Chapter 85: A difficult person to deal with.

Kai's words greatly impacted All Might. Although he had seen people with similar thoughts, it was rare for someone so powerful not to want to use his strength for good or evil. Furthermore, Kai's “prophecy” certainly made him feel somewhat uncomfortable because if his suspicions were correct, this was the second time someone with the ability to see the future had told him something like that. But he truly felt that Midoriya would be the best successor for him and that it was the best time to pass it on.

"I don't think I'll regret it, Kai-shonen. Society isn't as dark as you think. Although it's undeniable that there are people like the ones you mention, it's also undeniable that there are more good people. There will always be more who will fight for justice, and even if you were right, I didn't do what I did seeking recognition or gratitude. I did it because it was necessary, and I wanted to do it, so no matter what happens, I will never regret being the symbol of peace." With a solemn tone filled with a strong sense of duty, All Might commented while staring intently at Kai.

"Hehehe, how naive, All Might. Although I suppose such a mentality is important for someone to become the symbol of peace and sacrifice himself for a bunch of ungrateful useless people. But let time pass, and life will show you how wrong you are." Kai put on a mocking smile while looking at All Might, who couldn't help but reply in an angry tone.

"Ungrateful useless people? Is that how you perceive people, Kai? That's terribly wrong. Thanks to other people, you eat, have a house, and different things reach your hands because there are people who work tirelessly to make that possible. Besides, they're not ungrateful. Someone who has never helped anyone has no right to say that!"

Without getting up from his chair, Kai put his feet on the table and crossed his arms while giving All Might a mocking expression and commented with a tone full of disdain. Meanwhile, Salem stared intently at the symbol of peace, ready to attack him at the slightest movement against his master.

"Hehehe, and here I thought I had helped you. But well, that comment can only come from a naive person like you who has spent decades drowning in false gratitude and glory. You've never seen the real reality, or, failing that, you've forgotten what it's really like. You're intoxicated by your power and success; you don't know what the real world is like, nor what people are truly like.

"Those who 'love' you and 'support' you today are the same ones who will kick you tomorrow when you're down. But you're incapable of seeing it because you've never tasted failure. But don't worry; that will change soon, and when it happens, you'll realize that saying 'I did it because it was necessary, and it was what I wanted to do' is pure garbage. You're just a human, a very powerful one—or well, you were—but a human, after all.

"Like everyone else, you expect recognition or, at least, a drop of gratitude. And when you don't receive it, you'll know true despair. Besides, humans don't work out of the goodness of their hearts; they do it because they have to. But just as I live off the result of that work, they also benefit from my work. It's called social cooperation, and it's what underpins humanity's success as a species."

"That's a dangerous way of thinking, Kai."

All Might's anger was palpable as he spoke and looked at Kai, exuding an incredible pressure worthy of the number one hero. But the blue-eyed boy only responded casually while rocking in his chair, as if he were addressing a random person and not the very symbol of peace.

"Oh, is that so? And what will you do about it? Don't deceive yourself. In the state you're in, you won't be able to defeat me."

Along with his words, a crushing pressure emanated from Kai, which even managed to exert pressure on the invincible symbol of peace, making him step back and surprising him greatly. At the same time, the things around them began to crack and break, as the pressure was now physical.

"…"

With a serious expression, All Might deeply analyzed the young man who was playing with his curious cat having a casual smile on his face, deeply considering his options. But at that instant, the brutal pressure disappeared as if it were a lie, at the same time he heard a much more cheerful and calm voice from Kai, as if he hadn't been threatening him a second ago.

"Hehehe, just kidding. Although we won't reach an agreement in our ideologies, since you think I'm wrong, and I think the same of you, that doesn't mean we have to be enemies. After all, I don't want to be a villain or anything like that. Rather, tell me, why did you choose Midoriya? I don't see any positive aspects in the boy."

Witnessing the radical change in attitude of the dangerous boy, All Might could only look at him deeply for a while, who simply placed his cat on his lap and began to stroke its belly without even looking at him, entirely ignoring him. This led the symbol of peace to let out a sigh loaded with meanings, then sit down again and comment in a bitter tone.

"You're quite a difficult person to deal with, Kai-shonen."

"Well, I won't deny it, hehe. But seriously, tell me, why did you pass on the quirk to him? Is it because he doesn't have a quirk, and they're a bit rare now?" Kai turned to look at All Might again and asked with a small chuckle.

"So you even know that... but no, it wasn't because he doesn't have a quirk. It was because I truly believe he will be my worthy successor." All Might replied with a somewhat bitter smile on his face, to which Kai couldn't help but comment with a surprised expression.

"Really? Him? The boy doesn't even have self-esteem."

(He really despises him...)

Kai's comments about Midoriya put a grimace on All Might's face, who shortly after explained with a firm tone, convinced that he had made the best decision.

"It's true that Midoriya-shonen has serious self-esteem problems, but that will change in the future. The important thing is that he cares about people and wants to help from the bottom of his heart."

(Not like you...)

All Might added to himself, not wanting to say it out loud, as that could again unleash a conflict, and just that pressure had been more than enough to realize that the boy had not only become stronger. But that he himself had also weakened greatly.

"Well, I'll spare the comments about the legitimacy of someone without self-esteem not caring about sacrificing themselves for others, since I don't want to keep fighting with you. But why do you need a successor? You could continue being a hero for at least a few more decades. I remember informing you that your quirk delayed your aging."

As he spoke, Kai lowered his feet from the table and put Salem on his shoulder, then leaned over the table and stared intently at the symbol of peace, full of curiosity. All Might shortly after commented with a somewhat bitter smile due to the boy's sarcastic comments about his successor.

"It was actually thanks to you that I came to a decision. Initially, I had the thought of continuing to be the symbol of peace for a couple more decades, but in that duel I realized how important creativity was, and a different perspective could really improve One for All. Besides, this is the best moment. Japan is as peaceful as it can be now, and that will give me the necessary time to raise my successor."

(Not to mention that I really felt pressured in our duel, so in a few more years, will I still be able to stop you if you get out of control? If I can't, at that time it would be too late to try to train a successor, if I can even try in the first place, since you know that One for All can be inherited. So this is the best time. It's necessary to have a counterbalance for you, Kai. You're too powerful, and your mentality is definitely not the best...)

All Might added to himself while looking deeply at the blue-eyed boy, who shortly after asked with a tone between curious and amused.

"But why the green-haired kid? Is he your secret son or something?"

"You have quite an imagination, Kai-shonen, but that's not the case. The truth is that I met Midoriya-shonen shortly after the interventions ended when I stopped a robbery at a store. The boy was in front of a child about five years old, using his body as a shield to protect him from the attacking villain.

"Luckily, I arrived in time and prevented a tragedy, but that made me take some interest in him, so we had a little chat, and when he asked me if he could be a hero without a quirk, I told him no, and I could see in his expression how all his dreams and illusions died. But, for some reason, I couldn't stop paying attention to him, and do you know what he did?"

"He gave up?" Kai asked without looking too interested, to which All Might nodded, then explained with a small smile.

"Yes, he gave up on being a hero, but not on helping people. He started training to enter the police academy."

"I didn't expect that." Kai commented, feeling genuinely surprised, which excited All Might a bit, who quickly continued.

"Neither did I. Honestly, I expected several things, even that he would end up hating me and become a delinquent, but he didn't. His goal never changed, and that passion for helping people really moved me, so I decided he would be my successor, since he will already have the power with the One for All. What's more important is what's in his heart."

"Wow, super moving story with the boy. You should adopt him and say he's your secret son; it will generate fewer questions when you reveal the quirk to the public, hehe." Kai commented amusedly, to which All Might replied in a serious tone.

"That's not funny, Kai-shonen. Midoriya-shonen has his parents with him."

"Really? His attitude practically screams 'absent father.'" With a mocking smile, Kai commented while looking at All Might's uncomfortable expression, who replied while slightly averting his gaze.

"Well, it could be that his father hasn't been very present in his life."

"Hehehe, I knew it, and you should take advantage; it's the perfect excuse. You just need to spend some time with his mother, and the media will do the rest." Kai commented with a 'malicious' smile on his face, which caused a shiver to run through All Might, who quickly replied in a serious tone.

"K-Kai-shonen, I don't like those jokes. I would be incapable of destroying a family for something like that!"

"Hehehe, what family? Didn't you just say that the father wasn't with him? The guy probably has another family somewhere else where he does spend time. Just give me a few days, and I'll have all the information ready for you. Besides, I volunteer to make sure those proofs casually reach the green-haired boy's mother, and you can be the hero who consoles her. After all, our great symbol of peace can't end his days alone."

Genuinely amused, Kai commented, smiling wickedly while taking out his phone, which caused a powerful shiver to run through All Might's body, who had never been 'attacked' in that way, not even by his teacher and mentor. So he quickly replied, although a hint of panic could be heard in his voice.

"K-Kai-shonen, that's very wrong. You can't meddle like that in other people's family affairs. Besides, I don't want to have any kind of relationship. The only thing I need is my commitment to the people as the symbol of peace!"

"But aren't you retiring? That won't be your job anymore; it will be your successor's. Besides, be honest, wouldn't you like to raise your successor with your own hands as his father? I think the boy would love the idea, and the poor mother, who has faced a life full of difficulties alone and abandoned, trying to raise a little one without a quirk in a world full of them. Just imagine how hard it must have been... and a woman like that needs the love and protection of a great hero like you."

Like a demon trying to tempt a poor and innocent soul, Kai spoke with a wicked smile while staring intently at All Might, who was now evidently in panic, since apart from Gran Torino, no one dared to talk to him like that. After all, he was the invincible symbol of peace who instilled admiration and respect, not to mention that the idea sounded a bit tempting, since a woman capable of raising a young man like Midoriya had to be someone wonderful.

"K-Kai-shonen, I hope we leave this topic here. I'm not interested, and I hope you can fix your attitude with your classmates!" All Might quickly replied before leaving the room hurriedly, as if fleeing from something, which caused a hearty laugh from Kai.

"Hahaha, if you're interested in the idea, you know where to find me. I'll have all the information ready at that time!"

Hearing Kai, All Might greatly accelerated his pace, quickly disappearing down the hallway, at which point Kai couldn't help but comment amusedly while jotting down a couple of things on his phone.

"Hehehe, All Might, All Might, I've got you. Let's see if you dare to play Mr. Righteous with me from now on, hehe."

After finishing, Kai stretched a bit, then left with Salem on his shoulder and went back to his classroom to collect his things. Only to sense Momo energetically speaking with a group of students who surrounded her seat and showered her with praise for her performance.

Curious, Kai peeked stealthily into the classroom, where he saw Momo with a beautiful smile on her face, looking genuinely happy with her classmates. Knowing that his presence would only ruin her fun, Kai decided not to enter and instead began to stroll around the facilities.