Dimensional Watch: Hero Chapter 1 (Patreon)

Aldera Junior High, Musutafu, Japan

The classroom of Aldera Junior High buzzed with restless energy as the third-year homeroom dragged on, sunlight streaming in through the windows. Desks were packed close together, chairs scraped against the floor, and the air smelled faintly of chalk and old textbooks.

Seated in the second to last row in the middle of the classroom, a familiar broccoli haired boy wearing the black school uniform was seen, hunched low in his seat as if trying to fold himself into the desk, sat Izuku Midoriya.

His green curls hung forward, shadowing his eyes as his pencil moved furiously across the pages of his notebook. It was already half-filled with messy diagrams, arrows, circled notes, and frantic handwriting and drawings.

Izuku’s heart fluttered as his mind replayed the fight he’d witnessed on the way to school. The way the Pro Heroes had coordinated or rather, failed to coordinate, kept looping in his head wondering how a different hero could have solved this or what could be done differently.

‘Maybe if a speed-type hero had flanked from the left instead of charging straight in before he activated his gigantic monstrous quick, this could have solved today's fight. No, wait, if Kamui Wood had restrained the villain quickly, that would’ve minimized the property damage… that Mt. Lady caused, though not that anybody actually cared.’

His pencil scratched faster.

‘What if there had been civilians trapped inside a building? Then a fire-based quirk would’ve been a liability, evacuation routes would be needed…’

He barely registered the low murmurs of his classmates around him, too lost in his analysis. This was his inner world ranging from quirks, tactics, rescues, and possibilities branching endlessly in his head as he continued to use his imagination in hopes that maybe one day, he, a quirkless nobody, could miraculously become a hero. 

Izuku paused as his heart fluttered with excitement then immediately forced himself to shrink again when a chair scraped loudly behind him as a couple of classmates laughed.

“Midoriya’s doing it again.”

“Still writing those cringe hero fantasies?”

Izuku’s fingers tightened around the pencil. He kept his gaze on the notebook like it could shield him.

‘It’s not fantasy. It’s analysis. If I had a quirk—if I could be useful—then—’

“Alright class, settle down,” The teacher’s voice cut through the noise.

Izuku flinched and instinctively ducked his head lower.

The teacher stood at the front of the class, holding a stack of printed handouts. “Today, we’ll be talking about your futures, as now that you are all third years.” He said, tapping the papers against the desk. “It is time to start thinking of your career paths, aptitude assessments—”

Before he could continue, a few students groaned dramatically.

“—But,” The teacher added with a sigh, glancing around the room, “I think we can skip the formalities. As it’s clear that all of you only have one dream in your mind.”

With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the papers into the trash.

The reaction was immediate.

Cheers erupted from the class as students grinned, stood up, and began showing off. Small bursts of flame popped into existence, fingers hardened into stone, sparks crackled, bodies shimmered or stretched.

“I’m gonna be a Pro Hero for sure!” 

“Obviously!”

“Who wouldn’t be one?”

Izuku’s chest tightened, not in fear but in excitement. Without thinking, he slowly raised his hand too, his fingers trembling just a little.

‘I want to be a hero. I really do.’ For a fleeting moment, he felt like he belonged.

The teacher gave a tired smile. “Alright, alright. I get it. But remember—no quirk usage during school hours. Still…” His gaze swept over the room, lingering with approval. “You all have impressive quirks. Truly.”

That praise only fueled the noise, the pride, the boasting. Then—

“Tch. Don’t lump me in with these Losers!” The voice was sharp and loud. Cutting through the room like an explosion.

Izuku stiffened instantly as every head turned toward the source.

Katsuki Bakugo lounged in his chair, feet planted arrogantly on top of his desk. He leaned back, hands clasped behind his head, spiky blond hair catching the light. His red eyes burned with confidence and contempt. “Unlike these useless failures. I’m gonna succeed and reach the top.” Bakugo continued, a feral grin twisting his face. 

The room erupted again but this time in anger.

“Hey! What the hell, Bakugo?!” 

“Say that again!”

“Who do you think you are?!”

Izuku shrank further into himself, his hand dropping back to his desk. His pulse pounded in his ears. ‘Here we go…’

Bakugo clicked his tongue and leaned forward, chair slamming down as he crossed his arms. “Shut it,” He snapped. “You’re all just extras. Don’t act like you’re on my level.”

The teacher then cleared his throat and glanced down at the tablet in his hand, scrolling through the student profiles with a bored flick of his finger.

“Hm,” he muttered.

That single sound drew Bakugo’s attention and, by extension, the room’s.

“Bakugo Katsuki,” The teacher read aloud, adjusting his glasses. “You’ve listed your desired high school as… U.A. High.”

The effect was immediate as the classroom went dead silent. Even the most boastful students froze, quirks dissipating mid-display. A few swallowed nervously. Others exchanged uneasy glances.

U.A. The name alone carried weight and prestige.

Everyone knew the rumors, the brutal entrance exams, the impossibly low acceptance rate, the fact that only the absolute best of the best even stood a chance. Just applying was a declaration of confidence bordering on insanity.

Bakugo noticed the shift instantly. His lips curled into a smug grin. “That’s right,” he said, pushing himself to his feet. “Now you get it.”

He jumped up onto his desk without hesitation, boots thudding loudly against the wood as he stood tall, chest out, eyes blazing with unshakable certainty.

“Unlike you extras,” Bakugo declared, voice ringing through the room, “I’m getting into U.A. And I’m not stopping there.”

Izuku’s breath was caught as Bakugo thrust a fist into the air with a single finger aimed high.

“I’m gonna become the number one hero,” He shouted with a grin. “I’ll surpass All Might himself.”

Gasps rippled through the classroom.

Izuku stared up at him, heart pounding, not with fear, but something closer to awe. ‘He really believes it…’

Bakugo looked untouchable standing there. Absolute and unwavering.

‘I wish… I wish I could be that confident.’

The teacher sighed, already rubbing his temple. “Bakugo, get down from the—”

But he paused again, eyes flicking back to his tablet. “HUh? That’s right…Midoriya.” He read.

Izuku froze as the room seemed to tilt.

“You’ve also listed U.A. High as your desired school.”

Silence. Pure, crushing silence.

Izuku’s head snapped down instantly, curls hiding his face as heat rushed to his ears. ‘Don’t look. Don’t look. Please don’t—’

Every student turned toward him and then laughed as it burst out violently, echoing off the walls.

“You’ve gotta be kidding!”

“Him?! Going to U.A.?!”

“That’s impossible!”

Izuku clenched his fists on his desk, knuckles white.

“Midoriya,” Someone sneered, “you don’t even have a quirk.”

The laughter intensified.

Izuku felt his chest hurt.

But then—something rare stirred inside him.

Izuku lifted his head. His voice shook as he stummered. “They… they changed the rules,” He said. “You don’t need a quirk anymore to enter. I could be the first. I mean—if I don’t try, I’ll never know, right?”

For a fraction of a second—

The room hesitated.

Then— BOOM.

As Bakugo slammed his hand down on his desk and an explosion cracked like thunder, sending desks rattling and shockwaves tearing across the floor. Izuku was thrown backward, his chair skidding as he hit the ground hard.

Pain flared through his shoulder. His notebook slid across the floor, pages fluttering open.

Izuku looked up just in time to see Bakugo looming over him, eyes blazing with fury.

“Shut the fuck up, Deku!” Bakugo roared. “You’re not just a loser. You’re worse! You’re quirkless!”

Sparks crackled around his opened hands as mini sparks bursted out.

 Bakugo snarled. “How dare you even think you’re on my level?! U.A. isn’t for trash like you!”

Izuku swallowed hard, heart pounding as he pushed himself slightly upright, palms flat on the floor. “I—I’m not trying to compete with you,” He said quickly. “That’s not what I meant. I just—U.A. has always been my goal. Since I was little. I just want to try. That’s all.” His voice wavered near the end.

But that only fueled them as the class erupted again in mockery and anger.

“How arrogant.” 

“He really thinks he belongs there?” 

“A quirkless nobody daring to dream?”

Izuku’s shoulders sagged. ‘I knew it…’ The weight of it all pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating. He didn’t argue anymore. Didn’t even defend himself. He just stared at the floor.

Finally, the teacher slammed his hand against the desk tired of the chaos in his class. “That’s enough!” He barked. “Everyone—back to your seats. We’re resuming class.”

Grumbling, the students complied.

Bakugo scoffed and hopped back to his seat, still glaring at Izuku as sparks faded from his palms.

Izuku slowly gathered his notebook, fingers trembling as he returned to his seat. He didn’t lift his head again.

—------------------------------------------- 

Space

A small comet streaked through the infinite void of space, its brilliant tail carving a sharp line of light through the darkness. It moved at an impossible speed, far faster than any natural celestial body as its path bended and warped the area around it. Passing not just through stars, but through layers of reality themselves.

Dimensions peeled away around it like fragile sheets of glass.

Worlds blurred past in flashes of color, law and logic momentarily dissolving as the comet slipped between them with eerie precision, as if guided by an unseen hand or drawn by something calling to it.

At last, its trajectory stabilized.

Ahead, suspended in the endless black, was a small blue planet. Peaceful, fragile and unaware of what was to come.

The comet adjusted its course, its glow intensifying as it descended, the atmosphere beginning to shimmer faintly in the distance. Its destination had been chosen and whatever rode within that streak of light was about to change everything.

—----------------------------------------

After School

As the dismissal bell rang, chairs scraped loudly against the floor and the classroom quickly emptied, the earlier tension dissolving into the familiar after-school noise. Laughter, bragging, and the excited chatter of students heading out filled the air.

Izuku Midoriya stayed where he was. He sat at his desk with his backpack resting open on the tabletop, his phone held carefully in both hands. The screen glowed softly, displaying a breaking news article.

“NEW HERO MAKES HER DEBUT — MT. LADY STOPS VILLAINS IN MUSUTAFU”

Izuku’s eyes sparkled despite everything that had happened earlier. He scrolled eagerly, absorbing every detail, the angle of her entrance, the timing of her quirk activation, the media’s mixed reactions to the collateral damage.

‘She grew too fast… Can she not control her size? The street layout makes the damages unavoidable,’ He thought automatically. ‘But if she’d positioned herself at a diagonal instead of straight on—’ His fingers twitched with the urge to write. ‘I need to get home. I need to write this down while it’s fresh.’

He reached for his notebook. But a hand grabbed it first causing Izuku to freeze.

Slowly, he looked up and standing beside his desk was Katsuki Bakugo, irritation etched clearly across his face as he flipped through the pages with open disdain.

“We’re not done talking,” Bakugo said flatly.

Two shadows appeared behind him, his usual lackeys, peering over his shoulders. Their eyes lit up the moment they saw the contents.

“Whoa,” One of them snorted.

“Hero Analysis? You’re still doing this crap?”

Izuku shot to his feet. “P-Please—give it back!”

Bakugo didn’t even look at him. Instead, he quickly slammed his palms together.

POP.

A sharp explosion cracked through the room. The heat singed the air, and the edges of the notebook blackened, pages curling and smoking.

Izuku gasped, horror flooding his face. “W-What?! Why would you do that?! That’s— that’s really mean!”

Bakugo clicked his tongue. “Shut up.”

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the damaged notebook straight out the open classroom window.

Izuku lunged instinctively. “NO—!”

The sound of a splash was heard echoing faintly as something fell into the fountain below.

Izuku stood frozen, staring at the empty window frame, his chest tight, breath shallow.

Bakugo stepped closer. “Listen Deku. No matter how much you admire heroes or how much you study, you’ll never be one. The real greats?” He scoffed. “They stand out instantly. It comes naturally. From the moment they enter school, people just know that they are destined for greatness.”

Izuku’s hands clenched into trembling fists.

Bakugo continued, voice low and sharp. “That’s right, people like me are winners. And don’t even think about applying to U.A. High. I’m gonna be the only one from this trash school to get in. The first. The best.”

Behind him, the lackeys exchanged quiet, satisfied grins.

Bakugo placed a hand on Izuku’s shoulder. Smoke hissed where his palm touched fabric.

“So for the last time forget about U.A.,” Bakugo whispered. “And forget about being a hero.”

Izuku shook under his grip, knees threatening to give out. He couldn’t even look up.

Satisfied, Bakugo stepped away. “C’mon,” He said to his lackeys. “Let’s go.”

They laughed as they followed him out.

“Did you see his face?”

“Couldn’t even talk back. Pathetic.”

Just before leaving the room, Bakugo stopped.

He glanced back over his shoulder, eyes sharp and cruel. “Oh, and Deku,” he said casually. “If you want a quirk that badly… the fastest way is to take a deep dive and hope for a better life. You might get lucky.”

Something snapped.

Anger, hot, sudden, and unfamiliar surged through Izuku’s chest. He looked up. “Th-That’s—!”

POP. POP.

Small explosions crackled from Bakugo’s hand.

Izuku froze instantly, fear overtaking everything else. His body locked up, breath caught painfully in his throat.

Bakugo only smirked at the sight and then he was gone.

Izuku stood alone in the empty classroom, heart pounding, ears ringing, eyes burning, not just from tears.

—------------------

 Aldera Junior High Entrance

Izuku Midoriya stumbled out of Aldera’s main building, the afternoon sun doing nothing to warm the heavy weight pressing down on his chest. His backpack hung loosely from one shoulder. His steps were slow with his feet being dragged through the ground.

‘Idiot…’ He thought bitterly. ‘Kacchan should know better than to say something like that.’ The words echoed again in his mind “take a deep dive” and Izuku’s stomach twisted. Even now, anger and disappointment warred inside him. Not just at Bakugo but at himself.

‘Why didn’t I say anything? Why did I just freeze again…’ His fingers curled into trembling fists. ‘I’m such a coward.’

The front gate loomed ahead, the school grounds nearly empty now. Most students had already left, their voices fading into the distance beyond the walls. Izuku lowered his gaze, not wanting to see anyone else—until something unusual caught his eye.

“…Huh?”

Near the school’s small pond, one of the koi fish was tugging at something floating on the surface. His notebook.

Izuku’s breath caught. “M-My notebook!”

He rushed over and knelt at the edge, reaching down just as the koi released its grip. The cover was damp, pages wrinkled but it was intact.

A small, fragile relief bloomed in his chest. ‘At least… at least I didn’t lose everything.’ Clutching it to his chest, Izuku stood and then froze.

The light changed. A sharp glimmer cut across the sky as Izuku looked up.

“A… shooting star?” His eyes widened in wonder. The sky was still blue, the sun still high—yet there it was, a streak of brilliant light tearing through the afternoon heavens.

For a moment, everything else faded away.

‘That’s incredible…’ Without thinking, Izuku squeezed his eyes shut. ‘Please,’ he wished silently. ‘Just… just give me a chance. Let me prove that I can be a hero too.’

He then opened his eyes but they quickly widened as the shooting star was getting bigger and closer.

His heart skipped. “…Wait.”

The light was growing rapidly, burning brighter, descending far too fast.

“It’s— it’s coming this way—?!” Panic slammed into him. “H-Hey! Hero! Someone—ANYONE!” Izuku shouted, waving his arms wildly as he ran backward. His bag bounced against his side, breath coming out in sharp, terrified gasps.

But the school grounds were entirely empty. Revealing no teachers or students. Unfortunately the light was getting closer.

“N-No, no, no—!” Izuku continued to run but then his foot caught on the uneven pavement and Izuku fell hard as the sky above him blazed white.

He scrambled backward, but it was useless. The object was locked onto him, unstoppable and inevitable.

Tears filled his eyes as he raised his arms over his head, shielding himself on pure instinct.

‘Is this it…?’ His chest hurt. ‘I didn’t become a hero… I didn’t even get a chance to try…’ His vision blurred. ‘Mom… I’m sorry…’

The world went silent. Then a FLASH as the comet struck. The light swallowed everything.

Until the searing light began to fade. Slowly, hesitantly, Izuku became aware of the world again and noticed that he wasn't in incredible pain or a smear in the ground. He also suddenly felt something heavy on his right arm. 

“…Huh?” His breath came out in a shaky gasp as he realized he was still alive. ‘I’m… not dead?’

He lowered his arms to see what happened and his eyes blinked rapidly as his vision cleared. The school grounds looked exactly the same as before, the gate, the pavement, the small koi pond behind him. The afternoon sun still hung in the sky, calm and indifferent, as if a comet hadn’t been coming towards him moments ago.

Somehow… he was still alive. Then he felt it again as Izuku’s gaze snapped down to his right wrist. “What…?”

Somehow attached firmly under his school’s black blazer to his arm was a device he knew hadn’t been there before.

It resembled a watch but only in the loosest sense. Its surface was smooth and seamless, forged from an unknown material that reflected light like polished obsidian and silver. Thin, glowing lines of blue energy pulsed across its face and band, shifting in slow, deliberate patterns that felt almost… alive.

It was beautiful and utterly alien.

Before Izuku could even scream, an unknown voice spoke out.

“Energy life source found.

Organic life form detected.

Species: Human.

Beginning synchronization with body, mind, and soul.

Ten percent… twenty-five percent…”

The voice was clear, feminine, and mechanical coming directly from the watch..

“EEEEHHH?! W-WHAT IS THIS?!” Izuku shrieked, his heart slamming violently against his ribs as he flailed his arm like that might somehow shake the device loose.

“Fifty percent… eighty percent… ninety percent… one hundred percent. Registration and connection complete.”

The glowing lines flared once.

“From now on, you are my master.”

Izuku’s brain short-circuited as it continued to freak out as he didn’t understand what was going on and didn’t have any idea if whatever the watch said was good or bad.

“MASTER?!” He yelled, panic spilling out unchecked. “W-Wait, wait—what do you mean master?! What is going on?! Who even ARE you?!”

“Answering the host’s inquiry.” The voice replied smoothly, utterly unconcerned by his hysteria. “I am an Artificial Intelligence designed to assist and advise the current Master. And this is the Dimensional Watch.”

Izuku could only stare at it, trembling at the sudden new information as this was all ground breaking news. “…D-Dimensional… what?”

“This is an all-purpose device created to make world traveling easier.”

His knees nearly gave out. “W-World traveling?! D-Dimensions?! Other worlds?!” Izuku shouted, his voice cracking as the implications hit him all at once.

“As stated, this device allows traveling the distance between time and space,” The AI replied smoothly, “This device allows travel across time and space. Connecting dimensions by crossing the boundaries between the planes of existence and generates a gate, enabling relocation to another world. That is the Dimensional Watch’s purpose.”. And you are my new and current master of the Watch.”

This didn’t help as Izuku clutched his head. “That doesn’t explain anything!” He cried out. “It just raises, like, a thousand more questions!”

But the AI ignored her master’s distress to follow procedure. “Master,” it said calmly, “I am now initiating the required protocol.”

Izuku froze as his head snapped up. “Wait—what protocol is required?”

“My creator has given me a list of procedures to follow upon locating a compatible host.”

A translucent blue holoscreen materialized above the watch’s face, hovering in midair. Lines of crisp Japanese text scrolled down its surface as the AI read aloud.

“The Procedures / Rules are:

One. Register the new host into the Dimensional Watch’s records.

Two. Maintain the master’s physical and mental health.

Three. Delete all previously recorded world data.

Four. Upon registration, activate a random gate to confirm the Watch’s functionality.

Five. Assign a random time limit for return to the master’s home world.

Six. Every two weeks, activate a random gate or revisit a recorded world.

Seven. Rules Five and Six may be overridden if the master initiates travel or enters a life-threatening state.”

The AI’s voice remained perfectly level, but the words themselves rattled around in Izuku’s skull.

“…A random gate?” He whispered.

“As stated Master,” She finished, “I will now begin a random jump.”

Izukui quickly screamed in even more distress. “Wait, wait, wait?! I can’t leave! I just, my mom will probably be worried sick!” His voice cracked, echoing across the school yard. “I’m supposed to be home! I can’t just disappear! Not to… whatever this is!”

“Do not worry,” The AI replied, utterly devoid of sympathy. “I will set the return point to thirty minutes after this moment.”

Izuku’s face paled as it twisted in panic. “What the hell does that even mean?!”

“It means,” The AI said in a matter of fact tone. “that regardless of the duration spent in the other world—one year or ten—only thirty minutes will pass in this world.

Izuku’s stomach dropped as he heard the new information.

“So please prepare yourself, Master. The process is beginning.”

A low hum filled the air. It was then that Izuku noticed that the space around him distorted, the sky above him rippling like heat rising off asphalt. The trees at the edge of the schoolyard blurred, bending inward as though reality itself was being pulled toward him.

“N-No—no, stop! Please stop!” Izuku begged, feet sliding backward as the ground beneath him seemed to give way. “I’m not ready for—!”

His shout was cut off as the world folded in on itself. For an instant he saw nothing but endless light like a tunnel through a kaleidoscope. The sound vanished. Gravity disappeared. And in the next instant Izuku Midoriya was gone.

The schoolyard returned to silence, unaware that in that moment, fate and destiny had shifted, changing not just for one boy, but for Hero Society itself.

Done. Tell me if I made any mistakes or if you have any questions. Which world should Izuku go to first? Let’s not make it too hard as he’s only fourteen and will not have a quirk.