"Izuku? Izuku!"
"Huh? What is it, Mom?"
"What do you mean what is it? Why are you staring blankly like a dried-up fish?"Inko Midoriya looked at him with concern.
"…It's nothing."
Izuku put down his chopsticks.
"I'm done eating. I'm going out for training."
He changed clothes and ran out.
Behind him—
Inko hesitated… then quietly followed, holding her phone.
But Izuku wasn't training at all.
He walked slowly along the river—
Kicking small stones as he went.
"…Yeah… I guess it's completely hopeless this time…"
"It's fine if I fail… I can start thinking seriously about my future…"
"…But… is it really impossible for me to get into U.A.?"
His thoughts spiraled—
And suddenly—
He broke down.
"…I failed All Might…!"
"I'm still useless…!!"
His voice grew louder and louder—
Thankfully, the riverside was empty.
"…I can't cry anymore…"
Izuku wiped his face roughly.
"If I keep crying, Mom will notice… and she'll worry again…"
He stood up.
"…No matter what—training continues."
"The next 20 kilometers… let's go!"
He wiped his face again—
And ran.
Behind him—
Inko quietly wiped her tears.
"…He's trying so hard… even now…"
Half an hour later—
Izuku returned home, completely exhausted.
Today—
He had run 30 kilometers.
"…That was too much… huh… huh…"
He opened the door—
And froze.
"Mom… what are you doing?"
Inko stood there—
Holding an envelope.
Her expression was tense.
"Izuku—you're back!"
"Hurry! This came from U.A.!"
"…What?!"
Izuku grabbed the envelope and rushed into his room, locking the door behind him.
Twenty minutes later—
Unable to wait any longer—
He tore it open.
Something round fell out.
"…This isn't a letter… what is this?"
Suddenly—
A projection appeared.
"I AM HERE!"
"WHAA—?! Please stop doing that!!"
It was All Might—in holographic form.
"Sorry for the delay! There were many procedures, so I couldn't contact you sooner!"
Behind him, it looked like a recording studio.
"The reason I came to this city…"
"…was because I am now working at U.A. High School."
All Might… at U.A…?!
Suddenly—
Someone off-screen waved at him.
"Ah! What is it? I'm busy! Yes, yes—I know!"
Then—
All Might turned serious.
"Even if you pass the written exam…"
"Scoring zero in combat would normally mean failure."
Those words struck Izuku like a blade.
I knew it… I knew it…!
But still… it hurts…!
"…But it's not over yet."
All Might pressed a remote.
"Let's take a look at this footage!"
The screen lit up.
A familiar face appeared.
"…That girl…!"
It was the girl he had saved.
"I'm sorry… but please…!" she said nervously.
All Might paused the video.
"She came to speak to the exam staff immediately after the test!"
"She insisted on negotiating something!"
The video resumed.
"Um… there was a boy with green hair… kind of messy… really intense…"
Izuku froze.
"She's talking about me…!"
"Could you… give him some combat points?" she asked.
"At least one point…! I heard him say it…"
"…So I thought… he probably got zero…"
Izuku's eyes widened.
"…She… did that for me…?"
"At least… I wanted to make up for what happened because of me…!" she said, bowing deeply.
All Might paused the video again.
"You didn't just demonstrate power…"
"Your actions moved others."
The video resumed.
"He saved my life!!"
All Might appeared again, crossing his arms in an X.
"The entrance exam is not only about defeating enemies!"
The footage continued—
An instructor gently placed a hand on the girl's head.
"I can't divide the points like that… but honestly…"
"…there's no need to."
The video ended.
All Might spread his arms wide.
"What I'm trying to say is this—"
"If a Hero course rejects people who save others…"
"…then what kind of Heroes would they become?!"
"You think that's just empty talk?!"
"I built my career on those ideals!!"
"Rescue points!"
"And yes—it's part of the scoring system!"
"It's one of the most important qualities U.A. values!!"
All Might raised his voice—
"Izuku Midoriya!!!"
"60 points!!!"
"And the girl you saved—Ochaco Uraraka—45 points!!!"
Izuku stared, stunned.
"This is… too much…"
"In other words—"
"You passed."
All Might reached toward the screen.
"Welcome, young Midoriya."
"U.A. is your Hero academy now!"
"…YES!!!"
Izuku burst into tears—
Then sprinted out of his room.
He threw open the door—
And rushed straight into his mother's arms.
"Mom!! I got in!! I got into U.A.!!!"
Later that night—
Even in his sleep—
Izuku couldn't stop thinking about it.
I actually got into U.A…!!
I really made it…!!
Slowly—
He drifted deeper into sleep.
And then—
He began to dream.
He stood in a familiar park—
The one where he used to play with Katsuki Bakugo as a child.
A figure stood there.
"…Who are you?"
"…So even after losing your memories, you don't recognize me…"
The man's face was unclear.
"…Fine. Then take this—my compensation."
He handed Izuku a strange belt.
"…What is this?"
"This is something I owe you."
"But it's special."
"You'll need to find someone you truly trust."
"Then kneel before them and swear a knight's oath."
"If they accept it—"
"You'll gain power."
"And so will they."
"…What does that even mean?"
"I can't tell you everything."
"You'll have to figure it out yourself."
The figure stepped closer—
And pinched Izuku's cheek.
"…Still soft. Just like before."
Then—
He disappeared.
When Izuku woke up the next morning—
His face hurt.
"…Did I… pinch myself in my sleep?"
His hands were empty.
"…Was it just a dream…?"