Chapter Text
Toshinori strolled toward the grocery store, a sturdy canvas bag slung over his shoulder. He planned to stock up on essentials—not enough to justify using his car, but enough to warrant the trip. The walk, though mundane, offered a rare moment of peace, and the crisp air was a welcome reprieve for his restless soul.
As he stepped inside the modest store, he adjusted his hat and sunglasses, silently praying that no one would recognize him. Despite his best efforts, his towering frame naturally drew a few glances. Being inconspicuous was a challenge, even when he wasn’t in the spotlight.
Thankfully, the store was quiet—typical for 12 p.m. on a Thursday. With only a handful of shoppers milling about, he slipped easily into the comforting routine of browsing the aisles, enjoying the rare simplicity of the task.
He made his way to the condiment aisle first, carefully examining the shelves before selecting a bottle of chili oil from dozens of brands. Next, he headed toward the produce section. He didn’t usually have days off but when he did he usually spent it buying groceries or meeting with his friends. Today had the promise of both. He smiled at the thought of living a calm peaceful life where he could spend the day lounging around going out for afternoon tea and coming home contently tired. But he knew the responsibility he had to uphold so he cherished days like these.
A child bumped into him snapping him back to reality. He apologized with a tiny little voice. He patted the polite boy on the head and continued shopping.
Just as he was about to pick out some oranges, his ringtone startled him, making him jump. Heart racing, he quickly pulled out his phone, expecting to see his agency calling him in for an emergency. Instead, he froze when he saw a name he hadn’t expected—*Inko Midoriya.*
He exhaled the breath he didnt know he was holding a let a small smile spread, he swiped the green button and answered. “Hi, Inko! How are you?” he said cheerfully, cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder as he continued to pick oranges. Perhaps he could bring them to their dinner as a desert. He was pretty sure the kids liked fruit. Or maybe ice cream?
But the response made him stop cold.
“T-Toshi—please, you need to come. I’m sorry—please help!” Her voice was strained, full of panic and pain. In the background, he could hear the crackle of fire and the desperate cries of a child.
The oranges fell from his hands and rolled across the floor as he bolted out of the store, leaving everything behind.
Toshinori’s thoughts raced as he ran. He remembered meeting Inko back in middle school. She was known as the kind girl who always went out of her way to help others. Her best friend, Mitsuki, was her polar opposite—sharp-tongued and fiery. The odd pair was inseparable, forming an unshakable bond. No one else could crack their circle of friendship—until Toshinori transferred into their class. He was usually calm and kind but when the time needed he could be cold and sharp.
His duality meant he hadn’t made many friends in his new class since most thought he was two faced. Most days, he kept to himself, occasionally glancing over at the lively duo everyone seemed to know. Instead of joining the chaos of the cafeteria, he preferred to eat his lunch behind the school, near a quiet pond surrounded by trees. It was peaceful there. The soft ripples on the water and the geese that settled on its surface made it his favorite place to escape.
Halfway through his meal one afternoon, the calm was shattered by loud shouting behind him. He paused, sighing in irritation, before turning to face the commotion.
Three boys from his class were dragging a girl toward the water, laughing as she thrashed and screamed at them to let go. Without a second thought, he was on his feet, sprinting toward them.
“Hey!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.
Before they could react, his fist connected with one boy’s jaw. “Back off!” he yelled, shoving another aside and sending the third stumbling backward. The boys took one look at his furious expression and ran off, muttering curses under their breath.
Turning around, he saw the girl sitting on the ground, scuffed and shaken. Only then did he realize—it was Inko.
He quickly offered his hand, and she hesitated before taking it. He pulled her to her feet, his concern softening the anger on his face. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the nurse?”
She brushed herself off, looking at him for a long moment, as if trying to figure out what to make of him. Finally, she shook her head. “I’m fine.”
He frowned slightly, still worried. “Where’s Mitsuki?”
“She’s sick,” Inko replied quietly. “She didn’t come to school today.”
“Oh,” he said, at a loss for words.
She had left after that. In the back of his mind, he thought it was a bit rude to leave without a word, but he understood they were both a bit shaken from the encounter. So he tried to forget about it and sat back to finish his lunch.
The next day, he found both Inko and Mitsuki waiting for him at his usual spot by the pond. They sat down beside him, unpacking their lunches without a word.
From that day on, the three of them became inseparable. It was a friendship he cherished to this day.
But now, as the Midoriya household came into view, his heart sank. Thick black smoke poured from the windows, and flames clawed at the walls. A crowd had gathered outside, murmuring in panic. The fire brigade hadn’t arrived yet.
Holding his breath, Toshinori pushed through the crowd, ignoring the concerned shouts from onlookers who hadn’t recognized him.
He kicked the front door open and rushed inside. The heat hit him like a wall, and the smell of burning wood and fabric filled his lungs. Familiar sights surrounded him—the furniture he had seen on so many visits was now scorched and crumbling. The plants Inko loved so dearly were reduced to blackened husks. The coffee table, which had always held a vase of flowers and Izuku’s pacifiers, was now engulfed in flames.
Panic thudded in his chest as he raced from room to room, flames licking at the walls and smoke clawing at his lungs. Where are they? The thought rang in his head, louder than the crackling fire.
Then he found the nursery.
In the corner, Inko sat slumped against the wall, cradling her toddler bloodied hands. Izuku clung to her, wailing as her limp arms hung loosely around him, a fragile shield against the chaos.
Toshinori’s breath caught in his throat, his vision blurring for just a second. “Inko…” he whispered, voice breaking.
But there was no response.
The fire was so incredibly loud. Creeks of the wood constricting as it burned. The fire alarm was blaring eerily as the noise box melted in the heat. Yet still in the cacophony of noise Inko's silence rang loudly.
Forcing himself to move, pushing the nausea that rose within him, he crossed the room in three strides and knelt beside them, carefully scooping both mother and child into his arms. Izuku’s cries shook his small frame, his fingers clutching desperately at Toshinori’s shirt.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you now. You’re safe,” Toshinori murmured, his voice soft and soothing, though he wasn’t sure if the words were for Izuku or himself. He swallowed hard, refusing to acknowledge the silence pressing against him.
Smoke filled his lungs as he stood, the weight of them grounding him. He turned and carried them out of the flames, murmuring promises into the darkness.