Chapter Summary: Toshinori has a talk with Nedzu.

A/N: This story was originally posted on AO3, but I am sharing it on this website because I am aware that this is some people's preferred site. I hope you enjoy.

It had been quite some time since Toshinori walked through the halls of his alma mater. Having just been 18 at the time of graduation, it felt like a full lifetime had passed in between then and now. At the same time, the halls felt just as familiar as they did when he would walk through them on the daily. The difference was that now, he wasn't being greeted by friends and strangers alike with warm smiles and greetings, but instead was met with polite indifference by any passerbys in the hall. Because right now, he was not the first year who won the Sports Festival or the boy who aced every endurance test he was put to; he was Toshinori Yagi, a complete nobody to everyone, save for a select few.

To most, Toshinori was just another secretary-manager working at All Might's hero agency who left many wondering just how he managed to get so close to the #1 Hero and Symbol of Peace despite dressing in clothes that never seemed to fit him or constantly stumbling over his words, if not his own feet. Little did they know that the "secretary-manager" they thought they knew was the Symbol of Peace himself; at least, when his time wasn't up yet.

It shouldn't have surprised Toshinori to know that no one had been able to figure it out. Even his protege and successor young Midoriya hadn't believed it when he saw him transform before his very eyes on that fateful day they met, and quite frankly, he couldn't have blamed him. All Might's very presence commanded attention, standing at the full height of 7'2'' (and that wasn't including his hair) with a voice that's volume was only outmatched by Present Mic's shout. He didn't even need to announce,"I am here!" for people to know he had arrived, his visage and silhouette instantly recognizable to any and all who knew it.

Toshinori Yagi, on the other hand, was not so lucky. While he still retained his incredible height, poor posture often hid that fact from everyone, causing many to think he was in the six foot range. It didn't help that without his muscles, Toshinori was just skin on bones and generally unpleasant to look at (some days he couldn't even bear to look at himself). People often turned their gaze away from him and actively avoided him, some going so far as to change their course to dodge the chance of crossing his path. Even though five years had passed since his fight with All For One, he still wasn't quite used to the judgmental stares that were thrown his way and would often shrink under them in a vain attempt to make himself seem smaller.

He was incredibly thankful when Principal Nedzu's office door came into view and quickly rushed towards it. With a rapid-fire knock, Toshinori's eyes flitted back and forth down the hallway to check for any potential witnesses before he was greeted with a gentle, "Come in," from inside. He opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him and turning to meet Nedzu's patient gaze at his desk. The principal sat in his large chair, paws clasped in front of him, a small smile spread across his lips.

"I'm so glad you could make it, All Might," Nedzu said warmly. He gestured to the seat that sat across from him. "Come, take a seat. We have a lot to discuss, don't we?"

Toshinori shuffled over to the seat, clutching his briefcase handle like a lifeline. Even when sitting down and slouched over, he still towered over Nedzu's small form, which made him subconsciously shrink further in on himself. He pulled his briefcase into his lap and held it there, unsure what to say.

"I hope that you've taken the time to consider my offer," Nedzu articulated, his smile unwavering.

"I have," Toshinori answered.

"Wonderful!" Nedzu proclaimed, clapping his hands enthusiastically. "So, will you be joining U.A.'s faculty as a teacher, All Might?"

Toshinori pursed his lips. "I… I'm afraid not, Nedzu."

Nedzu's mirth disappeared, surprise overtaking his features. "Oh? Why is that? I would think that you'd love to teach the next generation of heroes!" When Toshinori's expression didn't change, Nedzu furrowed his brows. "You look concerned. Tell me, what's on your mind?"

"For starters," Toshinori began, clearing his throat a bit, "what would I be teaching? Something to do with heroics, I presume?"

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Nedzu asked. "You have a couple of decades of being a Pro under your belt. Surely you have a great amount of wisdom to impart onto them?"

"Wisdom,"Toshinori repeated, snorting a bit. He blinked and covered his mouth, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't… What I meant was that I don't think that wisdom alone will aid me in teaching."

"Ah, but your experience is surely an asset, wouldn't you say?" Nedzu pondered aloud.

"I'm experienced in Pro Hero work," Toshinori clarified, his tone firm, "not in teaching. The two are fundamentally different."

Nedzu frowned. "That is true… But, you'd be teaching about Pro Hero work to the next generation of up and coming Pros!" His smile returned with a small chuckle. "I mean, to be taught by the Number One Hero… I would call that a once in a lifetime experience. Would you truly deny our students that?"

Toshinori had to hold back a grimace. "Aren't you worried that having the Symbol of Peace on campus would bring undue attention to the school? It won't take long for my presence to be noticed and it can potentially put a target on the school and, worse, the student body." He held his briefcase closer to him without thought. "And that's not even addressing the issue of… my time limit."

"Ah, I see," Nedzu acknowledged, smiling sympathetically, "how long is your time limit, again? Three hours? I imagine that would be quite troublesome, especially if training with the students puts your body under strain."

"Not only that," Toshinori continued, "if I'm to teach here at U.A., I'd likely be assuming my muscular form while teaching, which would be using up time I might need for an emergency. And even if I teach like…" He clenched his briefcase tighter, unable to hold back his grimace that time. "This… It would be putting an incredible burden on the students to remain silent about my…condition."

He already had one student to worry about as it was. His successor, young Midoriya, proved that he had only the vaguest idea of what he was doing. The young boy was privy to his injury and time limit, a secret he trusted him with alongside his Quirk, when the time finally came to give it to him. Toshinori hated to assume he couldn't trust any of the other students, but having too many people in on it would just be asking for trouble.

"And that's why I think it's best if I…" Toshinori paused to swallow. "Decline your offer… I fear the cons outweigh the pros if the Number One Hero resided on campus as a faculty member."

Nedzu remained quiet, his face fixed in contemplation. Although Toshinori had not known Nedzu for very long, he knew that at his core, Nedzu was a thinker, always searching for new solutions to problems. He had no doubt that his mind was running a mile a minute in order to find a way to convince Toshinori to take up his offer; he was always tenacious that way.

"While I'm sure you're disappointed," Toshinori said, breaking Nedzu out of his stare, "I don't wish to cause you or your school any issues. So, while I deeply appreciate the offer, I believe it's in everyone's best interests if I decline."

Then, a slow, but knowing smile spread across Nedzu's face. "You're right, All Might… It would be dangerous to have the Number One Hero be on campus."

Toshinori did not trust that smile. "But?"

"But,"Nedzu repeated, holding up his index finger, "just because All Might can't be a teacher doesn't mean that Mr. Yagi can't."

Toshinori couldn't stop himself from blinking with surprise."What?"

Nedzu pointed his finger at his temple. "Take a moment to think about it, would you? Instead of coming in as All Might, you come in as Toshinori Yagi, a man with years of experience working at a Hero Agency." He paused to scratch his chin in thought. "Our homeroom teachers already cover the basics of hero training, so perhaps you could teach a class on Public Relations as a Pro instead?"

"But, what about the internships and work studies?" Toshinori asked. "Would I really be needed when your school already offers those programs?"

Nedzu wagged his finger. "Ah, but there's a lot more to working at an agency than what they see during internships. During internships, they're treated as guests, meant to take notes and shadow their mentors, not to actively participate in Hero work. Besides, the students won't be starting their work studies until their second year during summer vacation, remember?"

"That… is true," Toshinori admitted, recalling his own work study back when he was a second year, "but will it really help them? What kind of work can I give them to prepare them for it? I don't have a syllabus. I-I don't have any idea how I should cover material with the students… And, sure, I have experience working as a secretary-manager at an agency, but anyone can teach about that, can't they?"

"You also have experience running an agency, too, do you not?" Nedzu questioned. His smile widened when Toshinori didn't immediately protest. "I would say that's pretty invaluable to students once they graduate, wouldn't you? Not everyone is like Hawks; the students are going to need some guidance in the event they look into starting their own agency upon graduating."

Toshinori stared in bewilderment. "You think… I should teach…" He twisted the fabric of his shirt in his hand nervously, untucking it from his pants a bit. "Like this? But… What if I need to leave class because of an emergency? What am I supposed to—" Then, he coughed, just barely managing to cover it with his fist. "Pardon me…"

Nedzu snapped his fingers. "There's your excuse right there. In the event you need to step out, you can just say you're feeling under the weather." He leaned forward with that same, unmoving smile, a devious glint in his eyes. "Plus, by acting as Mr. Yagi, you wouldn't be pressured to hold your form to maintain appearances, thus, allowing you to reserve your time for hero work. You also wouldn't be bringing attention to the school and risk putting it under the scrutiny of villains." He tilted his head. "Does that address all of your concerns?"

Toshinori's hand didn't release his shirt. "But… Don't you think the students would prefer an actual Pro to be their teacher?"

"I can always offer you pointers," Nedzu told him simply, "I mean, you're hardly the first Pro we've had who has worried they weren't qualified for the position. Still, I'm sure that with a guided hand, you'll be ready to teach your first class when the time comes." He spared a glance at the calendar that hung on the wall, depicting a photo of the Voice Hero, Present Mic, mid-shout as he leaped into the air. A speech bubble in yellow, staticky font that simply read, "August!" burst forth from his mouth. "You still have a few months before the entrance exams in February and when classes officially start in April."

Young Midoriya jumped to the forefront of Toshinori's mind. How would his added teaching duty affect his ability to guide the young boy? He was already struggling enough as it was trying to make sure that his protege was ready for the exam when the time came, but even so, Toshinori himself had been given more time to prepare his body for One For All before his own mentor gave it to him. She hadn't exactly given him a guide on how to teach a successor of his own and Gran Torino's methods had been… questionable, at best, but they were all Toshinori knew. He was too afraid to reach out to the old man; young Midoriya had a strong heart, but he was sensitive at his core, and Toshinori worried what his instruction would do to his young apprentice.

"Is there something else on your mind, All Might?" Nedzu asked, startling him out of his thoughts. "It's just the two of us, so feel free to share."

Toshinori frowned. "I… I could actually do with some guidance in teaching, Nedzu."

Nedzu's brows shot up. "Is that so? Well, I'm happy to be of assistance! Does this mean you'll be joining us at U.A.?"

"Not… exactly," Toshinori answered hesitantly, and Nedzu frowned, "it's just… Earlier this year, I met a young boy who wishes to become a hero… And I took on the task of training him to help him achieve that goal."

"You have a protege?" Nedzu breathed, his eyes brightening. "Is he planning on trying out for U.A.?"

Toshinori couldn't help but smile a bit. "It's all he ever talks about… It's his dream school, Nedzu."

Nedzu's eyes practically sparkled. "Oh, that's wonderful! If he gets in, you simply must introduce him to me! I'd like to know what kind of a lad he is to catch your eye!"

"You two would get on well, I think," Toshinori told him, and he meant it, "he's very smart. He has a notebook he carries around that he calls his 'Hero Notebook.'"

"That's precious," Nedzu observed as if it were a simple fact of life.

Toshinori chuckled. "It is, isn't it?" Then, his smile faltered. "It's just… Well, it's hard to explain, really…" He clasped his hands in front of him and looked off to the side. "I've been struggling in training him. I want to help him, I do, but… Sometimes I struggle to know if what I'm doing is really going to prepare him for the entrance exam."

"What's his Quirk?" Nedzu asked, making Toshinori tense up. The principal tilted his head. "Is that part of the issue? Is he having trouble controlling it?"

Toshinori's mind became a flurry. One For All was a secret to only a select few, Nedzu included; could he tell him that he had chosen a successor outside of his roster? No, he might be too critical about the young boy, Toshinori had to make an excuse. But how was he to explain the issues with a Quirk that young Midoriya didn't have yet? He at least knew that with each time the Quirk was passed down, it grew in strength and that due to decades of owning the Quirk, its power was sure to have grown exponentially. He wouldn't know just how strong until he passed it on and saw young Midoriya use it in action, but even then, would all the training they did be able to prepare him for it? How was he supposed to justify a Quirk that could potentially cause great injury to him?

Then, a lightbulb flickered on in Toshinori's head.

"He's a late bloomer," he answered, and Nedzu's brows shot upwards again, "he spent most of his childhood thinking he was Quirkless. As a result, he didn't gain any counseling for his Quirk like some of his peers."

Nedzu brought a paw to his mouth. "Oh, dear, that is an issue… That's incredibly rare. Most counselors don't know how to handle a case like that."

"That's not it," Toshinori continued, making Nedzu blink, "because he's a late bloomer, his body isn't adapted to the Quirk yet. Activating it could potentially put his body at risk."

"What kind of a Quirk is it?" Nedzu questioned. Toshinori could just see the wheels spinning in his head, only this time, he wasn't nervous about it. He needed all the help he could get and who better than a certified genius? "It sounds like an emitter type."

Toshinori nodded. "You're correct. It's… almost an enhancement sort of Quirk. It allows him to stockpile an enormous amount of raw power, which lets him significantly enhance all of his physical abilities to an incredible level. "

"Like your Quirk?" Nedzu inquired. He smiled when Toshinori blinked. "Is that why you took a shine to him? You saw a bit of yourself in him, didn't you?"

Toshinori's cheeks grew warm and he coughed into his hand. "Maybe…"

Nedzu chuckled. "So, tell me… What exactly are you struggling with at the moment? Is it trying to get him to activate his Quirk without hurting himself?"

Toshinori nodded once again. "Yes. I've been trying to help him increase his natural strength and stamina so that when he tries to use his Quirk, it doesn't cause his body serious harm." His eyes fell downwards. "I don't want him to activate it until I'm sure his body can handle it, but with the entrance exam drawing closer, I worry that all the time I'm spending on increasing his physical strength will cut into time we can use to actually have him practice using it. But if I let him use it now, it could…"

"Really hurt him," Nedzu finished, his expression turning solemn. He closed his eyes in contemplation. "I completely understand your concern. You're worried that it could cause irreversible damage to his body if he uses it before he's ready." He let out a small hum of thought. "That is a tricky situation… Tell me, how long have you been training him?"

"Since April," Toshinori answered.

Nedzu frowned. "Oh, dear… And the entrance exam is in about six months… When were you planning on letting him use his Quirk?"

"After he finished his training regiment," Toshinori told him, "but, since we only had ten months to work with, I wanted to use every bit of time we had."

"It sounds like you were going to let him use it on the day of the exam," Nedzu observed. When Toshinori didn't answer, the principal frowned. "All Might, don't tell me you actually thought about it."

"That's why I'm asking you about it now," Toshinori said defensively. Then, he let out a sigh and closed his eyes. "I… I don't know what I'm doing. But, I want to help him, I really do. He has the makings of a great hero inside him and I'm certain that once he learns to use his Quirk…" He opened his eyes to face Nedzu. "But these past four months have shown me that I really don't have a solid idea of what a teacher is supposed to do… I lost my own mentor when I was just a student and… well, you know Gran Torino. He's ruthless."

"And you don't want to push him like he did to you," Nedzu offered. He exhaled sharply. "Well, this is definitely a complicated issue, isn't it? You have a short amount of time to train the boy and even if you succeed, there's no guarantee his body will be ready to handle it…" He closed his eyes in thought. "I must say, you've brought me quite the dilemma, All Might."

Toshinori looked down. "I know… Listen, I'm sorry if this is burdensome. I know you brought me here to discuss me becoming a teacher, but I truly don't know how to move forward when it comes to this…" He wrung his hands together. "And if I can't even teach a single boy, how can I teach a whole class?"

Nedzu held up a hand. "Now, now, don't go beating yourself up, All Might. I'm not upset you came to me about this; quite the opposite, actually." He smiled again. "This gives us an idea of where we stand and what we need to do to move forward. You don't have to shoulder everything on your own, you know." He wove his fingers together and propped his elbows on the desk, resting his chin on his hands. "Though, I have only one condition…"

"Condition?" Toshinori repeated.

"In exchange for my help," Nedzu told him, "you come take on a spot as a teacher here at U.A." Just as Toshinori opened his mouth to protest, a single look from Nedzu silenced him. "Now, like I said before, you wouldn't be acting as All Might, but as Mr. Yagi. And before you start panicking, I'll remind you that I can help you with a syllabus and curriculum for your students." He closed his eyes with a smile. "You won't have to worry about a thing."

Toshinori stared helplessly for a moment before he let out a ragged sigh. "I can't talk my way out of this, can I?"

Nedzu peeked an eye open, revealing that devilish glint. "I'd love to see you try."

Toshinori stood still for a long moment, not sure what to say. He would be lying if he said he knew what he was doing with himself half the time. Could he really be a mentor for a whole class when he struggled to draw the line between Gran Torino showing tough love or just being harsh for the sake of being harsh? Could he even draw the line with himself when he still didn't know what he was doing with his own successor? Most days, he would bury himself in whatever work he could to silence the thoughts that plagued his mind, telling him that it wasn't enough, reminding him of how little time he had left, shouting just how pathetic he was…

But, then, young Midoriya came into his life and reminded him of his own values, of what it takes to be a true hero. A young boy without a Quirk had done what he struggled to do when he himself felt as helpless and pathetic as he did when he was Quirkless; he tried to save someone. He was certain that even without a Quirk, young Midoriya would have found a way to become a hero in his own right and prove what he said on that rooftop wrong. Toshinori could only imagine what he could do with the power of One For All, the Quirk his own mentor had given him to fulfill his dreams of being a hero.

His mentor…It was because of his mentor that Toshinori was able to become All Might, to become the Symbol of Peace and Number One Hero that fought against evil with a smile on his face. Could he put on that same brave smile as Toshinori and give those students what he lost when he was just a teenager himself: a mentor who would give them the power to achieve their dreams?

Toshinori's hand lingered over his injured side once again. How much time did he have left after he passed his Quirk on to young Midoriya? How long would the embers of the flame that once roared inside of him last under a storm with only himself to shield and protect it? And once those embers were gone… What would he be left with? What good would he be without his power? Would teaching the students of his alma mater allow for him to share his knowledge before his time on Earth ran out? Would it be enough? Was he enough?

"I'm not hearing a no," Nedzu announced, breaking him out of his thoughts.

With a deep breath, Toshinori closed his eyes. "If I say yes… Will you really help me with young Midoriya?"

"Only if you help my students, as well," Nedzu told him, "I believe you have the potential to be a great help to their journey to become heroes." He straightened up his posture. "But, first, we can start with your boy."

'My boy,'Toshinori mused. The thought brought a small smile to his face.

"Alright, then," Toshinori conceded, "I'll teach at U.A., Nedzu… Where do we begin?"

Nedzu grinned. "For starters… I'd like to meet your protege in person and get to know him. It'll give me a sense of what I'm working with."

"You want to meet young Midoriya?" Toshinori blurted out.

"Of course!" Nedzu proclaimed. "How can I not? He sounds like a bright young man and I'dloveto pick his brain a bit. You can't hoard him all to yourself, you know. He might wind up being a student here yet."

Despite himself, Toshinori smiled. "Hopefully, we can turn that 'might' into something more definitive."

"That's the spirit!" Nedzu cheered. "Now… What's a good time for you two to come in next week?"

A/N: Note: I'm sure some of you have questions about the logistics of this AU, and I'm gonna put some notes down below to answer them.

- Some Pros know All Might has a "time limit" but most don't know it has a physical attribute, meaning, they don't know that when his time runs out, he reverts to his skinny form. This includes the Pros who teach at U.A. Why? Because I thought it would make the story /

- All Might asks for help from Nedzu because honestly, the guy needs all the help he can get. He didn't have a great mentor to model after when Nana died. (I know Gran Torino was doing his best, but also, he was kinda rough on Toshi)br /

- There's gonna be a lot of Dadmight in this, and no, it's not gonna be exclusive to Izuku. Everyone gets a new dad.