It all started well enough: the neighbors downstairs had asked if she could watch their granddaughter while her mother was at work. The daycare she normally went to had been badly damaged when one of the children’s quirks had manifested too early. Inko pities the parents who’d have to deal with a toddler with sonic scream for a quirk.

Inko of course had been delighted. It’s been so long since she’s had a baby in the house and with Izuku living in the dorms, well, Inko welcomes the distraction. If nothing else, to make up for the water damage her crying sometimes causes the neighbors.

“She’s got a pretty ordinary quirk, not much different from her mother. Launch, meaning she can, well, launch. Although her mother thinks she might have her father's quirk too.”

“How so?” Inko asks.

“Well, he has what’s called sticky fingers. He can stick to anything he touches.”

Inko isn’t worried.

Everything is going well: the baby’s down for her first nap and there have been no disasters. Ako, the baby, is just the sweetest. She looked so cute in her little blue jumper, head full of navy blue curls, she couldn't resist taking a few pictures. Watching her from the baby monitor she puts on the radio, listening to the weather report about a potential downpour. While she’s finishing up the dishes there’s a knock on her door. To her surprise, it’s Mr. Yagi. Given his serious expression, she can tell something is very wrong. Her stomach plummets to the floor, fear already choking her. He wouldn’t be here unless...unless something happened...Izuku...!

The stricken look on her face must have alerted him to what she was thinking. He immediately began to assure her.

“Ah, Mis. Midoriya! Don't panic! No, no, everything’s fine! Truly...uh, Izuku asked me to come here.”

Inko let out a breath. She had to laugh at herself. “Oh. Come inside, please.” She hadn’t realized how dark the clouds had gotten since this morning. Inko hoped that the storm would pass by them. Anything to keep her mind off...what she was thinking.

“What did Izuku need you to pick up that he couldn’t?” She asked.

Toshi was about to tell her it was because he was in the recovery ward with a broken arm, alongside Aoyama, Koda, and Jiro after a friendly sparring match with Class 1B got a little...heated. They needed to get Young Bakugou’s temper in check.

“Uh...he was swamped with extra school work. I offered to come.” Was his lame excuse. Inko, ever trusting, believed him.

“Oh! How kind of you!”

He hated lying to her but he couldn’t stand the idea of worrying her more, especially after seeing the grief-stricken expression when she saw him, expecting him to deliver the worst news. Was that what she expects to hear from us? Not that he could blame her, with everything that's happened. No wonder Izuku begged him not to say anything.

“I apologize for coming unannounced. What we’re looking for is one of Izuku’s old notebooks on heroes. One of the students working in the Development Studio has a specific quirk related to magnetism. They’ve been having some trouble with it and Izuku mentioned writing down some notes on an old pro who had a similar quirk. He offered to let them borrow it.”

“Oh, how sweet!” Inko smiled. Toshi was happy to see how her eyes brightened. “I still have a few of his things in storage in his bedroom. I’ll bring out the box in just a moment. Do you mind watching the baby monitor?”

At that Toshi blinked. “Baby monitor?” He repeated.

“Yes. I’m caring for my neighbor's granddaughter. She should be napping in her cradle.” Inko explained. Toshi agreed, he was always great with kids, and watching one sleeping baby shouldn’t be too hard. He leaned over the counter, watching the video. Compared to a classroom of rambunctious teenagers, watching a sleeping baby was easy to work with.

Unless said baby wasn’t in the cradle. Toshi’s instincts kicked in and he rushed toward the bedrooms, looking through different ones until he found it. The cradle was empty.

Oh God, how did he manage to lose the baby? He heard something scuffling around the floor, then up the wall. Scooting back, he looked up in the dim light and saw something crawling on the ceiling. He moved to turn on a light switch. “What the…?”

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Inko had just located the box with Izuku’s extra notebooks when she heard Toshinori scream. She ran out of the room, all but tripping over her slippers trying to get to him when Toshi came stumbling out of her bedroom, landing hard on his backside as baby Ako latched to his face.

“Ako!” Inko screamed. “Ako no, don’t do that!”

Ako looked up at Inko, chubby face smiling. Her fat little arms were bound tightly across Toshi’s narrow face. Inko groaned, helping Toshi to sit up while Ako gurgled with glee. Toshi grumbled as Inko tried to pull off Ako’s arms to no avail.

“Oh, dear.” Inko murmured.

“Her arms...are stuck.” Toshi's voice muffled. “Like…”

“Sticky fingers?” She finished. Toshi gave her a look from behind the baby’s arm. “It seems she’s inherited her father’s quirk too. She sticks to things. Not for very long!” She said, trying to assuage his worries and her own.

“Is the other quirk launch-related?” He asked.

“Yes. Is that how she..?”

“Yup.”

Inko had to bite her lower lip to try and not laugh. Ako was adamant about clinging to Toshinori’s face. Gently she managed to pry one of her little arms off of Toshinori’s poor cheek. A-Ko began to cry out in protest, little legs kicking.

“Don’t hurt her!” Toshi blurted out. He blushes when he sees Inko’s surprised expression and fears he may have offended her. Instead, she laughs.

“Oh, you're just a big old softie!” She grins, unable to hold back the laughter even as Ako starts to wail. She’s managed to pry her off of poor Toshinori’s face. “Mr. Yagi, are you alright?” She asks.

Toshi rubs his cheeks. There’s a slight stinging sensation but nothing serious. His heartbeat is less erratic. “I’m fine. Not the first time I’ve had an exuberant fan jump me.”

Ako’s still whining though Inko has a firm grasp on her. She shifts her position so Ako can’t grab onto Toshi again.

“Goodness, I’m so sorry! She was playful before but I suppose that nap got her excited.”

Toshi rubbed the back of his neck as he stood up. “I suppose so.”

Inko lifted herself and Ako with a grunt. Toshi reached out to help them only to end up in a bad coughing fit. A little bit of blood could be seen on his chin. Inko gasped, stomach-churning. Toshi turned his face away, holding his hand up to his mouth to hide the blood.

“Oh, dear!! You poor thing.” She says, pulling out a clean handkerchief. Inko saw him hesitate yet she persisted. “It’s alright. I have a dozen others.”

Toshi looks at the pale pink bit of cloth and after a moment takes it. He mutters thanks as he wipes his chin, the coughing slowing down. Ako is grabbing Inko’s sweater, staring at Toshi with an intensity he finds unnerving. Inko notices and starts to laugh again.

“My, my! Someone’s got a crush!” She says while bouncing the baby on her hip. Ako started to giggle, making even Toshi’s mood improve.

“She is a cutie. Though I suggest not coming on so strong.” He joked.

Inko took Ako to the kitchen, Toshi following from a safe distance. He waited while she sat her charge in her high seat, preparing her meal. Ako started fussing as Inko prepared her meal. There was nothing Toshi hated more than the sound of crying. It tore into his heart like a serrated knife. Hearing a baby crying was so much worse. Inko, however, was calm, muttering kind words to her. She’d had plenty of experience with babies and their moods, Toshi didn’t. Against his better judgment, Toshi decided to hold out his hand for little Ako to take. She latched onto one long, bony finger with an iron grip.

“She’s strong.” He says more to himself than to Inko. Looking up she sees Ako, happily bouncing in her high seat while gripping Toshi’s finger. It made her heart melt a little.

“You do have a way with children, Mr. Yagi. I’ve never seen a baby so enamored with someone before.”

Setting down the food she proceeded to feed Ako, who made little fuss, still keeping a tight grip on Toshi’s finger.

“The notebooks are in a medium-sized box in Izuku’s room,” Inko told him. “You might have to do some reading because he accumulated quite a bit.”

Toshi wasn’t at all surprised. I may even learn something if his other notes are as detailed as the one I read. He thinks. Ako yanked his finger, signaling to him she wanted him to pay attention. Provided this little one lets me go. He thinks with a chuckle. The weather app on his phone dinged, as did Inko’s.

Weather advisory notice: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING. ALL RESIDENTS IN THE MUSTAFU PREFECTURE BE ADVISED OF ONCOMING THUNDERSTORMS.

Oh, dear. Inko thought.

Oh crap. Toshi thinks.