When Midoriya opened his eyes again, he saw a familiar white ceiling.
"…The same ceiling."
He rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up.
"Well, well. Did you sleep well, young Midoriya?"
Midoriya turned his head.
"All Might!"
The sight of him lit up the room. Midoriya's face brightened instantly as he scrambled forward—almost tumbling off the bed.
All Might caught him just in time.
"Careful there."
"Sorry!" Midoriya said quickly, then looked up at him with shining eyes. "All Might… are you teaching here?"
"I am."
The answer came with that same reassuring smile.
Midoriya's excitement was impossible to hide. Being able to talk to his hero like this felt unreal.
He took a breath, then asked the question he had been holding onto.
"…Do you think someone without a Quirk can still become a hero?"
He closed his eyes as he spoke, as if bracing himself.
For a moment, All Might didn't answer.
The scene overlapped with a memory—another rooftop, another version of this same boy, asking the same question.
Then he smiled.
"You can become a hero."
Midoriya's eyes snapped open.
"Really?!"
His small hands lifted in excitement.
"So," All Might continued, "will you be joining Class 1-A again this afternoon?"
"Yes!"
Later that day, Midoriya sat in the classroom with the others.
Bakugo and Todoroki were there too—both with fresh bandages and small cuts.
"Tch…"
"…I still need to surpass him…"
Their voices were low, but the tension lingered.
At the front of the room, Mina watched them both and sighed.
This is All Might's fault, somehow.
"Today's assignment is—"
"Hey, Deku."
Bakugo nudged Midoriya's desk without thinking.
But Midoriya, smaller and lighter than usual, lost his balance.
He tipped backward.
For a split second, everything froze.
Then—
"I've got him!"
Mineta launched himself over his desk, arms outstretched.
He caught Midoriya mid-fall.
A second later—
Crash.
They hit the floor together, a desk tipping over onto them.
"Midoriya, are you okay?!"
"Are you hurt?"
Students rushed over.
Mineta shoved the desk aside, still holding Midoriya protectively. A large swelling had already formed on his head.
"…Does anyone care about me?" he groaned.
Kirishima gave him a thumbs-up.
"That was the manliest thing I've ever seen you do."
"Agreed," Kaminari added. "If you leave out the usual stuff."
Midoriya reached out, gently touching the bump on Mineta's head.
"It's so big… does it hurt?"
"…A lot."
Midoriya leaned in and kissed it lightly.
"There. All better."
He smiled, small and sincere.
For a moment, the room went completely still.
Did we just witness something incredible…?
After school, the top ten students gathered to take Midoriya home.
Their group chat buzzed as they walked.
Yaoyorozu Momo: I've prepared bedding at Midoriya's house. You won't need to bring anything.
Ochaco Uraraka: Thanks, Momo! But what about dinner? I can only make instant noodles…
Denki Kaminari: I can make instant noodles too.
Kyoka Jiro: That's the same thing.
Minoru Mineta: Someone save me! Ever since that happened, Bakugo and Todoroki have been chasing me nonstop!
Eijiro Kirishima: No saving you. Good luck.
Denki Kaminari: Good luck +1
Katsuki Bakugo: You've got time to text? Get back here!
Minoru Mineta: I'm airborne. Feeling great.
Shoto Todoroki: I'll add another push.
Mezo Shoji: Something just flew over me… I think it was on fire.
Minoru Mineta: Even if I go out like this, I have one thing to say—today, I'm taking care of Midoriya!
Denki Kaminari: Zero survival instinct. I'd never announce that.