U.A. High School – Meeting Room
The meeting room was spacious, designed for faculty discussions, but today, it hosted a far more unique gathering. Nezu sat at the head of the table, sipping his tea as always, his sharp eyes glinting with curiosity. All Might took a seat beside him, still in his muscular form, while Aizawa leaned against the wall, arms crossed, observing in silence. Izuku, despite his nervousness, sat near All Might, doing his best to maintain composure.
Across from them, the members of the Wish-Granting Shop were seated. Lan Xuanyu had a relaxed posture, but his eyes occasionally flickered with interest. Besides him sat Albedo, who insisted standing behind Xuanyu but he ordered her to sit beside him.
Rias Gremory sat with effortless grace, her red hair a striking contrast against the dark color of her uniform. Irene Belserion and Bibi Dong remained composed, though Irene's sharp gaze hinted at an analytical mind dissecting everything around her.
Uchiha Shisui leaned back in his chair, casual yet ever-watchful, while Lily Potter sat with a polite but curious expression. Foara Ul exuded quiet confidence, and Booma's four arms rested on the table as she listened intently. Acier Silva maintained a regal presence, and Ditian sat with the patience of someone who had seen countless lifetimes.
Nezu finally spoke, his voice calm but inquisitive.
"I must admit, this is a most fascinating occasion. It is not every day that one meets individuals who, by all accounts, should not exist within our understanding of reality." He smiled. "The Wish-Granting Shop… a name that carries an air of mystery and impossibility. And yet, here you are, in the flesh. It is truly an honor."
All Might chuckled, nodding. "I knew Nezu would be eager to meet you all." He turned toward Lan Xuanyu. "I invited you here for two reasons. The first, of course, is to observe the U.A. Sports Festival. You will see the best our students have to offer, and perhaps, you might even find someone who interests you."
At this, Izuku tensed slightly, knowing that his performance would be observed by some of the most powerful beings he had ever heard of.
Nezu continued, adjusting his paws on the table. "And the second reason?"
All Might's expression turned serious. "I want their perspective. Their insights." His gaze swept over the Wish-Granting Shop members. "Nezu, you and I both know that our world is… changing. Quirks have evolved rapidly over the past few generations. The future is uncertain, and I want to hear from those who have seen more than we ever could. Not only that All-For-One is also alive and operating things from shadows. So getting help of the shop memebers to help train future heroes would be very beneficial."
Izuku took a deep breath hearing the name of All-For-One. The responsibility, the mission that he inherited along with One-For-All.
Nezu hummed in thought. "An interesting proposition." He turned his keen eyes toward Lan Xuanyu. "Tell me, then. What are your impressions so far?"
Lan Xuanyu leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "Your world is… intriguing. The existence of Quirks—an evolution of humanity's power—creates an entirely different societal structure than what I'm used to. Heroes, villains, a world where strength determines justice… It is both fascinating and flawed."
Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Flawed how?"
Bibi Dong smirked. "Strength does not always determine righteousness. Your world's hero system is built on ideals, but ideals are fragile things. What happens when a hero fails? What happens when the system designed to uphold peace becomes the very thing that crumbles it?"
Rias Gremory crossed her legs. "Heroes are placed on pedestals, made into symbols, and yet, at their core, they are just people. And people… are fallible."
Izuku stiffened at that, glancing at All Might.
All Might, however, simply nodded. "That is why we must continue striving forward. Even knowing that we are flawed, we must still do our best."
Acier, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "The question is not whether you are doing your best. The question is whether your best will be enough." Her eyes gleamed. "The world changes. Will your heroes change with it? Or will they break beneath the weight of their own expectations?"
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then, a voice broke it.
"I won't break."
All eyes turned to Izuku. He clenched his fists, his green eyes burning with determination. "I know I still have a long way to go, but I won't break. No matter how hard it gets, I'll keep moving forward!"
A slow smirk appeared on Lan Xuanyu's lips. "Good."
Nezu chuckled, breaking the tension. "Well, this is going to be a most interesting Sports Festival indeed."
Aizawa sighed, already feeling a headache coming on.
The tension in the air lingered briefly before Nezu let out an amused chuckle, breaking the momentary silence.
"Determination is an admirable trait," the small principal mused, sipping his tea. "However, as my esteemed guests have pointed out, the world is not so kind. Determination alone will not carry one to the top—it must be supported by wisdom, adaptability, and, of course, strength."
Izuku clenched his fists slightly, but he nodded. He knew that better than anyone. No matter how hard he worked, his dream of becoming the Number One Hero would be meaningless if he couldn't back it up with real power.
All Might gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "You've already come a long way, Young Midoriya. The journey is what matters."
Lan Xuanyu observed the interaction with quiet interest before glancing at Nezu. "Since we'll be staying to observe the Sports Festival, I assume there is a designated area for us to watch?"
Nezu nodded. "Of course. I have prepared a private viewing area with the best vantage point of the festival grounds. You will have full access to observe every match without interference."
Bibi Dong leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "And you don't mind us analyzing your students?"
"Not at all," Nezu replied smoothly. "On the contrary, I welcome it. If our students wish to stand at the top, they must be prepared for scrutiny from those far beyond their usual scale of comparison."
Rias Gremory smiled slightly. "Interesting. You're quite different from the leaders I've met before."
Nezu's eyes gleamed with amusement. "I take that as a compliment."
All Might clapped his hands together, bringing the focus back. "Then it's settled! You'll observe the Sports Festival, and in return, we get the chance to learn from your insights."
There was a general murmur of agreement.
Suddenly Xuanyu remembered something, he took out his shop tablet. His fingers moved swiftly over the shop tablet, his expression neutral yet focused. Unlike before, he wasn't just checking information—he was actively operating something.
The others from the Wish-Granting Shop watched with mild curiosity, but they knew better than to interrupt. Whatever Xuanyu was doing, it was important.
Nezu, perceptive as ever, observed silently, sipping his tea. "That device of yours… I assume it's more than just a simple data terminal?"
Xuanyu didn't look up. "It's a direct interface with the shop. Basically it lets me control the shop even when I am countless universe's away."
Nezu's ears twitched at that statement, but his expression remained calm. "Fascinating. So, distance is irrelevant to your connection?"
Xuanyu nodded, still focused on the tablet. "Yeah. Doesn't matter how far I am—so long as the shop exists, I can operate it from anywhere."
Aizawa, who had been listening quietly, narrowed his eyes slightly. "And you just made… an adjustment?"
Xuanyu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tapped one final command before placing the tablet on the table. The screen glowed faintly before a holographic projection appeared above it, revealing a series of quests and rewards.