Chapter 13: Power

"So let me get this straight," Nana said, massaging her temples. While Touya went back to work, Kuro took Nana to his place to explain the situation. "Apparently instead of killing me, All for One sent me flying into the future, Toshinori is the number one hero, and All For One is still alive with my grandson as his successor."

"Exactly," Kuro said, munching on one of Inko's cookies. If no one knew any better, one would say he had a problem. "You sure you don't want one?"

"No, I want to see my student," Nana demanded, seriously resisting the urge to have a cookie for some unknown reason.

"Well, you'll have to wait until the festival is over," Kuro said. "Yagi-kun is watching over his successor."

"He already has his successor?" Nana asked. "Man, I've been gone for awhile."

"Yeah," Kuro said.

"So, who is it?" Nana asked, curiously.

"Me."

Izuku dodged another pillar of ice. "Why aren't you using your fire?!"

"I will not use his power!" Shoto dodged another punch from Izuku and tried to blast him with ice, but Izuku shattered it with his foot.

"It's not his power!" Izuku yelled back. "It never was! Don't let him control you from behind bars! It's your power!"

Something clicked in Shoto as he jumped back, smirking as a huge torrent of fire burst from his side. "Claiming you'll win while helping an enemy, huh? You have a death wish, don't you."

"No, I'll still win," Izuku proclaimed as his energy spiked, blood spurting from his arms and legs from overexertion. "But helping someone will always be more important."

The two smiled as they charged each other as 5 pillars of concrete extended between them, but it meant nothing as the two titans clashed.

Enji smirked in his jail cell. That was his son. He thought back to all of the things he did to his son. Maybe Kuro was on to something. He lowered his head in shame as he slowly started to realize what he did to his family. It was too late now. He already made his mistakes. He silently hoped that wherever they were, his family was happy without him, and he wished he could have done better.

"So cool!" Eri glowed on Fuyumi's lap. The class was sitting in front of a TV screen and watching the sports festival. "I want to be just like Izu-nii when I grow up!"

"Todoroki is so cool!"

"Midoriya is amazing!"

Fuyumi smiled softly as she wiped her eyes behind her glasses. Shoto was finally accepting himself. She put a hand on Eri's head. "Yeah, your brother is really cool."

A tear fell down Rei's cheek and fell on the bed as she watched her son on the television screen. "Shoto," she whispered. "I'm so proud."

"That's my little brother," Touya smirked as he served another drink.

"Really?" A slightly tipsy Compress took another shot and slammed his glass on the table. "He's quite the showman. You should be proud."

"Of course I am," Touya said, smiling at the television. "Speaking of showmen, I have a proposition for you."

"Oh?" Compress smirked as Touya served him another drink. "Please. Do tell."

Izuku slowly stood up from the impact. Shoto was buried in the wall, unconscious. He had won. He weakly put a hand up as the crowd cheered

"That's him," Kuro said as he took a sip of milk. "What do you think?"

"He's pretty good," Nana said, finally opening up and taking cookies. "Reminds me so much of Toshinori."

"Yeah, I really was like that back then," Kuro gave a nostalgic smile to the screen. "You better teach him well, ya hear?"

"You bet!" Nana gave the man her signature smile.

After healing up, Izuku was ready for the finals. As he prepared to exit, the door opened, revealing Shoto.

"Good match," Izuku said, extending a hand to his classmate.

"Thank you, Midoriya," Shoto softly smiled, shaking the boy's hand. "You really saved me."

"It's just my job," Izuku smiled back. "Now just sit back and watch me win."

"Oi, shitty Deku!" Kacchan yelled from across the arena. "I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"You're welcome to try, Kacchan!" Izuku yelled back.

"Fight!" Midnight yelled as the two dashed at each other.

Izuku threw a punch at Kacchan, but he dodged and aimed an explosion at his face. Izuku grabbed his hand and attempted to sweep his legs. Kacchan jumped and used his other hand to cause an explosion at Izuku side. Izuku flew a few feet before catching his balance and flew back at Kacchan, kicking his face. As they fought, the two realized they were smiling.

"Hey, Kacchan," Deku asked as he jumped back, dodging an explosion before dashing. "Why are you smiling?"

"Shut up!" Kacchan yelled back as he attempted to uppercut his rival. "You're smiling too!"

The two continued to fight and smile, exchanging witty banter while they fought. The audience was in awe, wondering how the two could be taking such an intense fight so jovially.

"Izu-nii and Kacchan are so cool!" Toga shouted from the stands.

"Who let you call him Izu-nii?" Ochaco pouted next to her.

"He did, Occhan," Toga giggled as she continued to watch the two boys fight.

"I told you not to call me Occhan!" Ochaco puffed out her cheeks.

"I can't help it when you puff your cheeks out like that!" Toga poked Ochaco's cheek, causing the girl to blush. "It's so cute!"

"Shut up!" Ochaco yelled as the two started to play fight.

Meanwhile, Deku and Kacchan were panting on the opposite sides of the arena, still smiling.

"How about we finish this, Kacchan?" Izuku said, smiling smugly at his rival.

"Let's finish this, shitty Deku," Kacchan's devilish smirk plastered on his face as he prepared his strongest attack. He dashed towards the young man, using his explosions to gain momentum. "HOWITZER IMPACT!"

Izuku channeled all the power he could muster in his hand as he dashed towards the gigantic mass of explosions. "SMASH!"

The resulting impact would have blown up the entire stadium if the heroes weren't there to subside the explosion before that could happen.

"In first place, Midoriya Izuku!" All Might shouted. After about half an hour of repairs, the awards were announced. While both were unconscious, Kacchan had sustained more damage, and that was how Izuku was given the win.

Izuku smiled as he received the first place medal from his teacher and idol.

"Hey, Deku!" Kacchan called Izuku from the second place stand. "I'll kick your ass next time!"

Izuku smiled as the two firmly shook hands. "I'll be waiting."

A few minutes after the festival, All Might took his phone and looked at the number. It was Kuro's. Kuro only called when something was important and he couldn't make it there in person. All Might answered and put the phone to his ear. "What's up, Black Lightning?"

"Can you come over to my place? It's urgent," Kuro said from the other side of the phone. His surroundings were deathly quiet.

"I'll be there," All Might said, hanging up the phone and dashing towards Kuro's apartment. Kuro never used the word "urgent". Ever. All Might jumped from building to building, ready to support his friend and comrade at a moment's notice. He landed on Kuro's front step and knocked on the door.

After a couple seconds, Kuro answered the door. "Thanks for coming, Toshinori-san."

"What seems to be the problem?" Things weren't adding up. Kuro only used his name when he was in his skinny form, which he was not, and when someone else in the room knew his identity. "Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary."

"Well, about that." Kuro said, stepping aside. All Might's face paled as if he saw a ghost. He was seeing a ghost.

"Shimura-san?"

After a long hug between student and mentor, the three heroes sat in the room where Kuro usually had his support groups. "So All For One transported you into the future instead of actually killing you?"

"That seems to be the case," Nana said. "Kuro's been caring for me ever since."

"And how do you know about One For All?" All Might asked the man.

"Did you really think All For One only stayed in Japan?" Kuro asked All Might seriously. Of course, All For One never had any intention of leaving Japan until he took it over, but they didn't need to know that. "My country was destroyed by him before I moved here. All For One tried to replicate the power of One For All. The result was me."

All Might stared at Kuro in shock. It made so much sense. The sparks of energy, the strength. He was stronger than All Might currently, but was weaker than he was in his prime. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Kuro said softly as he put a hand on All Might's shoulder. 'At least I can use this power for good."

"The real problem will be confronting Torino," Nana said, staring at her hands. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to face him yet."

"That's okay," Kuro said. "You can talk to him when you're ready. For now, we've all had a long day. Why don't we just enjoy each other's company? We can talk about training the young man later."

The two wielders of One For All nodded. Nothing was happening right now. They can relax for the time being, and they were going to need it.