The Man Makes a Good Point

"I would like you to join my League of Villains".

All for One said these words without a hint of sarcasm or deceit. Despite his scarred appearance and terrifying demeanor, this candor is his most unnerving trait so far.

"League... of Villains?" I whisper back, all of my prior anxiety having been wiped away by this bold offer. "There's no such thing as a League of Villains. Sure, there's been villain alliances before, but they've all been pretty small term.".

"You have never heard of this League because it doesn't exist. Not yet. All that we have done so far is recruit members. The plan is to bolster our numbers and establish a strong organization before putting a certain plan into effect.".

"What kind of numbers? And what's your plan?" I ask without thinking. I regret the words as soon as they come out of my mouth. My natural curiosity could easily be interpreted as some attempt to dig for information. I can't forget that I'm technically being held captive, despite how polite my captor is acting.

All for One chuckles at my panicked expression, as if he can read my mind and is laughing at my fear. "I am afraid that I have no reason to give you any more information. Not unless you do decide to join.". I open my mouth to retort but he silences me with a lazy wave of his hand. "Now, now, Midoriya. I thought you were more open minded than this. You have not given me a chance to explain myself. I believe that you will reconsider your reply when you understand the League's motives a little bit more.".

I can't really argue with that. All for One and his companions did come to my rescue in the fight against All Might. I could've been seriously hurt if they didn't save me when they did. Still, I can't let my guard down. All for One is acting polite but the aura that he gives off is that of a monster.

"Let me preface this entire discussion by making it clear that this is an offer. If your answer is no then you go back to your home, safe and unbothered. There is no gun pointed at your head. Think of this as an interview, not an interrogation.". All for One speaks eloquently, with subtle yet powerful hand gestures. Even though the situation should be ripe with tension, I feel my nerves loosen at his words. Noticing this, I tighten my gut and shake my head lightly. He might be an excellent liar so I can't trust him just because I want to.

It is an incredibly easy trick. Open up the discussion and make it clear that there is no threat. Even if they do not believe you, they are bound to relax just a little. In such a stressful situation, people are bound to look for ways that they can relax. When you tell them that everything is not so bad, that you can trusted, they take the bait. Like a climber grasping at a strong rope, unaware that you can drop him at any second.

Midoriya is a sharp boy but even he is not immune to it. As I speak, his shoulder slowly begin to lower and his tighty clenched fists loosen a little. Yet, he still retains some alertness. His eyes stay sharp, not sinking into a desperate, pathetic hue.

He will be a good one.

"As I previously stated, I want you to join the League of Villains. I believe that it is an organization that will fit you rather nicely," All for One says sincerely.

"Why?" I blurt out the question that's been swimming at the top of my thoughts. "What do you see in me?".

"Do not underestimate yourself, Midoriya. There aren't many villains, let alone heroes, who could've done what you did in that alley. Just fourteen years old and you are capable of trading blows with a pro!". All for One briefly slips into a fanatical speech pattern. It kinda reminds me of myself when I talk about quirks. Once again, he seems to read my thoughts. "I do not mean to pry, but what is your quirk? Giran did not exactly describe the battle in detail. It must be quite powerful.". He looks at me expectantly.

I reflexively smile at the question. It's a bit of a comfort to discover that All for One doesn't know that I'm quirkless. That means that he's not omniscient and he hasn't been spying on me. Additionally, the fact that he believes that only someone with a strong quirk could have done what I did is a bit of a confidence booster.

"Actually, I'm q-quirkless," I say timidly. Despite all that, saying it out loud is a little painful. It feels like I'm admitting my own limitations.

"Is… that so?" he replies slowly. Try as he might, All for One fails to hide his shock at this statement. He falls into a dumbfounded silence. I feel a small sense of satisfaction, knowing that I can break his calm demeanor. He's probably reconsidering his offer, since a quirkless kid would be worthless to him. Relief fills my body as I realize that this means that the conversation is basically over. Once he's decided that I'm of no use, I can just go back home. Despite this good news, I notice a sinking sensation in my stomach. Although the request was coming from a villain, I genuinely felt wanted by someone.

It was… nice.

I am… truly astonished. From Giran's scattered description of Midoriya's battle, I figured that he must have a quirk. I thought that it might be a subtle one, a quirk that boosted his reaction speed of brain power or something of a similar nature. But this… over my extended life, I have only ever known quirkless people to be weak. Not just their bodies, but their spirits as well. I despise the kind of person that is content to whine about their lot in life, unwilling to do anything to change it.

That is what is so impressing about Midoriya. Anybody who can do what he has done is quite admirable. I chuckle a little, thinking about the thugs that I have recruited for the League. They are all just fodder to me, but they carry themselves with such arrogance. The swagger with which they walk is undeserved. They all possess formidable quirks but not one of them is half the man that Midoriya is. I burst with laughter at this thought.

Oh, that's… unexpected. All for One had been chuckling for a while, but now he's broken into… laughter. His laugh is deep, echoing off the walls of the room. The sound almost feels like water, filling up the room. Eventually, his mirth fades and he attempts to collect himself. He starts talking breathlessly. "Well, hah, young man, hah, that shouldn't be an issue.". He clears his throat and returns to his normal, calm way of speaking. "I am named after my quirk. All for One allows me to take another person's quirk and, if need be, give someone a quirk.".

All brain function ceases. My mouth feels much drier all of a sudden.

"Give… a quirk?" I repeat slowly without a trace of emotion. It's not as if I'm trying to hide my feelings. I'm just genuinely shocked. "There's… never been a quirk like that.".

"You would be surprised," All for One replies, "you already know about someone who possess a similar quirk.". He takes a moment to savor the tension, or the look of confusion on my face, before he continues.

"All Might can also pass down a quirk.".

My fingers instantly tighten as a tight knot forms in my stomach. I can barely keep my voice steady as I ask "Is that true?".

"Yes, it is called One for All. It is a power that has been cultivated by many users over a long period of time. Traditionally, it is given to aspiring heroes who require an extra boost to reach their goals. Of course, it is up to the user to decide who is worthy of inheriting the power.". My mind hangs on that word.

Worthy.

My body begins to shake. Does that mean that All Might didn't see me as deserving? I poured all of dreams for him and he didn't even consider me as a successor. Hot tears stream down my face as I lose myself in my own emotions. I've completely forgotten that All for One is even there until he lightly coughs.

"Do you have some sort of… history with All Might? I should not pry but you seem to be stunned this revelation." I briefly consider not sharing with him, but I need some kind of outlet. I begin to spill everything to All for One. He just sits through my entire account, listening intently. I get so caught up that I describe my fight against Tremor as well. I'm so immersed in my own retelling that I don't notice that I've stopped crying until I'm finished.

This boy continues to surprise at every turn. To think that All Might would have denied Midoriya, even after hearing such a heartfelt confession. Throughout his whole story, Midoriya is giving off an intense aura. One would expect him to be feeling rage or spite. However, he emanates a sense of confusion and doubt. I am sure that he is wondering if All Might is correct, if he is unworthy. I must cut down these thoughts before they weaken his resolve.

"It appears that All Might is even more of an idiot than he appears to be. One would think he is at his stupidest on a morning talk show, not in such an emotional situation.". Midoriya is clearly taken aback by my words. He is a little slow to reply. "What do you mean?".

"It should be obvious. He was too short sighted to see the raw potential inside of you.". My calm attitude slips as passion starts to seep into my voice. "There are not many people who are capable of holding their own against a Pro Hero. You are one of the few that can achieve that, solely because you are quirkless! Because you have lived a restrained life for so long, you are more capable than most to perform under pressure. If I were to give you a quirk, you could be a great villain.".

With that, we've circled back to the main topic of this conversation.

"Midoriya, I want you to join my League of Villains. You would be a great asset to the organization.".

He does not immediately reply, taking time to consider his response. This is an excellent sign. At the beginning, he would have said no instantly. But now, he feels the need to think about it. I take the chance to resume the offensive.

"Surely you do not see any merit in the society of heroes, not after what you have seen. You have bared witness to the darker aspects of heroism. Think about Tremor, a man that can cause massive collateral damage, hurt people, yet still be celebrated by the public. What about All Might, the number one Hero, who thinks it necessary to use full power against a child that made a mistake. Do you think what happened in that alley was an outlier? It is far more common than you think. Countless people are seriously injured by heroes, but the News outlets would prefer to glamorize the Pros instead of criticise them for their cruelty. By sweeping those messes under the rug, the illusion of peace is maintained. Do you believe that people should feel safe because of a lie? The League will endeavor to break this illusion, show the public reality. This can only be accomplished by demonstrating the flaws of the hero society".

I deliver each point precisely, making sure that every syllable hits its mark. Midoriya is dumbfounded, clearly hanging on my words.

"If you join the League of Villains, I will give you the strength necessary to live out your dream. You do not want to be just another Pro. You aspire to change the world, make things better! You will never achieve that if you fall into the rut of a hero course. But you will be able to, with the League.".

All for One's message hits me hard. It's easy to see the flaws in his description. Questions like "What's the plan after you tear down hero society?" and "What are your methods going to consist of?" swim towards the top of mind but are quickly drowned by the passion that I can feel. Try as I might to remain skeptical, I can't resist getting caught up in his ideals. All for One finishes his speech and looks to me expectantly. I look down to my hands, lightly resting on my thighs. I breathe in and out as I really consider what All for One is saying.

From what I've seen, from what's happened, it's clear that there is something wrong with the way that heroes act. This could be my only chance to really make a difference, shift society in a better direction. I could never do it as a hero since no agency would take on someone who's quirkless. Try as I might, I can't get that idea out of my head. If I join… I could finally obtain a quirk. I don't want to let my desire cloud my judgement but this is the only way that I could ever really get stronger.

Images of a more powerful version of me flash through my head. A me that won't be looked down on. A me that can inspire people, one way or another. A me that would be strong, strong enough… to save people.

I hop off the table that I've been resting on. My whole body tightens as I turn to All for One. I have to make a decision, right now. "I…" I start to speak, suddenly aware of how shaky my voice won't do, not now. I steel my nerves and try again.

"I want to join the League of Villains.". All for One grins a little and whispers a reply. "Excellent."