—. My Hero Academia 180 degrees.—

48. Where Izuku talks about his dream, they reflect on All for One, the origin of One for All, and Midoriya witnesses a scene from a distant future.


The four of them remained in a tense silence. Izuku and Bakugo glanced at the objects in All Might's room, scanning every small detail, only occasionally looking back at Sir Nighteye. The man watched them with the same calculating intensity he had shown before, but this time his attention was especially focused on Midoriya. His eyes, piercing and analytical, lingered on him for several interminable seconds before breaking the silence.

"All Might..." His tone was measured, but beneath the apparent calm, there was a hint of distrust. "I know it might be unnecessary to ask, but... do you really think it's wise to discuss our next plans regarding All for One... with Midoriya present?"

Izuku felt his chest tighten. At another time, he would have lowered his head to avoid the weight of that question, but this time he didn't. He kept his gaze steady, waiting for All Might's response.

Toshinori took a moment to speak, but when he did, his tone was firm and unwavering.

"Sir..." he began, his deep voice resonating. "I believe you already know my answer." He paused briefly, turning his gaze to Midoriya before continuing. "I consider it especially important for young Midoriya to be here if we're going to talk about All for One. Moreover..." His eyes now settled on Bakugo. "The fact that both he and young Bakugo came at this hour can only mean they have something important to tell me."

With that, All Might turned to face both students seriously.

"Young Midoriya, young Bakugo, you can rest assured that, despite his... peculiar way of acting and his comments, Sir Nighteye is an old, trusted friend and a former colleague. So, feel free to speak in front of him."

Bakugo, who had remained silent up until that point, let out a sound of disdain. He crossed his arms, and his furrowed brow clearly showed that he wasn't convinced.

"Sure... And if he's so good and reliable... why doesn't he work with you anymore?"

All Might clenched his jaw, his discomfort evident. Sir Nighteye's glasses reflected a faint gleam as he tilted his head, a gesture revealing that Bakugo's question had struck home.

It was Sir who broke the silence.

"Let's just say..." he began, his tone professional and distant, "... that we had a difference of opinion on a matter, and we decided to go our separate ways. That's all."

"Yeah, right..." Bakugo muttered, clearly skeptical.

All Might let out a tired sigh, but his attention quickly shifted to Izuku. His rigid posture revealed that something else was bothering him.

"Is something wrong, young Midoriya?" Toshinori asked, now with a softer tone.

Izuku took a moment to respond, as if still unsure whether he should speak. Finally, he nodded.

"The reason Kacchan and I came here..." He lowered his gaze slightly, his right hand tensing unconsciously. "It's because I had a... rather strange dream a while ago." His voice lowered as he continued. "And when I woke up... I was releasing black whips from my right hand... That's never happened before."

All Might and Sir Nighteye exchanged a look full of concern. Nighteye's expression hardened as he placed a hand on his chin, as though carefully analyzing the information.

"Black whips...?" he murmured almost to himself, his mind already starting to form hypotheses before his eyes returned to Midoriya. "That doesn't sound like any of the quirks All for One has used before... but there's no doubt that Midoriya is beginning to manifest abilities of All for One."

Izuku's eyes widened with worry.

"No." All Might's voice rang out firmly, drawing everyone's attention back to him. "That power... is part of One for All. My power."

Everyone turned to Toshinori, waiting for a more detailed explanation.

"When I discovered that All for One had left part of his will inside me... and when I felt his intentions to take control of the successor he had chosen..."

Toshinori's gaze settled on Midoriya, whose face now reflected total astonishment, as if every piece of an impossible puzzle was beginning to fall into place. Bakugo, on the other hand, leaned forward, his bangs partially covering his eyes as his jaw tightened.

"One of the former holders of One for All... followed him with the intention of stopping him," All Might continued, his voice now more grave. "Apparently, he sensed from within me my desire to protect and guide young Midoriya... and now that same spirit protects him from the influence of All for One." His gaze softened slightly. "That's why I wanted to investigate more about the former holders before speaking with you. In particular, the holder you're talking about is Daigoro Banjo. His quirk in life was the black whips... the same ones that manifested in me during the entrance exam."

Both Bakugo and Izuku immediately remembered that incident. When the tentacles emerged uncontrollably from All Might's body disguised as a villain.

"Tell me, young Midoriya..." All Might's voice was serious this time. "What was that dream you had like?"

Izuku opened his mouth to answer, but a voice interrupted him first.

"I saw it too..." Bakugo suddenly said. "We saw a lot of people shouting horrible things at him."

Izuku seemed uncomfortable at the memory.

All Might narrowed his eyes, his hand instinctively going to his chin.

"That sounds... familiar," he reflected. "In our last fight, All for One said something..."

His posture became more rigid as he repeated those unsettling words:

"Those people whose quirks I took... they constantly appear in my dreams. Yelling horrible things at me. They make me feel bad."

All Might stood up and walked toward his bookshelf, clearly unsettled by the memory of his greatest enemy.

"Of course. At the time, I didn't pay it much attention and even thought he was mocking his old victims to distract me. However, now it seems like it was true."

Once again, silence took over the room until Izuku spoke:

"Does that mean... I'll be having those strange dreams all the time from now on?" Izuku's voice sounded worried, weighed down with discouragement as he lowered his gaze.

"We can't rule out the possibility that it will keep happening," All Might replied honestly, unable to offer him reassuring certainty. However, upon noticing the way Izuku's shoulders slumped, he stepped closer, placing a firm yet warm hand on his shoulder. "I know the words of others affect you deeply. But I want you to remember this..." He paused to make sure Midoriya was listening attentively. "You can always count on me. No matter what time it is, if you have those dreams again, we can talk about it if you want… or even go outside to train a little and clear your mind." His voice was soft yet firm, filled with that unshakable promise only a true mentor could offer. "And never forget that those hateful words… are not directed at you. Those people are merely echoes of the pain that All for One left behind. They can't truly hurt you."

Izuku nodded, though his expression still reflected uncertainty. All Might, noticing the small flicker of worry in his eyes, decided to add something else.

"Besides…" he mused, bringing a hand to his chin, "if I recall correctly, Midnight has made incredible progress with her quirk. We could ask for her help in preparing some relaxing lotions for you to use before bed… they say they induce pleasant dreams. What do you think?"

For a moment, Izuku seemed to consider the idea, but the mere thought of "pleasant dreams" made his cheeks turn red. He quickly waved his hands in front of him, nervous. "I don't think we should bother her with something like that! Those substances must be really important for her work as a pro hero on a daily basis and… and… I…" He stammered, struggling to find a convincing excuse, while Bakugo looked increasingly irritated. "I'll try to be stronger now that I know what this is about… and… not take things so personally."

Though his voice came out high-pitched at first, it eventually softened, and without meaning to, his eyes drifted toward Bakugo.

"Besides…" Izuku continued in a more reflective tone, "it seems like… our dreams are connected in some way now. Like Kacchan said earlier… he was there too. So it's likely that…"

Bakugo, who had been watching him out of the corner of his eye, looked away, turning his head slightly so Izuku wouldn't see his face. "I'll be there," he assured, saying nothing more.

Izuku couldn't help but feel comforted by that strange sense of support Bakugo offered him… rough, but genuine.

"What I still don't understand…" Izuku spoke again after a moment, trying to clear his mind, "is the connection between One for All and All for One. Even in their names… it's impossible not to think they're related."

All Might nodded, his expression now more serious.

"That's because…" he began to explain, his tone taking on that weighty quality he used when discussing important matters, "a long time ago… during the dawn of quirks, All for One… had a brother."

Izuku and Bakugo lifted their heads at the same time, completely drawn in by those words.

"In those early years, when quirks first started manifesting in society, chaos reigned. People didn't know how to deal with those who possessed superhuman abilities, which led to a period of uncertainty and anarchy." All Might paused, his gaze lost in distant memories. "It was in that context that All for One rose to power… as a dominant figure who could take and transfer quirks at will."

On the other side of the room, Sir Nighteye had stood up, gazing out at the city through the window, as if he already knew this story. His rigid posture and silence spoke of a deep understanding of what All Might was about to reveal.

"With that ability," All Might continued, "All for One gathered followers who depended on him to gain more power… or fulfill their ambitions. He used his quirk to manipulate and control people, establishing his reign of terror for several years."

Izuku and Bakugo could barely imagine the scene All Might described—crowds of confused, desperate people searching for guidance… only to be led by the hands of a tyrant down a path of darkness.

"However…" All Might's voice softened, almost as if there was a trace of compassion in it. "All for One had a younger brother… someone who strongly opposed his methods. This brother believed in justice. He believed that power should be used to help others, not to subjugate them."

All Might's eyes softened as he recalled that figure. "But… he was frail and sickly, seemingly quirkless. A man whose conviction was stronger than his body."

Though he hadn't been there, All Might seemed transported to that past. He could picture the young Yoichi, sitting on the floor, surrounded by superhero comics… and All for One standing over him, watching him like a child.

"In an effort to 'help him'… or perhaps to mock his idealism," All Might continued, "All for One forcibly gave him a quirk: the ability to store power. But what he never realized… was that his brother already possessed a hidden quirk… the ability to transfer his power to another person."

Midoriya's eyes widened, and Bakugo turned his head again, glancing at Izuku from the corner of his eye.

"The combination of these two quirks—storing and transferring power—gave birth to a new quirk: One for All." All Might's voice carried a solemn weight. "Since then, this power has been passed down from generation to generation… accumulating strength, with one single purpose: to one day defeat All for One."

Izuku felt a slight tightness in his throat as he instinctively pressed his hand against his chest. Understanding now that within him persisted that sinister consciousness—one that had been fought against for generations: All for One.

"Alright. Now that we've established the key points of who All for One is and how One for All came to be..." Sir Nighteye's voice intervened smoothly as he remained standing by the window, now turning his back to the night view of the city. "All that remains is to discuss our next course of action. For now, All for One seems to be taking things slow… but there's no guarantee that his influence over Midoriya won't grow soon. And if that happens…" His voice hung in the air, as if the possibilities were too unsettling to say aloud.

"I've thought about it a lot…" Toshinori responded from the couch, his gaze fixed on the blurred reflection in the glass of his wristwatch. "And while you can be certain that if anything happens, I won't just stand by and do nothing… I think the smartest approach is to move cautiously. Just as All for One himself would."

"I see…" Sir Nighteye murmured, adjusting the bridge of his glasses with a thoughtful gesture before bringing a hand to his chin. "Like a game of chess…" he mused, his sharp eyes focusing on a distant point. "And the winner will be the one who manages to shape the best possible version of the future for themselves." A faint smile crossed his lips. "And from what you told me before… we have the advantage."

All Might nodded.

"Advantage?" Bakugo questioned from his spot, his brow furrowed.

Izuku also frowned slightly, bringing a hand to his chin, trying to figure it out for himself. However, All Might didn't give him time to think.

"When I spoke with All for One…" Toshinori began, his tone growing heavier. "Before he went after young Midoriya… he mentioned that… he said he had seen the future that awaited us… and that he didn't like it at all. A future where One for All and All for One… destroy each other."

Izuku and Bakugo quickly exchanged a glance.

"If that monster could see the future… why didn't he do something to change it immediately?" Bakugo questioned.

"It must be because… changing the future isn't that simple," Midoriya attempted to deduce.

"Exactly." Sir Nighteye nodded. "As you may have realized by now, my quirk allows me to foresee what will happen in the future. Sometimes, only a few minutes ahead… but if I push my quirk to its limits, I can glimpse details of a more distant future." His tone became more serious. "But even then… there are limits to what I can guarantee."

"It's not that All for One could do the same, young Bakugo," Toshinori intervened, his voice more analytical. "Rather, at some point in the past… he managed to force Sir's quirk." Toshinori paused before continuing. "He made sure Sir wouldn't remember it. And though I don't know how… it seems to be true. He saw what would happen."

Bakugo and Midoriya continued watching him expectantly.

"What he saw…" Toshinori continued, his gaze flickering toward Izuku, "…was my successor… defeating his ideals."

Bakugo scowled.

"He described him as a young man wearing a T-shirt with my face on it."

"A T-shirt with your face, huh? That definitely sounds like this guy here. I'd never wear something like that."

Izuku, upon hearing that, shrank slightly in his seat, unsure of how to respond.

"Wouldn't it be enough for that other guy to use his quirk again to make sure that future remains the same?" Bakugo asked.

"If only it were that simple…" Nighteye replied, crossing his arms. "The constant when predicting an immediate future is that it can change. But when it comes to something distant, there are many variables to consider."

"Hah?" Bakugo frowned even more. "Why don't you stop trying to sound mysterious and just say it plainly?"

Sir Nighteye sighed, his expression growing exasperated. "What I mean is…" He paused, searching for the right words. "If we assume that Midoriya will be the one to defeat All for One someday… I can't see the full context. I only get fragments, like scenes from a movie. He could defeat him, yes… but the price to achieve that victory might be too high."

His tone dropped even lower, taking on an entirely serious edge. "The cost could be… that the entire world… or the people he cares about the most… pay the price with their lives."

The color drained from Izuku's face. His eyes widened, and a chill seemed to run through him.

"Winning the battle… but losing the war," All Might murmured, his voice laced with unease. "A hollow victory… and vengeance for a villain who already knew his fate." But upon noticing Midoriya's expression, his demeanor quickly softened. "Though… there was no need to be so graphic, Sir."

"My apologies." Nighteye nodded, his tone now more understanding. His eyes noticed the expression on Izuku's face and the beads of sweat forming on his forehead, so he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to him. "I apologize… but I believe it's crucial that you both understand the implications of the burden you now carry."

Izuku accepted the handkerchief almost automatically, his mind still processing the weight of those words. Then he remembered what All Might had told him days ago:

"But I worry that what you've been given is a burden too great."

"I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but from now on…" Sir Nighteye's voice resonated with a gravity that made Bakugo and Midoriya exchange another look. "Every decision… every step you take… could determine not only your own fate but that of everyone around you."

Izuku suddenly lowered his head, his hair falling like a curtain that partially obscured his gaze.

Every decision… every step… could determine everyone's fate. And all because his life had become intertwined with those of two brothers from the dawn of quirks.

"Young Midoriya…" All Might's voice was gentle but laden with concern as he took in Izuku's expression.

But Izuku didn't lift his head.

"Don't start overthinking things, Dek— Izuku!" Bakugo called out, his usual rough tone cutting through the tension. Yet, Izuku still didn't respond.

And then, a voice echoed in his mind.

That burden… it's too much for you, isn't it? Being a hero, being All Might's successor—it doesn't sound so great anymore, does it? That's why they say to be careful what you wish for…

Izuku's body tensed. He tried to shake off the sensation, to drown out the voice rising from the darkest corners of his mind. But something… something was pulling at him from within.

"No…" Izuku whispered, his lips barely forming the word. But it was already too late.

Let me help you see things more clearly…

The world around him began to blur, colors draining away until only shades of black and white remained—like an old photograph.

Let me show you another perspective. A wider spectrum… of how this will all end if you continue down this path. Maybe you won't like it either.

"All… For… One…" Izuku murmured, his voice barely audible.

"Young Midoriya! What's wrong?" All Might shot to his feet, his voice urgent.

But Izuku didn't answer. His body straightened, stiff as he stood up and took a step forward. Everything moved slower, as if time itself had lost its flow. Or perhaps… as if he was moving faster in comparison.

"Hey!" Bakugo shouted, his voice now sharp.

Multi-Directional Shockwave.

A sudden shockwave erupted from Izuku's body, sending both All Might and Bakugo crashing to opposite sides of the room.

Now… let's see what the future holds.

All for One's voice echoed in his mind, dragging his consciousness deep into the abyss of his own being. Izuku fought against it, his mind resisting the invading force… but his body no longer obeyed him.

"Sir… Nighteye…" he whispered, though the voice felt distant, as if it wasn't even his own.

An unseen force compelled him to lift his glowing green eyes. His hand—no longer guided by his own will—extended toward Nighteye.

Show him… the villain's voice whispered from the shadows of his mind.

Izuku felt his own hands seize Sir Nighteye's head, forcing his eyelids open, compelling him to look directly into his eyes.

Forced Quirk Activation.

And then… they saw it.

A Distant Future.

Izuku stood at the entrance of a modest apartment. His hero costume, worn and dirty, still clung to his body. Dust and debris clung to the fabric, reminders of every villain defeated and every life protected that day. The weight of the entire world seemed to press down on his shoulders.

He shut the door behind him, and before he could take another step, a soft voice broke the silence.

"Deku…?"

Ochako emerged from the living room, dressed in simple, comfortable clothes. Her eyes, full of tenderness and concern, scanned him from head to toe. "Did they let you come back early?"

Izuku smiled—tired, but genuine.

"Yeah…" He rubbed the back of his neck, his body nearly swaying from exhaustion. "I might've overdone it a bit at the end… so they told me to rest before heading back."

Ochako stepped closer, her warm hands gently caressing his face.

"Come on…" she whispered sweetly. "Should I make you something? Or would you rather take a shower to relax? We could… bathe together if you'd like."

Izuku shook his head softly, his smile barely holding.

"I'd love to… but don't worry. I just want to rest a little."

Ochako studied him for a moment, concern evident in those brown eyes. Finally, she nodded and took his hand, guiding him gently toward the bedroom.

The room was simple but cozy. The bed, big enough for two, had soft sheets that invited rest. Izuku stripped off the top of his hero costume along with his accessories in a single motion before collapsing onto the mattress, feeling his body sink into the comfort.

However, when he felt eyes on him, he cracked one eye open.

"Come here…" Izuku murmured, extending an arm toward Ochako.

She smiled and moved closer, sitting beside him before he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a quiet embrace. Their bodies fit together seamlessly, as if this moment had played out a hundred times before.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, resting her head gently against his shoulder.

Izuku nodded, his tired, shadowed eyes fluttering shut.

"Yeah… I'm okay. Just… really tired."

Ochako closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his body.

"Too tired… to cuddle a little?" she whispered, her fingers trailing softly down his back in a teasing motion.

Izuku let out a weak chuckle, a tired smile forming on his lips. But before he could respond, exhaustion overtook him. His breathing slowed, his body fully relaxing as he drifted into a deep sleep in her arms.

With great care, Ochako leaned toward his neck.

"It's okay… rest," she whispered, her voice sweet and barely audible as her lips brushed against his skin.

And then… revealing sharp fangs, she bit into his neck with precision, letting the blood flow as she began to drink.

A few seconds later, Izuku's hand slipped limply to the side. His skin began to pale, his energy slowly draining away.

Back to the Present.

Izuku's eyes shot open, gasping, as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.

"Young Midoriya!" All Might's voice rang out beside him, holding onto his arm at his right.

On the other side, Bakugo gripped him firmly, his strong hands grounding him in reality.

Izuku trembled, his mind still trapped in that vision, unable to form words.

A few steps away, Sir Nighteye braced himself against the nearest couch, his breath unsteady. It was clear he had seen everything, too. And when he finally managed to speak, his voice was grave.

"It seems…" His eyes locked onto Izuku, heavy with seriousness. "You might want to reconsider your relationship… with that girl. Because she's going to kill you someday."

...


Author's Notes.

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