Izuku Midoriya watched his successor struggle to their feet, sweat dripping from their brow. Their breathing was ragged, their arms trembling, but their eyes burned with resolve. Just like me, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. He had met the kid 9 months ago- he had rushed to a villain attack, only to find a skinny, quirkless kid standing up to the villain, rushing in, their body moving on it’s own.

Ever since then, he had trained them, shaped them, their determination fuelling the flames of “One for All” that Midoriya had passed to them.

“Come on,” he called out. “One more set. You’re closer than you think.”

“Yeah… I got it,” they huffed, wiping their face. Their stance reset—shaky but determined.

“Tch, if you’ve got energy to talk, you’ve got energy to move,” Bakugo barked from the sidelines, arms crossed. “No villain’s gonna give you a breather!”

“Ease up, Bakugo,” Todoroki said, leaning against the wall. “They’re learning.”

“Learning’s useless if you’re dead,” Bakugo shot back.

“Focus,” Midoriya said firmly, ignoring them both. He stepped forward, eyes locked on his student. “Don’t force it. Feel it. One For All isn’t something you push—it’s something that pulls you forward.”

The kid nodded, eyes narrowing in concentration. Sparks of green lightning flickered across their arms—wild, untamed, but growing steadier. Midoriya’s heart swelled. They’ve got it.

“Now, punch! Fifty percent—no holding back!”

They lunged forward, flashes exploding around them. Their fist struck with a thunderous BOOM, the shockwave blasting apart the training dummy in a whirlwind of metal and dust. Bakugo’s grin widened, arms uncrossing.

“Not bad, rookie,” he muttered.

Midoriya walked up, placing a hand on their shoulder. Their eyes flickered between shock and joy as they stared at their sparking hands.

“Feel that?” Midoriya said softly. “That’s your power. You earned that.”