Aizawa decided that the world was planning against him.

_____________________________________

At first, when he saw the text Izuku sent, he thought that the kid probably wasn't feeling well and wanted to come home. However, when the location said Hosu city, alarms rang in his head. Hosu was under attack and his problem child managed to get involved despite his internship being nowhere near Hosu. Was the world out to get Midoriya?

Half an hour later, most probably with a couple of speeding tickets, Aizawa found himself in Hosu's alleyways. Oddly enough, to his luck, he ran into Gran Torino and a couple of Endeavor's sidekicks. Todoroki apparently ran off on his father after receiving a text. A coincidence? He thought the hell not. Those damn kids.

Aizawa expected to see Izuku caught up in some fight with Nomu's, perhaps saving some civilians. What he didn't expect was to find that the kid had fought the freaking hero killer and actually won. He would have to reprimand and thoroughly punish Iida for thinking revenge was the way to go. However, now they had more pressing matters at hand.

Todoroki and Iida were relatively fine. Iida had an injury to the arm but thankfully the bleeding seemed to have stopped.

Izuku, on the other hand, wasn't in the best shape. Many scratches littered his body, his costume was torn in multiple places and he was drenched in sweat, probably exhausted from the whole ordeal. However, the most prominent and worrying wound was the knife still embedded in his back. It was bleeding heavily and he seemed to have broken the handle in order to fight. Smart but reckless. The kid is definitely going to be the reason for his early death.

Aizawa couldn't help the relief that flooded his system though. His kids were fine. Considering who they were up against, it's a miracle they are still alive. Aizawa knew he needed to count his blessings. This could have gone a lot worse.

Yet, life always has a way to fuck things up. Right?
One moment everything was fine and then all hell broke loose.

A winged Nomu came straight for them, the creature was blinding from its arm, the blood dripping into one of the sidekick's clothes. It's eyes wild and its demeanor unstable. It seemed with no particular target in mind, despite having dove for Todoroki.

Izuku, being the self-sacrificing problem child, he is. Ceremonially shoved Todoroki out of harm and was taken himself. Aizawa cursed as no one managed to react in time. Everyone watched helplessly as Izuku got taken away.

However, that's when something truly unexpected happened. In a blink of an eye, the hero killer had licked the blood off the poor sidekick. Effectively paralyzing the Nomu, bringing it low enough for him to jump on it and stab it in the brain.

Aizawa couldn't even be relieved after that, because as soon as they were on the ground, stain got up and declared his new-found epiphany to the world. Painting a blaring red target on the kid. There just had to be a news reporter recording at that particular moment.

Aizawa really thinks that the world is plotting against them.

_____________________________________

Izuku opens his eyes slowly, this scene is becoming unnaturally familiar to him.

He somehow managed to land himself back in a hospital room. The memories from their fight against the hero killer slowly creeping into his thoughts, he instantly shoots up. Where were Todoroki and Iida? Were they okay?

Pain flares on his back but he ignores it in order to look for his friends. He sighs in relief when he realizes that both Iida and Todoroki are in the room with him. Both of them freeze when they saw him, their heads snapping towards him, in an instant.

"Midoriya!" They call out in unison.

"G- Guys! Are you okay?" Both of them have confused and slightly exasperated looks on their faces, however, it's Todoroki that speaks up next.

"You wake up after being stabbed and taken by a Nomu and the first you do is ask if we're okay? Why am I not surprise Midoriya?" The fire and Ice user says with a huff.

"Midoriya! I must say, you had us worried, however, since you are awake. I must apologize to both of you. My actions were rash and unbecoming of a hero. I should have never gone after Stain. My actions brought shame to my family and most importantly got you two in harm's way." Iida somehow manages to bow his head enough to convey his apology, his voice is low and serious, regret and shame clear in his tone.

"Iida, what you did was wrong and reckless. But I should be apologizing too. I'm supposed to be your friend and I couldn't help you when you needed me the most. I knew that you weren't acting like yourself but I chose to ignore it and I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for Midoriya. You are a good friend. You saved my life, in fact, you both- "He gestures at Todoroki "- you both helped me see the light. You both helped me escape the darkness that was consuming my thoughts. Thank you, truly."

Todoroki nods in response, and Izuku gives Iida his most genuine smile. They may have nearly died but at least they were brought closer because of it.

The moment, however, is broken by the gust of wind that blows through the open window. The cold air, a cruel reminder that Izuku currently isn't wearing any shirt, his back has a bandage that wraps his shoulder blades and upper chest but nothing more. The realization hits him hard, His front is uncovered. His scars are on display.

His eyes widen as he hastily tries to cover up his body with the bed's sheets, however, his actions are stopped when a hand suddenly rests on his own.

Green panicked eyes meet heterochromatic ones and he lets out a breath he wasn't aware of holding. When did he get up?

"Midoriya, It's okay. I talked to Iida and he's willing to let you explain on your own terms." Todoroki's voice is calm and reassuring, but Izuku can't help but look over at Iida for confirmation.

Iida meets his eyes, a serious and concerned look flashing in his gaze. However, does nothing more than nod.

"You know Midoriya, friendship, goes both ways. I hope you know that I too, will always be there for you if you ever need me."

The tension in his limbs drop as he sighs in relief. What did he do to ever deserve such good friends?

_____________________________________

The afternoon passes in an uneventful matter. The chief of the police force comes by and informs them that they will be let off the hook this time. Their unlicensed quirk usage would normally cause them many problems. Yet, they decided to let them off with a warning. Having Endeavor, much to Todoroki's dismay, take the credit for apprehending Stain.

The media, however, wasn't as merciful. Every news channel was centered around stain's arrest, all of them obsessing over the fact that a UA student, a first year no less, was declared to be on the same level as All Might. Luckily, they hadn't exposed his identity yet, but the people would sooner or later put two and two together.

Stain's ideology was spreading like wildfire. His followers growing by the hours. People were noticing the faults in the system, no longer satisfied with how things were going.

Stain had started something that night. All the evil scattered around out there... we're all drawn to him, to his ideas and to the organization he was working with... The league of villains.

____________________________________

On the other side of the hospital, Torino talks to All might on a pay phone.

"That damned successor Toshinori. Where did you manage to find someone like him? He acts before he thinks! Just like you! But he's something else that boy... you chose well."

"I'm- yes. I did... didn't I?" Toshinori replies with a fond smile.

"I didn't call to talk about this though. The hero killer, I was only around the guy for a few minutes but it was more than enough to scare the crap out of me. He had this overwhelming pressure, his ideals intimidating and intense to a point where we were all frozen in place...The investigation will continue and his ideals and opinions will get out there... The age we live in, for better or for worse, is one of suppression. Mark my words, people are going to be influenced by this. The media is already making a connection with the league. The league of villains will go from this gang that attacked UA to something much more dangerous."

Torino takes a long breath and continues. His tone taking a darker tone.

"Shimura was my friend and your predecessor, the last user of One for all. And the man that killed her, the man that injured you five years ago... I think we can assume that One for all is still alive and behind all of this."

Toshinori who had been silent through Torino's speech finally speaks up.

"To think that he survived after all those wounds... I don't want to believe it."

"Midoriya's admiration for you is no joke. You need to tell him. The boy has the right to know what he's up against. He is One for all's current user after all. You need to tell him everything about One for all."

____________________________________

Izuku is walking through the hospital's halls when he runs into a familiar figure. They stare at each other for a moment. Who made the first move? They couldn't tell. However, the next thing they knew, they were both hugging each other. Izuku latching onto his homeroom teacher like a lifeline. The man basking in the comfort that his kid was indeed okay.

"Izuku. What you did was reckless and rash. You worried the hell out of me and don't you ever do that again. Do you understand?" Aizawa says, his voice firm, leaving no space for argument.

Once they separate from each other, Izuku being the reckless child that he is, decides to argue anyway.

"Y-yes Sensei. But I couldn't just leave Iida to die... I had to do something." Izuku hangs his head low, prepared for any kind of punishment.

"Problem child..." Aizawa mutters into his capture gear as he pulls the kid in for another hug.

"I- I'm sorry... I understand if you are upset." Izuku replies quietly.

"I am not mad at you. I was just worried." Aizawa notes that the boy hasn't flinched once during their interaction. His heart swells at the thought. Izuku really trusts him. "Let's go. We'll go by Torino's place to get your stuff and then we can head home alright?"

Home. Izuku thinks he'll never get used to having one.

___________________________________

"Thank you for everything you've taught me!" Izuku says giving a ninety-degree bow to his mentor. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you Gran Torino"

"You acted despite my orders but you did so to save a friend. However, you have a long way to go and a lot to learn if you really want to become the greatest hero."

"Yes, sir!"

"Well. Off you go now. I have food to get to."

"Oh okay! Thanks for everything!"

Torino watches as the kid walks down the steps, towards the car waiting for him. He may not act or talk like All might. But he still can see the man in him. He sees the influence and hope. This kid... This kid is going to change the world.

"Kid! One last thing."

Izuku turns around, slightly confused.

"Who are you?"

Gran watches as confusion turns to realization and morphs into pure determination. His mind flashes back to the end of his conversation with Toshinori.

'My friend chose you and you chose this boy... So, let's both help him Toshinori. So that by the time you're past your prime, this kid... his name...'

"It's DEKU!" Midoriya replies eagerly.

'will be hailed as THE SYMBOL OF PEACE.'