Summary:
Set before he meets Izuku, All Might arrives in his hometown and pays his master a visit.
-/-/-
Toshinori Yagi was home. He left this city years before and much had changed. Nostalgia gripped his heart, and his chest tightened. He coughed lightly and tasted blood.
The winter air was harsh on his lungs, but he smiled. Fresh snow crunched underfoot as he reached familiar streets. The city's sounds were muted under the snowfall and Toshinori felt a rare moment of peace.
When he reached his destination the air grew colder. He tugged his red muffler so that fit snugly around his neck. He glanced around and only saw one other person walking the opposite direction among the graves.
Toshinori's smile faded, and his legs felt heavy. Now that he was here, his resolve wavered. He took the all too familiar route one step at a time and reached his goal.
"It's been five years, Master."
Toshinori looked up at the tree that sheltered the grave. It had grown well from the sapling he remembered. He didn't know who planted it, but it was a welcome source of life.
"I'm going to become a teacher. Isn't that funny?"
Pathetic.
Toshinori shivered as air sliced through his clothes. It was uncharacteristically cold for February, but the signs of change were in the air.
He placed a hand over his scar and smiled weakly, "Some symbol of peace I turned out to be."
Crime had definitely decreased in the years since his debut, but villains were becoming craftier. Bolder. He was one man. One man with a time limit.
Pathetic.
Something rustled overhead and birds shot out of the tree. Instinctively he morphed into his muscle form and scanned the area. He heard two soft impacts on the snow behind him and whirled around.
In a puff of smoke he reverted and spat out blood on the ground.
"Tsubaki."
Two crimson flowers had fallen from the tree onto Nana's grave. Toshinori grimaced and looked at the tree. More crimson flowers bloomed, many hidden by the broad green leaves that surrounded them.
"What a cruel joke."
It was an old superstition, but one Toshinori could not shake off. He took a ragged breath and his side flared with pain. Blood poured from his mouth, dropped to the ground and stained the white snow.
The camellias on the ground mocked him. They bloom and then fall, all the while staying whole. A clean break. A warrior beheaded.
He was breaking down from the inside. Alone.
The people in this world who can smile are always the strongest.
Toshinori.
Tears leaked from his eyes as he brought his fingers up to force a smile on his face. He remembered her strong hands placed on his shoulders. Her faith in him spurred him on in the past, and would continue to do so.
"I'll do my best, Master. I will find a good successor."
Toshinori Yagi wiped the snow and blood away, and the pain in his chest subsided. He finally gave a genuine smile and let loose a few punches in the air, "I've still got a few good fights left in me."
He was running out of time, but the clouds were parting, and Spring was on its way.
He looked forward to seeing the cherry blossoms.
-/-/-
Notes:
Camellia Japonica, also known as Tsubaki, are flowers that bloom and fall off the tree or bush while still in one piece. While most people consider them romantic flowers, to samurai they were a sign of bad luck before a fight. They can be a symbol of death and defeat.
I wanted to try out a fic with a bit of superstition to see how it would feel.
Hope you found it interesting!