The rooftop wind thundered against the metal door as it clanged shut behind them. All Might set Izuku down on the concrete, chest still heaving from the rescue.
Izuku steadied himself on shaking legs. The adrenaline fading left his limbs numb and heavy.
All Might towered over him.
"Young man! That was incredibly reckless!"
Izuku bowed sharply.
"I—I know! But I couldn't just watch!"
All Might hesitated. The boy's voice carried fear, yes—but it also carried conviction.
Before All Might could scold him further, steam erupted from his shoulders.
Izuku widened his eyes, acting startled—just slightly less than canon.
"W-What happened to you?!"
All Might grimaced as more steam hissed from his body.
"This… this is what remains of me. Five years ago, I suffered a grievous injury. My respiratory system and stomach were destroyed. Now I can only hold my muscle form for… roughly three hours a day."
Izuku stared.
Seeing this on TV was one thing.
But watching All Might shrink into a gaunt, skeletal man… the ribs visible under his shirt, the way his limbs trembled…
Yeah… seeing this up close is way scarier.
He swallowed hard—but kept his expression steady.
"Even like this… you still save people," Izuku said quietly.
All Might froze.
It wasn't a fanboy's scream.
It wasn't pity.
It wasn't fear.
It was respect. Pure and steady.
"…Young man," All Might murmured, "what is your quirk?"
Izuku inhaled.
"I'm quirkless, All Might."
All Might blinked. "Quirkless…? And you rushed in to save that girl regardless?"
"Yeah," Izuku said simply. "My body kind of moved on its own."
A line straight from canon—
but this time, Izuku mentally smirked.
Here it is. The moment.
All Might studied him carefully.
Even quirkless children… talk like this? No. This kid… something about him is different.
Izuku cleared his throat.
"U-Um, All Might… c-can you sign my notebook?"
All Might snapped upright.
"A-Ah! Yes! A fan request is always an honor!"
He scribbled his signature quickly, coughing up more steam.
Izuku held the notebook to his chest… then took a breath.
"All Might… there's something I want to ask."
The hero paused.
Izuku lifted his gaze with trembling determination.
"Back then… my teacher said it's suicide to become a hero without a quirk. But…"
His chest tightened, heart pounding.
"…Can I become a hero without a quirk?"
The rooftop fell silent.
The city noise.
The wind.
The hum of traffic.
Everything seemed to fade.
All Might's expression softened with deep regret.
He remembered the chase today.
Izuku sprinting forward with nothing but fear and resolve.
No quirk.
No backup.
Just pure, desperate courage.
A mirror of his past self.
"…I'm sorry, young man," All Might said slowly. "I cannot lie to you."
Izuku braced himself.
"A hero's job is dangerous. Many with powerful quirks die in the line of duty. You… without one… would not simply risk your life. You would certainly lose it. And someone else might die trying to rescue you."
Izuku's fingers curled.
He forced his expression not to break.
I already knew this… but hearing it straight from him hurts more than I thought.
"When I saw you charge in," All Might continued softly, "I thought you were brave. But it was also reckless. If things had gone differently… you would not be standing here."
Izuku looked down, teeth sinking into his lip.
I know… I know… but still—
"But you can still become a police officer," All Might added with a smile. "Their job is honorable too."
Izuku's heart twisted.
A voice crackled suddenly from his pocket radio.
"Sludge villain sighted—rampaging in District XX!"
All Might froze.
"Didn't Death Arms capture him earlier…?"
He stepped away from Izuku.
"I must go. Farewell, young man."
He leapt off the rooftop.
Izuku stood alone, watching him disappear.
"…All Might," he whispered.
"…I guess the next part begins now."
Later that day…
As All Might rushed across rooftops in his weakened form, a familiar thought clawed at him.
That kid… he reminded me of myself.
His own quirkless past.
His own hopeless dreams.
His own reckless courage.
But the rules he followed now…
The harsh reality…
He clenched his jaw.
"Damn it…"
---
Night falls — Near the Midoriya household
Izuku walked home at a normal pace—pretending to sulk for the sake of timeline accuracy—but inwardly he was alert.
All Might should arrive right about…
A gust of wind rushed behind him.
"YOUNG MAN!"
Izuku jumped slightly—not faking this one. The impact of the landing was heavy.
All Might kneeled, barely holding his muscle form together.
"Y-You again?" Izuku said softly.
All Might raised a trembling finger.
"You told me your body moved on its own."
Izuku nodded.
"And when I saw you throw yourself at danger to save that girl… without anyone telling you to… without a quirk…"
All Might exhaled deeply—
and smiled.
"A true hero does that."
Izuku blinked.
His chest tightened.
All Might clenched his fists.
"Heroes… are those who do the right thing! Even when afraid! Even when powerless!"
The words struck Izuku like lightning.
Here it is… the moment every fan dreams of.
All Might pointed at him.
"YOU CAN BECOME A HERO!"
Izuku's breath hitched.
Even knowing this would happen—
even being reincarnated—
he couldn't stop the shock, the warmth, the raw emotion swelling inside him.
All Might continued:
"Young man, I am here today because… you inspired me. Your actions reminded me what it means to save someone. You saved that girl. You acted when even pros hesitated."
Izuku felt tears sting his eyes.
All Might's voice trembled.
"Young Midoriya… you may be quirkless. But your heart, your courage… they are worthy of being a hero."
Izuku clenched his fists.
This was it.
The turning point.
All Might straightened his back, steam rising again.
"Tomorrow… meet me at Dagobah Beach."
Izuku looked up.
All Might grinned, wide and heroic.
"I will tell you everything there!"
Izuku nodded, voice breaking.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
And as All Might leapt away, the last of the steam dissolving into the night sky—
Izuku whispered to himself:
Tomorrow… One For All begins.