The media coverage for the "Hosu incident" was focused only on the Hero Killer and the noumus, there were a few minor articles on the Senshi's intervention too, still labelled as vigilantism although with some praise mixed in, but the daimon's victim wasn't even so much as mentioned.
The girls were, understandably, indignant at that. They had a joint call with Nedzu as soon as possible, the afternoon following the disaster, from Makoto's home, which was the closest to crash at after the long train ride they spent mostly sleeping to recover from the night.
«It was the first victim, but it's not granted it will be the last» Minako shook her head.
«There should have never been one to begin with» Makoto looked ready to throw hands. With whom, she wasn't sure either. It made a strange contrast with the coziness of the background.
«And without people being aware of the menace, Heroes won't be careful enough»
Nedzu nodded «I agree, but we can't change the past. The message the daimons were to be contained and not harmed was passed on as soon as you explained it was necessary, but it is possible that not all Heroes received it, or gave it the proper importance. The resemblance with those noumus must have tricked the opinion of some, especially since they showed up at the same time and place»
«You think there's a chance the Death Busters are working with the League?»
«Hard to say. It's certainly possible the League is trying to build connections, but the profile of their leader doesn't fit with cooperative work. To me, it seems more likely there was some sort of competition, that night, between the League of Villains, the Death Busters and Stain»
«Just like gang wars, new Villain groups tend to fight for space and recognition. Could it be that?»
They expected it from Makoto, maybe. Nobody wanted to know how Minako knew the workings of gang wars. Or rather, they did, but weren't going to ask in front of Nedzu, who nodded and went on as if she didn't say anything upsetting.
«The two we know of, the League and Stain, follow some manner of ideology, this means exposure is something they want. The matter of the Death Busters seemed different, more akin to a cult, according to your last discoveries at the camp, or so it seemed until now, unless they were waiting. We'll have to be patient for their next move to clear the air in this regard, but I'll keep investigating» Nedzu assured.
«What about Endeavour? Is he going to face any consequences for that?» Rei asked with a frown.
«They allowed him to take full credit for the capture of the Hero Killer, but the wounds on the Villain added to the daimon incident are going to give him some trouble at least behind the scenes, I suppose, unless the Hero Public Safety Commission decided to meddle. Heroes should never kill or even permanently injury Villains. Although Endeavour is not new to this kind of outcomes, this particular event's gravity is bound to raise some questions on his professionality at the very least»
There was little satisfaction in hearing that.
«Now, the current situation has a bright side» the presid sounded more cheerful at that point: «The Hero community will be obliged to acknowledge you are the ones in the best position to instruct them on how to deal with the daimons, the Heroes you helped yesterday night are already on your side. It means there are better chances they'll follow your lead after you'll get the proper clearance»
That was right. Getting the License was more urgent than ever.
The girls exchanged a look and nodded.
«We already planned to skip the next two school days. Please, train us more during those»
Nedzu agreed and a late-afternoon and night training was planned for that very day.
It would be the final rush, the exam was scheduled for the following week and they had to be ready.
There was too much at stake.
Usagi was a little hesitant going back home, but she knew she had to.
It was the first time since she arrived in Musutafu she went against her father- well, since she met him, actually... - and even if he sounded calm during their call, there was no warranty she wouldn't get a more intense scolding once home.
The girls probably suspected that much and stayed at Makoto's home where they took the chance to get some rest, their appointment with Nedzu scheduled for the late afternoon.
Only Chibiusa was with her and, for some reason, Usagi would have rather left her at Makoto's too, had her future daughter not insisted to tag along.
Once in front of the door, she took a breath and turned the handle.
«We're home!» Chibiusa exclaimed before Usagi could.
There was a ruffle of papers and what sounded like a fallen cup from the kitchen, at which the two girls rushed to the living room to meet him halfway.
Toshinori's face was livid, and he looked like he hadn't had an ounce of sleep, which was to be expected, and he had likely not changed clothes since he came back from Yuuei. The tension in his stance and posture was on par with the intensity in his eyes and the two girls stopped in their tracks at the sight.
«Don't you ever do that again» he started, «I thought I was going to have a heart attack when you disappeared that way» he inflicted both a chopping motion on their heads, light enough not to hurt and only get his disappointment across.
«But Toshi-papa...» Chibiusa whined.
«No buts. You ran out without my permission...»
«It was an emergency!» Usagi exclaimed. How could he not understand?
«And you took something you shouldn't have» he added.
Reluctantly, Chibiusa fished up the debit card from her pocket and handed it back «But you got it for Usagi-chan...»
«That doesn't mean I planned to give it to her before she proved she could manage so much money. Moreover, stealing is stealing, Small Lady»
She mumbled a bit, but bowed her head.
And, okay, fine, Usagi could agree with that part. Mostly because the card was hers and Chibiusa did have the bad habit of taking things she thought she may need without asking adults.
He put his hands on his hips «For the foreseeable future, no more sweets after dinner. And no cartoons or videogames unless you show me you did all your homework»
«Eeh?!» the two girls screeched.
«You decided that with mama, didn't you?» Usagi frowned.
His light blush was telling on its own.
The truth was that Toshinori had had his fair share of angry parental calls that morning, first from Ikuko who obviously recognized her daughter in the news, and then from Gran Torino, whose scoldings were scarier than even his ex-wife's.
«It doesn't matter who decided the course of action, I need you to learn your lesson and remember it» he tried to enforce what Ikuko had said. Pity it sounded way more reasonable when she said it.
«But we had to go» Usagi opposed, clenched fists and the hints of tears in her eyes already.
«Not that way, Usagi-shojo...»
«No, we should have been faster!» she raised her voice, a hint of a strangled sound at the end. Every bad thing that went on those few days caught up, every emotion she couldn't get rid of, every bit of frustration, grief and worry bubbled up to the surface.
«You should have waited for permission»
«Had we not intervened immediately they would have killed all the hosties, not only the last one» Usagi's voice cracked «If we had lost more time going there, if we had not intervened at all, what do you think would have happened?» she couldn't hold a sob, her arms rigid at her sides and clenched fists shaking, «You said you're proud of us, but it's not true! You're just like mama!» she shouted.
Toshinori's eyes widened at the accusation, not quite understanding what she meant with her first phrase, he could only stare as Usagi held his gaze for about two seconds, then ran out the room and upstairs.
On her side, Chibiusa wasn't looking at him.
She went to the couch, holding her arms up for her Luna-P ball to jump in from the corner of the room and she held it tight, basking in the comfort of her old toy, before asking: «You didn't hear about it either, uh?»
«Hear what?»
Her voice wasn't much firmer than Usagi's, but she was still within her capacity to hold herself together. After all, she had seen worse.
«We couldn't save the last host. He was killed along with the daimon. We were too late»
It felt like a cold shower to the man. His daughter's words made more sense now, and so did her anger.
«It was one of the Heroes who did that? After what Nedzu told them?» the notion astonished him. Sure, a lot of his fellow Heroes were thick-headed and hated to follow instructions, but there were lines none of them were supposed to cross.
The girl shrugged «Maybe he got it wrong and thought it was like the other monsters, maybe he didn't get the memo, we don't know. Usagi thinks it's our fault, no matter what the girls told her»
Toshinori rubbed his hand over his eyes, the picture getting a bit more clear.
"I'm an idiot. After everything she faced in those two days, this must have been the last drop"
The doorbell's ring had Chibiusa jump up to the entrance door.
«Mamo-chan!» the girl exclaimed, somewhat happily. The plunk of Luna-P on the floor and a bit of shuffling later, Mamoru entered the living room with the little girl in his arms, engrossed in a conversation in low tone.
«... of course I was worried, I can tell when she transforms, you could at least call me when... Ah, Yagi-san, good afternoon» the boy cut himself off and greeted when he saw the man.
At any other time, Toshinori would have tried to figure out what they were talking about but he currently had other troubles.
«Chiba-shonen. Can I ask you to stay with Chibiusa-shojo for a moment?»
Mamoru was confused but nodded his assent «Of course»
«Thank you»
Toshinori went upstairs, Usagi's hiccups could be heard from the corridor. He knocked and got no answer, so he pushed the half-closed door.
She was curled on her bed, back to the entrance, looking as if she was hugging something.
«Princess...»
«Leave me be» she replied in tiny, rasped voice «You don't understand»
He sighed, unsure of whether it'd be okay to sit beside her but feeling too out of place standing up. He picked her desk's chair and pulled it closer to the bed, sitting on it.
«Do you really think I never lost a fight? That I was never too late or too far to save someone? That would be a very optimistic esteem of my abilities. Too much, I admit»
Her sobs subsided a bit, but she didn't turn.
«My girl, I do understand. The world is too large and complex to deal with everything at once single-handedly. Believe me, I tried, in my younger years, only to find it's impossible. There is always someone out of reach. We can only do our best for those we can get to»
Again, no reply.
«I was too harsh with you, again, I didn't consider your point of view or what you went through. I hope you can forgive my lack of parenting skills. I was worried and scared for your well-being, I didn't think about much more, while I should have trusted your judgment. I just wish you waited a minute to convince me or just to put your foot down instead of running behind me that way, without even a goodbye»
It was the last point the one that had truly upset him: not that she went to help others, but that she did so going literally behind his back, without giving him the chance to accompany them. He had been worried sick, in his mind the persistent thought he should have been with everyone else in Hosu and he'd never forgive himself had the worst happened to any of the girls or to Midoriya-shonen just because he wasn't there.
She had stopped crying. A meagre win, since she refused to speak or even turn.
He got up, acknowledging it was for the best not to insist further, nor to make it about his feelings, but not knowing what to add either.
«Chiba-shonen just arrived, I'll send him up, if it's okay for you» he told her, not expecting any answer. He left the room with the heavy silence to weigh on his heart and if she turned to watch him leave, he didn't see it.
Downstairs, there was no need for words, Toshinori limited himself to a nod towards the staircase and Mamoru went up in a heartbeat, Chibiusa at his heels.
The man let himself fall on the couch, wondering what to do. He messed up, like many other things.
"What would have Nana said?"
He couldn't picture it, and for a moment he panicked, the sole idea of not remembering his Master's way of dealing with things engulfed his heart in a vicious grip, his blood ran cold with shame.
But he knew.
Nana had let her son go, distanced herself from her child for good. Toshinori had been her student, her successor, not quite a son to her, for better or worse, he knew that much. She never had to play the strict parent's role either, since Gran Torino had taken that in her stead even before her passing.
He thought back to the phone call from his old sensei too, with his advice - order - to be more upfront with Midoriya-shonen about the risks and responsibilities that came with One for All, and to distance himself again from Usagi-shojo.
Although... Gran Torino didn't have all the facts, he didn't know about Usagi being Sailor Moon, or the wars she won already. She wasn't a powerless little child her father had to shield from the world...
Funny, it was exactly how Toshinori had treated her earlier.
Once more in his life, he didn't think things through, running headfirst into a situation without pondering on the further consequences, or at least never what consequences for singular people could be, his eyes always going towards the bigger picture, helping the world at large, forgetting it was made of individuals.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, thinking about mistakes he didn't have a clue how to fix and necessary steps for the future he wasn't sure were right to take, staring at his hands even as he heard slow steps coming down the stairs.
He didn't look up until he was called.
«Papa?»
Toshinori turned to see his daughter in the doorway. She still had puffy eyes and refused to meet his gaze.
«I'm sorry, I know I made you worry. I shouldn't have raised my voice either» she added.
His heart sunk further. «It's my fault too» the admission rolling out with ease, so much was the need for it to get out «I should have asked and made sure you were alright first thing. I don't know what came to me for overlooking it»
Usagi stepped in, hesitantly but looking a bit relieved «Mamo-chan was worried too. He was upset we didn't take him with us and you probably were too. I didn't think about that»
«He's a wise young man» he agreed, grateful for the boy's insight «Let's do this right. Come sit here, my girl, and tell me what happened» then looked up «You too, Chibiusa-shojo and Chiba-shonen»
The two came out from behind the wall, equally guilty faces for their eavesdropping Toshinori preferred not to scold them over, both relieved by the return of peace in the house.
The conversation that followed was far easier, even if it brought on them the weight of the info it carried.
From his professional point of view, All Might wondered how Endeavour could have overlooked a tip from Nedzu, but reasoned even seasoned pros could make mistakes. It still was excessive use of force, lethal force in this case, so there were going to be repercussions, or would there be if the news came out.
Which didn't happen.
Just like All Might had the distinct feeling the capture of the Hero Killer wasn't the work of a pro, If he had to make a guess, he's attribute the accomplishment to the three students, one of which had a very personal reason to seek the Villain in question and another had the natural instinct to butt in. About Todoroki-shonen, he was likely there for a fortuitous chance while tailing his father.
«You think it was Izukun and the others?» Usagi asked, wide-eyed, when Toshinori explained that.
«I know a cover-up story when I see it, my girl. I'll have to drill some cautionary measures into my students at the first chance»
«But they won, no?» Chibiusa interjected «They saved each other and a lot more people»
Mamoru shook his head «Chibiusa, what Yagi-san is trying to say is that their best intentions could have had dire consequences had they failed, and they should have asked for help before it came this far»
Usagi's cheeks puffed «I told Izukun he should have used the comm!»
«The same way you should have asked us to come with you» Mamoru replied.
«It's not the same! I was with the others»
«I would have wanted to be there all the same» Toshinori sighed «You kids are going to give me gray hair»
«You always complain you're old, you'd look so then»
«Chibiusa!» Mamoru and Usagi scolded in unison and she stuck her tongue at them.
The man just laughed «Maybe you're right, Small Lady»
Usagi blinked a couple of times «Since when you call her that?» she turned at the younger with her hands on her hips «Chibiusa...»
«It was his idea!» the girl opposed, «I told him nothing, I swear!»
Toshinori blinked «Is there something I should know?»
«It's weird to hear it here» Mamoru intervened, knowing how terrible liars the girls could be «It's her middle name, but as far as we know only people at her place call her that»
A light rasp on the side of the room caught their attention and after a moment Luna came through the window.
«Oh, I thought I'd find you girls asleep» she commented, jumping down from the windowsill.
«Luna! Where have you been?»
«At Yuuei to plan the rest of your pre-exam training. Which is going to start in two hours, you'd better sleep a bit, the others were out like lights when I checked on them»
«I'll better leave then» Mamoru got up, but the cat stopped him.
«You should come with us, for today. There's something we'll need you to do for the day of the exam»
He nodded and Usagi accompanied him outside, walking slowly. Once they got both out, she turned the door behind her back.
«What is it, Usako?» he addressed the elephant in the room. He had seen in her downcast eyes and slugginess a trouble that had nothing of the tired sleepiness he'd normally expect.
«I wanted to thank you. For helping me with Toshi-papa...»
Mamoru shook his head «I did nothing. It was all you»
«That's not true. I'm not smart, Mamo-chan, I know that. I didn't know what to do»
«You would have come around to fix things with your father on your own, I only helped you speed it up a bit»
She nodded, but made no move to say goodbye or go back in, eyes still on the ground.
«This is not only about your argument with your father, is it?»
He knew Usagi wasn't like that. She was loud, extrovert, outgoing and didn't hold back, unless she had a weight on her heart. Given all what went on in the last days, he'd be more upset if she pretended to be alright.
It broke his heart to see her like this, even so, he preferred her showing her feelings over any act.
He stepped forward and took her in his arms, one hand rubbing circles on her back «There is no fixing some things, Usako. Don't beat yourself over that. I'll be by your side to make it better onwards»
She clenched her hands on his shirt, dampness from her tears seeping through to his chest. He held her tighter for a while, channelling a bit of his power to help her, the only thing he could do at the moment.
«Come on, go sleep a bit. It was a long night and there will be another one ahead» he placed a kiss on her head and lowered his arms. He already missed her warmth, had it been for him he would have kept her in his embrace and never let her go out in the world again, but he knew it wasn't possible and she was in dire need of some rest.
Slowly, she let him go too and nodded «See you this evening»
On Monday the Hero courses of Yuuei were back to regular classes, discussing the respective internships and so on.
Even if Mamoru had to take the long route from his home to pick up both Usagi and Chibiusa, he did so gladly if it meant spending some time with them, not to mention he could be there in the remote chance they got attacked. The three of them had to part at Yuuei's gates, but from there on Makoto would be the one to accompany Usagi until Mugen, then drop Chibiusa at the elementary school that was on the same road of Musutafu Middle, where the brunette attended now.
Usagi's spirits had lifted over the weekend, much to everyone's relief, and that Monday she was as back as normal as she could be.
«It's the first time we can walk to school together. Even in Juuban we never did that» the blonde chirped, latched to Mamoru's arm «It's too bad we can't walk together from school too»
«My internship is an incredible opportunity, Usako. I need to do the best of it, even if it means staying overtime at school»
«I know that, but you're stuck there all afternoons» she pouted «Between that and my training, we'll never have another date again»
«Dramatic» Chibiusa scoffed «The exam is this Saturday, you know that?»
Usagi stuck her tongue at her, which the smaller girl didn't see since she was a few steps in front of the couple. «Of course I know. That's why Nedzu-sensei drilled us with procedures and exercises for four days straight. I'm soo tired...»
«See, dramatic»
«The worst part will come later» Mamoru reasoned «Training is safe, all things considered, your investigation over Mugen won't be. And I have the feeling meeting with pro Heroes won't be easy either»
«We'll make it through, Mamo-chan. Together, like we always do»
They smiled to each other, hand in hand, the picture of the perfect couple Chibiusa glanced at with the tail of her eye.
Their future daughter was secretly pleased to see them so loving and supporting. A bit envious too, granted, because she couldn't but wonder if she'll ever come around to have anything like that.
Even then, her parents' young selves were her pillars as much as their older counterparts, and her competitive streak towards Usagi was more playful banter, to see if she could annoy her, than an actual will to take her place. It was still fun to make Usagi jealous pretending she wanted Mamoru for herself, but it was never that way, or wasn't supposed to be.
Wiseman had made her lean into her worst tendencies to the greatest extreme, but now that her mind was free and she was - finally - growing up like a normal girl, she understood better her own feelings, that the attachment she had for her father's younger version was the result of her still childish notions of love and the desire of his calm nature to comfort her in the mess that had been the events that led her to travel to the past the first time.
"Well, Small Lady, a good father is always a girl's first hero"
The memory struck her, Pluto's voice resonating in her ears with a pang of nostalgy mixed with surprise. When had Pluto said that? It felt like a century ago - and maybe it was - but it sounded new.
The puncture of the now familiar feeling of grief at the memory of her first and best friend took her by surprise, and she had to tear herself off the reverie to focus back on the world, real, tangible and busy, around her, to avoid lingering on it. It wasn't going to do her any good to be swallowed by sadness.
They were at Yuuei's gates at that point, ready to part from Mamoru and say good morning to the kids there they knew, when Chibiusa caught something wrong in her peripheral vision and turned towards the anomaly.
«Katsu-kun?» she called, hesitant.
The boy in question had his usually wild blonde mane tamed and flattered to emulate a "good boy" style that made his head look round and weird, not to mention it clashed horribly with his attitude and uniform in disarray.
Even so, there was no mistake it was Bakugou, so Chibiusa called him again, sprinting a bit to catch him before he crossed the school's gate.
His shoulders sagged further than his usual «The hell you want, Cotton-candy hair?»
«To say good morning, duh. You... changed you hair?»
«I didn't, it was that ass who did that to me! They'll go back to normal at some point!» he shouted, and the girl could swear that was a bit of frustration in it. Well, a lot.
«Prim and proper look doesn't suit him at all» Usagi added a few steps back, with a finger under her chin.
«Shut the fuck up, pigtails!» and he left at that, stomping inside the gate with his head in his shoulders.
«Eek, rude as ever»
Mamoru rose a brow but didn't add anything, saying goodbye to the girls and following in with the rest of Yuuei students.
«I swear, I have no idea how you became friends with him» was the blonde's comment as they went their way too, after spotting Makoto on the other side of the road, waiting for them... or maybe not, she was looking another way.
«Mako-chan?»
«Ah, Usagi-chan, Chibiusa-chan!» Makoto exclaimed, turning abruptly «Good morning!»
«Good morning. Were you looking for someone?»
«Who, me? Noo, I just... uh... Nevermind, let's go, or we'll all be late, okay?»
The two Tsukinos exchanged a look of confusion, then shrugged it off, at least until their tall friend's mood had a sudden spike up, if her glowing eyes and wide smile were anything to go by.
On the other side of the road, Kirishima was waving their way «Good morning, Kino-chan!» he shouted.
Makoto waved back «Good morning you too! How did the internship go?»
«Eeeh, it was good» he glossed over then shrugged, «Didn't see any action though»
«Sorry to hear that. But you have plenty of time, don't worry»
His reply was a thumb up and a toothy smile «Sure thing! Have a good day!»
«You too!»
Makoto was positively glowing now, not Minako-level, but had still her hand mid-air and a smile on her face.
«Soo, what was that?» Usagi nudged, breaking her friend out the stupor with a wicked grin.
«What was what?»
«It was like we didn't even exist» Chibiusa smirked too, far too similar to her future mom «Someone has a new interest, uh?»
Makoto blushed wine-red and refused to answer, no matter how much teasing the two Tsukinos did all the way to the respective schools.
A normal day, overall. The kinds that don't last but the girls had learned to treasure.
All Might had planned for his afternoon lesson an exercise about spacial awareness, a run in a different mock city than the one they were used to already, and had the pleasure to see how far his successor went in mere few days of training with Gran Torino.
Pushing back the now nearly-constant feeling of inadequacy - how had Gran Torino managed to make the boy obtain such progress in such short time? why couldn't he? where could he improve in his guidance? - he asked as discretely as possible for the boy to meet later.
He left implied it was about One for All, but Midoriya-shonen was smart enough to get it and his serious nod was a testament to his maturity.
The appointment was, as usual, at the Yagi residence after school, hoping that Usagi didn't get detention or extra classes again, which was likely given she lost a full week of classes between the Mugen camp and the preparation for the exams. Mugen's secretarial office had called to inform him of that and he had to assure he knew his daughter was taking the week off, inventing a bug and doctor's advice to stay home to cover up.
Back to topic, the talk he was about to have with the kids. One Toshinori knew he wasn't ready for.
Good thing Chibiusa-shojo affirmed she had a thing to do on her own that afternoon. She had him sworn secrecy, since she was going to meet with a friend and didn't want Usagi to meddle, or so the little girl had said, and Toshinori warned her to come back before nightfall and made sure she had her comm, phone and everything to reach them before letting her leave.
He would have asked Luna to accompany her, but the cat was too was out too: apparently Nedzu had managed to rope her into helping him with some secret plan of his in exchange for the help he was providing for the Senshi.
So, just as it was near the beginning, the only ones in the room were All Might, Midoriya and Usagi, the latter two more curious than worried, a feeling the man hated to be the one to break after the recent stress the kids went through.
Nevertheless, he had to do it. He sat in front of them, head low and hands steepled in front of him.
«I neglected some parts of the story of One for All. I told myself you weren't ready for it, but it was probably me the one who wasn't» Toshinori admitted, not quite managing to look at them «When I told you about All For One, I said there is evidence he's still around. Now we are almost certain the noumus are his doing»
«But... how?»
This was the easy question to answer to: «The investigations leave few doubts, knowing that monster. Multiple quirks in single individuals, I know only one way for it to happen. All For One was known for manipulating society by taking and giving quirks. This is a new weapon he had hidden until now. The upside, if we can call it such, is that once they have no orders, they turn inert and easy to keep contained. The police are still investigating on the rest, but this is what we know so far»
Midoriya's blood froze at the thought «So you think there are more? Like... mass-produced?»
«I wouldn't put it past him, although I have no clue how and when did he recover from our fight enough to start with this»
Usagi was looking at her hands «I was thinking... do you think I can fix the noumus like I do with daimons? Change them back to normal?»
«It's a good sentiment to have, my girl, but in truth I don't know. Provided they'd want to, the tests say the DNAs get fused, it's a permanent change the individuals agreed on, most likely. The daimons sound more parasitic, from what we know»
«But we can't know until I try. Isn't it a Hero's job to save people no matter what?»
Despite it all, a fond smile escaped the man's lips «I guess. If and when it'll be possible, we'll talk about that with the police»
Izuku's mind went to Chronia's words, her stance on evil and villains who were to be rescued as much as civilians, sometimes. Maybe the noumus were pawns, maybe Usagi was right and they needed saving too.
«What's more...» All Might reprised, this time staring right at the boy, who tensed, listening.
«I rewatched the footage of the moment you were attacked by the winged noumu. There is no warranty it was planned, but we can't discard the option the League knows about you being my successor and was using the noumu to get you before you become an actual danger to them. You'll need to be especially cautious from now on»
«This means next time you'll have to use the comm, Izukun» Usagi warned, the worry in her features way more evident than in her father's.
«Not only that. You need to refine your spacial awareness, to keep everything in sight and tell different situations that stray from normality with a glance. Pushing you to get exposure in the Sports Festival may have been a mistake on my part» he admitted.
«But I had to I tell the world "I am here!". How do I do that if I can't be seen?»
The man winced. Another of his miscalculations.
Sure, the public still needed a new Symbol of Peace and time wasn't on their side in that, but he wouldn't risk the safety of his kid more than necessary.
«You will, my boy, in due time. Right now our priority is your safety, so you can learn to use One for All at its best. So far, the League knows whenever you use it, you harm yourself. They'll be tempted to underestimate you, and I think it's better this way, for now; it's going to buy you time to grow without them noticing. For the next future, I want you to focus on improving in classes and lay low outside»
He didn't want to mention the chance of a traitor inside Yuuei because the concept was absurd. All Might found more likely some quirk allowed the League to put their hands on schedules and plans, and not that one of the students or teachers could have betrayed them all.
If anything, knowing All For One, he had some trick to find out info from the outside, but he had no idea what that could be.
«This goes for both of you» he added, this time at his daughter «Until you get the Provisional License, no more interventions»
«But papa...»
He put a hand up «I know. It's hard to stay out the fight when you feel you can do something, but it's just for this week, Usagi-shojo. A little longer for Midoriya-shonen, I'm afraid, but take it as a necessary evil»
Usagi and Izuku pouted, the beginning of a fight in both their stances, so he prevented it.
This was possibly the part he was prepared for the least, but the one they needed to understand.
«The previous wielders of One for All... I don't know much about most of them. I know the story of the First, which I told you as it was told me, and what happened to my predecessor»
«You mean Nana-san?» Usagi asked, wide-eyed.
On his side, Izuku alternated his gaze between the two blondes, trying to figure out why they both turned so sad at once, an inkling of understanding making way in him.
Toshinori nodded, ready to rip the band-aid «Shimura Nana. She died when I was in my last year at Yuuei. Passing One for All to me early on had been a leap of faith, a way to change what happened to the quirk in the past. Before me, One for All had been passed in extreme consequences. Most of the previous wielders weren't chosen the way you, my boy, and I had been, I know this much. Also, I am the one who held it longer than anyone and this was probably thanks to my Master»
He paused, trying to find the words to convey at best what he needed. Ultimately, there was only one way to do it, the never-closed wound had to be ripped open, in hopes the sight of it would be a deterrent not to create another in his successor.
«She died to protect me» his voice came out hesitant, soft, full of regret «Pushed me away from a fight against All For One I wasn't ready for, only because he had found out about me being the next wielder. All For One's goal is to erase the legacy of his brother and steal the quirk. That's why it's imperative that you lay low, for now, and stay out his reach»
It took a moment for Izuku to wrap his mind about what he just heard. The risk, the worry, it all went backseat at first. All his mind could register was the raw pain behind All Might, laced in his words, as tight at his shaking hands.
But... the rest was frightening as well. He had to preserve the quirk he was given. If he died or got caught, One for All would die with him. It was the only thing that mattered in his mind.
Usagi, shell-shocked as well, had grasped her brooch for the cold comfort of the Silver Crystal with a whole other train of thought. So Izukun was like her, in that he had to take care unexpectedly of something great and ancient the forces of evil wanted.
It was scary. More than that, he had to be overwhelmed, she knew too well she had been when the truth about the Silver Crystal was revealed to her.
And it was big. Bigger than just the people in the room.
«Papa, I can't keep this from the girls. I won't tell them about the quirk, but I think they need to know about the noumus and All For One»
«I knew you'd say that» he replied with a sigh «I ask you to be cautious on what you share. The more people know, the bigger the risk for all parties involved is»
«Then you'll tell them. Or we tell Luna and she can tell them, she's good at this»
Toshinori pondered on that for a long moment, then: «Midoriya-shonen, this concerns you over anyone else. What do you think?»
The boy pinched his lip «The Sailor Senshi are powerful and capable but even with that there's the chance All For One may get to them individually, provided he finds out who they are and that they are connected to Usagi-san and All Might, but if he's using the League of Villains it also means he is unable to act directly, maybe, or is he waiting for something to happen? in which case we can't possibly know what may it be, also if he never sought directly for me and the League is up against All Might only maybe All For One doesn't know yet One for All was passed already, or doesn't know it was passed to me, at the same time he may have no ill intentions towards Usagi-san because he doesn't know she's Sailor Moon and her official quirk is a weak type and he doesn't think she may be a hindrance to him, but if all my reasoning was wrong and we lower our guard too much and don't keep ready to prevent any possible threat...» he stopped, surprised that neither his mentor nor Usagi had interrupted his reasoning «I-it's probably better to be more cautious and tell them to be on guard than hope All For One won't attack» he concluded.
«I think we agree on that, then. I'll speak with Luna first, we'll decide the rest after»
Izuku stood, fist in front of him and eyes steady «All Might. I won't allow anything to happen to One for All. I'll do everything I can to protect it» he promised.
«My boy, that's not what I'm worried for. Not only, at least» the man shook his head «I know you're driven and you're getting stronger and more capable every day...»
«He's scared for your life» Usagi completed «That All For One could kill you. He, or the League or other Villains. Because he cares for you» she concluded softly, with an understanding that wasn't there a few days prior.
Toshinori smiled back at her and nodded. He could see in his successor's eyes, in the way the tears had started to swell up and lips trembled, he wanted, desperately, to believe it but didn't. Couldn't.
That shouldn't be present when told a person cares for you, but were there, in Izuku's stutter, the falter of his stance, the way he looked down.
«I didn't... I'm not...»
Didn't do enough yet. Wasn't good enough. To receive that kind of affection, to get the praise, the care.
The kid felt his green curls getting ruffled.
«Of course I care for you, my boy, and it has nothing to do with your quirk. Don't doubt that for a moment»
His whole life, only his mom really cared for him. This was... weird. And foreign. And unexpected.
His childhood Hero cared for him. Not that he didn't hope so, or he didn't see all that time spent together as special, but he thought it was a one-way thing, that it was the only one who felt a bit like... a bit...
He felt himself hugged from the side, that had to be Usagi-san.
It felt warm, safe, happy. Felt...
Like family?
«We care a whole lot for you, okay?» she said from his side, piercing through the darkness that fogged him «We'll get through that together»
He nodded, met the eyes of his mentor who was every day more his father figure - even if he'd never say it out loud - and smiled a bit.
Together sounded nice.
Notes:
With this long chapter, we conclude the Hosu arc. Yay me! But the consequences will drag on for a long time, as you can imagine.
To be honest, I incurred in a huge writer's block, I have the first draft of some chapters half-written out already but I can't seem to move forward, which means I don't know when the next updates of this fic will be, perhaps once a month. To compensate, since I already finished writing it, I'll publish the remaining chapters of Heroes of SilMil every two weeks.
Stay safe!