Chapter 45 is here! Thankfully for you readers, I was able to get this chapter up in a little less than two weeks. On another note, everyone should re-read the end section of Chapter 44, as I added some extra content there that is relevant to this chapter. Anyway, enjoy this long chapter!

The students had made significant progress with the reconstruction of the forest. Several people across Japan applauded their work, and thanks to their efforts, nearly all of Yavin Forest had fresh plants and trees to repopulate the scorched lands. It was a tiny consolation for the students of the hero course to know they could mitigate some of Kageyama's pain, but it still could not make up for everything that had been lost and what had become of their friend.

The atmosphere was still tense for the students of Class 1-A. The following day, the friends had awoken in their dorms, being reminded that this was their new home. It was a difficult adjustment for them, and the pain of Kageyama's rampage and subsequent imprisonment was still fresh. Their interactions at the breakfast table were somewhat awkward as well. The main topic of conversation was their progress with Yavin Forest's recovery and the media's reaction to their endeavor. All of them steered clear of any conversation related to Kageyama: even bringing him up at that moment would remind them how helpless they were to get him out of Tartarus. Nevertheless, none of them could afford to mope, for their semester was starting soon, and they still had much to do.

The students of Class 1-A all made their way to the classroom, a five-minute walk from their dorm. When they arrived, they found their homeroom teacher already waiting for them.

"All of you, take a seat. We have some important matters to discuss."

The students could hear the seriousness in their homeroom teacher's voice and wasted no time going to their desks. Aizawa still had a pained expression on his face, though his expression and tone were less raw than before, replaced by his usual stern face and attitude.

"I believe I mentioned this already, but your main focus this summer has been obtaining provisional hero licenses. Normally, you should've received your provision licenses after the training camp, but because of the villain attack, the rest of the camp was canceled, meaning you'll have to take the provisional license exam. Is everyone following me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do not take this lightly. A hero license means that you're responsible for human lives. You can imagine that the exam to receive one is very difficult. Only 50% of students pass the tests required for this permit each year. To prepare, you must concentrate on creating something new: two ultimate moves."

As if on queue, the door opened, revealing three of U.A. High's teachers. Midnight, Cementoss, and Ectoplasm had all been called here to aid the students in developing these ultimate moves. In normal circumstances, several students would have been jumping with joy at the thought of developing their powers into trademark moves, but right now, the most Class 1-A could muster were half-hearted smiles. The three U.A. teachers began speaking, starting with Ectoplasm.

"When we say ultimate, we mean a move that will ensure you win against your opponent."

Cementoss continued. "An action so unique to your idea that no other person could ever hope to copy it. Simply put, you must learn to lean into your strengths."

"Your moves represent who you are. These days, most pros have an ultimate move. Those who don't are fools," Midnight finished.

"This may sound abstract," Aizawa said, "But we'll explain more as the day goes on. For now, change into your costumes and meet in Gym Gamma."

With a brisk pace, the students of Class 1-A donned their hero costumes and followed the teachers to their destination. Unlike the U.S.J., this area was completely barren. The only thing in front of them was an empty cement floor. How would they be developing their ultimate moves in a setting like this?

Cementoss could tell the students were confused, so he took the reins and explained: "This facility was my idea. We can prepare unique terrains and obstacles for each student."

"The job of a hero is to save people from all sorts of dangers," Eraserhead explained, "Crimes, accidents and man-made disasters. The licensing exam will examine how you'll be able to deal with such things. Your ability to gather information and make quick decisions will be judged, in addition to how well you cooperate, communicate, and lead others. Every year, a new test is used to evaluate these qualities."

Midnight continued, raising her finger as she prepared to make a point. "One thing is essential. If you want to be a pro hero, you must be able to prevail in battle. If you're prepared, you won't have to worry, and those with an ultimate move will have stronger results. Those ultimate moves serve as secret weapons that give you the edge against an opponent, regardless of their strength or skill."

Ectoplasm decided to take the reins from Midnight. To demonstrate how vital ultimate moves are in a battle, look at how they helped Kageyama." The mention of their friend's name caused every student to tense. "In his battle with All For One, he utilized several powerful energy attacks, such as the rapidly enlarged energy sphere or the multiple spheres he fired and had converged onto his opponent. Then, there are the physical strikes he reinforced with energy wrapped around his arms. I assure you those attacks were critical in weakening All For One and allowing Kageyama to emerge victorious."

"If you learn to hone your Quirks and utilize the same level of power and creativity, your ultimate moves will be guaranteed to lead you to victory," Cementoss added, a gentle smile across his face.

Eraserhead was the next to speak. "The training camp was interrupted, but the practice you did get in to develop your Quirks was part of the process needed to create these defining abilities. So now that you're caught up, you'll be working to develop powerful moves during the next four days or so."

"Four days?" exclaimed Yaoyorozu. The other students were equally shocked by this reveal.

"Yes, unfortunately, Kageyama's surgery and initial stay in the hospital delayed U.A. High's decision to create the dorms and their subsequent development, and the work you all did in helping with Yavin Forest's recovery cost us a day. I didn't want to inform you yesterday because I could tell how important that project was to you." The homeroom teacher observed his students. Their expressions had soured when Ectoplasm had mentioned Kageyama, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why.

"I know the class must still be coping with everything that happened at the camp. I'm not expecting any of this to be easy for you all. But I'm sure that if you put the same passion and perseverance as he did in that battle, you'll all become heroes just as great as him."

The other teachers gazed at Eraserhead with mildly shocked faces. They never expected Aizawa to be the one to encourage them like this. Nevertheless, Cementoss decided to add to this encouragement. "I am sure that Kageyama is going to wake up and leave the hospital soon, and if it happens to be after this exam, what greater gift could he receive than seeing all of his classmates receive their provisional licenses?"

"Indeed," Ectoplasm stated, "If you push yourselves and go plus ultra, I am sure you will be able to hone your Quirks and master your ultimate moves."

Cementoss used his Quirk to create several large pillars of varying heights across the gym, and Ectoplasm created several clones to stand on top of these pillars. The students felt renewed vigor seeing the training ground and what awaited them. While they had tried to stay strong and persevere by working to help Yavin Forest recuperate, their teachers reminded them that they still had more to do and ways to honor Kageyama's memory before he returned.

"Now, do you all have it in you?" asked Aizawa. But looking into his students' eyes, he realized this question was pointless because the answer was already apparent.

"Yes, sir." Class 1-A would barrel through this challenge and pass the provisional license exam—they had to, for Kageyama!

The day had passed, and the sun was setting. As expected, all of the students of Class 1-A were pushed to their limits. Ectoplasm and Aizawa didn't go easy on them. The teachers each had the students test their Quirks in new ways and see how far they could push the boundaries of their power to create an ultimate move. For Izuku, however, this task was more complex. He didn't have a fixed attack style, and with his current power cap being 5%, he needed to figure out what an ultimate move would look like. So, instead, Ectoplasm had Izuku focus on developing his power, pushing himself, and seeing how he could use Full Cowling at 5%.

But with the sun setting, the homeroom teacher ended the session. "Alright, everyone!" Aizawa shouted loud enough for everyone in the gym to hear him. That's enough for today. Go get some rest because you'll be getting up bright and early tomorrow for more training!"

The students all got off the cement pillars and went to the dorms. But before they could all leave, Izuku decided to rush ahead and get all of his classmate's attention. "Everybody in the Body Improvement Club, I want us all to meet outside the P.E. Grounds. Kirishima, could you go get Tetsutetsu and Kendo?"

"Uh, sure thing, Midoriya." His classmates were baffled that Izuku would have the Body Improvement Club meet right now. Did he intend to have them exercise after an entire day of training? Nevertheless, they weren't willing to object, and the members of the Body Improvement Club all followed their vice president to the P.E. Grounds.

It only took the Body Improvement Club members a few minutes to reach the P.E. Grounds. But as they walked, they noticed a determination in Izuku's eyes. This look wasn't uncommon in him, but to imagine he'd still carry that type of look right now, even after finishing a day of training, was surprising. While they had been walking, Kirishima, Kendo, and Tetsutetsu jogged at a tempered pace to catch up with the rest of the club. They all stopped and waited until they had reached the P.E. Grounds. What would Midoriya have to say right now?

"Listen, I'm sure everybody here is super tired, but I want us to start the Body Improvement Club again." Izuku's verdant eyes began to blaze slowly. "I know we all pitched in to help with Yavin Forest, but I still feel there's more we can do for Kageyama while he's not here. That's why I wanna keep the Body Improvement Club going. When he comes back, I want to look him in the eye and tell him we didn't give up on it and what it stands for. Does everyone agree with me?"

Izuku's words quickly caught on with the club members. Though their Quirks had already been pushed to exhaustion, their bodies and spirits still had plenty of fight left in them.

"Now that's how a man lifts people up!" Kirishima exclaimed, "You're spot-on, Midoriya!"

"That-a-way, Deku!" Uraraka cheered, "Now you're starting to sound like you again!"

"Excellent words. As expected of the vice president of the Body Improvement Club," Tokoyami remarked.

"Then let's hear everybody say our mantra before we start a run around the campus!" Midoriya shouted, "Body Improvement!"

"FIGHT ON!" Unified by this club and its origins, the students of U.A. High continued to weather the pain of Kageyama's imprisonment, more determined than ever to ensure his legacy would not be ignored or tarnished. He would be coming back to U.A. High. He just had to!

The streets were quiet. The citizens of Saitama were all going about their regular business, the sounds of their shoes stepping against the cement sidewalk permeating the air. Walking among the populace, a man seemed to be in a hurry. He had short, jet-black hair that hung slightly over his spectacles. He wore loose jeans and a long sweater. He carried a large backpack long enough to reach his tailbone, but despite its seemingly heavy weight, it didn't appear to stifle this man's movements.

This man had somewhere important to be. There was an orphanage only a few blocks away, and he had important business to attend to there that couldn't wait. As the man walked through the city, he noticed that the buildings and scenery were becoming slightly more dilapidated. It looked like this was an area of town that hadn't seen redevelopment or financial aid in a while.

"Ok... looks like this is the place." Standing in front of the orphanage, he noted its features. It was a two-story apartment complex with light-colored bricks and windows on both floors. Walking up the steps, he approached the building and knocked on the door.

"Hello?" Opening the door was a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties. He had short brown hair and a relaxed expression. "Good afternoon, sir. How can I help you," he asked, giving off a friendly demeanor.

"Yes, good afternoon. I was hoping you could help me. I'm looking to adopt a child. Are you the head of this orphanage?"

"Yes, sir, I am. My name is Ginrei Shirogone."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Mind if I come in?"

"Not at all." The head of the orphanage opened the door and motioned for the guest to enter. As the two walked through the orphanage, the man noticed how cozy this orphanage appeared. He saw a living room area where several children played a board game while others watched television. In the kitchen, a female teenager seemed to be mixing brownie dough.

"Looks like the kids here are having fun."

"Well, the orphanage can't afford much, but I do my best to provide them as much as I can with my money," Ginrei replied. "If you want to talk about adoptions, we'll have to talk upstairs. The process can be incredibly long, so there's a lot I'll have to fill you in on."

"I totally get it."

The two men went upstairs, entering the second door to their right. Ginrei's office was rather plain—a wooden desk with two chairs on opposite sides. A lamp sat on the desk, illuminating several papers scattered all over. On one side of the room was a bookshelf stacked with books of many different lengths and genres. On the other side of the room was a fireplace that looked like it had been recently used.

"Just close the door behind you," Ginrei said. The man did as instructed while Ginrei took a seat on his desk. "Well, I'm sure you'll have quite a few questions, so I'll do my best to be as thorough as possible so you have a good idea of what you'll be dealing with."

"That all sounds great, but I've got a few different questions I had in mind..." The head of the orphanage felt his eyebrows perk up in confusion. What exactly did he mean?

"First, let's get this stuff outta the way..." The man grabbed his hair and, to Shirogane's shock, pulled it straight off, revealing a set of ash-blonde hair hidden beneath it. Next, he removed his glasses and gently dropped his backpack.

"Ugh, thank god. The backpack's been killing me." Shirogone gasped as the man took off his jacket. From behind his back, a pair of bright red wings stretched out.

"You're–You're Hawks," a shocked Shirogone muttered.

"Yep." The number three hero took a seat in the chair before him. "Let's keep this conversation on the down-low. I don't want any of the kids here to listen in."

"I–I don't understand. Why are you here? And why did you come in disguise?"

"See, I've been assigned to an investigation right now, and my bosses want me to keep it quiet."

Ginrei could feel sweat beginning to trickle down his face. To think that the number three hero himself would come here in such secrecy. It could only mean that this investigation was incredibly sensitive and high-profile. "...And what exactly are you investigating."

The number three hero's gaze became dead-set on Ginrei. He slowly leaned forward, causing the man opposite him to inch his body back ever-so-slightly. The air suddenly became cold, enough that even if the fire had been stoked, the chill would still be lingering.

"Tell me everything you know about Shigeo Kageyama."

The scientists of the Hero Commission were meticulous in their study. Using all of the medical machines in Tartarus, they gathered all the data they could on his body. Bone density, muscle fibers, brain scans, DNA analysis, cell count- anything they could find to determine what gave Kageyama such unbelievable power and how different he was from regular Quirk users.

Shigeo was returned to his cell, leaving him only time to mull over recent events. It had now been more than two days since his imprisonment in Tartarus, and with every minute, the loneliness became increasingly unbearable.

54%

Over and over, his mind was bombarded with fear and paranoia. What if All Might's true form had been exposed? What if he'd been killed? Who else had been badly hurt during his rampage? Did Mr. Aizawa reverse his classmates' expulsion? He needed answers!

67%

Kageyama was losing it. He couldn't bear this silence anymore. He wanted something to distract him. He wanted someone, anyone, to talk to. Anyone, anyone, anyone, ANYONE!

85%

"-he and the league must be in hiding by now. I wonder how they'll proceed from here."

There it was! Mob could hear it crystal clear in his head. The day before, he thought he might have hallucinated when he heard a man's voice. But now, he felt positive that this voice was real. His psychic powers detected something faint nearby that he hadn't been able to sense before. It must have been the source of this voice. A realization suddenly hit the esper: was he developing telepathy?

A possibility emerged in his mind. These past few days, one of the most significant thoughts that had overtaken his mind was his desire to talk to someone. What if that continued desire had caused his psychic powers to act instinctively and subconsciously develop telepathy? If he was developing telepathy, maybe there was a way to hone in on this signal. It didn't matter to him what kind of person he would try to talk to. At that moment, he was so desperate for human contact that Mob would take anything he could get.

"OK, I just need to focus. Concentrate on that signal. Listen to the voice." The esper closed his eyes and emptied his mind to focus properly. He had to pinpoint the signal, sharpen his senses, and fixate on the desire for communication.

It was there! He could see this tiny, glowing source off in the distance in this darkness. Mob could reach it! It was just within his grasp!

The setting around him began to change. Instead of being a disembodied conscious traveling through darkness, he could feel himself taking a physical form. In the air, tiny white particles fell intermittently around him, and waves of what appeared to be purple wind flowed across the landscape.

Without warning, the vestige of a person rapidly took form in front of him, and the esper nearly tripped backward. He couldn't believe it: it was All For One. But then, should he be surprised? At a top-security prison, someone as powerful as All For One would undoubtedly be put on the same floor as Mob.

"So it's you, Kageyama..."

Since he'd been imprisoned in Tartarus, The Symbol of Evil had been pondering on the events in Kamino and the legendary battle that had taken place between him and Mob. At the same time, he was still getting pleasantly used to being able to see once again. His cell certainly didn't give him much to look at, but it was still far preferable to having nearly all his senses robbed of usefulness.

All for One let out a soft chuckle of amusement. "I saw they had brought a new prisoner here to this level, but never could I have imagined that it would be you. What could you possibly be doing in Tartarus?"

Shigeo's eyes went to the ground in shame. "...I lost control of my powers and ended up destroying Tartarus. The Hero Commission sent me here so they can keep an eye on me and ensure I don't lose control." Though these words were coming out of his mouth, his mind didn't want him to. What was he doing? This was All For One! Would he risk divulging information about what happened on the outside to someone this dangerous? It was a completely idiotic move, but deep in his heart, he still needed to talk to anyone, even All For One.

Shigeo's eyes went back to All For One, and contrary to what he expected, the villain's expression was neutral, almost... solemn. What was he doing?

Like Shigeo, All For One was equally baffled by his behavior. Usually, instead of a soft chuckle, All For One would have erupted in enormous, mocking laughter or applause at the reveal of Mob's imprisonment in Tartarus. But... he wasn't. Ever since he first spoke with Kageyama at the warehouse, there had been a slight shift inside him.

"Kageyama, you must tell me: Why did you heal me? I've been thinking about it since I was imprisoned here, and none of the answers I've come up with make sense. Why would you restore my body to its full strength? There's absolutely no practicality I can see in healing someone as powerful and dangerous as I am. You must have had some detailed plan in mind when you healed me, which would allow you to gain an advantage over me and the League of Villains in the long run. So what was it? What could you see that I can't?"

"It wasn't about planning or getting an advantage over you. The top of your head was gone, and I had the power to fix it. No matter who it would be, to leave anybody in a state like that, knowing I could fix it, would be too cruel."

Shigeo briefly reflected on that decision. Though he'd been convinced trying to heal him could have been a mistake, Shigeo had decided to do what he felt was right, and even now, he didn't regret it.

"In fact, now that I can talk to you, I feel I have to say... thank you.

"Don't misunderstand: a part of me doesn't want to say it, but... I feel I have to. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I would've been able to figure out the secret to my healing: kindness. Now, I might be able to heal All Might's injuries, and because of that, I feel obligated to show you my gratitude."

All For One felt as if his mind had gone blank. He unconsciously began to shake his head in disbelief. Everything he said was still the truth, but a lie may have been preferable here. None of the words coming out of this child's mouth made any sense. Who would willingly help an enemy and expect nothing in return? Who would give something of this level and feel grateful to the other person for doing it? And more importantly, why would Kageyama choose to help him, of all people? Even after hearing the explanation in his words, he found it practically impossible to accept.

While the villain tried to understand Shigeo's decision, the esper observed his surroundings. "Where are we? Is this some sort of mental mindscape you created?"

Still too shocked by Kageyama's reasoning for healing him, All For One decided to answer the question truthfully. "This is a mental realm that exists due to my Quirk's unique nature. This place normally would be impossible for anyone to access, but it seems you have some telepathic ability that has allowed your mind to enter. It seems it's just one facet of your power..."

With the topic shifting to their respective powers, All For One's curiosity latched onto another critical question on his mind since their battle. "Your power grants you so many unique abilities, yet they don't come from a Quirk. So then, where does your power come from? Who exactly are you, Shigeo Kageyama? I demand an answer!"

The esper felt he was at a crossroads. What should he do? Would he tell All For One the truth about where he came from? Revealing such a massive secret to him could have serious repercussions that could hurt him in the future and possibly All Might, too. But then what would he say? He'd never been a good liar, and someone as old and experienced as All For One might be able to sniff out any inconsistencies in his story. So what choice should he make?

In a moment of clarity, Mob made his decision. He would tell the truth. After everything that happened to him, it felt wrong to deny the truth when it was staring both of them practically in the face. He was always the type of person who expressed his feelings, and he wouldn't stop now.

"Ok. The truth is, I'm not from this world." A light gasp escaped All For One's lips. "I came to this reality more than a year ago after a huge battle with a man like us." Mob began to concentrate on his battle with Toichiro. If he focused on specific memories, he could influence this mental mindscape and have it play those memories. Sure enough, the landscape changed around them within seconds, and they were now in Spice City. Mob's past self had just activated 100% Rage and was staring up at Toichiro just as their battle was about to begin. All For One took note of this man. He wore a dark business suit and carried an aura of intimidation and power. This man looked as though he would enjoy this battle, too. All of these traits were things that All For One carried.

"Our battle tore my hometown apart." The scene shifted, and now Shigeo and Toichiro were midway into their battle after Mob had attempted to crush him with hundreds of buildings. All For One watched as this man threw the esper into the ground and tried to flatten him with this giant ball of buildings. All For One let out another amused chuckle. He would have never thought Mob had engaged in a battle on the same scale as their fight, and after losing to this child, it felt cathartic to see him flattened by a ball of skyscrapers.

"During the battle, I was shunted into this reality. The world I come from doesn't have Quirks. Instead, some people have psychic powers, like me. They're called espers, and they're not nearly as common as people with Quirks. I think most people don't even know they exist." The scene changed again, and now they witnessed one of the countless exorcisms Mob performed while working for Reigen.

"In my world, I've dealt with evil spirits instead of villains. They naturally appear to haunt buildings or people. Espers are the only ones who can exorcise them."

"Fascinating..."

For some reason, All For One's face softened. He appeared briefly melancholic, as if he had remembered something important.

"You mentioned you had a younger brother who didn't possess any psychic powers," he said. "Show me what your relationship was like!"

Deep within All For One's black heart, this question had been burning since he learned Kageyama shared this commonality with him. As Kageyama had so sharply pointed out, All For One had failed to keep his younger brother by his side, and for so many years, he sought One For All to have his brother alongside him. So, did that mean Kageyama's brother was lost to him, too? Did they maintain their bond? All For One had to know!

Shigeo continued observing the villain's demeanor. It looked like something small had changed within him. Maybe his words to All For One at the warehouse made him realize the importance of the bonds shared with others. Could it be that even now, he still missed his brother? Did All For One want to see his connection with Ritsu to witness how someone else with tremendous power maintained their relationship with his brother? This could be the push that finally made All For One change, and everything he'd suffered since losing control of his powers wouldn't have been for nothing.

"Ok then." Shigeo took a moment to consider what he'd show All For One. To make him understand his relationship with Ritsu, he'd need to give a little more background. "My younger brother, Ritsu, and I lived with our parents in Spice City. Since we were kids, we've depended on each other and done a lot together."

The esper and the villain were now in a forest. Kageyama and his younger brother were walking through the forest in this memory. His brother had longer, spiked hair and was about Kageyama's height. Kageyama was carrying a rectangular insect container at his waist, held by a strap, while an insect-catching net was in his left hand.

"It's ok, Ritsu. I'm pretty sure it's this way."

"Ok." The brothers quickly found themselves before a broken log they distinctly remembered. "I'm pretty sure this is the same place as earlier."

"Sorry. This is all my fault for saying we should go exploring," Kageyama said as he lowered his head in shame.

"Forget about it. Let's just focus on finding a way back."

"But how're we gonna do that?"

"Oh, I know what you do!" Ritsu began to kneel and observe the base of the trees. "I learned this in science class! The side with moss growing on it is north! Moss always grows in places where the sun shines least!"

Ritsu knelt behind the broken log on the ground and spotted moss growth underneath it. "You see? This way is north! This direction will take us to the river. Then we can get back to where we were barbequing."

The young Shigeo's eyes lit up with admiration, and he eagerly nodded in agreement. "Yeah!"

All For One could see that they got along very well as children. They both relied on one another, and Ritsu appeared to have deductive skills and intellect that his older brother did not. Early in their youth, he and Yoichi had shared a similar bond...

"He's always been a really smart and talented student, but unlike me, he always wanted psychic powers. And because I had them, it ended up causing some problems in our relationship." Shigeo needed to show how the two had different philosophies about their powers. So he chose a conversation that the two of them had just before his battle with Hanazawa.

The scene changed, and now they were in Shigeo's house. He wore a regular middle school uniform, though he appeared slightly shorter and far less muscular. Kageyama looked about to leave the house, but All For One quickly noted the ball of green energy floating next to the teenager.

"What is that thing," the villain said, pointing to the green energy orb, "Is it an evil spirit?"

"Yes. His name is Dimple; he's an evil spirit I exorcised who managed to come back, but I let him stick around," Mob replied.

Their focus returned to the memory. Just as Kageyama was about to exit, his younger brother appeared.

"Hey, wait up. I'll go with you."

"Wow, this is rare. You usually leave early."

"Well, there isn't a student council meeting this morning. Also, I wanted to talk to you about something."

The memory continued to play, and the two brothers began to pace through the walkway. Mob and All For One walked together alongside the conjured memories, and the villain could note the look in Ritsu's eyes. It was clear something significant was on the younger brother's mind.

"I was wondering... you don't use your psychic powers very often. Why is that?"

"Well, don't always have the chance."

All For One was about to make a mocking retort, but it seemed the evil spirit would already beat him to it.

"That's where you're wrong. There're plenty of opportunities, dude!" shouted Dimple.

"I guess there isn't really anything you want, then," replied Ritsu.

"No, it's just that using my powers for everything would be pointless. Having them is kinda weird, anyway. I mean, it's not like they're needed for survival."

"They're awesome! You're the only one who thinks that! Using them isn't pointless! You just don't realize how useful they are!"

"What do you mean? Are you saying there are things you can't have, even if you use your powers?"

"That's not true at all! You could even become G.O.D!"

"Muscles."

Just as Dimple's expression morphed into confusion, All For One was equally baffled by what he heard.

"Or understanding girls, knowing what to do in social situations, reading my surroundings. I think there's even more. Like wisdom. And that's why I envy you, Ritsu."

"That spirit spoke nothing but the truth," the villain said. "In a world like yours, especially where psychic powers are rare, you could have stood above all others and have the world in the palm of your hand. Muscles? Reading the room? Useless qualities that pale in comparison to the overwhelming might your power possesses. And the 'wisdom' you speak of would only come from realizing the true potential of your power, yet you purposefully stifle it with a useless sense of justice." All For One took another glance at Ritsu to observe his facial expression.

"Judging by the look on your younger brother's face, it seems he may have shared some of my sentiment."

Shigeo expected this sort of reaction from All For One: "That mindset would have only kept me shackled and made things worse for myself and everyone around me. But as for what you said about my brother... It's true. Ritsu wanted psychic powers since we were kids. Eventually, it happened. A while after this conversation, he managed to awaken his psychic powers."

The mindscape began to change. Now, Mob and All For One were in an alleyway. The unconscious bodies of several teenagers lay all over the ground at Ritsu's feet. For some reason, Ritsu now had two dimples on his cheeks. Could it mean that the evil spirit accompanying Kageyama before possessed Ritsu? That was possible, but it seemed too soon to draw this conclusion.

"Ritsu had fought all of these gang members from other middle schools under my name," Mob explained, "A friend told me about it, and I came just after he'd finished defeating all of them."

The calmer, easier-going expression he'd seen from Ritsu in the previous memory had vanished. Awakening his psychic powers also brought about a significant shift in his personality.

"You see, I finally obtained psychic powers."

An aura began to emerge around Ritsu, meaning he meant business. But just as he activated this aura, it vanished, and the villain saw the evil spirit flee. So Dimple had indeed been possessing Ritsu's body. However, given that Ritsu's expression hadn't changed, it appeared that his assumption about Dimple not controlling Ritsu's body was correct, something Ritsu would prove as he spoke again.

"Whatever, I don't need him. I've got the hang of it now. Listen, brother. I've come to realize something very important."

Shigeo approached his brother, but Ritsu pushed him back with a telekinetic blast. All For One was positive this act of aggression would instigate a conflict between them, and he was prepared to see a fight any second. But instead...

"Ritsu, you did it!" The villain could see the esper's eyes light up with enthusiasm. Why would Kageyama show enthusiasm when Ritsu gained power he had not given him?

"You've wanted them for so long. Remember when you were a little kid, you'd cry your eyes out because you couldn't bend spoons. Who would've thought that now–"

"The situation hadn't changed until recently. Now listen to what I was saying. I've always wanted psychic powers, and because of that, I'd always admired you, brother."

"Really? You're making me blush."

"But that was just a big misunderstanding."

"It was?"

"I couldn't handle my inferiority complex and fear towards you, so I was protecting myself by thinking it was simply admiration. More than anything, I was scared of you. I never knew what you might do if you got stressed out. We could never even have a fight as brothers. I mean, that would be suicidal, right? I'd have no way to protect myself from your powers. So, I did my best to stay out of your way and not cause any trouble between us. But that's just a humiliating past! I tried so hard for so long, no matter how crazy or frustrated it made me. And yet... you never worked hard in your life, so why?"

"But now, I've obtained them. Now, I don't have to be scared anymore. In fact, I've lost all interest in our relationship. So this buddy-buddy act of ours ends now. It's over."

Using his control over the mindscape, the esper paused the memory as he prepared to make another point."You see? Like I told you before, my brother lived in fear of me all these years, knowing how helpless he would be if I ever lost control of my powers. In the same way, your brother was helpless watching you get consumed by your power and become a villain. In both cases, it damaged our relationships with our siblings. But I didn't give up on my relationship with Ritsu."

Mob resumed the memory, allowing All For One to see how Kageyama had reacted to his younger brother's words.

"Ritsu, I can tell that's all just a lie."

"I want you to face me! Hit me with the full force of your powers!"

"But I guess part of what you said is true. I am your brother, and that means I have to help take care of you." The esper walked up to the beaten gang members and proceeded to bow his head. "I'm terribly sorry that my little brother hurt you. He lost his temper, that's all. Please look past this and be friends with him."

The symbol of evil began to feel his hands clench into fists. What was this boy doing? All For One's anger would only grow as the scene unfolded.

"Think that's enough to be forgiven, do you," one of the thugs said.

"You need to grovel down on your knees first," another thug snarled.

"Oh, ok..."

The symbol of evil's body began to tremble in anger at the sight before him. Watching someone with unfathomable power and potential like All For One reduce himself this way, do something he would never do in a thousand years, it almost felt like a direct insult to him.

"What nonsense were you thinking?" All For One said as the memory kept playing and the other gang members got up, "Lowering yourself for subhuman trash? Why would you not use your psychic powers to erase all of them from their pitiful existence?"

"Because that wouldn't have solved anything, and besides, I wanted to fix Ritsu's mistakes. That's what brothers are supposed to do."

The symbol of evil was about to make another scathing retort, but he decided to stay quiet and watch the memory continue. As the thugs tried to assert their superiority, an outsider suddenly swooped in from the roof. This man easily overpowered Ritsu, grabbing him by the head and slamming him into the pavement.

"And who would this be?"

"He's an esper from an organization called Claw. His name is Koyama. They were looking for child espers to abduct, and they targeted Ritsu."

All For One watched this esper casually overpower Ritsu while mocking the group of thugs for their inflated sense of superiority. This man was a villain and reveled in the power he wielded. He wasn't afraid to use it, either, and casually tossed aside any thugs who attempted to challenge him. But Kageyama refused to let this stand and activated his energy.

"My little brother..."

Koyama casually punched Kageyama in the face and sent him head-first into the wall. The scene appeared to jump ahead, and now all the thugs were kneeling as Koyama walked away with Ritsu. If All For One had to guess, that punch momentarily knocked Kageyama out and forced him to collect himself. But from Kageyama's stance, it was clear he would take the offensive. Sure enough, the esper rushed forward and slammed Koyama into the ground. The esper retaliated with a kick to Kageyama's chest, sending him flying back several meters. Koyama followed up with an elbow to the chest, then a front kick that sent him back a few more meters.

"Love to stay and play, but I've got other plans. Luckily, there are ways to deal with little esper brats like you!"

Koyama extended his arms and activated a technique that All For One had become all too familiar with.

"Telekinetic Helix!"

"So this is where you learned that technique. And here I thought you had come up with it all alone. It appears I overestimated your creativity."

With this technique, Koyama was able to gain a decisive edge. It was clear that Kageyama lacked the fighting skills and the reflexes to defend himself properly, and as a result, he was left at the mercy of this esper. Once again, All For One felt another immense satisfaction watching Koyama beat Kageyama within an inch of his life, smiling with sadistic glee. But that smile slowly faded when he noticed how Ritsu reacted.

"Brother... Leave him alone. Stop hurting him, please!"

Gone was the detached, aloof expression and the desire to fight his brother at full power. He could see the tears forming in Ritsu's eyes: watching his older brother so savagely thrashed was not something he could stand. In his desperate attempt to save his older brother, he wrapped his arms around Koyama to try and restrain him.

"Just take me! That's what you wanted, right? Then do it!"

"A wise decision, but I don't play fair."

All For One could see that Koyama was about to strike Ritsu across the face, but the memory was stopped before he could. Shigeo knew full well how this would proceed, and after everything that had happened in Yavin Forest, the last thing he wanted to see was himself losing himself in rage and using his powers against someone else.

"My brother might have acted like he'd moved on from our relationship and only cared about his psychic powers. But, like I could tell, it was all just a lie. When things got rough and I was badly hurt, he stepped in and tried to save me. Even with my failures, we were still brothers.

"After he hit my brother, I managed to overpower Koyama, but used a cursed cologne that knocked me unconscious. Ritsu was kidnapped and taken to one of Claw's headquarters. I went with a friend to try and rescue Ritsu, but I ended up getting taken down by one of their espers."

The alleyway and the thugs disappeared. Instead, a white-paneled holding cell a few dozen meters in diameter, similar to the cells All For One and Kageyama were being held in, replaced it. All For One noted the markings on the wall and the vast symbol on the floor. Kageyama lay on the ground with his back against the wall, and his brother and another teenager with an absurd haystack wig stood next to him.

Kageyama's eyes opened, catching the attention of his friend. "Looks like you're awake."

"Hanazawa... Where are we?" A massive swell of pain hit Shigeo, and he clasped his hand over his forehead.

"Are you alright? Do you have any idea how you lost?"

"Not at all..."

"Thank goodness. Are you ok?" Having seen his brother wake up, Ritsu immediately approached him. "Were you hit on the head? I hope it's nothing serious."

"Ritsu… I'm so glad you're safe." Shigeo pulled Ritsu toward him and casually embraced him.

"You're not hurt, are you?" Kageyama asked.

"No, I..."

"Let's hurry home. That sound good, Hanazawa?"

"We can't. I'm not sure why, but it seems we're completely powerless in this room. I've tried repeatedly, but no luck. Usually, I'd be able to bust a hole through a wall like this one, no problem," Hanzawa said, placing his hand on the wall for emphasis.

"Wow, yeah, you're right. But that's ok. We've got Ritsu here with us." Instead of despairing, Kageyama's face grew hopeful, somehow placing his faith in Ritsu's abilities.

"Really? What can your little brother do?" Hanazawa asked.

"He happens to be really smart. I can't do anything special without using my psychic powers, but he can figure things out and solve anything, even without his powers." As Kageyama was speaking, a tear fell down Ritsu's face.

"Is that so? Sounds like you're pretty proud of him, aren't you."

"Oh, very much so. There's nobody I admire more."

"No fair." Tears were now streaming down Ritsu's face and dripping onto the floor. "You won't even let me apologize. It's just not fair! Even after everything I… Thank you, brother."

Reliving this memory brought a smile to Shigeo's face. Amidst everything that had happened, it felt nice to remember he still had his brother's love and gratitude. With this, perhaps All For One would understand what a genuine bond between siblings looked like. He turned to see how the villain reacted, but it was far from what he'd expected.

The symbol of evil clenched his teeth ferociously, and his eyes burned with fury. What was going on? All For One couldn't understand what was evoking these emotions within him. Somehow, watching the memories of these two brothers stirred up feelings within him he never imagined he had.

"I don't understand..." All For One fell to his knees, grasping his head as he struggled to contain his emotions. "How could you two have this? Why could you keep what I could not, even after everything I've tried..."

The villain felt the rush of memories with Yoichi flooding back into him. Without warning, the scene changed again. The two were in a dilapidated high-rise building. Hundreds of books were scattered everywhere around them. A massive hole in the wall allowed Shigeo to see the utter devastation outside. Inside this room, a young boy with slightly long, white hair was reading a comic book.

An older child with white hair floated onto the floor from outside the building. Was this a memory of All For One and his brother when they were children? Was this the kind of life they had to live?

Typically, All For One would have immediately erased this memory from the mindscape. But witnessing all the memories of Shigeo and his brother had brought a sense of nostalgia and longing for his brother. Right now, he just wanted to see Yoichi's face and relive some of the few positive memories he shared with his younger brother.

"You've kept this from me?" the young All For One said, "What are you reading, Yoichi?"

"Well, I'm still learning to read books, so big fancy books are too hard, but these comics are just... wow!" Yoichi's face continued to glow, reading the covers of these comics. "It's like you read the pictures, and they tell you the hopes and dreams of the people in the drawings. Like this hero." Shigeo leaned his head over Yoichi to see what hero he was talking about. All these comics were about Captain Hero, and it looked like Yoichi had several volumes of this comic series.

"Someday, I wanna be like him."

The elder sibling sat next to Yoichi, who placed the comic on the floor to allow them both to read it. Shigeo watched the two siblings immerse themselves in the comic. While All For One had initially come with a neutral expression, a smile spread across his face and the two continued reading pages of the comic. Not the callous, sadistic smile he'd seen from several of his opponents, but the smile of satisfaction, of getting to do something enjoyable with someone you loved.

"So you and your brother were close after all. In that horrible world you had to live in, all you two had were each other."

Hearing Shigeo's voice snapped All For One back to his senses, and he immediately dispelled the memory from the mindscape. "How could I allow myself to get caught up in the past at a time like this? It's disgraceful!"

"Opening yourself up to other people isn't disgraceful," Shigeo replied.

"Of course it is! I am not like you and the rest of the extras that populate this wretched planet! Showing your brother undeserved mercy, even after he directly insulted and challenged you, was the act of a weakling."

Shigeo felt his temper slowly begin to rise. "That was the act of a brother who looks out for his sibling, no matter what. Because I forgave him and stood by his side, we could stay together as brothers. But not with you and Yoichi. You chose to act cruel and kept him imprisoned, and it only drove a wedge that split you two apart."

"SILENCE!" All For One shot up to his feet and towered over Kageyama, barely able to control his murderous impulses. "I would have eventually convinced Yoichi to join my side and overcome his pathetic ideals. If it wasn't for him..."

The mindscape briefly changed, and Kageyama was able to catch a glimpse of All For One choking the life out of a man while tears streamed down his face. "Kudo is to blame for all of this. He freed Yoichi, robbing me of my little brother, my first and most prized possession. If he hadn't gotten in my way, Yoichi wouldn't have died, and none of this would have happened! One For All would never have been passed on through the generations and culminated in the hero who robbed me of my empire. But even still, Yoichi's spirit resides in One For All. One day, he'll be mine again, and the bond I carried with him will be restored."

"You're wrong. No matter what you did, Yoichi never would have joined your side."

"Yes, he would! I'm the demon lord who ruled over Japan as a dark emperor for decades! I can mold reality to my whim, steal from who I choose, and stand on top of this world as a feared overlord, just like the demon lord in the comics! I have the will and the power to do as I please, to take what rightfully belongs to me! I am not like you, who has the power to stand as the protagonist of this world yet adopts the mentality and ideals of an extra! I charge ahead, unbound and unshackled, to chase my dream and-"

"WAKE UP!"

92%

Kageyama could no longer listen to this. Disgusted at All For One's possessive, delusional behavior, the esper shouted uncharacteristically, causing the villain to reel back in silence as he released all his frustration.

"Life isn't like a comic book! Having power doesn't make you the protagonist, and people aren't extras based on their power, either! I mean, look at me! I thought I could be a classic hero the way my friends and All Might are; I fought you in a battle I'm sure was just the same as Captain Hero, but look at where I am now! Did you ever read a chapter in your comic where the hero goes on a rampage, gets thrown into a prison, and is treated like a lab rat? Real life is messy and complicated and throws problems you can't solve! The same goes for you!

"You thought you were an invincible demon lord but lost to All Might! Then, you tried to beat me, but you lost again! Not because I was a comic hero, but because I had the help of my classmates and everyone watching, the people you called extras! Now you're imprisoned and alone, without the freedom to live that the people you look down upon have!"

94%

Shigeo took a deep breath to calm himself down. He couldn't afford to lose control again at a time like this. "Listen, All For One. Just being able to choose makes you the main character. It makes every single person the main character of their own story. And in the real world, most people choose kindness. I chose kindness when I healed you; your brother chose kindness when he passed One For All on to stop you. And I guarantee you, if you keep choosing to be the demon lord, Yoichi will never accept you as his brother again."

"No, it can't be. I couldn't have chosen wrong. The path of the demon lord is the only road ahead of me. Could I have truly..." The villain fells to his knees once again. All For One wouldn't dare let himself finish this sentence. Even now, that would insult his dream and the legacy he'd tried to build, and yet...

"I've said everything I wanted to say," Kageyama muttered, "I'll leave you to think it all over." The esper turned his back to the villain. With this, the esper's form vanished from the mindscape, and the symbol of evil lay on the ground, utterly defeated.

There you have it, folks! We get to see Mob's specialty against the most evil villain he's ever encountered. A couple of reasons that Mob was able to talk with All For One in such a way is because one, he was just desperate for communication after everything that'd happened. Two, he could relate to All For One in a way that nobody else could. Three, he doesn't know about all of All For One's worst crimes, and if he did, he would've been far more cold and less sympathetic towards All For One in this conversation. Regardless, I did my best to try and keep both of them in-character and find a way to develop this in a way that shows both All For One's evil nature and the very small level of empathy and kindness he has towards his younger brother. I'm positive there are gonna be people that view this chapter as BS talk-no-jutsu, but in this case, I'd argue Mob is one of the only people who has the powers, the similarities, the wisdom, and the empathy to reach someone like All For One.

Now you'll have to see whether it actually sticks or if All For One dismisses it all as useless ramblings. Until Chapter 46!

Also want to acknowledge MHA manga ending. Even if I wasn't satisfied with how it ended, it was still a good ride overall, and even the last arcs had some pretty good highs. JJK Chapter 265 also came out, and I thought about it a lot when writing this chapter. Yuji finally managing to pick up on some quality talk-no-jutsu, just like Mob, but looks like he won't have as much success with it as Mob does.