Inheritance of Giants

Break on Through

Toga tapped her fingers aggressively on the dresser top, waiting for the liquid to adapt to the blood so she could fool her body into thinking she drank more.

Her eyes brightened as the liquid suddenly turned red before she hardened her soul. With an inhale of resolution, Toga picked the glass up, poured a little into a second vial, and downed the rest, the taste bittersweet like okra, onion, blood, and gummy candy mixed together.

Then, she felt power in her veins as she took off her clothes. No good to have them tear when she's transforming, after all. Now naked and ready for the transformation, Toga snaps, her hand bulging ripples extending out as her skin changes.

It wasn't uncomfortable for her, but calling it comfortable wasn't right either. She felt... not herself now. Not that it was wrong, but that she hated being not herself.

She looked into the mirror in the corner of the room, and nodded. Yes, blue hair, soulless eyes, it's Arataki Akumo all right.

Picking up the backpack, she blinked, appearing in room one hundred seventy eight, the room of Arataki Akumo. His old clothes still hung untouched in the closet. Perfect.

Toga was glad her father left everything untouched in the wake of a dead student, just to preserve the memory of them, not even entering the rooms. Because that meant she could snoop and pilfer unbothered.

Now dressed, Toga blinked again, appearing in front of room three hundred thirty nine and opened it.

The room was empty, but Toga sighed, seeing it wasn't Izuku's. The dust was too thick, meaning it was a dead person's.

Toga moved to open three hundred thirty eight. Empty, dusty, deadman's. She pursed her lips.

She moved to open three hundred thirty seven. Empty, dusty, deadman's. Her fist tightened around the door handle.

She moved to open three hundred thirty six. Empty, dusty, deadman's. Her hands began to shake.

She moved to open three hundred thirty five. Empty, dusty, deadman's. She began to mutter, "No, no, no, no."

Toga slammed open three more doors—

Then a gasp. Not hers. From inside the fourth.

"Uh- what, wait, who are you?!" Izuku spoke, startled.

"Izuku!" Toga screamed, leaping to the boy as her Quirk melted away.

She tackled him before her Quirk even dropped — laughing, sobbing, burying her face in his hair like it was the only real thing left in the world. "You're alive!"

"T- Toga?!" Izuku looked shocked.

"Yeah," Toga breathed. "Are you hurt—?"

"Toga... what's your Quirk?" he asked, eyes wide. "You never told me."

"I, uh—it's just a Transformation Quirk," she said quickly. "Anyway, did Dad do anything? Are you hurt—can I help—?"

"Can you tell me about your Quirk?" Izuku asked, suddenly inches from her face, stars in his eyes. "I—I haven't analyzed a Quirk in forever! I totally forgot you had one. Can I see it again? Is this mud part of it? Wait—can it be cleaned off my bed?"

Toga floundered, then sighed. "I—I guess it won't hurt. It's, uh... it's..."

Izuku's smile gradually faded as he watched and heard Toga stutter and sputter her way to explain her Quirk. "You— you don't have to explain," Izuku said. "I was just curious. That's all."

"No!" Toga burst out before recoiling. "I'm—I'm sorry! No, I do want to tell you—really! I just..."

She looked down. Her voice dropped. "Please don't be mad at me."