Comments:

Psy-Kick: Cat jumped out of the back and clawed Izuku's face bloody.

Miqila: It is way worse than just blaming himself.

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Proofread by 3DPhantom

Chapter 83: Izuku's Trial

No no no nonononono.

'Not him.'

Izuku was already lying to everyone, but whoever had One For All, he needed to… He couldn't, could he? The camera showed Eijiro grinning despite apparent injuries. The smile was sharp like a knife stabbed straight into Izuku's heart.

"How could he do that?" Uraraka said next to him.

'But if I don't do anything, Father…'

"Toshi, guard the door. Don't let anyone else see this."

"Why… what's wrong?"

"Door."

Hitoshi went to do as Izuku asked without further questioning. It was all the trust Izuku did not deserve. He could worry about it later, right now he had to deal with Uraraka and hope she wasn't a spy for his father. He locked her with a stare.

"Uraraka. You should forget everything you just saw. If someone asks you weren't here, at least not before the match had already ended."

"Why would I do that? What Kirishima just did was amazing. Everyone should know about it."

"If he wanted everyone to know about it, why did we not know before?" Izuku tried to use logic.

"I mean, maybe he wanted to surprise us. Why would he want to keep something like that a secret?"

It was very inefficient. Izuku did not have time or mental energy for this. He had to use his secret move.

"For many reasons, but you don't seem to understand or care so fine. I heard you want to be a hero to make money."

"Well," Uraraka poked her fingertips together. At least she was appropriately embarrassed for her motivations, "yes, m..."

"I'll pay you a million Yen to keep quiet and forget what happened. A third today, rest at the end of the year if you keep your word," Izuku used rich dad's wallet.

"M… million?"

"Yes, but if you break the contract and talk to anyone you have to pay double the same to me."

"You are serious?"

Izuku stared at her more intensely.

"Do I look like I am joking?"

"No… you would really pay me a million Yen?"

"The offer won't last forever. We could also explore if Toshi's quirk can remove memories. I have wanted to do that test, but did not have volunteers I could accept."

"You know that's not how an 'offer' works," Hitoshi called Izuku out.

"And I would appreciate it if you did not scramble any students' brains," Recovery Girl added, "even if the experiment would be interesting."

"I… okay, I accept your… offer," Uraraka agreed. "I did not see Kirishima's match or anything that happened with it, right?"

Rich dad's wallet was very effective.

"Right. You should probably go to prepare for your exam." Izuku nodded towards the door.

"Oh, okay."

She hesitated a few times on the way but eventually left. Hitoshi stuck by the door as asked. What had dad said about them doing whatever Izuku asked…

He focused on Recovery Girl.

"You don't need to bribe me, although adding to my retirement fund would be nice. I already know what you are trying to hide, and you-know-who let me know a while back that you are aware at least partially."

Her comment reminded Izuku that he wasn't supposed to be aware of One For All's name or transferability. He spoke more quietly so Hitoshi would not hear and looked at the screen where Eijiro and Sato were making sure Cementos would be okay. Eijiro was trying to ignore the medical robots that tried to drag him away, despite them having a good reason for doing so, seeing how his arm looked.

"He has it, right?" Izuku whispered. "All Might's power. No one else could do that with a punch. I did not transfer it so either there is someone else with my quirk or it…"

"Transfers itself from one person to another," Recovery Girl responded, similarly quiet. "He took his time but eventually chose young Kirishima to inherit the power."

"Shouldn't have recommended him," Izuku muttered.

"What?"

Izuku frowned and gnashed his teeth together.

"I may have mistakenly helped the choice by telling him how good of a choice Eijiro would be."

"Well then you should be satisfied with his choice if nothing else about him."

In a different situation he might have been. At least the new wielder of One For All was someone he could have some confidence in as a hero and a person, but as things were... What should he do? What could he do?

It would be easy enough to get a chance to get the quirk from Eijiro. The guy trusted him an unhealthy amount and was always close to him. Izuku's mission could well be over…

…today.

But so would that trust and the life of Izuku Midoriya. Even if he was sneakier, he'd be nuking that trust and Eijiro's future, or worse. Father had been clear about not taking risks with any new wielders of One For All.

It took all of Izuku''s self-control and training to not collapse under the pressure of the impossibility of the situation, but his face was tense as a guitar string stretched to breaking point. He needed more time. There had to be something he hadn't thought, there had to be. He absolutely was not in the right headspace to decide anything.

"How," he swallowed, "how many people are observing this exam match?"

"A couple, and a few more that can get the recording at any time unless the principal decides otherwise. Most know All Might's physical condition, but not the rest, so I am sure the principal will take some action."

"Hopefully."

"You know. All Might insists on keeping this secret, but you seem surprisingly concerned for it."

She was onto Izuku.

"Of course I am. Being a hero is dangerous enough at the best of times, for anyone who is actually trying to do the job. If the world finds out Ei is 'the next All Might' there are people that are going to come after him. Even with the quirk, if he hasn't mastered it… Look at his arm," Izuku forgot to whisper for the last comment.

"Yes, yes, it seems I have my work cut out for me. And before you get angry at me, I have to inspect Cementos and Sato first. Their potential injuries are more dangerous than another broken arm."

"Another?"

"Yes, don't look at me like that. I have heard what kind of training you put your friends through."

"Can confirm that," Hitoshi called out from behind them, even if in an unusually careful voice, that traitor, "also, Izuku, do you think he would let anyone treat him before the others?"

"Unlikely," Izuku muttered in what effectively amounted to unconditional surrender.

"I better go get ready," Recovery Girl got up, "you can stay to watch the next match or…"

"I'll come with you."

"As long as you won't cause more injury."

"Only to anyone that tries to do so to Eijiro," Hitoshi remarked as they approached the door.

"You should stay here," Izuku interrupted. Their eyes met for a moment and Izuku could see Hitoshi's opposition die. Izuku kept talking, trying to make his voice softer, not that he could trick Hitoshi. "I don't want you to miss Tokoyami's and Tenya's matches."

"Among other reasons. Don't be too harsh on Eijiro. The guy has thick skin, but this is clearly a sensitive issue, for both of you. Try to see his side too."

He was always more reasonable than Izuku, but it was hard to follow the advice. Izuku lightly tapped Hitoshi's shoulder as he passed, trying to make it a comforting gesture. It probably was not too convincing.

Izuku followed Recovery Girl to a set of rooms reserved for medical treatment. The robots were just arriving there with the patients. Even Eijiro was on board, though only sitting on the stretcher, still refusing to lie down.

"Whatever you do, make sure he doesn't move his arm, but if you can make him lie down that would be nice," Recovery girl said as they came to view.

"Watch me."

Eijiro noticed them. He looked unusually meek but raised his working hand in a greeting, grinning awkwardly.

"Hey Midobro. Wasn't expecting you."

"Lie… Down," Izuku said perhaps too forcefully, channelling his feelings for the other thing Eijiro had done. At least it seemed to stun the target of his ire enough to make him properly focus and listen. "You are only hurting your own recovery AND making Recovery Girl work more by trying to act tough with that arm. Now will you lie down or do I have to call Toshi to make you?"

"Okay, okay," Eijiro said, trying to raise both his hands in a calming gesture, wincing after the first okay and only raising one. He turned around to lie down as Recovery Girl moved to support the broken arm. The most difficult part seemed to be getting his legs up on the stretcher.

Izuku grabbed the end of the stretcher and gave the robot enough of a stare that it let go without a word.

"There's a room for you," Recovery Girl waved towards a door while walking past to check on her other patients. Izuku yanked the stretcher and slammed the door behind them. He turned to face Eijiro who was still wearing an awkward grin, maintaining his natural happiness, but understanding they were about to have a serious talk.

"Seems I got a bit more hurt than expected, heh. No wonder they had us sign those papers."

Izuku pressed his hand on Eijiro's healthy shoulder, keeping him from moving. Even simply making contact he could already reach out to feel the presence of a new quirk he had been too blind to notice before, and what a presence. It felt like an immense pressure just trying to burst out, barely held in by the body hosting it. Izuku was sure most people could not have done so even as far as Eijiro did. Physical strength had to be one of the reasons All Might chose as he did.

Izuku could have grabbed the power and pulled it out right then and there. It practically tempted at him like some cursed object, something precious that part of him really wanted to have.

There was a good chance Eijiro would not even notice until Izuku already had the power. He had zero concern for being touched by Izuku and had all his pains as a distraction. It was the easiest chance Izuku could have ever hoped to go after One For All.

His hand shook and squeezed the shoulder. It could all be over.

It would all be over…

He let go and took a step back.

"Don't pretend with me," Izuku barked, feeling offended even though it was hypocritical. "Your injury was not caused by the exam. It was your quirk, not hardening, the other one."

Somehow Eijiro seemed to pull back even though he was laying down.

"I… 'm not sure what you mean."

"Ei, I saw you fly across the street and through a wall like a cannonball. Then you punched that same STREET away with a single punch."

"Well, I…"

"You got All Might's quirk. That's why you wouldn't take the one I offered."

Eijiro froze. His face twisted from one expression to another and then turned into a slightly different awkward smirk that said 'I am going to bullshit you but I already know it won't work.'

"What do you mean? All Might's…?"

"Don't try to lie to me. You aren't good at it and I hate seeing you fall so low. You can't tell me having someone else's quirk is impossible."

"Heh, that's true. I guess the secret is out. Hope All Might doesn't get angry at me."

"Not what I would worry about."

"Well, I made a promise," Eijiro's expression finally turned more serious. "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't like it either. You have been way too nice to me for me to keep this secret and I know you could have helped me, but it is kind of a big secret and All Might made me promise not to tell anyone."

"I already knew about it."

"Yeah, All Might knew you knew about his real condition, but he did not want you to know about how the quirk could transfer. There are some things you… might not like."

Izuku had to bite his tongue so as not to say something that would expose him for knowing things he wasn't supposed to know.

"But hey you were the one who told him I could be a good successor," Ejiro said, accidentally throwing Izuku's words back at his face. "I didn't think I would, but seems he disagreed. So maybe you can uh… agree with him this time."

"Agree, agree…!?" Izuku raised his voice briefly before controlling himself. "Do you even know what you have gotten yourself into? What happens when people find out All Might has passed on his quirk to a teenager that can't use it without breaking his arm? The most powerful people are going to come after you. Remember how the whole USJ was about the league wanting to kill All Might? Next time they are going to be after you."

"Yeah," Eijiro turned his head, rubbing the back of his neck with the working hand. "I know."

"Then why?"

"Someone has to do it. Not sure if I'm the best one, but All Might thought so, and if I said no someone else would have to do it. What if they got hurt?"

Izuku wanted to facepalm. It was the most Eijiro answer he could have gotten, and part of him loved it, but it only made everything worse. Heroic or not Izuku would have rather had almost anyone else get hurt, especially with what was looming over Eijiro.

"All Might even warned me about All For One. How I might need to fight him at some point."

"Fight… All For One…?" Izuku struggled to get words out while not saying anything wrong.

"The villain that… I thought you knew about him. Wait, did you think he is dead?" Eijiro kept jumping around with his words, then stopped deep in thought digging in his memories.

Oh right, when Izuku had talked with All Might, the so-called hero had believed All For One to be dead, or at least pretended to with Izuku. Eijiro got more words together to keep talking.

"So I guess you did. All Might didn't mean to lie to you, you know. He really thought that villain was dead. They just learned that Nomu had something to do with him later. Apparently he has been after One For All for a long time. Oh right, did you know the quirk is called One For All? It is almost the same as your quirk's name. We could be like the three musketeers, or two I guess, one for all and all for one. Apparently they are pretty much the strongest quirks there are. Imagine how many we could help!"

"EI!" Izuku barked, stopping him. The idea he described sounded like a beautiful dream come true, but… "You are talking about possibly the most powerful… villain, ever, and you are okay with having a target painted on yourself?"

"I mean, I am a little worried, but being a hero is already dangerous and someone would have to do it."

"But it did not have to be you," Izuku pleaded. "You are strong and heroic but there are others. You could have helped so many people without this. It is way worse than just being a hero."

"But if I didn't take this risk someone else would have to be in that danger."

"What… What… what if the league and that Nomu showed up today? You broke your arm with one punch. It would kill you."

"Yeah, that's what I am training for."

"Training…" Izuku did not know what words to say. Eijiro's training had not protected him from Izuku. He could have lost the quirk already and against father… He had made it very clear how he'd approach anyone who All Might as much as considered a potential successor.

And Izuku was supposed to be part of it. He had already betrayed father by not grabbing Eijiro, but he had been betraying Eijiro since they met, and now that his One For All was exposed, would be exposed.

Izuku's knees shook. He didn't want to betray anyone, but he couldn't not either. He was already betraying everyone, even his father by not getting One For All right away. He couldn't, but he had to.

"Are you okay?" Eijiro asked, his voice sounding distant. Izuku's breath got faster, his mind racing to find a path that did not involve everything around him collapsing and burning to ash. His knees shook as the room spun, then they failed.

Izuku's fall stopped with a yank as a painfully tight grip squeezed around his arm and pulled him over the edge of the stretcher.

"Izuku, Izuku?" A distant voice said. "Oh man, I wish Hitoshi or Tenya were here."

Izuku got yanked further up, but more gently than before. The tight grip let loose only for a strong arm to sneak under Izuku's, holding it more comfortably. Eijiro's palm pressed against Izuku's back as Izuku's upper torso met his. Izuku wasn't quite sure how long he hung there.

As time passed Eijiro never let go or stopped talking to his ear, his chin pressing against Izuku's head. Despite the awkward position it was a surprisingly comfortable and warm place to be in. Eijiro's voice carried the same comforting assurances as his smile could in a tight spot. Izuku's breathing calmed.

"Hey, you feeling better yet? Should I ask Recovery Girl to get Hitoshi or Tenya?"

"No, you're enough," Izuku muttered, possibly the first statement in the whole discussion he did not need to dance around truth or tell lies. "This is really happening?"

"Yes, uh, I knew you'd be upset because of All Might and lying, but… are you okay?"

What could Izuku respond to that? Honesty seemed for once to be a possible option, even the only possible one.

"You already know the answer is no."

And he was even worse now. Still, he got his feet back under him. Eijiro was laying on his side, his broken arm hanging not flat as it should have been and had been holding up Izuku with the one working arm. Izuku scrambled up and moved to support Eijiro's broken arm as he turned back on his back. At least Izuku had enough personal experience to help with that.

"Sorry," Izuku whispered and stepped away. He turned and quickly walked to the door.

"Izuku?!" Eijiro called after him, but Izuku did not stop, soon closing the door between them. He stopped to lean against the wall next to it. He just couldn't keep facing Eijiro, not without at least clearing his thoughts. He found the nearest bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. When he finally stepped out he wasn't really surprised to find Hitoshi leaning on the wall.

"Are you spying on me?"

"Didn't need to. I saw your face when you went to talk to Eijiro. The hardest thing was to decide how long I needed to wait to give you two space."

They stood quietly for a moment until Hitoshi nodded back down the corridor.

"Wanna go back to watch the others? Tokoyami's exam has already started and Tenya and Todoroki come right after his. Maybe you can do some analysing and note taking until you feel like talking."

"I think that would be nice."