Chapter Text
“As an officer of the law… I know I shouldn’t be asking this… But just this once! Please, All Might! Save my sister!!”
“You got it.”
It was a simple exchange in the heat of the moment, but that, for Yagi, changed so much. It made him realise things. Things like, people had their own little lives he didn’t know about. Things like, keeping the peace meant more than just fighting villains. It meant keeping others alive.
And most importantly, things like the fact that he had a best friend now.
Yagi had always been amiable, friendly, and extended a hand to others. But he was also guarded, secretive, and always questioned who he was really talking to. Connections to All For One could be anywhere, after all.
But in the moment of action, he had felt none of that. Tsukauchi’s tearful request, shouted over the blades of the helicopter and screaming in the distance, had struck a chord within All Might. It became personal.
It meant he was attached.
He had his first real friend.
Years had passed from then. All Might was no longer at the peak of his career, he was no longer the number one hero, and he no longer had his secret. But that also meant he was no longer alone. He was a teacher at the school that nurtured him back in the day, and he had colleagues.
Friends. Evidently, that meant he had a best friend. None other than his first friend.
“I’m not quite sure I follow this plotline, old friend.” Yagi didn’t spend his days off relaxing much, and the same went for Tsukauchi, who was a serial over-worker. His sister - the very one Yagi had saved years ago - had physically dragged the man out of his office on his day off, and forced him to ‘relax’.
Apparently that meant shoving him round to Yagi’s place with a pre-prepared bag of ‘relaxation time’. Whatever that meant. Yagi had been cleaning his already sparkling clean house to keep himself busy with his unoccupied time, but now…
Now he was sat on the edge of his sofa, cushions around him and eyes fixed on a movie that didn’t make much sense to him at all. Tsukauchi was on the other end of the sofa.
“Mhm.” The distracted hum makes Yagi think Tsukauchi isn’t following the plotline either, so he glances over to see just how confused Tsukauchi is. He double takes. Because Tsukauchi is very distracted. Not by the rubbish movie plotline, but by paperwork.
“Na- Naomasa! Where did you get that?!”
“Briefcase.” He gestures vaguely in the direction of where his briefcase is dumped in the hallway.
“Weren’t you supposed to have a day off? I believe that’s the whole reason Makoto-chan dragged you over here.” The corners of Tsukauchi’s lips lift up very slightly. He’s cheeky, Yagi realised within weeks of becoming friends. He just never showed it much because his job required him to be level-headed. And he was always working.
“Yes, indeed, and she will absolutely kill me if she found out.” Yagi goes to reprimand his friend, only to find a pen pointing towards him before he can even get the first syllable out, brinkles at the edge of Tsukauchi’s eyes, which have a soft spark of laughter within.
“Which, and I know what you’re going to ask next, is why she won’t be finding out.”
“She can read minds.” The pen returns to paper, and Yagi doesn’t think he’s imagining that spark in Tsukauchi’s eyes dulling, his expression becoming tense and serious.
“Only if she asks the right question and gets a direct answer. I can get around it by deflecting the question, or asking one of my own.”
“Yes, I’ve… Heard you arguing before.” A sibling who could read minds when her questions were answered and a sibling that could tell when someone was lying to him made for… Interesting arguments. Yagi had the misfortune of witnessing it one day, but what had been awkward and somewhat unsettling at the time was amusing to him now. So many questions back and forth had been baffling, until Tsukauchi had slipped up.
Makoto always won their arguments. Yagi doesn’t know why his friend tries to resist anymore.
“She’ll find out anyways.”
“She will not.”
“She will. Makoto-chan always get her way and leaves you pouting in defeat~.” The gentle tease prompts the exact reaction Yagi had been looking for. Tsukauchi looks up at him with mouth open, eyebrows drawn together, and his hands lose tension. He looks absolutely betrayed, in a comical way of course.
“That is-! That’s not-! I do not pout!” The loud laughter that echoes All Might’s signature laugh booms around the living room, genuine and warm.
“You do not even deny that Makoto will win!” Flustered, Tsukauchi looks away and finally, finally places the pen down, moving the stack of paperwork back into the manilla folder it came in. Yagi finds it very hard not to laugh at the fact he’s pouting.
“Fine then. If I’m not allowed to work, what can I do?” Eyes squinted with happy creases at the corner, grin sparkling, Yagi holds a palm out towards the TV.
“You can try to help me decipher the plotline of this… Movie.”
“One of Makoto’s low-budget, not-even-advertised sci-fi’s, I presume. One that goes straight to DVD in a multipack and sells for £3 in the bargain bucket at a cheap store.”
“Let me check…” Yagi rummages in the ‘relaxation’ bag, pulling out a box-set of tacky natural disaster movies, absolutely the lowest of low budget, complete with terrible special effects, and a £3 sticker on the front.
“That… Was a remarkably accurate guess.”
“You forget that I live with her. I know what kind of movies she watches.” There’s a beat where neither of them say or do anything, but then they glance towards each other at the same time, catch each other’s gaze, and without reason - burst out into laughter. The kind that only comes with years of friendship.
The merriment just spurs them on, and each time one of them calms down, a snort or a cackle sets them off again. It takes a while for them both to stop, Yagi coughing into his elbow and Tsukauchi trying to hide his wheeze as a sigh.
“Should we put on one of your movies instead? Makoto probably packed only this genre.”
“After looking in the bag, I’m certain these are all identical to each other with different front covers.”
“I’ll have to tell her that later.”
“No, please don’t. Makoto-chan scares me sometimes.” With a warm chuckle, Tsukauchi leans forwards and takes the glass of water Yagi had placed down for him ages ago. The ice inside has all melted, and it’s lukewarm to hold, but it’s water all the same.
“I’ll admit she’s rather… Forward. Extroverted, unstoppable, and… Unaware of limitations, I would say. Her flaws are helpful when she’s planning something big - like those performances she does with the local drama group - but sometimes she’s… Hmm, I’m not sure how to put this nicely… Unhinged.” Yagi’s mind instantly flicks to young Hatsume, who radiates the same energy as Tsukauchi’s younger sister.
“Yes, I have a student like that. Thankfully, she has a grand mentor with exceptional patience. I’m… Not sure I could nurture her growth.”
“You could. You’re a great teacher.” The sincerity stuns Yagi into silence for a heartbeat. He feels his chest swell with warmth and gratitude, and he takes a long inhale to stop himself from debating it. He’s been trying to get better at accepting compliments, especially in this form.
Leaning over, he squeezes Tsukauchi’s shoulder in a silent gesture of thanks, before returning to his place amongst the cushions. Having nothing to keep himself busy with usually feels awkward, but… Having a friend around eases his nervous energy just a little bit.
He’d still rather be busying about.
“I have an idea.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it?”
“Your sister wants us to relax, but neither of us are the type to sit around doing nothing.”
“I’ll say. I’m itching to get back to my office. Not that I dislike your company! Quite the opposite, I very much enjoy it, but there’s so many cases I’m working on and three of them are particularly high profile and a fourth is like a damn puzzle and-!”
“Naomasa!” His rambling shuts off and he buries his head in his hands with a groan.
“Sorry, Toshinori. Work is just…”
“Stressing you out. Immensely. I can see why Makoto-chan intervened.”
“It needs to get done. I don’t have time for days off, or breaks, or sleep, or relaxation-”
“Say that again.” The interruption catches Tsukauchi off guard, as well as the serious expression Yagi suddenly wears, staring directly at him.
“... I don’t have time for relaxation?”
“Before that.”
“I don’t have time for…” He trails off, jaw tensing, realising exactly what he’s said. Guiltily, he averts his gaze. It’s amazing that he can tell if anyone is lying, but is absolutely incapable of lying himself.
“I don’t have time for breaks.”
“Naomasa.” The stern bark of his name reminds him just how good of a teacher Yagi really is, because he feels just like a naughty student being reprimanded. A little ashamed of himself, he rubs at the back of his neck and pointedly looks at a bookcase in the opposite direction to Yagi.
“I’ve been doing plenty fine on coffee… And power naps that are generally just staring at the ceiling…”
“Naomasa…” Yagi’s voice is a mixture of pitiful, disappointed, and angry. The last time Tsukauchi was on the receiving end of that tone was when he got shot in the arm multiple times. It meant he had seriously fucked up.
“Sorry…?” Yagi folds his arms. Tsukauchi can feel the disappointment increase. He has to bite the inside of his lip to stop himself smirking at how much of a teacher Yagi is being right now. He’s not that much younger! Yagi sighs.
“I have a spare futon in the wardrobe upstairs-”
“I’m not here to sleep. Besides, coffee.” He picks up a flask from next to the sofa that he’s been neglecting in favour of water. He shakes the flask a little to show there’s plenty left, and in that instance, expression not changing an inch, Yagi swipes it out of his grasps and holds it out of reach.
“Hey!”
“No more unhealthy caffeine habits!”
“Toshinori!”
“Nope! I’m confiscating this until you’ve rested!” Tsukauchi narrows his eyes. Pouts. Yagi grins, stretching his arm a little further to put it even further out of reach. Sometimes, he’s grateful for his height.
“I’ll go set up the futon~.”
“That’s not necessary. I have a bed at home and-”
“And if I let you leave, you’ll just go back to work.” The twitch of Tsukauchi’s eyebrow lets on that he’s been sussed. Yagi knows his friend - his best friend - far too well for the detective to get away with anything. Sighing, Tsukauchi resigns himself to his fate.
“Half an hour. I wouldn’t want to waste your time.” As Yagi heaves his weary, old body from the sofa, he takes the coffee with him in one hand, and uses the other to playfully ruffle Tsukauchi’s hair.
“Never a waste if I’m helping somebody.” He doesn’t stay long enough to hear Tsukauchi’s response, only knows that he has to set up the futon quick, before Tsukauchi changes his mind or picks his briefcase back up. If he starts working again, it’ll take an argument to make him stop.
Sometimes, Yagi wishes his friends took better care of themselves.
Aizawa and Tsukauchi are terrible with getting the proper amount of rest and unnecessarily stressing themselves out, Hizashi is another workaholic who does three jobs, and Nemuri frequently drinks until she passes out after a hard shift.
All of them have scars, physical and psychological. All of them have seen death up close, have had lives flicker out in their arms. All of them blame themselves for something, no matter how out of control the circumstances seemed.
But Yagi really wished they all took better care of themselves.
The futon material is soft beneath his hands as he sets it out, the faint smell of citrus from when he washed it with some gifted laundry detergent. It’s barely used, maybe once or twice in the years since he brought it, and only Tsukauchi has ever used it.
There was that time Yagi had aggravated his injury, so Tsukauchi had stayed to look after him. There was that time there were both being hunted for their heads, a particularly stealthy villain determined on revenge for a jailed brother. There was the time, the most recent, where Tsukauchi had been gravely wounded on the job and Makoto had been out of the country.
It’s wonderful, Yagi thinks, that the futon will finally be used for rest in a moment of peace, rather than a medical emergency.
“Naomasa! It’s done!” He goes silent, patiently waiting to hear some movement from downstairs. He hears shuffling, grumbling, and then a weary sigh as Tsukauchi appears at the top of the stairway.
“You don’t have to sound so proud of yourself.” A beat of stillness. Tsukauchi’s eyes flicker to his coffee thermos. Yagi holds it out of reach, as high as he can. As Tsukauchi reaches for it, going up on tiptoes, Yagi laughs and gently pushes him away.
“Oh, dear friend, but I am very proud of myself~. And you-” He pokes at Tsukauchi’s chest.
“- are borderline passing out. Get some sleep.” Tsukauchi wilts under his gaze, knowing Yagi is only looking out for him, and somewhat ashamed that he let himself get this bad.
Makoto wouldn’t have intervened if it wasn’t terrible.
The whole situation is made somewhat less embarrassing by Yagi moving over to his own western style bed, plumping out the pillows and rolling back the duvet.
“What happened to you waking me up in 30 minutes~?”
“I’ll set an alarm, don’t worry, Naomasa.” Yagi picks up the alarm next to his bed, fiddling with it for a moment. As Tsukauchi gets into the futon to rest, Yagi sneaks a glance over, trying to hide his little smirk.
Because the alarm isn’t set for half an hour. It’s set for 6 in the morning. But it’s set, and Yagi hasn’t lied, so there’s no way his friend will be able to tell. Changing into a yellow and white stripe pyjama set - because he’s uncomfortable with his scar being on show even under the covers - Yagi settles in his own bed.
Before he can fall asleep though, and hearing Tsukauchi tapping away on his phone, no doubt bantering with his sister, Yagi speaks.
“Naomasa… I was wonder if…” He trails off. Tsukauchi places his phone to the side, looking over inquisitively and giving Yagi his full intention.
“Yes, Toshinori? You can ask me anything, you should know that by now.” His voice is warm, solid and truthful, but also lilted with amusement. Yagi exhales humorously in response. True, they’ve been friends for many, many years now. So long, that he can’t remember everything that’s happened, just that he trust Tsukauchi without hesitation, and it goes both ways.
“Tomorrow after school, Young Midoriya and his class have arranged to celebrate my birthday. I would… I would be honoured, if you could attend with me. I know today is technically your day off, but-”
“Of course.”
“If you could somehow take a break tomorrow too-... Pardon?”
“I said; Of course~.”
“... I thought you would take a little more convincing than that.” Tsukauchi muffles a snort of amusement into the futon, lying on his stomach and folding his arms beneath his chin.
“On any other day, sure. But I’m not going to miss your birthday. … Old man~.” A pillow promptly smacks him in the face and he bursts into rapturous laughter before calming down. In good moods and good company, the two drift to a comforting sleep.
The pillow is returned full force the next morning, both Tsukauchi and the alarm clock screeching at 6 in the morning, Yagi trying not to choke on blood as he laughs unstoppably, unable to control his guffawing as Tsukauchi trips over his own trousers, half on one leg, and accidentally puts his shirt on backwards, all the time lecturing Yagi for his ’dirty, filthy lies about setting the alarm, you traitor-’
“I never lied~! I simply said I set the alarm, not the time it was set for!”
“God damn it, Toshinori!!! I’ve never felt so rested and I hate that you’ve proved Makoto’s point!” Stretching out leisurely, Yagi finally sits up as Tsukauchi finishes securing his tie in the mirror, and takes a couple of pills from his bedside table.
“Have a good day at work~.” Tsukauchi glares at him, light and playful.
“Don’t you be saying nice things when you tricked me so cruelly.”
“Just looking out for you, friend.” Although he rolls his eyes and shakes his head softly, Tsukauchi still smiles. It’s incredibly comforting and warming to know that someone so amazing has his back and truly cares for him.
“So, I’ll meet you outside U.A shortly after 5?”
“I may be unavailable since the children are… Very enthusiastic, but someone shall definitely be there to let you in.”
“Fair enough. Oh, and Toshinori?” Yagi perches on the edge of his bed, looking over at Tsukauchi with a curious tilt of his head. Tsukauchi’s lips tug up cheekily, and he waves a hand over his shoulder.
“Happy birthday, old geezer~.” The pillow impacts the back of his head as he leaves the scene chuckling, retrieving his briefcase and flicking on the kettle for Yagi before leaving for work. By the time Yagi manages to get himself up, quickly showered, dressed, and downstairs, the kettle has finished and kept the water pleasantly warm.
He prefers his drinks lukewarm, rather than hot. A protein + nutrient shake makes for his breakfast, providing the vital minerals and energy he needs to stay alive without aggravating his stomach. Breakfast done, he boils up some eggs for lunch. 6 eggs and a little bit of rice might not be enough for most people, but he only has half a stomach to fill, and he’s sure the children have baked a cake.
He could feel how excited they were yesterday, little giggles whenever they were around him in groups and hushed whispering between each other as if he couldn’t hear. Technically, it was supposed to be a surprise party, but Aizawa had interrogated it out of them right in front of him.
A loud honk from outside disturbs his thoughts. Ah, that’ll be his ride.
He shoves his lunchbox into a bag with his teaching stuff, slinging it over his shoulder and jogging out the house to Present Mic’s car - easily identifiable by the radio station logo and number all over it.
“Good morning, Hizashi.”
“Mornin’, Yagi! Hey, happy birthday!”
“Thank you very much, I’m looking forwards to it~. Though I am a little overwhelmed at how many people are going to be saying it to me.” Hizashi laughs, taking his eyes off the road for a second to nudge at Yagi’s elbow.
“At least I got in first, right~?! Your kids are gonna be soooo jealous!” Yagi has to bite his tongue to muffle a laugh, making sure they’re stopped at some red lights before he corrects Hizashi;
“The second.”
“Huh?”
“I’m afraid you’re a little late~. Someone else beat you to the birthday wishes.”
“... AWWW MAAAAAN!!!!”