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Most kids looked forward to their sixteenth birthday. For Izuku, it had been the day haunting him his entire life. Today, the day he turned sixteen, was the day he was going to die.
Izuku sat in his bed watching the clock. Today was his last day. Every second that ticked by brought him closer and closer to his death. His bedroom door opened and his father stepped in. “Izuku, how long have you been awake?”
“Just a little bit.” Izuku lied. He’d been up all night, just like he had the rest of the week. How was he supposed to sleep knowing that this was his last morning.
His father leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Happy birthday, son. Are you excited?”
“I’m… I’m scared. Why do I have to die?” Izuku tore his eyes away from the clock to look up at his father’s face.
“Izu, we’ve been over this…” His father sighed. “Your body won’t last much longer. You’ll be in too much pain, I can’t let you go through that again.”
“What if it’s different this time?” Izuku begged.
“I’m not risking it.” His father answered in a stern voice. “Today is your birthday, and you’re going to enjoy it. Breakfast is ready, hurry and get dressed.”
Izuku tried not to feel strange as he dressed himself for the last time, made his bed for the last time, sat down for breakfast for the last time. His father had made all of his favorite foods and decorated the house with streamers and balloons. Despite this being his last day alive, his father acted as if everything were normal. Of course, for him things would be fine. He wasn’t the one who was going to die. They celebrated with cake and ice cream, even presents that Izuku knew he would never get the chance to use. It was like any other day, at least until the hours began to run out.
“Come downstairs, Izuku.” His father told him.
Izuku looked at his watch. The day wasn’t over yet. “Can’t I watch the sunset?” He asked.
His father hesitated, then nodded. “All right, you can watch from the window.”
Izuku watched until the stars came out. He stayed at the window until his father placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s time, son.”
“J-Just a bit longer.” Izuku had told himself that he wouldn’t cry. He had known all his life that this day was coming. Now that the time was finally here, he couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Hush now, it’s all right.” His father turned him away from the window and hugged him to his chest. “It won’t hurt.”
“I w-want to stay with you!” Izuku sobbed. “Please don’t make me go! I don’t want to!”
“You’ve been so brave, I know you can be brave just a while longer. You can do that for me, can’t you? Just like one of the heroes you love so much?”
Izuku tried to pull his shoulders back and lift his head, but he couldn’t. He hugged his father tightly and shook his head. “I l-love you, don’t make me go!”
“You’re like this every time.” His father sighed and lifted him into his arms. “We’re going downstairs now.”
“You promise it won’t hurt?” Izuku did his best to dry his eyes and be brave as his father carried him into the basement.
“Of course not, I could never hurt you son.” He kissed Izuku’s temple again and set him on the ready bed. “It will be just like falling asleep.”
Falling asleep and never waking up again. Izuku swallowed and sat silently as his father hooked him up to the machines. He was trembling, he couldn’t stop himself.
“Lie down, son.” His father coaxed him to lie down on the bed. There was just a pillow, no need for covers. “Are you comfortable?”
He wasn’t, but Izuku nodded.
“Good, now just hold still for daddy.” His father poked a long needle in his arm and started pushing the pale liquid into his veins. Izuku looked away, feeling dizzy already. He hated needles, maybe this was why. The needle pulled out and was replaced by a second. Izuku closed his eyes, hoping that it would just end. He was still awake minutes later, agonizing.
“Dad?” He started to cry again, opening his eyes to find his father’s loving face.
“What’s wrong?”
Izuku lifted his arms and found they felt heavy. His father sat beside him and pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back and quieting his sobs. “It’s all right, son, you don’t have to be scared. It’s almost over.”
Izuku’s mouth was going numb now and he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer but he wanted to say it one last time. “I love you.”
His father smiled, cradling Izuku’s body as it turned limp in his arms. After Izuku’s breathing and heart had stopped, he carefully laid him back onto the mattress. “I love you too, son.” He kissed Izuku’s forehead. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Sixteen Years Later
Toshinori was walking to the store when someone ran into his back. He turned around to see a young boy, somewhere in his mid teens, fall onto his backside. His knees, elbows, and hands were all scraped and bleeding. Had that been from this fall?
“Are you all right, young man?” He asked.
The boy startled at his voice, hurring to his feet once more. Without hesitation, he threw himself onto Toshi. “Please help me!”
Toshinori took a startled step back. “What’s wrong?” He took in the boys’ injuries and dirtied clothing and asked in a more gentle and urgent voice. “Are you in some kind of trouble, young man?”
The boy sobbed and buried his face in the stranger’s chest. “I don’t want to die! Please, I want to live this time! Don’t let him kill me!”
“Is someone chasing you?” He hesitantly placed a hand on the boy's head to comfort him.
“I don’t want to die!” He repeated again. “He says it won’t hurt but I d-don’t want to!”
“Okay, it’s okay. You aren’t going to die, kiddo. Calm down, I can help you.” He spoke softly and the boy’s ragged breath started to ease. “Now tell me what’s happening. Who is after you? Why are they trying to kill you?”
“B-Because it’s my birthday.” He wiped his eyes. “So I ran away.”
The man frowned. “Are they chasing you?” The boy nodded. “Do you know them?” He nodded again. “Can you tell me who it is?”
“Izuku, I hope you aren’t bothering this nice man.” Toshiori jolted at the familiar voice. Not sure he could believe his ears, he looked for the speaker. Perhaps he couldn’t believe his eyes either… shouldn’t this man be dead? Hadn’t he killed him with his own two hands seven years ago?
The boy hugged him tighter and screamed. “No! I don’t want to die!”
“All for One…” Toshi narrowed his eyes and protectively drew the boy closer to him. “What are you doing with this child?”
All for One paused, then smiled. Only his mouth remained, the rest of his face was gone. All Might hadn’t been the only one to walk away from their fight with such grave injuries. “My, my, if it isn’t All Might. What a good hero, finding lost children. That one belongs to me, so I would appreciate it if you gave him back.”
The boy shook his head and hugged Toshi tighter. “Don’t want to. Don’t want to die!” He cried.
Toshi gritted his teeth. “What have you been doing to him?”
“You’re going to make him late to his own birthday party.” All for One was still smiling. “Return him and I’ll pretend I didn’t see you here today.”
Toshinori glanced down at the mess of a child in his arms, then back to his nemesis. “I’m sorry, but as a hero I can’t do that.”
The smile vanished from All for One’s scared face. “Give me my son.”
“You son?” Toshi repeated, taking a step back in surprise. The boy clung to him tighter as if afraid he might let go.
“Don’t let him kill me, please!” He looked up at Toshi with his teary eyes. “Please, sir, I don’t want to die!”
Toshi let his muscles begin to fill out as he changed into his larger form. “Don’t worry, kid, everything is okay now. Do you know why?” He watched the desperation in the boy’s green eyes change to wonder. “It’s because I am here.”
“All Might?” The boy muttered, the shock stopping his tears.
Toshi rubbed the top of the boy’s green head and smiled. “I’ll save you, you won’t die today.”
All for One tsked angrily. “You massive idiot. Stay out of what doesn’t concern you!”
“This boy says that he doesn’t want to go with you.” Toshinori pulled the boy around to stand behind him. “What kind of man tries to kill his own son?”
“You’re going to make him suffer. Izuku, come here. You’ve done this at least a dozen times, you know it won’t hurt.”
“That wasn’t me!” Izuku screamed from behind Toshi, hanging onto him still. “I’m not like them! I don’t want to die! I w-won’t just sit back and let you!”
“Whatever is going on, I won’t let you hurt this boy.” Toshinori raised his fists.
All for One stood still for a moment. “Very well, Izuku. If you want to suffer then stay here. When the pain starts, when your body is ripping itself apart, just remember that I tried to save you. I’ll be waiting for you to come home, son.”
He turned and walked away, leaving Toshinori bewildered. He released his muscle form and turned back to the boy. “Are you all right?”
Izuku jumped up and grabbed Toshi by the neck, still crying. “Thank you! Thank you, you saved me, thank you!”
“It’s okay.” Toshi picked him up and glanced behind him to make sure that All for One wasn’t there. “What’s your name, kid?”
“I-Izuku Midoriya.” He hiccuped.
“How old are you?”
“... sixteen.” Izuku mumbled, his tears dying down as Toshinori carried him down the street. “Are you really All Might?”
“I am.” Toshi hoped he sounded more calm than he really was. The scene was replaying over and over in his mind as he tried to make sense of it. “Was that man your father?”
Izuku nodded and shuddered. “Please don't make me go back.”
“I won’t, I promise.” Toshinori wondered what to do next. Should he take Izuku to the authorities? They didn’t even know about All for One or how dangerous he was. For now, Izuku might be safer staying with him. At least until he could get the full story. “Let’s go back to my apartment for now, okay?”
“Really?” Izuku asked, starting to perk up a little. “All Might’s apartment?”
“That’s right. We need to take care of those cuts before they get infected.” Izuku nodded and buried his face in Toshi’s shoulder.
“Thank you.” He said again.
Toshi patted his back. “This is what heroes are for.”
Later That Night
Izuku was waiting by the door when Toshi got back from the store. He had needed to grab a few things- medical supplies and a change of clothes for Izuku in addition to his own groceries. It hadn’t felt safe to bring Izuku along, so he’d left him at home.
“You came back.” Izuku sounded relieved.
“You’re still here.” Toshi shifted the bags so that he could pat Izuku on the head.
“Can I help you?” Izuku started to grab one of the bags but Toshi quickly pulled it away.
“Not that one!” He winced at the hurt expression on Izuku’s face. “Here, take these instead.”
While Izuku was distracted with unloading the food into the fridge, Toshi quickly stashed the extra bags. “Is curry okay for dinner?”
“I like curry.” Izuku nodded as he pulled the ingredients out of the bag. “Is it really okay for me to stay here with you?”
“For tonight at least.” Toshi nodded. They started making dinner, but Toshi sent Izuku to shower before it was finished. “I bought you some new clothes, I hope they fit. I’ll finish things up in here.”
“Thank you.” Izuku hugged the new clothes tightly to his chest.
“Hurry up now.” Toshi showed him into the bathroom. He hoped that Izuku didn’t shower too quickly, otherwise he wouldn’t have time to get everything ready. He finished dinner and set the table, relieved that the water was still running. He pulled out the bags that he had hidden for Izuku and pulled out the cake and candles. He was in the middle of lighting the candles when izuku came back into the kitchen.
“Wh-What’s this?” Izuku asked, hesitating in the doorway.
“Ah… you said it was your birthday, didn’t you?” Toshi nearly burned his finger on the match. “I wanted to surprise you, I didn’t have time to finish wrapping your present- I don’t know what kids your age like, so I hope it’s okay- There aren’t any decorations or anything- I didn’t know what kind of cake either- Is something wrong? You’re crying.”
Izuku shook his head and wiped his eyes. “Y-You did this for me?”
“Happy birthday, Izuku.” Toshi said awkwardly.
Izuku ran over to him and hugged him. “Thank you!”
Toshi smiled. “You’re welcome, kid. You said you were sixteen today, right?”
Izuku pulled back and wiped his eyes. “I know I act like a kid… Dad doesn’t let me grow up much, he gets mad if I don’t act like this so it’s hard not to…”
“I don’t mind.” Toshi rubbed his head. “You can act however you want here.”
“I really don’t have to die today?”
“No… but after we eat, would you mind telling me more about what’s happening with you and your father?”
Izuku looked a little uncomfortable but he still nodded. “Okay.”
“Hey kid.” Toshi grabbed his attention again. “No matter what, I’m still going to keep you safe. I won’t let you die. I promise.”
Two Weeks Later
His name was Izuku Midoriya. Toshi wouldn’t have believed his story if he didn’t know that things that All for One was capable of. He was Izuku, but he wasn’t the real Izuku. Not in his own mind, at least. He was just one of many, the clones that All for One had made of his son who died along with his mother before he was even born. For some reason, the clones couldn’t live longer than sixteen years so All for One had killed each of them on their sixteenth birthday.
Izuku seemed healthy enough. All Might took him out every day, never ceasing to be amazed at the way his eyes danced with wonder when encountering the most ordinary things. Just how much of a sheltered life had he lived? Had All for One ever let him out of the house?
When they went to the aquarium, Izuku’s jaw had dropped to the floor. He had cried at the sight of the ocean when they went to the beach. Every little thing at the amusement park had filled his face with joy. Each time they went to the park he would touch the grass and run in the sun and laugh as though nothing could ever hurt him.
Toshinori stood back and watched with a smile. It had been two weeks and Izuku had convinced him that his father had been wrong about him dying. He looked happier every time Toshi saw him. No one would be able to guess by looking at him that the boy didn’t have a Quirk, or that his father was a terrifying villain, or that he was just a clone of a long dead child. He was happy and he was healthy, it was all that Toshi could have hoped for.
Until, right before his eyes, Izuku suddenly dropped to the ground screaming.
Toshi panicked and ran over to him. “What's wrong?”
Izuku writhed and screamed. He was clearly in pain, so much that he couldn’t speak. Toshi raced him to the hospital and All for One’s words rang through his mind: “When the pain starts, when your body is ripping itself apart, just remember that I tried to save you.” He could only pray that All for One had been wrong. His prayers went unanswered.
“His cells are rapidly deteriorating.” Recovery Girl shook her head sadly. “I’m afraid he won’t live to the end of the week, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Can you at least tell me why?” Toshi begged, looking over at Izuku. He was asleep and sedated, but he was sweating and twitching. He was still hurting.
“It may have something to do with him being Quirkless.” Recovery Girl replied. “But the chances of him developing a Quirk this late in life… I’m sorry, Toshi, I wish I could help you. It comes in waves, they’ll get worse as time goes on. He’s stable for now.” She patted his arm. “I’ll leave you alone.”
Toshi sat next to Izuku and took his hand. Izuku moaned softly, turning his head towards him. His eyes fluttered open, misty and full of pain. “All Might?” He asked weakly.
“Shh…” Toshi brushed his bangs back. “How do you feel? Does it hurt?”
Izuku shook his head and grimaced. “It’s not as bad anymore.”
He was clearly lying. Toshi bit his lip, not sure what to do or say.
“Am I dying?” Izuku asked, breaking his train of thought. “All Might, I don’t want to die, I’m scared.”
“Hush, don’t be scared. I’m here, I’ll keep you safe.” Toshi rubbed his forehead, trying to coax his eyes back down. “Go to sleep, Izu. You’ll feel better.”
“What if I don’t wake up again?” Izuku asked in a trembling voice, tears rimming his eyes.
“You will wake up, I promise.” Toshi assured him. “You’ll wake up and I’ll be here. I’m going to find a way to save you, I promise.”
The Next Day
After another wave of pain, Izuku was sobbing in Toshinori’s arms. “It hurts, it hurts, All Might it hurts.” He cried over and over. It was the second time that day.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you now.” Toshi did his best to keep his voice calm, rubbing Izuku’s back. “Don’t cry, kiddo, I’m here.”
“I don’t want to die!” Izuku shook his head, doing his best to hang onto Toshi’s shirt. “I’m so scared! It hurts, can’t you make it stop?”
Toshinori knew better. He told himself over and over, tried to stop himself, but he still did it. He pulled one of the hairs from his head. “Open your mouth, Izu, please?” Izuku looked confused, but opened his mouth. Toshinori put the hair in his mouth and closed it for him. “I need you to swallow this.”
Izuku made a face and gagged but eventually he swallowed the hair and started crying again. “Th-That was gross! Why did you make me eat that?”
“Do you feel any different?” Toshi wasn’t sure how long it would take for his Quirk to manifest in Izuku. Maybe it was already too late? If Izuku died, there was a high chance the Quirk would die with him. For the sake of the world, it was a risk he shouldn’t have taken. But for Izuku… he had to do it.
Izuku shook his head. “It hurts, All Might. I’m scared. That was yucky.”
“I know.” Toshi hugged his head back to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to die.” Izuku cried again.
“I’m not going to let you die.” Toshi promised, squeezing him. “You’re going to be okay.”
The Next Day
Izuku’s attacks were growing more frequent and more painful. Recovery Girl sadly estimated that he only had a day or two at most left. He was only partially conscious, nothing they gave him seemed to dull the pain. At the moment he was in between waves, but he was exhausted. Toshi sat on the bed, holding Izuku and listening to his weak sobs.
“Please, One for All.” He begged softly into Izuku’s thick curls. “Please save him. You have to save him, we can’t let him die.”
Izuku quieted in his arms and Toshi felt his hopes begin to rise. But, after a few minutes, Izuku started breathing heavily as another wave of pain began, this one more intense than any others he’d had before. Still, through his screams, he insisted that he didn’t want to die. He was fighting hard to live and all Toshi could do was watch.
The Next Day
Izuku was barely breathing. Toshi sat next to him, holding his hand and silently pleading to the previous holders of One for All to save him. His muttering made Izuku stir and open his eyes. “All Might?”
“I’m here, kid. It’s okay. Does it still hurt?”
Izuku turned his head towards Toshi’s voice, but his eyes were misted over. “Everything is numb…”
“You’re going to be okay, Izuku.” Toshi gave his hand a squeeze, hoping he could feel it.
“Can I ask you to do something for me?” Izuku asked weakly.
“I’ll do anything.”
“Dad says that before, every time I died… he would hold me. Could you…?”
With a lump in his throat, Toshi sat on the mattress and pulled Izuku up into his arms. “I’ve got you, don’t be scared.”
“Thank you for saving me.” Izuku’s voice broke. “I h-had lots of fun. Maybe the next Izuku can have fun with you too.”
“It won’t be the same.” Toshi shook his head. “He won’t be you.”
Izuku’s shoulders trembled with sobs. “Thank you…”
“I’m so sorry, Izuku.” Toshi’s voice broke as well. “I promised to save you and I…”
Izuku closed his eyes. “I was so happy… All Might? Do you think that… if I didn’t have to die, I could have been a hero like you? Even without a Quirk?”
Toshinori gave Izuku a squeeze. “You would have made a great hero, Izuku. Better than me, better than anyone.”
Izuku smiled and leaned into Toshi. “Thank you… I love you.”
Toshinori sat trembling as the frail body in his arms went limp. The heart monitor blipped a few more times, then went flat. He ground his teeth together and buried his face in Izuku’s curls. “Bring him back, please. I’ll do anything… he doesn’t deserve this, please just let him live.” Tears of frustration and anguish leaked from the corners of his eyes. “Please, give him another chance…”
Izuku stayed quiet, his last smile frozen on his lips. He still seemed as happy as Toshi remembered, free from the pain at last. Toshi carefully lay Izuku back down and stood, drying his eyes. “I’m sorry, Izuku.” He said in a shaky voice. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”
Eleven Years Later
Toshinori felt a tug on the back of his shirt and turned to see who was bothering him. His heart stopped when he saw a young boy with bright green eyes and curly green hair pulling on his shirt. Izuku? No, this wasn’t his Izuku, this was someone who shared the same face and voice as he did.
“Can I help you, young man?” He did his best to compose himself. Izuku had told him that memories were not shared between the clones. Each one was its own person. This little boy didn’t know him and he didn’t know them either.
The boy cocked his head for a moment, looking confused. “D-Don’t you remember me?”
“I’m sorry, I think you have me confused for someone else.” Toshi looked over his head and scanned the streets for any sign of the boy’s father.
“All Might, it’s me.” Izuku gave his shirt another tug. “I’m Izuku… did you forget about me?”
Toshi looked down, confused now as well. “Izuku?”
“I remember everything.” Izuku said. “I didn’t at first, but then when I was four it all came back to me.”
“This can’t be real.” Toshi muttered aloud.
Izuku frowned and gave his shirt another yank. “We had chocolate cake for my sixteenth birthday, you gave me a notebook and we had curry for dinner that night. I remember going shopping together and building sandcastles, I remember that water fight we had at the park, I remember when you ate your ice cream too fast and got a brain freeze and you had to sit down for ten minutes… I remember when I died. I’m sorry I made you cry.”
Toshinori felt like he was in a dream. His movements were slow, as if they were on a delay. He reached out and took Izuku’s face in his hands. “This can’t be real…” He muttered.
“All Might, it’s me.” Izuku’s eyes began to fill with tears. “I wanted to come find you sooner but I wasn’t big enough to run away. Dad doesn’t know. I don’t know how either…”
Toshinori let out something between a laugh and a sob as he snatched Izuku up into his arms. “I can’t believe it… they did save you. I thought they just abandoned me, but they saved you…”
“What are you talking about?” Izuku frowned.
Toshi pulled back so he could see Izuku’s face. “Do you remember when you were dying and I made you eat one of my hairs?” Izuku made a face and Toshi laughed again. “It was so that I could give you my Quirk. I thought it would save you but you still died… but it did save you in a different way. It kept all of your memories for you.”
“Then this thing that’s been keeping me alive… it’s your Quirk? I’ve had it all this time?”
“That’s right.” Toshi rubbed their noses together. “It brought you back to me.” He set Izuku down and dried his eyes. “Izuku, do you still want to be a hero?”
Izuku blinked in surprise. His lip started to tremble. “B-But now that I’m back, don’t you want your Quirk back too?”
“No, I want you to have it.” Toshi smiled. “Besides, I’m sure it will keep your body from dying again in a few years. Will you keep it for me?”
Now it was Izuku’s turn to cry. He nodded and reached out for Toshi again. “I missed you! I’ll take good care of your Quirk, I promise!”
“I know you will.” Toshi returned Izuku’s embrace. “And this time, I won’t let anything happen to you.”