- .My Hero Academia 180 Degrees. -
39. Where All Might encounters All for One, Kirishima tries to find out what's happening with Bakugo, Inko receives a mysterious call.
All Might remained motionless in the ditch, trapped once again by the effect of that strange quirk. He had fallen for the second time, a fact that might have been concerning for any professional with his experience. However, his mind was completely clouded by a much deeper unease.
"What was that feeling...?" he thought, a shiver running down his spine. His face tried to tense beneath the villain mask he was wearing. It was as if his body was attempting to warn him about something terrible. That uneasiness... he had only felt it in the presence of...
"Toshinori..."
The firm voice of Nana Shimura echoed in his mind, filled with authority, as if it came from a distant corner of his consciousness.
"Do not transfer the One for All."
Before he could process those words, another voice emerged from the shadows of his mind, deep and dark, as if it were born from the abyss:
"Do it... All Might."
In that moment, his body began to react in ways beyond his control. Red streaks appeared like lightning across his skin, tracing a sinister path to the wound on his side. The searing pain was so intense that he couldn't imagine how he would have reacted had he been able to move.
A new shockwave engulfed everything, but this time it wasn't a release of pure energy. It was something different, something that seemed to alter everything around it.
The helper robots collapsed to the ground, shutting down with a metallic clang. The transmitters the supposed villains carried sparked violently, forcing them to tear them off immediately.
From the observation tower, hidden behind the camouflage of an illusion quirk, Aizawa noticed it immediately. His control panel flickered before going completely dark, leaving an unsettling void on the screens that monitored the tests.
A security protocol triggered, causing all doors and windows to seal shut before the system powered down entirely.
"What does this mean?" Aizawa exclaimed, his voice heavy with irritation and tension.
"I swear I don't know," Present Mic responded, turning toward him with confusion. "Everything was working fine just a moment ago."
The Pussycats were also trying to reset the system, while one of them, Mandalay, who kept Kōta close by her side, used her quirk to transmit an emergency message telepathically to all the exam coordinators.
"Stop all ongoing tests! Something strange is happening with the registration system. We'll resume the tests as soon as we locate the problem."
Meanwhile, Monoma, always ready with a snide comment, smirked as he flipped his blonde hair back and withdrew his hand, holding a ball, after having been mere inches from Kaminari's chest before everything shut down.
"Wow, that was close. Looks like you've got some good luck. You really need to work on that side effect when using your quirk. Lucky for me, it doesn't affect me when I copy it," he said, directing his comment toward the other blonde, who gave him a thumbs-up with a goofy expression.
Amid the chaos, All Might's mind was consumed by his internal conflict. He barely had time to react when the world around him began to fade. The light, the sounds—everything blurred until he was trapped in a vast, dark space. Yet, the darkness wasn't complete. A faint light floated, cutting through the void.
He looked at his own hand. It was thin, devoid of the heroic musculature he once bore, but it glowed with a soft, vibrant yellow aura, as if a fragment of One for All was attempting to connect with him in a new way.
Slowly, he turned to his right. There they were: four figures standing, their gazes serious and piercing. As he turned to his left, three more individuals materialized, surrounded by auras of varying colors. Although he had never seen them in person, an inexplicable connection made him feel as though he knew them deeply. Among them, he recognized the face of Nana Shimura, his mentor.
"They're the previous wielders of One for All!" Toshinori realized in awe.
But then, he raised his gaze to the front, toward where all their attention was focused, and that's when he saw it. An imposing figure sat in the central chair of the room, which seemed molded from the very essence of darkness. The chairs and the entire space around them leaned toward him, as if his presence was the gravitational center, threatening to consume everything like a black hole. All for One.
"Well done, All Might," said a voice that seeped into the deepest corners of his mind, suffocating him with its overwhelming power. "You finally realized it."
Toshinori felt the air leave his lungs, as though the mere existence of that presence was choking him, but he didn't retreat. His chest swelled with a growing sense of anger.
Suddenly, All for One raised a hand, extending it toward them. To his right, Yoichi, the first wielder, seemed caught in a trance, raising his hand as well.
"Brother..." Yoichi murmured.
"Come here, little brother. There's no need for us to fight anymore."
"Yes..."
"Don't do it!"
The fifth wielder shouted, brushing against Toshinori's side. For an instant, their green and yellow auras intertwined.
...
Suddenly, large, thick dark tendrils erupted from the villain's body in the trench. Their movements were violent, like uncontrollable whips lashing out and destroying everything in their path.
Izuku barely had a moment to react. He leaped to the side with agile precision, feeling one of the tendrils graze dangerously close to his right arm. The dark, twisted blade tore part of his right sleeve, leaving a searing cut that burned as though something corrosive had soaked into his skin. He clenched his jaw to stifle a cry, focusing instead on what mattered most: saving whoever he could reach.
With tremendous effort, Izuku hoisted the unconscious boy onto his shoulder as if carrying a heavy sack of cement. With his other hand, he grabbed Shinso's arm, dragging him with unwavering determination as they moved away from the chaos.
"Shinso, does this have anything to do with your quirk?!" Midoriya asked, panting, his gaze fixed on the tendrils that continued to smash the ground behind them, drawing ever closer.
Shinso, still recovering from the shock of the recent events, barely managed to respond. "No, this has never happened when I've used my quirk on someone!" he exclaimed, his voice tense. "It must be a result of his own quirk!"
The tendrils struck the ground again, sending up a cloud of dust that obscured their vision. Izuku gritted his teeth, abruptly changing direction to avoid another attack that came dangerously close. The weight of the unconscious boy and the tension of the situation made every step a constant struggle, but the adrenaline coursing through him kept him alert and strong enough to keep moving.
His mind raced, working at full speed to devise a strategy to get them out of danger.
...
A moment earlier:
Bakugo and Kirishima were walking together down the path leading to the exit of the first trial. The atmosphere between them was oddly tense for some reason. Kirishima noticed it immediately in his friend: his fists were tightly clenched, the muscles in his arms taut, and there was a silent determination in his gaze, fixed on the door ahead, as if he were resolved not to let anything distract him.
"What are the odds of us running into each other with so many applicants around, huh?" Kirishima remarked, his upbeat tone attempting to dispel the discomfort in the air. But Bakugo didn't respond. He kept walking with firm strides, completely ignoring his friend.
The redhead frowned slightly and quickened his pace to keep up.
"Hey, what's up with you now?" he pressed, offering a conciliatory smile. "You seem to be in a bad mood again. I thought you'd be happy about being the first to pass this trial. Or is it because you didn't get a flawless victory? You know it's not healthy to be such a perfectionist, right?"
Bakugo turned his head slightly toward him, but his expression remained unreadable. Then, his sharp voice cut through any attempt to continue the conversation:
"Can you shut up?"
The cold, curt tone didn't deter Kirishima, who cast a quick glance at the target circles they both wore on their bodies. Three adorned Bakugo's chest, though only one had been deactivated. Kirishima, on the other hand, had two deactivated and just one still active. Deciding to give it another shot, he tried a different approach.
"Hey..." he said with a lopsided grin. "Don't tell me you're like this because we mostly fought against girls. I know you're sick of dealing with them, but you've got to admit they were pretty clever with how they used their quirks."
To his surprise, Bakugo didn't react as expected. It was strange, almost as if he couldn't deny the merit of their opponents. Kirishima glanced at him sideways, noticing a different kind of tension in his expression. That was enough for him to push a little further.
"Or... maybe..." he ventured, his tone turning more teasing, "you were distracted the whole time because you were expecting to run into Midoriya at some point."
The spark triggered by the mention of that name was immediate. Bakugo came to a sudden halt, spinning around to face Kirishima with a sharp movement that caught him off guard. Before Kirishima could react, Bakugo grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him close until their faces were just inches apart.
"Tell me! Why the hell would I care about what happens to a loser like him?!" he shouted, his voice filled with anger.
Kirishima held his ground, meeting Bakugo's fiery gaze with calm determination.
"Because deep down, he's become someone you don't want to lose sight of," he replied evenly, his words carrying undeniable weight.
Bakugo raised his fist, clearly ready to throw a punch, but Kirishima activated his quirk just in time, hardening his arm to catch Bakugo's fist with strength that matched his own.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you like him or anything," Kirishima clarified, keeping his tone relaxed. "I'm just saying... I think you've noticed it too. His determination."
Bakugo's grip on his shirt tightened, his fingers digging into the fabric, but in the end, he shoved Kirishima aside with a rough motion.
"Stop spouting nonsense!" he snapped, turning his back on him. "Almost as ridiculous as the pointless crap your girlfriend usually says."
Kirishima, though slightly annoyed, couldn't help but respond as he smoothed out his shirt.
"I've told you before, Ashido's not my girlfriend."
"Whatever," Bakugo muttered indifferently, turning to continue walking.
But before he could take another step, a strong gust of wind tore through the area, kicking up dust and dry leaves from the ground. Both of them instinctively raised their arms to shield their faces as the wind whipped around them violently.
When the wind finally died down, Bakugo lowered his arms slowly. He looked down and noticed that the target circles on their bodies had completely deactivated. A heavy silence settled over the scene as they tried to make sense of what had just happened.
At last, Bakugo raised his gaze toward one of the tall walls that separated the sections of the exam. His sharp red eyes locked onto a tentacle that briefly peeked out from the other side before vanishing.
...
"Ha ha ha! Please. Do me the favor of staying out of a family matter that doesn't concern you," said All for One, raising his hand as a signal for everyone to stop. "I'm just trying to talk to my dear little brother. Don't I have the right to do that after so long without seeing him?"
"You lost all your rights the moment you decided to become a monster," the Third retorted sharply.
Yoichi, however, kept walking in his direction, his gaze distant.
"Brother..."
"Hey..." The Second Holder grabbed his wrist, speaking firmly. "What's wrong with you? Have you forgotten who he is and what he's done?"
All for One's smile faltered for a brief moment before returning, as cruel as ever. At last, Yoichi seemed to snap out of his trance. He nodded slightly at the Second Holder, signaling that he was fine now, and the latter let go of him, though he continued to watch him closely.
"Brother, what do you think you're doing here? Don't you think you've taken things too far?"
"Do you really think I'm the only one who's taken things to the limit? Let me tell you, we're not so different..."
"What do you mean? Is this some new trick to take over One for All from the inside? You should know by now that this power was born from the will to oppose you. And we, along with the current holder, will always fight to ensure you never succeed."
"I believe you, Yoichi. I have no doubt about that. And I assure you, that's not my intention this time. I've seen what would happen if we continue down this path, and let me tell you, it didn't seem satisfying at all."
All for One watched as Yoichi and the others widened their eyes in surprise.
"Yes. I saw a future where, instead of destroying the world, we only end up destroying each other. Doesn't that seem like a pathetic ending for two brothers who share the same blood? For two beings with such exceptional powers?"
"We no longer have blood in our veins, and One for All can disappear once its mission to defeat you is fulfilled. So it wouldn't be surprising if that's what happens in the end. But... what do you mean you've seen it?" Yoichi asked cautiously.
An image of Sir Nighteye quickly flashed through Toshinori's mind, and he couldn't help but whisper his name:
"Sir Nighteye..."
"That's right, All Might. Very perceptive of you," All for One acknowledged with a maliciously satisfied smile. "You'll be amazed to know that a few years ago, before our final battle, I paid your old friend Nighteye a little visit. Of course, I made sure he wouldn't remember anything about our encounter. Though I wouldn't be surprised if he retained a vague sense of uncertainty about the future we saw together back then."
"You bastard!" Toshinori muttered, clenching his fists as he heard how someone so dear to him had been used.
"Calm down. As you well know, All Might, I don't believe in prophecies, superstitions, or legends," All for One mocked. "That seems absurd and ridiculous to me. Almost as ridiculous as believing that what happens in superhero comics is how things work in real life. On the other hand, Nighteye's visions have proven to be 100% accurate so far, and let me tell you, only a fool would try to defy them."
"But that makes you the fool! If you're going to all this trouble, it's clear you saw a future that didn't favor you, and you're trying to change it at all costs!" All Might argued, for the first time letting a small smile cross his face. "You saw your defeat at the hands of my successor, didn't you?"
"What I saw…" declared All for One with a distasteful expression, "I saw a boy, wearing a shirt with your face on it, meddling in my plans for destruction through young Tomura. And though my initial reaction was to find that child and eliminate him immediately to guarantee my absolute victory, upon reflecting with a cooler head, I realized that events would simply adjust for someone else to take his place, and the outcome would remain the same. So, I decided to move to the winning side instead. As they say: if you can't beat them, join them."
"And you think we'll let you?!" the Sixth User demanded with a serious tone. "After you've killed almost everyone here, including your own brother, who only wanted to escape from you!"
All for One seemed to ignore the accusation, resting his head on one of his knuckles as he leaned against the armrest of the chair. The former wielders of One for All stared at him with deep resentment, all except Yoichi, who looked bewildered.
"Yes, All Might. I've been watching everything carefully through your eyes, and I must admit, I was intrigued by those other youths you considered for inheriting One for All. Like Endeavor's son, or that other short-tempered boy. But I agree with you—Izuku Midoriya has something special. In fact, he reminds me quite a bit of young Tomura…"
"If you dare to even—" All Might growled through clenched teeth.
"And since my successor abandoned me to follow his own path," All for One's voice took on a dark, almost satisfied tone, "I thought we could share yours, All Might. I hope you don't mind."
"Damn you! Why didn't you die back then?!" All Might shouted, his voice filled with fury. "I thought you'd put everything into that last attack!"
"Me? Dead?" All for One's laughter echoed through the space like a macabre melody. "All Might, you should know by now—I will never die! No one will kill me! What you destroyed back then was nothing more than an old shell, a worn-out vessel that needed to be discarded and replaced."
"You won't take over my successor's body! I won't allow it!"
"None of us will allow it!" the Fifth User declared forcefully. "All this time, I've felt the incredible conviction of the current wielder to protect that boy, and we won't let you!"
"So, your greatest wish is for your successor not to suffer or be hurt, All Might," All for One's ominous voice rang out, cutting and amused. "What you don't realize is that your power will only bring him pain and suffering as he uses One for All. Perhaps your power isn't entirely compatible with him. So… why don't you let me give it a try this time?"
"Hahaha!"
All for One kept laughing as his body began transforming into a black strand that slithered like a precise serpent toward Toshinori's side.
Once again, a sharp pain shot through his body, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"I already told you we won't allow it!"the fifth wielder quickly grabbed onto him, pulling him like a rope with the help of the second, third, while Nana Shimura and the Sixth User held onto Toshinori. Just as before, the colors of their auras began to merge.
"Stop interfering!" All for One's voice emanated from the strand of his body. "Don't you see this is just between my brother and me? So that he can continue to exist!"
The words seemed to have an effect on Yoichi, who stood off to the side, clenching his fists, unsure of what to do or say. Suddenly, he felt like a small child again…
...
Inko Midoriya was sitting on the edge of the couch in the living room, her eyes fixed on the TV screen, where a live report detailed the incidents that had occurred at several bullet train stations. She clutched a crumpled handkerchief in her hands, while her cell phone rested on the table in front of her. She had already sent several messages to Izuku, and although she knew he was probably busy, every second without a response only heightened her anxiety.
Based on the time the first issues had been reported at the stations, Inko tried to convince herself that her son had arrived at the U.A. exam before everything started.
She attempted to calm herself, taking a deep breath and bringing the handkerchief to her face, but the sudden sound of the landline phone interrupted her efforts. She jumped, dropping the handkerchief, and quickly rushed to answer without even glancing at the caller ID.
"Izuku? Izuku?" she asked urgently. When she didn't get an immediate response and after hearing a brief reply, her tone shifted as she recognized the voice on the other end. "Oh… it's you. The same one who's been calling and hanging up lately, isn't that right?"
There was a moment of silence as the person on the other side said something. Inko pressed the phone tightly against her ear.
"No!" she exclaimed, with an uncharacteristic sharpness in her voice. "I don't know if he's okay! I've been trying to reach him all morning!… And don't you pretend to care now!"
The caller's response made her tilt her head slightly, as if struggling against a torrent of conflicted emotions. When she spoke again, her voice was softer and kinder.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to say that." She paused, listening to the response from the other end of the line, her head lowering further. "No. I haven't told him yet… but it'll be up to him to decide if he wants to see you again. I just think it'll be very hard for him."
Her voice broke slightly at the end of the sentence, and in her distraction, Inko let her cell phone slip from her hand and fall to the floor.
"Yes… we've both been doing fine," she finally murmured.
...
Yoichi continued watching the scene, but in an instant, everything changed with a blink. Suddenly, all the One for All holders had transformed into childlike versions of themselves. In that strange setting, he noticed those children pulling forcefully on a smaller figure that bore an uncanny resemblance to him. Unable to resist, his tiny legs began moving toward them almost on their own, as though an invisible force was pushing him forward, giving him no time to think.
"Don't hurt my brother!" the young Yoichi shouted with all his strength.
As he reached them, some sort of invisible barrier repelled everyone at once, and as they fell to the ground, they all regained their adult forms.
"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, little brother," All for One said with a hint of gratitude, his voice emerging from a black tendril that slipped past Toshinori on the ground. "Just remember, I do all of this for you."
"This can't be… he tricked me," Yoichi admitted, stunned.
"It's not over 'til it's over!" Daigoro Banjo declared before using his Blackwhip to pursue All for One through Toshinori.
...
Author's Notes:
Your comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading, following, and liking. It always makes me smile :)