Chapter 59 - The Promise of a New Future

The next day, All Might met with three of the highest-ranking individuals at the school: Nezu, Vlad King, and Aizawa. The conversation started off somber, with All Might's voice tinged with concern. "Umm, we have a problem," he said, his expression serious. "We don't know where Y/n's family is."

Nezu, his paws thoughtfully pressed to his chin, nodded slowly. "That is true. But she's currently under our custody, so she can always stay here," he replied, his voice calm but with an underlying sense of responsibility.

Aizawa, standing with his arms crossed as usual, added, "Yes, and she's more than capable of deciding for herself. It's up to her what she wants to do moving forward."

All Might let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I can talk to her about housekeeping and everything she might need... but still, this uncertainty about her family is troubling."

Aizawa nodded in agreement. The three heroes exchanged a look before turning to leave, their minds full of the responsibility they now shared, not just for Y/n, but for her future as well.

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You were soaking up the sun on the beach, enjoying the calm waves lapping against the shore. It was a peaceful day, and you couldn't help but smile, feeling at ease. That was, until you heard the familiar, comforting voice of All Might calling out to you.

"Toshi, hey!" you said, turning to face the former No. 1 hero, a playful smile on your face. He was no longer in his hero form, but that didn't bother you. He was still your teacher, and above all, a friend.

All Might smiled back, waving a hand as he approached. "So, umm, L/N—"

"Y/N," you interrupted with a teasing tone. "Call me Y/N. We're friends now, after all. I did save your butt, remember?"

All Might blinked, caught off guard for a moment before laughing awkwardly. "Y-Yes, that's true!"

The two of you shared a moment of laughter, the tension from earlier melting away. There was something comforting in this, a sense of normalcy returning. Despite everything that had happened, it felt good to have friends by your side.

All Might chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Have you thought about where you're going to live now? You see, me, Nezu, Aizawa, and Vlad King had a meeting about it. We all decided that it'd be best for you and the others to stay in U.A. dorms, where we can keep an eye on you."

You twirled a strand of your hair around your fingers, feeling the weight of your wings folding neatly behind you as your tail lazily dragged across the ground. The sunlight glistened off your wings, casting soft shadows on the sand around you.

"I mean, I can live with Izuku," you said nonchalantly, looking up at him with a small grin. "But I guess she'll be staying in the dorms too, so I'll do that."

All Might raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but pleased with your decision. "If you're sure. But remember, you have the freedom to make your own choices. And we'll all be here, supporting you every step of the way."

You nodded, feeling a sense of calm. There was still a lot to figure out, but you knew you'd find your place. Whatever the future held, you had friends, you had choices, and most importantly, you had the strength to keep moving forward.

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All Might stood nervously outside the Midoriya family apartment. He knew how much Inko had been worrying about Izuku's future, and today, he was here to face her concerns head-on. He knocked, and Inko, a bit apprehensive, opened the door to let him in. Izuku, still a bit starstruck but also nervous, watched as his idol stepped into their home. He could feel the weight of the situation hanging in the air.

Inside, as they sat down with tea, All Might couldn't help but notice the room was filled with memorabilia from his past—posters, action figures, photos from different events—almost a shrine to his legacy. It was clear Izuku admired him deeply, and that realization made All Might both proud and worried.

Inko broke the silence, her voice thick with concern. "All Might... I appreciate what you've done for Izuku. But I can't ignore what's been happening at U.A. anymore." Her voice shook slightly. "You know how badly he's been hurt. And it's not just that—it's the fact that he keeps pushing himself into dangerous situations. I can't keep pretending everything's going to be okay. I'm afraid U.A. and this 'hero' life are going to destroy him."

Izuku's heart dropped at his mother's words. He had known she was worried, but hearing her say this so openly struck him harder than he expected. He looked up at All Might, the one person he admired most, the man who had inspired him to chase his dreams, now sitting quietly, his face grim.

"Mom...," Izuku began, but Inko's sharp gaze cut him off.

"I don't want him to end up like you, All Might. I don't want Izuku to follow in your footsteps—become another blood-stained hero who sacrifices everything," Inko said, her voice thick with emotion. "I've lost enough already. I lost my husband to this dangerous life, and I refuse to lose my son, too."

Izuku, stunned by the intensity of her words, rushed to his room, overwhelmed by a wave of guilt and confusion. His mother's fears had been there all along, but he had never truly considered how much they weighed on her. He had been so focused on his dreams that he hadn't thought about how his decisions affected her, too.

After a few moments, Izuku returned to the living room, holding a letter in his hands. It was from Kota, the boy he had saved during the summer camp. He opened the letter and read it aloud, his voice trembling. "I don't care what school I attend. What matters is I saved a life. I saved Kota. I'm a hero because I chose to do the right thing."

All Might watched quietly, his heart swelling with pride for the boy before him. He stood up, his muscular form swelling as he shifted into his true All Might persona. He bowed deeply before Inko and Izuku, his expression sincere. "I am sorry. I never wanted harm to come to him. I should have done more to protect him."

Izuku's eyes widened in disbelief as All Might continued, "But I believe Izuku is the one who can carry the mantle of the next symbol of peace. I have no doubt in my heart that he's the one who will lead us into a new future. A future where heroism isn't stained with blood, a future where we can protect not only the people but those who choose to fight for what's right."

All Might reverted to his weakened form, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion as he continued, "I may not be able to protect him forever, but I will raise him. I will be there for him, guiding him, so that he doesn't fall into the same mistakes I made." He turned to Inko with a pleading look in his eyes. "Please, don't give up on him. U.A. may not be perfect, but it's trying to change. Look beyond what it is now and think of the future."

Inko sat there in silence for a long moment. Finally, she sighed, her expression softening. "Is Y/N going to be there, too?" she asked quietly, looking at All Might with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

All Might smiled, though there was a sadness behind his eyes. "Yes. She'll be there."

Inko gave a small, knowing smile. "Alright, then. You've got her. Keep him safe, All Might. Keep my son safe."

All Might's expression hardened with resolve. "I promise, Inko. I will protect him, even at the cost of my own life."

As the conversation came to an end, Izuku felt a sense of reassurance flood over him. He had always looked up to All Might, but hearing his promise to protect him gave him new hope. Maybe he could balance his dreams with his mother's worries. Maybe, together, they could make it work.