Metamorphosis (1): Izuku Midoriya Doesn't Smile.
Inko Midoriya was a woman of many mistakes.
It has been a constant thorn gnawing at her back, but it was nonetheless the truth.
From her poorly made decision to drop college, to her incapacity at noticing Hisashi's true character, all the way down to failing her son in every conceivable way.
My Izuku…
The reminder of her own blood brought a new pang of guilt. She could have lived with herself just fine if all her faults and their consequences were only hers to bear. However, that was not the case, shameful as she was to admit it.
It wasn't always like that. There used to be a time when Inko couldn't even begin to imagine the turns life would have for them.
A time with movie nights, with her son always begging her with sparkling eyes to watch one of the many ones All Might made during his time in America. With memorable hangouts, like that occasion, they went to an All-Might-themed Park, with Izuku gushing about from beginning to end. One special moment she could fondly reminisce was the way Izuku would run around the house in his All-Might onesie, laughing and crying out in euphoria as he played hero, with her tagging along as she pretended to be a civilian in need, and finding joy in her son's playfulness.
Each and every one of them were wonderful memories.
Fond memories that met an abrupt end when Izuku turned four years old, and everything spiraled into disaster.
Discovering Izuku's lack of a quirk.
The way most people she once considered friends, not only decided to turn their backs but also poured their own hands into spreading the contempt towards her son.
Even her divorce, if only because of the harsh hit that brought to their solvency.
No, that wouldn't be entirely true. While for her it might be mostly that, for Izuku was one of many, far too many, tragedies that fell upon him.
Tragedies that, despite it all, her son endured with his head held high.
At least as much as someone in his circumstances could. Still, if only I had understood Izuku's true strength sooner, perhaps I…
There was only so much one person could take, though. Deep down, Inko hated herself for thinking like that. More so given that it was that exact same mentality that brought her where she was now.
But…how could she not when she saw it with her own eyes?
Even if at his core, her Izuku still kept himself as a bright kid who admired Heroes and what they represented with all his heart, she was forced to watch her son's light getting snuffed out.
It wasn't an immediate thing. Bit by bit. Year after year. Time passed, and the more it did, the further her son lost parts of himself. Falling and falling, until turning into a distortion that, for the good of her, Inko couldn't recognize.
His once straight posture scrunched down, gradually so until it appeared he was trying to hide from the world itself.
The energetic skip of his steps turned into careful ones, with his gaze always darting in every direction as if scared of his own shadow.
Those emerald orbs of his, once fueled by a determined and blinding fire, turned downcast and with most of their luster lost. Carrying only enough strength to keep their owner from giving up on everything.
By the time he was fourteen years old, Izuku was a carapace of his former self, with whatever remaining embers of hope left on him buried deep within. Whether it was strangers, people he did know…or her own mother, he didn't allow anyone inside the foundations he was forced to build around himself.
…At least, until she came into the picture.
To this day, Inko could confidently say that the Sludge Villain incident was the day that marked a before and an after. The turning point before everything changed.
She didn't notice it immediately, even if she did so that same day. She was far too busy as she fussed over Izuku after discovering his involvement in the incident. Fretting about how he put his own life at risk for the sake of Mitsuki's…boy.
And it was only the years of friendship Inko had with her that stopped the all-so-tempting idea of considering other less than savory names to regard him as.
Leaving that particular can of worms aside, it wasn't until most of her suffocating concern 'Too bad it took me this long to see it as such.' was placated, that she began noticing that something was different with Izuku.
Sure, he still looked like a nervous wreck as he tried to reassure her nothing occurred to him during his encounter with the villain. However, it was with noticeably less stammering on his voice, meanwhile sounding more…cheerful, if only enthusiastically dismissive. Not with intended malice, but rather, it was as if she was dealing with a kid who just got his Christmas present and wanted to be uninterrupted as he went to play with it.
That was not all. He had a skip on his voice, his body language seemed uncharacteristically energetic, and neither did she miss the wistful glint in his eyes, as if looking ahead at something she couldn't see, with a smile threatening to tug at his lips every now and then.
For the first time in an entire decade, it seemed like Izuku gained some of his inner spark rather than losing another chunk of it.
Inko only grew more curious with every day that passed. It wasn't as if he was back to being his childhood self. However, Inko could see that whatever mysterious encounter her son had between the Sludge Villain and his way home, was big enough to leave an impression on her son.
For a change, it no longer appeared as if he dreaded every waking moment of his life. Rather, Inko could've sworn he was looking forward to something happening. Neither did it go past her the manner in which he constantly stole an expectant glance at his phone.
If she didn't know any better, Inko's best guess would've been that All Might went and decided to give Izuku his personal number.
Despite how everything appeared to be finally taking a step in the right direction for her son, it lasted no more than a pair of days. Eventually, the signals she received from Izuku grew mixed. The expectation of his body language was still there. Yet, there was also this feeling of anxiety oozing out of him, and whenever he looked at his phone, rather than giving a hopeful glance, he seemed to grow fearful of it. Anxious.
Almost…desperate.
Having had enough of being left out of the loop about what was happening, it was nothing more than a lucky coincidence that she finally decided to confront Izuku about it at the second-week mark.
It wasn't easy to do so, especially given that habit of his regarding hiding things from her. Because yes, he might've been unfortunately proficient at having her in to unknown about what exactly went through his outside life. But the fact itself that he was doing so? Not so much.
Would things have taken a better path had I been more assertive, confronting him about what he was going through sooner? Or…was doing that in itself what doomed everything to come happen the way it did?
It was hard, but Inko did get the answer as to what had her son's mind so wrapped up. Reluctant as he might've been to admit it at the time.
A friend.
An actual person with whom he was going to hang out the very next day.
Inko heavily suspected that was about the only reason he even relented to reveal that much.
Nevertheless, to say Inko squealed in joy would be an understatement. She wasted no time bombarding her son with all sorts of questions. What was his friend's name? How did they meet? What sort of person they were? It got to the point even back then, she understood how overwhelming she acted at the moment.
In retrospect, she supposed that was also why Izuku chose to avoid each and every one of her questions. With Izuku excusing himself on the futility of her knowing them should things end up on a bust when reencountering this mysterious friend, distraught as he might've looked while saying so.
While part of her took Izuku's discretion for granted with a wry smile, forced to get used to it since long ago, the other wondered why he didn't give her so much as their name. That wasn't much to ask, right?
For what was likely the first time in her life, much to her up to this day growing shame, she set her own concerns aside and encouraged Izuku to have confidence in himself. That everything was going to be fine, prompting him to believe so by declaring he should bring that friend of his home when, not if, they hang out again.
At the time though, while she didn't dare prod too much about the subject, Inko couldn't help quirking an eyebrow when she saw the red hue enveloping Izuku's cheeks the moment she said that.
For all that encouragement, though, when she bid her son farewell the following morning, Inko did so with no small amount of trepidation.
Don't get her wrong, Inko couldn't have been happier at the prospect of someone finally seeing past Izuku's lack of a quirk, all the while choosing to give him a chance after years of undeserved judgment.
That was the thing, though. Had they? Did Izuku bother to reveal that much, or in a desperate attempt to keep that new friendship, Izuku held his mouth shut, meanwhile hoping for the best when the moment of facing the truth came? Those and many other thoughts filled with doubt filled her at the time.
So much for having faith in my own son.
Inko spent the remaining morning and afternoon with a churn of concern. The hours went by while all sorts of worries gnawed at her. Her nerves reached their peaking point when the entrance door opened from the other side and Inko saw the bangs of green hair poking through it.
She almost didn't believe the brimming joy with which Izuku entered the apartment.
Again, Izuku was stubbornly vague about the details when Inko inquired about his day. Still, seeing the ecstasy through whatever little he shared while happy tears threatened to leak through his eyes, Inko felt enough reassurance to leave the questions be with some degree of satisfaction.
Specially so, when her son told her he had plans to hang out with his friend the following day as well. Something Inko eagerly welcomed.
Although she made sure to remind Izuku about inviting his friend home this time around.
Ironically enough, Inko was surprised when the next day, with a bashful smile and an awkward rub of his neck, Izuku told her someone called Junko Enoshima was coming the following Saturday to watch the sports festival with them.
Junko Enoshima. That sounded feminine enough inside her head.
So, she asked the question that no doubt both of them knew was coming.
"Izuku, b-by any chance, is…i-is that E-Enoshima person a…girl?"
"…I-It is."
A lot of neighbors came to complain about the sound that day.
"Dear, could you turn the oven off and bring its contents out?" From the dining hall, a busy Inko called out while arranging the table. "I believe the food should be ready about now."
"On it!"
Inko happily watched the eager way in which her son made his way towards the kitchen, grabbing a pair of gloves before moving towards the oven. All the while a bashful and excited smile took over his features.
Of course, she perfectly understood the why. After all, today was a commemorative day for the Midoriya household. Not only because of U.A.'s sports festival was meant to be aired today, but more important than that, it was Saturday.
The day Izuku's friend would visit them.
Speaking of which…
"By the way, dear, when is your friend coming?" Feeling that sounded a bit blunt, Inko elaborated. "Not that I am in a hurry or anything. Just wanting to make sure everything is ready before she arrives."
She was met with silence.
"Izuku? Is something wrong?" Inko worriedly asked.
"…N-No. Well, at least wrong is not the word I would use. It's just that perhaps there is something else I should be telling you," Izuku said, sure enough not looking particularly stressed once he came out of the kitchen, much to Inko's relief. However, he appeared to be nervous about something. "It's about Enoshima. She is…well, o-objectively speaking, she's kind of―"
Whatever her son was about to say, came to an abrupt interruption by the sound of their doorbell ringing.
"Oh, that must be her!" Far too overwhelmed with the excitement of finally meeting her son's friend, Inko sped towards the entrance. "Izuku, put the container on the table. I will let her in!"
For a moment, she could've sworn Izuku cried out some sort of protest. However, Inko already had a hand on the door's handle by then, wasting no time in bringing the entrance open.
"Welcome! You must be―"
The sight that greeted Inko made her words die at her throat.
Now, when Inko discovered her son had finally found a friend, that had been a bombshell. Even still, following that and the basilic bombshell about his friend turning out to be a girl, Izuku had taken enough time beforehand to acclimate her to the idea, making it lose most of its shock factor by the day to meet her arrived.
By all means, she should've been prepared for whoever came through that door.
Yet, Inko couldn't see the person in front of her as anything other than a bombshell of atomic proportions.
While her overall attire was enough to draw some stares, it was her physical appearance that had Inko enraptured.
Even without her heeled boots, Inko could see the woman in front of her was tall. Taller than her or Izuku if nothing else. Her icy-blue eyes carried a hint of mischief she clearly wasn't even trying to hide.
Whether it was of the innocent sort or a crude sort, now that was the true mystery.
From her strawberry-blonde twin tails to her dainty hands, all the way down to her toned legs, Inko couldn't see a single inch of her body that wasn't groomed to perfection.
Overall, beautiful couldn't even begin to describe her. Combined with the aura she carried, Inko would easily believe she was a model lost around the neighborhood.
I-Is…is she Izuku's friend…?
Despite her confusion, any doubt, any uncertainty about the girl being who Izuku talked about, her next words made sure to bury those concerns for Inko.
"Heya, the name's Junko Enoshima!" The apparent girl Inko had been waiting to know for weeks greeted her, one energetic hand raised in a peace gesture while a charming grin tugged at her lips. "You must be Zuzu's mom, yeah?"
It was a testament to how overwhelmed she was that Izuku's nickname went past her.
"I…um…"
Thankfully, meanwhile her brain was trying to reboot, loud footsteps from behind saved her from an awkward standoff.
"E-Enoshima!" From her side, a nervous, yet not any less eager Izuku spoke up. A wobbly smile on his face as he looked up at the strawberry-blonde. "You really came!"
"'Course I did," Enoshima chirped. "What, ya didn't think I was going to make low on our promise, did you?"
"What!? No, I didn't! There's no way I would believe that. I-It's just―"
"Pfft, calm down, Zuzu. You shoulda know by now I'm just teasing ya."
"Right…"
Although Inko recovered from her stupor halfway through their conversation, the sight in front of her had the older Midoriya stunned. She watched with no small amount of bewilderment how the two of them bantered back and forth.
Well, in truth it was a one-sided barrage of jabs Enoshima was ending Izuku's way.
Yet, Inko couldn't find herself to disapprove of that. There was no malice in the way Enoshima was teasing Izuku. Meanwhile, even if her son looked bashful through the whole ordeal, it was clear as day how much he was enjoying himself.
If one of them wasn't her very son, Inko would've chalked it up as these two being lifelong friends.
"A-Anyway, I think we should get inside," Izuku said before giving Inko a glance. "Otherwise, the food might get cold. Right, mom?"
"O-Oh yes!" Now it was her turn to give Izuku's friend an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, dear. It was improper of me to keep you standing here on the outside. Please do come in."
"Ah, it was no deal. I mean," Enoshima reassured her. Although, as Enoshima's ocean-blue orbs landed back on her son, Inko could've sworn they gained a glint like that of a cat. "There's no way I would be bothered staying here for a while longer if I get to tease my dear Zuzu around!"
'D-Dear Zuzu!?' This time around Inko did pick up on the nickname. Her son did as well if the steam coming out of his red face was any indication.
Well…if nothing else, Inko could already see today was wound up to have an interesting dinner.
"Sheesh, that girl had no chance, huh?" From her side of the table, Enoshima spoke while her eyes lingered on U.A.'s transmission of the Sport's Festival for the second year. "Actually, nope, I don't buy that junk! Like, I get her quirk doesn't look like much at first glance, but that's just on her!"
"Yeah, I see what you mean, Enoshima," Izuku said, his voice lacking the usual stutter. The wonders of getting Izuku to talk about Quirks, Inko supposed. "Air bending might not be that effective for flashy offensive, but with enough creativity, it can be turned into a dangerous quirk."
"Exactly!" Enoshima chirped while snapping a finger. "Depending on how versatile her control over the element is, I bet she could aim a barrage of air around her opponent's head and…"
'They are at it again,' Inko thought, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she saw her Izuku and, in a surprising turn of events, Enoshima going both on a rant about Quirks for the umpteenth occasion.
And no, that wasn't an exaggeration. From the opening ceremony all the way to the finals, whenever a Quirk caught their attention, one would begin on a pitch about what they thought of it, while the other would give whatever pointers they could think of to complement their observations.
Sure, she might feel a bit left out of the conversation, but honestly? Inko couldn't find in herself to take that in a bad light. Not when Izuku waved his arms with enthusiasm while he explained something to Enoshima, nor when almost literal stars flashed through his eyes when his friend gave her two cents and began scribbling like mad what she said into his notes.
That being said…
Considering this is Izuku's first friend in a long while, I hope I have an opportunity to talk with her privately. However brief as it could be.
Whether it was a matter of destiny or mere luck, her chance came soon after Inko wished for it.
"Hmm, based on what we saw back on her first match, I think she also could've―ugh…"
"Izuku?" Inko worriedly asked. However, the sound of his rumbling stomach saved her from growing with further concern while a knowing look passed over her face. "Oh dear, you had too much Katsudon, didn't you? I know you love it, but you have to remember how upset your tummy gets whenever you let it get over your head."
"M-Mom!"
"Now, now, Zuzu. Your mom's got a point," Hearing that, Inko sent the strawberry blonde a grateful look. Still, that didn't prevent Inko from getting startled when a crown suddenly popped up on Enoshima's head and spoke up with a commanding voice. "Rise up! Thy queen decrees thou to deposit thy sins into the throne of sorrows!"
"Guh…a-alright then," While holding up his stomach, Izuku made his way towards the bathroom. "If you excuse me…"
With those parting words, Inko was left alone with Enoshima.
Admittedly, it took the older Midoriya about a minute or two to realize that, along with the opportunity it brought.
Slowly, her gaze set on Enoshima. Resting comfortably on the chair, the strawberry-blonde was watching with a relaxed smile the intermission between the final matches.
Still, it would not do to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Um, Enoshima―"
"Junko."
"…Excuse me?"
"Honestly, I've been trying to get Zuzu to get into a first-name basis with me for a while now. I mean, sure, we have known for about half a month, but, eh, it's still a bummer how much of a work-in-progress thing it still is." Enoshima ranted, seemingly oblivious to the confusion she was causing the Midoriya matriarch. "Anyways, think you could use my first name, Mommy Inko?" M-Mommy? "I'm pretty sure he will get into the idea easier if you do so already."
"Oh, well…sure? If that's what you like, I can do that, En―I-I mean, Junko."
"Alrighty! My grand plan is coming all together, Upupupu…" E―Junko cheered with a smile, and despite the strange laugh making her sweat drop, Inko returned the gesture with a smile of her own.
On the inside, though, for all Inko wanted this conversation to happen, she would admit she was at a loss about how to proceed.
Just further proof of how out of her field she felt with Junko around.
Even without the ordeal of Junko feeling comfortable calling Izuku by a nickname based on his first name, despite knowing him for nothing more than a pair of weeks, Inko was beginning to get a grasp of the overwhelming presence Izuku's newest friend carried with her.
And that worried Inko to no end.
So far, there wasn't a thing Inko could point about Junko that fell into a particularly negative area. In the past few hours, it never once looked like she was forcing herself to spend her time with them in their rundown apartment. There wasn't anything vain in the conversations Junko held with her son. That she could keep up with Izuku's long and detailed talks about Quirks was the definitive proof of that. Most important of all, her son was showing a grade of happiness Inko was beginning to lose hope of seeing ever again.
All in all, everything about her seemed to be marvelous. Her Izuku having someone like Junko as a friend was nothing short of a dream come true.
Maybe it was her mother's instinct kicking in, perhaps just raw paranoia, but that in itself was what had Inko in a conundrum.
Smart, with a killer figure, and charisma in flowing abundance. As a fellow woman, Inko knew there would be legions of fellow girls her age who would do anything to carry half the boons Junko had on her person, and just as many, if not more, boys who would kill for the chance of having her so much as directing them a word.
Don't get her wrong, regardless of her son's status as quirkless, Inko knew Izuku was a marvelous boy, with lots of wonderful traits if one were to look past that. Despite her opinion on certain matters, the older Midoriya had always been confident Izuku would one day find his match. Someone who would not only encourage him but who also would be there for him through whatever adversity her son was to face. Complementing each other in manners that would allow them to reach the best version of themselves.
Although Junko had done an A+ job at making Inko dismiss whatever stereotypes someone with her looks might make one think of, the older Midoriya still asked herself but a single thing.
Why?
As things stood, now was her best chance to get a grasp on that.
"Junko," The moment Inko addressed her, the twin-tailed blonde centered her attention on the Midoriya matriarch. "There's something I want to talk with you about."
"Oh, are we having the infamous girl talk?"
"Huh? I…suppose so?" Inko said, not sure if what she had on mind could count as such. "I just want to know how Izuku and you met. He already told me some general details, but I am interested in hearing your version of the events. If you don't mind me asking, of course."
"Sure, I don't mind talking about our fated meeting."
F-Fated!? That sounds a bit…
Inko mentally shook her head. As tempting as the idea was, and unless some clearer signs showed up, it wouldn't do to either of the Midoriya's for her to get ahead of herself with Izuku's first female friend.
Least of all, when all of her attention was required at the moment.
Intently, Inko heard Junko's narration of events. Her coincidental encounter with Izuku during the Sludge Villain incident, along with their official meeting soon after. And so on, the strawberry blonde followed from there all the way to their departure on that day.
Still, while the overall recounting was admittedly far more detailed than what Izuku told her, Inko couldn't help the feeling that Junko also kept some details omitted.
Well, to begin with, the recounting of events was for a meaningful moment between Izuku and Junko, so the fact that the strawberry blonde was even bothering to let out any extra tidbits was far more than she could ask. Satisfied with that logic, Inko had no problem avoiding any further prodding on her part.
At least, until she heard what Junko told her next.
"He asked you…if he could be a hero?" Inko asked in disbelief and no small amount of concern. Soon enough, though, and despite being still somewhat shaken by that development, Inko managed to give Junko a bashful but appreciative smile. "I-I see, it must've been hard to tell Izuku the truth without making him disheartened, huh?"
Inko knew she must've seen things, but for a fraction of a second, she could've sworn something…strange flashed through Junko's face.
"Oh, but that wasn't what I did."
What?
"J-Junko, what do you mean by that?"
"Hmm, that was some bad wording on my part," Junko said with an apologetic smile. Rapidly though, it went back onto her cheerful demeanor. "From what I gather, by truth you mean telling Zuzu that he couldn't be one, right? That's the thing though. My own truth is the total opposite of that."
Stupid as she felt about it, it was not until now that Inko could connect the dots and see what made Junko so special to her son.
"You told him he could…be a hero?" She made it seem like a question, but Inko knew it was a fact. No wonder Izuku was so enamored with Junko. On one hand, she could imagine how happy that made her son, and it warmed her heart to no end. On the other, she felt nothing but concern at what she had just heard. "Junko, I…I do appreciate your efforts on Izuku's sake, but lying to him is―"
"It wasn't a lie," Junko didn't sound angry, but Inko caught how she lost some of her usual chirp. "Everything I said that day, I meant it all."
Hearing that, Inko couldn't help losing some of her bashful behavior. Composing herself enough to give Junko a long stare. Trying to gauge the sincerity of what the strawberry-blonde was saying.
No matter how much tried to, though, the older Midoriya wasn't capable of finding any sign of deception in Junko's body language. She had her head held high, her back stood straight in unashamed confidence, meanwhile, her icy-blue eyes showed nothing but meaningful honesty. By all accounts, there was no reason for Inko to keep any lingering doubts.
And yet, she wasn't convinced.
Not when the white elephant in the room hadn't been addressed yet.
"…What about him being quirkless?" A part of Inko hated herself for pulling that card. It brought back memories of a day better forgotten for everyone involved. "Even if he hasn't a quirk, do you believe my Izuku has any chance to not only survive but thrive in a profession where people like All Might exist?"
"I do," Inko almost gasped at the lack of hesitation in Junko's response. "I mean, sure, Izuku ain't gonna be the next Symbol of Peace. I know that is set in stone." Junko shook her head. "But that and not having what it takes to be one at all? Now that's where I disagree. I was there when the Sludge Villain wreaked havoc on innocent people. I was there when Heroes watched with impotence and allowed a villain to get things going his way. And finally, I was there when, against the expectations the very world chained him up to, Izuku took the step forward no one dared to and, despite what everybody else said, did make an important difference on that day." The strawberry blonde's face hardened with a determined look. "He is far stronger than what everyone takes him for. One way or another, Izuku is meant for great things and I, for one, want to have a role in where his road to heroism might lead."
To say Junko's words struck a chord in her would be doing it dishonor. Involuntarily, Inko gaped in awe at the girl in front of her, unable to have it in her to disregard anything of what she said.
Given all the praise she heard about Junko from Izuku, she expected to be pleasantly surprised the moment she was to meet her.
This, however, surpassed all of her expectations with flying colors.
"You…do you really have that much hope in my Izuku?" Inko couldn't help saying.
'Could I have half as much myself?' She asked herself on the inside.
Junko, for her part, gave her a pleasant smile.
"Hey, Mommy Inko, why don't I tell ya about this plan I have for Zuzu…"
Inko listened intently as Junko explained the goal meant to make sure her son got into Japan's top hero school, regardless of Izuku's grand disadvantage. As the strawberry-blonde detailed her role as Izuku's pseudo-coach, she would be lying if Inko said she was fully supportive of the idea.
Despite that, Inko pushed past her insecurities and fears and chose to give Junko's proposal a chance.
By the time her son came back and she gave him her seal of approval for the training regimen, Izuku beamed at her like she hadn't seen him do in an entire decade.
And so, even if it was but for a fleeting moment, Inko Midoriya held hope for the future.
Junko Enoshima.
Inko knew that was a name she was never going to forget.
The more she came to know her, the harder it was for Inko to see her as a person, coming to the point, that sometimes, she regarded the strawberry blonde as a force of nature.
No, not exactly that. After all, that term would imply she was in harmony with the natural laws of existence.
Junko was an unstoppable wave of change. Without ever daring look back, she took step after step towards whatever goal she set her mind to. No matter how much the whole world might try to push her down, to scream at her the impossibility of her actions, she would shake each and any semblance of balance like pieces of chess meant for her to play with.
Never once putting a care at the consequences of it.
Inko would admit that, at first, she also benefitted from the new shape her environment was taking.
Day after day, the Midoriya's household held a spark of life foreign to it for literal years. With weekends in which the house was filled with laughs and cheers.
The way in which, in the blink of an eye, her baby transformed into a young man.
But most important of all, it was the bright hope that came into their lives.
With how sudden everything came to be, it all looked too good to be true.
Which it was.
She should've known that, like everything in her life, that temporary happiness held a bill with interest.
Along with her son's smile, came exhausted eyes, shallow cuts, and new bruises all across his body on a daily basis. Courtesy of that hellish training he forced upon himself.
Like antibodies detecting an unknown germ, Izuku's school life reacted to the changes in the worst way possible. Culminating with her son coming half dead by the afternoon all those months ago.
Things only down spiraled from there.
Her son reverted to his former shell. Whatever growing bond between mother and son nurtured through entire months, was gone in an instant.
His injuries and tiredness grew twice as intensive. Coming to the point he no longer bothered to do so much as eat, study, and sleep whenever he wasn't hanging outside.
That fatidic rainy day came to be.
That following meeting with Junko occurred.
And finally…
Summer Break came.
With bobbly legs, Inko forced herself up from the chair she had been quietly resting for the past hours.
Slowly, almost as if dreading doing so, she walked through the eerily silent halls of her household. With each step taken, each groaning creaking on the floor, the grimacing on her face grew in intensity.
It might have felt like hours, but she knew that it wasn't much more than a minute before she reached the all too familiar plain wooden door.
And with a knot in her stomach and a hesitant hand turning the knob, Inko stepped inside Izuku's room.
Like each previous occasion, the very first thing that caught her attention was the lack of any of All Might's memorabilia his son owned.
In retrospect, Inko could've guessed that was the first of many omens. The way in which Izuku stopped gushing on All Might about the same time Junko came into his life.
If nothing else, I suppose it should have turned obvious something was deeply changing within him when he began to methodically get rid of anything that had to do with the number one hero.
Her face grew somber once her eyes darted toward the empty shelves in the corner.
Then, it turned pained when her sight went to the dresser.
Like any other time, her heart tore at seeing in it lacking any clothes whatsoever.
Faith.
From someone. Anyone. That was the only meaningful thing her son had asked for his whole life.
And yet, her answer for that simple wish was…
I'm sorry Izuku! I'm so sorry!
I…I'm sorry, Izuku, I am truly sorry things had to be this way…
She supposed this silent solitude was a fit price to pay for committing one of the worst mistakes in her life, twice.
Did she resent Junko for things ending up the way they did? That was something Inko had asked herself time and time again. One part, an ugly and selfish part of her, wanted to do so.
The rest, however, knew that everything up to this point was the inevitable result of neglecting her son. Her obstinance to do nothing but pity his existence.
What right did she have to reproach anything, when Junko gave Izuku what his very mother couldn't…no, refused to?
It was sad.
It was painfully depressing.
It was despairfully lonely.
But…
So long as there was someone out there keeping her son's smile alive, Inko Midoriya could wait.
Wait and hope her son was to forgive her one day.
The Number One Hero.
The Symbol of Peace.
The World's Greatest Hero.
One way or another, those titles, among many others, were meant to enlighten the existence of a figure that would act as a beacon of hope. A bright light that would make the shadows of villainy scurry back toward whatever corners they belonged to.
For Toshinori Yagi, they were a burden that grew heavier with each passing day.
Do not get him wrong, it wasn't as if he resented the mantle of responsibility bestowed on him. If anything, he felt honored to have been granted the opportunity to be at the vanguard, holding the flagship of heroism high for so many years.
The thing was, though, with entire decades of service in his pockets, it was inevitable for the specter of failure to loom over him time and time again down the line.
No matter how strong, how great the world thought his other self to be, Toshinori Yagi knew All Might couldn't save everyone.
Sometimes it was something small, like being somewhere else unable to prevent a robbery from occurring on the other side of town.
Others, as he was forced to be reminded of throughout the year, made his absence culminate with the loss of innocent lives.
Just the same, there were those events that struck at a deeper, and far more personal level through the passage of time. From his mentor's life, all the way down to the breakage of the bond between him and his former sidekick.
Nighteye…
Reminiscing about the golden-eyed adult brought him a new wave of gut-wrenching emotions.
It was devastating to remember how what he thought to be his last call with one of his closest allies ended. So, when no sooner on that same day the future-sighter hero took the initiative to contact him with one dial at his number, he dared hope there was a chance to set things right.
A vain notion, given how that ended just as badly, if only for a whole different set of reasons.
A great darkness loomed on the horizon. That was about as much he could make between the truly desperate pleas Nighteye cried on the other side of the line.
If hearing his stoic friend rant like a frightened child wasn't already the omen that marked the beginning of something terrible, the past six months beforehand that call have been.
Musing about its overall details was beating a dead horse at this point. Still, alongside what Tsukauchi and Nighteye managed to bring up together, there was but one thing that he couldn't dare ignore.
Whoever was in charge of playing him like a fool for half a year, will be a key piece in the plot that could bring back an era that took him an entire lifetime to get rid of.
That in itself made his mind drift towards paths he had hoped to leave long since behind but nevertheless had been forced to confront on a daily basis.
What if…he had failed at what was supposed to be his greatest purpose?
What if, after all those years, All for One, still roamed the streets?
He had been asking himself those and similar questions far more times than he would've liked to admit. One could say it came to the point of obsession. It couldn't be helped, though. Now more than ever those concerns carried enough weight to not be taken for granted.
How unlikely it was that, while still breathing, that man found himself in a critical state, forcing the Symbol of Evil to follow on All Might's path by passing down his own legacy?
The more his brain connected those dots, dread and paranoia began taking over him.
This Ultimate Despair, when compared to the Emperor of Darkness…
Her cold cruelty. Capable of forcing the purest of persons under her will to commit the most wicked atrocities without blinking an eye.
The preference for working behind the scenes, alongside the masterful way in which she crafted layers upon layers of plots and schemes that made her seem almost unreachable.
And, if what little Tsukauchi had discovered held true, there was that eccentricity that could make one dissociate and forget, if only for a moment, about the monster that lay behind the mask.
A part of him knew that making the connection was a step too far ahead, what with how little they still knew about this enigmatic figure.
The rest, however…
Could it be? Her modus operandi is way too similar to chalk up as a coincidence. Given what Mirai warned me about…all this time have we been dealing with his successor? Or is merely part of a greater ploy, playing as a puppet figure meant to set the ground for his inevitable return? If not, then to what degree is that man backing her up? Will I be ready? No, more importantly…will he―
"All Might!"
Like a trace of sunshine in the middle of a storm, the callout of his Hero Name from an all too familiar voice snapped Toshinori from his dreadful daze.
Snapping his head at the direction he heard the voice coming, the lanky blonde suppressed a groan when some literal sun rays blindsided him, making him unable to see but a dark outline in a humanoid shape getting closer.
Eventually, as the sound of footsteps hitting soft ground grew louder, so did his vision began recovering. Hanging his head low for a faster re-acquirement of his sight, Toshinori began taking the shape of the person ahead of him.
With a pair of black sneakers with white soles jogging through splashing sand, the figure had its much as dark pants wiggling back and forth while its white shirt, whose front carried the word 'Ultimate' in black and bold letters, stuck tightly on its muscled frame.
His vision finally cleared, and Toshinori's sunken blue eyes darted upwards, taking a full-on sight of the face.
His freckles.
His azure-green eyes.
And, at the very top, a brush of emerald-colored hair outlined by black corners.
Each and every one of those details were easily recognizable to him.
How could they not? After being familiarized with them for some months now, there was one person who fit that description to a T.
Why, if it's no one else but his successor!
Izuku Midoriya.
While the approaching form of the freckled boy was able to give him a respite from his most recent concerns and was all too ready to greet the green-haired teenager with a wave and an encouraging smile, a new wave of mixed feelings wormed at him.
At this point, it wasn't for any particular reason other than a spontaneous flick of mournful guilt. One, he would admit, had been a constant thorn at his side.
Young Midoriya, looking back at it, I…wonder if…
To say All Might was a nervous wreck would still be giving far too much credit to his hammering heart threatening to explode.
Every knowing that his mind should be focused somewhere else, he couldn't help straining his ears in search of the all too familiar cries of help that, one way or another, would disrupt him from what was one, if not his most important tasks at hand.
Not today, though. At least not for now.
In truth, it's been two weeks since he had last dealt with an incident related to the brainwashed victims.
And yes, victims. A large majority might've been confirmed as villains prior to their subjugation, but that didn't make their circumstances any less tragic.
Now, while he might've felt relieved that such tragedies were no longer taking place, the suddenness of it all threw a few red flags around his head. Worse than that, if what Tsukauchi and his people had discovered in the rundown house and that alley all those months ago was the sort of lead they suspected to be, then that could only mean one thing.
This self-proclaimed Ultimate Despair had, at the very least, found an important cornerstone in their plans. One large enough that it seemed they no longer deemed it worth to bother with him.
All Might would be lying if he said that it didn't hit a sore spot on his pride being dismissed like that. However, he also knew he shouldn't be letting those emotions get the better of him. After all, given how this surging villain appeared to revel in getting inside people's heads, doing so would be the same as conceding defeat.
Yet, here I am, unable to spend five seconds without looking back, as if untrusting my own shadow. What does that say about me?
The Number One Hero shook his head. He should've known that dwelling on these thoughts would only distract him at best, and torment him at worst.
Like they did every time.
For now, it would be better for him to take the breathing room he had at his disposition and focus on the future. The one in which hope still lingered.
Speaking of which…
Signaling the end of his internal debacle with a grunt, the blonde man poked his head out of the alley in which he was hiding. His heart drummed in a mix of dread and anticipation when he caught sight of a certain green-haired boy in the distance.
He would admit that waiting for the young boy around the same spot from all those months ago was a gamble. With the figure of the boy growing close, though, he could see it paid off.
So, it appears we do meet again, Izuku Midoriya.
A pang of shame hit him. Having known of the boy's name through one of Tsukauchi's passing comments from his earliest reports, shove away some of the magic a proper first introduction would have given.
Once again, All Might shove those selfish thoughts away. Mixing his personal nitpicks with the concerns that truly mattered would be the height of selfishness, and of that, he already had enough.
It has been a long wait but, finally, I can set things right!
Psyched up as he could be, and guessing the boy was in the vicinity by now, the Number One Hero puffed into his hero form and jumped out of the alley.
"I AM HERE!"
Given their last encounter, All Might was ready to take on a rather sheepish body language, expecting the small kid to jump in fright with a yelp, before falling on his butt while up at him with wide eyes.
The sort of sight that would encourage him to tease the boy every now and then. So long as things never get overhand, of course.
As such, All Might would admit he felt surprised after seeing that, rather than things going as expected, he was met with Midoriya suddenly a pair of feet away from where he last saw him. The boy's soles were firmly planted on the ground, and while his whole body was set on a defensive stance, with his legs properly set apart as his fists were raised at face level, his azure-green orbs were steeled sharp.
As if he was ready to fight for his life.
And no, All Might wasn't being hyperbolic on that. As the Number One Hero, he carried enough experience on his shoulders to recognize the familiar tension showing in the body whenever faced with a life-or-death situation.
What the…?
The brief tense pause gave enough leeway for All Might to not only rever back to his skinny form, but also to notice that wasn't the only strange thing on the boy.
Tall.
A muscular yet lean body.
His confident posture.
That wasn't the feeble boy who seemed to stumble onto his every step, always having an apology at the ready.
In front of him, All Might couldn't see anything but a young man through and through.
While All Might truly wanted to have some time to digest everything he had seen so far, he wasn't in a position to do so at the moment. It might've looked like their stare-down lasted for hours, but the truth was that no more than a second or two passed before the focused glare Midoriya was looking at him with morphed into a bewildered look of recognition.
"All Might!?"
That snapped him out of his stupor, alongside feeling a wave of relief at seeing the green-haired teenager was no longer looking like he was about to pounce at him.
I…suppose I simply caught him too off-guard, is all.
"Ah, young Mid―erm, young man," All Might said, remembering at the last moment that, technically, he shouldn't know Midoriya's name yet. "It's, uh, been a while, hasn't it?"
"It's been, yes…" Midoriya reluctantly nodded. Confusion made for a sinking feeling when All Might saw the cautious look with which the freckled teenager was now looking at him. "Can I help you with something?"
The wariness in Midoriya's voice was like a punch directly at his torso's weak spot. All Might already knew the endeavor he had planned for today wasn't going to be an easy one.
It was already bad enough that the young man was reacting like that at the sight of a hero, but to see with his own eyes the gap that existed between him and the person who used to look at him with so much wonder? It devastated him.
Can I blame him, though? I crushed the boy…young Midoriya's dream, followed by disappearing for six flipping months without so much as a word sent his way through all that time, then I reappeared into his life as if nothing wrong occurred in between. Obviously, things aren't going to be like last time. It's already a miracle he's not condemning my very sight!
He couldn't let himself get swayed immediately, though. That Midoriya hadn't told him off right away meant that there was still some hope left!
"W-Well, first things first, how have you been faring?" All Might tried to ask. Might as well use different topics to smooth the talking grounds. "Why, I almost don't recognize you! It appears you went through some changes, eh?"
"Changes? Yeah, I…suppose you could say that." For a moment, All Might could've sworn there was a forlorn look on the Midoriya's face. Before he had any chance to prod about that, Midoriya continued. "That day, when you told me I couldn't be a…a Hero," The freckled boy practically choked the word, making All Might wince with self-shame. "I was about to give up, but…I met someone. A person whom I owe everything I am now."
Whatever self-depreciation All Might was feeling at the moment, made way for curiosity. After all, he didn't miss the fondness in which he was referring to that figure.
That begged the question, did someone fix his own mess? While he appreciated the hand that was lent at Midoriya, he couldn't bring himself to feel any satisfaction at having another person solve what was supposed to be his responsibility. But still, that didn't quit he would like to know who…
Before he could finish that train of thought, it hit him.
"Ah, was it the blonde woman that approached you that same evening we met?" All Might said aloud. "Heh, I do admit I wondered about her every now and then. Still, to think she would wound up becoming your…huh? Young…boy?"
It took him a moment to notice it, but when All Might finally looked down at the green-haired boy, he couldn't help his brows from raising in surprise at what he saw.
While holding himself in what looked like stunned silence, a myriad of emotions moved across Midoriya's face.
None of which made All Might feel reassured.
"Y-You," For the first time since their meeting began, All Might saw the mask of control slip from the boy's face. With wide eyes and a haunted look, the stern and controlled persona was replaced by the scaredy boy he was far more familiar with. "On that day, that evening, you…w-were there? But…that wasn't part of…she didn't…"
All Might knew Midoriya was on a muttering streak, however, that barely registered him when his mind was far more preoccupied with his most recent mistake
Damnit, so much for not giving away how much I've prodding behind his back, huh? That being said, perhaps it is for the best to come clean about that.
"…I was," He admitted. With the cat out of the bag now, All Might saw no use in beating around the bush. "After dealing with that Sludge miscreant, I went looking out for you. I did end up finding you, but before I could make a move, I remember her approaching you first. With how casual she was around you, I thought she was a friend of yours, so I left you two be, not wanting to intrude." He explained, forcing himself not to flinch at the gasp and the growing distress on Midoriya's face. "Believe me, young man, I've been wanting to reach out to you since our last encounter, but…well, I can only confess that not doing so has been a matter of life and death. I assure you that, should things have not been so dire, you and I would've been having this conversation months ago!"
Being so secretive about it left a sour taste in his mouth. He was sure Midoriya wasn't the sort of person to do something wrong with any information regarding the Ultimate Despair, but getting him involved when All Might hadn't even made that question simply wasn't possible.
Leaving that aside, and with how they still were keeping themselves while growing in intensity, it was easier for All Might to discern what were those feelings crossing through the green-haired teenager after revealing his presence on that day.
Confusion.
Realization.
Disbelief.
And…Despair.
Without thinking, All Might took a step ahead, one hand out reaching for the young man in hopes of comforting him. That turned out to be the wrong move, seeing that Midoriya, whether on instinct or purposely, backed away from it.
Faster than he could muster an apology, All Might saw Midoriya close his eyes. His face scrunched while his whole body trembled. His fists clenched and unclenched periodically.
After a minute or so of staying like that, he noticed the temblors around the green-haired teenager's body began receding. The lines on his squinched face disappeared one by one. He kept at it until his limbs stood still, and the grip on his hands relaxed.
Finally, Midoriya looked up at him. His eyes filled with acceptance.
For some strange reason, All Might couldn't help the feeling he wasn't meant to take that as a good sign.
"Sorry about that outburst, and I…I get it, All Might," Midoriya said. "The past can't be changed, and all we can do about it is learn to live with its consequences. No matter where they lead. That's what I believe…what I've come to understand."
"I see, that's a rather mature way to look at things," Far more mature than what All Might thought to deserve, that was for sure. "Still, it would not do for me to not make amends. As such, I want to offer you my deepest apologies…alongside asking your permission to take responsibility for the way I've wronged you."
"Responsibility?" Midoriya repeated. "All Might…what do you mean by that?"
"Tell me, Young Midoriya," All Might began. What remained of his stomach twisted into knots, knowing that what he was about to say was a hit or miss. "Do you still hope to be a hero?"
In truth, he wanted to tell Midoriya right then and there that he could be one. No, after the incident with the Sludge Villain, All Might knew Midoriya was one already.
However, telling him that after leaving Midoriya in the dark for entire months would be the height of disrespect. No different than slapping him in the face. Besides, based on what little Midoriya had revealed about that girl he met; chances were that All Might would come as tainting her own efforts.
I might aspire to the role of a mentoring figure, but I lost my right to be his savior a long time ago.
Even if part of him saw it coming, that didn't stop All Might from wincing at the way Midoriya went rigid.
It wasn't as terrible as his previous reaction, but neither it was that good either. All Might wasn't sure whether that thousand-yard stare smearing Midoriya's face was a real deal or a resembling approximation.
Obviously, he wanted so badly to move and reassure him he wouldn't condemn whatever answer Midoriya was to come up with. However, he feared that doing so would only make things worse.
Again, could he blame the young man? For all Midoriya knew, it wouldn't be out of the question that All Might have come here to stomp into whatever crumbs of his dream remained.
To be the source of trauma for someone I should be a means for inspiration…Seriously, how could I have messed this up so badly?
"Hope? No, I do not…however," Just when All Might's confidence began to falter, that single word was enough to set his heart pounding. "I know I will be a Hero. Not the sort some, if any, will expect, but one that will make sure her dreams come to be."
He would admit that the answer was rather…unique. Heck, All Might got he wasn't getting the full meaning behind it. At the very least, nothing much beyond the clear determination that girl 'Who I seriously should be asking the name of at some point…' had inspired onto him.
Nevertheless, there was no doubting the fire he carried behind those words.
That was enough for him to send a proud grin at who All Might, now surer than ever, knew was meant to be his successor.
"Heh, that was a good answer, Young Midoriya." All Might admitted. "One that assures me I am not making a mistake here. Well then, with that out of the way, allow me to tell you about my quirk."
And with that, he confided in Midoriya the secret behind his and his predecessor's quirks. Of the nature behind One for All and its destined purpose.
All Might was grateful he didn't interrupt him at any point, and instead took in all of the information with rapt attention.
Granted, he made a face when All Might went a bit into detail about the purpose part, but the Number One Hero chalked it up as his words properly dawning on the young man.
All in all, given how much of an enthusiast for quirks he appeared to be back when All Might took a glimpse at that notebook he signed, and through their brief interactions, it was nothing short of impressive seeing his successor keeping his composure throughout the whole explanation.
Honestly, if he didn't know any better, he would've thought Midoriya was already aware of how his quirk worked before today.
How crazy was that?
Jokes aside, when All Might finished with his explanation, he wasted no time in revealing the reason behind it in the first place. The one thing he had waited so long to finally tell the one meant to be his successor.
Inherit One for All. Become its ninth holder. Master its power and become the next Symbol of Peace.
That was the proposal made for the young man before him.
The answer Young Midoriya gave him was both expected and unexpected.
A day.
No more than a single one to think things through.
That was all Midoriya asked of him before making his decision clear to him.
If he had asked that back on the day they met, All Might admitted that the hesitation would've put him a bit off.
Now, though? After all the wrongdoings All Might had made to him? After how much he had made Midoriya wait?
The Number One Hero was nothing short of relieved at seeing Young Midoriya proving once again to be the bigger man.
He also felt reassured that, despite how different he was from the boy he met on that tunnel, Midoriya was still worthy of inheriting his legacy.
And that was all he needed to hold hope for the future.
If it had been me, instead of that girl…I wonder how different things would come to be.
One way or another, that doubt always came back to plague him.
Would it have been better?
Would it have been worse?
For whom?
In which way?
While he didn't feel entirely comfortable with those sorts of thoughts, Toshinori would be lying if he said there wasn't a part of him that actually enjoyed indulging in hypothetical scenarios. Thinking that, had he managed to reunite with his successor before any other party had done so, perhaps…
Drop it. It is already a miracle that things have gone as smoothly as they have, what I am asking of is nothing short of greed.
Toshinori mentally sighed at that. He knew that quieter logical voice of his was right. Any normal person would've resented him, maybe even hated him, for half of the wrongdoings he committed to Young Midoriya.
Not wanting to add another one to the list, Toshinori snapped out of his musings to properly look at the young man in question.
"Ah, Young Midoriya," Toshinori greeted, somewhat bashful given that he didn't know how long he left Midoriya's call hanging while inside his own world. "Is everything alright?"
"It is," If Midoriya himself felt like he made him wait, the young man showed no sign of it. "I just came to tell you that I am done."
For a brief second, Toshinori felt a cold sweat. Fearing Midoriya meant that as in he was renouncing to being his successor.
That concern quickly made way for a mix of disbelief and swelling pride when he looked past Midoriya.
On the horizon, the last batch of trash that plagued Takoba Beach for so many years now was accommodated and ready to be dispensed in the truck they had readied for the task. Making way for a pristine coastline that would better the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of nearby citizens alongside the occasional tourists.
"Oh my…" Toshinori was trembling. "Oh my…" He knew that he had already used most of his time, but…ah, tarnation! The boy did deserve it! "OH MY GOODNESS!" Now in his bulked-up form, he looked down at Midoriya, his pride growing tenfold as saw the boy didn't look worse for wear. "WELL, I WILL BE DAMNED! YOU HAVE DONE IT, BOY! AND IN RECORD TIME, NO LESS!"
And he wasn't merely throwing flowers about that.
Considering how late they began with their training, Toshinori feared the four months they had left before the U.A.'s entrance exam wasn't going to be enough for Midoriya to complete and be ready to inherit One for All.
When Midoriya insisted he could take it, Toshinori thought he was pulling him a leg in a desperate attempt to prove himself. Some insistence on Midoriya's part and seeing he didn't look like a slouch either, and the blonde-haired man relented to give it a period of grace.
It turned out he had nothing to worry about.
Two months.
What was supposed to be a ten-month-long plan, Midoriya managed to wrap it up five times faster. And without unnecessarily exhorting himself on the process. A perfect win if he must say.
One thing was sure, whatever it was that Midoriya's friend gave him for training, it was a miracle worker!
…Actually, I didn't end up halting some of his progress, did I?
Toshinori mentally shook his head. It would do no good to dwell that way. Besides, apart from training, they were doing a public service to society. That was never a waste of time.
"IT WAS A THOUGH ROAD. ONE FILLED WITH HARDSHIP AFTER HARDSHIP!" Toshinori declared, his voice booming. "BUT, THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT NOW, YOU ARE WORTHY OF BECOMING A VESSEL!"
"Mhm, thank you for the kind words, All Might," Midoriya said with a bow. "They do mean a lot coming from you."
On the outside, Toshinori grinned at the words.
On the inside, though, that smile felt strained by a degree or two.
It wasn't as if Midoriya said that with sarcasm, or in a cold manner for that matter. There were the unmistakable signs of respect in his words.
But that was about it.
Against his better judgment, he began thinking of the other Midoriya. Of that wide-eyed boy and how Toshinori's words, no doubt would've made him beam in joy, with his mouth wide open in wonder before stammering how grateful he felt for the opportunity he had been granted.
It…made for an endearing sight, if Toshinori was honest with himself.
Stop it. That day on the rooftop, you killed that very innocence you yearn so badly for now. Want his admiration back? Earn it. Whether it takes months or years, it is your responsibility, not his, to take back.
His self-scolding hurt, but Toshinori found no way to argue against it.
"NOW THEN," Without letting his inner demons leak through his voice, Toshinori plucked a strand from his hair and presented it to his successor. "EAT THIS!"
"…Alright then."
So trustful!
Without hesitation, Midoriya took a step forward before reaching for the golden fiber of hair.
Giving him a bewildered look, Toshinori watched as the young man held the strand in one hand before backing down a foot or two.
Midoriya proceeded to level it a face level.
And then he sent a scornful glare at the strand of hair.
…Eh?
Toshinori blinked and saw that what he thought to be a look of resentment was instead one of grim determination.
Huh, he must've been far more exhausted than he imagined.
Midoriya stared at it for a few seconds. Then, after letting out an audible close-eyed breath, he shoved the golden into his mouth before passing it down with an audible gulp.
"I…still feel normal."
"HUH…OH, WAIT, YOU DID KNOW THAT WAS MEANT TO PASS DOWN ONE FOR ALL TO YOU?"
"Yeah?" Midoriya said, looking at Toshinori as if he had grown a second head. "Your quirk requires a way to be passed down, right? Figured it was your DNA or the like…that's what the hair was for, wasn't it?"
"UH-HUH, IT'S JUST…AH, NEVERMIND," Toshinori shook his head. It was better to leave that be. "IN ANY CASE, FRET NOT, YOUNG MIDORIYA! I ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS OKAY TO NOT FEEL ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT. IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF WAITING FOR THE STRAND TO FULLY GET ABSORBED INTO YOUR SYSTEM." He assured his successor. "BETWEEN TWO OR THREE HOURS SHOULD DO THE TRICK!"
"Is that so? Then, in two or three hours, I…will no longer be quirkless…"
"HM? IS SOMETHING WRONG?"
"No, it's…nothing important," Midoriya dismissed. "I was just, uh, wondering how I am going to explain her me suddenly having a quirk."
Ah, right.
Her.
To this day, Toshinori still had no idea what was the name of his successor's friend. Not for a lack of initiative, mind you.
In the end, he stopped insisting when Midoriya revealed that he wanted to keep that and as much of her as possible as a surprise to him until U.A.'s very entrance exam. Exam at which she too was attending.
Given how that was one of the scant occasions Midoriya had been proactive outside their mentor-student relationship, Toshinori couldn't bring himself to give any protests to that.
I haven't known her personally, but with the glimpses of her brain I've gotten through Young Midoriya, I bet she would make for a great support student!
"RIGHT, ABOUT THAT…I AM SURE SHE WILL ACCEPT SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF BEING A LATE BLOOMER," Toshinori assured him. If that girl was half as great as Midoriya had been teasing her to be, he was confident his words would hold true. "HMM, PERHAPS WE COULD BRAINSTORM IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THAT FOR THE FUTURE ONE OF THESE DAYS." No, they definitely need to. Those spare months they have left should be enough to acclimate Midoriya into having a grasp of the quirk and make him look natural at it, but considering he had been quirkless until just recently, people will eventually begin to ask questions regardless."FOR NOW, YOU SHOULD HEAD HOME AND TAKE THE REST OF THE DAY. TOMORROW, I WILL HELP YOU SOLVE ANY CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE REGARDING ONE FOR ALL ALONG WITH THE INITIATION OF ITS OFFICIAL TRAINING, SO EVEN IF YOU WILL BE CAPABLE OF USING IT TODAY IN A PAIR OF HOURS, PLEASE AVOID THAT UNTIL WE RECONVENE, ALRIGHT?"
"Mhm, I promise," Midoriya bowed. "See you, tomorrow…All Might."
Instead of saying anything else, Toshinori gave Midoriya a smile and an encouraging thumbs up.
Perhaps it was his imagination. Maybe it was his desperation for any sort of reassurance.
But, for a moment, when he looked up at him, Toshinori could've sworn Midoriya's lips twitched upwards.
With nothing else to be told between the two, his successor strode back home. Time went by, and eventually, Toshinori could not even make Midoriya's silhouette in the distance.
In the meanwhile, Toshinori, stood there, simply watching ahead until his own figure disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing his fragile form to the world once again.
Still, that didn't make the fire in his heart falter for a moment.
Yeah, things might've not been like he idealized them to be in the past, but so what? The world would be a rather sad and boring place if everything always went like one expected it to be.
Yes, the relationship between him and his successor was yet to resemble the one he had with Nana. However, if he had reached the bottom, that just meant that things could only go up!
I've terribly wronged, young man. My own weakness stole something precious from you…still, that doesn't mean I have given up on you yet!
Months, years, decades, hell, perhaps the rest of his life!
In the name of the innocent boy he had no hope of ever meeting again.
For the sake of the young man in which he will rest the flames of hope.
Even if it costs him his life, Toshinori Yagi will set the path for a future in which Izuku Midoriya would smile without restraint.
It's been a while, huh?
You might know the drill by now. Got a job. Threw writting time through a loop. Yada, Yada.
Thankfully, I've managed to adjust back (More or less.) and i've gotten a schedule space to get back on this and my other works. I will still get updates on somewhat stretched periods, only nowhere as long as this chapter took.
Maybe.
Anyhow, I hope (Heh, get it?) you guys got to enjoy this.
