* translation chapter has been edited.

I heard this today and I don't know there was just something about it that made me think of All For One and Tenko Shimura's relationship as mentor and mentee.

The child had only known pain he knew nothing of love. A kiss was a slap in the face, a hug was a punch in the stomach, and bedtime stories were threats to stop crying and be quiet or more beatings would continue. His father was an alcoholic who blamed his young son for the untimely death of his beloved wife. Of course it wasn't the child's fault it was a tragedy that had come about when the child's quirk awakened but the father was unconvinced. He blamed "it" for his problems for he refused to acknowledge the child as his son.

They were one of the untold tragedies of quirk society that no one talked about or refused to acknowledge. For ever since the first child was born with a quirk that caused him to glow and the many quirks that followed. It was only thought of that quirks were a great gift to be celebrated and enjoyed. Hero worship was all the rage. Those with the most powerful and "Heroic of Quirks" went on to become heroes who were paid by the government for their deeds. They became celebrities often over night shown on the news, talk shows, celebrity gossip programs, TV commercials, etc. They did product endorsements, had merchandise of their likenesses and logos for sale in the in the malls only adding to their fame, popularity and wealth.

No one wanted to hear the negative stories of the destructiveness of quirks that could destroy families and ruin lives. No one wanted to hear about arranged quirk marriages in the hopes of producing children with strong and idealized quirks for the future. No one wanted to hear about the mistreatment of the quirkless who were treated as second class citizens by those with quirks. No one wanted to hear about quirkless children being put up for adoption by parents who wanted children with a quirk to succeed them. No one wanted to hear about the children who had no quirk or weak quirks who were bullied by those with powerful quirks. No one wanted to hear about those living in the slums or the underground who were forgotten by the heroes. The disenfranchised the abused and neglected who cried out for a savior only to be ignored.

In the beginning friends and family tried to help the grieving father and baby who was without a mother. They stopped by with home cooked meals, offers to help with childcare, baby formula, diapers, groceries, housework, or just to talk. Everyone kept repeating "It wasn't the baby's fault it was just one of those things as a result of quirks. It could have happened to anybody, give it time and you'll be back to normal". The father was inconsolable barely able to attend work let alone keep up with the household and care for his own son.

He sold the family home which he felt was too big and reminded him too much of "Her" and all the plans they had for the future. Plans which were no longer existent in the blink of an eye. Instead he moved with his one year old son into a small rental house in a less affluent neighborhood. It would be easier to manage and affordable as he had sold off many of the couples belongings and furnishings as well. However, he continued to spiral refusing to even hold Tenko let alone look at him entrusting his care to relatives, friends, and babysitters.

Referrals to visit with counselors and psychologist's were thrown around appointments made and attended, anti-depressants tried and forgotten. Nothing anyone said could console or mend his wounded heart. Soon friends and family slowly stopped coming around as the father was slowly alienating himself from everyone. There were suggestions to place the child up for adoption or make the child a ward of the government. Since that seemed to be contributing to the father's steady decline. It wasn't long till he was laid off from his job as he was no longer contributing as he once had, he had become short-tempered with clients and colleagues, and often called in or failed to show up. He began to self-medicate turning to alcohol and pain killers as his only solace, going to bars and coming home with different women, every night, if he came home at all.

Tenko would be dumped with the few remaining relatives or friends who still held out hope the father would change for the better. He had moved a couple more times (due to none payment of rent) to an impoverished side of town with a high crime rate where the rents were low and the landlord was more of a slumlord. Soon even those strong enough to remain were unable to cope with the changes in the father who was drunk or hung over all the time not to mention mean tempered and difficult to deal with. They also couldn't handle the child, who exhibited signs of abuse and neglect and had uncontrollable temper tantrums becoming destructive while using his quirk. They then started to refuse to baby-sit altogether or visiting beginning to think maybe the father wasn't so wrong after all.

The father would track down nearby neighbors who offered childcare or to babysit and he would slip them a few dollars to watch Tenko so he could go to the bars, casinos, or on dates. Some of them were upset the father would take off for so long leaving them with his child often for days at a time. Especially since the father paid so little, many threatened to call the police or child protection. Others were only in it for the money and mostly ignored little Tenko not feeding him properly or changing his diapers (he often had diaper rash). When he was older and toilet trained (at an advanced age due to the diaper rashes) the father began leaving him locked in a small room in the house.

It was easier that way no one to pay or complain.

Little Shimura Tenko was one of the many hoping for a hero to come and save him. He knew what heroes were because he had heard or saw them on the tv. Many of his babysitters had watched tv or his father would be passed out asleep with the tv on. Sometimes he was allowed to pick something to watch which given his age often involved Sesame Street or similar fare but he also liked anything to do with the heroes. They were brave, strong, and courageous everything they did was wonderful in his innocent eyes.

Unfortunately, for Tenko the neighborhood he lived in was neglected by the heroes, who favored high populated areas and the attention and glory of being a hero. Patrolling poor neighborhoods wasn't glamorous enough for them, they wanted attention and to featured on tv. Even the media neglected Tenko's neighborhood. Dirty and neglected areas did not televise well.

TV was also where Tenko learned his life was wrong. He saw TV shows where there was a family a mommy, a daddy, one or two kids, maybe a pet and everyone was happy together. They talked to each other everyday said "I love you" they hugged and kissed. The parents cooked meals for the children, played with them, taught them how to do things, gave them baths, tucked them into bed at night, and with a kiss on the head and a whisper of "Sweet dreams." Tenko had never experienced any of these activities from the man who was his "father" he wasn't even allowed to call him "Daddy" he was to call him "father" or "Sir." When Tenko became potty-trained mostly on his own his father simply said "Good now I don't have to waste any more money on your fucking diapers." TV parents would clap, cheer, and hug the child upon this accomplishment even give them a present

Tenko's reality was often spent locked in a small cellar, which was cold, especially during the winter months. In the summer, it was sweltering and suffocating with heat. There was a single bare lightbulb, which would be either left on for hours and days at a time or left off, burnt out from being left on for so long, and he would sit in darkness. Insects and spiders would crawl across him in his sleep causing him to frantically wakeup and smack them away scratching at his skin frantically. 

There was a bucket left in the room for him to relieve himself into and a large jug of tap water would be left for drinking water in the room as well. Food was a rarity tossed in as an after thought. He had a few old blankets which, were partly decayed because he would lose control of his quirk at night. Tenko's quirk was hard on his skin and body and since he was rarely allowed to bathe he often scratched at his skin. As a result of his quirk and the neglect he developed a nervous tick of scratching.

His father would come home eventually and drag him out of the room. On the odd occasion he had him do housework since he was always too drunk or hungover to care. These were the times the 'bucket' could be emptied and cleaned. Tenko would try to wash himself but he was too small and young to reach the bathtub nozzles so he would have to go dirty or he used a rag. The father would give his son something to eat usually whatever leftovers were left around or what could be had at the convenience store and fast food places. Sometimes Tenko got sick because the food was old and spoiled or not cooked properly.

His father often yelled at him and smacked him around blaming him for his troubles. "It's your fault she's dead! I should 'a thrown you off tha' bridge when I had the chance. Drown you in the bathtub like the worthless runt you are." he would slur while grabbing him roughly, smacking him, or kicking the small slumped figure on the ground. All Tenko could do was lay there quietly while his crimson eyes filled with tears knowing if he made a sound it would only make the abuse worse.

There were rare occasions when Tenko would be treated with kindness by his father. His father's girlfriend or "mother" at the time (for their were many) or babysitter would carefully take little and Tenko give him a bath, tend his wounds, comb out his unruly hair, and dress him in clean clothes. Tenko was allowed to sleep in his bed with blankets and pillows, eat a few warm hot meals, drink milk, and be spared from beatings for a few weeks. The house would be clean and aired out of cigarettes and alcohol. These were the occasions when the social workers, the children's aid society, and different charity workers were visiting to keep the welfare checks coming in. It was necessary to check-in and make sure Tenko was being well cared for and healthy.

His Father lied through his teeth the entire visit being sober for once freshly shaved and dressed in clean clothes. He reassured the social workers all was well showed them Tenko's "room", spoke about how though Tenko did not attend daycare he was receiving and would be receiving homeschooling in the future. When the social worker spoke with Tenko his father would place a tight and painful grip on his shoulder or on the back of his neck as though to tell the boy "Do. Not. Fuck. This. Up. Boy." Tenko would meekly assure them that all was well. It was assumed he was a shy and reserved child. The social worker would then smile, finish shuffling through paper work, and say "Goodbye and be a good little boy." They were always overworked and tired, often the last case of the day, and refusing to see the negativity in the world. They wouldn't or couldn't understand what abuse of a child with a "loving father" looked like.

After, they left the charade lasted a few more days until his father cashed the checks then he was on his next bender. Days later the house was soon strewn with beer and whiskey bottles , ashtrays overflowing with stubbed out cigarettes, the sink piled with dirty dishes, dirty laundry strewn about, and takeout containers littered the kitchen and living room. It was one of these occasions, his father's recent girlfriend had left him a week ago so he was drowning his sorrows. The atmosphere was tense and Tenko had been staying out of his father's way. Tenko had left the bathroom and was going to sneak back into his bedroom before his father saw him. He was on his way when a beer bottle came flying out of nowhere and crashed into the wall sending glass shards raining down on him.

"You son of a bitch. HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FUCKING FACE TO ME. YOU KILLED MY WIFE!" he bellowed and hurled another bottle at Tenko.

Tenko cowered in fear and pain as glass shards rained down upon him puncturing his skin, tears filling his eyes and running down his chin and hitting the floorboards. He covered his ears with his hands careful to keep a finger lifted up to block out his father's shouts and the noise of breaking glass. The glass stung his skin and he felt the blood running down his arms. He then got up and made a run for the cellar as his bedroom was too far away, but his father was on his feet after him shouting.

"YEAH YOU BETTER RUN. YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SHIT. I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING I SHOULD'A DONE FROM THE START AND PUT YOU OUT OF YOUR MISERY." He bellowed brandishing a broken bottle in one hand .

Tenko ran slipping on his bare feet and fell to the floor in the hallway, on the way to the cellar. His father grabbed his bare foot and dragged him across the floor. Then slashed him across the face with the bottle. Tenko screamed out in pain and fear as the bottle sliced through his lip and eye.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP YOUR CRYING! I'LL SHUT YOU UP. YOU FUCKING BRAT!" his father yelled.

His father tossed the bottle aside and back handed him across the face stunning the boy. After he grasped him around the throat strangling him to the point his scarlet eyes were rolling to the back of his head and his lips were turning blue. When the windows to the living room blew in as if an explosion had taken place. His father then turned away dropping him to the floor roughly, forgetting about the child he went towards the living room to investigate the noise.

"WHAT THE FUCK..." he yelled and those were the last words he said. The air was soon filled with his strangled father's screams and the sounds of fighting and struggling. Tenko struggled to an upright position coughing to help regain his breath. He hated the sounds, covering his ears and closing his eyes tightly, scared of whatever or whoever had broken into the house. Whoever it was was clearly someone far worse than the man who called himself his 'father'. The sounds of screaming and struggling stopped and Tenko struggled to his feet and then limped into the living room which had been shattered into pieces.

The window was smashed open completely the dark night's wind blowing against the ragged remains of the curtains. Broken glass was everywhere as Tomura had stabbed his feet repeatedly. The television had shattered and lay in a wreck on the floor along with the flattened remains of the coffee table. The few pictures on the wall had been knocked off revealing the faded paint of the walls. The couch had been punctured with stuffing poking out, covered in broken glass and debris. Furniture was toppled and destroyed. In effect it resembled a disaster area.

Tenko looked on in shock his small world shattered in the blink of an eye. He stood by a fallen bookshelf when a hand reached out and grabbed around his ankle. He looked down in a panic seeing his battered father lying in pain on the floor delirious, and wanting help. His father reached up a hand as if wanting to grasp him by the face and that was the last of Tenko's father. Tenko for the first time in his life was frightened for his life and he used his quirk on his father till their was nothing left of him but a severed hand laying on the floor.

A voice then spoke "That is a most impressive quirk you possess my boy."

Tenko looked up to the tall imposing figure who stood before him a man in a black pinstripe suit with a misshapen face 'Perhaps a part of his quirk' thought Tenko. Tenko was frightened as well as curious of the man who stood before him. Obviously he was the one who had attacked his father and destroyed his house.

The man came forward and kneeled before Tenko offering him a large red silk handkerchief. When Tenko stood frozen in fear staring at the man All For One shook his hand in a gesture that said "Here take it." Tenko reached out a small tentative hand for the handkerchief and brought it back to his face surprised by the smooth, softness of the material where he dried his tears and then placed it over his bleeding wounds. Tenko stared at him mutely scared to do anything else while silent tears fell from his eyes.

The man then grinned and chuckled "Forgive me where are my manners. Allow me to introduce myself I am All For One. Please would you do me the honors of telling me yours." he said.

"M-m-my n-n-names T-tenko" he stuttered out quietly and then braced for a hit that never came.

"Well, Tenko it is an honor to make your acquaintance." All For One said offering his hand to Tenko as a handshake. Tenko looked at it hesitantly taking note of the hole in the man's hand. He never shook anyone's hand on account of his quirk but this man did not seem scared of him. Tenko reached out a shy, shaky hand which All For One gently shook.

"Now tell me was that "man" your father." All For One asked him.

Tenko heaved in a sigh and nodded his head to affirm that 'yes' he had been his father as much as the man had tried to deny the knowledge.

"Was he a caring and loving father towards you, Tenko." All For One asked. "Will you miss him now that he is gone?"

Tenko shook his head guiltily 'No' wiping the tears off his face.

All For One frowned "You may keep the handkerchief if you like it. Do you have a mother?" he asked.

Tenko shook his head 'no' once again in answer.

"Do you have any other family or friends I could contact to take care of you?" All For One asked.

Tenko bowed his head sadly and once again shook his head 'no' in answer more tears following. He was now officially all alone in the world and forgotten and overlooked by all of society it would seem, except for one person. He was no hero but to a small abused child, all alone in the world he was.

All For One remained crouched down on the same eye level as Tenko. "Well how would you like to come with me Tenko? I can see your clearly injured. I can get you proper medical care, a warm meal, a hot bath, and clean clothes. If you don't want to stay with me forever I can take you to a social worker and they will place you in foster care or an orphanage."

When Tenko heard that option he didn't like that idea he had heard stories about foster care and orphanages and how horrible they could be from what the grownups watched on tv. He looked up towards All For One and held up one of his small hands showing he wanted to go with him.

"Does this mean you want to come with me?" All For One asked. Tenko nodded his head 'yes' still clutching the handkerchief carefully so as not to destroy it. He decided he liked All For One, he was friendly and didn't yell and scream and say bad words like his father had, he even talked to him like he was a grownup, a person.

"Well, then I will promise you this I will take care of you and teach you everything I know, you will be my protégé. All of this will be for you." All For One promised young Tenko. Holding Tenko's small hand. All For One then bent down and lifted the small boy into his arms careful of his injuries. A portal soon opened and they stepped inside leaving behind Tenko's tragic past.

When they reached All For One's lair Kurogiri stood their after having closed up the warp gate for his master. He wore his metallic collar and button up shirt, vest, and slacks while bowing towards his boss.

"Tenko, I would like you to meet Kurogiri. He is a valuable member of my league. He has a warp gate quirk which makes getting around very useful." All For One told Tenko.

"Kurogiri this is Tenko he is going to be my future protégé. Please see to his wounds and get him a warm bath, clothes, and dinner." All For One instructed Kurogiri. "I'm going to get in touch with my own personal doctor at once. Tenko needs immediate medical care."

"Yes, All For One" Kurogiri bowed.

All For One then crouched down by Tenko and spoke "I need you to be brave for me now. I'm going to get my doctor to take care of you but you can trust Kurogiri he is my right hand man and he will be yours in the future as well. Understand?"

Tenko gave a determined look and nodded his head affirmative and for the first time in his young life he wrapped his little arms around All For One's shoulders in a hug. All For One froze in shock it had been a long time since he had had any form of physical contact with another. Memories of his younger brother flickered in his head. It was surprising how the child who had been clearly frightened of him and was barely capable of speech could manage to embrace him. He carefully placed his arms about the boy and patted him gently on the back. He was a young child after all he had to remember, given time this behavior could be remedied. He needed an heir who was void of affection and out for vengeance.

He then heard a quiet voice shakily say "Th-th-thank you. All For One." And for the first time in a long time in the old villains life he felt a warmth enter his cold heart. Maybe not yet but soon.

All For One then stood and nodded towards Kurogiri and headed towards his office. Apart of him felt guilty for leaving the child alone with someone he did not know, but he had no experience in childcare. Whereas, Kurogiri had no experience with children but he had been studying books on childcare and rearing, he at least had a delicate temper compared to the other villains he associated with.

All For One walked towards his desk and sat down and then lifted his phone and dialed the number "Hello it's me. I have a new patient for you."