Memory of Flame


Toshinori sat with Miu, he listened to every word that came out forth from her mouth. His eyes darkened as he listened to her describe the man. He was sure of it, was sure of the man who had come upon his lover. A few minutes passed the couple as they sat in silence.

"Toshi-kun, say something…" She whispered. She felt him. His feelings, she felt them.

"Miu, we've been together for a little over a year now. Not once have you asked me about the past and why I did what I did." He began slowly speaking.

"I want to tell you the truth."

Miu swallowed the lump in her throat. "Truth?"

Toshinori continued to hold her small hands in his large ones. "Yes, my origin. I am not the man you thought you knew." He lowered his gaze to their intertwined hands as he spoke. Miu listened on quietly, it was her turn to lend an ear.

"I was born without a quirk." His eyes raised up to look at hers. Their gazes held onto each other.

"I was born quirkless. When we had first met, I had already had my powers. I didn't have a quirk until right before U. A. High. I met a woman who was a hero. Shimura Nana. She was my mentor." He choked out the words and paused.

"The woman you said was like a mother figure to you…" Miu spoke up, prodding him gently to continue on.

"Yes. I am who I am today because of her. This power she lent to me, is one that is to be passed on to defeat it's enemy. My quirk is called "One for All." I am the eighth holder of this power. My enemy, All for one, tracked us down when I was in my 3rd year of U. A. High and in return, my mentor sacrificed herself to save me."

Miu sat, stunned into silence. Everything had slowly started to unfold in between her eyes as she listened to him. She felt no resentment at him keeping this to himself. She understood that this was a heavy burden he had been carrying with him for years.

"I was weak before. Immature and irresponsible. Gran Torino and my mentor were good friends. He trained me after her death. I left to the states to hide from All for one and to cultivate my powers. Now that I finally am stronger, I came back to Japan to settle the score with him." He grit his teeth as he finished talking.

"I never intended this relationship to go this far, or rather, I had not intended to involve you into these matters."

Miu shook her head and squeezed his hand. "It doesn't matter. It seems like I am involved now." Her eyebrows arched up as she spoke softly.

"The man you encountered today," Toshinori closed his eyes."There is no doubt in my heart that you encountered All for one. He is the only one I know who could invoke fear so easily."

"Today, when I was out scouting on patrol. I encountered two of his associates. They taunted me about you and Gran Torino.." His eyes hardened again. "There is someone watching you two closely to get to me. If… If anything were to happen to you, I'd never forgive myself."

Miu sat in silence as he explained the dangers of this villain. Her heart filled with worry as she heard him talk about trying to find All for one.

"They knew your name, Miu…" He spoke up softly, his hand loosened its grip on hers. "I don't want to lose you." He whispered. He took her hand and placed it over his heart.

"You won't." Miu sighed at his touch. "I'm a hero too. I'm perfectly capable of fighting and protecting myself too. If it's too much for me, I know to run away and get help. I know my limits, Toshi." She reassured the man.

The two sat in silence at the kitchen table. Miu's heart was full of sorrow for her lover.

"I'm glad you told me, Toshi. Truly."

"Miu…" Toshinori glanced up to her. "I love you, Miu."

Miu's face heated up. "You're telling me this now?" She laughed lightly, after their serious conversation, he had just up and told her he loved her.

"I love you too, you goof."


Gran Torino stood at the window overlooking the city as All Might stood behind him and recounted the events that had happened a few days ago.

"And the noise that Miu mentioned? Did you find the source?"

All Might shook his head. "No, but surely it was something. She said it sounded like footsteps dragging across the floor."

Gran Torino rubbed his beard. "Could be someone's quirk…"

All Might nodded, "The night before I came to her, I fought a man who could disappear into thin air. I captured him and the snake woman, so it couldn't have been them."

"Well, for now, she is being closely watched by other heroes as protection."

"Yes. Also, I would like to retire from being your sidekick."

Gran Torino glanced up to his student. "Oh?"

"I am going to open up my own agency. I think it is time for me to move forward with my career. I can not hold onto you anymore. I have to grow on my own even more."

Gran Torino sighed before nodding. "I agree. Besides, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful sidekick too."

All Might shook his head, "No it's too dangerous for a sidekick to work with me. I will be working alone."

Gran Torino shook his head. "You should invest in a partner. It will do you good. I promise."

All Might took his words into consideration. There had been that one young man who had persisted to be his sidekick.

"I will think about it." He bowed before leaving his sensei's office. As he walked by the empty desk of Miu's, his mind wandered to her.

The night when he told her his origin, she had listened carefully to every word. His fist tightened by his sides as he walked to the elevator. It was time he took his own agency and became a proper pro hero. He had already achieved the pro hero title, but kept being a sidekick to Gran Torino to further along his career in Japan.

Gran Torino had seen it coming, he knew that All Might would further grow and continue his career. He stood by his window, still looking over the city bustling down underneath his view. His eyes came across the blonde titan. Gran Torino held a small smile on his features, he didn't voice it outloud but he was proud of how far he had come.


Miu sat with Teo as the two continued talking. In front of them were multiple paperworks. She held the documents of ownership to the dojo. The two of them could be heard chattering quietly together as the dojo students sparred in the next room.

"W-What?! Are you sure, Miu-chan? This was your grandfather's dojo…" Teo stood up in surprise.

Miu only laughed before nodding her head and continued to speak. "Yes, it's my grandfather's dojo. Before he passed, he told me that I could keep ownership if I wanted, but I was not obligated to. This dojo he built up was his dream and he understood that my dream was different than his." Miu explained.

"This dojo should belong to it's master. Teo-san, you've been the new headmaster ever since my grandfather passed away. I think it is time you take full ownership of this home and dojo. My grandfather has left it to me to do whatever I please. So, please, Teo-san. Sign the documents."

Teo only sat back down, his mouth still wide open in surprise. "I-I, I don't know what to say! I'd be honoured… But Miu-chan, where will you live?"

Miu signed the documents, consenting that she was giving the dojo and home away to Teo. "I will be moving in with my boyfriend. Besides, Teo-san, you will finally be able to start a life here with that lovely girlfriend of yours." She winked at the blushing man.

"A-Alright, thank you Miu-chan. I will sign the paperwork and agree. I promise to cherish this dojo your grandfather has left me." He bowed and signed the remaining paperwork.

"I'll be moving out in the next few weeks. So, while I move out slowly, you should move in?" She smiled at the long time friend.

"Oh! Y-Yes, of course!" Teo bowed his head again, tears formed at the corners of his eyes. His belated sensei and Miu were far too generous.

A knock sounded by the dojo doors and Miu looked up to see who it was.

"Ara~ Takeo-kun! Come in!" Miu stood from where she sat and greeted the now young man. He bowed politely to his sensei and to the dojo owner.

"Sensei! Miu-nee!" He entered the small home. "I brought some more dessert made from my mother. It's a gift!" He blushed as he handed them to the petite woman. Over the years his childhood crush had continue to thrive.

Miu smiled at the young man, he had grown so much in the past 5 years. He no longer was the loud-mouthed brat who always yelled in hyperness. He had now calmed down and was taller.

"Oh, thank you Takeo-kun! Your birthday is coming soon right? I'll get you a gift." Miu placed the batch of delicious desserts onto a plate.

Takeo bowed, "No need, Miu-ne! Just seeing you enough is a gift in itself!" He blushed and bowed once more. "I-I'll be returning to the dojo!"

Teo laughed at the young man as he watched Miu stare in confusion. "He's still got that crush on you!" He pointed out as she laughed along with him.

"Yes, I believe so!" She agreed and began small chatter with her long time friend again.

The afternoon passed by quickly as the two chattered.


Toshinori carried a handful of furniture with ease as he ascended up the steps to his apartment. Behind him huffed Miu as she used her powers to lift her many boxes of items up.

"You need help?" He asked, his eyes keeping straight as he walked. He was careful not to bump into the walls, he didn't need his landlady to yell at him.

Miu puffed out an answer, "No. I think I've got it." She struggled to lift the 4 boxes simultaneously. But she kept at it. In a way she thought of this as training. "I can do this, it's just 4 boxes…. Full of clothes…"

Toshinori only grinned before opening the doors to his apartment. Placing down the new nightstands and lamps, he turned around to catch the 4 boxes hovering closely to his face.

"Woah there!" He caught the boxes right before they fell and placed them neatly onto the floor of his living room.

Miu grinned and wiped her bloody nose with the back of her hand. "See? I told you I got it."

Toshinori laughed, his deep laughter vibrated in his chest. "Ok, ok. I know."

Miu glanced around them. His apartment was filled with her items. They weren't too much but she was fine with that. If anything, the only thing that seemed a lot were her clothes.

"Sorry, I really love those nightstands and I wanted to use them since your room doesn't have night stands." She directed to where she wanted the bed to be placed and where the nightstand should be at.

Toshinori easily lifted the bed and placed it in the middle of the wall and placed the nightstands on both sides of the bed. She adjusted the lamps and began sliding in her boxes of clothing into the room. Toshinori stood by his closet and pushed his own clothing to the side to make room for her. He sweatdropped at the amount of clothing she owned and quietly thanked himself for not hoarding too many unnecessary clothes.

"Need help?" He offered as he watched her eye his closet and her clothes.

Miu only laughed before shaking her head. "No, I think I am gonna re-organize our closet. Is that ok with you?"

Toshinori walked away and held a hand up in the air. "All up to you!"

"Ok!" She shouted as he walked into the kitchen to prepare lunch for the two.

He smiled as he heard her sing along to music as she began unpacking. He looked to the living room and saw flattened out cardboard boxes. A grin etched itself across his face as reality sunk in. It was the next big move. Of course he had reasoned that she'd be better protected living with him. But in reality he had wanted this for awhile.

As he prepped the vegetables for the curry, his eyes wandered to the many painting and decor adorning his apartment walls. Before Miu had moved in, his walls were empty and white. Now it was much more colorful and vivid. He kept grinning as he listened to her cheery voice singing as she continued to unpack. He would protect her and defeat All for One.


Elsewhere in a darkened building, All for One stood hunched over looking at pictures. The only source of light was a big screen replaying old news footage from 22 years ago. His rough fingers grazed every photo and inspected them carefully. Small shuffled movement caught his ears.

Without turning around, he spoke harshly.

"Did you find anything useful?"

"I'm sorry sir! But I was disrupted. She came home earlier than planned that night… When I was going through her items, I didn't find anything. And she also moved out of her home, none of her belongings are in the house anymore… My men were all captured by the heroes and I have no way of learning where she is. She seems to have disappeared from her job also." The all dark purple smokey-hued figure spoke darkly, he had disappointed his master.

All for One's shoulders slumped as his finger came upon a wrinkled photo of a woman.

"It is fine. We'll simply start again. We must find that key at all cost."

All for One shut his eyes. He took a deep breath. Shimura Nana. He grit his teeth in anger and slammed his fist on the table full of photos. The dark figure jumped in surprise behind him.

Shimura Nana.

"That damn wench interfered with my plans." He took a step back and rolled his neck to calm down.

"We will start again. From scratch. First thing is first, continue with the plans and search for the others. If we can't find the girl, I'm sure we can find the others who were in on that project."

"Yes sir!" The figure bowed down, nervousness built in the pit of his stomach.

"And do not let me down this time, Kurogiri." All for One picked up the wrinkled photo and sat it down next to another photo of a man.

Kurogiri had long since disappeared from his sight as he looked at the two photos carefully.

"Where did you two hide that damned key and project?"

All for One walked away into a dark room. The screen played out hues of bright orange and red in front of the photos. Sirens and firetrucks could be heard in the video of the old news footage. On the table lay two photos lying next to each other. One more wrinkled than the other. The woman had rose gold hair and wore circle glasses that stood at the edge of her nose. In the other was a young man of dark black hair and golden eyes.

As his figure started to disappear from the room, the bright orange and red hue faded to darker blues and greys with white as the photos laid still on the table. The table was littered with photos of multiple different people and they all wore lab coats in each one.