Written by: TheImmortalHeretic and MiyazakiFan18
To Dad: You may not have had super powers, but like the Symbol of Peace you always gave those around you a reason to smile. -Immortal
IIII
Chapter One: Symbol of Peace
IIII
Police Chief Mirio Togata was calmly sipping his coffee as he finished his paperwork. Another day as usual I guess, he thought to himself as he gave a slight smile. His gaze lingered over an old photo angled at the edge of his desk on a thick stack of papers. It was taken during his old days at U.A, some ten years ago. Back when he could still share moments with his closest friends, Nejire...Tamaki. I miss those days.
His job was demanding. Noted by the stacks of paperwork in his office so tall that they shrouded his vision of the room. A chaotic stream of police reports, news filings, and bureaucracy that had kept him constantly preoccupied ever since he had been promoted to Chief of Police.
Many years ago when Togata had enlisted he had never imagined he'd be sitting in the most important office in Saitama City.
It had taken years of hard work, and effort. But at what cost? He couldn't remember the last time he had seen one of his old friends. Sure he knew what they were up to, with all the news coverage on hero agencies it was hard not to, but it was another thing to hear their voices. To share a moment with them as he once did.
An assistant walked into his office and passed him a file. "Thank you," Togata muttered. "Say, do we have anybody bringing in something for lunch?"
"No, I don't think so," the woman said.
"Hmmm." Togata scratched his yellow stubble. "I'm feeling Thai food." The good old days. "Patch in a call to Sun Eater. Need to ask him something."
She nodded as she held the doorknob behind her. "Right away sir."
Suddenly, the window to his office was shattered by the entry of a battered phone booth. Tearing huge portions of the office furniture from their fixtures. Sending stacks of neatly organized papers and reports to the ground in a blanket of scattered sheets.
Togata winced as a few shards of broken glass embedded themselves into his shoulder. "Patch a call to Deku now!"
Just a block away, visible through the open air and torn confines of his office was a Nomu rampaging through the heart of the urban district.
Towering over fleeing citizens, the reptilian Nomu gave a thunderous roar before its tail shattered a series of glass panels along Saitama City hall, still hurling cars and other large objects at the Police Headquarters. Shards of glass flew from the buildings and cars about as people fled in fear. The Nomu reached down to pick up an automobile, shrieking as it sent it flying to smash into another building's large window panes.
The car smashed into the glass and tore across office cubicles. Sending people flying from their desks as the car cut through cubicle walls like paper.
"Sir are you all right?" Togata's assistant burst into the office. "What happened?"
A Nomu? But we haven't had a single sighting of one in three years. Togata thought, brushing off shards of glass on his police uniform. "I'm fine. Mobilize all available units!"
He turned to see the hunkering beast rip its claws into a nearby library, shearing off its roof like the top off a box of crackers.
The Nomu saw a woman look up to him frozen in fear inside the structure, looking like a small plastic person in a dollhouse by comparison. Reaching inside with its reptilian hands to pick up the woman and examine its victim.
As the woman shrieked in fear, the Nomu prepared to swallow her whole within its jaws. Before abruptly, a shearing wall of ice cut the Nomu's hand clean off. The woman fell. Released from the Nomu's grasp, as Shoto Todoroki used his flames to soar up to her and catch her in his arms.
There was no mistaking the number two hero. Even in flight, it was clear to make out the distinct costume, a half white half red vest that paid homage to his quirk. Complete with a matching cape and pair of gauntlets designed to resist the extreme temperatures his quirk demanded.
The Nomu stumbled back. Quickly reforming muscle fibers to create a new hand in place of the severed husk.
Todoroki landed back on the ground, placing the thankful woman back on her feet. He gave her a slight nod before turning to face the abomination.
His white and red cape fluttered as Todoroki shot back into the air. Flying close to the Nomu with his flash fire technique, before blasting the Nomu's face with a torrent of flames so powerful half the street glew brighter.
"Flashfire Fist: Hellflame!" he yelled.
The Nomu roared loudly in response within the dissipating smoke and light to reveal the animated charred flesh and bone that remained of its form.
Still alive, it threw itself towards him. Burying its fist into a nearby parking garage as the hero proved to be far more agile than its normal prey. Crushing concrete and steel with a deafening crunch as Shoto dodged to the side.
I need to get these people to safety. Todoroki maneuvered himself to the flank of the creature before landing on the hard surface of the sidewalk below.
"Heaven Piercing Ice Wall!" his signature ice move unleashed itself onto the city block. Covering the ruin of the parking garage in a thick barrier that was taller than the surrounding buildings.
The mindless abomination was thrown back by the sudden burst into the enclosure of the ruined structure with a hideous shriek.
That should buy some time at least. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing from the sound of it that bystanders had already begun to flee the scene. Assisted by whatever emergency teams had responded quickly enough to make it in time.
And then a car plunged itself through the ice barrier, no doubt harvested from the ruined lot. The ice wall was thick enough to slow the first projectile but the Nomu doubled its efforts to plow through with a series of quick blows.
Car after car struck the barrier in a wild pattern. Todoroki cursed under his breath.
Placing his left foot forward a surge of ice rose up to meet the strikes, reforming the battered wall with a fresh layer of colder frost. Ice pierced through metal, shielding Todoroki from the string of thrown cars.
This Nomu is larger than normal. Does it have a size quirk?
He had his answer as a large fist found itself unnervingly close to his face, having bored through the thick ice in a surge of power.
"Where is Midoriya when you need him?" he muttered as the wall of ice shattered into a thousand glittering flakes.
….
Izuku wiped the sweat off his brow before handing the woman her cat.
"Try to be more careful with where you leave your cat next time Ma'am." He gave a bright smile as the words left his mouth unopposed by the elderly woman.
She nodded and thanked him deeply for his efforts.
It hadn't been easy work chasing after a bullet train. He was lucky to have caught the train at Utsunomiya station before heading back to deliver the cat unharmed.
As it turned out the woman had left her cat behind after she had exited the train, and if it wasn't for her distraught pleas Izuku would've never have arrived in time. It wasn't the most exciting work he'd done before, but helping people is what a hero did regardless of the task.
A crowd had already started to form around the Oyama station he had returned to. Reporters and journalists with flashing cameras, fans and bystanders impressed at the spectacle, and even a few enthusiastic kids who looked up to him. Youthful eyes glowing with optimism and awe.
"Did you have doubts at any moment Deku?" the lead journalist asked before being shoved aside by another reporter.
"Was there anything you would've done differently?" The questions followed one after the other before not even Izuku could make out a single one of them.
"Um, well." He cast a glance at the crowd. "If only I'd been faster."
"Remarkable! There you have it, folks! The number one hero, Izuku Midoriya stunning us here at Oyama station."
"It was only a—"
"Wow, I've never seen anything that fast before!" The crowd of kids was gathered around a recording of the spectacle, playing over the T.V screens above the platform.
True enough, the news crews had caught an excellent shot of Izuku's display. The bullet train in full view blasting through the countryside as Izuku shot past it through the air. His silhouette barely visible at the speeds he was propelling himself forward at.
Izuku's smile grew wider as he saw the kids' eyes widen with that innocent fascination he so fondly remembered having before in his own youth. For just a moment, Izuku was reminded of how he had one day looked up to All Might.
"Care to explain how you did it?" the reporter was so close to him that the microphone was almost poking into his cheek.
"Well, first I—," there was a vibration in the pocket of his costume followed by a familiar ringtone: 'A phone call is here! A phone call is here!'. "Hold on one sec."
Izuku answered the call as he pulled the cell phone from his pocket.
"Deku, it's Mirio. I need you over at Saitama Central Library now!"
"I'll be right there!" he turned to the reporter. "Sorry I have to go, it's urgent."
"Um wait, Deku!" the reporters insisted.
"Go above and beyond!"
Izuku waved to the crowd before thundering off towards the distant city shouting "Plus Ultra!" as he vanished from view at great speeds.
At the station T.V, the footage of Izuku's stunt was quickly replaced with a new headline. Nomu rampaging through Saitama Urban District, with footage as visceral as the title implied.
…..
She breathed a sigh of relief as she wiped the water off her face. The steam produced from the shower had just begun to dissipate along with the heat that came with hot water.
As she exited between the shower doors, there was a metallic clang as her horn struck the door frame. A habit that had persisted over the years as evidenced by deep marks on all the building's door frames. Produced by both her height and the size of her horn.
But she couldn't afford to relax for too long. There were training drills to attend to, exams to study for. And her caretakers would get worried sick if she'd been left alone for too long.
"Eri!" the voice of her mentor echoed throughout the house.
That was her signal to leave. She quickly put on her clothes and exited the steam-filled room for the expanse of her dorm.
"I'll be right there!" she replied.
It was quiet aside from that quick exchange, just as it always had been. Given the nature of her quirk, Eri had grown up under special conditions prescribed to her by the Hero Commission.
There was a constant fear that the instability of her quirk could cause some massive catastrophe, or even the accidental death of those near her, including herself.
Before she was even eight years old her caretakers had assigned her a rigorous life in isolation. Allowing her only a few visits every month from those closest to her, all under the permanent watch of her caretaker Mr. Aizawa, the only person in the world who could stop her quirk in case of an accident.
Mirio and Izuku had visited her throughout the past years, sharing stories of their accomplishments that would be echoed by the media. But as the whole world moved onwards it seemed that she was still stuck in limbo even at her age of seventeen, only a year ago had the government authorized her training to become a hero, knowing the possible risks.
The training of Eri was an authorization that had come less from the pleas of Aizawa, and more from the government's bureaucratic indifference. Officials in the Hero Commission had been replaced by new ones since her rescue a decade ago. Those who were once apprehensive about her abilities were long since retired, leaving a new generation of bureaucrats to decide her fate.
Ironically their lack of true knowledge about the possible apocalyptic potential of her quirk's power is what gave her the go-ahead.
Eri glanced to her right to scan her daily schedule bulletin, an electronic board that listed her day to day tasks.
3 hours of studying, a quick lunch break, and looks like the rest is training with small bathroom breaks in between as usual. She sighed, The usual.
There was a digital clock above the bulletin that noted 8:00 AM in addition to a calendar that rested on the wall. The only non-automated electrical fixture in the whole building were the pictures and personal belongings she had saved over the years tacked on to the fridge or neatly hung from portraits on the wall.
She smiled as her eyes passed over distant memories from when her life was simpler.
Photos of old ballet courses Mr. Aizawa had encouraged her to try when she was nine, it wasn't much of a course seeing as it was just me. But seeing her caretaker's expression in the photo, in reaction to the dress she was wearing, was priceless.
Group pictures from Bring your Daughter to Work Day when she was eleven, pretty much the whole class Aizawa taught had asked for a photo with her. Everyone was there, even Mirio and the others who'd saved her life all those years ago. It was the last time the government had authorized her to be around that many people at once.
And perhaps the most important of all was the 'family' portrait that hung from the center of the wall facing against the door. The closest thing to family she could have anyways.
It was taken last year after her hero training was greenlit. There was a celebration party back at her old house, although the key figures arrived late.
Mirio was on her left still dressed in his uniform, having just finished his shift at work, sporting a glittering police badge and a patch of grainy yellow stubble. His arms were raised parallel above Eri's head and below her waist with a shocked expression etched into Mirio's eyes at how much she'd grown over the years.
Izuku was on the right smiling brightly as he always was on T.V with a hand placed on her shoulder. Unlike Mirio he wasn't dressed in his work attire, choosing instead to wear a casual shirt for the occasion, although Eri fondly recalled him still running fashionably late.
Mr. Aizawa was behind all of them with his arms by his side and a wide grin on his face. His coal-black hair had patches of grey, and his complexion was littered with soft wrinkles produced both by age and joy during the photo's moment.
The portrait was captioned with the slogan 'Plus Ultra!' which had become synonymous with hero culture.
Eri grabbed her things and prepared to leave the dorm.
The dorm itself was a private building constructed separately from the rest of the campus at U.A, the most prestigious hero academy in all of Japan and arguably the world. Eri would likely have never been allowed to live on campus if it weren't for the nature of Aizawa's new job as principal of the school.
It was difficult to juggle taking care of both Eri, and the responsibilities of his new job. A conflict that prompted her to stay at U.A in the first place. This way Aizawa could keep tabs on all the students of U.A, including the girl he had obligated guardianship over.
It also ironically meant that the principal of U.A lived on campus. His instructions were clear, to watch Eri at all times—with few exceptions—even when she was resting from the comfort of her dorm. This meant that he had his own living quarters placed conveniently within Eri's dorm and within eye's reach of the other students' dorms.
Eri left the house, taking great care to avoid hitting her horn on the door frame and was greeted by the sight of Aizawa who was waiting for her outside as his schedule dictated.
"Ready?" he asked her in his typical gruff voice, albeit with an added tone of morning exhaustion. "I hope you don't mind if we cut your lesson short, I have business off campus today."
"It's fine, let's get going." Eri gave a determined nod and they were off for another day of training.
….
Shoto grunted in frustration as he flew aside, blazing past a volley of concrete rubble the Nomu flung at him. Shoto spoke into his earpiece. "This thing can cause way too much damage if it's still here! Have you evacuated everyone in a two block radius?"
The policeman on the other line replied into his radio as he helped an elderly lady down the stairs. With the battle between Shoto and the gigantic reptilian Nomu occurring in full view behind them under the window's background. "We're still evacuating a senior center and the library."
Groaning quietly in anger, Shoto blew himself forward with intensity. Building up enough speed to launch an attack with more vigor than before. With a loud yell, Shoto knocked it clean off its feet with enough ice that cleaved the Nomu's head off on impact.
Headless, it stumbled back across the street. Before landing on a concrete structure supporting a rail line destroying part of it entirely. The Nomu made an effort to stand again as its head reformed slowly.
And then it hit him. The sight of an oncoming train blasting rapidly towards them.
Shoto turned pale at the sight of the bullet train that was moments away from derailing. Straight off the tracks in the hole that was formed from the Nomu's prior impact.
"Great." Shoto panted, wiping sweat off his forehead. "That's just great," he sighed.
His thoughts raced. It's moving too fast. Think Shoto, think.
The bullet train's brakes slammed. Wheels screeched as it transferred power to slow the approach. But, it wasn't enough. The train flew off the rails into the air. Shoto's eyes widened.
I'm too late!
Suddenly, a green blur electrified the air around it as the train was caught mid air. Holding the entire engine up, passenger cars and all. The passengers gasped in awe seeing the miracle unfold below them.
They gripped their seats at the suspended anticipation. Only to hear a bellow that removed the fear from their hearts.
"I am here!" Izuku was holding up the entire train car to shouts of approval and roars of excitement.
His costume was clad in a myriad of colors, mostly green, but held traces of black, gold, blue, and red. Topped off with a large 'X' emblazoned on his chest along with a network of designs formed from overlapping white linework.
To the untrained eye it was a cheerful mirage of color, but in reality the costume itself paid homage to its wearer's former mentor. Symbolizing all the prior ages of All Might: bronze, silver, and gold. Into a living image of the past symbol of peace.
Meanwhile Shoto was still clashing with the abomination. Hissing torrents of fire and ice blew the Nomu around with repeated effort while the creature swung wildly at the air. It stumbled back again and again with charred flesh that formed and unformed in wake of the flurry of attacks.
The group of passengers on the bullet train watched as Izuku gingerly laid it back onto the ground without hurting anyone before yelling loudly. "Detroit!..."
In the blink of an eye he flew off his feet striking the Nomu leaving a trail of electrified air behind him. "Smash!"
Izuku struck the Nomu with enough energy to destroy it upon impact, as One for All channeled throughout his body in a single flawless motion. Every muscle, every fiber, and every atom of the abomination erased in a sudden blow that reduced it to nothing in a flash.
He landed back onto the ground, smiling as he did so, before turning to Shoto who'd been watching perched on a nearby rooftop.
"If only you were here sooner," he muttered.
"Aha!" Izuku replied jokingly with a tone mimicking All Might's voice. "You try saving a cat sometime."
Shoto breathed a sigh of relief, "I owe you one Midoriya," and took flight toward the train to aid the police in assisting the shaken passengers.
…...
He rubbed his hands together quickly to build up whatever warmth he could. It was a pitiful attempt, he knew it, but any colder and he felt like he'd slip into hibernation.
"Hey Dabi!" Spinner yelled from the back of the room. "Can't you use your quirk to heat this place up?"
"Relax things are about to get much hotter anyways," he responded in a sarcastic droll. "Asides, what did you expect? Abandoned buildings don't have air conditioning."
"That's easy for you to say, I'm the one with cold blood here," Spinner shivered.
They'd chosen, or more accurately Shigaraki had chosen, the place several months ago for the operation. A single outdated and decrepit warehouse by the Tokyo docks just southeast of the target area due for deconstruction in a few weeks.
It was big, empty, and quiet. Besides being very very cold it had no other distinct features. The perfect place to hide a squad of elite Nomu's in place before the grand show was about to start.
If he was honest, those mindless freaks of the Doctor's labs always gave him the creeps. But Dabi kept his cool, it was easy so long as he didn't have to look them in the eye.
To think that all this time hiding in the shadows was about to pay off, he smiled at the thought. It's been ages since I last let loose like this. Ten years is way too long.
The quiet was interrupted by the soft vibration of a phone call. Spinner motioned to answer it. "It's from Shigaraki."
"Put him on speaker then," Dabi replied with his back turned.
They were greeted by a familiar raspy voice, "Just what the hell were you guys doing?"
Spinner reeled back from the phone, trying to hold back the sound of his own nervousness.
"I didn't promise this whole thing would be perfect," Dabi shrugged his shoulders as he turned to face the source of the voice.
"You promised me to be on schedule." Tomura cleared his throat before continuing. "Have you checked the news recently?"
"I'm afraid I don't keep tabs on worthless local television, care to fill me in?"
"Saitama city, a Nomu got loose, the whole city is on alert."
"One of them must've fallen into the harbor when we were unloading," Spinner's concern was etched into his features. "The whole plan could be screwed."
"It's your plan anyway, I'm just here to pay a visit to some old friends," Dabi replied. "And maybe some old rivals too."
Shoto he thought.
"We had a deal Dabi, and I expect you to play your part in it," Tomura's voice raised and was audible throughout the room.
"The-The plan's fine," insisted Spinner, failing to mask his concern. "I'm sure they think nothing fishy's going on!"
"You nervous?" asked Tomura, pausing to cough. "Maybe we should have a change of personnel before proceeding."
Spinner couldn't answer him, choking on his own fear.
"It's fine." Tomura assured. "They still wouldn't suspect anything. Those heroes have been asleep for too long."
Dabi took a deep breath. Years of sitting around waiting. Eeking out a living on the fringe of society far from the prying eyes of the hero world.
I hope Spinner didn't fuck this one up for everyone. Putting Midoriya on high alert on the day it mattered most. Be a shame if all that waiting around was for nothing.
Dabi smirked, If so, I won't get to pay the number two a visit.
He shook his head at the thought. There was no way the heroes could know, even after a slip up like this.
After all, most speculated that organized villainy was dead after being ten years inactive. Not since the whole villain world was turned on its head during the infamous Jaku incident.
I guess it doesn't matter anyways, his smirk grew into a wider grin. Tomura gets his stunt, and I get my turn at striking back at the hero world.
….
"That was close Deku, a little too close," Mirio was still trying to catch his breath in between his words. "But we managed to keep damage to a minimum."
He outstretched a hand to him, "I couldn't thank you enough."
"You're always welcome Togata," Izuku gave a slight bow as he shook his hand.
"But as much as I'd like to sit here and celebrate, this incident raises more concerns than it does hopes," he paused with a serious expression. "It's been ages since we've had an attack like this, let alone in an urban center."
Izuku placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, if anything happens we can handle it."
He smiled, "And I'm supposed to be the optimist between us."
Deku returned the expression with a brighter smile of his own. Not that this isn't concerning. No this is huge. But as the symbol of peace I have to reassure everyone that everythings alright. I have to give them a reason to smile.
"In any case you should expect a call from the Hero Commission at any moment, I'm sure they'll want your briefing."
Izuku nodded. Turning to glance at the damage caused by the fighting. There was rubble strewn about the battered street. Scattered holes, and warped signs. Twisted cars and shattered concrete. Shards of glass were everywhere, along with some ice left behind by Todoroki's efforts.
It looks like a lengthy damage report for this incident, he sighed.
Behind him he could hear the distinct beating of large wings. He could feel soft gusts of frigid winter air greeting him.
"No need, they're already aware." A familiar sarcastic voice reached out to him. "You're needed in Chiba, both of you.." Hawks gestured accordingly with his hands.
"Ch-Chiba?" Izuku grew nervous, knowing what this meant.
I figured he'd at least hold out for another few months.
Mirio gave a quiet nod, understanding Hawk's vagueness, while Izuku felt shaken.
"I can take it from here," Hawks lowered his gaze at the surrounding street.
…
The lead doctor in charge of All Might's condition spoke clearly to the small group that had gathered, including his patient's closest friends and loved ones. "He slipped in and out of consciousness this past weekend, it worsened very quickly."
The hallway outside the ward was cramped with guests, many of whom had come on short notice still dressed in their gear save for Endeavor who had long since retired. Enji Todoroki, Izuku Midoriya, Mirio Togata. Even Aizawa had made it, taking an approved leave of his strict schedule.
"How quickly?" Endeavor's tone had hardened with age and deepened with the severity of the situation.
"Most of his internal organs are deteriorating much faster than he can heal himself." explained the doctor. "He doesn't have a lot of time before the sickness simply destroys him. The pain he's under is immense, I expect he should pass soon. Within a few hours at most."
The doctor turned to Izuku, who was trying his best to maintain his perfect 'Symbol of Peace' composure. "He refused to talk to anyone including Enji, except for you. You can go in and see him now."
Endeavor crossed his massive arms as the other heroes wondered why he wanted to speak only to Izuku, stepping towards the doctor and the door. "What?"
Aizawa stopped Endeavor, placing his hand on the large man's chest. "Don't."
Realizing it wasn't the time for antics, Endeavor backed down as Izuku waited for the nod from the doctor before entering All Might's hospital ward.
It took everything Izuku had to not cry in front of the man. He had before when he was much younger, but it was different now. He had grown and this would be their last memory of each other.
"Th-Thanks for coming." All Might grunted. He was gaunt, and sickly pale. His body was connected to a large medical apparatus suspended in bed by a mix of life sustaining drugs and painkillers.
Izuku understood better than ever the secrecy regarding All Might's condition.
"I-Is there any pain?" he asked.
"A lot yes," All Might did his best to hide the pain in his expression. "Never thought it'd hurt this much before it finally got me."
Izuku took a deep breath. "Why did you want to only speak to me?"
"No one else can know this," he coughed before continuing with a lowered voice. "Listen closely. You have to know two things, first, if someone threatens to end the inheritance of One for All you must prevent it, you must protect it at all costs. Just as those before you have."
"All right." He brushed aside the tears collecting beneath his eyes.
"Secondly, before you enter a confrontation that could be the end of you and One for All, choose a successor, and make sure that person is worthy to inherit it."
"But who could hold it?" Izuku asked.
All Might coughed quietly before continuing. "Only you can know that. But even if you fall, even if you are broken, you must choose someone to inherit One for All before you pass. I made sure about that before this sickness got to me, I need you to do the same. The world needs you to do the same."
Izuku nodded. The consequences of him dying with no one else inheriting One for All would effectively mean the end of the Hero world, and the greatest victory for evil: a world with no one to oppose All For One. Utter chaos and villainy would reign.
"Well, even though that went without saying, it was important. And it's important that you remember it now. Now that you will fully take on the mantle I once did." All Might gasped quietly in pain.
"I need you. I don't feel like now's the time. That it's my turn all of a sudden. Today..." Izuku frowned. He tried to hold back the tears, the tugging biting ache. But he had known this day would come eventually. All Might's mortality was a fact known to him since they had first met on that fateful day all those years ago.
To think that now it had become a grim reality.
"No. I didn't either. But it's a funny thing, you don't know until you realize it. Then, that's it." All Might nodded as Izuku cried quietly. "All it takes is just knowing you were meant for it."
"You've made it through before, we'll find a way again I know we will!" Izuku turned to the door knowing that Shota and the others wanted to at least see him before he passed. "There's still so much we have to learn from you. I know it's not your choice but..." His words stumbled over the buildup in his throat.
"No it really isn't. But most of life's like that. You go through it, and you can only control so much. As the number one hero, you have to understand that. Even with all your strength, you can only do so much. There's a limit, even to One for All." All Might said, his voice was beginning to grow quiet and frail.
Izuku gazed at him with grief in his eyes. Even speaking was beginning to take a toll on him.
"But, luckily the greatest part of having One for All isn't the power. Or the ability to defend people. It's the ability to inspire. That you can show people there's a reason to believe in heroes. To place faith in what's good."
All Might reached out his frail hand, Izuku quickly reached out to cradle it.
"Even after I die, even after you die. It's important to remember that One for All, and what it stands for, runs through you and every generation after it. So even after we're all gone, know always that with you." All Might smiled weakly. "I am here." He reached out towards Izuku's chest with a limp hand.
It took just a tiny second and the world's greatest hero passed. The room went silent after that, save for the piercing whine of the EKD machine and Izuku's quiet sobs.
He stood up quietly from the chair next to All Might's hospital bed. As if having to part with his mentor—his father figure and idol—wasn't hard enough, Izuku now had to confront the rest of the world with his death. And find a worthy inheritor for One for All when the time was right.
Izuku left and closed the door to All Might's room behind him. Walking towards the country that looked on him awaiting his word.
"He's gone." Izuku stood tall, having already made sure beforehand that his tears were not visible.
Quiet gasps and mournful looks possessed the room.
Endeavor asked the same question that was on everyone's mind. "What did he say to you?"
"We have no right to know that," Togata objected.
"Actually quite frankly we should." Endeavor said. "He was important to all of us, and I'm sure it mattered."
Izuku spoke up, still having everyone's ear. "I can't let you know. He said so himself."
"That's perfect." Endeavor felt like storming off. His expression hardened with faint embers dancing around his stubble in frustration.
"I'm sure he had his reasons." Aizawa looked down at his feet. "As much as I respect his choice, I'm disappointed I wasn't able to hear his voice one last time."
Izuku smiled, echoing his last words. "He'll always be with us."
"Whatever happens from here on out..." Togata spoke up. "We should be careful about how this is received by the public."
"When should we alert the press?" Izuku asked.
"They can wait," Aizawa shrugged his shoulders. "We've kept this under wraps so far for a reason." He checked the clock on the wall reading 5:46 pm. "I've left the school unattended for too long."
"Midoriya." Aizawa nodded to him before leaving.
Izuku passed words between Mirio as the doctor signed his name in ink on All Might's file. He handed it off to a nurse, "Bring it down to filing, get it done before the end of the day."
Eventually the heroes left the hall, and returned to the work that was waiting for them outside. The city moved on. Its lights spun round and round. And the chatter of idle life continued undisturbed. In a deep sleep.
….
The file hit his desk like all the others did. Piles of paperwork were scattered around him. A faded name tag lined his shirt pocket reading: Kimihito Urusei
He breathed a heavy sigh, before checking his coffee mug. Empty. Oh well.
His fingers dragged along the creases of the folds before opening the deceased record. Then his eyes began to work scanning the minutia of detail in the layers of medical history.
He stopped, his attention was caught by a sudden unusual detail. Retired hero, huh. His eyes kept digging through the layers of information. Page after page of densely packed bureaucracy.
Then the realization came. As to just whose record he was holding. He broke into a nervous sweat and reached for his phone.
Urusei was an info-merchant of sorts, the kind of middle-aged man who sold records to the highest bidder. Be it to small-time journalists, or anyone else who had a vested interest in knowing just whose remains rolled through the hospital's morgue.
It wasn't long before word of Toshinori Yagi's death reached the ears of the press. And the headlines began to howl the name 'All Might' again.
…..
Dabi resisted smiling when he saw the news broadcast.
"It has just been confirmed that the world's prior number one Hero, Toshinori Yagi, everyone's beloved All Might, has tragically passed away from respiratory organ failure." The sound of the phone's speakers echoed softly through the large building.
"Yes!" Spinner said, striking a nearby cement column with his leg.
Dabi's phone vibrated quickly in the palm of his hand and he answered it quickly.
"Do I have to even tell you what the call's for?" Tomura tried hiding his anticipatory giggling in between his usual violent coughing fits.
"To be clear, we're-?"
"Have fun," Tomura attempted a chuckle that was overtaken by another coughing fit. He hung up abruptly, leaving the two to their silent vigil in the abandoned structure.
"Was that the go-ahead?" Spinner asked anxiously.
Dabi rolled his neck, cracking it loudly. "Let's go, the boss won't wait before moving forward himself. We strike before he does."