Work Text:
Hisashi watched with baited breath as his older self took the quirk that was killing Yoichi. Light exploded across All for One’s skin. The villain threw back his head and screamed.
The air hummed. It looked as if bits of All for One were flaking away. It became too bright for Hisashi to see. The villain’s hand slipped away, but not before Hisashi felt the fingers grow smaller.
As the light faded away, a confused toddler sat on the ground, his arms falling out of his suit. All for One reached up his tiny hand to touch his pudgy cheeks, then his curly hair. His eyes widened.
“Rewind deaged you,” Hisashi said, rather unnecessarily. He didn’t normally state the obvious like a common idiot. In his defense, he was in shock.
All for One scowled, an oddly adorable expression on his chubby face. “This is far too young. I was willing to put up with eleven years old. But a toddler? Unacceptable.” His burning red gaze fixated on Hisashi. “I’ll have to take your body as planned.” Casting aside his adult-sized pants and belt in heap on the floor, the villain lunged.
Caught off-guard, Hisashi fell backward. Two small hands gripped either side of his face. Nothing happened.
All for One frowned. He turned over his palm and looked at it. There were no red dots. The horror on his face said everything.
Hisashi got to his feet, shaking off the smaller child. “You can’t use your quirk. It makes sense. We were both late bloomers. I didn’t develop my ability until recently. Your current body can’t handle the power.”
All for One stumbled backward, only to trip on his overly large dress shirt and fall to his bottom. With an expression of concentration, he raised his palm. His face twisted with effort.
“None of your other quirks working either?” Hisashi inquired in a falsely mild tone.
All for One growled in the back of his throat. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.
Hisashi remembered what the villain had been planning to do to Tomura. Several puzzle pieces slotted together. He should have known better than to believe his older self would ever pull a heroic sacrifice. “You tried to steal my body. But you can’t. You’re completely helpless, now.” Hisashi cracked his knuckles.
All for One paled. He turned to run. But he wasn’t fast enough.
Hisashi leapt on top of his older self and punched him in the face. “Ha! Take that, body thief!”
All for One bit his arm, but even his teeth were tiny. Hisashi elbowed him, forcing him to let go. Then he kneed his older self in the stomach. “How do you like being the smaller one for a change? How does it feel for the leader of the Underworld to be weaker than a preteen?” Hisashi followed this insult with a slap.
“Hisashi!” Toshinori screamed. He sat up, rubbing his forehead. “Are you bullying younger kids again?” He ran over and wrenched the two children apart.
Dangling in All Might’s grip, Hisashi cried, “Dad! He’s not a kid! He’s All for One!”
Toshinori peered at the toddler he held in his other hand, taking in the very familiar features. “Oh, my. It appears that he is. Rewind did this?”
All for One’s eyes watered. He whimpered, “Mister, I’m scared. Where am I?”
“Don’t be fooled!” Hisashi screamed, kicking. “He still has all his memories!”
“I’m aware,” Toshinori said. With an amused expression, he raised All for One to eye level using the back of his collar as if handling a kitten. “According to Sir Nighteye’s research, Rewind only affects bodies, not minds.”
All for One went limp with a frustrated growl. “I saved Yoichi’s life. You owe me one, so put me down right this instant.”
“He did that for himself. You owe him nothing, Dad.” Hisashi sneered. “He just tried to steal my body!”
Toshinori said, “That was very naughty. You’re grounded for a month, at least.”
“Huh?” Hisashi and All for One said at the same time.
Toshinori’s gaze fell on Yoichi lying on the ground. He set down both children and dropped to his knees to check Yoichi’s pulse. “Steady, thank goodness. But he feels cold.” He moved to check Izuku next. “I’m calling an ambulance for both of them.”
While Toshinori was on the phone, All for One snuck toward the door. Hisashi kicked the toddler’s legs out from under him and sat on him. If his older self got away, he might yet have another trick to pull.
All for One thrashed viciously and tried to bite again, but he was too weak to have any effect. Hisashi found that more than a little satisfying. He whispered into his alternate self’s ear, “Imagine what it will be like for you in Tartarus as a quirkless toddler. You’ll be the weakest, most helpless person there. You’re finally going to get everything you deserve.”
All for One’s eyes widened. He clenched his jaw, but he couldn’t completely hide his horror.
“Let me have him.” Toshinori held out his arms.
“Of course.” Hisashi stepped off and proudly hauled his prisoner to his feet, twisting the villain’s arms behind his back. He expected that All for One would be placed into handcuffs.
Instead, Toshinori picked All for One up and stroked his back. “It’s okay. I’d never let a child go anywhere near Tartarus. You’re going to be living with us from now on.”
“What?” Hisashi shrieked, almost louder than the approaching ambulance.
In the distraction of the ambulance taking Izuku and Yoichi away, Hisashi never got his question answered. All for One dangled from Toshinori’s grip and kicked him several times, but the Number One Hero never even noticed. They all rode in the ambulance to the hospital. All for One stopped trying to run after the doors closed. Apparently even he wasn’t dumb enough to jump out of a moving vehicle.
In short order, Hisashi sat in a hospital waiting room chair while Toshinori spoke to a nurse. Toshinori held one massive hand on All for One’s head, because the villain-turned-toddler kept trying to sneak off.
Toshinori vanished for a little while, then returned with All for One wearing blue pajamas. “The hospital had clothing in his size. What good luck! The doctor says that his body appears to be about three years old. He seems to experience childish moods due to his current body. I’ve successfully filled out the paperwork to become his emergency guardian.”
Hisashi leapt to his feet. “This is ridiculous! Why would you want him to live with us?”
Coolly, All for One said, “For once, I agree with my stupider self—”
Toshinori interrupted, “No insulting your family. You’re already grounded, but you’re also about to lose screentime privileges.”
All for One sneered. “Do I look like I care?”
Toshinori’s smile didn’t waver. “I suspect that with only age-appropriate entertainment like coloring books, you’d rapidly become very bored.”
All for One flinched. “If your precious conscience won’t let you throw me into Tartarus, why don’t you leave me outside and we’ll be rid of each other? You must know I can’t carry out any villainy in this body.”
“I know that, but I’m not sure you do,” Toshinori said. “You’d get yourself killed trying. We heroes have already researched cures for Rewind to counter the bullets, and we found nothing. Your doctor can’t help you. You’re stuck like this. A toddler can’t survive on the streets alone. If anyone even suspected your identity, you’d be ruthlessly hunted by quirk traffickers.”
All for One looked away. “Then let me stay with another family, one without so much mutual hatred.”
“No, you’d ruthlessly manipulate anyone who didn’t know your true mental age,” Toshinori said. “I can’t let you stay with anyone who doesn’t know your identity, but I also can’t let it be revealed. The Hero Public Safety Commission would do anything to get their hands on you if they knew. We agree on very little, but neither of us want that to happen. So we’ll have to find a way to make this work.”
Hisashi winced. He hadn’t thought about the HPSC. On second thought, Tartarus didn’t seem like such a good idea. His older self would be recruited as a child soldier. He didn’t trust All for One not to come out on top of the HPSC by the time he re-grew up. “We could kill him.”
Toshinori cast Hisashi a very disappointed look.
Hisashi scowled. “What? He would have done it to me.”
“But you’d never do it to him.” Toshinori spoke with such absolute faith that Hisashi couldn’t bring himself to admit that he totally would.
Toshinori turned to meet the gaze of the de-aged All for One. “I know you don’t like or trust me, but I would never harm a child. I think you know me well enough to believe that. Izuku and Yoichi live in Might Tower. If you have to be stuck like this, wouldn’t you rather at least live with them?”
All for One gnawed on his lip. He tried to compose his face. But his expression couldn’t be called anything except a pout. “You’re better than the HPSC,” he admitted, as if the words were being torn out of him. A tear formed in the corner of his eye. For a moment, it looked like he might cry, but he dashed it away and scowled.
Toshinori beamed. “Welcome to the family! This time, I’m going to raise you right.”
“Why do you have to be such an optimist?” Hisashi grumbled. “He’s not me. Also, he has all his memories. He’s still evil.”
“Don’t call your little brother evil,” Toshinori said.
Both Hisashi and All for One choked.
“We’re not brothers!” Hisashi shouted, loudly enough to make the receptionist stare.
“Absolutely not,” All for One hissed. His fists clenched. “I won’t call him family. I have my limits.”
“You’re basically identical twins, though I won’t force you to consider yourself such,” Toshinori said mildly. “But I hope you’ll come to see each other as family in time.” He clapped his hands. “We need to settle on a new name for you.”
All for One raised an eyebrow. “You know my birth name. Loose lips over there told it to you.” He gestured at Hisashi.
Hisashi bristled. “Excuse me? Why would I have kept that a secret? Besides, you can’t be called Hisashi. I’m already Hisashi.”
Toshinori said, “Yes, I’m afraid that eleven-year-old Hisashi gets to continue to be called Hisashi on account of being the first in the family to claim the name and never trying to kill me. You’ll have to pick a new name or a nickname.”
“That’s right,” Hisashi said proudly. He might have lied to, scammed, and attempted to rob Toshinori, but he’d never tried to kill him.
All for One kicked his chair with his short legs. His pout deepened. “As if I’d let someone like you use my first name anyway. You can call me All for One.”
“We’re trying to keep your identity secret.” Toshinori sighed. “It appears the mental facilities are deteriorating early…I did assume you’d have trouble reasoning at your previous level…”
“There’s nothing wrong with my mind!” All for One shouted. The trace of a temper-tantrum in his voice did not help his case. His face turned red. He took deep breaths.
“I’m sure you’ll be thinking at your usual level once you get accustomed to this body,” Toshinori said soothingly and insincerely. “How about I call you David? I always thought that if I ever had a son, I’d name him after David Shield.”
All for One growled, “My name is not going to be fucking David.”
“Language!” Toshinori barked. “That’s a week without screentime.”
All for One’s eye twitched. “Unacceptable. Let me have a computer, and you can call me anything you want. Yes, even David.”
“I won’t call you a name you don’t like,” Toshinori said. “How about Al? It could be a nickname for All for One.”
“Fine,” All for One growled. He took deep breaths again.
His other self’s distress amused Hisashi. It also softened his heart a tiny bit. As much though he hated All for One, Hisashi owed him for saving Yoichi’s life. He could tolerate his older self for the sake of that debt, as long as no one started acting like they were brothers (shudder.)
A nurse came to tell them that Izuku had woken up. All three leapt to their feet and ran for the elevator.
On the hospital bed, Izuku shifted and moaned. “Wha…happened? Is Yoichi…all…right?” He tried to sit up.
Toshinori rushed over. “Don’t strain yourself. Yoichi is recovering in another hospital room. You did very well, my boy. I’m proud of you. How are you feeling?”
“Except for a headache, I’m fine.” Izuku squinted at Hisashi and All for One. “Wait, no, I’m seeing double. Except one of them is smaller and grumpier.”
Toshinori said, “All for One got caught up in Rewind, so I’ll be looking after him from now on.” He placed a hand behind the angry-looking toddler’s back, only for it to be shoved off. “You can call him ‘Al’ for short.”
“Excuse me? Call me Dad!” All for One protested.
Izuku grimaced. “I’m going back to sleep now. When I wake up, this had better all be a dream.”
He fell backward onto the hospital bed. After that, nothing could rouse him.
By their next visit to the hospital, Izuku was awake and writing a letter to Tomura. He seemed resigned to reality. He went with them to visit Yoichi.
Unfortunately, Yoichi remained comatose. Hisashi longed for a healing quirk. He hated being so helpless. At least he could keep an eye on All for One while Toshinori was distracted talking to a doctor. He didn’t trust the de-aged villain one bit. No matter how foolish a decision it might be, All for One would probably still run off with Yoichi if given half a chance.
All for One tugged on Izuku’s pant leg. With an adorable pout, he said, “I’m feeling tired. Will you pick me up?”
Izuku raised an eyebrow. “Don’t try it.”
“I—”
“I know that it’s still you in there, All for One.” Izuku’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t treat you like you’re stupid, so I expect the same courtesy from you in return. I’m not interested in being used by you. I’m not interested in getting to know you. You’re nothing to me.”
All for One drooped. He kicked the carpet. In a low voice, he muttered, “I can’t even have one silver lining out of this horrible situation?”
Toshinori pushed open the door. “The doctors don’t think there’s anything wrong with Yoichi. He probably exhausted himself using his quirk. He’ll wake up on his own. Hopefully soon.” Toshinori planted a kiss on Yoichi’s forehead. All for One glared murderously.
The air hummed. First appeared. “Can you hear me now? I’ve been trying to talk to you.”
“Oh, no.” All for One attempted to hide behind Hisashi. Hisashi shamelessly pushed him out into the open to fend for himself.
First burst out laughing. The ghost doubled-over. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Between cackles, he gasped, “This is perfect! You deserve it so much!”
All for One grumbled, “I nearly died trying to save your younger self. You could at least restrain your gloating a little.”
Hisashi sneered. “Your plan was to kill me in your place, so don’t pretend to be a hero.”
“As if I would ever want to be a hero.” All for One sniffed. The snooty tone coming out in a toddler’s voice sounded comical.
First laughed even harder. “The others have to see this. Hey, everyone!”
“Don’t you dare—” Before All for One could finish, the air blurred.
Second peered down at the tiny villain. “Yup, pretty pathetic.”
All for One’s face flushed bright red. He shook with suppressed rage. His palms twitched, but nothing happened.
“Ooo, you can’t use quirks.” Hisashi smirked. “Watch me do this.” A flame appeared on his palm. “Jealous? You look sooooooooo jealous!”
Low hisses emerged from All for One’s throat.
First wiped away tears of mirth. “This is even better than you dying.”
Second frowned. “I dunno, I wanted him dead.”
Hisashi said, “I agree.”
Second looked down at him. “For the first time, I’m warming up to you.”
Izuku held up his phone. “I’m filming his tantrum for blackmail material.”
All for One hissed like a tea kettle about to boil over.
Toshinori clapped his hands sharply. “Now, now. I understand that everyone has a justifiable grudge. But we need to work together to make Al comfortable with his new family.”
This earned him looks of skepticism from everyone, including All for One. But before anyone could speak, Yoichi stirred on the bed.
Hisashi moved first, grabbing his brother’s hand. “Yoichi? Can you hear me?”
Yoichi groaned and opened his eyes. “Big brother…”
All for One grabbed Yoichi’s other hand. “How do you feel?”
“Two big brothers?” Yoichi whispered. “A little big brother?”
“That’s All for One,” Hisashi said. “Don’t be fooled, he looks young but he’s still—”
“He’s adorable!” Yoichi broke free of Hisashi’s hand to pick up the small All for One and hug him. “This is wonderful. You can be part of the family now!”
“Did you forget about him trying to kidnap you?” Hisashi asked wearily.
“Cuteness is justice,” Yoichi insisted, gripping All for One even tighter. “We can raise him right this time.”
“That’s the idea,” Toshinori said.
All for One did not seem to have any objections to being hugged by Yoichi. He cast a smug look at Hisashi before snuggling closer. “I saved your life. You owe me.”
Yoichi nodded vigorously. “Of course! I will devote myself to looking after you from now on!”
All for One patted his head. “Good, good.”
Hisashi, Second, and Izuku all exchanged glances. Hisashi’s asked: Can you believe the gullibility? Second’s answered: Sadly, yes I can. Izuku’s said: I’ll keep an eye on the situation.
First’s face lit up. “This is a second chance, if you take it, big—little brother.” (Gullible person number two, Hisashi noted.)
All for One scowled. “I’m still the older brother!”
First snorted. “I’m not calling a toddler ‘big brother.’”
Yoichi laughed. “I’m finally the older brother!”
All for One said, “I have a century of age on you.” His squeaky voice rendered this ridiculous.
Yoichi patted his head. “I’m going to dress you up in cute outfits and braid your hair, little brother.”
Hisashi had the satisfaction of seeing All for One look significantly less smug.
When they arrived at Might Tower from the hospital, a moving truck was outside. Two men carried in a new child-sized bed. Toshinori must have called them in advance.
Toshinori asked All for One, “Would you prefer a bedroom on the upper floor or lower?”
All for One clung tightly to Yoichi. “Can’t we share a room?”
Toshinori said, “There’s no need, not when the tower is so large.”
Yoichi patted All for One’s curls. “You can always sleep with me when you have bad dreams.”
“Thank you.” All for One smirked.
Hisashi scowled.
Yoichi caught the expression. “I’m only helping him get adjusted, big brother. You can sleep with me whenever he does.”
Hisashi said, “I think I’ll take you up on that.” He was pleased to see All for One’s smile fade.
All for One also reacted very badly to finding out that Toshinori had been serious about “no screentime.” He shrieked loudly enough to rattle the lights. Toshinori calmly assured him that his punishment would be over in a week. When tears started to form, All for One seemed to become ashamed of himself. He stalked off to the bathroom and locked the door behind him.
“Do you think I was too hard on him?” Toshinori asked, staring down the hallway.
Hisashi snorted. “He was trying to kill us up until fairly recently. Lack of computer access is letting him off very lightly. Don’t assume that he’s harmless now, either. If he gets a computer, he might obtain access to his old funds, and then he could hire an assassin.”
“Good point. Thank you.” Toshinori smiled. “I’ll arrange very strong child controls on his future phone and computer. I appreciate how well you’re taking this, Hisashi. I know this is harder on you than anyone else. You have every right to be angry, after what he tried to do to you. It must feel so strange to have him here. I deeply appreciate how maturely you’ve handled this. I’ll continue to rely on you in the future to give me advice about how to handle him.”
Hisashi knew he was being flattered, but he accepted it as his rightful due. It was a huge pain to have an inferior version running around trying to steal his little brother. “I want a consultant fee. I expect cookies and your assistance with my new Izuku merchandise business.”
Toshinori ruffled his curls. “I’d be more than happy to help. I’ll even put you in touch with one of my publicity experts.”
“I bet ‘Al’ would enjoy some Izuku merchandise,” Hisashi said. He was confident that his older self would hate having it thrown in his face that his son had become a hero.
Toshinori beamed. “Perfect! You’re coming up with great ideas already.”
That evening, All for One approached Toshinori sitting in an armchair. “I apologize for my earlier outburst.” His upper lip was stiff.
“There’s no need,” Toshinori said, looking up from his newspaper. “I know that you’re still adjusting to your new home. You may find it more difficult to regulate your emotions from now on, but I’m here to help you. I know this isn’t your ideal living situation, but I promise, I want you to be safe and happy here.”
All for One held out a mug. “I made you coffee as an apology.”
Toshinori looked at the drink. He burst out laughing. “So this is what Sir Nighteye saw in his prophecy? That explains everything! Poor Hisashi was framed. Sir Nighteye did say the image was distorted, but even so, to mistake you two, he must know very little about children.”
All for One frowned. “Excuse me? Prophecy? What are you talking about? This is perfectly normal coffee.” His tiny hands slipped. A drop fell onto the carpet and burned a hole straight through.
Snorting, Toshinori took the mug. “I’ll dispose of this. One more week without screentime. Two if you don’t tell me what equipment you broke in order to obtain the acid.”
“That’s not fair!” All for One wailed.
The next morning, All for One entered the kitchen as Inko made breakfast. “Can I have an apple? I’m feeling hungry. I can’t wait for breakfast.”
“I suppose one apple won’t spoil your appetite.” Inko took an apple off the counter. “Here you go.” She smiled brightly. She’d been forewarned of his existence before he came to the tower, and had been nothing but polite and friendly.
“Thank you,” All for One said. “May I have a knife to cut it with?”
Inko’s eyes narrowed. She crouched down next to the toddler. “I remember the times in the past when you treated me like I was stupid, Hisashi. I didn’t enjoy it then, and I find myself even less willing to tolerate it now.” She locked eyes with him. “Don’t try to use me or my cooking utensils again.”
All for One slunk out of the kitchen.
Hisashi learned about the latest murder attempt when Toshinori came down the stairs with blue sparks running down his pajamas.
“What did the brat do this time?” Hisashi demanded. The gratitude he felt toward All for One for saving Yoichi was rapidly being expended.
Toshinori patted out the sparks. “Young Al tried to electrocute me. I think he was just being playful. He knows a bit of electricity can’t kill me. But I gave him another week without screentime.”
Hisashi sighed. “That could backfire on you. The more bored he gets, the more often he’ll try to kill you, even if he knows he has low odds of success.”
Toshinori nodded slowly. “You make a good point. I’ll have to think of something else.”
Izuku gaped at his mentor and favorite hero. “Why would you ask me to have therapy exercises with All for One? I’m not even remotely qualified.”
Toshinori put his hands together. “Al refused therapy. Even if he agreed, I’m sure I’d have the same problem as I did with Hisashi. He’d talk circles around even the most skilled psychiatrist. We can’t help him unless he’s willing to speak honestly about his past. He’d never with me, but he might talk to you. For a given definition of honest, anyway.”
Izuku frowned. “He’s agreeing to this in order to force me to spend time with him, because I’ve rejected all his overtures.”
“It’s the only leverage we have,” Toshinori admitted. “It won’t be only you. First has been studying self-help techniques in the Void for his own use. He offered to share them. Al agreed for the same reason as with you: in exchange for time spent with his brother where his brother isn’t allowed to make fun of him. I wouldn’t distract you from your studies by asking you to study psychology. First has that covered. I want you to run Al through the same empathy exercises I used with Hisashi.”
If First had agreed, despite suffering at All for One’s hands much longer than Izuku, then Izuku supposed he ought to help, too. His shoulders sagged. “Fine. I’ll read through your old notes tonight.”
Toshinori said, “I won’t ask you to do this for free. In exchange for his consultations, Hisashi asked for my help producing your first official merchandise—”
Izuku blinked. “I’m getting merchandise?”
“—and I’ve come up with a plan to introduce a new line of figurines and accessories featuring the two of us jointly. After Kamino, there’s not much point in trying to hide a connection between us.” Toshinori shrugged. “So you might as well use it for your future career.”
“Whoa. That’s amazing. Thank you so much!” It had been a lifelong, secret, unrealistic dream to be featured in merchandise alongside All Might. Izuku’s enthusiasm for this task spiked from zero to a million. He could die happy now. There was nothing more he wanted. Yet somehow, his treacherous mouth asked, “What can I get if I manage to reform Al or at least stop him from trying to kill you?”
Toshinori tapped his chin. “Want to become my official sidekick? It will make it easier for me to turn my hero agency over to you when I retire. Sorry, my boy, since I was already planning to give you the agency, perhaps that’s not enough? You can ask for anything else too.”
Izuku smiled brightly. “Sounds fair!” His brain exploded in one long incoherent scream of joy. He had some psychology books to read and a demonic toddler to tame at any cost.
All for One had lasted a full two weeks since his last murder attempt. There was even a counter on his bedroom door. It said, “Fourteen Days Without Attempted Patricide.” All for One had crossed out Patricide with a crayon and wrote in “Pest Control.”
As a reward (for the lack of murder attempts, not the graffiti), Toshinori had decided to take All for One on his first walk since his grounding. Hisashi insisted on coming along to watch his other self.
Quickly, Hisashi regretted this decision. There was nothing more boring than walking at such a slow pace a toddler could keep up, because of course All for One refused to be carried. Toshinori stopped at odd places on the sidewalk to wax poetic about dandelions growing through the cracks or interestingly shaped skyscrapers. Hisashi felt his brain numbing.
A truck barreled down the road significantly over the speed limit. Too much temptation for a villain. All for One slammed into Toshinori’s knees, sending him falling into the road.
The impact rocked through the air. Then Toshinori stood up, holding the truck over his head with one hand. “Al, how clever of you to notice this runaway truck! It looks like the driver fell asleep. You might have saved someone’s life. As a reward, I’ll lift your punishment early and give you a computer and phone.”
All for One looked torn between denying involvement in heroic deeds and wanting electronics. Ultimately, he merely scowled in silence.
Hisashi whispered, “You realize he was trying to kill you again?”
Toshinori’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m rewarding the correct behavior regardless of the motivation. Besides, I took to heart what you said about keeping him busy. I have the ultimate distraction loaded onto his new computer. It’s called Hero and Villain Warcraft.”
Hisashi had been skeptical about the plan. He’d never been overly interested in games, and he doubted his other self would be either. But when he passed by Yoichi’s room, he heard the sounds of video game combat inside. Hisashi poked his head in. “Are you two still playing that dumb game?”
Sitting on Yoichi’s lap, All for One didn’t look up from the screen. Yoichi waved. “Hi, big brother. Hero and Villain Warcraft is loads of fun! I’m pushing the keys because little brother can’t move his hands fast enough. He’s providing our strategy.”
All for One grumbled, “I told you to call me ‘big brother.’”
“Never!” Yoichi said cheerfully. “Get this—we’re playing for the hero faction.”
“Not because I want to.” All for One sighed. “The villain faction is already dominated by a shadowy ruler with an iron fist. I thought I could dethrone him, but…tsk. He’s a cunning one. Strange to meet such a genius in an online game. If only I still had my criminal empire, I’d track down his real name and recruit him. Despite most players choosing to be heroes, the mysterious Enemy of Humanity picked a villain. With sheer skill and intelligence, he’s held onto his title as number one player for a decade. Of course, I’ll still be the winner in the end. But he’s not making it easy. I had no choice but to rally the heroes to defeat him. Then I’ll betray them and claim my rightful place as ruler of the underworld.”
Yoichi laughed. “You make a great hero, baby brother.”
“Now you’re deliberately being patronizing,” All for One said.
Although he was curious about the game, Hisashi remembered that he had another objective. “Little brother, I come with good news. Dad received permission for us to take quirks from prisoners in Tartarus and weaken them before giving them back.”
“I always like to use my quirk,” Yoichi said, sounding distracted. His hands moved across the keyboard.
Hisashi said, “Yoichi’s ability can permanently weaken quirks as well as enhance them. He can keep the prisoners weak during their sentence, then return their quirks to normal afterward. This will allow Tartarus to be reformed to keep inmates in humane conditions. Dad was very happy about it.” He was speaking for All for One’s benefit. He kept his eyes on the former villain. “Yoichi and First also enhanced my own power. I bet I could steal any quirk, even another version of my own, whenever that quirk hypothetically activated in a slightly older body. Oh!” He spoke with mock-surprise, as if this idea had only just occurred to him. “Then Yoichi could cripple that quirk to stop it from ever being effective in a fight. I bet he’d be willing to do that to someone who kept trying to kill Dad.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Yoichi said. “Baby brother, are you still pulling the silly murder attempts?”
“Not any longer, I don’t think,” Hisashi said, his eyes fixed on All for One.
All for One scowled and didn’t reply.
The murder attempts stopped. Toshinori credited Al’s distraction with the game. Hisashi acknowledged that had probably helped too.
Sitting behind the principal’s desk, Nezu checked to make certain that his schedule for the afternoon was clear. Then he opened Hero and Villain Warcraft.
Under the alias Enemy of Humanity, Nezu had played the MMORPG for the last decade for strategic practice and as a stress reliever. It was too easy to play as a hero, so he’d opted to become a villain instead. The game had become unbalanced due to too many people picking the hero side, and needed more villains in order to remain fun. This also let him work out his general hatred toward humanity in a harmless context.
After dominating the game, Nezu had grown bored. The game had become unbalanced again in the opposite direction, which hadn’t been his intention. It was just so hard to find anyone to give him a proper challenge. Just when he’d been on the verge of quitting, a genius had popped up among the heroes. Nezu hadn’t had this much fun in years.
Determined to recruit this brilliant player to teach strategy classes at U.A., Nezu had illegally traced his opponent’s IP address back to Might Tower. He was still trying to figure out who it might be. If All Might himself was the player, then Nezu could get him to teach additional classes, but it seemed unlikely the Number One Hero would have so much free time. He’d briefly suspected Izuku, but a few questions had revealed the boy had barely heard of the game. Hopefully, it would be a bored low-level employee playing at work who Nezu could poach.
Just as soon as he taught this youngling a lesson in the game, of course.
Tomura cracked his knuckles as he sat down before his gaming station. A grin peeled back his lips. Although Tomura found All for One’s plight to be amusing, he wanted a more personal revenge for nearly stealing his body and the years of brainwashing. Izuku’s latest letter had told him all about All for One’s new obsession. This inspired the perfect idea. No one could beat Tomura at gaming.
Within days, Hero and Villain Warcraft had been taken over by Tomura’s new vigilante faction.
Izuku came home from school to the sound of sobbing in the living room. Concerned, he followed the noise. All for One sat curled close to Toshinori’s chest, sniffling.
All for One’s head shot up at Izuku’s entrance. He immediately leapt up and skedaddled to the other side of the room, trying to hide his tearstained face in his sleeve.
Izuku raised his hands. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
Toshinori said, “That’s all right. Young Al is just very upset that someone burned down his Hero Agency inside the game and killed his character a few dozen times.”
“I’m not upset!” All for One cried. “I’m angry! This ridiculous toddler’s body causes me to express anger with tears! It’s very frustrating.”
“Yes, I know,” Toshinori said soothingly.
“I’ll destroy that upstart vigilante! How dare an idiot calling himself Crumble challenge the Scourge of the Underworld? He’s probably some young NEET with no life or social skills.”
Suddenly, Izuku had a bad feeling about who might be hunting down All for One’s character and who’s fault that might be. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, the game is more fun with more of a challenge?”
All for One rubbed his face. “I’m fine now.” He glared at Toshinori. “I hope you don’t think this minor incident means we got any closer. Or that your schemes will ever turn me into a stupid hero!”
Calmly, Toshinori said, “You don’t need to grow up to be a hero, just a healthy adult.”
All for One swept out of the room, muttering revenge plots.
The second time Izuku came home to hear crying from the living room, he thought it might be All for One again. But this time, it sounded like an adult. How strange.
Sir Nighteye lay on the couch with a cold cloth over his eyes. His shoulders shook. “Two of them…two small All for Ones…”
“Oh, so you’ve met Al?” Izuku asked.
Sir Nighteye sobbed. “When I found out about Toshinori adopting All for One, I thought that at least nothing could get worse than this. There was no further low to go. How did he somehow manage to adopt two All for Ones?”
Izuku said, “It came as a shock to all of us.” He ventured to pat Sir Nighteye’s shoulder. “All Might is doing his best. I admire him for being the better person. It takes a rare hero to be willing to extend a helping hand to even his worst enemy. I would like to become a hero like that, someday.”
Sir Nighteye didn’t seem to be listening. “What’s next, a third All for One transmigrates over from a parallel universe?”
Izuku winced. “Please don’t jinx us.”
OMAKE TIME!
Omake: The “All for Two (or Three)” Crossover Ending
All for One: (Gets rewound) My mortal enemy, the consequences of my own actions! We meet again!
Custody Battle All Might: (Pops out of a portal) Yay, I finally found one who doesn’t already have a parent! Bye. (Drags Toddler for One into the portal.)
Izuku: At least now I don’t have to explain this situation to Sir Nighteye.
#
Omake: Redeeming Tomura was a Breeze Compared to This
Izuku: Dad, my childhood dream is at stake. I’m here to force character development on you even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming!
All for One: NO! I want to stay evil! Please, release me, son!
Izuku: Ha! Saying please! You’re becoming a better person already.
All for One: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
#
Omake: The Apprentice Kills the Master (About Twenty Times and Counting Inside the Game)
Nezu: I’ve finally found you, Tomura Shigaraki.
Tomura: Are you here to arrest me?
Nezu: No, I’m here to offer you a teaching job at U.A. Also, I know this is ironic coming from me, but you need to go a bit easier in Hero and Villain Warcraft. You’ve taken over the game so completely that players are quitting because it’s no longer fun.
#
Omake: Self-Made Orphan
Toshinori: I’d like you to think of me like a father.
All for One: You want me to kill you? I’m already on it.
Toshinori: Like a better father than your last one.
All for One: Harder to kill, certainly.
#
Omake: RIP Sir Nighteye’s Sanity
Sir Nighteye: Why didn’t you tell me about the Custody Battle crossover with the third All for One?
Izuku: That happened in an alternate universe to ours. Besides, I was trying to preserve your sanity since I owe you for giving me that tenth anniversary poster. We’d better not talk further on this topic. Whenever we complain, we give the author ideas.
Sir Nighteye: At least it can’t possibly get even worse. Any more All for Ones would just turn into a brawl between all of them over who could kidnap you first. That story sounds ridiculous and completely unmanageable to write.
Izuku: You’ve jinxed us again!
#Reference to an unposted work in progress #Muhahaha