The night was quiet. Too quiet.
Isaac Grey sat in his dimly lit apartment, the glow of his computer screen casting shadows across the cluttered room. His desk was buried under empty coffee cups and takeout containers, testaments to the countless hours spent immersed in his one escape from reality: anime.
Isaac's life wasn't particularly remarkable. At 28 years old, he worked a dead-end office job that paid the bills but drained his soul. His days were spent filling spreadsheets and enduring mind-numbing meetings. His evenings, however, belonged to a world far more vibrant.
*My Hero Academia* had been his lifeline since its first season aired. The story of a powerless boy striving to become a hero in a world full of superpowered individuals resonated deeply with him. While others saw Deku's journey as entertainment, Isaac saw it as inspiration—a reminder that even the weakest could rise to greatness with enough determination.
Tonight, he was re-watching his favorite episodes, his hand idly flipping through an old manga volume on his desk. He muttered along with the dialogue, his eyes gleaming with childlike excitement.
"I wish I could live in a world like that," he said aloud, his voice tinged with longing. "A world where people can really make a difference…"
His gaze wandered to the framed photo on his bookshelf. It was a picture of him and his younger sister, Emma, taken years ago. Her bright smile seemed to mock him now, a painful reminder of the dreams they had once shared.
Emma had always been the idealist, the dreamer. She wanted to become a doctor and save lives, a goal Isaac had admired but never shared. When she passed away in a car accident five years ago, Isaac's world crumbled. He withdrew from his friends, his family, and even himself, finding solace only in fictional worlds where heroes could fix everything.
As the clock struck midnight, Isaac leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "If I could have just one more chance…" he whispered.
The words hung in the air, unanswered.
---
The sound of screeching tires shattered the silence. Isaac barely had time to react before a blinding light filled his vision.
*CRASH!*
Pain exploded through his body as the force of impact threw him against the wall. His ears rang, his chest burned, and his vision blurred. He tried to move, but his limbs felt like lead.
"Help…" he croaked, though no one was there to hear him.
Darkness crept into the edges of his vision as his thoughts spiraled. Was this it? Was this how his story ended?
As his consciousness faded, Isaac's mind clung to one final thought: *If I had another life… I'd make it count.*
-----
When Isaac opened his eyes, he was no longer in his apartment. The world around him was a void—an endless expanse of white light stretching in all directions.
He floated there, weightless, his body seemingly whole but eerily numb. A sense of calm washed over him, though he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
"Isaac Grey," a voice echoed, deep and resonant.
Isaac turned, though there was no clear direction to face. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice trembling.
The light shifted, coalescing into a figure—a being of indeterminate form, shimmering and ethereal. It spoke again, its tone calm but commanding. "Your time in your previous world has ended. But your desire… your longing for a second chance has reached me."
Isaac blinked, his mind racing. "Wait… are you some kind of god?"
The figure didn't answer directly. "You wished to live in a world where you could make a difference. Where you could rise above your limits. I will grant you that chance."
Isaac's heart pounded. "You mean… you're giving me another life?"
"Yes," the figure replied. "But be warned: this new life will not be easy. Your memories of your previous life will remain, but your path will be your own to forge."
Isaac didn't hesitate. "I don't care how hard it is. I'll do whatever it takes. Just… let me make this life matter."
The figure seemed to nod, its form flickering. "Very well. You shall be reborn in a world you know well. A world of heroes and villains. But remember, Isaac Grey—your knowledge is both a gift and a burden. Use it wisely."
Before Isaac could respond, the light engulfed him.
---
The first thing Isaac felt was warmth. The second was the gentle rhythm of a heartbeat, steady and comforting.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer Isaac Grey. He was a baby, cradled in the arms of a woman with auburn hair and kind eyes.
"Welcome to the world, little one," she said softly, her voice filled with love.
Beside her stood a man with broad shoulders and a confident smile. "What should we name him?" the man asked.
"Riku," the woman replied, brushing a strand of hair from the baby's forehead. "Riku Tsukihara."
Isaac—no, Riku—stared up at them, his infant mind struggling to process the flood of sensations and emotions. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear: this was his new beginning.
---
**Early Years**
As Riku grew, fragments of his past life lingered in the back of his mind. Memories of sprawling cities, towering heroes, and cataclysmic battles flickered like half-forgotten dreams.
By the time he was four, those memories began to crystallize. He recognized names and faces from the world around him—All Might, Endeavor, and even the faint whispers of a boy named Izuku Midoriya.
"This is the world of *My Hero Academia*," Riku realized one evening, staring out his bedroom window. "I'm living in the world I used to dream about."
But his excitement was tempered by a sobering thought. This wasn't just a story anymore. It was real. The villains were real. The dangers were real. And if he wanted to survive—if he wanted to thrive—he'd need to be ready.