Diner hesitated, feeling that often present twinge of reluctance about going back to work, but now she'd fully exhausted all of her vacation time, plus the grocery store still served its purpose as a convenient cover for her 'extra-curricular activities'. Although renowned as a fearsome assassin, with an impressive number of successful kills under her belt, she couldn't help feeling bad about lying to Inko Midoriya. Leading a double life could be complicated.
The woman had been exceedingly kind to her during the past few months since she had secured the job, making the prospect of calling her once again with another excuse all the more disheartening.
So, taking a moment to fully compose herself, Diner carefully arranged her jet-black hair to partially conceal the gradually healing scar on her head. As she looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, a bittersweet smile graced her lips, signifying her seamless transformation into the persona of Yuki Haro once more.
—
"Haro?! What happened?!" Inko practically bolted across the shop floor, her eyes widening with concern, her maternal instincts kicking into overdrive the exact second Yuki stepped foot into Aldera General. Apparently, Yuki hadn't quite mastered the art of hiding that scar as well as she thought. To Midoriya, it may as well have been a neon sign flashing. Inko's heart skipped a beat as her gaze locked onto the visible injury.
Yuki mustered up a reassuring smile and said, "It's nothing, really, I'm fine." But deep down, she knew that her attempts were futile in the face of the older woman's piercing eyes.
Inko's face transformed before her, a storm brewing beneath the surface. The concern melted away, only to be replaced by the fire of a protective mother. It was like a switch had been flipped. In that moment, she became a force of nature.
"Who did this to you?" Inko's words hung in the air. When Ms Midoriya put her mind to it, she could look downright terrifying. Yuki was sure she could hear ominous drum beats playing in the background. If Yuki wasn't careful about her answer she might wake up the next day to find half of Musutafu in rubble.
"I've been taking a self-defence class, for my own personal betterment." The lie tumbled from her mouth as quickly as she thought of it. "It was a quirk related accident, a fellow student panicked and hit harder than they were intending." Yuki mustered a reassuring smile, but try as she might, she couldn't completely conceal the weariness that lingered in her eyes."Everything's under control now. No need to worry."
Inko furrowed her brows, sensing a hint of something amiss in Yuki's explanation. But as long as it wasn't anything malicious, she decided to let it slide. "Well, okay then," Inko conceded, her voice laced with a touch of concern. "But please, Yuki, be careful out there. You know I'm a worrier, through and through!"
Yuki smiled and nodded, "I'll be more careful in the future, I promise."
But Inko wasn't about to let the matter rest, and made an announcement with sudden enthusiasm as if struck by a brilliant idea. "In that case, here's the plan!" she exclaimed. "You're coming over for dinner tonight, no ifs or buts. If I can't help you get bloody revenge, I'll make sure to help you with homemade cooking."
Caught off guard by Inko's unwavering insistence, she tried to wave off the invitation. In this line of work it was best not to make attachments. "Oh, no really, Ms Midoriya, you don't have to go through all that trouble. I appreciate the offer, but it's not necessary."
Inko simply shrugged. "Nope, I insist." she replied.
Arguing was a futile endeavour and Yuki knew it, "...Alright, I give in. I accept your invitation." she finally relented, nodding her head with a slight smile. Maybe it would be nice to act 'normal' for a change.
"Wonderful! I'll text my son and let him know we'll have company." Inko replied, heading away to grab her phone from her purse.
—
Toshinori Yagi, or as his students know him, Mr Yagi, was in the midst of his Hero Law seminar for the UA first-years. Today's lesson was on a topic close to his heart, and he couldn't help but get a little excited about teaching it. He grabbed a marker and underlined the final point on the whiteboard, to make sure his students would really grasp its importance.
"The Secret Identity Protection Act came into existence relatively late in the hero commission's lifespan, but its purpose is exactly what the name suggests. It grants every licensed hero the right to maintain their anonymity, whether it's their name, location, appearance, or anything else that could reveal their true identity."
Yagi smiled to himself, feeling pretty good about his lecture. A lot of people seemed to think All Might was all brawn and no brains, but they clearly had it wrong. Toshinori Yagi had a degree! It was nice to show off his intelligent side without having to put on the superhero act.
"Alright, any questions?"
Tsuyu Asui, one of his favourite students, eagerly raised her hand. Toshinori felt a sense of pride in her growth, perhaps influenced by her mother's legal career. In his mind, he could already envision her excelling as a quirk rights lawyer if her pro hero aspirations didn't work out.
"Is this why nobody has ever seen All Might out of costume? Ribbit. Or, at least, pictures of him out of costume have never been published." She asked, with a finger to her chin.
Toshinori chuckled softly, genuinely pleased by Tsuyu's keen observation. "I'm glad you brought that up. If you've never come across a published image of All Might out of costume, then I must be doing my job right. A significant portion of the work at Might Tower involves damage control to protect our heroes' privacy. Fortunately, most people these days understand the necessity of heroes keeping their secrets. A few decades ago, there was an entire industry built around capturing and publishing photos of individuals without their consent."
As he spoke, his mind wandered back to the early days of his illustrious career, reminiscing about the time when he first burst onto the hero scene. Those were the days, filled with thrilling adventures and constant challenges. But maintaining his secret identity was an ongoing battle, a never-ending tightrope act.
With a more serious undertone, Yagi turned his attention towards the eager students. "You see, it's imperative that we respect and safeguard each other's secret identities. It goes beyond self-preservation, it's about fostering trust. The Secret Identity Protection Act might not be at the forefront of everyone's minds, but it stands as one of the cornerstones that ensure our brave heroes can continue their work undisturbed. And when implemented effectively, the majority of people remain blissfully unaware of its existence."
A big ? crept across Fukidashi's face, his curiosity piqued. Raising his hand, he interjected with a hint of bewilderment, "But wait a minute, Mr Yagi! We know the real names of the top ten heroes, don't we? Well, except for All Might, of course."
"Ah, an excellent point, Fukidashi," he began. "Indeed, the Secret Identity Act is not compulsory for all heroes. It grants them the freedom to choose whether certain aspects of their identity should be exposed to the public eye. Some heroes opt for this transparency to foster a more approachable image. However," he continued, his tone becoming more enigmatic, "Do you really know their real names?"
Arching an eyebrow and wearing a faint smile, Yagi posed the thought-provoking question that hung in the air. The exclamation marks that materialised on Fukidashi's face were precisely the reaction he had hoped for.
Before any further inquiries could be made or additional observations could be shared, a jarring clang from the school bell echoed throughout the classroom, signalling the conclusion of the day's lesson. With that familiar sound, the students swiftly sprang into action, gathering their belongings and preparing to depart.
"Hey, don't forget, your assignments are due soon. If you need any assistance, you can find my email in your lesson planners," he reminded them. Then, as the bustling activity ensued, Mr. Yagi directed his attention to a specific student. "Oh, Midoriya, could I have a quick chat with you? It won't take long."
Izuku acknowledged his teacher with a nod, assuring him, "Yes, no problem Mr Yagi." He silently motioned to Mei, indicating that he would catch up with her in their next class. Izuku made his way towards the front of the room, as it continued to empty of students.
"Is this about the support gear for 1A? I promise I'll have everything prepared for their next lesson. It's just-" Izuku's words were abruptly halted by Mr. Yagi, who raised a finger.
"No, it's not quite about that. Well, mostly not about that..." The seasoned hero's gaze darted from side to side before cautiously glancing outside the classroom door, ensuring that no one lingered nearby. "This is about our... shared secret."
Recognition flickered in Izuku's eyes as he comprehended the implication. "Ah, right," he responded, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. "You don't have to worry, I haven't breathed a word of it to anyone."
A warm smile spread across Mr. Yagi's face, radiating a sense of trust. "I know you wouldn't, my boy. In fact, you would probably blame yourself relentlessly if you did. And that's precisely why I believe you deserve to know the whole story, because I think you might be able to help."
"The…whole story?"
Over the next 40 minutes, (Yagi called ahead to let Power Loader know his student was helping him with some work), Izuku was privy to the most remarkable and classified information about All Might's true power. The details of One For All, its history, the danger of All For One, the purpose of seeking a worthy successor, and the true motivation behind All Might's role as a teacher at UA.
As each revelation hit him, Izuku's expression transformed into one of sheer astonishment. It was as if Pandora's box had been flung open, unleashing a whirlwind of mind-boggling conspiracy theories.
"So, it's a stockpiling quirk that gains power with each passing generation it's bestowed upon... But that means the current power residing within you would exponentially multiply in strength when passed on to the next recipient... If they become the ninth bearer of One For All, your 100% could potentially translate to just 40-60% of their overall strength... And for anyone lacking the necessary physical conditioning..." Izuku's voice trailed off, his eyes fixed upon Mr. Yagi, who admirably managed to keep pace with Izuku's rapid thought process. In response to Izuku's deduction, the veteran hero nodded slowly, affirming the young student's understanding. "...Their limbs could shoot off their body."
"Exactly," Mr. Yagi confirmed. "This is precisely why I need your assistance, young Midoriya. You've showcased the exact kind of analytical thinking I require. I want you to aid me in locating a worthy successor."
"M-me?! You'd trust me with something this important?!"
Mr. Yagi's eyes looked down with an air of confidence in his student. "No doubt about it, my young friend. I've witnessed your work firsthand, and I'm not the only one. Almost every hero in this city knows about your talents. When Nezu reached out to them about your support gear ideas, they all had the same thing to say. You have a knack for spotting weaknesses and finding innovative solutions. What's more, none of those weaknesses you identified have ever become public knowledge. You're trustworthy, and you've got a gift for this kind of thing, kid." Mr. Yagi's hand landed gently on Izuku's shoulder, encouragingly.
"In fact, the only people at the school who are in on this secret are you, Nezu, Midnight, and Recovery Girl. They all gave the green light to bring you into the fold," Mr. Yagi divulged.
Izuku's gaze dropped to the floor, his expression contemplative. Finally, it all clicked into place. "Oh, I get it now. That's why today's lesson focused on the Secret Identity Act, even though it wasn't on the schedule for another few weeks..."
Mr. Yagi's grin widened. "You catch on fast, young Midoriya. You've hit the nail on the head. I'm placing an immense amount of trust in you, but it's absolutely crucial that no one else discovers our little secret. However, by joining forces with me in this endeavour, you have the opportunity to render a great service."
Izuku met his teacher's eyes, filled with resolve. "I'll help you, Mr Yagi. You can count on me."
Izuku Midoriya felt like he was collecting secrets like they were pokemon cards.
—
Later that evening, Izuku found himself at his desk, hunched over his schoolwork and deep in thought. He was racking his brains, desperately searching for an idea that could benefit Kinoko Komori. The truth was, he could have taken the easy way out by jotting down a note that read, "Sorry, but there aren't any support gear items that could improve your quirk." But deep down… He really wanted to impress her.
Frustration was gnawing at him, and he let out an exasperated groan. With each thud of his head hitting the desk, he cursed the universe for not giving Komori a simpler quirk for him to work with. Super strength, maybe! He could make something amazing with that! The sound of the bedroom door opening abruptly broke his train of thought, and he sat up turning his attention to the doorway. There stood his mother, wearing a warm smile on her face.
"Sorry to disturb you, my hardworking kiddo, but we're having a guest over for dinner tonight," she announced. "So, clean yourself up! I don't want you sitting at the table covered in grease like last time!"
"Mom, that was one time!" Izuku protested, "Who's coming over? Anyone I know?"
"Haro, you remember the girl I work with, right?" his mother replied. "I had a feeling she could use some company, so I invited her to join us."
Izuku had heard his mom mention Haro before, but they had never actually met. It wasn't often that his mom invited someone over for dinner, so they must be pretty close. Izuku decided he would put on his best behaviour and play the social butterfly.
"Alright, Mom. I'll be ready in a sec," Izuku responded. He closed his notebooks, temporarily putting his search for a solution to the Komori problem on hold. It was time to focus on the here and now! And maybe starting with his hands, which were stained with ink, would be a good idea.
After freshening up, Izuku hurriedly made his way to his room and swiftly changed into a clean outfit. He wanted to look casual yet presentable, so he picked out something comfortable but not too shabby. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he noticed a rebellious lock of hair sticking out. Without thinking twice, he reached out and pulled on it, only to watch in amazement as it sprang right back into place, defying his efforts. He pouted and stared at his hand, deep in thought, before confirming that the bathroom door was closed.
"...Ah, what the heck," he muttered to himself, deciding to give it a shot. He transformed his hand into a hairbrush and attempted to tame his unruly mop. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tugged, it made absolutely no difference. This was exactly why he had spent ten years of his life convinced that having green hair was a quirk. Oh well, he figured it was worth a try.
The delightful scent of his mother's cooking wafted through the air as he entered the cosy sitting room. Inko's homemade dishes always had a magical way of making Izuku feel at ease. Spotting his mother bustling around the kitchen, he offered his assistance in setting the table, although he couldn't quite recall which side the fork was supposed to go on. He tried his best, anyway.
Just when everything was finally prepared, the doorbell rang, and Inko hurriedly went to answer it, leaving Izuku to straighten himself out. Inko's warm greeting echoed through the house as she opened the door, inviting the guest inside
"Haro, it's so nice to see you!" Inko exclaimed. "Izuku, come say hello. This is my son, Izuku."
"It's nice to finally meet you, Haro. My mom has told me a lot about... about..." His gaze locked with the woman in the living room, and a rush of worry washed over him. He was certain they had crossed paths before, but where? When? Why did he feel this sudden surge of fear?
Returning Izuku's greeting with a practised smile, Haro responded, "It's nice to meet you too." As she spoke, her hair shifted ever so slightly, revealing a scar that had been hidden from view. And in that moment, all the pieces started to fall into place.
Oh, crap.