Chapter 79
The next morning, sunlight filtered softly through the large windows of the spacious living room as Aoi trudged out of his private office. His face was etched with exhaustion, dark circles under his eyes from hours spent in deep discussion with Morgana about the ambitious—and frankly insane—plan to terraform Mars. It had been a long night of calculations, debates over resource allocation, ethical considerations, and technological feasibility. By the time he finally emerged, his mind felt like it had been put through a grinder.
Without a word, he made his way to the living room and collapsed face-first onto the oversized sofa, letting out a muffled groan into the cushions.
At the breakfast table nearby, Nemuri, Rumi Ryuko and Rei his mother were enjoying a relaxed morning meal. The aroma of fresh coffee, toasted bread, and scrambled eggs filled the air. They all turned their heads in unison when they heard the dramatic thud of his body hitting the furniture.
Rei, ever the concerned mother, set down her cup and leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but laced with worry.
"What's wrong, son? What's going on with you? The girls mentioned that when they woke up this morning, you weren't in bed. Where did you disappear to so early?"
Mirko, never one to mince words, crossed her arms and shot him a glare, her rabbit ears twitching in annoyance.
"And you idiot, cheer up already. You don't just leave your pregnant wives hanging like that and vanish without a trace. We were worried, you know."
Aoi slowly rolled over onto his back, staring blankly up at the high ceiling as if searching for answers in the intricate patterns of the chandelier above. He spoke in a lazy, drawn-out tone, his voice heavy with fatigue.
"It's because... after the news of your pregnancies hit me fully, an old issue that's been haunting me for years came rushing back. I couldn't sleep, so I ended up in the office dealing with it."
Mirko's eyes narrowed dangerously. In one swift motion, she grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table and hurled it straight at his head with pinpoint accuracy, her voice rising in anger.
"Are you seriously saying that my child—our child—is your problem right now?"
The apple connected with a solid thunk, but instead of bruising him, it shattered on impact against his unnaturally dense skull, pieces scattering across the sofa. Aoi casually reached out, caught one of the larger fragments mid-air, and took a deliberate bite out of it, chewing slowly as if nothing had happened.
"That's not it at all," he clarified calmly, juice from the apple dripping slightly from the piece in his hand. "It's just something that's existed long before any of this—long before us. But now, with me worrying about the safety of the kids we're bringing into this world, this old issue has resurfaced stronger than ever. It's... complicated."
Nemuri, seated elegantly with her coffee mug in hand, took a slow sip as she observed him over the rim, her sharp eyes filled with quiet concern.
"And what exactly is this issue you're talking about?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
Aoi let out a deep, weary sigh, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
"This issue involves a lot of things too many layers to unpack right now. It's better if I settle things with Principal Nezu and my idiot father first before dragging everyone into it. Then, once that's done, we can all sit down and talk about it properly. Because whatever decision comes out of this will affect all of us me, you girls, Mom, and most importantly, the future of our children. How their lives will be shaped. Even though I already have a pretty firm opinion on the matter, since it involves our entire family, I think it's only fair that I explain everything in detail so you can all give your opinions and we decide together."
Ryuko, who had been quietly listening while buttering her toast, set down her knife and looked at Aoi with a serious, unwavering expression.
"So what you have to say... it's very important, isn't it? Important enough that you're acting like this—withdrawn and exhausted."
The others nodded subtly, their faces reflecting growing worry as they exchanged glances.
Aoi met their gazes steadily, his voice sincere.
"I don't like lying to the people I love ever. So yes, it's super complicated. But at the same time, it's also super cool; it even feels like something straight out of a fantasy story. There's definitely a bad side to it, risks and downsides we can't ignore, but there's also a really good side—a potential upside that could change everything for the better."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed his words, falling deep into thought about the mysterious situation he was hinting at.
Nemuri was the first to break the quiet. She stood up decisively from the table, smoothing out her casual morning robe.
"Well, then let's not waste any more time. Let's go talk to Nezu soon—I want to know the reason behind all this mystery, and I want to know it now."
Aoi pushed himself up from the sofa with a grunt, grabbing his motorcycle keys from the side table.
"Well, it's better we resolve all this quickly anyway. That way, I can come back, explain everything to you all properly, and we can make a real family decision about my plan—whether you approve it or not."
Rumi leaned back in her chair, smirking but with an edge of impatience.
"Then go resolve it already. You know full well I hate waiting around for answers."
Ryuko nodded in agreement, her draconic features softening slightly with understanding.
"Yes, go settle things. We'll be here when you get back, ready for this important conversation."
Aoi gave them a small, appreciative smile.
"Well, then I'm going. See you all later."
He reached out, gently taking Nemuri's hand in his, and together they left the house, heading toward the garage where his motorcycle waited. Nemuri climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he revved the engine to life. They sped off down the winding driveway and onto the open road toward U.A. High School.
The ride was smooth, the morning wind whipping past them as the cityscape blurred by. After some time navigating the familiar routes, they arrived at the prestigious hero academy. Aoi expertly parked in the staff lot, and the two of them walked hand-in-hand toward the main building.
As they entered the school corridors, they spotted Aizawa lounging against a wall, his usual tired eyes scanning the hallway.
Aizawa raised an eyebrow when he saw them, his voice dry as ever.
"Nemuri, what are you doing here today? Isn't it your day off? And with Aoi, of all people."
Nemuri flashed him a bright, knowing smile.
"Well, it's because we have something important to discuss with Principal Nezu. Urgent family matters, you could say."
Aoi added politely,
"Professor, do you know where he is right now?"
Aizawa shrugged slightly.
"Well, the last time I saw him, he was holed up in his office, probably plotting world domination over tea or something."
Nemuri's eyes lit up with excitement. She grabbed Aoi's hand tighter and started pulling him down the hall toward the principal's office.
Aoi quickly called back,
"Thanks for the help, Professor!"
Before he was fully dragged away by her enthusiasm. As they walked, Aoi subtly leaned his body forward, adjusting his posture so Nemuri wouldn't have to exert any extra effort pulling his considerable weight.
In his mind, a stray thought wandered as he matched her pace:
After all, my body is incredibly heavy these days. The density of my muscles, skin, bones—and even my internal organs is extremely high, far beyond normal human limits. All Might has the overwhelming power he does because of the stockpiling nature of his Quirk, One For All. But since I don't have a Quirk to grant me that kind of strength through supernatural means, I've had to compensate with pure physical adaptation. My bones, skin, muscles, and organs—all of it has become monstrously dense to handle the forces I put out. And thanks to that brutal fight with the Nomu at the USJ and the insane training where I forced open the 'gates' that nearly destroyed my body from the inside out, I'm already operating at around 55% of All Might's power in his absolute prime. It's progress, but it comes at a cost—like making simple things like walking with someone feel like I'm a walking tank.
His internal monologue was cut short as they arrived at the office door.
Nemuri knocked politely to announce their presence.
From inside, Nezu's cheerful voice responded almost immediately.
"Come in. I already saw you approaching through the school cameras."
Aoi and Nemuri entered the cozy yet professional office, taking seats on the comfortable sofa across from Nezu's desk.
Nezu regarded them with his usual intelligent, curious gaze.
"Well, so what was the reason you two came to see me today?"
Nemuri shifted slightly in her seat, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks as embarrassment hit her. After all, admitting she's pregnant by one of her own students even though she and Aoi had been practically married and deeply committed long before she ever took the teaching job—was far more awkward than any playful bedroom request, like when Aoi teasingly asks her to wear her hero costume for some private fun.
She subtly elbowed Aoi in the side.
Aoi caught her meaningful glance—the one that clearly said, "You did this, you handle explaining it."
He responded with a tired but affectionate smile before turning seriously to Nezu. Taking a deep breath, he explained the full situation in detail: the pregnancies, the risks, and the carefully thought-out plan to keep everything under wraps.
Nezu listened attentively, his small paws steepled. When Aoi finished, the principal rubbed his temples, clearly feeling the onset of a massive headache.
"Couldn't you two hold back a little? You both know full well how dangerous it is to have a child while actively being involved in hero work."
Aoi replied evenly,
"But it happened anyway. The important thing now is resolving the situation safely and discreetly."
Nezu nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, I can certainly help with your plan. After all, Nemuri is one of our valued staff members. Shifting her to teach only theoretical classes before any visible pregnancy signs appear isn't a big issue at all she's not the one handling combat training, after all. And arranging maternity leave for the final months won't be difficult either."
He paused before continuing,
"But how exactly do you plan to keep this pregnancy completely secret? She'll still need regular medical check-ups and monitoring."
Aoi explained confidently,
"Well, Recovery Girl and I can handle it privately. With her decades of healing experience and expertise, combined with my own Quirk's capabilities for support and regeneration, we can take care of all the necessary care without outside involvement."
Nezu conceded,
"Well, that's true enough. Just make absolutely sure the situation between you and Nemuri doesn't leak out. And it's probably best to at least wait until after you graduate before making any public announcements. Even though you two knew each other and were dating long before school started, there will still be plenty of curious busybodies and persistent reporters sniffing around. You're very famous in your own right too, Aoi. News like this would be a feast for the tabloids."
Aoi assured him,
"I know. I'll be extremely careful."
Nezu leaned back.
"But Nemuri's situation is relatively simpler to manage. As for Rumi—Mirko—she's a highly popular pro hero, currently ranked number five in the national hero rankings. Any extended absence from her patrol duties will immediately raise questions and speculation. So what's your detailed plan for her? You wouldn't share something this secret with me unless you needed my involvement."
Aoi then laid out his full strategy for covering Rumi's pregnancy leave.
Nezu pondered for a moment before responding.
"Yes, it's a solid plan. We can pretend that Mirko enthusiastically invited All Might for a private sparring session to gauge the gap between her abilities and the undisputed number one hero. And during the training, due to her well-known personality that always gets fully carried away in intense fights, she ends up sustaining injuries serious enough to require recovery time. Since the 'injuries' would come from training with the Symbol of Peace himself and not from a villain encounter, if All Might issues a public statement framing it as an unfortunate training accident, it would be completely believable. His immense popularity combined with Mirko's public image—fans and society know her for getting hyped up and pushing limits when facing top-tier opponents like the number one—means getting hurt in such a scenario is exactly something she would do."
Aoi nodded.
"Well, it's basically what you just summarized, Principal."
Nezu smiled shrewdly.
"But there's one more layer to it, right? You want her to be officially invited to contribute to the school's security team in some capacity. That provides a plausible, public reason for the spar in the first place. She could have met All Might properly during the school festival events, gotten fired up, and challenged him to a training match afterward. All Might, always eager to evaluate and encourage the strength of rising heroes like her, accepts. Then the 'accident' happens naturally. Well, it's a very good plan overall. I don't mind lending my assistance. So, do you want me to speak with All Might about this as well?"
Aoi shook his head respectfully.
"No, that would be abusing the principal's goodwill far too much. Even knowing All Might would agree without a second thought, I still want to talk to him personally and make this request myself. It would feel disrespectful to have you relay such a personal favor. Even if he wouldn't mind at all, basic manners matter. After all, this is a significant favor I'm asking."
Nezu smiled warmly at the maturity in his words.
"Well, then I'll leave that conversation entirely to you."
Aoi stood, signaling the end of the meeting.
"Well, Principal, since we've resolved this part, I'll take my leave now. And I'll see you tomorrow morning for class."
Nemuri added gratefully,
"Thank you so much for your help and understanding, Principal."
Nezu waved a paw dismissively, still smiling.
"No problem at all. Nemuri is one of our dedicated staff, and you're one of our most promising students. As principal, it's my duty to help in situations like this—especially when a highly dangerous villain has his sights set on Aoi, and these unborn babies could potentially be put in harm's way. I can't allow that to happen under any circumstances."
Aoi bowed his head slightly.
"Well, thank you again, Principal. Truly."
They then exited the room together.
As they walked down the hall, Aoi cast one last subtle glance toward a shadowed corner near the office door. He shook his head with a faint, knowing smile and continued on with Nemuri without a word. The door clicked shut behind them.
Inside, Nezu turned toward the adjoining hidden room.
"Well, you can come out now, All Might."
The door to the small adjacent chamber opened, and All Might emerged in his skeletal true form, Toshinori Yagi.
"Well, do you think young Aoi noticed my presence?"
Nezu chuckled softly.
"Yes, that final glance before leaving tells me he did. But he chose not to mention it—likely to avoid embarrassing you by pointing it out."
Toshinori sat down heavily on the sofa, a fond expression on his face.
"Well, he's a good kid. Thoughtful like that."
Nezu nodded before asking,
"So what did you think of the plan overall?"
All Might smiled broadly.
"Yes, I don't mind helping one bit. After all, it's all to protect the safety and future of little innocent babies. How could I possibly say no to that?"
He then inhaled deeply, shifting dramatically into his full muscular hero form, his voice booming with resolve.
"Besides, young Aoi is already squarely in the crosshairs of All For One. If that monster ever finds out about the babies, he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on them—using them as leverage to threaten young Aoi into complying with his twisted, evil plans. Young Aoi confided in me years ago that he suspects All For One has been targeting him specifically to 'upgrade' or improve the Nomu that attacked the USJ incident."
Nezu's expression grew gravely serious at the mention.
"With Aoi's exceptional intelligence and analytical skills, it's entirely possible he's right. And if All For One ever succeeded in capturing the babies... it would be impossible for Aoi to refuse whatever demands were made."
All Might's voice dropped to a grave, determined tone in his hero form.
"Yes, and that's precisely why we must do everything in our power to protect these innocent children from falling into the clutches of that absolute monster."
Nezu fell deep into thoughtful silence, the weight of the implications hanging heavy in the air.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Aoi rode steadily toward his biological father's house with Nemuri still holding on behind him. A small, private smile tugged at his lips as he thought about All Might's hidden presence back at the school—clearly there to listen in quietly without interrupting or making things awkward.
After navigating through familiar streets lined with upscale homes, he finally slowed and stopped at the imposing front gate of the estate. He stared at it for a long moment, engine idling.
Aoi didn't know exactly what to feel—a mix of old resentment, cautious curiosity, and the pressing weight of the conversation ahead.
With a deep breath, he turned off the motorcycle, parked it properly, and walked hand-in-hand with Nemuri toward the gate, ready to confront whatever waited beyond.