~O~

The next few days seemed to fly by as the students of UA High were once again busy with the preparations for the festival after an approval of their principal, Nezu. As for right now, at dawn, Midoriya was sitting with All Might in the Teacher's Lounge, both of them discussing the current situation.

"I'm sorry. I didn't got a chance to talk to you, since everyone's been so busy lately." Midoriya scratched the back of his head as he apologized to his mentor.

"Ah, it's not your fault, my boy. Life has it's ways..." All Might replied, waving it off.

For a good few minutes, there was silence between the predecessor and the successor as they could not find the correct words to begin the conversation about All For One.

What should All Might say? That the boy wasn't prepared enough? That he doesn't want to lose him like he lost his Master? That he doesn't want Young Midoriya to be involved?

He knew his boy would be, one way or the other, the villain's ultimate target. He knew they would come for him. Now, who doesn't want to eradicate all possible problems in their way? He didn't want that. Not one bit. But what could he do about it? How could he protect his successor?

What should Midoriya say? That he wasn't ready with One For All but he would fight All For One if necessary? That he would break himself again and again just to keep everyone safe? That he would sacrifice himself to stop the Symbol of Evil?

Yeah, no, All Might already knew that much. Everybody knew that much. And clearly, they didn't want him to step in this matter now at all. And what about All Might himself? Sir Nighteye said he would die this year or the next. And now that All For One himself was out again, Midoriya so didn't want anything to happen to All Might. But he wasn't ready yet. It was not his time yet. He knew it. But he would still do his best in any case.

"All Might," Midoriya was the first one to break the silence, his mentor looking at him as he said, "You... I know that you're worried about me. I know I'm not ready yet. I know that he will target me and... And I want you to know that... Even if anything happens, I won't fail you!"

At this, the green haired boy stood up.

"Young Midoriya—!"

"I know what you're thinking, All Might! But, please, don't worry about me! You don't have to... I-I will train harder than anyone else! I will increase my training time and I will enhance myself! I will try my best to use One For All properly and not get injured! I promise, I will train harder to control this quirk! I promise you... I won't give up. I won't fail you... I don't want to... I will stop him with everything I have!"

"Young man," All Might could see the small tears forming at the corner of Midoriya's emerald eyes.

Was he scared?

All Might stood up from his seat as well, and walked over to Midoriya. The boy didn't notice him until the blonde ruffled his hair. The green haired boy than looked up at him and the ex-number one smiled.

"I know you won't fail me... You never have and you never will." All Might grinned as he patted the boy's head.

"A-All Might..."

"Just be safe, okay? I just... don't want anything bad to happen to you, my boy."

Midoriya immediately wiped away the still tears from his eyes and gave a big smile to his predecessor as he clenched his fists.

"I promise!" He beamed. At this All Might smiled too.

He has the best successor.

"Wait a second!" Midoriya exclaimed, "Then I should start training right now! If I want to increase One For All from 20% onwards without hurting myself, I should work with my legs first. Wait, shouldn't I first get used to using 20% all the time. Then, maybe I can increase it up like before. I should also make more powerful moves with my legs. Should I talk to Iida about this? He must know about something I don't! Maybe I follow some of the Pro Hero Mirko's moves. I have to increase my flexibility and reflexes too. I know! I will ask Monoma! He can help me in all fields easily! And then we can create com—!"

"Young Midoriya, you're doing it again." All Might interrupted him, sighing.

"O-Oh... Sorry, I didn't realize I started muttering. Sorry." Midoriya apologized, scratching the back of his head.

"It's fine. Just go get some rest now."

"But—!"

"You can train tomorrow."

"But—!"

"I'm calling Aizawa."

"... I'll see you tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night."

~O~

Midoriya was walking down the halls of the building of UA High towards his dormitory when he realized something and immediately slowed down his pace.

'I still couldn't talk to him about the nightmares...' He thought.

Yeah, his nightmares. They weren't specifically 'nightmares' as he wasn't sure if he was even sleeping during them. He just started calling them that but he never talked to anyone about them. They started about a few days after All For One's escape and to be honest, he could feel the Symbol of Evil already playing with his mind...

But he didn't want anyone to worry about him. He didn't want them to be concerned for him. He didn't want them to do anything for him at all. He was fine. He would be fine. He was fighting the invisible battle already set for him against the villain he was destined to fight. But still, he couldn't find the cause.

Why did All For One choose this way.

Playing with his mind, showing him terrifying scenarios of endless deaths, saying things like he doesn't belong with the heroes, he wasn't supposed to be in UA, that's not his real place and trying to win over him.

Every now and then, the most common thing he heard during those periods was; "Join us."

Midoriya didn't specifically understood all of them, but he knew what this all was leading too.

'Should I even tell All Might about this...' Midoriya thought, 'He is already worried about me... Maybe I shouldn't. But then, what should I do about it?'

"Midoriya," A familiar voice interrupted him. The green head didn't even even realize when he entered the dorms.

"O-Oh! Yes, Iida?" Midoriya asked, looking at the taller boy.

"I said dinner is ready but you seem to be lost in your train of thoughts!" Iida said, doing his usual gestures with his hands.

"Yeah... I guess... Sorry..." Midoriya replied, looking down before a hand stopped right in front of his face at a perfect angle.

"Anything the matter?" Iida asked.

"Huh... It's nothing..." After that Midoriya smiled at him and starting waving his hands, back and forth.

"Don't worry about it!! I was just thinking about training! That's all!" He exclaimed, lying.

"Ah! I see! Just as expected of you, Midoriya!" Iida's concern also vanished, "I still expect you at the table with everyone!"

"R-Right!"

Well, now he had to figure out All For One's plan but also had to keep all of them from knowing anything about it.

...

For now that is...