A month passed.
Life, stubborn as ever, kept moving forward.
Reinhard had learned that much since coming to this world.
According to Earth's calendar, he had turned twelve. Nezu had taken the matter seriously, cross referencing dates, seasons, and historical events Reinhard remembered from Lugunica until the timelines lined up as cleanly as they could. It was strange seeing his life converted into charts and files, but Reinhard found no discomfort in it. Structure was familiar. Order was reassuring.
Gran Torino had explained the rest one afternoon, leaning against a railing outside the hospital.
"Nezu filled me and Nighteye in," he said. "About you. Where you came from."
Reinhard nodded. "That makes sense."
"Hah. Most kids would panic."
"I am not most kids."
Gran Torino snorted. "No kidding."
Reinhard still visited the hospital often, but he no longer stood frozen at the window for hours on end. He checked on All Might, made sure the monitors were steady, then stepped back. He trusted the doctors. Trusted Sir Nighteye, who was there more often than not.
Today was no different.
Through the glass, Reinhard saw Sir Nighteye sitting beside the bed, posture straight, hands folded. Reinhard could not see his face, but he felt the subtle pressure in the air, like reality tightening around a single point.
He is using his quirk, Reinhard realized.
It did not alarm him. If anything, it reassured him. People were watching over Toshinori, even when Reinhard was not there.
A light knock landed against his shoulder.
"Don't stare too hard," Gran Torino said. "You'll wear the glass out."
Reinhard turned. "Sorry."
Gran Torino crossed his arms. "Nezu wants to see you. Says it's time you stopped pretending this place is your home."
Reinhard considered that. "He is not wrong."
"That easy, huh?"
"All Might would want me to keep moving forward," Reinhard said simply.
Gran Torino studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Good answer."
Nezu's suggestion came shortly after.
School.
"You are twelve," Nezu said, perched on his desk. "No official past, no civilian identity. The best way to build one is to start now."
Reinhard thought it over carefully. "I will attend."
"Excellent," Nezu replied. "I had no doubts."
So Reinhard went to middle school.
The building was loud, full of energy that buzzed constantly in the air. It was different from training grounds and battlefields, but not unpleasant. Just... lively.
He walked through the gates in a neatly pressed uniform, posture straight but relaxed. Conversations flowed around him, laughter echoing through the courtyard.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Something flew toward him.
Reinhard caught it easily, fingers closing around the ball without breaking stride. He turned as a blond boy jogged over, eyes wide.
"Whoa! Nice reflexes!"
Another boy followed behind him, dark haired, shoulders hunched slightly as if he wished the ground would swallow him. "S sorry about that. We weren't aiming for you."
Reinhard handed the ball back. "No harm done."
"I'm Mirio Togata!" the blond said brightly. "First year. You new?"
"Yes," Reinhard replied. "My name is Reinhard."
Mirio grinned. "Nice to meet you! This is Tamaki."
Tamaki gave a small wave, shoulders hunched. "H hi..."
Reinhard inclined his head. "Nice to meet you."
Mirio glanced at the paper in Reinhard's hand. "Do you need any help find your way around?"
Reinhard notice the boys eagerness to help and went along with it "...A little."
"Perfect! We're experts at getting lost too. Come on."
Without waiting, Mirio started leading the way. Tamaki followed, staying close.
As they walked, Mirio chatted easily, pointing out classrooms and teachers. Reinhard listened, asking questions when something caught his interest. Tamaki filled in the quieter details.
"So," Mirio said after a while, "I know your new but do you wanna hang out after school? We usually go to the arcade or just mess around."
Tamaki nodded quickly. "If you want to. No pressure."
Reinhard considered it.
Then he smiled, just slightly.
"That sounds enjoyable," he said. "Thank you for inviting me."
Mirio laughed. "See? First day and you're already fitting in!"
Reinhard was not sure about fitting in.
But as they continued down the hall, surrounded by noise and movement, he felt something steady and warm settle in his chest.
He would keep moving forward.
That, too, felt right.
Reinhard walked alongside Mirio and Tamaki his bag was slung loosely over his shoulder, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk.
He dug his phone out of his pocket, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Gran Torino's number.
"Hey... ," he said, voice careful but upbeat. "I'll be coming back late today. I'm... hanging out with some friends. I just wanted to let you know."
There was a pause. Reinhard frowned. "Hello?"
Nothing.
He started to worry. "Did I—did I call the wrong—?"
Gran Torino on the other end of the line was grinning like a fool, pumping his fists, tapping his foot, maybe even doing a little victory dance, completely overjoyed that Reinhard was finally stepping out into the world.
Reinhard in confusion was going to end the call but finally, Gran Torino's voice came through, slightly breathless but full of excitement. "Late, huh? That's... that's perfect!"
"Perfect?" Reinhard asked, still confused.
"Yes! Stay out late-uh I mean don't stay out too late! Be safe!" Gran Torino stammered.
Reinhard blinked, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I... I'll be careful, Gran Torino."
"Good," Gran Torino replied, softer now, a rare warmth in his tone. "Just... have fun, Reinhard."
...
They ended up at the arcade just as the sun dipped low enough to turn the windows gold.
The place was loud in a different way than the school. Bright music clashed with electronic beeps, machines flashing colors that felt almost alive. Reinhard paused just inside the entrance, eyes quietly taking everything in.
Mirio clapped his hands together. "Alright, first rule. We try everything."
Tamaki nodded, already half hiding behind Mirio's shoulder. "And we don't judge if someone's bad."
Reinhard tilted his head. "Understood."
That rule lasted exactly ten minutes.
They started with racing games. Reinhard picked up the controls, watched the screen for a few seconds, and then drove like he had memorized the track in advance. Perfect drifts. No collisions. Record time.
Mirio stared at the screen. "Okay. Beginner's luck."
They moved on to rhythm games. Reinhard listened once, nodded to the beat, and cleared the song with flawless timing.
Tamaki blinked. "H he didn't even miss one..."
Fighting games followed. Then shooters. Then claw machines.
Every time, Reinhard won.
Every time, the machine chimed cheerfully like it was proud of him.
Reinhard's shoulders slowly crept upward, posture stiffening. "I am sorry," he said after winning another round. "I am not trying to show off."
Mirio waved it off at first, laughing. "No, no, this is incredible. You're like an arcade final boss."
But after the fifth perfect score, even Mirio leaned back, hands on his hips.
"Alright," he said dramatically. "We need to make this fair."
Tamaki peeked up. "What do you mean?"
Mirio pointed at the air hockey table across the room. "That. You versus us."
Reinhard looked over. The table gleamed under bright lights, the puck gliding back and forth from other players.
"...Both of you?" he asked.
"Yep," Mirio said. "Team Togata and Amajiki versus the Reinhard Machine."
Tamaki swallowed. "This is probably still unfair..."
Reinhard hesitated, then nodded. "Very well."
They took their positions.
Mirio and Tamaki shared one side, Mirio energetic and bouncing on his feet, Tamaki gripping the striker with nervous focus. Reinhard stood alone on the other side, calm, eyes following the puck.
Mirio slapped the puck forward.
The game exploded into motion.
The puck slammed back and forth at blinding speed. Mirio attacked aggressively, Tamaki covering defense. Reinhard moved less, but when he did, it was precise. His striker appeared exactly where it needed to be every time.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The puck ricocheted off walls, spinning, blurring.
Mirio laughed mid match. "This is awesome!"
Tamaki actually leaned forward, fully engaged. "L left side!"
Reinhard flicked his wrist.
Goal.
Mirio blinked. "Okay, okay, warm up."
They restarted.
This time they coordinated, feints and quick passes, trying to overwhelm him. The puck screamed across the table.
Reinhard watched. Waited.
Then moved.
Three seconds later, another flawless goal slid in.
The final score was not close.
When the puck stopped moving, the machine flashed REINHARD WINS in bold letters.
Silence followed.
Reinhard lowered his striker slowly. "I am... sorry."
Then Mirio threw his arms into the air.
"That was AMAZING!"
Reinhard froze. "It was not frustrating?"
"Are you kidding?" Mirio said, laughing loudly. "We've been the best here forever. It was getting boring."
Tamaki nodded, a small smile forming. "It was really fun. I forgot how intense this could be."
Mirio grinned at Reinhard. "Now we've got a rival."
Rival.
The word settled strangely in Reinhard's chest. Not heavy. Not sharp.
Warm.
They spent the rest of the evening laughing, trading tickets, emptying machines. By the time they reached the prize counter, they were hauling a ridiculous pile of stuffed animals, plastic swords, and novelty keychains.
The owner stared at the mountain of tickets, eye twitching. "You kids again?"
Mirio beamed. "New guy."
Reinhard bowed politely. "Thank you for the games."
Outside, the night air was cool and quiet, a relief after the noise. Reinhard held a giant All Might plush. Mirio adjusted the pile of prizes under his arm. Tamaki hugged a octopus plush almost as big as he was..
Reinhard looked at them, then laughed.
Not a polite sound. Not restrained.
A real laugh, bright and unguarded.
Mirio blinked, then smiled wider. Tamaki looked over, surprised, then relaxed.
Neither of them said anything.
They did not need to.
The sound lingered with them as they walked home, and both Mirio and Tamaki knew, without quite understanding why, that they would remember that laugh for a long time.
A/N: If I were you guys, I would try to appreciate the happy times more. You better appreciate these moments... Mwahaha