Chapter Text
It’d been two weeks since the flat incident, and Midoriya bored. He went to work, and classes, but he hadn’t seen Tokoyami in a while and was starting to worry. He reasoned that their schedules clashed and that was it, but still, he felt out of the loop. Not to mention that only last week Stain (The nickname the police had given the serial killer, for he only left behind a stain to prove he’d been there) had almost been caught but just got away after injuring an officer on duty. It was a mess, the officer had been patrolling with his partner who just so happened to be his younger brother, and Stain had tried to get behind him after distracting the latter. Officer Iida Tensei had spotted a shadow and thought it was his brother until Tenya had called out from further on, alerting Tensei to what was going on. In trying to defend himself, he was stabbed in the lower back, crippling his legs. Now Tenya was out for blood, going to the Chief of police to demand a mansearch. The rumor that Tenya was thinking of going rogue was spreading like wildfire and Midoriya had had enough of in-office drama.
On the other side of his life, he explained why he was currently unable to do his assignment to Aizawa-sensei, who only sighed and told him to move along. His other teachers were also understanding, so he asked both the university and his office for a three-day vacation. After he received the confirmation, he packed a small bag with his essentials and got on the first train to Musutafu.
Once he arrived, he made his way to his mom’s house. Okay, his mom and step-dad’s house. He still felt weird calling Yagi-san that, but it was growing on him. Ever since his biological dad decided to scarper, Yagi-san had been there to pick up the pieces. Midoriya was eternally grateful that he managed to pull Inko out of the slump she’d fallen into after the divorce, and only three years later, they got married. A very hurried affair with few guests. (Midoriya, of course, Mina, Bakugo and his family, and a few of Yagi-san’s coworkers.) Nearly a year later and they finally decided to move in together. Midoriya was already going to Uni during this time, so he helped where he could. They’d only just moved in and wanted him to see them in their new home.
He approached the house, pausing just before knocking. He heard frantic footsteps on the other side of the door and stood back when the door burst open and a mound of fur pounced on him, knocking him over.
“Nana! Get down, girl!” Nana ignored Inko’s cry, spurred on by Midoriya’s laughter and licked his face much to his mother’s dismay. “No! Come here or no treats after dinner!”
That got the dog’s attention. Nana immediately got down from Midoriya and walked over to Inko’s side, looking up at her and panting slightly. Inko rolled her eyes and pet the dog absentmindedly as she looked back at her son who was still sprawled on the floor, smiling up at her.
“Hi mom, I see things are going well?”
“They sure are! Toshi is in the middle of cooking! Come on in!”
Midoriya picked himself off the floor and brushed himself off before grabbing his bag and walking inside. He’s glad that he followed up on the offer for this place, it really was perfect for his parents (Again, weird thought still). It was small enough that the two of them could easily make the place feel lived-in, but large enough that they could have guests over (Like Midoriya) anytime they wanted.
“What’s he making?” he asked as he set his stuff by the couch.
“Your favourite, dear! Some lovely katsudon!”
Midoriya smiled. “Sweet,” he replied.
After dinner, he sat down in the living room with Yagi-san to read while the fireplace burned away. Nana was sitting on his feet, and Inko was clearing up the kitchen. Yagi-san was working on something on his laptop while Midoriya was reading the latest instalment of the All Might Detective series. He was finding it more and more ridiculous how often the All for One antagonist was being used, but it did make sense in a way. He was the only one who so far could match All Might’s quick wits and even quicker brawn, but at the same time every time he seemed to be defeated, he just popped up a couple of books later. The writer hadn’t even addressed the fact, still claiming that all these events were based on true stories.
“Honestly,” Midoriya muttered to himself, catching the attention of Yagi-san.
“What seems to be the matter, my boy?” The old man asked, his work, for now, forgotten. Midoriya looked up when he realised that he had spoken aloud and ducked his head sheepishly.
“Oh, nothing, Yagi, I was just thinking about this book.”
“The All Might book?”
“Yeah, lately the entire series has been becoming less and less believable, though the writer keeps insisting that these events happened. It’s a wonder no one has tracked down the guy already.”
“Now now,” Yagi-san said, lifting a finger to wag at his step-son, “Whose to say that the writer is male? Or even identifies as male? If I recall you’ve told me that those books are all written in the third person except for the introduction or epilogue.”
“True,” Midoriya pondered, “But the writing style has been analysed by many different experts, and it seems consistent with that of previous male authors. That’s not to say that it could’ve been faked, but it seems unlikely. At least, to me.”
“Really?” Yagi-san looked taken aback. “I didn’t know there were so many people invested in finding out the author.”
“Well, he decided to remain elusive, and that adds to the drama because it’s basically a challenge to all the fans to find out about him. Well, it seems that way, but personally, I think he just wants some privacy.”
The old man nodded contemplatively. “That’s very wise of you. Have any of these ‘hunters’, if you will, tried to get to the writer through the publisher?”
“Various people have tried, and all have failed. I read that one even attempted to kidnap the poor guy, but was stopped before they could. He’s as tight-lipped as they come, and really loyal to his friends apparently.”
“Yes, he is, isn’t he?”
Midoriya froze and slowly turned his head to Yagi-san, who had gone back to work. His brain worked overtime, and different thoughts were connecting so fast that is was hard to keep up.
“He ‘is’?”
Yagi-san stopped typing.
“Yagi, do you know the publisher?”
“Uh,” Yagi-san said, realising his slip up.
“How on earth do you-,” Midoriya started before his phone started ringing. He looked at it for a second before glancing back at Yagi-san, who in the meantime had tried (and failed) to subtly go back to work. Midoriya narrowed his eyes before looking at the caller ID. It was Mina’s number, so he picked up.
“Hi Mina, you’ll never guess what-,”
“Is this Midoriya Izuku?”
Midoriya froze.
“Who is this?”
“This is Kayama Nemuri, most recognized with the alias ‘Midnight’. I’m currently in the hospital where Ashido-chan’s being kept at while she recovers. She was attacked outside my studio by an unknown assailant, but she will pull through. She keeps asking after you-,”
“Which hospital?” Midoriya asked calmly, causing Yagi-san to look up in worry.
“Tokyo Central, but you needn't-,”
“I’ll be there in 20 minutes, meet me out front to take me up to her room.” He hung up and started making his way to the front door, grabbing his jacket along the way.
“Izuku, honey, where are you going?” called Inko form the kitchen.
“Someone attacked Mina,” he answered coldly, “And I going over to find out as much as possible about the incident, then I’m going to make sure whoever did it will regret it for the rest of their lives.”
Inko popped her head out, frowning.
“Take my keys, and make sure to drive safely.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he smiled shortly, quickly grabbing the keys and shutting the door behind him.
Bakugo suddenly stopped mopping the floor and looked out the window of the café. Tokoyami took pause to look at him.
“Is something the matter, Bakugo?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “Something has pissed off the wrong person, and for once, it isn’t me.”