Tsukauchi stared at the security feed. Stain and Daisuke Todoroki were safely in their cells in Tartarus, but neither would talk. The key to destroying the League of Villains was sitting on his lap and he couldn't do anything with it. He had lost count of how many cups of coffee he'd had, and he only knew he needed more.

His phone started ringing and he saw Eraserhead's name on the screen.

"Please tell me you have some good news." Tsukauchi said.

"I might have someone who can make Stain talk. They met when he was still calling himself Stendhal." Eraserhead said.

There is a God, Tsukauchi thought.

"Eraserhead, I love you so much right now. Get him here."

Eraserhead arrived half an hour later with a hulking behemoth of man. He was wearing a worn-out duster and black scarf that had been fashioned into a mask. The giant man cracked his knuckles.

"Where is the fool?" The man said.

"… down the hall." Tsukauchi said.

"I might have to get a bit rough with him." The man said.

"Do what you have to do." Eraserhead said.

"How… how do you know Stain?" Tsukauchi said.

"Broke his nose when the bastard still had one. I'd hoped that would have set him straight, but I see now that the fool needs some extracurricular." The man said.

"Don't let us stop you." Eraserhead said.

The man walked out to meet Stain. When he was gone Tsukauchi turned to Eraserhead.

"Was that… the vigilante Knuckleduster?" Tsukauchi said.

"No." Eraserhead said.

"I'm pretty sure it was."

"You must be mistaken. He´s just… some tough old guy who's into community service."

The man returned.

"He's ready to talk."

"… what?!" Tsukauchi said.

"Thank you, Knuckleduster." Eraserhead said.

"You were gone less than a minute!"

"And that's all the time I can spare. There's evil to fight." Knuckleduster said.

"Can you get back without me? He attacked one of my students and I want to hear what he has to say." Eraserhead said.

"Sure. The buses run every half an hour, right?" Knuckleduster said.

"… every hour." Tsukauchi said.

"Screw it. Kouichi can come pick me up." Knuckleduster said.

For a moment Tsukauchi thought about doing his duty and arresting Knuckleduster but then decide he had better things to do. Besides, the man was obviously just some tough old guy who's into community service. Would Eraserhead lie to him?

Eraserhead followed him to Stain's cell. Whatever the tough old guy who was into community service had said had taken all the fight out of Stain.

"Detective… before I tell you about the League of Villains you should hear about Mrs. Ikari's orphanage." Stain said.


Thanks to Recovery Girl Izuku could check-out of the hospital by Friday. The cut in his cheek would leave a scar and all the stitches in his back made his skin feel a size too small but he knew he'd gotten off easy. When he was gathering his things, All Might sent him a message asking Izuku to meet him at the beach if he was up for it. He was.

It was nostalgic returning to the beach. It also sent a chill down his spine knowing he had cleaned up all of it. The city had even made some plans to insure the beach stayed that way. All Might was waiting for him leaning on a railing looking at the sea. When he noticed Izuku, All Might smiled.

"Izuku."

"All Might."

They both leaned on the railing and looked at the sea for a while.

"I had a call from Gran Torino last night. He gave a me an hour-long lecture on why I'm a failure as a teacher and an idiot in general." All Might said.

"… you're not…"

"Let me finish. He told me to return to square one. Apparently the first step is communication, so we need to talk. As few lies as possible."

"… okay. Uh? Who… goes first?" Izuku said.

"Do you want to…?"

"I… I don't know what to say. Maybe... you should..."

"Then I'll go first to get you going." All Might said and cleared his throat: "So… Izuku my boy. How you are holding up?"

"… well… my home was burned down. Still… kind of sore about that. My girlfriend's also a villain."

"Ex-girlfriend." All Might said.

"… yeah."

Ex-girlfriend. Right. Toga was his ex-girlfriend. Right?

"… also, my shrink… had to pass me on to someone else. I… apparently, she's not qualified to handle my problems anymore. There's also a hundred-year old ghost haunting me. So, still processing that."

"… ah, well. I guess it was a stupid question." All Might said.

"… but this still has been the best year of my life." Izuku said.

"… what?"

"It's… my life started when I was five. That's when I started remembering… you know… things. Everything. At the doctor when he told me I was Quirkless. That's… when… my brain came online. I'd never be a hero and then my best-friend turned out to be a giant asshole. The following years… they… weren't much better."

All Might scratched his head.

"Soon I'm the one who needs cheering up, my boy."

"But… for the first time I'm… looking forward to what happens next. It's just…"

"Yes?"

This was the hard part. The one thing he should have said sooner but… he had been afraid. Afraid of being Deku again. But… if he didn't say it now, he'd always be Deku. No matter what.

"All Might… are you sure I'm a worthy successor? Nighteye's premonition about Toga…"

"Izuku. Every man even the most compassionate and kindhearted has his limits. The premonition won't come true. I won't allow it." All Might said.

"… that's not all. I met Mirio and he… would make a better Symbol of Peace than… I ever would. Will."

All Might was quiet for a moment and then he started laughing. Izuku could just stare him.

"Is that what you've been worried about?" All Might said.

"… what… I… Yes! You wanted me to be the Symbol of Peace and… I can't do that. You… you chose wrong." Izuku said.

All Might patted him on the shoulder.

"Izuku, I chose you as my successor. Not as the next Symbol of Peace. How many wielders of One for All before me do you think have been Symbols of Peace?"

"… I… don't…"

"You're a fanboy. Guess." All Might said.

He'd never even heard about Nana before he had met her. So, she had to be the exception to the rule.

"… most of them? Six?"

All Might pointed at himself.

"You're looking at the first. Crimson Riot was the Symbol of Peace from my boyhood. He'd never even heard about One for All. Most people thought that Nana was just a B-lister."

All Might looked at the sea.

"You know… I was born Quirkless too. I saw in you what… I'd like to think Nana saw in me. Makings of a hero who just needed a chance."

All Might had been Quirkless? So… had all of this been because of pity?

"But… Mirio… he could do so much more with this power." Izuku said.

"If Mirio has the potential to become the next Symbol of Peace, he doesn't need my help. Then there's you. A Quirkless boy who jumped into danger to protect someone he should have hated. Do you think the world is worse off because that boy gets a chance to be a hero?"

"… but I… lied to you…"

"You're seventeen. That's what seventeen-year old's do. Despite that I'm proud of you, my boy. You have more than met my expectations."

Izuku tried to wipe away the tears that wouldn't stop coming.

"… I… I… could have done more. Better. I should have…"

All Might patted him in the back and almost send him flying.

"Why are you so worried about disappointing me when making yourself happy seems to be next to impossible?"

All Might turned to face the sea.

"People… aren't perfect. To be honest they can be self-centered bastards. Knowing that and still wanting to fight for them is… more precious than you can ever imagine. A miracle. It proves that All for One is wrong. That we are not just… savages like him. It shows that… our way works."

Izuku looked at the sea with clear eyes. It would be a beautiful day.

"Has One for All been giving you trouble?" All Might said.

"He tried but… he's just some sad old man. He… won't boss me around anymore."

"Good to hear. Let me know if that changes." All Might said and then smiled: "We should do something fun."

"… this sounds like a trap."

"That's because it is. By fun I mean cleaning up the beach. And by we, I mean you."

Izuku nodded.

"… sure."

Izuku started collecting what little trash he could find into a plastic bag while All Might made sure he didn't miss anything.

"… I… uh… talked to your mother and… we decided that it would be best if you two moved in with me. Until the renovations are done. Because that's what friends do. They help each other out. And Inko and I are friends. Just friends."

"All Might."

"Yes?"

"I'm not that stupid." Izuku said.

When they took a break, Izuku sent a message to Kouichi and Mr. Oguro.

Sorry for not contacting you sooner. Can I use the gym for sparring again the next Friday?

Mr. Oguro answered first.

Thought you'd never ask, pipsqueak.

Kouichi's message came soon after that.

Good to hear from you Midoriya. See you next Friday. The usual time.

It only took a couple of hours to comb through the beach and when they were done All Might drove them to his house. It was big. And depressing. One man could never fill all that space on his own. Izuku tried to imagine All Might wondering in his own home like a ghost. What did it feel like to come back to an empty house night after night?

"What's wrong?" All Might asked.

"… it's big." Izuku said.

"I used to run my agency from here. Then… when All for One punched a hole I my gut… I had to shut it down. Never found the heart to move out."

Mom was waiting for them and putting away the last from their old home that hadn't been burned.

"Did you have fun?" Mom said.

"We could have helped you unpack." All Might said.

"I'm not made of glass, Toshi. Hope you boys are hungry."

The dinner felt… weird, but Izuku was willing to put up with a bit of awkwardness if it made mom happy. Even All Might had pulled his other foot out of the grave and looked healthier than Izuku had ever seen him. When they had eaten, Izuku left mom and All Might alone and went to see his new room. The moving company had brought all his stuff over and it was… uncanny how much it looked like his old room. The door could have been a portal to his former home.

It felt good to sleep in his own bed, but he could have done without the dreams. The painkillers had kept the dreams at bay but now he was at their mercy. He dreamed of Toga and her flat. The one she had brought him for the first time. Or had everything that had happened during the past few days been the dream and he was finally awake?

He tumbled down on the bed with Toga… Himiko. He'd missed her. He'd missed her more than anything. The bed started squeaking under them when Izuku activated his Quirk and he was sure it would break any second.

"The neighbors! The neighbors!" Izuku gasped.

"Don't care! Don't stop! Don't stop!"

Izuku woke up alone and his underpants were glued to his skin. Izuku sighed and reached out for tissues to wipe himself clean. Himiko… Toga was gone… and she wasn't coming back. Ever.

… then why did he still hear a bed squeaking?

Oh God no, Izuku thought.

The next morning facing mom and All Might was torture but he managed to keep his poker-face. Sunday and returning to the dorms couldn't come fast enough. Goddamn thin walls and creaky floor-boards.

Izuku dragged a bag full of posters and action-figures to the dorms. If he was going to live there he was going to make it look like a home. Bare rooms were just depressing. He was done with depression. He'd probably have to fight it his entire life, but he wouldn't make it an easy fight. Pain and loss wouldn't define him. He'd been lucky that the fire had left his room intact and there was just a slight smell of smoke to his things that would fade away. Just like everything else. In time everything faded. Time was too precious not to be used on living.

After Izuku had unpacked he went through the latest news on his phone. Dabi's capture had torn Endeavor's reputation apart. For the first time in their lives Todoroki and his older sister had come out to meet the reporters and tell them exactly what they thought about their father and his parenting skills. Even Todoroki's mother's family had been interviewed and the flood gates had truly opened. Everyone who had ever worked with Endeavor had their own horror stories about him. Old lawsuits against the man were being looked over again and even Endeavor's own agency had turned their back on him.

Izuku smiled at the sweet, sweet schadenfreude.

The comment section had its depressing bits. Some people called the whole thing fake news. Others wondered why no one had said anything sooner. If they had been in that situation they would have handled it like complete badasses. Still, for the most part people were just horrified that someone could treat their family like that.

After unpacking his things and smirking at Endeavor's misfortune Izuku mustered his courage. Now came the hard part. He headed to Tsu's room. After a few deep breaths he knocked on her door and waited. It was Sunday evening, so she should have been back to the dorms.

"… Tsu. It's me. Can we… talk?"

The door's safety chain allowed the door to only open a sliver.

"… sure." Tsu said.

"I… wanted to apologize for what happened at the gym. I… was feeling bad and tried to use you to make myself feel better. I… didn't want to hurt you like that… and I wish I could take it back."

Izuku felt ready to cry but that would have been manipulative. Tsu deserved more than that.

Tsu undid the safety chain and opened her door completely. They both stared at the floor.

"I'm sorry too." Tsu said.

"For what?! You… you didn't do anything wrong. It was me…"

Tsu shook her head.

"No. It wasn't just you. You were in a bad place and… I tried to take advantage of that. I'm sorry." Tsu said and wiped her eyes before facing Izuku: "I… I really like you. I've liked you even before the villains attacked."

"… oh."

"… I… I know this might be too soon. I mean… it is obviously too soon for you, but… when you've had time…do you think we could… be together?" Tsu said.

Don't just stand there. Say something, Izuku told himself.

"Tsu… I like you too and… But I don't know when I'll be ready. If you find someone else… you shouldn't have to wait to be happy." Izuku said.

Tsu smiled and wiped her eyes.

"You're such a charmer." Tsu said and then hugged him: "I'm happy you're feeling better. We…if you feel up for it… we should call the others. We've all been worried about you."

"… I'd like that." Izuku said.

Tsu send a message and Izuku could have sworn that Shinsou and Tokoyami had been hiding behind the corner from how quickly they got there.

"Crazy kid! You almost had me worried." Shinsou said.

"He has been inconsolable." Tokoyami said.

"Stop projecting, chicken little." Shinsou said and then whistled: "Cool scar, crazy kid."

Izuku rubbed his cheek.

"I… had to jump through a window. The glass… cut me."

"Is Todoroki coming?" Tsu said.

"… I don't think he wants to see me. After everything that happened." Izuku said.

There was another knock on the door. When Tsu opened the door, Todoroki smiled awkwardly.

"Hi… may I… can I come in?"

Tsu smiled.

"Why would I say no?"

Shinsou waved at Todoroki.

"You're late, lover boy. You missed an awesome make-up orgy."

"What?" Todoroki said.

"… he's kidding." Izuku said.

"Of course, I'm kidding." Shinsou said and threw his hand around Izuku's shoulder: "Crazy kid would never let us start without you."

Tsu fired up Netflix on her tablet while Shinsou and Tokoyami went to get snacks. Grabbing the drinks was left for Izuku and Todoroki. They went together to the vending machine.

"… how are you holding up?" Izuku asked.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Todoroki said.

"… your brother and now your dad… will you be alright. You know… financially?"

Todoroki gave him a vicious smile.

"It isn't dad's finances anymore. Sis handles the money now. The old bastard has some stashed away, but it will run out. Lawyers don't come cheap. Especially now that the agency cut him loose. I'll probably take over when I graduate."

Suddenly Todoroki bowed.

"I'm sorry that I didn't talk to you sooner, but… I was ashamed, and I didn't know what to say. I… couldn't catch Toga."

"… she's slippery and… I'm sorry too. About Dabi…Daisuke's leg."

"Midoriya. Stop. You're my friend but don't. I hate it when you try to make everything your fault. You apologize too much."

"… sorry."

Todoroki snorted.

"There you again. Besides, I think we can both agree that Daisuke deserved it. I mean he burned your house down. Where's your mom living?"

"… a friend's house. Have you gone to see… him?"

"… no."

They returned to Tsu's room and started to fight over the movie.

"By the way, have you heard the rumor?" Shinsou said.

"… what rumor?" Izuku asked.

"Bakugou and Kirishima are going out."

Izuku and Todoroki shared a knowing look. Tokoyami and Tsu stared at Shinsou slack-jawed.

"What… How? What… what does Kirishima see in him?" Tokoyami said.

"Well, he has seen Bakugou naked, so a lot more than we do, I suppose." Shinsou said.

"You sure this isn't just a rumor? Kirishima is way too good for him." Tsu said.

"Hundred percent. My room is right across Kirishima's and the two go at it every night like crazy. Bakugou always leaves with a limp and a smile. Who would have thought that the asshole just needed a regular injection of vitamin D?"

Shinsou waited for laughter he didn't get.

"Get it? The vitamin D stands for…"

"We get it." Tsu said.

"Then why aren't you laughing?"

"I said we get it. Not that its funny." Tsu said.

Izuku snorted.

"… it's a little funny."

"See? The crazy kid gets it."


All for One was playing his guitar and couldn't stop smiling. Toshinori was no longer the wielder of One for All. He grew weaker by the day while his successor was still wet behind the ears. Dabi did a great job confirming it. Fools had their uses. Poor little Izuku-Izuku didn't even realize how deep in the shit he was.

There was a knock on the door and Kurogiri entered.

"Master." Kurogiri said.

"Kurogiri."

"Can I have a moment of your time?"

"Sure thing, darling." All for One said.

"It's about Mr. Dabi and the Noumu. We have lost quite a bit of manpower and assets and… I'm afraid… you are losing sight of our goal."

All for One's voice dripped acid.

"Losing sight? I go blind and suddenly everyone's a comedian. Fine. Illuminate me. What is our goal?"

Kurogiri swallowed.

"To… groom Tomura as your successor. Prepare him to take your place."

"Are you in a hurry to see me die, Kurogiri?"

"Master, you… don't have much time. You need someone to continue your work."

"And you think that someone is Tomura?" All for One said.

"Master?"

"My successor is who I say it is and I may have found someone more suitable." All for One said.

"But Tomura…"

"You get too sentimental with pets."

"Tomura is not…!"

"Kurogiri." All for One snarled.

Kurogiri fell quickly back in line.

"If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it. Make yourself useful and arrange a meeting with Shi Hassaikai. It's time I got serious about killing All Might."