—. My Hero Academia: 180 Degrees. —
43. Where All Might talks to Midoriya, everyone goes to karaoke, and Uraraka and Deku try to play 9 minutes in heaven
Toshinori slowly straightened his posture. He clenched his teeth, falling into a brief silence as the morning wind blew between them. There were too many things he wanted to say, but only a few words could truly convey them with the clarity he desired. In the end, he sighed and opened his mouth.
"Yes. You may call me All Might," he finally said, his tone lower than usual but filled with resolve. He took a step forward, offering a rare smile. "That is, of course, only if we're alone or in the company of young Bakugo, young Todoroki, or Hatsume. Since it remains a great secret, and very few people know about it."
He paused deliberately, seeking Izuku's gaze. "You're a smart person, so I assume you understand why it must not be revealed."
Izuku lowered his head, staring at his red sneakers as he processed the information.
"So they all... already knew," he murmured, more to himself than to All Might.
Toshinori took another step, his expression growing serious. Yet, there was no harshness in his eyes—only something closer to concern. He didn't want their student-teacher relationship to be marked by distrust.
"There were very particular circumstances with each of them. It was never my intention to burden anyone with this secret, especially at such a young age, but as you know, things don't always go as planned. Even so, I believe they are trustworthy. And the same goes for you, although..." He exhaled slowly, choosing his words carefully. "Although I worry that what you've had to bear is the heaviest burden of all."
Izuku looked at his open hand for a moment. Toshinori watched him intently, as if trying to read his thoughts.
"I would completely understand if you're upset, young Midoriya," he continued. "I lied to you for a year about who I really was. It might seem as if I was mocking you, though that was never my intention. But if you need to express how you feel in any way... you can do it."
His tone was sincere. It was almost an invitation—to react however he needed, without judgment.
Izuku looked up. No, of course, he wasn't going to hit him for hiding his true identity for an entire year. That wasn't who he was, and All Might had to know that. But also... also, he had to know that people weren't that simple.
He couldn't deny that he still had mixed feelings about him.
"I have a lot of questions..." Midoriya admitted, his voice thoughtful. But then he turned his head, gazing into the distance at U.A.'s main building, illuminated brightly by the sunrise. "But... I also realize that I owe you a lot for being here today. And I can't help but thank you for that. I think you went through a lot of trouble for me."
Suddenly, he felt the warm pressure of a hand on his shoulder. When Izuku glanced up, he was met with the man's serious expression, gently shaking his head.
"Young Midoriya, make no mistake—you earned your place here through your own merit. I had nothing to do with the final decision," he stated with unwavering conviction. "And I was absent because there were important matters I had to take care of, given that we've discovered All For One is back. My duty as a hero forced me to make that my top priority... However, on a personal level, you are far more important to me."
Izuku looked at him, his eyes shining, feeling the weight of those words. And he realized that, unlike the first time he had seen him, now he could see the hero he had admired as a child reflected in Toshinori Yagi.
In the person.
How had he not realized it before?
"I didn't want to leave you with just a pre-recorded message telling you that you had been accepted into U.A.," Toshinori continued, his voice growing firmer. "Because I wanted to see your face when I told you. And besides... I think we have a lot to talk about."
He took a deep breath, and in an instant, his body swelled into the towering form of the Symbol of Peace. His voice resonated powerfully against the dawn, as imposing as the sunrise behind him.
"Izuku Midoriya, make no mistake—this is your hero academy"
Izuku clenched his teeth. He tried to stay strong. He tried to show maturity. He tried to hold back the tears.
But he couldn't.
It was useless.
"All Might!" His voice broke as he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around him.
Toshinori didn't hesitate to embrace him in return, holding him securely in a protective gesture, as if he wanted to bear not just his weight but also the invisible burden pressing down on his shoulders.
He let out a soft chuckle as he ruffled Izuku's hair affectionately.
"You're an incredible kid," he whispered, moved. "And the kindest young man I know."
Izuku shut his eyes, holding on a little tighter.
Because, at last, he felt like he could let go of that painful memory.
...
Izuku was sitting alone in the corner of the karaoke room, his large backpack resting beside him as he watched his classmates get ready to sing. They had rented the room as a group to celebrate the start of their life at U.A., and everyone seemed excited. Some were adjusting the microphone, others were tuning additional instruments—tambourine, maracas, and even a guitar—while laughing and debating which song to perform first.
Even though he had slowly started making more friends than he ever had in his previous school life, he still struggled to feel completely comfortable in situations like this. It wasn't just shyness; it was the absolute certainty that he wasn't good at singing…
However, he couldn't deny that the atmosphere was contagious. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and when his gaze landed on Uraraka, he saw her laughter light up the room as she chatted animatedly with Tsuyu and Kaminari. It was impossible not to notice how at ease she looked in a setting like this, and for a moment, he wondered if she might enjoy his company a little less because he didn't share the same easygoing nature.
He lowered his head, staring at the floor as if it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world. Now that he thought about it, in that aspect, they were very different. Maybe… in the end… those differences would create distance between them. Separate paths, lives that would eventually drift apart. And if that ever happened… would he be able to contain the darkness of All For One that now resided within him?
Or was he just using that as an excuse to justify his fear of losing Uraraka?
So lost was he in his thoughts that he didn't notice when Tsuyu tapped Uraraka's shoulder and subtly nodded in his direction. Little by little, the rest of their classmates also noticed his absent expression and the way he sat with his head down.
Not everyone from their class had come; Bakugo, for example, had dismissed the idea entirely, calling it a waste of time and opting to train instead. Tokoyami and Shinso, on the other hand, preferred darker, quieter environments like their rooms or the library. But those who were present exchanged glances, held a small whispered meeting, and decided which song they would start the afternoon with—and, more importantly, dedicate to their friend.
Izuku lifted his head at the sound of the music starting, surprised to see Uraraka holding the microphone, looking straight at him.
Uraraka: "I can't imagine you ever giving up."
Uraraka: "Though I'm sure even you have gray and gloomy days."
Uraraka: "If you ever face a challenge that demands everything you have…"
Uraraka: "One of those once-in-a-lifetime moments—I want to be there to see it!"
She extended her fist toward him.
Uraraka: "Even if we only have this one life together, we have an unlimited supply of strength!"
Izuku lifted his fist and bumped hers in return.
Uraraka: "I had nothing, but you gave meaning to my existence—now I'm unstoppable!"
Everyone: "Hooray! Hooray!"
Uraraka: "You make me want to say it again and again."
Uraraka: "So keep pushing forward!"
Uraraka: "It's from you that I draw my courage!"
Everyone: "Hooray! Hooray!"
Uraraka: "Even the smallest things are screaming inside me."
Uraraka: "When I look into your eyes, I feel like I can start running too."
Uraraka: "Show me the ultimate ending!"
Suddenly, Izuku's eyes sparkled as he imagined a medieval fantasy world where he was on an adventure with all his friends.
"Are we heading toward a grand adventure? Can we stay like this for a little longer?"
He pictured himself leaving his home, dressed as an explorer, with his mother waving goodbye.
"Maybe we'll have to consider our troubles and worries too…"
"We might not be legendary figures who appear once in a millennium."
"Even so, I want to see the goals each of us aims to reach."
Then, in his excitement, Izuku tripped over his own feet, spilling the contents of his backpack everywhere.
"There may be plenty of fools in this world…"
Izuku was on the verge of tears, but Uraraka, accompanied by Iida, reached out her hand to help him up.
"Hey, dummy! I'll always be by your side!"
Izuku took her hand, smiling again.
"Hooray! Hooray!"
"Let's keep moving forward, hundreds of miles ahead!"
His new party traveled onward until they reached Prince Todoroki, seated atop a white horse. After some convincing, he decided to join them.
"It's okay to stop, as long as we can keep running forever!"
"Hooray! Hooray!"
"A grand ovation blooms like a flower!"
When they reached Bakugo, who was riding a dragon, he flatly refused to join them—until a massive explosion went off, putting them all on high alert.
"Let's show the world the miracle we can create!"
"The excitement is building—let's keep moving toward the future!"
Everyone began fighting against the monsters.
"So many stories of our failures…"
"Versions of ourselves we once hated…"
Izuku and Bakugo fought side by side, wearing matching fierce grins.
"If we can treasure those moments—then we'll be unstoppable!"
"I haven't felt it yet, but I recognize your strength."
Back in the real world, Izuku was already singing.
"Let's overcome the wall before us, so we can laugh on the other side!"
"Hooray! Hooray!"
"You make me want to say it again and again."
In the end, everyone applauded him, and Izuku let out a relieved sigh.
"So keep pushing forward!"
"It's from you that I draw my courage!"
"Hooray! Hooray!"
Izuku took several photos of his friends as they sang or did something funny, laughing sincerely with them.
"Even the smallest things are screaming inside me."
"When I look into your eyes, I feel like I can start running too."
Uraraka, standing beside him, couldn't stop looking at him whenever he laughed.
"I start running when I see your eyes."
"Show me the ultimate ending!"
"After all… you are my hero!"
...
"The atmosphere in the karaoke room had shifted from just a singing session to a full-blown party. Voices overlapped, some people weren't even following the lyrics on the screen anymore, and the lights flickered erratically. Amidst all the chaos, Izuku checked his phone, frowning for a moment before lowering his head and silently stepping out of the room.
He hadn't noticed that Uraraka had been watching him until he heard the door open behind him in the hallway. She peeked her head out, glancing around quickly before stepping out completely.
"Uraraka..." He looked at her in surprise, as if unsure of what to say.
"I thought we managed to cheer you up with that song earlier," she said from behind him. Her tone was light, but there was a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Yes! Yes, you definitely did!" he assured her, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. "It's just... there wasn't good signal inside, and I wanted to send my mom some pictures of how much fun we're having tonight. She's been more worried than usual lately, especially since the entrance exam, and I want to show her that not everything at U.A. is dangerous."
"Really? Can I see the pictures?" she asked enthusiastically, immediately moving closer to his side.
The sudden touch of her bare shoulder against his arm caught him off guard. Her warmth and the softness of her skin made him tense, and the blush on his face deepened.
He tried to play it off by slowly scrolling through the photos, while Uraraka watched intently, seemingly unaware of their closeness.
"You're a great photographer!" she exclaimed in admiration. "You could totally do it as a second career!"
"I don't think I'm that good, but thanks... Uraraka," Izuku said with a nervous smile. "Though I guess it's not that different from sketching different perspectives of the same object... Sometimes I just imagine where the light is coming from and what angle works best."
For a brief moment, his mind betrayed him, reminding him of the sketches he had drawn of Uraraka—how he used to set a timer on his phone just to admire them without getting completely lost in them.
"Really? You have to show me your drawings someday too!" Uraraka said with a bright smile, leaning in slightly toward him.
Izuku instinctively took a step back, nodding but not daring to answer. What if she thought his drawings weren't good?
As he stepped backward, his foot hit the door behind him. Uraraka finally noticed his unease and tilted her head.
"Oh, sorry. It seems like I always end up getting too close and cornering you. It's not on purpose. It's just that... I feel really comfortable around you. Like you're already part of my family."
Izuku blinked, his brain repeating that last word in an endless echo.
"Fa... family...?" he murmured, a strange tingling sensation spreading through his chest.
His mind, too quick for his own good, painted a distant image: Would they be family for real someday? Maybe... with kids?
"Ah!" Uraraka suddenly covered her face with both hands, realizing what she had just said. "No, that's not what I meant... I mean...!"
A noise from downstairs made them fall silent immediately. They stayed still, alert, but no one came up the stairs.
"Do... whatever it takes..." Izuku thought, taking advantage of the moment to cover his mouth with one hand, trying to hide his expression. With the other, still holding his phone, he discreetly tapped the door behind him three times.
"What...?" Uraraka asked, now even more confused by his sudden behavior.
"I-It looks like it's empty..." Deku whispered, not taking his eyes off her as he typed on his phone.
"Eh...? You can type on your phone without looking?" Uraraka asked, her nervousness growing.
"He's good with his hands," she thought, and for some reason, the idea of him being so skilled with his hands made her face suddenly heat up. "Why am I thinking about that?" she scolded herself, shaking her head to clear it. But then, she remembered what Jiro had told her when she had kicked her out of the room: "Just make your dreams come true already so you can stop thinking about them!"
"I learned it for emergencies," Deku explained, snapping her out of her thoughts. Then, he showed her his phone screen. A timer was set for nine minutes.
"I didn't know you knew that game..." she said, still flustered. "And isn't it supposed to be seven minutes?"
"W-What game?" he asked, opening the door behind him. "Are you coming?" he invited, his voice slightly trembling.
A shiver ran down Uraraka's spine. There was something about the way Deku was looking at her at that moment that felt... intimidating. But also enticing.
Before she could think too much about it, her feet moved on their own, and she stepped inside the dark room with him, closing the door behind her.
Only nine seconds had passed when three voices were heard coming up the stairs.
"See? I told you it was on the third floor!" Mirio said, seemingly pleased to have been right.
"I didn't say it wasn't, I just saw a girl with interesting horns and wanted to know what kind of songs she was going to sing," Nejire replied.
"She didn't seem very happy when you walked in without knocking and started touching her horns..." Tamaki muttered, as if reliving a bad experience.
"Alright, this time I'll knock," Nejire conceded, knocking on the door in front of them.
"There was no need. It must be empty; the light is off," Mirio pointed out.
Suddenly, a dull thud came from inside, as if something had hit the door.
Izuku and Uraraka froze.
"Sorry, Uraraka. I think we got the wrong door... It was the one next to this one," Deku said naturally as he stepped out of the room, passing between the three newcomers.
"Ah... yeah, a mistake..." Uraraka followed him, trying to keep her composure.
They both felt safe until Nejire's eyes widened, and she exclaimed,
"Hey! I know you two! I've seen you before! You were fighting the other day on U.A.'s rooftop! Right?!"
Izuku and Uraraka paled.
"Fighting?" Mirio asked with slight amusement, but also in the tone of a cheerful mascot talking to small children. "Remember, it's not good to fight. You can solve your differences by talking calmly, no matter what the problem is."
Tamaki, with his usual disinterest, murmured,
"Maybe... it's all just a misunderstanding..."
Uraraka and Izuku smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to such peculiar individuals.
Who were these people?
...
Author's Notes. —
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