Authors note:
Speaking: "…"
Thinking: '…'
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After the Shopping Trip
Izuku was just stepping out of the supply store, two bags in one hand and his cane in the other. It was a peaceful walk, at least until he heard an explosion two streets away. Thinking nothing of it, since heroes usually handle these situations quickly, he intended to keep walking, especially since he had heard that All Might was in town today.
But as he had discovered early in his life, things don't always go as planned. As he walked by the scene, he sighed at the incompetence in front of him. A sludge-like villain had taken a kid hostage. The kid had blue and neon green hair, with light green eyes, though the rest of his body was obstructed. The villain was somehow using the kid's quirk to unleash flame attacks, along with chains and shields.
And what were the pros doing? Well, nothing to actually stop the villain. Kamui Woods, Mount Lady, and Death Arms were just standing around, and Backdraft was merely trying to put out the flames.
Sigh, "The incompetence of some of these newbie heroes is astonishing," Izuku muttered from the back of the crowd. He made his way to the front and stood behind Kamui Woods. Tapping him on the shoulder, he waited for the hero to turn around.
"Please, citizen, remain behind the railing. The heroes will deal with this shortly," Kamui Woods said, looking at him.
Izuku was about to respond, but before he could, a kid, no older than himself, jumped over the railing and ran toward the villain. The boy was a bit scrawny with no visible muscles. His hair was short, black with some silver strands, and his blue eyes were filled with determination. He was still in his middle school uniform and threw his backpack at the villain while yelling, "Give my big brother back!" and trying to get close.
‚The kid's got more guts than some pros. It's good to see promise in the younger generations,' Izuku thought, tapping Kamui Woods on the shoulder again.
"You don't look like you're doing much, so here, hold this for me" Izuku told the hero, handing him his shopping bags before jumping over the railing and heading toward the villain, leaving a confused Kamui Woods behind.
Moving quickly, he briefly activated his Void Veil, scanning the quirks of the three people involved. The villain's void energy didn't reveal anything useful since it was a mutation type quirk, and the hostage's void energy was chaotic, as if it wasn't meant to be controlled. As for the brave boy, he didn't possess any void energy at all.
Deactivating his Void Veil, Izuku opted for a more direct approach. With a burst of speed, he dodged the villain's erratic attacks and hooked the quirkless teen by his shirt using the end of his cane. Placing the boy on his shoulder, he held out his hand and began to chant.
"System call: Generate cryogenic elements, combine elements, shape element, particle shape, discharge."
As he finished the chant, a frost storm formed in his palm from three elements and shot at the villain, freezing him solid and extinguishing the flames.
Walking up to the villain, Izuku used a flame spell to free the hostage. Noticing the teen had a few cuts, scrapes, and bruises, Izuku knelt down and chanted again.
"System call: Generate luminous elements, shape elements, liquid shape."
Turning the three glowing orbs into drops of what appeared to be water, he let them fall onto the teen's wounds, healing them.
Setting the other boy down, Izuku asked, "You said he was your brother, right? Well, he's all good now. Keep a good eye on him for me, okay?"
"Sure. Bro, don't scare me like that again!" the boy said, hugging his brother and crying a little.
Seeing his job was done, Izuku returned to Kamui Woods and retrieved his bags.
"Kid, I won't question whether you were legally allowed to do that, but you easily solved a problem we pros weren't able to handle. Have you thought about going to UA? If you do, feel free to do your internship at my agency," Kamui Woods remarked.
"UA, huh? I haven't thought about it lately, but you're right. In two years, it'll be my turn. Well, I'll be off. It'd be really helpful if you don't make a big deal out of this, okay? Bye," Izuku said, walking off into the streets.
Five minutes from his apartment, Izuku suddenly sensed something approaching from behind him. He turned to see All Might's familiar figure approaching, but just as quickly, the hero's form dissolved in a cloud of smoke, revealing a frail, skeletal man beneath, a striking transformation from the mighty Symbol of Peace.
Intrigued, Izuku stepped closer. "I see your quirk is a transformation type. That explains how you've kept your identity hidden for so long, All Might."
The man chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "Not quite, young man. This form is a result of an injury I sustained five years ago. Right now, I can only maintain my hero form for about three hours a day. The rest of the time, well... I look like this." He gestured to the wounds on his side, exposing the extent of his injuries.
Izuku's eyes sharpened with understanding. "If that's the case, you should consider yourself lucky to be alive. That wound looks like a large portion of your internal organs are missing. Most people would have died instantly."
"You're quite perceptive," All Might noted with a faint smile. "But you probably know more about these things than I do."
Izuku, now leaning on his cane, took a step back and observed the man curiously. "I have studied quirk science and medicine, but I have to ask, why show me this? Not many people know about your condition, I assume."
All Might's face grew serious. "You're right. The reason I'm showing this to you is because I want to make you an offer." He paused before continuing, his voice steady but somber. "When that sludge villain attacked today, I captured him in the morning, but because of my limitations, he got away. By the time he resurfaced, I was too weak to act, and the pros were struggling. Then, you stepped in, saving the day in a matter of seconds."
Izuku listened quietly as the man continued. "My quirk, One For All, is a sacred torch passed down from one generation to the next. It stockpiles power and strengthens quirks. I've been searching for a successor for some time, and I believe you are the one. I can pass this power to you. So, I ask, will you become my successor?"
Without hesitation, Izuku shook his head. "I refuse."
The sudden answer shocked All Might. "What? You refuse? Don't you want to become a hero?"
Izuku looked up, his gaze firm yet respectful. "All Might, it's an honor that you'd consider me. You're my idol. And yes, I do plan to attend UA in two years. But I don't think I'm the right person to inherit your power. You've seen my abilities, I'm already stronger than most professional heroes. And my quirk... well, it's complicated. I'm not sure what would happen if One For All interacted with it. It might not be worth the risk."
All Might seemed to ponder this for a moment, his initial confusion settling into understanding. "I see. You do have a point. I suppose I'll have to keep looking, perhaps at UA as originally planned."
As the hero turned to leave, Izuku called out, "Wait. I may have a suggestion."
All Might turned back, intrigued. "Go on."
Izuku placed a hand on the hero's shoulder. "Maybe you should consider passing your power to someone who really needs it, someone who doesn't already have immense power. Someone who could truly benefit from a gift like One For All."
All Might's expression softened with realization. "You mean someone who can grow into the role, rather than someone who's already powerful?"
"Exactly. Think of One For All as a powerful tool. If you gave it to me, it'd be like giving another hammer to a man who already has plenty. But if you give it to someone who has nothing, you're giving them something transformative."
The Symbol of Peace nodded thoughtfully. "I think I understand. It's about creating a balance, giving those without power a chance to make a difference."
Izuku smiled. "Precisely."
All Might, now resolved to continue his search, turned to leave once more, but Izuku interrupted again. "One more thing. If you pass on your quirk, will your power remain?"
The question caught All Might off guard. "No. Once I pass it on, I'll only have a limited amount of time left to use it. Why do you ask?"
Izuku's face grew more serious. "Then let's make a deal. I'll use my abilities to heal your injury to the best of my ability. In return, you'll look for a successor and gradually retire. The world can't afford to lose you, but it also can't afford to see you powerless."
All Might hesitated, his resolve flickering. "I can't just retire. The world needs a symbol of peace."
Izuku's eyes darkened momentarily, as he activated his Void Veil briefly on accident. "The world will fall apart if you're seen as weak or, worse, if you die in battle. The villains will only grow bolder. Retire as a legend, All Might. It's better to leave while you're still on top. And don't worry about a new symbol, I'll make sure the villains stay in line."
„But...." all might tries to bargain but was interrupted by Izuku. „ No buts if necessary ill have to use force to make you understand, I'll not watch this world crumble, because of your stubbornness" the green haired teen reinforced his statement while thinking ' Not after what I saw on floor 60, and the vision I had today'
Looking at the boys eyes small might though ‚Those eyes.... Professor', judging the coloration of them. Finally, he sighed. "Alright, you win. Let's get started."‚ I hope I'm making the right decision, but I trust in you professor' he thought reminiscing about his day at UA with a man with silver hair tied in a man bun a pair of clear glasses above crimson red eyes, along with a silver goatee and a carefree smile.
With a firm nod, Izuku tapped his cane twice, after saying „ enhance Armament", and the space around them cracked, transporting them to a pocket dimension of green and black mirrors. All Might looked around in astonishment.
"Where are we?"
"A pocket dimension. It'll last for six hours," Izuku explained, opening his inventory and taking out a small table for All Might to lie on, along with several green crystals in his hand. "This will take time, so lie down."
"What's going to happen now?" All Might asked as he lay on the table.
"Since these wounds aren't exactly fresh, I'll need to heal both the inside and outside of your skin, then replace the missing organs and repair the damaged ones," Izuku explained, standing next to his idol.
"Wait, replace organs? Is that even possible?" All Might asked, clearly shocked.
"Yes, but it requires a substantial amount of sacred power. Since there's practically none in the air right now, I'll need to use these crystals filled with sacred energy to perform the spell. Be prepared, the organ replacement won't hurt, but getting the luminous elements into your body will be far from painless," Izuku said, before breaking several green crystals in his hand. The shattered crystals released a soft, glowing green light that floated into the air. Izuku absorbed the energy into his hands.
"System call: generate luminous elements," Izuku commanded, and ten floating orbs of light appeared around him. He carefully placed them on All Might's wounds and directed some into his mouth, beginning the healing process.
Small Might grunted in pain as the luminous elements worked their way through his damaged tissues, slowly repairing them. After some time, Izuku continued, "System call: replace lost organs," and his hands glowed an intense green as he focused on restoring All Might's internal injuries.
Over the next five hours, Izuku painstakingly replaced and healed as much of All Might's lost and damaged organs as he could. The procedure, though arduous, was a success.
"Phew, I'm done. Try using One for All now, tell me how it feels," Izuku instructed as he wiped his brow.
All Might shifted back into his muscle form, moving his body fluidly and throwing a few air punches. "I feel great, young man! Truly, I can't thank you enough. With this, I'll be able to keep doing hero work for longer while I search for my successor. Thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
As he shifted back into his smaller form, his body, though still lean, appeared noticeably less skeletal than before.
"Just remember our deal," Izuku reminded him as they returned to their original place.
All Might nodded, gratitude and newfound resolve in his eyes ‚ 'It's time to start looking, and I think I know where to start' he thought as he turned to head off.
Izuku looked back one last time before heading home thinking ‚ Strange it felt like we were being watched, but I can't seem to pinpoint anyone'
________________________
A Bit Later in Front of the Apartments
Walking towards the gate, Izuku glanced at his phone and realized how late it had gotten. "God, Kacchan's gonna kill me," he muttered to himself, not noticing the footsteps approaching from behind.
The girl he had passed earlier on his way to the convenience store caught up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around, he asked, "Can I help you with something?"
The girl spoke in a voice he recognized too well. "To think my parents would send someone my age to keep watch on me. I thought I made it clear they should leave me alone!" Before Izuku could react, she punched him square in the face. However, to her surprise, he didn't budge an inch. As a result, her sunglasses fell off, revealing not only her long, white hair but also her eyes, both purple, though with distinct features. Her right eye had a black crescent moon over the iris, and her left eye bore a black five-pointed star.
Just as quickly as he noticed them, she hurried to pick up her sunglasses and put them back on. ‚It's her', Izuku thought. ‚There's no doubt in my mind, she's the girl from my visions.'
"Did you see anything?" she asked, sounding a bit on edge.
Deciding it was best to lie, Izuku replied, "No, I didn't see anything."
"Tell me, what are my parents paying you to keep watching me? I'll double it if you leave me alone," she said, glaring at him fiercely.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know your parents. Why would you think I'm spying on you?" Izuku asked, genuinely curious about her and the situation.
"Well, obviously, because you came back again to look for me. Why else would anyone come here?" she concluded, crossing her arms.
"I can assure you I'm not spying on you. I came back because I live in the apartment over there," Izuku explained, pointing to the upper floor of the complex.
"Huh, that's bullshit. I've been living here for the past year in the apartments downstairs, and I've never seen anyone in the two upstairs apartments," she stated confidently.
"Well, if you don't believe me, here's my key. And the reason you've never seen me or my roommate is probably because we're rarely home. We either teach at Tokyo University for Quirk Science or spend time in our lab doing research," Izuku said, handing her the key as proof.
She examined the key, seeming convinced. "Yeah, this looks real. You really do live here. Hold up, did you say you're teaching at Tokyo University for Quirk Science? How old are you? Aren't only doctors teaching there? And how come I've never seen you? I'm a student there," she said, growing more confused.
"Well, I only substitute occasionally. And yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but I'm sixteen and I already have a doctorate in Quirk Science. Now that you mention it, I think I've seen your profile in the university's student register, what was it... Luna Hoshino, right?" Izuku asked, holding up a finger in recognition. "I had your class three weeks ago, but you weren't there."
Luna blinked, processing the information. "You don't say. Three weeks ago, I was sick in bed. And yeah, my name's Luna, Luna Hoshino. Sorry for punching you. I misjudged you," she apologized, bowing in sincerity.
"No worries. I'm not so soft that a simple punch is going to hurt me," Izuku said, walking to the gate and opening it for her. "After you."
Luna paused, pouting slightly. "Are you saying I'm weak?"
"Not at all. Even most pro heroes would struggle to hurt me. So it's not an insult to you; it's just that I'm a bit tougher than most," he explained, watching her open the door to her apartment.
"Well, gee, thanks for the compliment," she said with a smirk. "We'll see you around, neighbor." She closed the door behind her.
Izuku made his way up the stairs, unlocking the door to his own apartment. He placed the groceries on the dining table before collapsing onto the couch, exhausted. Katsuki Bakugo stood nearby, fuming.
"I finally found her, Kacchan," Izuku said quickly, cutting him off before he could rant. "The white-haired girl from my visions, she's been living right under our noses for a whole year. Literally. She lives downstairs! And she goes to TUQS! I can't believe I didn't notice her this entire time."
"Well, seems like those visions of yours like to leave out the important details," Bakugo quipped, smirking smugly.
"No matter. I'm back on track now. I finally know her name." Izuku paused, a sense of awe in his voice.
Luna Hoshino.
"A beautiful name."