Chapter Text
Toshi woke up to Nighteye sitting next to him; he was doing paperwork on the coffee table, pen trapped in between his teeth. The green haired man pulled it out, circling something on the paper, before moving on to the next one.
Two weeks. The last surgery was two weeks ago- but they refused to let him leave the hospital. Toshi looked down, saw his now thin wrists, the IV drip the only thing remaining on his arm. He sighed, before calling on One for All. Halfway through his transformation, Nighteye had a grip on his forearm, fingers wrapped halfway across the oddly shaped muscle.
“You need rest, Sir.” Nighteye didn’t even look up from his paperwork.
“I’m fine.” Toshi lied, throat cracked.
“The doctors have said otherwise.”
“The doctors don’t get-”
“They’re professionals.” Nighteye snapped, “They have a job to do- let them do it.”
He wanted to cry, wanted to push his sidekick away, get up and walk out of here, away from the doctors, away from the hospital. The fight. He shrunk back down, defeated. He had already done tried that scenario- far too many times. Each time, he never made it past the hallway.
Sir Nighteye’s hand still held his arm, fingers slowly but surely wrapping around the husk he was. He went back to the paperwork, picking up a few resumes and even some current employee sheets. Nighteye gently placed the stack in front of Toshi, moving back to signing paperwork, highlighting key passages and circling titles.
Nighteye was quitting. After the last failed escape, he and Toshi had fought- the final words out of either of their mouths being that he was resigning from sidekick and secretarial duties. He was only going to stay on until Toshi was up and out of the hospital, but for now… now Toshi had to find a replacement, one that didn’t know his secret, someone one who he could trust to not ask questions.
Every paper felt like lead in his hands, the words blurring together. Half of this stuff he had no idea what it meant- sure he understood vaguely what Human Resources was, but what the hell did that have to do with Change? What did Diversity Finances even mean? What the hell does Publicity Relations with Foreign Bodies do?
“... Are you sure you won’t-”
“I can not stay if you are just going to kill yourself in the end.” Nighteye didn’t look up from his work. “If you won’t even listen to me when I use my Quirk, how do I know you will ever listen to me as a friend?”
Toshi winced, but said nothing. He moved to the next page, saw the qualifications, the experience… and the headshot. Wait, he knew this one, but from where? Your name didn’t jog anything in his memory, but it was your face… where had seen you before?
Oh! That’s right, you reported to Nighteye about internal affairs. He remembered the small joke book you had bought as a gag gift in April- Toshi looked out of the corner of his eye, saw his former sidekick, busy with paperwork.
“Are you going to be taking anyone when you leave?” Toshi asked.
“... I haven’t decided.” Nighteye flipped the folder closed, opening up a new one.
“What about, uh, this one?” Toshi held up your employee sheet.
“They’re capable.” Nighteye only glanced at the page before going back to his work. “Initially, they had little experience in the field but they have worked at Might Tower for a year now. Why do you ask?”
“Would- would they make a good replacement?”
Nighteye paused in his work, sitting up in his chair. Toshi waited, felt his already dry mouth get worse. The door opened, the nurse coming in and bowing her head before checking Toshi’s vitals. The two men looked at each other for the first time since the fight; a stand off. When the nurse left, Nighteye remained stoic for another minute before speaking.
“They could work, but not as my replacement.”
“... What about- if I replaced you, did my own paperwork. I need someone to show me the ropes and-”
“They’d eat you alive.”
Toshi waited for the punchline to come. It never did. He sighed, looking at your employee sheet, the headshot that was paperclipped in. He liked seeing you the few times he had been in the office- he doesn’t really remember if you liked All Might.
“Sir,” Nighteye’s shoulders dropped, one finger coming up to push his glasses up his nose again. “They’re a very capable assistant- they could not under normal circumstance replace me outright. And neither can you. I was able to do the work of an entire department because of my Quirk- They don’t have a Quirk.”
“I’m sure they’re fine for the job, regardless of their Quirk.”
“They’re Quirkless, sir.”
“Ah.”
Toshi felt a lump in his throat forming, the coughing threatening to start up again. His hand came to rest on his left side, felt the scar underneath his scrubs. I was Quirkless. The thought is bitter, reactionary. Toshi keeps it locked in his throat, stares at your photo again.
“... If you’re really this determined, I can contact Might Productions to set up a new department. If you insist on having them work close to you, I’ll make them head of the department in name- unless you had another idea?”
“No, set up the new department. But I have someone else in mind for head of the department.”
“Wonderful, they can work as a direct assistant to you choice. Their job won’t really change- just the title. What was the name for the new head you had in mind?”
“Yagi Toshinori.”
“He’s not qualified.” Nighteye had the tell tale signs that he was joking.
The crow’s feet that wrinkled next to his right eye, the slight turn of his lips. Miniscule, it would have gone unnoticed by anyone else. Toshi laughed, the coughing and blood finally escaping because of it. A handkerchief was offered, Toshi took it and wipe his mouth, apologizing, only for Nighteye to wave it off, already typing away on a smartphone in his hand.
“I can manage in the office.” Toshi tried to smile. “After all, I’m All Might.”
“Office politics is nothing compared to Villain fights, sir.” Nighteye was once again back to not looking him in the eye.
“Well, if they’re as capable as you say, then I’m sure to survive.”
“You’ll have to survive them first, Mr Yagi.”
Toshi wanted to grin, but it hurt to even breath; he picked up your employee sheet instead. He can picture your face, laughing as Nighteye told one of his dry jokes. The calm demeanour during meetings, taking notes without looking down at the paper. Current Affairs- Hero Affiliations and Communications. Internal Management- Senior Staff. Toshi put his hand back on his left side, the twinge of pain spiking higher and higher all of a sudden.
You had the entire floor to yourself for the last three months. At first, it was daunting- Sir Nighteye had sent a short email, stating hero work. And then, silence. You had dodged interviews, requests for photo shoots, even police calls for raids.
The other departments had no idea- work came and went, Might Tower running as smooth as it’s always had. At least, as smooth as it has in the year you’ve worked on this floor. You looked over at the large All Might logo on steel doors; doors that led directly to the hero’s office. On a whim you had gone in last month, inputting the code that you had seen Nighteye put in once. It shocked you that it had worked.
The office had memorabilia, spare uniforms, couches, a large and obnoxious desk with matching leather chair- and sliding doors that opened to the Tokyo skyline. There had been other rooms, a small doctor’s room, sleeping quarters, kitchen, sauna, two full bathrooms, even a room filled with various arcade games. All in all, it was a top hero’s office, had everything in it to wind down or get to work. It could even be considered a live-in suite- but it was clearly meant to be an office.
Last week you had decided to just reorganize your boss’ workspace, but now the paperwork was piling up again. The other desks around you usually had other department representatives. But it’s been three months- and until the big man himself made another appearance, you had stopped having people come up to the floor unless it was for a meeting.
You were bored. Three months of little to no communication from Nighteye meant no work for you. The other departments had plenty to do- All Might was popular, even if the world simply rehashed the same iconic fights over and over, there was plenty of content to keep the masses entertained, for merchandise to be based off of, for reports to file and fans to respond to.
But you had nothing to do. You were current affairs, Things-that-happened-just-now affairs. Internal Affairs… and there was nothing going on, internally. Hell, there was nothing on, period. You looked up at the ceiling, swivelling in your chair mindlessly.
“... Maybe I should get coffee.”
“If it keeps you from sleeping on the job, be my guest.”
You did not fall out of your chair. You just… haphazardly stood up from it. Yea, that was it. Nighteye had his bag slung over his shoulder, moving over to his desk. For the last few days, your boss would come in, grab paperwork or his parts of his collection, and then leave. Today you were going to ask what was happening… now.
Nighteye was shuffling papers on the desk, back turned to you. You have to ask what the fuck is going on… now!
You continued to stand like a fucking idiot.
“I’ve resigned.” Nighteye spoke up, not turning to look at you.
What.
“A new department will be made in order to replace my office duties- you are to show the new head for this department the ropes.”
WHAT.
“I wish you luck, and hope that you will continue the excellent work for All Might and Might Productions.”
FUCKING WHAT!?
“Who’s the new department head?” You spoke up.
“Yagi Toshinori- a new hire.” Nighteye finished putting his stuff in his bag, turning to stare down at you.
“An external hire.” You crossed your arms.
“Yes.”
“Is he any good?”
“Here is his resume.” Nighteye handed over a single piece of paper.
You looked it over. This was… bad. Real bad.
“The decision has already been made, I’m afraid you’re stuck with him.” Nighteye moved towards the elevator.
“Sir,” you interjected. “This guy isn’t qualified to even be a paperboy.”
“I know.” He kept walking.
“Graduated from UA, no given year, just stated Business School- what’s his specialisation? On top of that- no references, last known job was in the United States- mind you it’s WELL over twenty years ago.”
“I know.” He swiped his access card.
“This guy is a fraud on paper- I don’t even want to THINK what he’s like in person.”
“I know.”
“Have you ever met the bastard?”
“Yes. Once or twice.”
“And you hired him. To replace you.”
“I did not.”
“Who hired him?”
“All Might himself.”
“What.” The elevator pinged, but Nighteye turned around to face you again.
“All Might has hired Yagi Toshinori as the head for the upcoming Second Secretarial Office. He’ll be head of the department for a short time, and after an assessment by other heads of departments, it will be determined if he’s qualified to remain there.”
“What happened to the First Secretarial Office.” you asked.
“It doesn’t exist.”
“Why not?”
“Because I had no need for it.”
You could feel a blood vessel threaten to pop. This was beyond ridiculous. Barely controlling your anger you spoke again.
“Can you even tell me what brought this up.”
“... Be specific.” He took a step back, standing in the elevator.
“Why have you resigned.”
“...”
“Can you even tell me where you were for the last three months?” you tried not to sound panicked. “Where is All Might?”
“... I can’t.”
“Why. Not.”
“... Good luck.” The doors closed, Nighteye leaving for the day.
Silence. You were too shocked to move, but your body did it anyway. You were already breathing heavy, sitting back down in front of your computer.
If All Might had hired this Yagi person, that means he couldn’t be fired. Well, not really. Okay, think. Nighteye had resigned, and instead of being promoted, you were stuck in the same position. Under a guy who’s resume looked like he typed it up in an hour and called it done. And the head hero had hired him. Was All Might really that fucking gullible?
Granted, you only got this job because the last guy who worked under Nighteye quit after something known as ‘The Feather Incident’. And the guy before that quit because he couldn’t handle Nighteye’s sense of humor. And then there was the guy before that-
Maybe Yagi is the reason that Nighteye resigned. Did All Might just like collecting weird personalities? You had spent the better part of the last year learning both of their… little habits. And now Nighteye was resigning- and All Might was nowhere to be found.
You were fucking furious. A complete nobody, who probably took advantage of All Might’s hospitality, landed what was supposed to be your job. And the one person who could have given you some kind of answers just left- was in the middle of leaving. The floor was completely empty. You calmly got up, took a few breathes. And then proceeded to lift your chair up and throw it across the room.
“FUCK!” It echoed across the open floor.
You needed a plan. Yagi thinks he can just take this job it’ll be easy as? Oh, you’ll show him exactly how easy it was. Fucker. You started to make some calls, ignoring how hard your hands were shaking.