#like nana did to toshinori here

[mishy-mashy]

[shih-coulda-had-it]

Kurogiri would be VERY funny to swipe from AFO, quirks like that are impossible to come by naturally and insanely useful

canon in noumu!torino au actually

[fluffywing-e-tarot]

Explain the Timeline

So my Hero academia. You know where 2 century ago Quirks Emerged and quickly became a dominant trait in human society. And I started thinking. How long did each holder of one for all hold onto the Quirk.

I started doing some calculations and we were short.

Like half a century Short. About 50 years unaccounted for.

Explain your calculations.

Let's gather what we know in approximately the order it's revealed in.

A baby of light was born 200 years ago

One for All is Yagi Toshinori's (All Might) Quirk there are Seven people before him that have held it.

Midoriya Izuku is the Ninth.

It has Stockpiled so much energy that one's body must be trained to hold it.

Yagi Toshinori has been an active hero in Japan for over 15 years (middle school midoriya) as The All Might's Japan debut was already Old News when Izuku was rewatching it.

Yuui Academia (UA ) is Toshinori's highschool. Also worked in American.

Yagi Toshinori master died in combat.

All for one is as old as the dawn of Quirks (aka 200)

Yoichi All for One's brother is that age. Thus the QUIRK is that age

Yagi Toshinori has been Number one almost his whole Japan career. He is close to 50 Years old

Shinomori Hikage died of old age at 40 he received it when he was 22. Cultivating it for 18 years. Having it for the longest time. Before All Might

All other users died before then.

Shimura Nana met yagi Toshinori while he was in Middle School.

Yoichi was rescued by Kudo and Bruce from a Vault.

Yoichi died by All for one's hand while fleeing with Kudo and Bruce.

Kudo was Targeted with the belief that Kudo Killed Yoichi.

Now we have some information let's do some math. There is some Head canon in here.

Let's say Yoichi died when he was 35

Kudo received noticing a small power holding onto it for close to 10 years as he's a wanted man.

Kudo and Bruce experimented with OFA during the time. Thus the time frame where he then Dies fighting AFO. The Hot potato has been passed.

Bruce figures he is probably also wanted so giving him 10 years is Generous

He finds and teaches Hikage about the Quirk before passing it and facing AFO.

Hikage held onto it for 18 years. He started to rapidly age gifting the Quirk to Banjo.

Banjo becomes or is a Hero he can hold his own so 15 years picking up the wet cat that was En training and giving the quirk to him before cracking the foundation that was AFO's power.

En holds onto it for 10 years as AFO knows the holder. Hero society has a foundation and is gaining traction.

Nana is selected. gaining a husband and kid while holding OFA . She meets Toshinori(11–15) Training him for the Quirk before her death. About 10 years

Toshinori has it for almost 40 years

Now if you add that all together

35+10+10+18+15+10+10+ 40 =143

That's me being generous and on the reasonable.

So they are either as saying we are in the second century of Quirks coming to being. Or I'm underestimated.

But I figured that I would inform you of what I think is an accurate estimate of how long each holder before Izuku would need to hold OFA for everything to be true

Yoichi is 56 when he dies.

Kudo holds OFA for 16 years

Bruce holds OFA for 16 years

Hikage hold OFA for 18 years

Banjo holds OFA for 16 years

En hold OFA for 16 years

Nana holds OFA for 16 years

Toshinori holds OFA for 46 years

Voila 200 years.

Yeah it's inaccurate with how the quirk works in the latter years. Another way would be if All for one used a youth quirk on Yoichi not giving him it. But using it on Yoichi. He's obsessed with keeping Yoichi so he could be anywhere between the 35 to 106 years old. It really shows you how much we know about Yoichi and All for One's relationship. And the beginning of the era of Quirks.

[darkcircles4lyfe]

Life after NDE

Before reading, please see this post. It’s where I first explored the possibility that what we think we know about One for All is unreliable. It also ends with my own guesses about how Katsuki plays into it all. Now, with chapter 404, I can continue where it left off.

There are a lot of different tangents floating around here that I need to bring together for you, so let’s start with what came to light in this newest chapter. There’s a clear emphasis on Toshinori’s vestige form:

but did you catch the slight of hand?

How about now?

As soon as I saw the panels where Shigaraki talks about how the vestige is taking full form, I was practically shouting “OBJECTION” Ace Attorney-style, because they were a complete contradiction to how we were made to understand vestiges in chapter 304 (oh hey look, exactly 100 chapters ago!). Back then, it was suggested to us that Toshinori was special because of his quirklessness, that it allowed him to imprint upon OFA in a way that none of the other previous users could. In contrast, Shigaraki makes it seem like Toshi is no different from the rest. Like oh yeah, this is just how it works, they aren’t fully formed until they die, right? Hello?? No? I thought we were assuming the vestiges didn't have to do with actual souls, apart from Toshi? Given Shigaraki’s own brand of unreliability in his immature frame of mind, I found myself wondering: is he making an assumption, or is he letting slip a secret bit of information about OFA? Idk man, OFA wasn’t even doing this whole vestige thing until like a few months ago, so.

Either way, we can observe the change. As Toshinori’s lifeforce fades, he appears in OFA. I’m left with the simple observation that if he were truly different from the other vestiges because of his quirklessness, it would not have happened this way, since OFA doesn’t have Toshi’s own unique quirk factor to work with, but rather the other way around. You would have expected his vestige to stay the same, or possibly disappear altogether, since it was ostensibly exclusively based on the influence of a living consciousness.

That exception to the rule described in 304 never sat right with me anyway, and I’m not convinced that OFA contains mere memories of its previous users via their quirks just like AFO does. Sure, it’s nice and edgy to imagine that OFA/AFO are more similar than they are different, deep down. But poetic opposites are more interesting to me: AFO isolates by taking, while OFA connects by giving. Previous OFA users give themselves to their successors. One for All was “truly born” not when All for One tossed Yoichi a stolen consolation, but when 2nd extended his hand. There is something distinctly emotional and personal about that. Nana was right—it is kinda romantic.

Because Toshinori kept living, because Izuku has meaningful relationships, that chain of giving linked down through OFA was finally brought to light, like a circuit that’s being closed. At least, that’s how I see it. That’s pretty much what I talked about in my previous post.

Back then I also suggested that this theory of personal connection in some way explains Katsuki apparently having a vestige. Since chapter 403, where Toshinori describes his legacy as being embodied in both Izuku AND Katsuki, I was reminded of how Toshinori was gradually shown this over the course of the manga, as he came to understand Katsuki and his relationship to Izuku, how they are inseparable.

When Toshinori was inspired to pass OFA on to Izuku as he witnessed him trying to save Katsuki, he had no idea the two boys even knew each other. What he saw as a random act of selflessness was in reality a desperate manifestation of a connection that extended beyond memory, of osananajimi. With the eyes of traditional heroism, one could choose to see this as Toshinori’s fatal mistake, that he accidentally chose a successor with a “weakness” of personal attachment, but we all know that heroic isolation isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. No, I think Toshinori made precisely the right choice.

This is going to seem like it’s coming out of nowhere, but bear with me: you know how we still haven’t been told how the first OFA transfer happened? I feel almost silly admitting this, but I think it absolutely had to have been done instinctually, because it’s just too damn specific. As in, they didn’t know what they were doing or what it would accomplish, but they did it anyway. As in. They moved. Without thinking.

Toshinori didn’t fully consciously understand what he was seeing when Izuku ran to Katsuki, but deep within OFA, perhaps he recognized something familiar.

What if, somehow, without knowing it, Toshinori gave One for All to two people? His conviction and intent to give it was inspired by Izuku’s connection to Katuski. Yes, the transfer is inherently physical, but it also relies on mental assertion. Plus, how we think the transfer works may also be an assumption (again, the first time it happened was probably on instinct). Let me break it down even more: Toshi probably thought, as he passed OFA on, “I’m giving it to a successor who has my same balance of heroism—save to win, win to save.” But, in reality, Izuku relies on Katsuki for that balance, as his image of victory. Therefore I think I can argue that their relationship is irrevocably bound within the pact of the OFA transfer. Maybe because Katsuki’s part of OFA is based on emotional connection, once that connection is reciprocated��

…the full extent of that dual transfer is awakened.

I understand I’m making a lot of logical leaps here, but there has to be some sort of explanation for the Katsuki we see at the point of his death, talking to Toshinori’s vestige. I used to think it meant Katsuki had a vestige too. But then why are Katsuki and Toshinori alone, and without Izuku knowing? Moreover, why didn’t Katsuki materialize from the metaphysical mist around Izuku when he died, just as Toshinori did here?

Here comes the other thing I realized in 404. The simplest explanation may be that Katsuki isn’t a vestige at all, but rather he was visiting the OFA interior just as Izuku has done in his sleep or in a coma. Because he’s not a previous user, he’s a current user. The sequence of Toshinori’s NDE (near death experience) in 404, the way it manifested externally around Izuku as something Izuku was aware of, rather than internally within OFA from Toshinori’s point of view, shows me that what happened to Katsuki was different.

A lot of us have been speculating that Katsuki “has access to” OFA in some form or another for quite some time now, but I think the way the idea is suggested in 403/404 is an important distinction because it specifies the mode of connection. To me, it matters that they have two halves of a whole given to each of them, as opposed to, “the chosen one + his sidekick with a little extra OFA boost.” This puts them on equal ground, and it implies that the closer they become, the stronger One for All will be against All for One. It promises that these two idiots who have been toeing around each other and leaving things unspoken for so long will have to really face the facts of their relationship.

One last thing: you might be wondering why the other vestiges apparently haven’t picked up on what’s going on and told Izuku. Well, Yoichi may have felt it? (Where has he been?) But also, Toshinori is the only one directly involved, the only one who realizes his legacy is carried by two. Up until this point his connection to his vestige self has been limited, sort of one-way. For example, he could tell the other vestiges about his research into OFA, but in return he could only faintly pick up on things, and only while Izuku was unconscious.

The time Toshinori spent as a full vestige was brief, but I’m sure it was enough to learn some things about where the shade of himself has been. Even if I’m wrong about everything else, I bet he can give us the answers now.

[five-rivers]

Danger First Chapter 14

Wow! It's been a while!

.

"So, Midoriya," said Ms. Kayama, "putting together anything special for the Athlete's Oath?"

Izuku looked up from what was shaping up to be a fairly in-depth analysis of the second event of a sports festival that had occurred about a dozen years ago, a sense of dread pooling in his gut.  "What?"

Ms. Kayama smiled, brows pinching together just a smidge.  "The Athlete's Oath.  You were the top scorer on the entrance exam, weren't you?  I didn't get you confused with someone else, did I?"

"Oh, no," said Izuku, as he finally managed to put Ms. Kayama's question together with facts he'd known for years.  "I forgot the Athlete's Oath."

.

"Athlete's Oath?" repeated Yoichi.  "What's the Athlete's Oath?  Was it something Eighth had to do?  Nana, do you know?"

Nana raised an eyebrow.  "I was under the impression that all of you were here when Toshinori went here."

"Yeah," said En, "but that was about a hundred years ago."

"It was not," said Hikage.  

"It was just as long ago for me."

"Sure, but he was your kid," said Yoichi.  “Everyone remembers their kid better."

Nana made a face.  She… couldn't actually dispute that.  All these years later, she could still remember things like Kotaro's first day of school with blinding clarity. 

… and Toshinori's first day at UA, for that matter.  

"It's just a little… not a speech.  A recitation.  Just a few lines about playing fair and trying your best.  Used to be the top student of the third years would do it, but I guess they must have the top students for the first and second years do it as well, now that they're televised as well."

"Is Izuku the top student, then?" asked Yoichi.  

"The only test they've had is the entrance exam," said En with a shrug.  "Ninth got top in that, so…"

"And so, Eighth's bribery has led to Ninth's downfall," said Banjo in a falsely serious tone.  

"He didn't bribe anyone!"

"Izuku got in on his own merits!"

"Jeez, you guys can't take a joke."

Nana huffed.  "I just don't understand why they're so excited about it.  It's just a tiny thing.  You can read it from a little card."

.

As always, Izuku’s first resort was research.  He searched HeroTube for compilations of the most recent UA Athlete’s Oaths, and hit play.  

He watched the videos, chewing his lip.  There was just so much to do, so much to say–  How could he capture the spirit of Plus Ultra competition, his will to win and everyone else’s, the honor of competing, the honor of speaking for his entire year, all in only a few minutes?  In only a couple days, too.  

And without stuttering.  

He was going to die.  

No, no.  That was the wrong mindset entirely for a UA student with a shiny new hero name, much less All Might’s successor!  He could do this!  He would do this!  

He’d just… break down into tears a few times first.  

.

Nana felt eyes boring into the back of his head.

“Just a thing you can read from the back of a card?” asked Yoichi.  “This guy’s been talking for ten full minutes, and I don’t think he’s going to stop anytime soon!”

“I can feel you all judging me,” said Nana, “but I’ve been dead for decades.  It’s changed.  That happens.”

“You don’t have to feel me judging you, I’m doing it out loud.”

.

Izuku stared down at the pages and pages of repeatedly crossed out lines.  

“I don’t know why I thought I could do this,” he whispered.  “I couldn’t even come up with a hero name on my own.”

.

“This really isn’t a big deal.”

“It’s a huge deal!  Do you know how dangerous public speaking is?”

Nana turned to squint at Yoichi.  “When did you ever do public speaking?”

“Probably about the same time he went to school,” said En.  

“I did go to school!  Why will you not let that go?”

“Bizarre petty grudges and jokes are pretty much the only thing we can hold onto,” said En.  “That and the quirk.”

“Seriously, though, this isn’t going to kill him.”

“It isn’t?  What happens when my brother sees him on TV?  Speaking for the hero class?”

“Oh, yeah,” said Banjo.  “That’s a thing.”

Yoichi threw up his hands.  “How did you guys forget?”

“I didn’t forget,” said Hikage.  

.

“Maybe I should ask Dad,” said Izuku.  “He probably talks to lots of people for his work…”

.

“No!” screamed all of the ghosts.  

.

“That's different than public speaking, though, isn't it?”  He let his head drop onto his open notebook, heedless of the ink and graphite getting on his face.  “At least it's only the first year speech.”

He sat up with renewed energy.

“And there's no way it’ll be worse than Endeavor's!”

.

“That's the spirit!” cheered Nana.  

“I thought we were the spirits,” said Hikage.  

“It's just an expression.”

“Are we spirits, though?” asked En.  

Banjo groaned.  “Please, kid, don't start on that again.”

.

Kaminari waved furiously from across the field as the purple-haired boy next to him did his best to hunch into his uniform and disappear.  Far behind them, Snipe sat reading a paperback novel.  “Hey!  Welcome to our awesome training montage!”

“You can't have a montage in real life,” said Jiro.  

“Watch me!” 

.

Once everyone arrived, Iida started chivying them all into a loose circle.  Well, Izuku reflected, Iida obviously wanted them in an exact circle but… even Izuku could see that was never going to happen. Then Iida cleared his throat portentously and Yaoyorozu stepped into the center.

“Thank you for coming, everyone,” she said.  “Especially those of you who aren't in 1-A, we understand this is a leap of faith, and what we're doing here is a little radical.  For today, our goals are for everyone to get to know each other and to start working out strategic teams.  So, let's start by just introducing ourselves.  I'll go first…”

.

The purple-haired boy was named Shinsou Hitoshi, and he had thus far been very reticent about his quirk. About talking at all, really, which was interesting, given his attempt at a declaration of war earlier. 

Interesting, not strange.  In a similar position of not-quite-enmity, Izuku would probably be on the lookout for potential weaknesses, too.  As long as Shinsou waited until the third event, though, that was fine.  It wasn't as if everyone in class 1-A didn't know each others’ quirks already.

That was all a very uncharitable way of thinking about Shinsou, though, and Izuku felt a little guilty thinking about things like that.  He wanted to become a hero, too.  

.

“Alright,” said Yaoyorozu, “now, remember, the first event is the elimination event.  Our researchers say we'll probably be racing, competing for some limited resource, or trying to avoid being tagged out in some way.  Even with the teachers trying to be unpredictable, the number of students does limit them.  All of the events we've been able to brainstorm favor mobility, so you want to be in a group that you can move well with. Defense is important, too.  Bakugou, at minimum, is a problem, and we have to assume the other classes will target us.”

“Bakugou's the crazy guy who chased Midoriya down at lunch the other day,” said Kaminari to Shinsou at a volume that was obviously meant to be a whisper, but fell far short of the mark.  

“He's not crazy,” protested Izuku.  “He's just.  Passionate.”

Everyone regarded him dubiously.  

.

Predictably, the groups initially split along lines of friendship, acquaintance, and obligation.  Yaoyorozu and Iida walked around for a while, trying to keep the groups more or less equal in size before settling into their own class leadership group, along with Monoma.

“A waltz of darkness and chaos,” muttered Tokoyami, barely getting out of the way of Satou, as his group, consisting of himself, Ojirou, Sero, and Hagakure, trundled towards a shadier spot.  

Hatsume laughed.  “If you think this is chaotic, wait until the sports festival!”

“She's right,” said Uraraka.  “So, Midoriya,  what do you think we should do?”

“Eh?  Me?”

“Your battle trial plan was quite impressive,” said Tokoyami.  “Your strategic acuity will cast a long shadow in the sports festival as well.”

“I don't know about that,” said Izuku.  But then he glanced at Monoma.  They probably only had about ten minutes left.  “I guess- I guess the most obvious thing is for us to be a rocket.”

.

“Ow,” said Uraraka, rubbing her head.  

“I think,” said Iida, also nursing several bruises, “we should have come up with a better way to steer before we tried that.  And brake.”

“Yeah… We did go fast, though.”

.

“But, Hatsume, your, um, your ba- your inventions–”

“Call ‘em my babies with your whole chest, grappling hook.”

“I think your babies would help any team, but that you'd do really well with Yaoyorozu.  And Uraraka and I should probably be on different teams, since we both have flight-capable quirks.  Even if we both have time-limit issues…”

“Aww,” said Uraraka, “you're probably right.  I was looking forward to working with you, though.”

“What about Fumi and me?  We can be on your team, right?” asked Dark Shadow.

Tokoyami ducked his head and tried to push Dark Shadow down.  “Don't ask questions like that.”

“I don't know if that'd be a good idea, since Bakugou's explosions can make a lot of light.”

“That just means we're destined to be arch-nemeses!”

.

Izuku sat down next to Hagakure, Aoyama, and Ashido. 

“Okay, Midori!” said Ashido.  “Come up with a super move for us!”

“I’m sure you will come up with something that sparkles,” said Aoyama.  

“Uh, um,” said Izuku, flustered.  “How about, um, Aoyama, is your laser just light?  Maybe it could go through Hagakure - if lasers going through you doesn’t hurt.”

“No, that’s one of the first things my quirk counselor tested,” said Hagakure.  “My parents wanted to make sure that all the light going through me wasn’t going to give me turbo cancer or something.  The real problem for me is that for me to do anything with my quirk, I’m going to have to be naked.  We have to wear our PE uniforms for the festival.”

“Oh, non,” said Aoyama.  “I’ve been given an allowance for my belt, surely they would give you one for your suit.  Anything else would be quite unfair.”

“Or you could ask Hatsume, see if she can make something for you that would work temporarily,” suggested Izuku.  “She’s really eager to work with everyone.  Or even just plastic clothing, from Yaoyorozu.”  They'd all have to be careful not to overtax Yaoyorozu, though.  Anything else would be unfair.  She had to save something for the final event.

“Okay, okay, okay, but what about super moves?” asked Ashido.  

“Or some things we can do during the event, anyway,” said Hagakure.

“Well, if you're with Aoyama, like I said, and his laser can go through you, that could be a really good way to get in a kind of sneak attack.  No one expects a person to be in the same area an attack just went through.”

.

“Lowest setting first, mademoiselle?” 

“Just hit me already, Twinkles!  I can take it!” shouted Hagakure from the other side of the field.  

 .

“Are- are you okay, Aoyama?” asked Izuku, after they'd tested Aoyama's laser on a number of settings.  

“Oh, oui, my quirk just upsets my stomach somewhat, you see.  And it seems as if Hagakure is, how should I say this, my natural enemy.”

.

(In truth, Aoyama was feeling ill, but not because of his quirk.  Rather, the problem was his quirk’s origin.  The man had demanded that Aoyama keep an eye on Midoriya - and, if possible, make him win the sports festival.  A minor thing, really!)

(If only Aoyama had the courage to defy the man.)

(He hoped Midoriya would be able to survive whatever All for One had planned for him.)

.

All for One sighed.  He wondered if he could find a good enough disguise quirk to take Izuku out for ice cream after he won the sports festival.  Or after he lost and was properly filled with hatred for hero society.

“Sensei?” said Ujiko.  “Are you alright?”

“No.  You're being incredibly boring.”

.

“Ashido, how acidic does your acid have to be?  And is it always the same substance, just at different concentrations, or can you make different substances, as long as they're acidic?”

“Um,” said Ashido.

.

“I think that's it for me, today,” said Ashido, sitting down.  “I'm going to have to drink, like, a dozen liters of Gatorade or something.  You're brutal for someone so cute, did you know that, Midori?”

“He'd have to be, to get through the entrance exam without using a physical quirk,” said Hagakure, dragging Ashido back up.  “Come on, we still have the gym for fifteen, and I want feedback.”

“You're both brutal.”

.

“Um,” said Izuku, sidling up to Shinsou, notebook in hand.  “Your quirk is a mind control type, right?”

Shinsou, scowled down at Izuku.  “It's Brainwashing,” he said, rather gruffly.

“Oh, wow, that's great.  Mind control quirks are actually perfect for hero work, but the stigma means hardly any heroes have one.  Like, you could stop a fight before it even started, or get villains to surrender right away, or help civilians who are too panicked to move properly, or heroes who are compromised, or who would otherwise have trouble cooperating with each other, for whatever reason.  It’s really too bad that the entrance exam is all robots.”

Shinsou stared at him.  

“Any- anyway, I've heard that some- some quirks can interact unexpectedly with mental quirks, and I've noticed you're not-  You don't seem to be using it, much, even though we have permission here, and…  Um.  Just saying, you can practice on me, if you'd like.”

“Oh!  Or me!” said Kaminari, popping up seemingly out of nowhere.  “We should test and see if you can get me when I'm in wheyyy mode, or Satou when he's powered up!”

“What does that even mean?” demanded Shinsou.  He allowed Kaminari to drag him on, however.  

“Oooooooh,” said Izuku, his plan to test out the ‘hallucination’ thing Mr. Yagi had explained all but forgotten.  “That's a great idea!  I'll take notes!”

.

“I know it's a little disappointing that we didn't get a chance to appear to Ninth,” said Nana, “but don't you think you're overdoing this a little?”

Yoichi rolled over so that he was face up in his Bog of Despair.  “No,” he said, before rolling back over.  

“Forget that,” said Third.  “Am I the only one at all disturbed by how he's picking apart all the other kids’ quirks?”

“Yes,” chorused the other ghosts.

.

Izuku stood at the classroom door for several blank minutes.  Where was everyone?  Did he… Get the date wrong?  No, there was enough security outside to defeat a small army.  Which was probably the point, come to think of it.  Was he late?  Had he missed the sports festival?  When he was the one giving the opening speech for the first years?  

Forget public humiliation, he was going to be expelled.  As soon as Mr. Aizawa saw him, he would–

“Midoriya, what are you doing here?  Why aren’t you in the prep room?” 

Izuku squeaked.  Then he registered what Mr. Aizawa had said.  “Prep room?” he repeated.  “Oh, yeah!  The prep room!  Thank you, Mr. Aizawa!”

.

Shouta sighed as his number one problem child scurried away.  How illogical…  But there would be time to work on his memory and situational awareness in the future, and it would be downright hypocritical to scold him about it now.  

He shuffled into the classroom, careful about his bandages, because he had just been scolded by Recovery Girl.  The lights buzzed when he turned them on, more obvious without the students there… although they did have competition from the roar of the crowds in the festival stadium.  

He walked over to his desk and knelt to retrieve his stash of jelly pouches, especially the coffee ones.  Which he also wasn’t supposed to have, but what Recovery Girl didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.  Or cause her to hurt him, which was the more pertinent issue from his perspective.  If he was going to survive announcing the first year’s festival by himself, he was going to need them.  

Now weighted down, he started hobbling back to the stadium and the announcer’s box. Jelly was heavy, as it turned out.  

Recovery Girl really would kill him if she found out.  He sped up.  Not a lot.  Just a little.  Just in case.  He certainly wasn’t moving as fast as Midoriya had.

He made his way through staff passages, avoiding most of the crowds and pleasantly nodding to heroes who had been asked to come serve as security.  Finally, and in good time, too, because his stupid injured body was starting to get winded, he reached the announcer’s box and opened the door.  

“Yagi,” said Shouta, “what are you doing here?”  He shook off the sense of deja vu.

“Oh,” said Yagi, brightly.  “Young Aizawa!  I was getting worried that something had happened to you.  Principal Nezu thought that you could use some assistance here, with young Yamada being otherwise occupied.”

And so he’d replaced one loud blond with another.  He couldn’t even be that mad about it.  

“You have any training for this?” he asked instead.  

“Well, not for announcing sports events in particular,” said Yagi.  “But I have a lot of media and commercial experience and I’ve been practicing cheering on my students!”

“Right,” said Shouta, who was feeling as if he’d somehow asked a stupid question.  “Just don’t show too much favoritism.”

“Oh, I’d never!  After all,” and here he grew much more grim, “you know as well as I do, the risks of putting too much attention on young Midoriya.  Besides, young Yamada gave us a ‘cheat sheet!’”

.

Izuku, dressed in his PE uniform, stumbled into 1-A’s prep room.  

“Hey!” said Kaminari.  “It’s Midoriya!  We were getting worried about you, man!”

“Ah, y-yeah,” said Izuku.  “I wound up going to the classroom instead.”

“Huh,” said Jiro, “you’d think your quirk would have warned you against that.”

“Um, yeah,” said Izuku, “but I guess it wasn’t really dangerous to go to the wrong spot at first?  Especially since I got here okay, eventually, right?”  

There was a murmur of agreement, but with a slight uneasy undercurrent.  

“There’s not any real danger in the sports festival, either, though, is there?” asked Yaoyorozu.  

“I- I mean, there’s the danger of getting beaten up?”  And he’d been able to feel danger from wrong answers on a test before, so…  This should be the same kind of thing, right?

Yaoyorozu nodded.  “Right.  There is that.”

“Don’t worry, Midoriya,” said Uraraka, “I’m sure you’ll be fine.  We did so much studying for this, after all.”  She held up a fist.  “I’m feeling confident!  That’s for sure!” 

“Yes!” said Monoma, who twirled over with Aoyama.  “I, too, am confident that we will defeat those philistines in class 1-B, not to mention everyone else!”

“Oui,” said Aoyama, “our performance will be tres magnifique!”

“Don’t forget we have allies in other classes, you two,” said Yaoyorozu, slightly exasperated.  

“Yes,” said Monoma, “but neither of them are in 1-B.  We have the excellent Mock and the ingenious Brigid to support us.”

Ashido sighed heavily.  “Speaking of support, I sure wish I could’ve used my costume.”

“It’s to keep things fair,” said Ojiro with a shrug.

Iida power-walked into the room.  “IS EVERYONE GOOD AND READY?” he shouted, clearly as nervous as Izuku, but trying to cover it up with sheer volume.  “THE EVENT’S ABOUT TO START!  Ahem.  Where is Todoroki?”

“Oh, jeez,” said Ashido, raising a hand to her lips.  “He never came to any of our practices, so I just sort of forgot he should be here…”

Honestly, so had Izuku.  Todoroki had quite the presence, but he could also fade into the background with surprising ease.  Maybe it was just because he hardly talked?  More importantly, what had happened to him?  Was he sick?  Did he get lost like Izuku did?  Did he get kidnapped by people trying to get at his father?  Endeavor might not have the social and political weight that All Might could bring to bear, but Number Two Hero wasn’t an empty title at all.  Maybe he–

Izuku’s thoughts ground to a confused halt when Todoroki casually walked into the room.  

Oh.  He was just late.  

Todoroki stood up in front of the room, clearly intending to make some sort of address.  

“Er,” said Izuku, “Todoroki, what is it?”

“Objectively speaking,” said Todoroki, “I’m stronger than all of you.  Even if you’re all working together… even if All Might has his eyes on you, Midoriya, no matter the reason…  I will beat you.”

"Did he just… declare a rivalry with… all of us?" asked Sero, quietly.  In the hush that followed Todoroki’s words, he might as well have shouted.    

"Can you do that?" asked Kaminari.  "Is that allowed?"

.

“He's got a point,” said Banjo.  “A rival is like a nemesis, or a girlfriend, you can only have one at a time.”

“That's not true,” said Yoichi.  “You can have more than one girlfriend at a time.”

En squinted at him.  “Again, aren’t you gay?”

“Multitudes, En, multitudes.”

.

“Aw, come on, man,” said Kirishima, “do you really have to pick a fight with all of us, now?  We’re about to go on and fight anyway.  Make your statement on the field!”

“I don’t care.  I’m not here to make friends.”  He shouldered past Kirishima and left the room.  

“Uh,” said Midoriya, “that… was something.”

“Yeah,” said Jiro.  “Does he intend to just wait in the hall or something?  We’re all going to the same place.”

Tokoyami shook his head, Dark Shadow mirroring him.  “What a mad banquet of darkness.”

.

“Wow,” said Yoichi, chuckling.  “Sometimes I forget how needlessly dramatic teenagers can be.”

All the ghosts, except Second, turned to stare at him.   

“How needlessly dramatic teenagers are?” repeated Nana.  

“Yes?”

“Have you not been sharing the same afterlife as the rest of us, or what?”

.

The class waited in the tunnel, fidgeting, bouncing, flexing, whispering.  Any minute, now, they’d be called in, to take their place on the field in front of the cameras.  

Any minute, now.  

“Is it just me,” whispered Uraraka, “or is this taking a really long time?”

“I am sure our eagerness is only making time appear to be passing more slowly than it really is!” said Iida.  

“No,” said Monoma, frowning, “they really are starting late.  I wonder if it’s a problem with the cameras, or if something else happened.  Midoriya, have you noticed anything?”

Izuku shook his head.  “I d-don’t think so? Just, um, just nervous for the event!  I think.  I hope nothing’s– nothing’s gone wrong.”

.

Shouta and Yagi bent their heads over Hizashi’s so-called cheat sheet.  

“I’m not reading this,” said Shouta.  

“This is…  I thought we were supposed to avoid favoritism in these things,” said Yagi, sounding incredibly confused.  “What– What’s this about a ruthless grand battle?  That doesn’t really… sound heroic…”

“Yeah, this is just typical Hizashi.  Trash it and come up with one of those inspiring speeches you like so much.”

.

The intercom speakers crackled into life overhead.  

“Welcome to the UA Sports Festival!”

“Is that…?”

“All Might!” squeaked a Gen Ed student several rows back.  

“The once-a-year event where our new students show how they can go PLUS ULTRA!”

The crowd outside, in the stadium, cheered wildly.  

“First, put your hands together for a class that has already faced some of the worst the world of villains has to offer and PERSEVERED!  Class 1-A!”

Somehow, they managed to turn their initial rushed stumble into a confident march before they emerged from the mouth of the tunnel.  Izuku squinted against the light at first, but recovered quickly and attempted to mimic Iida’s wave.  

“And next up, we have an equally worthy group of young heroes, who have been polishing their skills until they shine like the stars they are!  Class 1-B!”

As the classes emerged, Mr. Yagi continued to read out names and short accolades, and Izuku started to feel like he was about to throw up.  Oh, there were a lot of people here, and once all the classes came out, he would be speaking in front of them.  

.

“Well, this is it, guys,” said Yoichi.  “The last minutes of Hisashi not knowing Izuku is in the hero course.”

“I'm still not sure why you think he doesn't know already,” said Nana, crossing her arms.  “You were listening to the conversation they had about hero names, right?”

“Are you kidding?  That's how I know he has no idea.  That was classic Hisashi, existing in his own world, having a completely different conversation than the other person.  That's why he got my lab partner deported when I was an undergrad.  He heard the word partner, and he immediately assumed our relationship was romantic.”  Yoichi shook his head sadly.  

“New question,” said Banjo.  “Did All for One ever go to school?”

“When in reality, Chan and I had only just started discussing the possibility of a QPR…”

“No, seriously, what is that guy's level of education?”

“They had to go back to China…  It was tragic.  Almost as tragic as Izuku inheriting that particular personality quirk.”

“Ew, don't talk about Ninth inheriting quirks from him,” said En.  

“I agree,” said Hikage.  

“Thank you,” said En.  

“That was indeed a tragic turn of events, Yoichi.”

“Is no one else interested in whether or not All for One graduated high school?”

“Furthermore, I believe that the danger involved in a non-ceiling vaulting and the preceeding kidnapping would trigger far more anxiety that Ninth is currently experiencing.”

“Er, thanks, Hikage, but you don't have to say ‘non-ceiling.’”

“Hey!” snapped Nana.  “Ninth's speech is starting, and I, at least, want to hear it.”

.

“Now!” said Ms. Kayama, brightly, snapping her whip to get the attention of people close to the stage.  “The athlete’s oath!  Your student representative, from class 1-A, is Wonder!”

Izuku pasted on his best smile and climbed the stairs.

[thebnha-auhoard]

The kettle screams as Yagi hummed, the warm pan of easy to eat food filling his safehouse with welcome fragrance. With gentle hands he lifts the weighty kettle and pours a pot of his preferred Matcha tea.

He gently sets down his set, the steam rising from his tea pet as he sits alone. Papers litter the table and walls as he pieces together yet another Attack. The Mysterious Athos always did love to cause his own Danger.

His eyes flicker as he notes another pattern, one possibly crucial.

Tap tap tap

His head jerks up, his hand grabbing the knife in his couch. The steps are almost light and imperceptible, for a Civilian. But Toshinori Yagi was not a Civilian. His lips strain as he dashes to grab his helmet.

The door creaks open..the silence strong as he grabs the intruder and presses the knife near their throat.

“So cool” a child's voice whispers behind him. Yagi looks down and almost drops the knife. The hooded child growling against his chest. The orange flares uncomfortably digging in. “I didn't think Athos would be so low as to send Children like you”

Another masked Child cackles from his table, Reading his notebook “Oh Trust me as an Angel, We would do anything but work with that murderer.” His fabric rabbit ear flopping as the child tips his head “oooh, you missed the Earthquake two years ago on the edge of Mustafa. And the Trigger Raids weren't actually his Trigger, Just getting rid of Competition.”

The Child with flares slides easily out of his Surprised grasp “oi Deku, do your thing~” the other teases. The rabbit hooded boy tips his head and and removed his lower mask

“Hello Yagi Toshinori, Villain name Nights All. Formally known as All Might in America. Trained by UA and Former Homeroom teacher Gran Torino. Possible Connections to Nana Shimura. Biggest Target of False Hero Athos. You prefer Matcha tea, missing your Stomach and half a Lung from a Fight with Athos. Oh and you once got arrested for public nudity in America due to a surprise attack and little time to stop and get dressed”

Yagi's blood chills at the knowledge “How the hell-”

He gets interrupted

“oi Jack Skeleton. We are here for a Trade. Named Ground Zero. This is Deku, we are the heads of the Children's Angels. Mk?” The Blond boy snorts “you got a target. We need that media distraction someday.”

Yagi looks the two up and down “you are rather…. Well for Teens. But, one condition. I train you. Both of you, I am not sending children out untrained. I would rather not do it anyways. But I know those looks, you won't stop.”

“Damn Right Skeletor” Ground Zero Cackles as Deku chops his Neck

“Fine. But then you are training the whole group. We get what we want. And you get your little Morals settled.”

Yagi almost shivers as the cold look from Deku settles on him but his eyes meet the others with an unspoken challenge.

Suddenly Deku smiles and jumps up “Welcome Aboard Yagi!” The other walks over and grabs Yagi's Shoulder “We'll know if you betray us” he whispers and a burning desire burst digs into his skin. “Kacchan! No, We don't burn partners!” Ground Zero Cackles again “yeah yeah, we'll contact you again Frankenstein!”

^⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠^

It only took a Week if you asked an Angel. If you ask Gran Torino he would say it was the moment that Toshinori saw Izuku's smile and Katsuki's first nickname.

They all fit like a puzzle piece, One Wacky and Chaotic puzzle. Yagi being that chaos that Bakugo's father never could. And all it took was two Kids who founded a Japan Wide youth criminal organization to break in and spiritually and Emotionally adopt him.

Now if they would stop Robbing Chain Ice cream stores at midnight.

DAY 1! a Day Late lol.

@daddecember

(⁠/⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠(⁠-⁠ω⁠-⁠) -Me and Borealis during the planning lol

[pocketramblr]

It IS sad that youve gotten no explicit giran aus, so here is one i am sure you will love;

au where Giran is all might's biological son

What a wild choice to go to, I'll flip it: 1 hc each for 5 aus of this.

A- Giran was born a few years after the war arc, and after his father dies in his teenage years he rejects Izuku's offer to take him in, instead staying with more undergrounders, and researching some history. No one thinks anything of it until he vanishes one day, going back in time. Did he do it so he could win the lottery? Was it to sabotage AfO's efforts? Or was he turning traitor? Only he knows.

B- AfO grabbed a sample of Toshinori's DNA in the fight where he killed Nana, and ordered a clone of him made. But there wasn't enough material for an actual clone, so Garaki just made a test tube son instead. AfO was actually planning on revealing that his loyal, villainous broker was Toshi's son to hurt him, but Giran himself pointed out that would probably just make All Might feel violated and enraged, not grieving any love, so AfO decided to hunt down Nana's family instead.

C- Giran is Toshi's son, and actually born with a time travel quirk. He's got a hero licence and dozens of identities through the timeline. Muddying was a quirk given by AfO when he went undercover, but due to weird OfA genetics Giran can hold two quirks at once, though he doesn't push it. He keeps a container of eraser capsules to rewind his quirk when he needs a new second one for another new identity. AfO has given him like twelve quirks at this point and never noticed. Giran's actually hoping to get a healing one eventually that he can then figure out to get to his dad, but that's not likely to happen. Toshi coughs up so much blood with each visit and update from his son. Izuku never even managed to worry him so much, you know. But baby siblings get all the lenience...

D- at the end of the war arc, the last thing AfO does is hit Toshi with one last quirk, then blow up. Toshi is brought back many decades in time, and he goes a little vigilante about it. Eventually he has a kid, and Giran grows up unaware his dad is a time traveling All Might- he actually thinks he's an ex villain trying to make up for things in his old age.

E- ok we'll stop trying to make the timeline work for this last one. Giran is in his twenties in canon, and only met his father after the great potato mashing, as Toshi went the Nana route. But since then, Giran's been a tad obsessed with finding secrets and info so he isn't blindsided by a reveal like that again. Absolutely abuses his father's connections to get insider details. When he makes Toshi tell him about OfA (because he was sure that little green kid at UA was his half brother, and you can't blame him), he asked "did you ever think about giving it to me?" to which Toshi responded by pointing to the file that Giran had put together documenting the proof of Nagant's sorta-innocence, blackmailing the commission about it, and then celebrating by taking getting incredibly expensive wine and strippers with the blackmail money. (Don't worry, he shared this celebration with Nagant, and she got half the money leftover to start up again.) Giran nods because that's fair, and he didn't want a physical power anyway.

[truly-quirkless]

May as well since it's dancing around, so!

Toshinori Yagi is bisexual, with a leaning towards pan. The pan is mostly because he's dating/married to Fin, who is neither gender, and he does feel attraction for feminine, masculine, and neutral presentations/bodies. So- man's out here trying to sort if he's bi or pan. Kinda flip-flops.

He identifies as male/he's cis, and he goes by he/him pronouns and the like. Always dresses masculine- not really a big fan of dresses and whatnot. He'll wear them if requested, but they make him just a little uncomfortable...loves a pretty kimono (so one that feels more fem than masc to him) though, and good luck making him shy away from feminine colors/getting his nails done.

Finley Well is a flavor of graysexual/demisexual. They very rarely feel sexual attraction, and it pops up more often with those they've already developed a deep bond with. Gender presentation means very little to them, but if you're someone they have feelings for? You could dress in a trash bag and still get them to nosebleed. Doesn't matter what your gender is.

Fin identifies as nonbinary, and presents in a semi-masculine manner. Fin goes by they/them pronouns and gender neutral terms, but they're fine with more masculine/male-leaning terms. They despise wearing dresses and anything 'feminine' leaning. Much prefer a solid suit. They are AFAB, so they have female equipment- but they try to dress in loose clothing as much as they can so that no one can see their chest. They're considering top surgery- but have yet to develop the guts to go through with it (haha....).

Yagi's family would have been pro-LGBTQ+. His adoptive family...not so much, but they wouldn't have stopped Yagi if he did develop non-heteronormative relationships. Nana Shimura, who kinda became his last 'mother' of sorts, supported him full-heartedly, as did Gran Torino, though Torino is still confused about the whole concept in general. Just 'whatever makes you young whippersnappers happy, just leave me out of it'.

Fin's parents are very much LGBTQ+-phobic. Fin and Yagi met their folks while they were at I-Island, and when said parents kept calling Fin 'their darling daughter', Yagi stepped in, grabbed them, said 'I fucked them, now if you need me, I'm going to go have a lovely day with my S P O U S E', and walked off. Fin was both mortified and relieved.

[im-a-ramblr]

Been on a bit of an MHA kick recently, and have come up with several AUs (as per normal, for I live in AU station). I feel like sharing one of them, called Beach House AU. Longer posts will be coming with more information but for now have a short, fun scenario that takes place in it.

At the Beach House, the residents are scrambling to get ready for the day

Izuku: We're going to be late!

Nao, on the phone: I'll meet you at UA, seen you then!

Toshinori: Does everyone have everything? Yes, okay, good. buffs up to All Might Hold tight you two!

Yoichi and Nana, calling after them: Have fun! Don't die!

In a car

Random police officer: Sooo, is Tsukauchi alright at UA? Or he is just on the way?

Sansa: I have no idea, and I don't want to know. It sounds like it would involve a lot of paperwork

At UA

Aizawa: Did All Might just land from a flight holding Midoriya and Detective Tsukauchi?

Nemuri: Yes

Hizashi: All three of them are laughing. If I'm reading the lips right, All Might is saying something like 'told you we'd get here in time'

Aizawa: I don't get paid enough to deal with this, especially not this early in the morning

[shih-coulda-had-it]

Since you drew En playing the electric guitar do you have any headcannons for an OFA band AU? Like what user plays/does what?

I love the OFA logo that's on electric guitarist En's shirt btw! 💓

Not only am I going to give you a list of who's doing what, I'm going to give you 1.4k of a ficlet from Bruce's POV because I've been doing everything but my final papers!

THE BAND

Yoichi: Lead vocalist, ex-bass guitar

Kudou: Drummer

Bruce: Band manager, does travel and concert arrangements; ex-electric guitar

Shinomori: Equipment manager, helps with logistics; ex-electric guitar

Banjo: Electric guitar 1, ex-keyboardist, percussionist when necessary

En: Electric guitar 2 + Smoke effects

Nana: Bass guitar, female vocalist when necessary

Toshinori: Nana’s ward, roadie, learning bass guitar

+ Sorahiko: Full-time roadie, electric guitar when necessary

Izuku: Not here yet, but he's probably part of a One for All revival era

OFA Band AU in my hands still has Quirks, and the majority of the group practices vigilantism when they're not playing music. AFO is less demon of the underworld evil, and more capitalist/the guy funding industry plants evil. He's a music executive. He and Yoichi used to play music together, but when AFO went to college to be a business major, Yoichi doubled down on music and was recruited by Kudou and Bruce. OFA developed from there.

Pairings are Trio Holders, FourthFifth, and who knows what's going with Sorahiko. (This is a no Husbando Shimura/no Kotarou AU.)

Read the ficlet below!

//

“Banjo,” Shinomori says with a tone more indulgent than scolding, “stop bullying En with Blackwhip. He’s going to trip and fall on his face mid-performance, and then where will you be?”

“Laughing, probably,” Bruce cuts in before Banjo can say something flirtatious. He needs their equipment manager present and sharp-eyed. Shimura’s friend does a passable job at rounding up stray amps and cords, but only when he’s not herding Toshinori away from chatting up the crowds who want to stalk One for All members backstage. “Pack the instruments in the bus, would you? We’re cutting it close.”

Banjo winks at Shinomori and strums a quick, humorous cue anyway. “Yeah, no problem, Sandaime. We going out after?”

“Depends on Kudou.”

“Ah, gotcha. See you in a bit.” Banjo tips his chin up and obligingly, Shinomori bends his neck and plants a chaste kiss to the carefully maintained stubble on the electric guitarist’s cheek. The roguish grin softens. Bruce manfully restrains himself from being a hypocrite about PDA, and goes to find Shimura.

She’s a little further backstage, and her bass guitar is already locked away. Set beside her bedazzled monstrosity of a case is En’s unassuming one. When Bruce chances upon them, Shimura is in the middle of fussing with her cousin’s jacket. She straightens the high collar, notices Bruce, and says a cheerful hello.

En echoes her, but he adds a respectful, “Sandaime.”

God. Bruce is going to strangle Banjo for starting that up, especially as it’s been picked up by not just the band but also the media. The more impressionable members of the band—En and Toshinori—treat the titles with more respect than a bad joke should get, and the journalists have started using them in place of their names.

“Everyone packed? Where’s Torino and Toshinori?”

“Sorahiko had a phone call,” En volunteers. “I think Toshinori headed back to the bus early because he had homework to finish.”

“What? Did he tell you that? It’s a week to the deadline!” Shimura scoops up her case and En’s, inclines her head at Bruce, and starts booking it. Her decision to apprentice Toshinori still strikes Bruce as a shortsighted one, but it remains one of the few times Bruce actually remembers her performing some kind of paperwork magic to ensure the application was filled to perfection. Usually, Shimura procrastinates to the point of Torino needing to swoop in and forge her signature.

En peers up at Bruce like he’s expecting something.

“What,” says Bruce. The junior electric guitar player shrugs in deliberate carelessness.

“Are we heading out after?”

“Have you been talking to Banjo?” Bruce asks, dry, and shakes his head. “It depends on Kudou. Where’s our illustrious leader?”

“Necking with Nidaime in the dressing room.”

Wordlessly, Bruce digs into his pocket and hands over the carton of candy cigarettes. En isn’t actually capable of eating tobacco, much less real cigarettes, but he has a sweet tooth and a sly sense of humor. Moreover, he is amenable to being bribed.

Clever fingers pop open the carton and slide one white chalky stick of sugar out. En sticks it into his mouth with a pleased hum and chirps a half-garbled, “I’ll get Banjo-senpai to the bus. Is Yondaime driving?”

“Torino knows the city streets better. He’ll get us to the inn, and after that, we’ll figure out carpools back.” Bruce rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “Hey. You did good with the bridge for ‘Residual Mayhem’ tonight. Make sure to do the hand exercises later.”

“Okay!” Thusly flattered, spoiled with sweets, and charged with malicious intent to put a (temporary) damper on Banjo’s evening, En darts off to pester his senior into hurrying the hell up. For his part, Bruce double-checks the area for stray litter, then ventures to the dressing rooms.

He finds a nondescript black sock slipped onto the doorknob. Bruce raps his knuckles against the wood, ignores the muffled “OCCUPIED!”, and uses the skeleton key to break in.

The door gets closed immediately behind him.

“We’re going to be late,” he manages to snap, before his brain fully processes the sight of Kudou’s legs hooked ‘round Yoichi’s skinny hips. The dressing room is equipped with a single chaise longue, and Yoichi has Kudou pressed down against the entire length of the single-armed sofa. Thank god, they’re both still in jeans.

“Mrrmph,” Kudou says, and Yoichi chimes in, “Hi, Bruce!”

“The set wasn’t that horny,” Bruce says, nonplussed.

Yoichi grins. “Well, I know tonight’s a fight night, so I thought I’d give Kudou incentive to not make you guys stay out so late.”

“Really effective,” Kudou reports, sounding dazed. He has clearly been kissed stupid. Is it irresponsible of Bruce to want to trade places with Kudou? For a brief moment, Bruce thinks about Kudou taking the role of band manager. In that projection of an alternate universe, One for All loses all access to professional recording studios, and not only are their songs recorded with a shitty boombox, but their concerts are held at last-minute reservations.

Also, in that universe, Kudou is cursed to never find a replacement drummer he approves of for more than three months. Yes. This is the right timeline.

Bruce approaches the sofa as Yoichi sits up and pulls Kudou upright with him. “You don’t think I need any?”

“You’re way more responsible,” Yoichi asserts, but makes a ‘come here’ gesture with his long slender fingers. Obligingly, Bruce bends at the waist. Yoichi cradles Bruce’s jaw with one hand and kisses him squarely on the mouth, nips his bottom lip, and breaks it off first. He smiles as he says, “Thanks for coming to get us.”

Kudou slips two fingers down the collar of Bruce’s shirt and tugs him in for his own kiss. That too is brief, and sharp, and it’s possible Bruce is going a little kiss-stupid as well, especially when he can hear the rumble of Kudou’s groan building at the base of his throat.

“Wait,” he gasps, “wait, time, time. Our inn’s not taking late check-ins, and Shimura’s going to murder one of us if her ward sleeps overnight in the bus again.”

“Toshinori-kun thinks it’s cool to sleep in the bus,” Yoichi protests. “Did Shimura-kun say that?”

“She implied it,” Bruce says.

“Up we go then,” Kudou says, and manhandles Yoichi off his lap. Bruce straightens up and does a cursory once-over at the dressing room. Any hairbrushes? Hair ties? Stray math homework sheets that Toshinori will swear he lost to Torino’s cutthroat corrections? Distracted, Bruce helps Yoichi to his feet, then Kudou.

“Shinomori got your drumset loaded,” he tells Kudou. “Yoichi, did you take your guitar out for an impromptu vibes session with Toshinori?”

“Still in the bus,” Yoichi answers, and before Bruce can fend him off, Yoichi is fussing with the folds of his headband. Kudou is too busy shrugging into his windbreaker and shaking out the wrinkles in Yoichi’s. “Ah, Bruce, you should really think about hemming this…”

“Ragged edges are punk,” Bruce says blankly.

There’s a knock at the door. It creaks open, because even though Bruce kicked it shut the instant he saw his boyfriends making out, he forgot to lock it. Torino pokes his head in warily. “Bus is loaded up,” he reports, eyes cast to the ceiling. “En said I’m driving?”

“Yup,” says Kudou. Finished with his doting, Yoichi gratefully accepts his windbreaker and zips it right up to the top. He combs his bangs back and ties his distinctive white hair into a low ponytail; Kudou fetches a cap and plops it on Yoichi’s head before tugging the hood over. “I’m your co-pilot. Bruce, where’s your jacket?”

“The bus. Torino, we’ll be right out.”

“Gotcha.” The door clicks shut.

“Hey, is the sock on the door yours or Yoichi’s?”

“One of mine,” Yoichi confirms. He hooks his hand at the crook of Bruce’s elbow, leans into him. “Bruce, stop worrying, we haven’t left anything. Kudou, you’d better run ahead before Toshinori-kun gets the idea that he can sit co-pilot again.”

“That kid,” Kudou curses, and bolts out. It’s a reasonable response.

The last time Toshinori had wheedled his way to the front, Shinomori had been at the wheel, and between the both of them—Shinomori, possessed of a sick sense of humor that included entertaining the whims of a preteen, and Toshinori, too proud to admit that he couldn’t understand the traffic navigation app—One for All had wandered off-route and wasted three-quarters of the gas tank just to arrive at a three-star aquarium. Not that Torino would get them lost. 

No, it’s more likely that Torino would reach the limits of his Toshinori Tolerance and put pedal to the metal, and then get caught speeding (in a bus) by a cop.

Yoichi hums the opening lyrics to ‘Daisy Days’, and it sounds too sad on its own, so Bruce obligingly provides the guitar riff as they follow after Kudou.

[riahlynn101]

"This Family of Ours (Is Thoroughly Broken and Can't Be Fixed)" (9).

As promised, here's one of the stories that won in my Tumblr Poll. Now, I just need to finish the one shot that is exclusively All for One x Inko. (And the other one shot that has Yoichi in it).

Trigger Warning: A child in distress.

Chapter 9

--

The dining room is a mess. There’s a pile of splintered wood that was once, probably, maybe a chair. The dust he spotted on his wife’s shirt coats the floor. A woman-Nao, if Hisashi recalls correctly-scrubs at the floor with a rag. A bucket of soapy water sits beside her, and she moves jerkily to dip the rag into the container, only to return to scrubbing at the stains on the floor frantically. 

“What a mess,” he says, keeping an even tone. It’s always hard to know what to say in these kinds of situations. With his long lifespan he’s seen things that far surpass a child accidentally killing their father.

But these people, bound by marriage and Japanese law, are his family. He feels nothing for them. 

Not the overbearing, domineering, platonic love he felt for his brother.

Or the heart-pounding, hair-twirling love he feels for his wife.

Or even the overly protective, paternal love he feels for his son. 

They just are. They exist as an extension of his wife and son (and Nana Shimura, but that’s a headache he would rather avoid right now). For them, he’s willing to play dumb and play nice (which, in his experience, go hand-in-hand). 

Nao looks up at him. Her face is blotchy and eyes blood-shot. She sniffles. “Sorry. I…” She gets to her feet, placing the rag on the side of the bucket. “Who are you?”

He takes in her body language. Her trembling limbs and quivering bottom lip. 

“Yagi Toshinori,” he introduces himself, holding a hand out. Still, palm down just in case Nao recognizes his mutation from the brief times they interacted. 

She stares at his hand, eyes glazed over. “Who?”

“My- Midoriya Inko called me. Said something about-”

“I thought she called her husband?”

Hisashi hums, as if thoughtfully considering her question, and that him being here and in this form wasn’t a result of his own hubris. “She did, but Midoriya-San couldn’t be here until much later. I was told the situation needed to be dealt with immediately.”

Nao looks him up and down. It’s no secret how intimidating Hisashi looks. He’s freakishly tall (a fact that he used to be bullied ostensibly about, especially when he was a malnourished, string-bean of a kid), and there’s just something about seeing him in this form that sets people on edge. 

He smiles. “I only want to help. Whatever happened here is between everyone that witnessed it and me.”

“He didn’t mean it. He’s a good boy,” Nao chokes out, tears starting to fall from her eyes. She wipes at them. 

He nods along, patiently. 

“Sorry, sorry. Just please, promise you won’t tell the police. Tenko was only trying to help and-”

“Shimura-San, I give my word that I will not breathe a word of this to anyone else.”

She sniffles (again). “Right. Well, I suppose I should take you to Tenko.”

-x-x-x-

Tenko sits tucked against his sister’s side, staring blankly ahead. He should be feeling sad right now. Everyone else is. Father is dead and not coming back. And it’s. All. His. Fault!

But he can’t cry anymore. 

The tears won’t come.

He feels nothing. 

He feels….numb. 

Hana does her best to comfort him, offering him little trinkets, and telling dumb jokes that, in any other circumstance, would make him giggle. She’s trying so hard, but his body just feels so heavy. And everything feels so faraway, like his body doesn’t belong to him. Like he’s watching everything play out in a low-budget video game. 

Their bedroom door opens, but Tenko can’t bring himself to acknowledge whoever’s standing in the doorway. 

“Who are you?” He hears Hana ask. 

“Toshinori Yagi,” the person-a man, judging by how deep his voice is-answers. “I’m a quirk specialist. I work with your aunt’s husband.”

“Why’re you here?” Hana wraps an arm around his shoulder, holding him closer to her side. 

Yagi-San chuckles, stepping further into the room. “I’m here to help. My job is all about helping people with hard to control, and or destructive quirks.”

His sister gasps. “Ten, did you hear that?”

Logically, in the back of his mind, Tenko knows he should be showing gratitude. But moving is hard. Listening is taking up all his energy right now. 

“Now, this normal,” Yagi-Sani starts, “after a traumatic event, the brain has many different ways of protecting itself. Shutting down emotionally, mentally, and even physically is one of these ways.”

“B-but he’ll get better, right?” 

Yagi-San hums. “I’m sure at some point, but trauma responses are unfortunately not my area of expertise. So, I’m not qualified to make that call. But, if I was, I would say it all depends on how much support he has. I’m very sorry you kids had to go through that.”

Yagi-San kneels down in front of him. “Now, may I see your hands.”

This snaps Tenko out of his daze. He clutches his hands close to his chest, leaning back slightly. “No!” He snaps, eyes wide. “I…I don’t want to hurt you.”

He chuckles. “Hurt me? You don’t have to worry about that.”

Tenko shakes his head, lips pressed into a thin line. “Uh, uh.”

“Can you at least hold them out, palms up, for me to see? I won’t touch them, but I need to see them.”

He looks at Hana, who’s watching the exchange and worrying her bottom lip. She smiles at Tenko, though it looks forced. “Go on,” she encourages, reaching over to pat him on the back. 

Tenko holds his hands out in front of him. They shake a little, and he has to fight the urge to pull them back. 

“Good, you’re doing a great job,” Yagi-San says, keeping his promise of not touching Tenko’s hands. He looks them over, appraising them. His lips purse into a thin line, and his brows furrow. 

“What do you see?” Hana asks, anxiously watching from over her brother’s shoulder. 

“His fingertips look drier than the rest of his hand,” he mumbles. “This could be an indication that his quirk is activated using his fingers. A five-finger activation isn’t abnormal-” he stops abruptly, turning his full attention to Hana. “I apologize for bringing this up, but did your brother grab your father with all five of his fingers?”

“Uh, huh,” she confirms. 

“I see.” He hums, taking a pen out of his suit jacket. “Now, Tenko, I know this is extremely difficult but I need you to grip this pen with all five of your fingers.” 

Tenko feels his heart skip a few beats. Touching that pen, even if it’s an inanimate object, means destroying it. Just like he destroyed his father. He tries to take a few deep breaths, but no matter how hard he inhales, no air reaches his lungs. 

He feels like he’s drowning. 

Through his growing panic, he can hear his sister telling off Yagi-San. The man tries to say something, but she talks over him - furious. 

Tenko shuts his eyes, head spinning. 

And then, like a prayer answered, the doorbell rings. The voices stop, and he can finally force some air into his poor lungs. 

“That’s odd,” Hana says, “we don’t get visitors often.”

“It’s the police,” he croaks out. Talking hurts but his panic overrides all of his pain. 

“No,” Yagi-San answers in a bored tone. “Your mother was cleaning up the kitchen when I came in. I highly doubt anyone’s turning you in.”

This doesn’t make Tenko feel any better, because that just means he’s dragging his family down with him. He feels like a villain right now. 

Mama must be so mad and disappointed in him. 

“Have no fear, why!?” A booming voice calls out. 

The slightly annoyed look on Yagi-San’s face turns into pure unadulterated horror. He glances towards the window, then back at the door. “Kids- uh, Hana, can you help me?” 

“I wanna help too,” Tenko finds himself whining. He winces at how sore his throat is. “Please,” he adds. Anything to get his mind off what happened today. 

Yagi-San shushes him. “Okay, okay.” He regards both of them carefully. “Here’s the plan.”

[symbolsought]

Okay, but, no, on that last post. I might be thinking too hard about this or missed something but I'm thinking like... Where is All Might's generation of heroes at ? Like, where are the characters who would have been to UA along aside All Might as students. Where are his classmates ? Who would he have competed in the Sports Festival against ? Where are his teachers ? ( Recovery Girl, Gran Trino and possibly Nenzu aside ) Where are the civilians that would have been there to watch All Might rise from a UA student to #1 hero ? We know Toshinori basically "hid" his identity with his "All Might" persona but that persona does not come into existence Until Nana's death, when Toshinori was 18. In fact he seems to have begun making the "All Might" persona as some type of trauma response and we see him actually "perfecting" his look for it in the mirror before he leaves to America ( He would still be around 18 to 19 max here. ) So there should be a whole generation of people who did know All Might as Toshinori ? Yet somehow Toshinori's able to literally trick the whole country into seeing him as a complete enigma that no one seems to have any reelection of or knows anything about outside of All Might's public deeds. See Toshinori didn't always have a "true form" vs his All Might form. But also originally there wasn't a massive amount of visual difference in these forms, save for seemingly added height and more buff physique. But still hardly a huge difference appearance wise:

He should be about the same age in these pics so you can see even though one is Toshi's true self and the other is his All Might form there isn't a huge lot of difference between them, again, except for maybe height and added muscle mass. ( oh and he decided to stick his bunny ears up and slick his fluffy hair down. ) Keep in mind, Toshi, before his injury, wasn't skinny or frail either ! LIKE everything about Toshi especially pre-injury is a Clark Kent / Superman nod. The Vigilantes prelude gave us a glimpse at older Toshi's "True self" before his injury which further solidifies Toshi always had this "duel identity" ( At least since Nana's death ) with a "true form" and a slightly more fantastical form that he uses in public:

And still, even though he's obviously older here ( likely in his 30s ) aside from the difference in height and muscle mass, I wouldn't say theres a extreme difference in appearance between Toshi's real form and his All Might form. Yet, NO ONE FIGURED OUT THIS WAS ALL MIGHT ? Because in the Vigilantes comic we also know that Toshi's been pretending to be his own secretary. Like this man was walking around Might Tower pretending to be All Might's secretary and no one worked out he IS All Might. He wasn't even using a secret name or anything just "Toshinori Yagi." / "Mr. Yagi." And like this only becomes kind of understandable and not: "you really want us to believe this man puts on a pair of glasses and no one can recognize him as Superman" level silly when Toshi is injured because he loses a lot of his body mass and becomes very sickly looking due to his lack of stomach and his refusal to follow whatever instructions the doctors surely gave him to not waste away to skin and bones because he wont take time out of his hero-ing to look after himself. ( Also pretty well established fact in the Vigilantes prelude ) which makes the "visual" difference in Toshinori's true form vs his All Might form a lot stronger. If this was always the case you could maybe understand why no one put two and two together but it wasn't always the case. All Might and Toshi didn't always look so "different".

^ Though this is actually how Naomasa figures out Toshinori is All Might, because he comes back from ducking out to do hero things with his super suit under his office clothes but accidently still visible and Naomasa isn't as dumb as everyone else on Earth apparently and suddenly realizes "Hold on you're not a secretary you're literally All Might" ( Once again this is a strong Superman/Clark Kent reference ) So I would suppose the in-universe explanation is suppose to very much be the same as the Super Man vs Clark Kent explanation, as in, there kind of isn't one. But on top of all that we do have the fact that All Might has always been synonymous with Toshinori Yagi. Because we have Toshi's time at UA where he was apparently always going by the name All Might. Nana refers to him as All Might before she dies, so this was always his chosen hero name from moment one. He even won the sports festival at some point and we saw in canon that kind of gets you known/noticed in the superhero world ? So how did everyone just.... Not know Toshinori = All Might ? How has this been some huge thing that no one was able to figure out ??? And where are his peers that would have been at school with him ? Where are his fellow pro heroes that would be in his age group and KNOWN HIM from UA ? Did my man just move to America for a bit and everyone just collectively forgot he existed and took him as a completely new entity when he came back ??? SJFKDKFKDf Like. Ok. I guess that could be a thing but I feel like the math isn't totally mathing here.

[ao3feed-tododeku]

Interlopers

Interlopers by JoWithTheFlow

The fact that Yaoyorozu's skin is bare as far as he can see is only relevant to Izuku for a very specific reason, and that reason is the fact that she has begun to glow. The skin on her stomach is producing brilliant flashes of pink and blue. To a child—even to him, now—they look exactly like sparkles.

Izuku places a hand over the black band on his forearm. Is it possible—

It isn't just possible. It's downright guaranteed. There's no such thing as never meeting your soulmate, assuming you have one in the first place. She is right here in front of him. She is in his class. She is the same age as him. Even if her parents had sparkling skin or a sibling of hers did or even a random person somehow produced the same effect with their Quirk as she did with hers, she is the one.

It's unfair. It's so unfair.

Izuku wants to laugh. He wants to cry. He wants to scream, and shake his fist at the universe, and ask whoever is listening why.

Words: 15593, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Midoriya Izuku, Yaoyorozu Momo, Todoroki Shouto, Iida Tenya, Kendou Itsuka, Uraraka Ochako, Yagi Toshinori | All Might

Relationships: Midoriya Izuku & Yaoyorozu Momo, Midoriya Izuku/Todoroki Shouto, Midoriya Izuku & Todoroki Shouto, Kendou Itsuka & Yaoyorozu Momo, Iida Tenya & Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku & Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Midoriya Izuku & Uraraka Ochako, Iida Tenya/Uraraka Ochako, Shimura Nana & Yagi Toshinori | All Might, Dabi | Todoroki Touya & Todoroki Shouto

Additional Tags: Soulmates, Platonic Soulmates, Canon Speedrun (now featuring soulmates), you know what i'm on a roll let's just say soulmates as much as possible now, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, soulmates choose what their bond means, artistic representations of quirks as soul marks, high probability this might be momokendou, i'm feeling out the vibes still, Angst with a Happy Ending, though it's not really angsty, Momo & Izuku Friendship Supremacy, Bitter Midoriya Izuku, Bitter Yaoyorozu Momo, Just a bit on both of those though, Misunderstandings, you thought i was done saying the word soulmates but i wasn't!, Unrequited Soulmates, Soulmates With A Twist

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45453799

[boss-the-goofball]

MINA AS THE TRAILBLAZER IS SO PERFECT YES!!! let the alien queen have a space adventure! Nana has such Himiko vibes (aka mom vibes) and Shoto and Toshinori round out the group so perfectly.

also izuku being afos next incantation is very funny.

- same anon from earlier thank you so much for replying I love your ideas! I may just have to make some awful fanart be warned 💫

Ironically it was trying to figure out who would fit nicely in a pseudo-March 7th role that I came to Mina as the Trailblazer; when @chaosphoniex here tried to suggest Mina for March when I was already starting to settle on Shoto

So I decided to let Mina have the Trailblazer role

I actually had to dig a little into HI3rd because I knew there was the very likely speculation that Welt in HSR is the same Welt from HI3rd and wanted to verify something with Himeko- and that's what sold me to put Nana in that role with Old Man Yagi in the Welt role because Welt is basically the dad for everyone; including Himeko.

Izuku was where I first drafted this because I knew I wanted to have him be a Vidyadhara, however I did not want to have Yoichi as his past life because a lot of people like to make Izuku into some kind of reincarnation of Yoichi or someone else important to AfO in some fashion.

Plus I wanted to have another AU where AfO is perma-dead and not coming back lol

[ao3feed-izuku-midoriya]

I am Relieved That I'd Left My Room Tidy (Goodbye)

i am relieved that i'd left my room tidy (goodbye) by benchedwsuga

Midoriya Izuku was not a quitter. He had worked tirelessly to inherit One For All, had never caved in to the words of his tormentors in middle school, and always did his best to make his mother smile at the end of each arduous day. But sitting alone beneath a shattered bus shelter, Izuku felt like giving up. . . . . . (or, my take on some of Izuku's time spent alone before returning to UA)

Words: 2376, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: Gen

Characters: Midoriya Izuku, Past One For All Users, Yoichi | First One For All User, Shimura Nana, Banjou Daigorou | Lariat

Additional Tags: Vigilante Midoriya Izuku, Season/Series 06, Midoriya Izuku Does Not Go to U.A. High School, Midoriya Izuku Has One for All Quirk, Sad Midoriya Izuku, Depressed Midoriya Izuku, Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Suicide Attempt, Panic Attacks, Hurt No Comfort, BAMF Midoriya Izuku, Midoriya Izuku Needs A Hug, One For All Quirk, Sentient One For All Quirk, Sorry Not Sorry, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, I Wrote This While Listening to Mitski's Music, Song: Last Words of a Shooting Star (Mitski), Please Don't Hate Me, Not Beta Read, Bittersweet Ending, Mentioned Class 1-A, Mentioned Midoriya Inko, Mentioned Yagi Toshinori | All Might

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46122886

[datninjalyfe]

Kingdoms at War, Chapter 8: One-For-All

Chapter 8—One-for-All

SHINSOU

**Three Years Ago, After the Nezu Festival**

**In Talia, at the Aizawa Mansion in the Countryside**

I look down to see the Erian Crest looking back up at me.  

And then at the Prince, who’s anxiously awaiting a response from me.  “Your Grace…” I begin and fell onto my knees.  My stomach churned. “I-I don’t know what to say—,” 

“Why don’t you just start at the beginning?” he cocked his head, the golden crown of the Prince not moving as he did so.  

That crown was more than a symbol of peace here in Talia.  It represented to Talia who was going to be the next ruler of Talia, but of all the Kingdoms in the world.  It had been passed down from leader to leader since Talia herself.  When Queen Nana passed it to her successor, Yagi of the House of Toshinori, and not her son, there was an unusual shift in the court.  King Toshinori could have passed that mark down to anyone and with the amount of wealth the Todoroki family had, it should have been passed down to one of Lord Todoroki’s children.  But the King still passed it down to his son, the Prince.  The Marking of the Crown, a traditional sort of ceremony where the Golden Crown is given from Leader to Successor, was given to Prince Midoriya instead of any one of the Todoroki children.  This did not please Lord Todoroki, despite all the donations their father gave to Talia and the amount of effort he made in the war.

I hate him, I think.  I’m glad his children will never reign this kingdom.

Still, I looked at that crown and its golden sheen threaded through the prince’s hair.  He’s beautiful in this moment and it was hard to deny it.  The Prince was regal with his bright blue Talian uniform, the equally bright red cape—not like the deep burgundy one I wore to Eri.  The crown was what forced me to my knees.  He held all the power in that moment.  

When I said nothing, the Prince shook his head.  “I’m just a little confused.” he said.  “As to why one of my Generals, someone I handpicked myself, is wearing an Erian soldiers uniform.  Please, start at the beginning and we’ll go from there.”

“To Lord Todoroki, you mean?” I said, but quickly stopped.  The golden crown that sat atop his head glimmered to me and I could do nothing but look away from it.  

“I don’t know.  You haven’t told me anything.” 

No.  The voice in my head echoed.  I heard them, swarming me, enveloping around me like the voice of a thousand Gods.  I will use this gift, this power, everything the Lantern King gave me until the day I fucking die.  “What could I possibly say that would ensure my safety?”  He remained quiet, however.  Not even moving as those continued to yell at him, Fucking say something!  He remained quiet.  Quiet long enough for the voices to stop.  “I will not go back to Todoroki’s prison.  Not now, not ever.  You will answer my questions if I have to—,” 

“Lord Shinsou,” he raised a hand, silencing me immediately.  “You will also answer my questions first and if I am satisfied, then I will answer your questions.  Do you understand?” 

I did.  He’d forget everything if he knew what happened.  He gave his permission to let me force him to forget.

“Shinsou!” a voice came over my shoulder.  Aizawa was running quickly, wrapping his scarf around his neck.  “Your Grace, please, if you’ll let us explain—,”  

“Ah,” the Prince said, smiling as Aizawa kneeled in front of him, next to me.  “And the Heir Aizawa knows too, I assume?” he rubbed his brow, wiping sweat as he stepped into the sunlight.  

“Would you like to go inside, Your Grace?  You are more than welcome to—,” 

“I’d like to stay out here.”

We both just nod.  “As you wish, Your Grace.”

“Excellent.  Now Shinsou, this will be the last time I ask.  Start.  From.” His eyes narrowed down on me, the crown now fully facing me, wreathed through the Prince’s hair.  “The beginning.”

“I fell in love, Your Grace.” I told them both.  “With an Erian soldier.  I just got back from a festival that was held on your birthday in Nezu.”

He didn’t tear his eyes away from me, nor I from him.  “How did you meet?”

I told him.  I told him about the river, the few nights we shared since then and about the festival trip that was cut short by Aizawa’s letter.  I told him the couple things I’d learned, about Commander Jirou being in the forest to gain trust by the Erian court because of her father that remained here.  I also shared the little information of the Dragon King and about their forces being able to mobilize quickly.  I said it all to the Prince, tears streaming down my face.  

He stood there, unmoving, his arms crossed over the Talian crest.  The bright cape ebbed and flowed with the wind, as did his dark green hair.  “And what have you shared about Talia with this soldier?”

“About my family’s death.  About me becoming a young Lord and—,” I swallowed.  “He thought I was still under Todoroki, but I told him that I felt more comfortable being with Aizawa.”

“Is that all?” 

I know that question.  I’d heard it less than three days ago from Denki.  “Our time was limited.  Aizawa isn’t the type to pull me away without it being important and I left a couple hours after I received the letter.” 

“Is that the only thing you told him?”

“He—I implied how much I despise Todoroki, but I didn’t tell him what exactly took place.” It was hard for me to relay that information to even Aizawa.

“Very well.” the Prince said, exhaling deeply.  “I’m placing all my trust in what you’re telling me, Lord Shinsou.  And,” he sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping.  “I will permit Shinsou to ask his questions.” 

Aizawa stared at him.  “Your Grace, are you sure?” 

“Yes.  I didn’t hear anything too incriminating.  We’ve guessed at most of the things that Shinsou has said and I have no doubt you can give the others some of the information about Lord Jirou’s child at the next war meeting.  You can say you saw her and she escaped. Besides,” the Prince smiled.  “I think I wouldn’t mind being brainwashed for a few hours.  To take my mind off the war, as Shinsou claims this soldier does for him.” 

I stood up, narrowing my gaze at the Prince.  

And voices began once again, echoing around in my head.  “Your Grace, Prince Midoriya, are you sure this is what you want?” 

“Yes.” There was no hesitation.  I quickly reached into his mind, into the very depths of him, but I was met by a wall.  An entire wall, completely impenetrable in his mind, unrelenting to the voices I placed in his head.  I tried again and again, but the more I rammed into the barrier, the harder it became.  It pushed and pushed until I was completely broken and shoved the echoes of the voices back into my own mind.  

It was the first time I’d ever heard my ability and it made me delirious for a moment.  A flicker of a memory passed into me and I screamed, calling out to my mother and was met by two strong arms to keep my from falling against the ground.

When my eyes opened, Aizawa’s confused face looked down at me.  I was equally confused, but then grew angry until I saw his eyes were the same brown, his hair waved down past his shoulders.  It wasn’t him who stopped me?  I stared back at the Prince.  “Your Grace.” I breathed.  I’d always been able to reach into someone, control them like little puppets.  I’d been used, rummaged, manipulated by the Talian court for this ability.  But the Prince had not been affected and threw my own gift back at me.  Within his mind, I was met by something hard, rigid, impassable.  

The first person I’d ever met to not yield to my power from the Lantern King. 

“My ability.” was all the Prince said.  “is far greater than yours, it would seem.”  He took a few steps forward, clapping a hand to my shoulder as he passed.  “I won’t tell anyone about this.  You have my word.”  I turned to face him, but he didn’t look back as he said, “You’re still needed at the castle, Shinsou.  Change out of that clothing.  Burn it, bury it, I don’t care.  But you’re my friend, so I’ll give you this warning: not all powers come from the Lantern King.”

Out of complete fear, I bowed.  I waited until the Prince was out of my line of sight, until I could no longer see the gold shine in his crown before looking to Aizawa.  His face was full of fear like a father who could do little to protect his child.  

“Is that true?  Are there people who have powers that aren’t Children of the Lantern King?” 

He nodded.  

“And the Prince?  He’s one of them?” 

Another nod.

“How many others are like him?”

“So far, the only two families I’ve met,” Aizawa said.  “are the Prince and the Todoroki family.”

KATSUKI

*Present Day*

“Kacchan!” Deku says, getting up from his seat.  He pointed to an article from one of the several Erian papers that are laid out before him.  He’s taken a liking to reading several, but has come to realize that the knowledge I have is more extensive.  “Is this true?  Has Todoroki banked south?”

I shake my head.  “Not that I’ve heard.  Which paper are you reading?”  He shows me the cover and I bark out a laugh.  “No, no.  That paper’s full of shit.  They’ll write anything if it brings in more readers.”

“But this one said the same—,” he scrambles around, picks up another paper, but then looks between the two.  “—shit, nevermind.  It’s the same writer.” He pauses, but then crinkles the paper before sitting back down, sipping his tea.  “It definitely draws the attention of the reader, though.  In Talia, we outlaw such things.” 

“Writing?” I tease.

He crinkles his nose at me.  “No, but journalists aren’t allowed to write about things that are untrue.”  

It’s not a bad law to have, but it definitely limits what the journalists can write about.  I also like hearing the opinions of the people in my Kingdom, especially when it comes to the war.  

“Oh, I almost forgot!”  He stirs his tea gently and places the spoon facing down on the plate under the cup.  It clinks perfectly, barely making a sound.  “I have another question you should be asking.”

“And what question is that?” He has my undivided attention.  

“What Talia is planning after they—,” he clears his throat.  “Dethrone you?  Like what they might be planning for the Heir Aizawa.” 

I hiss hearing that name.  

Here in Eri, they call him the “False King”.  Talia calls Aizawa the “True Heir” and even now, there are rumors floating that he will one day take the throne.  Like Shinsou, Aizawa had switched as well, but now he fights for Talia.  It was many years ago, before I was born.  Still, hearing Deku call him “Heir Aizawa” angered me.  I try to control the heat in my body, but I can feel it rising.  Strategically, if Talia manages to overtake the Capitol and kill me, it makes sense to place Aizawa on the throne of Eri.  

Before my mother took the throne, she’d slaughtered all of them after the Aizawa family had made poor judgement call after poor judgement call.  It’d happened again and again.  When Queen Nana didn’t give her son the throne and gave it to King Toshinori, my mother followed suit, but decided to take things into her own hands.  In a single night, she slaughtered the Aizawa Family and almost brought a civil war into Eri.  Ultimately, her entire section of the army backed her, which led to her reign on the throne. After her death, I remember the members of her own High Court whispering to bring one boy, Shouta Aizawa, almost 25 at the time, back to the throne.

If Talia was to get their wish, they would surely bring their “Heir” back to the Erian throne under King Toshinori.  

It is truly his after all… 

“NO!” I yell and the sweat in my palm ignites.  Deku grabs my hands and balls them into a fist, wincing through the pain of a tiny explosion that released from me.  “I know what they plan to do if I am to die.  My own court has even thought of it.”

“When would they have discussed something like that?” he whispers.  I’m feel the words as his lips move brush my fingers.  I live for the moments like this, especially when we know we’re completely alone.  I used to hate it because nothing came of them, but now I love them, cherish these small moments we get together.  I love the feeling when his pink lips graze my hand so soft like a ghost whispering through the night.  My heart skips before thumping loudly and I hope he can hear it too.  He raises my hand and quietly, gently kisses the fingers of my closed fist.  

“After my mother’s death.  Some wanted to kill me and ask for Aizawan leadership again, as my mother was the one who really betrayed the throne.” 

“How did you live?” 

It was an outburst.  Upon hearing them discuss how they would kill me— “Give him over to Talia!”, “Leave him to the monsters in Grice!”, “Cut off his head and be done with it!”—I screamed.  I’d just watched my parents scorched to death in hot blue flames, flames that I had survived and they still meant to kill me?  I screamed for those I’d lost, for the family that I’d never see again.  

For the promise these people, my so-called “allies”, were going to take away from me.

I screamed so loud, it moved the ground, shattering everything around us.  An explosion of anger and fear, of resentment and loathing, surged out of me.  The ones around me were engulfed and left only as smoke.  The others, some with the gifts of the Lantern King and some without, were killed and the only ones left were those who remained loyal to my family.  To me.

Since that moment, I’ve been nicknamed the Dragon King.  “I just showed them my loyalty to the Eri my mother created.”

“I’m sorry, Kacchan,” he apologizes again, whispering into my knuckles.  “I shouldn’t have brought it up.  I just thought you should know.  I would want to know.”  The words are light, like whisps of clouds, matching the tone of his face.  He’s trying to calm me from the sudden anger moments ago without knowing it left as quickly as it came.  I don’t tell him as his lips continue to explore the back of my hand.  He sinks to one knee and I open my palm that has been neglected.

I cannot take another moment with my hands not touching him.  I take a step closer to him and his eyes gaze up at me.  I run my hand through the thick curls of his hair, squeezing them to arch his back even more.

“Oh.” His eyes shoot open and his hands cover his mouth.  He turns his eyes away from me and I smile internally when his cheeks are flushed with a bright, rose color.  I gesture for him to get up and rises to his feet, still averting my gaze that’s fixed on him.

I begin to unbutton his jacket slowly, working each of them through the fabric of the coat.  When I finish, I lick my lips, knowing what lies beneath the shirt underneath.  I gently peel the jacket off his shoulders, which are broader than I had thought.  

Not as broad as mine, I reassured myself, but he helps me to pull it off.  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his chest, but I keep my eyes away from his pants.

“Do you want my shirt too?” he begins to lift the shirt, his pale skin revealing freckles down his stomach and beyond.  

Yes!  I want to be the one to warm you.  But I swallowed back my desperation, only managing to say the word, “Not unless you want to give it to me.” I wrap the jacket around my body, his soft scent lingering in the fur of the hood.  

“Kacchan.” his voice warns.

He still shakes his head?  I release a breath of frustration, but compose myself.  He wants it.  I know he wants it.  Why does he deny it?  

I can’t think about it any longer.  If he wants to take it farther, he’ll tell me.  “Okay.” I say to him, trying to keep my mind from wandering too far.  “Let’s talk about Talia.”

We do, sitting back down.  He talks of things I mostly know: that Lord Todoroki and Lord Aizawa are in command of two sectors of the main army.  There are several Lords and Ladies that are underneath of them as well, in charge of their own segments of the armies, but they always answer to Todoroki or Aizawa.  The youngest Todoroki son, the Dragon Tamer—fuck, I hate that name—answers to Aizawa, though, I find that odd.  He continues on, though and I make a note to question it later.

“If multiple people are in charge of multiple segments of the military,” he says.  “Then it becomes harder to predict their movements.” 

It’s true, though we have a bit of a different system that was set up by my mother.  At the top is the King; underneath that is the Generals, the High Lordship; and underneath them are the Commanders who are in charge of their large groups of soldiers.  Any issues within the military are brought up through the chain.  It’s efficient enough for us, but with multiple people in charge of multiple different segments at different times then things become more unpredictable for the enemy.

I was quiet for too long.  “Kacchan?” I hear him say, almost a whisper.  He shivers and I get up, handing him back his jacket.  He smiles when he puts it on.  

That fucking smile.  I can no longer stop myself.  I fucking—I can’t hold it any more—I look around the room and pound at the door.  A guard comes in.  “Bring him back to the room.” 

I don’t look at his face, but he calls to me again: “Kacchan!” 

I walk away, as fast as my feet will let me.  I don’t hear what the guards tell him, but I get myself inside an empty room, slamming the door shut.  Everything in my body feels hot.  I can’t slow down my breathing.  The warmth of my breaths puff out like fogs of smoke from a chimney.  I lean my forehead against the cold door, ripping open my shirt, hoping that the cold of winter will brush against my skin, but it only makes my chest hum violently at the sound of ripping clothes.  Sweat drips from every ounce of porous skin, saliva from my tongue onto the floor beneath me.  

I can bare it no longer.

I pull at the strings of my leather pants and squeeze my dick, only thinking of Deku’s flushed cheeks, so red it hides a few of his freckles inked on his skin.  I think of what it would feel like to thrust myself into his throat, the wet sopping noises it would make, the feel of Deku as he sucked from base to tip and back down again for more.  

“Deku…” I hear myself growl, spitting into my hand to massage myself and think of nothing but him beneath me, touching me, moaning loudly for more.  My body spins around and curve my back against the door, my head flying back.  I want him.  I want him so badly, the pain heats my entire body.  I can barely hear the hums of my chest over my own fantasies of Deku’s loud cries, his begging mixed with my own cruel, ruthless desire of dreamlike euphoria existing only in this moment.  I close my eyes, my arm moving faster, my hand squeezing harder, but harder was my want for Deku to be here with me.  “Kacchan…” he’d say.  “Please…” he’d moan.  “Fuck me…” he’d beg.  And I’d be obliged to it all.  

“I live for you and only you.” I say, unable to tell if it’s aloud or from deep within.  My knees nearly buckle when I feel the orgasm spill out of me, my legs still shaking and finally, my legs give out entirely and I sink to the floor, my breath still uneasy.  I wait for the humming in my chest to rest and when it finally does, I open my eyes and reality sets back in.  

I look at the empty room before me, the wind howling outside the shut windows.  Finally, I take a deep breath in, but I don’t move.  

For the first time in my life, I thought of something other than the war.  For those long minutes that past, I thought of Deku and only Deku.  Not as the Prince of my enemy—I hadn’t even thought of Talia at all.  No.  Only Deku. 

I don’t want to move.  Can’t move.  Not away from him.  

--- 

“Sire!” the two guards snap to attention as I stand before my door to the bedroom.  I inhale a deep breath before opening the door.  

It’s dark in the room.  The fire has fainted a little.  I scan the bed to see Deku in it, on the other side this time, where I had slept the night before.  The warmest part of the bed.  I take my shirt off—a different set of clothes than the ones I’d worn previously.  I’d asked a few of the servants to bring me a new set and throw those out, a little embarrassed.  

I move quietly over to the bed and lift the covers that he’s buried himself underneath.  But as quiet as I thought I was, I hear his small voice float over to my ears. 

“Kacchan?” 

I roll over to face him.  “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You really didn’t.  I was falling asleep, but not quite there.” he stretches before tucking himself back underneath the blankets.  

“You don’t get hot?  Underneath all of that?” 

He chuckles and shakes his head.  “No.  Though I didn’t anticipate how cold Eri would be in the winters.  It’s south of Grice, but still feels colder for some reason.” He ponders for a moment before saying, “When you aren’t here.” 

I’m quiet, but I watch his eyes slowly close.  I watch his face relax.  And just before he falls asleep, I ask, “Would you like me to hold you?”

His eyes snap open and stare into mine.  He’s quiet, too, but I let him take this moment to think.  “Kacchan.” he says, as though he’s scolding me.  

“Deku,” I want to explain to him.  I want him to know everything.  That I do want him.  Every piece of him.  “I just want you to stay warm though the night.”

Another moment of silence, but it burns.  I don’t move my face.  I don’t give him any indication I want anything else.  “Just holding?” 

“Just holding.”  I promise him.  “I hate sleeping underneath seven blankets.  I feel like I’m going to drown in my own sweat.  But you still shiver.” 

“Okay, Kacchan.” he lifts the blankets and we inch towards each other.  He pulls his arms in and I hug him to my chest, but he lifts his head. 

“What’s—what’s that?” he asks.

“What’s what?” 

“That sound?” 

It takes me a moment to realize.  “It’s a part of my gift from the Lantern King.” I tell him.  “My ability hums.  I’m surprised you haven’t heard it before.” 

He leans back against me.  “It’s beautiful.  Like a song.” 

My body sings for him and lulls him to sleep like a lullaby.

--- 

After almost a month of waiting, I receive a letter from Commander Jirou during a war meeting.  It’s marked with her seal and our code is written in the letter.  Finally!  I tear it open and I hold my breath while scan it, but I only read the first line before leaving the room: Everything the Prince told us was true.    

“Majesty?” Mina asks me, but I’m already running out of the War Meeting.  

He didn’t lie to me.  I knew he wouldn’t.  

I burst open the door to my room, the guards all gripping their weapons, but stop and bow when they immediately see me.  “Leave us!  No one is to enter this room!”  They did as they were instructed, saying, “Sire.” to me before rushing out of my chamber.  

He stands up from one of the chairs, marking his page in the book he was reading.  “Your Highness.” he bows playfully. 

“Deku.” I whisper and before I could think about it, pull him into me, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.  He gasps, but then I feel cheek resting upon my chest, his own arms wrapping tightly around my waist.  We hold each other, our breathing becoming synchronized before I finally pull away.  

“What was that for, Kacchan?” he says, smiling through watery eyes.  A tear falls from one of his eyes and I brush it away from my thumb.

“A wish that I asked for came true.” 

His face contoured in confusion.  “A wish?” 

“Yes, Deku.” my thumb is still brushing along his cold cheek.  I will warm you.  “Will you tell me again?  That you’ll stay by side until the war ends?” 

My thumb runs across his chapped lips that form a smile.  “Kacchan, I plan on staying with you long after that.” 

IZUKU

I crinkled the letter against my chest, hugging it close.  I knew the information would be accurate, but I didn’t know how much I could trust Commander Jirou.  This letter is proof that people want the war to end.  It’s proof that people, even in New Eri, want the suffering to be over.  

Tears fall from my eyes and I wipe them away.  Even before my capture, my sole mission was to speak to the Dragon King about ending the war.  But now—

I’ve completely fallen for him.  

He’s next to me.  It happens so fast, I don’t have a moment to react when he grabs my wrists and pulls me in close, wrapping my arms around his waist before he wraps his own around my neck.  He cradles me so closely I can feel his breath, so warm and smells of sweet candies. Impulsively, I lean a cheek into his chest, listening to the rhythmic sounds of his ability.  Our lips grow closer together, each second is far too long.  But when nothing happens, I feel a little annoyed, but rest my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes to enjoy this moment.

I decide to tell him.  Against my father’s wishes to not tell a soul, I decide that he has a right to know everything about Talia.  Including their Prince.  In that moment, I decide it’s the right time.  “I have another question for you to ask.” 

“Oh?” he says, his hands brushing against a few locks on my head. 

“If I wanted to leave, I could have done it long ago.” 

He pulls away and looks down at me.  “What do you mean?  Kirishima captured you.”

“He captured me, yes.  But at any given point, I could have left.  I’d like you to ask me about it.”

He sits down in one of the chairs.  “Is it your gift from the Lantern King?  Shinsou told me he can’t use his against you, but Kirishima thought it was more strength than anything else.”

I tell him outright.  “I think it’s time you learned about One-for-All.” 

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