A/N: To anyone interested, I made an IzuToga oneshot. I thought it turned out pretty good. Now, about Thank You. The beginning is a little tone deaf. But I couldn't not put in this joke. Don't take it super seriously. By the way I wanted to talk about the "Dad" last chapter. Which, BTW got tons of support. So that turned out well. But this isn't just for the small handful that didn't like it all that much, this is for everyone. I have no intention of Izuku actually calling All Might "Dad" casually. Not happening. What it was supposed to be was small crack or glimpse into Izuku's mind. It was meant to be (as All Might assumed) a slip of the tongue in an emotional state. It was meant to be a crack or peek in Izuku's head for All Might to see to really emphasize the connection they've grown to have and solidify his want to defy fate. Not Izuku actually wanting to start calling him Dad, but to get a real image of how Izuku views him. Not just as a fan of a hero, but as someone who saw him as a father figure. It sounded great on paper, but once I wrote the word "Dad" I immediately took a step back. I'm just happy almost everyone liked that decision.
"Have you seen my green blouse?" Momo asked, turning to her boyfriend who was looking through the dressers in her room. Both were packing for their work studies. They were supposed to leave tomorrow and with their clothes split up between both of their rooms, things were becoming difficult.
"Those are in my room. Have you seen my black jeans? I thought I brought them here."
"I put those back in yours." Momo let out a breathy laugh, "Sharing two rooms can be so unorganized."
Izuku chuckled with her and sat down next to her on the bed. "Yeah, but we're already stretching the rules enough. If Iida found out that one of us fully moved in to the other's room he would blow a gasket."
"But you essentially already live here" Momo said, blowing her bang out of her face.
"Eh, we go back and forth."
"You sleep here six days a week Izuku, at least. We sleep in your room at random."
Izuku shrugged and turned to face her. "Three words Momo. Ivory. Silk. Sheets. Sleeping in here is like sleeping on a cloud. I'm actually worried that I won't be able to sleep at my internship. I might think the beds are too uncomfortable, and I won't have you there to make up for it."
"Ah, right. It's funny you know. This is the first time we've spent more than a week away from each other since the Sports Festival...Or actually, have we ever spent more than a week from one another since then?"
"What about the internships?"
"We still crossed paths during then because of Stain."
"...Oh. H-Holy crap. We actually haven't." Even during vacation periods the two were always together at some point during them. "Being apart might be harder than we thought" Izuku said, slumping back on the bed.
Momo smiled, "We did just fine before we met one another. I'm sure we can handle this."
"What are you talking about!? My life was awful! And the agencies will have different schedules. So even if I come back to U.A for a few days, you might be gone and vice versa!"
She shook her head and laid down with him, "You'll be fine. If you want I could make you a body pillow of me," she joked.
"Y-You can do that?"
"Of course."
"...Yes please."
Momo raised a brow, "It was a joke."
"Oh! O-Of course! I was joking too! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Izuku sweated nervously and looked away.
"...Izuku, be honest with me. Were you going to fornicate with the pillow?"
"What!? NO! I just-"
"Pfft! Hahahahaha! *Snort* Hahahahahaha!" It was then Izuku realized that she was joking again. He couldn't even be made about it due to A. He could never be made at Momo. And B. Her snort came back. He could never be made when she did something that cute. "The look on your face was priceless!" Izuku rolled to face away from her in a fake pout. "Oh come on. I'm only teasing."
A pair of arms wrapped around his waist and brought him back against her. "I'm not turning around."
"That's fine. You being little spoon is funny." Izuku groaned in response. Momo giggled, and her back began glowing bright blue. She lifted up her shirt, and pulled her creation out. "Here." She placed it in front of them and Izuku's eyes widened.
She did it.
She actually did it.
In front of Izuku's very eyes was a full size body pillow of Momo in the Hero outfit he designed for her. It wasn't risque or anything, but Izuku still couldn't help but blush. "Flip it over." Izuku did as he was told, and nearly had a heart attack.
"Wha-!? I-! AH!" The other side of the pillow had Momo in her original costume. She was opening up the front of her suit, but her chest was glowing from her quirk so nothing bad could be seen. Her belt was also hanging low. It was down to her knees instead of on her waist. "Why!? Why would you do this to me!?"
Momo simply began laughing once more, but even harder. Izuku was beginning to think that Jirou was a bad influence on Momo's sense of humour. "Good luck hiding this in your suitcase! Hahaha!" Izuku shot up and threw the pillow in the closet.
"How do you even know how to make that so well!?"
"I may or may not have been practicing that pillow purely for that joke."
Izuku looked back inside the closet to find multiple versions of that pillow, but with less than stellar artwork on the sides. He facepalmed, but then noticed something. "Oh hey, look." He pulled out a blazer and pants. "It's my outfit from Kamino. I forgot you kept this."
Momo wiped her eyes and sat up. "I told you we were keeping it. The goatee and sunglasses are in a box up top. It was too funny to give up."
Izuku put the blazer on looked in Momo's full length mirror. "This actually doesn't look half bad on me." He tried another pose with his hands in his pockets, but felt something. He grabbed onto what was in the pocket and pulled it out. A small silver disk with a red light on it was in his hand. He was confused at first, but then realized what it was. "Oh, it's one of the trackers you gave us on the train to Kamino."
"Ah yeah. Without that, we might not have found the warehouse in time."
"Just another moment where your genius saves the day." Momo gave a small smile and a blush at his comment. "I should actually keep this. Who knows what could happen out there? And knowing where we are would ease my mind immensely."
"Not to mention how much trouble you can get it."
"Ha Ha." Izuku sarcastically laughed. "...But you're also right. Here, I'll find the one on your dress." Izuku opened up the other side of the closet.
"No wait!" But it was too late. Out from the closet came another body pillow…
...But of Izuku.
On one side, he was dressed normally. On the other however…
He was completely shirtless, and his was holding the hem of his pants slightly down. Izuku slowly turned to look at Momo, his face one of questioning.
Momo crossed her arms, "...Oh so you can have one of me, but I can't have one of you?"
"Whatever you say Mineta Jr."
"Hey! There's a big difference. I'm only slightly perverted for my boyfriend. Which, for starters, is kind of a part of my job as a girlfriend. And secondly, you're just as perverted towards me as I am to you, if not more."
"I am as respectful as I can possibly be! But you make it really hard!"
The muffled voice of Kyouka came through the walls. "That's what she said!"
(Up In Kyouka's Room)
Ochako stopped messing around with Kyouka's bass guitar and looked at her partner in confusion. "What?"
"Nothing. Just eavesdropping."
"...How much do you listen in on people?"
"No comment."
(Momo's Room)
Izuku looked around, "Did she just-?"
"Yes, she does that. Hold on." Momo created a whistle and blew into it hard.
"Ah! Shit! Screw you Yaomomo!"
"Now that she's taken care of, can we just both agree we're very sexually attracted to one another, pack our pillows, and move on?"
"...Deal." Izuku sighed, "If Nighteye sees this, he's going to be even less impressed by me."
The creation quirk user pursed her lips at that. Izuku had told her about what All Might had told him. Not just about Nighteye's prediction of All Might's death, but about Nighteye's disapproval of him as well. It was strange to think that Mirio was the one that Nighteye chose to be the successor to One For All. But, even Momo couldn't deny it made sense. Togata was the living definition of charisma and good spirits. He was infectious, in a good way. Izuku was too. He inspired more people than he realized. The entire class, besides Bakugou, was inspired by Izuku in some way.
But, she knew Izuku wasn't the most charismatic. And his past was likely a large part of the blame. He was conditioned into keeping to himself with personal matters and smiling was foreign to him until recently. His image, even in the eyes of his friends, wasn't a ray of sunshine and hope. But, that was the image he was trying to form for himself. No matter how much Izuku developed new techniques and ideas, Momo realized that he was still trying to imitate All Might.
No matter how his relationship with All Might evolved, there was something Izuku always was at heart.
A fanboy.
All Might was just a great hero. He wasn't even just the number one hero.
All Might was The Hero.
There was no one like All Might. He was the Symbol of Peace. He brought peace and justice, fought off criminals like they were nothing, he was a force of nature. And Izuku, whether he saw All Might as his surrogate father or not, would always still see All Might. That's why he didn't call him Toshinori. Or even Yagi. He still called him All Might. They were definitely close enough personally for a name change by that point. Even Toshinori called Izuku by his first name in private by that point. But Izuku still identified Toshinori as All Might, the Symbol of Peace.
And with Izuku feeling like he was on a time limit, he was desperate to succeed. And when one becomes desperate, they find the closest solution to fix their problems. And Izuku's was All Might. He needed to be the number one hero? It was his turn? Well, how does he get there the fastest?
Be All Might.
Momo disagreed.
She felt that no one could replace All Might. No one can be All Might. Izuku was trying his best, but she knew he couldn't.
Because he could be better.
Because he was better.
Izuku was the most driven person she had ever met. His past was one that no one else could've survived. But, here he was. Standing tall and ready to face anything. She had gotten to know Izuku and All Might well over the time she knew them. Toshinori was a man of ideals. He saw a world that needed a symbol. A hero that smiled in the face of danger. A hero that people thought could do anything.
And it worked.
But, he was gone now. And living in a world without the Symbol of Peace was strange. As time went on, Momo saw how the world changed without him. And…
It hardly changed at all.
The only thing that changed was the crime rates. But, the people...it was like nothing. It was like people were trying to ignore it. Or they were so deluded by the idea of All Might and that he was still alive that they weren't scared. It was then Momo had another realization…
The world didn't need A Symbol of Peace.
In fact, it shouldn't have A Symbol of Peace.
At least, not in the way All Might was. She knew that made it sound like she was a villain. But, she meant it for good reason. The world was far too dependent on All Might. Have a problem? The solution is All Might. Everything shouldn't depend on one person. Or, if it did, they shouldn't be alone in their struggles. They shouldn't have to stand alone against the villain. Obviously there are fights that no one but one person can face. It was an odd situation. Momo didn't know what the true answer was. She didn't know exactly what the world needed instead of one single symbol. All she knew was that Izuku was likely the key.
Izuku didn't need the facades and spirit of All Might. He didn't need the plastic and stale personas and merchandising that most heroes had nowadays. Even All Might, no matter how pure he truly was, succumbed to that at times. Izuku didn't need it, because he already was a hero without it.
When Toshinori wasn't in costume, she saw a man. A great man. But, a man.
Izuku, in his costume or not, she saw a hero. Even when he wasn't smiling, even when he was vulnerable, even when he was scared, even when he was angry, even when he was broken…
She saw a hero.
"If he doesn't like you, then he's quite frankly an idiot." Izuku looked at her in surprise. "You were chosen, not Togata."
"But Togata is so-"
"It doesn't matter what he is. What matters is what you are. Who are you?"
"...Izuku Midoriya."
"And?"
"The hero in training."
"And?" Momo said, keeping him going.
"The successor of All Might."
"And?"
"...One of the smartest kids my grade."
"And?"
"...The guy with the smartest, kindest, bravest, and hottest girlfriend in Japan?"
"Close enough." Momo got up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "He's going to compare you to All Might. You need to show him that you aren't All Might. You're you. And nothing can compare to that." Izuku smiled warmly at her, and pressed his lips against hers.
"Thank you."
"Anytime. Now it's our last guaranteed night together for the next month. So we're going to edge even closer to home base on that bed."
"Mineta Jr."
"Quiet you."
…
"Do you really think Dragoon will take a fourth student? She already had Hado, but now you and Tsu. If I show up, it'll be a crowd."
Ochako put down the bass guitar and sat down on the bed near Kyouka. "It'll be fine. Hado said that Dragoon is actually really nice and is always looking for new students. She also said Dragoon just can't say no to her. So it's kinda a guarantee."
"Alright. If you say so. I honestly thought about not going on a work study. What happened at camp kind of had me nervous. Can you believe Midoriya's going on one? I half expected Aizawa to keep him here because of the fight and the rescue mission."
Ochako pursed her lips and sat cross-legged, leaning on Kyouka's shoulder. "I would've thought the same, but Bakugou seems to be taking the brunt of the punishments. Whatever happened, he's getting most of the blame."
"What happened anyway? Ever since Yaomomo got all defensive about it, no one has asked. Kirishima said Bakugou won't even talk to him about it. It seems super personal. It wasn't a secret that those two didn't get along, but I'm getting the feeling that it's more than that. Has Midoriya said anything to you about it?"
"No, he won't talk about it either. He just said that another argument got out of hand. But, Deku's a bad liar. Something's going on. But, I guess it's Yaomomo's job as Deku's main supporter now. He'll talk when he's ready. That's just kinda his thing."
"Some might not be as understanding. Kirishima is really getting antsy about it. I can understand it though. Bakugou and Midoriya are two of his closest friends, and now it seems their relationship has totally switched. Now it's Midoriya who hates Bakugou and Bakugou just kinda ignores Midoriya. It used to be the opposite. And when the nicest guy in class suddenly has reason to hate someone, and that someone is your best friend, I'd be dying to know too."
"I have a bad feeling that if he does find out, he's not going to like what he finds."
…
Izuku put his backpack on and buttoned up his blazer. He turned to look at Momo putting her hair in a ponytail. With how off the schedules are with work studies, their time together would be sparse over the next month. It would be tough, especially with how addicted he became of her presence, but he'd get through it.
He looked down at his second large duffel bag, the...pillow inside.
He couldn't believe he was actually bringing it but...he needed sleep.
*Bzzt*
Izuku looked down at his phone to see All Might and Mirio were waiting for him downstairs. "Well, I guess it's my time to go."
Momo gave a somber smiled and picked her phone up, "Kirishima is waiting for me too."
She stood up and walked over to Izuku. The onyx eyed teen wrapped her arms around him. "Would it be too much to ask you to stay out of trouble?"
"Probably."
"Then I'll just say to be careful, and I love you," she chuckled.
"I love you too."
Their embrace tightened and their lips met. There was no tongue or biting, just a simple, soft kiss. "And don't forget to ask for the 23rd off. No matter what we're spending my birthday together."
"I'll be here." She smiled and took Izuku's hand. They left the room and headed down the stairs. Izuku saw Mirio, All Might, and Kirishima by the front door. But, just as he stepped off the stairs, something stopped him.
"Hey." Izuku turned to see Katsuki by the steps. "I need to talk to you." Momo was about to say something, but Izuku stepped in.
"Just give me a minute. I'll handle it." He walked with Katsuki until they were in the kitchen. Both stood in silence, and Katsuki shifted around on his feet. It was the first time Izuku had ever seen him...uncomfortable.
"Look I just-...I-... Fucking damn it!" Izuku watched as Katsuki grabbed at his own hair and grit his teeth.
"They're waiting for me. I should be goi-."
"No, just shut the fuck up and listen! I-...That came out wrong. That wasn't what I meant to say. I'm just...I'm sorry."
"You've said that already."
"I fucking know I-...If I had known that you-"
"It doesn't matter if you knew or not. You never should have done anything you did in the first place."
"I fucking know! I just-"
"I know. I know. Of course you know. If you knew, then we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
"I thought I knew!...I thought I did...But now I have no fucking clue what I know anymore. I don't even know what I am anymore. Cause it's not a fucking hero."
Izuku tightened his backpack strap and turned around, "Well I hope you figure it out and change. I have to go."
"I really am sorry." Izuku stopped in his tracks. "I...I don't know what else to say. I'm like a fucking broken record but...I'm sorry."
That, by far, was the most jarring experience Izuku ever had. Katsuki, against the will and direction of the universe, apologized. The teen realized just how much he impacted Katsuki with his reveal. Katsuki knew what he did was wrong, but it used to be he didn't think it was a big deal. Beating up a quirkless kid didn't matter. It wasn't right, but it wasn't wrong.
But now Izuku had grabbed Katsuki's eyelids and forced them open. Izuku used to be quirkless. And quirkless were still human. If Izuku was ever going to even consider coming to a common ground with Katsuki, then the blonde needed to set up the base himself. He needed to lament and truly realize what he is.
So as far as Izuku was concerned, for now, he needed to follow his own path and forget about Katsuki.
"... Apology not accepted."
Izuku walked out of the kitchen, and let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. His insides were screaming to turn around and accept the apology, to give Katsuki a second chance. He wanted Katsuki to forgive himself first. He needed to figure himself out, forgive himself, and change. Or at least try. Izuku couldn't forgive someone who didn't even fully understand what he was apologizing for.
He walked out to the front and met up with everyone else. Mirio began flicking his arms around, "Ready to go Midoriya!?"
"Uh, yeah. Just give me a sec. Go ahead and head out to the car."
"You got it!" Mirio and All Might walked out the front door, and Izuku turned to Momo, a look of concern on her face.
"You okay?"
"Yeah...Yeah I'm good. It's handled, for now."
"We're still waiting for Tamaki to get here, so I guess this is where we actually part ways" Izuku nodded and hugged Momo once more. Their lips met in long soft kisses.
"Guy?" Kirishima said, sitting awkwardly on the side. "You do realize we're not actually staying at the work studies for a month, right? We get to come back here a lot."
Momo waved him off, talking against Izuku's lips. "Don't ruin our moment." He raised his hands in defeat and slumped back in his chair. They separated and Momo rubbed their noses together. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Please stop. It's so sweet it hurts." Izuku blushed in embarrassment, but put a hand on Kirishima's shoulder.
"Keep her safe."
"You got it man." Kirishima fist bumped his friend.
Izuku turned back to Momo. "At least humor him and act like you actually need help."
"I'll try."
"And protect him...and Amajiki...and Fatgum. In fact, just don't outshine them too much. They need at least a little spotlight."
Momo laughed and shoved his shoulder. "Go. They're waiting on you." Izuku chuckled and walked out the front door, heading to the car.
Ejirou ran a hand through his spikes as a stray hair fell down from his upward hair style, "He wasn't joking around was he?"
*Shnk*
The stray hair was suddenly cut, and being held in Momo's hand in the blink of an eye. Her sword unsheathed and being held in the other hand.
"Nope."
…
(On The Train)
"I got this. I mean I got this right?" Izuku and Mirio looked at one another awkwardly as All Might seemingly had an anxiety attack. "He doesn't hate...right? Mirai is an understanding guy."
"I-I'm sure it'll be fine All Might."
"Yeah...Yeah, you're right."
(10 Seconds Later)
The crinkling of the paper bag Toshinori was hyperventilating into echoed throughout the train. "I can't do this."
"Out of everything you've done, this is the thing you panic at!?"
"I don't deal well with awkward situations! Especially not with close friends!"
"Holy crap maybe Todoroki was right."
"What?"
"Nothing."
…
Momo leaned back into her train seat and looked out the window at the passing landscape. Tamaki put earphones in and closed his eyes. He apologized beforehand, but social interaction was still not his specialty. From dating someone who wasn't good socially, Momo understood his troubles.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Momo looked to see Kirishima looking at her.
"Of course."
"I know you won't want to but...can you tell me what happened between Bakugou and Midoriya?"
"Kirishima…"
"I know. It's personal. I get it. But it's getting worrying. Bakugou isn't acting like himself, he won't talk to me, Midoriya seems to hate him and he beat the ever-living shit out him, no one else knows. He's my best friend. Midoriya has you to go to for stuff super personal. Bakugou doesn't go to his parents or anyone for that matter for this kind of stuff. I'm all he's got. I want to help."
"Me being involved is very different than you being involved."
"It's just... I'm no best friend if I can't help him with this. It's not manly."
Momo shook her head, "Manliness has nothing to do with this."
"Then just help me understand."
"...Why do you like Bakugou?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you like Bakugou? He's brash, aggressive, egotistical, and forgive my language, but an all around piece of shit."
"Hey! Come on, that's my friend you're talking about. He's not that bad."
"Yes. Yes he is."
"Look, Bakugou has a good heart... somewhere in there. He helps me with my homework, he actually listens to people... sometimes. He's confident and strong. He wants to be a hero, and he rejected the League when they-"
"How exactly is that an excuse? So he doesn't want to be a criminal and that instantly makes him an amazing person?"
"No. No that's not what I'm saying. I have no issue saying that Bakugou is...a dick. Like, a major dick. But he's still good inside."
Momo sighed, "I'm sorry Kirishima. I know he's your friend, but I don't seem to see the same thing that you and Izuku both see."
"If Midoriya sees what I see than why does he resent him now?"
"It's not my place to say Kirishima."
"Well I can't ask Midoriya. He doesn't tell anybody anything about himself, except you."
"Well then this conversation is over."
Ejirou tossed his hands up in exasperation, "Yaoyorozu please I-"
"Kirishima, I can't say. I'm sorry but...no. You won't get anything from me." Her friend slumped back in defeat, looking out the window while leaning on his hand.
"... Sorry. I didn't mean to push you. I just think Bakugou shouldn't be alone right now either."
Momo nodded and looked out the window too. 'Maybe he needs to be alone for once. Maybe he doesn't need more people kissing the ground he walks on. I want you to know Kirishima, but it's not my place. And it would hurt to see you broken when you see what he really was.'
…
"I've never actually been in an agency building! This is so cool!"
Mirio looked at Izuku in confusion, "What about your internship? Didn't you go to a hero agency?"
"I don't think Gran Torino's run down apartment counts as a hero agency. Hey, where did All Might go?"
"Oh, he said he needed to use the bathroom"
"..."
"..."
The two teens bolted to the bathroom and shoved the door open. All Might was trying to stand on a mop bucket and climb out the window. They grabbed onto the former pro and dragged him back inside.
"Oh my god All Might! Be a man! If I'm the one that has to tell you that then we have a problem!" Izuku yelled.
Toshinori stopped struggling and sighed, "You're right. I've been avoiding this for too long. I just...haven't spoken to him in a year. Not even after Kamino. A lot has happened since then, and I'm sure his disapproval of me has only grown."
"Nah, Sir still thinks your great!" Mirio exclaimed, patting Toshinori's back.
"Did he say that?" All Might said, hope in his voice.
"Nope." All Might put his head in his hands. As they continued up the stairs, Izuku turned to All Might.
"Was it really that bad? I mean it's not like you two hate each other."
"I know. I just feel like I did him wrong. I refused to listen to him when it mattered and I put a dent in our friendship. It was just a disagreement. I don't regret my decisions, because it turned out to be for the best." Izuku smiled knowing that All Might was talking about making him his successor. "But Mirai likely still disagrees." Izuku's frown returned.
"After that we went our separate ways. I felt that my decisions were final, and if he disagreed then I had no business with him. I think it's time I apologize, and we both accept the outcome."
"Well, here we are. Do you remember what I told you about making him laugh Midoriya?" Izuku nodded, readying his face. Mirio gestured to the door in front of them. "I hope things go well for you two, All Might. To make the effect stronger, I kinda didn't tell him you were coming."
"I've made a terrible mistake."
"Too late!" Mirio slammed the door open and strutted through the door. "Sir! We've arrived! And I have an extra special guest to see you!"
The sight before Izuku and All Might was... interesting. A scantily dressed aqua skinned woman was being forcefully tickled on a torture device. Nighteye slowly turned around.
"I'd hardly call the boy speci-..." His eyes landed on All Might, his voice leaving his throat.
"...Mirai. It's been awhile my friend."
Nighteye turned off the tickle machine, never taking his eyes off of All Might. "Leave us."
"Yes sir." Bubble Girl hopped down and rushed out.
"You too Togata."
"Oh, uh...Okay Sir." Mirio exited as well, giving a thumbs up to Midoriya as he left. Once the door was closed, Nighteye broke the silence.
"...It's good to see you."
"And you as well…I'm going to get this all out of the way and say I'm sorry."
"Sorry? What are you apologizing for? I was the one angry at you. I should be the one apologizing."
"Wait, so... you're not mad?"
"At you? Of course not!"
Toshinori put his hands on his knees and sighed in relief, "Oh thank goodness. I thought you were still mad about last year."
"No I-...Wait. Last year? What are you apologizing about?"
"For being so stubborn and rude to you when you disagreed with my choice in successor...What are you apologizing for?"
" I'm apologizing for what I said at the hospital six years ago. I just wanted you to be happy and live on."
Toshinori stood up straight, "So...you still think I made the wrong choice and should've picked Togata?"
"...Well-"
Toshinori turned himself and Izuku around and headed for the door. "We're done here," he said with exasperation.
"Wait what!?" Izuku pulled away from Toshinori. "Just like that."
"His opinion is clear."
"No! I'm not leaving here empty handed!" He faced Nighteye, and put his head down.
"I am here!" Izuku's head shot up, his All Might impression appearing for all to see. Toshinori was creeped out with how similar he looked to him.
'Maybe Young Todoroki was right.'
"Was that supposed to be funny?" Izuku faltered, Sir was glaring at him with more intensity than before. "Are you mocking All Might? Your own teacher?"
"Er! W-Well no I-"
"It's not even accurate." He grabbed onto Izuku's face and picked apart each detail. "He didn't have a wrinkle here. And his crows feet were 0.6 cm apart, not 0.3 cm. It varies from Silver Age to Golden Age. Even merchandise can get that right."
All Might scoffed, "Are you kidding me?"
"You're here to endorse him, correct? Then you know we accept no less than the best. You want to prove me wrong and show me that he was the right choice? Then he has to show me himself. This is still my agency, and who gets hired here is my decision. Give me five minutes alone with him, then we'll see."
"You're already impressed with him. We know you've been keeping an eye on him since he won the Sports Festival."
"Tied. He tied, and won via forfeit if victory by the other boy. And who was to say I wasn't disappointed in what I've been told."
"What happened to wanting me to be happy?"
"I believe you'd be much happier with a successor actually worthy of One For All."
"Now you listen here Mirai. You have no idea-"
"All Might can I talk to you for a minute!?" Both adults stopped their bickering and turned to Izuku. Toshinori stood reluctantly, but Izuku's eyes plead with him. "Please." Toshinori raised his hands in defeat, and walked out. He turned to Sir, "Would you excuse us for a moment?" He rushed out the door and closed it. He whipped around to Toshinori, "What the hell was that!?"
"It was me remembering why exactly we stopped talking. He's been watching you, seeing what you can do. And even after all this time, he still won't give you a chance. Here I am, apologizing for being so stubborn and not thinking about his opinion on the matter, when he's so stubborn he refuses to even get to know you. I chose you. It happened. I didn't regret it then, I certainly don't regret it now, and I will never regret it. It was my quirk. Not his. And now it's yours, right where it should be. He needs to get over it."
All Might finished his rant and leaned back against the wall. Izuku had never seen Toshinori so aggravated at someone before. He couldn't help but feel guilty. He knew it wasn't his fault at all, but it still felt like he was the cause of the rift that formed between All Might and his sidekick. "I tend to have a knack for people not liking me at first glance."
"It pisses me off."
"Well, I-I do understand where he's coming from."
"Young Izuku don't-"
"Hold on. Even you have to admit, Togata would have been a great fit."
"Not as good as you."
"Maybe. Togata is one of the strongest people I've met. He told us on the train just how much effort he put into training his quirk. He would've been great. And a certain someone I know also didn't give me a chance at first. He even said I couldn't be a hero. But then I was able to prove him wrong. Maybe I have to do this for Nighteye too. Maybe I just have to prove him wrong."
"...You're never gonna let our first time meeting go, are you?"
"We'll see. Now, wish me luck." Izuku went back inside Nighteye's office, the former sidekick leaning on his front desk in deep thought. "Sorry about that. He'll be back in a minute. Oh, and it was the Vinegar Child incident by the way."
Nighteye raised a brow, "Excuse me?"
"My impression. The child All Might saved that turned water into vinegar while drowning. It got in his eyes and All Might was squinting during the interview."
"...Not many know about that interview. Not even the most dedicated fan pages and forums talk about it. At the end of it, when the child apologized, All Might said-"
"Apologize? I should be thanking you. I look ten years younger now."
Sir gave a small, breathy chuckle. But he went back to his serious face. "Your papers." He walked behind his desk and sat down. Izuku beamed as he pulled them out of his bag, thinking he succeeded. "This won't be like your internships. You'll work here for a month, at least. You will be compensated, and you'll be called out of school at many points."
"Of course!"
"No interruptions. Due to that, you will be behind many of your classmates."
"I understand. I'll just work harder than ever."
"Quite. Once I stamp your form, the contract is complete."
"Thank you!" Izuku placed the paper in front of Nighteye...who stamped the table.
"...You uh...You missed."
"That's because I have no intention of stamping this paper."
"What!? But you said-"
"I said the stamp makes it official. I never actually said I was going to stamp it did I? Here's the issue. You clearly have much to gain from signing on here. But what exactly do I have to gain from it? I already have two sidekicks, and a student. What do you bring to the table? How can you benefit society? All Might gave people hope with his power and humor. They accepted him with ease. You must prove with actions that you're worth it, not with words."
Sir lifted his stamp in the air, "You have three minutes to take this from me. You want to be taught at my side? Then stamp it yourself. I won't fight back and any amount of damage to me or the room is fine as long as you pass."
Izuku gave a slight frown, 'He's trying to get rid of me. With his quirk, he thinks I can't take it from him. He still doesn't believe I'm the right successor. This is more than just a test for a work study. It's a test for his approval as the next wielder.' Izuku crouched down, his body arcing with lightning. 'But, wait...If he can see my future, then doesn't he already know if I passed or not?'
"30 seconds have passed. I'm waiting for you to stop muttering."
'...Crap.' Izuku shot around the room, not attacking just yet. Izuku knew Nighteye could see the future, but not to its fullest extent. All Might told him that Nighteye's quirk was like a silent film. It was from a 3rd person perspective, and it was only of the person he used his quirk on. He might be able to see what was going to happen, but he could only react so fast.
And, at this point, Izuku was fairly confident in his speed.
Izuku bursted at Nighteye, and swiped at the stamp...and missed. Nighteye shook his head in disappointment. "You know my quirk, yet you still try and steal the seal like a brute. I know every move your going to make. It doesn't matter how fast you are. I know all of your movements. You can't catch something if it's not there when you go after it." Izuku skidded to a halt across the room. "Although, I must admit you make it far more difficult than expected. You could beat Gran Torino in a race."
Izuku smirked at the compliment.
"And he's an old man out of his prime. So I'd say you're still utterly mediocre. And now look at you, just standing there not knowing how to counter my Foresight. With the shadow casting over this world with All Might gone, we need a great hero now. We need someone who can actually smile through the shadows. One For All should have gone to Togata." Izuku clenched his fist. "We may clash from time to time, but I still have the utmost love and respect for All Might. But you may have guessed from our argument just a few minutes ago, I still don't understand his vision. I don't see what's so great about you." Izuku closed his eyes and grit his teeth.
"Mirio Togata should have received One For All. I do not, and cannot approve of you."
"You too can become a hero."
Izuku began to shake. "...He saw something in me. He chose me ."
"I know. What I can't understand is why he chose a nobody like you."
...Nobody...A nobody. Someone that didn't even exist . If that had happened any other week, Izuku might've taken it. But after everything, after finally breaking out of the shell around his soul. After everything Momo had said to him, after everything All Might and his mom said to him, after being with his friends. The first people to actually, finally make him feel like a somebody. Somebody that actually existed.
Somebody that actually mattered.
'Quirkless freak!' 'You'll never go anywhere.' 'Who cares about you?' 'You're a fucking pebble on the side of the road.'
"Then what the hell were you!?"
"...Pardon?"
"What the hell were you before you met All Might!? A nobody! What the hell was All Might before he became a hero!? A nobody! Everyone is a nobody! They have to make something of themselves! I have to make something of myself! I HAVE MADE SOMETHING OF MYSELF! I can finally see it! All Might sees it!"
Izuku grabbed onto the other desk next to him, and threw it at Nighteye, who dodged to the right.
"Gran Torino sees it!"
He bounced around the room, grabbing onto shelves, office plants, trash cans, throwing them to either side of Nighteye. The former sidekick dodging to the left and right repeatedly with every object thrown.
"The past wielders see it!"
*Crack*
Black Whip shot out of Izuku's arms, flinging straight at Nighteye. Mirai tried jumping to the left...but hit his desk. As he looked around, he realized what had happened. Throwing the objects wasn't Izuku just having a tantrum. He had carefully aimed each object to be placed on either side of Nighteye, piling up on both sides of the room until it surrounded Sir.
He had completely blocked Nighteye into one single spot. He had nowhere to go.
Black Whip swished around Nighteye's body, locking him to the ground and his arms to his sides.
Izuku had countered his Foresight. Nighteye saw all of Izuku's movements, but he didn't know what the purpose of the movements were for. The objects he couldn't predict, and Izuku knew that.
"The love of my life sees it!"
*ZAP*
"Tesla Whips!" Energy rocketed through the whips and shook Nighteye to the core. The electricity was not enough to cause real damage, but to keep him unmoving. Izuku shot up to 15% and burst right to Nighteye, his hand clasping around the seal, yanking it from Nighteye's hand in the blink of an eye.
"And you'll see it too. I promise."
Nighteye slumped against his desk as the whips released him. Izuku stepped up to the desk and stamped down hard on the paper. As he did, he shocked out of his stupor, realizing what had just happened. "U-Uh...Don't worry. I made sure all of your All Might books landed safely, and your 10th anniversary poster and all the rest of them don't have a scratch. Those things are priceless to fans like you and I. And, sorry about the whips. I hope I didn't hurt you...I-I'll have Mirio show me to my room...Bye" Izuku rushed out of the room and bumped into All Might.
Toshinori grabbed onto his shoulders,"I heard screaming. What ha-..." He looked inside the office to see it was a wreck. "...What the hell happened?"
He was suddenly shoved into the room by Izuku. "Now you two make up and don't kill each other! By the way Nighteye I need the 23rd off! I'm gonna go have a panic attack now!"
*Slam*
And like that, he was gone. Toshinori turned back to Nighteye, who was standing by his desk in stupor. "Well...he passed." He walked behind his desk and pulled out two small glasses, and a bottle of sake. "Take a seat, please. I think we have a lot to catch up on and work out."
"I can't drink."
"I know. Both cups are for me." Even though Toshinori was still slightly irritated with Nighteye, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Still have that good sense of humor, eh Mirai?"
"I try. But your successor's sense of humor is...strange. I hope he can at least make his girlfriend laugh."
Toshinori pulled up a chair and sat down, "How do you know he has a girlfriend?"
"He said so in his shouting…"
"Ah, I see."
"I also saw his future. He gets laid next week."
"Well good for-Hold up. What?"
A/N: Once again, shameless promo for my IzuToga oneshot. Check it out fools. Momo's thoughts on the Symbol of Peace aren't done. They're going to come back as a point for how I want Izuku to be portrayed in the future. He'll still be a great image and symbol for the world, just not in the same way as All Might. And no, Izuku didn't change the future here. Nighteye just didn't interpret the future completely or to it's fullest extent. Besides, his power and time in MHA is convoluted as shit.