A few minutes before,
Rikuya Saionji gasped in the dreamland, the Blue Hole blurring out of existence overhead.
He didn't know for sure, but, from what little he could comprehend, he knew that this was some type of automated message, and not the Thing that came to him often for miscellaneous tasks.
This was the first time Rikuya had heard the words Radiants and Singularity.
Yet, both of these things were related to the Thing for sure, he knew.
Did something happen?! Rikuya asked himself, barely able to feel his body. What Fate?! What Domain?! What Boundary?!!
The more he thought about it, the more it felt like these were the ramblings of some age-old Cult.
What else could the stupid name — The Radiants of Singularity — mean?!
[It means that you are a chosen one as well…]
Rikuya's head snapped up, but he didn't see Mt. Lady, the form that the Thing usually assumed. It was just a mote of blue light… and it felt much more real. Alive.
"… You are Singularity?!" Rikuya asked.
He might not be as smart as his sister or his stupid step-brother, but even he could guess the meanings within the words. And if he doubted that guess, then he didn't fear asking them out loud as well.
The blue mote of light pulsated for a while.
[… I am…] It replied, making Rikuya's eyes shake. [And I am not…]
"What do you mean you are and you are not?!" Rikuya asked. "You don't know…"
[Yes.] The blue mote of light replied. [Something like that… It's hard to explain… without attracting my brother's attention.]
That brother again… Rikuya observed. The Thing… No. Singularity had mentioned this brother several times, but never explained who this brother was and why she was against him.
Scowling, he stood up and looked around. He was still in the dreamland, but his own Quirk was out of his control, it seemed, as he couldn't return to his body outside.
[Because you are here with your real body…]
"WHAT?!!" Rikuya asked, shocked beyond bounds. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!"
[That you are a chosen one as well…]
"Hey!" Rikuya almost desired to grab the blue mote of light and shake it vigorously. "Don't back up so much! I am here with my real body?!! How?!!"
Rikuya's Quirk was Dream Walk.
He could maintain his lucidity while sleeping and enter the Dreamspace, as he liked to call it.
However, as the Dreamspace offered no paths or directions, Rikuya couldn't explore it by himself, making his Quirk… well, pointless.
He wasn't also studious enough to use the dream lucidity to study more. Also, he couldn't maintain the Quirk for over 30 minutes in 24 hours anyway.
That's why, despite his father and mother's awesome Quirks, and unlike Aina, Rikuya had never liked his Quirk.
Not until Singularity had approached two years ago with an offer.
She would assist him in exploring the vast blackness of the Dreamspace without getting lost, and, in return, he would have to do some odd tasks for her. Generally, these odd tasks were related to Luke.
Rikuya would have rejected the offer there and then, because he had hated his stepbrother.
However, Singularity had then shown him a reality that he had remained unknown to for years… successfully changing his mind.
Now, he could enter others' Dreamspace by reaching the coordinates with Singularity's guidance and influence their thoughts. That, too, only if they were dreaming.
Coming to the Dreamspace with his real body was as astonishing as it seemed impossible and ridiculous to Rikuya.
[… I did tell you.] Singularity added, seeing the blatant shock on the boy's face. [If things keep going on like this, I will have to interfere as well. Mostly, this Awakening happens naturally. Often, not at all. But, seeing the trend of times, I nudged you a bit. Now, you can act better, suited to your role.]
Here it comes… Rikuya thought, clenching his fingers into fists. "And what role is that?"
[One of the Chosen Ones…] Singularity replied. [A Radiant…]
Rikuya still didn't know what it was all about, though. Still, he had an idea… "I bet it's related to that moron again, right?!"
[Yes…] Singularity answered patiently. [And No. Luke… I can't sense him anymore. Not like the way I used to. Now, he is more… concealed. The words you heard today are related to Fate itself. Sadly, when they were spoken, there were many Radiants. Now… Sigh… I have no choice but to ask you to accept your role as a Radiant… just like I have asked others…]
"There are others?!" Rikuya asked.
[Of course.] Singularity said. [Not many. I will explain later. Something bad is happening… I need you to go and help another Radiant, who is already there, in stopping it. But first… I need you to get someone…]
Singularity said a name, and Rikuya's eyes widened. "He's a Radiant?!!!"
[Not yet…] Singularity replied. [But I am sure he will accept the role… once I offer him the Awakening.]
Rikuya had a distinct feeling.
Singularity… was buying followers.
The thing was, he couldn't blame anyone if they were to accept the terms. Because, as time passed, he could feel it…
This Awakening was just too much to let go.
Now, not only had he arrived here with his real body, but Rikuya could feel that he could jump to another dream as long as he had coordinates!
Not only could he jump, but he could also pull the dreaming people into the Dreamspace with their real bodies!
Not only could he pull someone's real body, but he could also jump with them, crossing continents!
And if Dream Walk could be awakened to this extent, then…
… how far would Katsuki Bakugo's Explosion be awakened?!!
Suddenly, coordinates appeared in Rikuya's mind as the blue mote of light pulsed.
Then, focusing on those coordinates, Rikuya lifted his foot and willed to appear in Bakugo's dream.
The vast blackness around him distorted.
In the next moment, he was already in Bakugo's Dreamspace, full of colors —
— a little, golden-haired boy looking at All Might dreamily as the Symbol of Peace raised his fist towards the sky.
********************
AN: Up to 60 more chapters are available in advance across three Tiers. [Use the link in my webnovel profile to access all options]
You can even subscribe Trial Tier for just 1 dollar to have an experience of exclusive chapters for an entire month. I hope a few of you will consider supporting the work.
100 Power Stones/day: +1 Bonus Chapter next day