Chapter 3: Debut
Aaron's POV
Last night, I tested the new quirk I acquired.
As I'd suspected, it's a strengthening-type. A simple yet effective one: it doubles the user's physical strength.
It's an active quirk like the previous one, humming beneath the surface of my muscles. The quirk doesn't add stamina, durability, or speed outright, but the raw boost in muscle output nudges those areas slightly higher too.
I'll call it Double Up.
And paired with my first quirk—what I've named Kinetic Leak—it's an unexpectedly good combo. Kinetic Leak allows me to absorb force through my palms and release it. Double Up makes my body stronger without me having to do a thing.
But even with these abilities, reality sets in.
"I'm still too weak," I mutter to myself. "I can't go up against powerful villains yet. My body is still that of an eight-year-old."
I knew it would take years before I was ready to face the monsters of this world. That didn't discourage me. It only sharpened my determination.
"I need to train. I need more quirks. Stronger quirks."
And so my days settled into a rhythm: training under the sun, hunting low-level villains under the shadows of night.
...…
Five weeks. That's how long it's been since I transmigrated into the MHA world. I even turned nine just last week.
Through relentless training, I've grown more comfortable with my body and my quirks. Out of all the villains I've encountered, I've only stolen two additional quirks, bringing my total to four.
Why not more? Two reasons.
First: I only take what's useful. Quality over quantity. Weak quirks would only slow me down.
Second—and more importantly—I don't want to draw attention. Every villain I take down ends up in police custody. Since they aren't allowed to use quirks in confinement, they don't notice when something is missing.
If word ever spread about someone with an All For One–like ability… my life would become a nightmare.
I've also pieced together my place in the timeline. All Might's public appearances have started dropping off in the last three weeks. That can only mean one thing: his battle with All For One already happened.
His injury… it's fresh.
That places me at the same age as the main cast. Canon won't start for another five years, which gives me roughly three years before I move to Japan. Time—precious, limited time.
...….
Right now, however, I'm on a much simpler mission: snacks.
The cleaner-slash-nanny my aunt hired insists on only stocking "healthy" food, always repeating, "It's good for your health."
Tch. What would she know about the joy of greasy burgers, piping-hot pizza, or the salty crunch of chips?
As I step into the convenience store, I head straight for the shelves stacked with chips and energy drinks. I pile a few into my arms and walk up to the cashier.
Just as I'm about to put them on the counter—
Bang!
The door slams open.
A man storms in, his voice booming: "Take out all the money, old man!"
The shopkeeper freezes, wide-eyed.
'Just one guy,' I note calmly. His arms glint unnaturally, shaped into spearheads. A morphing, hardening quirk. Dangerous if left unchecked.
A grin spreads across my face. "Looks like it's time for my debut."
The villain's eyes snap to me. "What did you say, you little pip-squeak?"
…Did he just call me short?
A vein throbs in my temple. That's it.
"You're going down!" I snarl, charging at him.
He swings a spear-shaped arm at my head, but I duck low and slam a right hook into his ribs. He grunts, staggering, but remains standing. I held back deliberately—this fight is practice, not execution.
That' why I am only using Double Up for now.
He recovers fast, thrusting another spear-arm at me. The attack comes fast—too fast—
Until I slow it.
My third quirk activates with a thought. Push & Pull.
The weapon-arm drags through the air like it's submerged in syrup.
Push & Pull is a weaker version of Shinra Tensei and Banshō Ten'in. I can repel or draw objects by manipulating force. The stronger the attack, the more effort it costs me to counter.
But slowing his thrust gave me just enough time.
I dodge and land a left hook at his ribs this time, that seemed to have angered him as he started swinging his arms recklessly.
But with the help of my fourth quirk, I am able to keep track of his attacks and dodge them.
He thrust his right hand once again, aiming directly for my head.
I sidestep and drive an uppercut into his chin. His eyes roll back, and he collapses in a heap.
That's that.
"You might wanna call the police, old man," I tell the stunned shopkeeper. He blinks, then fumbles for the phone.
Some would call me reckless—revealing myself in public. A nine-year-old defeating a villain with his quirk? Of course people would talk.
But this is all part of my plan.
I already have an appointment at the doctor's office for quirk registration. My story? I've only just awakened. I'll only reveal my fourth quirk, the strongest one.
Why? Because if I ever want to enter U.A., I can't afford suspicion. A fourteen-year-old suddenly awakening would be unheard of. Late awakenings exist, but not after fourteen.
Midoriya only managed it because he had All Might and Nezu backing him. I won't.
At nine, though? Believable. Natural.
And this fourth quirk… it was pure luck, and easily the best one I've gotten so far.
...
The memory is still fresh.
Last week, I stumbled upon a fight in the middle of the street. Two pro heroes against a villain.
A crowd had gathered, buzzing with energy and fear.
Don't get me wrong—these weren't titans like All Might, Endeavor, or Star & Stripes. Those are monsters in a class of their own. These pros were ranked seventeen and nineteen. Respectable, but not unstoppable.
Even so, the villain they faced managed to keep up. Had it been one-on-one, he might've won.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't.
The battle raged on until the pros forced him back. With a final strike, they sent him crashing into the crowd—right where I was standing.
Chaos erupted. People screamed, shoving each other in a desperate attempt to get away. I was shoved too, falling right beside the unconscious villain.
That's when the thought hit me.
Steal his quirk. Right here. Right now.
Risky. Reckless. Suicidal, even. But necessary.
Because all my quirks, useful as they were, couldn't match the overwhelming might I lacked.
So I pressed my hand against his neck. A second of contact—that's all it took. His quirk flowed into me.
By the time the heroes approached, I was gone, swallowed by the crowd.
Villains capable of fighting pros usually end up in high-security prisons, cut off from their quirks entirely. I gambled on that fact, praying they wouldn't notice until it was far too late.
...…
And the gamble paid off.
The quirk I stole was extraordinary.
When activated, it temporarily enhances my body—strength, speed, durability—all to superhuman levels. Unlike simple strength enhancers, it reinforces muscles, bones, even connective tissue, ensuring I can handle the output without shattering myself.
It doesn't last forever. The longer I maintain it, the worse the fatigue afterward.
The villain had called it Titan's Pulse. I'll keep the name.
So here's where I stand:
My "main" ability is the All For One–style quirk.
My stolen quirks are Kinetic Leak, Double Up, Push & Pull, and Titan Pulse.
When I meet the doctor, I'll present Titan Pulse as my one and only ability—a modest body-strengthening quirk. Believable, given my parentage. My father had an endurance quirk, my mother a weak speed quirk.
No one will suspect otherwise.
...….
The police arrive minutes later, hauling the spear-armed villain away. They question the shopkeeper briefly, then one officer turns to me.
"The use of quirks in public without a license is prohibited, boy," he says, stern but not unkind.
So he's not going to push too hard. Perfect.
I bow my head slightly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Ah, yes sir. I just… I just awakened my quirk recently. I wanted to test it out."
"Where are your parents?" he asks.
"They're dead, sir." I lower my gaze, painting a mask of quiet sadness.
Silence lingers for a moment before he asks for my guardian's contact. I give him my aunt's information. After confirming with her, he lets me go with just a warning.
"You can go this time, but do it again and there will be consequences to face. And congratulations on awakening your quirk, little one." He warned and congratulated me.
"Ah, thank you sir." With that done I left with my stuff.
Of course, my aunt gave me an earful later—lecturing me about getting into danger. But beneath the scolding, I saw relief. And even pride. She was happy I had awakened.
I dropped the snacks at home and made my way to the doctor's office.
It was time to register my "quirk."