Neito's life went on like usual after his training started last summer. A year flew by, and all the daily sessions with Nezu had really helped Neito improve. He could now copy two quirks for three minutes each. It was an impressive achievement, but there was still something bugging him.
Right now, he was standing in front of the mirror, messing with his bowtie and suit. He looked fancy, but his face showed that something was wrong. He kept fiddling with the suit, but it wasn't the clothes that were bothering him—it was a feeling he couldn't shake.
"What's wrong, sweety?" his mom, Hana, asked from behind him. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "You've been looking upset lately. It's your birthday today! Don't be so down."
Neito sighed, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He could see how worried his mom looked. Hana was always positive and full of energy, but today, she could tell something was off.
Neito didn't answer right away. He just stared at himself in the mirror, feeling like something was slipping away from him. His memories, his past life, were fading. The more he thought about it, the more it scared him.
'Maybe it's because I was reborn naturally.' Neito thought. 'I was born like a normal kid. I just… woke up as Neito Monoma. And slowly remembered my past life.'
But Neito didn't want to say any of that to his parents. They didn't know about his past life. They didn't even know about the fear he was feeling.
"I'm fine, Mom," Neito said, forcing a smile. "I just had a weird dream. I can't remember it, though. It's nothing."
Hana seemed to buy it, rubbing his hair as she comforted him. "Sweetie, it's okay. It's normal to forget things when you're young. Your brain isn't fully developed yet, so don't worry."
Shibasaki, Neito's dad, chimed in while he adjusted his tie. "Yeah, Neito, your brain is still growing. You're just a five-year-old kid. You're doing fine."
Neito gave them both a small smile. They were right in a way, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His past life, who he used to be, felt like a fading dream. He couldn't remember it as clearly anymore, and it was starting to scare him.
'Maybe if I hadn't seen that All Might video when I was younger,' Neito thought, 'Maybe I would've gone on living like everyone else, not remembering anything from my past life. Maybe that would've been easier...'
But he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. He wasn't going to share any of that with his parents. He just had to get through today.
"Mom, Dad, I've been thinking," Neito said, his tone calm but serious. "I want to stop training One For All and start using High Spec for a few years."
His parents looked at him, surprised. They knew about High Spec—it was a powerful quirk, but it came with risks. It made your brain work at a much higher level, but once you stopped using it, it could leave you feeling empty and slow, like your brain wasn't working properly.
Hana frowned. "Neito, High Spec is dangerous. You remember what Nezu-sensei said? Once you get used to it, it's hard to live without that kind of power. Your brain won't be the same once you stop using it."
Neito looked at her, his face calm, even though inside, he was thinking. 'If I use High Spec for a few years, maybe it'll help me keep my memories intact. I'll be able to remember everything from my past life. My brain will develop faster and won't let go of those memories…'
"I know, Mom," Neito said, forcing himself to sound more confident. "But I think if I use High Spec for a few years, it'll help me get stronger. Once I'm older and my brain fully develops, I'll be able to handle more quirks. Then I'll go back to focusing on One For All."
His parents listened, and after a few moments, Shibasaki spoke. "If you really want to try, then we'll support you. But remember, you need to be careful with it."
Neito nodded. 'I don't want to forget who I was. I need to keep my memories. If High Spec can help with that, then it's worth it, even if it's hard.'
Hana still seemed a little worried, but she gave him a reassuring smile. "Alright, but if you give up One For All, you need to make sure you have something else to protect yourself, just in case."
Shibasaki added quietly, "You should carry a healing quirk with you, like Super Regeneration. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can heal quickly."
Neito agreed. He wasn't planning to fight anyone today, anyway. It was his birthday, after all. He had other plans.
"Thanks, Mom, Dad," Neito said with a small smile. "But today's about having fun, right? I'll let my Ectoplasm clone handle the hard stuff."
His parents stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. It was rare for Neito to show frustration, but today seemed different and he was ready to let his clone switch for him. Maybe the pressure of everything was getting to him.
"Don't laugh!" Neito said, embarrassed. "It's not funny!"
But as he ran out of the room, he couldn't help but smile. It felt good to laugh, to let go of some of the tension he'd been carrying. Even if just for a moment.
Neito knew he was still a child. He might have big responsibilities, but he still wanted to have a real childhood too. He had to find a balance.
As he walked down the hall, Neito felt a little lighter. He still wasn't sure what was happening with his memories, but he believed that using High Spec for a few years would help him keep them.
This situation made Neito realize that, even though he remembered his past life, he was still just a kid named Neito Monoma. His memories didn't change the fact that he was five years old.
Deep down, he wanted to enjoy his childhood. The confusion about his memories only made him more certain—he didn't need to carry the weight of the past. He just had to live and grow at his own pace.