Chapter 16
Toshinori awoke with a slow groan. Wincing slightly at the beam of light shooting in through his blinds.
The first thing he came to realize was that he was not on his bed. He was on his couch. The second thing he noticed was the full mop of luxurious black hair that was perched on his right shoulder, snoring lightly.
Okay. He thought to himself as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes, why was Midnight using him as a pillow?
Last thing he'd remembered, they'd gotten a couple beers in. Well, a couple for her. Almost a dozen for him. One of the downsides of his quirk was that he could drink enough to comatize three men and still come back for more. And that was without activating One for All, which could bolster himself to the point that most conventional toxins were simply burned out of his system before they could even seriously begin to take effect.
But still, he had at least another ten to go before he could even consider himself drunk enough to pass out...
He began to rub his temples as he felt Nemuri begin to stir next to him.
"Ugh," the woman groaned as she began to wake up, "Where the hell am...?"
She blinked and looked at her pillow, almost face to face with him as a deep blush began to spread across her cheeks.
"I... um... good... morning?"
"Good morning," he replied blandly.
An awkward silence held the room.
"Well," she said after a moment, "I guess I'll be able to tell everyone I've slept with All Might, now won't I?"
He couldn't help but blush and stammer a bit, partly because he was simply too groggy to deal with that sort of double entendre, and partly because he was already half-mast due to morning wood, meaning that his normal fine control around sexually charged females was at its ebb. Even worse, she was technically being accurate...
"Is this really necessary?" he half whined, honestly sounding a bit pitiful. He almost felt a little ashamed of himself.
This caused the woman to cheer. "Ha! I finally got one over on you!"
"Best two out of three," he muttered, causing her to puff up like a fish.
"That's not fair and you..." her eyes tracked down to his groin and her eyes slowly went wide. "Oh my... is that...?"
"What time is it?" he asked, ignoring her surprise. Yes, his everything was to scale. Surprise surprise. He'd be embarrassed but he was too tired for this shit and was honestly wondering one thing above all else.
"Nemuri, what happened last night?" he asked, giving her a look that while not accusatory was maybe a little annoyed. Getting a closer look at her, at some point she'd shed her clothes entirely and was sitting in panties, stockings, and an overbust corset. Not a sight that he minded, she was very attractive, but he did very much want to know what the hell was going on...
For her part she looked down at herself and winced. "Um... shit. Sorry..."
"What happened?" he asked bluntly. They were just sleeping on the couch and their clothes were somewhat on, so it's safe to say that nothing "untoward" happened. Not that he was worried about another hero taking advantage of him, but he still didn't like waking up on his couch with a hole in his memories.
"Did you lose control of your quirk or something?" he asked as he stood up and twisted in place to crack his back. Her quirk put people to sleep after all, so it was a reasonable assumption.
"Yeah," she replied, blushing deeply, looking a little shamefaced. "That beer was stronger than I'm used to and when I get a little too drunk, my control of my quirk can slip and..."
"Nighty night," he finished with a grumble. He'd been hoping to finish his bath...
She nodded. "Yeah, and you were already buzzed and it's more effective on men, so..."
Toshinori simply sighed. That would do it. He wasn't even annoyed at her, really. It was part of the nature of quirks. To deny it would be to deny reality. These things just happened sometimes. Was it annoying by the by? Yes. But it was annoying in the same way that the morning rush was. It wasn't personal, just a simple, albeit irritating, fact of life.
"I understand," he said, "But why were you snuggled up next to me?"
She blushed, looking a bit more like a schoolgirl with a crush than an +18 rated heroine. "Um, well... I wasn't exactly thinking clearly at that point, and it had been a long day, so..."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you looked comfortable..." At this point she was almost burning red from embarrassment.
"That isn't exactly the reaction I expected, Midnight..." he said with a dull chuckle. This uncharacteristic bashfulness was rather adorable, if he was being honest.
Nemuri glared at him. "Sexuality I'm fine with. Intimacy is something else entirely, mister!"
He nodded. He supposed that made some sense. He'd actually been a bit of a closet stallion during his years in America, proudly sowing his wild oats. But it had always been purely in the spirit of good fun for all parties involved. He'd never let himself get too close emotionally, lest he put someone in danger. While All for One might have been too cautious to risk antagonizing the American authorities, he still had more than enough reach and authority to arrange for some wetwork.
"I understand." he replied.
She blushed slightly. "So... what the hell time is it, and do you have an aspirin or something?"
"Hangover?" he asked.
She winced slightly. "A little bit. Also, I think I slept at an angle and... Can I get something to eat? Preferably with coffee?"
"I'll have something sent up," he replied as he reached over and picked up his phone, "And it's 7:10."
"Shit," she muttered, "Need to be at the office in less than an hour..."
He looked at her. "Just call them and tell them you'll be late. I'll let you take the bath..." he glanced at her clothes. "And we can have those dry cleaned while you're at it."
"Oh, thank god," she muttered, "Thanks, All Might. You're a lifesaver, number one..."
"All will be well," he said with a smile, " Why? Because I..."
"Don't," she snapped, cutting him off, "It's too damned early for that shit..."
Toshinori couldn't help but deflate a little bit. She'd totally taken the wind out of his sails.
"By the way," she asked as she started to collect her clothes, "Back at the entrance exam... where did you learn to banter like that?"
"It was one of my collegiate majors," he replied, casually.
She blinked and looked at him as if he'd sprouted a second head. "Wait. Seriously?"
He nodded. "Yes. The Fundamentals of Banter are basic course requirements in most collegiate hero programs in the States. I have a Masters in Heroic Psychology from the University of California," he replied, "Barring a couple advanced level courses, I'd already completed most of the requirements for a Bachelors in Tactical Witticism and Repartee. So I decided 'why not'?"
She blinked, her mouth in an "O".
Then Nemuri looked at him, cocking her lip and thrusting out her chest in an appreciably seductive manner. "And how is it you're looking me dead in the eyes, even though I'm looking like a sex bomb here?"
Her eyes darted down then back up as she gave her lips a little lick. "I know you like what you see, so how are you not even flinching?"
"American programs train for American problems," he replied, his eyes never wavering, "And in the US, villainesses who leverage their sexuality are far more common than they are in Japan. As such, courses dedicated to desensitizing one to these tactics are also basic graduation requirements."
She blinked, "Huh... And where would my costume rate along those lines?"
"Relatively tame," he admitted. He repressed a shudder. He still had nightmares about some of his older battles. Not everyone who tried to seduce him was as easy on the eyes as Midnight. Some things, once seen, simply cannot be unseen...
She frowned, "You're kidding."
He looked her dead in the eyes. "Look up 'Silver Streaker' and 'Body Positive' if you don't believe me..."
She paused for a moment and sighed. "America is a very strange place, isn't it?"
Toshinori could only nod. "Yes. Though I will admit, I do miss it sometimes. They have laxer regulation on quirks, and most of their villains are much less violent than in Japan."
She looked up at him. "How does that even work?"
"In the US, many forms of petty villainy are less seen as criminal activity and more an odd mixture of public protest, often with strong shades of improvised stand-up comedy. Then you get the ones who like to challenge heroes to fights because they want to see how they measure up..."
The utterly baffled look on her face said all that needed saying. "You're kidding me..."
"No, I'm absolutely serious," he replied with an amused chuckle. He actually missed some of those chuckleheads sometimes. "Most of the time they're just hit with a fine, get some punitive community service, and are back on the street the next morning..."
"How does that even work?" she asked, struggling to parse the concept.
"There's actually an unofficial code of conduct," he admitted. It was probably why he'd hadn't batted an eye at recruiting Danjuro. Gentle Criminal was about as close to that model as you'd find in Japan. "As long as they play nice and don't hurt anyone, they get the kid gloves."
He frowned. "It also doesn't hurt that killing a violent villian with your own quirk will normally be dismissed as a case of self-defense. While it can look like a wild west at times, it actually keeps most villains from escalating. The ones who do, though... They're the real deal."
"What level of 'real deal' are we talking here," she said with a frown.
"Only the worst tend to survive long enough to make their mark. The likes of Muscular and Moonfish wouldn't even stand out," he replied blandly. "Just look up Texas Massacre if you want an example..."
She grimaced. "I think I'm good. So the US scene is either class clowns or mass murderers... great."
All Might frowned. "Don't call them clowns. Never call them clowns. Nobody wants to be associated with Mr. Smiles."
She blinked. "Who?"
"Villain from the early days," All Might replied, "You've read Batman, correct?"
She blinked as she clearly thought about it. "Oh...?"
Then after a moment, it clicked, and Nemuri's eyes went wide with clear horror as she realized exactly what he was implying. "Oh."
Toshinori gave a grimnod in response. He'd seen what that twisted bastard had accomplished in the bad old days. There were very few people in this world whom he'd say were objectively worse than All for One. And the man who'd taken a look at the Joker and said 'Hold My Beer' was near the top of that list.
"Exactly."
"I see... well... that just killed the mood stone dead." She took a deep breath. "Anyways, thanks. For everything."
She paused for a moment.
"Though I do have to say... I might have to ask if I can borrow a couple items from your collection?"
This had Toshinori freeze up. His collection was the only real excess he indulged in and he was naturally very protective of it. Every single item was a piece of irreplaceable history.
"How so?"
"It's one thing to talk about history, it's another thing to see it..." she replied, "Honestly... you really might want to consider starting a museum."
Toshinori paused for a moment.
Hmn.
You know? That was actually something to consider...
Iuzku slowly woke to feel a weight on his shoulder. Moving to rub his eyes he slowly felt that weight shift to find himself sitting on the couch with his mother, the two of them propped up against one another like a green haired familial bipod.
"Hmnn?" he heard his mom say, as she looked up to him.
"Oh... Izuku..." she blinked the sleep from her eyes and smiled up at him. "We must have stayed up too late last night..."
He smiled and gave her a small hug which she happily accepted. "Yeah, I guess so."
She then kissed him on the cheek and got up. "I'll go make breakfast."
He smiled. "Alright mom..."
Inko Midoriya straightened out her sleep crumpled dress and started for the kitchen with a wide smile on her face, leaving her son to reflect on the events of the past day.
Yesterday had been one of the happiest he'd had in a long time. It had been the first day he'd dedicated entirely to relaxing since All Might acknowledged him as his successor. Lately, his normal day had consisted of getting up before dawn and head off to train. Then heading to school where he'd sneak in as much physical training as possible before going to meet up with All Might for more training. Constant training interspaced with eating whatever was put in front of him because by then, he was normally so hungry he'd eat just about anything.
As such, he'd woken up at the literal crack of dawn with absolutely nothing to do. So he'd decided to do something. He made breakfast for his mom. Then they'd spent most of the day together. He'd gone shopping with her and she'd made Katsudon. Enough for five people, actually, and had all but demanded that he eat the extra three portions. He hadn't complained a bit, what with it being katsudon.
Then they'd decided to watch some TV. He'd decided that since there were aliens invading, then maybe he needed to be in a better mindset to prepare emotionally for spacey things. So he'd looked up spacey shows... from back before everything was about heroes and quirks, back before Science Fiction had largely died as a genre.
They'd decided to watch an old show that apparently was almost universally considered one of the top classics of the genre.
Star Trek.
They'd probably watched at least six episodes, cheerfully heckling them before they finally fell asleep with the TV still on. It had been great.
The acting was hammy. The special effects were terrible. But there was something about it that just... clicked with him.
He'd always wanted to be a hero. To protect people. But now he was left wondering... What came next? Having to face the dark future ahead made him wonder... What would come after? What world would they build once the Aliens were defeated?
And in Star Trek he believed he'd seen shades of the future he wanted.
It had been cheesy, maybe even a little lame... but there was an optimism to it. The idea that the trials of the present could be overcome. That today's enemy could be tomorrow's friend. That with enough hard work, humanity could win, no matter the challenge. That people could overcome their limitations. That humanity could become something greater. Something better.
It gave him hope...
"Izuku, breakfast is ready!"
He smiled and lept to his feet. "Coming mom."
He walked over to the kitchen and sat down at the table with a smile while his mother placed the dishes.
It looked like she'd decided to make something quick and filling. She'd taken the leftover rice from last night and quickly stir-fried it with some eggs and vegetables to make a simple fried rice, served with some instant miso and natto.
Quick, simple, tasty. And to him, the very definition of classic 'mom' food.
"Itadakimasu!*" he exclaimed as he dug in.
He looked up to see his mother just looking at him, a misty eyed smile on her face.
"Is everything okay, mom?" he asked, putting down his chopsticks for a moment.
"You look so happy," she said sadly as she watched. "I'm sorry, Izuku, it's just that... that you always just looked so... sad before. I know you were trying but..."
She took a deep breath and shuddered in place. "You always looked like you were hurting so bad. I was afraid I was going to lose you, Izuku. That you'd just... just..."
He went quiet for a moment and took her hand. "You don't have to worry about that anymore, mom."
She'd been right to be afraid. He really had been in a bad place, and shit like Kacchan's taunting hadn't helped. He put up with a lot from his friend, because he understood how much pressure everyone put him under. He wasn't really a bad guy, he was just lashing out.
But that time he'd told him to jump off the roof was one of the few times he'd really just gone too far. Especially because when he had, there was a little voice in Izuku's own head that had agreed with him. For just a moment he'd actually been tempted. Until he remembered his mom and knew how badly it would hurt her.
That said, he wasn't naïve enough to think being a hero wouldn't put him at risk.
"But," he continued, as he looked up to her, "I have to warn you now, mom... this isn't going to be easy."
"I know Izuku," she said, as she closed her eyes. "You're learning from All Might... and you'll be expected to fight the same sort of things he does eventually. It... it terrifies me."
"I will get injured," Izuku admitted, "There will be scars. I might even die."
She flinched as if struck when he said that. It hurt to see her react like that, but it needed to be said.
"But I'm going to be someone you can be proud of."
Tears began to flow down her cheeks and she looked at him. "Izuku... I'm already proud of you. I remember when you'd come home from school, all roughed up. Because someone was being bullied and you got in the way, even though you had no powers yourself... but now..."
Slowly Izuku stood up as his own tears began to gather, as he looked at his sobbing mother. He could tell she was still struggling to parse it all. Hell, even he was. In just a couple days... he'd gone from a quirkless nobody to...
He wasn't there yet... but...
But hope wasn't just something that was needed in the darkest moments. It was the emotion that reminded people to be the best we could be. That teaches them to hold on one moment more. Hope was the emotion, no, the forcethat propelled humanity forward.
He was no longer All Might's successor. Instead, he was his student and apprentice. Instead of taking the other man's place as the Symbol of Peace he needed to find his own path. To define himself as a hero who could shine with his own light and stand on his own. To become worthy of standing beside his hero as an equal.
His mother might have known that he wasn't quirkless anymore on a mental level, but on an emotional? No. He needed to show her. She needed to see, not with just her eyes... but with her heart.
He closed his eyes and stepped away from the table before reaching deeply inside himself. At his call he felt One for All responding, almost like an old friend. He drank deeply from its power, drawing far more than his body could handle if he attempted any sort of real exertion, more than enough to make his point.
The room began to flow as his body was consumed in green power, veins of crimson energy flowing under his skin, cracking over his skin as he opened two glowing green eyes.
Standing at the center of a self-contained storm as One for All's power covered him like a raging flame, he said, "Mom, I'm never going to give up and I will never give in. As long as someone's life is on the line, I'll never stop."
"This is your power," his mother whispered in wide eyed awe.
"No," He replied, "This power, it doesn't belong to me. It never did. It never will. It belongs to everyone. To hold them up. To give them hope. To keep them safe. To protect them no matter the danger. I'm going to be a hero who saves everyone. I am going to become the Symbol of Hope. That is my promise. That is the hero I will become."
Slowly, the tears running like fossetts on her face, his mother walked around the table and wrapped her arms around him.
"No quirks at the table," she whispered a wide smile on her face as he hugged him tightly.
He let loose a light chuckle as he let the power sink back into his body.
"Um, sorry mom..." he spoke softly, his own self-doubt forcing him to ask a question that he knew was stupid, but one he needed to hear. He knew she did after the trip to Might Tower, but he needed to hear the words.
"You... believe in me, right mom?"
She stepped away from him, crying even harder as she held his arms and looked over him. "My little man. My little Izuku..." she sobbed, "I'm sorry, Izuku... I'm so sorry."
He flinched as if struck as he flashed back to his early childhood. Those were the most painful words in the world to him.
She looked at him with pain in her eyes, "It's no excuse, but I had a mother's fear. I wanted you to be safe. Instead, I failed you..."
"No you didn't, mom!" he exclaimed, "You did everything you could for me!"
"It wasn't enough! Out of everything I could have done, I didn't do the one thing I should have done more than anything else... I should have believed in you!"
"But you do now, right?" he asked nervously.
"I was a fool!" she said as she pulled him tightly, "Of course I believe in you, Izuku. I always should have... and I always will..."
Izuku started crying as he put his arms around her as well.
"Don't worry, mom... I am here."
*Roughly translates to 'I humbly accept this'. Said as a matter of good manners, and has some complex cultural roots in Japanese Buddhism.
Eri was half finished with her "breakfast" for lack of a better word when she heard a light rap on the door.
"Come in!" she shouted out, not bothering to turn away from the titanic, gravy slathered monstrosity that was apparently All Might's take on the traditional American Southern breakfast.
The door to her apartment opened as the Symbol of Peace himself entered, gently taking off his shoes before stepping inside.
"Greetings, Eri-shojo. You said you needed to speak to me?"
She nodded and motioned for him to sit down. The man stepped in and paused as he realized she was sitting in the massive chair he'd had brought in for himself during the aftermath of her short period as the host of One for All.
She couldn't help but smirk at him as she chewed on a piece of bacon. Mine now. Get your own.
Sighing, the huge man sat down on the bed and looked at her. "I think you'd like to know, I've contacted both Gentle and Crawler. I have to say, they've both managed to impress me."
"Good," She said with a nod. Out of everyone, she knew he'd like those two most. "Any luck on the others?"
"I've asked Nighteye to find Twice, Magne, and Toga Himiko," he said with a slight frown. "While from all reports, Bubaigawara-san is simply an unfortunate man, deeply traumatized by a difficult quirk... Hikiishi-san and Toga-san both have innocent blood on their hands."
"I know. Even twenty years later, Himiko-san was a hot mess," she admitted, "She literally begged me on her knees to try and save the others when I came back, you know."
She paused for a moment in thought, wondering how to explain the... unique creature that was Toga Himiko.
"She was a reliable ally even if she was always creepy around Izuku. I'd even go so far as to call her a friend," Eri took a sip of orange juice, "But she was damaged. Deeply and profoundly damaged by her upbringing."
Slowly a frown began to appear on All Might's face as his brow furrowed. "Explain please."
"Her quirk, "Transform", allows her to take the form of anyone whose blood she's consumed. Once she fully mastered her quirk, she's even able to use the quirks of the people who's form she'd taken," Eri stated.
"Quite the powerful quirk," All Might observed.
"Yes," Eri replied, "But it was one that came at a cost. Because of her quirk she's had a lifelong fascination with blood. One her parents were apparently relentless in stamping out. They taught her to act normally and forced her to suppress her instincts until she hit puberty and saw a boy she liked injured and bloody after a fight. Her own sexual attraction to him seems to have crossed wires with her suppressed fascination with blood, giving her a full blown case of haematophilia and a full psychotic break. Her carefully constructed self-image as a normal good-girl shattered and she basically was driven mad. Then she went full Yandere and the rest is history."
All Might grimaced. "That's terrible."
He closed his eyes, "And it's an example of some of the things that I hate most. Suppressing a quirk driven instinct almost never ends well."
"Yeah," Eri said sadly, "It's not hard to feel sorry for her, even after all she's done. And her bodycount was much higher in my time. When she wasn't gushing over blood, she was actually a pretty sweet woman... understandably bitter but still cheerful. Apparently all she ever really wanted was to live a happy life... and for people to stop killing all her friends."
All Might sighed, slumping onto the bed, a weary look on his face. Though she was sure he was going to try and save her. Izuku had spent years putting up with her constant creepy advances with kind eyes and a good humored smile because 'sometimes it takes longer to save some people than others'. She had little doubt that the man who taught him what it was to be a hero would feel the same way.
"And Magne?"
"Don't know," Eri replied, "She's a transwoman, has a magnetism quirk that's based on gender identity, and was killed by Chisaki before I was rescued. That's about all I know about her."
He nodded. "Thank you. So was this why you asked to see me?"
Eri shook her head. "No. What I need to talk to you about is Tobita Mirio and Aizawa Shouta."
"What about them?" All Might asked.
"I met Midnight yesterday," Eri said, causing All Might to blush slightly.
Oh?, Tthere had to be a story behind that.
"And I almost lost my cool. I almost let something slip."
She closed her eyes. "I was basically raised at UA after I was saved from Chisaki. Nemuri was like my aunt, my main female role model. But as much as she meant to me, and she meant a lot... she couldn't hold a candle to Shouta and Mirio."
Eri took a deep breath. It was hard talking about them. They'd both died in the initial attack, in many ways stripping her of most of the family she'd gained after being saved. If it hadn't been for Izuku she likely would have been left broken by it.
"Mirio was the closest thing I had to a big brother. He was always there for me. He cared for me, he protected me. He even sacrificed his quirk for me."
All Might's eyes went wide. "What?"
"He was beating Chisaki in a fight, so he shot at me with a gun. Mirio jumped in front of the bullet. It was a quirk destroying round. He took the shot for me without regret... and then, even quirkless, he fought a man who could kill with a touch to a near standstill until his body could no longer fight. He never resented me for it, he cared for me, loved me, he even said I was like a little sister to him. He was my brother in every way but blood." she paused, as she felt her eyes begin to tear up, "I mastered my quirk for his sake more than my own. So I could return what he'd sacrificed for me."
"And Aizawa?" All Might asked, his face clearly pensive.
Eri closed her eyes, trying to battle the inevitable. "He raised me. He was there for me, at first to control my quirk... but later... later it became something more. He stayed with me even after my quirk was no longer a danger..."
She took a deep breath and looked up to him. "He was my father. Literally. He legally adopted me when I was 11." A tear leaked from her eyes. "I miss them both terribly and I can't promise that I'll be able to maintain my composure around them. We need to tell them if only so I can get this out of my system somewhere that won't expose our secrets."
The Symbol of Peace closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, causing her heart to jump. He wasn't going to say no, was he?
He smiled, "Well, Eri-shojo... I'll have to speak to Nighteye and Nezu, but I see no reason why they can't be let in on the secret. They're both understanding individuals... I'm sure they'll take the situation in stride."
"Thank you." she whispered.
"No worries. After all, I am Here!"
She couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. Izuku did it better.
Still though, she had to smile and didn't even bother to resist as the tears began to fall. She had every reason to cry.
She was getting her family back.
While it had been something of a last minute decision, Iida Tenya decided to accompany the driver to the Midoriya's home on his trip to pick up Izuku. He'd been expecting to have the other young man answer the door, but instead he found his mother answering the door.
She was a kindly looking woman, overweight but she wore it well, with bright eyes and a kind smile that very much reminded Tenya of her son.
"Greetings Midoriya-san!" he exclaimed as he bowed deeply to the woman.
"Oh, hello!" his mother replied with a kindly smile. "You must be Iida Tenya?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied, "It is my pleasure to meet you."
"What a polite young man," she observed with a look of approval, "Please come in."
Tenya dutifully shed his shoes at the door and followed her inside. In the background he could hear the water running. Was Izuku taking a shower? But... he checked his watch. Eleven minutes early. He was sure that the other teenager had his reasons however, because tardiness seemed out of character for the young man he'd come to know thus far.
"Please sit down," she said as she directed him to the couch. "Would you like a drink?"
He shook his head. "No thank you, ma'am."
"Are you sure?" she asked, "I already have some water in the kettle. It would be no trouble."
He paused in thought for a moment, "Thank you. I'll have whatever you feel is convenient."
She nodded. "Is Jasmine alright?"
He nodded. "It would be wonderful."
As she left to the kitchen he couldn't help but take in their home. It was a simple apartment, attractively decorated and while the fixtures were not the highest quality, they were tastefully chosen and placed. In addition, it was fastidiously well kept to a degree that risked shaming their own hard working maids.
He approved. It was, after all, the belief of Team Idaten that when committing to a task you should do so with your all, be it heroism or housekeeping. After all, as his father liked to say: "One who gives it their all will never be defeated. Only one who concedes has been defeated." While such a person might face loss, they will never suffer true defeat.
Izuku's mother was clearly a woman who took great pride in her home. She gave it her all in keeping it clean and that was worth honoring.
"I'd like to apologize for Izuku not being ready. We had a late morning today and he's been in a rush to get ready."
"I'm not offended," he said as she returned with a cup of tea in hand, "I am early after all. And I must say, your home is lovely."
She smiled. "Thank you, Iida-kun."
He sipped the tea. It was a commercial blend, but it was a quality one brewed with loving care. Thus, it was delicious.
"This is very good tea."
She sat across from him, "Iida-kun? May I ask a favor of you."
He paused and looked at her. "How can I help you?"
She paused. "You were with Izuku during his exam, right?"
He nodded. He had indeed, and even now the other boy's talent impressed him. He was looking forward to seeing how the other youth handled Team Idaten's obstacle course, as well as finding out who Izuku's mysterious mentor was.
"I was," he replied.
"Could you tell me what it looked like? From your point of view?" she asked, "I just worry about my son and..."
Tenya smiled. Of course his dutiful mother would be concerned with her child's well being. Heroism was a difficult and dangerous trade, something many civilians often forgot amongst the fame and fortune. Her fears only raised both their stock in his eyes. After all, from fertile earth arises strong trees.
"Izuku-san is a skillful fighter," Tenya replied, "However, given his mentorship under a pro, this is a given. His true heroic nature though is shown in how he placed the wellbeing of others as his top priority. He could have kept the secret about the nature of the test to himself, but instead he shared it with all of us. And whenever he saw a fellow student in need during the battle trial, he would do anything he could to aid them, even at his own risk."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before looking intently into his. "Tell me what happened, please. Izuku told me he hurt himself against a giant robot, but what happened?"
Iida bit his tongue.
Uh-oh.
It seemed that Izuku hadn't told her about the details, likely in an attempt to spare her feelings. Now he was stuck between a rock and a proverbial hard place. On one hand, he certainly couldn't lie. But on the other he had to calm her emotions as not to do harm to her emotional state.
"We saw a girl about to be crushed by the Zero-Point Villian," he replied tentatively, "She was too far away to reach. I redlined my engines but even pushing beyond my limits, I wasn't fast enough to save her. But he was. It was..."
He took a moment to think of how to put this to the other young man's own mother. "Amazing. He was bathed in green fire, and in the blink of an eye he cleared the distance and tore the machine in two with a single blow. It was unbelievable."
The woman's eyes went wide.
"The strain on his body however was terrible, and he was knocked out by the intensity of his own attack, but he saved her. And then, with the girl's help, we saved him in turn. Fighting at Izuku-san's side was an honor, and I very much hope I have the pleasure to continue to do so in the future, Midoriya-san. Your son is a fine hero. There's no greater compliment I can give."
She smiled. "Thank you, Iida-kun. I hope you do too. You're a fine young man, and you're a wonderful hero as well. After all, you saved my son... and as a mother I give you my deepest thanks and appreciation."
He stood ramrod straight and bowed to her. "You flatter me with your praise, Midoriya-san!"
She chuckled. "Be careful, Iida-san. You don't want to spill your tea."
He froze and practically teleported back to his seat. Of course, he needed to finish his tea and he absolutely didn't want to make a mess of Midoriya-san's fine home...
Just then the door opened and Izuku ran into the living room, dressed but still damp.
"Ah! Mom, I'm not late am I..." his eyes went wide and he bowed deeply as he looked at Tenya. "I'm so very sorry!"
Tenya spared a glance at his watch. Two minutes. "You are in no danger of being late, Midoriya-san," Tenya stated, "I am simply early. If I rushed you, I apologize."
The other boy smiled, "It's okay... I just need another minute or two to get ready, is that alright?"
Tenya smiled. "That's perfect., I will let the driver know to get ready."
And he had reason to smile. Now, more than ever, he was convinced that befriending Midoriya Izuku was a wise decision. He couldn't wait to introduce the other boy to his own family as he had the opportunity to meet his. They were going to be good friends.
Chapter 17
To say Izuku was nervous was an understatement. He was about to meet Team Idaten. Team Idaten! Now, while they weren't the most flashy of heroes, nor did they have an exceptional number of villain captures and take downs like Endeavour's agency, nor were they near the top in speciality rescues like the Wild Wild Pussy Cats, they were a strong and capable team of generalists who were known for their flawless teamwork and swift efficiency.
They were stalwart and respectable, not at the top of the charts, but the sort of team you could always trust to be there when needed and to give it their all no matter what. They were heroes you could depend on. Their performance during the Sky Egg disaster a couple years before did a good job of showing just how capable they were. It had been All Might whom, after the big save, got all the attention, but Izuku had read enough of the articles to know it had been Team Idaten who'd held down the fort and undertaken the responsibility of organizing the other heroes and keeping fifty thousand civilians from losing their wits before the Symbol of Peace swooped in with the big save. And now he was going to meet those very same heroes!
If he hadn't been desensitized, at least somewhat, by working with All Might himself all these months, he'd probably be insensate on the floor at the prospect. Instead, he was just kind of giddy.
After all, he was going to be meeting Nitra, Virtium, andIngenium. What wasn't there to be excited about?
Without pausing, the driver turned towards the wall without stopping. For a moment Izuku felt himself tense as it looked as if the man was about to crash into the wall, but instead they passed through a hologram and traveled down a spiraling tunnel into an underground garage.
"My apologies. My Grandfather, the Speed Hero Idaten, had that put in," Tenya said with a deep sigh, "He was a fantastic hero, but was possessed by an overdeveloped sense of drama."
Izuku just nodded. He thought it was pretty cool, but he could understand how it might get old. Either way the car stopped in front of the elevator and the driver quickly opened the door for the both of them before continuing to the lot.
"I'm looking forward to hearing the identity of your mentor," Tenya remarked with a small smile. "Whoever it is must be quite proud of you."
Slowly Izuku thought back to his time with All Might and a small smale came over his face. Really thinking about it... there was only one thing he could say. "He's like a father to me."
Tenya looked at him for a moment, before asking, "What does your father do, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
"He works overseas." Izuku replied, his smile fading. While his father worked hard to support him and his mother, there was always the little voice in his head that told him his father had fled because he was a quirkless failure.
"I apologize," Iida said, noticing the fallen look on Izuku's face. "I did not realize it was a sensitive topic."
"It's okay." Izuku replied, looking at the taller young man. He'd come to terms with his feelings of paternal abandonment years ago. For the most part. Even now, that little voice persisted. The one that said he was in some way unworthy. However, he was quick to clear his doubts by remembering how far he'd already gone...
He'd not only been chosen as All Might's successor. He knew that in the future he had become the world's Symbol of Hope against an implacable foe, and he'd won. Even if his method of victory had, in the end, been to put his trust into another as All Might had in him. Into a hero who'd traveled through time, rewriting history itself to undo their wickedness, who then had in turn nominated him as hersuccessor. He'd been twice chosen to become the world's greatest hero.
He would live up to All Might's expectations. He would live up to Eri's expectations. He would live up to the example set by his future self and then surpass himself. He'd already saved one life, after all, and to save one life is to save the world. All he had to do was keep going, give it his all, and then give more. Because being a hero was about always seeing the limits of what you were capable of, and then pushing farther. Plus Ultra.
Tenya smiled at him, clearly noticing the change in his demeanor as the elevator chimed and he motioned for Izuku to follow him into the hall. Next to it was an umbrella stand and a shoe rack. As per tradition, Izuku removed his shoes, though he was quite enthused to see a trio of armored costume boots sitting amongst the more traditional forms of footwear.
The passage was simple, modern and attractive. It was clearly private as well. There were several tables covered with various nicknacks and decorations, while on the walls hung a number of family photos, some professional, some more personal...
He paused for a split second as he saw an image of a beaming, but tired Nitra in a hospital gown holding a small baby, flanked by a slightly frazzled Virtium and an excited looking little boy hanging on the wall.
Far more personal...
Izuku turned away out of respect for the aspiring hero's dignity, but one look at the slight flush and mild tension on the other boy's face showed that the sentiment was a bit too late...
Izuku shot him a sympathetic grimace and moved on - although a treasonous little idea in his head contemplated asking Aunt Mitsuki if she could hang a similar photo in her own household. There was no doubt that she would agree. She was always looking for a way to take some wind out of Kacchan's sails. He drowned that little voice without hesitation.
A moment later, Tenya led him to a door that opened to a modern looking living room with leather sofas and armchairs. Two men and a woman, all clearly related to Tenya, were casually relaxing within. So this was it...the heroic core and leading family of Team Idaten.
The woman stood up. She was attractive and fit, her black hair tied up into a tall ponytail behind her head. While she was clearly entering middle age, she wore it well, with a kind face and a strong body of the type that refused to bow down before the rigors of time.
"Greetings, Midoriya-san," she said with a friendly smile, "It's just so nice to meet Tenya-chan's first real friend!"
"M-mother!" Tenya said, his face absolutely aghast.
"Mom!" one of the men exclaimed in sympathy simultaneously . He was a kindly faced young man in his early twenties with mufflers sticking out of his elbows. Clearly this was Ingenium.
"Hanabi," the older of the men groaned, "Lay off the boy..."
Virtium was a tall and fit man well into his middle ages, but who had clearly refused to even entertain the idea of being considered a senior. He had a powerful build, a strong jaw, sharp eyes, with a cleanly trimmed beard and salt and pepper hair. Honestly, he looked like a family patriarch out of an old Samurai movie.
She pouted. "Tenka... he's always been such a private boy! I've been waiting to tease him about his friends since he started grade school..."
"And this is why I never brought my friends over," Ingenium muttered to himself at a consperital volume, earning an exaggerated hurt look from his mother and a dull chuckle from his father.
"Please excuse my wife, Midoriya-san, she's excitable but well meaning for the most part." Virtium said as he stood up and walked next to his wife. "I am Iida Tenka. Welcome to our home."
"Um, thank you, Iida-san," Izuku said nervously.
"Calm down," Ingenium said with a smile as he joined his parents, "I'm Iida Tensei. You can call me by my given name, if you'd like. It would be confusing if we all went by 'Iida-san' after all."
Tenya's mother sighed, before shooting Izuku a wide, honest smile. "I'm Iida Hanabi. Thank you for joining us today. Have you eaten yet?"
"Um... yeah actually... I had a pretty big breakfast," he paused. But if they were asking if he'd eaten it implied they had waited to eat with him which would mean not doing so was rude. Plus there was what both his mom and All Might had told him. "But I have a stockpile quirk, so if you'd like to eat I'd be happy to join you. If you'd have me."
"Feed your face, feed your quirk," Nitra said with a smile, "I understand completely. While they're not quite stockpile quirks, me and the boys go through more juice than you'd believe..."
Izuku blinked. "Juice?"
"Yep!" she cheerfully said, with a small smile. "My quirk, 'Nitro', works by converting fruit juice into fuel and burning it in my lungs to increase my strength and speed. Though if I push too hard I might accidentally backfire and spit up flames."
Izuku blinked. Well, that explained why the Idaten agency had so many juice sponsorship deals. He'd always considered it a bit weird that engine themed speed heroes would be advertising fruit juice of all things, but now, discovering that they were literally fueled by it, it made so much sense! And he had a strong feeling that part of the deal was that they would get 'All-you-could-drink' juice supplies to keep their quirks running strong without scratching their finances. Deals like that were common in the hero industry. For example, it was rumored that one of the reasons Mirko always seemed to be munching a carrot was because she was sponsored by the Japanese Carrot Grower's Association or something like that...
"My father breaths fire," Izuku said, forcing his mind back on track, "When he pushes too hard, it burns his throat."
She chuckled warmly, and glanced at her youngest, "So both of you have parents who breathe fire. So much in common!"
Tenya blushed while Tensei just smiled and ruffled his brother's hair, "Mom's got you there, little bro."
He looked up, "Anyways, mom's quirk manifested in us by combining with dad's engine. We run on juice just like mom does."
"My engine on the other hand," Virtium spoke up, "literally burns my body fat, so I understand better than most what it is like to have to feed your quirk. I'll order a light lunch brought up... and in the meantime, how about we take a seat and discuss things."
Izuku sat down and nodded. "Um, alright. What would you like to talk about?"
"Tenya told us you were very impressive during the exam," Virtium began, "And from what he'd told us, you're the personal apprentice of a Professional Hero. If it's not personal, I'd like to ask you the identity of your mentor."
"Always to the point, Tenka," his wife said with a small eye roll. "Don't feel pressured, Izuku-kun. You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."
"It's all right," Izuku replied as he slowly sat down on the couch, "I talked to my mentor and he said it was okay if I tell you, but..." he trailed off slightly, kneading his hands slightly. He wasn't exactly sure how people would react to him saying he was All Might's student.
"Is something the matter?" Ingenium asked.
"I'm just afraid you're not going to believe me," Izuku admitted after a moment, "It's been almost a year and I still have trouble believing me."
"There's nothing to worry about," Nitra said with a joking tone, "It's not like you're going to try and tell us that you're being personally taught by All Might or anything..."
"Heheheh..." Izuku laughed weakly, "Uuuuh...About that..."
A silence fell over the room as the three and a half pro heroes just looked at him as if he'd grown a third head. Not a second head, no, a third one. A head on top of a head on top of a head. He felt like he wanted to die. He'd had a feeling that this was all a mistake... that no one would believe him. Oh well, time to face the music.
"All Might," he said after a moment, his nerves raging. "My mentor is All Might. I know what you're thinking. Like I said, I'm still having trouble believing it myself but..."
"I believe you," Tenya said immediately, causing Izuku to look up in surprise.
"Y-you do?"
"While I didn't consider it at the time, it explains a great deal."
"Oh?" his father asked, leaning in, "What exactly does it explain, son?"
"When All Might arrived after..." he paused for a second, "Diverting the robot, he seemed very familiar with Midoriya-san, and while I didn't realize it at the time, both Uraraka-san and I had to introduce ourselves to All Might. Midoriya-san did not, nor did All Might ask for his name. In fact, he already knew it. Also, Midoriya-san wasn't star struck by his presence the way that we were. He was only frightened by the prospect of having to pay for damages due to his destruction of the zero point villain, but when he was informed that he would not, he was simply relieved, even if he remained slightly frazzled."
He paused as if gathering his thoughts.
"In addition, he did not react in any way when All Might..." Tenya paused and flushed slightly, "Informed us of... a piece of information that he asked us to hold in confidence. Both Uraraka and I were awestruck by the news, while Midoriya-san did not react strongly at all. He clearly was already aware of what All Might had told us. At no time did Midoriya-san react with the excitement you'd expect from someone in the presence of the number one hero. He was behaving as if speaking to someone of his caliber was a daily occurence. So yes, I believe Midoriya-san, completely."
"Superb!" his father exclaimed with a proud smile. "That is just the sort of deductive ability I expect from my son. Only I very much wish you had thought of this before. It would have been quite the triumph to figure it out before Midoriya-san told you."
Tenya lowered his head, "I'm sorry father. I was simply attempting to respect Midoriya-san's privacy and the wishes of his mentor..."
"Don't be sorry," his mother cut in glaring at the other young man's father, "Not sticking your nose where it isn't wanted is no personality flaw..."
"Plus, you did say that kick was like watching All Might," Tenya's elder brother said, "It would probably take someone like All Might to teach someone with a quirk like All Might's."
"Yeah," Izuku said with a sigh as he relaxed. While it stung maybe a little that they hadn't immediately believed him, he could understand their surprise. Again, it was rather unbelievable. But once they thought about it, they moved beyond their initial surprised disbelief, and had clearly come to accept it without hesitation. That at least calmed his nerves. "I still have trouble believing it myself..."
"May I ask how you attracted All Might's attention?" Virtium asked him. He was getting the feeling that the man was extremely inquisitive by nature.
Izuku slowly smiled as he thought back to that day, when he'd first met All Might. The best day of his life. The moment everything changed. "He said I could become a hero."
"With a quirk like yours, I'd think that would be a given," Nitra said with a smile.
"It wasn't," Izuku replied, frowning slightly, "Up until I met All Might..." he paused for a moment, "I thought I was Quirkless."
A long silence fell over the assembled as the entire Iida family looked at him as if he'd just sprouted a second head. Something, not entirely uncommon these days, but still enough to get strange looks.
"Excuse me?" Virtium said, one of his eyebrows shooting to his hairline.
"I don't understand, Midoriya-san," Tenya asked, "Your quirk is quite potent, how could you be unaware of it?"
"Too potent," was Izuku's reply as he considered the carefully constructed fiction they'd come up with to explain things. "My quirk is anomalous, and it's too powerful for my body..."
"That must be why you hurt yourself during the exam," Tensei observed, "You saw that girl in danger and you acted by instinct."
"I've read about cases like yours," Nitra said with a nod, "People can develop psychosomatic blocks on their quirks sometimes, often related to trauma. With a quirk powerful enough to cripple you like Tenya said, I can see why little you would have started to block it out which can lead to a misdiagnosis."
"I'll admit I'm somewhat surprised that All Might noticed it," Virtium said thoughtfully, "Then again, that's the sort of thing we should expect of the Number One Hero."
"How did he notice you?" Tenya asked, "If you don't mind me asking."
Izuku paused for a moment, "That's personal, just not for me, but for All Might."
"Never mind then," he said bowing his head.
"It's fine," Izuku replied, "I can't tell you everything but I can tell you a bit, because he's told me it's okay to share as long as it's kept in confidence."
"And you have my word on the honor of Team Idaten that your secrets will be kept," Virtium immediately stated, without a moment's hesitation and with all the gravity of a man who reminded him of a samurai lord.
"Okay," Izuku said with a nod. "It's because my quirk is just like All Might's. When he met me, and saw the signs of my quirk and after getting to know me, he said that he wanted to give me the same opportunity he'd been given."
"Just like..." Tenya's eyes went wide. "Are you implying that All Might also thought he was quirkless?"
"He's not implying it, son," Virtium said wide eyed, "He's outright stating it."
"This is..." Tensei a deep breath, "A lot."
"No wonder you wanted us to promise to keep it secret," Nitra muttered to herself, "The very idea that All Might of all people used to be effectively quirkless until someone took him under their wing? The societal impact would be... I don't even have words."
"No mom," Tensei said after a moment, "If he didn't want anyone to know, he would have told Midoriya-kun to keep it secret. If Izuku-san here is really his student, and is publicly listed as Quirkless... there are going to be questions."
"And he's probably timing it for maximum impact in the manner he deems most suitable," Virtium observed.
Izuku began to sweat slightly. Had this been all a mistake?
"And what do you think that is, dad?" Tenya asked nervously, obviously a bit nervous about how utterly high level the conversation just became.
"While All Might has largely remained a-political, he's always had a soft spot for the downtrodden," Virtium said thoughtfully, "I'm guessing he's saving this revelation for a time where it will do the most good for Quirkless rights. After all, saying he was functionally quirkless as a kid would be the perfect boilerplate lesson on why you should treat everyone respectfully."
"Makes me admire him even more," Tensei admitted, "He's had to have been treated so horribly because of that... and yet here he is... protecting us all."
"He's great," Izuku admitted with a wistful smile as he considered the heroic titan who'd honestly become the closest thing he had to a father over the past year. That said, he wasn't perfect. "Though he's a bit of a jerk as a trainer..."
"Oh?" Virtium's eyebrow shot up and he could see a mischievous glint in the man's eye. "Tell me more..."
"He worked really hard to help me," Izuku said with a smile, "Came up with an 'American Dream Plan for Success' and all... had a work out schedule and even a diet to make me into a 'worthy vessel for my power'..." he paused. For almost a year he'd been waiting for a chance to complain about this to a sympathetic ear and finally, his chance had arrived. "But there was this one time with a refrigerator..."
"... and here you go, young lady!" All Might said with his smile at full burn as he handed the kitten to a small, three eyed little girl, "Just make sure Miko-chan doesn't climb any more trees, okay?"
"Alright All Might-san! I'll do that! Thank you!"
All Might smiled as the small, cherubic tricloptic little girl ran off with the small black and white kitten in her arms. That was the third endangered pet today. Wouldn't be the last.
With a bound he was in the air, scanning the streets below him for those in need as his cellphone waited in his hidden pocket, ready to inform him of any major crimes that needed handling.
Spotting something, he changed course and landed with a gentle thud next to a gnarled looking old woman who was struggling to carry a bag of groceries.
"There's no need to exert yourself ma'am!" he said smiling widely, "For I Am Here... to help!"
"Oh, don't bother yourself with me, dear," the gray haired grandma said, trying to shoo him off, "I'm fine. Just need to rest for a moment is all."
Looked down at her he let his smile soften from his normal wide grin to a much more kindly and authentic smile. "Obaa-sama," he said gently, "I don't consider it a trouble at all to honor my elders. Please. Allow me to help you."
She looked up, "Well, I'm just walking to the bus stop is all..."
Toshinori couldn't help but chuckle. "How about I carry you home instead. It'll just be a quick hop after all... please."
She looked at him for a long moment before smiling. "You really are the finest hero, aren't you? Taking time out of your day to help a crazy old lady like me... all right, I live three kilometers down that way. At the Suzuran Plaza..."
With a nod, All Might scooped her up into the crook of his arms and grabbed her groceries, positioning them so they wouldn't be damaged by the trip. "Close your eyes, this might be a bit scary otherwise, but don't worry because I am here!"
She looked at him, "Not on your life, sonny. Not everyday a handsome young man sweeps me off my feet!"
He laughed and launched himself into the air. In moments, the apartment block in question was in sight. Much to his amusement, the old woman was happily whooping in his arms , clearly enjoying the ride.
She laughed as he placed her down in front of the door. "Thank you All Might-sama," she said as she reached into one of her bags. "Now just hold on a moment..."
He raised his hands. "No thank you ma'am, it was my pleasure to..."
"None of that, young man!" she snapped as she pulled out a lollipop, "I always give sweets to any kind young'in who helps me and nothing you say will change that... I don't care if you're little Kenji from down the hall or the Symbol of Peace himself..."
She thrust it into his comparatively massive hand, "Just don't ruin your dinner."
He laughed and smiled at her. "Of course not, obaa-sama."
"Good!" she exclaimed, "Now off with you! I've taken up enough of your time and the world needs its Symbol of Peace."
He laughed as he launched himself into the air with a mighty leap, before changing direction by kicking off against the air itself. As he did so, he removed the wrapper from the lollipop and pocketed it, before gently placing the candy in his mouth.
It was grape! He loved grape. And even more, it tasted like the sweet flavor of a good deed accomplished. Hero candy was best candy!
As he scanned the horizon he felt his phone rumble and pulled it out.
It was a text from young Midoriya...
All Might-dono, this is Virtium on Midoriya-kun's phone. Would it be acceptable to allow your protege to run through our agency's obstacle course?
He blinked and quickly replied.
What sort of course?
Speed, obstacle, and rescue, under simulated villain threat.
Toshinori landed on a rooftop and looked thoughtfully at the phone. On one hand, it was a bit early to run Izuku through a test designed for Pro Heroes. On the other, it would be a good chance to see what the boy was capable of. And sadly, with all that he had on his plate from his heroing, handing his 'marketing problems', the Pop Step situation, and even recording personalized messages for many of the children who took part in UA's entrance exam... he had a lot on his plate for the next month.
Being able to see Izuku's baseline in a simulated environment under the watch of multiple talented and dedicated heroes before he began proper training? Well, that was just grand. It was the perfect way to see what he had to work with before the boy developed any bad habits through repetition.
Do whatever you feel is necessary, and inform the boy that I insist that he gives it his all. I'll happily pay for any damages he might cause to your course. All I ask is that you provide me with a recording for my own review.
Of course, All Might-dono. We'll pull out all the stops.
Wonderful! I look forward to seeing it. Thank you for this Virtium-san.
It will be our pleasure.