Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wasn't it fascinating?

Millennia of ruling over the demon world, standing as the sole exception, one who had done both good and evil, driven solely by curiosity and the desire for power.

He had been named All for One, known and feared by all within the demon world, yet many still wished to dethrone him.

But one does not simply dethrone a demon of his caliber, an immortal demon with near-limitless mana, one who mastered all forms of magic. On top of that, he could steal and pass down hereditary abilities.

One had offered him the possibility of living a new adventure, one that would not disappoint him.

He was certain of it.

His last familial bond lay buried in the distant past... His brother, a frail and strange demon by most standards, "too kind, too gentle."

But he knew, and perhaps his twin had as well, that royals were never bound by conventional rules, not even at the moment of their birth. They were powerful souls, transcending any law or concept.

A destiny already set.

And the small human, still peacefully asleep in his arms, under the effects of a slumber spell, was just as destined for greatness.

Izuku Midoriya.

A child with an insatiable curiosity, a boy who strayed beyond the norms and boundaries set by the world. He had even pierced through the very illusions that All for One had used to traverse the other realms.

Something no demon, regardless of their rank, had ever achieved.

An insatiable curiosity to see how this chess game would now unfold. And he could not help but smile as he finally reached one of the castle’s wings, stepping through his portal.

At the core of it… Izuku was never meant to be here today. This was unexpected.

An exhilarating surprise.

A thrill of excitement that All for One had not felt in a long, long time.

So, he would adapt.

This fascinating boy. Curious, analytical, tenacious… Yet, he did not belong in the human world. He had admitted it himself, through his too-honest murmurs.

Izuku was an intelligent boy.

Perhaps too stubborn, considering the number of times he had attempted to flee. But he would come to understand where his true place was.

His destiny.

As he strode through the private wing of the castle, the most well-guarded quarters, All for One stopped before a large door.

It opened at the simple snap of his fingers, sending a faint breeze through the room. A warm amber light bathed the space.

An imposing bed stood directly across from the entrance. Towering bookshelves, filled with countless tomes, lined the vertical walls, surrounding a chamber far grander than any ordinary room.

A space many would fight for, if only for the knowledge it contained.

And as he reached his bed, carefully placing the boy onto the mattress and tucking him under the blankets, he checked on Izuku one last time.

He was fine.

In a rare moment, All for One had worried that the transition between realms might weaken him, that the drastic shift in environment might induce a fever.

But that concern was unfounded.

Izuku had handled the journey effortlessly—yet another testament to his extraordinariness.

Unfortunately, his impulsivity had to be accounted for, All for One thought as he exited the room, locking the door behind him. Even if a transformation itself was not complicated, the consequences needed to be managed.

By creating a core from his own, he would be weakened temporarily, so he needed to compensate for that loss. He had to prepare a secure and isolated space for the ritual.

A room for the boy, just next to his own. The first few days would be excruciating, and it was crucial that All for One personally tend to him.

But for that, he would need to be absent from his position for several days. If his absence was deemed suspicious, it could needlessly put Izuku in danger.

As he carefully planned each step, walking toward his office with his usual measured pace, he was suddenly distracted by a familiar presence.

An old friend.

Emerging from a side corridor, the figure quickly caught up to him, a notebook in hand.

« My dear doctor. » he greeted with calm composure. « Have you made some new discoveries that warrant such urgency? » he inquired, intrigued.

Garaki—one of the closest demons within his circle, a scientist who never hesitated to experiment beyond the bounds of ethics.

All for One valued that trait in him, unbothered by the moral lectures that others might have given.

Someone built to pursue knowledge, no matter the cost.

"All for One-sama, it has been some time since we last had the opportunity to discuss our research. I rushed over the moment I sensed your presence." he declared with enthusiasm, flipping through his small notebook in search of the relevant page.

"I have come to the conclusion that, within a few years, we may reach the next generation of Nomus. Some of the data collected from my hospitals has even shown a noticeable surge in potential, particularly among the younger generations."

All for One slowed his pace, just enough to glance at the notes in the notebook.

The correlations were certainly intriguing, now that he took the time to consider them.

Garaki paused momentarily, allowing the Demon King to scan the records, before continuing their walk through the corridors.

"These are only preliminary estimates, but the trials confirm it. There is a peak in development at a very specific year before it gradually returns to a more standard trend. It will take about ten more years to confirm this event definitively."

The doctor’s notes made him smile.

Because, by pure coincidence, the highest surge happened to align with one very particular year.

The year of Izuku’s birth.

What surprised him was that he had not noticed this anomaly sooner.

But in truth, it was not something he would have paid attention to.

The development of children had never interested him, unless they proved immediately useful. It was not an area of study he would have personally concerned himself with.

It was no great loss to leave Garaki to handle it.

«Garaki, I’m truly pleased that you brought me this data. I would advise you to keep a close eye on this research.» he stated with a sly smile, stopping in front of a dark brick wall in an otherwise doorless corridor.

The doctor halted with him, retrieving the notebook that All for One had returned to him, one eyebrow raised in barely concealed curiosity.

"Has a particular idea come to mind, my king? Is this the reason for your frequent absences these past months?"

« You have the right to know, my friend. And yes, I have a reason for why this peak occurred. »

He paused, placing his hand against the bricks.

A discharge of energy rippled across the wall, crimson sparks crawling over the surface, revealing a carved wooden door. Only once the entrance had fully materialized did he speak again.

Their gazes met, and All for One continued his explanation.

« You will have the opportunity to meet another royal, aside from myself. Because, you see… I have found a promising young human boy. »

The shock in the doctor’s expression was immediate.

Behind his green-tinted glasses, his eyes widened. His hands trembled slightly, and his mouth parted in astonishment. For a moment, he could not find words. This revelation would send ripples through their world.

But soon, his scientific curiosity overtook his initial shock. One crucial question surfaced in his mind.

"Did you say… human?" he murmured, excitement creeping into his voice. "Then this boy was not born a demon… Would it not be more valuable to study him first, before making any decisions?"

All for One fixed him with an unwavering gaze.

« Garaki… » A flicker of light crossed his eyes. He knew full well that he sometimes had to rein in his comrade’s impatient enthusiasm. « You need not doubt it. I will introduce him to you when the time is right. But for now…»

His voice, previously composed, took on a more commanding tone. «I ask you to inform Kurogiri of my temporary absence from my duties.»

A shiver ran through Garaki. He swallowed subtly. The pressure that All for One had just exerted was subtle, yet perfectly measured. Enough to make it clear that pressing further would be unwise.

The doctor gave a small bow, confirming the order given.

Satisfied, All for One entered the chamber, moving forward with his preparations. Meanwhile, Garaki departed, setting off to complete the task he had been assigned.

A palpable sense of excitement hung in the air.

It had taken a few hours to ensure everything was in place.

Everything was ready.

Soon, Izuku would become one of those rare anomalies that altered the world.
A storm would follow his arrival, his existence, his status…

And yet, this would be one of the most thrilling days All for One had ever experienced.
And more would follow, over the years, because with the arrival of someone into a family…

The future would inevitably change.

For the first time, he would get to experience what it meant to have a child.

As a royal, he had long accepted that he would never have a family.
No child of his could ever have survived, nor met the standards of true exceptionality. Even if he had forced fate’s hand, the outcome would have always been failure.

But now… yet again, fate had proven him wrong. Just as it had so many times before. By now, he had come to expect it.

Fate did not dictate his actions. It challenged him. Again. And again.

And as he halted before his chamber—the one where Izuku lay resting—All for One paused, his hand on the door handle.

A faint vibration.

A sign. Izuku had awakened earlier than expected.

But what he had not expected…

Was that, upon opening the door, standing on the bed before him—

Was the boy.

A chair clutched in his hands. Arms raised, aimed directly at one of the windows.

Silence.

Izuku froze. His wide eyes flickered from the chair… to the window… to All for One.

All for One stood motionless for a moment.

Then, a slow, amused smile spread beneath his face.

Ah…

It reminded him of a time long past, when his brother would always find a way to sabotage his plans.

All for One smiled gently at Izuku, who was most certainly debating whether to throw the chair at him... or at the window.

Izuku then muttered under his breath.

"Shit.”

Chapter Text

«Shit.»

Izuku couldn't hold back his curse.

He could truly say he had the worst sense of timing.

Finding his kidnapper at the doorway.

Just as he was about to attempt an escape, a chair raised above his head. Trying to break the glass of one of the windows and maybe, by some stroke of luck, actually succeeding.

A risky attempt, certainly dangerous, as he wasn’t anywhere near the ground floor.

But an attempt nonetheless!

Still in shock, thinking as fast as he could, all he could remember was how he got here.

He had woken up less than thirty minutes ago, approximately.

His head was still in a haze, his body numb when he found himself waking up in a bed far too large. He just remembered being taken by what he now assumed to exist...

A demon.

Izuku was probably in the room of this supposed being.

And it was enormous!

Izuku was afraid of himself when he glanced around.

Two walls filled with books, all different, all more or less worn by time.

His hands trembled.

With excitement...

He was afraid of letting his curiosity get the better of him and rushing to analyze all those books.

His legs felt weak as he stepped out of bed, thoughts racing to understand what was happening, where he was.

His first thought was to check if his belongings were in the room, but they weren’t...

The door was locked...

Of course. Why would individuals like this give their victims a chance to escape? Asleep or not...

The drawers of the dressers seemed sealed... So there was no way to know if anything inside could be useful for his escape.

When he checked the books, he couldn't understand a single word—if they even were words.

His frustration only grew.

And in a moment of exasperation, he tried to tear the pages.

That thought would have never crossed his mind normally; he understood the knowledge a simple collection of notes could hold, but at that moment, he had lost patience.

And it didn’t work. The book snapped shut, nearly crushing Izuku’s fingers.

He stared in shock at the book now on the floor.

It became a personal rule never to damage books again.

Especially these ones.

He eventually turned to the large glass windows. The sky had warm colors, but the night was settling in.

It was dark, the moon had already surfaced.

How long had he been here? How much time did he have left before that monster showed up? How could he even think of escaping when he knew nothing of this world? What was the better choice—staying to avoid an unknown danger outside or leaving to avoid the danger that was coming?

So...

He went to check the view from the windows, saw that he was far from the ground, but still took the initiative to grab the only chair in the room.

And in an arduous attempt to defy fate,

He climbed onto the bed, lifting the piece of furniture over his head to create an exit.

Yes, that’s how it happened…

And now, that thing was approaching him dangerously. Maybe it thought Izuku was going to use the chair in an unconventional way. And it was right.

Suddenly, he lost grip of his arms. The weight he was holding disappeared.

He was startled to no longer feel anything in his hands, lifting his head to see that the chair was gone.

Then he noticed it had teleported.

It was now in front of the bed, as if it had never moved from its original place.

A chill ran down his spine, so quick was the way it had been done.

Something that reminded him, again and again, that he was out of his depth.

Izuku shot a fierce glare at his kidnapper, who was approaching the bed, feigning amusement and indifference to his rising anxiety.

«D-Don’t come any closer!» Izuku shouted, backing away on the bed as the man continued his approach.

Only to use the chair to sit down.

As he reached the edge of the bed, Izuku climbed down to distance himself further. He backed up until he pressed against the bookshelf behind him, gripping one of the books cautiously.

This demon, this being he still couldn’t name, with his two horns, that scaly tail, those eyes that would strike fear into anyone.

He was just sitting on the chair, staring at him, analyzing him, waiting for him to speak.

«What do you want from me?» Izuku asked, his voice hoarse but laced with an unmistakable contempt he didn’t bother hiding.

The demon smiled, seemingly satisfied. He crossed his legs before answering in an eerily calm tone.

“First? That you calm down, my boy.”

«If you really want me to calm down, maybe you should take me back home!»

Understanding this person was impossible. Izuku might have thought otherwise before learning this creature wasn’t human.

It also seemed that this monster wouldn’t reveal more than necessary, but he had to try.

«You might have forgotten that I don’t think like you. You haven’t even made the effort to introduce yourself, oh child-kidnapping individual.»

He could see the demon amused by his choice of words, his smile dripping with a joyous mood.

“That’s quite the bold way to make a request,” he said, amused, letting a deliberate silence linger.

Izuku felt exasperated and tired from this conversation. Still tense from the inherently imposing presence, though his thoughts had cleared. This person, whatever his name was, could terrify anyone.

“Know this, my boy, that my name alone shakes this world.” The demon stood, reminding, even from this distance, that he could impose himself on anyone.

Someone powerful.

Placing a hand on his chest, he bowed slightly, his gaze piercing directly into Izuku’s eyes. The boy couldn't help but squirm slightly, reminded too much of the eerie feeling of being watched before all this happened.

“You may call me All For One, my dear child. And I am the Demon King of this world, the one and only royalty that has existed for millennia.”

Izuku... didn’t know what to think. He knew the demon—All For One—was powerful, or at least powerful enough to create some kind of temporal distortion. But to learn he had fallen into the hands of what he assumed to be demon royalty?

He felt disgusted by his own curiosity about what that meant, what it implied. Izuku turned his gaze away from the Demon King, preferring to stare at the windows he could have shattered to escape.

«Wow… He started in a flat voice. Seen that way, it fits the situation perfectly…»

All For One laughed, straightening up to look in the same direction as Izuku, only occasionally glancing at the boy attentively before speaking.

“I suppose you had already figured out part of my status, especially seeing that nonchalant attitude.”

“Wouldn’t you be interested in seeing more? he asked, tilting his head. Do you know where you are, my little one?”

Izuku diverted his gaze from the windows, observing the demon guiding him through these irritating questions.

«A castle?» he answered first, hesitating. But it seemed more than just a simple building. «Actually… I’d call it more of a fortress.»

Given the new information, it made sense to think of it that way. It was even more unsettling to realize that this place was the only safe one for Izuku.

“Isn’t that an intriguing deduction?”

All For One said, shifting to face Izuku directly, both still separated by the bed, wearing an enigmatic smile.

“Let me tell you what defines demons the most,” he added, excitement palpable in his voice, not allowing Izuku to notice the demon had begun to move closer to his side.

Slowly and calmly.

Izuku didn’t pay attention, more intrigued by the king’s announcement.

He released his grip on the book he had been holding behind him, leaning just slightly away from the bookshelf at his back.

“Wings are a reflection of our abilities and power. A reflection of our being and soul; their appearance reveals much more than any other visible trait.”

The demon spoke with grace and poise, as though he knew these words by heart, but always with an air of excitement as he dissected the subject.

“How would you react, my boy, if you saw mine?”

And just as All For One finished his question, a strong breeze made Izuku’s already tousled hair tremble, forcing him to blink his eyes.

When he opened them again, he saw the presence of three pairs of wings.

The demon king’s wings.

Izuku’s eyes widened in shock and fascination. He wasn’t scared, though there was certainly a sense of numbness, but what was happening only made him more curious.

The demon didn’t have two wings...

But six wings.

Three pairs of jet-black wings that seemed to reveal nothing, just faint red glimmers under the reflections of the fallen night.

They were all made of a sort of leather, likely enormous, and intricate patterns spread across them. The fine details surpassed all the sculptures and paintings Izuku had seen since he was a child.

He needed to get closer.

He needed to understand what it meant, what it signified.

«It’s…»

Izuku couldn’t say more as he drew nearer, leaving only a few meters between them.

And surprisingly, All For One moved one of his wings, bringing the boy closer.

Izuku couldn’t help but smile slightly, being careful to observe as closely as he could, admiring the complexity in every detail.

Then, a question crossed his mind.

«Why… Why are you showing me this?”

“Simply because you’re worth it. You remind me so much of myself when I was younger.”

Speaking with amusement, the demon’s piercing eyes made Izuku snap back to his senses.

“How do you imagine yourself here, Izuku Midoriya?”

All For One already knew the answer, it was a certainty. Izuku could only squint, looking at the demon. He sighed softly before answering.

«You already know my answer… You know I wanted to learn more.»

A soft caress through his hair snapped him out of his state. Izuku tensed at the touch. It was too calming.

It was only then, far too late, that he realized once again his mistake.

His curiosity had made him pay the price. He had relaxed and gotten closer to his attacker.

Even more so when he felt again the same sensation from the first time.

A numbing shock made him lose his footing. Izuku no longer had the energy he’d had when this had happened at the park.

And All For One caught him by both arms before he could fall. He hated even more seeing the demon’s affectionate expression while Izuku felt his eyelids grow heavy and his thoughts grow hazy.

“Demons don’t just take what they desire, my dear child. They elevate what they consider their treasure.”

He heard, forcing himself to try and lift his head to look at him. What did he mean by that?

In his last moments of clarity, Izuku felt the king’s wings surround him, a warmth making him lose his senses even more at that moment.

And before he completely lost consciousness, he swore an oath.

«I… I promise there won’t be a third time…»

The darkness enveloped him.

Chapter Text

The ritual had lasted all night, but the result was finally here.

Almost a day had passed since then, the sun now beginning its afternoon descent.

All for One could only remain attentive as he gazed at Izuku with admiration, wrapped in a soft blanket, holding him close.

They were in the new room prepared for his boy, both settled on the newly placed bed.

The child was in great pain; the transformation was a long and painful process.

During the first few days, the body must endure the formation of the connection between magic and flesh. All recorded cases had described the sensation as molten lava coursing through every limb. This inevitably led to fever and the physical pains that would accompany future developments.

The only way to soothe this sensation was to stay as close as possible to the parent of the demon core. A catalyst to stabilize the younger one during integration — a parental bond, in a sense.

And now, his feverish child desperately needed to cling to him to forget the pain of the changes.

To find comfort.

To soothe the tears of pain streaming down his young face, marked by those soft freckles.

All for One felt truly pleased to have found the boy before another demon could have claimed him. What a disaster it would have been if that blond idiot, in particular, had noticed him before he did, during one of his visits to the human world.

This situation could also benefit him personally. All for One had grown bored over these past years, even though there were some interesting pawns to place on the board of his game.

The world had changed significantly since his early days of existence and reign.

Izuku’s arrival now gave him a reason to take a break from his ongoing projects.

After all,

He was usually someone quite patient.

The king was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a tight grip on his white shirt. He refocused his attention on Izuku, gently stroking his hair.

Izuku had instinctively moved closer to the touch, still crying and sniffling in his painful sleep.

Ah…

All for One could only feel thrilled at the thought of how his boy would develop.

What form would his wings take? What type of horns would he grow? How would his demon tail manifest?

What he could already see, however, was the budding of Izuku’s claws, black coloring beginning to appear on the nails.

Perhaps even the start of his fangs' development, though that would likely take another day or two.

But the most delightful part was the gradual change in the boy’s hair. From the roots to the middle of his locks, the same white as All for One’s was beginning to spread.

A sign of powerful development manifesting on the very first day. A mark of abundance and potential just waiting to unfold.

A peaceful day — one of the least eventful he had experienced in quite some time.

Tomorrow, however, he would have to summon his butler, receive updates on the progress of the various circles, and also check in on the young child he had taken in shortly before Izuku.

Kurogiri would be one of the rare demons to see Izuku before his full transformation, but that wouldn’t be an issue, considering he was bound by contract.

And as for the human world, there was no concern either — the mother of his child was under control. All for One would leave it to Izuku to decide her fate.

After all.

Family is precious to any demon. And in his generosity, he felt it only right to give his son full freedom regarding his mother.

All for One settled more comfortably into the bed, Izuku still nestled in his embrace.

The two were going to have a rather peaceful night, according to him.

His fever had gone down.

Izuku had truly calmed during the night.

His hair was now completely changed. Young claws, still small yet clearly visible, and the new formation of his fangs was already well underway.

The changes seemed drastic, but in reality, this was only the beginning. Everything else still needed time to come.

All for One had to restrain himself in order to properly care for and protect his child.

He kept thinking, seated in a comfortable armchair near the bed. With one gloved hand, he cooled Izuku’s forehead, while the other remained held in the boy’s tight grip.

Wasn’t he adorable ?

Once out of his comatose state, the boy would certainly be more reluctant to take the first step in their relationship.

All for One was simply waiting for Kurogiri to arrive any minute now to bring him what he needed.

But this was also to get an external opinion — one that wouldn’t be as excessive as that of his other subordinates.

And, as always, with the expected grace of his role, the butler teleported in, appearing through a portal of mist conjured by his own magic.

A humanoid figure entirely cloaked in swirling fog. A simple servant’s uniform, yet the quality and elegance it exuded clearly marked the demon’s status.

He finally stood at the doorway, his glowing yellow eyes surveying the new room he would now need to become familiar with as well.

Kurogiri froze, eyes wide with surprise at the scene before him.

All for One hadn’t taken the time to explain the reason behind the recent orders the butler had received two days prior. Even through the mist, those with keen senses would have noticed the tension in the air — that half-second of silence stretched just a bit too long.

To see the King, the very embodiment of chaos, simply seated in a chair, caring for a young boy.

A prince none had ever expected to see.

He could only smile at his servant as the latter composed himself, quietly stepping forward to approach both him and Izuku.

His gaze lingered on the boy, an unreadable opinion forming around whatever it was that concerned Kurogiri.

“Your Majesty?” he began with a hint of doubt, then continued in his usual neutral tone. “What made you act this way?”

All for One remained focused on Izuku, gently massaging the boy’s hand with both of his own.

« We both know it’s about seizing the opportunity when it presents itself, » he said with a calculating smile. « And you already understand the importance of keeping him a secret. »

He then tilted his head toward Kurogiri, his eyes glowing with restrained power — and an obsession barely held in check.

It was a clear warning, one explicitly directed at his servant. Izuku would become more precious than all the other resources he held in his claws.

Kurogiri, however, didn’t get the chance to voice his doubts.

A small whimper and muffled sniffles cut them off.

The king turned his gaze back to the boy, who was squirming as best he could in his lingering exhaustion.

Izuku was searching for something, and All for One knew. His child was looking for the comforting warmth that only he — his father — could provide.

And that made him happy.

He moved immediately, leaving the chair but maintaining his grip on Izuku’s hand, settling closer.

With affectionate delicacy, he drew the boy’s head onto his lap, using his free hand to stroke the tousled white hair.

Izuku continued to cry softly in his sleep but calmed almost instantly, curling closer to All for One.

His child knew where to find him, and that was enough to satisfy the king.

He could feel Kurogiri’s gaze on the scene, searching for the right words before finally speaking.

“There’s a certain resemblance in your features, Your Majesty… But the boy carries a juvenile and sincere softness.”

All for One didn’t bother to move, still lost in thought while watching his child seek comfort in the caresses.

« Perhaps. »

A nostalgic smile. A feeling that had returned frequently these past months.

« Though I believe he resembles my brother more. »

The butler stepped closer, inclining slightly to better share his next observation.

“He is clearly still at the beginning of his transformation, but his aura…”

He paused.

“It resembles yours. Strongly.”

All for One gave him a sidelong glance — the signal to elaborate. Warnings of this nature should always be based on valid concerns.

“It’s only an echo for now, a budding presence barely perceptible. But those who know you well — allies and enemies alike — might sense it. A resemblance of that kind rarely goes unnoticed.”

Kurogiri lowered his gaze slightly, his tone not accusatory, but concerned.

“It could bring premature and unintended complications. Especially considering the importance of the child.”

All for One remained silent for a moment, before letting out a quiet laugh — one that had nothing pleasant about it.

« You’re right. I’d nearly forgotten how traceable some signatures are… especially mine. »

A more genuine smile crossed his face as he resumed in a more calculated tone.

« Then, until Izuku stabilizes. Keep him hidden. Consider yourself lucky — even my friend the doctor hasn’t seen him yet. »

“Of course. I am honored."

Stopping the strokes in his son’s hair, All for One slowly moved both hands to his cheeks, caressing them with unusual tenderness to wipe away the remaining tears.

He lingered a little longer on Izuku’s peaceful face, then gently loosened the embrace. The boy was truly asleep now — deeply so.

Rising without hurry, the king turned slightly toward his butler.

« What do the reports say, Kurogiri? »

The demon resumed his formal posture, conjuring his journal of notes. He flipped through a few pages, stopping near the middle.

“Some Lords have already begun to make themselves known, Your Majesty. Declaring your prolonged absence a sign of lost power.”

All for One chuckled darkly. He already knew who the insolent ones in the circle were.

« It’s delightful to see them gain confidence, knowing their roles were already carved out long before their birth. »

“It’s true that the more recent among them seem reckless and sorely lack proper respect toward you,” Kurogiri said, his tone as neutral as ever — something that was always a pleasure to hear.

“Though they do not say it aloud, it only proves they are unworthy of their titles.”

« Nothing new, then. »

All for One wore that dark, unwavering expression.

« Tell me about young Tomura. How are the new training sessions going? »

Chapter Text

Izuku felt awful.

His mind was hazy, his head burned, and every muscle in his body felt heavy and numb. Cramping pain radiated through his back and scalp.

He felt different.

Strange…

Changed…

He wasn’t fully conscious—just barely aware—his vision blurred by waves of color swimming across his eyes, which stung with dried tears.

But even with the sensation of having cried for days, he still felt completely capable of starting again.

All he could feel was the softness of the bed beneath him—warm and plush—but it did nothing to dull the pain clawing through him.

His face twisted as he began sobbing again.

He just wanted his mom to pull him out of this, like when he was small and bedridden for a week with a nasty cold.

The dull ache in his chest craved nothing more than a hug to make it all go away.

He wanted to be comforted—held tight in a reassuring embrace that could ease the pain squeezing his heart.

It was strange not to understand the source of this pain… like it was familiar, yet unknown.

And then… he felt something.

Something that felt like a soothing aura.

Izuku didn’t know why, but his entire being urged him to reach toward it—toward that gentle warmth, promising peace if he could just find it.

So he did.

He reached out with a trembling hand toward the blurry figure in his teary vision.

Someone took his hand, wrapping it in a warmth that promised safety.

But it wasn’t enough.

He needed to be closer. He gripped the person’s arm tightly, trying to pull himself toward them.

He forced his body upright, inching closer with what little strength he had.

He must’ve been improving, vaguely aware that several days had likely passed since he first fell unconscious.

Then he felt himself being lifted gently, placed carefully onto someone’s lap—his legs dangling off to one side.

Despite the pain wracking his body, Izuku managed to wrap his arms around the person’s neck, burying his face into their shoulder.

Conflicted, he didn’t know how to feel.

On one hand, a part of him was anxious—he knew this wasn’t his mother. This presence was too imposing, too powerful to be hers.

But on the other hand…
There was something natural about it. Comforting. The warmth calmed him. It dulled the constant cramps and his paralyzing pain.

Izuku stayed like that for a long time, simply relieved to feel safe. His ears stopped ringing at last.

And finally… he could hear it.

A deep voice, quietly humming—a lullaby that eased him back into sleep.

He woke slowly, eyes locked on an intricately detailed ceiling.

His body still ached, but his head was clearer—lighter somehow.

Even so, something gnawed at him.

Something important.

But he didn’t have the energy to think about it yet.

The blankets were so soft. He could’ve stayed buried in them forever.

He tried to focus, grimacing as he sank deeper into the fluffy pillows.

Then the sound of rustling paper snapped him out of his daze.

He turned his head with effort, eyes widening as he spotted a familiar man across the room.

Something about him felt… off. Wrong, even.

But still—Izuku recognized that aura. That comforting presence.
This was the one who had taken care of him while he was sick.

When the man turned and locked eyes with him—surprised himself—Izuku froze in panic.

A shiver crawled up his spine. He looked away, burrowing back into the covers and pulling them over his head.

He felt completely lost.

Why was he so embarrassed? Why this room? Why did everything feel so strange?

Still confused, Izuku peeked out from under the blankets as the man’s footsteps moved toward the door.

He looked like he was heading out—dressed in attire far more formal than before.

Something clenched in Izuku’s chest.

The idea of being left alone made him anxious. He didn’t want that. He was still too tired, too overwhelmed.

With a voice no louder than a whisper, he asked:

«…Are you leaving?»

The man stopped, hand resting on the doorknob. Then he turned, offering a gentle, reassuring smile. Or… at least, that’s how Izuku perceived it.

“Yes, my boy. Unfortunately, I can’t leave all my responsibilities to my majordomo.”

«…Oh,» Izuku mumbled, visibly disappointed without knowing why.

He lowered his gaze, then added with quiet sincerity:

«Do you know when you’ll be back? Will you… really come back?»

The man chuckled softly and replied with a calm voice:

“Of course I will return, Izuku. I’ll be back this evening.”

The response eased something in Izuku’s heart.
And like always—true to himself—he whispered:

«Good luck, then.»

He didn’t realize what he’d said until the man had already exited, the door clicking softly shut.

From behind it, a muffled chuckle could be heard.

“I’m not the one who’ll need it, Izuku… but those waiting for me surely will.”

Finally…

After 1 hour and 1 minute.

Izuku sat up abruptly, his face contorted in horror, fear—and a touch of rage.

The memories hit him like a freight train.

The demon king. The kidnapping. The fever. The coma. The false kindness.

And worst of all—he hadn’t realized it until now.

He could’ve had a panic attack—again—if he weren’t already too emotionally worn out.

It was a mess. A disaster.

And then, as he yanked on his hair in frustration, another dreadful realization sank in.

All For One had done something to him. He just didn’t know what.

And he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

He took a deep breath.

Once.

Twice.

But the air was too heavy.

He sat up fully, eyes darting around. He needed something. Anything.

That’s when he saw it:

The wardrobe on the other side of the room. One of its doors was mirrored.

He scrambled out of bed, stumbling as he approached. Standing in front of it, eyes clenched shut, his hands trembled.

And then… he opened them.

The flood of emotions hit him like a tidal wave.

Fear. Anxiety. Confusion. Panic. Curiosity. Disgust. Anger.

He nearly gagged.

He was terrified to fully comprehend the consequences. Anguished over what might come next. Baffled by the reasons behind all of it.

But deep down, a tiny voice whispered: This wasn’t just a nightmare. This was real.

That same voice forced him to examine everything closely.

The first thing he noticed… was his hair.

White. That same eerie white as the demon king’s. He could almost see a sickening resemblance.

Next came his hands and teeth.

He had claws now—short but sharp. How hadn’t he cut himself yet?

And his teeth…They weren’t normal. They were fangs. Sharp and jagged. His jaw still ached from the changes.

Strangely… he found comfort in one thought.

At least he had some kind of defense now.

It took him a full minute to muster the courage to move again, still shaking.

He scanned the room and realized… this wasn’t the same bedroom as before.

This one was bigger. More ornate. There were empty bookshelves. A fireplace. A sitting area far too cozy for someone being held captive.

Everything was too calm. Too perfect.

It really was another world.

And then… he saw it.

Across the bed, on the other side of the room.

His belongings.

His heart skipped a beat.

His familiar, beloved school bag sat neatly on a desk.

Tears welled up again. A small, relieved smile broke through as he staggered toward it.

He sat down and pulled the yellow backpack onto his lap.

Inside was everything. His notebooks, his sketches, his magazines…

Even his phone.

«What’s the point of leaving this here?» he mumbled to himself.

He knew escaping in his condition was nearly impossible.
But having access to his things? That gave him hope.

When he checked his phone, there was no signal, of course.
But the battery—still at 80%—told him something.

It had likely been 3 or 4 days since he’d last charged it at full power before going to the park.

Or maybe… time between dimensions didn’t follow normal rules.

One breath.

Two breaths.

And more tears.

He could do this.

His mom always believed in him. He was smart. Brave.

And he could start with what he knew best.

Analyze. Observe. Take notes.

There had to be a clue somewhere in everything he’d seen and felt so far.

If fate wanted to play dirty…Then he’d prove it wrong.

«Even now… even like this… I’ll just have to work harder than anyone else. That’s all I can do.»

Chapter Text

If this demon thinks a meal is enough to erase the whole non-consensual ordeal, then he must be out of his mind.

Absolutely out of the question — for this idiot and this one alone !

Even with all the good will in the world — and honestly, Izuku didn’t have much left — he couldn’t find a single spark of common sense or respect in that man.

And with or without some kind of personal growth later — if Izuku lived long enough for that — he swore All for One would remain profoundly stupid.

There was no way he was going to give any more satisfaction to the very person who caused this mess in the first place.

He didn’t move a muscle from where he was sitting in the bed, his scowling eyes firmly locked on the man across from him.

Izuku deeply regretted not noticing how much time had passed when he got caught up writing notes on recent events.

The demon had appeared like a shadow — or maybe he had just been so focused, he’d forgotten his surroundings.

The result: he had fallen off his chair.

Literally.

Of course he’d tried to react in the best way possible !

Putting distance between them, trying to get answers.

First of all, about what the Demon King planned to do with him and why ?

But of course…

His newest efforts had gone straight out the window.

He still didn’t know exactly what was going on.

All he had figured out was that answering his questions clearly wasn’t on the demon’s agenda.

He had been lifted like a feather — with no chance to resist — and dropped onto the bed. Even as he tried to struggle, he hadn’t had much strength since waking up.

Then his gaze had been caught — despite himself — by an absurd scene: all his belongings left on the desk, free for anyone to rifle through, were now being neatly arranged on the shelves. As if by magic.

It would’ve been surprising and interesting… if not for everything else.

But this was not the time!

He was now bundled up in the blankets — head included — with All for One calmly seated beside the bed.

Izuku had so many questions.

Important ones. Urgent ones.

Like: What’s happening to me? Why me? How has an entire universe stayed hidden until now? How do I know this isn’t a dream? What even makes All for One a king?

And he would never — absolutely never — ask about what had happened to his loved ones.

Not yet.

He knew the demon would weaponize that. And Izuku wasn’t ready to hand him more ammunition.

They stayed like that for a long time.

All for One, still comfortably settled in the chair beside the bed, wearing that calm, affectionate expression — which only made Izuku want to slap him more.

Then, as if Izuku were nothing more than a sulking toddler, the king’s voice gently cut through the air.

"Don’t worry, my boy. I’ll answer all your questions. But only after I make sure you’ve eaten."

Izuku blinked in disbelief.

That’s what he cares about right now ?

«You seriously expect me to eat when you won’t even tell me what you want from me?»

He curled deeper into the blankets, hands clutching the fabric tightly. Then he snapped again,

«I’d rather spit the food back in your face, plate and all.»

A heavy silence fell over the room. Izuku hadn’t come here to play nice. The man remained impassive, unfazed by Izuku’s grotesque declaration.

Izuku was ready to continue, but the demon cut him off in that same calm tone.

"I think what you really want is confirmation of what’s happening to you."

The words hit like cold water. A shiver ran down his spine.

He froze, eyes slightly widening.

He turned his gaze downward, staring at the blankets.

Izuku was afraid.

He wanted to deny it. He wanted to believe nothing had changed. That he could still somehow return to his mother.

But deep down...

He knew it since the moment he woke up.

And as if the king were reading him like an open book, he calmly delivered the unthinkable.

"What you feel and see is real, Izuku. What’s happening to you… is very real."

Of course Izuku knew that!

Of course he had realized that waking up with white hair, clawed hands, and growing fangs… wasn’t just a dream.

How was he supposed to handle this ? He was the only one directly affected. The only one who couldn’t predict what came next.

And he didn’t even know how he was still mentally standing — maybe because monsters never plan for emotional breakdowns.

That man… still sitting in that chair, still acting like he cared.

It was infuriating. He was the one who had caused this whole thing.

Now, Izuku couldn’t even keep up the mask of anger.

He was on the verge of breaking down in front of his kidnapper.

Still clutching the blanket tight, wrapped like a cocoon.

His eyes were glassy, emotions tangled between fear and frustration.

A soft, vapor-like sound snapped him out of it.

He hadn’t noticed a portal had opened at the foot of the bed, bringing in a serving cart with a full meal.

Nor had he realized All for One had quietly moved, placing the food right in front of him — as if this were all entirely normal.

Izuku tightened his grip on the covers, unable to hide the nervous tension crawling down his spine.

Then he looked at All for One. A look somewhere between why me? and did you really just do that ?

A lost, confused expression with a hint of resignation in his eyes — as if realizing even logic had left the room with this demon.

All for One calmly set everything up so Izuku could eat in bed.

Izuku’s eyes darted between the tray and the man once again seated beside him.

Now both were silent. The food still steaming… and disturbingly normal ?

Why was it so normal ?!

So normal, it had to be hiding something.

He picked up the fork, hesitantly examining the food, still shooting suspicious glances between the plate and All for One.

Grilled meat, neatly cut vegetables, perfectly cooked rice.

And even if his hunger was starting to awaken after such a long sleep… how could he trust what was in it ?

The demon’s soft chuckle cut into his analysis.

"You’re worrying too much about what could be in your food. You need to eat if you want your strength back."

Whose fault is it that I need strength in the first place ?

Of course it wouldn’t kill him — that wasn’t the goal. But the eerie normalcy of the meal, in a place like this, was somehow more unsettling than poison.

He knew demon tales.

He’d heard things about what they eat.

«The myth of soul-eaters...»

Izuku could barely hold the fork as he asked — quickly setting it back down and tucking his hands under the blanket.

«Demons eat human souls...»

The demon king raised a brow, clearly amused.

"So that’s what’s been eating at you ?"

«I want to know. Will that happen to me too ?»

AFO crossed his arms, face contemplative.

"If I wanted you to eat one, don’t you think I would’ve made you do it by now ?"

«So... it’s true ? You’ve done it ?»

The king stared at him for a few seconds, then picked up the fork again. He stabbed a piece of meat, studied it, then shrugged.

"Millennia ago, yes. It was a different era, before my brother and I arrived. Back then… it was common."

Izuku held his breath, bracing himself.

«Was ? So it’s not anymore ?»

AFO thought for a moment, then tilted his head.

"Well… many think consuming a soul is some kind of transcendent experience, but really it’s just a huge burst of mana, a temporary power boost. Useful ? Maybe. Necessary ? No."

He was clearly enjoying Izuku’s surprise as he continued.

"The Demon King before me was greedy and lazy. He preferred to take rather than build. But me… let’s just say I found it boring rather quickly."

Izuku let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. That definitely answered his most pressing concern about food.

His mouth hung slightly open, eyes wide.

Too much to process. And even more questions piling on top.

And in that moment of confusion, the king casually slipped the fork — still holding that bite of meat — into Izuku’s mouth.

A muffled sound escaped him as he blinked in shock, overwhelmed by the sudden flavor after so long.

It tasted like beef… even through his aching jaws.

The demon didn’t place the fork back, and his smug expression made the food lose all flavor.

"See ? No souls. Just dinner."

If only he had the strength to laugh at the absurdity.

Izuku chewed and swallowed with effort, then shot a furious glare at the king, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

«That’s detestable behavior !»

"Oh, but where’s the fun otherwise ?"

A heavy silence settled.

All for One still held the fork, still calm, still smug.

«Why… why are you still holding my fork ?» Izuku asked, baffled. He was finally able to feed himself, after all.

"Someone has to make sure you don’t sit here staring at your plate until morning." A smirk tugged at his lips.

«If you’d just let me—»

And there came a second surprise bite, right to the mouth.

Izuku would have preferred a threat. A yell. Something normal. Not this.

Not something that — despite everything — felt disturbingly ordinary.

«You’re unbearable…» Izuku growled, reaching to snatch the fork.

Each time, the demon dodged him, visibly amused. But finally, after a few frustrated attempts, Izuku snatched it back and gave him a triumphant glare.

"Congrats, kid. You’ve earned the right to feed yourself."

Izuku ignored the provocation and resumed eating, this time with a bit more determination.

Between bites, he glanced at All for One and asked:

«So… what’s different between food here and food from my world ?»

The man crossed his arms again, tilting his head slightly as if pondering how to explain.

"Mainly, the mana. It’s everywhere here, even in what we eat. It affects the flavor, the texture, the way your body absorbs it. And beyond that, there are a few exotic ingredients — things you’d never find where you’re from."

Izuku began to slow down, realizing just how much he was trying to absorb.

So this was what it felt like to be on the receiving end of an info dump ?

He silently apologized to everyone who had ever had to listen to him monologue like this.

The road to answers was going to be long and exhausting…

He just hoped he’d be left alone afterward to process all of it.

And if he had to keep questioning now, he might actually lose his appetite.

«I think I got it…»

Really, he needed him to stop talking.

«I’d like to finish this meal without any more information.»

All for One said nothing — which meant he understood, at least.

And finally, a more bearable silence settled in the room, as Izuku prepared to face whatever came next.

«It’s… strange,» he admitted. «It tastes like something I know, but at the same time, it’s different.»

The Demon King smiled faintly.

“The universe has a fascinating way of creating unlikely similarities. Two completely separate worlds, and yet, certain elements still end up mirroring each other.”

And the meal came to an end in a strangely normal way.

Chapter Text

After the meal, Izuku had insisted on getting out of bed.

From his personal point of view, at least it gave him more choice in his actions than just being wrapped up in blankets.

From the king’s point of view, he didn’t show any displeasure. He simply pointed to the sitting area and lit the fireplace with a mere spark of magic.

It was so simple, yet it made Izuku desperately want to learn how to do it.

And he even managed to walk without trembling a single time as he went to sit on the couches in the room. The fireplace at least had that reassuring presence.

It was disarming to see not a single trace of fear or stress from All for One.

The hardest part, however, would be deciding what kind of questions to ask. He needed to know so much, but too much information all at once could backfire on him.

Would he even tell the truth? What if Izuku missed the real questions? He knew absolutely nothing about what was going on!?

“You’re mumbling, my boy.”

Izuku’s hands tensed before rising to his mouth, instinctively silencing his murmurs.

He felt embarrassed but took a deep breath before locking eyes with All for One.

Who was sitting on a couch across from Izuku’s, silently watching the fireplace.

“You can ask me anything. I’m willing to answer until you fall asleep.”

That alone was enough to provoke him a little.

«And what are you really offering me? Don’t you have more important topics you’d prefer to bring up?»

All for One gave a slight, barely perceptible smile without taking his eyes off the fire.

“I’d rather you be the one to choose. I’ve had my time to impose things. This time, it’s your turn to decide what you want to know."

So that meant… everything he had done had been intentional? At the very least… he was aware of it.

A heavy silence followed. Then Izuku exhaled, eyes fixed on his knees.

«What made you do all this? Why me?» his throat suddenly feeling dry.

Another silence settled in. A calculated one, for a measured answer from the demon. A reply he had chosen.

“The idea of finally having a child pushed me to take the initiative, and that it’s impossible for me to obtain one through traditional means.”

It sounded strangely sincere. So much so that Izuku could only blink in surprise.

“Come now, don’t make that face. It’s not a tragedy to be exceptional. And your answers only solidified the outcome of your destiny.”

A silent swell of rage rose at that simple declaration.

He’d never meant to say he was unhappy at home—maybe not entirely happy, but he hadn’t been miserable.

Now he didn’t even have a reference point to move forward, and All for One was just trying to steer him where it suited him.

«But I never wanted you to do this to me! How do you expect me to accept this situation when everything was done entirely by your own will!?»

Izuku didn’t pay attention to the expression on the man before him, gripping the couch fabric tightly in his hands.

«And why not choose someone else? Wouldn’t anyone else have served you better? I want to know if it’s a habit of yours to steal people’s lives with a flick of the wrist.»

He was out of breath, his breathing short and uneven.

All for One, now with arms crossed and a grave look, only spoke again once Izuku had calmed enough to clearly hear what was coming.

“You have no idea of your capabilities and your potential, Izuku.”

His voice wasn’t mocking, nor gentle. But the tone made Izuku look up at the demon.

“This ritual—the one that bound you to a demon core—would have disintegrated any other human. Even simply crossing between dimensions can break down someone with great potential. You don’t yet realize what that means for you, but…”

He paused briefly, his tone softening.

“…This isn’t a justification. Just a fact. I couldn’t have done this to anyone else. Even if I had wanted to, no other human but you could withstand the singularity of my power."

Izuku didn’t understand everything in that answer. It felt like the start of a massive puzzle. The demon in front of him acted like an adult taking care of his child…

…

Was that it from the start?

All this clingy and disturbing behavior, oddly parental…

A chill ran from his head to his toes.

Ugh…

This was nonsense. What made All for One even think he was entitled to act this way?

Izuku curled up on the couch, arms tightly folded to hold his legs in place, giving a disapproving glare to his opponent.

«Explain something to me first…» he began firmly.

«Why are you acting and talking as if I were your child? It’s really unsettling. I was human, to begin with…»

His words stumbled in his throat.

Would this world end up seeing him that way too? As the son of the demon king? Would he forever be tied to him in ways he didn’t even understand yet?

It was only at that very moment…

That he became aware of the sensation of something more. A presence that stretched outward—something that had caused the change and didn’t come from him.

All for One seemed entirely aware and composed in his response.

“The demon core you now possess, Izuku. It’s the foundation of the transformation ritual.”

He finally turned his eyes from the fireplace to look directly at the boy, a subtle smile and a meticulous gaze.

“The core is a vital element of our species. Every demon has one. It defines their nature, their powers, and much more. Yours was born from mine. It’s not a copy. It’s an extension, a part of me. It’s what makes you a legitimate descendant… in the most literal sense of the word.”

Izuku remained frozen, his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide.

Even with this detailed explanation, it still sounded like gibberish. Or rather, he felt more ready to scream in fear or throw up—or both.

«But…» he said quietly.

«Nothing can stop me from going back home after all this… You can’t force me to stay here if I’m so important to you. Not if you're trying to keep me.»

Maybe it was a presumptuous assumption, maybe it was too much to hope for. But nothing could stop Izuku from trying to find solutions and answers.

«You can’t force me to stay here.» he repeated more firmly this time, staring back at the king.

“Aren’t you afraid I could do something… to harm your mother?”

That surprised Izuku. But there was one thing he was certain of.

«No,» he said without hesitation.

«If you really want to improve the image I have of you, you won’t do that…»

A dry laugh from the demon sent another shiver down his spine.

“Though I don’t plan on harming your mother, there are other ways to keep you here.”

«Wh-What do you mean?»

All for One didn’t answer right away.

He leaned back slightly in his chair, resting an elbow on the armrest like he was about to give a lecture—not crush a child’s hope.

“You can’t go back, Izuku.”

His tone was calm. Too calm.

“Not because I’m holding you here. But because the world itself won’t let you leave anymore.”

Izuku frowned, his fists clenched.

«Explain me.»

AFO paused briefly, watching the fire crackling softly in the hearth.

“There are barriers—seals—put in place to restrict passage between our world and yours. And it all comes from an old story… a very long time ago, after an unexpected adventure involving two young demons, an unstable portal, and a decade spent wandering the human world.”

He gave a smile that seemed almost fond, like it reminded him of some long-lost era.

But his gaze remained cold.

“It was my brother who insisted on setting them up, truthfully. He wanted to prevent other children from making the same mistakes we did. It was a good idea.”

Izuku listened without fully understanding, a shadow of unease growing inside him.

“But ever since you’ve acquired a demon core, Izuku, you’re considered as a demon. And current laws prohibit any minor demon—those below the required age—from crossing dimensional portals.”

«…And at what age… could I even imagine that happening here?»

All for One gave a slight smirk.

“Well… Our years aren’t counted quite the same as yours. One human year equals two demon years during growth. You’re fourteen? Then you’ll have to wait… Your thirty years, not counting the rest.”

Izuku froze. His throat tightened.

«…You’re kidding.»

The king slowly shook his head.

“Whether fortunately or not, my brother is no longer of this world. And though we were both the authors of the spell, with his death, I can no longer undo or alter anything.”

«But! But I—»

“I’m not finished, Izuku,” he said with a voice sharp enough to make almost anyone flinch.

“In your case… you’re already more mature than other children your age here. Which means your body has frozen at this exact stage and won’t resume development until you’ve reached double your current age.”

Izuku instinctively recoiled.

«…What?!»

“Come now, it’s not that bad.” All for One waved his hand, looking almost amused. “You’re even lucky, you know.”

His smile widened in the flickering light.

He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees, irony flashing in his eyes.

“I did wonder what it would be like to raise a little demon. But this kind of regression never actually happens, even in extreme cases.”

Izuku felt his jaw tighten.

«That’s… absurd.»

AFO shrugged, unbothered.

“It’s paternal curiosity. Don’t be so dramatic.”

To him, this wasn’t being dramatic—it was being reasonable. And frankly, Izuku was handling this better than anyone else probably could.

If he had understood it all correctly, he was just going to stop growing and only resume almost fifteen years later? He couldn’t see his mother again, and it wasn’t even entirely his kidnapper’s fault?! That all the demons his age were basically seven years old physically and mentally?! And that the Demon King had a brother who sounded so much nicer?!

Why was the world doing this to him?!

Izuku stayed still. Everything was spinning in his head.

The only thing that offered a shred of comfort was that nothing serious would happen to his mother.

And that the king had a brother.

A brother who seemed more trustworthy and kind, just from his intention to protect the young.

It might be silly to base that on the words of one person. But if he was the one who had created these protections, if he had wanted to prevent other children from crossing these portals… then that brother must have been a better person.

Someone good.

Someone who, maybe, would have never let this situation happen.

«I think I would’ve preferred meeting your brother. He sounded like a far better person than you.»

A real laugh rang out this time—not hollow or calculated.

“Yoichi didn’t look like a king, nor did he have the heart of a conqueror. He was curious, calm. Too gentle, some might say. But wise… in a way that mattered. He’s one of the only ones to have maintained power that stood opposite mine. Even now.”

Izuku slowly looked up. His heart twisted with a strange feeling.

«He must’ve seen a lot in his lifetime,» he said, trying to chuckle to himself.

All For One stared at him without answering right away, a rare calm in his eyes.

A silence settled that made Izuku’s spine tingle uneasily.

Before he continued with the next line of questioning.

«So… what’s going to happen next? What’s supposed to happen to me? And you… you’re someone with authority in this world…»

All for One took the time to settle back comfortably into his armchair, one elbow resting on the armrest.

“You’ll need to stay in this room for a while. If you want to minimize and preserve the impact of your arrival—and until the transformation process is complete.”

«Uh…»

Even if Izuku didn’t want to meet other demons—nor risk his life, simply put—he wasn’t sure how to feel about this.

«That’s going to be… long? This isolation? Not that I think I’d go out or… or get into trouble or anything…»

“To start with, it will be for a month. Just until your transformation finishes. After that, I could show you around the castle.”

«A MONTH!?» Izuku shouted as he stood up far too quickly.

Only to collapse back onto the cushions as his head spun.

He frowned.

«But… uh, what about my existence in the eyes of others?»

All for One chuckled softly at the visible anxiety.

And another shiver ran down Izuku’s spine.

"Don’t worry. I won’t reveal anything about you—only a rumor of your existence.”

What does that mean? That sounds suspicious…

«So… everyone will know I exist. But not who I am?»

All for One’s smile widened, almost predatory.

“Exactly. I fully intend to spread confusion. Tell them that something exceptional has been born… without giving them a single concrete detail. No appearance, no name, no power.”

He straightened slightly, hands folded in front of him, looking satisfied.

“They’ll drown in speculation. Some will panic. Others will try to guess. And me? I’ll be watching.”

Izuku stared at him, torn between annoyance and distrust.

«…You’re doing this for fun?»

All for One slowly shrugged.

“For your safety. And for fun, yes. I’d rather keep your image a mystery. As long as they only have a vague concept to fear… you’re protected.”

Izuku was still processing his whole situation—and knowing that so many people might throw themselves at him from just hearing rumors…

He wasn’t someone who enjoyed being the center of attention. But this position made him undeniably anxious.

At least they wouldn’t even know his name…

«But I don’t even know what you are called!»

Only now did he realize how impolite that was, especially when speaking to someone who claimed to be a king?

Of course he had every right to cross his arms and glare at him.

Sure, he had been given his title—the name that probably set him apart from many.

Even though, thinking about it now, it kind of sounded like something out of The Three Musketeers…

All for One looked at him for a moment, then inclined his head slightly, almost respectfully.

“I go by the name Shigaraki. But as you can imagine, I’ve never officially shared a first name. There are two, however, that I consider mine.”

He paused, almost theatrically.

“Zen is the oldest one. The one I use among my peers—those who know. Those I allow to know.”

A small, sharp smile crept onto his lips.

“But Hisashi is the one that marked the beginning. Back during that same adventure in the human world. My brother kept his name. Me? I decided to play along. To have fun teasing the minds of many”

Izuku could only stare at the demon, caught between disbelief and suspicion.

Especially since those names—particularly the second—made him want to bang his head against the wall. It sounded way too familiar…

Like something Japanese, for example…

Even though now really wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

«So… you play around with both names?»

“I kept them because they’re practical. Because they serve me. And maybe also…”

He gave a small shrug,

“…because they’re still part of me. Even now.”

Then he locked eyes with Izuku, his expression more serious.

“And I give them both to you, Izuku. Whichever one you decide to keep in mind when you speak of me… consider it a sign of our relationship, my boy.”

Silence settled after those final words. Izuku, though trying to sit upright on the couch, stared ahead blankly. As if he were still floating in everything he had just learned.

All for One—Zen, Hisashi, whichever name for now—watched him for a long moment.

Then he stood slowly, fluidly, and walked around the low table to stand beside Izuku.

He ruffled his hair before nudging him lightly to get up. Which he did—still too overwhelmed by the avalanche of information.

“I’ll return tomorrow, unless you call for me sooner. Rest now, Izuku.”

Izuku didn’t respond immediately. But eventually, he nodded—very slowly.

But just before the demon could leave the room, he had to ask one last thing.

«Am I allowed to write to my mom? Is that even possible?»

He didn’t bother turning to see All for One’s reaction. Just the pause in sound—and the answer that followed—was enough.

"Why wouldn’t you be? Of course I’ll help you with that.”

And then came the sound of the door closing.

The first thing Izuku did was head for the desk.

To grab the phone and the pair of earbuds still lying there, before climbing into bed.

He wrapped himself tightly in the blankets, earbuds in place, music playing at random.

Only then did he finally allow himself to cry—hot, unrelenting tears, long held back.

He didn’t even know how he’d managed to stay strong. Or to stay open to this whole conversation. It didn’t make sense.

And he cried even more. Maybe he would cry all night if sleep didn’t take him first.

But not everything was lost… right?

The first letter he’d write to her might be unreadable from all the tears it would soak up—but it would come from him.

There were still open doors—ways to find solutions…

And with that comforting thought, to the sound of his music, he finally managed to sleep a few hours through the storm of the night.

Chapter Text

It was the shrill sound of an alarm she had forgotten to turn off that woke her up.

Inko felt miserable.

She forced herself to reach for the phone that wasn’t on her nightstand. Well, what was supposed to be her nightstand if the rest of this damn week had gone normally.

The sound was coming from the other side of her bed, buried somewhere in the mess of blankets. The vibrations and the music combined were pounding in her head just enough to stop her.

But what was the point?

What was the point of setting an alarm for 5 a.m. only not to go?

To wake up and realize that the reality she was so desperately trying to avoid right now was more real than ever?

Isn’t it, Izuku?

Oh, her boy, her little baby with green hair just like hers.

Why did this have to happen to them? Why do some people have to go through experiences like this?

What were the odds that fate would lead them straight into a reality where magic actually existed? Where, among all the things that suddenly stopped making sense, her boy had to catch the attention of a dumb demon king?

Because yes, she remembers every second of what happened the day her boy disappeared.

And it terrifies her.

So much to understand, so much to process from those horrible hours, and the next day was only worse.

So much.

That she was put on a mandatory week off. Because according to her colleagues and even her boss, she looked dull and exhausted like after an all-nighter at work.

But she knew all about sleepless nights and rough rest. She had a child she raised on her own, that she loved, cared for, gave her best for because…

He’s her treasure.

It was a foolish and risky ambition at barely 21 years old, but she wanted it! And too bad if the biological father was a loser and didn’t help.

Because it’s Izuku.

Izuku was an angel, even if he always managed to get into strange situations when he was younger, even if maybe she’d passed on her coffee addiction a little too early, even if they had the ability to overflow with emotion like no one else…

She needed her coffee.

No, three coffees.

She managed to get up and open the window to let some air into the room. Fresh air is good for everyone, she told herself.

Then, she headed toward the small kitchen, took the biggest mug she had and filled it to the brim…

With a bit of sugar this time.

She looked out the kitchen window, which opened onto a little wooded area next to the building…

It was one of the best apartments they’d had since Izuku was born. A quiet neighborhood, a small balcony, some space. It should have been their last move until her boy came of age.

Melancholy and sadness rose up to her eyes. But she didn’t have enough tears left for now, only rage toward the demon.

That evening when she came home and didn’t see Izuku there, the phone saying the number didn’t exist anymore, and that wave of dread that made her faint on the couch just as she was about to go out and search for Izuku.

Even now, she didn’t know if it was a spell or real exhaustion that made her fall asleep.

But it never changed the outcome.

Nor what would shatter her forever.

A memory she didn’t really know where to place emotionally speaking.

Was this a lucid dream?

How had she even fallen asleep? When she was just starting to get nervous for her son?

But something felt wrong here.

This dream seemed…

Exactly the opposite of one. A nightmare was definitely more fitting.

All around her was endless darkness.

A freezing cold, even though it was a dream. It lingered in her breath with every exhale.

Only emptiness.

Maybe walking would help. She felt like she needed to move forward, as if she somehow knew she couldn’t wake up just yet.

And so she did, for a while, consciously following a thread of warmth. The void around her seemed to shift. But she was too busy brooding, staring down at… what had to be the ground.

What was going on today? Had Izuku gotten caught up in another weird adventure that would end with them taking down a criminal gang? Like when he was seven? Even though her boy was incredibly capable, this situation felt different from their usual misadventures. Just like this silence, which was deafening.

A shiver? A hunch? Or simply the sensation of being pierced by someone’s gaze?

It depended on your perspective in the moment.

And when she lifted her head, her first thought was that fate was playing a trick on her.
The emptiness was still just as empty. Except now, in front of Inko, sat a demon.

In an armchair.

It had to be a demon, because the figure literally had an aura that stood out from the nothingness around them, horns, a reptilian tail. But oddly, no wings.

He looked relaxed in his seat. Eyes closed, with a faint smile.

This dream was surely playing tricks on her, conjuring a manifestation of her current anxieties… in demon form.

A moment passed as she watched the man still lounging comfortably, an increasing unease creeping in. A fatigue not physical, but mental.

The silence shattered when he opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth and eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

“You seem like you're in a decent state to chat, from what I can see.”

…Excuse me?

That was not what she expected to hear. Something about it felt profoundly off.

“But clearly, you need a bit of clarity about the situation.”

She furrowed her brow. « Excuse me, but who are you ? »

This character, supposedly born from her imagination, gave her an inexplicable urge to punch him.

He also reminded her of the only idiot she’d ever dated. Aside from the demonic appearance, and the different hair and eye color.

“I see you have a good sense of priorities,” he said with a light chuckle. “This isn’t a dream, dear. And I’m not the result of your imagination either.”

Inko squinted. That kind of line was exactly what any dream-born character would say. And even if this one was unusual, it would take more than that to make her worry.

And yet, it was worrisome.

So, she took a deep breath. Calm and a hint of rational thought. If he was the only person she’d have to deal with here, so be it. Nothing was stopping her from hitting him if needed.

Which she generally avoided doing in real life. Obviously, she wouldn’t model bad behavior to Izuku. Just legitimate self-defense.

Another laugh pulled her out of her thoughts. She blushed slightly, realizing he had heard everything.

« I suppose you can read thoughts, huh? And yet I haven’t received an answer…» she muttered, resuming her exasperated look, arms crossed and tapping her foot.

The man finally seemed to settle, sitting up straight in his chair before speaking in a honeyed voice. “I’m here to talk about Izuku, of course. And you really don’t need to be so nervous.”

He didn’t let her respond, flashing an affectionate smile—perhaps trying to seem reassuring. As if he was letting her stew slowly.

“From how I look, I’d hope you understand this isn’t a normal situation. But he’s not in any danger. I’m the most powerful of my kind.”

Inko paused for a moment, letting herself fall into the madness of it all. Stepping a little closer to the demon.

« Am I supposed to be reassured? You’re clearly saying YOU’RE the one responsible for my anxiety. Probably my son’s, too ?! »

The demon feigned distress, as if he was genuinely hurt by her words. But still that slight, ever-present smile.

“Know that I’m not lying. I could’ve made you forget he ever existed—along with everyone else on Earth. You’re lucky.”

Inko stared at him, unfazed.

« Not everyone sees it the way you do. Am I supposed to thank you? »

She slowly crossed her arms. Chin slightly raised. e« For letting me keep MY memories of my own son. How generous. You’re all heart. »

He lahed softly, clearly used to this kind of sarcasm. He really looked relaxed as he replied. “I can tell who he takes after. That stubborn streak—you both have it. It’s charming.”

She didn’t smile. « The correct term is consistency. Not stubbornness. »

A silence lingered between them, neither breaking eye contact. Inko was full of questions. And she wondered why his tone felt so…

So affectionate, amused…

Just thinking about it made her grimace and shiver. It was easy to see that beneath this man’s façade was a seasoned manipulator.

And it was the man, still smiling, who resumed the conversation. “Mothers are more complex than anything. You remind me of one in particular who left quite an impression. Her fiery nature was useful, but your way… it could freeze someone solid.”

Enough. He was playing far more than necessary with her.

She kept her gaze cold but calm.

« Quit playing the charmer. If you can insert yourself into a dream just to chat without formality, you could’ve just brought me to Izuku from the start. »

A heavy sigh was heard, the demon shaking his head before speaking.

“That’s precisely why I’m here. It would’ve been dangerous for you to come to the other world. Humans are the stuff of legend over there, and it’s better for everyone if you stay here, don’t you think?”

He tilted his head, hand resting under his chin, thinking a moment before finishing. “And I also know what you’d try to do if you made it there.”

To Inko, something didn’t add up—and it made her tense. Even if what he said made sense, Izuku AND she were both human. What made the demon think her boy—still a child—could survive there better than an adult? What was he choosing not to reveal ?

She began pacing slowly in a circle, rubbing her temples to decompress and think. The man’s gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on her. Of course he wouldn’t say anything. It wasn’t in his interest.

And then.

She understood the implication. She understood that her son wouldn’t be able to come back. Because the demon she was speaking to had done something to him. And that something might involve no longer being human.

Inko stopped pacing, tilting her head toward him. She wasn’t thinking about what expression she was wearing. Maybe a mix of fear, sadness, and anger. But now they both knew what this dream meant.

And it was she who spoke, her voice cold and laced with fury. « We are in a dream, right? I can imagine whatever I want, can’t I? Especially if it’s lucid.»

It was more a question to herself than to the demon. Because the moment she finished speaking, a puff of smoke rose from her hands, revealing a very effective object for knocking someone out.

“A frying pan?”

He stole the words right out of her mouth.

“Though I must say, I’m impressed with how easily you’re able to manifest objects…”

Disgust coated Inko’s face. Now wasn’t the time for tears, especially not in front of this monster. She just needed to hold back a little longer. « Then… I think I’ve earned the right to hit you with it.»

He seemed to genuinely consider it for a moment. If only she could’ve recorded that instant.

And that’s when her thoughts became hazy. Just for a second. But she could feel she was moving. Or rather… being slid, like on skates.

When she fully regained awareness of the scene, she was sitting. In the armchair. Her hands resting on the armrests. Her frying pan gone—vanished as if it had never existed. A firm hand on her left shoulder held her there. Gentle, yet unyielding.

Did this just mean he’d had the upper hand from the beginning? And he’d let her believe she could stand up to him?

Then her gaze lifted and met the demon’s. Her eyes, wide and stunned. His, narrowed with a smile he no longer bothered to hide.

“I’m not looking to make you my enemy, Inko. You and Izuku are truly fascinating characters. Your son loves you, and demons understand the importance of family,” he said, still with that small smile, even starting to gently rub his shoulder.

« ...Bullshit ! » she snapped, her voice cracking slightly.

« Don’t you dare say that… when I might never see my son again ! »

She began to tremble slightly under all this information. She could feel her eyes growing wet with frustration, and a tear slipped out. Her gaze dropped down to her knees.

« Are you even capable of assuring me he’ll remember me? That what you’re going to do to him won’t just destroy him ?! »

The stroking stopped, but the hand stayed.

“Oh, don’t worry. You stood up to the demon king and even made him laugh. And to think you’d summon a frying pan to confront me?”

Inko thought for a moment before answering, catching her breath and trying to calm down. Only just realizing that the person she was talking to had just admitted to being a king?

...Like a royal title? Seriously?

« You’re still playing games, I’ll have you know, » she muttered, lifting her head slightly to look ahead.

« That kind of thing can really ruin a relationship, you know ? »

He chuckled softly, then composed himself. It probably wasn’t the first time he’d heard that remark, judging by his reaction.

Then, she saw him move out of the corner of her eye, his hand still resting on her shoulder, as he came to stand in front of her and crouched down to her level.

“I wonder what things would’ve been like if our paths had crossed differently.”

She gave him the most disdainful look she could muster at that moment. « You probably would’ve gotten a frying pan to the face much earlier. With or without the child kidnapping… »

And he only smiled even wider at her continued sharpness, straightening up at last and letting go. He now stood before her, and she could clearly make out those predatory teeth and that mischievous—maybe intimidating—gaze.

Who wouldn’t have passed out in this situation?

Not her. Inko had dealt with worse.

As far back as she could remember, weird stuff always gravitated toward her. And she was certain it was hereditary, because Izuku had those same kinds of experiences!

“You seem to have had some lovely adventures, from what I can read in your thoughts?”

Read her thoughts?

Oh…

So he knew she wanted to hit him? Great. Just great. That also meant he’d been in control of the situation from the very beginning. But did that also mean he’d been ignoring the multiple murder scenarios she imagined enacting on him?

Inko let out a heavy sigh. She grabbed her hair in frustration with one hand. She could still try to convince herself this was all just a dream, right?

No. With how everything had unfolded in that moment, it was impossible. Everything inside her screamed that this was real.

And he was still watching her, even giving her some space. She took on a more weary posture—the exhaustion was becoming unbearable.

And then, as if everything had been cleared up—which it definitely hadn’t—he spoke one last time. His tone was different now, one that could slip into the deepest parts of anyone’s mind.

“Don’t forget my name.”
“All For One.”

A split second later, she woke from the dream. As if she hadn’t even been asleep.

Inko got up too fast and immediately fell back down.

She was breathless, dazed, her head burning. But everything that had just happened during her sleep was etched into her mind in perfect detail.

After recalling for the twentieth time, in five days, that strange and far too vivid dream — even now… She took another sip of her third coffee. Or at least, what was left of it. Because she had reached the end of it.

Looking at the wall clock, it was already 8 in the morning? Had she really drifted off for 3 hours thinking about what happened? Had she even slept enough?

Now that she thought about it? The name he gave her reminded her of The Three Musketeers. Was it intentional? Because during the first two days, she thought it was more of a bad joke.

But given the personality, it suited him well.

A megalot idiot.

And just thinking again about the fact she still hadn’t heard from her boy… Made her feel pathetic and the tears came back again.

She hadn’t managed to enter her son’s room out of fear that something might have changed? Disappeared? Or simply never existed at all? In any case, not after the conversation with the demon.

But today she had gone in. Still wearing her nightshirt, hair all messy and slippers dragging across the floor all the way to Izuku’s bedroom door.

Upon opening it, nothing had moved in the room. Everything was still in its place and nothing had gone missing.

Yet, her son’s most personal belongings weren’t there — just like him. So, in a half-conscious state, Inko went to sit in the desk chair of the room.

And it was only then that she saw an envelope on the desk. It stood out from the setting and the very atmosphere of the room. Her instinct told her that this small package was full of sadness and strong emotions.

Maternal instinct is one of Inko’s strengths, so it must be trusted.

Some magic trick to bring it to her? A postal-sending spell? Really?

But it was enough for her because it meant that Izuku was alive and even if she hadn’t yet read the said letter. No action would be taken without her own judgment. She didn’t want anything to be used against him or her.

So… With trembling hands, she took the letter. Opened it with all the delicacy she was capable of in that very moment and pulled out four full pages. It was a lot, but just by looking at them, everything said it really was her boy who had written them — the pages had kept traces of the many tears that had soaked through. His handwriting, even a little shaky, could only be his.

Inko took a deep breath, her tears still flowing a bit, and began reading.

For Inko

Izuku Midoriya.

During the entire reading, Inko barely remembered to breathe. She nearly choked once or twice, completely overwhelmed.

She didn’t have the strength to keep reading.

Her hands tightened their grip on the pages.

The tears flowed even harder.

How could he call himself selfish? When she would have thought and acted exactly the same way? When she was the one — his mother — who taught him everything he knows. Her boy had taken the time to write back and did his best, even though he must be going through something far worse than she was right now.
She should have been there with him. Taken time off work. Beaten that demon to a pulp.

Speaking of which—

How on earth did he have the same name as Izuku’s biological father? That was completely out of the realm of anything she could’ve imagined.

But right now, without thinking further about it — one thing was clear. She could write back.

And if she could… then she would give it her all.
And not just to talk about herself.
But to keep him updated, take care of his things, keep buying him his favorite shows — even if he wouldn’t be coming back for a long time.

And maybe all of that was fueled by the rush of adrenaline that the hope in the letter had brought her. But that didn’t make it any less real.

Even though she hadn’t stopped crying… she would do exactly as Izuku asked.

Keep being a mother.
Even if no one else could see her that way anymore.
And she would take care of herself, so he wouldn’t worry more than he already was.
She would even try to make a few friends — even if it was hard — at least her coworkers were good people.

And besides, she worked in a hospital. Seeing people wouldn't be difficult.

She promised she would do her best.
She would do what it took to welcome him home when the time came, no matter what it involved.

A mother’s love — a good mother’s love — is unconditional.

« I promise. »

Chapter Text

«Come on, Izuku. You can do this.»

Oh yes, he had to. It was just clothes he needed to put on. The kind of clothes he’d already worn yesterday… That he would probably have to wear for a very long time. And which he hadn’t really chosen, because Izuku never had the time to build himself a new wardrobe.

In this world…

He was leaning heavily against the bathroom door, staring nervously at the pile of clothes in his hands.

A shiver ran down his spine, out of disgust and fear.

Thankfully, he was going to get changed alone. Just like yesterday, after he’d sent the letter to his mother and eaten his breakfast.

Izuku stepped away from the door after making sure he had locked it.

To avoid any sort of risk.

Then placed the pile he was holding onto the counter where the sink was…

And the mirror above it — which he wasn’t looking at. He’d made the decision never to look at them again yesterday morning, at 5 a.m.

It was still too soon to really deal with it. He preferred to focus on everything else — easier to see, easier to accept. But he could still guess he probably looked terrible. He’s always been prone to showing his emotions, after all.

Thankfully, the food was good. As All For One had said, it wasn’t particularly different. For now. And when he had something to chew on, he felt the mouth cramps a little less.
Those cramps that just never seemed to end. Just thinking about them made it worse. But it didn’t make sense — he hadn’t really noticed any change in his teeth.

Well…

No more than what had already happened…

But Izuku hadn’t asked for help yesterday. In fact, he hadn’t spoken at all and had spent the rest of the day writing, occasionally throwing sharp glares at the demon.

Only two days awake and already so much to deal with.

Still, he was alive…

So he shouldn’t have any problem surviving today, right? What important thing had he not discovered yet? It’s not like the Demon King could get even more clingy, right?! Or like discovering a whole new world would actually be way more complicated than ANY story he’s ever read made it out to be.

Focus, Izuku!

Now was really not the time to be idling in his personal bathroom, no matter how — seriously, absurdly — fancy it was.

Washing up would help him forget about all the aches in his body. And he might as well start by brushing his teeth.

If only there weren’t a mirror right in front of the sink. He’d have to do it half-blind, relying only on what he remembered from yesterday.

Fortunately, he managed to recall the general layout. He clumsily grabbed a glass, his toothbrush, and the toothpaste.

And he was pretty sure he’d spilled more water outside the glass than into it.

Now that he thought about it — busy brushing his teeth — either demons had developed the same hygiene habits as humans, or this was something specific to his personal situation, to help with the transition.

Not that he really minded. Izuku wasn’t going to blame a bathroom for being practical.

But he shouldn’t have gotten distracted after finishing his morning routine, because — of course — he dropped the cup, spilling even more water.

Hadn’t he put his clothes on the counter?

And in his agitation, his hand slipped across the still-wet surface. He knocked over the clothes, the toothbrush—

And himself.

He hit the floor with a loud thud. The scene — and the sound — of his fall probably would’ve looked ridiculous.

Izuku had fallen like an idiot, taken a toothbrush straight to the nose, and probably earned two bruises in one go. At least, that’s what he saw when he looked at his arm.

Slamming into a marble counter — or something that felt like marble — hurts. It hurts a lot. But that didn’t make his usual clumsiness any less typical. He might as well enjoy the cool tiles for a few minutes and squeeze in another existential debate before getting back up.

He groaned as he sat up on the bath mat, closer to his clothes, to start getting dressed.

«Why didn’t I think of using towels to cover the mirrors, huh?» He should have thought of that earlier. Yesterday, even. Or had some other idea…

He got dressed slowly, ending with a long-sleeved shirt. He glanced again at the arm he’d landed on.

There was…

There was no sign of a bruise or any injury. Which honestly disturbed him. He hadn’t realized that particular pain had vanished, he was so used to the constant cramps since waking up.

Let’s just set that aside for now…

He decided to skip doing his hair today. His scalp still hurt too much anyway.

Izuku was just… very, very tired. Crawling back into bed didn’t seem like such a bad idea, after all.

He quietly unlocked the door, checking to see if All For One had stayed around to wait for him. Luckily, he seemed to be alone — for now.

He walked over to the bed, still too big, though truthfully it was really high quality. Every time he got into it, Izuku could more or less relax like a normal person.

He had barely started pulling up the covers when the voice of all his troubles made him jump.

"Back already, my boy?"

Izuku yelped in surprise, grabbing a pillow and chucking it toward the voice. The demon caught it with unnerving ease.

And the second one too.

"Still at war, silently?" All For One asked, clearly amused.

Izuku was ready to snap back that no, it wasn’t like that. That it wasn’t his fault a certain someone kept magically appearing and scaring the life out of him.

But he said nothing.

Of course he didn’t say anything. Izuku just bit his tongue — hard — and was going to keep doing that for as long as he could. All while crawling into the bed, burying himself in pillows and blankets.

He wanted nothing more than to avoid him, even if… even if there was some strange comfort in knowing he was still nearby.

It was a weird feeling, but it was manageable — as long as he didn’t give the demon what he wanted. As long as he didn’t show any positive reaction, that was going to be his best option.

Now lying down with his head wrapped in the blankets, maybe, with some effort, he’d be able to fall asleep?

If only the pain would stop. All of it. It was worse than a mosquito bite you kept scratching. And it was so frustrating, especially now that he could focus on it completely while in bed.

To describe the feeling… it was like a constant urge to chew or bite something.

A hand caressed his head — even through the blanket — and made him shiver.

His gaze landed on All For One, who had somehow appeared next to him on the bed again, without a sound. Startling him — again.

It was terrifying to think this could become a habit… Was there even a chance he’d ever get used to it?

No — better to make sure he didn’t.

"Would you like a treat?"

Izuku blinked, wide-eyed. Was this a new tactic to get him to open up? Or make him talk?

He didn’t respond and just kept glaring at him stubbornly.

The demon gave him a sly look in return — still unreadable, impossible to truly decipher.

"I know you're more angry because of the pain than at me right now. And I do have ways to ease it — but only if you ask for it, Izuku."

He swallowed hard. Because… he was probably right. Even if he’d gotten used to the sensation, it was draining. Constant.

Exhausting.

So he nodded, nervously.

All For One smiled then, as if he’d been waiting for that exact gesture.

"I would’ve preferred to hear you speak. But I suppose I can’t expect much more from you." he said, slowly removing his hand from Izuku’s head.

Izuku watched him materialize something in his palm. A cool breeze swept through the room.

And it was almost disappointing to see what he was holding… was just a popsicle.

On a stick. Blue. Translucent. Like a giant ice cube. Izuku looked from the demon to the treat, skeptical.

Seriously? A popsicle?

…It wasn’t even noon!

He slowly sat up, just enough to sit upright. Hesitating to take it, but All For One quickly placed it directly in his hand.

"Don’t worry. It’s made to help with your fangs’ growth."

His voice was clearly suggestive. And he went on in a smug tone and that infuriatingly self-satisfied look.

"It would’ve hurt a lot less if you’d just asked for help yesterday, you know?"

And Izuku winced at that. The demon knew about the gum cramps but still waited for him to ask for help.

That was a twisted strategy.

He took a moment to examine the popsicle. It didn’t seem to melt at all — maybe even felt more solid than anything he’d had before, colder than the air around it.

If it fell, would it even break?

But he made the effort, slowly, and tried biting into it.

The cold hit instantly, so soothing he could feel his shoulders drop. And the most surprising thing: how hard it was to bite into.

Like when you try to crunch ice cubes with your teeth. But without the risk of hurting yourself or getting your tongue stuck.

This was the invention of the century. No doubt about it!

And honestly, it felt so good to have something to chew on.

He kept going, slowly but steadily. The flavor—probably some kind of fruit, not too sweet—and the tension melting away at the same time made him forget his surroundings. He focused instead on the ice in his hands, still wrapped up in the blankets.

For once, he actually felt relaxed.

So much so that he didn’t notice the only other presence in the room moving.

Nor the slight shift of the mattress.

Nor the pair of arms that had slipped around him to lift him up.

It was only when he flinched slightly, that weirdly uncomfortable yet oddly comforting feeling creeping in, that he realized where he was.

Somehow, without meaning to, he’d settled into that familiar warmth. Sitting on All for One’s lap, Izuku could feel himself almost squeezed into the hug, pressed against the imposing figure and the arms wrapped around him—and the one blanket that had followed him along.

He stopped eating his ice for a moment, only lifting his eyes to try to catch the man’s gaze.

The smile he gave him, and the look in his eyes, were probably meant to be gentle. Izuku even felt his body relax a little, against his will. He quickly dropped his gaze back to his ice and went back to nibbling on it—this time, more nervously. But he truly couldn’t move.

Probably for several reasons.

So he grimaced and stayed silent. Though not the demon who was holding him close.

“You’re finally relaxing,” came the deep voice above him, almost affectionate.

Izuku chewed once more, even slower this time. Then stopped, his gaze drifting off for a second.

He didn’t move, eyes fixed on the barely eaten ice. And then, forgetting he had sworn to stay silent, he finally spoke.

«…Why do you need hugs so much?»

A quiet laugh, muffled. Then a distracted pat on his shoulder, along with an amused reply.

“That’s what broke your silence? I should be offended.”

The silence stretched for a few seconds.

Izuku mentally slapped himself for caving, then moved on to continue his usual verbal complaints to the demon. Irritation was becoming a habit.

«Why does it feel like it works better on you than on me? Seriously…»

“I could say that’s not true, but that would be dishonest, wouldn’t it?” he admitted, hugging him just a little tighter.

“But I could offer you a little story. You might find it interesting. Especially since you seemed curious about my brother,” he continued, almost in a whisper.

Izuku glanced up, skeptical, at All for One’s smiling face. Hesitating for a second, wondering about his motive.

But he still didn’t have the strength to get out of the hug… So if he could learn something, it couldn’t be that bad.

And if the demon king started spouting nonsense, Izuku would catch on quickly enough. With any luck, he could push to learn the language of this world.

Well… Yeah, he’d probably actually enjoy doing that.

He looked away, and just before going back to nibbling the ice, he gave a silent nod.

Ready to listen.

Chapter Text

Day 7, when blood appears

There was something like the scent of a morning freshness taking shape. The faint rays that passed through the window, pointing directly and frontally their light onto the desk just opposite and pressed against the window.

And the first thing Izuku had the strength to do was a plaintive groan against the dawning light taking form, because it had woken him up. And he had been chaining bad nights ever since he had been here… Even if it was more complicated than that. He sometimes had very heavy sleep when he finally fell asleep for the night or short naps, but the slightest noise, the slightest glimmer pulled him out of his rest only a few hours later.

Izuku had once again overdone it by writing, in a frenetic way, in his notebook the new information obtained thanks to the story that All For One had told him about his past. Maybe until very late in the evening…
And in the meantime, he had received the first letter from his mother – So long, detailed and attentive – which had caused a few additional surges of despair and absolute happiness. All of it through half-restrained tears of relief.

Inko had described her own recent days, her pride and her joy toward Izuku and his courage in facing these incongruous events. She promised him to take care of the belongings that had remained with her, to continue buying the series and favorite stories that her son had started, and to keep him informed of any news item…

For the good of both of them.
To continue holding on together.

In the end,
He had pushed himself too hard again that night. Maybe he looked like a zombie due to the way he got up and headed toward the bathroom. Or how he absolutely did not register anything around him.

Izuku was on autopilot at that moment. And if, along the way, he could have bumped into a piece of furniture… He would have felt absolutely nothing.

So it was not surprising that it was only once inside the room, the door finally closed, that he realized a strange sensation on his scalp. It itched and gave him the impression of an open-skin burn…

Yes, maybe it was less worrying than it seemed. Izuku did not help matters with his overactive imagination.
He took the initiative to feel with his hands the two most painful spots, above his ears.

The pain was sharp and immediate.
Too sharp, to the point of making him hiss in pain.

Izuku, still just at the entrance of his bathroom, lowered his hands while trembling slightly to observe them.

They were tinged with red.

With blood.
Almost too much.

His brain was already getting lost in reasoning, questions, possibilities…
ANYTHING as he rushed forward toward the sink while staggering.

The color stained his now white hair.

Had he woken up because of this? Why was he bleeding from this, when a bruise had been able to disappear yesterday? There were no suitable bandages in this bathroom, Izuku had checked all the storage spaces long before.

His heart was racing and his vision suddenly seemed blurred. Yet no sound came directly, nor immediately, from his mouth wide open from the shock and the pain of these open wounds.

He collapsed to his knees – his legs gave out – at the same time as he grabbed the hand towel next to the sink.

Izuku tried to dab the wounds as much as possible, still trembling from the pain. And he was fed up.

One month of having to suffer like this!

The voice he took was high and loud, a mix between a cry of fear and anguish.
«Make it stop! St-stop bleeding, please!»

Izuku was not crying from sadness, but from frustration and pain, light uncontrollable tears mixed with protests too impulsive to be contained.

Barely less than a minute passed, spent panicking over his wounds while still on the tiled floor.

The sudden slam of the bathroom door pulled Izuku out of his semi-absent state.

At its entrance stood the only person he could have expected.
He moved quickly to reach him crouched down, but Izuku recoiled the instant his hand came too close to the towel placed over his wounds.

“Izuku.” He began calmly. Even though his gaze could reveal his authoritative air.
“You should not pull away from receiving my help. This is a normal stage of the transformation.”

Izuku stood up while trembling and backed away with effort at the new attempt of approach from the king.
«I refuse to let you touch it! I am perfectly capable of doing it myself!» he said then with a loud voice.
His eyes narrowed and angry, even through the remnants of his panic attack still on his face. He confronted as best he could those of the powerful demon.

No response was given. All For One first cast him a simple cold look, then exhaled loudly, his face annoyed. From there, he stood up to join Izuku, now half leaning against the bathtub, still somewhat trembling.

Except that Izuku suddenly froze in place. Almost able to feel the tingling of the magic that now held him in place. He expressed his panic as best he could even while immobilized.
And even more so when the demon stopped right in front of him, already holding one of Izuku’s hands to remove the towel.

The solution he had left was therefore words.
His voice unsteady, but hard enough to affirm his total refusal.
«It’s true that I wasn’t well when I got up… But you don’t deserve to do this while you keep playing with me! You will only make my condition worse!»

All For One forcibly took his chin with his free hand, lifting it so they could look at each other properly. And the gaze, even more different from the one Izuku usually faced…
Usually serene and perhaps mischievous, amused… Had changed into something colder and more calculating.

Izuku shivered as he heard the sound of the towel being thrown into the laundry basket. The other hand, finally freed, now massaged the young hand that still bore traces of blood. Nothing prevented the blood from flowing anymore, he could feel it near his ears.

“I came directly because I sensed you in distress and even heard your screams in my own room.” he said with an icy calm.
“But you are not in a position to argue about what is good or not for you, especially right now. I am well aware of your sleep problems, my boy.”

All For One averted his gaze, leaning closer to his ear, his voice suddenly much softer.
“In exchange for more cooperation, Izuku, for the safety and stability of our bond. I will not hold your behavior against you because you are stressed and you need guidance.”

Izuku was still stuck in his position due to the magic holding him in place. Yet he was sure that the force of the pressure the demon exerted in the room – in addition to his lingering fatigue – would have made him collapse long before.

Even without being there, in the same room, this monster was aware of all his actions. Of many of his ailments. And perhaps the worst was that Izuku felt within himself that “red thread” that connected them. Perhaps even one that was eating away at him slowly.

It was within a few seconds that he felt the tingling in his limbs fade and, at the same time, the only support he had left to stay standing.

Izuku collapsed as All For One caught him in his arms, preventing him from crashing to the ground. His grip on him was stronger than all the other times; he could almost have suffocated in the embrace…

“I will let my butler take care of you and your wounds. This will be your first meeting with him, but he already knows you, and he is a demon with many practical qualities.” he began softly, slightly pulling Izuku away from his slumped position.

«I can take care of it myself…» Izuku protested at first.
«I learned how to treat wounds like that…» His voice was weaker, the rising fatigue and his misty eyes did not help him feel ready to stay standing.

“Very stubborn as well,” the demon chuckled softly.

But before Izuku could complain, he was stopped by the sound of a rush of air. It was the one he had grown used to for his meals or anything else that required the summoning of a portal…

With effort, he turned his head to see behind All For One. And what appeared could only surprise him.

His eyes were wide with surprise at seeing someone else. Still numb, but it was enough to regain his footing properly, even if he had to use the arms of the one holding him as support.

Izuku did not expect to see the butler arrive so quickly. And even less under an appearance identical to the portals. Alongside that vaporous and misty aspect, the shining yellow eyes gave a great deal of presence – in addition to him being a butler – to this person.

“What is the emergency, my lord?” asked the newcomer serenely.
First bowing slightly, his gaze already analyzing the room. He lingered for a moment on Izuku, seeming to understand the situation far too quickly.

He really is a competent butler, he supposed…

Izuku focused again on All For One when he felt himself being set down onto a chair – which certainly had not been there before – his arms forced onto the armrests.

“Kurogiri, Izuku needs your medical skills. An opportunity for the two of you to make a small acquaintance.” he said, leaning in while looking at the boy with an authoritative air and narrowed eyes.

He let the silence hang for a moment, while Izuku swallowed his nervousness that was blocking his throat.
Only then did he straighten up and begin to head toward the bathroom door. Where the butler had moved aside, now next to the sink and accompanied by a medical kit – which also had not been there before.

Just before closing the door, he let out one last message
“Do not struggle, Izuku. You know it will be useless. Kurogiri, restrain his stubbornness.”

“I will do my best, my king. You may be assured.” replied the mist demon elegantly.

He let the king look at them one last time before truly leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
He then calmly approached and crouched when he was in front of Izuku, now at eye level.
“Young prince – That term made Izuku flinch — I introduce myself again: Kurogiri, butler and general servant of His Majesty. I already met you during your convalescence, and I am grateful to know you are in better shape… For the moment.”

Everything was said with such neutrality that it somewhat shocked Izuku… He hesitated to respond, or rather what to respond, his mouth opening and closing without uttering anything.

“I apologize in advance, I need to clean your wounds and rid you of the blood that is still flowing.” he continued calmly. A first moment, already standing, placing a clean towel over Izuku’s shoulders. The next, he had positioned himself behind him, probably preparing the next steps of his maneuvers.

«W-Wait!» Izuku blurted out hastily. His voice weakly regaining some strength.
«Ku-Kurogiri?... You don’t have to do that much. I can do it! Leave me the kit and I can take care of it.» he said, turning around to try to look at him and speak directly.

He was stopped mid-motion however…
And forcibly turned back – even with the slight resistance, futile as it was, that he had tried to maintain – into his previous position, almost shaken.

“I must do this to ensure your good health and to ease your transformation as much as possible. Please remain calm.”

It was very different from the behavior All For One used with him… But it certainly was not very helpful.
What bad luck!

Was this demon open to answering his questions? And which ones? Why did he inspire more trust compared to the other servants? Izuku was almost certain that the butler was skilled with portals… he was surely the one who summoned those that appeared in his room…

In any case… it was still a chance for him… At least, he hoped so.

Izuku first took a deep breath. He shivered when he felt a damp glove on his head, but did not hesitate long before asking his first question. Very nervously.
«What’s happening to me right now… it’s… Th-they… Well, is it them that are making me bleed like this?»

“Yes. Your horns are indeed coming in. I will also have to warn you that we will need to change your bandages regularly in the coming days. It is important to monitor their growth in addition to the bleeding.”

The answer was so direct that Izuku swallowed the wrong way.

Well… he had already somewhat suspected what was happening to him. It was an extra knife blow he would have liked to avoid receiving straight to the face.

He tried to restart the conversation – the questions – but his voice was a little rougher this time.
«I had… understood… But you said you had seen me before? While I was unconscious… And your appearance resembles the portals that appear in my room… You’re responsible for them? I mean… I suppose since you’re the only demon I’ve met – Ow!»
Izuku flinched slightly by reflex at the unexpected pain.

“My apologies, dear prince. I am applying disinfectant to the irritated areas.” Kurogiri replied first, his tone slightly softer in apology.

«Just… could you stop calling me ‘prince’ or use something else… it makes me uncomfortable.» he asked quietly, as weak as a whisper.
Because Izuku knew that word would stick to him…

“I cannot afford to.”
He began calmly.
“But I can avoid mentioning it as much as possible. I can, however, answer your questions, and to summarize it for you: I am the king’s personal butler. Which also means that I am assigned to assist you in case of need, so you may call on me if necessary.”

«But that’s an important role, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you be overwhelmed if I called you every time?» Izuku asked, almost too quickly.

Kurogiri let the silence linger for a few moments, only the sound of bandages being unrolled passing through the room.
Only when he began to gently place the fabric over Izuku’s head did he speak again.
“My role is to be entrusted with important tasks, do not worry. And as you deduced, I can create portals; my field of expertise lies in teleportation and summoning spells…”

The butler’s words echoed for a long time in Izuku’s mind.
It had already crossed his mind to think about the possible reasons All For One had for maintaining his status for so long…
And there were many, even without direct confirmation. And thanks to Kurogiri, he could assert that the probability that several types, as well as categories of magic, must exist.

Taking into account everything he could imagine about a demon kingdom – partly thanks to his addiction to fantasy series and simply his natural curiosity – the established system was similar to a well-organized architecture.

«Yet he refuse to explain more than necessary to me… I still don’t know what magic is so special about the king.» Izuku murmured to himself, fidgeting with his hands to avoid drifting.

“Your reasoning is quite correct, even well developed.” the butler replied calmly as he removed the towel placed over Izuku’s shoulders.

As if having heard the boy mutter and letting him speak about his analysis was nothing more than a simple formality to him.

Izuku realized he had let himself go again. He tried to apologize while standing up, but fell back into the seat without the strength to support himself on his legs.

He felt the fatigue suddenly rise.

Probably because the pain in his head had drastically decreased.

He looked at the butler now standing next to the bathtub, watching him run water into it.
And their gazes met, the butler with that neutral, calm demeanor. Izuku more doubtful, his look uneasy.

“The master is mindful of the amount of information that reaches you, while knowing that it can help you feel better during this complicated period. Without limiting it, there would have been a greater chance for your condition to worsen. And no one, not even you, would have wanted that to happen.”

«At least… you say it directly.»
Izuku exhaled heavily.
«But… for what precise reason are you running the water?»

Surprisingly, the butler simply stared fixedly at Izuku. Even without a concrete face, there was that doubtful – even consternated? – look directed at the boy himself.

“You need to clean yourself. I understand your need for privacy, and I will limit myself to supervising you.”

«No~! Please, not that!» Izuku complained. His tense face hid behind his hands, while he weakly fidgeted on the chair.

“The sooner it is done, the sooner it will be forgotten.” Kurogiri replied, turning off the bathtub water.

Lacking any other choice, Izuku stood up with renewed determination, at least capable of surviving this ordeal. In awkward silence, he took his shower in exactly five minutes, with a minimum of privacy thanks to the shower curtain and the butler’s respect.
Five minutes after washing, he was dressed without having damaged the bandages on his head.

The strength to ask questions had been drained away with his shower, and he simply rushed toward the door to finally leave the bathroom.

With a slight crash, he entered the bedroom and tried to hide in his bed.
But in the momentum, he was caught under his arms by a strong grip. It made him skid, perhaps almost fly, judging by how abruptly his goal was cut short.

Izuku’s feet were off the ground, dangling in the air as he realized he had been caught…

“Where do you think you’re going like that, Izuku?”
A gentle, questioning tone in the voice of his tormentor.

Izuku did not answer; he was already sulking, arms crossed, his face clearly showing his irritated state.

While he was being carried over to the couch, still suspended in the air.
Before being settled onto All For One’s lap as the latter made himself comfortable on the couch.

Izuku did not even have the strength to struggle as he was placed against the demon’s chest, supported and cuddled like a small child who had gone through a hard ordeal.

Which could have been partially true and bearable if it had not been him holding him.

He tried to focus on the fireplace, ignoring the light strokes on his back. To focus on what he had noted so far.

How does society function in this world? And with magic, how do they avoid blowing everything up – he could not help but imagine it – at every opportunity? And then he needs access to books to learn the scripts he saw on the first day. And the customs here must be so interesting, trying to uncover all the details…

A soft laugh pulled Izuku out of his cottony bubble of questions…

Not even two minutes had passed before he seemed to have given in to the embrace of the demon king, who had begun to gently rock him. If one paid close attention, the king’s scaly tail seemed to sway with contentment, very slightly.
Izuku’s eyes were half-closed, and his body had surrendered to that strange feeling of safety.

He seemed to have sunk into that restraining hold without even realizing it.

“Perhaps I could start showing you a first foundation tomorrow, if you want it that much?” Shigaraki mused calmly, almost amused.

Izuku merely let out a weak, plaintive groan in response.

“I will make sure to prepare some interesting books for tomorrow, my lord. The young prince is eager to learn more.” Kurogiri’s calm voice, though close to the duo, sounded distant in his ears.

In the last fragments of lucidity, he managed to hear the final fragments of conversation between the two demons in the room.

“This has been a trying stage for him. Perhaps he will sleep until this evening, Your Majesty.”

“That is for the best, Kurogiri. And he is already getting used to it…”

Izuku woke up in the late afternoon.
He was in his bed, wrapped in the soft blankets. His eyes were still a little sticky, but his head felt lighter.

The mist demon arrived some time after he woke up and provided him with the same care as in the morning. Without the shower, however—and thankfully so.

Izuku managed to ask him what his power did exactly, and the answer was quite detailed and interesting.
Creating portals with the sole constraint of having to know their geographical coordinates, or to have already been there for better use. Kurogiri summoned portals from his own body, shaping them according to his capacity, and doing so with few constraints.

The butler even specified that most magics used required a constant supply of mana. But under certain conditions and contexts, that changed. Without removing the experience necessary for mandatory learning.

Unfortunately… He did not develop the subject more than necessary, nor did he use complex terms to address it.
He merely shed light on part of the situation.

Afterward, they returned to the bedroom, a meal tray already resting on the desk.

Izuku ate next to the fireplace, seated in one of the armchairs in the room.
And even though he did not have much of an appetite, he made the effort to eat in front of the butler, who stayed for the duration of the meal.

He asked him a simple question…

What do you do during your free time?

The answer was not immediate. The wait even managed to give Izuku a slight feeling of discomfort for a moment.
Kurogiri did not seem to expect to have to answer that kind of question.

Yet the answer he gave was different from his usual calm. It seemed sincerely relaxed as his gaze fixed on the crackling fireplace.

“I take care of stray animals that pass through the palace. Some cats are still here.”

It was relieving.
So much so that Izuku had a slight smile as he finally managed to finish his plate.
Kurogiri looked like one of those ultra-qualified butlers, strict about orders, yet he took care of animals.

That was more than enough to breathe easier. Maybe it felt familiar to him in some way.

And the day at least ended more easily than he had expected.

In the end, Kurogiri slipped away like a shadow.

For once, he did not insist too much on his notes. Just what was important.
He took his phone—now at 20% battery—and settled into bed while listening to music.

Sleep was easier to find that evening.

Day 8, It had never been his will

Izuku woke up almost too well…
He did not necessarily feel better, but let’s say it was because he had slept in his bed and actually enjoyed it without ravaging his notebooks of information or theory, which was a symbolic positive step to ease him in some way.

The physical fatigue had subsided, not necessarily the mental one, which had increased.
The proof was his peculiar position in bed…
He had ended up sleeping on his stomach, his head to the side, and blankets blocking half of his view.

As he tried to sit up, Izuku felt his back crack. It sent a huge shiver through him, it was so unexpected.
What could make his nights so restless as to give him aches like that?

As he stretched, Izuku groped the small of his back, where the pressure was strongest.
He froze for a moment.
The next second, his whole body shook in reaction.

He had just touched something that should not exist. And certainly not yesterday, on top of that. Something Izuku knew perfectly well what it could be…
The very idea made him want to vomit, but he restrained himself forcefully, eyes closed and even biting his lips hard.

Still unable to see it directly, he nevertheless asked himself a question.
Why did it not feel so uncomfortable? Why did he feel nothing more than his own discomfort in the face of this situation? As if it were already an acquired part of his body?!

He slowly turned his head, fear and apprehension mixing in his mind as he remembered those few seconds when he felt something like scales under his fingers…

Izuku opened his eyes very. Very slowly.

His gaze froze on the scene.

«Oh shit. Ha ha… Ha…»
he said, almost softly laughing, bitterly.

Maybe he nearly swallowed wrong for a second.

«This is nonsense… This is horrible…»
he said next, his voice cracking. His eyes were wide with doubt and terror.

In his vision…
There was a tail. Scaly. Dark. Unreal. Alive.

Let’s just say that inside his head, it was more like a level 6 storm combined with a computer crash.

With the courage of a colossus and using his only natural ability that had never failed him – his curiosity – to try to sort through his thoughts.

Yes, he had to try.
Try, Izuku… Try.

Before analyzing it in detail, he made the effort to observe it and quickly realized that it was tense and curled in on itself.
Then he tried to move it… left and right, up and down.

It was not perfect, but there was at least a partial sensation in the attempt. Maybe because it had just arrived? And it was so strange. It was going to be difficult for him to accommodate it, if it revealed his real state, if his emotions were visible through every reaction…

Izuku tried to move it toward himself to better analyze its appearance. It did not work, so he simply grabbed it with his hands.

He quickly regretted it, because he trembled—his entire body—with that simple contact on new, raw nerves.
And leaving aside the main piece of information, it was truly incredible to see it up close. The scales, now clearer, had a hint of green reflection even though they still seemed fragile… And then Izuku could see the beginning of tufts at the tip of it…

What was happening to him… The demon had not stopped treating him like his …

…

Let’s skip that subject.

«Luckily I discovered it on my own… Not like…»
Izuku had a realization.
«How am I going to hide this?»

The butler, Kurogiri, would probably arrive to do the bandages…
Five minutes, ten minutes? Probably very soon.
Which did not leave many choices or possibilities to avoid leaks!

The first thing to do would be to change clothes! And a blanket just in case!
This was so weird! If only this had not happened! He had to buy time…

In a rushed and uncontrolled burst, Izuku managed to leap out of bed, a sheet in hand.
He grabbed clothes from the wardrobe without tripping—that is to say, without stepping on a new uncontrollable limb—and locked himself in the bathroom.

With a choppy, breathless breathing, he tried to change without damaging the bandage on his head.
Vaguely recalling a conversation about clothing designed to let delicate limbs pass through…

And he succeeded!

Lately, Izuku had begun to think that magic was—and is—extraordinary, capable of handling so many details of daily life like this.
Hence the importance and the chance of perhaps learning more today… Even if it could very…

Very badly turn…

He was stuck in this world for more than fifteen years anyway.
His understanding of the universe was already ruined.
He simply waited for the inevitable on the chair used for the demon butler’s treatments. Anxiously, and covering himself as much as possible to protect himself…

And…
Izuku did not wait more than two minutes before Kurogiri arrived, the mist effect characteristic of him surprising him slightly, making him flinch for a moment.
With the most “natural” smile possible, he tried to offer properly placed greetings.
«G-Good morning…»

This was so embarrassing!

The demon was already ready as he bowed gently, the medical kit already having appeared on the edge of the counter.

“Good morning, young master.” he began first, letting his gaze linger on Izuku to observe him.
“You seem tense this morning. Would you have something important to say? Are you cold, keeping your blanket?”

«…»

«No. I just woke up quickly this morning. As for the blanket… I just want to keep it?» he replied almost robotically… trying to remain natural.

Kurogiri simply stared at him. Almost suspiciously…
Izuku was not really sure yet, as he had never imagined deciphering a face covered in mist. It came more from his personal intuition.

“In that case…”
“Let us quickly proceed with your treatment so that you may have breakfast,” he said in an almost flat manner… doubtful at the end.

But he did not take long to get to work, as on the other occasions.
Only the repetitive and nervous tapping of Izuku’s foot filled the room. In the background, he could feel his tail twitch very faintly, probably due to stress.

“This is your first lesson today. It is normal for you to feel lost at the beginning. I have personally searched for the best books for your introduction, but no one doubts your natural talent for applying yourself.” Kurogiri said calmly,
already halfway through his task.

This surprised Izuku slightly, but it pulled him out of his bubble for the moment.
«Uh… If you say so. I just remember the first time I arrived…»
«The writing was illegible and the book almost crushed my fingers… So…»

Before hearing the butler’s response, he had time to finish his task. Then he guided Izuku out of the bathroom with him, heading toward the low table where breakfast was already waiting. Only once he made sure Izuku was seated on the sofa did he reply.
“Those are the king’s personal tomes; their level exceeds the usual difficulty. And most important books are protected by a spell. His Majesty has probably already told you about this.”

“Which means that you activated it. For one reason or another…” he finished, perhaps almost too teasing for the image he usually displayed.

So yes, it was true. He had even been told that spoken language was naturally easy and accessible for their species.
But writing was completely different… even at a level more complicated and complex than most human languages he knew.

Yes… he was somewhat aware of it. But he also did not want to risk an explosion the next time he happened to damage a book—accidentally or not.
So it was not necessary to say it like that!

Izuku noticed too late that Kurogiri had left while he was brooding.
Leaving him alone with his meal and with the inevitable outcome that awaited him afterward… With…

He exhaled discreetly before eating.
«Thanks for the meal, I guess.»

“So, Izuku? Ready to begin your first lesson?” the demon said in a strangely cheerful tone. Calmly and elegantly seated beside him. He wore that usual irritating smile, and next to him was a stack of various books.

Izuku’s only response was an annoyed nod… Perhaps a small part of him had hoped to have Kurogiri as a teacher, just to receive less pressure. But everything was thrown out the window when this demon showed up with confidence and grace—Izuku jumped in surprise and almost revealed his new situation, but he was still under his blanket—asserting that it was necessary for it to be him.

“Grumpy as usual.” he joked, gently ruffling Izuku’s hair without damaging the bandages.

With his other hand, he took the first book from the stack and placed it on Izuku’s knees, the cover facing him. It was not very thick and seemed to mostly contain general knowledge.
“I am going to tell you a first fact. We have two alphabets, and their purposes are very specific. The simplest one is the one you will use daily and the one you must learn first.”

All For One stopped the caresses before continuing, his gaze more intent on the second book he had taken with both hands. It seemed excessively large compared to the first. And older as well.
“The second one directly concerns magic and its use. You can imagine it as a base of knowledge similar to a bottomless well—nothing is fixed and everything must be interpreted.”

Izuku frowned, an inquisitive look directed at the sovereign.
It could not be as complicated as kanji and kana? Or even the other languages he had begun learning, like English and Cantonese? Right?

At least, he would finally be able to start understanding what this world produced in general… If this scene did not end in disaster.
It was with a timid voice that he asked his question: «How so? I understand the difference… But the one for magic, why is it so complicated?»

The demon glanced at him from the corner of his eye, as if he had expected the question, before softly laughing.
“A practical example will allow you to understand.”

He opened a page of the book he was holding, then tilted it toward Izuku. His finger pointed to two phrases of identical nature. The only thing that differentiated them was the typeface used for each, almost exaggerated in a way.
“Look carefully, my boy.” his calm, serene tone filling the room.

The king’s hand moved at an incredible speed, and like a match igniting from a spark;

Two flames appeared at the tips of the fingers that had been in contact with the text.
The first was purple, with such an intense glow and heat that Izuku could feel it even from afar.
The second was orange, but it crackled with small explosions and produced far less heat.

«Woah~» he let out softly, already impressed by such a simple display of magic. Not realizing he had leaned slightly toward the two flames.

All For One spoke in a gentle, friendly voice.
“So, do you have an idea?”

Izuku did not answer immediately… His eyes shifting from the hand to the demon’s face.
His reply mixed part of his muttering with nervousness.
«Are they really two different spells? Is it… Is it because of the typography?»

“Appearances can be deceiving, but your intuition is correct. The major difference here is indeed the typography.” he replied while closing his hand, extinguishing the flames at the same time.
“It does not seem like it, but this formula is far more dangerous than it appears. If I had used more mana, it would have caused a real explosion.”

«Oh…»

So… the power of the person activating the spell also had an influence. And their mana… It was like looking for a needle in a haystack… It was so specific that it still made Izuku’s head spin at the moment.

«Both produce fire, but neither has the same intention. And since you are overpowered… If you are not careful, it can quickly turn into a catastrophe.» he murmured, sighing softly as he slumped back into the couch. He then opened the first page of the book he had kept on his knees since the beginning.

«But what changes in the rest? And is it possible to use magic with the normal alphabet? It is still quite imposing to learn, but it should be manageable, right? Since, according to you, it is used universally here…»

“It serves above all as an introductory base. The book I asked Kurogiri for is a learning encyclopedia, its first volume. Which means it contains the entire alphabet as well as everyday basic words. It is very widespread in schools.”

He continued, in a proud and steady tone.
“I personally verified it before its first official publication. You must not doubt its reliability.”

«That’s fantastic. Does that mean I get to keep it? At least to study?»
Izuku moved abruptly to turn toward him, his face lit up with excitement, his gaze full of hope—almost feverish—focused on All For One’s answer.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he said, his gaze suddenly more insistent.
His eyes shifting to look behind the boy rather than directly at him.

He now had that mischievous look as he spoke. “But tell me, Izuku…”

«Yes?»

“Why did you try to hide your new evolution from me? Especially when it clearly shows how much you are enjoying this lesson?”

Izuku blinked a few times before connecting the information. Turning in a very mechanical way to understand what he should have avoided better…

«HUH!?»

He did not realize that he had actually shouted.