Chapter 68

All Might was sitting while looking at Lee, who somehow was refusing to sit down next to him.

He let a defeated sigh. The number one hero could see that the young man was overthinking and looking around.

Lee seemed to be suspicious from the isolated places, even with the strongest hero in Japan – him – being here.

But he couldn't blame the kid.

After all, he had been attacked at the festival and had fought villains on his own. Not to mention that he had almost died in USJ back then. He must have been raising his guard, even when being inside a secure place at UA high school.

That how a hero should be, restless and always having his guard up, even at the tiny split of peace.

'Good, but poor, kiddo.'

All Might let a sigh as he lowered his head and thought about his life.

Because of his injury, his daily time became less and less, as he is getting weaker. All Might was concerned about this country, what would happen to it once he falls.

He needed someone to take his place, someone reliable.

And that green-haired kid he had in mind didn't seem to have the Qualities.

But looking at Lee, he's careful, even in a peaceful place like this. Not to mention that he can grow to be very strong. And he was a person who would fight to the last blood without being coward.

All Might wanted to know if this kid would be still sarcastic about being the Symbol of Peace once he tells him the truth.

"Lee, what do you think about being the Symbol of Peace?"

"I don't know, you tell me." Lee half-closed his eyes as he said.

"Hehe…" All Might chuckled, "Kiddo. I'm serious here. Do you want to know how it feels like, the symbol of peace?"

"I may not look like an adult, so I prefer to leave those things out of my mind." Lee sounded deep as he took a step back. "Besides, don't you have a reputation to look after?"

"Hah," All Might flexed. "I'm not kidding Lee. I want really to know if you want to take my job."

"Are you threatened by me? Or do you want something else, to ask me what's it like to be you?"

"No…" All Might realised that he may have sounded suspicious to the kiddo.

Now he thought of it, why would Lee believe him anyway.

He is just an old hero who is offering some random student to take his job.

Of course, Lee won't believe him like this.

"Then why?" Lee asked.

All Might title his head back, let a sigh, and said. "Because I'm dying." He then watched Lee's reaction to his words.

Lee blinked twice. "But in your career, you've never lost, much less being on verge of death."

All Might's muscles started to shrink. His appearance started to change from a behemoth hero to a skinny normal-looking person, who you may mistake for a peaceful middle-aged man.

Lee raised his eyebrows as he seemed to be questioning his eyes. The hero has changed all of the sudden to unknown pathetic form.

But he seemed to be rational enough to know that it was him, All Might.

"I may not continue my job." All Might decided to tell Lee the truth. Since he chose him, it would be better, to be honest with him.

He raised his shirt, revealing an injury next to his ribs.

Lee looked to put his guard down now. Huh, did he shock Lee so much that he wasn't willing to guard against any possible danger?

"What is that… you're injured?"

"As you can see, for the last years, I've been the pillar of this country. I have been fighting and always wining. But even for someone like me, fate won't be merciful…"

All Might started to tell Lee his story, how he was a hero and how he was fighting.

But in one of the days, he had met with a very strong villain, who had fought with him to the death.

However, at the end of the battle, the two of them had sustained harsh injuries.

All Might, because of some acidic chemical, lost his stomach, and his respiratory system was beyond repaired. Because of this, All Might was able to use his power only for a limited duration through the day. With each passing month, he was getting weaker and weaker. Now, in those last years, his activity range became less and less. Yet, he did his best to help people.

All Might didn't tell Lee about the power that can be passed, or that he was looking for an heir for that power, as he wanted to see Lee's reaction as if the young man would turn heroic in the face of this thing.

"I am a pathetic old man, for not being able to continue my job as a hero;" All Might sounded sarcastic about himself. He then stared at Lee, "what do you say, after my death, or retirement, Japan would be flipped upside down. People would need a hero who takes my place.

"I only have seen potentials in you."

To All Might, that was one of the utmost protected secrets.

No one knows about this except for a few people and the teachers in UA.

Lee lowered his head and was silent for a long time.

He seemed to be deeply thinking of it.

All Might sighed as he lifted his head and started to think while waiting for an answer.

Probably he should've told what Lee would get once he accepts All Might as a trainer.

But he didn't want to cut his trails thoughts.

"Yare Yare." Came Lee's answer.

"What have you decided."

"Why wouldn't you just continue your job?"

"Hehe…" All Might didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I have told you why already.

Lee made eye contact with All Might, who was waiting for an answer.

Would Lee accept, or would he just be afraid of the responsibility and slip away.

"I like the peace in Japan as it is," Lee rubbed his chin. All might smiled.

"But I like my lifestyle as it is as well."

But, in a split of a second, that smile vanished as fast as Lee vanished from the sight.

A painful feeling came to All Might from his stomach.

Sweeping his eye down, he saw Lee's finger, on his lung, and sparkling with yellow sparks.

That was painful, as it caught him off guard, and in his weak form.

Did Lee attack him!

But All Might didn't believe, or, at least, could make sense of the action of the young hero.

"Why don't you just continue your job, or just relax."

Lee took his finger back and stared at the hero, with a cold expression. All Might held his stomach all of the sudden, struggled to breathe as he was feeling that his lungs were emptied from the air.

What's going on? Why was he attacked?

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