In the ruins of Kamino, in the silence that followed the storm, the simple act of extending a hand felt like an anchor in a sea of chaos. Midoriya looked at my hand, then into my eyes, and I saw something there—not just gratitude, but a recognition. He took my hand, and I pulled him to his feet. We stood side-by-side, two rickety pillars, looking at the still-glowing phone screen that showed the image of All Might standing tall one last time.
It was then that the real pro heroes arrived. Not just a few, but dozens. They descended from the sky, emerged from the alleys, forming an impenetrable perimeter. Led by an angry-looking Endeavor and an injured Best Jeanist, they quickly and efficiently secured the area. The unconscious body of All For One was immediately wrapped in high-tech restraints, while the remaining low-level villains were apprehended.
We, the rule-breaking students, were not greeted as heroes. We were treated like troublesome eyewitnesses, or worse, as evidence of the system's failure. We were escorted to a makeshift command post set up in a building that was still standing. The atmosphere was cold and filled with accusatory glares.
There, we came face-to-face with the Hosu Chief of Police, Kenji Tsuragamae. He was not a human, but a dog with an anthropomorphic Quirk, and his gaze was far more intimidating than any bark.
"You all know, of course," he said, his calm voice carrying the undeniable weight of authority, "that without provisional hero licenses, your use of Quirks in combat is a serious violation of the law. All of you—Tatsumi, Midoriya, Iida, Todoroki, Kirishima, Yaoyorozu—have committed acts of vigilantism."
He looked at us one by one. Iida bowed his head in shame. Kirishima looked ready to protest, but Todoroki held him back.
"However," Tsuragamae continued, "we also acknowledge that because of your reckless actions, Bakugo Katsuki was successfully rescued and there were no fatalities among you. The situation was extraordinary, and the result, though achieved through the wrong means, was positive." He let out a long sigh. "Therefore, after discussions with the higher-ups at U.A., we will be making an exception. The official story will state that the pro heroes on the scene gave you tacit permission to use your Quirks. This incident will be closed. You will not be punished."
A wave of relief washed over all of us. But he wasn't finished.
"But know this," he said, his gaze hardening. "If it were not for these exceptional circumstances, you would all be facing serious consequences. The world of heroes is built on order and trust. Never forget that."
After that exhausting interrogation, we were all taken back to the hospital for a full check-up. In the waiting room, we gathered again. An overwhelming fatigue left us all silent. There was no more adrenaline, only the dull awareness of what we had been through. We had looked into the abyss, and the abyss had looked back.
"Hey," Kirishima said quietly, breaking the silence. He looked at Bakugo, who was sitting in a corner, unusually quiet. "Glad you're okay, man."
Bakugo just grunted, not looking at anyone. But for the first time, there was no anger in his grunt. Just... exhaustion. Tonight, he had seen a power he couldn't even imagine. He had been saved by people he considered weak. His black-and-white world, where he was the strongest, had been shattered into a million pieces.
The door opened, and All Might entered in his skinny form. He looked a hundred years older than the last time I saw him. He first went over to Midoriya, and they spoke quietly. I couldn't hear what they said, but I saw Midoriya crying silently, and I saw All Might place a hand on his student's shoulder, a gesture that marked the personal passing of the torch.
Then, he came over to me. "Tatsumi Shonen," he said, his voice hoarse. "Your plan... it was the craziest gamble I've ever seen. It was reckless, unpredictable, and incredibly dangerous." He paused, and a faint, tired smile appeared on his face. "And it was absolutely brilliant. You have the mind of a war commander."
"I just got lucky," I replied.
"Luck had nothing to do with it," he said. "I've spoken with Ryukyu. I won't ask about the details of your secret. She will handle that." His eyes became very serious. "But listen to me. With my power now extinguished, the world will enter a new, darker era. The balance has shifted. People like All For One will emerge from the shadows. A power like yours... a power that comes from outside the rules of this world... will become more important than ever. But it will also make you a much bigger target. Be careful, young man. The world is now relying on your generation."
The warning from the fallen greatest hero felt like a leaden crown being placed on my head.
After we were all declared healthy enough, we were finally allowed to go home. I received an encrypted call from Ryukyu. Her voice sounded tired, but also firm. "You're an idiot," she said without preamble. "You're also a hero. I don't know whether to hit you or give you a medal."
"I'm sorry for disobeying your order again," I said sincerely.
"Save your apologies," she replied. "You produced results. That's what matters. But you've also drawn unwanted attention. The Commission is now watching you very closely. The official report has protected you for now, but they're not stupid. Be careful." She paused. "And Tatsumi... good work." With that, she hung up. Our relationship had changed into something far more complicated than just mentor and student.
When I arrived home, my parents hugged me as if I had just returned from a war—which, in a way, I had. They didn't ask for details. They were just happy to see me alive. I let myself sink into the warmth and normalcy of my home, a sharp contrast to the chaos I had just left.
A few days later, Aizawa-sensei gathered us all at school. He announced a major change. To protect us from further threats, U.A. had built a dormitory system: "Alliance Heights." From now on, we would live, study, and train on campus.
Of course, this required the consent of our parents, most of whom were now terrified to let their children return to a school that had just failed to protect them. So, the teachers, including Aizawa and All Might, made house calls.
I sat silently on my living room sofa as Aizawa-sensei and All Might (in his skinny form) bowed deeply to my parents. My mother was crying. "How can we let him go back?" she sobbed. "My son almost died... twice!"
My father stood protectively beside her, his face hard. "We entrusted our son to you. And you failed."
It was then that All Might spoke, his voice filled with sincere regret. "It was our fault," he said. "My fault. I failed to create a world safe enough for these children. It is precisely because of that failure that we built this dormitory. To ensure that we will never fail again. To protect them with everything we have." He looked at my parents. "Your son... he has the potential to become an incredible hero. He has a rare courage and intelligence. Please... entrust him to us one more time."
Seeing the world's greatest hero, even in his frail form, begging in their small living room, made my parents' defenses crumble. With tears and much hesitation, they finally agreed.
Moving day at the dorms was a strange day. The atmosphere was a mixture of the excitement of moving into a new place and the lingering sadness of the Kamino incident. We all gathered in the common room of our new, luxurious dorm. To break the ice, the girls proposed a contest to see whose room was the coolest. It was a much-needed moment of normalcy. We saw Kirishima's room full of "manly" things, Todoroki's traditional Japanese-style room, and the others. My own room was simple and minimalist—a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. The only decoration was the Yozakura wooden token, which I placed carefully on my desk.
That night, after we had all finished decorating, we gathered again in the common room. Aizawa-sensei gave some final rules about dorm life. When he finished, a comfortable silence fell over us. We all sat there, looking at each other. We were no longer just a collection of individuals who happened to be in the same class. We were a unit. A family forged in fire, trauma, and shared victory.
I looked out the large window, at the U.A. campus illuminated by the night lights. The road ahead was still long and full of darkness. All For One may have been defeated, but Shigaraki and the League of Villains were still out there. Akame and Yozakura were still a mystery. And the dragon within me was still a power I didn't fully understand.
But as I looked around, at the faces of my friends, I didn't feel afraid. For the first time, I felt like I truly had a place in this world. A new chapter in my life, in all of our lives, had just begun.