Learning to Trust
"Teamwork is a strategic decision."
一Patric Lencioni
Chapter 21: Strategy
There was something unnerving about waiting in the principal's office. It didn't really matter who you were, how old you were, or if you were a teacher or student. It didn't matter if you knew一or at least were fairly certain一that you had done nothing to warrant chastisement. It was particularly stressful when you didn't know why you'd been called there in the first place, and the principal was a seemingly disinterested chimera who would say no more than, "Let's wait for everyone, shall we?" without even looking up from his computer.
That was the position Kayama found herself currently in. She had no idea why she was there or who else they were waiting for. She only knew that she had received a message delivered during her last class of the day stating that she was requested in Principal Nezu's office at four o'clock to discuss something important. It was ten to four. She crossed her arms, hoping that whoever they were waiting for would be early.
Principal Nezu seemed to have no such stress. He happily worked away at his computer, humming some monotonous little tune that Kayama was certain was designed to drive her crazy.
Finally, unable to just sit anymore, she hopped to her feet and began wandering quietly around the office, staring at the pictures on his wall, but really only half paying attention. Most were from past UA Festivals. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to which pictures he had kept, although knowing Nezu, there was a pattern. Several were older, a few apparently quite old, given the quality of the photos themselves一she mostly skimmed over those. Others were from the past few years一students that Kayama personally knew and had taught. These were the photos that she spent the most time studying. She caught herself smiling at one from last year. The second-year winner had been a tiny, shimmering girl with luminous eyes and a glittery quirk. She'd been written off immediately until she'd mercilessly taken out the other competitors in the competition. Midnight had to admit that it had been kind of nice watching that sweet, innocent-looking thing take down the biggest powerhouses with rainbow glitter. She loved rooting for the underdog.
"Hmm…" she hummed thoughtfully under her breath.
So where does Yagi Toshinori fall?
All Might was certainly no underdog. He was the top of the dog pile, and the sort she'd normally call in for support, but not necessarily waste time rooting for. Because when he showed up, the fight was over. He didn't need anyone else's help. Everyone knew that All Might typically worked alone.
But Toshinori…
That small, tired smile flashing as he sat sipping that terrible coffee of his in front of her. The frail hands of this faded, older man in a much-too-large suit wrapped around the chipped coffee cup of the diner, as he chatted kindly with her in that quiet and mild voice. But then again, that stubborn ferocity, as he brought civilians to safety and then insisted he stay at her side to the very end, even though he knew he couldn't pull out his own strength until it was almost too late for him.
Because he understood that some battles couldn't be fought alone, and he wasn't going to allow her to fight this one by herself. And it wasn't just All Might stubbornly taking over and saving the day. They'd been a team. A damn good team, actually. And she found that she'd really, really liked working with him.
Then there was that terrible week she'd spent worrying that he wouldn't recover from a stupid illness that he never should have caught. Forced to fight for his own life with no one but Recovery Girl even allowed in the room because the old woman had genuinely feared he wouldn't pull through if he got a secondary infection.
Yes, Toshinori was All Might, the strongest hero in the world一the Symbol of Peace. Alone at the top, so far above everyone else. And All Might was Yagi, this quietly likeable, terribly damaged office worker who seemed to understand the critical importance of teamwork in a crisis, even while refusing to ask for help when he needed it. Somehow they were the same man. She just couldn't wrap her brain around it.
Her black brows drew together as she pursed her lips. I don't have to though, do I? I'd help Toshinori in a heartbeat, whether he needs a partner in a fight or just someone to bring him a terrible cup of coffee. Which means I'm firmly in All Might's corner now, whether he's my underdog or not…
Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and a blonde head peeking inside.
"Hey, peeps, I know I'm early, but is it cool if I just chill in here? These chairs outside are brutal."
Nezu glanced up and motioned him in, cheerfully. "Of course, Present Mic. Come in. Midnight is already here. We're almost ready." He turned almost immediately back to his computer while Mic and Midnight stood staring blankly at each other.
She raised her eyebrows in question, but he just shook his head and shrugged.
No. Neither of them knew what was going on.
Mic turned to look past her at the pictures she'd been staring at. He grinned and pointed at the photograph she'd just been studying. "Oh, it's Niji-chan! That was a great game! I was rooting for her the whole time!" he crowed, gleefully.
Midnight just shook her head. "Aren't you supposed to be an impartial announcer, Mic?"
"No one cares. It's all good fun. And she really was worth rooting for…" His eyes scanned a few more pictures when suddenly his eyebrows shot up over the rims of his glasses, and he slid them down, leaning forward to study one of the pictures better. "Whoa, this is him, isn't it?" he murmured in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. "Dude, he looked so different, but you can still tell…"
She turned to see what photograph he was talking about. It was one of the older photos一in fact, it was one of the oldest ones Nezu had on his wall by the looks of it, and a bit faded and discolored as a result. She'd glanced past that one earlier, knowing that it was before her time, but now she studied the winners, intrigued by his quiet awe.
She inhaled sharply when she noticed.
Toshinori...
Mic was right… He did look different. He seemed so happy and confident and so, so… young. But there was no mistaking that mop of blond hair, those sharp blue eyes. And his smile…
He was impossibly tall even then, and lean, but in that toned way of youth. His expression didn't yet hold that haunted, shadowed look. His smile didn't have that sad edge. But it was unmistakably him. And, oddly, he didn't look a thing like All Might, except maybe his eyes.
Yes, his eyes never really changed, did they?
She didn't know how she had never noticed this photo in all the years she'd been in this school, both as a student and as a teacher, and she had a feeling it had been up all this time. No one would have ever guessed this was All Might unless they already knew, and Nezu would have thought that was hilarious.
How had Mic picked this picture out so quickly from among all of the photos on the wall? It was impossible. Unless he'd already been looking for it.
Unless he already knew to look…
She glanced over at Mic. That's right. Toshinori said that Nezu, Mic, Recovery Girl, and Eraser all know he's a pro…
"He said you know about him," she commented carefully.
He nodded. "Yeah. I figured it out a few days before your run-in with Floodgate." He smiled a little. "He wasn't just a bystander in your fight." There was no question in his voice.
"No. He wasn't." She turned back to the old photograph. It was so strange to think of him as having been a kid like any of their students, interning and picking out hero names and pulling pranks like anyone else. She wondered if he was the underdog back then or if he'd already been a sure win. "He's… really good."
Mic smirked at that, winking at her. "Well, he should be."
She stiffened at that knowing tone, and swung around to stare unabashedly at him. "You know who he actually is, too, then!"
The blond looked like he was about to respond when there was a knock at the door and a third party entered.
Mic put on his wide grin, and shouted at their newcomer. "Yo, Eraser!"
Aizawa just groaned as he glanced at the two of them before turning to Nezu. "Can I ask what this is about, Principal? I have papers to grade."
Nezu chuckled. "Eraserhead, please have a seat. We'll start soon."
Aizawa rolled his eyes and slouched into a chair, muttering something about missing his nap for this.
Midnight's brow furrowed. "How odd," she murmured, drawing both Mic and Aizawa's attention.
"Hm?" Aizawa grunted in response.
"Well, she replied softly. "Just that it's us three again. And we're waiting for a fourth…"
"Don't think too hard on that," Aizawa bit out stiffly, before turning away.
At that moment there was one more knock on the door. Nezu looked up and pushed his paperwork aside, clearly indicating that now the meeting could finally begin. "Come in," he called, cheerfully. "You're two minutes late."
The door opened just as a deep, familiar voice responded, "I apologize for that, sir. I was delayed. It won't happen again." With those words, All Might entered the room in his hero form, wearing a garish yellow pinstripe and vibrant blue tie. He was grinning as always as he turned to quietly shut the door behind him. In his hand was a mug of suspiciously pale coffee.
Nezu motioned for Mic, Midnight, and All Might to take a seat.
They quietly complied, Midnight sitting near All Might as Mic dropped into the chair nearest Aizawa. She couldn't help but stare at him. It was so difficult to process that this was the same quiet, vulnerable man she'd shared coffee with.
As All Might moved to take his own seat beside her, he caught Midnight staring. His smile softened a touch as he lifted his mug to her and winked before sitting down.
And at that moment she saw Toshinori there, glimmering kindly behind those unchanging blue eyes.
"What's this all about?" Eraserhead asked, his flat voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. He shot a sharp, distasteful look at All Might, adding, "I see you've finally decided to show up."
All Might's smile never wavered, but from her vantage point, Midnight could see his grip tighten on the mug as he stiffened. "Aizawa-san," he replied mildly. "I apologize for any inconvenience I've caused. I'm afraid I've been quite busy."
Eraser's expression soured further. "We're all busy, All Might. If you want to teach here, you need to work out your priorities. Maybe at your agency you can do things on your own schedule, but at UA you're going to find that few of us will be cowed by your presence. If you want our respect, you'll have to earn it by doing your job."
"Yo, Eraser," Mic hissed, brow furrowed. "Cut the guy some slack. You don't even know what's going on."
Aizawa just snorted at that. "Whatever." He turned back to Nezu. "So, again, what's this about?"
Nezu's pleasant expression hadn't changed, but his sharp eyes had been following that entire exchange with interest. "I'd like to preclude this meeting with a short warning. What we are about to discuss is private and must remain as such. Anything you hear or see behind these doors remains of the utmost secrecy. Do you all understand?"
Midnight and Mic nodded immediately. Aizawa's unreadable eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms, leaning backward and hiding half of his face behind his capture scarf. "Fine. I understand. Go on."
Nezu rested one paw on the desk, motioning with the other to their guest. "All Might has been working on a case involving disappearing civilians. His agency has been tracking a villain known as Shifter for the past few months to no avail. I have been doing my best to try and help, but this particular villain is a bit of an enigma. He has the ability to temporarily borrow the form and powers of any single individual that he touches with his bare hands." Nezu reached across his desk to pick up his cup of tea and blew at the steaming liquid.
"What does that have to do with us, sir?" Midnight interjected while he took a sip.
"Why don't I let All Might explain?" He motioned to the giant sitting beside her. "Go on, All Might. Tell them."
The larger man cleared his throat, before turning his piercing gaze on them. Generally, All Might's expression was bright and commanding. But something seemed off about him today. He looked worried behind that smile. As though something about this entire thing bothered him more than an average villain attack.
"The principal has been kindly offering my agency support. You see, this villain has baffled most of those working on the case. Shifter has been leaving clues for the Police Force to decipher, with kidnappings that have seemed mostly random, causing the other agencies who were working on the case to drop it. They've been arguing that the disappearances are unrelated to this villain… that Shifter is just a two-bit villain." His brow furrowed, and he took a small sip of his coffee. "Honestly," he admitted quietly, "I was about to give up, myself, except something about it seemed… off." He cleared his throat again, glancing at Midnight. "Then, a recent attack in the area of UA occurred that fit the Shifter's MO. There were two cases of the same villain attack simultaneously occurring in different locations. When Shifter borrows powers, the victims still have the capability of using them. In fact, from what we've concluded, Shifter seems to only be able to use borrowed powers when the original quirk is in active use."
Midnight's eyes widened. "The Floodgate attack. There were two separate calls about his attack when the alert went out."
All Might nodded. "Exactly. It seems the Floodgate who was taken into custody at the park was the real one. The one near Endeavor's agency escaped police custody. That was likely Shifter… only changed somehow."
Mic leaned forward. "Changed how?"
All Might took a deep breath as though this were something difficult for him to even process. "Police seemed to have encountered an amped up version of the villain's power." He glanced up to meet Nezu's eyes. "It was almost as though Shifter had the ability to use multiple quirks, sir."
Nezu stiffened at that, a strange tone in his usually impassive voice. "Are you sure about that, All Might? You didn't mention that before."
"That's the report. I recently got word from one of my police contacts that Shifter seemed to be manipulating more than one quirk simultaneously. Additionally, a warp was opened up allowing for the kidnapping of another victim."
"That doesn't mean he has multiple quirks," Aizawa cut in, carefully. "It's more logical to assume that he was working with someone else who opened the warp. In fact there could have been a number of villains allied together, using their quirks in a way that just made him look more powerful." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Warp quirks are pretty rare, though. If that particular accomplice is registered, we should be able to figure out who he is. Maybe work out some connections."
All Might nodded. "Yes, we're already looking into that. Nothing yet. And I'm hoping that's the case. I don't want to think what it would mean if someone had multiple quirks…" Absently, he rubbed at his left side.
Again, Midnight noticed him exchange a strange look with Nezu.
Clearing his throat again, All Might continued in a voice that was quieter and less energetic than usual. "It's also possible that something is now allowing Shifter to borrow more than one quirk at a time. This has never happened before. In that case, it's almost as though the quirk was being amplified somehow."
"I'll repeat Midnight's question, then," Aizawa said in a tired voice. "Since you never actually answered it. What does this have to do with us?"
All Might took a deep breath. "I'm asking for your help." He turned to look pointedly at Aizawa. "Let me be frank, Aizawa-san. My police contact is Officer Tsukauchi. He said that you worked with him on a case involving a drug called Trigger in Naruhata, which might be able to help explain some of this. I would appreciate any help you would be willing to provide. I've been told that no one actually has to go it alone. Not even men like us..."
Aizawa twitched slightly at that, eyes narrowing.
If All Might noticed, he said nothing, instead glancing around at the rest of them. "I would honestly like all of your help. I feel that I can trust everyone in this room, and with the number of victims rising, I don't want to risk wasting any more time trying to do this alone." His intense gaze shifted briefly to Present Mic, who smiled at that. "I have an idea of how we can track this villain down, but I can't do it alone. Will you help me?"
Mic hopped to his feet, fist pumping in the air. "You've got it, man!" he shouted, his grin so wide, it practically split his face. "It's about time!"
"Sit down, you idiot," Aizawa grumbled at him, grabbing Mic by the back of his leather coat and dragging him back into his seat. "It's a small room. We can all hear you without you screaming."
Midnight smirked at All Might. "Sure." She quirked an eyebrow at him and winked. "I hear you make a pretty good partner."
Aizawa crossed his arms and stared silently at All Might for a moment before replying. "I don't know if I'm going to have any information that your officer friend doesn't already know, but I suppose I can give you what I have. I'll have to dig out my files on that Naruhata case. It's been awhile."
All Might nodded to him. "Thank you. I appreciate all一"
"On one condition," Aizawa continued, leaning forward, stopping All Might mid-speech. The man coughed hard at that, and Midnight couldn't help but notice blood at the corner of his mouth.
Everyone turned to look at him, but Aizawa only had eyes for the Symbol of Peace. "This is the case you have Yagi working on, isn't it?" He continued before All Might could even answer. "Of course it is. You got your information about the Floodgate fight from him, because even though you know that man is dying, you let him come here with directives to engage a volatile and dangerous villain if necessary." He scowled. "Yagi wound up hospitalized because of that incident. He's lucky to be alive. So here's my deal. I'll give you the information you're looking for and gladly help you out in any way you need, but you'll pull Yagi from the case. You don't need him if you have us. I'd rather not see him die needlessly." Aizawa glanced away from All Might's stunned gaze. "He's a decent person," he continued quietly, "and I'm tired of watching your self-sacrificing idiocy rub off on him."
There was a moment of stunned silence in the room before All Might finally cleared his throat, the ever present smile plastered on his face, but a surprised look in his eyes. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm afraid I can't do that," he replied quietly, coughing again, harder this time. "I'm sorry, Aizawa-san."
Mic suddenly stiffened, startling Midnight. "All Might," he said with surprising seriousness. "You've一uh一got a little something…" He motioned vaguely.
Midnight saw it, too一the faint layer of steam that had released from All Might's body before he'd lost his strength during the battle and had fallen unconscious, turning him back into his other form.
"I'm fine," he rumbled gently to both of them. "I know what I'm doing." He locked eyes with Eraserhead. "You've got to be able to trust me if you're going to fight with me," he said seriously. "And we haven't exactly gotten off on the right foot. So, I suppose it's about time I at very least tell you what you need to know about Yagi Toshinori."
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. I hope you continue to enjoy the story! And thank you haptronym and lolo popoki for betaing this chapter!
Sincerely,
Sirius:)
