Chapter Text
It all began in China, in Qingqing City.
There was news that a baby that gave off light was born.
Ever since then, superpowers were discovered in various places...
...but we still don't know the cause of these powers.
Or how they may disrupt and change our society,
about 0.01% of the world's population now has some kind of power.
In this world swirling with chaos…
What are those at the center to do?
———
"Izuku, come on! We're going to be late for your appointment!" In a cozy apartment in Mustafu, a young boy with vibrant green hair was engrossed in his computer, while his slightly frazzled mother stood by the door.
"Are you watching that video of the mutant vigilante again?" she asked, her tone exasperated. "I swear, Izu, I don't understand why your dad allows you to watch those freaks."
The woman walked back into her son's room, determined to get him ready. She reached for the computer plug and gently pulled it from the wall socket.
"But Mom, it was about to reach the best part!" protested the boy, his large green eyes welling up with tears.
His mother's gaze softened. "It'll still be there when we come back, and we can go for ice cream afterward! How does that sound, baby?"
A bright smile instantly illuminated the boy's face. "Ice cream? Yay!" he exclaimed, bouncing out of his chair and heading towards the door.
His mother couldn't help but smile at his infectious excitement as she quietly followed behind. "Kids will always be kids," she sighed.
———
Mustafu General Hospital welcomed them with its pristine marble floors and gleaming white walls. Little did they know that their visit for Izuku's annual check-up would mark the end of their perfect little world.
"Mrs. Midoriya, Izuku, good to see you again. Before we begin the general check-up, do you have any specific concerns?" asked the doctor, greeting them warmly.
The woman tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, Izuku has been complaining about some foot pain when we go out shopping. I bought him new shoes, but it hasn't seemed to help."
"In that case, it might be worth taking an x-ray. Do you know what that is, Izuku?" the doctor inquired, looking down at the young boy with genuine curiosity.
The boy's eyes sparkled with interest. "Is that where you take pictures of people's bones?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Chuckling, the doctor nodded. "That's absolutely right! You're a clever young man, Izuku. We'll take some pictures of the bones in your feet and see if anything is amiss."
"Okay!" beamed the boy. "My feet hurt a lot when I walk with Mommy. Will the pictures tell us why?"
"Indeed, they will! Now, can you say 'ahh' for me?"
The doctor proceeded with the usual routine, having Izuku stand on the scale, measuring his height against the wall, and listening to his heartbeat. Eventually, he had Izuku place his foot in a peculiar machine, which the boy found rather fascinating.
"And we're all done! If you two could wait for a few minutes while we review the x-rays, I'll be back to discuss the results with you."
The pair patiently waited, though it felt like an eternity. "Does it usually take this long?" Inko mumbled to herself. "The doctor said he would be back soon, but it's been almost 40 minutes!"
Izuku, exhausted from all the tests, had nearly drifted off to sleep in his chair. "Momma, can we have ice cream soon?" he asked, his voice drowsy yet hopeful.
"I'm sure the doctor will be here soon, sweetheart, and then we can go," reassured his mother with a gentle smile.
Right on cue, the doctor finally arrived, followed by a young woman. His expression, however, was grave, causing Inko's worry to resurface. "Is something wrong?" she asked anxiously.
The doctor hesitated momentarily, his disbelief apparent. "I think it would be best if we spoke privately, without young ears listening in. Could Izuku wait in the hallway? Nurse Hayashi will be there to keep an eye on him."
Inko's eyes widened with concern. "O-oh, alright then. Izu, why don't you go wait with the nice nurse?"
"Mama, why do you look upset? Did I do something wrong?" asked the boy, his eyes welling up with tears.
"No, of course not, my love! I just need to talk to the doctor alone for a moment."
He thought it over for a moment before apparently deeming the answer adequate. "Okay, I’ll miss you mama! Bye-bye." Said the boy as a young looking nurse ushered him into the hallway.
As soon as the door closed, Inko confronted the doctor with urgency in her voice. "What's wrong? Is he sick? Is he in danger?"
"No, no, he's physically healthy. However, there is another issue—one that I've never personally encountered," the doctor confessed, his tone serious.
"What is it?" Inko pressed, her anxiety mounting.
"Take a look at these two x-rays," the doctor instructed, pulling down a monitor. "On the right, you see an average human foot. Notice the small joint here in the pinky toe?"
"Yes, what does that have to do with anything?" Inko inquired, her confusion growing.
"Well, now look at your son's x-ray. Notice the same area of the foot? It's missing the joint."
"Oh, so that's what's causing his foot pain?"
"Yes, indeed. The discomfort likely stems from the fact that standard shoes aren't designed to accommodate his foot structure," explained the doctor.
"So, he needs custom sneakers? Why didn't you just say that? You almost gave me a panic attack!" Inko scolded, her relief mixing with frustration.
The doctor fell silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I apologize for being vague. I'm somewhat in shock myself. The absence of that specific joint is not the main issue; it's more about the other conditions associated with it."
"Doctor, please, just tell me what's wrong!" Inko pleaded, her worry mounting.
"Yes, my apologies for keeping you in suspense. I suppose just struggling to process this revelation. The lack of that joint has only been observed in... well... in mutants."
Inko's face transformed from worry to disbelief in an instant. "...what? No. No! That's impossible! You can't seriously be suggesting that my baby, Izuku, is one of... them!"
"Miss, please try to remain calm. I'm confident we can figure things out," the doctor said, attempting to soothe her.
"But... he can't be. It's just not possible. I'm his mother! I would know!" Inko protested, her voice filled with a mix of denial and desperation.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Midoriya, but that's not how it works. Recent studies indicate that these anomalies only become visible when those affected reach around four years of age."
"So, my baby is... a mutant?" Inko asked, voice trembling.
"That's what the evidence seems to suggest," the doctor confirmed gently.
They sat in silence for a while, Inko lost in deep contemplation. How can I raise a mutant! ‘My poor baby, they treat mutants so badly. Mutants are bad, aren't they? It's unnatural!’ She thought, feeling a surge of guilt and fear engulf her. ‘Izuku…I’m so sorr-’
"Momma!"
Inko snapped out of her whirlwind of thoughts as a shock of green collided into her, enveloping her in a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry, I tried to stop him, but he slipped past me, and I just..." the nurse
's voice trailed off as Inko gazed into her son's innocent, wide green eyes. "I missed you, Momma. I know I was supposed to wait outside, but you were gone for so long, and... Momma, why are you crying?"
Tears streamed down Inko's face as she held her son tightly. "I will always love you, my baby. Remember that, okay? Please remember that."
"I know, silly!" the boy exclaimed, his smile radiating warmth and joy. "I love you too!"
They remained in that embrace for a while. Eventually, Inko gently wiped away her tears and shifted Izuku into a seated position on her lap. "Could I arrange a meeting with you to…discuss things at a later date?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination.
"Of course. I have an open slot this Saturday," the doctor replied, offering a reassuring smile.
"Thank you," Inko said gratefully. Turning her attention to her son, she added, "Come on, Izu, let's go and get some ice cream!"
"Yay!" Izuku cheered, his eyes brightening with excitement as he hopped off his mother's lap.