My Number One Hero-(All Might/ Toshinori Yagi) Book 3

38

As the crowd began to disperse, the air was thick with excitement and admiration. Students were still chatting animatedly about the concert, their voices ringing with awe. One of them said, "I thought it was amazing! I didn't expect that level of energy from the performance!" Another student added, "At first, I couldn't take it seriously, but when Beloved brought those two acts, it reminded me how grounded she is. Despite everything, she still loves us all, even though she's a mega-famous superhero like All Might!"

I stood just outside the auditorium, taking a deep breath as the buzz of the crowd filled my ears. I checked my phone, my fingers swiping across the screen absentmindedly. My stomach dropped when I saw a new text from Toshinori, asking me to meet at a spot nearby. A wave of nervousness washed over me, and I bit my lip, suddenly unsure of how to face him after everything that had happened.

"Uh-oh, looks like someone's got a little rendezvous," a voice teased from behind me.

I spun around, startled to find my brother standing just behind me with a cheeky grin plastered on his face. He whistled at the text before nudging me forward. "Go on, don't keep him waiting."

I frowned, irritated. "What are you, my personal cheerleader now?" I snapped, though there was a touch of humor in my voice.

Ryo's grin only widened, unfazed by my annoyance. "Don't be so dramatic. You're the one who rejected his proposal, after all. Pretty stupid, don't you think?"

My cheeks flushed slightly, my irritation building. "I wasn't ready! And I—"

Ryo raised a hand, cutting me off. "I get it. Trust me, I do. But you know what's really funny?" He gave me a teasing look. "I remember you fangirling over him when we were kids. I didn't know he was Toshinori. And, I never figured out why you were so obsessed, but now? Now it all makes sense. I'm glad you got the hero who's been a beacon of hope to so many. He's the one who's able to make you smile, and now it's your turn to put a smile on his face."

His words struck me more than I expected, and for a moment, I just stood there, my mind racing. I'd always known there was something about Toshinori, but hearing Ryo's perspective made my heart feel lighter. Maybe I had been foolish in pushing him away, but everything had happened so fast. Still, his support meant the world to me, and Ryo was right—I needed to see this through.

With a smile that felt more genuine than it had in days, I gave my brother a small push. "You're such a pain, you know that?"

Ryo chuckled. "And you love me for it." With that, he waved me off, turning to mingle with the crowd, leaving me to find my way to Toshinori.

My feet moved quickly, my heart pounding as I made my way to the designated spot. When I rounded the corner, I spotted Toshinori standing near the back of the building, his tall frame easily visible. Izuku stood beside him, head lowered, as Toshinori scolded him softly.

"Running late isn't a crime, but at least answer your phone," Toshinori was saying, his tone firm but not unkind.

Izuku nodded sheepishly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know. I was just in such a hurry, I kinda forgot to check it."

Toshinori sighed, crossing his arms. "Don't be surprised when you check your missed calls. I've got a pretty good idea of what happened, thanks to Ectoplasm's reports." He glanced down at his kids, his expression softening. "I really don't like being ignored, even more now of days because of Aizawa forcing Hana to do it. But after seeing that performance tonight? I understand completely why she did what she did."

"Mirio mentioned Ari loved that part of the performance with Beloved revealing herself-how many alter egos does she have!!!!" Izuku gushed liked the fanboy he was.