The chorus of the cicadas buzzed in Undyne's ears as the weight of the pro hero's words pressed on her soul. All-Might. There were very few names that could inspire such emotion from their mere evocation. To the Quirkless and non-heroes, the name instilled a sense of sereniy and peace. To his fellow pro heroes and would-be trainees, All-Might represented the highest ideal they could possibly strive to attain. Villains, too, saw him as a symbol, but not in as positive of a light. All-Might's simple existence as the Symbol of Peace sent a clear message to them: wrongdoers who would use their Quirks for their own selfish gain would not be tolerated any longer.

However, Undyne knew that no one in Japan admired the hero as much as her little brother.

Hollow darkness filled the small bedroom. A lone square resting atop a small desk emanated some artificial light, splashing across proud, muscular figurines and smiling posters. The shadow of a young boy seated in a wooden chair blanketed Undyne as she stood in the open doorway. Exhaustion and annoyance were etched in her face. This hadn't been the first time the green haired boy had woken her up with his obsessions. Yawning, she approached the child, light on her feet and unnoticed.

As she grew near, the sound produced by the squat machine became decipherable. An all too familiar, guttural laughter boomed from the desktop's speakers. Undyne stopped, her eyes now glued to the bright monitor displaying an image she'd scene many times before.

The hulking figure of the number one pro hero appeared before the burning wreckage of a collapsed structure. On his back were multiple injured civilians who, without his direct intervention, would have likely remained trapped in the surrounding rubble. His costume, though tattered and worn, glowed in the bright orange blaze. Despite his Herculean build and heroic stature, his most noticeable aspect remained his smile, piercing the night like a lighthouse atop a cliff side.

"It's fine now. Why?" The recorded voice streamed out of the computer speakers.

"Because I am here."

"Because I am here."

Undyne's eyes widened as she looked down upon her little brother. His shoulders trembled as he finished the trademark phrase of his hero. An unwelcome feeling invaded Undyne's gut, swirling and twisting like a stone caught in a tornado. Images of a child who wanted just to be a hero flashed in her mind's eye. Memories a man in a white cloak who denied him his birthright. Pictures of the triumphant number one grasped tightly in his shaking hands. A mother's crystal tears and a sister's indignant rage.

"He's such a cool hero. He's always saving people, even when he's hurt." Izuku's wavering voice pounded against Undyne's soul, the guilt trapped within growing more and more unbearable. She clenched her fists and grated her teeth as fury scalded her scaly skin.

The boy turned his head, and Undyne found her crimson eyes locked within his emerald irises. Shimmering tears sent another spear of sorrow into her gut. Pointing a shaky finger towards the screen, Izuku squeaked out one last question.

"Undyne, do you think I can do that? Even thought I don't have a Quirk... do you think that I can be a hero, too?"

The smell of fresh cherry blossoms carried by a late summer's breeze wafted into Undyne's nostrils. A pair of cerulean eyes gazed into her soul, seemingly evaluating the stock of the woman to which it belonged. A storm of words and phrases danced in her mind as she stared back. One thought in particular transformed into a familiar image, and Undyne turned to face her little brother. His eyes were filled with the same awestruck sparkle she'd seen every time the pro hero was mentioned. However, a certain familiar longing dimmed that bright light. Undyne's lips pursed into a small grin as she turned back to the skinny man before her. Finding herself unable to meet the hero's gaze, she stared upon the warm black asphalt below as she began,

"All-Might, you can bet your left foot that I'll become a hero. Saving people... standing up for what's right, for justice... it's what I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember."

Undyne's fists clenched as her voice became strained. She felt her soul burn and her body boil as she continued,

"But, you see All-Might, I can only say that because I've got an awesome Quirk. I have the power to help others. It... it isn't fair!" She finished her statement with a shout filled with all the rage and sadness accumulated over the past 15 years.

Unwelcome tears welled in her eyes again as she shakily pressed on, turning once more to her surprised little brother and saying,

"Izuku, I'll never be able to forgive myself for the words I said all those years ago. I was scared. I was terrified of what might happen if I told you what you needed to hear. But right now, just maybe, I might have a chance to make up for some of it. Even if it ends up amounting to nothing."

All-Might's eyes widened as the fish monster turned to face him. In her crimson eyes was a fire fueled by a feeling he recognized, one found seldom in even the best of heroes. Izuku found himself unable to respond, words evaporating in his throat as his vision blurred.

Taking in a deep breath and raising her fist to her chest, Undyne shouted the question that had been plaguing her mind ever since that fateful evening,

"All-Might, can someone without a Quirk become a hero? Can my brother be like you?"

For a long moment, silence filled the warm air. The sun's final rays arched across the dark blue sky with a deep dark orange glimmer. Undyne held her breath as she awaited a response, her fist pressed firmly against her chest.

Then, her ears were filled by the one sound she couldn't have expected to hear. Laughter.

Undyne's eyes shot up in surprise. Unable to conjure words, she merely stared at the chuckling number one hero. His smile, glinting in the late afternoon sun, seemed far more genuine than even in the most heroic moments she'd ever seen on television. After finding the strength to compose himself, he locked eyes with Undyne, his triumphant expression beaming into her soul.

"Young lady, didn't I say that two heroes came to the rescue today?"

Shifting his gaze to the shocked green haired boy standing stiff before his idol, he spoke in a soft yet proud tone,

"Young Midoriya, if you hadn't set your fear aside and rushed in, I would've been a bystander. Your actions proved that anyone, Quirkless or not, can be a hero."

Hot tears freely flowed down Izuku's cheeks, splattering against the asphalt as he wept. Undyne couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face even if she had tried.

"Young lady, to answer your question, it is my newfound belief that he can become a hero."

Because he already is one.