The Idol Next Door, Part 2
Shortly after returning inside the Midoriya household, Izuku and Ochaco walk over to the dining area where Inko had finished placing the food onto the table. The three sat down, clap their hands and bow their heads.
"Itadakimasu!" The three cheered together before they begin eating their dinner. But before she could take a bite of her food, Inko noticed the troubled frown on her son's face.
"Izuku? What's wrong? Have you met the new neighbor?" Inko asked worriedly.
"Yeah." Izuku said wearily while eating his bowl of rice.
"What is his name? And how does he look like?" Inko inquired.
Izuku places his bowl of rice down on the table before responding to his mother, "Well…you wouldn't believe it if I tell you."
"Try me." Inko said flatly after placing her bowl down as well. Izuku looked surprised at his mother's reaction for a moment. But shortly after, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before looking back at his mother. "It's Yagi Toshinori."
Inko gazes at her son for a moment before she burst out chortling. "Seriously? It is so coincidental that our new neighbor shares the same name as the actor you looked up to." She chuckled.
"No, Inko. It's true." Ochaco said. As soon as Inko heard her, her laughs quickly came to a stop and she stares blankly at the two children in the dining area again.
"HUUUUHHHH?! Seriously?!" Inko shouted incredulously.
"Yes. Light blue eyes, blonde swept back hair. It is him, my childhood idol." Izuku said. With her eyes still wide in astonishment, Inko lowers her head and scratches her hair.
"I never would have thought. No wonder why I could hear you shouting outside." Inko said, causing her son to chuckle in embarrassment for a brief moment. Her smile widens as she leans towards to Izuku. "So anyways, how was he like? Did you get an autograph from him?"
"No mom. And actually, he wasn't in a good mood after the way I acted in front of him." Izuku muttered as his heart sank.
"Oh? What happened?" Inko asked concernedly.
"As soon as Izuku mention All Might to Yagi, he fell into a bad mood and just walks back into his apartment after taking our gift." Ochaco explained.
"I see." Inko said.
"I never would have expected that from him. Judging from all the pictures and interviews I've seen and read of him, he seems like a nice person who is very passionate about his role as All Might. But now when I actually meet him, he doesn't seem like the type of person I believed him to be." Izuku said dishearteningly. Ochaco stares at him in concern. She knows that Izuku looks up to Yagi, but after seeing the way he behaved in front of them, he now feels very conflicted about him. But despite witnessing what had happened, a part of Izuku still hope that there is a small bit of goodness inside Yagi. Something that made him admired the actor so much in the first place. Eventually, a smile appears on Ochaco's face as she places her hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"Cheer up, Izuku. Why don't we try talking to him again tomorrow?" Ochaco coaxed.
"What?" Izuku stares at Ochaco in surprise.
"I'm sure he was passionate about his role as All Might when he first acted as the character. So let's try to understand why he now shows resentment towards his most iconic role over the years." Ochaco said.
"B-B-B-But this is my childhood idol we're talking about!" Izuku protested as he trembled in fear. "Jirou and Shield-sensei are easy because I know them personally in school, but Yagi-san is someone who doesn't know I exist until now, and we only just met each other today!"
"Unless you want to resort to what we did with Shield-sensei again, I don't see any other way to get to understand him." Ochaco said with her eyes narrowed. Izuku simply stares back at his roommate for a moment, unsure of how to respond to her.
"Izuku?" Inko asked, causing her son to turn his head to her. She places her arms on the table and clasps her hands together. "How about I tell you a story of how your father and I fell in love with each other?"
"Umm, okay." Izuku said puzzled, unsure how the story would be related to his current situation.
"Do you remember that I told you I was a goalkeeper of my high school's girls' football team back in my day?" Inko asked. Izuku nods his head in response. "We manage to play all the way to the championship final during my first year of high school. And at that point, I was so overconfident that we would win, seeing how I was able to save every shot from our opponents throughout the competition. But sadly, on the day of the final, I ended up hurting my arm, and my team was forced to replace me with a substitute. The other goalkeeper didn't perform as well as me, and as a result, we ended up losing the final. I couldn't help but blame myself for causing my school to lose their chance in winning the championship, because I cared so much about the final that I've completely forgotten to take care of myself."
"What happen to you after that?" Ochaco asked.
"I quit the team, because I was so heartbroken over what happened. It was to the point that I completely hated football, and I feel bitter just thinking about the sport. But one day, during the second year of high school, your father approached me. He said that he admired me after watching me play in the final that day. I told him that I don't ever want to be reminded of football again ever since then and you know what your father said to me?" Inko asked.
"Never give up?" Izuku replied.
"Kind of." Inko chuckled. "Well, specifically, he responded by saying that it is a shame that I quit playing football, because it was me that inspired him to be a goalkeeper in our school's men's football team in the first place. I was surprised by what he said to me, and that is when I realized that just because I felt like a failure doesn't mean I never inspire anybody. So, after listening to your father, we quickly became friends. He helped me slowly regain my interest in football again, and eventually, I rejoined the team in my senior year. And throughout all of it, your father and I also realize we have developed feelings for each other. And that's how we ended up dating afterwards."
"That's very nice to hear." Ochaco commented, smiling at Inko.
"Izuku, my point is everybody has a reason why they lost their enthusiasm in doing something over time. So I suggest you follow Ochaco's advice in trying to understand what is wrong with Yagi-san. And who knows? You may end up cheering someone up like your father did." Inko said, ending her encouragement towards her son with a warm smile. Izuku smiled back at his mother before bowing his head to her.
"Thank you, mom." Izuku said.
"You're welcome." Inko chuckled. "Just thought I could help my child in return for everything he has done for me."
The next morning, after putting on his usual white shirt and green pants, Yagi makes his way over to the main door of his apartment, ready to go out to have breakfast and buy some groceries on the way back. But when he opens the main door, he was surprised to see two familiar figures standing outside of his home.
"Good morning, Yagi-san!" Ochaco and Izuku both greeted.
"You two again." Yagi muttered with his eyes narrowed. "What are you both doing here? And shouldn't you be in school?"
"Today is a Saturday, Yagi-san." Ochaco pointed out.
Yago looks down at his watch around his left wrist and nods his head. "Oh right."
"Anyways, Yagi-san. My roommate has something to tell you." Ochaco said, gesturing him to Izuku, who stares boldly back at his idol. Yagi groans and rolls his eyes back in response.
"What is it?" Yagi said as he looks back at Izuku.
"I was wondering if I can have a talk with you." Izuku said. "I want to-"
"Oh no!" Yagi snapped as he holds up his hand in front of the two. "Not at all. Not to anybody. Ever!"
"But Ochaco and I just want to know why you have become who you are now." Izuku said as he watches Yagi stepping out of his home and putting on his shoes. "I look up to you ever since I was just a small boy, Yagi-san."
"Look up to me because of who I am, or because of All Might?" Yagi asked irritably, not looking back at the boy.
"Both! I love the character of All Might, and I equally love the actors who play as him, especially you!" Izuku cried. "Don't you care about the fans who admire you?"
"Sorry kid, but I don't care about anybody these days." Yagi scoffed.
"Can you at least tell us-"
"No!" Yagi barked furiously at Izuku as he turns his head back to him. "You can keep trying to ask me all you want, but I will never to talk to anyone, and especially to fans like you who don't know when to stop obsessing over something stupid!" With that, Yagi turns away from Izuku and Ochaco and walks over to the elevator.
"I have never done anything wrong to you, Yagi-san!" Izuku cried to Yagi as he presses the button.
"If you really are my biggest fan, why don't you just stand there and wait for me all day?" Yagi yelled back at Izuku. "But I will never talk to you or anybody at all!" As soon as the elevator doors open, Yagi turns his head away from Izuku and Ochaco again as he steps inside. The two could hear Yagi grumble in annoyance before the doors closed, "Sheesh! I should have never moved into this apartment!"
Izuku narrows his eyes and clutches his fists. As Ochaco places her hand on his right shoulder, Izuku muttered under his breath, "Maybe I will."
A few hours later, Yagi returns back to the apartment building while carrying a bag of groceries he bought from the supermarket and makes his way up to the sixth floor. When he steps out of the elevator, Yagi widens his eyes and gapes his mouth open when he is surprised to see Izuku and Ochaco still standing outside his apartment. A few seconds later, Yagi's face distorts into an ugly scowl as he walks over to them and his apartment.
"Can't you two leave me alone?" Yagi said irritably.
"And can we at least talk to each other for a few minutes?" Izuku asked Yagi as he approaches them.
"No." Yagi said flatly as he turns himself away from the two and inserts his key into the main door of his apartment.
"Can you at least answer some of my questions?" Izuku asked, growing frustrated.
"Why don't you answer my question? How long are you going to keep this up?" Yagi asked as he opens the main door and takes off his shoes.
"For as long as I can." Izuku quickly replied.
"Then don't blame me for you dying from starvation!" Yagi snapped as he hastily gets inside his apartment and shuts the door in front of Izuku and Ochaco, who both sigh angrily afterwards.
Another two hours later, Yagi walks over to the main door of his apartment and looked through the peephole. He snarls through his gritted teeth as he sees Izuku and Ochaco still standing outside his apartment with their arms folded.
"These two are so persistent." Yagi murmured in frustration before turning around and walking back to his room.
Suddenly, Inko steps out of the Midoriya household and informed Izuku and Ochaco, "Lunch is ready."
Izuku and Ochaco both look at each other and nod their heads before walking back into their home.
Shortly after finishing their lunch, Izuku and Ochaco return back outside Yagi's household. They would continue waiting for an hour before Inko steps out of the Midoriya household and locks the door behind her.
"I believe you two should call it a day. I'm thinking of having our dinner outside tonight." Inko said to Izuku and Ochaco. The two turn their heads to each other and Ochaco nods her head in agreement.
"Your mother is right. We're getting tired anyway. Besides, there's always tomorrow." Ochaco said to Izuku encouragingly. Izuku responded with a disappointed sigh, but he obliged as the two follow Inko down to the bottom of the apartment.
Unbeknownst to them, Yagi stood behind the main door of the apartment and watched Izuku, Ochaco and Inko leave through the peephole. After backing away from the door, Yagi lowers his head and rubs his chin as he contemplates.
Later that night, Izuku, Ochaco and Inko return back to their apartment and make their way up to their household. When they arrived at the sixth floor, they step out of the elevator and both Ochaco and Inko walk over to their home. Izuku however stops for a moment and sees the door to Yagi's household still being closed. Izuku silently stares at it for a few moments before walking over to Ochaco and Inko who just unlocked the door to their household. Suddenly, they could hear the door to Yagi's household opened. The three turn their heads and see Yagi stepping out of his home and looking right back at them.
"Are you two seriously planning on doing this charade of yours again tomorrow? Are you really desperate in wanting to have a conversation with me?" Yagi asked Izuku and Ochaco in annoyance. The two frown and clench their fists as they look back at him.
"You don't know us at all. But we have dealt with a lot of tough situations before. So this is nothing new to us." Ochaco replied flatly.
"Like I said, Yagi-san. I am your biggest fan. So I'm never going to give up on you." Izuku said firmly. Yagi narrows his eyes at him and Ochaco.
"If I accept your request to have a conversation with you, will you two finally leave me alone after this?" Yagi asked.
"We will." Izuku replied as he and Ochaco nod their heads.
"Good. You may come inside." Yagi said, gesturing Izuku to step into his home.
"Can my roommate come into your apartment as well?" Izuku asked.
"Whatever." Yagi replied exasperatedly, rolling his eyes back as he goes back inside his apartment.
"Good luck, you two." Inko said quietly to Izuku and Ochaco. As they look over their shoulders, Izuku and Ochaco smile at Inko and nod their heads before they turn and make their way over to Yagi's household.
After Ochaco closes the door behind her, she and Izuku walk through a short hallway and step into the living area where Yagi is sitting on his sofa. As soon as he took one look at the area, Izuku's eyes bugged almost right out from his skull, his hands placed above his head and a huge smile takes form on his face as his inner fan erupted inside him.
In front of Yagi and placed against the wall is a large wooden cupboard that has a flat screen television placed in the center and a wide drawer at the bottom. Beside the television on the right are three selves that are filled with every DVD and VHS release of the very first All Might live action television series and movies which Yagi starred in and made Izuku a huge fan of the character. On the left side are three more shelves containing vintage action figures of All Might, his enemies, vehicles and other merchandise related to the show.
Finally, hanging on the wall beside the sofa and cupboard are two tapestries of All Might. One is them is a horizontal picture of Yagi as All Might, giving his signature grin, with two small blue horizontal stripes at the top and bottom, and a wide red horizontal stripe in the middle. There are also a large white text that reads 'All Might' written diagonally, and a smaller black and white text that reads '10th Anniversary' placed at the top. The other tapestry is another picture of Yagi as All Might, except it is vertical and shows the back of his muscular body while the character looks over his right shoulder and again, giving his signature grin. The background is a black and dark grey gradient with a wide white text that also reads 'All Might' written vertically.
"This…is…INCREDIBLE!" Izuku cried as he goes over to the left side of the cupboard and takes a good look at the collection of action figures and other toys. "These figures were first distributed all the way back in the early 90s, and they are now only sold in the aftermarket in insanely high prices! Especially these two All Might figures! One in his iconic blue, red and white suit and yellow boots which the character now currently wears, and the other being him in his alternate outfit which resembles his Silver Age outfit in the earlier comics, consisting of his red suit, blue pants, yellow boots and blue cape! Both figures are now being sold in conventions and the Internet for nearly 3,000 US dollars, and I'm actually staring at them in person!" He hastily goes over to the other side of the cupboard and examines the VHS tapes. "Holy cow! This is such an ancient format now, and you actually kept all of them in such good condition! Who knows how much this entire collection of VHS tapes is worth that way?!" Finally, Izuku goes over to the wall and gushed even harder as he gazed upon the tapestries. "And goodness gracious! The tapestry on the right is the teaser picture for the first live action series before it premiered on television, and the one on the left is the limited run picture to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the show, and it was only ever distributed in a convention that year and never sold to the public since!"
When he finally finished his gushing, Izuku places a hand on his chest and takes a deep breath as he continued staring dreamily at the tapestries in front of him. "I truly am in heaven right now…" He said wearily.
"Are you finished?" Yagi asked Izuku flatly. "If so, can we finally have a conversation and just get this over with?"
"Right." Izuku nods his head and lowers his hand as he regains his composure. Izuku turns to Yagi and stared boldly at his idol. "Yagi-san, I don't understand at all. All Might is only one of the greatest superheroes ever created. He isn't just a superhero, but also the symbol of peace, hope and true justice. And you are the very first actor to ever portray All Might, and help bring the character into mainstream media and attention, and made him the idol loved by millions, no, billions of people around the world today!" Izuku paused as his lips curved downwards into a frown. "So why? Why do you now show resentment towards your most iconic role? And why do you even put up this collection in your home then?"
Yagi grumbles under his breath as he narrows his eyes. "It's because playing as All Might cost me the rest of the acting career." He replied grimly. Izuku and Ochaco widen their eyes as they stare wordlessly at him. "Before the show existed, I was a struggling actor who does a series of odd jobs outside my career so that I make ends meet."
"That's right. Back then, you were only able to play minor roles in drama and comedy shows." Izuku said.
"Then, one day, while I was doing carpentry at a set, a producer walk up to me and say that I actually look familiar to the comic book character known as All Might. He told me that the studio is planning to produce a live action series based on the character and suggest that I should audition for the role. Being the young and naïve actor that I was back then, I took his advice. But looking back now, I should have thrown my hammer back at his face!" Yagi snarled.
Ochaco and Izuku flinched before the latter asked, "What happened afterwards?"
"Well, I did my research by reading several issues of The Amazing All Might before I went back to the studio and participate in the auditions. Surprisingly, of all the hundreds of actors who auditioned the role, I was chosen. And after the show aired, my career as an actor skyrocketed. I went on to play the character for five more seasons and I see my face plastered everywhere in posters, advertisements and merchandise. For a while, I was very happy with myself and I thought nothing can go wrong. Boy, was I sorely mistaken! After the show ended with its sixth season because the ratings and critical reception declined as it went on, I was forced to hang up my suit as well. After that, I tried to audition for other shows and films, but I couldn't find any work after that because I was too recognizable as All Might."
"I see. You are a victim of typecasting." Izuku said.
"Typecasting?" Ochaco asked.
"It's what happens to an actor who became so identifiable to their iconic role that it makes them difficult to find any work playing other characters." Izuku explained to her.
"That's right." Yagi muttered. "One time, I tried to played for a role in a drama series based on the Edo period, and the director told me directly in my face, "Why would anybody want to see All Might play as Date Masamune or Tokugawa Ieyasu?" I honestly felt hurt. And for many years, I kept trying to find new opportunities to play in big budget movies and TV shows, hoping that one day, I could recapture my former glory and success as an actor. But in the end, all of my attempts were in vain. I spent the final years of my career only managing to act in low budget movies that were only released in video before I finally give up and retire. I regretted being All Might ever since, and I set up this collection here as to remind me what led to my downfall in the first place."
There was a moment of awkward silence between the three as Yagi just sat there on his sofa with his head turned away and Izuku and Ochaco simply staring back at him. Eventually, Izuku takes a step forward and breaks the silence.
"Yagi-san, I'm sorry that you couldn't find any work after the show." Izuku said apologetically. "But I still-"
"You already had your answer to your question!" Yagi furiously interrupted him as he looks back at him and points his finger at the main door. "Now go!"
"But I still-"
"What now?!" Yagi shouted as he puts down his arm.
"I still believe in you!" Izuku yelled back.
"Believe in me, or in All Might?" Yagi asked irritably.
"What?" Izuku said incredulously.
"All Might is just a character I've played! He's not real, and I'm not him! I only took up the role of All Might because I was desperate! So why don't you stop dreaming and wake up to reality already?!" Yagi scolded, finishing it by slamming his left fist on the armrest of his sofa.
Izuku stood petrified in place as if Yagi's words had struck his heart with great force. To think the actor who played his favorite character of all time would say the complete opposite All Might would say to inspire others. He lowered his head in despair, trying his best to fight back the urge to cry and break down in front of Yagi.
"IF THAT IS THE CASE, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE UP ON LIFE AS WELL?!" Ochaco suddenly bellowed and stomp her foot in front of Yagi. Izuku and Yagi look back at her, completely shocked by her outburst.
"W-what?" Yagi uttered, dumbfounded.
"Sir, you may think All Might is just a fictional character, but the people who watch your show and read his comics still love him! And if it wasn't for you, they wouldn't have someone to look up to and aspire to become better members of society today!" Ochaco yelled angrily at Yagi.
"And why would they worship someone who doesn't even exist?" Yagi argued.
"Because they can't relate themselves to any real-life person whom they don't even know personally!" Ochaco replied. "But they know who All Might is! Someone who not only has the courage to help others no matter the danger, but also has a kind heart despite his intimidating appearance! Surely you too also found some inspiration in him. Otherwise, why did you even play the character in the first place? I believe back then, you took on the role because you were a struggling actor. So what you needed is someone who can inspire you to work harder so that you can achieve fame and success! Not everyone who has seen your show might like it, but I'm sure they still enjoy seeing All Might saving the day and doing the right thing. And the right thing you should have done is taking pride in what you did and knowing that you brought happiness to billions of people around the world! But what do I know? I'm just a casual fan of All Might." Ochaco shrugged and gestures Yagi to Izuku, who had been staring at his roommate in awe. "But I do know my friend here still admires everything the character of All Might stood for, even though he's aware that he is a complete work of fiction. He has become a better person today because he looks up to him every day. So why can't you be like him as well?"
Yagi fell silent as he stares dumbly at Ochaco. Normally he would snap bitterly and aggressively if someone were to talk him down. But in this case, Yagi suddenly lost his ability to yell back at them as Ochaco's words are now racing freely inside his mind.
"Yagi-san, you said that you are not All Might." Izuku said flatly. When Yagi turns his vision to him, his eyes widen and his jaw drops in horror upon seeing the scowl on Izuku's face. "I can see that now."
"Let's go." Ochaco said to Izuku as she places her hand on his shoulder. Izuku nods his head before the two turn around and make their way out of Yagi's household, leaving the former actor looking stunned as he watches the two children step out of his home and close the door behind them.
Yagi grumbled to himself as he lowers his head and contemplates over what the two had said to him.
Later that night, Ochaco lies herself on the bed and places the blanket above her as she gets ready to go to sleep. But when she turns herself to the side and about to ask Izuku to turn off the lights, she sees her roommate sitting down on his mattress with his arms folded and his head lowered.
"Are you okay?" Ochaco asked concernedly.
"I…I don't know, Ochaco." Izuku replied dejectedly.
"I'm sorry that your idol didn't turn out to be the person you believed he is." Ochaco said apologetically. "But in life, you can't expect everything to go the way you want."
"You're right, Ochaco." Izuku said with a sniffle. "But I still wish things had turned out differently between me and Yagi. I…I seriously don't know what I would do…if you weren't there with me." As soon as she noticed tears welling up in his eyes, Ochaco immediately gets the blanket off of her blanket and sits up from the bed.
"Izuku." Ochaco uttered.
"I just…I can't believe…" Izuku said with a rough edge to his voice, furiously trying to fight back his tears. But he failed as they began rolling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry Ochaco. I know I shouldn't-"
"No." Ochaco interrupted. "It's alright. Just let them out."
With that, Izuku broke down and sobbed as he finally allows his tears to pour out from his eyes and flow down his cheeks. As he cried, Ochaco gets off from the bed and kneels in front of Izuku. With her eyes closed, Ochaco wraps her arms around her roommate and rests her chin above his shoulder.
"It's okay, Izuku. Everything is going to be fine." Ochaco whispered into Izuku's ear. When he managed to bring his sobs to a temporary halt, Izuku finds himself hugging Ochaco back as he slightly turns his head to her.
"I'm glad you're here with me, Ochaco." Izuku managed to choke out before he closes his eyes and continues crying.
"Like I said, Izuku. I'm here to help you." Ochaco replied softly to him as she rubs his back to comfort him, and the two clung onto each other tightly as they stayed inside their embrace for most of the night.
Two days later…
Izuku and Ochaco return back to their apartment after another day of school had come to an end. Although Izuku felt a little better, he still struggled to get over what happened between him and Yagi. But Ochaco is determined to cheer him up until he fully recovers from the emotional experience.
When they arrived at the sixth floor of their apartment, Izuku and Ochaco step out of the elevator and walk their way over to the main door of their home. But just as they are about to enter, they heard another door being opened. Izuku and Ochaco turn to their right, and to their surprise, they see Yagi stepping out of his household, now dressed in a yellow pinstripe suit with a white buttoned shirt and a dark blue tie around its collar underneath, yellow pants and black socks. After putting on his brown shoes, Yagi turns his head to Izuku and Ochaco.
"Oh, hello you two." Yagi greeted, holding up a hand to them.
"Yagi-san?" Ochaco said as she and Izuku turn themselves to him. "Where are you going?"
"Oh well…" Yagi momentarily turns his head away and rubs the back of his neck. "I have an appointment with a TV studio."
"What? How did that happened?" Izuku asked curiously.
Yagi lets out a deep sigh before turning himself to the two. "Let's just say that, two nights ago, I thought about my last meeting with a fan of mine. He was very passionate about my work, but I acted like a jerk like him." Yagi said remorsefully.
"That's horrible." Izuku said, frowning at him.
"Yeah, I shouldn't have done that. I felt really awful looking back at it now. Fortunately for him though, he had a friend who yelled back at me, making me realize how much a worthless, good-for-nothing idiot I truly am." Yagi said.
"Harsh." Ochaco rolls her eyes with a small smirk on her face.
"Sure was." Yagi nodded. "So after the meeting was over, I spent the entire night thinking about what his friend said and…that's when I realized that being an actor isn't about fame and success. It's about making people happy. Just like when I played as All Might, I should be honored that I was able to help inspire so many people who dream of becoming heroes themselves one day." Yagi's teeth soon broke out into a huge grin. "I know that now, thanks to them. So I spent the whole of yesterday, contacting every studio in Tokyo to see if they have any job opportunities for someone like me. And I was surprised that one of them called me back to inform me that they are working on a new All Might TV show, and they are wondering if I can drop by the studio to serve as a creative consultant to them."
Izuku gasped. "Is it All Might: The Symbol of Peace, the rumored show that is coming in the second half of next year?!" He asked with anticipation.
"That's right." Yagi nods his head again. "And without hesitation, I accepted their offer. I guess miracles really do happen after all."
"Congratulations, Yagi-san!" Izuku said cheerfully as he and Ochaco smiled back at him.
"We wish you good luck in your future endeavors!" Ochaco said as they both bow down to Yagi.
"Arigatou." Yagi said as he happily bows back to them. "I never would have gotten back my spirit if it wasn't for that meeting with my biggest fan and his friend. I guess you could say…that they are now my idols." Izuku and Ochaco simply smile as they looked back at Yagi. As Yagi places his fists at the sides of his hip, he gave Izuku the same grin that All Might would make; causing the boy to widen his eyes and titter. "Remember kid, if you have any problems or know anyone who has them, you can always look for me."
"Actually," Izuku holds up a finger. "There is someone I know who might need your help."
The next day after school, Izuku, Ochaco, Shouto and Bakugo paid a visit to Eliot's comic book store where the owner is still depressed over the Warriors' loss to the Raptors. But his face quickly turned from a sullen look into one of shock and astonishment when Izuku hands him a letter, claiming it was written directly to him from the original live action All Might. Eliot takes the letter and reads it thoroughly. And by the time he reached the end of the message, a huge smile takes form on his face as he says the closing statement out loud and sees Yagi's signature at the bottom of it, "Always keep your head up and have faith in the Warriors no matter what, Eliot Smith! Go beyond! Plus Ultra! YAGI TOSHINORI!"
Eliot squealed joyously as he stands up from his seat and stares up at the ceiling with his eyes wide, while Izuku, Ochaco and Shouto watch him in amusement. Bakugo on the other hand arches an eyebrow as he watches a grown adult acting like a ten year old child in front of him. Eliot places his letter down on the counter as he looks back at Izuku.
"Oh my goodness, Izuku! How on Earth did you get the one and only, the legend himself, Yagi Toshinori, to write this personal letter to me?!" Eliot asked excitedly.
Wanting to respect Yagi's privacy, Izuku shifts his eyes to the side for a brief moment before looking back at Eliot and answering his question, "I…wrote a letter to him, asking for his help to cheer you up, and he actually replied back to me."
"That's awesome!" Eliot whooped. "Totally what I expected from a truly great guy like Yagi! Now if you guys can give me a minute…" Eliot takes out an electronic shaver from underneath his counter and turns around. Izuku, Ochaco, Shouto and Bakugo watched Eliot bewilderedly as he proceeds to shave off his depression beard which he had been growing for the last four days. When he is done, Eliot turns off his shaver and turns back to them. The four widen their eyes as they see him back to his normal and cheerful self with his chin and lower cheeks now completely clean.
"Yagi-san is right. There is always next time for the Warriors. I mean, if the Chicago Cubs can finally win another World Series after 108 years, anything is possible!" Eliot grins gleefully as he holds up a clenched fist.
"That's the spirit, Eliot-san!" Izuku cried enthusiastically as he, Ochaco and Shouto smile back at him.
"It's about time." Bakugo murmured as he stuffs his hands into his pockets.
"Let's cheer for the Warriors all the way next season!" Ochaco cheered as she claps her hands.
"We got your back, Warriors." Shouto added with a nod, and everyone in the comic book store except Bakugo dissolved into laughter.
After leaving the comic book store, the four friends bid farewell to each other before Shouto and Bakugo separate from Izuku and Ochaco and make their way back to their own homes. As they watch them leave, they could hear Bakugo telling Shouto that Izuku bids farewell to him first. Shouto replied to him with a terse 'okay', which angers Bakugo, causing him to yell back at him and once again remind him that he had known Izuku longer than he ever had. Shouto again calmly responded to Bakugo with a casual 'alright'. Izuku and Ochaco chuckle at them before they turn around. They walk down the pavement and head back to their apartment.
"You know, it was really scary at first, even heartbreaking. But I'm glad at the end of the day; we are able to help Yagi-san out." Izuku said to Ochaco.
"So am I." Ochaco replied. "It is painful to learn that the person you look up to isn't who you imagined. But it is interesting to get to know who that person really is. And sometimes, it gets even better when you gradually understand them."
Izuku smiled at Ochaco as he completely agrees what she said to him. However, because his eyes were fixated on her, he failed to realize that he had stepped onto a rock on the pavement, causing him to lose balance and fall over.
"Woah!" Izuku cried out.
"Izuku!" Ochaco quickly reached out to Izuku, scared that he would hurt himself. Luckily, she managed to catch Izuku in time and carefully gets him back up on his feet.
"Arigatou, Ochaco." Izuku said, staring down at the pavement.
"You're welcome." Ochaco replied. "It's a good thing I'm just right beside you, huh?"
Izuku turns his head and sees the warm and gentle smile on Ochaco's face. For a few moments, he just stared silently at Ochaco, unable to speak and respond as he contemplates what she had just said to him.
'Right beside me…'
Izuku's brain rewound quickly as he began recalling all the moments he and Ochaco had been through together ever since she moved into his home. There were the times when Ochaco and Izuku worked together to lend a helping hand to others such as bringing Jirou and Momo back together and breaking into the school library to help Tsuyu stand up to the other council members by herself. The most notable moments for him was when he and Bakugo save Ochaco from Shigaraki and his gang, as well as Ochaco helping them reconcile their friendship. And now more recently, there are even times when they actually help people who are much older than them, like when they and their friends gather together to convince Melissa to break up with her abusive boyfriend and stay in Japan, and he and Ochaco making Yagi realize what it truly meant to play as an iconic character like All Might.
But that wasn't all. There were also all the times when they clean their home with Inko together, sharing meals together, study together, and going on outings together. And whenever Izuku felt down and dejected, she was always there for him to cheer him up and lift his spirits again.
Ochaco truly is someone special to him.
"What's wrong?" Ochaco asked with a chuckle as she noticed the blank expression on his face.
Izuku momentarily snaps out of his thoughts as he shook his head and smiled back at Ochaco. "Nothing."
As the two turn back to the front and continue walking their way home, Izuku's smile vanished as he once again dwells into deep thought.
No longer is Ochaco Uraraka just a roommate to him, nor is she just the president of the student council. Izuku is finally starting to realize that he didn't just like and respect her anymore. His feelings towards her are now something different. Something deep down that he didn't wish to happen and want to acknowledge…until now.
'I…I think I'm in love with her.'
Sovereign: I would like to thank Shonaku, AshPli, LayLay lives, JustOneOtaku, Eramis8, AquaBluey, pedropedrin, TrimusicaDrag00n90, Trigunner, Fouzy, bernadotte, Blue-Dragon-570, Jeremyk1, victorrangel95 and Jordan4600 for reviewing, favoriting and following my story! Thanks everyone!
I hope everybody had a great Christmas! I sure had. This will be my final story update of 2019. So to all of my readers, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope to see you all again in 2020. Stay tune for the next chapter and read and review!