"Running after pretending—really thrilling."
After escaping the League of Villains' hideout, Lock had Baruch return home first while he headed straight to the police station for questioning.
He did not hesitate.
After seeing All For One with his own eyes, Lock immediately reported the incident to the police the moment he escaped.
He knew full well the police had no chance of catching someone like AFO, but at the very least, the pressure might make the League of Villains go quiet for a while.
"Someone wants to see you."
A police officer approached.
Lock already knew who it would be.
He had emailed Detective Tsukauchi earlier, explaining the events at the bar—explicitly mentioning All For One—so that All Might would be informed.
And sure enough, as soon as Tsukauchi received the news, he sent a reply saying All Might is coming.
The timing lined up perfectly.
Lock himself had also wanted to meet the man known as the symbol of peace.
The Hero every child looked up to.
But—
The person who appeared in front of Lock was nothing like the golden figure of legends.
He looked like someone from an undead natural disaster—a dry, skeletal frame wrapped in skin. His golden bangs drooped lifelessly along a gaunt face devoid of any vitality, and the shadows under his eyes had grown so deep they seemed permanently pitch-black.
All Might's true form.
Lock hadn't expected him to appear like this.
Only a tiny number of people knew of All Might's severe injury—only the OFA successors and the teachers at U.A.
Even Endeavor, the No.2 Pro Hero, constantly chasing All Might's shadow, knew nothing.
Yet this skeletal man raised his head.
"…I am All Might."
His voice was faint—so weak, Lock momentarily wondered if he might collapse right there.
"All Might? As in the Number One Hero, the symbol of peace—that All Might?" Lock purposely widened his eyes and acted shocked, staring at the frail figure with disbelief.
Oscar-worthy.
"…It's a long story," All Might replied, exchanging a quick look with Detective Tsukauchi.
Just as Lock suspected, d—the detective had arranged for All Might to meet him like this.
Because the League of Villains, dormant for so long, had finally moved again—and their first target… was Lock.
That alone made All Might both wary and deeply interested.
And
The storytelling began again.
He told the tale of OFA and AFO.
Of light born from darkness.
Lock listened patiently.
He already knew most of the story, but hearing it from All Might himself clarified the details he had only guessed.
"I've already ordered the police to blockade the entire Shinye District for a full sweep," All Might said. "Though… I don't expect it to accomplish much. More importantly, Lock—"
For a brief moment, a flicker of anxiety appeared in All Might's eyes.
But he quickly suppressed it and met Lock's gaze head-on.
Wait.
Something in that tone—
Lock realized something instantly.
There was only one reason All Might would show him his true form.
Because…
He wanted to choose Lock as his successor.
"If it were you," All Might said solemnly, "I believe you are worthy of inheriting my power."
Lock pinched the bridge of his nose.
He'd guessed right.
All Might and Tsukauchi both fell silent, allowing him time to think.
"It's a mess…"
Lock sighed inwardly.
According to the story he knew, All For One—after over a century of struggle with the eighth wielder of One For All—lost their final battle a few years ago.
Both victors and villains fell together.
Two suns in the sky—
one of justice, one of evil.
Burning themselves out until nothing remained.
At the peak of their lives, both men chose the same path.
They looked for successors.
All Might chose Izuku Midoriya.
All For One chose Tomura Shigaraki.
But now, because Lock existed…
Neither had followed the original script.
Both the symbol of peace and the symbol of evil had invited Lock to be their heir.
"If I accepted AFO's invitation earlier… and then accepted All Might's here… wouldn't that be double…?"
Lock shook his head quickly.
As everyone knows—
One portion of joy is enough. Double portions only make things explode.
And either way…
He didn't want to accept either invitation.
"Sorry," Lock said at last, "I want to pursue my own path… and continue my parents' dream."
A reasonable refusal.
Tsukauchi looked visibly disappointed.
All Might only closed his eyes, understanding.
Ambition could not be forced.
Tsukauchi truly believed Lock had a bright future.
He wanted Lock to inherit OFA and become the next Symbol of Peace.
But Lock simply didn't desire it.
It wasn't guilt from cutting off Midoriya's chance.
If Lock had no other power, he might have accepted OFA to gain strength.
But Lock already had the strongest wizard system.
He didn't want the crushing weight of OFA's generations of responsibility.
Even now, as a pro hero, he knew he did not possess a true hero's heart.
Beyond the daily threat of the League of Villains, the expectation to become the new Symbol of Peace was simply too heavy.
All Might was someone who rescued strangers tirelessly, day after day, with no reward. A pillar that held society upright with blood, sweat, and tears.
A truly selfless Hero.
Peace was built upon the efforts of people like him.
Lock respected that deeply.
But he knew he was not like that.
Not even close.
He was selfish.
"It's alright, young Lock. I look forward to your future, as well."
All Might placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled gently.
Then he added:
"One more thing. Even though you've already become a Pro Hero… after you graduate junior high, I still hope you'll attend U.A."
"I'll go to U.A."
This time, Lock answered with certainty.
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