Darkness embraced him.
Soft, weightless, soundless.
Arlan Kurogane floated in a void where time felt like a distant memory, and his own thoughts moved with the sluggish uncertainty of a dream.
Then—
A gentle sound.
A single note.
Like a piano key pressed in an empty hall.
Arlan's awareness sharpened instantly.
Another note echoed.
Then another.
Until the void around him shimmered with soft ripples of color—blues, golds, violets—moving like ribbons of sound made visible.
A voice followed.
Calm. Gentle. Beautiful.
"Awaken, Arlan."
The darkness dissolved, replaced by a stage of soft, glowing white light. He stood upright though he could not feel his own body. The air smelled like fresh rain. The sky above was filled with swirling auroras of musical notes.
And before him floated a woman of pure harmony.
Her form was shaped from light—her hair flowing like shimmering strings of a harp, her eyes glowing with a warm rose-gold hue. Every movement she made sent faint echoes through the air.
Arlan stared in awe.
"…Okay, I'm either dead or on drugs."
The woman smiled, her voice ringing like soft bells.
"You are dead, Arlan."
"…Damn."
He looked down at himself—just a silhouette of faint light.
"I had a feeling."
Memories rushed into him:
The kid crossing the road
The truck
The brakes
His own body pushing the child away
Then nothing.
He exhaled.
"At least it wasn't embarrassing," he muttered. "Dying on the toilet would've been tragic."
The woman laughed—a sound so comforting that it erased every fear.
"You died selflessly. You altered the fate of someone who was never meant to live past that moment. Because of that, the universe has decided to compensate you."
"Compensate me how?" Arlan asked, folding his arms.
The sky above them shimmered, swirling into a grand luminous spiral.
"With reincarnation. In a world of heroes, quirks, and destiny."
Arlan froze.
A world of… heroes?
"Don't tell me—"
"Yes," she said, amused. "My Hero Academia."
Arlan nearly fainted.
"Oh hell YES—FINALLY!"
His voice echoed embarrassingly loud.
He cleared his throat, standing straighter.
"Ahem. Well. I'm very calm about this. Totally calm."
The entity's smile widened.
"You are granted three wishes. Choose carefully. Your new life will be shaped entirely by your decisions here."
Arlan rubbed his hands together.
"Oh, I've been training for this moment my whole life."
THE FIRST WISH — MUSIC EMPOWERMENT
He pointed upward, dramatic as a theater actor.
"My first wish: I want the Quirk Music Empowerment."
The entity raised a graceful hand.
A sphere of liquid sound formed—a beautiful orb swirling with notes, harmonies, and glowing waves.
"You choose the melody of power."
The orb drifted toward Arlan, and before he could react, it sank into his chest.
Sound exploded silently inside him.
He felt music filling his soul—melodies, beats, power, emotion, rhythm.
He felt stronger. More alive. Vibrant.
"Amazing…" he whispered.
"While singing," the entity said, "you will gain immense strength, enhanced physical abilities, weaponized sound waves, and the charisma of a born performer."
Arlan grinned.
"Karaoke night's about to go HARD."
THE SECOND WISH — GENIUS WITHOUT THE BURDEN
Arlan lifted two fingers.
"For my second wish: I want Tony Stark's intelligence, knowledge, and memories—BUT they must not affect my personality at all. My emotions and identity must remain mine alone. And I want to keep all of my own memories as well."
The entity nodded, approving.
"A wise protection. Genius without suffering."
Behind her, a vast golden archive opened—vaults of glowing blueprints, formulas, machines, inventions. Tony Stark's entire life's work.
She touched Arlan's forehead gently.
Information flooded him—fast, cool, efficient.
Not overwhelming.
Not painful.
Not emotional.
Like downloading a perfect library.
His eyes glowed briefly.
"I suddenly understand quantum field stabilization and also how to make a toaster that never burns bread."
"Use this gift wisely," the entity said softly. "Your mind will become a guiding star in your new world."
Arlan nodded slowly.
This… would change everything.
THE THIRD WISH — A FAMILY AND A GIRL WHO WOULD NEVER LEAVE HIM
Arlan took a deep breath.
"My third wish…"
The soft lights dimmed, as if the universe leaned closer to listen.
"I want to be born into a rich, loving family—second only to the Yaoyorozu family. I want a stable, warm home that supports me."
The entity's expression softened warmly.
"And," Arlan added, cheeks warming for some reason he didn't admit,
"I want Momo Yaoyorozu to be my childhood friend."
A gentle wind stirred the musical notes in the air.
The goddess lowered her hand.
"Your heart longs for connection."
Arlan scratched the back of his head.
"I mean… she deserves someone who actually understands her, not the lonely isolated version in canon. And I want someone I can grow up with."
"You desire love."
"I desire… companionship," Arlan corrected quickly, then coughed.
"A-and romance later. Maybe. If she wants. Or—"
The entity giggled.
"You need not be embarrassed, Arlan."
"I AM," he groaned.
With a sweep of her hand, a warm golden light wrapped him.
"Wish granted."
She raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Though I should warn you… the girl you will meet may grow rather attached to you. Perhaps… very attached."
Arlan blinked.
"…How attached?"
"You will see."
The goddess winked.
That was terrifying.
And exciting.
THE DESCENT INTO LIFE
The music around him grew louder, building into a heavenly crescendo.
His spirit grew smaller. Softer. Warmer.
He felt himself being pulled downward—into light, into warmth, into a heartbeat.
A gentle voice whispered:
"Arlan… Arlan Kurogane… welcome to the world."
And just like that—
He was born.
His new mother held him with tears in her eyes.
His father smiled proudly, whispering comforting words.
Arlan felt a warmth he had never felt before.
Love.
Safety.
Belonging.
His tiny hands reached upward instinctively.
His mother kissed his forehead.
"You're perfect."
The goddess of music's final whisper echoed faintly:
"Your new life begins.
Grow, sing, love.
She will be waiting for you."
Arlan's new life…
had officially begun.