MHA: Reincarnated with the Power to Alter Time

NOTE: Hello everyone!

Sorry for not uploading chapters last week, but the real world leaves me with little time. Don't worry—I'm considering opening a Patreon with 10 chapters in advance, though that's still a ways off, so for now, enjoy the free chapters.

I wanted to talk about something else: I know some of you didn't like the idea of another protagonist. To be honest, this was my plan from the beginning; in fact, I even considered including it in the synopsis, but I wanted it to be a surprise. The other reincarnated character will be the antagonist of the story—the final boss. So when his defeat comes, you'll know the story is nearing its end.

Why did I do this?

I'm a bit tired of always seeing the same overpowered protagonist who, sooner or later, gets rid of All For One and removes everything interesting from My Hero Academia. That's why I decided to introduce a type of protagonist that often irritates me in many MHA stories. I don't mind if they have systems, but their personalities bother me: they always arrive in this world, and the first thing they think about is "catching" all the anime girls as if they were Pokémon. I've seen this formula so many times that they all start to feel like copies of each other. So I decided to turn that archetype into the antagonist.

Another thing I noticed, though it was just from one comment, is the perception of the MC's personality.

See, I like characters like Subaru (Re:Zero)—those who start off as pathetic, which makes sense since they were normal people in their past lives and suddenly end up in another world. But as they face challenges, they grow.

So far, my MC hasn't had a real challenge. Over the years, he has come to the conclusion that his power allows him to do whatever he wants, living in a world without consequences. At first, his motivation to prevent the apocalypse was simply because it was "the right thing to do." It's easy to assume that any normal person who gains powers would think about becoming a hero, but in reality, it might be more like the heroes in The Boys.

Over time, the MC starts to question: "Why should I do it? It's not my problem." However, I don't want him to be a completely selfish protagonist. Despite his doubts, he still considers the idea of fixing the future.

As for why he cheats on exams, it's not that he couldn't do them himself—he just chooses the easy way out.

I don't want to explain everything in a note and expect readers to immediately understand it. I'd rather have them realize it on their own as the story progresses. So far, we're only nine chapters in, so there's still a lot to develop.

Thanks for reading and for your support!

...

...

...

Sweat ran down Yuto's body. His feet pounded against the ground as he ran alongside Bang's other disciples. They were all shirtless, wearing martial arts pants that fluttered with each stride. Their heavy breaths filled the morning air, mixing with the sound of birds and the fresh mountain breeze.

It had been two months since he woke up in front of Bang's dojo. To be honest, Yuto hadn't expected it to be so easy for the legendary master to accept him as a disciple. But soon, he discovered the reason.

Climbing the endless stairs to the dojo was a test of endurance for every aspiring student. Whoever managed to reach the top proved they had the determination needed to become Bang's pupil.

Yuto never climbed those stairs.He simply woke up in front of the door.

However, Bang assumed he had made it to the top. Yuto didn't correct that misunderstanding. After all, why make things more complicated?

Another thing that caught his attention was that Bang taught for free. But the answer was simple: the old master funded everything by entering tournaments whenever he needed money.

Speaking of money, Yuto had explained his situation to Bang... or, well, more or less.

He told him he was an orphan.That his parents had died because of a monster.

To be honest, he hadn't expected that story to convince him. He thought Bang would ask questions, look for details, or at least raise an eyebrow in suspicion. But no.

The old master simply nodded, as if he had heard that kind of tragedy too many times before. Yuto started to understand why Bang had taken Garou in when he ran away from home.

Thanks to that story (and the misunderstanding about the stairs), Yuto gained some unexpected benefits.

Bang gave him a martial arts uniform. It was simple, made of thick, durable fabric. It wasn't the most comfortable at first, but after several training sessions, it felt like a second skin.

He was also assigned a place to sleep—a small room at the back of the dojo. It didn't have much—a futon, a window overlooking the mountains, and an empty bookshelf—but after everything he had been through, it felt almost like a luxury.

But his thoughts faded when one of the disciples shouted from up ahead:

"Come on! If you fall behind, Bang will make you repeat the weighted push-ups!"

Yuto sighed and picked up his pace.

He definitely didn't want to find out how many push-ups he could do with a stone block on his back.

The training was infinitely more demanding than anything Yuto had ever done on his own.

Before arriving at the dojo, he had thought he was in good shape. He ran in the mornings, did push-ups, sit-ups… the usual. But this… this was something else entirely.

Here, every muscle burned. Every day, he woke up sore, barely able to move his arms without them trembling.

The sessions started with endurance running through the mountains—two hours without rest. Then came strength training: squats with weights, knuckle push-ups, carrying stones while wading through a river. And just when he thought they might get a break, Bang made them practice katas and hand-to-hand combat until their legs felt like jelly.

And that was every single day.

But with each training session, he started to notice something.

His strikes were getting faster. His movements more fluid. His endurance was increasing.

What used to leave him exhausted in minutes, he could now withstand for much longer.

Now that he was being guided by a true martial artist, Yuto realized his mistake.

Karate was garbage.

In his past life, he had never practiced real martial arts. He was just a normal guy. He watched series, movies, anime… and in all of them, karate was always portrayed as the ultimate martial art: powerful strikes, firm stances, battle cries that shook the air. It always seemed cool.

What a lie.

Now, after training with Bang, he felt almost embarrassed for ever believing that.

The first day he tried to use what he knew about karate, Bang barely looked at him before saying:"What is that nonsense? If you fight like that in the streets, you'll just get your face smashed in faster."

He was right. The karate moves Yuto knew were rigid, full of unnecessary poses. In a real fight, they would only get him hit before he could even finish a kiai.

The time he had wasted believing in that felt ironic.

He, someone who could rewind time, had wasted time on something useless.

But now… now it was different.

Yuto could feel it in his body. Every training session sculpted him. Every fall, every hit, every correction from Bang made him stronger.

"I guess better late than never…" he muttered before stopping alongside the other disciples, breathing heavily.

The training wasn't over yet.

Bang had them practice hand-to-hand combat until the sun began to set behind the mountains. Yuto, with trembling arms and numb legs, collapsed onto the ground the moment the old master finally gave the order to stop.

The other disciples said their goodbyes, some dragging their feet from sheer exhaustion. But while they went to rest, he still had work to do.

"Don't forget to clean before bed," Bang reminded him, handing him a broom as if it were a sacred weapon.

Yuto sighed but didn't complain. He slept for free, ate for free, and received invaluable training. If sweeping was the price, it wasn't a bad deal.

The dojo was almost empty, the sound of the broom scraping against the wooden floor the only thing breaking the silence. As he cleaned, his mind wandered.

He had changed a lot. His endurance, his body, his mentality. Before, a single training session would have left him collapsed on the floor. Now, though exhausted, he could still move.

He was improving.

He paused for a moment and looked at his hands. Scraped knuckles and hardened skin—marks of his progress.

Lifting his gaze, he noticed something in the distance through the window: buildings. Shadows cut against the horizon.

It was the first time he had paid attention to them. He hadn't left the dojo since he arrived. Why would he? His routine left no room for distractions. But now that he thought about it, he wanted to see more.

During his time here, he had tried to figure out how far he was from the canon timeline. But there were no clues. No familiar names. Nothing.

So one day, he dared to ask:

"Master, have you ever heard of the Hero Association?"

Bang frowned slightly.

"The Hero what?"

Yuto rewound time immediately, erasing the question. But the answer made it clear:

It didn't exist yet.

And Bang… was younger. Not by much, but enough to notice. He wasn't as hunched, nor as wrinkled.

The canon was still years away.

Tomorrow was his day off. It would be a good time to visit the city.

"Yuto-kun! Come eat before it gets cold!"

The scent of food filled the air. His stomach growled in response.

Without a second thought, he put the broom down and headed to the dining hall.

The warm aroma of freshly cooked food wrapped around him as soon as he entered. On the table were several steaming dishes: rice, miso soup, some fish, and vegetables. Simple, but after an exhausting day of training, it felt like a feast.

He sat in his usual spot across from Bang, who ate with his usual calm.

"You've adjusted well to the dojo," the old man commented between bites. "At first, I thought you'd leave after a week."

Yuto had seen many people leave over time. Not because Bang forced them to, but because they made that choice themselves. Anyone was free to leave whenever they wanted. Some left because they thought they had learned enough. Others, however, left because they couldn't endure the harsh training.

Yuto smiled tiredly as he picked up his chopsticks.

"Not a chance, Master. I'm not giving up yet."

Bang nodded approvingly and served himself some more soup.

"That's good. Perseverance is what separates those who only pretend to be strong from those who truly are."

Yuto nodded silently, focusing on his food. After a while, when the meal was nearly finished, he decided to speak.

"By the way, Master. Tomorrow, I'm heading into the city, so I won't be back until late."

Bang looked up with a neutral expression.

"The city, huh?" He took a sip of his soup before adding, "Since you'll be there, you might as well do the shopping."

Yuto sighed but didn't complain. He knew Bang never asked for much, and if he could repay him in some way, he didn't mind.

"Alright. What do you need?"

Bang stroked his chin for a moment.

"Rice, tofu, some dried fish, and… oh, right, the usual tea."

Yuto memorized the list in his head and continued eating.

The rest of dinner passed in silence, interrupted only by the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks. Yuto didn't feel the need to speak, and the silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was peaceful, almost comforting.

When they finished, he helped clean up before heading to his room. His body already felt the weight of accumulated fatigue, so the moment he let himself fall onto the futon, relaxation washed over him.

For a while, he just stared at the ceiling, letting exhaustion take over. But something in his mind kept him restless.

He turned his gaze toward the window. The moon shone high in the sky, imposing and solitary.

Yuto frowned.

There was something about that scene that made him feel… watched.

It wasn't a logical feeling, but the shiver that ran down his spine forced him to move. He stood up and, with slow steps, closed the window. The sensation vanished almost instantly, but his mind remained uneasy.

With a sigh, he returned to his futon. Wrapping himself in the blankets, he sought comfort, but his thoughts had already fallen into the same spiral as always.

How did I end up here?

There were many possibilities, but two seemed the most likely.

One: the god who reincarnated him had brought him here, for whatever reason.

Two: somehow, he had the ability to travel between worlds. That meant he could do it again… if he understood how.

Honestly, he didn't know which one was true.

But in the end, did it matter? He was here, and until he found a way back, the only thing he could do was move forward.

That was what he had always done.

Slowly, sleep began to take over.

...

...

...

When he woke up, the sky was still painted in shades of orange and violet. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting a soft glow over the dojo.

With a lazy yawn, Yuto stretched and stepped out of his room. Since it was his rest day, the place was unusually quiet.

After a quick breakfast, he made sure to take the money Bang had given him for groceries and set off toward the city.

The journey was longer than he had expected. The dojo, isolated among mountains and forests, was far from any trace of civilization.

After almost an hour of walking, the scenery began to change. The dense trees gave way to well-marked dirt roads, and in the distance, the first buildings stood tall against the horizon. The city was finally in sight.

"So this is City Z, huh?" Yuto thought as he took in the streets around him.

He wasn't really sure what to do here, aside from buying the things Bang had asked for. Maybe he'd take the chance to buy some manga, since he didn't often have the opportunity to come down to the city.

But first, he needed to find a supermarket.

He looked around, trying to locate one on his own, but with no luck. He had no idea where it was, and Bang hadn't given him precise directions—probably assuming he'd figure it out. After all, finding Bang's dojo had been much harder than finding a simple supermarket… so he couldn't blame him for that.

Deciding to ask a passerby, he received some directions and walked in the pointed direction. A few minutes later, he found it: a modest supermarket, but big enough to have everything he needed.

He walked in and grabbed a cart. Checking the list Bang had given him, he began moving through the aisles, searching for the items.

Rice, tofu, dried fish…

As he moved along, he couldn't help but get distracted by the magazine and manga section. He wandered over, flipping through a few titles.

Yuto was idly skimming through a manga when a sudden noise snapped him out of his concentration.

Shouting.

He looked up and turned toward the commotion.

What he saw made him frown.

"What the hell am I looking at…?"

In the middle of the supermarket entrance, a man—or something like one—was yelling at the top of his lungs. His body looked like a cardboard costume with the logo of a famous soda brand, but his face was fused with what appeared to be a giant cup of soda, with a straw sticking out from the top of his head.

"Nobody move!" the bizarre being bellowed. "I am the Fizzing Demon! I turned into a monster after drinking my favorite soda every single day… and now I will claim all the soda in this place!"

Yuto glanced at the people around him. They all seemed terrified, too scared to do anything.

But… the monster didn't seem strong. If the crowd wasn't frozen in fear, they could probably take him down without much trouble.

He debated for a moment. Should he step in?

"No."

With a sigh, he turned his attention back to the manga.

"Not my problem."

His eyes drifted across the covers until he found one that caught his interest. Checking the price, he frowned.

He could only afford one with the little money he had left after buying Bang's groceries.

He made a face.

But then, an idea began to form in his mind.

Slowly, he turned his gaze back to the monster.

The Fizzing Demon had started opening bottles and pouring them directly over his head, as if absorbing them.

That was when a sudden shout interrupted the scene.

"Stop right there!"

"Huh!? Who dares interrupt my drinking time!?" roared the Fizzing Demon, turning around in fury.

When his eyes landed in the direction of the shout, he found Yuto standing there, pointing at him.

"I won't allow you to steal while I'm around!"

The words came out with confidence, and for a moment, silence filled the supermarket.

But in his mind, Yuto cringed.

"God, that sounded like something a cliché justice-loving protagonist would say."

The monster blinked at him.

"…Who are you?"

Yuto clicked his tongue.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you're causing an unnecessary scene."

The Fizzing Demon clenched his fists, bubbling with rage.

"Ha! And what are you gonna do about it? I'll crush you like an empty can!"

Yuto sighed.

"Well, I guess I'm in this now."

He took a relaxed stance, but his eyes were carefully evaluating the monster.

"Let's see how tough you are."

Yuto shifted into a fighting position. It wasn't Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, but rather a set of basic movements his master had taught him as a foundation.

So far, no disciple had mastered Bang's true style, and Yuto was no exception. His master had made it clear that he would only teach him when he deemed him ready.

"But for now…"

He'd have to make do with what he knew.

The Fizzing Demon dropped an empty bottle and cracked his knuckles.

"Oh, so you wanna fight, huh? Let's see how long you last against the power of soda!"

Yuto remained steady, analyzing the monster's movements.

He focused on the guy's legs and arms, looking for signs of his next move.

That's why he barely had time to react when a jet of soda shot out from the straw on the monster's head.

He dodged to the side, feeling the sticky blast graze his arm.

Turning his head to see where it had landed… his eyes widened slightly as he noticed the clean hole it had punched through the concrete wall at the back.

"What the hell…?"

The Fizzing Demon burst into laughter.

"HAHAHA! Did you see that? My soda has the pressure of a geyser and the acidity to corrode metal!"

Yuto swallowed hard.

"Alright. This guy isn't as harmless as he looked."

The monster inhaled, preparing to fire another blast.

Yuto didn't wait.

He launched himself forward.

He couldn't stay on the defensive if he wanted to end this quickly.

In an instant, Yuto closed the distance and threw a direct punch at the Fizzing Demon's face.

The impact echoed through the supermarket.

The monster was sent flying several meters back, crashing into the wall with such force that a massive crack formed in the concrete.

Yuto blinked.

"What…?"

He hadn't expected his punch to send the guy flying that far.

In his fights with school bullies, his punches were never this exaggerated. Sure, he could knock someone down with a well-placed hit, but this was on a different level.

The Fizzing Demon slid down the wall to the floor, his body bubbling violently.

"Ghh… WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

He staggered to his feet, clutching his face.

"HOW THE HELL CAN A MERE HUMAN HIT LIKE THAT?!"

Yuto looked at his own fist, flexing his fingers.

"I'd like to know that too."

But there was no time to think about it.

The Fizzing Demon roared in fury.

"DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME, YOU BASTARD! I'LL DISSOLVE YOU!"

He started firing high-pressure soda blasts straight at Yuto.

But Yuto had already seen it coming.

He moved with agility, dodging the attacks with quick jumps and side steps, gradually closing the distance.

"This guy doesn't use his arms or legs to attack…"

If he only relied on ranged attacks, then this would be easy.

The moment he was close enough, Yuto crouched and swept his leg in a rapid spin.

The monster's legs gave out immediately.

"Huh?!"

The Fizzing Demon hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Yuto instinctively stepped back, preparing for a counterattack.

But instead…

"AH! NO, MY SODA!"

A large, bubbling puddle began spilling out of his body.

Yuto raised an eyebrow.

"Is this guy… really crying over his own soda?"

The monster writhed on the floor, desperately trying to contain the liquid leaking from him.

"Damn it! That was my best reserve!"

Taking advantage of the distraction, Yuto prepared to end the fight with a single blow.

He didn't hesitate.

Stepping forward, he delivered a final strike to the Fizzing Demon's back.

BAM!

The impact echoed through the supermarket, and the monster's bubbling body trembled before collapsing completely.

He wasn't moving anymore.

Silence filled the room for just a second.

"YEEEES! HE DEFEATED HIM!"

A thunderous cheer erupted.

Yuto blinked, surprised.

Only then did he notice the crowd that had been hiding behind the shelves and counters. Customers and employees who, just moments ago, had been terrified, were now looking at him with awe and gratitude.

"That kid beat the monster!"

"He saved us!"

"He's a hero!"

Yuto felt a pang of discomfort.

"Hero?"

He wasn't used to being called that.

But before he could process it, he felt something sticky sliding down his arm.

He looked down.

Some of the monster's soda had splashed onto his clothes.

Yuto sighed.

"Great. Now I smell like soda."

Shaking his head, he pulled himself from his thoughts.

This wasn't the time to stand around.

With a tense smile, he gave a slight bow and picked up the shopping bag he had left aside before the fight.

"Thanks, thanks." he said in a relaxed tone, pretending to be modest. "Just doing the right thing."

The cheers grew louder.

With that, he made his way toward the exit, slipping through the crowd.

As soon as he stepped outside, he felt the cool air of the street and let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, he reached into his bag and smiled in satisfaction.

Seven manga, perfectly stacked.

He admired them with pride, flipping through the covers.

"The distraction worked… and I didn't have to pay."

A flicker of guilt crossed his mind.

But he quickly ignored it.

After all, he had saved the supermarket.

"Let's call it a reward."