One month had passed since school started. Katzo had settled into a routine: week at the Bakugos, week at the Midoriyas, preschool with Toru in Room 103, and the occasional spark show from Katsuki during recess.
His second copy window was coming. He could feel it in the back of his mind — the HUD's quiet presence, waiting.
But he didn't expect it to happen at the mall.
---
Saturday afternoon.
Toru's mother had offered to take them both to the Mustafu Central Mall. Katzo's rotation had him at the Midoriyas that week, and Inko had agreed after Toru's mom promised to watch them carefully.
"Have fun!" Inko said, handing Katzo a small allowance. "Buy something nice."
The mall was crowded. Families, couples, teenagers with flashy Quirks showing off. Toru tugged Katzo's sleeve every few seconds.
"Look at that! Ooh, can we get ice cream? Katzo, look —"
"I see it," he said, amused.
They were walking past a pharmacy when it happened.
The HUD flickered.
[COPY WINDOW STARTED]
Time remaining: 59:59
Please touch the person whose Quirk you wish to copy.
Now? Here?
Katzo's heart raced. He looked around frantically. Too many people. Too much noise. He needed to find someone with a useful Quirk, fast.
Toru was still chattering about ice cream. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going.
His foot caught on a loose tile.
He stumbled forward, arms flailing, and crashed directly into an old woman walking the opposite direction.
They both went down.
"Oof!" The woman's purse flew open, scattering tissues and mints.
"I'm so sorry!" Katzo scrambled to his feet, face burning. He reached down to help her up. "Are you okay?"
The old woman had gray hair in a bun, a wrinkled face, and kind eyes. She was small — shorter than him, even. She took his hand and let him pull her up.
"Quite all right, dear," she said, dusting off her skirt. "These old bones have survived worse."
The HUD flashed.
[Copy successful. Target: Chiyo Shuzenji. Quirk: Heal.]
Mutation in progress…
Mutation complete.
[QUIRK MUTATED]
The window closed.
Katzo barely noticed. He was too busy apologizing.
"Here, let me —" He picked up her scattered tissues. Toru helped, handing over a mint.
"Thank you, young man." The old woman smiled. "What's your name?"
"Katzo."
"Well, Katzo, watch where you're going next time." She patted his cheek and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Toru tugged his sleeve. "That was clumsy."
"I know." He watched the old woman leave. Something about her felt familiar, but he couldn't place it.
Who was she?
The name on the HUD — Chiyo Shuzenji — meant nothing to him. He'd never heard it before.
Probably just some random grandma.
He shrugged and let Toru drag him toward the ice cream stand.
---
The rest of the day.
They ate ice cream. Bought nothing. Walked past a hero merchandise store where Toru pointed at a Mirko poster.
"Do you want to be a hero?" she asked.
"Maybe," Katzo said. "Do you?"
"I don't know yet. My Quirk isn't awake."
"It will be."
She smiled. "How do you know?"
He tapped his chest. "Gut feeling."
They took the bus home. Toru fell asleep against his shoulder. Katzo stared out the window, thinking.
I copied someone. But who? And what did I get?
He didn't feel different. No new liquid, no strange sensation. The HUD was quiet.
Maybe it's a dud. Maybe the mutation made it useless.
He wouldn't know until he tested it. But test how? The old woman's Quirk — Heal — sounded useful. But his version was mutated. What did it do?
I'll figure it out, he told himself. Later.
---
That night, at the Midoriya house.
Izuku asked about the mall. Katzo told him about the ice cream and the fall, but not the HUD.
"Did you get hurt?" Izuku asked.
"No. Just embarrassed."
Inko called them for dinner. Katzo washed his hands (unnecessarily — his Quirk already kept them clean) and sat down.
He looked at Izuku across the table.
I wonder if I could test it on him. Whatever "it" is.
But he didn't. Not yet.
Next time. When I know more.
For now, he ate his dinner, laughed at Izuku's story about Bakugo trying to explode a dandelion, and went to bed with a mystery sitting in his chest.
What does my new Quirk do?
He fell asleep without an answer.