I do not own BNHA or any of the characters.

Enjoy part 1 of "Shoes."

Former Number One Hero, All Might, climbed out of the car, thanking the driver as he shut the door. When it drove off, Toshinori Yagi straightened with a groan and a pop of his back, and approached the apartment building where Inko Midoriya lived. Three flights and a long hallway brought him to the correct door. At one time, such a trip would make for a mindless stroll, but now… Toshinori rubbed his lower back with his knuckles, kneading the ache that had formed there. Again, he found himself battling the creeping fatigue that seemed to be his constant companion since his battle with All for One and the loss of his last remnants of One for All. With a last exhausted sigh, he shook off his fatigue, put on a convincing smile, and rang the doorbell.

The weekly meetings between Toshinori and Inko Midoriya started after young Midoriya began his additional training with his predecessor in the evenings. Toshinori would meet with and update Inko on her son's progress, doing what he could to answer any of her questions and concerns. It had actually been the boy's idea. He could tell his mother still fretted about him despite his daily phone calls. The suggestion had been accidental, an offhand comment during a rest period. Though the boy had frantically insisted All Might not do anything that would be inconvenient, his mentor enthusiastically agreed to do it.

Toshinori thought it was the very least he could do to belay any of his student's mother's worries. The retired hero was, after all, the source of them. It had never been his intent, but then again he had only thought to make Izuku his successor. He owed it to Inko to ease her mind with a smile and reassurances.

It only took a quick call for the times and dates to be set. This would be the third meeting.

The door swung open and Inko Midoriya looked up in surprise.

"All Might?" Inko paused, then she put a hand to her forehead, a rosy blush dusting her cheeks. "Oh! Today is Saturday isn't it!"

Toshinori's smile slipped. Like her son, Inko wore her emotions on her sleeve. She appeared flustered and tired, the shadows under eyes betraying a sleepless night.

"If it's not a convenient time, I could come back -" he started saying.

"Oh no no no!" Inko shook her head, cutting the emaciated hero off. She opened the door wide, "Come on in."

Toshinori thanked her and walked in, easily slipping off his oversized shoes and setting them aside. He caught her glancing between them and his feet with pursed lips. He shuffled awkwardly before she smiled and led him down the hall to the dining room.

"I apologize for the mess," Inko shyly gestured to the half emptied cardboard boxes strewn about the living area.

"Reorganizing?" Toshinori asked conversationally, making his way to the kitchen table.

"A bit," Inko said, entering the kitchen, "Tea?"

"I would love some," Toshinori said as he sat. It was the same spot he had occupied the first time he had visited the Midoriya residence. He was glad circumstances were now not so tense.

"With Izuku moved out," Inko said from the kitchen, "I thought it was time to go through some old things. I'm setting up his bedroom as a guest room for the time being."

Toshinori nodded, glancing around the home. The All Might posters were missing from the walls. Young Midoriya likely took those, Toshinori mused, remembering the look on the boy's face when his teacher had come to fetch him for his first day of one on one training. He'd refused to open the door more than a crack and was red to the tips of his ears. Had Toshinori not been so eager to begin Izuku's training, he would have enjoyed teasing the boy for being so obvious.

An opened letter on a stack of mail at the end of the table caught Toshinori's attention. He had no intention to pry, but the large prison insignia was impossible to miss. He'd heard of that prison. All heroes were familiar with it. Criminals committed of crimes using possibly volatile Quirks - ah, but he didn't want to pry.

Toshinori discretely busied himself with finding a video of Izuku's training on his phone.

Inko returned with a tray of tea and passed Toshinori a cup. It was then she noticed the letter open on the table.

Inko suddenly paled, glancing at her son's mentor who busied himself with blowing on the hot tea, before gathering the pile of mail.

"Sorry about the mess," she muttered, taking the mail to the kitchen.

"Please don't worry about it," Toshinori said warmly, hoping the mother caught his double meaning.

Inko paused, then continued into the kitchen. When she reemerged, she wore a small smile. "How is Izuku?"

And so the meeting went. Inko was growing far more comfortable with Izuku's progress, even proudly cheering while watching Izuku run an obstacle course on All Might's phone. Her relief was palpable when Toshinori described U.A.'s updated security systems, including patrols by the staff and faculty around the school grounds. By the time their cups were empty, their conversation had settled into amiable banter at Izuku's expense. It was mainly Inko's retelling of Izuku's early misadventures in his hero chasing and Toshinori's own stories of the boy's time with his classmates and friends. Inko was particularly happy to hear those and so Toshinori stuck to them.

When the sun was beginning to peek out from the top of the window, Toshinori stood. "I shouldn't impose on you any longer. Thank you for the tea."

Inko blushed, suddenly flustered, "Oh! I can't believe I kept you this long. I'm sorry, All Might."

"Toshinori," he said naturally, then coughed in surprise at himself, nearly spraying blood across her tabletop. He hadn't used his actual name in so long, at least not with a civilian.

Inko seemed just as shocked, frozen in reaching for Toshinori's cup.

After a moment composing himself, Toshinori mentally shrugged. He was retired anyway; he ought to get used to it.

"My name is Toshinori Yagi," he said with a gaunt but genuine smile and handed her his teacup.

Inko's blush seemed to grow to Toshinori's pleasure - another surprise.

"I, well, T-To-Mr. Yagi," Inko stuttered, her embarrassed expression so much like her son's.

Toshinori couldn't help it, a snort of laughter escaped him. The humor of it all and his contagious laughter got to Inko and she joined him.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't be so surprised!" Inko said between bouts of laughter, "Of course you would have a name besides 'All Might.' It just seems so strange!"

Toshinori grinned, stifling a hacking cough brought on by their laughing.

"Nonsense!" He shook his head and waved his hand casually, "No need to be sorry. Very few people know me as anything but All Might."

"Well, Mr. Yagi," Inko said, walking the teacups to the kitchen, "I appreciate you meeting with me and easing my mind." She reemerged from the kitchen, her expression soft and content, "I really am glad Izuku is happy and well."

"It's my pleasure. And please," the former hero smiled wide, following her to the front door, "Call me Toshinori."

Inko blushed but frowned as she watched Toshinori stoop to pick up his shoes.

"T… Toshinori," she said suddenly.

Toshinori glanced up, shoes still dangling from his hands.

Inko suddenly flushed, not quite looking at Toshinori. "St-stay here a moment."

Toshinori quirked a brow as the flustered woman retreated back into the living area. She quickly returned with a small box.

"Your shoes," she began, clutching the box to her chest like a lifeline, "Since your first visit, I noticed they don't - they don't quite fit."

Toshinori nodded slowly. It was true. All of his outfits were meant to fit his Hero Form, including his shoes. He hadn't had the chance to get them tailored or replaced. His teaching and Izuku's training kept him busy enough. That and he was far too used to wearing ill-fitting clothes.

Inko opened the box and took out a pair of brown dress shoes. They were faded with age and slightly scuffed, but obviously well cared for.

"They were my ex-husband's," Inko said, answering Toshinori's unasked question. "I found them in the back of a closet while cleaning. They are too big for Izuku. He takes after me after all," she said with a fond smile. She held out the shoes to Toshinori, "I don't have a use for them, but perhaps you would. I would hate for you to trip on your own feet."

Toshinori stared at the shorter woman, taken aback by her small act of kindness.

"I couldn't-" he began.

"I insist." Inko said in a sudden stern motherly tone, "Honestly, you're as bad as Izuku."

Toshinori laughed at that, rubbing the back of his head, mussing up his already unkempt hair. "I suppose the boy is rubbing off on me then."

He took the shoes, slipped them on, and flexed his toes experimentally. The shoes fit perfectly, the first thing in a long while that fit on his True Form.

"Thank you," Toshinori said, giving Inko his signature thumbs up.

Inko smiled, the stress from earlier in the day seemed mostly lifted. She opened the door and allowed Toshinori to step outside. He paused, then turned.

"Izuku is a very special kid," he said earnestly. "He gets that from you. You must be very proud of him."

Inko blushed furiously, tears threatening to spill just as easily as her son's.

"Thank you for allowing me to continue to teach him," Toshinori continued. "And… if you ever need anything-" he stopped, grinning at Inko's overwhelmed expression. "To repay you for the shoes." He said finally.

Inko Midoriya nodded, a hand on her cheek.

"Until next Saturday," Toshinori said, waving as he walked to the stairs.

Inko seemed to suddenly realize he was leaving. "Oh! Yes! Keep Izuku out of trouble!"

Toshinori raised a hand in a last farewell as he closed the stairwell door.

As the U.A. car drove away from the apartment building, Toshinori looked down at the brown dress shoes, tapping his foot idly. A small smile graced his thin face. Inko Midoriya was really something. His first impression of her had been correct, Izuku was truly the product of a strong mother.

As Toshinori examined his new shoes, he missed the man walking down the sidewalk. He wore plain clothes and carried a sack with a familiar prison insignia printed on its side and the name below it: HISASHI MIDORIYA.

To be continued.