Chapter 2: A Different Answer
Wha...
Izuku blinked, his vision swimming between darkness and hazy light. Am I alive? A few more blinks, the world slowly coming into focus. Wait, is that...
"ALL MIGHT!"
Izuku shot upright, more awake than he'd ever been in his life.
"Notebook... notebook... Where is my- HE ALREADY SIGNED IT?!" Izuku's voice cracked with disbelief as he clutched the precious pages. "Thank you so much!" He bowed so deeply he nearly toppled over. "I'll cherish this forever! It'll be a family heirloom!"
All Might chuckled, that familiar booming laugh that made everything seem okay. "I must be going!" he announced, already turning away. "I've called an ambulance for you. Please wait for medical assistance!"
Wait, Izuku's heart lurched. He's leaving? But I have to ask...
Without thinking, desperation overriding common sense, Izuku reached out and grabbed All Might's sleeve. He had to know. He had to ask that question- the one that had been eating at him his entire life.
But All Might was mid-jump, launching himself skyward, the sleeve became a pant leg, and All Might didn't notice his passenger until they were already soaring through the Tokyo skyline.
The wind hit Izuku's face like a slap, fierce and cold, stealing his breath. The city sprawled below them in a dizzying maze of lights and movement- cars like crawling beetles, people reduced to dots. The roar of traffic and life became a distant hum, replaced by the howling rush of air and his own hammering heartbeat. All Might's grip on his sleeve was iron-strong, the hero's massive hand completely engulfing Izuku's arm, but even that solid anchor couldn't stop the terror clawing at his chest.
I'm going to fall. I'm going to die. This is how it ends- not from a villain, but from my own stupidity.
Two near-death experiences in one day?
But beneath the terror, something else flickered. This is what it feels like. Flying. Being a hero. This is what I've always dreamed of.
"Hey hey!" All Might exclaimed, finally noticing his unwilling stowaway. "I love my fans, but isn't this a bit much?"
"I didn't mean to!" Izuku cried, fear and tears streaming down his face as the ground rushed by far below. The wind whipped his words away, but somehow All Might heard them. "But if I let go now, I'll die!"
All those times students said I should jump off the roof... all those times teachers looked right through me when I raised my hand... I never thought I'd actually be this high up, clinging to life by a thread. I'm proving everyone right that I'm just... a useless Deku.
With a sigh and what sounded suspiciously like a mutter of "kids these days," All Might adjusted his grip, pulling Izuku securely against his side. "Hold on tight! I'll find us a safe place to land!"
They touched down on a rooftop garden, Izuku's legs immediately giving out as solid ground met his feet. The scent of flowers and herbs filled his nostrils- such a stark contrast to the metallic taste of fear still coating his tongue.
All Might immediately stepped back, running a hand through his distinctive hair- a gesture so unexpectedly normal it made him seem almost human. "That was very reckless, young man! Now I really must be going."
"I'm so sorry!" Izuku bowed frantically, his notebook clutched against his chest like armor. "I really didn't mean to! I just- I wanted to ask you a question!"
All Might had already turned away, steam beginning to curl from his frame, when he hesitated mid-step. His broad shoulders tensed slightly.
"A question?"
Izuku's throat felt dry, but he forced the words out. The question that had haunted every sleepless night, every moment of doubt, every time someone looked at him with pity or dismissal. "You see, I've looked up to heroes my whole life! I grew up watching videos of you saving people, and I want to do that more than anything!"
More than breathing. More than living. It's the only thing that's ever made sense.
Even when the guidance counselor said I should be "realistic." Even when classmates snickered behind my back. Even when everyone- teachers, 'friends,' strangers- looked at me like I was delusional for even trying.
His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "But... I'm Quirkless. I have no Spark. Can... can I still be a hero?"
The question hung in the air between them like a fragile soap bubble, ready to burst.
All Might went very still. The steam around him seemed to thicken, and his hands slowly clenched into fists at his sides. When he spoke again, his voice had lost its booming quality- quieter now, more human somehow.
"You... want to be a hero?" he echoed, the words careful, measured.
Izuku nodded so hard his neck hurt. "More than anything."
For a second there was silence and Izuku feared that this would be it- a final blow to his house of cards. Or worse, pity. Empty words he couldn't stand to hear. Maybe it'd be better to run before the legend could answer.
But then All Might's shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly. He exhaled sharply through his nose, a sound caught somewhere between a sigh and something more broken.
The moment made Izuku pause as the silence stretched until Izuku thought he might burst from the tension.
"You know," All Might said finally, his voice barely above a murmur. He turned back around, and Izuku was startled to see something raw in the hero's eyes. "When I was your age... I was Quirkless too."
Izuku's world tilted. His mouth fell open, but no sound came out.
"I met someone once." All Might's smile turned self-deprecating, distant. He brushed his thumb against his temple, a small gesture that somehow made him look younger. "One of the Sparks. Jae. I was nobody back then. Just a kid- younger than you are now, actually. Twelve years old and convinced I was broken."
His eyes focused on something far away, something only he could see. His fists unclenched, hands hanging loose at his sides.
"I asked him the same question you just asked me."
All Might swallowed hard, and for a moment, the Symbol of Peace looked like nothing more than a man carrying the weight of old memories. Steam continued to pour from his frame, but his posture had changed- less towering symbol, more tired human.
"He told me..." His voice grew softer, like he was sharing something sacred. "'There is no such thing as Sparkless. Everyone has a spark in them- something that lights the fire of their passion, that makes them who they are. Sure, some of our sparks are more visible, more obvious. But that doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Be yourself, put the best you forward. Even if your Spark is never seen... it can still bring warmth to others.'"
Izuku's eyes went wide, his heart hammering against his ribs. Warmth to others. Even without a Quirk, even without a visible Spark...
"I held onto those words," All Might continued, steam now pouring off him more rapidly. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to dislodge painful memories. "Right up until I got my Quirk. Until I didn't think I needed to believe them anymore."
Something cracked behind All Might's smile, something raw and honest. His hand moved to his side, fingers pressing against his ribs in a gesture that looked unconscious, pained.
"But you-" He looked directly at Izuku, and the boy felt like he was being truly seen for the first time in his life. "You still do need to believe it."
"I... I do believe it," Izuku whispered, the words feeling like a promise, like an oath. "I have to."
Because if I don't, what else is there? Ten years of being told I'm not good enough, not special enough, not enough... If I can't believe in my own spark, then everyone who ever said I was worthless was right. Then every dream I've ever had really is just pathetic delusion.
All Might stepped back, the steam now billowing around him like fog. His form was already becoming indistinct. "Then keep believing, kid." His voice was fading, becoming distant again. "For both our sakes."
With a final puff of smoke, All Might was gone.
Izuku stood there alone on the rooftop, his heart hammering so hard he could hear it in his ears. His fingers tightened around his notebook until his knuckles went white, the signed pages crinkling slightly under the pressure.
There is no such thing as Sparkless.
The words echoed in his chest like a heartbeat, like a promise he intended to keep.
Chapter 3: Cloud Nine
Izuku practically bounced with every step.
He was going to be a hero.
He was going to be a hero.
He wanted to laugh, shout, throw his arms wide and tell the whole world. His chest was full to bursting- not just with hope, but with certainty. All Might believed in him. Said the words. There is no such thing as Sparkless.
He pressed a hand to his chest. It almost felt warm. Like a real spark was flickering inside him- not a flashy power, but something even better. His own passion.
Then an explosion rumbled through the street.
Izuku blinked. Turned toward the sound.
Explosions weren't uncommon. Villain attacks happened all the time. Sometimes people trained too hard, or a pro hero had to act fast. Maybe it was even someone testing their quirk- he could log it! New entry for the Hero Analysis notebook?
He jogged toward the noise.
Another blast shook the air. That one sounded kind of... familiar.
No. No, that was dumb. Kacchan wouldn't be causing a scene. Not now. Not so close to the UA exams. He was smarter than that. Probably just some new upstart hero debuting in town- someone Kacchan would end up admiring.
Yeah.
Izuku turned the corner.
And everything stopped.
Smoke. Fire. Sludge. And in the middle of it-
"Kacchan?"
His stomach dropped like a stone.
No, no, no.
He couldn't breathe. Couldn't blink. Couldn't look away from the writhing mess of sludge and the frantic blasts barely breaking free of it.
Kacchan was trapped.
And the villain- he recognized it. That shape. That face .
The Sludge Villain. The bottle. The bottle All Might had in his pocke-
This is my fault.
The realization hit like a punch to the gut. The elation, the pride- it shattered.
He'd distracted All Might. He'd wasted time. And now-
Kacchan is in danger.
Tears welled up in his eyes, hot and fast and blinding.
Mount Lady came skidding onto the scene- then winced, backing off with a sheepish wave.
"Sorry! Street's too narrow, I'd do more damage than good!"
Kacchan is in danger
More heroes circled.
"My quirk's no good here," Deatharms muttered.
"Too risky with all the fire," Kamui Woods agreed.
They were waiting. Waiting for the right move. The perfect moment.
But Kacchan couldn't wait.
I t'll only hurt for about 45 seconds the Sludge Villain had told him...
Kacchan is in danger
Their eyes met. Just for a second.
Kacchan's eyes were wide, bloodshot, terrified.
Izuku moved.
His feet slammed against the pavement.
In one fluid motion he ripped a pencil from his backpack and threw.
Please work
It struck the Sludge Villain square in the eye, eraser first.
"Why you-!" the villain roared.
Izuku didn't wait for him to finish.
Kacchan was dying.
But...
If he could switch places...
It would reset the clock.
A breath. A heartbeat. That might be all Kacchan needed.
Please.
He dove.
The sludge hit like a wall.
Cold.
Oily.
In his nose. In his mouth.
Too thick to scream.
Then-
something burst free.
Kacchan.
Chapter 4: Aftermath of a Choice
Something beeped.
Then again.
Too loud. Too sharp. Too... clean.
Izuku blinked up. White lights. sterile ceiling tiles. A nurse leaned over him with wide eyes and a clipboard.
Alive...
He was... Alive?
"Kacchan"
His voice cracked like a snapped pencil.
"Easy now," said a nurse. "You're safe. You're in the hospital. Deep oxygen deprivation, minor burns, exhaustion... frankly, it's a miracle you're awake this soon."
"Kacchan," he croaked again, struggling to sit up. "Is he- he got out, right? I-I switched places, he should've-did they-?"
The nurse set the clipboard down and gently pushed him back. "I need to know who you mean-his full name, okay?"
He stared at her. His throat was raw.
"Bakugo," he whispered. "Katsuki Bakugo. He was- he was in the sludge. Did he-?"
Something inside him was folding in on itself. Trembling.
The nurse's expression softened.
"He's fine. Banged up, but stable. The doctors are with him now."
Izuku slumped back against the pillows, a strangled, relieved sob catching in his chest.
"Good," he mumbled. "Good. That's good."
A flood of relief washed through him. He remembered the sludge. The heat. The weight. The way he couldn't breathe
And -
"Someone else wants to see you," the nurse added, snapping him from his memories. "He wouldn't leave your side."
Before Izuku could ask, the door opened.
A tall, gaunt man stepped through. He looked like he'd been chewed up and spit out. Hollow cheeks. Eyes sunken. Clothes hanging off too-thin shoulders.
Izuku blinked with confusion. Who... ?
He didn't know this man.
But somehow… somehow, he felt like he should .
"Young man." he paused. " That was very reckless. "
Izuku watched, confused, as the nurse slipped out and gently shut the door.
Wasn't that-?
"But I stand by what I said. Your Spark's warmth can still be felt!"
All Might?
Steam hissed softly from the man's shoulders.
"And with that being said," he continued, straightening, "I'd like to offer to train you!"
In a rush of steam and heat, the frail figure burst outward- into muscle, into light, into glory.
All Might stood before him. Beaming.
"I ACCEPT!" Izuku shouted before his brain caught up. This was All Might!
But the smile softened, and with a deflating hiss, the hero shrank again. His voice lower. More grounded. More real. .
"…But, young man…"
He looked at the IV. The bruises. The haunted eyes.
"…We need to get you some therapy." A pause. "Self-sacrifice can't be your go-to."
He sighed, then knocked lightly on Izuku's head. "You've got a good heart. But you've also got a good brain. Use both."
There was a pause.
"…By the way," he added, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "what is your name, anyway?"