Deku: The Hero of the Omniverse

[0] Prologue

I slowly opened my eyes, a sharp sting crawling across my skin from the freezing cold. For a moment, I thought I'd fallen asleep at home and Mom had accidentally cranked the AC too low while trying to make me comfortable. I made a mental note to reassure her next time—not to worry, I'd adjust it myself.

But as I tried to sit up and reach for the thermostat, something felt... off. I wasn't lying on anything. My body was suspended, weightless. I felt like I was swimming, yet I wasn't wet. And I was breathing—normally.

"W-What's going on? Am I floating?" I whispered, blinking rapidly. My vision was hazy, so I rubbed my eyes with both hands. When I looked again, all I saw was darkness—punctuated by scattered, colorful lights. Some blinked. Others glowed steadily. I turned my head and saw them surrounding me.

I was floating.

I kicked my legs, trying to swim toward the brightest light—a glowing yellow one. I reached out, cautiously extending a finger. Please don't burn me, I thought. The moment I touched it, a sharp beep echoed through the space, and I yanked my hand back.

"W-What's happening?!" I cried as a low engine roar filled the air. Lights flickered on, illuminating the walls around me. Buttons. Panels. LED indicators. It looked like... a futuristic vehicle.

"Did I fall asleep on some new amusement park ride?" I muttered. No, that couldn't be right. I live in the 21st century. No company would waste tech this advanced on a kiddie attraction—especially one that makes you float.

Then I saw them—two figures drifting above me. Teenagers, about my age. One had black hair. The other, ash-blonde. My heart skipped.

No way.

As the blonde spun mid-air, his face came into view. My breath caught.

"K-Kacchan!!!" I shouted, swimming up and grabbing his shoulders. I shook him with all the strength I had—though I felt light as a feather. "Wake up!"

He groaned, eyes fluttering open. "Ugh... what the hell?!"

"Kacchan, you okay?" I asked, panic rising.

"D-Deku?" he blinked, then looked down at my hands still gripping his shoulders. "What the hell are you doing?! Where the hell is this?! AND—THE HELL?! ARE WE FLOATING?!"

I let go quickly, raising my hands. "I-I don't know! I just woke up too!"

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me like a rag doll.

"Like... I... said... I... don't... know..." I gasped between shakes. Just as I thought my soul might leave my body, a groan interrupted us.

The other boy was waking up.

He scratched his black hair, blinking in confusion. I stared at him, trying to place the face.

"Wait... Kirishima. You're Eijiro Kirishima," I said, pointing.

He looked down at us, floating upside down. "Bakugo?! What's going on?!"

Then he turned to me. "Hey, aren't you Midoriya?"

"Um, yeah," I nodded.

"Heh, figured," he said with a grin. "So... where are we? And why are we floating?"

"That's what I want to know," Kacchan muttered, turning to me again.

"I swear, guys. I don't know where we—"

Something touched my back. I'd drifted into a glass surface.

I turned around and looked through it.

My eyes widened. My heart stopped.