The Emperor's Dragon II

Turning Points

Toshinori Yagi sat at home on his couch. He hadn't bothered putting on a light and the room was descending into gloom. On the table in front of him was Nezu's staggeringly comprehensive report on Inasa Yoarashi. There were all the usual details. Name, date of birth, quirk name, height, weight, blood type, parent's names, their quirks, his school results and then there was an in depth history of him, detailing his actions. It seemed as if Nezu had gone back to the time Inasa was a toddler, but Toshinori knew he was exaggerating with that thought.

The important thing to him was the psychological report on the teenager.

It showed Inasa was a good kid. Not perfect but a good kid and for his successor, Yagi knew that was really all he could ask for.

Which was why he was now sitting in the dark just thinking.

He'd always known he would be passing on One For All and becoming quirkless didn't actually bother him. It was just... When he'd accepted One For All, he'd accepted the weight of responsibility that went with it. Losing Nana had simply reinforced his commitment and he had hunted All For One down over years... The villain was in Tartarus but his heirs were still active and that was giving him pause.

One For All was not just a quirk, it was a sacred responsibility and now, as he was about to pass it on, Toshinori could feel the weight of that responsibility all the more heavily. He wished he could talk to Gran Torino about it but-

Savagely, Yagi shook his head. Gran was gone and he'd be pleased that All For One was in Tartarus. Grimly, Toshinori knew Gran would have been more pleased if All For One was six feet under, like him, but he knew his mentor would take what he could get in regards to All For One.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his one lung allowed.

Inasa was a good choice. He had a commanding presence but knew how to have fun and he was a good kid. He didn't bully others, and genuinely tried to help those who needed it. He'd done that all his life. Nezu had been right in saying that recommendation looked at more things than just quirk strength since most of the psyche report came from Shadowcrawler and Magentee's agencies. They had worked hard both with and for Inasa to make sure he was worthy of their recommendation. They would be rightfully proud of their student.

Yagi nodded to himself, opening his eyes before reaching out to flip the report closed.

He'd make the offer tomorrow. He'd try to explain the responsibilities that came with One For All and he'd try to explain that, from now on, One For All's journey would be Inasa's to guide.

And then, once it was passed on, he could retire and...

He'd be there to offer advice and training to Inasa, in much the way Gran had for him but, it was time to leave the future to its inheritors.

Their time was now.

-ted-

Despite how uncomfortable Johnny's quirk was, it was efficient and Dabi and Izuku quickly appeared in Yakuni's workshop. The young man gave them a look.

"You're back," he commented blandly.

Izuku grinned. "Show Dabi Kendo," he ordered without giving an explanation.

Yakuni cocked his head slightly and then shrugged. He turned back to his work station, which mirrored the Doctor's and tapped a few of the keys. Izuku thought it somewhat dramatic the way the lights went off in all of the tanks, except Kendo's, though he had to admit it was a good way of highlighting which Nomu Dabi was meant to focus on.

Yakuni looked over at him and Izuku nodded, giving silent permission for the young man to explain what he was doing. Given the way Izuku had left, Yakuni had no doubt figured out that Dabi was at least partially to blame so checking was a good thing. "This is Kendo, but you know that," Yakuni said as Dabi moved towards the tank.