Hello all!

Here's the new chapter :) As you might have noticed, I'm slowly developing my plot away from the canon plot, but I'll try to keep as many canon elements as possible.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 10 – Believe in your strength

According to Izuku, Philae preferred simple, easy-going atmospheres, and her adoptive father was American. So, it was not difficult for Toshinori to choose the small American-inspired coffee shop, and he discovered he was glad he did. The place was furnished with taste and imported vintage pieces, and the menu featured a selection of his own favourites. Even the smells he caught when entering, felt familiar and comforting. Nostalgia seized him when they stepped into the shop, reminding him of the time when he lived in the US and found his hero persona. Those were happy times.

A brief glance at his student confirmed his choice. Philae had the contented look of someone who found something resembling home. She was smiling softly, her gaze embraced the room with sparks of recognition and joy, and her whole body expressed relaxation. It was as if she entered known territory. It reassured him to see he had been right. Maybe things were going to be easier than he thought.

Philae was amazed. It had felt an eternity since she had last seen her country of adoption, which had – more or less – welcomed her as Orion's official heiress. There had been detractors, of course, and they had lashed out at them publicly for long, but overall her settling in the US had been an actual liberation. Never had she felt so free, except in her earliest years, which she remembered too little to compare. With time, the sceptics had morphed into courters, and the enemies had turned into followers and obsessive mystery busters, but her first impression of the starred nation remained the same.

So, going in this little corner of America in Japan was elating. She was delighted to be given the chance to talk to All Might, and the feeling got amplified by the pure joy she felt now. She hoped she was not dreaming, this time.

The pair went further into the shop and got greeted by a plump, spruce lady in her mid-twenties, talking Japanese with a western accent. It appeared she was actually born American, and both Philae and Toshi decided her place was to be a must-go if the food proved as excellent as the decoration and owner.

They got seated in comfy leather seats, in the farthest corner, hidden from the other customers for more privacy. They spent some time choosing their dishes and drinks, and only when they got served – a Devil's Food Cake and strawberry shake for Philae, and a Scotcheroo and Dr Pepper can for Toshi –, did they decide they could talk.

Who was going to talk first, though.

With a burst of courage, the blonde spoke up first.

"So... Er."

Stay calm. Composed. Adult. He repeated those three things in his head like a mantra, to give him courage. Begin with something light and easy.

"I hope this is to your liking," he declared at last, slapping himself mentally in the face for such a bland excuse at conversation. Thanks, Captain Obvious.

"It's perfect," she answered smiling, taking a bite of her pastry, "it's been ages since I've come to one of those. It's awesome you found one around campus. Thank you for inviting me."

The taste of dark chocolate invaded her mouth, and her taste buds sent shudders of pleasure to her brain. She loved chocolate. Her small sigh of bliss made Toshinori smile.

"Think nothing of it, I'm glad you're pleased. I get it you're quite busy in your world?"

He wondered if the young woman had had any normal scholar instruction since she got adopted.

"Mh-mh. You could say that. My stepfather owns a multinational entertainment company. Orion Inc. designs video games, board games, amusement parks, all kinds of festivals around the world... They're almost everywhere in the entertainment industry, and I'm expected to inherit this empire one day. Well, technically, it should be my brother, but now that he's... well, he's unaivalable for taking the job right now. Anyway, I've raised as his heiress too, and it got officially announced last year or so. So, I have to get a hold of how things work, and the like. You know, just in case."

Just in case Kai doesn't make it in time to inherit. She did not say it, but the sentence hung heavy above them. Toshinori tried to change the subject.

"Orion Crawford, is it? What kind of man is he?"

He had noticed Philae talked quite freely about her adoptive father, and figured it would be a safe topic. Besides, he was curious to get details about the man who had adopted not only one, but two magical children, right out of a hellish laboratory. Such a character deserved attention.

His student chuckled lightly, and her amusement kindled his own.

"He's the very definition of eccentric, you might say. Nothing's too tall or expensive for him. He can buy whatever he likes, and he buys everything he fancies. One day, I came home at Crawford Hall, and I was met with a full-body sculpture of Hermes in the living room, next to the fire mantel. Uncensored, if you get my drift. Orion was drinking his tea with Ryuushin, his apprentice, just next to it, at the same level of... you know."

He did, and laughed.

"Quite a view, indeed."

"You tell me. Ryuushin, so uptight and stoic, was livid. I don't remember laughing that hard since then. Originally, Crawford Hall is a mansion with a strong influence of Art Nouveau. So, an antique statue suddenly standing on the rug between to Parisian Mucha paintings..."

"I don't know what Mucha is, but I can imagine it would have been like having a Medieval knight playing baseball with an alien."

"Yeah, and it's only the beginning of it. Orion is the biggest cartoon fan ever. His office is a mini temple dedicated to his cartoon heroes. He spends hours in there. I think his most precious possession is a first edition of the painted Tweedy Bunny figurine. Must cost around ten thousand dollars."

"So he's a child in adult skin, maybe?"

Mr Crawford did sound rather... peculiar. Toshinori concluded it was thanks of the man's odd way of life, that Philae and her brother had found a home with him. At least, he seemed the kind to welcome magic as a mere detail of his environment, which was an advantage here.

Philae's smile got a tad bit sadder.

"He seems childish, but actually, he's a very clever man. He built his empire all by himself, and I must say his Board of Executives respects and listens to his pieces of advice almost religiously, it's scary at times. He knows episodes of flourish nonsense, and episodes of complete calm and seriousness. The doctors told me he's been acting like this since the day he lost his wife, Lady Camelia."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

The blonde felt silly. He should not have laughed about this man. Losing a loved one was terrible. Phi shook her head.

"That's alright. She passed away before Kai and I got adopted. I heard she was of fragile health, and one day she was bedridden with a fever when a fire declared in the mansion. The kitchen staff on the ground floor managed to escape, and so did the house staff working in the east aisle, but she was trapped in the west aisle, on the first floor. Those who wanted to get to her could not because of the smoke, and help did not arrive in time. Orion learned about the accident as he was on a business trip in Canada. He was devastated for months. And when he recovered enough to get back to his company, he had become like that. Two years later, he found us and adopted us."

"Oh. Do you think he's still suffering...?"

"No, I don't think. I'm sure he is. But what could I do? You can't forget your soulmate, and I think Lady Camelia was that to him. He's functioning, but his heart will never heal completely. At least, I think he found some coping solution with us. He's been transferring part of his affection to us. We've been welcomed, spoilt, and taken care for. He's been giving us everything he could, even if he couldn't love us fully. It doesn't really matter, in the end. We're here thanks to him, and we'll be grateful until the day we die."

Toshinori could understand that. He smiled.

"I'm glad he has."

He had many other questions, but one in particular needed to be expressed.

"Do you like it here?," he wanted to know. "I don't want to make you homesick, but I'd like to know if you're comfortable in our world."

It was also a disguised means to ask if Philae intended to stay. Curiously, the idea of her leaving bothered him way too much. He expected her to go, in order to heal her brother, but he implicitly considered she would come back. She wanted to be a hero, and she would be one if she worked hard enough. There was no doubting it. She was made for the job. If only for her past, she would have made the perfect heroic profile.

She riveted her gaze on him and answered with a firm voice, full of emotions she was obviously doing her best to keep under control.

"I do. I met a lot of amazing people, and they welcomed me so easily I'm confused at times. They don't even know me, and yet here they are, accepting me. Not all of them, naturally, but still. It's almost like when I moved to America with Kai, if not better. I'm almost embarrassed by all the kindness you all showed towards me. All the more so, since I'm certain I don't deserve it."

"Of course you do," Toshinori countered with a frown. "Never say otherwise."

"Why? It's true. You're too kind, All Might."

"I'm not."

"Of course you are."

She was stubborn, when she wanted to be. He had to give her that. Unwilling to argue over his kindness, he shook his head.

"I can't accept your saying you don't deserve kindness. I won't concede anything of the sort. Do you understand?"

He sounded serious, and Philae deflated. She nodded sheepishly, and he hummed satisfyingly.

"Okay. Good." He softened instantly. "In any case, I'm glad you're fine here."

"Yeah, me too." She smiled again. "If I were allowed, I'd gladly stay. Maybe after Kai is healed and takes back his position in Orion's company, I'd be able to come back here for a longer amount of time. Maybe he'd come with me. I'd have to think about it. Running a multinational is not so bad, but it's more his thing than mine. I prefer action, not burying myself in paperwork and stiff dresses, even if I'm said to be good at it."

"Id be happy if you did. Though I think your brother would highly prefer to have you near."

"And I him. But he would be happy to see I can use my magic here, without hiding myself or being afraid. And I'd love it if he could come, too. It has to be discussed. I really don't know, but I can hope."

So could he, and he found he did. Truly. Her confirming she would like to live here satisfied him, as if it were in the natural order of things. The contrary could not be imagined.

They fell back to comfortable silence, eating and drinking, listening to the background music played on a vintage jukebox. It was an old group from the eighties, with synth and electric guitar. It was pleasant.

Eventually, Toshinori decided he had to broach the most sensible subject. He cleared his throat, and Philae immediately caught the change in behaviour, tensing slightly in anticipation, suddenly finding her half-empty glass of shake very interesting.

"Philae, I..." He took in a deep breath. "I'm really, utterly, miserably sorry for my poor reaction last time I was with you. I was an insensitive git, when you trusted me and needed me most. My behaviour is unforgivable. I ought to-"

"Stop."

Philae had cut her teacher off with more force than she thought, but hearing him apologising to her, felt unbearable. She could not hear it all.

"It's not your fault, All Might," she murmured, looking intently at her drink, "I don't deserve any of those words right now."

Toshinori felt sad, but did not get deterred.

"Nonsense, girl. I didn't think rationally and I fled like a spineless coward. I'm better than this, and so are you. As a teacher, my duty is to make sure that you develop into a fine hero, and I didn't lie when I said you had all it got to be one. I still believe in that, even if my heart is torn and my sense of justice is painfully tingling."

She stared down, not responding. The former hero sighed and continued.

"Listen. I know that no words will erase what happened, and that your guilt is legitimate. In all honesty, I'd be more worried that you didn't feel any at all. But even though the hero in me still wants to handcuff you and send you to the nearest police station, the man in me finds excuses to..."

He stopped. Excuses would mean like hypocritically saying he understood and accepted the thing completely, while in reality he did not. Bad choice of words.

"Wait, no, that's sounding wrong. What I'm saying is, when rationalising everything, I can understand your reasons behind what you did. I can imagine what it must have been for the child you were at the time, and I'd be lying again if I said I didn't feel the strongest anger when I heard your story. We're only human, and I'm aware humans make mistakes."

He paused for a second, drinking from his can to deliver the last piece of his mind. He had to express his thoughts clearly.

"I can't say I accept what you did just now. I'll need time to digest and settle my mind on it. But I don't want to consider you a villain, nor do I want to give up on you and your potential. What you did in the face of danger, protecting a child from a Noumu, not everyone would have done that. Not everyone, and especially not a villain, would have put themselves at risk for a stranger. I believe in your redemption... in your heroic future. And I still want to take part in it, even if... well, even if I'll certainly be awkward for the next couple of days. I have yet to figure out how to act naturally again, because I'm stupid like that, but that's a problem I must face alone."

"All Might..."

"I know I'm asking for a lot, here. I'm getting emotional over this, and you must have heard from Aizawa that I see the world in black and white. That's not totally untrue, but well-"

"All Might!"

Startled by her outburst, Toshinori fell silent, mouth half hanging open. He closed it tightly shut, staring at Philae. She raised her eyes and looked at something around his neck area, but still did not dare go up to meet his gaze.

"All Might...," she repeated in a much lower tone, "don't say things like that. You're too honest, and you don't give yourself enough credit. I know you're giving me a chance, here, and I'm already grateful you don't spit in my face. I expected the latter. I deserved no more. And yet, you're saying those things, you're talking about understanding... This is too much. You're giving too much, and I can't..."

"Philae," he placated calmly, joining his hands around his can to steady himself, "don't worry about me. Understanding my students is my job, in a way. I have to admit our... let's say our school-teacher relation, has a more personal aspect than with some others, since you trust me with a past I know you would rather forget about and leave behind. If I have difficulties separating my private life from my... former heroic life, and now my professional life as a teacher, that's my problem and mine alone. However, what you must retain from this, is that I won't abandon you because of your telling me about those past actions. Do you hear me?"

She nodded numbly, picking at her cake, but she said nothing. Sighing, Toshi gathered his most commanding, but softest voice.

"Look at me, please."

Philae gulped with dread, but complied. Slowly, her veiled chestnut eyes levelled to his blue ones, and he could finally dive into them and see her troubled mind. He could not miss her fear of rejection, her need to hear him say everything he had to, to hear the truth he held and at the same time some kind of comforting words. She did not want to hope, and yet she could not help it. Did she like him and trust him so, that he had become so important so quickly?

Maybe that was a sort of unconscious affection stemming from her separation from all her loved ones. The blonde tended to be very considerate and overprotective, and maybe this was the behaviour she involuntarily, desperately searched in people. Maybe she had been so frightened by her attempt at protecting her brother as a child, that she punished herself by relying on others to protect herself?

…

His thoughts made no sense at all.

Taking in a small breath, he blinked and broke the charm he had cast on himself watching her.

"You were honest with me, and you hid no secret when you told me what you did. I respect that immensely, and I admire your courage for exposing yourself so, because you trust me. That's why I'm being equally honest. So here's exactly what I thought, what I think."

Time to dive, old boy, he thought briefly, before he told it all at once.

"I was horrified, and technically, I still am to some extent. Some things are never to be taken lightly, especially not those. Yet, right now, I'm more admiring and impressed than anything else. Correct me if I make too bold assumptions, but I think you were terrified, lost, and desperate for change. Anyone in your situation would have snapped, cracked, or lost it long before you did. You resisted as long as you could, and for that, you were very strong. You're even stronger now, and you're not a frightened little girl anymore. You've grown to a strong woman, who wants to take her fate into her own hands, in the right way. You did this not for sick reasons, but as a sort of protection, in the twisted vision of a beaten child. You're responsible, and yet you were not entirely."

He saw her eyes wet, but he could not bring himself to wipe them off. She had to shed those tears. She had to get rid of her anguish and sadness. Even if he hated the sight of her like this.

"And now," he went on, "you still do things for others. You travelled to our world, alone, for your brother. You risked your life protecting a child you knew nothing about, because you felt it was the right thing to do. You're training to become a hero, and you nearly died for it, because you wish to help and protect people. Or maybe it's because you fell guilty...?"

Philae hesitated, but she eventually shook her head. No, it had not really occurred to her that she would become a hero to redeem herself. Maybe it had been unconscious, but she just... wanted to. It was the best use of her powers she could choose. It was... yes, as All Might put it, it was the right thing to do. The best thing to do. She would be useful, and she would fight for justice. With finding a cure for Kai, she wished for nothing more.

"You see. You're on the path to becoming a great woman. I'll always respect your dedication. And even though I'm craving for justice, incapable of controlling my overbearing, perfectionist, utopian side, I'm still a man of sentiment."

The blonde showed one of his warm smiles. The smiles she liked. The smiles that sent waves of peace and happiness through her. With the most intense gaze she had seen him have, All Might concluded.

"As a hero, I will have difficulties accepting what you did. But as a man, I deeply regret these difficulties in advance, because I respect you even more now, for everything you've been doing since the day we met. So let me make an oath to you: I'll never judge you on your past. As you trusted me, I'll trust you and reach your expectations. I'll become the tutor you need to reach your goals. I'm finished with cowardice. I'll be here for you. Always. I can do that, and I shall. Do you agree?"

Philae put a hand on her mouth and swallowed back her sobs. She did not want to alarm the shop owner. However, she could not stop her heart from pounding so hard that she thought it might explode in her chest.

Could she believe it? Was it a dream? She did not know. Her teacher was too kind-hearted. Too heroic. Too perfect to be real. He was offering his help again. He was repeating his kind words and encouragements. She could not have found someone so angelic in her life.

She managed to calm down a few seconds later, and nodded slowly. She was silenced, scared that speaking would make the dream fall apart. All Might nodded back and fished for a clean handkerchief in his pocket, offering the pristine white square of cloth for her to use. She only just noticed some tears had found their way down her cheeks.

She accepted it timidly. Before she could thank him, however, she caught a sudden change of expression on his face. She blinked and was about to ask, but the blonde sprang and was by her side in an instant, his features a mix of alarm and urgency.

"Watch out!"

His tall body bent over her and his hands pushed her shoulders down against the seat. The next moment, a knife flashed and slashed his back.

That was when Philae heard the owner scream in panic, and a gleeful laugh.

All Might winced in pain, and his t-shirt soaked in blood.

His blood. Philae failed to understand why it was his. Why he got attacked. Why there were villains out for them. But they attacked her, originally, so it must have been for her.

The world turned into chaos in an instant. Her bond flared with rage. It was her fault again, and All Might found himself in the middle of it. She could not bear it.

She had to do something. Anything. She could not let him suffer. Not him.

As if it waited for her to decide it, a hoarse voice, dry as sand, rumbled through the link and shook it with such power, that the seat under her crackled and caught fire.

Express your wish, you who called for me. If that is blood you seek, I shall give it to you. Ask away, and free the wrath in me. Then, all will be over.