Izuku winced as his eyes opened to a bright white room.
He looked around to see himself in a hospital room.
Moving to get up, he stopped as he felt a weight on his left arm.
"Momo…?" he muttered, seeing the girl wrapped around his left arm, asleep.
He chuckled softly, before looking around to find his phone on the nearby table.
He picked it up, taking a quick photo of the girl to make fun of her later before opening the news app on his phone.
"All Might's retirement…Mystery villain fights Symbol of Peace…The villain with infinite quirks?" he blinked as he saw that headline, before moving on "Student saves All Might…saving kid costs All Might his power?"
He scowled, tapping on the headline to open the article.
"Are these guys seriously blaming me for getting kidnapped?" he grumbled as he read through the article "not like I chose to get literally stabbed in the back."
"Izuku?"
He looked up from his phone to see Momo opening her eyes.
"Good morning" he smiled at her "Sleep well?"
"My neck hurts a bit" she muttered before her eyes snapped open.
"IZUKU!"
With a very unladylike shriek, she jumped forward. Izuku, not expecting the sudden move was forced to grab her with both arms and pull her into a hug to stop her from falling.
"…am I missing something?" he questioned as she buried her head in his chest "I saw the date. It's the next morning, so it's not like I was asleep for too long."
"You were stabbed!" she hissed "and then you were gone and then you were back but your hand was gone"
"Whoa" he rubbed her back "sounds like you've been through it huh."
"You're the one who was tortured!" she almost shrieked at him "the scars still haven't faded! How can you sit there and say that I've suffered?"
"I mean… I wasn't awake for most of it" he scratched the back of his head "I won't say it wasn't painful, but I made it out ok didn't I? On the other hand, you were probably freaking out."
He smiled at her.
"Sorry for making you worry"
She buried her head in his chest again.
"All Might!" Izuku called out as he ran towards his mentor on the beach.
"Young Midoriya!" All Might turned around and started running towards his student.
"All Might!"
"You took so long" All Might said cheerfully before cocking back his fist.
"Texas Smash!"
The fist went through Izuku's face, but the boy stepped back in surprise anyway.
"What was that for?" Izuku complained as he took a step forward "after a crazy victory like that too!"
"Crazy is right" All Might muttered "Don't worry about it, I just felt like doing that to you."
"…that's child abuse you know."
"I didn't punch Izuku Midoriya. I punched Beacon."
"That won't fly in court."
The two just stared at each other before chuckling.
"I'm…effectively retired" All Might said quietly as the two sat down near the water.
Izuku sighed, nodding.
"I figured, from that half and half form you had back then."
"And you keep getting into situations where you get hurt" All Might said with a frown.
"Oi. I'm actually pretty strong. In a world of level 20s, I'm like level 50. I just keep coming up against level 100s."
"I know your strength more than anyone else" All Might rolled his eyes "that's not what I mean."
Izuku tilted his head, waiting for his teacher to continue.
"It's this" All Might poked Izuku's forehead "Your style is too reckless. You won till now because of your body's regeneration, but just making through isn't enough anymore."
Izuku nodded.
"I want to be strong. So that people like you or my mom or my friends don't worry anymore."
All Might smiled at the boy.
"You already are strong. We just have to figure out a way to use that strength from a different angle."
Izuku hummed in agreement.
"I want to tell some people about One for All."
All Might sighed.
"Then tell them. It's your secret now after all."
Izuku whipped his head to look at his mentor.
"But what about the whole secrecy thing!? You're the one who told me to keep it quiet!"
"That was before. The fight we had back on I-island as well as last night made me understand that the situation needed to change."
"Huh? How did us fighting together change your mind?"
"It made me realize something" All Might said as he slung his uninjured arm over Izuku's shoulder "it helped me remember what it's like to fight alongside someone you don't need to hold back for."
Izuku grinned.
"You saying I'm a good partner?"
All Might chuckled.
"Yeah, in a way."
The two sat in silence for a while.
"If you don't mind me asking, who were you planning on telling?"
Izuku drew circles in the sand.
"Momo, Katsuki and my mother. She's…not doing too well right now. Feels like it's her fault that I've gone down this path of danger."
All Might nodded.
"Then…do you mind if I am there when you tell your mother? The school will be doing home visits to every student's home before the end of the week. I can ensure I am the one sent to your house."
Izuku wanted to ask why they were visiting everyone, but he kept it to himself.
"All right then. I'll tell Momo and Katsuki tomorrow when my mom is out then."
"So, your new powers came from All Might…" Momo started.
"…which was made by that industrial mask villain like 200 years ago…" Katsuki continued.
"And now you're awakening 6 other quirks?" Momo finished.
The two sat in silence for a second before nodding.
"What's with that tame reaction?" Izuku questioned with a sweat drop at Momo and Katsuki's blank expression.
"I mean…" Momo started before trailing off, looking at Katsuki for words to say.
"…we're not dumb?" the spiky haired blonde said with a shrug "it was obvious that sudden power up and black lightning wasn't part of your quirk."
"We didn't know how it happened, but we knew you'd tell us what was happening when the time came" Momo said with a smile "and clearly, we were right."
Izuku stared at her before slamming his head on his dining table.
Ignoring Katsuki's cackling, Izuku looked up to meet Momo's eyes.
"I'm such an idiot."
"Damn right you are. Also, why?" Katsuki said as Momo flicked his forehead.
"I was expecting having to give a full speech and stuff" Izuku sighed.
"You still could if you want" Momo offered.
"I'll save it for my mom" Izuku sighed.
"Speaking of her, where is she?" Katsuki asked as he cracked his neck "old hag wanted me to tell her to visit next weekend."
"She's gone to visit dad's grave" Izuku answered "Me getting snatched up again really freaked her out. She was putting on a brave front with the UA staff till I was back, but the moment I returned she wouldn't let me go till she was asleep."
"Makes sense" Katsuki nodded "she's as stubborn as my mom when it comes to stuff like that."
"Soft shit is for family" Izuku quoted his friend's mom before giving his own perspective "I don't really think that pushing down feelings is healthy though"
Both his friends shook their heads.
"You of all people can't say that" Katsuki muttered as the trio got up "you tell Hitoshi about any of this?"
"I wanted to" Izuku said as he scratched the back of his head "Can't get in contact with him."
"Neither could I" Momo added "our last interaction was him informing me that Aizawa-sensei as well as Principal Nezu were contacting him for something."
Izuku frowned in thought.
"Do you think they're gonna build him up to being an underground hero?" Katsuki asked as he looked at both of his friends.
"Could be" Izuku sighed "they wouldn't tell us even if we asked though. Not with the security breach that happened."
"The camp's location, right?" Momo asked.
Katsuki spoke up after Izuku's nod.
"it's not just that. The USJ attack was done because they knew All Might would be there at that exact time. It wouldn't be crazy to say the villains have an insider."
"Probably a student then" Izuku muttered.
Katsuki and Momo glanced at each other.
"Why are you so sure it isn't one of the teachers? A dirty hero isn't exactly new to us, is it?" Katsuki questioned.
"The background checks for teachers are much harsher than it is for us. Plus, the attacks only began once our school year started. Wouldn't be crazy to say that there's someone from 1A or 1B that's helping the villains."
Momo nodded.
"They might not even be aware. We cannot assume the worst from the start. For all we know, they could just have been put under surveillance, and accidentally leaked it."
"In that case, the spy is someone we have to save" Izuku said firmly. "No matter what, we figure this out. Together."
Momo and Katsuki nodded.
"Together."