~BNHA~ Everything That I Am

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Izuku let out everything he had felt inside him as a cry through early morning hours. His back arched back with the force of his yell. All these months. The struggles, the pain, the ache of his body as he pushed past his limits and beyond.

It all amounted to this moment, standing above the trash piled several feet high so that Izuku could see the far expanse of the beautiful clean beach, restored by his efforts.

Izuku felt the build-up in his chest again as he sucked in every last bit of air his lungs could take and let out another cry that echoes through the otherwise peaceful scenery.

The cold air chilled the skin of his bare torso as the soft curls of green hair clung in sweaty clumps to his neck, but this Izuku didn't notice as the last of his cries faded through his lips and fatigue set in, making the corners of his vision go hazy. He pitched forward over the edge of the pile headed straight into the soft sand when his mentor came to the rescue catching him mid-fall in his hero form.

"Excellent work." All Might smiled down at him, and Izuku did his best to smile back at his mentor, proud that he could prove himself to his number one hero.

"I finished everything...All Might, I did it." His voice was weak and shaky, but All Might didn't seem bothered. "Do you think I'm ready now?"

"Yeah, you did good, kid." All Might inspected him as he slowly set him down onto his own feet. "I gotta say I'm impressed. I knew you had it in you, but this is beyond."

Izuku clenched his eyes so focused on staying upright that he did not quite hear what All Might was saying at that moment, but there was a soft glow he could see through his shut eyes, and he opened them to see the blurry image of his old scared self staring back at him.

"Ummm..." He stared at the image, too tired to process what was in front of him.
"It's you crying ten months ago." All Might pulled the phone away, inspecting Izuku's shirtless form. He glanced down at himself, taking note of the toned muscle of his arms and the firm six-pack he had worked so hard to achieve. "Look how far you've come, such improvement!"

All Might clench his fists in excitement as he continued, "There's still a long road ahead of you before you can inherit my full power set, but it's starting to look like you can do it!" There was the heroic tint to his voice that raised Izuku's spirits every time.
He raised his hand, staring at the new callouses on his palms, all proof of his long months of training. But even in this proud moment, a small part of him whispered doubts in his ear.

"All Might, do I deserve this?" He looked up to his mentor, wanting to convey the gratitude he felt for him at that moment, but he needed more for his mentor to ensure the doubts that were mounting. "Are you sure?"
All Might had a look of confusion as he waited for Izuku to explain himself. "You put so much time and energy into helping me; how did I end up so lucky?"

All Might laughed, brushing off Izuku's worries with a pat on the back. "It was your hard work that did this, not mine."

Izuku tried to keep the tears back, but a few sniffles escaped him as he tried to hold back his tendencies to cry when overwhelmed. All Might thankfully didn't comment.

"Now for your reward Izuku Midoriya."

Izuku wiped the tears from his face smiling with pure joy at what was to come next. "Yes, Sir!!"

All Might lifted a hand to his hair, and Izuku watched, wondering how this would happen when the older man paused in his actions. Izuku's brows pinched in confusion, unsure if he was expected to do anything when suddenly his mentor grabbed him from the waist, shooting them off to the side before a loud blast crashed where they once stood.