A/N: I will say this here in advance. Kata's reasoning and logic will be explained next chap. It might not make sense now, but there are reasons.
****************
(Nemuri POV – Kata's House)
I walk just a step behind Nezu, All Might towering beside us in his full hero form. The early morning air is quiet, save for the soft rhythm of our footsteps and Nezu's occasional hum.
'So this is where he lives,' I muse, my gaze drifting over the modest house. It's neat, unassuming, and practical, since it's close to U.A..
Nezu steps forward, raising a paw to knock... but the door swings open first.
Kata stands in the doorway, backlit by the soft lighting of the house. His posture is casual, but his red eyes analyse us with a sharp edge, settling on Nezu with quiet suspicion.
"Mr. Okada! Wonderful morning, isn't it?" Nezu beams, unbothered as always, his arms spread as if he's greeting an old friend.
"Good morning, young Okada!" All Might adds with his trademark booming cheer, his signature smile complemented with an exaggerated pose.
"Morning," I chime in with a sly smile, my eyes narrowing as I watch him curiously.
Kata glances between us, expression neutral. "Yeah. Good morning." A sigh escapes his lips. "I didn't know I'd be having visitors."
"I believed it was a situation better handled quickly. My apologies for the late notice." Nezu replies, polite but firm.
He really doesn't want us here. I smirk. How rude. I'm almost hurt.
"I thought you'd be happy to see your teachers after so long," I tease, resting a hand on my hip. "Didn't you miss us?"
He rolls his eyes. "It's only been a week."
"So much can change in a week," I say, brushing past him with a smile. "Come on, let us in."
"You're already in." He sighs , holding the door open with a resigned gesture. "It's probably important if all three of you came."
"Pardon the intrusion," All Might says with a polite cough, ducking under the doorway slightly, as Nezu follows behind him.
Inside, the house is warm and clean. 'A bit boring though.' The furniture is simple and minimalistic. There aren't many decorations either.
I continue observing the place, and before I can comment on the decor, I catch some movement. My eyes lock onto two figures peeking around the hallway.
'Ho? What do we have here...'
"Kata," Comes a cheerful but wary voice, "who are these people?"
The taller of the two steps out first.
'A high school girl?' I raise an eyebrow. 'I didn't expect this from Kata.' I think mischievously.
Blonde hair, slitted eyes and a mischievous smirk.
Nezu smiles with calm familiarity. "Ms. Toga. A pleasure to meet you."
Her brows knit together. "You know me?" She asks, more confused than alarmed.
"Something like that," Nezu replies cryptically, seemingly enjoying himself.
Toga steps into full view, wearing an oversized shirt, clearly not hers. Her arms are loose at her sides, but her eyes don't leave us, especially not me.
And then—
A small white-haired girl peeks from behind her legs. Her gaze flits to each of us with extreme caution.
I blink in surprise.
"Well now," I say, raising an eyebrow as I turn back to Kata. "I didn't know you already had a girlfriend and a kid. You kids grow up so fast." I say, pretending to wipe a tear from my eye.
Himiko grins widely and giggles, a blush colouring her cheeks. "Girlfriend? We do look like that, right?"
Kata sighs again, like the world just added another weight to his shoulders. "That's not what this is."
"Oh? What a shame," I say playfully despite observing his reaction carefully. "I thought you'd started your own little family." I hum. "So, who are they?"
"Himiko is... a friend. And Eri is my little sister." He says. "I suppose your assessment of us being a family isn't wrong."
That makes me pause.
'He hesitated?' I smirk. 'Seems their relationship is much more than just friendly.'
My eyes flick down to the tiny figure now clinging to Himiko's leg.
'Little sister? She's so cute!' My gaze flicks back to Kata. 'I'm still suspicious she might be his kid, given the resemblance.'
Nezu hums thoughtfully. "I didn't realize you had a younger sister."
Now that catches me by surprise. 'How wouldn't Nezu know?'
Kata just shrugs. "There are some things you'll miss."
"I suppose so." Nezu say with a chuckle.
All Might crouches down a little, lowering his voice. "Hello there, young lady. My name's All Might."
Eri blinks. She doesn't respond at first, looking towards Kata, who smiles reassuringly towards her. She steps out from behind Himiko, and looks up at All Might's tall frame. "Hello. I'm Eri." She says in a soft, shy voice.
"It's a pleasure to meet you!" All Might says in a loud voice, while simultaneously trying to whisper.
Eri covers her ears from how loud he is, and All Might begins panicking immediately, which causes her to giggle slightly before hiding behind Himiko again.
All Might lets out a relived sigh. "Apologies, young Eri. I'll try to be quieter." He says while rubbing the back of his head.
Eri peeks out again and nods slightly. "It's okay. I forgive you." She says with a small smile, that makes my heart ache from cuteness. A sentiment everyone probably shares.
"She's shy around new people," Kata says, his eyes never having left her for a moment, but he's smiling now.
'There it is,' I think. 'He's watching us like a hawk. He's so protective, but not overbearing. Nothing like the apathetic boy I see at school. He's even smiling!'
I find the change interesting, and want to observe more, but before I can—
Nezu claps his paws together once. "Well then! This has been a very enlightening greeting — but I believe we should move to the purpose of our visit."
'Damn it! Couldn't you wait a few minutes?!' I curse internally, but remain calm and professional.
He glances at Kata. "Would you mind if we spoke in private?"
Kata nods, seemingly having expected this. "You and All Might, I presume?" To which Nezu nods. "Sure. This way."
He gestures toward a hallway, leading them both down toward a closed room.
"I'll stay out here and keep the girls company," I offer, seating myself casually on the couch. I wink toward Himiko and Eri. "Girls' time. I'm sure we'll all get along great."
Kata gives me a long look. I meet it with an innocent smile. But the important thing is that he didn't oppose.
The door closes behind him, as they disappear into a room.
'And just like that,' I think, folding one leg over the other. 'I'm left in a house with a lovestruck teen girl, and an adorable little one.'
'This should be fun.' I smile sweetly as I look towards the the girls.
(All Might POV – Kata's House)
The couch creaks beneath me as I settle in across from Kata.
Nezu hops up beside me, tail swaying as he adjusts his tiny suit with practiced ease. He's smiling, as always. But I know him well enough to see the caution behind it.
Even though the setting is casual, there's an unspoken tension lingering in the air. Kata's eyes are sharp, watching us with caution.
I glance at Nezu.
'Why did you tell me to be careful?'
He hadn't said much on the way here—only that "treading lightly" was wise, and that Kata wasn't someone easy to handle.
'He's just reserved.' I tell myself. 'A bit intense, maybe. But surely not dangerous.'
"...So," Kata begins, voice calm and direct, "why are you here?"
I blink. 'No greetings. No small talk. Just straight to the point.'
Nezu chuckles, entirely unfazed. "A fair question. I imagine you've seen the media coverage of the Hosu incident? And the impact your involvement has had?"
Kata gives a single nod. "Yeah. I saw the articles this morning."
"Given the sensitivity of the situation, I thought it best to address things before public narratives spiral," Nezu continues easily. "We've decided to offer counseling to the involved students. After all, it was a deeply traumatic event. I've asked Midnight to check in on you, specifically."
Kata raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You're worried about my mental health?"
"It's part of our responsibility," I offer with a slight cough to clear my throat, sitting straighter as I do. "As your teachers, we need to ensure your well-being. You're not alone in this."
"I'm fine." He waves a hand, brushing it off. "I don't need a babysitter."
Nezu doesn't miss a beat, his smile widening like this was expected. "It isn't about needing one. She'll just be checking in on you, nothing intrusive. Midoriya and Todoroki will also be receiving support. But with the media fixated on you, ignoring your care would raise... uncomfortable questions."
Kata frowns slightly. Nezu presses further.
"It might make it seem like U.A. is neglecting its most high-profile student. Which would only feed more rumors and further public distrust."
There's a pause as Kata seems to be lost in thought.
"...Alright," he says at last, his tone flat. "As long as it doesn't interfere with anything I have to do."
'That's... more agreeable than I expected.' I think. 'Nezu said it'd be more difficult to convince him.'
"Thank you," Nezu says cheerfully. "We appreciate your cooperation."
But Kata's already moved past it. His eyes locking on to Nezu. "And the real reason for your visit?"
Nezu's smile doesn't falter. "The timing of the article is… strange. Many things happened, but you were emphasized—specifically your power, and its potential for destruction. I believe it may have been a targeted move, intending to harm your reputation."
"By who?" I ask, though I already feel the answer coming.
Kata doesn't hesitate. "All For One, most likely."
My chest tightens, and dull ache echoes from where my stomach once was. AFO's name haunts me like a shadow I can never escape from.
Nezu said Kata knows about him—that he's alive... and that he has Nana's grandson.
I clench my hands into fists, forcing them to stay still on my lap.
I want to question him, to demand more—how much he knows, what he's seen—but Nezu had asked me to wait.
'I trust Nezu. He probably has his reasons.'
Nezu folds his paws neatly. "Then you understand our concern. If this is a coordinated move by AFO's network... then you're being targeted."
"I'm aware," Kata replies, voice as calm as ever. "But I'm not worried. I can handle anything he throws at me."
'That's what I once told myself, too.'
"You mustn't underestimate him, young Okada," I say, letting the weight of my voice carry the warning. Nezu exhales quietly, but doesn't interrupt. Kata's gaze shifts to me.
I hold his eyes and continue.
"All For One is a vile man. He doesn't fight fair. He won't come at you directly if he doesn't have to—he'll go after anyone around you. Your classmates. Friends. Anyone you care about."
'He needs to understand. This isn't a test you can brute-force your way through.'
"I expected that," Kata answers. "I'll keep them safe."
'You're still underestimating him, Kata.'
Before I can press the issue, Nezu steps in smoothly.
"I'm glad you're taking All For One seriously, Mr. Okada. We'll also continue our efforts on our end to bring him to justice swiftly."
He gives me a subtle sidelong glance, a silent cue to rein it in.
'Calm down, Toshinori.'
Right. I'm getting ahead of myself again. 'But still... what's your angle, Nezu?'
The small mammal claps his claws together softly, easily shifting the topic. "Now then, let's turn to something more immediate. Tenya Ida. You saved his life. Without your intervention, he wouldn't have survived, and for that, you have my personal thanks, and that of U.A.. We failed to keep our students safe, but you made sure he could at least return home."
Nezu concludes with a short, respectful bow.
Kata shrugs, brushing it off like it was just another errand. "It wasn't a big deal. I only did what I could."
"It was to us," I say, my voice firm, trying to convey what words alone can't express. "You didn't just save a student. You saved his future and gave his family their son back."
Kata shifts slightly, like he's not used to, or doesn't like, praise.
Nezu presses on gently with his calculating kindness. "Your quirk... Telekinesis. I've reviewed your file, but what we've seen from you goes well beyond standard applications. Frankly, it resembles multiple quirks."
I lean forward, not bothering to hide my interest. 'I'll admit — if Nezu hadn't already ruled out a connection to AFO, I would've suspected him.'
But that's just it. If Kata were working with AFO, he wouldn't have revealed so much information about the man.
Kata doesn't flinch at the accusation. It's like he was prepared for it.
"They're just advanced applications," he says evenly. "I just haven't updated the definition of my quirk. If I did, it would be the ability to move, manipulate, or interact with matter and energy without physical contact."
Nezu's eyes sparkle, his smile growing. "Fascinating... Thank you for your honesty."
'He's definitely figured out something.' I think, watching the gears turn behind his grin.
After a moment, with deliberate ease, Nezu presents a sealed folder and places it on the table.
"Now, to our final topic," he says, his voice a touch more serious. "All Might was injured during his battle with All For One. I believe you already knew that?"
I unconsciously straighten a little.
Kata glances at me, offering no acknowledgment of the question. "You want me to heal him?"
Nezu nods once. "We wouldn't ask this lightly, but—"
"It's illegal," Kata cuts in. "I'm not licensed. Using my quirk for something like that would be a major violation."
I let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of my neck. "I understand. I didn't mean to put you in an unfair position."
"You're not," Nezu says smoothly, nudging the folder toward him. "I've accounted for that. What you're looking at is provisional clearance to use your quirk. It gives you limited authority to use your quirk for medical application in this case."
Kata flips it open, eyes scanning the page. Then he closes it.
His eyebrow lifts. "These are the only restrictions?"
'What restrictions?' I glance at Nezu, confused by everything happening this far.
"Yes," Nezu replies. "Just don't make it public, and don't abuse the privilege. This is the most I can do before you officially become a hero."
"I expected this would come with supervision." Kata says.
Nezu smiles like a chessmaster moving his next piece. "Consider it a gesture of trust. You're the one who taught me its value, aren't you, Mr. Okada?"
Kata's lip twitches, but he sighs before smiling slightly. "You make it hard to refuse, Principal Nezu."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Nezu replies smoothly.
I glance between them, suspicion flickering in my gut.
'What history do they share? What aren't they saying?'
Then silence settles again, brief but heavy.
"Alright," Kata says finally. "I'll do it."
Nezu doesn't miss a beat. "And your terms?"
"I want Eri enrolled in a proper school. Somewhere good. The year's already started, so getting her in won't be easy on my own."
Nezu nods.
"And I want Himiko accepted into U.A.'s General Studies course."
Nezu pauses. "That one... is more complicated."
Kata raises an eyebrow. "Even for the principal?"
Nezu lets out a long, dramatic sigh. "Very well."
"And lastly..." Kata's voice levels out. "Three favors. No questions asked."
That gives me pause. "You want us to agree blindly to that?"
Kata doesn't flinch. "In return for healing All Might... and two more things, I'll tell you about it you agree. I can promise they'll be worth it."
I shoot a look at Nezu, who is already deep in thought.
Then, with that same amused smile, he nods. "Agreed."
Kata turns to me. "What about you, All Might?"
I don't answer right away. Nezu can weigh risks with a thousand contingencies. I'm not like that. I need to know what I'm walking into.
"I figured you'd hesitate," Kata says calmly. "To return the trust I've been given, I'll tell you what I'm offering. Nezu's already agreed anyway."
The air in the room tightens.
"Firstly, there's an AFO spy within U.A." He says, causing Nezu's eyes to widen.
He continues, looking directly at me, as though not registering our shock. "Secondly, you'll get to speak with Nana Shimura."
My heart stops.
'What…?'
"I can make it happen," Kata adds, like it's no big deal.
I sink back, stunned. My hands tremble. 'Nana... after all this time...'
He then explains how One For All's vestiges are solidifying, how interaction is becoming more possible. His voice is even, logical... but the weight of the offer floors me.
I don't question how he knows this. Or why.
It doesn't matter.
"I'll do whatever it takes," I say quietly. The words come from deep within. A place of deep regret for not being able to save her. "I agree."
Kata nods, like that settles everything. "Then we have a deal."
*************
If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones. It really helps the book out, and makes me feel great.
Yeah, this chapter is about 3k words long. 1.5 times bigger than normal, so I hope you enjoyed it.🫠.
I felt like it was a waste to do All Might's POV since I might've accomplished more with Kata or Nezu's, but it was too late by the time I realised that💀. Kata's reasoning in this chapter, was mainly because he had a change of heart about All Might, and overall all of them after his little interaction with Eri. Not enough to make him like All Might, but enough for him not to be needlessly difficult. He's got plans, which is why he offered to help with Nana, and 3 no questioned asked favours from either of them is worth a lot. Plus the fact that he can use his quirk (the medical aspects of it) legally now, as long as he isn't too open about it, which was never the plan.
Midnight finally has an in, and next on the agenda is the karaoke, as well as boosting Mirko for a proper challanging fight on the last day of internships. Doesn't that sound fun? A bit of action. Then we'll jump back into canon and so on.
Let me know how I did. Personally, I'm exhausted, and it's super cold where I live (temps here don't get too low, compared to others, so I'm sure some of you guys would laugh at what I consider cold).
Interestingly enough, I've actually written quite a lot these last 4 days. I started that new Danmachi fanfic, and I'll be posting the first chapter here (making 2 chapters ahead on Patreon), give it a read. It's quite nice and I'm enjoying writing it.
Anyway, that's all from me. Hope you all have a great day.