"…You can really do something like that?"
Even All Might was visibly shaken.
After all, Shota Aizawa's dry eyes weren't just a simple condition—they were directly tied to his Quirk.
Aizawa's ability, Erasure, allowed him to nullify the Quirks of anyone within his line of sight. However, the moment he blinked, the effect was broken, and his opponent would regain their power.
That meant, in battle, Aizawa had to keep his eyes open continuously.
No blinking.
No rest.
Over time, the lack of moisture naturally led to chronic dryness. It wasn't that he had never sought treatment before—but his Quirk made recovery nearly impossible. Even if the condition improved temporarily, it would quickly relapse.
Eventually, he simply gave up.
In other words—
his combat effectiveness was directly tied to how long he could keep his eyes open.
The longer he stared, the longer his opponent remained powerless.
But if he never had to blink at all—
…it would be a completely different level.
And now—
Shina Etsuha was saying he could make that happen.
That wasn't just treatment.
It was an enhancement.
"Is that really possible?" Aizawa's voice was uncharacteristically tense, his heartbeat picking up.
"It's not difficult," Etsuha replied calmly. "My Quirk isn't just healing—it's genetic modification."
He turned slightly, explaining in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Your dry eyes are simply the result of prolonged exposure without lubrication. If I modify your eye structure so it can clean and moisturize itself, the problem disappears."
He continued:
"People blink for three main reasons: to protect the eyes, to keep them clean and hydrated, and to relieve fatigue. All of these can be addressed directly."
"For example, when exposed to bright light, we instinctively close our eyes to protect them. But if you can precisely control the dilation of your pupils, that reaction becomes unnecessary."
Aizawa froze—
then nodded slowly.
"…I see."
It made perfect sense.
If the structure of the eye itself was improved, then keeping it open indefinitely wouldn't be a problem at all.
The issue that had plagued him for years—
could be solved at the root.
"So," Etsuha said with a faint grin, "interested in treatment?"
"Wait!"
Aizawa snapped back to reality.
He had come here to accompany All Might, not to become the first test subject.
"What is it?" Etsuha asked, slightly puzzled.
"I'm not the one—"
Before he could finish, All Might pulled him aside.
The two moved to a corner and spoke in hushed voices.
"What do you think of his ability?" All Might asked seriously.
"…It's terrifying," Aizawa admitted. "This isn't simple healing like Recovery Girl. It's genetic modification. At its peak… I wouldn't be surprised if he could even create Quirks for others."
All Might nodded grimly.
"That thought crossed my mind as well. If he can modify the human body at that level… then enhancing physical capability wouldn't be out of the question either."
They discussed for a long time.
Finally, Aizawa took a deep breath.
"…You're right. We should test it first. If what he says is true, then treating you won't be a problem."
"You don't have to take that risk," All Might said.
"Don't be ridiculous. The worst-case scenario? I only use one eye."
With that, Aizawa turned and walked back.
"Shina," he said, his tone steady but cautious, "how long would the treatment take?"
"For just the eyes?" Etsuha smiled. "Not much effort at all."
"…That doesn't reassure me."
Aizawa sat down in front of him anyway.
"Start with my left eye."
"Alright."
Etsuha didn't waste time.
He raised a hand and gently placed it over Aizawa's eye. As he focused, the genetic structure of Aizawa's eye appeared clearly in his perception.
"…So this is it."
Complex strands of genetic information intertwined before him. Among them, a distinct red chain stood out—the origin of Aizawa's Quirk.
Etsuha quickly identified the relevant components and made precise adjustments.
At the same time, he accelerated cellular division to complete the process instantly—though it came at the cost of physical energy.
Moments later, he withdrew his hand.
"…That's it?" Aizawa blinked in surprise.
But in the very next instant—
his body felt heavy.
An overwhelming fatigue surged through him, as if he had just run dozens of kilometers under a blazing summer sun. Sweat poured from his body as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Haa… haa… why am I this exhausted…?"
Yet—
his left eye—
felt completely different.
Clear.
Cool.
Even without blinking, it felt naturally moisturized, as if a gentle stream of water flowed across its surface.
"…What is this?"
Aizawa stood and looked into a mirror nearby.
And in that instant—
he realized—
his left eye had changed.