It was just another normal workday, with overtime draining me more than Marvel drains my wallet with their limited editions. There I was, in front of my computer, face down on the keyboard, trying to tame that rebellious code. But then, my apartment went eerily silent. Usually, I wake up to neighbors arguing or the sound of traffic below. But today, everything was too quiet. An unsettling calm.
And then, it all came flooding back.
The car accident.
My deceased parents.
The orphan life I lived.
But now, what I see is an explosion right in front of me.
It all happened so fast—just a blur of twisted metal and shattered glass. And then, darkness.
Well, I guess I'm dead. No, seriously, this was not on today's to-do list. One moment I was living my usual boring life, coding late into the night while the rest of the world slept. And then, BAM! An explosion out of nowhere decides my time on Earth is over like some cosmic game of "who gets to heaven first." And hey, look at that—I won. Dead at 27, single, a virgin, and still not knowing how One Piece ends...
Damn it! I should've at least tried with a prostitute!
So yeah, I think I'm in one of those in-between moments now, you know? Like, between life and... well, not life. Everything's dark, and I can't even move. It's like being in a deep sleep after a nonstop coding marathon—except without the comforting hum of my computer.
Then a voice echoed in my mind, soft and polite, like it was whispering directly into my brain.
"Apologies for the abrupt interruption, my dear. There was a... mishap, so to speak. Another god got a little too excited and you were taken out of the game prematurely. That wasn't supposed to happen..."
Oh, so that's it. A divine error. What a cosmic joke, huh?
"But don't worry, I'll make it up to you. You deserve a second chance. Choose a world—any world—and I'll send you back."
The idea of picking a world sounded way too surreal. Like being inside one of those RPGs I used to play when I was younger. But a second chance is a second chance, and I wasn't about to pass it up. I mean, here I am, a mere mortal programmer, and the Almighty is giving me the chance to pick where I'll be reborn. I know a lot about different anime and manga worlds, but when I stop to think about it, only one really comes to mind: My Hero Academia. It's not like I'm a die-hard fan, but considering my options, it seems like the best bet.
"Well, if I have to choose, it might as well be somewhere interesting. I'll go with... Hero Academy. At least there are superheroes, right?"
Then, God—kind as ever—agrees. He warns me that things are a little... you know, different over there. But I'm not too worried about that. He even offers me a gift:
"Since that world thrives on personal powers, I grant you the freedom to choose one as well."
I can choose a power?
Without even thinking twice, I go for the ability of my favorite hero.
"I choose the same as Sentry from Marvel." I loved that guy when I read Marvel stories. It's a somewhat cliché choice, but screw it. Because, man, who doesn't want to be a powerful superhero?
God's voice, polite as always, replied:
"Very well, my dear. Sentry, one of Marvel's most powerful heroes. Considering the circumstances, I suppose I can make an exception. Oh, and don't worry about your power being nullified or stolen. It's not of the same nature as this world's. Now, it's time for you to return. Prepare for a... dramatic entrance."
And then, the darkness returned.
But something was different. It was like I was being pushed, pulled, distorted. It wasn't a pleasant sensation, to say the least.
And then, light.
Lots of light.
And the feeling of falling.
Literally.
"What the hell is this?!" I yelled, before realizing that my voice was just an infantile cry.
I was being born again.
_____[ POV: Aiko Fujimoto ]_____
The process of giving birth was a blend of excruciating pain and a strange sense of relief. For months, my life had been a lonely and difficult journey ever since my husband was taken from me by a senseless act of violence committed by a villain. We were both quirkless — people without gifts, without powers — and in this world, that was almost a sentence. Being different from the rest meant living on the margins, being seen as weak, useless... a mistake of nature. Maybe that's why, when I met him, I felt an immediate connection. He understood. He knew what it was like to be looked down upon, to fight just to prove you were still human in a world that measures a person's worth by their abilities. Being with him made me feel less alone, less broken. And it was in that quiet love that I found the strength to keep going.
But now, here I am, in the silent hallways of the hospital in the Chubu Region, Shizuoka. My heart is filled with hope and apprehension as I wait to hold in my arms the only link I have to the love I lost. My baby.
The doctors and nurses are kind and helpful, but deep down in my mind, I can't help but feel a little alone. I wish so much that my husband were here, to witness this moment with us. To hold my hand and smile with those gentle eyes that always comforted me in the darkest times.
And then, finally, he is here. My precious son. When they place the baby in my trembling arms, I feel a wave of emotion and love flood my being. He is perfect. His blond hair shines in the soft light of the room, and his closed eyes seem so serene.
"Ryuji...", I murmur, letting the name flow gently from my lips. It's a strong name, a name that carries the memory of his father. A name that I hope will guide him and protect him throughout his life.
As I hold him in my arms for the first time, I feel a deep calm envelop me. Perhaps, just perhaps, this little miracle is the light at the end of my darkness. And I am determined to give him all the love and care I can, so that he may grow up strong and happy, even if it means facing the world alone.
_____[ POV: Ryuji ]_____
I didn't know being a newborn could be so… embarrassing.
Here I am, lying in my mother's arms, staring at the hospital's white ceiling. Seriously, is this what God calls a "welcome to the world"? Because if it is, I want a refund.
The nurses are making such a fuss around me, treating me like I'm made of porcelain. I don't even know what's worse—being the center of attention, being called "adorable" for the thousandth time, or literally having women see me completely naked.
And honestly, it's kinda humiliating, you know? I mean, I'm a grown man trapped in a baby's body. But I can't deny it's funny watching them melt just because I yawn or close my eyes.
Now, my mother, Aiko… she's an angel, so gentle and full of love. She's been my safe harbor, always by my side, taking care of me with unwavering affection. She holds me tightly, strokes my hair, and whispers comforting words. Sometimes her eyes fill with tears when she feels my father's absence—the man who left her all alone. I try my best not to get emotional seeing her pain. But man… she's a real warrior, solid as a rock through it all. I lost my parents once, in a car accident, so I know exactly what loneliness feels like.
But now I have her. And she has me. She's my new mother. I won't let anyone hurt her. Whoever tries… will find out what true hell looks like. Literally.
But putting that aside… man, being breastfed is humiliating. Seriously, it's so awkward. I know it's natural and all, but I just can't get over the fact that I'm drinking breast milk like it's the most normal thing in the world.
But to be fair, I can't blame her. She's just being a mother, caring for me with all the love she has. And I really don't mind that… except for the breastfeeding part.
Don't get me wrong, it's nutritious and all, but damn, it's so… humiliating.
Anyway—moving on. The name she gave me, Ryuji, that's a solid name. Sounds good, strong, and easy to remember.
Meanwhile, I keep an eye on the nurses. It's almost like a game. I move a little, they think it's cute. I move too much, and they say, "Oh, looks like the baby's restless today." But if I try to sit up or do something unusual… yeah, I'm screwed. After all, I can move freely in this three-day-old body.
Anyway, here I am, looking around the nursery. No nurses nearby. This is my chance. I shift my body and sit up in the crib. I know, it's weird for a newborn to do that. But come on, I'm not exactly your average baby, am I?
Alright, focus — I can feel that energy pulsing inside me. Like I'm overflowing with power, as if millions of suns are exploding within me. It really feels like God gave me the powers of the Sentry. You know, that guy who can bend reality with a snap of his fingers.
I grin, realizing what this means: I've got all of his powers. All the Sentry's powers and abilities. Man, that's insane! I could do so many crazy things with this. But then again…
What if I have a second personality like the Void?
Nah, impossible.
Robert Reynolds had his own mental and emotional issues, and the Sentry's powers only amplified all of that. But me? I'm just a normal guy—or at least I was, before all this madness happened.
The Golden Sentinel Serum amplified everything in Reynolds—physically and mentally. His emotions were heightened too. The Void was his repressed personality, which eventually grew stronger and became a separate entity.
But I don't have those issues. I'm just me—a guy who used to stay up all night coding while the rest of the world slept. So no, I'm not gonna end up like the Void. I don't have those inner demons to feed a second personality.
Alright, back to business. I glance at the other babies beside me, all wrapped up in soft blankets, sleeping peacefully. I think I'm the only one awake here.
When I finally have a quiet moment to test my powers, a mischievous smile creeps onto my face. Time to see what I'm capable of.
Focus, Ryuji. Focus on the energy inside you, channel it like those martial arts masters in the movies. Yeah, I probably look ridiculous doing this.
But hey, at least I've figured out I can manipulate the energy. Must be that fast-learning ability that comes with the Sentry package, because honestly, this was way easier than learning C++ or Python.
I open my eyes and stare at my tiny hands, still amazed by what I just did. They're glowing faintly, almost teasing me, like, "So, did you enjoy the little show?"
I chuckle. I feel like Superman in diapers.
But my moment of glory doesn't last long. I notice my hands glowing brighter—like they're catching fire, and not the cool cinematic kind, but the kind that makes you want to scream and run for your life.
Holy shit…
I start to panic for real as I feel the energy building up in my hands. If this keeps going, there won't be a single piece of this hospital left standing. I try to suppress it, but it's like the energy has a mind of its own, wanting to shine brighter, gather more power.
Then I hear footsteps approaching the nursery, and my heart nearly stops. I glance around, desperate for anything that could help me get out of this mess.
Then, like a spark of divine inspiration, it hits me. I've definitely seen this in a movie before. I turn to the side, bring my hands to my mouth, and—
The energy explodes—but incredibly, my body absorbs it back in, as if feeding on it. I let out a long, shaky sigh, feeling like I just dodged the executioner's blade.
A nurse walks in, takes a quick look at me, and leaves just as fast. I give a mischievous grin, proud of myself for avoiding disaster.
Not today, universe. Not today.
I promise myself I won't mess with my powers again for a while. At least not until I'm sure I can control them. Because seriously, I'm not ready to be the baby who blew up a hospital.
----------------------------------------
The next day at the hospital was a relief. Finally, my mom and I were discharged to go home. And let me tell you, I wasn't complaining. That place was already driving me a little crazy, with all those nurses treating me like I was the cutest baby in the world. Sure, I'm the cute one in this body and all, but I'm still an adult stuck in a baby's body, you know?
So, we got home, and all I could think was, "Wow." The house was nice. There was enough space, cool furniture, and a pleasant smell in the air. My mom really took good care of everything, but it made me think about her financial situation. Like, how is she going to take care of me and still work at the same time?
But all those worries went out the window the next day when a woman appeared at our door. She was slim, pretty, with dark green hair… Wait. Dark green hair? I froze and looked at her again. No way, this has to be some kind of bad joke.
"Aww~ He's so adorable, Aiko-san. No matter how many times I look at him!" Yeah… looks like the one who's going to help take care of me is Inko… Wait, Inko Midoriya!?
Man, I wasn't expecting to see her so soon, but I have to admit — she's way prettier when she's young. But what's that she's holding in her arms? I hadn't noticed before because I was too busy analyzing her. Don't tell me that's baby Midoriya she brought along…
Inko placed little Midoriya next to me in the crib. I looked at the newborn with my big baby eyes. God is definitely playing some epic prank on me, no doubt about it.
Inko smiled at me, completely unaware of the existential crisis I was having.
"Aren't they just adorable together, Aiko-san? I always knew they'd be good friends from the moment I saw his picture!" she said excitedly to my mom, who smiled back.
"Friends?" I thought sarcastically. "I've barely been alive for a week, and you already think we're going to be best buddies?"
But all I could do was wave my hands at Inko, like a normal baby. I really don't understand mothers.
"Of course, Inko-san. They'll be good friends," my mom replied.
As the two of them chatted excitedly about us, I stole another glance at Midoriya.
Well, looks like we're going to be cribmates, little Midoriya. I hope you're not one of those whiny babies who scream all night. I need a little peace and quiet here in the crib.
"If we're going to be childhood friends, I guess I'll have to make a few changes to you, my little buddy," I thought.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like you. It's just… you're going to end up being kind of annoying in the future.
Seriously. He's the protagonist, but sometimes he feels more like a disposable side character.
No offense, I watched five seasons of the anime, but you need a little more personality. Maybe cry less, be a little braver, and… more motivated.
I know you change a bit throughout the series, but just a little. I bet if someone compared the early version of you to the later one, they wouldn't notice much difference, except for appearance, of course. Even Todoroki had more personal development than you, my friend.
We're talking about the protagonist here, the one who should have the most personal growth, but it seems like he has more screen time than development. It's so bad that there's barely any information about his dad — the guy went out to buy milk and vanished completly from existence.
When I watched the first episode of the anime, I had high expectations. Like, "Okay, he'll probably become a hero without a quirk and learn to believe in himself." It would've been interesting to see how he'd grow into a hero in a world without powers.
But, of course, all that went out the window when All Might decided to pass One For All to him.Seriously? That's more of a crutch for his insecurities than real personal and emotional growth.
My disdain for My Hero Academia was small at first, but after I innocently joined the fandom…
I saw things. Things that traumatized me. Deep, heavy trauma…
Anyway. Young Izuku, I promise I'll help you get past that. We'll make you a true protagonist, someone worthy of the title "Hero."
At least for me, I hope I don't mess anything up along the way.
And who knows… maybe I'll even turn you into something like Batman or maybe Iron Man…
Of course, I'll have to be careful not to overdo it. I don't want to create a monster. After all, there's a difference between being a hero and being a tyrant in high-tech armor.
But at the very least, it'll be fun.
And who knows, maybe one day he'll thank me — the great Ryuji — for making his life a little more exciting.
"Hey, Aiko-san. Ryuji doesn't seem like he wants to sleep just yet…"
Damn. I'd forgotten that Inko and my mom were still here.
"Should I breastfeed him now?"
"Yes, he needs to sleep."
No! Not again, no!