All Might led me through the streets of Musutafu, his towering figure drawing stares from passersby. Despite his imposing presence, there was a calmness about him that put me at ease. My Shell still felt heavy, but the tension in my body began to ease as we walked. The chaos of the battle faded behind us, replaced by the hum of the city and the occasional murmur of curious onlookers.
"You're quite the mystery," All Might said, breaking the silence. His voice was deep but gentle, carrying a warmth that made it hard to believe this was the same man who could level buildings with a single punch. "That armor of yours… it's not like anything I've seen before. And that sword—where did it come from?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but again, no words came out. Instead, a low, guttural sound escaped my throat, like the growl of some ancient beast. Frustration bubbled up inside me. I wanted to explain, to tell him everything, but my Shell seemed to resist. It was as if the armor itself was silencing me, keeping me from revealing too much.
All Might glanced at me, his sharp blue eyes studying my reaction. "Can't speak, huh? Or is it that you *won't* speak?" He paused, then added, "Either way, we'll figure it out. For now, let's get you somewhere safe."
We turned down a quieter street, and soon we arrived at a nondescript building. It looked like any other office block, but the moment we stepped inside, I realized it was anything but ordinary. The interior was sleek and modern, with high-tech security systems and a reception desk manned by a woman with a headset. She nodded at All Might as we passed, her eyes flicking to me with a hint of curiosity.
"Welcome to UA's auxiliary facility," All Might said, gesturing to the surroundings. "It's not as flashy as the main campus, but it's secure. And right now, that's what matters."
I followed him down a series of hallways, my footsteps echoing against the polished floors. The facility was quiet, almost eerily so, but it felt safe. Eventually, we reached a room that looked like a cross between a lab and a lounge. A large window let in natural light, and the walls were lined with monitors and equipment. In the center of the room stood a man with wild, unkempt hair and a pair of goggles resting on his forehead.
"All Might," the man said, turning to face us. His voice was calm but carried an air of authority. "Who's your friend?"
"This is… well, I'm not sure what to call him yet," All Might admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But he's got some kind of Quirk—or maybe it's not a Quirk at all. Either way, he needs our help."
The man stepped closer, his sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Interesting," he murmured. "That armor… it's not mechanical, is it? It's almost like it's alive."
I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. There was something unnerving about the way he looked at me, as if he could see right through the Shell to the person trapped inside.
"This is Nezu," All Might said, gesturing to the man. "He's the principal of UA High School and one of the smartest minds I know. If anyone can help you, it's him."
Nezu smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, his tone polite but distant. "Now, let's see what we're dealing with."
He motioned for me to sit, and I hesitated before lowering myself into a chair. The moment I did, Nezu began circling me, his gaze never leaving my Shell. He reached out, as if to touch the armor, but stopped just short.
"Fascinating," he said again. "The material is unlike anything I've encountered. And the energy it emits… it's almost otherworldly."
"Otherworldly?" All Might repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Nezu didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned to one of the monitors and began typing. The screen lit up with data, most of which I couldn't understand. After a moment, he turned back to us.
"I mean that this armor—this *Shell*—doesn't belong to this world," Nezu said. "At least, not as we know it. It's possible that it's the result of a Quirk, but if so, it's unlike any Quirk on record."
All Might frowned, his expression thoughtful. "So what are you saying? That he's from another dimension or something?"
"It's a possibility," Nezu said with a shrug. "Or perhaps he's the product of some kind of experiment. Either way, we need to learn more before we can help him."
I wanted to tell them everything—about the game, about my death, about the voice that had called me Foundling—but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I clenched my fists, the metal of my gauntlets creaking under the pressure.
All Might Must have noticed my frustration. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "It's okay," he said. "We'll figure this out together. But for now, you need to trust us."
I nodded, though the gesture felt hollow. Trust wasn't something I could afford to give lightly, not when I didn't even understand my own existence. But what choice did I have? I was in a world I didn't belong to, bound to a Shell I couldn't control. If anyone could help me, it was these people.
Nezu stepped back, his expression thoughtful. "For now, I suggest we keep him here," he said. "We can run some tests, try to learn more about his abilities. And in the meantime, we'll need to keep his presence under wraps. If word gets out about someone like him, it could cause panic."
All Might nodded. "Agreed. I'll stay with him for now. If anything happens, I'll handle it."
Nezu gave a curt nod and left the room, leaving me alone with All Might. The silence that followed was heavy, but not uncomfortable. All Might leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he studied me.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you?" he said after a moment. "I can see it in your eyes. You're scared, confused… but you're not a bad person. I can tell."
I looked at him, surprised by his words. How could he know that? How could he see through the Shell to the person inside?
All Might smiled, as if reading my thoughts. "I've been a hero for a long time," he said. "And one thing I've learned is that people aren't defined by their powers or their circumstances. They're defined by their choices. And right now, you're choosing to trust us. That says a lot."
I didn't know how to respond, so I simply nodded. All Might's words gave me a glimmer of hope, but it was fragile, like a flame in the wind. I didn't know what the future held, but for the first time since I woke up in this world, I felt like I wasn't completely alone.