Foresight
Chapter 5: Meddler
"Meddling when you don't need to… is the essence of being a hero."
—Yagi Toshinori
The sun was lowering in a glory of reds and golds, setting the horizon aflame. It was late enough that most students and staff were indoors studying—at the very least, most were not bothering to take a late walk in this cooler summer evening. There was, however, a lone figure making his way down the sidewalk to the imposing new UA dorms, too lost in thought to appreciate the beauty around him.
Toshinori walked in and out of the ever-lengthening shadows as evening swiftly approached, hands shoved in the pockets of his oversized navy blue suit coat, brow furrowed and an ominous scowl on his face—alarming for those who didn't know him. There was too much going on in his head for him to really concentrate on anything around him.
So… he's some retired hero. I expected as much. But what kind of quirk could hit him that would make me unable to remember him? It doesn't make sense… I follow every major retired hero, and I know I've never seen him before. Something doesn't add up, quirk or not.
His eyes narrowed, vibrant blue flashing from dark shadowed brows. But that isn't strictly true, is it, old man? There had been something very familiar about the man, even though Toshi was certain he hadn't been one of the heroes that Might Tower had ever monitored for good or bad. There had been an almost electric jolt between them when the man had looked at him, as though they were connected somehow. And what had that man said? It was good to see him again. Again? So, have we met before? How could I not remember him then? I'm not so old that my memory is failing, too, am I? Unless it's that damn medicine again…
Toshi's eyes narrowed. He didn't like when things didn't make sense. Despite Recovery Girl's reassurances that the man was safe, Toshi couldn't help but be suspicious of her insistence that they avoid each other.
What on earth does she think will happen if we talk? Does she expect me to sit down to tea with him and discover he's my long-lost brother or something?
He snorted lightly at that, roughly pulling his hand from his baggy coat pocket to begin fidgeting nervously with his hair. The thought crossed his mind briefly, as he adjusted his overly large collar, that he really was going to finally have to buy some clothing that fit, but again, as he had done for weeks now, Toshinori forcefully shoved that thought from his mind. He had more important things to worry about than loose clothing.
He pulled his keycard from his coat pocket as he approached the warmly lit dorm building, and passed it over the lock. The door buzzed and clicked, flashing green as it unlocked.
Green as that lightning a few weeks ago…
There had to be some connection between the man and the lightning. Recovery Girl had been distant and constantly busy ever since that storm. And now I find out that she's been caring for some retiree with eyes the same color as that lightning.
He shoved the key card back into his pocket and reached out to yank the door open a bit more forcefully than was strictly necessary. The jarring motion caused a brief but agonizing pain to shoot through his damaged arm. Toshi clenched his teeth to keep himself from making a sound while the pain faded.
His eyes were green like the lightning… and like Young Midoriya's.
The thought struck his mind like lightning of his own making. That was it. His eyes were exactly like the boy's. That's what was so familiar about him.
How?
He began walking again, passing by the common room on his way to the elevators. He had hoped to avoid anyone who might engage him in conversation while he was so lost in thought. He forced a tight smile and waved to young Iida, Todoroki, and Uraraka, who were studying there as he passed. They cheerfully waved back and continued working.
Idly he found himself wondering where young Midoriya was. The boy was almost always with that group.
Midoriya…
They have to be related somehow. That's probably why Recovery Girl didn't want me to get myself involved with that man and his business. She already thinks I play favorites too much with the boy. How would it look if I start spending time with his family, too? He stepped up to the elevator and jabbed the "up" button distractedly. Could he be an uncle of some sort? He's not really old enough to be the kid's grandfather, is he? He can't be that much older than me… That stopped him for a moment as, for the first time, Toshinori realized that he was technically old enough to be young Midoriya's grandfather. Toshinori found he didn't much like that thought.
But that man is old enough to be the kid's father.
The thought entered his mind unbidden, and to Toshi's surprise, it was even less welcome than the first.
The elevator finally began creeping slowly down to his floor, dinging quietly as it dropped.
But that's the most logical solution, isn't it? If the kid's father is a hero, it would make sense that he would so badly want to become one. It's only natural for a child to try to grow up to be like his father. He never talks about his family much except for his mother, but maybe the man's been abroad. Now, he retired, so he came home, but was attacked on the way. He knew his son was at UA, so he came to see Recovery Girl. He could have been a lower ranked international hero, which would have kept him out fo Japan and mostly off of my radar.
It made perfect sense, solving every problem Toshinori had with Recovery Girl's story. The man's comment about seeing him "again" could even be in reference to the boy's obsession with All Might. If he was young Midoriya's father, then he probably had seen more of All Might than any normal person could stomach, without having ever even met him.
It should have been enough to finally satisfy Toshinori's curiosity.
To his surprise, it only frustrated him more. Because for some reason that he couldn't put words to, Toshi didn't like the idea of this man being young Midoriya's father, finally home to his family.
Instinctively he balled his hands into fists, a small flash of anger sparking inside. And if he is the boy's father, then what sort of father is he? What kind of man just leaves his family behind like that?
He was forced to pause that thought as it forced him to trod dangerous grounds. Because wasn't that exactly what his own master had done? Hadn't she left her family behind? That was different though. She was protecting them. She couldn't have known what would happen…
But still… wasn't that abandonment, regardless of her intentions, the reason my master's grandson turned out the way he did? What if young Midoriya had…
Before he could dwell too much on that thought, the elevator dinged on his floor and smoothly opened so he could step inside. The doors began sliding quietly shut when he caught a flash of someone hurrying just outside, trying to make it before the elevator left without him. Without a second thought, Toshinori reached out just in time to catch the doors before they closed. The elevator slid open again, revealing none other than the man Toshinori had been spending far too much time thinking about.
They locked eyes for a moment as, for some reason, Toshi just continued holding the door.
Toshi's expression must still have held a hint of the hostility that had been playing through his mind at the imagined history he'd just concocted, because the silver-haired man stopped as though he'd been slapped and just stared silently for a moment before glancing away. "I—" he faltered. "Thank you, but I can just take the stairs. I don't want to bother you, All Might."
He was already turning to leave when Toshinori noticed for the first time that the man's broad shoulders weren't quite level, and he walked with a slight limp. Toshi huffed a frustrated sigh, unable to make a clearly injured man walk up the stairs. "Come in," he replied quietly, trying to school his expression into something blander—not quite a smile, but less aggressive at least. "There's no reason you should have to hike upstairs when you're injured. I'm able to think with another person in the elevator."
The man turned and looked uncertainly back at Toshinori. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose…"
"It's a public elevator, and a large one at that. You're hardly imposing by using it." He finally managed a small smile, adding in a voice laced with only a touch of bitterness, "And anyways, these days I don't take up nearly as much space as I used to. There's barely any of me left. Come on." He motioned with his free hand.
The man finally nodded, looking more like he was steeling himself to enter than agreeing with anything Toshinori had said. As soon as he stepped inside, Toshi let the door go and it slowly slid shut, leaving them isolated together.
"What floor?"
"Six."
Toshinori started at that. Why on earth is he going to my floor? That's only for staff. He firmly pressed the six for both of them.
The man was standing as far from Toshi as possible in a back corner of the large elevator, tugging at a long strand of his hair and studying the blue carpeted floor with more intensity than Midoriya watching a hero in action.
Toshinori just sighed and stayed at the front of the elevator directly in front of the button panel next to the door.
"There's nothing wrong with you, you know."
The comment came seemingly out of nowhere. Toshi didn't even turn around to fully look at the man, instead just glancing back at him out of the corner of his eye. "What?"
"You sounded like you feel like there is somehow less of you."
Toshi snorted softly. "There is. There's about 400 pounds less of me. I'd say it's fairly noticeable."
"That's not what I meant." The man's voice was soft and well worn like leather.
Toshinori didn't want to continue the conversation, but for some reason he found he couldn't just ignore the other man. Half-turning, Toshi asked, "What did you mean, then?"
His companion still wasn't looking at him, still was fingering that long strand of hair. He seemed almost nervous, but when he responded, his voice was firm. "I mean you're still All Might. No matter how you look or what you think you can do. You're still… incredible."
That was not at all what Toshinori had expected him to say. His mouth dropped open slightly, but nothing came out.
The elevator stopped then. The doors slid open and the man, seemingly having said what he needed, moved past Toshinori to step into the hallway. He barely got two steps away when Toshinori stepped out and spoke up, Recovery Girl's rules be damned. "Who are you?"
The other man stiffened and stopped, again facing away from Toshinori. He was silent for a moment before turning with a big grin on his face. "I'm so sorry, All Might. Didn't Recovery Girl tell you? I'm one of her patients. I was recently injured and she's just helping me get back on my feet. I'm staying up here for the time being. I'm sorry if my being here is alarming the staff."
Toshi just snorted at that. "Apparently I'm the only one even questioning it," he responded frankly, not for one instant believing that smile to be genuine. The man was masking something behind that grin, and knowing that only made Toshinori feel more uncomfortable.
The other man's expression wavered for a moment, before he replied, "Again. I'm sorry." He hesitated like he was going to say more, but then stopped himself. "I wish I could help." His voice dropped and he quietly added, "I can see that I'm upsetting you. I'll stay out of your way from now on. I'm sorry for worrying you."
The man turned to walk away, but Toshinori wasn't done. "Wait. Just one more thing. If you aren't even going to give me a name or a proper explanation, you can do this much for me at least."
The man took a deep breath and silently nodded.
Toshinori's fists balled as he looked the other man dead in the eye. "I just need to know this, and I'll stop bothering you. What connection do you have to Midoriya Izuku?"
Author's Note: Thank you to lolo popoki and granny_griffin for their beta work on this chapter! Also, thank you for the kind words and reviews from readers (and thank you simply for reading, even if you don't comment)! I hope you continue to enjoy this story.
Sincerely,
Sirius:)
