Izuku’s mind seemed numb as he aimlessly wandered the streets. His mind was still dwelling on All Might’s words. “That being said, you need to see reality for what it is, kid…” It was like the words were taunting him. Izuku knew that All Might meant no harm and was only think for what was best for the quirkless boy, but it still stung his heart badly. Izuku’s feet continued to carry him home sluggishly when suddenly a large explosion went off ahead of him. It was somewhat similar.

      Snapped for his hypnotic state, Izuku ran to the sight of the loud boom only to find a large crowd of people wanting to see what was going on just like him. Izuku was short but short enough to where he couldn’t see the large sludge monster that had attacked him just hours before. It surprised him as he had seen All Might bottle up the villain in a small water bottle. How had it escaped? Izuku wondered while trying to push through the many bodies in order to get a better look at the dangerous situation. 

      Once in front of the crowd, he could see what was happening in full. Katsuki Bakugo, Izuku’s last childhood friend and now bully, was being absorbed into the large monster like Izuku himself had been. But what was different between the two was that Bakugo wasn’t going down without a fight. Even though his air was now limited, the explosive teen boy was firing his quirk wildly. Muffled grunts and yells seemed to still come from the eccentric boy even though his life was being threatened. 

      How much this made Izuku admire the young Bakugo, even more, was astonishing.

      The bystanders that had crowded the exit watched with anticipation and the Hunters on sight did everything in their ability to free the ash-blonde hair boy but failed. Eventually whispers floated around about the #1 Hunter, All Might.

      “All Might has to show.”

      “Where is All Might.”

      “All Might has to save the boy.”

      Izuku himself couldn’t seem to believe them. “This is all my fault. He wasted his energy on me. He can’t power up yet, and none of the other Hunters have the quirks to stop this monster. It’s my fault. I’m sorry… So sorry…”

 He had seen had badly in shape his hero was and didn’t think the Pro-Hunter could show. If he did, he was stronger than he had previously thought. Izuku tried to reassure himself that a real hero would come soon to save the day. Bakugo, on the other hand, was still struggling with all his might to break free of his captor. He looked down shamefully at the Pro-Hunters around him. He could do better than them, right? He was the best there ever was, right? 

      Wrong. 

      Even trying his hardest, Katsuki Bakugo couldn’t break free of this pitiful creature. This really made him angry. It seemed all was lost until a bright yellow backpack slammed into the sludge monster’s face with immense force. Following after, was Katuski’s old childhood best friend, Izuku Midoriya. Kabuki started in disbelief. Izuku himself didn’t know when he jumped into the scene or why he thought it was a good idea, but it was already too late. The look in his once childhood friend's eyes was the reason his legs moved without consent. The look of pure defeat. It didn't fit Kacchan at all… 

      With fingernails sharper and longer than he remembered them being, Izuku clawed at the monster, trying greatly to get the sludge off of Katsuki’s mouth so he could breathe. Deku?! Katsuki thought with anger more than surprise. He didn’t want help from this quirkless loser. He was better than Deku. All the people and Hunters around the scene stared in disbelief and slight annoyance at the young Izuku’s interference. What is this kid thinking?! many thought simultaneously. “No, you idiot! Stop! You’re gonna get yourself killed!” Izuku didn't listen to the Pro-Hunter’s words and continued to claw rigorously at the muck. 

      With the destruction Izuku caused, the sludge monster released its hold on Katsuki’s mouth and the ashy-blonde was able to take a greatly needed breath of air. “Kacchan!” Izuku called in desperation. This caused Katsuki to bubble up in anger. “What the hell?! Why are you here?!” Katsuki yelled, making it clear he didn’t want help from a quirkless loser like Deku. “I don’t know!” Izuku answered with his own confusion, “my legs… they just started… moving!” Even with the conversation, Izuku didn't stop trying to save his bully. While being a useless hero, Izuku felt memories of the past creep up into his mind. Old and newer memories of being told he wouldn’t have a quirk being ridiculed by Kacchan and watching All Might as a kid. He even thought of All Might’s words from earlier in the day. 

      He didn’t know why he jumped into action that day. Maybe it was the look on Katsuki’s face, but it didn't matter to him then, and it certainly didn’t matter to him now.

      “Kacchan… I couldn’t just stand there and watch you die…”

      These few words seemed to wake up a hesitant Yagi Toshinori, who had been watching from the sidelines in his weak form. 

      I have to do something… No matter the costs! 

      All Might grunted and groaned as his body transformed with strain. His muscles expanded and his body grew twice its normal size. Large explosions sounded off in the street at the sludge monster struck down on the small Izuku Midoriya. All Pro-Hunters jumped into action to save him, but it seemed too late. Except it wasn't. Stand tall and proud in front of the small Midoriya boy was All Might, in all his glory. “I really am pathetic,” All Might said and gained Izuku’s attention. 

      All Might? But…

      “I told you the traits that make you a great Hunter but I see now I wasn't living up to my own ideals!!” All Might yelled and began to thrash on the villain. “Pros are always risking their lives! That’s the true test of a Hunter!!” Izuku and Katsuki both watched with great amazement as their greatest hero saved the day with a Detroit smash. The sludge monster seemed to explode on contact and go everywhere. A large tornado formed in the area and caused Mt. Lady to protect the bystanders with her body. The wind blew widely and suddenly stopped altogether. After a calm set into the atmosphere, rain began to steadily fall. All Might changed the weather with his fists. 

      After it all ended, Katsuki was praised for withstanding the villain while Izuku was scolded for acting so recklessly. Saddened, Izuku made his tried trek home only to be stopped by Kacchan. The explosive teen yelled at Deku for being there and being useless. He didn’t ask for his help in the first place. It wasn't long before Katsuki stormed off ahead of him as well. Izuku then began to walk alone again, until a starling voice stopped him again, but it wasn't Kacchan.
      “I AM HERE!!”

      It was All  Might fully transformed.