Chapter 109 - 18-20

Chapter 18: To Each We Owe

A portal opened in the bar the League of Villains called their headquarters, ejecting first Shigaraki, oozing blood from his numerous gunshot wounds, then Toya, still partially encased in ice, Nigata, her eyes haunted, and finally, a very bruised Sangata.

Sangata groaned as he rolled over. "Well, that was a shit show."

"We completely lost." Shigaraki was still, his eyes not leaving the stump where his hand had been. "Shot in the arms and legs, my hand is gone. The fodder defeated in an instant, even the Nomu were beaten."

Shigaraki growled in frustration.

"Those kids, they were strong, stronger than you said they would be." The pale villain slowly raised his head to look at the screen on the wall. "You were wrong, the Symbol of Peace, he's just as healthy as he's always been."

The screen blinked into life.

Shigaraki rose to his knees. "You were wrong, Sensei!"

The raspy man, All For One, spoke. "No, I wasn't. You were underprepared, even after the intel I granted you, you underestimated them. Especially Izuku Midoriya."

"Heh, at least that's one thing I crossed off." Shigaraki gave a twisted smile. "Even if he did get in the way of killing All Might, I managed to get him with Decay, the kid's dead."

"I doubt that." All For One replied, his tone final.

"Of course he is, I got him, I got him." Shigaraki insisted.

All For One shook his masked head. "Izuku Midoriya is resourceful, and powerful."

Shigaraki shakily pulled himself up to the bar with his remaining hand. "How would you know he's resourceful or powerful?"

"Of course I know he is, he got it from his old man, after all." All For One soaked in the room's reaction.

Toya was the first to speak, having thawed from the ice with his quirk. "You sent us to kill your own son? Even my own father isn't that cold."

All For One chuckled, the sound lacking any true mirth. "No, I sent you to try and kill him, any child of mine that couldn't survive that, well, they're worthless to me."

"Was that all it was, a test for my darling baby brother?" Nigata questioned, looking somewhat indignant.

"In part, but that was a last minute addition, Izuku's attendance at U.A. is something I wasn't aware of." All For One sighed. "No, the true purpose of today's attack was to make a message, it's for the best that you did this under that cheap 'League of Villains' moniker. By the way, what of the Nomu, were they retrieved?"

Already standing behind the bar, Kurogiri spoke. "The two Alpha-series Nomu were recovered, they were both damaged, not surprising due to the rushed nature of their creation, but they are still viable. I returned them to the doctor's lab. As for the Omega Nomu, the Anti-Symbol of Peace, he was blown away."

"What?" All For One's voice had dropped dangerously low.

Sangata snorted derisively. "Yeah, All Might-"

Shigaraki hissed.

"-beat him until that shock absorbing quirk of its couldn't handle it, shot straight through the roof."

"Are you quite done?" Kurogiri questioned, silencing Sangata with a look. "It's worse than that, without precise coordinates of its location I cannot find him, even with my quirk."

"After all myself and the doctor did to make him as strong as All Might, damn." All For One sighed. "But, as unfortunate as it is, it cannot be helped."

Shigaraki was still staring at his missing hand.

"However, this was not a futile endeavor." All For One said. "Tomura, the doctor can replace what you have lost, and, I shall grant you the power to become the symbol you need to be."

The room was silent, its occupants, except for a bored Toya, hung on the supervillain's every word.

"For now, take your time, work on furthering your quirks, recruit the elite to your side."

"Then, Tomura Shigaraki, you will show the world that you are to be feared."

Nedzu sat behind his desk, his arms resting on it, paws placed together.

On the other side was the principal's senior leadership team, the only people, besides All Might, he trusted with his life. Aizawa and Yamada sat in the chairs, while Kayama, Inui, Kan and finally Shuta Yosei, better known by his hero name, Snipe, stood.

"Shota, are you sure you should be here?" Kayama questioned. "You really did take a beating."

Aizawa sighed. "Midoriya healed me with that ridiculous quirk of his, he used sheer overkill with Heal to fix all my broken bones and save me from long-term damage to my eyes."

"He used Recovery Girl's quirk to do that? Wouldn't the stamina drain alone have killed you?" Yosei sounded like he was frowning, not that anyone could see behind his mask.

"Apparently he's found a way to use another quirk to power Heal instead of draining stamina." Aizawa shrugged. "Damn problem child."

Yamada grinned and poked Aizawa's face. "Look, Shota does care after all, did the healing make your heart grow three sizes?"

Aizawa pushed his partner's hand aside. "The kid may have healed my bones, but he missed literally everything else."

Nedzu cleared his throat, getting his employees' attention.

"Now that Chiyo is seeing to the health and wellbeing of our students-"

"And All Might."

"-and All Might, there are some matters we must discuss."

Aizawa raised an eyebrow. "Like how a massive group of villains managed to break into a secure facility with detailed knowledge of U.A.'s top secret schedule plan?"

"Yes." Nedzu lowered his paws. "It is very clear that the press break-in yesterday was a front for this League of Villains to infiltrate U.A. and obtain the information on our schedules. However, Mikumo Akatani, of Class 1-H, and Toru Hagakure, from Aizawa's class, have come forward with further information."

Kan spoke. "What information is that?"

"Hagakure was responsible for hacking our system to obtain the class schedule, she then passed that to Shigaraki during the break-in." Nedzu paused, seeing his employee's shock. "However, she did this under the threat of physical violence from her parents. They were both arrested as a past of the League of Villains's assault force."

Nedzu continued, he had their full attention. "Hagakure believed she would be in trouble, however, I have assured her a place remains at U.A. if she wishes to continue hero education."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Yosei asked. "The young lady could have been more willing than she let on."

"I can assure she was not, this interaction took place in the presence of Detective Tsukauchi, who, as I'm sure you all know, a lie-detection quirk." Nedzu replied. "He confirmed every word she spoke was the truth, apart from one comment about her parents, that she wasn't hurt by them."

Yamada's usual carefree demeanour was gone. "What will happen to her now?"

"Well, she has no family outside of her parents, so if she decides to continue her education here at U.A., in any form, she would become a ward of the school. However, if she chooses to leave, then she would go into the public childcare system."

"If she stays, Shota and I will take her in." Yamada stated firmly.

"We will?"

Yamada looked to his partner. "Shota-"

"I understand." Aizawa cut him off. "I really do."

"Well then, for now, that issue is settled." Nedzu smirked, unsurprised by Yamada's insistence. "The Sports Festival."

"It can't go ahead." Aizawa shook his head, before wincing at the pain in his entire body.

"I agree." Kan added. "That many students, that many civilians, it would be a prime target for this League of Villains, and those they have no doubt emboldened, to attack."

Kayama shook her head. "No, the Sports Festival is pivotal to the development of students across all years and courses."

Yosei was in agreement. "It's not just the perfect stage for the hero students to gain exposure from hero agencies, but a time for those in other courses aiming to transfer to show their abilities."

Inui shook his canine head. "As much as I understand the negative effect of canceling the festival would have on not just the student's growth and our reputation as a hero institution, the health and wellbeing of our students should be our main concern."

"Hmm, perhaps a vote then?" Nedzu suggested. "Majority rules, I myself am in favour of it."

Aizawa sighed. "Fine, I'm against it."

"Same." Kan nodded in agreement.

"It has to go ahead." Kayama stated.

"I agree." That was Yosei.

Inui was next. "Against."

Everyone looked to Yamada, he was the deciding vote.

The voice hero took a deep breath. "For."

Kan and Inui spoke, voicing their displeasure, Kayama arguing with them.

Nedzu silenced them with the swish of his paw. "It's decided then, the Sports Festival will go ahead."

"We'll need to increase security then." Aizawa stated, mild annoyance creeping into his normally neutral voice.

"That we shall!" Nedzu exclaimed, clapping his hands together at the same time. "I shall request three times the normal number of pro heroes to provide security, amongst other ideas."

"But, for now, go home and rest, I've given all students Thursday and Friday off while the police conduct their investigation, and I give the same to you and your colleagues." Nedzu paused. "Today has been trying, but I fear even more trying days lay ahead."

The pro heroes went still, Nedzu's words resonating with them all.

Nedzu's demeanour shifted, giving way to a smile. "Anyway, enjoy your long weekends, rest Aizawa. I'll see you all on Monday."

Each of them murmured to Nedzu before leaving, Aizawa and Yamada were the last, the underground hero forced to lean on his partner more than he wished to admit.

"Why?" Aizawa questioned, once they were alone.

"About Hagakure?" Yamada gave a blinding grin. "Well, you know how I feel about child abu-"

"I meant voting in favour of the Sports Festival, don't deflect."

Yamada stopped talking, looking across to his boyfriend. "Oh, that? Well, I mean, I guess I thought about the fact that if we hadn't had a Sports Festival in our first year, then there's a good chance we'd never have met. And I don't want to think about my life without you in it."

A very small, very sentimental part of Aizawa he insisted didn't exist melted at hearing Yamada's words.

The idiot could be so romantic without ever realising.

But Aizawa had to admit he was right. He remembered his first Sports Festival, he'd made it to the semi-finals despite being a member of GenEd at the time, facing off against Yamada.

The blond had beaten him soundly, but Aizawa's performance had impressed Nedzu, as well as the 1-A Homeroom teacher of that time.

He'd been promoted into Class 1-A and in a lot of ways he'd never looked back.

I guess I don't want to imagine my life without Hizashi.

Aizawa smiled.

Yamada poked his cheek. "AW! You really are going soft!"

"Do you remember what I said about every part of my body hurting?"

"Sorry." Yamada paused. "But have I told you how attractive that new scar of yours makes you?"

Aizawa's face flushed red.

He would insist years later that it had been the trick of the light.

Katsuki weaved his way through the graves, a bandage of his cheek, with a metal bucket in one hand.

Stopping at a moss-covered headstone, Katsuki bent down and loosened his school tie, before pulling a soapy sponge from his bucket. Slapping it against the stone, Katsuki scrubbed it with frightening intensity.

"DIE, MOSS!"

Washing the dirty sponge, Katsuki returned to the gravestone with another yell.

"Bakugo?"

Katsuki didn't react, continuing to clean the headstone.

"Bakugo?"

"I heard you." Katsuki kept cleaning.

Uraraka shuffled nervously, in her U.A. uniform, a bandage peeking out from under her left sleeve. "Deki texted me, he said you'd be here."

"So the nerd got you to check up on me?" Katsuki dropped the sponge back into the bucket, the water stained green.

"You rushed off after Recovery Girl gave you the all-clear." Uraraka paused. "I just asked Deki where you might go, I-I was worried about you."

"Worried about me?" Katsuki raised his head. "Why the fuck would you be?"

Uraraka was taken aback. "W-Why? Bakugo we were attacked today, by villains!"

Katsuki stood. "They were a bunch of pushovers."

"What about that woman, Nigata?"

"Tch, whatever." Katsuki tossed the water out into the grass. "That bitch wasn't even enough to phase me."

Uraraka looked confused. "Bakugo, it's okay to not be okay, you know that, right?"

"Of course I'm fine!" Bakugo calmed, before muttering to himself. "I can't afford to not be."

Uraraka folded her skirt under herself and sat down. "'You have the perfect quirk for being a hero', that's what they said to you, right?"

Bakugo wheeled around, looking down at Uraraka.

"That's what they told me too." Uraraka shrugged. "My teachers, classmates, even my parents, it just made me feel so under pressure, like this tight feeling in my chest all the time."

His knees went weak, Bakugo slumped down next to the brown-haired girl, no-one had ever managed to vocalise the same feeling he felt everyday.

"You're afraid that if you fail then you'll be proving them wrong, that you don't deserve your quirk." Uraraka gave a wan smile.

"How?"

"Hm?" Uraraka tilted her head.

Bakugo spoke again. "How do you cope with it? How do you ignore it?"

"I don't, I use it to fuel me, to push me forwards." Uraraka glanced at Katsuki. "My parents aren't rich, i-in fact they're pretty poor. They have a construction company, my mom inherited it from my grandparents, but ever since All Might became the Symbol of Peace, villain attacks have been dropping, and so has the amount of property damage. Not that I'm angry about it or anything, you know, I'm happy people are safer than they were."

Katsuki listened.

"I remember, not long after my quirk manifested I told my parents I'd use it to become a hero so they didn't have to worry about money anymore." Uraraka paused. "They told me that my dream should be something for myself, not them, but it isn't, even now. If I fail at becoming a hero, then I fail them too."

"I always wanted to be like All Might, better than All Might, I thought that because I have the perfect fucking quirk for being a hero, so I must have the potential to be even stronger than him." Katsuki gripped the sponge. "But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't beat him. I couldn't beat Midoriya, even when everyone bullied him for being quirkless, he would always jump in to help them if they were sad or hurt, like a hero, right?"

Uraraka took her turn to listen, she had a feeling this was probably the first time Katsuki had admitted any of these feelings, even to himself.

"He wants to be a hero for completely unselfish reasons, I can't beat that, ever."

"Why do you want to beat him?"

"Izuku has the heart of a hero, the mind too, and he doesn't even have a quirk. He deserves that quirk of yours, not you."

"Look at Izuku. Why can't you be well-behaved? Like him?"

Katsuki shrugged. "Whatever."

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it." Uraraka took a chance and gave Katsuki a hug.

He tensed at first, but suddenly relaxed, allowing the brown-haired girl to hug him.

Letting Katsuki go, Uraraka looked to the gravestone. "Was he a friend?"

"Is." Katsuki replied, his tone harsh. "Red Wings, Kayomu Tsubasa, he went missing a couple of years ago, just fucking vanished, 'cept everyone knew his bitch mother was slapping him around, and none of them did a damn thing."

"So you were close then?"

"Out of all the other fuckers in my school he was the only one who wasn't a total extra." Katsuki paused. "Him and Deku."

Uraraka smiled. "So you do like him after all."

"Nope, hate the little shit." Katsuki replied quickly. "But at least he's got some fucking guts, you have to if you gonna blow up your goddamn arm."

Uraraka shivered at the memory of Izuku's exploded arm.

"How is he?" Katsuki's voice was barely above a whisper.

"What did you say?"

Bakugo growled. "Don't make me say it again."

Uraraka giggled. "He said he was fine in the text, although he did say something about how hard it is to text with his left hand."

"Good, whatever, I guess."

Clack. Clack. Clack.

"Thank you for your time, Detective." Recovery Girl came to a halt, the clacking from her cane stopping as well.

Naomasa nodded his head, standing in one of the hallways of U.A., he had been back a few times since he'd graduated from the GenEd stream years before. "Of course, Recovery Girl, I'm always happy to help, especially in sensitive cases such as these."

"Call me Shuzenji, I haven't been an active Pro Hero in years." Recovery Girl set off down the corridor, cane clacking once again. "Thirteen and Aizawa have both been discharged, Midoriya's healing, as unfocused as it was, was enough."

They stopped at the door to a classroom, its massive door towering over both Naomasa and Recovery Girl.

"I've triaged the students and Toshinori, apart from Midoriya, the most serious injury was Ojiro's broken leg, the rest were largely unharmed." Recovery Girl paused. "Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have admitted all the students, but there's one student I wanted to perform a physical on before term started. Their mother blocked me from doing so, as well as any further attempts."

"But after an event such as today you can justify ignoring the mother's refusal if you triage every student." Naomasa realised.

"Exactly." Recovery Girl nodded. "I suspect child neglect, malnutrition, and possibly physical abuse."

Naomasa took a deep breath, steeling him. "I understand, lead the way."

Recovery Girl opened the classroom door, revealing it had been converted into a makeshift infirmary, with four bays, one empty.

In one bay was Ojiro, fast asleep and snorting, his leg healed. The other two held Tsuyu and Mineta, both sat on their respective beds, facing each other.

Tenya carefully adjusted his tie, using the glass window as a mirror. He had been the last of his triage area to be cleared by Recovery Girl, thus Aoyama, Tokoyami and Koda had left already.

A knock came from the door, before it opened.

"Tenya?"

Straightening his posture, Tenya turned to see his older brother enter the classroom-turned-infirmary.

"Older brother, it's good to see you."

Tensei swept his little brother up in a hug, holding him tightly. "Tenya, I'm so glad you're okay, mom and dad are on plane back from the conference so I came to pick you up."

"Tensei, I am happy to see you, but you are crumpling my uniform." Tenya tried to extract himself from his older brother's arm. "If you would please let me go-"

"Not a chance." Tensei's arms, his quirk granting them extra muscle mass, were unmoving. "I could have lost my little brother today."

That made Tenya pause, he hadn't really thought of it that way.

Relaxing slightly, Tenya hugged his brother.

Mikumo sat on the edge of a walkway, he and Hagakure were in one of the Support hangers, below them were various projects, power armor, motorbikes, car, abandoned now school had been cancelled for the week.

"Are you going to stay?" Mikumo glanced up to Hagakure, where she stood, resting against the railing, her U.A. uniform showing where she was.

"Can I?" Hagakure sighed. "It's my fault, today, if I hadn't given Shigaraki that folder then it wouldn't have happened. Ojiro, Midoriya, All Might, you. You all got hurt because of me."

"You didn't have a choice."

Hagakure shook her head. "I did, I had a choice, it would have hurt me, but I was a coward, I chose to let others get hurt to protect myself."

"Don't say that." Mikumo was adamant. "Your own parents hit you, used you for their own villainous gain, it was never your fault."

Mikumo looked at Hagakure again, he couldn't get a read on her body language.

"I never had parents, Snipe found me wandering the streets when I was seven, no memory of who I was, just a name, Mikumo Akatani." The dark-haired boy sighed. "But even I know your parents are a load of flaming trash."

"Kinda like Bakugo's personality?" Hagakure sounded amused.

Mikumo shrugged. "I met Bakugo once, in a library, two years ago. He came up to me, asked what the fuck I'd done to my hair, and then promptly just left."

"Really?"

"Yep. That so confused me, until like three seconds after I met Izuku." Mikumo gave a sad smile, reaching up to touch the new scar under his left eye.

"He's your brother, isn't he?"

Mikumo nodded. "Yeah, not sure how exactly I'm supposed to bring that one up, 'Hi, we're brothers, also our father is the Merchant of Quirks'."

"Wait, what?" Hagakure turned her head, the bow in her hair swishing as she did. "Your father is that weirdo on the TV screen?"

"You met him?"

Hagakure shrugged. "Met would be a strong word, being in the presence of his voice would be more accurate. Huh, I guess we're both the children of villains."

"Doesn't mean we can't be heroes." Mikumo paused. "I wanted to be a hero, ever since Snipe rescued me. But now, that drive, it's different, I want to be a hero so I can tear down my father's legacy, to stop him."

Hagakure sat down next to Mikumo, linking her arm in his. "I guess I'll just have to do the same."

Mikumo looked across at the invisible girl.

"I'm going to tell Principal Nedzu I'm going to stay, and we're going to get you into the hero course. First step, you win the Sport Festival."

Mikumo smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

"Eh, more like 12% of a plan."

Recovery Girl sighed, she was back in her office, Izuku and All Might both in beds, the former had his right arm in a sling, the latter in his true form, his torso covered in bandages.

"Because of the situation I can't even scold you this time." Recovery Girl paused. "After all, if the two of you hadn't acted…"

All Might turned his head to look at the ceiling, his feet poking out from under the blanket.

"I'm not sure, but I think I might have shortened my time limit again." All Might paused, unaware of the fact that Izuku had awakened. "I hope I still have an hour at least."

Izuku shook his head. "B-But what about the power I transferred to you, 80% of One For All's power?"

All Might started slightly, before he looked at his successor. "You're awake again, I thought you might not remember what happened last time you woke up."

"All I remember is Shigaraki, he got me, then you were there, and another man, but then, nothing." Izuku pulled the sling to one side, revealing a bandaged stump. "M-My arm!"

"It's only temporary." Recovery Girl moved over to Izuku's bed. "What you two did to stop the nasty boy's quirk caused massive overstraining of that regeneration quirk you copied, the arm will grow back once the quirk and yourself have had time to recover, your memory will most likely return as well."

"Thank goodness." Izuku calmed, before glancing at his mentor. "All Might, once I've recovered, I could copy some more quirks, then I could give to you, so you can be a hero for longer."

Recovery Girl hit Izuku on his good arm. "Don't you dare think about that, quirk overstrain is serious business, nothing to be played around with."

Izuku went to rub his arm, but missed.

Oh right, my hand is gone.

"I-It's okay, I won't do it." Izuku insisted.

Recovery Girl squinted at him for a few seconds, before relaxing. "Fine, but I'll hold you to that."

All Might sat up. "It's okay, these things happen. What happens now, that just something we have to work through, is it not?"

Izuku smiled, before nodding.

Recovery Girl shrugged. "Well, I'm off to check on your classmates."

"Wait!" Izuku sat bolt upright. "A-Are they okay?"

Recovery Girl nodded. "Other than yourself, the only serious injury was Ojiro's leg, I was able to heal it, he's sleeping it off right now. And before you ask, Aizawa and Thirteen are both fine, scarred, but fine, I've discharged them already, they just need some rest."

"That's good." Izuku nodded, his eyes welling up with relief.

"Hmph, you copied a regeneration quirk and still somehow came out of this the most injured." Recovery Girl shook her head. "You, Midoriya, you're going to make me go grey."

Izuku looked up at Recovery Girl's grey hair. "B-But your hair already is-"

All Might slammed a hand over Izuku's mouth, cutting him off. "Izuku is tired, he's probably just seeing things."

Recovery Girl examined them for a few seconds, before nodding and leaving.

All Might lowered his arm, allowing Izuku to speak again.

"You called me Izuku."

"Hm?"

Izuku gripped the metal side of the bed with his good hand, once again close to tears. "You called me Izuku."

"Of, I guess I did." All Might rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I mean, if you don't want me to I under-"

"Please call me Izuku!"

Izuku clapped his hand over his mouth, taken aback by his own outburst.

All Might laughed. "I'm happy to call you that, Izuku. But then I don't want you to call me All Might, I want you to call me by my real name."

Izuku tilted his head. "You mean Toshinori?"

Toshinori frowned. "I didn't think I'd told you that."

The green-haired boy was internally panicking, he couldn't tell his mentor how he knew his first name, about the vestiges.

"Ah, of course, your memories of after the villains escaped must be coming back, you must have heard Mirai call me that." Toshinori smiled.

"That was Sir Nighteye?!" Izuku's eyes shone.

Toshinori laughed. "It was, but I'm afraid he couldn't stick around, I'm sure you'll be meeting him sometime soon, he's aware of One For All as well."

Izuku nodded, breathing a mental sigh of relief.

Toshinori took a deep breath. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about."

The sudden change in Toshinori's tone took Izuku off guard, from jovial to serious.

"I need to apologise." Toshinori paused, trying to find the right words to say. "You were right, I was being distant, guarded."

Toshinori lowered a hand to touch his bandages, above where his gruesome scar marked his skin.

"I let my fear get the better of me, I let cowardice blind me. Instead of seeing Izuku Midoriya I should have, I saw All For One. I doubted you, I doubted my own judgement in selecting you to pass One For All on to."

Izuku's mouth was dry, he couldn't speak.

"I was hiding behind the wall, you know, on Sunday, I saw your tests with Aizawa, then the battle training with me the next day, how your first thought after getting trampled yesterday was the wish that you could have helped the very people that hurt you." Toshinori turned his head, smiling at Izuku. "That all proved to me that you are worthy not just of One For All, but to be the inheritor of my legacy, to be the next Symbol of Peace. You have already made me so proud, Izuku."

Izuku sniffled, wiping away tears.

"You have also nearly given me a heart attack!" Toshinori exclaimed, making the green-haired boy laugh.

Toshinori laughed with him.

Nana, is this how you felt? With me? Is this what it's like to have a child?

A knock sounded on the door, before it opened to reveal Detective Tsukauchi.

Toshinori calmed, wiping away tears. "Naomasa, it's good to see you."

"And you, Toshinori." Tsukauchi turned his head. "I'm glad to see you awake, Midoriya."

Izuku bobbed his head in acknowledgement.

Tsukauchi entered the room, closing the door behind himself. "Sorry to cut to the chase, but can you give me any details you got about the villains that-"

"Wait! Please, wait!" Toshinori held his hands. "That villain, the one with the beak that I punched through the roof-"

"Has been safely captured." Tsukauchi assured. "So far, the only ones who escaped were Shigaraki, Kurogiri, the two other monsters, a woman and a man named Nigata and Sangata, and finally, a sixteen-year old boy claiming to be the dead son of Endeavor, despite the fact he should be nearly twenty-six by now."

Toshinori slumped. "All those villains, they escaped, because I wasn't strong enough."

Tsukauchi shook his head. "Not at all, on the contrary, if you three heroes hadn't risked your lives, then the students would not have survived."

"You're wrong about that." Toshinori looked up at the detective. "If the students hadn't fought, if they hadn't risked their lives as well, then I would have died."

Neither Tsukauchi or Izuku spoke, letting Toshinori continue.

"This class, to have been touched by this so early true villainy, and survived. To have learned of fear and the world of adults." Toshinori smirked. "Those villains screwed up. This class, they'll become strong heroes, the leaders of the next generation of pro heroes."

Tsukauchi smiled, nodding his head.

Toshinori formed his hand into a fist. "Of that, I am certain."

Izuku looked down at his own hand, copying Toshinori's motion.

Looking across and meeting his successor's eyes, Toshinori smiled and turned his fist into a thumbs up.

"We, I, won't let you down." Izuku's voice was resolute, no sign of fear or worry.

Another knock came from the door, followed by a voice.

"Izuku? Jiro said she heard Recovery Girl tell someone you were here."

Izuku sat up straighter, that was Momo's voice.

"Would you mind if I came in?"

The green-haired boy looked at Toshinori with panic in his eyes, Momo couldn't see his true form.

All Might smiled, before swelling up to his buff form. "For you, Izuku, I can handle a few minutes."

Izuku nodded, conveying his thanks. "C-Come in, Momo."

The door slid open, revealing Momo, in her school uniform.

Momo stopped, staring at the near mummified All Might and then to Tsukauchi.

"Do not worry, Young Yaoyorozu." All Might beamed. "I fear Recovery Girl has gone quite overboard."

Momo didn't look convinced. "Are you sure? That wound on your side was bleeding quite heavily."

"Tis but a scratch, Young Yaoyorozu." All Might formed a peace sign. "Once I deduced that beast's weakness he was no match for me."

"I see, I'm glad you are well, All Might."

All Might only smiled wider. "Thank you, but don't mind me, it was Young Midoriya you were here to see, after all. Just pretend like I'm not here."

"O-Okay." Momo nodded, looking somewhat unsure of herself and definitely a bit awkward.

Tsukauchi returned his hat to his head. "Well, I'd better head off, I'll allow you to see your boyfriend in peace."

The detective left, smirking as both Izuku and Momo both flushed deep red and vehemently denied his assumption.

Calming, feeling a little embarrassed, Momo moved over to Izuku's bed, pulling the curtain, well aware of the fact that doing so probably wouldn't help their denials of being a couple.

Taking a seat next to the bed, Momo turned her head to Izuku. "Are you well? Kaminari heard gossip that your arm had to be amputated, which, of course, is total nonsense."

Izuku laughed nervously. "T-That's actually kinda true."

Momo's eyes widened in horror.

"B-But, i-it's fine!" Izuku insisted. "I c-copied a quirk earlier, Hyper Regeneration, m-my will grow back once I've recovered a bit."

Momo calmed, slightly. "You really are too reckless."

"Y-Yeah, I get told that one alot." Izuku rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Are you okay?"

"Minor cuts and bruises." Momo answered. "Mild quirk overuse. I am well."

Izuku released a sigh of relief. "Good, I'm glad you're okay."

Momo smiled, before taking Izuku's hand. "And I am happy you are well, relatively speaking."

"This is going to get worryingly common, isn't it?" Izuku asked, trying to ignore the blush growing in his cheeks.

"I fear it is." Momo squeezed Izuku's hand. "But we will face it."

The door to the infirmary opened, Recovery Girl entered and walked over to Toshinori's bed with purpose in her stride.

She pulled the curtain shut. "Toshinori, get out of that form immediately."

"But, Young Yaoyorozu-"

"The curtains are soundproof."

Toshinori deflated.

"So, Toshinori, I want you to have a look at these." Recovery Girl placed a file down on the No.1 Hero's lap.

Picking it up, Toshinori opened it, flicking through it, it was his medical file.

"My x-rays, what's the problem?"

Recovery Girl took one x-ray from the file, showing it to Toshinori.

"This was an x-ray I took last month." Recovery Girl showed him another. "This is the one I took an hour ago, can you see a difference?"

Toshinori took the two x-rays, comparing them. "I haven't damaged my stomach again, have I?"

Recovery Girl raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Six years ago, you had a gastrectomy, the entirety of your stomach was removed."

Toshinori looked back at the most recent x-ray.

"So, could you please tell me why you have a stomach again?!"

On the other side of the soundproof curtain Izuku was smiling, listening as Momo explained what had happened to her after the class had been split up.

Momo stopped. "All of this, classes, training, us, it's never going to be normal again, is it?"

Izuku hesitated, before speaking. "No, I don't think it is."

After all, what has been done, cannot be undone.

Izuku squeezed Momo's hand. "But we'll be not normal together, right?"

Momo smiled, nodding her head.

Izuku suddenly blushed, realising what he'd just said.

Oh, did I forget to mention? This is the story of how I became the world's greatest hero.

A Symbol of Hope.

A portal opened, and out of it stepped All For One, his mask firmly in place, dressed in a tailor charcoal suit and walking on a cane.

Kurogiri appeared, the portal closing as he recoalessed behind All For One.

The supervillain strolled through row after row of large glass tubes, in them were a mix of humans and Nomu, with some being a fusion of the two.

"Dr. Ujiko."

The elderly scientist stopped what he was typing at his computer, turning his chair to face All For One.

"Zenrei."

All For One chuckled, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. "I haven't gone by that name in the best part of a century, yet you insist."

Ujiko shrugged. "I find it fitting. So, I take it this isn't a social call?"

"Is it ever?"

"Touche."

All For One approached one of the glass tubes, inside was the Bark Nomu, its armor slowly regrowing.

"The two Alpha Nomu, are they still viable for progression?"

Ujiko stood, his gait somewhat unsteady, walking on a cane of his own. "It'll take time for them to heal, but yes, they are."

"Good, good." All For One paused. "How did Tomura's surgery go?"

"Well, his gunshot wounds are healed, he'll have to take it easy for the next few days, I dealt with his missing hand as well." Ujiko adjusted his goggles. "The other procedure you wanted, I did that as well, he'll be able to handle at least three quirks now, four if they synergise."

All For One smirked. "Excellent, Kurogiri, go fetch Tomura, bring him to my room, I'll meet you there."

"As you wish." Kurogiri nodded, before being swallowed by a portal and vanishing.

"The first of the Series IX Nomu is ready for the final transformation, if you would be so kind as to donate two quirks." Ujiko set off, guiding All For One to a large tank.

Inside was a teenage boy, a pair of large red wings restrained behind him, his skin was an unnatural colour, pale-yellow and sallow, his feet like talons.

"Ah yes, young Tsubasa." All For One studied the boy. "Impressive isn't it, he managed to keep his mind as an Alpha Nomu, few ever manage that. Perhaps he has his grandfather's tenacity."

"He's a failure, his mother had my quirk, and brat had to go and get that bastard's quirk instead." Ujiko glared at the teen boy, before pressing a button.

The front of the tank opened, Tsubasa began to stir.

"Two quirks, whatever you feel is appropriate."

All For One nodded, before raising his arms.

Organic Protrusions. Change Metal. Metal Manipulation.

Three black metal claws burst from All For One's arm, twisting and shooting towards Tsubasa, digging into his chest. Red lines began to glow along the long, thin claws in a pattern similar to a circuit board.

So he has four quirks already, the strength quirk I gave him last year, his birth quirk, those wings, Super Regeneration and Shoulder-Mounted Jets. Hm, which quirks to choose, one more strength quirk can't hurt.

The light in the claws briefly pulsed aquamarine, passing from All For One's arm down to Tsubasa, crackles of energy, in the same colour, covering his body.

Tsubasa convulsed, yelling in pain.

Or rather, it can't hurt me.

All For One sighed, how boring it was, other people's pain just didn't give him that same feeling it used to.

Not to say he didn't get some modicum of enjoyment out of it.

Now, which other quirk? Ice Manipulation, no, it requires too much intelligence for that quirk. Absorption and Release, no, that one should be kept for a simple Alpha Nomu. Then, Fire Breath, it's not like I have any need for it or that identity anymore.

Orange light pulsed down the claws, more energy sparks appearing around Tsubasa as the winged-boy's screams intensified.

His skin was morphing, fire seeping out of tears in his skin, his wings ripping and healing over and over.

All For One retracted his claws. "It's done."

Ujiko nodded, pressing a different button.

The glass closed, the tank filling up with liquid as syringes appeared from the side, stabbing into both of Tsubasa's arms.

All For One hadn't thought it would be possible, but Tsubasa's yells got louder as his body began to deform further, his arms and legs lengthening, his skull receding to show his brain, eyes swelling to bulge out of their sockets.

The Winged Nomu howled, its wings now pale yellow to match the rest of his skin, its nose was gone, two vertical slits in its place, while the talon on its feet had grown even larger, a set now on its hands as well.

Ujiko tapped the glass with a finger, receiving an animalistic roar from the Winged Nomu in return.

"Hm, its mind didn't survive the progression, it's Beta-grade now." Ujiko continued to examine the Winged Nomu.

All For One spoke. "Start on the next two of Series IX Nomu, I'm going to meet Tomura."

Ujiko mumbled in agreement, too busy scribbling down notes about the newly-created Nomu.

Black sludge appeared around All For One, covering him for a few seconds before receding. He was back in his room, the breathing apparatus he required, when not using an air manipulation quirk for brief periods, sat next to his chair.

"Sensei."

All For One turned, Tomura and Kurogiri stood at one side of the room, the former's arms and legs bandaged.

"Tomura, I'm glad to see you, well."

Tomura frowned, his upturned mouth peeking out from behind the hand he wore on his face.

"Are you unsatisfied?"

Tomura raised his right arm to reveal a golden-yellow metal rectangle on the end of his stump, hollow except for two cylindrical prongs. "This is hardly a hand."

"No it isn't." All For One smirked. "That hand on your face is though."

Tomura removed his father's hand from his face, examining the port on the bottom, the exact opposite of what was on his right arm. "It this…"

The pale-haired villain slotted the preserved hand into his stump.

Commanding his lost right hand to move, Tomura watched as his father's hand followed the same movements.

"Your father's quirk was Dust Manipulation, wasn't it not?" All For One threw Tomura a tennis ball.

Tomura nodded, catching the tennis ball with his new hand, before tossing it to his other.

"Try using it."

Placing his fifth digit on the ball, Tomura watched it crumble to dust, before twisting his other hand.

The dust formed into a cyclone, spinning around in the palm of his left hand.

"Their quirks, I can use them all?"

All For One nodded. "But that's far from all I have to give you, I guess you could consider these your graduation present."

Flicking his fingers, a portal of black sludge deposited a pro hero, dressed in a two-tone, coloured blue and a lighter blue, jumpsuit that covered his entire body apart from his left eye, nose and mouth, with a red cape hanging from his shoulders.

"Say hello to X-Less." All For One looked down at the disorientated hero, the man's body struggling to move.

Black spikes shot out, burying themselves into the hero's skin, draining his quirk from him with a pulse of pink lines.

All For One shrugged, retracting the spikes. "Laser, an interesting if common quirk, one I never really bothered with."

Tomura stalked over to X-Less and hoisted him up with his left hand around the man's throat, he pro hero was barely conscious.

"What do we do with him?" Tomura questioned, itching to turn the wretch to dust.

" Don't kill him." All For One ordered, before nodding at Kurogiri. "We don't need an investigation into a dead hero right now, I already tampered with his memory, he won't remember any of this."

Kurogiri opened a portal in the corner of the room.

"Fine." Tomura sighed, before ripping the cape from around X-Less's neck with his father's hand and tossing him in the portal with his other.

Taking the cape, Shigaraki tossed it over one shoulder, then seeing All For One and Kurogiri's eyes on him."

Shigaraki shrugged. "What? I might get cold."

"As you wish." All For One sounded vaguely disappointed. "Now, for the gifting ceremony. Tomura."

Walking forwards, Tomura dropped to his knees in front of All For One. "Of course, Sensei."

All For One placed his hand on Tomura's head.

The supevillain's hand took on the same black and red appearance as his spikes did earlier.

"Laser. Dust Devil. Blur."

The glowing lines on All For One's hand pulsed first pink, then black and finally yellow.

Removing his hand, All For One stepped back, allowing Tomura to stand.

Tomura rolled his neck, before activating Laser, a red beam of light shooting from his left eye and burning the concrete wall. Deactivating it, Tomura raised his left hand, twisting it as it turned into sand and dust, retaining its normal shape. The hand returned to normal before Tomura suddenly blurred, reappearing at the other side of the room.

"This power, I'll use it to kill All Might." Tomura Shigaraki grinned. "And Izuku Midoriya."

End of USJ Assault Arc 

A lone figure stood on the edge of a rooftop, overlooking Hosu City, the night sky at his back.

"I'm coming for you all."

Strips of red cloth fluttered behind him.

"All you fake heroes…"

He was dressed in a sleeveless combat suit, plated with metal armor, an entire armoury's worth of weapons holstered all over his body.

"...I'm going to kill you."

The Hero Killer opened his lips, his serpentine tongue licking one of his blades, smearing the blood.

Chapter 19: Interlude A

Mirai loosened the tie around his neck, before returning his hand to the wheel.

A sigh escaped from his lips, his eyes focusing on the road in front of him.

"Damn it." Mirai flicked his indicator. "I need a drink."

Thirty-three years he'd had this quirk, an infallible vision of the future. Then in a single afternoon his faith in that unshakeable fact had been shattered.

Izuku Midoriya, a plain, forgettable boy with the power of a god. And the ability to defy my visions.

Or was it just a fluke?

Using his indicator again, Mirai pulled into a car park, stopping his vehicle and cutting the engine.

Learning back in his seat Mirai released another sigh, a far greater one than before, rubbing his face.

For six years I've lived in fear of his vision of All Might's death. And now my confidence in my quirk is dead.

Izuku Midoriya was destined to die today, and yet he lived. I saw him crumble to dust, pleading and apologising to Toshinori.

Mirai had seen All Might attending the young boy's funeral, looking broken in a way he'd never seen before.

He'd seen beyond that too, All Might continuing to weaken, with no successor to One For All to take his place.

He'd seen All Might abandoning his position at U.A. to hunt Shigaraki down, killing him in rage after the young man had been left to die by All For One.

He'd seen All Might lying broken at the feet of Overhaul. Mirio desperately trying to protect the No.1 Hero and another, smaller figure.

Removing the key from the ignition, Mirai exited his vehicle, walking towards a discreet bar, lacking any identifying marks.

Pressing his hero licence to a panel beside the door, Mirai watched as it lit up green.

"Welcome, Sir Nighteye."

The metal door slid open, revealing a set of stairs heading down. Mirai followed them, entering a bar, its cleanliness and style a far cry from the rundown nature of the area it was in.

'The Bar'.

That was what Pro Heroes called it, it had no official name in any case. A place for Pro Heroes to be able to drink and relax without the fear of the paparazzi getting a compromising picture and a deliberately misinterpreted headline.

It was the first time Mirai had been to this iteration of the The Bar, it tended to move location every six months or so.

Turning the corner of the bar, Mirai took in the sight in front of him. All the heroes drinking at the The Bar were crammed in booths, clearly avoiding a miserable-looking Endeavor, who sat alone at the bar, already well on his way to drunk.

Mirai rolled his eyes at the sentient bag of rage and poor choices, before sitting at a stool further down the bar, half-raising his hand to get the bartender's attention.

The young woman approached, most likely a local student as was the usually the case at The Bar, they were in plentiful supply and would be more easily convinced not to spill any hero secrets by a wage triple the national average the job would normally have.

"Evening, my name's Sakura, what would you like to drink?" The bartender gave a polite, distinctly service industry smile.

It was the same one Mirai used when morons told him they could do his job better than he did.

"A beer, please." Mirai answered, handing over the required yen, along with a tip.

The poor girl deserved it for putting up with Endeavor for a patron.

Sakura smiled again, before serving him his drink in a glass tankard, the froth rippling as it touched down on the bartop in front of him.

Mirai took a sip, savouring the taste and the coolness, dulling the horror and anxiety the day had brought.

The beard of flames that wreathed Endeavor's face flared as he chucked more yen down on the counter, forgoing the use of the spoken word.

Probably for the better, considering this was Endeavor, the same hero who despised All Might, taking any opportunity to give him a backhanded comment or glare at him.

A whiskey was set down in front of Endeavor, the yen taken in payment.

The No.2 Hero grunted in thanks, picking his drink up and nursing it, his eyes boring down into the amber liquid.

Mirai returned his tankard to the bartop, empty save for a few scraps of foam.

"Another?"

"If you would." Mirai watched the bartender take the tankard, walking away.

Leaning back slightly, Mirai looked across at Endeavor, his whiskey still untouched.

"I don't think the bottom of that drink is going to give you the answers you want."

Endeavor grunted, lowering his glass. "And you can? With that quirk of yours?"

Mirai shrugged. "I would have thought so yesterday, but today."

The No.2 Hero didn't reply.

"Your son?"

"Doesn't want to see me, none of them do." Endeavor lowered his head. "You can stop pretending you don't know about him ."

Mirai quirked an eyebrow. "You mean your eldest son?"

"That was not Toya." Endeavor's grip around his glass tightened. "Toya is dead, we buried him, that wasn't him."

"Calling your other son a liar or an idiot then?"

Endeavor glared at the green and yellow-haired man. "Shoto was young, he doesn't remember how badly Toya was burnt, even if he had survived, the scarring would have been massive, irreversible."

"So someone really wants everyone to think your son is alive and a villian." Mirai mused as a fresh beer was placed down in front of him. "The attack today was two-fold, to kill the No.1 Hero and implicate the No.2 Hero's son as an accessory to it."

Endeavor grunted.

Mirai frowned. "You would have been forced to step back or retire completely, leaving the No.1 spot open for-"

"Hawks, a pawn of the Hero Commission." Endeavor interrupted. "That's no coincidence."

"You do know today's attack was orchestrated by All For One?" Mirai questioned.

Endeavor looked away from the bartop for the first time, directly at Mirai. "And you don't think All For One has a hand in the Hero Commission?"

Mirai paused, ruminating on the Flame Hero's words.

"When I was a kid the No.1 spot was an ever changing position, it held heroes to a standard of constantly improving and bettering their skills." Endeavor paused. "Now All Might is the untouchable No.1, a living god to the masses, that's what the position means now."

"But he isn't under the Commission's control." Mirai sighed. "So they want to replace him with Hawks, a hero they've raised from childhood, with complete control over him."

Mirai frowned again, Endeavor was right, the Commission were a bunch of power-hungry bastards, always had been.

"This doesn't change the plan, Sasaki." Endeavor glanced at Mirai. "Keep All Might alive, that's what you came and begged me to help you do six years ago."

Mirai didn't reply.

"I know I'm not powerful enough to surpass All Might, that much has been made clear to me." Endeavor downed his drink. "We have to keep him alive until Shoto or that protégé of yours are qualified heroes, they're the only ones with potential to be strong enough."

"No, there's another."

Endeavor gave a disbelieving look.

"Izuku Midoriya, in 1-A like your son."

"You mean All Might's secret love child?"

Mirai had chosen a poor time to take a sip of his drink.

"What?"

"It's what Shoto is convinced of." Endeavor shrugged. "Personally, I don't see any resemblance to the smiling bastard, but to you, that's another story."

Mirai had just taken another sip to clear his throat.

"I swear you're doing this on purpose." Mirai coughed, his lungs filled with foam.

Endeavor shrugged, but he couldn't hide the faint smirk on his lips from Mirai's sharp eyes.

"So, why do you think this kid, Midoriha, has the potential to surpass All Might?" Endeavor questioned.

Mirai paused, unsure of how much of the truth he should tell the No.2 Hero. Not of One For All of course, Endeavor only knew of All For One through his family history, the Todoroki heroes had passed the knowledge on from parent-to-child.

"He has All Might's quirk." Mirai spoke.

It was Endeavor's turn to choke, this time on air, before attempting to cover it up with a small cough.

"His own quirk, Quirksmith, allows him to permanently copy other quirks, All Might's amongst the ones he already has." Mirai sighed. "I saw his death today, Izuku Midoriya should have died nine hours ago, but he didn't, he defied my vision."

Endeavor didn't speak for a few seconds, before standing. "It suits our plans, Midoriha will make a worthy rival to my Shoto."

The No.2 Hero went to leave, but Mirai could see now the man was drunker than his conversational skill had indicated.

Endeavor stumbled, Mirai reached hold and grabbed his shoulder, stabilising the larger man.

Normally, Mirai chose to drink at home, alcohol had an annoying habit of making his quirk somewhat, excitable. He had really considered that an non-issue this evening as he'd already had his single use of his quirk for the day.

Except, he hadn't noticed the time, later than he'd thought, just a few minutes past midnight.

Mirai's quirk activated.

" You can't refuse my gift forever, Shoto."

Mirai watched Shoto glare at his father, without saying a word.

" Welcome to the first day of the 2179 U.A. Sports Festival, my personal favourite, the First-Year Stage, all these hotshots ready to make their rocking debut, doesn't it just wanted to make you yell-"

"Hisashi, no!"

"YAAAAHHHOOOOOOOO!"

"With a shocking last-second advance to First Place, it's Midoriya, what a nail-biting conclusion!"~

Izuku lost his footing as he slowed, rolling across the grass as he came to a halt, looking up at the cloudless sky above.

"Mikumo!"

Mirai turned his gaze to see a dark-haired boy get hit in the chest by a slab of concrete with a sickening crack.

"After the regrettable incident in the second round a reduced third round will be held, aggregating the results of the first and second events to select eight competitors."

"It's your power, Todoroki! Not his!"

"Izuku Midoriya is out of bounds, Shoto Todoroki advances to the finals!"

Mirai stood in the rubble of the platform, turning to see Midoriya unconscious, one of his arms mangled, bent and broken, the skin purple and bleeding.

"Midoriya?"

"Also in third place is Izuku Midoriya, the winner of the first event, who's explosive battle with Todoroki caused the most amount of damage ever recorded at the first-year stage, he's a powerhouse on the rise! Watch out!"

Mirai's view was over Endeavor's shoulder, the No.2 Hero stood in the stands, watching as All Might placed the bronze around the green-haired boy's neck, before hugging him as he had done with Tokoyami.

The world blurred again, Mirai's view was in Todoroki ancestral house, a traditional japanese style design.

Endeavor was standing in the center of the room, the youngest son, Shoto, and the daughter, Fuyumi, sat on the sofa, all of them staring at the television screen.

"The Mustafu Police Department have confirmed the body that washed up on Dagobah Beach last night is that of Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. student who captivated the nation in the Sports Festival only a few days ago. The wounds on his body had been confirmed to be consistent with those seen in the victims of the Hero Killer, Stain."

"There have been no further leads on the whereabouts of his mother, Inko Midoriya, who is believed to have been kidnapped at the same time as her son."

"We at MNS would like to offer our condolences to those who were close to the Midoriya family. U.A. will be holding a vigil for Izuku Midoriya, and he will be buried with full honours granted to pro heroes who have fallen in battle."

The screen changed, showing a picture of Midoriya on the podium, blushing as All Might hugged him, text written along the bottom.

Izuku Midoriya

15.07.2163 - 05.05.2179

Mirai gasped as he was returned to awareness, lying on the floor of The Bar.

"Midoriya changed the future, he denied Time his death." Mirai sat up. "But Time is going to take it no matter the cost."

Endeavor frowned, picking up Mirai's half-drunk beer and sniffing it.

It was normal beer.

Mirai looked up at the No.2 Hero. "But the future isn't set in stone yet, I know that now."

"What has yet to be done, can be undone."

Chapter 20: Every Beginning is a Sequel

15 April 2179

Izuku looked down at his right hand.

It had regrown overnight, the skin was identical to his original arm, right down to a scar he'd got when he was six.

Bakugo had challenged him to a bike race, and of course he'd accepted, eager to prove that he could keep up with his quirked friend. Izuku had hit a rock, flipped over the handlebars and cut his arm on a broken piece of glass.

However, Recovery Girl's test had shown that the muscle, the bone and the everything else under the skin was brand-new, no sign of any wear and tear.

That must mean that the skin retaining its original appearance is due to my perception of myself, my sense of identity, how I see myself.

"Izuku?"

The green-haired boy looked up, then across at Toshinori, in the driver's seat. "I was muttering again, wasn't I?"

Toshinori nodded.

"S-Sorry, I'm trying not to-"

"It's fine." Toshinori interrupted, keeping his eyes on the road. "It's good that you have an analytical mind, especially with your quirk. There was actually something I wanted to tell you about, my time limit."

Izuku felt his mouth go dry. "It went down, didn't it?"

Toshinori nodded. "I've got a bit more than two hours left, but there's more to it than that."

"O-Okay." Izuku nodded, listening intently.

"I need to explain something my master told me about how One For All is passed on first." Toshinori paused, bringing the car to a stop at a red light. "Then I passed the quirk to you, it essentially copied the power stockpile into you."

Izuku nodded. "Y-Yeah, whenever I use it the stockpile fills back up, I haven't been able to use power faster than it can replace it yet."

"I've only ever used One For All's power beyond its ability to replenish itself a few times." The light turned green, Toshinori accelerated the car. "Plus, every time you tap into it you make it stronger, you increase its limit, kind of like building muscle."

The green-haired boy made a noise of understanding.

"However, for me, now that I've passed the core of One For All on, that stockpile no longer refills, whenever I use its power, I deplete it permanently." Toshinori explained. "And my physical state forces me to draw on the quirk just to be All Might. I'm draining what power I have left far faster than I hoped, before yesterday I had around 60 percent left, today, it's 40 percent."

Izuku looked on the verge of tears. "But at that rate, barring another USJ-level event, you'll be out of power by July, August at the latest."

Toshinori nodded. "That was what was expected."

"But what about the 80 percent I transferred to you?" Izuku questioned. "I went into my quirkspace last night, I have the 10 percent you gave me back to heal the decaying on top of my usual 100 percent, what about the rest?"

"Izuku, I transferred all 80 percent of that power back to you, all but 10 percent was used faster than it could restore."

Izuku stuttered. "W-We bu-urnt through s-seventy percent of One For All's power?"

"It was for a good cause." Toshinori nodded. "Now, about my time limit-"

"Wait, that wasn't the thing you wanted to tell me about? That was all the explanation?" Izuku blurted out.

"It was." Toshinori made a right turn. "My limit is just over two hours, but we found a way to increase it."

"You have?" Izuku asked, wide-eyed. "How?"

"Because of you." Toshinori smirked. "When you and I combined our power to supercharge that regeneration quirk of yours, it didn't just heal you, it affected me too."

"It healed you?" Izuku's eyes shone. "Like, fully?"

Toshinori shook his head. "The scar is still there, and I only have one lung, but my stomach was completely regrown."

"Then that means you could rebuild muscle mass, reduce the rate at which you're depleting One For All!" Izuku spiraled into frantic mumbling, too fast for human ears to understand.

"Izuku."

"Yep, sorry." Izuku shook his head. "So what are you going to do now?"

"Same thing you and your classmates will be doing for the Sports Festival. Training."

Izuku nodded. "We could train together."

Toshinori couldn't have stopped himself from smiling even if he'd wanted to. "Izuku, my boy, I would be honoured."

The green-haired boy blushed, suddenly nervous that his childhood hero wanted to train with him.

"We're here." Toshinori pulled into the car park, finding a spot and cutting the engine. "Let's go, shall we, Young Izuku!"

Toshinori bulked up into his hero form, giving Izuku a thumbs up.

RIP!

Izuku's eyes widened, choking back a laugh.

Toshinori deflated back to normal.

"That sounded bad." Toshinori commented, before looking down to see his suit jacket had been turned to shreds. "I forgot this jacket wasn't one of the stretchy ones Power Loader made for me."

The hero and student got out of the car, the former pulling his destroyed jacket off and throwing it back into the car.

"That was a mistake, I'll just have to do without."

Izuku smiled, an idea forming in his head. "All, I mean, Toshinori, what were the measurements for the jacket?"

Toshinori frowned in confusion, before grabbing the jacket and handing it to his successor.

Flipping it over, Izuku read the tag, using his Perfect Recall quirk to store the information, and then dredged up a long-past memory of watching a textile documentary in class.

Holding up his arm, pink and blue sparkles fluttered around his skin as he created a bundle of yellow material from it. Taking the material, Izuku shook it out to reveal it was a suit jacket, almost identical to the one Toshinori had destroyed.

Toshinori took the offered jacket, slowly pulling it on, finding it an almost perfect fit. "That was Young Yaoyorozu's quirk, wasn't it? To have such a grasp on it so soon."

Izuku rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I copied a quirk that gives me a perfect memory, but I can't create very much before I run out of stores."

Toshinori nodded, before smirking. "So, you copied Creation from Yaoyorozu when she visited you in the infirmary yesterday, right? Doesn't it require physical contact?"

Izuku blushed as they ascended the stairs of the apartment building. "N-No, it was nothing like, we, she just held my hand."

"Did she now?"

The green-haired boy's cheeks somehow managed to get redder, his speech becoming near-incoherent. "W-Wait, that, she-"

Toshinori chuckled, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Relax, I'm just pulling your leg."

Izuku calmed down, realising that they were stood at the front door of his home.

"Are you coming in?" Izuku queried, pulling on the straps of his backpack.

Toshinori nodded. "I am, but as Mr. Yagi, your teacher, and not, you know…"

Izuku knew exactly what he meant.

"There's actually something I should tell you about before we go in now I think about it." Toshinori rubbed the back of his head nervously. "I actually introduced myself to-"

The No.1 Hero was cut off when the door opened, revealing Inko.

"Mr. Yagi!" Inko squeaked, her cheeks tinting slightly pink. "W-When U.A. rang, I didn't realise they'd be sending you."

Izuku narrowed his eyes, looking first at his mom and then his mentor, before back again. "Wait, what?"

"Izuku."

The green-haired boy was pulled inside the apartment and swallowed up in one of his mom's hugs, he hadn't realised how much he needed it until now.

Toshinori stepped in afterwards, closing the door behind himself.

"Are you okay?" Inko let go of her son, taking his hand. "Were you hurt?"

Now it was Izuku's turn to look nervous. "Er, I copied a regeneration quirk?"

That had been the wrong thing to say. "You healed? How bad was it? Was it-"

"It was bad, but I did do it to myself." Izuku answered honestly.

"To yourself?" Inko looked frantic. "Is this the first one you copied? The one that broke your arm and legs in the entrance exam?"

Izuku paused, before nodding. "It is, the more quirks I copy the stronger it becomes, and the more it hurts me."

Inko sat down on the couch, Izuku sitting next to her, while Toshinori took the armchair.

"I want to ask you to stop using that quirk." Inko said, making her son's eyes go wide. "But I'm not, I spent so many years not believing in your dream, and I'm not going to do it again. Izuku, I believe you can master that quirk, so it doesn't hurt you."

Izuku began to tear up, prompting his mom to do the same, as they hugged again.

Inko nodded. "I love you, Izuku."

"Thanks, mom." Izuku smiled. "For believing in me."

The two broke apart, before Inko suddenly realised that Toshinori was still there.

Inko started, before jumping to her feet. "Oh, Mr. Yagi, would you like some tea, some coffee, maybe something to eat?"

"Coffee would be great." Toshinori smiled at Inko, making her blush slightly again.

"Of course, I was brewing some before you arrived." Inko went into the kitchen, clanking sounds echoing back to Toshinori and Izuku. "I picked up some high-calorie biscuits as well."

Inko returned to the living room, placing a tray down on the coffee table.

"Here we are."

"Thank you very much, Ms. Midoriya." Toshinori smiled and nodded, accepting a coffee.

Izuku sat on the sofa, entirely nonplussed. "What is going on?"

Inko looked at her son. "What did you say, honey?"

"How? How do you know To-Mr. Yagi?" Izuku questioned.

Toshinori spoke. "I met your mother before I started training you, to ask for her permission."

"You did?" Izuku questioned, before coming to realisation. "Mom, that's why you were so quick to accommodate my meal plan."

Inko nodded. "It is, I have to admit I was surprised that All Might's secretary wanted to train you to be a hero."

That told Izuku what he needed to know, his mom didn't know Toshinori was All Might.

And what was more pressing was that his mom and All Might were friends, they'd been meeting up the entire time he'd been training for U.A., in the end, Izuku found it kind of funny.

Most kids would have been upset by this, but not Izuku. He wasn't stupid, he could see the looks the two were giving each other over their drinks.

Mom deserves to be happy, I would never stand in the way of that.

Izuku stood. "Er, I'm going to go for a run."

"A run?" Inko's attention turned to her son. "Are you sure you shouldn't be resting?"

The green-haired boy shook his head. "No, I just need to clear my head after, you know, what happened yesterday. I-I'll just leave you two to your conversation."

Izuku went to his bedroom, changing into a set of workout clothes, and heading out with a goodbye to his mom and Toshinori, leaving them alone.

Out on the balcony, Izuku pulled on his headphones and set off.

Toru stood in the middle of her bedroom, its sparse contents had been packed in boxes and loaded into the back of Eraserhead's car.

All that was left was her bed, a child's, far too cramped for her teenage self, and her wardrobe, a battered old relic, with two holes her father's fist had made.

"It's funny." Toru said, her tone suggesting it was anything but. "Ever since I can remember I wanted to escape, to leave him this room behind. Now that day's come and I feel scared. Somehow, I know I'll miss it in some way."

"Change is scary." Akatani spoke, stepping forward to stand at the invisible girl's side. "But you can't be afraid to move on, to move past them."

Toru nodded. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier. How do you do it?"

Akatani started slightly. "Oh, you mean moving foster homes."

Toru nodded.

"Well, you just kind of get used to it, I don't really remember how many homes it's been, or how many more it's going to be." Akatani paused. "I just know that when I moving to a home, I'll be leaving again."

"That sounds sad." Toru commented.

"It is." Akatani shrugged. "But that's just the way it is."

"Why did you never, you know, get adopted?"

Akatani stiffened. "Because I'm quirkless, no-one wants a quirkless kid. Not even foster parents, not for long."

Toru frowned. "Doesn't it get lonely?"

"It did."

"Did?"

Akatani shuffled nervously. "Yeah, I've got people now, haven't I? Izuku, Hatsume. You."

Toru smirked. "I guess you have."

"Yeah." Akatani had a realisation. "I should probably be telling Izuku that we're brothers, shouldn't I?"

Toru shrugged. "He's figured it out already, the day of the press break-in."

"How do you know that?"

"I eavesdropped on him and All Might." Toru answered plainly. "The two of them looked pretty close, like they've known each other for a while."

Akatani made a choked cry. "Hagakure! You can't just listen in on people's conversions."

"It's fine, besides I didn't hear much, I was worried one of Midoriya's new quirks might be able to detect me." Toru frowned. "I need you to do something for me."

"O-Okay?"

"Please don't call me that name." Toru looked Akatani in the eyes, unable to ignore the scar she had given him the day before. "I don't want to be reminded of them, just call me Toru."

"S-Sur-re." Akatani stuttered. "T-Then you should at-t least call me Mikumo."

"It's a deal, Mikumo." Toru beamed, wishing that the dark-haired boy could see her smile.

"Woah!" Mikumo pointed to her face. "A part of you just flashed! Like, just your face"

Toru tilted her head. "It did?"

Mikumo nodded. "Yeah, it was really bright, so you can change your refractive index in different parts of your body then? Not just the whole thing?"

"I, I don't really know." Toru said. "I've never really tried that, my p-parents can't do that, so I never tried."

Mikumo shrugged, before his eyes strayed to a mirror, jammed down the side of the wardrobe.

Toru followed his line of sight. "Oh, that, I can't really use that anymore, I haven't been able to for a long time."

"A long time?" Mikumo looked puzzled. "But your quirk, weren't you born invisible?"

"I wasn't, no." Toru answered. "I didn't get my quirk till I was nearly five, but I didn't go invisible all the time until I was eight."

"You used to be able to turn your invisibility on and off?" Mikumo questioned, this disproved so many of his assumptions about her quirk, it was exciting.

"Not really, more that I had to turn my visibility on and off, over time it got harder and harder until one day I couldn't do it anymore." Toru sighed.

"Do you miss it?"

Toru hesitated, uncertain. "I didn't, but think I'm starting to. To miss being seen."

"I see you." Mikumo smiled, using his uncanny senses to look her in the eyes.

"Thanks, I needed that." Toru placed her hand on Mikumo's arm. "And thanks for staying with me, and Izuku, in the infirmary last night."

Mikumo shrugged awkwardly. "I-It's okay, I couldn't sleep anyway, I just worked in my armor."

"Sorry."

Mikumo frowned. "About what?"

"About what? I hurt you, I damaged your armor." Toru argued.

"It's fine, armor can be fixed, you gave me a small cut, it's already healed." Mikumo took Toru's hand. "What's important is that you are safe, alive."

"But you weren't safe, if you hadn't said what you did." Toru paused, struggling to find the right words. "I'm not sure I would have stopped, I terrified that I would have killed you."

Mikumo shook his head. "You wouldn't have, I know that. You couldn't safely defy them, until then."

"Couldn't I? Couldn't I just have run away one night?"

"And go where?" Mikumo asked. "You'd have just been a missing child to be tracked down and returned home, no questions asked."

Toru looked up. "You sound like you have experience."

"I do. Not every foster parent gets into it for the love of raising children."

"Your foster parents, they're not-"

Mikumo shook his head. "No, no, that was a long time ago, not long after Snipe found me on the streets."

"It's time to go."

Toru and Mikumo suddenly realised they were still holding hands. The two teens blushed bright red, Toru's hidden by her invisibility, and broke apart, stammering their excuses.

Aizawa sighed. "I don't care, the car's packed."

Toru nodded. "Okay, time to go, I guess."

"It's okay if you're scared to leave." Aizawa assured her, echoing Mikumo's words.

"I know, but I have to, I need to." Toru froze, staring at the mirror down the side of the wardrobe.

The invisible girl dashed forwards, pulling the mirror out and holding it.

"I'm taking this as well."

Aizawa shrugged. "Whatever, there's space."

With that, the two teens and the teacher left the bedroom and out of the apartment door.

Toru stopped in the doorway, turning back to the rundown apartment that had been her home since she was born.

"So long, I guess."

The door closed, and Toru knew she would never see the place again.

Locking the door, its paint chipped and cracked, Toru she held up the key. She stared at it for a few seconds, before posting it through the door.

Toru turned to Aizawa. "I'm ready to go."

Dropping the microwave on the pile, away from the beach, Izuku turned back to face it, once again clean and usable.

"Nice work, kid!"

Izuku nodded to the passerby, with a nervous smile.

Walking down onto the beach, Izuku sat down and slipped into his quirkspace.

It was like a sky full of stars, all different colours, swirling around him.

It was overwhelming.

Holding out his hand, Izuku charged Quirksmith though it, summoning the four Speed quirks he now held, one he'd copied on Tuesday, during the stampede, the other three from the day before, copied from villains.

Bringing the same thrum of One For All as what he had used to create Rockhard into his arms, Izuku pushed it into the four quirks.

The four quirks, coloured white, red, a darker red and purple, glowed silver, before each one fused with another, leaving two silver quirks hanging in front of Izuku, before they fused again.

Izuku touched the remaining quirk.

Speed, created by Izuku Midoriya, aged 15, on April 15th 2179. Type, Emitter. Compound of four Speed quirks, gives the holder a x9.2 passive increase to their natural speed and agility.

"I can fuse copies of the same quirks more than once." Izuku expanded the new Speed quirk, he manipulated one of the strands. "I can still alter it like a simple quirk, the effect stacks, like in an inventory of a video game."

Reaching out again, Izuku summoned the six Strength quirks he had, ready to do the same thing he'd done to the Speed quirks, before pausing.

"What if I merged a Strength quirk with another quirk?" Izuku tilted his head. "Would it still grant me enhanced strength? Or enhance the effect of the quirk it's fused with?"

Summoning the two Stretch quirks he had, one that would stretch his arms, the other his neck, Izuku fused them into a single quirk.

Stretch, created by Izuku Midoriya, aged 15, on April 15th 2179. Type, Transformation. Compound of two Stretch quirks, allows the holder to stretch their arms and neck.

"Okay, so now if I…"

Taking a Strength quirk, the weakest one, a modifier of x0.4, just in case it denatured, Izuku flared One For All's power, fusing it with the Stretch quirk.

The fusion worked, the silver quirk hovering in front of him.

Super-Stretch, created by Izuku Midoriya, aged 15, on April 15th 2179. Type, Transformation. Compound of two Stretch quirks and Strength, allows the holder to turn their body into a rubber-like material that can flex and stretch.

Izuku smiled, excitement rising within him.

Dropping out of quirkspace and back into the real world, Izuku stood, activating Super-Stretch, examining his arm. Taking his other hand, he poked his arm with his finger, watching as it deformed like rubber.

Izuku activated Rockhard in parallel with Super-Stretch, to see what the combined effect would be. Poking the stone arm, Izuku watched as it deformed again, but it was definitely harder to do than before. More like hardened rubber.

What if I use this combination when I wield One For All?

The green-haired boy almost called on the immensely powerful quirk before realising exactly where he was.

Or maybe later.

Katsuki stomped up the apartment building stairs with his usual prickly attitude.

Reaching the nerd's floor, Katsuki slammed the door to the balcony open and mooched his way down, passing an emaciated man in a yellow suit on his way.

Stopping, Katsuki turned to look back at the emaciated man, that suit, it looked familiar.

Nah, that fucking skeleton isn't All Might, no fucking way.

Stopping at the door to the apartment, Katsuki knocked.

A few seconds passed, before the door opened to reveal Inko.

"Toshi, is there something you, oh, Katsuki!"

"Auntie Inko." Katsuki greeted, with the smirk that passed for a smile for him.

Inko opened the door wider, motioning for Katsuki to enter.

"It's so good to see you, it's been what? Seven months since your mother's birthday party, right?"

Katsuki grunted in agreement. "I was looking for the ne-, for Midoriya."

Inko smiled, with a small laugh. "There's no need to be so formal, you and Izuku have been friends since you were in nappies, although, you always did try your best to get out of them."

Katsuki frowned.

Has the nerd never mentioned that they weren't friends anymore, that they hadn't been for a long time?

"Force of habit." Katsuki shugged, hoping to deflect.

"Sure, actually, Izuku's gone for a run, you know him, he never stays still." Inko was straightening up the living room, the used tray of coffee and biscuits showing she'd recently had a guest, or guests.

Was it the skeleton?

"First it was the quirk analysis, now he spends all this time in his quirkspace tinkering with those quirks of his." Inko stopped fixing the cushions, looking at Katsuki. "Enough about that, I'm sure he bores you to death with quirk talk enough as it is. You can wait in his bedroom if you want."

Katsuki shrugged. "Sure, whatever."

Instead of reprimanding him or yelling at him, Inko just shot him a warm smile.

All it did was remind Katsuki of how much he'd wished Inko had been his mother instead of the old hag when he was younger.

Who am I kidding, I still wish she was my mother.

Katsuki trudged to Izuku's bedroom door, made obvious by the All Might-themed nameplate, opening it and entering, before shutting it closed behind himself.

It was like taking a step back in time, by about eight years.

All Might posters, as well as a few of Kamui Woods, the Wild Wild Pussycats and Ingenium. Figures of heroes, mostly of the No.1 Hero, were displayed pride of place on a shelf above his desk.

Katsuki examined the room, comparing it to how he remembered it the last time he'd been in it, when he and the nerd were still seven.

The major differences were the larger bed and a tall bookshelf, the latter filled with books on analysis, hero guides and the those stupid notebooks that the nerd was always scribbling in.

Walking to the bookshelf, Katsuki pulled the first hero notebook out of it and opened it.

On the first page wasn't All Might like Katsuki was expecting, but himself.

Below a crayon drawing of five-year old Katsuki was a torrent of words, Izuku's childish writing gushing over the blond boy and his quirk.

Katsuki couldn't force himself to read anymore of it, he closed it and returned it to its place on the shelf, instead plucking another notebook, number seven this time.

Opening it, Katsuki saw himself again, the drawing was much better, showing a nine-year old version of Katsuki using his quirk. The analysis was also much improved, listing his abilities, possible future applications for his quirk, some of which Katsuki noted were ones he had now discovered himself, as well as his weaknesses and how he could be beaten without using a quirk.

Without a quirk? Did the nerd really not know he had a quirk, did his father mess with his memories as well?

Closing the notebook, Katsuki swapped it for the tenth volume, opening it up.

Again, an improved analysis of Katsuki was on the first page, but the notable thing to the blond teen was the folded piece of paper that fluttered out of it and onto the floor.

Closing the notebook and dropping it onto the desk, Katsuki bent down and picked up the piece of paper.

Standing up, Katsuki unfolded the paper, it was a letter.

Dear Mom,

I'm sorry. It's my fault, I should do this to you, but I can't keep going, I can't...

Katsuki's legs gave out, he flopped to the floor, his back against the side of the bed.

He knew what this was in an instant, this wasn't a letter, it was a suicide note.

It wasn't long, apologising for his quirklessness and the burden he was to his mother, and how he could never become a hero.

The door opened, Katsuki didn't even have time to pretend he wasn't reading the note, not that he even tried.

"A suicide note?" Katsuki questioned, looking up at Izuku, stood in his doorway, sweaty and lightly covered in sand.

"Huh, you found it." Izuku's reaction was muted, almost like it was something he'd been expecting.

"What, where's the fucking stuttering? The nervousness?" Katsuki demanded angrily, unaware of the tears forming in his eyes. "When? When did you write this?"

Izuku sighed, pulling up his desk chair, sitting in it, facing his childhood friend. "Remember that week in the first year of middle school when I was off with the flu?"

Katsuki nodded numbly.

"It wasn't the flu."

The blond teen wasn't sure what to say to that.

He tried to kill himself?

"Was it me?" Katsuki's voice was barely more than a whisper. "Am I why? Why you tried, did-"

"Are you why I tried to kill myself?" Izuku supplied, before shrugging noncommittally.

"That's not an answer." Katsuki raised his head to look at the green-haired boy.

"No, it's isn't."

"Then give me one."

Izuku sighed. "I won't lie to you, Kacchan."

That told Katsuki everything he needed to know.

Izuku tried to kill himself because of me.

Katsuki dropped the note, clenching his fists.

I really am a villain-in-waiting, just like the old hag said.

"You were part of the reason, I wanted to be your friend like we used to be, but you just shrugged me off for no reason, it hurt." Izuku held out another piece of paper, this one an actual letter. "But this was most of the reason why I did it."

Katsuki took the letter, and read it.

It was a reply to fan mail, from Endeavor, or more accurately an employee of his. Clearly the nerd had written to the No.2 Hero, asking if he could be a hero without a quirk. The response was less than pleasant, large parts of it detailed how quirkless people couldn't be heroes, implied that they were less intelligent than quirked people, and all-in-all vaguely suggested that any quirkless person should kill themselves because in a couple of generations they'd be gone anyway.

It was disgusting.

"Did you not report this?" Katsuki asked, looking up from the letter.

Izuku nodded. "Yeah, after, you know."

Katsuki knew.

"The Hero Commission investigated it, all they did was caution him for inappropriate language." Izuku shrugged. "Last I heard, he's the events manager for Hawks' hero agency."

Katsuki felt sick, that they'd seen this and found it only had 'inappropriate language'.

"Why didn't you go public?"

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think they would side with? The Hero Commission? Or some random kid with no quirk? Most people don't just agree with what's written in that letter, they openly preach it everyday, like those boys on the train, you know, the one who were hassling Akatani."

"I said these things as well, to you." Katsuki's mouth was dry, his tongue felt like sandpaper.

Izuku nodded. "You did, and I will never forget them. But I can forgive them."

Katsuki looked up.

"I forgive you, Kacchan."

"Why? You don't even know why I treated you that way!" Katsuki argued. "Why aren't you angry? Why don't you hate me?"

Izuku shrugged. "I guess getting angry isn't in my nature."

"Bullshit, everyone gets angry at some point, everyone."

"I had a dream last night, of the day we were at that playground, you know, the one that's a shopping mall now." Izuku spoke, changing the subject.

Katsuki remembered that day well, after all, Nigata had forced him to relive a memory of it the day before.

"Except, in my dream, the day went differently, I had a quirk, I had Quirksmith, I had a copy of All For One." Izuku paused. "And I accidentally stole your quirk with it, and then my dad, my father, did something to me and I forgot all about Quirksmith, I lost access to it, all the quirks I'd copied, gone."

Katsuki hesitated, before making his decision. "Your father is the Merchant of Quirks."

"I know." Izuku answered simply. "I've known for a few days now, All Might recognised the similarity."

"He messed with your quirk, made it weak to hide it, didn't he?"

"I think so." Izuku sighed. "He made me effectively quirkless, just so his life, his cover, was safe."

"Bastard."

Izuku's lips twitched. "Agreed."

Katsuki looked back down at the note, the words already etched into his brain. "Why do you keep this?"

Izuku gave a wan smile. "It's for when I'm feeling hopeless or upset, I read again, it reminds me how far I've come, it encourages me to keep going, to reach my dream."

The green-haired boy clenched his fist, looking Katsuki dead in the eyes.

"I'm going to be a hero, Kacchan."