I splashed cold water on my face, trying to clear my head. Two days unconscious while my body adapted to the quirk. Two days of my friends and family worrying about me.
A knock on the bathroom door startled me.
"Young Midoriya? Are you alright in there?"
All Might. His timing was either terrible or perfect, depending on how you looked at it.
"I'm fine," I called back, quickly drying my face. "Just... making up for two days."
"Ah. Of course. Take your time."
I took a deep breath, steadying myself, then opened the door.
All Might stood there in his diminished form, looking even more gaunt than usual. The shadows under his eyes suggested he'd been getting about as much sleep as my mother.
"You look like shit," I said bluntly.
He coughed out a laugh, running a hand through his unkempt blonde hair. "I've been worried about my successor. How are you feeling?"
I glanced past him to make sure we were alone before responding. "Different. The quirk... it's not working the way you described."
Concern flickered across his sunken features. "What do you mean?"
I held out my hand, calling on that thread of power again. Green lightning immediately crackled along my arm.
All Might's eyes widened as he watched the green lightning dance across my arm. He leaned forward, his gaunt face illuminated by the crackling energy.
"Fascinating," he murmured. "It looks like the power of One For All manifests differently inside you. I've never seen anything like this."
I let the power fade, the green electricity dissipating into the air. "Yeah... it's different than what you described." I hesitated, unsure how to broach the next subject. "Have you ever talked to the previous users?"
All Might's brow furrowed. "The previous users?" His hollow eyes studied my face. "Besides my sensei... no. Why do you ask?"
I glanced toward the door, making sure we were still alone. "While I was unconscious, I saw them. All of them. Like ghosts, looking at me, judging me. They were deciding whether I was worthy."
All Might took a step back, his already pale face losing what little color it had. "You saw their... spirits?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "That's rather unsettling."
"Are you afraid of ghosts?" I asked, noticing his reaction.
He straightened, clearing his throat. "No, of course not. It's just... unexpected." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "What exactly did they say to you?"
"They—"
The door swung open, cutting me off. All Might tensed, his skeletal form exposed as my mother walked in, followed by Camie, Momo, and Hitomi. They all froze, staring at the figure beside my bed.
"Oh," my mother said, her eyes widening. "I didn't realize Izuku had another visitor."
All Might coughed into his fist, his posture stiffening. "Please pardon the intrusion. I was just..." His words died as his gaze settled on my mother. He stared at her for a beat too long, then seemed to remember himself. "I'm a friend of Recovery Girl's. She asked me to check on young Midoriya while she prepared some tests."
My mother smiled, setting down the drinks she'd brought. "That's very kind of you. I'm Inko Midoriya, Izuku's mother."
"Toshinori Yagi," All Might replied, extending a bony hand. "It's... it's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Midoriya."
"Please, call me Inko."
"Inko," he repeated, as if testing how the name felt. "Yes, well... Inko..."
I watched this exchange with growing disbelief. All Might – the Symbol of Peace, the number one hero – was stammering like a schoolboy while talking to my mother. Worse, he was looking at her with an expression I'd never seen on his face before.
No way. No fucking way. The Symbol of Peace is into my mother?
I coughed loudly, breaking their prolonged handshake. "Did you find anything good to eat?"
Camie smirked, her eyes darting between All Might and my mother. She'd clearly noticed the same thing I had. "Just drinks for now. Your mom promised to make katsudon later when you're discharged."
My stomach growled loudly at the mention of my favorite food.
"That sounds wonderful," I said, trying to redirect the conversation.
The small talk continued awkwardly for a few minutes, with All Might stealing glances at my mother whenever he thought no one was looking. I caught Camie's eye, and she raised an eyebrow, a silent Are you seeing this too? I gave her the slightest nod.
Finally, the door opened again, and Recovery Girl entered, her cane tapping against the tile floor.
"Well, well! Look who's finally rejoined the land of the living," she said, her voice gruff but warm. "You gave us quite a scare, young man."
"Sorry about that," I said, straightening up in bed. "I didn't mean to worry everyone."
Recovery Girl approached, her experienced eyes scanning me. "Hmm. Color's better. Eyes are clear." She turned to All Might. "Thank you for checking on him, Toshinori. I can take it from here."
All Might nodded, backing toward the door. "Of course. I'll, ah... I'll leave you to it." His eyes found my mother again. "It was lovely meeting you, Mrs.—Inko. Perhaps we'll see each other again."
"I'm sure we will," my mother replied with a smile that made All Might's cheeks flush.
Once he'd gone, Recovery Girl turned to address the room. "I need to run some tests on our patient here. They won't take long, but I'll need some privacy."
"We understand," Yaoyorozu said, ever proper. "We'll wait outside."
My mother hesitated. "Is everything alright? What kind of tests?"
Recovery Girl patted her hand reassuringly. "Nothing to worry about. Based on the readings we've been getting, we believe young Midoriya here experienced a quirk awakening. The backlash from that sudden onset is likely what caused his collapse."
Ah... so that's the explanation we're going with, I thought. Smart.
"A quirk awakening?" my mother repeated, her eyes wide. "But he's been quirkless his whole life."
"Late quirk manifestations are rare but not unheard of," Recovery Girl explained. "Especially after periods of intense physical training or extreme stress – both of which your son has experienced recently."
My mother looked at me, hope and confusion battling in her expression. I managed a small smile, trying to appear appropriately surprised by this news.
"We'll discuss the details after the tests," Recovery Girl said firmly. "Now, if you ladies wouldn't mind stepping outside for a few minutes?"
They filed out, my mother giving me one last concerned look before closing the door. The moment we were alone, Recovery Girl's professional demeanor shifted.
"Alright, young man. Let's drop the act." She pulled up a chair beside my bed. "All Might told me everything. Show me this quirk of yours."
I raised my eyebrows. "Everything?"
"About One For All? Yes." She nodded. "I've been treating that reckless hero since you were in diapers. Now, show me what happened."
I held out my hand, focusing on that internal current of energy. The green lightning appeared immediately, crackling along my arm.
Recovery Girl leaned closer, her eyes narrowing behind her visor. "Interesting. All Might's manifestation was never visible like this. More of an internal enhancement."
She hummed thoughtfully. "Your body developed differently without a quirk. When One For All entered your system, it had to adapt." She tapped my arm with her cane. "How does it feel?"
"Natural," I admitted. "Like it's always been there, just waiting to be used."
"Can you control the output?"
I nodded. "I can feel the difference when I increase or decrease it."
"Show me. Gradually increase the power."
I did as she asked, slowly raising the output. The green lightning intensified, spreading further up my arm and across my chest. At around three percent, I felt the first twinge of strain and eased back.
"That's about three percent," I said. "Any more feels like pushing it right now."
Recovery Girl nodded, making notes on her tablet. "Smart to be cautious. Your body is still adjusting. We'll need to monitor your progress carefully." She stood up, her expression becoming serious.
"Now, as for your cover story – this 'quirk awakening' explanation should satisfy most people's curiosity. Your mother, your friends... but there are those who will have questions."
"The truth sounds far more improbable than any lie I can come up with."
"Ha! I imagine so." She patted my arm. "As for your classmates, a quirk that enhances your physical abilities will seem natural given your fighting style. Just be careful about using it too openly until you have better control."
I nodded, appreciating her practical approach. "And my mother?"
Recovery Girl's expression softened. "That's between you and All Might. Though judging by what I just witnessed, he might have other things on his mind where your mother is concerned."
I groaned, covering my face. "You noticed that too?"
She chuckled. "I've known Toshinori for decades. I've never seen him so flustered by a woman before besides one." She began packing up her equipment. "Your mother is quite lovely, you know. And Toshinori is a good man, despite his many flaws."
"I don't even want to think about it," I muttered.
"Then let's focus on you instead. Physically, you're recovering well. The quirk seems to be integrating properly with your system. I'd like to keep you overnight for observation, but you should be able to return to school Monday – with restrictions."
"What kind of restrictions?"
"No quirk use without supervision, for one. No strenuous training. And you'll need to check in with me daily so I can monitor how your body is adapting." She fixed me with a stern look. "I mean it, young man. One For All is powerful enough to hurt All Might's limbs when he first got it, and he didn't have your... unique situation. We're in uncharted territory here."
I nodded, taking her warning seriously. "I understand."
"Good." She moved toward the door. "I'll tell the others they can come back in. Remember – quirk awakening, still adjusting, need for caution. Nothing more."
Once she'd gone, I leaned back against the pillows, processing everything. One For All was mine now, permanently altered to work with my body. The vestiges had accepted me, despite their reservations about my parentage – whatever that meant. And All Might, my mentor, apparently had a crush on my mother…
The door opened again, and the women filed back in, my mother immediately coming to my side.
"What did she say? Are you alright?"
I smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, Mom. Just need to stay overnight for observation. I can go back home tomorrow."
"And this... quirk awakening?" She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes searching mine. "Why now? After all these years?"
I shrugged, sticking to the story. "Recovery Girl says it sometimes happens after intense physical training or extreme stress. The sports festival probably triggered it."
"What can you do?" Camie asked.
"It seems to be some kind of physical enhancement," I said carefully. "Makes me stronger, faster. But I need to learn to control it."
"That aligns perfectly with your fighting style," Yaoyorozu observed, her analytical mind already working. "A physical enhancement quirk would complement your martial arts training."
Todoroki nodded, her mismatched eyes studying me. "It explains your performance at the festival. We all thought you were just exceptionally strong for someone quirkless."
"I was," I said, perhaps too quickly. "This is... new. Really new." I flexed my hand, remembering the feeling of the green lightning. "I'm still getting used to it."
My mother touched my arm, her expression a mixture of joy and concern. "After all these years... I never thought..." Her eyes glistened with tears. "I'm so happy for you, Izuku. I know how much you've wanted this."
"Thanks, Mom," I said, covering her hand with mine. "But quirk or no quirk, I was already on my way to becoming a hero. This doesn't change that."
"Of course not," she agreed, wiping away a tear. "You've always been my hero."
Camie flopped into the chair beside the bed, breaking the emotional moment. "So, when do we get to see this quirk in action? Because I've got some ideas..."
"Recovery Girl says no quirk use without supervision," I said firmly. "At least until I learn to control it better."
"That's wise," Yaoyorozu nodded. "New quirks can be unpredictable. You'll need to develop proper control techniques."
"I could help with that," Todoroki offered quietly. "I've had to learn strict control over my ice side. The principles might be applicable."
I looked at her. "That would be great, actually. Thank you."
She nodded, a faint smile touching her lips.
"I can help too," Camie said, not to be outdone. "My quirk requires hella concentration. Plus, I know all your moves already."
"And I could assist with the theoretical aspects," Yaoyorozu added. "Understanding the scientific principles behind quirk control might help you develop your techniques more efficiently."
I looked between the three of them, touched by their eagerness to help. "Thank you. All of you. I might need to take you up on those offers."
My mother watched this exchange with a small smile. "Well," she said, standing up, "if you're staying overnight, I should go home and prepare for your return tomorrow. I'll need to stock the refrigerator."
"I'll walk you out," Yaoyorozu offered. "I need to call my driver anyway."
"I should go too," Todoroki said. "Visiting hours will be ending soon."
Camie stayed seated, raising an eyebrow at me. "I'm good here."
My mother leaned down to kiss my forehead. "I'll be back first thing in the morning to take you home. Get some rest, and don't push yourself."
After goodbyes were exchanged, my mother left with Yaoyorozu and Todoroki, leaving me alone with Camie. The moment the door closed, her playful expression turned serious.
"Okay, spill. What really happened?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
She rolled her eyes. "Please. I know you better than anyone, Izu."
I hesitated, weighing my options. Camie was perceptive – too perceptive to fool with the quirk awakening story. But telling her the truth would put her at risk.
"It's complicated," I said finally.
"I'm smart. I can handle complicated." She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving mine. "And before you start with the 'it's dangerous to know' bullshit, remember that I was right there with you at USJ. I'm already in danger just by being in the hero course."
She had a point. And of all people, Camie was perhaps the one I trusted most – besides my mother and gramps.
"If I tell you," I said slowly, "you can't tell anyone. Not your parents, not our classmates. No one."
"Cross my heart," she said, making the gesture.
I took a deep breath. "It's called One For All. It's a power that's been passed down from person to person, growing stronger with each new user. All Might gave it to me."
Her eyes widened. "All Might gave you his quirk? How is that even possible?"
"It's the only quirk that can be transferred willingly. All Might was the eighth user. I'm the ninth."
"Holy shit," she whispered. "So that skinny guy who was just here..."
"That's All Might's true form," I confirmed. "He was injured badly in a fight years ago. One For All is the only thing that lets him maintain his hero form, and even that's limited now. He's been looking for a successor, and he chose me."
Camie leaned back, processing this. "So the Symbol of Peace is actually a walking skeleton, he gave you his power, and now you've got super strength." She shook her head. "That's wild, even for you, Izu."
"There's more," I said, deciding to tell her everything. "While I was unconscious, I met the spirits of the previous users. They live inside the quirk somehow. They had to modify One For All to work with my body."
"The ghosts of quirks past," she said, a hint of her usual humor returning. "That's some Christmas Carol shit right there."
I smiled despite myself. "Yeah, it was pretty surreal."
"So what happens now? You become the next Symbol of Peace?"
"I don't know. All Might wants me to succeed him, but..." I shook my head. "I'm not him. I can't be him."
"No, you're you," Camie said simply, taking my hand. "And that's better."
I squeezed her fingers, grateful for her unwavering support. "This doesn't change anything between us, right?"
"Are you kidding? My boyfriend is the ninth holder of a secret super quirk. That's hot as hell."
I laughed, the tension easing from my shoulders. "You're ridiculous."
"You love it." She winked, then grew serious again. "But for real, Izu. This is major. Like, life-changing major."
"I know. And I'm still figuring out what it means. For now, I need to focus on learning to control it without blowing myself up."
"And I'll help," she promised. "Whatever you need."
I studied her face, struck once again by how lucky I was to have her in my life. "Thank you. For understanding. For not freaking out."
"Please." She waved a dismissive hand. "After everything we've been through, it takes more than a secret quirk to freak me out." She paused, a mischievous glint entering her eyes.
"Though All Might making goo-goo eyes at your mom? That was pretty freaky."
I groaned, covering my face. "Don't remind me. That was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever witnessed."
"I thought it was cute! And your mom was totally into it."
"Camie!"
"What? Your mom's a catch! She's beautiful, smart, super supportive..." She counted off on her fingers. "And she makes killer katsudon. All Might should be so lucky."
I peeked through my fingers. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Immensely." She grinned. "Just think, All Might could be your stepdad. 'Pass the salt, Symbol of Peace.' 'How was work saving the world today, Dad?'"
I threw a pillow at her, which she caught easily, laughing. "You're the worst."
"The best," she corrected, crawling into my lap. "And don't you forget it."