Knock. knock
Izuku sat in the nurse's office, getting his finger fixed after breaking it during the Quirk Apprehension Test, when a sudden knock startled him.
He looked up to see All Might, in his emaciated form, peeking his head in with a small smile as their eyes met.
"ALL MIGHT!"
The green-haired boy shouted his mentor's name before quickly covering his mouth, darting his eyes around in panic. Had he just exposed All Might's secret to Recovery Girl?
"Enough with that, sonny," the elderly healer interjected before he could spiral further. "I've known about that oaf and his secrets longer than you have, so there's no need to be wary of me. Relax."
All Might nodded in confirmation, easing Izuku's worry.
"O-oh… t-that… uhm, okay," Izuku stammered, struggling to find the right words. Recovery Girl shook her head at the boy's nervousness, noting how he and his mentor were alike in some ways yet vastly different in others especially in how they carried themselves.
All Might pulled a stool closer and sat beside Izuku. "Young Midoriya, I came to check on you and see how you're doing."
His tone was warm, but his gaze flickered to Izuku's bandaged finger.
"How's your finger, my boy? I heard you managed to impress Eraserhead. I applaud you, he's not easy to please."
Izuku waved his arms frantically in front of his mentor. "N-no, no! It wasn't anything special!"
All Might chuckled. "No need to be so humble, my boy. If you hadn't shown your potential, Eraserhead would have expelled you by now."
Izuku's eyes widened. "E-expelled!?"
All Might laughed at his successor's reaction, confirming that Aizawa had indeed expelled students before something Recovery Girl also verified.
Once she finished tending to his injury, both mentor and student bowed in gratitude before leaving the nurse's office.
"All done for today, young Midoriya. If you'd like, I can drive you home," All Might offered as they walked down the hallway. "Tomorrow is when the real classes begin, so why not celebrate your first day at U.A.? Now that I think about it, we never properly celebrated your acceptance. We still have some time before it gets dark so what do you say?"
Izuku's eyes lit up with excitement, and he nodded eagerly. Seeing his successor so happy, All Might ruffled his hair with a grin.
Just then, the murmuring of nearby students caught their attention.
"Did you hear about the disaster at orientation earlier?" one student said animatedly. "Apparently, some kid from the Hero Course picked a fight with the entire General Education department! I heard it got really heated almost turned into a brawl if the teachers hadn't stepped in."
All Might and Izuku stopped in their tracks.
Since Class 1-A had been dragged away for the Quirk Apprehension Test, Izuku had no idea what chaos had unfolded in their absence. Curious, he looked up at his mentor, ready to ask what had happened.
But the words died on his lips.
For the first time since the Jakarta big earthquake ten years ago, when All Might had worked for three days straight to save as many people as he could, Izuku saw something unsettling in his mentor's expression.
He looked tired.
Not just physically exhausted, but emotionally drained.
Izuku vividly remembered watching that footage the rare moment when the No. 1 Hero hadn't been smiling due to sheer exhaustion. And now, that same weariness was etched across his mentor's face.
"Um… A-All Might? Is something w-wrong?" Izuku hesitated. "You look like you need rest. We don't have to celebrate, I already did with my mom, so we can jus-"
Before he could finish, All Might gently patted his head and smiled.
"Don't worry, young Midoriya. I just… remembered what happened earlier at orientation. If I'm being honest, I think I need this celebration more to relax a bit."
Izuku nodded in understanding.
As they resumed walking, he looked up at his mentor with curiosity.
"So… what exactly happened earlier, All Might?"
All Might sighed but decided to tell him everything. After all, while Class 1-A had missed the disaster, the rest of the first-year students had a front-row seat to the spectacle.
Earlier
The U.A. staff, students, and Principal Nezu all stared at the two figures standing in the center of the orientation hall.
A realization slowly dawned on the first-years:
The No. 1 Hero had been in the same room as them this whole time.
Some of them had been so caught up in the chaos that they had forgotten All Might was standing right there.
How was that even possible?
It was All Might.
How could anyone forget his presence?
Yet, as the realization sank in, many students racked their brains for an answer.
Meanwhile, All Might despite noticing their confused and conflicted expressions, kept his composure. With his usual, reassuring smile, he turned his attention back to the student before him.
Listening to the boy's earlier words, All Might knew he had to intervene.
The idea wasn't entirely wrong: a student could pass the U.A. entrance exam without a Quirk. But what the young man failed to understand was the sheer danger of being a hero.
These were U.A. students the next generation of heroes. And if there were any children in the country closest to danger, it was the Hero Course students.
This wasn't a game.
The moment they stepped onto the battlefield called "hero training," they would face real dangers, injuries, accidents, villains. Things that, while shaping them into true heroes, could also put them in grave peril.
So, as a hero and an educator, All Might knew he had to make something clear to every student in the room:
Having a heroic spirit was admirable.
Having the right qualities was essential.
But without power, a hero couldn't protect anyone.
"All of you must understand," All Might began, his gaze sweeping across the students. "While it is true that one does not need a Quirk to pass the entrance exam, I must remind you there are dangers out there that require a Quirk to handle."
The General Education students perked up at his words.
"Although young Itami was rather… blunt in his remarks toward the General Studies department, I still want to acknowledge all of you." All Might gave them a proud smile. "Each and every one of you made it into U.A. That alone is an incredible achievement! Thousands applied, but only a few were chosen. Congratulations, young ones!"
Some students nodded, their confidence restored.
All Might then turned his attention back to the lilac-haired boy before him.
"Young Itami, while you are correct that students can earn Hero Points for heroic acts during the exam even without a quirk, I must also point out…"
His expression hardened.
"The real world doesn't work like that."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
All Might's powerful presence filled the space as he spoke his next words.
"A hero must have the power to protect others. I know it is unfair, not everyone is born with a combat-ready Quirk. But out in the field, willpower alone is not enough."
The General Studies students shifted uncomfortably. All Might knew his words might discourage some of them but he also knew they needed to hear the truth.
Still, he had more to say.
Just as he was about to deliver one of his most inspiring speeches
A voice interrupted him.
"So… um… Sir Antenna, what was your name again?"
Ai raised his hand, looking at the hero expectantly.
All Might blinked in surprise. "Oh, it's All Might, young Itami."
He quickly answered, eager to continue his speech only for the words to get stuck in his throat.
Slowly, All Might turned his gaze toward the lilac-haired boy, who was now casually scrolling through his phone.
"Young Itami… I'm All Might."
The boy side-eyed him and nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, yeah. I managed to find you on the internet. Don't mind me, please continue."
This time, it wasn't just All Might both the staff and students collectively dropped their jaws.
'Did… did he just look up All Might? Does he not know who he is?!'
The same stunned question echoed in everyone's mind.
All Might, regaining his composure, let out a booming laugh. "HAHAHA! Young Itami, you're quite the joker, aren't you? There isn't a single person in this country who doesn't know who I am! I've never met one!"
Ai scratched his head, offering the No. 1 Hero an awkward smile.
"Sorry, All Mike"
"IT'S ALL MIGHT!"
The collective gasp of the students was deafening.
There was no way someone didn't know who All Might was. It was impossible.
At that moment, Itsuka Kendo snapped. She shot up from her seat, turning to her head to Ibara with a look of absolute disbelief.
"HE'S JOKING, RIGHT?! THERE'S NO WAY HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO ALL MIGHT IS!"
Ibara Shiozaki, the said boy vine-haired companion, grimaced.
Poor Itsuka looked like she was losing brain cells by the second.
With a sympathetic shake of her head, Ibara sighed. "Ai… he's just good at ignoring things that don't interest him."
"Huh?" Itsuka stared.
Ibara used her vines to gently pull Itsuka back into her seat before continuing.
"To Ai, there's no 'All Might' or 'Endeavor' or 'Top 10 Heroes.' To him, there are just heroes and villains. You know, kind of like how you see cops and firefighters you recognize the uniform, but you don't necessarily know their names."
The students around them collectively dropped their jaws at her explanation.
Ai chuckled. "Sorry, sorry, All Might. I probably heard of you before, and I definitely saw you from time to time, but… I'm not great at remembering strangers."
All Might was flabbergasted.
Ai scanned the students, then looked back at the No. 1 Hero with amusement.
"You're funny, guy." Ai grinned. "You say things like they're absolute, like your words are the only truth everyone has to live by."
He spread his arms wide, closed his eyes, and let the warm afternoon sun wash over him.
"If I let people tell me how to live my life, All Might or not, I might as well stop trying, stop dreaming, and stop living."
All Might frowned. "Hold it right there, young Itami. I'm not telling anyone how to live their lives. I'm simply stating a fact and warning students before they get hurt doing something dangerous."
Ai raised a brow. "You just did, though."
All Might stiffened.
"You told my friends over there" Ai gestured toward the General Education students behind him "that they can't be heroes because they lack the power to do so. And you said it while smiling. A little cold, don't you think?"
Some of the General Education students glanced at one another, clearly affected by Ai's words.
Meanwhile, Ai took a few steps closer to them, making sure they stood behind him as he now faced All Might.
"I, on the other hand," he continued, "told them the truth, that they failed the entrance exam because they didn't work hard enough to kick a robot's butt."
He shrugged.
"And because they ignored the ones who needed saving."
Some of the students in the crowd fell silent, contemplating his words. Others nodded in agreement.
All Might, noticing that some students were actually agreeing with the boy's words, was quick to rephrase his statement.
"Young Itami, as a hero with many years of experience, I am simply telling everyone here that this is a dangerous job. Even I, the No. 1 Hero, have found myself in situations that could have easily cost me my life had I not been strong enough to survive them."
He turned to address the students directly.
"I know that everyone here wants to be a hero. But it's a job filled with risk even those born with powerful Quirks must exercise caution when performing their duties."
As he spoke, he glanced back at Ai, who was still busy tapping away on his phone.
After a moment, Ai looked up and nodded.
"So this… this is why you became the Symbol of Peace."
He lifted his phone, revealing a magazine cover from years ago. All Might's face was plastered across it, bold letters underneath reading:
"SYMBOL OF PEACE."
Ai turned to the students, raising the phone slightly.
"You became the Symbol of Peace because you had the power to back it up. Because you were strong enough to do it."
All Might opened his mouth to reply to explain the real reason behind his title
But before he could speak, Ai suddenly let out a hearty laugh.
The students, the staff, and even All Might stared in confusion.
Nezu, however, braced himself.
He had seen that glint in Ai's eyes before.
Back when he was still a lab subject, caged and tested on by cruel hands.
Ai composed himself, still chuckling, and looked at All Might.
"So, so you're the one responsible for all of this."
He gestured around the room, amusement dancing in his expression.
All Might frowned. "Young man, I"
But Ai had already walked past him, heading straight for Nezu. He leaned down, whispering something. After a beat, the principal silently handed him a microphone.
Ai turned back to the students, his voice amplified.
"Symbol of Peace." He repeated the title, letting it linger. "That means we live in a peaceful society, thanks to you."
All eyes followed Ai as he moved across the stage.
"So, tell me, Mr. Symbol of Peace" Ai chuckled, pointing directly at All Might.
"What happens when you disappear?"
The question was asked so casually, so effortlessly, like he hadn't just asked the No. 1 Hero something so grim.
All Might stiffened.
The room fell into complete silence.
Ai didn't wait for a response.
"You said it yourself," he continued, his voice carrying through the hall. "Those who don't have enough power to protect themselves should just leave the peacekeeping to those who can."
Ai began circling the hero like a predator.
"You said that assuming that this countrythe one you helped shape is actually at peace, didn't you, All Might?"
Some students furrowed their brows, unsure where this was going. Others, especially those who had faced hardship, were listening more intently than ever.
"But All Might's peace is only for those born with the right power."
More whispers spread through the crowd. Some students tilted their heads in confusion while others, those who understood, tensed.
"For people like me… like them…" Ai gestured toward the audience, scanning the rows of students.
"Freaks. Villains. Worthless. Useless. Quirkless."
The air in the room grew heavier.
"Peace has always been out of our reach."
All Might looked at the students again and this time, he noticed it.
There were many, far too many who looked more invested in Ai's words than he expected.
Their expressions weren't just thoughtful.
Some were pained.
Some were furious.
Some were just… tired.
Ai's voice softened.
"If we lived on the side of society where peace actually existed for us, then sure, we could follow your advice."
He stepped down from the stage, walking toward the students microphone still in hand.
"We could give up on becoming heroes. We could leave the peacekeeping to those deemed worthy of it. We could just live our lives peacefully."
He stopped in front of a row of students, glancing at them before turning back toward All Might.
"But we don't have that luxury."
"Freaks like us…" Ai tilted his head. "Unless we prove to the people around us that we're more than what they've judged us to be… we'll always be the stains on this so-called peaceful society."
All Might could feel it now the weight of stares burning into him.
Some students were looking at him differently now.
Judging him.
Ai chuckled, pointing directly at All Might.
"I'm just telling everyone here that their only fault for failing is that they didn't work hard enough. That's something they can change something they can improve anytime, if they really wanted to."
He smirked.
"But you, the Symbol of Peace himself, have already condemned their fate."
A ripple went through the students.
"You're telling them to suck it up. That if someone tells them their Quirk isn't 'heroic enough' then that's it."
He let out a humorless laugh.
"And if that person breaking them is cruel enough, they might even say something worse." Ai's tone darkened, and the staff tensed at the pain behind his words.
"They might say, 'With a Quirk like that, you'll probably end up a villain.'"
A sharp gasp echoed from the crowd.
But Ai wasn't finished.
"Or maybe…" Ai's voice lowered, but the weight of his words only grew heavier.
"'With a Quirk like that, you're better off dead.'"
The reaction was instant.
Some students flinched. Others gritted their teeth. A few looked away, fists clenched so tight their knuckles turned white.
But All Might, Nezu, and the rest of the staff weren't looking at Ai anymore.
They were looking at the students who had just dropped their heads, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.
Some were visibly shaking.
Some were on the verge of tears.
And suddenly, it became very, very clear
Ai wasn't just talking in hypotheticals.
There were students in this very room students who had heard those exact words before.
Students who had lived with them for years.
Ai let the silence settle before speaking again.
"Unless you can hand your Quirk over to someone else, I don't think telling people to give up on their dreams just because they weren't born with the right power is…"
He paused, tilting his head.
"What's the word?"
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Oh, right." Ai grinned.
"Stupid."
All Might inhaled sharply.
Because in that moment
A memory flashed in his mind.
A young boy standing on a rooftop. Alone.
His successor Midoriya Izuku moments after his dream had been shattered.
All Might turned back to the students.
This time, he wasn't looking at their faces.
He was looking at their shadows how many heads were still bowed.
Then, reluctantly, his gaze met Nezu's.
The principal gave him a knowing look.
All Might let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair.
'I should've just kept my mouth shut…'
---
End of Chapter 13.