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The beacon of hope and peace stood in front of May, right next to the small furry and suited mouse. The man was directly addressing her. It had the same premise as one of her strange dreams. After he spoke, there was a silence that fell on the three of them.

The expression on both the hero's faces was apprehensive as they looked between each other. Then, back at May. What's going on? May's eyes widened, thinking they were going to drop a bombshell on her. Which they were.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, her mind already running through seven impossibilities.

"No! Not with you, I hope," Nezu said, which didn't ease May's worries.

"Well, our previous medical staffer was injured not too long ago and forced into retirement. I searched through a lot of candidates to find the right person to replace her."

Nezu moved to a seat. In turn, All Might and May did the same. Underneath the table, she pinched her leg to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Her pleads to wake up went unheard

Keeping her composure was proving to be a challenge. The peaceful street of life sped up to a haywire superhighway.

"We are entrusting you with a lot. Knowledge that, if exploited, could result in disastrous consequences."

During the chaotic whirlwind of the surprise, May completely forgot about her new position and what it would entail. The determination she felt spread from her chest to her hands. They no longer shook. Though it was the last thing she expected, May accepted it.

The realization that people depended on her always struck a chord. She didn't have time to mourn about the fact she wouldn't be performing brain surgeries or researching dementia. In the span of those five minutes, the job was starting to look less and less like a huge mistake. But it was still a mistake.

"In addition to assisting the students, under the contract, you can be sent out to various pro-hero agencies every so often to assist with dangerous missions. This job is much more than just being a simple nurse, Dr. Kataoka."

May swallowed. The part about being contracted out caused her to feel more like a commodity than anything else. She would have to discuss that with him privately. I'm not a hero; it doesn't work like that.

His last statement caused her heart to beat faster. She wondered if he could read thoughts. Was that his quirk?

"We rely on the instructors to protect our students, but we are counting on you to be there for everyone. Some of our heroes also have certain conditions that need regular attention. Such as All Might." Nezu motioned toward the huge man and then continued speaking.

"Before deciding to hire you, we debated heavily on whether or not to discuss certain specifics with you. Due to extenuating circumstances, however, it appears we do not have a choice."

May had an expressive face. The emotions that built in her mind would present themselves physically. It was one of her most significant hurdles to jump for her patients. With a look of understanding, she would break difficult news. And later, hide in the broom closet with tissues.

Confusion settled into the lines on her face, her brows furrowing. All Might continued to keep his beaming smile, but it faltered as he spoke.

"What you are seeing is my hero form. I can only hold it for so long until—"

He coughed. The spurt of blood from his mouth caused May's hair to stand up on its own. His body shrunk into a thin and emaciated form. His suit was far too large for him, creating a cape of pinstripe yellow.

All Might was no longer mighty. He had dull shrunken eyes and frazzled blonde hair. It was like a magical poof, and he looked like someone May had seen in hospice care. She gritted her teeth, the initial shock jolting her chest.

"Wh— what? How does that happen?" May exclaimed.

No one had a chance to answer her question. The analytical wheels in her brain began turning, her mindset changing from that of a starstruck patron to a medical doctor. May stared at All Might, her eyes narrowing.

The first thought that flew through her mind was the way he fought. It was fast, filled with heavy blows. He used his fists to strike and his legs to propel forward. The super-moves he pulled relied solely on sheer strength. A Detroit smash or anything else uses a combination of multiple abilities. Does he have more than one quirk?

If so, they must use a lot of force and power. Fighting, in itself, took energy. If he could switch between forms, there had to be an external source to said energy that All Might depended on. An anatomical structure projected itself next to All Might's face, solely for May's understanding. The rapid switch between engorged muscles to thin skeletal ones could not be easy either.

The snap between the two forms had to be exhaustive. His skin tightened fast, but remained loose around his elbows and the bags around his eyes. The resilience of his body astonished May. It was as if it had its own clock, deciding when time's up.

Well, if he cannot hold form for very long, that means this external source of energy is focused elsewhere. Energy doesn't disappear, nor is it created. Everything had a saturation point or a carrying capacity. With the way he sat hunched over, his hand hovering above his stomach, May figured he lost a vital organ. Something that takes away so much energy must be important. Could there be more than one culprit?

His shallow breathing indicated respiratory problems. If his 'heroic' form takes energy to remain within, the expulsion of energy and contractions within his muscles must cause an increase in bodily strain. May absently nodded to herself. It can only take so much. Does he eat? How much? Does this affect how much time he has?

The imaginary anatomical structure shifted between what All Might in his hero form looked like, compared to that of his malnourished and bony one. He's physically and quite literally zapped!

That's it. His body was in a constant form of compensation.

All Might opened his mouth to talk again, but Nezu lifted his paw, nodding toward May. She put her finger to her chin, her thoughts piecing together the complexity of the issue at hand. Now to explain in a less confusing and jumbled way.

"From what it appears to be, your quirk has various facets. Due to you having alternate forms, you must have some sort of energy coursing through your body. Which means, when the energy is released from your fist or any other limb, you lose it. When the energy depletes, that's when your body weakens."

"Yes," he said, taken aback. "I—"

"You mention you can only hold it for so long. Something is taking more energy away from your form, perhaps an injury? You're siphoning it to the best of your ability." May pushed up her glasses, glancing up from the table where her eyes had been drawn. "Am I correct?"

Please tell me I'm correct, or I'm going to look like an absolute dumbass.

There was a silence as May placed her cupped hands back on the table. Nezu had a resting smile, and All Might had a hard time working on words to say. Nezu's voice interrupted May's thoughts. "Excellent observations, Dr. Kataoka."

May's shoulders relaxed.

"Tell me more, All Might." May's professional voice took over, a different tone than her stammers from earlier.

Like an excited dog at home, compared to that same dog doing its instinctual job. She completely forgot about the fact she knew his greatest weakness. Instead, her head was busy finding a way to tackle the problem.

"Please, it's Toshinori. Yagi Toshinori." He flashed a small smile. "I suffered a bad injury against a villain. My stomach and respiratory system are completely wrecked."

May felt her brows furrow, leaning back in her chair. The fact he was alive was puzzling. What will my treatment plan be? How could someone do this amount of damage on him, was that even possible? How? I thought he was invincible.

In her mind, she saw where he was motioning with a bony hand. May's wits painted horrific images. She would have to do a complete physical examination later, to confirm her mental perception. He was probably malnourished. That was obvious. The sharp bones in his face pressed against his thin skin with every movement.

There were a lot of factors May tried to piece together. She would have to use her quirk on this one, unfortunately. Nezu was right.

"Yagi, sir," She started. "I—"

"—Toshinori—"

May sighed, not used to addressing her patients on a first-name basis. It was even stranger to call pro-heroes by their real names.

"Toshinori." She paused, making sure she was saying his name correctly. "It appears I cannot replace your organs. I can, however, try to lengthen your time in hero form."

"You can?" He asked, glancing between Nezu and May.

"Does this have to do with your quirk, Dr. Kataoka?" Nezu asked, interest peaking in his voice.

May assumed this was the moment Nezu had been honestly waiting for and what he wanted to gain from this discussion. He was practically chomping at the bit to hear the extent of her abilities.

May had given a brief overview, but nothing too in-depth. She decided to go with her best guess explanation as to what it was.

"Yes," May said. Her words rested on the tip of her tongue, attempting to piece together a careful thought.

"My quirk falls within the healing category, which is why I think I'm here. It has to do with my blood. My platelets are genetically mutated and take on the forms of white blood cells, stem cells, pretty much anything that your body needs to repair itself. It's fairly instantaneous, depending on the extent of the injuries."

"That's a new one," Toshinori muttered. "So, how can you use it to heal?"

Nezu was busy writing all of the information down in a file, hanging on to May's every word. She peered down into the record, seeing her awkward headshot. The glasses she wore at the time weren't the right prescription. It made her eyes look seventy times bigger than they were.

She tore her eyes from the distracting picture, looking at the two men next to her. How was she going to explain this? May averted her gaze from the rest of the table, pushing two fingers together.

"That's where it becomes weird." She blushed. "You either have to consume it, or I have to put it on you directly. I can also perform a transfusion, but it is much more invasive."

"Drink your blood?"

Toshinori did not look jazzed, which May assumed would happen.

"Yes. One of my research studies was pretty selfish." May could feel her stomach twist at the thought of using research facilities for her purposes.

"I tried to find ways to dehydrate my blood into pill form so that I can administer it more efficiently. If I can manipulate it properly, I think it will be able to fit your needs."

Nezu was thrilled, a jovial smile lighting up his features while he continued writing. All Might, on the other hand, appeared a little bit green.

Deep down, May would have to face her quirk. Her usage was becoming less of a rarity and more of a necessity. May knew she'd have to brush up on intravenous transfusions.

"Do you have any known weaknesses?" Nezu asked.

"I have an iron deficiency, and it's my blood. If I take away too much, I could die myself." May paused, thinking again. "I've also found, recently, the older my blood is, the weaker the healing power. Truthfully, I'm still learning a lot about my quirk."

"All very interesting, Dr. Kataoka. Is that why you need a fridge?" Nezu asked, tapping his pen against the sheet of paper.

"Yes! I'm hoping I can get the dehydrated forms to work, so the students aren't terrified." May turned to Toshinori. "I think you may be my test subject if you don't mind."

Never had May seen fear appear on the man's face, yet there it was. She realized she sounded insane like a mad scientist. May certainly felt like she was.

I'll have to find a pleasant way for people to consume my blood. Blood smoothie, anyone?

May internalized her thought, thinking it may send him over the edge. Who knew such a strong man had a weak stomach? He didn't have a stomach at all. In the treatment plan she already crafted, he was going to visit her daily for complete workups and vital monitoring.

"You shared your quirk with us. I guess it's my turn." Nezu smiled. "I have unparalleled intelligence that allows me to walk among you humans. Doctors did perform tests on me, and I hope you had respect for my species during your trials."

"Yes! Of course! I love animals, never would harm them! Ah-ha!"

May's nervous sputters were interrupted by Nezu again. "Toshinori?"

The blonde man looked down at the table, then between the two in front of him. May could tell he was sizing her up. Many people speculated on his quirk. She was going to know his secret, the truth behind how he was such a potent symbol of hope and unity. She hid the small smile growing on her face.

Toshinori's mouth hung open, and he rubbed his hands together. His eyes were shifting rapidly between Nezu and May. After the initial thirst for knowledge, May began to understand his uneasiness.

It was a lot to entrust to a person that he had only met an hour ago. Patient confidentiality. It's alright, go on.

"I guess you should know, Dr. Kataoka," Toshinori began, his voice trailing. He exhaled, his hands flattening on the table. "My quirk is called One for All, and it's inheritable."

May wasted no time.

"An inheritable quirk? I didn't think that was possible." Her thoughts poured out of her mouth. "As in, you can pass it on to others? Without having offspring?" She felt herself cringe at the last question.

Offspring? Gah! That's the worst thing I've ever said.

"Yes. I inherited it from my mentor a long time ago. It's a combination of all quirks from former carriers. It's something you actively pass on through a form of genetic material, like my hair."

He pointed toward the disheveled mat on his head, his expression mellowed.

"I've already chosen a successor for this quirk. My injury forced my hand a little quicker than I would've liked, but I know I've made the right choice. He has great potential to carry on the legacy of One for All." The corners of his mouth had a slight smile.

"He may be a frequent visitor in your office due to the power that this quirk contains. I'm rusty on the whole teaching thing."

This whole day had thrown May through the loop; it was as chaotic from start to finish. She remembered her quirk education through school. The genetics class she had explicitly taken said that this was not physically attainable. An absolute assertion that it was an impossibility.

All quirks formulated during the crossing over process during cell replication. It was a huge leap that would skyrocket medicine light years ahead. But May was not dumb.

She knew good people were not easy to come by, even in her supposed field of selflessness. His quirk would complicate the world. The thin veil of serenity would shatter.

"This is an unprecedented discovery. I— I do not know what to say."

"It's not what you expected from the Symbol of Peace, huh?" The amusement in his voice caused May to glance up at him again. "I was originally quirkless. My successor is the same. He hasn't had his whole life to prepare for this, unlike the majority of the other students."

There was a flash of uncertainty on Toshinori's face. May wondered if he had ever said those words aloud, watching the slight smile turn more into a grimace upon his face.

"I'll take care of him," May said without thinking.

She tried to find the right words to say next. It could not have been easy to share such a massive secret with a stranger. A stranger he would potentially be entrusting with his life.

She would make it up to him somehow. She already made that solemn vow to herself. All May could do is help him feel like he made the right decision.

Giving a reassuring smile, May nodded her head. "Thank you for trusting me with this information."

Everyone stood from their seats, and the tension in the air disappeared. There was a sense of comfort that had befallen the three remaining. May was in shock, grappling with what he shared. Due to his injury, she knew he had no choice. All Might would need frequent help.

Nezu hopped down from his chair, responding to May's statement.

"Don't thank us, Dr. Kataoka. We need you."

With those parting words, May left the room. She glanced over her shoulder, having a hard time believing what her life was becoming. Nezu and All Might watched her go, the afternoon light shining behind them.

It wasn't hard to navigate the building toward the exit. The biggest doors in the building weren't hard to miss. May's thoughts consumed her during her walk home. This job is a lot more intense than I realized. I'm solving health problems for pro-heroes like All Might.

May was planning a course of action for All Might. He was at the forefront of her mind. She had to make sure the hero wasn't pushing himself too hard or too far. He already looked like a suggestion of a person.

The thought of keeping him strong allowed her to separate her resentments. It was still there, no matter how hard she ignored it.

May could be using her skills to help those that didn't have an army at their side. People that were living their lives at a reasonable pace, with families and children. Keeping the ordinary world afloat.

Was she one hundred percent willing to give up on her dream of curing the incurable by working with heroes?

It was only for two years. Then, May would move on and have an impressive mark on her Resume. She could set up a research station within her office and continue her work. The ability to dually work gave her a newfound sense of hope.

By the time she got to her apartment, she was dragging her bag on the floor. May flopped onto her bed, temporarily ignoring the boxes strewn around her.

Her thoughts were almost as cluttered as her apartment was. Both of which she was unhappy about. Her mind floated over to her interaction with Eraserhead.

Inflexible? He doesn't know me! How dare he say something so... so... correct.

As she drifted off to sleep in the middle of the afternoon, her phone buzzed. May reached into her pocket, still face planted into her pillow.

She yanked out the cherry red device, continuing to feel the vibrations in her hands. The screen burned her eyes as she read the messages.

>> (7) NEW MESSAGES <<

Niko

➞ Still on for Friday night? I'm so excited to hear about your new job, Mayday! You'll have to tell me about all of the cute guys you met!

✓ ✓ ✓+ read

Sara

➞ Yeah! Omg! My Kaito is taking care of the kiddos! I can't wait! May, we are so proud of you!

✓ ✓ ✓+ read

Eiko

➞ The club is NOT ready for us. remember that one time at Strobelites when Sara threw up on the bartender and Niko fought that one dude?! Spectacular.

✓ ✓ ✓+ read

Sara

➞ Hey! vodka and I don't mix.

➞ but, I'm ready to throw some ass. Haven't done that since Rei was born.

✓ ✓ ✓+ read

Niko

➞ that girl was asking for hands.

➞ throw some ass? I'm going to pretend I didn't read that.

✓ ✓ ✓+ read

>> <<

As May watched her old friends explode her phone, she couldn't help but gain a smile. They were coming all of the ways out here to meet her, which was starting to become more of a headache than May realized.

They weren't ready to hear about her new job. Sara would freak if she knew May was working with all of the pro-heroes she adored. The other two would have many questions.

May finally fell asleep with her phone on her side. Her dreams were typically vivid, and she didn't understand why. She figured it was a side effect of her medications or her quirk in general. Her dreams, this time, were plagued with visions of injured heroes. Even her subconscious knew she had her work cut out for her.