Chapter 1: Sorahiko
Chapter Text
“Now that all is said and done, I have a favor to ask of you…”
~
It all started with a phone call.
It had been over a year since All for One had killed Nana’s husband. A year of them at each other’s backs, tracking down any scrap of information about him to prepare for what would be an inevitable confrontation. They worked as a team to keep her successor safe as well, even though he wanted to be there with Nana when the time came. But Toshinori wasn’t ready. He was young still, barely 17, and still too untrained. And Sorahiko knew what that meant for Nana.
She’d go down swinging to protect him, no matter the cost. The monster had already stolen her blood family away, through death or having to separate for their safety. Her civilian life was nothing more than a dream; she spent more time in her uniform than out of it. She would absolutely refuse to let him steal away her chosen child, the one last good thing she had from before.
And Sorahiko?
He would get Toshinori away, and continue watching over him, even if it pained him to think of leaving his dearest friend behind.
They had it planned, just how it would go down. Nana had done her part, completing the final instruction they’d received from their mentor. She’d passed the quirk on in secret and its future was secured for a future day when All for One would fall.
It wouldn’t be by her hand though. They knew this down to the marrow of their bones. Their greatest failure would be the weight of this cursed legacy being passed onto the kid.
But for now, they sat together on the couch in his apartment. Nana had fallen asleep leaning on him, and he didn’t dare to disturb her. She’d gotten so little rest thinking of what was to come. He should try to sleep as well, but he couldn’t. They’d known each other since they were children, and he wanted to remember all this, experience every last moment by her side before they had to part.
The fan was slowly oscillating back and forth, making the cool night air in the apartment ghost over his face. He breathed slowly and steadily as he reminisced of their years together. He wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but he was already mourning her.
He was then pulled out of his thoughts by his phone softly vibrating against his leg. Nana murmured, but didn’t wake as he shifted to lift it to his face. The screen was lit up, but the number was glitched and occasionally would distort even further. His heart rate picked up, fear slowly settling over him. What could that mean? Was it one of All for One’s quirks at work?
He glanced at Nana, steadying himself, and answered.
“Hello?” He spoke softly, but firm, “Who’s this?”
There was nothing from the other line at first, but then a small breathy inhale. A young voice then came over the line.
“I… I’m lost and don’t know where I am.”
The boy sounded young, painfully so. And frightened. Or desperate. Both perhaps.
“What do you mean? Who is this?” Sorahiko spoke a little louder, but gentled his voice. He’d always had a soft spot for kids. Next to him, Nana tensed as she woke, and he squeezed her shoulder with the arm draped over her.
“I’m lost…” The boy muttered something that Sorahiko didn’t quite catch, but then spoke louder. “I’m running away. I know I’m running away.”
“Alright, do you recognize anything around you?” He asked, Nana fully sitting up and pulling away from him, her frown clear even in the dark, and she gestured to put the call on speaker.
“No… No, I don’t need to be found. I need to keep going.” The boy sounded near tears, “I won’t be found for a long time I think.”
“Kid, what do you mean? You called a hero you know. I could help.” He said, looking over at Nana. She only nodded in agreement.
“I know you’re a hero.” The boy said softly, “I called because I knew. But I’m not calling for help. I’m calling to warn you.”
Ice settled into his blood, “Warn me of what kid?”
“Shimura Nana must not fight alone. There’s… The man. The man with too many quirks.” The boy’s breath hitched, “He knows. He knows she passed it on and is going to kill her. Just to hurt Yagi Toshinori.”
Full on panic flashed on both their faces. He knew their names. He knew the kids name. Did All for One? Nana had jumped to her feet, and seemed prepared to run to the room Toshinori was sleeping in to check on him. Sorahiko grabbed her shoulder once more before she could and shook his head at her. They both needed to listen.
“H-how kid? How do you know this?” She spoke, her voice wavering with fear. “Does he know his name?”
“No… No, just I do. He’s going to target your family after. Shimura Kotaro… You can’t leave him alone, or he’s going to-“ The boy cut himself off with a gasp and fell silent.
“Kid? Kid are you okay?” Sorahiko couldn’t even deny the panic in his voice, and he had to tighten his hold on Nana so she didn’t run off.
“…I have to go. Just remember this: Above all else, Shimura Nana and Yagi Toshinori must both live.”
“How can we trust you?” Nana stated, keeping her tone even though there was still fear in her eyes, “How do we know you’re not one of his people?”
“…I’m running from him. I’m running and I can’t stop.” The boy answered in a ramble, “I’m lost. I’m lost and I don’t know where I am. But I know this is important. …En… He knew the lineage of One for All. He said once… That Banjo’s quirk was never recorded, not even All for One knows the name of it. But he told you the name, didn’t he? It’s… Blackwhip.”
The pair of heroes looked at each other in panic. The boy knew their teacher’s name. They knew his predecessor’s quirk, the name private and kept only to their most trusted. Only Banjo himself, En, and the pair of them knew it… So how?
“Kid… Are you… How do you know that?” Sorahiko wanted to ask him, desperately, but could not bring himself to ask if he was En’s. If they had failed their mentor’s family.
“I have to go… I have to go.” The boy sounded out of breath suddenly and static began to garble the call, “Please… Please…”
“Kid, tell us about where you are! We can find you! We can-” Nana started to say, but the boy cut her off.
“Torino Sorahiko… Shimura Nana… Thank you…”
The call cut off, and the pair stood in shocked silence.
“…What… What do we do…?” Nana asked in a shaky voice.
Sorahiko looked over at Nana after a moment, and took her in. She was at her limits these days, a far cry from the headstrong woman he knew. Knowing you were walking to an early grave would do that to anyone. She was tired. And he knew she hadn’t been eating, too stressed to manage more than a few mouthfuls these days.
Normally, he’d follow her lead, but she was asking him what to do.
And… They could trust the boy he felt. It was dumb to base trust off a single phone call, but…
His gut said that it would be alright. And he’d do right by the boy on the phone. He’d try and find him, but first, he’d listen to him. He’d protect the users of One for All. He’d keep them safe for as long as he could.
“…First things first… We wake up Toshinori and… We tell him what just happened.” Sorahiko stood in thought for a moment. “…And in the morning, you both go to get Kotaro.”
Nana, now having a general direction to go in from there, nodded, and breathed a sigh, “And what about you?”
He bit the inside of his cheek as he thought, and then nodded to himself. “I’ll be making a call to Nedzu I think.”
Nana nodded, as she went to turn on the lamps in the apartment. “Nedzu? He’s a teacher these day’s I’ve heard. Just started at UA according to Toshinori.”
Indeed, the stories of the small teacher perching on Toshinori’s shoulders, and watching over him at school, lifted her heart when she thought of him. Nedzu was both young and smart, and viewed them as his thanks to his instincts. And because Toshinori was theirs, he fell under his protection while out of their sight. Or so the Mouse like creature had said. He was still learning human terms of kinship, but she didn’t mind. If she was Nedzu’s then Nedzu was also hers. He’d come a long way from the frightened creature they’d found in that lab.
“He’s smart. Smarter than a lot of people give him credit for, which we know.” Sorahiko inhaled deeply, and then slowly exhaled, “I want to bring him in on this. If anyone could figure out a way to keep us safe… Just a plan for all of us to follow until Toshinori is ready, it’d be him. And I think… I hope he’d be willing to help us.”
Nana paused what she was doing, and looked over at Sorahiko. They stared at each other, and though Nana wanted to fight against the idea of being kept safe, instead of saving others, she remembered the voice on the phone. So, she only nodded, and Sorahiko deflated a bit in relief.
“…I was expecting to have to run out of here with you hot on my heels in all honesty.” He said with a small chuckle as Nana began to walk toward the hall.
She bit her lip for a moment before speaking, but stayed agreeable, “I… am not comfortable with the idea, but I trust Nedzu. And… If we end up fighting All for One now… I know that you wouldn’t leave me, after that call.”
“…No. I wouldn’t.” He said back, staring at her with no remorse in his eyes.
“…He’d keep Toshinori safe, and Kotaro, if anything happens to us.” Nana nodded to herself, though she still looked troubled, and then went to wake up Toshinori.
And the world tilts.
Chapter 2: Nedzu
Summary:
Another phone call, and more butterflies appear.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“You’ve done a lot already, I know. And this favor… It won’t be easy.”
~
Nedzu, in the privacy of his office, rubbed both his paws against his face in a self-soothing gesture. Stress was getting to him quite a bit these days. Being a teacher was difficult, and every day was a new challenge when it came to the future heroes he was teaching. He had strict standards and even firmer morals when it came to his classes, and did his best to impart them to his students. Or he tried to, according to what the lessons he’d taken had said.
Some railed against him of course. An animal teaching didn’t sit right with them. He didn’t like those students much and would admit to being a margin rougher with them. But those who endured became better for it. Those who didn’t however, he moved from the hero course. It was a matter of tension between him and the commission so far, due to them placing far too much value on straight forward, eye catching quirks, but thankfully the principal was on his side in most cases.
After all, a discriminatory hero would be a headache to deal with in the future for all of them.
But with some, like in the Todoroki child’s case, her hand were tied. Instead of being moved to the general courses, he was simply switching from one hero class for the other. He had a strong quirk, but a terrible personality. Indeed, his personality was the exact opposite of what Nedzu’s standards were. But his family had money. A ridiculous amount of it, thanks to Todoroki’s father. A business man mostly these days, but he’d once been a hero of some renown. And with very strong ties to the hero commission. Strong enough that even the principal couldn’t wiggle out of it like usual.
In such cases, Nedzu could only plan for the future, and keep an eye out.
Putting such matters from his mind, he began to awaken his computer to start grading and catch up on some cases he’d been neglecting. They were easy enough to solve, once you knew what to look for, and Nedzu nearly had the method down solid. A fact he greatly enjoyed. Because once he mastered that skill, he’d be able to learn another. And another.
He had a great love of learning, and was quickly realizing that knowledge was a powerful thing. It might even out match money in terms of importance to some humans. Something he mentally noted to discuss with the principle one of these days. The principal was a joy to speak with. She had an intelligence quirk herself, and was thrilled to find a like mind in Nedzu, despite their different species. And though he’d been scared of her at first, her eyes similar to the intelligence of the scientists who’d had him for so long, he found that she shared his hunger for knowledge.
And, if Nedzu’s pattern recognition was improving like he’d thought, he was beginning to see a parallel between her and himself, and Shimura and Yagi.
The thought pleased him.
Because despite the loathing he held for the human race, he was also terribly fond of their children. So full of potential and instinctually kind. At his most optimistic, he dreamed of a day when he turned that instinct to help one another into their core ideals. That, one day, there would be no more unethical actions, but instead gentle kindness. But that was only if he could burn out the parent’s poisoned thoughts they’d raised into their children. At the high school level was the best time to plant the seeds of doubt in these children after all, when they began to find their own identities away from their parent’s eyes.
As he worked and tried to corral his thoughts back into focusing on his current task, he took a sip of the tea he’d brewed before sitting down. It was slightly bitter and a touch too sweet at the same time. It was a constant annoyance, that of all the things he had trouble with learning, it was tea brewing that was giving him trouble. Since no one was around, he allowed himself to glare at the cup with narrowed eyes. So rude of it really, to not fall inline with rational thinking. He followed the steps perfectly, there was no reason it shouldn’t be a perfect cup.
Next time then.
It was while he was glaring that his phone, the personal one, rang. He perked up and set the cup back in its saucer before reaching for it. Only four people had this number, and the principal would have just strolled into his office if she needed something. That left three others. Toshinori never called unless one of the others called checked that it was okay first. He’d never been able to get rid of that child’s anxiety while he was in school, which was a shame, he dearly enjoyed talking to the child of his dear friends. Gran called at a set time every week to give him updates and see what new information Nedzu had about their hunter, and this was outside those times. It was likely Nana then, who called whenever she wished just to talk to him.
However, when he looked at the screen of his phone, he felt all his thoughts and focus coalesce into the razor-sharp edge he was becoming known for. The number was glitched and jumped every once in a while. Just like they said. As he answered, his free paw grabbed the nearest notepad and pen and closed his cases on his computer and began recording his phone, preparing a mental net so nothing would escape his notice.
“Nedzu speaking.” He said with the cheerful brightness people liked in his tone, his world shrinking down to just him and the phone.
Someone cleared their throat, painful sounding and scratchy, like they hadn’t had water in a long time. He wrote that down as he waited.
“…I’m lost… I think I know you though.” The voice said, faint as a whisp and subdued. “You protect them with twisting paths of information and the right rumor here and there.”
The voice was young sounding, and that pained Nedzu. When his friends told them of the distressed child who’d called them, he wanted to keep an eye out. To wait and help. He’d been more panicked in that first phone call accorded to what Nana had said, but there was a surety in his voice now. Though the touch of fear remained, even after two years.
“I do indeed protect my friends. Are you a friend?” He asks lightly. A redundant question, he was a friend from the moment he protected Nana and Gran, and Nedzu would find him and keep him safe too. With his free paw he brings up the second program on his computer he always kept waiting in the background, just in case of this situation.
“I’d… I’d like to think so.” The boy said, and stars above he couldn’t be any older than his first years. “But you’re not allowed to find me Nedzu.”
Nedzu hummed in interest as he looked at the computer screen while making a note that the boy sounded a lot more coherent than when he contacted Gran. On the screen, he watched as the second program distorted a bit, before completely losing the trace even though the call was still going. Possible technology quirk then? He made a note just in case, adding that it might just be a quirk effect, or that the child himself was a skilled hacker.
“Not allowed by who?” That answer didn’t matter either, he would find him eventually whether he like it or not. He was young and scared and needed help. He was clever enough to outwit and outrun the man who’d become a demon. And he was kind enough to try and keep others out of his reach. Nedzu would absolutely find this child, and hide him away until he healed and was full of energy and ready to turn from being hunted into being the hunter. Because to evade so well, one had to know their enemy and Nedzu could teach him how to turn the hunt right back around at the man when the time was right.
Then the child let out the smallest of laughs, sad and resigned in tone, “I don’t know. I know I just need to stay lost, and so I am lost. But that’s not why I called.”
“I see.” Nedzu absolutely did not see, but made a note that the child didn’t want to be found, “Do you have a name we can call you at least, before we get to business?”
“I don’t… I don’t remember. Everything is blurred and faint, like someone dropped food coloring in water. There and not, dissipated into what’s important.”
Nedzu made note of the partial amnesia, and began to wonder if he’d have to bring the principal in on this, just to make finding the boy faster. Hard to find someone who didn’t even know themselves after all. But that was only if the child wasn’t trying to throw him off his trail. However, he was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he’d been oddly genuine in his first conversation with Nana and Gran, and was continuing to be genuine with Nedzu now. Though he did add a checkmark next to it, and drew a line to the idea it might be a quirk effect.
“Unfortunate, but until you remember, I suppose we can just call you what you are.”
“What I am?” The voice came across as curious, and there was a spark of life in the voice at last.
“Lost, of course.” Nedzu wrote down the alias for now. Part of him was pleased at the small laugh that came from the child, though he’d keep that to himself. “So now Lost, what have you called to speak about? From what I’ve heard, the last call you made was one of great importance.”
And didn’t that just burn Nedzu inside, that without this child, he likely would have lost his friends.
A deep sigh sounded over the line, and the voice became rather small sounding, “I… I’m sorry Nedzu. I’m sorry but you must call them back from where they’re hidden. He’s on the move. He’s on the move and no one will be able to stand against him except both the users.”
Nedzu felt himself pause, not even daring a breath. His mind ran through all likely scenarios. Nana and Gran were experienced, and Yagi was no longer a student, but he was still too new. Too new and young and… Nedzu shook his head and brought his focus back to the voice on the phone.
“…You’re sure? That they’re ready?”
“No. No one is ever ready to face him,” the boy spoke in a world-weary tone, as if he’d been in their shoes, something that Nedzu marked down as the boy continued, “But they have the best chance. Not to defeat him, but to delay him. Win this coming fight, and he’ll be weakened. That’s the goal, and you have to make them understand that. This fight won’t be won by them, but they can weaken him.”
Nedzu quickly made a note that the boy might… He might know a lot more than he means to. “What do you mean that this fight won’t be won by them?”
“Just like with Yoichi, Gearshift, and Fa Jin. With Hikage, Banjo, and En. Shimura Nana and Yagi Toshinori will not win this fight. But their greatest success will be with passing it on… But not soon. Not soon at all.” The boy trails off into silence before he says very quietly, “Their salvation lies with the Ninth. But you must not tell them that. If they rush into it… They might not find the right person.”
Possible prophetic powers perhaps? He notes down that thought, along with the names that Lost had spoken with reverence to look into later. He could also easily see why All for One would want such a child. And how the child was able to evade for so long. Hard to catch what can see you coming.
“I’ll call them back.” Nedzu states, once the silence goes on for a beat too long, “Rest assured young one, I’ll help them where I can. Guide them as much as I’m able.”
Static begins to grow on the line, and Nadzu knows what’s coming next.
“Thank you, Nedzu.” The voice sounds relived, but also like he may cry, “…I… It’ll be a long time before I call again. A very long time.”
“I assure you, Lost. You have my thanks and more.” He states, setting down his pen and rubbing his paws together in a semblance of comfort. “I’ve kept them safe for two years, and would have for longer. But I would not have been able to do so without your help. And despite needing to send them into the lion’s den now, if it had been sooner, I don’t know what the out come would have been. So thank you Lost.”
The boy sniffles, and Nedzu picks up his pen once more as he gives Nedzu an address and a date. “That’s the day that the fight will happen. …Don’t let them fight alone, Nedzu. Please don’t let them fight alone.”
“They won’t.” Nedzu promises, despite feeling like words can be fickle, he now understands how it feels to be compelled by the need to keep a promise.
The line cuts off then, and he finds the boy has disconnected. He hangs up as well and sits back in his chair, mentally going over the conversation. He was a little overwhelmed by it all. The urgency in his tone at the end sunk down to the very marrow of his bones.
He finds himself speaking without meaning to.
“They won’t fight alone… And one day, we’ll find you Lost.”
~
The day comes faster than they expected, for all their preparations. And the boy is right, it’s a not a fight they can win. But the three use their skills, and Nedzu’s plans, to bring the fight to an end in their favor. Nana at then end of it all, is no longer be able to work as a pro hero, having lost an arm and sustained damage to her heart. But she is alive. The last of the embers have left her, but she is alive.
The demon they faced goes into hiding as well, for Nana had managed to blind him right before he took her arm. Meanwhile, Toshinori had shattered one of All for One’s legs, beyond recovery they think, breaking his own arm in the process. Gran received a spinal injury, but would recover after a lot of physical therapy. Nedzu kept the fight under wraps, keeping the influence of All for One from spreading.
He then sends them away once more, this time to America. Because All for One never leaves Japan, and distance would allow them to recover more readily. That aside, America was known for the large and cataclysmic battles between their heroes and villains. A perfect training ground for if Yagi is forced to fight him again. The youngest of their trio would build his strength and become the hero he’d dreamed he’d be, far away from All for One’s grasp.
Nedzu begins looking for the threads in the shadows, slowly, quietly, and with his own mentor looking over his shoulder and bequeathing him her connections to help where she could, he begins to see. He’d be ready he decided. He’d gather enough information and patterns to theorize where and when the man had a hand in something, to be better prepared for the next confrontation. He wouldn’t need another phone call, and could focus on the next call to find the lost child, and bring him back to the light.
~
The world tilts further.
Notes:
I thought I'd update this sooner, but this chapter fought me. Nedzu was fun to write, but a bit wordy and his thoughts kind of all over the map. He's younger here as well, and still finding his place in the world.
Something I wasn't able to work into his chapter was that as a result of Nana surviving and keeping contact with him, he regards humans a lot more favorably.
I also gave him a mentor, who I might mention a bit more later on, but she's largely unimportant to this story.
Nedzu story on the other hand...
I may have to come back to it someday, in a different fic.And also! If you're trying to keep track of the time effects, I'll list the biggest ones so far:
Nana's fight with All for one is delayed for 2 years.
Nana fights alongside All Might and Gran, following plans Nedzu made.
Nana survives.These will quickly spider web, and I hope I do the story I'm telling justice.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this! And I hope I didn't make many mistakes.
Also, someone commented on the last chapter and got a guess right! So congrats to them! :D
Valandar on Chapter 1 Wed 28 Sep 2022 10:47PM UTC
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