Still lost in thought over the police officer's words, Igarashi Masata walked out of the police station, his expression complicated and distant.
"As expected, there are still plenty of good people in this world," he muttered to himself. "This time, I didn't get punished or thrown in jail… but until I get my Quirk license, I really do need to be more careful about using my abilities."
Then another thought surfaced, one that bothered him even more.
"But seriously… what's All Might's deal?" Masata frowned. "Sure, I like muscular tough guys like him, but I don't remember ever actually meeting him. Why would he suddenly vouch for me? And with something as valuable as his own reputation, no less."
What puzzled Masata the most was that he had never publicly revealed his full strength before. His only connection to All Might should have been through television broadcasts.
"Could it be…" Masata's eyes lit up. "Am I one of those legendary protagonists? Even the Number One Hero personally escorting me through life?"
He was grinning foolishly to himself when his thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
"Masata-chan!"
His mother came rushing toward him, her face pale with panic rather than her usual gentle smile.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Why would you fight villains like that? What would your father and I do if something happened to you?" Mrs. Igarashi asked anxiously, grabbing him from head to toe to check for injuries.
"Masata," his father said sternly, adjusting his glasses with a serious expression. "This time, Dad can't praise you. Fighting villains is a professional Hero's responsibility. It's not something you should be doing. When we get home, you're going to reflect on this properly."
Masata blinked in confusion.
"Mom? Dad? How did you even find out about this?" he asked. "The police didn't notify you, did they…?"
His gaze slowly shifted.
Behind his parents, Yaoyorozu Momo was trying her best to hide, looking guilty beyond words.
"…Momo," Masata said weakly. "You sold me out?"
He pointed at her, his face turning red with embarrassment.
"When my parents find out I used my Quirk to fight villains, I'm going to be lectured by Mom for at least a week…"
…Though, strangely enough, it didn't feel entirely bad.
While the Igarashi family was having their lively moment outside the police station, something unexpected was happening elsewhere.
On a quiet path, Midoriya Izuku suddenly found his way blocked by a tall figure.
"Ah—All Might?! Why are you here?!" Izuku exclaimed in shock.
"I came to correct something I said earlier," All Might replied solemnly. "When your friend was in danger, I was present. Unfortunately, due to my physical condition, I couldn't act in time."
As he spoke, blood spilled from his mouth, and his towering form rapidly shrank, reverting once again into his skeletal state.
"I saw you," All Might continued calmly. "A boy with no power to restrain him… yet he still rushed into danger for the sake of a friend. Although another powerful teenager stopped you, your determination—and your unique nature—caught my attention."
Izuku was completely confused.
"I-I'm just a Quirkless nobody," he said weakly. "I was terrified at the time. There's nothing special about me…"
"That's exactly it!" All Might interrupted loudly. "It's you—the so-called 'cowardly Quirkless boy'—who attracted me!"
"Many top Heroes did reckless, strange things during their student days," All Might continued. "And many of those moments had one thing in common."
"Their bodies moved before their brains could think."
"You did that too."
"You can become a Hero."
The world seemed to fall silent.
Only the sound of the wind remained… along with Izuku's uncontrollable sobbing as he collapsed to his knees.
"Quirkless trash—what right do you have to stand on the same stage as us?"
"He's finished. Completely hopeless."
The echoes of past ridicule rang endlessly in his mind.
"And yet…" Izuku whispered, tears streaming down his face. "It's the Hero I admire most who's saying this to me…"
"If it's you," All Might said quietly, "then you are qualified to inherit my power."
"Huh…?" Izuku looked up blankly, his tears not yet dried.
"Pff—!" All Might coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"I'm talking about my Quirk," he explained. "The one often described in magazines as 'mysterious power' or 'super strength.' In interviews, I've always brushed it off with vague explanations."
"As the Symbol of Peace, people believe I was 'born a Hero.'"
"But the truth is—my Quirk is like a sacred flame."
"A power passed down, spark by spark."
Izuku felt as if his head had been struck by a giant bell. His thoughts dissolved into incoherent murmurs.
Ignoring Izuku's stunned state, All Might continued:
"This Quirk allows its power to be transferred to others. It's something I inherited myself."
"And its name is—"
ONE FOR ALL
"The crystallization of strength," All Might declared solemnly. "One person trains it, then passes it on to the next. Generation after generation, power is accumulated—born from cries for help and brave hearts that refused to give in."
Then he looked directly at Izuku.
"But…" Izuku said hesitantly, still dazed. "Why me? The boy who defeated the sludge villain today—he was incredible. Isn't he more qualified to inherit your power?"
"You mean the magma boy?" All Might replied after a moment. "He's different from you. I can see his desire for justice, but the passion and recklessness in his eyes concern me."
"More importantly, his Quirk is already extremely powerful—and he uses it well. Giving him my power would be nothing more than excess."
"In short," All Might said firmly, "I believe this power should be passed on to you. Of course, the choice is still yours."
"All Might… explained so much to me…" Izuku thought.
"What reason do I have to refuse?"
His eyes hardened with resolve. He stood up, wiped away his tears, and bowed deeply.
"I accept it," Izuku said loudly. "I do!"