(Izuka's POV)

All Might: I believe you're worthy... Of inheriting my power!

I looked up at All Might when he said that.

Izuka: Huh?

All Might: Hahaha! What's that face for?! It's a proposal! The real work begins here. Listen, my girl.

All Might pointed at me and he opened his mouth, blood gushing out of it.

All Might: I'm asking you if you want to try accepting my power!

His power? What is All Might saying? He wiped his mouth.

All Might: This concerns my Quirk, kid. The tabloids like to guess that it's "Super Strength" or "Boost Power" and I avoid the question in interviews by making jokes. Because All Might, the Symbol of Peace, has to come off as a natural born Hero. But my Quirk... It was passed down to me. Like the Olympic torch.

Izuka: Passed... Down to you? Really?!

All Might: Yes. And now it may be your turn.

Being told that All Might's Quirk was actually passed down to him started to make me think about what the implications of that could be.

Izuka: H-H-Hold on a second! To be sure, All Might's Quirk is one of the seven great mysteries of the world and there's endless debate what it might be. There isn't a day that goes without someone coming up with some kind of theory of what it might be and just to be told that it was passed down and- Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter!

All Might: You really doubt me that much?! Nonsense!

Izuka: Wait, I never sai-

All Might: I have many secrets, but I never lie!

All Might looked at me and held out his hand as light came from it and his hair started to flow up.

All Might: I have the ability to transfer my power. That's the Quirk I inherited! It's called... One For All!

Izuka: One For... All.

All Might: The first person cultivates the power and then passes it to another. The next refines it and passes it on again. In this way, those crying out to be saved and those with brave and true hearts link to form a crystalline network of power!

Izuka: But all this... Why? Why me?

All Might: I've been searching for a successor for awhile now and I believe that you are worthy! You may be Quirk-less. A mere Hero admirer. But back there, you were more heroic than anyone else!

My eyes started to tear up again after All Might said that to me.

All Might: But of course it depends on you! What do you say?

I stood up and wiped my eyes from the tears. All Might told me his greatest secrets to me! I looked up at All Might.

Izuka: Yes... I accept. I have no reason to refuse!

All Might: Heh. A quick answer. I expected nothing less. Well... It is getting late. Let's meet up here in two days. Early in the morning.

Izuka: R-Right, All Might! I'll make sure to be here!

All Might: I'll be off then. Don't get cold feet and back out on me!

All Might walked off. I took a deep breath and started to walk back home. I can hear fast footsteps in the distance and it sounds like it's getting closer and closer. I looked behind me and saw (Y/N) running over to me, rose petals flowing from behind him.

(Y/N): Izuka!

Izuka: (Y-Y/N)?!

He stopped in his tracks as he got close to me. He gave me a tight hug. I felt my cheeks heat up as some of his red scarf got on my face.

(Y/N): I heard about the encounter you had with a sludge villain! I was worried for your safety ever since Yang told me about it!

Izuka: O-Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you like that!

He let go of me. He reached into his pocket and handed me a small bag filled with cookies. I grabbed them and looked at it. The cookies looked like they are filled with tons of chocolate chips.

(Y/N): I figured you could use something to help calm down from an event as stressful as that.

Izuka: Do you always eat cookies to calm down?

(Y/N): Yep! They help a lot for me!

It really is a wonder how he stays in shape when most of his diet involves cookies.

(Y/N): So... Do you want me to walk you home? You know... Just in case.

Izuka: Oh! I'm ok! Thank you for the concern! Thank you for the cookies too!

(Y/N): Alright then. If you need me back, you can just call me!

He dashed off, running down the street as fast as possible. He left behind a trail of rose petals. I picked one up, but it slowly faded away before disappearing completely. I turned around and ran back home. I have to make sure I'm ready to receive All Might's Quirk!

(Two Days Later) (Beach)

It was around 6 a.m. and I was trying to pull a fridge with All Might, in his muscle form, on top of it. I pulled onto the rope attached to the fridge as hard as I could, but I could barely move it.

All Might: This fridge makes quite the comfy perch!

I tripped and fell down on the sand, letting go of the rope.

All Might: A little movement would make it even nicer though!

Izuka: Come on... All Might, you're 274 kilos alone...

All Might: Nah, I've lost some weight. I'm just 255 kilos. In this form anyway.

I looked around the beach and it's just surrounded by garbage.

Izuka: Hey, why am I dragging this garbage across the beach anyway?

All Might: Because! You're an ill suited vessel.

I looked back at All Might with tears streaming down my eyes. I saw him holding up a phone and taking pictures of me.

Izuka: What?! But you said I was worthy, earlier!

I turned back forward and slammed my arms into the sand. I heard All Might get off of the fridge.

All Might: Your body. I mean your body ain't ready. My Quirk, One For All, binds the physical strength of many people into one! Your limp noodle body isn't ready for it. Your limbs would pop right off!

Izuka: S-Seriously?!

I started to rub my arms as I looked around the beach.

Izuka: Ok. So I'm here to train my body... By hauling trash?

All Might: Yes! But that's not all!

He gave me a thumbs up before walking over to the fridge and tapped on it, putting a dent in it.

All Might: I did some research yesterday. This beach... Well, this one section has been like this for years.

Izuka: Yeah... Something about the currents. Lots of stuff drifts ashore. And people also dump their garbage here, even though they shouldn't.

All Might: The young Heroes today only want fame and glory. But being a Hero is all about volunteer work! No matter how unglamorous! Never forget that!

He put his hand on top of the fridge and slammed it down, crushing the fridge to be a flat sheet of metal. The force of the slam blew back a ton of garbage, making me be able to see the morning sun rising from the sea water.

All Might: Let's bring back this beautiful ocean view! This is the first step on your path to becoming a Hero!

Izuka: My first step is... Cleaning up?!

All Might: Kid. Midoriya. You want to get into U.A., right?

Izuka: Yeah! Because you went to U.A., All Might. If I can... I definitely want to go to U.A.!

All Might: You blind fan girl!

All might turned around, making his back face me.

All Might: Like I said before... It's not possible for someone who's Quirk-less. It's sad but true. That's reality. Not to mention, U.A.'s Hero course is the toughest there is! So...

I stood up and clenched my hands into fists.

Izuka: I've got ten months before the Entrance Exam. I've gotta mold my body into a suitable vessel by then!

All Might turned around and has a bunch of papers in his hand.

All Might: That's what this is for! My self designed "Pass The Test, American Dream" plan!

He handed me the papers and I quickly read through it.

All Might: A training regimen to help you clean up the garbage and then some! You can chart your entire lifestyle with this!

Izuka: You even planned how much sleep I get...

All Might got right next to me and put his hand on my back.

All Might: To be frank, this'll be super tough. Can you do it?!

A bead of sweat went down my cheek, but I started to smile.

Izuka: Well, yeah! I know I have to work way harder than anyone else to make it!

(Montage Time!)

So began ten hellish months. I began to move really have pieces of garbage across the beach and having to load them up into a truck. And carrying tires while running as fast as I could.

All Might: Run! Ruuuun! Ten months is right around the corner! Let's! Pump! You! Up!

I was at school, exhausted out of my mind. Ten months of this? I started to think to myself.

Izuka: I'm in trouble if I can't finish at least a week before the exam. So there are 294 days left... Muscle recovery necessitates intervals with two days of rest... Meaning... Even at my most efficient, I only have 98 days of actual training... I can work in five hours between morning and night, which makes for 490 hours total. Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter Mutter.

I felt a hand hit the top of my head, snapping me out of my thoughts. I saw everyone looking at me and I realized that I was talking out loud.

Teacher: Hey, Midoriya. Did you hit your head during that villain attack?

I was back at the beach, pushing a tire across. I was taking sprints with All Might timing me. I had to lift weights, with All Might having to help me when my arms gave out. I gave my mom a meal plan. I even stayed up at night just to study for the Entrance Exam. I did tons of pushups and sticking to the meal plan, even if I felt like I'm starving. I took runs at night. I was at the beach and tried to push a broken down truck, but couldn't get it to budge. I put my hands on my knees and threw up. I had to swim a lot. Even had to save myself when I got too tired because women would surround All Might when he wore his striped swimsuit. I even had to carry All Might around, which made my legs feel like they were going to break.

(Montage Over!)

I'm now running behind All Might as he rode on a segway. I fell down to the ground, taking massive breaths.

All Might: Hey, hey, what's wrong? Only three more months! You're not gonna make it! You wanna quit? Wanna take a break today?!

I took more deep breaths, wheezing as I clenched onto a small pile of leaves.

All Might: My "Pass The Test, American Dream" plan. I designed it based on what you'd need to do with your body specifically to make it before the exam day... But you haven't stuck to the plan. Overdoing is no good either! Don't you wanna pass?!

I struggled to even get up.

Izuka: I do... But I don't wanna just pass. I have to work harder than anyone else to make it! I'll never catch up otherwise! I want to be like you!

I managed to get my upper body up so I can look at All Might in the face. Tears and sweat pouring down my face.

Izuka: Like you. The strongest Hero.

All Might went into his muscle form and picked me up by the shirt.

All Might: You! You blind fan girl! Such dumb zeal... That's exactly what I like to hear! I get where you're coming from, but this is no time to panic! This old man will modify the plan for you!

Izuka: You're not an old man... All Might...

All Might: Hahahahahaha!

(Exam Day) (6 a.m.)

I am standing on a pile of garbage, screaming my heart out as I finally got rid of all the garbage on the beach. Sweat covered my body and I'm only wearing pants and a sports bra.

Izuka: WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

I started to pass out as I fell off the pile of garbage I was on. I was about to hit the sandy ground, but All Might caught me.

All Might: Well done.

Izuka: All Might...! I... Did it... I did it!

All Might put me down on my feet.

All Might: Astounding! You're a real entertainer! And a teen no less! Here, take a look!

I looked up and saw All Might holding his phone at me.

Izuka: What's this?

I saw a picture of me, on the sandy floor with tears streaming out of my eyes.

All Might: It's you, ten months ago. Excellent work. Truly!

I haven't really noticed, but I now have a subtle six pack and muscles are a bit more defined.

All Might: The path forward is ever so slightly clearer! But you're a true blue vessel now!

I looked down at my hand and saw it slightly shaking.

Izuka: ...Feels like... I cheated though... Getting all this help from you, All Might. I've been blessed.

I started to cry as I let my head hang down. All Might put his hand on my back.

All Might: You gotta quit being a crybaby! Anyway, time for the awards ceremony, Izuka Midoriya!

Izuka: Ok...

I saw All Might pluck a strand of hair from his head.

All Might; You know, they say there's a big difference between being born with that silver spoon and working your butt off to earn it! Take this to heart, kid. You've earned this power, fair and square.

I clenched my hands as I got ready to receive All Might's Quirk. The thing I was working for ten months straight for and I'm about to finally get it! He showed me the strand of hair.

All Might: Eat this.

Izuka: Dur?!

All Might: It really doesn't matter what it is you eat. As long as you get my dna! Now hurry!

Izuka: Not exactly how I thought this would go!

All Might: Now eat! Eat!

I tried my best to eat the strand of hair, but it's way more difficult than I thought. I managed to swallow it.

(Chapter 3 end)