The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the city. The sky was a canvas of soft pinks and oranges, with streaks of lavender clouds lazily drifting across. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, their leaves shimmering with dew. Birds chirped in the distance, their melodies weaving a delicate harmony that filled the air with the promise of a beautiful day.
The scene outside the luxury apartment building was idyllic—a sharp contrast to the inner turmoil of one of its newest inhabitants.
(Izuku's P.O.V.)
I woke up to the unfamiliar softness of a bed that wasn't mine. For a moment, disoriented, I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing to piece together where I was. The room was bathed in the soft light of morning, the luxurious furnishings a far cry from the dingy alleyways I was used to.
Then, it hit me—I was living with All Might. In this overly lavish building, surrounded by opulence that seemed almost mocking. I let out a small, bitter sigh. Despite the grandeur, I thought to myself, *"I've seen better."* The sentiment was cold, emotionless, just like the person I'd become. This wasn't the life I had envisioned, but I was here now, for better or worse.
Turning my head, I noticed a piece of paper on the desk next to the bed. The handwriting was messy, almost comically so, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was All Might's. I reached for the letter, unfolding it with a slight frown.
---
Dear Izuku,
If you're reading this, that means you're awake! (Thank goodness! I was worried you'd sleep in all day!)
Meet me at the beach—yes, THAT beach—when you're ready. We've got a big day ahead of us, and I promise it'll be worth your while.
P.S. Don't forget to bring your determination! You're going to need it.
P.P.S. If you're wondering why my handwriting looks like this… well, let's just say it's a good thing I'm better at punching villains than writing letters.
Yours truly, All Might
---
I stared at the letter for a moment, letting out another sigh. "One hell of a morning, indeed," I muttered to myself, already feeling the weight of the day ahead. The idea of meeting All Might at the beach—that beach, with all the junk—felt like some sort of joke. But I knew better than to question his motives. If this was what he wanted, then I would play along. Not like I had anything better to do.
Dragging myself out of bed, I headed to the bathroom, my steps slow and measured. The room was as luxurious as the rest of the apartment, with gleaming marble floors and expensive fixtures. The mirror over the sink was large, reflecting back a version of myself that I barely recognized.
I removed my clothes, revealing the nasty scars that crisscrossed my body—reminders of a past life filled with pain and suffering. Each one told a story, none of which I cared to revisit. But there was something even more disturbing than the scars: my appearance.
My once curly green hair was now replaced with something far stranger. White silk strands fell over my face, and when I looked into the mirror, crimson red eyes stared back at me. The transformation was bizarre, almost unnatural, yet I found it hard to care. It was just another change in a life filled with them.
"Whatever," I muttered to the reflection, my tone devoid of any real emotion. I wasn't surprised by the change. It was just another thing to add to the list of weirdness that was my life. Without wasting any more time, I began my morning routine, brushing my teeth, washing my face, and mentally preparing myself for whatever nonsense All Might had planned for me today.
---
(All Might's P.O.V.)
The beach, if you could even call it that, was a sorry sight. Once a place of beauty, it was now a veritable junkyard, strewn with discarded appliances, broken furniture, and mountains of trash. The waves lapped at the shore, the sound almost drowned out by the sheer volume of debris. It was hard to imagine that this place had once been a sanctuary for people seeking a moment of peace.
I stood there in my true form, a gaunt, stick-like figure that was a far cry from my heroic persona. The morning light did little to enhance my appearance; if anything, it made me look more haggard. But I wasn't here to admire the scenery—no, I was here to meet a boy who had endured far more than any child should.
I checked my watch for the umpteenth time, feeling a gnawing doubt creep into my mind. "He's not going to show up," I muttered to myself. It was too early, too soon. After all, Izuku had been through so much, and asking him to meet me here, of all places, was perhaps too much to ask.
But just as I was about to give up and leave, I saw a figure approaching in the distance. The white hair and crimson eyes were unmistakable, though it took me a moment to connect them with the boy I had brought into my home the day before.
I waved at him, trying to appear welcoming. "Hey there, young man! This beach is off-limits, you know! I'm actually waiting for someone, so you might want to—"
Before I could finish, the boy stopped in front of me, his eyes narrowing. "All Might," he said, his voice flat and unamused.
I blinked, taken aback. "Wait… Izuku? Is that you?" I looked him up and down, my brain scrambling to catch up. "What the heck happened to your hair?"
Izuku shrugged, clearly unfazed by the question. "I don't know. Woke up like this. Not sure why it matters."
I scratched my head, still trying to process the transformation. "Well, it's definitely a look… Anyway, I'm glad you made it. I was starting to think you'd skip out on me."
Izuku's expression remained unreadable. "I didn't have much else to do."
I laughed awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood. "Fair enough! Well, I've got some important stuff to go over with you. Let's walk and talk, shall we?"
As we walked along the beach—more accurately, the junkyard—I pulled out a piece of paper from my pocket. It was the results from the quirk assessment I had run at the hospital after taking a sample of Izuku's hair.
"Listen, Izuku," I began, my tone more serious. "I had your quirk analyzed, and the results were… well, fascinating. It turns out that you have an Elemental Em… something. The details got a little smudged, but the point is, your quirk is based on elements, which is both powerful and dangerous."
Izuku looked at me with mild curiosity. "Dangerous how?"
"Well," I said, choosing my words carefully, "if the wrong people find out about it, they might try to use you for their own purposes. That's why it's important that we keep this under wraps for now. Your safety is the top priority."
He nodded, though his expression remained indifferent. "So, what's the plan?"
I smiled, glad that he was on board. "The plan is to train you, starting with your body. You've got power, but you need to be able to control it. That's why we're here." I gestured to the piles of junk surrounding us. "This is your first task—clean up the beach."
Izuku raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the sheer volume of trash. "You want me to clean up all this? By myself?"
I laughed, nodding. "Exactly! It'll build your strength, endurance, and character. Plus, it's a great way to make this place usable again. Consider it a win-win!"
He sighed, his cold demeanor slipping just enough to reveal a hint of exasperation. "This is ridiculous."
I grinned, patting him on the back. "Ridiculous, but effective! Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Izuku looked at the trash-strewn beach with a mixture of disdain and resignation. "This is going to take forever."
"Not if you work hard and stay focused!" I said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. "And hey, think of it this way—you're not just cleaning up a beach; you're training to become the best version of yourself!"
Izuku shot me a look that clearly said he wasn't buying it. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
I chuckled, raising my hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged. But in all seriousness, this is important. You're stronger than you think, Izuku, and this is the first step in unlocking your full potential."
He sighed again, rolling up his sleeves as he prepared to start the monumental task ahead. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
I watched him with a sense of pride and anticipation. This boy had been through so much, but I could see the strength within him, waiting to be unleashed. And as he began to tackle the first pile of junk, I couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something incredible.
"He'll become a great hero one day" All Might thought