Learning to Trust
"Everything's fine today; that is our illusion."
一Voltaire
Chapter 20: Everything is Fine
English was Tetsu's least favorite class of the day. Honestly, any of the classes that weren't directly related to support courses were enough to bore him to sleep, but English was the worst. Part of the problem was that it came directly after lunch. But most of it was that, like art history, he saw absolutely no use for the course if he was going to eventually own his own support industry. At least art history had Midnight teaching it, so there was something keeping him awake. Present Mic was just loud. And English was so … boring.
Tetsu flopped forward on his desk, burying his face in his arms. At least math and science helped him with design and function. And his general history course taught him a bit about what had and had not worked for heroes in the past. But unless he actually moved from Japan, when was he ever going to need to speak English?
He closed his eyes while he waited for Present Mic to get to class. Maybe he could sneak a little bit of a nap in. He'd been working on modifications for his AI system pretty late into the night, since the programming was about the only thing he was currently allowed to do outside of Power Loader's presence. Though no matter how much time he put into it, he couldn't figure out what bug had caused it to activate for Mirio. It had worked perfectly in every simulation since then, only activating for holofootage of All Might, even when presented with video footage of Mirio from this year's sports festival. It was almost as though there had been some other variable at the time throwing the program into confusion…
His brow furrowed. But what? There had been no one else there but Fuyuko and Yagi-san. It didn't make any sense…
Before he could put much more thought into it, the door to the classroom burst open just then, announcing his teacher's entrance. Tetsu groaned, covering his head with his hands, as he remembered the quiz on idiomatic expressions they were supposed to have today. Crap… He peeked up to watch his teacher stride energetically into the room and drop a stack of what Tetsu could only imagine were the quizzes onto his desk. From the height of the stack, they were extra long.
Double crap.
Present Mic leaned back against his desk, clapping his hands a couple of times to get the kids' attention. It was always hard settling this group down after lunch, but slowly they came to order, drifting back to their seats and pulling out their English notebooks. Some, like Fuyuko-kun, sat stiffly in their chairs, pens at the ready. Tetsu smiled a bit at that. She was the most organized student-no, the most organized human-he had ever encountered.
Others were still chatting with their friends, trying to put off English as long as possible. Tetsu sat up enough to prove he was conscious, and hopefully avoid drawing Present Mic's notice. After another couple sharp claps to draw their reluctant focus to him, Yamada finally had their attention.
"Good morning, little listeners!" he boomed brightly, seeming to amp up his grin for maximum enthusiasm. "How many of you are ready for English?"
A few students immediately raised their hands, while the rest thought about it a moment before responding more slowly. Tetsu just slouched back down in his seat.
Present Mic grinned. "Don't be so enthusiastic," he teased. "And here I have a special treat for you today!"
Tokage, a reptilian heteromorph, launched his hand into the air, green eyes lighting up as he asked, "Are we going on a field trip?"
Yamada chuckled, shoving the fingers of his hands into the pockets of his tight leather pants. "I'd have to haul you all the way to America or England if we wanted a field trip to be effective in this class."
"Or Australia," Fuyuko-kun added thoughtfully. "They speak English, too."
"That they do, my girl." He smiled at her. "But I have a more time and cost effective treat to help prepare you for the future of selling your support items to English speaking buyers."
As the students glanced at each other in confusion, Yamada called loudly toward the door, "Wanna come in, Yagi-san?"
At those words, Tetsu shot up straight in his seat, and almost began to choke on the air he was breathing. Yagi? What's he doing here? In English class of all places? He was nearly quivering in excitement. He has to be some sort of bigwig support person at Might Tower. There's no way he's just a secretary or something. Does he speak English, too? What doesn't this guy do? Suddenly the English language seemed just that much more appealing.
The door quietly swung open just then and in stepped the tall, slim figure of Yagi Toshinori. He slipped silently into the room, making eye contact with no one, soundlessly shutting the door behind him. Present Mic seemed to be trying to hide a grin, clearly proud of his accomplishment. Tetsu's opinion of his teacher increased a bit at that. Maybe Present Mic had a better eye for details than Tetsu had originally thought.
His attention shifted back over to Yagi-san. The man seemed surprisingly uncomfortable, already adjusting and readjusting the collar of his oversized suit. He positively radiated nervous energy. When Yagi finally glanced in Present Mic's direction, probably more to avoid eye contact with the class than anything else, Yamada shot him an encouraging thumbs up. "Thanks for coming in, Yagi-san!"
Yagi flashed him a faint smile, and coughed uncomfortably, but finally allowed his eyes to sweep across the room. They hesitated briefly on Tetsu, and that smile of his flickered across his face once more, causing the boy to sit even straighter.
Almost immediately upon his entry, a hushed whisper had begun as the rest of the class finally figured out that this Yagi-san was the mysterious stranger who'd caused such a stir across the campus.
That's right, Tetsu realized in awe. I'm probably the only one other than Mirio and Fuyuko who even know who he is. His eyes flickered over to where Fuyuko sat at the front of the room. I wonder if it's okay if I let people know we've talked. Maybe he isn't supposed to have talked to me before this. Did he come all this way just for our class? Tetsu's head was spinning.
Just then Yagi-san began coughing another of his thick, wheezy coughs, and Present Mic motioned for him to come over to the desk and lean on it beside him, all while quieting his class, addressing them again. "Yagi-san has graciously agreed to spend some time speaking English with you, American style!" With one hand on his hips, he leaned forward, waving his other index finger in the air, announcing cheerfully, "Class 1-F, you should feel honored. Yagi-san is a very busy and important man. He only has limited time here at our school, and he chose your class to speak with!"
Twenty sets of eyes swung back to study the frail man standing uncomfortably beside him, as though trying to determine exactly how important he really was.
"How about we give Yagi-san a warm Class 1-F welcome!" he shouted, fistpumping.
Yagi jumped beside him, coughing hard into the handkerchief he'd pulled out, and shooting Present Mic a warning look that Tetsu could easily read, even from his seat in the middle of the room.
Tone it down…
Tetsu would have found it funny if he didn't notice the blood on Yagi's handkerchief again as he pulled it from his face, still breathing hard. He didn't care what the man said… that wasn't normal.
The rest of the class was apparently oblivious, however, and instead obediently greeted him, lapsing back into silence. Finally a tentative hand raised in the back of the room.
Yamada enthusiastically pointed at a large boy with black hair and green eyes. "Yes, Kurusawa-kun! You have something to ask Yagi-san?"
The boy blushed. "I was just going to ask if I can use the bathroom," he muttered quietly. There were a few giggles around him.
Yamada visibly deflated, slumping back against his desk. "Yeah… sure. Go ahead."
Another strained silence followed. Tetsu couldn't take it any longer and finally tentatively raised his hand.
"Yes, Mizutani-kun?" Present Mic asked, more carefully this time in case this was another bathroom request. Yagi's own piercing stare turned in his direction as well.
Tetsu fidgeted with his pen, suddenly rendered nearly mute by the intensity of that stare. For some reason Yagi felt like a totally different person when he was standing up there with a Pro. Tetsu cleared his voice, and quietly asked the first question that came to his mind, "How did you learn American English, Yagi-san? Have you been to America?"
As soon as the question was out of his mouth, Tetsu was internally cursing himself. What a stupid question. He probably had learned it in school like the rest of them. He'd told Tetsu that he went to UA. But the man's face split into a grin at those words, and he chuckled that soft, wheezy laugh of his, replying softly in slow, careful English to be sure they could understand, "That's a good question, young Tetsuya."
A number of his classmates glanced at him at Yagi's use of his name, but the man continued in his soft, firm voice, immediately capturing their attention.
"I grew up in Japan, near here, actually. But I went to college in the United States." He chuckled dryly, and added in fluid Japanese, "I seem to be losing a few of you. This is a first year class, yes?" At their nods, he stood in front of the desk and continued gently, "I'm assuming most of you got the basics of English in middle school, but if I say something you don't understand, let me know and I'll repeat it in Japanese, okay?"
Several students nodded gratefully, and he continued, always speaking English, sometimes translating when he saw hands raise.
"I was a student at Stanford University in California."
Fuyuko's hand shot up, and she asked, "Isn't that a top American research and engineering school? They're known for their support program."
Yagi nodded, smiling, his eyes flicking over to Tetsu's as he replied, "That's right, young lady. I actually minored in the support program the first year they added it to their list. Until then, they'd been more focused on standard engineering, research, and heroics fields."
Tetsu's hand shot in the air immediately, his eyes wide with excitement. No way!
Yagi nodded to him, "Yes?"
"David Shield was in the support program in its first year! Were you in his class?" The entire class's heads whipped back to stare at Yagi like they were watching a high stakes ping pong match.
Yagi hesitated a moment, seemingly taken off-guard by that question, before replying in a hoarse voice, "We shared some classes. Of course, he wasn't so well-known back then. But we talked now and then." He began coughing again, at that moment, pulling out his handkerchief once more.
Tetsu barely noticed. Yagi had classes with David Shield! They talked. How was it that this Yagi-san managed to be the absolute coolest person ever? I wonder if they've talked since college…
Someone else's hand shot up just then, and the student asked before even being called on, "Does that mean you went to school with All Might?" That question was followed by a babble of excited voices, topped only by Present Mic's own command to quiet down.
And by Yagi's coughing, which sounded like it was getting worse.
Tetsu froze, recognizing a dangerous quality creeping into that sound. His head snapped up, and he could see blood starting to soak through the handkerchief at his mouth as the man coughed wetly into it, fumbling with his other hand for something in his pocket. A feeling of dread settled in his stomach.
Present Mic had stepped forward to quiet his students, and didn't seem to be aware of how bad it was, though to his credit, he did sent a worried half glance behind him when the coughing grew more strained, and Yagi dropped the inhaler that he'd been struggling to get out of his pocket. He'd stumbled back to sit hard on the edge of the desk, his breathing sounding strained even from Tetsu's distance.
Several of the students had begun to murmur worriedly in the front, but they didn't realize… Tetsu stood abruptly, no longer able to wait for Present Mic to notice. "Yamada-sensei," he said quickly, while moving purposefully to the front of the room to pick up the inhaler that had fallen to the floor. Handing it to Yagi, he continued, "Yagi-san has breathing problems. I think he needs help."
Present Mic was already moving back toward Yagi, even as the man finally managed to get a few puffs of his inhaler. The voice hero muttered some forceful words in English under his breath while supporting the much taller man with one hand. He spoke quietly with Yagi in English for a moment, but the man firmly shook his head, responding to Present Mike in English as well.
Tetsu could only work out a few words, but it was enough. Recovery Girl, oxygen, rest. No.
Tetsu put a tentative hand on Yagi-san's sleeve, causing the man to jump, startled by the contact. He was continuing to half-cough and wheeze, but the inhaler seemed to have helped him a bit. Still, his skin was pale and his chest seemed to be heaving in a struggle to breathe. "I can take Yagi-san to Recovery Girl, Yamada-sensei."
Present Mic nodded at that, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "That's a good idea, little listener."
Yagi was shaking his head, but Present Mic continued, seriously, "Yagi-san, you need oxygen. I wouldn't have asked you to come in if I knew you were still feeling rough. You should be resting. That's my bad. Let me at least make sure you're okay."
"Not Recovery Girl. I have oxygen in my office," Yagi wheezed out quietly in Japanese this time. "I'm right upstairs, closer than the nurse's office. Just let me go up and I'll be fine."
Present Mic seemed uncertain, but Tetsu tightened his grip on Yagi's arm, adding firmly, "I can take him there, Yamada-sensei. I know how to set up oxygen and a nebulizer if he needs either of them. My sister used to use them. I'll make sure he's okay. I promise."
Present Mic finally nodded. Okay. I'll call Recovery Girl and let her know what's going on. If he isn't better in ten minutes, I want you to get the nurse, yeah?"
Tetsu nodded, helping the tall man to his feet, and wincing at how painfully thin he was through the suit. Yagi rested a large hand on Tetsu's shoulder for support, while stuffing his inhaler in his pocket. His bright blue eyes caught Tetsu's concerned expression, and he managed a weak smile, stating tiredly, "thank you, my boy. No need to worry, though. I'll be fine." He gave Tetsu's shoulder a firm squeeze as they walked through the door. "This isn't as alarming as I'm sure it looks."
Tetsu just dropped his eyes and bit his lip nervously. Maybe that line worked with other people.
He knew better.
Toshinori didn't have his nebulizer at school, but the inhaler had done a good enough job of opening his lungs before the oxygen treatment that he was already feeling more like himself after about fifteen minutes and a reluctant call to Recovery Girl. To her credit, she'd only scolded him until a new patient had entered her office, and then had just told him to stop being a "stubborn idiot" and use the oxygen. I'm not sure what's worse… having an episode in front of a class of kids or sitting in here while one of them has to babysit me…
Young Tetsuya sat quietly in a second chair in the office, fiddling with his phone, trying to appear as unobtrusive as possible. After carefully guiding Toshi upstairs and expertly setting up the oxygen, he'd simply sat back and waited. After ten minutes, he'd insisted on the phone call. And after that was resolved, he'd quietly offered to leave him to rest. He'd obviously expected that to be the end of it, because he'd seemed surprised when Toshinori had instead told the boy to stay and just give him a few more minutes.
Now, Toshi sat in his office chair, head leaning back and eyes closed, slowly breathing as oxygen flowed into his failing excuse for a body. His lung seemed to be cooperating again, and he would have felt the antsy temptation to take the offending apparatus off if he weren't certain that it would upset the boy after all the work he'd put into setting it up.
Speaking of which…
Toshi tilted his head forward a bit, cracking one eye open and studying young Tetsuya. It had taken Toshi awhile to figure out how to operate this machine, but the kid had everything running in minutes. Like he'd done it before.
"So tell me, my boy," he began, wincing a bit at the weak, hoarse quality that still remained in his voice. He cleared his throat and tried again. "How is it you're such a pro at setting up medical equipment?" He managed a small smile as the boy's head snapped up, instantly alert now that Toshi was talking again. "I'm assuming," he continued, "that they haven't added Oxygen Tanks 101 to the Support Course requirements."
If Tetsu recognized the fact that Toshi was joking, he didn't show it, instead choosing to look down and fiddle with his phone some more. "I-" He took a deep breath and fell silent.
"Young Tetsuya?"
"I've had to operate them before," Tetsu replied quietly, his eyes flicking back up at Toshinori. "My sister used to use one. And a nebulizer. And… other stuff…" He trailed off at that.
Toshinori straightened up at that, unsure what he was about to say, when the boy continued. "She… her name was Kokoro. She was my older sister. She died when she was eighteen."
Toshinori leaned forward, eyes wide. "I'm so sorry, my boy. I wasn't trying to make light of that…"
Tetsu shook his head, eyes hidden behind his long bangs. "No. I know you weren't. You couldn't have known… She… well, lung cancer isn't very common in kids, but she…" He took a deep breath, and looked up finally, eyes shining, but resolute. "Yagi-san. She coughed blood and needed oxygen and lost a lot of weight toward the end… when she started refusing to take her medicine." He shook his head, swiping his arm over his eyes. "Sorry. It happened a couple years ago," he replied, his voice a bit shaky as he tried to flash a watery smile at the older man. "You'd think I would be over it by now."
Toshinori met his eyes seriously. "No," he replied quietly. "I wouldn't think that at all. I lost someone I cared about a great deal almost forty years ago. It still hurts. It always hurts. But it will hurt less over time. I can promise you that."
Tetsu just stared at him quietly, before asking, "Is that what's happened to you?"
"Me?"
Tetsu nodded, playing with the flip stand on the back of his phone case, absently. "She was sick the way you are. Do you have… like her…?"
It took Toshi a second to actually process what the boy was asking, and then guilt lanced through him like a knife. All this time he'd been coughing up blood and telling the kid vague things like "I'm fine" and "it's not contagious" when that was probably the least of the boy's concerns. He shook his head firmly. "No, my boy. I have some pretty serious health issues, but nothing like that. I… was injured awhile back. It's something I'll never fully recover from. But it isn't like that." He caught the boy's eye. "I promise."
Tetsu stared at him before nodding. "Okay." He sighed in relief. "Okay. Good. That's good." His brows furrowed. "But why don't you use your oxygen? I mean, I know it isn't like Kokoro-and I'm glad-but she got worse when she didn't let us help her. The oxygen helps, doesn't it?" He seemed genuinely baffled.
Toshinori tried to find an easy way to explain. It was harder than he'd expected. "It helps."
"Then why?"
"I… don't like making people worry. There are people who know I'm not well. If I can let them see me looking as healthy as possible, it makes me feel like I'm helping them. Because they don't have to worry." Toshi tugged gently at his bang, almost tugging the oxygen tube out accidentally. He brushed it aside in irritation.
But Tetsu didn't seem satisfied with that explanation. "But they already know you're sick, you said, right?" He shook his head firmly, a frustrated frown creasing his face. "If they know you're sick, how will seeing you with medicine make them worry?" His voice began to raise. "Maybe they'd worry less if they knew you were taking care of yourself. Maybe they'd worry less if you'd just let them help you sometimes." He balled his hands into tight fists in his lap. "Maybe I'd have worried less if she'd have just talked to me… trusted me…"
Toshinori's hand dropped to his lap and he simply stared at the boy a moment before reaching out his long arm and grasping the boy gently on the shoulder. "I'm sure she trusted you," he said quietly. "I obviously didn't know her, but I am not the most trusting person in the world, and you have my trust. How could she not? Sometimes people like us… when we hurt… we'd rather be alone. That's all. We don't mean to hurt anyone around us."
"But you do," he said matter-of-factly. He blushed. "She did, I mean."
Toshi gently patted the boy's arm before pulling away, a sad smile on his lips. "No… I think maybe you were right the first time." He took a deep breath. "I'm not good at asking for help, but… I'll think about it. You aren't the first person to tell me that." He sighed. "I'm sorry about your sister. I truly am."
Tetsu nodded. "Thanks. She was really something, too. She was going to apply to the hero program here. That's one of the reasons dad doesn't like UA. He doesn't like anything that makes him think of her." He took a deep breath and smiled thoughtfully. "She had this really cool quirk. She and my mum both did. My quirk is more like my dad's… I just can make smoke. But Kokoro and mum were pretty amazing. Dad used to always joke that mum should have gone into acting instead of becoming a nurse." He smiled at that. "Their quirks were the reason I came up with the idea for my support item, you know."
Toshinori smiled encouragingly, glad to see the boy's mood taking a turn for the better. "Really? Which part? The AI or the blades?"
Tetsu chuckled. "The AI. My sister could shapeshift. Just her face, but it was pretty neat. I designed the AI initially to be able to see past her shifting. I've been working on it for a few years. She was helping me test its recognition before she..."
Toshinori quickly hopped in, hoping to keep the kid from slipping down a rabbit hole of sadness. "And your mother's quirk? You said they were similar."
"Hers was even better. She could shift herself completely into another person, quirk and all. She was going to help me with my program, too, but then she went missing from the hospital where she worked in Jaku City."
Author's Note: Thank you so much to my betas lolo popoki and Haptronym for their invaluable beta help! Thanks to all of you as well for reading (and sometimes even commenting!) I appreciate you all! Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Sirius:)
