Toshinori lifted his shirt, revealing a grotesque scar that snaked along the left side of his torso. "I received this wound five years ago, fighting a villain," he explained, his eyes—sunken and shadowed—fixed on the two young men seated on the bench in front of him. "My respiratory system was nearly destroyed. My stomach had to be removed. I underwent several surgeries, and that's why my face and eyes are like this... disfigured."
'And even then you kept being the Symbol of Peace.' Bakugo already knew all of this, and yet he still couldn't help but feel impressed.
Beside him, Kirishima clenched his fists, eyes shining with tears he struggled to hold back. 'How... how manly!' The greatest hero in Japan, the Symbol of Peace, fighting for five years with injuries that severe and still managing to keep that unwavering smile. 'I want to be like that. I want to be a hero who never gives up, no matter what!'
Toshinori lowered his shirt. "Currently, I can stay active for about two hours a day. Ten months ago, it was three hours. That time is gradually decreasing. And now... ever since I passed my quirk on to Midoriya-shonen, I've been getting weaker and weaker."
The air seemed to grow heavier.
Kirishima's eyes widened, shock written all over his face. "Th-Then... you're going to retire?!" he stammered, his voice cracking as he tried to imagine a world without All Might.
Bakugo, on the other hand, furrowed his brow and asked, "How does this quirk-transfer thing work?"
Toshinori sighed, running a hand through his messy blond hair. "It's not by choice, Kirishima-shonen. If I could, I'd be a hero until my final breath. As for the quirk I passed on to Midoriya-shonen... it's called One For All—"
'Hearing this again is seriously boring,' Bakugo thought, letting All Might's explanation about the power being passed down from generation to generation slide through his mind. His thoughts were already elsewhere. 'I'll gather everyone tomorrow. Better stop by the support department first.'
"But there's something you both need to understand."
Bakugo tuned back in as All Might's tone turned serious. "Nothing we discussed here can leave this room. Absolutely nothing. Not a single word about One For All, about Midoriya, or about my condition. If these secrets get out, it could trigger chaos in society. And you two—" he pointed at them, his voice as firm as steel, "—will be in danger."
Kirishima swallowed hard and nodded vigorously. "Y-Yes, All Might! I won't say a word, I swear!"
Bakugo scoffed, but his eyes never left Toshinori's. "I'm not an idiot. I'm not gonna run my mouth about this."
Toshinori let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you. I know I can count on you both."
Kirishima tilted his head, curious about the hero's confidence in them. "Why, All Might? I mean, how can you be so sure we won't say anything?"
Toshinori crossed his arms, his chest swelling with a pride that was almost tangible. "The incident at the U.S.J. You two—Bakugo-shonen and Kirishima-shonen—didn't hesitate. When your classmates were in danger, you threw yourselves in front of the villains without a second thought. You got hurt because of it, and I..." He paused, his gaze briefly distant. "I ask for your forgiveness for not being there to protect you. But what happened that day showed me you both already carry the hearts of true heroes."
Kirishima scratched the back of his neck, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I-it's not really like that, All Might! I… I barely did anything. It was Bakugo who almost died to save us."
Bakugo scoffed, looking away with a grimace, but his ears turned slightly red. "I just did what had to be done."
Before Toshinori could say anything else, a small, fast blur landed beside him with a light thump. Gran Torino, wearing his usual grumpy expression, stared at the two boys as if he were sizing up a pair of clumsy recruits. "So these are the two brats the Ninth let in on the secret, huh?"
Toshinori took a subtle step to the side, edging away from the old man. "Y-yes, Sensei. These are—"
"By the way, your successor's a complete idiot. Just like you," Gran Torino cut in bluntly before turning his piercing gaze on Bakugo and Kirishima, who stared back at him, mouths slightly open.
'Did All Might just back off?' they both thought at the same time.
"You two. You understand you can't spill the beans about this, right?" Gran Torino asked.
"Y-yes, sir!" Kirishima replied, standing up straight like a soldier.
Bakugo just grunted, crossing his arms. "Obviously."
"Good. Now, which one of you killed the Nomu?"
"Nomu?" Kirishima blinked, confused. "What's that?"
The old man scratched his head, grumbling. "Of course, that wasn't made public. During the League of Villains' attack on the U.S.J., an anonymous letter was sent to U.A., warning about the assault and mentioning a modified human called Nomu."
Kirishima's eyes widened in horror. "That giant monster was a human?!"
"And what did you think it was?!" Gran Torino snapped.
"I was the one who killed that thing," Bakugo cut in, drawing the old man's attention. The boy held his gaze, chin raised in defiance.
Gran Torino eyed him up and down. "So it was you. Bakugo Katsuki, right?"
"Yeah."
"Broke Endeavor's record in the Entrance Exam?"
"Yeah."
"But not Toshinori's."
Bakugo gave a half-smile. "That's 'cause I wasn't trying."
Gran Torino let out a short, dry laugh. "Ha! I like your fire, kid. Let's see if you're as good as you talk."
"Huh?!"
"Let's fight!"
"S-sensei!" Toshinori interjected, leaning slightly toward the old man with a worried look. "Bakugo-shonen is still recovering. He can't fight right now."
Gran Torino huffed. "Fine, fine." He turned his gaze to Kirishima, who instinctively straightened up again. "And you, Red Hair? Ready to show me something or just gonna stand there and watch?"
Kirishima grinned wide, slamming his hardened fists together with enthusiasm. "I'm in, sir! Bring it on!"
"That's the attitude!" Gran Torino pointed a finger toward the center of the gym, where Izuku was sprawled on the floor, groaning softly. "Head over there, blockhead. And make sure to get the Ninth out of there before he becomes part of the floor."
Kirishima didn't hesitate and rushed over to the green-haired boy. "M-Midoriya?! You okay, man?"
"Urgh… more or less…" Izuku murmured, lifting his head with difficulty.
***
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.