The child confused All Might in more ways than one. He seemed like a deer in headlights, knowing next to nothing.
First, there was how he had reacted to traffic. Reinhard had stared at the speeding vehicle as if it were some kind of anomaly, moving only at the last second. It was the reaction of someone who had never seen a car before.
Second was his name. Reinhard van Astrea did not sound Japanese at all, yet the boy spoke flawless Japanese without the slightest accent.
And finally, there was the strangest part of all.
He did not recognize him or where he was.
He was All Might, the Number One Hero.
The Symbol of Peace.
Yet the boy had looked at him with nothing more than polite curiosity. All Might senses were tingling so he had brought him to the smartest person he knew, Nezu.
Now, the three of them sat inside a quiet room at UA. Reinhard sat across the table, his feet barely touching the floor. A cup of tea had been placed in front of him, untouched.
All Might took a careful sip of his own tea, studying the boy over the rim of the cup.
Reinhard noticed and tilted his head slightly. "So... you're a hero?"
All Might blinked. "...Yes," he replied. "I am. I use my power to save people and protect society."
"Oh," Reinhard said, nodding as if filing that away. "That makes sense."
All Might exchanged a quick glance with Principle Nezu, who was seated beside him. All Might gave a subtle nod. Let him handle it.
Nezu leaned forward slightly, his tone calm and practiced. "We have a few questions we'd like to ask you. Is that alright?"
Reinhard thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. But... may I ask some questions as well?"
"That's fair," Nezu replied. "Go ahead."
Reinhard hesitated, then asked, "Where am I?"
"You're in Japan," Nezu answered. "Musutafu City, to be precise."
"Japan..." Reinhard repeated quietly.
His shoulders drooped just a little.
All Might noticed.
"So," All Might said gently, "what exactly do you remember before we found you?"
Before Reinhard could answer, Nezu raised a paw slightly. "Actually, there's something we need to establish first." He turned his attention fully to the boy. "What is your quirk?"
Reinhard blinked. "...My what?"
"Your quirk," Nezu repeated. "Your special meta ability."
"I'm sorry," Reinhard said slowly, brows knitting together. "I don't understand what you mean."
All Might lowered his cup. "You don't know what a quirk is?"
Reinhard shook his head. "No, sir."
The room fell silent.
Nezu and All Might exchanged another look.
"...He's not lying," Nezu said quietly after a moment.
All Might exhaled through his nose. "Alright," he said. "We'll come back to that."
Nezu nodded and flipped open his notebook. "For the record, please state your full legal name and age."
"My name is Reinhard van Astrea," the boy replied. "I am eight years old."
Nezu wrote it down. No hesitation. No uncertainty.
"And how did you arrive in Musutafu?"
"I don't know," Reinhard answered honestly. "One moment I was in my bedroom. The next, I woke up in a forest."
All Might frowned. "You didn't travel here with anyone? No vehicle? No flash of light?"
"No," Reinhard said. "Nothing like that."
Nezu tapped his pen against the page. "Can you tell us about your home?"
Reinhard gazed up slightly. "I live in a large manor with my family. It's in the capital of Lugunica."
"...Lugunica?" All Might repeated.
"Yes," Reinhard said. "It's a beautiful kingdom located on the eastern most part of the continent. There are many people, knights, and even spirits."
Nezu paused his writing. "...Spirits?"
Reinhard nodded. "They are spiritual beings. They exist alongside us. Some people form contracts with them."
All Might stared at him. "You're serious."
"Yes," Reinhard said simply.
The silence returned, heavier this time.
Nezu slowly closed his laptop. "...So far," he said carefully, "everything you've told us makes no sense."
All Might leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
"This kid either came from somewhere very strange," he muttered, "or he's telling the truth about another world."
Reinhard looked between them, uneasy. "Am I... in trouble?"
All Might immediately leaned forward. "No. Absolutely not."
Nezu nodded. "We just need to understand what's going on."
Reinhard relaxed slightly, though confusion still clouded his eyes.
"...Then," he said quietly, "may I ask another question?"
"Of course," All Might replied.
"This world," Reinhard asked, "does it need more heroes?"
The question lingered in the air.
All Might smiled, but there was weight behind it.
"Yes," he answered. "More than you might think."
...
Reinhard did not know why he had asked that question a month ago. Perhaps it had been childish curiosity, or perhaps it was his way of finding a place for himself in this unfamiliar world.
He truly did not know.
It was from the third interview that Nezu and All Might had come to accept the same conclusion. Reinhard was a child from another world.
It had taken time. A lot of it. There had been tests, careful questions, and quiet discussions held just out of Reinhard's earshot. In the end, however, they accepted it. With quirks ranging from bending reality to rewriting the laws of physics, the idea that a powerful ability or something Reinhard called "magic" had transported him here was not impossible.
How he arrived remained a mystery.
What troubled Reinhard more was something else entirely.
He felt no urgency to return.
The realization unsettled him.
I should want to go back, he thought.
Lugunica needed him. The kingdom relied on his existence alone to deter calamities. If he was not there, people could suffer. People could die.
And yet...
The thought of returning to the manor, of facing the cold stares and unspoken blame, made his chest tighten.
I don't deserve to feel relieved, he told himself bitterly. I'm a monster. I don't get to run away.
The thought hurt more than he expected.
Reinhard blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as heavy footsteps approached from behind.
"Ah! There you are!" All Might's voice boomed cheerfully. "I was looking everywhere for you!"
Reinhard turned just in time to see the towering hero approach, holding a tray piled high with food.
"All Might?" Reinhard asked, surprised.
"Proper nourishment is essential for a kid your age!" All Might declared, practically shouting it as he set the tray down on a nearby table. "You've been through a lot today. Can't have you running on empty!"
Reinhard stared at the tray. Rice, soup, grilled fish, vegetables. Warm. Fresh.
"...This is a lot," he said quietly.
All Might laughed. "You can eat what you want. No pressure!"
Reinhard hesitated, then slowly sat down. He picked up the chopsticks, pausing for a moment before eating. Due to his blessing, he instinctively learned how to use the utensils.
"...Thank you," he said.
All Might's expression softened. "You don't need to thank me for that."
They sat in silence for a short while as Reinhard ate. It had been longer than he realized since his last proper meal.
After a few bites, Reinhard spoke again. "...All Might?"
"Hm?"
"In this world," Reinhard asked carefully, "heroes protect people... even if those people are afraid of them?"
All Might blinked, then leaned back slightly. "That's part of the job," he said. "People fear what they don't understand. But we protect them anyway.
Lots of heroes have mutations that scare people, but that doesn't stop them from helping."
Reinhard lowered his gaze to his bowl. "Even if they don't want your help?"
All Might was quiet for a moment.
"...Especially then," he answered.
Reinhard's grip on the chopsticks tightened.
"In my world," he said softly, "power brings expectations. Fear. Blame." He swallowed. "Sometimes, it's easier if people think you're a monster."
All Might frowned, truly now. "Kid... no one should have to feel that way."
Reinhard gave a small, sad smile. "I'm used to it."
All Might placed a large hand gently on the table. "You don't have to be."
Reinhard looked up at him, surprised.
"You're not Lugunica's weapon here," All Might continued. "You're just a kid. And until we figure out what to do next, you're under my protection."
"...Your protection?" Reinhard repeated.
All Might grinned. "That's what heroes do."
For the first time since arriving in this world, Reinhard felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
But something close to relief.