Chapter Text
“Come on Izuku, you’re gonna miss the best part!”
“Coming!”
I quickly put on the Bakugos’ guest slippers and joined Kacchan on the couch. Kacchan and I have watched all the All Might movies that came out at the time, but rewatching them never got old to us. Both Kacchan and I are practically breathing on the screen when All Might said,
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
When I was four at the time I thought that line meant to use your powers for good, but now… I’ve learned what that line really meant…
_____________
*RIIIIIIIIIIING!*
After I heard the final school bell for the day, I put my notebook and pencil in my bookbag, collected the books I needed for my homework, and started to walk out of Aldera High School before the inevitable happened.
“Oi, Deku!”
I turn around and see my childhood friend with his lackeys, somehow looking more pissed off than usual.
Okay, Izuku. He definitely knows that you applied to UA. Maybe just pretend that he doesn’t totally scare the crap outta you and maybe you’ll live.
I took a deep breath, steadied myself internally and physically, and said a simple, “Yes Kacchan?-”
Before I knew it Kacchan grabbed the collar of my shirt and slammed me against the nearest wall, for sure leaving a bruise on my back as a reminder to contemplate my life choices.
Kacchan butted my head and said, “Who the hell do you think you are applying to UA?!”, he slammed me on the wall again, “You should know by now that I don’t make empty threats!”
Two months from the day Kacchan told me not to apply to UA or else he would make my life a living hell there. When he said it, I was honestly surprised that I didn’t mind. It’s sad that in my heart I still thought of him as a friend, yet there were far-and-between moments where he did feel like one. I did believe him when he said he doesn’t make empty threats, however, I’d noticed that I’m the exception to that rule. He’d give me advice masking as threats, stop bullies when they’d gone too far, and once secretly gave me his lunch when my mom didn’t have the money to get food for the week.
I want to become friends with him again. UA just put the idea into action.
Releasing Kacchan's hold from me I looked him dead in the eyes and said, “You’re not going to stop me from accomplishing my dreams, Kacchan.”
Kacchan for a millisecond had a look of shock.
“You overconfident little shi-”
One of Kacchan’s lackeys tapped his shoulder and pointed to the vice principal walking towards them. Kacchan let out a “*Tch-*” and walked away with his hands in his pockets, “No matter what college you go to, you’ll always be a useless Deku.”
He always has to have the last word, doesn’t he…
That ended much better than I expected, but it still was taxing. At that moment I remembered I saved some cash to buy the only All Might movie I don’t have in my collection.
Maybe that can cheer me up?
I pretty much memorized the quickest way to go to the closest BlockBuster to the school. Squirming through crowded areas into sketchy dark alleyways until I stood in front of a blue and yellow door. As per usual, I heard the jingle from the door opening and strolled towards the counter. Jiro looked up from her phone and sighed.
“Midoriya, I feel like you should work here due to the number of times you come, but all you’ll do is steal the All Might movies.”
“Hah… Am I really that bad?”
“Yes, yes you are… I found all the All Might: All for One vs. One for All Director’s Cut movies that were in the back or that people offered. If I remember correctly, didn’t you say you already have the movie?”
“It isn’t just the same movie. I need to find the movie with All Might’s signature in it. There are only one hundred copies with his signature!”
All Jiro did was roll her eyes and looked back at her phone because she knew that I was just going to ramble. I was so focused on telling Jiro the importance of the signature that I didn’t hear someone come in, nor the someone approach me.
“You’re quite the All Might fanboy, huh?”
I turned around and saw a skinny man with baggy clothes, unkempt blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. He looked maybe in his 40s.
Why is this guy approaching me?
“Oh yeah”, I slightly blushed due to the fact that I rambled in front of a total stranger, “I’ve watched the movies for as long as I can remember.”
“I don’t see a lot of kids like yourself watching them, let alone know about them. They’re quite old movies.”
“I guess that’s true, but they’re classic hero movies to me at least.”
“If you don’t mind, can you show me some of your favorite All Might movies? I’d like to know from an expert.”
“Um, sure.”
As I walked the blonde man towards the All Might display, I stared down Jiro communicating don’t you dare leave your sight on those movies and Jiro gave me a thumbs up without looking up from her phone.
Looking at the All Might movie display in all its glory I picked out my favorites from what was there.
“Oh! The All Might: Stain movie is really good. It really dives deep into hero society and why All Might as a character is important. And All Might: Rising. It’s the only movie that explores his origin story but I wished we got more. My all-time favorite movie is All Might: All for One vs. One for All, specifically the director’s cut. ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ feels so impactful in that movie… but I still can’t find a copy with All Might’s signature on it.”
The blonde man looked around the BlockBuster before he whispered in my ear, “I can guarantee that I can give you a copy with his signature.”
“What? How?”
“Well, you’re looking at the one and only All Might in the flesh.”
“You’re All Might?” Looking at the blonde man he didn’t resemble All Might at all. “All Might” stretched his neck and shoulders to get himself ready for…something.
“I think I can still pull off the look, but-”
Suddenly the blonde man changed his face, somehow smoothing his hair into the iconic V-shape, and showing off the sharp facial features that only belong to All Might.
“With this face, you can’t mistake me for anyone else.”
I’ve seen a lot of fans try to recapture the look of All Might, but watching All Might on screen for who knows how long, there’s no mistake that this man-
“Y-YOU’RE! YOU’RE ALL MI-!!!”
All Might placed his hand on my mouth.
WOW!! What an honor!
“Shh… Keep it down will you? *Hugh…* this is why I don’t like messing with fans”, he said before he reluctantly took his hand away from my face.
“Then why tell me?”
“I don’t know what it is about you, but I can tell you’re different from any fan I’ve encountered.”
Huh? What does that mean?!
All Might continued, “Tomorrow I can give you the movie. Same time, same place. I’ll see you later, kid.”
All Might waved me goodbye before he left the BlockBuster and all I could do was stand there in awe.
I-I just met THE All Might! Wait, why was All Might of all people doing in a random BlockBuster of all places?! Today has been a very strange day…
Shaking my head, I walked towards the door as well before I turned to Jiro.
“So uh, I don’t need to look through the pile of movies after all. I found another way to find the copy.”
“So I did all that work for nothing?! You gotta be kidding me!”
“Sorry, Jiro…”
After what a hectic day today has been I decided to take a scenic route back home. Even though Gantry Plaza State Park isn’t among the most popular, I loved to walk along the waterfront when the sunset was out. It was one of my favorite views of the city.
As I walked, a scream caught my attention. A little girl wearing a big sun hat and pigtails was screaming at a bench while pointing towards the backrest.
“AHH! It’s gonna kill me!”
That girl isn't screaming at the bench. She's screaming at the spider on it!
It was a Joro spider, scientifically known as the Trichonephila clavata spider. I didn’t express this often, but spiders were actually one of my favorite animals. It was strange to see one in New York since they are native to West Asia and hang around trees.
“Don’t worry,” I said, carefully approaching the little girl, reaching out to the spider to show that it wasn’t a threat.
"This is a Joro spider. They look scary, but they’re practically harmless. They’re actually pretty skittish.”
To my surprise, the spider climbed onto my finger.
“*Hm.* This one seems quite friendly though, but don’t worry. Their bites only cause redness-”
The spider bit me and what happened next I couldn't even describe. It’s like I could see the venom enter my body, not just visually but on a molecular level. The venom turned my transparent cells into bright blue, seemingly encompassing my whole body, changing it in subtle ways from my toes to my head. It was all I could see, all I could do.. It was all I could see, all I could do. Then… everything went black, and slowly I heard a sound filling my ears.
*beep-*
*Beep!-*
*BEEP!!-*
*BEEP!!!-*
As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized I was in my room and that noise was my alarm.
How did I get here was all I could think about. I didn't recall when I got back home, but waking up at home was better than waking up somewhere else. At least I could finally relax after yesterday.
The storm has finally passed.
Right..?