AN: I don't own MHA

Should I care?

It was an average day for All Might. A rescue here, helping an old lady cross the road there. A typical day for the number 1 hero. In fact, this was his 30th case of the day.

"Move and the woman gets it," the villain hissed while choke holding his hostage. The woman cried to help while struggling against the villain's grip. Not too much since there was a pointed blade at her neck. It was shaped like an arrow that was attached to others like it like a chain. It connected to the villain like a snake tail.

It was your average case. Some crooks thought they could rob a jewellery store since they're tough. What they didn't expect was the symbol of pace coming. They did what they could to get some hostages for leeway. That was what led to the current standoff. 5 villains in separate parts of the store holding their hostages' lives. May they be civilians or staff. The ringleader was the arrow snake tail man who was currently faced with the hero himself.

All Might was of course unfazed by the display. He has seen it too many times. In fact, he was in a similar position this morning. He finished that in under 5 minutes. He was sure he could do it again in less time. "You'll never get away with this villain!" He declared proudly.

The police blocking the outer exits cheered in unison. They were getting the rare treat of seeing their number 1 hero work in person. They weren't alone in that since the rabid media and civilians were there right behind them. Compared to the police line, they were like a stadium cheering for their favourite team. Heckling the villains and yelling how amazing All Might was. Just an ordinary day.

Then things took a slight turn. The crowds' cheers lessened when someone carelessly pushing past them. Some of the more dominant members of the crowd were forcefully moved. Yelling complains. They reached the police line and the officers had to stop them. That was until they showed them a card. It was thanks to the card they were forced to give way.

Calmly, the man walked into the tense situation. Eyes forward on the back of their target. What a large and annoying target it was. Those who spotted the man watched in confusion as they made their way to the number 1 hero.

All Might felt a jab at his side. It didn't hurt as much as it was surprising. From the corner of his eyes, he meant a familiar face. "Darewell? What are you doing here?"

Arata clicked his tongue at the dumb question. "You're late," he hissed. It confused the hero. It was easy to tell they had no idea what they were talking about. So, he had to make it very clear without blowing the fact that their precious number one has a kid now. That is not public information, and it will remain that way. 'You promised Tenko you'd help him train.' He yelled in the hero's mind. The child was mildly self-conscious around his buff boyfriend. They were a white stick compared to them. So, they wanted some help to gain some muscle. Who better to ask than the buffest man in the country?

With one look at the clock, he remembered the promise. While he wasn't much of a teacher, he was more than happy to help his adopted son with basic training tomorrow… which was now today. How could he forget? "It must have slipped my mind."

"A lot of things slip past you." Arata groaned as he started to push the hero to the exit with his quirk. "Now come on"

The shock and guilt soon faded, as All Might stood his ground. Digging his heels at the carpeted floors, he glared back at the man trying to take him out. "I can't just leave. I'm in the middle of something."

"Unnecessary," Arata spat back. He turned to face the gang of would-be villains. He flinched at his unblinking gaze. It wasn't tense but it was haunting. How the man would stare at each of them carefully. One by one. Reading their every emotion. All to make one conclusion. "Even the police can handle these lot. There's no need for you to waste your time."

The ringleader of the group took offence to that. Roughly, he squeezed the hostage in their arms closer to them. Making them scream and their blade tail quirk go ever closer to their neck. "You are looking down on me!" They yelled back. What they didn't realise while they made the threatening show the man somehow made, they made their way right in front of them. Their deep blue eyes stabbed into his own in a wide eye stare.

Silently, Arata listened to the villains' thoughts while they shook under his stare. Nothing changed the original conclusion. "You're afraid," he said surely. "You've never gone this far before. Only use to petty thievery." Their thoughts were all too clear. It was no use to hide behind a false mask when he could hear right through it. Anything could beat this lot if they show just a little force. How dare they waste his boy's time by wasting the fool's time. "All you are is false bravado. You don't Have the guts to go further."

Stab!

Screams rang all around him. Arata's eyes shifted downward. There he saw a distressing sight. The villain's quirk blade tale tip was plunged in his chest. His own blood slowly socked a patch around the embed blade. There was then a click as the tip was detached from the rest of the tail. Keeping it in place. Arata's legs weaken with a sake. He soon fell on his knees.

The villains were heckling the man after he acted so tough. The police and hostages panicked and screamed. Some even growled in rage. No one was louder than the number one hero. His own blue eyes glared at the villain. He cursed himself under breath for not acting faster.

The ringleader villain who brought Arata to his keen smiled smugly in victory. "Not so tough now are you." It was laughable how they grovel at his feet. After all the talk they gave. Who's the real wimp?

"You broke my locket."

"…Huh?"

Arata's hand careful cupped the object of his eye's attention. His precious locket was now loose without a chain to keep it safe around his neck. It snapped when the blade punctured his chest. Helplessly, he to watch it fall and be dirtied by the floor. He held it like a treasure. Wiped away any grim till it shined. He looked up at the villain. "You'll pay for that," he promised as his eyes glowed brightly.

It was at that moment the villain knew he made a grave mistake.

"Here, a replacement for the chain." The previously hostage woman handed her…hero? A simple gold chain to replace the broken one.

Behind her was a pile of villains. Beaten to a deep purple and stripped to their underwear. He could have done far worst. However, given the number of witnesses, humiliation was the saftest. The rest of the hostage staff were either taking to the police or taking pictures of the beaten villains. One of them was kicking the plie. Payback for threating their lives.

Arata accepted the give and quickly looped his locket through it. "Thank you."

The woman couldn't take her eyes off the man while he fiddled with his locket. More so he couldn't stop looking at one area. "Hum… are you ok?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" He followed the woman's eyes to his chest. That blade that was stabbed in him was still there. The deep red patch around it only grew the more he moved. Dripping down his waist. "I suppose that is an issue."

It was then All Might came rushing in a panic. He would have taken on the villains himself had he known this outcome. To be fair that was the plan until they randomly showed up. Staring at the blade, his mind pondered what he should do. "Does it hurt?" he dumbly asked.

"Not really," Arata respond calmly as he poked at the blade accidentally pushing it deeper into him. It made anyone who was watching scream, but his own expression never changed. He looked like it was a mild inconvenience. Not that he got stabbed.

"At least take it out…" In his panic, All Might tried to reach out and take out the blade himself. He was met with a firm slap.

"First aid 101. If the subject is stabbed by any object. Leave it in the body until proper medical care is available. Taking it out would increase the blood loss." Arata snapped back at the number one hero. He then touched the embedded blade. Making sure his fingers were firmly on it. "Observe." He then yanked it out. Making the hole it made bleed harder. The crowd thought he was crazy. Yelling at him why if he knew it was a bad idea. Their point was only increased when they didn't react. Even a flinch of pain or concern couldn't be found on their face or body language. He looked bored. As if he had seen this too many times. Or felt too many times. "You're all so loud. The wound isn't even that deep, and police are required to carry first aid kits for emergencies."

As if on cue a young officer came rushing in with a med kit. Arata took in with his quirk making it glow. That wasn't the only thing that was glowing. His upper clothing glowed as well. Striping, until his torso was bare. There were choir gasps from those around him. He wasn't sure if it was his scarred body that shocked them, striping or the bandages from the med kit wrapping themselves tightly around his wound. The way they moved and glowed was almost magical.

Soon the wound was covered. Any excess was returned to its case and Arata dressed back up. Sure, there was a bloody stain, but that wasn't going to bother him. He straightened his grey-blue blazer and grabbed a police report sheet and quickly dotted through it. At least he had done his quota for the day. Once the report was done, he grabbed the hero and dragged him out of the store. "Now let's go we've wasted enough time as it is."

Soon the hero was forced outdoor and past with police lines. They were bombarded with flashes of light, cheering crowds with questions after questions. Begging. No. Demanding some sort of statement. All Might was used to these types of scenes. They appeared everywhere they go. So, he put on his usual smile and waved to the adoring crowd. The questions were the typical ones. How do you feel about the last rescue? Personal details. Although one new question rose to demand. Who was the stranger behind him?

Arata hid his face behind the hero's body. The flashing lights weren't anything he was comfortable with. It made him wheeze and their overlapping voices were giving him a bigger headache than his quirk. The fact they were calling out for his name damped his mood further. His eyes flared up encasing the hero in light. Then the two started flying far from the excitable masses.

Hidden in a backstreet alley, Arata forcefully put All Might in some casual streetwear. Anything but his loud hero uniform. It's a walking billboard. Hey, look I'm a hero. Look at my fancy spandex and muscles. It all had to go. Replaced with a tank top, dark cargo pants and an oversize coat to hide his recognisable from. It was hard to find one. Even this oversized coat was being scratched with screaming seams. The hero complained about the tightness but had to deal with it. Then There was just one thing left to complete the transformation.

Using a cloth, Arata rubbed down the hero's head aggressively. The hero felt like his hair were being pulled in all directions. The force had the hero's hair drop to its natural form. Puff up like a dandelion's mane. "Must you always go to the rescue in such a hurry?" Arata complained.

All Might had to bite back his growls as he felt some strands of his hair got torn from their roots. He still could say some words. "But of course! Ouch. I can never ignore a person in nee-eeed…ahh…what's more important! Then helping some oneee…" Having enough of his head being abused, the hero grabbed the other's wrist and pulled them in front of him. "Can you stop that!"

Clicking his tongue, Arata flicked the hero's hands away. What was more important? He was offended they'd even think of such a question. "My son. Who somehow is your son," he exclaimed. He couldn't believe he had to spell out such an obvious thing. As a parent shouldn't your children be a high priority. He doesn't know his own parents, so he couldn't completely relate, but after being with Enji and the boys. He could at least understand. Even his natural instincts put Tenko on top of his to-do list. Doing whatever his child needed. Isn't that basic parenting? "Honestly, do you even care?"

"I care!"

"Then you shouldn't have been late."

The hero rolled his eyes. This isn't the first time he and Arata clashed. If history is anything to go by, it won't be the last. They could never to meet eye to eye. Not even in the middle. It was his way or their way. Which school Tenko would go to? Who gets him this weekend? What coloured shirt suited him better? It was all so tiring. Especially when it dawned on him, he still knew little to nothing personally about the man. Only sippets information of from his boy of the times they spent together. They liked movies. Apparently, they had a cupboard filled with old DVDs and had regular movie nights. They drink tea and instant ramen daily. Mainly because they couldn't cook to save their lives. Tenko complained about taking over the kitchen on more than one occasion. Watching Arata nearly burn the kitchen was exhausting.

However today he learned something new on his own. The way the police allowed the man easy access to a villain confrontation. Even wrote out a report. His ears caught the word 'quota' from their mouths. It could only mean one thing. "You're a hero?" He asked and only received a bored nod like the man fixed his hair. Apparently, they were an underground hero so it's natural for them to be off the grid. It was hard to get his head around. The man doesn't act like a normal hero. "Then you should know our jobs are important. People lives could be on the line."

"Why should I care?" He said heartlessly. The statement they made was an annoying one. He had heard it so often from wide eye youths. To protect and save anyone that needed them. That is what a true hero would do. If that's what they want to believe, then fine. He won't fight them on the matter. However, he was no true hero. "Are they important to me? Are they connected to the ones important to me? Will their lives affect my own? If the answer is no, then why should it matter if I save them or not?"

"Then why be a hero?" All Might couldn't say he was surprised by the response, but it made the fact that he had a hero's license that more confusing.

"It's the only thing a can do," Arata said bitterly. He heard that question too many times to count and his answer never changed. It was what he was trained to do as far as he could remember. Obey, follow the rules of the hero, learn the book heart, stress your quirks abilities, he even had this premade script he forced memorise if he ever interacted with a civilian. He didn't have a choice, but to memorize It all they're burned into his memory.

"I have no other skill. All my knowledge and talents can only be put to use in two ways. On the field and in the classroom." There's always assassination too, but his Sai would be rolling in their graves. "Besides this piece of plastic has its usages," he explained while waving the piece of plastic in his hand.

It had little personal meaning to him. Neither pride nor hatred. It's just a tool he took advantage of. "They can't arrest me if my quirk flares up, and I'm eligible to teach heroics. It pays more than regular teaching. As long as I keep to my quota the commission will allow me to keep it pay me the minimum amount. Not a lot compared to you, but It was enough to sustain us…" he soon realised the mistake he made.

All Might watched as Arata's almost high and mighty demeanour was defeated. After all, there was no longer an 'us' in his life. Or at least not in the way of the past.

"It's enough to pay Albert's medical bills." Arata corrected. He then brought a hand to his forehead. Feeling a headache coming on from this increasingly pointless conversation. "It's annoying. Sometimes painful." His other hand clenched tightly on his locket. Its metal calmed the discord in his heart as he was reminded why he bothers keeping the title of hero. It wasn't because he enjoyed it. The cheering crowds, the achievement won in villain battles, the thrill of a rescue or fight that was meaningless to him. "But if it benefits them. A little pain and playing hero every once and awhile are a small price to pay." To others, it's a badge of honour. In reality, it's just another job title. One he will use for the betterment of his family.

"The world is bigger than that." All Might tried to argue. Ever since he was young, he hated how powerless he was as a quirkless child. The world was still chaotic back then. Villains ravage the streets daily. Causing destruction in their wake. That's why he always admired heroes like his mentor. How they would come in a save the day with a smile. The relief and joy he felt whenever one came. He wanted to invoke that feeling on a grander scale. It's why he became All Might. "There are so many people out there. They need us. A hero to save them and tell them it's all ok. You can't just ignore them like their lives don't matter," he yelled back with a passion in his voice. Saving others. Making them feel safe. Making them smile. That is a trait all heroes should have. "If we have the power to help them. Save them. Then shouldn't we use?"

There was a pause. A thick silence suffocated the air. It weighed them both like a boulder on their backs. Yet, neither would bow to the other. Once again, their eyes couldn't meet.

Huffing, Arata turned away from the hero. Unable to take their naive drabble anymore. "If that's what you wish to do with yours then do what you want. I won't force you to think differently," he spat. Then he threw a glare at the hero. It chilled them to their core. "But I get to choose what to do with mine. Don't expect me to follow you."

AN: well, looks like this will be my last event of the year. Which isn't so bad considering…you'll find out next time. Hope you all don't mind but before moving forward I thought it was best to make an event on All Might's and Arata's current status as well as showcase fully what Arata is like without the Sai mask the basis of people he cares for.

S43M1 – Enji's got it covered. It's going to be pricy and a hell of lot of paperwork but can be done. As for Shoto I can definably see him being sweet and clingy. Not much of a cry-baby. He does have a powerful quirk, so he won't be bullied like Izuku was. And may keep some of his original traits. But that's not for a long time. this season isn't over anytime soon so hope you're ready for a ride.

As for that spin off not sure. This piece still as a long way to go and I might not have the energy for it by the end. Same goes for the U.A sequel. I've said this before in the past, but my plan was to end this before Izuku could go to U.A. It will still have an ending but there will be an open for a sequel. I just don't know If I have the power to do it. Then again that spin off should be rather short so it might be a nice break. We'll see how I feel after this season is done.

I have a feeling there will be many moments people will disagree with my decisions (the addition of Arata and his spotlight is one of them) and that's completely fair. I never expect people to like everything I do, but that won't stop me from having fun creating something I feel is fun. I know I'm not the best. Could never fix all my mistakes and some parts feel a little off even to me, it's getting pretty long. But so long as I'm enjoying myself, I'll keep going regardless.