One Last Time

Stage crew is setting up for tomorrow's battle, and Midoriya watches them with a lump in his throat. Soon enough this will be his life. He'll be the one in the spotlight, pouring his heart and soul into the mic. He'll be the one who the crowds cheer for, the one carrying the mantle of One for All.

All Might is center stage, running through some vocal exercises. There's a smile on his face as always, but Midoriya can see the pain underneath if he looks close enough.

Midoriya is one of the few people who knows that his mentor's body is failing him. He's so skinny now, so much so that he can barely make it through a set. Midoriya has been stepping in more and more to cover vocals when All might's mouth fills with blood after a high note. With every performance he's been able to do less and less, and Midoriya worries that he doesn't have much longer. Tomorrow is rumored to be his last performance.

"Young Midoriya! Can I have a moment?"

All Might held a sheaf of papers in his right hand, and his left rested on Midoriya's shoulder as he leads him away from the other band members and into his private office, where they won't be disturbed.

"I've never been one for small talk, but let me cut straight to the chase. I'm getting weaker by the day. I know you see it, and you've had to take more and more of the vocal parts." All Might laughs, which turns into a red-stained cough against his palm. "When I found you, you were just a kid with no training, no practical experience- yet I saw potential in you. I just want to tell you that not once have you ever made me regret my choice."

Midoriya beams, overjoyed at living up to his mentor's expectations. But there's something else...

"Tomorrow's battle will be my last performance, as you know. I'm going to officially pass on the job of main vocalist to you, Midoriya. I also want you to sing alongside me in an official announcement tonight. If you accept it that is."

Stunned, Midoriya sits frozen until All Might blinks. "Oh! Of course! I'd be honored to continue your band in your honor and perform together tomorrow."

All Might nods, but he looks sad, and worried. "That's great, but you need to promise me something. Promise to make this band your own. Don't try to be me, be yourself. To be a true artist, you have to find what the music means to you, how it feels in your soul. I want to see you on stage tomorrow."

Midoriya nods, a determined grin spreading across his face. "I won't let you down All Might!"

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It was finally time. The other band had been set up ahead of time, and now they tune their instruments and check equipment. Shigaraki sees Midoriya and waves quickly before turning back to help his dad, the main singer of All for One. The blue haired teen has been playing guitar and backup singing for his father's band since he was little, and while he hates All Might's band, he's always been nice to Midoriya, even if it is bordering on creepy sometimes.

Midoriya sees Bakugou sitting at his drums with Kirishima, a stagehand in charge of acoustics. "I told you that the mics are wrong! This one is at a weird angle." Bakugou points to the one closest to his face, and when Kirishima leans in to inspect it, Bakugou closes the gap and kisses him. The two stay locked together, and they're leaning at such bizarre angles that Midoriya begins to worry that they'll fall on the drums.

They don't, thankfully, and Midoriya's attention is soon drawn to Kaminari. "Show on in five! You all know the drill- You play a song, then All for One, then back again, etc, and the audience will vote for their favorite at the end. Break a leg babies!" Jirou and Momo exit with Kaminari to greet people and collect tickets, leaving the band to prepare for the task ahead.