M-Side (Part 4)

"I'm not really surprised." All Might hummed, sipping on his coffee. "Continue, young Izuku."

He nodded and practically spilled everything to All Might. His admiration for Kacchan, his disdain for being helpless, his fear of losing him, his self-hatred for not doing anything even though he could've, everything.

"Are you afraid that they might beat you up?" Was the first thing the older man said.

Izuku was taken aback. "Well, I'm pretty sure that they would do it if I defy them. But I'm not afraid of getting beat up, after all, you thought me how to defend myself."

All Might patted him on the head. "That's my boy."

Izuku grinned.

"So what's the problem?"

Izuku was taken aback yet again. "What... No, I know what you mean." He shook his head. " The answer is already obvious but I'm just seeking assurance that what I'm planning to do is the right course of action." He paused. "Ah, I'm sorry. I'm mumbling to myself again."

Toshinori waved his hand in dismissal. "No, it's alright. I'm actually proud that my young Izuku is already thinking about justice at such a young age."

"Now you're just making fun of me," He pouted.

"I'm not," The blond man reassured but it was difficult to believe him because he was still laughing. "I'm absolutely honored to serve as your father, Izuku. I can already see your future as an outstanding man."

"Sheesh, All Might, you're making it sound as if you won't live to see that day."

All Might laughed once more, but Izuku didn't notice how tense it sounded.

"All Might, I've always wanted to ask." Toshinori gestured for him to continue. "Why didn't Okaa-san take your last name?"

"I thought your mother's maiden name suited her very well. It suits you, too." He answered, simply.

"Is it because of the hair?" Izuku frowned.

"Maybe,"

"Geez!"

"I also thought I wouldn't want to take it away from your mother," He added, belatedly.

"Take what?"

"You know," He shrugged.

"I don't," Izuku said honestly.

Toshinori sighed. "Your mother raised you all alone by herself and you've become such a fine man. The name Midoriya, for me, is bestowed upon strong people, and I think you should continue to carry that name so you could produce strong-willed green-haired babies."

"God, that's so cringey." He shivered. All Might chuckled. "Why didn't you marry into the Midoriya family instead? Oh wait, is it because your hair isn't green? I knew it."

"Your mother also doesn't want me to change my name," Toshinori explained. "Inko said, 'The name Yagi Toshinori will be printed in Japanese textbooks as one of the greatest soldiers of the 21st century. If you changed your name to Midoriya Toshinori, people will forget your achievements. Honestly, I don't really care if people know about my—"

"We do!" Izuku said, a bit too enthusiastically.

"—And since you Midoriyas are hard-headed people who won't change their minds once they settled something, I decided to follow Inko's wishes."

Izuku stared down at the carpet, his hands tightly balled into a fist. "Do you ever regret marrying mom?"

It was Toshinori's turn to look taken aback. "Why would you say that?"

"Just genuinely curious,"

"Izuku, I finally found what it means to be truly alive ever since I met you and Inko." He paused. "Man, I sound cheesy, don't I?"

"You do," Izuku snorted.

"Maybe it's because I'm getting old,"

"I absolutely believe there's no correlation between the two,"

"There isn't?"

"There isn't."

That night, Izuku helped Toshinori check some papers. Under the weak light of the desk lamp, he could finally see how age has caught up to All Might. His forehead wrinkles had been more pronounced than ever. The depth of his cheekbones was also more noticeable now. At first, Izuku thought it was just his imagination but he confirmed it that night.

All Might was starting to become thin.

***

In their last year of elementary, Midoriya found the courage to speak up.

"K-K-K-Kacchan," He tried, "you should really stop doing that to Tanaka-san."

Tanaka, a poor boy who had no sin aside from being deemed as 'annoying' by Kacchan, is pinned to the lockers. His whole body was shaking in fear, tears were trailing down his face. Honestly, Midoriya can't remember what Tanaka looked like. But he was sure that at that moment, Tanaka seemed like a sacrificial lamb thrown in the lion's den.

The blond boy turned around to meet Midoriya's gaze, eyes narrowing.

"Ha?" Kacchan demanded.

"Y-y-y-you should stop that," He swallowed the imaginary lump in his throat, his legs were shaking so bad he was surprised that no one noticed.

"Stop doing what to Tanaka?" He walked closer to Deku, and the messy-haired boy can't help but take a step back.

"That..." Izuku cowered in fear.

Behind them, Tanaka took it as his chance to make his exit. He scurried down the hall, leaving his school bag behind. Tsuna—Or was it Popo?—swore and tried to catch him but Kacchan grabbed his shirt before he could run.

"Let that rat go. We're dealing with a defiant useless shit right now."

They all nodded. Deku's heart felt like it was going to jump out of his throat. Surely, he wasn't the defiant useless shit being referred to, right?

Right?

"Tell me, Deku," Bakugo suddenly grabbed him by the collar, Midoriya couldn't help but squeak. "What were we doing to stupid face just now?"

"Yeah, tell us!" One of Kacchan's cronies jeered. Honestly, Midoriya didn't remember nor does he give a fuck who it was.

"You're h-h-harassing him," Deku slapped Kacchan's hands away. Red irises flared angrily. "T-T-This isn't right, Kaachan."

"You know what isn't right," Kacchan sneered. "Your good for nothing face!"

Before Midoriya could ask what exactly did that even mean, he felt the impact of a fist on his face. Soon enough, he found himself crouching on the floor, getting beat up by the people who were considered his 'friends'.

The only reason why he survived that night was that Tanaka came back, accompanied by their homeroom teacher. As soon as they heard the voice of the adult, the four boys hurried to God knows where. When they arrived, Deku was lying on the floor, beaten black and blue.

"Please don't report Kacchan," Izuku begged, tears welling up in his purpled eye. "I don't want him to get a bad record because of me. Please, sensei! I'm begging you!"

After much deliberation, the teacher decided not to report the incident to the higher authorities. Kacchan was a star student, they thought it would be a great loss to their institution if they expelled the boy. They also decided not to report his minions as well, for complaints would be made that why isn't their leader receiving any punishment, is this favoritism, and the like.

After a short trip to the clinic, he was sent home.

That night, Izuku arrived home covered in bandages and a bloodied face. Inko nearly fainted upon seeing the sight of his son. As she searched frantically for the first aid kit to change the cloth damped with blood, All Might looked down at his son.

"That doesn't look like the condition of a person who fought back,"

"I'm sorry, All Might." Izuku clenched his fist, nails digging so deep into his palm that it started to bleed. "I couldn't raise my hand at him. I don't want Kacchan to hate me more than this."

"You could've died," His voice was louder, Midoriya fought the urge to cry then and there.

"Please don't tell Okaa-san what happened," This was the second time that he found himself begging not to be ratted out.

"What are you planning to tell her about these injuries?"

"I fell off the stairs?"

"You don't get black eyes from falling off the stairs, Izuku."

"Just please, All Might!" He found himself crying in desperation. "Please cooperate with me."

Toshinori sighed in defeat. "Fine, but I'll tell Katsuki's parents—"

"No! That's even worse than me punching Kaachan! I might as well send him a notice we're at war!"

"Izuku," Inko tearfully returned to the room, carrying the first aid kit as promised. "How did you even get these—"

"He fell off the stairs," All Might blurted out.

Izuku sighed in relief, even if Inko started reprimanding him for his clumsiness. "How can you get a black eye for falling off the stairs?!" She practically screamed her head off.