Case file #17: Yagi Toshinori a.k.a. All Might
"Dear Diary, I think we've both knew that Yagi is an idiot.
But at least he wasn't dense! That blonde oaf at least knows when someone makes a move on him. This green... goofball didn't even know someone was proposing to him!"
"Ummm... whoops?"
Inko winced as her eyes laid on Izuku sitting on a ladder with Izuku sitting on it with Himiko sitting on his shoulder. Judging from their constant blinking, Inko confirmed that she didn't tell them she was coming home early.
"Tell us you're home because you forgot your key." With a 'Welcome!' banner in her hands, Himiko pleaded. "Please?"
"I don't think lying straight to your face would set a good example, Himiko." Inko admitted.
"Holdup, Himiko-nee. Let's look at this positively." Izuku smugly smiled. "Mom is alone. We still have time-"
"Detective Midoriya?"
A familiar voice cut Izuku off as he stood up in a panic, forgetting where he was. With a surprise yelp, Himiko grabbed onto the wall as Izuku hugged her around her waist before the ladder collapsed. Inko watched attentively as her children hung onto each other from the ceiling.
"Is this... normal in your house?"
Inko turned around and found Rei looking at the scene in shock.
"They're usually more... gremlin than this." Inko shrugged.
"Shouldn't we help them down?" Rei asked in concern.
Inko only showed Rei a grin before turning back to her children. Rei watched in bewilderment as Izuku effortlessly dropped down on the ground and held his hands out, catching Himiko in a princess carry.
"Good catch, Izu-chan!" Himiko giggled. "Onwards to helping Rei-san packs!"
"I'm setting you down." Izuku smiled sweetly.
"-and Todoroki just blasted us straight to the shadow realm with his fire!"
Mina groaned as Izuku lightheartedly giggled at her complaints.
"Did you at least win the fight?" Izuku asked as he continued to write down answers to his homework.
"It was a tie. Time out, you know?" Mina whistled with a pen in her mouth. "What's your answer for this question, Midori?"
"I went through that with you earlier, Ashido-san." Izuku casually replied. "Three times."
"Studying is hard~." Mina threw herself onto the pink beanbag behind her. She then watched Izuku's focus expression for a while. Suddenly, an idea popped into Mina's head as she sat up and crawled over to Izuku with a smirk.
"Mi. Do. Ri.~." Mina seductively called, making Izuku turn towards her.
"What's with that tone, Ashido-san?" Izuku innocently asked.
"You know, I just put on a request to soundproof this room last week~."
"That reminds me. I should put in a similar request for Hatsume-san's room." Izuku wondered. "A lot of 1-H have been asking for my help to rein her in on the weekends."
"A man and a woman, alone in a room~." Mina whispered into his ears. "Who knows what's going to happen in a closed room~?"
"Oh?" Izuku quirked an eyebrow.
"Got you!" Mina grinned. "See, no one can resist the good ol' Mina's char-"
"You make a great point, Ashido-san." Izuku cut Mina's off. "We're alone, in a soundproof room, with no one to interrupt us."
"Mi- Midori?" Mina nervously asked.
"I suppose now would be a better time than ever. Especially with two of us here." Izuku grinned as he leaned over Mina, whose face was turning from pink to scarlet red.
Izuku then leaned in, his lips next to Mina's ears. Mina suppressed a moan as Izuku's soft breath attacked her ears.
"Midori, if we're going to do it, at least let me-"
"Get out your math homework, Ashido-san. We've got work to do!"
Immediately, Mina went straight for the door, attempting an escape.
"Has Rei settled into your house?" Chiyo asked before she took a sip from the cup of tea in her hand.
"Yep! But to be fair, she doesn't have that much stuff to pack." Izuku answered. "Mom had to drag her shopping yesterday."
"I surely hope her clothing choices aren't as terrible as her son?"
"I'll have you know I have an amazing sense of fashion. You guys are just too behind time to understand them. Only Tokage-san gets me." Izuku stuck out his tongue before he shrugged. "But then I would argue that this fashion sense is a 'Midoriya' kind of thing. Mom said my dad was the one who bought all my shirts when I was young."
"Personally, I would file that as child abuse but let's not get carried away." Chiyo deadpanned. "I believe I've never heard you mention your dad before?"
"He and Mom divorced when I was... 6 or something? Can't remember." Izuku shrugged. "It was a mutual decision since they both work too much. We still talk from time to time. He's in America now, actually."
"Your mom didn't change back to her maiden name after the divorce?"
"She said it was, 'not worth the paperwork'." Izuku chuckled. "Akatani isn't that good of a name, anyway."
"Your grandparents aren't going to be happy hearing that..." Chiyo quirked an eyebrow.
"They'll forgive me. I'm their first grandchild." Izuku grinned. "You tell me you don't have a soft spot for Tokage-san?"
"... Well played, child." Chiyo raised her hands in defeat. "Now go back to your afternoon classes and ready for that appointment you have."
After Izuku had waved her goodbye and disappeared behind the closed door, Chiyo's expression changed to one of... disappointment as she let out a tired sigh while rubbing her tired eyes. She opened the drawer under her table and picked up a picture frame from it. Holding it up high, Chiyo again looked at the photo she took with her best friend's family and friends. Despite it being slowly more and more withered with time, Chiyo could still see a grumpy Sorahiko putting a teenage Toshinori in a headlock. On their left, was her younger self kneeling to hug an emerald haired girl while next to them was the girl's older brother hiding behind his parents.
"'Akatani' and 'Midoriya', not 'Shimura'." Chiyo whispered to herself with her gaze fixed to the picture. "I knew that. I read the file."
Her wrinkled fingers touched the frame tenderly. "I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. Maybe it's better this way..."
Her fingers stopped as they traced to Nana's face. Chiyo bit her lips, preventing them from shaking. She took a deep breath before putting the picture back into the drawer. With a heavy heart, she closed the drawer and turned back to her computer.
Maybe it's better that the boy and his mother weren't a Shimura.
She didn't think she could afford to get attached again.
"Have you ever thought about how small we are in this vast universe?" Laying on the bed, Izuku wondered. "No matter how impactful our actions are today or in the future, it will all but a blink in the near future?"
"... It's still lunch, Izuku." With the sandwich in her hand, Chiyo blinked. "Have you been drinking coffee again?"
"Well, yes but that's not important now." Izuku abruptly replied. "I have opened my third eye, my sixth sense, Chiyo-sensei. This realm, among many others, is destined for invasion! Only kombat shall-"
"Alright, let's get you to bed, dear." Chiyo closed the drapes. "I'll inform Nemuri that you won't be attending afternoon classes."
"I am fine, Chiyo-sensei." Izuku insisted. "But I must inform this realm's protector of the upcoming invasion. They must be prepared for-"
"For combat. I know, I know." Chiyo half-heartedly agreed with him as she typed on her phone. "We played that game yesterday, remember? At your house? With your mother and sister?"
"You must be one of Earthrealm's champion, then!" Izuku gasped.
"Yes, I am. And the Netherrealm might have me when it earns me. Now go back to bed. I swear I'm banning anything caffein in this damn building."
"This is... a lot of firepower in one room for career counseling..."
Izuku nervously commented as he took a quick look around the room. Two couches sitting directly opposite each other, surrounding a coffee table. On one of the couches, a blond, dangerously malnutrition man was sitting between Sorahiko and Nezu. On the opposite couch, Chiyo signaled him to take a seat next to her.
"It is career counseling, Midoriya-kun!" Nezu clarified as Izuku took a seat next to Chiyo. "This is just at a different scale, I suppose! I'll leave it to Yagi-kun to give you the details!"
"Okay... then why are you, Torino-san and Shuzenji-sensei here?"
"Because this is probably going to be the most outrageous story you've ever heard." Nezu explained. "And it is going to be unbelievable. That's why we are here to clarify any doubts or concerns you may have during and after."
Izuku hesitantly nodded in understanding. Seeing that, Toshinori took that as his sign to introduce himself.
"I believe this is our second meetings, young Midoriya." Toshinori spoke up. "My name is Yagi Toshinori. On paper, I am merely All Might's private assistant-"
"This is not our second meetings, though?" Izuku cut him off.
"Excuse me?" Chiyo glared at Toshinori.
"... Is it not? My apologies, young Midoriya, but I only remember our first interaction, which was during the Sport Festival."
"Uh, no. I'm pretty sure we've talked plenty of times before." Izuku showed a confused expression. "The USJ, that backyard incident with Togeike-san, occasional encounters in U.A.'s hallway, at the staff room sometimes- actually, what did you meant by 'All Might's private assistant'?"
"I- I don't believe I'm following, young Midoriya." Toshinori looked over at Sorahiko and Chiyo, who were showing a similarly confused expression. Meanwhile, Nezu's curious smile remained on his face.
"I mean... All Might is All Might's private assistant? How does that even work? I mean, it could work if you do everything by yourself, which you absolutely could since you're All Might. But why call yourself your own assistant? That's just weird, isn't it?" Izuku tilted his head. "Also, I just learnt All Might's real name. Isn't it supposed to be a huge secret? I've followed your entire career since debut, and this is the first time I've heard of it. Also, why do you look like you haven't eaten anything since you've escaped being buried alive for a month?"
Izuku's rant was met with absolute bewilderment from the three adults in the room. Nezu's curious smile turned into one of mischievous grin as he listened to Izuku's discovery.
"Shu- Shuzenji-sensei...!" Toshinori looked at Chiyo.
"I- I assure you, Toshinori, that I did not say a single word about this to him...!" Chiyo replied, still trying to make sense of the situation.
"Why is everyone looking so surprised?" Izuku asked Nezu. "They didn't know?"
"They do, Midoriya-kun. How you do is why they are in such state." Nezu cackled as he offered Izuku a cup of tea. "Mind if I ask how you came to such a baffling conclusion? Did someone tell you?"
"It's... very obvious, isn't it?" Izuku accepted the cup of tea. "Let's put the similar eyes, hair color and hairstyle aside, anytime I meet him it's always the same clothing. The way he speaks, and his voice is almost the same. Whenever I walk into the staff room, he's in All Might's seat. And even though his name is not on the staff roster, he seems to be very familiar with the rest of the staff. I just put two and two together."
"And I believe you haven't told anyone about your discovery?"
"I thought everybody knew..." Izuku mumbled. "It's like telling them the sky is blue... Like, what even is the point?"
It took several minutes for the other three to recover from their shock and for Nezu to calm down from laughing his throat off. After a frantic process of ensuring Izuku wouldn't tell anyone about this, Toshinori finally sat straight up and looked into Izuku's eyes.
"Young Midoriya, I heard you've been having troubles deciding which path you want to move forward in the future?"
Izuku nodded. Toshinori asked again.
"Why do you want to be a Hero or a doctor, then?"
"I want to help." Izuku looked at him with determination. "I understand that there are a lot of messed up things out there, and not everyone is willing to put themselves out there to solve it. Even if I'm the only one, even if the changes I could do is miniscule, I want to extend my hand, so that someone would have a chance to grab it."
Toshinori studied Izuku's eyes for a few seconds before he himself broke into a smile. He saw Sorahiko showed an amused scoffed while Chiyo just nodded proudly.
"Young Midoriya, what do you know about my Quirk?"
"... The media always theorized it as some types of strength enhancement." Izuku squinted his eyes. "But you always deflected the question whenever it was brought up."
"My Quirk's name, is [One for All]." Toshinori announced. "And I, am its Eight Holder."
"Eight Holder?" Izuku repeated. "You mean there are seven other people with a similar Quirk?"
"Not similar." Toshinori corrected. "Just one. There were 7 people who held onto this Quirk before me. And I want you, Midoriya Izuku, to be the Ninth Holder."
Taking in Izuku's silence, Toshinori continued.
"Allow me to paint you a clear story; one of two brothers, from the dawn of Quirks..."
"Rei-san~." Himiko lazily looked up from the couch. "Is Izu-chan and Inko–san home yet~?"
"He said he has some career counseling to go to." Rei thought before answering. "You want to wait for him or have dinner now?"
"I'll wait for him!" Himiko replied. "What about you? Eating now or wait for them?"
"Waiting." Rei kindly giggled. "It's been a while since I've had a proper family's dinner."
"Aww~, I was going to hug you, but the couch already got me." Himiko giggled. "Raincheck?"
"Of course, Himiko-chan." Rei softly smiled before she once again relaxed herself on the comfort of the chair.
"So this All for One- terrible name, by the way, had a Quirkless brother who resented him for his reign of terror."
"Yes." Yagi nodded to Izuku's recap.
"Due to his... crazy obsession, All for One forced a stockpiling Quirk into his brother. But as it turns out, this Quirkless brother has a Quirk. One that allows him to transfer it to another person. The combination of the stockpiling and the transferrable Quirk has created [One for All], a Quirk dedicated to taking down All for One. It has been passed down for 7 generations before you, the Eighth."
"Yes."
"And you want me, to be the Ninth?"
"Yes." Yagi nodded once more. "What do you say, young Midoriya?"
Izuku took a few more minutes to blink the request into his head. He turned to Chiyo.
"Yes, it's real. All of this is real." Chiyo sighed.
He turned to Sorahiko.
"No trick here, kid." Sorahiko calmly assured him before taking another bite out of the taiyaki. "The rat, the harpy and I have been with two generations of [One for All]."
Izuku raised an eyebrow. "You know the previous holder? Who are they?"
The adults in the room looked at one another. Putting on a smile, Nezu answered.
"Shimura Nana was a fellow Hero, friend." Nezu took a deep breath. "She was like family to us."
"She was my mentor for quite some time before she passed on [One for All] to me and..." Toshinori coughed into his hand. "... felled by All for One."
"I'm... sorry to hear that." Izuku muttered regretfully for bringing up a sour topic. "Her name sounds familiar. Was she a popular Hero?"
"I wouldn't say 'popular', like that harpy or the blond oaf." Sorahiko pointed his cane at Toshinori and Chiyo, who stuttered and scoffed in response. "But she did make the headline a few times. The Marvel Heroine: Skyward was her name."
"I definitely know her." Izuku grabbed his head, trying his best to remember. "I just couldn't remember from where..."
"As interesting as that is, I believe we're straying further from our original purpose here." Nezu clapped his paws together to gain the attention of everyone else.
"Right, right." Izuku coughed into his fist before looking back at Toshinori. "Just... Why me? I'm sure there are better candidates out there."
"There might be." Toshinori agreed. "But I saw this boy who stared straight back at death for someone he just met. This boy who stood up for the others, believing in what is right. This... Hero who risked his own safety for others. That, is the type of person who I believe deserves to inherit [One for All]."
The adults watched in bated breath as Izuku sat in silence. The white noise of the clock ticking along with students shouting occasionally through the window became the only noise occupying the room. Nezu only smiled cryptically as Chiyo and Sorahiko impatiently tapped on their canes while Toshinori nervously gauged the reaction of Izuku. After less than 10 minutes later, Izuku finally spoke up.
"What does it stockpile?"
"... Excuse me?" Toshinori asked.
"[One for All]. You said it is a stockpiling Quirk." Izuku repeated clearer. "What does it stockpile?"
"Is there a reason for this sudden inquiry, Midoriya-kun?" Nezu asked.
"On paper, my Quirk is called [Healing Contact]." Izuku explained. "But its real name is [Cellular Reconstruction]. I can rewrite a living cell structure, making it healthier or in some cases, preventing it from dying out. But my own cells are constantly in this state of... change, putting me in a low-energy operation."
Chiyo's eyes widened at Izuku's explanation.
"I... see. That's an amazing Quirk, young Midoriya." Toshinori confusingly scratched his head. "But what has that got to do with [One for All]'s stockpile."
"Because if [One for All] stockpiles on energy..." Chiyo mumbled terrifyingly. "If could potentially zapped Midoriya off all of his already scarce energy, putting him in a coma at the very least."
"Or death." Nezu concluded.
Realizing the possible outcome, a look of horror dawned on Toshinori's face.
"Aren't we getting too ahead of ourselves here?" Sorahiko chimed in. "Maybe [One for All] might be the solution to the kid's energy problem. We're talking about unlimited and unconditional healing here!"
"Yes, but the risks outweigh the benefits here." Nezu countered. "We have no sure way of knowing what [One for All] will do to Midoriya-kun. I'm not risking my student's safety on a 'What if', Torino-san."
Sorahiko grumpily grunted as he acknowledged the logic.
"Maybe we could look into its previous holders?" Izuku suggested. "They might have had the same issue. We could also learn more about [One for All]. About what it stockpiles on?"
"Does this mean you accept?" Toshinori quirked an eyebrow.
"I'm... still on the fence." Izuku lowered his head. "It's a huge responsibility, Yagi-san. Even without the current predicament, I wouldn't know if I am up for the task. I need some time to consider my option, like Nezu-sensei had suggested."
"A reasonable reason." Nezu nodded with a smile. "We will look into [One for All], Midoriya-kun. Take all the time you need to make your choice. Remember, you can always talk to any one of us here if you want."
"Thank you, Nezu-sensei." Izuku bowed. "This is... one interesting career counseling."
"Indeed, it has been!" Nezu cackled maniacally. "Now that we've reached a conclusion, I believe you should go home, Midoriya-kun! We've kept you here long enough!"
"Oh, one thing before I go!" Izuku remembered. "Yagi-san, could I have a look at your injury?"
"You can heal it?" Sorahiko whistled out in impressed.
"I can try." Izuku shrugged. "Usually, such an old injury would be impossible to heal. But since Yagi-san's cell might be affected by [One for All], maybe I can use that to heal as much as I can."
"I see no harm in trying." Yagi nodded as he pulled up his shirt, revealing a gnarly injury. Taking that as permission, Izuku gently put his hand on Toshinori's injury.
As soon as Izuku activated his Quirk, blackness engulfed his vision.
("That's a reasonable course of action to take." A man with white hair went over his eyes put a piece of popcorn into his mouth.
"They'd better do one hell of extended research, then." A man wearing headband scoffed, turning to one with two scar lines ran across his left eyes. "I'd rather not have another die of overclocking. Especially one so... young."
"I concur. With how much energy [One for All] had stockpiled and will continue to do so, I'm not sure the boy will last longer than a year."
"What a missed opportunity, though!" A bald man yelled out in frustration. "He's such a good candidate! Now we may or may not back at square one!"
"Seventh, you've been oddly quiet." A man with short, black hair commented. "Is there something on your mind? Or is this a start of a phase like Second?"
"Fuck you, Sixth." A man with scar in the middle of his face cursed.
"It can't be... right?" A woman with black hair mumbled under her breath, watching the green hair boy collapsed on the floor while Chiyo checked up on him. "This... This is... He is..."
A yellow silhouette watched his mentor in silence.)
(*)
"Detective Midoriya?"
Inko turned around at her name being called. The withered figure of the retired number One Hero was approaching her with a surprised look on his face.
"Yagi-san." Inko greeted. "I didn't expect to find you here."
"Neither did I, detective." Toshinori coughed into his hand. "But to be fair, this is the last place I would expect any acquaintance of mine."
"Just acquaintance? I'm hurt." Inko faked a crestfallen expression.
"No, I didn't- What I meant was- Of course, you're not just an acquaintance! You're- I- You- We- I-" Toshinori stuttered panicky.
"Aren't you a little too gullible to be the number One Hero?" Inko laughed as she slapped him on the back. "So, what brings you to Tartarus, Yagi-san?"
"I'm just here to give some insights about the security on... you know." Toshinori explained. "What brings you here, detective?"
"An overdue conversation with an... old friend, I suppose." Inko mumbled before she put back her confident expression. "Anyways, are you coming for dinner tonight?"
"Of course, detective." Toshinori smiled. "I do need to discuss with young Midoriya about a certain matter."
"Oh, right. About that..." Inko awkwardly scratched her head with a sheepish smile. "Izuku and Himiko won't be at home tonight. Himiko has 'girl's night', and Izuku told me his friend's family invited him over for dinner."
"S- So it'll be... just us?" Toshinori looked away.
"Yeah, just us." Inko smiled. "Still want to come?"
"Of- Of course!" Toshinori quickly answered. "I must go home now. I am... under-prepared!"
Inko showed a beaming smile at that answer. She then wiggled her finger, signaling Toshinori to lean down. The man followed and found his ear being whispered at with a soft, teasing tone.
"I do hope you won't just refer to me as 'Detective' for dinner later, Toshinori~."
Toshinori's heart beat so fast that Rumi had to tell him to 'Stop breathing!'.
(*): The Tartarus visit that was mentioned in chapter 13
A/N: What happened to the Shimura plotline, one might ask?
Don't know yet, I might answer.
You may notice a lot grammatical error in this chapter. Too long for me to re-read, so.
Also, damn am I suck at Mortal Kombat. Fun game, though.