Chapter Three:

"If we tell our children that everyone with a quirk has potential, then we also must consider what message that sends to quirkless children. In the end, your potential isn't measured by an accident of genetics, but rather the quality of your spirit."

As All Might concluded his speech, Yuuto leapt to his feet and applauded his heart out. Next to him, Izuku clapped just as hard, tears streaming down his cheeks. Around them, the rest of the audience rose in a standing ovation.

Toshi-nii had a gift for public speaking. Yuuto had heard this speech before, but he'd never tire of it.

Time to make good on his promise. He touched his nephew's shoulder. "Follow me. We need to catch All Might before he leaves." His older brother had stolen his phone, limiting his methods to contact his friend.

Izuku jittered from foot to foot. "I'm so excited! And scared. What if I start mumbling and accidentally creep him out? What if I fanboy too strong? What if All Might hates me?"

Inko patted her son's shoulder. "Calm down. All Might must meet fans all the time. Nothing you could do would unnerve him. It's not like he's going to brutally crush all your hopes and dreams on your first meeting."

"Right." Izuku took deep breaths. "I think I'm ready." He clutched his hair. "I'm not ready!"

"Everything will be fine." Yuuto decided to take charge. He used his cane to hook his nephew by the collar, then hopped after All Might. Inko followed at a more sedate pace.

Yuuto jumped up and down and waved his hand over the crowd. "Hey! Toshi-nii! Over here!" His cast hit the ground when he landed, and he hissed in pain.

All Might's head jerked around at almost a 180 degree angle. His eyes widened. He shot over in a flash. "Yuuto, what the hell are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere for you! You didn't answer your phone! You weren't in your apartment! What happened to your leg? Are you injured anywhere else? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Yuuto blinked. What had brought this rush of questions on? "I'm fine. I just stubbed my toe very hard."

"All Might is so close," Izuku whispered. One shaking finger reached out to poke the red-blue-and-yellow costume. He stopped himself just in time. "Don't be creepy, don't be creepy!"

"I'll get us a room where we can talk alone," All Might growled in a less-than-friendly way. What had brought this uncharacteristic rage on?

Within minutes, they were absconded in a small room sitting at a folding table. A coffee machine burbled in the corner. Inko stood over it, brewing.

Yuuto said, "This is my nephew, Izuku. I just found out about him, or I would have made you look at all his pictures way before now. Isn't he adorable?"

Izuku kicked him, rather hard. Kids were so easily embarrassed at his age. Yuuto rubbed his shin and continued, "He's a big fan of yours. I might have kinda promised him some autographs and a question and answer session? Please?" He made wide eyes at Toshi-nii. That usually worked.

All Might fired off an autograph and threw it. His eyes remained fixed on Yuuto the whole time. That glare worried Yuuto. What if his nephew started thinking he'd been lying about being friends with All Might?

"All Might looks so fierce." Izuku sighed, apparently unperturbed by the deadly atmosphere.

"Now I've done you a favor, it's your turn." All Might's teeth gleamed in a smile more like a baring of teeth. "I've been investigating the mysterious destruction of Overhaul's mansion."

Yuuto started to develop a bad feeling. "Oh, really?" Of course, he'd never told Toshi-nii about his vigilante activities.

"It turned out to be the work of a notorious vigilante known as the White-Haired Menace. We drew a picture of the suspect based on the testimony of captured yakuza." All Might held up a sketch.

Ugh, why did the yakuza insist on calling him that stupid name? It was supposed to be One for All. Oh, dear, hadn't his mask got knocked off during his final fight with Overhaul? Yuuto squirmed. The picture unfortunately did look a lot like him, even though he was much more handsome. "I've never seen that man before in my life."

"That's you," All Might growled.

"He does look sorta like me. Maybe I have another long-lost relative running around." Yuuto thought that was a great excuse, but All Might only glared at him even harder.

Slowly and deliberately, All Might asked, "Do you know how I felt when I learned you left behind nothing but a large pool of your blood in Overhaul's mansion and your apartment was empty? I thought you might be dead!"

Yuuto winced. "Sorry…uh, I mean, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You've been lying to me for years! You're the White-Haired Menace!"

"Actually, it's One for All."

"So you admit it."

Yuuto sniffed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm an ordinary, sickly citizen." He coughed pitifully. "As a hero connoisseur, I simply couldn't let you use the wrong name. Especially not such a silly one."

Izuku stared at him. "Uncle Yuuto, you're that guy who cut the organized crime in half in six years? Whoa. I'm a big fan. In fact, the White-Haired Menace is my favorite vigilante."

Yuuto smiled broadly. "Yep, that's me! To be clear, though, it's One for All. That other name sounds like something my big brother would scream at me when he was annoyed."

Turning to All Might, Izuku said, "I got him to admit it. Is that worth signing my hoodie? Maybe…even a hug?"

Yuuto's smile froze. So Izuku was happy to sell out both his father and his uncle for All Might. Somehow that had been much more funny when it had been happening to Hisashi.

"Anything you'd like, young boy. Just as soon as I'm done here." All Might's intense glare didn't waver off Yuuto.

"Yes!" Izuku pumped a fist.

All Might hissed, "The yakuza prisoners said they saw some tall man with a skull mask carry you out of there! I was terrified. As soon as I finished this panel, I was planning to go straight back to searching the city for you. I haven't slept since you went missing!"

Uh-oh. Toshi-nii sounded very, very angry. This might not be easy to get out of. Yuuto rubbed his neck. "I'm sorry I worried you. In my defense, I didn't think you'd ever find out about that."

"Exactly! No one would have ever known what happened to you or that you needed help!" All Might slammed his hands down on the table.

Izuku sighed. "All Might looks so cool when he's angry."

At least one of them was having fun. The force of Toshinori's glare had Yuuto sweating buckets.

All Might continued, "This is why vigilantism is too dangerous! Especially for someone who tries to work entirely alone and even more for someone with your medical condition!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuuto grumbled, starting to feel defensive. Calling him weak because of his illness was an old sore spot.

"Don't play dumb again. I've seen you cough up blood until you collapse. What if that happened while you were out fighting alone? I bet it already has! You're lucky to still be alive!" All Might clutched at his tufts of hair. "Working in a team could potentially compensate for your condition. It's simply not realistic or acceptable for you to continue to act so recklessly. I'm putting a stop to this."

Ugh, he sounded just like Hisashi. Yuuto's guilt started to turn into anger. He didn't need another overprotective older brother figure in his life, reminding him of all his physical limitations and using them as an excuse to put him down. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a vigilante."

All Might rubbed his forehead. "Yuuto…I'm trying to help you."

Yuuto sneered. "Help the authorities lock me up, more like."

"How could you think that?" Toshinori's eyes widened with hurt. "Don't you trust me?"

Hisashi had asked Yuuto that question many times—right before locking him up. Even though Yuuto knew that Toshi-nii was different, he couldn't stop his old anger from resurging. "You can't tell me what to do! Stop trying to act like you're my big brother—"

"I've heard enough." Inko slammed the coffee cups down on the table. "You, stop talking and start listening before you say something you don't mean and will later regret." She pointed a finger at Yuuto.

Under the force of those angry motherly eyes, Yuuto's mouth snapped shut.

Inko crossed her arms. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be a parent? To spend all your time and energy raising and nurturing a child with love, only to receive a phone call saying they broke all their bones doing something stupid?"

"No, big sis," Yuuto mumbled.

Izuku whispered, "I keep telling her that I only broke my arm once and it was vitally important that I stop that mugging. The other times I just got away with bruises."

Inko waved her arms. "Try to put yourself into All Might's shoes! You got yourself kidnapped and you didn't even bother to call him after you escaped. For shame. Clearly this poor man has been out of his mind with worry."

"But I didn't even know that he knew that I'd been kidnapped—"

Inko glared Yuuto into silence. "Then maybe in the future you should keep someone posted before you head off on dangerous missions. From now on, I expect you contact All Might at regular intervals and let him know whenever you've safely returned from vigilante activity. No excuses."

"Yes, big sis," Yuuto mumbled.

"You're also to eat all your vegetables at dinner and go to bed by 10:00 P.M."

"Yes, big sis."

Inko blinked, seeming to remember herself. "I'm sorry, you can ignore that last one. It just popped out." She flushed. "I'm sorry for interfering like that. Please, continue." She sat down.

"No, that was amazing," All Might said.

Looking at her hands, Inko said, "I was trying to say that clearly All Might didn't mean to insult you. He was only worried about your safety, entirely justifiably seeing how you broke your leg and got yourself kidnapped."

"Yes, exactly." All Might nodded. "I wasn't trying to call you incapable—far from it. You went in alone in a situation where the heroes would have sent an entire team. It speaks well of your skills that you made it out alive, but you won't always be so lucky. I don't want you to quit, I only want you to accept help and official support. I've enrolled you in a program that converts vigilantes into professional heroes."

"But I don't want to be a professional hero," Yuuto protested. "I don't like rules. I just want to help people."

Using his dad voice, All Might said, "I wasn't offering you a choice. The government has a program where vigilantes with have exceptionally metritis deeds are put into a training class and then given hero licenses. Since you defeated Overhaul, you more than qualify. I've already signed you up."

"I keep telling you, I like being a vigilante."

"Don't you want to set a good example for your adorable nephew?"

"I am setting a good example," Yuuto said. "Vigilantes are awesome."

Izuku nodded. "Yes, vigilantes are awesome. By the way, even though I tricked you before, I wasn't lying about being your fan."

"Seriously? I'm so touched! Thank you!" Yuuto rubbed his hair and wondered if it would sound egotistical if he offered an autograph. Probably, yes.

All Might growled, "That's called setting a bad example! Ma'am, how do you feel about this?"

Inko shrugged. "Given what my husband does for a living, a vigilante would be a step up for my son."

All Might clearly hadn't expected this answer. He blinked.

Yuuto seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Toshi-nii, I promised Izuku that you'd sign more things for him. He also wants to ask some questions about your equipment." He batted his eyes in an adorable way that had always been successful at getting him out of trouble with All Might in the past.

"If you're not too busy," Izuku said, hitting All Might with an even more adorable gaze.

The effect was instantaneous. All Might's face softened. "I'd be more than happy to."

Izuku whipped out a notebook. "I noticed a few years ago, you stopped using your Air Pressure Shooting Torso Armor. I'm guessing it turned out to be too bulky to be worth the loss in mobility?"

"You noticed that? I'm impressed." All Might blinked. "You're exactly right. It broke during several fights, too."

"Have you ever looked into the latest armor technology in Taiwan? They're using lasers instead of air. They've gotten the equipment quite lightweight, though it's still in the trail stage."

"No, I hadn't heard about that. It sounds very useful. I should write this down. But I don't have any paper on me…" All Might looked around.

"I'm happy to help." Izuku jotted some information down, then ripped of the paper and handed it over. "While we're on the subject, I wanted to talk about your boots. They're fairly normal boots—which gave me some ideas for enhancements. Would you mind looking?"

All Might flipped through the notebook. "These sticky heels look so useful! You can really get them down to less than a centimeter of thickness?"

"Based on my calculations…yes? I hope?"

"This looks amazing! Young Midoriya, you're a genius."

Izuku flushed bright red. "S-surely you're exaggerating. These are just my scribblings."

"Then I'd love to see what you could do with a proper laboratory. I'm going to put you in touch with someone named David Shield."

While the two of them discussed this, an elderly woman with a white coat and pink boots entered the room. "Are you Yuuto Shigaraki?" Her eyes fell on him. "All Might asked me to come heal you."

"Really? He didn't need to go so far. It's only a broken leg." Yuuto rubbed the back of his neck.

"Stop fussing and get over here." Recovery Girl tapped her foot. "I'm speaking at a panel in ten minutes."

One kiss later, Yuuto's leg had been healed. He unrolled his pants leg and did a few flexes. Meanwhile, All Might and Izuku continued talking while Inko drank coffee.

Over the table, Inko and Yuuto's eyes locked. She smiled, and he smiled back. They shared the same thought: neither wanted to interrupt while Izuku was having so much fun. Not like they were in any rush.

Eventually, All Might said, "I promised Vlad to attend his talk on teaching heroics, assuming I could find Yuuto in time. I have to go." He truly sounded reluctant. "You have my phone number, right?"

"Of course," Izuku whispered, clutching the paper like it contained a priceless treasure.

"I'm grateful for your suggestions." Impulsively, All Might lifted Izuku off his feet into a hug.

Izuku's eyes rolled back into his head with happiness. When he was set down, he swayed back and forth. The whites of his eyes had consumed the irises. He looked like he might have passed out while still standing up.

On his way out the door, All Might whispered to Yuuto, "Nice evasion tactic, but we're still going to talk later about how you stormed Overhaul's mansion alone."

Yuuto crossed his arms. "I'm not going to show up for whatever training program you signed me up for against my will. I refuse to become a professional hero."

"Oh, you don't need to join voluntarily." All Might smiled in a much more malicious way than his usual heroic grin. "The program finds you."

Izuku's first Hero Convention had been beyond his wildest dreams. All Might had hugged him! He was never showering ever again. He stared after his favorite hero's blue cape as it vanished into the crowd, mobbed by more people taking pictures.

All Might's appearance had caused a frenzy. The surging fans pushed Izuku away from his mother and uncle. He found a spot against the wall to avoid the rush.

Endeavor shoved his way through the crowd, the light gleaming off his silver gauntlets. He waved a newspaper. "All Might! Enough is enough! Fight me!"

All Might turned around. "What is it this time, Enji?" he asked wearily.

Endeavor pointed at the headline reading: All Might: The Rightful Number One Hero. "Stop playing innocent! The article even quotes you!"

"They asked me about corruption in the Hero Public Safety Commission, so I answered honestly. I've never once questioned your title as number one hero." All Might rubbed his forehead. "The title is simply clickbait. The article discusses legitimate problems with interference from the commission. Making a scene in public will only reflect poorly on you—"

Endeavor burned the newspaper to ashes. People gasped and leapt backwards. He bellowed, "Fight me!"

All Might said, "I already did. You swore that if I let you have the public duel you wanted so badly, then you'd stop bothering me."

"That time doesn't count."

"I'm late for my next appointment." All Might's professional smile looked strained. "We can talk more afterward, perhaps in a more private location?" He turned away.

Endeavor chased after him, bellowing, "You're afraid to fight me! Coward! Get back here!"

A boy with half-red, half-white hair covered his face with his hands. "Someone, kill me now," he whispered.

He sounded worryingly sincere about it. Izuku cleared his throat. "Are you all right?"

The boy looked up, revealing a scar over his left eye. "Not really, no. I'm Shouto Todoroki, and that's my father over there, doing everything in his power to ruin this convention for me."

Izuku winced. "I know a thing or two about being embarrassed by fathers." His was prone to being effusively affectionate in public. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Shouto blinked. "I'm not sure if I do or not." He tilted his head, considering. "But I'd like to tell someone in detail about why my father is an idiot."

"Uh-huh." Izuku nodded sympathetically.

"All Might is a huge sore spot for him. People keep saying that Endeavor is only Number One Hero because the Hero Public Safety Commission rigged the rankings to stop someone quirkless from making the top. Honestly, they're probably right. It gave my dad a huge inferiority complex. A few years ago he challenged All Might to a public duel and wore him down until he agreed. Except my father lost—and he only got worse afterward. That was when he started drinking. I'm not allowed to talk about his drinking in public, but right now, I'm so angry I don't care." Shouto was pokerfaced for someone who proclaimed himself to be angry, but glimpses of it showed in his clenched fists and tense shoulders. Little bits of ice rose off the white side of his hair and fire off the red locks. "Huh, it appears I did want to talk about it. I feel a bit better now. Thank you."

"I'm happy to help. That's an amazingly cool quirk you have, by the way."

"What? Oh." Shouto batted at his hair and the flames subsided. "I hate it."

"But there's so much you could do with both fire and ice powers! Consider the rescue potential. You could charge into burning buildings while using your ice to put down the flames—" Izuku realized he was mumbling and stopped himself.

Shouto sank down further on the wall, his shoulders hunched. "Fire is my father's quirk. I hate the part of me that's like him. I don't want to be explosive and full of rage like the cliché of fire abilities. Whatever quirk you have, I'd be happy to trade for it."

Izuku said, "I'm quirkless."

"Oh." The blush started at Shouto's neck and spread all the way up his face. "I'm so sorry."

"No need to be. I'm fine with it. Besides, maybe I was out of line first for telling you how to feel about your quirk. It's just—" Izuku hesitated, not wanting to say this wrong. "Your quirk is part of you. It makes me sad to see you hating a part of yourself. A lot of people have tried to make me feel bad about being quirkless over the years, but I always had All Might's example to prove they were wrong. I'm sorry your dad couldn't be that for you, but maybe you can show the world that not everyone with a fire quirk is out of control like him. Then you can be the example for some other kid who doesn't like his quirk."

"I kinda like that idea. Being a different sort of fire hero than my dad." Shouto bit his lip. "You've given me a lot to think about. Thank you."

Izuku smiled. "I'm glad I didn't overstep."

"Here's my phone number." Shouto scribbled on a piece of paper and held it out. "What's yours?"

Izuku stared, too surprised to respond.

"Didn't we just become friends?" Shouto sounded confused. His blush started to return. "Did I skip a level in friendship?"

"No, not at all!" Izuku found himself flushing, too. "I'd be super-happy to have a new friend. Right now, all I have is an online friend and a childhood friend who might or might not think of me as a friend back. Argh! Please forgot that I said that! Yes, you can have my phone number."

He wrote it down and held out the paper, too embarrassed to meet the other boy's eyes.

Shouto took the paper. "That's okay, I have no friends at all. People think I'm weird."

"Ha-ha! They think I'm weird, too!" Izuku blushed even harder and wished he hadn't said that out loud.

Both Izuku and Shouto backed away from each other, trying not to look at each other's red faces.

Yet as Izuku returned to looking for his mother and uncle, he felt a warm feeling bubbling under his chest. A new friend. That alone made this whole trip worth it.

"Izuku! Over here!" Inko waved over the crowd, Yuuto at her side. "There you are. Didn't you get my text?"

Izuku glanced down at his phone. "I didn't hear it. Sorry, the crowd was noisy and I was talking to a new friend." He couldn't keep the note of pride from his voice.

"I'm just glad to have found you," Inko said. "Where would you like to go next?"

Izuku took out the schedule. "There's nothing in particular I want to see going on at the moment. How about we visit the Artists' Alley?"

"Great idea. That's one of my favorites." Uncle Yuuto smiled. "Except I don't have my wallet with me…" He drooped.

"And my credit card will be tracked. Fortunately, I raided the bedroom safe." Inko pulled out a wallet stuffed with bills. "Anything you want is on my husband."

"Oh, I couldn't."

"I insist. Don't you think he owes you compensation after what he's done? Starts with V and ends in A-U-L-T?"

"When you put it like that…" Yuuto's smile widened. "I'm going to get all the stuff I can't usually afford!"

"Make sure you tip generously, too."

"People don't normally tip the artists…"

"Do it anyway." Inko's grin got even more malicious.

Dad must have really pissed Mom off this time. Izuku wondered if maybe he should intervene on his father's behalf. On the other hand, he'd started to form some suspicions about what his father might have done based on the conversation with All Might, so he suspected Dad deserved it.

A squeak drew Izuku's attention. It was a small sound, but the fear in it cut across the chatter of the convention. His head jerked around.

Two college-age youths had backed a Midnight cosplayer into the corner. One of them flicked the garters on her legs.

Izuku darted around people in the crowd. He grabbed the older boy by the back of the shirt and yanked him away from the girl. "Stop. She doesn't like that."

The girl nodded and whimpered.

The second youth shoved Izuku's hand off. "What the hell is your problem, kid? If she didn't want the attention, she wouldn't be dressed like that."

Izuku's eyes narrowed. "That's an unacceptable thing to say. Leave immediately or we'll report you and get you thrown out—" He realized the girl had run off. "I recorded your sexual harassment and I'll use the video as proof." This was a bluff to get them to leave.

The first boy looked scared, but an angry kind of scared. "Give me your phone."

Izuku backed away. "No."

The older boy swung his fist.

In a flash, Yuuto appeared between them, blocking the punch. His usual good humor had dropped off his face, leaving only a hard rage. "Why don't you pick a fight with someone closer to your own age?"

As the boy's friend lunged at him, Yuuto easily kicked him into the wall. He twisted his grip. The first boy cried out in pain and dropped to his knees. "Help! He attacked us for no reason!" he cried.

"That's enough." Inko marched over. "Aren't the two of you ashamed of how you're behaving? What would your mothers think?"

The power of Mom in her voice was so strong that both boys quieted.

"I expect you to leave immediately and think about how you acted." Inko glared. "Also, when a tall, white-haired man tracks you down—and he will find you, sooner or later—you can ask him for any compensation money for your injuries. Don't forget to tell him that if he kills you, he'll never stop sleeping on the couch."

"K-kills us? Is that a joke?" one boy whimpered.

Inko raised an eyebrow. "I suggest you remember the message."

Nearly sobbing, they both fled.

Yuuto scuffed his foot on the ground. "Uh, sorry, big sister."

"Don't be. You did nothing wrong." Inko kissed the top of Izuku's head. "I'm proud of you, sweetie."

"I agree! Quite the little hero!" The real Midnight, Nemuri Kayama in flesh, stood with her hands on her hips and a whip on her belt. The cosplayer peeked out from behind her. Midnight patted her head. "My fan came to tell me that you needed help, but I see you had the situation under control." She grinned broadly. "I'm truly grateful you saved one of my fans. If you're interested in applying for U.A., then I'd like to talk to you about a possible recommendation."

Izuku turned bright red. He'd been blushing so much today his face felt like a frying pan. "I-I'd be honored, but, uh, I'm quirkless, does that make a difference?"

"Only because All Might would probably recommend you before I had the chance." Midnight laughed. She tossed him an autograph, which had a kiss mark and her phone number in the corner. "No promises, because I'd have to put you through a few tests first, but let's talk after the convention." She sashayed off.

Bursting into tears, Inko wrapped her arms around Izuku. "I'm so proud of you! My little hero!"

Izuku wasn't almost overwhelmed with happiness. Meeting All Might, a new friend, and now a possible recommendation to U.A.? It felt too good to be true.

A nagging voice in the back of his head reminded him of the catch: his father would never let him attend U.A. or become a hero. His father, who his mother was clearly running away from. Who did something more illegal than vigilantism. Izuku had a lot of suspicions he didn't want to think too hard about because he feared the destruction of his family and his entire life lay at the end of that road. Just let him enjoy this one Hero Convention. Then he'd face the truth.

Izuku blinked back the sympathetic tears from his eyes and smiled, a sincere grin. "Shall we head to the Artists' Alley?"

OMAKE TIME!

Omake: Inko is the Family Boss

Hisashi: Ha-ha, you're letting my wife boss you around? She even gave you a bedtime? This is hilarious!

Yuuto: I don't want to hear that from you, mister "gotta do what my wife says if I ever want to get off the couch."

Hisashi: …

#

Omake: Izuku is the Toast of the Panelists' Green Lounge

Thirteen: Did you notice what intelligent questions that green-haired kid asked at my panel? He's a natural analyst. Is anyone recommending him for U.A. yet?

The Fly: He actually recognized me and asked for my autograph. No one ever recognizes me! He complimented me on how well I'd developed my quirk for combat and I nearly started crying.

Selkie: That's Izuku Midoriya. He likes to analyze hero fights…and sometimes watch them from a dangerously close distance. A brilliant mind, though.

Mick: I'm just a sidekick but he asked for a picture with me. It made this whole convention worth it.

Sirius: I just want to protect that smile of his no matter what.

#

Omake: Hisashi and All Might Get Along Weirdly Well In This AU Too

Yuuto: Safety? Rules? Ugh, you sound like my big brother.

All Might: Then your brother is right.

Hisashi: Why do I just feel like the universe screamed in agony, unable to bear the contradiction?