Izuku brushed his fingers against his cheek as he ran, wincing slightly.
"How hard did I hit myself yesterday…?"
The swelling hadn't gone down at all. It throbbed faintly with each step.
He frowned, still not fully convinced of what had happened. It felt too vivid to be a dream, but too strange to accept as reality.
His stride remained steady as his thoughts drifted.
If I'm going to say it… it has to be to him.
The image of All Might—not in his towering form, but the thinner, quieter version—rose in his mind.
If One For All keeps being passed on… then his time as the Symbol of Peace keeps shrinking.
Izuku exhaled, breath misting faintly in the morning air.
"…Even so, I want to tell him."
"Deku?"
The voice came from behind.
Izuku didn't react.
A few steps back, Katsuki Bakugo slowed, eyes narrowed as he watched.
What's with his face…?
And that expression—
Why does he look… satisfied?
Bakugo clicked his tongue and kept his distance, matching Izuku's pace.
"Tch. Just this once."
Izuku turned off his usual route, heading toward the city.
Bakugo hesitated, then followed, irritation creeping into his expression.
"…Since when could he run like this?"
Even without using his Quirk, keeping up was starting to take effort.
—
Izuku stopped at a small butcher shop.
"Excuse me—500 grams of pork, please."
He jogged lightly in place while waiting, keeping his body warm.
The shop owner handed over the package, then paused, eyes narrowing.
"…Hey, kid. What happened to your face?"
Izuku blinked. "Hm?"
"That swelling. Did you get hit?"
He touched his cheek carefully. "…Is it that noticeable?"
The owner leaned in and tapped the spot.
Pain flared instantly.
"Ah—! That hurts!"
Izuku dropped to the ground, clutching his face.
"Whoa—hey! Are you okay?!"
Before the man could do more, Bakugo stepped in, grabbing Izuku by the collar and hauling him up.
"What are you doing?" Bakugo snapped. "You look ridiculous."
"S-Sorry… I didn't realize it was that bad." Izuku winced, then looked at him. "Kacchan? What are you doing here?"
Bakugo glanced away.
"I came to buy something. Obviously."
He jerked his thumb toward the counter. "Same order."
Izuku nodded quickly.
"Right. Then I won't hold you up. I should get home and treat this."
He took the package and hurried off, almost breaking into a run.
Bakugo watched him go, jaw tight.
"…Idiot."
His gaze lingered longer than he intended before dropping to the bag in his hand.
"…Did he get in?"
—
Back home, Izuku went straight to the bathroom.
He stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying ointment to the swollen side of his face. The cool layer dulled the ache slightly.
After a moment, he pressed a medicated patch over it.
He tilted his head, studying the result.
Uneven.
He hesitated—then placed another patch on the other side.
Better.
He stared for a second longer, considering… then—
His phone buzzed.
Izuku grabbed it immediately.
A message from All Might.
"Come to Dagobah Beach Park tonight."
For a heartbeat, he just stared.
Then something in his chest lifted.
"…He reached out."
—
By evening, Izuku was already running toward the beach.
The wind carried the scent of salt and rust as he arrived.
All Might was waiting.
"All Might!"
Izuku stopped in front of him, breathing steady, eyes bright.
A couple nearby glanced over.
"Wait—is that—?"
"No way. Where?"
All Might leaned in slightly, voice low.
"Repeat after me: 'I was mistaken.'"
Izuku straightened instantly. "I was mistaken!"
He gave an awkward wave. The couple lost interest just as quickly.
All Might turned back with a small, satisfied smile.
"Congratulations. You passed."
He raised his hand.
Izuku met it without hesitation.
The sharp clap echoed against the empty stretch of beach.
"I should clarify," All Might said. "I didn't inform the school about our connection. I assumed you wouldn't want special treatment."
Izuku nodded.
"And I wasn't involved in your evaluation."
"…I understand."
He hesitated, then looked down at his hands.
"I still can't control One For All properly. Every time I use it, I end up injuring myself… like during the exam."
"That's natural," All Might replied. "Power like that doesn't come with instinct. It has to be learned—little by little."
Izuku curled his fingers slightly.
"…So this is just the beginning."
"Exactly."
—
They talked for hours, the sky darkening unnoticed above them.
By the time they parted, something had settled into place.
It wasn't just about strength.
It was about control.
"I need to learn how to use it," Izuku said quietly.
—
The next day after school, Izuku was called to the teacher's office.
Katsuki Bakugo was already there.
The teacher looked between them, clearly pleased.
"Two students from this class made it into U.A. That's impressive. Keep it up."
"Yes, sir," Izuku replied.
Bakugo clicked his tongue, saying nothing.
—
The moment they stepped outside, Bakugo grabbed Izuku and dragged him to a quiet corner.
"What did you do?" he demanded, gripping Izuku's collar. "What kind of trick did you use to get in?"
"I didn't use any tricks," Izuku said.
"Then transfer out," Bakugo snapped. "You don't belong there."
Izuku reached up, gripping Bakugo's wrist. His hand trembled slightly—but didn't let go.
"…I'm sorry, Kacchan. I can't do that."
Bakugo's grip tightened.
Izuku held his gaze.
"Someone told me I can become a hero."
His voice was steady, grounded.
"He told me… this is something I earned."