Chapter 20 - Carried by the Storm

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You still get butterflies, even though he has taken you into his arms more than once. There's something undeniable about it—each time he holds you, touches you even slightly, you crave more. Your heart races when his warmth surrounds you, and every time you tell yourself that this is the moment you'll finally get used to it, but you never do. It's as if his touch sets something off inside you that no amount of logic or self-control can temper. If only he knew the depth of your feelings, if only he could understand that what you feel for him isn't just a fleeting crush.

Your feelings are much deeper than that. They've grown over time, building up until they consumed your every thought, your every breath. Yet, despite this, he still seems oblivious. Or perhaps he knows, but he's too scared to acknowledge it. Either way, you can't deny it anymore, not to yourself. It's too late to pretend your heart doesn't leap every time he looks at you. You've tried telling yourself that your emotions would eventually fade, that it was just a passing phase. But here you are, in his arms again, and it's clear now—they aren't going away. They're only growing stronger.

And then there's him. He's never given you a clear answer, never directly said how he feels about you. 

Yet, there were moments. Little signs that gave you hope, made you think that maybe—just maybe—he felt something too. A glance that lingered a little too long, a slight blush on his cheeks, the way he'd sometimes stutter when you got too close. But it was never enough to be certain. You desperately wanted to believe that he was starting to see you differently, that he wasn't just your mentor, that he saw you as more. But your rational mind kept warning you against such hope. Could someone like him, someone as great as All Might, really have feelings for someone like you? Was it even possible?

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to clear your thoughts, but it was like trying to dam a river with a handful of pebbles. The thoughts wouldn't stop. They raced through your mind, each one more confusing than the last. How could you possibly think about anything else when you were so entangled in these feelings? But eventually, you managed to push them aside, if only for a moment, to focus on something else.

You weren't sure where he was taking you. He had scooped you up in his arms without much explanation, his strong arms lifting you effortlessly off the ground as if you weighed nothing. The rain had been pouring for what seemed like hours now, but in his arms, you barely felt the chill. His body was warm, his jacket shielding you from the brunt of the downpour, though you were already soaked to the skin. But even then, the cold didn't matter. Nothing did. Because right now, you were in All Might's arms, being carried through the rain, and nothing else seemed to matter.

You tried to remind yourself of how surreal this was. How many girls could say that All Might, the symbol of peace himself, had carried them through a storm? His jacket wrapped around you, his arms holding you close. Other girls who admired him from afar, who harbored secret crushes on him, could only dream of this moment. But here you were, living it. For the first time in your life, you felt like you were truly special.

Still, as special as it felt, there was something nagging at you. The uncertainty of it all. Where were you going? What was his plan? You'd been carried for a while now, and you had no idea what his next move was. Gathering your courage, you mumbled, "Umm... sensei... c-can you tell me where exactly we're going?"

He didn't respond right away, so you did something you never thought you'd have the courage to do. You pulled yourself up a little, bringing your face closer to his ear, and repeated your question, this time with more urgency. "Sensei, where are we going?"

You could have sworn that at that moment, when your lips brushed close to his ear, something changed in him. You felt his heart beat faster, his chest rising a bit unevenly beneath your hand. And for a split second, you thought you saw him blush. Was it because of the cold, or... something else?

"Well... it's a, uh, special place," he said, his voice sounding slightly unsteady, something you'd never heard from him before. It was almost as if he didn't quite know how to answer your question. "A place where... no one will find out who you are. And, um... that there are two of you." He trailed off, clearly embarrassed.

"What kind of special place?" you asked, pushing for more information, your curiosity getting the best of you.

He laughed, but it wasn't his usual hearty laugh. It was nervous, almost forced, and instead of answering your question, he simply leaped onto another rooftop, ignoring you entirely. Frustrated, you raised your voice, "All Might-sensei? Do you hear me?"

"Yes, of course! It's... it's..." He hesitated again, clearly struggling to come up with a response. "It's my friend's house," he finally said, his words tumbling out quickly, as if he was trying to get them over with. His entire demeanor had changed, his confidence wavering in a way you'd never seen before. All Might, the unshakable hero, was... flustered?

"Are you sure, sensei? You don't sound..." you began, but he cut you off abruptly.

"Of course, (Y/N)-san! You'll be safe there! And he'll certainly help you figure out a solution to your problem!" His voice was loud and cheerful, but there was an edge to it, a stiffness that told you he was avoiding something.

Suddenly, a thought struck you. All Might was going to leave you with this friend, someone you didn't know. The realization hit you like a punch to the gut, and panic welled up inside you. He was going to leave you. Leave you alone with a complete stranger. Your throat tightened, and you felt tears prickling the corners of your eyes. No. You didn't want that. You didn't want to be left alone.

You tried to suppress the emotions threatening to overflow, but it was no use. He must have noticed the change in your expression because his face softened immediately, his grip tightening protectively around you. "Of course, it's not like I'll leave you there alone! I'll be coming to check on you, don't worry, (Y/N)-san." His tone was reassuring, but it didn't entirely ease the knot in your stomach.

He didn't understand. You didn't want him to leave at all, even for a moment. But what choice did you have? You trusted him, trusted his judgment. If he believed this was the best course of action, then you had to believe in it too. You had always trusted him.

"You're... cruel, sensei," you said softly, trying to hide the quiver in your voice as you pressed your face into his chest, so he wouldn't see your tears.

"What? Why do you say that?" He sounded genuinely surprised, as if the thought of him being cruel had never crossed his mind. "You make it sound like I'm about to abandon you. I promise, (Y/N), I'd never do that. This is only temporary, just until I can find a way to help you."

You glanced up at him through tear-blurred eyes, his use of your name without the formal honorific catching you off guard. He was serious. His eyes, usually filled with bright, heroic resolve, were soft as they looked down at you, full of sincerity. He wouldn't abandon you. All Might wouldn't lie to you, right?

"Okay," you whispered. "I believe you."

"Thank you, (Y/N)." His voice was gentle now, a warmth spreading through his words. "For now, we need to find a place where you can stay hidden. Then we'll figure out the rest."

You were so focused on the sound of his voice, the comfort it brought, that you didn't even realize when he landed and set you down on solid ground. When you finally looked up, you saw that you were standing in front of a medium-sized yellowish house, surrounded by an auburn fence. It looked utterly normal, nothing like the kind of place you had imagined. The street around it was quiet, a few other houses scattered nearby, but otherwise, it seemed like an ordinary neighborhood.

"So... can you at least tell me what your friend's name is?" you asked, your voice soft as you tried to read his expression.

He hesitated for just a moment, his hand still resting on your waist as if reluctant to let go. And then, with a small, almost sheepish smile, he answered, 

"Of course! It's... it's... it's Toshinori Yagi."


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I haven't found any information about All Might's house, so I came up with something myself. If anyone knows anything, let me know! XD

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