Chapter Text
Toshinori had been thinking a lot lately. Honestly, he had been thinking since his fight with All For One. To say he had gotten lucky would be an understatement. The great evil had been confirmed dead while he himself had been fighting for his life. Had it not been for an excellent team of surgeons, Shuzenji herself, and an honorable dying man, he might not be here.
Kowase Aiko had been fatally injured in the panic that had been a result of the battle. With his dying breath, he begged the doctors to not let his death be in vain. In addition to his left lung and stomach going to the hero, the rest of his internal organs had saved over a dozen other people.
He was a true hero, but tragically, he had no family and had been alone in this world. Because of this, his resting place was a less than well maintained cemetery run by the local government for those who were poor or who had no family. So, Toshinori took it upon himself to visit him once a month on a Sunday to clean his grave, light an incense and leave flowers. He had also posted anonymously about his selfless actions.
So even if it was by strangers, Aiko was loved and wouldn't be forgotten any time soon.
This day though, was different. As he was going through the usual routine he noticed a rough looking child at a grave in the far corner. (He vaguely recalled the grave always being clean with freshly picked flowers.) When he looked closer as he got up to leave, he noticed exactly how bad of shape the child was in.
Firstly, he was very, /very/ small and appeared rather malnourished. His dark hair looked very unkempt with little curls here and there. The cloths he was wearing, a school uniform from the looks, were oversized with several patches and burn marks. His arms, neck and face bore lacerations, bruises and burns as well. The poor child was pale, shivering, and drenched.
Toshinori was no fool. He recognized fairly quickly that the child must have been an orphan and was in a very difficult situation. He decided to move closer to the boy, but before he could make himself known, he noticed he was talking and crying. He felt bad for eavesdropping, but part of a hero's job was to stick your nose in business that wasn't yours.
Every word he heard was breaking his heart.
“I'm sorry Mama, I'm so sorry. I've tried… you're all I had left… dad left us, everyone punished you, they hate me… I wish… I'd never been born… maybe you'd be alive and happy. You would've had money for doctor's. “
The boy gasped out another sob. “ It's been 7 years Mama. I miss you so much… you're the only one who ever loved me… I'm sorry I never told you. I didn't want you to be sad that Kacchan had changed after… that day…the day they diagnosed me. He didn't want me as a friend. He… he said /no one/ could ever be a hero without a quirk… that I'm a stupid, worthless /null/… that a quirkless freak needs to know his place.”
He continued to sob, and the hero could feel his heart breaking more for this child. “I'm … I'm sorry… I gave up on my dream. I don't want to be a hero anymore… I don't know how I /can/. Kacchan… I told him I didn't want to be a hero anymore… that I'd just get into the support course or gen ed… but he said… he said I should just do everyone a favor and to… to take a swan dive off the roof and pray for a quirk in my next life.”
Toshinori's body jerked back as if he'd been hit, his watery eyes widened in shock. The story had been horrifying already. An orphaned child who was bullied relentlessly for something just so stupid. A boy who's obviously had quirks just used on him and he's also being suicide baited? By a supposed friend no less?
“I… I can't do it anymore Mama… orphanages won't take me, no one will foster me, and the social worker that pays for my apartment stopped bringing food… I've only been able to eat at school… and that's only if no one ruins it or it's stolen. I'm so hungry… everything hurts so bad Mama… I… I think… Kacchan was right…”
The tears finally flowed and he had to resist just running and scooping the small child up. “Dear boy, please, don't give up.”
The child spun around to face him, green emeralds meeting piercing blue. The boy's eyes widened in recognition before they were covered by his hair as he bowed low. “All might, sir! I am so sorry to be a burden. I didn't mean to bother you. Forgive me please… I”
“You're not a burden, nor are you bothering me. I apologize for listening, but everything you've been told or believe about yourself is so, so wrong. All life is precious and deserves to be celebrated and cherished. It hurts me badly to hear what you have suffered.”
The boy stood there in shock, still shivering from being drenched and cold. It was nearing fall now, and he began to worry in earnest that the child on top of everything could become severely ill. “Please, let me help you. Let me prove to you that you can have a good life. My partner and I are both heroes, and we'd gladly take you in.” He sent a mental apology to Shouta for not talking with him first, but he knew he would agree. For such a stern man, he could be a big softie.
Still not looking up, he timidly spoke. “Do… do you really mean that? I… I'm quirkless…”
Toshinori spoke without hesitation. “Yes. My partner is an underground hero who works with quirkless heros and analysts. He and I care nothing about something so trivial. I know you might not believe me, but I ask that you give us a chance. Please, allow us to give you the life and love you deserve.”
The boy broke down into sobs again, his head nodding in affirmation and soft words of pleas for help. When strong arms wrapped around him, he collapsed into the hero's hold. “Please… I… I'm scared… everything hurts so much … I'm so… so tired …”
"There, there my boy. Everything will be alright now. Why? Because I am here."