Hawks let out a sharp, joyless chuckle. "Kid, you're being targeted by people much worse than that thief. They've been sniffing around for the source of that 'incident' since the moment it happened."
"What? Who? when?" Adam's eyes pooped up from their sockets, this was unexpected.
"Yeah, you're just unlucky," Hawks said, his tone so casual it was practically cheerful. "That sludge villain incident you jumped into? It caught the attention of at least two dangerous groups. The first calls themselves the 'League of Villains.', The other is a well-known Yakuza group, the Shie Hassaikai."
Hawks' nonchalance didn't make Adam feel safe, it made his blood turn to ice. His mind went momentarily blank. On the surface, he looked paralyzed, but that was only because the shock had traveled straight to his soul.
First came the denial.
Are they trying to bait me into confessing? Adam wondered, his heart hammering against his ribs. No... the League of Villains shouldn't even be a known name yet in this time period. And the Shie Hassaikai... Overhaul... Why me? Why now? Is it because of that 'Quirk Disappearance' incident they keep talking about?
Adam's brow furrowed as he fought to steady his breathing. He had to play this logically. "Are they... searching for the source of that incident?" he asked, his voice a bit tight. "Are they like you, suspecting me? But I didn't show anything like that yesterday. The way I used Negation on the sludge guy It was more like shattering. Why would that put me in danger?"
Ho ho, interesting fella, Hawks thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. Still playing it cool, still denying it. Let's see how long that lasts.
"You're right, they were sniffing around for the cause," Hawks continued. "And I happened to spot them. The leader of the Shie Hassaikai, Kai Chisaki... for some reason, he's obsessed with finding the source."
Adam's eyes flickered. Chisaki. Overhaul. I know exactly why that germaphobe is interested.
"Then," Hawks added, "there was this suspicious guy—dark, purplish mist. He was using a Warp Gate Quirk to eavesdrop on the police and heroes. He got pulled toward the explosions at the sludge incident, and then he summoned another guy. Hands all over him. Creepy fellow. Seems to be the leader. They're looking to form a criminal group, with the sole purpose of destroying the symbol of peace, and they wanted that sludge villain for their ranks."
Hawks leaned in a little closer. "Your intervention ruined their recruitment drive. They lost a member because of you, so out of revenge, or maybe curiosity, they were seconds away from kidnapping you. If that sludge villain hadn't managed to gather his body and tried to possess you, and if All Might hadn't appeared to blast him apart... you'd be in their hideout right now. Oh, and I almost forgot: they have someone who can steal Quirks. They intend to steal yours and give it to someone else. They don't even know you're behind the city-wide incident yet, but they're already drooling over what you did show."
"I've said my piece," Hawks finished, stretching his wings. "All Might, you take it from here. My throat is dry."
The room started to spin. Adam felt the gravity shift as his legs gave out. He fell back, the back of his head hitting the hospital wall with a dull thud. The sharp pain was the only thing that woke him up from the trance of terror.
AWILIIIII !!!! (No way!)
I AM... COOKED!
Overhaul... Adam's thoughts raced, frantic and jagged. He's after my power. He'd use it for his quirk-erasing plan. If I fall into his hands, I'll suffer a fate worse than Eri. That monster was cruel to his own godfather's granddaughter... imagine what he'd do to a stranger like me. A grown 'Moroccan' boy.
The mental image of his body being disassembled and reassembled, day and night, over and over in a cycle of infinite agony, made his skin crawl. He felt a literal shiver run down his spine, raising goosebumps on his arms.
Poor Eri... he thought, his heart aching for the girl he knew from the screen. She's going through that nightmare right now. For the first time, the "fictional" tragedy felt horribly, viscerally real.
And the mist guy... Kurogiri. The hand fetish creepy guy.. Shigaraki. They're searching for me too. And to top it off, I'm the one who ruined their plan to recruit the sludge guy. They were probably interested in Bakugo's Quirk, but because I showed a power that looked 'evil' and destructive, they pivoted to me. They want to take me to All For One. They want him to steal it.
Adam's internal survival-mode was operating at 200% capacity.
If I'd been kidnapped... if All Might hadn't shown up... I'd be on a dissection table right now. That crazy bald doctor, Garaki, and All For One would realize I don't even have a 'Quirk.' My Negation is a System gift. I'm just a vessel. I don't think All For One can even steal it... but that's worse! If he can't steal it, they'll be even more fascinated. A power outside the Quirk system? To them, I'm a 'heavenly treasure' that just dropped into their laps.
The League, the Yakuza... those are just the ones Hawks saw. What about the others? The Meta Liberation Army? Those rebels wouldn't pass up a weapon like me. Their hacker is probably already scanning every CCTV camera in the city, eavesdropping on these very police reports.
He looked at the three men in front of him. I have the 'Meta' advantage. I know their natures. I can predict them... All Might probably wants to keep me under wraps to prevent me from becoming AFO's ultimate weapon. When the detective said they have to 'keep me in check' for the safety of the country... he wasn't exaggerating. Even if they can't steal my power, they can manipulate me. Or worse... that doctor could turn me into a mindless Nomu that just follows orders.
Adam sat there, frozen. To the heroes, he looked like he was in shock. They didn't realize that for more than ten minutes, his brain had been connecting every dot in the MHA universe, calculating a thousand ways his life could end in a laboratory or a dungeon.
The silence in the room became heavy, thick enough to choke on.
The three men in the room watched Adam in silence, fascinated by the chaotic theater of his facial expressions. He went from bug-eyed shock to pale-faced terror, then finally—slowly—he settled into a contemplative pose, resting his chin on his hand like a young philosopher.
The heroes exchanged impressed glances. Such resilience! they thought. To be told you're being hunted by the two dangerous evil organizations and immediately begin strategizing... this boy has the soul of a warrior!
Adam's Internal Monologue :
Resilience? Soul of a warrior?! I want to scream! I want to stand on this hospital bed and curse in three different languages until the windows shatter! I'm just a fifteen yo boy from morocco, I can't stand this anime shit! The last time I was in a 'fight' was in the fifth grade! And now I'm being hunted by a germaphobe who turns people into meat-puddings and a hand-fetishist who wants to decay my very existence?! and behind him the final boss of this world, The Potato Spirit with infinity quirks, and that crazy doctor...MOM... I want to go back home!
Calm down, Adam. Think. You're from 2025. You've read the spoilers. You know the lore. You need to use these heroes like a human shield. If I play my cards right, I can send them off to fight the villains while I enjoy a nice, peaceful one-year training arc in some high-security basement, Yes... the 'Ultimate Meat-Shield Strategy.'
Detective Tsukauchi glanced at his watch and gestured to All Might. It was time to pull the kid out of his "tactical trance."
All Might stepped forward, waving a bony hand in front of Adam's glazed eyes. "Adam-shonen? Wake up. Don't worry, we will keep you hidden. The villains won't touch you. We just need your cooperation... and perhaps, eventually, we will need you to lend us your power to defeat the mastermind behind the Villain League."
All Might's sunken eyes suddenly blazed with a terrifying, righteous blue fire. He clenched his fist, his spirit radiating a pressure that made the air feel heavy.
Just like How All For One could become unstoppable if he managed to steal Adam-Shonen's quirk, they too, with this Shonen's ability can end that villain career.
He was ready to end All For One, once for all, clearing the path for Young Midoriya.
Adam's focus snapped back. He blinked, processing All Might's words. Lend you my power? To fight... All For One?
All Might chill!! Adam screamed internally. You want me, a guy who barely knows how to trigger his quirk to stand in front of a man who has lived over hundred years and has a buffet of quirks? The shockwave from one of your punches would turn my internal organs into Moroccan harira! (soup)
But then, a spark of genius hit him. a way to delay some time for himself until he prepare mentally and physically for this kind of things.
"All Might..." Adam said, his voice dropping into that "Serious MC" register again. "That mastermind... he's the one who gave you that injury, isn't he? The one who forced you into this form?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. All Might and the Detective froze. Even Hawks stopped preening his feathers, his playful smirk vanishing.
"How could you possibly know that?" AllMight asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.
Adam leaned back, crossing his arms. Time to unleash the Otaku Intellect. Let's cook.
"It's simple logic," Adam lied smoothly. "Hawks said this Villain League wants to destroy the Symbol of Peace. To even dream of that, they'd need someone who can match you. the man who steals quirks, is a perfect candidate... it was just a guess, but your faces just confirmed it."
All Might sighed, a weary touching his lips.
"You are sharp, Adam-shonen. That villain is called All For One. Years ago, we nearly destroyed each other. I thought he was gone, but he is planning a comeback. And that is why your 'Negation' is so vital. If he steals your power, it's game over for the world. But..."
All Might's grin turned "mad scientist" levels of excited.
"If we train you... if we can teach you to control your power, to selectively select what you can negate, and achieve something like what you did in yesterday quirk disappearance incident... we can plan a raid! With Hawks' already located their hideout and my strength, you could be the silver bullet! You could snipe All For One's quirks away while I Fight him from close range! Adam-shonen, please! Lend us your power!"
The Symbol of Peace excitedly extended a hand toward Adam, his face full of hope.
Adam's Internal Monologue
NOOOOO! ALL MIGHT, auzu billahi minas al shaitan al rajeem!
That is the worst plan in the history of plans! 'Snipe' him?! What if he teleports behind me and says 'nothing personal, kid'?! You're asking a level 1 rookie to join a Level 100 Raid Boss fight!
I planned to spill the beans! I was going to tell you about the Nomu, the crazy doctor's secret hospital, Overhaul's basement—I was going to give you the GPS coordinates to every villain hideout so YOU could go do your jobs while I stay home and pray!
I see it now... the Butterfly Effect is real. My accidental quirk-fart yesterday was so powerful that it accelerated the entire plot. Hawks found the League early, All Might is fired up, and now the plot is moving at 100mph while I'm still stuck in 1st gear!
"With all honesty," Adam said, shaking his head frantically, "that is a stupid plan! What if he steals my quirk? You're just hand-delivering him the ultimate weapon!"
"Don't worry, Adam-kun," Hawks added playfully, though his eyes remained cold and calculating. "We'll train you until you can repeat that feat from yesterday. You negated an entire city's worth of quirks. If we can just teach you to focus that power on specific targets we can achieve an instant win!... well, you wouldn't want to be a coward, would you?"
Hawks' smile turned solemn, almost mocking. "You risked your life for a stranger yesterday. Don't tell me... that was all just a show-off? Because if it was, we might have to reconsider your 'illegal' quirk usage."
Adam's eyes narrowed.
This 'ferrouj' (rooster) thinks he can manipulate me with 2010-era Shonen tropes? 'Oh, don't tell me you're a coward!' Please. I came from 2025. I've seen every 'manipulative villain' twist in the book. You think I'm going to jump up and say 'I'll show you!' and run into a fire? I yearn for true gender equality and a safe retirement!
Adam remained silent, a frown etched deep into his face. He wouldn't be baited. Heroism was a tool for survival, not a suicide pact.
"Hawks, that's enough," All Might said, his fire cooling into regret. "He is only fifteen. It was wrong of me to ask. We will find another way."
'huh! interesting, this kid isn't hot blooded!' Hawks smiled inwardly as he got another important piece about Adam's character.
Detective Tsukauchi cleared his throat. "Regardless of the raid plan, the fact remains: you are a target. We cannot leave you in a public hospital."
I need to guide their thinking, Adam's brain screamed. I need to give them a replacement! If I don't give them a bigger fish to fry, they're going to keep trying to turn me into a trump card!
Adam's heart was hammering against his ribs, but his mind was already miles ahead, weaving a web of strategic cowardice. Fighting All For One? Absolutely not. he hadn't even finished his growth spurt yet! He wasn't about to let his life end as a smudge on a sidewalk just because All Might was feeling "inspired."
'Wait,' Adam thought, his eyes widening as if he'd just had a revelation. 'If they want to nullify AFO Quirks... There is another person who can achieve this mission.'
The image of a cute little girl appeared in his mind. A small white haired girl with a small unicorn-like horn on her forehead.
this is the way out of this dilema! Adam thought. this method can allow me to save Eri, and more importantly, allow me to save my own ass from that potato-headed tentacle monster. If I point them toward the Shie Hassaikai, they'll find Eri. Her 'Rewind' is the real cheat code. She can turn All For One back into a harmless baby, of course they won't allow here to face him but If they get those quirk-erasing bullets overhaul is developing, they can just snipe him to erase his quirk. Then I won't be needed at all!
"Mr. Hawks!" Adam suddenly shouted, his voice cracking slightly but firm.
"What is it, Adam-kun?" Hawks asked, flashing an innocent, breezy smile. Internally, he was preparing to soothe a panicked teenager with some classic hero platitudes.
"You said the leader of that Yakuza group was also searching for clues about the quirk incident," Adam began, his eyes narrowing as he leaned into the 'Serious MC' persona. "Doesn't that strike you as... weird? Why would a Yakuza boss come all the way here searching for the cause, Unless... he's planning something far worse than just being curious"
The three adults paused. The air in the room grew heavy as they actually sat with the thought.
Tsukauchi was the first to break the silence. "We considered it, yes. But the threat level of the League is objectively higher. We had to prioritize. Why bring them up now?"
Hawks watched Adam closely, his golden eyes sharp. He knew this kid wasn't as simple as he looked. Adam was shrewd, a little paranoid, and—if Hawks was being honest—strikingly self-serving. It was a mystery why such a 'selfish' kid had risked his life for a stranger yesterday, but right now, Hawks wanted to see where this kid was going.
"Maybe he was just curious," Hawks suggested playfully. "Or maybe he just happened to be there. Why are you so focused on the bird-mask guy, Adam-kun?"
Adam cleared his dry throat, feeling the weight of their gaze. "It's a feeling. Yakuza are sneaky. The League is like a fire, you see it coming. But Yakuza? They're like mold in the walls. What if they want to use a power like mine to negate everyone's Quirk? Not just yours, but the villains' too. If everyone is quirkless, the Yakuza regain their old prestige. They become the 'Fishermen' who wait for the Hero and Villain whales to kill each other, then they just swoop in and take the sea."
Tsukauchi stood up abruptly, his notebook nearly slipping from his hand. All Might's blue eyes trembled. The logic was terrifyingly sound, it fit the desperate, fading nature of the Yakuza perfectly.
This boy... his mind is something else, Hawks thought, a chill running down his wings.
"That... that is an oversight we cannot ignore," Tsukauchi admitted, his voice grim. "The possibility of a third criminal party waiting to capitalize on a war between Heroes and Villains... it's a nightmare scenario. All Might, we need to take the safe route. We should investigate the Shie Hassaikai immediately. Secretly. If they're hiding something problematic, we need to remove that 'hidden danger' before we even look at All For One."
All Might nodded solemnly. He wasn't a fool, he understood the weight of a pincer attack from the shadows.
The Detective turned toward Adam, his gaze now filled with genuine gratitude. "Adam-san, thank you. You may have just saved us from a catastrophic blind spot. I'll start the investigation. If your 'hunch' bears fruit, I won't forget this merit. In the meantime, you must stay hidden. I'll use my authority to get you a legal identity, and we'll find you a safe house."
"Tsukauchi-san, just handle the ID," All Might interrupted, his voice returning to its warm rumble. "I'll handle the housing. I wouldn't be able to sleep if the boy lived alone. I'll be his guardian for now."
"Very well. I'll leave him in your hands." Tsukauchi bowed slightly in respect, then turned to leave, his mind already racing with investigation plans for the Shie Hassaikai.
"Take care, Tsukauchi-san," All Might called out.
Hawks, meanwhile, was already drifting toward the window, his feathers rustling as he prepared to take flight. He looked back and switched to English so Adam could follow. "My sidekick already found a lead on a League hideout. I should have checked it last night, but I was busy with you. I need to get there and collect intel before they notice my feather. See you later, All Might. And Adam-kun..." Hawks gave a sharp, challenging grin. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again, I hope you'll be even stronger by then."
"Thanks for the hard work, Hawks," All Might nodded. "Keep me updated on everything."
With a sudden burst of wind, Hawks was gone.
Adam sat there, nodding his head like a dazed chicken. The silence of the room settled over him, and for the first time since waking up, the reality of his situation hit him. He was talking to the All Might, Hawks, the detective, he was being targeted by overhaul, by the villain league, AFO threat is looming over his head, all these characters, which were just fictional a day ago to him, now he is talking with them, and going to fight with them or fight them (referring to AFO, Villain League, Overhaul.)
I hate this, Adam thought, screaming internally in agony. I'm not prepared for this! I'm a procrastinator! I'm the guy who says 'I'll start hitting the gym this year, and go pay a full year subscription only to stop going after a week or two... How did I get dragged into this 'High-Stakes Crisis' trope?
He sighed, his shoulders slumping.
But... if I'm honest... maybe this is what I need. If I lived alone, I'd probably just waste my days on the entertainment industry in this world, to be honest, and putting minimal efforts, even though i want to return home, but that desire isn't strong now, and i'm afraid it will slowly fade away with each new day i spent in this world. but with This 'sword over my neck', the threat of being turned into a Nomu or a lab rat, is the only thing that's going to force my lazy ass to actually train. I always wondered how those transmigrated MCs suddenly became disciplined gym rats the moment they hit another world. Back home, they were probably shut-ins who couldn't find their own socks, but put them in a fantasy world and suddenly they're 'Masters of the Sword.'
Adam looked at his hands, a faint flicker of black aura dancing between his fingers.
Fine. If I have to be a hero to avoid being a puddle, then I'll be the best damn 'reluctant hero' Japan has ever seen. Just... as long as it allows me to get stronger, and figure out a way back home, and probably marry four wives, amass enough wealth, bring them back with me to the real world, since i could arrive with my physical body here, the possibility of the people and things from this world being eligible to teleported to the real world is very high.
"Adam-shonen," All Might said, "You haven't had breakfast yet. Let's get some fuel in you."
Gurgle—ROAR.
Adam's stomach didn't just growl, it let out a sound like a dying engine pleading for mercy. He hadn't eaten since yesterday, and his digestive tract was currently staging a full-scale protest against his life choices.
The two stood up and left the hospital chamber.
"Thanks, All Might," Adam said, looking at the skeletal man with genuine, soul-deep gratitude. You really are my hero.
"Adam-kun, please," the hero whispered, glancing around the hospital corridor. "In this form, I am not All Might. My true name is Toshinori Yagi. Now, To the world, I'm just a tired old man, You can call me Yagi."
"I understand, Yagi-kun," Adam nodded, he didn't forget to Add the Japanese suffix they add after names. He doesn't know when to add SAN, SHAN, KHAN, SAMA, or KUN, etc... but he felt Kun fit with the name Yagi, so he used it.
All Might's Lips twitched awkwardly but didn't care to correct him, but he noted in mind that he must teach Adam Japanese.
After finishing the discharge paperwork, which All Might handled with the practiced ease of someone who spent half his life in hospitals, they stepped out into the crisp Musutafu air.
They hit a nearby restaurant first. Adam stared at the spread before him like it was a mirage. Back home, breakfast was a battle of attrition, a glass of mint tea so sweet it could cause instant cavities, a hunk of crusty bread, and olive oil that tasted like the earth itself. It was the "Hardcore Moroccan Survivalist" diet he had been eating since he gained awareness.
But this? This was a symphony of stuffs he doesn't even know their name .
Ya rabi(oh my lord), thank you, Adam thought, inhaling the steam. No offense to Mom's cooking, but this smells like actual progress in social class level, from poor class to middle class!
Once his stomach was no longer trying to digest itself, All Might took him to a nearby clothing store. Adam walked out ten minutes later feeling like a brand-new person. He caught his reflection in a shop window: a thick black leather jacket over a crisp white shirt, clean tight black jeans, and white Quirkass sneakers that didn't have a single speck of dust on them.
He looked…human.
'it had been a long time, since i bought clothes...it feels like Eid (holy days of Muslims) where i used to go with dad to the local souq(market)...'
As they walked down the street, Adam watched Yagi's back. The man walked with a slight hunch, his shoulders weighed down by an invisible mountain. For a fleeting, painful second, the image of Yagi's thin frame overlapped with the memory of Adam's own father.
It was the same back. The same heavy, tired gait of a man who carried the world so his children wouldn't have to. One held up the peace of a nation; the other had held up the peace of a small house in Morocco. Different scales, same burden.
Adam's eyes suddenly felt hot. He blinked rapidly, the moisture blurring his vision.
"What's wrong, Adam-kun?" Yagi noticed the change in pace and turned around, his hollow eyes searching Adam's face. He saw the red rims of the boy's eyes.
"Nothing," Adam forced a grin, wiping his face with his sleeve. "Just… Japanese sand. It's very aggressive. Got right in my eye."
"Oh? That's no good. Let me see," Yagi squinted, clearly not buying the 'aggressive sand' excuse. He looked at Adam's fresh clothes, then at his face, and his heart sank.
I have no relatives in this world, he recalled what the boy had said.
Poor kid, Toshinori thought, a wave of fatherly protectiveness washing over him. He's probably been through hell just to get here. An illegal immigrant, alone, with a power that terrifies people… I'll make sure he knows he's found a home here. I'll make him love this country as much as I do.
"No, no, I'm good, Yagi-san," Adam stammered, trying to regain his composure. "By the way, where are we actually going?"
"Call me Uncle Yagi from now on," Toshinori said with a small, wheezing chuckle. "now I'm your guardian."
For a moment, a genuine warmth seeped into Adam's chest, melting the ice of his paranoia.
Alhamdulillah, Adam thought, I've just been adopted by the Symbol of Peace. I am officially the ultimate second rich generation of this hero society. This is the biggest 'W' in the history of isekai-adjacent experiences.
"Okay… Uncle Yagi," Adam said, the words feeling strange but right.
"Because I can't be with you 24/7—the world still needs its Symbol, after all—I've decided to put you in the safest place in all of Musutafu!"
"The safest place?" Adam's eyes widened.
"UA HIGH SCHOOL!" All Migh said in his epic heroic way.
haw haw haw! That's way too fast!
Adam's internal fanboy let out a high-pitched scream. UA. The setting of 90% of the plot. The place where legends were forged and where the budget for school festivals was higher than most 3rd rate countries' GDPs.
I'm going to UA! I'll see the dorms! I'll see the training grounds! I'll see the girls—
ASTAGHFIRULLAH! Adam slapped his own mental head.
Restrain yourself, Adam! You've been blessed with countless Blessings, and the first thing you think about is the female cast? Control your gaze! Control your nafs (ego)! The first step to being a hero is not being a pervert!
"I'll be starting as a teacher there next year for the Hero Course," Yagi explained, his eyes glowing with excitement. "They don't have a dorm system yet, but we'll find a place for you to live on campus. Most importantly, you can train your Quirk recklessly without worrying about endangering others!"
Yagi looked at the boy, his mind already spinning with plans. If I'm training Adam-shonen, maybe I should bring Young Midoriya into the fold too? I was going to have him clean the beach, but the world is getting dangerous. Adam is thin and fragile; Midoriya is the same. I can train them both simultaneously! two birds with one stone!
Adam, unaware that he had just been signed up for a 'Hell Training' program, stepped onto the bus behind Yagi.
He stared at the interior of the bus in mute shock. It was clean. It was quiet. People were actually sitting in seats instead of hanging off the doors like grapes, or squeezed tight against each other like canned sardines.
Man, Japanese buses are incredible!
Adam thought, settling into a cushioned seat.
Back home, a bus ride is a contact sport. Here, I feel like I'm in a first-class lounge.
He looked out the window at the passing city, his hand twitching.
The "sword" was still hanging over his neck, but for the first time, he felt like he had another motivation to to fight it.
'i must enjoy life in japan a little bit, just a year or two, Mom, Sisters, stay strong!'
----Author Notes----
Peace and blessings to you. Whatever you are facing, joy or hardship—know that it is temporary. Storms pass, dark clouds disperse, and nights give way to dawn. Hold to patience and faith, a gentler, brighter morning awaits.
To help me stay committed to this story, I've created a simple Telegram circle where we can gather, encourage one another, and keep one another accountable. I work better with companionship, when I'm alone I tend to procrastinate and lose momentum, so a warm community of readers will help me stay inspired. I chose Telegram because it feels straightforward and welcoming to me.
(here is the invite link, take a screenshot, share it with google image, and it will do OCR to the image, which will allow you to copy the link easily) :
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t.me/+9oZS6Ulndb85Y2Y0
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See you next week. I'll aim to post one or two chapters each week, unless something unexpected comes up (a sudden gig or other interruption). That's why I've been quiet lately.