Junsei did not know how much time had passed while he digested the memories of All For One.
It did not matter.
When he finally opened his eyes inside the cave, the cocoon of blue light dissolved quietly around him. He rose slowly and immediately noted a few things had changed.
His hair had grown, falling past his shoulders. His skin was noticeably whiter than before, too pale. His height had increased as well. Where he once stood at 175 centimeters, he now approached two meters. His arms felt longer.
He walked toward a small pool of water gathered near the cave wall and looked at his reflection.
Under each eye, a small blue gem protruded from his skin. They were embedded seamlessly, grown from within.
On his chest, a larger gem was impaled at the center. From it, faint blue veins extended outward beneath the skin, spreading in the distinct shape of a cross.
Despite the physical changes, he felt no noticeable increase in strength. His connection to life and his ability to draw upon organisms' aspects felt the same.
However, his perception had expanded.
Previously, he could sense and connect to creatures within dozens of miles. Now, when he reached outward, the sensation stretched far beyond Japan's borders. The web of life responded faintly across oceans.
And then there was the emptiness.
For years, he had believed that filling it would require the deaths of millions. In the past few years, he had killed with his own hands. He had directed others to kill for him. Yet the void inside him had remained vast and persistent.
Now it had shrunk dramatically.
All For One alone had nearly filled it.
Junsei placed a hand over the gem in his chest.
He was changing into something else as the emptiness diminished. That much was certain. But the question was into what? And what would occur when it was finally gone?
The thought lingered.
Eventually, his mind shifted to the practical matter of what to do next. His original intention had been to erase All For One's legacy completely. To hunt down every remnant, every follower and possible inheritor of his will.
But recalling the memories he had just absorbed, the relentless hunting of the second bearer of One For All, the slaughter of friends and family, he rejected the idea.
The thought of him carrying the same desire and acting in the same manner as that human disgusted him. He was not a human and he didn't want to be anything like them.
This line of thinking led to questions surfacing in his mind. Was that what it meant to be better? Was that how Okina viewed humanity?
His contemplation ended abruptly. A disturbance echoed across his expanded senses.
A call.
Some distance away, a human was destroying trees.
Without hesitation, Junsei shot forward at full speed. The forest blurred around him and within seconds, he arrived at the source.
A blond man tore another tree from the earth with brute force.
Junsei narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you destroying the trees?"
The man spun around, startled. His gaze ran over Junsei's body.
"What the hell is a naked guy doing out here?"
Junsei recognized him instantly from All For One's memories.
Muscular.
A violent, bloodthirsty criminal.
"Why are you here?" Junsei asked calmly. "And why are you destroying trees?"
At the same time, he extended his senses toward the man. The amount of life in the man was significant, layers upon layers of stolen life. Evidence of repeated killing.
Muscular's lips stretched into a cruel grin.
"And what's it to you, weirdo? If you must know, I'm looking for rabbits. They like hiding under trees around here. I'm a little hungry. But since you…"
He did not finish the sentence as Junsei had heard enough, destroying trees to kill rabbits was unforgivable.
Junsei raised his hand. With his nail, he sliced a small cut across his finger. He drew upon the aspect of the archerfish.
A thin line of blood shot forward like a bullet.
Muscular did not even perceive the attack.
When the blood pierced his forehead, his expression froze.
Then he collapsed backward, lifeless.
Junsei felt the moment life left the body. The emptiness inside him shrank slightly.
He observed the corpse.
"Nowhere near AFO," he muttered. "But hundreds of times greater than ordinary people."
He considered the implication.
Were the worst criminals filled with accumulated stolen life? If so, then he could fill the emptiness quickly by targeting the criminals. At the same time, society won't be provoked into avenging them. Humans didn't care for those labeled different or evil, most would say good riddance.
It was a simple functional solution and a feasible goal to work for in the short term while avoiding an all out clash with humans. Based on what AFO's memories showed him, unremarkable humans can use their power in unexpected ways when pushed too far, he didn't want to face unnecessary threats
Before departing, Junsei looked down at Muscular's body then at his own.
If he intended to move among humans to hunt villains, he required clothing.
Muscular happened to be nearly the same height.
Thanks to AFO's memories, he already had targets in his mind.
——————
Matsu removed his apron and clocked out of the grocery store. Ten hours of labor just to be able to sustain a modest life. It was not much. But it was honest.
For most of his life, honesty had not been part of his plans. He had been a thug. An evil criminal. Someone who survived through violence and the worst of acts.
That changed a few months ago.
He had attended the U.A. Sports Festival with an old associate, more out of boredom than interest. They had laughed at the students. Mocked their dreams. It was entertaining at first.
Then they saw him.
White hair. Calm glowing blue eyes. Restrained violence ready to erupt any moment.
At first, they had not recognized him. Ten years was a long time. Children grew up a lot in that period.
But during the final match, the white-haired boy had turned his head toward the stands.
Directly toward them. As if he had heard their whispers. He started looking around clearly searching for them.
In that instant, the air had left Matsu's lungs. They both understood without needing to speak.
It was the same boy from the orphanage. The one they believed they had killed.
The little monster was alive. And he remembered what they did.
Circumstances had spiraled unexpectedly after that. Chaos in the arena, distractions, evacuation. They escaped before he could find them.
But Matsu never forgot that glance.
Shortly after, he met her.
The woman who changed everything.
He could not explain it logically, but her presence, appearing just after that encounter, felt like a sign. A warning wrapped in mercy. A chance to start over and have a proper meaningful life.
He severed ties with his old partners. Used the money he had hoarded to purchase a home. He married her quickly, too quickly, some have said.
They did not understand. She was his path to run away from the shadows of a dark life. To have his redemption. He knew she was the one.
Yesterday, they discovered she was pregnant.
Today, after finishing his shift, he carried takeout containers in both hands, deciding they would celebrate quietly at home.
He opened the door with a smile.
"Honey, I'm back!"
Silence greeted him.
The lights on the first floor were off. No sound from the kitchen. But he could see light spilling faintly from upstairs.
He stepped forward into the house heading toward the staircase.
Then "Matsu."
The voice came from behind him.
He turned.
A tall figure stood in the dim living room.
White hair. Glowing blue eyes.
Matsu's breath caught. "Who the hell are…"
The words died in his throat.
Recognition struck.
"You're… the monster."
Junsei regarded him calmly. "It took some effort to find you, even with All For One's memories."
Matsu's face was drained of color. "My wife… what did you do to her?"
"Does it matter?" Junsei replied evenly. "You can guess why I am here."
"Did you hurt her?" Matsu's voice cracked. "Please… she had nothing to do with what I did."
"I know," Junsei said. "I put her to sleep. I do not go after families. I am no human."
Matsu did not understand what he meant and he did not care about that, only one thing mattered to him.
He dropped to his knees.
He said hoarsely. "You have every right to take revenge for what I did. Please, just don't hurt her."
Junsei's gaze remained steady. "I did not kill you immediately because I wanted to clarify something. I am not here for revenge. I do not care about the humans that died. I do not kill for other humans or greed like you. I am better."
He stepped forward.
"You attempted to take my life. You have taken too much life from the world. I am here to restore it. Nothing else."
Matsu did not resist.
He was not foolish. They had failed to kill him when he was a child. And if even All For One had fallen to this monster, what could he possibly do? Beg? The monster won't spare him and if he gets angry, he might turn toward his wife.
He closed his eyes.
"I am sorry," he said quietly. "For everything. Thank you for sparing her."
There was no struggle.
No scream.
Only the quiet end of a life.
Matsu's final thoughts were [I am sorry. I won't be around to see our child.]