuku didn't push it. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "A sludge villain… he caught me off guard. Wrapped around me and—" Izuku mimed something constricting his throat, "—tried to suffocate me so he could take my body."
Katsuki actually recoiled. His pupils shrank. For once, he wasn't angry—he was terrified. "Look at you," Izuku teased gently, "showing emotions other than rage." Katsuki exploded immediately. "SHUT THE HELL UP, NERD! THIS AIN'T SOMETHING TO JOKE ABOUT!" His voice cracked with something Izuku hadn't heard in years—fear. Izuku only smiled faintly. "I know. So listen." He inhaled deeply. "He did kill me… in a way. For a moment, he completely took control of my body." Katsuki's fists tightened so hard his knuckles turned pale. "But then my quirk awakened." Izuku reached down, grabbing the hem of his shirt. Katsuki's glare followed him suspiciously. "And this is where things get complicated."
He pulled the shirt off.
Katsuki froze.
Glowing, pulsing lines—bright blue and violet—branched beneath Izuku's skin like rivers of light. They webbed across his torso, down his arms, along his neck, and beneath his eyes. They throbbed softly with each beat of his heart. Katsuki could see it—the faint shimmer of something alien swirling inside Izuku's chest cavity.
"What… the hell…" Katsuki whispered, voice gone small. "My quirk is a hybrid type—Emitter and Mutant," Izuku explained calmly. "It's called Anti-Flux. When it activated, hundreds of microscopic glands inside me woke up." He tapped his ribs and collarbone. "They're all connected to my circulatory system. They produce antimatter constantly… and pump it directly into my bloodstream." Katsuki blinked. "You're. Pumping. ANTIMATTER. Through your VEINS?" Izuku nodded. "That's how I survived. The antimatter expelled the sludge villain and disintegrated about eighty percent of his body mass."
Katsuki's shock twisted slowly into a feral grin. "That's metal as hell. Almost killed the bastard who tried to kill you. Good." Izuku snorted. "It wasn't intentional. But… yeah." He lifted his right hand, palm facing upward. The circular opening in the center—the antimatter vent—glowed faintly. "These vents in my palms and the ones on my feet let me release antimatter. Like this." A swirling sphere of violet-blue antimatter bloomed outward, expanding into a perfect, unstable globe the size of a golf ball. The air around it shimmered like heat rising off asphalt. Katsuki stared, breath held.
Izuku flicked his wrist. The sphere zipped across the room—passing so close to Katsuki's cheek that it made the hair on his skin lift—before colliding with an Endeavor action figure on the desk.
fwump
The figure didn't break.
Didn't burn.
Didn't melt.
It simply imploded, crushed into a pinprick of nothingness before vanishing entirely.
Katsuki's jaw dropped. "WHAT THE SHIT! YOU COULD'VE—"
"I can control the potency," Izuku cut in quickly. "That was a weak one. It's way safer than it looks." Katsuki stared at him like he'd just witnessed a god sneezing. Izuku waved a hand. The glow in his veins dulled slightly—fading from vibrant neon to a soft pulse. As it dimmed, hundreds of tiny glowing dots appeared across his skin—minute antimatter pores flickering with activity.
"I can also reabsorb antimatter back into my bloodstream," he continued. "When I do, it supercharges the glands and gives me temporary boosts… speed, strength, reaction time. Earlier today? When I sent you flying into a wall?" Katsuki's eye twitched. Izuku grinned. "Light-speed movement." Katsuki slammed a hand on the desk. "YOU—YOU SHIT! YOU ACTUALLY—YOU—!!" He sputtered, face red, but behind the anger was… awe. Pure, electrified awe. Katsuki stared at him for a long moment—breathing hard, expression unreadable. Then he spoke, voice low and serious.
"Deku… that's insane. That's dangerous as hell. And… kinda awesome." Katsuki's gaze sharpened. "But if you ever pull that light-speed crap on me again without warning—"
Izuku smirked. "You'll what? Explode at me?"
Katsuki pointed a trembling finger at him. "I'LL—SHUT UP!!"
Izuku couldn't help but laugh at Katsuki's competitive scowl as he pulled his shirt back on, the faint purple glow of his antimatter glands dimming as the energy flowed back into his veins like liquid starlight. The training session had left them both exhausted, but there was a newfound camaraderie in their rivalry now – something that had emerged gradually since that first confrontation at school. The smell of katsudon wafted through the apartment just as Inko's cheerful voice called out "Dinner's ready!" from the kitchen, and Izuku glanced at his former tormentor-turned-sparring partner with a knowing smile. "Text your mom that you're over here – I'm sure Mom made you a bowl," he said, watching as Katsuki tried and failed to hide his eagerness; their relationship had shifted so drastically that these dinner invitations had become almost routine, though Katsuki maintained his prickly exterior with a gruff "It better be spicy" as he followed Izuku to the kitchen, the gentle pulse of Izuku's quirk casting subtle purple shadows on the walls as they walked.
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Months passed like leaves in autumn, each day blending into the next. Izuku sat at his desk, his glowing purple eyes half-lidded with boredom as he absently traced the patterns of his antimatter glands through his sleeve. Mr. Tanaka's voice droned on about future careers and life choices, the words washing over the classroom like white noise. The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room and making Izuku's purple veins shimmer faintly beneath his skin.
"...but who am I kidding?" Mr. Tanaka suddenly exclaimed with theatrical flair, breaking the monotony. "We all know what you all want to be!" He threw the career guidance papers into the air with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, letting them scatter like confetti. "Heroes!"
The classroom erupted into chaos. Students jumped from their seats, quirks activating in excitement despite school regulations. One boy's fingers stretched like rubber, another girl's hair began to glow, and someone in the back row started floating. The only two who remained seated were Izuku and Katsuki – one radiating quiet confidence, the other barely contained irritation.
"Now, now," Mr. Tanaka called out, hastily gathering the scattered papers while trying to maintain some semblance of order. "You all know quirks aren't allowed in the classroom!" His voice carried the weary tone of someone who'd repeated this rule countless times. The students settled down reluctantly, their quirks deactivating one by one, though the excitement still buzzed in the air like static electricity.
Mr. Tanaka straightened the recovered papers against his desk, adjusting his glasses as he reviewed the career sheets they'd filled out the previous week. The room fell into an anticipatory silence, broken only by the occasional whisper and the distant sound of birds outside. His eyes widened slightly as he came across two particular forms, and he cleared his throat – once, twice – before speaking.
"It seems," he began, his voice carrying a mix of pride and nervousness, "that we have two students aiming for UA this year." The announcement sent a ripple through the classroom. Whispers erupted like wildfire, students turning in their seats to look at the two most likely candidates. The name "UA" hung in the air like a dream – the most prestigious hero school in Japan, a beacon of excellence that accepted less than one percent of its applicants.
"Katsuki and Izuku, probably," someone whispered.
"The two strongest quirks in our year..."
"Did you see them sparring last week? The whole field was destroyed..."
Mr. Tanaka raised his hand for silence, though his own voice trembled slightly with emotion. "Midoriya, Bakugo," he announced, looking at each boy in turn. Izuku's eyes glowed a fraction brighter, while Katsuki's usual scowl deepened. "I wish you both the best of luck in getting into UA." The words settled over the classroom like a heavy blanket. Students glanced between the two powerhouses of their year – Katsuki Bakugo, whose explosive quirk had always marked him for greatness, and Izuku Midoriya, whose late-blooming Anti-Flux had transformed him from a quirkless nobody into something approaching legendary. The tension between them was palpable, not hostile anymore, but charged with competitive energy.
Katsuki and Izuku exchanged loaded glances across the classroom. Their smirks mirrored each other – not with the malice that had once defined their relationship, but with something deeper, more complex. Months of sparring sessions, shared lunches, and gradual understanding had transformed their dynamic. What was once pure hatred had evolved into a peculiar blend of brotherhood and fierce rivalry, each pushing the other to grow stronger. The glowing purple veins beneath Izuku's skin pulsed with quiet amusement as Katsuki, true to his nature, couldn't resist the urge to showboat. With his feet propped up on his desk and that characteristic arrogant grin spreading across his face, Katsuki addressed their teacher with his usual lack of filter.
"Hey teach!" His voice carried that familiar explosive confidence, drawing all eyes in the room. "Don't lump me and Izuku in with these bunch of losers. We're the real deal!" He gestured dismissively at their classmates, small sparks dancing between his fingers. "These extras will be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-lister!"
The class bristled at the insult, but before anyone could react, Izuku's eyes flickered with purple light. With practiced precision, he formed a minuscule sphere of antimatter, no larger than a penny, in the palm of his hand, pushing it between his thumb and forefinger. The tiny orb pulsed with violent potential as he flicked it toward Katsuki's desk, striking the pencil lying there with surgical accuracy. The pencil didn't break or snap – it simply ceased to exist, imploding into nothingness with a soft 'pop' that made Katsuki jolt in his seat, his feet hitting the floor with a thud. Several students gasped at the casual display of power, while others instinctively leaned away from the purple-eyed boy.
"Be nice," Izuku said flatly, his tone carrying the weight of someone who could erase matter from existence as easily as breathing. Then, slowly, his lips curved into a grin that made even Katsuki's confident facade crack slightly. It wasn't the nervous smile of the old Deku – this was something else entirely, a expression that reminded everyone present of exactly why they'd stopped underestimating him months ago. Katsuki's eye twitched as he stared at the empty space where his pencil had been, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. Even after all these months of training together, Izuku's casual displays of power still managed to unnerve him – not that he'd ever admit it out loud.
"Now now, children, settle down, we have class to get to." Mr. Tanaka started, as he spoke, completely ignoring what Izuku did, special treatment to those with powerful quirks in this corrupt school, "Open your textbooks to page 78"
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The final bell's ring echoed through the emptying halls of Aldera Junior High, signaling freedom. Izuku and Katsuki walked side by side toward the school's front gate, their shadows stretching long in the afternoon sun. The antimatter glands beneath Izuku's skin pulsed with a gentle rhythm, like stars twinkling beneath the surface. A mischievous thought crossed his mind, making his purple eyes brighten slightly.
"Hey, Kacchan," Izuku said casually, a hint of playfulness in his tone that immediately made Katsuki suspicious. "I wanna try something."
Before Katsuki could voice his objection, Izuku's left palm began to glow intensely. The perfectly circular hole in his hand – one of several anatomical changes caused by his quirk – flickered with violent purple energy. With practiced precision, he projected a sphere of antimatter roughly the size of a tennis ball, the unstable mass hovering ominously before them.
The sphere drifted away from Izuku's palm, pulsing with otherworldly energy. Suddenly, it began to expand, the edges stretching and warping reality itself as it grew into an oval large enough for a person to step through. The interior of the portal swirled with cosmic violence, purple and blue energies dancing like auroras in a midnight sky.
Izuku's grin widened as he placed his hand firmly on Katsuki's back. "Time for a field test!"
"Wait, what the fu—" Katsuki's protest was cut short as Izuku shoved him forward into the swirling vortex. For a brief moment, Katsuki experienced what could only be described as existing everywhere and nowhere at once, his atoms singing with dimensional displacement. Then, reality snapped back into focus as he stumbled onto the familiar sidewalk outside Izuku's apartment building.
Moments later, Izuku stepped through the portal with casual grace, the antimatter construct collapsing behind him with a soft 'whoosh'. His veins glowed brightly from the quirk usage, creating intricate patterns across his visible skin.
"Oh good, you didn't die," Izuku remarked with deadpan delivery, though his eyes sparkled with barely contained amusement.
Katsuki's face contorted through several emotions before settling on rage. His hands sparked dangerously as he grabbed Izuku's collar, pulling him close enough that their noses nearly touched. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'YOU DIDN'T DIE'?!" he roared, small explosions popping between his fingers. "THAT COULD'VE KILLED ME, YOU STUPID NERD!"
Izuku met Katsuki's furious red eyes with his own glowing purple ones, completely unfazed. His black sclera seemed to absorb and reflect the purple light, creating an almost hypnotic effect. A smirk played at the corners of his mouth as he spoke, "You didn't die, did you?" His voice carried that particular tone that always managed to get under Katsuki's skin. "Besides, I've known how to do that for a while now. I just wanted to mess with you."
Katsuki's eye twitched violently as he processed this information. With a frustrated growl, he released Izuku's collar, shoving him away. "You're such an ass now, you know that?" he grumbled, though there was a hint of reluctant respect in his voice.
Izuku straightened his uniform, failing to completely suppress his laughter. The antimatter glands beneath his skin pulsed with residual energy, creating shifting shadows across his face that made his amused expression look almost ethereal.
"I try," Izuku responded with mock innocence, his purple eyes gleaming with mischief as he fished his house key from his pocket. The metal clinked softly against the lock, and as the door swung open, they were immediately enveloped by the rich, comforting aroma of homemade soba. The scent wafted through the apartment like a warm embrace, carrying with it the familiar feeling of home that had become increasingly common to both boys.
"Forgot how much auntie likes to cook," Katsuki muttered, though the slight softening of his usually sharp features betrayed his appreciation. He stepped inside with the comfortable familiarity of someone who had made this transition from guest to family over the past few months. Izuku followed, his antimatter glands dimming to a soft glow as he relaxed, the door clicking shut behind them.
In the kitchen, Inko Midoriya stood before the stove, her green hair tied back neatly as she tended to several pots with practiced care. At the sound of their entrance, she turned, her face lighting up with that particular warmth that seemed to be reserved specially for her two boys – because somewhere along the line, Katsuki had become as much her child as Izuku.
"Had a feeling you'd come over today," she said, her voice carrying that maternal knowing that mothers somehow always possess. Steam rose behind her as she adjusted the burner temperature, letting the soba stock simmer to perfection. "I got out the ingredients to make your bowl to your liking, sweetheart." The endearment rolled off her tongue naturally, as if she'd never stopped using it for Katsuki, even during those years of distance.
Before Katsuki could maintain his usual prickly exterior, Inko crossed the kitchen with surprising speed. Her arms wrapped around him in a motherly embrace that completely ignored his height advantage, pulling him down to her level. Despite his growth spurt, despite his fierce reputation, in Inko's arms he was still that little boy who used to share All Might action figures with her son.
"Unhand me, woman!" Katsuki protested, his voice lacking any real heat as he struggled halfheartedly against the hug. His face flushed red with embarrassment, hands sparking tiny, harmless explosions in his fluster. The display only made Inko hold on tighter, years of dealing with explosive personalities having made her immune to such protests.
Izuku leaned against the wall, his purple eyes dancing with amusement as he watched his former tormentor-turned-brother figure squirm in his mother's embrace. A snort of laughter escaped him, earning a deadly glare from Katsuki that might have been more intimidating if he wasn't still trapped in what Inko lovingly called her "mom hug."
The antimatter glands visible on Izuku's neck pulsed softly with his contained laughter, casting gentle purple shadows across the familiar scene. This was their new normal – a reality where Katsuki Bakugo pretended to hate Inko Midoriya's hugs while secretly cherishing them, where two boys who had once been bitter enemies now shared meals and laughter like brothers, and where the scent of homemade soba filled an apartment that had become a sanctuary for both of them.
The morning sun cast long shadows across UA's entrance, the prestigious school's gates stretching toward the sky like golden fingers reaching for the clouds. Izuku stood motionless, his purple eyes reflecting the metallic sheen of the archway while his antimatter glands pulsed with nervous energy beneath his skin. Somewhere ahead, he could hear Katsuki's voice barking at other examinees to get out of his way – typical Kacchan behavior.
'A couple of months ago, I never thought I'd make it here,' Izuku thought, his fingers curling into tight fists as he stared up at the imposing structure. 'But here I am, with a quirk I could only dream of, taking my first step towards becoming a hero.' The veins in his arms glowed softly with purple light, a reminder of how much had changed.
A sudden sharp slap between his shoulder blades jolted him from his reverie, making him stumble forward slightly. "What's wrong, getting cold feet now?" a cheerful voice chirped behind him. Izuku turned, coming face to face with a girl whose pink skin seemed to glow in the morning light.
Her eyes widened as their gazes met, a look of excited recognition crossing her features. "Woah, our eyes are similar!" she exclaimed, leaning closer to examine his face. Indeed, her yellow irises set against black sclera mirrored his own unusual eye structure, though his purple glow contrasted with her vibrant yellow.
"Anyways! I'm Mina Ashido!" She bounced on her feet, radiating an energy that seemed to directly contrast Izuku's more reserved demeanor. "Nice to meet you!"
A soft smirk tugged at Izuku's lips, his antimatter glands dimming slightly as he relaxed. "Yeah, I guess our eyes are pretty similar. I'm Izuku, Izuku Midoriya."
As they began walking toward the examination room, Mina skipped alongside him, seemingly immune to the nervous tension that plagued most other candidates. "So, what's your quirk?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. "Something cool, right? Those glowy veins look super intense!"
Izuku chuckled, holding up his palm to show her the circular hole that ran straight through it. "It's called Anti-Flux. I can generate and control antimatter." To demonstrate, he created a tiny sphere of purple energy above his palm, letting it hover and spin like a miniature galaxy.
"That's so cool!" Mina's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I can shoot acid from my skin! Maybe we could be the Corrosive Duo or something!" She laughed at her own joke, then pointed ahead. "Oh hey, is that explosive guy your friend? The one yelling at everyone?"
"Kacchan?" Izuku's eyes found Katsuki in the crowd, who was indeed creating quite a scene. "Yeah, we grew up together. He's... an acquired taste."
"DEKU!" Katsuki's voice boomed across the courtyard. "STOP FLIRTING AND GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE! THE EXAM'S ABOUT TO START!"
Izuku's eye twitched slightly as several other examinees turned to stare. Mina burst into giggles beside him. "Deku?"
"Childhood nickname," Izuku sighed, his veins pulsing with slight embarrassment. "It used to be an insult, but now it's more of a... friendly annoyance."
"Well, Deku," Mina grinned, linking her arm through his as they approached the building, ignoring his surprised expression, "I think we're going to be great friends! Assuming we both pass, of course!"
"DEKU! RACCOON EYES! HURRY THE HELL UP!"
"Raccoon eyes?" Mina blinked, then laughed. "Oh, he gives everyone nicknames, huh?"
"You have no idea," Izuku muttered, but found himself smiling despite himself. As they entered the building together, he couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, UA would be more than just a step toward becoming a hero. Maybe it would be where he finally found his place.
The examination room loomed ahead, filled with the murmur of hundreds of hopeful students. Izuku felt his antimatter glands warm with anticipation. Whatever came next, he was ready to face it – not as the quirkless kid he'd once been, but as someone who could shape his own destiny.
The examination hall buzzed with nervous energy as Izuku and Mina entered, their linked arms drawing curious glances from other applicants. Katsuki, already lounging in his seat with his feet propped up, caught sight of them and a predatory grin spread across his face.
"Well well, we haven't been here for ten minutes and Deku's got a girlfriend," Katsuki called out loud enough for nearby students to hear, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. The effect was immediate – Mina froze mid-step, her pink complexion somehow deepening to an even darker shade of rose. Her yellow and black eyes widened comically as she processed Katsuki's words. Izuku shot his friend a withering glare, his purple eyes intensifying their glow briefly. Katsuki just cackled as he made his way to his assigned seat, clearly pleased with the chaos he'd caused. Izuku looked down at the still-frozen Mina, noting how the tips of her horns had turned a darker pink. He poked her forehead gently, his antimatter glands pulsing softly beneath his skin.
"You good, Pinkie?" he asked, amusement coloring his voice. Mina puffed her cheeks out in an adorable pout. "Your friend sure knows how to get a reaction," she mumbled, before her natural cheerfulness reasserted itself in a bright smile. Her eyes drifted to their still-linked arms, focusing on the mesmerizing flow of antimatter through Izuku's veins – purple and blue energy swirling like cosmic rivers beneath his skin.
"Checking me out, huh?" Izuku teased, earning another bright blush from the pink-skinned girl. He sighed dramatically, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, are you going to hold onto my arm all day, or are we going to find our seats?" Mina finally separated from him, bouncing on her feet with renewed energy. "Well, I wish you luck, hot stuff!" she chirped, throwing him a wink. "Hopefully we get to take the exam together!" With that, she skipped off toward her assigned seat, leaving behind a faint trail of acid-nullifying sparkles. Izuku shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. Some part of him – the old, quirkless Izuku – couldn't believe he'd just managed such a casual conversation with a girl. He made his way to his seat next to Katsuki, who immediately leaned over with that same shit-eating grin.
"Hot stuff, huh? Seems I was right, Deku's got a girlfriend!"
"Shut it," Izuku growled, his veins pulsing with irritation. Their banter was interrupted as Present Mic burst onto the stage in a flash of spotlights and sound effects. "WELCOME TO TODAY'S LIVE PERFORMANCE!" his voice boomed through the hall. "EVERYBODY SAY HEY!" Silence met his enthusiasm, broken only by Mina's distant "Hey!" which earned her a few strange looks.
"TOUGH CROWD!" Present Mic continued undeterred. "WELL, THAT'S COOL, MY LISTENERS! I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE GUIDELINES OF YOUR PRACTICAL EXAM!" The screen behind him lit up with images of robots and city landscapes. "This will be a ten-minute mock urban battle! You'll be experiencing what it's like to fight villains while protecting civilians! Each robot has a point value based on difficulty – from one to three points!" A hand shot up from the audience – a tall boy with glasses and an extremely serious expression. "Excuse me! May I ask a question?" Without waiting for permission, he stood up rigidly. "On the handout, there are clearly four types of villains listed, not three! Such an error, if it is one, is highly unbecoming for UA, Japan's top hero academy!"
Present Mic grinned, pointing finger guns at the serious student. "GOOD CATCH, EXAMINEE 7111! The fourth villain type is worth zero points! Think of it as an obstacle to avoid! It's not impossible to defeat, but there's no point in trying!"
Izuku's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, his analytical mind already working through scenarios. His antimatter glands pulsed gently as he considered the implications. Next to him, Katsuki snorted. "Bet you're already planning how to take down the big one, aren't you, nerd?"
"Maybe," Izuku replied with a slight smirk, his purple eyes reflecting the screen's light. "Could be fun."
The serious student – Number 7111 – nodded satisfied with the explanation and sat back down, though his eyes lingered briefly on Izuku's glowing veins with barely concealed curiosity.
"Now then!" Present Mic continued, "Let's talk about how you'll be sorted into your testing grounds! Remember the saying of our school: Go Beyond, PLUS ULTRA!"
As their testing locations were announced, Izuku noticed he and Katsuki were assigned to different areas. He caught Mina's eye across the room – she flashed him a thumbs up and mouthed "Ground B?" Izuku checked his card and nodded, earning another bright smile from her.
"Good luck, Kacchan," Izuku said, standing as students began to file out. "Try not to destroy the whole city."
"Tch," Katsuki scoffed, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "Just don't die showing off to your girlfriend, nerd."
Izuku's antimatter glands flared briefly as he resisted the urge to create a small explosion near Katsuki's head. Instead, he turned toward Ground B.
The mock city sprawled before them, towering buildings casting long shadows across the assembled examinees. Izuku stood at the starting line, his antimatter glands pulsing with anticipation beneath his skin. Beside him, Mina bounced on her toes, her acid already beginning to drip from her fingertips.
"START!" Present Mic's voice boomed suddenly, catching many examinees off guard. But Izuku was already moving.
His veins darkened to pitch black before the antimatter glands across his body erupted with violet light. In Izuku's eyes, the world slowed to a crawl as he absorbed the antimatter into his core, his body glowing like a constellation of purple stars. He shot forward, leaving behind a trail of distorted space as he moved faster than light itself. All the other students could see was a blur of after images, the air around the after images distorting with the power of Anti-Flux.
A one-pointer robot rounded the corner, its red sensors barely registering his presence before Izuku's hand plunged through its chest. The antimatter coursing through his palm caused the robot to implode, collapsing in on itself with a satisfying crunch. Two more robots appeared, and Izuku grinned, his purple eyes blazing.
"Hey, save some for me!" Mina called out, sliding past on a stream of acid. She melted through a three-pointer's legs while Izuku created a sphere of antimatter between his palms, launching it at a cluster of robots. The sphere expanded on impact, erasing a perfect circle of machines from existence.
"Twelve points!" Izuku called out, his voice echoing strangely as he phased through normal time.
"Fifteen!" Mina responded competitively, dissolving another robot with a particularly potent acid shot.
Izuku spotted a group of examinees cornered by several two-pointers. Without hesitation, he redirected his course, antimatter flowing from the holes in his feet as he practically glided across the ground. His hands moved in precise arcs, creating barriers of compressed antimatter that the robots crashed into, disintegrating on contact.
"You okay?" he asked the stunned examinees, his veins glowing brightly from exertion.
"Y-yeah," one of them stammered, staring at the perfectly smooth holes where the robots had been. "That quirk... it's incredible..."
A massive crash interrupted them. The zero-pointer emerged, its colossal form blocking out the sun. While other examinees turned to flee, Izuku's eyes narrowed. He could hear Mina helping evacuate others nearby, her acid creating escape routes through debris.
"Time to show off a little," Izuku muttered, focusing his antimatter into his core. His entire body began to glow, purple light pouring from every pore. With a thought, he launched himself upward, antimatter propulsion carrying him to eye-level with the mechanical giant.
What happened next would be talked about for years at UA. Izuku thrust both palms forward, channeling a massive surge of antimatter. The air itself seemed to bend and warp around him as a beam of pure violet energy erupted from his hands. The zero-pointer didn't explode or fall – it simply ceased to exist, a perfect cylindrical hole carved through its center, edges smooth as glass.
As Izuku landed gracefully beside a wide-eyed Mina, Present Mic's voice rang out: "TIME'S UP!"
"That was amazing!" Mina exclaimed, punching his arm playfully. "We're definitely getting in!"
Izuku smiled, his antimatter glands dimming as he powered down, the antimatter flowing back into his veins. "Yeah," he said softly, watching other examinees stare at the impossible hole he'd carved through space itself. "I think we just might."
As the dust settled from the zero-pointer's dramatic erasure, Mina's celebration was cut short by a startling sight. She squeaked in alarm as Izuku's form began to glitch and distort – like reality itself couldn't quite decide where he should be. His left arm flickered out of existence before reappearing three feet to the left, suspended in mid-air, while his right leg seemed to phase through different points in space. The anomalies lasted only seconds before his body snapped back together, but the display left Mina wide-eyed.
"Izuku, your body just went all glitchy there for a second," she said, her yellow and black eyes fixed on his form with fascination. The veins beneath his skin were glowing more intensely than before, creating intricate patterns of purple light that crawled up his arms like luminescent vines. The glow had spread further than usual, threading up his neck and across his cheeks, even tracing delicate lines beneath his eyes, making his already striking appearance even more otherworldly.
"Seems I reached my limit," Izuku murmured, flexing his fingers as he watched the antimatter flow through his veins with unusual brightness. "Good thing the exam's over." He could feel his quirk settling, the cosmic energy that had been surging through him starting to calm. The hundreds of antimatter glands visible beneath his skin pulsed like dying stars, gradually dimming from their earlier intensity. Mina couldn't tear her eyes away from the display, watching as the purple glow beneath his skin shifted and swirled like aurora borealis. "It's beautiful," she breathed, unconsciously reaching out to trace one of the glowing lines on his forearm. "Does it hurt when it does that?"
"Not really," Izuku replied with a small smile, watching as his veins slowly returned to their normal subtle glow. "It's more like... a reminder that I'm carrying something impossible inside me." They began walking toward the exit together, their footsteps crunching over robot debris and perfectly smooth craters where antimatter had erased chunks of reality. Other examinees parted before them, whispering in awe about the boy who'd carved a hole through a zero-pointer with purple light.
"Hey," Mina said suddenly, linking her arm through his as they walked, seemingly unbothered by the remaining glow of his quirk, "want to grab a smoothie or something? You know, to celebrate potentially becoming future classmates?"
Izuku glanced down at their linked arms, then at Mina's hopeful smile, his purple eyes softening. The last of his antimatter glands dimmed to their usual gentle pulse, his power settling into a comfortable hum beneath his skin. As they approached the exit gates, the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and purple – almost as if the heavens themselves were celebrating their success.
"Asking me out, huh?" Izuku teased, before he answered her. "Yeah," he replied, feeling lighter than he had in years. "I'd like that."
The gates of UA stood behind them, no longer intimidating but promising – a doorway to a future neither of them could have imagined just hours ago. And as they walked away from their first test as heroes, Izuku couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, he'd found something more than just a path to heroics.