Warning: Mentions of deaths of canon characters. All happen off-screen and before the events of this fic, but they may be briefly referred to.

Disclaimer: Despite the title, this story doesn't have anything to do with Spiderman.

This story is crossposted from AO3, which I will give priority to when updating, because formatting for two different sites is time-consuming. That being said, this story is already written, and I'll be updating roughly weekly.

Edit 1/11/2021: This story is getting a Russian translation over on Ficbook! You can find it at ficbook dot net /readfic/10298046/26499626 .

"Izuku, honey, you don't have to do this."
"This is why I became a hero, Mom."
"Young Midoriya, I agree with your mother. This isn't your responsibility."
"I think it is, though. Isn't this what my Quirk exists for? What you gave me this Quirk for?"
"I gave you One for All because you deserved - deserve - the chance to be a hero, not so you could throw your life away like…"
"Yagi-san. I know what happened to your mentor. To Nana Shimura. But this is different, I have to do this."
"Young Midoriya…"
"Izuku…"
"I can't sit back and watch more people die because of him. Not when I have this power. Not when there's a chance. It's the responsibility of the bearers of One for All to stop him, and there's no more time. It's too late. He's won. If he's not taken down now, if I leave it to 'future generations', do you really think there will be a world left for them?"

Izuku Midoriya was sixteen when the report came in that All for One had escaped from Tartarus.

There was no warning. As far as anyone could tell, All for One abruptly decided one day that he wanted to be elsewhere. The lights flickered off, and when they came back on again, Japan's most feared supervillain was nowhere to be found.

The mystery wasn't in how All for One escaped; the man had never hid that the Quirk suppressants were less than effective on him. The mystery was why All for One had waited so long to leave, and why he chose to do so when he did. As the man wasn't around to answer, it was to remain a mystery.

The League of Villains and their associates abruptly melted into the shadows a few days after All for One's escape - a spectacular feat considering the sheer scale of the Paranormal Liberation Front that they led. Kurogiri disappeared from Tartarus at the same time, an occurrence easily blamed on All for One as well. He was just as impossible to locate afterward as the rest. Occasionally a known member would show their face in public, but for the most part, they might as well have never existed.

Toshinori Yagi worked himself nearly to death, investigating alongside Tsukauchi every possible lead to find where All for One had disappeared to. Izuku offered to help, but was told to focus on his studies. So he did, reluctantly. He graduated from UA at the top of the class on a beautiful spring day, alongside his fellow Class 1-A students, friends, and compatriots. At this point, all of Japan had heard their names, and they were anticipated to be the best and brightest of their generation.

Izuku Midoriya was eighteen and newly graduated when Japan fell.

Yagi caught All for One's trail much too late, as the supervillain led Japan's Most Wanted out of the shadows to brutally rip their way through heroes and government. The Liberation Army alone was a force to be reckoned with, and All for One himself was responsible for the deaths of many of Japan's senior top heroes, Endeavor among them, with many more missing. The hero Eraserhead miraculously managed to halt All for One for a full minute, defended by the sacrifices of the heroes (and a few vigilantes who showed up) fighting alongside him, before he was forced to blink. While no one could claim to have seen a body, most assumed that All for One would never let him survive the indignity. Rumors were that the National Diet Building's interior was soaked in the blood of the government officials caught by surprise when Shigaraki led the senior members of the League of Villains to carve a path through everyone who was anyone.

The ambassadors and visitors from foreign countries were essentially the only people of importance left untouched by the government's violent overthrow. They quickly evacuated to their own countries, many helped by Japan's younger, newer heroes while the more experienced pros fought on the frontlines. Most nations chose to leave Japan to its fate after hearing of the power that so abruptly laid waste to the country's finest. The rest remained caught in endless debates of what sort of aid they might send, and so effectively did the same thing.

By the time All for One rounded up terrified members of the media and declared himself the new Supreme Overlord of Japan, every remaining hero or government official with a modicum of intelligence had gone to ground. It was a stark reversal of affairs. Villains patrolled the streets while the heroes hid. All for One's distinctive skull-shaped mask was as much a symbol of terror as All Might's smile had been a symbol of peace.

Izuku himself was lucky. Despite his face being known, he still frequently went unrecognized due to his unremarkable appearance; it was easy to change his hairstyle and clothes, go home to his mother, and take up the identity of a normal student whose preparation for university had been interrupted by recent events. His mother had never been anything more than a simple housewife, anyway. His mentor and former Symbol of Peace, once known to the populace as All Might, was harder to hide; but there was no reason for him to roam the streets. Especially not when Yagi was missing his Quirk and several internal organs.

Being in hiding hardly prevented Izuku from striking against the villains, of course. Hit-and-run tactics were the name of the game - sometimes by himself, sometimes coordinating with his fellow heroes over text. With great effort, they finally managed to take down Re-Destro himself. Bakugou earned the final kill, shoving his entire hand into the villain's mouth before detonating it.

They didn't want to kill, never wanted to kill, but there were no prisons any more. If they left them alive the villains would immediately be back, stalking the streets. Bakugou knew this, and chose to take that burden on himself as much as possible. No one could quite meet his eyes afterward, if only because Bakugou refused to meet anyone else's.

With the worsening public order and more heroes hunted down by the day, Izuku knew they were on a time limit. So far none of Class 1-A had died - being newbie heroes, they'd been held back by the more experienced pros - but that was unlikely to last; and Izuku could hardly call himself a hero if he allowed so much death and devastation to continue even if the survival of his friends and family were assured. This wouldn't end until All for One himself was removed.

Izuku, as bearer of One for All, the Quirk created by All for One's own actions and handed down to be his destruction, knew his duty.

Yagi tried to persuade him otherwise, but gave up quickly. What other choice was there? How long could Izuku delay until he got strong enough to face All for One? Would he ever be strong enough?

Izuku squared his shoulders, tried not to join in the tears of his mother and mentor when they said their goodbyes (and failed), and made his way through the streets (and over rooftops, across alleyways, occasionally dropping down on a villain's head when he spotted a terrified innocent being menaced) toward the Tokyo Imperial Palace that All for One had claimed for himself.

He couldn't regret his decision to face All for One, but he did wonder if he should have passed on One for All first around the time he found his cheek being ground into the dirt, knees and upper arms pinned by tentacles, One for All refusing his call, and a hand almost gently brushing his forehead as All for One's eerie mask loomed above him.

"So All Might's successor finally comes to 'finish me off', I see," All for One murmured.

Izuku gritted his teeth. "That's Eraserhead's quirk, right?" One for All vanished the moment All for One turned his head in Izuku's direction. It didn't take a genius to make the connection; Izuku felt nauseated at the thought. If his former teacher hadn't died or escaped immediately, there was no telling what horrors All for One would've inflicted on the man who nearly took him down.

"Erasure has its limitations, but those are easily resolved with the right quirk combination, and it does possess an excellent range of use."

Maybe he could keep All for One talking while he looked for a way out. "You regenerated, didn't you? You didn't have eyes when they locked you away. Why do you even wear the mask? You don't need it to breathe any more, are you trying to hide your face?" Probably to make those who knew of his previous injuries underestimate him, though Izuku doubted that anyone would throw less than 100% of their strength at him after watching him slaughter his way through Japan's finest.

"You're an astute one, aren't you. Perhaps you would be willing to discuss it over tea? This position is hardly what I would call conducive to civil conversation, and I wish to offer a chance to parlay."

What sort of trick - no, it wasn't important. Izuku had come prepared with backup plans. His old teacher's Quirk threw a wrench in things, but after his rocky start with One for All and years with Eraserhead as a homeroom teacher, Izuku had never fully relied on quirks alone. He wasn't truly defeated yet. He brought a stealthy hand toward his utility belt -

"Ah ah ah," All for One chided. The fingers pressed harder against his forehead and Izuku froze. "Oh good, you're aware of the dangers I present. I was wondering, considering that you came to fight me without backup. Tell me, do you have any self-preservation instincts whatsoever? Can I even trust you not to try something absurd like attacking me the moment I let you up?"

It would certainly be helpful if he could convince All for One to let him up, but Izuku had never been a great liar when put on the spot and he knew it. "Nope."

All for One paused. When it became clear that Izuku would respond no further, he sighed. "How rude. I simply want us to have tea and discussion. You'll be free to go back to failing to kill me afterward, I promise. One for All users are all the same, I swear, all violence and no peaceful conversations like human beings who aren't savages."

You're one to talk, Izuku didn't say. "And how do you expect me to trust you to not poison the tea or mind-control me the moment I lower my guard?"

All for One's mask loomed closer. "I don't think you understand, Izuku." Izuku shivered at the use of his first name, at the fingers that tenderly stroked his forehead as the hand holding his head against the ground tightened in his hair. "I could do so many things to you right now. Crush your skull like an egg, cram your head so full of Quirks your brain melts from the pressure. I could rip you limb from limb with a thought." The tentacles flexed and Izuku pressed himself closer to the ground. "I could knock you unconscious and pump you full of Quirk suppressants, strap you to a chair, and force you to listen; or hand you over to the good doctor and have him twist your mind and body so thoroughly that your friends would never recognize you as you hunt them down at my command. It's an art he's perfected under my tutelage, and while that Quirk of yours might prove a challenge, I doubt it's anything he can't handle. None of these things are happening, because I would rather have a civil negotiation without restraints and with your ability to leave at any time fully intact. I promise you, it's the best offer anyone who tries to assassinate me will ever get. Now, do you insist on turning it down like an imbecile, or will you accept my generous offer of parlay? Choose."

The bloodthirst in the air made it difficult to think, but Izuku struggled through anyway. If All for One truly wanted to talk, he'd be a fool to turn it down; he'd hear the man out and then decide where to go from there. He wasn't quite ready to agree though. "Parlay implies there's something to negotiate."

"Perhaps there is."

"And what if the only thing I'll be satisfied with is your arrest and the reinstatement of the government?"

"Negotiation, Izuku, revolves around compromise; in short, neither of us are likely to get precisely what we want. But there's no chance at any sort of peaceful solution without talk."

"And you do love to hear yourself talk, don't you." Izuku sighed. "Fine, fine, I promise not to attack until this tea party is over." It was strange to be lectured on peaceful solutions by a supervillain anyway.

Both hands fell away from his head, and Izuku shifted to his feet, only to rock back when he found himself wearing a t-shirt, plain green hoodie and jeans rather than his hero gear. All familiar, much like certain ones he had back at home in his closet.

"Clothing Swap is a surprisingly useful Quirk for an invalid who finds donning a fresh change of clothes difficult." Izuku could hear the smirk in the supervillain's voice as he straightened. "Don't worry, your gear is safely at home, or wherever you left those clothes. I thought this would be more comfortable."

And why didn't he do this in the first place to prevent whatever tricks Izuku might pull? No, there was a better question, Izuku realized as he felt a familiar spark in his veins. "You're letting me access my Quirk?"

"Of course. It's hardly a fair negotiation without some trust, is it? Do try to restrain the urge to immediately start swinging your fists again. I will not be taken by surprise, and I'd rather not repeat the first time. This way, if you please."

This was confusing. This was far too confusing. All for One was supposed to be evil incarnate, not someone who offered parlay to the person who tried to assassinate him. Someone who offered tea. Who casually used Izuku's first name with an utter disregard for social conventions. Previous One for All users certainly hadn't had this courtesy extended. It was definitely a trap. Well, the only way forward was to spring the trap, Izuku supposed.

Izuku was about to have tea and parley with the two-hundred-year-old supervillain now dictator of Japan, while dressed in a hoodie and jeans. He held down the hysterical chuckle at the thought as he followed the broad back away from the crater he'd left in the palace garden.

Izuku felt an irrational sense of betrayal at the beautiful, traditional room with modern furnishings he found himself in. He knew better than to expect a dark lair filled with stolen riches, littered with skeletons, and decorated with the blood splatters of the foolish mortals who dared approach. Yet something about the scene screamed wrongness. Even the way the man poured tea into two delicate teacups and set one in front of Izuku was somehow abhorrent.

All for One touched his mask, and in a flash a mask that resembled the former one but exposed his mouth and an angular jawline replaced it.

"So you trust me to have my Quirk but not to let me see your face?" Izuku snarked as he glared at the teacup on the beautifully polished wooden coffee table in front of him.

The monster settled back into a comfortable chair with a happy sigh and sipped the tea. "You would do well to learn the difference between offering trust and giving the enemy intel, Izuku."

Izuku eyed him, then defiantly picked up his own teacup and lifted it to his lips. This had to be an expensive brand, he noted at the taste. He was pretty sure he recognized it from one of Momo's study sessions he'd attended. Only the finest for Japan's resident demon. "Alright. So parlay. I told you what I want, but what do you want so badly? This isn't your MO, so it must be pretty important."

"Isn't it?" All for One murmured. "I'd rather start with what you want," he said more loudly. "Tell me, Izuku, what do you think would happen if my people and I were arrested this instant - by yourself, I suppose, since the police are absent - and I went along quietly?"

"Improvement."

All for One tutted. "Seriously, Izuku. I want to hear your thoughts. The effects on myself and those who work for me, the effects on Japan. Think."

Izuku thought. The first was easy enough. "You'd be taken to prison. You've dismantled most of those, but with you arrested, many of the guards would be willing to come back to work. I might have to hold you for a day or two, but you yourself said you have Quirk suppressants on hand. I could make it work." If he couldn't, he supposed he could take a page from Bakugou's book if he had to, but he wasn't going to say that.

"And after that?" All for One nodded encouragingly.

"Well, I suppose you'd all be left there to rot, which you'd deserve. Since you've regenerated, we don't have to worry so much about killing you with the stronger Quirk suppressants, so we'd hopefully be able to hold you this time."

"Of course. And where would Japan be after that?"

"Busy reinstating the government."

"Perhaps," All for One said. "Or perhaps Japan would succumb to the fate of so many countries that have attempted to build or rebuild a government for themselves, and it would be torn apart by the process. I did kill anyone who could claim 'rightful' leadership, after all."

"Oh," Izuku said. He'd never really thought about it, but he'd studied enough history to understand what All for One was driving at. Hiding could get rather boring when one wasn't waging guerilla warfare on the villain population, and Izuku had developed a morbid interest in how dictatorships arose, half-wondering if the current situation could have been prevented somehow. The conclusion was that most tactics of avoiding a coup were rather useless against an immeasurably powerful monster leading an army; he might as well have watched old Godzilla movies for ideas on how to kaiju-proof a city. But the knowledge would be useful here. "Like the French Revolution? A new dictator is as likely to emerge as a proper government when there's no one serving as a unifying factor." He flinched at All for One's toothy smile. "But that's less likely to happen in this case."

"And why do you think that is?" The curiosity sounded honest.

"Because we already have a government system in place, we simply need to hold elections and reinstate it. It's a problem that we don't have an imperial family any more thanks to you, but since the monarchy has been mostly ceremonial for centuries, we either appoint a new Emperor or amend the Constitution to function without one. Admittedly, we're pretty resistant to constitutional amendments, but this is a special enough case that we might actually manage it. In the meantime, we call in the heroes and government workers you haven't managed to murder to keep the peace and ensure the results of the elections are not tampered with. And then the world would keep spinning without you."

"Excellent, though you're missing a few facts," All for One said. "For example, the government wasn't operating by the Constitution to begin with. The censorship, the denial of due process and fair trial, the complete neglect of habeas corpus; one could argue that equality before the law is ignored due to widespread Quirk-based discrimination, though I suppose Quirks were never fully accounted for in it, a case of neglect if there ever was one. However, the Constitution itself was supposedly based on the concept of jinkaku, protecting the elements that form a person's individuality and uniqueness. Their individual quirks, if you will, in whatever form that word takes."

All for One stood and began to pace in front of a massive window. Izuku wondered if the dramatic shadow he threw across the room was intentional. "Yet the government chooses to discriminate, to suppress, to criminalize those expressions of individuality that are intertwined with the DNA of most of the population, out of some apparent belief that these extensions of one's own physical form can only be used for violence. Even the hero licences encourage this line of thought, offering relatively free usage of Quirks for the purpose of committing violence legally. It reinforces the popular belief that one must ignore a part of themselves, lest one lapse into irredeemable savagery as a direct result of freely using one's Quirk."

"And so the better choice is to rip that individuality away from them by force, like you do?" Izuku snapped.

All for One paused, then dropped back into his seat and took another sip of tea before answering. "I've done far worse than that, and whether or not my own sins outweigh those of the government is not the issue here," he said bluntly. "There's also the fact that proper government appointments haven't been held for almost two centuries, ostensibly to avoid leaks from constantly changing personnel. How do you think One for All's purpose and my own existence were known to the government without having leaked for the past 200 years? Elections have been held, yes, but when was the last time you saw a change in the composition of the cabinet or the Prime Minister based on the leading parliamentary factions? Even those are easily manipulated by sponsorship from the right heroes, though they hardly need to when elections have about as much weight as the single brain cell held by the people they supposedly appoint. I would know." All for One nodded.

"But do you have proof?" Izuku shot back. "Conspiracy theories are all well and good, but you could spin just about any story you wanted to." His head, however, was whirling. All for One was almost certainly lying, but there was probably a grain of truth in there somewhere. Izuku vaguely remembered public trials being a guaranteed right by constitutional law, and those certainly weren't held for villains like All for One. "How would they even get away with that?"

All for One's shark-like grin continued to be the opposite of comforting. "Oh, there's plenty of proof, Izuku. Literal vaults of it. But let us not ruin a pleasant tea with boring things like paperwork. Instead, let me answer your second question. The Japanese government took their inspiration from historical examples of installing totalitarian regimes without public fuss, and simply took advantage of the emergency powers they had claimed when Quirks first appeared and the public riots grew beyond what the police could handle."

"With people like you running around, I'm not surprised they decided to declare a state of emergency," Izuku said, squinting at his teacup. He couldn't remember drinking from it - too dazed by the information to pay attention - but it was already half-empty. "They didn't call it off?"

"They didn't call it off," All for One confirmed. "Legally, Japan has been in a state of emergency for the past two centuries. I will confess that my existence may have validated their belief that it was required, but even my periods of complete inactivity have failed to convince them to return to normal operations. This state of affairs has continued indefinitely, and was likely to continue as such barring outside interference."

"Which is where you come in," Izuku said dryly. "Not that this is anything but a state of emergency, but I suppose if I had no options to consider but rampant violence, then this is certainly one way of 'interfering'. It's hard to believe you care that much about the government when you can effectively ignore most attempts at suppressing your activities through brute force, unless someone with One for All gets involved as All Might demonstrated. Even in that case, the way you dealt with me today is proof enough that it's more a problem of how you choose to deal with them than ability. Eraserhead's quirk -" the quirk of his former teacher whose fate he was really trying to avoid thinking about - "is hardly the only one that works against One for All, and you could just as easily choose a quirk loadout for assassination as you could for trading blows. It's either an error or an intentional choice on your part."

"You'd be surprised," All for One said. "But this brings us back to our original point: If I were arrested immediately, and assuming I'm correct in my statements, would the sanctity of the Constitution be likely to hold the government together without strong leadership?"

"Assuming you're not full of it… probably not," Izuku admitted. "Those who knew about the previous corruption would try to leverage that corruption back into place to give themselves more power. Those who didn't would find themselves in unfamiliar territory because what they expect the government to be wasn't there in the first place. There's nothing to stop anyone from declaring emergency powers immediately, which would be the logical decision considering the current state of emergency, but it would only make things worse because rebuilding the government needs agreed-upon standards to serve as a foundation, not a license to just… ignore what they like."

"Amazing. Where did All Might even find you?" All for One said. "You certainly have more political acumen than most of your ilk. Of course, actual politics would be difficult with that rampant honesty of yours, a poor match for the modern cutthroats, but few heroes seem to understand the consequences of the government's behavior."

"We do have to deal with politics as heroes." Izuku could deflect questions too.

"Few do it well; a passion for the workings of the government is hardly an encouraged trait. But I digress. You weren't exactly wrong in your assessment that, in the best-case scenario, I'd be locked away in prison for the rest of my life, which would now have a time limit thanks to suppressing my longevity Quirks. But would that be legal?"

"... Not according to the Constitution," Izuku bit out, "though exceptions can probably be made for a mass-murdering dictator. A fair trial would definitely convict you and your cronies."

"But would we receive one under this hypothetical government that would be reconstructed? We wouldn't have before."

"Probably not." Izuku didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't really see that part of the Constitution being upheld in this case. Even if the government did miraculously reorganize itself with a minimum of fuss - unlikely in any realistic scenario - if fair and public trials hadn't been a factor before, they were unlikely to become one now.

"Which, of course, would be an entirely wrong foot to start out on. Reinstating the Constitution in its entirety at a later date would then give me, and those arrested alongside me, the right to sue for our release according to ex post facto law using our wrongful detention as a base. The choice would then be between upholding the Constitution, or allowing dangerous criminal elements to run free. With all this in mind, then," All for One folded his hands and leaned forward almost eagerly, "what do you actually want to happen?"

They talked.

Halfway through the afternoon, the seemingly bottomless teapot was replaced by stacks of paperwork in which All for One traced the path and proof of the government's illegalities and corruption. Izuku wanted to believe that this was some trick of All for One's, but Izuku's own laptop and phone were obligingly summoned from his home (Izuku was nearly distracted from the discussion with curiosity about the quirk used), and cross-referencing the internet offered a lot of points of reference to validate unconstitutional laws, mishandled cases, and rigged election results.

Izuku wasn't sure where All for One was trying to lead the conversation, but he was certainly leading it somewhere. They talked about government, about the handling of Quirk regulations, about the hero system (which All for One claimed needlessly encouraged violence and us-versus-them mentality, a claim Izuku couldn't entirely refute), about the lack of Quirks and support technologies being available to the public for non-violent purposes. Izuku constantly found himself wondering how and why he kept finding points of agreement with a supervillain. If these were All for One's true beliefs, then why was he so… bad at this? The man was well aware that ruling through fear as his minions ran amok was a terrible way to go about things. He certainly hadn't taken many steps to fix the system in his short time as dictator. Why was he so knowledgeable about the theory and dismal in practice?

At one point, All for One himself proposed a scenario that hadn't occurred to Izuku - that if Izuku had successfully assassinated All for One, Izuku himself would have been the best candidate to take charge of the government while things were sorted out (following the tradition of bloody coups), which would be a potentially more stable solution than a quiet arrest and government reorganization. Izuku scoffed at this idea. He had no idea how to take and hold a government, it would be a recipe for disaster.

They did manage to agree on several things, most of which surprised Izuku. First, that the Constitution should be the basis for reestablishing a workable government, if only because it could be trusted by the populace, with an amendment made to include Quirks as part of the anti-discrimination articles. Second, that this should be done by a third party, not affiliated with the villains or the previous authorities. Third, that All for One should use his own authority to instate this party, giving them some form of legitimacy while also finding a way to ensure that the person chosen could in no way be suspected of working with All for One.

Izuku suggested All Might. All for One shrugged at the suggestion, but didn't disagree.

Fourthly, All for One should step down as soon as possible.

"You… you're willing to agree to step down? Just like that?" Izuku said weakly.

"Of course. As much as I enjoy my reign of terror as Supreme Overlord of Japan, it leaves me no time for the little joys in life. Now that I've wrecked irreparable damage upon my foes and brought despair upon all who oppose me, I think retirement would suit me. It's time to lose the mask. Perhaps I should take up a hobby," All for One mused. "I've heard crocheting is relaxing, what do you think?"

"I think you're messing with me," Izuku said.

"No, no, I'm entirely serious," All for One said. "Provided you refrain from attacking me for a little longer, I've already arranged a press conference for five o'clock this evening to announce my resignation. I cordially invite you to attend and see for yourself."

Izuku really didn't believe it - when had All for One even arranged that? - but after an afternoon of tea with a tyrant and the strange lack of violence in the process, he might as well see where this charade led.

Izuku had always hated media events despite the necessity of dealing with them as a hero, and the sea of uneasy press that stood before a platform in front of the Tokyo Imperial Palace was no exception. Especially with Izuku standing in discomfort on the stage as the Supreme Overlord addressed the populace. He let his mind wander over the very strange events of a very strange day as All for One offered some polite words to open his speech.

His focus was abruptly dragged back shortly into it.

"I do not wish to delay this announcement any further. Today, I was visited by a recent graduate from your own UA High, mentored by All Might himself. I'm sure many of you recognize Izuku Midoriya." All for One's full-face mask was firmly in place, but after an afternoon with the man Izuku could hear the smirk in the man's voice. "While his attempts at valiant battle proved sadly useless, we had a fantastic discussion afterward in which he persuaded me to see the error of my ways. Japan can not continue as it has, and my leadership will be insufficient to restore her glory. Therefore, I hereby resign my title, position, and role as Supreme Overlord of Japan, and transfer the title, as well as all rights and responsibilities, to Izuku Midoriya, your new Supreme Overlord. Obey him as you would me."

What? What?

"As of today, I will no longer involve myself with the public, or the government, or with villainy itself. Though let it be known, if anything happens to Supreme Overlord Izuku Midoriya, or if anyone tries to force him from this decreed position, I will be watching, and I will consider this declaration to no longer be binding." The dripping malice was almost visible in the air around him. Then All for One's posture shifted and the malice disappeared. "With that being said, I believe All Might's successor should be an excellent choice for the position, wouldn't you agree?"

All for One stepped away from the microphone and abruptly vanished. Izuku bonelessly slid to the ground as cameras flashed and pandemonium began, voices shouting questions from every direction.

"What the hell?" gasped Izuku Midoriya, new Supreme Overlord of Japan, to be recorded by a hundred microphones and broadcast live across the nation.

The nonsensical thought occurred to him that All for One had apparently handed Izuku the country and disappeared, and Izuku had never even learned the man's real name.

Oh, All Might, Mom, what have I gotten myself into?