My Hero Academia - Twilight Twice

Chapter 3: Plus Ultra

When All Might arrived at the beach that day, the first thing that hit him was the sound. Screams—raw and unrestrained—of rage, pain, and frustration.

Izumi stood atop the last mountain of rubble, her chest going up and down, her voice spent from the sheer intensity of her cries. Before her, the horizon stretched out, clear and unbroken. Not a single remnant of trash remained in the sand. The battle was over. She had won.

"Oi, oi, oi..." All Might muttered to himself, hardly able to believe what he was seeing.

In truth, clearing the beach had been nothing more than a way to push the girl, a training exercise disguised as a monumental task. From the very first day, the hero had known it would test her limits, but at some point, even he had doubted whether it was possible. Yet there she was, screaming into the wind, victorious.

Izumi swayed, her legs finally giving out, and All Might rushed forward to catch her. "Good job," he said.

"All Might... I made it..." she whispered, her eyes drifting up to the endless sky. "I made it in time..."

"Yes, you did," he murmured, smiling as he gently placed her down, making sure she could stand on her own. "Young people really are amazing. With this... You've become a suitable vessel."

Izumi blinked, the weight of her victory settling in an unexpected, quiet way. Vessel—the word echoed in her mind, lingering longer than she expected. You've become a suitable vessel. The triumph that had fueled her drive now felt distant, almost hollow. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, but standing there, on the other side, it didn't feel as extraordinary as she had imagined.

Have I truly earned this?

"I feel like I'm cheating..." Izumi whispered, staring down at her trembling hands. "You... you did all this for me..."

All Might's laughter was sudden and warm. "Those leaky eyes of yours—we'll have to fix that," he teased. Then his tone shifted. "Now, it's time for the award ceremony, Izumi Midoriya."

"Y-Yes!"

Without warning, All Might plucked a single hair from his head.

Izumi blinked, unsure of what was happening.

"Some things, you receive because you're lucky," All Might began, his gaze sharper now, more focused. "Others, you get because you're recognized. Those are not the same thing. Take that to heart. This is a power you've earned through your own effort."

His words struck her deeply, and Izumi met his gaze, forcing herself to stand taller despite the exhaustion weighing her down. She had turned her life around. This wasn't just a dream or some wild fantasy anymore—it was real. Her hard work, her sweat, her tears—she had made it happen.

But then—

"Eat this."

Izumi stared at him, utterly confused. "Huh?"

All Might held out the hair with a grin. "It doesn't really matter as long as it's my DNA."

The absurdity of the moment hit her like a punch. "This is nothing like I imagined!"

"There's no time!" All Might urged her. "You'll be late for the exam—just eat it!"

❖

Izumi stood at the entrance of U.A. High School, the prestigious academy looming ahead, a constant flow of students moving in and out around her. The air buzzed with energy—an almost palpable excitement. She could feel it, the steady rhythm of dozens of hearts beating as one, all waiting for the test to begin. This is it. The last frontier.