Izuku had only one thought left.
Kacchan.
Everything else fell away.
He had to move. Now.
His mind searched desperately for something to hold onto—anything.
Then it clicked.
Page twenty-five.
Take the initiative. Control the opening.
"Then I go first."
He hurled his backpack straight at the sludge villain.
The creature let out a low, mocking laugh. "Charging in without a plan? You're desperate."
The bag burst open midair. Books, pens, and loose items scattered, breaking the smooth flow of the sludge just enough.
That moment was all Izuku needed.
He rushed forward and plunged his arm into the shifting mass, grabbing for Bakugo.
The reaction was immediate.
"Agh—!"
A pen had driven straight into one of the villain's eyes.
The slime around Bakugo's face loosened. He dragged in a harsh breath, coughing.
"Why would you run in here?!" Bakugo snapped, voice raw.
"I didn't think!" Izuku shot back, still pulling. "My body just moved!"
His hands kept working, slipping through the unstable surface.
"You looked like you needed help!"
For a brief second, his voice wavered.
Then his focus sharpened again.
Eyes.
He changed tactics instantly.
Instead of pulling, he stepped onto Bakugo's shoulder and pushed himself upward.
"What are you doing?!" Bakugo shouted.
"Getting you out!"
The sludge lashed out, a tendril snapping toward him.
Izuku didn't hesitate. He pulled the broken knife from his pocket and drove it down.
The blade sank in.
A wet, tearing sound followed.
"AAARGH!"
The villain's body convulsed, its shape collapsing into chaos.
Bakugo slipped free, dropping to the ground, limbs heavy and unresponsive.
Izuku landed beside him, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him away.
"You little—! I'll kill you!" the villain roared, surging forward again.
The sludge rushed toward them.
Too fast.
Too close.
"Damn it—!"
Then—
A figure dropped between them.
"I learned something today," All Might said.
He stepped forward, raising his fist.
"I told you that heroes must risk their lives… and then I hesitated."
His voice carried across the street, steady and resolute.
"That's not what a hero does."
He drew his arm back.
"A hero commits."
"DETROIT SMASH!"
The punch shattered the sludge in an instant.
A violent shockwave tore through the street. Wind roared outward, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When it settled, the sky above had shifted—clouds drawn in, rain beginning to fall.
"Is it raining?"
"That punch… did it change the weather?"
"That's All Might…!"
The fight was over.
The villain was contained. The danger was gone.
—
Izuku didn't get a chance to process any of it.
The pro heroes surrounded him almost immediately.
"What were you thinking?!"
"That was reckless!"
"You could have died!"
"I'm sorry," Izuku said, bowing his head. He didn't argue.
A few steps away, the mood was completely different.
"That was impressive!"
"Your Quirk is incredible!"
"You've got real potential—think about joining an agency someday!"
Bakugo stood there in silence, jaw tight, eyes shadowed.
—
By the time Izuku left, the sun was already low in the sky.
The street had quieted, washed in warm, fading light.
I should apologize to All Might…
Maybe there's a way to reach him…
"Hey."
Izuku turned.
Bakugo stood behind him, a few steps away.
"You think you helped me or something?" he said sharply. "Don't get it twisted."
His hands trembled slightly.
"I didn't need saving. I handled it."
Izuku met his gaze.
"That's not true."
Bakugo's expression tightened.
"You were in trouble."
"Shut up," Bakugo snapped. "Idiot."
He turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.
Izuku watched him go.
He hates needing help…
Izuku looked down.
I didn't really fix anything…
Nothing changed.
Maybe… I need to think more carefully about what I can actually do.
He let out a quiet breath.
At least… I hope no one finds out about that knife.
He adjusted his bag and kept walking.
—
"I am here!"
The voice cut through the quiet.
Izuku jumped.
"All Might?!"
The hero stood in front of him again, as if he had simply stepped out of the air.
"Weren't you surrounded by reporters?" Izuku asked.
All Might grinned. "Getting away from them is easy—because I am All—!"
He stopped mid-sentence, coughing as his body deflated back to its thin form.
"—there it is again—! Wait, tissues—!" Izuku started digging through his pocket.
"Forget that," All Might said, raising a hand. "I came to thank you. And to correct myself."
His expression turned serious.
"If I hadn't seen what you did today…"
He paused.
"I might have been lying to myself."
Izuku froze. "…Lying?"
"I'm sorry," Izuku said quickly, lowering his head. "This was my fault. I got in the way. I don't even have a Quirk, and I still said all that—"
"All the more reason," All Might interrupted.
Izuku looked up.
"Out of everyone there, you were the only one who moved," All Might said. "You were scared. You knew you didn't have the power to win. And you still ran in."
Izuku felt his chest tighten.
"Top heroes describe moments like that the same way," All Might continued. "Their bodies move before they can think."
Izuku's hand rose to his chest.
His heartbeat felt uneven.
"…That was you, wasn't it?"
"…Yes."
The answer came quietly.
He dropped to his knees, head bowed.
All Might smiled.
"You can become a hero."
For a moment, everything else fell away.
The doubt. The hesitation. The weight pressing down on him.
It all settled.
And what remained was clear—and unshakable.