Chapter 8

To the Future

"So when are you planning to tell me who the hell's training you?"

Izuku looks up from his notebook, having been jotting down options of retired heroes to contact. He finds Katsuki standing over him looking… peeved, but not quite as pissed as usual. "Oh, um, K-Kacchan, w-why do you ask?"

"Because if a hero were training you, you'd never shut up about who it is. You'd never let a hero you didn't respect for some shady shit train you, so you're not silent out of shame. Whoever it is wants it to stay secret." He hunches and glares into his best friend's eyes. "That shit's not gonna fly with me."

Izuku gulps and cowers beneath him. As solid as their friendship is nowadays, he still knows better than to actively do anything to anger Kacchan if he can avoid it. Annoy him? Sure, that can be fun. Actually angering him is something else entirely. "… I… I-I'll need to ask him if he's alright with it."

Katsuki raises an eyebrow and stares. "… Fine. Call him, text him, whatever. I'll meet you outside." He turns to leave and Izuku sighs shakily and hangs his head.

With a few moments of hesitation, he dials All Might. His idol picks up immediately. "Midoriya-shonen, how are you? Is everything alright?"

"W-Well, mostly, sir. It's just… Kacchan's catching on. He's tired of the secrets, and… I don't think we can deter him. Either we tell him, or he's gonna find out on his own."

"Hmm… I see. I was expecting this. Well, my boy, in the face of such an unrelenting force, there are two options. If there is too much at stake, brunt the damage and pain. If there is nothing to lose, let it slip past and turn it into an advantage."

Izuku's eyes widen, and he nods. "Of course. He's my best friend. He wouldn't use the truth against us. I'll be bringing him with today."

"A wonderful choice, young man. Always remember that this secret is just as much yours as mine now. The power is still mine, but I have not changed my mind about giving it to you. It will be yours, and as such, your input matters greatly regarding our secret."

"O-Of course. Thank you, sir. We'll see you soon, then."

"I'll be sure to bring extra food. How does Bakugou-shonen like his ramen?"

"Whatever the most volcanic thing on the menu is."

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"Alright…" Katsuki marches down the stairs into Dagobah Municipal Beach Park with his hands deep in his pockets. "So where the fu-"

"I AM HERE!" All Might skids to a stop in a leaning Armstrong pose, right in the middle of the path. Katsuki is left gaping and Izuku just sighs. "You're overdoing it again, sensei."

All Might chuckle and uprights himself, brushing some sand off his clothes. "Oh you know I had to. So, Bakugou-shonen, how have you been? I was wondering when you'd get suspicious enough to join us."

He stammers for a few moments, but growls as his jaw clacks shut. "Of fucking course. Let me guess. You saw Izuku use your quirk when he stole a hair or something to activate his own quirk and you decided you saw enough of yourself to train this bastard, right?"

"Oh, more than that, young man." He sighs and crosses his arms. "You see, Izuku was also already privy to one of my biggest secrets at the time he saved you, largely because I saved him that day and happened to be at my limit. Mostly coincidence I suppose, but quite lucky in the long-run."

Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "A secret? The fuck kinda secret have you got that's big enough for this nerd to keep his yappy trap shut?"

"Hey!"

"Can it, nerd."

All Might sighs and hunches. "Well… this." Suddenly, steam bursts from him as he reverts to his true form. He closes his eyes upon seeing Katsuki go slack-jawed again, and a bit twitchy. "Five years ago, I received a grievous injury…" He raises his shirt enough for Katsuki to see the wound, causing him to step back in revulsion for a moment. "That battle was kept from the public, but since then, I've been on a time limit with my quirk. I can only act as a hero for three hours a day without reducing my limit further as a penalty for pushing my limits." He sighs and drops his shirt. "I've been traveling in search of a successor. A successor for my unique quirk, designed to be passed on and improved through consent. One for All was gifted to me by my master, just as I now intend to with Izuku, before my time as the Symbol of Peace comes to a premature end." He closes his eyes and sighs deeply. "I know you must be disappointed to not have been chosen for it yourself-"

"Shut the fuck up, Skeletor." Toshinori's eyes burst open and he almost spits blood when he finds Katsuki glaring at him. "So you quirk can be passed on, whatever. I wanted to be the best, to be better than you, just with my own quirk. And I still plan to!" He punches into his hand and sets off a small blast. "But now…" He turns and grins sadistically as Izuku. "Now, I'll just have to focus on staying ahead of your crazy ass, Deku!"

Izuku gapes for a moment, but slowly steels himself. "You're not… pissed about me getting One for All? It's just a challenge to you?"

Katsuki scoffs. "Not even a challenge. It'll be a blast to leave you in my dust even with All Might's power added to yours." He shrugs and leans against an old chest freezer. "Besides, it makes sense. Give that power to me, I'll become a walking warhead with too much collateral damage for the job. Give it to a skill-focused and flexible prick like you, and it adds the power to make you a threat to most anyone. It's a no-brainer, really."

Toshinori hums. "You're… taking this surprisingly well. And quickly."

"Hey, you gave me the facts, you showed me the proof, it makes sense, why question it?" He sighs and hangs his head. "… But I sure as hell can't say it doesn't fucking suck seeing you like this."

"Well, we're in agreement on that, young man. Although my condition has been getting a tad better…" He looks down to his withered form, though it seems to have regained some weight. Most notable in his face filling in just a bit, and his arms thickening. "Mrs. Midoriya has been insisting on me fixing my diet to have a higher calorie intake even with my stomach gone, and suggested I reach out to an old friend for some potential cybernetic solutions. Never quite liked the idea of artificial organs, but… well, it's sure to be better than my condition as-is."

Katsuki raises an eyebrow. "So auntie Inko knows? Wonderful." He huffs. "So what, you're asking Shield for some help with that injury?"

Izuku perks up as that sinks in. "D-David Shield, of course! H-He's not really into cybernetics, never been his field, but he knows all the best minds in the world! With his contacts, you could have a functioning cybernetic stomach in a matter of a few weeks!"

Toshinori shrugs. "Well, be that as it may, my research suggests we're still quite far from having one that's fully functional with just being implanted. I'd have to get some sort of port installed for me to inject a solvent to assist in digestion, sort of like insulin ports for severe diabetics.

Katsuki snorts. "Wow, that fuckin sucks. But hey, you can enjoy real food again, so that's something."

"Oh certainly." Toshinori grins. "My first task will be returning to Might Tower to order out of my own restaurant and binge one of my old favorite meals for the first time in five years."

"You sure as shit better be takin' us with you for that."

All Might peeks up and slowly grins. "That, young man, sound like a wonderful time. I'll give you both a full tour while I'm at it, and give you a chance to go crazy in Might Tower's own training facilities."

Izuku's head is spinning at the mere thought of it. "A-All Might, s-sir, you really don't need to-"

"Shut the fuck up Deku, we're doing it, and your nerdy ass is gonna love every second!"

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In an office across the world, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, sits a man typing away at absurd speeds, his shaggy blonde hair hanging in his face as he downs half a mug of coffee in one swig. He returns to typing and pulls his headphones up as a call comes in. "Toshi, I have wonderful news! That stomach you're looking for? An associate in San Franciso has a new one that comes with not a port, but solvent pills to take with each meal to do the job! It's safer, less invasive, and less of a risk of damaging it in combat!"

"What?! Dave, that's wonderful! And here I was, just calling to keep my promise to talk more."

"Toshi, please, you know no chat with me is ever so bland. I've always got something to talk your ear off about."

"Don't I know it. Actually, my new student reminds me a lot of you, just with a truckload of anxiety to top the package off."

David pauses and sits upright. "Student? I didn't hear anything about you taking on a younger sidekick. I thought you were solo right now."

"W-Well, um..." Yoshinori chuckles nervously. "He's not a sidekick. He's an actual middle-schooler, just like I was when Nana took me under her wing. He's a boy with remarkable potential, and his quirk is something truly inspiring."

David pauses and peeks aside to the photo of himself and his old partner in front of his car. "So this kid has that much potential? You think he can be the next Symbol of Peace?"

"Dave… I know he'll surpass me by far and become something more than a symbol. A kid like this, the way he'll inspire people, will make that peace a reality."

David's eyes widen with every word. ".. Well. I'll have to come see this kid for myself. What does MIrai think?"

"You know he doesn't look into the far future anymore. But he is impressed with the boy and already gave his stamp of approval. His best friend has been training with us as well, and he's proving to have incredible potential as well! A tad violent and self-assured for my tastes, but talented and willful."

"They're both going to U.A., aren't they?"

"Indeed. I'm sure they'll pass the entrance exam with flying colors. This generation is proving to be greater than my own could fathom, Dave. If my lungs weren't shot, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops."

"Oh, about that!" David runs through a few files. "We've got a few options in that area too! A friend from a lab in Borneo has been working on an oxygen-absorbing gel that can be inhaled and line weak points in the lungs, providing a protective coating and adding to your lungs' oxygen intake, making up for what was lost in your injuries! It should stop the bleeding, and although your breath will be shorter than before still, this combined with the new stomach should put you back up to about eighty-five percent of your former best output with a tripled time limit within a month of rehab from the surgery and about a year of returning to your former diet and training regimen!"

"Now I remember how I learned to handle fast-talk well enough to follow Midoriya's rambling." Toshinori chuckles. "Well, that all sounds wonderful! I'll take both treatments as soon as we can book them."

"Give me two weeks, and I'll be there with both doctors to apply it all! And I'll take some time working with those two kids you're training while you recover."

"I'm sure Midoriya would be delighted. Bakugou on the other hand will probably be as continuously ornery as ever and call you a two-bit extra in my shadow."

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Two weeks pass in short order. Izuku could be found on the beach with David Shield and Bakugou, rambling off questions about the man's creations and his college years with the top hero.

"You know, it's been a while since I upgraded the Hercules." Dave hums. "All Might's car could use a few new additions by now. And probably needs a few parts replaced, the way he drives."

Izuku whines and hangs his head. "I've wanted to ride in it for so long, but with his hero time cut so short, he can't take it anywhere because everyone knows it's his!"

Katsuki hums. "Ya know, I actually wouldn't mind a ride in there myself. That thing looks like Sex on Wheels with a hide tough enough to survive me! For now, anyway."

"Oh, definitely." David grins. "That baby's armored enough to survive your current yield at about five-fold. Much more than that, and it might have some trouble. Come up with a good enough signature move though, and it might get pretty busted up. Nothing I can't fix, though." He hums. "Although, knowing what I do now… One for All being what it is, I suppose he'll eventually run dry. I might need to pull together a suit to enhance him and keep him on the beat for a while." He huffs. "Since we all know there's no way he'll ever stop."

"Definitely."

"He's gonna walk into his own death with a smile while protecting a kitten from some maniac when he's in his eighties."

They would all jolt as their phones go off together, looking to them to find a photo of Toshinori, still in his hospital bed and looking groggy, still delirious from the anesthetics, with the misspelt caption "I lvied, botch". Laughter echoes amongst the garbage for hours.

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"How did you convince me to do this?" Izuku huffs as he backs up and leaps across an alley from roof to roof. Katsuki's on the other side, grinning like a madman.

"Because you were ahead of schedule, and sensei's still recovering. Ya can't tell me this shit won't be great for hero work, anyway." He snorts and runs up a wall to grab the lip of the roof to the building's stairwell and hefts himself up. "Especially since your quirk doesn't let you get around as easily as mine does, and I need it for when I can't be doing collateral."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it…" Izuku sighs and copies Bakugou, pulling himself up easily enough, but with far less grace.

"Dude, you're awkward as hell doing this. I'm gonna run you all over this fucking city, and then we're going to the parkour park."

In the pre-quirk era, parkour was rather popular, but parks specifically for it were incredibly rare. But after the advent of quirks and with more advanced physical ability becoming more common among average citizens, more locations were made around the world to accommodate it. Anyone with quirks that improve their mobility can test themselves in a safe and creative environment in these parks, with the risk of harm being about as great as your average free-running, but with no chance of property damage. Many children training to be heroes frequent these places, and many who never will be, but simply want to bask in feeling as cool as some of their idols for a few moments.

Katsuki would only accompany Izuku at the local parkour park for another two months before he blew up part of the site and was promptly banned.

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It wasn't long before the day had come. Izuku hefts the last piece of trash, a single filing cabinet, onto All Might's truck and stretches as he steps back. "And a month to spare!" He spins around and looks out over the beach. Spotless sand, not even any cigarettes or shards of shells to be found, already raked out and carted away.

Katsuki stands beside him and hums. "Ya know... I kinda get the community service part now. This place looked like total ass before you started, and now I wouldn't mind goin for a swim."

"Of course you'd look at it that way."

"The fuck is that supposed to mean, Deku?!"

"Alright, settle down, boys!" They turn to see All Might stand behind them, still wearing some bandages beneath his shirt, but looking fuller, his eyes less sunken. His gaunt face is plastered with a wide, cheerful grin. "Izuku, my boy, you've done wonderfully. You took to this training even better than I had imagined and although you have a long way to go, I think you're ready. Your quirk will make up for the gaps in your strength, so now, you're ready to receive One for All." His grin widens as he bursts into his hero form, his bandages snapping to reveal a mostly healed surgery scar, laying fresh over the rest. " "The time has come, young man. So I ask you, one last time…"

Izuku turns fully to face his mentor, as the rising sun reflects off the sweat of a hard morning's work and outlines the muscles he's built over the last nine and a half months. Little does he know, he's being watched by Gran Torino and Nighteye nearby, just stepping out of Nighteye's car. He's too deep in the moment to notice them. All he can see now is his mentor standing before him and holding out Izuku's own All Might Sample Vial. "Will you accept One for All and become my successor as the Symbol of Peace? Will you, Midoriya Izuku, become the Ninth Holder and carry the wills of the eight before you into a brighter future?"

Izuku slowly shuts his slacked jaw and steels his misty eyes. He nods and clenches his fists. "I swear. I'll be every bit the hero you want me to be and more! Because that's always what I've wanted to be, and what the world needs!"

Gran chuckles. "Kid's got the spirit, that's for damn sure."

Nighteye nods in approval. "He really is quite something. I look forward to watching him grow."

All Might holds the vial out to Izuku. "Then a toast." He reaches into his pockets with his free hand and starts tossing small cans of soda at Katsuki, Gran, and Mirai. "A toast to the next Symbol of Peace and Justice."

They all crack their drinks open and raise them. Izuku cracks the seal off the vial and raises it with them. In one swift motion, they down their drinks, and Izuku drinks All Might's quirk sample. No longer would it be on his belt. It would be a part of him.

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A.N.: Well, here we are. One for All has finally been passed on, and Izuku is about to begin his adventure into true greatness. When we pick up next time, it'll be time for the exam, and ooohoho boy do I have surprises for you there. Don't expect the same old exam bit! I'm gonna have a lot of fun writing this...