chapter 1: smash

In the midst of a city that never sleeps, where buildings rise like steel giants and the noise of traffic forms a constant symphony, a cry for help pierced the air. A woman named Emily, with black hair and eyes as blue as the summer sky, found herself in a desperate situation, trapped under the rubble of a building that had collapsed like papier-mâché.

The villain Destructor, known for his immense strength and questionable taste in cowboy hats, was responsible for this destruction.

As if summoned by destiny itself, All Might appeared, his muscles bulging in his tight uniform as he landed in a heroic pose.

"it's fine now. Why? BECAUSE I AM HERE!" he exclaimed, his teeth gleaming like beacons.

Upon seeing the symbol of peace, Destructor began to tremble with fear, completely forgetting why he was there. "N-no way! I wasn't expecting you today!" the villain stammered, his confidence evaporating like water on a hot pan.

Without wasting any time, All Might ran towards the villain with a brilliant smile. With a swift and precise movement, he unleashed his famous Detroit Smash, a powerful blow that seemed to cut through the air itself, directly at the villain. Destructor tried to block but was thrown back like a rag doll, landing in a pile of debris several meters away.

Even amidst the chaos, Emily couldn't help but notice the grace and strength of her savior. "I'm being saved by a man who looks like he's about to burst from all those muscles," she thought to herself, trying not to laugh at the situation.

With a series of impressive moves, All Might removed the debris with the ease of someone brushing crumbs off a table. "You are safe!" he declared, extending his hand to Emily, who accepted it, emerging unscathed from her concrete prison.

"Thank you, All Might. I never thought I'd be saved by a real hero," Emily said, her eyes shining with admiration.

He, a little awkward with the compliment, smiled. "Ah, it's just part of the job!" he responded, trying to appear modest.

Before they parted ways, Emily, with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, decided not to let the opportunity to get the number of the strongest man in the city slip away.

"Would you give me your number? You know, in case I need... more rescues?" she asked with a smile that said they both knew it was a weak excuse.

Surprised and flattered, All Might scratched his head, striking an involuntary pose. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a direct line to justice!"

he replied, laughing at his own joke as they exchanged numbers, sealing the beginning of an improbable friendship full of potential for comedic and romantic moments.

In the following months, All Might and Emily plunged into a whirlwind of improbable dates and comedic situations.

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Emily sighed, looking at the clock for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. Toshinori was late... again. She couldn't really blame him, of course. Dating All Might was like trying to schedule a date with a hurricane—unpredictable and potentially destructive for hairstyles.

"Maybe I should invest in a helmet," she muttered to herself, imagining the wind caused by her boyfriend's supersonic arrivals.

As if summoned by her thoughts, a gust of wind announced the arrival of the Symbol of Peace. All Might landed on the apartment balcony, his bright smile competing with the setting sun.

"Apologies for the delay, my dear! A cat got stuck in a tree and—"

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Again? That must be the unluckiest cat in Japan."

All Might laughed, scratching his neck. "Well, actually…"

"Let me guess, you helped an old lady cross the street too?"

"Three, actually."

Emily couldn't hold back her laughter. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"

The hero shrugged, his smile softening. "But you love me anyway, don't you?"

"Unfortunately," she replied, pulling him in for a kiss.

[...]

Later that night, Emily found Toshinori in the kitchen, staring at the fridge like it was a new kind of villain.

"Any problems?" she asked, approaching.

"I... er... wanted to make dinner for you," he admitted, looking embarrassed.

Emily had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She remembered the last time All Might tried to cook. The result? An apartment full of smoke, a hysterical fire alarm, and a delivery pizza brought by a gobsmacked delivery guy who saw the Symbol of Peace wearing a muscle-print apron.

"How about we order a pizza?"

The relief on Toshinori's face was comical. "You're my hero," he declared, making Emily burst out laughing.

As they ate pizza straight from the box, sitting on the living room floor, Emily couldn't help but think about how much her life had changed. A few months ago, she was just another fan of All Might. Now, she was sharing a pepperoni pizza with the Symbol of Peace, who was wearing pajamas with his own face on them.

"What are you thinking about?" Toshinori asked, noticing her distant look.

Emily smiled, leaning in to wipe a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth. "How funny life is sometimes."

Toshinori took her hand, kissing her fingers gently. "I thank the heavens every day for finding you, Emily."

The moment was interrupted by the shrill sound of All Might's phone. He answered with an apologetic grimace.

Emily sighed, knowing their time together was about to be cut short... again. But as she watched Toshinori transform back into All Might, ready to save the day once more, she couldn't help but smile.

Despite the mishaps, their bond was growing. Emily learned to decipher the expressions behind All Might's perpetually bright smile, while Toshinori found in her someone with whom he could simply be himself, without the pressure of being the perfect hero.

There were serious moments too.

Emily would hold Toshinori's hand while he watched the news, his body tense with the urge to run off and help at every disaster announced.

She learned to make tea and dress wounds, essential skills for dating Japan's most active hero.

Over time, All Might began including Emily in small parts of his heroic life. She helped him choose new designs for his costume (gently vetoing a few overly peculiar ideas) and even suggested some catchphrases he could use (though "It's showtime, villains!" didn't catch on as hoped).

"Toshinori, I think you should stick with the classic line," Emily said, smiling. "I am here!'"

He laughed. "You're right. Some classics shouldn't be changed."

The growth of their bond was evident. Toshinori, who had always lived for his duty, began to dream of a life beyond heroism. Emily, for her part, learned to love not just the symbol, but the man behind the cape.

However, the shadow of All Might's duty always loomed over them. Every moment together was precious, stolen from a world that constantly demanded the presence of the Symbol of Peace. Emily understood, but that didn't make the situation any less challenging.

The sun set over the city, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink. Emily and Toshinori were in Emily's living room, where they used to spend their rare moments together. The silence between them was heavy, laden with unspoken words and unrealized dreams.

Emily was the first to break the silence. "So... this is it, isn't it?"

Toshinori nodded slowly, his usual smile replaced by a sad expression. "Emily, I..."

She placed a finger over his lips, gently interrupting him. "Shh, I know. You don't need to explain. We both knew this day would come."

He took her hand, holding it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "I wanted to be the man you deserve, the man who could give you the family you dream of."

Emily smiled, tears shining in her eyes. "And I wanted to be the woman who could stand by your side while you save the world. But we both know it doesn't work that way."

Toshinori pulled her into a tight hug, his body trembling slightly. "You've made me happier than I ever thought I could be, Emily. I'll never forget the time we spent together."

She pulled back a bit, looking into his eyes. "Neither will I, my hero. But the world needs you more than I do. And I... I need to move on."

They stood in silence for a moment, letting the reality of their decision sink in. Then, to Toshinori's surprise, Emily started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" he asked, confused.

"I'm just imagining the look on the next villain's face," she replied between laughs. "He's going to wonder why the great All Might looks like he's sucked on a sour lemon!"

Toshinori couldn't help but join in the laughter. It was so typical of Emily to find humor even in the hardest moments.

Then, to All Might's surprise, Emily smiled. "Well, since this is our last night together... how about we end it with a bang?"

All Might blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Emily took his hand, leading him towards the bedroom. "Let's make a memory for the ages, Symbol of Peace."

All Might gulped, his face turning red. "Emily, are you sure you're ready for my... Ultra Smash?"

Emily laughed, pulling him into the bedroom. "Show me what you've got, hero."

The door closed behind them, leaving the rest to the imagination.

Nine months had passed since Emily and Toshinori's last night together. All Might was in the middle of patrolling the bustling city of Musutafu when his phone rang. He answered, expecting another emergency call, but the voice on the other end was surprisingly calm and formal.

"Hello? Is this Mr. Yagi Toshinori?"

"Yes, it's me. Who am I speaking with?"

"I'm the director of Musutafu Central Hospital. I'd like to congratulate you on some wonderful news."

All Might frowned. "Wonderful news?"

"Yes, sir. You're a father!"

The hero stopped abruptly in the middle of the street, startling some pedestrians. "A father? What do you mean? I'm not..."

"Well, Miss Emily has just given birth to a beautiful baby. Congratulations, sir!"

The silence that followed was so dense it seemed to absorb all the sounds around. All Might froze, his mind spinning. Finally, he let out a nervous laugh, running his hand through his hair.

"I... I'm a father? I'm a father!?"

All Might let out a joyous shout, frightening the passersby around him even more. He ran to the edge of the building he was on, taking a spectacular leap and shouting for all to hear.

"I AM HERE... AS A FATHER!"

Upon arriving at the hospital, All Might was greeted by smiling nurses and a group of doctors he had saved on various occasions. They gave him a round of applause as he passed, visibly emotional and a bit flustered by the situation.

But upon reaching the room, he noticed Emily's absence. A doctor approached, with a somber expression.

"Mr. Yagi, there's something I need to tell you."

All Might's joy turned into a knot of anxiety. "What happened? Where's Emily?"

The doctor took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Mr. Yagi. There were complications during childbirth. We did everything we could, but... Emily didn't make it."

The ground seemed to disappear beneath All Might's feet. He felt the world crumble as the news settled in. "Emily... no... it can't be true..."

The pain was devastating. All Might fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "Why? Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she ask for help? I could have done something... I could have..."

He sobbed, the pain in his heart more intense than any injury he had ever suffered in battle. Memories of Emily passed through his mind like a movie: her smiles, her laughter, their moments together. And now she was gone, leaving a void that seemed impossible to fill.

A nurse approached, carrying a small bundle. "Mr. Yagi, this is your son."

All Might looked at the baby, still stunned by the loss. With trembling hands, he took the little one in his arms. The baby had Emily's same blue eyes and a tuft of black hair.

The hospital director approached, trying to bring some comfort. "Emily left a letter for you, Mr. Yagi. She wanted you to know that she loved you very much and that she was happy to bring your son into the world, even if it cost her life."

Toshinori held the letter, his hands shaking. He opened it and read Emily's words, silent tears running down his face. She had written about the love she felt for him and how she believed he would be a wonderful father. She asked him to take care of the baby and give him all the love she would have liked to give.

With the baby in his arms, All Might felt a new kind of strength form within him. He looked at the small innocent face and smiled sadly. "I promise, Emily. I will take care of him. I will be the best father I can be."

The hospital director, looking at that scene, asked with a smile: "Have you chosen a name for your son yet, sir?"

He didn't even look at the doctor, keeping his eyes on his son as he said:

"Clark"

"Clark Kent"