Dialogues and Discourse pt.1
It was late at night, and the moon hung in the sky, accompanied by the stars that twinkled above. Under this beautiful night sky, Izuku Midoriya found himself perched on the edge of the 1-A dormitory's rooftop, gazing into the distance with a whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.
The events of the day had left an indelible mark on him, and it was clear that sleep wouldn't come easily, especially after the conversation he had just had with the other wielders of One for All. That's why, after finishing his conversation with them, he immediately walked to the terrace to get some fresh air and clear his mind. However...
"Izuku..." At the sound of a familiar voice calling his name, Izuku turned around to find Momo standing there, her smile lighting up the night. "... couldn't sleep?" she inquired as she joined him on the terrace.
"Yeah, I just had a lengthy conversation with the previous One for All holders," Izuku replied.
"Oh! Was it similar to what we saw earlier?" Momo asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Yeah, it was quite similar," Izuku chuckled. "A dark void, a single piece of land, nine thrones, and seven people along with an All Might-looking figure made out of golden flames. And then there was me, with half of my body covered in black smoke."
"I see..." Momo responded, settling down beside Izuku on the terrace's edge. "So, what did you talk about... of course, you don't have to tell-"
"Relax, it's fine," Izuku reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We didn't discuss any classified secrets or strategies for dodging off-screen space cleaves. We simply talked about what we all witnessed today," Izuku said, his gaze shifting down at his lap.
"Well, they just wanted to know how I felt about all the things we learned from watching that alternate timeline," Izuku continued. "More importantly, they wanted to know how I felt about the whole 'last wielder of One for All' thing and what it means for the future of the quirk."
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how to feel about it," Izuku admitted, his gaze fixed on his hand as he allowed a trace of One for All to dance between his fingers. "Knowing that I'll be the final bearer of this legacy is a heavy burden you know, especially after witnessing all that All Might accomplished with this very power," he sighed, his uncertainty weighing on him.
"But you are not All Might, or a more proper way to say this would be that you cannot become All Might," Momo said. "You have to become your own hero. I'm sure even All Might would want that."
"I know, Momo, trust me... I know," Izuku said with a thoughtful smile. "It's just that I'm not entirely certain how to go about it. Over time, my body will likely adjust to harness most of the accumulated power, and when that occurs, I'll grow stronger... perhaps even too strong."
"And why is that a problem?" Momo inquired, her expression taking on a more serious tone as she noticed Izuku's hesitation.
"Well, I'm not sure if I should say this, but have you seen the consistent rise in crime rates since All Might's retirement?" Izuku sighed. "Ever since his battle at Kamino, our nation's stability has been progressively eroding. Criminal organizations like Shie Hassaikai and the Meta Liberation Front have grown bolder, openly making their moves, and even smaller criminals are becoming more audacious."
"Izuku, where are you heading with this?" Momo asked, her head slightly tilting in confusion.
"Don't you see it, Momo? Don't you see how complacent everyone became due to All Might's presence?" Izuku questioned. "All Might's strength and heroism alone managed to significantly reduce the crime rate in our country during the height of All for One's villainous reign. Not only did he dismantle All for One's empire, but his very existence instilled hope and trust in heroes within the hearts of the people."
"But now, ever since he retired, you can see cracks forming in the system," Izuku continued. "We literally saw ourselves facing and losing to the kind of enemy whom All Might would have defeated. Now that responsibility falls onto me, and I'm not sure if it's the right course of action."
"Don't get me wrong, I do want to save people, but I don't want everyone to look for me every time trouble knocks on the door. I don't want to perpetuate a society where it's again one person bearing the weight alone. I want all of you to stand beside me, sharing the responsibility," Izuku asserted, his fist clenching.
"You know what the worst part is?" he asked Momo, a sad smile appearing on his face. "The worst part is that I hate myself for even thinking something like that. It feels like I'm being ungrateful to everyone who ever helped me. I feel like I don't deserve to have One for All if-"
"Alright, that's enough," Momo interrupted, firmly grasping both of Izuku's shoulders and locking eyes with him. "Okay, there's a lot to unpack here, but first and foremost, stop saying that you don't deserve One for All!" she said in a voice that left no room for discussion.
"But-"
"Shut up! Don't talk, just listen to me!" She gently placed a finger on Izuku's lips. "Listen, Izuku, there's no such thing as someone 'deserving' a quirk. Tell me, Izuku, what did Bakugo or Todoroki do to deserve their powerful quirks? Consider my quirk, Creation, for instance, which I inherited due to my parents having perfect quirks that combined to form my quirk. So tell me, what did I do to deserve that?"
"It's not the same," Izuku shook his head. "Kacchan has been working hard ever since we were kids. Even if his ego got inflated by everyone's praises, he didn't let those sweet talks hinder his training. Todoroki, on the other hand, had to deal with abuse and an isolated childhood away from his siblings, not to mention all the mental stress about not using his fire and dealing with the thought that his mother hated him," Izuku explained. Then he looked up and stared at Momo, "And you... you, Momo, are one of the most incredible people I have ever met," he smiled at her. "On the surface, your quirk, Creation, might seem like a dream come true, but the more intricacies you uncover, the more you realize the hard work required to unlock its true potential. That's why when you create something with your quirk, it's backed by years of study and effort. What's even more significant is the exceptional person behind that incredible quirk, someone who achieved her goals through determination and hard work, rather than relying on her parents' wealth."
Momo's heart fluttered upon hearing Izuku's words, stirring her emotions and striking a chord with her deep-seated self-esteem issues. Yet, she fought to keep these feelings at bay, recognizing that now was not the time.
"I won't say you're wrong, Izuku. I firmly believe that all our classmates have put in tremendous effort and deserve to be here. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve One for All," Momo asserted with unwavering resolve.
"But it does," Izuku protested. "You all worked your butts off since you were kids, but I just got lucky to meet All Might, who gave me his quirk."
"So, by that logic, do you think I'm less deserving of being here because I grew up with wealth and didn't have to worry about anything other than mastering my quirk?" Momo argued.
"No, absolutely not!" Izuku responded, vehemently shaking his head.
"Then why do you think getting a quirk from All Might negates all the efforts you put into mastering the said quirk?" Momo asked, placing a hand on his cheek. "Not to mention all the times when you helped our classmates, even at the cost of your own body. All the times you inspired them to become better versions of themselves. Honestly, Izuku, I won't deny that there might be hundreds of people out there who would be better suited to inherit One for All, but if you ask me, our classmates, teachers, or even All Might himself, all of them will say that they were glad it was you who received it."
Izuku couldn't explain the surge of emotion that washed over him, but as soon as Momo concluded her heartfelt speech, he enveloped her in a warm embrace and whispered, "Thank you..." into her ear. A few minutes later, they released each other, their faces tinged with a rosy hue, yet the silence that hung between them was far more comforting than awkward.
Momo finally broke the silence, clearing her throat and continuing, "And as for your other concern... well, the solution is quite clear, you know," Momo stated, drawing Izuku's attention once more. "Let everyone be heroes and allow them to play their part."
Izuku tilted his head slightly, seeking clarification, prompting Momo to elaborate. "What I mean is, you don't have to rush across the country to solve every issue you come across. Sometimes, just take a step back and let others handle the problem."
"But how do I stop feeling that I could resolve a problem faster and prevent harm to others?" Izuku inquired.
"There's no easy answer to that question, other than to trust your fellow heroes and bear that feeling," Momo sighed. "The dilemma with All Might was that he was so capable he could crisscross the country and address almost all the crimes by himself, but it came at the cost of his personal life," Momo interlaced her fingers with Izuku's. "I'm sorry for saying this, but even though All Might will be celebrated as a Symbol of Peace for generations to come, Toshinori Yagi, the man beneath that cape, will always be this lonely man with lots of regrets, and I'm sure he doesn't want the same future for his successor," she conveyed, followed by a moment of contemplative silence between them.
"So what should I do then?" Izuku asked.
"Do whatever your heart desires," Momo chuckled. "Go on hikes, to parties, hang out with friends, or do anything that makes you happy, really. Just don't forget that 'Deku' is just a mask that people will see, but every day it is 'Izuku' who will stare back at you in the mirror, so, take care of him as well."
"I see... what my heart desires, huh?" Izuku smiled and then, in a decisive moment, he looked at her before leaning in to capture her lips with his own. After a brief, tender moment, he pulled back and couldn't help but chuckle at the girl in front of him, who appeared torn between being flustered or shocked. "I suppose this is what I wanted to do right now."
"Izuku, what-"
"I like you, Momo. I really like you," Izuku confessed, his voice filled with sincerity. "I've been trying to suppress these feelings I've had for you for a long time, but right now, I just don't care anymore," he continued. "Today, when I saw both of us almost dying on the battlefield, I realized how much you mean to me. If I don't confess my feelings now, I might never get the chance. And please, don't worry if you don't feel the same way-"
Momo interrupted him by taking hold of his collar and pulling him in for another kiss, deeper and more passionate than the first. After a minute that felt like an eternity, they parted, both of them breathless and with flushed faces, but wearing smiles that mirrored their emotions.
"Does that answer your question?" she inquired, still smiling at him.
"So, does this mean we...?"
"Yes, I suppose we're together," she confirmed, as they gazed into each other's eyes for a moment before leaning in for another kiss. However...
"Oh my! Such young love!" Izuku and Momo quickly pulled away from each other, their faces now glowing crimson as they turned around to see Nemuri standing there, sporting a mischievous grin.
"M-Midnight-sensei, what are you doing here?" Momo stammered, her words slightly jumbled.
"Just on my usual night patrol when I stumbled upon you two lovebirds," Nemuri replied, clearly relishing the moment. "Well, as adorable as you both are, I'm afraid I have to ask you to head back and get some sleep... in your separate rooms, naturally."
"Y-Yes, sensei!" Momo responded, beginning to move away, but Izuku halted her by taking her hand.
"Actually, I think Momo wanted to talk to you about something, sensei," Izuku stated, and Momo's eyes widened in surprise. "What, am I supposed to believe that you were just here on the terrace at 3 a.m. for no reason?" he questioned, giving Momo a knowing look. "I have a hunch about what's been going on with you, and I believe that discussing it with Midnight-sensei could be really beneficial. If it's not, you can always count on me to be there for you."
Izuku then turned to Nemuri and said, "Midnight-sensei, I know it's quite late, but would you please hear her out?"
"Of course, kid," Nemuri responded with a smile, ruffling Izuku's hair. "You can leave your girlfriend in my capable hands."
"Thank you, sensei!" Izuku expressed his gratitude with a slight bow, and then he faced Momo again. "Goodnight, Momo. See you tomorrow," he said, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips before heading downstairs.
"Wow! I'm surprised how a little bit of confidence does wonders for this kid's personality," Nemuri remarked, taking note of Izuku openly displaying affection for the girl he had just confessed to. "In any case, Yaoyorozu,, what do you want to talk about?"
"Uh, that... no, it's really nothing. Izuku probably misunderstood something," Momo responded while averting her eyes.
"Momo," Nemuri sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Momo's shoulder. "No pressure. I won't push you if you don't want to talk right now, but if you want to share something, please don't hesitate."
Momo stood there in silence, her gaze fixed on her feet before she finally began to speak. "You see, I... well... I am..." Her words came out in fragments, and she struggled to form a coherent sentence.
"Momo, is this about what we saw today?" Nemuri inquired, quickly noting how Momo's shoulders tensed. "Is this about my death in that other timeline?" Nemuri probed once more, and this time, Momo visibly flinched, her body starting to tremble.
"Momo, please, listen to me. What occurred in that other timeline was not your fault, nor the fault of your alternate self," Nemuri asserted while gripping Momo's shoulders. "What happened to my counterpart is an unfortunate aspect of the profession, and no blame should be placed on anyone except the villains who took my counterpart's life."
"I... I know, and I understand..." Momo said, struggling to maintain her composure. "But besides that... I also couldn't restrain Machia in time... and because of that..." tears welled up in Momo's eyes, "... so many people suffered... a-and lost their lives."
"I let you down, sensei..." Momo clenched her fist as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. "You placed your trust in my counterpart... but she fell short... she couldn't halt Machia... she couldn't safeguard her friends... she... I let everyone down... I'm not worthy of leading... I'm not the leader you believed I would become," she confessed, now openly weeping, her voice muffled by her hand to avoid disturbing anyone nearby.
"Momo, look at me," Nemuri said in a soothing tone. Momo raised her gaze and found a compassionate smile on Nemuri's face. "A good leader is not someone who always wins or always makes the right calls. A good leader is someone who learns from their mistakes. A good leader is someone who knows their people well and knows how to utilize their talents. And a good leader is someone who doesn't get discouraged after a single failure."
"Momo, you possess all these qualities I've mentioned, and I continue to believe that you can become an exceptional leader of your generation," Nemuri affirmed, gently placing a hand on Momo's cheek. "So, please, gather yourself, okay? I don't want to witness one of the most gifted individuals I've ever known crumble before reaching her full potential."
"You really think that?" Momo asked while wiping away her tears.
"I know that," Nemuri said and hugged her. "Now go and get some rest. We can really use some of your insights in tomorrow's meeting."
"Yes! Also, thank you for this!" Momo said, showing her a bright smile.
"Don't mention it," Nemuri said, and a suddenly devious grin appeared on her face. "By the way, go to your room, alright? I better not find you in Izuku's room or him in yours."
"Of course not, sensei! We just got together!" Momo whispered to Nemuri with a flushed face, while Nemuri laughed and walked away, thinking about various ways to tease her student.
Going back in time a bit, after leaving Momo in the care of Nemuri, instead of heading to his room, Izuku made his way to the kitchen to prepare some hot chocolate for himself and his girlfriend... yeah just thinking about Momo being his girlfriend was giving him a giddy feeling in his stomach.
Initially, he had intended to retreat to his room, but then he realized that the conversation Momo would have with Nemuri might be emotionally taxing. To help her unwind and ease her mind, he decided to surprise her with a sweet treat and perhaps spend some quality time together while he was at it.
As Izuku was in the midst of preparing the hot chocolate, a familiar voice rang out, "Nerd? What the hell are you doing up at this ungodly hour?"
"Just making hot chocolate, Kacchan," Izuku replied casually, not bothering to glance at the source of the voice. "You want some too?"
"Sure," Bakugo said, taking a seat in a chair near the kitchen counter.
As Bakugo sat there, he observed Izuku's calm demeanor while he worked in the kitchen, even humming a tune to himself. "You look oddly calm, considering what we saw today. I half-expected you to be pacing back and forth, obsessing over how you have to take down Shigaraki and his League on your own."
"Oh, don't worry, Kacchan. Those thoughts are still simmering in the back of my mind," Izuku chuckled to himself.
"Deku, I swear if you're thinking about running away on your own-"
"Relax, Kacchan. I'm just brainstorming strategies for dealing with them on my own, but I have no intention of acting on those thoughts," Izuku reassured him. "Especially not after a conversation I had with Momo just a little while ago."
"So you finally confessed to her, huh?" Bakugo asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Yeah, that too, among other things," Izuku said while scratching his cheek.
"Damn, who'd have thought you'd be the first one to snag a girlfriend out of all of us," Bakugo chuckled, shaking his head. "If someone had told me that back in middle school, I would've laughed in their face."
"Me too, Kacchan... me too," Izuku said with a dry laugh, while the atmosphere grew heavy as Bakugo fell silent, realizing that he shouldn't have said that.
Then an awkward silence settled between the two before Bakugo broke it.
"Listen, De- Izuku, I just wanted to say-"
"Stop," Izuku interjected. "If you're about to apologize to me, then don't," he stated firmly, and Bakugo remained silent, his gaze fixed on his former best friend.
"Listen, I'm happy that you realize what you did to me was wrong, but think about it from my perspective," Izuku looked at him with a sad smile. "After all these years of bullying me... after putting me through all of that, you're apologizing to me. Why? Because now you think I'm worthy to stand next to you... because I have a quirk now."
"Maybe that's not the case," Izuku continued. "Maybe it's Kirishima and Ashido's good influence that's changing you, but I can't ever be sure of that. Tell me, how can I trust that the same boy who turned his back on me the moment I was declared quirkless genuinely wants to make amends now that I possess a powerful quirk?"
"And to be completely honest with you, Kacchan, your apology doesn't change anything," Izuku stared at Bakugo. "It can't undo everything that occurred during our childhood. It won't alter the fact that in middle school, other students used you as a cover to bully me. It won't change how teachers made my life intentionally challenging just to appease you. Bakugo, your decision to apologize now won't magically restore our friendship to how it used to be before your quirk manifested."
"It's taken me a while to come to terms with this, but when I look back at it, Deku and Kacchan were never really friends, were they?" Izuku stared at the ground. "We were more like enablers, fueling each other's negative qualities. I clung to you, even when you pushed me away, because I admired your strength and confidence. But I also clung because I was convinced that no one else would accept me if I let go of the only friendship I had left from before everything fell apart. If only I'd found the courage to branch out back then, maybe I could have discovered other connections and sources of inspiration beyond you and All Might."
"And you, Bakugo, you kept projecting your insecurities onto me. You kept belittling me... hurting me because that was your only way to cope with your feelings. Even if you outright ignored all those bootlickers who praised you for your quirk, you did let those words subconsciously fuel your ego, and guess what? Your pride became so fragile that when we got to U.A., you'd nearly shattered each time someone surpassed you, especially in terms of quirks."
"And lastly, Katsuki, I don't need your apology because Deku never resented Kacchan, for him, the blonde and loud-mouthed friend of his will always be his symbol of victory. But Izuku cannot forgive and forget how much of a mess he has become because his sole friend turned against him over something beyond his control," Izuku concluded as he poured three cups of hot chocolate. In the meantime, Bakugo hung his head low, unable to formulate a response to Izuku's words.
Then Izuku picked up one of the cups, approached Bakugo, and placed it in front of him. "That's why, Katsuki, let's start over," Izuku proposed. Bakugo stared at him with wide eyes. "I don't want to be linked to Kacchan from my middle school days anymore, but I appreciate working with my classmate Katsuki. He's incredibly intelligent and has the potential to become an outstanding hero, though he might want to work on his people skills," Izuku added with a chuckle and extended his hand. "Hello, Katsuki, my name is Izuku. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Bakugo regarded Izuku's outstretched hand for a moment before sighing and taking it. "Yeah, it's nice to meet you too, De- Izuku," he replied while shaking Izuku's hand.
"Great!" Izuku beamed at him, then picked up the other two cups of hot chocolate. "Now, drink up before it gets cold," he advised as he started to walk away.
"Izuku..." Bakugo called out suddenly, causing Izuku to halt in his tracks. "Are you absolutely certain you want to give me a chance? What if you regret it later?"
Izuku glanced back at Bakugo, a grin playing on his lips. "Katsuki, today someone made me realize that life's too short for regrets. So if you screw this up, it's all on you, pal, because I'll be busy cuddling with my girlfriend."
Bakugo snorted, amused by how a little bit of confidence changed his friend's demeanor. "Well, in that case, don't come whining when I leave you in the dust while you're all lovey-dovey with Ponytail."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Katsuki," with those parting words, Izuku continued on his way upstairs, brimming with excitement at the thought of spending more time with his girlfriend.
The next morning, in the early hours, Nezu sat in his office, diligently sorting through his files and notes for an impending meeting. His concentration was interrupted when someone knocked on his door.
"Come in," he responded without raising his gaze from the paperwork.
"Principal, sir, I need to speak with you about something," the individual who had entered his office announced. Nezu was taken aback because out of everyone who could have visited him that day, Yuga Aoyama was at the very bottom of that mental list.
"Well, if it can wait, we can-"
"No, sir! It's urgent... very urgent!" Yuga declared, his voice tinged with desperation, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Alright, take a deep breath and have a seat," Nezu instructed, motioning towards the chair across from him. He set his files aside and focused on the distressed young man before him. "Now, Aoyama, what is it you wish to discuss?"
"Principal Nezu... it was me... I'm the one who betrayed my friends," Yuga confessed, tears streaming down his face. "I, Yuga Aoyama, am the traitor of U.A.!"
To be continued...
Okay, so there are a few things I want you guys to know.
1) I had to cut out the vestige discussion part because honestly, I found it quite boring to read, and it wasn't adding anything new to the chapter either. So please don't jump on me because of that. There may still be room for a vestige section in the upcoming chapters, but only if I can devise a more engaging and meaningful dialogue for them.
2) There will be one more chapter before the finale, as I realize that there are some more conversations I want to write before ending the story. In the next chapter, you can expect to see Shoto and Endeavor's conversation over Dabi as well as 1A's thoughts and discussion on Izuku leaving the U.A., where they share their own opinion on the topic.