My Hero Academia Episode 2: What It Takes to Be a Hero

Izuku confronts All Might about becoming a hero without a quirk, only to discover his idol's shocking secret: All Might's muscular form is maintained through constant flexing, and his true appearance is a thin, sickly man. Years ago, he sustained a severe wound from a villain that cost him his stomach and half his respiratory organs, limiting him to only three hours of hero work daily. Devastated by All Might's blunt response that he cannot realistically become a hero, Izuku is left crushed.

Meanwhile, the slime villain from the previous episode escapes and captures Bakugo in the shopping district, absorbing his explosion quirk. Multiple heroes arrive at the scene but struggle to combat the villain—Mt. Lady is too large for the narrow alleyways, and the other heroes lack matching quirks to effectively fight back. All Might stands powerless in his weakened form, feeling unable to help.

When Izuku spots Bakugo in danger, his body moves on instinct despite his lack of a quirk. He throws his school backpack to distract the villain and digs through the sludge to reach his rival. Witnessing this act of courage from a quirkless boy, All Might is moved to action and surpasses his three-hour limit, transforming into his powerful form. He defeats the villain with a Detroit Smash attack, and rain falls from the updraft of his strike.

After the battle, the other heroes scold Izuku for recklessly endangering himself, while Bakugo receives praise for his quirk. All Might then tells Izuku something that contradicts his earlier words: he can become a hero. All Might explains that all top heroes share one common moment—when their body moves before they can think. Izuku breaks down in tears, realizing he experienced that moment and understanding what he always wanted to hear.