Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Ninth awoke, it wasn’t to the grey walls he’d closed his eyes to. That alone was enough to jerk him upright, bleary mind skipping from thought to thought:

He’d been in a safehouse, now he was outside. When had he moved? Why hadn’t Danger Sense warned him?

W-was that his Aldera uniform…?

Just like that, all of his thoughts froze, entrapped by the absurd sight. He hadn’t seen these clothes for nearly a year, hadn’t so much as touched them since his middle school graduation. He’d never had a reason to and certainly never wanted to.

But here he was, laying in the dirt in clothes meant for weak, scrawny limbs – his limbs, which were now too bony, too small.

What was this? Some sort of quirk? An illusory one? Something that played with his memories? O-or, was it something like Eri’s, one that rewound his body-

Frantically, he felt for One For All, it-it- where was it-?

We’re right here, Ninth. That was First, which made him gasp in relief. Mostly. A part of him was still panicking because the familiar buzz of power was gone from him, but at least the vestiges still spoke to him. That had to count for something. Your body reverted, so we had to seal away One For All.

One For All was still his then, just… out of reach. You can do that? He asked, heart twisting.

He was quirkless again. Weak. And a bigger target than ever.

Not normally, no, Yoichi answered gently. This is a special circumstance. It appears you were sent back in time, but we won’t leave you.

And that-

That warmed him.

Then the realization set in.

“Back in time?” He couldn’t help the shock that bled through.

Yes, Yoichi hummed. We aren’t sure what to make of it, but we believe it was that woman you saved yester- um. Shortly before arriving at the safehouse.

The woman? Ninth remembered the elderly lady, one he’d saved from some thieves and guided to a shelter. Mouri-san had been alone, left to herself and abandoned in the midst of the rising chaos. She heard nothing of her family, she told him, knew nothing of their whereabouts or safety. She’d been living at home, surviving off of food storage since travel would prove too difficult for her in her failing years. He listened to her, carried her from her wrecked home, and met her eyes when she looked at him.

“You’re such a kind boy, to have helped me so,” Mouri-san remarked, her eyes damp. She held his hand between her own frail fingers. “Why don’t you stay here where it’s safe?”

“I can’t,” he said as softly as he could without elaborating. "I'm sorry."

She frowned. He didn’t let himself turn away but tried to look past her sad eyes. "In that case, I wish you the best, little hero." A strange tingle went up his arm; if Danger Sense hadn't been silent, he would have snatched it away immediately. "I hope I can repay your kindness."

He took his hand back from there, told her he was just happy to help and to take care, then took off.

It was the simplest human interaction he'd had in weeks. Even the pros, for all their compassion, treated him as Deku before Izuku, and All Might himself died a little more inside each time they met, every time reaching for a burden he could no longer carry – the one his successor now bore. His friends were gone but safe, away from him. Most civilians looked at him and saw a Nomu, a villain.

Mouri-san looked past the mask, the grime, and the filth, and simply saw a boy.

When she touched his hand, did she activate her quirk? If so, how far did she send him back? Why? Danger Sense hadn't gone off, so she didn't have any ill intent…

I don't understand, he eventually confessed, studying his palms and fingers, unblemished and free of breaks or scars.

Truthfully, none of us do. If it was her, maybe she wanted to send you back to a calmer time, Yoichi theorized. Who can say?

Aldera Middle School, a calmer time. He supposed that was true.

Are the effects permanent? He wondered, not expecting any confident response and not getting one. He might get sent back to the present, but he might not. Yoichi wasn't sure.

A second chance, Ninth thought, but First cut off that train of thought before it could get too far.

Right now, you should just focus on resting. Go home. Don't worry about the big stuff for the moment.

Home.

Izuku swallowed thickly and stood on tremulous legs.

Toshinori woke abruptly. Immediately, instinctually, he knew what happened.

One For All was nothing but embers. The torch was gone.

Where had it gone? One For All could only be given, never taken, but he hadn’t gifted it to anyone. He thought back, reviewing his most recent memories, but nothing stood out. To his understanding, there was no one he could have passed it to – even by accident, if such a thing was possible to begin with. And All For One was dead. The quirk shouldn’t be at risk of vanishing. And yet…

He remembered suddenly. The vestiges, they’d visited him last night. One, in a soft, pink glow, approached him and spoke. They’d always been quiet before, but, this time, it was her voice, the voice of his predecessor. She said…

What did she say?

He laid there for some time, body frozen but his heart and mind racing. Desperately, he listened for her voice again, but there was nothing.

Throat dry, his heart dropping down to the hole in his side, he picked up his phone to dial Tsukauchi. 

When he made it home, Mom was waiting for him. It surprised them both to see each other. He hadn’t seen her since leaving UA, and his appearance clearly alarmed her as well. Was he not supposed to be home yet? Her eyes widened as she rushed over to him, fingering a spot on his cheek fretfully. It was bruised, he realized. He didn’t think about why he’d been lying there in the dirt. He wondered what the rest of him looked like, now that he was lighter and frailer than before.

“Hi, Mom,” he greeted her, his voice surprisingly even. It did nothing to smooth the worried creases in her expression. He hated seeing her like this.

“Izuku, what happened?” She asked, her voice wobbling.

Truthfully, he didn’t remember exactly, even if he had a good enough guess. He shrugged. “Can I lay down?”

She bit her lip, tears watering at the obvious deflection. “Of course,” she whispered, rubbing his hand softly before guiding him up to his room. There, she pulled him into a soft hug. “I’m here for you, okay, Izuku?”

He hummed, staring surreally at the All Might posters on his wall, in his room. It was all some distant dream somewhere long before even UA. He didn't cry. Ninth couldn't let himself be vulnerable like that anymore. So he didn't cry, but he wrapped an arm around his mother and stared steadfastly at anything but her.

Eventually, they separated. He settled in his bed, and she left to give him some space. Movement sounded from the kitchen.

You should talk to your mom, First spoke up, about the bullies.

The bullies. Compared to a two century old supervillain and hired assassins, bullies seemed so trivial.

That doesn’t mean you have to put up with it.

I’m quirkless, Izuku reminded him. Or had been quirkless. And would be again if this lasted.

That shouldn’t matter.

Maybe it shouldn't, but it didn't change the fact that it did and always had mattered. Izuku changed the subject. Where are the others?

Yoichi’s exasperated sigh fueled his own. Managing the quirks, for now. Some of them went to check on Eighth.

Izuku blinked. They’re with All Might? All Might said he rarely ever saw the vestiges, and that was before passing his quirk on to a successor. Now, there was nothing but radiosilence.

It seems time travel lets us cheat a few things, First observed, sounding oddly satisfied. Right now, we can do quite a bit.

… What are you doing?

He had to admit, the sensation of pure glee that filled his chest was rather alarming. Arranging a family reunion.

Izuku jolted up, face red and sputtering. “Not you guys too?!” He hissed. Todoroki was bad enough with his conspiracies. He didn’t need his haunted quirk in on it as well, especially when it obviously wasn’t true, and they knew it. “He’s not my dad!”

Yoichi just laughed. Blood isn’t everything, you know. Prepare yourself. Seventh is determined to make this work.

He lay back down, covering his head with his hands. “You guys are the worst.”

We only have your best interests at heart, First reminded him happily, though you could make this a lot easier by talking to him yourself.

“It’s not like he’d believe me,” he grumbled, then switched back to thought-speak. I mean, time travel? Quirks are amazing, but I’m still not entirely convinced myself.

I’m sure you and Seventh will manage, Yoichi said confidently. Now get some rest. There’s no point fretting about it now.

I can’t believe you, Izuku huffed but closed his eyes anyway. It’s a terrible idea.

You can thank us later, First told him before leaving him to drift in his thoughts.

For the first time in a while, he roused to the smell of food wafting in instead of a spike in his head. He didn’t fall asleep, exactly, but it was close enough, somewhere between a watchful wakefulness and a doze. He sat up, stared disbelievingly at the room he was still in, then steeled himself for the kitchen.

Mom didn’t notice him immediately, so he caught a glimpse of her slothful, distracted movements before her eyes met his. “Oh, Izuku! I didn't hear you come down.”

Izuku’s lips tightened into what he hoped looked like a smile. “I just got here. Do you need any help?” His voice came out flatter than intended; he pretended his mother didn’t notice.

“If you could set the table, I just got dinner finished. I made your favorite!”

Though he’d lived here nearly his entire life, he had to consciously remind himself of where everything was. He set the table for two, then sat as Mom brought in katsudon. His forced expression melted into something a bit more natural as they ate.

This was… so normal.

Most of his meals were grab and go. All Might made sure he was fed – he had to be, to keep going, to stay strong enough to use One For All – but he never ate at a table anymore. And yet, here he was. It was… something.

He shoveled in another mouthful of food and determinedly didn’t chase that thought any farther.

“Izuku,” Mom addressed him, unfortunately much more willing to hammer in the unfamiliar familiarity of the whole thing, “you know you can talk to me about anything, don’t you?”

He nodded at her, grateful to be chewing, not talking.

“I know I worry, but it’s my job to worry.” She said, trying to meet his eyes. “Izuku, if you want, we can try homeschooling.”

Izuku blinked. It wasn’t the first time she’d brought it up. He always declined. He wanted to… not worry her? Prove he could do it? Before meeting All Might, he tried everything he could to fit in with his peers. Nothing ever worked though.

“Okay,” he agreed, only mildly surprised by the easy compliance. After all, he knew better now. A quirkless nobody had no place in a quirked society; he only ever belonged once he had One For All.

(Until it mutated into something more than Superpower. That made him a monster.)

“You want to try?” Mom sounded… painfully hopeful.

“Yeah.” It would give him more time. Time to prepare.

Time to rest, Yoichi’s consciousness bubbled up to correct him.

Sure.

He checked the date earlier; he was nearing the end of the first year of middle school. Approximately two extra years to get himself into shape. Two years to get a leg up on the League before they ever even touched UA.

If this arrangement was permanent, he had to take that chance.

“Alright,” Mom said. “We’ll look into some programs, see what we can find.”

Izuku thanked her and returned to his meal.

It didn’t take long after that for Mom to present her selection, likely having already done her research. Izuku tried to stifle the feeling that rolled in his chest as he reviewed her findings while searching up his own.

Eventually, he settled on one option. It looked to be mostly self-paced and didn’t require much – if any – group participation. Additionally, the program seemed to have a decent enough reputation, which would hopefully reflect well enough for UA later on.

(Aldera certainly never did him any favors on that front)

So, homeschooling began, as did his training. He had a lot of work to do to prepare his body for One For All, especially since the transfer had technically already begun. The vestiges weren’t going to be able to dam its flow forever after all.

Originally, he reasoned that the smart thing to do would simply be to return the power to All Might. Though the idea made his stomach turn, One For All… wasn’t truly his in this time. Since All Might was apparently once again connected to the vestiges, the power was likely being transferred between the two, meaning he was losing his quirk before he ever consented to it. Plus, it was the best way to make sure Izuku kept all of his limbs.

… Or so he thought. Yoichi voiced a secondary, contrary perspective, sounding strangely guilty about it. One For All had reached singularity within the first year of its Ninth holder; All Might’s damaged body would break under the strain of it long before Izuku finished training. While One For All had reverted with Izuku, it was too late now to reverse the quirk’s passage and inevitable growth. Fortunately, the vestiges could use the temporal disturbance to balance the flow of power between two vessels: All Might could keep the stockpiled power while the inherited quirks began to manifest in Izuku. It was still dangerous, but Yoichi apparently had reason to believe it could be done.

Float, Danger Sense, and Smokescreen would come first, he explained as Izuku lugged a piece of trash across the shore of Dagobah Beach. They’ve been enhanced but are less likely to strain your body in the same way the strength or other quirks would, so long as you balance your use of them well. As you get back in shape, the rest will come.

How long can you guys keep a handle on everything? Izuku asked, already working and reworking a routine in his mind.

There was a pause. A phantasmic green caught in the ocean breeze, spinning to form Yoichi’s solemn specter. Izuku. The boy jumped at the use of his name. We’ll handle it for as long as we need to.

He blinked. “Wh-what do you mean?”

Take all of the time you need. We’re going to support you. Yoichi asserted firmly. We already know we can’t stop you from doing your best, but that just means you won’t stop us either. Work hard, but know that you have time to rest and recover. We refuse to let our power harm you again.

Izuku didn’t quite know what to say to that but set back to work, misty-eyed under the watch of the verdant phantom.   

Chapter Text

One week.

An entire week had passed without any clues toward One For All’s whereabouts.

To say Toshinori was frantic was an understatement. Tsukauchi was the only thing preventing him from losing his mind like he’d lost a lung.

Though maybe it was a lost cause anyway. He knew One For All was leaving him, but for whatever reason, it seemed to be getting stronger as well. More than once, he’d been forced to overcorrect an abruptly catastrophic surge of energy on the job. Was that supposed to happen? Was the quirk growing more powerful or was his control over it slipping? 

He imagined the headline: “Japan's No. 1 Hero Out of Control: Quirk Levels Entire City,” and, for the second time in nearly thirty years, Toshinori took time off. A potentially early retirement was bad, but a freak accident like that would be far, far worse.

In the meantime, he focused on getting readjusted to the power, locating his accidental successor if such a person existed, and… attempting to sleep, surprisingly enough. With the passing of One For All, the vestiges were appearing to him more often than ever before, but only when his eyes were closed. They were trying to communicate with him, he was certain, but he failed to hear them. There was a chance the answer to everything was right there in his dreams, but he never remembered it upon waking.

It was… frustrating.

So when Tsukauchi finally called him with a lead, Toshinori nearly cried in relief.

He wasn’t expecting to find a baggy-eyed, bushy-haired youth accompanying Tsukauchi at the station, nor the sudden rush in his core at the sight of him.

The Ninth successor of One For All stared back at him. His lips twitched upward. “Hi, All Might.”

Toshinori spat up blood.

FINALLY!! Something screamed in the back of his head.

He stalled for an entire week, and he never felt less ready.

It’s going to be okay, Izuku, First soothingly told him as he accompanied the detective to an interview room. 

For privacy, Detective Tsukauchi had assured him earlier, though the bland walls and the plain seating arrangement before them weren’t all that comforting. Here, villains and victims spilled secrets and testimonies out for review and judgement. Here, Izuku would do the same, with a secret and a burden he’d carried close to his chest even as they began to swallow his beating heart. 

They wouldn’t record anything, Izuku reminded himself. Detective Tsukauchi was one of All Might’s oldest and truest friends. He could be trusted. Of course he could.

But what will they think?

They’re going to want to help you however they can, Yoichi’s thought-speak startled him – he’d been so lost in his thoughts, he’d forgotten the vestige had spoken to him at all. They’ll believe you. The detective’s quirk will ensure that.

I know but… He thought of Jaku City, his mad rush to safety as he flung himself and civilians from the crumbling buildings behind them, away from Shigaraki’s violent storm of decay. Every civilian he could reach, he took with him, and those he couldn’t-

They aren’t going to blame you for any of that.

I couldn’t find them, Izuku mourned deeply, harrowingly, with the weight of an unspoken grief: one that would swallow his words whole and glue them to his throat should they try to leave him. All For One. Shigaraki. I never even found them.

That’s not your fault.

How could Izuku believe that when everyone had been counting on him?

He jumped at the turn of the knob. Quickly, he swiped a hand over his face – no tears, only the threat of them – and clamped down on his emotions, hard. The quiet of the last week allowed the cocooned tempest inside to reach his ears, so he fought to keep his composure as weeping winds wailed through the deepening cracks.

By the time the door opened again, there stood Tsukauchi and All Might. Izuku met his hero’s eyes with his own.

Eighth, sang One For All within him as he greeted the skeletal hero. "Hi, All Might." 

Even though it happened a million times before, Izuku nearly leapt out of his skin when the old hero coughed up blood. He hovered pointlessly at his unknowing mentor's side while amusement that wasn’t quite his own coiled up to the back of his consciousness.

I’ll be here if you need me, Yoichi didn’t quite fade, but instead inserted himself as a silent, comforting warmth blanketed around Izuku’s racing heart.

Once the coughing fit passed, he three sat around the room’s singular table. Izuku resisted the urge to fidget in his chair as he addressed them yet again.

“My name is Midoriya Izuku. I’m the Ninth holder of One For All,” he stated. Short, simple, to the point. Now for the difficult part: “I’m from a little more than three years in the future.”

It was a lot.

It was unbelievable.

But so was One For All, and Tsukauchi verified every word of it.

There were some things young Midoriya didn’t talk about. He never gave specifics, but he didn’t need to. All For One was alive. Soon, hero society would collapse and many, many people would suffer for it. Whatever else had followed the revival of such a great evil had undoubtedly left its mark on Japan and on his young successor. The horror of it could be glimpsed in the dark shadows that overcast the youth’s face again and again, and in the way he held his fear and anger tightly in his fists.

His voice was quiet but steady, his shoulders small but unwavering.

The boy had gone through hell and refused to break.

He was strong.

He was also very young. Mentally, Midoriya was sixteen. Physically, he was thirteen. 

(What kind of hero was he, to paint such a target on a child’s shoulders? What kind of mentor was he, to set his student up for tragedy?)

Toshinori wanted to punch himself, hard. With the added power, maybe he could make it to the moon. He should test it; with any luck, it would knock the stupid out of him.

Instead, he breathed in and addressed the boy. “Thank you, young Midoriya, for sharing this with us.” He aimed for a smile. “This isn’t how I imagined meeting my successor, but I am nonetheless pleased to make your acquaintance. You are a remarkable young man.”

Midoriya grinned back. It didn’t quite meet his eyes.

“I have no doubt that you make for a worthy successor,” Toshinori affirmed. “I only have one concern for the present moment.” Truthfully, he had many concerns, but there was only one he could address immediately.

“Yeah?” For the first time since meeting him, the boy’s voice trembled. He was… scared?

“One For All’s power is immense. I’m worried that your current body will not be able to withstand it.” Or what might happen if All For One finds you before I find him.

“Oh.” Young Midoriya hesitated. “It should be okay, actually. The vestiges told me they figured something out.”

Toshinori… wasn’t expecting that. “The… vestiges told you?”

He nodded. “The past holders of One For All. They talk to me sometimes. They’ve been trying to reach you too.” 

Toshinori’s brain broke. He could hear them? 

… He could hear them-!

“What did they tell you?” He asked breathlessly.

“It’s a bit complicated, but you get to keep the stockpiled strength of One For All for a while longer. I’ll be getting the past users’ quirks,” Midoriya explained… and Toshinori only felt more confused.

“The past users’ quirks?”

“One For All reached singularity. That included manifesting six additional quirks.” Six more quirks. Toshinori’s mind spun. “Thanks to time travel, it’s reverted back to pure strength but won’t stay that way for long. It’s already gotten more powerful – I’m sure you’ve noticed – and pretty soon it’ll be back to the way it was in the future. Fortunately, I’ll have enough time to prepare before it transfers fully.” 

That… didn’t make much sense to the old pro, but… “It won’t be a problem then?”

“No. We’ll make sure of it.”

It was hard not to worry, but every fiber of his being very suddenly and very strongly believed in those words. He suspected that was the work of the past holders, echoing the resolution themselves.

Almost inexplicably, his chest warmed – an affirmation to his ponderings.

“In that case, I, too, will do everything in my power to ensure that it all goes smoothly,” Toshinori pledged, not oblivious to the look Tsukauchi sent his way. “Is there anything I can do to help now?”

Midoriya hummed. “We need to get you back into the field. The press is already starting to wonder where you’ve gone.”

That was. Not what he was expecting. He wasn’t too sure whether to feel touched, admonished, or disappointed in himself.

“Indeed,” he agreed. “Now that we have met, I can focus fully on re-entering heroics. You mentioned you knew about the amplified strength?”

His successor nodded. “The way it was explained to me is that One For All is technically supposed to be with you at this point in time; however, the conscious aspect of it – the past users – came back with me, resulting in it being in a state of limbo. It’s with you and me, so the vestiges can choose what goes where until it stabilizes, reaches a point of singularity, and completes the transfer,” he explained, chin in his hand. “Since it gets more powerful every time it’s passed on, you inherited some of that extra stockpiled strength. It’s going to take some work to readjust to, especially since it’s going to put even more strain on your body…” Green eyes looked up at him, wide and worried in the most open display of emotion he’d seen from him so far. “How are you?”

“A-ah, I’m fine, my boy,” Toshinori coughed, taken aback by the unfiltered expression of concern. “Though you are right. One For All’s power has increased. It will take some getting used to, but I’ll manage.” 

“When I met you, you could only perform hero work for three hours a day. Where are you at now?”

“Six.”

That was when he lost Midoriya completely to a sea of words. Toshinori and Tsukauchi exchanged alarmed glances as indeciperable mutterings spilled into the air at rapid speeds. He’d already displayed a propensity for speaking, but this was… alarming. When it finally stopped, Midoriya asked, “Do you want to train together?”

Uh. “Certainly, my boy. It would be a pleasure.” His successor beamed brightly enough to finally banish the shadows under his eyes and light up his whole face. Toshinori’s heart melted under the warmth of it. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”

“For now, no. I think… this is enough. At least until we get our feet back under us. Tomorrow at Dagobah Beach?”

Toshinori agreed and solidified the time. The two exchanged contact information before Midoriya politely excused himself, claiming his mother would be missing him. Toshinori watched him go.

“... He’s a good kid,” Tsukauchi finally commented. In his hands, he held a single notebook, more of the future’s mysteries – information on the “League of Villains” – scribbled within.

“He is,” Toshinori agreed, voice quiet.

“... Are you sure this is a good idea?”

A fair question. He remembered tiny shoulders. A fake, ironic grin and a beam bright enough to belong to the sun. He remembered baggy eyes and shrewd, ultraquiet mutters. An uncrumbling resolve held by clenched fists.

He remembered the faith of his predecessors, burning fiercely in his chest.

“I don’t know,” he confessed, “but I’m going to believe in him.” He sent a tight smile at his oldest and truest friend. “I’m going to keep believing in him.”

He already made his decision. He had no recollection of that choice, but he would not go back on it.

He chose Midoriya Izuku.

(That did not mean he was willing to let All For One anywhere near him, ever again.) 

(Though it hadn’t happened in his living memory, he wasn’t willing to make that mistake twice. Even if it cost him his life, young Midoriya would be safe from Japan’s Symbol of Evil.)

“No, no, no! Toshi, stop it with that thinking right now!!” Screeched the Seventh Holder from somewhere deep within the man’s mindscape, her own skull clutched between her fingers. “Why is that the first place your brain goes? You need to live for him, not die for him!”

“It’s just the way he is,” En sighed beside her, “though, I suppose all of us are self-sacrificial to some extent. We’ll have to work on it.”

At that, Nana let her hands fall from her hair with a dramatic sigh. “I know. I just, I don’t want him to make the same mistake I did. I don’t want either one of them to go through that.”

En hummed in agreement. “They’ve been reunited at least. That’s a big step in the right direction. Let the Midoriyas work their magic, and he’ll understand soon enough.”

“Midoriya Inko!” Nana exclaimed excitedly, a fist colliding with her opposite palm as the metaphorical lightbulb lit up. “En, Sixth, my wonderful predecessor, you are a genius!” She refocused her attention on All Might. “Go! Now! To the Midoriyas! Bring them a cake or something. Go get adopted!”

En coughed into his fist. “It’s too early for that. He doesn’t even know where they live yet.”

“But we do,” she said seriously. “We can get him there.”

“He still can’t hear us as well as Ninth can,” En reminded her. Since coming back to the past, Seventh had become more and more absorbed into her task of recruiting their oblivious Eighth. It was finally starting to pay off, but her predecessor still had to rein her in and change course when she got a bit too invested. He was her voice of reason, of sorts.

“You’re right! FIRST! Tell Izuku he’s gotta invite Toshi for dinner!”

Sometimes – most of the time – he wound up enabling her instead.

He found he didn’t mind it much.

Great job, Izuku! I knew you and Seventh had it handled. Yoichi congratulated him upon leaving the station. Though maybe you should reconsider your evening plans. Seventh thinks you should invite Eighth over for dinner.

Dinner with All Might. Izuku remembered a time where the very idea was unfathomable – a fantasy at best. Such an event would be the opportunity of a lifetime, assuming the nervous, excitable fanboy within him remained functional after the initial shock. However…

Maybe another time. As it stood now, that conversation was taxing and rather different from the encounter he remembered. He wasn’t sure what All Might or Tsukauchi made of it, or what they made of him. He hadn’t wanted to share such grim news with them – hadn’t wanted to reveal himself at all after all of his failures – but it wouldn’t have been right to hide it either. Harder to admit to later on if he waited. It would be better, for them and for him, to give them some space now to process everything. That was what the notebook was for. Tsukauchi and All Might, now knowing he was a trustworthy source, could review it and the information within for a hopeful lead on the League. Izuku wouldn’t have to say a thing, wouldn’t have to see their reactions. At least, not until the questions came.

That’s alright, you’re welcome to wait, Yoichi told him, though, for the record, Eighth is very much impressed by you.

Izuku frowned at that. How so?

You’re strong, kid. Sharp, resilient, and you have a good heart. He could tell.

He wasn’t so sure. Their conversation was hardly pleasant. How All Might supposedly could have drawn such conclusions was beyond him.

I’m serious, Ni-Izuku. The boy blinked at the serious tone. You may not see it now, but that doesn’t mean nobody else can. You’re amazing.

Izuku really wanted to disagree. The future he’d come from plainly evidenced his shortcomings, but doing so would surely result in an argument, one he wasn’t interested in having. He let it go.

Good choice, mostly because I’d win that argument, seeing how it’s the truth, Yoichi confirmed matter-of-factly. Now that that’s settled, I have to ask: are you sure this is a good idea? Shouldn’t you be going home?

I will after I pick up a few things. I’m sure it will be fine.

Izuku, you do remember what happened the last time you went to the mall, right? 

Of course he did. How could he forget?

So… maybe this isn’t a good idea. Maybe you should at least get some backup?

Backup. For a trip to the mall. The chances of bumping into Shigaraki again are pretty low-

With your luck, it’s practically guaranteed.

- and even if I did, he wouldn’t recognize me, Izuku finished somewhat indignantly. 

But you would recognize him.

Is that a bad thing?

Not if you avoided him, but I know that’s not what would happen. Yoichi sighed. It was a long-suffering sound. It doesn’t even have to be Shigaraki. If there’s any sort of trouble, you’ll find it.

Izuku just shrugged, notably not changing course. By the time he boarded the train, Yoichi had settled into a resigned silence, worried and fond in equal measure.

On the ride over, he focused on the sounds of the train, the people within, and subtly stretching his muscles, which were still sore from the week's worth of exercise. Occasionally, anxiety over his earlier discussion fluttered like butterflies in the pit of his stomach, but First brought him back every time until they finally reached their destination:

The Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall.