I found the rest of Class 1-A in the cafeteria, clustered around a few tables and still buzzing with excitement from their first day. As I approached with my lunch tray, conversations quieted slightly—not with hostility, but with the awkwardness that came from not quite knowing how to interact with someone who was clearly operating on a different level.
"Mind if I sit here?" I asked, gesturing to an empty chair at the table where Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka were eating.
"Of course!" Iida gestured emphatically. "We were just discussing the class representative election tomorrow. As the early admission student, you must have insights into the qualities U.A. values in student leaders!"
"Probably," I said, settling into my seat. "But I think leadership in a hero class is more about understanding your classmates than understanding the school."
"That's a good point," Midoriya said thoughtfully. "A leader needs to know everyone's strengths and weaknesses to coordinate effectively."
"Speaking of which," Uraraka leaned forward curiously, "what exactly can your quirk do? The reality manipulation thing sounds really complex."
I had expected this question and had prepared an answer that was truthful but not overwhelming. "I can create illusions that temporarily become real, and I can alter the properties of existing objects within certain limits. It's useful for rescue work and subduing villains without causing permanent harm."
"That's amazing!" Midoriya's eyes lit up with the familiar enthusiasm I remembered. "You could create tools that don't exist, or make barriers to protect civilians, or even confuse villains by changing what they think is real!"
His strategic mind was already working, seeing applications I hadn't even considered. In that moment, I was reminded of why he would become such an effective hero—not just because of One For All, but because of his ability to analyze and adapt.
"What about limitations?" This came from Todoroki, who had been listening quietly from the next table over. "A quirk that powerful must have significant drawbacks."
"Energy drain is the main one," I replied. "Complex reality alterations leave me exhausted. And there's always the risk of unintended consequences when you're changing fundamental properties of matter."
"Unintended consequences?" Yaoyorozu had joined the conversation, her analytical mind clearly intrigued by the theoretical implications.
"If I alter something's density but don't account for how that affects its other properties, I might accidentally create something unstable or dangerous," I explained. "It requires a lot of knowledge about physics and chemistry to use safely."
"That's so cool though!" Kaminari called over from another table. "You're like a walking science experiment!"
"More like a walking physics violation," Bakugo muttered, but I caught the grudging respect in his voice. He understood power when he saw it, even if he didn't like admitting it.
The conversation gradually expanded to include more of the class, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience of just being a teenager talking with other teenagers. In my previous life, I had been too socially awkward to have friends like this. Now, with the confidence that came from years of specialized training and the knowledge of what these people would become, I could actually participate in the easy camaraderie.
Kirishima was enthusiastic about the "manliness" of being able to alter reality itself. Ashido wanted to know if I could change colors and textures to create better costumes. Koda shyly asked if I could create illusions of animals to help with his animal communication quirk.
Even Mineta, obnoxious as he was, had tactical questions about using illusions for stealth and misdirection.
"You know," Sero said thoughtfully, "with a quirk like that, you could probably be the number one hero if you wanted."
The table went quiet at that statement. I could feel the weight of everyone's attention, and I chose my words carefully.
"Being the strongest doesn't make you the best hero," I said finally. "All Might isn't the Symbol of Peace just because he's powerful—it's because people trust him to always do the right thing. Power without trust is just intimidation."
Midoriya nodded enthusiastically. "That's exactly right! A hero's job isn't just to win fights, it's to make people feel safe and hopeful!"
"Plus," I added with a slight smile, "I'm pretty sure Bakugo would have something to say about anyone claiming they'll be number one."
"DAMN RIGHT I WOULD!" Bakugo exploded from his table, causing several other students to jump. "I'M GONNA BE THE NUMBER ONE HERO, NOT SOME REALITY-BENDING EXTRA!"
The tension broke as everyone laughed, and conversation resumed its normal flow. But I noticed that several of my classmates were looking at me with new understanding. I wasn't just the mysterious early admission student anymore—I was someone who understood what being a hero really meant.
That evening, I reported to Training Ground Beta for my first private session with Aizawa. The setting sun cast long shadows across the mock city, creating an atmosphere that was both peaceful and ominous.
"Before we work on your quirk," Aizawa said without preamble, "we need to address your physical conditioning. Your quirk assessment scores were good, but 'good' won't keep you alive when you're facing real villains."
For the next hour, he put me through a brutal workout routine that made my preparatory program training look like a warm-up. Push-ups, sit-ups, sprints, and combat drills that left me gasping and covered in sweat.
"Heroes don't get to take breaks in the middle of a fight," he explained as I struggled through my fiftieth burpee. "If your quirk fails or gets countered, your body is your last line of defense."
When I finally collapsed, he tossed me a water bottle and sat down on a nearby concrete barrier. "Now we talk. Tell me about the extent of your dimensional awareness."
I took a long drink before answering. "I can sense nearby realities—parallel versions of our world where things developed differently. Most of them are too different or too dangerous to access safely. But some are close enough that I can pull small objects or even information from them."
"Information?"
"Sometimes I can see how events might unfold differently, or access knowledge that exists in other realities but not this one." I hesitated, then decided to take a risk. "I know about things that haven't happened yet in our world but have happened in similar ones."
Aizawa's eyes sharpened. "Such as?"
This was the moment of truth. How much could I reveal without sounding insane? "The League of Villains is going to attack the USJ facility next week."
The silence stretched between us for nearly a minute. Finally, Aizawa spoke, his voice carefully controlled. "Explain."
"In several nearby realities, a group of villains led by someone called Shigaraki attacks the USJ during Class 1-A's rescue training. They're after All Might, but they're also testing their own strength and trying to kill the students." I met his gaze steadily. "In every reality where it happens, students get hurt. In some of them, students die."
"How many realities have you observed?"
"Seven where the attack happens. Three where it doesn't, but only because external factors prevented it—like All Might being at the USJ that day, or the facility being closed for repairs."
Aizawa was quiet for a long time, processing this information. "If you're telling the truth, and if this attack is as inevitable as you suggest, then we need to prepare. But I can't act on this information alone—it's too important and too dangerous."
"Who do you trust?"
"Principal Nezu," he said immediately. "And All Might, though he can be... impulsive when it comes to protecting students."
"Then we tell them. But carefully." I stood up, feeling steadier now. "And we need to be prepared for the possibility that my intervention might change how the attack unfolds."
"What do you mean?"
"If the villains have been planning this based on their understanding of Class 1-A's capabilities, my presence changes that calculation. They might adapt their strategy, bring more villains, or target me specifically." I paused. "In the realities I've observed, I wasn't there. My involvement creates new variables."
Aizawa rubbed his temples. "This is going to give me a headache. Come on—we're going to see Principal Nezu right now."
Principal Nezu's office was exactly as I remembered from the anime—slightly chaotic, filled with tea sets and what appeared to be several complex puzzles in various states of completion. The small, mouse-like principal greeted us with his characteristic smile, though his intelligent eyes immediately picked up on the tension in the room.
"Aizawa-kun! And young Yamamoto! To what do I owe the pleasure of this evening visit?"
"We have a problem," Aizawa said without preamble. "A potentially serious one."
"I see. Please, sit down. Tea?"
As Nezu prepared tea with practiced efficiency, I found myself studying him more carefully than I had during our previous meetings. His intelligence was legendary, but seeing it in person was different. Every movement was precise, every gesture calculated. Nothing about him was accidental.
"Now then," he said, settling behind his desk with his own cup of tea, "what seems to be troubling you?"
Aizawa looked at me, and I took a deep breath. "Principal Nezu, there's an aspect of my quirk that wasn't fully documented in my files. I can sometimes access information from parallel realities—other versions of our world where events unfolded differently."
"Fascinating!" Nezu's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "And what information have you accessed that has caused such concern?"
"Next week, during our scheduled rescue training at the USJ, we're going to be attacked by a large group of villains led by someone called Shigaraki. They're after All Might, but they're also planning to kill students."
Nezu set down his tea cup with deliberate care. "That is... quite specific. How certain are you of this information?"
"I've observed seven parallel realities where this attack occurs. The details vary slightly, but the core events are consistent."
"And in these realities, what was the outcome?"
I had been dreading this question. "Students were injured. In two of the realities, students died." I paused. "The attack was only stopped when All Might arrived and fought someone called Nomu—an artificial being designed specifically to match his strength."
The silence in the room was profound. Finally, Nezu spoke, his voice thoughtful. "If we accept the validity of your information, we have several options. We could cancel the training session, increase security, or prepare a trap for these villains."
"There's another complication," I said. "In the realities I observed, I wasn't present. My involvement changes the variables. The villains might adapt their strategy if they know about my capabilities."
"Or they might target you specifically," Aizawa added grimly.
Nezu stood and began pacing, his small form moving with nervous energy. "This is a delicate situation. If we act too obviously on this information, we might tip off potential infiltrators. But if we do nothing and students are harmed..."
"What if we set our own trap?" I suggested. "Let the attack proceed as planned, but be prepared for it. Use it as an opportunity to capture the villains and gather intelligence about their organization."
"Absolutely not," Aizawa said firmly. "I won't use my students as bait."
"But we wouldn't be bait," I argued. "We'd be bait with backup. The difference is preparation."
Nezu stopped pacing and looked at me with interest. "Explain your thinking."
"If we cancel the training or increase security too obviously, the villains will know their plan has been compromised. They'll either attack somewhere else where we're less prepared, or they'll delay and plan something worse." I leaned forward. "But if we let them think they have the element of surprise while actually being prepared, we can end this threat before it grows."
"The risk to the students—" Aizawa began.
"Will be minimized by our preparation," I interrupted. "We know they're coming, we know roughly when, and we know their objective. That's more intelligence than heroes usually have going into a fight."
Nezu returned to his seat, his expression thoughtful. "There is merit to the plan. But it would require careful coordination and absolute secrecy. We would need to involve only those faculty members we trust completely."
"All Might," Aizawa said. "Thirteen, since they'll be running the training. Possibly Present Mic and Midnight."
"And we need to be prepared for the possibility that my presence changes how the villains approach the attack," I added. "They might bring different villains, or use different strategies."
"Tell me about this Nomu creature," Nezu said. "If it was designed to fight All Might, understanding its capabilities will be crucial."
I closed my eyes, drawing on the memories from the parallel realities. "Enhanced strength and speed to match All Might's. Shock absorption—it could take All Might's punches without significant damage. Regeneration abilities. And it seemed to have multiple quirks, which should be impossible."
The implications of that hit both adults immediately.
"Multiple quirks," Nezu murmured. "That suggests either a very rare natural mutation, or..."
"Artificial enhancement," Aizawa finished grimly. "Someone is creating these things."
"Which means the USJ attack isn't an isolated incident," I said. "It's part of a larger pattern. If we can capture some of these villains alive, we might be able to prevent future attacks."
Nezu made his decision. "Very well. We'll prepare for this attack, but we do it quietly and carefully. Aizawa-kun, I want you to select a small group of trusted faculty members for a confidential briefing tomorrow night. Yamamoto-kun, I want you to continue monitoring these parallel realities if possible. Any additional information could be crucial."
"I'll try," I said. "But accessing that information is exhausting, and I can't control what I see."
"Do what you can. And both of you—not a word of this to anyone else. If there are infiltrators at U.A., we can't risk this information getting back to the villains."
Walking back to the dorms, Aizawa was unusually quiet. Finally, he spoke. "You realize what you've gotten yourself into, don't you?"
"I think so."
"You're not just a student anymore. You're an intelligence asset, and potentially a target. Your life just became much more complicated."
I thought about that as we walked. In my previous life, I had dreamed of being part of the action, of making a real difference. Now I was getting that chance, but it came with responsibilities I hadn't fully anticipated.
"I can handle it," I said finally.
"Can you? You're fourteen years old, and you're planning to help coordinate a counter-attack against a group of villains who want to kill you and your classmates."
"I'm fourteen with the memories and experiences of a twenty-three-year-old, plus five years of intensive training, plus a quirk that lets me access information from other realities," I corrected. "I'm not a normal fourteen-year-old."
Aizawa stopped walking and turned to face me. "That's what worries me. Normal fourteen-year-olds make mistakes because they don't know better. You might make mistakes because you think you know everything."
It was a sobering thought, and an accurate one. The knowledge I carried could be as dangerous as my quirk if I wasn't careful about how I used it.
"Then keep me grounded," I said. "That's what teachers are for, right?"
For the first time that evening, Aizawa almost smiled. "Get some sleep, Yamamoto. Tomorrow we start preparing for war."