My fingers tightened on the steering wheel, the red of my car a stark contrast to the overgrown greenery that surrounded the therapy center. Peter's call had been ringing in my ears for the past hour, his usually jovial tone laced with concern. "Hey," I'd said, my voice raspy.
"Hey, so today's the big day, huh? I know you're conflicted, but just try to ease into it, okay?" He'd been trying to get me to see someone , ever since things had started feeling… off. Between protecting Izuku, keeping up with my hero work, and my… complicated feelings, my shoulders were starting to feel the weight of a collapsing star. I sighed, "Okay," and we hung up. I wasn't sure what good talking would do, but Peter insisted it was better than bottling everything up.
I pushed open the car door, the midday sun beating down, and headed towards the large building. Inside, the waiting room was a mix of tense energy and quiet contemplation. I saw people of all ages—some looked like they'd been dragged in kicking and screaming, others like they were already halfway through their healing journey. It was a startling reminder that I wasn't alone in carrying burdens. Then I saw him.
It was… impossible. The sheer size of him filled a corner of the room, but it wasn't his stature, not really, that caught my attention. It was that familiar green hue, the quiet intensity in his eyes. The Hulk. He had green hair now, longish and messy, and a build that spoke of disciplined training, not uncontrolled power. "Hey, Hulk," I said, the words a little rough. "Long time no see."
His head snapped up, his eyes widening in recognition, and a laugh burst out of him. "Anos? Is that really you? It's true, then, you did change after all."
I ran a hand through my white hair, a strange mixture of amusement and disbelief settling in. "Yeah, I'm an older brother now, I guess. Doesn't feel very Superman-y."
He chuckled, a deep rumble that resonated in my chest. "You too, huh?"
My eyebrows shot up. "What?"
He looked at me, a hint of surprise in his expression. "You don't know? Something weird happened, and now it seems most of the powerful heroes are getting reincarnated. I'm not just the Hulk anymore."
My mind reeled. "So, I'm not the only one?"
He shook his head. "Nope. I'm Ibara Shiozaki's older brother now. Can you believe it?"
I nearly choked. Ibara? The vine girl from Class 1-B, the one who'd nearly fried Kaninari at the Sports Festival? I truly had missed a lot. "How many are we talking?"
He hesitated. "For now, just me and you, that we know of. But I'm sure more will pop up soon. It's… unsettling."
"How did this happen?" I whispered, a knot of dread forming in my gut. This wasn't some random occurrence; it felt like something sinister.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Well, rumor is that some new villains are on the loose, causing this. They work for some new evil lord, apparently."
My eyes widened. "What the fuck…" I couldn't believe it. The world never seemed to get a break.
He nodded. "I know, right? I'm waiting to hear from Super Woman, see what she suggests."
"Alright, well, I'm still here if needed, I guess." It was a weird feeling; to be a part of something so big yet have absolutely no control over it.
He gave another nod.
"So, what brings you here?" I asked "Anger issues?"
He nodded in agreement. It was a pretty big issue of him. "Been a bit to out of control lately." He explained vaguely.
I hummed in understanding, as if that was more relatable than he thought. He looked at me and asked me the same question, "Stress." I simply said in response.
His name was called, followed by mine, and I reluctantly headed towards the therapy office. I read the door, "Dr. Marcus' Office" and took a final breath before stepping inside, behind the man that used to be my teammate.
The man behind the desk stood up and offered a hand. "Marcus Tristan, it's a pleasure." He seemed younger than I had expected, with kind eyes and a gentle smile. I shook his hand. "Anos Midoriya."
"Alright, Anos, today's just an introduction. We'll go from there." He gestured towards a plush armchair. I settled in, the room feeling both sterile and inviting. The space was clearly designed to inspire comfort and self-reflection. He asked me why I was here, and I told him, to understand myself. It was what I had told Peter, and what I intended to do. Not just for me, but so I could be better for my family too.
He nodded thoughtfully. "To do that, let's start with your past. I think that will be beneficial."
I took a deep breath. The story of Superman, of the endless battles, the responsibility of saving the world… it felt like a lifetime ago. Then, I told him about the reincarnation, about finding myself as the older brother to Izuku, about this world and all of the good things it brought into my life.
He listened intently, his expression never changing, taking the time to nod and acknowledge the things I was saying. He asked several questions, prompting me to explore different aspects of my life. Finally, he asked what my goals were.
My mind went blank. Goals? I hadn't really thought about them before. I just did what needed to be done. I stammered, "I… I want to get better, to understand myself."
He smiled. "Those are excellent goals, Anos. And how else will we know what therapy is doing if we have no goals?" He explained, and I nodded in understanding.
He then asked, "Is there anything you'd like to talk about today?"
I hesitated, my face flushing slightly. "Things have been… weird, between me and my best friend lately."
He leaned forward slightly, encouraging me to continue.
"Well…" I began, the words rushing out in a jumbled mess. I told him about Diamond, about the awkward tension that had sparked during first year, about the almost kiss. I told him about how it happened again just a few nights ago. I admitted that I had a girlfriend, that I loved her very much, but that my feelings were confused which was causing all of this stress to bottle up. I wanted to work through it all, the fear of messing things up, the uncertainty of where I stood with Diamond.
He listened intently, and then he began to speak. He spoke of how some feelings are normal, and how a deep bond could cause that confusion. He talked about the importance of open and honest communication and emphasized that I needed to identify the root of my feelings so that I could move forward respectfully, in all relationships. It was like he was cutting through all of the complexities with clear, laser-focused advice. I had never felt so seen before.
He slid a black, red, and blue journal across the desk, along with a matching pen. "Write down your feelings, Anos. Explore your thoughts, find yourself within the writing. It is a great tool to work through things." It was a leatherbound book, with a metallic lock on one side, another way to ensure privacy.
I nodded, a genuine sense of hope blossoming in my chest. "Thank you, Dr. Tristan."
He nodded and smiled. "Next week, Anos. Let's see how far you've come."
I left the clinic, the weight on my shoulders feeling a little lighter. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I had a starting point. I wanted better, for everyone. As I walked, I found myself drawn to a nearby flower field, the vibrant colors a stark contrast to the stark white of the clinic. And there she was. Diamond was sitting in the middle, gazing at the sky. It was her favorite place. I walked over to her, a small smile playing on my lips. It seemed, even in this strange, new world, there were some things that always stayed the same.