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Izuku sinks into the velvety, plush cushion with an ease that’s only come after weeks and weeks of meeting with Yagi-san here. It’s his very own private office, although Yagi-san has made it very clear that Nedzu-san is listening in at all times.
Yagi-san had invited Izuku back once, the week before the Sports Festival, and then again the week afterwards to discuss it. They never really said anything, but it became their unspoken tradition all the same. And every time Izuku sees the familiar chairs and hears the soft slam of Yagi-san closing the door behind him just slightly too hard, he feels like he’s home.
Yagi-san turns to the small fridge in the back corner- which isn’t too far in an office this small- and pulls out a pair of bentos, just as always. Izuku’s has lots of meats and proteins, while Yagi-san’s is lighter to accommodate for his injury.
It’s delicious and nutritious for them both! And to think that Yagi-san does all this without Izuku’s asking so.
Everyday, Izuku feels so blessed to have someone like him in his life.
These meetings are especially nice because although they train together often, they don’t really talk.
Yagi-san starts the conversation off with a simple, “So, my boy, how’s your week been so far?”
Izuku doesn’t even have to think to answer. “It’s been great!” he exclaims. “Tenya-kun and I got together over the weekend to work on our kicking techniques, and I think it’s really helped!”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Yagi-san nods, chopsticks swaying with the motion. “Your legwork did seem more, how to put it… refined? Refined, today,” he smiles. “Good work.”
Izuku beams and takes another bite of Katsudon. His mentor smiles fondly, then pauses.
“Izuku, my boy, I’ve been wondering…”
“Yes?” Izuku blinks curiously.
“Does using One for All feel any different these days?” Yagi-san asks quietly.
Izuku bites his lip and thinks. “I don’t know. Kind of? Its like I- I don’t- It depends on how I’m using it,” he settles on. “If I’m just trying to punch someone, then it feels… mostly like it always has, but when I use one of the other quirks…” Izuku trails off, lost in thought.
Yagi-san brings him back to reality with a gentle prod. “Izuku?”
Izuku jolts back into the present and flushes. “Sorry, it’s just… I don’t know how to explain it.”
Yagi-san nods encouragingly. “That’s perfectly fine, my boy, but can you try? I want to be able to help you!”
“Yeah, I- I know,” Izuku agrees quietly. He frowns in concentration. “It’s just… think of a microwave. I’ve been cooking everything on the popcorn setting this whole time, but now there are so many other buttons! It’s hard to know which ones to use; it’s hard to know what they do.”
“That’s certainly a vivid metaphor,” Yagi-san chuckles, then gets serious. “But yes, I can certainly see how that’s getting hard to deal with.”
Izuku nods slowly, then abruptly looks up at Yagi-san, unable to push down the sudden wave of anxiety that always comes with admitting his shortcomings.
“I can handle it, though! I can deal with it!”
Yagi-san tilts his head and says kindly, “I know, my boy. But you shouldn’t have to.”
“Shouldn’t I?” Izuku’s retorts. “Ever since I received One for All, my life’s felt like a legend meant for someone else. Am I really worthy? And besides, aren't heroes supposed to face hardships?”
“Of course you’re worthy,” Yagi-san refutes immediately. “And not at such a young age, they aren’t,” he shakes his head. “You’re just a kid; you’re supposed to rest. Hardships will come later. One for All will still be there for you when you’re stronger, my boy.”
“But what if I never am?” Izuku’s whispers.
Yagi-san shakes his head. “You already are, Izuku. You just need to believe in yourself. To return to your earlier metaphor, what if you taped off those extra buttons, so to say?”
Izuku opens his mouth to protest; Yagi-san raises a palm and he pauses. “Not forever, of course! But would it be easier to adjust to those buttons one-by-one, like you did with the strength aspect of One for All, rather than dealing with six new quirks at once?” Yagi-san self-consciously twists a lock of golden-blond around his finger. “If that makes sense? I know I’ve had time to get used to it, but I’m still not the best at this whole teaching gig, and-“
“No, it isn’t you!” Izuku interrupts. “That does make sense, a lot of it, but… it feels like I’m traveling backwards. Just when I get the hang of One for All, just when I started to fit in ,” his voice cracks, and he takes a few breaths. “Everything was going right for once, and then this happened, and I-“
“Oh, my boy,” Yagi-san murmurs sympathetically. He hops over the table and crashes onto the couch to pull Izuku close in one fluid motion. “I get what you’re saying, I really do, but I can promise that you’re doing amazing.”
Really? Izuku wants to ask, but he knows Yagi-san like he knows the back of his hand. Even when Izuku has his doubts about something he says, he knows that Yagi-san doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean.
“You know,” Yagi-san continues lightly, “you’re handling this better than I would have.”
Izuku can’t hold back his surprised exclamation at this. Him, better than Yagi-san? No.
Yagi-san hears him and pulls back to meet his gaze. “No, really!” he insists. “I would’ve gone ballistic!”
“I did go ballistic!” Izuku exclaims.
Yagi-san shakes his head. “No, my boy. You were able to pull back long enough to avoid any injuries- to yourself and others- until Shinsou-kun took command. That takes more persistence than younger me would have managed to cough up. Even now,” he starts, pensive, “I don’t think I’d be able to keep myself quite so contained.”
“But- but you’re All Might!” Izuku exclaims.
Yagi-san chuckles. “I am, yes, but All Might isn’t infallible.” With a wince, he adds, “Take what happened at the USJ, for instance. All Might wasn’t there. I wasn’t there.”
Izuku shakes his head vehemently. “Because you were busy that morning! You were just trying to-“
“Trying doesn’t always cut it, my boy,” Yagi-san interrupts gently. He squeezes Izuku’s shoulder. “Besides, your skill is a good thing- a great thing, even! A student surpassing his sensei,” Yagi-san murmurs. “Isn’t that the goal?”
Izuku frowns in thought. “I guess, but-“
“Then it’s good!” Yagi-san exclaims. “Besides, seeing you work so hard to master One for All inspires me!”
Yagi-san swells into All Might, and for one glorious moment he holds his signature pose.
Then he disappears in a cloud of smoke, and Yagi-san is left standing. He’s still grinning though.
“I may not be All Might anymore, but I’ve still got my moxie!”
Izuku’s mouth hitches up in a smile. “It really is like a legend,” he murmurs wonderingly. “A student and his teacher, striving for greatness together.”
Yagi-san catches his eye, and his grin widens. “Exactly, my boy! Now, say it with me!”
“Plus ultra!” They cry in unison, hands outstretched towards the future.