adjusts Stitch onesie and settles into my writing chair
"Hey there, my amazing readers!" I couldn't help but bounce a little in excitement, my messy bun threatening to come undone. "First off, I just wanted to say... THANK YOU! We hit 750 powerstones! Can you believe it? Because I'm still kind of in shock."
fidgets with sleeve while grinning
"I know I took that break, and honestly? I was terrified. Like, absolutely convinced everyone would forget about the story or lose interest. You know that feeling when you're writing something and suddenly your brain goes 'what if it's actually terrible and everyone's just being nice?'" I laughed, tugging my hood up as my cheeks flushed. "Writer anxiety is fun like that."
"But you all proved me wrong in the best possible way! The support has been incredible, and I'm seeing all these amazing theories and discussions in the comments. Speaking of which..." pulls out notebook covered in butterfly stickers "We should probably address the elephant in the room, shouldn't we?"
takes deep breath
"So. Izuku accepting One For All. I've seen the debates, and trust me, I get it. The whole 'quirkless hero proving himself without powers' angle was powerful. It meant something to a lot of people. And some of you are worried this undermines that message."
leans forward, suddenly serious
"Here's the thing though - this isn't about making Izuku stronger. It's about challenging him in new ways. Think about it: he's already proven himself without a quirk. He dominated the entrance exam, survived the USJ, earned genuine respect. The question now isn't 'can a quirkless person be a hero?' because he's already answered that with a resounding yes."
starts gesturing enthusiastically
"The real question becomes: what happens when someone who's fought so hard to succeed without power is suddenly offered it? What does that do to their identity? Their relationships? The message they want to send to the world? It's not about power scaling - it's about character exploration."
chews on sleeve thoughtfully
"Plus, let's be real - Izuku's relationship with One For All is going to be completely different from canon. He's not starting from zero. He's not desperate for power. He's coming at this from a position of proven strength, with his own fighting style and philosophy already established. That changes everything about how the power manifests and develops."
grins mischievously
"Also... who says accepting the power means everything goes smoothly? Remember who's writing this? I love my characters, but I also love making them work for their growth. Just saying."
glances at clock
"Oh! Speaking of work - I should probably get back to writing. These chapters won't write themselves, and I've got plans. So many plans."
adjusts glasses with determination
"Thank you again for all the support. Seriously. Every comment, every theory, every reaction - they mean the world to me. And since we hit 750 powerstones, you know what that means... extra chapter incoming! Though maybe I should get some sleep first..."
glances at empty coffee mug
"...probably should get some sleep first. Definitely. Right after I write just one more scene. Or two. You know how it goes."
waves enthusiastically
"Until next time! Keep those theories coming - some of you are getting scary close to guessing certain things and I love watching the discussions. Plus Ultra!"
======
I drifted through blackness, weightless and formless. My last memory – All Might's panicked face, sand against my cheek, the metallic taste of blood – seemed impossibly distant. I tried to move, to speak, to do anything, but my body wouldn't respond. Did I even have a body anymore?
"This is unacceptable." A man's voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the void. "We cannot allow the power to remain in him."
"Why not?" A woman answered, her tone sharp with indignation. "He's proven himself worthy. All Might chose him."
"All Might doesn't know what we know." Another voice, older and gravelly. "The boy is that man's son."
My thoughts froze. What man? Whose son? I strained to speak, to ask questions, but remained paralyzed in the darkness.
"And he's my grandson." The woman's voice again. "Does that count for nothing?"
"Your daughter could sleep with that monster and produce this... vessel. That alone should disqualify him."
"Watch your tongue!" The woman snapped. "Inko had no idea who he was."
Inko. My mother. They were talking about my mother.
"Regardless," the first voice continued, "the risk is too great. If that man discovers One For All has passed to his own blood again..."
"He's nothing like his father," the woman argued. "Look at what he's accomplished already. Without a quirk, without help—"
"Hush." A new voice, quiet but commanding. "He's here."
Silence fell and I felt gazes upon me, though I couldn't see anyone in the endless dark.
"Can he hear us?" Someone whispered.
"Of course he can." The quiet voice responded. "He's connected to us now."
A light appeared before me, dim at first, then growing stronger. Within it stood a figure – a beautiful woman with dark hair and a gentle smile.
"Hello, Izuku," she said, her voice matching the protective woman from before. "I'm Nana Shimura, the Seventh holder of One For All."
I still couldn't speak, couldn't move.
"You're in a state of flux," she explained, as if reading my thoughts. "Your body is rejecting One For All while simultaneously trying to incorporate it. That's why you're here, in this... in-between place."
Another figure materialized beside her, a muscular man with short hair and a stern expression. "We need to decide what to do with him."
"There's nothing to decide, Kudo," Nana said firmly. "All Might chose him."
"All Might doesn't know his parentage," Kudo countered.
More figures appeared, forming a loose circle around me. Seven in total, of varying ages and appearances, all regarding me with expressions ranging from curiosity to outright hostility.
"I say we let the power die here," said a thin man with a severe face. "Better that than risk it falling into that man's hands."
"That's absurd, Hikage," Nana objected. "We can't just—"
"Can't we?" Hikage interrupted. "The boy's body is rejecting it anyway. Perhaps that's a sign."
"Or perhaps it's a sign his body needs time to adjust," said a short man with kind eyes. "Remember, all of us struggled at first."
"Not like this, Yoichi," said a woman with braided hair. "His body is tearing itself apart."
"Because his restriction," Nana argued. "His body developed new pathways to circumvent a quirk."
"Or because his blood is tainted," Hikage muttered.
Fuck this. Who the fuck were these people to decide my fate? To judge me based on some father I'd never even known? To speak about my mother that way?
To my surprise, my thoughts echoed audibly through the void.
Nana turned to me, her eyes widening. "You're becoming more present. That's good."
I still couldn't move, but now my thoughts carried to them. Who are you people? What's happening to me?
"We are the past wielders of One For All," explained the short man, Yoichi. "When the power passes to a new holder, a piece of us goes with it."
And you're arguing about whether I deserve it because of who my father is? I don't even remember my father.
The wielders exchanged glances.
"It's more complicated than that," Nana said carefully.
Then explain it to me.
Silence fell again. I could sense their reluctance, their distrust.
"We can't," Kudo said finally. "Not yet."
Why the hell not?
"Because we don't trust you." Hikage's voice was cold. "Not with this information. Not with our power."
It's not your decision anymore. All Might gave it to me.
"And your body is rejecting it," the woman with braided hair pointed out. "Which means the choice remains, at least in part, with us."
I would have laughed if I could. So what, you're going to let me die because you don't like who fathered me?
"No one's letting you die," Nana said firmly. "But we need to reach consensus on whether you should continue as the ninth wielder."
You talk like you have a choice. The power's already in me.
"And killing you," Hikage said bluntly. "If we choose to withdraw our acceptance, One For All will burn itself out trying to integrate with your body."
And I die.
"Most likely," Yoichi admitted, his kind eyes sad. "Though it would pain us greatly."
Except him, apparently. I directed the thought toward Hikage, who merely shrugged.
"I value the security of One For All above any individual life," he said. "Including my own, when I held it."
"Let's not be hasty, the boy deserves a chance to prove himself." A new man said.
"Thank you, Banjo," Nana said.
"I'm not saying I trust him," Banjo clarified. "But All Might saw something in him, and that counts for something."
I didn't ask for this power, I thought at them. I was doing fine without it. If you want it back so badly, take it and let me go back to my life.
"It doesn't work that way," Yoichi said gently. "Once passed, One For All can only move forward, not back."
Then what's the point of this discussion? Either let me live with it or kill me. Make up your damn minds.
My anger seemed to surprise them. Good. I was tired of being judged by strangers for things beyond my control.
"You have darkness in you," Hikage observed. "I can sense it."
Everyone has darkness. What matters is what you do with it.
"Pretty words," Hikage scoffed. "But words are easy."
I've proven myself through actions, not words. The memory of the USJ battle flashed through my mind, visible to all of them. Fighting the villains. Protecting my classmates. Standing against the Nomu despite knowing I couldn't win.
"Impressive," Banjo admitted. "For a quirkless kid."
More memories formed.
I cleaned an entire beach by hand. I trained until I vomited blood. I fought villains without powers and won. I don't need your approval, and I sure as hell don't need your judgment based on a man I've never met.
Nana smiled slightly. "He has spirit."
"Spirit isn't enough," Kudo countered. "Not against what's coming."
What is coming? I demanded.
The wielders exchanged glances again, that same reluctance evident in their expressions.
"The greatest evil our world has ever known."
"The man who killed all of us," Banjo added grimly.
What does that have to do with me?
"Nothing, necessarily," Nana said carefully. "But there are... complications."
Because of my father.
"Yes."
Who is he?
Silence again.
Fine. Keep your secrets. But decide what you're going to do with me, because I'm getting really tired of this void.
"I vote we accept him," Nana said firmly. "He's proven his heart is true, regardless of his blood."
"I second that," Yoichi nodded.
"As do I," said a quieter man who had been observing silently until now. "The boy has courage."
"Thank you, En," Nana acknowledged.
"I remain opposed," Hikage stated. "The risk is too great."
"I stand with Hikage," said the woman with braided hair. "I'm sorry, Nana."
Hikage nodded. "At least Misato has some sense."
Kudo crossed his arms. "I abstain. I see merit in both arguments."
All eyes turned to Banjo, who sighed heavily. "I don't like it," he admitted. "But I trust All Might's judgment. I vote to accept."
"Then it's decided," Nana said, relief evident in her voice. "Four to two, with one abstention."
Great. Democracy in action. Can I go back to my body now?
"It's not that simple," Yoichi explained. "Your body is still rejecting the power. We need to help it adapt."
And how do we do that?
"By modifying One For All to suit your physiology," Nana said. "It will require all of us working together, and your complete cooperation."
What do you need me to do?
"First, you need to calm down," Kudo said bluntly. "Your anger is making the rejection worse."
I would have taken a deep breath if I could. Instead, I focused on quieting my thoughts, pushing away the lingering resentment at their judgment.
Better?
"Much," Yoichi nodded. "Now, focus on the feeling of One For All within you. Not fighting against it, but welcoming it."
I tried to locate the sensation of the power in this formless state. At first, I felt nothing. Then, gradually, I became aware of something – a current of energy that flowed around and through me, vibrant and alive.
I feel it.
"Good," Nana smiled. "Now, think of it not as a foreign presence, but as a part of you. Like an extension of your own will."
I focused on the energy, imagining it as mine, as belonging with me rather than invading me. To my surprise, the current seemed to respond, flowing more smoothly.
"Excellent," En encouraged. "You're a natural."
It still feels... unstable.
"That's because your body formed different pathways that a quirk would normally create during development," Yoichi explained. "We need to help forge those pathways now."
How?
"By channeling our collective will through One For All," Nana said. "But you need to guide us. Show us where the power should flow."
I concentrated, visualizing my physical body as I knew it – the muscles I'd built, the techniques I'd mastered, the pathways of energy I'd learned to control through Bang's training.
Here, I directed, showing them the mental map of my body's energy flow. This is how I channel power now.
"Interesting," Banjo mused. "He's already developed his own energy system through martial arts training."
"That might actually help," En said thoughtfully. "We can use those existing pathways as a foundation."
The seven wielders formed a tighter circle around me. I felt their focus intensify, their collective will bearing down on the energy of One For All within me. The current began to change, shifting to align with the pathways I'd shown them.
Pain flared suddenly, sharp and all-encompassing. If I'd had a body, I would have screamed.
"Stay with us, Izuku," Nana urged. "This is the hardest part. Your body is rebuilding itself to accommodate the power."
The pain increased, becoming almost unbearable. I clung to consciousness, focusing on the energy flow, directing it along familiar channels. Gradually, agonizingly, the power began to settle, finding its place within my mental map.
"It's working," En said, his voice strained with effort. "The rejection is subsiding."
"Not completely," Hikage noted. "There's still resistance."
"Because he's forcing it," the woman with braided hair observed. "The power needs to flow naturally, not be controlled so rigidly."
I don't know how else to do it, I admitted. I have never had a quirk.
"Let go a little," Nana suggested. "Like your master says, think of it like water finding its own path. Guide, don't force."
I tried to relax my mental grip, allowing the energy more freedom while still providing direction. The pain eased slightly as the power adapted, flowing more naturally through the channels I'd shown it.
"Better," Yoichi nodded. "Much better."
The process continued, the seven wielders working in concert to help One For All integrate with my body's existing energy system. Time lost all meaning in the void. It could have been minutes or hours or days.
Finally, the pain began to recede. The energy of One For All, once chaotic and foreign, now flowed smoothly through my mental map, following the pathways I'd built through training while creating new connections where needed.
"It's done," En said at last, his voice weary. "As much as we can do here, at least."
"The rest will have to happen in the physical world," Nana added. "But he should be stable enough to return now."
Thank you, I thought, and meant it despite my earlier anger. All of you.
"Don't thank us yet," Hikage warned. "The real challenge begins when you wake up."
"Always the optimist, Hikage," Banjo said dryly.
"He should know what he's facing," Hikage insisted. "One For All will be infinitely more difficult for you to control than for previous wielders. No body wasn't designed to channel this kind of power."
I'll manage.
"I believe you will," Nana smiled. "But take it slowly. Start with tiny percentages – one or two percent at most. Your body needs time to strengthen the pathways we've helped create."
One or two percent? That's it?
"For now," Yoichi nodded. "Increase gradually as your body adapts. Rush it, and you'll end up right back here – or worse."
I understand.
"One more thing," Kudo said. "We'll be watching. If we see any sign that you're misusing this power..."
He left the threat unspoken, but I understood.
I won't let you down.
"See that you don't," Hikage said coldly. "Some of us still have our doubts."
I'll prove you wrong.
"I hope you do," he replied, surprising me with what almost seemed like sincerity.
"It's time," Nana said. "Your body is calling you back."
The void began to blur around me, the figures of the seven wielders fading.
"Remember," Nana's voice followed me as I slipped away. "Start small. One percent."
"And be careful," Yoichi added. "There are forces at work beyond what you understand."
"We'll speak again," Kudo promised, his tone making it sound more like a warning than a comfort.
Alright… time to greet the real world.