BNHA: Lessons Learned

Chapter 1

   "...hey, Midoriya! Wanna go out for a bit?"
Izuku stared at his phone briefly, then put it back to his right ear. "Uhh...sure, okay. Where to?"
   "Let's go for lunch at Tirana. See you in thirty."
   "B-but...hey!" Too late, he'd already hung up. Good job it's not a school day, he thought.
However, he certainly wasn't going to begrudge his long-time friend and former teacher Toshi. It was always good to see him, and know that he was okay.
   "Mom, I'm going out with a friend!" He yelled on his way out of the house. Not much time, but he'd make it.
Outside the chosen establishment, the man was waiting.
Same impossibly-skinny frame.
Same impossibly-baggy clothes, four sizes too big at least.
Same wild hair, sunken cheeks and burning green eyes.
There was no changing Toshinori Yagi. Although he no longer had enough strength to muster up his far more usual form for long, he still greeted his friend and former pupil with a grin.

   "How's school going?" He asked after they'd seated and ordered food and drinks.
   "Pretty good." Izuku replied. "We've been focusing on trying to add improvements to our special moves lately."
   "Ah." Toshi nodded. "It's always good to have more than one knife in the kitchen, and to keep it sharp. I should have done more, really, but I guess I never needed to."
   "I'm still struggling with using Shoot Style for long-range things, though." Izuku confessed. "Maybe it's because I'd thought it up as an alternative close-range move, I never considered any other applications."
   "That's why you have me to call upon!" Toshi grinned. "We could always do some extra sessions after your school work when you think you have time."
   "...are you sure?"
   "Hahaha, of course! What sort of teacher would I be if I gave up on my star pupil because of one little setback? Don't you worry, young Midoriya. I shall help you with this."
It wasn't a 'little' setback, though. It was the setback.
And on some days when they met up, he acted as though it had never existed in the first place.
Or even worse, acted as though it was temporary.

Japan- and indeed, the whole world- had reeled and stumbled and cried on that fateful day ten months ago. The darkest of days, when All Might as everyone knew him ceased to be.
Giving everything he had to defeat his long-time nemesis, All For One, in what was essentially a death match.
Although he won, it wasn't just evil that had died that day.
In the days and weeks afterwards that then turned into months, citizens gradually grew accustomed to no longer seeing sudden unexplained tornadoes in the skies above, or hearing deep rumbles from distant punches connecting.
Or that laugh. Izuku missed that laugh most of all.
But time carries on, and so did the people. After all, there were plenty of other heroes around to pick up the slack.
Many that hadn't had chance for active service were now able to fully take part, claiming their share of criminal activity that had briefly spiked at a new high since All Might retired.
Endeavour took the number one spot in a logical move upwards, and several other new heroes made successful debuts after being inspired by All Might's courage.
But Toshi himself? Well...

He certainly wasn't idle. Oh, he could have been, nobody would have blamed him if he'd just vanished quietly after the embarrassment of everyone seeing his true form, but that would have also been extremely boring. Toshi was used to being very energetic and active after years of being a hero, so he occupied himself in the best ways he could think of.
He still regularly visited the school, U.A, and dispensed pearls of wisdom to students as well as catching up with many of his old teaching and hero comrades.
He spent many an hour with the Principal, drinking tea.
He often wandered around town, or went to concerts.
Some days, he just went to the beach and picked up trash.
But Toshinori Yagi was never, ever idle for long.
And quite often, when other things had been done, he would call or text his best pupil Izuku Midoriya and they'd hang out.
Nothing much, just a chat over some sushi and sake or whatever they'd felt like at the time. Today it was ramen.
People still smiled at him, and children still waved. It was pretty good, really, he was pleased to be remembered.
Sometimes, that's the best that one can hope for.