A/N: Sorry for taking longer than expected, moving homes is harder than I thought it would be! But don't worry, I won't abandon my fics!
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Slouching lazily on a chair, assigned to a desk at the back of the class, y/n watched as her teacher lectured about the importance of grammar with a voice so boring it was putting the class to sleep. Funnily enough, as much as the lecturer droned, a boring voice wasn't his quirk. Basically the entire class of future heroes sat, uninterested, none more than the young Shimura daughter. However there was one who had been sat at the front, sitting upright with determination and enough focus to compensate for everyone else in the room, his golden blonde hair recognisable anywhere. And of course, while other students struggled to answer the literary questions, he replied to the correct answers with ease. Falling too tired to learn, y/n just assumed that he was good at this particular class and left it at that.
"You're late." Observed the strict mathematics teacher, his ruler pointed threateningly at some equation on his board. His observation forced y/n into the spotlight.
"Yeah, sorry or whatever. I got lost." It was such a generic response, obviously a lie, but the teacher had accepted it anyway.
"It's normal for at least one student to get lost on their first day each year, though you've beaten the record by over eleven minutes and thirteen seconds. Do not make it a habit."
Mathematics had proven to be just as slow as the class before it, though the teacher's voice this time was significantly less dull. Once again at the back of the class, this time at the window, y/n found herself quickly fading the educational location out of her mind as she admired the clouds in the sky.
"Y/N, could you please tell me the answer to this equation?" Hearing her name, the girl jolted out of her daydream, staring at the board that had some random mix of letters and numbers that she had no business understanding.
"Uhh, 42?" No one laughed. She didn't expect anyone to, but what was more surprising was how quickly Toshinori raised his hand, calling out that he knew the answer before the lecturer had a chance to force discipline onto the young Shimura. The educator gave the child a quick glare before giving in and asking the energetic boy to give him the obvious and correct answers.
"That is correct, however I would like to hear a correct answer from someone else for once."
Y/N only scoffed to herself, rolling her eyes as she glared down at her notebook. Why was he such a try-hard?
Classes continued that same way, each generic first class of every standard subject repeating themselves in the similar way. The determined blonde boy would get every answer right and brighten each teacher's day, while y/n would appear shockingly late and ignorant of any thing anyone tried to explain to her. She was almost considering not being late for lunch, and yet she was late for that too anyway. No one knew how...
The loud, intrusive noise of trays being slid onto the table disrupted y/n from her moment of peace. Her eyes wandered from her food to the two similarly positioned meals opposite her, not expecting two unexpected guests. It seemed neither of them had expected it either, the two young males staring blankly at eachother for a brief moment before the trainee hero that stood out the most among them all let out a laugh, pointing out the coincidence that neither of them had wanted her to be alone.
Ganto, the one who could turn anything he touched into food, joined in on the high spirits.
"No one should be left alone here!" He spoke cheerfully, grabbing his chopsticks as he began to dig into his food.
"..." There was an internal debate on wether or not y/n spoke up. She wanted to be alone, but then, she knew that only one of them would listen.
"So, y/n, were you seriously not paying attention in any of our classes?" He quizzed, curious how someone could care so little about being in the best of the best educational sectors in the country.
"Leave me alone." Replied the young girl, no longer having an appetite.
"Wait, really?" Ganto froze, his dark brown eyes concerned as he saw the grumpy, discomforted look on the girl's face. The unpredictability of her in that moment as they both stared each other down was enough to make him want to try another time. With a nervous laugh, he made an excuse of why he needed to go, and wandered off with his food to sit with someone else.
Finally, y/n decided to give her food a try, grabbing her chopsticks with a tightly gloved hand. School food was usually terrible, but UA couldn't have possibly overlooked the importance of a good meal. As the food was about to reach her mouth she noticed the other company she had. She dropped her food back on the tray, looking away from his brilliant blue eyes that pierced with curiosity.
"I meant both of you." She clarified, assuming that, even though he seemed bright in classes, he missed the social queues.
"But why?" He pushed, receiving the same glare the young Shimura had given their classmate Ganto. But unlike their classmate, he wouldn't back down so easily. Soon enough, the grumpy silence as the boy awaited her answer eagerly, proved to work and she began to grumble to herself.
"I'm not here to make friends..." This much conversation made her uncomfortable, usually keeping to herself as an attempt to hide how unhappy she was with the situations her mother would force on her.
"Of course not, neither am I! Friends are a bonus, we're all here to become heroes! It-"
"I don't want to be a hero either."
"Oh...Then why are you here?"
The boy's question was met with silence. He watched carefully as the classmate opposite him aggressively stabbed her food, not bothering to answer. The blonde frowned to himself, staring at his own meal and wondering what other reasons there could be.
"To control your quirk!" His loud exclamation startled y/n, glaring at him as if he had disturbed a book she was reading. "It must be hard to master a quirk like yours..." He sighed out.
"Like you would know, since you automatically mastered your quirk straight away apparently. What even is it anyway? Can't you give it a name?" Y/N hissed, her rage simmering as she let her e/c eyes meet the face of her forced company.
"Ah, yeah, it's...I can't say. Sorry." His internal battle as he attempted to figure out an answer confused her, before he settled on apologising for something he couldn't explain. Y/N scoffed to herself, folding her arms as she finally found herself having no appetite. Unable to say, huh? That sounded familiar. But it didn't matter, her mother had too many secrets for her to be worrying about some random kid's. She had even forgotten his name.
"Well, maybe you're not here to be a hero, but that doesn't mean that the classes can't be fun right?" Toshinori's optimism brightly lit up the room, his wide smile returning.
"Yeah right." Scoffed the girl, rolling her eyes as she tried to find something else to look at than the happy expression of the boy that felt uncomfortably familiar.
"Oh come on, I'll prove it! Come with me to our next class! I'll show you how fun it can be." For what felt like the hundredth time y/n's narrowed eyes landed on the blonde's face. It was obvious that he wouldn't back down no matter what. Accepting this fact, she gave in, allowing herself to be mildly intrigued.
"Fine." Her agreement was a milestone to him, causing him to cheer with his fist in the air. All of a sudden, y/n seemed to find herself trying to hold back a smile of her own...
...
"Sorry y/n, but you will have to sit this class out." The words were harsh, but certain as they left the teacher's mouth. He left no room for argument, but that didn't stop the boy next to y/n from standing up for her.
"But Sir, why? Shouldn't everyone get the chance to take part in all aspects of the curriculum?" Toshinori responded with questions, while y/n had accepted the fact that she just wouldn't be doing the hero class, at least for a while.
"While that is true, miss y/n's quirk is too dangerous for the subject of today, instead she will be doing one on one training to gain better control of her quirk. Just focus on yourself for now." The hero teacher was understanding towards his students, aware of how each of them had unique potential and how they all deserved to be part of the course.
"But...okay..." He gave up, knowing his teachers would probably have a better idea of what was better for each student. Still, he was excited to spend the class with the girl, who had now begun to walk away in the direction of an empty gym hall, where she'd have a different teacher help her master her abilities. He could only hope that she would get better at her quirk, so that they could study the hero class together. For now, he would continue as he normally would, studying hard to make his dreams come true...
"So, how was class?" In the evening, the blonde stood by the riverbank with the pro hero Nana Shimura, their usual meeting spot.
"It was great! I'm making good progress and the classes are so useful and informative." He smiled, staring as the water reflected the setting sun.
"That's good! But, there's something important that we need to discuss." The older woman admitted, her smile still bright although she displayed concern. It was important that something crucial changed to keep the boy safe.
"What is it?" Toshinori asked, now worried himself.
"One For All needs to be kept as much of a secret as possible. I strongly recommend you hide all your personal details from as many people as possible, even the ones you trust the most. Especially the ones you care about, secrecy is the way to keep everyone safe from the villains that might hunt you for the power." The pro hero closed her eyes, reliving the painful moment of giving her son away to keep him safe, along with the loss of her husband and the hatred that flowed from her daughter as a result.
"What about y/n? Does she know about One For All?" He had to ask, although she didn't seem to show any signs of being aware.
"No, and do not tell her anything about this, you hear? I am serious when I say that you do not put my daughter at more risk than she already is. All For One is after this quirk, he will do anything to erase it, that is why you need to be careful." Silence followed her words, the weight of them heavy on the young boy's shoulders. Of course, he had been taught all of the benefits and downfalls of inheriting this quirk before taking it on, but so much as discussing it was unpleasant.
"Now, do you have a hero name in mind?" The boy's master questioned, moving on swiftly so she could get to her point.
"Yes, I do." Toshinori confirmed, struggling to find his smile.
"Good, luckily I know someone with a quirk that can make people forget certain information. I will also talk to the Principle of UA, he will change your details on file. From as soon as tomorrow, you will be known as your hero name and nothing else. Your real name and any other personal details will be hidden, you would do well to keep it that way..." She informed, her eyes leaving the glistening water to focus on the young hero-in-training. "Now, what hero name did you have in mind?" She questioned.
"All Might." He spoke clearly, it was the first time he had said the name out loud to someone. Just saying the name lifted his spirits, it felt right.
"Alright, All Might. Do your best tomorrow at school okay?" The fearless smile of the lady returned as she said the name, giving him a motivational thumbs up as she began to mentally prioritise what information would need to be changed.
"I will! Thank you Master." The boy bowed, grateful for everything the woman had done for him. However, he couldn't ignore the small tingle of guilt as he realised that his friendship with y/n would now have to be built on lies and deception. Yet if it was for the safety of everyone, he would do it.