The Midoriya household is rather quiet most days, the two occupants either at school or work, at the beach helping out together, or enjoying the city with Yagi, when the man has the time. Tonight, however, the kitchen is filled with the sound of cooking, ladles tapping against the edges of a pot holding soup, meat sizzling on a skillet, the quiet percolating of water in a rice cooker. A pitcher of ice cold water sets down on the table, and our favorite green-haired teen quickly dries the condensation on his hands with his pants.
Inko checks a few more things in the kitchen as she calls her son. "Izuku, is the table ready?"
"Almost!" He calls back, glancing around the table to make sure he isn't missing anything important. A few years older, now, he has well-developed muscles that somewhat force his "shirt" t-shirt to conform to his physique. His fault for buying a shirt that shrank a size in the wash.
He grabs the last few items, a glass for each of the three placements, before he hears a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" he calls to his mom, quickly setting down the glasses in a stack by the pitcher as he hurries towards the door.
He opens it to find a dirty Yagi, his curious baggy clothes covered in a layer of filth that hides most of its details. Blonde hair is more frazzled than normal, and the two long strands of hair seem bent at odd angles. "Young Midoriya," the man says, blood dripping from the corners of his mouth, "I'm not late am I?"
The scream that comes from the fourteen year old is rather understandable.
"Izuku?" Inko understandably comes quickly at the scream. "Yagi-san! Did you get into an accident on the way here?! Quickly, come inside!"
He does so, mindful enough to remove his darkened yellow boots in the doorway, and walks through the house at the mother's behest. "I apologize for the mess. There was a fire on the way here and I was compelled to help get people out." He wipes the corner of his mouth, finally noticing the blood. "I must have overused my quirk a bit."
A wet cloth floats over to Inko and she offers it to him. "Well, that certainly explains things. I'm glad you were helping, but do be careful of your own health."
As he takes it, he notices the distant stare Izuku has. He waves his hand in front of the boy's face, snapping him back to reality. "Young Midoriya, is something the matter? Usually when you zone out you start muttering."
He shakes his head, giving him a shaky smile. "Nope! All good! Just give me a moment." He hurries to the dining room, pulling out his phone and loading up the news app. One hand distractedly sets the glasses around the table as he scours the section he visits the most, partially out of habit.
"Didn't your doctors tell you to be careful when you used your quirk?" Inko quietly clicks her tongue at Yagi while her son is occupied.
"Yes, but I can't just let people be hurt," he tries to respond, almost sounding like an retort. He starts wiping himself and his clothes with the cloth, mostly smudging the black substance into the fabric. "Besides, they almost missed a little girl. How could I live with myself, knowing I could've helped her?" Inko struggles to find a response as one large hand tenderly reaches for her.
Izuku, meanwhile, stares at an article posted not too long ago about a fire in Mustafu, how no one was lost but several had smoke damage to their lungs. It mentions how there was one hero who helped out because he was the closest when it happened.
"...mom?" He calls back, his voice a bit weak with his realization.
The slender lady jolts, backing up enough to see her son through the dining room opening. "Yes, Izuku?" She calls back, wondering what happened.
"The fire. The hero there was-" He turns around and stops, staring first at the two bangs dangling from Yagi's forehead, then the yellow boots by the door, and finally down at the now-clean spot on his red white and blue outfit, hanging from his frame.
"Young Midoriya?" He asks, concerned, taking a step closer.
The teen collapses into a chair, mouth hanging open. "...you're All Might. I healed All Might." His eyes bug out of his head. "My mom is dating All Might."
"Wait, you knew?!" Inko exclaims before she looks at Yagi. "Wait…" She eyes him now, looking over his withered frame. "… you are?"
The two men stare at each other, daring the other to go first. There is a lot of gesturing and pointing before Yagi is the first to back down, sighing briefly. He closes his eyes and slowly inflates, gaining the musculature to fill out the costume in less than ten seconds. He strikes a pose, saluting and grinning at a blushing Inko before he's suddenly skin and bones once more, spewing out blood. "Heacch. I didn't want you to worry about me too much," he confides, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "And I did say I worked with heroes," he said with a dry laugh.
Izuku rubs the back of his neck, now that both their attention is now on him. "I have two forms that can read emotions. Your love was literally right there in front of me."
Inko manages an impressive mix of emotions with red cheeks and a concerned expression. "It's... we... you... okay, one thing at a time..." She pats her cheeks and tries to breathe.
Toshinori walks over, gently taking her hand to guide her to the table. "Would you like me to get something for you?" He offers, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand.
"I had some tea being brewed..." She points.
As he hurries to grab it, Izuku sits down and turns to his mom, waiting for her reaction.
Yagi comes back, setting her drink down in front of her and taking the seat on her other side.
She brings it up and sips it, taking the time to sort out her thoughts. She turns to her son first. "So... you knew we were seeing each other?"
"Ever since... I think the day after the first date?" He tilts his head to the side, frowning. "I hadn't been either Riolu or Ralts for a while, so it may have started earlier, but that's the first time I remember seeing how happy you two were so I said nothing because who was I to deny your happiness?" His words come out in a rush, as he worries she might take it the wrong way.
"Oh... Izuku..." She sniffs and there are small tears in her eyes as she hugs him, managing to lift him up slightly off his chair.
Yagi watches them hug with a smile. "Thank you, Young Midoriya, for caring so much for your mother."
"Thank you," he responds with a watery smile, "for making mom happy."
She recovers after a moment, wiping her eyes and turning to the man. "Now... you didn't deny it so... are you really him?"
He nods, looking bashful. "Yes. I really am All Might."
"But you're so skinny," Izuku blurts out, blushing right after.
"As you saw earlier, I can change my form a bit, too." He points up in the air. "It's kind of like a man posturing at the poolside."
Inko can't help but giggle softly at the thought. "You do strike a certain figure."
He blushes at this and continues. "Besides that, I can only hold it for so long. I want to be sure I can keep you safe," he responds, looking at his folded hands. "If I lead my enemies to you, then what kind of hero am I?"
She puts a hand on his. "I'm sure you'd never do something to endanger us."
"At least not on purpose," Izuku adds. "Even if you did do that, I know you'd do your best to save us." He smiles at Yagi's grateful look, then becomes somber. "That said... why do you have a time limit? Didn't I heal you after we met? Surely you weren't hurt again?"
He grimaces, moving his hand to his left side before dropping it to his lap. "...no, I haven't been injured since, but the damage from back then was... overwhelming."
"Even with quirk and hospital healing?" Inko asks.
His gaze flickers between mother and son before he sighs and reaches for the hem of his shirt. He carefully tugs it away, revealing angry red spider-webbing scars all along his left side, right where his stomach would be.
"I lost half my lung and my entire stomach," He confides in them, his voice wavering with the slightest hint of vulnerability. "I got injured around the time we first met."
Of course, Izuku leans close, trying to see if there was some way he could help.
"Oh no... that's why you had your IV bag..." She covers her mouth.
He nods quietly, looking down at the scar, himself. "Thanks to Young Izuku, I am still able to use my quirk for five hours, but any longer causes me to start-" He stops when he feels water splashing onto his face, his throat starting to feel better. He stares at the Ralts suddenly sitting across from him for a second before nodding in gratitude. "...start bleeding inside," he continues, running his tongue around the inside of his mouth. "May I have some water to get rid of the dry blood?"
"Yes, yes of course." A glass of it floats to Inko's hand and she offers it to him.
He accepts it with a smile, drinking it with relish, swirling some around in his mouth to help clear it out.
"Mom, does Yagi-san have clothes here?" Izuku asks, eyeing the dirty costume. "I feel like we need to wash that."
Inko blushes and shakes her head. "No, he's always kept his clothes on- in- a bag he brought if he needed extras."
He covers his face, very much trying not to picture the implications of this.
Yagi rubs the back of his head. "I could see about getting some clothes delivered, maybe? I certainly don't want to leave here wearing my uniform."
"I'm sure we can figure something out. I might have a jacket or something." Inko assured him.
Izuku turns and hurries off to his room, coming back with a pair of shorts floating before him. "I think you might be skinnier than me as a human, so maybe this will help?"
"Thank you, young Izuku." He pats him on the head, his large hand almost completely covering it. "We shall see after I take a shower." He then abruptly stands. "Inko, I am so sorry, I didn't think about the chair when I sat down!"
She rises just as quickly, steadying him with her hands. "It's fine, it's fine! You're more important and it'll wash out."
He looks at her, smiling and gently holding one of her hands. "That's sweet of you, but I still need to clean up." He glances at the set-up table, quickly thinking of a compromise. "Maybe after dinner?"
"Oh, yes!" She nods and starts floating dishes to the table. "Let's have some food to help process all these revelations."
Izuku nods and pops back into his normal self, falling off his chair. "Sorry, I'm okay!" He quickly gets back in his seat.
Yagi chuckles, resting his hands on the table. "So, while I'm here, how has school been?"
The teenager's mouth goes dry at the question. "Well, uh, things... are like normal," he hedges. "Kacchan and I are at the top of the class again!" He gives them both a sheepish smile.
Inko nods at this as she finishes assembling the food on the table before affixing her son with the type of stare that makes one think moms are psychic. "And is he behaving himself?"
He shrinks away slightly. "He's the same as always?" He tries, then starts panicking. "Wait, no, he's doing better! He's hotheaded but he doesn't lash out as much at everyone and..." He trails off, trying to find something positive. "...he has my back against people who think I'm quirkless?" He hedges.
The hero at the table pauses, hand over his bowl, and raises an eyebrow at Izuku. "Why would they think you're quirkless?"
He looks back at him, baffled. "Because the law says unless you're a hero or in training, the only time to use a quirk is in self-defense?"
"That's on other people, nothing says children are forbidden for using quirks." Inko slightly corrects him.
"...oh." He scratches his head. "I was wondering why they weren't getting in trouble. Glad I didn't speak up, or I'd get made fun of even more..."
Yagi's hand falls to the table, eyes hard. "...they did more than that, didn't they?"
He fiddles with his food. "They tried, but they're scared of Kacchan, so..." He shrugs helplessly and quickly says a prayer before eating.
Taking a deep breath, the gangly man turns to Inko. "What's the name of his school?"
She seems to break her thoughtful stance and look at him. "I'm glad his friend is at least defending him in some way... Oh, right, the school. It's Aldera Junior High," she tells him, wordlessly trying to see what he has in mind.
He taps a finger on the table, frowning a bit. "...maybe I can take a visit there as All Might. A surprise inspection, if you will."
Izuku nearly chokes, quickly shaking his head as he puts down his chopsticks. "Wait! M-maybe wait until Kacchan and I graduate? I-I don't want to ruin his chances to get into UA by making him go to another school!"
His mother narrows her eyes. "Is he still getting in fights?"
He glances off to the side. "...only a few times..."
She sighs softly. "I'm glad you don't use him for that kind of role model..."
"He'll be a great hero," he quietly argues.
"It sounds like he needs an attitude adjustment," Yagi points out.
"Perhaps puberty will calm him, eventually," Inko suggests.
"He's always been a little testy," he defends his friend.
"I know, Izuku." She pats his head. "Some people are just hotheads."
The hero watches their exchange, mildly bemused. "I'm glad to see your friend is helping you." He takes a sip of his broth before continuing. "How did you convince him you have a quirk?"
Izuku scratches the back of his head. "I turned into a Riolu after I ate some of his lunch he couldn't finish." He frowns a bit. "It was really spicy."
He lets out a sigh of relief. "Then that means he's alright," he replies.
Inko tilts her head. "What do you mean?"
"Riolu only works with those who have justice in their hearts," he reminds her. "If Izuku didn't immediately snub him, then there has to be some good in him, right?"
"Huh... that is actually very reassuring." She smiles.
"That said," he continues, eyeing the teenager, "they also evolve with friendship."
Her smile gets wider. "All the more reason to expand his social circles."
He looks sheepish. "Mom..."
"I'm just saying, maybe when you start at a new school you can see if you can meet some nice other heroes-in-training."
His shoulders slump, but he gives her a tired smile. "I'll try. Maybe there will be nice people at UA."
"I'm sure there will be." She rubs his head.
"If there weren't," Yagi interjects, "I'd be sorely disappointed in my alma mater. Speaking of," he steeples his fingers together, giving the teen a thoughtful look, "would you like me to help you get in on recommendation?"
"No," Izuku immediately responds, shaking his head, "if I get it, I want to do it on my own merits."
There is a pop sound and All Might is grinning down at him. "That's the best kind of-" he deflates, coughing harshly.
Inko rubs his back as he rides it out. "Easy there..."
It takes him a moment, but eventually he has the breath to respond. "That is the best kind of mindset, to work hard and accomplish your goals through hard work!"
The woman looks at Yagi. "Would a little advice pointing him in the right direction of where to apply his work be against this philosophy?"
He looks at her in confusion. "I thought that's what we were doing, helping him train his body and quirk? There's no harm in giving or receiving advice from those who care."
"Oh, good." She lets out a small sigh. "I want to help without undermining him."
The tall man tilts his head slightly in acknowledgment. "It's not wrong to want to help."
She nods. "Right."
Izuku smiles at both of them. "Thank you. I promise to make you both proud of me."
"I don't doubt it. For now," he takes a sip of his soup and hums appreciatively, "let's eat this lovely meal your mom made."
The dining room lapses into a peaceful kind of silence soon after, everyone enjoying the food in the presence of loved ones.
AN
Alright, so I really didn't expect to have as much success with this story as I have. Thank you everyone for your support! Now, random question for you guys: who do you think will be the ringer out of his forms that you know so far?
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you all have a nice day!