My Hero Academia: Heavenly Restriction

March 5, 2226

Toshinori Yagi, better known as All Might, slouched in his chair, his gaunt form a stark contrast to the heroic figure plastered across billboards. The reviewing room hummed with quiet conversation as his fellow teachers dissected the practical entrance exam results. He rubbed his sunken eyes, fighting exhaustion. These meetings always drained him, but today felt particularly taxing.

Principal Nezu's voice cut through the chatter. "Let's move on to our top three scorers, shall we?" The small chimera tapped a claw against his teacup, drawing everyone's attention. "Ectoplasm, if you'd do the honors?"

The mathematics teacher nodded, his mask betraying no emotion as he pulled up the first file. "Third place: Camie Utsushimi. 48 villain points, 27 rescue points."

The screens flickered to life, showcasing a blonde girl weaving through robot attackers. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like, as she dodged metallic claws and energy blasts. But it was her quirk that truly captivated the room.

Illusions shimmered into existence – false targets, environmental hazards, even copies of the girl herself. Robots faltered, their sensors struggling to differentiate reality from fiction. In their confusion, Utsushimi slipped behind them, deactivating control panels.

Midnight leaned forward, her lips curving into an impressed smile. "Now that's using your head. Creative quirk application and solid tactical awareness."

"Agreed," Aizawa grunted, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the footage. "But relying too heavily on misdirection could become a crutch. She'll need to develop other skills to round out her abilities."

Vlad King crossed his arms, the motion stretching his skin-tight costume. "True, but that level of control at her age is impressive. With proper training, she could become a formidable hero."

The conversation continued, teachers debating the finer points of Utsushimi's performance. All Might found his attention drifting, his mind replaying a long-ago encounter on a rooftop. A desperate question from a quirkless boy...

Ectoplasm's voice snapped him back to the present. "Second place: Katsuki Bakugo. 77 villain points, 0 rescue points."

The screens erupted with explosions. A spiky-haired boy tore through the exam site, his palms igniting with concussive blasts that reduced robots to scrap metal. His movements were precise, each detonation carefully controlled to maximize damage.

"Raw power and expert quirk control," Cementoss observed, his blocky features impassive. "But that rescue point total is concerning."

Snipe tilted his head, the lenses of his gas mask reflecting the destruction on-screen. "Kid's got a mean streak, that's for sure. Ain't even seem to notice the other examinees."

"Perhaps," Nezu interjected, his tone thoughtful. "But we mustn't overlook potential. Many great heroes started with rough edges."

Recovery Girl harrumphed, her small frame radiating disapproval. "Rough edges are one thing. This boy shows a complete disregard for collateral damage. He'll be a nightmare to treat if he keeps that up."

"I'll whip him into shape," Aizawa said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Raw talent like that is worth the effort."

The debate intensified, teachers split on Bakugo's merits and liabilities. All Might found himself frowning, something about the boy's ferociousness striking an uncomfortable chord. Another memory surfaced – a sludge villain, a hostage situation, a quirkless boy rushing in...

A gentle touch on his shoulder jolted him from his reverie. Queen, Recovery Girl's assistant, gave him a concerned look. "Are you alright, All Might? You seem distracted."

He forced a wan smile. "Just tired, my dear. Nothing to worry about."

Nezu cleared his throat, recapturing the room's focus. "And now, our top scorer. Ectoplasm?"

The math teacher's posture straightened almost imperceptibly. "First place: Izuku Midoriya. 68 villain points, 60 rescue points."

The air in the room seemed to shift as the footage began. A green-haired boy moved with purpose through the chaos, his actions a stark contrast to Bakugo's unbridled aggression. Midoriya's fights were calculated, each move designed to disable robots efficiently while minimizing collateral damage. 

But it was his rescue efforts that truly stood out. The boy seemed to have a sixth sense for danger, repeatedly placing himself in harm's way to protect other examinees. He used the environment to his advantage, using debris as projectiles and guiding others to safety.

"Remarkable situational awareness," Vlad King murmured, leaning forward in his seat. "He's treating this like a real crisis, not just a test."

Midnight nodded, her expression a mix of approval and curiosity. "And look at that physicality. His strength and speed are well above average for his age."

The footage continued, showcasing Midoriya's tactical mind and impressive combat skills. All Might found himself leaning closer, a nagging sense of familiarity tugging at him. Those eyes, that determined set of the jaw...

Then came the zero-pointer.

The room fell silent as they watched Midoriya's daring rescue of the trapped girl, his ingenious use of her quirk, and the spectacular takedown of the massive robot. Even Aizawa's perpetual scowl softened, replaced by grudging respect.

"Now that," the erasure hero said, "is how you ace an entrance exam."

Present Mic suddenly snapped his fingers, his voice rising with excitement. "I knew I recognized this kid! He was on the news a few weeks back – cleaned up that whole beach by himself. Takoba Municipal, I think?"

All Might's breath caught in his throat. The beach. The training ground he'd considered for... No, it couldn't be.

Nezu's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "Most impressive of all, this Midoriya boy is quirkless."

The word hung in the air like a physical thing. Quirkless. Green hair. A rooftop conversation that had haunted All Might for months.

"Toshinori?"

He blinked, realizing Nezu had been calling his name. The principal's beady eyes studied him with unsettling intensity.

"Are you quite alright? You look as though you've seen a ghost."

All Might forced a laugh, waving off the concern. "Just surprised, that's all. A quirkless student scoring so high – it's unprecedented."

Nezu hummed noncommittally, but All Might could feel the principal's analytical gaze boring into him. "Indeed. Well, I believe that concludes our meeting for today. Toshinori, a word in my office, if you please?"

As the other teachers filed out, All Might's mind raced. Could it really be the same boy? But he looked so different now – confident, powerful. Nothing like the scrawny, desperate child from that rooftop.

He followed Nezu down the winding corridors of UA, lost in thought. The principal's office was a reflection of its occupant – organized chaos, with stacks of books and papers covering every surface. Nezu settled behind his desk, gesturing for All Might to take a seat.

"Now then," Nezu said, steepling his paws. "What's really on your mind, old friend?"

All Might sighed, his skeletal form seeming to shrink further. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to those who know you well." Nezu's tone was gentle, but his eyes remained sharp. "This Midoriya boy – you've met him before, haven't you?"

There was no point in denying it. All Might nodded, the weight of his past decisions settling heavily on his shoulders. "About ten months ago. He asked me if a quirkless person could become a hero."

Nezu's ears twitched. "And what did you tell him?"

"I..." All Might's voice faltered. "I told him no. That it was too dangerous, that he should find another dream that's realistic."

Silence stretched between them. Nezu sipped his tea, his expression unreadable. 

"I see," the principal said at last. "And now?"

All Might stared at his hands, clenching and unclenching them slowly. "Now I'm wondering if I made a terrible mistake. If I crushed that boy's dreams, only for him to prove me spectacularly wrong."

Nezu set down his cup, his tone thoughtful. "Perhaps. Or perhaps your words motivated him to push beyond his perceived limits. We can't know for certain."

"What should I do?"

"For now? Nothing." Nezu's gaze softened slightly. "Let the boy enjoy his victory. There will be time for conversations and potential mentorship once classes begin."

All Might nodded, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation. "You're right, of course. Thank you, Nezu."

As he stood to leave, the principal's voice stopped him. "Toshinori? Remember, the mark of a true hero isn't never making mistakes. It's how we learn from them and move forward."

All Might managed a small smile. "I'll try to keep that in mind."

He left Nezu's office, his mind still churning with possibilities. Whatever the future held, one thing was certain – Izuku Midoriya was a student to watch. And perhaps, the answer to a question All Might had been asking himself for far too long.

Who would inherit the mantle of One For All?

===

March 11, 2226 

I closed the laptop and sprinted downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. Mom stood in the living room, still in her running clothes, clutching a thick envelope to her chest.

"It came." Her voice trembled. "Special delivery."

The UA seal gleamed red against the crisp white paper. Heavy - that meant more than just a letter. Probably a data disk or...

"Sweetie?" Mom held out the envelope. "Don't you want to open it?"

"Right." I took it carefully, settling onto the couch. The paper felt expensive, substantial. Mom perched beside me, hands clasped tight.

"Whatever it says-"

"I know, Mom."

I broke the seal and pulled out a folded letter. A small metal disk clattered onto the coffee table.

"Is that a-"

The disk hummed to life, projecting a massive image against the far wall. All Might's larger-than-life smile filled our living room, his yellow suit practically glowing.

"I AM HERE! AS A PROJECTION!"

Mom grabbed my arm. I barely noticed, too busy processing the sight of the Symbol of Peace himself delivering my exam results. The last time I'd seen that smile up close...

No one's ever become a hero without a quirk. It's not bad to dream, but you need to be realistic.

"You are probably wondering why I am HERE!" All Might's recorded voice boomed through our living room. "Well, young Midoriya, I have taken a position as a teacher at UA!"

What.

"But that's not what this is about." He shuffled some papers, still grinning. "Are you ready to see your results?"

Mom's grip tightened.

"First, the written exam! Young Midoriya, you scored an impressive 96% - one of the highest marks we've seen this year. This score alone would qualify you for General Studies."

The projection changed to show my exam paper, covered in neat writing and complex diagrams.

"But of course, the Hero Course requires more than academic excellence. In the practical exam, you demonstrated remarkable combat prowess, scoring 68 villain points through direct confrontation."

Footage played of my fights - precise strikes disabling robots, efficient takedowns maximizing points.

"However!" All Might's face returned, his smile somehow wider. "That's not all UA was looking for. A true hero's worth isn't measured solely by the villains they defeat..."

The screen shifted again. My breath caught.

There I was, sprinting toward danger while everyone else ran away. The zero-pointer loomed impossibly large, but the camera focused on my face - calm, focused, already planning.

"Young Uraraka's testimony was quite moving." All Might's voice softened. "She described how you not only rescued her, but took time to learn her name, understand her quirk, and incorporate her abilities into your strategy - all while under extreme pressure."

The footage continued, showing my improvised throw and the zero-pointer's dramatic fall.

"Defeating villains is part of the job, but saving people - that's the true mark of a hero. And you, young man, exemplified that spirit perfectly."

Mom's hands covered her mouth.

"For your rescue of multiple students and your innovative use of teamwork: 60 RESCUE POINTS!"

Sixty?

"This brings your total score to 128 points - the highest in UA entrance exam history!"

The projection showed a scoreboard. My name sat at the top, well above the previous record.

"Young Midoriya." All Might's expression grew serious. "You've proven that heroism transcends quirks. You've shown that true strength lies not in the powers we're born with, but in how we use our abilities to help others."

He stood, the camera pulling back to frame him against UA's impressive facade.

"Welcome to your hero academia."

The projection flickered out, leaving us in stunned silence.

"Izuku..." Mom's voice cracked. "You did it. You really did it!"

She threw herself at me, happy tears soaking my shirt as she hugged me tight. "My baby's going to be a hero!"

I hugged her back, my own eyes stinging. The highest score ever. Not just good enough to get in, but good enough to shatter records. To prove beyond any doubt that I belonged at UA.

"I need to call Gramps." My voice sounded distant to my own ears. 

Mom pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Call everyone! We're celebrating tonight. I'll make katsudon, and-"

My phone rang. FaceTime. Camie's contact photo filled the screen.

"Thirty seconds before I was on the bullet train over." Her grin faltered when she saw my face. "Izu? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." I shook my head, laughing. "I got in."

"Of course you did! What did I tell you? They'd be idiots not to-"

"Highest score in exam history."

She froze mid-sentence. "What."

"A hundred and twenty-eight points. Sixty-eight villain, sixty rescue."

"Holy shit." Her eyes widened. "That's... that's incredible!"

"Says the girl who can create perfect illusions."

"Don't change the subject." She leaned closer to her camera. "We're going to be classmates!"

"Let me check first..." I picked up the pamphlet, flipping past a few pages. "Yep. Looks like we're both in 1-A."

"For real?" Camie bounced in her seat, her blonde hair catching the sunlight streaming through her window. "Hold it up to the camera!"

I turned the page toward her, showing the red class 1-A. 

"We did it!" She launched into an elaborate victory dance. "Just like I said at UA, remember? Manifest this." She struck a pose, perfectly mimicking her stance from that day. "Your girl's got that manifestation power."

"Pretty sure that's not how your quirk works."

"Details, details." She dropped back into her chair, grinning. "Oh! I forgot to tell you - I'm coming down next week to apartment hunt. Need to get settled before school starts."

"Already? That's fast."

"Mama insisted. Said if I'm going to actually go to UA, I need proper living arrangements." She rolled her eyes fondly. "Can't have her princess commuting six hours each way."

Mom appeared behind me again, drawn by our laughter. "Are you two planning already?"

"Midoriya-san!" Camie straightened, smoothing her hair. "I was just telling Izu I'll be in town next week."

"Looking for apartments, right?" Mom's eyes sparkled. "You know, there are some lovely units in our building. The Yamazakis just moved out of 4B right next door..."

"Mom."

"What? I'm just saying, it would be convenient. You two could study together, train together..."

"That's so thoughtful!" Camie leaned closer to her camera. "I'd love to check it out. And finally meet you properly, Midoriya-san."

Mom beamed. "Oh my, aren't you stunning? Those eyes, that smile... Izuku, you didn't tell me she was this beautiful!"

"Mom." 

"It's true though." She squeezed my shoulders. "You should bring her for dinner when she visits. I'll make my special katsudon."

"The famous katsudon?" Camie's eyes widened. "Izu says it's literally the best thing ever."

"Does he now?" Mom's smile turned sly. "Well, we can't disappoint then, can we? You're welcome any time, dear."

"Thank you, Midoriya-san! I'd love that."

There was a knock on Camie's door. "Shoot, that's my cue. Talk later?"

"Yeah. Text me when you're free?"

"Always do." She waved. "Bye Midoriya-san! Can't wait to meet you properly!"

The call ended. Mom hummed thoughtfully.

"Izu, huh?"

"Don't start."

"I'm not starting anything." She headed back to the kitchen. "Though 4B is available..."

I groaned, but couldn't stop smiling. The acceptance letter sat on my desk, proof that everything was changing. In just a few weeks, Camie and I would walk through UA's gates together, ready to start our hero journey.

Now that was worth manifesting.