From the Desk of Toshinori Yagi.
There have been times in my years that I have witnessed true darkness and blinding light. I have waded through the abyss of this world and basked in the light, even emanating my own light to warm the fragile souls of those who felt the world was too dark to live in.
In the years since my battle with the devil of this world, All for One, I felt as if the world became brighter. The sun shone brightly, and the warmth it sent to the people was enough that I noticed more smiles, people helping others out of goodness rather than obligation. It warmed a hardened and tired soul to see.
But as they became more at peace and happy. My ever-ailing body pulled me deeper into my own darkness. No longer was I able to eat normally, no longer did breathing feel normal, no longer was I able to walk in public without the feeling of pity being aimed at my back and with the ever looming knowledge that I would have to pass on my quirk in my mind. I knew that an obscure and solemn retirement was coming closer.
That is if Mirai's prediction doesn't come to pass first. And it's true there were times I would have welcomed a climactic end to my story, to finish the tale of All Might in a grandiose fashion and meet my beloved master in the afterlife.
But that changed several months ago. When I met a curious boy with amazing ambitions and a quirk to match. Young Midoriya Izuku did what no one since my master could do.
He restored my hope.
It has been three months since my procedure when he repaired my respiratory system and healed the scaring from dozens of surgeries. I can breathe again! I can fight again! I can feel the brightness of the sun and smile fully again! While not perfect, as I haven't been able to eat a cheeseburger in years. I am able to look to a tomorrow where I don't have any pain in my day, where I can retire happily and live to see my successor flourish.
That is if Mirai's prediction doesn't come to pass first.
I have met with Young Midoriya several times since my procedure and while never for more than an hour or so I have learned a lot about the boy. He is a thinker rather than a fighter, more inclined to win the fight before it began than during. That being said, he knows how to brawl! Gave this old man a couple punches that were more than just a tickle!
He has a good heart, something that is key for me when looking for a successor. He offered assistance without hesitation the day we met. While I do acknowledge that his fanboy nature might have influenced his readiness to divulge his, at the time highly secret, quirk and capabilities. I have a feeling that he would have done it regardless if it were something only he could do.
My thoughts were reaffirmed during the entrance exam. Young Midoriya ran towards danger, weaving in and out of promising hero candidates that were fleeing the scene to save someone from simulated danger! I knew then and there that his potential went from something to keep my eye on to someone who made the list of potential successors!
Speaking of the list there is Young Togata! He is so much like me I would have thought we were related! Mirai's fanboy nature was truly shining bright when he presented me with Togata as a potential candidate for One for All. He is experienced, heroic, and emanates a light that can ease the hearts of those around him. Truly a fine candidate! Unfortunately, I haven't had as much time with Young Togata as I did with Young Midoriya as I wanted to assist Young Midoriya in his training to enter UA as part of my gratitude for healing me.
But in the coming weeks I will be teaching at UA and in that time, I can further assess Young Midoriya and Young Togata! Truly I know One for All will be in good hands with either of them, but I don't want to rush such an important decision. I also pledge to be a good mentor and teacher to my students like my master was to me so that I may see them become the Pro Heroes I know they have the potential to be!
That is if Mirai's prediction doesn't come to pass first.
But I shouldn't think of that! I want to see Young Midoriya's performance in Aizawa's Quirk Apprehension Test, which is starting any minute!
From the Desk of Shota Aizawa.
The first days of a new year always make me melancholic. I have been an underground hero ever since two weeks after my graduation from UA till now. I started with a laptop, my support gear and the occasional assistance from friends in the police force.
It took a day to see a sexual assault that was seconds away from tragedy. It took three days to come across a mutilated body, a victim of a villain that was flexing his quirk. It took a month to lose a friend to another villain. I have scars on my body from mistakes, I have scars from failures, and I have never wanted them removed because they remind me of the most important truth of this line of work.
Hero work is dangerous.
I'm a tough teacher and I will never not be. It is cruel to destroy dreams but I'd rather them fail here than out there. At least here, no one dies for real.
Although, after seeing the potential of this new class, even I have to admit that there is no one that I feel shouldn't be a hero. Huh, if only Emi could hear me say that, she'd think I was going soft. Then she'd propose again, and I'd say no again. Then I'd feel bad again and move that dial in my head toward saying yes, just a tiny bit. So far, I'm at 17.5 out of 100 on the scale of saying yes. Imagine my shock at her slow but sure success at whittling me down. Hizashi must never know.
Back to my class, there were standouts in good ways and bad ways.
First that comes to mind is Todoroki Shoto. He possesses the most raw power in the class at this point. He can make massive amounts of ice in an instant and seems to have precise control on top of that. Speaks of years of training, good on him to not rely on power and coast through his training. Endeavor's son or not, if he had been, I would have cut him to the curb.
However, his file labels his quirk as Half hot Half cold. Which leads me to believe that he has fire as well. Which he should, as son to the man with arguably the strongest fire in the country it would be odd if he didn't. But he didn't use it, and I will find out why. Is he not confident in controlling his fire? If that is the case, then it is admirable to hold back to not risk injuring his classmates and I would commend him for it. Is he holding back for some other reason? Again, unclear but I will find out. He needs to use every tool at his disposal otherwise he will suffer. Why?
Hero work is dangerous.
Second to stand out is Bakugo Katsuki.
An interesting one. Labeled a genius and his scores show a high intelligence and he is the second in terms of pure power. He has a determination that is rare to see and the same ambition of every hero student 'to be number one!' but there is a drive that makes me look at him and think he could have a shot. But that attitude and demeanor of his is quite shocking, he is more abrasive and cruder than his file would suggest and while I don't care how he talks it is curious. He has an existing relationship with Midoriya Izuku that would suggest enemy or rival and today was a blow that could break him or make him even stronger. Only time will tell.
Third stand out, Midoriya Izuku.
I had my eye on this one since a few months ago where the staff witnessed him do what no other could. Heal All Might. He is a genius and it shows in his scores and use of his quirk, one that makes even my head spin at the complexity of it. When I first learned of it, I felt pity at the sheer difficulty of mastering such an ability. But seeing him today and listening to him and Yaoyorozu shoot their capabilities back and forth I'm interested to see where he goes and how high he can climb.
The three I saw stand out today will be put through the toughest training I can think of. As they have the potential that I refuse to squander. If they break and fail all the better. Better now than in the field so they don't die or fail in a way that makes them wish they had.
Hero work is dangerous. Not just physically, but mentally as well.
After all, I haven't had a good night's sleep in about thirteen years. About two weeks since I graduated.
This is a small break between chapters. I'll throw these in every couple of chapters to give you all a different angle and let you get into the head of other characters.
I chose All Might to give him a bit more than "I am here!" And Aizawa to give him a bit more than "That is illogical." Obviously neither are one note but you get it.