Toshinori Yagi, or more known by his hero name All Might, was currently regretting adding a hat to his disguise. It was mid-summer and even though the park through which he was walking had shade, there wasn't quite enough to keep the heat at bay.

All Might wiped sweat from his forehead for what must've been the third time in five minutes, fixing the large sunglasses on his nose while doing so.

"Damn, it's hot", the man sighed, undoing the upmost button of his long, cream-colored coat.

That was what Toshinori Yagi's disguise usually consisted of, sunglasses, a long coat and occasionally, like today, a hat to hide his trademark hairstyle. Although many copycats had surfaced throughout the years All Might had actively been doing his job as a hero, no one came close to his style. No amount of hairspray or other products could keep hair up like All Might's.

Don't get the wrong idea though. It wasn't like All Might did this every day. He really liked his fans. But like everyone else in the world, the man needed some time alone from time to time. Especially after last week. He had been in an interview after interview as well as appeared as a guest in many shows. The fan meetings hadn't been easy on him either. Being a top-class hero really was a lot of work. More than the man could've ever expected.

Today he had decided that a calm and quiet walk in the park would do. His life was usually so noisy and full of action that it was distressing how quiet the park was. At least the cicada were making noise, a lot of it. What all heroes quickly learned was that quiet never meant anything good in this line of work. All Might knew this fact as well.

Good thing that the silence didn't last long. All Might was just about ready to rip his jacket off and get ready to face a Villain possibly stalking him in the quiet when a scream of a cry pierced through the air. No lie, the sudden noise made the muscular hero jump a bit. Good thing that no one saw it.

All Might quickly pinpointed the source of the noise to a small playground just a small distance from where he was standing. A group of kids were playing something together. There were five or six of them in total. There was no way to tell their age but All Might guessed that they couldn't be out of daycare yet.

All Might stopped to observe the scene. Things usually weren't as they seemed at first. There must be a reason why one of the kids cried out like that. It didn't sound like a happy or surprised cry either.

Although All Might wasn't married and didn't have any kids either, he worked a lot with them since they made up quite a chunk of his fanbase as well as daily clients. The man had learned a thing or two about kids throughout the years.

"Kacchan! Don't bully others!" a boy had separated from the group and was now standing in front of the others, arms spread apart and a fierce look on his face.

If only the boy didn't have such an adorable and innocent baby-face, it might've looked even a bit intimidating. The fact that he was around a head shorter than everyone else didn't help either. Now the boy just looked like a scared kitty cat trying to look as big as possible when faced with an angry pack of wolves.

Now that All Might got a good look at the situation, he saw that the green-haired boy was shielding what must be a friend. There was some blood tripping from the kid's nose. That must be the source of the cry then. Some friendly brawling gone wrong.

"DEKU! How many times have I told you not to interfere! You Quirkless!" a blond stepped forward from the group and faced the boy, apparently named Deku, head on.

"B-B-But Kacchan! It's not good to hit people! A hero wouldn't….", the boy mumbled, intimidated by the taller boy's presence. To be fair, the boy looked like a thug with the spiky hair and angry eyes.

"What would you know?! Quit talking about heroes, Deku! You can't become one! Never!" the blond spat as sparks flew from his hand.

'A Quirk?' All Might thought to himself. He felt a strong urge to interfere but decided not to. He could remember his own childhood and all the fights he and his friends had had. A bruise there and there was necessary for a strong friendship.

Then there was an explosion. It was very small, but an explosion all the same. A cloud of smoke swallowed the playground and the group of boys.

When it finally faded, Deku was on the ground, holding his nose as well. Now there were two boys with bleeding noses.

The blond boy was glaring at Deku, his aura speaking of pure hatred, "And never call me 'Kacchan' again, Quirkless!"

The group turned to leave, clearly done with the situation here. Picking up their backpacks they shot a last glare at the small boy before finally leaving.

"A-Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Deku crouched down next to the boy still left in the park with him. There was worry in his eyes.

"Stop it. I'll just get punched again if they see me with you", the boy countered the kind gestures and stood up, wiping the knees of his shorts, "You really are lame, Deku."

"Wha-Huh?" the green-haired clearly didn't understand.

"You really think you can become a hero with all the notes you do?! I saw you drawing them again. It's really embarrassing, you know. You don't even have a Quirk."

"I will become a hero!" Deku exclaimed, not let down by the words. He must've heard them many times before not to get discouraged by them now.

The boy didn't want to argue anymore and left running, trying to catch up with Kacchan and the others, "And don't come near us again! You'll get punched."

"Huh? Okay", Deku nodded, still on the ground. He had never had the time to get up from there and was still sitting on the dirt.

All Might saw this as his chance to make an entrance. He knew that he was hours late to make things better for the boy but he could always try. A hero never gave up when faced with a challenge.

"Hello there, young boy! Quite mean buddies you got there!" All Might slid to the scene, scooping the boy up and offering him a napkin in a matter of seconds.

The boy took the offered item and stuck it to his nose to get rid of the red substance now slowly dripping down his chin. He seemed a bit dazed. All Might was thinking of checking if the boy had symptoms of a concussion.

"All Might!" Deku suddenly screamed, looking around frantically. He was totally ignoring the man and forgetting that he should be at least a bit suspicious of an unknown man offering him anything.

The man in question flinched. Had the boy really seen through his cover that easy?

But that wasn't the case. Deku first ran to his backpack and picked it up, then to the bushes. The yellow backpack was huge and made the boy look like a turtle or something as he searched through the bush. He emerged after some time with his messy hair full of twigs and leaves, but on his face was a relieved smile and in his hands an action figure.

All Might had sat down on a bench somewhere during the boy's search and Deku now sat right next to him, jumping to reach the seat. Yeah, he clearly hadn't gotten the memo about approaching strangers either.

"Aa! That is a very old figure!" All Might pointed out as Deku held the figure out for the man to look at, a proud grin on his chubby, freckled face.

It was an All Might action figure. Those could be found anywhere from kids' meals to toys stores' shelves. Super heroes were very a popular theme on toys. It was a design from years ago. It was nostalgic for the hero to see.

"Mm!" Deku nodded, happy that the man knew such details.

All Might could tell that the toy was the boy's most priced possession by the way he held it. The thing had also seen better days. The red base color of the plastic shone though in most places and the figure was missing an arm. It had been replaced by a piece of wood that somewhat looked like the other arm still in place. Hey, at least it wasn't a mere twig.

The two sat in silence for some time. All Might didn't know what to say to a boy he had just met and the little one seemed content just to sit there and play with his toy, sprouting facts about the hero in between.

"So.. Would you like to have something? Ice cream?" All Might smacked his face right after saying that. He sounded like a creep. His dubious appearance didn't help either. Next he should invite the kid to his place while telling him that he wasn't a weird guy at all.

"Dad said that I shouldn't take things from strangers", Deku mumbled, drawing something in the notebook he had pulled out earlier. It was full of scribbles of heroes and All Might could recognize some of his colleagues in there.

'So that's the part he taught you?!' All Might thought. What a father the boy had. Well, better than nothing.

"Then why did you sit next to me? I could tell you my name if that would help."

"It's cause you look like a hero! You're big and strong!" Deku giggled, showing All Might the action figure once again. He pointed out the similarities to the man.

"I look like a hero? You're the first one who has ever told me that! My name is Toshinori Yagi. Pleasure to meet you", All Might smiled. His real name was safe since he went by his hero name in the public. There was absolutely no way anyone could make a connection just from his name.

"Really?!" Deku's eyes were huge, "My name is Midoriya Izuku! But you can call me Deku!"

"W-Why Deku?" All Might asked as he shook the boy's hand. The kid had wanted to go for a formal greeting. The small hand was swallowed by All Might's much bigger one. The man made sure not to use any strength or he could've crushed the little thing.

"Kacchan says that it's because I can't do anything and I'm a worthless piece of trash. That's what 'Deku' is!" the boy, Midoriya explained. The smile was still present as if he had just stated something completely normal.

All Might was taken aback. Not only by the boy's way of telling the meaning behind the name like it was an universal fact, but also because someone could give another such a terrible nickname and use it on top of it all.

"Mr. Toshinori?" Midoriya nudged All Might's hand.

"Don't call me mister. Yagi is just enough", the man smiled, placing his hand on top of Deku's head, "I don't know about the whole 'Deku' thing but you're definitely not worthless. No one is. Never forget that."

"Why? Everybody says that", Deku tilted his head.

"Why would they say that, young boy?"

"Because I'm Quirkless."

All Might had heard of Quirkless people, of course he had. He had even met some. It just had become so normal to have heroes and such that not having a Quirk had become something abnormal and weird. Ironically.

"There's this bone in my toe and that's why the doctor told me I can't get a Quirk", the boy kept on explaining, "Mommy and daddy both have Quirks. Kacchan and everyone have one too."

All Might listened to the boy go on about how the bone made it impossible for him to have a Quirk for a minute or two more. He soon learned that Midoriya was a good speaker and had a ton to say. It was like a flood once the boy got to open his mouth.

While doing so, All Might couldn't help notice the state the boy was in. On closer inspection, the bloody nose didn't come close to being his main worry with this child. All in all, the boy was skinny and dirty like he hadn't eaten or showered in weeks. His hair, from which All Might had removed the twigs and leaves from by now, was shaggy. It looked like an afro with the natural curls. The clothes on him didn't look too shabby either. The shorts were hardly holding on and the T-shirt was close to being see-through.

Although All Might didn't exactly want to, he had to wonder about what was going on back home. There was no way a parent would let their child look like that. Were they poor?

Right around then, Midoriya happened to check the large clock in the park.

He jumped off the bench and pointed to the clock, turning to All Might, "I'm late! I have to go!"

"Whoa, whoa!" All Might held the child in place, preventing him from running away, "What's the hurry?"

"Daddy said that I need to be home when the arms look like a long line", Midoriya explained, forming the same form as the clock when it read six.

Too bad that it was at least fifteen minutes over that already.

"And I have to go shopping too!" the boy continued, digging a pouch and a dirty piece of paper out from the pocket of his pants.

"Maybe I could help" All Might offered. He had to learn more about the boy's situation back home.

"No, no. Daddy said that I have to do it."

"But four arms is better than two", All Might suggested, watching Midoriya think, "And I should get some shopping done too! We can help each other!"

The latter was a lie, but it got a positive nod as an answer.

"Great!" the man smiled as Midoriya took his hand and they began their short walk to the nearest grocery store.

It was only a block or two away and by the time they watched the automatic doors part from their way, All Might had somewhat read through what Midoriya would need to buy today. The letters looked like chicken scratch or worse. He could only make out 'meat' and 'milk'.

"What do you need?" Midoriya asked as he took a basket. It was a bit too big for him but the boy was determined to carry it anyway.

"S-Some noodles", All Might told him. He could get some instant noodles for his roommate.

"Okay", a pack of ham went to the basket alongside a bottle of soy sauce.

"Isn't it Deku! Welcome back!" a clerk greeted the two as they advanced further into the store, "Doing shopping for you dad again?"

"Hm!" Deku nodded, "I need fish, the little kind."

"The mackerels? Sure! I'll wrap some up for you", the middle-aged woman smiled as she went to get the said item. While doing so, she waved for All Might to follow her.

"I guess I'll get some as well. I'll be back", All Might excused himself and ran after the clerk.

"Sure", Deku nodded, looking at the milks and checking their prices.

"Do you know the boy? Are you a family member?" the woman asked as soon as they were out of earshot. There was clear worry in her eyes.

"I met him just today", All Might admitted, watching the woman give him a weird look and a once over. He really looked like a pervert. The disguise would have to be changed.

"Aren't you worried? The kid doesn't have shoes on for god's sake!" the woman finally cried out.

"Do you know how his home is?"

"Not really, but Deku is always here to do groceries for his father. I usually give him leftovers just so he can have something to eat. He gets all the unsellable items too, for half free. I have to sell him tobacco and alcohol or he'd be in trouble back home", the fish was wrapped in paper and a priced. The fish were the smallest and cheapest there were. The ones no one else would buy.

"Have you reported anything yet?"

"I can't. I don't really have enough evidence", she sighed, "And what about adoption? Deku would be stuck in the system forever."

All Might had to agree.

"Please, take care of him. He really is just a sweet boy."

The two returned to Midoriya, who now had half of his basket full.

"Are you ready?" All Might asked as he watched Deku check his list once again.

He got a nod as reply and they went to pay for what they had.

"Anything else?" the woman asked Deku, knowing very well what would be next.

"Daddy said to get some cigarettes and beer", the boy told her, pointing behind the counter where the smokes were.

"You know very well that I can't sell you those", she sighed.

"It's not for me."

"Couldn't your father come and buy those himself?"

"He's busy."

The clerk had to give up. She knew what she was doing was a crime but she couldn't really risk the kid getting in trouble. Last time he hadn't gotten the items, there had been a black eye and other bruises.

"Just tell him to come next time", she told Deku.

The crumbled up bills and loose change came very close to not being enough for the purchase. Deku eyed as the clerk counted the money, clearly worried as well.

"Thank you, come back again."

"You think you can carry all that?" All Might swung his almost empty plastic bag around, watching Deku carry a bag. Most of the stuff had fit in the backpack.

"Hm!" the boy nodded.

"Are you okay with the woman calling you Deku?"

"Why not? It's my name", Deku stopped, tilting his head. Why would it be wrong to be called with your name?

"Do you like that name?"

"Yeah."

The conversation ended there. There was no way All Might would call the boy Deku though. Maybe one day, but not yet. When there would be something more positive to connect with the name, then he could.

The sun was setting as the two walked.

All Might had offered to walk the boy home. To be honest, he was curious about where he lived. Seeing how the neighborhood changed from cosy and nice to the dirty suburbs, the man was glad he decided to tag along. This part of the town was known to be the Villains' den.

"I live here!" Deku pointed to a block of flats. Some of the windows were broken and the once bright red paint on the door was chipping off.

All Might made sure to remember the address. It could be of use later.

"W-Will you be busy tomorrow?" the boy asked, kicking the ground.

"Maybe. Do you think you could come play with me tomorrow?"

Deku beamed, his eyes sparkling, "Can we go to the beach?!"

"Of course!" All Might smiled, "Let's meet in the park. Let's say three o'clock."

The boy nodded running up the apartment stairs, "Bye bye!"

All Might stayed glued to the place for five minutes before he turned to leave. He couldn't wait until tomorrow.