All Might stepped out of the healing pod slowly, the hiss of hydraulics fading behind him. His bare feet touched the cool, spotless floor of Izuku's lab. For a moment, he simply stood there, silent, staring at his hands.
They looked… normal.
Not the frail, veined hands of a man who had been carrying old wounds for years. Not the trembling fingers that sometimes shook after too much exertion. These were steady, powerful, alive hands — the same ones he remembered from his glory days.
Tentatively, he flexed his fingers into a fist. No stiffness. No sharp ache in his side when he moved. No faint, constant reminder of the hole in his body left by All For One.
"This…" His voice was barely above a whisper, completely unlike his booming public persona. He took a deep breath — and for the first time in years, it didn't hurt. His chest expanded fully, air flowing smoothly, no cough, no lingering burn. "This can't be real."
Izuku stood a short distance away, leaning casually against a stainless-steel workbench. His calm green eyes followed All Might's every move, and he smiled calmly. This was one of the reasons he wanted to go back, to save his mentor. All Might had died to early on his previous time.
"It's real," Izuku said evenly. "Your body's been restored. All the damage is gone."
All Might looked down at himself again. His torso, still bare from the healing process, was lean, muscular — complete. He moved one hand to his abdomen and touched where the terrible wound used to be. Nothing. Not even scar tissue. It was as if the battle that had changed his life had never happened.
For a long moment, Toshinori Yagi — not the Symbol of Peace, just the man — simply breathed. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling the raw vitality coursing through his veins. His legs felt steady. His heart felt strong. It was like being twenty again, like waking up from a nightmare that had lasted far too long.
"Young Midoriya…" His voice broke, just slightly. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything yet," Izuku replied with a faint smile. "But… if you want to be sure, we can test it."
All Might tilted his head. "Test it?"
"I've got a training facility underground," Izuku explained, gesturing toward the elevator at the far end of the lab. "A Danger Room. Designed to simulate anything from simple combat scenarios to full-scale disasters. If you want, you can push yourself there without holding back."
All Might blinked. "Underground… Danger Room?"
"You could call it a personal gym," Izuku said with a shrug. "Only difference is, mine can handle a full-power All Might without breaking." His tone was so casual, it almost sounded like he was talking about lending out a spare umbrella.
All Might chuckled despite himself. "Young Midoriya, I appreciate the offer, but—"
Izuku interrupted gently, "—you're worried you'll wreck it. You won't. Trust me."
There was something about the boy's calm confidence that made it impossible to argue. All Might hesitated only a second longer before nodding.
Minutes later, they stepped into the underground chamber. The Danger Room was massive — a wide, open space with reinforced walls that gleamed under bright lights. Above them, multiple automated turrets and projection panels hummed quietly. The air smelled faintly of ozone and machinery.
All Might rolled his shoulders, still not used to how good his body felt. "And you're sure this place can handle me at full strength?"
"Positive," Izuku replied. "No matter what you throw at it, it'll adapt. Think of it as a sparring partner that never breaks."
That was all the encouragement All Might needed. He stepped forward into the center of the room, took a deep breath, and let One For All sweep over him.
"HAH!"In an instant, his tall, broad-shouldered muscle form exploded into being. His iconic grin flashed into place almost instinctively — but this time, there was no strain behind it. No lingering timer ticking down in the back of his mind.
For the first time in years, he felt limitless.
"Bring it on!" All Might boomed, his voice echoing through the Danger Room.
Izuku tapped a panel on the wall, and the room's systems responded with a sharp mechanical hum. Targets appeared. Walls shifted. Simulated debris fell from the ceiling as robotic opponents formed from panels in the floor.
All Might didn't hesitate. He moved.
The first punch he threw shattered a combat drone instantly, sending fragments scattering harmlessly against the reinforced walls. His movements were sharp, clean, fast. He dashed toward another target, smashing it with a blow that sent a shockwave rattling the room.
The grin on his face widened. He was faster than he remembered. Stronger, even. No hitch in his breathing. No twinge of pain in his side. Every punch, every movement felt… right.
"YEEEESSSS!" he roared, grabbing two drones and slamming them together like tin cans.
Izuku simply watched from the control panel, arms folded. His expression never changed from that calm, analytical look — but there was the faintest trace of satisfaction in his eyes.
After several minutes of high-speed destruction, All Might skidded to a stop in the center of the room, surrounded by wreckage. Not a bead of sweat on his brow. His chest rose and fell evenly. He wasn't even winded.
"You were holding back, weren't you?" Izuku asked casually.
All Might blinked. "Holding back? No… no, I was—" He paused. "Wait. I wasn't holding back." His eyes widened. "I was going all out and I'm… not tired."
Izuku stepped forward, meeting All Might's gaze. "Then I think it's safe to say you're back at your prime or close to it, maybe. No more time limits. No more worrying about your body failing in the middle of a fight."
All Might took a deep breath, staring at his hands again. "Young Midoriya… you've given me back my life."
Izuku's tone stayed calm, almost conversational. "You can go back to full hero work. If that's what you want."
There was a long pause. All Might's booming voice softened into Toshinori's quieter tone. "I'm grateful, but… I already made a promise. To teach at U.A. High School. The next generation needs guidance."
Izuku tilted his head. "So you'll teach, even though you could fight again?"
"I'll do both if I can," All Might replied with a grin. Then, after a moment of thought, he added, "In fact… Young Midoriya, how would you like a scholarship to U.A.? I could make sure you're placed in the best program."
Izuku chuckled lightly and shook his head. "I'll pass on the recommendation. I'd rather go through the exams normally."
"Oh?" All Might raised an eyebrow.
"I want to earn it on my own terms," Izuku said simply. "If I'm good enough, I'll pass without any special treatment."
All Might's grin widened. "Heh. You've got spirit. I like that. And honestly, I don't doubt for a second you'll pass with flying colors — even if you applied for the Support Course." He gave a knowing smile. "After all, I'm guessing your quirk has something to do with technology, right?"
Izuku didn't answer. He only offered a small, noncommittal smile.
All Might chuckled again, assuming his guess was correct. "In that case, U.A. could use a mind like yours."
The two stood there in the quiet hum of the Danger Room, the wreckage of the test scattered around them, both knowing that the future — for them, and for Japan — had just shifted in a big way.