Inko Midoriya's life had gotten a lot more difficult ever since her salaryman husband had abandoned her for his secretary in America. What a cliché! The loss of her husband was the least of her problems. She'd written off that loser when he'd rejected their sweet, perfect Izuku for being quirkless. In fact, she'd consulted her lawyer about a divorce before she'd even found out the affair. Unfortunately, according to her lawyer, it was very, very hard to enforce child support on someone in another country. Even in the best case scenario, the legal red tape would take years. Sure enough, the paperwork for the divorce had been filed, she'd been granted full custody, but she'd yet to see a single yen of promise child support. Worse, Hisashi had emptied their joint bank account.

The typical retail job didn't even pay enough to cover the cost of putting her son into daycare while she worked. That put her in a very tight spot. After years out of the workforce, Inko had barely been able to find her current bakery store job. She counted herself extremely lucky that her boss let her take her son to work. The bakery shop owner was an elderly woman who'd opened the store as a hobby after retirement and had a laid-back attitude toward profit. The hours were whenever Inko was available. Inko's budget had greatly benefitted from taking leftovers home.

The owner sincerely loved baking, but not customer service, so she'd hired Inko to man the counter. The baked goods were delicious. However, there was little variety and no advertising. The store didn't get many customers. Inko was quite happy to keep enjoying slow days as long as she got paid.

Four-year-old Izuku sat on a stool next to the counter, doodling his future hero costume. Inko leaned her head on her hand, dozing off. The sound of the door chime woke her up. She quickly scooped up Izuku and hid him behind the counter.

Putting on a professional smile, Inko recited, "Yellow Duck Bakery, how may I help you?"

Her eyes widened as she took in the new customer. This man was even more of a snack than anything she had for sale. Soft, curly white locks framed a face that would have made Adonis seethe with jealousy. His broad shoulders and muscles bulged in that form-fitting suit. He moved with graceful confidence—and slammed his forehead into the top of the doorframe. "Ow!"

Inko stifled a giggle. "Sorry, sir, our door is too short." Actually, it was more because this man was a giant.

Rubbing his forehead, the man groaned, "This silly little store had better have Hostess Cupcakes."

"Hostess Cupcakes? We had those yesterday, but not today. My boss bakes whatever suits her whim each day."

Red eyes glared. "I have scoured this entire city for Hostess Cupcakes! I haven't tasted them since the brand went out of business during the dawn of the age of quirks. The sole online review for this place promised my cupcakes."

Inko blinked. "My boss certainly looks like she was born in the dawn of the quirks, but when would you have tasted these mythological cupcakes?"

An odd look crossed his face. "Oh, never mind." He turned around.

Something about his dejected tone roused Inko's pity. She cleared her throat. "I could make a Hostess Cupcake for you. My boss has been teaching me all her recipes."

"Oh, would you?" The man whirled around and appeared at the counter so fast he seemed to have teleported. "I would be truly grateful." When he turned on the charm, he had a deep, intoxicating voice.

A tiny blush on her cheeks, Inko said, "It's really no trouble at all."

While she'd been distracted, Izuku had darted out from behind the counter. He grabbed the customer's leg. "Mister, what is your quirk? I thought you had a healing power like Recovery Girl because your forehead bruise went poof! Vanished! But then you moved super-fast like Ingenium."

"Izuku, don't bother the customer," Inko hissed. She'd promised to keep him out of sight while working. She feared that if even one person complained about her son, she might no longer be able to bring him to work. (Though come to think of it, Izuku was right. The red mark on the customer's forehead from running into the doorframe had already vanished.)

"He's no trouble." The customer knelt down to Izuku's eye level. A red light gleamed in his eyes. "You're a very, very smart little boy. Do you like quirks?"

Izuku grinned. "I love quirks!"

"Then what do you think my quirk might be?"

Izuku scrunched up his nose, thinking hard. "Hmm…you move fast and your owies vanish fast…time manipula-something?"

"Are you sure about that?" The customer smiled slightly.

"No. Wait, wait. You have holes in your palms." Izuku pointed. "It must be something to do with your hands. I…I don't know." He hung his head.

"Oh, you are a very observant child." The customer sounded delighted. He patted Izuku's head. "It's smarter to say that you don't know than to confidentially give an incorrect answer."

Izuku bit his lip. "Let me keep trying! I can figure it out!"

"That determination, and those eyes…" The customer hummed. A sparkle entered his gaze. "You remind me very much of another little boy I once knew. What's your name?"

"I'm Izuku Midoriya, and I'm four." Izuku held up four fingers proudly.

"My name is Inko Midoriya." Inko inclined her head politely, relieved the customer was getting along with her son. Presumably there would be no complaints or nasty online reviews.

The customer said, "I'm Hisashi Shigaraki."

Inko's jaw dropped.

"Is something wrong?" Hisashi asked.

"Oh, no, it's just…my ex-husband's name is Hisashi, too." Inko laughed, a tad falsely. "It's a strange coincidence."

"What an unfortunate association with a fool," Hisashi said, shaking his head.

"He went by Sashi, anyway. I didn't even think of him as a Hisashi." Inko shrugged. "Why do you call him a fool?"

"Well, besides giving himself a nickname that's a female name in India, he let such a lovely woman go."

Inko blushed. She disguised it by turning away from him. "I'll get started on your cupcakes. Izuku, don't bother the nice man."

"It's no bother at all, he's a joy to talk to," Hisashi said.

Inko went into the kitchen to start cooking. Periodically, she looked back into the main room to keep an eye on the situation. Izuku seemed to be having the time of his life discussing quirks with Hisashi. It was rare to find an adult who would take a child seriously. Especially a quirkless one. Izuku was absolutely thriving on the positive attention.

As Inko pulled the cupcakes from the oven, she called, "They need a few minutes to cool before I can add the icing."

Izuku bounced over. "Can I have one hot and fresh from the oven? Please? I don't need frosting." He widened his eyes pleadingly.

Hisashi cleared his throat. "I, too, would like one of the cupcakes hot out of the oven." Puppy eyes on such a giant man were ridiculous and a tad endearing.

"Oh, very well." Inko brought them both unfrosted cupcakes on a paper plate. They were devoured.

"Delicious," Hisashi said, wiping the crumbs off his mouth. "I already know I'll want to buy the entire batch."

When Inko finished decorating the cupcakes, Hisashi made good on his promise to buy them all. As he signed his receipt, he said, "Thank you, you've been very kind to satisfy my decades-long craving."

"Oh, I was just doing my job."

"If you're free, I would like to take you out to dinner this Friday." Hisashi stuttered slightly at the last word, and Inko found it adorable. This time, there was no excuse to hide her blush.

Izuku tugged on her pants leg. "Mom, you have to go so you can figure out his quirk for me."

Inko stammered, "I'd love to. Um. Assuming I can find a babysitter. Izuku is my son, in case you didn't already know, I mean, you probably already knew…is that going to be a problem?" She felt foolish when of course he'd already realized, but she had to know. Even in the modern era, there was still a stigma against divorce and single mothers in Japan. Sashi had been quite clear about how he was dumping Izuku to avoid the "baggage" for his future relationships and how no other man would ever want her. If this man treated Izuku like an unwanted extra then she had no intention of dating him.

Hisashi smiled, revealing his dimples. "A cute son who looks like my little brother? That's a bonus."

Something in his eyes gave her a brief flash of unease, but she waved it off and exchanged phone numbers with him. Her heart pounded in excitement. This would be the first fun she'd had just for herself since her divorce.


After hearing the whole story, Mitsuki Bakugo laughed for a solid minute, then said, "Of course I'd be happy to babysit Izuku on Friday."

"Thank you." Inko twirled her hair. "Do you think I'm making a mistake? Am I rushing into a relationship too fast after the divorce? I really should have waited longer to introduce any prospective boyfriend to Izuku. But they'd already met before he asked me out, now what should I do? This can't possibly work out. His suit looked too expensive, he's too handsome—he's out of my league. He'll realize that the first time he sees my discount rack dress. He must have been briefly blinded by the sugar high."

"Girl, calm down. It's just one dinner." Mitsuki sighed. Even over the phone, Inko could practically see her friend rolling her eyes. "You're overthinking your way out of a good thing. Let Mister Tall, White-haired, and Handsome take you out on a date. Maybe it will go somewhere, maybe it won't. You just need to focus on enjoying your night out. You deserve a nice dinner with good company. Besides, it would calm that anxiety of yours to get an orgasm or two…"

"Mitsuki!" Inko squealed, clutching the phone.

"All I'm saying is, I won't mind if you return late," Mitsuki said cheerfully.


The next day, Inko was running late to work. She scooped up Izuku in her arms as she ran down the sidewalk. In her single-minded focus, she barely noticed the shadow falling over her.

"Uh-oh," Izuku whispered.

Looking up, Inko saw a giant purple octopus looming over them. Gasping, she twisted her body to shield her son.

"PLUS ULTRA!" A red-yellow-and-blue blur shot forward, punching the octopus. The villain deflated down to a purple-skinned man. The impact ripped a lamppost, sending it falling toward Inko.

All Might caught Inko in his arms, carrying her out of danger. "Ma'am, are you all right?" The sunlight glinted off his white teeth. His costume left very little of his chiseled muscles to the imagination. She could feel his hard pecs against her body. Her heart raced. It was like a scene from one of her romance novels, although the novels never included a small child caught between the male and female leads.

Izuku squealed. "All Might saved me! The real All Might! This is the best day ever." He started hyperventilating.

All Might landed on the sidewalk and set them down. "Can I escort you to the hospital?"

"Oh, I'm fine. I don't even have a bruise, thanks to you." Inko's head was still spinning from her near-save. She couldn't afford to lose her job, and she had no other employees to cover her. "I'm late for work."

"You deserve time-off after your scare." All Might rapidly wrote in his notebook, then handed her a paper. "A sick note signed by All Might himself. If anyone gives you trouble, then you can let me know. I'll take care of it."

Izuku gasped. "We can't give away a note with All Might's signature! I'm keeping it."

All Might tossed off another paper. "An autograph for you, young one."

Izuku clutched the paper to his chest. "I have so many questions for you. What's your top speed? Because your stats are different in the American and Japanese hero magazines. What material is your costume made of? What model is the All Mobile?"

Kneeling down, All Might answered Izuku's babbling flow of questions. Izuku also managed to slip in the entire story of his fanboy career and drop that his mother was single. Although Inko was mildly mortified at his obviousness, All Might did not seem to mind. Inko was impressed with his patience with her son. She smiled.

Looking up, All Might said, "You have the most amazing smile." His own statement seemed to startle him. His cheeks flushed. "Uh, I would stay longer, but…"

Inko's ears picked up on what All Might had noticed a few seconds before her—now the villain had been defeated, people were stampeding back, eager to get a glimpse of the number one hero.

"I swear I don't usually do this." Sweat beaded All Might's brow as he handed her a business card. "This one has my personal number. Please call me if you'd like to catch coffee sometime. Um, I know that my fame can be a source of pressure, so you don't have to give me a reply right now. I won't be offended at all if you don't call me. It was a pleasure meeting both of you."

Then All Might shot into the sky carrying the villain, just ahead of his adoring fans. But not before giving Inko a hopeful look as she stashed the card into her purse.


Lying on her bed, Inko clutched her hair. "I still can't believe that All Might asked me out! Do you think I misunderstood? Maybe he wants to hold a victim interview?"

From the speakerphone, Mitsuki replied, "No, he clearly asked you out on a date. This is awesome! You've gotta accept. Izuku would never forgive you if you passed up on the chance to snag All Might as his stepdad. Neither would my brat. Could you bring back a second autograph for Katsuki after your date?"

"B-but, I can't, I'm already going out with Hisashi on Friday."

"Then you're free on Saturday. I can babysit Izuku again. In return, give me all the details afterward." Mitsuki giggled. "It's just a date, not like either man asked you to become his girlfriend. You don't know which of them you'll feel chemistry with. You've gotta keep your options open at this stage."

Inko bit her lip. Mitsuki had a point. Hisashi seemed like a good man, and so did All Might. They'd both been kind to her. She was attracted to both of them. They both got along with her son. How could she decide between them without going on a date first?

Mitsuki continued, "No need to rush into anything serious. Just have some fun! You'd never have ended up shackled to that pillow princess ex of yours if you'd taken him out a test drive first and realized how selfish he was in bed."

"Please, let's not talk about Sashi," Inko groaned. "I'm not going to sleep with either of them without being clear on if we're exclusive—I don't want to risk hurting them. But. I don't think I need to tell them about each other if we're only going on one date."

"That's the spirit!" Mitsuki cheered.

"Thanks for talking it over with me," Inko said. "I'll call All Might now." After exchanging good byes, she reached for the card in her purse. Maybe after the dates, it would become clear to her who she liked more. The longer this dragged out, the more complicated it would get.

How had she gone from a love life as barren as her ex's heart to two handsome men pursuing her? Just thinking about it made her palms sweat with nervousness…and maybe excitement. It would be an interesting weekend.


OMAKE TIME!

Omake: Seeking Replacement Yoichi

Inko: Do you want me or my son?

All for One: Yes.

#

Omake: Mister Red Flag

Inko: I hope Hisashi wouldn't be offended that I'm also seeing someone else.

All for One: It's fine, if I stop pretending to be nice then I can skip straight to the kidnapping replacement Yoichi part.

Inko: Excuse me?

All for One: No need to worry—I'm kidnapping you too!

#

Omake: The Bet

All for One: How about a bet, child? I'll give you a quirk if you guess mine.

Izuku: You have the power to give people quirks, or else you wouldn't be able to make that bet.

All for One: I walked right into that one.

Izuku: I want All Might's quirk!

All for One: Yeesh, making it hard for me. If I give you One for All then I also want to become your stepdad in exchange.

All Might: Excuse me, I could offer him the same deal and fulfill my end much faster.

Inko: No one is giving my four-year-old the bone breaking quirk! Please wait until he's a little older.

#

Omake: The Consummate Collector

Izuku: My mom already found one great dad, so I'll acquire a few more for her. Maybe we can even collect All Might! That would be neat.

Inko: Sweetie, it doesn't work like that. I can't have more than one husband.

Mitsuki: It absolutely works like that. You've got two light-haired dads, you should collect a brunette next.

#

Omake: Top Quality Advice

Mitsuki: You should live a little and enjoy an exciting romance with two men.

Inko: What if it turns out they're a hero and a villain locked in an ancient and murderous enmity with the fate of the world at stake?

Mitsuki: Well I suppose that rules out the triad option.


Author's Note: Yes, dear readers, I'm ending the story here, sorry. This oneshot only got to scratch the surface of the potential of this AU. I leave you to imagine the antics of All for One and All Might competing for the same woman, gradually coming to realize that they have a rival but not who. They both vow to defeat their sworn enemy in love without realizing he's their actual sworn enemy. The crack ending would be All for One and All Might meeting each other (but not realizing each other's identities somehow) and becoming a triad with Inko. But more realistically, All for One will probably just resort to kidnapping the instant it looks like he might lose.

Thank you to RianMoeru for the neat prompt. FYI, I've completed the Night in Day series, my collaboration with Chaoticdeer, over on Archive of Our Own. My handle there is katydid.