"Ahh~! So then I was right!" The red-eyed, American Hero said with a nod of confirmation. She was dressed in her Hero suit - a blue bodysuit that had white and red stripes across the torso, and golden metallic bands on her wrists and abdomen. Her shoes and calves were also made of the same golden material, and she had a thin red mask over her eyes. It was a costume designed around the American flag.
His mother was equally shocked as he was, her head snapping over to him and back at the Hero with all kinds of frightful emotions. Words bubbled up, and yet all that could be heard from the jelly-legged woman was unbounded sputtering.
Izuku wasn't one to match his mother's fish-like energy anymore, yet he felt they were doing a similar impression right about now. What exactly could the number one American Hero possibly want from him?
If she was singling him out like this - randomly and without inducement - then did she know the truth about him?
Had she figured it out?
The Hero rolled her head back, her blonde hair spilling backwards as she laughed at the incoherent mess her presence made them. She was used to such honest reactions, but these ones were exceptional.
She stepped closer, and Izuku felt himself subconsciously shift on guard. He wanted to move back, but he stood his ground as he stared up at the powerful woman that radiated such an imposing presence. He felt a sliver of pride as his mother stood her ground next to him too, albeit appearing much more like a shaky leaf in comparison.
Star and Stripe now stood a mere foot away, looming over the two of their smaller forms with a gleeful smile. Inko forced herself to meet the famous Hero's eyes, nervously asking, "H-hello, Miss Star and Stripe. Y-you have something you need from my son?"
It was an innocuous question from a timid, concerned mother. She had let her son run off on his own for a few hours, and the fact a Hero - the most important one in America - had been looking for him made her incredibly anxious.
For Izuku, he was mildly surprised and impressed his mother too had been aware of the Hero known as Star and Stripe. The American's reputation had grown to the point even a middle-aged Japanese woman could know and recognize her. Though, that may also be in part that she was incredibly popular over in Japan for being a huge advocate of All Might - crediting her reason for becoming a Hero to him - and being incredibly fluent in Japanese.
Standing tall with her hands firmly on her hips, Star and Stripe nodded over at Inko before turning to look at the shorter green-haired boy by her side. Her knees slightly bent as she leaned down to look at him closer to eye level. "You..."
Izuku felt his heart pulse. That look in her eye... That smile...
...Was this it?
Star's teeth shined pure as her grin brightened. "You have something you want from me, yes?"
The Midoriya's both tilted their heads.
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
Inko tentatively looked over at her son, face split between confusion and understanding. If there was one thing she knew for certain about her child, it was his admiration for Heroes.
Reeling back from the family of two, Star returned to her full height as she beamed down at the boy. "Don't be modest, now. If you want a picture or an autograph, it would be my pleasure."
...Eh?
Izuku's nerves settled quickly as his fast-reacting brain tried to understand this mind-jumbling exchange.
Had she seen him earlier in the crowd at the Hero Rescue Course, picking him out as a fan who left emptyhanded?
As if on queue, Star held up a finger in explanation. "My Quirk is unique. If I tell it to do something, it usually listens or points me in the right direction. When I told it to lead me to any kid who missed their chance to meet me from a few hours ago, I got the sudden urge to move in this direction." She once again leaned down to the boy, a gentle smile on her sculptured face. "The only child I've seen around these labs have been you, young man. It must've been leading me to you."
Inko still appeared confused, still unsure what that explanation meant. However, Izuku understood her perfectly.
Star and Stripe's Quirk was called New Order. In Layman's terms, it was a form of tactile reality warping. It was limited in the sense that it couldn't warp anything she touched - having limitations on the amount of power or depth she could bring out into existence - but it allowed the Hero to constantly achieve diverse, extraordinary accomplishments.
Using New Order in such an abstract way didn't allow her to pick up on him precisely, but it allowed her to sense the general vicinity of where he was.
"Did you think you wouldn't get to meet me after so many fans rushed in for attention?" She raised a teasing eyebrow, hands on her knees as she leaned closer to him as if to encourage him out of his shell. "That won't do, little one. I always make sure to meet as many fans as I can. That includes the shy ones too nervous to fess up."
There was a lot of assuming on her end, but excluding the part where he was too shy, she was right. He was a fan of hers, and he had missed out on meeting her after her exhibition at the Hero Rescue Course. Everyone in the stands had been impressed and wanted an autograph, and Izuku couldn't wait around too long with his obligation to meet back up with his mother.
A light sigh escaped the boy, oddly mixed between relief and disappointment.
So then, this was just a misunderstanding after all. She didn't know anything about his situation like he'd been lead to believe.
Forcing his inner turmoil down, Izuku smiled brilliantly up at the Hero. "Yes, ma'am, you're right! I couldn't get an autograph because there were so many people! Your Quirk is amazing!"
Star's head briefly tilted peculiarly, before she returned his grin with equal gusto. "Hah! That's an odd smile, but I love the enthusiasm! You're not shy at all!" She then turned to his mother with the same energy, causing the nervous woman to flinch. "I take it he didn't get that from momma?"
"I-I guess not," Inko laughed awkwardly in agreement. Inwardly, she was relieved he hadn't stirred up trouble and had lied to her earlier. She was halfway expecting the Hero to roll out the cuffs on her devious son.
Izuku nudged his mom and readied the camera settings on his phone. "She's letting us take a picture, mom! Aren't we lucky?!"
She laughed again, a bit less weaker than before. Her son's infectious voice had rubbed off on her, and the three of them stood closer as he held his phone out to capture them. It looked a bit silly, given that Star towered over them and had to crouch lower over Inko's shoulder, which of course made the other woman panic. The picture still came out great, and he chose to keep it as his background for now.
After signing Izuku's shirt - as he wasn't currently carrying anything else appropriate - Star gave the two of them a departing nod as she moved away. "I got to stop by the ASDSC lab now, so you two enjoy your time at I-Expo, alrighty?"
"ASDSC lab?" Inko's quiet voice stopped her. "We just came from there..."
That got the Hero's attention, turning back to them curiously. "You did, huh?" Star rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmm... I do recall hearing about a child genius inventing a new tool for self-defense... could it be that I have just run into this mystery child?"
Izuku was surprised by her intellect, and how fast she was able to piece that together. "I wouldn't call myself a genius..."
"Haha! So it is you!" Star confirmed with another big grin. "Remember what I said about modesty? Don't be ashamed - you got a bright future ahead of you, kid!"
"Thank you. That means a lot," Izuku replied, bowing his head. Though, he could tell by glancing over at his mom that hearing that meant a lot more to her. "If you don't mind me asking, what business do you have over at the ASDSC lab?"
Star once again began rubbing her chin. "I don't think I'm supposed to say... but here's a little hint." Her large frame moved closer, leaning in mischievously. "They want me to back them with my support."
"Support?" Izuku questioned. He didn't think they would need financial support from her. "Something like affiliation?"
"Oho~ you are smart!" Star nodded approvingly. "I've never been too impressed by them before, but if your creation is as brilliant as you, I'm sure that won't be the case for long."
"Brilliant, huh?" He muttered almost silently. He appreciated her kind words, and he could feel his chest swell. But without his Quirk, he could barely accomplish anything. This was as much as he could possibly do right now, and it really wasn't much.
He couldn't remember Star ever backing any specific organization other than the American military. The ASDSC, which stood for American Self-Defense Support, centered around selling civilians support equipment to defend themselves. They occasionally worked with Heroes to sell them equipment, but most of the business was for commercial profit.
They were a business, but that didn't make them against the people. They were firm believers of the Second Amendment in the American Constitution and perpetuated civilian defense against villainy. Unlike many companies, they weren't bad or greedy.
If someone like Star and Stripe ended up backing them, their business would boom tremendously. Civilian self-defense was already important in America, and the ASDSC were a thriving company, but a successful move like this would really take them to the next level.
Izuku nodded at her. "I understand... I can see why you said you weren't supposed to tell anyone."
"You're right about that!" Star laughed, unphased by the fact that she had.
As Star waved at them and went to depart again, a desperate urge called out inside him. He tried to pretend and ignore it, but he couldn't no longer.
...This was a crucial moment.
There were so many things he could ask Star to do. She had a reality warping Quirk. Although it was limited in many aspects, it could still be used to help him.
He could contact the Shield's by having her learn what their phone numbers were and telling him.
Far beyond that, he could contact All Might by using the same method to learn his number. She wouldn't give him All Might's number at first, but he had a way around that.
Get on his knees and beg. Plead with her that it was absolutely urgent and that there was immense danger. Break down in tears with complete sincerity.
Tell her everything. Spill that he was a reincarnate, have her read his mind, or ascertain his memories another way with her Quirk.
This was his chance. He could solve and do so much if he made his move right now.
...
...But.
...
Izuku glanced over to the person by his side.
...Mom.
He couldn't.
He couldn't involve his mom in something this dangerous. Whether it was indirect or not, he just couldn't do it. And...
...He couldn't tear her apart by revealing to her that he wasn't really her son.
Even if he had been alone in this moment, he struggled with the decision to reveal himself. He trusted All Might to keep secrets - they had kept One for All to themselves and it was only his fault the information spread - but if he exposed himself to Star now, he was almost certain that information would come back to his mother.
Star and Stripe might be trustworthy, but she was also from a different country. He never knew the woman on a personal level, and involving her in such a critical way like that was too much risk. It needed to be more indirect and obscure in the sense that allowed her and possibly other Americans to help without compromising himself.
It had to be more organic and conspicuous. It couldn't be this obvious.
He was more than ready to make sacrifices... but not this.
If it was just him affected, it would've be fine.
But he couldn't destroy his mother.
With a weak arm, Izuku waved goodbye to Star and Stripe along with his mom as the Hero spoke out a verbal command before being lifted off into the air and flying away. It hurt to see the best opportunity he'd ever had - possibly the best he'd ever get - slip away just like that. Regrets swirled inside his mind, and he was sure this day was going to haunt him for a long time.
Underneath all his newfound depression, at least there was something he had gained besides a picture and an autographed shirt. He now had information that Star would possibly accept an agreement with the ASDSC. He couldn't recall anything like that in his prior life, but with his own involvement and having now spoken with her, that might just change.
He and his mother continued down the road away from the many labs around in search of a cab. Still having his phone out from their photo and being connected to a service outside of Japan, he discreetly pulled up the stock markets in America and pulled up the ones for the American Self-Defense Support Company.
Taking a calculated risk by investing seriously in the company he licensed his product to, Izuku also proceeded to buy a small shipment of Coronium to be sent at his address. With their return flight already scheduled, and the likelihood of his mother conking out the moment they get home, she'll almost certainly be asleep by the time it arrives.
He might have lost that opportunity to move things along much, much sooner, but his plans were still set. This wasn't a real setback, it just hurt to see it go.