Work Text:
I thought it would be a difficult task collecting the information I needed to get, let alone find any surviving pictures. But it turns out that saying about the internet is indeed true: you just need to be willing to dig for it. And to have months of weekends to waste.
I didn't mind. It was for a very good friend of mine, and I felt he definitely deserves it. It was kinda fun.
I was pasting the photos on the wall, all of them blown up to being different sizes. Almost like wallpaper, I carefully finished rolling the biggest print out first with a clean paint roller. Briefly I stepped back to look.
The contents of the photo made me smile. He really did look so joyful when he was younger. And now that he's officially retired and healing from his *actual* final fight, it gave me hope.
I continued, putting the second biggest one above that to the left, askew a little.
I couldn't to see the surprise on his face.
Walking into UA, class-1A, parents and pro heroes could breathe a sigh of relief.
What they weren't expecting to see was a collage being plastered on the biggest wall inside the school cafeteria.
Most of all one Toshinori Yagi, for when his sight landed on the biggest picture of them all, gasped audibly. His now open eyes focusing on my work, Trying to keep his mouth from falling as he pushed past the rest of the group to stand in front of them all.
Ochaco Uraraka was the first to realize what said photo was, speaking out loud in astonishment. "Is that?..."
"I think it is..." Izuku Mydoria replied breathlessly, his mother right behind him.
What they were looking at, the biggest picture in the work in progress collage, was a family picture. One of a beautiful blonde woman, a tall but proud man, and below in-between them, a youthful, beaming child: Toshinori.
All Might felt his breath hitch, long past memories rushing back to him like they were yesterday, sometimes blurry but nonetheless real. His mother and father. His eyes drifted to the picture above it, it being slightly tilted.
It was an older picture, a.. Yagi family reunion??? And in his mother's hands, being cradled was a baby. Him.
Familiar tears threatened to prick his eyes, his mouth opening a little in awe. He didn't expect his close friend, the one he made just after his first victory against AFO, the one who had stayed by his side after Nighteye split from the agency, had found these. 'Where in the world did you find these?..'
I wasn't done yet though.
I plastered another photo up smaller than the two family pictures. A picture of Nana Shimura, Grand Torino off the background. Another picture connected to that, being her son and grandson, a moment when they were happy.
Water shined his eyes, a lump in throat forming quickly. He clenched his jaw, glancing down to the ground. He had to ball his hands into fists, the sadness hitting him again, harder.
On the other side of the main photo of the collage, I put up a picture of Nighteye. Another gut punch to Toshi, eyes widening a little bit more at each photo being put up. Next to Nighteye, I put a pic of Naomasa Tsukauchi up too for good measure.
Above them, next to the right corner of the main family photo, up went a picture of David Shield with his daughter Melissa.
And finally, I paused for only a moment, glancing down to the last photo I had. Slowly I bent down to pick it up, this picture being framed. A normal sized picture of a 3 group selfie.
Putting it up just below All Might's family, was a picture of Toshinori.. with Izuku Mydoria in the middle and Inko Mydoria on the left, all three beaming brightly and the mirth shining through their eyes.. Behind you could have heard the light gasp of Izuku and his mom Inko.
His eyes popped wide unexpectedly, this time the harsh emotion pushing him forward. Stepping back, I smiled at my work before I felt a hand abruptly grab my wrist, surprised.
Turning around, I was met with my best friend, Japan's former number one hero, Toshinori Yagi, very much on the verge of tears, if he hadn't started letting them fall already.
I blinked, expression softly sympathetic and warm. I could feel him shaking with feeling. And without hesitation, I launched onto him with a tight, close hug, catching him by surprise. As well as the rest of the little crowd.
And with that, the dam within Toshinori broke. Tears slipped out of his eyes, and he started to cry, hugging back. Sniffles at first, but it quickly devolved into hitched sobs as the tears grew heavier and faster. His grip on me tightened immediately. I glanced to him with a saddened understanding, tightening my grip around him in return. His sorrow became louder, his cries were poingiant for all to hear and see. I felt his knees buckle so I bent my knees too, bringing the both of us down to the floor, sitting on our knees as his sobs broke into full blown sobbing, bawling his eyes and out and crying hysterically, letting it all out. No holding back. He glanced back up to the pictures as he continued, words wanting to form from his lips, but never coming. 'You were the greatest gift I ever had.'
He was shaking bad, and I did my best to soothe him, rubbing his back and shoulders delicately.
He needed to get all this out.
Finally some words managed to form through his babbling. "How could I expect this?.."
After a long minute I felt him take a big breath, the crying fading for a moment to whisper, sorrow slipping in there. "I don't accept this."
I blinked with surprise glancing back to him, waiting for a further response.
He responded quietly with a saddened smile. "But now I understand. I'm so, so greatful. For you doing this. So.. I'll accept it with open arms."
He admitted the truth as to why he had said what he had just a couple lines ago.
"I just need to cry for a little bit, that's all..."
My expression melted back into an understanding one, and continued hugging him warmly.
A moment of silence floated by, as no one dared to move. Until, Izuku Mydoria took a step. Then another. Then another. Then, he sprinted over, quickly coming to meet us on the ground, embracing Toshi hard.
Toshinori only glanced over; Deku had been crying a little too. And he softly grinned at his boy. Not long after, on the other side of Toshi, Inko joined in on the hug, giving him all the comfort she could give.
Another long moment passed to let me and his newfound family embrace. But, before anyone else could break it up with words, a certain hot-headed blonde found himself moving forward to us.
Katsuki Bakugo stopped just behind All Might, hesitant. But eventually, he placed a hand on the retiree's shoulder, bending down on one knee and tilting his head to the ground in solidarity. An action that class 1-A was immensely moved by.
Uraraka was next coming to the left to hug behind Izuku. And one by one, the rest of class 1-A found themselves joining in on the enormous group hug.
It was such a tear-jerking sight, Todoroki's big sister couldn't help but take out her phone to take a picture, along with many other students' parents. Endeavor could only stand there, almost in subtle awe, but understanding All Might's significant reach.
Out of the hug, Toshinori raised his head to speak, glancing around him. "Thank you. All of you. I don't know to repay you all."
Deku answered that rather quickly, still holding on tight to him. "Just continue being you All Might."
"And what would that entail?.." Yagi chuckled, expecting the kid to have replied first.
I glanced up to him, speaking as we gazed around him to those certain people, in the hug and out of it.
"A Teacher, A mentor, a speaker, a muse, a father figure, a loving partner, a good friend.."
I looked to him as said the last thing with a big smile. "And one my bestest friends in the world. A real hero."
Toshinori could only break out into a bright beam, teeth and all. He truly was blessed.
After careful consideration and approval from principal Nezu, the collage/mural of pictures was allowed to stay up, so future generations could look on. And with it, a caption was added.
"The Best Heroes Are Certainly Strong. But The Greatest Heroes..."
"Always Had A Web Of Support Behind Them"