All Might x Student!Reader (Boku no Hero Academia)

Chapter 22 - Fading Masks

All Might led you into the living room, still acting way too weird for his usual self. You sat down on a cozy, overstuffed couch, the oversized shirt brushing against your bare legs as you crossed them. The moment you settled in, All Might quickly excused himself to prepare something hot for you to drink.

"Tea will warm you right up!" he called from the kitchen, his voice overly cheerful, but you could sense the underlying tension in his tone. It was almost comical—like the number-one hero was suddenly afraid of something. Or maybe someone. And why hadn't you seen the owner of this house yet?

You sank back into the couch, letting its soft cushions envelop you, still confused about everything. All Might hadn't even bothered to sit down this time, pacing awkwardly in front of you, his eyes darting around the room like he was searching for a way out. The tea in your hands had cooled slightly, the steam rising in gentle wisps, but your attention was locked on him and his odd behavior.

The living room itself was simple and almost too tidy. There were a few framed photographs on the wall—none of them with faces clear enough to make out—and a small bookshelf lined with neatly arranged books, their spines practically untouched. The low coffee table in front of you had no knickknacks, no signs of anyone's hobbies or personal life. It felt sterile, like a model home that hadn't quite been lived in yet.

You sipped your tea, trying to gather your thoughts, all while All Might shuffled near the window, still refusing to make eye contact.

As the minutes passed, you couldn't help but voice your thoughts. "Where's your friend, All Might-sensei? Shouldn't he be here by now?"

"Toshinori works from home. He's... probably finishing something up. He'll come down when he's done."

"Works from home, huh? What does he do?" You raised an eyebrow, casually probing, trying to figure out what was up with All Might's strange behavior.

"He's a writer," All Might replied quickly, like he had the answer on standby.

"A writer, huh?" you said, starting with the basics, trying to sound casual. "What does he write?"

All Might paused mid-step and glanced at you, his face tense for a moment before he forced a smile. "Oh, uh... he writes... books." His answer was vague, almost robotic, as if it was rehearsed.

You arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, I figured. But what kind of books?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "Non-fiction. You know, the, uh, informative type." He cleared his throat loudly, then tried to look busy adjusting one of the picture frames on the wall, which hadn't been out of place to begin with.

"That's cool. I don't think I've heard of him before, though." You tried to dig deeper, sensing that there was something off, something more he wasn't telling you. "Is he famous? Does he use a pen name?"

"No, no, nothing like that. He's more... private." All Might's voice had tightened. "He doesn't like to advertise his work too much." His eyes flicked toward you for a second, then darted away, as if he was afraid you'd press the issue further.

You leaned back, draping one arm over the back of the couch, your bare legs tucked under you. "I see... So what does he do when he's not writing? Any hobbies? I'm just curious what kind of guy I'll be living with for a while."

All Might's jaw clenched slightly, and his answer came after a noticeable pause. "Toshinori... keeps to himself mostly. Reads a lot. Likes to, uh, stay indoors."

You nodded slowly, noticing how vague and generic his responses were. He wasn't giving you anything real. And it was making you even more curious.

"Okay, but if he works from home, I imagine he has some kind of routine, right? Is he up early? Does he cook? You know, normal stuff." You kept your tone light, as if you were just making conversation, but you could feel All Might growing more anxious with each question.