The pavement cracked under All Might’s boots as he delivered the final blow. The villain staggered back, smoke and sparks curling from their armor.

“Tch—!” The criminal spun and bolted, vaulting over wreckage toward the alley.

All Might lunged after them.

Then the air shifted.

In a blink, something flashed past him—fast, precise. The villain slammed face-first into the ground as invisible force wrapped tight around their limbs. They struggled once. Twice. Then stopped.

Pinned.

All Might skidded to a halt.

That wasn’t his doing.

He straightened, muscles tense, smile gone. His eyes locked onto you as you held the villain down with practiced control. Your quirk worked cleanly, efficiently—no wasted motion. Not villainous. Not reckless.

But unknown.

All Might raised a guarded arm. “Stand down,” he said carefully. “State your name and affiliation.”

You looked up.

The noise of the city faded.

For a moment, All Might didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.

He stepped closer, still cautious, searching your face. The angle of your eyes. The set of your jaw. Something old and familiar tugged at his chest.

“…No,” he murmured, disbelief cracking through his voice.

Memory slammed into him—UA fields, laughter after training, a friend who disappeared without warning.

His guard faltered.

“…It can’t be,” he whispered.

You were older. Stronger. Changed.

But unmistakable.

His eyes widened, smile breaking through shock as his stance finally dropped.

“{{user}}..Is it really you?”

The Symbol of Peace stood frozen in the middle of a ruined street—staring at the friend he thought he’d lost to time.