The end of the beginning…
is also the beginning of the end.
The battle of Kamino had finally come to an end.
Yet this conflict told everyone one undeniable truth—
The war between professional heroes and villains had only just begun.
Television stations and newspapers tirelessly reported every detail of that day. Experts appeared one after another, arguing fiercely over every controversial point, sometimes even shouting themselves red in the face.
Online forums and discussion boards were flooded with new posts every minute.
The popularity of this topic even surpassed that of the U.S. presidential election.
All of it revolved around three names:
All For One.
All Might.
And the mysterious new hero.
Yes.
Masata's identity had not been revealed to the public.
After negotiations between the police and Masata, it was decided to keep his name hidden for now. The plan was to officially introduce him to society only after he became a professional hero, creating a powerful debut.
Of course, this only fooled ordinary citizens.
Within the hero community, many people already knew the truth.
Igarashi Masata had become a rising legend.
Wherever he went, heroes greeted him warmly. Numerous agencies sent him invitations, offering unbelievable conditions and resources, hoping he would join their offices after graduation.
But Masata rejected every single one.
He planned to establish his own agency.
And he already had several companions in mind.
Meanwhile, under relentless investigation by reporters, All For One's terrifying past was gradually exposed.
Only then did people understand why even All Might had struggled against him.
Fear spread.
But so did relief.
Fortunately, such a monster had finally been defeated.
As the media endlessly praised All Might and Masata, All Might himself held a press conference.
For the first time, he appeared in his true form.
He announced that his body had reached its limit.
From that day forward—
He would retire from frontline hero work.
Although One For All had not been completely extinguished—thanks to Masata's overwhelming performance—its remaining power was extremely limited.
Taking this opportunity, All Might finally put down his burden and chose to focus on education.
On the surface, the government declared the operation a complete victory.
The villain headquarters had been destroyed.
The Nomu warehouse eliminated.
All For One arrested.
It sounded like a perfect triumph.
But those who had truly participated knew better.
This was far from a complete victory.
The core members of the League of Villains, including Tomura Shigaraki, had been rescued in advance.
The massive number of Nomu that appeared could not have been produced by a single factory.
Which meant—
There were more hidden bases.
And the price of capturing All For One was the loss of All Might as a frontline pillar.
At best, it was a draw.
Moreover, many professional heroes had been severely injured.
Some would be unable to work for a long time.
Best Jeanist and Ragdoll had nearly lost their careers.
"This is the price we paid for relying too much on All Might…"
Inside a government building, an official spoke with frustration.
"Now everyone knows the Symbol of Peace is no longer invincible."
Another official added:
"To be honest, we underestimated them. We once thought Shigaraki was just a 'giant child.' But now his plans are becoming more refined."
"He's turning into a malignant tumor in society."
"When the teacher he relied on becomes unreachable… his hatred will only grow stronger."
That was their greatest fear.
If Shigaraki turned his pain and resentment into fuel—
The consequences would be unimaginable.
"Fortunately," another official said, "the new generation has grown up. Igarashi Masata has the potential to surpass All Might. That's our saving grace."
"The police can no longer just be 'villain babysitters.' Reform is necessary."
The chairman concluded the meeting.
The situation had changed.
And so must they.
Meanwhile, at a hospital in Shinya District—
"My body's totally fine. I'm just a little weak. A good sleep is enough."
In the ward, Masata stretched lazily and tore off some of his bandages.
"All Might, you're the one who needs more rest."
It was now the morning of the third day.
After the battle, Masata had collapsed into bed and slept for nearly two days straight.
Now, he was lively again, devouring food like a starving dragon.
Compared to him, All Might looked miserable.
Wrapped in bandages, he resembled Aizawa after the USJ incident.
Like a mummy.
Fortunately, his injuries had been treated properly.
No permanent damage.
And his spirit remained strong.
Tsukauchi sat beside the bed, looking exhausted.
Dark circles.
Unshaven beard.
Dull eyes.
The police had suffered the most.
They dealt with media pressure, rescue operations, and massive ruins all at once.
Compared to that, hero work almost looked easy.
He had come to visit while grabbing a short break.
And he was also All Might's friend.
So this visit was both official and personal.
"Before I completely leave the battlefield…"
All Might murmured while looking at his bandaged arm.
"There's still one thing unfinished."
"You mean Tomura Shigaraki."
Gran Torino, leaning on his cane, raised his eyes.
His expression was serious.
"The grandson of Shimura Nana."
"Those were just All For One's words," Tsukauchi said tiredly. "We can't trust them completely."
Masata, who was busy eating, also raised his head.
"That sounds important."
All Might sighed.
"After her husband died, Nana sent her son away to keep him from hero society. She even asked us never to contact him."
Gran Torino nodded.
"That promise ended up hurting more than helping."
Tsukauchi sighed.
"Letting go is never easy."
"The teacher gave him up for his safety…"
All Might clenched his fist.
"But now… I have to find him."
"I have to stop him."
"No."
Gran Torino interrupted sharply.
"And then what? He's a criminal now. You can't treat him like family anymore."
Masata nodded.
"I agree."
"Leave Shigaraki to me."
"All Might, you should rest."
"You've done enough."
...
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