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CHAPTER START---
Finally sneaking out of the main room Yagi manages to escape to the hotel's balcony. A massive garden area that overlooked Hiroshima.
With the moon high in the sky and reflecting off the ocean in the distance, the cool night air nearly made him shiver, no, it felt oddly warm.
He breathes a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his body relax, then looks down at the medal in his hand.
'For going above and beyond as a citizen and a hero...or something like that,' he thinks. He couldn't really remember what Pantu said when she presented him with it on stage.
Or what the other dozen or so medals and accolades were for.
He mindlessly begins walking to the railing, to get some fresh air, and take a break from people bombarding him with their gratitude for all he's done.
It all felt so hollow, undeserved.'I'm here, weak and frail, helpless, when I'm supposed to be protecting everyone. But even tonight I need someone to protect me when I leave UA.'
Yagi can't help but look down at the medal in disgust, as if it insulted him. And before he knows it he's leaning against the railing, holding it out above the street below, ready to get rid of it.
As if it could ever help ease his shame, as if dropping it to the street below would fix anything.
As if---
"What are you doing?" A deep voice asks beside him.
"Huh!" Yagi nearly fumbles and drops the medal but barely catches it, breathing a sigh of relief as he looks to his right.
Standing only a meter away was Endeavor, Enji Todoroki in a formal black suit, leaning against the railing with his phone in his hand.
The former #2 Hero, now the temporary #1.
Pantu has already spoken to both these men regarding the rankings, unlike the public, they already knew Endeavor would officially become the #1 Hero during the annual ceremony in November.
Four #1 Heroes in one building, at one event. An astronomically rare occurrence.
Japan's former #1 -All Might.
Japan's current #1- Endeavor.
Thailand's current #1- Buakaw.
Korea's current #1- Hodori.
And if counting who everyone assumes is a future #1 Hero, Horizon, that makes five.
"When did you get here?" Yagi asks Endeavor after recovering from the surprise.
Endeavor glances down at his phone, seeing that Shoto read his messages but hasn't responded...as usual. Then looks to Yagi.
"I was here before you, but you were too in your own head to notice."
'That explains why I'm not freezing in this wind,' Yagi realizes.
"You should go back inside, that's where the cameras are, isn't that what you're all about?" Endeavor asks gruffly.
Yagi just shakes his head and goes back to leaning on the railing. "That's why I'm out here actually, same as you I'd imagine. I didn't see you inside, not even during the presentation, are you avoiding their questions too?"
This gets Endeavor curious, "what do you mean 'too', since when do you avoid people?"
Yagi falls silent for a while, playing with the small medal in his hand, rolling it between his fingers.
"Have you ever felt, like all your life you've only been focused on one thing, and you thought you were succeeding...but after it's all done you realized you failed anyway."
Endeavor glances down at his phone, still seeing dozens of messages over the past two months with not a single reply from Shoto or Natsuo.
"Even you can't fight villains forever," Endeavor says. "Is that what you wanted to do, or would you be happier if you died fighting?"
Yagi doesn't even think about it for a moment, because he's thought about it a lot these past few days, "maybe," he mutters.
"Tch," Endeavor scoffs, "you've done your part, more than your fair share at least. You know better than anyone that even you can't save everyone, just try to enjoy retirement somehow..."
"That's impossible while Shigaraki is out there," Yagi says, and Endeavor immediately realizes what's wrong.
"So that's what this is about, you feel responsible for him."
"My master neglected his dad, to train me. That chain of events led us to where we all are today, how am I supposed to not feel responsible for that, at least partly."
"Hmm, 'Heroes are willing to hurt the only people they're truly required to protect, for the sake of strangers...' at least I think that's what he said," Endeavor says.
"All For One?"
"Horizon, during the sports festival, it feels like every day he's more and more right about that," Endeavor glances down at his phone, still seeing no replies. "It's given me a lot to think about, the things that happened these past few months."
"You and me both," Yagi actually manages to chuckle at that, enjoying how much more friendly Endeavor was being at the moment. "I have to somehow get used to being the one who needs saving...while my master's grandson is out there hurting people, and I can't even stop him.
And you need to focus on being the #1 Hero, being the new symbol for the people of this country."
"Mmm," Endeavor grumbles, "That hasn't been on my mind as much as I would have expected, I've been distracted by some personal issues. How has Shoto been doing at UA?"
"He's the same as always, it's always been a bit difficult to read him, is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine," he lied. "But I suppose now you can finally give your full focus to teaching those students how to be proper Pro Heroes."
Yagi chuckles at that, then gestures at his missing arm, "I suppose this is what it took to get me to stay in one place, but yes that's my plan. You're always welcome to stop in at UA if you want to visit, or maybe even teach a class.
Oh, never mind, you'll be too busy now that you're the #1 Hero, my apologies."
"#1 Hero," Endeavor mutters, taking one last look at his phone before putting it away. "I always thought I'd be happy to hear that...but this just feels rotten."
"Rotten?" Yagi aks.
"Undeserved," Endeavor says. "I never truly surpassed you, I'm only here because of the gap between me and all the others, I was the only real option to fill the space you left, it's a hollow promotion."
"That doesn't change what it means, what it requires of you," Yagi says. "It doesn't matter how you got to this spot, what matters is that you show everyone that you deserve it, that you show yourself you deserve it."
Endeavor falls silent for a while, carefully considering everything he just heard. Realizing it was all true, that he couldn't change the past, he just had to show everyone who doubted him that he is a worthy #1 Hero.
"But what if that isn't my focus anymore?" Endeavor ask.
Yagi is completely blindsided by this, "but being the greatest hero has always been your focus, what are you talking about?"
Endeavor just frowns at that, "hurting the people close to you in order to be a better hero to others, that's not something I want to do anymore. But the only way I can even think of atoning is to prove that this wasn't all for nothing, that the suffering wasn't for nothing. That I am a great hero, someone they can look up to."
Yagi gives him a confused look, "atone? What are you talking about?"
Endeavor's eyes open wide for a moment, realizing he's said too much, "sorry, just ignore that I said anything."
Yagi gives him a strange look but doesn't judge, "it's fine, but what does this mean for your plans as the new top pro?"
"Time beats everyone, it's undefeated," Endeavor says.
"Horizon said that during his interview with Chitose, right?"
"He also said that it won't beat him...whatever that means, but what I mean is. I don't want to be the next you, and I don't even want to be the future me, at least not the me I thought I was going to be.
The #1 Pro Hero Endeavor that I always wanted to be, he's just another monster I want nothing to do with now. Now I just want to fix all the broken things in my life, no more hurting people to save strangers, at least not if I can help it. I'll take the time to mend the things that matter most..."
"I see," Yagi nods a few times. "But that would mean stepping down as the #1 Pro, because from what you're saying this will take all your focus."
"It likely will."
"But, you and I both know, with me gone, the #1 could only be you. The only current pro I'm absolutely certain of leaving this country to, is you," Yagi gestures to the city in front of them and gives a genuine All Might brand smile. "When all the people cry out, gripped by fear, I know for certain they'll be alright, because you are here."
"Tch," Endeavor scoffs, "you're as dramatic and corny as ever, but I'm not stupid enough to step down. I understand the state of Japan as it is, if I refuse this spot then things only get much worse for the country."
"Oh, right," Yagi puts his arm down awkwardly. "So what is your plan then?"
"Three years, in three years he'll graduate and easily overtake me to become the top pro. Then I will have more time to focus on what's important. Until then, I'm stuck as the #1 Hero."
"Hmm, I always expected you to hold onto this spot until the end... I guess these past few months have really caused a lot of unexpected changes."
"I'm not delusional," Endeavor says. "Even if I wanted to do that, the moment he graduates I'm back to Rank #2, competing with you was nearly impossible, but I could at least see a path forward. But there is no competing with that thing Nezu found..."
"You'd be surprised," Yagi says. "There could very well be another young man with incredible potential ready to rival him."
Endeavor just shakes his head at that, looking at Yagi as if he was an absolute moron, "it's Horizon, he has no rivals."
"But he isn't the only Mystery Class," Yagi points out.
"True, but Star is much older and already in her prime, and he's already likely at least somewhat comparable. By the time he graduates, he'll be ahead of her, even tonight, three of the current top 10 most powerful heroes in the world are in this building, and he's still arguably stronger than any of us."
Yagi just forces a smile, wishing Deku all the luck he can give, but he's also glad Endeavor isn't planning to overburden Shoto with the impossible task of surpassing someone like Horizon.
"Speaking of the brat, shouldn't he be glued to you for the night?" Endeavor asks.
"Oh, Horizon said he'll keep track of me with his Quirk, it's still a bit creepy but that way he doesn't have to shadow me all night."
"Hmm, I see."
"When I came out here I saw him take your seat actually, the one you never used."
"Isn't that at the table with---"
"Buakaw and Hodori," Yagi nods. "That's partly why he bothered coming tonight, he wanted to meet the other Rank #1 Pro Heroes."
Endeavor looks genuinely bothered by that idea, "Horizon, speaking to heroes from other countries...that sounds like a fight waiting to happen, maybe we should go check on them befo---"
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Endeavor's phone goes off and he immediately checks it, hoping to see a response from either of his sons.
"What is it?" Yagi asks, seeing his focused expression as he looks at the phone.
"Kurogiri and Twice were spotted on Mt. Fuji, the two most valuable members of the league, and that close to Tokyo, that can't be good, looks like Horizon and I will be leaving early..."
END CHAPTER---