"Haah… haah…"
On the other side of the city, after parting ways with All Might at the seaside park, Izuku Midoriya dragged his exhausted body along the road home.
For a lifelong indoor nerd like him, physical training had always been his weakest area.
Weighted running?
That was practically torture.
But this was the training All Might had personally designed for him—the path to becoming a hero.
There was no way he could refuse.
No—
He had never even considered refusing.
Because this was his only chance.
"I'm… so tired…"
Midoriya clenched his trembling fist, muscles aching from overuse.
"All Might said this level of training wasn't even a warm-up for him…"
He let out a weak laugh.
"As expected of All Might…"
Then his expression softened.
"When will I… be able to become a hero like him?"
His eyes reflected a mix of confusion about the future, instinctive timidity—
And a slowly rising, unextinguishable determination.
"I'll become a hero. Not just for All Might's expectations… but for everyone who needs help—for—"
Thud.
He walked straight into something solid.
It felt like slamming into a metal wall.
But from the shape and warmth, it was very clearly a person.
Midoriya immediately stumbled back and bowed deeply.
"I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! I'm really, really sorry!"
His body stiffened in apology.
Not breathing.
Not moving.
Apologizing first had long since become instinct.
Courtesy of a certain explosive childhood friend.
But this time, the reaction he received was unexpected.
The other person didn't sound irritated at all.
Instead—
"Eh? Aren't you… the brave guy from that day?"
Midoriya froze.
"Didn't expect to see you here," the voice continued cheerfully. "What a coincidence."
"…Eh?"
Midoriya slowly straightened up.
The person he'd bumped into was a boy around his age.
Short blue hair.
Clear, bright eyes.
A clean, friendly face.
He looked like the kind of guy who would be the center of a class without even trying.
And he was taller.
Much taller.
"Um… have we met?" Midoriya asked hesitantly.
Because he was absolutely certain—
He had never seen this person before.
Yet the boy was acting as if they were acquaintances.
Had he forgotten someone important?
The blue-haired boy laughed casually and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Come on, don't tell me you forgot."
"The Sludge Villain incident."
Midoriya's eyes widened.
"That day, all those Pro Heroes were stuck."
"But you were the only one who ran forward and broke the deadlock."
"You were seriously amazing."
Midoriya's face turned red instantly.
"N-No! Not at all! I didn't do anything! I just caused trouble for the heroes!"
"Hey," the boy grinned, raising a thumb. "Having the courage to move is already incredible."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Some people don't even have that."
Compared to the professionals who had hesitated—
This Quirkless boy who ran forward without thinking about himself was far rarer.
Shigaraki thought so.
Yes.
The blue-haired boy standing here—
Was Shigaraki Tomura.
He had originally planned to head to Kabukicho, relax, unwind after the battle at the slaughterhouse.
Instead—
He saw him.
Izuku Midoriya.
The protagonist of My Hero Academia.
And the destined nemesis of "Shigaraki Tomura."
Kabukicho could wait.
But opportunities to influence the protagonist?
Those didn't come often.
So Shigaraki discarded his original plan instantly—
And staged a perfectly natural "accidental" encounter.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios