AN: Thanks for the interest and reviews everyone!
arispuffer - questions will get answered in due time! Some may take a little longer than others, though…
Mugen-Muse - hopefully Inko's concerns will be addressed for you in this chapter.
LaUgHiNgmaN - It'll take a while, but I have plans for Bakugo.
"Mom, you won't believe what happened today!" Izuku shouted as he burst into his apartment.
"What is it Izu-" Inko gasped when she saw her son.
Izuku's jacket was torn and his face was sporting a nasty bruise. Despite that, he looked the happiest he has in years.
"Izu, what happened?" Inko asked, reaching out to her son despite the distance between them.
"Someone from UA came to school today!" Izuku said as he slipped his shoes off. "He was asking to speak with me directly!"
"He did?" Inko asked cautiously. "What did he want?"
"It was some sort of interview! He told me they were seeking out potential future students and somehow my name came up. That's not the best part, though!"
"What's that?" Inko asked, a heavy weight settling on her chest.
"He told me I have what it takes to become a hero!" Izuku practically yelled as he ran toward his mom.
"He… told you that?" Inko said. The weight felt oppressive as her knees gave out and she sank to the floor, staring at her son.
"What's wrong mom?" Izuku asked, suddenly concerned as he skidded to a halt in front of his mom.
"I'm sorry Izu, just-" Inko rubbed her eyes futilely. "I'm sorry you had to hear it from someone that isn't me." Inko stood up and tried to wipe her eyes. "What happened to you?"
"Oh," Izuku rubbed the back of his head, suddenly conscious of his appearance. "I may have tripped and fell?"
"Izu…"
Izuku winced. Normally whenever the bullying turned physical he was able to sneak in and change his clothes to hide the evidence, and any bruising faded in a day or two. But he didn't get the chance today.
"Umm," Izuku found the words strangely difficult to say. "Kacchan didn't like that I also got an interview. He told me I'm not allowed to apply to UA."
Inko pushed herself up off the floor and closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms around her son. "I'll make some tea while you get yourself cleaned up. I think we have a lot to talk about."
Izuku sat there holding a cold compress on his cheek as he saw his mom sitting there. After they sat down, he told her about his day, watching his mom fighting to hold back a fresh wave of tears as she simply sat there and listened.
Each second felt like an eternity as he desperately searched his mother's face for some indication of what she was thinking. Inko seemed lost in a sea of thoughts, almost mechanically raising her cup to her lips and taking a drink in constant intervals as her body operated on auto-pilot while her mind was elsewhere.
"After all this time, your dream is finally going to come true," Inko finally spoke. "A teacher from UA training you…"
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Izu I-" Inko started, her eyes making their way to the cold compress on his cheek. "I can't lose you. Not after-"
"You don't have to say it."
Inko smiled at her son, always considerate. Even after everything that's happened since he was diagnosed quirkless.
"I just- I need to know you're safe," Inko admitted as she slid closer to Izuku, placing her hand on the cold compress. "I know being a hero is dangerous but-" She fought a losing battle as the tears began to stream down the side of her face. "-please remember how important you are."
"Mom–" Izuku took his free hand and placed it over his mom's. "-I'll try."
"Thank you."
"We are now arriving at Roppongi Station…"
Melissa stopped reading the chapter of fanfiction she had pulled up on her phone when she heard the announcement for her station. Looking up, she saw the train slowing down as it entered the station. Shoving her phone into her bag, she stood up, her free hand curling around the case that contained the remains of her armor.
Moving to the door, she patiently waited for it to open before she stepped out onto the platform and walked to the exit. Normally in an unfamiliar city, she would need to use a map, but her destination was famous enough, there were plenty of signs leading her to her destination.
Might Tower, the famous office building that is home to All Might's Agency.
As she entered the glass doorways, Melissa couldn't help but smile as she saw the open atrium with a statue commemorating her Uncle Might, and families milling about. The first few floors of the agency were a museum dedicated to Japan's number one hero, and open to the public. She had been here many times when she was younger, whenever her dad brought her to Japan with him.
But that wasn't her final destination. Walking through the atrium toward a bank of elevators, Melissa stuck a hand in her bag, fishing for the lanyard with a keycard attached to it. With a satisfied smile, she pulled it out, pressing it against the sensor next to the elevator call button.
With a ding, an elevator opened up and she stepped inside. Pressing the badge to another control panel, she pressed a button leading up to the apartments.
As the elevator swiftly began to rise, she dug her phone back out of her bag and checked the time. Mentally converting time zones, it should be late enough that her dad was home, even if he got caught up in a project or was pulled into a meeting. She began scrolling through her contact list to find her dad's number as the elevator arrived at her floor, and began dialing as she picked up the case and stepped out into the hallway.
"Hi, Mel!" Her dad answered, trying to hide his nervousness.
"Hey, dad!"
"How did your test go today?"
"It went great!" Melissa exclaimed as she stopped in front of the door to her temporary home. Setting the case down, she used her free hand to swipe her keycard and open the door, before making her way inside. "The history was a little rough, and I'm not sure my written Japanese was fluent enough for the essays, so hopefully they don't punish me too badly!"
"And what about the practical portion?"
"I may have broken your gauntlet… again," Melissa was thankful nobody was in the room as she felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She set the case down on the floor before she flopped onto the bed. "There was a kid trapped under rubble and I needed to push myself to free him! Lifting a building one-handed is hard!"
"I can imagine," She heard her dad chuckling on the other line. "Did you get hurt, or did the armor absorb the damage?"
"Well… the gauntlet absorbed the damage but I still got hurt."
"Mel!" Her dad's concern could be felt through the phone. "What happened?"
"It was the same kid! When I started I was using both hands to pull the rubble off of him, and I don't have enough control to use different strengths in different limbs! And Recovery Girl was there, she took care of all the damage! It's like my arm wasn't hurt at all."
Despite trying to reassure her dad, she tried really hard not to think about what Uncle Toshi said about how it added up over time when Izuku held One For All.
She heard a resigned sigh from the other line. "That's what I get for having Toshinori stress test the other glove. At least this will be the last time you only have partial equipment."
"Hopefully!" Melissa agreed.
Unless I break equipment during training.
"Do you have the remains so we can run a diagnostic?"
"Of course!" Melissa sat upright, making sure the case was right where she left it. "Who do you take me for?!"
She heard her dad chuckle on the other end of the line. "It's the scientist in me, I always need confirmation. And you're sure you're ok?"
"Of course!" Melissa insisted. "Just a little tired, is all!"
"I can imagine, you've had a long day. Don't let me keep you then, you get some rest."
"I'm going to meet Uncle Might for dinner in a little bit, then I'll take it easy, I promise!"
"Alright, I'll talk to you tomorrow then."
"Goodnight dad!"
"Goodnight Mel."
Hanging up the phone, Melissa once again checked the clock. She had almost an hour to wait until her dinner reservation with Uncle Might in the tower cafe. Smiling, she collapsed back on the bed and pulled up the chapter she was reading earlier.
There was plenty of time to finish reading before had to change out of her tracksuit and take a shower.
"I'm glad your exam went well!" Toshinori said before taking a sip of his broth.
"Me too! I just hope it's enough to get in! The pass rate of the entrance exam is so small-" Melissa looked down at her meal, trying not to think about what she'd do if she didn't make it in.
"I'm sure you did fine," Toshinori assured her.
"And how did your interview go?" Melissa asked in an attempt to change the topic.
"I understand why Young Midoriya was chosen as my successor," Toshinori admitted. "And I agree with myself. After all, it's not every day you find someone with such a strong heroic spirit. Especially someone who is quirkless!"
Melissa knew Uncle Might didn't mean it as an insult, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
She must have made a face because Toshinori's attitude immediately shifted. "Melissa! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's ok!" Melissa said as she forced a smile onto her face and shook her head. "He was your successor after all, not me!"
I wonder what I'll think of him when I meet him. Melissa thought to herself.
"I was actually hoping you would come with me when I visited his family."
"I said that last part out loud, didn't I?"
"Indeed, you did," Toshinori said with a light laugh.
Melissa felt her cheeks heating up in embarrassment, but her curiosity overrode it. "Why do you want me to meet with him?"
"I want you to help me train him, of course!"
"Me?"
"Melissa," Toshinori's tone turned serious. "When I received One For All, I didn't have any of the difficulties you have faced. I was able to use it at its full strength immediately, and I never suffered any of the broken bones or burst blood vessels that you've been forced to contend with. It's clear that out of the two of us, when the time comes you're the better person to train Young Midoriya."
"Of course, I'd love to help!"
"Excellent!" Toshinori clapped his hands together, showing how happy he was with the decision. "Now then, tell me all about your exam!"
Melissa gave her uncle a sheepish smile. "It actually began on the bus, when some kids were making fun of my support gear…"
She appreciated how interested her uncle was in her entrance exam. Even though it was nothing compared to the villains he had fought, he still knew how important it was to her, and hung onto every word. The time passed quickly, and before long the pair had finished their meals.
Saying her goodbyes, Melissa went back to her room while Toshinori retired to his suite at the top of the tower. After changing into her pajamas, Melissa once again collapsed onto the bed before she pulled out her laptop. Opening a word document, she had her chapter of fanfiction to write, the next chapter of Risa Sword's adventures.
The young genius support specialist had recently discovered that she had a hidden quirk and that she was just a late bloomer after all! Now she was interning under Pankration, learning to control her newfound electrical generation under the world's heroes.
Any sense of inferiority Risa felt was purely coincidental, Melissa told herself.
"I'll get it!" Izuku called as he was already halfway to the door of their apartment.
Once he reached the door Izuku took a deep breath as he placed his hand on the handle. As excited as he was to meet Toshinori again, he couldn't help but feel nervous. His mom wanted to talk to Toshinori and find out exactly what this training would entail, and he knew that she would ask about his safety.
Steeling himself, he turned the handle and opened the door to greet their guest. "Good aftern- eep!"
Izuku was expecting Toshinori to be there. But he wasn't expecting his companion. Just behind him stood a girl, not much older than him, in a form-fitting T-shirt and a pair of capris that showed off her athletic build. She wore a pair of glasses and had long yellow hair that was tied off in a ponytail.
"Good afternoon!" Toshinori said, before realizing Izuku was staring at his companion. "Oh! Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce you to my niece, Melissa Shield."
"Hi there!" Melissa said, a bright smile on her face as she waved.
"H-h-hi!" Izuku stammered out before he practically launched himself at the wall to get out of the way. "Right this way! My mom's inside!"
Izuku waited until Toshinori and Melissa had entered the apartment properly and made their way to the living area before he closed the door and let out a deep breath. He knew Toshinori was coming, but Melissa Shield? Who was she? And why was she here?
While Izuku was trying to puzzle out what was going on, the two had removed their shoes and moved to the living room, where Inko was waiting.
"Hello! You must be Toshinori Yagi, the teacher from UA?"
"Yes! And this is my niece. I'm sorry I didn't inform you about her, but she was supposed to be something of a surprise."
"A surprise?" Inko asked cautiously.
"Yes," Toshinori waited until Izuku rejoined them in the living room. "While I am sure your son has informed you of my desire to train him, there is more to it than just that. You two may want to sit down for this."
Inko immediately looked guarded at his statement but sat down on the couch. Izuku retreated to the recliner and sat down, confused. With a knowing smile, Melissa took a step back from Toshinori, giving him room for his demonstration.
"Now then!" Toshinori disappeared in a puff of smoke, which quickly dissipated. Standing in his place was the towering form of All Might. "I Am Here! With an offer for Young Midoriya!"
"All Might!?" Both Izuku and Inko practically screamed. As Melissa watched, Izuku looked like he was about to faint while Inko looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack. She couldn't help but wonder if Uncle Might maybe went a little overboard with the theatrics.
"Sorry for the surprise, Young Midoriya!" Toshinori said sheepishly. "I really am going to be a teacher at UA next semester!"
"All Might… All Might is in my house… All Might wants to train me…" Izuku seems to be in a daze.
Inko recovered more quickly and jumped into the questions. "All Might, why- why did you look like that?"
With a heavy sigh, All Might once again disappeared in a puff of smoke, returning to the skeletal form of Toshinori Yagi. "I don't know if Young Midoriya told you about my condition or not. I was gravely injured in a fight three years ago, and as a result, I can only be a hero for a few hours a day. The rest of the time I must be in this form."
"I-Injury?" Inko asked hesitantly.
"Three years ago?" Izuku wracked his brain trying to think of the incident that could have caused it.
His thoughts were interrupted by Melissa's giggling. "Uncle Might's injuries weren't made public if that's what you're thinking."
"H-How'd you guess?" Izuku asked nervously.
"You started mumbling," She pointed to his mouth.
"S-sorry!" Izuku felt his face heat up as he waved his hands defensively in front of him.
"You were on the right track, Young Midoriya!" Toshinori assured him. "But as Melissa said, the foe I fought wasn't one the public knew about. And for good reason! I defeated him, but at great cost." He raised his shirt, causing Inko to gasp. "The injury cost me most of my stomach and one of my lungs, but I refused to let it stop me. However," He lowered his shirt. "Due to a certain situation, I've been forced to admit that it's time to find a successor."
"A successor?" Izuku asked.
"Yes! You see, my quirk is special. It isn't my own. It was given to me when I was young. A sacred flame passed down from generation to generation. My time as the bearer of that torch is coming to an end," Toshinori turned toward Inko. "I believe your son is the perfect candidate to carry its flames."
The room was filled with an awkward silence as Izuku and Inko tried to process the news. The pair simply sat there, eyes wide as their minds worked through what they heard. As the silence stretched on, Toshinori began to rub the back of his neck. "To be honest, I was kind of expecting more of a reac-"
"I'll do it!" Izuku shot out of his chair, tears streaming down his face. "I- my dream-"
Inko felt the pain of disappointment weighing on her chest as she watched her son. The person who told her son that he could be a hero was no less than All Might himself. Not only that, but he was offering him a quirk to help him!
"Izu?" Inko asked softly. "Why don't you show Melissa your room?"
"M-my room?!" Izuku asked, panic in his voice.
"I'd like to speak to All Might alone if that's ok."
"Sure!" Izuku said in a too-high-pitched voice as he thought about the sheer volume of All Might merchandise in his room. His eyes darted to the blonde-haired girl standing in front of him.
She is All Might's niece! And his mom wanted him to take her to his room!
With a too-wide grin, Izuku stood up. "I can show you around!"
"Lead the way!" Melissa said with a gentle smile on her face.
Inko watched as the two teens left and waited until she heard the door to Izuku's room close before she turned to Toshinori. "Why Izu?"
"Your son - he has a bright spirit. In many ways, he reminds me of myself from my youth. Despite his disadvantages, he refused to let that stop him, and has a focus and drive rarely seen."
"His disadvantages? You mean the fact that he's quirkless."
"Not only that, but his school's treatment of him," Toshinori stated. "It's clear that they have been neglecting his desires in favor of other students."
Inko looked worried. "I knew he has been denied several extracurricular activities and electives because of that, but-"
"As for his quirklessness, that is actually a blessing."
"How?" Inko looked at him. "Everyone - ever since he was diagnosed quirkless, people just hoped he would give up on his dream. That he would accept his place in the world. Even- Even-"
Toshinori held up his hand to spare her. The guilt on Inko's face made her words clear, even if she had trouble saying them. "It's due to the nature of my quirk. That strength doesn't come without cost. If I were to give it to someone who already has a quirk, the strain on their body would be enough to dramatically shorten their lifespan. While most heroes retire before they are forty, if I were to give it to someone with a quirk, they would have to retire and pass it on before they are thirty, and even then…"
"Izu's quirklessness is a blessing…" Inko repeated the words, more for her own sake than anything else. She was thankful for Toshinori's silence as she sat there and internalized what All Might had just told her. Ever since he was diagnosed quirkless, everyone just wanted him to fade into the background, to accept his limitations. But he refused to give up on his dream.
"Truthfully, I was one of those people who hoped he would give up on his dream," Inko admitted as tears began to run down her cheeks. "I don't know if Izu told you, but I work at the hospital. I've seen enough people hurt in villain attacks. Not just civilians, but heroes too. I'm sure you've seen them, even though the cameras certainly don't show them. Every time I see a hero brought in on a stretcher, I can't help but imagine Izu's face, lying there in pain."
She looked at All Might, and Toshinori was shocked by the sudden steel behind her gaze. "And to be frank, you aren't exactly helping with your current condition. All Might is supposed to be invincible! Only for you to admit that you- I cannot let Izu accept this. Not if you expect him to-"
Toshinori held up a hand, cutting her off. "Just so we are clear, I cannot ask your son to make the same sacrifice I have." It was his turn to look down the hallway to the closed door. "My niece - Melissa - her father demanded the same thing from me."
"He did?"
"Eight months ago, she was given a copy of my quirk," Toshinori admitted. "Her father - David Shield - has been monitoring me and my decline since my injury. Naturally, his first thoughts were the same as yours. He refused to let his daughter suffer the same fate I did."
"Good for him!"
Toshinori sighed. While David was right in telling him that Inko should be told, he still wasn't prepared to handle the pressure of two concerned parents monitoring their children's progress. He'd rather face down All For One a second time.
"Truthfully, I had originally intended for my successor to take up my role as Symbol of Peace and let the system continue as it was. However, I have been forced to reconsider my views." He let out a loud sigh. "Melissa, and Izuku if you allow him, will have to decide on their own path with the power I give them." Once again he looked down the hallway with a fond smile on his face.
"You are right to be worried, just as my friend David was. But I swear to you - I will do everything in my power to prevent those two from suffering the same fate," He clenched his fist in resolve. "When I was a child, Japan was going through a time of crisis. Villains roamed the streets without fear, and heroes felt more like modern-day vigilantes. I chose to become a symbol of peace so that future generations - so that children like Melissa and Young Midoriya - didn't have to make the sacrifices that I made."
"All Might…"
As Toshinori turned his attention back toward Inko, he saw a shift in her expression. It was subtle, but he saw new resolve forming in her eyes.
"T-this is my room," Izuku said as he nervously pushed open the door. "S-sorry about the mess! I didn't know you were coming."
Please don't think I'm too weird!
"Wow!" Melissa exclaimed as she practically danced into the center of the room, taking in the sight. There were All Might posters lining the walls, and near the ceiling was custom shelving, which displayed all of his All Might action figures, in chronological order based on his costume. "You must really like Uncle Might!"
"Y-yeah," Izuku winced. "He's my favorite hero."
"I noticed!"
"Sorry," Izuku shrank. "You must think I'm weird."
"Why would I think you're weird?"
"Well, he's your uncle, right? Isn't it weird seeing-" He flailed his arms indicating his room.
"Nope!" Melissa shook her head vigorously. "I think it's cute!"
"C-cute?!"
"Yeah! I know Uncle Might has helped so many people over his career! Of course he'd have his fans. Even if most of them don't have this many action figures!" She said with a giggle, but the smile she gave Izuku showed there was no malice behind her words.
It felt strange to Izuku.
Izuku laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "I can't help it, ever since I was little I've looked up to him. I've always wanted to be a hero just like him!"
"Really?"
"Mhm!" Izuku nodded his head, feeling his nerves easing as he slipped into familiar territory. "I want people to feel like everything is ok, because I Am Here!"
He struck a goofy pose and Melissa stared in awe. "What about when you found out you were quirkless?" She didn't mean to, but her words were barely a whisper.
"That was the worst day of my life," Izuku admitted, looking sad. "But I didn't want to give up! I wanted to find a way to be like All Might!"
Melissa knew he didn't mean it, but his words cut deeply. While she had given up on her dream, the boy in front of her never did. Ever since he was little, he wanted to find a way to be a hero, quirk or no quirk.
He really did deserve One For All. More than she did.
"I can see why Uncle Might likes you," Melissa said, forcing a smile on her face. "And now you'll be able to be more like All Might than you ever dreamed!"
"Really?"
"Mhm!" Melissa held up her hand and balled it into a fist. "You'll need lots of training first, though! One For All is very dangerous!"
"D-dangerous!?" Izuku's eyes went wide.
Melissa nodded. "Let me tell you a secret. I used to be quirkless too! But then something happened, and now-" She willed One For All into her hand and a soft golden glow began to surround it.
Izuku's eyes went wide as he stared at her. "You-"
"Yep! It's not Uncle Might's quirk, but I have One For All too! That's why I'm here."
"How?"
Melissa giggled and extinguished the energy. "That's a story for another time. Once you've started training."
Izuku's mind began to fill with questions, but before he could begin asking them he was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door. "Izu? We're done talking."
Izuku couldn't help but feel disappointed. He winced as he felt Melissa put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, I can answer your questions afterward, if you'd like."
"Really?"
"Mhm! But first, let's go see what your mom has to say!"
Izuku bit his lip, feeling his eyes threatening to water. Melissa was so nice, and he didn't know how to handle it. "Okay!"
As Izuku and Melissa returned to the living room, they saw Inko sitting on the couch, waiting for them expectantly.
"Izu," Inko turned toward her son, her face softening instantly. "All Might - he's lived a hard life, beyond what even you've seen on your videos. He's made a lot of sacrifices to be where he is. Is- are you ok with that? Knowing how hard it is?"
"Yeah, I do," Izuku responded without a second thought, before turning to look at All Might and Melissa. "I know it won't be easy, but if I can help people, just like All Might does," he turned to look at his mom, "just like you do at the hospital, then it's worth it!"
Inko wiped away the building tears. "I- eight years ago I failed you. But I won't do it again. If this is what you really want, then I'll help in any way I can." She turned toward Toshinori. "Please take good care of my son, I know he'll be a great hero!"
Izuku stood there in stunned silence.
"Melissa, you may want to move," Toshinori suggested helpfully.
"Why?"
She got her answer a moment later when Izuku burst out crying.
AN: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Just as a head's up, I've got one more chapter for you all next week, and then I'll be taking some time off for the holidays before I resume my regular posting schedule in the new year.