When the Stars Align

Chapter 27

~~

It's cold, colder than he's used to.

Then again, this was the Nurses office, so maybe that had more to do with it than the constant chill in his bones he's had to fight off recently.

Yagi Toshinori has found himself bandaged up in a cot once more, sporting injuries he's sworn to never have again or, at the very least, keep to a minimum. What could he say? He's not as young as he used to be, and now that One For All has been passed down to Izuku Midoriya, whatever power he has left is slowly beginning to wean off his lifespan, it seemed.

If he kept this up, he'd end up as just a bag of loose flesh by the end of the year, a clear contrast to his prime self from all that time back.

'Man, does time fly...'

"The situation, being what it was... I can't scold you two this time."

Granny Shuzenji, otherwise known as the Youthful Heroine: Recovery Girl, sat to the right of the blonde Hero, gaze soft and words heavy as she watched him and young Midoriya rest away in her office.

Out of everyone who knew the truth about his Quirk, Yagi couldn't be anymore grateful that the healing Pro had taken pity on him all those years ago when he was at his worst physically. If she hadn't, he had no doubt in his mind that 'All Might' wouldn't have lasted as long as he did, all courtesy to the fact that she'd been kind to him and had placed all semblance of trust on his shoulders even when she didn't have to.

Yes, the weight of all his promises rested heavy on him, but he wouldn't change any of it, not for one second.

Still, it's moments like these that brought a bit of cynicism back into his mind. Having to revert back to his thinner size, especially after exerting so much strength before, always left him feeling weak. It reminded him of all that he'd fought for in order to get to where he was- the people he had lost, the sacrifices made in both mind and body, the life he could never hope to have- only to seemingly lose it all after that fateful fight that happened more than five years back now.

God, he felt a mess.

Sighing, Yagi turned to look at Granny Shuzenji, mustering as much of an apologetic look as he could. "I think... I've probably shortened my time limit again... I'll be lucky if I still get an hour a day..."

To the left of him, recuperating just like him, Midoriya lay rigidly, obviously afraid at moving his broken limbs when still going under the healing process. "All Might...!"

It's times like these where the Hero was a bit grateful for his disciple, someone who could help take the load off of heavier subjects, even if he did it unknowingly on his part. Knowing this child was in his corner, a child who was going through the exact same things he once had to at his age, reminded him that life wasn't all bleak and linear like so many make it out to be.

It was circular, hopeful, not whatever this moping of his currently was.

With that in mind, the blonde Hero sat up with a small grunt, shrugging his shoulders as he went. Already, the Pro was tired of wasting away in the uncomfortable bed below, getting ready to just about march out of the cold, white room and head out to do something productive. "Whaddya gonna do! Bad things happen!"

Before he could advance any further, however, the rooms sliding door opened quietly, a figure shrouded in a tan coat stepping through amicably. "Pardon me. Long time no see, All Might!"

Spitting up a bit of blood in surprise, Yagi couldn't keep his growing smile in check, watching as the dark haired man entered the room fully. "Tsukauchi!! Didn't know you were here!"