Chapter 11: Aftermath
Three days have passed since the incident at the USJ, and the situation is still tense. The teachers were still working on making the UA safer for their students, and there were even numerous suggestions for changes.
The UA was still closed, but Momo and Izuku were called into school anyway. They were sitting in the teachers room, waiting.
They had been waiting in silence for about five minutes. Izuku shifted nervously, his hands fidgeting in his lap, until the quiet pressed too heavily on his chest to bear.
"What… what do you think they called us here for?" he asked softly.
Momo didn't answer right away. She sat perfectly still, staring ahead, her brows drawn tight in concentration. Her lips parted only when she exhaled sharply through her nose.
"I don't know," she admitted at last. "My mind is running through twenty different scenarios, and every single one is worse than the last."
Izuku opened his mouth, ready to offer something, anything, to ease the tension, when the intercom crackled to life.
"Yaoyorozu, Midoriya," Principal Nezu's cheerful yet precise voice rang through the speakers. "Please report to the conference room."
Momo sighed quietly as she rose from her seat. "Let's not keep them waiting."
Izuku noticed the slight tightness in her posture, the concern she tried to hide beneath her composed expression. He wished he could take that weight from her shoulders. Then, suddenly, a thought struck him. He straightened and said, in a voice that carried more confidence than he felt.
"It's going to be fine. I'm here for you, just like you've always been there for me."
Momo's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. Her dark eyes softened. "I already know that."
The words steadied Izuku more than he expected. He smiled back, and together they walked down the corridor toward the conference room.
When they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. Seated around a large table were five figures. Principal Nezu perched neatly at the head, Midnight with arms folded and eyes sharp, Aizawa who miraculously recovered fast slouched in his seat, Detective Tsukauchi with his notebook already open, and All Might in his towering form, his presence filling the room.
Nezu raised a paw in greeting, his ever-present smile polite but unreadable. "Please, take a seat."
Momo and Izuku sat opposite the panel of adults.
"First of all," Nezu began, his voice crisp and pleasant, "thank you both for coming."
The two students nodded in unison, their unease carefully hidden, or at least, they hoped so.
"Do you know why we've called you here today?" the principal asked, his beady eyes glinting with an intelligence that seemed to pierce straight through them.
Momo's patience, already strained by the heavy atmosphere, snapped. She spoke with deliberate respect, though her tone carried no indulgence for word games. "We are still recovering from what happened at the USJ. Please, just tell us why we're here."
Nezu inclined his head, acknowledging her candor. "Very well. We have gathered new information regarding the incident at the USJ and we believe the two of you may not have told us everything."
Izuku sat forward immediately, his hands clutching the edge of the table. "We-we told you everything we saw! Everything that happened!"
Instead of responding, Nezu pressed a button on a small panel before him. A faint hum filled the room, and a large screen on the wall flickered to life.
Both students looked at the screen.
The recordings began to play.
First, the footage of Momo cloaking Denki in invisibility. Then her sudden burst of overwhelming speed, appearing in front of the villain in the skull mask and knocking him out cold. Another clip, showed Momo teleporting Kyoka and the brain fried Denki to UA.
The room remained silent, the adults expressions unreadable as the next sequence rolled.
There was Momo creating a simple yellow gorilla plushie, and then laying a single white feather upon it. In an instant, the toy erupted into a massive, living creature nearly equal in size to All Might, with power similar to Nomu.
Izuku glanced at Momo, but she kept her gaze fixed on the monitor.
The footage continued, showing her Kusarigama flashing as she severed Shigaraki's hand just before it could reach Izuku's face. Her stance remained unshaken, her eyes cold and ready for battle.
The next clip, Momo running with Izuku to All Might, teleporting the two and All Might away.
The final image froze on the screen, Momo standing beside Aizawa's unconscious body, her hand resting gently on his chest, where there was in a blink of an eye a red light, before the feed went black.
The silence that followed was heavy. Momo and Izuku turned back toward the five adults, each of them unreadable.
Nezu's smile never wavered, though his voice carried a sharper edge now. "Do you see the problem?"
Izuku leaned forward, blurting out before he could stop himself. "I don't see what the problem is supposed to be at all!"
The words hung in the air like a mistake already made. Momo stiffened, her chest tightening. The moment the sentence left his lips, she knew it was the wrong thing to say.
Nezu's gaze sharpened, almost gleeful in its precision. "Interesting. Since you don't seem surprised, Midoriya, it suggests you already knew about Yaoyorozu's, multiple quirks and abilities."
Izuku froze, the realization crashing over him. That was it. They weren't here because of what happened in the USJ, they were here because of her. Momo's suspicions were confirmed. This was about her, and all the powers she carried.
It was Detective Tsukauchi who spoke next, his voice calm but cutting. "From the recordings alone, we can confirm that Yaoyorozu possesses far more than her declared Creation quirk. In addition to that, we've observed, invisibility, speed augmentation, teleportation, a form of beast-creation ability, and advanced combat proficiency both with and without weapons."
He paused, glancing at Aizawa slouched nearby, before continuing. "Furthermore, judging from what we witnessed at the USJ, Yaoyorozu appears to have a powerful healing quirk, possibly exceeding even Recovery Girl's."
There was a pause.
Momo finally spoke, her tone sharp but measured. "First of all, what you saw were illusions and elemental manipulation. Not invisibility and speed." She leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. "And I still don't understand where this conversation is supposed to lead."
Midnight, who had been silent until now, uncrossed her arms. Her voice was cool, direct. "It leads to this, we want to know why a single student has at least six different quirks, if not more."
Izuku's head whipped toward Momo, shock dawning on him only now. But Momo herself simply shrugged, the gesture casual, almost careless. "That's something I don't fully understand myself."
The teachers and the detective exchanged quick, weighted glances. Then All Might leaned forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the table. His voice thundered, every word a demand.
"I WILL JUST ASK YOU DIRECTLY. WERE YOU EVER INVOLVED WITH THE LEAGUE OF VILLAINS?"
The question made Izuku stiffen. He and Momo exchanged a bewildered look. Their looks say the sam "How was that connected?"
But Momo's reply was steady, unwavering. "Aside from the attack three days ago, I have never had anything to do with them."
All Might studied her in silence for a long moment. Then, with visible reluctance, he asked his next question.
"WERE YOU EVER INVOLVED IN AN EXPERIMENT?"
Izuku's brows knit together, and Momo glanced at him before turning back to All Might. "Do you mean experiments like testing the limits of my quirks? Then yes."
All Might hesitated, then shook his head. "NO. SOMETHING ELSE. SOMETHING BEYOND YOUR OWN TRAINING."
Momo shook her head firmly. "Then no."
All Might's jaw tightened. He almost seemed to struggle with the next question. "LAST QUESTION. ARE YOU… IN ANY WAY CONNECTED TO ALL FOR ONE?"
Momo raised a brow at that. "I have no idea who or what that even is. So no, I am not connected."
For a beat, the room was utterly still. Then All Might's eyes slid toward Tsukauchi, who gave the slightest of nods. Relief washed over All Might's expression, his shoulders easing for the first time since they entered.
He turned back to the two students. "IT IS TIME WE TELL YOU THE REAL REASON YOU ARE HERE."
Izuku and Momo both straightened, waiting.
But before All Might could continue, Tsukauchi lifted a hand. "Before that, I have one last question."
He let the silence stretch, his gaze narrowing.
"At the very end, when you teleported with All Might, where did you go?"
Momo and Izuku exchanged a glance, then answered at the same time "We don't want to talk about that."
Detective Tsukauchi's expression didn't change. His voice remained calm, almost too calm. "I must remind you both that you are sitting not only in front of your teachers, but also a detective. Refusing to answer is not an option."
Momo leaned forward, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are we in some kind of twisted scenario where we no longer have the right to our own principles?"
The detective remained silent for a long moment, his gaze steady, before finally replying. "You don't understand the situation you're in. Shortly after the USJ incident, you teleported away with the Symbol of Hope himself."
Izuku's brows furrowed. He gestured toward All Might at the table. "He's sitting right next to you. You can ask him directly."
Tsukauchi shook his head once. "All Might told us he was only teleported to Recovery Girl. But I am convinced there was more to it than that."
Momo's voice was sharp and final. "I will not say a word about it."
Izuku straightened beside her. "Neither will I."
The detective's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that your final decision?"
Both nodded without hesitation.
Tsukauchi exhaled through his nose. "You should understand that there may be consequences for both of you if you refuse to cooperate."
Momo's reply came like steel, without a hint of fear. "Then let's see those consequences. You can try your luck, but let me tell you now, neither Izuku nor I will break under pressure. Not from the school. Not from the police. Not even from villains. Try your worst."
Izuku nodded firmly in agreement, his usual nervousness replaced by quiet resolve.
"I see," Tsukauchi said at last. He turned his head toward All Might. "It looks like they've passed the test."
Momo and Izuku froze. Their eyes widened. "Test? What test?" they demanded at the same time.
All Might leaned forward, his deep voice filling the room. "LET ME EXPLAIN. DETECTIVE TSUKAUCHI IS A TRUSTED FRIEND OF MINE, ONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT MY CONDITION."
And then, before their eyes, All Might's body shrank. The towering muscles melted away until only his gaunt, skeletal frame remained, coughing softly in the silence.
Izuku's jaw fell open. Momo's composure cracked for the first time, surprise flashing across her face.
All Might gave them a small, tired smile. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Toshinori Yagi. Thank you for keeping my secret safe."
Both students nodded almost automatically, still trying to process what they were seeing.
Izuku found his voice first. "C-can I ask… why do you look like that?"
Toshinori shook his head gently. "That… is a conversation I'd Like to save for later."
He straightened as best he could, then with a sudden burst of steam transformed back into the muscular All Might. His booming presence filled the room once more.
"NOW, TO RETURN TO THE MATTER AT HAND. WE CALLED YOU BOTH HERE TO ADDRESS A GRAVE CONCERN. THERE WERE FEARS… THAT YOUNG YAOYOROZU MIGHT BE RELATED TO, OR PERHAPS EVEN BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTS OF… ALL FOR ONE."
Izuku's heart lurched at the name, confusion written plain on his face. He had never heard it before, yet the weight in All Might's tone made his blood run cold.
Momo, however, kept her voice calm, almost level. "I am no experiment. I was born normally, like anyone else. And if you don't believe me, I could even show you the birth video my parents recorded the day I came into this world."
Tsukauchi's expression softened slightly. "That won't be necessary. I haven't heard a single lie from either of you this entire time."
Understanding dawned on Momo and Izuku in that instant. That was why a detective had been here. His quirk is to find out if they were lying or telling the truth.
Momo crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "So, you're here to determine whether we're lying or not. Fine. But in return, we demand the truth as well."
For the first time since they had entered the meeting room, Aizawa finally spoke. His voice was dry, flat, and edged with irritation. "You demand? You're in no position to demand anything. You should be grateful you weren't expelled for your reckless actions at the USJ."
Izuku tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face. Momo leaned forward, eyes narrowing into a glare as she replied, her tone more challenging than questioning. "And why, exactly, should we have been expelled?"
Aizawa's gaze hardened. "Because you charged headfirst into a villain ambush without a plan. You had more luck than sense. That kind of recklessness gets people killed."
Izuku straightened, his voice calm but resolute. "With all due respect, sir, luck had nothing to do with it."
Momo nodded firmly. "Yeah. And if we're talking about charging in without a plan, that describes you more than us."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed into a glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Momo's answer came cold and matter-of-fact. "Dozens of villains appeared, and instead of taking five seconds to listen to one of your students suggestions, you rushed in, convinced you could take them all down alone. I'll admit, your approach wasn't entirely bad, but you should've realized from the start that the villains weren't acting on impulse. They had a plan. If you hadn't dismissed us and acted like a jerk, if you had listened for just a moment, none of us would have been in danger, no one would've been injured. We all could have walked out of the USJ unharmed."
Aizawa raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical. "Oh? And what exactly would've changed if I had listened to you?"
Izuku spoke before Momo could. "It's simple. She would've teleported us all out to safety."
Aizawa scoffed. "That might've been useful, if she had told us from the beginning that she had a teleportation quirk."
Momo let out a slow sigh and facepalmed, her tone dripping with exasperation "Seriously? The school already knew about that quirk. All Might told the staff right after the mock battles."
Aizawa's retort died on his lips as Midnight spoke up, arms folded. "She's right. All Might did mention it after the first lesson he gave that day."
Aizawa's eyes widened slightly, his composure cracking.
Momo tilted her head, her tone almost casual, though the edge in her words was unmistakable. "Let me guess, you either weren't present when it was reported, or you didn't bother paying attention to what your colleagues were teaching. Just like you didn't let your class got to the Entrance ceremony, orientation on the very first day."
The flicker in Aizawa's expression was all the confirmation she needed.
Momo leaned her cheek against her hand, her voice cooling into a quiet critique. "Furthermore, during that incident, the earbuds I designed before would've been invaluable."
Midnight tilted her head curiously "Earbuds? What kind of earbuds?"
In perfect sync, Momo and Izuku reached into their pockets, pulling out small devices and holding them up for everyone at the table to see.
Momo explained smoothly, "Before the USJ trip, I planned to give each of my classmates and our teacher one of these. Unlike phones or other electronic devices, they don't need a signal. They let us communicate across distances of up to five kilometers."
Principal Nezu's eyes gleamed with sharp interest. "That sounds quite innovative. But do they actually work?"
Izuku nodded quickly. "Of course they do. I fell into the water and still managed to communicate with Momo, even though we were teleported to completely different zones."
Momo added without hesitation, "I also used them to speak with Tenya, so that he could reassure the others that they didn't need to panic. I had already teleported Kyoka and Denki back to UA, which helped keep everyone calm."
Midnight rubbed her chin thoughtfully, intrigued. "Impressive… that's not just useful, it's potentially game-changing."
Detective Tsukauchi tilted his head slightly, his calm voice breaking the silence. "And why, may I ask, did you never distribute those devices to your classmates?"
Izuku leaned forward, his voice carrying none of his usual hesitation. "Because Sensei Aizawa said it was pointless. He told us it would only waste time to hand them out. And when Momo still tried to explain why they were important, until one of our classmates stomped all earbuds into pieces right in front of us."
Midnight let out a long sigh, rubbing her forehead with two fingers. "I don't know what shocks me more… the fact that Aizawa couldn't recognize the potential of such a gadget… or the fact that I'm not even surprised he didn't."
Momo turned her sharp gaze back to Aizawa. "Besides the earbuds, I had at least one other quirk that would have been useful until the heroes finally would arrive."
Aizawa leaned back, crossing his arms, his tone edged with challenge. "Oh yeah? And which one would that be?"
Momo answered without a pause "Protection."
Before anyone could react Momo held out her hand whereupon a shimmering emerald light burst into existence. A dome-like barrier spread outward, wrapping the entire room in a glowing, translucent shield.
Everyone stared in shock and awe, everyone except Izuku, who simply watched with quiet pride. There he already saw this quirk in action once.
Momo's voice was calm, almost matter-of-fact, as she explained. "This shield I create with my protection quirk is practically indestructible. I'd offer to let All Might test it with his full strength, but I imagine the room wouldn't survive the attempt."
She turned her eyes back to Aizawa as the shield faded from sight. "I hope these demonstrations are enough to show you that you don't have to be a pro hero or a teacher to make rational decisions."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, his voice repeating her words with dry skepticism. "Rational decisions?" His glare sharpened. "You cut off someone's hand."
Momo met his stare without flinching. "Yes. To protect a friend." Her tone was ice, steady, unapologetic. "I had to make a split-second choice, and I did. I don't regret severing a villain's hand if it meant keeping someone I care about alive."
The weight of her words settled like a stone in the room. No one spoke for a long moment.
Finally, Midnight exhaled slowly, a faint, almost amused smile tugging at her lips. "Damn… listening to you, one could almost mistake you for a pro hero already."
Momo only shrugged lightly. "I try to put myself in a pro hero's mindset, how they'd act, how they'd decide. Or at least, how I imagine one I'd like to be would act."
Izuku's lips curved into a small smile. He knew better than anyone how deeply those words ran, how much it meant to Momo to shoulder responsibility, even when she pretended it was just "practice." And in that moment, he silently admired her strength more than ever before, knowing exactly how it felt to want to embody the ideal of a hero.
Momo shifted slightly in her seat, her voice calm but edged with impatience. She asks the question she wanted to ask since the beginning "Are we done here? Can we go?"
Principal Nezu shook his head, his sharp eyes never leaving her "Unfortunately, not yet. There are still a few points we must discuss."
Izuku frowned, leaning forward. "And those would be?"
Nezu's gaze flicked toward Momo, his expression unreadable. "We would like to conduct some tests with you."
Izuku blinked, confused. "Tests? What kind of tests?"
Nezu clasped his paws together, his voice calm and precise. "Just a few examinations carried out by a trusted scientist. Nothing invasive, but important. You see, we want to understand why Yaoyorozu possesses so many quirks."
Momo's eyes hardened instantly. She didn't like where this was going.
Nezu continued, his tone still polite. "These tests would be conducted confidentially, for the next few weeks in a laboratory in-"
"I will certainly not subject myself to any tests." Momo interrupted sharply, her voice cold and steady.
Nezu sighed softly. "I understand your hesitation, but please let me explain. It is already an extraordinary rarity for someone to be born with a dual quirk. Yet you… you are the first in recorded history to have more. Naturally, we wish to learn more about this phenomenon."
Momo's reply was immediate, her tone cutting. "I will not make myself available as some kind of lab rat. And I find it outrageous that especially you even expect this of me."
Nezu drew breath to answer, but Midnight placed a hand lightly on his arm, holding him back. Her eyes softened as she looked at Momo. "Your concerns are absolutely valid. We don't want to force you. But you should know, we all believe you could become the next top hero. You already have what it takes."
Izuku's chest tightened. He had always believed that about her, always. But hearing it from one of their teachers made it real. He glanced at Momo with quiet concern, but instead of pride, he saw only a flicker of anger burning in her eyes.
Momo's voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "The answer is still no. I will not step into any lab."
Nezu's tone sharpened slightly, though he kept his composure. "I don't think you understand the position you're in. I do not wish to say this… but if you refuse, I may have no choice but to consider expelling you."
Izuku's eyes went wide. His heart dropped. "You can't be serious…"
Momo turned her head and met Nezu's gaze directly. Her voice was quiet, resolute. "Then do it."
The entire room seemed to freeze. Silence hung thick in the air. Even Nezu's composure faltered for a moment. Izuku felt his blood run cold.
"You can't mean that," Izuku blurted out, panic lacing his voice.
"I mean every word," Momo replied, unwavering. "I would rather be expelled, rather lose my chance of ever becoming a hero, than allow anyone to experiment on me."
Nezu leaned forward, his voice sharper now. "Do you realize what you are throwing away? You have the potential to become the greatest hero the world has ever known. Will you truly discard all of that, simply because you refuse to be examined?"
The look from Momo says everything.
There was a long pause.
Detective Tsukauchi broke the silence first, his voice even, almost weary. "Principal, with all due respect… forcing tests upon a student, no matter how rare their quirk may be, crosses a line. She's right to refuse."
Midnight's tone softened again, though there was gravity behind her words. "Momo, none of us want to hurt you. You're extraordinary, and you need to understand what that means, for you, for society. But still… I understand why you're angry."
Aizawa finally spoke, his voice low, flat, and cutting. "Yaoyorozu, you should think carefully before you throw away your future out of stubbornness. Heroes make sacrifices. That's the reality of this job."
Nezu steepled his paws once more, his patience thinning but his voice calm.
"If you truly wish to become a hero, Yaoyorozu, then refusing something as simple as tests is not the path forward. Heroes don't shy away from scrutiny, they accept it, because their duty demands it."
That was the breaking point.
Momo shot to her feet, the chair clattering loudly to the ground. Her voice rang out, trembling not with fear, but with fury. "I never wanted to be a hero in the first place!"
Her words struck the room like a thunderclap. Izuku froze, his breath catching in his throat. Midnight's eyes widened, Tsukauchi stiffened, and even Nezu's sharp composure slipped into shock.
Every gaze in the room locked onto Momo. She spoke again, voice level but weighted. "I would have preferred to be born quirkless, then at least no one would have expected anything from me." She let that sink in before continuing. "The moment my Creation quirk manifested, my life was turned upside down. My father sent me to a laboratory when I was four so they could test the limits of my Creation quirk. After all those nerve-wracking tests, he practically planned my entire life, how to use my quirk for his own purposes, earn a hero license, and elevate our family's prestige even further. When my other quirks appeared, I hid them from him, from everyone."
All eyes were fixed on Momo, the weight of her confession still heavy in the air. For a long moment, no one dared to breathe.
Momo's words cut sharp, her gaze steady. "If you want to expel me simply because I refuse to dance to your tune, then do it. I have no problem not becoming a hero."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Even the faint ticking of the wall clock seemed deafening. Izuku's chest ached. He had always believed Momo's knowledge of heroics came from years of passion and preparation, but now he understood. Her silence about her parents, the way she sometimes looked away when family was mentioned, it all made sense. She hadn't chosen this life. It had been forced onto her.
All Might leaned forward slightly, his booming voice softened, carrying weight rather than volume "WAS THERE TRULY NO REASON THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A HERO?"
Momo hesitated. For the first time, her expression wavered. Slowly, she sat back down, her gaze shifting toward Izuku. A gentle smile touched her lips "There was one. Izuku."
Izuku's breath caught in his throat. He stared at her, wide-eyed, unable to believe what he had just heard. "M-me?" His voice cracked, his disbelief plain.
Momo nodded once, her words calm but sincere "Before I met Izuku, the only appeal of a hero license to me was that it would allow me to open an agency, so I could design and tailor clothes and costumes for heroes. That was all. But after I first met him, after I saw how he dreamed of becoming a hero despite having nothing, how he pushed forward with unshakable determination… it changed something in me. He showed me that not everyone wanted to be a hero for fame, money or recognition. Some, like him, want to be heroes to save people. And for the first time… I thought maybe being a hero wasn't as meaningless as I believed."
She thinks afterwards 'At least in this life.'
Izuku's throat tightened. His vision blurred as tears threatened to spill, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. He had always admired Momo's strength, her knowledge, her confidence. To hear that she drew inspiration from him, it was overwhelming. He raised a trembling hand to his face, trying to hide the moisture in his eyes, but it was useless.
Momo turned back to the five adults seated before her, her composure returning like steel "But of course, if you expel me, then I will not become a hero. That much is certain."
The table fell into silence once more. Nezu, for once, had no ready response. His small paws tightened against each other as he studied her with calculating eyes. Midnight shifted in her chair, then finally broke the stillness.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say… we'll forget about these experiments. For now." She glanced sideways at Nezu, her voice pointed. "Isn't that right, Principal?"
Nezu let out a long, heavy sigh, the first true crack in his collected demeanor.
"…Very well. There will be no experiments."
Momo raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Can I have that in writing?"
The request landed like a challenge. Nezu's whiskers twitched, his tail giving the faintest flick. For a moment, it seemed as though he might snap back, but then he adjusted his bow tie and let out another sigh "You'll have it by tomorrow. But I await at least a list of all your quirks."
All Might straightened, his deep voice cutting through the tension "I THINK WE'VE STRAYED FAR ENOUGH FROM THE ORIGINAL TOPIC. IF YOU WOULD ALLOW IT…" His eyes swept across the teachers, then back to Nezu. "I'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH THESE TWO ALONE."
The staff exchanged brief glances, then nodded in agreement. Midnight withdrew her hand from Nezu's arm, Tsukauchi leaned back in his chair, and Aizawa simply gave a tired shrug.
All Might gestured toward the door. "COME."
Momo and Izuku rose together, following him as he led them out of the tense meeting room. As they stepped into the hall, Izuku glanced back toward Aizawa. His expression hardened, his voice unexpectedly steady. "Just so you know, I expect you to apologize to Momo. Publicly. In front of the whole class."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, the door shut behind them, leaving the teachers in silence.
———————————————————————
All Might led the two students back to the teacher's lounge where they had waited earlier. He lowered himself onto the couch with a deep exhale, his frame looking heavier than usual. Momo and Izuku sat across from him, side by side on the other couch.
He looked at them for a moment, then spoke, his booming voice softer but still carrying weight "I'M SORRY FOR WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I DIDN'T EXPECT PRINCIPAL NEZU TO SUGGEST SENDING YOUNG YAOYOROZU TO A LABORATORY."
Momo lifted a hand and waved it off gently. "It's fine. It wasn't your fault."
Izuku shook his head, his voice sharp with indignation. "Still… it was outrageous! To even think of sending a student into a lab like that, it's wrong."
All Might's brows furrowed. He leaned forward, his tone steady, protective.
"DO NOT WORRY, YOUNG MIDORIYA. AS LONG AS I HAVE A SAY IN THIS, I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SEND YOUNG YAOYOROZU NOR ANOTHER STUDENT TO A LABORATORY."
He coughed suddenly, his booming voice faltering. Then, with a strained breath, his form shrank, the familiar steam hissing around him. Toshinori Yagi sat before them now, gaunt and fragile, his tone quieter. "…Now, let us return to the real reason you were called here."
His sunken eyes lingered on both of them before finally settling on Momo. He raised a trembling hand and pulled up his shirt, exposing the terrible scar carved across his side, a jagged wound twisting from his stomach toward his ribs, like a hole torn by some monstrous force.
Momo gasped, her eyes widening in horror. Izuku's hands clenched into fists, his face pale. "Wh-where… where did that come from?" Izuku asked, his voice trembling.
"This wound," Yagi began slowly, "was dealt to me five years ago, during a battle against a villain known as All For One. At my request, the attack was never made public. The fight was… catastrophic. I fought him with everything I had, but in the end…" His voice faltered, and his hand lowered his shirt again. "This was the result. Because of it, I can only maintain my muscle form for about three hours a day."
Momo's lips pressed into a thin line, her chest tightening at the thought. Izuku sat stiff, eyes wide in disbelief.
Yagi's gaze darkened. "All For One possesses a terrible ability. He can steal the quirks of others. He has built his power over centuries by collecting abilities like trophies. He is the greatest threat to peace this world has ever seen."
Both students froze at the weight of those words.
"That," Yagi continued gravely, "was one of the reasons why we feared that you, Young Yaoyorozu, might be connected to him, whether as his experiment… or even as his daughter."
Momo flinched, her eyes narrowing with a spark of anger. Izuku turned toward her immediately, his voice firm. "No. Even if that hadn't been disproven just now, I never would have believed it. Not for a second. Momo could never be connected to someone like that."
Yagi studied him, then gave a faint nod, almost relieved by his conviction. His tone softened "…Good. That trust will matter more than you know."
He straightened as much as his frail body allowed, his sunken eyes sharp now as he looked between them. "Now… let us move on to the second reason you were called here."
For a moment he was silent, then his gaze settled fully on Momo.
"I'll ask you both directly… Could it be that Young Midoriya received his quirk from you, Young Yaoyorozu?"
Izuku paled, his breath catching in his throat, while the question struck Momo completely unprepared.
Both of them blurted out at the same time "What makes you think that?"
Yagi held up a thin hand, his expression calm but serious. "To explain… I need to tell you a little more about my own quirk."
The room grew heavier as he leaned back, his voice low "My quirk is called One For All. It is unlike any other. It can be passed from one person to another, carrying not only the power itself but also the strength and will of its predecessors. Each successor grows it, cultivates it, and then… passes it on again."
Izuku's eyes widened in shock and admiration. Momo stiffened, her heart pounding at the weight of such a revelation.
Yagi's gaze softened as he continued, "I took the position of a teacher here at UA for a single reason, so I could find and prepare my successor. Someone worthy to inherit One For All." His lips tugged into a faint, tired smile. "You two, as a matter of fact, were at the very top of my candidate list."
That took both of them aback.
"You… considered us?" Momo asked quietly, disbelief lacing her tone.
Izuku's hands trembled against his knees. "M-me? A candidate for… your power?"
Yagi nodded slowly. "But then, on my first day of class… I saw you both standing side by side. And in that moment, I sensed something strange. A resonance. A kind of energy flowing between you. Something I did not sense when I first met you during the Sludge Villain incident."
He let his words hang in the air, giving them weight.
"The energy you two give off… is strikingly similar to mine. And so…" His eyes narrowed, his voice grave. "I became convinced that Young Midoriya must have received his quirk through you, Young Yaoyorozu."
Momo's brows furrowed deeply. Her voice was steady, but sharp. "And if that was true, what would you do?"
Izuku looked at Yagi with wide eyes, bracing for the answer.
Yagi did not hesitate. "Nothing."
The word landed like a stone. Both students blinked in shock.
He continued, his tone firmer. "I would do nothing. But I would give you a word of advice, be cautious. If others discovered you had the ability to grant quirks, whether heroes, villains, or even the quirkless, you would be hunted down by them. They would all seek you out, for power, for desperation, or for control."
Momo inhaled slowly, then let the tension leave her shoulders. A faint, almost mischievous smile touched her lips "Thank you for the warning. But aside from Izuku, you're the only one who knows. I trust Izuku to keep this secret. The real question is…" Her eyes sharpened. "What's stopping you from revealing it?"
Yagi's eyes hardened instantly, his voice unwavering. "I would never do such a thing. I would never endanger another's life like that."
Momo studied him for a beat, then softened, her smile warmer now. "Good. I'll hold you to that."
She rose gracefully to her feet and stepped toward him. Yagi's body tensed as her hand came to rest gently on his shoulder. For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then red light.
It radiated from her palm, soft yet overwhelming, like warmth and vitality condensed into pure brilliance. The jagged scar along his torso, five years old and unhealed by any means, began to knit itself together. The ruined stomach, organs and flesh regenerated, muscle and tissue reforming seamlessly as though time itself was rewinding.
Yagi gasped, clutching his side in disbelief as the pain vanished, truly vanished, for the first time in years. His thin, skeletal form began to tremble, then expand. Muscle surged back onto his frame, his once-fragile body swelling, repairing, returning. Steam hissed around him as his full, towering form returned, without limit.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE…" His booming voice thundered out, filled with disbelief. He looked down at himself, at his healed body, his hands clenching into fists with renewed strength. "HOW…?"
Momo's eyes sparkled, her expression calm, almost playful "Take it as a sign that I'm holding you to your word."
Toshinori Yagi, no, All Might restored, stared at her in awe, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. Even Izuku, who had seen so much of her power already, was stunned by the magnitude of what her healing quirk had just accomplished.
Momo brushed her skirt lightly, her composure unshaken. "I expect to be notified when school resumes."
With that, she turned, walking toward the door with calm, steady steps.
Izuku lingered for a moment, staring after her in stunned silence. Then, slowly, he stood, bowed deeply to All Might, and hurried after her.
The door shut behind them, leaving All Might alone in the teacher's lounge, his healed body towering once more, his heart pounding with disbelief.
———————————————————————
At the same time.
Far away from UA, in the shadows of their hideout, Shigaraki and Kurogiri sat in front of a flickering screen, the only light coming from the stolen footage they had managed to secure from the USJ incident.
The video looped again, focusing on a particular moment. Yaoyorozu Momo stood amidst the chaos, her eyes sharp as she created a plush gorilla. But then, impossibly, the stuffed figure twitched, grows, moved, and came alive. Its body pulsed with the same unnatural vigor as the Nomu that had once stood by Shigaraki's side.
Shigaraki's lips curled as he froze the frame on Momo's face. His right hand, a cybernetic replacement bristling with wires and steel, twitched with irritation.
"…She brought it to life." His voice cracked with barely contained rage. "With the same kind of quirk that Nomu had."
Kurogiri's calm voice filled the silence, his glowing mist shifting as he leaned closer to the screen "This girl has achieved something extraordinary. She can create living beings with unique quirks… just like our Nomu projects. Perhaps even more refined."
Shigaraki slammed his metal fist into the armrest of his chair, the sound echoing in the small space "How did she do it? How did she copy Nomu's abilities so perfectly?!" His eyes burned with hate, memories of his lost flesh hand flashing through his mind.
Kurogiri remained composed, his voice steady. "It seems she possesses a quirk of immense potential. A quirk we could exploit for our research, and for our future creations."
Shigaraki's grin widened, though it twisted with malice "So what then? Do we rip it from her? Do we cut her apart and see how her power works?" His tone dripped with venom, the thought of vengeance burning in his chest.
Kurogiri paused, then shook his misted head slowly "No. That would be shortsighted. I believe it would be far more beneficial if we were to bring her to our side. With her cooperation, or even her unwilling servitude, the League could rise far beyond its current limits. She could craft us soldiers, Nomu's that surpass even the one that All Might faced."
Shigaraki's grin faltered, his rage simmering beneath the surface as his crimson eyes stayed locked on the screen. "…Bring her to our side, huh?" He muttered, voice low. "You're saying we recruit the girl who took my hand?"
The silence stretched, broken only by the faint static of the paused video.
Kurogiri's tone was final, yet calm as ever. "Yes. This girl is far too valuable to waste. One way or another, she must belong to us."
The screen lingered on the still image of Momo, her hand outstretched as if commanding life itself. Shigaraki's cybernetic fingers flexed slowly, scraping metal against metal. His grin returned, thin and cruel.
"Then we'll see how long her smile lasts."