Chapter Text
He was tired.
So, so tired.
Toshinori had gone on and fought for so long, his exhaustion has almost brought him to his breaking point. So many years of fighting, heartache, victory, defeat, joy, sorrow, pain, life...it was hard to go on sometimes.
There have been moments like these where he reflects on how he got here, how he became who he is. The struggles he faced to get here. The pain, incredible pain that he fought and smiled through for years. He saved people first. He smiled first. Only when his work was done did he finally let his guard down and cry, alone. Sobbing, screaming, shaking at the horrors he had seen that day and before. Murderous villains who killed without remorse, robbers who cared not who they stole from or hurt, arsonists who only cared for destruction and other such evils. These were the nightmares that kept Toshinori Yagi awake at night. Every hero sees them. Every hero lives through these terrors and manages to wake up the next morning and get right back to work. All Might is no different. Except now the hero All Might is retired, hero cape hung and head still held high despite his struggles. A hero's job well done in defeating the worst evil of his time as his last act of service. One could say it is a true happily ever after for him, but it is quite the opposite. It is his face that haunts Toshinori's nightmares, his face that tells horror stories far more terrifying than anyone could imagine. No one has seen what All Might has seen, and Toshinori Yagi has seen far worse.
As he walks through the school grounds on a moonlit night, Toshinori shivers at the thought of his old enemy returning. What if he came for him again? What if he somehow broke out of Tartarus and hunted for him like he did long ago? Toshinori froze in his tracks.
What if he came after Izuku? He would hurt his successor, his boy, the very boy who had faith in him until the very end. He had given Toshinori a purpose, a reason to keep living. A child who he could even call his son. If All For One came after him, All Might wouldn't be able to save him. He would only be able to watch as his nemesis tore his student limb from limb, the screams, the tears....
He shook himself. No, that would not happen. No villain has ever broken out of Tartarus, but All For One was different. If anyone could pull it off, he could... but he wouldn't let it happen, not if he had any say in it.
He wandered down the halls of UA, head fuzzy and light. Everything was blurry. His strength ebbed and flowed like tidal waves, lapping against his fingertips and hardly able to keep him upright. He felt like he was underwater. He couldn't see, he couldn't hear, all he knew was the inky blackness of the depths.
His breath hitched as images of his predecessor flashed through his mind. Nana Shimura had been like a mother to Toshi, in fact, she was the first to use that name for him. The first to truly care for him. The moments he had spent with his master had been the best of his life, but it had all been taken away when All For One had killed her in front of him. He would never be able to forget her screams as Gran Torino pulled him away to escape. He would never be able to forget her last smile, her smile for him. Toshinori sobbed, knowing he would never be able to get that smile back, never see her beautiful face or hear her laugh again. Darkness lapped at the corners of his mind threatening to pull him into the abyss. He wanted to sink deeper, and deeper. Maybe then no one would worry about him, he could smile without care like she had. He would be left alone to drown in his sorrow alone, and at peace. He wanted to sleep...
A field of flowers suddenly appeared before him, trees and shrubs dotting the mass of colors. Sky as blue as the sea stretched for miles with fluffy white clouds floating high. The sun felt warm on his face and a cool breeze blew through his golden hair. He was tired, so tired. So, he decided to sit on the classroom floor grass and lean against a tree, in the cool shade. He sat with a thump, a root arched higher than the rest touching his left side.
Toshinori coughed up blood and clutched his side as a wave of pain shot through him. Blood dripped down his chin as he clenched his jaw in agony. Breathing heavily, he pressed his back against the tree in an attempt to distract himself from the mind-numbing pain. Stars danced before his eyes as he breathed deeply to calm himself. The counting of numbers entered his head, lulling him into a state of peace. When he opened his eyes he found a figure with long black hair standing over him.
"N-nana....?" he whispered quietly. The figure leaned closer and smiled.
"Yes Toshi, of course its me." Nana Shimura said. She looked him up and down and chuckled sadly. "You look terrible. Did you get hit by a train or something?"
Toshinori laughed a little and coughed up more blood. "No, but I sure feel like it." His eyes absorbed the sight of his master, taking every last bit in to burn in his memory. He choked back a sob as tears welled in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Nana....I couldn't save you. I just-just watched as he..."
"None of that now, Toshi, it wasn't your fault." Nana knelt in front of him and cupped his face in her hands. "It was never your fault, and I know deep down you know that."
"...Yes, I do. I just can't get it out of my head, if I had been stronger, faster, better, anything, then maybe you would be here. With me." Her smiled sobered.
"Toshinori, there was nothing you could have done. Sometime you have to run away, and if you hadn't that day I am sure that you would be dead now. Besides, I am always with you, whether you are aware of it or not. I live in One For All, I live in yours and Sorahiko's memories, and I live in your heart, my boy." She traced her thumb under Toshinori's eyes, wiping away his tears. He leaned into the touch and his chest heaved. Nana simply held him close as he wept into her shoulder. They sat there for a long while and two other figures appeared in the corner of his blurry vision, but he payed them no mind as he focused on the woman in front of him. When his sobs turned into soft gasps she finally pulled away from him and they sat in silence for a long while.
Toshinori laughed lightly and said, " Apologies, I'm just a big crybaby. Guess that's where Midoriya gets it from..." he blinks twice, then his face lightens with realization. "Oh, you haven't met him, my successor I mean. His name is Izuku Midoriya. He's a wonderful boy, and I think you would like him. His mother has your hairstyle but he has your bright spirit. If only you two could meet. In another life perhaps..."
Toshinori knew he was rambling now but Nana simply smiled and listened.
"I would love to meet him someday. Maybe many years in the future. But for now rest Toshi, you need to keep as much strength as you can." Nana stood, keeping her hands on his face. Toshinori gripped her wrists tightly, his eyes pleading for her to stay.
"Toshi, I have to go now, but remember I am always with you. I love you so much my boy." She leaned down and kissed his head softly. "There is no place that you can go where I won't follow."
Nana stepped back and Toshinori released his grip on her. She walked backwards, her body dissolving into white light. Darkness creeped at the edge of his vision and the field slowly faded into a darkened room. With a final wave, Nana smiled and disappeared into the darkness like she did many years ago.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he slowly felt himself slip into unconsciousness, the darkness finally enveloping him. He heard the distant sound of people talking. His energy finally faded, the darkness enveloped him in a warm, peaceful embrace while he slowly closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.