Izuku groaned when he heard his mother knocking on his bedroom door waking him for school. He was tempted to tell his mother that he was sick, but he was sure that she could figure out the truth and would just scold him for staying up all night. He absentmindedly put on his clothes, his mind still occupied with what he had discovered last night. However he knew that there was nothing that could be done until later that day so he resigned himself to a long boring day full of the usual taunts from his classmates.

The day drifted in uneventful normalcy until his shift at the combini.

His shift had started normally, just unboxing and stacking items that had come in. He and Asumi were the only employees, everyone was either on holiday or out sick. Thankfully there were not a lot of customers that day. The day shaped up to be a boring one, just thinking and stacking, trying to coordinate his next steps in the All Might Case, when a very tall, haggard-looking man with wild blond hair entered the store and would change Izuku's life in ways he could never have imagined.

He had been in the process of restocking the cosmetics when he suddenly heard a loud crash. Sprinting around the corner he saw Mr. Tanaka the store owner lying in a heap on the floor clutching his side in pain. Izuku's feet moved to help him, but before he could react he saw two people move past him, one the older man from earlier, the other a short stocky man in his mid 20's with mousy features, who took the opportunity to run past Izuku with his full cart of food knocking Asumi over in the process.

Concerned, Izuku extended his hand to help Asumi up. "Are you alright?" he asked, genuinely worried. Asumi nodded, cursing under her breath. "That jerk didn't hurt me, but he knocked the wind out of me," she muttered, swiftly making her way behind the counter to look after the old man.

Izuku had expected the thief to have fled by now, but to his surprise, the man had collided with the older blond gentleman, who was managing to detain him effortlessly. Izuku overheard their conversation, their voices filled with tension. The blond man's piercing blue eyes burned with an intensity that made Izuku look away - unsure whether he should intervene or not, he nonetheless reached for his phone and dialed 119, ready to call for medical help if needed.

"If this man's situation worsens because of your actions, I will ensure that you face the full consequences of the law. He needed help, and all you saw was an opportunity to steal," the older man spoke, his grip on the thief unyielding. The contents of the cart had spilled onto the floor, abandoned.

The thief let out a small, terrified whimper, offering yet another apology. Finally, the man released him and approached Asumi, kneeling beside her. "How is he?" he asked, his intense blue eyes fixating on the now motionless Tanaka.

"He's in bad shape. He's barely breathing, and I can't find his pulse," Asumi confessed, sounding as if she was fighting to suppress her growing panic. Her voice quivered slightly and her breath came in quick gasps.

Everything is going to be fine, I'm here to help." For a short moment, the man seemed almost surprised at himself, then he spoke again. "Do you know how long he's been feeling ill?" Asumi nodded, her voice filled with a mix of concern and frustration. "He mentioned this morning that he felt nauseous and had some heartburn, but he brushed it off as something he ate. Just before you arrived, he started complaining of chest pain. I also noticed that he was sweating more than usual. I told him to see a doctor, but he refused. The stubborn old man cares more about his store than his own health," she admitted, shocked by her own audacity." I already called 119, but they told me all the EMT's were busy with the villain attack three blocks down and I don't know CPR.

Before Asumi could continue the man had opened Tanaka san's shirt and had placed his large hands over the man's chest, delivering three powerful pushes downward. Izuku thought he heard a cracking sound. The man continued in a steady rhythm. As if in a trance, Izuku pulled out this phone where the numbers he had typed earlier still shone on the screen. Pushing the button he prayed that they would be able to get the old man to a hospital in time.

"What's your emergency"

He tried to explain only for the operator to interrupt him. "As I already told you before, we currently have no capacity to take him to the hospital. I am so sorry, perhaps someone else can take him to the hospital," the call suddenly ended. Izuku felt hot red anger rise inside him, barely suppressing the sudden urge to throw the phone against the wall. Without stopping, the stranger gave him a number that he dutifully called. When the phone was answered he motioned for Izuku to hold up the phone so he could talk to the person on the other end:

"Satō san, I have a huge favor to ask you. I have a medical emergency I need your help with" The rhythmic motion continued and Izuku thought he saw Mr. Tanaka's chest rise "No it's not for me" he quickly explained the situation and their current location before motioning Izuku to wait outside for the emergency vehicle and for Asumi to keep an eye on the would-be thief now huddled in a corner.

Not five minutes later he heard sirens and saw the ambulance speeding around the corner. He sighed with relief. He had no idea how he managed to secure an ambulance, but he had saved Mr Tanaka's life.

He led the EMT's inside where they quickly stabilized the store owner and carefully transported him to the ambulance. Not much later the police arrived to take the thief away to the station. When the sound of the sirens had passed the three of them collapsed into silence for a moment, which was broken by Asumi's swearing.

"What a mess"

Izuku couldn't help but agree. The whole front of the store was a minor disaster zone, merchandise had been pulled down and destroyed, and the floor was covered in soup and other food items that were no longer identifiable. It looked as if a tornado had come through.

The older man bowed deeply "I should apologize. When I went to stop him I may have been a bit careless. I apologize for any extra work I have caused you." Asumi waved her hand "There is no need to apologize Sir, we should thank you for catching him and for saving Tanaka san's life."

"Nevertheless I feel like I should help in cleaning up since it was partially my fault" 'They nodded and so the three of them began cleaning up the spilled merchandise and putting away all the things that could still be sold. For a while, they worked in companionable silence until Izuku could no longer contain himself.

"You were really fast back there is that part of your Quirk"

The man laughed quietly and Izuku thought he could detect a hint of bitterness "My boy what if I told you that I was Quirkless"

Izuku felt like he couldn't breathe. This man who had just taken down a mugger and had saved their boss was just like him. For a moment the urge to blurt out that was Quirkless too was overwhelming before he remembered that he was not Midoriya Izuku quirkless middle schooler with a mother working three jobs to make ends meet and a father who had abandoned him when he had been diagnosed as Quirkless, no he was Mitkumo Akatani and if he wanted to keep his cover he could not give in to his urge no matter how much his heart was aching to do so.

There were so many questions he wanted to ask "Where did you learn to fight? How did you know that woman and how did she organize an ambulance so fast? How did you get that robber to back down so quickly?" but all that came out of his mouth was "I think you are amazing!" Izuku blushed and the man seemed flustered, scratching his neck with his large hands ``Well the young lady here was in trouble and I couldn't just stand by and do nothing could I?" Now it was Asumi's turn to blush.

"I don't think I ever got your name" was meant as a statement, but instead came out like a question.

The man shrugged apologetically "I think in the heat of the moment it must have gotten lost. My name is Yagi Toshinori. It's a pleasure to meet you." he gave a short bow. Both Izuku and Asumi quickly introduced themselves

"What's going to happen now?" Izuku asked the question that had been on his mind for a while now." Who'll take over the store until Tanaka san can come back?" If he made it, it would take at least two weeks for him to return to work full time and what would happen until then Asumi had an elderly mother and two young children to support. Her husband had died in a villain attack last year and she had been working a second job in this store ever since and as for Izuku. He needed the money for his projects, he knew that if he asked his mother she would give him the money, no questions asked, but he didn't want to do that to her. Working at this store made him feel independent, it made him feel accomplished despite everything.

Asumi shrugged "I always assumed that his son would take over until he gets back" she sighed clearly imagining the same doomsday scenario Izuku was imagining. Once again they worked in silence for a while when suddenly there was a loud noise startling them. It turned out to be Yagi's phone. He scowled at the interruption before making a quick apology and quickly answering the phone. After only a short conversation he returned the phone.

"It would seem that I'm needed at work. I'm sorry to leave you to finish the rest of the cleanup. It was a pleasure meeting you. He gave a short wave, before leaving the store in a run.

The rest of the day was uneventful, but Izuku couldn't help but think of Yagi san and how he had saved the day. He would love to meet the man again and ask all the questions that had gone unanswered.

A day later Izuku was taking a stroll in the local park. The fact that the store was currently closed had left him with a lot of free time that he didn't quite know what to do with. The first thing he had done after school was to visit Tanaka san in the hospital. Thankfully the older was on the road to recovery, but now the rest of his day was free and somehow hero-hero-watching did not hold as much excitement as it once did not with All Might's sickness looming over everything.

Currently, he was sitting on a park bench in the sunshine finishing his drawing of Eraserhead when out of the corner of his eye he saw Yagi san walk past him.

He waved and quickly made his way over to him. He hoped he was not being intrusive, but after the man's quick exit yesterday he had really hoped to see the man again. He was so fascinating and there were so many questions he wanted to ask.

Yagi greeted him with a smile and a laugh and Izuku felt himself relax, he was not intruding on the man's time.

"Hi, it's good to see you again Yagi san"

It's good to see you as well my boy, how are you? I hope you have recovered from the excitement yesterday.

"I'm good, I just came from the hospital, Tanaka san is doing much better. His son has taken over the store for the moment so hopefully everything should go back to normal soon. "

"Good", Yagi nodded approvingly, "I wish I could have stayed yesterday, but sadly I had to levade. My co-worker had an emergency and needed me to come in to work.", he shrugged apologetically.

Izuku sat down next to him on the bench and placed his sketchbook and pencil next to him. "There is no need to apologize" we got everything fixed…" He trailed off

"So how did you take down that guy so fast?"

The older man smiled, "Oh I've worked in a professional capacity with both heroes and police so I've picked up quite a few tricks."

Izuku was flabbergasted, if what the man said was true and he had no reason to doubt it then this frail looking man in front of him had actually worked with heroes; imagine the stories he could tell.

"Which hero agency do you work for? What do you do there? Do you help in apprehending villains? the words tumbled over each other with how fast Izuku was speaking

The man laughed "Yes I did indeed work with a hero agency for a long time, but sadly I was more in the administrative side of the process. This is how I met Sato san, she used to work for the Tokyo police, but later moved here. Now that I live in Mustafu myself I plan on catching up with her if the time allows."

"What hero agency did you work for?" Izuku inquired, but the man cut him off with a shake of his head "I'm not allowed to discuss that I'm afraid, I don't want a pack of lawyers on my case", laughing awkwardly, he rubbed his neck.

"Did you get to meet All Might?"

The man smiled a nostalgic smile "Now that I can talk about. Yes I did get to meet All Might and his Sidekick Sir Nighteye when they were still working together. It was interesting seeing them work up close, though both of them could be quite stubborn and All Might tended to rush off into trouble, much to the annoyance of Sir Nighteye, they were a well coordinated team and close friends, it is quite sad that they no longer close." He remained silent for quite a while, apparently lost in his own thoughts.

"All Might is my favorite Hero"

Yagi gave an indulgent smile, which seemed strange on such a gaunt man.

"I mean that's normal, he's everyone's favorite hero, but I don't just like him because he is strong or because he is popular….."

"Oh"

The man turned toward him, looking at him directly, his eyes so sharp and piercing in the shop now seemed calm and quiet and full of genuine sympathy.

"Yes" Izuku's voice was quiet. "He doesn't care about the hero charts, he helps people no matter who they are, he makes people feel safe, no matter if they have a 'Quirk' or not, or if they have a scarry mutation he'll still fight for them. When you need him he's there and he makes people feel safe and he gives them hope and he inspires people to be better, he inspired me to be better. I always wanted to be a hero, but with my Quirk everyone tells me that is impossible, but I still want to help people in any way I can."

Izuku gave a nervous laugh, "sorry if that sounded weird"

"Not at all", the blond assured him "I think that is something I like about All Might as well and I think that that goal of yours is very admirable. Heroes are not just the public heroes you see on TV every day, it's firemen, EMTs, police, clean up crews, doctors and nurses, child care workers and so many others and many of them do not have flashy Quirk and yet their contribution is just as valid. Their hard work is often forgotten by the common public who only see the flashy side of heroics. It's easy to get lost in all the publicity, to forget what being a hero is all about.'' He looked up at the sky as if searching for something "Originally being a hero was a volunteer service did you know that? But, too many heroes forget their roots, why they became heroes in the first place, not for fame and glory, but to help the people, to make the community they live in a better and safer place, taking the hits so no one else has to"

He gave a rueful smile and pinched his nose with his fingers,"though sometimes it is hard to remember when everyone is depending on you and it feels like you are carrying the world on your shoulders"

"It sounds like you're speaking from experience"

"Yes in a way I am. I'm an old man, I've seen quite a few things and I had the fortune to talk to some of the best heroes I ever had the pleasure of meeting, not just in Japan, but Korea, China, Taiwan, India, even the US."

Izuku couldn't help, but be impressed, there were so many new heroes just in Japan alone and this man had met heroes from outside Japan.

"It all seems so glamorous from the outside, but it is hard work and sacrifice, but it's worth it, if one child gets saved it is worth it. I may not have been able to work as a hero, but I got to do my part and I'll always be grateful for that."

They talked for a long time, swapping stories with Izuku listening Intently to the man's tales.

Izukiu told him about his life. He told mostly the truth changing only a little thing here or there, he had no idea why he didn't just tell Yagi san the full truth about Izuku Midoriya, but something inside him just clamped up at the thought. He also showed him the sketches he had made and Yagi seemed especially interested in the drawing capturing Death Arms mid fight.

He told him about the All Might Contest and his meeting with Eraserhead the week before. When he had finished the man looked impressed.

"Eraserhead was right, it was reckless to put yourself into danger for just a picture, still you were incredibly brave, I can't imagine how scary this situation must have been for you"

"I had help from Eraserhead"

"True my young friend, but most people would have tried to run out the door instead of trying to fight him" Izuku thought he heard a hint of fondness in the man's voice.

"I mean he would have just gone out and hurt someone else, if we didn't stop him. My mother made me take classes when it turned out my Quirk was useless at defending myself and I've been practicing ever since. I know it won't do much against a villain with a powerful Quirk, but I can at least protect myself in some way"

Yagi gave him a smile and Izuku felt his spirits lift. He couldn't explain it, but somehow he felt safe, not in the way All Might made him feel safe, but he felt like Yagi san was someone he could talk to, someone who would listen to him and take him seriously. Maybe he could trust the man to help him with his All Might problem. He couldn't tell him the truth, he wasn't sure what ramifications it would have for All Might, for him and for his mother, but he could at least tell him a version of the truth.

"Yagi san can I ask you a question?"

"Of cause my boy"

"So I have this friend and…"he drifted off. How could he explain it without giving himself away?"

"Well I have this older neighbor, and his neighbor is a really great person, but I think that he might be in trouble"

"Why is that?"

Izuku hesitated before continuing,

"well he's not around a much as he used to be and when he is there he's different"

"Different how?" Yagi asked

"I'm not sure, I think he might be sick or in serious trouble, but he doesn't talk about it. He's still a great person and helps out when someone needs something fixed around the house and babysits the other neighbor's kids when Gotō san has to go to work, but other than that he doesn't come out to talk like he used to, apparently he rarely leaves his house. I don't get it, why doesn't he just get help, it's going to get worse, but instead of letting people help her just shuts people out?"

Yagi listened patiently

"There are many reasons why a person might not sek help, they may be too proud to ask for help, or have no one else to turn to. Many people never get help in fear of putting a burden on other people or being perceived as such, as I have said there are many different reasons. Perhaps you could contact his family and ask him for help"

"I think he may have family in Hokkaido, but he rarely talks about them and I've rarely seen them visit him so I don't know. What if they don't want to see him? I don't want to be intrusive and cause the poor man more trouble?

I'm worried that if he doesn't get help he could end up in the hospital or worse.."

"You know, you told me that you always wanted to be a hero, well meddling when you don't need to is the essence of being a hero. People will not always tell you when they are in trouble. It is important to get a sense of when people need help, when they need a friendly ear and when they can deal with a problem on their own. I think in your case though meddling might be the only way to help the man if you have tried everything else."

"I think my mom knows his relatives, maybe I could write therm and ask for help"

"There you go young man," Yagi clapped him on his back with what was an amazing amount of force for such a frail man.

The sun was starting to set as they parted ways towards their respective homes. Izuku felt lighter than he had in days. Yagi-san had given him the push he needed to go through with his crazy plan.

He would talk to Sir Nighteye and discuss the problem with him and see what could be done, but accomplishing that would be a problem.

The next day he made his way to Tokyo, armed with his notebooks, he made his way to Sir Nighteye's agency only to be told by the secretary that Sir Nighteye was not available and if he needed something he could leave a message or talk to another hero.

Frustrated, Izuku made his way back to Mustafu.

"Damn it" he had been so close to solving this problem. there had to be another way.

Izuku knew from his studies that Sir Nighteye had several Sidekicks and taken on an intern, he had even discovered his name. Mirio Togata, he was a second year at Yūeii High School. It had taken quite a bit of digging in places that made Izuku's skin crawl, but eventually he had found both Bubble Girl's and Mirio san's addresses.

The next day he made his way to the address he had found on the internet.