Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku pinched his lip in thought, nervously twirling his pencil with his free hand. His attention focused not on the finished quiz lying on his desk but on the classroom door. More specifically his thoughts drifted through the door, across the building, and to the infirmary. 

All Might…

Four days and Izuku hadn’t been to visit him once. Schoolwork, training, and Aizawa-sensei’s cautionary warning to not bring attention to Recovery Girl’s infirmary prevented him.

“All Might needs his rest, and you need to focus on your classes,” the Erasure Hero stated, keeping Izuku after class Monday afternoon, “All Might will bounce back without students hovering over him.”

Despite Aizawa’s gruff brand of reassurance, Izuku worried, and he wasn’t alone. His gaze slid from the door to the desk in front of him and his classmate's back.

Bakugou slouched in his seat, hands shoved in his pocket and shoulders hunched. He was in a dour mood and had been since Principal Nedzu visited and informed the class of All Might's disappearance. Bakugou's frustration and anxiety simmered until practical training and sparring rounds where it exploded with his usual precise ferocity.

When Bakugou confronted Izuku the day after All Might's return, Izuku couldn't keep him in the dark.  

“Oi! Deku!”

Izuku jumped in surprise and spun to face Bakugou. His rival stalked up to him from across the training field, fuming as small explosions lit up around his palms.

“Where the hell were you for last night’s spar?” he scowled, eyeing Izuku's overnight bag, “I waited half an hour for your weak ass to not show up.”

Izuku held up his hands defensively, “Ah! Sorry, Kacchan! I couldn’t-”

“Couldn’t -!?" Bakugou bristled, "What kind of bullshit excuse-”

“It's not an excuse. Listen, he’s -” Izuku glanced around the field, still empty in the early morning hours. He lowered his voice, “He came back. All Might’s back.”

A shiver ran up Bakugou’s frame. He tensed, fists clenched at his sides.

“What? When?” Bakugou pressed his hand to his forehead and roughly scrubbed his fingers through his hair, “How?! Wasn’t he taken by -?” Bakugou's throat caught, and he grimaced, silent.

“Y-yeah,” Izuku nodded, swallowing roughly.“He got away, Kacchan. He’s here on campus. In Recovery Girl’s office.” He winced and self-consciously adjusted his hold on his overnight bag, “Which is... technically a secret.” 

“Of course it is,” Bakugou grumbled, exasperated, and set his jaw, “Alright. We keep it a secret," he reached out and grabbed Izuku’s shirt, pulling him toward the open training grounds, “but I’m getting a full explanation. And you’re not getting out of sparring.”

“Kacch- Hey! Classes are - Alright! I’m coming!”

Izuku sighed. He nearly needed to visit the infirmary after that rushed round of pre-class sparring.

“Pencils' down,” Aizawa called out from the front, “Time’s up.”

Barely stifled groans echoed from a few seats, and Kaminari glared down at his quiz like it wronged him.

The Erasure Hero crooked his finger, gesturing to the front, “Pass up your quizzes and-”

A phone buzzed loudly. It almost sounded like - Izuku’s brows rose in surprise as Aizawa casually fished his phone from his pocket and tapped at the screen.

“Pass up your quizzes and remain seated,” he sighed, pocketing his phone, “I have an important announcement.”

Izuku sat up, not missing the way Bakugou tensed in the seat in front of him.

Aizawa scratched at his head and huffed tiredly.

“No questions until I finish,” he said, “Understood?”

A few questioning glances were shared around the class, but all twenty students remained silent.

“Good. I’ll be brief,” Aizawa stated, “All Might was found Sunday and is back at U.A. He will be returning to the dorms tonight.”

A wide grin split Izuku’s face.

He was coming back! After less than a week, he recovered enough to come back!

Gasps of delight and excited whispers briefly filled the room before Aizawa raised a hand to quiet everyone.

“He is still recovering and needs his rest,” Aizawa cautioned. He paused, grimacing tiredly, “Fair warning, All Might does not look the same as before. He was forced to undergo physical changes while missing. Be respectful and don’t pester him about them. It is also imperative that you tell no one outside of U.A. about this until after he has had a chance to handle that himself. Any questions?”

Hands shot up across the classroom, and Aizawa sighed.

“Three questions,” he deadpanned before pointing to Yaoyorozu, “You.”

Yaoyorozu stood, brows furrowed with concern, “What happened to him?”

Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose, “I’ll leave that for him to explain.”

He pointed to Iida, “Next question.”

Iida stood and gestured firmly with his hands, “Will All Might-sensei be well enough to return to his teaching duties?”

Aizawa nodded, “He has expressed his desire to continue, though exactly when remains to be seen.”

Relieved sighs filled the air.

Iida bowed, “Thank you, Aizawa-sensei!”

Aizawa bent his head in acknowledgment, “Last question- Ashido calm down.”

Izuku looked toward Ashido who frantically waved her arm in the air.

“Alright, go on,” Aizawa gestured for her to speak with a shrug.

She jumped up out of her seat, her chair scraping loudly as it slid back, “You said he was found Sunday! Why haven’t we heard anything before now?”

Aizawa nodded, “A logical question,” He paused, “Out of respect for All Might’s well-being, we refrained from disclosing any information until he, himself, was ready.”

Ashido went uncharacteristically quiet and nodded slowly.

She sat back down, face pensive, “I see…”

Aizawa nodded as the class remained quiet and no more hands were raised.

“That’s all for now,” he stated dryly, huddling into his scarf and collecting his sleeping bag from the floor, “Class dismissed.”

As soon as Aizawa closed the door behind him, the class erupted with excitement, breaking off into small groups and speaking over each other and gesturing wildly.

Izuku quickly collected his things, a wide smile on his face and One for All zipping just under his skin.

“Deku!” Izuku heard Uraraka call out. He stood just as she came to a skidding halt in front of him, flapping her hands happily, “All Might is back! He’s here!” She bounced on her toes, nearly floating into the air.

Iida stopped beside her, “I’ll admit, I was worried. Especially after the Kamino Ward villain’s escape, I thought -" He shook his head, a relieved smile on his face, "But it sounds like All Might-sensei is doing well!”

“A-ah,” Izuku stuttered, smile slipping briefly when Bakugou abruptly got up from his desk and stalked toward the door. He straightened and grinned, “Yeah. It’ll be great to see him in the dorms and teaching again.”

“Woah! That’s a great idea!” Kirishima’s voice rose over the noise of the class.

Izuku, Iida, and Uraraka turned toward the front where Kirishima, Ashido, Tsuyu, Kaminari, and Aoyama were gathered.

“What’s a good idea?” Todoroki asked curiously, wandering to the front.

“A ‘Welcome Home’ party,” Tsuyu answered cheerily.

“Yeah!” Uraraka gasped, “We could make snacks and tea! Make him feel right at home!”

“And it's Friday! We could have a movie marathon!” Kaminari suggested. He suddenly pointed to Izuku, “Oh! Didn’t All Might-sensei put his old movie collection in the living room?”

A nervous knot twisted in Izuku’s stomach.

“All Might could be tired,” he cautioned. “Aizawa-sensei did say he was still recovering…”  

Iida nodded seriously, pressing his fist to his chin in thought, “We’ll have to take into consideration how All Might may feel. And Aizawa-sensei mentioned something about changes... Perhaps something calmer?”

There was a beat of silence, then Kirishima grinned wide.

“Class President’s on board!” he exclaimed loudly.

Iida jolted and gestured stiffly, “If this is going to be a class effort, it's only natural!”

A few of their classmates snickered at his emphatic response before they collected their things and all headed out of the classroom, swapping ideas. 

“Ah!” Kirishima exclaimed, turning to Izuku as they entered the locker room, “All Might’s favorite movie is that space one, right? The one with the ‘pew-pew-boom’ with the giant spaceship?”

“Oh,” Izuku nodded, “Yeah, but the third one - er - technically the sixth.”

“Great!” Kirishima grinned, “I think Jirou borrowed all three of them last. Hey, Jirou!” He called out to Jirou, jogging to catch up with her.

Uraraka smiled wide, closing her locker with her street shoes on.

“Ah! This is so exciting!” she said, punching her fist in the air. “All Might-sensei will be teaching and living at the dorms again. Let’s throw him a real welcome home party!”

Izuku nodded, smiling, and pulled his shoes from his locker. His nervous exhilaration surged again, and he shoved his feet into his shoes, standing and tapping his toes against the ground.

Iida closed his own locker, glancing at Izuku, “Frankly, I’m surprised you aren’t more excited, Midoriya. I thought you would be the first to the dorms.”

“Huh?” Izuku grinned, “I am excited!”

“I think what Iida is trying to say is, you're surprisingly calm? You didn’t even try to ask Aizawa-sensei any questions,” Uraraka said uncertainly. She suddenly froze with a gasp, brows raised, “You knew! That’s why!”

“Shhhh!” Izuku frantically shushed her, eyes wide in panic as he scanned the locker room, “I’m sorry! I wasn’t supposed to say anything!”

Uraraka huffed but smiled, “We were worried about you, you know.”

Iida hummed thoughtfully, “That does explain your disappearance the other day.”

Izuku rubbed at the back of his head, laughing sheepishly, “Y-yeah… Sorry.”

“That's alright. To be honest, I'm glad you were one of the first to find out,” Iida said and tapped his fist to his palm, “That said, we should discuss how best to prepare the dorm with the rest of the class.”

Izuku smiled as his friends listed their ideas: How to decorate the main floor, how best to arrange the living room for the movie, how many pillows and blankets would be needed, and who would be in charge of food and drinks. Somewhere between the school and the dorms, their classmates joined in on the conversation and soon they were rushing about making preparations.

Despite the cheer, a faint unease stirred in Izuku’s gut. His classmates hadn’t been there. They hadn't seen All Might when he stumbled onto campus carrying the injured nurse. They hadn't seen the blood or chains. They didn’t know about -

"Midoriya! Can you help move the tables?" Jirou called from the dining room. 

"Sure!" Izuku handed off a stack of pillows to Tokoyami and Dark Shadow and jogged across the common room.

No, Izuku smiled, it'll be okay. We’ll make this work.

Toshinori shrugged on his new shirt. The light blue material slipped crisply over his shoulders, and with a careful tug, his spikes - newly polished by Isamu - along with tufts of blonde hair pushed through the dozens of thin, horizontal slits cut down the center of its back. His claw-tipped fingers fumbled with the buttons, but he managed, carefully pinching each between soft claw caps and thumbing them up the line.

He looked up into the bathroom mirror, rolling the long sleeves to his elbows, and straightened as much as he could without aggravating his hips. Despite the many changes over the years and even now, he still cleaned up fairly well.

“Not too bad,” he muttered absently, brushing non-existent wrinkles from his shirt and gray pants. His long, tufted tail swung behind him in his reflection, and a nervous flutter twisted in his gut.

Smile, he reminded himself, It’ll be fine.

Turning from side to side, Toshinori gave himself a final once-over. Recovery Girl had healed the last of his scrapes and bruises. Faint scarred bands around his wrists, ankles, and tail were all that remained of his torture in the basement storage under Rishi General Hospital.

I just need a trim, he thought, collecting his hair and pulling it back in a loose ponytail. "Or ear muffs. Are they always going to stick out like that?" He pinched the tips of his pointed ears and pulled them back and flush against his head. They twitched uncomfortably, and he let them go, wincing as they flicked back into place.

A sharp knock at the door sent a jolt up Toshinori’s spine. 

“Are you coming?” Aizawa asked, opening the door just wide enough to lean against the doorjamb.

Toshinori grinned, sheepishly patting down his bristling hackles, “Yes, yes. Sorry to keep you waiting, Aizawa.”    

He collected his bathroom bag and gave his reflection one last glance. 

“Thank you again for the shirt.” Toshinori tugged on the material, joining Aizawa, “The back works great.”

“It wasn’t my idea,” Aizawa shrugged, holding open the door and stepping aside, “Your nurse suggested it.”

Isamu. Naturally. Toshinori chuckled, tail swinging, “I see. Still, thank you for bringing it here.”

Aizawa hummed and turned down the empty hall, back to the infirmary. Toshinori followed behind, his footsteps soft and sure despite the faint ache in his calves.

As long as I can walk to the dorm, I can see the students again. Then... A nervous stutter of his heart stopped him outside the infirmary door.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he began uncertainly, “How did the students react to the news?”

Aizawa snorted, a rare amicable smirk on his face, “They were excited enough to be troublesome.” He turned and opened the infirmary door, only glancing back a moment to say, “Quit worrying, and don’t make them wait.”

Toshinori smiled lopsidedly at the blunt reply, a soft laugh bubbling out of him as he ducked into the infirmary, "Of course."

“All Might!” Isamu exclaimed, setting aside a heavy medical book and scooting to the edge of his bed, “Look at you! You look ready to be discharged.”

“I can be thanks to you,” he said sincerely, barking a laugh when Isamu’s face flushed pink.

“I really didn’t do much,” Isamu argued weakly.

Toshinori grinned and gently squeezed the young man's shoulder before turning to Recovery Girl, “As always, thank you for your care, Recovery Girl.”

Recovery Girl twisted in her desk chair and wagged her finger at Toshinori.

“As always? If you really want to show you're grateful, you’ll take care of yourself and stay out of trouble,” she scolded, a playful twinkle in her eye.

“I’ll do my best,” Toshinori chuckled, though they had both agreed on weekly check-ups. 

“Ready?” Aizawa asked, shouldering the last duffel bag with Toshinori’s newly customized clothes.

“One moment,” Toshinori held up a finger. He stooped down, closer to Recovery Girl, and lowered his voice, “Did Power Loader happen to bring the item I requested?”

Recovery Girl nodded, plucking a small box from her desk, “He did.” She passed it over and laid her hand on his. A sad but understanding look crossed her wise, old features as she let him go.

Toshinori opened the small box and took out the wristwatch inside. Black and gold, the watch was both analog and digital. He pressed the top right knob and the time and date displayed in blue on the watch’s face.

“According to Power Loader, the GPS tracker is accurate within 25 meters,” Recovery Girl said quietly. “Should you go missing, Principal Nedzu will send your coordinates to the faculty and Detective Tsukauchi.”

“Good. Good,” Toshinori let out a relieved sigh, twisting his wrist and slipping on the watch. He grinned, “Can’t be too careful.”

Recovery Girl smiled and swatted at his side, “Now go on! You’ve been here long enough.”

Toshinori’s grin widened, and his tail swung in a wide arc and bumped against Isamu’s bed.

Isamu chuckled, nudging the over-excited limb with his leg, “See you around, All Might. Hopefully not too often, if you know what I mean.”

“You too?” Toshinori snorted, “Recovery Girl is rubbing off on you already.”

"I'm hardly a bad influence!" Recovery Girl scoffed, "Maybe you'll actually listen to him."

Isamu sputtered and ducked his head, “I’m just glad to see you getting your life back.”

“Me too, young man,” Toshinori said quietly, “Rest up. I’ll be sure to stop by and keep you from getting too bored.” He shot a cheeky glance at Recovery Girl, “Though I'm certain Recovery Girl will find ways to keep you busy.”

She smiled cheerily and patted an intimidating stack of medical books, “A nurse should always keep their mind sharp. I’m sure some light reading will keep him entertained.”

Isamu’s eyes widened at the stack, but he managed an overwhelmed smile, “P…Plus Ultra! Right?”

Toshinori barked a laugh, “Plus Ultra! That’s the U.A. spirit! Take care, young man.”

Flashing a smile and a thumbs-up, he wished them well, ducked through the door, and rejoined Aizawa. They walked in comfortable silence through the familiar halls, empty of its usual bustling occupants, until they reached the main entrance. Toshinori paused briefly and glanced back at how far he'd already come, savoring the small triumph. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped outside.

The soft orange glow of the autumn evening cast long, fading shadows across the campus, stretching the shapes of their own. A chill breeze rustled his shirt and sent goosebumps across his skin.

Toshinori shivered, hackles bristling against the cold, and held the door out for Aizawa. He gestured to his duffel bag, “I can carry that, you know.”

Aizawa grunted noncommittally and said nothing, keeping the duffel slung over his shoulder as he led the way.

Toshinori thought he saw a smile peek out from under his scarf.

Rubbing the creeping chill from his hands, Toshinori asked, “How are the kids? Have they been progressing well? Twenty-two, -three... Damn, nearly a month. I’ve missed too many lessons. I need to catch up.”

“Principal Nedzu had progress reports typed up,” Aizawa said as Toshinori caught up to him, “Lesson copies for the Hero Course are already in your room. As for the students, you’ll see them soon enough.”

Toshinori hummed, falling into step beside Aizawa. As he did, his ears twitched at the scrape-slap of his feet on the sidewalk. He glanced down at his feet and the prototype pair of shoes Power Loader designed for him. They were a work in progress, to say the least. Ultimately open-toed, strap-on sandals, they slipped and rubbed uncomfortably against his claws and pads, but wearing them would keep the floors of the dorm clean.

A small knot in his calf suddenly clenched and his legs trembled with growing fatigue. 

Just a little farther, Toshinori rubbed at his thigh, breath puffing.

Aizawa glanced back and slowed as they rounded the last building, and Toshinori looked up.

The Heights Alliance 1-A Dorm sat ahead, glowing in the fading light. Shadows of their students darted past the windows, none noticing as Toshinori and Aizawa walked up the front steps. Their voices, barely muffled by the door, were loud and boisterous. Shouts of directions, a loud thud, and a curse. Laughter rang out from inside the building.

Toshinori halted at the door, gut tying itself in knots as his tail flicked uneasily. He jumped when Aizawa elbowed him.

“What’s with that face?” the Erasure Hero asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“Wh-? Oh,” Toshinori snorted and willed his expression to relax. He chuckled at himself and rubbed at the back of his neck, claws bumping against spikes.

Smile, All Might.

Squaring his shoulders, he grinned wide, opened the door, and walked inside.

The noise rose, a cacophony of music, laughter, chatting, the clatter and sizzle from the kitchen, and what sounded like an argument over how to work Toshinori’s old VCR. Primary colored paper chains arched across the ceiling, more bursting from young Yaoyorozu’s arms. In the middle of them all was a huge, homemade banner that read in star-spangled red and gold:

Welcome Home All Might!!  

Toshinori’s lopsided grin widened, his unease vanishing. He shook his head as he slipped off his shoes.

What was I worried about?

Aizawa sighed as he stopped beside Toshinori, looking around the shared living space.

“They’re cleaning this up,” he muttered, ducking further behind his scarf.

Toshinori gave Aizawa a friendly elbow bump, “Should I announce myself?” he asked in a stage whisper.

Aizawa shrugged.

“I’m surprised you haven’t already,” he deadpanned.

Toshinori couldn’t help it. He laughed, booming loud and devolving into wheezing chuckles.

“All Might!”

Toshinori’s ears perked, and he spotted Izuku waving from the kitchen, a bright grin on his face. His laugh and the boy’s shout caught the attention of his classmates, and they all turned to the front door.

Whatever unanimous cheer they'd planned died in their throats, their smiling faces flipped to shock and concern in an instant. Wide-eyed, his students took in every change, speechless.

Toshinori’s grin faltered. All at once, he was very aware of the tremble in his tired, twisted legs, the droop of his ears, and the cautious wag of his tail.

Then, in the center of the living room, Ashido’s look of recognition caught his eye. Toshinori lifted his claws and gave her a small wave.

“I knew it,” the pink-haired girl whispered, dropping the pillows from her arms. She vaulted over the couch, bolting across the room. “I KNEW IT!!” She exclaimed, throwing her arms around Toshinori and hugging him tightly.

Toshinori coughed, stumbling and swinging his tail wide to keep his balance as she pinned his arms in her embrace.

“H-hello, young Ashido,” Toshinori wheezed and managed to twist his arm up and ruffle her hair.

“I knew it! I knew it had to be you under that curtain,” Ashido pulled away just long enough to examine Toshinori’s face, tears streaming down her cheeks, before she pressed her face against his shirt, “We were so worried! And we missed you so much!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t cry,” Toshinori fretted, hugging her and patting her back, “It’s alright now. Do you know why? Beca-oof!” His breath was nearly knocked out of him as another pair of arms wrapped around him, then another and another.

Kirishima grinned up from between Uraraka and Asui, visibly holding back tears, “Because you’re here!”

Relieved laughter and "welcome back"s surrounded Toshinori as he attempted to pat the head of each student surrounding him. Stumbling on unsteady legs, he chuckled and shot a helpless look at Aizawa who shrugged.

Toshinori grinned, You’re no help!

His tail swung happily, bumping into a few of his students, “Ah! My apologies Hagakure!”

You’re no help either! Toshinori thought, pressing the base of his tail down trying to keep it still.

Jirou cocked her head to the side, pointing between him and Ojiro, “Hey, you two match!”

Hagakure jumped up with excitement, “You’re right, Jirou! Look Ojiro! Tail buddies!”

Ojiro blushed furiously as his tail wagged. Toshinori couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled out of him. His tail matched Ojiro’s pace, and he shook his head with amusement.

Feeling a tug on his arm, Toshinori looked down.

Ashido pulled him along towards the tables as Yaoyorozu spoke, “We set up refreshments here. We weren’t sure what kind of drink you would prefer, so we have teas - green, black, and herbal, fruit juices, and water if you prefer something simpler. Would you like to start with tea?”

Toshinori stared at the varied brands in front of him, These kids work fast…

Smiling, he replied, “Gree-, ah no, I think I’ll have some herbal tea if you don’t mind.”

Yaoyorozu nodded, “Of course! Next, are the snacks. We have a couple of films prepared, and a movie night would not be complete without snacks.”

The class vice president led him across the dining area, students trailing behind - each grabbing their preferred drink and snacks. Gesturing firmly, young Iida reminded them not to crowd the refreshments and to collect their snacks in an orderly fashion. Ashido remained latched onto his arm, refusing to let go even when they settled on the couch.

Toshinori smiled gently, reaching across and ruffling her hair, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Ashido nodded, pulling pillows and a blanket around them, and snuggled closer as her eyes locked onto the screen. Iida dimmed the lights and everyone gathered around the couch where Toshinori sat. He looked around, listening to the quiet murmurs of his students as they settled. His tail tuft thumped softly when Izuku sat on a pillow by his legs. The boy gave him a small smile, his shoulder just brushing the side of Toshinori’s calf, before turning his attention to the screen.

Toshinori gasped as trumpets and brass blared from the speakers, filling the air with an all-too-familiar tune. They didn’t… He smiled lopsidedly when he saw the film’s signature golden letters light up a starry sky. They did.

Chuckling, Toshinori let his tail slide off the couch and rest on Izuku’s shoulder, and settled in for the long ride.

The class - his kids - pressed close with dozens of blankets and pillows. There were no questions about where Toshinori had been or about what happened, or why he looked the way he did. They were just happy to have him back.

“Someone has to save our skins!” shouted the movie’s heroine to the cheers of Toshinori’s students. He huffed a quiet laugh, slowly nursing the fresh cup of ginger tea young Bakugou quietly handed him. The warmth of the blankets, pillows, and his students huddled close lulled him into pleasant dozing.

As much as Toshinori loved these movies, his attention drifted. It shifted from student to student, eventually landing on Aizawa cocooned inside his sleeping bag against the wall. A soft, contented smile lit up Toshinori’s face.

Thank you. All of you.

Naomasa pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing away the paperwork on his desk. The office was quiet in the late-night hours. Even Sansa had gone home for the night. Naomasa rubbed at his temples and stared at the short letter delivered by the chief’s secretary.

The third-party investigative team led by William Howard Wright is hereby authorized to work under Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi on the Rishi General Hospital & Yagi joint case. Further details will be decided at the discretion of the Head Investigator, Detective Tsukauchi.

Signed,

Chief Kenji Tsuragamae

Naomasa sighed and flipped open his laptop, “Alright. Let’s see what you have to offer.”

Toshinoumu & Izuku, Toshinoumu Ears, Tail Jail by Art-of_Zirio