A hand slammed on his desk and Izuku awoke from his dazed state.

Izuku choked on blood that wasn't there.

It hurt.

But it didn't. He wasn't bleeding anymore. Everything was fine.

"What the hell? Fall asleep in class again, Deku?"

Izuku looked up and remembered.

He was back. And he had things to do. And one of those things…

Izuku rose from his seat and looked around the classroom. It was such a familiar scene. He had seen it half a million times. It was his homeroom. And eventually he would never see it again.

Izuku ran a hand over his desk in a daze.

This loop ended today. He'd still see the classroom but this moment…

Izuku looked at Kaachan and his two friends.

Once I do this. There will be no going back, I hope.

"Kaachan." Izuku breathed in and out.

How can I word this…

How can I get this right?

Izuku had known Kaachan for years. Katsuki Bakugo. Izuku's age. His Quirk was Explosion, he can secret a substance with his sweat that can detonate into fiery combustions. Like his Quirk, Kaachan's personality was like an explosion.

Izuku knew Kaachan was loud like an explosion. He could be inconsiderate like the fallout of an explosion. Uncaring of who he hurt along his path to achieving his goal. He was a bomb that kept going off and off…

But like every explosion, they didn't last forever. Kaachan had his quiet moments, reserved, thoughtful. Izuku wouldn't go so far as to say caring but…

Kaachan wanted to become a Hero with his Quirk. And with a Quirk like that everyone adored him, believed in him, expected of him…

All of these things made up the Kaachan standing before Izuku right here and now.

This is what Izuku knew.

But because of his Quirk he had learned other things.

Kaachan was still his friend on some level. They just didn't know how to talk to each other anymore. A boy held up on a golden pedestal and a boy bogged down by the weight of his own expectations.

Just like everyone had high expectations for Kaachan. Everyone had low expectations for Izuku. Even Kaachan.

Izuku bit the inside of his cheek and smiled at Kaachan.

And like an explosion wanting to go off, Kaachan looked pissed.

"What are you smiling at? Fucking shitty nerd."

This was Kaachan.

Izuku remembered how he used to be. Always fighting bullies and older kids. Always fighting to become strong like All Might. Never losing like All Might.

But Kaachan didn't know what Izuku did. Kaachan didn't know about All Might's secret and Izuku really shouldn't tell him.

For one, Kaachan wouldn't believe him like in the last loop. Second, it would be wrong to betray All Might's secret like that anyways.

But if Izuku let Kaachan go down the path of a Hero any further with the way Kaachan has been…

There's only one way I can reach him.

Izuku remembered the fight he'd gotten into with Kaachan.

Izuku's smile morphed into something bright and hopeful.

"Kaachan. I'm going to Yuuei. Even with this useless Quirk of mine. I will become a Hero."

Kaachan's red eyes twitched.

Kaachan's two friends began to snort and snicker at the declaration. The skinny one was mocking Izuku. But Izuku didn't care. They didn't matter.

Kaachan did matter.

And Kaachan was pissed.

Izuku knew he couldn't convince Kaachan that he didn't have to be perfect, that no one was perfect. Not even All Might. But he could challenge Kaachan.

It was Kaachan's nature to challenge things.

So Izuku used that against him.

He couldn't tell Kaachan about his Quirk. Return By Death won't allow it. But what Izuku could do…

"What the fuck did you just say, Deku?" Kaachan's teeth were grinding.

Izuku squared his shoulders. "I said that I'm going to become a Hero, I'm going to Yuuei."

Kaachan grabbed Izuku by the collar and pulled him forwards. "Listen here you Quirkless wannabe. You're not going to Yuuei. I am. I'll be the first person to get in from this crummy school. I will not be out done by some shitty Deku!"

Izuku grabbed Kaachan's wrists and smirked. "Then stop me."

Kaachan blinked then roared. Izuku felt the heat around his neck spark and he dropped to the floor taking Kaachan with him. His head smacked into the classroom floor and it hurt but it wasn't anything new to Izuku. He'd done this before.

Izuku twisted out from under a very surprised Kaachan and scrambled away, bracing himself against a desk.

He didn't have time to waste. He couldn't stay here and fight with Kaachan. He had a Sludge Villain to get captured by.

Izuku heaved. "Kaachan. I'm not the same useless Deku you think you remember."

Kaachan steadied himself and his legs tensed, ready to pounce. "You always will be a Deku. You can't change that."

Izuku shook his head. "You're wrong. Kaachan. I'm going to make it into Yuuei and then you'll have to see. That you are wrong. I'm not helpless, I'm not Quirkless, and I'm not worthless. I will become a Hero."

It looked like Kaachan wanted to say something.

Izuku didn't have the time for it. Not now. Izuku had places to be in order to end this loop.

Izuku walked away from Kaachan and Kaachan's form relaxed. He had been about to tackle Izuku. It would have been their fight all over again except this time Izuku had just a little more experience then last time. He idly wondered if he could beat Kaachan in a hand to hand spar.

He glanced back once and remembered that Kaachan worked out. He still had more muscles and his Quirk was terrifying. So no, Izuku couldn't beat Kaachan. He probably never would be able to. Kaachan was just too amazing for his own good.

"Yuuei is the best of the best!" Kaachan called after Izuku. "They only accept the best of the best. You don't stand a chance, Deku."

Izuku knew this. And it scared him. The bravado he was putting on for Kaachan to see was mostly just an act. In his core Izuku was shaking. Because he knew that if he'd make it into Yuuei…

He'd have to be better.

He'd have to be stronger.

Izuku could train. He had almost an entire year to prepare for the annual Yuuei entrance exams. But when it came down to it Yuuei was the most prestigious school in the nation for training Heroes.

They only accepted the best of the best just like Kaachan had said.

Heroes like Endeavor and All Might had gone to Yuuei and they were the Number Two and Number One Heroes.

The chances of Izuku getting in were slim to none especially without a flashy Quirk like Kaachan.

So…

He'd have to use his Quirk to get in.

He'd have to die.

And Izuku didn't want to die.

He's choked, he's fallen from powerful heights, and he's stabbed himself several times.

Dying was painful. It hurt.

And Izuku would have to die many, many times if he wanted to continue down this path.

But he'd already made a vow on top of a rooftop and just now in front of Kaachan.

Izuku Midoriya would make it into Yuuei and he would become a Hero.

Izuku Midoriya would save everyone.

Toshinori Yagi was running as fast as his body would allow. Which wasn't very fast with his injured state but he'd allowed that Sludge Villain to get away. If he hurt anyone, it would be on his hands.

Toshinori coughed up blood and pushed harder.

Toshinori found himself doing that a lot lately. Pushing himself, that is.

His friends had been trying to get him to slow down. But he couldn't. Something was going on with One For All. His Quirk was coming alive. For years now, ever since he'd put down that evil monster and avenged his Master his Quirk had been nothing more than quiet embers.

But now, today…

Toshinori roared and his Quirk came to live like a wildfire.

Something was happening with One For All. It's spirit, it's essence was begging him onwards.

All those who came before him were pushing him forwards and he couldn't let any of them down. Not anymore.

Because he was dying.

Toshinori Yagi, wasn't long for this world for much longer. He could feel it in his bones. One For All knew it too.

So they pushed him forwards. To keep going until the end. To find a successor.

Toshinori wasn't one hundred percent sure what he needed in a successor. He wasn't even sure what his Master had seen in him.

He had been a scrawny child training through the cold snow when Nana Shimura had found him.

What had she seen in him?

Toshinori shook his head. He wasn't his Master. He was Toshinori Yagi, All Might the Number One Hero and Symbol of Peace.

He needed someone who could smile in the face of any danger. Someone willing to sacrifice everything to become a Hero. He needed someone with the willpower to persevere through the most arduous of times.

And he also needed One For All's approval.

Toshinori had met with a potential successor before. Two of his friends had recommended the boy. Sir Nighteye and Nedzu thought that Mirio Togata would have been the perfect successor.

Toshinori had seen the boy, met with him even. But…

Something just hadn't felt right. Or rather, Toshinori felt nothing at all when looking at young Togata. Nothing but disparity.

It had been like staring into a mirror.

And he was looking at his younger self.

And he couldn't do it. Not to young Togata.

Toshinori knew that Mirio Togata would make a great Hero. Heck, he'd probably even have the Number One title for a time in a few years after graduation.

The boy had been incredible. And the possibilities with his Quirk, it was phenomenal.

But Toshinori didn't feel anything.

One For All was quiet.

Unlike now.

One For All was surging into a tornado of flames inside of his chest. What did it mean? Was his successor close? Could One For All sense someone nearby with the spark Toshinori was looking for?

Toshinori disappeared into a blast of smoke and All Might thundered out towards where this feeling in his chest was leading him.

That's when All Might found the Sludge Villain. He was wrapping himself around a young boy.

And there it was again. That feeling of hope and determination swimming to the surface.

All Might flew forwards with his fist pulled back and then he punched! "Detroit Smash!"

A powerful blast of wind ripped the Sludge Villain off of the child and into pieces.

The boy dropped to his knees and coughed up something green.

All Might looked down upon the boy and noted his clothing. Must be junior high.

He was around that age. And Yuuei's entrance exam is coming up.

Was fate smiling down on him today?

All Might took a step towards the green haired boy and knelt. "Are you all right, young man?"

The boy coughed, nodded, and then coughed again. "I'm- I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, All Might."

And the boy smiled at him.

All Might felt two feelings overwhelming him.

This boy was smiling at him when this had been his fault. If All Might hadn't let the Villain escape earlier then this wouldn't have happened. This boy wouldn't have almost died.

But despite it all. The greenette was smiling up at All Might and it filled him with such pride.

This young man had been fearless.

One For All was burning hot.

But…

"Young man, would you like to become a Hero?" All Might asked the boy.

The boy's eyes widened but he shook his head. "I- I do. I do want to become a Hero All Might. I'm going to try for the Yuuei Entrance Exams."

All Might considered this and then something shifted inside of him.

One For All was dying down slowly.

Like All Might, One For All could see this boy's spirit. He would make a perfect vessel. But at the same time…

Someone within the sparkling fire spoke up in disagreement.

The spirits were arguing.

And then they were silent.

All Might heard nothing of their argument. His Quirk wasn't to that stage yet and it probably never would be for him. But he could feel One For All fighting against itself. And then. It was calm. Like a warning torch.

And All Might felt what One For All felt. That this boy had the right spirit to become his successor, to become the ninth holder. But the boy had his own path of destiny ahead of him. One that would wind in and around One For All. But the boy wasn't meant for this path.

All Might could have sighed in disappointment if he didn't want to worry the boy.

"All Might." The boy spoke up.

All Might looked down on the boy and felt tired. Another potential ninth that just wasn't…

"Yes, young man?"

The boy didn't hesitate. "Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for everything that you've done. Thank you, All Might." The boy was still smiling.

And All Might/Toshinori's heart hurt. One For All flickered.

All Might wouldn't buckle. He wouldn't not in front of this bright young man.

All Might was gentle. He hugged the boy.

And that was that.

The boy helped All Might clean up the Sludge Villain and contain him into a soda bottle and that was that.

The two said their goodbyes.

And All Might was gone.

The strange thing was…

One For All was still burning hot inside of him. And it wouldn't go out anytime soon.

When All Might had landed on a rooftop far away he buckled. And he cried.

And when he was finished crying he wished he would've asked for the kid's name.

Because he'd never forget that moment when he'd been thanked for everything he had done.

Sure people did it every now and then. But the way the kid had said it. With such bright emotion.

It dug deep and Toshinori cried for himself for the first time in years.

Katsuki Bakugo slammed his bedroom door shut.

What the hell had gotten into the shitty nerd earlier today?

Usually whenever Katsuki showed any kind of aggressive behavior towards Deku he would cower or shake in his shoes.

But not today. Or at least. Not since Katsuki had woken him from his little nap.

Fucking Deku! You think you can upstage me? You think you can be better than me? I'll show him. I'll show them all!

Katsuki tore his school clothes off and threw on a spare black sleeveless shirt with a skull on the front. He was going to lift some weights and not think about-

The hag was screaming at him, "Katsuki! Don't slam the doors!"

Katsuki grit his teeth and shouted through the now shut door. "Oh yeah? Come up here and make me, old hag!"

Something smashed downstairs and Katsuki frowned.

He heard his father say something to his mother and then the pounding of footsteps on stairs.

Fuck me.

Katsuki threw himself onto his bed.

I didn't think she'd actually…

His bedroom door slammed open.

And the hag began to scream.

And Katsuki shouted back.

Everything was normal for the Bakugo household while Masaru prepared dinner downstairs.

The patriarch of the Bakugo household paused and looked up to see Mitsuki pulling Katsuki down the stairs by the ear. The boy was snarling and foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog.

Masaru sighed and went back to preparing dinner. All the while it sounded as if he had a pair of very loud and aggressive dogs in the house barking and snarling at one another. Until finally one apologized and was pulled into a very unwilling hug.

Izuku Midoriya checked the news channel later that night when he was sitting with his Mother.

The Sludge Villain had been apprehended and turned into the nearby police station for processing.

No one had died.

No one had even been injured.

Izuku smiled.

Izuku thanked his Mother for the evening meal and wished her a good night's sleep.

Izuku brushed his teeth and went to his bed, wondering about everything that had happened.

His Quirk wasn't so bad.

He could become a Hero.

And it still scared him. Because he remembered how every death had changed him. How he was more confident now than he had been in his first life.

And he wondered by the time he'd become a Hero and graduated from Yuuei…

If there would be anything left of this Izuku Midoriya.

It was an odd thought.

But to him it was an appropriate concept. Death had changed him and death would change him further. Right now. The Izuku Midoriya that he was in this very moment was hopeful, confident, and determined to do his very best, to save everyone.

How many more times would he have to die for that to change?

How did his Quirk affect his body physically?

Quirks were physical after all, like an extra muscle. They got worn and they could tear.

Would he simply die and not come back?

It could also grow like a muscle. How did he grow with Return By Death? By dying? By not dying? What would happen when it grew? What could he do?

Kaachan was right to call him a nerd. Izuku was a nerd. A nerd of Quirks. He liked to analyze and Study Quirks. It was a fun hobby that correlated with his dreams of becoming a Hero.

"I don't want to die anymore," Izuku whispered into the night. He pulled his covers over him and he breathed in and out. "I don't want to change. I want to stay who I am. But… I will become a Hero."

Izuku closed his eyes and felt sleep coming for him. In moments he would open his eyes and it would be a new day.

"No matter what."

And Izuku Midoriya fell asleep. But more importantly, Izuku Midoriya was alive.

For now...