Disclaimer: Both Street Fighter and My Hero Academia belong to each of their respective franchises. I claim no ownership whatsoever.
Toshinori was sitting calmly at the Midoriya's kitchen table. Sitting opposite and to his right was Mitsuki and Masaru respectively. The man was smiling at him apologetically, as opposed to his wife, who was eyeing him with a degree of suspicion. Inko came near, a coffee pot in hand to pour some of the steaming hot liquid into a mug. He thanked her gratefully before taking a sip, letting the bitterness wash over him, as he never had his with sugar. It always spoiled the raw taste of the beans.
"Okay," Mitsuki began once the man placed his mug down. "Who are you really?"
Cocking a brow at the inquiry, Toshinori assumed his muscle form for all to see, earning no small amount of shock from the couple. "No way!" Masaru exclaimed, blinking to make sure if what he was seeing was real. "There's just no way. You gotta be a shapeshifter or something."
"Afraid not," Toshinori refuted smoothly before taking another swig. "I just flex."
"...What." Both Masaru and Mitsuki traded disbelieving looks. "Are you for real?" Mitsuki needled flatly.
"Yep," Toshinori responded. He shot a compliment at Inko for how good the coffee was, which the woman modestly brushed off.
"Are you…really All Might?" Masaru asked, as if seeking more solid confirmation.
Deflating back to his skeletal form, Toshinori reached into his suit and pulled out a wallet from which he took out what looked like a photo. He showed it to the couple, and even an intrigued Inko slipped in to take a peek. "This is how I looked before my injury."
Mitsuki took the picture and pulled it closer, all three of them looking at a blond man smiling into the camera. He looked healthier. Much healthier, with a fuller complexion and a fit body that contrasted sharply with the shell of a man he was now. What made it bizarre was that he was still a far cry from the hulking giant that was the Number One Hero.
"So…you just flex?" Mitsuki deadpanned with a raised eyebrow. "And what was that you said about an injury?"
"I can't really go into details, as it's confidential. But let's just say that it was the one fight that almost put an end to my career," Toshinori replied, leaving unsaid that it would have almost been the death of him had he not won. "It was that bad. I had to take some time off for physical therapy. Even now, I'm still recovering. The only trade-offs to my condition is that I'm now on a time limit before I have to rest, and that I can't really eat much solid food anymore. Not after the surgeries."
"Surgeries?" Masaru blinked. "Just what the hell kind of villain put you through all that?"
"...Someone you never want to meet," Toshinori muttered darkly and left it at that. The fact that he was telling his secret to even more people was what didn't bother him, but rather how calm he was being about it. Maybe the last few days had made it easier for him, but that didn't mean he was about to parade his identity out on the street.
"No way…"
Hearing the voice, all eyes turned to the kitchen entrance to find a very stunned looking Bakugo Katsuki staring at the man who was his idol with an expression of clear betrayal. "There's... just no way..." His clenched fists shook, his entire body rigid with outraged disbelief. "There's..."
I was afraid of this. Alongside a slew of other problems, this was precisely one of the reasons that Toshinori couldn't reveal his current state, as it would only be a blow to those who believed in their hero. "Young Bakugo-"
"Shut up!" Katsuki snapped at him in full volume, some sparks coming off his perspiring body from the tension left by the shock. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You're not All Might! YOU'RE NOT ALL MIGHT!" He then ran into the hallway, and soon enough, they heard the loud bang of a door, which could have only been Izuku's room.
Mitsuki released a heavy sigh before saying, "Sorry about that."
Toshinori shook his head. "No, no, it... no apologies necessary. I actually expect reactions to be more or less like that. As the number one hero of this country, people expect someone to be the pinnacle of strength to hold such a title."
Mitsuki shrugged. "Yeah, well, I guess being a hero does come with its occupational hazards. Whoever the hell said it was gonna be easy probably got their head caved in."
"It's not such a big deal once you think of it that way," Masaru added with a chortle. "I mean, heroes really are still people."
A small smile crept onto Toshinori's thin face. He guessed that it was just one of the consequences of the society they lived in now. Heroes weren't so different from celebrities, just held to a certain standard of their own, almost deified to such an extent that there was this gap, this disconnect that separated them from the average citizen. Like they weren't seen as people with their own flaws or lives or agency, but as symbols. It was this kind of dehumanization, Toshinori had to admit, that bothered him the most after years of being on the receiving end. On the other hand, he was the one who had largely contributed to such an attitude, however unintentionally.
On the other hand, public opinion could be brutal. One or two screw-ups, and the media wouldn't be far behind. It was why Mirai had always been such a stickler for good PR. That wasn't to say that all heroes were squeaky clean or innocent, as there had been a number of scandals he had come to know in his tenure alone.
"So, let me get this straight," Mitsuki continued. "You're just here to check on Izuku to make sure that he doesn't go full on beast mode on his parents?"
"As well as others, Mitsuki-san," Toshinori stammered. "You…might have caught the news about what happened at my agency."
After searching their memories, both Masaru and Mitsuki gaped at the blonde. "That was Izuku?!"
Inko jumped with a start, nearly dropping the coffee pot she still held, prompting her to place it carefully on the counter. "Yes," Toshinori said gravely with a nod.
"The gossip train was running hot after that aired," Mitsuki revealed. "Everyone and their dog is still talking about it, calling the whole thing a villain attack."
Inko hung her head sadly from that reveal, causing Mitsuki to wince in regret. "Inko-chan, I…I didn't mean…" Inko shook her head, giving an ashen smile at her friend.
"It's fine, Mitsuki-chan," Inko said. "I…I'm just thankful that…it didn't escalate."
Mitsuki ruefully sagged in her seat. "I'm still so sorry."
"So, what exactly can be done for Izuku-kun?" Masaru asked.
"Gouki, who is a master of the Satsui no Hadō, will take Young Midoriya in as a student," Toshinori explained. "He will be trained to control it, and hopefully, the young man will be able to return to his parents without complications."
"Can we even trust the guy?" Mitsuki remarked sharply. "I mean, from what we've been hearing of him, he sounds like a nasty piece of work. How do we even know he's legit?"
"I have beared witness to this power myself, Mitsuki-san," Toshinori replied ominously. "It is not something that can just be trifled with. It is a dark, malevolent force that carries the risk of spreading wanton destruction if not contained. It is only unfortunate that Young Midoriya has been made to bear such a burden."
"Isn't it just some kind of Quirk?" Masaru speculated. "I mean, yeah, Izuku-kun was declared Quirkless, but maybe it could have really just been a misdiagnosis."
Inko shook her head. "No. We took Izuku to Dr. Tsubasa after the incident with Katsuki and even then, nothing changed."
Mitsuki looked down at the table guiltily, knowing that she should have done more to nip Katsuki's behavior in the bud. "Is there no other way? How about counseling? The city council has recommended that I admit Katsuki in for his behavioral problems. It might work."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, nor is it solely a matter of Izuku's emotional and mental state," Toshinori explained. "He has to learn to control the power of his own volition, because Gouki said that even suppressing it will prove useless in time."
"Are you sure this guy isn't just talking out of his ass?" Mitsuki remarked crudely. "For all we know, he just wants Izuku for something else. Nothing good, I'll bet."
"We have thought of that…which is why I will also be keeping close watch on the boy's progress," Toshinori explained, much to the surprise of the other adults. "I will be checking in every now and then, and if he tries anything, I will do everything in my power to ensure Young Midoriya's safety."
Inko was stunned by the man's declaration before she bowed her head in gratitude.
Meanwhile…
"There's no way...there's just no way," Katsuki muttered to himself, sitting curled up in the corner next to Izuku's bed. "That guy, he...he just can't be All Might." His thoughts were flooded with a series of denials, that the bony, weak-looking man could not be his idol. His hero. This had to be a trick, and a conspiratorial part of him couldn't dismiss that this was just Izuku and his family trying to get back at him.
"It has to be a lie," Katsuki kept muttering. "All Might is strong. He's the strongest. The strongest!" Hot tears spilled from his eyes, clawing at his arms tight enough for his nails to dig into skin. "Why…why did…" His mind began reaching for something to blame. Or some one. This all started because of…because of…
"K-Kacchan?"
Katsuki snapped his head to where the voice came from, and he found Izuku standing behind him, his hands curled to his chest pathetically, looking at him with those sad eyes that had to be fake. He was enjoying this. He was enjoying seeing him suffer. With building anger, he stood to his feet and glowered at his former friend. "Who is that?"
Izuku blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
"Don't even try to play dumb!" Katsuki barked at the boy. "That wasn't All Might. That was just a guy you put up to…to-to-to get back at me, isn't it?!"
Izuku's mouth hung open, utterly at a loss as to what the blonde was talking about. "I…I don't-"
"You're pathetic!" Katsuki wailed. "You're so pathetic, I can't even look at you! You're trash, worthless! You really think I'd buy that we're still friends?! Are you just that stupid, or were you born retarded?! Or maybe you're just rotten inside and you're enjoying seeing me like this! First you tell me that All Might gave you his autograph after inviting you to Might Tower, now this?!"
Izuku couldn't believe what he was hearing. "N-No, Kacchan-!"
"Shut up!" He reached out and grabbed the other boy's shirt, and cranking back his free hand to punch him again. Tearful red eyes met green, and he tried to search for anything that could betray any treachery. All he could see were the same sad eyes that made his skin crawl, like he was being looked down on; pitied. He bit his lip and let go, falling to the floor with a despairing, "Damn it…"
"I…" Izuku clenched his jaw, wondering to himself…
No. He had to say what he really felt. Maybe if he did, the misunderstanding between them would clear. He didn't expect their friendship to be like it had been, but if he didn't try, like how he managed to stand up to Gouki, then nothing would change.
Gathering his thoughts, he said, "I…I'm not looking down on you…"
Katsuki didn't respond, prompting him to continue. "I think…you're amazing…"
Now this was what caught the blonde's attention, lifting his head to look up at the other boy.
"I've actually always looked up to you," Izuku continued, his voice steadying. "Even before you got your Quirk, you were already amazing. When you would juggle a football or skip rocks over the river, it was so cool. But…even before all of that, I was just glad to have a friend." He looked the boy straight in the eye, his green pupils shining with determination, "I know it might not even mean anything, but I...even after everything, after what you put me through, I have never thought less or bad of you."
Katsuki reeled a bit from hearing that.
"When... when we played, or went through trading cards, or just... hung out... I was... really happy," Izuku continued. "It wasn't just because you were my first friend, or because you were good at stuff. It's because you were so bright. So bright that I wanted to be like you, so that maybe when the time came, we could be heroes together, side by side. That's why..." He clenched his teeth, fighting back the tears that would not stop flowing, "That's why I don't care if you think it's pathetic or lame, because I haven't given up on our dream. And, even if you don't want to be heroes with me, or want me to stop, I'll keep going. I'll try and keep going until I become a hero."
The two of them held the other's gaze for what seemed like hours, when Katsuki was the first to turn away, and muttered, "You're just saying that now because you have a Quirk."
Izuku stammered, then relaxed. "Even if I didn't have one, I'd still-"
"See? That's why you're pathetic," Katsuki interjected, getting to his feet so that the both of them were now eye level. "Even without a Quirk, you want to be a hero. What did you think you were gonna do anyway? Punch and kick when there's villains like Dozaemon that can just drown you or shoot you with water?"
"Uh...er..." Izuku shook his head. "I'll make it work. Besides, after my training I should be able to fire energy blasts properly." He had no clear recollection of ever having done so, but the snippets the adults gave him were sufficiently informative.
"...Huh?" Katsuki blinked. "That's your Quirk?" Compared to his Explosion, that just sounded so…generic.
"I'm…not even sure," Izuku mused aloud. "A lot of the adults, my parents, even All Might, say that it isn't exactly a Quirk. I don't really get it, but after training with Gouki-san, I-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute," Katsuki stopped him. "Gouki? Who exactly is that?" Even though he asked such a question, he already had a feeling he knew who the other boy was referring to, and Izuku's subdued demeanor only confirmed such fears.
"Th-That…scary man," Izuku answered meekly. "From the playground."
Katsuki paled slightly from the reminder. "Th-That guy is gonna be the one to train you?!"
Izuku numbly nodded. "I have to go live at his dojo for a while so that…I don't lose control."
"Why?" Katsuki asked gruffly. "You said that you can just fire energy blasts, why do you have to…" The rest of his words came to a halt when he remembered the…weird fits Izuku would go into. "Is it…because of…?"
Izuku nodded after a pause. "I get these…headaches. They hurt really bad, and I don't remember much after they stop. Gouki-san said that it's because of my Quirk."
"But you said it isn't a Quirk," Katsuki pointed out sharply, hooking his hands on his hips. "Well? Which is it?"
Izuku honestly couldn't make sense of it even as he was trying, ruffling his shaggy tresses. "I-I don't know!" He said in a slightly annoyed tone. "I think Gouki-san knows a lot more about it and that he'll tell me when I get to his place."
"Then," Katsuki paused conflictingly, before looking Izuku in the eye and declaring, "I'm coming with you!"
Izuku blinked, gaping in shock. "Huh?"
Katsuki grinned. "Don't think you're gonna be the only one to go for an opportunity of a lifetime. Heroes didn't start out strong, so what do I have to do? Train. Train so hard until I'm the strongest there is. Stronger than you, stronger than All Might! After that, I'll be the best hero around. So much so that they'll be talking about me even after I kick the bucket! So, what I gotta do is train at that dojo, too!"
Izuku was... amazed, marveling at the blonde's words, spoken with the kind of confidence that Bakugo Katsuki was known for. If anyone could achieve such lofty goals, it was Katsuki. He jerked his head back with a start as the blonde without warning, pointed his finger at him, so close that it nearly pierced his upper lip. "Listen, Deku! Don't even think about getting one over on me, because I'm going to breeze through whatever kind of training that big jerk is going to put us through. You hear me? You're gonna be the one to eat my dust! Believe it!"
Izuku blinked, staring oddly at the blonde for a long and quiet moment before commenting, "Did you have to-?"
"I know, I know," Katsuki waved off stiffly. "It was just in the moment. But, anyway, when are you gonna start?"
"As soon as you get back home!"
Both boys froze from the voice of Mitsuki, the woman having entered through the door quietly enough that they hadn't noticed.
"Mom?!"
Mitsuki, hands hooked around her hips, squarely stared at the duo. "What's this I'm hearing about you going with Izuku?"
Shaking off his initial shock, Katsuki proclaimed to his mother, "W-Well, you heard me! I'm gonna go to that dojo and train, too."
"Hoho no you're not!" Mitsuki retorted. "There is no way I'm gonna let you even near that weirdo. If you wanna be a tough guy, I can just sign you up for some karate or taekwondo."
"Those sound lame!" Katsuki firmly refused. "If I really want to learn how to fight, I'll have to do it under that Gouki guy. He even looks strong! Stronger than..." He stopped when he caught a tiny glimpse of Toshinori behind his mother, his head sticking out of the door. He frowned disgustedly at the man before shifting his gaze back to the woman. "All I know is that if I train at this guy's dojo, I'll be a shoo-in for any hero school I plan on going to. Heck, it might even be at UA."
"UA?" Toshinori thought with a raised eyebrow. His old Alma Mater? "Oh dear…"
Hearing this, Izuku was even more impressed. That Katsuki's goals would reach all the way to the top hero school in the country where even All Might graduated from. "I…maybe I could go to UA, too," he said hopefully.
Katsuki just gave him a condescending look. "You? At UA? Puh-leeze! You're too much of a pussy, Deku, crying over every little thing. Ow!" He recoiled from a sudden blow to the head, courtesy of his mother. "What'd you hit me for, you hag?!"
"Who are you calling a hag, you little shit?!" Mitsuki snapped at her son's disrespect for her. "And do I even have to remind you that most of the crying Izuku does is because of you?!"
Katsuki winced at that last part. "W-Well, it's true. Ow! Quit it!"
"Listen, Katsuki," Mitsuki began in a dangerous tone, emitting a murderous aura of her own that immediately made her son tremble. "Have you forgotten why we came here in the first place? Hm?!"
At this, Katsuki wavered, before averting his gaze. "N-No…"
"Then go on and apologize already," Mitsuki ordered. "Izuku, my son here would like to tell you something. Right. Now." She trailed off with a snarl, causing both boys to wince under her oppressive rage.
With great effort, Katsuki shifted to properly face Izuku, even though he seemed reluctant to meet the other boy's gaze. "S-Sorry..."
"Louder for the people in the back," Mitsuki growled, brandishing a fist. "And I mean that literally, with your father, Aunt Inko and the Scarecrow right behind me." Toshinori felt as if the woman's offhand remark had just sent a spike through his midsection. Masaru was standing just behind his wife, with Inko situated next to him, looking on at the scene in hope that this might be when the boys would finally reconcile.
Taking a deep breath, Katsuki looked into Izuku's eyes with every ounce of strength in his body and said: "I'm... I'm sorry for... what I did. It..." His gaze softened the longer he beheld those tender green pupils, the complete opposite of the cruel red he couldn't seem to bring himself to forget no matter how hard he tried after that day, a fact which he kept to himself. His heart skipped a beat as that terrifying glare seemed to flash across Izuku's face for just an instant, threatening to shatter the mask of composure he wore. He then remembered how he had felt during the heated moment after he had destroyed the swing, believing that he had seriously hurt Izuku. "I'm... really sorry."
None of the others missed the twinge of sincerity that somehow managed to seep itself into the latter part of Katsuki's words. Izuku, touched, accepted with a bright smile. "It's alright, Ka-"
"Just don't forget what I told you, Deku!" Katsuki followed in a brusque manner, putting a damper on the moment. "I'm gonna be the one to ace that training. Not you!"
Mitsuki, with a sigh, knocked Katsuki on his crown again, but she and the rest deemed the 'apology' adequate for nothing else but the spirit of it. "I'm starting to really consider just dumping you into that counseling program."
"The hell you are!" Katsuki snapped at her, only for his mother to pull him by the ear. "Ow! Ow! Ow! Hey, mom!"
"You and that foul mouth of yours," Mitsuki remarked tryingly, earning a chortle from her husband.
Some time into the afternoon, Toshinori departed. He bade Izuku a farewell until the next time, but when he did the same for Katsuki, the boy did not share the same earnest enthusiasm, his head turned away with that disgusted scowl on his face. Mitsuki apologized for that; while knocking a fist on her son's head again, but the hero waved it off. They made sure that they had been inside the entire time during the entire exchange to help protect Toshinori's secret that was now known to them, vowing that they would never tell. Still, it pained him that he had disappointed a fan, wishing that he could still project the same strong presence he had before the wounds he sustained, but that was in the past, having paid a price for his battle against All For One.
And now, in his current state, he had to be vigilant in case he returned, for it would only be a matter of time. The problem was how to get an edge, an advantage. If he knew All For One, the man would spare no expense in orchestrating the perfect revenge, and nothing would please him more than to tear the Symbol of Peace down even further than it already was before delivering the finishing blow.
He would not allow it. As long as he drew breath, he would not allow what he represented to be trampled and crushed, especially by a man who proclaimed himself the Symbol of Despair. Not only to the people who believed in him, but it was the least he could do for Nana and all the previous bearers who came before him.
It was unfortunate that the best he could really settle for at the moment was to stick to his physical therapy with the hope to regain even a fraction of his previous health. Even then, as long as he had One For All, he should be able to work around his current limitations.
The question was how. Maybe he could hit up Gran Torino for some more training, for old time's sake. He couldn't even imagine a more demanding taskmaster.
The following day…
Hisashi and Inko stood together in the lobby, staring anxiously at their door, both dressed for departure. At Hisashi's side, there was a suitcase and a bag, filled with everything their son might need. Between them, Izuku stood, his own anxiety tap-dancing on his already frazzled nerves, a cold pit in his stomach as the reality of what was happening set in.
He would no longer be living with his parents.
Hisashi, swallowing the lump in his throat and the heaviness of his heart, brought out a tablet and showed it to his son. "Listen, Izuku, you call us as often as you can," he knelt down to the boy's eye level, "no matter what, you call us. We'll always be there, you hear me?"
Inko couldn't hold back her tears, wiping them away with her hands in vain. She inhaled sharply, still trying to come to terms with the fact that her son, her precious little boy, wouldn't be there to grace her home anymore. She couldn't even begin to imagine the crushing loneliness she would feel when Hisashi finally left for London. She also knelt down and took him in her arms. She had done this several times in the early morning alone. As soon as he woke up, after he had taken a bath and been fed. On her life, she did not wish to waste every single moment she could have with her Izuku.
Breaking away from his mother's embrace, Izuku nodded to his father as he took the tablet. He stared at his reflection on the screen and could see the luster of tears on his cheeks. Sniffling, he opened his bag and put it between some extra clothes. It still didn't feel real. That he would have to leave the warmth of his home for what was little more than a gamble, and there was always the possibility that he would fold.
But as soon as he rode the strap over his shoulder, he felt a sudden surge of confidence. Maybe this could be his chance; an opportunity, as Katsuki had said. He wondered if his... friend would come or if he would just go in alone. Well, not alone, for All Might had promised to look in on him from time to time. How often was the question.
They left their apartment and the bright morning sun couldn't have been hotter, Izuku almost flinching when the light hit his eyes. The trio walked through some corridors until they reached the elevator, which they entered in solemn silence. It was as if none of them wanted to say a word lest it break a line that bound them together, a line that would soon be severed regardless. Awaiting them was the no longer reassuring presence of Toshinori and Naomasa, who had come in their own car.
Nonetheless, Izuku could not stop himself from running up to his hero, who greeted him with a bright smile in spite of his gaunt visage. "Are you ready to go, Young Midoriya?"
The young man nodded earnestly at him, and looking up to his parents, his smile softened. "Hisashi-san, Inko-san." The couple returned his nod.
"Where is…?" Hisashi was about to ask, but simply thinking about Gouki made his blood curdle.
"At his dojo," Toshinori revealed. "Awaiting our arrival. He's supposed to give you a tour."
"To tell the truth, we insisted that he do so to settle any doubts you may have," Naomasa added. "Otherwise, he would have just grabbed Izuku at the gates and slammed the door in our faces."
Toshinori gave his friend a very unamused look, his brows flat as a line, while the Midoriya couple and their son were only more unnerved. "L-Let's just get going-"
"Hold it!"
All eyes followed the source of the loud and very familiar voice as Bakugo Katsuki, standing tall for his age with his arms crossed over his chest, stared them all down with his trademark scowl. A duffel bag was slung over his frame, and truth be told, he was struggling to maintain the pose he was in, if only for the sake of atmosphere.
"K-Kacchan?" Izuku stammered in barely contained surprise. Katsuki smirked.
"Did you really think you were gonna go without me? Huh, Deku?"
Toshinori could hardly believe it himself, opening his mouth to try and convince the young man to go home.
That was before the adults spotted a car from the distance, speeding down the road at such a rate that Naomasa was inclined to write them a ticket, until it came to a screeching stop right next to them, leaving tracks on the asphalt. An incorrigibly angry Bakugo Mitsuki jumped out of the driver's seat, leaping over the hood with ape-like dexterity before launching herself through the air with a drawn back fist. A fist that landed right on the crown of her dear son.
Scared out of his wits, Izuku ran for cover behind his equally frightened mother while Hisashi could only watch in shock. Toshinori and Naomasa both ran to the couple, while Mitsuki stood over her now unconscious boy, breathing heavily like a wild animal. "Katsuki," she said the name with a growl so vicious it sent shivers down both men's spines, "I should kill you right now for running off like that."
"M-Ma'am, M-Mitsuki-san, please c-calm down," Toshinori stammered desperately, wanting to de-escalate any tension before it could get out of hand. He was stopped in his tracks by a sideways glare from the woman.
"Stay out of this," Mitsuki growled before she reached down to pull the boy up by his hair. "And you!"
Katsuki regained consciousness and tried to free himself from the woman's grip. "Let me go, you hag!"
"Still with the hag!" Mitsuki bristled. "How about I just throw your ass in the fucking dojo and leave you there?"
"Fine by me!" Katsuki replied heatedly. "The next time you see me, I'll be the greatest hero in the world!"
Masaru got out of the car with a heavy sigh while his wife and son continued to argue. "It was late last night when he managed to pack his things. When we found out, well..." He trailed off with an awkward chuckle.
"I'm going to train in that guy's dojo and no one is going to stop me!" Katsuki shouted at the top of her lungs.
"The hell you are!" Mitsuki shot back. "You've got another thing coming, you brat!"
"Mitsuki!" Masaru reached out to her. "Maybe we should-"
"And what? Let some bozo do God knows what to our son?" Mitsuki pointed out. "What about school?"
"Actually, we have plans of enrolling Izuku at a local school in Gifu," Toshinori revealed helpfully, flinching when Mitsuki turned her anger on him.
"See?" Katsuki said triumphantly. "Deku and I can just go to school there! What's the difference?"
Mitsuki took a long, suffering breath and calmed down a bit. "This is crazy."
Masaru, her husband, snickered. "Maybe, but Katsuki seems really determined, dear. I don't think he's ever wanted anything so much."
"You mean like that All Might video game that came with its own custom console?" Mitsuki remembered flatly, making both father and son stiffen.
Toshinori was more embarrassed. "You... actually bought that?" If he was keeping track of his merchandise correctly, this game had recently lost popularity due to its simplistic mechanics and story. An overly glorified third-person beat 'em up that was easily overshadowed by less gimmicky titles.
"Uh, not to impose on this moment or anything, but we…uh, can't exactly keep Gouki waiting," Naomasa remarked worriedly.
"Pfft, what's he gonna do? Run all the way here?" Mitsuki retorted snidely.
Both Toshinori and Naomasa traded very uneasy looks, unwilling to test the validity of the woman's offhand remark. "R-Regardless, he is expecting Young Midoriya-"
"And me!" Katsuki snapped, and cried out in pain when his mother pulled at his ear once more.
"Tch! Alright, fine! We'll go check it out," Mitsuki finally relented, which drew varying degrees of shock from the others. "But if it turns out to be a total bust, then you're grounded until you're old enough to move out of the house. Got it?!" She pulled even harder on her son's ear to draw as much pain from him as possible, if nothing else but to drive in how much trouble he just landed himself in.
And so Toshinori and Naomasa, the Midoriyas and the Bakugos got into their own respective cars and headed for Gifu. It was a three hour drive for the small caravan, the traffic picking up as morning turned to noon until they were outside the city limits. They made a few stops along the way, and a drive-thru for a light and quick lunch. Eventually, they made it to the city of Gifu, drinking in the sights and people. Izuku and Katsuki couldn't help but marvel at a few local heroes they managed to spot along the way, the boys tempted to ask for autographs. Toshinori, ever the vigilant one, managed to spy a few petty crimes afoot, but relaxed upon the intervention of a hero.
Hisashi tightened his hold on the steering wheel, the temptation to turn around gnawing at him as they drove past the city and entered the countryside, where their actual destination was. He shared a glance with his wife, herself dreading their arrival. Before long, they parked in front of a tall flight of stairs per the GPS coordinates that Toshinori provided them. Izuku was starting to feel just as reluctant as his parents, a small part of him not wanting to go through with this. They stayed in their car for what felt like forever, perhaps even wishing that time would freeze over, but that was not to be. Hisashi slowly exited the car first, his hand numbly pulling at the lever until it was unhinged.
He could always snap it back shut, start the car and drive back home, but he could still feel those eyes on him, red and black pools that could kill him in a single glance. It would not be too far-fetched for him if this Gouki person was an actual demon hailing from hell.
After parking their cars in a row, the caravan went up the stairs as a group, with only an impatient Katsuki in front of them. Maybe it would make a good impression if he arrived earlier. The blonde wondered what kind of training they would do, what cool techniques they would learn, and really, whatever else would put him on a steady path to becoming a hero. Whatever the challenge, he would overcome it and become the strongest. Stronger than Deku, and so much stronger than the twig of a man who claimed to be All Might. He wouldn't be a loser, because heroes always win.
They all stopped by a pair of heavy looking doors, and indeed, once Katsuki tried to push them open, he slid down and landed on his head. "Hey! What gives?!" Confused, Toshinori stepped forward to knock first, only to discover something odd.
The doors felt... heavy. Not the way he remembered them last time, when they were just steel-framed wooden doors. Now they were all metal, but thick enough that they didn't make a clanging sound. He cupped his chin in thought as a sound jolted him out of it. It resembled a creaking noise before it seemed to increase in volume as the door he had knocked on moved outward, revealing Gouki pushing it open. The sound was so jarring that it made the others recoil, with Inko and Mitsuki removing their hands from their ears.
Toshinori gathered his bearings before he took note of what Gouki was wearing. It was a gi with the sleeves torn off, gray in color and held securely by a black belt that would have marked his rank as a master. He was barefoot, with bandages wrapped halfway around both wrists. Gouki's white hair was still in the traditional topknot, though strands were allowed to hang loose and seem to bristle in an almost flame-like manner. Around his neck were the same prayer beads he had first seen him with.
All were taken aback by the imposing man's appearance, but it was the piercing red eyes that made them the most wary as he swept his gaze over them. "Enter," he said in his deeply gruff voice, pushing the door as far as it would go. He stepped aside without another word, but the people were too unsure to move, fixed in place by a primal fear that the man seemed to instill in each of them. It would be Katsuki who dared to take the first step, and Mitsuki had to stop herself from just lunging at the boy to smack him on the head for his brazenness.
Once inside, the blonde took a moment to take in the interior of the rather large courtyard before his eyes caught sight of something strange in the distance, standing perpendicular behind an impressive estate. He could barely make it out from where he was standing until a hand on his shoulder and a tap on his head jolted him out of his reverie. The rest of the group slowly filed in, the Midoriya family bowing meekly to Gouki as they did, if only out of courtesy, which man did not care to reciprocate.
After closing the door as noisily as it had been opened, Gouki walked past the group and made his way to the estate, causing the others to follow. Once inside, he gave a tour as promised. Though, it would have been more accurate to say that Toshinori and Naomasa were the ones leading the tour, with Gouki hardly contributing anything other than being the one at the front. The place was surprisingly comfortable and spacious, in addition to being clean and well maintained, though Toshinori revealed that it had only recently been renovated and refurbished for how old it had been before Gouki moved in.
Next, the group was led to the living quarters of the students, which were preceded by a narrow corridor with four sliding doors on each side. Izuku was shown his room, which would be next to Katsuki's. It was quite simple, with a futon tucked neatly away in its cupboard, a wooden chabudai desk and some shelves for additional storage. Katsuki was practically giddy with excitement, not caring that he would be right next to his shaggy-haired rival. That was if; after a sharp reminder from his mother, he would actually stay.
After the bathrooms, the kitchen, which was a traditional Japanese with a kamado stove, the group was led to the courtyard behind the house where much of the training would take place. Immediately, they were met with a sight that made a chilling impression on them. On either side of the courtyard stood a Niō guardian statue. Tall, muscular, and menacing, each of them wore a scowl unlike Gouki's, except that their mouths were open, revealing sharp fangs. The two faced each other in their own fighting stance, as if ready to unleash their wrath on any poor soul that stood between them.
Toshinori was absolutely stunned, his mouth hanging open in front of such ghastly decorations that he was sure hadn't been there before. He craned his neck to face Gouki and pointed at the statues with a silent question, to which the man replied, "I carved them."
Carved them?! The group mentally echoed in unison. Each of the statues had to be at least ten meters tall at their full height, in addition to being quite sturdy and detailed. For the man to carve each one by himself would have taken at least months, if not a full year.
After getting over their initial shock, the group walked through the rest of the courtyard, though none of them could really shake the way the statues seemed to be glaring down at them.
The first to be shown were randomly placed wooden pillars, the tops and bottoms tied with thick rope, leaving the middle bear. These were clearly intended to be repeatedly punched and kicked to toughen the hands, legs, and feet.
The next was a set of much thicker and taller wooden pillars, only each of them were uneven at the top. This was for balance and footwork while sparring.
The next was an odd mechanism that had a line of sand-filled bags hanging off harnesses. Turning the crank had the harnesses launch the bags in the opposite direction at fast intervals, which would force one to dodge or knock them away just to pass through.
All of them, along with the rest like the weighted clothes and the jars full of sand, were quite typical for a martial arts dojo. That was before Izuku was ordered to wear the weighted gi that Gouki had also personally designed.
No sooner after the man had tossed the tied bundle to the boy, did the latter fall straight onto his back, gasping and out of breath at how heavy the damn thing was upon resting on his chest, prompting his parents to help him up.
Hisashi was at a loss for words when he held the bundle in his hands, actually having to strain a bit. "This must be at least fifteen kilograms!"
"The training will naturally escalate in difficulty the more they become accustomed," Gouki explained cryptically.
"Uh, just… how difficult?" Hisashi dared to ask, and relented when no answer came, leaving his worries to the imagination. "So, uh, w-will that…be all?"
"...Yes," Gouki answered that, at least.
"Wait!" Katsuki ran forward, looking determined as he declared, "I want to train here, too!"
Mitsuki sighed, but chose not to intervene.
Gouki eyed the blonde, though it was hard to tell if he was scrutinizing him or not with his perpetual scowl. "If you are willing."
Katsuki was overjoyed. "Oh, I am! I really am! I'll be your best student! I can promise you that!"
Masaru exchanged a look with his wife and wondered if this was a wise decision going forward. Mitsuki wasn't so sure, asking, "So how much will it cost? What's your monthly rate gonna be?"
"I don't charge," was Gouki's simple answer.
Mitsuki quickly put her hands on her son's shoulders to push him a little closer to the man. "Where do we sign?"
"Mitsuki?!" Masaru shouted in disbelief.
After the remaining details were ironed out, it was time for the families to leave, only without their children. Inko took her son into a bone-crushing hug, crying into his shoulder as she mumbled incoherently about how much she would miss her little boy. Hisashi hugged Izuku as well, though not as intensely.
"You better do your best here, Izuku. Your mother and I will be rooting for you," Hisashi encouraged, a promise between father and son. "Remember, you can always call us at home."
With tears running down his cheeks, Izuku sniffled, "Yeah, I-I will, dad."
Hisashi huffed out a breath, being nearly driven to tears himself, but he had to be strong for the both of them.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll call okay?! So stop yapping at me already!"
Mitsuki would have smacked her son on the head again, but decided against it. "We'll bring in the rest of your stuff that you might need tomorrow. Just behave yourself and don't do anything stupid."
"Who you callin' stupid, you hag?!"
"You, you little shit!" Mitsuki raged at the blonde, this time smashing a fist on his hard head. The woman then drew her son into a one-armed hug, before sliding her other arm around into a full one. Katsuki didn't push or fight her back, only the tears that threatened to spill. His father gently ruffled his blonde head.
"Do your best," he simply told his son, who grunted back in response.
Toshinori looked on at them, wishing he could offer his own words of encouragement as well. Oh, what the hell! "Young Midoriya. Young Bakugo."
The boys turned to the man, each with opposing demeanors from being addressed by the hero. Izuku looked at Toshinori with rapt attention while Katsuki was simply unimpressed and disinterested. "You boys are about to embark on a journey. A journey filled with trials and challenges that will test you. Take it from someone who knows, it will not be easy. In fact, there will be times when you just want to give up, when you just want to stop. But that is where the true test lies. That was how it was for me at the beginning. There were days when everything hurt so much that I was tempted to stop. But then…I would remember exactly why I started and why I had to keep going."
Toshinori looked down and remembered those bygone days that still haunted his memories, for better or worse. "Before my time, boys, our country, no, our world itself, was mired in an era of despair and chaos, where villains trampled and terrorized the innocent. Heroes were at their weakest, with many falling either to death...or to that very evil."
Both boys blinked in shock; had such an era really existed and come to pass? Of course, the adults were less blindsided as they knew their history quite well. Masaru hung his head, remembering his father who had died in an attack by villains, leaving him and his mother to fend for themselves. Inko wiped a tear from her eye, having grown up in an orphanage since she was an infant, her parents supposedly murdered by a villain.
Toshinori held up a fist, a confident smile gracing his gaunt features. "Of course, there were still those who fought bravely, wishing more than anything for an era of peace where people could once again believe in justice. I answered the call, if for no other reason than to restore the hope that the people had lost. Young Midoriya, Young Bakugo, as the next generation, may you both become great heroes when the time comes, and even if not, no matter what path you take in life, face it head on and do your utmost best."
An astonished smile slowly crept across Izuku's lips at his idol's speech. Even Katsuki seemed to be taken by such words, looking at the man with uncertainty.
"I actually kind of wish that I could watch over your training," Toshinori added. "If only to keep a better eye on you."
"Then you will be pleased to know that you're staying."
The new voice startled the group, except for Gouki, who watched as the door of the estate they had just left slid open once more.
Toshinori turned and nearly doubled over in shock at who it was. "M-Mirai?!"
"Hello, Toshinori," Sir Nighteye greeted. "Everyone. I trust that there were no complications during the tour."
"No," Naomasa said with a shake of his head, and Toshinori sharply noted the man's tone of voice to be suspicious. "Is he all set up?"
Mirai nodded. "All that's left is the man himself."
"Uh…wh-wh-what are you guys…talking about?" Toshinori said uneasily, sensing something gravely amiss.
Mirai, eerily composed, pushed up his glasses and said, "You heard me, Toshinori. You'll be staying."
"Huh?"
"To be trained."
"What?"
"By Gouki."
"Excuse me?"
Mirai suppressed the urge to sigh. "Toshinori, since your injury, you've been limited in your actions, you've been performing far less than usual. You hang by a thread every time you go out there to fight the good fight, day in and day out. Yet you're still trying to be the hero you used to; no, the hero you always have been, even though it's hardly sustainable anymore."
"Mirai," Toshinori began sternly, "we've had this conversation before."
"And we'll keep having them so long as you keep punishing yourself," Mirai smoothly shot back.
Toshinori looked taken aback. "Punishing myself…?"
"Toshinori," Mirai looked his friend dead in the eye. "Have you ever stopped to look at yourself?"
"You think I don't?" Toshinori deadpanned.
"Do you not care about yourself?"
"...Of course I-"
"Don't lie," Mirai said in a deeply unamused tone, chilling those who heard. "You're tearing yourself apart, slowly, bit by bit. Sooner or later there won't be much left of you."
"...True as that may be, like you said, the people need their Symbol of Pea-"
"That was before I came across something of a solution," Mirai interrupted. "One I and Gouki had come to a mutual pact on."
Now Toshinori was really thrown off, asking, "What are you…saying?"
"That you need to be retrained," Mirai explained. "Start from scratch. Be torn down and rebuilt to be even half the man you used to be. More than enough to be ready when a real crisis comes."
"B-But…!"
"Your things have already been set in your living quarters."
"Wh-?! But-!"
"Don't worry," Mirai said reassuringly. "Other heroes will simply pick up your slack."
"But-!"
"Don't tell me you actually care about the rankings."
"No! But I-"
"Good, then it shouldn't be a problem to let others shine for a change. Who knows, it might just shake up the status quo after all this time."
"But-"
"With all that has been said, we bid you adieu, Toshinori."
Naomasa had already led the others outside halfway into the discussion, though none of them were quite sure if they should leave the Number One Hero in the tender mercies of the demonic Gouki.
"Mirai, you-"
"Japan will survive, Toshinori," Mirai waved carelessly at his friend, who was now behind him as he walked away. "You have my word on that."
Toshinori's feet were rooted, only able to reach a hand out as he watched in equal parts despair and horror as Gouki opened the gate for them, and the way it closed felt like an eternity as Mirai; being the last to exit, disappeared from sight. The only thing that took his place were a pair of red eyes that slowly met his own sunken blue.
And so there he was, Yagi Toshinori, standing between Midoriya Izuku, who was overjoyed to be able to train with his hero, and Bakugo Katsuki, who was less than enthusiastic about the whole arrangement.
"But-"
