Still lost in thought over the police officer's words, Igarashi Masata walked out of the police station, his expression complicated and distant.
"As expected, there are still plenty of good people in this world," he muttered to himself. "This ti, I didn't get punished or thrown in jail… but until I get my Quirk license, I really do need to be more careful about using my abilities."
Then another thought surfaced, one that bothered him even more.
"But seriously… what's All Might's deal?" Masata frowned. "Sure, I like muscular tough guys like him, but I don't rember ever actually eting him. Why would he suddenly vouch for ? And with sothing as valuable as his own reputation, no less."
What puzzled Masata the most was that he had never publicly revealed his full strength before. His only connection to All Might should have been through television broadcasts.
"Could it be…" Masata's eyes lit up. "Am I one of those legendary protagonists? Even the Number One Hero personally escorting through life?"
He was grinning foolishly to himself when his thoughts were abruptly interrupted.
"Masata-chan!"
His mother ca rushing toward him, her face pale with panic rather than her usual gentle smile.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Why would you fight villains like that? What would your father and I do if sothing happened to you?" Mrs. Igarashi asked anxiously, grabbing him from head to toe to check for injuries.
"Masata," his father said sternly, adjusting his glasses with a serious expression. "This ti, Dad can't praise you. Fighting villains is a professional Hero's responsibility. It's not sothing you should be doing. When we get ho, you're going to reflect on this properly."
Masata blinked in confusion.
"Mom? Dad? How did you even find out about this?" he asked. "The police didn't notify you, did they…?"
His gaze slowly shifted.
Behind his parents, Yaoyorozu Momo was trying her best to hide, looking guilty beyond words.
"…Momo," Masata said weakly. "You sold out?"
He pointed at her, his face turning red with embarrassnt.
"When my parents find out I used my Quirk to fight villains, I'm going to be lectured by Mom for at least a week…"
…Though, strangely enough, it didn't feel entirely bad.
While the Igarashi family was having their lively mont outside the police station, sothing unexpected was happening elsewhere.
On a quiet path, Midoriya Izuku suddenly found his way blocked by a tall figure.
"Ah—All Might?! Why are you here?!" Izuku exclaid in shock.
"I ca to correct sothing I said earlier," All Might replied solemnly. "When your friend was in danger, I was present. Unfortunately, due to my physical condition, I couldn't act in ti."
As he spoke, blood spilled from his mouth, and his towering form rapidly shrank, reverting once again into his skeletal state.
"I saw you," All Might continued calmly. "A boy with no power to restrain him… yet he still rushed into danger for the sake of a friend. Although another powerful teenager stopped you, your determination—and your unique nature—caught my attention."
Izuku was completely confused.
"I-I'm just a Quirkless nobody," he said weakly. "I was terrified at the ti. There's nothing special about …"
"That's exactly it!" All Might interrupted loudly. "It's you—the so-called 'cowardly Quirkless boy'—who attracted !"
"Many top Heroes did reckless, strange things during their student days," All Might continued. "And many of those monts had one thing in common."
"Their bodies moved before their brains could think."
"You did that too."
"You can beco a Hero."
The world seed to fall silent.
Only the sound of the wind remained… along with Izuku's uncontrollable sobbing as he collapsed to his knees.
"Quirkless trash—what right do you have to stand on the sa stage as us?"
"He's finished. Completely hopeless."
The echoes of past ridicule rang endlessly in his mind.
"And yet…" Izuku whispered, tears streaming down his face. "It's the Hero I admire most who's saying this to …"
"If it's you," All Might said quietly, "then you are qualified to inherit my power."
"Huh…?" Izuku looked up blankly, his tears not yet dried.
"Pff—!" All Might coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"I'm talking about my Quirk," he explained. "The one often described in magazines as 'mysterious power' or 'super strength.' In interviews, I've always brushed it off with vague explanations."
"As the Symbol of Peace, people believe I was 'born a Hero.'"
"But the truth is—my Quirk is like a sacred fla."
"A power passed down, spark by spark."
Izuku felt as if his head had been struck by a giant bell. His thoughts dissolved into incoherent murmurs.
Ignoring Izuku's stunned state, All Might continued:
"This Quirk allows its power to be transferred to others. It's sothing I inherited myself."
"And its na is—"
ONE FOR ALL
"The crystallization of strength," All Might declared solemnly. "One person trains it, then passes it on to the next. Generation after generation, power is accumulated—born from cries for help and brave hearts that refused to give in."
Then he looked directly at Izuku.
"But…" Izuku said hesitantly, still dazed. "Why ? The boy who defeated the sludge villain today—he was incredible. Isn't he more qualified to inherit your power?"
"You an the magma boy?" All Might replied after a mont. "He's different from you. I can see his desire for justice, but the passion and recklessness in his eyes concern ."
"More importantly, his Quirk is already extrely powerful—and he uses it well. Giving him my power would be nothing more than excess."
"In short," All Might said firmly, "I believe this power should be passed on to you. Of course, the choice is still yours."
"All Might… explained so much to …" Izuku thought.
"What reason do I have to refuse?"
His eyes hardened with resolve. He stood up, wiped away his tears, and bowed deeply.
"I accept it," Izuku said loudly. "I do!"
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