All Might listens with keen interest as Young Todoroki recounts their recent battle at the botanical garden to David. Young Arata chimes in periodically, adding some bits and pieces about her encounter with Ephialtes—all the way from the toilet incident to the fight—ensuring that All Might and David grasp the full picture.
This is the first time All Might hears everything in detail. Two days ago, after the fights ended, he only got the gist from the exhausted Young Todoroki, Young Kirishima, and Young Midoriya. Now, as the full story unfolds, he can't help but feel impressed.
Living up to his potential, Young Todoroki's mastery over his ice never ceases to amaze All Might. Be it his raw power or precision, Young Todoroki handles it with ease. He also shows a growing interest and control in his Half-Hot quirk, evident in his knowledge and clever application of rapid cooling.
I wonder if this stemmed from his training with Endeavor or something else, All Might places one hand on his own chin, taking note of the split second glances exchanged between his students. Whichever it is, it could elevate Todoroki-shonen's techniques to the next level. It could open the door to endless possibilities.
Young Arata impresses with her sharp deduction and observation skills, which helped her and Melissa avoid Ephialtes's hypnosis. Even without relying on her quirk, she's quick to improvise with the little she had at her disposal, and her resourcefulness makes her someone who can't be messed with. Underestimating her proved to be a fatal mistake for Ephialtes.
The makings of an espionage agent, All Might muses. He tries to ignore the traitorous part of his brain that screams, "or an assassin!" when it hits him how naturally her Praying Mantis quirk fits said role. We have to be careful of how she develops her power, of whom she emulates to get stronger.
Should Arata-shoujo go down the same path as Hanakiri… All Might sighs, then shakes his head. In any case, we have to find a way to channel her quirk into good uses, Aizawa-kun. Once she masters her quirk, she'll be truly terrifying.
These kids have been through so much, yet they've come out stronger, more determined. It's a testament to their resilience in the face of hardship, like flowers that grow through the cracks.
The mentor in him takes note of these developments, recognizing the potential that lies within his young protégés. No matter how challenging teaching becomes, moments like this remind All Might why he applied for a faculty position in U.A., despite all of his shortcomings as a teacher.
"You both did a fantastic job and didn't give up!" he exclaims, pride booming in his voice. "Keep it up, and you'll become amazing heroes!"
"Thank you, All Might," Young Todoroki says quietly but sincerely. "We all were just doing what needed to be done."
A blush creeps up Young Arata's cheeks, lighting up her somber expression a little. "Thank you so much," she mumbles, her voice growing smaller. "But… please hold that thought. I haven't… told you about the—um, incident—in the seed storage..."
"We already know," All Might interjects gently, trying to ease her nerves. "There's no need for you to relive it."
"Oh… so you've heard about what I did… for self-defense." Instead of loosening up, her shoulders tense. She shrinks a little, her gaze dropping to the tiles beneath her feet. "Then, before we go on… can I ask something?"
"What is it, Arata-chan?" David gives her a gentle smile from across the desk, hoping to encourage her to speak her mind, just as it usually works with his daughter.
"I know I… took it too far…" Arata fidgets with the hem of her T-shirt, her fingers trembling slightly as if trying to find something to anchor her nerves. "I've thought about it all night… but I don't— I still don't know how to fix everything. I understand there will be consequences for almost… killing the demon. I'll— I'll try my best to make up for it. But, whatever it is I have to do…
"Can I… still see Aizawa-san and Shoto-san?"
David feels her words crash into him, as if a tidal wave knocked the breath out of his chest. Maybe it's the shimmer in her glassy green eyes, maybe it's the sincerity of her plea, or maybe it's the sheer intensity behind her longing—he can't quite tell. But it leaves him reeling.
She's not even pleading for innocence, only for them.
"I'll— I'll do anything else you ask of me…" A lump forms in his throat as she pleads once again, softer this time, but more desperate. "Just… please, Shield-san, All Might… Please don't take them away."
Don't you care what happens to you? How being labeled as guilty could destroy your future?
"I… made a promise with Shoto-san this morning," Arata continues, her voice barely a whisper. Her bright green eyes, brimming with a sea of raw feelings, locked onto the boy beside her. "We said we'd eat cold soba together again. I— I really want to keep that promise… no matter what it takes."
"Ara…" Todoroki lets out a sigh, his voice buckling under the gravity her gaze carries. Though it's just one word, David can perceive the flood of emotions woven to his voice.
"Cold soba?" All Might repeats, scratching his head. "For sure we could get it from the hotel's room service, right, David?"
"No, not here," Todoroki quickly responds to him, then turns back to Arata. "In Japan. And it'll be your cooking. Right, Ara?"
She stays quiet for a moment, then nods softly, a fragile smile surfacing on her lips. "If— when I get out of here."
"Right, I'm looking forward to it." Todoroki nods back with a gentle look on his face.
Then, as he turns away from her, all the tenderness in his expression ignites. It flares into something fierce, something resolute as he meets the adults' gazes head-on. "We have to find a way. I don't make light of promises."
David stares back at the boy before him, searching those grey-cyan eyes, and the intensity he finds there hits him hard.
"There has to be something we can do. Anything."
That look… it takes David back to his younger self, fueled by a burning need to protect his wife after a harrowing childbirth nearly stole her from him. He remembers the excruciating hours in the ICU, the terror of watching her life slip away, before she miraculously pulled through… and came back to him.
David loves Melissa with every fiber of his being, but he'd never ever forget how powerless, how helpless he felt in those moments. That feeling remains etched in his soul, as a tender, bruised reminder of how close he came to losing his wife.
You, too, almost lost Arata-chan… Ephialtes is gone, and she is safe now. But the memory lingers. You won't—can't—forget that she almost slipped through your fingers. You can't forget you were so close to losing her, and there was nothing you could do.
You can't, can you?
Back then, you insisted on carrying the unconscious Arata-chan by yourself, all the way to the 200th floor, even though you were on the verge of collapsing and your friends offered to help. Even after all the villains had been captured, you refused to leave her side.
Some could say that you were simply being stubborn. But that wasn't it, was it?
You blacked out, your arms must've been aching from carrying her for hours, but you deliberately missed your medical check. You argued it wasn't safe to leave her alone, yet even when All Might himself stepped up to watch her, you still didn't move an inch. You simply sat there in silence, holding her close as if she would vanish the second you let go.
Isn't it because you couldn't bring yourself to part from her? After almost losing her to Ephialtes, even the mere thought of it must be unbearable.
You didn't say much, Todoroki-kun…
David exhales, remembering the catch in his voice, the pauses Todoroki took to steady himself—Arata's hand gripped tightly in his—as he recounted how he broke down the seed storage door to reach her.
… But this must have torn you apart, too.
All Might steps forward, cutting through their gloom with a radiant smile, like sunshine breaking through the clouds. He places each hand on the both kids' shoulders, giving them a comforting squeeze.
"There is nothing to worry about, Arata-shoujo, Todoroki-shonen. You've both done more than anyone could have asked for. You fought bravely, protected each other, and stopped the villain invasion. I'm positive David agrees with me."
Wiping away the burning sensation in his eyes, David leans forward as his chair creaks under his weight. "All Might is right. You don't have to do anything, Arata-chan, Todoroki-kun. As I said, today is about making things right, and that responsibility is mine, not yours. This whole invasion was my fault to begin with."
"Oh, um, then about the self-defense…?"
"Arata-chan, you risked your life to save Melissa, and for that, I'm forever grateful." A grim smile crosses David's face as he looks at her. "You've done more than enough. I can't ask for anything else..."
It's my turn now.
"… If you have to pay for my mistakes, if you have to sacrifice more than what had happened… I won't be able to forgive myself."
Melissa means the world to me. I would trade anything for her, and I owe the same gratitude to the one who risked everything for her.
Especially when you have someone waiting for you to come home.
David isn't proud of his methods. Making a person disappear—although they're a villain—and enabling an unethical research are means to an end. They are far from respectable, nor do they befit a hero.
Sometimes he wonders how he ever became All Might's sidekick. He, who orchestrated a staged invasion for a selfish desire to help a friend and accidentally brought all this upon them. All Might, who remained as bright as the sun and never strayed from righteousness until now.
But every time, All Might reminds him why.
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"We do have different views on a lot of things, but that's okay." All Might grinned at him, his confidence unwavering despite everything David had done wrong. "I've known you for a long time, David. Everything you do comes from your heart. I believe whatever you do, you're doing it with the best intentions for the people around you.
"This is your own brand of justice. Use it for good."
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The end justifies the means.
David isn't proud of his methods, but if they lead to a brighter future for those he fights for, so be it.
All for you, Arata-chan, Todoroki-kun.
"I won't let your future end here," he says solemnly, closing the spiral notepad in his grasp, as he stands up from his seat. "Tomorrow, both of you will go home to Japan. I promise. We will take care of everything."
"Really?" Arata looks up, her eyes meeting David's with a mixture of gratitude and relief. "We can go home… to Aizawa-san?"
David feels his gaze soften as he nods. "Yes. All Might and I will update Eraser Head so he can pick you up at Tokyo Airport."
"Thank you," she murmurs, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you so much, Shield-san and All Might."
"No, Arata-chan. Thank you. For Melissa. For being brave. For holding on although it must have been tough." David crouches beside her, one hand pulling her into a brief, reassuring embrace. "This whole ordeal has been dreadful, but I believe you will bounce back from this stronger."
His other hand reaches out to pat Todoroki's back. "And you, Todoroki-kun, great job on stopping the invasion. Everything has been resolved and she's safe now, so… take it easy, all right? Look after yourself. I'm sure this has been hard on you too."
David releases them and straightens, his tone firm but gentle. "Get some rest. You'll be flying out tomorrow at noon. Keep taking care of each other, okay?"
Todoroki and Arata nod, both looking more at ease than when they first walked in. They rise to their feet, and with a final exchange of glances, they turn to leave the room.
As they reach the door, Todoroki pauses, glancing back at David and All Might. "Thank you," he says, sending a firm nod their way, "for everything."
The door closes softly behind them, leaving David and All Might alone in the room. "All Might, you know…" David begins, his voice faltering as he searches for the right words. "As usual, my methods are not—"
"You did the right thing, David." All Might turns to him, his expression kind and understanding.
David exhales, the tension in his shoulders finally releasing. "I hope so. I just want them to have a future—one that isn't overshadowed by all of this."
"They will," All Might says with unwavering confidence. "Because of you."
"Thanks," David replies as a small smile crosses his face, eyes skimming all the scribbles he has jotted down on the notepad. "I'll catch you later, All Might. I have to sort out their interview reports."
"Wait, David, one more thing."
David glances over, caught off guard by the sudden shift in All Might's tone. "Yes? What is it?"
"I'm not as young as I used to be, so my intuition might be a bit rusty, but…"
"About what?" Oh no, did I miss something important?
"I can't be the only one who's noticed that something like this—" All Might wiggles his eyebrows. A snicker escapes his wide grin as he pulls off a finger heart, a gesture that's all the rage with the young generations nowadays. "— is blossoming, right?"
David can only roll his eyes at his friend's antics. "Keep that up, and you'll be the Symbol of Love next."
"As I should!" All Might puffs out his chest with pride. "I've always had a knack for this sort of thing. Remember, I saw you and that 'brave, beautiful teacher' coming from a mile away. I knew you two'd end up with Melissa from the very start!"
"You did call it, didn't you? And you never let me forget it." David laughs, shaking his head as he remembers those early days. "Todoroki-kun and Arata-chan have a lot ahead of them. It's too early to predict what will happen. But for now, let's wrap this up and make sure their future stays full of possibilities—including the one you just mentioned."