Disclaimer: Both Street Fighter and My Hero Academia belong to each of their respective franchises. I claim no ownership whatsoever.

"S...So, G-G-G-G-G-Gouki-s-san..." Midoriya Hisashi, sitting tightly close to his wife on the sofa, stammered out, trying and failing to keep his knees from wobbling with his already shaking hands. Inko fared little better, torn between slipping into the kitchen to get their... guests some refreshments or staying in case she and her husband had to get down on their knees before the giant of a man, her body quaking violently as her gaze was fixed squarely on the latter. "Wh-What brings you h-here to our humble home?"

Toshinori tried to keep his face from betraying the empathy he felt for the poor couple, maintaining the professionalism he had honed from years of posing as his own Secretary-Manager.

He and Naomasa were seated on an opposite sofa, a lone coffee table separating them. "Midoriya-san, if it is alright with you, I will speak on Gouki-san's behalf. He is…very reserved, and does not do well in a conversation." He willed himself to ignore Gouki's eyes falling on him for that remark, before the man shrugged from the truth of it. "On the day that I happened to be in the area when he approached the boys, I followed him vigilantly in case he planned to harm them. Imagine my surprise when he brought them here, and that you were the parents of one of them. After Gouki-san was questioned and all was made clear, I offered him my humblest apologies, as well as a sponsorship of his dojo in good faith."

Hisashi caught himself from that last part and asked, "A sponsorship... from Might Tower?" For the agency of the Number One Hero in Japan to offer their support would make any business rise in prestige. In fact, the company he works for, Detnerat, happens to be one of their main suppliers of not only support items, but also training equipment and other tools.

"It was not without merit, of course, Hisashi-san," Toshinori continued, already aware of the man's employer. "He was more than gracious enough to give us a tour of his dojo and the style of karate he teaches that specializes in self-defense." Naomasa kept his expression neutral with practiced ease, as most of Toshinori's words, especially the latter part, kept triggering his Quirk worse than a perpetrator caught red-handed. "Which is part of the reason why we are here. Gouki-san believes that it would be wise for your boy to take such classes. After witnessing what he went through, he feels that he would only benefit by being able to stand up for himself."

The couple both blinked in surprise and intrigue, while also maintaining their skepticism. "N-Now, wait a minute," Hisashi motioned with a clearing of his throat, his hands waving for the man to slow down. "Self-defense classes? For our Izuku?"

Inko turned to her husband expectantly. "D-Dear…?"

Hisashi looked to his wife, and he saw the anxiety plain on her face. "Well, this sounds just a bit too sudden," he said, turning back to the two men.

"Indeed, but Gouki-san feels that this can only be a way for him to both apologize and extend his hand in helping someone that had gone through such an experience," Toshinori added, reaching for just the right heartstrings to pull. He didn't like it, but this was for a purpose. "This is simply an offer, of course, and you are well within your rights to refuse."

The Midoriya couple faced each other in a silent exchange, clearly unsure whether to accept such an offer that seemed too good to be true. Toshinori, however, did not have such high expectations. If they refused, he and his people would have no choice but to withdraw. What made him cautious was that two scenarios had an equal likelihood of happening. Either Gouki would take matters into his own hands, or Midoriya Izuku would somehow go berserk again.

Defying such expectations would be Midoriya Inko, who; after some whispering between her and her husband, declared shakily, "W-We'll consider the offer."

Toshinori kept his expression even as he said, "May I know your reason, Midoriya-san. Like I said, you are both well within your rights to refuse."

Inko reclaimed enough of her composure to reply, "I…I feel like Izuku does need this. You see, Yagi-san, our boy is…Quirkless."

It was then that the pieces began to fall into place for Toshinori, closing his eyes in understanding. "I see."

"Ever since we found out, it's like…" Inko broke into tears once more, prompting her husband to place a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's like nothing has gone right for him. Katsuki, the other boy that was…with him that day. He and Izuku were friends, but…" She broke down then and there, wiping her tears with the handkerchief Toshinori provided.

Naomasa hung his head in sullen sympathy. Discrimination against the Quirkless was sadly not uncommon, with cases escalating to hate crimes and even murder. He thought he had the boys pinned down because of their dubiousness, but it was the victim who had the least to say and the most to deflect. He knew what fear looked like, and while it was there, the light in Izuku's eyes, the tone he used, it sounded almost... defensive. As if the boy was playing down the fact that the other boy had bullied him.

It was tragically common in certain cases, where victims would still vouch for their abuser, but to see such a thing in a child was always sobering.

"Midoriya-san," Toshinori began gingerly. "We can't even begin to..." The rest of the words died in his throat. Nothing he said would ever alleviate the circumstances this family was going through. His own past Quirklessness came to mind, and the understanding of how the child must have felt permeated his entire being. "Midoriya-san, I can see that you still need time to think about this carefully. You can call the number on the business card when you've made up your mind. If not, it was still a pleasure meeting with you. We apologize for any inconvenience that we may have imposed."

As the two started to leave, Hisashi cried out as he shot to his feet, "W-Wait a moment!" Toshinori arched his brow, as did Naomasa. "W... Would it be alright to at least meet our boy before you go?" Inko gaped at her husband and how he had come to say such a thing. "I think... he should meet the man who... helped him that day." He paused awkwardly. "In a much calmer light, of course." It helped that this Gouki person certainly looked more respectable than he did last.

Toshinori exchanged a glance with Naomasa, then with Gouki, or he would have, if the man showed some modicum of care from his own corner. "Uh, if…if it's alright with you."

Hisashi nodded. "He's in his room." The couple and their guests, excluding Gouki, traveled deeper into the apartment where they came upon two doors across from each other. One belonged to the Midoriyas, obviously, while the one with the All Might decor; of Toshinori in his powered form flexing his biceps, could only be Izuku's.

The Number One Hero couldn't help but be taken aback. "Is…your son…?"

"An All Might fan?" Hisashi said with a slight chuckle. "Y-Yes. A huge fan, actually. Clothes, merchandise, videos, he can't really get enough."

"I…I see," Toshinori said, looking flustered. He ignored the snort from Naomasa as Inko opened the door.

"Izuku?" Inko called. Turning on the light switch, she found her son at his computer, watching HeroTube, showing a video of All Might saving a falling bus full of people, which Toshinori immediately recognized as something that happened last month. The boy had a pair of headphones on.

As Inko entered to garner her son's attention, Toshinori and Naomasa took the time to scan the room, and to their amazement, the way it was decorated made Hisashi's words sound like a gross understatement. Numerous All Might posters were plastered everywhere, almost taking the place of wallpaper. The bed, from the headboard to the blanket, was All Might themed. An All Might lamp and alarm clock could be seen on the desk next to it. The curtains and carpet had the All Might American red, white, and blue colors. By the desk where the computer was placed, a collection of All Might action figures, memorabilia and books festooned nearly every available inch. All Might, All Might, All Might! It was all All Might as far as their eyes took them.

Toshinori broke into a sweat, the gravity of how much the boy must have idolized him setting in hard.

Izuku was broken out of his viewing by a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found his mother smiling down at him. Knowing that he should be resting, he scrambled to explain himself, only for Inko to say once he took off his headphones, "Izuku, we have guests."

The young man blinked and slipped the headphones around his neck. "Guests?" His gaze wandered past his mother, who stepped aside to reveal two men standing at his door. One was a lanky man with shaggy blond hair, while the other was a more healthy-looking man with short black hair. Confused, Izuku looked to his mother.

"Izuku," Inko said with a thin smile on her lips, "you…remember that day when you were brought home by…that scary man?"

Immediately, Izuku's expression paled, the memory running through his brain like a sharp knife. "Y-Yeah. Wh-Why?"

Inko knelt down to comfort her son, gingerly grasping his shoulders. "Izuku, honey, it's okay. Your father and I are here, alright?" Izuku glanced at where his father walked in, and after a frail nod from her boy, she continued, "These men have come here to…erm, clarify what really happened that day."

"Eh? What…really happened?" Inko then explained as best she could a condensed recount of what the men had revealed. "Then…the scary guy was just…helping me?"

Inko nodded. "Yes. He really didn't mean to scare you. He would have told us why he was really there, but in the confusion, he wasn't able to. He's…out by the living room. He's come here to apologize."

After a long silence, Izuku nodded, still looking unsure. He then darted a curious glance at the two men, which made Inko's smile widen. "Izuku, this is where it gets good. You might not believe it, but, well, Toshinori-san here," Toshinori shuffled closer with the introduction, smiling as he nodded respectfully at the boy, "has come here to meet you."

"Meet…me?" Izuku repeated questioningly.

"Indeed, young man," Toshinori said, getting down on one knee so they were at eye level. "My name is Yagi Toshinori, and I hear you're a big All Might fan." It was moments like this that made the Number One Hero feel more at ease, as meeting fans, or really, the people who he helped and inspired was what made his heroism all the more worth it.

"Y-Yeah…" Izuku replied timidly. Toshinori chuckled.

"Well, Izuku, what if I told you," the lanky man drew out the gap in his sentence for effect as he brought out another business card from his pocket, "that I work at Might Tower?"

The shaggy-haired boy didn't react immediately as he just stared at the man blankly. Then, as if a spark came to life in his eyes, Izuku blinked a few times as his mind seemed to process what he had just been told, before the spark exploded as he looked down at the business card presented. It had the words 'Might Tower' emblazoned on it, along with other details, but it was the unmistakable duo stripes that were supposed to symbolize Toshinori's tufts of hair that stood out the most.

Immediately, the young man's demeanor did a complete 180; no, a 360. Where he had been shy and timid, he was now bouncing and vibrating like the overexcited fan that he was. "M-Mister, do...do you really work for All Might?!"

Toshinori could only smile broadly and nod. "Indeed I do. And do you know why I'm here, Izuku-kun?" He bit back a sigh of relief that the young man didn't seem to recognize him that clearly from when he deflated.

Izuku's head was a blur as he shook it in the negative. "I'm here because All Might would like to meet you." By Inko's surprised look, his suggestion hadn't been part of the original agreement, but after seeing Midoriya Izuku up close and made aware of his situation, he just knew that he had to give the boy this opportunity.

Izuku went still as a statue as soon as he heard the man's words. Meet…with ALL MIGHT?!

It took every fiber of the young man's being to not launch himself up to the ceiling for fear that any misbehavior would spoil it for him. All he could do was vibrate in place, wondering if he was really resting in bed and this was just a dream.

Toshinori righted himself to regard Inko and Hisashi, who had sidled next to his wife at the last minute. "Hisashi-san, Inko-san, if you will, we can work out the details in the living room."

Not knowing what else to say, the parents quickly snapped out of their stupor and nodded. The group then returned to the living room with Izuku in tow, finding Gouki waiting, not having moved from his spot. As soon as the boy caught sight of him, all the excitement he was running on abandoned him in an instant, rendering him immobile.

Toshinori was quick to act. "You-Izuku-kun, it's alright." Both his parents did their part in comforting the boy, assuring him that Gouki was not there to cause them any problems, but to indeed apologize. At least, according to Toshinori.

Gouki, who could have been mistaken for a statue at that moment, simply grunted, which was not even close to an apology, much to the chagrin of his two companions. Still, after some time, and with Toshinori speaking genuinely about inviting the family to Might Tower, Izuku had calmed down enough to approach the imposing man, who, though he looked less menacing than he did before, still managed to fill him with unease, if only because of an…odd feeling in the pit of his stomach the longer he kept his gaze on Gouki. A feeling he could not explain. Even so, he politely apologized and breathed out a simple, "Thank you."

Gouki, as if it had always been possible, looked even more apathetic than before, throwing out another grunt that could have been interpreted in a less positive light. When all was said and done, the family bade farewell to the trio without much fanfare.

Upon their return to the car, Toshinori and Naomasa practically deflated against their seats. "I can't believe that actually worked out," Naomasa groaned.

"Don't celebrate just yet," Toshinori equally groaned as he was rubbing his eyes with the full palm of his hand. "We've barely gotten past the hard part."

"Yeah, about that," Naomasa sighed. "You're…inviting them to Might Tower?"

"We have tour days," Toshinori pointed out.

"Not the point."

"Yeah, I know that it can hardly be called appropriate, but-"

"No, I understand," Naomasa stopped him. "After what the kid's been through, this could only be good for him."

Toshinori sighed as he went through everything that had happened in the past few hours. He then turned to Gouki, who was his usual quiet self. "Not…exactly how we would have preferred it to go, huh?"

Gouki turned to look out the window. "It was adequate."

"Adequate?" Toshinori echoed questioningly, surprised at how patient it sounded from Gouki. "What if they do refuse?"

Gouki smoothly replied, "If they manage to live their lives unimpeded, then I will simply go about my business."

"Your…business?" Toshinori repeated in an uneasy tone.

"Run my dojo."

"Ah," Toshinori acknowledged. "For a minute there, I thought you'd just go straight back to hunting for a good fight."

"Redundant," Gouki said with a roll of his eyes. "There is no one alive that can stand against me."

From experience, Toshinori would have dismissed such a statement as nothing more than empty bravado, but coming from Gouki, he had no choice but to take it at face value unless there was real evidence to the contrary. "Yeah, right," Naomasa dared to say as he started the ignition. "There could be someone out there who can. I mean, if Toshinori wasn't the way he is now, I'm sure he'd give you a run for your money."

"Uh…Naomasa…"

"If there was, I would seek them out," Gouki rebutted. "I checked. There is none."

"Well, you-" Naomasa blinked. "Wait. What do you mean you 'checked'?"

"My mastery of the Satsui no Hadō has granted me great insight," Gouki replied. "Almost nothing is beyond my perception once I put my focus on what I wish to know."

Toshinori froze, then slowly turned around to look at Gouki with a tense expression. "You can...read minds?" A grunt was all he received. "Clairvoyance, as well? What else can you do?" For Ki, or really, the Satsui no Hadō being able to afford such an array of abilities was already impressive. M. Bison's Psycho Power was indicative enough.

"Hell, he could be immortal too for all we care," Naomasa joked as he drove, when that gave both him and Toshinori pause. "Are you?" Another grunt.

Toshinori's mind whirred. "Would you…" He was tempted, warring internally if he truly should. "Would you be capable of finding someone?"

Naomasa glanced at Toshinori from the corner of his eye.

Toshinori had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to sleep well without confirmation or closure, but just as certain that he still wouldn't even if he did. But…he just had to know.

"Gouki, I ask of you," Toshinori pleaded, beads of sweat starting to show on his gaunt face. "I will compensate you in any way. Just…if…you're able to…" He needed to be sure. To just know that what he did had been worth it.

"That man…"

Toshinori felt his heart sink with a weight he had hoped to no longer experience again, those two words alone more than the confirmation he needed of Gouki's alleged clairvoyance. There was always the possibility that this had been nothing more than an elaborate ploy by that very person, to try and play him for a fool, but from what he had come to know of Gouki and the power he possessed, he might just take such an accusation as a passing insult more than anything else.

"Is he…?"

"Alive, but weak," Gouki revealed, causing Toshinori's blood to run cold. "Weaker than he had been before your last battle."

Naomasa almost stopped the car in the middle of the highway. "Wait!" He shot the man a few looks while keeping his vigilance on the road, barely able to keep a steady grip on the steering wheel. "You don't mean...?" That Gouki had even determined such a man to be weak before Toshinori had defeated him didn't register as well as the fact that...

"All For One... is alive...?" Toshinori voiced out hauntingly.

Might Tower…

"You...did...what?!" Mirai jumped up from his seat, his desk taking the brunt of his outburst with both fists slamming down hard enough to crack the wood. Night had fallen, basking the city in its own glow.

Toshinori winced, unable to stop himself from jerking back. "Toshinori, I should pull out every single hair you have on that dome you call a head!" Mirai marched out of his desk and stopped next to the man, snarling down on him with pure, unfiltered frustration. "Inviting the Midoriyas here?! Has your condition started to affect your thinking?!"

Toshinori's form sank into his chair, his shoulders drooping. "It's not like I can't. It's still my agency, isn't it?"

"True as that may be, this is already going against quite a few ethical standards," Mirai said, tucking his hands behind him as he paced past Toshinori. "You can't just place this on people's laps and expect them to stand at attention."

"You…don't exactly work here anymore?" Toshinori pointed out.

"It's the principle of the thing," Mirai insisted. "More on that later, but what else is this I'm hearing?"

Toshinori threw himself over his desk, his clasped hands tenting over his face. "He's alive."

Mirai hung his head, as if the revelation that their greatest enemy had not perished as they had hoped didn't stoke any strong emotion. "And?"

"...I'm honestly not even sure," Toshinori murmured defeatedly.

"...If true, then knowing of his survival can only be an opportunity," Mirai concluded after a long stretch of silence.

Toshinori peeked up at Mirai from the corner of his slump. "Provided Gouki is clairvoyant enough to determine that All For One is alive, he might even be able to pinpoint his location." He stopped with a fierce step that echoed across the vast office. "Am I correct to assume such?"

Both pairs of eyes fell on the man, sitting by a sofa with his arms locked over his chest. Mirai approached Gouki. "How accurate are you at finding him?"

"Mirai-" Sir Nighteye cut him off with a sharp raising of his hand, eyes glued on Gouki.

"Well?"

Gouki, whose own eyes were closed, replied. "A cornered rat."

"Is he now? I suppose we should expect as much," Mirai conceded, pushing up his spectacles. "That even in a weakened state, he is not to be taken lightly. Yet, we should be able to deal the finishing blow."

"Mirai," Toshinori shot up to his feet. "Let's…slow down, alright? I mean, we can't just hop into a car and drive on Gouki's directions."

"Has your fire already gone out, Toshinori?" Mirai snapped, making the other man stiffen. "Has your anger, your indignation, your...rage diminished after what you had to sacrifice the first time?"

"...No…" Toshinori replied darkly, tightening his hand into a fist. "If he is still alive, I can do nothing else but end him for good. No one is more deserving." No one. For all the evils the man had perpetrated in his long life, death was really too good for him.

"It hasn't even been that long," Mirai added further. "What's stopping us?"

"He is with allies," Gouki stated.

"...Can you tell us who they are?" Mirai asked, earning a grunt from Gouki.

"I can only sense their life force," Gouki answered. "Not their exact identities."

"Then how were you able to identify All For One?" Mirai questioned suspiciously with a narrowed sneer.

Gouki looked to Toshinori, who flinched from his gaze. "You... read my mind?" He earned another grunt. Frankly, they were beginning to find it easier to interpret the sounds he made.

"This…All For One," Gouki began. "I have not sensed such a disgustingly malevolent Ki since…"

"...Since Bison?" Toshinori speculated. Mirai cocked a brow. He only had the barest to go on, as he did not have free access to the dossier from Interpol. From what he was able to gather, this Bison was the leader of Shadaloo.

"No," Gouki refuted gruffly, curling his lips in…annoyance? Disgust? "There was another."

"Who? Were they also in the dossier Charlie provided?" Toshinori couldn't imagine that there was someone else who was just as evil. The only one who came close to Bison was a creature by the name of Seth, a cyborg who became sentient and took over Shadaloo after the former's supposed death. Or one of his deaths?

"Jedah…" Gouki grounded out in a hard tone of voice.

"Jedah?" Toshinori and Mirai shared a look. "Who is that?"

Silence was their answer, telling them that that was all they were going to get. "What will you do now, Toshinori?" Mirai questioned, returning to his mostly intact desk.

The Number One Hero shook his head. "This isn't something for us to make a snap decision on."

"Indeed," Mirai admitted, pacing about, "but I fear that the longer we delay, the more AFO will be able to reclaim his former strength. Perhaps, even stronger. He is recuperating, and no doubt formulating plans, not least of all devising ways to make you pay dearly."

Toshinori scoffed as he leaned back in his chair, resting his cheek on the back of his hand. "That sounds like him."

Mirai stopped pacing, just two steps away from his chair. "Or…perhaps we should go about this another way?"

"Hm?" Toshinori shifted his gaze to his former sidekick as he sat back down.

"Make plans of our own," Mirai suggested, propping his elbows on his desk and steepling his fingers. "Prepare. Let's measure our options. We now know he's alive. That gives us an advantage. So unless Gouki is suddenly feeling a bit more generous and leads the way to him, we can only brace for his inevitable return. Could be now, the next day, in a few months, the following year. The important thing is that when it happens, we will be ready."

"Ready, how?" Toshinori asked. "Look at me, Mirai." He stood up and spread his arms to show the condition of his body under the suit he was wearing. "Do I look like I'm in any shape to fight him head on when the time comes? My limit is at best five hours before I clock out. Six if I'm lucky."

Mirai turned to run his eyes over Toshi. He then darted a brief glance at Gouki, before returning his focus on his friend. "Mirai?" Toshinori called.

The former sidekick nuzzled his chin in silence.

Saturday…

Midoriya Izuku bounced on the back seat of his family's car, barely able to keep himself from breaking free of his seat belt. His favorite All Might action figure with flexing and punching action was clenched tightly in one hand, while he himself was dressed in an All Might hoodie, shorts and shoes. An unmistakably broad smile had been permanently etched on his lips since he had risen, or rather jumped, out of bed to prepare for the big day.

His father, Hisashi, dressed in his best suit, was entering the Might Tower parking lot as his wife was checking the touches of her makeup, herself dressed in a lavender suit and skirt. The couple could only be happy for their son as they watched him from the rearview mirror, with Inko turning around to straighten his attire.

"Well, Izuku," Hisashi asked from the driver's seat as he found a parking spot, "are you ready to meet All Might?"

Rather than answer, as he was far too excited to even speak, his son simply nodded his head fast enough to be a blur, which drew a chuckle from his wife.

After exiting the car, Hisashi looked up and spotted a young woman in a suit of her own approaching. "You must be the Midoriyas," she said, and gestured for them to follow her.

"They actually had an escort ready?" Hisashi thought to himself in amazement. The family of three followed until they reached the elevator. Inside, Inko had to restrain her boy as he kept jumping up and down. The employee just laughed it off and told them that they've had a lot of young guests behave more or less the same way.

"It's perfectly fine, Midoriya-san," the woman said with a smile, her boyish short hair growing down to her neck before pulling back. "We've gotten so used to it that it'd be more strange for them to actually sit still."

The couple laughed with her. "We hold regular tours here at Might Tower. As the agency of the number one hero in Japan, practically everyone wants to see the magic that happens here.

"Heh, what magic? More paperwork?" Hisashi quipped, earning a snort from the woman. "This isn't exactly my first time here."

"You work for Detnerat," the woman said. "Correct, Midoriya-san?"

Hisashi nodded. "That's right. I sell Support Items and Support Accessories, I tell you what."

"What?"

"Nothing," Hisashi waved off curtly.

The passengers waited patiently as the elevator climbed floor by floor until it stopped at the top. The doors opened with a soft ding and Inko had to grab Izuku's shoulders before he could run out, the young man's legs flailing wildly. That was until they all froze at the sight that greeted them; a magnificent statue of All Might, but instead of flexing his muscles like most depictions of him, his knees were bent low, one outstretched arm ending in a clenched fist while the other was tucked in at the waist. The statue was surrounded by a crowd of tourists taking pictures and videos. Izuku ran up to the crowd and happily pointed at the scene, inviting the family to join in and make their own memories.

"If you will just follow me," the young woman whose name was Minako motioned for the trio to come along, passing a receptionist who bowed respectfully to them. Izuku's gaze lingered on the statue for longer before it disappeared as they turned a corner.

Soon, after passing through a few corridors, they stopped at two wide double doors, which Minako opened with a smooth turn of the knob. "You may enter," she said, beckoning them into the office of the Number One Hero, still not quite believing that they were here.

The sun shone through a wide window, casting a shadow over the end of the room where a desk stood, the chair behind it slowly whirring to reveal its sole occupant, the figure shooting to his feet, his distinct silhouette causing Izuku's stomach to do a series of flips.

"Midoriya Hisashi, Midoriya Inko, and of course," a deep voice called out to them, carrying the confidence of a man brimming with strength. "Midoriya Izuku. Welcome!" The figure stretched his muscular arms out invitingly, his smile shining brighter than the rays of sunlight that flooded his office. "Good of you all to come. And thank you for bringing them here, Satogami-san."

Satogami Minako simply bowed to her employer before taking her leave, leaving the couple and their son to take their seats by a wide sofa. "I hope this hasn't taken any of your time. Please." He gestured for them to sit down.

"Oh, uh, n-no, not-not at all, All Might, s-sir. W-We feel like we should be the ones to say that," Hisashi said nervously. He was taken aback when the Number One Hero reached out to shake his hand after closing the distance between them with wide strides of his legs.

All Might scoffed as he waved off whatever concerns the man might have. "Nonsense! When Yagi-san brought this to my attention soon after he returned from visiting your home, that a fan wanted to meet me, I just couldn't say no."

"W-Well, um, thank you," Hisashi could only say with a nod as he and his wife took their seats, Izuku completely frozen in his mother's embrace, sitting between them. "As you may already know," the man cleared his throat and gestured to his son, "this is our boy, Izuku. He's been a big fan of yours since he first saw you on the news when he was three years old."

All Might nodded and with a beaming smile, he lurched forward to be as close as possible to the boy's eye level. "Hello, Young Midoriya!"

As if he had been awakened from a trance, Izuku shook his head and met the much taller man's gaze, causing his eyes to widen to their full capacity. "A...A-A-A-A-A-A-All Might!" He tore himself from his mother's grasp and landed on his feet, facing his idol, his hero. "I…Is it…really you?"

All Might chuckled. "Well, of course. Can there be anyone else? You needn't doubt yourself, Young Midoriya, for I…am here." He held out a hand as he trailed off, the white of his teeth giving off a sparkle that almost blinded the young man.

Izuku's trembling hand; that held his action figure, tried to return the handshake, but to no avail, prompting his mother to take the toy. His now free hand was then engulfed by the man's much larger palm, which All Might shook gently before letting go. Izuku slowly withdrew the limb and vowed that he would never wash it so long as he lived.

From there, the couple made small talk with Toshinori, and the man informed them that they were to have lunch in the cafeteria. They tried to say no, that he shouldn't go out of his way for them, but he dismissed such reservations. "It's no trouble at all. I had this day all planned out. Please, this is the very least I can do for Young Midoriya."

Touched, the couple conceded, slowly comprehending how such a man could be called Japan's greatest hero when he was this considerate and kind. After leaving his office, Toshinori gave them a personal tour of the tower, all the way down to the cafeteria, where they were to be treated to a hearty lunch, free of charge and with a pick of everything. Others were there, employees and tourists alike, immediately crowding around him and asking for photos, videos and his autograph, which reminded Izuku of his desire for one as well.

Toshinori was nothing but accommodating, and as if he remembered the occasion himself, he signed Izuku's hoodie and action figure, practically announcing to everyone present that his biggest fan would be first. Cameras flashed and recorded the scene, and his considerate action elicited nothing but admiration. Izuku and his parents could not have been happier that the hero had taken the time for them. Once everyone was satisfied, the crowd dispersed, leaving the group free to eat.

Izuku was overjoyed as he ate his meal, for the one sitting opposite him was none other than All Might, a scenario he never thought he would ever find himself in. Not even in his wildest dreams.

"How is the food, Young Midoriya?" Toshinori asked, his own plate filled with soft foods; mashed potatoes and crab cream croquettes. He held a cup of steaming black coffee between his fingers.

Izuku happily bit into his cheeseburger, with thick-cut fries on the side and a strawberry milkshake to wash it all down. "It's good!"

"Ahahaha! Glad to hear it," Toshinori beamed as he engaged in more small talk with the boy's parents. He thanked Hisashi for Detnerat's products having served him and his agency well, causing the man to be flustered over what might have been considered tasteless business talk. "Not at all, Midoriya-san. Detnerat truly is amazing. To say nothing of their quality would simply downplay how much they've been a boon for my agency."

"Well, it's only fairly recently that they've broken into the hero market," Hisashi said, taking a sip from his own cup of coffee. "But yes, the company has produced some of the finest Support Items in the country. I've been doing work over at their office in Canada, and I'll be expected in their London branch by next month."

"Then I can only wish you well," Toshinori said brightly. As they continued to eat, Toshinori did not fail to miss the presence that suddenly loomed over them. He turned around and found Gouki standing some distance away before he sauntered closer. "Ah, Gouki-san. Would you like to join us?" The man was dressed in an auburn button-up shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and blue jeans, a stark contrast to his seemingly rigid preference for more traditional attire. "Come on, don't be shy." Inwardly, the blonde was a bit nervous, but held strong to his composure.

Gouki swept his red eyes over the group, his scowl as vindictive looking as ever, but otherwise appeared calm, one hand hooked onto his jean pocket. The Midoriyas immediately tensed under his glare, with Izuku nearly choking on his shake as he chose at that moment to take a sip.

"I will be in your office."

His deep, gruff voice made all the hairs on their bodies stand on end, including those within earshot. Without another word, Gouki turned and stalked away.

After what felt like a lifetime, Hisashi swallowed the lump in his throat and found his voice. "I-Is he…always like that?"

Toshinori recouped some of his own bearings. "Aha, well, he's actually quite…" He tried to reach for the right word that wouldn't paint Gouki in a bad light, only for him to end up with nothing before he rebounded with, "He's actually quite amiable once you get to know him better." Even Naomasa wouldn't be able to keep a straight face had he heard that. "But I assure you that he is a dependable and competent sensei. If your boy were to learn from him, he can only be-"

"A HERO!" Izuku shouted loudly, cutting him off and drawing all their attention to him. "Mom and Dad told me! He's going to teach me how to fight, right? Does that mean I can become a hero?"

"Eh?" Toshinori blinked, his smile falling in genuine surprise.

"A hero!" Izuku practically bounced on his seat. "If I know how to fight, then I can be a hero like you, All Might!"

"Ah..." All Might was at a loss as the boy's parents gently scolded him for his outburst, his mind traveling back to the night when Mirai had come to his office, Gouki's words echoing.

If the boy were to ask for more?

"So that's what he meant…" Gouki could have only read the young man's mind, which would also explain why he was able to locate his home despite having no formal directions to go on. "Uh…" What could he possibly respond with, much less how?

I want to become a pillar of justice that people can believe in.

Toshinori stared at the boy. "That was…"

The Satsui no Hadō is a dark and malevolent power…

The kid is a ticking time bomb…

Imagine a child having access to that much raw power…

Izuku's smiling face, the light in his eyes. It reminded Toshinori of a time when he had hope. A hope that drove him to fight for those who needed defending, to bring those with evil intentions to justice, and to restore something that had been lost because of such wickedness that had run rampant in the past.

But…

"...Er, Gouki-san will be discussing that matter with you once we make a return to the office," Toshinori said a bit too curtly. "Let's just enjoy our meal first."

Izuku's smile faltered a bit, not having really received a yes, but he decided to abide by his hero's words. He picked up a fry when he suddenly stiffened as a sharp stab of pain went through his head. "Grk!"

Inko saw this from the corner of her eye and reacted quickly. "Izuku!" Hisashi followed. Toshinori rose from his seat in an instant.

"What's wrong?!"

Hisashi answered, "He's…been getting these headaches lately. We believe it might be an aftereffect from the bullying incident. Inko had him checked at his doctor on the day before Yagi-san and the others came to visit. We were told that it'll just pass with time, but for now, well…"

"Headaches?" Toshinori thought to himself. "It could only be the Satsui no Hadō."

After a few minutes, Izuku stopped convulsing, the pain ebbing away as his mother tended to him. The boy opened his eyes and looked up with a haggard expression from his experience, and Toshinori bit back a gasp as he caught it.

It was extremely brief. A split second at most, but his own sharp gaze still managed to catch it.

His pupils…they were red…