Daisuke was back with the craziest psychopath he had the displeasure of knowing. He was there, his head was screeching, his heart was weeping, and his cheeks were hollow.

Just like him.

He didn't bother to speak or stare at the man- no, themonster who had taken away his soul. Because what else could his quirk be, if not part of his soul?

"Oh, you seem tired, Daisuke. How saddening." All for One said gently, and the lack of mockery made Daisuke want to start raging and crying and dying all at the same time.

Instead, he remained silent, his heart calmly, sadly, beating apart.

All for One seemed to emanate displeasure, but even the striking wave of emotion could not rouse him from the haze he was settled in.

"Ah," the villain said. "Perhaps it is your lack of a quirk." He chuckled. "You are so fragile, child. How do you plan to survive the backstabbing life of a useless hero?"

Silence.

"Well, I must say this is not as much fun as it was before. Very well," he said, walking forward as he had the first time. "If you insist."

And— and—

Andit was back. Daisuke inhaled, long and heaving, taking in air as he took in his quirk – like a drug he could not live without. His heart ballooned, quickening its beat even as Daisuke's fingers began to twitch with life.

He began to move with life. With a quirk. His quirk.

It was…

It was like nothing he could describe. It was like nothing he had—

It was heaven.

And All for One smiled. "You see, child?" He crooned, and his voice cut through the pleasure and music in Daisuke's veins. "I can give you back your quirk."

Daisuke stared, eyes wide and mind wavering.

"But you took it in the first place," He whispered hoarsely, even as he desperately clutched at the tendrils of power melding once again with his soul.

All for One's eyes narrowed. "And I can take it again." He said, and his voice was darker than Daisuke could ever imagine. It was black and emotionless.

It was inhuman.

All for One glared and tore away at Daisuke.

He screamed, not for any physical pain that might have been forced upon him, but because his soul was breaking up into a million pieces, and the monster was stealing half of them away.

"You don't have to fight this, Daisuke," He said, his words hypnotic and demanding. "You don't have to lose yourself. Why do you even submit yourself to this torture? It will take just one name, child. One name, and you could have your quirk back." The air dulled, sound disappeared, and the only thing left were those words. The only thing left was All for One. "You don't need to sacrifice yourself for someone else. What have they ever done to save you? To deserve this? Give me a hint, Daisuke. Just a hint, and you can be free."

Just a hint.

One name.

Daisuke swallowed.Just one name.

It would take just one name, and he could be free. He could have his quirk back; he could have his soul back; he could have hislifeback.

He could go home.

He just needed to tell him that Quirky was—

Izuku.

Midoriya Izuku.

A thirteen-year-old kid with brains to spare and kindness that would probably get him killed someday.

A thirteen-year-old who damn well wasn't going to blame Daisuke even if he did give up his name because that thirteen-year-old probably already blamed himself.

A fucking thirteen-year-old, and Daisuke was ready to throw him under the bus.

He didn't even have the quirk this monster was looking for. He didn't haveanyquirk.

He was a kid.

A kid who wanted to be a hero.

… Like Daisuke was trying to be.

Daisuke wanted to sob. His quirk was worth the life of this child? This fantastic kid who was going to save more people than anyone he knew? This person who had been destined for failure but had lifted himself up amidst the stupid society's insults and made himself into someone worth a million gold mines. More.

How the fuck would his quirk ever compare? How the heck would his quirk ever matter in front of Izuku?

It wouldn't. Itdidn't.

Because Izuku mattered more. The world mattered more.

And if this was Daisuke's last chance of being a hero… then so be it. He would not give up.

He wouldnot give in.

"I," He began, slowly enunciating every word, and his eyes blazed with a fire he knew in heart no one could extinguish. "Don't know anyone."

All for One snarled. "Self-sacrifice," He said. "How quaint." And then his eyes glowed, and for the umpteenth time in who knows how long, Daisuke screamed.