Izuku Midoriya's mind was focused on one thing—
Saving Katsuki Bakugo, no matter what.
What do I do next?
How should I do this? If I knew, would I even be asking?!
Wait—page twenty-five!
Izuku suddenly remembered something from his notebook.
On page twenty-five, it clearly stated:
A preemptive strike can create an opening in battle.
"Then… I'll strike first!"
Izuku threw his backpack straight at the Sludge Villain.
"This brat… did you come here to die?" the Villain sneered."All Might isn't here to save you this time—now give me your body!"
The backpack burst open midair.
Pens, notebooks, and supplies scattered everywhere, raining down over the Villain.
Using that moment of distraction—
Izuku charged forward.
He reached into the sludge, desperately trying to pull Bakugo out.
"AAARGH!" the Villain screamed suddenly.
A pen had stabbed directly into one of its eyes.
The sludge around Bakugo's face loosened—
He could breathe again.
"Why did you come out here, idiot?!" Bakugo shouted.
"My body just moved on its own! I don't know why!!" Izuku yelled back, still trying to free him.
"You… you looked like you were asking for help…!"
Tears streamed down his face as he struggled.
This isn't enough!
Use your weapon! Attack the weak point!
Izuku made a decision.
He stepped onto Bakugo's shoulder and leapt upward.
"You brat!" The Villain lashed out with a tendril of slime.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" someone shouted from behind.
"Let him go!!"
Izuku pulled out the broken sword hidden in his pocket—
And drove it straight into the Villain's eye.
"AAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!!"
While the Villain reeled in pain, Izuku dropped back to the ground and grabbed Bakugo's arm, dragging him away.
"You little brat—you're dead!!" the Villain roared, charging after them.
This is bad!!
And then—
A powerful figure appeared between them.
"I suppose this is my fault as well… I should have finished the job properly!"
All Might stood there, fist raised.
"A Hero… must always risk their life!!!"
"DETROIT SMAAAASH!!!"
With a single punch—
The Sludge Villain was completely blown apart.
The force of the удар sent a massive shockwave through the air. The sky shifted—
And suddenly, it began to rain.
"It's raining…?"
"Did that punch just change the weather?!"
"Incredible… this is the legendary All Might!"
The incident was over.
The Villain was defeated.
The crowd erupted in awe.
But—
Izuku was immediately scolded by the Heroes.
"You had no reason to rush in like that!"
"That was reckless!"
"…Yes," Izuku replied quietly.
Meanwhile—
Bakugo was being praised.
"What amazing willpower!"
"And that Quirk—impressive!"
"You should consider becoming a professional Hero!"
"…Tch."
Bakugo bit his lip.
…
As the sun began to set, Izuku walked home alone.
His expression was heavy.
I need to apologize to All Might…
Suddenly—
A voice shouted behind him.
"You Quirkless idiot! What was that supposed to be?! Trying to play the hero? Don't look down on me!!"
Bakugo stood there, trembling with anger.
"I wasn't trying to save you…!" Izuku replied firmly."You weren't saved by me anyway, right?! You got out on your own!"
"…Damn it! You idiot!!"
Bakugo cursed and turned away.
…He's strong…
…But he's right. I didn't really change anything…
Izuku continued walking.
…And my sword broke too… I hope no one finds out…
Then—
All Might suddenly appeared in front of him.
"I am here!"
"WHAA—?! Could you stop appearing like that?! It's terrifying!!"
"All Might?! Weren't you surrounded by reporters just now?!"
"It wasn't easy getting away… because I'm All Might—cough!"
His body shrank—
And he coughed up blood.
"You're coughing up blood again! Here—take this!"
"Forget the tissues!" All Might said, waving it off."I came here to thank you… and to correct myself."
He looked directly at Izuku.
"If it weren't for you…"
"I might have become a hypocrite."
"Thank you."
"…Hypocrite…" Izuku murmured.
"No—it's my fault!" Izuku said quickly."I got in your way… I don't even have a Quirk, and I still said things like that…"
"NO!!" All Might shouted.
Izuku froze.
"Out of everyone there… the only one who moved… was you."
"The Quirkless boy everyone called weak."
Izuku's body trembled.
"Your body moved before you could think…!"
"That instinct—that's what makes a true Hero!"
Tears filled Izuku's eyes.
…He thinks I'm like them…? Like real Heroes…?
He remembered his mother's voice—
"I'm sorry, Izuku…"
"You were right!!" All Might said loudly.
"…!"
Izuku dropped to his knees.
"You can become a Hero!!"
In that moment—
Everything inside him aligned.
The doubt.
The determination.
The two conflicting voices within him—
Finally became one.
…Alright.
I'll do it.
His resolve solidified.
And so—
The legend began.