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Chapter Text

Yagi Toshinori, quick to realize he might not be enough to prepare Izuku for what is to come, consults with Nedzu on the appropriate actions to take to train him properly… and the assistance he’ll need along the way. (Chapter 2)

Aizawa peeks into Nedzu’s office, the thin skeleton of a man sitting on the other side of the desk from the chimeric principal. “I’m not one to question you, Nedzu, but I’m asking if this is really necessary to include even more people in on the secret?”

Nedzu smiles, and Shouta barely caught when the principal's eyes flicker to him before focusing on the secretary, keeping Shouta’s presence hidden for the moment. “All Might, I need to make it clear to you that your secret is in good hands. The problem is you decided to give your Quirk to a child who was formerly Quirkless, and as such has no form of Quirk counseling or support network to help. Aizawa will have to know this to properly teach the boy, and he is the only staff member who could help the boy control a very dangerous quirk.”

Shouta raises an eyebrow, his entire perception warping in the span of Nedzu’s admonishment.

But as Yagi would point out, Secrets are less secure the more people know about them… (Chapter 4)

Inko blinks, those words not computing. She was standing in her kitchen, her son and this… eccentric teacher and his own child the only people there. But he’s looking at her, tall enough that as he looked down, his eye bags almost made him look like a corpse. “I’m sorry, his what?”

Shouta just nods, looking at her like he’s aware of the pin he’s just pulled out of the grenade. “Yes, Mrs. Midoriya, his Quirk. Your son does indeed have a quirk, and it could very well kill him if it isn’t trained properly.”

Fortunately, Inko Midoriya is not the innocent single mother she acts like… so she is a very trustworthy secretkeeper.

She wasn’t looking at the man, but she felt his tension as she calmly started to cook like he hadn’t just told her some big secret. “Understand, the teachers at UA were concerned when he suddenly revealed the full effects of his Quirk during the exam. But we were hoping to set up a meeting tomorrow to explain everything…”

“Oh, that shouldn’t be necessary,” Inko said, pulling out the beef she typically used for katsudon. She turned to the pro, fingers carefully tapping a few inches from the knife block, “Because I think you’re going to tell me everything you know right this instant.”

She saw Shouta look between her eyes and her hand, then back to the boys. Then he looked at her, and the two had a whole conversation in seconds without a single word.

’You wouldn’t attack a Pro, would you?’

’If you’re saying my son’s life is in danger, I’d skin you without an ounce of mercy if that would keep him safe.’

Meanwhile, Izuku is made to know he was never the problem. Much like his soon to be boyfriend, they simply needed the right people to show them what true friendship and more is. (Chapter 3)

Izuku frowns in the backseat of Aizawa’s half dozen year old car, then whips out a notebook. Faster than Shinso can track, his pen begins flying across the paper, writing in questions as fast as he can think of them.

Shinso hears his phone buzz, pulling it out to see Denki has been sending messages almost nonstop since he’d put it away. He only read the latest, because that’s how fried his brain was.

Denki:Dude, send me a pic of him. Please, I gotta know what he looks like!

Shinso thinks about it, then shrugs. Denki had shown him something, and he wanted to see if he could do it. “Hey, Izuku?”

Izuku looks up, and Shinso carefully leans over him. He throws an arm around his shoulder, and they both kind of awkwardly laugh at the tension. “Smile?”

Izuku nods, holding up a peace sign. Shinso huffs a laugh, and takes the picture with his phone. Without a second thought, he sends it to Denki.

Denki:Damn, he’s cute. Can you get me his number?

Sadly, not all the Blondes their age are as likable as Denki. Case in point… (Chapter 8)

Denki frowns, Bakugo’s attitude starting to wear him down. This guy was way too aggressive, and way too loud for a public place like this ice cream shop. “Yeah, whatever man. Say that when you can’t use your Quirk to fight for you.”

The kid rounds on him, smoke pouring off his hands. Was that caramel smell the guy, or was it just the shop? “What’d you say, you damn extra?”

Before either of them could try and continue the argument, the girl at the counter rang the bell twice, catching their attention. Denki’s order was in a little carrying tray with straws, while the guy’s large drink was sitting a little bit away.

Denki quickly grabbed the drinks, tossing the guy a look from the wall. “Name’s Denki by the way. Jerk.”

While these kids get to relax, one troubled author makes a horrible mistake. (Writing of Chapter 7)

The student sits in front of his school issued computer, scrolling through their own watchlist. “What is a movie that people my age would want to watch…”

He rolls the little wheel in the mouse, digging through dozens of movies he’d never have the time to watch between school work and writing…

He stops, then laughs to himself at the option. “Why not? It’d be fun… and I’ll probably burn out before then.”

He begins writing references to My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, ignoring the consequences should he pursue the inevitable possibility of adapting that to this.

In addition to leaving the door open for a poly ship, there was some garbage that had to be taken care of… and the toxic residue that trash leaves… (Chapter 12)

Denki knocked on the door that was camoed into the wall around it, and Izuku finally said something. The boy nervously looked around in the alley, clearly out of his comfort zone. “Um, Denki? Is it really legal for us to go into a bar?”

Denki laughs, shrugging. “Not really, but we’re going to the living space above the bar. Plus, the guy in there knows not to give me anything, even when I jokingly asked a few times. We’ll be fine…”

The door opens, reeling a man with stark black hair and piercing blue eyes. Now, while some people would be distracted by the harsh purple bruises and staples, Denki had seen how much of a softie he was. “There you are, pipsqueak. Han-dsy’s been obsessing over this little playdate all day.”

Denki looks up at him, raising an eyebrow before going for his ‘flirty’ voice. “Speaking of fine, how are you, Dabi? Been too long since I saw you.”

Dabi snorts, rolling his eyes before stepping out of the way. “Not gonna happen, runt. Besides, this is more of a cameo than anything; Hana’s brother tried to give me a job, but I’m not interested.”

But nothing is ever just fun and games.(Chapter 13)

Katsuki starts to growl, when Izuku notices something near the door of the classroom. He looks over, seeing Aizawa laying on his side in an ugly yellow sleeping bag. He laughs, and he sees Hitoshi follow his eyeline to the same thing.

Sadly, Hitoshi isn’t the only one who heard him laugh. Katsuki rears on Izuku, palms up and smoking. “What the Fuck is a nerd like you doing here, Deku? Last I checked, UA doesn’t give clearance to Quirkless Stalkers like you!”

Izuku backs up against the wall, arms subconsciously curling over the notebook in his jacket. “Calm Down, Katsuki! I wasn’t laughing at you…”

“Oh yeah, then what was so funny?” Katsuki flexes his palms, and Izuku cringes, expecting an explosion. But after a few seconds of silence, he opens his eyes to see that Katsuki is looking around, his hands not smoking.

Mr. Aizawa slides in, slamming the door shut. He was out of the sleeping bag, and he did not look happy to Izuku. That’s partially from his Quirk, but Izuku had gotten used to it.

But it’s not just the kids adjusting to the timeline… the adults must have their equal turn, as well… (Chapter 15)

Aizawa returned to the teacher’s lounge, and took to backing up the notes he took during the Quirk Appraisal Exam onto a file he’d habitually made of all his classes. He’d already taken more notes on this class than the one last year, which seemed like a good sign. But it was also a headache; it didn’t look like he’d be giving kids screwed over by the Entrance Exam an open seat anytime soon.

He just barely saved the file when some of the other teachers started trickling in for lunch, some of them carrying stuff from the cafeteria. It was Nemuri, Hizashi, Ectoplasm, and Vlad King, all of them in their costumes, which made Shouta stand out like a sore thumb. “Aw, come on Shouta! Why’d you have to take your class out of the orientation again?”

Shouta just shakes his head, taking a quick peck on the cheek from Hizashi before standing up, popping the stiffness out of his back. “I don’t give credence to needless ceremonies. Besides, I needed to gauge how much potential the new kids had. I’ve been spending too much time with Izuku and Shinso; I needed to wash off my biases.”

Nedzu and Powerloader walked in, both caked in soot and ash. Powerloader coughed, a mouthful of the stuff issuing forth. “I don’t even know how she did it… I know it wasn’t her Quirk, but I didn’t even give them anything…”

Hizashi starts to snicker, quickly standing and getting them both towels from the closet in the corner. “Ah, found your own Problem Child, Higari? And here I thought you’d get to help us with Shouta’s this year.”

Speaking of the Problem Child, Izuku’s not just got to worry about breaking himself; He might accidentally reveal everything because of his Quirks… Chapter 11)

The next thing Izuku remembered was sitting in a copy of Alderia Middle School’s classroom, but with him at the only desk. He could see a bunch of people at the front… eight people. One of them was a skinny man with blond hair, but the details were hazy and indistinct.

They were all talking, but then one of them noticed him watching. They walk over, revealing a woman with short gray hair. “Ah, I think the little guy’s finally tapping into the Link! Who’s bet was the first month, again?”

The woman puts a hand to his shoulder, and he can see traces of purple light racing along her skin. “Hang on, little guy, calm down! We’re here to help you! Just let my Quirk work it’s magic, and you’ll be fine. Come on, you were wondering why Recovery Girl’s quirk healed you completely overnight, right? Well, you have number 4 to thank!” ...

Izuku looks up at Nedzu, who simply observes with a quiet, “Fascinating.” But then the principal walks out of U.A.s medical room, and Izuku is made to follow both him and Recovery Girl out into the hallway.

When they get outside, Recovery Girl closes the door, and she turns to him. “Dearie, I’m not sure how to tell you this… When I activated my quirk, I assumed there would be some level of damage to fix. But you… you’ve made a complete recovery from both today and yesterday’s events, which should be impossible without the assistance of a Healing Quirk…”

Izuku nods, then vaguely remembers a voice talking to him. “Um, I’m not sure what this means… but I remember a dream where a voice was telling me about the number 4? Like, someone who called themselves Four, and was telling me to thank them?”

Recovery Girl gasps, then sighs heavily. “Oh dear… well, I suppose I should be thankful… But this presents a new concern…”

Nedzu steps in, trying to explain to the confused Izuku. “Young Midoriya, you know of All For One’s ability to pass on to other people, Correct? But did All Might explain that the ‘Super Strength’, which was in actuality a Power Stockpiling Quirk, which merged together with the first user’s ability to pass it to the next person?”

Izuku shakes his head, details flooding back. Nedzu nods, calculations running faster than either of the two could verbally keep up with. “There are as many seven Quirks in your body… or, at the very least, imitations of the holder’s Quirks. But even that could prove to be incredible… and dangerous… unless we know what you’ll potentially manifest in advance…”

Of course, a new Quirk doesn’t make all his Problems just go away… (The Battle Trial: Chapters 17-19)

When the matchup is announced, Izuku tries not to look at Katsuki. But curiosity gets the best of him, and he turns to look at his look of absolute delight from the other side of the class, standing outside in their Hero Gear as All Might flashes everyone their matchups.

’I’m going to crush this Quirkless fuck, and stomp that purple stalker for fun.

Izuku scowls, rage filling his mind at the thought. He didn’t care what Katsuki thought of him anymore; but he wouldn’t let anyone hurt Hitoshi again. ’If you hurt Hitoshi, I will destroy you, Katsuki.’

Katsuki visibly recoils, looking at Izuku with shock. But Izuku’s just angry, glaring a hole into the boy’s head.

Tenya awkwardly starts walking away, and Katsuki follows behind him. But he doesn’t meet his eyes; he doesn’t want that to happen again.

---

Izuku and Hitoshi made it through the first floor’s staircase unimpeded. So when they hear the stomping of boots, they quickly move around a corner, and slip into an empty room to wait.

Katsuki stomps right past their room, continuing past them. But then the sounds stop, and Hitoshi and Izuku both hold their breath.

There’s a pause, and Katsuki just starts screaming. “What the hell, Deku? I thought you wanted to be a Hero! Or are you too much of a coward to fight me on your own! What, your boyfriend ran off when he realized how useless you are!”

They made it through the first floor’s staircase unimpeded. So when they hear the stomping of boots, they quickly move around a corner, and slip into an empty room to wait.

Katsuki stomps right past their room, continuing past them. But then the sounds stop, and Hitoshi and Izuku both hold their breath.

There’s a pause, and Katsuki just starts screaming. “What the hell, Deku? I thought you wanted to be a Hero! Or are you too much of a coward to fight me on your own! What, your boyfriend ran off when he realized how useless you are!”

Katsuki turns around, but Izuku doesn’t care how he looks right now. Everything is blurred out, blood roaring in his ears. “You think I didn’t use my Quirk for years as a joke? I know you saw what everyone did to me, called me. You think I wanted that? You think I wanted to be called Useless? Be beaten every other day?”

Katsuki takes a step back, clearly surprised by Izuku’s line of attack. “You… you all conspired to make me look stupid! I’m not falling for it anymore!”

---

Izuku keeps running, trying to draw Katsuki further away from the stairwell.

He reaches for another door handle, only for Katsuki to round a corner in front of him. He’s grinning, gauntlets glowing from repeated use. “Nowhere left to run, Deku!”

Izuku glares at him, opening the door. “I don’t know who you’re calling Deku. Last time I checked, you’re the one everybody avoids talking to, Kacchan. Meanwhile, I’m talking to everyone on my phone. Who’s the Deku now?”

Katsuki recoils from the venom poured into that word, then lifts up his gauntlet. He points the top bit at Izuku, then reaches for the side of the stylized pin… wait…

He pulls it out, and Izuku lunges inside the room. He’s faintly aware of All Might yelling something, but then everything turns into ringing bells and bright white and pain…

---

Hitoshi takes off in a run, ignoring the sound of someone else continuing to talk. He just runs, retracing his steps to the bottom floor.

The area looks like… like a fucking bomb went off in it. The middle section of a whole side is destroyed, along with a bunch of the inner walls of the complex. It looked like the inside of a bag of powdered donuts; or if it could snow in Hell.

Izuku looked like a piece of undercooked meat, with the way his chest was red and there were flecks of red dripping down it. Looking closer, his ears were dripping red; he’d probably been close enough to the explosion that it messed up his ears.

Tenya picks Izuku up, cradling him in his arms like a housecat. And he runs through the hole in the wall, sprinting off in a straight line towards Recovery Girl.

Hitoshi goes to follow, only for Katsuki to start running behind him. “Hey! Where...”

Hitoshi rounds on the blond, tears in his eyes. “What the fuck do you want? What, was tormenting Izuku for ten years not enough? You had to nearly kill him? Well, con-grad-u-fucking-lations!”

Katsuki takes a step back, then pushes forward towards Hitoshi. “Of course you’d say that; you’re in on it, aren’t you? His fucking mind game, lying to everyone about being Quirkless? I bet that he’s been with you all week; he wasn’t at school, he was never in his apartment when I tried to talk to him, and Auntie Inko just said he was ‘out with friends’. I guess that was you, hah?”

Hitoshi just stares at him, the first round of tears picking up the dust in the air. “Didn’t you see the video about the entrance exam? His Quirk broke his bones! He’s been recovering all week! You think he’d break himself again for your ego?”

Katsuki stops, his angry vibrating stopping. In fact, Hitoshi didn’t think he was breathing until he spoke up again. “Those videos… they were of him?”

Hitoshi steps up to Katsuki, backing the boy into the wall. He faintly tastes copper as he speaks, but he doesn’t care. “Yeah, that was him. His Quirk would have killed him if he’d used it before he’d trained for nearly a year to use it, and when he could finally use it, he broke three limbs activating it the first time. He was bullied by you for a decade for not trying to kill himself. And here you are, throwing a tantrum because just lost your free reign to torture him. After all, what could one Quirkless boy do to stop you?”

Katsuki tries to recover, but that last question is like a dagger in his chest.

Hitoshi has survived this long by reading people. He can see each grain of salt his words pour into the wound he’s caused, and for once, he relishes in it. He’s dining on pure Schadenfreude. Well, that and blood; it happened when he tried to use his Quirk too much, sometimes. “I don’t care about your fucking ego. Leave Izuku alone. If you ever hurt him again, if you threaten him, if you so much as make him feel uncomfortable… I will end your Hero career before it ever begins. I won’t kill you; you’ll live to feel every minute of pain, just like you did to him.”

Katsuki’s face goes pale, and not because of the dust in the air. Hitoshi takes a step back, suddenly lightheaded. Everything starts to go fuzzy, but he tries to stay standing.

"Everyone is the hero of their own life story." -John Barth

It was too much to process… He couldn’t think! He needed… Katsuki runs into an alley, getting a few steps before his stomach churned, and he hit the deck. His breakfast hit the ground right after him, and the bitter taste in his mouth almost distracted from the stinging in his eyes. His chest is trying to crush his lungs, quickly contracting and releasing, over and over.

There’s a moment where he can’t hear anything but himself, blood roaring in his ears and sobs ripping out his throat. He backs away from the puddle on the ground, then curls into a ball against the wall. That stupid robot is talking again, saying something about dehydration and nausea…

“Override Primary Protocol, Clearance Epsilon-1.” Suddenly, Aizawa is right over him, and Katsuki can feel him judging him, planning on expelling him, probably going to arrest him or something…

There’s a rustle next to him, and a groan as the teacher sits next to him. Katsuki looks up, the bleary image of him shaking back and forth in tears. His voice tries to come out, but there’s just a croak instead of any word.

Aizawa just stares at him, then he sighs. “You fucked up royal, when I gave you a warning yesterday. By all rights, you should be booted without another thought.”

Before he can help it, his head bobs up and down. And then he’s just completely lost control at this point, and a few drops of water begin to crawl down his face. “”Am… am I a villain? I did all that shit, and for what? What’s the point of any of it?”

Stopping the narrative device for a second, the point of this Plotline was showing that everyone realizes that Katsuki got fucked up by his previous teachers, potentially ruining his life if things aren’t fixed. I, as the Author, wanted to show that not only was Izuku being shown the love and care he should have been taught were unconditional, but that Katsuki can do better and doesn’t deserve to be condemned for the grooming he received. He’s a victim as well… even though he did victimize Izuku, he should not be shackled to this behavior. ‘Anyone can Change’ is not what I’m saying… ‘Everyone Deserves the Chance to Change’...

Did I say Izuku is being shown love? Boy, Did I!

Izuku looked up from his seat in the Medical Room, and Hitoshi’s head was rolling to the side in his bed. Aside from some mild burned patches of his hair and some redness to his face and hands, Izuku seemed fine. “Hitoshi… do you like me? As more than a friend?”

Hitoshi looks up at Izuku, and the smile he gives is so radiant, that Izuku’s heart flutters. “I love you, Izuku. I want to protect you; I don’t want you to be hurt ever again.”

Izuku just sits there, too shocked and happy, and Hitoshi starts to close off. Izuku reaches with his other hand, accidentally knocking the ice pack to the floor. “Hitoshi… I think… I love you too…”

Hitoshi just stares, and tears start brimming in his eyes. Izuku panics, thinking he didn’t say enough, or maybe misread everything, but Hitoshi leans up, and wraps his arms around Izuku.

There’s a wonderful second where Whisper triggers, and there’s an image of them in the park, Izuku reduced to a blushing mesh. And there’s this warm feeling, like he’d just drank a whole coffee pot full of hot chocolate. And everything is right with the world…

Hitoshi draws back slowly, and he’s looking at Izuku like he’s made of solid platinum. “You and All Might… I knew it. He looks too much like his secretary.” Izuku’s eyes widen, and tries to explain. But Hitoshi just draws him back, holding on for a really long time.

Unfortunately, these Young Heroes aren’t living in a vacuum; the world spins on, and there are long laid plans in motion threatening them all… (Chapter 25-26)

The class’s rapt attention is broken when a pillar of darkness begins to form in the area in front of them, cutting them off from Aizawa. Out of it steps a figure in a formal suit, wearing an impressive metallic collar. Either his head is a cloud of the same mist he’s teleporting with, or he’s using it to hide his true appearance. “Ah, Young Heroes. Cut down in the prime of their training, like wheat in a polluted field… it’s a pity, really.”

The Portal Villain sighs loudly, ignoring the palpable tension and sounds of a fight from the main area of the USJ. “Oh, I must apologize. But we do have a schedule to maintain; and since All Might is late to his own Assassination, we’ll have to find some way of dragging him out of hiding. I think… yes, killing a few of you should be an effective way of getting him to show up.”

No one should have to be forced onto the field at their age, but Class 1-A manages… to a point…

Shaking her head to get the water out, Momo focuses, and a glass jar full of brown granulated powder with specks of green and black appears in her hand. Undoing the lid, she leans over the side of the boat, the grappling hook sitting on the deck near Tsuyu’s feat. “Cover your eyes, but don’t go under!”

Treading water near the side of the boat, Kyouka nods. She turns as someone comes out of the water a few feet behind her, and Momo rears back with the container. They had some kind of visible Mutation, taking on the appearance of some type of shark.

Throwing the jar, she doesn’t wait for the sound of it hitting the water, or the quickly spreading cloud of brown and red in the water, before reaching down for the hook. But when she comes up, she sees the chemical reaction is happening much faster than she expected.

She lets the hook shoot down, the hook hitting the water just to Kyouka’s right. Besides her, Tsuyu sends her tongue out, wrapping around the arm that Kyouka hasn’t used to grab the twine rope with.

With machinery and muscle working together, Kyouka grabs onto the railing, Momo dropping the hook to grab under her arms to pull her up. With a heave, the girls all fall into the boat, the other two taking a second to appreciate the break in the action.

---

Dark Shadow seems to carefully pick Denki up, bringing him over to Fumikage and Kouji and setting him on the ground. Dark Shadow then moved to coil around them, much like a mother bird would sit on her eggs to warm them.

He tried to push himself up, then froze suddenly, hand adjusting his headset. Koda goes over to him, offering his hand to help him up. “ar-are y-you okay?”

Denki nods, taking the hand and looking around. He looked like he was having a hard time processing everything… and if he wasn’t busy currently containing Dark Shadow, Fumikage would probably be the same.

He stops looking around, then focuses on a point above them. “How… wait, you’re… what the hell, man?”

Fumikage takes a step back, looking at Koda. The boy shrugs, equally confused by the sudden outburst.

Fumikage observes his weird behavior… while currently being surrounded by his giant shadow monster that was attached to his lower back. So if it registered as weird to him, that was probably something of note. “Apologies, but Dark Shadow would make it very difficult for us to remain inside a building. I… I struggle to control him in this environment.”

Denki nods, then hooks his thumb in the direction he’s been looking off to earlier. “Well, the way out is that way. I think there’s a few people blocking the way out… but I think we can punch through with Dark Shadow if we try.”

Dark Shadow begins growling, but Fumikage can’t help but notice this weird feeling… he felt excited, but that definitely wasn’t his emotion right now. He was somewhere between aggravated and scared, definitely not excited.

Dark Shadow’s head comes down, nuzzling the soaked feathers on his head. Fumikage looks up… then sighs heavily. “I suppose the best course of action for us is to regroup with everyone.”

Denki nods, and Koda latches onto his arm. Denki looks at him, and just flashes a smile. “Don’t worry, Koda. We’re gonna be fine!”

---

Katsuki roars, an explosion knocking back the man in front of him. He takes a few ragged breaths, turning to the only person left standing, the platinum blonde woman in the hoodie… who was sitting on the ledge of the window, holding onto the edge while watching them.

She catches him staring in horror, and then she smiles venomously at him. “Sorry, but this whole thing is going to shit. Best to cut my losses now, right Bomb-eranian? Or do you prefer… ‘Kacchan’?”

She lets go, falling out of the building.

Katsuki watches Shitty Hair run after her… but his mind is miles away, his eyes not processing anything…

The woman was replaced with a green haired boy, holding a burned up notebook in a puddle of blood as a bunch of people point and laugh… and he was just standing there, watching it… no, he’d been a part of it. He’d said it…

Someone’s arms are wrapping around him, and he tries to break out of their grip… but Eijiro holds onto him, talking in a soothing voice. “Dude, she got caught by one of those portal things. She’s fine; just take a breath.” ---

Shouto looks at the other villains circling Aizawa in the plaza, and pales when he notices the remaining two or three dozen are all backing away from the Hero, some of them even dragging their allies back from him as well. And the Pro’s eyes latch onto him from his hiding position, hidden behind his yellow goggles.

The Hand Villain starts laughing, an ugly sound like Bakugo made earlier. “Nomu, go play with that Hero over there. But keep him alive… for now.”

The Big Villain, apparently named Nomu, turns to the Pro. Its eyes focused like a shark, it begins stalking over, clawed hands flexing as it moves closer...

Shouto slowly peaks out from his spot, careful to watch for the chance where he could freeze everyone but Aizawa. But the man spun and dodged out of the way, getting himself trapped between the crowd of villains and Nomu, effectively negating the use of a large patch of ice.

Shouto growled, and started pulling back into hiding. But that was when Aizawa’s luck ran out, and Nomu’s claws caught on the loose fabric of his shirt sleeve when he tried to duck out of the way. And the next instant, it’s other hand was around his neck, lifting him clean off the ground.

Before the thought of shouting out processed, there was a loud HONK from over near the water area across the plaza. Then a series of frantic splashes… and a number of villains that looked like Aquatic animals came running up the hill that led from the water zone. About another dozen and a half in total from what Shouto could see…

Behind them, a boat comes speeding from around a corner, making a tight turn to be facing the ‘beach’ between the Water Zone and Plaza. And it almost immediately and spectacularly throws itself onto the land, making a loud screeching noise as metal grinds against concrete. But it continued, skidding up and behind the running villains.

There was a moment of pause, then the boat started to emit a high pitched screech, echoing around the plaza and the building. Shouto covers his ears, trying to focus through the pain the noise was causing as he watched.

The Hand Villain and Mayhem both cover their ears, then try to start moving away from the boat.

Before he can try to stand up, or form any Ice, the dome near between the water zone and entrance bursts open. And out of it emerged a Shadow creature that was utterly massive, the debris exploding out and falling off of it into the plaza… then the light started hitting it, and it immediately began to fade in size and appearance.

Shouto watches as Dark Shadow shrinks, quickly taking a defensive stance in front of Tokoyami, Kaminari, and the quiet rock kid as they emerge from the wreckage. Denki’s eyes scan over the area, quickly locking on him before giving a flirtatious wink. And the ship slowly stops making noise, Momo and the frog girl peer over the edge of the ship, quickly joined by Kyouka.

As the villains rally, there was a loud set of footsteps behind him, and Shouto turns to see Izuku and Hitoshi running over, immediately being followed by Ojiro and Aoyama.

Izuku tries to stop Hitoshi from running forward, but the purple haired boy goes running forward anyways, voice full of primal fear as he yells at Nomu. “Put him down!”

The Hand Villain, Shigaraki, starts laughing to the side. “Oh, I know the headlines they’ll be writing now. ‘Symbol of Peace, Unable to Protect Entire Class of Young Heroes!’ I see them now; Twenty obituaries on the front page! NOMU, listen to the kid; Put that old fool down… six feet into the dirt!”

The young Heroes and their teachers survived the encounter… but the scars left from that event weren’t the kind Recovery Girl could fix in an afternoon…(Chapter 28)

In what can best be described as a ‘heavily used’ looking car, Dabi sits at a red light. Besides him is a woman with shock white hair, and Denki sits in the back seat. The blond hero is trying the doors on the side, eyes quickly passing between the two’s in the mirror.

Dabi accelerates for the light, giving a dry laugh. “Denki, we have some things to explain. Because Hana here didn’t think you’d hear anything, or her Psycho Brother’s Boss would actually notice… let me be frank, I like you too much to let those psycho’s go with Plan A.”

Denki tilts his head, considering the statement. “Hang on, what? Hana’s Brother… and his boss… what do they have to do with this?”

Dabi sighs heavily, fingers gripping the wheel as hard as he could. “Look, I am on the record saying I didn’t want any part of this. But… things have changed, circumstances have evolved, and a stalemate has been broken. If I don’t step in now… let’s just say things can get worse than today.”

Denki nods, curling up in the seat with his back to the door. “So… you really are villains? You used me? Tried to kill my friends? Kill me…”

Dabi quickly takes an opening to slide to the lane closest to the sidewalk, heading to the safehouse Hana had chosen. He could hear Denki spiraling, very used to that line of thinking. “Kid, listen to me…”

Denki looks up at him, and Dabi has to take a second to process how the kid is both crying and yelling at the same time. “Dabi, What The FUCK? Why are you doing this to me? What the Fuck is happening? You guys are stabbing me in the back, using me for… for what? Someone else’s grudge against All Might?”

(the scene cuts to the same three in an apartment, Hana in a kitchen while Denki sits at a bar near her.)

Hana makes a noise, quickly finishing off her drink before answering for Dabi. “Problem is; my brother’s boss is an Asshole, and he’s got a Quirk that lets him live a long time. And age has not mellowed him out. He’s got a list of grudges long enough to wrap Mount Fuji top to bottom, and have room for a bow. And the thing that pisses him off most; All Might.”

Denki nods, clearly still uncomfortable with the revelations that got him in this spot. That nervous energy forces him to keep moving, so he’s spinning on the stool, constant;ly watching the strange guy with the stitches on his forehead sitting near Dabi.

“Didn’t care about the specifics, but my brother repeated them enough. All Might’s apparently gotten some kind of Super Quirk that can be passed on, like some ‘divine right of kings’ bullshit that most of the number ones have had for decades.”

Denki stops, turning back to Hana. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

Hana stops, then shrugs as she downs the last remaining drops of soda in her can. “Yeah, All Might’s got some weird Quirk that passes itself on through different people. Never cared about the specifics, but it kinda makes sense; the ‘Number One Hero’ in Japan almost always has some physical enhancement quirk, just stronger than the last. The few times it isn’t is when the last one retires or has their Quirk Burn Out. My brother, Tenko’s boss, has himself a Quirk that can take Quirks away, so it makes sense that somewhere in Quirk Evolution a Quirk that could be passed around would come up. It’s basic Balance; for every Yin, a Yang to counter it.”

Denki stops, thinking about that time Izuku had gone off on Advanced Quirk theory. “Wait… there are Quirks that can trade powers around? And All Might… he’s got more than one Quirk?”

Hana stops, then kind of wiggles her hand. “I mean, I only half listened, but the Quirk itself copies the holder’s Quirk as it goes on. But the first guy didn’t know he had a Quirk; he was given some kind of Battery Quirk, and his Quirk to pass on Quirks had something to do. Can’t imagine a Quirk like that; It must destroy the person who uses it. I mean, look at All Might; imagine how much power that is, and then being given all of it at once.”

Denki stops spinning, phone clattering out of his hand and to the ground. ...destroy the person who uses it...copies other quirks...passes on… His head is spinning, and not just because of the stool and his probably-ADHD. “Wait… no control… and he always… then he gets better really fast… and the thing earlier… and the stuff in his room…”

Hana is looking at him, and then she takes the sentence fragments and pieces them together. “Wait… you know who his Successor is, don’t you! Someone at your school has his Quirk!” Then she stops, voice full of dread. “Oh fuck, someone at your school is…”

Thus began the villain’s plans to protect someone they care about, while ultimately following through with their bosses plans… luckily, they had a big neon target to deal with until then, and a lawyer that had a flexible enough moral compass to help…(Chapter 33)

Enji Todoroki, the number two Hero in Japan, towered over Inko Midoriya. He was taller than most everyone, and her being that bit shorter made the difference stand out. He knew, on a rational level, that Enji probably wouldn’t try anything, but Dabi wasn’t liking her chances if he suddenly stopped caring that he was in the middle of a Law Office’s Lobby.

And the man was radiating this intimidating aura, like one of those heat ray things that made your skin crawl the longer you were in it. He didn’t have any fire coming off of him, but that didn’t mean he would be keeping them away the whole time he was here.

But Inko just stood under his gaze, maintaining her composure as he towered at what looked like twice her height. She put on a thin smile, bowing to the man before staring coldly into his eyes, and speaking just loud enough for the people watching the interaction to hear. “Todoroki-kun, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I wanted to congratulate you on your recent collaboration with Miruko; I hear she is rather difficult to work with, and you two seem to get along incredibly well.”

Enji takes a second to respond to that, during which Dabi notices Hana is staying back near the elevator. She’s pulling her hood up, but she’s… she’s pointing a phone at the meeting as she walks away, pretending to talk on it as she moves to circle the two. “So you’re the one who’s been going around and collecting my old records. And pray tell, what exactly do you think any of this is going to do?”

Inko tilts her head, and Dabi represses a shudder as her smile seems to become genuine for a moment. “Oh, do I need to have some allterior motive? I just decided to do a little digging, and found you had an unusual pattern of behavior the past few years. I thought a simple motion to have these records made into a public report would be the motivation you needed to get out of this deepening rut you seem to find yourself in; you know, keep that ‘Plus Ultra’ energy from when you were in U.A.”

Now, rehabilitation comes in multiple steps. Endeavor possibly won’t earn a redemption… but someone else is being forced to work for theirs…(Chapter 39)

Katsuki looks over at the cup, looking at the green color… “Did you break a green cup just to make me think of Izuku? Is that the point of this whole fucking meeting?”

Nedzu breaks into an evil cackle, reminding Katsuki of his own laugh on the first few days of school. “Not at all. But that is what I wanted to talk to you about; you seem to labor under the delusion that this world revolves around you. Like someone is writing your story, with you as the unconquerable Hero in the making. Well, I’m here to remind you that you are not the protagonist of this school; I have to worry about everyone equally, and cannot devote every waking second to ensuring you do not hurt yourself or others.”

Katsuki starts to bristle, but then he catches himself. Nedzu obviously had some point to make here, and every time he’d tried to interrupt, things had slowly become worse.

He stays silent, and Nedzu gives a genuine smile. “And that right there was the smartest thing you’ve done this whole meeting. Which returns to my initial point; just because something is broken, doesn’t mean it can’t be treated and repaired.”

Katsuki raises an eyebrow, then looks at the cup again. He thinks about it a moment… then huffs as he crosses his arms. “So that’s your angle.”

“Oh, of course I did my research. Before I expel anyone, I ensure I didn’t miss any… extenuating factors that could explain their choices. And your academic record was spotless, Katsuki; I’ll admit I was a tad surprised when I saw it.”

At that very moment, Katsuki could have heard a pin drop at the bone chilling silence that sentence settles in him. “Ex… expelled?”

Nedzu nods, setting the now full cup on it’s saucer. “Oh, not yet. I still haven’t decided if you’re worth repairing or not. Because while this beautiful metaphor does apply to Midoriya in a fascinating way, it was not made for him. I am trying to decide whether or not you are the right kind of student for U.A., Katsuki Bakugou. And so far, my better angels have stayed my hand.”

Katsuki nods, throat bone dry despite the mouthful of water he’d just had. “I… you haven’t decided?”

Nedzu shakes his head, holding the broken handle up. “I will be having you attend a weekly meeting with Hound Dog, in addition to anything Aizawa stipulates for Crisis Counseling, and ask you to consider this meeting your first warning. I cannot hold you accountable for the failures of our previous educators, but I can fully punish you for any further failures of etiquette on my grounds.”

Now, everyone should have received counseling for the ‘terrorist attack’ that is the USJ. And they do here… revealing a juicy subplot I will enjoy bringing up again later…(Chapter 49)

Ryou raises an eyebrow, letting the pen spin in his fingers. “Of course. I read that your uncle runs a dojo/gym specialized for people with Mutant Quirks. I suppose you would be familiar with your body’s limits… how much punishment you can take.”

Mashirao looks up, fingers tapping on his knee. He kept nervously shifting, but on occasion, he’d shift in a way that caused a quiet hiss, like he was shifting on bruises under his uniform. “Um… I wouldn’t phrase it like that, but yeah. I help my uncle show some basic maneuvers and routines to the kids my age and younger, and end up doing some more focused sessions when we’re almost closed. Besides which, I had to train for this school… so yeah, I know a bit about patching myself up.”

Ryou lets the pen stop in his fingers, watching as Mashirao again looks up at him. Scanning his reaction to his words, preparing his response…

“If you believe you have a fuller opinion than Recovery Girl, that’s your business. I can’t force you to go see her… just know you can ask to see her at any time, alright?”

Mashirao nods, and begins cracking his knuckles. He begins stretching his fingers, staying silent outside of the muscles and bones in his hand making the most imperceptible noises.

Of course, while subplots are great, that shouldn’t keep the main plot from progressing in a sensible and quick fashion… (Chapter 50)

Izuku is standing in his Middle school classroom, but the details are washed and contorted in a dreamlike quality. He’s in the back of the room, looking at Present Mic at the front of the room… but the teacher’s body language is wrong. There’s an immense difference, like an imposter who doesn’t truly understand the role he was given.

He runs over to the classroom door, barely pushing the door open a crack. But then Present Mic is next to him, grabbing at his wrist. His face contorted with rage as he starts to speak, but there’s this weird raspy voice speaking under his teacher’s voice. “I don’t care what’s going through your head, young man, because these theatrics are on my last nerves. Return to your proper place, or I will ensure you suffer a long life within the most horrible prison I can concoct.”

Izuku looks up… there’s a weird mechanical sound all around him, hissing as it draws air in and then releases it. He looks up in his teacher’s eyes… seeing nothing there. Just a hollow expanse of skin where the lime green eyes he read about should be. “You… you don’t belong in my head.”

”Please, I can go wherever I desire, you miserable…”

Izuku twists his wrist in ‘Present Mic’s grip, digging his nails into the leather sleeve. “This is my head, and I say you don’t belong… GET OUT!

The door is thrown open, and Izuku briefly processes what looks like an old movie theatre before Iyusa, a woman with short cut gray hair and piercing red eyes, walks in. Without a word, she socks ‘Present Mic’ in the face, his grip on Izuku fading immediately.

Izuku takes a step back, and suddenly Shiso, a man with a set of white sideburns and hard blue eyes, is standing next to Iyusa. And six other shades are surrounding him, forming a wall between him and ‘Present Mic’.

The teacher stops backing away, rubbing a spot on his jaw while looking up. “The boy’s mind is weak. You won’t be able to protect him forever, you know; eventually, you’ll exhaust yourselves.”

While the figment is not truly wrong, it is not aware of the potential possessed by the newest holder… (Chapter 53)

Izuku quickly walks to the other side of the large concrete structure… and this time, his stop turns into a slide a few inches too far from the slick acid under his feet, and he’s suddenly in the middle of the air like those ancient cartoon reruns he vaguely recalled from his time on the internet avoiding the kids his age.

He starts falling, head first heading towards the ground. He puts his hands in front of him, accidentally copying those old panels of Heroes flying through the air. In actuality, if something had to be broken before today was done, it would be better that his arms were broken than his head…

He laughs, the hilarity not being lost on him. He had yet to break a bone since the Entrance Exam, even while trying to master One for All. And now, it wasn’t even the Quirk that was going to be the end of him…

’I’ve been falling a really long time.’ Izuku peels his eyes open, hoping he’ll wake up after all the pain is gone… only to see the ground a foot below him, slowly bobbing a few inches up and down in his vision.

Izuku looks around, noticing how he was hanging in the air just behind a wall. His gym uniform was kind of billowing around him, the looser bits shifting around like they were caught in the wind. He looks down at his arms, feeling a notable pulse in his palms as he stays up like this, like holding a speaker playing a really low note…

“Hey, Izuku!” Eijiro turns the corner, concern clear on his face. “You okay over…”

He stops, face morphing into confusion as he just stares. Izuku lifts his hand to wave… he hits the ground, rolling over into a sitting position like a roly poly. “Um… I’m fine?”

Eijiro just stares at him, before loudly proclaiming, “WHAT THE FUCK?”

While Izuku struggles to keep his secret under control, Mashirao’s secret worms it’s way into the light…(Chapter 63)

Aizawa stands, dressed in a disguise the audience can see through in a Tokyo Minute. But, being an Underground Hero, the others in this Warehouse are less likely to know him. Except for the other visible Heroes, Mr. Brave and Ms. Joke, who are also looking up to the second floor at the man in the trashy fur coat with a cigarette hanging from his lips.

“Now, I know we have some fresh fighters looking to make a name for themselves… but tonight, I thought we might as well start with the big event! Get your teeth wet, folks, because tonight, Wukong returns for one final fight for your viewing pleasure!”

That gets the crowd’s attention, and a figure makes its way to stand next to the announcer. They were wearing a long hood where blond hair was just barely in view, dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants. And waving behind the was a tail, wrapped carefully in black gauze that almost made it look like a shadow.

Emi audibly gasps, and Brave looks towards her. Shouta takes a breath, waiting for Tsukauchi to ask, “What is it? Did something happen?”

“No.” Emi excuses herself from her group, walking away under the pretense of getting a better look at the fighter. In reality, she was getting a clear line of sight to Shouta, her shock evident as she stared at everything but him. “Everything’s fine. Nothing to report.”

But while Aizawa plans to save his student… well, Mashirao comes face to (noseless) face with an insurmountable threat…(Chapter 63… again)

A hand grabs Mashirao by the scruff, and pulls him back. He tries to yell, but a calloused and dirty hand wraps around his mouth, pulling him back into the dark alley he’d just been running through.

He brings his elbow back, feeling more than one knife sheath without the man reacting. He tries to dig his feet into the ground, then kicks against the wall to swing his tail at the guys feet. That doesn’t really work, but he does accidentally headbutt the man, breaking his grip.

Mashirao tries to get a step away, but the man grabs his hood again, dragging him back. Then a hand gets placed on his chest, shoving him back against the brick wall behind him. The hand pulls away, and something slimy and rough swipes across his face. And instantly, every muscle in his body freezes, like his body had gotten encased in ice for a second time.

The psycho pulls away, tongue trailing back into his mouth. As a wave of revulsion washes over Mashirao at that revelation, it is quickly replaced by fear as a knife gets pressed to the side of his neck. “You… wait…”

The man leans in, the glowing embers locking onto him. He presses into Mashirao’s space, and he trembles with the urge to move away from him as he presses chest to chest with him.

“… Your photo is in the papers! You’re one of those Hero students that got attacked! What luck!”

The man pulls away, and Mashirao wants to relax. But only his lungs and jaw can move, eyes looking up for someone looking out their windows… or even one of the other Heroes to come and find him. He’d take that at this point; this man was a terrible combination of disgusting and terrifying, a smell of old dried blood slowly filling the space.

The man turns around, fanatical glee in his face. He was just like that hand villain from the plaza, pure mania just barely kept in check. “I was hoping you all would bounce back from that, and prove to this maggot infested society what true heroism is! But… here you are, fighting over money like a rat would to defend scraps of moldy bread.”

The man comes back in, holding the knife up. He pushes the tip into a bruise on Mashirao’s cheek, pain flaring up as a cold sensation begins trailing down his face. The man watches the blood for a second, then pulls the knife away. His tongue comes out, tracing his lips as if considering licking him again. The thing was covered in angry looking red spots, every single texture obvious at this distance.

With Stain’s sudden aggression, and the looming threat of All for One, Nedzu decides to incorporate the dorms earlier than planned. But of course, those plans must be set aside because… (Chapter 71)

Midnight poses for the audience, getting one last bout of cheering before stepping up to the mic. “Now, aren’t we all excited today? You’re screaming so loud, and we haven’t even gotten to the fun part yet! Hope you all have the stamina to keep that up… but regardless, welcome to Yuuei’s Sophomore Sports Festival!”

Now, I didn’t have a lot of reason to adjust the outline of the events here, simply adding pieces and flares that struck my fancy. Like… (Chapter 73)

Mei helps Zaphira check over her own babies, and Mei nods as she lifts her jetpack up. The two close the suitcase looking carrier Powerloader had allowed them, and the two nod to each other. “*You Good, Zaphira*?”

Zaphira nods, her choppy Spanish endearing as she slides on her own robotic backpack. “I will be good, Mei. Do be care full, though. We will not be friends during this event.”

Mei nods, and the Spanish transfer student runs off, her wider than average red shoes helping her keep her balance as she shifts under the gear she had on her.

Mei looks around, seeing no one was really interested in talking to her first. Everyone was looking to their own classmates, or crowding around Bakugou to get on his team. Which made sense; if people wanted to be famous, they throw their chips in with the high prize horses. They increase their chances of moving to the next round, and get to show off defending their prize.

She looks for Todoroki or Izuku, only for Uraraka to run up to her. “Hey, Hatsume? Izuku was wondering if we could work together? You have all this stuff that flies, and I can make us weightless to get better maneuverability…”

Mei looks up at Uraraka, lifting up her goggles and beaming at her. “Of course! How did I not think of that? Oh, me and Izuku need to talk more about this… and we totally need to hang out sometime! Do you know how useful you’ll be in the Support lab?”

Uraraka blushes, and Izuku comes running up… Mei looks over as he starts sliding on a shockingly familiar pair of red shoes, quickly crouching down to tie them again. “Hatsume, did Ochako ask you already? Are you okay with it?”

Mei nods, looking at the shoes. Uraraka follows her gaze… and also has a moment of pause, seeming to recognize the footwear as abnormal.

Izuku runs off, leaving the two girls alone. Uraraka tries to track him, but he vanishes into the crowd thanks to being that little bit shorter than everyone.

Mei nods, then steps behind Uraraka. She gently taps her shoulder, causing the girl to turn around. “So… you noticed his shoes, right?”

She nods, and actually tilts her tennis shoes up so Mei could see how new they were. “I mean, I just had to replace my old ones. And I noticed a bunch of really similar shoes in a corner display, and they were fairly inexpensive. So I started trying them on, and I actually really liked how they were balanced. They were a little loose on the outside, but I was just going to use some newspaper or old manga pages to fill the gap… then the store owner explained it…”

And as said… aside from a little music number (because I wanted to do it, and experiment a bit), there isn’t a lot to really summarize… well, except for…(Chapter 74)

Inko takes a breath, looking at whatever Nedzu had on the screen of the private room of the Sports Festival. “Do you love your son? It’s a basic question for a parent to ask. Everything you’re talking about, with ‘his future’ and ‘what’s best for him’, are you really doing it for him?”

Enji opens his mouth to speak… and stops as a part of the wall pushes away. It turns on a hidden set of hinges, revealing a man in a long dark coat that falls to the ground… revealing dark burn marks everywhere that weren't covered by the loose white t-shirt he wore, and staples creating a border between the few patches of undamaged skin visible.

The lights dim dramatically, the display shutting off as the power surges. Nedzu and Inko look around, but the two pyrokinetics lock eyes with each other. The snow white hair with black patches comes into view as the hood falls away, the burns that look like eyebags almost mock him more than Touya’s condescending tone. “Yeah, Dad. Do you love your kids?”

And… those are the general notes to keep track of moving forward. Think of this as the mandatory recap episode at the start of every season, told in the form of a dramatic ‘Previously, On ___’ gag… that is longer than most actual chapters of this story… I never said I was a clever man.

Chapter Text

-(The Sunday Before the Sports Festival)-(Doing the Math, April 14th)-

Mezou wipes the sleep out of his eyes, exhaustion fading quickly as his brain starts processing everything. His curtains were drawn, leaving his room in almost complete darkness. Save for the old luminescent paint on his ceiling in almost star shapes, and chunks of rock that caught what little light there was coming from the open door and refracted them around the room.

The bed shifts suddenly, and something large and warm clambers over Mezou. He turns over as the red furred bullmastiff climbs over him to get up in his face, and starts licking his cheek to make sure he is awake. The creature was almost as big as his midriff, it’s coat a little ruff looking but perfectly smooth to the touch.

Mezou holds up his stalks, which instantly make six hands for him to start petting the behemoth that was now trapping him in bed. “Alright, Athena! I’m up, I’m up… Let’s go!”

At those two words, the dog leaps out of the bed, hitting the carpet and running out the door. It takes a minute to recover the air that left his lungs, but Mezou gets up, quickly sliding on his blue cloth face mask over his messy platinum blond locks.

He quickly leaves his room, following the dog to it’s energetic spin near the back door. He grabs the leash they hang near it, and clips it to the dog's collar before getting a firm grip on it. He opens the door, and Athena tries to run out into the yard. But Mezou holds her to a quick walk instead of a run as he closes the door behind him, letting her move towards the tree in the middle of the spacious yard.

She paws at the roots, then looks up into the branches. After a minute of walking round the tree, she lets him walk him around the rest of the yard, slowly letting her go a bit faster to burn off some energy.

The back door slides open, and a woman with the same thick hair as him leans out the door. She was in a joggers shirt, adjustments made for the second set of arms coming from her shoulders. “Mezou, *zakhodi seychas, pozhaluysta!*”

“*Minutochku!* While he couldn’t speak Russian as well as his mother, he was trying to make her proud. After all, what was the point of having parents who taught languages for a living if he didn’t try to learn from them as well?

He leads Athena inside, letting her go to her water bowl and start loudly drinking. He unclips the leash, hanging it on the ring by the backdoor before turning and following his mother through the sparsely decorated house into his father’s office room.

Well, it was a guest bedroom in everything but name. Right by the front entrance, a couch that could fold into a bed with a small closet in the corner. The only thing that made it an office was the large desk that took up the corner opposite the closet, with a laptop that served as the family computer with half a dozen wires running out of it.

Sitting in front of it was his dad, who was polishing his glasses as he nodded to the figure on the screen… Principal Nedzu? “Of course, this is currently an optional path you might wish to consider, but I thought it might be kinder than future paths where such openness might disappear.”

His father nods to the Principal’s comments, then turns in the chair to him. “Mezou, your Principal had an offer to talk to us about.”

Nedzu looks off to the side, as if actually looking for him. “Wonderful, everyone is here! I wanted to offer you all a personal promise from myself and the staff at U.A., considering the sacrifices you’ve already made for him to come to our school.”

Mezou looks at his parents, who minutely grimace at the comment. His mother crosses the top set of arms, the others nervously fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “Mezou, you know we want you to be a Hero. We love how you’re pursuing your dream. But sending you there once a week, coming back here on Sunday, only to go back… it’s a bit more expensive than we planned.”

Nedzu nods in the camera, holding up a paw to someone on his end. “I was hoping to offer you, among some other students, a special deal with U.A. to help as we start with a dormitory system. We would cover sixty percent of the expenses to allow you to travel to your house and back as agreed in advance of the trip, and assist you in keeping up with school work while also spending time with your family. After all, the commute from Fukuoka can be expensive when it becomes a habit.”

Mezou looks at his parents, who look regretful but are nodding about it. “I mean… Can we think about it?”

Nedzu nods, dramatically looking at his watch. “Of course. The Sports Festival Isn’t until Thursday, so that’s four days to decide. This deal will stay on the table for as long as you are a student, though we are currently discussing plans to have them finished this week.”

His parents look at the screen, and several small glowing hands form under the desk near his father. They all clenched into fists, slowly glowing brighter. “So… until the end of the week?”

Nedzu nods, frowning slightly. “Sadly, time tables are a terrible thing. With the Sports Festival planned as it is, we would be willing to let you return Thursday afternoon, and stay until Sunday evening before we ask you to return.”

Mezou takes a second, then shakes his head. He bites at the inside of his lip, keeping himself from sassing the principal. “I’ll go pack.”

-(Afternoon of the Sports Festival)-(April 18th)

Mezou looks around at the small group walking to the new Dorm building, noticing the eclectic collection of students making up the first group to move in. He notices Fumikage occasionally glancing over at how he was carrying a lot of the bags for them, and is glad his facemask hides the blush at how the other boy always seems to watch him.

He, Fumikage, Kouji and Mashirao made up a very quiet collection, not really associated with what he was mentally cataloging as Izuku’s Stellar Neighborhood. Besides them, Toru is carrying a pair of duffle bags, drifting into and out of conversation with Mashirao.

Because obviously Hitoshi was here, given he’d vaguely hinted at being in the foster system. Mezou’s heard rumors, but it’s not something he wants to think about. And Denki, who’s whispering with Ochako as she swallows yet another mint when she thinks no one is looking.

Counting Aizawa-sensei, the ten of them walk past the last of the trees being used to denote the Dorm’s boundaries… and everyone stops, looking at the pristine multistory building.

“*svyatoy yebat*” The others nod, not knowing the meaning of his curse while completely understanding the sentiment.

Aizawa gives him a look, just shaking his head while burying his chin into his scarf. He had a suitcase behind him, and walked up to the front door while digging out his I.D. badge. He holds it near a reader on the right side of the door, which lets out a ding before announcing, “Aizawa Shouta”.

The teacher turns around, standing near the door. “There are scanners near all the doors, which will automatically scan the cards’ R.F.I.D chips. Someone without a card does this, I get an alert. I’ll know when you come and go… so if you’re going to sneak out, at least try to be clever about it.”

The students nod, and Aizawa opens the doorway. Everyone goes in, their names getting read off as they go.

”Ochako Uraraka… Denki Kaminari… Izuku Midoriya… Fumikage Tokoyami… Mashirao Ojiro… Toru Hagakure… Kouji Koda… Hitoshi Aizawa…”

Mezou stops before entering, Hitoshi freezing as everyone turns to look at him. Aizawa even slows down, but quickly lifts up his suitcase before quickly walking around a corner.

Ochako looks around, noting how Denki is very close to bursting out laughing. Mezou looks around, noting how Izuku is watching everyone else… and Mashirao is watching Izuku. “Wait… Aizawa-sensei’s your DAD? How did you not mention that?”

“I mean it could have been a test from Aizawa.” Surprisingly, Toru starts to control the group. “I bet Izuku figured it out first, and that’s why he’s Class President!”

She points at the green bean, in a total Ace Attorney moment. Kouji seems to recognize it too, but the quiet boy simply steps away, taking his bag and pet carrier over to the elevator to the higher floors.

Mashirao’s tail lifts up, and he gives a little smile. “Um… didn’t we all vote for him to be Class President? With literally no input from Sensei?”

“Mezou Shouji” He walks inside, closing the door and setting bags on the ground.

Once a hand is freed, it becomes a mouth, which begins speaking for him. “True, but he does keep pairing the two up. Izuku is the one who follows Hero news the most, so maybe he assumed we would connect the dots. You know, he’d probably follow all the gossip columns and Hero News sights, and would know if anyone reported this stuff.”

Fumikage nods, then mutters loudly enough for everyone to hear. “The Void whispers of both of them… and they both clearly hear it’s call. It has left a mark on both of them.”

Hitoshi loudly sighs, and begins walking away. “Look, I don’t sleep well, okay? So if you don’t mind, I’m going to unpack half my stuff before falling asleep until dinner.”

“Dude, maybe your bad sleep habits are why you have such a wack sleep schedule.”

Hitoshi looks back at Denki… then just walks away, shoulder checking the wall before stumbling back, then proceeding down the hallway.

Izuku turns around, shrugging. One arm was still in a sling, and Mezou almost shudders remembering the shade of purple the fingers were on the monitors. He walks over towards the elevator… then stops to look at the rest of the building.

That little bombshell didn’t stop them from appreciating the giant openness of the floors, and all the windows looking out to the currently open courtyard and gardens. Mezou walks up to a window… and checks his phone, anxious to see how everything would look at night.

He turns around, seeing everyone scattering around to check things out. He… well, it’s not that he tries to sneak over. But everyone else is occupied, so that is the effect of him quietly extracting his bags from the pile, and walking to look at all the dorm rooms.

The first floor didn’t have any student rooms, so he took the stairs up to the second floor. When he walks out, seeing four doors on his right, and a long hallway that curves off to the left at the end. The first room’s door is open, and he knows it’s Hitoshi without having to check.

‘He’ll probably want to be next to Izuku… so I’ll just take the third room…’

He walks in, seeing a mattress and bedframe taking up one wall, and a desk for schoolwork in the corner. Immediately next to the desk was a small dresser, which should be enough space for all his stuff and then some. There was a sheer glass outside wall, which was evidently a sliding door to a balcony…

If Mezou shed a tear at the sight, he’d be the only one to know. He quickly sets his bags down, and takes out a few wall posters of seemingly blank paper. He then tacs them up on the mostly blank wall around the door, and then picks out a few large pieces of crystal to set on the desk. He could only fit so much, so he’d settled on samples of raw amethyst, a smooth emerald disk, and a round piece of lepidolite about the size of his palms.

He arranges them on the desk, and they catch the light as someone pushes the door open.

He looks over, and Mashirao carefully looks around. “Um… nevermind. Sorry for intruding…”

“Hang on…” Mezou’s not sure why he keeps the other boy from leaving, but quickly finds his reason on the split second where Mashirao stops. It takes him a moment to compose the thought, wherein the blond looks at him expectantly. “You didn’t seem surprised by Hitoshi’s declaration. Did you figure it out?”

Mashirao shakes his head, biting his lip. “No… he sort of told me. He wanted to practice holding someone under his Quirk or something, during the Cavalry battle. I already wanted to team with him, and see if I did any better under his control. It’s not so bad, really… kind of peaceful, giving up control like…”

Mashirao stops, a blush creeping into his cheeks. He looks at the ground, then quickly walks to the adjacent room.

Mezou measures that statement… and just takes a breath. He folds one set of hands, one mouth sighing while the other whispers quietly. “And so it begins…”

---

Mashirao crushes his head under the pillow on the bed, praying something will end the misery he just caused for himself. If awkwardness were lethal, that was a seven car pileup.

The door squeaks slightly as it pushes open, and he turns while keeping his face hidden.

Aizawa closes the door, but stays standing right next to it as he lets out an exhausted sigh. “You asked about my opinion of the Sports Festival, then ignored it to compete… I can’t be mad, considering how I handled the Sports Festival at my age. But I can point out how it wasn’t the smartest thing to do.”

Mashirao slowly comes out from under the pillow, and leans up to sit. His tail begins slowly moving over the blanket, the soft material almost tickling under it.

“I… well, I was just thinking about it. I talked about it with other people… and people already recognize us. The reason that guy let me leave was because he recognized me from news coverage, and people are going to know eventually…”

Aizawa widens his eyes minutely, but Mashirao stops. “You say he recognized you? And… you didn’t mention that before?”

Mashirao stops, then slowly shakes his head. “No… no, I thought I said it. I was so sure I mentioned it…”

Aizawa sighs, and leans against the wall near the dresser. “Witness Statements are not an exact science, so it’s fine. I can tell Tsukauchi, no problem. But if there’s anything else you remember, let me know, right?”

Mashirao nods, his tail curling up a bit. “Sure… of course.”

Aizawa lets him stew for a minute, then sighs. “Mashirao, I told you I don’t hold it against you. Besides which, if you all can be recognized, it’d be one incident or another before we ended up doing the Dorms. Based on the first week at the school, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were dealing with a kidnapping attempt every other month.”

Mashirao nods, figuring that might be a bit prescient. “I mean, it hasn’t been a month yet, Sensei. Give it time…”

Aizawa gives him a glare, and a long suffering sigh. He quickly starts blinking, and pulls out his eye drops and begins applying them. “Hizashi and a few of the teachers are planning on bringing dinner. On Sunday, we’re going to talk as a class about who cooks and when.”

Mashirao nods, chewing his tongue. “I mean, I’m not bad as a cook… I can make breakfast okay. I watched a few cooking shows with my uncle, and I could probably learn…”

Aizawa covers his eyes, then lets out a smile. “I… I couldn’t cook to save my life. Hizashi will be doing most of it. Doesn’t mean I won’t buy groceries, or ingredients for you all…”

Mashirao lets out a little laugh, then nudges his bag with his feet. “Well… if you want me in a different room, you’d have said it. So do you mind if I unpack, or are you waiting for something?”

Aizawa nods, and walks out while pulling the door closed.

Mashirao looks at his stuff for a minute, his nervousness not quite gone from that visit by Aizawa. For the first time in a while, there’s this well of energy that he feels, and there isn’t any pain to help him get lost. Everythings… it’s too quiet. Too clear, not enough happening to muck up his senses.

But he takes a few breaths, and begins packing his things into drawers before he can stop himself. It helps with the restlessness, but there’s still that drive to do something; just get up and go.

It doesn’t take long, and he settles on going outside to clear his head. He opens his door… and stops, a small fluffy creature staring up at him. It leans back, it’s clean white fur shuddering slightly as it takes stock of him.

It’s pink nose twitches, and it inches forward and begins nuzzing at his shoe.

Mashirao slowly crouches down, the rabbit tensing before relaxing slightly as he runs his fingers along it’s sides.

It tenses as the faint click of something sharp hitting the wood reaches Mashriao’s ears, and the rabbit jumps up at him. He wraps his arms around it as another blur of fur races towards him, and stands as the dark gray cat runs up to him.

He runs a hand over the rabbit, the cat stopping to stare at him. It raises a paw, and just barely sinks it’s claws enough to pull at his pant leg.

He looks up at the soft padding of footsteps, seeing Koji running forward. He stops, and crouches down as the cat turns to him. “Please leave Yuwai alone. They’re very nervous about being somewhere new… you can meet them later, though!”

The cat lets go of him, and then sits and stares at the shy student. Mashirao runs his fingers through the rabbit's fur, the creature seeming to calm in his grip. “So… the rabbit is yours, but the cat isn’t?”

To answer that question, the door to Izuku’s room opens, and Aizawa walks out. And without an ounce of hesitation, the cat runs over to Aizawa, rubbing up against his leg. He barely reacts, and just turns and walks towards the staircase leading to the other floors, the cat following behind him.

Mashirao watches the two go through the door, heading upstairs to where the girls are setting up on the fourth floor. “Huh… okay then.”

He turns to Koji, and trades the rabbit off. The boy nods, and walks away while whispering to his pet. Mashirao takes a second to process it all, then walks over to the elevator.

He takes a breath, the elevator door taking forever to close…

---

Enji turns as the elevator door to this floor opens, and a well dressed young man with familiar dark blue hair and glasses rushes out of the doorway. He starts running up to the nurse’s station… then stops as he looks over, recognizing him and his mother, who was standing in the hallway near him.

Tenya runs over, his mother standing to meet him. “What happened? How is he?”

His mother takes his hands, trying to calm him down. “He’s still in surgery, but they said he should make it through. He’s going to live…”

Tenya’s head jerks towards the door to surgery, where Nokorobi was standing and checking his phone. “W… what are you doing here, Endeavor-san? Why are you here?”

Enji takes a second, trying to remember anything about him from the numerous get-togethers he’d attended where the boy was in the crowd. He knew Shouto and the other younger relatives often ended up together… but not for the first time, he has to question what he’d been doing when he was raising his youngest. “My agency’s Heroes are the ones that found him. I gave him a transfusion, and in case they can’t find blood his body can use.”

Tenya looks very close to storming the door… but he stays with his mom, obviously picking up on her distress. He grabs her hands, and she guides him to a seat. “I… he was working on the Hero Killer case, right? Does… did he find him? Is that…”

Enji holds up a hand, quickly waving it from side to side. “That isn’t something you need to worry about.”

He’s about to continue, but he stops when he notices Tenya’s face darken. His dark red eyes harden, but not truly enough for Enji to say something. Just enough to notice, and then bury as he turns to his mother.

His personal phone rings, and he freezes as he recognizes the tone. He was not someone who gave everyone unique ringtones, but he did mark a few numbers… and this one hadn’t rung in many years.

He steps away from the pair, and pulls out his phone. He looks at the number… then answers it. “Hello?”

The cold shiver down his spine at her voice can’t be ignored, and everything fades away as she speaks. “Enji… I just had someone deliver something to me. Is… is it true? Is he…”

In that moment, it’s as if the Sword of Damocles above him begins to rattle and shake. Not quite falling, but Enji can feel it looming over him, waiting for the next wrong move to send it down and through him. “... Yes. Yes, he is.”

There’s a moment of silence, and an intake of breath from the other end of the line… then a simple command. “Send one of the lawyers. We need to talk, and you won’t be using ‘Work’ as an excuse to dodge it.”

“… … Right.” Enji waits as she hangs up, and sends the message the next instant.

He leans against the wall, the day replaying in front of him. He’d technically gotten exactly what he wanted; he’d watched the clip of Shouto using His fire.

He’d won… but with everything else stacking up, it felt like he’d gotten flung miles back after taking that one step forward.

The door to the operating room opens, and a doctor steps out. She takes off her cap, combing a hand through her hair before looking up at everyone. “Iida Kitamura?”

The two Iidas stand up, running over. Nokorobi walks a bit away, giving them the veneer of privacy. He turns to be looking at them, and as Enji walks over, he can see him pulling up a messaging system of some kind.

The doctor gives them both a moment to be nervous, giving a half smile while holding her hands up. “The surgery… he’s going to live. He still needs to recover, and we have to make sure he doesn’t get an infection or have any short term reactions to the medication we’re giving him. But he should make a… he should be conscious in another few hours.”

Kitamura clues in on the hesitation, and steps forward. Enji can see it too, and lays a hand on Nokorobi’s shoulder before he can send out his message. “Doctor, what aren’t you saying?”

The doctor takes a moment, clearly struggling to find the right thing to say. “He… he lost a lot of blood, which wouldn’t normally be a problem. But there was also damage to some of the spinal nerves. Not enough to be incurable, and we’re contacting specialists now… but it’s going to take at least a few days before we can begin to inspect and understand the extent of the damage.”

The two stop moving, looking completely shocked. Then Kitamura wraps her arms around her son, taking deeps breaths as the two try not to cry. Nokorobi stops typing, hand shaking as it holds his phone.

The doctor gives them all a second, taking a breath. “Things aren’t completely bad. There have been instances of Spinal Damage being healed or fixed in the past, and we have multiple Neurologists on file who deal with difficult cases. Once we know the extent of things… I can’t promise he’ll be a Hero again, but he will be able to live a normal life…”

She stops as the Tenya struggles not to cry on the spot, and Enji pulls at Nokorobi to walk down the hallway. The younger Hero speeds away, seemingly happy to give them their privacy.

The two walk down the hallway, and Enji checks his phone as he gets a response from the lawyer. He nods… and takes a breath, imagining how this day can get any worse.

Chapter Text

Ochako:You Okay?

She looks down at her phone screen, waiting for a solid minute in the hope of Tenya responding. He’d rushed off just before the Sports Festival ended… and now he was radio silent? Sure, they didn’t constantly text… but he’d usually respond when she asked him something.

There’s a quick knock at her door, causing her to jump up. She flips her phone closed, and runs her nails through her hair before walking out to the fourth floor.

She quickly stepped out, quickly closing the door so Toru wouldn’t see her meager belongings. The girl steps back, the gloves on her hands quickly moving behind her back. “So… what did you want to do?”

Toru laughs, shrugging. “I don’t really know… but I love it whenever I’m someplace new! Like the first few days at the school, I just love finding the nooks and crannies of places… and just imagine the hiding spots Nedzu would put in a building like this.”

Ochako nods, looking up and down the hall. “Yeah… like this middle section to the building. Our rooms are on the outside, but there’s this space here that either supports the building’s weight… or there’s something in there.”

Toru nods, and begins running her hands over the wall. “Exactly! I know your parents probably taught you this sort of building stuff, but I’m just so fascinated with finding those details.”

Ochako nods… then looks over at the staircase. She smiles, all the little notes her parents gave her about a building’s layout playing in her ears. “You know, if there are secret areas, there might be hidden doors in the staircase… or on the first floor.”

Toru nods, and runs to the staircase door. Ochako smiles, and follows her.

They run their fingers over the walls of the stone staircase as they go up to the fifth floor, and walk into the dorm area to look for something… and stop at the collection of boxes in their way, blocking off one of the door closest to the staircase.

The girls stop, listening to the sound of someone sorting through boxes on the other side of the high wall. Ochako turns to Toru… and then remembers that she can’t tell what the girl’s expression is, so she can’t tell if her confusion and concern are shared.

Toru shrugs, and begins slowly backing back up to the staircase. Ochako does so as well… then stops when she notices one of the boxes is open, revealing a plain white t-shirt with the kanji for ‘T-Shirt’ on it over a bunch of notebooks.

The two girls leave, and Ochako furrows her brow at the image. “Did… did those notebooks seem familiar to you? Like, the pattern on them?”

Toru shrugs again… then points up into the corner, where a camera slowly turns to face them. “Creepy… but… the older students talk about how Nedzu has his door programmed to open when people are walking up to it. Maybe he has a camera near secret rooms, so he knows when people go in?”

Ochako nods, looking at the camera. “Yeah… probably. A lot of cameras either have wires connecting them to a network, or send a short range signal, so usually they’re either tied in directly or just close to the security hub… but Nedzu could probably spruce for longer range transmitters…”

Ochako stops, and looks back at Toru. The back of the neck of her shirt pulls up a bit, and she crosses her arms while cocking a hip to the side. “Ochako, you aren’t a cat burglar or anything, are you? Cause you could pretty easily get into second story windows with your Quirk…”

Ochako widens her eyes, shaking her head furiously. “What? No, I’d never… Besides, you’re literally invisible! With that suit Hatsume made you, you could probably rob a bank without anyone knowing!”

Toru gasps, gloved hand clutching an imaginary string of pearls. “Never… but seriously, every Quirk can be used to commit some kind of crime if you use them right. You know… aside from Unlicensed Quirk Use being a crime.”

Ochako rolls her eyes, and steps under the camera to see it. “Well, I shadowed my parents for a week during Winter Break. So I know a couple of things… like that yellow wire that goes into the wall from the cam means it does lead somewhere. There’s a hub somewhere here in the building.”

---

Nedzu laughs a bit from his seat, looking down at the two girls going through his maze. He was hoping to test Izuku on finding his little surprises in the Dorms… though, it wasn’t necessarily bad to get to test the others. The rest of the class had hidden depths he wished to plum… pure academic curiosity, of course.

He pulls back from that image, and looks around his office. He wasn’t quite sure what he should be doing… Well, he knew he should follow up on the Interviews about the Sports Festival happening, be checking with Tsukauchi on reversing those mistaken Death Certificates, seeing where Mayhem or Stain or any number of other problems were…

But all of that stops when his landline rings. Curious, he picks up the phone. “You’ve reached Yuuei, this is Nedzu speaking. Am I a mouse, a dog, a bear? Or perhaps all that and more?”

There’s a moment, then a distantly familiar laugh. “I assumed some portion was Capybara, though I suppose that’s not as easy to say.”

Nedzu smiles, trying to place the voice. “That guess is a notable percentage… nearly seven percent. Not the highest, but certainly a very inclusive response… Now, how can I help you?”

“Oh, how rude of me. I haven’t talked on the phone like this in so long… this is about my son, Shouto Todoroki.”

Nedzu allows himself a moment of shock, then lets a pleasant memory replay. “Ah, Rei. My apologies for not recognizing your voice sooner… it’s been too long since we got to talk.”

There’s a bit of a laugh, and he realizes the hoarseness to the voice threw him off. But it is indeed her, now that he’s listening closely; no signs of technological tampering, at the very least. “If you recognized me sooner, I’d be concerned I’d left an impact on the world. Beyond my children, obviously… but I wanted to set up a meeting to discuss the one you have shown interest in helping care for.”

Nedzu nods, quickly checking what Press Events he had planned surrounding the other two year’s events. “Well, I’m afraid my schedule is a tad hectic for the near future… though I have evenings free. Perhaps I could take you to a tea parlor; there is a wonderful shop not far from you in Shizuoka, and they serve a wonderful selection of Oolong and Darjeeling flavors.”

There’s a light affirmative note, and he quickly makes a note to remind himself of Rei’s history before joining her tomorrow. “It would have to wait until tomorrow, if that would work. I do have some layers of business to take care of first, as I’m sure you can relate.”

“Of course! If Five works for you, I can ensure we have a private room to discuss things.”

“Wonderful. I do hope this meeting will prove fruitful. Good day.” The phone disconnects, and Nedzu quickly sends a reservation request to the parlor in question. He finishes typing the request… and has a bit of a shudder at the possibilities.

‘With how surprisingly cold and calculating Inko can be, how concerned should I be about Rei-san… perhaps bringing Inko would provide a good buffer.’

---

Rei ends the call, and hands the phone back to the psychologist. He nods to her, and quickly begins looking over his notes at the table in her room. “I… I see your social and cognitive skills to appear to be functional. I know you are leaving our care, but I should hope you understand we do need to schedule you for regular visits to ensure your trauma does not manifest in an unfavorable manner.”

Rei nods, adjusting the plain white jacket over the light blue button up shirt she’d been provided. “Yes… I understand this is sudden, but I do want to thank you for all you’ve done. I realise my stay has been lengthy, to put it mildly. But I appreciate the time we’ve had, regardless of the circumstance behind it. You have been a wonderful man to know, and I wish you well.”

The psychologist, an older man with a bushy white mustache and long graying hair he brushed to one side, smiles at that. “Yes… regardless of circumstances, you have been a wonderful person to get to know. I do hope this has been for your betterment, and wish you only the best.”

Rei nods, standing up. She was still in very soft slipper-like shoes, but being in normal clothing was a comfort she’d forgotten. Not just having a jacket, but real jeans… it was the sort of small thing she’d forgotten to appreciate until it was gone, and now she’d always appreciate it.

There was a knock on the office door, and a nurse stuck her head into the room. “Apologies… but he’s here.”

The doctor nods, quickly jumping up. “Of course… Rei, I understand this might be difficult for you. Do you need a moment?”

Rei takes a breath, letting it out. She closes her eyes… and begins walking forward, the nurse coming in and holding the door open. She rounds the corner, the doctor hurrying behind her as she walks toward the lobby.

She stops just at the corner that leads towards the offices of the psychologists of the hospital, staring at her husband. He meets her eyes, and she can’t help but track him being out of his Hero Costume and without a bit of flame in sight. Though, considering she’d heard the nurses whisper about how his license was being threatened, that did make a bit of sense.

Rei takes another breath, and walks forward. Enji seems to be waiting for her to say something, but she just silently walks up to him, stopping out of arm's reach and watching him.

He seems to struggle to find something to say, looking around at the amount of people watching them. “I… we should…”

Rei nods and steps around him. While there are many things she feels at the moment… She offers her husband her hand, which he takes. While he can be courageous in a fight, she was still much better in social situations, despite her incarceration. She leads him out the glass doors to the waiting car, ignoring the eyes on them in favor of finally leaving the place that had been her prison for a decade.

She takes a moment to appreciate the breeze as Enji moves to open the car’s door for her, allowing her to get in before following her. She adjusts in the leather seat, smiling at the woman behind the wheel as she hooks in her seatbelt.

She looks at Enji, who squirms in his seat. “I… something else is happening right now that I need to take care of. I could drop you off at the house…”

Rei shakes her head, taking a moment to turn and look at traffic passing. “Not yet… I can’t go back there yet. But since we’re here… can she be trusted?”

Enji looks at the driver, then leans in to close the partition. “Back to headquarters, please.”

The woman nods, then the tinted glass closes. A few moments later, the car begins to join traffic, and Rei watches the mental institution disappear behind them.

She takes a moment, appreciating the freedom in front of her… after she’s done here, of course. “So, he’s really out there? I was told by a strange young woman… but have you seen him?”

Enji nods, settling back in his seat. He pushes up against the door, trying to give her as much space as possible. “I… yes. It was definitely him. And he… he was justifiably uncomfortable to be there. Though he does have a lawyer with him… the woman getting my licenses revoked.”

Rei raises an eyebrow, preventing a smile from coming to her face. She looks back at the cars, squinting at the sunlight hitting her eyes.

“Hm… And… How is Shouto? I saw him in the Sports Festival… and he looked… he was so serious.”

She watches Enji’s reflection in the window, his face cycling through emotions quickly. She’s fairly certain guilt is omnipresent in those expressions, and takes a moment to consider whether that’s good or not. “He… he used his fire. He refused to use it for years, and I finally got what I wanted. But… well, it feels hollow, after the other revelation.”

Rei nods, running her finger through a visible knot in her hair. She finally turns to Enji, looking him dead in the eyes. “Dear… we have a few things to discuss. A lot of things that we need to understand about how things are going to work from here on out. Because… things are going to be different now.”

Enji looks at her, and he very obviously tries to wind up. And for the first time, the car begins to warm up, his finely trimmed mustache starting to flicker with flames.

“No, no…” She undoes her belt, given how he hadn’t done his. And in an instant, the back of the car cools exponentially, the windows glazing over with a thin layer of frost. “I have thought about this for years… and the moment has not been what I’ve expected. But do not for a moment think I will let your childish behavior affect my children anymore than it has.”

Enji… he shudders, and obviously not from the cold. Because while the back of the car around him looks like a freezer, not a speck of ice is on him. Rei holds his wavering eye contact, seeing how he’s struggling to come up with the right words.

“I… I’m sorry. I know… words won’t be enough to make you believe me. So let me show you through actions that I mean it.”

Rei… she chews her lip, then lets out a thin smile. She sits back in her seat, letting Enji warm the back up so the ice will vaporize. She rolls down her window minutely, a cloud of cold air pouring out like a fog machine.

When Enji refuses to sit down, she sighs. “Until proven otherwise, I will assume you are trying to do better. And if you prove you cannot be a better man, I will have nothing to do with you. Understood?”

Enji nods, and pulls out his phone a split second before it starts vibrating.

Rei turns to look out the window, but takes the time to scan the driver. The young woman, clearly studying her in the rearview, quickly returns her eyes to the road, shifting over into the fast lane and driving much faster than anyone around them.

---

“Hatsume, we’re so proud of you!” A woman with similar pink hair to the young engineer smiles at her daughter, hand coming up to high-five the stained leather glove.

Another woman, with tight buzz cut brown hair and glasses, slides Hatsume’s bag of tools down her arm, wrapping an arm around the pink haired woman. “With both rounds, that was almost a half hour’s time in the air! And considering how a lot of that was with your team, your design was put through the ringer and kept working!”

Hatsume smiles, looking back down at the oil stained rotor to the jet pack’s engine. She twists at a melted coil, trying to get it to detach so she could inspect it. “Yeah… my baby definitely did what it needed to do. But imagine if it didn’t literally need a girl who could cancel Gravity…”

The older women stop at that, clearly doing the calculations. “That…hey, don’t throw around Quirk Engineering stuff to distract us! You made it to the Hero Course Tournament! And you made a total test dummy of Ingenium’s brother; that deserves praise!”

Hatsume groans, her mothers fawning over her. “I just want to get my stuff working again! I really need to make sure Kaminari can’t fry my stuff… or someone who’s actually trying to fry it at least has a harder time.”

The one with pink hair tutts softly, though is smiling like she knew how this would happen. “You can always do that later. But we are going to eat dinner together tonight…”

“But we have dinner every night! I need to test what material best insulates…”

“Your Dad’s going to be here.”

Hatsume stops, then tries to act upset. But the way she quickly wraps the engine in a cloth and sets it into the bag of tools betrays a certain enthusiasm, and the women quickly walk to the station to catch a train.

The three quickly go through the gates, ignoring the looks from the people around them. They pass through the doors of the train the instant everyone is out, quickly setting the bag down on some seats before standing next to it, leaning into the bag so people can pass without getting dirty. Though generally, people give them a fair berth, given the prevalence of grease stains

Just before the train departs, a father and his son get on, the father looking middle aged and the son being late middle school age. They look around for an open seat or position, the only real ones being across from Hatsume and her parents.

The dad takes the position and looks ahead, but the boy looks directly at Hatsume. He looks around, then whispers just loud enough to be heard. “Hey… weren’t you the Support Class girl who was just in the Sports Festival?”

Hatsume smiles, and holds a grease stained gloved thumb up. She looks him over, checking his hands for calluses most Support savvy students have… and stops at the red shoes, and how he is nervously shifting as the train starts moving.

She looks back up, but he seems to notice that she knows what it means. “Yeah, but I owe a lot to my friend. Did you see her helping me in between the rounds? She helped make sure my jetpack didn’t explode during the rounds… which didn’t do much, but it was still super helpful.”

The boy nods, scanning her. There’s a moment where she realizes that Zaphira looked at her the same way, and she tries not to frown at it. “Yeah… it was pretty cool, how you didn’t use your Quirk at all.”

The boy's father seems to tune in, and her mothers seem to break from the whispered conversation they were having. But Hatsume ignores them, turning her head and pointing at her eye. “Nah, I was using it a bit. But my Quirk isn’t really all that cool, compared to everyone else's. But Quirks really don’t matter when you put them against a Support specialist; I helped them design equipment, so I knew how to outsmart them and gain the advantage for my team.”

The boy smiles a bit at that, then steps back as his father gently puts a hand on his shoulder.

Hatsume’s mothers gently pull her back, and she doesn’t think anymore on it. She pulls her gloves off, shoving them in the duffle bag and pulling out her phone.

Support Kid’s Group Chat

Zaphira: Will we be moving into dormitories?

Sokutei: It takes nearly a month to build something like that. It probably won’t be until most of the way through summer.

Hoseki: I heard that 1-A already has a dorm building done and ready.

Hatsume watches the gossip about class 1-A slowly grow, including some general awe at their performance. And she’s fine with all that… until…

Zaphira: Can someone help me understand Midoriya? He says he has super strength, but then he is able to fly… or was that Mei’s devices?

Hatsume… She stops, then pulls up footage of the Sports Festival. She hadn’t helped edit the stuff, but she saw where it was being uploaded for the older Design and Marketing students to edit. And she hadn’t really cared… until…

She looks at the end of the Cavalry battle, seeing Izuku leaping away with a headband from Todoroki. He clears several meters, and slowly falls to the ground… but the jetpack he was wearing shouldn’t be working, and wasn’t giving off any exhaust or anything of the sort. He almost hits the ground, but sort of hovers until she and the others run over to catch him.

Hatsume pulls out her notes on Izuku’s Quirk, and starts running over things in her head. Because this just became another puzzle, and while she never exactly cared for a lot of them…

‘If Izuku’s Quirk is so complex and multifaceted, just think of the babies we can make to help him! The possibilities are endless!’

She starts running over what data she has… which is only a month’s worth of rumors and data from him needing protective equipment… all the way until they’re home, and her mom’s make her put her tools in the shed adjacent to their house.

When she finally gets in, she smiles at the man her parents are talking to, a brown leather cowboy’s hat hiding most of his dreadlocks as he smiles.

He turns to look at Hatsume, his eyes looking like a sniper’s bullseye like hers. “Hey Dad! How was your day?”

Chapter Text

Shouta sighs heavily as the kids explore around the building, his phone vibrating dangerously in his pocket before he goes in to tune the notifications from Nedzu’s security systems.

Hizashi gives him a sly look from the kitchen, putting stuff he’d bought away while waiting for the students to wander in to inquire about dinner. He very obviously loves the space, but doesn’t quite come out and say it, and instead tries to give Shouta an embarrassment overload from his wiggling eyebrows and cocky grin.

“Come on Shou, this is exciting! Besides, you’ll be a great Dad… I mean, ’Monitor’.” He glares at Hizashi, who doesn’t let his grin disappear for a second.

He shakes his head, bringing up a quick log of where everyone was. Uraraka and Hagakure were poking around upstairs, Koda and Mashirao were exploring the forest around the dorms, Shouji and Tokoyami were still setting up their rooms, and Hitoshi was in his room napping. As for Izuku and Denki… well, he was looking right at them, using the remote to scroll through the channels on the dorm television.

He was debating how useful it would be to try and talk to Izuku, about how he had cavalierly destroyed his fingers during a glorified training exercise… but he held his tongue, knowing it might not be taken the right way. Besides, the boy seemed fine for now, despite his right arm being in a dark blue sling. There were just too many things to discuss, so many things he needed to talk about with the boy, and there was never a good time to do it.

His phone chimes again, telling him their guest has made her way to the elevator to come down. He doesn’t change that alert setting, and instead sighs heavily before walking back to the security station.

It was a hidden door on the first floor, inside of which was a series of monitors showing him the public areas of the dorms. He quickly cycles through the footage, seeing Inko is indeed done packing things into one of the fifth floor rooms and is starting to do her own walk arounds. He also takes the time to note where the girls are poking around, noting how Uraraka seems to be looking for something specific, not just wandering around.

He sighs, leaning back and rubbing his eyes to try and get the stinging to stop. He had to get sunglasses if he was going to be watching these monitors so often, or get industrial strength eye drops. He briefly took a moment to regret volunteering to do this, but there’s a smile on his face, one even he isn’t aware of.

He steps back out… stopping as Arashi wanders into the room, looking around. She flicks her ears, then walks around the office chair he’d brought in here to watch them. She looks under the desk where the monitors were, and immediately runs up and into the pile of yellow fabric that was stuffed under there. She crawls into the mouth, and quickly makes herself at home before looking at him.

He walks out of the security room, leaving the door just open enough that Arashi could escape if she wanted. He goes back towards the main living room, seeing Koda and Mashirao having a whispered conversation as they walk in through the sliding door to the backyard.

They make their way to the seats around the television, and Shouta smiles a bit as Koda nervously talks with the two sitting there. The four quickly start up a conversation, one which slowly gets Koda to release the tension he’d been holding the entire day.

The elevator dings open, and Shouta walks over as Inko walks out. He stops next to the elevator building, stopping as she adjusts the light purple jacket she had on over her deep red blouse. “I just finished unpacking… and if I can be of any help, just ask.”

Shouta nods, tapping on his pocket while looking over at the couch. “I can handle it… but if I ever miss anything, and I know that trying to track twenty kids I will eventually miss something…”

Inko nods, a wistful smile on her face as the door closes behind her. “Raising one kid, there’s so many little moments you never know you miss until years later. Now multiply that by twenty, add in a grand conspiracy with the most powerful villain in the world and the smartest creature on the planet… not that I’d ever give this up, but I wonder where I’d be if I didn’t know what all was happening.”

Shouta takes a moment, imagining how much less stress he’d have if he didn’t know about One for All. He takes that thought… and tosses it away, not wasting the time growing it any further.

The elevator dings, and Inko quickly steps out of the way as Shouji and Tokoyami walk out. The two nod to him, then quickly notice Inko quietly standing behind them.

They don’t jump back, but there’s definitely that undercurrent of tension as they politely bow to her. They focus on the ground, missing the split second smile on Inko’s face. “Um, Midoriya-san. We weren’t… we didn’t expect you to be here.”

Inko laughs a bit, and the kids look up to her facade slipping ever so slightly. “Oh, you don’t have anything to worry about. Nedzu just asked a few people to help Eraser while you all settle in, making sure everything is in working order. Besides which, a villain attack caused a minor outage in my apartment building, so I needed a place to stay anyway.”

The boys take the words at face value, and turn as Uraraka and Hagakure walk in. Uraraka stumbles when she recognizes Inko, but the invisible girl keeps moving towards the group on the couch without missing a beat. “So, do we all vote on what’s for dinner, or does someone just start making it and we all have that?”

---

Izuku smiles, really glad to see Kouji opening up as the four of them talk. And that’s all he tries to think about, trying to focus on exactly that and nothing else.

Not the pain of his broken fingers, which were feeling better now. Just a constant dull throbbing, his heartbeat echoing all the way down his arm as he smiles through the pain. Not the terror of his house being robbed, and some of his notebooks being looked through and taken. Not the dread of the world’s most powerful supervillain apparently setting a target on him, and probably plotting to hurt the people he cares about now that he’s finally opened up and started to care about more people than his Mom…

Everyone looks over as Toru calls out, and he takes the moment to quietly grimace and shudder at the feeling of his hand burning. He’d been given something to numb it out, but those weird feelings of something under his nails and in his palm were both coming back, adding in to each of his fingers feeling like they’d been dipped in Katsuki’s sweat and lit up.

‘At least that last one makes sense… where are those other feelings coming from?’

“I’m kind of up for anything. How bout you, ‘Zuku?” He looks up, Denki gently knocking on his shoulder.

“Oh… anything’s fine with me.” He looks around, shrugging as he mentally takes count of everyone. He sees everyone but Hitoshi is now downstairs… including his mom, who everyone but Denki is looking at with a bit of apprehension.

She smiles, brushing her hair back and walking towards the kitchen. “I’d be happy to help with anything you’d like, Yamada-kun. I have a whole box of recipes I’ve collected over the years.”

Present Mic, who’d been behind a corner in the kitchen, laughs loud enough that everyone tilts their head and reaches for their ears. Even Dark Shadow materializes to do so, which get’s Izuku’s gears spinning as Present Mic says something back.

But he doesn’t focus on the exact words, focusing on the puzzle set in front of him. ‘Where does Dark Shadow go when he isn’t out? Also, how does he grow to giant size like during the Storm Zone but then shrink? Is Dark Shadow willingly feeding on material in the surroundings, and then actively not and shrinking when Fumi doesn’t need him? But if he’s stored under clothes, wouldn’t that make him really…’

“See, he’s really cute when he does his whispering thing.”

Izuku stops, a blush creeping onto his face at Denki’s sudden comment. He looks over, seeing Denki is in fact talking to Toru and Ochako, who were both… Well, he assumes Toru is wide eyed. Because Ochako definitely was, and Toru was propped up on her hand probably looking in his direction.

He covers his face with his left hand, his right reaching up to do so before being stopped by the sling it was in. He leans back, the hiss of pain stopping the embarrassed sound that wanted to escape from his mouth. “stop…”

“Not a chance.” Denki slides closer to him, sounding unbearably smug to make up for not being able to see the grin spreading across his face.

The girls giggle, then Toru goes over the couch to sit on Denki’s other side. “Izuku mentioned katsudon in the cafeteria the other day, and my dad made some that was really good. I honestly wouldn’t mind eating something like that again…”

Izuku peeks between his fingers, seeing Kouji giving him a sympathetic look while biting his lower lip to keep from laughing. He sits on the opposite side of the seating arrangements, and Mashirao moves over as Fumikage and Mezou wander over as the volume starts to get turned up.

“And Yuuei’s Sports Festival kicked off with a serious bang today, with the First Years showing off some explosive displays of power that put previous Third Year Classes to shame. There were several new members of Pro Hero Families who took the spotlight, including the son of Endeavor, Ingenium’s younger brother, and yet another member of the Aoyama family working their debut in Japan.”

Izuku looks at the screen, then smiles a bit at the familiar face. Daikaku Miyagi, a man in his later years with a Quirk that caused two horns to sprout from his temples. He’d always had a bit of ‘Quirkless Rights’ in the segments he got to write, which might go to explaining why he never really moved up in the industry. But it was nice, having such a public figure who spoke up like that.

His co-anchor, a woman in a white fleece jacket with brown hair that framed her face in uneven chops, nods while footage from the sports festival plays on the monitors behind them. “Yeap, a real big splash for a lot of these young heroes. Plus the Dance they did for the intermission, really helping show off the athleticism and multiple purposes for not as combative Quirks. Too bad most of them got eliminated early in the combat events… but they got to make their impact in other ways.”

Toru starts grumbling from Denki’s other side, her words getting too garbled before Izuku could hear them. But Denki and Ochako both mutter affirmations, though Denki seems mostly passive while Ochako sounds just a bit offended. Which was fair… the other anchor didn’t have to be so dismissive.

“Yes, well it can’t all be about the young heroes. There was a Support Student who made it into the tournament rounds, even if she ended up conceding after her first round. But it wasn’t before making an impression, I’ll say that…”

The two go quiet, and a few seconds of footage play of Hatsume getting lifted into the air by the stilts that extended from the side of her backpack, her jet boots pushing her quickly into the air with the mad cackling of a fantasy witch. Tenya goes shooting past her, his own support gear keeping him in the ring.

The camera goes to the female anchor… who stares at her prompter, then slowly raises her hand to her mouth. She looks like she’s trying not to smile, but there’s real fear in her eyes. “No… oh, that is not right at all…”

There’s a moment, and she takes a breath as she tries to steel her nerves. There’s someone in the background of the station, and everyone gives each other a look of confusion.

“Well… that public humiliation wasn’t… wasn’t the worst thing to happen to… good lord… to happen to the Iida Family. Iida Tensei, Ingenium, was seen being rushed to the hospital after a joint search by his team and Endeavor in Hosu for the Hero Killer…”

There’s a split second there the anchor hides her face, before the program quickly does the rest for her. The television cuts to someone else reporting on the story, but everyone is frozen, looking at the screen in various stages of horror and confusion.

Izuku looks at the screen, feeling that everyone was looking for a way to broach the subject. “Did… did they make a joking segue to Tenya’s brother being attacked?”

There’s a quiet nod from the boys to the side, then Toru brings a hand up to her face. “What the f…”

---

“…for real, uncool.” Shouto looks over at Shisho, who was awkwardly loosening and tightening his tie to try and do something while they all sat in one of the waiting rooms of the Endeavor agency.

It was him, Natsuo, and Shisho in a room, waiting in a boardroom while the adults talked in the other room. His brother had made sure they’d all gotten into the same car, and he’d been told what had happened as they were driven over to the building. They’d been quickly guided to a conference room with dark wood walls, and then just sitting around for almost an hour according to the television. Shouto sat at the end of the table furthest from the door, while Natsuo and Shisho grabbed chairs and moved them against the door’s wall with a knowing nod to each other.

Shisho had decided to change into formal clothes, and kept looking at himself with his phone’s camera. He keeps checking for visible tattoos and piercings, which shouldn’t be as difficult as he was making it, given how many little metal rings he’d taken out when he’d walked into the room. He had a suit jacket tossed over the back of his chair, and his arm was covered in runic design that seemed to wriggle along his skin as he continued to fix his clothes. He’s sitting next to Natsuo, who’s dressed in the exact same casual clothes he’d been sitting in all day.

The guy looks over at him, and smiles as he quickly pushes up his glasses. “You don’t talk much, do you? Got any books you like?”

Shouto stares at him, then shrugs. He had changed to a plain white shirt and jeans after the Sports Festival, a bandage on his right side from where he’d gotten hit in the head by an ice block. “No.”

Shisho waits for him to continue, then awkwardly shifts in his seat when nothing else is said. He brings his hand to his head, massaging his temple with his index while splaying the others to block the light from reaching past his sunglasses. “Kay, not the talkative type.”

Natsuo looks over at him, huffing while trying to keep his face neutral. “Can you chill? If you’re the nervous wreck, what exactly do I bring to this arrangement?”

“Money, celebrity, more often than not sobriety…”

Natsuo smacks Shisho’s knee, smiling while covering his face. Shouto just quietly watches, eyes shifting up to the television for a moment as the story about Ingenium rolls.

The door to the conference room opens, and Fuyumi walks in with one of the sidekicks guiding her in. She nodded politely to them, then she quickly walked over to them. “Shouto, I’m so sorry I couldn’t watch the festival today! I made sure to record it… oh, and who are you?”

Shisho smiles at her as she looks him over, and pushes his glasses firmly back into place before offering his hand to her. “A friend of Natsuo’s. His roommate for about a year now, if you’re curious.”

Fuyumi nods, stammering for a moment. Shouto tilts his head… then takes a bit of a breath, things clicking for him. “Oh… well, nice to meet you. Natsuo isn’t over often enough to talk with us about how things are. At least he’s talking to someone.”

Natsuo looks up, a scowl forming on his face. He opens his mouth to speak… but stops as the door slides open, and Endeavor walks in. He had on the same business suit that Shouto remembered seeing him ironing yesterday, though the jacket looked ruffled and very unprofessional. He walks into the room, and quickly closes the door while looking at his three children. He focuses on Shouto for a moment, and Shouto stares back with as blank a stare as he can muster.

His gaze quickly flashes over to Shisho, giving him an appraising look. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Shisho stands, stepping out to be more visible before bowing his head. “Genson Shisho, Endeavor-san. Natsuo offered to take me to the Sports Festival as payment for getting him some textbooks for next semester early so he could study.”

Shouto looks at Natsuo, who’s staring at the middle distance instead of focusing on anything. He was carefully not looking at either of the red haired men in the room, almost like if he sat still enough he might vanish. Which didn’t work with Endeavor, but if it made him more comfortable, Shouto wasn’t going to say anything.

Endeavor nods, then takes a breath before taking a few steps from the door. “I… with the way this case is unfolding, it’s possible that any of you could be targeted as a way to reach me. With my Official License suspended, all I can do is act to defend you all should we be attacked, or act when given permission by a fully licensed Hero. Which means… things are going to be different for the foreseeable future…”

Fuyumi nods, notably correcting her posture and nodding vigorously as Endeavor spells out a lot of information that they already have. Natsuo rolls his eyes, and Shisho quietly sits down. He shifts his back, then looks down at his arm, noticing he hadn’t put his jacket on before Endeavor had come in.

“Among other things, Shouto is going to be moving into the dorms at Yuuei this Saturday…”

Shouto looks up, eyebrow raising before he can stop himself. Endeavor looks over at him, and Shouto can see how he’s also putting up the same kind of front. He’s obviously not on top of his game; Shouto can’t tell what the game is, only that Endeavor is extremely thrown off. ‘Maybe because you used your fire…’ Shouto almost smiles at the thought, then he looks at the ground to avoid giving anything away. He shouldn’t be happy he used his fire… but there was this weird vindication he was feeling.

But that stops as the door to the room opens. And he can feel a wave of cold flow through the room, not coming from Natsuo and Fuyumi. He pulls a bit back into his chair as a vaguely familiar woman walks in, and everyone turns to look at her. She had long white hair, combed to one side over a white fleece jacket she had buttoned up to the midriff.

Shisho visibly shudders, and slides on his suit jacket as Natsuo and Fuyumi both slowly walk towards her. She smiles at them, walking forward and opening her arms.

Fuyumi quickly runs over to the woman, throwing her arms around her and burying her face into her shoulder. “Mom… it’s so good to see you again.”

Natsuo goes in too, but Shouto sits there, trying to process everything that rears up in his chest at being told who she is. Because it’s an entire conflux of emotions, and he’s not quite sure where he should start with all of them.

His mom hugs both of them, then she pulls back to kiss them both on the forehead. “Natsuo… you’re almost taller than me, now! And Fuyumi… dear, you look like you’re not sleeping well. How stressful is your job?”

Shisho laughs a bit, and Shouto quietly chortles at the absurdity as Natsuo smiles. “Mom… you’ve barely been here five seconds, and you’re already nitpicking? Come on…”

Rei turns to him, quickly focusing on the side of his neck. “I am not criticizing you. You are my children, and I have a right to be concerned… just look at you. You look like you were mauled by a feral cat.”

She fixes the collar of his jacket, and Natsuo’s face flushes before he backs away and he starts fussing over his jacket. Fuyumi laughs, and Shouto looks over at Shisho, who unapologetically smirks at Natsuo.

Rei turns towards him… and there’s an incredibly obvious tension as her smile fades and she composes herself. He’s still drawn back in his seat, but he tries not to look angry at her… even though he thinks some part of the emotion in his chest is anger…

“Shouto… it’s been too long…” She doesn’t walk forward, a sad sort of acceptance at him not approaching her.

Endeavor opens his mouth, looking like he was about to tell Shouto to do something. But Rei holds up her hand, and he surprises everyone by immediately closing his mouth. He walks over to the table, and sits at the other head opposite Shouto.

“I know… there was no excuse for what I did, Shouto. I… I only hope you understand I never wanted to hurt you. If you could allow me to prove that… well, we all have mistakes that need to be fixed for this family to come together again. All of us.”

Rei pointedly looks at Enji, not noticing Natsuo and Shouto cluing in. But Shouto notices Natsuo catching a hidden meaning, and how he immediately looks at Shisho with a concerned look.

Then Shouto notices Shisho noticing his noticing, and how he tilts his head so Natsuo looks over at him. The two brothers share a look… and Natsuo just takes a breath as Fuyumi hugs her mother, completely oblivious to the absolute chaos about to unfold around her.

Enji, for his part, seems to notice all the little ticks… and then lets his eyes flash over to the vents. There was a small red thing up against the metal, then a quick, quiet rattle as it vanished.

Chapter Text

Hitoshi drifts for a while, floating in the darkness of his new room as he knows, subconsciously, that a lot of time is passing. But he lays on his side, staring at the wall when his eyes are open and replaying the day when they aren’t. He almost wants to go out and talk to the others, but he just feels so… exhausted. Socially, physically, mentally… he’d been going for too long, and this crash was just the inevitable conclusion of running on too high a function for too long.

Eventually, he realizes he’s been awake longer than he’s been sleeping, and he rolls over onto his back. He looks around, seeing it’s still either night or early morning. He reaches for his phone, then realizes it’s probably still in one of his bags.

He groans, and sits up in bed. He had his bags packed at the foot of the bed, his backpack on top and the two duffel bags next to each other with the strap up on the backpack. Easy to make an escape with, or a late night return to social services. He crawls over, and fishes through the backpack’s outside pockets to find it.

When he does pull it out, he has to quickly lower the brightness setting and cover his eyes for a solid minute to stop them from stinging. When he looks again, he sees it’s about 3:30 in the morning… and his phone is almost dead.

He has to actually open the bag to get a charger, and walks over to the desk to let it charge. He rubs the sleep out of his eyes, and realizes he’s now too awake to go back to sleep.

He gets out his folder of unfinished schoolwork, looking through assignments left to do over the three day break. He settles on some sort of sketch for Midnight, the only requirement being a full page sketch of a person. Which didn’t sound all that hard, but…

Hitoshi picks out his pencil and the book of sketching paper, flipping through the drawings. They weren’t bad... but they weren’t as good as the ones he’d seen Kouji working on, or the stuff in the textbooks Midnight showed them.

He tries for a while, then slides his chair back so he could use the moonlight. He turns, trying to find the right angle where he could see without having his shadow cast over the page.

He tries a few ideas, but nothing seems to come out right. He tries All Might jumping through the air, but the man’s ridiculously built physique was impossible to draw correctly. He tries a few different copies of photos he’s seen of Eraserhead, but now that he knows more about him, the mystique is changed, and he can’t get himself to like what he’s making.

He takes a breath, closing his eyes and trying to think of what to draw… and suddenly, an image appears in his head. He opens his eyes, looking down at the page for a minute, then slowly begins forming the image.

A tall figure in a suit, a full body sketch that would be normal. But once he reaches the head, the tone changes; a giant collar and mask, completely covering the face from all angles. Long tubes that keep the thing locked around the neck, with spindly joints that almost make them spider legs. Part of what looked like a breathing tube over the nose and mouth, and only the vaguest indent of eyes…

Hitoshi stops, and looks down at the image he drew. It takes his brain a second to rationalize the familiarity of the image… then he tosses the sketchbook into the wall over his bed, and he stands up and walks out of the room.

As he steps outside the room, the hall lights turn on dimly, just illuminating the way to the bathroom. There was a clock on the wall, which showed it was now just a little bit after five in the morning.

He walks into the bathroom, heading over to the sink. He quickly fills his hands with cold water, and splashes it on his face.

He runs his hands over his face, and looks up at his reflection… The slowly growing bags under his eyes register just before Fumikage does, the boy having been just around the corner at the shower stalls.

He turns, water dripping onto his shirt as Fumikage watches him, in a rucked up gray nightshirt and black mesh shorts that reach down to almost midcalf. His feathers were slowly drying, but they had a weird texture now that they were wet. “You never came down for dinner last night. Are you… are you alright?”

Hitoshi narrows his eyes at the question, wondering why Fumikage would ask that question. “I… I was really tired. Honestly, I’ve been asleep until about an hour ago, and I’ve just been doing schoolwork.”

Fumikage nods, slowly bringing a hand to the side of his head. His head twitches, and Hitoshi is fairly sure he can see the room behind him get darker. “Alright… no, stop…”

“Cool… Well, see you in a couple hours.” Hitoshi flashes a peace sign, and leaves without trying to make Fumikage feel awkward. He sees a lightswitch near the doorway with a manual dimmer, and dials it up a few steps before heading out to the hallway.

He starts walking past Izuku’s room, but the door opens slightly as he approaches the door. It swings open more as Hitoshi gets closer, Izuku stumbling out with dark circles under his eyes. “Hi… you didn’t eat. You…”

He loudly yawns, stretching up his uninjured arm. The other one raises partially, and Hitoshi can see the cringe of pain as he does.

Hitoshi gives him a raised eyebrow when he sheepishly stares at him, and sighs. “It is too early in the morning for this. Good night.”

He starts to go to his room, knowing Izuku will go to intercept him. “Um… can we talk about something? I… no, your room is probably better.”

He gives Izuku a side eye, but quickly goes to his room. He grabs the sketchbook, closing it and setting it on the desk. He quickly looks around, seeing if anything else needs to be moved.

He turns as the door swings open, and Izuku steps in. He looks around, then slowly closes the door. “So… I thought we should talk…”

Hitoshi looks at Izuku, and how bone tired he seemed. “How long have you been up? If I’m the well rested person in the room…”

Izuku chuckles, and slowly walks over to the bed. He waits for Hitoshi to tell him no, and sits down when the barb never comes. “I couldn’t sleep. It’s funny; you don’t realise how often you turn over in your sleep until you’ve broken something.”

Hitoshi hisses between closed teeth, cringing while imagining it. “Sorry… I mean, I broke my fingers once when I was a kid. All I could really do was wrap them in a blanket, and just force myself to lay around until I just crashed.”

Izuku nods, then looks over at the bed. He looks back and forth, blushing a bit before stammering out a question. “Could we… um…”

---

Aizawa downs his third cup of coffee, actually having managed to sleep an acceptable amount of hours last night. None of these kids decided to sneak around during the night, waiting until the more than reasonable 5:00 A.M. before getting up and wandering again. “Hopefully the rest of them are equally sensible… and now that’s been jinxed…”

Denki was in the living room, flicking through the channels. He kept stopping on whatever seemed interesting, taking a picture of the channel number, then moving on. He’d done it some two dozen times, going from classic movies to Korean Dramas and an American Medical Telenovela without any other real pattern. Mezou and Kouda are the next ones down, and Shouta is not surprised when they find the History and Nature channels and add them to the list.

The girls and Mashirao come down next, and Hizashi makes his way into the kitchen. He makes sure to lean in next to Shouta, leaving a peck against his cheek before going to the other coffee maker in the room. “Alright… Is anyone else arriving really early?”

Shouta shakes his head, checking the list Nedzu sent him. “No… no, the earliest will be Sero just before noon, and then Jiro, Kirishima, Mina, and Sato early afternoon. Aoyama will be here late this evening, and everyone else will be here tomorrow.”

Hizashi nods, hitting a button so his weak coffee can be put in his custom Eraserhead mug, where the handle looks like his capture scarf. “Yeah… isn’t the Explosive listener’s birthday tomorrow? You think he’s the type to like a gift, or does he reject any form of affection?”

Shouta takes a breath at that, the smell of his still warm cup being more effective than the watered down stuff Hizashi and the others drink. “Katsuki Bakugou… I don’t like how it feels like we’re talking about a ticking bomb someone went and put through puberty, then went and fucked with it’s entire mental process.”

Hizashi snickers at the comparison, but looks worried as he defiles his coffee with creamer and sugar. “Yeah… I mean, he clearly isn’t just a delinquent. He’s a bright kid, once you look past the abrasive personality. But yikes, is he prickly; like, I get people calling him a pomeranian, but he’s practically a porcupine…”

Shouta looks up, tilting his head at Hizashi. He notices Tokoyami wandering down the stairs from the corner of his eye, but he focuses on the conversation for now. “Who, besides Nemuri, have you heard talking about him like that?”

Hizashi smiles, and pulls out his phone. “Oh, it’s trending online. Not just from the footage from yesterday, but… well, Nedzu told you about the other thing Mayhem did, right? Apparently, she got into his cameras, and…”

Shouta looks at the phone… and yanks it out of Hizashi’s hand, pulling it closer. Because on the screen was part of the U.S.J. incident, specifically Kirishima and Bakugou in the Residential Zone with an amorphous blob in the corner that was probably the villain. “What… How have I not been briefed about this?”

Hizashi waits a second, then sighs heavily. He places a second mug in the maker, which he understands as he sees Inko walk in. “Nedzu didn’t tell you about what?”

Shouta flicks through the footage, landing on Izuku, Hitoshi, and Hagakure fighting in the Mountain Zone. Then he flashes it to Inko, who’s little smile at recognizing Hizashi’s phone case quickly vanishes once she starts processing the footage.

She holds her hand up, and the phone is yanked from Shouta’s grip into her own. She scrolls through the footage… and just attaches this disturbingly serene smile as she does. “Hizashi, is that second mug for me, or for one of the students?”

“Um… I was gonna make it for you…” He barely finishes before the mug begins vibrating, and slowly floats over to Inko. She spins as she takes it, controlling the cup’s movements so the steaming coffee isn’t splashed all over her.

“I have a meeting with Nedzu. I’ll see you two later.” She exits the kitchen, setting the phone down on the counter as she goes. Shouta looks at the kids, who all instinctively look in the opposite direction and stop speaking, trying to form a homogenous group that she couldn’t target… “Note to self, cover actual evasive tactics… and have nemuri cover social situations…”

Shouta looks around, noticing he hasn’t seen Izuku all morning. He’d talked with Yagi about his ‘Aim to Pass: The American Dream’ Plan, and given two minutes of constructive (and buried about ten of unconstructive, but that's besides the point). And yet Izuku wasn’t down here yet…

Shouta quickly checks he wasn’t wandering the grounds, then walks past Hizashi as the blond goes to pick up his phone. Hizashi gives him a look, but lets him go off while walking over to the kids.

He ascends the stairs, and quickly goes to Izuku’s room. He knocks first, waiting about seven seconds before trying again. Giving the kid about twenty seconds of warning, he opens the door, the lock not being turned. He controls his gag reflex at not only the amount of memorabilia on display, but the box of items that still needed to be put up. And the largest portion of the displayed items were All Might… he still had the photo of Izuku’s room at home, and was fairly certain a lot of this stuff hadn’t been on his walls there.

But with the boy nowhere in sight, he checks again, seeing he isn’t anywhere else a camera could be. And considering how thorough Nedzu was, there were maybe five places Izuku could be that weren't… the bedrooms…

He looks at Hitoshi’s door, and takes a steadying breath. “No… they wouldn’t… It's the first day here in the dorms. They wouldn’t…

He closes the door behind him, and debates just knocking Hitoshi’s door down. But he does knock, and counts to five before he pushes the door open.

He immediately looks at the bed, and Hitoshi looks up at him. Izuku is lying next to him, but while Hitoshi is wide awake and mildly terrified by his presence, Izuku is knocked out and asleep. He has his injured arm up on Hitoshi’s chest, using a bicep as a pillow with his face near Hitoshi’s neck.

Hitoshi waves, then holds up his phone. He hits send on a text, and his phone buzzes.

Hitoshi:He couldn’t sleep last night. Do you need to talk to him?

Shouta looks up, and slowly shakes his head. He speaks in a mutter, the voice barely managing to get out of his throat. “If I found out you two did anything, I will skin him alive. I don’t care if he’s All Might’s surrogate son…”

Hitoshi starts laughing, trying to stifle it so Izuku doesn’t notice. But that fails spectacularly, and the green haired boy groggily looks up.

The look of fear in Izuku’s eyes once he realizes how everything looks will bring Shouta joy for years to come, and he quickly leaves the doorway as he flares up in the bed next to his son… and as soon as that sentence forms in his head, it takes a frankly Herculean level of willpower not to throw himself down the stairs.

---

Izuku buries his face into the mattress, pretty sure it would spontaneously combust from how warm his face is getting. “Ah!”

Hitoshi pats him on the shoulder, and tries to stifle his laugh to speak. “It’s… it’s fine, ‘Zuku. We didn’t do anything, and he doesn’t have anything worth punishing to fixate on. Besides, if he makes a rule about ‘don’t be in each others rooms after dark’, the dirtier minds and looser mouths will say we were together, and I bet people are already blabbing about what the computer said, so…”

Izuku slowly turns, looking at Hitoshi. “Yeah… I sort of wanted to talk about it, but then you pointed out how… are you sure you want to be with me?”

Hitoshi’s good mood fades slowly, and he mulls over the sentence for a second. “I… yeah? If you don’t want to be with me, I get it, but you don’t have to…”

Izuku shakes his head, using his uninjured hand to take Hitoshi’s. “No… I really like you. It’s just… I get if there’s a lot going on with me. All Mig… my Quirk, and all the baggage with it. So… if you ever wanted out, I would get it…”

Hitoshi shakes his head, squeezing Izuku’s hand. “No. I get what it’s like… the constant self doubt and criticism. But you don’t have to do everything alone; you want to fight the strongest villain in the world one on one? Not a chance, Izuku; if I can give you even the slightest advantage, the slightest improvement on your survival… I would do it in a heartbeat.”

Izuku nods, trying not to tear up. “Yeah… but I was also thinking… Maybe I won’t be the best person to be in a relationship with. I… you know what I was like…”

Hitoshi slowly scoots in, a smug yet relaxed smile at Izuku. “Yeah, well I didn’t get any practice either. So we get to learn together… right?”

Izuku nods, blushing slightly… and he leans in, lightly pecking Hitoshi’s cheek.

Hitoshi blushes too, and pulls back a little as he laughs. “Do you want breakfast? Mic’s supposed to be making something before he goes to announce the Second Year’s festival.”

Izuku nods, and Hitoshi sits up. He waits for Izuku to start sitting up before moving in, laying a kiss fully on Izuku’s lips. Izuku freezes, blushing like crazy, and Hitoshi just smugly grins at him, and quickly moves to the bedroom door as Izuku moves to chase after him.

Chapter Text

(April 18th, during the third round of the First Year’s Sports Festival)

The mood in the bar could courteously be labeled ‘tense’, as Dabi steps in through the doorway of scintillating shadows back into the weird distorted in between space before landing in the bar.

Dabi barely gets his bearings before Kurogiri disappears, looking around at everyone else around. That ‘Everyone’ being just Hana and Shigaraki, who were both watching the cleared out space in the center with differing levels of focus. Shigaraki slid his game console into a case, and was flexing his fingers as he watched. Hana gives him a look, rolling her shoulders. She raises her hand, and begins wagging her ring finger at him.

He took a moment to understand the gesture… then walked out of the way. He slips his jacket off, and throws it onto a chair before turning. He didn’t light up yet, waiting for…

A well of inky darkness forms… but nothing happens for a few seconds. Then it winks out, with nothing changing.

Dabi looks over, and sees Shigaraki’s weird slasher smile sober up for a minute. He scans around, biting on his chapped lips as his fingers begin to tap on the table. “Hana… What happened to Kurogiri?”

Hana shrugs, and begins typing. “No idea… but Stain’s fighting the Nomu and Ingenium now…”

Dabi moves over, and can see Stain dodging around another of the monsters that had gotten put into the basement. He was fine with that… until the monster grew familiar looking blades from its hands. “What the…”

Hana goes to her second laptop, and begins typing out notes into a document. He’s almost tempted to read into it, but keeps his eyes on the screen as a flash hits the camera’s lens, Ingenium’s armor almost constantly causing flashes around him.

As they’re both watching, the camera lags for a few seconds… then winks out. Then it turns on again, but there’s a pop up on Hana’s screen. “Is that…”

Hana nods, stopping on the document and quickly moving her hands to the viewing laptop, doing something Dabi had no hope of understanding. “Camera reset… just a minute…”

As she goes, Shigaraki stands up. Dabi takes a slight step away as he peers over his sister's shoulders, watching her work against whatever computer magic Nedzu was using.

She gets it back up… then whips out her phone at something the two couldn’t see. She dials, and presses it between her shoulder and ear as she keeps closing the little pop up. “Compress, I have a Bogey going for the tablet. That thing cannot be allowed to be stolen… I know, that’s why I called you.”

Another pop-up happens, and Hana drops the phone to start typing again. She actually goes away from the view, green text filling the screen as she works against whatever this is.

“What’s happening?” Shigaraki steps forward, fingers idly coming up to his neck. He starts to nervously gouge into his neck with his nails… then he notices Dabi watching. And he switches to twisting his fingers in the air, apparently trying to control that nervous tick of his.

Dabi’s almost tempted to snarkily congratulate him when the well of shadows opens again, and Muscular stumbles backwards into the room, holding a shaking and thrashing Stain. Which was an impressive sight… if it didn’t also spell trouble for if he escaped. Because while it looked like he didn’t have his big swords, he still had plenty of knives on him. He also didn’t have as much body armor as usual, instead mainly in a faded and worn red hoodie.

Hana immediately gets up and backs away from the table, and Dabi moves between her and the killer. Shigaraki starts to do so, but stops when he notices Dabi already doing it.

Kurogiri materializes a moment later, hands clasped behind his back. His suit jacket was open, his white button up becoming stained with a dark black liquid. He stares unblinkingly at Stain, though quickly diverts his attention to Shigaraki. “As you requested, Shigaraki.”

Stain stops for a moment, eyes locking on Hana behind Dabi. He goes still, scanning his surroundings and the others in the room.

Muscular tightens his grip, both enough to make Stain wince involuntarily and keep him from slipping out. His Quirk was disgusting looking, with all the wriggling muscle fibers that swirled and wrapped his arms. “Nothing personal, pal. Just a business transaction for me… but you have a pretty obsessed fan.”

Shigaraki slowly stalks forward, getting a better angle on Stain. He begins flexing his fingers, which attracts Stain’s eyes as he scans everyone. “So… you’re the Hero Killer everyone’s talking about. I have to say… watching you stand up to the Nomu was pretty impressive. And while also trying to kill Ingenium…”

Stain grimaces, and Hana starts muttering into her phone behind Dabi. “Nomu… oh, you must be those people who attacked Yuuei. Tried to cull a generation of fake Heroes before they could fester and rot away in the foundation.”

Shigaraki stops, and Dabi can tell he’s giving off that same slasher smile right now. “Exactly! See, most of the people we recruited were mobs and low level trash. If we want to level up, what better way than getting a mid-boss on our side to make sure we all succeed?”

Stain seems to consider Shigaraki’s words, and a thin pillar of shadow extends from the floor. Compress steps out, checking his mask whilst turning one of his Quirk marbles in between his fingers. “Got the tablet… and a stowaway, unfortunately. But that’s easy enough to deal with; assuming she doesn’t try to kill you again, Hana.”

Everyone got a little confused by that… except for Stain, who begins wriggling his arm towards his belt.

Dabi opens his mouth to give a warning, but the television behind him turns on suddenly. “Shigaraki, how is that… ah, I see you’ve caught your quarry. Very impressive, considering his not unimpressive evasive abilities…”

Muscular scoffs, and shifts his grip on Stain. “Hey, in case you weren’t watching, small fry didn’t do shi…”

Dabi backs up to Hana, getting square in front of her as Stain digs his heel into Muscular’s thigh. He quickly pushes up while pulling his arms in, wriggling partially out of the hoodie before dropping to the ground while Muscular only keeps a grip on the clothing.

Stain doesn’t immediately attack, putting his back to the bar while inspecting everyone. He pulls a throwing knife out, but he doesn’t make any motions to throw it. But he seems to clue in on Dabi’s defensiveness of Hana, which is more than a little concerning.

“Hmm… now Shigaraki, weren’t you saying something to our new friend here?”

With All for One’s prompting, Shigaraki shudders a bit. But it’s very minute, and he quickly recovers and begins speaking. “Attacking the brats wasn’t what we wanted, but it certainly helped show what we were capable of. We’re going after the endgame boss… we’re going to kill All Might himself! And once we do that… we’ll hit Endeavor too. We’ll smash and destroy everything we hate, raze this whole feculent world to the ground!”

Stain raises an eyebrow, taking the mad ferver at the end with surprising calm. He begins turning the knife in his fingers, considering it. “So you see it too? How warped and corrupted this society is? Vile Fake heroes, posing for the cameras while buildings burn behind them and people die just behind the camera for the money.”

Shigaraki nods, gesticulating wildly. “EXACTLY! Everyone just stands around, smiling like idiots because some hero will come save them. Like those little brats, all smiling and happy until the Nomu literally beat their teacher’s face to a pulp! They needed to see the light leave his eyes before they woke up… I want to see them all turn to dust in my hands!”

Stain stops, tongue jutting out minutely from his mouth towards a weird black patch near his lip. The knife stops spinning, and Dabi can literally feel the air shift. “You… you almost had me, for a minute. You nearly had me convinced… but then you went and revealed your true intentions. You’re nothing but a child, throwing a tantrum because he’s not getting his way. Pathetic.”

Shigaraki stands stock still for a moment, then begins moving closer as his fingers twitch. “You…”

Muscular, who had quietly stood there while looking at the hoodie in his arms, tries to close the distance with Stain. He reaches forward, grabbing onto the lithe man’s shoulder as Hana pulls Dabi away to the bar. He sees Compress move for cover, but then his attention is on getting Hana to safety.

She ducks along the far side as Stain plunges the knife into the back of Muscular’s hand, which he quickly pulls out and ducks under and away from Muscular’s swipe with his other arm.

He brings the knife up to his lips, and Muscular seizes up a split second later as he turns to follow Stain. Then he looks to the approaching Shigaraki, shifting to produce a second knife from a sheath on his back.

Dabi looks at Kurogiri, and notices that the weird fog that made up his head wasn’t flickering like usual. It was just hanging in the air, and if Dabi wasn’t seeing things, it was almost like a face was visible for a second… with some weird patch on the nose…

Before he can think more on it, the sound of wood snapping draws his attention back, and he has to grab at Hana’s wrist to prevent her from rushing forward. Because Stain is standing over Shigaraki, a knife plunged into his shoulder and kept him pinned to the bar. The other was just near the top of his arm, meaning he’d have to cut into it to reach up for Stain.

“Only children would blindly reach for such a goal. To lack the will… and the conviction... to truly accomplish anything is truly pathetic. Those lacking these qualities will always lose to those who possess them… it’s only natural for the Strong to cull the weak.”

Hana stops, and dips her hand into her pocket. Before Dabi can think to stop her, she pulls out a handful of harddrives, and throws them at the side of Stain’s head. “LET HIM GO!”

They hit Stain without much force, and he looks over to her. But he keeps careful track of Shigaraki, looking up at Hana. “You… Copy Quirk. Interesting… and pointless in the end. No matter how many of you there are, all the copies have the weaknesses of the original. None will ever be stronger than the base, and that base is a person who decides to hide behind dozens of copies.”

Dabi tries to pull Hana back, letting a few embers burn in his hand. But she breaks from his grip, crossing her arms. “Leave the psychoanalysis to the professionals, Creep. Besides, I don’t need to be strong; you haven’t been caught yet because you’re smart enough to plan and strategize. You don’t throw a hundred knives, hoping one hits; you carefully aim, and throw the one knife you know will hit.”

Stain looks at Hana, and quickly pushes away from the bar. He leaves the knife in Shigaraki’s shoulder, but he quickly reaches up and pulls it out, the thing crumpling to dust in his hand. “So, why do you support a child in an adult’s body? You could probably run things if you wanted.”

Shigaraki growls, holding his palm against the oozing wound as dust and drops of blood fall to the ground. “That’s rude… we don’t have a healer in this party yet…”

“Because he’s just like me.” Hana takes a few steps out into the bar, leaving herself open if Stain were to come at her. Dabi tries to catch her, but she dodges his grip. “Because a bunch of heroes left us to die when we were kids, and we saw how the system really works. He has one large goal, and I have a hundred small goals. I’m coding the path for him to walk to get to his goal, which is the same as yours; a total overhaul of the system.”

Stain raises an eyebrow, and Shigaraki stalks over to Kurogiri. “Why didn’t you warp him away?”

Kurogiri seems to be vibrating, fighting whatever paralysis the quirk is causing. “I… his Quirk prevented me from creating the portal in time. With him on top of you, there was no way to remove him without harming you. And I must never harm you, or allow you to come to harm… but inaction causes you to come to harm, so I must act, but acting would cause you harm, so I can’t, but not acting causes you to be harmed, so…”

Dabi watches as Kurogiri begins twitching, still not fully able to move. The smoke that makes up his head slowly starts to roil… and that face slowly becomes visible, first a rough outline, then a more clear image…

---

All for One waves his hand, a pen dictating his thoughts across the room. Hundreds of pages were being copied from his memory, most of which the Doctor immediately sets into a shredder. But he looks towards the monitor bank of the bar, and holds down a button for the audience to hear him.

“Kurogiri, calm.” His most impressive project stops it’s pathetic resistances, and the roiling shadows that had begun to pull away from his face slowly take form again to hide that disgusting thing from view. “Shigaraki, please control your urges. Now, I understand things have grown fairly hostile. Perhaps you should consider this an open offer for now, Chizome Akiguro.”

Stain looks at the monitor, and everyone else stays mostly still, waiting to see what would happen. “I have no interest in working for a child, blindly flailing his arms in hopes of achieving his goals.”

All for One takes a moment, and allows his tone to be lighter as he responds. “I am not saying you work for him, but with him. You believe he has much to learn? Teach him how to carry on your gospel. You are very right; Heroes have stagnated from the lack of true crimes to fight, and have started to play to their adoring fans instead. But crime is not loud, but smart; who better to cull these fake heroes than a Villain?”

Stain takes a moment to visibly react to that, then starts to walk to the entrance of the bar. Compress steps out from the stairwell, holding a hand out.

All for One looks away, the pen still madly going through all the information he had gone through. He lets the button go, leaving him and the doctor in privacy. “Are you sure he was Quirkless?”

The Doctor nods, producing a paper file he flips through. “Absolutely. I have the X-ray to prove it. I have genetic tests, blood tests, everything.”

All for One would roll his eyes if the gesture had any meaning with him. The pen stops writing instead, pointing at the Doctor before slowly making a circle in the air, then goes back to writing. “Please, I’m surprised the ‘extra toe joint’ thing actually made it so deep into people’s minds. But there has to be some reason that oaf picked the boy.”

The Doctor shrugs, offering the folder. “It has absolutely nothing to do with his medical history, sir. Even by measure of the Quirkless population of Japan, he was frightfully underdeveloped until he received the Quirk. If you’d allow me to attempt to consult and obtain a psychological profile…”

All for One waves his hand, dropping the button to the bar speaker before reaching for his wine glass of medicine. “Don’t bother. Why worry about a nuisance when you can simply squash it?”

The Doctor stops, and sets the folder down on the side table next to the machines before standing and walking. “I can perhaps prepare a dozen less than optimal Nomu’s, but the current pool of bodies and Quirks is not very optimal. I need new samples to work with… or simply better subjects than the riff-raff we can easily obtain.”

All for One nods, taking a sip of the vile concoction. He thinks for a moment… then smiles. “What exactly could you do if you had the Number 2 Hero to design around?”

The Doctor turns on him, and he can just imagine the maniacal gleam under those enormous goggles he wore. “Oh, you would be spoiling me, Master. But the effort to capture him would not be easy; mindless Nomu would be unable to achieve such a task.”

All for One sighs, and looks back at the screens. “Oh… you let me worry about that. How quickly can you prepare those dozen Nomu?”

“It would take at least a week, ranging into two if I were to ensure it was done properly.”

All for One nods, and waves his hand in dismissal. “You have thirteen days to be ready, then.

Chapter Text

Shouto looked around the table, everything feeling weirdly lighter than usual. Fuyumi seemed so much less stressed, Natsuo didn’t seem seconds away from trying to break his chopsticks, and Rei…

His mom looked tense at first, when he walked out to join them for breakfast, But Natsuo slowly lowered the tension by just talking, slowly drawing both of them in while Fuyumi occasionally peaked into the room from the kitchen.

She eventually came back into the dining room, carrying plates for the four of them before going back for drinks. She brings a cup of coffee to Rei, along with a small cup of sugar cubes for her.

Rei smiles as she takes the drink, taking a moment to look at the coffee. Her eyes flicker up to Shouto, and she quickly looks down as the smile fades. She takes a sip, then sets the mug down before gently tapping the side of it. “Thank you, dear. I… I hope you won’t mind if I cook in the future. I did enjoy it quite a bit.”

Fuyumi nods, and quickly takes a few bites of her scrambled eggs and rice. Shouto takes a few bites, looking over at Natsuo. “Is Shisho your romantic partner?”

Natsuo coughs in the middle of a bite, his face turning red. He covers his mouth, probably to stop pieces of rice from spilling out. “I… can we not talk about that now?”

Rei looks over at her older son, a wry smile on her face. “I did want to ask, but it felt rude to bring it up. Is he in your classes, or…”

Natsuo groans, discreetly wiping his hand with a napkin. “He… his cousin ran a bookstore everyone went to, and he’s Marketing while I’m Nursing. We shared a few classes, then our dorms flipped around until we were roommates…”

Fuyumi giggles a bit, and Shouto just quietly continues eating now that the conversation has started. “How long have you two been together? Have you two ever…?”

Shouto looks up, not quite understanding why she trails off. He sees Rei giving her a serious look, but it was also on the verge of laughter. “At least he’s brought a good partner to meet us. Have you seen anyone, Fuyumi?”

Fuyumi stops, and Natsuo jabs his chopsticks in the air at her. “I… no. I’m a teacher, and that’s a full time commitment…”

“So you’ve had kids, but no spouse. Where has the time gone?” That causes Shouto to quietly chortle, while Fuyumi seems to fall over dead and Natsuo bangs the table with laughter.

Fuyumi slowly rises back up, an uncomfortable smile on her face as she laughs along with the joke. “I… there’s definitely some people I’ve been interested in. I just… well, I didn’t want to settle for anyone until it felt right.”

Rei nods, biting her lip while patting her daughter on the shoulder. “Good. You’re already doing better than I did at that age… now Shouto, do you have anything you want to add?”

Shouto looks up, his older siblings turning on him like carnivorous fish that detected blood. “No. No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

Rei sighs, then continues eating. “Is there not anyone you’re interested in? Or are you interested, but you don’t know how to express it?”

Shouto looks down at his food, unsure of what to add to the conversation. It felt… unusual, to try and word it.

“I mean, he’s friends with Tensei’s younger brother and Yaoyorozu’s daughter, so it could be anything.” Shouto’s cheeks heat up at Natsuo’s comment, and he sinks in his chair as both Fuyumi and Rei look over at the gossiper.

---

Hanta quietly laughs to himself, sitting on the corner of the living room. He was almost socially drained, but he kept the smile up as everyone milled around as the Second Year’s contest played in the background. Most of the adults had finished talking with him, making sure he knew how proud they were, and were now happy to leave him watching over the younger members of the family.

Around him were all the younger cousins, most of whom looked over at the wide screen television as the action started. But one, her dark brown hair a similar choppy style to his, keeps her eyes locked on him. She was sitting on the couch cushion next to him, leaning against the armrest and pushing herself up to be level with him. “Come on, we all saw it! Yesterday, with that Ice Boy; the air was literally sparkling! It was classic Romance stuff!”

Hanta tries to laugh it off, the heat in his cheeks just from sitting next to the window. “There were a bunch of ice flecks in the air, Aisuru. Besides, Shouto isn’t really that kind of guy.”

His cousin gives him a raised eyebrow, then looks back as the other younger kids cheer. Hanta checks, seeing a girl he vaguely recognized from the cafeteria climbing a giant rock climbing wall.

He then looks over to the doorway to the kitchen, where one of his aunts peeks out. She checks the group of kids, then quickly beckons for him to come in. He stands, and the two boys just at his feet jump up onto the cushion behind him, and he just barely doesn’t laugh as he steps around everyone before going into the kitchen.

The kitchen was a bit smaller than the living room, taken up mostly by a long dark wood table. There were more than a dozen people in here, with Hanta’s parents near the other end of the table holding court. His mom had two brothers and a sister, and his dad had one brother and sister, and almost all of them and their spouses had been here today.

But everyone slowly quiets down when he walks in, leaving the kids yelling at the television behind them. His mom smiles, shifting in her gaze over to him. “Hanta, we’re so proud of you, making it to the third contest. You did so well during that obstacle race, and helped that loud explosive boy during the second round… you should have heard how everyone was cheering for you at the offices.”

He nods, smiling and scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, I guess I did pretty well. I wish I’d gotten farther, but that’s just how things happened this time around.”

His mom nods, and all the adults seem to shift at his choice of words. “Well, we happen to know a lot of people who went to Yuuei, and we know that pretty soon students are offered their first internships. You get to intern with Heroes based on how you did, and the Business Students get a month with some businesses…”

Hanta bites his lip, a faint copper taste entering his mouth before he goes into an easy smile. “Oh… well, I did have a few people from the Business course ask me about Internships with Aunt Sadako’s company. I already made some recommendations to everyone else’s, too… but I guess I could do that for you all.”

The woman next to his dad, with long hair she refused to tie up, looks at him through the curtain of inky black. “I’ll forgive you poaching internships from me this time around if it’s for everyone else.”

Everyone laughs at the faux-serious tone, and his mom stands. “Well, you already packed your bags. Is there anything else you need to get before you get to the school? Anything else you want to do before leaving?”

Hanta shakes his head, an actual easy smile on his face. “I mean, we already had a whole day together. And everything you all gave me… I’m not quite sick of seeing you all yet.”

Everyone laughs, and then begins the cascading line of people coming in to shake his hand or hug him. And Hanta can take all the little humorous jabs… until the kids come running in, trying to tackle him to the ground.

---

Mina hops out of the car, quickly going back to the opening trunk to grab her suitcases. “I know you guys get on me for being on the phone all the time, but please don’t think you can’t call me. It’s never a bad time.”

Her dad nods, his light blue skin shining with a layer of liquid that was omnipresent. The air conditioner carries bits of it back to her as she gets her bags, almost feeling and smelling like the breeze of the ocean. “Oh, you know we’re going to call you every chance we get. Don’t think we aren’t the proudest dads there are, you getting to the second round of tournaments. And those dance moves; you could have been a pro ballerina if you wanted.”

Mina laughs, ignoring the little pang of guilt in her chest as she hits the button to close the back. “Don’t be strangers! Bye!”

She runs down the path they’d gotten emailed about, and takes a second to appreciate how big looking the dorms were. But only a second, and she runs up to the door of the dorm before holding up her card to the black box to the side of the door.

“Mina Ashido…”

She steps inside, seeing Denki and Hanta look over at her from the couch. “That’s right, your Alien Queen is finally here!”

She sets her bags down before running over, vaulting over the back of the couch as Denki eagerly makes room for her. Her pink t-shirt rustles a bit in the wind, and her jeans almost but don’t quite blend in with the dark color of the couch they’re on.

She shoots Hanta a wink, then Denki is clamoring for attention. “Okay, so you know how the door says your name when you come in? You will never guess what happened yesterday.”

“Oh, there’s tea? Bitch, pour me a cup.”

“Everyone joking about Hitoshi being like Aizawa-sensei? Well, apparently the rumors are true!”

Mina pumps her fist, then quickly checks around to see if either of them were around. “I knew it. Kiri owes me two-thousand yen for that one. I called it the day those reporters broke in.”

Denki nods, and chuckles to himself. “Oh, and you know that side bet we had going? You owe me a thousand yen when you have it.”

Mina takes a second… then grins evilly. “Wait… he didn’t!”

Denki nods, and Hanta nods as if he would corroborate the story regardless. “Aizawa-sensei came down the stairs with dead eyes, and Izuku blushed like crazy when I said Hitoshi looked well rested. And then Hitoshi fully confirmed it, and I was sure Izuku was going to catch on fire.”

Mina makes a high pitched sound, turning and repeatedly kicking her feet up. “Ah, the total madlad! The first night, too! I’m just mad I wasn’t here to see it… and I was so sure Izuku would move first!”

Denki smiles, and pulls out his phone. He takes a moment, then her phone chimes with a text.

She whips it out… and cackles at the image of Izuku trying to bury his face in his hands, slowly sinking under the table. He looked like a strawberry, the freckles being the little seeds while the hair was those leaves at the top.

“Hey Ashido.” Mina looks up, and Izuku is walking down the stairs, his arm in a sling. He was wearing a white t-shirt with ‘Workout-Shirt’ on it, and she let herself continue laughing at that.

“Hey Midoriya.” She turns her phone off, and stands up to walk over. She opens her arms up, and Izuku seems to hesitate a little before holding up his good arm. She makes sure to come in from that side, and carefully watches for him seeming to get uncomfortable. “You okay? That looked nasty, what you did to that hand.”

“Oh, it’ll be fine. I just need to not use it for a few days. It’s a pain, but I’ve dealt with worse!”

Izuku smiles as he says that, and Mina has to force her smile not to change at how easily he said that dark and gloomy shit. “Well, just let me know if I can do anything for you… and not to sound opportunistic, but can you help me run over my notecards for Cementoss’s class? The acid and bases test should be my thing, but I need some serious help.”

Izuku nods, that smile somehow not changing. “Sure. I could probably stand to study a bit more, too. Whenever you want to.”

Mina smiles, and disconnects just as a short woman with a familiar shade of green hair comes out of the kitchen. “Ashido, right? You looked wonderful during the tournament yesterday.”

Mina nods, and gives a curtsy. “Thank you, Midoriya-chan! You are, like, some kind of legend on the internet now. Taking a shot at Endeavor is really brave.”

Inko smiles, and fans her slightly reddening face. “Oh, it’s not about that. It was really just helping people who were caught in the crossfire. That’s something to remember during Hero work; it’s not about taking down villains, but saving the people around you.”

Mina rolls her eyes a bit at the cheesiness of the line, but nods regardless. “Yeap, exactly why you seem so cool. So are you the dorm monitor, or is this something else?”

“Oh, Aizawa just needed to have a meeting with Nedzu over lunch. I am staying for a bit, just to make sure everyone settles in and is comfortable. I have an appointment to keep this evening, but Hizashi and Aizawa should be back soon.”

Mina nods, then goes back to her bags. “Well, I need to put my stuff away. How’s all the room dividing going?”

Hanta pipes up, turning over and cupping his hand over his mouth. “Guys are on the second and third floors, girls get the fourth to themselves. I think Hagakure is up there now, but I don’t know why.”

Mina shrugs, grabbing her stuff and running to the elevator. “Cool beans. Be back in a minute!”

---

Eijiro takes a breath standing in front of the door to the dorms, steadying himself before he walks in. He’d been standing here a minute, a roiling wave of nausea stopping him from bringing the card to the scanner.

“Hey Kirishima.” He turns, seeing Kyouka walking up behind him. She had a jacket on, and was pulling a suitcase that was really two that could magnetically attach to each other. “You… are you okay there?”

He smiles, and holds a thumb up. “Yeah, just… I don’t know, kinda nervous.”

Kyouka nods, looking over at his duffel bags of clothes with a shrug. She pulls out her I.D., and spins it in her hands. “Cool… I mean, yeah, it’s kinda weird and something to get used to, but it’ll be fine. We don’t have anything to worry about… nothing at all.”

Eijiro can see that same sort of nervous energy in her now, and just nods while taking a deep breath. “Um… shall we?”

Kyouka nods, and they both hold their cards near the scanner before the door slides open. “Kyouka Jiro… Eijiro Kirishima…” They walk through the doors, Hitoshi walking by looking at his phone. He looks up, and gives a carefree wave before walking by.

They walk a little further in, and see most everyone is gathered around the television, popcorn getting passed around as they watch an old looking American medical show.

“He did, however, just get hit by a bullet. Just mentioning…” An older man, rough and unshaven, sarcastically talks to the other three doctors in a fairly spacious room while looking at a whiteboard.

The only female doctor in the room, a dark haired woman with glasses, quickly looks up. “He got shot?”

The doctor turns from his whiteboard, giving the woman an amused yet contemptuous look. “No. Someone threw it at him.”

Denki turns to them, and waves them over. “Hey guys. The episode just started, if you want to join us. I think we have some leftover pasta from lunch in the refrigerator in that large green bowl.”

Eijiro looks at Kyouka, who actually seems to recognize the show. “Is this the two part episode where Foreman…”

Mina turns to her, holding a finger up. Toru is sitting next to her, and quickly moves closer to Ochako to make room on the couch the girl’s were taking up. “Ah! We’re just watching this for the first time. Go put your stuff away, then come back and sit with us.”

The two nod, and start moving away from the front door…

“Shouta Aizawa…”

They turn, and Kyouka quickly turns back around and walks away very quickly as Aizawa comes in, his black turtleneck almost as dark as the ominous aura surrounding him. His long hair was passing over his face in a disturbing way, and he glared forward without registering Eijiro’s presence.

The red haired student just stands there, stock still as the teacher walks around him. Aizawa looked at him, his expression lighting for a second before he walked into the kitchen.

The zipper on Eijiro’s bag starts to clink slightly from how his arm is shaking, but he quickly heads over to the elevator before the door shuts on Kyouka.

Chapter Text

Shouta sinks into a corner of the kitchen, almost blending into the shadows. The only real way someone would notice him is if they saw the rage running through him… but if Kirishima’s reaction was any indication, most of the students would try to sneak away without interacting with him. Which wasn’t good, but at least they weren’t trying to give him a seizure like someone he could name.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

Nedzu looks up, clearly appraising him before turning back to the footage of the Second Year’s competition. “Because there was nothing you could do to solve that problem, even if you wished to help. And I had hoped I would be finished solving it by now, but other problems have slowly taken up the time I outlined to deal with it…”

Shouta loudly growls, breaking Nedzu’s monologue early. “You are one of the most infuriating creatures on the planet, you know that, right?”

Nedzu gives him a second, then slowly nods. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I have three conspiracies that you know of running simultaneously, several agencies consulting me at any given moment, and a school to run. The footage is very nearly gone, but I still need to find something that will continuously remove it should it return. Now, unless you know how to program in Malbolge, I would ask you to allow me to do my job.”

Shouta looks up as someone quietly clears their throat, seeing Rikido quietly standing in front of the refrigerator. “Um… are you okay, Aizawa-sensei?”

Shouta takes a deep breath, and nods. “Yes… just another long meeting with the other teachers. Nothing you need to worry about.”

Rikido gives him a look, then reaches for his phone. “I know you like strong coffee, but it probably won’t help a headache. If you wanted, my parents have made a bunch of recipes to help with caffeine overload in people, plus special diet restrictions. I wouldn’t mind making something for you every once and a while…”

Shouta lets the smallest smile hit his face, and easily hides it when the large student looks up. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be fine.”

Rikido shrugs, and looks into the living room, where most everyone was watching the rerun of some American Medical Drama with rapt attention. “I mean, I know a few of them like coffee. So if I happen to make some, and leave it for anyone to take, it wouldn’t be strange for some of it to not be seen by them.”

Shouta lets his smile actually show up, and Rikido nods before heading back into the living room… then doubling back, and filling a glass of water like he’d initially planned. He then leaves again, a self conscious half grin on his face before speeding out of the room.

Shouta runs a hand through his hair, thinking about whether he needed to tell the kids about the footage. It was the responsible thing to do, and he could probably mangle it into a lesson about being aware of how they’d constantly be under cameras… but they shouldn’t have to worry about that this early in the year…

It’s in precisely that moment where he realizes that aside from the growing rolodex of problem children, the others wouldn’t have experience with that sort of attention. And they at least deserve to be made aware, if they hadn’t gotten that attention already.

---

Katsuki takes another deep breath, drawing his orange hoodie down as he walks back towards his house. He had a few bags from stores in his hand, and the feeling of literally everyone he was walking past eyeing him like they wanted to try and talk to him.

He has one last stop to make, as he breezes through the doors of the corner store just up the street from his house. He does a quick check for people, seeing the place he was aiming for in the store didn’t have anyone else wandering it, so he might be able to get in and out if he went quickly.

He moves, ignoring the cashier watching him like they recognize him. And of course they would, but that doesn’t matter. He’s just here to replace his toothbrush…

He turns the corner in the aisle, and sees a familiar girl for ashe blonde hair looking through the shampoo. He stops for a moment, then keeps walking carefully closer towards the rows of toothbrushes.

She looks up as he takes the boxes off the shelf, and the two make eye contact as she quickly takes a step away. “Katsuki… congrats on the Sports Festival.”

He nods, his teeth slowly sinking into his gums before he decides what to say. It would probably sound fake if he just started apologizing out of nowhere… “Sure… you okay? Like, is anyone else…”

The girl huffs for a moment, unsure of his intentions. But he stares at her, maintaining a passive face until she uncomfortably rolls her shoulders before responding. “No… I mean, yes I’m fine. And no, no one’s bothering me… and a bunch of us started… well… we sort of started spreading the rumor that you’re protecting us and stalking your old cronies.”

Katsuki takes a second to think over that declaration… and smiles, chortling to himself. “Okay then… real fucking ballsy of you, but that’s just great.”

She nods, and grabs a bottle off the shelf. “It’s what we have to do to survive. Wasn’t sure if you’d find that so funny… but cool. Now I don’t have to replace my phone as often… I still need to replace some of my books, but it’s not like they’re rare.”

She starts walking up to the front, and Katsuki quickly grabs a pair of new toothbrushes before walking up after her. He stills a bit at the end of the aisle, still trying to decide if he should say anything. He almost makes up his mind as he starts walking after her, following her to the front of the store as she breezes past the magazines, grabbing a bunch before putting them on the counter.

The cashier looks over the magazines as he scans them, and Katsuki can see that moment of hesitation as he checks the cover page. “You reading up on that new Humarise group? They seem pretty dangerous…”

She shrugs, grabbing a box of pocky that was by the register and sliding it up to. “Some of them talk big. But hey, some countries actually care about the rights of Quirkless people. As long as they don’t do something terrible, they might actually be a force for good in the world.”

The cashier rolls his eyes, and Katsuki looks at the rack of magazines. The ones she’d grabbed were a few gossip and current events, each with similar photos of some guy with blue skin in a red sort of robe. “Yeah, whatever. Their whole idea that the world will end is crap; Quirks have been around for how many generations now, and nothing bad has happened yet.”

Katsuki grabs the thickest one off the shelf, and can’t help a bit of a grin hit his face as she bites back instantly. “Yeah, but that was before Quirks could literally level buildings. All Might’s one of the strongest heroes in history, and there are kids in my school who’s Quirks have the weirdest activation requirements or extremely specific mutations. Or Endeavor’s kid from the sports festival: how many people in history have had multiple quirks like that? It’s literally just the Quirk Singularity theory taken to an extreme conclusion.”

The cashier thinks it over while displaying the amount due, which she produces and sets on the counter as he slides everything into bags. “Don’t you have a debate tournament coming up? I pity the poor kids you have to sit across from, Nesshin.”

Nesshin smiles as she takes the bag, sliding the pocky out and sliding it into a cigarette pocket of her gray shirt under her uniform jacket. She heads for the door, turning on her heel to flash Katsuki a salute before leaving, her bright red shoes helping keep her balance as she quickly turns back and forth.

Katsuki walks up to the cashier, who looks from the door to him before smiling a bit. “Congrats on the Sports Festival, little man. You want some pocky on the house?”

Katsuki feels heat creep onto his face, and he just grabs a box and sets it on top of everything else. He stares at the picture of the man on the magazine’s cover, the weirdly focused gaze almost seeming to judge him for his cowardice.

---

Yuga slides the red book with golden filigree back into his suitcase as the car pulls to a stop, quietly stepping out. He grabs his suitcases and slides them out, walking to the front window as his mom rolls it down.

She was a beautiful woman, more so in spite of the jagged scar that ran under her jaw from her chin to her throat. She quickly makes a few fast hand gestures, then reaches her arm out of the window.

Yuga nods, letting a few tears form in his eyes before returning the hug through the window. “I know, Mother. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure not to be too dazzling for them.”

She smiles, and indicates for the driver to return to the house. Yuga watches them leave, then makes his way up the path through U.A.’s security gates and towards where the email said the dorms were.

‘Aoyama Yuga’. The door announces his arrival, and he immediately clues in on what looks like a game of cards among the other dancers present in the middle of the spacious common room. Then there was a cohort of boys around the television off to the side, with Koda using a phone to interface while Tokoyami and Hitoshi both looked over his shoulder.

Mina looks over, and waves as Ochako very subtly sneaks a peak at the girl’s cards. “Yuga-san! We just started a new hand of Mahjong if you want to join, or you can grab some of the food Present Mic made. Or you can join the others setting up the streaming services to use.”

Yuga tilts his head, then walks in. “You’re using cards as a replacement? Does no one have an actual tile set?”

Ochako quickly leans back, shrugging while Hanta laughs at the attempt at cheating. “I only really have the card version of the deck. Real tile sets are kind of expensive, and I never really found one that really matches my budget, you know?”

Yuga nods, then looks towards the kitchen. He spots Aizawa drinking out of a bottle of water, and quickly walks over while leaving his suitcase near the door. “Sir, did those boxes of additional items arrive already? I had some things shipped here in preparation.”

Aizawa nods, and pulls out his phone. “Yes, some of you sent some things here in advance. We moved them up to the fifth floor, and I can make sure you get your boxes.”

Yuga turns back to the group at the table, who were still watching him. “I did actually send a mahjong set ahead. If you would prefer…”

Everyone looks at Ochako, who shrugs and pulls out a beaten up deck box for the cards. “Sure. I’ve always wanted to play with a real set, anyways. You want help carrying your boxes down to your room?”

Yuga nods, and Ochako leaves the box for Mina to collect while Eijiro and Hanta begin checking their phones as she walks over. He quickly goes over to get his suitcase, then follows the teacher to the elevator leading up.

They go up to the fifth floor, and Aizawa leads them down the hallway. There was one room with a number keypad and a card reader, which he blocks as he inserts the code and opens it to a room full of shipping boxes, the entire back half filled with cardboard that had maybe two addresses on them.

And in the corner was a pile Yuga recognized because of the slashes of silver highlighter, being very manageable for just him to carry. But Ochako quickly walks over, and taps each in the pile before slowly guiding them out of the room.

He leaves his suitcase at the door, and helps guide the weightless boxes back towards the elevator. Ochako carefully gets the boxes set down, then leans in as she releases her Quirk. “Um, I don’t know if you and Tenya talk a lot… but have you heard from him today?”

Yuga shakes his head, pulling his phone and checking it. “I believe Momo was planning to meet him, but I don’t exactly know how that’s gone. I was a bit busy with a bit of reading.”

Ochako gives him a look, but she doesn’t ask as Aizawa walks in. He has Yuga’s suitcases… and the one with the book was tightly closed, which he definitely hadn’t done.

He catches Aizawa looking at him over his shoulder, and he just nods and smiles. He had absolutely nothing to hide; if Aizawa-sensei wished to discuss things, he’d be happy to explain the simpler parts of Humarise’s ideals.

They weren’t criminals; they just wanted to work towards humanity’s salvation.

---

Inko smiles as the young couple exits the tea parlor, the man holding the door open for her without a hint of recognition but a polite smile on his face. She walks past him just as Nedzu gets out of the car, and the flash of fear across his face is almost funny.

The place was darkly lit, but spacious and highly private looking. There was a public section that was rather like a coffee shop, but a very obvious side door that led to more private seats.

There was a man at the front, who had a finely trimmed black mustache. He lacked his right hand, but his sleeve betrayed a metallic port upon which a prosthetic could be placed. “Ah, Yuuei’s meeting? We already escorted the other Madam back to your room. Follow me.”

Inko smiles, adjusting the suit jacket over her red blouse. Nedzu walks up behind her, and the two are guided to a traditionally japanese tea room with what resembled paper panels that would keep any sound from escaping. There were a few lights on in other rooms, but all the ones near their reserved spot were off, and probably empty.

The man slides a door-panel open, and Inko walks inside with a careful neutral face. She makes eye contact with the white haired woman inside, who was in a comfortable looking blue sweater. The table was set with several small bowls of tea leaves and powders, and in the middle was a large metal tea kettle that had a thin wisp of steam curling up from it. And three tea cups, one of which she was running her finger around the rim of.

Rei Todoroki smiles as they enter, focusing on Nedzu as he moves to be visible. She waits until the door is closed before speaking, her voice having the faintest bit of hoarseness to it. “Nedzu-dono, it has been some time since I saw you. I believe the time has been kinder to you than me.”

Nedzu jumps up onto the stool provided for him, using a small cane shaped object to drag over a specific bowl to him. “I wouldn’t think things were positive for either of us, Rei-dono. The world is quickly becoming a more complicated place than it was twenty years ago… it’s much harder to know who I can truly trust. It would be very easy to fall into my old paranoid ways if not for some new faces…”

Nedzu looks over to her, and Inko smiles and slowly extends her hand. “Midoriya Inko. You might recognize me because…”

Rei nods, and quickly takes her hand. It was incredibly cold to the touch, but quickly warms in her grip. “Yes. My son Natsuo walked me through everything. I couldn’t help but admire your work; if only they taught things like that back when I was in school.”

Inko tilts her head, and quickly takes the kettle off a tiny burner to pour for herself and Nedzu. She sets it down, and pulls a bowl with a fine green powder to her hand with her Quirk before adding a small amount to her cup.

“Rei attended Seiai Academy’s Business Course before marrying Enji Todoroki. We had a number of conversations for a few years after her wedding, around the time her daughter was born, about her consulting for the school. Of course, nothing was able to come of those conversations… until possibly now.”

Rei smiles, but shakes her head. “I appreciate the renewal of the offer. But as of this moment… I still have some things I need to relearn and figure out about myself. Besides which, I thought you already had a business consultant?”

Inko looks between the two, and quickly suppressed the weak tide of fear that tries to well up. “Well, we really met because of how my son’s attending Yuuei His Quirk is quite harmful to his body, but we talked so often that eventually other avenues of discussion opened up, and things lead us here. In some ways, the position is to help me be there if something happens to him.”

Rei nods, and scoots in as she takes a sip from her cup. “Interesting… well, besides the fact that I just want to touch bases with you, Nedzu, and enjoy an evening out on my own, I did want to discuss my son.”

The kettle starts whistling, and Rei stops and stares at it for several seconds. Inko watches until she notices a tremor going down her arm, then slowly takes the kettle off the heat to refill their cups.

She looks to Nedzu, who minutely shakes his head before turning to the woman. “Of course. As principal, it is my duty to care for all the students… and truth be told, I have to keep my eyes on these first years for any number of reasons. What’s one more excuse for vigilance?”

Rei nods, seemingly lost in thought for a few more moments. Then her head flicks up, her eyes turning to the wall behind her. Inko looks, but can’t force herself to notice anything out of the ordinary...

“Well, that is one reason I like having discussions here.” A large shadow darts away from the wall, allowing a bit of light to hit the panels from the other side. But Nedzu continues, allowing Inko a moment of shock. “If someone is spying on you, they’re bound to at least reveal themselves sometime. But who would be interested in spying on us now… yet another thing for me to take care of.”

Chapter Text

The night sky screams past a figure in tight black, including a stereotypical balaclava, keeping every part of their body hidden as they retreat from the tea shop… except for their large red wings, carrying them up high into the night sky.

They land on the rooftop of a skyscraper, blinking their eyes as they pull the mask off. They shake their blond hair out, and pull out an amber visor that they put on before pulling out a cellphone.

Keigo dials on the phone, looking around. The night might present an issue to some, but his eyes made the darkness a useful stealth aid as he pulls his wings in.

“What were they talking about?”

“Nothing related to the case, Miko-chan. It was really just a personal visit… but maybe there’s something worth using. The Midoriya woman said something about her position having to do with watching her kid.”

There’s a moment, and Keigo’s phone just barely picks up the fast clatter of fingers on a keyboard. “Really? The Japanese Quirk Registry doesn’t… hang on. No, her son is on here… though the information shows it was updated right after the Yuuei Entrance Exam.”

Keigo’s eyebrow goes up, and he turns to look back towards the parlor. “I mean, people update their registry entry every few years. It’s the job you give people who get too suspicious of the rest of the agency, about how people can lift a whole extra ten grams with their telekinesis.”

“Sure, but he wasn’t in the registry before. He was registered as Quirkless.” Miko’s voice cuts into him harder than blizzard winds, forcing Keigo to take that information and begin working it over.

Now, he was used to people calling him lazy. But here, for the first time in a while, was the kind of problem that might be interesting to work on. “Really? Sounds weird… almost worth me trying to ask the kiddo in person. We have their address on that file, right?”

Miko sighs, though her Quirk has no effect through the phone. “We cannot afford to have such drastic and visible actions, Hawks. If we’re to keep an eye on the problem, our interrogation cannot be so obvious…”

Keigo rolls his eyes… then smiles, and begins flexing his wings to get ready to fly again. “Wasn’t there a kid in 1-A with a Bird Quirk? Sounds like a perfectly innocent excuse to take an interest in one of the students.”

Miko goes for a laugh, but the sound was dry and completely hollow. “If you feel that course of action is best, I shall see to getting it approved. You have my approval to begin getting the paperwork in order, though don’t submit it quite yet for Yuuei’s Internships.”

Keigo clicks the phone off, and takes a running jump off the roof. The wind catches him, quickly guiding him up and away from any cameras that Nedzu could use to track his movements. The entire time, a lazy smile rests on his face, though his eyes retain a hard glint as they scan the streets below.

---

Ochako: 4 Missed Calls

Yaoyorozu: 7 Missed Calls

Kirishima: 2 Missed Calls

You have 32 Unread Messages

Tenya sees that people are trying to get in contact with him, but he ignores them. He sighs, no one in the hospital room to hear him but his brother, who still hadn’t woken up since the attack yesterday. It had been nearly twenty eight hours, and he was hoping the nurses wouldn’t try to make him go leave, and have to make his way through crowds of reporters trying to get an interview.

His parents had gone out, giving statements to try and appease the reporters, and he’d seen stories about it in his notifications all day. But he’d stayed inside the hospital room the whole time, wanting to make sure Tensei wasn’t alone when he woke up… because he was going to wake up…

So with nothing to do except let the television quietly play in the background or research. And find out who had done this... and there wasn’t much. He makes his way through forums, both official and fan-generated, and there isn’t a lot he can find that might be useful to the incident that can explain what this Hero Killer Stain did…

There’s a quiet knock at the door, and slides part way open. Inside steps a lithe brunette man, wrapped in an Ingenium jacket that was two sizes too big and a pair of blue jeans with some kind of leather padding in the knees. He flips the hood down, revealing something between a bowl cut and spiky black hair as he immediately checks on Tensei.

Haimawari closes the door, then looks over at Tenya with a sad sort of smile. “Hey… you okay? You look like you’ve been up for a while.”

Tenya shakes his head, sliding his phone into his pocket. “I’m fine… I just don’t want him to wake up alone. They’re still contacting specialists to come in and examine him… but he still hasn’t woken up yet.”

Haimawari nods, and Tenya can’t help the tears that start forming in his eyes. The man walks over, and sits in the seat next to him while carefully placing a hand on his shoulder. “He’s going to be okay. He’s been hurt before… I’ve seen him make it through this before.”

The two quietly sit there for a moment, and Tenya glares through the tears at the ground. His teeth grind, and his nails begin digging into his palms as he sits there, imagining all the things he wanted to do to the Hero Killer Stain…

The pulsometer, who’s droning tone had practically drilled it’s timing into Tenya’s head, suddenly picks up. The two both look up, and rush over as Tensei starts slowly shifting his arms. “Whe…”

Tenya quickly throws his arms over Tensei, letting Haimawari hit the nurse call button. “Tensei! You’re finally awake…”

Tensei doesn’t move too much, but does raise a hand to pat Tenya’s shoulder. “You’re… I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I… wait… did they get her when they brought me?”

Tenya steps back, tilting his head. Haimawari steps in, taking Tensei’s hand with a sense of familiarity. “Tensei, you were the only person there. Who… wait… oh, shit.”

Tenya turns, hand flying up to correct the language. But the two cut him off, Tensei confirming as Haimawari continues speaking. “The witness.”

---

Toga sulks through the alleyways, pulling her sweater close around her. She looks to the roof, hoping Stain would have changed his mind… but she couldn’t detect him at all.

“He’s abandoned you… they always abandon you.”

She covers her ears, picking up her pace. Almost like she could outrun the voices, or the image of him disappearing the instant she got out of that weird blue ball… but her mind was faster than her feet.

“You chased him away, just like you always do! Even the monsters are afraid of you!”

She shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes. She almost responds… but suddenly stops, and tilts her nose up. She sharply inhales, the heavy smell of rotting food parting to reveal a familiar, delicious smell of warm copper… from a few different sources.

Toga follows the scent closer to the street level of the allies… and stops at the scene in front of her. A man with lizard-like green skin with his back to the deeper alleyways, ready to retreat if the guys harassing him try to press any further. He had long magenta hair, messily tied back with some leather cord, and it actually looked really pretty contrasted with the red and white of his hoodie.

The ugly guys blocking him in had a few scratches along their face, but even the blood inching down their faces didn’t help them look good. They were all overweight or bald or had really bland office worker type clothes, and the only one that didn’t have any scratches had this weird metallic glint in the low light.

“You know, we lost a lot of money on you. You went and lost to some brat who barely qualifies as a Mutation Quirk?”

The lizard guy shrugs, and brings his hands up. He flexes his fingers, and some beautiful sharp claws actually catch the light as he takes a stance. “Hey, in case you didn’t notice, I never got paid either. I’m not the one you should be hassling for cash.”

The guy with metallic skin steps forward, shrugging his brown suit jacket off to reveal a black button up shirt. “Yeah, but we found you first. So our hands are tied, you see?”

Toga looks around the alley, seeing it was actually pretty open. And where cameras might typically be, there were just empty mounts where they should be.

But before she looks any further, the smell of blood hits her nose again. And her math changes, quickly becoming about how to reach the closest open wound. Her stomach starts to growl, empty of the pastries that Hero had gotten her… yesterday? The day before?

The metal guy charges, throwing an awful punch. Lizard guy just turns, using his tail to knock the guy to the ground as the two pass. He stops facing the three in front of him, but stays ready to defend from the back.

But as that knocked over guy gets up, Toga notices the metallic glint is gone. All that’s left is the pale complexion of a guy who stays inside, watching numbers on a screen…

Toga makes her move, streaking forward through the darkness. The guy pushes himself up to his feet, but he’s completely defenseless against the pocket knife that carves across his face. It slices down his cheek, and even throws some blood across the pavement.

The other three had been about to charge, but stopped as the guy next to Toga screams in pain. He stumbles back, and Toga sees the others looking towards him. And she really can’t afford to let these types of people see… but that means waiting on the blood that’s sliding down the knife…

She takes a deep breath, and does her best to clear her mind. And the guy she just cut looks around, his eyes passing over the patch of shadow she was standing in. She quickly checks the others are similarly ignoring her… and stops at the lizard guy, staring right at her.

The guy scrambles back, clutching his face and moving closer to the wall. He pulls his hand back, seeing and probably feeling that blood washing his face in it’s lovely dark red color, and runs back towards his friends.

The four disappear, the lizard guy watching them leave. And Toga quickly licks up the blood from the knife, stepping back into the shadows and smiling at the taste hitting her tongue.

- - -

Iguchi waits for the guys to leave, then turns towards where that feral looking girl was. He considered leaving too… but she looked barely older than Wukong, and had been really dirty looking. Like she was homeless, and the way her sweater almost billowed around her, she probably hadn’t eaten in a while.

He slowly inched his way forward, reaching into the pocket of his jacket for his phone. He takes his flip phone out, but doesn’t dial anything yet.

Just before he gets to the corner… the guy with the Quirk that made his skin metallic walks out from around the corner, adjusting his jacket. But his face didn’t have the cut, and his eyes had a sort of predatory gleam to them. “Hi… your scales look so pretty in the moonlight!”

The man draws closer, but Iguchi notices the glint of a pocketknife in the guy’s sleeve. “Thanks for the assist, but you’re not going to have any luck with that dinky thing against my scales. I’ll let you go, no questions asked, but I can and will take you down if you try coming at me like that.”

The man stops, then shrugs the knife away. And Iguchi takes a second, noticing the way he was sticking to the shadow… like the girl had been a minute ago. “Fine. But I wouldn’t have hurt you, unlike those guys. Besides, the blood would have clashed with your hair.”

Iguchi takes a moment, both working through the confusion that sentence creates and how to refer to the person in front of him. “So… you just cut his face, and you look like him. Some kind of copy Quirk?”

They nod, and walk over to a broken up mirror that someone had tossed at the dumpster. They pick up a piece, and look at their reflection. “He really isn’t all that good looking, and his blood was kind of yucky. But I guess it’s better than walking around looking like me.”

Iguchi tilts his head, then runs a hand up into his hair. “So, is anyone waiting for you? Anyone who I should call.”

They stop, a faint tremble running up their back. “I… no. And the place I was storing my stuff just tossed it all out, so I don’t really have anything but these clothes on my back. And my knife… but this isn’t really my favorite one. But I guess I can try and go find new stuff later.”

Iguchi keeps his face neutral, but he can’t really tell if they’re intentionally messing with his emotions. Because they’re hitting all the right points, and don’t seem to be trying to lie or exaggerate. He kind of felt bad for them, and he was getting paid later this week… so… “I don’t know if you’re staying somewhere, but if you want to wash up, I wouldn’t mind letting you use my place.”

The guy turns, and he recognizes that same careful evaluation in those animalistic eyes. “Really? I mean… why?”

Iguchi thinks over his words, not even sure himself. “I don’t know… but I know what it’s like to be in a bad spot. Between jobs, between meals… Life sucks sometimes, and the only thing that helps is someone offering you a hand. So if you can stand the smell of raw meat…”

The man’s face turns, and starts… melting, dissolving into a sort of amorphous sludge. It fell off the girl with the sound of rotten food thudding against a window, revealing her greasy blond hair wasn’t getting any favors from her Quirk. “If it isn’t rotten, I’ll eat anything. But any meat with a bit of blood in it tastes great!”

Iguchi nods, and flips open his phone. He types his way into the Contacts, and begins slowly walking out of the alley. He flips his hoodie up, but can easily hear the girl running up behind him as he heads away from the diner he’d been at for the night.

“Iguchi-chan, how are you? You’d better not have gotten in any more trouble, young man.”

Iguchi huffs, the old woman’s voice chastising him without any real harshness. “I’m minding my manners, Sobo-dono. But I was wondering if you could help me find some stuff for someone I just met.”

The woman sighs, and the phone catches the sound of her moving around. “You and your charity cases… Do they have any sort of wardrobe requirements I should think about? Extra arms or spines, a tail?”

Iguchi looks back to the girl, and turns to her. “Nothing like that, but let me ask.” The girl looks up at him, and he holds up the phone. “I have a friend who works at a clothing store, and I help her shelve her stuff in exchange for some stuff here and there? What’s your size?”

The girl takes a moment, then shrugs. “Anything size Large or smaller, and I don’t like dark colors. Something pink would be nice… or red.”

Iguchi brings the phone back to his ear, and he faintly hears some muttering sounds as Sobo walks through her store. “Just bring her by before we close tonight… actually, I need to do another round of cleaning. But don’t be more than an hour late, understood?”

“Yes Sobo-dono. Thank you.” Iguchi hangs up the phone, and looks at the girl. “We can walk and be there in thirty minutes… what’s your name?”

She looks at him for a hard second, then holds out a hand to shake. “Himiko Toga.”

He shakes it, ignoring the feeling of mud getting under his scales. “Shuiche Iguchi. Now, let’s get you something comfortable.”

He turns, and the two make their way down the street…

---

Hana jumps down to another camera, watching the girl who stabbed her clone walk off with the underground cage fighting lizard… then takes a moment to appreciate the absurdity of that sentence. She opens up a private notepad app, and adds that thought to her list. And looking at the rest causes her to snicker softly in the corner of the bar.

Shin-Hye looks up at her, typing on a phone Hana had set up for her. “That is either disastrous or fortuitous. Care to elaborate?”

Hana shakes her head, sliding the phone away. “It’s nothing… the sun just broke through the storm clouds, nothing more.”

Shin-Hye gives a half smile, then stands up herself. “Very well… and what about that?”

She points to a cup of black tar-like liquid, which Hana takes a deep breath in at remembering. “Oh, just hoping Chaos Theory will cause it to spontaneously combust or transmute into something appetizing. Typical nerd stuff.”

Shin-Hye nods, reaching forward and flicking the glass. The glass shakes, but the liquid actually stays motionless, not even a ripple across its surface. “Very well. Has he told you to look over the footage of the other Sports Festival? Or any other research I should try not to think about?”

Hana shrugs, tapping on the rim of the glass in an a-rhythmic fashion. “Even if he did, I couldn’t say anything to you. But I’m just going to binge all of that tomorrow. I have something more fun to do; tax fraud and short trading.”

Shin-Hye watches the hand tap, mouthing letters to herself. Hana stops, and then she responds. “Short trading… correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s betting on other stocks failing to make your profit?”

Hana nods, resuming her tapping. “Yeap. And you going around to all those corporate offices and news stations was so I could slip a few bugs into their servers. I have ears in all the right places, giving me perfect information to begin sowing my chaos.”

ShinHye nods, and Hana stops tapping after a few moments. “You know, that’s why I find you scarier than your brother. As a villain, anyways; he is much more physically threatening, no offence.”

Hana nods, shooting a look at the staircase. They were the only ones in the bar, except Kurogiri. All the guys were upstairs, the only noise being the occasional scraping of wood from Jin’s room. Those occasionally repeating noises conjure images in Hana’s mind she would rather go without, but she’s seen worse when blackmailing people that she doesn’t require brain bleach… yet. “Hey, everyone’s looking for him for one attack. Meanwhile, I can count on one hand the people who are looking for me for a few hundred different cyber heists. Most villains are caught after one crime, maybe three if they’re particularly smart and evasive. But criminals tend to get away with a lot more, as long as we’re careful not to do it right in front of a hero.”

Shin-Hye nods, and just looks at the liquid for a moment. “Well, I need to wash up. I haven’t showered in a few days, and I do not like what the wind does to my hair. See you in the morning.”

Hana watches her go off, looking around at the empty bar. She looks at Kurogiri, who was just blankly looking at the glass on the table while polishing a glass.

Knowing what has to happen, she takes a deep breath as she picks up the cup. It was actually very heavy, and she plugs her nose with her other hand before letting the vile ichor slide into her mouth.

While she wasn’t getting a lot of flavor thanks to plugging her nose, it was still like drinking a milkshake where the milk was motor oil and the ice cream was puréed Carolina Reaper. It was disturbingly hot and cold, coating her mouth in what felt like mud with xanthan gum mixed in. And it made every inch of her mouth hurt.

She quickly drains the glass, and just focuses on getting all of it down her throat and out of her mouth. She looks over at Kurogiri, who simply turns now that his assigned task has been completed. She just shakes her head, and goes back to typing late into the night.

Chapter Text

Izuku, exhausted on a lot of fronts both physical and social, heads up to bed almost earlier than everyone else. And almost the instant his head hits the pillow, he fades out of consciousness…

He looks around the ethereal halls of Alderia, knowing he was going to have another weird night… until he gets a weird idea.

He ignores the classroom doors, and goes towards what should be the entrance to the building, following twisting and turning pathways that slowly get less and less familiar. He recognized the type of locker, and the hallway tiles stayed the same, but the mist was growing thicker, and there were less and less doors as he made for what should be an exit. Because he had the weirdest of questions to answer; What happens if he tries to leave?

Izuku finally reaches the front door, next to the principal's office… and just looks at the wrought iron gate blocking both off. The window had crisscrossing bars of metal over the front door, and the principal’s office door was padlocked and crossed over with chains.

He moves over, and begins trying to pull the chain off. There was barely any slack on it, but there was enough to turn the lock to reveal an eight digit number code was needed…

“What the… Izuku.” He turns, and sees Aizawa, looking around in an exhausted stupor. He was on the ground, in frumpy black workout clothes with his hair knotted and tangled. “Is this what you’ve been doing with Hitoshi and Denki?”

Izuku nods, and looks down at the ground. “Not this specifically, but yes to this place. I think… well, Denki never came here. But Hitoshi and I went walking through here before, and most of the doors had memories in them. But this weird block here… this is different.”

Aizawa steps up behind him, and tips the lock to where he can see it. He takes a few seconds, clearly taking a moment to wake up and think critically. “Okay then… Where did my life go that I ended up in this situation?”

Izuku turns to him, and shrugs. “Hey, there are worse lives to live than a teacher at one of the best Hero Schools in Japan… I can think of at least three in this class.”

Aizawa blinks at the completely dry delivery of that line, then shakes his head before focusing on the lock. “When most people do an eight digit combination, it’s typically an important date in their lives. But what order the month, day, and year, are in can be shifted around… what are some of your most important days in your life? You’re young, so there shouldn’t be too many.”

Izuku nods, and spins in the combination. He gets the dials in place, but only one of them seems to stick. “The fifth one is right… and it's two. So that’s the year 2000 or later, if that’s correct.”

Aizawa looks at the lock, but doesn’t try to take it from Izuku. “Well… if it isn’t this century, then the sixth is probably zero. And if June is wrong, it has to be October, November, or December for the month if the zero there is wrong…”

Aizawa stops, and turns around. He looks up at the lights in the hallway, which start to flicker and choke as the fog slowly reaches up towards them. And the fog seems to grow thicker, adopting a darker color closer to smoke.

Izuku, not seeming to notice, thinks about how to adjust the combination. “Okay, so June fifteenth of twenty-one forty-eight is wrong, but it gives me one number directly and implies another two. But the other five… Well, two of them I have a one in three chance of getting it in one shot. But I don’t think there’s any time limit, so I can kind of try a few things to eliminate more choices. Let’s go with…”

Izuku spins the dials, Aizawa nervously watching the smoke grow closer…

“December 21th, 2054, when my great grandmother’s quirk first activated… well, the one from December matched, and the zero and four from the year are right now. But nothing else matched, though I’m getting a lot of information. Now I just need the decade, one of two months, and the date is pretty narrowed down…”

“Izuku…” Aizawa tries to cut into his muttering, but then the smoke rolls in and chokes him off.

Izuku turns, only for the smoke to fill his nostrils and cause everything to shift and blur…

They wave the smoke off, and Aizawa sees the scene is different. It was like a hospital in a horror movie, with dark flickering lights and stains on the walls that were a shade of brown like drying blood. It was like a horror movie Izuku had seen playing late one night when Mom was busy at work, with people trapped in deadly traps that did horrible things to their bodies.

Just down the hall is an open doorway, through which a bit of light was illuminating cracked and heavily stained plaster. And a voice echoes out into the hallway, carrying a tone of sadistic glee. “Subject D-44 has extensive spinal nerve damage, lower limb paralysis, and has failed to pass any compliance tests.”

Izuku tilts his head, the voice sounds familiar. And the second voice sounds familiar to Aizawa, causing him to go stock still at the memories it calls up. “You… won’t get away with… my friends will come…”

The first voice laughs, and Izuku makes his way towards the door. “You’ve already been pronounced dead, D-44. Your friends aren’t coming; they’re too busy mourning you.”

Izuku looks through the doorway, seeing an observation room looking at an operating theatre. And through the window was a guy strapped down to a hospital bed in the middle of it, surrounded by people who’s shapes were faded and impossible to distinguish. But the person tied down was highly visible… as was the doctor with their finger on the intercom button…

“No… you can’t…”

The old man turns to him, his large green tinted goggles with gear shapes around the lenses latching onto him. He doesn’t react for a moment… then smiles, his bushy mustache contorting like a caterpillar.

Aizawa walks in behind Izuku, but the doctor speaks before he looks back. “You… I suppose this is just a parade of my experiments, tonight. My grandson should be along any moment now… you two are rather similar, with the glaring biological flaw in your programming forgiven.”

Aizawa walks over to the window, completely ignoring the doctor. It’s like everything else is gone, completely focusing on the image through the glass. “I… Oboro, no…”

The guy on the bed, a tanned kid with wispy white hair that was heavily stained red, occasionally twitches while trying to move. But his limbs were cuffed, though his crushed and mangled legs made the cuffs on there completely unnecessary. “Stop… the heroes… they’ll…”

The doctor huffs, clearly bored with the whole scene. He reaches forward, hitting the intercom button. “Begin the marrow extraction already. And gag him; the screams are only enjoyable for so long, and using anesthetic would delay later steps of the procedure…”

The people around the guy begin to move, producing tools that Izuku couldn’t bear looking at. He turns back to the doctor… except something starts to happen.

It was like several images of the doctor began imposing themselves over him, like looking through a toy kaleidoscope. But the images were all slightly different, with different style lab coats or surgical gear. The only common thing… was massive streaks of blood…

Izuku isn’t sure what happens, or why, but the door to the room suddenly goes flying towards the doctor. If he was right, it looked like something long, thin, and black was holding it…

Izuku wakes up on his side, looking at the floor of his bedroom over the edge of his bed…

He slowly sits up, the image of his doctor running through his head. It takes a few moments of thinking it through… but pieces don’t move perfectly into place. He was just confused… unsure of how to process everything…

---

Shouta tries to sit straight up, his head thudding into the underside of the security desk. He immediately recoils back to the ground, and pushes out of his sleeping bag with the intense urge to be sick. Arashi, who had been comfortably resting a few feet away, startles up and quickly moves to the corner.

He stumbles out of the security office, making for the commons bathroom. He gets over the sink, the images he’d seen and many more his mind was forcing him through playing out over and over…

He tries to control his breathing, knowing all the breathing exercises that are supposed to help. But the images… they override all that information, replacing the therapists’ words with Oboro, body broken amongst piles of rubble… and now…

The lights, which had stayed off, tune up to the minimum setting. Shouta looks up in the mirror, seeing Eijiro slowly poking his head into the room. “Sir… are you…”

Shouta turns on him, getting ready to tell him off for being up… was it past midnight? What time was it? But Eijiro quickly disappears behind the corner, uncharacteristically skittish and unsure of himself. “Kirishima, what are you doing up?”

His hair comes around the corner first, and it takes a few seconds before his eyes make it around the corner. “I… well, I woke up earlier than usual, but it was already mostly morning, so I decided to get up and just get washed up…”

Shouta stops, and pulls out his phone. And sighs when he sees that it’s just a bit after five thirty, meaning some godless heathens would be waking up… and then he looks over towards the shower area, where a black and red bag had a wad of clothes on it…

Eijiro looks back around the corner, and Shouta sees a comically large towel hiding his body, except for the hem of some workout shorts. “So… um, I’m just gonna get my things…”

Shouta nods, and walks towards the door when Eijiro gets a few steps away. “Sorry… if I startled you. It’s… takes me a while to get comfortable sleeping somewhere new.”

It was a blatant lie, and Nemuri or Hizashi would see through it in a microsecond. But Eijiro nods, and seems to want to say something. But Shouta steps out when his back is turned, and quickly goes up the stairs to Izuku’s room.

He quickly goes up to the door… and stops at the sound of something heavy turning over in the room. And he instantly throws open the door, that being more than excuse enough to excuse…

Izuku is standing next to his dresser, pulling back from a punch into the side of it. A few pieces fall to the ground, and Shouta can see blood on his knuckles. “Izuku?”

He looks over, tears trying to form in his eyes. “I… did I have a Quirk, and it was taken from me? Or were they just looking for a testing dummy no one would miss?”

Shouta blinks, and walks forward. He pulls out a little piece of cloth from his belt, and carefully takes Izuku’s hand and wraps it. “I… God, I am not ready for this conversation. But… if you need to vent, I think I have somewhere better to do it.”

—

“Fine, I’m Ready!” Katsuki finishes stuffing the third duffel bag full, and walks out into the hallway.

“Not until you help us pack the car, you brat! We need everything gone before the week is out, and you still live here until we drop you off at Yuuei! Now get in here and help carry Masaru’s things out!”

Katsuki growls, then drops his bag near the door. He stomps back into the kitchen… and stops and stares at the kitchen island.

Having mostly cleaned up from breakfast, there was now a two tier cake box sitting on it, clearly wrapped in a black and orange ribbon. As well as a translucent box with little orange looking rolls, which literally made Katsuki’s mouth water.

Mitsuki crosses her arms, and his dad meekly smiles at him from a few feet behind her. “Well? Let’s get these carried out to the car so you can share them with your class already! I thought you were in a hurry to leave?”

Katsuki stops… and just walks up to it before quietly muttering. “Thanks, you old hag.”

Mitsuki lets that comment go, though she physically strains not to snap back at her child. Masaru just shrugs when she wheels on him, and smiles when the two turn away.

Katsuki carefully sets the items in the trunk of the car, moving them to the side as Mitsuki hauls his bags and sets them back there as well. “Now be nice to Izuku and the others, and I mean it. If I hear you’re causing problems, there isn’t a security system on this planet that will keep me from dragging you back home and grounding you.”

“I know… believe me, I’m aware of what’ll happen. Though you won’t be going through security to get to me.”

Mitsuki stops, noticing the sulking tone. “Excuse you? What, you’re going to run off before they can punish you like when you were a toddler?”

Katsuki looks up at his mom, and it doesn’t occur to him until now to talk about Nedzu’s treatment of him. “Wait… has Nedzu called you at all?”

Mitsuki takes a moment, then begins twitching as the meaning behind that probing question sinks in. “What should he have been calling me about, Katsuki? What exactly have you done?”

There’s a pause, then Katsuki begins chuckling almost hysterically. He sits on the edge of the trunk, his fists curling so tightly his nails threaten to draw blood. He draws back into himself, realizing he’d just set off a colossal landmine.

Mitsuki looks at her son, initially thinking he was laughing at her. But then he pulls himself in, folding up like she’d seen Izuku do a few times at big events. Like at their school events… or birthday parties… or… when wasn’t he drawn up like that when they were…

Katsuki watches that usual residual anger drain away, slowly leaving a terrifying neutral mask. Now, Mitsuki Bakugo screaming like an erupting volcano was normal, and more importantly, predictable. A quiet Mitsuki…

Masaru comes out of the apartment building, carefully hiding something behind his back. He walks towards the car… and sees his terrifyingly calm wife and nervously timid child.

Masaru, being a halfway clever man, attempts to quietly back away. But he’d already turned the corner to be visible, so they both turn towards him before he can hide from view. Knowing there was no escape, he quickly approaches them, smiling apprehensive at Mitsuki while his eyes flicker to Katsuki, wondering what could cause such a polar shift in the two.

Mitsuki gets her phone out, and quickly begins typing on the screen. She pauses for a second, then brings the phone to her ear. “Hey, Inko? Yeah, a little random… yeah, yeah I’ll tell him in a minute. I kind of need a little favor… yeah, I need to talk with Nedzu…”

Masaru raises his eyebrows, and looks at Katsuki. When he notices a distinct lack of surprise, he can’t help but mouth “What did you do?” to him.

Mitsuki nods, drawing her finger against her arm. “Cool, thanks… yeah, I need to talk to him about… oh, you know he’ll be free this morning? Wonderful! I owe you… well, depending on how this goes, I might owe you a lot, mostly apologies… wait, you knew?”

Masaru looks at his wife, then holds up the keys. She walks up to the passenger’s seat, leaving Katsuki to stand there paralyzed for a minute before he quietly moves to the back seat.

There’s nothing else for him to do but make a small sign of the cross, then close the trunk and get into the driver’s seat.

- - -

Nedzu nods, adding Tenya’s name to a currently small list. “Of course, I understand the need to keep your family together for a few days. Though, I was planning on having the students go on an Internship Break next week to get some experience at a list of selected Agencies…”

Iida-chan takes a moment, then nods from the video call screen. “I think we can still do that. But letting him go to the Dorms… I think it’s for the best that we push that back for a few days. You doing this at all is an incredible charity…”

Nedzu nods, eyes darting to a second computer monitor displaying a few of his chats. Specifically, the private one he had with Inko… he reads over it, and looks back to the older Iida woman. “Again, I understand. If he needs time out of classes, I can have the teachers put together an online outline for him to review, or a small package to send to your residence. Whatever is needed as he adjusts to this difficult period…”

She nods, and looks off to the side. “I don’t think that will be necessary, but thank you for the consideration. I suppose we both have other business, but thank you for taking my call. Please, be safe until we can talk under better circumstances.”

Nedzu nods, and lets her hang up while dialing Inko. “What do you mean, Mitsuki wants to talk to me?”

Inko loudly sips her drink on the other end, and almost purely out of spite Nedzu refills his tea cup with a herbal chai blend. “Oh, based on a little bit at the end, she figured out the things that Katsuki did to Izuku when they were in school before.”

Nedzu stops, the petty urge to loudly slurp up part of his drink temporarily forgotten. “Oh dear… all things said, I thought you might have a more visceral reaction.”

Inko chuckles, and the sound of her stirring something into her drink is faintly picked up. “Oh, that’s the thing no one really knows we have in common; when we get mad, we get quiet. Now with Mitsuki, it’s a lot more obvious when she’s really in a dangerous sort of mood, because she’s loud to start. And don’t think I’m not furious… but taking it out on Katsuki won’t do anything good. Scolding him is just treating the symptom of a greater disease, one which needs to be purged with active hostility. Which you’re helping me do; it’s very therapeutic to see the people who made my child suffer for years squirm like this.”

Nedzu nods, and quietly takes a sip from his cup. “Fair enough. I do want him to understand what he did was wrong, but I am aware I might have attempted to bend him too far. Attempting to move him too far at once… hopefully, this crash will at least be survivable.”

“Um-hm. We’ll talk after the meeting… I do have a school to run, after all.” Inko hangs up, and Nedzu runs through the list of requests for internships.

Not surprising that a lot of long-time heroes had been higher on the list, nor was it surprising that the particularly well performing students got more offers. Class B especially getting double digit offers on all counts was nice to see, even though three agencies offered to all of them.

But there were, surprisingly, a few offers from top ten heroes that seemed out of nowhere to send offers. A handwritten, crudely worded request from Miruko for Bakugo Katsuki, which was almost funny enough to approve on the spot before even consulting the boy. Then Best Jeanist asking for Hagakure by name, which seemed like a reasonable request and a privilege for the girl to consider.

But the last one… Keigo Takami asking for Tokoyami. Tokoyami had done well enough to deserve the spotlight, pushing through most of his tournament opponents using a weakness of his to finish in third. But Hawks… Nedzu double checked, and he’d never shown any interest in mentoring anyone. In fact, his attitude seemed to suggest a complete lack of care for his employees, let alone a student intern. Nedzu could smell something was off with the request, but it was difficult to determine where the smell was coming from…

The phone rings again, and he looks before answering quickly. “Shouta, you’re up early. Bad news?”

“Not today, rat.” His tone is deadly calm, and almost enough to make Nedzu stop and better access the threat. “Are those practice dummies available to use?”

“Of course. You might let the students know they can access the Gym equipment with their I.D. badges outside of curfew hours.”

Shouta hangs up without a word, and Nedzu looks at his phone before turning on the camera set up. He looks through the array, finding Aizawa as he leaves the security room earlier and following him to… Izuku’s room.

Nedzu sighs, and takes another sip of tea. “There has to be a way to control if he takes people into his head. This is one variable too many, but from a constant I need on the board. Troublesome… but not impossible. If my King cannot be trusted to control himself… perhaps his Queen could do the job for him?”

Chapter Text

Hitoshi quietly stands in the corner, his dark clothes helping him blend in as everyone goes rushing around him. Fumikage definitely saw him, but other than that, no one really seems to notice. Which was fine, given why they were rushing around…

“Hanta, can we get some more tape for the presents?” Mina calls over from around the television, where she was wrapping presents in orange and black paper with Eijiro and Mezou.

“Yeah, just give me a second.” Hanta walks out of the kitchen, where he’d been helping Aoyama and Rikido while they make… he wasn’t sure what they were making, but it smelled strongly of vanilla and something spicy.

“Was I supposed to get a gift? I didn’t really know what he’d like.” Ochako looks over to Jiro, who sighs as she shuffles through a bookstore bag.

“It’s fine, Ochako. I can give you some of the manga I got him.”

Hitoshi looks around, everyone bustling to prepare for when Katsuki gets here. And he was doing his very best not to lose his cool, which he’d say he’s doing very well with. It was a special occasion, and he didn’t want to be the one to spoil it; they all did well in the sports festival, it was Katsuki’s actual birthday today…

But still, celebrating the blond was not something he felt keen on doing. Especially with Aizawa and Izuku gone, with only the vaguest texts from them to try and sate his curiosity. He was used to being in on the Big Secret; getting suddenly cut out left a sour taste in his mouth.

Denki was furiously typing on his phone, writing down places that sold gift cards. “Oh, there’s this curry bar just a few blocks down the street. Reviews say some of their stuff sends people to the hospital from how spicy it is… would Katsuki think it’s a challenge, or actually a gift?”

Fumikage walks over, and checks over Denki’s shoulder. Dark Shadow forms behind him, staring at the people wrapping presents with clear intent and eagerness. “He mentioned them positively before, but he might see it as a glove tossed in his direction regardless of the actual facts.”

Denki nods, and looks up at the bird child with a grin. “Do you write poetry or something? Seriously, you use all sorts of weird phrases or terms in conversation…”

Fumikage’s feathers stand on edge, but Hitoshi has his attention drawn to the front door opening. He moves to see who it is, and gives a neutral nod as Shouto walks in. “Welcome to the Land of Chaos and Despair.”

Shouto looks around, and shrugs. “My mother told me I should grow accustomed to the chaotic impulses of people my age.”

Hitoshi just stares at him, and sighs as Arashi walks up to see the new person. She stops for a moment, then quickly walks over and begins weaving through Shouto’s legs. He stands stalk still, until she settles against the outside of his left leg and begins scratching her head against him.

Shouto watches her for a moment, then carefully sets his bags down. He goes to pick Arashi up, and she allows him to both get her up in his arms and adjust his grip to be cradling her in his arms. He begins rubbing behind her ears, and Hitoshi can hear a content pur as she relaxes in his grip.

“OH, hey Shou… that is so cute!” Mina, who’d abandoned the gift wrapping to come over, whips out her phone to take a picture. Arashi glares at the girl for being so loud, but as Shouto doesn’t stop petting her, allows the foolish humans to talk among themselves.

Shouto nods, and slowly begins walking towards one of the open chairs.

Hitoshi watches them go, and then looks over to Shouto’s bags. He shrugs, picking them up and heading to the elevator. He’s pretty sure the boy sees, but he doesn’t call out for him to stop as people greet him and start with all the questions.

He loads the bags into the elevator, and heads up to the third floor. There was technically a free room on the second floor, but Aizawa said he wanted the boys divided seven each on the two floors. So he goes up, and lifts the duffel bags up before taking them to one of the last rooms on the floor.

He just sets the bag on the bed, leaving the light off cause the hallway lights provide enough illumination. He turns around, but stops as Yuga’s room opens up.

“I understand if you’re a little hesitant to do anything immediately, but just consider reading the book if you ever have time to spare. It is an interesting read.”

Hitoshi raises an eyebrow, and the other goes up at Toru’s response. “Maybe… but I need to think about it. It doesn’t sound half bad, but also… kind of extreme, you know?”

“Of course, but it’s completely possible to be aware of the group’s practices without being a member. Besides, awareness of Quirkless and Incompatible struggles isn’t a crime, is it?”

Hitoshi listens to Toru walking back towards the elevator, and quietly stands and waits for Yuga to either leave or close the door. After a few seconds, he takes a deep breath and peeks out the door… and yelps at Yuga standing just outside of the doorframe, watching him with serial killer eyes.

Yuga peeks into the room, seeing Shouto’s things and nodding. “How kind of you, doing that for Shouto. And putting him next to someone he’ll know… rather like you and Izuku, staying next to each other. Seeking comfort in each other's arms…”

He gives a weirdly suggestive smile, and Hitoshi moves around him to go to the staircase. Because the elevator gave him another chance to be cornered, and he really did not like the rhythm of this conversation…

“I understand, you know. The pain of a Quirk that wasn’t made for the body it’s in.” Hitoshi slows to a stop around the corner, and slowly backs up to look at Yuga, who just shrugged from where he was. “Midoriya and I have much in common, in a way that’s very rare for people our age. Don’t mistake this as me making advances on him; I simply wish to offer him a resolute shoulder who’s scars match his own. In a way… we have a similar goal.”

Hitoshi reads through the weirdly scribbled lines, tilting his head with a shrug. “I… you were talking about something different, with Toru. Which is fine, but the way you switched between them, and the creepily waiting just out of sight… I’d respect the game if you weren’t doing it to me.”

Yuga smiles, then half closes his eyes and tilts his head, sagging his usual prim posture in an imitation of Hitoshi. “Oh, fine. I don’t see why we can’t work together… we shall be Deux Fantômes Hantent La Nuit!”

Hitoshi blinks, and walks down the hallway. He watches over his shoulder, and runs down the stairs before the boy can appear around the corner like some kind of stalker.

---

Shouto settles on the couch, the old cat purring as long as he is running a hand behind her ears. He looks around, trying to keep up as people talk to him in a way he knew he should get used to. But it was a lot, like those times Father tossed him into the deep end of the family pool to teach him to swim.

Denki settles next to him, and smiles before holding up a piece of notebook paper. “I was just looking around at a bunch of places near the school that have stuff Katsuki would probably like, or just restaurants that have spicy food. Kyouka said he complained that the ‘spicy’ curry Lunch Rush served was bland, so I thought we might try this place up the street that serves curry with Carolina Reapers in it.”

Shouto nods, and reaches into the pocket of his jacket. He produces a black credit card, and holds it out to Denki. “How much do you think is appropriate as a gift?”

Denki looks up, and stares at the hunk of plastic like it was some holy artifact. “Wow… like, I figured you’d be loaded. But I haven’t seen something like that since the movies…”

Shouto shrugs, and looks at it. The car growls softly, and he adjusts his grip to be petting her with the hand holding her. “I guess it’s impressive. My father left me this before going to a meeting this morning. Almost like he’s trying to buy my forgiveness.”

Denki just blinks, not expecting the ice cold evaluation of his life. “Dude… if you ever want to talk to someone, you know you can talk with any of us, right?”

Shouto nods, and goes back to petting the cat. “I feel you are easier to talk to than others. After all, my brother told me you know about him.”

Denki chokes on his spit, his phone screen flickering and turning off. “Shit, right… can we maybe not talk about all of that? Just when everyone’s around.”

Shouto blinks, and shrugs before the cat rears its head. Hitoshi sinks onto the other side of him, and the cat stretches its arms out to get him to pet her. “Yeah, not everyone is in on the conspiracies. Denki met him, and introduced me and Izuku to him, but I don’t think anyone else knows.”

Shouto nods, looking around as everyone bustles around for Bakugo’s birthday. “So just the four of us know… well, and Midoriya’s mother. And probably All Might, since they’re married.”

The other two boys go silent, and Denki’s phone pops loudly before he starts coughing and laughing wildly. It actually causes the cat to retreat to Hitoshi, who is holding in low chuckles that sound like a demon from a horror movie.

Shouto looks between the two, then settles on Hitoshi’s grin. “Dude, All Might and Inko aren’t married. Why… what, because Izuku’s Quirk is super strength?”

Shouto nods, reaching over to keep petting the cat. “Well, they also have this weirdly similar smile. Also, did you see Izuku’s costume on the first day? The face mask was stylized like teeth.”

Hitoshi shakes his head, looking down at the cat, who’s struggling to decide who’s it’s favorite sublicant at the moment. “That… he’s just a fanboy. If he was All Might’s son, would he really worship his dad so much?”

Shouto blinks, and slowly shakes his head. Denki stops laughing, but is struggling to breath as he returns to the cushion. They are probably trading looks, because they’re silent for a few seconds.

The cat perks up, and rolls over before stretching over the edge of the couch. Shouto follows it’s gaze, watching a white rabbit running in from one of the outside doors in front of Koda. It charges straight up to the cat, but stops at his feet to watch him.

He carefully reaches his cold hand down, and the rabbit brings it’s head up to his fingers. After a second, it gets up closer to him, putting its front legs up on his to let him pet it.

Koda walks over, and slowly picks the rabbit up to place it in Shouto’s lap. It snuggles up next to the cat, and he just shrugs before sitting on Denki’s other side, filling up the couch. “They get along a lot better than I thought… am I interrupting something?”

Shouto shakes his head, looking at the other two. “I was finished with my inquiries. Though… I think the animals wouldn’t like it if I left.”

Hitoshi nods, continuing to run his fingers through the cat’s fur. “Yeah, Arashi gets a little territorial on occasion. But I think it’s a good thing, personally.”

---

Nedzu actually goes to the front office to meet the Bakugous, Mitsuki’s fingers drumming a rhythm as she walks in as she stands there. Her husband was quietly behind her, clipping his guest pass onto his shirt while taking the temperature of the atmosphere. He checks on Katsuki, who was displaying a skittishness that was extremely wrong to see on him. “Good Morning! I understand we need to have a conversation about your student before he joins the others in the dorms.”

Mitsuki nods, her agitation visible despite her apparent efforts to hold back. “Yes, we need to talk… you seem oddly calm.”

Nedzu nods, and begins guiding the three back towards his office. “Naturally. I have a bad habit of playing conversations out in my head ages before the other person even thinks of them, rather like how people program characters in video games with dialogue trees. So I’m prepared for several ways this could go, and I’m merely waiting for you to select the path you wish to walk. So please, where should we start?”

He turns a corner, but fully turns to the approaching Bakugos. There was no class around, so even if it wasn’t his office they’d have some veneer of privacy. Mitsuki gives him a look, then crosses her arms. “Have you talked with Izuku and Inko about this before us? And do you have records of what my son did?”

Nedzu looks at Katsuki, who seems to be listening but trying to disassociate. Like someone who’s break line snaps on the highway, watching as they careen into gridlocked traffic. “After a minor verbal spat the two had, I started to consult the records. Izuku then came to me and described a few incidents that Alderia failed to record on their records, and so I traveled there to consult with their staff.”

Masaru actually seems to catch on, and starts muttering to himself loud enough for the others to hear. “Alderia actually sent out an email last week, informing students their personal information was under review by a few educational institutions. They were all the right types of vague, so I didn’t really think about it.”

Nedzu nods, and waves his paw as he continues. “Afterwards, during the mandatory therapy they participated in after the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, they both revealed a troubling pattern of behavior with the staff of their previous school, which I have been investigating with the assistance of Inko’s legal paperwork and a detective who I have personal ties with.”

Mitsuki nods, but her eyes are narrowing. “But you didn’t think to call us? What possible reason do you have for not informing us?”

Nedzu looks at Katsuki, staring long enough the other two follow his eyes, causing the boy to pull further into himself. “Actually, it was his good behavior that stayed my paw. I gave him a warning when he stepped out of line, and I gave him another when I started uncovering the serious damage Alderia did to the two of them. And he has yet to convince me that anything more than counseling is necessary; contrary to appearances, your son is very conscious of what others think of him.”

Katsuki rears his head, the smallest of fires sparking in him. He opens his mouth… only to visibly bite his tongue, and force his mouth closed. His fists clench, but he shoves them into his pockets.

Mitsuki watches that, and turns with her arms crossed. “You say Alderia hurt him? Compared to Izuku, how the hell does this brat match up?”

Nedzu looks at Mitsuki, and gives her a smile before continuing to his office. “Simple; They failed to prepare Katsuki for the possibility of a bigger fish in the pond. They built him a tall, narrow tower for his confidence, and the instant he was exposed to the consequences of his actions, I enjoyed watching that tower crumble under the weight of his over-inflated ego. But instead of sitting there in the rubble, I’ve watched him pick himself up and attempt to correct that structural error. His academics are perfectly acceptable, he is making conscious efforts to improve his lack of anger management, and he has yet to truly step out of line since our last talk.”

Nedzu approaches the door to his office, which opens as he enters. He quickly steps around to his desk, the three chairs he had set out for the Bakugos quickly pulled out and occupied as he climbs into his chair.

He settles himself into his seat, and produces a stack of folders almost as tall as him from his desk. He sets them on the desk, and turns as Masaru speaks up. “What are all of those for?”

Nedzu smiles, and begins carefully spreading three orange folders out. “These are a number of options I have considered for this issue, and some paperwork we can consult. This first folder is only the consent form for you to allow us to pursue further mental health analysis, leaving everything else exactly the same. The next is transfer of Katsuki Bakugou into class 1-B, under the guise of rebalancing the classes based on information gathered from the Sports Festival. The next is demotion into General Education, and both of those options have optional paperwork to ensure Katsuki and Izuku never share more than the bare minimum of time together…”

He pauses, letting the parents take the first folder and review it. Katsuki looks at the piles of folders, clearly processing how he was nothing more than a supporting cast member in the story that Nedzu could write him into so many directions so easily.

Nedzu takes the next few folders, and waves the black plastic holders for the parents to see. “These folders are either paperwork for Katsuki to transfer with full recommendations to another Hero school, or expulsion papers that will blacklist him from so much as searching a Hero school on the web without legal punishment. And one that’s just a warrant for his arrest, due to the laundry list of juvenile violations he’s committed. With or without the use of his Quirk, he performed enough vile acts to get him seriously considered for prison referral.”

The parents look at the three folders, then over at their son. He starts looking at the wallpaper, clearly avoiding his mother’s probing eyes and his fathers disappointed look. Nedzu can’t quite tell which would cause the boy more pain, but the two at once would definitely add to the scars he was starting to collect.

“However…” Nedzu slides those three away, replacing them with a thick white folder he freely passes to the parents. “His list of sins are in this one, and he has started to display the remorse I believe is necessary to begin working on balancing his books. The rest of these… Honestly, these are side projects and conspiracies I have running. My lack of cybersecurity has chased me back to the old fashioned system, though I am working on correcting that. Besides which, I will treasure the looks on your faces when you thought I honestly put that much time into this.”

He begins returning the unrelated folders to his desk, ignoring the shock and relief on the faces in front of him as he does so. He finishes with that, and posts up on his paws as the parents flick through the white folder.

Masaru looks up at him, considering the options Nedzu had cultivated. He quickly flips through the pages, his eyes going wider with each bone that made up the skeletons in his son’s closet. “You really think he can make up for… you did what in secondary school?”

Katsuki finally turns to look at the options, and Nedzu can see that fire starting to burn again. “What’s the point of writing it all down? You think I’m not already running through that list in my fucking head? I know I fucked up; you made that clear several times. I just… how am I supposed to fucking apologize to people who’d probably run away if I tried to come near them? I can’t make up for all that! You making that crystal fucking clear, okay!”

Nedzu watches the two parents consider their kid, and Mitsuki is the first to react. “Watch your mouth, brat! Don’t you see…”

Katsuki rounds on her, the scent of caramel starting to bleed into the air. “What, that everything I’ve dreamed about since I was four can be destroyed with a pen? That my entire future relies on a sadistic badger feeling merciful for three years, and then deciding not to fucking blackmail me for the rest of my fucking life? That Nedzu’s already running Alderia into the ground, and finishing me off is nothing more to him than blinking? If he wants, I’m as good as fucking dead, and there’s not a thing I can do to stop him? Yeah, I fucking see him! And you two get to choose just how I die along with him!”

Katsuki stops, breathing heavily. And Nedzu just blinks, admiring the psychological damage he didn’t realize reached so deep. He marvels at his work for a moment longer, then picks up the phone and dials.

“… please, I just wanted one day off… Yes, Nedzu?”

“Yes, Hound Dog? I was wondering if you might be willing to squeeze a few of us into your office for a quick meeting. I think having an unbiased referee would be useful… but since we’re out of those, you can collect the money from those bets you and the other teachers have been placing.”

Ryou takes a moment, then begins growling on the other end of the line. “Izuku’s already having a day, and of course there’s more. What, is Hitoshi having a panic attack? Or Denki, who you’ve…”

“Katsuki, actually. And yes, I’ll fully admit it’s my fault when we get there, and give you full rights to condemn me.”

That stops Ryou, and Nedzu checks the parents… and yeap, they’re staring horrified at their son, who’s sunk back into his chair, face pressed in his hands. “Give me ten minutes, and I’ll have a room ready.”

“You have five.” Nedzu hangs up, and jumps to the ground. He produces a bottle of water, and walks around his desk and sets it at Bakugo’s feet.

---

Ryou hangs up the phone, and flops into the chair at the desk in his actual office. His soundproofed office, meaning he could swear in incoherent animal noises if he thought it would do any good.

Instead, he produces a bottle from under his desk, and a cup to pour it into. He uncorks the everclear, and pours in a fair shot… then he lifts the bottle up, considering the cup and the bottle, and carefully pours until the liquor is just under the rim of the cup.

He drains the glass, and just takes a minute for it to mellow him out. He knew he shouldn’t… but hey, half of his graduating class drank on the job. Hell, his best classmate drank all the time during her sessions, and she raked in six figures a year. Sure, the alcohol was basically mandatory for her to keep her job, but her Brutal Honesty was what made her such a good counselor… ‘How many of these have I had if I think Cece is a good counselor?’

He carefully gets up, and makes his way back out into the counseling rooms. He smiles at the assistant who man’s the front desk, a student from General Education who wants to be a Teacher. She has her laptop open, and is eating some cup ramen as she watches her classmates in one of the side games.

He enters his only occupied room, taking the moment to enter neutrally as the two look at him. Shouta was sitting in one of his armchairs, and Izuku was laid back on the couch, clearly trying to picture something without being able to get all the way there.

Ryou looks at the notepad he’d sat down, and picks it up and reviews the frankly ridiculous notes he’d taken before having to step out of the room.

It takes a minute for him to find the right place to start, but he just decides that since no sentence he’s ever said before will work, that it was time to say something new. “So… the Quirk you received is giving you traumatic visions that you would have absolutely no reason to be having, but are instead empathic connections to the people in close proximity to you. And that’s just one of the many things it can do. Which you’re studying from a completely outside perspective, because you were born Quirkless, and thus are missing years of proper counseling.”

Izuku looks over to him, a smile curling on his lips while he just nods. “Basically. And you are the…” He counts on his fingers, actually using both hands. “… fifth person told because of me, and maybe the tenth person to know at all? I don’t know how many people actually know… oh, except for the villains. Any of them, all of them, or none of them associated with All for One could know.”

Ryou blinks, and throws the notebook across the floor before leaning back in his chair. “Nedzu, your mother, Aizawa, Recovery Girl… wait, you told other students before consulting the mental health professional?”

Izuku nods, adjusting his injured arm back onto his chest. “Well… I sort of didn’t mean to tell Hitoshi, and Denki figured it out because of his friends…”

“ … who are the villains who kidnapped him after the USJ, one of which is Shouto’s older brother thought dead, who both work for a centuries old villain that All Might is fighting… Snipe’s telenovelas have nothing on this.” Ryou lets his fingers tap on the side of the chair, his usual defense of just writing notes down not really an option.

Shouta nods, leaning back in his chair. “The other issues I’ve had this year? Somehow, all of them are tracing back to All Might. The only one who doesn’t connect to him directly is Katsuki.”

Ryou nods, and points at the door. “Well, that was what the call was about. I’m afraid Nedzu has scheduled an appointment with himself and the Bakugous, so they’re going to be here soon. If you two wanted to leave before he arrived…”

Izuku sits up, but he doesn’t look nervous at all at the prospect of crossing paths with Katsuki. “I mean… I’m fine seeing him. It’s just… I wouldn’t mind just staying here and relaxing, if that’s okay. I was exhausted dealing with people, and now even when I’m sleeping, I’m getting weird visions because of One for All. So I just… I want to just not do anything for a little bit.”

Ryou nods, and picks up his notepad. He rips off the first page, and hands it to Shouta. “Well, I’m used to students who just need that minute to themselves. Really… if you ever just need to come in and just lay down, that is an option. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself, Izuku.”

Izuku nods, and he steps out of the room. Ryou takes a breath as he closes the door, that exhaustion sounding so wrong for someone half his age. No one should sound so exhausted, let alone someone with most of their life ahead of them…

The door to the office opens, and Nedzu escorts the entire Bakugo family into the office. Ryou takes one look at them, and can feel the exhaustion settling onto his bones before they even start. “Room 3 has the most soundproofing, and has a minifridge with water. And this will take a while, so let’s get comfortable.”

Chapter Text

Izuku tries to replay the dream again, but no new details come to his closed eyes. If anything, the image is long since blurry and unfocused. The best he remembers is the lock, which makes him look over at Aizawa, and feel a cloying shame at not thinking about the right thing.

But it’s that feeling of shame, the need to keep up some kind of appearance for his teacher, that makes him just… stop caring all together. He was a vending machine that was empty, so he’d stopped taking money; everyone was taking every shred of patience and energy he didn’t know he was stockpiling, and all that was left was an exhausted void.

He really liked that everyone in his class didn’t openly judge him, and even came to him for help. Reviewing for Cementoss’s test was a refreshing moment as everyone actually took his advice. But he had to adjust to understand things from Mina’s version of notes, Hanta’s, and even Denki and Hitoshi. He had to get into everyone’s heads to figure out how best to teach them, then get back into his own to actually give them the information.

Now, looking at how his life was starting to slowly veer into the grass, Izuku couldn’t help but feel sorry for the rest of his class that had gotten onto this train with no idea how it would derail hard through no fault of their own. And with Whisper sitting there, waiting to potentially trigger, there was the constant thought that metaphorical getting into people’s head could become literal. And that was not a line he would cross with most of his classmates, so he’d been constantly tracking how close people got to him.

But all that effort just carefully pushed him closer and closer to the edge, and now he was looking down the edge of the jagged cliff. And the thing that caused him to stumble, and almost fall over that edge…

His hands were still sore from punching a practice dummy until Aizawa had finally stopped him, but the shock had sort of worn off. It took a bit of time in his head, but that… he’d shoved that thought into a box, and thrown it into the corner before focusing on other things. Mostly because the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to tear out his hair, and there were plenty of other things to worry about. Maybe later… if he ever decided to drink…

“Izuku… are you okay?” Izuku opens his eyes, and looks at his exhausted teacher. Aizawa looks like a wrung out dish towel, and Izuku could swear he saw some gray hair near the top of his scalp. He stretches out, and Izuku realizes they might have fallen asleep. He did feel a little better rested now, his eyes heavy as he looked over.

Izuku thinks about it… then looks at the wall. He couldn’t hear anything… but faintly, he could feel people on the other side of the wall. It was like hearing music from far away, with the beat and pitch being vaguely familiar. He knew one was Hound Dog, and could guess another one of them was Nedzu… but the third felt wrong, like a song with the pitch shifted and played at another speed. “I mean… probably not? But ‘the first step to solving a problem is admitting there is one’, so we’re on the right track… and I almost believe what I just said.”

Aizawa gives him a moment, then sighs and stands up. “Izuku… if you think you’re under too much pressure… if you think that you need to just step back and take a breath…”

Izuku sits up, a rising current of fear rearing up in his chest. That box starts rattling in the corner of his head, bouncing against the walls in a desperate hope of opening up. “No, I can do this. I… I can handle this. I can do this…”

Aizawa looks at him, and sighs before slowly approaching Izuku. He slowly puts a hand on his shoulder, clearly watching for a nervous trigger as he does. “I don’t doubt whether you can handle this or not. But you shouldn’t have to; if you ever want out… I will make sure to take your place.”

Izuku looks into Aizawa’s tired, bloodshot eyes, seeing complete sincerity. And Whisper slowly pushes up, but Izuku doesn’t look through Aizawa’s head like an open book. Instead, it’s just a vague feeling that he suddenly had, something between resigned assurance and calm resignation. “I… I won’t do that to you. I will… I will end this.”

He’s not sure where that complete confidence in the statement comes from, but Aizawa nods. And before he pulls his hand away, Izuku feels that the man completely believes him.

---

“That’s nice and all, but seriously, what the hell were you thinking?” Nana turns to Shiso, gesturing wildly enough to cause her cape to flutter!

Shiso adjusts the tie to his suit, looking ruffled himself. “I have already apologized to all of you! I don’t understand what went wrong myself! I was as careful as I could be, and he still went and jumped into the Doctor’s head somehow!”

Nana opens her mouth, only for the first to wave his hand. He sat next to Iyusa, the two moving cards around in four rows with three columns, with decks to the right and a row of cards to the left. “Let’s not forget some blame is on me, given how long the Quirk has been gaining power.”

Nana turns to the first, and Iyusa sighs and shakes her head. “Yoichi, knock it off with that. You did what you needed to to stop your brother, even if things have gotten a little out of hand. Fianna will Legion Attack boosted by Dana.”

She turns her middle column sideways, to which Yoichi drops two cards from his hand. “Clear Angel and Eir will guard Yggrasil. But even if we feel sorry for Izuku, we can’t let Aizawa take it, right?”

There’s a moment of pause, then everyone nods as Iyusa flips over cards from her deck. “Yeah, no. The only reason I lasted eighteen years was because I was able to constantly heal people and release energy. Eraserhead… he’d have maybe six years before he gives out?”

Yoichi nods, and moves the cards to the discard. “Shorter than Shiso and Nana, but longer than the first three of us by a long shot.”

The two figureless shades ignore the comments, sitting with the Yagi shade to watch Izuku and Aizawa, who stand and leave the counselor's room into his office.

“I didn’t know there was yet another person who had ties into All for One. How could I have guessed his reach was so deep within Izuku’s life?”

Nana looks at Shiso, and blinks as if she can’t believe what she just heard. “Excuse you? With how long he’s been around, it would be harder to find someone in the class not affected by that cancerous cyst.”

There’s a round of nods, and from the corner of the room, Daigoro calls out in a sullen voice. “How about the brats related to the hero commission? He didn’t have any ties to that when I was the holder.”

Nana turns to him, and scrunches up her face. “I mean… not yet, but they aren’t doing any better. Honestly, they’re almost as bad…”

The assembled shades all suddenly look up to the screen, seeing the door to the other office open in front of Izuku. And out steps a familiar blond boy, who immediately notices Izuku and turns to him.

Daigoro stands from the corner, walking over with his fists pumping. “Come on, kid; go nuclear on the blond! Just go ham for once in your life…”

Nana turns to him, and points back to the corner. “No, he decides how this goes! Back in the corner!”

---

Katsuki squirmed in the corner, waiting for Hound Dog to speak to him before saying anything. This… this was not how he planned the day to go. If he could, he’d go back and break his jaw before he said anything if it meant avoiding this situation.

Hound Dog takes one chair, Nedzu takes the other across from them, and his parents are to the side on the couch. Not that he’s looking at any of them… until Hound Dog addresses him directly. “Katsuki, what about the people in this room makes you most uncomfortable?”

He slowly looks over at the counselor, ignoring his dad’s disappointed look and his mother’s currently quiet fury. “Very funny. You know why…”

Hound Dog growls, and looks dead on at him like a piece of roadkill on the side of the highway. “No, actually. You have more trauma than most third years I’ve dealt with who have fought actual villains, and I am seeing multiple evasive and defensive actions on your part. So I want you to grow that spine of yours a few inches, and actually address it instead of hiding like a scared child.”

Katsuki’s fists clench, and he turns to face the counselor. He actually likes that anger than wells up at the obvious bait, trying to tunnel vision on that instead of the other awful thoughts in his head right now. “Well, let’s see… Nedzu has repeatedly told me he can expel me if I so much as think about doing something he doesn’t like, has a whole folder of every terrible thing I can remember doing plus a few I’ve probably forgotten, and they probably think I’m some sort of horrible monster they regret raising…”

His words start to stutter at the end, but Hound Dog clicks his pen closed before he holds a finger up to his parents. “We’ll get to you two in just a second, please. Before that… Nedzu, I’m giving you one chance.”

He lets the principal speak, and Katsuki looks at the… remorseful? rat god in the room. “Well… I certainly meant for him to understand his behavior from before wouldn’t be tolerated. But this… I am at a loss for words, to be honest. This Inferiority Complex collapsed in a much bloodier fashion than I assumed it would, with much deeper damage than I gave it credit for.”

“Excuse me…” Katsuki flinches as his mother raises her voice, but he slowly turns to look at her as she speaks. “… but are you really ignoring the fact that you are admitting you're traumatizing my son in front of me? Maybe acknowledge we’re in the room, you assholes!”

He finally looks at his parents, noticing his dad is looking at him, but not like he was some malformed monster. And his mother spares a glance at him, looking like she’d raize the entire school to the ground for him.

Hound Dog nods, rapidly waving the pen in the air at her while looking at Katsuki. “And I would definitely side with you, Mitsuki. One tiny problem with that, if I may interject; Katsuki is showing a trauma response that is highly unusual for someone with his record. Luckily, we know most of his previous school record is sanitized, so I can hazard a guess… have you ever become physically abusive with Katsuki?”

As if Todoroki had suddenly appeared in the room, the temperature dropped about ten degrees out of nowhere. Katsuki tilts his head… then blinks, the answer showing up as his mom turns on the counselor. “Excuse you? Don’t go deflecting your mistakes…”

Hound Dog stares her down, his mom stopping when he doesn’t back down from her challenge. “First, don’t blame me for Nedzu’s mistakes. I’m the one who’s here to fix the damage, and I will gladly do that. But secondly, I’m not the one deflecting; if you have a history of being physically or emotionally abusive to your son, that would explain his sudden depressive episode and his extreme attitude change from the start of the year.”

Mitsuki is put on the backfoot, but Masaru picks up the answer when she stays quiet for a moment. “On occasion, the two have gotten loud. But never anything like you're implying… it’s just how they communicate.”

Hound Dog nods, but gives a look to Katsuki out of the corner of his eye. Katsuki blinks, realizing he’s waiting for Katsuki to disagree with the statement, either silently or…

“Only once, after that Sludge villain last year.” His parents look at him, and he can see how they dig through their memories… and they both realize as recognition flashes over their faces. “A smack upside the head, nothing else.”

Hound Dog tilts his head, and just takes a breath. “So she hit you after a traumatic, nearly fatal villain encounter; not malicious, just incredibly stupid.”

He blinks, regretting the choice of words. But Mitsuki doesn’t get angrier at that statement; if anything, she starts to deflate and lean back on the couch.

Katsuki looks over at his dad, who just gives him the saddest look before Nedzu speaks up. “Alright, now that we understand the underlying issues to discuss… Katsuki, could you give us a few minutes so we can speak openly? Just outside in the lobby, if you’d please.”

Katsuki looks around, and everyone returns the look before he slowly moves out. He sees them all watching him, trying to gauge what he’s thinking… but his thoughts are just sort of blank, like a paper with the notes erased off.

He steps out into the lobby, pulling the door closed. He looks down the hall to start looking around… and stops dead. Because Aizawa is looking at him like garbage that got shoveled out of a microwave, and Izuku looks almost as sleep deprived as the teacher usually looked.

The two meet eyes, and despite how exhausted he looks, there’s a defiant spark in his emerald green eyes when they connect. “Katsuki… Happy Birthday. And… congrats on the Sports Festival.”

Katsuki dumbly nods, his fingers curling and tapping against his leg. “Izuku… if I said I was sorry, would that change anything?”

Aizawa raises his eyebrow, but otherwise stays silent and still as the two look at each other. Izuku considers the question for a moment, turning it over in his head. He swallows, then finally seems to find his answers. “It means more now than on the train… and you’re doing better. If you want to talk about everything, I won’t chase you away.”

Izuku slowly raises his hand up, waiting for Katsuki to take it. When Aizawa doesn’t make any move to stop him, he scrubs his hand on his shirt before taking it.

Izuku shakes their hands… and everything in the room shifts like he was looking through a kaleidoscope, the colors wildly shifting from vibrant neons to muted grays and back again. The only thing that remained unchanged was Izuku, whose eyes seem to bore a hole through his head, staring impassively like they were carved into a marble statue…

And he gives the faintest smile, wistful and melancholic rather than any actual joy. “We… it’s not starting over, just focusing on the future over the past. We still have a lot of things to do before the year is over, so let’s just focus on moving forward.”

He lets go, and carefully walks around him. And Katsuki turns to do so, and Aizawa follows out with him as he just slowly leans against the wall.

---

Shouta raises his eyebrow at the kid as they walk out of the school, waiting until they’re mostly alone before speaking up. “Izuku… when you shook Katsuki’s hand…”

Izuku doesn’t look back, but shrugs and shoves his hands into his jacket pockets. He was still in a frumpy t-shirt with ‘pajama shirt’ in Kanji, just with a dark blue jacket over it for the occasional spring breeze that they caught as they walked. “Sort of… nothing bad. Just… I needed to confirm something, and I had the tools to do so. Cause if he was just acting, and I genuinely couldn’t tell…”

Shouta blinks, that line of thought being actually absent from his mind. He hadn’t seen Katsuki do anything but be remorseful… though, mostly because of Nedzu’s spying, they’d seen what Katsuki was like when he thought he was alone. Izuku only had his years with the blond brat in school… and comparing a month to years really made that a bit more understandable. “If you told me he wasn’t remorseful at all, and he’s just biding time, I’d have thrown him out of this school. As much as I shouldn’t, I’d believe you without another word.”

Izuku looks up, and there’s the faintest twitch to his lips. His eyes were hazy and distant still, but it was better than when he’d let the kid go loose in the gym…

He’d honestly been impressed with the kid’s boxing form on the ring of three rubber practice dummies, keeping his elbows tight and feet moving back and forth as he fought each of them in turn. But the kid reared back, and punched one of them in the face, and the little flickers of green lightning told Shouta a second before the doll’s head flew from it’s shoulders what would happen.

He’d thought it would stop, but Izuku turned to another without missing a beat. And the second doll flew across the room, limbs popping off and rolling as the torso bounced off the wall from the open palm jab Izuku sent to it. And he uses that motion to go backwards, and lands a kick that would shatter ribs on a human. The dummy just slides backwards, a loud squealing sound as the rubber base drags against the floor.

Izuku recovers quickly, and throws a punch without any enhancement behind it. He hits just right for the plastic to crack under the force, but the dummy doesn’t move like the other two. He stops, and that’s when Shouta stepped up to make sure he didn’t break something.

Izuku, not noticing him, just started going for the thing’s face, and evidently he had broken the skin on that other hand, because one side of the dummy’s face slowly started gaining red polka dots before Shouta grabbed his arm. The kid stops, breathing heavily and looking just about near tears when his head whips around at him…

“Aizawa… would you have cared this much if I was still… if I wasn’t…”

Shouta looks at the kid, the tears coming back up to his eyes. And he doesn’t think before he wraps his arms around the kid, sinking down the few inches of height difference. “Izuku… I care about you. All the bullshit about All for All and One for One and whatever… that all comes second. I care about Izuku Midoriya first of all… well, first point five.”

Izuku settles his chin on his shoulder, and there’s a faint bubble of laughter as the tears fall into his shirt. “That’s fair… I really am a Problem Child for you though.”

Shouta pulls back, looking Izuku in the face. “Knowing what I do, there isn’t a world where I couldn’t care about you as much as I do. Besides, you might be the Problem Child I have to worry about the least…”

The Universe, clearly sensing them gaining some amount of joy in the world, rears its head over. And one of the security alerts for the dorms goes off… the smoke alarm.

Shouta doesn’t need to check it, because he set slightly different tones for all of them. He lets go of Izuku, and goes running in the direction of the dorm. Though Izuku easily catches up with him, a flicker of green lightning in the corner of his vision tells the teacher where his student is as they race across the campus.

Chapter Text

Hitoshi comes out of the staircase, half concerned that as he looks over his shoulder, Aoyama would be lurking on the landing with that half smile of his. He manages to make it into the commons without seeing the boy, instead seeing most everyone who had been in here before.

He leans on the bar that formed a wall between the kitchen and the rest of the commons, seeing Rikidou looking through the glass door of the oven with a worried expression. The big guy turns around, and spooks for a second when he notices Hitoshi watching him. “Geeze… where did Yuga go? I thought he was just here…”

Hitoshi blinks, and points up. “He was upstairs just now. You need help with something?”

Rikidou shrugs, and looks back at the oven. “Sort of… he has this family recipe for hot pepper brownies, and while he knows the end product, he’s not sure how to get there. So we were sort of teaming up to get this out right, and I wanted him to check…”

“It looks magnific!” Hitoshi jumps, Aoyama suddenly shouting right behind him. He just barely keeps from elbowing the Frenchman, but turning to face him shows a few of the others are equally surprised by the outburst.

“What, are the brownies done already?” Mina comes running over, Hanta following with a wicked grin on his face. Hitoshi looks at him, and he just winks conspiratorially at him.

Rikidou carefully looks at the door for a moment, then slides on some oven mitts before opening the door. A faint cloud of steam hisses out like smoke from the mouth of Hell, up into Rikidou’s face. He leans down to take the two pans of brownies out, immediately stops, and quickly steps away from the stove.

He starts sputtering and coughing, his eyes watering as he stumbles back from the oven. Hitoshi raises an eyebrow… but then the wind from the oven’s fan carries the steam over to the crowd, and instantly his eyes snap closed from the pain.

He faintly hears Mina squawking, and other people coming to investigate. He opens his mouth to warn them, but the air itself tastes like burned rubber, and he’s quickly just coughing and hiding behind the bar.

Above their heads, a faint trilling starts going off, and someone grabs him by the elbow and leads him outside. “Kami, what did you people do to the kitchen?”

Hanta is darkly chuckling somewhere, evidently not as affected by whatever evil recipe Rikidou unwittingly crafted. “This is so much better than I thought. A bunch of the Support Kids talked about Hatsume using Pepper Gas and stuff, which uses the same chemicals as most spicy foods. I was betting something like this would happen when people ate it, but this is so much better…”

Hitoshi turns in that direction, his throat finally cleared enough to growl. Someone carefully puts their hand on his shoulder, and Denki lets go quickly. “Hitoshi, we should probably wash your eyes out. Just look up for a second, okay?”

Hitoshi does as Ochako says, and tries to relax his facial muscles before cold water carefully pours onto his face. A cloth gently wipes the moisture away, then it repeats before he looks down and carefully opens his eyes.

Most everyone is out here, Toru and Mezou helping Rikidou while Aoyama and Eijiro helping Mina. Shouto and Kouji, who’d just been on the couch, are both just standing back and checking over everyone else, both holding animals in their arms. And now that water is being poured, Denki is standing a healthy distance back, breaking his serious expression with a grin when he notices Hitoshi looking.

Fumikage leans out the patio door, Dark Shadow hovering over his shoulder with the oven mitts in it’s claws. “I put the two of those into one of the moving boxes all the kitchen stuff was in. Sero, would you help me bind this concoction so it does not contaminate the entirety of our domicile?”

Hanta nods, then gets caught up on the words. But he sucks in a breath, and sprints behind Fumikage with a bit of tape snaking from his elbows.

As the bird child follows him in, Eijiro raises a hand slowly. “How is Tokoyami able to be in there? I didn’t get a face full of that mist, but my eyes still stung as I got out. But he’s, like, in the belly of the beast…”

Mina gets her face washed off, and takes the water bottle before emptying it. “I mean, he has a shadow demon attached to him. Maybe… I don’t know, something something hellfire? I don’t know Christain Mythology.”

“Dark Shadow doesn’t like being compared to a demon.” Mezou comments to the air, but everyone nods at the comment. Hitoshi silently agrees, but bides his tongue before he says something to ruin everyone else’s good mood. Because despite the whole thing, everyone seems on the edge of jovial, laughing the incident off like it was nothing.

Hanta comes running out… followed by a girl just shorter than him with a gas mask over her head and hair. She stops at the concrete patio for the building, turning as Hanta trips on the line for the grass and rolls towards them all. Denki helps break the tumble by running up to him, then carefully picks him up as he sputters and coughs.

The girl turns, taking off the mask and shaking out her long black hair. “Is everyone alright? What exactly happened?”

Ochako looks over at Momo, and gives an awkward laugh as she begins to explain. “It’s Bakugou’s birthday, and we were wrapping presents and making brownies. But…”

Hitoshi stops, and turns to look up as a shadow passes over everyone. Aizawa comes skidding to a halt behind them in the grass, and Hitoshi quickly looks from the top of the five story building then back to him. “Who set the fire?”

---

Izuku carefully props the door to the dorms open with his shoe, using his sleeve to try and mitigate the amount of pain he’d have to deal with from smoke. He quickly inspects the commons, seeing the faintest cloud of smoke slowly spreading thanks to the ceiling fan in the kitchen. He pulls his shirt’s collar over his face, and carefully makes his way in while carefully waving his hand.

Fumikage comes walking out of the kitchen, carefully carrying a box that was just barely releasing the smoke from its seams. “Izuku, I recommend you step outside. Rikidou crafted one of Yuga’s recipes that has thus rendered everyone else indisposed by proximity.”

Izuku nods, and moves to follow the boy outside. But the elevator opens on the other side of the room, and Mashirao and Toru both walk out. “Hey… what happened here?”

“Rikidou baked something, and it started smoking? Not that bad, so it probably had something to do with the spi…” Izuku gets through most of his explanation, but the fog manages to waft over him. He tries to suck in a breath of air when he notices it happen… but the cloud just smelled like spicy peppers. Honestly, it was sort of like Katsuki’s lunchboxes over the years, where he’d actually had to store it away from everyone elses just because proximity to it caused everyone else’s noses to burn.

Mashirao and Toru nod, the collar of her shirt pulling up. It would have exposed her belly button if there were anything to expose, but the two quickly moved over to the front entrance.

Izuku follows Fumikage out, who carefully sets the box on the ground as Ochako finishes telling Aizawa what happened. “... so I grabbed a few bottles from the stack we had in the living room, and we all waited out here while Fumikage tried to… see, he taped it so less smoke would escape.”

Izuku takes a breath, and waves at Momo, who produces a large metallic dome for a serving tray from her back before setting it over the box. She stands up, and waves before taking a stick that she weaves her hair around. “Yuga, does the recipe normally do this to some extent, or is this completely abnormal?”

Attention turns to Yuga, who considers it a moment before holding a hand up. “There was this one time we asked a friend to make a similar recipe, and they described a slight aromatic assault due to their oven’s unique temperament. I suppose I should have said something before we attempted to unveil this creation.”

Aizawa sighs heavily, his hand carefully making its way up to his forehead. “Alright then… so it’s not a fire, but a biological weapon? Of course… Tokoyami, can you get the floor fans out of the closet in the Laundry Room? Everyone else, step back from the door until we get the building properly vented out.”

Everyone nods, and Aizawa grabs his phone to start on the alarm’s digital signals. Izuku walks around to check on everyone, stopping for a moment when he notices Hitoshi’s cat in Shouto’s arms.

Shouto catches his quizzical look, and shrugs as he continues scritching behind Arashi’s ears. “She came to me, so I’ve just been petting her. I always wanted a cat, but Endeavor said it would distract me from training. I guess I owe you three another bout of thanks for this, as well.”

Izuku blinks, but quickly catches that meaning before nodding. He carefully reaches in, Arashi basking in the attention her mortal subjects bestowed upon her. He keeps his hand away from Shouto’s, and leans in as if to whisper to Arashi. “If you ever want to talk about things, I wouldn’t mind listening.”

Shouto nods, shifting his grip as Arashi turns in his arms. “Yeah, I get that. Denki dragged you into a conspiracy you weren’t originally a part of, so the best way to move forward is to pay attention to everyone else in the conspiracy to see how things unwind.”

Izuku blinks, and lets out a little laugh at that statement. “Yeah… with what happened with Denki, I can’t help but wonder how many conspiracies are floating around the school these days. Not just in our class, but with the teachers and other students.”

Shouto nods, and Hitoshi comes over with a raised eyebrow. Izuku gives a tight lipped smile to him, and he just walks around and offers a hand. Izuku considers it a moment before taking it, leaning in and resting on Hitoshi’s bony shoulder.

You good?

Yes, no, maybe… better than before, whatever that means.

Shouto looks between the two of them, and shrugs before rubbing Arashi’s belly. “Everyone has their secrets, I suppose. But if these are the secrets the students have, what are the teachers hiding?”

“Alright then, everybody listen.” The three look over, seeing Aizawa sigh as Ochako takes a step back from him. “Since you’re doing this for a good reason… what else do you all need to do to finish up the party planning?”

---

“Well, this was an interesting conversation, to say the least. But I think we’ve held Katsuki here as long as we can. Besides which, Aizawa wants to talk about fire safety with all of you now.”

Katsuki, thoroughly bored and more than run down, quickly escapes the room as soon as Nedzu makes it clear he can leave. The entire space of the room was… it was plain wrong. He closes the door behind him, past the girl packing up her bag to leave, and is gone before someone can come out and stop him from leaving.

His parents… they had been detached, but not uncaring. He just didn’t tell them every step of every day, which was now probably done. And it just…

He walks back to the dorms, the sun starting to paint the horizon a brilliant orange. He walks the concrete path through the campus that direction, trying to make sure his face is blank as he runs over everything. He felt like crap run over by a steam press, and he was pretty sure he would have a lot to do before he could just go to bed and forget everything.

The dorm slowly looms closer, and the only reason he starts to slow down is because Present Mic comes walking behind him, hair down and black leather biker jacket gone. “Hey, Little Listener! Heard you and Nedzu were talking, so I came to make sure you got here alright. Also, there was a little snafu with the kitchen, so everyone’s meeting in the back area of the dorm while the rest of the building airs out.”

Katsuki nods, and slows down slightly to keep pace with the teacher. “‘Snafu’? The hell did those idiots do?”

Present Mic snickers, and shrugs. “Eh, Shouta’s taking care of that. I was busy announcing the Sports Festival, and talking with the Second and Third Year teachers, so I couldn’t check my phone that much. But… hey, did you drop off your stuff at the dorms already?”

Katsuki blinks… then turns back towards the school in the distance. “Fuck… would Nedzu have some of the fucking robots grab them for me? Or… well, he is sadistic enough to make me walk back and forth, but would he?”

Present Mic chuckles… but the deadpan delivery makes the teacher pause. He takes a moment to think of an answer, then pulls out his phone. “I can check and see… and Nedzu just texted, saying your bags are already delivered. That is creepy, my dude.”

Katsuki spins around, looking around for anyplace a camera could be. There were a few light posts every fifty meters along the path, and the treeline wasn’t too far to the side… “Whatever. Let’s just… I just want this whole fucking day to be over.”

He starts walking, and it takes the teacher a second to catch up to him. “That is the worst attitude to have, little listener. When you want a day to end, you count every second between midnights; besides, isn’t today special for you?”

Katsuki picks up his speed, not quite jogging in front of the teacher. “What’s so special about it? It’s one of four hundred on the calendar; it happens, and life goes on.”

Present Mic finally stops trying to talk to him, and he makes his way up the front path to the dorms, the door propped open by a familiar red shoe. He pulls out his I.D. card, but doesn’t see anywhere to scan it, so just breezes through the door, where he sees two floor fans pointing to the doorway.

It was faint on the outside, but inside the doorway, his nose was immediately hit with a stream of pure capsaicin. He reels for a second, an intercom announcing him in the empty building, the fans actually causing him to feel some pain before quickly moving behind them.

Katsuki recovers after a second, and immediately walks into the kitchen, seeing the oven door open. He gets down to check it… and sees it’s a convection oven, with the fan’s still going and forcing the gas out. The oven was off and cooling, but he checks down near the coils… and sees crumbs from something, probably chocolate, letting off the smoke that filled the building.

He shakes his head, grumbling and grabbing some paper towels… and sees the two carriers of stuff from the back of his parents car in the corner. His lips try to quirk up, but the overwhelming weight from the rest of the day stops that. He grabs some blue rubber gloves from under the sink, and checks the coils are cool enough before quickly scrubbing them down.

He then closes the oven, and sees the kitchen fans are on. He turns them off, and goes about turning the others off to stop circulating the smoke so it’ll just go out the open front door. Then he looks around the dorm… and notices a pile of boxes wrapped fairly nicely, all piled in the corner by the television.

The door to the patio opens, and Katsuki turns to see Aizawa slink his way in. He also reels from the punch to the air, but it seems much better “Katsuki… how are you feeling?”

Aizawa lets the door mostly close behind him, and the blond can’t really force himself to do more than shrug. He pulls off the gloves, and shoves them into a pocket while waiting for his teacher to say anything.

He opens his mouth to speak… but stops. He looks over his shoulder, and pulls out his phone before furiously typing. He sends a text before sliding his phone away… and evidently, he was texting Katsuki.

Unknown: Jiro and Shouji are outside. If you need out, let me know and I will make sure you can leave

Katsuki looks up at the teacher, and on the one day Katsuki feels as tired as he normally looks, the bastard actually seemed well rested. He’s not sure what to say, so he just holds a thumb up to the teacher.

Aizawa raises an eyebrow, but just shrugs before sliding the back door partially open. He whistles like he was calling for a dog… and a cat darts through the opening, quickly moving towards the couch and resting on the back of it.

He waits a second, then pushes open the sliding door and walks away as the entire class comes in. Well, not everyone; Tsu and Tenya weren’t here, but literally all the other seventeen students came in. Some carried in half wrapped boxes, but Momo had a serving tray that she was letting Rikidou and Izuku peek into. And everyone walking in caused the intercom to announce them, so it took a minute for anyone to be able to actually talk.

Everyone takes a moment to adjust to the faint cloud still hanging in the air, then start chiming in ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Where’s your Medal from the Festival’, and he had to quickly click into place and start providing answers. He quickly made his way over to the couch, noticing Mina quickly establishing court without anyone else really minding.

He sits in the corner seat of the sectional couch next to the wrapped gifts, and the cat crawls along the back to sniff at him. Kyouka snipes the spot next to him, giving him a look without saying anything as Mina, Hanta, Denki, and Eijiro make their way to the couch and extra seat nearby.

“So, what did you do today, Blasty? Anything fun?” Mina’s first real question catches his attention, and he looks away from everyone in the kitchen.

He considers lying… but he had a perfectly good half-truth now that he’s thinking about it. “I… I spent the day with my parents, mostly. Helped them in the kitchen yesterday, which was nice.”

Mina nods, and elbows Denki to her left. “Hey, did you write down which of the channels have cooking shows and all that?”

Denki nods, and grabs a notebook from a drawer in the table. “Yeah, I got it. There are seven of them. One is more about food history, two are all competition shows, and there’s one that’s reruns of this old American woman who learned French cooking…”

Katsuki latches on to Yuga, who quietly slides in to be directly behind Mina and Denki before responding to that. “Mille Julia Childs, non? C'est l'émission préférée de ma mère.”

The two jump, but Kyouka begins laughing to herself. Katsuki lets a smile hit his lips, and quickly moves over as Fumikage walks over with cups for everyone.

The bird child passes the drinks out before sitting on Kyouka’s other side, Eijiro bumping into Hanta as he makes room for Tokoyami to squeeze into the corner. Katsuki sniffs the soda, then downs some of it before leaning forward and setting the cup on the coffee table. He sits back up, and the cat is suddenly right behind him, so he half turns to keep an eye on the thing.

He looks back into the kitchen, seeing Izuku helping Aizawa and Present Mic start cooking something while Hitoshi stood in the corner, quietly talking with Shouto about… what would they have to talk about?

“Oh, we haven’t told you yet.” Mina, excited about whatever she was going to say, bounces in her seat before leaning in. “Okay, so you know how the front door announces your name. Well, when everyone was moving in, Hitoshi got called out as ‘Hitoshi Aizawa’!”

Katsuki takes a second, then looks over at the wall flower. Hitoshi meets his eyes, and shrugs with a neutral mask. “Alright then… how long until he adopts the rest of us?”

It takes a second, but Denki and Hanta snicker at that while Mina laughs out loud. Yuga covers his mouth, but takes up the floater seat before carefully taking the notebook from Denki. He flicks through the pages, and quietly puts the television on the Child's Channel.

As he does, a white rabbit carefully makes its way over, looking up at everyone with evident trepidation. It stays by the side of the couch, and Katsuki looks up to find Kouji at the dining table with Mashirao and Toru.

Present Mic leans over the bar, looking around. “I know you guys spent all day on cake and all that, but you will need to have something else to eat before that. We have plenty of stir fry ingredients, so we could do yaki udon or something like that…”

Katsuki looks around, and shrugs when Mina turns to him. He can see a lot of people looking at him, and his appetite is not big enough to have an opinion on what he ate.

“Yaki udon seems fine, Sensei.” Denki voices what everyone wasn’t saying, and Present Mic nods before going back into the kitchen. Then he turns, and reaches for the drawer again. “So… Anyone feel like party games? I finally found that tin of Sushi Go I mentioned yesterday.”

He pulls out a palm sized tin, and pulls out cards with a red and white striped back before shuffling it. Katsuki looks on, watching the rest of the four jump up to circle the table. Eijiro pulls out a little paper, and Katsuki can faintly see stylized food on it. Until Hanta hands him his drink, which he takes and sits back to watch.

Denki begins dealing some cards, not even dealing a fourth of the deck before stopping. “Alright, we draft three rounds in an attempt to have the tastiest meal. Nagiri cards score on their own, and wasabi can be added to multiply the points. Tempura and sashimi only score in groups, we score maki at the end of each round, and we score pudding at the end of the game. You can draft chopsticks, and trade them for any two cards later. And try to count cards, if you’re trying for sashimi and tempura; counter-drafting is a thing to keep in mind.”

Katsuki raises an eyebrow, and Hanta voices his thoughts while taking the hand dealt to him. “You talk about ‘counter-drafting’, but you still have one of the worst grades in the class.”

Denki takes a second to respond, looking at his hand and clearly picking his words. “I still get ‘D’s, which pass the classes. Also, playing games helps me with short term strategic thinking, not long term memory. What’s your excuse?”

He says it like a joke, but Hanta slightly recoils. “Sorry, man.”

Denki shrugs, plucking a card out and setting it on the table. “Eh, that’s not worth holding a grudge over. You guys got your pick?”

Katsuki watches the four go on, the slight confrontation quickly forgotten. Kyouka elbows him after their game, showing him an album code to download. “So, I’m really trying not to listen in on people talking in private, but sometimes things slip through. So you and Aizawa… if you ever want to talk to someone, I’m always ready to lend an ear.”

Katsuki looks over, and even though she was muttering, Fumikage looks over and nods. He gives a tiny fake smile at the gesture, which the two obviously see through but don’t question.

He scans the code, seeing another album by the people who made Serene Garden, and pulls out his corded earbuds. He slides one in, and starts it as Hanta stretches, shaking his hair out. “So, any thoughts about internships?”

The whole small click takes a moment to react to the question, and Denki shrugs. “I mean, they probably aren’t for a while, right? I mean, Nedzu has to save some stuff for later in the year, right?”

Mina nods, but smiles as she considers the hand she had. She puts in a Chopsticks card, taking two others and setting them face down in front of her. “I mean, I think the obvious answer is All Might if he has spots open. But after that… maybe Miriko, or Ryukyu. There’s not a lot of women at the top of the charts.”

Denki shrugs, then turns and shouts towards the kitchen. “Izuku, how many of the top fifty are women?”

Izuku’s head pops around the corner, and answers very quickly. “Thirty five men, thirteen women, and two nonbinary people. Why?”

Denki turns back, and counts on his fingers. “Okay, so… less than a fifth are women, and fifty percent are men… wait, that’s wrong…”

Eijiro tilts his head, and Katsuki could swear he saw steam coming out of his ears as he thought about it. “If it’s out of fifty… double it, right? So seventy percent guys, twenty eight… no, it’s twenty six percent women… right?”

Hanta nods, and flips his card. Everyone else does, and Denki groans when he sees what Mina drafted. “Remind me not to lend you guys money… and that’s ten points for Mina. What did you say about counter-drafting?”

“She took those chopsticks last round, dude! Besides, there are two hands of two sashimi next to each other; I literally couldn’t break her combo if I wanted to! So I’m getting myself wasabi for the squid nigiri in Eijiro’s hand! Keep the points tight.”

Hanta sighs, and looks at Eijiro’s hand. Katsuki turns back, and sees Izuku waiting another few seconds in case they asked something, then disappearing around the corner. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind snagging a spot from Kamui Woods. Maybe learn how he swings around; that would just be kind of cool.”

Denki nods, then looks up at Katsuki. “How about you, birthday boy? Besides All Might, does anyone catch your eye?”

Katsuki pauses the song, the rock cords cutting off right before the second chorus as he thinks it over. “Not really… maybe Miriko? Takes no shit, fights like a pinball. That movement style could be pretty useful with my explosions; you won’t know where to block.”

Denki nods, and Aoyama brings a hand up to his face. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind joining the Heavenly Sword Hero, Altmile. Or perhaps the Golden Sword Hero, Gurguit; my uncle did teach me quite a bit about fencing when I was in secondary school.”

Kyouka snickers a bit, but shrugs when attention turns to her. “I don’t know… I’d probably be fine working under Present Mic? You know, someone who can train me to use my Quirk like an infiltration tool.”

“I understand the goal, but the target seems short sighted. Present Mic is…” Fumikage looks towards the kitchen, where everyone could vaguely hear the teacher loudly talking with someone, then turns back with a shrug. “... lacking in infiltration skills. You might consider Underground Heroes to attain that skillset.”

Kyouka tilts her head, then shrugs while pulling out her phone. “What about you? Anyone interesting to you or Dark Shadow?”

Fumikage shrugs, and Dark Shadow slowly emerges from the back of his neck, smiling and tapping his fingers together. “The guy with the really big wings… I want to make Fumi fly!”

Fumikage looks up, stuck between two reactions. “I… that doesn’t sound terrible, but you’re too excited for that to be all.”

Katsuki snickers, then looks at the television. It had been quietly playing the whole time, with the old woman on it straining pasta noodles that had a dark orange color before returning them to a pot. He lets himself tune out for a second, and finally relax as the evening unwinds.

Chapter Text

Toshinori awkwardly smiled at Mirai when they spotted each other at the Sports Festival, the other hero standing close by his young pupil as he held up a gold medal. There’s a tense moment of prolonged eye contact, then the tall blonde fades back through the crowd of reporters, careful not to take too much attention from the third years.

The three tournaments were done, and still no sight of any overt moves from All for One. Of course, he knew that his current batch of allies acted in a more subtle manner. But Nedzu was more than capable of handling that, and he knew he couldn’t fight a multifront war on his own.

“Yagi-dono!” Toshinori stops, a familiar reporter walking up to him. He turns to Sakura Agamotto, who walks up to him in a quick but polite manner. “It is wonderful to see you out in the public. Your day has been fruitful, I hope?”

Toshinori nods, bowing his head to the woman. “Yes, Yuuei has managed to impress me with its events this year. These students will be great heroes in the coming years.”

Sakura nods, and holds up her phone. “If you don’t mind me asking a few questions… are you perhaps scouting for future sidekicks for All Might to consider?”

Toshinori laughs, letting a faint blush hit his cheeks. “Well, maybe that’s one of the reasons I’m here. Besides, it’s common knowledge this event is the perfect place to network for new and upcoming Heroes, and All Might thought it would be best if someone was here to represent him.”

Sakura nods, but she can’t help a little smile hit her lips. “And has anyone come up to you for such business? Even better, have you gone to see anyone?”

Toshinori brings a hand to his chin, knowing anything he says could present a problem. But more often, being silent was equally bad, so he had to let something slip. “I mean… just between you and me, All Might mentioned an interest in Kamui Woods, wanting to work with him in the future. And he was a very polite man when we had a moment to chat. But I can’t say anything else; we’re still caught up in the planning phase, you know.”

Sakura types at hurricane speeds on her phone, getting every note down she could. “Of course; anything I said would be rumors. Though speaking of rumors, there have been a few floating around because of Gran Torino’s recent sightings. Can you confirm or deny anything about Gran Torino potentially taking over All Might’s agency, even in a support capacity, while he focuses on his teaching?”

Toshinori stops, and lets himself stumble as he thinks of how to answer it. Nedzu coached him a bit on how to play this, and he thinks it works as he finally finds his words. “Well… that is an interesting question… but as of right now, nothing like that is happening. It’s mostly just old friends getting back together to remember the old times, when the two have time to talk. Even though Torino was one of his mentors when he was young, there seems to be a healthier relationship dynamic these days.”

Sakura brushes her slightly grayed hair back, and Toshinori looks up to see a few cameras pointed this way, their camera-men-and-women all carefully zooming in. “Wonderful. Just one more question before I leave you to your day, and this is a big one. Does All Might have any comments about the recent scandals surrounding Endeavor?”

Toshinori lets his teeth clank together, and carefully thinks about that landmine. “I mean… the big man hasn’t said anything about the recent mess Todoroki-dono has walked into. But if I were to suppose, his stance is somewhere in the area of ‘he was a great hero, and got lost along the way’. I think, if nothing else, some time out of the spotlight will help him find that reason all heroes take up the role; the betterment of life for all.”

Sakura can’t help the cynical eye roll, but respectfully nods before putting down her notes. “I think that should be plenty for a paper. Though my bosses said they’d love to offer your boss an open invitation to an interview when he has the time.”

She reaches into a pocket of her sensible brown suit coat, and produces a small card. Toshinori takes it, and offers a smile. “Now, your bosses should know All Might can’t have favorite newspapers. What would people think?”

He says it as a joke, and Sakura laughs. But he still pockets the card, and returns the bowed head before turning to leave.

“Toshinori-san?” The blond man stops, and turns as Mirai and Togata both walk up, the cameras parting around them as they walk up. “Could I interest you in a cup of tea? I know a wonderful place where we could talk.”

Toshinori turns, his former sidekick walking up with an air of grace and class as he brazenly makes an appointment in front of cameras. “Sir Nighteye, I think it would be my pleasure. All Might has nothing but the best to say about you. And will Young Mirio be joining us?”

Mirai looks at Togata, who just lets out a bright smile before nodding enthusiastically. “That is why I recommended tea. If it were just us, I might request something stronger.”

Toshinori can just hear the tongues wagging, and feels himself give an embarrassed blush before stumbling over his next words. “I would lov… I mean, it would be an honor. I have a car waiting out front, if you’d like.”

Mirai nods, walking up and offering an arm like a proper gentleman. Toshinori takes it, and Togata follows behind the two as cameras flash behind them.

They of course say nothing else until they’re in the car, a long black limo with a driver from the company, and with Togata present, Toshinori waits until Mirai broaches the topics possible.

Mirai sends a text, probably to someone from his agency, before looking at Togata. “I apologize if I ruined your plans with your partners. I hope you can forgive me.”

Toshinori raises an eyebrow, but the young man quickly answers the question without his smile breaking. “Oh, it’s fine. Tamaki needed a break after today anyway, so the two were planning on going to the movies tonight anyways. Besides, you have all sorts of stories about All Might’s younger days, and so now I have someone else to talk to about.”

Togata turns to Toshinori, whose smile grows before turning to look at Mirai. “I’m honestly not all that interesting. I’m not sure what Mirai could have told you to think I’m an interesting man.”

Togata completely misses the second meaning, but Mirai takes a breath before speaking. “I haven’t told my pupil anything. But when All Might suddenly begins teaching, despite no prior interest in pedagogy, rumors of him seeking the brightest of the next generation to train personally go everywhere. And forgive me, but I thought making introductions would be prudent.”

Toshinori pauses… then worries the inside of his lip, an entire point of this meeting suddenly clicking. “I see… well, I can certainly put in a good word, but if All Might already has his eyes on someone else, there’s nothing I can do.”

Mirai blinks, then tilts his head to where his eyes are invisible behind the glare on his glasses. But Togata is all smiles, and Toshinori can respect the fact that the smile on his face hasn’t faded once. “I don’t mind if I don’t really get a spotlight. As long as people are safe and happy, who cares about the rankings and all that!”

“A… a commendable statement, Mirio.” Mirai takes a moment to respond, then gives directions to the driver as to their exact destination. Yagi tries to catch his eyes, but the man deliberately avoids him, gaining a sort of unbroochable hardness as he instead looks out the window.

---

Izuku lets out a quiet laugh in the background, watching Katsuki thumb through the manga Ochako said was her gift. He had a necklace of clear quartz around his neck, half a dozen gift cards in envelopes stuffed between manga pages, and a stack of CDs and other things next to him as he talked to Kyouka and Fumikage, letting others come to him if they wanted to talk.

“Izuku… you said you wanted to test something?” Mina’s voice pulls him back, and Izuku nods before taking the deck of cards and holding it up.

He deals the top three up, fanning them across the table. The dining table was clean for the moment, and only Hitoshi and Shouto were still here, more comfortable with him in the fringe than with the main party. “Yeah, I wanted to test something… Nedzu called this ‘Three Card-Monte’.”

He makes a big deal of showing the three cards, a king and queen and knight with heart logos on their clothing. He sets the rest of the deck aside, slides the three cards together, spreads them out facedown, then begins moving them back and forth.

Instantly, Mina’s eyes begin moving, following one card in specific no matter how much Izuku moved it. He stops, and spreads them out. “Find the Queen.”

Mina sets her finger down near a card… then slowly pulls back. She looks at the other two, but steels her resolve and points at the card on her left. Izuku places his hand over it, then tilts his head and gives the slightest ‘are you sure? noise.

Mina looks up at him, and there’s that moment where she’s completely unsure. She looks at the other two, and seems to agonize over it… but she shakes her head, and points back at the first card.

Izuku smiles, and flips over the Queen she’d been pointing at. Mina’s eyes go wide, and he explains. “You’re really good at dancing, right? You’ve probably had an easier time learning choreography than random facts, because those facts have no sequence or rhythm to them. But you could track the Queen because that’s just a long sequence of moves and switches… I think, if you could find a way to leave your notes in a sequence, it could help you remember everything better.”

Mina looks up from the Queen, and nods after a moment. “I mean, I could remember flow charts and stuff, or stuff like the water cycle and food chain… OH, I get it now! Thanks, Izuku!”

Mina gets up from her chair, and leans over to throw her arms around Izuku’s neck in a hug. Izuku freezes, focusing on a darker spot in the white paint of the ceiling, trying very hard not to get any sort of information from Whisper… and after a few seconds, Mina pulls away, and goes over to talk with Toru and Mashirao.

Hitoshi leans into his eyeline, eyebrow quirked as he does. Izuku shakes his head, flashing a thumbs up before sweeping the cards up. Then he begins shuffling them, taking the middle of the deck out before letting cards slough back onto the pile.

He looks up as Shouto just stares at him, slowly turning the chopsticks he’d just eaten with in his fingers. He doesn’t say anything as Izuku shuffles, so they just silently sit there for a moment in silence…

“Can we see what movies are on? No offense, but this is the third episode in a row where she’s just boiling lobsters.”

“Do not disrespect Mademoiselle Childs, but I certainly wouldn’t mind. Though it would be Katsuki’s decision…”

Izuku breaks the staring contest with Shouto, seeing Katsuki look up from the pile of manga with a shrug. “If no one else is interested, change it. I don’t care; I’m pretty sure I’ve seen everything she made at some point.”

Yuga hands the remote off to Hanta, then picks up some empty soda cans people had collected. Mezou does the same, easily carrying most of them in his hands to the kitchen’s trash and recycling.

Hanta starts clicking buttons, and goes to their shortlist of channels before seeing what’s on. “Some fantasy movie… a deep ocean documentary… there’s an old sci-fi movie about… what sort of title is that?”

Izuku looks over, and Toru jumps up from next to Mina and Mashirao. “Oh, I love that movie! You know that actress from ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’? It’s about a midlife crisis and her daughter’s depressive episode told through an exploration of the multiverse.”

There’s a couple of nods, and Momo specifically nods. “I seem to recall some of her stunts from the former… She was a very skilled actress and stuntwoman, at least in the time before Quirks.”

Izuku nods, recognizing the poster for the movie that was displayed. He remembers seeing it in the past… but before he can get washed in those memories, Shouto breaks his silence. “What’s a multiverse?”

Izuku turns to him, and shrugs. “It’s… it’s an old idea that every action causes an infinite number of different universes to form, all of which differ in slight ways based on those decisions. It’s an old science-fiction story format that got really popular right before the Luminescent Baby was born.”

Shouto seems to think about it, then slowly looks over. “Okay… what did Hagakure mean by ‘midlife crisis’ and ‘depressive episode’?”

Izuku blinks, and tries to find an answer to that loaded question as Hitoshi starts coughing uncontrollably. Shouto just blankly stares at him, and Izuku can feel a little laughter bubbling up at the completely straight faced reaction.

Present Mic, by now having changed into a wrinkled t-shirt and jeans, pokes around the corner to check on everyone. “Alright, we have two choices of cake, and some ice cream if you want it. Just remember to let everyone have a chance to get some, alright?”

A couple of people start heading to the kitchen, and Hanta settles on the movie people were talking about before rewinding to the beginning. Izuku watches the credits for a second, only snapping back to the question asked of him when Shouto clears his throat.

Hitoshi has recovered by now, and Izuku makes eye contact with him before looking at Shouto. “Um… well, it’s hard to describe. But… have you ever just felt numb, before? Like, emotionally; like you’re just too overloaded by something, and everything suddenly feels like it’s happening everywhere and all at once?”

Shouto blinks… then nods, and just turns to watch the movie. Izuku shrugs… then looks up at Yuga, who just silently stands at the corner of the kitchen, looking at the three at the table.

Hitoshi looks over his shoulder, then something prods Izuku’s ankle. “He wanted to talk to you about being Incompatible with your Quirk… and he’s been talking to others about similar stuff a lot.”

Izuku nods, then pulls away to stand up. “Do you guys want some cake? Ice cream?”

---

Shouta sighs, sweeping up the rest of the splinters of Izuku’s wardrobe. The tall wooden furniture piece had a hole in its side, and those pieces could easily be pulled out with minimal force. Shouta had already sent an image of it to Nedzu, then taken a roller of plastic wrap and some tape to cover it until a new one could be brought in.

He empties the dustpan into a plastic bag, and ties it off before quietly heading back downstairs. He takes the back entrance to the common room, tossing the trash into his office before peaking into the living room. The kids all seemed happy, carefully balancing bowls on their laps or the dining room table as they watched a movie.

“Please tell me that wasn’t real chapstick he ate. That would be so disgusting.”

“It was probably candy or something; one of my aunts is a prop master for a studio, and anything they have to eat is replaced with gum or something similar.”

Hagakure’s clothes shudder, Sero’s words evidently not helping. “He swallowed gum? Oh, that’s almost worse.”

Shouta slowly walks in, Jiro turning her head minutely to note his presence. She and Yaoyorozu were at the table on one side, with Izuku across from Jiro, Momo across from Shouto, and Hitoshi next to Shouto and closest to the television. Shouta quickly checks Izuku’s hands, seeing no visible bruises or marks. He quietly moves past them into the kitchen, but the closer pass reveals no evidence of the wounds he remembered this morning.

Yaoyorozu had a separate plate and bowl for her food, but everyone else just had a bowl with theirs served ala mode. She is careful to eat with a level of dignity and refinement, and she nods to him as he passes by. Izuku’s half watching the television, but his gaze is on Yaoyorozu. “So you just don’t like the taste? It’s really interesting, considering how important it would be for your Quirk.”

Yaoyorozu shrugs, fingers drumming next to the used cutlery she had on a napkin. “It’s a bit deeper than that, if I were to go into it. I’m used to it for the purposes of training my Quirk, but that means I don’t actually enjoy it like other people do. It’s less of a treat, and more of a tool in my eyes.”

Shouta files that information, turning the corner into the kitchen. Hizashi has a little paper fan, and he’s leaning against the kitchen island where plates of prepared cake were sitting out in case someone wanted extra. “So… what did you do today?”

Shouta closes the distance, and hugs his husband while burying his face into his shoulder. “Legally, we can’t have liquor in the building. Or drink anywhere near enough to be intoxicated…”

Hizashi gives off a little laugh, a faint wheeze under his tone. He puts an arm around Shouta, a hand idly scratching his neck like he’d handle a cat. “That bad, huh? I heard you went to talk to Ryou today… anything you need to talk about?”

Shouta sighs, slightly shaking his hand. “Not right now… but when we’re out of earshot of the kids.”

Hizashi takes a deep breath, knowing what that means. “So it’s about… all of that, huh? Did you talk to the Little Listener about that idea you had.”

Shouta nods, and pulls away to look back into the living room. Everyone was engrossed in a fight scene on the television… at least, everyone he could see. “Yeah, and that isn’t something he’d do willingly. It’s… you remember that Sandman case from two years ago?”

Hizashi grimaces, details emerging from the dark corners of their memories. “Yeah… that villain targeted kids who’d been abused in the foster system, and used the promise of his Quirk to give them pleasant memories to make them commit petty crimes for him. Even when we brought him in, and got cuffs on him to cancel his Quirk, the kids tried everything they could to get him free… oh.”

Shouta nods, and swallows to try and keep the bile in the back of his throat from rising up. “The Quirk didn’t do anything to influence their minds; it was their own desperation that pushed them to work for him. Their own need to get validation and approval, even if it was from a clearly terrible person, just because he gave them more than the crumbs of respect and decency they craved. And… I can’t help but think that this is a little too similar… even accidentally…”

Hizashi blinks, Shouta’s careful words letting him draw the conclusion without anyone overhearing. “Sheesh… you don’t think Yagi would have done that to Izuku, do you?”

Shouta shakes his head, looking up as everyone cheers at the scene on the television. “He probably didn’t do it consciously. But if All Might chose Izuku because of that, then…”

He stops, noting a shadow just barely in the doorway. He blinks… then Jiro walks around the corner with the bowls, avoiding looking at the teachers as she places the dishes in the sink.

Shouta stares at the back of her head, then at the spot on the wall above it as he realizes what just happened. “Jiro…”

Jiro turns the water on, then turns to them. She tilts her head, then tilts her head, and a jack pulls out of her phone. “D-did you say something, sensei?”

Shouta sighs, then shakes his head. He caught that stutter, but just in case she really didn’t hear anything, the safer play is to act like there was nothing worth hearing. “No, not to you anyway. Did you want any more food?”

Jiro shakes her head, and she quickly walks out while deliberately avoiding eye contact.

Hizashi flicks his shoulder, and messily signs to him. ‘Did she hear us?’

Shouta takes a deep breath, everyone going wild again at another part of the fight scene. ‘Maybe… if yes, we have a problem.’

Hizashi raises an eyebrow, quickly signing before getting them water. ‘We? Your problem. How bad is it, anyways?’

Chapter Text

Kyouka nervously drums her pencil, only barely able to add a few scattered lines to her English assignment. The rest of the girls have the kitchen table, trying to add to their classwork that they’d let sit since they were preparing for the Sports Festival. It was Sunday morning now, and everyone who had things left to do were trying to finish the assignments before they were due tomorrow.

Mina finishes the last of Cementoss’s homework, then checks the study-guide Izuku and Momo had helped them put together. She checks over her answers, taking a moment before pumping her fist. “Finally, a 74! I might actually pass the class if I can study like this all the time!”

Ochako looks up, a rough looking sketch of some big cat staring back at her. “Really? Izuku’s advice from last night was that good?”

Mina nods, dropping her pencil to crack her knuckles. “There’s still a lot of boring memorization to do, but doing things in flow charts and diagrams does really help me.”

Kyouka looks at her page, which was neat and carefully filled in, and the pile of scratch paper that looked like a conspiracy board. Ochako does the same, and lets out a bit of a squeaky note as she nods. “Alright… if it helps you get the answers right, that’s really all that matters.” Mina shrugs, and flicks to a page. Toru stays silent next to Kyouka, just taking a sip from the dregs of her orange juice from breakfast. “It’s basically like video game dialogue trees, which really helped. If I have these two chemicals, they’ll react and spit out this product. Unless this catalyst is used, like a unique game event flag, meaning they’ll instead switch chemical bonds like this.”

Kyouka nods, the metaphor actually working fairly well. She tries to go back into her own work… but Aizawa’s tired voice mutters in the back of her mind, the out of context sentence repeating on a loop since last night. “But if All Might chose Izuku because of that, then…”

Kyouka vaguely remembered something about a villain they mentioned earlier, and found some old news report about a villain the news referred to as ‘Dream Eater: Sandman’. And she’d read a bit of it before turning in for the night.

Because of her Quirk, she was used to hearing unconnected halves of conversations and stringing them together into something terrible. She almost wanted to forget about what she’d heard and move on… but there was the nagging thought right next to that repeating track, replaying how the two teachers watched her when she walked in like they were waiting for her to ask. Like they knew she’d overheard, but were waiting for her to ask them before bringing it up.

‘Maybe it’s just another of Aizawa’s tests? They want to see if I’m ever spying on them, so he invented elaborate lies to see which one gets me to come to him to talk first? GAH!’

“You okay, Jiro?” Kyouka looks up, Toru’s question causing Ochako and Mina to look over.

Her face flushes, and she quickly shakes her head. “What? No, I’m fine! It’s just… nothing you guys need to worry about…”

Ochako raises an eyebrow, and Mina gives her a devious grin. “Oh? Does it have to do with a crush on a certain someone?”

Kyouka blinks, and rapidly shakes her head. “What? No! It’s not about… I mean, what crush… What even is a crush?”

Toru laughs next to her, and Mina openly cackles as Ochako hides a giggle. “Oh, you are hopeless. I can’t believe she hasn’t caught on yet. If Momo talked to us more often, she would have sniffed you out by now.”

Kyouka feels some amount of relief, drowning the nagging thoughts as she tries to come up with an excuse. “It’s… it’s not really like that, though…”

Mina almost looks like she’s done, but Ochako comes back with a steel chair. “Then what is it like? She's the prettiest girl in the class, but what about it has got you so flustered?”

Mina swivels her head, giving Kyouka a moment to recover from choking on her spit while the pink girl switches targets. “Ochako, that’s a pretty sus thing to say… besides, I thought you were all over Iida.”

It’s Ochako’s turn to turn a bright shade of pink, waving her hands out to force the pink girl to lean back. “WHAT? No! Why would you think something like that?”

Mina leans back, and sighs heavily. “Why is no one subtle with their crushes here? Seriously, is there something that just happens to make everyone terrible at hiding their feelings?”

Toru sighs, her chair sliding out and her paper wrinkling as she head-desks the dining table. “What about you, huh? You have to have a crush on someone, right?”

Mina looks up, and leans her head back before bringing an arm up, acting like a queen upon her throne. “Bow at my aro/ace feet, mortals.”

Toru’s head comes up slightly, and the other three girls all take a second to digest the line. Kyouka, mostly recovered from the ribbing earlier, manages to actually respond. “So… are you just not interested in anyone?”

Mina shrugs, not really sure. “I mean, not like that. Like, Ei and Hanta and Denki are all my friends, but I don’t feel anything for them in that way. And I can still appreciate it when those Hero calendars come out… like, did you see the cover art with Hawks?”

Ochako’s face immediately goes red, and Kyouka rolls her eyes… and looks out the patio window, seeing Momo and Mashirao going back and forth, almost dancing with each other. Elbows and punches were flying too much to be accidental, but the two kept up their back and forth while dodging and parrying like they were gods, moving to music only they could hear in a space outside of mortal restrictions. And Momo’s hair is out of it’s neat loop, getting tossed around like a net and shining with a luster like she used diamond dust to treat it…

“Kyouka, you’re drooling.” Toru’s words cause her to check, and she jabs the girl’s shoulder with a jack for that.

---

A low flute sound plays into the treeline, the faint clearing having just enough space for everyone to have their own space to practice. Shouto tries to keep his eyes closed, but he can’t help but keep looking around to everyone as they wind through the movements, low soothing music playing from a speaker next to Aizawa.

Aizawa had offered to show them all some tai-chi for their exercises at the dorms, and he’d already finished his classwork. Not to mention, no one was really talking to each other here, removing the burden of social interaction he was finally starting to notice now that everyone was around him so much more. Plus, the teacher looked like he needed it; even though he tried to be distant and secretive, Shouto knew when someone was tense or stressed out. One of a few sixth senses he was realizing he had… an eighth sense?

Kouji had let his rabbit sit with Shouto throughout the movie, and the two had something that he knew his sister would call friendship if she ever saw it. But it wasn’t really that far; more that they both didn’t like to talk, and knew the other would accept that. So he’d made a choice of seeking the quiet animal speaker out, and joined him even though the local birds all came to their clearing to see him, probably trying to see if he had anything to feed them.

Speaking of birds, Tokoyami was also there, eyes closed and relaxed in the sunniest spot in the clearing. Shouto quickly looked away, the faint rainbow gleaming on his feathers escaping into the air around him, very distracting if he let himself continue staring. Dark Shadow had yet to appear, either meaning Tokoyami was keeping them locked away or they simply didn’t wish to be out right now.

The three were the only ones out here besides Aizawa, and they all seemed to appreciate that fact. They were all peacefully in their own heads, or in Shouto’s case, trying to get out of his head, and just breathing in the cool air and taking in the music while they moved slowly and deliberately through their exercise. Trying to rid themselves of stress and tension, and succeeding on most accounts…

But as Shouto went, he thought about the odd movie last night. And the thought of a black hole bagel, something supposedly made of a person’s every worry and painful thought compressed into the same space. That image made him uncomfortable, and a little confused; if compressing one's emotions made such a terrible thing, how was everyone not a black hole, just from their brains being already so small, but full of every emotional experience in their lives? After long enough, most people should collapse into a black hole based on that thinking…

He looked at Aizawa, and he knew that if anyone should be a black hole by now, it would be him. He knew the stories of a rescue gone wrong, and a friend of his and Present Mic who lost their life. And then the Trigger Instant Villain incidents a few years earlier, which he’d gotten wrapped in personally with some vigilantes who’d mucked around… but he didn’t really know a lot else. Something to ask Izuku about, if they had the time…

The flute music suddenly goes quiet, replaced with Morse Code tapping. Aizawa stops, and quickly pulls out his phone to disconnect it from the wireless speaker. “Yes… that’s quick. And you… you did what with who now?”

The three stop, but Aizawa walks a bit away so they can’t overhear anything. Shouto looks at the other two, but neither of them have anything to add, so the three stand there silently until the teacher comes back.

“I’m afraid I need to take care of something, so you can either continue without me, or go off and do…” He stops himself, and takes a breath. He’d been right on the edge of anger and losing it, but he reels it in and returns to his more neutral register. “... something else with your free day. Excuse me.”

The teacher turns and starts speed walking away, and Kouji brings his hands up, tapping his fingers together while closing his eyes, as if trying to remember something.

“Kouji… do you know Morse Code?” Tokoyami catches on quickly, and Shouto grimaces to himself that he hadn’t paid enough attention to catch it.

Kouji nods… then his face goes a bit pale, and he repeats the pattern to himself. “um… it was A-L-L-M… then it got cut off. sorry…”

Shouto begins to shrug… then stops himself. He thinks about it for a moment, then looks off to their retreating teacher. “So… it sounds like All Might did something, and whatever it is, Aizawa doesn’t like it.”

Tokoyami hears the edge of conspiracy to the statement, and Shouto looks over when he doesn’t instinctually deny it. In fact, he seems to think it over, meaning he might know something like what Shouto knows… or maybe, more interestingly, he knows something Shouto doesn’t. “I think it’s best to leave this for now, until we have more information. In all likelihood, he was calling because something came up, and he won’t be at Foundations of Heroics. Or something else equally innocent…”

Shouto hears the creeping doubt in that ending statement, and the shadow of doubt is ironically leaving the shadow caster in this moment. Tokoyami looks over at him, and the bird catches on his suspicious look, and immediately his feathers ruffle a bit. A patch on the back of his hand grows dark, but he shoves his hand into his pocket and mumbles a quick excuse to head back into the dorms.

Shouto turns to Kouji, who looks absolutely bewildered but offers a nervous smile to him. Shouto returns it, then walks towards the dorms as well, planning on following the bird child in.

While he means to, he’s distracted when he notices Momo and Ojiro sparring with each other, circling between the pavement of the patio and the grass next to it. The two are clearly skilled with martial combat, and it looks almost like their dancing. But Ojiro clearly relied on his tail for combat, and even though it was wrapped around his waist, he was keeping even with Momo if not doing better.

Shouto blinks after a few seconds, then remembers his goal for the moment. He quickly tries to follow Tokoyami into the building, but as he enters the common room, he can’t see him, and just files the thought for later to go into the kitchen, filling a glass with ice.

He holds the glass for a moment, relaxing his control for just a few seconds so the cubes rapidly melt into cold water. He sighs, a visible shiver if anyone could see him, but no one had a direct line of sight on him right now… except for Aoyama, who Shouto looks up to see as he raises the glass to his lips, sitting on the sectional couch caddy-corner from Katsuki.

---

Yuga simply lets Katsuki read the interview in his magazine, prepared for any questions the boy might have. He looks up, seeing that Shouto has retreated to the kitchen for a cup of water, and his gaze unnerves the poor heterochromatic boy’s moment of respite. He turns his eyes, seeing Toru amongst most of the other girls finishing some pages of homework they had left. He half wondered if she would be listening in, but set that thought aside for one of the big class fish.

He had too many other things to think about to focus on; specifically, how careless he’d been in his ideological infiltration of the class. He was planning on doing things carefully, not making a big deal of it. But… well, he now saw he had a few different people he could turn quickly, and while his father’s advice on cut-throat advancement in the hero industry didn’t go one-to-one in Yuuei’s social sphere, the advice had enough parallels for him to run ‘the playbook’.

Like how Katsuki had an obvious weakness to exploit, considering his newfound remorse seeming to lead back to the treatment of people with lesser or no Quirks. And while Yuga had half a mind to slap the boy on Izuku’s behalf, and was half sure he could hold a fight long enough to get people to separate them, and enough good will to spin things to where Katsuki was the aggressor until camera footage said otherwise… well, he was reasonably sure he could turn the boy to his side instead of risking such a powerful enemy.

Katsuki finishes the main story interview, and he lowers it while thinking about what he read. Yuga doesn’t interrupt him, letting him spin the yarn to himself as he goes back and rereads a few passages, breaking down and critiquing the words. “Okay… so it’s a cult… but most people wouldn’t drink the kool-aid if they were told to.”

Yuga takes a moment, then gives a faint chuckle. “That is one way to look at it, mon ami. It of course has its zealots and extremists, but any large enough group of people has bad apples. I think of it as more of a twinkling star of awareness than anything else, mostly because they keep their ears out for those stories we’ve learned to tune out. I’m sure you had some exposure due to Izuku’s upbringing, but the stigma and bullying Quirkless people recieve in their early life is extremely damaging.”

Yuga pauses, waiting to see the reaction from the boy. And there’s a split second of angry tension, then the poor thing starts going to war against himself. “I… may have noticed something like that.”

Yuga nods, and raises his hands to brush his blond locks back. “Precisely. Horrible stories really, and there’s no end to them if you go looking. They’re not even effectively buried, right there amongst the dirt to be picked like apples amongst the tree roots. While some do go to… insipide ends, my family and I are amongst those who just focus on that awareness raising. If Quirkless people have sensitive ears on their side, and my twinkling attracts others willing to carry the message further on…”

Katsuki nods, considering it. He stews on that thought, and Yuga is more than happy to let him walk to the pier without him. He looks outside, trying to catch sight of Aizawa. Last he’d seen, he’d been with Shouto in the treeline, but now the teacher was gone. He furrows his brows, knowing the teacher had not come in with Tokoyami a moment ago.

Tokoyami had started up the stairs, stopping so Izuku could walk past. The green haired boy had his head to his notebook, flipping through pages of notes as he walked towards the kitchen.

Katsuki follows his gaze, then quickly adjusts to make it look like he didn't care. He flips to the next section of the magazine, twisting so obviously away from Izuku that Yuga has to stifle his laughter. That causes the blond to look up, but Yuga turns from him as the outside door opens for Momo and Mashirao to come in.

She has a small paper folding fan, which is causing her hair to billow behind her. Yuga turns from that to Kyouka, who couldn’t be more obviously interested in the sight if her eyes turned into giant hearts. The other three girls are looking at that, and sniggering amongst themselves.

Izuku is looking at the girls, clearly halfway through a thought, when Shouto steps out of the kitchen, looking at Izuku. Which almost makes Yuga break the mystique, given the six part chain of onlookers and watchers seemingly unaware of their own watchers.

He blinks… then snaps his head the other way, catching Hitoshi staring from the stairwell Tokoyami had just gone up, and might be watching him from. And that thought causes Yuga to break, and he’s pretty sure everyone notices the rest of the chain by that point.

When Yuga gets control of his laughter, Izuku is waving his notebook, apologizing to the girls as Shouto steps back into the kitchen, Momo and Mashirao following. “Sorry! I was just thinking… Does Toru cast a shadow even though she’s invisible? And I guess it was kind of weird not to say anything and just stand here…”

Hitoshi comes down the stairs, and speedwalks up to see what’s happening in the kitchen. Mina shrugs, hooking an arm around the chair and turning to look at the strawberry red green haired boy. “I mean, you don’t mean anything by it, right? I’m fine with it… oh, and she totally doesn’t. See?”

Mina brings her hand up, waving it in the air in front of Toru. That seems to answer the question, and Hitoshi slows to walk around the corner when he doesn’t hear anything terrible. Mashirao walks out of the kitchen, but Momo and Shouto disappear around the corner, having a side conversation about something.

Yuga wants to try and get closer, maybe overhear it, but there’s no need. He runs his fingers through his hair, and offers a smile as Ojiro heads up the stairs. He relaxes, reminding himself he had the whole year. Being too obvious would just get everyone to put their guard up. And if he wanted to succeed, he needed people to at least be open to hearing him.

---

Snipe slowly opens the door to his daughter’s room, and nods when there isn’t a slowly pouring cloud of smoke invading the hallway. He puts his hand inside, and loudly knocks against the metal tool cabinet that’s right next to the door. “Mei… Ya a’most ready for dinner? We ain’t seen ya since breakfast…”

He waits for a second, then hears the shuffling of feet as her gloved hand reaches through the door. She pulls it open, and he can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the bags under her eyes. How had he missed those earlier?

Mei stands there another few seconds… then comes in, and wraps her arms around him. Snipe quickly returns the gesture, waiting for her to say anything. “Dad… you know Izuku, right? You don’t teach first year hero students, but you know about him, right?”

Snipe tries not to go tense from the question, but he can’t help the nervous frisson that runs down his spine. Izuku was one of a few students that had gotten Nedzu’s personal attention, and Snipe knew to stay uprange of all that. And based on Aizawa’s increased exhaustion (and considering the man already acted like a decade old housecat, that was saying something), he was pretty sure Nedzu had him working down to the bone on something. “I mean, ‘is whole class got a reputation building by now. Did he do something to catch yo eye, hon? Cause I’ll polish off my shotgun right now…”

Mei gives off a tiny laugh as she pulls back, nothing close to her usual mad scientist cackle. “No… It’s just… fine, I’ll show you.”

She moves into her room, which had always been a bit like a mini factory with a bed and wardrobe in the corner. But right now, her work desk has a laptop with a monitor hooked into it, and it was playing footage of Izuku’s fight with the Todoroki boy. On loop, as the end of the fight happens, then the screen goes black before restarting at the beginning.

Mei hits a button, and the footage slows down. It switches to a drone on the side of the field, and shows Izuku… jumping away from the sudden pillar of ice. And maybe the footage was just slowed down too much, but he fell at too much of an angle.

“Play that back…” Mei just pushes a button, and it rewinds to the start. Snipe watches it again, then they redo it at normal speed. But having seen it in slow motion, the normal speed footage obviously fell into the Uncanny Valley. Izuku was floating out of the way of the ice field, at an angle and much too slow for the jump he did to get airborne.

“His Quirk is like a giant battery that’s been charging all his life, with either a giant or no limit. I get how he can use it for Super Strength… hell, I could punch through concrete if I was motivated enough! But this…”

“I don think Cementos would allow that… At least, he won’t when I’m done with him.”

Mei shakes her head, then pulls up a graph she layered over the footage. It shows the curve angle of descent, and a long distance for a jump that is impossible. “Plus, look at his hands! It looks like those jet pack glove stabilizers one of the second years used. I’m not crazy, right?”

She pulls up a video, showing a Support student from the second year who could release compressed air bursts from their hands and feet. They made a jet pack rig, which had been displayed in the Second Year’s big Mêlée à Trois between the two Hero Classes and the Support Core. He flew above most of the other combatants, and was giving eagle eye information while raining minor explosives on groups of the enemies.

And he had his hands out in a very similar fashion. “Huh… Mei, let me ask Aizawa and Nedzu about this tomorrow first. I know telling you not to think about this ain’t a hill worth dying on, but… just let me poke this first, okay?”

Mei turns to him, and pulls out a little handwritten journal of notes. “Okay… but if Izuku’s got some super special double Quirk or something like Todoroki, I am going to make so many babies with him.”

Snipe takes a deep breath, and leaves his daughter's room. He steps around the corner, letting his hand choke his revolver’s empty holster out of instinct. But he doesn’t let that reactionary anger reach his voice, keeping the same drawl as usual. “Dinner will be ready in ten, got that?”

Mei nods, and starts closing down the video. Snipe nods, and walks down to his ex and her wife’s kitchen. ’Midoriya, if you break my girl’s heart, I will replace your heart with lead.’

Chapter Text

Tenya tries to keep a neutral face as the car pulls close to Yuuei’s entrance gate, a couple of second year students running through the rain past them as he gets out of the car. He shuffles his bag under the raincoat, and tries not to slam the door as he leaves the driver to quickly get through the gates of the school.

No one really tries to interact with him, or he just leaves them behind before they can think of what to say. Which is fine; he was trying to maintain his sleep schedule, but he kept waking up in the night despite his best efforts. He felt half dead on his feet… and every time that particular thought crosses his mind, it’s like someone pulls a knife out of his stomach before plunging it back in.

He almost makes it to class undisturbed… but waiting outside the door is Hatsume, who turns to him with a bright smile. “Iida-kun! I was wondering… could I borrow you after classes today? I figured out an optimization for the Auto-Balancer pack, and I was hoping you could help me field test it!”

Tenya stops and, for a second, there’s a feeling of relief that tries to flush his system. But it barely starts before it sours and petrifies, and he lowers his eyes to the ground before walking around the Support Student. “Apologies, but I don’t think that will work today. Perhaps another time…”

“Ah, come on!” Hatsume steps forward to half block the door, but doesn’t get up in Tenya’s space. She’s still impeding him, but she’s not invading his personal space, which in hindsight might have been her being nice. “I know, it was a little evil to use you to demo my babies. But think about how useful those stabilizers could be to people with speed enhancing quirks. Imagine how much of a better hero people like your brother could be if they had gear like…”

“I said no.” He knows, mentally, that Hatsume didn’t mean to pull that knife out, coat it in salt, and plunge it back into his stomach. But Tenya can’t help the quiet venom that leaks out of his mouth, causing the girl to stop and actually look over him. Emotionally, he can’t help but try and release all the pressure that’s trying to crush his chest from the inside, which is only made worse when he sees her flinch at the tone.

She registers the faint eye bags, highlighting the glare that had now been given a target to settle on. The slight bend in his glasses, now off center, causing his eyes to be magnified in an uneven manner. That two of the buttons on his shirt were a different color, with messy stitching putting them in place in a way only someone with keen eyes would notice.

“Oh… oh.” Hatsume takes a half step back, then slowly pulls open the classroom door. “Um… well, maybe if you have some time later this week? And if you ever think of something I can do to help you, I kind of owe you a favor…”

Tenya takes a breath, and tries to stifle the urge to just scream like a Nordic berserker. He tries to push his glasses into alignment, but that causes one of the temple tips to come off his ear, which is just another fly buzzing incessantly around his head. “I… I will remember that offer. Maybe later this week, alright?”

Hatsume nods, and he walks into the quiet classroom while closing the door behind him. He checks behind the desk, and Aizawa’s sleeping bag wasn’t even there, so he should be on his own for a short while.

Tenya takes his seat, and pulls out his half completed assignments. The sound of rain and thunder outside is almost soothing, but it also carries a tension to it that he can barely stand. He quickly goes through them, filling them in to the best of his ability before the rest of the class joins. He ignores the thoughts swirling in his head… of finding the Hero Killer Stain…

He couldn’t understand why. More than anything, he wanted to know why… why his brother, of all heroes. Others had been hurt, but not nearly as terribly. They were temporarily out of commission, or would require long stints in therapy. But his brother…

“Preliminary tests show… Well, the damage is similar to cases of ASIA B Paraplegia, where some nerves are still receiving sense data, but motor functions are out of the control of the individual. We have certain therapies and treatments, but the odds of full recovery are unlikely to impossible…”

He faintly hears a snap, and realizes his pencil is now in two pieces. He quickly picks up the other pieces, and returns them to his bag. He has a small pencil box, but half of them are similarly broken.

He’s mostly done by the time the door opens again, and Sato and Tsuyu walk in. He quickly looks back to his assignment, writing down the last math formula necessary before starting on its block of problems to prepare for the test later this week.

“Thank you, kero. I had to rush to catch the train, so I was just going to grab something from the cafeteria.”

“No problem, Tsu. I was planning on offering some to you and Iida anyway… Oh, hey Iida.”

Tenya looks up when Sato addresses him, and has had enough time to school his expression to a careful neutral mask. “Good morning, Sato. How are things going with the dormitory system?”

Sato shrugs, and both he and Tsuyu make their way to their seats. “A bit hectic, but everyone’s finding space for themselves. It makes homework a lot easier, since Momo and Izuku are always around to ask for help.”

Tenya nods, and tries to go back to the math problems.

“Tenya… if you need to talk to someone about what happened to your brother, we’re all willing to listen. Just let us know, kero.” Tsuyu had a blunt way of addressing things, which didn’t hurt nearly as much as Tenya was expecting.

Tenya nods, and quickly looks back at the paper. “Thank you… but not right now. I need… I’m still processing all of it.”

Sato and Tsuyu nod, then start getting their notebooks and journals out. Tsuyu has a little take out box next to her, which she opens to reveal a small portion of rice with a fried egg on it. She folds her hands in front of her, bowing her head for a moment before beginning to eat.

She eats quietly, but quick enough to get up and throw the box away before the rest of the class begins pouring in. Tenya avoids looking up at everyone, letting them come to him if they choose.

Pleasantly, everyone else doesn't broach the big topic. They ask all the questions around it, circling the pit he’d fallen into while clearly wanting to help him.

But right now, all he could think was adding to that pit… adding a body to it, anyways.

---

Mirai takes a breath, looking at the email he’d been expecting with forlorn acceptance. He knew it was much too late to try that move, but he couldn’t help letting that little flickering fire of hope slowly flicker lower.

Bubble Girl knocks, then slowly peeks in the doorway. “Sir… a bunch of the hero gossip zines keep calling, trying to set up an interview. I keep telling them your schedule is full…”

Mirai looks up, and sees a faint probing look to her as she tiptoes around the rumor. “Thank you, Awata. Tell them we’re busy with long standing projects, and unable to give an interview for the foreseeable future.”

She nods, and slowly creeps into the room. “Speaking of… is that why… you and All Might’s secretary…”

Mirai clears his throat, cutting off her probe before speaking. “Simply meeting an old friend. It had nothing to do with our major assignments, other than my own personal life and his. And for your sake, please leave it at that.”

Awata nods, and quickly steps out of the office. Leaving Mirai alone with his thoughts, and his laptop…

He clicks over to the next tab, which had footage from the first year’s Sports Festival playing on it. He has a small notepad next to him, and he can’t help but analyze the class that held Yagi’s successor, attempting to sniff out that troublesome but necessary Quirk.

He has a small printout of all the student’s photos, and he’s crossed through the ones he is reasonably sure don’t have it. Most of the kids had impressive Emitter Quirks, but the ones with Mutant features were safely eliminated. The boy wearing a facemask the whole time, the one with the raven head, and the animal caller who’d participated in side events were safely off his list. The girl with the audio jacks had potential, but that particular Quirk made him discard her from this little competition in his head, though he noted her for later recruitment. Ojiro was right out… and Mirai takes some solace in seeing him defeated quickly once he was done leeching off others in the group event.

He considers the boy who defeated Ojiro as the potential Holder, but his Quirk was unremarkable. If anything, it would be dangerous to give One for All to him, considering how a future user would have to use it. He considers the Explosion Boy a similar hazard, but can’t quite cross him completely off the list. The gravity manipulating girl had potential, and he couldn’t quite cross off the possibility that she was using some amount of Float in a mutated manner with her quirk.

He discards the Iida, Aoyama, and Todoroki boys, even though their training regimens would make them more likely to survive the initial transfer. Just by virtue of their families, any secret involving them would get out immediately. He also wants to cross out Yaoyorozu, but giving a clearly intelligent girl that power would be an incredibly erudite decision. But that’s also why he doesn’t think Yagi would do it; he’s far too impulsive to think so far ahead.

He discards the electric boy, acid girl, and the first two lovebirds from the first tournament fight quickly. They all stunk of teenage thinking, and he had just enough faith in Yagi to not pick them. Especially the green and purple haired boys; thinking about romance so early in the year, and to advertise it publicly? A foolish decision, with virtually no benefits this early in their careers.

The Tape Boy was utterly unremarkable… but he doesn’t do anything to his evaluation of that one. He focuses on him in the group footage, and sees that he carefully stays in larger groups. He was exuding mediocrity, not even achieving anything that could be described as ‘interesting’... perfectly in the middle of the pack, and eliminated quickly before his Quirk could be displayed. If anything, the fact that he had stayed so far off the radar was suspicious, and enough to include him on the list for further investigation.

So he had four candidates he had it narrowed down to, and he’d tried to put in the internship paperwork. But Nedzu had just let the automated message send back, that he was sadly outside of the window for internship slots. He’d had a letter sent to be delivered to him personally, but he figured that there would be too many offers for most of them that he wouldn’t be able to snag any but the Tape User. And that was just his neutral option; the three he was sure of would surely be out of his grasp, at least until they got a bit more experience under their belt.

He taps a button on his phone, sending a single letter in a text to Centipeder. After a short minute, the man comes through the door, and does a little bow to him. “Sir, Mirio just called me. He said he wouldn’t be able to come until at least Thursday, due to his class work.”

“Unfortunate, though we should be fine with our investigations without him until then. But I want you to see if you can get some ears to the ground about some of the Yuuei children; see who they’re interning with so we can get some information on them. Not aggressively, but make sure we have eyes on the following four.”

He pulls up their images, and turns the laptop for the man to see. He nods, his antenna twitching as he pulls out his phone. “Looking for more promising heroes like Mirio to train?”

Mirai huffs a tiny laugh, and gives a smile to Centipeder. “You might say that, yes.”

---

Dabi pulls the bathroom door open, letting some fresh air into the cramped space. He turns back, seeing the inky black liquid oozing down the drain. He looks up, and runs his hands through his soaked hair, with only a few black spots to make it look like a dalmation. It felt like he was exposed… but also weirdly right.

He uses the hand towel to soak up the water that had dripped onto his shoulders. His entire neck and right arm were scarred and dark purple, and his left arm right up to the shoulder was similarly discolored. But, like it or not, that was him, so he was fine with showing it off… considering he wasn’t planning on going out today. It was raining, and everytime he looked up at the mirror, lightning cracked dramatically in the distance.

So he pulls on his loose v-neck, and walks out to see what new spores of madness await him in the bar today. He grabs a half empty pack of smokes, and pulls one out to light it, the tip of his index finger starting to have a persistent light purple color and numbness he really didn’t like. Imagine, having a fire Quirk and needing a lighter. He sighs, a faint trail of smoke escaping at the thought.

He walks down the stairs and into the main bar, where Compress and Hanna are practicing. She can’t quite get some slight of hand trick right, and he’s making sure to go through it at lightning and snail speeds to show her where she’s getting it just slightly wrong.

Jin is typing something on a phone, evidently looking up videos about something. He turns as he hears Dabi coming down the stairs, and smiles at him. Dabi makes for the open seat next to him, and Jin stretches to peck his cheek with a small kiss as he settles into place.

Shin-Hye is typing something on the computer, with some earbuds in as she watches the screen. She looks up after a second, then twiddles her fingers in a wave when she sees him staring.

“You look better as a blond.” Dabi turns, Shigaraki looking up from his game. The kid looked like he’d finally taken a bath, the weird cracks around his mouth actually blending in a bit better.

Dabi takes the cig out, and takes a moment to blow a smoke ring before responding. “Uh-huh, cause you’re an unbiased judge. What are we doing today, brat?”

It takes him a second, but the kid sets the console away before he curls his hands into fists, thumbs up and hooked like he wanted to shove them through Dabi’s eyes. “Nothing… unless Hana’s probes find us something worth doing, we’re waiting around until next week.”

“What’s next week?” Jin leans around Dabi to look at Shigaraki, plucking the cigarette and taking a drag to keep the reverse statement from compulsively coming out.

“We don’t know yet; Big Man’s keeping it close to the vest.” Hana provides the answer, and Dabi looks over as she flicks her wrist, and a card slides out of her sleeve and into her hand.

Dabi shrugs, and pulls out his phone. He puts in the unlock code… and sees a text Shouto had sent to him earlier in the morning.

Twerp:The man who hurt Tenya’s brother… does he work for the same people you do?

Dabi chews on his tongue, thinking of how to respond to that. Jin looks over, but doesn’t say anything about it as he types a few things out, then deletes them.

After a solid minute, he finally manages to come up with an honest answer. He types it up, and takes a second to reconsider it before he sends it.

No, but he’s on our radar. Don’t get anywhere near him.

The door to the bar opens, and Dabi turns the phone off and slides it away as someone comes stomping down the stairs. He almost expects Muscular… but instead, it’s a woman in an open orange button up, with long auburn hair with an odd glossy sheen to it. She shakes a raincoat in the staircase, and hangs it on a hook in the entry hall. “That offer for a drink still on the table, Sako?”

Dabi turns to better face the woman, not letting her leave his sight as Compress waves her into the bar. He hops the bar, and grabs a bottle to start pouring her… Dabi blinks, then leans into Jin. “Where’s Kurogiri?”

Jin shrugs, and Compress rests on his elbows as Magne downs the drink. “Hikiishi, be honest. What made you take this invitation?”

Magne looks at the glass, and sets it back down. “Oh, I’m not taking the offer yet. I just need a drink first, and to talk… but that offer is sounding more and more interesting.”

Compress nods, and Hana sits a few seats down from Magne. “Sorry if I’m butting in, but didn’t you two work together on a few heists a few years ago? I feel like I’m remembering a story…”

“Of course you are!” Compress gestures wildly, arms coming up as he goes fully into his act. “Magne was one of my best assistants I’ve ever had, and we pulled off one of my biggest heists in years together! That was also the job when I began my whirlwind rivalry with Snipe…”

Magne stops, and snorts at that. “Oh, you can’t still be chasing him after five years, can you?”

“Why wouldn’t I chase him? He’s positively dashing; that scar on his face you gave him just added that extra spark…”

“That scar was a bullet my quirk reflected back at him. A bullet aimed at your heart, I might add.”

“There are worse things than dying, staring into the eyes of the man you love…”

Jin begins chuckling next to Dabi, and watching the two go back and forth like a pair of trained comedians. Compress has all the theatrics and playing for the audience down, and Magne just raises her voice enough so the deadpan delivery maintains its integrity and incredulity. Hana is trying to hide a smile, clearly enjoying her front row seat to the show.

“Speaking of worse things…” Magne tries to pull the energy down, and Compress quickly wheels it in to listen to his friend. “Yeah, I’m not going to have an apartment building in a minute. All that stuff with the ‘Hero Killer’ got my landlord keyed up, and… well, either I’m out of my apartment, or out of a landlord.”

Compress sighs, and reaches forward to pat Magne on the shoulder. “If you need help moving out, I’m there for you. But where could you go…”

Magne shrugs her shoulders, knocking his hand off before she turns to Hana. “So, you’re the boss around here, right? Compress keeps talking you up when we’ve met these past couple of months.”

Hana smiles, then points to Shigaraki in the corner. Dabi wheels around, seeing he’s already starting to get up from his game. “Technically, he’s the one giving orders. I’m just the Girl in the Chair, making sure the way is clear for him. And right now… well, Stain is a bit of a problem for us, to. So we’re trying to get things in place to capitalize off him doing his thing…”

Magne’s hand clenches, and she takes the ignored refilled drink and downs it. It clearly burns her throat, her voice dropping an octave for a second when she starts speaking. “If it hurts him, count me in. Cause I’m all up for social revolution, but he’s being sloppy with it.”

Hana smiles, and offers a hand. “Can you do better?”

Magne’s fist unclenches, and she takes Hana’s. And the lightning outside flares again, and the lights flicker for a second with the perfect dramatic timing. “I have a few ideas, yeah.”

Chapter Text

Izuku looks at the dry erase board in front of him, tapping his notebook with the marker it came with. He keeps trying to think of something… but the board is blank, not even the hint of former ideas on it. He looks up, seeing what everyone else is talking about to see if he could get some idea.

“What do you mean, no? ‘Alien Queen’ is a great name!” Mina turns to Midnight at the front of the room, and the older heroine is just shaking her head.

Behind them, the board had a hologram projection over it, showing a bunch of them had offers. Only Shouji and Sato didn’t get any; even Kouji and Hagakure got two, and everyone who participated in the dance had a good dozen or so. Only Izuku and Hanta broke the pattern; despite being in the tournament, they both had the same amount as people who weren’t in the tournament rounds. Ochako was the low end of the tournament goers with over fifty, and Katsuki and Todoroki were both in the three and four thousand as the high end.

“First of all, Trademark law. Second of all, that can be a really intimidating name for people to try and approach. Half of the job is being someone people can trust and talk to; do you think a kid in danger would come to you for help with a name like a horror movie monster?”

Midnight tries to sound nice about it, but her calm dissection of Mina’s name seems to hurt her more. She goes back to her desk, and people seem to start second guessing their names. Izuku can see Denki start to erase, and start redoing something.

Izuku looks back at his blank board, and tries to think of something to add. He wants to do something that’s a half reference to One for All, but it feels dangerous to do that when so many people seem to half know what was going on.

Shouto’s phone vibrates on his desk, and the boy checks it. There’s a faint ripple of surprise, but Izuku quickly ignores Whisper’s information. Because all it was getting was mounting dread from the class as they consider their names, and Izuku has enough of that without the Quirk adding to it.

Eijiro and Fumikage both seem sure about their names, and Fumikage is looking around just like Izuku. The two make eye contact, and Fumikage breaks it to see that his board is empty. His feathers shift upward like an eyebrow, but Izuku shrugs before looking away.

The three of them technically didn’t know anything, but it was worth trying to keep them at arm's length. Fumikage especially, because Izuku wasn’t sure, but felt like the bird boy was watching him. There were times over the weekend, like at meals, where he would catch Fumikage watching him. He wasn’t sure, but he was almost considering using Whisper to see if he could sneak a peak in the boy’s head…

He shakes his head, and takes the cap off his marker. He considers it for a minute, but he can’t do more than make a few tally marks on the side of the board.

Tsuyu and Kirishima go next, and the energy in the room upshifts. Hitoshi turns to him, flashing his board. Izuku snickers at it, but he doubts ‘Mindfuck Hero’ will get a pass. But the actual name looked pretty good, so he nods with a smile.

Izuku looks at the tally marks, adding a ninth to them. He looks at it for a second, then pulls out his phone. He begins scrolling through a downloaded dictionary, seeing if he could find the right word for his idea.

He looks up, Hanta going back to his seat as Katsuki walks up. He sets his sign up, and Midnight takes a step forward to see it. “The Catalyst Hero: Dynamite! Not half bad, though a bit on the violent side. I half expected something like ‘Lord Explosion Murder’, if I was being honest.”

Katsuki scoffs, and walks back to his desk. “Yeah, if ‘Alien Queen’ didn’t pass, ‘King Explosion Murder’ didn’t have a chance.”

Mashirao slowly walks up, his sign saying ‘Tailman’. “She said Lord, not King…”

A few other people clue in to that, and a faint chorus of laughter echoes through the room. The only person who doesn’t change is Tenya, and Izuku looks up from the dictionary to check on him. He is completely stone faced, and he was oddly blank. Izuku even specifically dials up Whisper, wading through the rolling emotions around to get to Tenya… but while the air around everyone is swarmed with colors, Tenya is oddly monochromatic, a weird gray aura around him.

Izuku shakes out of it as Hitoshi walks up, Fumikage walking back to his desk. He poses his sign up, a faintly menacing smile on his face. If Aizawa were awake, and not slumped in his sleeping bag, the two might compare who had the better slasher smile. “The Mindscape Hero: KillGrave.”

Midnight rubs her chin, face scrunched up. “You’re walking a fine line between ‘goth enough’ and ‘too goth’. But ‘Purple Man’ would be too close to something else… you want to go underground anyways, so if you like it…”

Hitoshi turns the smile fully up to ‘serial killer in the darkest corner of your room at one in the morning’, and Midnight palms his face and pushes him towards his seat. He stumbles, but quickly spins around to walk over, satisfaction oozing out with every step.

Izuku sees Ochako whispering to Tenya, and he just shakes his head in response. She gives him a probing look, but after another few seconds, she goes up, showing off the punny name she came up with. He smiles, and Shouto taps his shoulder. He looks over, then shrugs as he gets up to share it.

Izuku writes down his own, and nods as Midnight approves of ‘The Stormfront Hero: Shouto’. “Using your names isn’t bad, but maybe consider changing them in the future. The title isn't bad, though.”

Shouto goes to sit down, and Izuku looks around to see everyone has gone but him and Tenya. He looks over at Tenya, and seeing he’s finally writing something, he gets up and walks to the front.

He nervously sets the sign up, waiting for Midnight to rake him over the coals. “The Hero for All: Gestalt... be honest, did you have to look that up?”

Izuku shrugs, feeling everyone staring at him. “Well… I just always liked heroes. And the best hero can do every job fairly well, and can work with others to pull out their strengths. They can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts… and so I just went looking for the word that said what I meant. And… well, I sort of remembered this old story about three musketeers… ‘All for One, and One for All’ and stuff…”

Midnight takes a second, then she reaches forward and ruffles his already messy hair. Izuku reflexively tenses, but doesn’t disallow it. “That’s fine, Midoriya. And you already have a bit of team building under your belt, so it’s not half bad.”

Izuku nods, and makes his way to his seat. Everyone nods, but a few people throw a look towards Tenya. They all look away before he looks up, but Izuku thinks he feels a shift, people noting Tenya’s general… offness. It wasn’t without reason, but it was such a departure that it attracted attention.

---

Ochako scrolls down the screen, checking the list of people who’d scouted her with internship offers. She has a scratch paper next to her, and she’s writing down her top choices as Shouto blankly sits there, twirling some soba on his chopsticks to eat. “Thanks for letting me borrow your phone, Shouto. But don’t you need to research the heroes who gave you offers?”

Shouto shakes his head, finishing his bite before replying. “I already had my choice made. I wanted to intern with someone who specializes in rescue or the like, and Gang Orca was the highest ranked Rescue Hero in the list.”

Ochako nods, looking at all the Support/Rescue focused agencies on her meager list. “Yeah, I guess it makes sense for you to choose something like that. You’re already really good in fights, so an extra week with a combative hero would be a bit of a waste.”

Shouto shrugs, and Ochako looks up as Tsu and Momo pull up chairs next to them. “Is the database Midoriya showed you truly that thorough? You seem to have information on all the heroes who scouted you already, Ochako.”

Ochako nods at Momo’s question, turning the phone for her to see. “Yeah, Izuku recommended a wiki entry, which tracks their official stats from the Commission. And it links to the heroes official entries, so you can read all their public information. You can see where they generally work, what their typical missions consist of, stuff like that.”

Momo nods, breaking her chopsticks. “I see… it’s incredible, the resources Izuku has at his disposal. It’s almost no wonder how he’s so good at Hero appraisal, given how many high indexes he has.”

“Sure, but just having the best things doesn’t mean you know how to use them.” Tsu’s comment isn’t as barbed as it could be, but it still pierces the conversation and causes everyone to stumble a bit.

Ochako looks between Shouto and Momo, then brings the phone back. She scrolls through the last of her choices, then passes the phone back to look over her list. “So… Shouto said he was interested in interning with Gang Orca. Do you two have anything in mind?”

Tsu nods, and pulls out her phone. “Well, my Quirk is best used somewhere with a lot of water, so I looked into Heroes with marine-animal Quirks. Gang Orca would have been nice, but I thought heroes like Selkie and Lady Nimueh would be better. And Selkie is on the Yuuei shortlist, so it’s not completely impossible.”

“I’m not sure about some of the heroes who sent me personal offers… but I think Uwabami might be a good choice. She’s been solidly in the top 300 heroes for nearly three years, and while she doesn’t have a lot of villain takedowns to her name, she has a lot of public adulation.”

Ochako nods along to Momo, then looks over. Hanta, who is typically with Mina and Eijiro and Denki during lunch, is today surrounded by a bunch of kids she thinks are from the business course. He looks like he’s jumping between three different conversations, almost like an auctioneer as he points between people. “Hanta’s aunts and uncles have a bunch of Support Businesses to their names, right?”

Momo stops, looking over before slowly nodding. “Hmm… oh, certainly. Some of them do, while others are more common businesses you’d expect. It isn’t surprising he’s courting favors from the Business courses, and I imagine that could be useful later in the year. In fact, I had a few of them catch me in line for a bit of discussion at my parent’s firm… sadly, they couldn’t get any internship slots from Yuuei this year. They had to go with other schools, like Seiai Academy and Shiketsu High.”

Ochako watches two Business students going back and forth in front of Hanta, with others having to pull them apart with Hanta holding his hands up. He says something to them, and after a second of deliberation, the two reach forward and shake his hands. Then they pull out their phones, and evidently give Hanta their numbers. He’s smiling the whole time, and a few other people give him a notebook page that probably had more…

“Ochako-chan!” She jumps in her seat, Hatsume’s loud voice behind her before the girl takes the seat next to her. “Do you think you can spare some time in the Support class lab later this week? A couple of the second years are working on improving the school's robots, and having you around would really help make things safer.”

Ochako turns to her, and gives a little shrug. “I don’t know if I’m just allowed to…”

“I already talked to Powerloader and the Second Year Support Teacher, and they both say it’s fine with their supervision if Aizawa approves. It’s Quirk training, and everyone in that class really needs the practice. They’ll owe you big time, with either Support Equipment or just some cash for your time…”

“I’ll do it!” Ochako grabs Hatsume’s wildly gesturing hands in a handshake, careful that her thumb doesn’t make contact.

Hatsume cackles madly, and turns to Momo. “Oh, and Yaoyorozu… the rumor mill among the Support core has been turning. Is it true that Nedzu had you make dynamite in the Entrance Exam?”

Ochako blinks, and slowly turns as Momo waves her hand in front of her flushed face. “I mean, technically. It wasn’t really true dynamite, just the closest approximation I could think of, since I don’t know its full chemical breakdown…”

“Well, a few of us need help testing blast shields and other defensive items, and we were wondering if you could help us with demolitions by providing basic explosives. Cause one of the third years traded us this spider robot that can help synthesize and repair any cloth you program it to, and something like that could help with your costume…”

Ochako blinks, watching Hatsume blatantly dangle some choice bait in front of Momo. The rich girl takes a second, clearly thinking it over, and Ochako realizes she might have gotten something better if she’d held out a little longer against Hatsume’s temptations.

“Is the spider not enough? Cause we have a few ‘public’ schematics in the Support classes I could show you. Some of them are basically impossible for us to make, cause the materials are rare, but with your Quirk… you could get a lot of favors from the other first years… and we always pay our debts.”

Hatsume waits another second, and Ochako can see the moment Momo’s on the hook. “Alright… but I won’t do anything without Powerloader signing off.”

Momo reaches forward, and Hatsume quickly grabs her hand and strongly shakes it. “Not a problem; that was always the plan! Now…” Hatsume looks around, and quickly latches onto her next target. “... got to go. Lots of deals to make! Bye!”

Ochako watches her fly off, and as she passes Denki where he’s sitting with Mina and Eijiro, he ducks under the table. But she goes right past, heading for Izuku where he’s sitting with Hitoshi in the corner.

“Uraraka, I think you don’t value yourself enough.” Shouto probably doesn’t mean it as an insult, but the comment still stings as Ochako goes back to her food, which has gotten a little cold as she looked over her options.

---

Hitoshi nudges Izuku with his foot, the boy looking up from his phone for the first time in about two hours. He’d been scrolling since they had gotten the list of internships, looking through the ones that had asked for him specifically. “Zuku, your food’s getting cold. Come on…”

Izuku looks up, and it only now seems to register that they've gone to the cafeteria. He blinks a few times, then sets the phone down. He reaches for his chopsticks, but instead of breaking them apart, he starts moving them around in front of his eyes, tracing a map Hitoshi couldn’t see.

Hitoshi looks around, seeing everyone else was busy with something. But there were still a lot of people around, so he toes out of his shoe. He wiggles his toe through a hole in his sock, and reaches it up to tap Izuku’s ankle.

Could he be trying to lure me somewhere? Or are all these offers actually legit… still, it would be better to take Gran Torino’s offer… Hitoshi?

Izuku flinches his leg back, and Hitoshi quickly blinks his eyes as the color rushes back in. “Come on, that beautiful mind of yours needs something to keep going. Eat, or I’ll Brainwash you into doing it.”

Izuku flushes, and quickly begins eating the rice bowl he got. “Not funny… but I have to think about this stuff, okay? There’s a lot to consider…”

“Then bounce things off of me. Two heads are better than one, right?” Hitoshi finishes his last bite of salmon nigiri, and pulls Izuku’s list over to him.

“Nedzu personally requested I consider interning with him. That’s not something a lot of people can say, that Nedzu asked them to intern for him. But also… I can’t help but think of how many things could be some kind of bait.”

Hitoshi watches Izuku’s spiral, and just sighs heavily. “That’s the problem with being so smart, Zuku. Sometimes, you just go all the way to the extremes of things. You want to work with Nedzu, then just do that; forget the others.”

Izuku stops, and seems to be zooming out on the problem. “I mean… yeah, but what about all these people?”

“Maybe, and go with me on this… you did really well at the Sports Festival, and they’re just interested in training you.”

Izuku blinks, and Hitoshi nods when he finally seems to get out of his head. He takes a moment, then begins to actually focus on eating.

Hitoshi nods… and turns, seeing Hatsume leaving Katsukis and Kyoukas’ table to head over to them. “Izu-kun!”

Hatsume plops down next to him, and props up on her elbows and stares unblinkingly at Izuku. She also ends up leaning into him, and Hitoshi edges slightly away from her. Izuku half chokes on his tempura, half on a laugh, so it takes a second before he nods for her to go on.

“Well, I was hoping Tenya could help me work out some of the kinks of the turn-assisting baby I made, but he said he couldn’t help me for a while. Could you maybe help me tonight; I promise it’ll be good!”

Hitoshi nods, expecting something similar, and Izuku taps his chopsticks a few times on his tray while he thinks about it. “Did… did he say anything specific? He’s felt weird all morning.”

Hitoshi blinks, and tilts his head at Izuku with his eyes slightly widening. Izuku blinks, but Hatsume just shrugs. “Nah, he just seemed kind of in a bad mood. I thought it might have had to do with the storm; You know, precipitation in his engine or something.”

Hitoshi looks at Hatsume, and immediately starts shaking his head, trying to get the question of ‘How much of Tenya’s body acts like a car’ out of it. He thinks enough about his classmates, he doesn’t need to make it weird… but he looks up, and Izuku has a fading blush as he shrugs. “I guess… yeah, it’d be fine.”

Hatsume nods, and gets up to leave. “Thanks, Zu! I can’t wait to make more babies with you… Oh, Hitoshi? Mai’s almost done with your baby, and wants to know when you can come by and see it.”

All that intensity turns directly on him, and he can’t help the deer in headlights reaction that wells up. “Oh… um, maybe later this week?”

“Okay… see you soon!” She turns, and dashes off to meet with someone else on her hit list.

Chapter Text

Kouji carefully settles to the ground, taking out his sketchpad and pencil box. He would need to get another book soon, either from Midnight or by getting permission to go buy one. He had a bit of money for it… but he quickly breaks that thought, looking around for the scenes he wanted to draw.

Just in front of him, he can see a bird’s nest, with light blue tail feathers that flick as the mother cares for her recently hatched young. She turns to survey the ground, its head down to the top of the neck black almost like a baseball cap. She turns to the side, and Kouji sees in his mind's eye the piece he wants.

He carefully sketches the outer lines of it, careful not to be too heavy handed with the pencil that was barely the length of his thumb. He’d need new pencils before too long… maybe he could get them during the internship? Ectoplasm seemed nice enough, he’d probably let him stop by an art store if they ever went on a patrol.

As Kouji tries to shape the nest, looking up for reference every once and a while, he thinks about the internships next week. He had one that was combat focused, and he almost immediately discarded it. The other who wasn’t from the schools list he put as a choice… well, they worked in Hosu, where Stain was supposedly hunting people… He shudders a bit, but looks up as the magpie lands next to him, poking and prodding at the ground next to his bag.

Kouji turns, and she startles, spreading her wings out and letting out a harsh sounding call. He stops, holding a hand up. “I’m sorry… I just wanted a picture of you…”

The bird stops, his Quirk communicating his lack of bad intention to her. She stops, clearly not used to humans, much less one she could understand. Now she was curious, looking at him and tilting her head.

There’s a faint rustling off to the side, and the azure-winged magpie retreats up into the trees. Kouji turns, wondering if one of his classmates or the teachers had come to find him… instead, it was a shorter girl in school uniform, her hair long enough to hide her eyes if the mushroom pattern sunhat didn’t do that enough.

She clearly doesn’t notice him yet, instead setting to the ground near the tree the magpie was in. She crouches, and pulls out a little bag with visible water and dirt in it. “Oh, what a lovely little patch of Cortinarius rubellus. You’re not supposed to be so far south, but look at how you’re thriving! And you’re growing so fast! I was just here, and you weren’t even sprouted yet… but you can’t stay here. But I can help you grow somewhere safer, where you can become all you were meant to…”

The girl takes out a plastic knife from the cafeteria, and carefully carves into the dirt to extract the half dozen dark red mushrooms from the ground. She carefully stores them, then holds the bag up to the sun. Kouji can see her eyes for a second, and there’s almost literally a shine in her eyes, their shade not unlike the bagged prize she has…

But if Kouji can see her eyes, she can see him. She freezes for a second, and he tries to timidly wave at her. She quickly balks, and disappears behind the tree, which is thinner across than her hat is. She then peeks around it, making it look like the tree had a spontaneous growth of a four foot tall mushroom.

He quietly holds up his hands in apology, shaking his head while trying to actually speak. But the words come out a high pitched stream of nothing, which causes her to hide again.

He looks down, defeated, when he notices the half done sketch. And he remembers one he did the other day, and he flips to it. When she peeks out again, he holds it up, revealing a close up of another mushroom patch from elsewhere on the campus. He hadn’t added the color yet, mostly because his brown pencils had been worn down from all the birds he’d sketched, but he had tried to get the intricate way the long, thin stocks weaved amongst each other.

She sees it, and steps closer to inspect the work. She gets her face right up into it, casting a threatening shadow as her sunhat covers him. “Oh, those are such pretty little Flammulina filiformis. There are actually a lot of those around the grounds: a lot of these are used in composting by the school, so they spread pretty quickly. It actually makes other kinds of mushrooms harder to find; do you have any others?”

Kouji nods, and flips to a few others. They weren’t always the true subject of the piece, but that didn’t mean he didn’t put effort into them. Sure, the squirrels and birds tended to be his subject, but mushrooms often lined the bottom or sides of the page.

“You’re really good… oh, I’m Komori. I’m from 1-B… you’re in 1-A, right? I think we both crossed the Chasm from the race at the same time, right?”

Kouji furrows his brow, then nods. “Yeah… i’m Kouda.”

He slowly raises a hand, and she takes it. “Nice to meet you… but I need to get these to Cementoss before lunch break is over. He lets me culture them before I take them to my Aunt’s house… I have to live with my aunt to go here, cause my parents live in Gunma. Do you want to see my colony?”

Kouda blinks, then nods. He closes up his sketchbook, and slides it into his bag before following her back up to the school proper. They don’t reach the building proper before a few other people come towards them, who Kouji also recognizes from the Sports Festival.

A girl whose hair was vines, some of which work to tie the others up, who quickly steps up to them. “Komori, you missed lunch again! I understand your need to discover… oh, the unassuming lamb of Class 1-A has joined you?”

Kouji looks at the other student, whose head was a giant comic panel, which as he stares, almost seems to be showing a scene of the four of them standing there… and a scene of him staring hard at something, a little line of blood running from his nose…

“It’s fine, Shiozaki! I made a new friend, and he almost appreciates mushrooms as much as I do! He has a bunch of really pretty sketches, and I wanted to show him our garden… is that okay?”

Kouji looks away from the comic person, and notices a patch of wetness running from his nose. He reaches up, a thin line of blood running to his lip.

The comic person reaches into their pocket, and holds out a handkerchief. “Sorry, our classmate Kuroiro suggested doing something like that as a disorienting tactic in fights… I’m Fukidashi, by the way. I help them water their garden with my Quirk…”

Shiozaki nods, and turns to beckon him along. “I think it would be alright… who am I to deny others the sight of Eden? Follow, if you wish.”

The two turn and walk, and Komori takes his hand and leads him along. Kouji is partially terrified… but also intrigued. People didn’t approach him very often, and usually never to share about them. So… he followed, seeing them lead him to 1-B’s classroom, a little nervous but happy to follow.

But… maybe meeting new people wasn’t so bad… Maybe interning with a non-Yuuei Staff member wouldn’t be so bad. Besides, Native mostly does smaller public service jobs; nothing should go wrong with that, right?

---

Momo sits back in the lounge chair the Support Students had set for her, scrolling one finger across a tablet screen. There were hundreds of designs, some of them with overlapping purposes and functions, but all incredibly impressive. And that didn’t include Mei’s work, which filled a textbook sized document that was still taking her a second to fully understand.

She also had a table with a few milkshakes and malts, which one of the Second Years had insisted on providing for her as partial payment. She was getting a little cold, with all of the frozen treats to restock her Quirk; good to note that her Hero Outfit could use some insulation before any Winter Exercises. She had the loose fabric folded open to reveal her stomach, if not for the coat draped over her legs and chest as she reads and drinks.

There was a second one next to her, where Ochako took a seat, trying to control her breathing to keep her stomach from expelling its contents. Her fingers look raw, red and almost visibly pulsing. “I never thought about how much you need to eat to replace stuff… can you even taste any of it, or is it all kind of the same?”

Momo looks over at her, and shrugs slightly. “I like vanilla the best, maybe with some fruit in it for flavor. But I try to refuse chocolate as much as possible, accepting special occasions. I liked Mint the best as a child, but I lost the taste for it after nearly two years of it.”

Ochako nods, and looks up at the three ring circus of the Support Courses. They were in a combined laboratory, but 1-H held the visible space while older students milled through the background and hidden labs. It felt very odd, watching everyone’s dynamics play out with an almost completely external perspective.

There were a set of twins, boy and girl, who were working on a suitcase of drones. The girl was clearly focusing, and could get as many as eight to follow her hand movements in synchronicity, or three in different complex movements around the hanging model of a helicopter. She would land some into the suitcase, and her brother would deploy others before running some sort of check on the ones she’d just been flying.

There was one girl running a D.J. booth, a set of neon blue and camo green over her ears as she used a pair of computers to mix audio of some description. She’s swaying back and forth… until she stops, and she whistles. “Sokutei, Kujira, can I borrow you for a second? I think I found the frequency the Brainwasher needs to keep for his Quirk to work.”

Momo watches as two people walk over, a boy with faint lines over his skin and a girl with skin that was dark gray with a notable forehead ridge. They both walk around to look at the screens, and the boy plugs in some stringed earbuds and brings a hand to his ear. He cups it around the piece, and the lines glow for a second…

Then he slumps, almost falling asleep on his feet. Kujira looks at the D.J., then on the screen. Momo can faintly see a smile, and the girl goes to Sokutei’s other side to whisper something.

They wait a second, then the D.J. types on a computer, and then turns back. And the boy pulls out the earbud, and takes a running start before doing a cartwheel. It turns into backflips, and he ends it with a perfect split. Then, whatever was copying Hitoshi’s Quirk breaks, and the boy lets out a sound like the metal pieces that made up the robots along the side walls when Ochako had made them weightless and pushed them through the air.

Ochako just barely restrained a high pitched giggle, and Momo turns as the door to the lab opens. In walks Mei, with a pair of boys she recognized from Class 1-B in the Festival. One had deep black hair, with a striped headband holding it out of his face, in a loose blue button up. And the other…

Momo hadn’t been the target of his odd derision yet, but Monoma wastes no time looking at them and maniacally chortling. “Oh, was the illustrious Class 1-A unable to provide what the Support Core needs? And so they had to come to us to pick up where you were lacking!”

Momo raises an eyebrow, and looks at the other boy. “I’m sorry but I don’t believe we’ve had a formal introduction. I’m Yaoyorozu Momo.”

Monoma freezes, not expecting to be ignored completely, allowing the other boy to nod his head. “I’m Awase Yosetsu. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yaoyorozu.”

Monoma finally gets his wits about to retort, but Ochako cuts him off by turning to him. “Hey, you have that Quirk that molds things together, right? You used it in the Totem Stacking Event in the Sports Festival, and then your other classmate picked it up… Shishida, right?”

“Yeah… My parents are construction contractors, and they taught me a bit about architecture and stuff to maximize the use of my Quirk. Don’t your parents work for the guys they’re getting to make the rest of the Dorms for the school?”

“Actually, it’s their company that’s doing a lot of the exterior work…”

Monoma looks almost ready to explode, almost reminiscent of Katsuki from early on. Momo’s not sure if that comment would be a bridge too far, or if Ochako is doing this intentionally, but it is entertaining to watch before Hatsume speaks up and cuts him off again. “I asked all you guys to help cause it’s a big project, and you have the right Quirks to work together for us. Plus Neito-chan here, who can sub out if you’re getting tired… Momo, did everyone else already pick you clean before I got here?”

Momo nods, and holds up the now empty second milkshake she had. “They had me make mostly smaller tools and items, but I do still need a bit of a recharge. But if you don’t mind my asking, what is the purpose of the helicopter hanging from the ceiling?”

Hatsume looks up, almost like she only now noticed it was there. “Oh… oh, that was from the Civil War.”

She doesn’t say anything else, locking onto someone who waves at her and running to a station. Momo looks at Ochako, the phrase evoking several trains of thought, none of them going in the right direction.

“Oh, does Class 1-A not know about the Annual Civil War of Yuuei? I suppose you would be too busy, having been chasing down information about the broadcasted Sports Festival, to think of the hidden competitions!” Neito speaks with a condescending tone, and Momo only feels slightly offended by it.

But he was going to tell them something sooner or later, so she just waited for him to go on despite Awase’s complaints. “Dude, come on. Tone it down a little…”

“Oh, but it will be so much better if they dread the competition, spending months agonizing over how our class will beat them in the Contest! The surprise is a necessary sacrifice, if they instead know how the classes are made to compete for superiority before the Winter Holiday break!”

Momo blinks, that comment finally pulling something in her memory. She checks, and Ochako is also piecing it together from context clues. “Oh, the annual Heroes and Villains City Exercise? I didn’t know it was called a Civil War…”

Ochako blinks, then snaps her fingers. “Oh, Izuku was telling me something about that. How this stuff has to spread by word of mouth instead of online, because of Nedzu’s programming that scrubs mention of it. But there’s this one post that he can’t delete that basically describes this event like an action movie… I think it was actually considered for a movie, but it never got funded.”

“Yeah, some people think it’s a dummy account by Nedzu, just to hype up the event and sow rumors into the students… that, or Icarus51 flew so close to the sun that it burned away his mortality.” Awase says it, letting his voice gently fade, like he was reading poetry. And it wasn’t a bad theory; Momo nods, then turns to the tablet.

Momo looks at the drinks, and the still fuming Monoma. While it was temporarily cathartic to see him so agitated, it would be wiser to sow some seeds of allyship now, especially if an intraclass contest was on the horizon. “Momona, if you’re partially here to copy my Quirk, I might suggest having one of these now to replace the fat… but Ochako’s Quirk nauseates her with overuse… oh, I see what Izuku meant by Quirk Hazards now.”

Monoma blinks, then tries to gather up steam again. “You guys talk about… well of course you do! Why wouldn’t you recognize your betters in private?”

“You do have an incredible ability, and Izuku was talking about interesting two person combinations just amongst us. His info is limited on Class 1-B, but from the Sports Festival alone, he knows how impressive you could be.”

Now, that conversation hadn’t quite happened to her knowledge. But knowing Izuku’s ability to catalog Quirks, it was a fairly good bet that he had a journal page or two on him at least. And while he’s recovering from that shock, Hatsume runs over, and takes Monoma’s hand and leads him over to talk with some people.

Awase watches him go, and stands between the two chairs for a second. “Do… Do you guys talk about the rest of us?”

Momo looks up, seeing the faintest flush to his cheeks as he avoids eye contact. She considers it, and considers how to prod at that as she shrugs. “I can’t say anything specific, nor speak for my classmates, but I know a bit about the two recommendation students. Plus, some of you caught the eye of Business Course kids, and there’s one group who have tea on the weekends that I’ve managed to ingratiate myself with. But since we’re all here… would you like to get to know us?”

She sits up, the coat falling away from her chest to reveal her costume. She turns her head, her hair moving about as she gives Awase a look. The boy’s flush becomes cartoonishly visible, and he stammers before an affirmation manages to form. Momo pulls the coat away, and sits up to allow him the foot of her lounge chair.

---

Eijiro runs his fingers through his hair, the sweat actually causing his dye to stand out a bit more. He steps back from the punching bag, his earbuds playing a reading of the poems Present Mic wanted them to read. He doubles back to the beginning of the playlist, letting it play again now that his mind was a little clearer. He half got it already, but getting his heart pumping helped things slow down enough to think about things like that.

“Chanted wind / poured out the moonlight / Walked on the snow / hugged the plum aromas…”

He starts turning it over in his head, but a knock at his dorm door cuts off his train of thought. He panics, and does a quick check to make sure his room looked fine. His red curtains were open, highlighting a messy collection of books and posters along one wall, and a few small shelves with exercise equipment on the other, and his bed with camo print blankets over it. He shrugs, and fixes the hem of his shirt before he walks over to the door.

He opens it a bit, then fully when he sees Hanta on the other side. He’s out of his uniform, in a t-shirt with Kamui Woods swinging through a cityscape on it and jeans. “Hey dude, you need something?”

Hanta nods, leaning against the half open doorway. “Yeah… Can I come in a second? It’s kind of private…”

Eijiro nods, stepping back and letting Hanta in. He heads over to the bed, and plops down on the corner. He shifts a bit, trying to find a good balance as he clearly shuffles the words in his head. “What’s on your mind, man? Something with the internships?”

Hanta nods, and pulls out a little pocket notebook. “Yeah… so, a lot of people in the Business Course want to be friends with me. Which I get, and it obviously has some advantages… One of them actually got me a copy of the masterlist of the people who sent in Internship Requests, and marked up some of the ones that also tend to do Work Studies. Like, as a favor, cause he’s already got an internship confirmed at my Aunt Sadako’s company…”

Eijiro crosses his arms, knowing Hanta had a point. He might add a bit too much detail getting to it, but he’d make his way there before too long.

“... so I started looking a bunch of them up, and I noticed that Izuku got a request from Gran Torino himself.” Hanta turns the notebook over, and Eijiro takes a quick look at it.

“Gran Torino… do you think he was scouting for the next All Might or something?” Eijiro says it, then a thought worms its way back up to the surface. He’d half forgotten it, forcing a bunch of art history and chemistry into his head. The image of Izuku, seeming to float in the air on his own…

“Maybe… you know how he was friends with Nana Shimura, before All Might got big.” Hanta shrugs, and sets the notebook on the bed next to him. “Maybe when he came to our class, he was talent scouting.”

“Yeah… maybe that’s why Aizawa brought him in in the first place. Someone who hasn’t seen us in action yet, who can get an outside view of us, and isn’t biased. It seems like something he would do, you know?”

Eijiro looks at Hanta, see if his idea was on the same track as him. But the brunette is half staring at the floor, seemingly trapped in a thought. The corners of his lips were pulled down, but it wasn’t fully a frown yet. “… do you think I’m weak?”

Eijiro blinks, then shakes his head. “What? Bro, what are you talking about? You pulled off some amazing saves for Katsuki during the Festival! And you don’t need tutoring from Izuku to not be failing in class; me and Mina are spending so much time with him and Momo, and we’re just passing now.”

“Yeah, I did pretty well working with you guys… but on my own against Shouto…” Hanta’s hands balled into fists, his teeth gnashing for a moment before he could finish the thought. “I thought I’d be in the middle of the class, with grades and hero stuff. But Izuku is helping so many people improve, and I’m just… it feels like I’m standing still while everyone else is sprinting ahead.”

Eijiro stands there for a minute, then slowly moves to sit on the bed next to him. Hanta bounces a little, and he checks there’s space between them before he starts. “Bro… it’s not that you’re falling behind. We’re catching up to you; like, that first week of class, you were so ready to answer questions. In Mic-sensei’s class, you were holding your own against Momo because you know English that well. Just because we’re all getting smarter doesn’t mean you’re dumber now; isn’t that one of those fallacies we were taught?”

Hanta nods, but isn’t quite pulled back. “Yeah… but my Quirk isn’t as useful. Like, Fumi has a shadow demon that can basically do anything, and Momo can literally make anything she needs. And here I am; I can make tape, and swing around or grab someone…”

“Yeah, dude. You can save people from a distance, or you can catch villains without having to worry about making contact. Or you can make a net to support a building if it’s falling, like that movie about the guy with that spider quirk… you remember, the Water villain who almost took a building down before this guy started using other buildings to keep the bell tower from collapsing?”

As Eijiro talks, Hanta seems to come back a little. He looks up, revealing his eyes were slightly red and swollen as he does. “Thanks, Ei. I just… I know it’s stupid, cause Shouto is one of the best in the class. I shouldn’t be so hung up on it… but I can’t help but feel a little inadequate, you know? I talked about it with Hound Dog… and I was kind of thinking about asking if he’d take me for an internship.”

Eijiro blinks, then fully turns to him with a grin on his face. “Dude, if you need to focus on you, then do it. It’s super manly to take care of your mental health first, ya know? Besides, Hound Dog does a lot of intervention and counseling stuff, and you could be helpful by keeping people who can’t control their Quirk from hurting themselves, right?”

Hanta finally smiles, and raises a hand for a fist bump. Eijiro does it, and Hanta stands to stretch. The shirt rides up a bit, and Eijiro looks away when his back muscles peak out and he hears things pop as his spine straightens out. “Cool… and, maybe can we keep this between us? The whole ‘my insecurities’ thing; if you want to tell people about Izuku and All Might’s teacher, go ahead.”

Eijiro nods, and stands to open his door for Hanta. “Nah, but I won’t tell you not to. But hey, if you want to talk, I’m always down to listen… maybe over a game or two?”

Hanta shakes his head, his hair bobbing back and forth. “Sorry, my parents made me leave my console at the house. Maybe we can set up a ‘study’ weekend in a while, but that’s it.”

Eijiro sighs dramatically, and the two let out a bit of a laugh as he heads down the hall to his room. Eijiro watches him leave, then lets his eyes roam over to the door between their rooms, which Katsuki had hung a sign on with a few explosion symbols and a ‘Do Not Enter’ notice. He sighs to himself, and goes back into his room, and pulls out the homework for English, and plays the audio recording of them so he can start that homework.

Chapter Text

Shouta looks at the list, students having chosen their internships within a day, if not the same class period. He quickly looks over the list, seeing a lot more of his class had chosen Yuuei teachers than had technically needed to. But as the class files in for class that Thursday, everyone seemingly excited or at least content over their work load before the week in an internship.

Shouta prepares the projection before the bell rings, and everyone begins cutting off conversations and taking their seats before the bell rings. Normally by now, he’d have started messing with the bells to instill fear in this class, but that wasn’t as necessary for this year… yet. Maybe on the first day when they come back, and keep their heads from getting too big.

The bell rings, and they're in their chairs and looking at him before it goes silent. He silently nods, and lets a hologram project onto the board of everyone’s selected internships.

Everyone takes a second, and he looks down at his notes for the morning to begin… and of course, a few people begin whispering to each other now that their final answers were revealed.

“Hang on, Gang Orca and Miriko both sent in requests… Hang on, Hawks and Best Jeanist?” Ashido turns, looking at the offending classmates. “When were you guys gonna talk about this; when you got back? How could you not tell us?”

Katsuki turns, raising an eyebrow at the pink girl. “It wasn’t some big secret, Pinky; you never asked. Icy-Hot, Fumikage and I barely talk to you. And Toru was getting costume help from Jeanist; probably some agreement with Nedzu or something.”

Ashido settles with that, doing the math in her head. She pulls back, but Asui pulls out another angle of attack. “I thought we were interning with Agencies; Miriko is so popular because she doesn’t have an actual Agency.”

“She doesn’t have an Agency Building.” Denki raises a finger, bending backwards to look at Asui. “She does sponsor a few Sidekicks, have some Support Staff, just not an actual Agency Building to her name. Yuuei’s Internship policy just requires the Agency title and generally positive casework history.”

There’s a second of pause, and a few people look over to Izuku. Shouta smirks when he just quietly nods his head, his hand lowering from him wanting to offer the correction. “You’re mostly right, Kaminari. We are requiring that she limits her operations to a smaller area for the week, and Manual offered to host her and her Sidekicks while they help patrol Hosu.”

That draws everyone back up to the front, and he pointedly waits for anyone else to have a sidebar. A good few seconds pass in silence, and he goes to the lesson notes.

“Now, All Might was needed for this morning, so we’re going to move up a lecture we had planned on Common Civil Violations Heroes commit on the job. As such, we’re going to have one of the other Teaching Assistants lead the lesson to make it up…”

Shouta tries to keep his face neutral, but a few students look towards Izuku. And the boy partially sinks in his seat, but tries to keep a poker face. And that causes one of his rictus grins to cross his face, for just a second.

The door to the room slides open, and Inko walks in. She had flats on, which help her quietly cross the room to the podium. Combine that with the white suit jacket that matches the display board behind her, and she was almost going for camouflage in the classroom.

Inko joins him at the podium, setting a tablet on the surface before taking the remote that would trigger the projectors. There was a sticky note on the tablet, which she peels off and passes to him without missing a visible beat. “Good morning, everyone! We’re going to be covering some basic information, and everything Aizawa told me he would test you over will be highlighted. I would like to see a bit more than that bare minimum, though, so notebooks and pencils out.”

Shouta takes a quick look at it, and nods before walking to the door. “I have other things I need to take care of during these next two periods. Midoriya-san has my number… and Midnight’s number. And she has a whole unit and project she can assign you over the internship due when you get back, so don’t test her patience. You will lose.”

He doesn’t leave until everyone has given verbal affirmations, and then he slides the door closed behind him. He takes a breath, and looks up to the camera, where he knows Nedzu is watching.

---

Nedzu pours himself a fresh cup of tea, and adds a sugar cube before stirring it, letting Snipe adjust with visible discomfort in his seat. The man was still wearing the mask, hiding his facial tells. He checks his desktop screen, seeing Shouta leaving his class and heading this way. “So, you say Hatsume has found an interesting pattern is Midoriya’s Quirk Development… Thank you for making the appointment. I’ve been so busy with so much more than usual, I’ve lost the taste for surprises.”

Nedzu takes a sip, letting Snipe make the next move. This wasn’t necessarily bad, but volatile; depending on if any other clues had surfaced, or if anyone had said something at the wrong time… at this rate, the whole staff would know before the Winter Holiday Exam. “Oh, she noticed some stuff after the Sports Festival, and showed it to me. Midoriya has a lot of power to his Quirk, and the kid seems nice…”

Nedzu nods, one paw going to the Support Course’s footage. He’d noticed the attention on that fight between Izuku and Todorki, partially for the almost cinematic editing before it was posted. He officially had Sokutei on his list; the kid had such an eye for it, he couldn’t ignore it. But also a copy of it was placed on what he knew was Hatsume’s computer. Either she had another brilliant invention in the work… or she was digging for his stash of acorns…

“Well, one of the kids jumps when he was dodging Todoroki isn’t right. And… well, there are some new rumors in the villain world, when I go out and about. No one knows my face, so I can collect information pretty easily as long as I’m quiet. And… the rumor mill has two big components to it, right now. Perfected Trigger… and a villain that can buy and sell Quirks.”

Nedzu raises an eyebrow, and lowers his cup. “Really? And just when I’m letting some of our birds leave the nest… where did you find these rumors spreading?”

Snipe takes a minute, then reaches up. He hits a release, and the front of the mask comes off. He looks straight at Nedzu, his eyes gray targeting crosshairs that lock onto the principal. He had a scar across the left of his face, which he’d refused to treat beyond the minimum, to keep as a reminder. A bit paler than his skin, but still a darker shade of brown.

“I know that you like to play games with people, Nedzu. But with how friendly Izuku is to my daughter, I need the truth; is this boy some sort of spy? Some game you’re playing that’ll put my daughter at risk?”

Nedzu looks at Snipe, not quite sure how much he knows. But just in case, he doesn’t want this to come back to bite him, so he deliberately chooses his next words. “Izuku is a piece in a game I’m playing, along with a few others. And those rumors, about a villain with that Quirk… Well, he’s the Black King to my White. And I am trying to carefully keep things on sixty-four squares, and keep other pieces from walking onto the board. But your daughter has made herself one of my Queen’s defensive Pawns, one who I want to keep safe until I move Izuku to take the King.”

Not a lie, perhaps a bit of an elevation for his initial choice for Hatsume’s involvement. But Snipe pulls back, seemingly appeased for the moment. But, being a caring father, he lets out one more threat as the mask goes on. “If your game hurts my girl, there is not a corner on this planet that can hide you from me.”

Nedzu nods, raising his tea cup in a toast. “If this game becomes Pyrrhic, I trust you to be my executioner. But for now, it appears that the game is slow enough that I’ll have plenty of time to avoid any collateral.”

Snipe nods, and stands. He ‘silently’ walks out, boot spurs jangling as the door opens for him. The door doesn’t close automatically, and Nedzu isn’t surprised when Shouta walks into the room.

He sinks into the chair that was just vacated, sighing heavily like he hasn’t slept in days. He’s definitely slept recently, but clearly not enough if those forming eye bags were to be believed. “At this rate, the whole school will know the secret before Midoriya Graduates… what did he say?”

“I don’t have any wolf in me, but it appears Snipe’s got enough Papa Wolf traits for both of us.” Nedzu sets his cup down, letting what he isn’t saying speak volumes. “The two of you would make quite the team, you know.”

Shouta sighs, and rolls his neck with audible cracks like a roll of bubble wrap. “Sure, maybe when I’m not trying not to keep a hundred secrets for you. Can’t help you, very busy today.”

Nedzu shrugs, and reaches down for the kettle. “Apparently, he already knows about All for One. People are starting to put that puzzle together, so that’s a little less pressure on you.”

Shouta looks up at him, then seems to sag heavier into the chair, his muscles giving out. “Sure… everyone knows about the evil, immortal villain who breaks one of the few Laws of Physics Quirks haven’t already, but they don’t know he’s secretly the creator of All Might’s Quirk, that he was born Quirkless because that super Quirk can be passed on, that he gave it to one of my students, who was also Quirkless, is dating my son, and is somehow able to unlock six other Quirks that are all capable of killing him in gruesome ways if he lets the nuclear bomb of a Quirk lose.”

“... yes, and aren’t you happy I’ve taken some of that pressure off?” Nedzu lets his foot hit a button under his desk, locking his dynamite cabinet. Just in case Shouta becomes feral…

He waits, expecting some reaction. What he wasn’t expecting was a light snore, and Shouta’s chest slowly rising as he seemed to be sleeping in a highly uncomfortable position.

“You know, maybe I should try to not add any more work to him… I think I can hear his hair graying as I monologue.” Nedzu sighs to no one but the audience, then pulls out his personal phone as it rings.

Shuzengi is on the other end, sounding apologetic. “Nedzu, do you have anything dangerous planned for today? I’m afraid a friend of mine called, asking for a private consult. I’d need to be gone most of the day…”

Nedzu quickly checks, then opens up the staff chat. “The Second Years are doing a U.S.J. Day, but the other school nurses can handle things. You haven’t taken a day off this whole year, and that smoothie machine can only sustain your mental health for so long.”

“Maybe if you didn’t test me every other hour, I’d have had the chance to!” He almost doesn’t need the phone to hear that, but he happily sends her off before continuing to make sure his other plates spin. Class 1-A wasn’t the only one in the school, just the one with the most individual pieces he’d taken a personal interest in.

---

Sorahiko quietly sneaks into his building, glad to see it was being taken care of. He sneaks into the upper floors, glad he bought the building so long ago. All for One probably knew about it if he had a half decent spy or two, but hey, it was pretty cheap to maintain if he wasn’t worried about it looking pretty. Just livable… which for him, didn’t take a lot.

He changes into some half casual clothes, and walks down to the first floor. He expected it would be slightly less cared for… but apparently, Iguchi had been coming over, and was taking care of it despite him not being there to check…

He stops, noticing the teenage girl sitting on his couch. Her messy blonde hair looks freshly washed, but she’s already getting it tangled from how she ties it up. She’s looking at a beaten up math textbook, tilting her head. “If the base of the triangle is eighteen feet, and the height is twenty feet, what is the area… when would anyone need to know this? This is so stupid!”

Iguchi sighs, standing in the kitchenette and storing away plates he’d evidently just watched. “Okay… you have a triangular rack for holding blood bags, each one needing a square foot of space to store safely. How many blood bags do you have?”

The girl blinks, and he can see her finally do the math. “Um… three hundred… no, it’s half… a hundred sixty?”

Sorahiko taps his cane against the wall, and walks further down the stairs so the others know he’s here. “Hundred eighty… and who's your friend? If I knew you were tutoring someone, I’d have paid you better. We don’t pay teachers enough these days; we’d respect our teachers in my day.”

The girl instantly locks onto him, and Sorahiko almost slows from that instant murderous intent in her eyes. She changes her grip on her pencil, and he knows in an instant she’d put it in his throat if he got too close to her and surprised her. He almost drops his instinctual senile act… almost. It’s too useful to give up just after meeting someone.

Iguchi takes a second, running a taloned hand through his neon hair. “Well… I was helping at this shelter, the one an old sponsor of mine runs, and Toga here needed someplace to crash. I brought her to my place, but then we got to talking about how she hasn’t gone to school in years… I was hoping you wouldn’t mind…”

Sorahiko gives a probing look to the girl, who looks at him like she can’t decide if he’s a lion locked in a cage with her… or if she’s the lion. “Hey, I’ve been a teacher on and off for a few years. Besides which, I’ve been looking for an excuse to give you a raise. Long as you both don’t make a mess, my house is your house.”

He tries to say it in a relaxing way, and she seems to uncoil enough to start on the notebook she had, one that looked like half the pages had been torn out.

Iguchi nods, then goes over to the stove, and starts heating up a skillet. “Cool… and Boss, her Quirk gives her some… Dietary requirements like me… Is that a problem?”

Sorahiko shakes his head, and walks over to the kitchen table. “No, not at all. Hell, I’d be living on nothing but takiyaki if you didn’t bother me into going to the store.”

Iguchi nods, and goes to the refrigerator. “Sure… Toga, do you need me to get you anything from the store if I go out later?”

Sorahiko looks over, and the girl doesn’t answer for a minute as she does math and Iguchi pulls out some fish to grill. “I mean… I have clothes, and you gave me this old textbook. What else am I supposed to want?”

Sorahiko stays silent, and Iguchi stops for a moment before turning. “Well, is there something you want? A novel, some cds… do you do anything for fun?”

Toga looks up at the ceiling, seeming to think. She adjusts in her sweater, which Torino can now see is a bit ragged and loose over her. “I mean… I like to watch people sometimes. Or birds… but birds don’t like the places I usually am. But I usually tend to hang around in allies and abandoned buildings… The police don’t bother me if I stay out of the way. Can we go to a park or something? The birds like it there.”

Sorahiko turns to Iguchi, raising an eyebrow as the man turns back to the stove, using two skillets to cook up fish as he prepares small bowls of rice. “Sure… you okay with some more salmon and rice?”

Sorahiko looks between the two, figuring there’s some stuff he wasn’t quite getting. But just based on what he was hearing… he should do something. And if her Quirk affected her negatively, but she’d been homeless recently…

He flips open his phone under the table. “Himiko, right? Have you ever gone to a Quirk Counselor, or a doctor to cover your Quirks needs?”

Himiko looks at him, that partially feral look coming back. “My parents took me a few times… but they just told me to never use my Quirk. They said… they said it was evil. It’s not…”

Sorahiko nods, and holds up his phone. “I have a friend who works with kids, and she could give you a quick exam. You know, make sure you know what you’re dealing with and healthy besides.”

Himiko pulls her legs up into the opposite corner of the couch, her eyes quickly flicking between windows and doors before responding. “No Hospital… no Heroes…”

“Well, she’s a Hero herself… ever heard of Recovery Girl?”

Himiko blinks, and leans forward into the middle. “You’re friends with Recovery Girl? Isn’t she, like, super busy, going around the world helping people?”

Iguchi turns to look at him, and Sorahiko watches his tail twitch from where it’s wrapped around his waist. “She goes around the world sometimes, but she does have a job here. And we owe each other a few favors, so I can probably ask her to come over…”

Himiko almost gets visibly excited… but that instantly switches off, and she goes back to her textbook. “Okay… you’re a lot nicer than Iguchi-nii said you’d be.”

Iguchi goes completely still, then conspicuously turns when Sorahiko looks at him. But he just shakes his head, and begins the process of number-pad texting to Shuzengi.

Chapter Text

The faceless man takes a heavy breath, the mask over his face trying to hide the sound. He struts between tubes in a full suit, the light refracting through iridescent green gel causing an odd effect to color it. Too many were empty for his liking, but he’d intentionally built this underground factory to house more than he could feasibly use. “Will they be ready?”

The doctor waddles behind him, using a tablet to access the data on the Nomu. “Eight of them are finally fully subjugated, with combined Quirk factors that should easily cause the carnage we need to distract heroes and achieve our secondary objectives. The ones with Capture Focused Quirks… the processes aren’t quite ready. I can finish them by deadline, but I would need to acquire something to force the Quirk Factors to be at the same strength…”

All For One pauses, looking into a tube. This little Nomu had four additional arms, and while the rest of it was pale, the hands were a dark brown with visible marks that should allow adherence to anything it grabbed. “I believe Hana is working with the remaining Yakuza to get access to their new line of Trigger. I did such good work with that girl, teaching her everything she knows.”

The Doctor growls, not daring to vocalize his negative thoughts in any capacity lest he hear them. “Perhaps, but that will be sacrificing our products now to gain more work. Unless we accomplish our secondary objectives, all this will do is show our hand to whoever is pulling All Might’s strings…”

“True… do you have eyes on our two targets?”

The doctor nods, and All For One taps on the glass. The gel vibrates, but the creature is swimming in a mixture that is about sixty percent opium by volume, and doesn’t stir. “I have my quietest drone keeping tabs on Endeavor, but the man is constantly surrounded by sidekicks or his family. And if we want our Todoroki to stay in line, and not have to waste time subjugating him, we can’t afford to damage the children in the attempt. As for Stain… he’s hiding from the heroes very effectively, and even my most active attempts to find him are inconclusive. By my best guess, he’s in Hosu by hiding in a hole somewhere, or he’s within walking distance of the place and hasn’t gotten any transportation out.”

All For One nods, and sighs heavily. “If only I had means of tracking within my arsenal… have we found any Quirks that match that description?”

“No… the closest I could find to that is a minor heroine who works on a team. But this ‘Ragdoll’ is in the public’s eye too much for us to try anything for now… she apparently runs some form of camp in the summer, and it’s off in the wilderness. We might be able to accomplish it… but it might conflict with our plans for… the Crown...”

All For One nods, and turns to an adjacent tank. There was a hulking figure, but their number of limbs seemed to shift randomly, always tipped with a deadly implement on the end. Sometimes a blade, sometimes a chainsaw… always deadly. “That will be our next objective… and I think using Endeavor to do it will be perfect.”

“That… that gives me two months to completely subjugate him. Maybe I don’t need to do as much Quirk Augmentation or Combat Conditioning, but the groundwork…”

All For One waves his hand, cutting off the Doctor’s squawking. “Oh, he’ll be one of many we deploy. But until then, focus on the work in front of you. I’ll have Hana get you what you need… and make sure Shigaraki is ready to play his part. Sadly, he will have to be a supporting character for the first chapters of this story. But Hana has so many new friends, and so many of them are thieves… it’s too perfect not to use them.”

The Doctor sighs, and quickly moves to check on another tube. He fiddles with the controls, and All For One sightlessly moves to follow. “You know, that one with the Duplicating Quirk… if you took it as your own, you could multiply our army by ten. You could even make another you…”

All For One places a hand on the Doctor’s shoulder, squeezing just enough that his shoulder loudly pops. “Doctor, you can clearly see what that Quirk does to its user. Besides which, why would I ever risk anyone or anything else having my ability? No, let that broken tool play with the Todoroki boy, and keep his Quirk… but that isn’t the worst idea, at the base. You have their sizes in your data, do you not?”

---

Jin takes a step back, breathing heavily as his Quirk starts working. Sure, he was working through some of the hang-ups with it, but he still backs up to Dabi, who snakes an arm around his waist and rests his head on his shoulder. He focuses on the image he was given, blocking out the whispers his partner puts into his ear.

The sludge takes shape, revealing a more feminine Magne in the same clothes, just smaller to fit their frame. The copy takes a second, and shifts to get used to the different physical frame. It was basically Hana’s shape with Magne over it, though not as flat as Hana was.

“Not half bad… but you didn’t need to take all my muscles. Like, take a bit from the chest and put it elsewhere.” Magne looks at her copy, her glasses sliding down her nose.

The clone looks down at herself, and flexes her arm, the plaid shirt literally functioning like her skin. Then it looks at her, the eyes quickly shifting from gray to matching her actual eyes. “Yeah, the hell? I didn’t want to look like a beanpole… no offense, Hana.”

Hana looks up from the bar, blinking to adjust from her computer’s brightness to the bar. “None… taken… hang on, am I really that short in your mind? That isn’t right…”

She stands up, and the Magne clone turns so they can compare, coming to the exact height. Compress nervously chuckles from the corner, pouring himself a shot and shifting into defensive posture. “Kurogiri, if I ask for a portal somewhere…”

Kurogiri, the silent centurion behind the bar, merely watches without a visible care. If anything, he seems more calm than usual, the cloud around him darker and a little more voluminous…

Dabi starts talking to the room, pulling Jin in. “Okay, stop hounding Jin about a few cosmetic flubs. He makes exact copies; he hasn’t had any reason to make adjustments like this. Besides, you asked for an adjustment from Hana, and that’s what he supplied; workshop it a bit, and it’ll come out right.”

Hana sighs, and steps away from the clone. “Yeah… she’s still pretty, which was the point. I mean, starting from me…”

Dabi mutters something so low, even Jin can’t hear it. The clone walks over to Magne, who admires the copy as Hana’s computer chimes loudly. The hacker walks back… and slams a hand on the bar before starting to type.

“Found you, you slippery bas… oh no, you fucked up. Live With Your SINS!”

Jin half recognizes that, and quickly brings his hands up. And, thanks to having so much experience, another Hana is standing next to them in seconds, in frumpy stay-at-home clothes that takes just another few seconds before she activates.

“I’ve got him in my sights… hey, get another me to help me track Stain.”

“Already on it.” The copy runs up to the bar, and grabs Hana’s phone from her pocket. She turns it, and begins rapidly moving her thumbs across the screen.

Compress sighs, and pushes away his glass before he can get too tipse from the day drinking. “Come on, this is the third time you’ve spotted him? After two failed chases, what makes you think…”

Hana is cackling, and Jin fears this computer won’t survive too long as she rapidly mashes the keys. “Because this isn’t just a random sighting. He’s on the hunt in this one… and Ahab didn’t think I’d have an eye on the White Whale to find him. But not even the choppiest seas would distract… oh shit…”

Jin isn’t sure what she’s cursing about… but has some idea when the television in the corner flickers on, causing Kurogiri to stir to stare at it. “Hana, my dear, how are…”

“I do not need this today! Fuck right the hell off!” Hana yells at the computer screen, not noticing the transmission. But everyone goes still, then moving as quietly as they can towards the door to the bar.

The television is silent for a few seconds, and the clone looks up before the television speaks again. “Hana Shimura, do you want to say that again?”

Hana stops typing, and the clone quickly tries to cover for her. “Boss, it’s not… we found Stain, and we’re following him… but there’s a bit of a problem with that…”

Kurogiri’s head jolts to the side, and a portal opens behind him. He steps through it, and Compress stands and bolts for the door. He makes it to the base of the stairs… only for a portal to open there and to the entrance to the secret floor of the bar, which he comes running out of. Seeing that, he doesn’t break stride, and quickly runs to Magne’s side.

Magne opens her mouth to say something about how quickly he tried to save himself… but everyone in the bar completely stop when out from the portal, ducking through it like a normal guy walking through the entrance to a coffee shop… the faceless, finely suited menace the world wished was just a nightmare. Because then, they could just wake up and move on with their day.

But All For One stands there, and he radiates this crushing aura that grabs everyone by the throat when they set their eyes on him. Blood starts screaming in their ears, like an opera singer being murdered onstage that refuses to interupt her performance. Dabi’s arm starts squeezing Jin so hard, the little air in his chest is getting squeezed out like toothpaste. “Hana… you say you’ve found him?”

Hana tries to nod, only allowed so because that is what he wants to see. The computer suddenly spins around, and he somehow processes the information despite the lack of eyes. Dabi’s arm starts minutely shaking, and Jin finds something in him that lets him move his hand, despite every survival instinct telling him not to do anything that might attract His attention, to grab his hand and grip it as tight as he can.

“Troublesome little bird… shame the doctor has his sights on Endeavor. He might just make a better Nomu, and we’d get more use out of him. Where is this?”

The computer spins around again, and Hana begins typing, the menacing aura relaxes enough for all of them to quietly group up next to Magne. The clone steps in front of the original, trembling but ready to defend itself and the others. They don’t say a word, all agreeing that the hornets are already swarming out of the nest, no need to give them a target.

The portal slides to the side, and Kurogiri steps out. Seeing no one was planning on leaving, the other portals closed.

Hana takes a second, and wipes a hand through her hair. The television flashes on, and begins showing camera footage from the mouth of a doorway, looking out onto a roof. “Got a location… but Hawks is right there. We can’t grab Stain without giving him a chance to either go after him.

All For One turns his head… then begins chuckling. And that is an awful sound; it’s like someone decided to juice a twenty car pileup, a child being orphaned in their own house, and every act of corporate corruption into a blender, and mixed on high. He holds a hand out, and Hana’s clone holds the phone out to him. He dials, and the phone instantly connects. “Doctor, are one of the Nomu ready to test? I want to see your work in action.”

There’s a quiet exchange, and then Kurogiri creates another portal and steps through it. All For One sets the phone down, and turns to the screen.

The clone looks around, and raises a trembling hand. “Sir, isn’t it dangerous to flash our hand like this? We can just get better eyes on him; we don’t have to waste our surprise…”

All For One raises a hand, and Jin thinks he’s going to go into some sort of evil monologue. But instead, his hand shifts into a long metal spike, which shoves its way through the clone. The copy looks down, the spike causing enough damage for it to dissolve as hands impotently reach up to claw at the spike, a scream dying as the vocal cords melt in front of them.

The spike pulses, and the slime of the destroyed clone suddenly explodes out, some of it hitting Jin in the face. He winces, and tries not to remember the last time he was covered in this sludge. He focuses on Dabi’s arm, his hand which is now holding his in return. He was the real one… he had to be…

The spike flashes back to flesh, and All For One wipes a single fleck from where an eye should be. “Hana, I’ve taught you so much. I’m sure you can think on your feet, incorporate this into your grand designs. But allowing Akaguro to be a free agent, causing heroes to rally together in big groups like this, cannot be allowed. They must be spread out, fighting the war on a hundred fronts rather than being a unified force.”

Hana, being right next to the clone, is almost completely covered by sludge. She sits there a second, a large chunk that settled on her face loudly falling to the ground at her feet with a slap. That causes her to jolt… then look up, and begin typing again. “Okay… yeah, I can work with that. Just give me a few seconds… yeah, of course they would wirelessly broadcast the conference with speakers. We can work with this…”

---

Flying around during the day was a dangerous game, but Keigo loved those sorts of games. He can glide all day over most of Tokyo, only having to work his feathers to get a good few hundred feet into the air above the bigger cities.

That’s if he wanted to avoid people; whenever he wanted some fluff news pieces, he was more than happy to fly just above the street, maybe stop to scan a street when the cameras happened to have his good side. Hey, he had responsibilities to his fans; if the Internet was to be believed, he might just be more popular than All Might on the right websites.

But today, it was all business. He was higher up in the sky, watching a little press conference Endeavor was holding about his whole sticky situation. So unfair of Inko to go after him like that. He was doing perfectly fine at his job… he just had one or two off days. But hey, a lot of heroes tend to buckle under the pressures a lot sooner, so the fact that Endeavor had been going so much longer was okay in his book.

Big Man deserved a break, and hopefully he could at least keep this day stress free… at least, that was his hope until his earpiece chimed. Then, his hope was ‘please let it be minor, like a robbery or a hostage situation’. “Miko, are you developing a crush on me?”

“No, and any positive emotions shrivel up everytime we chat, Keigo. We want you to double check the rooftops around the Endeavor press conference; we cannot afford anything resembling bad press surrounding him until we can get all of this process behind us.”

Keigo shudders at the cold tone… then his eyes narrow, and he focuses on someone a few rooftops away. They had a clear line of sight to the whole thing, and were clearly dressed to be discreet in a crowd. “Yeah, might be something. Got a lookie-loo up in a private box… nothing that looks deadly, in terms of weapons. Maybe three hundred meters from the edge of the Conference, Endeavor’s ten o’clock.”

“Noted… investigate, but do not get close. If it isn’t Stain, we don’t want word of you being in the area to spread.”

Keigo slowly glides lower, keeping track of the light as he comes behind the guy to make sure his shadow isn’t a give away. “Sure… do we know his pattern yet? Gender isn’t it, age is wider than normal, just heroes after he got some info… any connection between the Heroes he went after?”

“Hawks, do not engage with him. If you show up in the news, it could jeopardize the Yuuei Scouting Mission. Do Not…”

Keigo rolls his eyes, ready to pull back. But the guy turns his head in his hood, clearly spotting him as he slowly descends. “Eh, not my choice anymore. Besides, my legs are getting sore from just hanging there for so long. Call you back if I get murdered!”

He hangs up, and quickly lands near the center of the roof. Plenty of room for the guy in the hoodie to run, but still leave himself open to be intercepted. To give the guy credit, he just turns around, pulling out some binoculars to look off at the show.

He stretches his wings, and opens his flak jacket. He loudly pads to the guy’s side, letting some of his feathers fall and sit on the roof. “Sorry to interrupt, man. I’ve been up in the air for ages…”

He intentionally trips in his boots, catching himself on the roof. The guy looks over at him, and he’s not entirely sure that isn’t the face of a serial killer. “I don’t own the roof. Stay if you want.”

Keigo flashes the guy a carefree smile, and decides to play the hits of ‘I’m totally not a cop trying to catch a killer.’ He slides his jacket off, the black skin tight suit sliding over his lithe frame as he stretches like he was posing for a magazine. He sits on the edge of the roof, not even half pretending to watch Endeavor as he looks the man up and down. “So… you watchin the fireworks, or just admiring the eye candy?”

The guy sighs, lowering the binoculars to look at him. And he had a memorable feature… or rather, the lack of it. But hey, a lot of non-serial killers might be missing a nose. “I was trying to get a better angle on Endeavor for a newspaper I work for. Besides which, how good is ‘eye candy’ if it’s melting in a roaring dumpster fire?”

Keigo laughs at that, but is now really hoping this guy is Stain. Cause he shouldn’t want to punch a random person in the nose… or, the place a nose should be. “Sure… but hey, he’s trying to do better. A lot of heroes just jump to another continent, or just take their ball and go home. That deserves points, right?”

The guy sighs, and turns to leave. As he does, Keigo checks his waistline, noticing something that looked a lot like a sheath hidden by the bulky hoodie. “Stick around if you want; I’ve seen what I need to.”

“Really? What were ya lookin for?” Keigo stands, reaching his focus out to his feathers. The wind up here picks up just a bit, but all the feathers he’d settled to the ground stay in their place.

The guy half turns, storing the binoculars in a pocket. “I told you, I’m trying to get a better angle for some pictures…”

“With no camera? Not even a phone? Weird…” Keigo can tell the guy is almost ready to run, quickly checking his escape routes…

But that thought is interrupted by an inhuman shriek from the streets below, which causes both of them to check. Keigo quickly moves to inspect, and sees down on the street… what was he seeing?

It might be a person who got a bad dose of Trigger, but that wouldn’t explain how pale they seemed, like they hadn’t seen sunlight in days. And while he had a bad angle, no one’s jaw should be able to open that wide. And the sounds it was making; it was like it’s mouth was a doorway to Hell, and the screams of the damned trying to claw their way out were echoing out onto the street

He turns back to what he was hoping was Stain… only seeing the top of his hoodie disappearing over the roof into alleyways. He runs over, hitting the call button before he reaches the edge, just seeing some faint purple puffs in the air that quickly dissipate.. “This is Hawks, suspect is… Suspect disappeared just after that monster arrived. Advise.”

---

Enji looks up to the podium, taking a steadying breath as cameras flash. They were doing this just before lunch on a Wednesday, apparently because that means most people would be busy at work and have to see this post-hok. But apparently, enough people were making time to come and see it in person, crowded and almost blending together. He… he did not do this as much… interacting with actual people, he realized…

Rei, sitting next to him in a dark gray suit that almost matches his, takes a hold of his wrist. She leans up to him, whispering where only the most acute of hearing Quirks might catch something. “We practiced this, you will be fine. Just hit the points as naturally as you can, and let the rest of us carry it from there. We will make this work, you just have to give it a bit of elbow grease.”

Enji nods, turning his wrist in her grip. He holds his hand open, and she allows him to take hers and rub his thumb against the back of her hand. He’s not sure how much of that is for the public, and how much is for him, but he sees the calculations going through his wife’s head as they sit there. Like everyone had a script they were reading from, and she was writing the next page to pass out to everyone as they went off the one they had.

They sit there a second longer, then his PR team steps up to get this all started. She was a younger woman, the same one who’d driven Ingenium to the hospital and to pick up Rei. “Good morning, everyone. We thank you for giving us some of your time today, so that we may set the public record back on course. For the past month, a number of previous cases against Endeavor, in both a public and private sense, have reached public attention and gotten severely carried away. And while we are not here to discuss the merit of them, we do want to make sure that you get an accurate picture of the Number Two Hero.”

There’s some light clapping from the crowd, and Rei stands. She removes her hand, and the PR woman turns to shake her hand before taking a seat. A few of his sidekicks, the few they could safely spare from patrols, were also around the edges of the crowd, and Enji easily reads how they start moving to the edges of the crowd, and turn to look in the same direction before returning to a regular sweeping pattern. Someone spotted something…

Rei steps up to the mic, and he can hear her gentle smile as she looks over everyone. “Hello… oh, it’s been ages since I’ve had the chance to see everyone. Being the wife of Endeavor, it was a bit intimidating, being in the public eye. I’ll admit, it did not do favors to my mental health. But I thought it was important that I say a few things, let you in and see what our home life is like, and let you choose how to view all these events.”

Enji watches her draw everyone in, cameras turning to view her and all eyes enthralled as she weaves her story for them to take. It was like the flies were coming to the spider, waiting to be wrapped in her gossamer threads and taken for a meal. He carefully slips an earpiece out of his pocket, and slides it in to hear what’s going on.

“... not sure, maybe Hawks say something. Maybe it’s a distraction, and he’ll really come in from the other side.”

“Are you serious? Stain’s an ambush killer, targeting people when they’re alone. A highly public attack like this is totally off profile.”

“Maybe, but what if he’s working with that League of Villains? Then something like this is a perfect target…”

“Boss, we spotted someone that could be Stain, ten o’clock, tall white building. Since you’re on comms, I thought you’d like to know.”

Enji looks up, and can see the roof of the building just fine. He tries to lower his voice, setting to a murmur as Rei tells them a story that couldn’t have happened, but was exactly what the public wanted to hear. “Nokorobi, remind me to raise your pay. That, or promote you into a Command role at the next chance.”

Enji nods, and Rei evidently said something funny, as a good chorus of laughter rippled through the crowd as she took a breath. “But please, I’ve been going on for too long. I don’t pretend that my husband is perfect… but I know you all are used to seeing him as larger than life. But please, remember he is just like all of us, and can make mistakes. So, forgive him if he’s a little wooden as he speaks; I haven’t written his speeches in a while, and he might need some time to adjust.”

People evidently find that hilarious, and she steps to the side of the podium and bows before turning to him, beckoning him forward.

He stands… and something lets out an inhuman sound, like Izunami had kicked the gates of the Netherworld open. Everyone in the crowd goes to cover their ears, cameras getting dropped as they do so. Enji looks off to the side… and admittedly, he runs a little colder when he recognizes what that thing is. Not an exact copy, but definitely similar to that thing that attacked Yuuei…

The screaming goes on, and as he tries to yell in his ear piece, he realizes all he can hear is the screaming… and one of the voices sound like Shouto, that night when his eye… he tries to cover his ears, but that just makes the sound shift, like fire eating through wood and plastic as the shade shifts blue…

The screaming stops, and he realizes that he’s somehow ended up on his knees. He shakes his head, and looks up to Rei… she has her back to the podium, tear tracks freezing on her face, not looking at anything as her hands grip her sides.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP! ANYBODY GOT A GAG FOR THIS PIECE OF SHIT?” He looks up, and sees the creature sideways on the ground, and a triumphant looking woman standing over it. She had a white and purple leotard on, black leather thigh highs to keep her uber mobile, and a headpiece with two white standing pipes for her comms. She hops from foot to foot, evidently having kicked the thing before landing.

Enji stands, and taps the comm. He looks around, seeing his Sidekicks already getting people off the ground and off to the sides. “Get a transport with anti-Sound Quirks here, now. And listen to Mirko; get something to keep that thing’s mouth shut…”

A few sidekicks move to lock down the villain… but Enji watches as a cloud of purple mist appears under the creature, and both vanish into thin air. Mirko goes to kick the thing before it goes, but all she does is dissipate the smoke. “Fuck… is that it? The Fuck was the point of that? Why just go after Endeavor like…”

As if to answer, the speaker in the plaza loudly lets out a glitching sound, and a woman’s distorted voice begins speaking. “Endeavor, don’t think for a second one press conference will make us forgive you. We remember what you did… Now, maybe, so do you. The Quirk lets out soundwaves that stimulate the hippocampus and amygdala; it triggers a fear response, and pulls out the memories that cause it.”

Enji blinks, then looks at Rei. She’s visibly shaking, but she tries to stand, now that she understood what was happening. He walks up to the stand, and flicks it to check it’s working. When it rings, he wants to bark out a threat, fire slowly starting to catch around his hair…

But instead, he takes a breath, quenching the fires and picks a camera to look into. One person, a younger man with pink hair, with a yellow scarf, had an armband on him that marked him as an intern for one of the major stations. “Mayhem, I believe you call yourself? You get onto me for collateral damage I caused, which I’ll admit to. But what about all these people here; suddenly collateral is alright, as long as you hurt me? Well, if you have a problem with me, come after me. Leave these people out of it. I’m ready for whatever punishment you think I deserve… but come after my wife, or my children again, and I swear no amount of hacking will keep me from finding you. Your League of Villain friends won’t be enough…”

He stops there, and moves to Rei’s side. He slowly reaches an arm for her, and despite the air getting cold enough for his breath to visibly fog, she lets him wrap his arms around her. He ignores the cameras, letting her ground herself until their temperatures slowly balance.

“Very well… I mean, I have some prep work to do first, but if it’s a duel you want, so be it. We’ll be in touch, Dumpster Fire.” And with a cackle, the speakers go dead, leaving Enji standing there, just cameras on him.

Chapter Text

Mashirao turns to Mezou, and turns the reference page over before trying to speak. “Good morning… How are you done this today?

Mezou furrows his eyebrows, and Mashirao knows he said something wrong. But a mouth appears from his joints, and begins responding in English. “I am doing well. How are you doing today?”

Mashirao stops, noticing it was pronounced differently. He wants to check the sheet to be sure, but shakes his head. “I am doing good. Do you have anything you wanted to do today?”

Mezou’s lips purse, and he switches back so they can talk. “You’re making things past tense. You asked if I had anything I wanted to do.”

Mashirao stops, and he curls his tail in while trying to keep his face from going red. “Sorry… I’m probably the worst partner you could have, huh? Didn’t you say your parents are both polyglots?”

“Yeah; Japanese, Russian, English, and Spanish. I can do a bit of conversational English and Russian, but I don’t really know much Spanish beyond the basic…”

Mezou’s cut off by a quick whistle, and Present Mic brings everyone's attention back. “Sorry to interrupt you, Listeners, but it seems we’re going to have to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming. Nedzu just sent out a quick memo to the staff, and we’re going to be doing a lockdown drill for the whole school. So, just so we don’t all go ballistic…”

Mashirao shrugs, not expecting anyone to have a problem with that. But Present Mic looks at someone, and he turns to see Izuku has his hand raised. “Does this have anything to do with Recovery Girl leaving this morning? Mei texted me, and said the Support Kids couldn’t do anything too hazardous cause she would be out for the day.”

Mashirao tilts his head, wondering how Izuku even has the mental storage space to hold all the information he seems to have. But Present Mic gives a little laugh, totally in his radio host act. “You’re mostly right, Caller 1. But Nedzu’s finally done overhauling the security system, and we’re doing the big test when everyone’s on campus. Over the next month, the first years are going to rotate out through different internships, so this is the last week until Summer most of you are all here to do this.”

Izuku nods, and Mashirao shakes his head to try and focus on the conversation with Shouji. But his phone buzzes, and he flips it from his desk to…

He blinks, and Hanta reacting to it confirms he isn’t hallucinating. “Woah… hey teach, does this lockdown have anything to do with what happened to Endeavor just now?”

Present Mic goes silent, which is damning enough that people begin pulling out phones to try and see what they were talking about. And most of them seem to come across the same headline Mashirao had, which he flashes to Denki and Mezou when they look his way.

Endeavor Press Conference Interrupted By Villain Attack: League of Villains Take Credit, and Issues a Challenge to Number 2.

Mashirao scrolls through the article, and when he looks up, Denki has this oddly defensive posture. He’s staring at a spot on the whiteboard, but clearly trapped in his head. Mashirao tilts his head… then he lets his tail sneak out, and waves slightly to the other blond boy. Denki blinks, and slowly reaches up, running his fingers through it as he thinks something through.

There’s a bunch of camera footage of the conference before things happen, but it becomes useless for the actual fight. Until Toru calls out a sight with actual useful footage, and everyone begins navigating to it. Evidently, other people know it’s the only useful footage, because the website crashes not long after.

“Hang on… I downloaded a copy of the video. I’ll throw it into the group chat.” Izuku sends it out, and Denki lets go of his tail to look at it himself. Mashirao pulls it up… and quickly sets the phone down when he sees the villain, trying to keep his lunch down.

He vaguely recognized the person as similar to that… Nomu?... that had tried to kill Aizawa. That Izuku and Shouto and Fumikage and Denki had all tried to take down… and it had still gotten up, and gone up against All Might. The strongest people in their class had fully unleashed, and the thing had still gotten up and gone head to head with All Might…

He didn’t realize he’d been going into his own head, but the sound of metal scraping against metal draws him back, and he turns as a mesh net descends over the windows. A few other people jump, and the temperature of the room seems to rapidly cool as this happens.

Present Mic, seeming to realize the minefield some people are in, carefully raises his voice and begins talking to everyone. “Guys, I get it, the lockdown test can be a bit nerve racking. Plus, after what happened with you all…”

“Teach, check what happened in Hosu this morning.” Katsuki calls out to Present Mic, who pulls out his phone and looks down.

“Oh… okay. We… Well, during the lockdown, we do a sweep of the halls with a couple of Security-Bots, so no one is supposed to be going from room to room. And it’s supposed to last ten minutes… does anyone… have anything they need… to talk about?”

Mashirao looks up at Present Mic, and actually feels slightly better. It’s like those comics about someone tripping on a banana peel and breaking their neck. It is so uncomfortable, the only reaction is nervous laughter… which Mina seems to agree to, because an awkward “Ha… ha…” comes from that side of the room.

---

Shouto looks blankly at his phone, not sure what to make of the news. He might be able to get answers about it… but Touya might need to keep his cover, and not be able to talk. He was with villains, and one who could apparently hack well enough to make Nedzu up security, which meant it rivaled or at least threatened one of the smartest creatures on the planet. So he has exactly as much information as everyone else about the attack, maybe less because his mom and sister would want to keep him from being worried.

Shouto looks up at Present Mic, who seems very nervous about how people are visibly uncomfortable. He felt a little bad for how the room was slightly colder, but he hadn’t been expecting the metal mesh from the windows. It was an honest surprise… but seeing the teacher so nervous, he wants to try and give him something else to think about.

He slowly raises his hand, and the teacher quickly looks over to him. “Caller Number 2, what have you got to say?”

“Do you think this attack is going to affect the internships? It happened in Hosu, and some people are going to be in and near Tokyo.”

There’s a few seconds of silence, and people slowly turn to him. He can’t quite tell, but he remembers how Natsuo jokingly said ‘Don’t remind the teacher if they forget to assign homework, or your class will try and kill you.’ He waved it off as a joke… but there was definitely a level of intensity from some stares, especially from the the rightmost column of the room…

He makes eye contact with Tenya, whose fists visibly clench hard enough to drain of color. A shadow is cast over his eyes, making them red pin pricks that seem to be calculating how fast he’d need to rev his engines to break his rib cage in a kick…

“Well… I mean, all of you are going to be working with whole agencies of well trained heroes. It shouldn’t be a problem, since they need a certain temperament to clear Nedzu’s qualifications… but the paperwork is already done, so it might be a bit late to change it. You guys are leaving Friday, so things are already in motion. But if you all ask him, then I’m sure Nedzu chould…”

“no…” Kouda suddenly says, but his normal quiet voice echoes through the otherwise silent room. He looks around, then seems to notice a blemish in his desk as his cheeks flush. “i mean… i was really hoping to…”

Shouto looks back up at Present Mic, wondering how he’ll respond. But Katsuki loudly clicks a pen he has, and speaks just loud enough for everyone to hear. “Ya know… the villains separated us out to have an easier time targeting us. Now, maybe they didn’t want to risk the weak villains making the big Nomu guy less effective… Maybe we were that cookie with a wad of paper stuffed in it served at every meal in Chinese restaurants around here, something no one wants but still gets added to the plate anyways. Or maybe… someone in here is being targeted by the Villains?”

The class starts murmuring, and Shouto catches Izuku going still, and a tremble visibly running down his arm. And audible murmurs go through the class, everyone trying not to think about how much sense that made.

“Katsuki… Dude, this isn’t funny…” Eijiro tries to turn the topic away, waving it off as a joke gone wrong.

But Katsuki doubles down, shrugging and spinning the pen in his hand. “Think about it; the three of us who stood out at the Sports Festival the most are going with Top Ten Heroes. A bunch of people who didn’t stand out… and Izuku… are staying here, and everyone else is going to major city centers with multiple Pro Heroes.”

Everyone stops, and Shouto watches everyone process that in real time. A few people pull out their phones, and start looking up the heroes they remember other classmates going to. Of course, they didn’t know too much about Class 1-B, and Nedzu would include them in the calculation… but the pattern was pretty clear from what information they had access to.

But Shouto speaks up, challenging the claim. “We all choose our Internships for ourselves. Nedzu couldn’t have made all of us choose exactly what he wanted…”

Katsuki turns, and shrugs with an angry sort-of grin. “Sure, because that’s beyond what Nedzu could do. He has psych files on all of us, and he’s one of the best Tactics Coordinators on the continent. Besides, he didn’t need to micromanage it; as long as everyone had some protection, the rest is up to us to avoid danger. We’re Hero students; I bet he had some confidence in us.”

That stops all the muttering, and Shouto tilts his head. He almost poses the question, but Izuku cuts into it. His voice has the same kind of nervousness from the start of the year, which causes him to raise an eyebrow. “With everything happening recently… this ‘League of Villains’, All Might and Endeavor stepping away from things, is it that bad that Nedzu’s trying to protect us? He’s still giving us the chance to learn to be Heroes… just putting up some guard rails…”

Shouto looks at Izuku, mulling over his thoughts as everyone else seems pacified. The tension wasn’t gone, and gears were still turning, but people are at least changing the subject, talking about other things and going on with the lesson.

Hitoshi and Denki had tried to put him off the scent, but he was slowly becoming more certain that All Might and Izuku had some connection. Of course his boyfriend would lie to protect that secret… but somehow, ‘Izuku is All Might’s son or lovechild’ sounded too shallow.

He was certain there was more to it now… maybe his brother knew more. He’d have to try and ask, next time he texted.

---

Neito Monoma twirls his pencil in his head, turning to watch the mesh rise from the window. “I still don’t get why everyone is so obsessed with 1-A. So many people in our class are more skilled… but four of their class were scouted by Top 10 Heroes. All they did was punch each other; we displayed a wider application of our Quirks than them, and we have actually interesting Quirks to scout. What’s so special about them?”

There’s a faint groan around him, his class well used to this line of thought from him. Yosetsu, sitting next to him at the front of the class, decides to try and exhaust his endless contempt for the other class. “Yaoyorozu has a really versatile Quirk… she should have been scouted by someone big.”

“She’s one of the Recommendation Students: it was unfortunate she could not have been in our class, but we would have had to sacrifice Setsuna or Juzo. And frankly, her and Todoroki put together aren’t worth either of our classmates on their own.”

Their Recommendation Students, sitting in opposite back corners, both smile at that comment. But Koniko stands up, her mushroom patterned sun hat on the floor by her feet, and Neito turns to her surprising declaration. “They’re not all terrible, Neito-chi! Kouji is so good at drawing mushrooms; he appreciates our Garden almost as much as we do!”

Ectoplasm looks up from his newspaper, their geometry lesson interrupted by the drill. But he’d already discussed the homework, so if they decided to talk instead of do the lesson, it was their grade on the line. He goes back to the paper, turning the page while Neito shakes his head.

“The quietest person in their class just happens to share a hobby with you? How do you know it isn’t a trick, something Yaoyorozu or Midoriya came up with, just to get you to spill secrets about our class?”

Komori tilts her head, her eyes visibly watering. “No, he had sketches from months ago; I know how pencil sketches fade from being in between pages like that, and they have to be old. And I know when people are getting their mycelial threads into me, taking my nutrients for themselves. That wasn’t what he was doing… he grows best in the dark, and too much light will make his cap wither.”

Neito stops, and leans back in his chair. “Kouda… does anyone know who he’s interning with? He probably picked someone from the school… well, he definitely didn’t pick Midnight. I struggle to imagine that he and I share tastes like that… Ectoplasm-sensei, did he pick you?”

Ectoplasm lowers the corner of the newspaper, his blank mask eyes staring at him. He sits there silently as the lunch bell rings… but he doesn’t say no. Neito carefully puts the sheets into a folder, a few of his classmates streaming out the door.

He steps into the hall, planning on looking for the animalist… but Itsuka and Yosetsu are on either side of the door, clearly waiting for him. “Neito… please, don’t do anything rash. A couple of us checked, and we have overlapping internships with 1-A. Just leave it until after we get back…”

Neito opens his mouth… then stops, sighing instead of his usual tirade. “Alright, I won’t cause trouble for our class. That’s the last thing I want… but I’m still going to keep an eye on that quiet kid.”

Yosetsu breathes a sigh of relief, then heads off to lunch. But Itsuka doesn’t leave his side, instead asking him about chemistry homework. He gladly engages, but doesn’t forget his point; just moves some dirt over it, waiting for it to grow.

---

Izuku stares at himself in the mirror, trying to run a comb through his hair. He’d made such a habit of running his hands through it, it was even messier than normal. He tries to get it somewhat straightened out, or at least back to the messy state it stayed in for years.

He sighs, and slides the comb into the toiletries bag he had. He was technically supposed to be interning under Nedzu, and thus not leaving campus… but while they hadn’t had the chance to talk in a while, he had a sneaking feeling he knew what was really going to happen. So he had some of his stuff packed away, and he headed back to his room.

The bathroom door is in the middle of the floor, so he walks by Hitoshi’s room to get to it. He walks by now, seeing him and Kouda in there with one of the dorm’s unofficial mascots, who Kouda was evidently leaving to Hitoshi to care for.

Hitoshi was nodding, looking over a little notepad of instructions from the quiet boy to follow. The rabbit was there by their feet, and looked up at Izuku as he walked by. The others don’t see him, so he just quietly makes his way to his bedroom to try and sleep.

He hadn’t gotten a lot of good sleep this week. But… he has a little idea that might help. So he turns his lights off, silences his phone, and curls up under the covers, letting the exhaustion he was feeling take him into the darkness.

He recognizes the feelings of the Quirks now, and this sort of emptiness where others should be. But he pushes those away, and focuses on what he has. He conjures the image of himself sitting at the table in the dorms, and it forms in his dream. One for All’s raw strength is a battering ram that made the table lean dangerously to one side, Heal was a first aid kit that laid open and full of random bits he half understood, Float was a jetpack that was on a chair next to him…

And Whisper was just his cell phone. He picks it up, and imagines himself opening up the group chat, seeing a lot of people have also turned in and are asleep by this point in the night.

He makes his way up the stairs, finding himself on his floor. He almost imagines going into his own dreams, basically going deeper and deeper… but that idea is also mildly horrific. And suddenly, the door is crossed over with crime scene tape, and he moves on to other doors.

He pokes his head into Hitoshi’s door, seeing the day the two of them and Denki were in the park. He waits to see if the Reflector Villain attack happens… but no. It’s just the three of them, out on a nice day for the park, laughing and having a good time.

He smiles, and closes the door before moving on. He considers moving on to what was really on his mind… but curiosity causes him to peek into the next door, and just stare a moment as he tries to comprehend the image.

It was a giant panorama of outer space, constellations drifting back and forth every which way. And in the center of this void was Mezou, his hands tracing designs in the sky. All his joints were hands, and he seemed to be carving the void into new stars before making new shapes in the sky.

Izuku recognizes one that he makes, a giant crow that begins flying around, collecting the other constellations and spinning them in a blinding pattern. Like he was ripping the sky apart, and stitching it together how he wanted…

He just closes the door, and takes a breath. He moves a bit further down the hallway, seeing Fumikage’s door. He chews his lip, but he’s already started invading people’s privacy. He might as well get what he came for…

He begins walking towards it, but Mashirao’s door begins jolting on its hinges. He turns towards it, then back to his objective. He really wants to check… but he should have time, right? It won’t take too long…

He edges towards Mashirao’s door, and tries to half open it and peek inside. But he gets knocked back as the tail boy comes barreling through, wearing a white hoodie covered in bleeding cuts that were soaking it red.

Mashirao tumbles over himself, and looks around in a panic. He backs himself up to the wall, not seeming to register Izuku as he stares through the doorway. “No… no, stay away!”

Izuku pushes to his feet… and stops as a hand grabs the doorway. Out stumbles a man in body armor, covered head to toe in blood, the only thing clean being a white face mask with two long tails that whip behind him in some imagined wind. He has a broken sword in one hand, and one in the other that was very sharp and clearly fine.

“You’re just like those other Fakes… all you care about is the money.” The fake Stain, if Izuku had to guess who the nightmare was about, raises the unbroken blade towards the tail boy. “And now… you too will be cleansed.”

Stain starts walking towards a frozen Mashirao, but Izuku has had enough. He moves behind the nightmare… and jumps up on his back, wrapping an arm around his neck while swinging his leg to the wall.

He pushes off the wall, Stain stumbling and then falling to the ground. The swords try to come up and stab him, but Izuku lets go of the neck, sliding down Stain’s back as the unbroken blade instead stabs the wall next to Mashirao’s bedroom. Izuku then kicks the small of his back, causing him to stumble forward and hit the corner of the hallway.

Mashirao, seeing someone else managing to land a hit, seems to get his second wind. He runs forward, and does a jump kick that allows his tail to come around and slap the broken sword out of the nightmare’s hand. Izuku smiles, moving to keep it from trying to reclaim the unbroken blade.

Now unarmed, Mashirao is easily able to fend the thing off, and kick it back into his bedroom. Izuku nods, and tries to sneak away to his real objective…

His phone starts ringing, pulling him from his sleep. He tries to stay in the hallway, but the details go fuzzy after a minute of concentrating. He tries to hold it, but he ends up in his room, a feeling of blood welling up in his nose.

He turns over, feeling exhausted from that attempt at spying. He looks up at the ceiling for a minute, then gropes for his phone on the nightstand before looking at it. It was just before three in the morning… and an unknown number just finished leaving him a voice message.

He glares at it, and he almost deletes it… but his phone makes a little transcript of the call, and he quickly turns the volume up to listen to it.

“You don’t know me, but we have a mutual friend. Her Boss is looking to recruit Stain, but he’s managed to escape us. Tell Nedzu he needs to get to him before The Boss does. The Boss is planning something big next Thursday, so you have one week. Work Quickly.”

Izuku blinks, and downloads the audio. He opens his texts to Nedzu, and sends it to him. He waits a few seconds, but when the rat doesn’t respond, he blinks a few times. His phone slowly dims, then shuts off from inactivity, and his head hits the pillow again.

He knows he should be worried about it… but he’s also really tired. And he apparently had a week; what was a few hours of sleep in a week?

Chapter Text

Kouji squeezes his hero suit case in between his legs, looking back and forth between Tenya and Katsuki. The three of them had most of the car to themselves, probably Nedzu pulling a string of some sort. He thought it was weird no one else was heading to a Tokyo ward, but it wasn’t hard to imagine Nedzu made sure they had a bit of privacy before they got to the internship.

Tenya had this odd sort of intensity to him, one that scared Kouji. He knew a caged animal when he saw one, and Tenya seemed like he was getting closer and closer to snapping every day. It seemed odd that he felt safer drawing closer to Katsuki, but the other boy seemed to notice the same thing while not being quite as obvious.

When they’re just a few minutes from the stop, Katsuki pulls an earbud out to talk to them. “You two have my number from the group chat… if you guys need anything, don’t forget to ask, alright?”

Kouji nods, but Tenya has a much snippier answer. “We’re all Hero students, Bakugo. We can handle ourselves just fine.”

Kouji leans back in his seat, Katsuki leaning across him to glare at the other. “I’m sorry, Iida, but I was saying what you told me back when class started. Or is your head so far up your own ass you’re watching your breakfast melt?”

Tenya turns on Katsuki, matching his anger pint for pint. “Yes, but clearly people are capable of changing. I would think you understand, out of everyone in the class.”

Katsuki growls, his fingers flexing. “You looking to have your eyes checked, Glasses? Cause I can get you sent to a doctor real fucking quick.”

Kouji can see the split second before Tenya snaps, and tries to move between them. But he’s not as fast as Tenya, whose fist solidly connects with Katsuki’s nose with an audible crack!, knocking him to the ground. He is ready to go and pulls Katsuki to his feet, as the blond’s hands come up to plug his nose before any blood can stain his uniform.

What he doesn’t expect is for Tenya to grab Katsuki by the collar before he can get there, and bodily yank him to his feet. Kouji instead tries to pull the two apart, wanting to tell them to stop, but his voice dies in his throat. All that comes out is a few croaks, which only seems to cause the two to pause.

Katsuki actually smiles, a shit eating grin that seems to flare Tenya’s temper more. “You let things get too bottled up, Four-Eyes. You need to cool off this week, let me know. I’ll be happy to kick your ass for you… hell, maybe I’ll finally knock your head loose from it.”

Tenya blinks, and shoves Katsuki back. He stumbles two steps, but he just straightens his collar before sitting down. Tenya takes a seat, and Kouji sinks to the seat on the other side of the train, contemplating trying to call someone else from the class.

But they come up into the station, the exit platform set up with a bunch of reporters trying to question Manual and Mirko as they wait. He looks around, trying to spot Native in the crowd, and seeing him being almost pointedly ignored, standing by the entrance stairs with not a single camera pointed his way.

Kouji steps over to grab his hero-suit case and his suitcase, and the others let him quickly and quietly disembark. A few cameras point his way, but immediately look past him to Katsuku and Tenya as they disembark. He just quietly makes his way to his Internship Teacher, who politely nods.

His outfit was brown leather with feathers and beads making a few different designs, and he lightly bows his head before offering to carry his suitcase. “Koda, a pleasure to meet you. Let’s go to the car, and talk a bit about what we’ll be doing while you’re here. Nedzu told me you have a bit of talent with art, is that right?”

Kouda nods, glad he’d packed his sketchbook and pencils now. He was a little low… but Native seemed nice. Maybe he’d have the chance to buy some new supplies later this week.

---

Momo smiles at Kendo, glad that she was at least dealing with a familiar face from Class 1-B. Monoma’s intense energy had put her on guard, and Awase’s eagerness to get to know her and Ochako hadn’t exactly helped. But Kendo was… she hesitated to use the Goldilocks Principle, but Kendo’s interest in her and the class was just right. “Really? The Support Class must love you, by now. I don’t think any of us have half the stuff you have.”

Momo nods, looking at the suitcase. She’d opened it at the other girl’s request, showing that only half the space was clothes. The other half were some half finished Support Items, which she was carefully making sure she had the knowledge to use. “Well, they did have me supplement their demolition supplies to test, and I wasn’t convinced of the safety of that. But Powerloader had me do a demolition intro course, and they gave me a few schematics that were impractical for them to make on mass anyways… I suppose it was a win for all of us.”

“Wait, you can make Light Sabers and C-4? I’ll have to tell Monoma to be extra nice to you.” She brushes her bright auburn hair back, and the two of them share a little laugh over their breakfast.

Sato had made everyone who was going to be going out breakfast, so Momo had a spinach omelet in a little to-go case that she was eating from in between topics. Kendo had a fruit smoothie of some kind, one that was a deep red and a little syrupy with visible blueberries that bobbed to the surface of the cup in between draughts.

Kendo reaches in, prodding a long item with a four tipped claw surrounding a green tipped emitter. “You do have a license for this stuff, right? I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to make Support Equipment like this without a license or working for someone with a license.”

Momo nods, and pulls out a small card she had in her breast pocket. “It’s Provisional, so individual items need to be approved by Powerloader or Uwabami before they’re used in any official capacity. But I can try to make them… assuming they work.”

Kendo nods, and looks over the tools. “I mean, you’ve had these for a month tops, and you’re already making a perfect copy that probably works? Plus, you can make bombs whenever you want; I get why you got in on recommendation. You’ll be a spectacular hero… or a terrifying villain.”

Momo furrows her brow, and decides to laugh that off instead of thinking about it. She looks out the window as she considers that, seeing the station coming up just ahead. She finishes her breakfast, and puts the closed container into the suitcase before closing it.

She wasn’t nearly skilled enough with her Quirk to be a villain… but the words resound to her, and a faint smile forms as the train pulls into the station.

---

Fumikage quietly observes his new Teacher, now that they weren’t flying through the air. He’s on comms with someone, looking at some information with his phone as they stand on a rooftop.

He was in his Hero Costume, and his feathers were just settling down after he’d been plucked off the ground off the bus that had taken the outgoing students to the train station. His indignant squawking had been cut off quickly, and he was starting to consider thicker fabric due to how the chill had swept in so quickly.

Hawks ends his call, swiping his screen for a few more seconds before turning to him. “Alright, Little Birdy, now we can finally talk. Sorry, but I have a lot of paperwork piling up from that League of Villains attack yesterday. We sort of have to stop by the offices… but that doesn’t mean we can’t do a patrol first. But before that, tell me about yourself; why exactly are you a Hero?”

Fumikage looks Hawks in the eye, inquisitive azure orbs behind tinted shades clearly sizing him up. He shifts under the whole body cloak, Dark Shadow manifesting and shifting under it at his unease. “I want Dark Shadow and I to be a force for good… being a Hero requires discipline, control, and a good work ethic. Each of which I cultivated by dancing with the Abyss made Manifest.”

Hawks narrows his eyes… Then a smirk breaks out, and he clearly holds back laughter at the declaration. “Wow… you know, you’re pretty happy to be caged, for a bird. I don’t know whether to be impressed, or sad… a bit of both, really. Hopefully, you’ll get the chance to unwind after a bit of time with me… Yuuei teach you how to case a Bank for robbers?”

Fumikage shakes his head, and Dark Shadow peaks out to do the same. He idly brings a hand to its head, running his fingers through the inky material as the Hero turns to look down at the street.

Hawks stretches his wings, and they flap like he was beckoning him closer to the edge. Fumikage leaves a healthy distance between them, and looks down at a crowd of people. “Alright, the best way to do our job is to make sure no one knows you’re there. You act differently when you know there’s a camera watching, and Heroes are cameras that can punch you. Before a fight, during it, best advice I can give. Best case scenario, you know the ball’s coming and you have a mit to catch it; worst case scenario, you’re getting a baseball to the nose. Most Heroes are happy being the mit, but there are some occasions where you have to be the ball.”

Fumikage nods, noticing how Hawks steps up onto the ledge of the building. A few feathers drift off his wing, and the bird child braces when he feels several prodding things under his arm and around his waist, like severed fingers that were still being controlled by an invisible set of hands.

Dark Shadow lets out a scream of jubilation as they take to the air, manifesting around Fumikage’s torso like a weighted blanket. He’s not sure if they’re responding to his thoughts, doing it for its own protection, or because it wanted to. But it was a massive comfort to Fumikage, who tries to keep the scream inside his throat as he’s ripped through Tokyo air.

---

Izuku stirs awake… and bolts up when he sees sunlight coming in his window. “Crap, my alarm… How many classes did I miss?”

“None, fortunately.” Izuku stops, turning to the desk in his room. Nedzu is sitting there, the laptop he’d lent him sitting on the chair while he’s on the desk proper, tapping away on a tablet. “I was running a quick scan because of that text you sent me last night. I didn’t look at anything else on your phone, even though it was tempting while I waited.”

Izuku relaxes a little, then clues in on that admission that Nedzu had been in here while he slept. He opens his mouth to comment on that… and closes it, and pushes off the All Might bed cover to slide his limited edition All Might sock covered feet into All Might slippers. “Sorry… I thought I should get that to you as soon as I could.”

Nedzu nods, and turns fully around on the desk. Izuku was decent, but he assumed it was so he could change into actual clothes. He stands up, going to his dresser as Nedzu speaks. “No need to be in uniform today, Izuku. Casual wear, as we’ll be in my office for a good portion of the day. You know a bit about online navigation and protection, but I want to teach you some of the basics of system exploitation. Then, some light analysis, make sure you’re as up to date on that as we can get you… and, if we have time for it, some planning on this war against All For One we seem to be gearing up for.”

Izuku stops, his nightshirt pulled off with a t-shirt sitting on the bed. He turns, then remembers Nedzu wasn’t looking at him for a reaction. He turns back, and quickly gets dressed while getting out a response. “Wait, you want me to help you plan? What can I do to help with that?”

Nedzu sighs as he strips, and shakes out his fresh undergarments before pulling them on. “You continue to undersell yourself, my Boy. True, you’re better with raw information or single implementation, but the next step in your training is implementing all of that on a bigger scale. Besides which, there might come a point where you need to be able to handle yourself in a high stress situation, either in this war or in your hope to be a Hero. You’ve relied on me to cover you, but you won’t be able to rely on me and Toshinori forever.”

Izuku stills, a belt partially fed through the loops. He reads that statement back in his head, seeing the second meaning under the spoken words. “I… I understand. Does this have anything to do with Stain?”

“If yesterday’s public demonstration is anything to be believed, oh yes. If that text is to be believed, nothing is nearly as simple as we’d like to think. Which is why we’re going to have to get our information straight before next Thursday, when whatever is in this pot comes to a boil.” Nedzu loudly hits the floor, and Izuku turns to see him walking to the door.

He grabs the laptop, and puts it into his bag. He grabs his phone and wallet with his I.D. from the nightstand, and quickly follows the principal to the elevator. He hits the ground floor button, sliding the bag over his shoulder as the door closes and takes them down.

They step out to the main floor, and Izuku sees a mug and little carry out box with a plastic fork sticking out of it. He grabs them as they go by, taking a sip of the coffee before following Nedzu out the front door. He pulls it closed behind him, pretty sure he’s the last one up and out today.

Nedzu has a golf cart near the front of the dorms, and Izuku turns to see the outlines of other buildings getting done. He sees Cementoss working in the distance, Denki standing next to him with a little notepad and writing things down. Denki was looking the other way, and Izuku doesn’t try to get his attention as they get into the back section. The robot in the seat jerks to life, and begins driving them up to the main school.

He’s glad he drained the mug a bit, and decides to finish it as Nedzu begins talking. “The robot has a minor signal detector and scrambler, but there is no end to the precautions we need to take. Any number of ‘Scrying’ Quirks exist, and he has a Hacker in his employ. Not to mention, you seem to have a connection through One for All itself, meaning we can’t truly trust you with anything until we understand how that works. Speaking of, have you had any more late night excursions I should know about?”

Izuku finishes a sip, and considers hiding it. But he nods, debating how much to reveal. “I thought about trying to get information about how much people might know about One for All… and got sidetracked. But I don’t think I’ve connected with him for… I think it was right after the USJ, which is how Denki started learning about it. It’s been a while, anyways.”

Nedzu nods, and brings the tablet up. “Good on you, trying to take care of things. But before you do something like that again, let me know beforehand. If you were alright with it, I’d love to have you do it during a CT scan, or maybe a PET scan. It would be extremely fascinating to see exactly how that Quirk is adapting to your body, rather than just knowing its effects as they occur.”

Izuku nods, and the robot pulls them up to one of the doors to the school. It was closer to the cafeteria, but considering where Nedzu’s office was, there wasn’t really any one entrance closer to it than the others. This one had more twists and turns between it and the office, but was technically closer without considering those.

Nedzu hops off the cart, and Izuku follows him while pulling out his I.D. so the scanner by the door can read it. “But for today, I want to show you some very basic system exploits… we’re going to get you started by exploiting the Hero Commission’s weaknesses.”

Izuku stops, and looks down at Nedzu. “I… what… Wait, WHAT?”

Nedzu continues walking, and he has to run behind him as the mouse lets out a hyena cackle. “Oh, don’t worry. They asked me to check their cyber security after yesterday’s Mayhem strike, and I’m simply using the chance to show you how to exploit systems I haven’t fixed. You’ll simply be executing my orders, so that you may eventually do the same on your own. Not against me, of course…”

“No, never… I mean, against you. But I’m willing to learn how to do this…” Izuku isn’t quite sure how to answer, and he begins stammering out half thoughts as they reach the office. He’s not quite sure how much comes out after that; he might have blacked out, honestly.

Next thing he knows, he’s typing on the computer, sitting on the couch on the side of the office. He was typing something into a note document… but he stops, and looks up and around.

Nedzu notices, and sips from a steaming cup he quickly sets onto a saucer. “Are you ready? Those sample lines should get you through into their system.”

Izuku blinks, and looks back. “I… how long have we been doing this? I… I think I actually just blacked out.”

He looks back at Nedzu, who hops out of his seat and walks over. He takes out a pen light, and Izuku sets the computer down as the principal takes his chin, and slowly passes the light over his eyes. “You seem fine… but you don’t remember that joke you told about All Might and Endeavor having a threeway with his wife? I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to use your analysis skill in such a manner, but I was highly amused…”

Izuku blinks, and he’s fairly certain the noise he makes would shatter glass if there were any windows in here. “WHAT?”

Nedzu laughs, but still goes over to his desk to grab his personal phone, and walk back. “A test to see if you were in a fugue state, if you’ll forgive me. But we should double check with Recovery Girl, especially if these happen again. She should be back later today, after being busy with that opening salvo from yesterday.”

Izuku nods, and Nedzu repeats the lesson he’d apparently received. He makes sure to note down everything, wondering why something like that would just happen out of nowhere.

Chapter Text

Jin stays right next to Dabi after that appearance yesterday, and when the television flickers on, he instinctively grabs his hand. The two of them, Magne, and Compress have all basically closed ranks, with Hana and Shin-Hye staying a bit separated from them doing whatever their Hacker needed. Then there was Tomura, but he never seemed interested in them as anything but NPCs to use when they had to fight next week.

The television flickers on, and the old Doctor in giant goggles looks right into the camera. “Bubaigawara, would you please allow Kurogiri to bring you to us? I’m afraid we need your Quirk for an experiment.”

Jin looks at the others, their conversation forgotten as Kurogiri turns to them. Jin looks to Dabi, who squeezes his hand back before going to stand up.

“Actually, Dabi, I’m afraid we need you to remain at Hana’s side until our next job is complete. Just Bubaigawara, please.”

Dabi’s teeth audibly knash, but Jin pulls his hand free before walking up to the bar. “Alright then… I’m so excited to help you guys!”

Kurogiri raises his hand, and a cloud of purple mist appears. Jin takes a breath and holds it as he walks through, which helps the feeling of the air getting ripped from his lungs as he plummets through the air before walking into a dark stone room. Jin turns back as the portal disappears, suddenly being in a dark room on his own. He wasn’t even sure if there was an exit… did they make a concrete room to bury him in? Was he going to suffocate in here?

As his thoughts slide into panic, bluish-green lights turn on at random intervals. They were refracted through some weird liquid that caused it to twist and bend in weird ways… around what had to be dozens of Nomu.

Jin knew that’s what they called these things… it was a species name, not an individual one… but seeing so many of them at once… he’s not even sure where to begin with all of the thoughts running through his head.

“Ah, finally…” That feeling of fear grabs his heart through his chest again, and he slowly turns as the menacing faceless figure walks through the darkness, the light making him look more ghoulish than usual. “You know, I had my doubts about how you could serve our mission. But now… well, I think you’ll be quite the keystone in my attempts to foster Tomura’s growth.”

Jin nods, hoping All For One doesn’t care if he doesn’t talk. The guy seemed happy enough to monologue, he probably didn’t need any more than nods and shakes of the head from him.

“I see you’ve already taken to measuring the other members of the League. But if you can effectively copy these Nomu, our siege of Tokyo will be that much more destructive. We won’t even need that Trigger Hana is procuring for us… Doctor, Hana is retrieving that for us, right?”

Jin looks to both sides, then turns to see the Doctor coming up behind him. He backs up, pressing against an empty tube as the man makes his way through. “She just finished negotiating the price to something reasonable. Considering the sheer amount of funds we have, the frugality seems like a bit of a waste. But I suppose money is a finite resource, even for us.”

Jin looks between them, and All For One turns and smiles at him. “I’ve had money in stocks since the Second American Depression. Of course we’re well funded; twenty dollars is worth quite a bit more after nearly two hundred years. I invested in the first Quirk Support Item Companies, which were around before we even called them Quirks.”

Jin just nods… but All For One doesn’t seem to want a captive audience, because the fear aura seems to loosen. Jin takes a few breaths, and lets himself consider the statements. “Two hundred years… you’re over two hundred years old?”

All For One laughs at that, and shakes his head. “Not quite. When my Quirk first manifested, it was more common for them to manifest later in life, around the late twenties. I won’t be two hundred for another few years; Sadly, One for All will not live to be nearly this age, if I have my way.”

The Doctor walks up to Jin, holding up a tablet. He takes a quick look at it, and his brain almost instantly puts the measurements into a practical image in his head. “We want you to recreate this specimen first. See what limits your Quirk has, and see if we can’t push it to recreate our other, more destructive Nomu.”

Jin nods, and takes the tablet. He already had an okay idea of how to remake this person, but he lets his eyes flick up to the other two, getting a slow idea of their measurements from eyeballing it. He’d committed a few crimes off the cuff in the past, and had to build that skill at least a little bit.

He hands the tablet back, and holds his hands out. A mud-like substance begins forming in his palms, and he points them at the ground to create a stream of the stuff. It begins pouring like a shower head turned on low, and it quickly starts taking up the space of a large hunched over person with nubs where wings should be.

After a minute, the mud begins changing color, taking on a pale color whose exact shade was hidden by the light in the room. And the figure begins to stand, limbs shaking and compound eyes turning every which way, insectoid wings flicking as it learns its surroundings.

“Wonderful; Subject 79-B.L.U.M. was completely recreated in a physical sense. Now it’s time for him to be loaded into a pod for deeper evaluation… make him climb into the tube as it opens.”

The Doctor pulls out a remote, and the liquid begins draining out of the tube. Jin shakes his hands, holding them up. “Sure, that’s exactly how my Quirk works. They’re perfect copies, mind and all. They’re independent, just like they’re real selves.”

All For One’s eyeless skin patch is looking right at him, and that smile unsettles Jin for a number of reasons. “Really? Fascinating… I must inspect your Quirk further.”

Jin doesn’t like the sound of that, the Doctor opening the tank and getting the copy into it with a simple barked command. He backs away as All for One steps closer, his heart beating loudly in his ears as the man’s fingers turn into black wires, slowly reaching forward…

---

It was rather like those old movies, where the antagonists rip out someone’s heart in a ghastly simplification of ancient cultures traditions, when he uses his Quirk. All for One snakes forward to Bubaigawara, who backs himself up into a closed tube before the tips of the wires pierce his chest and head.

His scream is quickly silenced by an additional wire that pierces his neck, for no other reason than to keep the sound from echoing out. And very quickly, the man’s Quirk is taken as part of his, an additional voice in the choir that his Quirk made… up…

His Quirk was a masterful conductor, forcing all those he’d taken to stay in line. But as the wires remove themselves from Bubaigawara, the Quirk refuses to cooperate, screaming offbeat and off melody. And the singers closest to it lose the song, and too quickly, that all cascade into wild screaming, the conductor just standing there, trying to carry the beat that none of them are listening to.

All For One has had nearly two centuries to hold his composure, to solidify his will and control the wildest of Quirks. But this one… it knocks him from his feet, his hands seizing uncontrollably as he lands on his back, the machines holding his body together unable to help him as his lungs fight for breath, his heart begins beating like he’d been running for miles, his legs kicking out at unseen attackers, words rasping out of his throat that he was too busy to hear…

The Doctor quickly pulls an injector of mild paralytics from his pocket, and quickly injects it into the side of his neck. All For One notes how quickly he does it, ignoring the collapsed sludge in the tube to ensure his continued survival.

It takes much too long for his body to stop, for the pacemaker and artificial parts to begin taking control for him again. And the archive of Quirks manage to come under control, all except for the one that still yearned to return to its original.

All for One forces his ‘seeing’ Quirks to lock in on Bubaigawara, who is looking into the empty tube. He’s looking at his reflection, a hand reaching up to the stitches that still sat on his head. “I’m… I’m not the copy… I was always the first…”

The Doctor waits, not sure what he would do. All for One raises his hand, forcing his Quirk into motion to eject this bad actor from his chorus. The wires quickly pith the psychotic rogue, and he gladly relinquishes that awful Quirk before it can do any more damage to him.

He lays there a moment, using an old Quirk to force the paralytics out of his system and into one of the machines that would wash it from him, where his stomach should be. The Doctor quickly waddles up to the pawn, calling for Kurogiri to send him off. But it takes him several minutes to be able to stand, and the Doctor stays there all the while.

If he’d wanted, he would have ended this tale right then and there. He could have done any number of things to the paralyzed Symbol of Fear… But the Doctor still had need of him, just as he needed the Doctor. And he manages to marshall himself into standing again, and the two go back to his seat of power in his underground empire.

The Doctor prepares one of several concoctions that maintains his body, and guides over a little Nomu that they’d made from a hairless Egyptian cat with a series of Quirks that detects sickness and death. It didn’t much like either of them, considering the efforts that went into keeping them alive. But it loudly hisses as the Doctor brings it closer, scrounging to get away from him as he tries to banish the numbness in his fingers.

“That Quirk… I thought it was simply the container that was flawed, but that Quirk is psychosis waiting to emerge. We will use it, but let him continue to keep it.”

The Doctor lets the cat leave the room, and carefully begins inserting an IV with the medicinals added to it. “Of course…”

All For One looks over at the Doctor, his silence speaking volumes over his long episodes of endless dialogue. “Garaki, you are my closest confidant… and I would hope that I am yours. You have always spoken freely to me; do not withhold your tongue now.”

The Doctor takes a steadying breath, and slowly brings out his tablet. “I believe… it would do us well to consider the… Backup Plan.”

All For One sighs, normally all too happy to deflect this conversation. “You know my opinion on this project… and I know your need for answers means you’ve already begun. So tell me, what subject are you on?”

“Well… the first two subjects did not take the sample Quirk graft correctly. I did manage to find thresholds where their bodies would give out, but given the flaw in the data they presented… they are transitional points at best.”

All For One sighs, bringing his free hand up to message his temple. It would be a long day, even before considering this unfortunate circumstance. “What successes have you had?”

The Doctor stops his pradling, and finally gets to the research that got him to bring it up. Above everything in this ‘relationship’, he knew one thing mattered; results. “There was one promising candidate. His initial Quirk is local weather manipulation, which causes cellular damage when used over a long period of time. But samples of his Quirk factor bonded favorably with samples of All for One, so if I could move on to further testing…”

All For One waves his hand, an old conversation they’d had time and again. “I have trained Tomura for this day, with Hana to be his guide if he requires it. I do not want to risk years of planning on a new pawn that might not even be mine to move.”

The Doctor nods, but the exasperation in his tone betrays him. “I understand… but based on my research… there is a chance that my procedure could… damage Shigaraki.”

All For One turns to look at the doctor, one of many Quirks reacting to his anger by increasing the pressure of gravity on the Doctor. “Garaki…”

“That is why I have been practicing with this graft! If we use this promising subject to test the full process, the risk of damage will be minimal!”

All For One growls, then beckons for the tablet. The Doctor hits a button, making the screen display in a series of shades confusing to regular eyes. But his sensing Quirks can tell perfectly… and he scrolls through the report, biding his tongue as he sees the thorough work the Doctor manages to put in on this spare project.

“Very well… let us see if Subject Nine can be a useful asset. If nothing else, he will prove a useful pawn in an assault against All Might.”

Garaki nods, rubbing his hands together. “Good… but if I may, it would mean putting a suitable amount of resources into the project. It might mean… it might make turning Endeavor into a Nomu, even a paltry offering, an impossible goal.”

All For One takes a rattling breath, considering his options. He had no need to be hasty… at least, not quite yet. “Prepare for both eventualities as best as you can. When the time comes… if nothing else, a Nomu that can burn that forest Ragdoll lives in would prove just as useful, no?

-

Tenya might be interested in his revenge, but that doesn’t mean he can’t afford to skip this lesson. He takes all the proper notes from Manual as they walk through the city, making small audio recordings that he’ll copy down later. But that doesn’t mean his scan is passive. Every alleyway, every apartment building, or building being renovated gets a scan, picking out visible entrances and exits and how active they tend to be…

“You alright? You seem a little jumpy, even for a newby.” Manual gently tries to start a conversation, noticing him scanning back and forth from the helmet. They got the occasional person coming up to greet Manual, and a few that even asked if they could take photos of him. He allowed it, holding his fingers up in a way Tensei told him was good on social media.

Tenya tries to clear his throat, keeping his tone as neutral as possible. “I’m perfectly fine… just being thorough, learning a new area.”

Manual doesn’t seem to believe him, but they manage to walk another block before he tries the approach again. “I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but your brother and I hung out a bit when I was starting. He’s a really nice guy… so if you need someone to just yell at a bit, I get it.”

Tenya nods like he was listening… but as Manual was talking, his ears couldn’t help but pick up a steadily approaching, familiar sound. “Are there any reports of a villain nearby?

Manual doesn’t respond for a second, and Tenya turns to see through the visor that he’s tapping his ear, clearly getting a call from someone. “Got it… no, it’s not a villain. It’s Miriko and her Intern doing a patrol run… oh, now I hear him.”

Tenya looks up just in time to see Miriko launch herself between highrise buildings, Bakugo lagging just a few seconds behind with two explosions to keep up with her. Everyone looks up as they pass, and he’s not quite sure that he hears the heroine laughing at his lagging classmate before they vanish, the sounds sending them off at a quicker pace than they approached.

Manual waits a few moments, then begins leading Tenya towards the major street that would let them walk straight back to the agency. “You know, I think your year has more people on internships out of Yuuei than most in the past few years. Are you all that anxious to get out and see the world?”

Tenya doesn’t answer for a moment, but he knows being too quiet will make the hero suspicious. Reserved is one thing, but being completely shut down would make things harder for him. “No… I think we have more to prove this year. To ourselves, to the rest of the class… to the world.”

Manual finally lets the conversation drop, and Tenya quietly follows him. He still didn’t have any sign that Stain was here… but it was only the first day here. He had plenty more time for his hunt… and he refused to fail. He would find that man… that beast... and give him exactly what he deserved.

--

Tomura is not what most people would call patient. Or polite… very few people even knew him to refer to him as anything. Even the other villains they were recruiting preferred Hana… everyone always liked Hana more than him… even Sensei seemed to like her more, always giving her things to do…

Except for this. And so Tomura walks down to the basement of the bar, where the man tied to a chair waits for him. He has the leather gloves on, and they feel very smooth and comfortable on his hands. But he would make Sensei proud… so he slowly drawls from his scratchy throat, the man not jumping from his arrival. “You are a very hard person to find, Akiguro. It’s never taken Sensei so long to hunt someone down; we could help you track down all the fake heroes you’re so obsessed over, if you worked with us.”

Akiguro just glares at him, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. “You have been chasing me all week… but that’s given me time to think. The girl… the one who should be leading you… she is your kin. Your sister, unless I’m mistaken.”

Tomura growls at that, bringing a hand up for the ‘Hero Killer’ to see. “I want you on my side; but if you want to oppose me, I’ll just take the experience from taking you down and move on.”

Akiguro leans back in the chair, either not threatened at all or trying to look relaxed to piss him off. “The heroes abandoned you when you were children… that’s what she said. Tell me, are you doing this as revenge for your childhood, or do you have an actual grievance for your actions?”

Tomura’s hand curls, the first time since he was a kid he could do so. He can feel the bones pop from the new position. “My grandmother… she was supposed to be some famous hero. But she left my father just after he was born… and went and got killed by some no-name villain. So he hated heroes… and every child wants to be a hero when they’re kids. I did, at one point… but my father tried to beat that dream out of me. Hana… she told a hero, when we were out one day as a family. They didn’t believe her, just told her to stop telling stories; when he tried to beat her for that, I killed him with my Quirk…”

Tomura talks, the memory vivid in his head. Like it just happened yesterday; he doesn’t have the extra hands on him, but he can feel them squeezing his arms, his family keeping him from running from his father’s abuse. Always bringing him back, to keep the beatings from being worse… like they could get any worse…

Akiguro sits there silently for a moment, and Tomura isn’t sure why he told the story. The taste of copper and decay fills his mouth, and he patiently waits for the Hero Killer to say anything. “Well then… that sounds like two times, and an infinite number of others, where a hero should have done something. But instead of doing something truly worth their title, and saving two children from a terrible home, they chased the cameras and the crimes that made the news.”

Tomura nods, and walks forward. He stops just out of kicking range from Akiguro, and brings his hands together. He threads his fingers together, taking a second to revel in the motion before looking up at Akiguro, two sets of red eyes meeting. “If they want a villain that makes the news, then so be it. They ignored me because I wasn’t a big story? I’ll turn them all to dust, until everyone chokes on the ashes of the world they knew. Anyone who stands against me, and everyone who does what my birth father did, will join them on the winds. Now, I ask again; will you help me show them what they really are?”

Akiguro takes another few seconds… then he smiles, his teeth splitting so his tongue can snake out. He licks his lips, and stands from the chair, the ropes falling to the ground. Tomura feels a small frisson of fear, but doesn’t step back as the Hero Killer draws right up to his face, his breath stinking of copper from the blood he licked his lips. “So, you do have a reason… I’m not often wrong, when it comes to reading people. But you’ve impressed me… I won’t fight alongside you, if you want to kill All Might. In my view, he’s the only real hero.”

Tomura unclenches his hands, and offers a rictus grin instead. “How about… Endeavor, then? Apparently, he’s done some real damage to the title of hero, with all the skeletons in his closet. We share the EXP for taking him out, both getting something we want. Infamy for us, and righteous glory for you… they won’t see the difference, but those who would join us will see.”

Akiguro considers it, and then offers a calloused hand. Tomura takes it, his leather wrapped thumb meaning his Quirk doesn’t turn his temporary ally into dust. “One hunt, then I’m done with you. You’ll never bother me again, understand?”

Tomura nods, knowing Sensei will be proud of him. “We won’t have any reason to chase after you, once we have Endeavor. But really, when we do this, where will you have to go?”

Akiguro narrows his eyes, pulling his hand away. “You let me worry about that… and refurbishing my weaponry. If it hasn't been found yet, I’ll need to retrieve it.”

“Of course… Kurogiri is more than willing to help anyone in All for One’s Employ.” Tomura turns, half daring the Hero Killer to do something. Instead, the two end up stalking up the stairs to the bar.

Chapter Text

Mashirao and Hitoshi walk into the dorms, some of the other students with teachers on campus already here for the night. Hitoshi dramatically walks into and trips on the couch, face planting on the empty spot next to an equally exhausted Rikidou. Mashirao at least walks around the couch, settling his tail over the arm of the couch before resting his head on the back of the couch, looking at the dead expression on Rikidou’s face.

Aizawa had them help with some of the work for the older hero students, and run ‘basic’ drills with them. And most of the time, while sparring with really well trained fellow students, he could push through the exhaustion of being woken up in the middle of the night by a nightmare… the less he had dreams about Hitoshi’s boyfriend, the better for his tenuous mental health.

Denki looks over, and Mashirao is comically irritated with how relaxed he seems. “Hey, buddies… you good? You need some water or anything?”

Hitoshi looks up from the couch cushion, and that murderous look he gives the electric blond gets Yuga to startle from staring at a spot on the wall. “I will end your bloodline.”

Denki snickers at that, not taking the threat seriously at all. “I’m already sort of doing that work for you… but alright then. Mezou’s apparently out on some sort of all day gig with Mic, and Izuku said he was busy doing ‘stuff’ with Nedzu…”

The five students share a collective shudder at that trailing off, but try not to think about it as Yuga stands. “I can prepare us a simple dinner, if we want. I assume you are a little exhausted from your work in the kitchen today, Rikidou?”

The big student nods, sliding down until his head rests on the back of the couch as well. “I respect Lunch Rush a lot more now… there’s six of us, running ingredients for him as he cooks it. His Quirk cuts down on the actual time spent cooking, but that just means so much more time is spent preparing to cook. But he knows a lot of really intricate techniques, and watching him work is incredible… Did you know one of the third year electives is professional cooking?”

Everyone shakes their head, even Yuga as he walks into the kitchen. “Most of the teachers teach an elective to the other students… Midnight mentioned it in one of her classes. But the Hero Course has a lot of their electives locked to things like Foundations of Heroics and Athletics until Year Three. Yuuei has one of the best programs for heroes… in a physical sense.”

If anyone sees something greater in that comment, they don’t mention it. Yuga just boils some rice and cooks a few cuts of pork, just finishing as Hanta walks in. He rolls his neck, audibly popping it as he comes in. “Hey guys, how’s the first… not good, huh?”

Mashirao’s not sure how the three of them establish the psychic link in that moment, but he, Hitoshi, and Rikidou all raise both middle fingers in perfect unison. They also let their arms go limp at the same time, both of them getting buried under Rikidou’s larger arm. If he wasn’t exhausted from hours of extra drills, he might have something resembling a gay panic moment at that. But his mind is so far from the gutter, it’s in orbit.

Hanta gives a little laugh, and goes and flops down next to Denki. “Hound Dog has a lot of paperwork he does; journal entries, patient notes… he didn’t let me anywhere near those, but he just has a lot of files he keeps. A lot of paper files, even though Nedzu has one of the safest servers on the planet… like, I get it, but it’s a bit much, you know?”

Mashirao nods, but Rikidou actually points out the problem. “I mean, after what happened with us with the Reporters and the USJ, maybe some things shouldn’t be digital.”

“By that logic, some things just shouldn’t be written down. Isn’t that an entire genre of horror, ‘stuff man was not meant to know’?” Mashirao begins massaging his temples, leaning back as Hitoshi ominously talks into the couch cushion.

Yuga walks out of the kitchen, using the serving tray of the long since eaten cake to bring the bowls of food to the table. “I believe you’re referring to cosmic horror, and a number of other story devices wherein the danger is entirely tied to cursed knowledge that destroys everyone it touches. It makes for quite the lingering horror… because by watching the movie, you’ve made yourself aware of the very horror the characters failed to survive… now come along, the food’s growing cold.”

The others take a second, then Hitoshi tips himself over the couch fully, landing and lulling back and forth for a second before standing to go to the food. Mashirao follows, offering a hand to pull Rikidou up. The larger boy almost pulls him down, but their levels of exhaustion tilt the balance in his favor this time.

They all head to the table, and spend the night relaxing for once. If some of them had it this bad, how were the people with Top Ten Heroes doing?

-

If Fumikage had any feathers left after this internship, it would be a miracle. Whether from the wind sheer taking them off, or his own frustrated removal of them at the lackadaisical attitude of his taskmaster for the week.

As Hawks meets with Manual and Mirko in Manual’s offices, he sits next to Katsuki, who sits between him and Iida as they wait for their respective heroes to finish. Katsuki and Tenya both have notebooks they’re writing down in, clearly drafting paperwork or patrol reports or something important… Fumikage doesn’t know what he’s supposed to be doing, but he feels he should have some work to do.

He’s sitting there, arms crossed and heel bouncing and tapping on the floor, when Katsuki growls and looks over at him. “Look, I can deal with one of you being weirdly tense, but not both of you. So spill; the hell is he like as a teacher?”

Fumikage appreciates the comment, and can tell Iida doesn’t appreciate the ‘subtle’ comment on his mood, but he takes it as a moment to vent to someone he slightly trusts. He hasn’t talked to Katsuki about anything too personal yet, so what better time to test the waters… “If he acts like he actually wants to teach for more than five minutes at a time, I’ll let you know.”

“He actually tries to teach you? Mirko just expects me to take notes while we’re running across the fucking rooftops.”

“Sure, he’s providing comments that can be construed as lessons. But… it feels like an afterthought, almost every time. I have the feeling having me around wasn’t his idea.”

Katsuki snorts at that, then a twinge of regret flashes across his face as Dark Shadow wells up from Fumikage’s arm, its own little arms crossed. “He’s the Third, probably Second by now, Ranked Hero in the country, and there’s some idiot running around attacking heroes. He didn’t pick you for all the gossip about the other students, he picked you because you were number three at the Festival.”

Fumikage nods, and the meeting room opens as the three walk out. Hawks runs a hand through his hair, and looks to the other two before turning to him. “Alright, chicklet. We’ve got one last bit of space to patrol before heading back to the agency… Hey, you never mentioned you had Blasty Boy as your Intern!”

Hawks turns, and Mirko walks out with her arms crossed and forces Hawks to back up out of the doorway by closing into his space. “Oh no you don’t, bird brain. I’ve bragged about this klutz six times already, and you are not getting into his head this early. You already live rent free at your agency, you don’t get a spot with him, too.”

Hawks holds up his hands in mock surrender, giving the heroine a camera ready smile. “Calm down, Rumi. I just wanted to see if he was as explosive as he was on tv… but I guess Yuuei was falsely advertising the product.”

Fumikage blinks, Hawks leading tone sounding… familiar. He doesn’t want to connect it to anything at first, the tone pulling negative emotions from his chest he would feel better forgetting. But as Hawks relents and begins walking out, a casual smile on his face, the rattling lockbox in the corner of his head pops open. In spite of the chains he’d wrapped around it, kicked back into the darkest corner he could manage, it still managed to reach its arms out towards him…

He follows Hawks to the elevator that would take them to the ground, the Hero leaning against the wall across from him and giving him an easy smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. Fumikage tries not to remember his experiences with his middle school Quirk Counselor, who had seemed more than happy to see him fail rather than succeed… she’d had the same sort of smile Hawks was always wearing. “Hey, little birdy? You up for some grub on the way back to the agency? I was in the mood for some teriyaki chicken, to be honest.”

Fumikage jerks himself back to the present, and nods his head. Dark Shadow forms in the folds of his costume, and he quickly starts running a hand over their head to keep them in check. “That sounds good, Sir.”

Hawks pulls out his phone, visibly shuddering at that honorific. “Wow, does that make me feel old. You don’t have to call me anything like that, chicklet. Honestly, I’m not any older than most of your teachers, so lumping me in with them just feels weird… I’m practically still a student, compared to them.”

Fumikage raises an eyebrow, seeing the man go to an app for a restaurant not too far from here. He considers whether or not he could get away with testing Hawks… maybe something on the closer end to innocent would be best. “Very well… Could you order something closer to spicy? A lot of the others in the dorms prefer that sort of food, and I want to get my palette used to it.”

He sees Hawks’s eyes flicker over to him as he focuses on the screen, the corner of the pro’s mouth twitching before he begins flicking through the menu as the elevator door opens. “Sure thing, Tokoyami. I prefer my birds a little spicy, too. Who’s got the highest spice tolerance in your class?”

Fumikage takes a moment, wondering if this was worth doing. This feels too much like something Denki would do… but after a moment, he rationalizes this to himself. “Bakugo, actually. But Yaoyorozu and Kyouka seem to appreciate them equally, even if they can’t quite stand the same level without coolants at hand.”

Hawks smiles, the two of them walking through the lobby. If he notices Fumikage’s suspicion, he’s too good at hiding it. Perhaps he would be slow about it, trying to chip away at Fumikage’s defenses to slowly gain more information… an image of Izuku’ panicking as he nearly revealed something odd about his Quirk flashes through his mind, and Fumikage readies his resolve.

He wasn’t going to be so blatant with his tells, or with his friend’s secrets.

---

“Yeah, that does sound like a tricky one… I mean, Serene Gardens has a lot of punch to it, and it’s a technique heavy song. But Broken Dreams just has so many interesting little tricks in it, it’s a beast to listen to musically.” Present Mic leans on the only clear part of the table, tilting his head at the interviewee. He’s looking over a printed list of the band that made Serene Gardens, Mezou standing by with a girl who was keeping an eye on the sound systems as the interview goes on.

The woman smiles, brushing her long black hair back over one shoulder. “Yeah, I’m just glad we could finally polish this album to give it the big release it deserves. There are… a lot of people get labeled as ‘Villains’ and ‘Criminals’ because of one bad day they had. Some of them are just good people who need someone to listen to them… some aren’t, but we all need a little gray to shade in between black and white.”

Present Mic flashes two thumbs up at that, setting the list down to do so. “Yeah, the world isn’t so black and white… isn’t that one of the lyrics in ‘Chess Board’?”

The woman laughs, the girl quickly spinning a dial so the sound didn’t assault the listening audience. Mezou watches the board of sound equipment fluctuate, speaking in a language he could just barely understand after a long day of learning how to read it. “Hey, Sakushi-ka is the one who loves cliches. No lie, we have a drinking game whenever one of us slips up and repeats a lyric in everyday life… this is actually the third time I’ve said something that was in a song in this interview, but the other two are for our follow up album.”

Present Mic chuckles at that, looking around conspiratorially. “Oh, really? Anything you can share with the class?”

The woman smiles, pulling out her phone. “Not on the radio, unfortunately. However, we are releasing a few short clips on our socials, layered under some casual videos of us just having fun. Our die-hards have already been circling the tapes, but the rest of you can follow ‘Verismo of Villains’, or our standard socials advertised at the top to get a hint of our next releases.”

Present Mic shakes his hands like the old devil horns, and turns to the booth to flash a thumbs up to the girl. She nods, and Mezou watches her begin to work in the next song. “Well everyone, this is Bokaru from the band ‘Noise of the Night’, and this is a double feature. As the kiddos turn in for the night, let’s hope they don’t wake up with any ‘Broken Dreams’, huh?”

The song slowly fades in, the girl giving them a thumbs up as the music is tuned into and the mics are cut. Bokaru slips the headphones off, fanning herself as a bit of sweat beads her brow. Mezou reaches down for the mini-fridge Present Mic keeps stocked, grabbing water for the two before sneaking into the room.

He stretches his arm under the microphone stands, the woman smiling and taking the offered drink. “Is this that new intern you didn’t want me to meet in the lobby?”

Mezou blinks, Present Mic quickly popping his water and downing a solid mouthful. “No, this is the kid from one of my classes. Yuuei internships started this week, and he’s a natural with the keyboards.”

Mezou feels a bit of heat creeping up his face, the mask thankfully covering it. Bokura’s eyes pass him over, then she shakes her head. “Well, that’s not fair. Ever heard ‘has a face made for radio?’ Cause that doesn’t apply to you.”

“Bokura, please.” Mezou slowly steps out of the room, Present Mic’s admonishment having just a bit of edge to it. Not enough for the joking tone to be overtaken, but enough to make her hold up her hands in defeat.

Mezou steps back around the keyboard, Mic’s head DJ beckoning him over. He’s got a lot of the details of switching around down, but he can tell that’s only the conversational part of this language. There’s a lot of little nuances he wants to understand… and he’s pretty sure he’ll get it, too, before the week is done.

Chapter Text

Izuku takes a breath, the air bouncing off something too close to his face and coming right back. He slowly opens his eyes, and jumps slightly when he sees the plain gray tube sitting right in front of him.

“Izuku, it’s alright. The scan is almost over, just remain calm.” Izuku takes another breath, Recovery Girl’s tone kind but firm. He just steadies his breathing, trying to remember the last thing he could.

He sits there for just another few minutes, then the table starts sliding out. He recognizes the design of the room as a part of Yuuei, but he’s completely lost as to where they could be. He stays lying down, only vaguely remembering bits and pieces of the past day. He looks down, seeing he was in a gown, but there was a chair with a stack of his clean clothes sitting there.

A door to the side opens, both Nedzu and Recovery Girl walking out. They were each carrying a tablet, Recovery Girl also bringing out a sealed cup that she sets on a side table next to the chair of his clothes. “Most interesting… Firstly, yesterday’s events are simply a minor bit of exhaustion, so we should try to ensure your nights are a bit more restful, Izuku. Your body seems to be on a slow but sure path to recovery, going through the same growths and changes as anyone. That’s all well and good, especially considering the special circumstances your Quirk presents.”

Recovery Girl gives a side eye to Nedzu, shaking her head and turning the tablet around. “It appears that our assumptions about Heal’s expanded range is proving correct. But, unless you’ve been using it without informing us, you shouldn’t have the exhaustion and injuries you do…”

Izuku looks at the information on the screen, then slowly feels his face grow warm. “I’ve… um, Hitoshi has been having a hard time with his insomnia recently. So we’ve sort of been… well…”

Recovery Girl stops, then seems to relax mildly to give a knowing look. “Ah… well, Aizawa’s training regime and his poor sleep health do help explain some of this. As long as you two aren’t doing… anything too strenuous…”

Izuku’s face goes bright red, and he frantically waves his hands back and forth. If any of what he was saying was understandable, the two adults in the room don’t try to assuage his embarrassment.

Nedzu only just controls his cackles, pulling out a phone to type on. “As long as you two are being responsible, I think it should be alright. Besides, Aizawa is more than likely aware of any such… cohabitation, and signing off on it.”

Izuku nods… then holds up a finger. “Wait… he can see that?”

Recovery Girl sighs, a wistful sound as if remembering her younger days, pulling up a file that looked like it was about him to begin adding too. “Well, it appears prolonged physical contact is enough for Heal to begin activating. With a Healing Quirk that reflects injury onto the user, there are a number of forms and training courses to go through before you can be fully authorized to use it in anything beyond a controlled setting. I just hope you won’t attempt to push it too far, until we have some lower limits understood first.”

Izuku just lets Recovery Girl add to the file for a moment, a half conjured thought that had been in the back of his head all week bubbling back up to the surface. “So… my plan to offer and help Tenya’s brother probably isn’t…”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT.” Izuku flinches, both Nedzu and Recovery Girl shooting down the idea before he can even finish waving it off.

It takes them a minute, or maybe Izuku just missed them saying something before he finally recognizes Nedzu speaking. “While that is exactly the kind of heroic spirit I want my students to exemplify, we might consider smaller tests before we attempt to reconstruct spinal nerves. And if this is a Wound Transference situation, then we are absolutely not considering this until Tensei is further into the recovery process.”

Recovery Girl pats his knee, a reassuring smile on her face. “I’m sorry, Midoriya, but we just have to be careful in the future. We’re just going to have to be very cautious, and be very thorough after any harmful encounters. Contrary to popular belief, it’s better to have several minorly injured patients in my care than one critically injured one.”

Izuku lets out a little chortle at the delivery, her dry delivery even causing Nedzu’s mouth to twitch into a smile. “Well, we should allow you to dress properly. We still have your internship, and we are nothing if not adaptable.”

The two leave, and Izuku gets up and changes. He does a quick check for cameras, stripping and changing quickly. He picks up the cup, seeing a smoothie he partially drinks before walking out.

Nedzu is waiting for him, Recovery Girl having a robot carry her off to her office like a mini scooter. Izuku blinks at the image, then shakes his head as Nedzu hands him his phone. “Regardless, we have much prep work to take care of. Let’s begin with a Quirk Analysis of this supposed Hero Killer, shall we?”

---

Toru sped after Best Jeanist, keeping pace with the others who were following him. She could feel her hair coming out of the knot she kept it in, but a few seconds of it being messy should be fine… right?

Jeanist was currently walking his patrol route, three sidekicks and Toru keeping pace with him. She had denim jeans on over her hero costume, but she had her suit on under those and a flannel shirt that he said best matched with the others. Debatable, but she wasn’t confident enough to speak up against him.

They reach a major intersection, stopping right next to a coffee shop. Jeanist comes to a stop, then turns to her specifically. “Hagakure, there’s something I’d like you to see. Meguroko, would you mind fetching the five of us a drink while we do this?”

Meguroko, a man in a green puffy shirt, nods and steps into the cafe. Toru begins looking around, Jeanist watching her as she does. Was… did he see something suspicious, and wanted to see if she could spot it too?

There were a couple of shops in the area, a jewelry store and pawn shop some villains might be tempted to rob. There was a bike rack that someone could put a skimmer on to steal card information on, but that was also true of most of the shops… though it was in a camera blindspot from what she could see, so maybe there was a chance someone could place the skimmer in light traffic and get away undetected…

She looks at the people next, not really seeing anyone suspicious. Everyone was wearing different styles and colors of clothes, and there were multiple people in hoodies… the same shade of gray, same size, even though it didn’t really fit on some of them. All of whom look over at Jeanist, then take out phones and begin texting while looking anywhere but at him. “Those twelve people wearing gray hoodies, all looking around and texting after they saw you?”

Jeanist looks up, his eyebrow raising before he does a cursory sweep of the intersection. “Interesting… not what I noticed, but that is certainly a detail worthy of note. No, I was going to indicate the owner of that resale shop on the opposite corner.”

He doesn’t look that way, and Toru does a check. The man has stepped out of his shop, a cleaning rag and spray bottle in his hand. He starts cleaning the window… but he seems to be doing so randomly, not always scrubbing where he’d just sprayed. “Okay, little sus… is that worth talking to him about?”

“Usually not, but it’s worth noting.” One sidekick puts in, a woman with her long hair tied up with a simple braid. She takes the single cup the first sidekick brings back, waiting until Jeanist takes his before drinking.

“Might be something, might just be a bad day for his attention. But little things like that are always useful to have on the mind.” The third sidekick adds on, Toru realizing the last cup is hers. She takes it, the box for Caramel hot chocolate on the side being ticked.

“A single tear in a piece of clothing is easily explained, even mended. But with each compounding break in the stitching, a more foul eyesore is left to be discovered.” Jeanist turns for his drink, careful to pick a short moment where his face would go unobserved. “We must be alert for too many tears in the fabric, ready to mend them before they become a problem.”

Toru nods, pulling out her phone to note the lesson. Jeanist had said roughly twenty different things that could be construed as individual lessons in just a day and change, each of which she was writing down just in case. “Okay… then… um, could I point something out?”

Jeanist turns to her, the belt-like mask back over his face before he does. “I believe you are fully capable of sharing anything you might have noticed. Whether it is actionable or not, we shall see.”

Toru nods, and points to the bikes. “Well, I’ve read a lot about people making machines that just slide over card readers, which let them steal card numbers. That stand there has a camera, but it wouldn’t notice anyone messing with the scanner because of its visual radius.”

Jeanist turns, nodding as he notices the observation. “Yes, that appears to be an oversight on the part of the terminal. Very good, Hagakure. I’ll see if a pointed word or two can’t change that, when we return to the office.”

Toru smiles, hopping on her feet a little at noticing that before Jeanist. She sends a quick text off, a couple of the others in the class already having some humble brags that they were all passing around. They continue on their route after another minute, and she continues her scanning, wondering what else she can see before the Pro.

---

Mina looks at all the messages in the 1-A group chat, gritting her teeth that she didn’t have anything to add to it. She turns her phone over on the carpet, picking up the rag to scrub the underside of the barely used desk in Mount Lady’s apartment.

Think of the devil, and she reappears, changed into her suit after spending most of the morning calling people and setting up interviews for magazines and websites. “Wow… you have got some serious work ethic, girl. You’re going places, I can just tell.”

Mina turns, just managing to keep a smile on her face while her tone turns acrid. “Ah, don’t mention it. I’ve just been doing this all day… all of yesterday, too. If this place wasn’t clean by now…”

Mount Lady clearly catches the tone, but ignores it to check herself in the mirror. “Ashido, Hero work isn’t just being on the streets, looking for crimes to stop. A lot of hard work goes into presenting and maintaining an image; your brand is just as important as your costume, or your special moves. Sure, that’s the thing that everyone sees… I hated my first internship too. They made me clean their entire office building, from the first floor to the seven story roof. I barely got any time to join them on patrol… a day and a half seems pretty short compared to that, huh?”

Mina narrows her eyes, wondering if she was just making that up to make her feel bad. But then Mount Lady knocks on her hero suitcase on the vanity, turning to her. “I… wait, are we going now?”

Mount Lady looks her up and down, noticing the apron and rags she still had. “I don’t know… Hero Monthly is supposed to call me back, do a little interview. I’ll be busy for at least the next twenty minutes… maybe thirty, if they just need to keep going.”

Mina nods, quickly standing up. She was slowly tuning in to Takeyama’s wavelength, a little vain but not totally self absorbed. “Cool, works for me. I need to wash the dust out of my hair, anyways.”

Mount Lady nods, quickly pulling out her phone the nano-second it rings. “Run along, and be ready in a tight thirty, got it?”

Mina moves around the couch to grab her case, walking into the bathroom to change. She sets the case down, and pantomimes strangling the air for just a few seconds to get the frustration out before getting ready for her quick shower. She didn’t have the stuff for her hair, but that should be fine one time… right?

She inspects her hair after slipping her costume on, and she grits her teeth before turning. She walks out of the bathroom, Mount Lady holding up her buzzing phone with a raised eyebrow while speaking. “I… I haven’t spoken to Death Arms since we met at U.A.’s Sports Festival… sure, I have his number… wait, his new Intern did what?”

-

Kyouka tries to catch her breath, looking down at the broom in her hands and the guy she’d just smacked across the face with it. He rolls onto his side, his face flickering as some weird Illusion Quirk tries and fails to cover a broken nose. She stands there a second, then adjusts her grip in a crude imitation of how Momo had done it.

Technically, she wasn’t supposed to be doing this. She was just supposed to tell Death Arm and his sidekick what part of the building this guy was in. But they started going too far one way while he was going another, and she heard the sound of a door opening and his feet striking the pavement. So… hey, Izuku and Denki got mileage out of acting without thinking in the U.S.J., why couldn’t she have a bit of a plan? She followed him to the closest alley that exited to the street, grabbing the cafe owner’s broom as she went before slamming it into the guy’s face when he came out of the alley.

“Remove your opponent’s weapon, if they attempt to introduce one.” The guy reaches into his pocket, and Kyouka quickly spins the broom to pin his hand as it comes back out, a knife clattering the ground. He looks at the broom for a split second, then grabs the handle and yanks. Kyouka jerks forward, the guy reaching his other hand up to punch her in the face.

“More likely than not, your opponent will have a height or weight advantage against you. But if they want to use it, they’ll expose crucial points to take advantage of.” Aizawa’s voice rings in her ear, and then the blow just leaves her ear ringing. But Kyouka has enough attention to jab her fist into the space between ribs six and seven, the speaker she had there working like brass knuckles well enough. He draws back when she does, then he reaches up for her neck.

He backs her into a parked car, the Quirk hiding his face tattoos fading away. He actually had a pretty strong grip, the air almost immediately stopping as he held the pressure on her neck… she can see this sort of glint in his eyes, and the last coherent thing that ran through her head is that he’s done this before.

He starts to say something she could just tell was going to be creepy… but it quickly reaches into an octave only dogs can hear, when she drives a padded knee into his crotch. He takes a step back, and she throws a punch with her other hand that knocks him to the ground. She waits a second, then reaches up to her neck, huffing and trying to get the air back in her brain.

Death Arms runs up to the store next to her, noticing the dropped broom and the woman she’d taken it from. Grandma had her phone out, pointing it this way before quickly offering it to the hero. “Jiro, that… wait, you got him?”

Kyouka raises her chin, seeing the hero’s eyes flicker between the guy and her neck. He quickly moves over, putting a foot in the middle of the guy’s back before leaning over to see her. “*Shit*, he went straight for the carotid points… are you good?”

She takes a second, then shakes her head. She walks over to the broom, picking it up and walking it over to the woman. The handle was cracked, the actual brush shaking back and forth like a pendulum. “Sorry, about your broom. I could get you a new one, if you wanted.”

The old woman looks over at the guy, then down at the broom. “I… oh, that’s not a problem dear. I needed a new one, anyway. Could I get you something to drink, on the house?”

Kyouka looks to Death Arms, who’s pulling out cuffs to restrain the guy. “Maybe some ice water for me, please?”

The woman nods, and walks back into her shop. Kyouka takes a step back, grabbing her wrist when her hand reaches up to her neck.

She hoped that would be the end of it, maybe a pat on the back and that’s it. But apparently, copying Izuku was not the best idea she’s ever had. As Detective Tsukauchi gets out of a car, quickly locking on to her with a long suffering sigh, she realizes she’s maybe made a mistake. “Jiro, I wish I could say it was a pleasure. Just need to take a statement, help my colleagues get a solid close on this case.”

Kyouka nods, crossing her arms. There were two different groups of people with cameras, a couple of the sidekicks talking to them and holding them off as the other Detectives talk with Death Arms as he finishes up some kind of paperwork she half remembered from the day before. “I… I had half a plan when I took off. Death Arms sounded like he was heading in the wrong direction, this guy getting to an alleyway while he was on the second floor or higher. So… if nothing else, I could keep up with him when he hit the street, and they could follow me… But I got ahead of him, and I just… grabbed something to brain him as he came out of the alley.”

Tsukauchi nods, eyebrow raising right before she added that last part. He then nods, quickly writing up his notes before looking down at her neck. “Looks like minor bruises on your neck, should be gone by tomorrow. That was reckless, understood? Not every risk pays off like that, so take your dice and leave the table while you’re ahead.”

Kyouka nods, waiting until the detective turns before finally checking her phone. She pulls it out, seeing the group chat blowing up with everyone trying to text her.

Denki: Who bet me ten bucks one of the guy’s would make the news first?

Kouji: :0

Hanta: Double or nothing, one of us still makes the news for something bigger before the internships are done.

Katsuki: Good Left Hook

Mina: Got him right in the moneybags. Good job, girl.

Izuku: Are you okay? He had his hands on your neck for a good few seconds.

Momo: Your staff-use could use a bit of polishing. Would you like a lesson or two?

At that last one, a bit of heat hits her face. Kyouka looks around, quickly sending a general ‘I’m fine’ into the group chat before replying to Momo.

Kyouka: Really? How bad was it?

Momo: Perfectly good, for your first time. I could show you a few techniques, if you were interested.

Kyouka nods, then quickly sends a response back. She takes a breath, slipping her phone back into her pocket before quickly walking over to Death Arms. The hero gives her a stern look, which he breaks with a wink as the police turn to the criminal’s transport and their own cars. “Well, now you get to learn how to file all the paperwork with bringing a guy in. And, you’ll be the last one to get to the smoothie maker in the office when we get back this evening.”

Kyouka tries to look chastised, but there’s a persistent grin she just can’t shake as they walk back to the van they used to drive to this part of the city.

Chapter Text

Shouto takes a breath, looking at the kettle. Gang Orca is expectantly watching him, sitting on the other side of a spread of tea and other things one might be expected to eat at a formal function. He patiently picks the leaves to add to his tea, looking down at him with his menacing red eyes and semi-exposed teeth.

Shouto places his hand on the kettle, exhaling and forcing the heat into the metal. It glows just slightly, a faint bit of steam coming out before he slowly pulls back. He shakes his hand, then slowly picks up the kettle to dispense tea into the cups for him and the hero. He tries to force his hand to stop trembling, saying it was from all the reports Gang Orca had him write instead of nerves.

The hero doesn’t say anything yet, simply stirring his tea and adding a single sugar cube. He waits until Shouto takes his own drink, considering the brew before finally speaking. “The tea being colder allows you to focus on the flavors a bit better, in my opinion.”

Shouto still can’t tell if the man is testing him, the tone being something between probing and genuine. “Pouring in boiling water, and letting the tea cool allows for the aroma to proliferate. Something to focus on, if the food disagrees with you.”

Gang Orca looks around at the small selection, picking up a pair of chopsticks to select from a serving of squid nigiri and wasabi. “Is the food to your disliking? Or were the leaves unsuitable?”

“The tea… the tea is fine.” Shouto takes another sip, carefully considering before taking from a plate of egg nigiri. “I… I hope your work life is going well.”

Shouto wasn’t really expected to talk, no matter the social event he was attending. People normally talked around him, and that was enough for them. But Gang Orca had decided that what he needed to do was talk and talk and talk, even though he was painfully inept. “It is going exactly as well as you’d expect. Being a Top Twenty Hero is nothing to sneeze at, especially from someone who looks as villainous as me. It is nice, to attempt to relax when I am alone… or with charming company.”

Shouto coughs, not sure how to read that. “I… I suppose there are some wooden good luck charms you could be confusing me with. At least the food is enjoyable, despite the tea’s efforts.”

Gang Orca’s teeth clack together, and a chittering sort of laugh that echoes through the quiet room. “There might be some hope for you, yet. Much better than yesterday, at any rate.”

Shouto nods, and a quiet knock at the door interrupts them. They turn to the side, the door slowly opening to reveal one of the office secretaries. He was carrying a small stack of files, which he deposited on a table by the door. “The case files of today have been digitized and filed downstairs. The following newspapers have all sent requests for interviews, and were not on the blacklist you drafted two weeks ago.”

Gang Orca nods, the man quickly backing out of the room. The hero takes a heavy drink from his tea, then sets the cup down. “Do you know why I’m having you focus on this sort of thing, rather than any hero work?”

“As a rescue hero, much of your job involves interacting with people in crisis and setting them at ease. It doesn’t matter how skilled the hero is, if they’re unable to properly interact with the people they’re saving.” Shouto hates the words coming out of his mouth, but they were the truth. He was finding out that’s how most things were, these days; a soothing lie, or a discomforting truth.

Gang Orca nods, and collects a small spread of the food to take back to his desk. “I’d like you to look through those files, and attempt to pick the five best publications to allow for an interview. Each will need at least three pros to their location or history of publications, and a con that can be accounted for. I believe five hours should be sufficient time, don’t you?”

Shouto nods, walking over to collect the files. He quickly looks through them, seeing about thirty websites and magazine publishers to vet. He sets them on the desk, then walks over to collect a plate for himself. He also produces his phone… and sees a deluge of texts in the class’s group chat from just minutes ago.

---

Katsuki takes a breath, resting his gauntlets on the bench while trying to rub the grooves their grip made on his arms. He looks at Tenya, who looked like he was slowly trying to grow heat vision as he listens to Manual and Miriko try and catalog everything she did today. The blond couldn't help but laugh, pulling out his phone since they were going to be here for a while.

Tsu: Sorry, but I’m going to be out of cell service for the weekend. I’ll text as soon as I’m back in coverage range.

Denki: Dang, I never thought Tsu would be the first to leave the rest of us behind.

Mina: My girl’s are growing up so fast! Kyouka kneed a guy in the crotch, Tsu’s going out on the sea, and Momo’s in her first commercial.

Ochako: Can you call us at all?

Tsu: No, not really. But I’ll let you guys know as soon as I’m back.

Katsuki: You better. We care about you, damn it.

Katsuki waits for everyone to respond to the message, seeing just two people not adding to the chat. Shouto… and Tenya, who was standing right there, desperate for something to do. And Shouto quickly sends some weird blue/red heart someone probably made him, so all that was left was Tenya.

Katsuki turns on him, the other boy’s eyes flickering over to him before flickering back up to the wall… no, not quite. One hand is freer of the files than the other, his index finger moving like he was writing something. His lips are just barely moving, like he’s trying to carve something into the wall from across the room.

Katsuki focuses on his lips, seeing ‘East’ ‘North’ and ‘find him’ before something clicks. “Wow… doing extra credit work, even when you’re not in school.”

Tenya finally seems to tune in on this planet, turning to him. “What are you prattling on about, Bakugo?”

“Well, I doubt they’d give the intern anything about finding the Hero Killer, but you’re doing the math on possible location from the reports…” Katsuki can see the split second Tenya tenses up, then the one where he starts calculating what it would take to keep him silent.

“I’m… I'm doing no such thing. I’m… simply considering the patrol areas I’m not allowed… and considering how they might be facing increased crime statistics. Manual is never in those areas, and him being seen up there would be a… major boon to…”

Tenya trails off, Katsuki’s eyebrow raising higher and higher as Tenya clearly spins that yarn in real time. He had bits and pieces of a lie ready, but was clearly spitting them out off the cuff.

“Uh-huh, sure. What, you want to help catch Stain?” Tenya’s face shifts for a second, rage taking over his face as he stares. Katsuki blinks, the other student’s foot shifting like he was considering making a run for it… or kicking him in the head hard enough to forget the last minute.

They’re quiet for a solid minute, then the elevator dings down the hallway. A few seconds later, Fumikage and Hawks walk down the hallway, Fumikage taking a seat next to him as Hawks wanders into the office. Tenya opens the door, finally breaking the staring contest he’d been having with Katsuki. “There you guys are! I thought I’d get the chance to talk to you during patrol, but we kept missing…”

Fumikage sighs, and mutters low enough for Katsuki to hear while Tenya might miss it, as he quickly busies himself with the files he was holding for Manual. “I think Hawks picked me to learn more about the class.”

Katsuki looks over, then pulls out his phone.

R U Sure?

Tokoyami looks at the unsent text, then pulls out his phone as Katsuki deletes the draft.

Yes. He asked about very unusual things… and Izuku. Multiple questions about Izuku.

Heh, the nerd finally has a stalker… not good. Can you tell him?

Fumikage looks up, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head.

He might check my texts. Can you tell him?

Katsuki takes a breath, sliding a step away and opening his texts. He’d sent two texts to the green haired boy, both of which felt like he was pulling teeth when he did.

He looks at his phone for a second, then swallows before typing.

Bird-brain thinks his friend has eyes on you; Don’t rat me out, but he gives me red flag vibes.

He rereads it a few times, checking that it was vague enough before sending it. It’s immediately read, then dots appear as the nerd takes a moment before sending something back.

That young guy who’s always going on about modeling something? Kind of cute, but totally got some bad vibes.

Katsuki sends a thumbs up, which gets returned before he slides his phone away. He looks at Fumikage, who nods and rolls his neck before opening his other texts. He gives Tenya one last look, then logs into the site that Miriko told him had the information the Hero Commission was giving on Stain. He sighs, quickly readying himself for a long night of reading.

-

Hanta takes a deep breath, lounging on the couch as they all gather around the t.v. for a movie. “Anyone else kind of sick of doing paperwork?”

Yuga and Denki both raise a hand, Mezou shrugging as he brings in two more bowls of popcorn. “I’m not really doing that much paperwork, for Mic. I’m learning his sound mixing for his show, how to conduct an interview, stuff like that.”

“You guys aren’t running drills all day? Lucky…” Hitoshi trails off, pressing an ice pack against his neck. Mashirao was trying real hard not to knock over their shared bowl of popcorn, his tail curled on his other side as Izuku snuggled next to Hitoshi.

Hanta catches Mashirao’s eyes on Hitoshi, and tries to hide the little chortle of laughter by looking away. “Yeah, I don’t get to complain, cause of all the hauling Rikidou is doing, but all I’m doing is moving file boxes. And refilling his fridge and little snack pockets; Hound Dog has snacks in almost every one of those rooms, if you know where to look.”

“Nedzu’s kind of the same; he’s got little stashes all around the school. Only most of them aren’t food.” Everyone flickers their eyes to Izuku, only the green bean doesn’t add anything to that statement. It hangs in the air, almost like a threat as they then check for the cameras they all know are there.

Yuga pops the tab on a ginger ale, setting it on the center table as the opening credits start. “Midnight is advising some of the Support Students on their designs, things to make them more attractive to buyers. I’m doing a lot of work loading up presentations and acting like a remote. An absolute waste of my talents; this is not a face for radio, let alone behind the scenes performances.”

Denki shrugs, setting up with his own bowl. He had some sort of salt he was adding to his, turning the slightly yellow kernels white before he shakes it around. “Guys, can we please focus on some fake highschool drama, instead of our real high-school’s disturbing lack of it.”

Rikidou walks out of the kitchen last, leaving it on for Aizawa and Izuku’s mom as they have some conversation. “If you mean relationship drama, we have that.”

Denki turns, spinning a finger at Izuku and Hitoshi as the credits start with dramatic music. “Aside from these two, who are disturbingly healthy with whatever they have…”

Hitoshi flips Denki a bird, and Hanta tries really hard not to laugh as Mashirao adjusts and looks the other way surreptitiously. “I mean, if you were curious…”

Yuga turns to him from the other couch, the weird sparkles he makes giving his eyes a dangerous look of obsidian daggers. “Oh? Have students from the Business Courses tried to ply your favor with secrets?”

Hanta smirks, the rest of the room turning his way. “Well, not always… I may have noticed Kouji and that girl with the mushroom obsession in class B really hit it off right before the internships. They looked pretty cute together, looking over sketches of mushrooms in his notebooks.”

Everyone gives a little contented sound at that, everyone being okay with that sort of secret being spilled. Hanta smiles, turning to the movie as he considers which of his other secrets he can afford to cash out into chaos now.

“Plus, there’s Tenya… both Ochako and Tsu both asked a couple of people a lot of questions about Ingenium the first couple of weeks. Little things… like where he likes to eat, if he has any watches… if he’s been out on a date at galas…”

Hanta just grins as everyone in the room begins whispering with the person closest to them, Rikidou sniping the chair right next to him. “Dude… are you really spying on us?”

Hanta tampers down his grin, Yuga pausing the movie as he leans over to Denki. “I’m not spying, no. I would never spy on my friends like that… but when people notice things, they want to tell someone. People just tend to tell me things, and I keep them secret afterwards… besides, that’s not even the most interesting love triangle in the Hero Course…”

Everyone turns on him, and he clears his throat. He coughs for a second, then sets his bowl aside to walk into the kitchen for a drink. Everyone follows him as he leaves, then begins looking around… Hanta tries not to turn to look, he really does.

But he does turn, a faint flicker of blue light flashing between Izuku and Hitoshi. It happens again, like a visible pop of static electricity. The two turn to him, and he just spins back around, continuing on his way while filing that. He blinks, shaking his head a few times before getting a glass of water.

Probably a trick of the light… right? I mean, that’s just… probably nothing… it’s definitely nothing…

-

Yuga catches Hanta doing the double take, but when he looks, he can’t see anything. Just Izuku and Hitoshi whispering… no, not quite. Their lips weren’t moving, but their expressions were definitely shifting. Like they were having a mental conversation… but neither of them had telepathy, so how could they do that?

Perhaps… maybe Hitoshi had some sort of mental connection with the people he’d controlled in the past? Definitely interesting, but Yuga wasn’t one to share other’s secrets. He turns, enjoying his popcorn and plotting as they back up to catch the scene that played under the credits.

They manage a double feature, old highschool dramas that everyone tries to invest in. But Hanta, who seemed to decide to heed the advice of Eris tonight, dropped an Apple of Discord that everyone was visibly turning over. Yuga couldn’t blame them; he was turning over who else in the class might be in such a complicated relationship, or if it was someone in 1-B and Hanta was just sowing that much more chaos. Because… Well, there was Monoma, and those two classmates who always intercepted him when he started to walk up to Izuku.

Then, there was Mashirao’s obvious pining, and the distance he kept with Izuku and Hitoshi both in the picture. He’d chosen to intern with Aizawa, probably assuming Hitoshi would also pick him… Yuga raises an eyebrow, looking over at Denki. He also flirted with Izuku often, in an overly casual manner…

Yuga tunes back into the last act of the movie, the friend group irrevocably changing as a result of the complicated trists that happened five different ways that he caught when he paid attention. It was a gloriously fraught end to the relationship, the actors selling the betrayal and the hurt like this actually happened to them off-camera, as well as on it.

The movie ended like that, everyone ‘subtly’ whipping out their phones to see if that was all there was to this movie. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw a sequel, but then saw what time it had gotten too with the commercials unnecessarily spliced into the movie’s run time.

“Aizawa wants us to help with a training exercise Class 3-A is running bright and early tomorrow…” Mashirao nods, Hitoshi slowly standing. He stretches, for once not sounding like a water bottle being assaulted by a particularly nasty dog. His eye bags are even lessening, now that Yuga checks… though Izuku seems to be growing some, when he quickly looks. Soon enough, the two might end up looking quite similar, for better and worse.

“Yes, Midnight is planning on hosting some contest amongst the second year Design students of the Support Course, which requires both me and Monoma to assist for the entire day. An early start should prove most fruitful… but since Rikidou was so kind as to make the food for the night, I think it only appropriate someone else clean the dishes.”

Everyone nods, then blinks as he stands to collect. He allows a performative amount of offense to play across his face, silently stalking off into the kitchen to clean up for the night.

He’s just about finished when someone darkens the doorway. The length of their shadow narrows it down to two people, its lack of width eliminating Mezou. He sets down the cloth he was using, shaking his hands over the sink before turning to the other student. “Rikidou, did you need something?”

The big man takes a minute, checking that everyone is heading upstairs before he steps into the mostly dark kitchen. He rubs his hands together, looking like someone nervously approaching a seller of illicit substances. “I… um, so I sort of talked a bit with Toru the other day. And… she said you had this group you were a part of?”

Yuga raises an eyebrow, a bit surprised he was the second person in the class to follow up on any hints. Sure, people were interested the first time he brought it up. But Only Katsuki had ever really come back to him, so Rikidou coming in for another meeting… “In a sense, yes. They certainly make for an interesting read, if you were curious.”

Rikidou takes a moment, then nods. “I… um, I knew these two kids at my old school. Brother and sister, both Quirkless. They… um, they both said they had it easy, compared to their cousins in Osaka. But… they didn’t seem to, from what I could see.”

Yuga gives a reassuring nod, slowly crossing his arms. “Oh, that’s what we all say. ‘I might have it bad, but someone else is doing worse, so I can’t complain’... except that’s exactly what they want you to say. They want us to be silent, so they may go on ignoring us. Tell me something, and be honest; how does a problem get fixed, when no one does anything to fix it?”

He doesn’t feel anything as Rikidou nods, not a surge of elation or some fleeting moment of victory. Just a cold satisfaction, the other boy seeming to agree with what he said. He nods, turning to finish scrubbing leftover butter and bits of corn into a bag, then into the sink with the last bowl for a wash. “Are you… is this a recruitment thing? Do I have to join, to get a book?”

Yuga turns, shaking his head. “Nothing like that. I’ll give you a copy, and if it interests you, we can talk. If not, you can go on as you wish. You may do as you like, as will I.”

Rikidou nods, then walks over to the refrigerator. He gets himself a bottle from one of its drawers, then slowly walks out of the kitchen. Yuga nods, and finishes cleaning the bowls. He didn’t do them often at home, but he did well enough that they should pass inspection. He turns, turning off the last of the lights as he goes. He allows a little light to bubble up from his Naval Laser, just enough to pick out the stairs and ascend to his room.

Chapter Text

Shouta takes a sip of the juice, wishing to whatever forces are left in this world that it would somehow turn to coffee between sips. When it doesn’t, he tries to contain his disappointment as Inui slowly digests all the information being presented to him. “You… and she… but they… and he… you…”

He slowly leans forward, his head thumping on the table. Shouta nods, looking around at Inko, Toshinori, Gran Torino, Recovery Girl, and Nedzu. “So what were you saying about Izuku’s Quirk evolving?”

Shuzenji produces the tablet, the table producing a hard light copy of the full body scan she took. The light illuminates a few plates of food, this Saturday Brunch meeting going mostly unnoticed by the rest of the staff. “It appears, if we are correct, that every time Izuku attempts to tap into more power of One for All, the Quirks have a chance to activate. Every time he increases his threshold for using it, there’s a risk of the other unactivated Quirks engaging. And since each Quirk gives him another vector to push his limits…”

“Behold, perpetual motion. It only took almost a thousand years, but we have achieved it.” Nedzu takes a sip of tea, no one sharing in the chuckle at the dry wit he presented.

Inui sits up, bringing his hands up to his lips as he takes a large breath in. “So, about this All for One. You say he’s going to act this Thursday, at Endeavor’s gala? What exactly is his motive? Why is he doing any of this?”

Shouta pulls up his email, seeing three in a folder from Nedzu. One from Endeavor’s Agency, one from the Hero Commission, one from Nedzu to set up this meeting. He reads through the details again, Gran Torino visibly running through painful memories as he tries to contribute. “If Nana and her mentors before her are to be believed, he’s just a power-hungry sadist. One of the first Quirks known to exist, and its ability is to control which Quirks are controlled by who. Anyone would go insane from that much power.”

Nedzu nods at Torino’s words, Inui rolling his eyes at the term. “Well, that might not be too far from the truth. Imagine any computer, uploading and downloading files for over two hundred years. We are molded by our Quirks, who’s to say the same isn’t true of them? There’s no telling what sort of damage he might have done to himself, taking and interfacing with decades of Quirks, not including the undoubtedly experimental means to live for so long.”

Shouta nods… and Inko slowly takes a drink, a quiet hum drawing everyone to her. “Perhaps… I know we love butchering metaphors, but this might be a bit much. Is it possible… with Enji, he could be… attempting to upload himself into more stable hardware?”

There’s a few seconds where, in spite of everyone at the table knowing that was possible, no one wanted to believe it. It was just an off-color joke… then Gran Torino slowly considers it. Inui and Toshinori both trade looks, and Shouta wants to shake his head. “No… no, it couldn’t…”

“He might… he might be one of the best choices available. Well trained, physically conditioned, his Quirk makes him used to channeling large quantities of energy…” Shuzenji slowly runs through a list, the mood of the room sinking as the possible truth washes through the room.

“Perhaps… the injuries we dealt each other were severe. I’ve survived by finding people I can trust. If he thinks he can trust no one but himself and his loyal followers…” Toshinori can’t force himself to continue, a rattling coughing fit starting that takes too long to stop for Shouta’s liking.

Inko reaches over, a handkerchief in her hand. Toshinori takes it, Shuzenji walking over with her stethoscope to check his lungs. Inko continues, watching Shuzenji work as she spins the thread. “That’s just one idea… he does also appear to like chaos, so maybe he’s just using this chance to sow chaos and discord. A big event like this will have reporters, and a number of heroes and Commission Officials to be caught in the crossfire. Not to mention, Mayhem has repeatedly called out Endeavor’s days as numbered for everyone to hear. If Endeavor is injured… or worse, and we couldn’t stop it with such warnings… it would be a good message for him to send.”

Inui lets out a rattling laugh, an edge of mania in it as everyone digests that statement. “Yeah, what’s to be worried about? It’s not some horrific body-snatching attempt by the Boogieman of Quirks, just the second most destructive villain attack in as many months. And the Hero Killer is still on the loose, with Endeavor being his biggest probable target…”

“That’s why I called this meeting, if you’d indulge me. I believe, with the people here, we should have a respectable spread of minds thinking about the situation, deciding what is best for our students, our colleagues, and the world at large.” Nedzu takes control of the forgotten display, displaying a few options written out for them.

Shouta looks at the options, finishing the disgusting juice as he tries to avoid talking. He wants everyone to speak first, not liking any of the options while knowing at least one of them was probably necessary.

“So we have to choose whether to save Enji or not… and whether Izuku has a hand in it or not.” Inko’s tone grows cold, Inui’s hand reaching down for a stress ball of his. He rolls it in his hand before it becomes a fist, the material straining in a sound too close to a human scream.

“Really, we do have more than Izuku at hand to use. But for everyone we include, the odds of additional discovery of the secret grows… as does the risk to the other members of the staff and Class 1-A.”

The stress ball tears loudly, Inui standing up. “Absolutely not. Izuku… perhaps Inko here speaks for his best interests, and maybe Recovery Girl signs off on this. But the stress we’re putting on him… it’s not right. It’s highly unethical, and downright immoral.”

Nedzu nods, picking his cup up. “Absolutely, it is. This is one of, but not the most, horrible things I’ve done in my life. Izuku’s life is being unfairly jeopardized in a war that is unfair to ask him to participate in. But… but the chance for him to be withdrawn passed when his home was broken into, likely by All for One. Our enemy has decided that Izuku is a worthy opponent, and the only thing that makes it anywhere near a fair fight is One for All.

Torino nods, reaching down for his cane to fiddle with. “Asking the kid to step back, to give it to one of us to continue the fight… even giving it back to Toshinori, and attempting to make the Healing Quirk work on that shiner on his side, doesn’t protect him. If this guy’s set his dead eyes on getting Izuku, the only choice we have is to beat him to the punch. If we don’t, who will?”

Shouta takes a breath, reaching over to refill his cup. If he couldn’t have coffee, he needed something to keep going, even if the already vile offering tasted like ash in his mouth. “ Either way, something’s happening in Hosu. The element of surprise is probably not in our favor; no matter what, with Mayhem and Compress to consider, we aren’t going to be able to plan a reliable ambush. And with Stain in play… more people there is hopefully better, given his own reliance on ambush tactics.”

Nedzu nods, pulling up a graph. “Iida, Katsuki, Tokoyami, and Koda are all already planned to be in the area, though only Tokoyami should be anywhere near a danger zone. Having you and myself there means having Mashirao and Hitoshi there… Izuku should hopefully not be necessary beyond analysis of any additional villains that show up. Death Arms, Mount Lady, and Kamui Woods are already among those hired on as security, which means Ashido and Jiro will also be on site. It should be easy enough to get the four students out of harm's way, into evacuation positions to help clear the party. It won’t even arouse suspicion, if we are cautious.”

Inko nods, pulling up a picture of the three civilian Todoroki family members. “Perhaps… maybe we need people focused on shadowing these three. It wouldn't be overly out of place, if the students from the school happened to orbit around them.”

Shouta nods, looking over the diagram. Nedzu begins typing, additional details filling in as a full map expands in the space on the table. “Nedzu, can you guarantee nothing will happen to the kids?”

Nedzu looks over the chart, his lips twitching as he mutters calculations. “Of course not… but I believe I can reduce total risk to six percent. In the hundred most possible scenarios, only six should result in grievous or fatal harm to anyone, with the information I have presently.”

Shouta takes a breath, checking his phone as a text comes in. “Class 2-B needs me for an exercise. And both Inko and Toshinori have classes scheduled, so we should reconvene later this week to discuss a full plan… god, I need more coffee before we do.”

“That’s just the withdrawals talking, which you wouldn’t be going through if you drank a responsible amount in the first place.” Shuzenji lifts a finger half threateningly, but there isn’t any malice on her face. “In fact, reducing your caffeine intake when you can drink it again is for the best.”

Shouta just gives her a withering look, one she was absolutely impervious to at this point. “I’m signing up my kids to be soldiers in a war. Let me have this… please.”

The table is silent for a few moments, then people slowly start to stand. If anyone noticed the break in his voice, no one brings it up to him as they go. He stalks through the halls, his facade recomposed before getting to Training Ground Beta, where Hitoshi and Ojiro were waiting, tablet keyed up to the exercises being run.

He allows a little smile to break through, both of them catching that and smiling at him in turn. He slides the earpiece on, tapping the button. “Eraserhead, logging in on Beta Grounds Secondary Watch-Point. Ready for Rescue Simulation when you are.”

-

Toshinori takes a breath, glad he’d only just reached his limit as his classes end for the day. He’s able to make a quick retreat, reaching a nearby conference room before his Muscle Form fails. He also has another spasming fit, his lungs feeling like they’d been bathed in acid as he barely shrugs out of All Might’s suit and into his own.

He just gets things tucked away when Shuzenji walks in, shaking her head. “The samples are not good, Toshinori. You need to not keep pushing the timer so much; it’s just shortening the thing even more.”

Toshinori turns to her, frustration brimming as he does. But he sees not admonishment on her face, but true worry and concern, and the anger fades. “I… I know. I can’t afford to keep doing this… but I can’t afford not to, either. I… have you found anyone who can help?”

Shuzenji sighs, offering her tablet. “I have a lot of favors, but I can’t go asking around about this without risking your secret. Best I can offer is some new medical scanning equipment that’s supposed to be ready for I-Island’s Summer Demo, along with a few International Heroes I have old favors with who will be there.”

Toshinori nods, taking the handkerchief, the same one Inko gave him earlier, and folding it away into a pocket. “I… I could try to talk to David. But we… he said there wasn’t anything he could do, last we spoke.”

Shuzenji walks forward, holding out a list for him. “Best I can offer is a diet that should agree with you, and maybe help your body try and repair itself. And we need to find a way for you to not push that darn limit so much. Would… would it be so bad if you taught a class or two like this? Try and store up some of that energy between days?”

Toshinori considers it, remembering how all the third year students looked up at him as he tried to help with the exercise. Lots of adulation, lots of questions he could answer gladly… but more than a few frowns, a few people not being as enthralled as he imagined. “Maybe… the teachers have already known, and they haven’t connected anything from that alone. The students shouldn’t figure it out for at least a while… Hopefully, we can keep this secret for another two months.”

Shuzenji nods, turning to lead him through some unoccupied halls to another teacher’s lounge. “Let’s hope for much longer, Toshinori. As smart as David is, and as loyal as he is to you…”

Toshinori laughs, thankful in hindsight it doesn’t trigger another fit. “David… he was never that interested in me.”

“I know for a fact that your eyes work, boy. Don’t tell me you’ve gotten a concussion in the twenty minutes I wasn’t watching you. David was crazy for you, especially when you two were young. I’m surprised he and Mirai could stand to be in the same room with each other, with how crazy they were about you.”

Toshinori blinks, Shuzenji just shaking her head as she walks along. “That… no, he wasn’t interested in me. We… it was one time, and he was half drunk. He never talked about it again, and he got married to Melissa’s Mother soon after…”

Shuzenji just lets out a little hum, walking into the Hero Teacher’s Conference Room. “Ken, can you break five thousand yen for me? I owe Nemuri and Hizashi for that double or nothing bet.”

Toshinori walks in, seeing the two high five each other while grading papers, not looking up as he sneaks over to his desk. Ken looks at him, then slowly tilts his head, a bit of dust falling from his square head. “How are you such a phenomenal hero, but so painfully oblivious to romance?”

Toshinori feels a bit of heat climbing his face, but he just quietly walks over to his desk. He could at least try to grade the papers his class assigned, save Nedzu some of the trouble of it. “I’m not; Shuzenji is being completely unreasonable.”

“She is, and you should say it louder.” Toshinori jumps, not noticing Shouta sitting in a lightless corner, his black jumpsuit blending in and his hair covering his face. He might be sleeping, but the stack of notes next to him means he was probably just resting his eyes.

Nemuri cackles, throwing a pen his way that lands too short to have been anything but playful. “You’re just mad she’s not letting you defile our coffee makers anymore. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be preparing for some Rescue Training with your kids?”

“Already did, and it wasn’t nearly enough. You just know something’s going to happen at Endeavor’s gala on Thursday, and the Hero Commission is ’asking me to attend the event of the year’.” Shouta somehow doesn’t die from the poisonous tone he adopts for that, though Toshinori knows Nedzu would have been the one to ask… or maybe the Commission also asked him to be there. At this point, he’d seen weirder coincidences that this only barely registered.

Hizashi sighs, rolling his neck. “Yeah, and I’m being asked to help with some announcements they’re making. Mezou’s going to be there to help set up, and I bet Hitoshi could help a bit with the equipment, with all the stuff he knows.”

Shouta’s eyebrow raises just an inch, surprise quickly buried before anyone but Shuzengi and Toshinori can see it. He opens his mouth to reply, only for Nemuri to talk over him. “Oh, I was going to ask you to house-sit Yuga and Neito for me. Uwabami texted she was going to be there, and she and I have a case we need to catch up on in person.”

The three conspirators go silent, seeing a pattern they didn’t like. Luckily Cementoss, unsurprisingly a voice of reason, chimes in. “I could keep them company here, at the school. Besides, there’s plenty of space at the dorms for Monoma to be occupied for a night, if we needed…”

Nemuri shakes her head, pulling her hair back. “Nah, I’ve been doing a lot of practical lessons with them. A gala like this is the perfect chance to teach them the social stuff of being a hero, and the invitation gave me a few plus ones.”

Hizashi shrugs at that, but he sends a look over to Shouta. Toshinori looks over, seeing the other two sending a text, probably to the same person. Because Nedzu would probably need to know, include that in his plans.

-

Nedzu adds those names to the calculations, his claws inching out as he realizes what’s happening. “Oh… Clever Girl.”

Izuku turns, looking at a hologram display of the building Endeavor would be using for the gala. “Huh? Who… is Hana doing something?”

Nedzu nods, updating the information Izuku could see. “Yes, she is. She is trying to overload my attention, making me too busy with protecting my students and the other Heroes in the area. Under All for One’s orders, she’ll be trying to neutralize how effectively I can combat them… but if she’s trying to distract me, there’s probably something more she’s planning on.”

Sitting there, considering how all the pieces would move throughout the board, Nedzu can’t see any greater benefit to adding some of the people he’s seeing on the invite list… in fact, it was actually helpful to him in the bulk of probable scenarios. Most of the guest list were heroes who specialized in Rescue or Incapacitation… but there was a distinct lack of pure Power. Maybe they were planning on using another Nomu…

“Nedzu… could you load in the buildings up to a block out from the party?” Nedzu looks up, Izuku tilting his head. There was a flicker of energy through his messy hair, static pops of blue energy as he considered the map of the building.

It takes two minutes, but a small map of the neighboring three blocks slowly takes shape. Endeavor was holding the party in an eight story gala building, the entire place designed to attract attention away from the person hosting the party. It was almost a modern marvel, the buildings around it being dull office buildings that were… “Structurally inept, at best. All it would take to turn them into a hazard… is one well placed detonation device.”

“Or someone who can Decay the right support with a touch.” Izuku reaches forward, tapping on a few of the buildings. “These three buildings here, with A Fire Quirk to compromise steel, a Decay Quirk to compromise the concrete, and a Copy Quirk or Portal Quirk to allow them to hit them quickly in succession… it wouldn’t matter if they used a Nomu or not. The entirety of Hosu would be impacted, maybe a mile in all directions.”

Nedzu nods, smiling as the horror dawns on Izuku’s face. A horror that might not be there if his lessons in analysis weren’t so effective… if his heart was not stopped dead as he considers the new information, it would be filled with pride. “Alright then. With this new information… I do not mean to alarm you, but the odds of grievous harm is now about one in every three scenarios.”

Izuku takes a deep breath, leaning back in the chair as he surveys the data. “Okay… okay, so we just need to be able to brace for the collapse, and perform a safe evacuation. But we can’t make any changes to the buildings, because that might cause them to change to another plan… how much before the collapse can we pass a warning to the security staff? Thirty seconds, maybe a minute? We could guide people from the highest floors down, get people away from these ornate windows, brace for it before that happens.”

Nedzu finally retracts his claws, quickly moving his pen through the hologram. “Yes… though with the building collapsed, the first two floors will become completely encased in rubble. The third floor will be hazardous, with the resulting dust cloud… evacuation efforts should be focused on the fourth floor.”

“Will… the buildings should be empty, right?” Nedzu checks after barely a second of thought, Izuku’s concern speaking volumes even when his voice barely squeaks out of his throat.

“Let me see… Yes, they should be empty. It should be easy enough to have these spaces cleared out before things begin on Thursday. That just leaves a response for the inevitable Nomu that will be present, which will more than likely be stronger than the one before. All for One’s been experimenting with Trigger recently, meaning you’re likely the only one who can substantially hold them off while evacuation is applied.”

Izuku nods, the horror still clearly there. But he was trying to push that off him, treating this like a game he could win and put down after he was done. He curls in on himself, clearly not wanting to deal with any of this. “Okay… but I can only use maybe three percent of One for All. Should I be training, trying to raise that?”

Nedzu shakes his head, holding a paw up. “No, do not try to push yourself now. We don’t have time for you to recover from a training injury, trying to increase that limit of yours. We’ll simply focus on the application of your current Quirks; Float and Whisper should both be very useful here, if One for All itself cannot be accessed fully.”

Izuku nods, but Nedzu wouldn’t bet on this being the end of that. Izuku is resilient, both with his loyalties and his insecurities. Just including him here, hoping to foster his strengths, wouldn’t be enough to vanquish his doubts. But they seem assuaged for now, and Nedzu would take that…

“Oh, there was this other thing.” Nedzu looks up, Izuku pulling out his phone. “Katsuki sent me a text, saying Hawks was doing something weird with Fumikage. He was vague, probably because they were close by… is there anything weird about Hawks, something I should worry about for Fumi’s sake?”

Nedzu looks at the little coded message, seeing it was fresh by Izuku’s standards. It took most of the day, but the boy did tell him about something concerning that was happening… It was happening at a less than optimal time, but he could be proud of Izuku none-the-less. “I’ll look into it when I next have a moment… now, what do you know about Trigger?”

Chapter Text

“Nedzu won’t see this one coming, you can bet on it.” Hana looks around the table, the eight of them all nodding as they cover their plans. ‘And lose that bet, but that’s all I’ve got.’

“And tell me, why is it better for more heroes to be there? Sounds like a setup, and I’ve punched my way through more than one of those in the past.” Muscular has to open his yap, having grated on Hana’s nerves the most over these two weeks. Honestly, she wasn’t the least bit apologetic about what she had lined up… so long as All for One got his experiment fodder, he shouldn’t care if things go sideways. So she was sharpening a knife, and the back it was aimed at was nice and plentiful to target.

Compress raises a finger, and she nods for him to explain. “It’s a simple trick. Nedzu is a much more intelligent opponent, so we force him to focus on something more important to him than our objective. I’ve done this several times when robbing particularly fine museums; they’re so focused on their security systems, on their stellar reputation, that they fail to notice the first half of the robbery where I get myself squirreled away in their staff roster before the job.”

Shin-Hye takes a breath, clearly the least on board with this plan. “Okay, so I’ve just got to try to help this one burn a concrete wall down. How many things can go wrong?”

“Six by my count, but Kurogiri can easily get you out. As long as you don’t use up all the oxygen in the space, asphyxiating yourselves… I think bringing a gas mask or two along would be reasonable. Keep these two’s faces covered while they’re out.” Compress’s words get Jin to nod, writing things down on the list they were making.

Hana nods, then looks at Tomura. “Once you three weaken the foundations of the nearby buildings, you’ll get pulled back here. Then, Kurogiri will release the Nomu into the city, when we initiate phase two. Compress, you and Muscular disrupt any Heroes that try to come in and help, while Stain has his fight with Endeavor. Shin-Hye will be there as backup, and Tomura and I will take over the local air-waves.”

Tomura huffs, crossing his arms. “Why can’t I have more fun during this? Just a few of the small fry, like Death Arms and Uwabami, and their little interns…”

Hana kept her face schooled, though she was violently screaming under that thin exterior. “Absolutely not. We want you ready to be placed wherever you’re needed most… and worse comes to worse, we bring the tower down once most of the people are out. The heroes will be so busy with Rescue Work, we’ll be able to collect the Nomus and the new batch of te… test subjects…”

Hana can’t help the taste that invades her mouth when she says that, Jin looking around. “Okay… so you and I are staying behind as everyone else goes out? Why am I still here… not that I’m complaining, obviously.”

“Because you can make extras of Stain, Compress, or any of our high impact Nomus. Keeping you in the wings means you and Kurogiri can cause the most chaos with the littlest risk to either of you. Besides, if a hero manages to catch a portal into here, we need someone who can hold them off long enough for Kurogiri to send them off.”

Stain reaches out, moving a hand through the pile of game pieces they were using for their strategy meeting. His fingers begin twitching, clearly moving pieces around in his head while his tongue sneaks out to wet his lips. “Very well… I injure Endeavor to the point that you all can take him, and I use the chaos to disappear. A clone or two to draw the fakes off afterwards, leading them away from my escape route.”

He takes his hand away, still not having moved anything. Everyone catches that, Tomura looking from under the hand mask over his face. “You want to tell us your escape plan?”

Stain just offers a rictus grin, a dark cackle just behind his teeth. “No, I don’t. The clones will know the plan, and you won’t be able to stop me. I’ll have my fight with Endeavor, you’ll have your test subject. That is the deal; pray I do not alter it further.”

Muscular lets out an evil laugh of his own, stalking away from the table. “Hey, I finally got some action. Been too long since I’ve thrown down with a hero; you’re not the only one who's bloodthirsty, Hero Killer.”

Stain growls, stalking over to the bar. He perches on a chair, pulling out a block and one of many knives to begin loudly sharpening it. Hana sighs, shoveling the pieces into a bag while shaking her head. “Okay, we need to get everything set before Wednesday. We need to do a dry run, find the right level of heat between Dabi and Shin-Hye. Plenty of abandoned buildings, we just need to find the right one to test in.”

-

Jin flexes his hands, trying to work up the courage to do this. It… it should be easy. He knows now. It should be just as easy as blinking… but he can’t. He can’t make himself do it. He’d just be standing in his bedroom, Sunday passing as he tries and fails to work up the nerve to do what needed to happen for Hana’s plan to work. He storms around the room, the plastic roll on the floor crinkling as he nervously paces.

The door just barely creaks open, Touya peeking in. The last vestiges of hair dye are gone, leaving his snow white hair to slowly recover as he sneaks in. “Jin, you… you’re trying to do the thing, aren’t you?”

All it takes is a nod, and the fire user walks over. He wraps his arms around him, and Jin feels so much more anchored down in his own skin. “I… I know, but it just… it still feels wrong.”

Touya nods, pecking him on the cheek. “My limited experience with this, and what the other mes tell me, is that it’s pretty easy to figure out. And I’ll be here the whole time, holding onto you.”

Jin nods, taking a few seconds. He then raises his hands, the measurements coming fully into his head and forming, like riding a bike without having ridden in years.

The other Jin looks around, then turns on them. He recognizes that look of fear, how he reaches down to feel over the white wife-beater and sweats. “I… no, it’s fine. You’re the real one… it’s fine, It’s Fine, IT’S FINE…”

Touya leans in, wrapping his arms tighter around him as Jin watches his clone go through a mini-panic attack. “You’re okay, Jin. We’re both right here, and you’ll never have to worry about this again. I will be here for you, okay?”

Jin nods… and after a few seconds, the other Jin does too. “Okay… as long as the real one is okay, I’m okay. I’m just… just temporary anyways.” There’s a moment of manic laughter, which he only just quiets before speaking. “Great! Let’s do this, huh?”

Jin nods, and the clone raises his arms. He begins flexing, mud pouring off him as copies of Touya fill the space. The tenth one just starts forming before the clone cringes in pain, and only just takes shape before Jin watches himself dissolve into sludge. The nine Touyas look around, slowly staggering back. But they get two steps, their forms losing cohesion and dissolving not soon after.

“Yeah… super creepy still, watching myself basically die over and over. But you’re still here, right?” He tries to say it reassuringly, but Jin has to take a second before he turns to Touya. He looks down just a bit, close enough to bring Touya into a kiss. He didn’t stink of hair dye, which he might have appreciated over the scent of the Quirk mud stinking up the room this time around.

Touya smiles into the kiss, his tongue darting between his lips before he pulls back. “Just like that, babe. Now, we have some work to do.”

He mouths ‘Backstabbing’, and Jin nods, taking his hand and leading him out of the room. Hana’s other plan was in the works, but he didn’t know anything about it yet. He just knew that there was something planned for the summer, and he just had to wait nine weeks before then. How hard could that be?

-

Keigo raises an eyebrow, his little chicklet really on a roll. “No, no she didn’t!”

Tokoyami was finally opening up, giving him some real information he could use. “She did, and right in front of me. Jiro is supposed to be my friend, and she just went and stole my only aux cord without saying anything about it!”

“The nerve.” Keigo adjusts in his seat, his apartment being nice and quiet for now. There was a radio on the table, but nothing caught his attention as they veg out, watching old hero dramas with a lot of useful information in them Tokoyami needed to know. His feathers were a bit scattered around, only a few settled on his shoulders while the rest were peppered across the floor. “This was for that birthday party, right? The Blond one… Bakugo, right?”

Tokoyami nods, his little shadow demon coming out. It pokes at the bones on the plate, then reaches forward to devour them. Keigo wasn’t entirely sure how that works, but he was mildly concerned when the bones fail to reappear. “I would have gotten it if she asked, but she just went and took it. She has no respect for boundaries…”

Keigo shrugs, hitting a random button so the t.v. screen wouldn’t go to a screen saver. “I’d imagine that the invisible girl has fewer boundaries… no, being able to hear everything would be almost as bad. Had an old boyfriend who had ears like a bat; boy, could he not take a joke.”

Tokoyami nods, clearly logging that little breadcrumb to use later. “Yeah… maybe. But there’s not a lot of secrets to learn about the class… the only person with any secrets is Izuku…”

He goes still, seeming to think he slipped up. Keigo tries not to visibly do a little dance when it comes up naturally. “Izuku? He’s… right, the green haired kid you teamed up with in the cavalry battle, right? He doesn’t look like he could keep a secret to save his life.”

Tokoyami stops, then turns back to face the movie. He adjusts in his seat, looking like he wants to say more, but was fighting with his loyalty to his friend to not say more. What Keigo really needed was for him to lose that fight, and without any proding that he might remember later. “I… I’ve said too much already.”

“Whatever you say, kiddo. We’ve got a whole week together, if you change your mind.” He leans back in his seat, rewinding to the start of the scene they were in.

It takes a few minutes, during which Keigo occasionally darts a glance over. Tokoyami is studying him, seeming to look for… something. Is the birdy onto him? Could he have caught on? Maybe… but he seems to slowly be leaning into the choice to gossip. “You wouldn’t tell anyone, would you?”

Keigo pauses the movie again, and does the conspiratorial look around. “No one to tell but you… besides, you’re my intern. There’s codes about this sort of thing, bro code and stuff.”

Tokoyami takes a few more seconds to break, but he does. “Izuku… he knows a lot about heroes. A scary amount; he knew where Ingenium was having lunch, when his younger brother didn’t. Plus, he has a bunch of experience with analysis that even Eraserhead-sensei was impressed by. There are rumors he’s being trained by Nedzu himself.”

Keigo almost shudders, that information almost being worth the wait on its own. So, the little bear was training this Izuku kid as a personal project? “Really? He follows those fan sites, maybe a couple of socials?”

Tokoyami shrugs, crossing his arms over himself. His little shadow demon emerges again, snuggling up into his hand like a loyal dog rather than a little nightmare. “Maybe… but he has really extensive little details, things really attuned followers might not know. He was able to quote Present Mic exactly from some podcast from a decade ago, and cite the moment from memory.”

Keigo nods, adding all of that to the text he was sending Miko the next chance he had. “Pretty cool, if a little unnerving… you think he knows when my cheat days are?”

Tokoyami stops, and almost laughs as he settles back into his seat, comfortable in his feathers again. “To have a cheat day, you’d have to have more than one honest day in a row, correct?”

Keigo doesn’t need to fake the chuckle that bubbles up at that quip. They settle in for the movie, and he’s pretty sure the kid doesn’t notice when his phone drifts out of his pocket, a feather holding a little stylus pen typing in the report and sending it off. They don’t have anything really interesting to do that night, and he pulls out the comforter for the bird to snuggle up on his sofa for a snooze before a very busy Monday morning, the radio not announcing any late night crime sprees as they drift off to sleep.

-

Tenya nods at the sidekick, who steps out for their morning cup of coffee. Leaving him with, by his count, two minutes to quickly sneak over to their computer, checking to see if any other leads as to Stain’s location have come in.

He momentarily feels a moment of guilt, at this clearly inappropriate behavior that would reflect badly if anyone were to see him. It lasts just until he sees notes about a party Endeavor is having later in the week… and how the Hero Commission wanted extra security, given how the Hero Killer was spotted at the Hero’s last event.

Tenya blinks, then quickly closes the report. He steps over to his spot, quietly finishing filing the paper copies of the reports before the sidekick steps back in. They roll up to their seat… then take a few seconds, seemingly noticing something off about their station.

Tenya tries not to obviously check, but nothing should be out of place. He’d backed up to the page they were on before, he hadn’t moved the keyboard or the chair. He closes the cabinet, lifting up the file box before turning. He exits the room, the other clearly unwilling to try and continue the honestly pitiful conversation they’d tried to have.

He returns to Manual’s office, Bakugo and Tokoyami both sitting outside as their respective Pros meet with Manual to discuss their patrol routes. The two are sitting close, not bothering to hide their conversation even when they clearly hear him approaching. “I think he’s hoping I’ll give up information on the class, for whatever reason.”

Bakugo nods, his eyes burning a hole in the wall between them and the Pros. “Just don’t tell him anything too important, for now. Nedzu should know by now, and he’d do something to tell you if it was a problem.”

The two share a nod, then Bakugo looks up at him as he takes his spot near-ish to the door. “Keeping secrets from the Pro you’re interning with? Highly improper, Tokoyami.”

“Glass Houses, Iida.” Bakugo meets his glare, a smug smile on his face. “Any luck in that case you’re working for your boss?”

Tenya’s glove loudly creaks around his hand, and he shifts his balance. Tokoyami slides a few steps to the side, but Bakugo stays firmly planted where he was, not a care in the world if his expression was to be believed. It made his blood boil, like a thousand tiny bees had slipped themselves into his arm and were running through his veins…

The pros step out of the offices, Manual offering a placating smile. “Sorry everyone, but these two have a meeting with the Commission to get to. You’ll be joining me on my patrol route today, and we’ll mostly be sticking to the ground.”

Bakugo shrugs, still unphased. Tokoyami takes a large sigh of relief, which Hawks notices and rolls his eyes at. Miriko shifts in place, rolling her neck and flipping her hair back. It feels like everyone had a slightly wrong mentor, with Miriko almost blending with Tenya’s own style better while Bakugo matched Hawk's cool confidence… and maybe, if the two weren’t such terribly smug cretins, they’d have a bit of charm to them. And Tokoyami’s blending into the shadows, which Manual did with his ‘hiding in plain sight’ that he was so proficient in.

“Don’t cause him any trouble, got it?” Bakugo petulantly sticks his tongue out, to which Miriko gives a barking laugh before sauntering to the elevator. Hawks follows, shooting Tokoyami a wink while whistling behind Miriko.

Manual waits a minute, clearly messaging other members of the agency, then turns. “Alright then, we should have our basic route today, and not much paperwork to file. By lunch, you two should be able to rejoin your mentors on their regular patrol.”

Bakugo stands, stooping down to scoop up and equip his gauntlets. Tokoyami gives him a look, one he pretends to ignore as he slides his helmet on.

Tenya waits for either of them to say something, to sell him out… but hours later, all they do is try to drag him into a conversation about what the others are doing on their internships. He pulls his phone out, seeing the group chat has nearly a thousand unread messages… and Ochako has been texting him all week.

He scrolls through a mountain of texts, mostly the others asking if he was alright. Yaoyorozu, Kirishima, Sero… even Shouto is sending him messages, which he didn’t expect. And Ochako… she’d sent him a lot of messages, and given her flip phone, he was impressed with the dedication that must have taken. He half reads through them, as they come to a stop on a quiet street in Hosu.

-

Enji takes a breath, walking through the giant glass building they were holding the event in. Rei and Miko were talking, Miriko was only just remaining patient enough to not be tapping her foot, and Hawks was floating a foot below the tall ceiling even though he didn’t need to. They were on the third of the eight floors, looking like most fancy gala buildings he’d been in, even though Rei appeared enamored with it. “A wonderful venue for the event, Miko. Plenty to do, if the guests fail to entertain.”

“Yes, and a difficult location to get access to. The guests will have to pass through no less than three levels of security, between invitation checks and bioscanners. The security for the event includes many Heroes, all of whom have passed rigorous background checks, as well as a number of Hero Commission members cleared in the use of nonlethal Support Items and firearms.”

Miko could go on, but Rei just nods as Enji steps over to a window. He could see about a mile out, people going about their day without any way of knowing what was coming their way. “And what about escape routes? Your informants say there’s credible information of an attack of some sort, and I want to know Rei and my children will be able to leave safely.”

Rei gives him a soft sort of smile, Miko nodding while turning. “With the information we have available, we’ve established three escape options depending on the scenario. While the heroes are completely trustworthy against a physical threat, we have prepared against Mayhem’s particular hacking skills by making the elevators hard-line only, meaning only someone in the building could interfere with them. As well as others, which we discussed where eager ears would not hear.”

Enji nods, looking back out. He stares for a second, then walks over to Rei. She holds an arm out expectantly, which he places his own around as they follow Miko to said elevator.

The building was perfectly fine, and probably the last party he’d ever host. Not the last one he’d go to; the annual Top Ten Heroes event later this year was probably going to be his last event for a long while, but he was… he was oddly comfortable with that. Having Rei back felt… like weight was being removed from his shoulders. Like he’d been trying to stretch into a too big suit without wrinkling it, and now he was in one that was much better sized.

They walked up to the eighth floor, which tried to draw more attention away from the wrap-around glass panels with an intricate web of tile designs. There were a few people here, clearly planning on decorating and hanging things for the party. One man looks over, Miko signs something to him in JSL, and he quickly waves his fellow workers out of the room and to the staircase.

Miko looks around, her fingers twitching as she does some designs of her own. “We’ll have the first floor almost entirely transformed into a security depo, and we’ll have a station on each of the floors. The only floors without it will be this one and the fifth, where the event is set to take place. We’ve already gotten the guests RSVPs, and are currently background checking those who are bringing interns from Yuuei as well as the interns themselves. This isn’t going to be any old gala; this is going to be a military exhibition, with music and bar service.”

Enji nods, Rei slowly disconnecting from him to look around. “And how were the other Public Relations moves going? I assume you offered options for full damage control, ranked based on their impact in the public eye.”

Miko nods, tapping on her tablet. “Yes, we did provide such a folder to Endeavor. That was before you… before you were released, Rei.”

Rei walks over, looking down the options as Miko turns the tablet around. “Oh, that won’t be a problem. Could I trouble you to send a paper copy over to his office for me to review later? I still prefer the feel of a paper file in my hands… and do you think some of these moves are a bit obvious? I believe some of these in Level Three Priority could have a better impact, if we make a few donations before making any announcement… not the best, but still better than a few of these Level Two.”

Miko turns the tablet back around, inspecting it from behind her glasses. “Perhaps… it would look better in the long term, but we also need short term impact as well. With the way these things are lining up, we’ll be lucky if Endeavor maintains Top 100 Status, if even that, before the official rankings in the Fall.”

Rei nods, then looks over with a genuine smile. She was playing the game, but there was something real there as she looks over at him. “Oh, Enji won’t have a problem climbing back up in the ranks. Besides, some of these don’t have as many significant donors, so the checks we were planning on writing will have a better impact in these organizations.”

Enji nods, walking over. Miko turns, a few anti-Quirkless Discrimination Organizations and Support Companies that primarily work to improve the everyday lives of those with complex Quirks highlighted. “I think there’s some merit in supporting them. We haven’t made any official plans, no promises we’d be breaking.”

Miko takes a moment, then nods. “Ultimately, all of these choices are equally agreeable to the Commission. If you believe you know better than all of our analysts, who’ve spent hours doing the cost benefit analysis of all these choices…”

Rei gives a chuckle, like two glaciers crashing together in the dark of the night. “Like you just said, all of these are equal in your eyes. Some of us have morals separate from our party lines… but I wouldn’t bore you with that, Miko. Just send the information over before the end of the day tomorrow, if you please.”

Miko takes a moment, then turns the tablet around and coldly walks away. Enji just stands there for a moment, then reaches down as Rei reaches up for him. “That… that was…”

“The least of what needs to be done.” They wait for Miko to take the elevator, then walk over to it themselves as the door closes. “That is one thing of many, keeping those parasites satisfied. I want to see every deal you’ve signed with them, make sure they haven’t put in anything that will make the rest of this harder than necessary.”

Enji nods, Rei’s quiet confidence settles the feeling crawling up his spine. He knew when he was being watched; any hero with as much attention on them as him would be a fool not to cultivate that skill. But right now, it feels like the Sword of Damocles is inching closer and closer to the back of his neck…

Chapter Text

“So… it’s happening again, on Thursday?” Hitoshi looks around the room, everyone passing around folders. He was surprised he was in this room, but he’s not exactly going to complain. He just takes a noticeably thinner folder, handing another to Mashirao and Izuku next to him, Mezou getting one that Hizashi passes to him.

“Yes, we have a credible source that says the League of Villains plans to act on Thursday. We’re still collecting information, but we all need to do a debriefing so we can be clear on the plan.” Nedzu says, a sideways look at Aizawa next to him. There was a little speaker next to them, letting out a droning noise that randomly raised a few octaves or lowered to a dull humming.

Aizawa takes a breath, looking at the four students in the room. “There is a reason the four of you are here, but the others in U.A. Internships are not. The four of you are already going to be at the event, and changing the schedule might alert their hacker, Mayhem, that we’re planning for this attack. However, that doesn’t mean we’re going to put you in any amount of danger; you will purely work in a Search and Rescue capacity, and will not attempt to fight any villains. You see any, and you run, got it?”

Mezou nods, thumbing through the thin documents the four of them have. Hitoshi checks, and they look mostly the same. A basic analysis of that Shigaraki guy, the Reflector Villain from the park, a thief villain named Mr. Compress, some killer villain named ‘Muscular’, and ‘Mayhem’. Of course, with Mashirao and Mezou out of the loop, the teachers were pretty limited on what they could say. “What… What if they’re trying to hurt the people we’re saving? Can we still fight to defend ourselves and others?”

Mashirao nods, and Aizawa levels a look his way. “Defend yourself, and get people out. But I… we don’t want any of you getting hurt. If Recovery Girl or one of the other heroes has to help get you out of trouble, there won’t be as much help for the people we know are going to be at risk. There will be over three hundred people in the building who aren’t Heroes, and they need your help more than the heroes need help taking down the League.”

Hitoshi nods, Mezou already sold as he looks through the documents. Mashirao flips to the last page, finding a sketch and analysis of Stain. “We… do we know if Stain will be there?”

“It’s unclear, but you are not to engage with him.” Nedzu shrugs, and they have a few minutes to study the folders before Nedzu beckons for them back. “And even with my best cyber security measures, we can’t trust Mayhem not to have ears anywhere. So don’t speak about this, at least without one of these in the room to reduce that risk.”

Hizashi sighs as Nedzu clicks a button, the quiet droning noise finally turning off, handing off the folders. He had his hair down, and you could see the nervous energy the leather jacket and sunglasses usually hid. “Sorry for the extra homework, but the test should be pretty simple, right?”

Everyone nods, and Hitoshi stands as they head out of the room. It was late Monday, meaning they had almost three days exactly before things hit the fan. The six of them start walking back to the dorms, and he casually slides to Izuku, reaching for his hand.

’It’s going to be bad. Buildings are going to come down, trapping everyone in the building. If even one of those Nomu gets released, it could be really bad… but there might be multiple of them.’

Hitoshi tries not to shudder, one of Mezou’s eyes turning to see them. “So… is anyone else from the class going to have to do this… ‘remedial work?’ This feels kind of targeted, Sensei.”

Aizawa looks back, the bags under his eyes slowly growing darker with each passing day. “Jiro, Yaoyorozu, Mina, Tenya, Tokoyami, Kouji, and Katsuki will be studying when they get back. Hopefully, most of them won’t miss the extra time you all are getting to study.”

Mashirao’s tail flicks, the hair standing on ends like a mace head. “We… Does anyone else here have to study?”

Aizawa just shakes his head, and Hitoshi leans into Izuku. The green haired boy doesn’t let any other thoughts flicker between them, so he’s just gripping his hand out of genuine fear, like a man on a boat hovering near the life preservers. A gesture he returns, feeling a familiar dread as they walk back to the dorms.

Hanta’s back already, working on a few sketches for Midnight’s class with a can of soda on the table by him. “Hey guys. Yuga’s apparently getting fitted for a formal suit for some party on Thursday, so he’s going to be out with his parents all night.”

Hitoshi slowly lets go of Izuku’s hand, but doesn’t drift away as they walk over to the big couch. Izuku keeps up a facade of calm, nodding at Hanta’s comment. “Cool, good for him. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to a really formal party before.”

Hanta raises an eyebrow, looking down at his uniform. “I didn’t want to say anything, but that kind of makes sense. Has anyone ever tried to teach you to tie a knot in a tie before?”

Izuku blushes, looking down at his somehow messier tie. Mashirao and Mezou make their way over, taking other spots and getting out textbooks for assignments that need doing before next week. “I mean… I tried learning from videos, but that never seems to work for me.”

Hanta nods, looking curious for a moment. “Huh… Hitoshi, can I borrow your boyfriend for a minute?”

Hitoshi blinks, Mashirao choking on air as he picks through an English dictionary. “I… I’m not sure I trust you to return him in good condition.”

Hanta just smiles, setting his sketch book aside on a half done image of a car. “Oh, I won’t ruin him too badly… Izuku, mind if I untie this first?”

Both him and Izuku choke on air now, and Hanta slowly settles his hands on Izuku’s shoulders to get him comfortable with them being near his neck. It takes a few seconds, then Izuku is relaxed enough for them to work on the knots. They spend about five minutes helping him learn how to tie a halfway decent knot. The failures in between are almost as impressive as the success, which Izuku ties and instantly pulls his phone out to check.

When they’re finally finished, Hanta gently pats him on the shoulder, walking back around the couch to his spot. “There you go, ‘Zuku. You’re going to the party as Nedzu’s guest, right? You have a suit to wear?”

Izuku pans his camera around, looking at the tie for a few seconds. “No, Nedzu said he wanted me in my suit. Something about talking to a few members of the Hero Commission for upgrades and gear trades.”

Izuku lies as naturally as he breathes, though none of the three react before Hanta buys it. “Oh, word. Well, if you ever need to be fitted for formal wear, I have an uncle who runs a shop in Nagano. I can ask for a favor… that goes for all of you guys. He even does clothes for people with Quirk requirements, so don’t hesitate to ask, okay?”

Izuku nods, and Hanta throws a wink that almost knocks Hitoshi to the ground. He pulls out his own sketchbook, trying not to blush too furiously as the tape boy cackles on his walk back to his seat. “Is there anyone you won’t flirt with?”

“With how handsome all you guys are? Probably not, Hitoshi.” Hanta shoots him another wink, then spins his pen in his fingers as he considers his design.

“The only person in the class he hasn’t said something flirty to is Shouto.” Mezou’s comment flies like a dagger through the darkness, Hanta’s pen spinning across the ground as he freezes.

“I… come on, he hasn’t given me a chance yet.” Hanta tries to spin it, but a shade of red creeping up his neck causes Hitoshi to cackle right back at him. “And, like… compared to Tenya and Momo, what chance do I have?”

“I mean… better than you think.” Izuku pulls out a notebook, writing in some weird code Nedzu and he must have made up. He ignores how everyone whips around to look at him, even Hizashi peeking into the living room from the kitchen.

-

Momo brushes Kendo’s hair back, the orange-haired girl worrying over the sash binder they were tying around her chest. “A pin here, a bracelet that plays off your eyes, and you will be ready. I think Uwabami had just the pieces to tie this all together, and I know I have something perfect for this.”

Kendo nods, looking herself up and down in the vanity mirror they were standing in front of. The blue sleeveless dress was very modest, the sash wrapping around her and tying off into a bow that concealed her chest, not unlike the new costume Toru had. “Thanks, Momo. I don’t really go to anything that’s really considered fancy… I think the last party I went to was my uncle’s second wedding.”

Momo nods, turning to the little box of jewelry Uwabami left them while she went to an interview. They’d at least done a patrol now, but Momo was slowly accepting how most of the time, they’d been going to social events and commercial shoots as Uwabami’s assistants. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t learned anything… but she couldn’t help but feel herself a bit underutilized, as she pulls out a few pieces for the other girl to see. “Well, for Thursday’s gala, we’ll want to be presentable but understated. It’s Endeavor’s party, and we're Uwabami’s guests, so it’s expected to compliment her appearance.”

“Yeap… it’s his party, he can cry if he wants to.” Momo blinks, Kendo laughing at her reference as a number of pins are held up to her. “Do we have to wear heels, though? I never really liked them, myself.”

Momo thinks about it for a moment, Kendo taking a pin that was a greenish blue flower that she begins to place. “I’d prefer flats myself, and Uwabami said practical clothes were preferable… Honestly, none of us in Class A prefer heels. Ochako and Mina certainly made them work in the dance, but I always found them a bit lacking.”

Kendo nods, the casual trade on information on their classes being an easy pattern. She turns to the side, curving her arm while considering something. “Huh… do you think bringing a purse would be good? This thing doesn’t have any pockets, and I need to keep my phone somewhere.”

Momo nods, setting the jewelry down before bringing her hands to the girl’s sides. She carefully traces a shape, running through the colors in her head of the purses she could afford not to get back anytime soon. “I think… Yes, I know just the thing. I think there’s a photo of me with it from a few months ago…”

She pulls out her phone, seeing Ochako in the girl’s group chat talking with Tsu. She navigates to her photos, waiting for a lull as Tsu talks about the smuggling ring she helped Selkie take down. She sees the photo… and, regretting not having a different one to show, grits her teeth and follows through.

She flashes the photo Kendo’s way, her and Tenya as one of Ingenium’s dinners, a banner in the background announcing such. The other girl takes a second, a look of careful contemplation passing over her face, then quickly agreeing. “Yeah, I think that’d be perfect. Plus… I could probably take an energy bar or two, in case you need your purse space for something.”

Momo thinks about it for a moment, then nods. “I think I’ll take you up on that, actually. Thank you.”

“It’s your purse I’m borrowing, I should do something for you, right?” Kendo’s phone chimes, and she picks it up to check. “Huh. Apparently, Nedzu’s planning on rolling out the rest of the dorm’s by summer, and sent some draft paperwork out to everyone’s parents in my class.”

Momo nods, her phone buzzing as a few of the Support Students begin to court her opinion on the matter. “I think it’s gone out for all of the first years, today. It’s certainly a unique experience, for me… but I think I enjoy it. Sometimes, you can have too much time on your own.”

Kendo sends a few texts, and Momo busies herself with putting away the rest of the unused jewelry. She then begins wildly answering texts, several people asking if she’d used their devices, most of which were getting a no. She probably wasn’t going to get a chance to test those electrified weapons or those Search and Rescue Beacons this internship, their designs just taking up space in her head for weeks until she forgot them when she needed them.

She just about finishes up when Uwabami comes in, the living snakes growing from her head slowly starting to grow anxious as they walk in. “Alright… Kendo, that is a lovely ensemble you’ve put together. But I recommend putting on your suits; we have patrols scheduled for the rest of the day, and we have most of my grid to cover in almost half the time.”

The two girls quickly nod, Momo walking over to get her coat. She slides it on, checking and seeing most of the pockets are good as she waits. Uwabami nods to her, pulling out her phone as it rings. “Yes, Miko?”

-

Mina smiles, flashing a peace sign to Kyouka as they wait for Death Arms and Mount Lady to be done with their security meeting. The floor was testing some sort of cell jammer, meaning they weren’t getting any signal for texts or even basic internet. Mina wasn’t sure where she’d go when she died, but any place like this was definitely where the terrible sort of people went. Tokoyami and Katsuki wander over, the four of them stuck on the first floor as their hero mentors all familiarize themselves with the grounds. “Does anyone have anything interesting to do?”

Kyouka sighs, pulling her headset off with gritted teeth. “They have four different white noise machines running in different parts of the building. It’s easier to tell you what people are ordering at the coffee shop down the street than what someone upstairs is talking about.”

Mina nods, the boys walking over. “Like, I get why they’re doing all of this, I do… but I never realized how boring security details were! Half of all good spy movies are about protecting someone important, and they’re all a lot more interesting than this.”

“Fiction often proves a more delightful mistress than reality; that is why she demands payment for her services.” Mina isn’t surprised she’s the only one who raises an eyebrow at that, these three already forming some sort of coven with their music tastes. Tokoyami doesn’t even have the decency to look miffed by her skepticism. “Although, I must concede we appear to be living in interesting times.”

Katsuki lets out an evil little chuckle, shaking his head when they look over. “No, it’s… when Nedzu was giving me my wake-up call, he said I wasn’t the main character in our class. Feels like someone is, with all the crap that’s happening. Iida’s brother, Todoroki’s dad… hell, most of us are getting internships people would kill for, All Might teaching this year, his own mentor coming out of retirement, the whole U.S.J. thing…”

Mina watches Katsuki’s face, watching him slowly put something together. She turns, and while Tokoyami is harder to read on account of the bird head, Kyouka is an open book in comparison. Her face quickly races through something, like she’d finally figured out the translation for a really weird term in English that had been confusing her all week. “Oh… yeah, things are kind of happening to all of us. But…”

Tokoyami goes to speak, but stops as Mina turns to him. “I believe there is an eye to this hurricane… the screaming winds drowned out the thought of it, but now that we have a moment to focus…”

Mina looks back and forth, then to Katsuki. He flashes her a toothy grin, seeming to relish knowing something she didn’t. She half expects him to brag, growing a little irritated when he doesn’t. “Hello? Did I miss something important, or is everyone else in on some big secret but me?”

All three of them start making eye contact with each other, and avoiding it with her, to the point where she just stands and stalks off to the people setting up refrigerators for the bar. She could see soda being put away, and clearly the three of them wanted to talk about something without her hearing.

She pulls out her emergency card, which had a few hundred yen put on it every month. Enough for a bottle of soda, even though it’s twice the price than what she could get from a vending machine or store down the street. The attendant gives her a nod, swiping the card and tapping the buttons like he expected her to be in a rush with him. She gives him a smile, opening the bottle and turning to watch the three whisper to each other.

Her mom wanted to teach her how to read lips, but Mina wasn’t exactly good at it. She could read body language better, watching her parents have private conversations to learn the little ticks. Being in class with them for over a month helped with the big ticks, but they had a bunch of little ones she didn’t really know yet. Plus, Tokoyami was a little difficult to read in specific, but she could kind of get the big ques from him.

Katsuki is turning something over, something that makes him want to get loud and angry the more he thinks about it. But he wasn’t certain; whatever he was thinking about, he still had some puzzle pieces that weren’t in place. Which was where the other two were, from what she could tell; if Mina had the money to spare, she’d think that everyone was in on some big secret, but all on different parts.

The boys pull out their phones, and start typing messages to show each other. Kyouka catches on, and begins adding to it. Mina pulls out her own phone, checking the group chats as the three share in the big secret they apparently knew about.

Mina:Is there some big conspiracy I should know about? Kyouka, Fumi, and Kats are all acting weird

She drafts the text to Hanta, then goes to her photos. She looks at the class seating chart, trying to remember everything she’s seen with her classmates. She starts mentally adding little threads between them all, trying to see the pattern…

Chapter Text

Izuku looks up from his notebook, Hanta staring at him in a weird way. He was trying not to be obvious, with a stack of half finished math papers in his lap, but Izuku was very used to telling when people were staring at him. “Did… did you need help with your homework? Am I muttering again?”

Hanta blinks, then shakes his head like he was just staring off in a direction that happened to be occupied. “No, sorry. It’s just… It seems weird that all of our teachers would give us the day at the same time, right? Like, I’m not being crazy, am I?”

Mezou looks up from his phone, an extra mouth that had been muttering in Spanish speaking up from the armchair between the two couches. “I don’t think it’s very weird. A lot of them are preparing to go to Endeavor’s party tomorrow. Besides, a lot of us needed time to cover all the classwork we let pile up.”

Mezou doesn’t say that for his sake, but for Hitoshi and Mashirao over at the table. Hitoshi looked a lot better than normal, with the blonde monkey boy looking half dead from exhaustion. Not a net improvement, but maybe better overall. “Yeah, Nedzu has me doing a lot of analysis on Pro Heroes, which I was sort of doing anyways. But now… it’s less fun, doing it for a grade, you know?”

Hanta nods, shifting his papers so he can lean against the arm of the couch. “Yeah, I get that. My dad was really into American Football, but then he fell hard off when he got into this fantasy league. It’s not as fun when you have money in the game, or a grade in our case. Like, all these math problems… I play video games for fun, which is just math dressed up to look like knights and heroes and stuff. But this is just…”

Hanta sighs heavily, Izuku nodding. “Yeah, a lot of the problems are really dense busywork. Unless I’m going to go into finance, a lot of this stuff is really just… Who needs to know how to compound interest over thirty years? With the way our economy works, we’re never going to make enough to just leave money in savings and retire until we’re thirty, and one in every three Pro’s retire before that long anyways. All Might’s been working the longest without retiring, but he pays someone to do his taxes for him.”

There are a few moments before people respond to that, but the already low mood in the room deflates. Mashirao loudly stands, going to the kitchen to refill his water bottle while Hitoshi calls into the living room. “Izuku, that’s your sad quota for the week.”

Izuku turns, sticking his tongue out at his boyfriend. The two of them share a little laugh, then he turns back to his notebook. “It’s sad, but true. I just need to know enough to know if the person I pay to do my taxes is doing them so wrong that I’ll get arrested for tax evasion. Plus… Well, all of the extra work from Nedzu means I’m falling behind in my actual classes.”

Hanta nods, eyes flickering around to where everyone was assuming hidden cameras were hiding. “Yeah, and now a bunch of you guys are reviewing for some sort of extra test? Like, Mina and Eijiro have been texting me all week, and they’re able to keep up with their schoolwork just fine.”

Izuku takes a second, a bit surprised the lie is so ready on his lips. “Apparently, my mom is doing a bunch of draft work for the Hero Course when it comes to sections that touch on legal requirements. The three of us have weird corner case laws Aizawa wants us to study, and have at the ready.”

Hanta raises an eyebrow, Hitoshi coming in to support the lie as he leans against the back of the couch. “I know, weird. Apparently, being able to mind control people has some red tape around it.”

The brunette nods, but Izuku knows Mezou takes that and files it away. The boy just seems to be there whenever anyone tells a lie, and he’d called out Hanta for less. So he pulls out his phone, making a note to find a few cases that might apply to all of them to help reinforce the lie. “I think after we’re all back from internships, we should just have a crash day. I always feel better about it when I schedule my body crumbling from too much pressure.”

“Yeah, I bet Fumikage will need a break after dealing with Hawks.” They slowly leave the suspicious zone, Izuku trying not to obviously relax as they do. He really did have a bit of schoolwork to catch up on… he just also had some minor trying to save the world that was taking up his attention to.

‘You alright?’ Hitoshi leans down to wrap him in a hug, Whisper carrying the message for them.

‘No, but I’m okay with not being okay.’ Hitoshi nods, then stretches without quite as many pops in his neck and back. He pushes off the couch, heading back to the table.

-

Hanta has an itch, one he just can’t ever seem to scratch. Every time he gets close enough to it, it seems to shift even further out of his reach. So he needs to find something else to help him scratch it… or someone who was similarly struggling with a free hand.

He waits until later that evening, sitting at the table after dinner. Izuku has turned in early, with Hitoshi sitting with Denki watching a Korean drama of some kind. “Hey, Mezou. Got a minute to talk?”

The bigger guy looks up at him with the eyes in his head, his appendages currently using a calculator and protractor for an extra credit assignment in Maths. “Sure. What did you want to talk about?”

Hanta looks over at the blond and purple-ette, then lowers his voice to where he was sure only the other boy would hear. “I think there’s something weird going on with Izuku. Like with him and Hitoshi… Every time they’re together, there are these weird little flashes of blue between them.”

Mezou blinks, then nods before he looks down at his assignments. He’d looked really distracted, caught up in something other than the page of problems in front of him. “I have noticed one or two of those, I believe. I simply thought they were tricks of the light.”

Hanta nods, tapping on his phone he had the calculator opened on. “Yeah… Mina texted me earlier, and she said that she overheard Katsuki and Fumikage talking about the same stuff. Something about Izuku is just… like, his Quirk is evolving and whatever, but there’s also something about him. He… he’s really nice and all, but there’s something that’s sticking out.”

Hanta knew he saw something flash over the boy’s covered face, agreement mixed with some apprehension. “Yes… me and Fumi have talked some about that. Something uneven about him, a square peg fitted into a round hole. But… given his history with Katsuki, we have our own explanations for it.”

Hanta nods, feeling the ground this conversation was on go unsteady. “No, we all know that. That first week brought all that dirty laundry out. But Izuku… he’s still hiding something. Something that’s worth lying about and distracting from whenever a conversation gets a little too close to it.”

Mezou’s eyes flicker over to the living room, with the two boys who were distracted by the show. Hanta checks the kitchen, seeing Yuga and Rikidou talking about whatever they’d been talking about. They’d been talking together a lot, over the internship. There weren’t a lot of other people to talk to, but they seemed to keep finding the time to do it… Hanta files that away, into a mental journal comparatively smaller than the one concerning Izuku.

“I… I think you’re onto something. Can we talk about this Friday, after we’re done with Endeavor’s big party? Maybe with that stress done with, it’ll be easier to talk to him frankly.” Hanta nods, the other boy talking a minute before getting back to his extra credit.

Hanta stuffs what little of his brainspace is left with what he can of his English and Art History work, then heads up to his room. It felt like those old mystery books his Dad wanted him to read… the ones with the Belgian Detective that there were dozens of. There were little half clues and misdirections, but the crime would be so obvious if only he got the right clue before he was tied up by a hungry spider.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t be the next victim in whatever tangled web Izuku was caught in… or weaving himself.

-

Mashirao walks up for the third time Thursday morning, his stomach a roiling ocean in the middle of the storm. But the sun was at least up, so this time he forces himself out of bed. He’s half sure he’s going to start crying, so he just tries to take a few breaths before he tries leaving his room. He’d failed to properly sleep a few times this past week, and he was really debating talking to Recovery Girl or Hound Dog for something to help him sleep.

He manages to take a shower, changing into clean clothes and brushing his hair into something resembling calm before someone comes to find him. He almost expected Aizawa to be the one, since the man seemed to be making a habit of finding him when he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Instead, Izuku walks into the room, eyebags forming under his eyes as he walks up to the mirror. He’s already washed up for the morning, and he only has a comb to try and work a knot out of his hair. He offers a thin smile, and Mashirao just coughs up a basic greeting.“Morning…”

Izuku takes a big breath in, then starts trying to comb his hair flat. Or, flatter than normal, which was not going well. But he seemed so… calm? They knew there was going to be one of the worst villain attacks in history later today, but he was seemingly focused on a stubborn tangle in his hair more than that. “Big day, today. Aizawa said we have today to…”

“How are you so calm about this?” He doesn’t mean for it to come out so sharp, but he’s half afraid the words will cut their way out of him one way or another. Izuku stills, eyes flickering over to him before focusing back.

“I’m not, really. I’m terrified, running scene after scene in my head. There are lots of documentaries about heroes saving people from this sort of thing. And… I’m really trying not to imagine our classmates in the bags they load into ambulances. And I’ve had all week to do that…” He gives an exhausted sigh, then turns to Mashirao.

The blonde boy can’t help but see someone too old to be the sixteen year old next to him, someone living two or three times faster than he was. “How… every time I think of Stain maybe being there, I feel like I’m going to puke. You… if you’ve been helping Nedzu for a week, right? That’s the extra work he's having you do, planning for how this disaster could unfold before it happens?”

“Because… Well, there’s an old quote people love to bring up. ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear’. And I’m holding onto that like a drowning man holds an inflatable ring. No matter how afraid I am, I have to help everyone who's also going to be there.”

Mashirao feels the churning in his stomach slow a little, but it comes with this feeling like he was in one of those spinning chairs, the kind they used to train spacemen to go to outer space. His arm begins trembling, small but easy to notice against the dark black of his shirt. “I… I don’t want to do this. But I keep thinking about how our classmates will be there, and we can’t warn them… how selfish I’m being, for not wanting to go when they don’t have that choice…”

Izuku shakes his head, slowly offering his hand. “It’s okay to be scared. No one is saying you shouldn’t be scared, especially not me. I’m terrified, but I… I’m used to the fear, I guess. Acting to protect people, even knowing the risk to yourself… that’s what makes a Hero, in my eyes. You just being there will make everything safer, for yourself and everyone else.”

Izuku slowly covers his hand… and there’s this surge of warmth, like he’d been wrapped in a thick blanket after being out in the cold. Mashirao takes a breath, everything quiet for a second before he thinks to question it. And even when the question pops up, he ignores it, savoring this moment of calm while he has it.

He… There's an image in his head, that he can’t explain. Of him leaning down, and kissing Izuku. He sees it clear as day, him leaning down and locking lips with the shorter boy. He doesn’t hate it, for the second he entertains it. But he also knows better than to even try, quickly imagining Hitoshi suddenly emerging from behind the corner…

Izuku slowly pulls away, but he’s ready for when the fear comes bubbling back. He focuses on the warmth, and it does help. The fear isn’t overwhelming, with Izuku nodding at him. There’s a faint hint of a blush on his cheeks, like he’d been imagining the same thing he had. “Rikidou made us smoothies before he left. Want to do a little workout after, or are you still sore from the rest of this week?”

Mashirao shakes his head, a lot of the tension and pain also gone. He shifts his shoulders, his tail curling around his waist as he thinks about it. “Maybe… maybe a little run? Want to join me for a jog?”

Izuku nods, and starts walking out. He stops after a few steps, shifting his arm like he’d slept on it wrong. He cracks his stiff neck, then walks out. Mashirao takes one last look in the mirror psyching himself up before he takes those steps out into the hallway. He… he was as ready for today as he was going to get.

-

Mezou checks the sound setup for a third time, flashing the thumb he can spare for Present Mic to let him know they are ready. The blond hero throws him a bright grin, then turns out to the crowd.

He’d never been to a fancy party like this, but it looked like every demographic that could safely blend together was in attendance. Heroes in full uniform milling with clearly important people in suits, reporters breezing this way and that as they chased whatever stories they clearly had planned for the weekend release. A couple of people like Hatsume from the Support Course, clearly showing off prototypes to both eager and unenthused investor types.

More to his interest, he could see plenty of his classmates in the fifth floor’s crowd. Mina and Kyouka were trusted by their Pro's to not cause trouble, the other two being pulled away more than once while avoiding reporters where they could. Katsuki and Mirko were sniping passive-aggressively at each other as they walked to room, angry grins as each one scored their hits. Fumikage tried once or twice to sneak away from Hawks, only for a few feathers to drag him back. And he checks Hitoshi, who was lurking in the dark recesses of the sound booth to watch the rest of the room.

There were private meetings going on on higher floors, groups separated out beyond what Mezou could see. He remembers seeing Yuga going upstairs, following behind Midnight with a rather glum looking Neito at his side. But he wasn’t so much focused on that aspect of the party. No, he was thinking about how he’d be given one minute’s warning at most before everything went to Hades in a Pithos.

“Ladies, Gentleman, and Others. We thank you for attending tonight’s little get together.” Present Mic’s energy is subdued, and if most people couldn’t tell. He looked precisely the same, his ‘studio face’ firmly in place. Mezou wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference, without this internship, that the man was desperate to put a mask into place and keep it there. “I see plenty of us have already started with the festivities, but before we get too far into things, we have a few people who wish to speak to you all.”

Mezou lets his attention drift as the Hero Commission official steps out, her hair brushed back and a nice gray dress that was incredibly modest. He’s not on the lights and tech of the party, or even the music with Present Mic. He was getting the people doing that water, carrying messages back and forth that would be texts if not for the cell blockers, and just trying to stay blended into the background. He was in the best he could get short notice, a black workout shirt that could accommodate his arms to help people ignore him. Everyone worth talking to was wearing white and gray, or dazzling colors of the Heroes here to work security.

Mic hands him a folded up paper, pointing out Aizawa in the corner. Mezou nods, quietly heading back while the woman speaks. “Of course, with Todoroki-dono’s choice to take a step back from Hero Work, we thought this would be a good time to spotlight the people who help heroes outside of villain attacks. The people who work in containment and rehabilitation, and much more.”

Aizawa meets him halfway, rolling his eyes at what the woman was saying before taking the paper. He’s not sure if he should read the note or not, and defaults to checking the other stations to see if anyone else needed a letter passed along. He couldn’t help but notice a few of the Heroes on duty giving him a second look, which he pretends not to be offended by. Mashirao, who’d been staying in Aizawa’s shadow the whole time, shares a knowing look before he continues his own sweep of the room.

A few people begin coming down to their floor, the main leg of the party being on the fifth of eight. He sees the elevator open, with Izuku and Nedzu speaking to a pair of younger looking men with tablets they were showing them. Those two didn’t look like security, so Mezou doesn’t know how they’re getting a tablet to work… eh, maybe they were showing downloads. Nedzu seems invested in their talk, perched on the shoulder of Izuku’s again slightly different suit. It seemed every time Mezou saw it, something was slightly improved about it, this time being the gloves he was wearing. They reached down his wrist, with a screen on one side, probably for vitals in case he damaged himself again like at the Sports Festival...

“But we mustn't get carried away. We wouldn’t be here if not for our illustrious host. Please join me in honoring Enji Todoroki, our long standing number two hero, on his final night as such.” The woman starts a tepid round of applause, her smile fading the second she takes a step back from the podium. She turns, shaking Endeavor’s hand before he steps into the light.

The lights had dimmed before the woman came out, and they seem to go out completely as Endeavor steps up to the podium. Mezou doesn’t think much of it… until he sees Aizawa looking back and forth. Then he looks, seeing Present Mic holding up another letter for him to run. And the mask has slipped slightly, a hand urgently waving him over. “I don’t think ‘Long Standing’ was necessary to add there. Nor is it quite true, at the moment.”

Mezou moves over to the sound booth, surprised to see a genuine huff of laughter from the number two hero. A few crowd members seemed to join in a bit of depreciating laughter, which sounded about as authentic as Mezou could put out, knowing that at any second, someone was going to start their sixty second timer.

“But yes, we’ve talked quite a bit about me recently. You know, they still say in America that ‘No Press is Bad Press’. That any coverage of your career is good, since it increases your reputation. And certainly, there was something to say about that when I started. But it has been many years since then, with new heroes having joined us and left us since those days. I’ll be surprised if my flames aren’t going gray any day now.”

Another little bit of laughter, on the edges of genuine, echo through the room as Mezou steps up to the booth. Present Mic hands him an earpiece, which faintly buzzed with static as he pushed it in. He’s then handed an unfolded note, which says exactly what he thought.

Thirty Seconds, Two Minutes, not sure. But it’s happening; Be Ready

His stomach sinks, but Mezou nods. He… he wasn’t sure he was ready, but he didn’t have a choice in the matter. At least this was slightly better than the U.S.J. in one way; he had a little time to get his nerves under control.

-

Kyouka takes a step back, Mina turning to look at her as Endeavor continues his speech. They’d separated from their Pro’s by now, Mount Lady whispering to an almost flirtatious Hawks, and Death Arms checking the higher floors while leaving her here to monitor. The two girls had instantly paired off, and neither paid Endeavor any real attention. His dry humor was somewhat improved, but everyone was clearly uncomfortable that this was the sort of situation where he finally tried to make a few jokes. But she only half listened to that; no, her jacks were pointed at Izuku and Nedzu, and the words ran down her spine like a frozen knife when she heard them. They’d stepped away from the two Support Technicians they’d been talking to, trying to have a private conversation. Which they would have, if not for her idly moving her concentration through the party. “The heat sensors planted in Building Three just went off. Of course, the one where we don’t know the actual destabilizing time.”

Izuku nods, the lights barely flickering on before going back off. Mina looks up at them, then at her as Kyouka watches his face as he continues. “Mayhem’s in, and communications are being overridden. I could buy ten seconds, maybe…”

“Don’t bother with that. Go gets Hawks, and tell him to prepare Evacuation Protocol 23-H. He’ll secure the groups on higher floors.” Izuku nods, and quickly traces the outside of the crowd with his eyes on Hawks. He’s walking with a bit of speed, the Hero Commission officials not enjoying the party all noticing and checking. And based on how they all start to swarm…

“Something’s wrong.” She whispers to Mina, who quickly looks around and notices the sighs. Kyouka looks around, seeing a few people on the edge of the crowd picking up on the energy in the room. “Where… where’s Momo?”

“Um… she’s over there with that Class B girl.” Kyouka looks over, seeing the girl in the crowd. Uwabami was talking with a Commission official, the two girls close at hand whispering to each other. She begins planning a path… only for the building to begin rumbling under her feet.

Endeavor stops his speech, the lights flickering on and off rapidly. Just as the building seems to stabilize, music begins playing. A creepy, carnival-esque track that Kyouka and Mina both recognize, shudders running down their spines at the memories it evokes. “Testing, Testing… Thank you, Endeavor, for those comforting lies the Hero Commission paid you to say. You really had a calling as an actor… and really, I’ll be thanking the Kami you ignored that call.”

Mayhem’s voice rings clear through the speakers, Endeavor quickly turning to his wife. Kyouka saw Shouto’s older brother there, with probably his mom and sister quickly being led by the Hero Commission woman away from the podium. Present Mic quickly moves over to join them, Hitoshi emerging from the shadows of the sound setup to join him in his run.

But then another voice speaks up, a nasally male voice she didn’t recognize. “Endeavor, you and the rest of you Hero scum like to pretend to save people, right? Well, let’s see how you all hold yourselves up to that… starting…”

The building shifts again… and Kyouka covers her ears, the loud sound of grinding metal and shattering glass deafening her. It was actually painful, and Mina quickly grabs her as the building begins to shift violently as rubble buries the base of the tower. The floor bucks under them, the two girls trying to brace as some people go sliding dangerously close to a sudden fall.

She’s pretty sure she screamed before she got her hearing back… but as she looks up from the ground, she sees the air fill with a familiar black smoke. She starts backing up, Mina next to her as she grabs at the arms of stunned party goers and commission staff. “EVERYONE, GET AWAY FROM THE PORTALS!”

Chapter Text

Katsuki quickly crouched, ready for however the building was going to shift. Mirko stumbled before going into the same pose, quickly looking around. Most of the glass behind the podium set up for Endeavor had shattered, and a cloud of dust was visible as… as buildings collapsed.

He sits there a second, everyone either voluntarily crouching or getting thrown to the ground. Everyone else covered their ears at the sound, while this was filtered out by the hearing aids he was wearing. He was trying to just gauge what was happening, everything changing too quickly for him to track. The only thing that even stays the same after five seconds is Hawks hopping up into the air, quickly flying out the freshly shattered window for someone to have an aerial visual of what was going on.

The shaking lasts about a minute, wherein most of the prepared Heroes begin moving to check for a safe path to the ground. Aizawa moves up to the podium, the non-hero Todoroki’s being led out by Present Mic and Hitoshi, the latter of whom seemed to have appeared from literally nowhere. He’d been gone most of the party, when Katsuki had been checking, but he was now here, offering an arm to the Shouto’s sister as they made for a stairwell.

“Now! Let the Games Begin!” Mayhem got one last bit from the speakers before the sound system came apart, the boxes falling apart with a crash and bit of feedback announcing the end of the audio attack. Katsuki shakes his head, a painful scratch as the feedback messes with the aids… then looks behind Mirko, who was planning a route to begin getting people out. And at the swirling purple cloud that forms… and it’s identical copies, across the room…

“EVERYONE, GET AWAY FROM THE PORTALS!” Kyouka shrieks her warning from one side of the room, and Katsuki launches himself at Mirko. She looks at him, then immediately ducks as he intercepts the weird green fist aimed at the back of her head.

He catches the Nomu fist, Mirko quickly spinning behind him as he tries to hold its arm in the portal. But it’s a lot stronger than him, his boots sliding back with a squeak as the figure emerges. It was noticeably taller than him, almost Endeavor’s size… well, when you factored the horse body. The thing looked like a sickly green centaur, Katsuki notes, before its other fist bashed him square in the nose.

He spins out on the ground, his ears ringing in a way the hearing aids don’t help. He quickly pushes up, just seeing Mirko recovering from a kick that forced the centaur man half through the portal… which isn’t there anymore. The thing stumbles back, a fountain of red and bubbling black liquid spreading on the ground as it collapses to the ground, making a noise like an old car as it falls to the ground.

Katsuki looks at the rapidly spreading liquid, all of it sliding towards the open windows behind Endeavor’s podium. He pushes himself up, stumbling a few steps that way before he realizes that the building has tilted that way… and horrible thought comes to his probably concussed head.

When he was in the U.S.J. with Eijiro, things were so much easier. He didn’t have to worry too much about the red haired boy, with his Quirk. But now, there were so many people around him, screaming as things with too many arms and gnashing teeth began grabbing them. People with guns using them, heroes trying to keep them from being ripped apart or dragged into one of the randomly opening portals, or ripped apart by the randomly opening portals…

“Dynamite!” He pulls back out of his head, Mirko shaking his arm and giving him a quick thump to the chest to force him to control his breathing. She’s looking around, and Katsuki recognizes her checking which pillars of the room she could launch off of for a boost. “Kats… good. Panicking later, protecting people now. Be careful with your Quirk, but fire it off if you need to, got it?”

He nods… and they both look up as a quick blur of green quickly launches itself over their heads. Katsuki follows it… and he doesn’t recognize Izuku at the moment. But when he skids to a halt next to Fumikage, green lightning cascading off him like Denki during the Sports Festival, that’s when he pieces together the three biggest of these monsters staggering in a traceable pattern. He… Izuku couldn’t do that before, could he?

Katsuki takes his breath, seeing a few of the heroes gathering at the wall. Mount Lady jumps, her size quickly growing as she lands on the rubble outside. She slides down as she grows, reaching steady footing before turning around. Momo turns from her spot near the window, holding another one of those glowing swords that turns on, glowing bright red like her costume’s color. “Evacuation Point One, Not Clear! Immediate Assistance Needed!”

A creature makes its way towards her, looking disturbingly like Mezou with ten arms growing out of it at the wrong places. Mezou himself moves to intercept it, tackling it and holding it in place. It turns on him, an owl-like head turning as it spins its back on him, six arms matching the masked kid’s own and quickly reaching a deadlock.

Katsuki launches himself up into the air, the slant of the room helping him close the distance quickly. Mezou looks over at him, and lets the creature push him towards the open side of the building… leaving it’s back open for his gauntlets.

Two quick BANGs throw the creature loopy, and Mezou quickly spins the creature up and out of the window. Katsuki slides to a stop next to him, the two of them turning to look at the room of people quickly shifting to their zone. A few heroes begin trying to make clear paths forward, a blue haired man with a shining sword specifically leading people away to the zone. “Create a line at the podium, everyone! Get the people out first, then worry about the… whatever these are!”

Momo gives one look at Uwabami, who nods to the girl. She pulls at the stomach of her dress, producing tasers and flashlights as quickly as she can make them. Katsuki whistles, Momo taking the light she’d just made and throwing it his way. He grabs it, turning it on before sliding it into his belt and turning. He looks for the biggest group of people, and runs over, eyes scanning for any of the villain freaks who might interfere with getting them out.

-

Hitoshi, at this moment, couldn’t decide if having time to prepare for this moment made it better or worse. But he doesn’t think about that, right now. He just follows Hizashi and the rest of the Todoroki’s to a stairwell, with some weird door in the middle of the wall that the Hero Commision lady checks. There was some kind of plastic sheet in there, and an electronic panel inside that sparks at her. “We can’t; the building’s destabilization might have compromised the fire safety exit. Elevators are down… the only way out is the evacuation route with everyone else.”

Hitoshi turns, a few flickering lights revealing total mayhem behind him. Natsuo next to him is breathing heavily, and he’s not sure if it’s from panic or from the run. “But… how are we…”

The ceiling above them cracks, Death Arms falling through a moment later. He lands on his back… and something covered in wriggling things follows him, a sadistic laugh echoing as he does. “And some of THIS!”

Death’s Arm’s head smacks loudly against the floor, and someone screams behind him when something begins pooling around his head. The thing turns on them… and the villain Muscular licks his lips, a huge scar and robotic eye locking onto him with a pulsing red light. Seeing him in person was a lot different from reading a file, which looked like it was just ‘Name every violent crime it’s possible to commit, with or without a Quirk’.

He looks their way, and Hitoshi finally gets his fear in check enough to speak. His voice still quavers under the mask, though, but that hasn’t affected his Quirk yet. Here’s hoping it doesn’t start now. “You… are you going to kill us?”

The guy lets off a big smile, and Hitoshi doesn’t regret one bit when his Quirk grabs him. Well, except for the slimy feel of the muscle guy’s thoughts in his head, like a too big train passenger who doesn’t understand personal space. “Definitely, ki…”

They both shift unevenly, Hizashi grabbing his shoulder while Muscular just backs up a few steps until his balance rights itself. He taps his dad’s hand, before focusing on the shaky link to the villain in front of him. “Right… don’t fight the other heroes, and guide us to the exit.”

The guy starts to turn… then stops, and tries to turn back. The weird squirming red things… Hitoshi gags under his mask, the things sinking under the guy’s skin. When he read Muscular had a muscle augmentation Quirk, he’d honestly skipped past the descriptor. And the thoughts in his head get worse, the man resisting and pulling up disgusting things as he does so. “N…n…No…”

Hitoshi takes a shaking step forward, trying to force his Quirk through. It’s like trying to grab a single greasy noodle from the bottom of a cup of Ramen, thought after thought finding no purchase as he scrambles for the solution… until he finds the path, shoving a command through. “Go… go fight those monsters, then.

The guy stops fighting him, and turns to do just that. And Hitoshi sinks to the ground, a cold feeling running down his nose. He takes a few heavy breaths, a copper taste filling his mouth as he now feels the guy’s disgusting elation at fighting, fists colliding into creatures as he just goes nuts.

Natsuo grabs him under an arm, forcing him up. Their group quickly moves forward to Death Arms, the man’s thin breathing pulling thin sighs of relief from all of them. Natsuo leaves him to quickly begin checking pulse, doing a rough first aid check on the hero. “He’s… pulse is there, but uneven. He’ll live if nothing else happens to him, though.”

Hizashi nods, and does a quick check of the room. Hitoshi’s vision starts to go wonky, his control on Muscular trying to slip. He plants his eyes firmly on the tile pattern of the floor, focusing on maintaining that instead. “Gonna… lose control…”

He tries, but his control slips when something slams into the side of his head. He wasn’t sure if it was a steel toe boot, or maybe a chunk of the collapsing ceiling. He just knows that the back of his head is throbbing, and wherever that guy is, he’s going to be pissed off…

“Sorry about this.” A voice ghosts over the shell of his ear, then everything goes worse as he gets pulled back through a portal. Doing so after a head wound leaves him sprawled out on the ground, coughing up the ginger ale he’d bought while waiting for the party to end. He tries to crawl back from it, only for a gloved hand to grab him by the nape of his neck.

“Let him go!” Hitoshi’s world is violently spinning, but he recognizes Nemuri’s voice. The crisp night breeze slightly helps, and he looks up to see the night sky… and a spot far off on the horizon, bright orange like the rising sun. But in the middle of the night, that had to be a building fire.

“Not Yet!” He recognizes Shigaraki’s voice, and he’s forced to his feet. He vaguely sees a coat not too far off color from his upturned stomach contents, a cane with gleaming metal pointed up at his face. “Who better to witness the end of Endeavor… you rip your costume, Midnight, and you’ll be joining these two’s funeral in an urn!”

-

Dark Shadow was struggling against him, Fumikage having to focus entirely on keeping his Quirk in check. “They Hurt OUR FRIENDS!”

Several Heroes have high strength flashlights, courtesy of Momo, some of whom keep them aimed at him. He’s standing right next to the podium, trying to direct Dark Shadow to only pull people away instead of hurting the creatures.

The reason he was struggling was because one of the creatures had grabbed Kyouka, dragging her back as she pushed a pair of Commission officials to the ring of safety. She’d kicked at the creature, which bore an uncomfortable resemblance to a high-schooler in a gas mask. Dark Shadow had grown enraged, a shadowy hand larger than the creature slamming it from the air and into the ceiling of the floor above. It had then reached down, trying gently to curl around Kyouka and pull her to safety.

The girl was currently next to him, trying desperately to coordinate what part of the rescue she could. Momo is sitting next to her, wrapping gauze around a nasty cut down the back of her leg from the vulture Nomu’s talon. “Two more on the seventh floor! To the west… Hawks, you’ve got everyone I can hear!”

The Pro Hero nods, a pair of people floating past them a moment later towards the ground based evacuation zone. The blond was focusing on bringing as many people out as he could, the building only half cleared of people. He was also helping some heroes to the ground, because more than one Nomu had come their way from the streets of Hosu. And as much thought as Fumikage can spare on the subject tells him that means there are more Nomu throughout the city; an army of these things, possibly running amok through the whole of Japan… or maybe the entire world.

He’d spare some thought for a Gothic quote, but too much of his brian is focused on just keeping Dark Shadow in check, controlling the tide of Nomu manageable for the combat ready heroes. Altmile, the Blazing Sword Hero, is holding the main defensive line, with Aizawa dancing through the crowd to the most troublesome Nomu. Ojiro followed close behind him, delivering heavy blows to any of the Nomu that Aizawa had to bind with his Quirk instead of his scarf. They’d be in a lot more trouble, if not for Mirko and Izuku bouncing back and forth even faster, hitting any Nomu that began charging up some bigger attack…

Like the one that drops from the sixth floor, and opens its mouth in a terrible scream. Long spikes of metal emerge from it, Izuku turning in air and rolling to a stop on the floor to dodge the attack. The blades run right past him… and Fumikage barely has time to think before Dark Shadow moves, trying to block as many of the metal blades from reaching them as possible. A few people scream, first at the blades… then at Dark Shadow

Dark Shadow was powerful, but Fumikage had to limit that power to use it properly. A bunch of heroes had also taken to specifically helping hold him in check, Dark Shadow allowing it since it was helping to protect his friends. But that creature forces Dark Shadow to coalesse in the center, quickly growing before everyone can redirect their lights. Even though it had the best of intentions, it shifts into a very monstrous visage that causes more than a bit of fright.

It quickly grows enough to force its way through the sixth floor, debris raining down on immobilized Nomu. But Dark Shadow apparently has enough control to avoid hurting anyone, a few Heroes either jumping out of the way or simply blasting ceiling chunks away from them. A good chunk falls on the blade mouth Nomu, the creature trying to reposition with its thin arms as its teeth withdraw. It had to have some sort of levitation Quirk, hanging in the air like a murderous puppet.

The lights quickly move back to Dark Shadow, who shrinks enough to reveal Izuku using him as a tunnel to run through. He quickly jumps, the creature’s jaw barely flexing to open before Izuku was in front of him. He delivers a stunning right hook, the creature spinning five or six times as it sails into the yet to be damaged bank of elevators.

Fumikage mentally pulls on Dark Shadow, the lights helping him pull Dark Shadow back. He just has it under control, the creature allowing him to pull it back to form as a wall for them. “Dark Shadow… all of our friends are over here! Come Back over here!”

Dark Shadow complies with his shouted command, a few of the Nomu falling through the portals that kept opening and closing randomly. So far, no one had been dragged through one, though there were certainly a few close calls. One had opened as Dark Shadow shoved a Nomu back, then closed over their arm. Fumikage had felt like he'd doused his arm in boiling water, but the material had quickly reconstituted with only a roar from his Quirk.

Hawks gathered all his feathers together, clearly preparing to get them out. He looks out, pausing through his order to yell over comms. “Alright, everybody. Looks like the ground is clearing up… where’s Endeavor?”

-

Yuga feels the bottom of his stomach drop out, his hands shaking around the phone he was holding. His suit jacket was a little dusty, but he’d been teleported up to the roof before too much could happen to him. He’d be thankful, but he’d gone from the frying pan directly into the fire, so to speak.

“You drop that, and we drop you. Got it?” Mayhem has a voice changing mask, but Yuga knows that’s what she’s called. She had a jacket covered in neon and LEDs, her mask painted to look like a vicious smile with paint running down her chin. There’s also fresh paint on the pistol she’d been holding, currently resting against the middle of his back as she watched the scene. “You do what we say, and no one gets hurt.”

“Let them go.” Yuga isn’t sure what to be more scared of; that Endeavor might turn his fire on him to hit Mayhem, or the fact that he’d only hit one of the four villains on the roof. They had a wide raised circle the hero was standing on, which was normally for helicopters. Stain was probably nearly as deadly as helicopter propellers, standing there with blades ready.

The Decay villain is standing behind Midnight, having her similarly point a camera. He has one hand curled around her throat, an extended index finger away from killing her. His other hand had some leather guard on it, which he kept using to adjust the camera. Yuga couldn’t see his face, what with his hand mask, but he could imagine sadistic glee easily from his tone, dark trench coat flapping in the breeze. “Not a chance, Enji. Haven’t you always been about the views? The attention? Well, now’s your chance; the Hero Killer’s right in front of you.”

“Shigaraki…” The fourth villain, equidistant between Midnight and Yuga and their hostage-takers, is currently fighting to hold Hitoshi on his feet. The other boy’s knees are only just holding up if the villain holds him at the right angle, a noticeable bloodstain on the guy’s shoulder where his head had lulled at one point. His mask has clattered off, his chin painted with blood and stomach bile as his Quirk Overuse throws everything in his body for a loop. “... this boy needs medical attention.”

Yuga feels Mayhem’s gun pull back slightly, and there’s an edge to her tone, one the voice changer doesn’t quite dull. “Yeah, Endeavor. Clock’s ticking… if you don’t fight, these three will die instead of you.”

Endeavor looks at them, then at Stain. He takes a moment, then takes a defensive fighting stance. “You’re the one calling their shots? Tell them to let the hostages go, now.”

Stain just chuckles darkly, drawing a blade. “Oh, it’s too late to try and be a decent man now, Endeavor. You’re beyond redemption; your Death is only to prevent you from staining the word ‘Hero’ any further.”

The gun returns to the small of his back, and he points the phone before Mayhem has to say it. He hears her mumbling something, the voice changer garbling it before it reaches his ear… or maybe that’s his heart, beating faster than a rabbit’s that's been chased into its den by a hungry wolf.

Stain charges, and Endeavor holds his first few strikes off. The hero doesn’t use his fire, exercising greater restraint than Yuga would in his position. Stain is supposed to be able to paralyze people, but he instead lets the former pro hero struggle to survive. A beautiful Danse Macabre occurs before Yuga’s eyes, a little growing count telling him an increasing number of the people of the world joining him in his watching.

Endeavor delivers a few blows, one sending Stain staggering back. But he delivers a terrible upwards strike, Endeavor screaming and clutching his face as he brings a hand up. Blood begins to drip from that hand, and Stain quickly closes behind the pro, kicking him to the ground towards Yuga. He has to watch as Stain puts a blade to his throat,dropping his second to pull the man’s hand away.

Yuga closes his eyes, unable to look at the slash across the man’s face. His eye was probably hit, a bright red that wasn’t dissimilar to his hair running down his face and over his jacket. Midnight screams something, but Yuga doesn’t take his eyes off Stain for a moment, afraid everything will somehow get worse if he does look away. “Any last words to say, Endeavor?”

Endeavor, all due respect, does a remarkable job of suppressing any pained reaction he should be having. Mayhem forces Yuga to walk closer, reaching forward to also zoom forward on his face. “I… I owe an apology to five people, more than any others. To my wife, Rei… to my youngest son, Shouto… to Natsuo and Fuyumi… and to my oldest son, Touya…”

A breeze whips past them on the roof, Stain’s headscarf whipping in the breeze as he gives an unsettling smile. He leans down, licking up a patch of Endeavor’s blood. Given how the man’s mouth opens slightly, then freezes in place, Yuga might assume that was how Stain’s Quirk worked. “A moment’s nobility, then. Very well: you may die knowing your last words were put to good use…”

Stain raises his knife, time seeming to slow to an agonizing crawl… and a ball of red strikes him from the Hero Killer’s side. An explosion of feathers throws Stain to the side, before quickly sweeping Endeavor out of the way.

Another happens to Mayhem, Yuga’s heart jumping in his chest as he waits for a bullet to pierce him. But he’s ripped out of the way first, a series of screams filling the night air as he gets pulled to the edge of the roof. He slowly realizes at least one was his own, and another was Midnight as they cluster near the edge of the roof.

Hawks flapped in the air above them, his visor glaring menacingly in the night. “Alright then, League of Villains. Any last words?”

Yuga can’t hear much, Midnight quickly pulling him and Hitoshi into her arms. He takes a moment to appreciate that, the phone he’d been forced to record with clattering to the ground. He’s not sure when he started crying, but fresh tears work their way from his gummy feeling eyes… Wait. “Monoma…” he says, and Midnight goes tense against him. Even focusing on the other boy, he can’t remember where they lost him in the chaos. He knows he was with them on the sixth floor, before Death Arms and other heroes had come in before the buildings collapsed… then he couldn’t find him. She pulls back, and begins checking the roof as if the blonde boy would suddenly appear.

“I… Hawks!” She pushes him and Hitoshi to the ground, and Yuga barely has time to register a sword passing just an inch above his head as a Second Stain emerges from a portal, missing Midnight by an inch before going after Hawks.

Yuga turns as the three villains jump through portals… and the real Stain leaps off the roof, Endeavor sinking into a fourth portal just before any of the positioned feathers can close on him and save him. But he focuses on Stain, aiming Naval Laser as best he can and releasing a blinding burst of light that knocks them back just a couple of feet. But that's enough, as Hawks's feathers then close in before the Hero Killer's Blades can taste their blood. And thoughts of what was happening to the former Pro Hero leave his mind, as he quickly moves between Midnight and Hitoshi as they back up towards the edge of the room.

-

Mashirao feels his blood running cold in his veins, but forces himself to move anyways. He wasn’t expecting Stain to be here, or to be attacking them; Mashirao was helping Uwabami evacuate the building, the last person they could find in tow. Monoma was only a few steps from completely panicking, but Mashirao wasn’t about to hold that against him. And right now, with Stain’s blade coming for them, everything shifts from too fast to agonizingly slow before he decides; Stain wasn’t going to beat him again.

He grabs the first metal thing he can, a smashed chair leg near him, and brings it up in a parry. He didn’t use swords, usually; but when a serial killer tries to attack you, you learn very quickly what will and won’t speed up the dying process. He blocks the blade from hitting Uwabami, who had moved to block Monoma with her body when she noticed the Hero Killer appear from a portal. Monoma screams for all three of them, a few of the evacuating heroes turning towards them.

But then everything washes out, and Mashirao quickly begins forcing Stain back. Just one step at a time, his tail sweeping up a second piece of debris to use as he goes. He wasn’t going to win in a fight against the Hero Killer; he could stall him, while the other heroes cleared the last of the civilians.

The Hero Killer looks at him with contempt, but also this disturbing edge of a smile on his lips. Mashirao can hear people trying to talk to him, but then the building shifts again, a few screams probably bringing the hero’s attention elsewhere. “So, you still want to be a hero? What kind?”

He does an overhead strike with both blades, Mashirao quickly backing up in the same motion as the blades cut through the pieces. He catches his balance, his heart hammering in his chest as he readies himself. The chunks of metal in his hands weren’t going to block anything, so he threw them up at Stain before shifting to a defensive stance.

A bright red glow comes from his side, but Mashirao doesn’t check like Stain does. The Hero Killer turns as Momo charges, her glowing sword weaving back and forth as he tries to defend. But she comes in like a tidal wave, pieces of his blades falling to the ground in breaths of smoke as she advances.

Mashirao feels a hand on his shoulder, hearing a hiss of snakes by his ear. He wrenches from that grip, moving to block Stain’s retreat as he pulls more and more blades to replace those he lost. He sees the guy turn towards him… then watches the red run right through him, jutting just out his chest.

The smell is… awful, but not the kind of awful he expected. He’s seen people use Quirks to amateurly cauterize a wound before, so he knows burning blood and burning skins’ smells. Stain doesn’t smell like that… and his body destabilizes, quickly turning into something that looks an awful lot like mud.

He takes a few deep breaths, looking up at Momo… the light from the blade goes out, the handle popping before she drops it. She looks… well, like she just killed someone. “Momo, how did you figure out he was a copy?”

She blinks a few times, then Uwabami is quickly sweeping the both of them over to the evacuation. Kendo and Monoma are watching the both of them, Kendo looking deeply concerned with her friend while Monoma looks around. “Wait… where are Midnight and Yuga? They… we got separated when the portals opened.”

Mashirao looks around, unable to spot the teacher or highly visible student. He strays to the edge of the evacuation zone, scanning the darkness of the building. His eyes pass over the crowd, desperate to provide at least one answer… up until an arm grabs his shoulder. He jumps, his hand rearing back… but Aizawa just gives him a look, and his hand goes limp at his side. “Mashirao, it’s me. You did good, holding him off. Now let’s go…”

Mashirao nods, and he’s not sure the tears in his eyes are from all the compiled stress… or the fact that it might finally be over. He jumps into Mount Lady’s outstretched hand, Mezou and Fumikage joining them as they’re lowered to the debris field. Mashirao has seen damage like this in documentaries, but it‘s a whole different feeling to move through this in real life.

Uwabami leads them along, her heels in her hand as she hopes from stable section to stable section. Her snakes are scanning back and forth, not stopping until they reach the real ground. Kendo and Momo follow her along, Aizawa staying behind the boys as they move to the safe area. There, with an ambulance waiting, were Nedzu and Izuku.

The green haired boy is hovering over his boyfriend, a few paramedics running vitals on him. He turns, slowly moving away from Hitoshi as they run up. “Is everyone okay? Anyone else injured?”

Mashirao shakes his head, only for Aizawa to bring him forward. “He was fighting a Stain clone, check him for any cuts. Momo too, while you’re at it. Fumikage probably has Quirk exhaustion… anyone else?”

Kendo and Monoma both shake their heads, and Izuku quickly take’s Mashirao’s hands to check his arms. “Nothing I can see, but Recovery Girl’s en route. Wait here… Nedzu, is this everyone?”

Mashirao looks over to the principal, quickly running a tally. “Jiro, Ashido, and Aoyama are all already in care. Katsuki is assisting Mirko in search and rescue… Yes, that should be everyone from the school accounted for.”

“Aoyama… where are Yuga and Midnight?” Monoma pushes forward, Kendo putting a hand on his shoulder as he pleads with the principal.

“They… they were taken hostage by the villains, along with Hitoshi. They’re being checked over… Aizawa, can you bring Monoma over to Midnight? If they haven’t left, they’ll be…”

Nedzu’s orders are cut off by a horrible scream, Mashirao covering his ears as everything goes hazy again at the edges. All of the kids stumble, moving towards the already crowded ambulance with Hitoshi as the scream continues. It goes on… Mashirao wasn’t sure how long. It had to be a Quirk, like the thing that attacked Endeavor at the street conference. Because… because Mashirao is in the alleyways again, Stain pinning him to a wall, tongue swiping across his face, covered in his own blood…

He tunes back into the world on his knees, every breath feeling like shattered glass in his lungs. He’s aware Fumikage is in front of him, words trying to pierce the ringing as he sits there, reliving the worst moment of his life. “Ojiro? Mashirao… look at me. Just look at me; you’re going to be fine. You’re okay, just repeat after me. Deep breath in, deep breath out…”

Chapter Text

Izuku pushes the tide of fear down, the image of All for One’s face practically hovering in front of him disappearing. He looks up, seeing a winged Nomu coasting hard to the ground… and Stain is standing on its back, blades pierced through it to steer him to the ground.

Everyone around him is stunned, even Nedzu. His head is repeatedly tilting to the side, a chattering noise Izuku’s never heard coming from him. He looks around once… and takes off in a run, One for All cascading off him as he launches himself off into the air. He hits just even with the height of the rubble, pushing off it to follow Stain as he crashes into a nearby roof.

The villain rolls off the crashed Nomu, the thing’s gas mask face wrinkling as he takes off into a run. Izuku just manages to turn Float off at the apex of the jump, stumbling before taking off after Stain. He follows, seeing the Hero Killer throwing something to the side before jumping to the next roof. Izuku hits the machine on his wrist, a location tracker that should be resistant to Mayhem’s interference.

Stain must hear him, because he quickly begins taking more evasive measures. He jumps down a gap between buildings, and Izuku checks as he hops between air conditioners to get to the ground. Izuku is a little too out of breath to call anything out, and just focuses on following the villain as close as he can…

Izuku hits the ground, Stain turning on him with a throwing knife in hand. He’s also struggling with the run, clearly trying to recover as Izuku does. “Young Hero… hoping to earn some fame by taking me down?”

Izuku takes a deep breath, forcing his breathing into normality to answer. He’d been looking over this fight for the past week, Nedzu helping him check the math of the fight every step of the way… but right now, hopefully, he could end this before a fight happened. “No, I don’t want fame. You’ve killed people, and you’re working with the League of Villains now. They… they’ve hurt too many people. How are they going to change the world for the better?”

Stain blinks, not expecting that angle from him. He pulls another blade out, but his arms have a looseness now. He was ready to move to an attack position, but he was relaxed for a moment. “You… Ah, you know the work I’m trying to do. And now, it is more important than ever; the greatest of the true heroes, All Might, is slowly doing less and less. His flame is going out, when the world needs its light the most!”

Izuku… he feels something, deep in his chest. It hurts like a physical injury, even though he knows he’s fine. “I… All Might is the best Hero in the world. Without him, I wouldn’t even be where I am. He’s teaching our class… and I will do everything I can to uphold his legacy. Is that what you think you’re doing, by hurting and killing people?”

Stain’s face falls a little like he expected this resistance but was unhappy with it all the same. “Of course it is! If I get rid of the fake heroes, cull the poisoned seed from the field, then the true heroes will be all the stronger for it. Like you… you’ll be the next one I kill.”

Stain raises his blades, and slowly starts shifting forward. Izuku takes a half step back, the villain’s tone shifting on that last bit. Then, he sees his arm wind up, the throwing knife sailing through the air… at something behind Izuku…

He ducks, jumping forward as the air distorts behind him. He hears an inhuman scream behind him as he rolls, putting his back against brick to see a Nomu… and he runs at Stain, the creature from the party looking a little worse for wear after his punch into the elevators. One arm was hanging limply to the ground, some minor Levitation Quirk stopping it just arm’s length up in the alley. “Move!”

He grabs Stain, and moves them behind a dumpster before the teeth blades start to fill the alleyway, a few clipping his back as they extend. Stain looks down at him, his face first a picture of shock… then respect, in a weird way. Izuku quickly slides around him, keeping his cut open back away from the villain in front of him.

“Izuku? Izuku, report.” Nedzu’s voice crackles from his earpiece, and Izuku really hopes the alleyways won’t interfere with the signal.

The blades retract, then move back in, like fingers feeling around for prey. “Nedzu, I’m about four blocks away to the South. Stain’s here, and a Nomu’s attacking. The one with the teeth blades… I’m pinned behind cover.”

“Izuku! Why did you… maintain position!” Aizawa shouts over the coms, and Izuku can imagine the fury on his face. Maybe some worry, but mostly anger, the man quickly running here. But he had to get past the rubble, so he was six minutes out if Izuku was lucky. And considering the evidence otherwise, Izuku wasn’t planning on going to a casino for a very long time.

There were a few sounds of the teeth scratching against the dumpster, then the teeth retract suddenly. Izuku listens as hard as he can, hearing a growl as someone comes closer.

Something hits the side of the dumpster, and Stain pushes Izuku back as the thing begins to shift. Izuku backpedals as the villain pushes him, seeing the dumpster quickly swallowed by a wave of Decay. And there stands the Decay villain, his face covered by that hand mask he wore. “Stain… you really want to abandon our party, in the middle of a raid? Even a Yuuei brat isn’t worth it.”

Stain draws another throwing knife, switching his close range blade as well as he builds what distance he can. Izuku shifts to his backfoot, trying to think of a way out if Stain turns on him… but the man is focused purely on the Decay Villain, also calculating a path out of here. “Shigaraki… don’t you have your experiments to do on Endeavor?”

Shigaraki immediately sets his eyes on Izuku, a hand reaching up to scratch at a dry and flaky looking neck. The Nomu shifts, its body quivering in what might be mistaken for excitement. “You… oh, is that it? You’re turning coat for the corrupt heroes, now?”

“I want a better class of heroes; villains never entered into that equation. You and your League were a means to destroying Endeavor, which won’t happen if you use him for one of your experiments. If I want Endeavor dead, and properly in the ground, then you need to be buried under him.” Stain gloats, clearly egging Shigaraki on. But considering the situation, Izuku starts to wonder how he evaded capture for this long if he was as short sighted as he was acting now.

Shigaraki begins trembling, literally vibrating with anger. Izuku takes stock of the Nomu, whose jaw slowly begins to open. He checks the alley… and before Shigaraki or the Nomu can attack, he’s grabbed Stain around the waist, and launched himself up towards the wall.

Gran Torino taught him how to do this, in the gym, and Izuku got the first springing step, across to the other side of the alley. But trying to balance Stain makes the second step go wrong, and they roll chaotically across the road. Something sharp jams into his shoulder, and he ends up with Stain balanced over him as he ends up back against the ground.

Stain quickly moves in front of him, Izuku quickly rolls over as Shigaraki turns. “Izuku… go. And teach your classmates what it means to be a real hero, understood?”

”No…” Izuku tries to push himself to his feet, only for everything to go rigid as he freezes in place. He gasps, not sure how… he manages to flick his eyes, to his wounded shoulder, freely bleeding onto the ground. And into Stain’s hands, where a throwing knife dripping his blood that quickly leaves it to fly at the Nomu. He strains against the move, but he couldn’t make his arms or legs move… but One for All thrums through his body, energy crackling across his skin…

Stain quickly advances, the Nomu floating over to meet him. It spits its teeth knives Stain’s way, which he jumps to the side to dodge… and Izuku would be skewered if he’d been stuck in the same place. But all the energy pushes him further from the Tower, rolling across the ground as he bluntly throws himself with Float across the pavement.

He ends up looking away from the fight, his arms weakly trying to reach up to his scratched up face. He puts a pause on Heal’s efforts, trying to turn himself over to try and look. He manages to roll over on his back, his neck coming loose enough to turn it to watch as Nedzu continues yelling at him. “Izuku, do not engage with the League. Retreat, now.”

He tries to say, ‘Not an option’ but his jaw stays locked as he tries to struggle against the Quirk. Stain jumps over Shigaraki when the guy tries to grab him, pushing off the mouth of the alley to get the height. He delivers a slash to the gray haired man’s shoulder, the Nomu starting to move in front of him… then stopping. It then jerks towards Izuku, its tongue reaching out to lick its lips. It then begins floating over, its jaw unhinging… stopping when a tomahawk strikes it from the side of its head, actually sticking into it in a disturbing way.

“Midoriya!” Izuku looks down, Kouji running over. The boy quickly grabs him by his wrists, pulling him to his feet. Izuku tries to move, even numbly, but he gets maybe one step to Kouji’s insistent three. “Come on! You… his Quirk got you?”

Izuku has just enough to nod before the Nomu screams, Kouji flinching before pulling Izuku onto his far side from the Nomu. It was a split second, but Izuku is still shielded by the other boy… and they’re both shielded by Stain, who somehow moved between them and the Nomu when Izuku wasn’t looking. Everything had been slow, with his body paralyzed, but time went glacial in that moment.

The blades just… hang there, piercing the Hero Killer. He stumbles one step forward, the act causing a gout of blood to gush over the blades and across the ground. Stain… his face has an evil smile, which goes a little numb as the blades suddenly retract.

The Nomu and Stain both fall to the ground, a second tomahawk embedded dead through the creature’s neck. Native looks completely shocked, but he produces a third and final weapon before turning to Shigaraki. “Native to Commission, Decay Villain on 18th and Meridian. Stain Heavily Wounded, Two Internship Students Present.”

“No!” Shigaraki takes a half step forward, a portal opening behind him in the alley. Someone in bright neons and a face mask, probably Hana, quickly grabs his shoulder and drags him through. He grabs the edge of the portal, getting one last menacing glare off before falling back through.

Izuku feels the paralysis fade just enough to move towards Stain, the man’s breathing haggard as he weakly tries to push himself up. “I… Kouji, help me with triage.”

The villain gives him a look, a raised eyebrow with the hint of a smile. Then he goes limp, the back of his body armor getting quickly dyed with deep red. Native and Kouji both seem shocked for a second, but the other student quickly joins him, grabbing limited gauze to try and cover too many wounds with not enough material.

Izuku doesn’t put a lot of time into thinking about it, ripping his gloves off. A spot dangerously close to his heart is gushing blood at a dangerous clip, so Izuku rips up some gauze and places his hands there. He can feel One for All coiling in his chest, then almost pulling back, exhaustion setting in as Nedzu’s voice fills his ear. “Izuku, what’s happened? Izuku, talk to me!”

Izuku feels One for All finally begins to work, watching a few of the cuts seem to close. And the exhaustion becomes so much worse, the only thing keeping him awake being the stench of both old and new blood filling his nose. He feels Whisper trying to show him things, but the first sounds of screams make him try and shut that down. “Ambulance… Nedzu, send an ambulance! Kouji, grab my gauze… his worst inguries are middle sternum, and right side of his hip...”

There’s a skid of metal next to him, and he looks up to see Tenya. The boy’s helmet is cracked, green something or other painting one arm as he stands there. “He… he saved you? That… that creature…”

“Help me!” Izuku isn’t sure what’s going through Tenya’s mind, but he snaps to and begins pulling out his own limited first aid gear. It’s just some gauze, but they manage to at least cover a few of the wounds. But holding the villain while he dies… Izuku feels sick the whole time, beyond what Heal was doing to him. He can feel his own exhaustion, Stain’s exhaustion, and both Kouji’s and Tenya’s whenever they bump into him.

Native keeps answering communications, grabbing his weapons off the probably dead Nomu and keeping a scan for any other portals that show up while other Heroes descend onto the scene. The fastest is Aizawa, who seems to connect things and is ready a bit faster than Tenya was. But it was an extra three minutes for him to do that, where Stain seemed to slip into and out of consciousness. Tenya keeps freezing up… and Izuku isn’t sure if it’s because this person he’s trying to help is dying, or if he’s trying to mentally explain saving a murderer. Because Whisper keeps trying to add to his confusion, and Izuku isn’t sure why he’s crying, but he can barely see what’s going on anymore, Kouji being the only one of them with enough sense to control things until Aizawa subs in.

Aizawa slides next to Izuku, taking over and shouting directions into an earpiece. Someone gently pulls Izuku back as other heroes take position, and a red towel is slowly run up and down his suit to soak up the blood. And the adrenaline slowly ebbs out, and Izuku just feels his body go limp. After the paralysis Stain caused in him, it was a much better sensation, he loosely thinks before unconsciousness takes him.

-

Kouji feels this bone deep exhaustion, when he grabs Izuku. Like running, and only just realizing you were running over a cliff as you stop on the edge. He half slides him to the floor, the bloodsoaked rescue blanket falling to the ground as his hand goes limp. Which is when he notices fresh blood coming from his shoulder, a stab wound sitting there for who knows how long. “Izuku! Aizawa, Native! Help!”

Native turns first, this not being the first time Kouji’s shouted like that tonight. But instead of a trapped cat and her kittens, or a dog leading them back to a trapped owner, he’s holding one of his classmates. That causes the Pro to run over, turning to the teacher. “Zawa, The Green Kid’s collapsed!”

Aizawa's head snaps their way, the other heroes that had arrived quickly letting him move from keeping Stain alive for him to run over. He’s already in the rhythm of pulling out gauze and medical supplies, quickly dressing the wound as he inspects Izuku for any other damage the green haired boy might have been ignoring up till now. “Izuku… please, be okay. I…”

Aizawa seems to stumble on his words, quickly tapping Izuku’s wrist computer. Kouji sees it flash through information, then Aizawa minutely relaxes when he reads it. Native slides behind Izuku, pulling out a bottle of water to wash away some of the blood. The wound was a lot easier to look at then some of the stuff Kouji’s seen tonight, and the brighter red color should mean it wasn’t anything more serious. “is… is he okay?”

Aizawa nods, and Kouji turns as Manual and Tenya walk over. “Well, luckily Tenya came running; my agency’s routing the medical transports now. Won’t be more than three more minutes, then Stain will be on his way to a secure medical facility… and there should be an ambulance for your student, Eraser.”

Kouji nods, some kernel of relief growing in his chest. But then he looks at Tenya… and it looks like his entire world has been shattered again, after trying to put it together over the past two weeks. “Stain… Stain protected Izuku. There was… that thing, it would have killed him and Kouda, if he didn’t protect them.”

The three Pros all trade looks, and Kouji quickly nods as Izuku slowly begins to stir. “Ai… Aizawa?”

Their teacher quickly turns, putting a hand on Izuku’s shoulder as the student tries to stand. Kouji holds his other side, the boy’s eyes flickering over to him briefly. “Izuku, you did good. Just rest, for now.”

Izuku nods, his eyes opening and closing as he tries to maintain a sitting position. Kouji holds him steady, the other boy meeting his eyes once to nod before pursing his lips, Nedzu audibly chewing him out over the earpiece. Kouji was pretty sure he heard Recovery Girl saying ‘reckless’ more than once, before incoming police cars and ambulance sirens covered that noise.

Kouji steps away as Izuku is loaded onto a gurney, then turns as Native looks around the city, more than one smoke pillar ascending to the heavens. “Looks like we have a long night ahead of us, Anima. Still up for it?”

Kouji turns to the pro, fist clenched as he nods. There are pieces floating around, a bigger picture that someone needs to worry about. But there are also people who need help… and that’s what he’s here to do. “Let’s go.”

-

Shouto stands in the middle of Gang Orca’s office, staring at the screens displaying the scene. It… it was terrible, in a way that was hard to describe. A lot of people can’t help but join him, having to be called away while he watches.

The cameras didn’t arrive until after the action was over, but three collapsed buildings and one that had its top half gutted was definitely enough for the news to begin speculating. There were at least seven versions of what had happened circulating, steadily drifting further from what Shouto assumed was the truth, which was going back and forth around him in the office.

But while not a single second of footage from the main event was available, there was footage from elsewhere in Hosu showing up. Creatures that looked a bit like the Nomu villain from the U.S.J., inhuman with random animal bits and Quirk manifestations that caused quite a bit of damage. Heroes outside of the center of the action were still putting out fires, and it was well into the early morning hours later. A few cameras even show people being dragged into portals, with speculation about what the League of Villains might do with those people.

Although, that’s a lie. The news wasn’t showing more footage, but there were a pair of videos that were getting traction everywhere. If he wasn’t looking at the television screen, he was scrolling on his phone screen to see the limited footage available. Of his father, being held at knife point by Stain… and Stain, with Izuku and his other classmates trying to keep him alive. Shouto stood there for a long moment, trying to decide how to feel about that. He felt… he wasn’t sure there was a word for it.

“Todoroki?” Shouto blinks, turning as Gang Orca walks up behind him. A few surrounding members of the Agency turn, then make it very obvious how they totally weren’t paying attention. “Please follow me to my office.”

He nods, following the Pro into the same office he’s been in for most of the week. He has this creeping numbness running through him, as he sits down, waiting for Gang Orca to say anything.

“I would prefer to finish our internship, but I understand if you need to be with your family.” Shouto looks up, Gang Orca giving him an appraising look. “I can easily charter you the tickets to go to Hosu, and excuse the remainder of your internship. However, if you’d rather stay here, I won’t force you to depart.”

Shouto sits there, knowing that time is passing around him. Everything seemed to be moving too fast, like he was sitting in a car in the slow lane while others passed him with a whip of wind. “I… I should probably call my sister.”

He pulls out his phone, Gang Orca stepping out of the room as he does. He had a few dozen texts, everyone in the group chat trying to ask him how he was when he wasn’t sure how he was doing in the first place. He ignores them, for now, trying to text someone who might know what was going on.

Shouto: Are you okay?

He waits a minute, Touya usually answering within that long, or typing something for the three dots to show up… but not tonight. Shouto watches as the message tries to load, then an error message pops up. ’The Number You Are Trying To Reach Is Out of Service. Retry?

Shouto looks at the message, then shakes his head. It was… probably fine. Touya must just be busy, then. He swipes over to his number pad, his sister’s phone ringing once before she answers. “Shou, are you okay?”

Shouto can’t help a little smile, which feels totally wrong here. “I’m perfectly fine, in Gang Orca’s Agency. Are you okay?”

His sister’s breath catches, sounding like she was only just done crying about something. “I… I don’t know. Dad’s… he’s… have you seen the footage?”

“Yes, it’s showing up everywhere. Did anything happen to the three of you?”

“No, Natsuo and mom are good. Present Mic got us out safely, before we realized that Dad got… he got…” She takes the phone away from her ear, and tries to mute it so he doesn’t hear her crying. Shouto’s pretty sure he should feel the same way, and there’s definitely something in that vein running through him now… but it’s not for his dad?

“Do you guys want me to be there? Gang Orca said he could set something up, if you needed me there.”

She doesn’t speak up, but Natsuo does after a few seconds. “Shou, I wouldn’t want to do that to you. I… if you want to come here, I wouldn’t say no.”

He feels his teeth grind against one another, and he sort of puts it together now. Everyone kept saying ‘what do you want’, and he hated not knowing when so many other people in his class seemed to know instantly what they would want if asked. “I… I’ll be over by the morning, then.”

“Okay, I’ll let Mom know. Call us if anything happens, okay?” Shouto waits for him to hang up, then walks over to the door. He knocks, idly wondering what his father might think of him doing this. Abandoning his training, shirking his duties? Or has he… has he ‘mellowed out’, as Denki said once, enough to actually be glad about him going to be with the rest of his family?

-

Momo has her arms wrapped around her middle, just repeating the same thing to the detective questioning her. The woman looks a little sympathetic, her eyes having this odd yellow sheen to them. “I… I remember one of the reports about the U.S.J. incident saying there were copies of villains running around. And I thought that Stain, as smart as he’s been, wouldn’t be running through the middle of the evacuation effort. So I assumed he must be a distraction, a clone hoping to maybe injure a few more people before leaving. So… So I decided to act, eliminating the clone before other heroes could be distracted by it.”

The woman nods, writing the statement and asking a few other questions. It’s easy to answer, but Momo isn’t really paying attention to that. If the detective notices, she’ll probably attribute it to the shock from the event. But no, that’s not what’s going on.

Momo… she saw Stain, and decided that instead of protecting people….that she wanted to kill him. She wanted revenge for her uncle, moved to achieve that goal… and did. It had been too easy, with the Light Blade design Mei had helped her actually make work for longer than a half a minute.

Mashirao asked her ‘How did you know it was a clone?’, and that snapped her out of that, and that slim satisfaction had immediately turned into a pit of self loathing. She’d… she might have put it together, that the clone wasn’t actually Stain. But no, she wanted her taste of revenge, and got it before considering the risks and costs. Maybe she was going to make a great villain, someday…

All of Class 1-a was being gathered in the same hospital room, most of them not actually needing beds. Mashirao and Yuga were still somewhere else, with one of them having been kidnapped by the villains and the other being so obviously affected by the Fear Nomu’s Quirk. Hitoshi and Izuku were both in here, I.V.s in their arms with orders for bedrest, which Izuku seemed to be taking full advantage of. Hitoshi was propped up by a pillow, not having slept a second that Momo had seen. Although maybe he’d dozed in and out while she’d been out; they were maybe an hour from dawn, and the police were still cycling through and getting reports written up.

As she walks into the room, Kyouka immediately looks at her. The girl’s leg was in a wrap, her jean’s having been shredded from the knee down during the Tower Incident before they’d gotten her into an ambulance. Luckily, the Nomu that hurt her didn’t seem to have any poison or anything to its claws, so all that was left was waiting to see if she got a regular infection. Mina turns, not having left Kyouka’s side if she could help it. They both mouth ‘Are you okay?’, to which she nods.

They were whispering because Fumikage and Mezou were next to the window, the shorter of the two leaning over in sleep into the bigger’s shoulder. Mezou looked half asleep, trying not to wake the other, and Dark Shadow was currently snapping photos with Fumikage’s phone. Katsuki was also in the room, his patrol with Mirko having ended conspicuously close to the hospital. The heroine was with the Hero Commission officials around their room, ‘allowing’ Katsuki to crash in here, the boy struggling to stay awake while nodding off for a few minutes at a time.

There were a few other hospital beds available, but no one wanted to take them up. There was space for eight, but two had been walked out before their first hour in here as other rooms needed them more. Momo was half tempted to take Mezou’s other side, her eyes heavy as she instead treks over to the girl’s claimed area of the room.

A few minutes after her entrance, with Mina finally seeming to nod off next to her, the door opens. Katsuki rears awake, ready for a fight, before relaxing slightly when he notices it’s just the door. Kendo and Monoma come in, with an exhausted Midnight behind them. The teacher looks around, then walks over. She was in simpler clothes, though the tall collar of her shirt doesn’t hide the faint bruising the Decay Villain left on her neck.

She takes up the metal folding chairs set up on Kyouka’s other side, Kendo sliding next to Momo while Monoma takes the one next to Midnight. Kendo had changed, someone from Uwabami’s agency having brought their school uniforms over not long after their arrival. Momo had her hero uniform’s trench coat around her in the same party dress, trying to hide the tremble in her arms through the bigger sleeves. “Uwabami canceled the rest of our internships. On the bright side… um, those energy bars didn’t melt in your purse.”

The orange haired girl produces them from her pockets, and Momo can’t help a little chortle at that. The guilt then increases exponentially, and she lets her head hit the mattress next to Kyouka before speaking. “Thanks, Kendo.”

“Yeah… was it this bad, the last time?” She slightly raises her voice, Midnight looking over as Mina seems to drift back into consciousness.

“No, this is worse. Before, I actually managed to get some sleep… before the nightmares.” Momo looks over at the pink girl, whose mutter is clear as day to all of them in the room.

Momo lets herself nod, leaning back into the chair. She doesn’t add on, but Kyouka does. “I… on my way home, before the dorms, I had to walk over this old bridge that ran over a little river. It wasn’t even that deep; on a good day, you could see the bottom of it. But after the U.S.J… I would have nightmares about the bridge collapsing, and I was back in the Flood Zone, sinking to the bottom. Not even any villains; just bad luck.”

Her leg shifts on the bed, her arms going tighter around her center. Momo takes a moment, then reaches up towards her hand. Kyouka looks at the offered hand, then takes it. She gives it a tight squeeze, but neither of them try to pull away for a long minute of silence.

Chapter Text

Hana… She feels sick. And not the usual, ‘your brother accidentally decayed away part of your internal organs when you were both five, and you’ve been on experimental treatments to keep that in check for fifteen years’ sick. Because… she’d won. She’d walked into Vegas, played every table the worst way she could… and still won big.

There was a lot of stunned silence in the bar, Tomura slowly realizing they had what they wanted. “We… we did it? We lost Stain, but he was nothing more than a mission specific adjutant. We… we did it!”

Hana slowly nods, quickly looking around at the others. No one in her quiet splinter group wanted to really celebrate, but she pulls off her electronic mask to put on an emotional one. “Yeah… fuck yeah, we did! Chaos, Despair, and Entropy across all of Japan, if not the World, before sunrise!

Touya takes a few seconds, then smiles before slapping the bar. Kurogiri walks over, producing glasses for all of them. Touya drains his, setting it down for a refill before turning. “I… I don’t know what to do, with that bastard gone. But he is, and that’s worth celebrating. To us!”

Everyone picks up a glass, Shin-Hye and Atsuhiro both looking at Hana from the corner of their eyes. She just nods, even Tomura taking a drink. He barely keeps it down, but does as they all sit there a moment… well, not all of them. “It’s a shame that Muscular couldn’t join us.”

Hana wrinkles her nose, quietly swishing her drink in her mouth as she considers it. “Yeah… I warned him not to screw around with the Mind-Control kid, but he just had to go and get turned on us. Eh, it’s not like he knew anything important, anyways.”

“An acceptable loss, along with those Nomu we rushed along.” Everyone but Tomura bristles at All for One’s voice, Hana turning to see him displayed on the screen. “Truly, a brilliant ploy, my girl. You’ve made me so very proud of the skills you’ve developed.”

Hana nods, the doctor chuckling in the background as he runs initial tests. “Already so promising, so interesting. Even if we started now, we have higher than sixty percent odds of surviving the Graft Process… and better than forty of the Parasite Project. With another batch of Trigger, we could easily modulate Quirk factors to reach one-hundred percent success in either case.”

Hana feels something cold run down her back at that, a shudder just hidden by the too big jacket. “I can see if the Shei Hassaikai have anything else to give us, but I might need a little time to whip up the funds. And Nedzu will be looking for my signature, so I want to wait the night at least to hopefully work while he’s distracted by his school.”

“Oh course, clever girl. Take what time you need; you deserve nothing but the best, after tonight.” The screen goes off, Tomura patting her shoulder with his gloved hand. And Hana has no choice but to smile, hoping things aren’t as bad as they feel, right now.

-

Tenya… he kept helping with the rescue efforts, since so much damage had been done. It was nearly dawn before Manual brought him to the other Hero Students, in their own room not too far from the Hero Commission's coordination zone. Enough for everyone to have the veneer of privacy, but not stretch the Hero Commission keeping the area on lockdown. He vaguely knew he had changed into his school uniform at some point, but everything… there was this disconnect, like he wasn’t really experiencing everything in front of him.

He’s aware enough to not run into anyone in the hospital, only tuning in when something dark walks in front of him. His brain half connects it with one of the Portal Villain’s cloudy conjurations, and his arms fly up into Aizawa, who catches them and takes a quick step back. Tenya blinks, then quickly begins shaking his hands. “Sensei? I’m sorry, I didn’t… I should have been paying better attention.”

The apology sounds hollow on his lips, and he isn’t sure if it’s because of his exhaustion or internal crisis. If he had to guess, Aizawa must have detected the latter, because he ushers Tenya into a side room before speaking. He’s not sure if Manual notes the departure, or had simply been called away and trusted his teacher to find him in the hospital. “Tenya, be honest with me. You were… you wanted to hunt down Stain, didn’t you?”

Tenya flinches, the truth laid so bare. He struggles, trying to find something to say other than the truth. “I… he was a criminal… he hurt my brother…”

Aizawa nods, putting a hand on his shoulder. The hospital room was dark, the west facing window only allowing a few lingering streetlights to cast into the room. “Tenya, I’m not faulting you for that. You did what anyone would have done…”

“I’m Supposed to be Better! I… I shouldn’t want that!” Tenya tries not to cry, but the way his glasses are fogging up, he assumes he failed at that. His voice barely escapes his throat, but he can’t help but imagine everyone in the hospital is listening in on his confession. All judging him as the words pour out of his soul. “I failed my brother twice! For wanting revenge, and failing to get it for him!”

Aizawa just stands there for a moment, then slowly brings him into an awkward hug. The awkwardness doesn’t turn him away, as he tries to silence the sobs into minor hiccups. “You didn’t do anything wrong… nothing that isn’t fixable. You didn’t do anything to him, and you helped save him. That still counts; you might have wanted him dead, but you saved his life. If wishing someone dead was enough, then I’d be out of my license, too.”

“You’re just saying…”

“No, I’m not. Stain made you feel this way. He’s scared everyone in my class. If I wasn’t required to save his life… if Izuku wasn’t trying to keep him alive when I arrived, I might have left him for dead.” Tenya… he’s pretty sure, at this moment, that Aizawa is telling a bone chilling truth. But oddly, there was real comfort to be found in those words. And he wraps his arms around Aizawa for a moment, just letting out everything he can without making noise.

Aizawa gives him more than a fair amount of time, then slowly pulls away. He walks into the hospital room bathroom, holding out a paper towel to try and wipe his face and glasses dry. “Take a breath… and next time, talk to me, okay? I can help you, but only if you will talk to me.”

Tenya starts to nod, holding his glasses in his hands… then stops, and figures he might as well. “The… the villain, that did that to Stain. It… what if it was one of those things that hurt my brother, and not Stain? What if I’d… if I had, and he was innocent the whole time?”

Aizawa stands there a second, then pulls out his phone. “Inui is already clearing his schedule, but we are booking a special appointment. Got it?”

Tenya nods, and follows the teacher into the marked off room. He notices most of the class there, almost everyone who’d been in Yuuei internships or near Hosu. Even Monoma and Kendo from Class 1-B, and Midnight to keep an eye on all of them. Everyone seems half dead on their feet, though Hitoshi seems very adapted to that, as a nurse puts a wrap on his arm.

He offers one of his smiles, which is less creepy and more actually charming now. A few people turn, and Mina runs up to him and grabs him in a hug. “If you didn’t break your phone on the train out here, I’m going to kill you! My Quirk will make sure they’ll never find your body!”

Tenya can’t help but let a little laugh bubble up from that, the motion almost painful after the past two weeks he’s had. He returns the gesture, seeing a few of the others debate coming over. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I was… I’m still processing everything. But thank you.”

Mashirao looked up from the bed he was on, a heavy blanket wrapped around him as he had his back pressed against the bed. He looked like Tenya felt, or like a tightly twisted and wrung out cloth. But he spreads his arms slightly, possibly opening a little space if he wanted. He was on the bed closest to Kyouka, who was holding Momo’s hand tightly even though she looked like she’d finally dozed off. The other was silently watching… and in her eyes, she saw a look he recognized plainly.

Next time he could get her alone, he was going to ask her why she looked haunted. Because… maybe it was better to talk about that sort of thing, than to try and handle it alone.

-

Keigo sits there, exhausted as he’s ever been. He was debating the pros and cons of a third energy drink, considering how he’d almost definitely crash after maybe a couple extra hours of work. “So, what’s the damage here?”

Miko sighs, and Keigo’s head hits the makeshift council table when his adrenaline crashes. She probably hadn’t meant to use her Quirk at that moment, but the pain in his forehead is a net positive to him staying awake, so he’d take it. “Hard to say, but Nedzu’s student chasing after Stain most likely won’t reflect well. Recovering him for interrogation definitely has its uses, but we will be paying for that information in the headlines for months. Which was already going to happen, given the information that the League of Villains and Stain supposedly infighting, and still make a mockery of our security precautions.”

Keigo nods, massaging his temples as he thinks things over. Tonight was probably going to go down as the worst in his life, having watched his own hero disappear into that portal and disappear before he could act. “This… this did not go well. Not only does the League have the ability to recruit and make new allies, but they also have good Quirks mixed in. Now we know the League is hiding a Copy Quirk in addition to a master hacker and thief. Tying Mr Compress and a Copier into their future plans is useful information, but the cost…”

“Certainly… but there is something else. The buildings… one of them shows Decay damage, like the villain we’re identifying as Shigaraki. But the other two… they show signs of being compromised by massive heat.” Miko lays that at his feet, and Keigo isn’t sure what to do with it.

“Maybe… maybe the Copier controls the Clones? Or maybe Compress set off some bombs? How many fire villains do we know about?”

“Five at the moment, although there’s a Cold Case that might be worth investigating.” Keigo tries not to laugh at the pun, having a small coughing fit. Miko’s face goes from a stone mask to an unimpressed eyebrow raise, then she swipes her fingers across the tablet in front of her to keep it awake. “Apparently, a new player joined the Trigger game. Got enough materials to, we think, improve the creatures we are now labeling Nomu Villains, and have the power to compromise the buildings.”

Keigo sighs, a few feathers flying over to bring the tablet his way. “Okay… ‘Nomu’, really?”

“They are individuals with Numerous Mutations, seemingly experimented on in as of yet impossible to understand ways. Even accounting for Copies, there are now at least a dozen different creatures that are identified as such. Our analysis department is still analyzing the footage, but they issued an Identifying Tag in case Public Relations decided we need a press conference this morning.” Miko reaches forward, opening up the cold case files he was looking for.

Keigo reads a few lines, but he can’t make himself read more than that. “Forward it to me, please. I need sleep, and a lot of it. I… oh, that’s right. Nedzu’s intern kid, the one who chased after Stain, is the one we’ve been talking about. Fumi kept talking about him like it was some big secret.”

Miko’s face returns to its regular blank state, her hand tapping something else out. She quickly produces another file, which Keigo can’t help but pick out a few details from. They had about three pages on the kid, about as much as they had on the Hero Killer after that first attack. She spins it, looking over the details they have.

“Midoriya Izuku… Gestalt… What is Nedzu planning?”

-

Toga curls up on the couch, watching the news. Her teeth grind as she watches, fingers fishing for holes in her clothes to pick at absently. But her new clothes didn’t have holes, so her nails had to chew in to start making some. “No… No, it’s not true!”

The television ignores her, the report going on like before. “… thanks to the timely intervention of a number of Heroes in the Hosu area, the Hero Killer Stain was apprehended during the League of Villain attacks. While information is murky, due to the camera interference by their hacker Mayhem, we have reason to believe that the Hero Killer was not deeply affiliated with the League. Current speculation, and for now it is only just speculation, is that the Hero Killer was recruited due to both group’s interest in attacking former hero Endeavor…”

Toga slowly stands, her hands impotently flexing as she paces the old man’s building. He’d come in and out, and Iguchi was now staying here more than where he’d been living before. He didn’t say where, but Toga figured it was some sort of public housing, probably the nice kind that still had running water. He wouldn’t be here until the end of the hour, saying he was getting stuff to help her try and catch up with school… but she didn’t want that.

Well, maybe the old computer he’d gotten from a guy who dealt with those sorts of things. It was old and slow, but the Internet was so useful. Maybe… maybe the Hero Commission people were hiding things? Cause she knew Stain; he wouldn’t have gotten caught for no reason…

She turns, a bit of footage playing from last night. It was mostly fake heroes, bringing people out of the rubble… she stops, and runs for the remote. The tv could replay a few seconds, and she desperately tries to get the clip back.

“…saved from life threatening injuries by Hero Student Gestalt…” The show moves on, but Toga knew she saw him… half dead? No, no…

“… attacked by the League of Villain’s Nomu’s, seen here with bystander’s footage, and was saved from life threatening injuries by Hero Student Gestalt…” Stain was nearly limp, and he looked so good, with all that blood on him. And the hero student, Gestalt… he was covered in Stain’s blood, trying to cover the cuts with gauze…

Toga tries to pause it, or go further back, but the television keeps moving on without her. She growls, throwing the remote into the couch and running her hands through her hair. “No… no, he can’t. They’re… it’s one of those copies, like that ugly mud girl…”

Iguchi wasn’t long away, but each second dragged like a thousand. When he came through the door, she nearly pounced on him, eyes red as she pulled the old laptop out. He holds his hands up in the doorway, a bag of fast food waving precariously before she runs inside, setting the laptop on the rickety table they’d gotten. “Toga… Toga?”

She starts typing, scrolling through samey article after samey article, none of them having the footage she wants. She takes a few breaths, then tries adding ‘Bystander’ and ‘Gestalt’ in… and she has it.

The person was two stories up, carefully holding their camera out the window and pointed down at the alley. Gestalt and Stain leap out of the alley, one of those ugly freaks… no, the same ugly freak that had attacked Stain before, with the mouth knives… and Stain moves to protect Gestalt, plus some other hero who was trying to save him…

Toga knows Iguchi is over her shoulder, wanting to know why she’s acting more manic than usual. But he’s silent, watching on. “Stain… Stain saved that boy.”

“Mr. Stainy thinks he’s a true hero…” She whispers it, but Toga knows it’s the truth. Like one of those people with wings and all white clothes had flown down and spoke divine principles. She wasn’t religious; what sort of God would have let her suffer like she did? But maybe… maybe…

“Toga, you… do you want to eat?” Iguchi tries to change the subject, but he’s seen it too.

“HE… just like Ingenium! Mr Stainy saved Gestalt, like he did Ingenium!” Iguchi blinks at that information, Toga thinking she must have said it at some point in the past two weeks. And he doesn’t immediately start saying ‘No, don’t say stuff like that’, like he would if the Old Man was here.

No, he believes it, too. That Stain has found another True Hero… one good enough to give his life to protect. And he was cute besides, even when they showed a photo of him with the blood wiped away.

-

Mirai looks over the news coverage, and the few scant pieces of information that he could on the Hosu Event that weren’t about Endeavor. He looks at the data… and his expression sours, as he finds the loose thread. The boy, Gestalt, Midoriya Izuku… there wasn’t a shred of doubt to find, and it irked him greatly.

One for All had been passed along, and the new user… was proving to be competent. Not in managing an image, and saving the Hero Killer’s life might prove a stumbling block to his later success. But… with the footage he could access, he seemed to have tapped into at least two predecessor’s Quirks, and baseline control of One for All.

And it vexxed Mirai so, with all the trouble he’d put into trying to seek out someone worthy of upholding All Might’s legacy. And to such a troubled boy, from what he could find; record after record, throughout his academic career until Yuuei, preaching that this boy was a bad seed waiting to blossom. How had he tricked Toshinori into entrusting him with One for All? A long game? Maybe that was why he saved Stain; was he a villain, simply waiting for his chance to reveal himself and strike?

If Nedzu was interested in teaching him, and gave him a coveted spot as his Intern, perhaps Nedzu wanted a loyal puppet as his proxy? Certainly, the boy would not have tricked the Principle of Yuuei. No highschooler, no matter how devious, would have had the faculties and grasp of consequence to pull off the necessary long game there. He might have fooled Yagi, with what he was finding to be nearly a year’s worth of training to pluck his heartstrings slowly and carefully like a symphony.

Or perhaps, Nedzu was similarly trying to make the best of a bad situation; the Quirk could not be taken by force, so perhaps he was trying to lure the boy into a sense of trust and vulnerability before taking it back, or returning it to Yagi. Or they would just use him as a test, to see how far an untrained hooligan could take the Quirk, only to hand it off to someone more worthy of the title. Clearly, the process was much easier than Yagi made it out to be…

Unless… unless the boy was simply better at managing the Quirk than… Mirai shakes his head, finishing his long since cold tea. Absolutely not, he decided. It must simply be a convenience of his Quirk. One which Nedzu has done quite the job at hiding, which not even sleuthing through paper records could locate. Nedzu had even gone so far as to destroy the boy’s former school, probably to make it harder to follow the trail. But he would find everything he needed.

This boy did not deserve the honor of carrying on All Might’s Legacy, and he would put a stop to it.

Chapter Text

Inko hasn’t really been this stressed in too long. She has been stressed, when she had a big case. But oh, this school year was going to be the end of her. She knew Stress Eating was probably not the best thing to use her time on… but Sato was a Stress Baker, and so the two of them made a nice loop as they waited all day for Nedzu and the others to come back, or at least call.

She couldn’t nearly keep up with him, with all the baking he was doing. He would watch the news for a few minutes between whisking eggs and loading the oven, dozens of containers filling with what was probably every recipe he’d ever made. Denki and Sero, who were also confined to the dorms, were alternatively scanning the group chats they definitely had, pulling up articles to try and unstress them, or sampling the variety of cookies that Sato was putting out. Sato seemed noticeably calm when they ate and complimented his cooking, slowing his assault on the dorm’s stores of flour and baking sugar that were seriously maimed after a solid day’s effort. Inko was almost worried even eighteen hungry teenagers wouldn’t be able to consume everything he made before it went bad.

The news cycled through the only story to tell, with the Hosu Tower Incident taking over every channel. Of course, photos of Inko ended up getting talked about, with how Endeavor hadn’t been able to defend himself when he was surrounded by villains. Hanta looks back at her, then away as she kind of takes in how she’s getting mud on her from all of this. Others are also getting blame, like the Commission for not protecting people, or Nedzu for endangering the Hero students that were in the fight. Even All Might, for not showing up, had a bruise to his reputation as everyone looked for someone to blame for the events of the night.

Her stress was only abated a few hours after noon, when everyone started coming back. It must have taken that long for everyone to get their things back. And she knows she shouldn’t, but she runs forward to hug all of them, most of them either reluctantly or gladly allowing her. Most of them looked extremely tired, probably only having gotten a few hours of disconnected sleep in between the train and drive over here.

Jiro has Yaoyorozu and Ashido helping her with her wrapped leg, Ojiro and Aoyama both look visibly more relaxed to walk into the dorms, and Shouji looks partially exasperated to be left with everyone’s bags. Katsuki was helping with more than his fair share, but Inko would be surprised if he didn’t immediately take a nap on the couch from the visible exhaustion on his face. Tokoyami stumbles in, Hitoshi just holding him up before both of them get a hug. Todoroki looks completely unsure of what to do, and Inko almost laughs at the awkward shoulder pat he settles for.

Of course, her hugs weren’t as brutal as Sato’s. He lifted most of them off the ground, more than half of them at once as he charged around the corner. “GUYS!”

Denki and Sero also run over, and everyone begins cross talking as Inko notices only one student was missing. She looks at Shouta, who tilts his head for them to back up. Present Mic and Midnight both walk in as they go out, Inko’s worries for the other kids firmly tabled as she turns on the teacher. “Where’s Izuku?”

“He’s fine, for now. Shuzengi is taking care of him, and Toshinori is with him. He… he used Heal on Stain.” Inko feels herself get a little faint, Shouta reaching forward to steady her.

“Oh goodness… Oh, he’s definitely planning on asking to help Ingenium.” Inko might have been late to a few signals from her son, but she wasn’t letting him get away with a single fucking thing like this again. She didn’t need a Quirk to see that future, with one hundred percent clarity.

“Probably… when he’s off bedrest. He… he was barely awake, though his vitals are improving.” Shouta looks at the bus that had brought the kids over, seeming to check for another student. Inko checks too, quickly schooling her expression when a few of the Class 1-B students step out. “Now, for other news, Kendo’s parents are unable to retrieve her until tomorrow, at the earliest. And Monoma is… unwilling to return to his parents for tonight.”

Inko raises an eyebrow, then quickly puts on a smile for them. The bus pulls out, the two of them taking in the building for a good few seconds. “Welcome to the dorms, you two! I hope you like chocolate chip cookies, because we have… a lot.”

-

Shuzenji takes another set of vitals, things finally looking back into acceptable levels. “That was reckless, Izuku. Stain will probably live, but that’s no excuse for putting yourself in danger.”

“I… I know…” Izuku was too tired to try arguing with her, to which Shuzenji felt a little kernel of guilt. But she was worried enough about the boy that the guilt was sublimated, since she had a job to do.

“Your threshold for pain, which has no God’s Damned business being that high, has been surpassed by nearly the signals of a dozen deep punctures to the back. You’re lucky that Stain didn’t have any organ damage to undo, or you might be rendered catatonic! Even with your own advanced rate of healing, you will be on enforced rest the entire weekend. If I hear so much as a whisper about you using your Quirk, I will get the dart gun and Horse Tranquilizers!”

Izuku blinks, looking at Toshinori to counter that claim. He just shakes his head, knowing better than to do that. There was an unofficial record on Snipe’s range, which has only been beaten three times in Yuuei’s history by people without the Quirk to help them, and only a dozen besides those. “My boy, you need to rest. You’ve already made so much progress over the past two months, I think a few days rest is more than fair.”

Shuzenji nods, grabbing a monitor watch to give to Izuku. “You are going to relax, eat well, and recover. And don’t think you can get away with anything; I have all of Nedzu’s dorm cameras available, and both Aizawa and your mother are going to be watching. You were enough of a Hero helping Stain for the rest of the week, understood?”

Izuku nods, and Shuzenji reaches out to give the boy a pat on the knee. He doesn’t reflexively wince, so she gives him the go ahead to be escorted back to the dorms. The actual escort is one of the Third Year Support Course Students, who comes in when buzzed and not a second before. She takes stock of everyone in the room, then just nods to her before leaving, not a visible mark of anything on her face.

Toshinori sighs deeply, then takes a second to get the right amount of air into his lungs. “I… that boy is so much more than I expected. Not just fixing Stain; I saw the footage, and he did a stunning impression of Gran Torino’s style.”

Shuzenji nods, looking over her collected records on him. “A day of sleep, and he’s almost exactly where he was before having healed Stain. It’s more the exhaustion from all the fighting during the event, where he pushed into nearly eight percent of One for All at his peak. And according to what Nedzu can find of Stain’s files, he’s already nearly a full week through the normal recovery process. This… I shouldn’t even be saying this… but he might…”

Shuzenji cuts herself off, hating that the thought occurred to her. Toshinori looks at her… then immediately begins shaking his head. “He… no, absolutely not. I couldn’t… I would never ask Young Izuku to do that to himself!”

Shuzenji turns to her friend, almost glad that he was on that side. “And I have an ethical responsibility to never mention it in front of him, because he might just be bull headed enough to go and try it. I shouldn’t have even said it to you, since you shouldn’t have to make that choice!”

Toshinori crosses his arms, seeming to begin to consider it before refusing himself. “I… no. I won’t trade all my pain for Izuku’s. He… he’s been nearly comatose for most of the day, and Stain’s injuries were less than major organ damage. No, I couldn’t do that to him.”

Shuzenji nods… but copies the information, and saves it for later. Maybe… maybe, there was a way to split the difference? Maybe… spare Izuku the pain, and still be able to restore some of the function to Toshinori? If Izuku was further along in One for All’s development, or they began partial treatments for Toshinori… there’s guilt, beginning to burn in her chest as she considers the odds.

Maybe more explicit training of Heal’s applications… not the hardest thing to organize, and it would be helpful. But not if the boy was also training in every other application of his Quirk the rest of the time. Maybe in the Summer, she could organize something with Nedzu… or with that Summer Camp Aizawa was planning. That would be almost perfect, if he didn’t also push himself too hard in… oh, who was she kidding, of course the boy would push himself too hard.

But… the chance is sitting there, and she can’t make herself put that flickering candle of an idea out.

-

Toshinori… he’d felt terrible, after his fight with All for One. He’d been on Death’s Door, then Death’s Entry Hall, going all the way to being Death’s Dinner Guest. But just a few selfish seconds, imagining using Izuku like that, makes him want to dig his own grave right on the grounds of Yuuei. Maybe hurl himself into the still unfinished base of the other dorms, and disappear.

He… he should have been able to help, yesterday. He’d really tried to keep his ever shrinking time frame for the evening. But it had gotten smaller again, an hour and a third that he’d still managed to use even when trying not to. He… he really needed Shuzenji to find something. Because the thought of asking Izuku to help him keeps bubbling up, no matter how far Toshinori tries to push it into the tar. And each time, the agony it inflicts on Izuku in his mind is a little worse… but he still considers it again, picking at the edges of the bleeding wound.

But he forces himself to walk up to the door to the 1-A dorms, dressed as nicely as his slighter frame can allow, and send Nemuri a text. He waits to be let in, almost turning around before she comes to the door. “Al… All my days! Yagi, what are you doing here?”

She’s seen better days, and the high-collared modest coat almost looked wrong on the usually free spirited teacher. But he puts on his best smile, letting out a good natured laugh. “Well, Nedzu thought that since most of the class was here, I might be able to make introductions before class restarts.”

Nemuri gives him a look, which almost pushes his doubt over his confidence, but she swings the door open, and Toshinori sees a couple of the students have turned to see what was going on. “Shouta, Hizashi, Inko! We have another staff member joining us for dinner!”

Toshinori walks in, more than one student recognizing him. He tries to keep his expression as schooled as possible, but Uraraka’s comment whips out before he was fully ready. “Hey, you’re the guy who came to see Izuku in the Infirmary during the Sports Festival. You were a teacher this whole time?”

Iida looks up, and the boy reminds Toshinori of himself in those first few weeks after losing his mentor. Not quite over it, or even all that good at hiding it, just… learning to live with a piece of himself missing. “You’re All Might’s Secretary, no? Toshinori Yagi?”

“Yes… and that’s why I’m here, actually.” If Toshinori wasn’t intentionally watching this group, he might have missed Jiro giving him a double take. But he soldiers on, just making a note to check that later. “Due to the increase in caution from this attack, All Might will find his schedule fuller than it was before, and he was already missing chances to teach. However, he entrusted me to ensure his lessons were still taught, and Nedzu just finished approving such before continuing his coordination on the Stain and League issues. Officially, I’m the second consultant for the Hero Course.”

The kids all look around from their positions around the couches and seats, even the two other kids from Class 1-B. Kendo and… and… well, that’s one thing to definitely work on. But no one immediately calls him out, or chases him away, so he’ll take it as a win.

“Yagi, can you come help me with dinner?” When none of the students really ask any questions, he turns at Inko’s request. He walks in… and stops, seeing a ridiculous amount of baked goods, snack breads and cookies and a few things he didn’t know the name of, filling containers all across the kitchen.

Inko quickly sets him to work, which he tries valiantly to provide. Hizashi and her do probably nine-tenths of the work, and Shouta begins getting out plates. “The noodles are done, come get yours.”

Toshinori moves out of the way, all of the kids coming in. There isn’t enough space at the table for everyone, and Izuku seems to be given a seat at it without anyone having a problem with it. Hitoshi and Denki take up next to him, with Tenya and Shouto taking the next closest… “Why is Todoroki here?”

He whispers it to Hizashi, the man’s usual happy demeanor slowly getting harder for him to maintain. “We’re not sure, but it sounds like there’s still some figuring things out. Can’t really go prying, but we can overhear a few things.”

Toshinori nods, looking at the presented food. Nemuri makes her way in, evidently having watched the group gathering to eat in the living room before coming in. “Okay, so I think I missed a memo. You’re comfortable… How much are we letting out? I just need to make sure I’m on the right step.”

“I… me and Shuzenji have been talking. Without some major discovery, it’s best if I start getting more accustomed to teaching this way.” He tries to skip right past it, but the three who were at the Tower last night all share a look. Of course, they were long time friends, and might not be connecting his failure to show up last night to one of the worst things that could have happened in their lifetimes…

“Well, if you’re volunteering to help with life in the dorms, I won’t say no. But if this is just an attempt to get to know everyone, then that’s fine.” Shouta looks like roadkill warmed up in a microwave, idly picking at a bowl he was holding in one hand.

Toshinori serves himself a bowl, the noodles smelling absolutely wonderful, in a strong vegetable broth that Inko momentarily looked pleased with his inspection of it. “Perhaps I could monitor things, for tonight at least. Let you catch up on your sleep.”

Shouta looks at Hizashi, probably assuming his husband put Toshinori up to it. Hizashi looks right back, perfectly innocent for once. “We would just be a call away, Shou.”

Shouta sighs heavily, but doesn’t voice a contest. He simply finishes his own serving, then sets the bowl down. He then leans against the wall, seeming to fall asleep right where he was standing. Toshinori looks at him for a second, then checks with Nemuri and Hizashi to see if that was normal. Neither of them look even slightly surprised, Hizashi giving him this loving expression before continuing with his food.

“Well, I would also be up on the fifth floor, doing paperwork for Nedzu. If you need anything, I’m not even an elevator’s trip away.” Inko has a bit of heat to her face, but that could easily be from the steam from cooking. Toshinori tries to ignore Nemuri wiggling her eyebrows at both of them, the heat suddenly getting to him too.

-

“… well, I can certainly look into setting up a more official interview. But as some of the Internships were terminated, I do have to contact their parents before promising anything.” Nedzu could, in fact, authorize his students to sit down for any such interview. But not only was it only polite, and would help plant the seeds of trust with the parents later, but he also really wanted the kids to have at least a little time to rest. Their group insomnia was bound to cause the quality of their testimonies to reduce.

“A shame, but understandable. I hope you understand that this request won’t be a request forever. We will need to talk to Midoriya about his actions that night, as soon as possible.” Miko was trying to be diplomatic, but Nedzu could finally hear the faintest of edge in her tone.

“Yes, I cannot deny you their presence. Once you’ve submitted the proper documentation, I will make them available for your questioning. After All, we must keep our wits about us if we are not to succumb to the anarchy these new villains are attempting to sow.”

Nedzu waits for Miko to gracefully back off, checking the cameras again. Toshinori has decided to try and perform penance for using all his time before the event, giving Shouta a probably still sleepless night with Hizashi at the staff apartments. Inko is last seen entering her room, hopefully polishing off the papers he’d left for her to help with or sleeping. Having Izuku under the same roof might help with that anxiety of hers, though having an official appointment with Inui might be for the best. “Of course. Our Legal Department will be in touch.”

And the children… their blanket fort might be cuter, if it wasn’t clear they all didn’t want to be alone. The couches were all grouped together, blankets and pillows dragged down to the living room into a massive pile. Izuku had one of the solo seats, with Hitoshi and Denki at his feet. Jiro had the longer couch, Katsuki and Tokoyami sharing the other sides and already sound asleep. Dark Shadow was sneaking around, correcting people’s blankets as a slightly fearful Monoma watches from next to Kendo. He and Tokoyami were katicorner, with Yaoyorozu on Kendo’s other side. Shouji and Iida formed the corners of the group, the poor bespectacled boy’s eyebrow twitching at the irregular sleep pattern. But he seemed to be sleeping nonetheless, an improvement from him sleepless on the train and texting everyone not already in the group.

Ashido and Aoyama were in the kitchen, getting a late night snack in the dark as Katsuki demands at least partial darkness to try and sleep. They had Mina’s phone’s flashlight pointed the other way, a faint light bouncing out into the dining area away from the eyes of the sleep pile. And… Oh, isn’t that interesting. He wasn’t quite expecting that from Aoyama, producing that booklet from his back pocket. He offers it to Ashido… and looks directly at Nedzu’s hidden camera, not worried about being seen, but almost challenging Nedzu with that look. Aoyama had a disturbing talent for finding his hidden cameras, and staring into them just as he switched over to them.

Nedzu chuckles to himself, switching back to the media firestorm on his hands. His students did such an excellent job, better than he could have asked, considering the variables in play. The Deflector villain disrupting communication, the Portal Villain redistributing Nomu into crowded locations, in and out of the Tower, to increase the chaos. If his students hadn’t been in danger, he might have considered sparing more of them the rod. Not to mention Nemuri, who had been in the grip of Shigaraki… no, his stores of mercy were freshly picked clean. Especially considering the Commission, still looking for someone to shift the blame onto for the utter destruction wrought.

Not to mention, nearly a dozen people had gone missing that had been reported so far. Four from the Commission inside the Tower, and another eight that might be false alarms. Nedzu desperately wanted to see a pattern, and couldn’t quite pick one out with his own tired eyes. He momentarily considered showing it to Izuku… then decided against it. Let him savor the victory a bit longer, before reminding him of the pyrrhic costs. Nedzu really wanted him to have as much of a childhood as he could afford, now that the boy was actually in a safe place.

He flicks his fingers, checking his security alerts. Two different servers had accessed files related to Izuku, one that was hopeless enough to track that Nedzu just assumed it was the Hero Commission until proven otherwise. There weren’t that many hackers running around with no allegiance; seven in the world that could beat his system, only two of which operated in Japan. Most of the others wouldn’t go sniffing around a single high school boy, even if he’d made it into the news.

“Why, Sir Nighteye, as I live and breathe. What would you want with Izuku’s files?” The other computer who’d checked the files was easy to check… and he poured himself another cup of tea, deciding a night of light sleep would be better than the sleep of the dead he was hoping for.

He begins digging to see what he’d been looking for… only to get another call. He looks, then briefly wonders if he was important enough for Torino to call in an emergency.

He picks up the phone, ready for the worst. “Yes, how can I help you today, Torino?”

“Oh, this is a social call first, Nedzu.” A minor sigh of relief, but not more than that. “I’ve just been catching up on the Tower information… and I’m wondering how big of a favor I can ask of you.”

Nedzu flicks his finger, pulling up a file Shuzenji sent him while he’d been busy with his scheming earlier this week. Amazing, what you can miss when you’re trying to stop people from taking over the World you so rightly ruled. “Ah, your new young ward? You can take the teacher out of the school…”

“Yeah, well we both know I’m as good a target as any, especially if No-Face gets persnickety. So I’ve been thinking, Toshinori doesn’t have half the teaching licenses I have, and I’ve bothered to have mine kept up to date all this time.”

Nedzu nods, looking over the girl’s file. Shuzenji barely managed to not call for the heads of her parents, but said everything she could get away with short of that; underfed, clearly a scrappy street-kid feeling, obvious paranoia. “I do have to say, for the record, that I do not run a charity. I can’t just take in every poor child that comes my way, in spite of the rumors. That out of the way, I’m sure we can iron something out. If you could offer me something equal in return; I’ve been favoring the first years quite a bit, and the older Hero Students could use a bit of attention.”

Chapter Text

Kyouka slowly chews on the idea, coming closer and closer to just coming out and saying it. She… she had to tell someone, right? Even if it was a test of Aizawa’s better to be worried over nothing than to be sitting on a terrible secret?

“God, just spit it out already.” Katsuki pops that little bubble of doubt, breezing through an English worksheet Mirko apparently didn’t give him the time to finish. Fumikage was in a similar position, his leftover work piled up and only barely started as he struggled with a chemistry assignment.

Kyouka looks around, the three of them having the table for the time being. A lot of people were doing some yoga exercises with Toshinori and Aizawa out back, the skeletal man being the beginner’s class while Aizawa led a more advanced lesson. “Um… it’s probably some sort of ‘logical ruse’ of Aizawa’s. But… he said something about Yagi a few weeks ago, about… um, ‘taking advantage of Izuku.’”

Both boys stop, slowly looking through the glass to the man. Kyouka instantly sees them going to the worst thought those words could mean, trying to square that, and walking back like she’d been doing the past day. “No way… he works for All Might… Nedzu did a background check on him. If he was… it has to be something else.”

Katsuki’s words drip with disgust for a second, Dark Shadow slowly forming and cracking its knuckles. Fumikage reaches up, grabbing his Quirk as he supplies an answer. “You’ve said Izuku was capable of much more this year since your last school year. Perhaps he was training Izuku, charging much more than market cost. There are innocent explanations… or, more innocent than that foul mire of depravity.”

“Yeah… but Aizawa said something else. That All Might might have known about… whatever training they were doing. He mentioned both of them, then he noticed I might have overheard.”

“The answer’s obvious, isn’t it?” Kyouka jumps, somehow having missed Todoroki in the kitchen. Both the boys turn to him, confusion on their faces. “All Might’s secretary and Inko both seemed very comfortable with each other last night, and no one knows All Might’s real name.”

Kyouka blinks, Katsuki looking even more confused at that. Fumikage is fully turned around, so Kyouka doesn’t see the journey he takes to come up with. “I see… ‘For brothers do not let each other wander in darkness alone’ … you believe All Might and his secretary are working together because… they and Izuku share the same blood?”

If Kyouka were in the middle of a drink, all of their assignments would have been ruined at that moment. Katsuki chokes on a rush of air, somewhere between a gasp and a laugh and a ‘HAH?’. Even Todoroki looks a little stunned, considering what just came out of Fumikage’s beak. “They’re… of course, they’re related. But… which one is Izuku’s father?”

“Neither of them, you idiots!” Katsuki stands up, and stalks towards the kitchen. “His dad disappeared eleven years ago, and he didn’t look a thing like either of them!”

Todoroki moves out of Katsuki’s way, eating one of Satou’s cookies as he does. He chews on both the conversation and the food, then comes up with another question. “Really? Then what did he look like?”

Katsuki comes back out, a plate of cookies in his hand. “He… he… he didn’t have anything like All Might’s Quirk. He had… he could…” As the blond stumbles for an answer, Todoroki seems to become just the slightest bit smug. Kyouka watches as the blond tries to remember something, but it just dangles out of his reach. His free hand clenches, his knuckles turning white as he scrambles for an answer. “I… All Might was my favorite fucking hero! You think I wouldn’t have recognized if Izuku’s fucking dad was him or his brother?”

“Not if they cut off contact, to avoid a scandal. Or, knowing Izuku’s situation…”

Todoroki cuts off, but Kyouka can’t help but let herself finish it. “Maybe they… they didn’t want to be associated with someone who was supposedly Quirkless.”

Katsuki goes numb, Dark Shadow reaching out and taking the cookies before they could fall to the ground. He slowly walks over to the table, thumping into his seat as he considers that. The cookies are placed on the table, but they might as well have been stones from the garden for all the four of them cared.

Todoroki walks over to the table, looking out at Yagi in the courtyard. Kyouka turns too, seeing that Izuku was with Aizawa’s group, positioned as far from Yagi as he possibly could.

“Perhaps we should ask Izuku about this, before acting rashly?” Fumikage tries to temper them, Dark Shadow stealing a cookie before disappearing into its space. “We do not want to act before we see if he even wants anything to come of that.”

The three of them nod, and Yagi doesn’t seem to notice the looks aimed for him. Kyouka turns to her papers, not sure if getting this off her chest has done anything good. She definitely feels worse than she did before, that’s for sure.

-

Momo takes a sip from her water, fanning her face as she rests in the shade. Running wasn’t her preferred form of exercise, but Tenya had invited her for a track day in Epsilon Training Grounds. They’d invited a few others, but they were the only takers. But the two of them running laps was relaxing, in its own way. Nothing to worry about, but keeping up with Tenya… who had definitely gone slower than usual. Not pushing himself, sticking close to her…

He rolls his neck, finishing a sip from his own water as they stand against one of the walls of Epsilon Ground. Logically, they both knew Nedzu, or anyone with a Quirk like Toru’s, might be here. And a class might show up that they just didn’t know about. “Yaoyorozu… did something happen last night?”

Momo knows better, that there are tells of hers she needs to hide. But… she didn’t expect Tenya to catch on so quickly. “I… I don’t want to talk about it.”

Tenya… nods, holding a hand up. “I understand. I am in no position to demand that information from you, and considering… Well, considering how I’ve been acting these last few weeks, it would be the height of hypocrisy. But… I want you to know that I’m here for you, when you’re ready to talk.”

And that shouldn’t have been a surprise, except that wasn’t what she expected at all. Momo considers it for a few moments… and takes a rattling breath as she leans her back against the cool stone of the wall behind her. “I… did you hear about the Stain doppelgangers that appeared near the end of the event?”

“Yes, which you expertly saw through in short order, and eliminated before it could distract the Pros…” Tenya stops, seeing the beginnings of her nervous fit emerge.

Momo almost wishes the Earth would open up to swallow her whole. It would be easier to succumb to the stone than it was to force the words out of her mouth. “I didn’t… I didn’t know it was a double.”

Tenya stands there in stunned silence, completely frozen solid. Momo turns away, feeling her stomach cramp in a painfully unfamiliar way. Not the usual manner, making the usual sensation even worse… “You… what did it feel like?”

“It felt awful… because for a few moments, there was this vindication. Then the crushing realization that I’d… the Relief that the Stain wasn’t the real one didn’t make it any better. Because everyone thinks I was just smart enough to recognize the fake, but I… I just wanted…” It becomes harder to breathe, the truth ripping its way out of her.

Tenya walks towards her… and puts a hand on her shoulder, his fingers trying to reassuringly rub a circle in the muscle. “I don’t think any less of you, Momo. I… when I found Izuku caring for Stain, I couldn’t help but think, for too long, that it would be easier to just let him lie there. It was Izuku’s desperation to save him that brought me to act otherwise. Just having dark thoughts isn’t the same as always acting on them. This Remorse you feel? That’s proof you’re a good person, unlike Stain.”

Momo almost reacts at those words, but she just files them for later. It doesn’t feel any better, the gut wrenching sense that she betrayed every ideal she wanted to uphold as a hero. But sharing with Tenya did feel slightly better, and she wraps her arms around him for just a few seconds.

Tenya clears his throat, and they slowly pull away. He reaches up to adjust his glasses… and Momo is fairly sure that blush wasn’t just heat from the run. “Um… would you like to continue our exercise, or should we return to the dorms?”

“I could do with a few more laps, if that's alright with you.” She turns, and the two of them set their water down. Tenya quickly makes his way down the track, seeming to try to move past whatever he was feeling about that hug.

-

Denki takes a step back, shaking his hands out. He was mostly fine, just a little tired from checking the last of the wiring. But this was all of the first year dorms… So was he almost done with this part of his internship?

He looks to Cementoss, who was coordinating with Ochako’s parents over the rest of the building. He was standing in the undecorated shell of the building, a few of Cementoss’s Sidekicks and employees as well as staff from his and Ochakos’ parents’ companies.

“Denki… oh, we good?” He turns, holding a thumbs up at the guy who’d been his primary minder. Muscular, bronze skin from working out in the sun most of the time, brown hair hidden under a hard hat that matched the bright yellow vest he wore. Cementoss was kind of just the guy on the paperwork, which was fine. “Cool, I’ll let the boss know. You all caught up on that chemistry make-up work?”

Denki blinks, and remembers the folder full of work he still has to do. “Ye… oops. Hey, you have my number, right?”

The guy nods, and he quickly rushes out to the front door. There was a station part way out where he left his hat and vest, shooting his parents a text before he ran off to the dorms. Hopefully, some of the others still weren’t done with their work, either. It was just always better to study when he had people around, bounce some stuff off of.

It wasn’t a far run, barely a minute at not quite a jog. Just out of sight because of a rolling hill in Yuuei’s architecture, which Denki was starting to notice more. Normally, a big place like this would be a bit more uniform, but there was something… artificially wild, maybe? Like, he could feel the hum of something, way below him, like he was walking over a subway line or a deep sewerway…

He runs up the front door, quickly moving through it and shaking his shoes off. Izuku was sitting at the dining table, a leather mat layed out under a computer. Mashirao and Sato were both working on their own work, the blond looking caught up while Sato still had a bit of work to do. “Are you guys’ still doing the Chem lesson from the week before last?”

The two doing papers shake their heads, but Izuku looks up. “I’ll help you study, Denki. I just also have a bunch of analysis to do for Nedzu, so I’ll be a little occupied.”

Denki throws both his thumbs up, and hikes up the stairs to get his stuff. He quickly slides next to Mashirao, pulling out too much work to really get done in the three days they had left. But he had to get some part of it done, so on he marches.

Izuku is more than happy to not just answer his questions, but lead him to the answers himself. He didn’t say, ‘We talked about that process in the second week of class, did you not pay attention?’, he suggested ‘Maybe page fourteen of the textbook will help you’. And it went with all his lessons, except for the art portfolio he was supposed to make. But over an afternoon, he managed to work down at least a good fifth of the pile.

“Huh…” Izuku would quietly murmur to himself, a journal in whatever code language Nedzu had him working in next to him, occasionally writing some things down. He would write a lot at once, then go typing for a long time while his eyes scanned the screen. “… Sato, have you seen Aizawa recently?”

“Um, no? I think he said he and Midnight had a teacher’s meeting, so it’s been your mom and da… Yagi.” Denki’s head flies up, a little bit of static popping audibly enough for Mashirao to flinch.

“My WHAT?” “His what?” Denki’s question is drowned out, Arashi the cat jumping from her perch on the back of the couch at the high pitched noise that comes from Izuku’s mouth. Tenya and Hitoshi turn to look their way, both struggling with their artistic expression and not totally tuned into the conversation.

Sato looks down at his sketchbook, conspicuously avoiding eye contact. “All Might’s Secretary! I didn’t say anything else!”

“Dude!” Denki turns, seeing Kyouka leaning up from her spot on the other couch. “Come On!”

“Wait, you… Kyouka, did you tell him Toshinori was my dad?” Izuku stands, pushing up on the table and leaning a bit precariously.

Hitoshi begins repressing a laugh, Tenya’s head snapping to him before returning to Kyouka. “Jiro, spreading such rumors is unbecoming of a hero student…”

She turns, not expecting a multifront war. She stumbles on her words for a second, quickly recovering when the elevator dings. “It wasn’t my idea, it was Todoroki who said it!”

The duel colored boy blinks, a conversation with Yuga and Momo apparently derailing as he gets hit with the sudden allegation. “What, Izuku being All Might's nephew? I thought you wanted to wait to talk about that?”

Izuku’s mouth opens and closes, heat crawling up his face as he considers what was happening. “I… All Might isn’t my dad! Toshinori isn’t my dad! I don’t think they’re even related! I thought you just said that to distract me at the Sports Festival!”

“Why Is Everyone SHOUTING!” Katsuki runs down the stairs… then begins looking around, putting everything together. “God Damn It… AUNTIE INKO!”

All the kid’s heads turn to the stairs, a long shadow seeming to materialize and cast over Katsuki. Inko quickly walks down the steps, Fumikage and Dark Shadow ready to fight behind her before realizing that wasn’t quite the situation. “Katsuki? What’s… is something going on?”

Everyone tries to open their mouths to explain, but Katsuki pops an explosion in his palm that quiets everyone down. He turns to Inko, waiting for her to take her hands away from her ears to talk. “Half-and-Half thinks All Might seduced you, and Izuku is his illegitimate child or something! That, or his secretly-his-brother secretary did it!”

Inko stands there for a few moments, seeming to have fully left this plane of existence. Dark Shadow carefully reaches forward, tapping on her shoulder… and Inko fully breaks down, laughing as if Ms. Joke had used her Quirk on her. She stumbles into the stairwell wall, tears streaming from her eyes as she cackles.

Denki, for his part, was thoroughly confused how she was finding this so funny. Izuku looks somewhere between mortified and concerned, slowly walking his way over with the faintest limp. “Mom?”

The elevator dings again, the man of the hour walking out with evident concern. “Inko? What is… why are all of you staring at me?”

“Wait… has anyone seen All Might and Yagi in the same room?” Denki blinks, remembering this is a very dangerous mine field the others are walking through. But, with a loud click, all the neighboring mines start arming at Tenya’s question.

“No… and Yagi has shown up to a number of events in All Might’s place, over the past few years.” Denki looks around, silently glad Monoma and Kendo were elsewhere. Because it was going to be hard enough to keep this contained to Class 1-A, or maybe even the rest of the school.

Izuku has gone completely still, as if the rest of the class’s speculations relied on movement to continue. Sadly, they did not, as Shouto finally follows his father’s wishes and adds to the fire. “Wait, are they not brothers? Then All Might is Izuku’s father?”

Toshinori, who was frozen in what can only be described as dread, comes unfrozen at that moment. “WHAT? I…”

He starts trying to explain, only for a gout of blood to come out of his mouth instead. He begins coughing terribly, falling to his knees. Inko sobers up instantly, running over to him. “Toshinori? Toshi!”

Izuku runs over, and Katsuki instantly hops the stair’s rail to run over to. Denki pushes up from his seat, running into the kitchen to fill a glass of water and paper towels. In his defense, his first thought was ‘man, always tasting blood must be awful’, and his body went from there.

He runs in as Yagi is moved into one of the sofa chairs, Hitoshi partially turning it as Katsuki and Tenya help the man over. Inko has her phone out, sending a text to someone before running over. Izuku is hovering, staying just out of touching range with a guilty look on his face before turning. Not sure if it was because he wanted to try to help All Might with his Quirk, but was barely strong enough to walk faulting over, or if it was because he indirectly led to one of the many secrets running around to be revealed so spectacularly.

Denki hands off the water, Yuga taking some of the paper towels off the roll before turning to the blood spatter on the floor with a look of distaste. The back door slides open, Hanta and Mina walking in halfway through a completely different conversation. “Hey guys, there’s a Godzilla marathon on the Monster Channel… what is going on?”

Chapter Text

Mei looks up from her design, Power Loader’s phone giving a loud ding that was detectably different from the others. He takes a step back from her desk, already a safe distance away but still adding to it, to look. He reads it quickly… then again, before letting out a loud sigh. “Hatsume, please do not test these explosive directors until I get back.”

Mei salutes him, then goes back to designing as he announces he’ll be gone for another few minutes. The entire class looks around, and waits until he closes the door before people start speaking. “Twenty-thousand yen that Cementoss needs help with building the dorms.”

“Fifty-thousand that it was something about Class 1-A.” Everyone groans at Jema, who is busy soldering two pieces of monitoring equipment meant for Kaminari. She stopped long enough for the smoke to clear away, her voice slightly muffled from the mask on her face.

“That’s not a good bet at all! We all know it’s that class!” Mia has her headset off, helping coordinate supplies for the Design Students hard at work for Class 1-B. All of the Design kids nod, not even looking up from their mountain of fabric and papers.

Mei shakes her head, then closes the sides of the grenade looking gauntlets. She wipes her hands of the built up grease, rolling her neck before sliding over to the second half of her desk. She looks over the little tracking nodes, having a little laugh to herself that she was working on Katsuki’s and Izuku’s stuff at the same time. Not for lack of interest, or even particular interest on her part; everyone else just had either personal projects, or had interest in designing for specific parts of the Hero classes. Some of them were even getting picked out at lunch by the older year students, asking for little bits of advice that were typically the start of networking and better.

And after footage of Momo using her Laser Blade baby in the Tower, Mei had been practically unable to eat without everyone wanting to talk to her. Fobbing people off on the rest of the class that pitched in had helped, but not much. Mei had so many other babies to be working on, like this one.

She smiles as she gets the last of the nodes working properly, which should help Izuku with whatever weird Quirk he had. She’d been puzzling over it for a while… and she sort of had an idea, after looking over Monoma’s folder the class was working on. Izuku had to have some level of Copy Quirk, which cloned whatever weirdness Ochako was working with, and magnified it by a factor of thousands. It was the only thing that made sense… only, then he didn’t have anything that had remotely resembled Tokoyami, so she chewed her lip as she thought it over. And he’d had to have copied something that increased his Strength before her initial tests…

Izuku was determined to be the birthday gift that kept on giving, with layer upon layer of mystery and misdirection as she dug deeper. It was just the start of May, and already she was so much more invested in this project than most of her other schoolwork… wait, did she finish that English essay yet?

“Oops.” Hoseki and Jema both dive under their desks, and a quick cascade follows them until Mei looks up. “Not that kind of oops, guys. I just remembered my English essay due tomorrow. Anyone have a spare copy of that book Present Mic assigned?”

-

Natsuo groans from the couch, his internal sense of time utterly ruined. It felt maybe late morning, but it also felt like he’d been asleep longer than two hours at most. All he knows is his phone has since recovered from the battery being totally drained, and is ringing too loudly. He numbly reaches for it, thumping the screen till it stops.

“NATSUO!” His head jerks up, Shisho’s voice now on speaker. “You mother-fucker, you cannot ghost me after shit like that! I didn’t even know if you were still alive! You’d better be, or else I will shove my foot so far up your…”

The phone switches off the speaker, and Natsuo watches as his mom picks it up. “Shisho? Yes, this is Rei. Apologies, but Natsuo’s been completely exhausted after the events of last night… I haven’t checked, but he seems to be waking up now. I’ll need to talk with him for a few minutes, then he’ll call you back.”

She waits a moment, probably for the half an apology Shisho would give, then hangs up. If it were a race to be the most put together Todoroki, Rei was kilometers ahead of them. Shouto would be in second, if purely from what had to be a criminal lack of emotional awareness, given he’d only shown up to support them and their distress. After that, Natsuo wasn’t sure if he or Fuyumi were dead last, given the different levels of breakdowns they’d had. Then there was Touya, and since one of the buildings was supposedly melted… Natsuo just tried not to think about that, his already fraying sanity only just mended to a reasonable point.

She offers his phone back, and he scrambles to his feet to take it. “I… please, I am trying here. Please don’t…”

She sighs sadly, raising her hands placatingly. “I’ve had too many years in therapy, but I’m nowhere near getting a license. And I know better than to hold someone against their will, so I won’t. But please, while the Commission is turning over every rock in our garden… please, stay here with us. Just until we figure out what we’re going to do… so I can keep you safe.”

Natsuo tries not to explode at that, clenching and unclenching his fists. “The problem isn’t just him, Mom. It’s this entire house; I can’t go five feet without something that just tries to set me off. I… I can’t stay here, Mom. I just… I need to figure this out, away from here.”

Rei nods, casting a look around just the living room that drips with the same look. It was so easy in that moment, to imagine making the whole house different. That, for a dark few seconds, he was glad the old man was gone. “I know… just please, keep in touch with me. I don’t care what it is, if something even feels slightly off, you call me.”

Natsuo nods, not needing to do more than wet his hair down in the bathroom. He then takes a peak out the front window, seeing a swarm of reporters ready to harass him. But they also meant the League of Villains weren’t probably going to attack, or would at least have a delay that would make an attack very stupid, so Fuyumi and his mom would be safe.

But he’d been forced to live in this house for seventeen years. Even two years of hard work to stay away didn’t dull his abilities to sneak out, even if most of those ways now had Hero Commission suits blocking them. Eventually, he’d run out of little breaks to sneak out of, as they spot him and find the exit he’d used to sneak a block down the street without the cameras spotting him.

He pulls the hood on his jacket up, managing to make it all the way to campus before someone recognizes him as Endeavor’s son. By then, he was already heading into his and Shisho’s dorm room, crashing into his boyfriend before he could even get around his desk chair.

“Natsuo? You…”

“No, I’m really not.” Shisho starts to ask the basic question, and he just blurts out the answer. He pulls away slightly, and after a second, his boyfriend slides his shades down from his eyes.

“Then just relax, hon. I’ll help you catch-up after you’re better, okay?” Natsuo nods, and everything numbs out. He just sinks into Shisho’s arms, the boy guiding them to the bed for at least a little while.

-

Mezou… Mezou was gone for six minutes! And now All Might was always hiding out as his own secretary? What the Yebat? And right when he found something really interesting.

Apparently, everyone else had wandered into the living room while he’d been up in his room. He’d been sure he’d heard something, which was close to driving him mad. A faint click, click-click, click, click-click-click, and it kept looping like that over and over, going louder and quieter as he waited for it.

He’d slipped out of his room… and noticed Kouji’s rabbit, sniffing at the middle of the wall between Mashirao and Hitoshi. He slowly inched forward, half worried about the bunny and whatever might be making that noise. The rabbit did spook away from him… but he’d seen it, the ever so faint split in the wall.

He’d gone downstairs to share that information, only for everyone to be screaming about how All Might and his secretary were the same person. He’d just stood there silently, everyone slowly losing what little cohesion they could claim before Inko called them all to attention. “Okay, everyone! Please, just give us a minute, Aizawa is already on his way to explain all of this.”

Mezou can’t really make sense of what everyone was saying, side conversations flying that his stunned silence was a little too distracted to try and pick up. He can’t help but lock onto Yagi, who seemed to be trying to sink into the chair he’d taken and fall into a deep crevice in the Earth.

“HEEEEY!” Katsuki barks over everyone, doing a bit of a better job of being class president than the frozen Izuku… and, considering his mom was somehow implicated in this, maybe that was for the better. Everyone stops talking as he shouts, turning to him as he holds the command until there is otherwise perfect silence. “Everyone, line the fuck up! Age, height, favorite color in rainbow order. I don’t give a fuck!”

Everyone looks at him, Tenya raising a hand to admonish the language. But Mina and Yuga share a look, then rush forward to start a line in front of All Might/Yagi. Kyouka realizes this, and tries to hop up, Hitoshi reluctantly getting her up to help. Tenya turns, and probably tries to pivot into a lecture about running in the dorms.

But everyone is already moving, leaving only him and Izuku out of the sudden line. Even Mezou is now in line, at least a little less confused than he was a few seconds ago.

Katsuki nods, marching over to Yagi. He stares at the man for a few seconds, then crosses his arms. “Do you want us to start asking questions now, or after Aizawa gets here?”

Mezou sees the man sip the water someone had gotten him, a visible bloody backwash filling it. “I… I never meant to put any of you in danger. It’s… it’s a very complicated story.”

Mina blinks, then raises her hand from the front of the line. “Wait, what? Everyone was joking that you were cursed or something… are you cursed?”

Yagi actually manages a little laugh at that question, a hand reaching up to his side. His white button up contrasts against what had to be a horrible wound on his side, which was somehow not healed after god knows how long. Since the USJ? “Not in the traditional sense, no. But I do have… there were complications, in my employment here. Not the least of which are now, seemingly, connected to the League of Villains.”

That causes everyone to begin whispering to themselves, which Mezou can not make sense of. Everyone’s talking back and forth as Mina whispers something into Yuga’s ear, who shakes his head and whispers back. She goes to Hanta next, who nods at whatever her question is before she passes to the back of the line.

Yuga looks back, waiting for the side conversations to finish before he continues. “Did your Quirk cause that injury on your side, or did a villain do it?”

Yagi seems to consider that question, Inko walking over and putting a hand on his shoulder. “I… It’s been years since this happened to me. But I remember it like it was yesterday; the daily pain is a very thorough teacher. Nedzu and Recovery Girl have known since the incident, and have been trying to help me keep up my Hero work. The villain who did this… he wouldn’t be known to the general public. Unlike Stain, or the League that’s appeared around him, he’s maintained a lack of presence.”

Yuga looks at the wound for a moment, then slowly steps back. Hanta was next, and he looked up at Inko. “How long have you known? Or the rest of the staff?”

“They’ve known since the start of the school year, unless they figured it out themselves sooner. Inko… she learned this after the USJ incident, I suspect because of Izuku.” So far, he sounds truthful, from what Mezou can tell. No one else seems to sniff out a lie, or is holding that card close to their chest.

Hanta starts to move back, Tenya raising his hand, when Katsuki interrupts. “Why not tell us? What, did you think we were going to blab about it?”

Yagi looks at the boy, and Inko raises an eyebrow and puts a hand on her hip. “Considering Todoroki had a slight inkling, and that ballooned into all fifteen of you knowing after one half comment taken out of context, I’d say that was a fair concern. Also, there’s a Hacker Villain out there, so any electronic communications could be dangerous.”

Mezou nods, her cutting words making sense. A few people shuffle awkwardly, with Rikidou looking at the ground and shuffling his feet.

“It was still wrong.” Inko looks down, Yagi draining the glass before looking at them. “I believed that… that with my identity kept a secret, that I might afford you all some protection. That if I excluded you, you might be safe from the peril of the League. But I see now that that was wrong; I was protecting my ego, not your innocence. You all were put into further danger, and I cannot apologize enough.”

-

Izuku just… he tries to quietly stand there, wondering how much of the secret is going to collapse inward. He’s not sure how much All Might was about to lay out, but he felt something stirring in him. Maybe the remnants of the Other Users, equally nervous about how much of their secret was about to come to light.

He couldn’t tell who wanted to get pitchforks and torches, and who was willing to accept this. Whisper seems to refuse his instinctual tugs on it, and there’s a weird lack where he didn’t notice he had started relying on it to read people. The few tells he had come to rely on were nowhere to be found, everyone too shocked and acting out of their usual pattern.

Aizawa storms through the door, cutting off Tenya’s question yet again. “Alright, what… Fuck.”

He swears in English, hoping they wouldn’t recognize the word. Sadly, that was one word Present Mic didn’t need to teach them for them to know front and back. Especially Tenya, who’s indignation of being talked over reaches critical mass. “SIR, that language is completely inappropriate!”

Aizawa sighs heavily, walking in towards the two adults in the room. “I swear, I leave any three of you alone for longer than five minutes… What Happened?”

Everyone stays silent, and Aizawa slowly looks around to fish for the weakest link. His eyes lock on Hitoshi, who looks around and offers a shrug. “I was just trying to finish one of Midnight’s assignments, then Izuku started making that noise he makes when he’s super embarrassed, and everyone started coming in and piling on.”

Aizawa locks onto him next, and Izuku can see a little bit of calculation there. A look of ‘Oh, how did Izuku screw up this ti…’ No, he wasn’t like that. After more than a month, none of them had ever said anything about wanting him to give up the Quirk. Aizawa had offered to shoulder the burden… but they believed in him. So he had to believe in them.

“Sato said something about Toshinori being Izuku’s dad, Kyouka called him out like he’d snitched, Izuku said Shouto’s been suspecting this since the Sports Festival, Midoriya almost died of laughter while Katsuki was super confused, Toshinori almost died from coughing up blood.” Denki rattles off events, summarizing things pretty cleanly. He counts off his fingers, then looks around for anyone to add to it.

“Kaminari speaks the truth, casting a light over this dark banquet of madness.” Fumikage speaks up, everyone nodding as a sense of order settles over everything.

“Sure, but ‘Toshinori’ was still being really vague. And you said that All Might ‘chose’ Izuku for something because he was…” Kyouka stops, everyone not in the know turning to her in confusion. Izuku briefly notes that it doesn't include Katsuki, Fumikage, Shouto, or Rikidou… but then his brain is overloaded with pure WHAT!

Izuku looks over to his mom as people look at him, Inko turns to Toshinori, an aghast look on her face. Toshinori raises his hands, the group out of the know turning to him. “Hang on, wait a moment. I feel like something has been taken horribly out of context.”

“OKAY!” Aizawa loudly claps his hands, locking onto someone to erase their Quirk to make his hair stand up on end. Everyone goes still, waiting for him to blink before he continues speaking. “Jiro, the conversation you overheard had nothing to do with anything REMOTELY resembling exploitation of that nature. Toshinori trained Izuku before he graduated from his and Katsuki’s shared school last year, and pushed him beyond what Recovery Girl and most of the staff would have considered healthy, all with the hope to reach the Hero Course with his destructive Quirk. And if you thought that sort of relationship was at play, and you couldn’t talk to me, I have failed you as an authority figure. All Might hasn’t done anything of that nature, or Nedzu would have found it, because I think we can all agree Nedzu is leagues smarter than him.”

“‘Leagues’ feels like a stretch.” The back of Inko’s hand taps his forehead before Toshinori can blink, leaning back in the chair. He drops the water glass, which she catches with her Quirk without batting an eyelash before turning to Aizawa. And everyone takes a breath, for a second the ground becomes stable under Izuku’s feet as he watches the world slow from the chaotic spinning around him.

Right up until Katsuki breaks that silence. “Why should we believe any of that? Clearly, you’re not above lying to us if you think it’s ‘for our own good’.”

“Adults lie, all the time.” Shouto’s words add a weight Katsuki’s didn’t… and Izuku feels this pressure, like a shove to the back.

“Because I didn’t want you all knowing that.” Everyone turns on him, all the adults shooting him identical looks of ‘what are you doing?’ But the die has been cast, and Izuku pushes forward, not expecting to tell so much of a truth in this lie. “Because I had to work so hard, push myself to my breaking point, again and again, just to get even with all of you. I’ve known about my Quirk for a year, and I knew that I would have to work so much harder to be anywhere on your levels. I didn’t want special treatment… but if I didn’t train like that, like every training session might be the difference between me getting into this school and failing, I might not have survived my Quirk. I owe All Might so much… That's what Aizawa was talking about.”

Every word he spoke was the truth. If Naomasa had been suspicious of him, he wouldn’t have had a single thing trigger his Quirk. If anyone was reading his body language like Mina, or his heartbeat like Kyouka, or his body temperature like Shouto, they couldn’t have picked a single inkling of falsehood from that.

Because now, he was ready. The League of Villains had gone from working with Stain to betraying him after getting Endeavor for their experiments. All of them, who were now standing in their way… Izuku wouldn’t let any of them get hurt. None of his classmates, his teachers, the other Yuuei students…

One for All crackles to life across his skin, everyone taking a step back as he slips partially off the ground. Just a few inches, bobbing slightly. He looks at Katsuki, who has the faintest hint of a smug grin on his face as their eyes meet. “This time last year, I would have split like a watermelon, wrapped in rubber bands. Now, I can be a Hero, just like all of you. They trust me to be a hero… do you?”

Katsuki starts to laugh… then something hits him, in the upper arm. Izuku blinks, looking down to see… something… shiny…

-

The Vestiges watch as Izuku falls into the ground, and a quiver runs down all their spines as Recovery Girl racks the bolt on her rifle open. She couldn’t see them, but all of them could see the quiet rage as she stalked into the dorms, followed by Nedzu. “When he wakes up, tell him that was a nice speech. But I warned him! If I give any of you medical orders, remember this moment before defying them!”

Nedzu puts a paw on the body of the rifle, all the students debating ducking behind cover before nodding. “Good. Now, while Izuku was slightly more in on that secret, we all have some things to discuss. Please, have a seat.”

Nana leans back as everything fades to black, Izuku’s vision going under from the sedative. “Well… she’s certainly gotten along fine.”

Shiso nods, his respect for the woman growing with every interaction. “Finally, a medical professional with some sense.”

Iyusa crosses her arms, her tongue tracing the inside of her teeth before speaking. “I said I was sorry! I didn’t think Izuku would try to go further than just stabilizing him…”

“Have you seen this kid? If he was any more of a bleeding heart, he’d be exsanguinated!” Daigoro raises a good point, his arm shaking as he holds a pulsing black orb in his seat. It looked like someone had steadily been dropping black licorice between the seats at a movie theater, until the collected mass slowly gained consciousness and a desire for freedom, which was being denied by his efforts. “Fuck… I’m not sure if I can hold this thing back much longer.”

Toshinori moves next to him, adding an elbow to the effort of restraining Daigoro’s Quirk. “He’s barely passing eight percent, and yours is easily the most destructive on its own. We have to hold it… at least for a little longer.”

Yoichi contemplates away from the others, looking up at what should be the two indistinct shades. But details were slowly fading in, enough to make out that the two women were busy watching the show without much comment. “Any problems with yours?”

They both shake their heads, looking back at Daigoro. Second speaks for them, the sound a wisp on the metaphorical wind. “No, we should be able to hold things for a while longer. So long as we don’t get distracted…”

“No, we wouldn’t want that.” All the Vestiges turn, a familiar voice pushing its way into their space. Their eyes meet a featureless plane, only a smirk with perfectly shiny teeth to break up the bruised flesh. “It’s been too long… let’s have some fun, brother dear.”

Chapter Text

“GET OUT!” There’s a wave of power from them that tries to force him back. But it’s lesser, somehow. Clearly, they’re preoccupied with other tasks, like keeping their additional Quirks from ripping the poor whelp apart from the inside. That, or they haven’t quite gotten used to mental intrusions.

But All for One is not a fool, nor is this his first mental invasion. Sure, he doesn’t make a habit of it, and it’s been a few years since giving Hana that Quirk. But he does have more experience by volume, which is enough to withstand their efforts. “If you weren’t such an annoyance, I’d almost call that effort adorable. Like a bag of cats, thrown from a high bridge into the waters below.”

Yoichi stands, slowly walking over. “Brother, still as wicked as ever. What was the Tower incident supposed to do, again? Because if you were looking for a new meat suit, Endeavor was one of the worse choices you could have chosen.”

“I disagree. A strong Quirk, meant to help him control strong energy spikes, and years of training? Nearly perfect; once his will is broken, he will be the perfect form for me to take for the world to fear me.” He brings fingers up to his mouth, covering a cackle that he can’t help but let out. The others all flinch… except for his weak little brother, who’s determinedly standing his ground.

So weak in the real world… but All for One grits his teeth as Yoichi pushes just a little harder, and clearly has the force to make him leave if he tries. “Yes, a man who everyone knows is rotten, whose corruption will slowly seep out and eat him from the inside out. No one would spare a glass of water if he was dying of thirst. Doomed to never have someone walk with him willingly; A Demon King, with Cunning Devils looking to take his crown.”

“Be silent!” All for One pushes back, and the theater facade shatters under his power. Too many different places play across the pieces of glass, vistas connecting in ways that should drive the regular mind mad to behold. But his was no ordinary mind, and he shoves the shards away, the vestiges screaming and trying to help force him out. Ignoring valleys and mountains, a dark forest, the deep ocean, a burning volcano, he searches… ah, the boy’s middle school. And there he was, walking through a hall of shades towards him…

Midoriya blinks, seeing him and halting his approach. He blinks, seemingly unable to decide if this was a terrible dream or not. “You… you’re not supposed to be here.”

All for One can’t help but laugh, the manifestation distorting at the sound. Flashes of broken buildings, sparks and screams fill the space, and the faceless shades fade away as the school facade returns. Leaving nothing between him and the boy. “Oh, you thought you were the only one collecting additional Quirks? No; I was looking for something that might allow us to talk, little Izuku.”

The boy takes a few steps back, shaking his head. “Wake up, wake up…”

All for One waits, then chuckles at the nauseating feeling that whirls through him. “Oh, you’re on something quite strong, now. Your body won’t filter that out for a few hours… plenty of time for what I have to do here. Appropriate, considering this is a school; I have a lesson for you, boy.”

The Midoriya boy tries to run, the shades opening up spaces for him to run to and trying to shut him out. It was adorable; they had very little energy they could use, with his access to the Quirk cut off by whatever brand of tranquilizers he was on. Even the shades’ collected will could only make the space unwieldy, the connection jolting like a rope bridge in a heavy storm. It gave the space a level of unevenness, which he wasn’t equipped to fight through so far from the boy.

But he seems to be unaware of the vistas he was traveling through, nightmares the others his brother’s Bastard Quirk have experienced through the decades. Midoriya’s pauses at the horrors help him close the distance, the boy trying to force the vistas into something familiar to him to try and add to the gap.

But that clarity affects them both, and All for One finally has the chance to lash out. The tendril shoots through the boy’s palm, the Fifth’s memories of being crucified racing through his arm. He screams, trying to jerk away. But memories of Yoichi’s crushed ankle stop that, forcing the miserable cretin to his knees.

All for One walks up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Now, what to do with you? I could burn you to death, like I did the Second… or drown you, like the Fourth. Oh, how fun that was; her Quirk kept trying to revive her, even as I held her under the water.”

“Why?” The poor boy is reduced to tears, but still seems to think he is worthy of speaking to him. Like this pain, which had been his predecessor’s last sensations, were nothing to him.

All for One bats him across the face, the sensation only mildly satisfying. “I want to be feared, Midoriya. Not just as a purse snatcher, or even as Shigaraki wants to be, as the cackling devil on a mound of ashes. No, all must know my name and quake in fear; the Lord of Demons, whose name is not even whispered out of fear.”

The Midoriya brat, in some unexpected bravato, raises his eyebrow in confusion. “But, you already are? Every Hero and Civilian who knows about you is afraid already, and the ones who don’t know about you know someone’s leading the League of Villains…”

“They do not fear me enough! They still think they can hold me back, delay me, make a fool of me!” The connection seems to fuzz out, details going awash… he tunes in, only to find they’re in the Nomu factory. Too many of the tubes are full, fresh victims of little value left to be collected, and disposed of. “No, not now…”

Midoriya looks around, and that horror vindicates him slightly. The people in the pods, and the Nomu that had survived, all begin thrashing and looking towards him. “These… wait, you kill people to make Nomu?”

“Yes; most do not survive the experimentations, sadly. But we march on…”

“You strip them of their minds… so they can’t be afraid of you?” The boy sounds confused, and All for One opens his mouth to correct him…

But for a terrible second, the rebuttal doesn’t form. The boy… he must be interfering with his mind, through the connection. “No… no, they still fear me…”

“Why would they? They’re already dead, and most of the Nomu don’t seem to feel anything. They follow your orders, but that’s not the same as fearing you.” The Nomus in their pods turn on him now, eyes glowing menacingly as the glass of the displays begins to crack.

“No… the League fears my wrath! All who witness them know what I am capable of! They hope, pray to an uncaring God, that I will not come for them…”

The boy pulls out of his grasp, the pods shaking and rattling. He looks around, the connection destabilizing quicker than he thought. “It doesn’t look like these things are afraid. All They Know… Is RAGE.”

The connection breaks, and his carefully controlled Choir tries to rebel against him. He’s thrust back into his own body, the monitors summoning the doctor as he tries to rein his control of his collected Quirks. It was unpleasant, but he was adept in the process by now. The Doctor had hardly arrived when he took his deep breath, shackling his Choir back into place. “The Trigger proved necessary. The boy’s mind… the connection was not as strong as theorized. Even on strong medication, his mind proved resistant to invasion. After the invasion, the connection did hold, through more effort than expected.”

The Doctor nods, quickly taking notes. “Of course you were capable of overcoming him. Though… Well, I pulled a little string to get a look at Stain’s medical record. And his recovery… It was remarkable. The boy made excellent use of the healing Quirk the Fourth added to it.”

All for One raises an eyebrow, the Doctor’s tone being more than a surprise. “Really? Not surprising, given how damaging that power has become. The Third dying in a hospital might have been the best choice that line ever made. A shame, we didn’t take it out before that could happen.”

“Yes… well, I only mention it because that might prove a useful bit of information. All Might is hiding it, but he was severely injured the last time we met. Should we deal another blow like that, it might prove quite the opportunity to lead the boy out. And the Crown is being developed by his Old Flame, David Shield…”

All for One takes a moment, then begin to chuckle darkly as he sees the line the Doctor was leading him to. “Garaki, you continue to delight. Yes, let’s see what the boy is capable of. After all, this body is only so long for this world… How long on Endeavor’s conditioning?”

The Doctor stops, his joy sapping quickly. “Ah… yes. Well, he seems to be resisting the usual coercive means we use, and his prime condition is also an impediment to the chemicals we use. If I were to focus solely on that project, allow the other Nomus to deteriorate… Even then, it would take months of work. We might have to wait until early July before we achieve perfect conditioning.”

All for One sighs, holding a hand up as if he was looking at his nails. “Oh, very well. I’ve had this body for almost seventeen years… or is it eighteen? Either way, a few more months wouldn’t be the end of me.”

-

Touya sits there, in his room, wondering where the night went wrong. He looks at the pack of cigarettes on his bedside table, then back down to his twitching hands. He… he was getting exactly what he wanted, he should feel good about it. And he does; there’s some dark satisfaction, coiling in his chest. And he doesn’t know what to do with it; he has this dark, evil thing inside him that’s glad that his father is suffering.

He could ask to see the process, if he wanted to. All for One, in his melodramatic supervillain style, would bring him behind the curtain and see the Wizard in all his glory. But when he thought about doing that, he also felt sick at what he might see. It was like being in the middle of a floating platform, where any one step would send him hurtling to the ground. Forwards, backwards, to the side…

There’s a knock on the door, Jin slowly peeking in. “Hey, you mind if I sneak in?”

Touya nods, the blond slowly walking over. He sits down right next to him, looking at him for a second. “I… you really deserve better than me, probably.”

“Nah, not happening.” Jin reaches for his hand, smiling when Touya finally looks him in the face. “You’re better than I deserve, anyways. Plus, you’ve got all that Todoroki money to marry into.”

Touya can’t help but smile a little bit at that, the laughter dying in his chest. “Maybe. Only if Midoriya went and got my death undone. I think she’ll demand a lion’s share of the cut, if she’s smart.”

“Nah; she’s too nice, even when she’s being schemier than Hana. Oh, speaking of…” Jin pulls out a phone, which he offers to Touya.

He sighs, opening the thing up. It was one of Hana’s spares, which Jin held onto whenever they needed a clone of her running around. And it had a little checklist, which was maybe halfway done by now, which Hana couldn’t know a thing about. “I thought her clones weren’t affected by the Mind Control thing. Why can’t we just make a copy of her that can do all of this?”

“Not sure. Something, something, ‘crossing the streams’. She’d see what the copies are doing, and the Control would force her to stop it and tattle. Plausible Deniability.” Touya sighs, pulling out his own phone to dial the number copied out. He waits a second, the number going to voicemail like the note said.

“Yeah, this is League Genetic Experiments. I need another order of… ‘QEA-T 115-65’, and an order of ‘QE_B 125-65’. Call us back at this number to finalize the deal.” Touya waits a second, then hangs up. He takes a breath, and turns the thing’s ringer on. Based on what happened last time, they should get back to them before too long… hopefully, that second product wasn’t just them trying to sucker idiots into buying useless product.

-

Setsuno was not, by the standards of the Shie Hassaikai, a normal man. He has gladly done many a terrible thing, many a disturbing thing, if it advanced their goals. But what they were learning, from both their spies in the Commission and from the general public’s urge to know… it was impressive. “None of our operatives were among the missing, and the damage, though focused, was severe. There is an uptick in businesses inquiring about Quirk dampening tools and medications… and our Quirk destroying research.”

Setsuno was standing in a darkly lit office, reading from a report he quickly set on a beautiful mahogany desk. He takes a step back, folding his gloved fingers together as he waits for his boss’s answer. He tries to control his breathing, the pointed beak mask almost quivering on his face.

The brunette man takes the pages, flipping through the selection with interest. His own plague mask has several noises coming from it, several air filters distorting his voice. “Good… how long until we have a product that is stable after forty-eight hours?”

“Page five states early June, at best, Sir. Unless we greatly expanded our outreach, and doubled our funding to that project, we simply do not have the facilities to increase our speed. That… or found someone else with Quirk nullifying abilities that could expand our studies.”

Setsuno doesn’t do more than blandly say the last bit, having heard it mentioned again and again in the labs before being discarded. It also wasn’t included in the report, even though that was crucial information for the boss to have. Oh, he can feel a new wave of rage swell in his chest, the insubordinate…

“Calm yourself, Toya.” It wasn’t friendly advice, but an order that was expected to be followed. Setsuno attempts to reign in his anger, waiting for the other orders. “Tell Chronostatus to pursue negotiations on formula releases. If nothing else, the weaker Quirk dampening agents might prove fruitful, under someone else’s hands. And this League of Villains… have they reached out for a second meeting?”

“Not yet, but…”

“Good. If they intend to honor our exclusivity agreement on Trigger, I want to know the second they call us… their sickness, and their urge to spread it, must be dealt with.”

Setsuno’s rage is sublimated with excitement, and he eagerly nods his head. “If they call us a third time, you will know…”

“Third time?” Setsuno blinks, his boss’s surprised tone coming from nowhere.

“Yes. They already ordered a second set of supplies, including an order of Quirk canceling bullets.” Kai’s eyes narrow, and he reaches for a folder where he keeps a record of everyone who gets supplies of their items. Nothing a hacker could get into, and something he’d notice someone else accessing the instant his eyes passed over it. He flips to the back of the list… and huffs a little breath.

“Evidently, they have someone who’s Quirk is worth erasing… Considering their use of Trigger, I can only imagine they intend to use these against heroes. Go tell Mimic to prepare for this order, honorably.” Setsuno nods, rushing out of the room and reaching for his phone. The boss must have a plan, letting this little League have use of their best secret weapon… but he knew better than Setsuno. So he walks through the base, eager to carry out his orders.

-

Chizome silently glares at the Hero Comission woman, who adjusts her glasses as she studies him. She has used her Quirk repeatedly to stomp out all the emotion he had, an exhausted sigh escaping every few questions he fails to answer. But he had much more willpower than they expected, given the long hours he’d managed to count off in this windowless hospital room.

His arms were cuffed to the bed, a needle slowly feeding the bare minimum nutrients into him without a hint of painkillers that he could detect. His injuries had somehow recovered well past the point they should have, as something of a self-taught expert in blade wounds, but that didn’t make the whole process hurt any less. Not that any of these people cared; until he gave them what they wanted, he could wither and die in these sheets.

The door opens, Chizome ignoring the young blond with the red wings that walks into the room. Outside the facsimile of a hospital room was some hallway or another, lit with the same harsh fluorescent bulbs as the one hanging over the two of them. He carried a freshly charged tablet, marking the second of three four hour shifts this day. “Anything we can use yet?”

The woman shakes her head, answering the question the man already had the information to. His every heartbeat was being recorded by the medical equipment, his every twitch recorded from at least three directions. “Sadly, it appears he will die defending the League of Villain’s secrets.”

Chizome lets out a little chuckle, the two turning on him. His mouth has gone so dry from being denied water these past few days, his lips actually manage to wet his tongue as it snakes out. His voice is raspy and almost unrecognizable, the two of them both letting out an involuntary shudder as he finally speaks. “I’ll answer him.”

The Fake, Hawks if his memory hasn’t gone, turns to him with a self-serving smirk. “And why, if I may ask, have you spurned my Co-Workers so much? Or was our Rooftop Rendezvous worth a private audience?”

Chizome lets his face fall into a neutral mask, his emotions still quashed by the woman’s stifling presence. “To Gloat, naturally. You’re the new Symbol of everything a Hero shouldn’t be, right behind the man you failed to save…”

A sharpened feather embeds itself in the wall behind his head, a faint trickle of blood running down the side of his head. Hawk’s face has quickly morphed into an enraged expression, glaring at him with flared eyes. “Miko, leave the room.”

The woman looks at the man, an eyebrow raising in the first attempt at expression Chizome’s seen over the weekend. “Hawks, that’s…”

“Leave. The. Room.” Hawks slowly begins walking over… and Chizome almost smiles again. He sees something familiar, in this boy’s eyes. He’s seen it every time he’s looked into a mirror, and most especially in another young blond that’s passed through his life recently.

“Do what the Hero says, now. You never know what might make him stop asking.” The woman lingers for a few seconds, leaving as the feathered boy continues to glare at him with murder in his heart. And growing anger when Chizome doesn’t flinch or frighten, instead seeming to relax under his gaze.

Several feathers begin to float in the air around him, the boy clearly putting him through several scenarios more agonizing than simply wasting away. “And why are you willing to talk now, but not before? Why just me?”

“Because by now, it’s too late to save Him.” A feather darts to his throat, Chizome holding the boy’s gaze the entire time he feels cold red running in a thin line down his throat. “Even if you do find him… he won’t be in much of a position to dilute the name of Hero, anymore. Not after the Doctor is done with him, from how eager he sounded.”

The feathers all quake in the air, the boy’s face unmistakably flexing as he sprinkles out little grains of truth for him to follow. “Doctor? What… what are you doing to him?”

“They are going to make him a weapon. They wanted to use me to get him, and they tried to get rid of me once I served that purpose… like Moonfish had, I believe.” He shifts back in the bed with a miniscule gritting of his teeth, the feather that had been at his throat hanging in the air as the boy measures his words.

A few feathers at the edge float to the ground, the boy’s concentration clearly elsewhere. “Moonfish… he’s been gone for less than a month. Even severely tampered with Trigger… it wouldn’t mutate someone that far.”

“On its own, probably not. But besides having direct communication with the source, the Doctor has an entire regiment he puts those Nomu through.” Chizome hears several sets of boots and heels outside in the hallway, people either rapidly approaching or fleeing at his declaration. He couldn’t tell, nor did he want to. What did he care if some roaches were scuttling about?

Hawks reaches up to his ear, clearly being fed lines to… he pulls the earpiece out, shoving it into a pocket as Chizome watches him. “You… why choose me? Huh? Why wait three days, when telling us this earlier could have saved him?”

“Because you, and the rest of the Commission, all smear the name of Hero. With your Public Relations, with your Sponsorships... and because you like Him. You’d have been first in line to save Him, blind to the filth he really is.” Chizome lets out a dry raspy laugh, the boy’s face morphing into rage again. “Because you could have saved him… but you just had to stop the League of Villains. You had to catch me, be the Hero for all the camera’s below…”

The door quickly opens, a dark skinned woman quickly walking in. She places a furred hand on Hawk’s shoulder, some sort of bunny ear flopping in between their connected eyes. “Keigo, that’s enough…”

“Keigo… Chizome Akiguro.” The woman turns, and Chizome sees the same brash arrogance on this woman’s face that Hawks had used as a mask. But he keeps his eyes on the boy, continuing to ignore the quivering feathers ready to spear him from tip to toe. “I offer you one warning, one time only. The League isn’t all one piece, like it wants you to think. Some of them share my goals, of weeding out the Fake Heroes, meaning I could work with them. The rest… can you do a better job of protecting a Higher Ranked Hero, when the Man you Failed to Save is trying to kill you both?”

The feathers go still, and quickly return to their owner. Hawks holds the glare at him, his fists crinkling his leather gloves as the woman moves to keep him from lunging at the still immobile Chizome. “So All Might is your next target.”

Chizome rolls his eyes, sighing heavily. “Their target, Boy. All Might’s the only real Hero left… except for that green haired boy. The one who stood taller than you could ever hope to fly. Hardly started school, but already magnitudes more heroic than you’ll ever be. They have their sights on him, by now… that Petulant Child they listen too will want to make him pay for standing up to him.”

The two Fakes trade looks, Hawks finally breaking their locked gazes. The two then walk out of the room, the woman turning to look at him. She walks out, and whistles before disappearing down the hallway.

The woman from before walks in, a bottle of water in her hand. She walks over, folding out a side table that she places the water on. She then retakes her seat, tapping on the tablet to get the electronic handcuff on his free arm to release.

Chizome raises an eyebrow, then reaches over to take the water. The woman lets him drain the bottle, waiting for him to set the thing down before pressing the screen again. The cuff has some magnet in it, Chizome’s arm quickly getting jerked back to join the half on the bed. He takes a long breath, and settles in for however long they intend to chase down those leads.

Hopefully, long enough to find and cut the League of Villains down to size. Hopefully, to borrow something Tomura would understand, he dialed the Difficulty of this Game enough to end it.

-

Iguchi finishes scrubbing the floors of the old man’s place, the whole thing almost looking like new tile at this point. It might also be a bit lower to the ground, with the amount of dirt he’d finally scrubbed free after only giving it half the effort before.

Well, he didn’t care that much about the cleaning. Sure, Torino paid him better than most jobs he could get these days, and that was definitely a motivator. But he also had worries he wanted out of his head, and that meant all the dirt in this place had its days numbered as he worked. This place probably hadn’t been this clean when Torino had bought the place, and it took a pretty portion of his money to get the chemicals that did that.

The front door opens, Torino coming back from wherever he was these days, and stops in the doorway. “Good grief, kid. Did you kill someone in here, and need to get rid of the evidence? This place didn’t look this good when I bought it.”

Iguchi turns, quickly standing. He scrubs some remaining soap off his scaled hands, looking at his work before turning around. “Had a lot on my mind today. I sort of have a favor to ask, actually.”

Torino nods, bringing in a paper bag of probably food to put in the refrigerator. “Sure thing, kid. Plenty of things to talk about, from my end, too. Actually, it’s a good thing you already cleaned this place out. Sort of has to do with this place…”

Iguchi goes still, knowing that leading tone. Happened with the last three places he’d been staying… including his current place. Torino couldn’t know, because he’d started moving his stuff into the last empty room on the second floor, trying to do it a bag or two at a time. He turns, grabbing his spray bottle and rags and walking into the kitchen. “How about you go first, then. Might make my thing easier to talk about.”

“Good… how would you prefer a real job?” Iguchi stops, the blunt offer making him go still. He slowly turns, waiting to see where the old man was going with this. “I’ve been given an offer to teach the Third years in Yuuei, plus one of Nedzu’s swanky on site apartments. I told him the offer was good, but I have two good kids I need to worry about first… and he was willing to meet me partway. A job for you, and a program for Toga, if she wants it.”

Iguchi’s whole body goes still. He’s not sure if he’s breathing or not, his head going a little fuzzy from the lack of air. Had… had he poisoned himself, with all the chemicals? Was he hallucinating? “Why… Why would you do something like that for me?”

Torino raises an eyebrow, but if he feels any pity, he’s doing a good job of hiding it. “Because you’ve had a harder life than most people my age can try and claim, even the Heroes. But you still pass out what good luck you get, like helping Toga when she needed it. You’re more of a hero than some Pro’s I could mention… like what you two were talking about the other day, with Stain.”

Iguchi tries to deny that, no matter how much of a lie it would be. That’s what cost him the place before last; just a little side comment, and suddenly he had a week to find a new place. “No… it’s not like that…”

“No, it really is. Not all Heroes are good people, not all good people are Heroes. I’m not making you take the job, but it’s there if you want it.” Iguchi nods… then looks over to the stairs to the second floor. He couldn’t have said when Toga came down, but she was watching like an alley cat cornered by two growling dogs, eying the door.

“And you said Toga would get something, if she wanted it?” Torino doesn’t seem to notice her, and she stops when that cuts through her panic. Probably for the better, if he kept talking without knowing that she was there; whatever it was, she’d see through a good sounding lie and book it.

“Recovery Girl came by a while ago, found that she never got the Quirk Counseling she needed. Apparently, Yuuei has a few grants each year set aside for students with different academic needs, which are still unclaimed. She could go to the school, or just stay somewhere safe while she learns how to use her Quirk safely and get the right amount of food.”

Toga slowly considers the offer, then slowly pads her way down the rest of the stairs. Torino’s eyebrow twitches like he hears it, but keeps looking at him while he waits for a decision. “I… what job would I have? Am I just going to be the janitor, or something?”

The corner of Torino’s mouth perks up, before he nods. “Apparently, one of the Support Course students has a bad habit of testing denotation devices when she shouldn’t be. A little dangerous to clean up, with jagged or hot metal, for someone with normal skin. Someone with a Quirk that gives them scales…”

Iguchi runs his tongue along his teeth, feeling this offer was the trap to end all traps. There had to be a catch… but the thing was, it was kind of everything he wanted. “How long do I have to decide?”

Torino looks down at his watch, Toga slowly sneaking up to the grocery bag. She slips an apple out of it, pocketting it before picking it up and walking to the refrigerator. “Job’s available as long as you want it, really. But I’m planning on being done with this place before Wednesday. Nedzu already had someone interested in the property… oh, didn’t you have something to say?”

“Yeah… my last place kicked me out. So I don’t really have the choice to say no.” There’s a flash of regret, over the man’s face. But he buried it, or didn’t feel it that long at all. He felt good about himself, making Iguchi his fucking charity case, his good deed for the week… but even if it had been a choice, he probably would have said yes. It wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to him.

Chapter Text

This was maybe the worst thing that could have happened to Mashirao, maybe at all. Have a bunch of probably criminals see his face on Live Tv? Maybe they wouldn’t recognize him, or he’d just never know. A Stain clone attacking him during the second villain attack of the year? He’d disassociated enough to make it through that. The former Number Two Hero being kidnapped by the group of villains that have been terrorizing them since the start of the school year? He was… fine… perfectly fine, with all of that. Learning that All Might was the target of some terrible villain, who’d almost definitely coordinated two of the worst moments in Mashirao’s life?

Okay, that last bit had all of them rattled. The nineteen students in the dorms, now including Tenya’s after a long phone call that had included him crying and confessing something that Mashirao could just hear through a wall, were all rolling with it with only minimal breakdowns. The adults had to know all of them weren’t really doing okay, cause everyone could tell that everyone else really needed to focus on something else for the day.

But it was lunch on Monday, with Tsui having been pulled out of their homeroom to have that talk, and now everyone was trying to just… move on, focus on their schoolwork. Like they weren’t in on some giant conspiracy, that made the entire world feel too small, like they were in one of those spiked coffins people had been tortured in ages ago. And Mashriao was looking at a man in a Yuuei staff uniform, helping wipe down the tables between lunch periods. The lizard-like man moved fairly quickly, with bright pink hair tied up under a blue bandana as he worked with noticeable speed to get through the job as quickly as possible. Like he didn’t want to be seen if he could help it… then he looks up, and locks onto Mashirao in the crowd.

Katsuki runs into him, his conversation with Kirishima bouncing off his ears until the blond nudges him with a shoulder. “Oi, Ojiro. Mind not holding up the line?”

Mashirao blinks first, then turns to follow his class to the lunch line. He looks back after getting a tray, the guy having moved on to the block as far from the line as it was possible to be in. He also seems a bit slower, like he was also in the same mental panic as the student.

“Ojiro, you in there?” Mashirao blinks, noticing where he’d sat. Jiro, Tokoyami, and Kirishima were all coming out of another conversation, looking over as Katsuki just glared a hole in his forehead. “What’s going on?”

“It’s… it’s personal stuff.” Definitely not saying ‘It’s nothing’, because they all had something big they wanted to talk about. But they all seem to accept that it wasn’t that, and Jiro looks away for a second before nodding.

“Yeah, well talk to someone about it. Aizawa, Hound Dog, someone. You look a lot worse than this morning.” Katsuki goes back to his food, Kirishima looking at him with a sort of misty look to his eyes before looking away. Mashirao takes a deep breath, just trying to push that panic attack down until after lunch.

-

Eijiro… he missed half the notes for Monday, still processing everything. He’d watched it on the news, on Friday when out with Four Arms. He’d been texting with everyone over the weekend, when he could sneak his phone out. But getting back to school late Sunday, ready to crash after a long internship… wow.

“So… All Might… and his secretary… and Izuku?” He half picks at the pieces, everyone at the table nodding. Even Mashirao, who seems half tuned into the conversation now. “Huh… and he had to drag a refrigerator across a trash beach? With no spotter?”

Kyouka’s eyebrow goes up, but that was a super dangerous thing to do. That was totally unmanly of All Might to do, and Eijiro was a little baffled that more people weren’t focused on that part. “Ei, you are… you are so pretty.”

Fumikage elbows her, but Eijiro just smiles back at her. He knew it was meant to be an insult, but he rolled with it. Kyouka was halfway guilty for her part in exposing everything, and she was trying to prickly up like a porcupine. “You’re really cute, too.”

Kyouka gives him a look, then tries to laugh it off. Mashirao looks over, then continues eating his noodles he got. Katsuki chuckles next to him, then pulls out his phone. “Hey, Rock-for-Brains, did you listen to that album we sent you?”

“Yeah, that compilation of LoL music? I was playing ‘Paranoia’ until TetsuTetsu could sing it, and I was wearing earbuds.” That gets Mashirao to look up, eyebrows raised. “What, you a fan of their music?”

“I mean, I don’t follow the game at all, but yeah. A couple of the older kids in the dojo were blaring it, and I ended up listening to most of them… I liked True Damages’ album more.” Kyouka nods, but Fumikage just sighs heavily.

Katsuki rolls his eyes, waving his free hand Fumikage’s way. “Ignore ‘Edgar Allen Crow’, True Damage is great. He’s obsessed with their World’s Opening Album.”

The two of them get loud, which was notable for Fumi, but not in an angry way. More passionate, the two of them slowly standing. “The varied styles are infinitely more interesting than half of the drivel on the other albums. If they only had five ideas for songs, they shouldn’t have made nine!”

“Ground Epsilon, after class today.” Fumikage nods, and grabs his phone.

“Very well, then. ‘Pistols at dawn, and I won’t need any backup’.” Eijiro looks back and forth, the two both taking a second to stare each other down. The two slowly sit down, turning to their half finished food to finish it.

Eijiro awkwardly laughs, looking between the two. “You… You guys are just joking around, right? Like, you’re not going to literally fight over this, right?”

Both of them look at him, and Eijiro suddenly thinks no, they really do mean to fight over that. Or, that’s the excuse they’re using. They both wanted a workout, but didn’t want to be the one to admit it, so they found something they both knew wasn’t serious, and just propped it up.

Eijiro sighs, then cracks his knuckles. He reaches over, throwing an arm around Katsuki. “If Baku-bro is really dueling, I want to be his second. Jiro, are you gonna second you’re goth man here?”

Katsuki tenses under his arm, but Eijiro doesn’t look over. He watches Kyouka, who takes stock of everything, then shrugs. “He won’t need it, but I’ll finish the job if he gets bored. Let’s do this.”

They all shake on it, Mashirao looking at them before sighing heavily. But the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile, so he was probably cool with it. Besides, it was just going to be a match for fun… right?

-

Yuga looks around, doing the math in his head. Rikidou had come back with some follow up questions, Mina seemed fully sympathetic, Katsuki was at least partially over whatever depression he’d been mired in, but hadn’t said anything against it. Only Toru really hadn’t weighed on either side, but she seemed deeply focused on keeping her studies up with everyone. Aizawa hadn’t posted any class rankings in a while, so the first day exams where Toru was low in the ranks were the only current bar to really compare to.

He nods, able to quickly fill in the English homework before the bell for the end of the day went off. Most everyone else was still working on it, Present Mic packing up his own notes just before the bell. “If anyone has any problems with the homework, I will be helping as the dorm monitor later this week, so please don’t hesitate to ask me anything!”

“Yes, Sensei.” Everyone intones, then a slow procession out of the classroom begins. At first, the other classes might think everyone was gathering around Izuku, Momo, Tenya, or Mezou for their knowledge of the language. But no, everyone in the class was making a herd as they moved through the halls, all a little nervous to be the first one to break from the group. After the week they’d had at Internships, they all wanted to talk with everyone who’d been away… and no one really wanted to be left alone. Even Asui was coming with them, her parents giving her some permission to stay the night to see how things would go, if Yuga overheard her conversation with Uraraka at lunch correctly.

They begin walking to the dorms, across the grounds of the school, and Yuga finally tunes into specific conversations when Izuku stumbles. Hitoshi instantly catches him, and the group slows down when they see the bottom of one of his stand out red shoes ripped… through… “Ah, that was my last pair of shoes.”

“Really? I thought you had three of them?” Katsuki drifts to the edge of the group as Ochako speaks, Yuga raising an eyebrow as he does. Eijiro definitely notices, moving after him while most of the others focus inwards.

“I did, but they sort of… got ruined. Like, I was practicing Gran Torino’s and Mirko’s movement style while my costume was being modified to handle it, and those shoes really couldn’t handle it. The other pair… well, Hatsume wanted me to help her in the Support Labs…”

“Aahh.” Everyone nods sagely, all having been waylaid at least once by the Support Sorceress, as Yuga started calling her. No one else was, but that wouldn’t stop him.

Especially Momo, who’d talked with her the whole lunch period about that Laser Sword she’d displayed during the Tower Incident. The whole talk seemed to have put her off her lunch, though. But she seems to have picked up slightly, her face lighting up like she had the laser Quirk. “Oh, we could ask for a pass tomorrow to go to the mall! I’ve been needing to get a few things for my room, anyways.”

Everyone picks up at that, nodding back and forth. Mostly ‘I could really use a new binder for my notes’ or ‘there’s this new hero merch I was looking at online’. Yuga thinks about it, then nods. “I might enjoy a nice trip off campus, after spending most of the internship here with Midnight.”

Izuku sighs, his tragedy being mined by the rest of them for entertainment. “I can send Aizawa-Sensei a message, see if we can’t get permission to go…”

Everyone lets out a little cheer… then a shout from Kyouka. She jumps away from something, Dark Shadow catching her as one of the third years emerges from the ground, in a costume not dissimilar to All Might’s old cape look. The boy takes heavy gulps of breath… oh, he was that third year that won the Third Year’s Sports Festival tournament. “Okay… how far from Beta am I?”

Everyone looks around, not sure where that part of the school was. Hitoshi, however, seems to have the answer. He points to the other end of campus, the student’s eyes following it… and seeing a quickly growing shape, hopping from building to building. “You’re on the opposite side of the campus. We’re Closer to Gamma than any of the others… Incoming!”

He quickly moves to the side, pulling Izuku to the side as he looks up. Everyone moves equally out of the way, Gran Torino sailing in just as the third year boy sinks into the ground. He rolls out of his charge, quickly looking back and forth. “Which ground did you point him towards?”

“Alpha?” Torino huffs a sigh, then turns and charges back after Hitoshi’s hesitant lie. All of them watched him go, a mild fear lasting until he was out of sight. “Some third year training exercise?”

“Probably… oh, that reminds me.” Hanta pulls out his phone, everyone slowly turning to him while keeping one eye on the sky, and the other on the ground. “There’s going to be another movie marathon on Sunday, with all the Monster Crossovers, like Godzilla and Ghidorah. Something like fourteen hours, with commercials? Do we want to plan an actual movie marathon day, with popcorn and everything?”

“Yeah, maybe we should just make Sunday Movie-Day? Oh, we’d need to get more popcorn then. Maybe we could all put in movie choices, and then Izuku could do one of those online randomizers until we make our way through all of them?” Mina quickly pulls out her phone, her and Hanta coordinating to no one’s objection.

They make it back to the dorms, and everyone begins gathering up for a study session. Yuga takes one of the outer ring spots, seeing Katsuki, Kyouka, Eijiro, Fumikage, and Mashirao all make excuses to slowly filter out to the door. Not at the same time, but over the course of an hour, which is what made Yuga watch them and catalog that. He raises an eyebrow, then just continues filling in his sketchbook with a particularly dark page.

If anyone else noticed his drawing of the top of the Tower, they probably didn’t know what it was. Only Hitoshi might know, and he was very distracted with his math pages.

-

Shouto patiently waits until Aizawa makes himself available, hours after school ended for them. So long that Katsuki and his friends sneak back in, him and Fumikage breathing hard from a work out of some description. He waits until Aizawa makes his way back to his monitor room, nodding to Momo and Tenya before getting up. Arashi the cat does not approve of his departure, though, and follows along with a mewl of protest.

He knocks on the office door, Aizawa taking a moment to compose himself before opening the door. “Todoroki, do you need to talk about something?”

“Yes, in private if possible.” Aizawa nods, opening the door to allow him inside. He does, seeing a screen cycling through the numerous cameras hidden throughout the dorms. The only places left uncovered were the student’s rooms, the bathrooms, and the Secret Room Mezou had discovered on Saturday before the big All Might reveal. Speaking of… “Since you already knew about All Might’s secret war against the League of Villains, I was wondering if you also know about my brother’s involvement with them.”

Aizawa blinks, then slowly takes a breath. “Oh… okay, then. How long have you been aware of this?”

Not surprised, but a sort of sinking acceptance. Shouto wasn’t surprised, given how many other secrets the man seemed to be on the inside of. “Since you were in the hospital, when Izuku set up a meeting between my brother and his mother.”

Aizawa nods, turning and spinning his chair to sink into. He almost deflates as he does, and Shouto is suddenly aware how the man isn’t that old. He was maybe thirty, and hadn’t done nearly half as much caring about his students as he had in previous years compared to this one, if the rumors were true. “Yes, Inko told us the instant school was back in session. It got Izuku into a bit of trouble, because he put you and him and his mother in danger. We’ve been trying to talk to your brother, coordinate with him as best we can…”

“Something happened to him after Thursday.” Aizawa looks up, and Shouto pulls out his phone. “I text him sometimes, just to see if he can answer. And he always would, within minutes… but now, it’s been all weekend, and he isn’t answering.”

Aizawa carefully reaches for his phone, and Shouto lets him take it to look through. All the timestamps of his messages show that the longest it’s been is fifteen minutes, and yet now Touya isn’t doing anything. Just the same error message, claiming that the number is disconnected. “Alright then… I understand, you’re brother’s situation is Unique, and complicated. But I need to ask you a very important question; have you ever given him information that could be used to plan an attack on the school?”

Shouto blinks, Arashi slowly sliding her head across his ankle. “No, never. Absolutely not, Sir.”

Aizawa quickly nods, offering his phone back. “Good, I believe you. I’ll see if Nedzu can’t find a rational explanation for his lack of communication, and get back to you as soon as I can. He’s currently taken up with another side project, but we should be able to find a solution to this before too long.”

Shouto nods… and is surprised to discover he believes his teacher. A warmth that isn’t related to his Quirk, which he savors silently for a few seconds. “Good… oh, did Izuku talk to you about the mall trip everyone wants to go on?”

Aizawa raises an eyebrow, then pulls out his own phone. He opens it up, moving to his texts… and sighs heavily, forcing himself to stand. “No, not yet. Is there anything else we need to talk about?”

Shouto shakes his head, slowly walking away to not step on Arashi. She follows behind him all the way into the living room, curling up on his lap the instant he sits down.

“Kirishima, are you okay? You seem distracted?” Shouto looks over at the student, his face suddenly going as red as his hair at Tsuyu’s innocent question.

He looks up, waving his hands like someone who’d been caught doing something embarrassing in a drama. But all he’d been doing was looking off as he thought about his worksheet, staring off in Katsuki’s direct…ion… oh. “Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Just trying to do the math in my head, is all.”

“That’s impressive, considering that’s an English assignment.” There’s a little trickle of laughter from the table, Eijiro quickly looking down at the table.

Hanta begins to add something, only for Katsuki to snappishly cut him off. “Lay off him, okay? It’s not like you all don’t get distracted, huh?”

That only gets Hanta to laugh a little harder… and Shouto looks away, his own face heating up on the purely joyful expression on the boy’s face. He looks down at Arashi, trying to explain away the lightness without it being… more than that.

-

Kyouka waits for the best moment to make her move, Izuku talking about going upstairs to get one of his old journals. She stands, stretching and ignoring the faint stiffness in her leg. The scratch had barely been anything, but Recovery Girl had still wanted her to keep an eye on it, in case an infection managed to spread. But she nods to Fumikage as they sit next to Katsuki and Eijiro, making her way over to the elevator as Izuku calls it down.

Izuku turns when she walks over, and holds the door as she walks over. He hits the button for the girl’s floor, as she leans against the wall opposite him. “Are you… um, are you okay?”

He seems nervous, clearly intending for her to want to talk about something. She huffs a little laugh, since that was half of what she wanted to talk about. “Yeah. I… I should have probably just come talk to you, when I overheard. I should have just talked to you…”

Izuku nods… then sags against the side of the elevator. The door opens to his floor, but he takes a heavy breath before turning to her. “I know I shouldn’t be thanking you, but I’m sort of grateful things turned around like this. Knowing about All Might… it started weighing really heavily on me, after the U.S.J.”

Kyouka measures that statement, the elevator door slowly closing. She could barely handle the pressure after knowing for two days, and everyone seemed tense after being let in. But Izuku…“Wait, you’ve known since the USJ? They loaded all the… THAT, back before the Sports Festival?”

Izuku emphatically nods, nervous jitters running across his body. “Yes, and I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone about it. But all of you… I was worried about All Might’s secret, but you were worried about me, and I feel awful. I should have been worried about what could have happened to you all, but I… I didn’t want to disappoint All Might…”

Kyouka nods, reaching forward to put her hand on his shoulder. He freezes instinctually, but quickly relaxes as the door opens to the girl’s floor. “I’m sorry, for bringing it all up to other people before you. And I’m sorry, that you had all that pressure put on you. If… if you ever want to talk, I’ll do better. I promise.”

Kyouka slowly steps out, Izuku sighing with evident relief as the door closes between them. She hears him press one of the buttons, and goes to her room to grab her phone’s charger cord. She needed some excuse, for coming up here besides apologizing to Izuku… not that that wasn’t a good enough reason. But the walk was also doing her some good, stretching her leg as the pain in it is noticeably lower.

She makes her way back down, beating Izuku to rejoin everyone as they start cycling through the channels. Fumikage is the one currently in control of the remote, referencing the cheat sheet of channels they’ve made. He stops on a news channel, seeing the graphic for the Hero Commission coming up.

Kyouka notices everyone looking over, but her eyes lock on the spokeswoman. She was the same woman from Endeavor’s party, in a gray pantsuit that was just as modest and subdued as her outfit that night. She’s at a podium in a newsroom, a press pool snapping photos from all angles as she speaks. “During additional testing on blood samples, and from testimony from the captured villains, we now have additional information about the League of Villains.”

The woman, Miko based on the nameplate at the bottom of the screen, turns to a television screen next to her. An older man standing next to it, plugged into a computer, brings up a scrolling series of images of Nomus. Some of the images include heroes fighting in the background, including one of Kyouka being attacked in the tower by the gas-masked faced flying Nomu.

“These Numerous Mutation individuals, or Nomu, appear to be the result of highly experimental and illegal Quirk Experimentation. Trace amounts of the drug Trigger were identified in their bloodstream, along with a number of other compounds that more than likely cause psychotic impulses in their doses and combinations. Additionally…”

Miko pauses, her words getting caught in her throat. A few people in the crowd begin raising their hands to ask questions, but Miko holds a hand up. Most of the class have started drifting closer, gathering around to watch the footage with rapt interest.

“We have reason to believe the Todoroki family, and most specifically Endeavor, are and will continue to be targets for such experimentation. All captured Nomu have been linked to previously filed missing persons cases, or high profile kidnappings. Such as the Blade Mouth Nomu that attacked the Young Heros Gestalt and Anima, who has been identified as the villain Moonfish…”

Footage of Izuku and Kouda starts playing on the monitor, Kyouka turning to find them in the room. Kouda has his rabbit in his arms, softly whispering to it while watching. And the elevator dings, a few people flinching as Izuku walks in. He slowly walks in, like his leg was cramping, his eyes rapidly taking in everyone watching the screen.

“The Hero Commission is, even as we speak, remobilizing resources to investigate these details and prepare a response for the League. Until then, we can only ask the public to remain calm, and for Heroes to be especially vigilant in the coming days. We will now field questions…”

Shouto slowly makes way to the elevator, the cat following closely behind him as he sneaks out of the room. Kyouka is fairly sure most of them notice him leaving, but they remain to watch the information the Commission was offering the public. Because… well, they might just need this information later, apparently.

Chapter Text

Nedzu looks at Shuzenji, then down at the file. He swipes his finger across the screen, not liking any of the information he was seeing on her. “You’re sure she’ll not be a danger to anyone, herself included?”

“She could barely stand the tests I did on her, but she did. If I didn’t try and build a relationship with her before, she probably would have bolted the first chance she got.” Shuzenji looks down at Himiko’s file, shaking her head. Her lips purse, her hand shaking just so as she looks over a few panels. “If we haven’t already buried Hound Dog in work, we should really see if she qualifies for the Spectrum, or pure PTSD at this point.”

“Hound Dog wouldn’t be the one to officially diagnose that, only treat it after it’s been diagnosed. I could have him check with colleagues, see if anyone else would be willing to visit us. Besides that, do you suppose we could convince Lunch Rush to set aside a specialized diet for her, and try to work on these nutritional deficiencies?”

The two of them nod, then Nedzu looks over the other paperwork Shuzenji needed him to sign off on. At this point, he really needs to hire someone to help him with all his paperwork… oh, what he wouldn’t give to have a copy of himself running around. Why did all the most useful and unique Quirks end up neglected and turned to villainy?

His tour of the school continues next to the Support Classes, with the Third Years collecting full portfolios of all their designs. Of course, more than one lower year student was coming and going, trading designs or simply making themselves available for favors. Once the third years got into Companies and Hero Agencies, they often got tied into contracts and exclusivities that prevented their inventions from being really theirs. But if those designs happened to belong to a Yuuei catalog, or another student took it and went independent or headed their own company, then their design might accidentally help more people, which many of the students cared more about.

This Tuesday morning, as he sneaks past the 1-H class, the sound of mechanics is subdued enough to hear Hagari speak up. “Remember, the I-Island expo contestants will be decided in just eight weeks. If your design is too big to finish before then, there’s no shame in pairing down to a smaller piece…”

There’s a cheer from inside, sounding suspiciously close to ‘1-H! 1-H’, and Nedzu continues to make his way through the building. The General Ed and Business students were cycling through Internships, still on schedule despite the incident, the older Hero Course students had Work Studies they were continuing with. Somehow, everything was going exactly as planned, with every one of his classes…

Except for 1-A. Nedzu had to put maybe twenty percent of his time into the rest of the school, and another forty percent into just this class. He knew coming into this year that he would need to allocate more time into it, but still didn’t expect nearly so much of it would lead to so many problems from just those Twenty Students. Katsuki’s therapeutic journey, Denki and Ochako’s parents and their company struggles, Shouto’s… just ALL OF the Todorokis, at this point. And Izuku… good grief, that boy was going to give him a heart attack before too long.

But he had completed all of his spare work Nedzu had fobbed off on him… he really could probably use a little break. After all, some of the scenario calculations he’d had the boy do were a bit… excessive.

Nedzu completes his circuit of the school, returning to his office after Shuzenji has made her departure. He settles in for a few moments of peace, brewing up a weaker cup of tea purely for its own sake, the little routine feeling like a comb carding through his fur. He settles into his seat, taking a moment to be a simple mouse in his spinning chair rather than a ruthless king, defending his kingdom from frankly rude interlopers…

His computer chimes, summoning his attention to one of his many programs. He looks at the screen, seeing one of the largest articles trying to make sense of Endeavor’s capture. The consensus wasn’t very coherent, with virtually everyone split up on how to react to the news. The Hero Commission itself is also not helping, Nedzu seeing a few of the more level-headed articles being buried in the search results.

Nedzu is almost incensed enough to call someone about it, only staying his hand because there was the thinnest veneer of ‘Greater Good’ thinking behind the Commission’s actions. They were trying to set a Rally Point against All for One, not that most people not-in-the-know would know for a long while. But they were choosing a very poorly elevated hill, and the wrong side of it at that. If they wanted a Todoroki to rally the public behind, either Rei or Fuyumi would be a better option, with how broken up they appeared to be after the Patriarch’s disappearance.

Nedzu shakes his head, thinking about Fuyumi. The poor girl had so much stress she could do with working through, so much of it appearing in so little time. Maybe he could set them up with a vacation, or at least a spa… day…

Nedzu blinks a few times, turning to the file he was now keeping at the ready about Class 1-A next to his tea brewing station. He looks at the list again, then lets his fingers tap on his keyboard.

I-Island Summer Expo! Heroes, Mechanics, Technical Experts of All Stripes Welcome!

Nedzu looks at the online brochure, then down at the class roster again. “Perhaps everyone could have something fun after Finals… Well, most of them might enjoy it.”

-

Kan looks over at Shouta, curled up on the break room couch after barely stumbling into the room. Nemuri and Hizashi were currently assisting with lessons for Second Year students, leaving only the two homeroom teachers until the lunch break for the day. And given how sleep deprived the man was ending up, that really only left Kan, alone with his thoughts and a few early essays to grade. He wasn’t the worst grader, only hitting a couple of lines per essay with a red pen as he reviews Kuroiro’s attempt at an English paper. “A Ghost of Things to Come…”

He lets out a little chuckle at that, looking back up at the other teacher. He didn’t even have his sleeping bag out, just collapsed across it with his face pressed away from the sun’s rays. Considering he would be in the same position, if Class 1-B decided to bulk move into the dorms, that quote might be as prophetic as it claims to be.

He tries to let the man sleep through the grading period, waiting until about five minutes until lunch before trying to wake him. He’d gotten through the bulk of the essays and entered them into the gradebook, packing them away before walking carefully over to pat the man on the shoulder. Shouta flinches as he comes to consciousness, then slowly pushes himself up like an old house cat as Kan steps away. “How long…?”

“About an hour and a half, Shouta. Got another five until the others start making their way, if you want to wash your face or anything.” The man nods, and Kan makes his way back to his desk.

He sits down as Shouta takes to his desk, seeing a thin Nedzu special envelope. The beleaguered man flips it open, Kan looking away before he could see anything. Given they’d all had a meeting that he, Nedzu, and Recovery Girl had all left conspicuously early from, he was in on something with the principal and nurse. And the less Kan knew about that, the better. “Over my dead body… the Hero Commission is launching a preliminary investigation into Iz… into Midoriya’s actions on Thursday.”

Kan looks up, raising an eyebrow at the man’s correction. “Midoriya did run after Stain, and Nedzu wasn’t subtle about how he disapproved of it. Plus, with his using his Quirk to try and stabilize Stain, and being out most of the next day and on forced rest by Shuzenji… he’s a good kid, but it is something we should keep in mind with him.”

Shouta looks up with murder in his heart, which Kan quickly tries to wave off with the fair criticism. That defuses the murder a bit, turning to a simple vehicular homicide if Shouta had his way. “Yes, the kid really needs to stop being so reckless. Don’t misunderstand, he needs to value his life even the tiniest bit more; Preliminary investigations from the Commission are always bound to kick up something that’ll cause problems.”

Kan raises an eyebrow, that particular line of thought sounding too familiar to his ears. He waits for Shouta to hear the dissonance, a little surprised to have to point it out. “Yes, like those investigations against Endeavor. He just wanted to do good before those darn inquiries kicked up things that caused problems.”

Shouta blinks, seeming to take what he was saying earlier under consideration. He opens his mouth… then closes it, his nose scrunching up in disgust. “You ever hear me say something like that again, bash my head in with that stapler.”

“Will do… you’re not entirely wrong, though. The Commission always spends time going after the wrong targets, if you ask me. Looking for someone like Midoriya who gets bad attention to divert that same bad press from the real bad apples.” They both share a silent minute of agreement, the lounge door opening behind Kan.

Shouta grabs a waste basket, standing up and walking around the desk. He holds it up to the janitor… and he stops long enough that Kan turns. And except for the kid’s long pink dyed hair, and the Lizard-esque Quirk, he couldn’t really tell what Shouta might be freezing at. Except the janitor was also going still, looking at the teacher like a deer in headlights. “I… fuck.”

Shouta takes a second, then steps forward with the trash. “Nedzu hired you?” He waits for the kid’s stunned nod before continuing, a sigh on his breath. “I’d like to have a talk with you, after your shift. But if Nedzu hired you… welcome.”

Kan turns, grabbing his basket for the kid to empty into the cart behind him. He waits for the kid to make quick work of the others in the room, turning to Aizawa as the man pulls his phone out. “You… do I want to know?”

“New Janitor was doing underground ring fights, which I know because he fought one of my students before we busted the ring. Remember the one who got attacked by Stain… before the Tower?” Kan can’t help but let out a low whistle, Shouta typing a text the whole time.

“If you ever need to join us drinking, let me know. I owe you the most expensive bottle the place offers.” They have another minute of silence, footsteps announcing the other teachers. Kan takes a breath, and readies himself for the day to somehow make less sense before things were done.

-

“… and that is the basics of Hero and Civilian Settlements. Over the next month, we’ll cover more specific cases, and the intricacies involving Agency Oversight, Quirk and Support-Item specific Settlements, and other such material. And yes, these will be replacing some of the common core questions on your final, so make sure to take the notes.” Inko turns around, everyone furiously adding her charts and graphs to their notes before the bell can ring. All of the students have learned that she’s not to really be feared, given how she’d brought some of Rikidou’s cookies to start the lesson before moving on to the gritty details of the notes.

The teacher, a thinner woman a few years her junior, stands and offers her a handshake. “Thank you, Midoriya, for the excellently detailed lesson. If anyone needs them, paper copies of the lesson will be available tomorrow to help make sure the notes are right. And Midoriya’s lessons will make up no less than a tenth of the letter grade for your Pre-Summer work, so make sure they’re right.”

“Yes Ma’am.” The students just start to finish as the bell rings, hanging a minute to finish before cycling to the lunch room. They begin leaking out of the class, the back row students grouping up and flashing each other the notes as they whisper to each other.

Inko takes a breath, then begins packing up her notes. The other Business teacher waits for her to be visibly finished, then gently tries to open up another avenue of conversation. “So… I heard you’ve been busy with work for Class 1-A. Nedzu has you working harder than some of the Third Year Teachers, and you just started.”

Inko lets out a little tittering laugh, only partially nervous at the turn. She reaches for her hand, nervously fiddling with her wedding ring. “Oh, I did a lot of the grit work when I was starting at my old Firm, too. It’s a little nostalgic, really.”

The other teacher nods, noticing the fiddling. “Oh, you’re married? What’s he like?”

And again, for maybe the fifth time that week, Inko can’t help but notice a blank spot in her brain. She kept getting a headache, whenever she tried to dig at it, but she was starting to find the borders for the weirdness in her mind… “Oh, he works overseas. We still talk constantly, but he’s almost as married to his job as he is me. That and baseball, of course.”

That satisfies the other staff member, and Inko quickly wraps up that conversation to move through the school. But she probably needs to seek a meeting with Hound Dog, at this rate. Or maybe she should mention it to Nedzu… this weird blank patch of memories was starting to worry her, as she poked and prodded it.

She could remember some things. They’d been together nearly six years before Izuku, he’d loved old war documentaries, he’d had this old friend who she’d gone to to get Izuku’s Quirk Diagnosis… but then she noticed other details were faded as she tried to pull on them. Things like his hair color, the sound of his voice… she kept saying they talked, but she couldn’t remember the last time they’d definitely called. She’d tried the last number she had saved, but it just got the ‘this number has been disconnected’ message.

Inko shakes her head, pulling her ring off her finger. It had a little green gem on it, and she slid it away into her pocket. She marches towards the teacher’s lounge, hopeful to talk to someone about this sort of thing.

-

Yagi watches Izuku and Yaoyorozu coordinating over the communications, the exercise going as well as he can expect. Nedzu has the entire thing running on autopilot, Yagi simply getting the honor of tracking the student’s responses to the frankly too realistic cityscape they were trying to coordinate a rescue in. “Sugarman, Red Riot, begin to coordinate with Charge Bolt and Pinky on clearing the western three buildings. Froppy and Dynamite, divert from Shouto and Uraravity when available.”

Yaoyorozu nods, pulling up the diagram. “Available cell phone data shows another dozen people on the ground floor… Dynamite, divert now with Cellophane and Killgrave to Rescue Site B as ordered by Operations A. Anima, report on current first aid status.”

“it’s… It’s going well. Two are in critical condition, Medical Transport requested. Can’t Stop Twinkling, Tailman, and Tsukuyomi are all currently handling Treatment as we speak.”

“Tentacole and Earphone Jack, Southern Quadrant finally cleared. Ingenium is currently moving the last of the injured to the Med Zone.” The two nod, Izuku quickly begins the rerouting as Yaoyorozu begins checking off the listed victims from the list.

Izuku stops, and quickly leans over to check the victims listed. “Invisible Girl, this is Operations A. Any luck finding that last person in the artist’s gallery?”

Yaoyorozu looks over at Izuku, then at the listed victims. “Tentacole, Earphone Jack, hold position.”

Yagi raises an eyebrow, waiting for Hagakure to radio in. “Negative, Gestalt. This Horikoshi guy isn’t anywhere I can find him, on the first or second floors. Mind sending… I mean, Requesting Backup from Search and Rescue Teams.”

Yagi feels bad about docking the points, but the slip was worth a point from Nedzu’s rubric. Everyone had lost a couple of points from the start, quickly correcting themselves to official names and radio language after Yaoyorozu caught them doing it. “Rescue Team B, Reroute to Eastern Quadrant with Invisible Girl. Ingenium, once the injured have been delivered, please route to the Artist Gallery in the Eastern Quadrant with Rescue.”

“Understood, Creati.” They were mostly halfway done with the exercises, and were handling the obstacles well. Yagi wasn’t providing them any warning, and Izuku and Yaoyorozu were responding very well.

“Shouto to Operations, Northern Quadrant rescue is complete. We are now diverting to Medical, awaiting further instructions.” Izuku begins typing on the computer, pulling up a map of the eighteen members of the class. It was amazing to watch him work, this seeming as natural as his leaping around with One for All.

“This is Operations A, movement acknowledged. Uraravity, status?”

“Uraravity… I can get everyone to medical, but I’m overworking my Quirk a bit.” Uraraka sounds noticeably sick over the comms, Yagi’s stomach rolling in sympathy.

“Acknowledged. Tsukuyomi, once Rescue Team A arrives, please be ready to move with Froppy and Shouto upon arrival. Uraravity, you’ll be switched into the Medical Team for the remainder of the operations.”

“Ingenium to Operations, injured personnel delivered to Medical. Now Routing to the Eastern Quadrant, as requested.” Yaoyorozu nods, pulling up the student tracker. She then compares the information they were given on possible rescues, nodding as she confirms the cleared quadrants.

Izuku does the same check, taking a breath after covering the mouth piece. “Looks like we’re about sixty percent completed. Unless Nedzu has something else planned, we… oh no.”

He blinks, realizing what he was saying as he did. And funnily enough, that’s about the time Nedzu’s second surprise begins, one the building’s catching fire as the hero students begin to approach it. “Woah… um, Charge Bolt to Base, Requesting Backup. Preferably Shouto, if we can spare him.”

Izuku and Yaoyorozu look at each other, and Yagi waits to see what they would respond with. They take a silent few seconds to begin checking their resources, and it takes just long enough for Izuku to respond. “Alright then… Pinky, have you been practicing with low PH acid like we talked about?”

“Yeah, but it’s still really bad to get on other people’s skin. Also, it… um, I haven’t checked to see how it interacts with fire?” Izuku takes a deep breath, quickly scrubbing his hands over his face. Yaoyorozu begins typing, bringing up the files they were given about the stability of the buildings to try and match their final part of the exam.

“That’s fine, Pinky. Chargebolt, check if the fire has an electrical source you can neutralize. Sugarman, Red Riot, check the perimeter for anyone we can quickly evacuate. Tsukuyomi, you and Shouto need to get to Rescue B immediately. Cellophane, you and Killgrave begin coordinating with Dynamite for changes to the situation. Dynamite… we’re assigning you Coordinator status.”

Katsuki is silent for a second, his comms shutting off as he explodes his way onto a higher vantage point. Yaoyorozu looks over, but nods when Izuku looks to her for confirmation. “Rodger. Killgrave, you and Red Riot Sweep counter-clockwise. Sugar and Chargebolt, go clockwise. Pinky, hang back until we confirm the stability of the building.”

Yagi nods, taking additional notes as the students face their trial well enough. No one was in failing range yet, and Yagi was trying to keep a critical eye that Nedzu would. They were really performing above the expected range of where they should be in the year, working together like a somewhat rusty, but still coherent team. This… this just might work.

Class 1-A shouldn’t have to… but they just might be in the position to finish off All for One once and for all.

-

Inui takes a deep breath, looking at the office Shouta and Tenya had slipped into after classes were done for the day. He was vaguely aware the kids had a plan for a mall trip, which he was also sure Tenya had plans on going on. He almost wants to knock, but knows Shouta will call him in when he’s done preparing Tenya.

Hopefully, the boy just needed a bit of light counseling, maybe some words of comfort about some news relating to Ingenium’s condition. And what a world it’s come to, where ‘I hope it’s just his partially paralyzed older brother who he’s built up on a mental pedestal’ is his thought process.

He looks back at his current file, about the new girl Nedzu and Grand Torino had brought to his attention. And once they had the appropriate paperwork for a proper blood test, he was planning on joining Shuzengi on the hunt for the people who had decided abandoning their daughter to the streets was the best thing they had available. There were better ways than just dumping her on a street corner, or making her run away like the evidence pointed to. ‘Do no harm’ but he was fairly certain that he wasn’t going to be the only person willing to go on the warpath for her.

Shouta cracks the door open, finding him watching the door. Inui picks up Tenya’s folder, walking in and taking the seat across from the boy… who is loosely resting against the arm of the couch, his legs loose and spread across the floor towards his chair.

Inui represses the urge to make a smart comment, knowing Tenya wouldn’t respond the best to that. But he gives Shouta a look, the man nodding as the counselor takes his seat. “Thank you two, for waiting until after classes to come to talk to me. Is there any particular business we need to discuss?”

Tenya fidgets in his seat for a moment, struggling to come to the words. “I… In my grief concerning my brother, I have made several short-sighted choices. Choices that… may or may not constitute violations of upstanding moral behavior, the Yuuei Student Rulebook, and the Criminal Legal Code.”

Inui… blinks several times, clicking his pen closed. He reaches into his shirt pocket, pulling out his phone. He opens the white noise generator Nedzu had seen fit to install on their devices, Tenya and Shouta both raising their eyebrows as Inui clicks the button to turn it on. The unusual clicking and whining fills the sound proof room, the three of them as well and truly alone as they could manage. “You are aware that, should these supposed crimes you claim to have committed be great enough, I have a responsibility to report them to both Nedzu and the Police, yes?”

Tenya nods, restoring his posture a little bit by picking his head up. He draws in a deep breath, the arhythmic clicks of the machine seeming to soothe the usually straight laced student. “I understand, Sir. I… I want to confess, if only to remove some of the guilt from my shoulders. I understand the Legal Repercussions of this confession, should you decide my actions be serious enough that reporting them is due course.”

Inui nods, and shuts off the machine. He flips to a new page in Tenya’s file, quickly adding a note before looking up at the boy. “May I assume one of these actions was interning with Manual, hoping an encounter with the ‘Hero Killer’ would occur?”

Tenya nods, taking a steadying breath. He looks over at Shouta, who just nods to him before the spectacled student goes on. “I… I used computers others hadn’t properly logged off from, in order to gain access to the file of information on Stain. During the… the Incident, I deliberately disobeyed orders to try and find where Izuku was chasing Stain, instead of helping to rescue people. All while working for Manual under false pretenses, thus leaving a black mark on this school’s record.”

Inui notes all of those down, and takes a moment to see whether Shouta had already gotten this information. Not seeing an ounce of surprise on the man’s face, the counselor resists the urge to start growling as he processes all of the details in the confession. “Tenya… I can see that you are remorseful for your actions, which is good. And you did still help Stain, which is better than the alternatives. Though you do have a point, that you did intentionally and maliciously misinform Yuuei staff and Manual’s Agency.”

Tenya simply lets him mull over these choices, Shouta finally picking himself up and leaning over. Inui lets him look at the notes he’s written down, before he relaxes back into his chair and speaks. “I, as his Home-room teacher and Dorm Monitor, would like to point out that this is a temporary string of bad decisions, rather than a longer pattern of bad behavior. So any punishments could be kept within Yuuei, since he clearly doesn’t have the inclination or ability to repeat this behavior in the future.”

Inui nods, then turns to Tenya. “I think I am going to have to inform Nedzu about this, but I personally believe that any punishments will be minor, all aspects considered. Besides which, I believe you had plans for this afternoon, which I don’t want to interfere… with?”

Inui pauses, seeing Tenya look up at him with confusion. “I… I thought this would at least result in a removal of privileges, sir. Like not being able to leave campus on such activities, considering the gravity of the situation.”

Inui takes a moment, and closes the file to pay full attention to Tenya. “Tenya, this is a school, not a prison. Besides which, I believe some time amongst your friends outside of the classroom setting might do you some good, considering how you handled things on your own. In fact, I might recommend your disciplinary action, or equivalent, be enforced socialization.”

Tenya tilts his head, and Inui literally watches the boy run through the pattern. His mind wasn’t as fast as Izuku’s could be, but it was still very quickly chasing up and down potential conversations before settling for nodding his head. “I… I Understand, Sir. Might I be excused, to attend the off campus trip?”

Inui nods, and watches Tenya compose himself. He stands up,adjusting his uniform jacket and fixing more wrinkles than actually exist in his shirt or slacks. And he walks to the door, Shouta waiting a few seconds before going boneless and sliding to the floor.

“It’s all of them. Literally, All of Them.” Inui just sits there, Shouta resting his head against the seat.

Inui doesn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or begin angrily ripping apart the couch. He settles for pulling out a pair of water bottles, offering one to Shouta as the man sits on the ground. “How long have you been sitting on that revelation from Tenya?”

Shouta starts to rub his eyes, stopping himself right before he could. He corrects by pulling out eye drops, gritting his teeth as he continues his explanation. “When the kids were gathering at the Hospital. This was the first appointment I could schedule with you…”

“I think Conspiracy to Commit Murder warrants a special session.” Inui takes a breath, wondering why everything seemed to be happening around the Class 1-A. “He interned with Manual… were you asking Fumikage and Katsuki if they saw anything out of the ordinary?”

“Yes, among other things. I’ve been busy making sure they all understand the need not to gossip, even hint, about the All Might thing. And making sure they’re all okay after the Second League of Villains attack in as many months. It took until this morning to have private conversations with those two, before lunch, to see if he was behaving noticeably differently.”

Shouta sighs heavily, and Inui downs his water. “You know… I wasn’t lying. Nedzu does need to know, besides all the conspiracies he’s monitoring.”

“Yes, he does…” Shouta doesn’t move after making that declaration, Inui checking to see the man resting his eyes. “I… I need a teacher’s assistant. Hell, I need three assistants at this rate. For actual classwork, for the multiple conspiracies, and for the terrorist cell that knows where these kids live, and have repeatedly invaded their homes.”

Inui nods, closing Tenya’s folder. He stands, and offers Shouta a hand. “I don’t know about assistants, but you do have all of us. Nemuri, Hizashi, me; if you just need a day, just let us know.”

Chapter Text

Fumikage scrolls through articles on his phone, halfway prepared to follow through with Katsuki’s brawl after he and the others get back from the mall. But until then, he has the rest of the afternoon without anything to do. He can simply rest, and process… too much, really.

First, the All Might revelation, with the man being the personal nemesis of the League of Villains. He’d had a target on his back, and still gone out of his way to train Izuku in his dangerous Quirk. And decided to train them all… did All Might mean to use them as human shields?

Dark Shadow issues out of his sleeve, bristling like a porcupine on the back of the couch. If any of the others here noticed that, they didn’t comment as Fumikage continues to spin this thread out in his head. Because… Well, his internship with Hawks has shown him that some Heroes certainly have ulterior motives to their work.

Secondly, Izuku’s Quirk. Aizawa had quickly crafted a story about how he could possibly Float from a Mutation. Which Fumikage had accepted at the time… only now, he was starting to have other thoughts, running through his and Dark Shadow’s head.

He looks up at Hanta and Mezou, who have both tried to compare notes about Izuku when the green haired boy was out of ear shot. And while he doesn’t mean to spy, they do go out on a walk of the grounds, happening to pass him where he’s resting up in the trees dotting the campus. So he’s heard them talking about the little blue flashes between Izuku and Hitoshi, only to see them himself. That, and Floating, and…

He’d seen the footage. Kouda had talked with him about it, how Stain’s wounds seemed to mend themselves as the three of them had strained to keep the man alive. That wasn’t Super Strength/Speed, or Floating, or whatever he and Hitoshi were keeping secret.

Fumikage leans up as Shouto walks around the couch, Arashi following the boy more loyally than her actual owners. The instant Shouto sits, she leaps up onto his lap, making herself at home as the heterochromatic boy looks at Fumikage. “Tokoyami… Can I talk to you about something?”

Fumikage looks the other boy in the eyes, Dark Shadow hopping off the back of the couch onto his lap. It forms a rough approximation of a cat, which is disturbingly accurate save the glowing yellow eyes. Arashi might not fear their shapeshifting, but Fumikage thinks it would be very unsettling for any other animal to see Dark Shadow copy them like that. “I have neither the Ability or Inclination to stop you. Proceed at your leisure.”

Shouto nods, turning to face him. The boy also looks around, then leans in while running his hands over Arashi. “I… I think Izuku and the teachers are lying to us, about his Quirk.”

Fumikage tilts his head, reaching down to run his hands over Dark Shadow. It almost mimics the texture of fur, which he takes in stride as he considers how to respond. Shouto’s paranoid theorizing is what lead the the revelation of the League of Villain’s nemesis relationship to All Might, and the man’s double life as Yagi Toshinori. And while that additional information was certainly helpful, for all of them to be ready, it had also added an emotional weight onto all of their shoulders.

He settles for nodding, his internship with Hawks giving him ample experience in lying to people he wants to trust. “I have some concerns, as well. But with what little information we have, and considering how defensive they will now become, any investigation will cost us much more time. Besides which, given this previous encounter, I believe talking with Izuku will prove more fruitful than spying on him; Nedzu has doubtlessly taught him how to avoid detection.”

Shouto nods, seeming to consider something. “You’re right… it’ll be harder to learn what else they’re hiding from us. Not to mention, they’ll be watching me more than anyone else…”

Fumikage looks at the other boy, not sure if he was upset or merely resigned by that fact. “Considering… Well, it’s not unusual to be worried for you. Although… if you want, I could show you somewhere you may regain your privacy, should you desire it.”

Shouto narrows his eyes, then nods slowly. Fumikage looks around, then slowly stands as Dark Shadow slips back into their negative space. Shouto scoops up Arashi, and the two of them walk up the stairs to the second floor.

Fumikage goes to the space halfway between Mezou’s and Hitoshi’s bedroom’s on the opposite wall, running his hand until he finds the little push plate. The wall cracks open, revealing a hidden room with bean bag chairs and a monitor currently cycling through the cameras. The monitor was on a big glass table, a chair tucked in front of it, clearly supposed to be the only things in here before they’d found it. He slips inside, Shouto following with widened eyes as he takes in the space a bit bigger than the individual bedrooms.

“Mezou showed this to Hanta, who got the bean bags brought in. The monitor doesn’t have a camera, and there’s no footage in here as it cycles through… true isolation, if us caring about your safety grows too burdensome.” He tries to apply the sarcasm more thickly than usual, Shouto’s lips quirking up into a faint smile as he catches it. Fumikage flops into the darkest bean bag as a seat, Shouto taking a warmer red and slowly lowering down for Arashi’s benefit. The wall panel slips closed, leaving them for a few minutes of privacy.

The two of them enjoy the silence for a long while, Shouto looking at his phone for a long while before turning to him. “Tokoyami… Can I confide in you on a matter?”

Fumikage looks over, nodding as the burned boy watches him. “If I were to remark on my ability to keep a secret, it would be an admission of whether I can keep a secret or not.”

Shouto blinks, then looks up at the roof. He waits a moment, then decides to continue regardless. “I… do you have any experience with relationships?”

Fumikage feels a bit of heat rise up in his face, though he martials himself to give away nothing. “Not particularly; I had a healthy circle of fellow artistic friends, but nothing I’d go so far as to call romantic. If you were looking for advice on the matter, I do not have true experience to offer.”

Shouto makes a little noise, and Fumikage tries not to think too deeply beyond the surface. Because… Well, if he does happen to have a crush on anyone, he certainly isn’t in the proper place to act upon it. “So… I was more wondering… is it normal, when you do have feelings for someone, to have this awkward feeling in your throat when they’re around? Like, my words twisting when I try to speak to them?”

“In my experience, yes. But Romance is not… it’s not an Element, weighted and categorized and steeply sectioned away from all other feelings. It’s an oddly amorphous thing, which no one can really identify until they’re in its presence.”

Shouto makes another noise, leaving Fumikage to think about the words he’s just said. When the other boy doesn’t respond further, he muses to himself that is maybe one of the most useless comments he could make… the phrase, ‘Somewhere Between a Soothsayer and a Court Fool’ washes through his head, which starts bubbling into an idea for his sketchbook. He opens his notepad, typing out a note for later, then goes back to looking through articles to read.

-

Ochako sips from her tea, watching Tenya and Momo follow Kyouka as she leads their group through the mall. There were so many more people out today than they thought, probably a couple of stores having sales or something. Ochako didn’t come as often as a lot of people their age, not really having the money to travel out to then also spend inside. “Okay, so us Goth Kids need to swing through here, right? Izuku, you and the Nerd Squad can get all the boring stuff down on the first floor. Katsuki, Eijiro, you guys get the kitchen stuff Sato needs up on the third floor… anything I’m forgetting?”

Everyone checks, shaking their heads. Katsuki rolls his eyes, grabbing Eijiro’s arm to lead him to the escalator. “You losers need anything, fucking call us. Got it?”

Eijiro flashes a big smile, mouthing something to Kyouka that Ochako half catches. She turns as the girl finishes winking, then offers her arms to Hitoshi and Momo. “Alright, see you. Momo, come see how the other side lives for the day, huh? Let’s make that Honorary Goth status Official.”

Kyouka links arms with both of the brunettes and Ochako would kill to hear if Kyouka’s heart was hammering as hard as hers. Ochako has drained half her tea, her face feeling unnaturally warm as she joins Izuku and Tenya down to the ground floor. “So, should we get those extra supplies for the class first? Or do your shoes take priority, Izuku?”

They step off their escalator, Izuku sipping his own drink as he looks around. “I… Well, the shops are right next to each other. I could grab my shoes quickly, give you two a few minutes alone to get started on getting those together…”

Okay, was everyone trying to be someone’s wingman on this trip? First Kyouka was trying to set up Eijiro and Katsuki, now Izuku was trying to set them up? Ochako would bet money that Hitoshi was doing the same thing to Momo and Kyouka, though she imagined a more devious grin on his face, while Izuku maintained a perfectly innocent facade. “I… Aizawa said not to go anywhere alone, but he’d literally just be in the next shop over.”

Tenya takes a second, his hand assuming its chopping position as he begins to refute that. “Aizawa Sensei’s instructions were quite clear. As Class President, you should…”

“IZUKU!” Both Izuku and Tenya flinch, Ochako turning to see Mei running up. She had a bag on her arm, which didn't stop the engineer from wildly wrapping her arms around the hero student. Ochako nearly drops her tea, but just manages to return the gesture before looking at the boys. “Oh my gosh, I was just thinking about you two. We need to talk about the babies we’re making together!”

A few people around them all stop, enough confusion for Zaphira to force her way through the crowd. She didn’t have any bags, the taller girl apparently shouldering the burden for their trip. “Hatsume, why must you take joy in tormenting the boys in other classes?”

“Because Power-Loader took my lab privileges for the rest of the week! This is the only fun I can have in the mean-time.” Hatsume spreads her arms, giving Izuku and Tenya time to refuse as she walks over. Izuku welcomes the gesture… and Ochako sees Tenya look away, a bit of heat seeming to crawl up his face.

Ochako takes a breath, smiling at Hatsume while internally screaming. She’s… fairly sure, she knows what’s happening in her chest. But she tamps that down, trying to have a normal day for the first time in a long while. “Well, me and Tenya needed to pick up some dorm and school supplies for the class, and Izuku needed to get some new shoes. We were debating whether we should split up, or which one to go to first.”

Hatsume instantly perks up, letting go of Izuku while beckoning to Zaphira. “Well, isn’t that a coincidence? Zaphira needs to replace a pair of hers, too. This mall has one of the only shops near Yuuei that sells shoes for… anyways, Izuku can come with us. It’ll give us a chance to talk, hang out. You guys get him all the time, let us borrow him for a few minutes?”

Ochako looks at Tenya, who takes a moment before looking at Izuku. “If you need anything, you’ll let us know, yes?”

Izuku nods, letting Hatsume and Zaphira sweep him away. Ochako and Tenya hang back for just a moment, the little flecks of a crowd that had assembled quickly dispersing. Even though there wasn’t a crowd focused around them, it still felt like there were a lot of people out, a lot of whom seemed to give them second looks. Ochako looks up at Tenya, who tries to avoid her eyes by watching the myriad people around.

“So…” She starts to speak, Tenya jolting and looking down at her. “… Um… Hatsume sure was a surprise, huh?”

Tenya nods, and they make their way after the group to head to the very shop next door. It was an office supply shop, with hand carts they both grab to make sure they get everything on the list. Unlike the public space, there was a nice absence in the rows, only a group of four older kids probably also getting school supplies.

After too long in silence, Ochako clears her throat. They were currently grabbing three ring binders and dividers, Tenya turning to look at her. “Iida… um, I was kind of curious about something.”

Tenya nods, then steps closer. “Yes, you seem curious about a few things. I… I should apologize, about my standoffishness, over the past while.”

“No, that’s fine. I just… I was wondering if maybe… we could try to go out together again. Maybe… without the rest of the class?”

Ochako feels the seconds stretch out, Tenya’s face heating up when realizes what she’s asking. He stumbles for words… then nods his head. “Um… I… that sounds nice, I should think. Maybe we could… is dinner too formal, for such an occasion?”

Ochako blinks, instantly remembering some old dating advice her mother had once told her to remember. But the instant she thinks of that, of asking Tenya out on a date, she can feel her confidence start to crumble…

But then she remembers Hatsume inviting her to the Support Lab, and that feeling when Momo stood up for her worth. So Ochako stands up a bit straighter, shaking her head. “No, I think that’s right for a first date. I… I heard a rumor, from one of the older Support Course Kids, that Lunch Rush is willing to organize something private at the school.”

Tenya nods, slowly making his way up to the front of the store. “I would gladly join you for a private dinner, Ochako. Do you wish to organize it, or would it be improper for me to do so?”

“I mean, if you wanted to set up a specific dinner plan, I wouldn’t be opposed.” Tenya nods, Ochako just trying to keep her stomach from turning from the nerves. Her heart starts beating like she’d just stopped running a mile, though Tenya doesn’t seem any more nervous as they walk up to pay for their gathered supplies.

-

Momo fights the urge to blush, Hitoshi obviously trying to assist Kyouka with something involving her. But Momo couldn’t think of what the other girl could want with her, even in an academic sense. More than the other girls, Kyouka had put in effort to avoid being alone with her in the past. Even now, she seemed to be using Hitoshi as a buffer, as they… what were they getting again?

They make their way into a shop that seemed specifically filled with snack foods, Kyouka leading the way to an aisle with so many different kinds of popcorn. Momo stops at the mouth of the row, looking around with obvious amazement at the combinations. “Caramel corn, strawberry chocolate corn… fascinating.”

Kyouka turns to watch her, Momo turning to see a smile as Hitoshi fills a basket with a few boxes of unpopped popcorn. She freezes when she sees Momo looking at her, turning to the shelf with… a blush? She couldn’t…

Momo begins looking at the options, considering if Kyouka might… she didn’t like her, did she? She… Kyouka did seem to have a strong connection to the others in the class who were similarly non-hetero-normative. Like Katsuki and Eijiro, or Hitoshi and Izuku. But… What did Kyouka like about her?

Instead of answering that question, Momo picks out a few snack choices, adding them to the cart Hitoshi was holding. He looks at the choices, nodding as Kyouka wanders a little further down the aisle. “Perfect, the caramel ones always taste good… can I talk with you, for a second?”

Momo nods, and Hitoshi takes a few steps back towards the front of the store. “Did you need something?”

Hitoshi looks over his shoulder, then leans down to whisper to her. “Just, be honest with me. Do you honestly not notice how Kyouka feels, or are you going to try to let her down easy?”

Momo blinks, feeling her stomach twist. So she did… Well, Kyouka wasn’t exactly the type of person she’d looked at in a romantic sense, in the past. Her typical social experience was with people like Tenya, or the daughters of her parent’s business partners. People like Kyouka… punk style, more interested in artistic expressions than business… “I… I don’t know? I don’t exactly have experience with… I mean, obviously I foster relationships with people all the time, for my parent’s sake. But… I suppose I just wasn’t thinking that way, about my classmates…”

Momo looks around the store, trying not to let Hitoshi see her discomfort… and quickly looks back, blinking once or twice as she takes in the information she just saw. An older couple, a pair of women, who were almost as out of place shopping here as she was. Hitoshi catches her discomfort, looking and seemingly singling out the pair instantly. “Do you know those two?”

Momo nods, turning to check on Kyouka… and turns back to Hitoshi, seeing someone near the back of the store she similarly recognizes. “Yes, and I recognize the man near the back of the store as well. They’re all Commission Agents… is this one of Aizawa Sensei’s tests?”

Hitoshi blinks, then shrugs. “If it is, he didn’t tell me about it. But… okay, we’ll table this for now. Let’s stay close, just in case, yeah?”

Momo nods, the two of them turning to Kyouka. She’s made her way to snack sized chip bags, picking from a few options. Momo steps up, looping her arm with Kyouka’s free one while lowering her voice to a murmur. “Don’t look, but we’re being followed.”

Kyouka flinches from the contact, her face flushing as she nods. “Yeah, I was thinking one or two of these ones flavored like French Cheese. Are you sure Aoyama would like them?”

Momo blinks, then quickly gets the code-talk. Uwabami recommended a few code phrases and hints to her and Kendo during the Internship, but Death Arms probably wouldn’t have covered that with Kyouka. If the Hero Commission is assigning a detail to them whenever they leave the campus, having that in their skill set would be useful. “Oh, I’m sure he’d love to try them, at least. Besides, I know the rest of the girls have a taste for it. You know, we need to schedule a Girl’s Night, now that we’re all at the Dorms.”

-

Izuku looks around the shop, instantly seeing the side door leading to where they kept the Quirkless shoes. There were a handful of companies that actually made them in Japan, and most stores didn’t make a habit of advertising they stocked them. Zaphira takes a few more seconds, but she begins walking that way with Hatsume following behind them. “So, Izuku… you get the same shoes Zaphira does?”

Izuku carefully nods, Zaphira looking over with curious eyebrows raised. He was wearing his most put together pair, a piece of Hanta’s tape keeping the bottom of the sole together until he could buy a few replacements. His mom had leant him one of her cards, saying he could definitely get a few pairs without it being a problem. “Yeah… I don’t know. They always felt more comfortable than other shoes. Plus, I ran a lot in middle school, and the extra balance was a life saver more than once.”

Zaphira nods, stopping to tap the tip of the brown boots she was wearing. “Yes, our shoes are much more comfortable. Why is it so hard to just make shoes a little bit wider on one side? There are already shoes of all sizes, even for people with bird talons and horse’s hoove.”

They walk into the side room, seeing a few shelves in the otherwise windowless room. There was a pair of benches in the middle of the space, which Hatsume sets her bags down on as Zaphira begins looking for her size. Izuku quickly finds his size in the row, wondering if doing this was a bad idea. He should have gotten a few normal pairs of shoes in his size at the start of the year, and just fixed them to avoid the possibility other people might catch on.

He moves over the bench with a pair, just checking that they fit to be sure. They slide on almost perfectly, which causes him to check as Zaphira also sits down to do the same. Because he knows Zaphira will know almost instantly now, and Hatsume will pick up on it sooner or later…

Hatsume picks out a pair from the same shelf as Zaphira, walking over to slide them on. She peels her boots off, and raises her eyebrows when she slides them on. “Wow… these really are comfortable. They feel kind of cheap, though.”

“Not really. The companies that make them could make them cheaper, forcing Quirkless people to buy them a lot more often. But the companies actually have to compete for loyalty among their customers, so they all actually make really sturdy products… you know, when you don’t have a Quirk that destroys them.” Izuku blinks as the information comes pouring out, but the girls don’t seem to notice his growing nerves.

Izuku makes sure to take another two pairs with him, carrying the ones the Support Students were also getting as they walk out into the store proper. He walks them up to the register, pulling out his wallet and smiling at the older gentleman behind the counter.

Izuku turns once the shoes are paid for, offering Hatsume the bag hers and Zaphira’s are both in. And he looks at the doorway to the shop, where a familiar woman is standing, seeming to watch him. It takes him a second to place, then remember her from Endeavor’s Party. She had a pair of people with her, who both took positions on both sides of the doorway to the shop.

She clocks him noticing her, briskly walking in with a purely neutral expression on her face. “Midoriya, correct? Forgive my bluntness; I didn’t take the proper time to introduce myself, when we last attended an event.”

She offers him her hand to shake, which Izuku takes. Her eyes peer into the bag on his arm, which he shuffles closed while looking at the Support Class girls. “Hatsume, Zaphira, this is Miko-dono from the Hero Commission’s Public Relations and Internal Affairs Department.”

Miko’s eyebrow creeps up, but she quickly smooths it out to offer her hand to both Hatsume and Zaphira. “My apologies, but I do need to borrow Izuku for a few short minutes. Might I borrow him from your capable hands?”

Hatsume looks at him, and Izuku isn’t sure if she spots the nerves that spike when she says that. But she looks up, a faint frown on her face. “Well, we’re not supposed to let him leave our eyesight. Could we just wait by the door, while you talk to him?”

“Of course. A private few words is all I request, nothing more.” Zaphira gives him what Izuku is sure is supposed to be a reassuring look… and Izuku slowly lets Whisper unravel, a vague sense of the space filling him mind as One for All faintly pings off everyone in the room…

Except for Miko. Izuku blinks as she turns to the clerk, handing a small manilla envelope to him. He nods, taking out a little sign from under the desk and walking to a door leading to what was probably a breakroom. Because Miko didn’t have any emotions Whisper could connect with, bouncing off the space she was standing in like a pillar withstanding an ocean wave… except his connection with One for All seemed thinner, like a rope that’s suddenly frayed.

Hatsume and Zaphira both walk towards the door, leaving Izuku alone with Miko as she turns her attention to him. “Now, Izuku. I don’t want you to take my words as a threat. But my Quirk, Suppression, makes one’s connection with their Quirk noticeably weaker. Given the unusual connection with yours, I should hope that won’t provide an issue?”

Izuku tilts his head, his hand twitching with the urge to start writing. He quickly flexes his hand, Miko catching the gesture while he nods. “A Quirk-Canceling Quirk? That’s really interesting, and very rare. I mean, Eraserhead obviously has it, but aside from him they’re incredibly rare.”

Miko nods, her lips twitching up into an odd smile. She brings a hand up, like she was adjusting a necklace that Izuku couldn’t see. “Yes, I know the stats. I helped compile a number of research studies on Quirk similarities, in my early days. I quickly moved from Research and Cataloging to more Field Work and Public Relations… not unlike yourself, I might note.”

Izuku nods, looking back to the front. “Yeah… I spent a lot of my free time outside of school studying Quirks, when the Doctors told me I might never be able to use mine. But I understand, if that’s a concern to the Hero Commission. Not everyone who studies like that uses those skills for good… like those things, from the Party.”

“Yes… the Nomus appear to be a work of deviant Quirk Experimentation. So, for someone to be so proficient in that who wasn’t scouted in Middle School, only to be snapped up by Nedzu… you can understand the Commission’s Concern. Especially when you are then separated from any Supervision during these attacks, both of which involve displays of these individuals.”

Izuku blinks, not expecting that to be where this conversation was going. He tilts his head again, quickly rereading the conversation. He looks at the door again… and sees a few other people in suits that he was fairly certain had been leaving when they’d all come in a group to the mall, all wearing similar sunglasses while still obviously looking into the Shop as they pass. “I… oh. I wasn’t alone during the USJ incident; Hagakure and Hitoshi were both with me. And Nedzu could track me, through the communicator I had during the Tower Incident and with the cameras in the USJ.”

Miko hums to herself, narrowing her eyes while studying him. Izuku blinks, recognizing the sort of look she had as she judges what he said. He recognizes it from plenty of his teachers before Yuuei, only Miko seemed much more patient in looking for something to punish. His other teachers would take the first excuse, but Miko seemed to want something that would hold weight. “That might very well be true. But… Considering the threat the League of Villains pose right now, the Hero Commission is re-evaluating any potential hazards or dangerous individuals on our radars. So it would be in your best interest, and the interest of your class, to make sure you stay well within your position as a Hero in Training, in the future.”

Izuku nods, the threat in her words clear. He looks towards the doorway, seeing Tenya and Ochako walking up to Hatsume and Zaphira. “I… I understand, Miko-Dono. I’m sorry, if I caused you or anyone else in the Commission any trouble.”

“Oh, you served quite well in ensuring Stain’s recovery, after his capture. Our resident Quirk Physicians say he’s well along the way to a speedy recovery… almost too quick to be believable.” Izuku turns back… and he notices Miko’s eyes quickly flick from his face to his hands, seeming to take in all his body language as she says that last bit in a leading way.

He doesn’t say anything to that, trying to steady out the quickening pace of his heart. “Oh, I’m glad to hear that. That he survived, I mean; it’s better, for everyone, if he survived. You probably have more information, because you could just question him.”

Miko raises an eyebrow, then slowly nods her head. She turns, and beckons to him to follow her to the door after knocking on the front desk to let the shop clerk know they were leaving. “Well, I want you to make sure to keep yourself safe in these newly difficult times. I should hope that, in the future, our meetings can be a bit more pleasant than this one had to be.”

Izuku nods, and Miko collects the two people at the door to quickly leave. Ochako and Tenya both notice her leave, and both take a quick scan around before Ochako makes a little noise. “Oh… wait, wasn’t she from the Hero Commission?”

“Yes, I believe Miko was the Public Relations official on the news a few nights ago. What did she want to talk about with you?” Izuku takes a breath, packing away his stress to deal with later.

“I mean, the usual. Apparently, the Commission had some notes about how easy we’d be to kidnap.” Izuku spins his finger around, and the four quickly begin looking around. Tenya seems to catch on first, turning to look at Izuku with a raised eyebrow.

“Kind of… creepy, of them.” Ochako shudders, Izuku nodding as the two Support Class Girls turn to them.

Hatsume reaches out to hug him again, Izuku trying to not tense up at the physical display of affection Hatsume seems to be fond of giving. “Well, we have to go find my Dad up on the third floor, but we need to get together outside of class. Come on, Zaphira!”

Hatsume drags Zaphira away, Izuku watching them head towards an escalator. And coming down the opposite way were Katsuki and Eijiro… and Katsuki is… blushing? Eijiro is positively beaming, carrying two large black bags from the kitchen shop up on the third floor.

Chapter Text

Toga flares awake at the sound of a creak, the dark room instantly washing into detail. She reaches under her pillow… and after a few seconds, the past few days wash in. Not just the lack of a knife there, but the fact that she was in a comfortable bed, in freshly bought clothes, with faint sunlight passing through fancy looking curtains.

Iguchi is just peeking in through the doorway, in the weird blue and white uniform he now had a half dozen of in his closet. He stops a second, letting Toga get her bearings before speaking. “I need to run, help clean up a mess from one of the older classes. But I got a message from Recovery Girl, asking if you could come see her for something today. She said it wasn’t another exam, but…”

Toga nods, slipping out of bed. She shudders as she remembers all the blood draws and scratch tests they’d done, her arm still feeling tingly if she thought about it. Yes, blood was really pretty, especially splattered over something. But just sitting there in a tube, with some medical gunk to keep it ‘fresh’... “Can you tell her… Or should I use mine?”

Iguchi nods, then ducks out of the room. She looks at the phone on her bedside table, on one of those charging circles that meant she didn’t have to work through which of the half a dozen different plugs went into it. She picks it up, resisting the urge to frown when it opens up with one look at her face. She moves to the Green Bubble square, which has seven numbers in it now. The Rat Principal, the Hairy Counselor Guy, Recovery Girl, Torino and Iguchi… and two numbers she couldn’t make herself forget. She’d never tried to call them, after she ran away… but she’d made herself keep them, the things stalking her like she’d stalked Stainy.

Recovery Girl quickly confirms the meeting, and Toga gets herself dressed in the new clothes that took up a whole wardrobe. She almost doesn’t want to wear them, to admit that she could stand to be treated nicely. But the red blouse and longer black skirt fit her nicely, since she hadn’t gotten them from second and third hand stores.

The meeting wasn’t until later in the morning, giving her time to wait around in the apartment and wake up. The place was bigger than most places she’d ever seen, much less slept in, with the bedrooms almost as big as the living room with a connected kitchen. The television had channels that ran into the triple digits, which Toga was impressed to see didn’t buffer or go staticy if she waited more than a minute.

She mixes a bowl of… ‘cereal’, though it was apparently some sort of health alternative Recovery Girl had said she should try to eat for the next week. It tasted worse than dumpster food… no, that wasn’t the issue. Dumpster food had three or seven different tastes, only five of which were actually meant to be tasted at all. This stuff was weirdly bland and dry, even with the milk that was too smooth for her to be comfortable with. She was used to her milk having at least one big chunk, so the whole carton being smooth and uniform was a discomforting experience.

She waits long enough for her not to be creepily early, then lets her phone lead the way. As soon as she steps out of the door, her own key in hand to lock it behind her, her phone chimes a route for her to walk to get to Recovery Girl’s office. She almost immediately strays from the pavement path, walking through the grass to break in the new shoes she also had. But the phone doesn’t complain, and there aren’t any hidden turrets like Gran Torino joked there were.

She makes it to the building with enough time to spare to get to Recovery Girl’s before the class bells start ringing, a few people a little older than her walking out just before she gets to the doors. A few of them look back to her, but Toga doesn’t linger long enough to hear them say anything. She just quietly slips through the clinic, the back couple of beds all curtained off as Recovery Girl and someone else speak.

Toga slows, near the little office space Recovery Girl keeps separate. Because… she recognizes the voice talking with Recovery Girl. “I understand… but will he be in any danger from this?”

Toga turns, vaguely able to see a taller man’s silhouette in the bed, with Recovery Girl walking around the bed with something square in her hand. “I… hopefully, we can minimize any risk to the both of you, in this trial. Midoriya doesn’t have experience using his Quirk in this manner, which might not even work on other people. This is partially testing the bounds of his Quirk, and seeing if it is possible to provide any quicker recovery for you…”

The man responds, Toga placing the recognition as he goes on. But she’s also recognizing something else, that other name they used grabbing her attention like the bakery’s back door opening early on Sundays. “Only if it doesn’t hurt him. I… if I’m going to be like this for the rest of my life, I don’t want him to possibly hurt himself for my own selfish wants.”

Recovery Girl steps out from behind the curtain, instantly spotting Toga in her spot against the wall. She liked all the red in her wardrobe, but it also meant she was easier to spot than she was used to, especially in all the sterile white and blue and green of the UA building. “Himiko, thank you for coming by. Can I get you a smoothie, Dearie?”

Toga tries not to wince at that name, the whole thing sounding wrong to her. Sure, she’d probably be happier using that one than her family’s old name… but Toga fit her better. The little mistake her parents regretted, even before she ran… “No, thank you. Who… What did you want to see me about?”

She tries to cross her arms, feign disinterest like some of the older homeless people did whenever a Cop started asking questions. But Recovery Girl… she sees through Toga like she was two pieces of soaked through paper, just nodding and beckoning her forward. “Actually, it’s my patient who wanted to see you. If you’re okay with it, they wanted to make sure you were okay, after your last meeting.”

Toga inches forward, seeing the Hero she’d walked around with a few weeks ago. His face was a little pale, and Recovery Girl had him hooked up to more stuff than she’d ever been hooked up to. And Recovery Girl had had her on one of these things all day, with one of those bags that were supposed to replace water and other stuff. But Ingenium had something across his chest under his gown-thingy, one of those finger pinching things, and a headband leading to a pair of screens split across six different colored backgrounds that hurt her brain, trying to figure out.

“Toga, right?” She blinks, turning back to his face. And he has that same reassuring smile on his face, as he adjusts his arm with the finger pincher thing up over his chest. He;d also noticed her discomfort, trying her other name to see if it fit her better. “I’m glad you're okay, really. Recovery Girl told me you found someone to stay with, for the time being… I would have brought one of those cinnamon rolls you liked, but I can’t really walk into a bakery with all these wires and things.”

Toga nods, trying not to smile. It feels wrong, in a weird way she can’t explain. “I… yeah, I’m good. Thank you… you don’t look so okay, though. That weird Floating Knife-Tooth thingy really hurt you, huh?”

Ingenium laughs, hiding a flinch when he moves something he shouldn’t. Recovery Girl walks up to a monitor, one figure jumping from pale blue numbers to a brighter orange. “Tensei here wanted to make sure you were healthy, just like the rest of us. He’ll be here over the next few days, if you want to talk to him between his treatments.”

Toga nods, the clinic door opening. She turns… and right there, messy green hair she’d recognize anywhere. The boy Stainy recognized as a true Hero, walking in with a bag over his shoulder and a nervous smile on his face. “Hi, Recovery Girl…”

He stops when he sees Toga, who smiles at him. “Hey, aren’t you that kid on the news who helped fight the League of Villains with Stainy?”

Midoriya nods, and Toga walks over. He offers a hand to shake, which she settles for. She wanted to hug him, as someone who would stand for Stain’s values as a Hero, but he was one of those quiet nervous types, she could see. The kind of person who would wait to be the last person to raid a dumpster, having two or three others they could pick through, usually offering options to anyone who was still hungry. “Yeah? I… um, oh, okay…”

Recovery Girl clears her throat, drawing their attention to her. “Himiko, I’m afraid I will have to ask you to leave in a few minutes, for our medical Quirk Trial to begin. But before you go, is there anything else you need for today? Anything you wanted?”

Toga keeps a smile on, refusing to frown at that name. “No, not really. I think I have everything I want, right now.”

Recovery Girl nods, and Izuku slowly pulls away to walk over to the little smoothie bar Recovery Girl had. He quickly puts things together, Toga picking out a certain speed that implied he’d done this frequently recently. Like people who filched snacks from vending machines, there was just muscle memory at play as he quickly danced through the process.

He turns to Recovery Girl, and Toga notices he has a watch on. It has a few medical numbers on it, too small for Toga to see without stepping closer. “Recovery Girl… I thought you said I wouldn’t be able to help Tensei with my Quirk.”

“Yes, that was my original thought. But while I don’t teach science Classes here, I remember the scientific method. I had my actually trained students do some prep work, and I’m going to treat this as a trial for your Quirk’s limits. I have Ingenium on the same supplements I provide for students who I use my Quirk on, to see if your target’s energy reserves help reduce your Quirk’s strain. But rest assured, I will be monitoring you during this process, and if I say stop, we’re halting that very moment.”

Recovery Girl takes a strict tone, but there’s also concern and kindness hiding there. But much like Toga in this clinic, it was obvious to see if you looked for it. Izuku nods, drinking part of his smoothie as he walks behind the curtain.

Toga takes her cue to leave, quietly making her way to the apartment. She makes it unnoticed, and she looks at the lunch plan Recovery Girl had left for her. It was some sort of salad, with a package of meat in the refrigerator with cooking instructions. She’s seen Iguchi use the stove, but she’d only used it once, with him and Torino looking over her as she used it.

The food comes out fine enough, and she even turns the whole thing off when she’s done. So she flickers through channels while eating, settling on some old gorey movie to watch. The blood was obviously fake, the wrong shade of red and too thin and runny… but she could pretend, couldn’t she?

-

Miko sits with her salad, trying to pretend to be having a normal day. Those were her orders, after all. But the more she tried to dig, the more her shovel tried to break through the ground, the more rocks and stones seemed to obstruct her path. Worse, she had grabbed a shovel, thinking she’d maybe encounter mud and roots from the bog of corruption that surrounded Nedzu.

It starts with Izuku, and his Quirk. Being trained for a year before Yuuei by All Might, resulting in Dagobah Beach being renewed. The Hero Commission had seen to catching and killing those photos, in case they ever needed the dirt on Yagi Toshinori. That Izuku seemed to have additional injuries that just this admittedly hazardous training would suggest was merely noted in the file, with no reports of abuse or abusive behavior from Inko to dig into further.

But now, with Izuku being a person of interest, everything was getting a second look. Nedzu razed his previous schools on claims of abuse that the Commission had theoretical evidence of, not that they were going to use their cards there yet. And Inko going after Endeavor, conveniently as he became a target for the League of Villains…

But while Izuku was a perpetually lonely child, with no real or Nedzu doctored records of any extra-curricular activities, Inko had a social circle. Izuku’s online presence was easy enough to find, if a bit pathetic for a growing child, and Inko didn’t even have an ad blocker. Years of data was available, and Miko had to admit it wasn’t doctored or suspicious in the slightest… which made the next angle even odder.

Hisashi Midoriya… was plain missing. There were records of the man existing, or marrying Inko and providing for her. But soon after Izuku’s fourth birthday, the man vanishes from the face of the Earth. A shell corporation of a subsidiary gives his child support to Inko, and the man doesn’t have a single active phone number to his name. Eleven years, and the man was plain gone from the world without a single person asking why until she started digging.

Miko… if Suppression didn’t cut her off from an emotional response, she might be laughing hysterically as mad tears poured down her face. If she hadn’t had proper counseling and training, she might think she was going mad. Every layer deeper she went into the Midoriyas felt like she was finding some new ancient civilization, hitherto unknown to mankind. This… this had to be deliberate. No real person had this many conspiracies and secrets to their name.

Either that, or Nedzu was somehow coordinating operations with the League of Villains… and for now, the Commission refused to believe that. Considering the danger they presented to his staff and students, Miko believed that Nedzu would be on the front lines of that war if the Commission ever requested assistance. But the sheer amount of work for the students of Class 1-a…

Even the Shie Hassaikai were not so complex, by the Commission’s records. Or maybe, that was thanks to their Field Coordinator on the case. Either way, her lunch barely goes down, her coworkers noting her silence with the nervous energy of a pack of gazelles when a lion was resting in their midst. Miko returns to her office as soon as she can, grabbing the projector remote and pointing the device at her clearest wall.

Now, she wasn’t a fan of ‘conspiracy boards’, both for the waste of resources and the sort of attitude they implied in a person. But having all the files displaying against the wall in a web… it soothed her, in a way the aesthetic alone couldn’t explain.

She sets the remote down, staring for another few minutes as she puzzles out the clues. Inko and Midoriya didn’t have any connections to League of Villains affiliates they could track yet, but there were now multiple League members they didn’t have a physical profile of. Stain failed to provide additional information of use, and Muscular still had yet to be inspired to share anything useful. If she had to guess, the man was nothing more than a distraction the League valued as little as the Commission did…

The only connection to criminality they could find with Yuuei, through all of Nedzu’s increased securities, was the Ojiro Mashirao incident from a month ago. Nedzu had even gone to hire the same fighter the boy had been in a match with as a janitor, but for no reason they could detect. This man… Miko has to check the notes for his name, the file opening to his small potato file… ‘Shuichi’, had no connections with greater crime. He didn’t even have any real crimes on his record, just loitering and one instance of having a Hero called on him when his landlord evicted him prematurely…

Miko blinks, using the remote to dig deeper into that file. She then looks further across her notes, seeing Nedzu’s hiring practices of Inko Midoriya and Gran Torino. He also has contact with a particular officer, which the Police Chief noted but hasn’t followed up on with all the other business piling up. His steadily increasing pay of Recovery Girl, who had personally handled All Might’s health needs since the incident six years ago.

Miko notices a lack in that web, and walks over to her landline. She opens her desktop up, finding the right office number to call. It rings twice, getting through on the third ring. “Sir Nighteye’s Office, Bubblegirl speaking.”

Miko lets her eyes trace over the file, seeing a thread the Commission might be able to pull. “Yes, this is the Commission’s Internal Affairs and Public Relations Department. Is Nighteye available to speak within the next day?”

The phone makes an irritating grating sound, some whispers as Bubblegirl tries to talk to someone without simply muting Miko. It takes several seconds, but the heroine finally responds. “Sir is currently working on one of his long term projects, but I believe he keeps his Thursdays available. Could I take your number for him to call back this evening?”

“That would prove acceptable.” Miko rattles off the number, then turns to the web again. Perhaps Sir Nighteye would prove malleable to the Commission’s softer interrogation techniques, if not willingly help them with this project.

-

Tenya makes his way to Recovery Girl’s clinic, the rest of the class heading back to the dorms for the day. But he makes his way through the crowd of students, some of whom stare at him while a lot of others conspicuously avoid looking at him. But he ignores it, finding his way to the clinic as quickly as he could without using his Quirk.

He opens the door, a little surprised to see Izuku on one of the beds. The boy had an ice pack on his forehead… but that thought ends when he sees Tensei and Koichi, his brother-in-law just barely helping Tensei falteringly stand on his own legs. He even walks the length of the bed, Tensei quickly moving to sit back down… but Tenya can’t see much more through the tears after that, running over to throw his arms around his brothers.

He read the files that the doctors sent his parents. If they were lucky, Tensei might be able to walk after years of therapy and at least two corrective surgeries, maybe more if the first one discovered more damage than scans could show. But he’d just… he’d just walked…

Tensei and Koichi both balk at the hug, quickly wrapping their arms around him when they recognize him. “Woah, easy there Ten-Ten. We just got done with the first round of treatment there.”

Tenya looks up at his brother’s smiling face, quickly running his sleeve over his glasses to see better. “But… but the reports said you’d…”

Tensei’s smile falls slightly, but he keeps it up as he moves his legs up onto the bed. “I’m still probably not going to be a Hero any time soon, and I’ll still be in a wheelchair most of the time. But Recovery Girl had a few ideas she wanted to try, before we went into surgery as an option.”

Tenya nods, just pulling his brother back into his arms. Recovery Girl’s cane taps its way over, the older woman giving them a few seconds before walking to the other side of Tensei’s bed. “It’s far too early to celebrate, obviously. We’re going to continue for the next few days, checking if there is any deterioration or improvement as this trial continues…”

Tenya pulls back, looking back up at Recovery Girl. “Trial? Like… ah, you’re having some of your internship students use their Quirks to hasten his recovery, yes?”

“Possibly, though we’ve only just started today. Me and Nedzu have been looking into Medical use for certain Quirks, and your brother agreed to be one of a few Subjects in a study. Several of my personal students and colleagues will be coming and going, and hopefully we’ll have Tensei’s mobility at least partially restored by the Summer.”

Tenya nods, Koichi putting an arm around his shoulders. His brother-in-law pokes at the corners of his mouth, trying to force a smile as he speaks. “Yeah, I might even get to help teach a class or two of yours. Or not; either way, you’ll be seeing more of me in the future, little brother.”

Tenya tries not to laugh at that, all his emotions getting weirdly jumbled in his chest. He pulls off his glasses, wiping them clean before sliding them back on. “Okay… but if anything happens, you have to tell me. If you need anything…”

Tensei smiles, flashing a thumbs up. “I just want you to worry about you for now, Tenya. I’ll be fine, after a bit of rest. Who knew sitting around hooked up to all these machines could be so exhausting?”

Recovery Girl walks over to the machines, a noticeably drained I.V. bag getting a tap or two with her cane. “It’d be a wonder if you had any energy, young man. You’ve gone through three of these things in as many hours… I suppose all those Quirks working on you increase metabolic activity. I might just need to obtain some of these for people who get lost hiking for over a week, with how much energy your body is putting up.”

“Maybe…” Tensei begins to speak, but cringes. Tenya looks, seeing his hand coming down to one of the sensors on his chest. “… Maybe a slower course would help? I’d love to be on my feet, but maybe this is finally my chance to take things slow for a change?”

Recovery Girl looks down at her tablet, nodding. “Yes, the current plan was aggressive to start. But Nedzu helped build a slower course, should pain or stress become a hindrance to the recovery process. I think Summer is a bit ambitious, but still possible if we’re careful about this. I’ll go ahead and start rescheduling, then. Izuku Dearie, could I ask you to help me for a moment?”

Tenya blinks, remembering Izuku had been in the room the whole time. He sits, up, reeling side to side for a moment before standing. He leaves the ice pack on the other bed, and instantly starts helping Recovery Girl by carefully removing parts of the machinery on Tensei’s body.

“Izuku… are you helping Recovery Girl with this trial?” Tenya remembers Izuku leaving for lunch, then having ‘personal business’ instead of coming back to class. Tenya starts to puzzle that out further, noticing his brother coming to a stop as well from helping Izuku.

Izuku… he freezes up for a moment, then shakes his head. “No, I was helping Nedzu with a few things. But I got a migraine from helping him file some things with the Hero Commission, so he told me to come down here and rest instead of going back to class for the day. Recovery Girl showed me a few of these, while I was here on Internship with Nedzu, and I just offered her help if she needed it.”

Tenya nods, but Koichi and Tensei trade a look when they think he’s not looking. Curious… maybe he should keep an eye on Izuku, for the near future. He’d kept All Might’s secret for over a year, allegedly. He was probably a secret keeper of some degree for Nedzu, as well, and for his brother with his treatment.

-

Mirai doesn’t like the pomp and circumstance of the Commission trying to save face on a good day. With all of the bread and circus in swing to control the damage done by Endeavor’s kidnapping, his already thin patience was nearly two dimensional from the continued digging he could do into the Midoriya boy.

His hopes of delivering his Shei Hassaikai file (a physical file, already paranoid before the criminal hacker Mayhem made herself known) are dashed quickly. Because his usual contact is out, and he’s been given another appointment to follow up on, on one of the higher floors of the Commission’s Tokyo office.

He’s guided to the office, the younger male intern quickly turning and departing with noticeable haste. Mirai raises an eyebrow, then knocks on the door. He hears the click of a projector turning off, then the flick of a light being turned on before the door opens.

Miko steps out, her hair noticeably unkempt as she reaches up to fix it. Mirai also notes faintly growing bags under her eyes, which Miko tries to hide by looking him directly in the eyes. “Apologies, Nighteye. I was… rather engrossed, by my current research project. I understand Tamiyo was otherwise engaged for your report?”

Mirai nods, handing off the folder. “Current patterns of behavior have shifted, and they appear to be upgrading current security measures beyond what our previous account watchers would suggest was in their budget. They might be expanding their operations as well, given how some appear to be inspecting other sites beyond their central compound.”

Miko nods, taking the file and stepping into her office, Mirai follows, stopping upon seeing the glut of physical files. There were so many that they would have blocked line of sight to the door, so Miko instead buried one of the guest chairs in files… files Mirai recognized. Or rather, he recognized the names of the schools and legal offices on them, since he’d been digging into them himself over the weekend.

Miko sets the new files in a stand, turning to notice Mirai appraising the collection. “Apologies, about all this. I have a collection intern scheduled to return these shortly to the file room…”

“No need to explain the mess… what has Midoriya Izuku done to garner so much interest?” Miko pauses, looking up at his eyes. Most people, whether they mean to or not, avoid looking him in the eye. Unless Miko is making the deliberate choice to do this as a sign of trust she joins a short list of about three people; Mirio, Bubblegirl… and Aizawa.

Miko looks down at the papers, then shakes her head. He can see her taking a deep breath in, clearly putting some mental strength into avoiding breathing through her mouth. Mirai is only professionally familiar with her Quirk, knowing it takes some obvious display to trigger, and not normal breathing. But she’s gone and trained herself, much like he just makes a habit of avoiding eye contact. “I’m afraid it’s in relation to an ongoing investigation, unrelated to the Shei Hassaikai. To give you further details would be improper… and create a conflict of interest, considering your history.”

Now, Mirai’s done his fair share of dead drops in recent months, secretly passing information back to the Commission about the Hassaikai. Miko’s verbal move is very similar, intentionally saying nothing incriminating while hinting something very obvious for him to look into. “Of course. Merely… given my current connections in Yuuei, if you require any insight to your investigation, I might be able to find time in my schedule for discussions.”

If the Hero Commission was looking into Midoriya… and being so thorough, seemingly turning over every rock that boy could have hidden secrets under, that would lead to two possible results. Either the boy really was as innocent as he appeared, if severely lacking in many qualities of a Hero… or he had a darkness so well hidden, even the Commission was unable to find it. Either way, Mirai can feel his justified paranoia grow in his chest.

As Miko smiles at him, he considers a phone number he hasn’t called in years. “I will consider your offer, but such assistance is not yet needed.”

Mirai nods, then turns to walk out of the office. Perhaps… Perhaps he’d been too slow, in planning a physical meeting. Not quite a confrontation, but a physical scouting mission was at last due.

Chapter Text

Nemuri… she feels better, after about a week of working through everything. Not actually good, just better grown around a growing seed of dread that sometimes feels like a vine wreathing her throat. This must be how Shouta and Thirteen have felt for the past month, though it was harder to tell with Thirteen busy with their updates to the USJ and higher class’s training regimes.

She’s looking over pages submitted for 1-A’s assignments, some of them so much more technically impressive than others she struggles to stay impartial. Hagakure and Satou had nice little details in their cityscape pieces, and Koiji might just have a better career as an artist than a hero.

She’s so wrapped up in the work she doesn’t notice someone else entering the lounge she was in during her grading period, up until they put a hand on her shoulder. She jumps, taking a few seconds to recognize Thirteen when they start speaking. “Hey, Midnight… woah, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Nemuri puts on a smile, shaking her head. Thirteen was out of their bulky suit, only the gloves still on. They were still in a bulky gray shirt that left everything to the imagination, the Yuuei uniform pants being the most form fitting thing Nemuri’s seen them wear in ages. “No, you’re fine. I just… got lost in my head for a bit there.”

“Yeah, that’s been going around. Everyone seems to be getting wrapped up in themselves, this year. I’ve barely seen anyone but the Hero Course Homeroom teachers.” That gets Nemuri’s lips to quirk, since Thirteen was the staff member best used to being separated from them. If this year’s weirdness was getting to them, maybe they could all use something fun this weekend.

“I would kill for another bar crawl, but Nedzu’s been on us to be more responsible this year. Plus, most of the nearby places have been warned about us, so we’d have to go pretty far out for a good karaoke place.” Nemuri sighs, temporarily remembering better times.

“I thought that the karaoke bar in Nagano was a good place. How was I supposed to know it was a front for the Hassaikai?” At that, Nemuri actually laughs. The two day debacle plays out in her mind, somehow feeling less dangerous than it had been even just a week ago.

“Yeah, maybe something lighter than hard booze… Oh, we need to at least have brunch. Do you think Lunch Rush could do Mimosas?”

Thirteen… oh, they have to know something. They check over their shoulder for Nedzu’s camera, then the doorway. Something juicy, based on how they lean in. “Well, I do have something. Recovery Girl has all these offers for health spas and other weekend retreats, some sponsorships and others just wanting her seal of approval. She has something like twenty thousand points at a nearby hotel and spa combo, and she’s already said she never has time for them. Maybe, and this is just a suggestion…”

Nemuri’s already nodding, writing out a list in her head. “I mean, twenty thousand is enough for about eight of us, plus we do have money. The two of us, Hizashi and Shouta, maybe Inui.”

“Cementoss definitely needs a nice relaxing weekend, too. I’ve been working on updating the USJ, but he’s been working on all the dorms. And… do you think All Might would join us?” Thirteen poses the question, and Nemuri is treated to a mental cavalcade of images. All Might’s muscle form in a tiny towel, enjoying a hot rock massage, or in a robe getting his nails cared for with a mimosa in the other hand.

Nemuri feels some heat rush to her face, closing the folder of drawings to fan her face. Sure, Toshinori couldn’t and probably shouldn’t hold that form, but a girl could innocently dream, right? “We can at least ask. Maybe Kan for the eighth? I’ll start shooting texts around. Maybe next weekend, two weeks from now?”

Thirteen nods, pulling out a phone and stylus to do the same. Nemuri sets up the group chat, sending the first text… and sees a news alert.

‘Another Trigger Gang’s Hideout found Burned Down; Mysterious Blue Flame Quirk Villain Blamed. Endeavor’s Absence Allowing New Flames to Burn?’

Nemuri clicks over to the article… and navigates her bookmarks in another tab, finding three articles of reference next to it. One, the original Trigger selling gang killed by someone with a Blue Flame Quirk. The second, of the Tower Incident, and how one neighboring building had supposedly been burned out by blue flames.

The Third… one of the Sports Festival. And the image of Shouto, making a plume of blue flames. And while Nemuri remembers Nedzu and All Might’s warning, not to obsess over the chance. But… well, Nemuri overheard a few chats, about Endeavor’s parenting choices. And Shouto was left alone in a zone, and ‘easily disabled’ all the villains there. And while he was strong, she couldn’t just discard the chance he’d been given a softball chance to earn their trust.

And his conspiracy mindset… she’d overheard the students talk, when she was the dorm minder. That he’d partially set the dominos that led 1-A to finding out more about All Might. How he was seemingly on the watch for secrets, and how they connected to each other… and how the League had been aiming at Endeavor the entire school year.

Nemuri shakes her head, seeing the first few responses to the weekend trip text. Because while Shouto seemed… socially unintelligent, only just opening up now with the whole of Class 1-A growing closer… he didn’t seem like the type that might grow up to be a villain. But with all the other secrets that had started flying around, Nemuri couldn’t help but catalog every shadow that crossed her path, checking above her head incase those shadows decided to sink their talons into her.

-

Toshinori looks at his phone, flipped over face down on the table. He was half considering taking Midnight up on the offer, partially because he was curious what a spa weekend could possibly entail. Nana, then Gran Torino, then David and Nighteye, and most recently Nedzu and Recovery Girl… Well, post training relaxation varied amongst them all, but a ‘spa day’ was not in any of the cross over amongst their varying styles.

He almost wants to volunteer to stay and watch the class, letting everyone else rest from the stress he was undoubtedly causing them… but then he thinks of being the only adult responsible for all the kids in Class 1-A. And considering what had happened the last time he’d helped with watching them, he wasn’t certain they wouldn’t unearth yet more information about him. Sure, maybe the worst secret they could learn about was out in the open, but there were plenty of things that they could learn that he could stand to never be known by another living person.

Plus, teaching in this form wasn’t nearly as taxing as the constant watching of the clock in his muscle form. Besides which, while All Might doesn’t get to show off exactly how much he knows about the Hero Industry, as Toshinori, he’s free to make a few sideways comments that have been on his chest for decades. A few students are even making notes of them, like that orange haired girl from 1-B.

His phone buzzes, and Toshinori flips it over to see… and he feels his heart hammer in his chest when he sees the caller I.D. He checks around the breakroom, having just a minute before the rest of the teachers joined him after their own classes finish. He takes a breath, and hits the answer button. His old friend’s image disappears, and he clears his throat before answering. “David, how are you this… morning?”

It takes David a moment, the man clearly in the middle of a sip of probably coffee before he responds. “Pretty good, all things considered. We’re already preparing for the Summer Expo, and Melissa actually has an entry she’s really proud of. I… I hear you’re also teaching, now?”

Toshinori can’t help a laugh, the discomfort of not talking in ages clearly palpable. “Yes, though it might make my hair go gray. I’m realizing I owe several of my teachers apologies, after just seven weeks of doing this.”

David laughs, sounding more genuine when he continues after that. “Oh, I hope half of them aren’t as bad as you were. The rumor mill is absolutely spinning, you know. How Nedzu has already hired on you, Torino, and that lawyer who went after Endeavor, and both Recovery Girl and Powerloader are both reaching out for support staff members. I just hope you all get all the help you need for this class.”

Toshinori huffs a little laugh, not doubting Powerloader has put feelers out. Hatsume might not be twenty students with increasingly obvious issues, but she did come with the implicit threat of ‘minimum blast radius’ and ‘projected casualty rate’. “Yes… speaking of, this is somewhat related to Shuzenji.”

David’s quiet for a second, during which Toshinori’s stomach turns. He was actually able to eat better, these days. But when his stomach does turn, and he has enough nerves that it was at risk of happening whenever he was awake, he has to mentally check how far away the nearest trash was.

“Yes… Shuzenji sent me a few files to look through. And… is it really that bad, Yagi? Seventy minutes a day?”

“That’s actually better, than it was for a long while. Shuzenji’s recent treatments, and me not using my form as often for classes, means I am recovering… but yes, it has gotten to quite the state.” Toshinori doesn’t mean to downplay it, but the time limit growing to over an hour is at least a step in the right direction. After so long of his condition deteriorating, an improvement was an ember of hope he couldn’t help but kindle.

David takes a moment, softly swearing in English and another language Toshinori couldn’t place. “I… I can certainly put some minds onto that, if not directly commission a few things. But Toshi… I’m worried about you. Not All Might, not the Symbol of Peace, not the number 1 Hero, YOU.”

Toshinori nods, the door to the lounge opening. He turns, seeing the new young janitor pause when he sees him. He sniffles, not realizing tears had formed in his eyes until blinking rapidly. “I… Thank You, Old Friend. I… We should talk more often.”

“I’ll call you every evening, if you want. Just… Get well, you hear?” David actually hangs up, but Toshinori can tell he’s somewhere on the verge of breaking down too. He sets his phone down, covering his face and taking a sharp breath to try and control himself before the rest of the waterworks start. Not nearly as impressive as Izuku’s, but he was at least in the race, when he let himself.

A box of tissues appears in the corner of his vision, the young lizard like man holding them in one hand and a bag of other trash in the other. He takes one, the man giving him a moment before offering the open bag. “You… you’re Torino’s old friend, right?”

Toshinori nods, running his hands up to settle his hair. “Among other things, yes.”

The man looks at him, then just nods and walks away. He replaces the tissue box on the table he’d gotten it from… then stops at the door, his hand stopping just as it grazes the handle. “You… You all really have a lot on your plate. I had a lot of plates spinning, with my last living situation. But… it really gets easier, if you have someone to talk to. It doesn’t solve anything, but it helps you measure everything. Just some friendly advice, if you want to take it.”

Toshinori nods, a little laugh bubbling up. “That was me talking to someone… someone I left a lifetime ago.”

The man turns, nodding. “And reconnecting hurts, doesn’t it? Like reaching through a narrow gap in broken glass… or, so I’m told.”

He holds his arm up, his sleeve falling to show off the scales on his arm. Toshinori nods, turning to fully face the man. “Very much so, yes. I… I want to do right by everyone here. The other staff, the students… But I also need to recover, which means I can’t afford to push myself. But…”

“Oh, that goes on forever.” The guy sets the bag by the door, crossing his arms. “Trust me, I’ve done that circle for hours, on a bad day. And I couldn’t afford meds, so I had to kick myself out of it the old fashion way. You’re trying to put out six fires with one extinguisher, each one of which can spread and relight the others. That’s where the other person comes in; someone on the outside can help talk you through which fire’s more damaging to your house.”

Toshinori blinks, then nods as the final bell of the day. The man looks up, and quickly ties off the trash bag and takes it out. And he lets his gaze flow up to the ceiling, his head relaxing against the back of the chair. “It… It can’t be that easy.”

-

Shouta pauses halfway through his drink, blinking several times. He lowers his cup, then carefully moves closer to the corner to hear the kids at the table talking. Of course, with Kyouka a part of the conversation, he didn’t doubt they were all aware he could be listening. “I mean, I get the need for it. But how do we make up a whole code if we need it?”

“Well, we can’t literally make code words for everything. But having a few emergency words, or at least signals, would be helpful. Like, if we’re worried about Mayhem watching our texts or hearing our calls.” Shouta nods as Momo speaks, making a note to dredge up his copies of pamphlets with basic field code words for them over the next week. He knew they were upstairs, in the boxes of things he and Hizashi still haven’t unpacked from the spare rooms on the fifth floor.

Actually, a lot of their things were still upstairs. He hasn’t really taken the time to move things into the apartment he and Hizashi are supposed to be sharing in the Teacher’s complex. The few nights he’d started letting Inko or Nemuri watch the dorms, he’d mostly collapsed fully on either the couch, or in his and Hizashi’s bed, without spending too much time in the decoration or upkeep of the place. He could probably do a bit better, about that… maybe making an official schedule on that, with Inko and the others.

“So, it has to be something we don’t say all the time, but something that isn’t completely a giveaway…” Kyouka laughs to herself, then taps her pencil against the table. “Maybe something like a class none of us actually take? Like ‘Hey, do you have the bowls for our Home-Ec class?’ or something like that.”

Shouta crosses the kitchen, doing a quick check of the cabinets to make sure everything was put away correctly. If he also checked that Denki, Mina, Mashirao, and Rikidou were all taking this seriously from the few glances he could steal, only Kyouka was in a position to see him do it. “Maybe… maybe we can ask to borrow an Eraser?”

Shouta suppresses a chuckle at that, Denki struggling to do the same as he speaks. Mina doesn’t succeed as much, almost cackling at the suggestion. “Oh, I love that. Even if you all choose something else, I am totally using that one.”

Shouta almost considers making a comment on that, closing the cabinet when he sees that whoever handles putting the dishes up is at least putting them up in a consistent way…

He hears something clatter in the living room, only just not spilling his drink as he jumps because the mug had been empty for a few minutes. He walks towards the doorway as a few people at the table turn to look as well, seeing Izuku’s head hanging over the arm of one of the couches.

Katsuki is sitting next to the green haired insomniac, quickly standing and retrieving a fork and pair of plates to walk in. “Someone better text Mindfreak to come drag his boyfriend upstairs. I’ve already carried him upstairs twice this week, I’m not making a habit of it.”

Shouta can’t help but remember some of Hound Dog’s advice from his temporary-then-permanant adoption of Hitoshi, about stress based sleep changes as Eijiro adjusts Izuku on the couch, so his head was at least resting on the arm of the couch. “He and Fumi-bro went upstairs, talking about some vampire game a while ago. And you’re going up to bed already, so why can’t you take him?”

Katsuki grumbles under his breath as he walks through the kitchen, shaking his head as a few people at the table laugh. But he makes sure to catch Shouta’s eyes… and Shouta gets the distinct impression that’s the closest Katsuki can come to asking to talk to him without a blood vessel popping.

He doesn’t immediately follow him, looking at the kitchen table group first. “While cute, using my hero name is one of the least good ideas for a code word. Anyone doing electronic surveillance would definitely be watching for that word… but good on you all for taking the initiative.”

He turns as Momo and Kyouka both smile at the compliment, walking over to the stove. He pours some of the boiled water left in a newly acquired kettle, then walks over to a box of hot chocolate mix on the countertop. As he stirs the mixture together, Katsuki furiously scrubs down the handful of dishes left to pile up in the sink, clearly waiting for everyone at the kitchen table to start loudly debating different code words before speaking. “Izuku’s been falling asleep a lot the past week. I don’t know what extra training you or Nedzu or Torino or whoever has him on, but the nerd’s pushing himself too far for his body to keep up.”

Shouta nods, knowing that wasn’t exactly a secret worth hiding. Especially if Katsuki already had spent the week noticing the symptoms of Izuku pushing his use of One for All’s secondary powers. Which… there was not enough oxygen in the world for the sigh that was growing in his soul. “Yes, Hitoshi has been keeping me updated. I was hoping leaving it a few days would help…”

“He trained all of last year just to use it, and thinks he can master his Quirk in two months? He’ll burn himself out before Finals at this rate… and I can’t really be the one to try to stop him.” Shouta nods, Katsuki placing the dishes onto the drying rack. The blond dries his hands, possibly waiting for him to continue the conversation.

Shouta sets his mug down, and walks out to the living room. Eijiro is texting someone, probably Hitoshi, when he moves next to Izuku. Shouta carefully picks Izuku up, the boy being deceptively heavy for his slighter frame. “Eijiro, could you hit the elevator buttons for me?”

The red head nods, hopping up as he tries to adjust his grip on Izuku. The green haired boy, still apparently asleep, helps in the adjustment by turning into his chest. Shouta takes a moment, then walks over to the elevator as a warm feeling spreads in his chest. Probably Whisper, if he had to guess where the sudden rush of comfort came from…

He gets Izuku laid down in his bed, ignoring for the moment the fact that Izuku’s bed was a tangle of twice as many pillows and blankets as a student should have in their room. As soon as he disconnects, Izuku rolls over, reaching for the blanket closest to the wall. Shouta takes a second, then reaches over to help cover the boy before moving towards the door.

He closes the door, taking a moment to consider how to talk to Izuku about reducing his training regime. Without causing him a panic attack, or that all of them thought any less of him… and his phone buzzing in his pocket distracts him from that. He pulls it out, expecting another message in the new group chat from Nemuri about that Spa Weekend he was surprisingly okay on going out on… only for that to stop when he reads the message.

Need to talk, on the way to a gunfight. Urgent.

He quickly goes for the elevator, dialing Nedzu as he waits. He doesn’t have to wait long, but he can’t help but remember the first time he got a text like that… ages ago, but the dread that grows in his chest grows to almost constrict his breathing before the rat answers. “Shouta, anything amiss?”

“Naomasa, not the students. Can you get me his position?” The rat’s quickness on the draw is only mildly calming, quickly opening it up. He scans through the information, recognizing the street as not too far from Yuuei that he could excuse it as a late night patrol, or even just him going out on a quick errand.

“He appears to be responding to a sting by Edgeshot’s agency… and he’s sent me a message too. He’s in transit, apparently called in to verify some information on sight.” Shouta chokes out a breath of relief, the elevator chiming. He’s tried not to think about… about Oboro since… but with Izuku’s odd vision, with whatever Whisper did to cross his nightmares with his, a lot of old paranoid thoughts have come roaring back to the surface.

He steps inside, quickly hammering the ground floor and ‘Close’ buttons. “Good. He told me to meet him, and it shouldn’t take more than an hour.”

“Go, see what he needs. I’ll have the security system ready for your exit, just let me know when to reset it to let you back in.”

He slips into the security room, seeing Inko alternating between typing on a tablet and checking the cameras. She turns to him as he comes in, quickly grabbing his goggles before sliding them under his scarf. “I’m slipping out the back to deal with an errand. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Inko nods, not saying anything as he makes good on his words.

-

Naomasa doesn’t mean to rush through the scene, but he can’t help the jitters running up and down his arm as he tries to take the statements. It was the second fire fight that had popped up this week, only now several of the people that had been shot didn’t have bullet wounds. Instead, they were claiming something else happened, something Naomasa wouldn’t believe if he wasn’t called in specifically to know they were telling the truth. “What do you mean, your Quirk is gone?”

The woman glares at him, a pair of officers watching her as she sits in the back of an ambulance. She was cuffed to the bed she was on, only just sitting still as a vial of blood was drawn from her. “What, you got earbuds in, Detective? I mean their little red not-bullets stole my damn Quirk! If I had it, you all would be fucking statues!”

The paramedic pulls away, handing off the vial to an associate before wrapping the woman’s arm. But Naomasa just nods when his Quirk doesn’t pin her for a liar, the other two cops both taking the faintest step back as he pulls out the evidence bag containing said red capsule. “Get the tester from the drawer up front, and just set it to basic Quirk Detection. I got a judge’s sign-off on the way over, paperwork scan will be ready in a minute.”

“Then we’ll start scanning when we see the scan.” The younger paramedic turns, but just nods as the older woman in scrubs trims the gauze wrapping around the villain’s arm. “If I don’t see that order before running it, then I become a criminal. Just because you can detect lies doesn’t mean you can’t lie to me, and I have my future to think about.”

Naomasa nods, and turns to the others. “Did we manage to recover any more of these, or just this one?”

“No, all the others were smashed up in the brawl. Scene Investigation is gathering what they can, but she’s the only one to save hers.”

“Yeah, well that’s what I get for hanging around a bunch of idiots…” The woman stops, then turns to the paramedic. “Hey, can you run that test now if I sign it, or something? Consent to it, or whatever the language is?”

The older paramedic rubs her chin, then nods. Her younger colleague sighs, setting the sample tube into a stand before walking up to the window in the front. He raps out a pattern of seven on the glass, and a clipboard and pen are passed back a few seconds later without a word traded between the two.

“Naomasa!” He turns, and walks halfway to meet Sansa. “So, we’ve got everyone we can, but Edgeshot said he’s going to help case the rest of the scene for anything else we might have missed in the initial sweep.”

Naomasa nods, then turns to point at the ambulance behind him. “We’re getting a test run on one of the criminals, who claimed their Quirk was stolen. She also saved the bullet she claims took her Quirk, so we’re doubly lucky there…”

Sansa nods, watching as the little tester spins the sample as an officer cuffs the criminal, after having to release her to sign the papers. The machine spinning is the loudest little thing in the vicinity, the car’s sirens off as the night is bathed red and blue. “You came out pretty quick, for a little gunfight. Besides, didn’t you have a domestic case taking up your time recently?”

Naomasa nods, hoping that was all most people knew about what he was looking into. And sure, he might have slightly exaggerated in his text to get Aizawa to come this way… but as soon as Aizawa texted he was en route, he’d sent back that he was fine. But he needed to talk to Aizawa in person, and pass him something for Nedzu to see. Because… Well, there was a lot to discuss.

The little machine slows down, letting off a loud chime as the younger paramedic pulls out his phone to scan some sort of barcode. His phone loads the information… and he stares at it, then shows it to his superior.

She stares for a second… then looks back at the test. “That’s… her Quirk factor is still there, but it’s… the best way I can describe it is Suppressed? Like when someone’s on a regular drug trip, then gets hit with Narcan. Her Quirk should be working, and the genetic factor is still there… but there’s another agent in her bloodstream, preventing the use of it.”

Naomasa stares for a moment, then takes a deep breath. The two arresting officers both beckon for the phone, one taking out their phone to catalog the data for later inspection. He tries not to sigh in visible relief, but the fact that she still had her Quirk was a minor relief. Because if there were now bullets going around that completely kill Quirks… well, then things would go from Worse to Apocalyptic.

His phone chimes, and Naomasa takes it out as Sansa pats him on the shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye on her, looks like the Heroes could use some help with securing the scene.”

Naomasa checks the messages… and turns to find Shouta waiting in the shadows of a nearby alleyway. Naomasa does a quick check, taking a moment to quickly walk over, slipping between a pair of squad cars and around the barriers. There wasn’t any foot traffic, what with it being a warmer than usual weeknight and gunfire having happened not an hour ago. And the officers were now slowly spreading the information of the Quirk negating bullets, so everyone was distracted enough for him to slip over.

He pulls out a flashdrive, quickly holding it out. Shouta takes it… then grabs his wrist, keeping him from going back to the crowd. Naomasa turns, the man giving him a hard glare under his goggles. “Next time, call me.”

Naomasa stares at Shouta… then clicks together why the man seems so nervous. He’s much tenser than usual, and he connects what he might have done to add to that. “I… oh shit, I didn’t think that…”

Shouta waves his hand, using the movement to look at the flashdrive. “Just call next time, yes? Anyways, what is this?”

Naomasa does a quick check again, then leans in. “My sister has a friend of a friend who’s paying back a favor. A couple of people have been digging into Inko since her case became a public matter… and the Commission is looking into her husband.”

Shouta looks at the drive, then slides it into a pocket. “Maybe All for One agents, maybe just random people trying to find dirt on Inko. What makes this important enough to call me out here.”

“That’s the thing; there’s nothing about Hisashi Midoriya to warrant an investigation.” Shouta blinks, and Naomasa does another check. He’s not sure what it is, but there’s just this feeling of eyes being on him, but he can’t find anyone that might be watching from the angles he can check. Maybe higher up, on one of the rooftops… meaning he needs to get this across, quickly. “Hisashi Midoriya has exactly the minimum amount of information most fake identities have, in fraud cases. Just enough to not ask questions, nothing that might suggest something interesting under the surface.”

Shouta’s eyes dart around, clearly also getting a sense of being watched. “Alright… I’ll let the others know. Inko hasn’t been acting differently that I’ve noticed, but she might have something to point us in the right direction.”

Naomasa nods, and turns to leave. He checks, and makes it back into the scene as Edgeshot and a group from his agency make their way in. He takes a breath, checking and seeing Shouta has disappeared, before making his way over.

Chapter Text

The Detective looks around, his nerves not yet set from detecting eyes on him… or rather, the eyes that incidentally strayed to him. Nemoto notes that with some mild irritation, sliding the binoculars away before making his way quietly from the scene.

As he makes his way out of the zone, not yet comfortable to make a call for transport, Nemoto takes the information available to him and begins puzzling it out. Endeavor’s disappearance, something he personally had a fatalistic delight at watching, had caused both a surge in Hero and Police activity, and a desire for resources and materials both would prevent the public from getting. Thrice the risk, only twice the rewards; ordinarily, not a good investment.

But the Boss and Chronostasis were coming up with a plan, that he could tell. Puzzling their intentions out, they wanted more Quirk Reducing or Eliminating products, with the sudden boom in desire for them. Sadly, one little girl couldn’t give them the scope of genetic material for all their trials, unless they wanted to exsanguinate their cash cow… but her Quirk Factor wasn’t directly Quirk Canceling, when such Quirks were available for the taking.

Hence, the bread crumbs. The police having a bullet to test was less than ideal, but Nemoto could withstand the boss’s displeasure at finding that out when he also presented another piece of information. That the Detective he particularly had Ire with was also a direct line to Eraserhead, who might be the simplest of their targets to lure into position. Not only did they have the detective now, but they did have a less direct way of getting to him… through one of his favored students.

But besides Eraserhead, they would ideally have an additional sample to collect from. But there were only four publicly known figures with Quirk Canceling or Dampening Abilities, one of whom was American. Three of them happen to work publicly in Japan, but one of them was stationed at Tartarus, a place the Hassaikai had yet to infiltrate… yet. Though, if these two gave them useful samples, they might be able to simply recruit this individual above the table.

Nemoto begins walking through the streets, the darkness and mostly silence of empty streets giving him time to think. With the Hero Commission closing ranks, Miko would be difficult to encounter, but not impossible. It was simply about the Shei Hassaikai getting both of them, and transporting them, before alarms could be raised. And unlike the League of Villains, they didn’t have some sort of Teleporting Quirk to make it easier.

He gets far enough away from the block the gunfire had happened in, two lower ranking Distributors turned against each other after Confessing terrible secrets about each other. He stops at a cafe that’s closed for the night, stealing a seat while pulling on his gloves. Nemoto then pulls out the burner phone given to him for tonight, dialing the number and rattling off the street corner he was on.

As he waits for the transport, he thinks back on that detective. Tsukauchi, if the records were correct, who seemed… put together. He had a similar Quirk to Nemoto, but he seemed to have some hope or trust in the rest of the world. And that… it stuck in between Nemoto’s teeth, making something ugly twist in his stomach.

Not five minutes later, a van pulls up right in front of him on the street. He removes the memory chip from the phone, throwing the phone away while getting into the van. The van starts moving the instant he pulls the door closed, momentum slamming him into the seat as he nods to the driver…

He blinks, seeing the boss in the passenger seat. He had his black mask on, and seemed calm and in control, but the inquisitive look pointed at Nemoto’s reflection made him recheck that thought, if the Boss’s temper was properly in check. “Tell me, Nemoto, how the mission went.”

Nemoto swallows, his throat going dry as Boss reaches up to adjust the dark gray of his tie. “It… things could have gone better. One of the patsies saved the Quirk Dampening Bullet, and a Detective started running an on sight test. But after doing that, Tsukauchi called for Eraser… and the man came running.”

Boss looks in the mirror, raising an eyebrow. “Did he? Interesting; that Detective has many connections with Heroes. All Might, Endeavor before his… Detaining, and now Eraserhead.”

Nemoto grinds his teeth, but the Boss doesn’t have anything else he wants to know. So the rest of the ride goes in silence, Nemoto silently seething. In spite of his personal distaste at the thought, Detective Tsukauchi might have some use. For the short term, at least.

-

All for One frowns, a newly familiar ring tone striking his ears. The Doctor quickly picks up the phone, massaging his eyes from long hours of monitoring Endeavor’s progress. “Wolfram, this had better be of paramount importance.”

“Well, you’re the one who wants this Quirk Amplifying Divice. Here I am, giving you an update out of the kindness of my heart…”

“Save your flattery for the Expo Infiltration, Wolfram.” All for One is already tiring of the con-artist, but he was the exact sort needed for this task. Enough notoriety to be locatable, enough anonymity and talent to complete this task. The Amplifier was of Paramount Importance for his Final Confrontation with All Might, and the blond fool’s teenage lover being it’s creator… oh, there’s so much irony dripping off that thought, the grill was singing.

“Oh, but I’ve got some important news for you, Midoriya. You see, I have someone else who’s offering payment on stealing the Crown.” The leather of his treatment chair creaks, All for One glaring eyelessly at the receiver. Not only being forced to use one of his discardable aliases for this hiring, but this upstart thinks they can try to shake him out of more money.

“Do you take me for a fool, Wolfram? Who else would have hired you to do this? I know you and your team certainly weren’t talking…”

“Why, the Shield Guy you’re having me steal it from. Not the first time I’ve seen someone try to rob themselves for an insurance payout, but I wanted to give you the chance to properly compensate me…”

All for One manages to hold in his laughter for Wolfram to attempt to squeeze more money from him, but he can’t help himself. David Shield hiring the man he’s been preparing for months to rob Shield’s own device? He laughs so much, so loudly and hysterically, that several of the sleeping machines awake to try and care for him.

“Uh…” Wolfram is reduced to awkward silence, All for One slowly being brought back to lucidity. The Doctor has turned to him, somehow not finding the situation nearly as amusing.

“Wolfram, I will be doing two things for you. I will be adding ten percent to our agreed upon funds, both prepayment and post, because of the delicious irony you’ve presented me. The Doctor will wire the appropriate funds within twenty-four hours, into the same accounts we’ve discussed. But the other… we’ve discussed my abilities, yes?”

“Yeah, you’re Quirk-copying thing. Kind of assumed that’s why you want the Amplifier, which I respect.”

All for One can’t help but daydream… or can you daydream at three in the morning? “Well, I wish to meet with you for an additional payment. Because now… oh, I simply must take another opportunity available to me. One we can’t discuss over the phone. Once you see the funds deposited, I will need your coordinates to set up this meeting. Transportation costs included, naturally.”

Wolfram hits a button, clearly talking with some portion of his crew before coming back. “Let’s call it an even twelve percent pre-payment, and I’ll even bring you our outlines for review. Since you like plotting this out like an old heist movie, see if there’s anything else you want to add for your dramatic urges.”

All for One nods, already spinning the thread. “Oh, we will discuss all that and more tomorrow.”

He waves his hand, the Doctor terminating the call quickly. He types on his computer, the screens monitoring Endeavor being covered with new information. “If David Shield is really going to attempt to steal his own design… he’d be doing it when I-Island’s security is at its weakest. That’d be their July Expo… and unless things go perfectly with the Endeavor project, you would be unable to interfere until the Crown is off the island. There’s a mile wide interference that Kurogiri couldn’t warp through…”

All for One nods, already adding the new information into the charts in his head. “Yes, and it would be next to impossible to get any craft close enough for Kurogiri to quickly deploy Nomu from. And that’s not including any new security they implement, following the Hosu incident… speaking of. How are those two fairing?”

The Doctor swipes to another file, updated by Hana just a few short hours ago. “They appear to be placing Muscular back into the custody he was in before, with several new scars from what I can see. But Stain… There's no digital file about him. They might suspect Hana has access to their servers.”

“Alas, nothing there. But we have other concerns; get Wolfram his twelve percent, and prepare a more appropriate space for hosting. And don’t use the Midoriya alias; we’ve been using it too much.”

The Doctor chuckles darkly, All for One looking in his direction. But whatever the Doctor’s found amusing is inscrutable to him, the little man quickly keying in commands. “Of course, what kind of fool do you think I am? We’ve already gotten away with killing the original Hisashi Midoriya; do you think me foolish enough to summon the police to my apartment, where his chopped up pieces lie in waiting below the floorboards?”

All for One shakes his head, using one of his weaker Telekinesis Quirks to summon a mirror to him. And while he can’t truly see his face, he remembers it fondly from before All Might destroyed it. “Of course not, Doctor. But ideally, I’d like the replacement done before my planned fight with All Might. After all… Endeavor’s dream of surpassing All Might is right there, within his grasp. Before his mind is completely supplanted, why not offer him one last parting gift?”

-

Hawk… Keigo was exhausted. He’s still in his uniform from yesterday, on top of his covers as the sun glares from outside his curtains. They bounce off the stark white paint of the apartment’s bare walls, and the sterile feeling would usually be more of a comfort. But for the three nights in the past week he’s actually been able to make it here to sleep, instead it’s almost suffocating him.

Because there were things on these walls, over a week ago. He didn’t make a habit of bringing people into his room, so only three people he could think of would spot the difference. The big box of posters and wall scrolls that is now tucked away in the closet, too painful to look at and prickly to think about.

He’s curled up on his side, feathers scattered on the ground around the bed like rose petals on a romance novel cover. His comms are buzzing from their charging station on his bedside. He almost considers not answering them, just letting the day pass as he tries to compartmentalize. But his hand betrays him, reaching for the earpiece and sliding it into his ear. “Go for Hawks.”

“Keigo, you usually text me when you’re going to stand me up.” He groans, running a hand through sleep messed hair as Rumi chides him over the comms. “You’d better be in a hospital, or I’ll put you in one the next time I see you.”

Keigo pushes himself up, his vision swimming as he stands way too quickly. “No, I’m just at my apartment. I got home at… two, three in the morning? After an all nighter before that, with a two hour nap in my agency between everything.”

“Damn, are you going for one of Eraser’s titles? Two all nighters, a midnight cross country organ transplant delivery, then this? I can forgive being on my own for bagels, but I’d better hear that you stayed the fuck home to rest.” Keigo stumbles into the bathroom, pulling off the torso of his suit. He stumbles to a stop next to the sink, yawning as he checks his reflection.

He had the faintest start of bags under his eyes, but no one would see them with his goggles on. “Can’t stop now, Rumi. Lots of things I have to do, not nearly enough time to do them all. Even with all the extra Commission resources they can spare after…”

“Stop, I know that tone. Forget about Hot-Cakes for a second.” Keigo might have flushed from Rumi using that name for Endeavor in the past, especially since she was definitely speaking loud enough for at least a half dozen people to hear. But saying it… he can’t help but remember the rooftop, his feather’s reaching out only to be sliced in half from the portal one of the villains used. “I’m blowing a vacation day, and we’re doing proper fucking self care. You’re running on fumes, and I need a day away from the nosy reporters haunting Manual’s agency building.”

“Rumi, I really don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“Already texting my assistant. You’re burning seven wicks, and not expecting to burn out? Think of it as Training against current and future exhaustion, if that makes you feel better. Cause it’s happening, I’m already ordering breakfast from that Belgian place you liked two years ago.” Keigo almost starts laughing, stopping himself before he can really uncork that bottle.

If he laughs, he’s going to start crying. If he does that, he’s going to curl up in a corner until Rumi literally breaks down the door. If she doesn’t knock some sense into him, she’ll go on the warpath against the Commission, no matter how much he tells her not to. And all their stress will bubble up too, becoming a whole fucking mess because he couldn’t just keep his shit together…

“I… I think I need more than a day to work through this?”

“Good, well we’ll take today to watch that train heist movie you’ve been talking about seeing, then go from there. There’s a reason we made the weekend, back in nineteen whatever. Because constantly grinding against a stone just wears clean through, like that one show about the blacksmiths with the laser swords.”

Keigo snorts, pulling his ear piece out. “I’m gonna take a shower, see you when you get here.”

He drops the earpiece on the counter, and just stares at the countertop for a long minute. He takes a shaky breath, then vigorously shakes himself before finishing stripping for the shower. Probably not enough time for the whole beauty ritual he’s grown over the past few years in the spotlight, but a quarter of the steps should still serve.

He gets out a few minutes later to his phone ringing, his feathers bringing it into the bathroom with a dramatic flick of his hand. He didn’t need to do the motion, but sometimes it made him feel a little better to be dramatic like that. He wraps a towel around himself, the stylus getting pulled from it’s little side compartment and answering the call. “Go for Hawks.”

“Hawks, good. Your Commission officer reported they were unable to reach you, and you hadn’t made any attempt to contact us since last night.” Keigo tries not to sigh at Miko’s voice, picking up a comb to run through his hair.

Keigo knows just saying ‘I need to take the day off’ would result in a ten minute long guilt trip, with dodging and redirecting on his part. But Miko… he could convince her to let him have today, if he put it right. “Yeah, I’m still at my apartment. I… I’ve pulled a lot of extra hours, and my efficiency has decreased by at least twelve percent. I thought a day off, or at least a half day, would help restore me to acceptable operating parameters.”

He hears Miko typing, probably checking all the hours he’s put in. “Yes, I see here you’ve put in much more work than expected, after last week’s incident. I would encourage that such days are scheduled further in advance, in the future. But your assessment seems sound; please remain contactable, and otherwise enjoy your rest.”

Miko briskly terminates the call, probably letting the rest of his Commission team know. And… there’s this weight, that Keigo can feel shrug off his shoulders. He takes a deep breath, and focuses on using his feathers to bring him a change of clothes for lounging around for the day.

-

Jin smiles at the pile of actually wrapped up boxes, seeing a few more than one from everyone calling the bar home at this point. And the bar itself has become something more, with a few paintings and ornaments lining the walls… they were mostly trophies of Atsuhiro’s career, but they actually made the bar feel like it had a pulse. Plus, one of the booths was now basically turned into a computer bank, which either Hana or her brother were always haunting when Jin was here.

Tomura was the only person here, using a controller to play some fantasy looking game. Kurogiri was haunting behind the bar, but he was just leaning up against the wall, his eyes seemingly shut as he simply stands there. The gray haired boy looks over at him as he walks over, but quickly turns to continue his path.

Jin borrows a seat from the closest table, sitting down as Tomura runs through picturesque hills towards a little clearing that a bunch of mushroom people were walking around in. He doesn’t say anything, watching Tomura open a screen to see his character.

He changes into a plant-looking armor, stopping for a second before turning. “Do you have something to say?”

Jin shakes his head, turning to throw his elbow over the back of the chair. “Nah, I kind of like to watch when Hana does her computer thing. Your games are a lot more interesting than whatever hacking she usually does, though.”

Tomura snorts, nodding as he goes back to his game. “Yeah, well I need to finish the third part of a quest that goes through this tribe of fungrals. After I deliver another message for them, I can trade for pieces I need to upgrade some of my other armor sets. It’s boring as hell, but what I need to do to beat a Cave Boss.”

“Yeah, I remember Hana talking about you and this game. The Cave Boss is some three-headed Lightning Dragon, yeah?”

Tomura turns back, unpausing the game to run up to an old mushroom woman. Jin would try and describe her, but the game goes into a cutscene that keeps changing perspective to the point he can barely catch up on a detail. Tomura must be speeding up the dialogue, because there was no way someone would talk that fast. “Yeap. I need the lightning resistant mushrooms from these guys, and take them to an armorsmith to upgrade my lightning resistant armor. The thing does, like, three of my healthbars of damage in one blast. So I need to upgrade the lightning resistant armor to stage three, and get the Elder’s Diamond Necklace for a health bar upgrade.”

Jin nods, Tomura quickly doing another two short talks with other people in the little groove. He does get a few mushrooms, but it probably wasn’t enough, based on how he growls. Jin watches him go to the game menu, seeing a little notepad he’s copied some lists onto. He adjusts a few numbers, probably the list of all the things he needs for his upgrades, before setting the next place he needs to go on a map and charging in that direction. “SO… do you want to join us for cake?”

Tomura doesn’t answer for a second, climbing onto a tall rock formation and jumping. He pulls out a medieval hang-glider looking thing, some wind spirit or something propelling him upwards before another propels him forward to the spot on the map. “Maybe, if I finish this quest line. I don’t really like parties; they’re always so loud. Usually claustrophobic, but it’s only you five, maybe Magne and Giran if they got invited.”

Jin nods, the two of them sitting in mostly silence as Tomura continuously diverts slightly off from the straight path to his destination. Usually to use elevation and the wind spirit things to cover twice the ground in half the time, other times to pull out a glowing blue sword and cut his way through a crowd of red goblin dog things.

Tomura finds a little cave with a shrine in it, in the middle of which is a chest he goes to open. Jin’s phone begins buzzing, and he quickly takes it out. He sees Hana’s number, quickly answering. “Go for Jin and Tonic.”

Tomura turns with a raised eyebrow, but Hana just goes on with a faint little chuckle. “Hey, I invited some new-ish people to the bar for some talks today. I know you said it was cool, but we’ve got a bit of a delay on the cake. You might have to bring them in when they knock. They’ll say, ‘My Online Friend Recommended this place for its Special, the Mayhem in a Shot Glass’.”

Jin nods, jolting as Kurogiri suddenly begins moving. He turns… then hears a knock at the door up top. “Yeah… sounds like one of them is here now.”

“Cool, we’ll be back super soon. Shouldn’t be more than an hour… Happy Birthday!” Hana waits a second, then hangs up, and Jin stands.

He quickly rushes up the stairs, undoing the door’s locks and swinging it open. He puts on a smile… which he quickly has to focus on keeping up, seeing two people waiting outside.

Based on how they were looking at each other, neither of them knew each other until whichever of them knocked on the door. A younger looking boy with dirty blond hair, in an all black school uniform that looked a size too big for him. He had a satchel he was holding the clasp on, quickly doing an evaluation of Jin in slacks and a white sleeveless shirt, and clearly not agreeing with what he was seeing.

The other person was a girl… no, she was older than that. She was just short, the very tops of her high pigtails maybe reaching four feet. She brushes her strawberry red hair back from her face, also wearing very formal clothes as she looks up at Jin with a smile. “Hi, we’re here for… we were recommended the Special. ‘Mayhem in a Shot Glass’, right?”

Jin nods, quickly swinging the door open to let them in. “Yeah, our mutual friend is just out on an errand. Just ask the guy behind the bar for a drink to wait, shouldn’t be too long before everyone else gets here.”

The two nod, and walk down the stairs. Jin blinks a few times as the kid nervously waits at the corner, while the shorter woman bravely walks right around it into the bar. As he locks the door and descends the steps, the kid balks and steps further in, revealing the shorter woman jumping up into a bar stool. “Tall club soda, nothing in it yet.”

Kurogiri nods, quickly producing a bottle and pouring her a a bubbling glass. She turns around, eyeing Tomura at his rig. Tomura turns around to, surveying the two before turning back to his game. “How long did she say she was going to be?”

“She told me an hour, which might mean she’ll be back in thirty.” Tomura nods, the younger kid walking over to see what the game being played was.

He nods, then starts looking around at the paintings. “Woah… some of these look like the ones in the Tokyo Met.”

Jin nods, the shorter woman taking a look around. “Yeah, these are probably the originals. Mayhem bragged that she had some great art thief on her team, and this… it’s definitely proof of concept. I’m not too much of a painting girl, but some of these were pretty high profile thefts, a few years ago. Compress, I think.”

Jin looks at the paintings in more detail, trying to get a better sense of their layout. “So, I’m not sure what Mayhem might have invited you guys to talk about. She keeps a lot of cards close to the vest, and I don’t really do more than errands for her.”

The woman nods, reaching back for her drink. “Oh, we’ve done a few hacker favors for each other over the past year. She gets me backdoor access there, I get her some breaker codes and sample bot profiles here for her to use as a smokescreen. Putting a face to the screen-name… it’s dangerous, but it’s also a good chance to make new friends.”

Jin nods, walking over to the bar. “Yeah, that’s Mayhem for you. I was just a petty thief to get by, mostly cause I couldn’t actually find any real work. No real stand out school, no real talents but a Quirk I messed up using. Would have never gotten back on my feet without her, but we act more like friends than anything like that.”

The woman furrows her brows, taking another sip of her drink. “Yeah, I sort of got that from her. Everything blows up big with her, which is great to see in a fellow hacker. Lots of things in the world that deserve fixing, things the Hero’s don’t fix. They’re too obsessed with big name, big act, self-important villains, like Stain.”

Tomura’s game sounds pause, the man turning after that comment. “You have something against Stain?”

The woman takes a second, Tomura’s question being in that weird middle of the road where it was hard to tell if he was agreeing or vehemently disagreeing with her. “I mean, yeah. The real villains where business suits, and pass backwards laws that just hurt honest people. All Stain did was get more violent and braindead heroes the green light to shoot first, ask questions never.”

“EXACTLY!” Tomura sets his controller down, stalking over to the bar. “All Stain did was try and screw up our big plan, and for what? Some stupid idea of Honor, that he was better than the rest of us.”

The woman shrugs, turning on the stool as the boy sneaks over to the bar a few seats away from Tomura. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. He was obviously physically skilled; saying anything less would be a lie. And he somehow stayed under the radar when under extreme surveillance, including from third parties, like me. But yeah, his cutting and running at the last minute was amateurish at best.”

Kurogiri reaches under the bar, producing a soda from a low fridge for the boy. He then tilts his head, then walks to the door leading to the basement level. Jin watches him leave, then shrug before taking a seat at the bar… only to hop up as the door is knocked on again.

He hears Tomura continue the conversation, but not the specifics as he quickly takes the stairs. He opens the door, nodding as Magne quickly moves in the doorway. “You got an invite, too?”

“What else would I do all day, huh?” She quickly moves to hug him, a paper shopping bag on her arm bumping the wall as he closes the door. He quickly returns the gesture, her clothes smelling freshly laundered. As in, fresh from the machine laundered.

Magne pulls away first, Jin not being able to stop himself before he asks. “I thought your washer was broken. Your deadbeat landlord finally fixed it?”

Magne pulls back, a strained smile on her face. “Yeah, I’m done with that place. Stashed some of my stuff with another friend, but I might need to take you up on that offer of a spare room. But let’s talk about that later…”

Jin nods, hearing quick footsteps downstairs. He and Magne both walk down, seeing Hana and Touya carrying bags through the door. Atsuhiro and Shin-Hye are next, both carefully carrying in a rather long looking cake that they sit on the bar as the first two take up a table.

Hana quickly walks over to the bar, sliding one of her and Tomura’s leather gloves on to shake the woman’s hand. “La Brava, pleasure to see you face to face. How’s your partner doing, with those extra algorithm bumps I passed his previous videos?”

The shorter woman, La Brava then, smiles as she shakes Hana’s hand. “Oh, he’s doing great. Something like fifty thousand views across his channel in the past week? That’s more than he’s gotten in years, so you definitely have my thanks. And those key breakers?”

“Oh, they worked like a charm. We’re funded through our next few projects and misdirections, thanks to you.” Hana turns, then rushes over to hug Magne. The taller woman quickly returns the gesture, Jin turning as the door is knocked on again.

Jin laughs to himself, walking back to the stairwell as Touya tosses him a wink. “How many other people did you invite?”

“Just Giran… and a pair of contacts. We’re closing a deal today, shouldn’t be too big of a deal.” Jin rushes up the stairs, stopping at the top to adjust the hem of his shirt. Eh, it shouldn’t be too big of a deal, looking like this.

-

To say that Chisaki was unimpressed would be overburdening that word. The League’s scattershot strategy had the sole merit of being incredibly difficult to pin them down, with Mayhem committing acts of cyber vandalism and infiltration in so many different places at once that the rumors of a Duplication Quirk had to be true. One woman, regardless of her talent, simply couldn’t perform five major cyber crimes in the same day without expendable capitol on the computer resources, and at least two additional sets of hands.

Which makes this dingy bar, in the middle of a nowhere ward like Kamino, a confusing meeting spot. He was half of a mind to call this meeting off, if Giran wasn’t so talkative with his underling. Ketsueki was of middling value to the organization, being one of the medical staff who’d done exceptional work in the current trials… of course, the young brown haired man had another use, in being a disposable piece in case the League proved traitorous.

Giran gets out of the car soon after someone enters the bar, quickly holding the door open for Chisaki to exit. If he had to give the man credit, he was quick to put on a mask of civility to match his client in question. He’d been a slovenly money grubber from Chisaki’s surveillance on the man, but he’d gone so far as to comb his hair and put on a white button up and suit jacket. They were wrinkled and stretched, but Chisaki would at least acknowledge the effort. “And Mayhem has just messaged me that she's returned from her other tasks for the day. She’s eagerly waiting inside.”

Chisaki adjusts the black cloth mask over his mouth, quickly sliding out of the car. Ketsueki exits as well, having a small briefcase of the League’s requested items. The brunette steps over to the door, looking for Chisaki’s approval before quickly knocking. “Good. I should hope this meeting will be quick and painless.”

After a few seconds, easily enough time for them to walk up to the door, it swings open. Chisaki tries not to visibly disapprove of the doorman, a disheveled blond who made only the bare minimum effort to better his appearance. Though his eyes do quickly find the stitches on the man’s forehead, ones that looked fairly fresh overlapping others that were clearly old.

The blond scans over them, clearly marking him as a person of interest in the group. But he then goes to Giran, noting the change in clothes without any visible change in attitude. “Okuta, great to see you. Everyone’s just got here… I think.”

Giran nods, and Overhaul adjusts his tie as the gray haired broker goes to hold the door. “Go let Hana know Overhaul and his guest are here. I’ll close up behind.”

The blond nods, and walks down the stairs. Ketsueki watches him go down the steps, then looks to see if he’s expected to go in front of Chisaki, or behind him. The brunette waves his hand, the flunky dutifully walks down to announce his presence… and possibly take the brunt of an assault, if they’re quick on the draw. He only proceeds in enough for Giran to close the door behind them, the lighter brunette Yakuza member stopping at the doorway to inspect the room before nodding to him.

Chisaki walks in, seeing that a stack of gifts in one booth. And he sees more people than is reported in the League of Villains, meaning some number of third party contractors are here. He lets his fist clench at the thought, but quickly undoes that as Mayhem turns to see him.

Her face quickly morphs into an expression of horrified recognition, clearly not expecting him. His gratification is lost as she quickly composes herself, quickly reaching into a nearby bag and producing a freshly wrapped cloth face mask. She quickly slides it on, the other woman who’d met with his subordinates catching the motion and copying it. “Overhaul… a surprise, to be sure. But a welcome one; you wished to discuss terms with us?”

The rest of the room all quickly swivel around to see him, their party preparations postponed posthaste. One of them instantly stands out to Chisaki, though. The snow blond man who looks like a cesspool with legs, half recovered burns and freshly replaced staples looking absolutely disgusting from his perspective. “Yes… I thought it time to do away with missives, and second hand discussions. You’re clearly a clever woman, with both the talent and dedication to wreck… Mayhem, as it were, among the Cyber Security Spheres.”

Mayhem laughs at the joke, a genuine note amongst a slightly too long rendition. “Thank you. Really, we couldn’t have accomplished our biggest recent conquest without you. And our futures can prove to be mutually beneficial, should you think a more stable partnership is in order.”

Chisaki nods, raising his hand. Ketsueki quickly walks over with a briefcase, setting it between the platinum blonde woman and the red haired shorter one on the bar. “I think you will find our best current stock, in matching with your recent order, as well as a few Quirk Factor Research notes. Your Numerous Mutations are quite the interesting research find, my scientific advisors want me to say. And while I think they might be overspeaking, I agree with the composition being a sight, at least.”

Hana nods, producing a piece of paper. “Your payment, a shell corp of a shell corp’s bank information. Dead drop protected, ready as soon as you place the call.”

Ketsueki takes the paper, walking it towards him. Chisaki waves his hand, the younger brunette freezing before quickly stepping behind his superior. He remains standing near the staircase, surveying the room again as he speaks. Several people are offered face masks and gloves, which they’re quick to take after seeing the two Yakuza and Giran wearing them. The burned man makes a face, simply taking a few steps back to avoid the pain of injuring himself.

“Of course, monetary payment is appreciated. But, we’ve come into a recent spot of trouble. Our research has reached an unfortunate plateau, one which requires skills you’ve displayed to surpass.”

Hana blinks, then furrows her brows. “I mean, we do have certain projects we simply have to keep up with. But I’m sure we can discuss combined operations, depending on the goal.”

“Well, since you seem to have a grudge against certain Heroes and Commission officials, with Stain’s actions… we were hoping you could use those ‘Human Acquisition’ skills to help us obtain samples for our research.”

A ripple passes through the room, the quiet shorter man near the back of the bar intentionally trying not to draw attention to himself. The shorter red haired woman taps on the bar for a refill of her… club soda, probably. But the two platinum blonds immediately make eye contact, the boy with veiled cracked lips standing up. “You… Oh, you want Eraserhead, don’t you. You Quirk-supressing bullets are limited by whoever’s Quirk you’re using on them, and you need extra samples.”

“Plus, the woman who was shadowing Endeavor.” The burned man speaks up, Chisaki looking over at him. He’s frowning, but his blue eyes dance with a certain familiarity.

Chisaki looks at him… then reaches down to pull off his glove. He beckons for Ketsueki, who nervously steps closer. “Fetch me an empty glass. A clean one, yes?”

Ketsueki nods, walking over to the bar. The man veiled by shadows produces the asked for item, the burned man moving in front of the suit and tie wearing criminal. Probably the man who stole the displayed paintings and other art pieces, some of which might be worth acquiring. “Why do you need that?”

“A demonstration, if you’d be so kind as to allow. For your benefit, actually.” Ketsueki is allowed to hand him the glass, with nary a spot in sight. Freshly cleaned, and meticulously. Chisaki focuses on the cup for a moment, feeling its shape shake in his hand…

It melts into a ball as he clenches his fist, opening it to show them. He closes his fist again, the glass shifting into a thin stiletto blade. He once more reshapes the glass, taking the cup’s original form. It takes a few moments to return to the proper state, but he offers it to a nervous Ketsueki to return.

“My Quirk allows me to… surpass, usual physical limits. And you in particular, Dabi… I don’t suppose you find your current state desirable. For more than one of my members, I’ve made certain changes to their bodies in exchange for service. I could quite easily do the same for you… assuming you all were willing to be of assistance.”

The blond who let him in, who’d made his way over to stand closer to Dabi than anyone else, turns and looks at him. Dabi takes a second, looking down at his hand for a long few seconds. “Interesting offer… but Hana and her brother are the bosses. If you all agree on a plan, then I’m down to help how I can.”

Chisaki lets himself raise an eyebrow, then turns to Hana. He nods his head, producing a card of his own. “I’m sure you already have a way to reach out to me, but this mutual channel should allow us to reach a consensus on this matter.”

Hana nods, carefully walking forward. She has her own gloves on, but she takes hold of the card and maintains a connection. Enough that he could reduce her to a fine mist… but she lingers, seemingly to show she doesn’t fear him. “The thought is, of course, much appreciated. I should think we will want to discuss this offer in privacy, to measure it. But if nothing else, I’m sure our mutual relationship will be a prosperous one… for ourselves. For the rest of the world…”

She pulls the card away, Chisaki letting a genuine grin spread across his face. “I recommend you consider this deal swiftly. We have our own time table, and too long without an answer will force us to act without your expertise.”

Hana nods, walking back towards her brother, who’s silently appraised Chisaki the entire time. Chisaki turns, Ketsueki quickly moves to the doorway, opening and holding the door.

He goes to open Chisaki’s door, but Chisaki makes sure to reach up and grab Ketsueki by the chin. The man stops breathing, a tremor running through his body as Chisaki holds him. “Taking that payment, without checking with me first, would be something I’d kill lesser members for.”

“I’m sorry… I'm really Sorry, Boss...”

Chisaki just glares at the man, only just resisting the urge to shudder at remaining in contact with another person for so long. He can feel every molecule of the brunette’s body, practically tasting the terror running through the man’s body. “If I did not require you for the Phlebotomy required for Eri, you would be a splatter in that bar. If you had a Quirk, I would make it especially painful. Your biological misfortune has spared your life once, but it will not do so again.”

Ketsueki vigorously nods, Chisaki letting go of him to step in the car. He pulls out a wipe, cleaning his hand before disposing of it and sliding his glove back on. The phlebotomist returns to his space in the back seat, the woman driving silently preceding to their next destination with a few nervous flickers of her eyes to him.

Chapter Text

Izuku rolls his neck, looking down at the stack of math papers he’s finally finished with. Finals were still over a month away, but here he was, doing one of the pretests to make sure he was reasonably caught up with the subject material. And he did fine enough; even weighing the section they hadn’t covered in class, he’d managed to get seventy points, so obviously he was good there. His sketchbook was getting good marks, his science homework was staying on level, and his English was at least in the top half of the class. So… he should be good, right?

“Izuku!” The green haired boy quickly looks up, seeing Denki run in from the backyard. The boy stops, seeing the spread of papers across the dorm’s kitchen table, then focuses back on him. “I finally got it! That thing we were working on, with my phone.”

“No way! Show me.” There were… a few things, Denki could be referring to. He and Izuku may have been looking up a few Electricity Quirk heroes, and their corner case power uses for Denki to try and copy. Denki could be talking about several things, pulling out his phone and a power cord that’s been stripped down of the rubber coat, just the exposed wires.

Denki plugs it in, and takes a hold of the exposed ends. He sets his phone down, which goes to the lock screen… and Izuku feels his face go red, seeing the image of the three of them just coming out of the movies. The first day after the test… the first day he’d felt like he had real friends…

The phone unlocks, going back to an article Izuku doesn’t read. He just looks back at Denki, eyes going wide. “Wait, you figured that one out?”

“Yeah, after all week. Plus, a couple videos I really don’t want Nedzu knowing I watched.” Izuku nods, offering a fist for Denki to bump. The blond lets go of the phone and exposed wires first, but he had enough charge that Izuku feels his hair go even messier and spikier as Denki holds it.

Izuku reaches up, getting more than one pop of static discharging as he runs his fingers through his hair. “That’s really cool, Denki. Useful too, if we do any more exercises in the city-scapes.”

“Yeah, like the War Days Exercises.” Izuku blinks, and Denki raises an eyebrow. “Wait, you don’t… Did I learn about that before you?”

Denki quickly looks up to where the dining room’s camera is, then quickly waves his hands for Izuku to pack his papers away. Izuku does, and follows Denki up while thinking what he could be referring to. He knew of a few ‘War’ training exercises Yuuei supposedly did, but they were usually with other schools. Mostly the Provisional Licensing Exam, wherein they were the target of all the other schools that were in the contest...

He follows Denki up to the third floor, the blond loudly knocking on Hanta’s door. It takes the brunette a few seconds to answer, opening the door slowly before seeing who was outside. Then he swings it open, a relieved sigh escaping as he leans against the half open door. “Dude, what’s up with the cop knock? I could… Hey, Izuku!”

“Dude, he doesn’t know about the War Games exercise.” Denki excitedly fills Hanta in immediately, the brunette’s eyes going wide before they swivel from Denki to Izuku.

“No way… hang on, let me stash a few things. I’ll meet you in the Blind Room.” Izuku blinks several times as Hanta slips back into his room, Denki wrapping their arms together to go back to the elevator.

“What’s the Blind Room?” Izuku manages to finally get his thoughts together in the elevator, Denki’s heel tapping at a concerningly fast pace.

Denki brings a finger to his lips, quickly passing Izuku’s own door. He taps the wall slightly between Shouji and Hitoshis’ rooms… and Izuku watches a wall panel sink in, and pulls back to reveal a security room that’s been dotted with bean bags. “This is the Blind Room.”

Izuku steps in, navigating to a darker green bag and looking around. Someone left their school bag in here, so evidently more than just Hanta and Denki were using the room. How did… How did he miss this here the whole time?

The door starts to slide closed, Hanta darting in while flipping through a spiral notebook. He flops into a black bean bag right by the door, quickly finding a section. He lets the back page be visible, Izuku seeing a few names and details bullet pointed under the names. “Alright, so the War Days Exercise. Izuku, you must know about it from another name. ‘Civil War’, ‘Hero-Class Villains for a Day’...”

Izuku blinks, then snaps his fingers. “Oh yeah, I was talking about that with Ochako before Internships. She said Class 1-B was talking a lot about it, with her and Momo when they were helping Hatsume.”

Hanta and Denki both slightly deflate, some of the shine coming off since he clearly knew what they were talking about. “Well, that’s just one part of it. The Hero Class students aren’t supposed to talk about it… but General Ed and Business course students are willing to trade information in exchange for favors from Hero Course students. And a lot of them want me to help their internship applications move up the pile for my family’s companies, which is easy enough. They would have already been considered, all I did was give them the advantage of being considered first.”

Izuku nods, pulling out his phone and preparing a notepad as Denki takes up a purple beanbag next to Hanta. “Yeah, so it’s a three day mock city exercise. The Hero Course students are the big draw, but all the classes of a year are put into the city. Everyone else is just civilians and support staff, graded on accomplishing their own objectives and not getting hurt during any Hero/Villain brawls.”

Hanta nods, turning a few pages. “The Hero Students, Divided between Hero and Villain teams, aren’t supposed to hurt people or cause too much property damage… well, the Villain team can smash up the mock city a little bit. But hurting the other students deliberately has apparently gotten someone suspended in the past, pulled from the exercise too.”

Izuku quickly takes all these notes down, then looks up. “Cool… wait, why are you telling me all of this?”

Hanta and Denki both trade a look, then look back with grins. “Well, it’s not exactly a rumor that Nedzu favors the Villain team during the exercise.”

“Yeah, that’s not even worth anything for trade. The Villain team captain is usually Nedzu’s favorite student for that year, sometimes for all three years in a row.”

“So… he’ll probably pick you, for this year’s course.” Izuku slowly nods, another layer of pressure laying on his shoulders.

“But we wanted to help you, maybe even… be on your team, if you wanted us.” Hanta’s words bring Izuku pause, Denki pulling up his own notepad.

“Yeah, a bunch of us kind of started scripting it. Like an old Hollywood movie, with Drama and Betrayal and Action set pieces.” Denki dramatically swipes his finger across the screen, Izuku’s phone chiming. He sees a few screenshots in his private line with Denki, opening them up and reading through them.

“Wow… you guys really want me to do all of this?” Izuku can almost feel his eyes watering, reading through some really interesting thoughts on at least their part, if no one else helped them. Of course, everyone who knew before joining a side would make these plans a liability, since they'd know the general plays Izuku would make going in... of course, if Momo or Ochako were on the Hero team, they'd probably have some information he doesn't from older Support students... so he'd want to go and recruit them, if he could.

“Yeah, dude. We all really love all the help you’re always giving us. If we can make it easier for you, we’d love to.”

“Plus… it’s a little therapeutic, like Hound Dog recommended. That’s half the reason I started this, and Denki got bored in class and I texted some of these to them. We’ve both seen enough movies, and each marathon day gives us more ideas.”

Denki nods, pulling up some old show’s summary page to show. “Yeah, I was thinking about this old show I’d watch reruns of. It’s from way early 2010s America, about a bunch of criminals who do heists and grifts on unrepentant criminals. A finally found a good dub of it, if we want to watch it…”

“You mean Leverage?” All three boys jump a foot into the air, Izuku accidentally Floating back down as Toru becomes visible next to what is probably her bag. Well, her costume becomes visible, but Izuku’s not exactly splitting hairs on that front as he turns to her. “I loved that show; I binged all twelve seasons before classes.”

“Toru… how long were you in here?” Hanta manages to speak first, and pretty diplomatically, by Izuku’s estimation. Because right now, he’s running over the private conversations he’s had over the past week, trying to place if Toru was definitely somewhere else when they happened.

“Oh, I was having a talk with Koda before you guys came in. He left a few minutes before you guys came in, and I was just seeing how long my suit could stay invisible… so I heard the whole ‘Villain Team’ thing. I want in, by the way.”

Izuku sits there a second, slowly nodding as Denki and Hanta trade looks. “I mean, this is still months away. I mean, now I have a few ideas about how this might play out, but that’s for months down the line…”

“Oh, what did you think of? Come on, we shared all of these with you.” Izuku feels his face heat up, Denki jumping over to sit on his other side. Only Hitoshi really ever got close to him, and... and Izuku isn't sure if it's just that he and Hitoshi are really close with each other, but it feels weirdly intimate when Denki leans in to him. And... and he doesn't hate it, as he thinks that thought over.

Izuku considers just saying no, maybe doing some more class work early to have the time to keep up with Nedzu’s study plans… but he also likes that this is sort of training, but mostly just talking with a few of his classmates. Sort of relaxing, if he lets himself think that way. Nothing to do with One for All, or the impending fight with All for One on the horizon. Just… being fifteen. “I mean… we can sort of combine ‘Bank Heist’, ‘Hostage Situation’, and ‘Standoff’ all together pretty easily, just the four of us. Not even including anyone else who might be joining us.”

“Yes…” Denki begins typing, Hanta pulling out a pencil and turning to a clean page. And Toru lets out a little tittering laugh, which Izuku can’t help but join with.

-

Katsuki… Katsuki is confused. No, that’s not quite right, either. Overwhelmed, maybe? Closer, but not quite right… Why is it Overwhelmed, or Underwhelmed? Why can’t he just be Whelmed for a bit?

School was easy enough, and he was finally able to get comfortable with most of the people in the room. Only Hitoshi didn’t seem to jell with him, which he was fine with. They weren’t really avoiding each other, just always having something better to do with other people. But the other two Goths of the class seem to be in a time share situation, either being with him or the purple mind-freak while trying to stay separate.

And then there’s Eijiro… and Katsuki doesn’t know where to begin, with his feelings for the red head. He wasn’t straight, or not completely. But he also… he’d never given a thought to it. But Eijiro… he hates the way his stomach flutters, whenever the red head smiles at him. And he almost never has a different expression on his face, whenever Katsuki’s around.

Katsuki shakes his head, walking through the winding halls to the Principal’s office. He has a better handle on it now, but there’s still at least one hallway he keeps thinking comes later… does anyone even use half of these classrooms? Half of the spaces around Nedzu’s office don’t look like they’re even used. A quarter of the school hardly seemed used more than a dozen times in a year.

He walks up to the door, not pausing as it opens on it’s own. He walks in, Nedzu in the middle of making tea without acknowledging his presence. Katsuki rolls his eyes, taking a seat and waiting for the rat to be ready to speak to him, checking his nails.

“Katsuki! So happy you could join me. Would you like some tea?” Katsuki almost refuses… but then he considers it, and nods. Nedzu’s muzzle shifts into almost a smile, producing a second starch white cup to offer him.

Katsuki half remembers Momo talking about how to properly drink tea, and some lesson his Dad gave Mitsuki for some fancy dinner they were attending. He lightly swirls the glass, then takes a short sip while being careful not to make some obvious sound. The tea wasn’t half bad, but he wasn’t exactly going to go out of his way for a second cup. “And what scheme do you need my help with today, Sir.”

“Oh, that’s not what we’re here to talk about. But your offer is noted, for future use.” Nedzu types a quick command on his computer screen, then hits a button to rotate the monitor Katsuki’s way.

He reads the first few lines, then turns with a raised eyebrow. “I-Island? Some big Support Nerd Expo? Why are you showing me this?”

“Because, as the winner of the Sports Festival, there are a few perks and career advancing conferences I always offer the winner tickets for. You more than usual, since you certainly made a spectacle of the First Year’s competition.” Nedzu adds a bit more, but Katsuki starts doing mental math. An event almost two months away, in early July, right at the start of Summer Break.

He also sees a few names he vaguely recognizes, which clicks things into place. “Ah, Hanta and Yaoyorozu are both already going. You want us in a group, in case something fucky happens. Again, since it worked so well last time.”

Nedzu takes a moment, then gives a little tittering laugh that he swallows up, along with another mouthful of tea. “Oh dear, am I becoming predictable? Well yes, I suppose there were some other benefits to having you attend this event, over a few others. Not in the least of which being at least five of your classmates were already guaranteed attendance, and I wanted to make a nice core of you to keep each other safe.”

Katsuki blinks, trying to not count off his fingers while doing the math. He’s already eliminated half the class, quickly counting through the others. “Let me guess, Izuku’s going for gear that will keep him from powdering his bones with his Quirk… what, does Todoroki have something from Endeavor he needs to cash in?”

Nedzu’s nose crinkles, and Katsuki bites his tongue when he thinks about what he said. He sits there a second, then takes a drink to wash the taste of ceiling plaster and powderized concrete out of his mouth. “Sadly, Shouto’s attendance is highly ornamental, and likely to be secluded outside of two major events. Think of it as… a personal favor, if you were to find a way to accompany him. I understand you and him have at least some rapport, yes?”

Katsuki blinks, thinking it over. Sure, Shouto had made joined them at lunch a couple of times this week… and seemed to single him out during training. Even during the couple combat exercises, when he was clearly outmatched. “I mean… maybe? I wouldn’t say it, but maybe he thinks we’re friends or some shit. I’m closer to Fumikage and Kyouka…”

“And Iida, yes?” Katsuku freezes, but Nedzu continues on uninterrupted. “You did attempt to advise him against his ill-advised hunt for Stain, yes?”

Katsuki blinks, not sure where Nedzu got that information. Only him and Fumikage even knew about Tenya’s… “Did Tenya confess to you and Hound Dog, then? Finally got two brain cells of common sense to rub together?”

“Yes, which is why I also want you to watch him, as he attends in his brother’s stead.” Katsuki nods, that chain of thought making more sense. “You’ve shown you are responsible, in your own way. I would be trusting you to keep an eye on things, and report to me if there are any issues over the three day trip.”

Katsuki thinks about it for a long moment, then shrugs. “So you’re doing me a favor by flying me to this moving island nerd club to network and socialize, and you want me, in exchange, to make sure the rest of the group doesn’t do something terminally stupid without letting you know. Have I got that right?”

Nedzu shrugs, and finishes his tea. He quickly pours himself another cup, and honestly waits for an answer from Katsuki. So he leans back in the chair, looking at the screen. He reads through the information again, and it might accidentally be interesting…

He rereads one part, near the end. “It says I have a plus one… who is that for? My parents, one of you all to keep me on a chain?”

“The choice is yours, as long as they can pass the background check and have a Passport. Your parents certainly qualify, the Yuuei staff if you really think another Monitor would be useful… if you wanted to bring a student you can more easily stand, that would also be an option.”

Katsuki takes that thought, spinning it in his head. He thinks about Eijiro first, then maybe Fumikage for a Hosu City reunion deal. Then back to Eijiro… and as he proceeds down the list, he can’t help but keep coming back to him. “Do I need to make the decision now?”

“No, you have two weeks to decide if you’re going, and if you’re taking a plus one. Please, ruminate on this offer.” Nedzu taps a button, the door to the office sliding partially open. The monitor swings back around, and he begins typing and moving on to something else. If Katsuki wants, he could leave right now…

“I… I want to ask you about something.” Nedzu turns back from his work, raising an eyebrow. “Izuku… he’s fucking exhausting himself, and saying he’s doing extra training from you. Maybe he is, maybe he’s lying to us. But… if he’s overtraining and hurting himself, would you stop him?”

Nedzu takes a moment to consider an answer, seemingly deciding whether to lie or not. Katsuki rolls his eyes, and finishes the offered tea before standing up and walking to the door.

“He is doing supplemental exercises, yes. Some of them I recommended, based on the training he was doing with All Might. But… I would also hazard a guess that he’s supplementing additional Quirk Training. If he continues to appear overworked, I would appreciate you informing Aizawa or myself.” Katsuki nods, and makes his way from the office back to the dorms.

He’s not sure how he trusts Nedzu… but he’s getting the sense the Rat means well, in a twisted sense of the word. That Nedzu wants ’What’s best for them’, even if they don’t. If so, Katsuki can work with that… or work around it, if he wants.

-

Shouto takes a breath, looking up from a comfortable patch of shaded grass in the back lot of the dorms. He’d changed out of his uniform, wearing a faded graphic tee and a too warm sky-blue jacket. The weather was getting warmer, warm enough that it would be taxing to try and make ice before too long. But even that thought flits away, a mild bit of peace available to him by just looking up at the clouds.

There certainly wasn’t much of it during the rest of the school day. In the dorms, his life story had become a sad fact that was lingered on for a moment, then moved past with an awkward smile. During the rest of the school day, he was beginning to tire of everyone’s apologies and ‘comforting’ words, as if they thought he hasn’t heard each permutation by now. It was… taxing, since he hesitates to use a more expletive term.

Fuyumi and Mom seem to be growing close, or as close as they can be with a constant presence of Commission officials watching every corner for another possible attack. Natsuo tried to continue classes, only to be switched to online equivalent courses and ‘advised’ to return to sheltering. His older brother used all the expletives he didn’t, making it feel a bit redundant if he were to start using them.

Enji Todoroki… Well, he had been a bad person. A bad person who thought they were doing right, perhaps, but that did not give Shouto any comfort. But those last few weeks of trying to change, of trying to be a better person… they left an odd taste in his mouth, complicating things more once he starts thinking about how Touya fits into the equation.

As Shouto tries to do the moral math of the whole thing, the only Math problem left for him to do with all his other homework concurrent, he hears someone walking over to him. He looks up, seeing Aizawa walking over to him with the back door still partially open. “I didn’t know we’d added another cat to the dorms.”

“You joke, but Kouji has been talking about bringing in some of his other service animals when he comes back from his parents this weekend.” Aizawa stops, measuring that statement as Shouto looks back up towards the clouds.

His teacher decides to sit down next to Shouto, crossing his legs and looking directly at him from directly above. “Shouto… we need to talk about your brother.”

Shouto thinks, faintly, that someone snappier would make a joke of that. Denki or Mina might ask ‘Which Brother?’, even though there’s plainly one he means to talk about with that tone. Instead, all he can muster is a faint current of dread as he looks up at his teacher. “What do we need to talk about?”

Aizawa takes a moment, clearly trying to find the right words to say. “Touya… Nedzu and Inko have been doing some initial research, seeing what they can do about Touya being declared dead. Which is one thing… but recently, there have been reports of a villain killing people. A Villain… with a Blue Fire Quirk.”

Shouto blinks a few times, and tries to square that with the talk he’d had with Touya in the hospital. How he’d been initially fine to just see him, without being identified. How he wanted to remain secret, at least until… until after the Sports Festival, when he could make it painful for Endeavor. “Okay… what kind of people?”

Aizawa blinks, clearly not expecting that sort of question. “What do you mean, ‘what type of people’? Is there an answer that isn’t a deal breaker for you?”

Shouto thinks about it for a moment, then nods. “Sure, I suppose. He might be killing other villains, or Trigger Dealers. I don’t like that he’s killed people, sure. But Endeavor has taken lives before, and people still tolerated him.”

Aizawa takes several seconds, and softly swears before hanging his head. “That’s… not exactly the answer I expected. It’s also concerning, since you’re in contact with your brother…”

“I haven’t been able to reach him since last Thursday. My messages keep saying they’re going to a disconnected number, and he didn’t give me a replacement. I can show you my phone, if you require proof.” Shouto actually reaches for his jacket pocket, Aizawa actually raising a hand to take his phone. Shouto unlocks it, going to his texts before offering it.

Aizawa scrolls, then nods and hands the phone back. “Shouto… you understand there might be complications, for your brother and the rest of your family, right? What happened to your father… your brother might have some responsibility for that choice?”

Shouto… he doesn’t know how to respond to those words. He wants to start laughing, over ten years of repressed emotions all wanting to come out because of those words. He wants to cry, to throw up, to scream incoherently and with as many expletives as Natsuo feels so comfortable using now…

But he just… doesn’t. He looks back up at the sky, and makes a little noise. “Interesting.”

Aizawa seems to wait for him to add something, then sighs exasperatedly before handing his phone back. “Shouto… Please, tell me what is going through your head. Give me something to work with, please.”

Shouto looks up, seeing a similar look in his teacher as he’s seen in Fuyumi. Oh, she’s tried to hide it, and managed to quite often. But she’s had just as many days where she’s drowning on land, pressure crushing her from all sides… huh. Is that what he’s going through? Just that he’s lost consciousness in the example, lungs full of water and waiting for those last few twitches of survival instinct to stop?

Aizawa looks a bit like that, a plumber in a wasteland, desperate for a problem within his skillset to fix. Shouto sighs, and just lets his mouth start moving without thinking about the words. “I… I don’t know where to begin. Several things, really. I… I don’t think I want to be a Hero, but I don’t know how to want anything else. I wanted someone to stop my Dad, but it was my brother and his villain friends kidnapping him, probably turning him into a NoMu. I don’t want to stop being a student here, because I finally feel connected to people for the first time, but I also know saying that ‘I don’t care what he did, I want my older brother back’ will probably result in suspension, or worse… And that’s just what I can come up with now.”

It takes a few seconds, and then Aizawa just sags to the side. Shouto looks up, seeing him bundle his arms up under his head. “I… that is a lot, most of which you should talk to Hound Dog about. Have you talked to him about any of this?”

“No. I feel better when I don’t acknowledge it, and just try to have a normal day.” Shouto thinks Denki would say that with a joke, or with an obviously hurt expression that would lead others to asking several more questions. If Hitoshi or Izuku said it, everyone else in the room would carefully begin extracting the painful story behind them saying that. With him… well, it was basically common knowledge. There was nothing new to learn from it, and any interest in it had clearly been mined.

He blinks, then slowly sits up. His head spins for a moment, but he really thinks about that last bit. He ignores Aizawa for a moment, picking that last piece out. “Shouto?”

“Nothing new… huh.” Shouto pushes up to his feet, brushing the grass off. He turns, offering a hand to Aizawa. “I think it’s time I try something new, then. Doing nothing hasn’t fixed it… so I need to do something, right?”

Chapter Text

Hitoshi sighs heavily, quickly emptying out the dryer of Mezou’s clothes to load Kouji’s wet clothes from the washer in. He moves Mezou’s basket up on top of the dryer, and begins sorting through the bag Yuga left while thinking how much more he should charge in the future. Five hundred yen from the three of them was barely worth all the extra work he’d made for himself. Plus, he has to change the machine’s settings for Yuga, who left him with a long list of requests. That wasn’t really worth double pay, but he’d take it all the same.

All three boys had family events planned for the weekend, and Class 1-A was being given the Saturday for ‘Professional Development’. Really, they were being given the weekend so Aizawa could try and figure out how best to deal with all the trauma they were dealing with. Hitoshi decided to make some pocket change out of the situation, having spent most of the morning in the dorm’s laundry room working through his own and the three missing boy’s clothes.

He begins folding all of Mezou’s shirts, having gotten a look at how the big man did them for reference. Pretty much the same as everyone else, there was just a lot more material to fold. But there was also the six arms being accompanied by as many sleeves, which takes about four shirts to actually get into the right mind space to fold properly. But after getting through that mental hurdle, there was just time to think.

Think about… well, all the things that had happened since Aizawa found him in a park at one in the morning. That was just three months ago, but somehow everything feels dilated from when he met Izuku onwards. He’s fairly certain if he could go back, his old self wouldn’t recognize how he’s changed in twelve weeks… Twelve weeks of assorted life threatening situations, plus multiple conspiracies orbiting around him and the rest of his class. But he can’t imagine trading it for anything, pain and suffering included.

He finishes up Mezou’s laundry as Eijiro walks into the laundry room, his bag of clothes over his shoulder. The laundry room had three washers and dryers, with something Hitoshi is pretty sure is meant for pressing and steaming formal clothes along another wall. “Hey, Hitoshi. Doing the guy’s laundry while they’re out?”

“Yeah. Just finished Mezou’s, Kouji’s is starting drying, and Yuga’s just started. I didn’t want to take up all the machines on them, plus I have mine to do later. Caught up on the Math section?”

“Yeah, Kat’s going to help tutor me. He’s already got everything down, and asked if I needed help.” Hitoshi tries not to react to that information, waiting until the red-head looks away to grin at that. Not because Eijiro was struggling with school, but Katsuki. Asking if he needed help. And probably volunteering to help him.

He shakes his head, trying to view it all in a better light. Maybe Katsuki’s really changed, since the start of the year. He walks to the door, carrying the basket full of Mezou’s clothes with him.

He faintly notes where everyone is as he passes the living room, seeing the kitchen table again dominated by a study hall. Tenya is surprisingly not in that hall, instead looking through news segments with Mashirao. Hitoshi notices the blond’s tail hair is finally relaxed and flat, meaning he’s finally less stressed than he has been all week.

He hits the elevator button, stepping out of the way as Momo and Hanta step out. “Anyone you want to take with you?”

“I don’t… excuse us.” Momo dodges Hanta’s question and Hitoshi, her face recovering from just being flushed. Hitoshi gives Hanta a raised eyebrow, but the brunette deflects with a wink before following after Momo. Hitoshi just rolls his eyes, hitting the second floor’s button and waiting for the door to close.

He hears Izuku in the greenette’s own room, but decides dropping off the laundry first is a higher priority. He takes a moment when he opens Mezou’s door, marveling at the glow in the dark art the boy’s used to decorate his room. When the light’s on, it just looks like slightly off color patches on the walls and ceiling. With the curtain drawn and the light off, a bunch of constellations dimly illuminate the room.

He makes quick work of putting Mezou’s clothes with their kinds, school uniforms in top drawers while casual dorm clothes go in lower drawers. He shifts things aside to place the folded up gym shorts… and finds a hidden journal. He looks at it a second, his hand finding the edge of the front cover idly. He picks at it for a moment, then shakes his head and continues putting the clothes away.

Hitoshi walks out of the room, and idly knocks on Izuku’s room. The shrine to All Might opens, Izuku shaking his head as he opens. “Hey, something wrong?”

“No, just checking on you.” Hitoshi peaks over Izuku’s shoulder, seeing a few posters of All Might have been taken down to make wall space. A few pages have been pinned in their space, a few having three bullet points while others are lined up to hold seven paragraphs.

Izuku half opens the door, showing nothing really different from this morning. “It’s nothing, really Just… Well, Denki and Hanta gave me a lot of ideas, for a future training exercise. And… um, it’s sort of spiraling into an entire novel? Maybe an entire season of anime, but one of those ones that’s always three episode fight scenes?”

“I don’t watch a lot of anime, so I’ll take your word for it.” Hitoshi feels something running from his nose. He reaches up, finding a thin line of blood running down. “Ah, dammit. That hide and seek exercise really messed up my nose. I keep getting random nosebleeds.”

“Did you talk to Recovery Girl about it?” Hitoshi nods, the green haired boy walking over to look at his crazy wall. “You’d think Heal would have fixed… is it too weird to write up backstories for everyone?”

Hitoshi blinks at the non-sequitor, then nods. “I mean, maybe write up a few things, but don’t get attached to it. If we’re playing characters, let them fill in a few to really get into the character.”

Izuku nods, and begins writing in another page of notes. “You know how you were wanting to work on post-hypnotic suggestions? What if… a couple of us aren’t villains until a trigger goes off? Like, not until the second day, or until one of these other events happens?”

Hitoshi blinks, thinking over that… then lets himself give off a creepy smile. “Oh, that sounds cool. What else do you have?”

-

Fumikage isn’t sure if he invoked a vengeful spirit, in one of his conversations with Hitoshi over the last week. But Shouto’s sudden and strong fascination in his music is an odd sort of vengeance, in testing his will to call the heterochromatic boy his friend. He mollifies himself by asking Shouto to help him buy a few old albums he’d been wanting to listen to for ages, the other gladly giving him his black card’s number and enjoying the resulting playlist.

They stay in his room from breakfast Saturday morning to lunch, Shouto doing some sort of journaling while Fumikage works on his piled up homework. It’s not that he’s lazy, it’s that his motivation to work is tempered by the constant need to control Dark Shadow. That is, until Shouto presents a terribly useful idea. “My sister has these old puzzles she gets out when she needs to destress. Does Dark Shadow like puzzles?”

Fumikage doesn’t have puzzles, but he does have something Dark Shadow entertains themselves with while he works through a mound of work. His mother grew an agreeable hatred of crochet after reading a fantasy series, based on witches who use common skills to work their magic. Fumikage didn’t necessarily pay attention when she’d work on that, but Dark Shadow evidently did, and Fumikage is willing to sacrifice a shirt to see where that ends up. The result is his classwork completed in record time, Shouto developing a taste for Nightwish and other old Metal bands, and Dark Shadow producing a terrifyingly competent cloth pouch. Not big enough to really hold anything, but Fumikage would put in a request for actual crochet material for Dark Shadow now.

Fumikage gets up to stretch a bit earlier than their usual lunch break, his back a bit stiff from sitting at his desk the whole time. An urgent sounding knock interrupts Fumikage’s next thought, Dark Shadow quickly rushing over to the door and opening it.

Kyouka is standing right next to the door as it opens, visibly jittering as she makes eye contact. “I… I really need to talk to you. Privately.”

Fumikage nods, letting the girl stream in. She clearly sees Shouto, but walks over to the desk anyway… then walks to the opposite wall, pacing and running her hands up her opposite arms. “Kyouka, I have the sense something is bothering you…”

“No shit, Fumi!” She stops, another Metal song slowly starting up. Shouto pauses the music, Kyouka turning and seeming to perceive him. “I… um, Shouto, I’m sorry, but I need to talk to him alone. This is… a private thing.”

“Does this have anything to do with your crush on Momo, and Hitoshi’s interference in your relationship?” Shouto says it all evenly, but Kyouka runs her hands up to her ears like he’d yelled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Fumikage slowly walks up to Kyouka, offering her a hand. She quickly takes it, crushing his grip rather strongly. “It’s alr… ow, ow, ow…”

Kyouka lets go quickly, and flops into the desk chair. She takes a moment to compose herself as Fumikage massages his stinging hand, her fingers rapidly coming up to nervously spin her jacks around a finger. “I… Like, I’m not secretive that I like girls. When I’m talking about it with you guys, or with Denki a bit ago, it’s fine. But, Momo brought it up with Mina and Ochako at the table, and I… I didn’t know what to do? I completely froze up, like my brain had suddenly switched to only understanding French.”

“A shame Yuga wasn’t here, to translate for you.” Shouto sits there a moment, almost waiting for a laugh at the joke. He accepts he will receive none, then rolls over to be sitting on the edge of the bed. “Did Mina and Ochako have any visible reaction, or are you imagining them saying terrible things after being outed in front of them by a girl you have a crush on?”

Fumikage blinks, not expecting such blunt…ness… no, he should have expected that from Shouto. But Kyouka actually manages to get control of her breathing, seeming to replay the events from downstairs in a more neutral light. “Um… they didn’t, really react. Before I made an excuse to leave, I mean. I… I just panicked.”

Shouto nods, tilting his head. “Correct me, if I’m wrong. But you expect some terrible reaction from them, in response to the fact that you’re attracted to girls.”

“I… yeah? It’s… like, a bunch of the guys are bi and gay, and you all share a changing room anyways. But with girls… It’s different? I don’t know how to explain it…”

Fumikage slowly offers his hand, gently taking Kyouka’s and rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. That helps her ground herself, seeming to come back from whatever hellish mindspace she’d let herself be trapped in. “Kyouka, Mina has polyamorous parents, and Ochako has actively vocalized her support of all of us that aren’t hetero. I believe, if you would have stuck around, this would have simply blown over.”

Kyouka nods, reaching her other hand up to massage her forehead. “I… I know. It’s just… I sort of had a crush, on a girl last year. And… it went badly, when I told her about it.”

“Kyouka, may I offer you some advice?” Shouto does actually wait for an answer, Kyouka slowly nodding with a bit of trepidation. “I had a talk with Aizawa last night, and I came to a startling realization. My situation… I found myself stuck in a bad headspace, stuck in a loop. I thought to myself, if nothing new happens, I will be stuck like this forever.”

Kyouka nods, slowly taking her hand back from Fumikage. “I… yeah. Either she reciprocates, or she doesn’t. That’s… even if she really doesn’t like it, I think the other girls’... I think I can live with it. Either way, it’s better to just do it. Right?”

Shouto blinks, then slowly stands. “That was not where I was going with that, but I see you’re motivated, which is what I wanted to do.”

Shouto moves to the door, and Kyouka slowly stands up as he opens it… and Kyouka immediately makes a little noise as Momo stands there, her hand raised to knock. The other girl, usually quite assured of herself, seems to freeze when she realizes her moment of composure has been interrupted.

Shouto blinks, and turns. He visibly does the necessary math, then looks towards Fumikage. “Fumi, can these two borrow your room to talk in private for a moment?”

Fumikage nods, slowly walking out of the room. Momo nods her head to him, and closes the door. “Should… should I be concerned for Kyouka?”

“No, unless Momo reciprocating Kyouka’s crush is cause for concern.” Fumikage looks over, the heterochrome shrugging. “I lacked the ability to advise her, so I tried asking someone who might know more about it.”

Fumikage narrows eyes, thinking about that. They… didn’t Hitoshi press the issue when he accompanied the girl’s to the mall? When he and Shouto were having that conversation? Was… was Shouto lying to him, or just not noticing the inconsistency?

There’s a minute where they can’t hear anything, Dark Shadow nervously picking at the partially undone shirt without making anything. The staircase door opening distracts both boys, turning to see Hanta quickly walk down the hall. “Everything okay? Mina texted me that we were at Defcon 3…”

“We… We’re fine.” Did Shouto just stammer? Fumikage looks over, seeing the other boy looking at the ground. And it was harder to tell with the burn, but… was that a blush on his face? “Momo and Kyouka are just talking, that’s all.”

Hanta nods, leaning back against the wall near the door. He puts his ear to the wall for a few seconds, then leans away with a sigh. “You know, sometimes I think about how great it would be to be able to swap Quirks with people. Having super hearing would be great, right now. You guys ever think something like that?”

Fumikage does, for a moment, consider what it might be like to be without Dark Shadow. Dark Shadow turns to him, and he quickly waves the thought away. He was happy enough, and wasn’t even sure he could get used to being on his own.

The door opens, Kyouka looking around. She sighs exasperatedly, and turns back to a concerned looking Momo. “Yes, I’d really like to go on a date with you. Maybe off campus, something sort of private. But since Mr Spy Master has to know everything going on here…”

Hanta takes a step back, his hands coming up defensively. “Hey, it’s not like I’m trying to spy on all of you guys. And I don’t just go around, shouting things to the heavens…”

Kyouka stalks closer to him, Momo coming out and checking around the corner. “Yeah, well maybe I’d like to pretend to have some privacy. Which is a little hard with the dorm cameras and anyone who might come to you for favors.”

“Woah, back up a second!” Hanta points a finger, his almost omnipresent smile finally falling from his face. “Coming from you? Aren’t you the one who caused all the confusion about All Might, making him have to explain his whole deal? And you’re coming at me about spilling secrets? The guy who hasn’t actually spilled anything!”

“That’s… that’s different…” Kyouka shifts to the backfoot, but Hanta stalks a step forward.

And He has a full twenty centimeters on her, so he has a bit more intimidation to the movement. “Tell me how it’s different. Tell me how I have to hear about everyone’s conversations second hand, because they’re too scared to have conversations where you might overhear them. Tell me how it’s different that I talk to people directly, tell them there’s a rumor about them, rather than spreading that rumor further and blowing it up out of proportion!”

Fumikage steps forward, actually holding an arm out to keep the two separated. But they both pull back, and Hanta’s face visibly morphs to recognition of what he said, and instant regret.

Fumikage turns… and sees Kyouka taking a deep breath, flexing her fingers. “Anything else to say?”

Hanta takes a second, slowly taking a step back into the empty hallway. “I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…”

“So you do have more to say. Meet me outside.” Kyouka steps forward, dodging around Fumikage’s arm and Hanta. She walks briskly to the stairs, opening the door hard enough for it to slam into the wall as she quickly descends.

-

Hanta leaves the other three behind, carefully following Kyouka down the stairs a flight behind her. The rush leaves him a bit out of breath, which kind of beats the lessons from Hound Dog he’s trying to go through. Deep breathing, take a step back, think about what you’re going to say next… he thought he’d be giving the advice, not be using it himself. But a lot has changed, since his internship. So much, so quickly… and with virtually nothing different for him.

Kyouka holds the screen door open for him, pushing it firmly closed before continuing to lead him towards the tree line a couple yards from the door. Hanta slows slightly, not quite following her. “Kyouka… I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have…”

“Do people talk about me?” Hanta blinks, his attempted apology derailed by Kyouka’s question. “To you? Do people talk to you about all of us?”

Hanta blinks, then nods. “Yeah, mostly rumors that aren’t half true. People are saying we have a karaoke machine in the dorms, that Class 1-B is going to do better on the tests than us since we’re probably goofing off in the dorms. There’s a rumor that Kouji is taming all the campus animals, including Principal Nedzu, and is going to overthrow the school with a stampede.”

Kyouka raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “People are not saying that, no way. Can… can he even control Nedzu?”

“Yes to the rumor, I don’t know about the Nedzu question. 1-H saw Him do well in the Hide and Seek exercise, knows Aizawa has a cat, and the rumor’s grown from there.” Hanta digs through his half remembered bits, needing the notebook to really keep track of everything. “Most of it is just harmless stuff, like that. The karaoke rumor started because people think Katsuki’s making a band, with the three of you always talking about music in the cafeteria. There’s one Business Course kid who’s already mocking up posters, before I told her to lay off for now.”

Kyouka’s face starts to flush, reaching up to wrap her jack around a finger. “I mean… I mean, I sort of thought about that. As a joke, or for something later in the year.”

Hanta nods, walking closer to lean against a tree she was standing by. He sees a window above, Dark Shadow quickly ducking back as some amount of the others stand there, probably. “Yeah, all of you guys have a bunch of really cool rumors going around. That’s… I wanted to write a bunch of them down, tell you guys as a party game or whatever. All of you guys have cool rumors… not me, but that’s whatever.”

“Yeah, like anyone’s going to spread rumors about you.” Kyouka says it jokingly, but it sinks like a dagger into his arm. Because yeah, there was the fact he was collecting rumors. But also… What was there to spread rumors about? How his parent’s bought his place in the Hero Course? How everyone else was so much more fucking interesting than fucking tape elbows?

Hanta smiles, trying to ignore how his throat starts closing up. “Yeah… yeah, I’m not really that interesting. They only talk about me when they talk about how the class is cursed… any rumors about me are gone before I hear them.”

Kyouka must catch onto his mood, turning to him. “I’m… I’m sorry, for snapping at you. I just… I had this guy, who’d always talk about me when he knew I could overhear. It’s just… it got to my head, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

Hanta grits his teeth, knowing the right thing to say. There’s that selfish little urge, to try and retaliate back. But he knows better… and Kyouka wasn’t the one he was mad at. “I… I shouldn’t have snapped. I fucked up there, gotten personal like that.”

“No, you’re right. That’s… that’s why I usually have these plugged into my phone. It just… it sucks, always being able to overhear things. I’d probably trade my Quirk, if I had the chance.”

Hanta bites the inside of his lip, nodding. “Yeah. We’re good?”

“Yeah, probably.” Kyouka steps back towards the dorms, shaking herself off. “Sorry. It’s… There’s just so much to stress over, even just regular schoolwork. But it doesn’t feel like it’s big enough to bother Hound Dog or Aizawa with, with everyone else’s problems they’re trying to solve.”

Hanta nods… then blinks. Hound Dog talked a little bit about the different kinds of therapy, even though he specialized in just One on One child psych. “Huh… do you think Couples Counseling would work with twenty people?”

Chapter Text

Of all the things Inko was expecting to come up during a meeting with Nedzu, she was surprised by the file he brought up on the monitor. “Wait… what is this?”

Nedzu doesn’t say anything, seeming to gauge her reaction to this information. “You see… that’s what I want to know. I needed to see your reaction to this information firsthand, after my initial analysis.”

Inko leans forward, looking at… at Hisashi Midoriya. At least, she knew that’s what the file was by reading it. But the instant she saw pictures of him, every fiber of her being started going haywire. “I… Hisashi… What happened? He… I know he existed, but this is saying he doesn’t. I don’t understand…”

“Well, the Japanese Police and Hero Commission have access to certain identification systems, which appear to have been tampered with when it comes to Hisashi Midoriya. I have additional information, partially thanks to the fact that the application for an American passport was quite real. That might just be the downfall of this charade… because it appears Hisashi Midoriya was indeed someone. It’s just soon after you met him, he became… something else.”

Inko nods, trying to devote Hisashi’s face to memory… but it keeps slipping out of her mind, like sand through her fingers. “I… I…”

Nedzu clicks a button, and the images are minimized. A thin pulsing sound also goes out, but Inko’s vision is swimming as she leans back in the chair. “Inko? Shuzenji, get in here at once.”

Inko reels in place… but now memories are pouring through her head, faster than she can hold them. But as so many smaller moments surge past her, things the average person would forget, she tries to force them into shape. Being in a diner with Mitsuki when she first saw Hisashi, the man smiled back at her and gave an awkward wave. Their proposal, at Dagobah Beach with a beautiful sunset behind him. Their wedding, the little ceremony they could afford to have since he hadn’t gotten his… his big break at… at his job yet…

Inko rouses on the sofa in Nedzu’s office, Shuzenji and Ryou both quickly inspecting her. She coughs, slowly raising her arms to force the two back. She’s given her space, blinking several times as her eyes sting. “He… it was three months after we got married, maybe four years after we’d first met. That’s when… he got a ‘Big Break’, and he started seeing me less. Two years before… before Izuku…”

She immediately feels her stomach rolling, realizing what had probably happened. A metaphor she’d come up with, of downloading into a more suitable piece of hardware… and the metaphor continues in ways she wishes she could forget, Ryou quickly moving behind Nedzu’s desk and grabbing his wastebasket.

Nedzu waits for her stomach to stop upwelling, producing water for her to wash the taste from her mouth. Shuzenji has one of her medical robots carry the bin off, some protocol of removing waste that she ignores as Nedzu speaks. “While I hate to say it this way, this is possibly the better of all possible cases.”

“WHAT PART OF THIS IS BETTER!!?” Ryou immediately roars, turning on Nedzu. The principal immediately retreats behind his desk, the counselor turning to follow him.

Inko reaches up, using her Quirk to pull on the tie Ryou was wearing. He stops, all eyes turning on Inko. “Because my reaction means you all can trust me. If I didn’t react like that… then Nedzu would have doubts about my allegiance. That I might have been, on some level, working with All for One.”

“If you didn’t…” Ryou takes a breath, bringing his hands up. He growls, and immediately starts shoveling his emotions back to speak. “Inko, you realize what this means? That All for One… when he took over Hisashi, then Izuku was conceived…”

Inko holds her hands up, her stomach partially turning. “Later. We will book my sessions after I have a minute to internalize all of this, yes?”

Ryou instantly nods, Shuzenji taking a seat next to her, patting her on the knee. “If you ever need, you will have us to talk to. And I understand, if you think we have more important things to talk about. But we do need to talk about this…”

"We will talk about this later.” Inko stands, her fists clenching. “What I want right now is to know where this bastard is, and stop him from hurting Izuku. What does all this information tell us, Nedzu?”

Nedzu waits a moment, then peaks up from behind his desk. He waits another moment, clearly watching Ryou, before jumping up and sitting down. “Unfortunately, I started my digging as soon as Aizawa got me this information last night. And, shockingly, Hisashi Midoriya being removed from existence in Japan causes several issues when trying to trace any presence of his back. At best, I can find a few of his old associates who haven’t had any contact with him since before your marriage, and some financial accounts that are… complicated.”

“How complicated are they, really?” Nedzu looks up at Inko, her snippish response being met with as much understanding as can be expected.

“I am calling it complicated, and I regularly commit large scale economic fraud when the school approaches sixty percent of the annual budget. I am beginning the trace procedures I’ve built up over the years, but after twenty-four hours, I’ve only peeled back the first layer of misdirections. Frankly, if I were to devote the entirety of my attention to it, it might take me weeks. If I were to solicit help from the ten best financial analysts I have at my call, it would be a month minimum before actionable results occur.”

Inko nods, taking several deep breaths. She finishes the water she was given, brushing her hair away from her face. “Well… tomorrow’s my Free Day, and I need a stiff fucking drink. Where’s the closest bar?”

Ryou raises his hands, trying to be the voice of reason. But Shuzenji stands, offering her arm. “Oh, I have a stash of confiscated items from some of the Third Years. It’s the cheap stuff, so we won’t be getting fancy.”

“Don’t need fancy. Need Quick, Cheap, and Strong.” Shuzenji nods, the dependable woman she was. Inko follows her out, letting all the connections spin out behind her. The cases she’s taken, and the drive on specific ones. Like the Endeavor Case… and she really hopes Ryou doesn’t pull something, like ‘your subconscious must have know, and pushed you towards those cases.’

Because if that were true, she owed her subconscious a few thwacks with Shuzenji’s cane. But first, every lawyer’s first line of defense from all the mental strains of the world; cheap booze in the late hours of the night slash early morning.

-

Tensei slowly comes to, his internal clock thrown off by his surroundings. For a second, the sensation of metal shards piercing his back drives his heart rate up enough for one of the machines to beep. But that forces him to remember the rest of what happened; He was at Yuuei, he was with Recovery Girl, he was safe…

And he sees a vaguely familiar person, the green hair standing out. But she was smaller and… plumper, than most of the people he knew. She had the curtains partially drawn around her, but she was also rousing with the sun peaking through the nurse’s office windows.

Speaking of, Recovery Girl comes bustling in, clearly having woken up very recently. She was in the same clothes she’d slept in, quickly moving to check on him before cleaning up for the morning. “Iida, are you quite alright?”

Tensei nods, holding a thumb up for her to see. “Yeah, I just… just lost track of where I was. Sorry for scaring you, Ma’am.”

Recovery Girl shakes her head, looking over the medical information. “Yes, looks like you had a bit of a nightmare last night. Was it about the incident, or something else?”

Tensei shakes his head, a bit of flush coming to his face. “It… at the end, sure. But it was mostly… something else. Don’t worry about it.”

Recovery Girl shakes her head, walking back towards the smoothie maker she had… was that a bottle of whiskey next to it? “Tensei, I am a Nurse first, a Hero teacher second, and a person who “won’t worry about it” in distant last. But if it doesn’t have to do with your treatment, I’ll let it go. You prefer orange flavor, yes?”

Tensei nods, the green haired woman stirring in the bed across the way. “Ugh… I forgot this part.”

Shuzengi quickly hits a button, a pair of her robot assistants coming over to her. One retrieves the cup she’d been making, the other skipping that to go straight over to the green haired woman. “Yes, I assume you haven’t done that a lot since Izuku. Feeling any better?”

Tensei takes his drink, looking over… oh, that’s Inko Midoriya. It took him a moment to place, but he finds it with the reference to Izuku. And she’d… been drinking? “About what we talked about last night? Better enough that I don’t immediately want to vomit because of that… I just want to vomit from the hangover.”

Shuzenji gives a little chuckle, quickly mixing up something bright yellow for Inko. She walks it over, the robot assistants getting a scan of both of them. “Good… Tensei, we have a bit of business to take care of before we get started with your plan for the day. If you need anything, your call button can directly contact me still, Alright?”

Tensei nods, just quietly watching Inko stand up. She goes to stand in front of the window, running her fingers through her hair. She ties it up after a few minutes, then takes a deep breath before marching towards the door, her smoothie jumping from where she left it to follow her. “If Nedzu needs me, I’ll be finishing a few draft copies in the West Lounge… and maybe visiting Snipe’s Range, if I have the time for it.”

Tensei waits for Inko to leave the room, then a few more seconds as Recovery Girl gets the scan from the robot that scanned Inko. She then sets that assistant on remaking the bed, and he finds the courage to speak up. “Is… is she okay?”

Recovery Girl looks over, and seems to think about her answer for a moment. “While I can’t go into specifics, she received terrible news yesterday. And while I hope she will be okay, I would completely understand if she isn’t. It was quite… well, I don’t think anything less than world shattering.”

Tensei nods, looking down at his legs. “Yeah… there’s a lot of that going around, isn’t there?”

Recovery Girl nods, bringing a hand up to her chest. “Yes… and I think that’s the price I’ve paid, over the years. So much pain, coming and going, never being able to fix it all. I can mend a few bones, ease some muscle aches… but the duress, and the heartaches…”

Recovery Girl cuts herself off, taking off the visor she usually kept on. The assistant resetting the bed stops, and quickly moves over while grabbing a box of tissues.

Tensei gives her a moment, then speaks up. “Recovery Girl… do you have someone you can talk to? I seem to recall this old British show, about a Doctor who would run about and fix everyone else’s problems. But eventually, they had to be told by the people they were saving that they needed Time to recover… ‘Physician, Heal Thyself’, I believe the phrase is.”

Recovery Girl manages a weak laugh at that, nodding. “Yes… yes, I probably need a break very soon. I just hope I have enough strength left to finish… finish a few things. But excuse me, I do need to talk to Nedzu.”

-

Sorahiko looks around the room, slightly surprised he was the person to get here earliest. Toshinori being late was nothing new, Aizawa being behind was almost a mercy. But Shuzenji, Inko, and Ryou all not being in the conference room for the meeting was mildly concerning. Not just because that meant he was alone with Nedzu, which felt almost as threatening as being stared down by a Nomu, like in Hosu…

Yes, he’d been there when it happened. Just… a little further out of the way than he planned. He’d stopped one of the brutes from grabbing a bunch of people on a train, and lost one of his boots for his troubles. But he hadn’t been able to help at the Tower like he’d planned.

Nedzu looks up, sighing heavily. “Torino, I wanted to give my compliments on the young man you brought into our orbit. Iguchi is proving quite an effective hire, with his Quirk and work ethic.”

Sorahiko nods, reaching forward to the little fruit spread Nedzu had for this Cabal meeting. “Kid kept giving his luck out to other people, the few times it swung around to him. I just wanted to make sure some stuck to him, if I could.”

Nedzu nods, producing a folder. He hands it to one of the smaller of Shuzenji’s helper robots, which quickly wraps the table to hand it to him. He opens it up, quickly reading through some financial papers he could half understand. “Is this… you’re giving him an employment contract?”

“Yes, considering his lack of life savings and health insurance. He dropped out of high school, and both his parents are out of his life. The fact that you employed him might have saved him quite the unsavory set of life choices, but he’s also lacking in survival means. Means I can easily provide, and do rather have the duty to.”

Torino nods, dropping the folder back on the table. “That’s sure nice of you, Nedzu. Now, what else did we want to talk about in this meeting?”

Nedzu nods, flicking through another folder. “Well, I wanted to compliment you on the secondary training you were giving some of the students. In fact, I have a few Pro Heroes asking if this is some rotating position, throwing their hats into the ring… including Nighteye.”

Sorahiko doesn’t mean to cringe, but he does. Because he wasn’t there for the fallout, but the damage was still obvious between Mirai and Toshinori. Apparently, One for All has the side effect of ruining any romantic relationships it’s holder has, given enough time. “Did Nighteye say what he wanted to do?”

“In so many words, he volunteered himself to cover for one of Toshinori’s classes, so he could spend his empowered time elsewhere without the students growing suspicious… of course, not knowing Class 1-A is in on that secret.”

Sorahiko blinks, then nods. “Right. I don’t suppose you’ve made some chart to keep track of all the different levels of conspiracy we have going… on…” He stops himself, Nedzu raising and clicking a little remote. A blank wall of the room is filled with a projection, showing a multi-tier cake of a chart. Sorahiko just stares for several seconds, quickly taking in a new detail towards the top of the chart. “That’s… wait, Izuku is All for One?”

Sorahiko jumps to his feet, Nedzu shaking his head. “No… why must all three Midoriya’s be relevant to this chart? His long missing father… Well, we know what happened to him. While I’m trying to put together an exact time table, it appears the body you and Toshinori encountered him in after Nana’s death would have been that of Hisashi Midoriya.”

Sorahiko… he just stares at the chart, then back to Nedzu. “No… no, you can’t be serious. That’s… Wait, when did this body swap take place?” Nedzu stays silent for a moment, and Sorahiko walks around to Nedzu’s tablet. The rat pulls up information for him to look at… and Sorahiko drops the tablet on the table, his fists clenching as soon as he reads the date. “Over the last week, Naomasa dug through the sources he had available. I’m currently checking against the other data we have on One for All’s users… and I informed Inko, last night.”

“This fucker needs to die… no. He needs to Suffer, for this.” Sorahiko looks back at the chart, gritting his teeth so hard he’s almost worried some of them will give. Because… Well, apparently Nana left a few details out, when talking about the history of One for All. Several graphic torturings, and several cases of stealing bodies of people important to One for All holders.

And then everything in the last Forty years…

The door to the office opens, Ryou and Toshinori stepping in. The dog man looks at least half as mad as Sorahiko feels, and Toshinori quickly goes from mildly concerned from him to appropriately terrified as he walks into the room. “Oh… have we learned something new about All for One?”

“He’s still a bastard. He’s just been at a level of bastard I thought we taught people not to strive for.” Nedzu lets him take the tablet back, walking it over to Toshinori.

“I know you have more claim to him than most people, but I want one of his arms.” Sorahiko nods to the counselor, both of them waiting for Toshinori to find the segment making their blood boil.

It takes a long minute, the stack of folders falling from Toshinori’s hands to the floor. The tablet goes spinning, Sorahiko’s eyes flicking to see the screen now has a crack running across it, before immediately returning to Toshinori. He stumbles, Ryou quickly moving to steady him and guide him to a chair. “He… Izuku… how do we tell him about this?”

“For the moment, we do not.” All eyes turn on Nedzu, the mouse quickly holding his hands up to Ryou. “He needs to know, I agree. Withholding this information could prove incredibly damaging. But we need to take a moment, find the best way to tell him about this without letting our own reactions color his.”

Ryou opens his mouth… then closes it, seeming to fight an entire war in the span of seconds before nodding. “Considering how we’re all reacting to this, none of us should do it. Besides, this should be Inko’s choice as to when to share this.”

“I… I killed Izuku’s father…” Toshinori breaks his silence, Sorahiko instantly looking up at him as he puzzles it out. “He… but he doesn’t look anything like Hisashi Midoriya. He didn’t then, either.”

“I assume some level of biochemical engineering is going into the process, with his ability to create Nomu. Which is why I’m digging into any possible bio-med development companies and subsidiaries that have been active over the last two decades. Of course, the earliest I’ll know something is July, and All for One has shown at least a coincidental pattern of acting every few weeks. He’ll either act just before the student’s summer break… or during it.”

Nedzu raises the remote again, the conspiracy chart being changed for a calendar-like record of events. And the whole thing looked like a symphony, with steadily raising crescendos of crime to longer, moodier sections of secretive actions. Sorahiko has a feeling All for One would appreciate the metaphor, if he didn’t design it himself. “Then we know he’s building up for his next move… but what?”

“More importantly, how do we protect the students from it?” Ryou crosses his arms, looking around. “Don’t tell me you’re going to let him get away with making the kids targets again, are you?”

Nedzu shakes his head, clicking the remote. Sorahiko looks, seeing brochures and flight plans for… I-Island? “Shuzenji has been talking with David Shield, looking into some medical procedures that might help Toshinori restore himself. A number of the students have offered to go there anyway, and I’m hoping to use it as a chance for some of them to have a fairly normal vacation… and all else failing, have them there to not be isolated and attacked. In the mean time, I’m in contact with the Police Force and Hero Commission on the research that’s going into Quirk Neutralising Substances and Gear… not a bad thing to talk about with Nighteye, when he comes by on Tuesday.”

“I… wait, what?” Nedzu slams Toshinori out of his existential crisis, right into a new crisis as that information processes. “He’s… okay, that’s fine. I think that’s… I think I can do that.”

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t asking if you were alright with that. But I’m glad it works for you; even better, if we can acquire any additional data about Quirk Neutralising Substances from him.” Right, because everything had to be at least three layers of plans. Kami, what he wouldn’t give for something a bit simpler.

-

Snipe walks into the range, nodding at the target being cleanly unracked by Inko. She was in the simple paper target range, using a simple little revolver and cleaning up a few points. She has her earmuffs off, so she turns when his spurs announce he’s walking towards her. She nods, setting down her target before setting up the next.

He looks, seeing the roughly dozen targets are mostly full of hits in the chest and shoulders. A few dead on in the head, with the oldest ones having one or two missed shots. “You workin somethin out?”

“You could say that.” Inko hits the switch, sending the target against the far wall. She then takes her revolver, Snipe holding off while she takes a bit longer time to reload than the students who’d usually take to the range.

Snipe grabs the muffs from the next stand over, sliding off his mask to have them sit proper. Inko slowly takes her shots, all the bullets hitting their marks over the course of about thirty seconds. A few of them aim a bit lower than Snipe likes, more than one striking below the belt.

Inko flicks the barrel open and dumps the used shells quick enough, clearly having seen that move enough and practiced. But then she does the reload, where she also loses time. Snipe eyeballs the gun, thinking for a moment if he has a clip that’d fit it’s barrel size.

Inko fires off the second round, hitting center chest pretty effectively. She takes a second, then pops the barrel and sets the gun down before hitting the switch to call over the target. She takes the muffs off, and heaves a big sigh as Snipe does the same. “Any advice on my form?”

“Not really. Your stance is textbook, if a little loose in the elbow. Your accuracy’s good, a bit of practice reloading could do you some good. I could get you a couple clips, if that’s ever a concern.”

Inko shakes her head, emptying the revolver out. “I think I’m good, for today. I just… I needed something a little destructive, get that out of my system. Nedzu… he’s been working me to the bone.”

Now, Snipe wasn’t quite like All Might’s detective friend, able to sniff a lie out by Quirk. But that little pause, more than just her being distracted by the scars on his face, tells him something else was on her mind. Something that got deep under her skin, made her want to come do this… course, all the stress of being Nedzu’s lawyer probably didn’t help. “Course… and I know, Nedzu can be a handful sometimes. If you… if you ever need a friend, you’re not hurting for choices.”

Inko nods, her breath hitching as she slides the muffs off. “I know… it’s just… an adjustment. I… my husband… he’s been away, for a long while. So I was raising Izuku on my own, and handling cases for people. And I always got so invested in their lives and well beings, basically injecting myself into their lives while I was working with them. It’s just… I’ve gotten too used to the water always boiling; when the bubbles and steam stop, I start to drown.”

Snipe nods, leaning on the partition between sections. “Yeah, my Missus was a lot of that, when we met. Having Hatsume simmered her down a bit, then she found a woman she really loved. There’s always something to balance, find that comfortable bit of shade to lounge in like a range dog between herding. I feel alive in a firefight, but ain’t done that much since being a teacher. So I’ve had to find other things… cheesy old movies, mostly.”

Inko processes for a moment, a faint smile on her face. “Oh, I really fell in love with old movies… and maybe a bit too much of the popcorn. The kids always having a movie night has been a chance to see a couple and go, ‘Oh, I’d love to rewatch that one’.”

Snipe lets out a faint chuckle, and gives a conspiratorial check of the room. “Well… if you ever want, the teacher’s apartment has a theater room, and a popcorn maker. I know Hizashi and Nemuri do reviews of movie’s for his show, but Nedzu has a whole streaming setup. If you ever want a good calm movie night, I could cover for you, watching the kids for a bit.”

Inko nods, sliding her revolver away. She looks at the targets, which Snipe reaches for and holds up for her. She shakes her head, and he takes them into the ‘office’ for the range to take care of later.

He sets them in the corner, and pulls out his phone as it buzzes. He checks it, huffing a little smile before doubling back for his mask. “You don’t usually call, Shouta. Something the matter?”

“The kids are planning on having a therapy session in homeroom tomorrow.” Snipe blinks, then double checks it’s Shouta’s number.

“That… actually sounds like a good idea?” Snipe waits a few seconds, the call cutting. He pulls the phone away again… and tries to imagine how that was a bad thing. Like, if Hound Dog wasn’t there, maybe… no, didn’t Sero do his internship with him? That sounds… probably fine, right? What was he missing?

Chapter Text

Unfortunately, it seemed mostly everyone was okay with going through this activity. So Hitoshi couldn’t really say no, like he desperately wanted to. So he helps move desks out of the way, everyone else moving the chairs into a circle. Aizawa brings an extra out, everyone slowly filling in the circle around him. “Hanta, since you’re putting this together from your internship with Hound Dog, I’ll let you control this for now. If anyone needs to stop, there’s no shame in stepping out, agreed?”

Hitoshi nods, having waited to take a spot furthest across from the teacher. Kouji and Tsu were on either side of him, Hanta nodding from next to Aizawa. He reaches into his bag, pulling out four bean bags. He hands one to Aizawa, sits one on the ground next to him, then holds up the other two. “If all of us try to talk at once, things will get chaotic fast. Like when Tsu was staying for the night, and everyone was recommending which desert Rikidou could make.”

Everyone nods, Rikidou holding up a hand. Hanta tosses the beanbag his way, the broader student catching it and spinning it in his hand. “Just for the record, I do really like cooking for everyone. But… it’s how I destress, and also really stressful when I’m doing a really complicated recipe.”

Mina nods, holding her hand up for the spare. Hanta tosses it to her, but it lands a bit short, forcing her to lean forward and grab it. “Yeah, like when you were making Katsuki’s cake. It got… Intense, when we needed to grab water and almost knocked that layer you were moving to the oven out of your hand.”

Rikidou nods, a little embarrassed laugh bubbling up as he remembers that. “Yeah. Like, I’m not outlawing the kitchen when I’m baking. Maybe just let me know when you’re there; I can get a little focused when I’m working, so a little call out would be nice.”

“Like in that cooking drama Kat’s recommended. ‘Hot Soup’ and all that.” Denki speaks, everyone nodding at the idea. Hanta holds up the third bean bag, but Denki shakes his head and looks around.

Next to the electric blond, Toru waves her hand. Hanta throws it, and Hitoshi still can’t help the hint of shock when it looks like the ball stops in midair. “Like, how safe of a space is this? Can I complain about the homework, a little bit?”

Mina swivels her free hand over, pointing dramatically. “Yeah, all the homework feels so much more complicated than even the stuff in the prep test. Like, I’m getting better at it, but it’s so freaking difficult sometimes.”

Hitoshi nods, even people like Momo and Tenya agreeing on that point. “I mean, it’s great to know a lot of this… but it’s also a real pain, yeah?”

Toru pulls out a notecard with a thumbs up, and shakes the beanbag around. “I just really wanted that off my chest… I already feel a lot better.”

Rikidou also looks around, and the bags get traded around the circle. It’s mostly little complaints that get traded for the next few minutes, with Hitoshi letting his attention drift until he hears his name again. “Like, if Izuku and Hitoshi always share a bedroom, why can’t the girl’s do a slumber party or something?”

Hitoshi chokes on his own spit, Izuku quickly trying to defend them both in a suspiciously high pitched voice. “It’s not like that! It’s just… we study a lot together…”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Mina gives an evil grin, and Hitoshi holds his hand up for one of the bags. Eijiro sends one his way, Shouto indicating for the one Mezou was holding from next to the boy.

He catches it… and almost regrets what he wants to say. But it was true, and probably something worth bringing up in this sort of setting, anyways. “We are just studying, first. Second, it's not like that… I just have trouble sleeping in the dorms. Feels too much like Child Protective Services buildings, keeps me up all night.”

Mina’s devious grin falls a little, and she leans back in her chair while crossing her arms. “Why do you have to make every one of my jokes sad in hindsight? Can’t we just have a little fun, for flavor?”

“Maybe some things just shouldn’t be joked about.” Hitoshi says it as a side comment, and offers the bag to Tsu and Kouji. Neither of them had spoken yet, but both of them looked like they wanted the chance to speak…

“Maybe I need to find something funny, sometimes.” Mina brings her free hand up to her face, carding her fingers through her hair. “Maybe I need a distraction from… can we talk about the Big thing, right now?”

She looks directly at Aizawa, who nods and otherwise stays silent. Shouto raises his hand, a few looks coming his way. “I would also like to say a few things about the All Might situation.”

Kouji taps on Hitoshi’s arm, and he hands the animalist the beanbag. But before the quiet boy could speak, Mina picked up. “Like, that was seriously a lot to take in. And the whole… did Nedzu really think about what might happen, with All Might being our teacher? Like, he’s good and everything, but the League of Villains attacking us, some of us twice?”

“Three times…” Everyone goes silent, slowly looking on Aizawa’s other side. At Mashirao, who suddenly goes very pale when he realizes he spoke out loud.

“The U.S.J., the Tower… what else am I forgetting?” Shouto holds up the bean bag, but everyone is quickly doing the math. Hitoshi figured something happened, with Aizawa’s cryptic warning before the dorms happened. But this… oh no, this might accidentally be interesting.

“Wait… do you mean when Stain attacked Tenya’s brother?” Kouji offers that up, and Hitoshi thinks it might line up. If Mashirao doesn’t want to talk, he’d play that off…

“By that logic, it would be four. Since… since Stain attacked my Uncle, shortly before Ingenium.” Momo raises her hand, and now eyes are off Mashirao.

But the blond tail boy shakes his head, and Hitoshi can see Aizawa looking out of the corner of his eyes to him as he speaks up. “Five, then. Cause… he didn’t attack me, but Stain did corner me. The weekend before the Sports Festival…”

“WHAT?” Katsuki jumps up from next to Shouto, Dark Shadow emerging and imposing between the explosive blond and Fumikage. “You’ve been sitting on that this whole time? Why the fuck didn’t you tell us?”

Mashriao takes a breath, shrugging. His tail flicks behind his chair, his tail hair all spiky like a mace. “I… it was really fucked up? He used his Quirk to paralyze me, and pin me to a wall. I… I’ve trained to be able to defend myself since I was six, and I would have died if Stain hadn’t randomly decided to let me live.”

“I would argue that constitutes a pattern. Because that makes three… no, didn’t Izuku and Kouji fight Stain after the Tower, too?” Shouto points that out, and it’s only Aizawa using Eraser and making his hair stand up that everyone calms down. Hitoshi notes his Quirk being suppressed, a little thickness in his throat that fades when Aizawa blinks and lets Eraser go down.

Izuku holds up his hand, Mina nodding and tossing her bag to him. He fiddles with it a second, looking at Aizawa to see if he’d be stopped. “I… well, I don’t want to speak for Kouji, but Stain after the Tower felt… different? He didn’t attack me… and the League of Villains attacked him? Like him trying to run after getting Endeavor wasn’t part of the plan? And he jumped in front of an attack by a Nomu to save me and Kouji, so…?”

“Yes… my brother was saying something similar.” Tenya holds his hand out, and Shouto passes the bag for Tenya to speak. “There was a girl, our age, who he was escorting for questioning. And Stain… he was taken, forcibly, by the League. At least, that’s what Tensei claims. Stain wasn’t… My brother was hurt by a Nomu. The same one that nearly killed Izuku and Kouji, if… if Stain hadn’t saved them.”

“yes… Stain moved to protect me and Izuku.” Kouji is practically whispering, but everyone is almost waiting with baited breath to hear the confirmation. “He did… he did stun Izuku, so I don’t think it counts as a rescue. Like, you can’t claim credit for putting out a fire you caused…”

“Okay, I have to know something.” Katsuki flops down, and looks right at Fumikage. “Is magic real? Are we cursed, or something? ALL of this cannot be a coincidence, but no one could plan all of this. You’d have to be fucking crazy to plan some of this…”

“Language, Katsuki! We’re in the middle of class!”

“We’re in therapy, and saying fuck is real cathartic. You should try it, Tenya.”

Tenya takes a deep breath, chopping his arm. “I will not, Katsuki! We are supposed to represent Yuuei, in all of our actions and behaviors…”

“Fucking hell, just curse for once in your life! I will literally pay for you to do it… I’ll pay for your date with Ochako if you do!” Tenya freezes, and all the tension that had built up seems to fizzle at that comment. And from Katsuki, of all people.

“Kats, I told you that in confidence!” Ochako starts looking around the room for the rat, clearly having a short list. A shadow seems to settle over her eyes, even before Mina stage whispers across the room.

“I thought you said you can keep a secret, Ashido?” Ochako slowly stands up, Mina quickly ducking behind her chair. Ochako slowly advances towards the other girl… only stopping when Tenya puts a hand on her shoulder.

“Ochako, please don’t do something rash.” Ochako turns, the anger disappearing with frightening speed to smile sweetly at Tenya. She sits back down, tossing a quick glare at Mina as the girl picks up from behind her chair.

Hitoshi lets out a deep sigh, sagging in his chair. “Fumi, didn’t you say something about breaking a curse by burning sage? Or is that only in the game you were talking about.”

“No, that’s quite the real tradition. Its oldest form is arguably from the First Nation’s People in America, but Japan also has versions of it. My parents actually have a group who do annual sage burnings; it’s good for the sinuses.” Yuga pipes up, having stayed quiet enough through most of this that Hitoshi almost forgot he was there.

“I knew if I let you all go on long enough, something would get set on fire.” Aizawa finally speaks, the deadpan delivery actually causing Hitoshi to snort with laughter. Kouji tries to suppress his laughter, but lets out little high pitched squeaks that slowly infect the rest of the room.

Everyone lets out at least a little laugh, a small measure of pressure released. The bean bags trade around a few more times, but the confessions left are reasonably light after that. Maybe this was an okay enough idea… hopefully, not something they’d do too often.

-

Hatsume taps on her desk, her stylus making a rhythmic ting ting against her work station. Of course, with other people using a saw or welding torch, it wasn’t the annoyance it’d be if Class 1-H was trying to study for their other classes. But there was only so much she could limit herself to designs before the urge to actually make became like a physical pain. Like… like if she didn’t get at least a hammer and a box of nails, she was going to explode…

“Hatsume?” The pink haired girl looks up, her teacher walking over with a forced little half-smile on his face. He had his orange hair tied up today, the few strands that escaped to be bangs now covered by the goggles he’d been wearing a minute before. “Did you get any of those designs redone for your assignment on Thursday?”

He had his claw coverings on, though the ones for shop had a few with different points and levels on them. Did he have a whole system for them, or were they half random? Like, did he have three that could be screwdrivers that were sized for different fingers, or did he have a box that he just randomly put on before coming to class?

He taps two fingers in front of her face, his version of snapping to get her attention. “Hatsume?”

She jerks in place, blinking rapidly. “Sorry, I was really bored and distracted. I already did all the assigned work, you took my lab privileges for the next few days, and I can’t refine the stuff I’ve already come up with without some time in the lab. And if I let myself come up with something new, I’m going to forget something or lose the inspiration I have for it… you know how it is.”

Powerloader sighs heavily, taking the empty seat next to her and plopping down. “Mei… you’re a good kid. You’re a genius, one of the quickest minds I’ve seen in ages. It’s just… you can’t keep making things explode. You know that, right?”

“I’m not just…” Hatsume turns to her tablet, and rips open a folder. She turns it to Powerloader, showing pages of notes and ideas she’s already had to let sit longer than she likes. “I’m not just making things explode because I want to, Sensei. I’m actually trying to test things, things no one else is testing. Bakugo’s Sweat Storing Canisters are a good design, but they need to be tested when exposed to extreme temperature changes, acid exposure, and even mild electrical shocks. Tell me Bakugo won’t want to know that, if he’s in an exercise with Todoroki, Ashido, or Denki.”

She pulls up Bakugo’s page, which is full of the most results from her tests. Mostly because Nitroglycerin was concerningly easy to come across in Yuuei, even without talking to Momo. And her tests had useful ranges of data, because she was not the explosion happy yandere people seemed to think she was. It’s just… her first reaction to an explosion is to pull out a notebook and start figuring out how things went boom.

Powerloader pulls out a stylus, flicking it across the screen. “Yes, all of this is… wait, what’s this note here about their material?”

“Well, making a plastic-superbase polymer exterior to resist these elements might make them more like a shrapnel charge, which I’m assuming would get points taken off. But it’s electricity resistant, it’ll take a few hits of acid before releasing the stored material to detonate, and the lack of metal prevents reaction and possible warping from temp fluxes. Because there aren’t a lot of metallic compounds that won’t create at least a partial reaction, but there are a few partial teflon builds that give us at least 80 percent of the whole build’s specifications without creating extra problems.”

Powerloader nods at her notes, zooming in and moving back and forth over the page. “Yes… but you did these tests without prior authorization. The work is good, and you’re getting full marks on them. But we also have seven people working with sound sensitive Equipment, who’ve lost collective days of work from ambient white noise caused during unscheduled tests.”

Mei sighs exasperatedly, leaning one arm on the desk and holding her hand up to rest her chin on. Even in the middle of this conversation, her brain refused to slow down. Now, it was recommending a change in shape to the spare canisters, to make them better resist high heat so Bakugo propelling himself through the air doesn’t set off a chain reaction. “Yeah, and I apologized after class. I traded notes and stuff to make up for it, and they’re fine with it. I helped them get their lost data reentered, meaning we’re good.”

Powerloader sighs heavily, taking his stylus and giggling it between his fingers. “Maybe… but I’m still not okay with it. You made up with them, but I need to know you can be patient, and wait on chasing an idea until it’s safe.”

Mei rolls her eyes, reaching over and taking the tablet back. She closes the page, and begins flicking through the Bakugo folders to add the design idea to it. Three people were supposedly reading from the document, Sokutei quickly adding comments of his own on top of hers. “Yeah, like you’ve never blown up a lab before. Like you don’t have Lab tech friends missing a finger or two; there is no such thing as safe, just sliding scales of dangerous that we grow comfortable in.”

Powerloader waits a second, as if he thought she’d change her mind when she dug her heels in. After long enough, he stands with a little huff, pulling his goggles back down. Fine enough with her; the corkscrew interior might reduce the total amount of material stored by nine percent, but it was improving the design significantly otherwise.

The lunch warning bell sounds, Mei adding the last touch to the modified grenade’s diagram. She slides her stylus away… and the need to create is at least satisfied, with the design stage being a major focus for so long. But she still can’t wait until she’s back in the lab, testing her designs herself. Just a couple of days… it wouldn’t be that long.

-

Toru runs her hands through her hair, quickly tying it back up after letting it down at lunch. She ties it into a high ponytail, not that anyone really notices. At best, it looks like she’s wearing a weird little halo, when she’s bothered to look into her reflection.

She bumps into Mashirao’s elbow, the boy rousing from his stupor during lunch. He kept staring at the cute Lizard Janitor Nedzu just hired, quickly shaking his head and looking her way when she prompts him. “Yeah? Something on your mind?”

“Not just mine, yeah.” She leans in, her upper arm rubbing against Mashirao’s. “So, is everyone in the class dating now? Izuku and Hitoshi, Kats and Eijiro, Momo and Kyouka… both the ‘Jiro’s pulling the hottest kids in the class.”

Mashirao nods, looking over to where Eijiro has joined the music core. Toru’s pretty sure it isn’t confirmed, that they haven’t really said anything about it. But there are long stretches when Katsuki and Kyouka debate something, a song they just found, where Eijiro stares at the explosive blond with heart filled eyes. “Yeah… Katsuki’s mellowed out, but he’s still really fiery. He’s really… would you judge me if I said he was hot?”

“Nah, I’d shoot my shot if Eijiro wouldn’t intercept that bullet.” Toru holds up a fist to bump, which Mashirao nods and copies. “Tenya’s also a tall glass of water… but I’m more scared of Ochako doing than I am of Katsuki. It’s always the quiet ones.”

Mashirao nods, both of them looking towards a bunch of Class 1-B kids where they were sitting. The mushroom girl and Kouji were still showing each other new sketches, a couple of the 1-B kids looking on with more than a few grins as she went off on long tangents that made Izuku’s habit of listing off hero information at the slightest question seem brisk. But Kouji was nodding along, even scratching a note or two on a big page of sketch paper that looked dotted with information. “I kind of see it… but Tenya’s a little too uptight.”

“Yeah, that’d be less fun after a while. But first, there’d be some fancy dinner parties, maybe some charity ball. He didn’t do Midnight’s dance for the Sports Festival, but he probably had to take a couple ballroom classes. Imagine him, doing a waltz for some fancy dinner.” Toru can’t help but imagine something like out of a fairy tale, even though it quickly becomes Ochako that’s joining Tenya, dancing in circles with a fancy dress.

Mashirao is quiet for a moment, so Toru looks over… and sees him looking at Denki, who’s sitting in with Hanta, Izuku, and Hitoshi. The four of them have been spending the whole weekend working on something, shudders going down Toru’s spine as she imagines what they could be coming up with. “What do you think they’re planning? More therapy exercises?”

“Nah… not sure I can tell you here, where someone might overhear.” Mashirao looks over, then looks around. The nearest table had a few Business Course students, and he leaned in anyways. Toru rolls her eyes, and closes in next to his ear. “There’s apparently a big end of year exercise in the Winter, where all the students in a year get put in one of the Mock Cities. Hanta got some info that Nedzu’s pet student of the year is usually the Villain Team Captain, and he and Denki went and told Izuku to get on his Team quickly.”

Mashirao pulls away, then turns to look at Izuku. “Really? I mean… he’s smart, yeah. But… I don’t know if he has being a Villain in him.”

Toru stifles a little laugh, remembering a couple of the thing’s she’d already heard, and that was before Izuku had all weekend to refine whatever the others had brought to him. “Oh, so you stare down a murderer one time, and you’re an expert on Good and Evil?”

Mashirao… flinches? Oh, there was more to the Stain story than he’d let on, in the therapy round circle? “No… I just don’t think he has it in him to be vindictive. Like, after what Bakugo did to him, and he still forgave him? I don’t know if he’s got it in him to be a villain.”

Toru thinks about it for a moment, then makes a little noise of agreement. “Maybe… maybe we’ll see something in Foundations of Heroics tomorrow. One of the Older Students said a Pro is coming by to spice up the lesson.”

Chapter Text

It’s not like waiting is a difficult thing to do; when you’ve been attempting to the world from the shadows for nearly two hundred years, time tends to become a trusted friend and confidant of its own. Hell, his tendency to trade faces through the years and long age brought to mind an old program his brother enjoyed, when they were kids. But unlike his foolish brother, All for One saw the greatness of the villains of the program, till that irksome Doctor mucked about and ruined their plans.

But this… Oh, this was not what he was expecting when he felt that Little Insect extending That Quirk’s senses at night.

The connection is… stronger? All for One felt the bridge bringing him to the Green Haired Brat easier, as if he was reinforcing the bridge… and that idea doesn’t cross his mind until he’s wandering through the halls of the brat’s middle school, his mental landscape so familiar that he doesn’t consider the speed with which he arrives as anything other than good tidings.

He opens a door, usually the one the boy reminisced behind… only instead, it was the movie theater. Where his brother, and the other shadows of the previous users hid from him… and playing on the screen is that Lawyer, the one who made Endeavor all the easier to isolate.

“Izuku… I’m sorry. But your father… he’s…”

All for One blinks… and sees the boy and his mother crying. It must have been very recent, just earlier that evening… and Inko has an open locket. With… a photo…

A white hot spike of pain drives itself through his head, like when that blond oaf managed to finally bypass all the defenses he’s built up over the years. All for One takes a stumbling step back, the shades all taking shape as he backs up to a blank wall.

All for One waves his hand, trying to break the connection. But the old fool, the Whisperer who managed to grow old with the Stolen Quirk, and the old fashioned gangster who’d been restraining his Quirk, both grab out at him. They pin his arms to the wall, the motion an ill timed reversal of how he remembered killing them.

All for One tries to kick out at them, the women who’d held the Quirk rushing in and crushing his stomach in. Distantly, the panicked whirling and BEEP of machines is suppressed under the sound of all of the Vestiges screaming at him. All their words are blurred as they all scream for attention, trying to trap him and stall him here…

Then, the boy is there. The first two thieves, barely more than shadows against the wall, both try to keep him back. But the green haired brat walks forward… and All for One would almost be impressed with the look of murder on his face. What does this brat think he is, trying to intimidate him…

The feeling of a spike returns, as the boy shatters his mask. All for One’s face is exposed, for the first time in years. And he smiles through the pain at the boy, expecting more blows as hatred flows through him…

But instead, he freezes. And… he starts crying? All for One’s pain is momentarily forgotten, watching the boy break down. Because he has wanted this… But why? What was upsetting him, this brat who has by now seen what he’s done to the others. He’s inflicted a fragment of their pain through this boy before, but drowning, nails, crucifixion, and more haven’t made him weep like he does now.

Toshinori’s vestige goes next to the boy, wrapping his long, spindly arms around him. Yoichi then appears next to the pair of them… and starts consoling the boy? It’s here that All for One makes the connection, with the glares coming from eight other sets of spectral eyes, that they wanted him here. Or, a figment of him at least, for their urge for revenge to be sated. “You… I don’t know why I expected better, All for One.”

All for One… blinks. The coldness, from his brother, was not new. He never respected the power he’d cultivated, his reputation and the deeds he’d done to gather it. But now… the feeling is very different. Yoichi… his own flesh and blood… is that Dismissal in his Tone?

All for One jerks awake, some fresh sample making its way into his bloodstream. The Doctor looks up at him, the portly bespectacled man looking up at him through his gear shaped glasses. “What the Hells was that?”

All for One takes rapid gulps of air, shaking his head despite his neck’s protests. “I… I don’t know. The boy’s mind was open, and the Vestiges… they were craving revenge, tonight.”

“Yes, well they just about got it.” The Doctor spins a screen to him, All for One seeing a dramatic chart of spikes and declines in his health readings over just the past few hours. “Your body was repeatedly strained, and it took my best efforts to try and keep you alive. This body… it has been too strained by the number of Quirks you’re holding. It will… Its failure is imminent, possibly sooner than we can finish preparing Endeavor, if they do that again.”

All for One grits his teeth, flicking his hand. It’s a gross misuse of Wave Channel, but it causes the screen to change to a feed of Endeavor. The man’s floating in a tank, just an oxygen mask and a set of trunks covering any of him. A few cracks are now spreading across his chest, but those have come and gone as the tests have continued. And that scratch across his eye will remain there for ages, but All for One wants to keep that. But there was still some work to do, too much for the Doctor to complete swiftly, even if he focused entirely. “Then you’ll have to forgo your side project, for the time being. My survival, I’m sure you’ll agree, is paramount.”

The Doctor takes a breath, turning and tapping the screen. “I… Subject Nine could go a few days without further input, but more than that risks compromise of the data and test. If I could only acquire more lab assistants, maybe we could finish both in short order…”

All for One slams his free hand against the arm of his chair, several machines letting out a high pitched Beep like a frightened gasp. “Subject Nine was always a backup plan, making sure the Endeavor Plan would succeed, and that Tenko would be an acceptable body for my inhabitation. If this body fails before then, the entire project will be for not, yes? Has Subject Nine given you the data you need to confirm Endeavor will be useful for the process?”

“In theory, yes. The Graft has not lost any of its efficacy, since compared to the Hisashi Midoriya procedure…”

The Doctor goes to talk, but All for One brings his hand up. He never paid attention to this body’s old inhabitant, simply needing to borrow it when his last body unexpectedly gave way. “Midoriya… What was that Lawyer’s name? The woman, the one who exposed Endeavor to our machinations?”

The Doctor blinks, turning to the screen and bringing up the information. “Inko Mid… no. No, no no no… it can’t be.”

All for One makes a swatting motion, the Doctor being flung out of the way of the screen. There, just like in his vision of the Usurped Quirk, was the plump green haired woman. Smiling for a camera… with a little green haired boy beside him. “No… that’s impossible.”

The Doctor stumbles to his feet, walking back over. “What? It’s just a useless woman and her Quirkless son? What about them?”

All for One… oh, he’s had some disgusting medicine in the past. But this… oh, this batch tastes absolutely awful. “That woman… and the boy… They both have a connection to this body. How did you miss that All Might chose My Son as his successor?”

-

Tenya smiles at Ochako, holding the door open for her as they walk to class early that Tuesday morning. She skips inside, but waits for him as they walk through the halls. “So, who do you think Nedzu brought in this week? The girls were talking, and apparently a Pro’s coming in to help since All Might’s…”

“He’s probably going to be busy today, yes.” Tenya jumps to fill in the silence, Ochako letting it trail off before checking they were alone in the halls. But Toru wasn’t the only person who had an Invisibility Quirk, and there were plenty of students like Kyouka and Mezou who had sensitive ears. “My brother said the Hero Commission is pulling every stop they have, to promote civility and safety. Retired Heroes are being asked to be ready, if there’s a need for them.”

Ochako’s eyes go wide, looking up at the ceiling as she thinks of that. “Wow… I’ve forgotten how many heroes have retired over the years. But just thinking about them… there have to be thousands, right? Like, three thousand Japanese Heroes were being tracked on Izuku’s websites he showed us, and a couple hundred were retired. But those sites only track heroes that break the top couple hundred. So there have to be some that aren’t tracked, or Underground Heroes, right?”

Tenya nods, letting himself think about that. “I remember reading reports years ago there were as many as two thousand four hundred active heroes peppered throughout Japan, Public and Underground, and that number has to have at least doubled since then. Not including things like deaths or people who surrendered or were made to surrender their license, or course… maybe five thousand people with hero licenses?”

Ochako nods, looking at him. “Like… your brother, right? He still has his license, but he’ll be recovering for a while, I guess.”

Tenya takes a breath, seeing how carefully she brings up that tender spot. They turn down the hall to their class, seeing the class door standing open. “I mean, he might be in a better state by Summer. But that’s just hopeful guess work, by…”

“Recovery Girl is clearly not up to the task, then.” Tenya cuts himself off, a raised voice from their home room echoing down the hallway.

The classroom door shuts itself, and Ochako immediately begins moving closer to the door. Tenya reaches out to grab her, only stopping when he hears the whispered conversation. “You’ve seen the injury, Mirai. Recovery Girl is a lot of things, but she isn’t a miracle worker. There’s a lot of steps between where he is, and where he was five years ago.”

“The same could be said about Tensei Iida, and yet the man was looking remarkably well when I arrived to consult with her this morning.” Tenya stops, the name and voice both sounding familiar. He wasn’t the level of obsessed with All Might as Izuku or Katsuki, but he did recognize the man’s former sidekick.

“Mirai… we’ll talk about this at lunch. We shouldn’t be discussing this in class, when there are plenty of students who show up early.” Aizawa’s warning cuts through the two of them like a thrown knife… and Ochako drags Tenya a few steps away from the door.

He blinks as she grabs her bag, and scatters a few folders and journals across the ground. “Oh no… Tenya, can you help me clean these up?”

She quickly scrambles to clean up the mess she just made, Tenya standing there stunned for a moment as the door slides open. Tenya starts moving when Aizawa pokes out the door, then slips back in to continue in a whisper.

Tenya quickly helps Ochako get her things back together, passing them to her with a raised eyebrow. “Why did you do that?”

“Because now he won’t know we eavesdropped until he checks the cameras. He’ll just think we’ve eavesdropped.” Ochako taps a finger to her temple, sliding everything into her bag before standing up.

“But… we did?” Tenya follows after her, barely stopping to see the other man in the room. Tall, in a white suit that borders on gray from the shadows being cast, with a crisp red polka-dotted tie.

Ochako turns, and winks at him with a grin. And that fluttering feeling, in his chest… Hound Dog might regret, making socializing Tenya’s punishment for the Stain incident. Because he can feel the slippery slope of being dishonest and disrespectful of the teachers… and doesn’t hate it nearly as much as he would have, at the start of the year.

-

Dabi… or Touya? It’s weird, measuring what a name means when two would work equally well.

Dabi shakes his head, refocusing as Hana messes with her phone. It’s plugged into some fancy looking row of computers, the two of them having snuck in someplace Hana said she needed physical access to do her thing. The two of them were three sets of stairs below ground, the building going through renovations that made Kurogiri worthless until they got back to the fresh air. “How much longer?”

“Two minutes, tops. Just… a lot more data to store than I thought.” Hana pulls out a second phone, the download so laborious she was having to break out her spare to finish it. “Had this place on my list, but wasn’t planning on coming here for ages. But… Boss told me to come here…”

Hana hisses, bringing her hand down to her stomach. Dabi hums out his acknowledgement, knowing she was at the edge of her chain. That was the big thing; the Thing That Must Not be Said.

They were now planning on Betraying two Super-Villains, hopefully cleverly enough to escape into the smoke and disappear from History, never to be seen again. All for One was the harder one to do, since Hana still couldn’t directly work against him. At least, she couldn’t yet.

The second Villain, Chisaki of the Shei Hassaikai, might just be the key to getting them what they need to beat All for One. And he’d offered it on a silver platter, so long as they did him a favor. Because when has promising a Mobster a Favor ever gone wrong for anyone anywhere ever?

Dabi looks down at his hands, clenching them as he considers the possibility. Of going back to… to being Touya again. Not just for Shouto, but for Fuyumi and Natsuo and Mom. Sure, he’d love to have kicked Enji in the balls before the old man went out, but everything else would have been perfect. All he needs to do is kidnap his Younger Brother’s teacher, and deliver him to the Yakuza for god knows what kind of tests…

Gods, did that sound insane. But while Hana couldn’t take part in that part of the plan, Dabi had a few ideas he was setting up. Giran, Shin-Hye, Jin and Atsuhiro would be able to set up the play… and he was out. He was done, and wouldn’t have to ever speak of any of it ever again. Exactly what he wanted, no more strings to be pulled by anyone.

Hana unplugs from the server rack, turning to him. “We’re cutting it close, to my window’s end. About three minutes before the camera’s reboot…”

“Then you two are in a rush to get out.” Dabi spins, hand coming up defensively. But barely a flicker of flame appears before his arm is yanked up and pinned to another wrack, each of the staples holding his left wrist together pulling dangerously.

He can’t help but let out a noise, Hana’s arms jumping up to cover her face. But her hands are tied together at the wrists, pinned up to the server rack she’d just stopped using. And stepping from the shadows, the edges of his mask glowing in the faint light of the servers processing data, was someone Dabi didn’t recognize on sight. But the fact that the man’s arms below the elbow were both missing, and the light was catching faintly in the air between him and them. He could guess.

Edgeshot walks just close enough for them to see, his gray eyes glowing faintly as they meet Dabi’s. “I’d say you two don’t look like Trigger Dealers, but the Hassaikai is quite the diverse organization. I just didn’t know they had the money to hire the famous Mayhem herself; I’ll make sure to update the reports you were stealing.”

Hana squirms, hissing as a drop of blood falls from her wrists onto her face. “I’m just making my own copies, man. All the Commission’s data is still safely where you stashed it; I didn’t even mess with all these black ops files you all refuse to put anywhere with outside access. Scout’s Honor… I’d raise my hand, but they’re indisposed… Ow!”

Edgeshot never looks towards her, keeping his eyes on Dabi the whole time. He takes a second… and lets Touya start trying to weep. He’s so glad he put in eye drops before coming here. Finishing off the bottle would be worth it, as some of the liquid starts leaking down his face. “Please, you have to let us go. They… they have my brother.”

Edgeshot raises an eyebrow, his grip loosening on the staples. His arm is just loosely tied up, still immobilized but at least not painfully so. “I’ll give you twenty seconds to explain why I should let you two go.”

“Dabi, don’t you dare…” Hana says it to play the part, but Dabi hears her clearly wanting him to say something. Say whatever it took to get them out.

Dabi scrambles for the words, but Touya is ready to pour his soul out. “The Hassaikai and the League are at each other's throats, the League killing and taking Trigger from them a while back. This is them making up; something about a fair trade. I was just supposed to get Mayhem in, get her out with some data… please, my brother’s only fifteen. If I don’t get the data, they’ll kill him. Please…”

Edgeshot finally turns to look at Hana, measuring her. “You aren’t trying to use a Quirk to escape… is it five point contact, or…”

“Clock the shoes, Genius.” Hana lifts a foot, revealing bright red shoes that were more an odd purple from the light in the room. “Ain’t got no Quirk, never needed one. Honestly, don’t even hate most of you Heroes. Just paying my debts to friends and kin; but in two minutes, once the security resets for the morning, his brother is as good as dead if you don’t let us take our copies of the data.”

“Please… I’ll turn myself in and everything, once my brother is safe. Please!” Apparently, years of begging for mercy made Touya quite the little actor. That, or the actual panic Dabi was feeling was rolling over. Because he was doing a mental countdown, and either Hana was intentionally going faster, or the fact that an unexpected Hero being on site was making her antsy to get out too.

Edgeshot takes a good few seconds, then lets the two of them loose. Hana immediately covers the cut on her wrist, the man’s reformed hand pulling out a card. He smoothly deals it to Dabi, who catches it to see a phone number. He brings his other hand to his ear, not quite pressing on the communicator he had to have. “If the technicians say you uploaded a virus, I will not be as nice the next time.”

“I don’t destroy data; The Commission does that enough.” Hana runs towards the door, Dabi looking at Edgeshot for a few seconds before following. Hana holds the office door open long enough for him to follow, then they’re rushing down tiled hallways to the stairwell.

Dabi barely outpaces Hana, slamming the stairwell door open and taking the steps two at a time. “The Fuck was a Top Ten Hero doing at a Data Depot at seven fifty-eight in the morning?”

Hana doesn’t even have time to screech a smart-alec answer before the stairwell’s fluorescent white lights turn bright red, a teeth grinding claxon filling the stone room and bouncing off the walls, like if every skull in the Paris catacombs started screaming all at once, giving voice to the damned that had been silent for centuries.

Hana rips open the outside door, already dialing. They rush from the building, into the tree line of a partially dead forest. “DOOR, NOW!”

The portal barely forms before the sound of breaking glass echoes behind them, the both of them entirely focused on getting to the portal. The ground under their feet rolls as something lands disturbingly close, actually tripping them up and throwing them through the portal. And stepping through a rip in space time is already a five out of ten experience; tumbling ass-over-teakettle is zero out of ten.

Dabi isn’t sure which side is up, but the crappy microwavable breakfast croissant quickly does the math before he can settle his stomach. The fact that what’s left of the top bun splatters outwards and to the left helps him orient himself, the rest of it flying down to the ground as he pushes himself up.

“Hey, I spent four hundred yen on that breakfast sandwich.” Jin says it partially jokingly, grabbing a rag and wiping the mess up.

“Four hundred yen on a gas station breakfast sandwich. And the Heroes call me a thief.” Atsuhiro’s comment might come off a bit higher and mightier if he didn’t then throw the trash from his own breakfast sandwich into the trash behind the bar. The bar which he’d spent the last weekend filling with trophies.

Dabi pushes himself up, walking behind the bar to the sink. Kurogiri makes a noise of displeasure, but he wouldn’t say anything about it as long as Dabi didn't try to filch one of the bottles. That got him madder than anything else, for some reason. “Luckily, we got out right as the alarm was going off. Why did we have to cut it so close to grab Commission files again?”

Hana is busy plugging the phones into her computer, taking a second to vigorously type in before answering. “Because they’re insane enough to back up the files right before their massive anti-Me security update. If I’d had two weeks to Trojan in a file, we wouldn’t have had to risk the B&E when the building was at it’s weakest, security wise. But nope, we had the update patching in to do it, and my time table jumped a whole thirty minutes since their files downloaded a lot faster than planned… Basically, Luck was a Lady tonight.”

“So, what was so important you had to get it right now?” Jin tries to sneak a peak around Hana’s shoulder, only for her to shift and block the screen.

“Don’t bother her. She’d been told not to tell us, or hint. So it’s probably something for the Boss Man, or whatever data they’ve collected on us over the past bit.” Dabi finishes toweling his hands off, really hoping Hana is down for the Hassaikai deal. Because… yeah, he was really looking forward to getting rid of this ‘Pepperoni Face’ as that back alley twerp put it.

Hana nods, her computer chiming several times in quick succession. “Alright, data saved… Oh, that’s interesting. All Might’s old Sidekick is at Yuuei for a class.”

Dabi blinks, turning to see said Back Alley Twerp chime in. “Isn’t he the one All Might’s secretary recently took out drinking? After he and the boss had some messy breakup a few years ago?”

Dabi takes a second, then points at the small blond kid that no one else has a problem with in the bar. “The fuck are you still doing here?”

-

Mirai looks at the watch, flashing between bright red and a green twenty as the exercise is set to start. He rolls his eyes as he adjusts the grip on the pistol, remembering the glee the class had when the activity was announced. Apparently, Aizawa was being far more lenient with this class than he had with others in both their education and their judgment. All twenty of them had excitedly gone to collect their suits… even Ojiro.

If seeing the young reprobate had not soured his mood yet, the cloying joy and obnoxiously unending questions from Midoriya would have caused milk fresh from the cows udders to curdle upon exposure. Mirai wasn’t sure how he’d managed to hide his obviously manipulative nature from Toshinori for over a year; it was right there to see, if he’d bothered to look.

The activity starts, and Mirai steps out of his first starting zone. It was the third floor file room of an office, and he immediately made for the stairs with the firearm ready. Now, while he was passionately against Midoriya keeping One for All, just out and saying it would get him nowhere. No, he had to play a longer game. Convince everyone that there was a better option for it…

Sadly, that meant eliminating the other students first. But most of them would retreat from him, since their only real capture specialists were the Tape Elbow boy and Todoroki. Hopefully, he could still find and eliminate Izuku, since the boy would likely avoid a direct confrontation with Gran Torino’s training…

A loud explosion echoes outside, Mirai stopping in the stairwell. He exits on the second floor, quickly making for the nearest window. Bakugo skids to a halt on the roof next door, and is clearly talking into an earpiece. He’s looking around, eyes passing right over the window Mirai was looking up at him from.

Mirai pulls back, reassessing this data. Most of them shouldn’t possess communicators in their costumes… but Yaoyorozu might be able to create them. And if Bakugo was communicating, at least the two of them were going to try and hunt him down. But Bakugo scouting a large area like this… those two were smart enough to not just do this alone, so some of the other students were definitely joining in.

So, this was the class that had so amazed Aizawa? Mirai would not vocalize it, but he would silently admit that he was impressed they were coming together at least semi effectively. But he only needed one shot to remove them from the activity, and they would need to immobilize him. So he’d spend that advantage.

He turns, and opens the window. Bakugo is turned around, so it would be easy enough to eliminate him from the challenge. But he intentionally shoots wide, the boy turning to see the glob of white paint splatter against the wall next to him. Mirai ducks back, but can hear him scream “There’s a window that wasn’t open before. East Side Office Buildings.”

Mirai heads back to the stairs, going up this time. He hasn’t used his Quirk to foresee how this is going to go, but he does know that a foot race will be a problem. And besides Uraraka, Tape Boy, and Bakugo, they would be hurting for ways to get up to the roof. Leaving a bottleneck to get to him, when he had a firearm to use. The first few through the breach would definitely learn the lesson…

He opens the roof access, Bakugo seeing him and moving to be better behind the chimney he had for cover. Leaving him alone, waiting to see how they responded to a siege like situation. He walks away from the roof access door, closing it behind him and walking to about the middle of the roof.

Bakugo pokes out into the open, then fully walks out up to the edge of the roof. “You could have shot me in the back, taken me out of the round? Or are you so arrogant, you wanted the rest of the class to come running to find you?”

The confirmation was useful, but Mirai could see a taunt for what it was. Could Bakugo? “You could have jumped in to finish me off, but turned tail until your allies were running to support you. Too afraid to fight me one on one?”

Bakugo huffs a little laugh, and Mirai quick draws and fires a few shots. Bakugo dodges back and forth, his explosions letting off enough smoke to obscure his retreat. Mirai pulls out a reload cartridge for his gun, seeing that he had about seven minutes before he had to eliminate someone for this game to continue.

He doesn’t need to reload yet, but having the option in his otherwise unoccupied hand was the best use of resources. And then he finally sees him, leaping from rooftop to rooftop to close the distance. Mirai checks the time, seeing it took him over ninety seconds to travel from wherever he’d been searching to this location. Considering the five minutes head start, there might be something there for him to be a coordinator, after taking One for All from him.

But before today was done, he would be showing everyone that Midoriya was an unworthy successor to All Might’s Quirk. Especially Midoriya.

Chapter Text

Something was deeply wrong with Izuku. The other boy wouldn’t vocalize it, but whatever he and his mom talked about last night, it was serious. Serious enough that Hitoshi had spent the night in his room for the first time in weeks, Izuku did not want him to see inside his head… Yes, he was slightly upset with that part.

He can be a little selfishly mad under being concerned for whatever news his boyfriend just got. Hitoshi is a complicated bitch, like that.

So he’s now running towards where Nighteye was spotted, Izuku and Hanta streaming ahead of him as he joins the ground throng. Rikidou and Kouji are the ones he finds first, and running through the fountain area they recruit Tsu and Mezou on the run. “Office building’s during the first round, again. Just something in the air, huh?”

Kouji and Tsu know the twists and turns of this area best, managing to make it to the next major street as Fumikage… flies in? Dark Shadow has his arms braced under the boy, pulling him along a bit like a wind glider. The dismount onto the roof could use some work, the bird boy quickly rolling behind cover…

Hitoshi throws his arms out, stopping Rikidou and Mezou in the alleyway behind him. Or, he tries to. They still both push a few steps past him, then quickly back up as white splotches of paint fly down from the roof. Kouji and Tsu run to the building, Tsu leaping to safety as Kouji just barely dodges another salvo.

Kouji rolls to the side, barely scrabbling away from another splash to duck into the building they were next to. Hitoshi then has to pull back, Nighteye splattering the entry to the alley.

“I count about thirty shots before he has to reload. Anyone downed yet?” Katsuki starts calling over the comms, partially for the group not here yet.

Hitoshi does a quick scan of the three of them, Mezou flashing him a thumbs up as he speaks. “Me, Rikidou, and Mezou are good. Tsu is in the building, Kouji narrowly dodged getting hit before ducking in across the street from Nighteye. Fumi’s got eyes on him from the North Building… can Dark Shadow take shots, or no?”

“I would assume so, unless we’re told otherwise.” They give Aizawa a few seconds, then Fumikage nods. “There would have to be excess that hits me, then. But we also want to be careful; without Shouto, Hanta is extra valuable in ending this exercise.”

“I’m hiding on a balcony, behind Kats and ‘Zuku. It’ll take me ten seconds to clear the roof and jump over, if you can get the gun away from him.” Hitoshi nods at Hanta’s comms, peaking out again.

“This feels… Nighteye’s been in a couple of standoffs before. Maybe he’s emulating a criminal he’s taken down before?” Izuku starts muttering his way through previous cases, Hitoshi rolling his eyes as he watches Nighteye survey the scene again.

“He’s left a bunch of doors leading to the roof open, right up until the roof access door, kero. If someone could distract him, I could pretty easily sneak up behind him. I’m not as good at close combat, but I could stall him for the roof teams to get close, kero.”

Hitoshi takes Tsu’s report in, turning to look at the rest of them here in the alley. “While you guys jump in, he’ll probably be distracted enough that the three of us down here can run in and join the fight. Does anyone have something that can distract him?”

“I’ve got an idea. Been wanting to try this for a minute, so stand back.” There’s a couple of snaps, which Hitoshi initially thinks might be from the rest of the class running in.

Katsuki starts firing off explosions… but Nighteye has to dodge as they travel across the street, almost forming a ball before exploding in the air in a large puff of smoke. He creates a quick and dirty smokescreen, Hitoshi quickly taking the chance and bolting for the building.

He gets to the door Asui took, rushing in and holding it open. Rikidou and Mezou both run after him, Mezou spreading his arms to give Rikidou cover as they run. Rikidou manages to get in, but a big splash of white splatters across Mezou’s side before he gets in.

Mezou stops before entering, nodding to them as another round of explosions forces Nighteye back to defending. “Go, I got you two in. That’s all that matters, right now.”

Hitoshi and Rikidou look at each other, and make for the stairwell. Tsu left a clear path for them to follow, joining her just as Toru starts speaking over the comms. “West Ground force, just passing the Fountain. Who got hit?”

“Mezou did, just in the doorway to the building. Kat’s is laying down some sort of explosion smoke suppressing fire, but it wasn’t enough to get all of us in the building.”

Katsuki’s comm turns back on, and Hitoshi thanks Momo for giving him one that’d tune out his explosions. “Hey! I haven’t exactly had the time to test the Armor Piercing Shot yet, so the fact that it gives off a lot of smoke is just a fucking bonus.”

“If your ranged attack makes it harder to see your opponent, doesn’t that make it a less effective attack?” Shouto’s calm musing comes just as Nighteye starts returning fire, Izuku and Katsuki both making little shrieking noises as they duck under the shots.

“You made a mistake, taking off your support gear. A Mistake I will not be letting you recover from.” Nighteye taunts Katsuki from across the roof, probably pasting his gauntlet to the rooftop.

“South Ground Team, five minutes out with Denki navigating. Shouto’s a bit faster, making ice bridges across the rooftops and slushing them.” Mashirao chimes in, Hitoshi looking between Rikidou and Tsu. Tsu seems to be considering something, while Rikidou takes out one of the vials of sugar from his belt. It looked like he had a new design to it, but Hitoshi hadn’t paid too much attention to the original in the first place.

He looks at the closed door… then nods to himself, smacking his palm to his forehead. “He’ll hear the door open… Whoever goes in first will get taken out.”

“Maybe not.” Tsu quickly slides her gloves off, and starts crawling up the wall. She angles herself just above the door, then closes her eyes, focusing on something… and disappears. Not Toru invisible, but Hitoshi had to remind himself he was looking at the vague outline of where she’d been a second ago.

She pulls the door open, and both Hitoshi and Rikidou back up as a big splotch of paint covers the ground. Did… did that make them unable to access the roof? If they got hit they’d lose, but stepping through a missed shot… Tsu slowly pokes out the door, and moves out as Hitoshi considers the logic of that.

He reaches forward, and taps the splotch with his shoe. He waits a couple of seconds, but the elimination notice doesn’t flash across the bulky watch the Support Course had given them again for the session. Cool, so… “Rikidou… do you feel like charging gloriously into battle?”

Rikidou thinks about it a second, Izuku’s call of ‘He’s Reloading!’ echoing as the big guy does the math. “I’ll be Right, you be wrong?”

Hitoshi nods, and he races out the door. He registers Nighteye turning with the reloaded paintball pistol, quickly diving down while loosening his scarf. Nighteye misses a shot at him, quickly turning and firing at Rikidou as he tries to make for another bit of cover.

Tsu choosing that moment to leap in further distracts Nighteye, though he does catch Rikidou’s leg with a direct hit that knocks the bigger student to the ground. Tsu flips through the air, the Pro jumping to the side to avoid a move not unlike something Mirko did to the Nomu’s at the Hosu Tower fight. And Nighteye makes the mistake of turning away from Hitoshi, letting him throw the capture weapon.

It didn’t hit the pistol directly like he wanted, but he’d take it wrapping tightly around the Hero’s Wrist. Hitoshi twists the scarf in his grip, giving the hero’s arm a hard yank. Nighteye spins towards him, the pistol going spinning across the roof… and his other arm reaching in, spinning the capture weapon in his grip.

Hitoshi tries to dig his feet in, but Nighteye is a lot stronger than he looks. He roughly pulls Hitoshi towards him, quickly spinning the weapon around his arm as he approaches. “Mind Control, and an Ineffectual Copycat. To be expected.”

Hitoshi sees the man tense his leg, quickly ducking out of the way. He slips his free arm up, ripping the scarf free from around his neck before Nighteye can twist it around his leg and more effectively choke him. He then rolls to the side, partially to avoid a stomp to the nose.

Also partially to avoid a Fumikage skidding to a halt, Dark Shadow launching forward to grab Nighteye. And the hero neutering Hitoshi’s weapon proves to slow him down just a hint too much, Dark Shadow’s hands latching onto either side of him before he can properly disengage. “Hanta, now!”

Both Izuku and Katsuki launch over, Hanta flying up onto their rooftop a second later. Izuku grabs the pistol, Katsuki holding his ungauntletted hand in a ring over the one that still has a glove. “Was Sugar Rush the only one hit?”

Tsu nods, everyone backing up as Hanta launches himself over. Izuku is careful handling the gun, his face shield obscuring more mummers that apparently Momo’s comms were also filtering. “I’m good, kero. Plus, I got to test something I’ve been working on for a while. This is a really great exercise for that, I’ve noticed.”

Hanta skids to a halt, Dark Shadow pulling back as the tape launches. But Nighteye brings his hands up… and Hitoshi dives in front of Izuku, two silver blurs slamming into his ribs like Rikidou on a Sugar Rush. The air in his lungs is ejected before Nighteye is wrapped in tape, and he sinks to the ground as two pieces of metal fall to the ground.

He coughs heavily, trying to get his breath back. The wrist watch chimes, but he focuses on ripping off the voice mimicker so he can actually breathe. Izuku drops down next to him, one hand rubbing his back while the other picks up the silver things. “Stamps… right, he throws these things like weighted throwing knives. And they’re… oh, they’re also covered in paint.”

Katsuki walks over, offering him a hand to stand up. “You’re acting like you got shot from being hit by those things? Walk it off, you’re fine.”

Hitoshi grabs Katsuki’s hand, his middle finger sticking out as he stumbles to a stand. Izuku moves to let him borrow him to lean on, every movement causing an ache to echo through his ribs. “Actually, they have a pair of weights inside them, making them hit at roughly five kilograms on impact. Add how strong he is anyways, the closeness of the hit… Hitoshi, you’re probably going to want some ice from Shouto.”

Hitoshi just nods, Nighteye sighing heavily as the watches chime again. “I suppose if he talks incessantly, he is bound to cross a correct statement eventually. You will want to ice those, lest the bruising last until your Finals.”

Hitoshi looks at Nighteye, eyebrows furrowing. The comment at him… maybe it could be excused, trying to distract him during the exercise. But that, and the looks he’d been giving Izuku in class earlier, when they boy had been gushing over his career exploits. “Yeah, Izuku already said that. If you’re not going to say something useful, the least you could do is shut up.”

Everyone on the roof goes quiet, Nighteye especially. Hitoshi stares him straight in the eyes, even remembering that there was something about his Quirk that made that a bad idea. The man looks away first, tilting his face so the sun glares off his glasses. “This round is concluded, if you could release me.”

-

Rikidou sits with his arms crossed, waiting with Mezou and Hitoshi as everyone scatters for the second round. Even after Nighteye left, there was a bit of a wait as everyone redistributed among the groups. Mostly leaving the East section for the last sweep, since Aizawa wasn’t the type to do the same thing multiple times.

The round starts, Aizawa playing a projection of the city’s map for them to see. Rikidou sighs, looking down at the half dried paint on his uniform. “Are we out for the whole exercise? I might not have rushed in if I knew that.”

“Next time you’re in a life threatening situation, you’ll remember you don’t get a do over.” Aizawa lets the implied threat hang in the air, and Mezou shoots him a sympathetic look as they watch the groups begin checking nearby buildings.

There are occasional reports, the three of them watching the South get scouted as Bakugo and Fumikage quickly clear rooftops while Tsu, Kouji, and Hanta all check ground level and below ground as best they can. The West and North are all getting pretty quickly cleared, meaning Nighteye had to be ducking through areas they already checked.

“Aizawa… would it be possible for me to ask for time away from school in September?” Mezou breaks the silence among the four of them, Rikidou looking over as Aizawa raises an eyebrow. “It’s just… well, there’s going to be a Total Solar Eclipse visible up in Nagano, but it’s during the middle of the day.”

Rikidou blinks, a brief break in the constant terrible news cycle coming to mind. He wasn’t a big star guy, but he remembers some things about the big events. “Wasn’t there just a solar eclipse last year?”

Mezou looks over, tilting his head back and forth. “That was a partial eclipse just barely visible from Hokkaido partway through the day. This total eclipse is going to cross Japan over two and a half hours, and my dad’s parents are going to be in the path of totality. My grandfather and I are both big starwatchers, and… well, the next eclipse visible from his house is a lunar eclipse in three years. And… he probably won’t be there to share that one with me.”

Aizawa pulls out his phone, probably typing out a note. “I can go ahead and ask Nedzu, but I don’t see a problem with that yet. We’ll talk more after the exercise, okay?”

Mezou nods, and Rikidou thinks for a moment. Was there… Was there anything he’d need to be excused to go do, with his family? They lived mostly out in Tottori, which was a six hour train ride away. Were they leaving him out of events, just because of the hassle of talking to him? Maybe he should call them, maybe at least plan a weekend trip before summer break… or should he spend his Summer Break back home?

Rikidou starts considering that further, only for Hitoshi to cut him off. “Guy’s… isn’t that Izuku’s communicator that just went out?”

Rikidou looks up, seeing a flashing dot of one of the communicators going off. Aizawa steps up, tapping on his earbud. “Does anyone know Izuku’s current position?”

Aizawa zooms in on the area, Rikidou hearing almost everyone chime in the negative. Only Fumikage says anything different, after waiting for everyone else to speak. “I saw him a few moments ago, while I was practicing maneuvering with Dark Shadow. He was on the rooftops until a few moments ago.”

Aizawa gives it a moment, then taps on the tablet he has. “Nighteye, do you have eyes on Izuku? We’ve lost his position.”

Aizawa apparently has the ability to listen to separate channels, because whatever Nighteye was saying wasn’t getting broadcast over the comms the three of them were still wearing.

Hitoshi sighs, rolling his neck. “Well, so much for a quiet week.”

“What does that mean?” Mezou asks, and Rikidou doesn’t like the sinking feeling at the bottom of his stomach. Like he was crashing after using his Quirk, only he hasn’t eaten nearly enough to get there yet.

“Call it a hunch. Something about Nighteye…” Hitoshi shakes his head, then stares as more than a few dots begin making their way to where Fumikage was. “There’s just something about him, I don’t know how to say it…”

-

Izuku… There’s no other way to say it. Izuku is more pissed off than Katsuki has ever managed to be.

But he’s smiling through it, since now wasn’t the time to unpack that. Unpack that All for One… and his Dad… he’d never really thought about his Dad that much. But knowing that could never happen again, that relationship was dead before it ever started… He’s never got to be mad before. And he still can’t be, because that’s just a step too close to the secret. So he can’t really afford to unpack any of that… but that’s just fine. Everything is just… fine.

And besides, this was his chance to talk to Nighteye. He should be thrilled, having just barely seen the man making his way between rooftops and through windows. Izuku Floats after him, the new compression sleeves helping with the strain of Float. And Heal sweeps the damage away as long as he only uses Float slightly, getting a few extra feet in a leap and sticking a landing. So he’s quietly moving through the darkened cubicles of an office, peaking out as Nighteye calmly makes his way through the rows.

Nighteye suddenly stops, Izuku freezing as the man looks in every other direction but his. “Quiet, following me… Hagakure? Or perhaps Asui? I could even imagine one of the smarter male class members… Fumikage, perhaps?”

“No, you just said you were tired of me talking.” Izuku doesn’t want to think he’s imagining it, but it sounds like Nighteye growls when he recognizes Izuku’s voice. “I dropped my comms on the rooftop two jumps ago, so we could talk in private.”

“Yes, Aizawa informed me.” Nighteye turns, and Izuku shifts so it’s only his head visible, peaking between a narrow walkway of cubicles. “You’re causing quite a concern, for your other classmates. And here I thought you’d never deprive them the pleasure of your endless chatter.”

Izuku wasn’t one to jump to conclusions… Well, he tried not to. But when it came to adults clearly having disdain for him, there was a point where denying it would just be foolish. “Did I say something offensive, earlier in class?”

He almost waits for an answer, but pulls back as Nighteye fires. He quickly releases a pulse from his hands, Float throwing him back to avoid the splash of white paint splattering off the cubicle wall. “If you had said something to offend me, rest assured I would inform you. I have no reason to lie to you, Midoriya. Unlike you, I value telling the truth.”

Was… was that a dig at One for All? Izuku retreats to the next row, able to move behind cover when Nighteye comes around the corner. But he’s distracted… because he hasn’t lied to his classmates? If anything, he’s let too many parts of One for All’s secret slip, not kept enough hidden. All of them are in a lot of real danger, and stressing out because they know about All Might’s fight against the League of Villains. “I think we’re on different pages here. What exactly are you mad about?”

Nighteye quickly turns the corner, Izuku pulsing Float as a glob of white covers the spot he’d just been standing on. “Well, since you know so much about me, and most assuredly about All Might, I thought it would only be fair to learn a bit about you. You left quite a few rumors behind, filling quite a bit of space in Alderia’s files. Before you convinced Nedzu to destroy them, somehow.”

Izuku skids to a halt in the next safe divide… but his fists clench, Nighteye’s taunting tone playing through his head. “Alderia? You… Okay, we’re reading entirely different books. And I didn’t convince Nedzu to destroy Alderia; he did that himself, after talking to my Mom. If anything, I tried to talk them out of it…”

Izuku ducks out of sight before Nighteye turns the corner, hovering just inside of a cubicle, the faintest of pulses holding him just above a short filing cabinet as Nighteye stalks down the corridor. “For someone who’s lied to All Might for over a year, your flights of fancy are truly pathetic. I truly don’t understand how he trusted a brat like you with His responsibilities…”

For the life of him, Izuku isn’t sure why that’s the thing that makes him snap. Maybe it’s just that’s what Nighteye says as he walks past his hiding place, pistol stretched out in front of him. It might be the derision in his tone, as if he knew better than All Might, than Nedzu, than Aizawa…

Or maybe… he’s just tired of people calling him a brat. People have snapped for less, he’ll think in hindsight.

Only as he shoves Nighteye against the cubicle across the row, it’s not his hand that grabs his wrist. Not his arms that spin the man to face him, crossing his thin neck and pressing just hard enough that the man can’t breath as easily. Izuku registers the black tentacles, but doesn’t care more than to notice them as he glares at Nighteye.

And he glares even harder at the Pro Hero, someone he’s idolized since he was six, when Whisper decides to kick in. And the first thing that pops up when Nighteye looks at him is Contempt. Quickly followed by Scorn, Derision… and Izuku shouldn’t like that Fear is so quickly growing, but right now it tastes fucking great. “I didn’t lie to All Might, Nighteye. He knows exactly the type of person I am; so does Nedzu, and Aizawa, and Recovery Girl. And Hitoshi, which I know pisses you off the most. Because he likes me for me, not because of what I am to One for All.”

“Shut… Up…” Nighteye tries to break the Black Whip’s grip, only for the tendril to dig into the cubicle wall behind him. All of them do, breaking through the weak particle board barrier between a fake office and a faker workspace as Izuku slowly Floats up to his eye level. “You… don’t know… what you’re…”

“I don’t know what I’m talking about? Coming from the man who decided I wasn’t good enough for One for All after a few weeks of light stalking. And you think you do know a better successor, and that most of my classmates would be a better choice. Well, you’re…” Izuku takes a breath, struggling to breathe. Like all the air in his lungs had suddenly been replaced with water, even though he consciously knew that wasn’t happening.

All the Quirks stop, both him and Nighteye dropping to the ground and gasping for air. Only Nighteye still had a gun, and recovered quicker than Izuku as he tried to expel water that wasn’t in his lungs.

Nighteye stands as Izuku’s outfit is splattered in paint, massaging his neck from an obvious bruise. “Much more violent, than I expected. And you have access to three predecessor Quirks. Better than even I thought, for a hooligan.”

“Four.” Izuku pushes himself to stand, the room spinning as other phantom pains begin popping up. Nails being driven into the tips of his fingers, spikes driven through his hands, lengths of flesh carved from his legs… but he forces himself to stand, ignoring the beeping of the watch on his arm. He also noticed the lights turning on, but they quickly started pulsing too brightly for him to keep his eyes open any longer. “My classmates… would be better for it. But… all of them deserve to live past this. And I… if I don’t, that’s fine. So I won’t put them through this, or Togata. If you have a problem with that…”

He would continue talking, but the phantom’s pains disappear all too quickly for his liking. All he knows next is he’s back on the ground, everything going fuzzy and indistinct as his legs give out.

Chapter Text

Shouta is so glad he put a request in for the cart, when planning for this activity. He’d had a distant hope he would offer to drive Mirai to another section of the city for the start of the activity, an appeasement from their talk before class. But now, he was heavily contemplating running the bastard over, only not outright doing so because Rikidou, Mezou, and Hitoshi would become accessories to his crime.

So instead he has to bring the thing to a halt, seeing everyone not already with him in about two solid groups. What he doesn’t like is that while Shouto tends to Izuku, his cold hand on the green haired boy’s forehead, and everyone else is standing in a defensive lineup between the two and Mirai.

And right up in his face… Katsuki was expected, Mashirao was not. And Katsuki holding Mashirao back was additionally unexpected, although Eijiro and Toru close at hand when the blonds did inevitably choose violence was more expected.

And waiting for him, her arms crossed, was Kyouka. As Shouta walks up, she holds out an earphone jack. With a listening device attached to it, with a faintly glowing light in it and a sour grin on her face. And she helpfully elaborates on part of her displeasure, sparing him the need to ask. “Excuse me, but “Predecessor's Quirks?”

Several of the students turn to him, but he walks past Kyouka to look directly at Shouto. “Is Izuku alright?”

A gray and blue eye look up at him, the burn on his face creasing as Shouto glares at Shouta. “He’s running a mild fever. Using multiple Quirks will do that, to a normal person.”

“What do you mean, multiple Quirks?” Mezou and Rikidou both look confused, but Hitoshi quickly runs over to help with Izuku. Shouta turns before he can see everyone gauging whether his son knew about this, instead focusing on the verbal argument brewing between two blonds, and a green-blond hybrid with less sense than the both of them.

Mashirao’s tail is angrily swishing behind him, the hairs on his tail standing on end like Denki was running a shock down it. He’s pointing at Mirai, Katsuki only just holding him back while probably glaring murder at the Pro Hero. “You’re one of his favorite Heroes, almost as high as All Might. And you say that he doesn’t deserve to be a Hero? I don’t know all the specifics, but the next fucking time I see you, you’d better be ready to wake up in a fucking hospital.”

“You’d let him wake up?” Katsuki growls out the threat, and Shouta isn’t even sure it’s the boy’s usual posturing. “You and me ever meet again, you’d better have your fucking funeral scheduled. You’re fucking dead, you four-eyed fuckwit.”

Shouta locks onto Mirai, stalking forward. “ENOUGH.”

Mashirao turns… and stalks towards him, almost startling him. “And you! The fuck did you think you were doing, letting him pull something like this? You moved Katsuki for a single off comment the first day, and you let him come at Izuku like this?”

“That’s no way to talk to your Teacher…” Mirai starts to admonish Mashirao, and Shouta takes a half step around the karate gi clad student to take a verbal shot at the man.

Katsuki beats him to the punch though, and Shouta reaches into his pocket to hit a button on the remote. He wants that on video, for when he soon dies from all the stress, to play at his funeral. Including Mirai stumbling back onto his ass, cradling his nose from the full gauntlet backed strike to the face. “Katsuki! That is entirely inappropriate, and goes against everything I’ve taught you.”

He stalks forward, passing Katsuki as Mirai pushes his glasses up. He pulls his hand away, showing his nose wasn’t bleeding… yet.

The second blow to his nose does cause it to bleed, a few drops painting Shouta’s knuckles as the other Pro falls full on his back. He turns, making direct eye contact with the blond. “When I taught you to punch someone, I distinctly remember telling you to bend the elbow, and twist at the wrist.”

He gets a grin, but it’s too full of teeth to actually feel good about it. Nothing feels good, right now. Everything was just different levels of bad, and how to best deal with it. And really, there was no way to actually deal with it. There was no good way to resolve all his students looking at him with increasing concern and anger, because he was also to blame for this.

His phone rings, and his breathing increases to unsustainable levels as he fishes it out of his pocket. He sees the number, and instantly answers it and brings it to his ear. “Shouta, take a breath…”

He tries to listen to Nedzu’s advice, but there is no peace to be found. There is no air to breath, just ever increasingly shorter breaths. “Get the Homeroom secure for us to explain everything to the class.”

“Shouta, that isn’t necessary…” Shouta does not know why that’s the thing that breaks him, but he starts cackling. His eyes start to water, his lungs burning as he screams more than laughs, sinking to his knees.

If Emi ever saw him in this moment, she’d be forever jealous that her Quirk could never fish this reaction out of him. “Nedzu, Kyouka heard everything Nighteye said. The pin on the grenade has been pulled. We managed to restart the plane’s engines, but now it is going down. I am going to tell them everything they need to know in thirty minutes, after they get cleaned up from this activity. I will be getting out the power point, and there will be questions and answers.”

Nedzu is silent for a long few seconds, then the call terminates. Shouta lets his phone drop to the ground, and he just brings up his hands up to cradle his head. Because… because now they were going to do this.

This hadn’t been the plan, at all. But it wasn’t just Mirai during this exercise that sent him over the edge. The edge had been weakened by a high priority email this morning; Edgeshot, trying to give him a heads up. That was the thing that started this careening spiral, about what data has been taken from a hidden away Hero Commission Data Storage Facility.

And one case number, that Edgeshot let him know had been copied. One he could recite from memory, no matter how much he’d tried to repress the memory. A memory he couldn’t help but spin out, figuring that it now extended further than he thought…

Hitoshi’s arms curl around him, and Shouta slowly forces himself to pack himself back into the painfully small body he was currently inhabiting. He ignores the smell of dried paint clinging to his Son… and he slowly uncoils an arm to wrap around him too.

He slowly stands up, putting on as dignified and straight a face as he can. And while his husband would say otherwise, partially for the pure punnage of it, he had quite the good poker face most of the time. But voices were his thing. “Everyone who needs to wash up, go do so. Then return to Homeroom. The rest of your classes for the day will be canceled in short order, if they haven’t already been. I am taking Izuku to Recovery Girl, and I will be ready with the presentation in no less than thirty minutes.”

He walks over to where Izuku was being handled by Shouto, carefully picking the boy up for the second time in a week. Shouto allows him to, everyone watching as he carefully sets Izuku in the back seat of the golf cart. He carefully buckles the boy in, checking to see that the fever Shouto described seems to have reduced to regular temperatures.

He then walks back over to the assembled students, where Mirai was slowly standing up. “Shouta, this is entirely out of line. You…”

“Get on the cart, Sasaki.” All his caring has been measured, and there is precisely none left for All Might’s former sidekick. And of all the people to act like a chastened child in the vicinity, it should not be the man seven years his senior.

He doesn’t wait for the man to buckle up, quickly accelerating backwards and around a corner. He then straightens out to drive directly away from the students, quickly reaching the exit to the city they all knew about. Sasaki hangs on for dear life as he turns, seeing Izuku slightly stirring from the comfort and security of the back seat.

“Shouta, I can explain. Izuku…”

“Izuku is a young, Quirkless boy with the 2nd Strongest Quirk in History given to him by his personal hero. He was abused by every school he ever went to, by most of the kids who ever knew him, who latched onto the first person who showed him kindness and generosity that wasn’t his own mother. All Might, who picked him to fight the sickest, most twisted man who has ever walked the Earth, not knowing Izuku didn’t and still doesn’t have the emotional strength to say ‘No’ for fear of losing the first real positive non familial relationship of his life.”

Every word is like a dagger being pulled out of his own shoulders, plunged straight into Mirai’s chest. “He’s… how is he Quirkless? That… that’s what Nedzu doctored on his records.”

Shouta slows down as they get to the open campus, driving in the straightest line to Recovery Girl he can manage. “If the other students do not shoot you on sight, I think the lecture I’m about to have will do you some fucking good. If Recovery Girl doesn’t dart-gun you on sight, which she has had to do to Izuku. Who had no prior Quirk Counseling, and has displayed the self preservation instincts of a paper bag in a tsunami, with a Quirk that would have broken his bones if he didn’t work with an inhumane work ethic to master it. And he didn’t already have an illegal tolerance for pain, which is half of what broke my usual attitude for my classes. The other half being that somehow, by whatever the opposite of a miracle is, the rest of the class is somehow the targets of random attacks by the League of Villains.”

“Shouta, I didn’t know what you were going through. If I did…”

“You would have made it worse, based on what just happened back there.” Shouta comes to as steady a halt as he can, which still includes Mirai nearly slamming his head into the dashboard. “You knew everything about Mashirao’s situation, and you were going to throw him to the curb. Knowing considerably less about Izuku, you have managed to escalate the class knowing about All Might and Izuku training together, and the League’s targeting of the man, into the entire History of One for All needing to be revealed.”

Mirai gets out of the vehicle as Shouta unhooks Izuku, the boy seeming to be slightly aware of his surroundings like a person getting off an eleven hour flight they’d fallen asleep on an unknown amount of time ago. “I feel like that’s a gross overreaction to this situation. I can simply explain I’ve misspoke, and we…”

“A third of my students have histories of abuse, distrust of authority, or a disturbing combination of the two. And I’ll repeat, they now know about All Might, which only happened because of side comments coming together in a less fucked way than this exercise.” Shouta hoists Izuku up into his arms, Mirai standing amazed before having the absolutely brilliant idea to open the door for him.

He barely walks into the Clinic before Recovery Girl’s eyes are on them, three of her assistant bots holding various tools. Shouta walks Izuku to the bed already prepped for him, Shuzengi hobbling towards Mirai with her cane hefted like a war-axe. “You…”

One drone, one which has a disturbingly similar design to the one that chastised Shouta when he was about to go to war against Katsuki, intercepts Shuzenji. “Recovery Girl, the subject appears to be injured enough for a stay without your intervention. The subject is also more than sufficiently stressed for an appointment with Hound Dog without the additional incentive.”

Shuzenji stops for a moment, then turns to her clinic students. “Everyone, Izuku is on a private plan between just him, us, and his parents. Someone get Nighteye some ice, and the rest of you ignore anything you hear about Izuku’s treatment.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” The three clinic students, two Third Year boys and a Second year girl, all nod and go about restocking drawers and shelves. They ignore the palpable murderous intent of the two conspirators, one gingerly approaching with a cold pack for Nighteye before quickly going back to their work. They all put in earbuds, though probably weren’t playing anything, in case Shuzenji barked any more orders.

Shouta walks over to the smoothie maker, but not because he was actually thirsty. Because he needed to do something with his hands, besides beating a wall until his blood joined Mirai’s. And consider how to lay out the powerpoint… exactly how much of everything should come out.

-

Now, Nedzu hasn’t really put in the time to talk to most of Class 1-A directly. Besides the assembly after the USJ, and their first meeting after All Might’s private pedagogy of Izuku came to light. But that wasn’t the same as a direct conversation, which he’d argue he’d only really had with Izuku and Katsuki besides.

He’s talked through Shouta, to most of their parents, and the standouts. But as he walks into the classroom, twenty sets of eyes turning to him as he does, he realizes how little most of them know about him. “Good morning, class. Aizawa informed me we will be doing a more enthusiastic debriefing, after today’s lesson. Hound Dog will be making himself available shortly, once a meeting of his own has concluded. Before we begin, do any of you have questions for me?”

More than one hand goes up, Shouta letting out an exhausted sigh. “Anything unrelated to the contents of Nighteye’s comments to Izuku?”

A few hands go down, Nedzu looking at Ojiro as the boy looks directly into his eyes. With a nod, the boy speaks up. “Is Nighteye going to be punished for what he said to Izuku?”

Uraraka and Shouto both lower their hands, clearly having planned to ask permutations of the same question. “Undoubtedly, a talk will be had with him for his unprofessional behavior. Before we allowed him to teach, I should have had a discussion to screen potential biases. In the next few weeks, I assure you guest lecturers will be more thoroughly checked to avoid undue stress and harm to you all. But for now, I can only offer my sincerest apologies.”

He looks next to Jiro, who he was also considering earmarking to be the Final examiner for. Of course, matching her up against Present Mic would be a more obvious choice. But at this rate, he was quickly considering having her and Mina running The Maze for their final. “Why wasn’t all of this covered back with the All Might stuff? How much else are you keeping from us?”

Nedzu takes a breath, walking a few steps over to look the girl straight on. “Aizawa has taken it upon himself to reveal additional information, based partially on a need to establish trust with you all. The bulk of information he has discussed revealing to you all has been determined to be, by my measurements, a Class 4 Information Hazard. Information which, by itself, presents a danger to your mental health and well being through undue stress, but can become more dangerous depending on your reactions to it. For another example, giving almost any of you the information to induce Nuclear Fission would be a Class 3 Hazard, since most of you don’t nearly have the capital or resources to do anything but spread that information. But Yaoyorozu would present a Class 1 Hazard, with her unique ability to act on this information.”

Nedzu looks around the room, then walks over to the chair Aizawa was kind enough to set up for him. He was also decent enough to take the step from the podium from Inko’s lecture, set right in front of the chair. Meaning he didn’t have to climb into the chair himself. He arranges himself in the chair, seeing a few people giving a pale Momo some concerned looks before returning to the front of the room.

Aizawa powers on the projection, and Nedzu hits a remote of his own. The windows tint, and the faintest hint of a white noise generator hums as everyone takes in the proccautions. Jiro grits her teeth, quickly pulling out a pair of black caps she plugs her earphone jacks into. She takes a breath, then nods as Aizawa starts the presentation.

Nedzu looks at the screen, nodding at the basic breakdown of One for All’s recent history on it for the class to read through. “Nighteye’s comments about Izuku, this morning, have to do with His Quirk. Which All Might helped him train to use, for over a year to be able to use properly. All Might’s predecessor, Nana Shimura, and her friend Gran Torino, both helped him train to use the same Quirk.”

There’s a few seconds of silence, then Shouto raises his hand. “I thought you said All Might wasn’t related to Izuku. How can he have inherited a similar enough Quirk for training to be useful, if they’re as unrelated as you’re suggesting?”

“How the fuck is Nana Shimura related to this? And why the fuck do you have six other profiles up there? What the hell does…” Katsuki cuts himself off, and Nedzu watches him connect the pieces.

“Floating… Healing… Black Tentacles…” Fumikage counts them off, a few people turning to him. “Izuku’s Quirk ‘mutating’ over the past few weeks. All of them I’ve seen… they match each of those. Except for Whisper… Hanta, you said you’ve seen sparks when Izuku and Hitoshi are next to each other in the dorms, yes?”

Nedzu sighs, conceding this larger conversation is apparently quite necessary. He nods, Shouta taking a shot of water before cutting off Hanta’s answer. “Shouto, to answer your question. All Might and Izuku do not have similar Quirks. They have the same Quirk, traded between them. All Might’s Quirk was given to him by his Mentor, Nana Shimura, passing down this line. One for All is one of two Quirks in the world we are aware of that can transmit Quirk Factors between people.”

There’s a few beats of silence… then the chatter ramps up instantly, everyone cross-talking. Nedzu tries to pick up what he can, but it’s chaotic iterations of ‘That’s Impossible’ or ‘I don’t believe that’.

Mina stands, raising her hand while already speaking. “How… How is Izuku able to copy their Quirks? Does he have a Copy Quirk, like Monoma from Class 1-B or something?”

Aizawa shakes his head, enlarging Izuku’s profile on the screen. “As best as we can tell, each previous holder of the Quirk has had different levels of control of the power of the Quirk. One for All is just a transfer factor, evidently having gathered a Power Storing Quirk. Each subsequent user’s Quirk is then stored in, able to be accessed to varying degrees by the new Holder. All Might, by our estimates, had minor control of Whisper and Float, giving him heightened reflexes and increased aerial abilities. Izuku’s shown less ability to tap into the primary Power source than All Might, but more aptitude for the secondary Quirks.”

More cross talking, during which Nedzu hears more than one person say ‘Could Izuku give us One for All?’ And with how Toshinori is still able to work with embers of the Quirk, Nedzu can’t help but imagine all of the class, fully powered by One for All and their own Quirks. That was a terrifying thought on its own, without even then delving into specifics. Like Denki, suddenly flooded with his own electricity and all the power stored in One for All… or Todoroki, becoming a living firestorm… or Momo, suddenly able to just manifest anything by burning the energy in One for All…

Katsuki raises a hand, letting off a loud series of pops that startle anyone into silence. Then he points at the profiles, eyes glaring a hole in Shouta’s head. “All of them have ‘One for All’ and some other actual Quirk listed… but All Might and Izuku. The fuck is up with that?”

Nedzu turns, seeing Shouta has left that for them to find. Shouta nods, minimizing Izuku’s profile before bringing up the information they have for everyone to see.

Of all the people to connect it, Nedzu wasn’t expecting Aoyama to say it first. “Izuku is not Incompatible with his Quirk, as you claimed. He was… Quirkless, then?”

All the cross talk quiets down, a deathly quiet descending over the class. Nedzu was certain that he could hear a pin drop, if a seamstress with poor dexterity was working in the back corner. The only two students not processing that to some degree were Denki and Hitoshi, both of whom seem to be surveying the room for Izuku’s benefit.

“You… said there were two.” Tenya speaks up, seeming to move past the Quirkless declaration remarkably quickly. “The other… that’s the Villain who’s leading the League of Villains, isn’t it. The Other Person with a Quirk controlling Quirk.”

Nedzu nods, the pile on growing as everyone has a dozen different realizations. Momo speaks up, leaning back in her seat and looking up at the ceiling. “That’s why we’ve been targeted all year. After learning that All Might was teaching here, and his own ability was diminishing, the Villain must have guessed All Might had passed on his power. All the attacks against us were attempts to gather information about us, seeing which one of us had One for All.”

That… Nedzu blinks several times, then slowly stands up. “What attacks, Yaoyorozu?”

Kyouka raises her hand, counting off. “The U.S.J., Momo’s Uncle, Mashirao in a back alley, Tenya’s brother, the Tower… could count that one ten times but then I’d be counting the U.S.J. twenty times… and Shouto’s dad.”

“Isn’t that technically counting the Tower twice, then?” Shouto is much too calm, asking that question instead of focusing on everything else. No one is taking to this new glut of information well; Kouji in particular seems to grow visibly nauseated from the stress, hands moving up to cover his mouth. Rikidou actually slides out of his seat, the large student trying to silently sneak to the trashcan at the front of the room while very obviously drawing attention. He brings the trash over to Kouji, he sets it on the ground near his feet while seeming to gain control of his gag reflex.

“So…” Toru begins fiddling with the box of her note cards, slowly turning it on her desk. “Because they have that hacker villain, Mayhem… they know where our parents live. And they have that Teleporting Villain…”

Nedzu stands in the chair, drawing attention before people can spiral into their thoughts. “I would like to interrupt that train of thought, before any of you grow too concerned. For all the reasons just listed, additional security and contact channels have been offered to all of your parents and family members, through private communication with me. All appropriate precautions are being taken, given the League’s previous actions.”

“He’s not lying; my parents have this app that’s basically a panic button, which he helped them download.” Mezou speaks out to the class, some of the stress on that one point dissipating. But not nearly all of it, everyone having several points to now stress over for the rest of the day.

“But… This Villain will still be after us, yeah? Going after our family, or friends… that’s to get to Izuku and All Might, right?” Mina’s fingers are twitching, like she was composing a text in the back of her mind.

“Yes, which is why I am spending all my available time adding additional protections to you all when I can. On your recent Mall trip, half of the building were Hero Commission officials in case anything happened. I take threats to my students lives very seriously…” Mina shudders at the intentional menace he adds to his tone, a few other students nodding at the words of ‘comfort’.

“Yeah, you’re probably crazy enough to do all that protecting us. And since none of us have any more obvious favors or defenses, this Villain doesn’t know who to go after.” Katsuki tries to calm everyone, cutting the solution down quite simply.

“That sentiment is admirable, principal. But… How is this situation any different than being Prisoners of yours? ‘Gilded cages’, and all.” Fumikage pokes a hole in the calm, but everyone seems to be swallowing this bitter medicine better than they were before.

Nedzu lets out a disconcerting chitter of a laugh, letting all his malice for All for One leak out. “The man I’m after is the most wanted man in Japan, bar none. Every Hero, Commission Official, and Police Officer are assisting me in my hunt. So is every camera, photo, and status update in Japan. But unlike this Villain, I do not intend to steal your youth from you; I want you to become Heroes, but I want you to enjoy your childhoods first. Not everyone… not everyone has that luxury.”

Nedzu feels the muscles in his neck twitch, old shocks and prods playing across his back. He keeps his face resolute, the students all nodding at his declaration.

Good… now can things not get worse? For just one day, can things not grow even more complicated, like yeast fermenting in too small a glass jar?

-

Shinji… it has been a complicated couple of weeks. For everyone, especially the heroes of Japan. Stain… Endeavor… and no one could guess what the League of Villains would pull next. He certainly wouldn’t have guessed a hit on hidden Commission files, at least not at first. But looking at it even just two hours later, it’s just as effective as any of the other moves Mayhem has made in the past while.

Shinji is a little surprised, to have been brought into the room with everyone he sees. Hawks, Mirko, and Edgeshot make him feel severely outclassed, as he makes his way into the room. He slowly moves next to Edgeshot, mostly because Mirko and Hawks keep muttering to each other while the ninja man stands calmly by his spot at the table.

A familiar woman walks into the room, a single strand of her darker purple hair standing out of place. That, and growing bags under her eyes, make Shinji wonder how much she must be working on. Then he remembered the last thing she was working on was Endeavor, and how that meant she now had an open schedule.

She sets some files on the desk, probably paper copies of the ones destroyed on the computers. And she stands, taking a deep breath as she fixes her blazer. “Thank you, for coming on such short notice. As four of the Top Ten Heroes, we understand your time is very valuable…”

Shinji blinks, the other three heroes catching onto his visible confusion. Hawks smiles, and leans over the board meeting table to offer him a hand shake. “Oh, right. Kamui, you’re not on the newsletter yet. With All Might and Endeavor both counted, you’re officially ranked 8th in Japan. But with current data of the Big Two not included, you’re 6th Place. I’d have brought a cake, but those don’t fly well.”

Shinji blinks several times, then takes the handshake as he considers that. “I… I mean, I didn’t forget my rank. But I was only in the mid twenties before Hosu… how did I jump that far at once?”

"Agency Crunch.” Mirko takes one of the open chairs, using a second to rest her almost obscenely muscled legs on the seat of. “My rank is mine alone, but all of you get bonus points from all your sidekicks and Support Agents. Now, when a Sidekick fucks it royal, that drags you down. But when you suddenly take in about three dozen new Sidekicks and smaller Heroes from three agencies, all of them already being big Deals in Rescue and Public Service…”

Shinji blinks, remembering his headache before coming here. The Flower Hero Ahsha’s medical absence would have ended her Agency, but he’d gone and offered a partnership of convenience as she recovered. Most of her allies got picked up by Altmile, or the Circus Hero Harri, but a collection had come his way. Then some Endeavor Sidekicks, mostly the new kid Nokorobi and a few other fresher sidekicks. “Oh… that’s not what I intended, just to be clear.”

“Obviously not, nor would we imply such.” Edgeshot lays a hand on his shoulder, the Ninja Hero setting his doubts to rest. “But whether you intended it or not, you now have a seat at the table. And we have much to discuss, which you might be able to provide a fresh input for.”

Shinji nods, looking at Miko as she fans the files out on the table. “Now, Mayhem doesn’t appear to have had time to destroy any files. But we show a number of them on current Heroes have been copied, and we need to consider each of them a possible target.”

“Yes, but we cannot offer protection for all of them. Nor, I imagine, will some of them need it.” Edgeshot walks over, helping to fan the folders across the table. “Mayhem seems to thrive in chaos, favoring ambush tactics for herself and her allies. Rather like a ninja of old, which I have some experience with. Some of these are a smokescreen; distractions, trying to draw our focus away from their real target.”

“Yeah, that’s her M.O., alright. She’s hit a bunch of other places in what are probably minor hits to her, drawing our agents away from here until she can strike… Gotta say it, she’d make a Hell of a Coordinator for the Commission.”

Hawks uses some of his feathers to bring files his way, Shinji taking those Edgeshot passes to him. He quickly begins looking through them, mostly looking at the Quirks first. The League could somehow make Numerous Mutation individuals, so they’d be looking for good Quirks for them to use.

Of course, what would they consider a good Quirk? Edgeshot spent years mastering his, but a random person wouldn’t be able to make nearly as much from it. Even with two or three compatible Quirks… so, which of these are good on their own?

And speaking of… “I’m sorry, if this is a newbie question, but I have to ask. How are they making Nomu’s? Are they finding people with multiple Quirks already?”

Miko sighs heavily, and Shinji feels the ebbing tension raise in him. “There’s been a villain with the ability to steal Quirks, for at least the past Forty Years. Either the same Villain, using some means to steal people’s bodies, or a Sentient Quirk that puppets bodies until they’re of no use. Like the former villain Queen Bee, if you aware of the Naruhata Vigilantes Boom from years ago.”

Shinji… doesn’t feel anything, even though that is incredibly horrifying news. He blinks a few times, then takes a breath as he feels the grip of the Quirk fade. “Emotional Suppression… I see why you have a Job as Damage Control, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Also Quirk Suppression, in case that’s needed. Although with so many Quirks having emotional triggers, it can be quite easy to completely render a person catatonic. Now, back to the data at hand, it appears a number of Heroes in these files have histories dealing with Trigger, although that varies wildly.”

Shinji notes Miko’s business like briskness, Edgeshot nodding. “Some were on Trigger Villain roundup, others assisted officers in apprehending Trigger rings. A few even have a history of controlled Trigger dosing, in case that’s relevant.”

“Most of them burned out, though. Although… Do we think this Quirk-Stealing Villain can take a burned out Quirk, and revive it somehow?” Hawks announces that horrifying thought, Shinji still numbed enough to only just shudder at that.

Miko pulls out her phone, sending off messages already. “It’s worth checking, at least. Burned Out Heroes only get monthly check-ins, so increasing contact with them would be an easy extension of authorities.”

“Want to explain why this file’s half redacted?” Mirko holds up a black folder, dropping it on the table to pages mostly blacked out. Only a few photos were unmolested by Ink… a younger face, then Shinji remembers. But he knows the face, as he reaches over.

“What… what’s Eraserhead doing in the data taken?”

“That’s one of his cases from his Hero School days, wherein one of his friends was killed during duty. He also had corner case contact with Trigger Villains, but the digital file was heavily encrypted.”

“Because digital security has stopped Mayhem before. How long would it take your best guys to crack it without keys?” Mirko meets Miko’s briskness with blunt pragmatism, Shinji reading what little he can of the Yuuei teacher’s villain brawl.

“For Epsilon Clearance… four days. If Mayhem is as skilled in encryption breaking as other cyber crimes, then we wouldn’t have more than two. But there isn’t much information of value to steal…”

“Maybe not…” Shinji reads through the little scrap of a page on the individuals involved, specifically Aizawa’s dead classmate. “Cloud… I’ve never seen it myself, but can you describe the Teleporting Villain’s attacks?”

Shinji looks up, Hawks furrowing his brow as he plums his memories. “At a Press conference with Endeavor, a Nomu dropped out of basically nowhere. And the Tower, they were jumping back and forth through these purple gateways. They were wispy, kind of…”

“Kind of like Clouds, would you say?” Shinji slides the file Miko’s way, her and Edgeshot seeing the Quirk description.

“That’s… impossible. He was cremated; all semblance of his Quirk Factor is a matter of history.” Miko goes back to her folders, Edgeshot quickly moving a finger over to scan what is visible from the file.

“True… but this appears to have been a chaotic brawl, Aizawa was in. The body was buried in rubble, left unattended… and it takes some time, before a body is legally cremated. And Hawks brought up an interesting point; the Villain might be able to steal a Deadened Quirk… or Quirks from the Dead.” Miko sighs again, Shinji needing a hit as he contemplates that chestnut from Edgeshot.

“Would explain having a ‘Hero Killer’ on the payroll… I don’t know whether to punch you or kiss you, for this Quirk.”

Miko brushes her hair back, not looking the other woman in the face as she continues pouring over other files. “Preferably the latter, although not on company time. But that is certainly a disturbing possibility… One I don’t think the Public is going to take well too.”

“We’re sure spending a lot of time on one already mostly blocked out file. Let’s look at all the rest of these puppies, see what other connections there are. And maybe… order lunch? Congratulate Kamui on reaching the Top Ten, you know?” Hawks slips that last comment in after a frigid lack of response from the rest of the room.

“I don’t know if this is exactly the time, or the place… but I did have a light breakfast, and I patrolled before getting the notice to come here.” Shinji shrugs, Mirko sighing and reaching over to take her fair share of the files.

“I’m vetoing anything chicken exclusive. I’ve gotten enough of that this week.” Shinji nods, quickly peering through the files. He quickly pulls out a notepad, writing down the cases of interest as he buckles down to review the work. Hawks pulls out his phone to order something, so Shinji assumes someone will have to make up for that effort as he goes ahead and starts.

He’s a Top Ten Hero… and back to reading through and organizing files. ’Look Ma, I’ve made it.’

Chapter Text

Denki isn’t sure when he’s expecting Izuku back from Recovery Girl. Honestly, the entire day was basically a wash, from any of their expectations. But he’s not exactly going to turn down another day to relax, after cramming everything for all of his classes. Trying to actually keep on top of his school work is a pain, but he doesn’t want to lose out on Summer Break fun to Summer Classes… at least, not involuntary ones. “Do you think the teachers offer Summer Electives? Like, the Science Teacher at my old school offered Summer Lab Electives.”

“Lunch Rush does… how do you not have any red cards?” Rikidou looks as Eijiro draws his sixth card, the boy organizing them and staring in disbelief as his hand refills.

“Mina shuffled these… and trust me, her luck is worse than mine.” Eijiro dodges a slap from Mina, her hand of cards almost cascading over the table. She goes back to fanning herself, the red-haired boy going three cards deeper before finally pulling a card he can play.

“Denki, you better hope Hanta doesn’t play anything we can stack all of our draws onto.” Mina threatens, separating a portion of her hand to wave threateningly.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time!” They manage to get at least one more round in before Denki’s mind is distracted again, possibly a record for his concentration at this point. But this time, the distraction comes from outside his head.

The front door opens, everyone looking over hoping to see Izuku. They deflate slightly when they realize it’s Momo… but their interest is peaked when they see a delegation from Class 1-B… is delegation the right word? Denki blinks a few times, then shakes his head to look back.

Eijiro stands up, setting his cards down to walk over. The silvery haired Class B student breaks away from the group, the two of them quickly clasping hands. “TetsuTetsu, what’s up?”

The silver haired student looks around, pointing to the others still with Momo. “Our dorms are almost finished, and Awase and Momo were talking about doing a tour. Since you guys have had a second to figure out what all to do and not, help us get over the initial hurdles.”

“That’s pretty cool. So Momo and Awase are pretty close, helping the Support classes?” TetsuTetsu’s face morphs into a wry grin, and Denki looks over to the brunette kid with a headband. Awase’s face flushes the instant he catches on that the other Class B kids are all sharing that expression, quickly asking another question of Momo while trying to ignore the others.

The orange haired girl lets her grin slip off, walking up next to Momo and chatting with her. Mina sighs, setting her cards down before standing. “Well, we’re not finishing this game. Come on, let’s go introduce ourselves instead of being creepers.”

Denki nods, the three of them walking over as Eijiro turns to them. “Guys, this is TetsuTetsu. We both interned under Four Arms, and he’s a really great gym partner besides. Tetsu, this is Ashido, Sero, and Kaminari.”

Tetsu nods to them, flashing a big grin. “Nice to meet you all. Kiri told me a bit about you guys, over the internship. Sero… is it true that you have a book of rumors on everyone?”

Hanta huffs a little laugh, scratching the back of his head. “Sort of, but it’s not like that. A bunch of Support and Business students wanted internship spots in my family's companies, and I didn’t need thirty different smartwatches or other things like that. So they started telling me rumors and secrets about the school, stuff Hero Students don’t really have time to learn. Like a bunch of the big school exercises, where they get to see the Hero Course in action.”

“Wow… you know, that’s actually really awesome. You’re kind of like a P.R. manager for the Hero Course, like that purple haired woman who shadowed Endeavor.” Denki sees Hanta sort of light up at that, squaring his shoulders a bit when Tetsu says that. “Doing that, and keeping up with all the classwork?”

“I know, right?” Mina leans in, offering her hand to shake. “Like, I wasn’t the worst student, but I’m frying my brain worse than Denki when he overuses his Quirk.”

Denki holds his hands up, Tetsu letting out a little laugh as he shakes Mina’s hand. “Yeah, without Awase and Tokage tutoring us on the weekends, we’d be way further behind. Have you guys met her yet?”

“She’s one of the other recommendation students, right?” Tetsu nods, leading them back over to the other Class B students. Momo’s lead them to the kitchen, Rikidou having walked to the kitchen to get out a case of baked goods he’d made earlier in the week for them to try.

They walk in just as the orange haired girl finishes off a vanilla glazed scone, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, figuring out a cooking schedule might be interesting. We don’t have anyone who’s a professional chef in the class.”

Rikidou blushes, quickly offering Tetsu the cases of options. “Eh, I just helped my parents in their bakery. Basically a summer job… And my breaks from school. But if you guys ever wanted anything, I could probably make some time to help you guys.”

“Yeah, having something for Monoma’s birthday would have been great… wait, isn’t Tsuburaba’s birthday next week?” Awase looks at the other girl, probably Tokage if Denki was right. She had darker green hair, looking a bit like Tsu’s with a bit more luster.

She pulls out a little notepad, nodding. So Hanta wasn’t the only person taking notes of people’s behaviors. “Yeah, next Sunday. If I’m right… a bunch of us were planning on spending the night anyways. It should be easy enough to coordinate a surprise party for him, and have everyone join in.”

“That sounds great… Oh, I’m going to regret this.” Awase takes a second, clearly regretting verbally acknowledging something. “Don’t tell him I said this, but his parents made him watch a bunch of these old British royalty shows, the ones with the big Tea Party events. And he said… He wanted to try one.”

Awase cringes as both Momo and the orange haired girl instantly light up, Denki taking a step out of the way as Mina runs up to join the three in a freakout. “No way! Oh, this is going to be great! Yuga was talking about how his parents taught him to make those tiny sandwiches they always serve at tea parties… Oh, we have to do this!”

The orange haired girl blushes, her hand growing slightly as she fans herself. “I… after interning with Uwabami, I'm kind of interested in doing one. Just the one… maybe afterwards, we can have a casual sleepover? At least the girls, right?”

Momo lets out a high pitched noise, barely containing herself. “I hoped sending those boxes of supplies would come in handy! I already have everything we need, except for the actual food. Even if Katsuki isn’t interested in attending, I just know he’ll be willing to cook.”

“Oh, I can definitely get Blasty to help. We have a secret weapon, after all…” Mina turns to look at Eijiro, and Denki can just imagine the horror movie chord that plays as the girls all slowly look his way. Except for Tokage, who sighs and begins furiously noting everything that’s been said.

“Mina, come on now. That’d be totally unmanly to manipulate him like that…” Eijiro’s claims of ‘unmanliness’ might stand a better chance if he didn’t immediately move behind TetsuTetsu, slowly backing up as the other boy eats a chocolate chip cookie, not noticing or caring for the danger he was in.

“Come on, man! Katsuki would Head Chef the shit out of this!” Mina advances, Eijiro shifting behind TetsuTetsu as she does. The orange haired girl looks between Mina and Momo, following when Momo follows the pink girl’s lead.

She brings her hands up, clasping them and lowering her head like she was praying. “Eijiro… please, just ask him. If we require further manipulations, we will do so without interfering in your relationship. But please… I will promise you an equal favor, as you see fit.”

“What did you want to ask me?” Denki turns as Katsuki walks in… with Izuku close behind him. The green haired boy’s eyes rapidly darted through the Class B students, then over to him with the faintest smile twitching on his lips.

“IZUKU!” Mina rushes over, quickly wrapping the boy in a hug that startles him. “We’re so sorry about today! If we’d known he’d say those things about you, we’d have beaten him up way sooner!”

Denki blinks a few times, then turns to the Class B kids with a grin. “Sorry, Izuku overused his Quirk in training with Nighteye, today. Nighteye was saying a bunch of stuff to get under our skin, but he got a bit personal with Izuku. It got… Intense.”

He lies as quickly as he can breath, Awase nodding and taking his third, maybe fourth cookie. Denki’s not sure, and Tokage nods as if she accepts the lie at face value. “Yeah, Vlad King can be pretty intense with us, too. And All Might’s old sidekick… Man, Nedzu sure is pulling out all the stops this year, huh?”

“Based on everything that’s happened, I would hope so.” Tokage slides away her notes, then walks over to take a few cookies. She then walks over, joining Momo and Mina as the girls talk to Katsuki.

Katsuki loudly sighs, waving an arm to get the girls to back off. Denki sees Hanta whispering to Izuku… and maybe Whispering to Izuku, a faint spark traveling up the brunette’s arm he has around Izuku’s shoulder. “Okay, fine. But some of you are helping me with this, alright? I’m not planning a whole menu for fifty something people on my own. And I’m not going to wear some stupid costume to this, got me?”

“Yes, Chef!” Mina does a salute, which was somewhere between mocking and totally sincere. Denki wasn’t sure, since he was looking to see Izuku nodding to him, before tilting towards the living room.

-

‘I am not ready for this. I am really not ready for this. Please, let me wake up and all of this be a bad dream.’ Izuku takes a breath, Momo walking out the front door with the other 1-B kids. He just sits there, everyone slowly being congregated into the living room.

Hitoshi has taken a seat next to him, having dragged a blanket out from upstairs and layed it over them when he sat down. One of his hands is laced with Izuku’s, the blanket’s weight actually helping him stay anchored in one place. Because apparently, Float’s primary emotional trigger was Fear, meaning it was constantly trying to go off since the activity.

And apparently, Black Whip’s was Anger. No wonder it wouldn’t trigger… although, there were at least two others to trigger. What would go and trigger them? Maybe…

“Izuku, if you please.” Izuku blinks, looking up as the whole class is here. Even Tsu, apparently catching a late train home tonight. Or spending the night, no way of knowing. He looked up at Shouto, who was staring with his arms crossed. “Before we start, is there anything you want to say?”

Izuku sits there for a few moments, looking down at the ground. He curls in on himself, his legs tightly crossed under him while squeezing Hitoshi’s hand. “No… Just… I’m sorry, for lying to you all.”

There’s a bit of silence, then Katsuki huffs. “You stupid fucking nerd. Why the fuck are you apologizing? After all of that today, you think you’re the one who owes an apology?”

Izuku looks up, confused when everyone seems to agree with the explosive blond. “Yes? I… I lied to all of you, for months…”

“Yeah, and so did Nedzu, Aizawa, and All Might. Four wrongs make a right, with some left over… right?” Kyouka looks at Rikidou, the joke actually making the big guy laugh.

“You’ve helped us all improve our Quirks to an insane degree, dude. Even without the victim blaming, how could we be mad at you for all of that?” Denki’s comment gets everyone voicing at least partial agreement, Izuku feeling more real for the first time since in the office cubicles.

“Aizawa told us what he already knew… Can you really fly?” Izuku nods, Ochako laughing. “That is so cool, Izuku. Does it make you sick, when you do it?”

Izuku feels some of the pressure draining away, faintly letting Whisper tell him that no one really had anything but concern for him. Even with the confirmation, it takes a few seconds to let himself uncoil under the blanket. “Not really… I don’t think so? I mostly just use it after getting a running start for a jump, not really maintaining flight long enough to notice if it makes me sick.”

“Before we do Quirk analysis, Izuku…” Momo walks forward, putting a hand on her chest. “… I want you to know we understand the stress being put on you. Not just keeping All Might’s secret, but doing that, learning how to use your Quirk, and being Class President. That amount of stress… if you ever need to rest, we will not hold anything against you.”

Everyone agrees, Mashirao raising his hand from the other couch. “Also, you’ve been training for a year, and you’re already really good with One for All. Back when you learned not to fry yourself with it, before the U.S.J., you were using three percent? So you’re going to get thirty times better with it?”

Izuku feels his cheeks flush, reaching up to scratch his face. “It… it doesn’t really work like that? That’s just the pure power, which I’ve grown to tolerate five percent of. When I bruised my fingers during the Sports Festival, that was me just throwing as much power as I could at Shouto’s ice.”

Everyone flinches at that, Eijiro actually physically contorting and clutching his hand at the memory. “Dude, how did you handle doing that to yourself? How can…”

“Ei, the worst thing he can do is answer that question.” Mina pats Eijiro on the shoulder, Katsuki flinching as a few eyes turn on him.

Katsuki takes a second, then redirects as he thinks of a useful distraction from their history. “Lucky that Quirk of yours has a healing factor. That’s why Stain isn’t dead, isn’t it? And that’s why you needed to rest all that weekend, after fixing his back.”

Tenya’s head whips around, Izuku nodding as everyone takes that in. “Yeah, though it’s not just Quirk Overuse. Heal… it’s a reciprocal recovery Quirk. Unlike Recovery Girl, I take a bunch of the pain of the injury as the recipient recovers. I didn’t really know that until the Sports Festival, after using it on Mashirao after his match with Eijiro.”

There’s a long stretch of silence, everyone staring at him. Kouji raises his hand, doing mental math before speaking up. “you… you fixed Stain’s back, knowing it would use a lot of One for All’s power and leave you crippled with pain for days?”

“I mean, yeah? It’s the same reason I’ve been trying to help with… something else.” Izuku tries not to look at Tenya, but apparently his brother’s stay with Recovery Girl is common enough news that everyone immediately looks his way. “You guys… I can see all of you becoming great Heroes. And maybe… maybe I’m seeing myself there, too. But I got there through luck, while you’re getting there by just… being yourselves.”

There’s a little bit of quiet, then Katsuki lets out a quiet laugh. It steadily grows to a normal volume, increasing equally in hysteria until he manages to stop himself. “Izuku… Luck? We were born with our Quirks, through random fucking luck. You… you convinced All Might that you were worthy of his Quirk. You worked like a fucking dog, all of last year and all this year, to be able to survive it. That’s not Luck, that’s… my Explosions being powerful enough to get me into Yuuei is Luck.”

“Katsuki’s language choices besides, he does have a point.” Tenya pushes his glasses up, clearly stringing that thought along. “Not to discount the work we did to be here; we all had significantly less roadblocks, but it is always a feat to get into Yuuei.”

“Izuku… It’s your Quirk now, not his.” Izuku blinks, and can’t help but let out a sputtering fit of laughter at Shouto’s attempt at encouraging words. He just delivers it so straight faced, it almost hurts that he knows Shouto meant it with total sincerity.

“Wait… did Shouto figure out the secret early?” Shouto turns, shaking his head at Mina’s question. “Well, Hitoshi obviously knows. They’re… That’s why you’re getting eyebags! When you two sleep together, you’re literally stealing Hitoshi’s sleep debt!”

“I’m not… am I?” Izuku reaches up, Hitoshi letting go of his hand to pat him on the shoulder and nod. He looks around, everyone giving him a look as he sinks under the blanket.

Mina stands, and starts making hand motions Izuku’s fairly certain he never wants explained. “Yeah… wait, can’t you also read minds? Are you two… like, mentally…?”

“Mina, cool it with the ADHD. You’re scaring the wildlife.” Denki flashes a grin to a scandalized looking Fumikage… and Izuku notices Dark Shadow has a set of sewing hooks. And a ball of red thread and fabric, seeming to be making a large handbag next to the bird child on the armrest.

“Wait… could you help All Might?” Izuku blinks, not understanding Mina’s question. “He’s limited to just over an hour a day of Hero work because of an injury, right? Couldn’t you…”

“Pinky, All Might’s entire side was caved in. Recovery Girl can’t fix it, and that’s with all the money Nedzu can give her to help.” Katsuki barks an answer at her, but several people are starting to consider the question now.

Including Izuku, who actually has more information about how All Might is injured. “I mean, probably not. Like, Stain’s spine tapped me out for days. And All Might is a lot more injured than that.”

“Plus, there has to be some level of organ damage at play.” Momo blinks, then looks around for Hanta. “Doesn’t your aunt work in surgical applications of Quirks?”

Hanta blinks, a few people turning to him. “Which… Oh, you mean Joi? Yeah, but it’s mostly cosmetic stuff. Like, she could make it look like he’s never been injured, but if we’re talking about actually fixing severe internal damage, we’re looking for bigger fish. Also, we’d be looking for someone better than Recovery Girl. That… oh, that’d be something big.”

“Well, maybe Quirk’s aren’t the only answer to that question. Izuku is clearly capable of great things, but we shouldn’t be forcing him to take on such an intense amount of duress and pain solely for our benefit.” Fumikage nods his way, Izuku trying not to let tears escape as Hitoshi pats his arm.

“Wait… Nedzu, you fucking bastard!” Katsuki shakes his fist at the ceiling, eyes turning to him. “For summer break, the rat’s sending a bunch of us to I-Island. The biggest gathering of technology in the world, or something.”

“Of course! That’s one of the greatest gatherings of minds in the Eastern Hemisphere. It… would put All Might’s secret at incredible jeopardy.” Momo’s thought pops the bubble, everyone deflating as they follow the math. Izuku even deflates, instantly agreeing on that part.

“Yet after just a minute, we’ve already come up with an idea that’s probably escaped the teachers. Almost as if twenty-one heads are better than three.” There’s some confusion, people looking back to Fumikage. “I noticed one of his Quirk’s ‘mutations’ back during the post U.S.J. safety assembly. But as I say that, I assume any number of us have experiences related to Izuku’s Quirks we’ll only just realize are related.”

Izuku just laughs for a moment as people begin cross talking, just taking a few seconds to settle into this level of openness. Because… Well, they knew almost everything, right? Right after he gets a new secret to keep, they learn the biggest thing that’s been eating him from the inside out.

Maybe… This was how they finally beat All for One. All the previous users building up to this, giving their strength and guidance to him, and all of his friends to help get him in the right position. Hopefully, without them getting put in danger.

-

Mirio sighs, resting his chin on the cafeteria table. “I don’t know… I really like the idea of dorms, but it’d make hanging out on our own more complicated, right?”

“Plus, the deposit is paid through until after Summer. But we could always just have a few changes of clothes at the dorms, right?” Nejire swirls her smoothie, thinking out the logistics of them all sharing an apartment, dorm space, and spending time with their parents and Work Studies.

Tamaki nods, absentmindedly writing thoughts out on a piece of paper. “I like the apartment, personally. But if you two would prefer the dorms, I understand…”

Mirio sighs, reaching over and wrapping his arm around Tamaki’s. “Nah, we can afford to keep it. Plus, it’s still pretty well placed between our Studies. Perfect if we’re out until midnight after a mission, again.”

Tamaki’s face goes red, and he slowly shrugs so the collar of his suit jacket hides his face. “St-Stop.”

Mirio grins, leaning in and pecking Tamaki on the cheek. “Nejire, you said a couple of the Second Years were asking you about Work Study Recommendations, right?”

“Yeah, a couple of 2-A’s kids were asking if Ryukyu had any other slots open, or any other Pro Heroes who I knew had openings. Instead of here though, Ryukyu is looking at students from Shiketsu. Padmini is having a whole crisis, since Kamui Wood’s is still reviewing if they can take her on as a Work Study Student.”

Mirio nods, thinking about the younger student who’s whole career was upended as it was starting. Not only was she a Gen Ed Student, Promoted in after Aizawa’s usual shuffling of the First Years that he thought wouldn’t do well in Hero Work, but she’d struggled in Last Year’s Sports Festival. It was a bunch of extracurricular work with Ahsha that got her to train to be a better Hero Student, with Padmini even modeling herself to almost be Ahsha’s Sidekick. “That’s really rough. Altmile won’t take her on, either?”

“No, and he’s doing a bunch of restructuring after the near miss with Stain. With Ahsha, Endeavor, and Ingenium’s Agencies all being scrapped for parts, it’s either get snatched up or sink. Even agencies that didn’t brush up against the Hero Killer business are getting turned upside down by the Commission.”

“Yeah, Fat Gum’s been getting visited by a team from the Commission all week.” Tamaki slowly lowers his collar back, fiddling with his tie. “One of his Sidekicks is going to test to be an Agency Advisor, so we’ll have another Student Work Study spot in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s so cool! Do you think he’ll offer the spot to one of the other Yuuei students?” Mirio smiles at Tamaki, rubbing his shoulder. “Sir’s been saying a lot of good things about Class 1-A students, and that’s just what he’s talked about with me. I bet a lot of Class 2-B could work really well with you.”

“Yeah… maybe… Is he almost done with his meeting?” Mirio shrugs, tapping on his phone screen. There were a few notifications, but none of them were texts from Nighteye.

“Doesn’t look like it… he was training with a bunch of 1-A’s students today. I bet he’s having a big talk with Aizawa, about a lot of them.” The corner of Mirio’s mouth twitches, his smile hurting for a reason he can’t explain.

Chapter Text

Mirai… he needed both hands, to count the amount of times he’d been so biblically humbled in his lifetime. But today… Oh, Today he was being served his own teeth by Reality’s steel toed boots. “This data is truly remarkable.”

“As is yours, Nighteye. Truly, this possible advancement of Quirk Negating weaponry… Oh, do I shiver thinking what the Shie Hassaikai might be using this for.” Mirai looks up, Nedzu and Gran Torino both reading through the copies of his reports that Nedzu could get through the Commission.

But Toshinori… he and Shouta were just staring at him, Shouta just this side of a glare while Toshi… The pit in his stomach churns, at that disappointment. He struggles to put it into any words, the cavern that grows between him and Toshinori with each passing minute. “And that was with limited laboratories, up until now. I would venture to guess the League of Villain’s hacker is supplying them with the funds for additional development spaces.”

“Dreadful… but potentially useful, if played right.” Nedzu pulls out a remote, pulling up a very complex looking chart that Mirai needs several seconds to even begin comprehending. “We believe that Mayhem’s supposed better nature can eventually have her turned against All for One. Especially since most of her actions are targeting corrupt and foul bureaucratic types, taking money and resources from those more subtly harming people. And All for One… well, she might be investing in Quirk Erasure in order to have a pocket ace against him.”

Mirai furrows his brows, turning away from the buckets of information to look at Nedzu. “Turning the Villains and Criminals against each other? That’s a very dangerous gambit, with disastrous consequences should they prove less virtuous.”

“Yes. But clearly, Communication is something both sides in this war need to work on.” Mirai blinks, not expecting Nedzu to verbally shove him through the guard rail and over a tall cliff.

“I will admit, once again, that my paranoia was unfounded. Izuku is clearly a good choice for holding One for All, especially with his control over four predecessor Quirks. And collecting data from someone other than Toshinori has its uses… But…”

Shouta takes a breath, clearly preparing to say something. But Toshinori brings a hand up, looking right into Mirai’s whole soul as he does. “You think one of the other students would be a better fit. Your preference is your personal student, Mirio Togata. And I will agree that you’ve trained him well, and there are several students amongst the student body who might have been better choices. But I’m afraid the choice isn’t yours to make. Izuku is my Successor, and the next holder of One for All.”

Mirai takes a breath, trying to measure what he even could feasibly accomplish here. Sure, he now sees Izuku is not nearly the reprobate he took him for. But he can also see that Toshinori’s condition has not just deteriorated; It’s collapsed, sputtering along just barely by the left over phantom fumes of years of gasoline in the tank. “Even… even if I were to agree Izuku has earned his place as One for All’s next holder, we cannot deny that you are spiraling without it. We’re counting success in increasing your daily time as All Might by minutes, Toshi! Even just taking it back temporarily, a week at most, would dramatically improve your ability as All Might for months!”

Toshinori sighs, shaking his head gravely. “I… I couldn’t do that, to Izuku. Besides which, we don’t know if it’s safe to trade One for All back and forth like a football. It could injure one or both of us, possibly ripping the Predecessor Quirks from Izuku when he’s finally gotten control of them.”

“Yes, but it might give you the chance to unlock Heal! You might be able to restore yourself, then still give it to Izuku if you wish. Or are you saying you want Izuku to be the one to fight All for One?”

Gran Torino knocks his cane against the table as Shouta stands, breaking the man’s attention from whatever speech he’d been preparing. “Knock it off, all three of you! Toshinori, it is at least worth considering, if it could help improve yourself. Since you want to spare Izuku the pain of using Heal on you, if I recall. Aizawa, you need to take a breath…”

Shouta takes a few steps from the table, clearly struggling to keep himself in check. Clearly, anything said against Izuku was going to set him off. Mirai takes a moment, measuring if any of this was worth continuing. Because… Well, his Foresight has yet to be proved wrong. He’s tried pushing, pulling, coaxing, everything he can. But once he sees the path someone will walk, their feet seem stuck to it. Worse, everything he does is doomed to simply prod them along.

Mirai stands, an awful yet familiar copper taste filling his mouth. “I… Nedzu, you have ways of reaching me, if we need to discuss anything before the next exercise tomorrow. Aizawa… I know you’ll hold this against me, as is your want. But I am trying to help, as best I can. Toshi… Please, reconsider.”

He collects the copies of the files Nedzu left him, hoping to find something else to use them for in the future. He’d failed, unarguably, this time. But… but he still had time to try again, if he was correct. The vision was still a long way off… and maybe he’d have to live with Izuku having One for All a bit longer. But if All Might was going to survive and Defy his Foresight, Izuku Midoriya would have to give up his claim to that Quirk. So he’d have to find a subtler way to do it, is all.

He just needed a better hand over his anger… his desperation, for Toshinori to live.

-

Naoki rapidly moves through the button combinations, his character flying through fighting stances as Tomura’s tries to attack him. “Random B.S., go…”

“Button Mashing is a coward’s tactic!” Tomura stands up, focused entirely on the screen. Naoki stands to, keeping at least an arm’s distance between them as their health bars deplete.

“Come on… YES!” He wins it at just one percent health, quickly setting the controller down and stepping back. He leaves Tomura for a second, looking around at the other villains in the bar. He wasn’t actually a villain yet, but what else could he really do, given his position. At least he’d paid enough attention in his Computers class to find out the little sliver of an invitation Mayhem left, or else he’d still be with his parents.

“Kid… good game.” Tomura offers him a hand, his tone very much indicating he didn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth.

Naoki offers a fist bump instead, Tomura returning the gesture before walking over to the bar. “So… aside from playing games, what do you guys do all day?”

Tomura taps the bar, the scary mist guy producing two glasses of soda as the platinum haired gamer turns to Naoki. “I voted for you to hang around until Hana checked your parents out, and that’s it. If you want to join us, you actually have to prove useful to us.”

Naoki crosses his arms, huffing a breath as he leans on the bar. “Okay, then let me do something to help you guys. I want to join you guys! Get rid of those judgemental, useless Heroes, who only stand around and do useless shit like take pictures and harass people for no good reason!”

“And if that was all it took, I might welcome you in like that.” Tomura snaps his fingers to demonstrate, before then pointing to Mayhem, dual wielding laptops as the other villains look his way. “But right now, we’re trying to keep everything as minimal as possible. And you don’t exactly bring anything new to the League, kid.”

Naoki holds up a hand, counting off his hand. “One, I only have a-do-nothing misdemeanor on my record, and am not wanted by the Cops, Commission, and every Hero in the Country. I can go wherever you want by just walking in the front door, no extra setup. Two, my Quirk can harmlessly clear a building and cover you guys in a break-in if you want. I can blow smoke straight into a Detector, clear a building while getting to whatever room you guys need to hack into, and get out without any issues. Three… I don’t have the option to leave, and I don’t want to. You don’t need to worry about me running to the cops, even if I learn something big.”

“To be fair, he’s known that this is one of our hideouts for nearly a week. And the only Cops that have ever come near us are the standard increased patrols.” The dandy thief guy speaks in his favor, adjusting the white plastic mask he’s worn every time Naoki’s been over. They kicked him out every night so far, but there was an abandoned apartment building a couple blocks away. A lock picking tutorial later, and an old solar charger for his phone, and he was basically a member that all of them were vetting.

Pepperoni Face, or Dabi as the others kept calling him, stalks over towards him. “Kid, why the fuck aren’t you in school? Hell, your parents are alive and kicking; better than can be said about most of us in the room.”

“Yeah, well they care about my older brother a lot more. And as soon as my younger sisters were born… that was that.” Naoki hops onto the bar stool seeing the white haired man considering him. He looks away when the blond with the stitched up forehead makes a little noise, then back at Pepperoni Face when he taps on the bar.

He gets a glass of hard liquor sat in front of him, which he downs in two seconds before looking Naoki in the face. “Kid, we’re not some fucking Protest Group, that just stands around with signs and petitions. We’re fucking Villains, breaking the law and killing people.”

“Yeah, you’re actually changing the world. When has a petition ever done shit, when corrupt politicians and Heroes run the world?” Naoki grabs his soda, downing some of it before lifting his hand. “Do you know why the Hero Commission only has a third of the employees an organization of its size should? Because that means all their employees work five times harder than anyone legally should, and only get twice the pay of the average worker. And because it’s Government Work, they aren’t allowed to quit because of ‘State Secrets’ and non-compete clauses.”

Pepperoni Face blinks, Mayhem turning in her office chair. “Nice figures, kid. Which Social Media Influencer are you repeating?”

“Are they wrong? You old people are always on about ‘think for yourself’ but is any of that data wrong?”

“Old? Who are you calling Old?” Mayhem jumps up, pumping her fist as Stitched Blond carefully gets up to hold her back.

Naoki shrugs, looking back at Pepperoni Face. “Since Endeavor’s gone, his Agency has basically collapsed. And while the Support people and the Heroes with better records are getting picked up, the ones that acted just like him aren’t finding a lick of work between them all. Sure, maybe Ingenium and Ahsha weren’t as bad as him, but their agencies for Endeavor’s? That’s a sacrifice that’s worth making, don’t you think?”

Mayhem stands next to Pepperoni Face, crossing her arms. “Fine, you talk all the good talk. And… well, your parents haven’t done shit for the past two weeks you’ve been out on the streets. So I’ll go get a spare room ready for you, but you’re earning your keep. And until we actually use you for something villainous, you’re going to help keep this place spotless, yeah?”

Naoki sighs, letting a little puff of gas from his Quirk escape. “Fine, I’ll do whatever intern crap you guys want. But I’m going to help you guys, mark my words.”

Mayhem rolls her eyes, pulling out her phone. “Sure. Anyone else feel like a late dinner? There’s that new coney hot-dog place, over East of us.”

“Three with no mustard. I hate mustard.” Pepperoni Face walks away, sitting next to the blond. Naoki narrows his eyes at him, and finishes his drink.

“Four, with extra Mustard.” Pepperoni Face looks over, and Naoki sticks his tongue out at him. Tomura chuckles next to him, turning back and stalking over to his gaming rig.

-

Ketsueki tries not to react to the question he was just asked, the corners of his face twitching as he considers it. While this wasn’t exactly like the crime dramas they show on television, he knows better than to react the way most people would when his bosses ask him these questions. After all, he’d helped clean up the mess of the last two guys that had his position. “Um… Forgive me for asking, but can you repeat that question?”

He was standing in the corner of the business room, not even allowed a spot at the more than long enough table. Overhaul might prefer Quirkless people to Quirked, but that did not mean underlings were given any quarter to the people who actually got the job done. He was in the room, and that was ‘reward enough’. He’d spit on the floor, but that’s what killed the last janitor when he’d complained about the less than living wage.

The largest member of the Eight Bullets stands up, stalking over to him. Kendo Rappa towers over him, his long black mask splitting to reveal a tight grin. “I said, how much blood do you need from this guy? And how useful would it be if he got a little roughed up along the way?”

Ketsueki nods, as if that cleared anything up. “Ah… well, that’s a complicated question. Ideally, Eraserhead would need to not be so injured that a prolonged stay would cause problems. And… I’m still getting together the multitudes of tests we’ve done on Eri’s blood, to identify the useful parts of her Quirk Factor…”

Kendo leans over him, his hands flexing into fists. “So not a lot? I want numbers, little Ketsueki…”

“Rappa, please contain yourself.” The almost monk-like Hekiji calls over from his spot at the table, his eyes remaining closed. “If you continue to harass him, the process will only slow further.”

Kendo turns around, and stalks back over to the table. “I think he’s stalling, trying not to make the boss mad. Sue me for trying to kick his worthless backside into gear…”

“With the file on Eraserhead’s current Height, Weight, and Health History, more than four pints in twenty-four hours would result in irreversible muscle damage.” Ketsueki stalks forward to the table, and picks up Kendo’s tablet. He flicks to the file on the projecting screen, and inputs the file name of all the info he’s been forced to estimate on for the ten bosses present to see.

He was a trained phlebotomist, but somehow every single Healthcare worker was expected to have a Quirk that could help them in practice. Even the Blood Bank, where all he did when volunteering was take phone calls and print out papers, told him not having a Quirk somehow made him a less competent secretary. At least his skillset got him a modicum of respect, here. He got the easiest sticks with Eri, and had optimized the process of storing and transporting it to Labs across Japan for study.

He uploads the new slides, then stalks past Kendo to the screen. He wants to shoulder check past the man, but has just enough sense not to antagonize the man who could fold concrete like it was wet clay. He turns, pointing at the relevant data as he goes. “Eri’s specialized diet means we can take eight fluid ounces each week, although that has certainly caused muscle damage that will take years for her to work past. Miko and Eraserhead are in the healthy ranges for their age groups and other categories, but anything more than three pints in a day will cause risks to their continued health. Frankly, the battery of tests that we’re currently trying to minimize through require six pints over the course of seven weeks. But taking all of that at once would be putting them at so much risk of hypovolemic shock, it is ethically repugnant.”

Ketsueki takes a breath, the leadership of the Shie Hassaikai looking at him like they were considering how hard it would be to replace him. Not very, since he’d specifically gone and made sure at least four of his fellow Quirkless Healthcare Workers were at least on the radar of the Hassaikai, since that was helping them pay the bills. Mostly covert message deliveries, one working as a ‘back alley’ doctor when going to the hospital wasn’t an option. She was the best off, nearly on her way to having savings, month to month.

“How long could we keep them, for their supply to replenish?” Ketsueki looks up at Chisaki, who’s brought his hands up to tap the tips of his fingers.

Ketsueki waves his hand, Toya reaching over to Rappa’s tablet to go to the second diagram he’d uploaded. “If we were just taking Plasma or Platelets, then two to five days. But Eri’s Quirk factor is only harvestable from Whole Red Blood; Test 38C through 38N found that any attempt to separate products from the Red Blood Cells before Bullet Integration caused irreversible breakdowns in the Quirk Factor. The first Pints will be immediately transferred to the Labs to see if this is true with both Miko and Eraserheads samples. But if not… we’re looking at six weeks to replenish a single pint.”

“Told ya he was stalling… hang on, six weeks for a single Pint? Didn’t you say we needed six?” Rappa stalks to his seat, Ketsueki stepping out of the way to point at another chart he’d thrown up on the board.

“Yes. And forgive my sarcasm, but for reasons unknown to me, there aren't exactly hard numbers available for the results of controlled blood loss in subjects. And this isn’t factoring in Blood Transfusions, which could keep the two subjects alive to be drawn on later, but dilutes their Quirk Factors. As learned with Eri’s 3rd, 7th, and 21st trials.”

Ketsueki takes a breath, adjusting his mask as he waits for the verdict. Frankly, the fact that he was still alive despite going over his weekly limit of sass was probably a good sign.

“Sadly, I think Eraserhead and Miko’s continued existence would be more useful to us.” Chisaki looks at his device, checking a few boxes before sending the edit to Ketsueki's phone. "Several of these trials are superfluous or redundant, and thus irrelevant for our tests. I think we can settle for a total of five pints, easily.”

Ketsueki nods, not moving to the door yet. “I will inform Study and Development of this decision, Sir. Any other details that need explanation or adjustment?”

Chisaki raises an eyebrow, Ketsueki waiting to be dismissed to avoid the easiest triggers of Overhaul’s wrath. He was pretty comfortably down with viewing the man as a large data matrix, with too many conflicting triggers having to resolve in his favor more than once to avoid being the next stain to be scrubbed off the wall. But what other option did he really have? At least the Shie Hassaikai gave him a roof, bed, and just enough money to not have to go to a soup kitchen more than twice a week.

“No, go deliver my recommendations to S&D.” Ketsueki turns, rapidly crossing to the door. He holds his breath as he crosses through the doorway, waiting a few steps before letting the nose burning smell of five different cleaning chemicals uppercut him. His eyes water as he proceeds, leaving his mask on until he hits the downward stairwell.

-

“This cannot be the best recon we have.” Wolfram is half tempted to break into the half open bottle of whiskey on the table, thinking better of it. If this is the level of disappointment where he reaches for a bottle, it can only go further wrong from here.

They were three months from their last job, the last of the merchandise from it sold off. They all had enough money to get honest lives… and that almost puts a grin on Wolfram’s face. Like hell they were giving up the thrill now. Not just because the next job would pay even better, but because it was going to be like walking into the Tower of London, by invitation of the Queen herself, and taking the Crown Jewels before getting out with no one the wiser.

“I’m sorry, is my inability to hack into the most technologically advanced servers on this planet a surprise?” Saba slides his silver eye mask off, his eyes rapidly dilating before settling. He shakes his silver hair out, half closing the laptop he was jacked into. “Honestly, people like Mayhem give the rest of us a bad wrap by association. She’s doing shit you don’t see in anything but old Hollywood movies, and I actually have a Tech Quirk here.”

“How do you know she doesn’t have a Tech Quirk?” Wolfram doesn’t care for the answer to Daigo’s question, instead looking over the limited information they have to pull off this plan. Honestly, he’d prefer to have it all solved by now, just preparing for something to change while still having the whole crime solved. But they were two weeks into planning, and barely passed the brainstorming phase they’d usually be looking at in the rearview mirror.

“How she and the League of Villains are paying us for getting them the Device, instead of Shields. She’s doing an air gapped dead drop, leaving any chance of me getting a worm into her systems at a fat zero. Other people with Tech Quirks who hack like a challenge, prove we mean business. Quirkless or Useless Quirk Hackers don’t want to mess with us…”

“You’re pride, gotchu.” Daigo boils that down nicely, looking back over the map with a look of trepidation. The one thing they actually have, which was plentiful to get. Aerial views of I-Island, and the locations they could probably use for the whole plan.

“Well, pride or not, we need better information if this whole thing is going to work.” Nobu walks up, leaning over Daigo to look at the same plans he had in front of him. The taller, mantis-like man layers himself over the shorter, squat man, his baseball mitt hands spreading over the pages.

Wolfram’s phone chimes in his pocket, and he flicks his finger to pull it out. He looks at the screen, quickly grabbing it out of the air and answering. “Well, if it isn’t the woman of the hour. How can we help you today, boss lady?”

“The additional data you requested, courtesy of our mutual boss.” Mayhem has some robotic voice filter on, but she was at least consistent with it. David Shield was doing the same thing, probably for plausible deniability. But Shield was being slow with the information they needed; Mayhem was definitely quicker.

Saba quickly types away on his laptop, taking a couple seconds before nodding “Got it, Boss. Now this is pod racing. Mayhem, Hacker to Hacker, thank you for making this easy.”

“No, thank you for only using three levels of location scrambling on your IP. Really, that makes this next part a lot easier… and nice digs, over there in America. The Boss wants to thank you… personally.”

Mayhem hangs up, Wolfram blinking once or twice. Then he jumps to his feet, checking the warehouse they were using for their hideout. There were a couple of empty crates blocking sitelines to the door. “You three, South Exit. Run…”

Saba, Daigo, and Nobu all jump up, instantly running one direction while Wolfram runs the other. He runs around the crates blocking them to the North… and skids to a halt, seeing the purple Cloud appear in front of him. He takes a few steps back, then spreads his hands as a tall man in a dark suit walks out.

He feels every bit of metal in the row vibrate, ready for him to command. He grabs at the closest crate, the panels of it separating and tearing themselves neatly into spiked ends for him to use.

“Ah, that is interesting. All this metal close at hand, but you only bring so much as I approach?” The man was wearing a mask, black plates of something held together with steel hiding away his face. But as Wolfram reaches forward, that metal rebuffs his Quirk’s grip. “I see, you can only control a certain amount, as much as you could naturally lift in your own grip.”

“How… so, your Copy Quirk tells you how other Quirks work before you Copy them? Fine, neat party trick.” Wolfram beckons the sharpened metal closer to him, looking his current employer dead on.

“Yes… I have a long history with understanding Quirks. It’s rather like categorizing music, between Classic and Popular and the rest. Although, I am guilty of a tinsy little fibbet.” The man holds up his hand… and Wolfram tries not to gag when he sees the man’s hands. He’s seen rotten meat that looks healthier, the skin an awful mix of red and black, with bits of white sticking through…

The meat from his hands seems to slough off the bone, hanging on by these disgustingly writhing tendrils… and Wolfram blinks when he feels something hit him in his chest. He’s shot a gun before, and he’s been shot before. Close call, barely helped by being able to pull the bullet out without destroying anything on it’s departure. But this… it happens almost as quick as that, where he has to piece together what was happening after the fact.

He takes a breath, everything suddenly being much clearer than it was before. He looks around… and he sees All for One encased in several crates, cocooned in much more metal than he’s ever moved in his life. But it doesn't feel like a strain, like when he’s made a car hairpin turn in a chase.

The tendril withdraws from his chest… but there’s something it left behind, inside him. Wolfram takes a few breaths, All for One chuckling before the metal around him is sent scattering across the warehouse. “My gift to you, should you need it in your job against All Might. A simple Quirk, but it has served me quite well. Achilles: raises the strength of all of your muscles to that of an Olympic Athlete, without any of the necessary upkeep or strain. That and more, should you want it, so long as you get me that Quirk Amplifier.”

Wolfram stretches his arms out, extending his senses with Metal Manipulation. Before, half the metal in this place wouldn’t so much as register to him. Right now, the entire building trembles at his call. And I-Island was guaranteed to have quite a bit more of this, to use if he needs it. “Yeah, I’d call this a bonus. Next time, be a little less cryptic, yeah? We’re on the same side, aren’t we?”

All for One laughs, turning around. “I suppose, for now, we are. After all, an enemy of All Might’s is a friend of mine. And his friend, resorting to villainy like this? Oh, the poetry. I just wish I could see his face when he finds out.”

Wolfram smiles, thinking of Saba’s eyepiece masks they’ve used in the past. “Oh, I think something can be arranged.”

Chapter Text

Momo sighs heavily, looking through the extra papers Aizawa was handing her at the start of class on Wednesday. He handed them over in a folder, and she quickly sorts through the ones clipped and stapled together and begins handing them out. Izuku takes a look as she stands, nodding as she takes up some of the paperwork duties despite being third place in the vote for Class President. She’d said she’d help take some of the stress off Izuku’s back, and this was certainly part of it…

An explained absence form for Mezou to fill out, which he sets aside to work on note cards of English and Spanish. What looked quite a bit like an expenses form for Hanta, who reads through it quickly with a few nods. Notes from Lunch Rush to Rikidou, Ochako, and Tenya, each of which she feels a burning curiosity to look into while resisting the urge to. And a note from Nedzu to Yuga, which Momo reads is for an appointment before stopping herself and passing it off.

She walks back to her desk, noting a few forms for her to review. A number of licenses for handling and manufacturing Support Gear, which she technically wouldn’t even be able to provisionally apply for until she turned sixteen. But here Nedzu was, giving her the pretests and study materials. With a note that she could study these in her free time, if she desires. She flips through them, not having any other homework to worry over at the moment.

Aizawa sighs at the front of the room, sitting in a rolling office chair next to the podium. “So… I understand all of you had a conversation yesterday, about the nature of Izuku’s Quirk. Before we officially begin the study hall, with all of us here, I was wondering if we needed to discuss anything.”

Momo looks up, seeing a couple of people trading looks. More than one person is looking behind her, offering Izuku sympathetic looks before looking back to the front. “Aizawa-Sensei, I think we had a very effective forum yesterday, discussing our issues in the dorms. Although, I believe there are some additional concerns to discuss with you, regarding the preceding…”

“Nighteye got the full ‘Dead-Eyes’ from Nedzu, right?” Mina cuts her off, going for the throat. “Also, did you record you punching him to the ground? I’m just curious, for no other reason.”

Aizawa lets a little grin appear on his face, shifting his shoulders so his capture weapon could cover his face. “To my knowledge, the footage of yesterday’s events have been saved to an external drive in Nedzu’s clutches. As far as the rest of the school is concerned, there was a minor audio glitch that has since been resolved. Nighteye will continue with his training segments with the older Hero Classes, however Nedzu will be supervising them.”

Mina crosses her arms, partially appeased by that information. Momo doesn’t wish to feel vindictive, that same stomach churning chain of villainous thoughts spinning in her head. But before she can get too far into it, she’s pulled back by Mashirao asking a question. “Sir, is it true you’re planning a Parent/Teacher day in the next few weeks?”

Momo blinks, that information coming out of the blue. Aizawa raises an eyebrow, then sighs as the class’s attention shifts to something shiny and new to distract from the crumbling old news. “It is currently being floated, although there are several scheduling conflicts Inko has volunteered to look through. It might be easier to schedule it after Finals, but we are currently planning on inviting your Parents or Guardians to come see a typical day at the school… Basically, any day but Tuesday.”

Hitoshi darkly chuckles in the back of the room, and Momo casts her memories of the year back. Because… Their first Tuesday was Katsuki and Izuku’s big blowout fight, and yesterday was the whole issue with Izuku’s Quirk. Probably other concerning events as well, that she hadn’t been made aware of.

“Sir, how exactly are you communicating with our parents? I do not wish to inspire further paranoia, but such communications could prove compromising, yes?” Tenya volunteers a dangerous point, to which Aizawa quickly begins stamping out.

“Nedzu’s ensured these communications are protected, rest assured. Besides which, they’d have Hero Commission officials escorting them to Yuuei. And the League of Villains didn’t risk a full attack against the school before, and that was before Nedzu had time to prepare for and expect them. If they try anything to that level at the school again…” Aizawa takes a breath, just going quiet for a moment as he paints a picture in his mind.

Momo takes a breath, and nods. “If you’re sure Nedzu has the security for an event in hand, I think we can trust that judgment. Besides which, the event might not even happen until much later in the year. No use worrying if an egg will cook if it’s not even out of the carton, yes?”

Everyone takes a moment to relax, Aizawa catching her eyes and nodding to her. “Good. On an unrelated note, Nedzu and Inko are looking into the certifications all of you qualify for, and have looked into a schedule that involves spacing them out throughout your time here, instead of clustered together during the third year. Most of you already know enough for Provisional First Aid, but once you turn Sixteen, you’ll be given a series of extracurriculars you can add to your classwork to certify for. These include, but are not limited to, Vehicle Certification and Provisional Firearms usage.”

Momo looks down at the papers in front of her, knowing several more would be added by September. She sighs, Katsuki throwing up his hand. “Hang on, why didn’t I ever get these extra papers, then? I’ve been sixteen for three weeks!”

“The courses are being updated, and will be available after your Gala this weekend.” Aizawa brings a hand up, and says the word with just a hint of Upper Crust accent. It almost reboots Momo’s brain, imaging an Aizawa that was well put together… maybe cleaning up the stubble on his chin, his hair tied up into a higher ponytail. Her mind begins to wander before she can muster her concentration, onto how Kyouka's hair would look, in a similar ponytail…

Momo shakes her head, ignoring the heat on her face as she reads through the papers. She may admit to liking Kyouka, but she wasn’t going to be distracted from her studies because of it… not yet, anyways. There would be time for that over Summer Break… maybe if she was interested in the I-Island Expo.

-

Katsuki spins a pencil between his fingers, trying to just pick something to draw for Midnight’s art class. Of course, he wasn’t the only person distracted today, with Midnight innocently poking at the issue without knowing all of it. But none of them were going to talk about Izuku’s secret, already having at least a little experience with the deal now.

Midnight was innocently asking adjacent questions, almost being a lesson of its own. Like how Mina or Fumikage would comment on the heroine’s wardrobe, with her noticeably teaching in plainer clothes or suits instead of her Hero Uniform. Or the fact that she had a scarf or some weird French neck wrap, even though they could all see a few drops of sweat on her brow from the extra heat… or maybe that was just him.

But speaking of himself, Katsuki has done the moral math a couple of times now, not sure how the order of operations stacks up on it. So… he hadn’t bullied Izuku for not using his deadly Quirk, just for being Quirkless. And Nedzu knew about this, and lied to him, made him feel like shit… but he’d still been a shithead kid, just in the same way he’d always thought. Which he now knew was wrong, because of long hours with Hound Dog. It was a very confusing time, because he wasn’t sure if any of the anger he was feeling was justified one way or the other.

He has to cough something up for the grade, so starts trying to do a shadowy profile he remembers seeing Hitoshi work on one time in the common room. As he does, Midnight walks past. She looks at his and Kyouka’s work, then stops by Momo behind him to crouch down. “So, Yaoyorozu. I was just with Class B, and a certain birdy told me you all were planning a big party for this Sunday…”

“Partially, yes. It’s welcoming Class B into the dorms, and it’s one of their birthdays, so we were doing a general housewarming day for all of them…”

Momo cuts herself off, Katsuki just barely not stopping his work as Midnight speaks a bit softer. “Sure, that’s all great. But that little bird said it was going to be… a certain kind, of party.”

“I mean, it was mentioned that a tea party was an interesting aesthetic some of Class B rarely got to experience. And Hanta may or may not be helping put together wardrobes for some of us, with his connections. And Katsuki and Aoyama have the cooking experience to put together a pleasing culinary assortment…” Momo cuts herself off again, stopping as Midnight’s phone chimes.

Midnight stands, quickly walking to the front of the room while rapidly typing out a text. She leans dramatically on the podium, like she expected a spotlight from the ceiling as she delivered a monologue. “That… oh, why did you have to plan something like that the one weekend I’ve planned on not being here? The Injustice!”

Katsuki raises an eyebrow, Toru pulling out a notecard with a raised hand on it. “Where are you going to be? Are you doing some big promotion for the Hero Commission, like Altmile and Kamui Woods?”

“A lady never reveals her secrets… Oh fine, you’ve twisted my arm!” Midnight switches from foe secretive to teenage gossip girl in seconds flat, striking a pose with the podium. “I’m taking some of the other teachers out for a much needed professional day, to help release all the stress we’ve built up. In fact, I even convinced All Might to join us for a partial spa day…”

Katsuki rolls his eyes, going back to the portrait as more than a few people react to that. Mina’s the loudest, or maybe he’s just getting more used to picking her voice out of the crowd. If he and Eijiro… were anything, than listening to her would probably be worth something in the future. “Wait, All Might, at a Spa? Please, go on.”

“Mina, that is a highly inappropriate way to speak about one of our teachers!”

“Tenya, have you seen some of the swimsuit issues he did in his younger days? It’s at least a little okay for a girl to dream… or a guy. Right, Mashirao?” Mina’s teasing tone is followed by a little yelp of pain from Denki, his desk skidding to the side as Mashirao’s tail moves to cover his presumably blushing face.

“Considering his recent withdrawal from Public Events, I would make some assumption his implied consent to be ogled has expired. I would think not appearing in any official lurid depictions for eight years and four months is long enough…”

Katsuki blinks, pulling his pencil away before turning to a suddenly red faced Tenya. The boy has stopped mid sentence, seeming to realize that he’s stepped right in the middle of something. Ochako raises an eyebrow, slowly reaching up to tap on his shoulder. He looks down, furiously taking a pen to paper while ignoring the fact that even Midnight was giving him a cocked eyebrow and grin.

Mina snickers for a good few seconds, turning back to Midnight. “Well, besides that, who else is going to this Spa Retreat? Please, the fans are dying to know.”

Midnight switches sides of the podium, fanning herself as she spins the thread in her hand. “Well, Thirteen suggested this whole thing. And both Eraser and Present Mic both said they’d also be coming along, which I count as a win. Vlad’s just clearing a Training Ground for the forty of you to do a day of Joint Exercises, so you’ll be in plenty capable hands while we’re away!”

Katsuki goes back to finish his portrait, having a few more minutes to do it while Mina and Midnight do some more back and forth. Denki joins in after a bit, Katsuki ignoring it as he completes… Well, he didn’t mean for it to be Eijiro. But that’s what it looks like, now that he takes a look at it. He takes a second… then closes the journal he was keeping all of this stuff in, nodding to himself.

The lunch bell rings, releasing them to walk towards the cafeteria. A couple of people hang back, Eijiro moving to catch up to Mina as she makes an early exit. Katsuki makes sure to leave his journal at the podium for Midnight to look through, quickly moving to catch up to them. “Hey, Eijiro.”

Mina and Eijiro turn around, Eijiro immediately grinning as soon as he sees him. “Hey, Baku-bro. I think I have this math section down, but can we still work together tomorrow night?”

“I’m not going to say no to more time with… you.” Katsuki stumbles over his words, quickly powering through a smug smirk from Mina to continue. “I wanted to ask if you had any plans for Summer Break, actually. Nedzu has some events he wants me to attend, for winning the Sports Festival.”

Eijiro blinks a few times, his smile becoming a bit more remorseful. “I mean, I’d really like to. But Hanta was talking about inviting me out with him to I-Island, and I was talking with my parents about getting my passport ready and all that…”

“Hey Kats, weren’t you talking to Kyouka about how Nedzu wanted you to go to I-Island, too?” Mina moves between them, hooking her arms through theirs. “Man, half of you all are heading out that way, aren’t you?”

Katsuki looks at the pink girl, seeing a devious little flicker in her eyes. He was definitely paying for her lunch today, and probably letting her pick something for Sunday, for that move. “Yeap. But if you want to go with Hanta, I get it…”

“Woah, woah. Hold on a minute… Hey, Denki!” Eijiro turns and shouts down the hallway. Denki turns, then runs over with one of the kids from the Support class he was in the middle of talking to in tow. “Denki, do you still want to take Hanta’s plus one to I-Island? Kats was offering to take me, and we could tell Hanta you have dibs on his spot.”

Denki turns to him, the same sort of devious grin Mina had. Her doing it alone, Katsuki could weather. Denki adding to the social pressure makes his face heat up, the headphone-wearing Support girl making him feel like he could boil an egg on his cheek. “Sure, we can catch him after he’s done talking with the Business Kids. Then… what, half of us are going?”

“Yeah, sounds like Nedzu back on his bullshit.” A few people in the hallway noticeably stop, and make a wide circle around them as Mina turns around to continue the walk to the cafeteria. The Support girl blinks owlishly a few times, then hesitantly follows after Denki as he follows the three of them. “I for one am looking forward to relaxing during Summer Break, maybe hitting up Mount Lady for some extra Hero tips if I’m feeling fancy.”

“Yeah, I’m not putting any plans down for ‘relaxing’ until we’re graduated.” Katsuki knows there’s already enough jinxing going around, so he might as well be ready for the worst to happen. Besides Eijiro just rejecting him in front of everyone in the hallway… he hadn’t considered that option, and is actually a little glad it didn’t happen.

Glad his body moved before his head could spit that out, then.

-

Yuga waits until the rest of the class heads out to lunch, a few people giving him a concerned look he waves off with a smile before they go. The last to trickle out are Hitoshi and Shouto, the heterochromatic boy asking Shouto something about a game Yuga doesn’t even know where to begin understanding before he walks over to Ectoplasm. “Sensei, Nedzu summoned me for a meeting, but I haven’t the faintest idea where his office is.”

Ectoplasm turns, looking up from a stack of assignments with a concerned expression. “Nedzu asked to see you? May I see the note?”

Yuga nods, handing off the note for the teacher to inspect. He was already slightly concerned about what the principal might want with him, but Ectoplasm wanting confirmation makes his mind quickly fly through possibilities. The one he keeps circling back to his extra curricular, which at least half of the class is aware of, now.

Ectoplasm turns away from Yuga, producing a clone. Yuga covers his mouth, gagging at the sounds the hero makes from his Quirk. The copy then takes the note, walking towards the door. “You should be fine, Yuga. Nedzu has a couple different ways he asks a student to come to his office. This isn’t one of the bad ones.”

Yuga breathes a little sigh of relief, but is still nervous as Ectoplasm leads him through winding hallways. They don’t pass anyone along the way, walking through a stretch of the school that seems entirely unused on a day-to-day basis. Yuga peaks through a partially open screen door, seeing a few crates before following dutifully behind Ectoplasm.

The teacher walks right up to a mechanical door, which opens to reveal the comfortably furnished office of the principal. Yuga takes a deep breath, stepping through and into the site of the animal in charge. “Principal Nedzu, I received a summons earlier?”

Nedzu looks up from his computer screen, nodding and waving to the chair in front of him. “Yes, I was hoping to have a chat with you. Do you have a taste for jasmine tea?”

Yuga thinks for a moment, then nods as he walks to the seat. The mechanical door closes behind him, which he tries not to jump at as he sits. “Principal, if I may be so bold, does this have anything to do with my informing my classmates of Quirkless and Incompatible Rights Groups?”

Nedzu pulls out a teapot, filling the cup and passing it over before answering. “A bit, actually. I understand you’ve been doing it since the dorms started, and I don’t have an issue with that sort of proselytizing. In fact, I would like to encourage it… provided I can clear up a minor discrepancy, over something.”

Yuga raises an eyebrow, reaching forward and taking a careful sip of tea. “What discrepancy, Sir?”

“Well, in discussing extra security for your parents with them, they said they already had a protective detail through Humarise. And I received a file of capable people indeed, six of those ten having Quirks. People with very strong Quirks, working for a Quirkless Rights Group. I was hoping you could explain that, in your own words.”

Yuga watches Nedzu’s calculating gaze, seeming to try and plum his depths while just asking the question. “Well, just because some members aren’t members of the Quirkless minority doesn’t mean they can’t still offer their support and allyship. Besides, several of the people who have volunteered to stay close to my parents have received help in the past, for Quirk Mishaps and Incompatibility issues.”

“Ah, old family friends. I understand completely.” Yuga somehow doubts that, but Nedzu lets that issue rest, seemingly, as he drains his cup of tea. “Your family does seem to have deep ties to Humarise, in turn. Your maternal Uncle is a Detective in Otheon’s Police force, yes?”

“Yes, well he did want to be a Hero. But His Quirk burned out when he was young, meaning Hero Schools weren’t in the cards for him. But we all still want to help people, when possible. Hence my mother’s current work, organizing and funding charitable organizations.” Nedzu nods, producing a file from his desk.

Nedzu passes it over, and Yuga begins reading through it. He sees a number of agencies, several familiar and a few that were less than a handful of years old, that were all claiming to be right up Yuga’s alley. “You see, I understand you might have a more personal connection to this project. I want to make sure that Yuuei is not only raising the next generation of Heroes, but also fostering a brighter future for the rest of the world around them. I was wondering if you had any opinions on this list…”

Yuga nods, turning the folder around. “The bottom four are too new for me to give an opinion on, but I can certainly do some research to give you an opinion. These two below the top, however… now, Mother wasn’t specific on the details. But from what my Uncle told me last year, both of them have connections to less than savory business practices, in Quirk Enhancement. Both are also subsidiaries of Detnerat, which is arguably good for Incompatible people. But they also have a history of fostering… less than stellar political opinions, on Quirkless issues.”

Yuga tries not to say anything specific, having been led away from what had become a very heated Christmas discussion. But Nedzu nods, already typing away a note on his computer. “That is exactly the sort of thing I’m looking for, Yuga. Sadly, being a Jack in So Many Trades, I have to admit when I fail to be a master in others. I would also like to inform you, should this information be of interest, that there is a Third Year Business Course Elective that tends to meet up and find ways to plug up and coming charitable organizations. If you were to happen to meet them in room 3-E Friday afternoon, after classes end until about five in the afternoon, and have any advice they haven’t already stumbled upon…”

Yuga nods, slowly taking the folder back. When Nedzu doesn’t make a noise against it, he raises his tea cup. “I will admit, I was hoping you might have a suggestion in that direction. There is only so much physical training I can stomach, and only so many Reposts that are effective in moving the needle.”

Nedzu nods, his screen flashing as he navigates to one of the organizations’ web pages. “Yes, something I’m going to try and rectify, over the next few years. Perhaps All Might’s condition, forcing me to add to the physical lesson’s he can’t teach, will prove a good thing for the future.”

“Of course… and Nedzu?” Yuga almost hesitates, but continues with his thoughts as the principal turns to him. “Well, I know you’ve probably already gone through the list of treatments for All Might. But I did want to mention that there are a number of organizations making advancements in artificial medicine, including a few Mother has pulled and favors in. Afterall, people like Kyouka and Tenya do need specialists for their biological technology, meaning there is research…”

Nedzu nods, turning to the screen. “There are options to consider, there. I am sad to say that those paths are very long term changes, which Toshinori has requested we delay. But I do appreciate that input, and another string to pull… But that does conclude what I wished to discuss, in this meeting. But do you have anything you wish to discuss, about this school year?”

Yuga shakes his head, finishing his tea and setting the cup down. “No, I think I will take my leave. But… Thank you for this discussion.”

Yuga steps out the door, holding his sigh of relief as the door opens until he rounds the corner. He then looks around… and blinks, trying to remember what series of twists and turns got him here to begin with. He looks back and forth down blank hallways, hoping something will jump out that he remembers…

“Hi!” Yuga jumps, not expecting a voice so close to him. He turns, seeing a girl in a bright red blouse nowhere close to a corner or door. Meaning… Did she have some sort of invisibility Quirk? She hides a little laugh, not quite hiding how her teeth were noticeably fang-like. “You lost? It’s pretty easy, getting lost in this maze.”

“Yeah… I was just about to head to lunch.”

The girl smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. Her golden yellow, almost feline eyes. “Oh, I don’t know where that is. But I can show you to some of the courtyards, if that’d help.”

“That would be lovely… who are you, by the way? I’m Yuga Aoyama, from the Hero Course.”

“I know; I’m Toga. I’m not technically a student, really.” She gleefully begins leading him down a path, Yuga taking a moment before following her.

She quickly leads him by a bank of glass walls, Yuga faintly remembering them from getting lost on the way to the assembly in the second week of class. “I think I know where we are… by the way, how did you just appear out of nowhere? Is it your Quirk?”

Toga freezes, Yuga going still as the hairs on her neck stand. He recognizes that reaction, from quite a few angles. After all, he didn’t just give attention and money to people with Quirk issues. “No, it wasn’t that. I… I’m just really good at not being seen, when I want to be.”

Yuga walks forward, offering her a gentle smile. “I understand completely. That is incredible, building up a skill like that.”

Toga’s fearful expression slowly melts, her excitement coming back. “Really? I… I could show you, sometime. If you want.”

“That sounds wonderful… have you had lunch yet? I’d be happy to get you something, from the cafeteria.” Toga takes a moment, then nods, and leads him around another corner. And Yuga recognizes exactly where they are, and offers her his arm to lead the way. Nervously, like a cat only just used to human interaction, she gently accepts the offer.

-

Kouji takes a steadying breath, following Komori to sit next to some of her friends in 1-B. He also recognizes a few of the Support Kids… but he has to stifle a reaction when he recognizes one kid from Class B. Not because he had history, good or bad with him. But… Kamakiri reminded him acutely that he very much didn’t want to be around insects, with how he looked startlingly like a praying mantis.

But he follows Komori, the girl sliding next to Shiozaki as the plant girl has her head folded in a prayer. The mushroom girl waits for the taller girl to finish her prayer, Kouji quickly opening up bench space for Awase as he sits between him and Kamakiri. “Hey, Kouda. How is Hanta getting our measurements for clothes? He and Momo met with a couple of us for Sunday, and he already had our sizes?”

“oh, um… he is kind of close with one of the boys from 1-H, in the Design Course. The taller redhead, with the glasses?”

“Oh, Chrono? Yeah, I guess that makes sense… It's still a little weird, thinking about how much Hanta might know about us. Him and Izuku both make a scary combo, really.” Shiozaki finally raises her hair, her hair writhing and moving back behind her shoulders as she takes up her chopsticks.

Kouji nods, because now he knows Izuku can listen to their thoughts if he touches them. The boy was very hesitant to make physical contact anyways, maybe for when they all found out he could do that… no, he’d already been a nervous type at the start of the year, and Aizawa made it sound like the secondary Quirks were a thing it took Izuku ages to figure out. “yeah… that takes some getting used to. with the dorms, and having to keep everyone in mind… Toru spent her laundry day walking around without a shirt on.”

Komori looks up, squinting her eyes as she thinks through that. “But she… you can’t… how is that an issue?”

“it wasn’t, really. I don’t think so, anyways…” Kouji takes a few bites of his soba, Komori further thinking about that anecdote before shrugging.

“I guess it’ll be easier for us to schedule solo training days, if we can stay at the dorms a couple of nights a week. Easier than staying with my older sister and her fiance, all things considered.” Kouji looks over, Kamakiri sighing as he quickly finishes his meal.

“Oh yeah, aren’t they planning their wedding for the Fall?” Kouji blinks a few times, Awase looking at his classmate as he talks.

“They’re debating late September, maybe early October so his family in Brazil can fly in. Most of my family’s over in Nagasaki, so we could do something where everyone stays in Nagasaki, then makes the trip here before the wedding. But I’m just worrying about getting her a good gift, since she’s also hosting me while I go to Yuuei.”

Kouji tries not to look like he’s taking notes, further strengthening the idea that Hanta and Izuku were spying on Class B. But all of this was incredibly fascinating, he couldn’t help but pay attention. “Um… can’t one of your classmates make really cool looking scales with his Quirk?”

Kamakiri and Awase both turn, the dark haired boy nodding with a fond grin on his face. “You mean Hiryu? Yeah, I’m actually helping make him a really cool piece of gear for his Hero Costume… but no spoilers, okay?”

Kouji nods, making a locked lips gesture before continuing. “Could… could you make an ornament from them, or something cool like that for them? Maybe something simple, like a bowl or display?”

Kamakiri blinks a few times, then smiles at him. “That is a fu… freaking brilliant idea.” He catches and censors himself, Shiozaki briefly looking up from her meal before relaxing as he catches himself. “You’re pretty cool, man.”

Kamakiri offers a fist to bump, and Kouji quickly copies the gesture while trying not to flinch as the mouth pincers shift from the grin. It reminds him too much of when his Quirk first activated… when he was feeding some of the birds at his parent’s wildlife shelter. Feeding them bugs… that he could suddenly understand… could hear their cries for help as they were eaten…

Kouji shakes himself out of remembering that as his phone buzzes, pulling it out to check. It was just one of the public group chats… but his stomach is suddenly unsettled, about half his food going uneaten. “I… I’m sorry, I have to make a quick call. I’ll be back in a minute, yeah?”

Komori tilts her head, but nods. Kouji quickly excuses himself from the table, walking over to the bathroom while already trying to control his breathing.

He slips into the bathroom, quickly moving to a stall while noting the rest of the room being empty. He just does a few simple breathing exercises, already scripting an apology if Kamakiri asks about it. It wasn’t his fault, and Komori seems pretty close to him, amongst Class 1-B. So he doesn’t want this to become a whole big thing off some small misunderstanding…

The bathroom door opens, and Kouji takes a deep breath before walking out of the stall. He nods his head as Rikidou notices him, and just quickly washes his hands before walking back to the table.

“So, who did you call?” Awase says it a little leadingly, but Kouji just tries to offer an innocent laugh and wave of his hands.

“Oh, just my Mom. She wanted me to spend a week back with her, over Summer Break. I was just seeing which days I should ask Aizawa-Sensei about, so I could actually get permission.”

That gets the Class B kids to pause, all instantly wrapping their heads around that thought. Komori blinks several times, coming across an instant snag. “Oh, yeah… it’s a whole five hour train ride, back home. That’s an entire day, there and back.”

“Assuming your train is not assailed, between its destinations.” Shiozaki dryly adds to the conversation, seeming to consider something herself.

“It’s usually not that big of a deal. Most of us have been able to get excused absences, if we really need them. Stuff like doctor’s appointments, family issues, Aizawa has been pretty easily able to cover us for.” Kouji barely suppresses a sigh of relief as the conversation continues from there, his little breather earlier seemingly forgotten or politely ignored.

-

Hanta smiles as the order form gets sent to his email, seeing everyone’s stuff would be ready by Saturday. He got everyone’s sizes and their styles sent over, and the suits should be here for the tea party with time to spare. He asked Momo to put in the girl’s orders, knowing enough about dresses but trusting her to get the details right.

“Are you trying to blow your arms off, nerd? Come on, I know you’re passing Geometry!” Hanta looks up, Katsuku having launched himself up to a high platform Cementoss created for them in one of the gyms. Izuku was also up, but he’d had to land lower than Katsuki.

He and Izuku both jump down to the ground, Katsuki breaking his fall with an explosion while Izuku slows his own with what’s probably a low wave pulse to cancel and reverse his momentum. He stumbles to a stop, shaking out his hands. “I know, I’m trying to get it right. I’ve done it before, it’s just hard to consciously put it in the right place.”

Katsuki sighs, and turns to see Hanta on his phone. He starts walking his way, Hanta standing up off the metal railing separating the runner’s track from the center. “Sorry, I had to get an email. Our formal wear should be done in a couple days…”

“Great, but that’s not what I’m here for. ‘Zuku, get over here!” Katsuki leans on the railing too, leaving Izuku space in the middle between the two of them.

Izuku runs over, Katsuki tapping on the railing as the girls run a lap past them. Toru lags a couple steps behind Ochako, who’s slowed to take a sip from a water bottle she has hooked to her belt without spilling it over her face. They then pick up the pace, the rest of the girls rounding the corner in front of them. “What… oh, do you want me to do Parkour?”

Katsuki nods, taking a step over. Then he runs to the railing, jumping over it while letting his hands pop without giving off the sort of explosion that would damage the bars. “Just like that, Nerd! You’re already copying me, now go for the fucking Gold!”

Hanta rolls his eyes, looking at Izuku with a grin. But the green haired boy looks totally serious, nodding and shaking out his hands. He takes a running start, and actually pushes up into a soaring leap over the runner’s track… straight into the wall, turning in air and doing a Gran Torino bounce to leap back into the training area.

He spins in air, rolling to a landing before jumping to his feet. He jumps a bit into the air, punching an imaginary bell before landing again. “I got it! I really got it!”

“Yeah, you got it in one. Now let’s go two for two, Nerd!” Katsuki sighs, crossing his arms before looking over at Hanta. “So, it looks like Float Training is coming along. Anyone else volunteer for Black Whip’s Training?”

Hanta nods, looking over. Fumikage and Kouji are both trying to become better at brawling, switching between Eijiro and Mashirao and back as they work on their hand-to-hand skills. They wait for Izuku to take his next run, the boy actually vaulting all the way up to one of the cement podiums near where the brawling was happening. “I talked with Fumikage and Tsu, and Fumi said he and Ochako might help with Float since they’ve both got aerial mobility. Tenya and Shouto are trying to help coordinate that, since Endeavor and Ingenium Senior both have experience guiding training like that.”

“Good… Hitoshi say anything about the nerd’s sleeping habits?”

They watch Izuku Float to the ground, Mina skating past on an acid trail while giving a mock salute. “We think he’s getting better. If he goes to bed at your times, he doesn’t wake up until his alarms go off. Rikidou says you two are helping with our diets?”

“Yeap.” Katsuki pops the last syllable, Izuku noticeably shaking out his arm as he runs over. “Don’t burn your arms out, ‘Zuku. Take a lap with Denki and us if you need to do more, but give your arms a rest. You’re not going to build up my concussive immunity overnight, yeah?”

Izuku rolls his eyes, squatting and stretching his legs out one at a time. “Since when did you become my keeper, Katsuki?”

“Since I figured out you were actually coming for my spot as the Future Number One, Nerd. Come on, three laps. Both of you, Hanta!” Hanta gives a big sigh, sliding his phone away.

Hanta hops up on the railing, waiting for Mina and Denki to lap them. Kyouka is shouting something about Mina cheating, the acid girl cackling and running along anyways. “But teacher, I turned in my homework on time!”

“Har har, let’s go!” Katsuki charges off, Izuku jumping the rail to chase after him. Hanta sighs, quickly speeding up to a light jog to catch up to Denki and Mina.

Denki stops with the girls for their cooldown, Hanta keeping to Katsuki’s instruction for three laps. He comes in behind the two of them, both of them being far better runners than him. Mina drains her water bottle, using a fan made of folded notebook paper to try and cool off. “I know Nighteye was a jerk, but can I just say that urban training is so much more interesting than this?”

“Yeah, it’s also a chance to practice a lot of things…” Kyouka starts, her face shifting to a regretful look as she tries very hard not to look at Izuku.

Hanta walks over, cheers-ing her water bottle before taking a sip. “Hey, stop beating yourself up. Besides, it’ll work out better for all of us if we know about Izuku, right? Now, we’re all getting better with our Quirks…”

“Exactement-AH!” Hanta jumps when Yuga appears out of nowhere, putting an arm around both him and Kyouka. Yuga then jumps back, a jack striking him right between the neck and shoulder.

Hanta spins around… and for a split second, he’s pretty sure he sees someone else. But he blinks, the image gone before he can even explain it as Kyouka glares at Yuga. “Don’t sneak up on us like that!”

“Ow… Sorry.” Yuga brings a hand up to his neck, looking around. “I was just… practicing… Toga?”

He looks around, Hanta taking a second to look around. Was… did he see a person, a second ago? No way… Toru was right there, and he was certain he hadn’t seen Yuga over here, when he was running laps. Well, maybe he wasn’t paying a hundred percent attention…

“Toga?” Izuku calls out, and Hanta turns towards him…

“Yeah?” And he almost jumps again, because the blond girl who sets her chin on his shoulder definitely hadn’t been there a minute before. Plus, a bright red blouse and skirt combo wasn’t exactly blending into the white and gray of the gym.

Izuku lets out a little shiver, turning slowly so the girl can lean back while he turns a smile to her. “Wow, does your Quirk let you hide in plain sight, too? Which class are you in?”

“She’s not a student, yet.” Yuga slowly gets up, Toga’s smile twitching before smoothing out as Yuga speaks for her. The Frenchman walks over, a faint cloud of sparkles seeming to cascade from his hands as he frames Toga. “Toga is currently enjoying Nedzu’s hospitality, but not as a student like us. It’s a bit of a recruitment drive, if you will.”

Toga flushes a bit, her eyes unfocusing as she looks at the sparkles. “Nah, not really like that. It’s just… Well, it’s complicated. I don’t really want to talk about it…”

“Oh, then you’ve come to the right place.” Mina walks over, smiling and flashing a peace sign. “If there’s one thing about this class that everyone knows… It’s that we’re all cursed! But if there’s a second thing, it’s that we don’t spill people’s secrets!”

Toga lets out a snort of laughter, covering her face and taking a step back. Her golden eyes take a quick scan of everyone, and she takes a second to choose her next words. “Cool… I was just kind of wandering around, seeing what it’s like when you all train. You guys are pretty fit, with all your running around and boxing and stuff… and you two, going through the air!”

She latches onto Izuku out of them, Hanta imagining that the two of them are on some sort of introverted exclusive wavelength the rest of them are only partially tuned into. Izuku blushes, waving a hand and shaking his head. “I’m not really that cool, compared to Katsuki.”

“Izuku, you’re plenty cool! In fact, I dare say all of us are pretty awesome, right?” Mina frames her chin, all of them chiming in with their agreements. Hanta just barely hears Katsuki mutter something affirmative, never taking his eyes off Toga as the rest of them look around. Probably didn’t take too well, to her disappearing act.

“Himiko.” Toga’s smile instantly fades, a flinch that Hanta half recognizes as Aizawa walks over. “I wasn’t aware you were planning on joining us.”

She turns, shifting on her heels as the teacher walks over. “I… I wasn’t really planning anything, really. I met Yuga earlier, and I was just… Well, Um…”

Aizawa’s curious expression softens, and he lowers himself slightly to look Toga in the eyes. “Himiko, I didn’t mean anything by that. I just wanted to know, so you wouldn’t get hurt while they were training. You’re free to stay, as long as you want.”

Hanta sees the tension in Toga’s body relax minutely, a forced smile hiding her nerves. She slowly shifts out of the middle of the group, backing up towards the main door to the gym. “Sure… actually, I was just about to go. But… you guys seem cool! See you around!”

Toga quickly flees, seemingly overloaded from too many people too quickly. Hanta sympathizes, looking over as Ochako awkwardly chuckles. “Um… I think we came on a bit strong, huh?”

“I mean, we are very close, as classes go. We’re on first name bases, and all.” Momo sighs, producing a fan made from cloth and what might be actual gemstones on it.

Ochako spends a second looking at the fan with obvious envy, shaking his head and nodding at Toga. “Wonder if she’ll end up testing into the Hero Course, with us. Or Class 1-B… hey, would it be weird to invite her to the party on Sunday?”

“It is Tsuburaba’s party, but I did hear Awase inviting a few people from the Support Classes to join us. So… if she isn’t opposed to it, I don’t see an issue. Is that alright, Sensei?”

Aizawa takes a moment, looking at Toga as she escapes the gym. Hanta sees a bit of softness in the teacher’s expression. Sure he was noticeably softer with all of them, but there was some sort of connection there, as he watches Toga flee. “So long as you don’t chase her down, and she willingly says yes, I don’t see a problem. Just… be gentle with her, yeah?”

Hanta takes a breath, rolling his tongue against his cheek. He feels his fingers starting to make a familiar rolling motion, like he was moving a pencil between his fingers. He stops himself, shaking his hand out as Mina claps her hands. “So Aizawa! Since you’re here, can we order curry for dinner? There’s this new shop that opened up down the street, and it’s run by a former Pro Chef. And…”

“I’ll ask Nedzu to clear it, but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. But that gives you all the time to write up your ideal order, yeah?” Mina pumps her fists, Hanta nodding when a few people look at him. He’d sort of been planning on everyone being down on the ground floor for dinner tonight… oh, well.

He still needs the stress relief tonight. He just needs to be a little bit more careful, then.

Chapter Text

Shouta sighs, sinking back into Hizashi’s shoulder. His husband just lets out a little laugh, bringing a hand up to card through his tangled black hair. “Just two more days, Sho. Kan will take care of classes on Saturday, and we’ll have the weekend to just relax. Come on; isn’t it ‘irrational’ to be running at full tilt all the time.”

Shouta sighs, remembering more than once that he’d chided the others for being too loud or ‘irrational’. God, being pulled into this Conspiracy has fucked him up. He looks away from the file on the desk, trying not to pick up another problem child when he already had enough. “I know… I’m just surprised Nedzu is going out of his way for another person. Himoko probably needs it, but it’s a little out of left field, to me…”

“I know, but it’s like when I open up a segment for people to call in. Everyone gets a minute, whether I want them to or they really annoy me. Besides, she’s scarily like Hitoshi, when you brought him home. Only he didn’t have to live on the streets…”

Hizashi pushes him up, Shouta letting out a little noise of protest. It quickly melts into a sigh as his husband begins working the heels of his palms over his back, hitting five different stiff points as he slowly shifts forward. “I’m… almost scared… of the class adopting her.”

Hizashi barely contains a chuckle, leaning up from the couch Inko had asked Nedzu to add to the little security room. He closes in, Shouta’s scruff chafing the blond’s chin as he plants a smooch on his cheek. “It’s probably good for her, to make at least a few friends. Besides, what’s the wors…”

Shouta reaches up, covering Hizashi’s mouth before he can finish that sentence. “I will get the gag out, ‘Zashi.”

Hizashi lets out a dark little fit of laughter, Shouta drawing his hand back as the blond’s tongue drags against his hand. “Before we get to the hotel? You’re relaxing already, huh?”

Shouta shakes his head, standing up and walking around the little coffee table to check the logs. There were a couple of kids up in their rooms, a little checklist telling him who was on the ground floor and who wasn’t. The kids were good about keeping their IDs on them, though there was one person on the second floor more than badges.

Quickly pulling up a camera, Mashirao quickly crosses from the elevator to the bathroom, alleviating Shouta’s worries. He also checks the cameras, seeing what looks like a study session. Momo and Izuku are both trading notes, with Fumikage, Mina, Kouji, Denki, and Kyouka all studying hard. Katsuki and Eijiro are also both studying a few feet away, Shouto looking back and forth while sitting upside down across the back of a couch with earbuds in.

He quickly checks the dining room camera, seeing Ochako and Tenya sitting catty-corner at the dinner table. Tenya didn’t have notes out, the two of them evidently just talking back and forth. Shouta raises an eyebrow, shaking his head before flickering to the backyard.

Toru, Yuga, and Mezou were just in sight of the camera, all of them on their backs and looking up from the ground. The larger boy is pointing up at the sky, probably outlining the constellations as the other two dutifully nod along.

Shouta takes a moment, almost stepping away from the computer. But he stops, noticing one of the smoke detectors on the third floor is out. He takes a minute to tab through the ridiculously crowded menu of options Nedzu had in this system, seeing the detector between Hanta and Tenya’s room has no signal coming from it. Shouta checks the alarm’s history… and sees at least two other times when the thing hasn’t given a signal overnight.

Shouta slowly stands up, connecting what might be related details as he walks to the door. “Zashi, can you watch the feeds for a minute?”

He checks, seeing Hizashi nod as he quietly slips out the door. He takes the back stairwell, quietly slipping up to the third floor. He walks up to Hanta’s door, taking a quick sniff of the air. He looks at the smoke detector, seeing the thing almost perfectly placed back up on the wall.

He crouches to the floor, carefully reaching a finger under the door. He pushes some sort of cloth back… and a faint scent he’s distantly familiar with reaching his nose. He sighs and stands up before knocking twice on the door.

It takes Hanta surprisingly little time to open the door,, whatever was blocking the bottom being pulled away and another three seconds before he opens it. Hanta opens it just enough to lean his head out, a lazy smile and slightly reddened eyes telling Shouta about what he expected to hear. “Oh… Hey, Sensei. How can I help you?”

Hanta’s speech sounds almost normal, which is almost impressive. Shouta crosses his arms, debating how difficult he wants this to be. “Considering you disabled the smoke alarm, I think we’ll want to have this conversation privately.”

Hanta’s eyebrow goes up minutely, but he nods and takes a step back. Shouta takes in the boy’s room, which was traditionally designed while almost having a Rustic American feel to it, as well. There’s a hand woven design on the wall above his bed that looks almost exactly like a poncho Snipe wore exactly once, and refused to wear again after Nemuri spent over ten minutes describing exactly what she thought of it. There was also a bamboo privacy block that looked exactly right for covering the window, only the desk chair was up next to the wide open exit. With a little glass bowl on the windowsill, and a faintly clinging smell which Shouta also recognizes from another, more intimate encounter with Snipe… and earlier, when he was a teen.

Hanta sits on the end of the bed, almost completely relaxed as he waits for Shouta to speak. When Shouta looks at the window, then back at him with a raised eyebrow, he sighs and reaches for the bedside table. He pulls out a little baggie, which he hands to Shouta with some reticence.

Shouta examines the nearly empty thing, five unburned blunts and two burned out ends. Then the third on the window… “Hanta, how long have you smoked?”

“Not long, Sensei.” He drags out the term, sighing heavily as he trudges through an explanation. “One of my older cousins was doing it at my Grandmother’s funeral last year, and he offered me one. I have a card for it, if you want me to show you…”

“No, I’m more disappointed you didn’t disclose this earlier.” Shouta walks over to the half finished blunt, picking it up and looking at it. “It’s entirely legal, provided you don’t mess with Dorm Safety Equipment to do it.”

“Yeah, that was me being a little paranoid. Sorry… but it helped my cousin relax, and I wasn’t really planning on using them. But then… Well, a lot of really stressful news started piling up. Honestly, I was just planning on having them if Finals prep became too much. Then I decided to just do one after the news in Hosu, and everything melted into this really pleasant haze.”

Hanta gives a breathy sigh, which almost hurts Shouta to hear. It all sounds too familiar, bringing up bad memories that were already too close to the surface. Shouta takes the seat by the window, pulling one of the blunts out to inspect. He sees a little wrap around the end, some company he was now going to have to look into… purely as a safety measure, of course… before looking back up at Hanta. “Have you talked to Hound Dog about using chemical mood stimulants to avoid talking about your stress and other issues?”

Hanta laughs, leaning over to lie down on the bed. “I told him a bit, but not since smoking those. Besides, he said it was fine to have something like that as long as it doesn’t control me. Three of those over a month isn’t really a problem, right? Not like your coffee problem you’ve been trying to kick since the U.S.J., right?”

Shouta watches Hanta for a moment, then takes a brief scan for the lighter he knew the boy should have. And considering Shouto and Katsuki, a lighter wasn’t really how he was worried about a fire starting in the dorms. Hanta chuckles, pulling an ugly neon pink patterned lighter from his pocket, and holds it out. “I’m confiscating these for the week, and you’re going to stay behind after class tomorrow to write lines.”

Hanta nods, extending the lighter out. Shouta reaches over to take it, in a very quick motion lighting the fourth blunt and bringing it to his lips. Hanta’s eyebrow raises as he takes a drag in, setting the lighter down and bringing his now free hand up to his mouth. He hasn’t made a smoke ring since Oboro… but he turns out the window, letting out two clear and solid rings before a slight cough ruins the third.

Hanta slowly gets up from the bed, walking over and looking out the window as the rings fade away. “Cool. My cousin barely got one right.”

Shouta lets out a little smile, taking another drag and savoring this one. “Well, I’m cheating a bit. I had a friend who could shape and manipulate gasses with his Quirk, and showed me how to do this when he and I were second years.”

Hanta reaches over for his nearly done blunt, taking his drag and looking out the window. “Cool. You haven’t talked about him before, have you?”

“No… he’s not around anymore.” Shouta lets out a thick breath, his eyes watering for more than one reason. He reaches down, closing the bag and sliding it into a pocket.

“Not cool. Bummer, Sensei.” Hanta finishes off his, setting it back in the bowl as he lifts his hand up. He actually gets the smoke ring mostly right, offering Shouta a lazy smile as he leans against the window. “You said a week, yeah?”

Shouta thinks for a long second, then sets his half finished blunt down in the glass bowl. “Yeap. And I’d better not hear about you getting any of the other kids any of these, from the Second Year Support Girl running the Greenhouse. Especially not anyone else ‘stressed out’, like Shouto or Tenya. I had better not hear anything about it, yeah?”

Hanta blinks for a second… then lets his face turn to a devious little smile. “Okay. You won’t hear a thing about it, Sir.”

Shouta nods, walking out to the hallway. He carefully peaks out, not seeing any sign of the other students. He takes his back staircase down to the security room, slipping in as Hizashi flickers through all the options.

“Why does Nedzu have turrets in the flower bushes… and why do you smell like pot?”

Shouta shrugs, pulling out the bag and sliding it into a drawer in the security desk. “In case the League of Villains tries to stage an attack on the school. Confiscated this from one of the students.”

Hizashi looks back at the turret schematics, the one’s he was looking at being the sort that launch a quick hardening immobilization paste. “Okay… was it Hanta? Nemuri owes me 10K if he was the first one to start doing drugs. She bet it was going to be either Shouto or Tenya; ‘Good Boys Gone Bad’ or whatever.”

“Why were you betting on Hanta illegally smuggling drugs onto school grounds?” Hizashi raises an eyebrow, Shouta walking over to the couch and sinking into it. “Cut me in on the bet, and I’ll keep quiet until you convince her to double it.”

“Nah, she’d never go for that… but I will take her money on that. How long has he been smoking?”

“Based on him messing with the smoke alarm outside his door, I’d say Hosu…” Shouta shifts into the couch, slowly relaxing to the side. He’s aware he should stay awake… but he’s relaxed enough to slowly lull to sleep, vaguely aware of Hizashi unzipping his sleeping bag, and laying it over him like a blanket.

-

Nedzu quickly flickers through the cameras, seeing Nighteye and Toshinori leading an effective exercise of Class 1-B. Especially compared to Tuesday’s fiasco… Well, anything would be an improvement. But the two of them working together provide quite the exercise for 1-B, Kan’s hair going gray on camera as Toshinori expends some of his limited time to give the kids a frankly grueling workout as the Seeker.

But his office door slides open, Iguchi walking in with palpable apprehension. “You wanted to talk with me, Sir?”

“Iguchi, yes. I’ve been trying to make time for all my students and staff, and keep in touch with you all. And you… we’ve certainly kept you busy, in your starting period here at the school.”

“Yeah, there’s really been a lot to do. I don’t think I’ve worked a more grueling job… but it’s fine, really!” Iguchi tries to qualify and define his statement, Nedzu shaking his head and waving a paw.

“I prefer it when my staff are honest with me, please. And I want you to know how valuable you’ve proved to be, even in a short time.” Nedzu produces his offer folder, sliding it across the table. He’s done this a few times now, with several students. Padmini, with several Heroes able to take her as a Work Study, Yuga and his activism, even a few Third Years getting recommendation on agencies looking for sidekicks. Assuming graduation goes smoothly, this year.

Iguchi opens the folder… and almost immediately drops it back on the table, taking a few steps back like a demon seeing a crucifix. “I… No, you can’t be serious. That… that is too much money.”

“It’s a three year employment contract, and considering just the hazards I know you will be dealing with, that is a standard market rate for the amount of work you’d be doing over those three years. Granted, some of that will also have to go into appropriate licensing for certain activities, maybe vocational training under Cementoss to become higher trained in fixing the school as a whole, and general living expenses…”

Nedzu trails off, Iguchi slowly moving back towards this. “I… This says I can terminate this whenever I want. But you’re still offering all of this?”

Nedzu feels a few phantom sensations playing along his back as a metaphor occurs to him, quashing it for the more comforting version of this conversation he’d planned out. “Iguchi, you’ve happened upon the great misfortune of drawing my personal attention, when you decided to stay with Gran Torino instead of trying your luck on the street. And now, you’ve gone from passing through my solar system neatly into my orbit. Believe me, I prefer all my people to have such rich opportunities that they no longer need my support. Without relying on Underground Fighting, of course.”

Iguchi goes still, slowly looking up at Nedzu. “I… I didn’t know you knew about that.”

“Oh, I have worse material on virtually everyone here. You should see the blackmail I have on All Might; why else would he become a teacher so late in life?” Nedzu lets out a maniacal little cackle, which he settles down when Iguchi only nervously guffaws at his joke. “Seriously, you’re not even my only employee to participate in Underground Fighting Clubs before I hired them. But I do want you to know I’m not handcuffing you to this position, if that is a concern of yours.”

Iguchi nods, looking over the papers. “I… I mean, it’d be crazy not to sign this. But I need a minute to think this sort of thing over… that’s not a problem, right?”

“Not at all. And if you have any modifications, I would love for you to make a counteroffer or suggestion. And… Well, I was wondering if you might assist me with a matter you might have some more experience in. Concerning Himiko, and her future.”

Iguchi slowly takes his seat back, crossing his arms. “She prefers Toga, for one. Something about her name… she really doesn’t like it, just so you know.”

Nedzu quickly looks to the cameras, seeing Toshinori apologizing profusely to one of the 1-B girls. The platinum blond girl, with the Telekinesis Quirk, who is cradling an arm close to her chest. One of the hidden medical bots quickly deploys, fortunately close enough that the poor girl doesn’t need to go far to have it checked.

Nedzu watches for a moment, then turns back to Iguchi as he previous train of thought picks back up. “Yes, Toga. I was looking into finding her a more permanent solution to her current situation. Because while we could assess her needs and condition, to be blunt she will need more extensive education than Yuuei is currently in the business of providing. She’s as bright as many of the First Years, but educationally deprived in a way more dedicated tutors would take time to balance.”

“That…” Iguchi stops himself, slowly taking a breath and actually thinking through what he was about to say. “… That’s probably for the best. She… she really deserves better.”

Nedzu nods, seeing Iguchi trying to cleanly break things off with Toga. Hopefully, they could ease her into something, preferably a long term placement, like Hitoshi was currently in. “Naturally, you would make a good choice for temporary Guardianship, given your connection with each other. But tutors can be expensive, especially with all the subject matter that has to be covered.”

Iguchi blinks a few times, then levels a little glare his way. Ah, so he can pick up on clues. “Yeah… but if I sign on with you, suddenly I have enough money to cover a lot of that.”

“You would, yes. But again, I want you to take some time to consider what you truly want for yourself. I want you to be a little selfish, and consider where you’ll be in a year or three.” Nedzu reaches down, finishing off a water bottle for himself before offering one to Iguchi.

The lizard man takes it, taking a long few seconds before picking up the folder and walking out. The door opens for him, the poor man lost in thought as he turns to walk deeper into the labyrinthine halls of the unused sections of the school.

Nedzu checks on Class 1-B one more time, then changes to check the other Hero Classes as they go about their exercises today… He stops, and quickly cycles through the Cameras on Alpha Training Ground.

He checks the schedule, then taps into the headset Thirteen would be wearing. “Thirteen, there appear to be a few issues with the cameras in the Zone.”

“Yes, Nejire and Hinoka’s Quirks appear to have reacted together, and released a Wave that caused a minor outage in the area. Reboot Procedures are already underway, and the training has been paused.”

“Good on you, getting the Comms back up and running first. Any extra issues, and you let me know, yes?” Nedzu waits for the affirmative, already seeing one camera rebooting.

His phone rings, and he quickly disconnects so he can talk to Shuzenji. Luckily, she gets right to the point. “Nedzu, I think Ingenium’s recovery plan needs some discussion.”

Nedzu switches to the limited feeds he has of the clinic, seeing Ingenium going through a round of physical therapy… and managing to weakly walk between two guide planks, The Crawler right there ready to catch him if he stumbles. “In person?”

“Yes, as soon as you have the time. This… this is something we should discuss privately.”

-

Shuzenji keeps looking between her charts and readings, wishing she didn’t have to come to this conclusion. But she was, and she was now weighing her moral obligations back and forth between her friends and patients, the scales refusing to balance as she shuffled back and forth in her office.

“Recovery Girl, the box of files from the Commission was just delivered to the front. Should I go get them for you?” Shuzenji looks up, nodding for the second year girl to leave the clinic. She still had Shouma and Taiyou, she could stand Rin leaving for a quick retrieval.

As soon as Rin closes the door behind her, a panel on the wall slowly moves to the side. Nedzu crawls out, Shuzenji looking away as he composes himself and walks over. “So, what appears… to… ah.”

Shuzenji nods, Nedzu quickly reading through the charts and scans of Tensei’s spine collected over the past two weeks. “Tensei appears to have partially regenerated his spinal nerves after these weeks of recovery, and the intervention of One for All and my other student’s Quirks. Now, the surrounding nervous system still needs time to correctly reintegrate, and he’ll probably not be a Hero for the rest of his life… but he could walk, given a proper two or three years of physical therapy.”

“Then… are you saying it’s possible for Toshinori to make a recovery?”

“Possible, yes. Probable… Tensei has been on a nutrition rich plan, and didn’t have nearly the level of damage Toshinori has. But, with the resources of I-Island at our fingertips, and a few calls… it’s entirely possible for a surgical intervention that might allow him a full, healthy life by Fall.” Shuzenji and Nedzu stand there, Nedzu walking forward to look at the last piece of the assembled puzzle. A scan of Izuku using Heal during the trial, and Heal reaching as high as double the normal ranges. “But Izuku would… oh, this is a conundrum.”

Shuzenji nods, turning away. “I have a long standing responsibility to Toshinori, to try and keep him well. But… that directly conflicts with Izuku’s best interests, in this case. I… helping Toshinori would bring about the most good, but taking Izuku’s future from him to do it…”

“Perhaps… perhaps Toshinori could prove content with his new position in support…” Nedzu trails off, not believing his own lie as he spins it.

“Please, we both know that man will work like a war horse until he’s sent to the Glue Factory. We got lucky that he decided to pass things on to Izuku in the first place, and try to teach him while reducing his hours as All Might. But if he isn’t being held back by his own body…” Shuzenji grips the head of her cane, the scenario playing out time and time again in her head.

Nedzu reaches up, putting his hand on top of hers. “Shuzenji, we have time to measure this decision. Besides, I think Toshinori will be more open to the idea than you think; the man is spending more days here than going out anyways, which is giving him more time when he does go out and work. We might just get him used to the idea of being without All Might entirely…”

Shuzenji shakes her head, doubting that extremely. Oh sure, it made for a nice daydream. But after almost six years of trying to get that man to slow down, she didn’t have any reason to believe he’d put on the breaks now.

But… after those six years, suddenly having Toshinori seem to finally start taking care of himself, and finally start gradually pulling up from the nosedive… maybe there was some Hope, after all. Shuzenji nods, and begins looking through the plans she does have that could possibly come together for a full treatment plan for Toshinori.

If he was willing to put All Might on a shelf… then she was going to finally make sure Toshinori Yagi would live a long, fulfilling life. Now, it was just finding the best combination of plans that would help restore some of the damage.

-

Toshinori manages to keep up All Might until the class dismissed from the training exercise, and can still feel at least a little bit of fuel in the tank as he shifts back in his own changing room. He slides into a suit, walking out to find Mirai waiting for him.

Mirai waits for him to start, then fills the silence when Toshinori heistates. “Class 1-B has many more individual synergistic pairs worked out, rather than 1-A working best in larger groups. Something to be said that they were more adaptable, as well, when they suffered losses and continued to be able to land hits against us.”

Toshinori nods, thinking about the mental note’s he’d taken during the test. “They’re a very promising class, I agree. I’d agree with Kan’s assessments, that Kuroiro and Togake would make excellent Underground Heroes. Although I’m not quite as sure about Shoda; his Quirk certainly has value in an ambush, but he doesn’t quite have the speed and stealth the other two have.”

“Considering Shoda was able to coordinate the attack that did knock you out, he obviously has some tactical analysis. Perhaps a Mission Control position would best fit him, or a Field Coordinator.” Mirai says the first part with a slight hint of gentle sarcasm, Toshinori nodding as they walk to the Staff Kitchen.

The kitchen, located behind a wall in the cafeteria, gave the teachers that little bit of privacy while having their share of Lunch Rush’s cooking. The first year teachers had their lunch breaks scheduled first, meaning Toshinori didn’t often see the older year’s teachers unless they intentionally came in early during a study hall. He and Mirai almost have the space to themselves… except for two people, one of whom waves to them as they come in.

“Nighteye, long time!” Ingenium waves to them, wheeling his chair back to move around the table before offering a hand. Mirai noticeably picks up his pace, allowing Ingenium to not move too far to spare him the hassle.

Yagi walks over to the window, taking a minute to type out the order on the touch screen as Mirai speaks. “Tensei, you’re looking much better. Is the physical therapy going well?”

“Better than I was expecting, honestly. Finally starting to be able to stand on my feet for longer than a few seconds. Recovery Girl says it’ll be weeks before the nerves fully recover, and I’ll probably be keeping this thing with me.” Toshinori nods at the student who starts assembling the order, turning as Tensei taps the leather arm rest of his wheelchair.

He moves back to his soup, the brunette man next to him setting his phone down. “About time you slowed down, babe. Besides, I’ve got everything under control.”

Toshinori turns as the student passes him a ticket, walking over to the table while the food is prepared. Mirai turns to the man, probably raising a skeptical eyebrow as he speaks. “Haimawari, yes? You know, people have been talking about how Ingenium’s Agency has been getting… reorganized, after the Hosu incident.”

“Well, I can’t blame a couple of people for moving around. But it’s the usual Support Staff trading up and down, plus a few Sidekicks graduating into their own, and putting out feelers.” Haimawari brings a finger up, scratching his chin with an awkward laugh. “But no, the agency is going strong. We’re just… I think ‘reorganizing’ is a good word. I didn’t know how much paperwork goes into all of his day.”

“You complained about it enough, when we couldn’t go out to dinner.” Tensei barely gets out the good-natured gripe before his laughter spills out, Haimawari bringing his elbow out and tapping it against the closer wheelchair arm. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met yet.”

Tensei turns to him, and Toshinori laughs when he remembers that technically, they hadn’t. All Might and Ingenium had collaborated a few years ago, before he’d had his time limited. “Toshinori Yagi, All Might’s Secretary. And substitute teacher, at this rate.”

The two men take a second to reassess him, Haimawari immediately putting on a more neutral expression. “You… work, for All Might? Like, right under him?”

“Sometimes over him, as far as the Commission is concerned.” Toshinori and Haimawari both let out a cough, Toshinori choking on his spit at Mirai’s wry comment. “Not the only time he and All Might have debated who’s on top of who…”

“Mirai, I told you that in confidence.” Haimawari continues trying to hide a laugh, though his face noticeably flushes from the fake story Toshinori was used to weaving with Mirai. “But yes, I help keep all of All Might’s career in order. More than once, I’ve also helped people get a hand on limited edition merchandise… like the sort of stuff you wore, back in your Vigilante days. The Crawler, right?”

Haimawari’s blush is for an entirely different reason now, vigorously waving his hands in front of his face. “Hey, I’ve been on the right side of the law ever since, promise. I’ve only misused my Quirk, like, two times since… but it was for good reasons, I promise!”

“I’m not the Commission, you’re fine!” Toshinori tries to smile, but his cough comes back with a vengeance. He tries to suppress it, but that only makes the resulting fit bad enough to draw blood. Mirai quickly produces a handkerchief, passing it over as the two younger Heroes watch in horror.

Mirai gently massages his upper back, the spasm slowing down as Toshinori wipes up the blood painting his lips. “Sorry, All Might and I were in a very rigorous training exercise earlier, and managed to cause a minor shower of debris. Toshinori’s lungs are rather sensitive, after a Villain attack years ago.”

A bell behind them dings, the student chef calling out the ticket number. Mirai goes over to retrieve their trays, Tensei pushing over a few napkins that Toshinori waves off. “A Villain attack years ago, huh. How… How often does this happen?”

“Too often… but it’s avoidable.” Toshinori clears his throat, his voice coming out scratchy. “I… I’ve learned to live with it. Makes watching comedies a dreadful experience, on date night.”

The two let off awkward little laughs, trying to quickly move past the little episode. Haimawari’s hand stretches over to Tensei’s, Toshinori noticing the two’s simple gold bands on their fingers. “Yeah, and being heroes, action movies just don’t have the same thrill they used to.”

“Yeah…” Toshinori looks over his shoulder, seeing Mirai talking with the student chef for a moment. He turns back, lowering his voice in a familiarly conspiratorial manner. “Say, hypothetically. If you were picking a movie… But, something you’d watch with a potential romantic partner… do you have any recommendations?”

Haimawari looks up at Mirai, then leans in. “Toshinori, do you have a crush on All Might’s old sidekick? For shame… but definitely good taste.”

“No… Well, not exactly. This is for… well, there’s this woman…” Haimawari leans back, winking at him and nudging his chin. Toshinori quickly sits up, Mirai setting a bowl of soup in front of him while he has a sandwich and salad on his own tray.

“I hope you weren’t gossiping behind my back, Toshinori.” Toshinori laughs and shakes his head, Mirai letting a faint smile slip onto his lips.

“Of course not, Mirai.” Haimawari pushes over the pile of napkins towards Toshinori, a slip of paper just barely sticking out of the bottom of it. “Just talking about some personal matters.”

Mirai’s smile grows at that, though he quickly hides it as he starts on his meal. And… wow, Toshinori was planning around his personal life. When was the last time he did that? Well, besides for Saturday, he supposes.

Chapter Text

Natsuo grits his teeth, opening up the menu on his computer. “I hate this thing, I Hate This Thing, I HATE THIS THING!”

His study group shakes their heads on the other end of the computer, and Natsuo tries to type out everything in the chat. He glares at the microphone with a passion, wishing for maybe the first time in his life that he could set it on fire. If anything, his Quirk would prevent him from burning this thing.

His phone rings, and he answers it as his classmate sighs in exasperation. “Did you say ‘the best mic money could buy?’ Doesn’t matter if you can’t use it, huh?”

Natsuo brings his middle finger up where they can see, one of the girls letting out an awkward laugh as he tries to smile through the impotent rage. “You’re forgetting the DNR check, guys. And you were the one complaining about the computer’s mic being shit, Rekka. I have the instructions right here, but this was made for someone with a masters in tech, not the associate’s in nursing.”

“A degree you're not going to get through if we have to keep doing this. I’d rather deal with some Commission thugs stuffing us in some warehouse somewhere than this; at least we’d be able to get through everything in less than two hours.”

“I know, Suiko… I’d prefer it, too.” Natsuo sighs, looking behind him to his door. He had his bedroom’s lights off, the natural light coming through the blinds weakened but enough. And with the hallway lights on, he could see the shadows of the feet outside his door.

The Commission had a rotating group of ten people watching them and their house, only ever having five with them any day. Fuyumi had made a habit of sending one back and forth to her school to drop off and pick up her class’s assignments, and Mom had one helping them keep the fridge and pantry stocked. The rest kept constant watch over them, never being further than a closed door away, even at night. Apparently, the one time Mom had tried to plan going out, at least four of them had to be with her at all times. So it was just easier to send them out on errands, even if they groused about it at the time.

“Gods, switch back to the laptop’s mic. I have a friend who’s a DJ, he’ll help us do an audio check for next Friday.” Natsuo nods, disconnecting the whole set up and tossing the obtrusive mic over onto his bed. He reattaches his headset, setting the phone down for a minute.

“Toshiki, can you hear me?” Rekka grits her teeth, but they’re able to continue the study session for another few questions before his blond classmate sighs in exasperation.

“Seriously, I hope all of this blows over soon… I know you can’t tell us anything, but you have to have some idea about when all this extra security will be over, right?”

Natsuo looks over to the door, then turns back while shaking his head. “Whenever that League of Villains isn’t a problem anymore, or Endeavor turns back up… I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I’m almost missing the old man.”

“He said it! Who called two weeks again?” Toshiki laughs, and Natsuo narrows his eyes when he hears the others laughing in their quiet study room.

He faintly hears paper rustling, and looks up to see Rekka collecting money from the rest of the study group, quickly stuffing it down her shirt with a shameless grin. “Absence does make the heart grow fonder, Natsuo. Sure, he sounds like a piece of shit, but you did admit you were missing some of those advantages to having the Number Two around. But come on, how hard can it be to find these guys?”

“Pretty hard… for a lot of reasons.” Natsuo sighs, filling in his online copy of the paper. “Plus, I still have volunteer hours at the clinic to fill in. I’ve already talked with the Commission guys, but they’re sending it up the ladder… somewhere.”

“You’ve told Doctor Shinso, right?” Natsuo gives a fake salute to Toshiki, holding up his phone.

“Yeah, I talked with him before about something similar when the Commission would ask me to show up to some events. This time, I have a better excuse than my Dad using me for good press…” Natsuo blinks, looking down at his phone.

He pulls up a new contact number, one Mom had made him add in to his phone. Shouto was the only person who wasn’t dealing with extra security, because Yuuei was a fortress with blackboards and grades. Maybe… Recovery Girl had clinic hours he could get access to?

“How much do I owe you, Rekka?” The girl smiles, brushing her pinkish hair over her shoulders.

“Next time you’re out of house arrest, you’re buying us dinner. And not just cheap Ramen, or sushi! Something good, and expensive!”

“Eh, it’s still Endeavor’s money. Why not?” The others laugh, and they manage to move on to finish their papers. He was a little behind because of all the craziness that had happened since Endeavor’s kidnapping, but he was just almost back up to pace with them. The only thing he was behind on were the Practical Hours… but maybe he had the excuse to get that sorted out.

-

Nokorobi cracks his knuckles, his hands going stiff from his time in Kamui Wood’s agency. He’s gotten all the paperwork cleared, but Kamui’s got a pretty quiet patrol route for now. Really, all he was doing is making sure everyone else has their papers done too, since that was all there was for now. “Ines, Anelma, you have your Notices of Agency Change filled out?”

The two women nod, checking their support gear while looking over the garden Kamui Woods kept in his agency. It was quickly going from a few trees to an absolute carpet of wildflowers, the multiple Plant-Quirk Heroes having nothing better to fill the time with than adding a bit for people to see in the public area of the Agency.

Nokorobi nods, quickly picking up the folders the older brunette heroine points to. He didn’t have anything better to do than run them down to the filing room, wherein five people were trying to move around in a space comfortably made for three. The Head of Domestic Operations pushes up his red tinted glasses, clapping his hands. “Call out when you’re walking, guys. We’re getting the next room by next week, and we’re on the front lines to demolish the walls. But until then, Coordinate!”

Nokorobi knocks on the door frame, the exasperated man’s head snapping around to meet him. Nokorobi holds up the files, which he plods over to pick up. “Here’s another three; Ines, Anelma, and Sazanda all have it filed. Three more to go, and we’re all covered… are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I just have nineteen new office workers, all trying to fit into their niche, damn the people already there.” The man takes a breath, clearly trying to bottle his anger. “Sorry, I…”

“I understand, Katsuragi Sir.” Nokorobi nods, bringing his hands up in two thumbs up positions. “The last three are from Endeavor Agency, and it’s a bit hectic to get our papers in order. I’ll help get them done before Monday, promise.”

Katsuragi nods, freezing two people loudly collide. He slowly turns, Nokorobi blinking as a fountain of papers scattered over the floor. Katsuragi tries to temper his temper, managing to growl out a low warning. “Leave, now.”

Nokorobi quickly leaves the filing room, closing the door. Ahsha’s former Work Study student walks past the door as Katsuragi begins presumably swearing in some guttural language, Russian if Nokorobi had to guess. The girl jumps, quickly taking steps away as she stares at the door. “Um… is that…”

“Office Politics, don’t worry about it. Did we get your forms signed yet?” Nokorobi walks over, seeing Padmini’s arms wrapped around a folder like a drowning man holding a shard of driftwood. She lets him take it, her arms shaking as he flips through it. “Let’s see… Nedzu, Parent/Guardian, and an Agency Certified Field Monitor. You just need one more, then Kamui Woods himself… I’m going to try and meet with him once he gets back, so I’ll keep an eye out for you. Until then… I think Dunkelheit was over in the Support lab, and he should have the qualifications.”

Padmini nods, Nokorobi pointing her in the right direction. He walks up to the lobby, leaning against a wall and taking a breath as everything sinks in. This… this was his life, now. He wasn’t sure where he’d be, three years ago when he’d graduated Shiketsu Hero school. But if he’d had to guess, getting into Endeavor’s agency, and managing to catch the Heroes’ attention, only for the man to be kidnapped by terrorists, wouldn’t have been anywhere near the top. Either the individual pieces, or the surprising amalgam they’ve formed.

Nokorobi turns as Kamui Woods strides through the front door, a group of reporters following him in. The water controlling hero tries to stray closer, catching the end of Kamui’s comments before the Hero turns. “… Yes, this is a time of great change and adjustment for all Heroes. But we’re all here to help protect the public from all threats, big and small. I know, with Endeavor’s entire situation, there’s a push to go after the biggest cases and the most attention grabbing headlines. But that doesn’t make the common civilian any less in need of protection; if anything, they need help even more now.”

Nokorobi blinks a few times, the reporters all asking their wrap up questions. Kamui Woods has a much deeper well of patience to plumb than Endeavor ever did, and a couple of the reporters actually peel off from the crowd to dictate some updates. The younger hero waits there, walking over to intercept Kamui Woods as he turns to his office. “Um, Nishiya sir?”

Kamui Woods turns, sighing when he sees it’s not another reporter. “Nokorobi, I assume you’re letting me know more of you have completed the paperwork. Am I wrong?”

The man’s posture is slightly relaxed, but there’s an obvious tension there. Probably since they were still in the public section, where any amount of extra cameras could be watching. “No, you’re not. Fourteen of the seventeen of us are all ready, and just awaiting assignments. For lack of better work to do, the offices have been scrubbed down, the filing system reviewed with at least eight changes recommended, and the garden fully tended to.”

Kamui Woods nods, and gestures up to his office. “Good to hear… and actually something I wanted to speak with you about. Could you follow me up to my desk?”

Nokorobi tries not to flinch, trying to forget all the advice about working under Endeavor. Not the actual Hero work portion, but the… well, the ‘handling Enji Torodoki’s temper’ portion. Because Kamui Woods isn’t at all like him, and he shouldn’t be mildly terrified to be in a room alone with him yet.

Kamui Woods brings him into his office, quickly crossing and closing a few folders on the desk. Nokorobi tries not to recognize the Hero Commission emblazoned classified files, or that most of the papers appeared to be prints of Hero Information, including Quirk reviews. He keeps his eyes up on Kamui Woods… and watches the hero sag into his office chair, like a man who’d been hauling fifty pounds of gear and is finally allowed to rest. “Um… Sir?”

Kamui Woods reaches up, adjusting the mask on his face. Nokorobi looks away, noticing a scar faintly as the man sets the mask on the desk. “I’m not a Medusa, you can look. Considering what I’m going to ask you to do, it’d be easier if we talked face to face…”

Nokorobi nods, remembering a few of Kamui Wood’s original employees mentioning his face is a sore spot for him. He slowly looks over, ready to school his expression… but aside from the old, faded scars around his lips, running across his left cheek all the way up to his ear, he was a simple looking man. Attractive in a rugged manner, a thought which Nokorobi tries to quash as he nods. “Sorry, Sir. I… I remembered from the documentary, and I didn’t want to seem rude…”

“Not an issue at all. I understand, things are going to need to adjust around here as we get everything in order.” Kamui shifts the Hero Commission files away, pulling out a tablet. He lifts it to type in a code, quickly pulling up a file to review. “And since you’re keeping on top of things with the new recruits, and clearly communicating with my Old Guards, I was wondering how you would feel about taking up the position of Coordinator for the agency.”

“Coordinator? But… I’ve only been on the job for three years, Sir. And wouldn’t some people from your Agency be a better fit?”

“A number of them, certainly. I can’t promise this will be a permanent placement, once the Agency gets itself in order. But Endeavor had a number of positive things added to your file, including awareness of the needs of your teams and the will to work through differences with your allies.” Kamui Woods sets the tablet on the desk, Nokorobi seeing what was probably his file sitting there for him to see. “Besides which, you have one of the higher positive ratios of casework, even over some of my agency.”

“Yeah… I guess so… But it’s more because I wasn’t really on the big cases in Endeavor’s agency. I was on clean-up, or all the smaller, day-to-day cases…” Nokorobi stops himself, remembering what Kamui Woods was saying in the lobby.

The man nods, reaching up and tapping the side of his nose. “Exactly why I prefer you in this position. Not because I think this is a small position, but because you have experience handling ‘small cases’ day in and out, but you’ve also jumped into big operations and hit the ground running. Besides, the Commission is officially expanding my Patrol routes, and I need an Active Coordinator who I can trust to quickly mobilize a response, if something happens. And I see here that you were able to repel one of Mayhem’s lesser incursions to Endeavor’s system.”

Nokorobi shakes his head, his face flushing under the cloth mask covering most of it. “No, I… I mean, I did. But it wasn’t some hacker battle, or something. I just… I disconnected the server from the router, and did a temporary shutdown. Mayhem can’t hack what she’s not connected to, and we found some of her malware and deleted it.”

Kamui Woods nods, his eyes straying to the Commission files that Nokorobi definitely didn’t look at when they were open. “Yes. Well, in addition to the Commission expanding my everyday operations, they also want me to assist with the League case in any way I can. So… I need someone to ground my roots, while I grow upwards. Someone with a bit of experience, working for a Top Ten Hero…”

“Wait, are you in the Top Ten now?” Nokorobi blinks, already placing that in his internal world view. Kamui Woods was a highly rated Hero, public perception wise. And while he had bad cases in his first year on the job, he’d still made obvious strides of improvement, so it wasn’t the hardest thing to imagine his view in the Commission being equally high. “I thought those results were kept close to the vest until the Fall.”

“Usually, they are. But All Might is busy protecting and teaching Yuuei, and Endeavor…” Kamui Woods goes silent for a moment, Nokorobi trying not to make any strong face as his new Boss very obviously pokes at his sore spot. “The rest of the Top Ten are basically in constant communication with the Commission now, in case anything involving the League pops up. And considering Mayhem’s hit-and-run tactics, our only hope is we keep a wide enough net that can close around them when they come up for air.”

Nokorobi clicks his heels together, going for as straight of a back as he can. “If I can make your life any simpler, Sir, it would be an honor. When do you need me to start?”

“Go find Katsuragi, and start talking with him about how best to coordinate the new Team Dynamics we’ll have to work on. If you have any Public Relations decisions to run through a check, Lycoris should be the woman you talk to first, then me.”

Nokorobi nods, turning around… then turning back, a mild embarrassed grin on his face. “Oh, by the way. Padmini is almost done with all of her signatures and transfer work, once she’s done talking with one of Ingenium’s Certified Field Monitors. She should be sent up here shortly, once she’s done with that.”

Kamui Woods nods, sliding his mask on. “See, you’re already doing the job. Now, you can get properly paid for it.”

Nokorobi lets his grin become a bit more genuine, nodding and leaving the room. This… Okay, he can work with this. He just… A title is a title, it’s the work that matters. So, he should go ahead and get started.

-

Ken’ichi rolls his neck, his muscles cracking and popping like microwave popcorn as he looks through his charts. The amount of money he would pay for a Healing Quirk… or any Quirk, for that matter… “I don’t get you, Yasunori. How do you have a Quirk like yours, and not use it for a career? You’d save a lot more lives here on the hospital floor, rather than driving equipment between places.”

Ken’ichi narrows his eyes as the other man laughs, turning to put charts away as Yasunori turns to him with an audible smile. “I can’t really afford to, really. I’ve got two growing kids, and I couldn’t afford to pay for all the classes to get Quirk certified like that. Besides, Cell Activation isn’t all that useful in an actual hospital.”

Ken’ichi tries not to fly off the handle, dangerously close to the line already after the week he’s had. Three complicated surgeries in two days, a Board Member looking over his shoulder since a bunch of phlebotomy equipment went missing and now the Vending Machines were being almost as prejudiced as the Hiring Committee. It wasn’t even Yasunori's job to try and fix them, but he didn’t have anywhere else to be while the hospitals in the area decided what needed to go where. “Yeah, but you’d get paid for using you Quirk, plus whatever else you do. Even if you were just an in-network Specialist, you’d easily make it back in… four years? Five?”

“Cell Activation only works on Type A Blood, so it’s not like I could use it all the time. Besides, with villains that are doing things like cutting up Heroes’ spines, or shattering their arms? A little extra kick of healing isn’t fixing that, no matter how hard I try. Besides, I was always more mechanically minded… there!”

Yasunori presses a button, and the snack that Ken’ichi tried to get over half an hour ago finally drops to the retrieval space. The other brunette even fishes it out for him, offering it to him with a smile. Ken’ichi takes it, nodding to the man. “Thanks… I was starting to get light headed.”

“What, did you miss lunch again? Come on, I know hospital food is bad, but it’s better than some week old donuts from the vending machine at some point.” Ken’ichi doesn’t want to laugh, but the corners of his lips twitch as he opens the wrapper.

He quickly drops one of the little chocolate glazed sawdust squares into his mouth, quickly finishing up storing his charts for the day before turning back. Yasunori puts away his tools into a little roll-up leather toolbag, which he slips up the back of his white button up shirt. “Yeah, but that’s not for a while. Besides, they’re upping the price on everything again, even though they just did it in April.”

“Yeah, I know. Apparently, the costs on me transporting stuff is going up, because of the risk of my truck getting jacked by Villains between destinations. Course, I’m not seeing a dime of that in my paychecks.”

Ken’ichi nods, quickly schooling his expression when one of the nurses walks by. She goes to the vending machine, nodding when she gets her snack in and out in thirty seconds. “Thanks for fixing this thing, Shinso. A couple of us were going to go out to dinner on the way to the train station tonight. You know, the HPSC saying people shouldn’t be walking home alone, and all. Plus, there’s this new curry place that’s apparently popular with some of the grad student interns.”

Ken’ichi shakes his head, reaching up to scratch at his sandy blond hair. “Sorry, I’ve already got a date with Ketsueki to keep. Stay safe, though.”

She nods, walking off as Yasunori leans into him, a sly smile on his face. “A date?”

Ken’ichi feels his face flush, looking away with a huff. “Not like that. Ketsueki… we’re not seeing each other. It’s just… we’re both Quirkless, so we look out for each other. Besides, I haven't dated since…”

His typical frown extends, and Yasunori reaches up to carefully rub his shoulder. “I know… you said they would be sixteen in July, right?”

Ken’ichi nods, then quickly finishes off another couple of sawdust squares. He faintly thinks of over a month ago, when a bunch of his coworkers had called him over to one of the televisions in their lounges. Seeing a kid who looked like him, but with her hair, in the Sports Festival… “Yeah, but they could be anywhere. Besides, I couldn’t take care of them after she died… and I’m not any better off now. Whoever they end up with, they’re better off.”

“They… did you not ask if they were a boy or a girl, before giving them up?” Yasunori asks it a bit pointedly, being completely unable to imagine the position he’d been in, almost sixteen years ago.

“What would that have helped? All it would do is hurt… hurt… I can’t do this.” Ken’ichi partially stops because his voice gets caught in his throat, and for another reason. His phone chimes a specific ringtone, and he shakes his head before stepping away from Yasunori. He pulls out a bill from his pocket, setting it down on the counter before sweeping his snack into his pocket. “I’ve got rounds to make. See you whenever, Shimano.”

He walks down the hall, Yasunori not following him as he finds the closest empty room. He checks that no one is watching him as he closes and locks the hospital room door behind him, quickly pulling out his phone and answering it.

“Shinso Ken’ichi, do you have the requested materials?” Ken’ichi represses a shudder, the other voice being the sort of oily calm of an eel circling a fish in a feeding tank.

“Yeah, I have it. But I can’t get it to the drop off until later tonight, nineteen hundred hours at the earliest.”

“Good. Your services will be rewarded, as will your silence.” Ken’ichi nods, the phone disconnecting soon after. And… Well, he feels bad about stealing from the hospital. But if they didn’t want their workers poached by the Shei Hassaikai, they shouldn’t be paying him half as much as his Quirked coworkers. He had student loans to pay, after all.

Chapter Text

Enji… something is grossly wrong with Enji. He’d specify, but everything is… hazy, and indistinct. Almost like a dream, where just when he has a handle on what’s happening, everything speeds up and tumbles into something else. He vaguely recognizes things, but he can’t do anything to change what’s happening…

Once, when he was younger, he’d needed to get a tooth pulled. And for whatever reason, the anesthetic hadn’t worked quite right; the wrong dosage, an inexperienced hand not placing right. Instead, he’d just been frozen in his chair, aware of the painful stimuli without being able to move. Not quite Sleep Paralysis, but something like it.

That’s the only reason this could be happening, one of the few times he sees through the green sheen into the world around him. It’s… it’s Touya, almost exactly to when he last saw him. Not the adult him, scarred and practically a walking corpse. No, the him from that last day, when he’d been trying to get him to train his Quirk…

Only that older version walks up behind him, too. And takes the younger one by the shoulder, and leads him away. Enji wants to reach forward, to scream apologies until his voice gives out. But mouth feels like it’s full of cement, his arms importantly bound with wires and sensors…

Wait… No, he has to get out. He… he has to…

-

Shin-Hye furrows her brow, watching a rush of something else be added to Endeavor’s tank. His head lulls in the mixture, the monitors around it lulling to their previous steady beats as whatever was left of his conscious mind fades. “So, that was the last drug?”

“Quite. A potent mix of neurotoxins, after the cocktail of other chemicals to reduce anything of Enji Todoroki to a nonexistent slush. Once this bath finishes, All for One will begin the transfer process, and viola! The long suffering Number Two Hero will become the vessel for the greatest villain in history!”

The Doctor cackles, Hana pulling out her phone and playing a cheesy lightning strike sound effect. That eggs the doctor on, Dabi and Twice both disposing of the clone they’d made. Shin-Hye runs a hand through her hair, more than a little honored to have been witness to the execution… or rather, that’s what they needed the Doctor to think.

She adjusts in the villainous outfit Hana had helped her put together, a mix of leather layers that would help her move around. Sure, she’d mostly used her Quirk to create a dome to help Dabi melt through concrete, but she still needed a few tools of her own. A flashlight with an absurd amount of light it could put out, which she had managed to focus enough to burn a white hot hole through wood and weaker metals. And a few other goodies she could similarly manipulate with her Quirk, turning otherwise effective weapons into deadly implements in the right setting. “Alas, poor Endeavor. We knew thee too well, and it was to our detriment.”

“Don’t worry. He’s worse, once you get to know him.” Dabi holds up a shot glass, filled with a shot of something fairly strong. “I’d just like to say, a lot of this could have been avoided if he’d just let me go to regular high school, instead of making me try for Yuuei.”

Shin-Hye turns, seeing Compress was kind enough to have a whole bar cart stored away in one of his marbles. He offers her a glass, which she raises. “I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t started throwing fireballs at me, instead of hearing me out. Dasvidaniya!”

“Not just that. The pure psychic damage that will happen when the Hero Commission sees Endeavor causing havoc! To Hawks… oh, I only hope we have time to put a camera on it.” Hana raises her glass, and all of them start to clink it. The Doctor waddles over, making a circle of six to share in a drink.

Shin-Hye looks around the circle, glad that two of the people apparently pulling a betrayal were wearing masks. And the third had a face that no normal person could read, who seemed to actually be the one pulling the strings when Hana could not. And Hana, who knew better than to ask about how things were going.

Compress sets his glass down, swiping his thumb across his lips. “Now, while I’m all for ogling a man with scars, the whole ‘transfer process’ is a bit too much for me… Come now Hana, I’ve seen the fan-art magazines you’ve dug through about that man.”

Dabi turns, an eyebrow raising so high so quickly that a line of blood begins running down his face. Hana sputters, frantically waving her hands. “Those… I was looking through Hawk’s emails, looking for any other bits of information to exploit. Seriously, he collects those things religiously. I was half hoping some of them were some sort of secret message passing tools, like color change ciphers. Failing that, maybe the NSFW fanfic in them had code words to something…”

“Ew…” Dabi turns, seemingly threatening to expel the victory drink. “Don’t tell me anything else…”

“Why do you think that one clone begged for a violent death? Do you think I was really going to store that on my long term hard drive? Thank Jin for his Quirk, seriously.” Hana holds out her glass, Compress quickly filling it up on her insistence.

Shin-Hye holds her out for a refill herself, Compress complying before providing one for himself. “So that poor Hawks has a crush on this man… oh, I see what you were referring to earlier. The ‘psychic damage’, as it were, will be an absolute delight to witness.”

“Yeap, I would say so. Plus, he’s working harder than a dog sled team, since All Might is all but officially retired. If only we could… you know, give him a couple of days off the street?” Hana gives a devious smile, Shin-Hye sighing when the platinum blond girl turns her way.

“Who are we robbing tonight?”

Hana turns to the Doctor, who looks up at her with a mildly amused look. “I need Kurogiri to open a couple of portals tonight, and at least two back here. Once the Boss is here, he won’t need Kurogiri until the whole process is done, right?”

“Yes, you should be able to wreak more of your Mayhem on the wealthy bureaucrats of the world. Continue your slow campaign of terror, dragging all the disgusting little secrets into the light.” The Doctor turns, walking over to the panel with all of Endeavor’s health monitors.

Hana nods, and walks over to Compress. “Let’s talk about your route for tonight, get the stage directions cleared. Twice, you measure Shin-Hye in her gear to make sure the doubles can use the EMP cannons.”

Shin-Hye offers a salute, Twice walking over. He sets his glass on the cart, pulling on the tape measures on his suit. Dabi walks to her other side, looking at Endeavor in the tank. “Shame… he’ll probably still never wake up.”

Shin-Hye nods, thinking back on what she’s lost in being a villain. “So, you did…”

“Not exactly a lot of wiggle room, on this one. But still, it should be a fun time…” Shin-Hye raises an eyebrow, Dabi’s words not making sense.

She holds her breath as the edge of the sharpened tape dances across her stomach, turning to check on the Doctor as Twice moves for another measure. “You… want this to succeed?”

“Not initially, but there were a couple of things that changed my mind. Not him going after Yuuei… but there’s a chance to point him in a very beneficial direction.” Dabi pulls out a card, and Shin-Hye nods as Twice strays dangerously close to her back end.

“I think you’ve already got that measurement, Jin.” She’s curt to a point, Twice quickly stepping back and sliding his tape back. “So, you’re playing one extreme against the middle… a dangerous gambit, you have to admit.”

“Yeah, well the HPSC has it coming. Besides, they’re not exactly as good as they pretend to be.” Shin-Hye almost wonders if he’ll go into specifics on that, only for a shadowy portal to open up.

The three of them turn, Kurogiri walking in while holding up All for One. And for a moment, all Shin-Hye can see is a weak old man, barely able to continue standing on his own. A number of machines roll after them, the body reduced to barely more than a cloak of flesh over a dozen humming machines.

“out… GET OUT!” Shin-Hye barely recognizes the words before her feet begin moving on their own, up the stairs and out of the basement. The two men move behind her, leading up to a small abandoned warehouse somewhere in Kamino Ward.

-

Miko takes a long breath, walking through the hallways of Tartarus Prison. The whole place felt like it was holding its breath, more so than the last times she’d been forced to come here. It was a terribly sterile place, with news only carefully injected to the two opposite end wings; the Low Priority Prisoners, and Death Row. But even with that tight hand, apparently enough of the current news has trickled in, a tight coil of tension ready to break at too strong of a tug.

She’s led to a special wing of the building, which is more than just glass boxes where the worst of the worst villains were patiently waiting to die. No, this wing actually had the pleasure of an almost normal prison, with several cells a little less than ten feet cubed where the inmates can talk across a tall stone tower in the center of the room. The guards stay at the entry door, leaving her to walk inside to the rest of the seven rooms and their prisoners.

There are currently three empty cells, the other four equally split between male and female occupants. All of them turn to her when they see her walk in… and one immediately walks away from her sliding glass door. She sits on the corner of her bed, bringing a hand up to her mostly shaved purple hair.

Miko ignores that woman, in favor of the other. She was reading an old book, her finger holding her spot as she walked right up to the glass. “Wellity, Wellity, Wellity… I guess you are putting together a Pow-Wow, like he was saying. I owe you dinner, Musky!”

“Quit Calling Me That!” Imasuji bangs his fist on the stone wall separating him and his neighbor, then turns to face her through the glass. He turns, his one eye glaring menacing her way while a plain white patch covers the empty socket. “The Hell do you want?”

“To recruit you…” Miko turns to stride over to the other purple haired woman’s cell, who doesn’t deign to turn to look at her as she does. “Keep your blood money, I’m not interested.”

“I was hoping you might have changed your mind. The Commission is in need of your skills… your prodigious, well-tested, field skills…”

The woman turns around, stalking up to the door. Her eyes flare dangerously, her fist pounding into the glass even with Miko’s face hard enough for the panes of glass to wobble. “Save it. I’m not getting any more blood on my hands for the Commission. Take these murderers if you want, but I will never do another job for you.”

Miko raises an eyebrow, then simply walks to the next cell over as a single horn sounds from the stone tower in the center of the room. She comes to a stop when he sees the man has stripped the orange top of his jumpsuit, simply doing a series of push-ups in his limited cell space. “Chizome Akaguro, you claim to have a gospel of true Heroism. Now’s your chance to prove it…”

“Have they done it yet?” Miko blinks, not quite ready for that to be Stain’s first question. She’d had an analysis team study his reactions, and plan for several different recruitment paths… and that wasn’t on any of them. Someone is getting their pay reduced, for not anticipating that. “Have they gone after the Young Hero yet?”

He continues his exercise routine, seemingly uncaring to study her own reactions as she adapts. “No, but we’ve increased security all the same. To our knowledge, only Mayhem and Compress have been active, committing small robberies and data breaches…”

“And the Reflector.” Miko pauses again, Akiguro stopping his exercise routine. He moves into a sitting position, quickly catching his breath as he wipes a layer of sweat from his glistening brow. “The Reflector would linger around Mayhem, assisting her with hacking. Even without their Copy and Teleporter, they still have a secondary Tech-ie to manipulate computers.”

“Sell out.” Tsutsumi leans against the glass, only just able to see Miko from the empty cells between him and Akiguro. “She hasn’t even offered you her probably crappy deal yet, and you’re rolling over like an eager little mutt.”

Miko walks over to Tsutsumi, the blond muscle-head offering her a lecherous smile until she lays her terms out. “I’m offering the four of you a clean slate. In exchange for serving as a Precision Strike Force for the Commission, upon completion of your service, your records will be wiped clean. You will be allowed one chance to go out into the world again, assuming…”

“Assuming we kill someone for you.” Miko rolls her eyes, and turns to the other purple haired woman.

She lets a hand stray to her hips, a bit of exasperation managing to infiltrate her voice. “Lady Nagant, would you like to continue with the presentation?”

“Are you still using explosive collars, for the dangerous draftees? Or will you have one of your little pets shadowing us?” Miko can taste the venom in Nagant’s words, wishing for a moment her Quirk would work through the glass.

But she turns, seeing Tsutsumi and the other woman both taking a step back from the glass. “Muscular, Stain, Lady Nagant, and Black Dahlia. Three villains, and a former Hero turned villain, all of you having better uses than rotting in a cell. You will be under the direct orders of the The Hero Commission President, and the Hero Hawks, to act as additional security as we continue the hunt for the League of Villains. Should you go above and beyond and aid in the hunt, then additional benefits can be yours. Betray us… and you will not survive the transfer to your cells.”

The other woman laughs, curling her free hand through her hair. “Wow… you are despicable, you are. Here I am, trying to help people who need saving, in maximum security. And out there you are, using murderers to try and sniff out terrorists.”

Miko walks over, looking at Black Dahlia fully. “That’s why the four of you were chosen, amongst the actual worst of the worst. You’re a model criminal, Lady Nagant has already worked for us, and Muscular and Stain… Well, they have prior experience with the League of Villains, but their ultimate damages are minimal…”

“Hey, who are you calling minimal! I remember beating the shit out of three of your guys before that purple haired brat got me… you two aren’t related, are you?” Miko has to focus on keeping her lips from crinkling in disgust, the almost lecherous look from Tsutsumi making bile rise in her throat.

“The Commission is mobilizing all available assets, including retired Heroes. Even with our current Reserves, the League is managing to spread our resources thin. Not just that… we need Reserves they won’t be expecting.”

The Black Dahlia crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Let’s say I accept your offer… You aren’t going to put me in a costume, are you? Never had the taste for them, really.”

Miko, glad she doesn’t show any outside emotion, revels in having at least two of them on the hook. “A defensive outfit will be discussed, should you ever need to be deployed as a Commission Asset. But the bulk of your duties will be defending valuable locations, freeing up other resources for the man hunt.”

The Black Dahlia thinks for a moment, then shrugs. “Eh, not a lot of people need help in the prison infirmary, anyways. Besides, I never did get that garden I asked for… you let me do some yard work, and I’ll do some other work for you.”

“An arrangement can be made.” Miko turns to the two men, Tsutsumi rolling his eye and seeming to consider staying.

She turns to Stain’s Cell, Chizome standing disturbingly close to the glass. “When do I start?”

-

“You can’t seriously be considering this!” Keigo can’t help the shock in his voice, looking at the President of the Hero Commission as she stares out her office window. It was the end of a very long day, with the night time cityscape glittering under them as he finally got his planned meeting with the President.

She turns in her chair, looking at him with a carefully crafted neutral expression. “I am utterly serious, Hawks. I’ve considered this option, just as I’ve had to consider many policies that have been presented to me. Despite how… distasteful you seem to find it, I simply lack a more palatable option.”

Keigo grits his teeth, his gloves loudly crinkling around his hand. “Maybe the Black Dahlia, fine. Lady Nagant, assuming she’s mellowed out from whatever nervous breakdown you say she had. But STAIN? He’s the reason we’re down so many Heroes in the first place!”

“Which is why you’ll be responsible for holding his leash.” Keigo narrows his eyes, the President keeping her neutral expression as she stands. She calmly walks away from her desk, looking out at the city below her. “Not only has Stain injured or killed at least ten heroes, including the work of his doubles at the Endeavor Gala, but others have reduced their hours or even quit, even after we had him in Tartarus Prison.”

“Because he’s a murderer targeting them! And he already had copycats and sycophants, even before the League got to Endeavor! And he refused to give us their location, even after days of interrogation!”

The President turns, calmly striding towards him with a hint of irritation emerging across her face. “Which is why he must be brought to heel. If we show the greater Hero community that we not only have him under control, but get him to divulge his training regimens to us, we can improve our own agents' capabilities and Hero confidence. So long as we have our Heroes in line, the public will return to the complacent state we need them to be in order to combat the League of Villains.”

Keigo resists the urge to roll his eyes, simply crossing his arms and fluffing his wings out. “Even if the Commission reestablishes the control it had three months ago, we still wouldn’t be prepared for Mayhem’s style of Villainy. She’s too Underground, even for our members in the actual Underground to track. Besides which…”

“Yes, her Robin-Hood crusade is not exactly the sort of business we can oppose without losing goodwill amongst the public.” The President reaches down, running her finger over a laundry list of names that makes Keigo’s skin crawl. “Business men who are guilty of abusing their younger coworkers, in more ways than one. Drug dealers, gun dealers, human traffickers… too many of them in high positions in the Police and Government. Taking plays right out of the ‘Leverage’ playbook…”

“What do you mean‘Leverage’?” Keigo blinks, the woman waving her hand. He walks forward, trying to catch her eyes. “So what, if she’s turning in guilty people? She’s had her hand in the drug trade too, and I think kidnapping and terrorism ranks a little higher than anything these old men have done…”

“And women; don’t discount that one in every five of those names is a woman. Not exactly equal opportunity, but Mayhem is representing the fairer sex quite well, in criminality.” Madam President turns from him, a hand straying to her pocket as she walks back to the window.

If Keigo had to guess, she was currently running her fingers over some sort of cigar box. Her office was very well cleaned regularly, but there was that faintly lingering odor of high priced tobacco throughout the room, but strongly at her desk. “Are you really discarding Endeavor so easily? He was the Number Two Hero for how long? He saved how many lives? And you’re just throwing him to the wolves…”

“If he didn’t want the wolves on his tail, he should have been more careful when he was skinning rabbits.” The President pulls open a drawer, holding out another file for him to see.

And if Keigo has to read another bloody file, he’s going to become a villain. They weren’t even doing audio copies of files for the time being, which was really useful when he was flying between distant locations. “Just tell me…”

The President holds the file to him, a single eyebrow quirked a few degrees to show her displeasure. “The Commission didn’t put you where you are now, only for you to laze about now that you’re on the top.”

Keigo laughs, resisting the urge to bare his teeth like Mirko as he looks at the President. “The Commission didn’t do half the work to get me here, as I recall it.”

“Then we’ll see to it your memory is checked, Hawks.” The President reaches up to open the folder, spreading out three police reports for him to see. One of them being much older…

Keigo does actually start to read the report, his eyes well trained enough to jump through the pieces. “This… What does Endeavor’s oldest have to do with any of this?”

“Because, according to our informants in the Police Department, reports of Touya Todoroki’s demise were greatly exaggerated. And more than once, has appeared to be working in tandem with the League of Villains.” Keigo quickly takes the folder, the President striding away from him as his wings visibly twitch in the space.

He reads through the reports, including one from Edgeshot… and his sharpest feathers pull away from his wings, floating in the air neck to his head as he imagines cutting the ninja hero to ribbons. “He had Mayhem and this… this guy… and he let them escape?”

“Yes, but he did get us some information in the meantime. Including talking with some people who recognized the long thought dead Todoroki… when he appeared at the Yuuei Sports Festival.” The President produces a small manilla envelope, producing a number of blurry tabloid photos. Of a tall, dark haired man with Death Arms, Mount Lady, and Kamui Woods… lighting Death Arm’s cigarette with a flame over his thumb.

Keigo’s feathers fall to the ground, his mind spinning as he rereads what Edgeshot said Touya Todoroki said. “The… but this claims he’s working for the Shei Hassaikai, and they have his younger brother. But both Natsuo and Shouto are both under protective custody…”

“Yes, but the hospital Natsuo Todoroki was working for has recently reported they’re missing equipment for taking, testing, and storing blood samples. And clearly, Nedzu is double dipping somewhere, if he’s aware that Touya Todoroki is alive. So the possibility that one or both of his younger brothers are in jeopardy cannot be entirely ruled out… ”

Keigo sets the folder down on the desk, his mind spinning out threads. “How… How much does Nedzu know?”

“We have no idea, since we’re unable to effectively spy on Yuuei with their new security measures…” The President pauses, her phone buzzing in her pocket. She pulls it out, and lightly huffs as she reads her push notification. “… and Mayhem has begun another batch of cyber invasions. We will discuss your assignment more in the morning, Hawks…”

“No.” The President looks up at him, and Keigo can’t help but feel like a child as he crosses his arms. “Black Dahlia, and maybe some others you deem fit for rehab and use. But I refuse to work with Stain…”

“And if I were asking you, that would be a concern. Unfortunately, this assignment is not a request we can allow you to decline.” The President begins walking around him, only stopping when Hawks keeps pace with her, spreading his wing out in front of her.

“I said no…”

The President looks up at him, her face morphing into the quiet indignation of a mother whose child is continuing to misbehave. “And I said I wasn’t asking. Now, I have another mess to clean up, and more than one case I need to be read in on, since everything is now a physical meeting. Either you can help me clean up the Commission's messes… or be another mess I have to have cleaned. Am I clear, Hawks?”

Keigo… Hawks grits his teeth, turning out of the President's way in a curt bow. She strides out of the office, grabbing her purse from a coat rack by the door… and Hawks can’t help the turning feeling in his stomach from the constant look of disappointment she focuses on him the entire way. Like a broken blender with a hole on the bottom, everything churning while leaking from a place where it shouldn’t.

He waits a few seconds for her to be down the hallway, then makes for the bathroom in her office. He makes for the sink, coughing up a mouthful of bile as the thought of working with Stain clashes with everything the Commission taught him… mostly, about obeying the Commission.

Hawks looks up in the mirror, quickly washing away the evidence and ripping one of his gloves off. He fills his hand with cold water, scrubbing his face as he tries to explain his eyes watering… It takes a long minute, and he just pulls his goggles down and hopes people won’t notice the reddening in his eyes.

This wasn’t fair… after everything Endeavor had done for the Commission… for him. This… okay, there was clearly more to learn here. But there would be a lot more blocks on accessing that information, or red flags that would let the President know what he was doing…

Hawks shakes his head, taking a deep breath. He stuffs his emotion back into a box, trying to just look at the problem in the detached way the Commission taught him. He would just… He’d just have to be more careful about it.

-

The instant All for One began the process of syncing his thoughts with Endeavor, he knew something was drastically wrong with the whole process. Endeavor’s will must still be burning in here, resisting him as he attempts to assert his control over his body. The resulting chaotic clash… it’s almost enough to cause him to recoil, and withdraw.

But as what little remains of Midoriya Hisashi fades behind him, crumbling like the old withered start of a bridge, All for One faces one of many difficult decisions. He’s already suffered the indignity of being more machine than functional body, with Hisashi. He has to make this work… and immediately. He has to… not just to reunite with Yoichi, but to finally meet Izuku in person… his son…

And for an instant, Enji Todoroki’s will slips, their thoughts flowing together. Like Hisashi, with his pitiful desire to be a bigger man than he would ever be… but it’s a withered little thought, Enji Todoroki’s barely conscious mind only half forming the thought. ‘My… son…’

‘Yes, my son. My family, stolen away from me so long ago… I will have my perfect family. And with them at my side, no longer opposing me, the world will soon fall to its place at my feet!’

As All for One paints the thought out, Enji Todoroki seems to take to the idea. Enough that All for One can coil around him, the two of them taking up almost the same space in a mental mindscape. Enji Todoroki in his family room, with all his children close at hand. Barely a flicker of the outside world in sight, just the three sons, daughter, and obedient wife all there, looking at him with obvious love and awe…

All for One smiles, carefully plucking and manipulating the images before Enji. If he cared for Izuku being next to Shouto, in their Yuuei uniforms, or Inko and Rei sharing spots on the sofa looking at the television, or Hana and Shigaraki sitting next to his middle children, Enji didn’t show it. So long as they all looked at him in awe, in almost palpable worship, he couldn’t care how many people were there…

All for One opens their eyes, the faint burn of chemicals nothing compared to just the pain of his eyes working for the first time in half a decade. He raises his hand, pressing it against the glass. He looks for the Doctor, nodding before the chemicals begin emptying from the tank.

Of course, there will be pains with a new body. For one, All for One could barely resist slumping to the side as the chemicals drain past the point of him merely floating in the depths. If there were anything brighter than the darkest of lights and refracted computer light in this room, he’d be rendered blind. And none of his muscles move right… even the fun bits that come with such a virile new body. A mildly bemusing disappointment, but no matter.

The Doctor walks in, quickly commanding a less than usable Nomu to assist All for One in toweling off. The Sensations are almost too alien to describe, and his words fail him as the air coming into his lungs is adjusted by the Doctor. “It will take some time for you to adjust, especially considering the difference between this and your last body…”

“No… Matter…” All for One isn’t sure whether it’s his own fire tested will, or Enji’s obstinate pride that forces them to their feet… Their feet? All for One blinks, feeling too much of Enji’s conscious mind still intact. Far too much, if everything went as it was supposed to. “His… mind still… here…”

“What? Impossible.” The Doctor turns, looking at the ampules that held the chemicals that should have rendered Enji Todoroki nothing more than a husk to occupy. “The chemicals were the exact right composition…”

“No… Matter. We… have a common… goal…” All for One takes a shuddering breath, wrapping the towel around his waist. His own hands feel like he’s trying to work through three layers of gloves, but he accomplishes the simple task without sundering his teeth by gritting them in frustration.

The Doctor sighs, setting aside the chemical mistake for now. He beckons, waddling off to fetch Kurogiri to open them another door to his Lair. Leaving All for One, the remnants of Enji Todoroki, and the mindless Nomu acting as little more than a crutch for him. Two minds in one body, and a body without a mind… a shame he can’t dispose of Endeavor’s mind, for the time being.

He’ll be without his Quirk for a few days, at least, until his body acclimates to the new pressure of so many additional Quirks. He cannot risk his control slipping, and damaging a body that had cost so much to obtain… at least, not until he All Might is dead at his feet. The vindication might just be enough to satisfy him, if he has to take his family into hiding for a good few years.

-

Yoshio… he’d felt worse, his more honest voice muses. That didn’t stop him from feeling awful, feeling every draft of freezing air as he tried to stumble out of the warehouse.

He tries to push the cold air away, but even the miniscule use of his Quirk sends his stomach twisting into knots. He falls to the ground, his throat constricting to keep what little he has in his stomach from expelling itself. He simply collapses to the floor, his soaked through white shirt sloughing off his torso and slapping loudly against the cold stone floor.

Yoshio looks off in the distance, knowing that was the way he’d entered from… right? He’s been here too long, the Doctor never coming through a conventional door. He’s been in and out of a chemical tank, a few measurements taken before he was shoved back into sensory deprivation. But the last time he’d come out… the Doctor had done… something…

There was this wriggling, putrid feeling in his chest. He reaches up feeling like worms are clawing just under his skin. But no, his trembling hand doesn’t find anything but his own shirt, soaked through with something that burns his nose to be near. He shakes his head, his soaked through white hair slapping into his eyes and dripping more chemicals into already overly sensitive orbs…

As Yoshio sits there, unsure of how long has passed since the pod's power failed, and emptied him unceremoniously to the ground. One of his arms is bleeding, from a needle that had been there being grimly ripped out as he’d tumbled across the ground. His limited vision was spinning, and he wasn’t sure if it was his already poor health, or the malnutrition and Blood Loss doing him in.

He just knew he refused to die in such a weak fashion.

He was going to be stronger… he was not going to die unknown, a nameless body in a random warehouse.

That stirs his anger, a less sensical voice egging him on as he feels everything numbing out and lighting afire with pain. But he ignores both of those feelings, a distant frisson of power answering his grim summons. He was not going to die… but he would have to deal with the pain, for a time.

The air explodes by the door, his eyes burning and ears ringing from the sudden sound. He lulls to the side, and he’s not sure how long he sits there…

“Crap… I Need a Medic!” Yoshio is unceremoniously turned onto his back, a man’s voice too loud and too close to him.

A hand prods at his throat, pressure being applied to the elbow where he’d had a needle piercing his flesh for… he’s lost count of how long he’s been here. The Little Doctor wasn’t exactly one to give him status updates, seeing as he was a mere experiment for him.

“Sir… Sir, are you awake?” Yoshio weakly forces his eyes open, seeing a green haired man with glowing yellow eyes. “Sir, can you speak?”

“No…” Yoshio’s barely able to speak before the sensations of pain lance through him, a flashlight lancing across his eyes and causing him to grit his teeth.

“Damn… this guy must have been here for some time. Look at how wrinkly he is…” Yoshio hears voices other than that woman’s but there were too many sensations suddenly vying for his attention.

He tries to curl in on himself, the green haired man putting a hand on his chest to stop him. “Sir, you can’t move in your condition… Are you in pain? How much pain are you in, on a scale of One to Ten?”

“Nine…” Yoshio lulls to the side, his eyes falling closed despite desperately needing to know what’s happening.

“Sir… Medics!” Yoshio’s last conscious thought, for now, lingers on that number for some reason.

Nine… that would do nicely, if he wakes up.

Chapter Text

Shinya surveys the scene from on high, quickly launching to the ground as the team establishes the perimeter. His Foldabody Quirk lets him quickly move through the lightning struck metal shell of a warehouse, resuming his shape inside the room of glass chambers.

Several of his team are setting up flood lights and checking the area, some number of the pods holding people. But he quickly moves to a medical team around one man, who was sitting at the end of a long trail of blood and whatever chemicals he’d been soaking in. He moves out of the way as a gurney is wheeled in, the team looking for a moment before moving in to lift the white haired man up. “Do we know what he was soaking in?”

“We’ve got a sample running over here. Mostly some mix of preservation fluids, from what this thing can read… but there is an unknown agent in the mix!” Shinya nods, everyone who’d handled the man quickly reaching for their communicators or wrist watches and pressing buttons to note their exposure.

His sidekick hops to, stopping next to him as the gurney rushes outside. “He… he’ll probably live, if my Quirk’s scan is right. But… he had signs of Quirk Exhaustion…”

Shinya turns, looking at the blackened entrance to this warehouse. “I want someone on him until he wakes up, just to be sure. Either he did it, or this was a very public tip from a new Vigilante… let’s hope for the easier answer, Kensa.”

Kensa nods, quickly doing a look around. His green hair shakes out of the high bun he’s tied it in, running down the gold shoulders of his otherwise similar ninja-esque uniform. “Um… it looks like the power went out sometime within the past three hours, maybe two. And he… he lost a lot of blood, and he’s been having samples taken from him.”

Shinya furrows his brows, then nods while pointing at the gurney as it moves to the ambulances audibly pulling up outside. “Change of plans; I need you to stay with him, until we can get answers. Provide any assistance the medical teams ask you for… and under no circumstances should he be left alone.”

Kensa quickly offers a salute, running out to catch up. Shinya turns, resisting the urge to bite his nails as he runs his tongue over his teeth. He instead starts moving to the group near the open tank, who are carefully collecting as much of the fluid as they can.

A woman with blond hair and lightning-bolt black stripes quickly pulls open a panel, rubbing her hands together. She looks around, pulling out a set of wire strippers and gets to work. “Let’s see if I can restart this pod… got what you need?”

“Just a sec… clear!” A shorter woman quickly rolls out of the way, adjusting a satchel full of tubes and vials that she quickly latches closed.

The blond electric Quirk user touches a few freshly stripped wires, the computer booting up to a few panels of health information. The squat woman rushes over, pulling a flash drive from the blond’s hip pocket and plugging it in the first place it fits. “What’s it say?”

“Um… some numbered experiments… a bunch of different ones, in just this lab. I’m seeing… Quirk Augmentation, Quirk Factor Insemination, Trigger Level Exposure…”

The Support Tech stops, and turns to Shinya as he stands there. He nods, reaching up to his ear piece. “Everyone, be careful. We have potential Trigger exposure possible on this scene… all non essential personnel, clear back to the crowd line as soon as your current task is done.”

The two women nod, the Support Tech quickly stripping what data she can. She pulls away, the three of them quickly moving back as the rest of his responding Agency quickly move to solidify the line outside.

The warehouse was in the middle of an otherwise unnoteworthy street, easy to miss if not for the presence of almost a dozen Heroes and flashing lights of an ambulance. There was enough space on the street for the few people watching to not be entirely aware of what they were seeing, but the number of phones pointed this way was a mild concern.

Shinya quickly moves over to the ambulance, where the man is quickly fitted with an oxygen mask as he’s examined. “Be careful; he might be soaked in Trigger…”

One of the paramedics nods, holding up a gloved hand. She quickly reaches down, grabbing a stethoscope and bag to put it in after she gets a reading. “Way ahead of you… weak heartbeat.”

The other paramedic nods, putting a gloves hand up by a pulse point on the unconscious man’s neck. “Pulse is irregular, his inner arm is bruised worse than I’ve seen in a while. Don’t know how much blood he’s lost…”

“At least half his content, if my Quirk’s scan means anything. Type B, if that helps.” Kensa pipes up, the two paramedics turning to him before trading a look.

The woman turns to him, clearly taking charge. “He needs to get to a hospital, preferably an hour ago. This isn’t a ‘we can wait for the Police, but would prefer not to’ situation. This is ‘we could break the speed of light, and it might be too late’...”

Shinya nods, looking at Kensa. “Scanner will go with you, and fill in any additional complications we might find. Do what you need to keep him alive, but keep him in a private room if you can.”

The paramedic in charge nods, waving for the other to close the doors as she grabs for her walkie. Shinya turns, seeing the Support Tech plugging her drive into a small tablet. “Alright… should I send Kensa the medical information they have about our mystery man?”

Shinya nods, walking to her side to look over what data he can as the ambulance is cleared to fly like a bat out of hell. “So, we can reasonably assume this is a League of Villains base. Have the Police been contacted, for collecting this evidence?”

The Support Tech nods, turning to look over the scene. “Yes… although communications are limited, because of the Anti-Mayhem Protocols. Everything has to be careful when connecting, to prevent anything spreading through networks… they’ll be brought up to speed when they get here, in about seven minutes.”

Shinya nods, tapping his ear piece. “Limit comms to the bare minimum, but keep at least three other people apprised. Don’t go checking anything out without a notification; we’re just securing the area.”

Everyone in visual range turns to him, nodding. Shinya crosses his arms, looking into the dark confines of the warehouse. He couldn’t see the tubes of pickled people, but they were lingering in his mind. He represses a shudder, saying what might pass as a prayer the League of Villains didn’t have any way of knowing this location was compromised.

-

Kenji brushes a few stray pieces of fur from his shoulders, quickly looking through the briefing document he was now covering with the Hero Commission tonight instead of tomorrow. He sighs, cursing his Quirk for not letting him drink coffee like the rest of the force when long nights come around.

There’s a quick knock on the door, then a pause before Naomasa carefully peaks in. “Sir, I’ve got the Gentle Criminal Report you asked Sansa for…”

Kenji nods, beckoning the detective in before taking a sip from his mug. “Thank you, Detective. Any update on your Shei Hassaikai informant?”

Naomasa sighs, looking defeated in a way Kenji can tell is genuine. But there’s that nagging thought in his head, that just because Naomasa could tell when people were lying, doesn’t mean he couldn’t. “No, and the League of Villains informant I had before the Endeavor Incident is similarly silent. I don’t know if Mayhem is keeping a tighter grip on information, or if they’re just not getting information on their moves before we are.”

Kenji nods, careful to pick his next words while the Detective watches him. “That is a shame, but to be expected. If you hear anything, I want to know so we can prepare a response… assuming it isn’t Mayhem herself, trying to send us in the wrong direction.”

Naomasa nods… but there’s just a hint of nervous energy that he quickly clamps down in his voice. “That would be something she’d do, huh? But if I get anything out of my contacts, I will let you know.”

Kenji nods, waiting for Naomasa to leave before frowning. He tries not to growl, turning his beagle-like head to the files instead. He’d long since washed his hands of Naomasa being in All Might’s pocket, hoping that would be the end of the man’s dual loyalties. Besides which, having a line to All Might without the Commission necessarily knowing was an advantage he’d be a fool to turn down.

But now… Naomasa busting a batch of Trigger from a supposed intermediary for the League and Hassaikai, having information about their planned attack on Endeavor that soon matched Nedzu, who presumably had All Might close at paw himself… Kenji sighs deeply, regretting all the politics that were happening on their side of this giant chess board.

The door opens, one of the Commission President’s lackeys quickly checking the room. He then turns, the President walking with the soft clomp of her flats on the wood floors of his office. She was still dressed as well as she could while being subdued, a necklace of glazed marble beads instead of pearls resting under the collar of her black suit jacket. “Commissioner Tsuragamae, thank you for meeting with me on short notice.”

“It was no great issue on my side, President Kinoshita. Once I have an update on who Mayhem’s gone after tonight, the updated file will be made available to you.” The President nods, walking over and quickly taking the file he held out for her.

Kenji sees her quickly open it, speeding through it before closing it with a nod. “Good, I’ll have the Commission finish the papers. And how is my agent in Tartarus?”

Kenji sighs, regretting the depths they were plumbing for this apparent war against the League of Villains. “The Black Dahlia, although displaying reluctance, has agreed to the conditional parole. As has Stain, to my eternal disappointment…”

The President sighs, looking him in the eyes. “I agree that this play is regrettable. However, the cost is well worth the rewards should we manage to curb Stain’s bloodlust… or rather, point it in the right direction.”

Kenji nods, threading his fingers together. “Just because I’ve agreed that playing with fire is the best play does not mean I’ve developed pyromania. It’s the same reason we don’t let Heroes haphazardly experiment with Trigger, or the other Quirk enhancers Villains and Criminals have managed to develop; the rewards outweighing the risks do not negate those costs.”

“Yes; and I’m sure that you hedging your bet has nothing to do with a long career of taking the safest path to the top you could.” Kinoshita takes one of his chairs, smoothing out her skirt as she sits.

Kenji bides his tongue, long used to ‘The Game of Houses’ the Kinoshita begrudges playing with him. “As an officer of the peace, the Public’s safety is high on my list of concerns. When there is a bomb, I don’t care if I’m sending in an officer who always manages to disable those devices; I create a perimeter, so their possible failure does not injure the public. Sadly, not every problem is as simple as taking a pair of wire cutters to blue plastic and copper.”

“And I run the Hero Public Safety Commission; my interest in public safety goes without saying.” Kenji resists the urge to raise a sarcastic eyebrow, the President producing a notepad of her own. “Which is why I need you to look into a few things… You, not one of your detectives or officers.”

Kenji flips open the pad, a partially wrinkled page drawing his attention. He reads the names, seeing a number of Heroes and the mouse-bear-Principal they’ve started straying into the orbit of. “And what have they done to concern you?”

Kinoshita flicks her finger, and Kenji flips the pad to the next page… he turns to his computer, tapping the mouse and quickly typing in the inquiry number to pull up. It loads soon after, a familiar green haired lawyer’s photo appearing next to a pointed number of legal moves that were very unusual. “I believe these Heroes, either unintentionally or with full consciousness to their actions, might be aiding in the destabilization of our entire system.”

Kenji looks back at the list, seeing a few more bullet points. He turns, raising an eyebrow as Kinoshita produces a thin manilla envelope from her breast pocket. He opens it, quickly looking through the pieces of evidence she was letting him look through. “Touya Todoroki… Oh, I knew that case would cost us someday. The chickens are coming home to roost…”

“Yes, well I’m not in the mood for scrambled eggs. But Nedzu has not hidden his distaste for our… less than above board tactics, in the past. And two of those three just took on first year students from Yuuei, while the third has met with All Might in semi-private meetings. Even worse, Nedzu has taken in two people with questionable legal standing…”

Kenji flips through the small printed pages, seeing a lizard heteromorph and young girl on a shopping trip with Gran Torino in civilian clothes. “And you need me to make sure Nedzu doesn’t plan to leverage his information into strong-arming you…”

“Strong arming us, Tsuragamae. Touya Todoroki’s skeleton is as much in your closet as mine, and Nedzu isn’t above killing two birds with one stone. I believe you have a detective on staff who’d be a perfect choice to fill in your shoes, should you be removed.” Kenji grits his teeth, a deep regret flooding through him as Kinoshita carefully moves him into check.

Kenji looks down at the page of the notepad, quickly pulling it and the next few pages out before passing it back over. He slides the pages into the envelope, sliding them into his own breast pocket with a resigned frown. “I’ll see if Nedzu has done anything I can get into… besides Izuku Midoriya, that is. But I’ve been advised the case against him is too weak to move on, for now; unless some skeleton emerges from Inko’s closet, we don’t have any reason to get further involved on that front.”

Kinoshita looks at the wall behind his head for a moment, and Kenji immediately regrets phrasing it like that as she nods. “Very well… anything else material to discuss?’

Kenji nods, pointing to the documents. At least with that under the table discussion out of the way, they could talk about how to actually help people now. He just… he needed something stronger on the Commission President, and Nedzu, before he could act.

At the very least, he wasn’t going to keep being the bottom dog in this three way war, they seemed to be brewing.

-

Marina Yaoyorozu didn’t get to where she did by being a fool. So when a Commission employee arrives at her and her husband’s abode unannounced, she quickly changes into her best hosting suit before meeting them.

She quickly runs her fingers through her long black hair, securing it with a blood red wrap as she approaches the hosting room. She nods to the butler, striding in to see a familiar tired face waiting for her. “Yokumiru, it’s been too long!”

The Hero Commission official turns, his tired eyes taking her in as he nods and walks over. His gray suit and jacket were incredibly frumpy, but her vermillion suit had a handful of wrinkles in her rush to be ready, so she wasn’t going to pick at that. “Yes, and I’m very sorry for that. The Commission has been far too busy, with far too many spinning plates for me to take my eyes off them for a second. But I’m sure your job’s been no easier, has it?”

Marina rolls her eyes, an easy smile sliding onto her face as she curtsies to her white haired cohort. “Now, I can’t go spilling company secrets, just because we were school friends. But I can say things might be getting easier on our front, in the near future.”

Yokumiru nods, a thin smile spreading as the butler brings in a small tray with tea for them. “I hope I didn’t wake you for this meeting.”

“Oh never mind me, Yokumiru. I would never turn down the chance to host you, no matter the hour.” Marina turns, quickly pouring herself some jasmine tea before walking over to the seat across from Yokumiru. “Now please, what brings you over so late to begin with?”

“Well, you know how the Commission is making important messages be delivered in person.” Yokumiru waves away the butler, pouring his own drink while looking away. Marina lets her face fall a moment, current events driving her mood down. But she quickly fixes her smile back as Yokumiru turns, setting his tea on the table between them before relaxing back into his plush fabric chair. “The Commission wants me to ask you for a favor, thinking you’ll say yes because I’m asking.”

Marina carefully lets a single bubble of laughter escape, his bluntness being almost as refreshing as her tea, after too much political maneuvering in business dealings. “It wouldn’t be the first time the Hero Commission comes asking Yaoyorozu Global for a sweetheart deal, nor do I think it will be the last. Have the Aoyama’s gotten too much of the pie, recently?”

“No, that’s not it… they were wondering if you would be willing to expand your social circle for our benefit.” Marina raises an eyebrow, setting her cup down.

She relaxes back from the edge of her chair, scanning Yokumiru’s face. But the man was a simple read, carrying the information along without much measure of personal gain in the delivery for himself. “I see… Well, my social schedule does have some space that could be filled. Although depending on who it is, I might need to ask for something in return, you understand.”

Yokumiru nods, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a small manilla envelope, the butler walking over to collect it so he can sit comfortably in his chair.

Marina nods to the man as he undoes the seal, then briskly turns and walks out of the room. She waits for him to close the double wide wooden doors before opening the envelope, seeing a series of familiar faces to her rolodex anyways. “The Kirishimas, the Aoyamas, a few Seros and kin… and Rei Todoroki? Dare I notice a pattern?”

Yokumiru nods, offering an uncaring shrug in return. “The Commission thinks Yuuei, and Nedzu specifically, have too many cards close to the vest. Now, we’re not asking you to go out of your way to see those cards…”

“But if one or two of them happen to flash, you want as many different eyes watching as you can.” Marina nods, quickly reaching for one of her cell phones. Of course she had a few, but she reached for her personal device. She quickly scrolls through her digital notes, finding several of the numbers of those on the list for her to take advantage of. “Of course, I might already have something for you all to use.”

Yokumiru nods, sitting up for a drink of his tea. “Of course, I couldn’t make any promise as to what any piece of information is worth. But once it reaches the right people, I could make sure you receive the due reward for it.”

Marina nods, texting the butler to come in. She holds up a finger, waiting for the older gentleman to walk in. “Peniwasu, please bring me a notepad from the study.”

The man nods, quickly pulling the door closed behind him. She turns, Yokumiru sighing as he enjoys his drink. “You want me to set up a meeting with the people who can use that information directly, don’t you?”

Marina rolls her eyes, Yokumiru keeping up with her quick stride. “Well, I need to ensure this information reaches the right ears. I can’t just openly say Nedzu’s trying to set up a Parent-Teacher day for all of us to attend; you never know who’s listening, do you?”

Yokumiru takes that freebie information for exactly as much as it’s worth, finishing his tea before standing up to fix another cup. “Well, it’s a bit of a nightmare of a waiting list. Apparently, we’re considering doing Provisional Licenses for everyone currently attending a Hero School, not just the 18 year olds, which is creating a snarl of paperwork like you wouldn’t believe.”

Marina raises her eyebrow, remembering Momo mentioning something similar over the phone the day before. But not just Provisional Licenses… maybe she had more to offer than she thought. Of course, she’d need to know what offer she was getting, and get it in writing, before she gave anything away. “That’s a pity. I suppose we won’t be having too many sit downs until the Winter Holidays, then.”

“November, at the earliest. That’s if everything goes to plan… but when was the last time that’s happened, recently?” Marina raises her cup, the two of them cheering as Peniwasu walks in with the notepad and a pen.

Marina thinks for a moment, then writes a few hints to what she could offer.

‘Extra Licenses for the Student Heroes…’ ‘Ingenium?’ ‘Nedzu playing chess master with the public…’

She tears off the page, handing it off. Yokumiru looks at it, shrugging and folding the page before putting it in his pocket. “Well, that’s my official job here done… How have you been doing?”

Marina smiles, relaxing in her chair just a little. “Oh, just dealing with the stress. That’s the thing you have to learn to deal with, no matter your position…”

Yokumiru nods, finishing his second draft of tea. “Yes… eh, I have my ways to relax. But no one else at the office plays cards.”

Marina lets a tiny laugh bubble out, remembering more than a few hands of cards between them when they were younger people. “We’ll have to have a game night, sometime… oh, and Eijiro the First does enjoy sitting at a poker table. I’ve even shown Momo how to play, one day… not that she’ll ever get much use of that, really.”

Chapter Text

Izuku rubs the sleep from his eyes, barely awake despite hours of being up and active. He shakes his head, quickly pulling on his costume’s mask before slipping out of the changing room.

“Izu-bro, are you still not sleeping well?” Izuku shakes his head, Eijiro walking up to him with obvious concern.

“No, I’m sleeping fine. I just think I need to cut a few of my morning runs, and sleep in a little longer. Or miss a late night study session or two…”

Eijiro nods, clapping him on the shoulder as they walk out to the hallway, where the rest of the guys were waiting. “Seriously, you have to worry about yourself a little more. Especially with our Finals next month, you really want to get some rest now, before they really start ramping up the Prep for those tests.”

Izuku nods, a bubble of nervous laughter escaping his mouth as the rest of the male students walk towards the exit. Hitoshi was talking with Kyouka and Fumikage, and Denki was talking with Hanta about their trip in the Summer… “Oh… um, can I ask you a question about your trip to I-Island, this summer?”

Eijiro blinks… and his face briefly flushes. Izuku doesn’t mean to, but he can’t help but catch the surge of embarrassment as the red-haired boy tries hard not to look at Katsuki, who’s leading the class’s way with Yuga and Rikidou… and also un upwelling of what Izuku could only think to describe as adoration, maybe love. “Um, yeah? What did you want to know?”

“Nothing, just seeing how you’d react to it, really. I just… it’s nice, seeing him making a friend like you.” Eijiro turns away, Izuku feeling too many conflicting emotions as the red-head metabolizes that statement.

Eijiro turns back with a bright smile, Izuku returning it as they step out into the sun. The girls were there, Momo having traded her long trench coat for a shorter jacket that still added to her modesty and had a number of pockets. But Class 1-B was out here, their Saturday activity yet to be revealed to them.

Izuku takes all of their hero outfits in, trying to get what details he can from their designs and the additional elements he can see. Komori’s hero costume resembled the mushrooms she could make with her Quirk, but she had a bunch of capsules that fit into two fire-arm looking tools on her belt… maybe a capture weapon? Or, if she and Shiozaki both used vines and mushrooms for their Quirks… maybe some specialized growing agent, or just humidity altering tools?

And not just what people were wearing, but what they weren’t. Rin’s arms were uncovered, like how Shouto didn’t have sleeves on his Hero uniform. He could grow something with his Quirk… scales, if Kouji was right. Then Shishida only had a collar and pants on, his entire torso completely uncovered. Like Eijiro… wait, during the Sports Festival, his Quirk caused his size to alter when Class 1-B was clearing the robot roadblock, so that made sense…

Eijiro taps him on the shoulder, Izuku snapping out of the muttering spiral and quickly catching up. The classes are mixing pretty well, Ochako and Tenya talking with Tsunotori, while Yunagi and Kuroiro were joining the Goths of 1-A… although Fumikage seems to linger behind Hitoshi, Dark Shadow issuing out of his cloak and up into the air, further away from the pitch black Class B student.

Eijiro walks up to TetsuTetsu, the two of them fist-bumping. “So, did Vlad talk to you guys about what the activity was going to be?”

“A little, but he wants things to at least be kind of fair. It’s some sort of game where all of us earn points for ourselves, and the class. But he didn’t tell us how… maybe he didn’t finish until after classes yesterday.”

Eijiro nods, Izuku looking up as Vlad King walks out. He had the big metallic gauntlets, but he wasn’t wearing the skin tight red suit of his Hero Costume. He also looked almost as exhausted as Izuku felt, sagging so much Izuku could almost see the weights pressing into his back.

He straightens up, cupping his hands over his mouth. “Alright, everyone fall in! We’re going to cover the basic rules of this exercise, and I’ll answer any questions if you’re confused. But this game should be simple, so we should only need to cover this once!”

Vlad King turns to the side, a pair of robots projecting a hologram of Chibi Monoma and Kendo running through the city they were in. Izuku watches as they run back and forth between buildings, walking into buildings that are empty before reaching one that says ‘Objective D’.

“In this Game, all of you will be responsible for moving through the city, and finding various Objectives. But just getting to the objective isn’t everything; to prevent unnecessary violence, the Objective is a challenge of Intelligence and Skills you must pass to get an objective. But if you fail to pass, you can’t just keep retrying the same objective until you succeed; you have to find an objective you can pass, then all your failed objectives will Unlock for you to Retry.”

Izuku watches as Objective D is shown to be a Dance Arcade game, Chibi Kendo jumping as a point floats over her head while Chibi Monoma has a purple cloud hanging over him as he stares at the ground. As Vlad explains it, they move to ‘Objective P’, revealing a miniature scale and a bunch of items. Chibi Monoma and Chibi Kendo both getting points… But Kendo now has Three points, while Monoma just gets the one.

“Each objective you achieve gets you more points, which will add to your Class total. The Class that gets the most points will get a special prize, being prepared by Lunch Rush as we speak… as will the Top Five Students of the Losing Class.”

The Hologram shows Chibi versions of all of Class B, staring in awe as a Chibi Lunch Rush rolls out a big cart with a Silver Dish covering it. And Chibi versions of Class A, with Chibi’s of Momo, Shouto, Tenya, Katsuki, and Izuku himself waving sadly at the dejected class as they move to join Class B.

“What’s with the Bias in the explanation?” Mina grouses to no one, Hanta laughing from next to her.

“Come on, he was probably putting this together in a rush. Besides, we all still look really cool… oh, actual question.” Hanta raises his hand, Vlad King turning and pointing to him. “What happens if you fail on all the remaining Objectives? Wouldn’t that just lock you out of the game, since you can’t do anything else?”

Vlad King nods, one of the helper robots wheeling out with boxes of the point trackers from the other City Games. “In fact, that’s right. And some of these Objectives are intentionally very hard to get, so a perfect score will be almost impossible to get. But I think the three hours until Lunch should be enough time for most, if not all the Objectives, to be found. So there are plenty of points to be found, since there are going to be Twenty Objectives scattered throughout the Training Ground Beta.”

Izuku takes his watch, looking up as a map of Ground Beta pops up. He tries to look closer at the map, hoping something will stand out on the map. But from how Vlad King had set that up, there wasn’t anything giving away locations early.

“Checking…” Izuku taps his mask, Kyouka’s voice coming in. Almost everyone else checks in, almost everyone having added a permanent earpiece so Momo didn’t have to create them from scratch. Everyone else in the class is looking around, thumbs flashing as Class B begins to strategize.

“You’ll have five minutes to plan a strategy, then the game will start. I want any brawling to be kept to a minimum, since this isn’t an official combat training drill. I also don’t want to see you all blocking the opposing team from accessing an objective; either by cocooning it in tape, or by freezing your opponents in place.”

“Again with the Bias? Bondo and Shiozaki could block people from getting to objectives… Heck, Awase could weld the doors shut!” Mina shakes a fist at Vlad King, the teacher not seeming to hear her rather loud objections.

Vlad points the remote at the hologram, a five minute timer flashing for a few seconds before counting down. The two classes separate, Izuku noticing everyone looking to him for a plan.

He takes a breath, starting to break down the problem. “Since we don’t know what all the objectives are, Scouting is only so useful. That being said, I think Me, Katsuki, Fumikage, and Tenya should focus mainly on finding as many as possible at the start. Then, once we know what we’re dealing with, we can split up and deal with them as best we can.”

Momo nods, producing a tablet from her jacket. “I should be able to get access to the basic City map, and get us a layout while you all get us Objective locations. But I won’t be able to track everyone individually, and you’ll have to keep track of what objectives you’ve done… oh, I can probably note which objective is which…”

“I know he said we can’t guard an objective, but he didn’t say we can’t run interference, right?” Hitoshi pipes up, an almost evil smirk on his face. He looks at Katsuki, rubbing his palms together. “All of them will know where Katsuki is, because of his explosions. So, if you just say you’re trying to find an objective really far up North…”

“Yeah, but I might lead them directly to an objective, since there’s probably one up there anyways.” Hitoshi blinks, then sinks back next to Mezou. Katsuki shrugs, rolling his jaw as Hitoshi looks dejected that his idea is so entirely quashed in an instant.

Mezou pats Hitoshi’s shoulder, leaning in. “It’s still a good idea, if they’re moving in big enough groups. But eventually, it’ll be crying wolf; it’ll only work for a few minutes, the first few times.”

Hitoshi nods, Momo pulling up the map. Izuku takes a look at it, remembering the last time he’d been in these training grounds. “If any of you get hurt, just let me know… hopefully, I don’t break three of my limbs again!”

Izuku tries to say it cheerfully, but several people cringe as they remember the stories from the start of the year. But Ochako nods, bringing her fist up and holding it in the center of the circle. “Right, let’s break this huddle like they do when they play sports. Everyone, put a hand in!”

It takes them a solid minute to cajole everyone into a circle, with strange exceptions having to happen to get the configuration to work. Izuku floats upside down over the whole thing, all his blood rushing to his face as Tsu drapes herself over his back to also stick her hand in. Rikidou and Kouji float from Ochako’s Quirk, holding onto Mezou as Mina and Toru both stand within his wingspan. Mashirao just holds his tail out, Dark Shadow representing themselves and Fumikage between Tenya and Yuga’s armored forms.

Everyone laughs as they take in the absurdity of the posing, Ochako starting the big call out. “1-A!”

“1-A!”

-

Ochako remembers a few sales, especially around the winter holidays, that best describe the pandemonium that initially happens when they all run through the start gate. It’s not as bad as the Entrance Exam, since there’s only about a quarter of the people there, but they have gear and weeks of training between now and then.

Of course, there’s a much more explosive start, as everyone who could get a running start does so. Izuku, Fumi, Tenya and Katsuki all explode out from Class A’s side, Ochako keeping in the back in case Class B ran interference at the start. Instead, Kuroiro and Honenuki both sink through the floor near the back of the class, a faint shadow visibly moving past them all. Pony deattaches her horns, carrying Komori and Yanagi with one each as Tokage explodes into pieces, all of Class B besides them moving in a group as Class A splits up to cover as much ground as possible.

Ochako sticks with Kyouka and Denki, the biggest herd of the class trying hard not to immediately break into a giant brawl in the streets only just wide enough for all of them to run together. Like a Black Friday Herd, people start mixing together, Bondo and Rikidou trying to cross each other’s paths, colliding like football players and bouncing off each other. Mezou catches Rikidou as Ochado dodges around them, Bondo getting caught and set on his feet by Shiozaki’s vines.

They reach the first big intersection, made up of a fake bakery slash cafe, a bookshop, some sort of computer store, and some sort of parlor Ochako didn’t understand. There were Yuuei robots inside, the smaller ones that help the teachers instead of the big fighting robots. Everyone starts looking around, dividing into directions and trying to find any signs of objectives…

“I think I’ve got one here… Objective T.” Ochako adjusts her earpiece, everyone in Class A pausing as Izuku speaks over comms as Class B students move towards the bookshop and parlor. “It… it looks like this one’s a trivia contest. Like a gameshow, or something… three blocks north, one block east from the entrance.”

Momo pulls out her tablet, noting the location. “Got it… I think we should split up into teams of four besides. Shouto, the two of us, plus Hanta and Kyouka, will try to stay near the center of the map so the comms work. Ochako, Hitoshi, and Denki, I trust you three to divide up the rest of us.”

Hitoshi looks around, quickly tapping people on the shoulder as he goes. “Mezou, Kouji, and Rikidou, we’ll start scouting East. And be careful; I think Monoma copied my Quirk, before we broke up into classes.”

Ochako nods, the four boys breaking off. She looks at who’s left, knowing Denki would want Eijiro and Mina since they were all friends together. “Tsu… Toru and Mashirao, we can see if Vlad King hid anything up on the higher levels of the city.”

Denki nods, turning to Yuga. The Frenchman nods, the four of them heading West while Momo and her team head North to get into a central position. Ochako holds her hand out to Toru, ready to activate her Quirk… only for everyone’s bands to go off.

Class B: 7 Points! / Class A: 0 Points!

The four of them stop, and Ochako looks to the book shop. About a minute later, seven members of Class B rush out of it, looking at them before running into the parlor.

Ochako runs up to the shop, stepping aside as Shoda gives her a half sorry look before following the rest of his class. “Guys, I think the book shop has one of the Objectives. Confirming it now!”

Ochako’s group runs into the bookshop, which looks a lot like Shisho’s shop. The front counter has a tall thin robot, holding a colorful hat full of paper. “Special Sale: Classic Literature Scavenger Hunt.”

Ochako slows, the other three looking around the tall shelves. She clicks on her earpiece, mind spinning as Fumikage and Katsuki call out a few more objectives. “The Book shop is a scavenger Hunt… and I know book shops like this one. If everyone doubles back here, this’ll be an easy twenty points for us!”

Toru walks up, pulling a piece of paper out of the hat. “Okay… wait, why is this a bunch of numbers?”

Ochako walks over, pulling a slip herself. She sees a long string of numbers… then looks down at the counter. There was a chart, showing each letter being replaced with numbers. “Oh… okay, not so easy… but we can do this!”

-

Denki leads Mina, Eijiro, and Yuga down the road, away from the big herd of Class B. Of course, Ochako calls out that they were running away from one of the objectives, Yuga sighing as he runs in his armor. “I don’t suppose we can turn back to get those points?”

“Let’s find all the Objectives we can first, then we can run around getting points. We have three hours, surely they can’t all be that hard to find…”

Class B: 9 Points! / Class A: 0 Points!

The city intercom comes on, Vlad’s voice coming in loud where they can all hear. “And Class B is off to a fast start! Meanwhile, Class A is lagging behind, not a single one of them braving the challenges ahead of them!”

Denki rolls his eyes, looking around to see if any of the shops stood out as different as Mina grouses. “Again with the Biased Commentary! You know, I blame Present Mic taunting him during the Sports Festival for this.”

(Off in the distance, Hizashi tries to hold in a sneeze. He looks around, the mimosa he was holding sloshing back and forth in its glass.)

Denki laughs, Yuga pausing behind the three of them. They turn back, seeing him looking at a restaurant with a strange sign in front of it. Denki doubles back… and notices the blue star next to the fake business’s name. “Hang on… Toru, can you check on something for me?”

“G…R…E… what do you need, Denki?”

“Can you see if the book store you guys are at has a Blue Star next to its sign out front, with a letter in it in gold writing?” Yuga heads into the restaurant, the other three quickly checking the rest of the street for any signs of another business with that logo.

“Hang on… Yeah, it says ‘B’ on it… Oh, is that how we find them?”

“Yes; I’ve spotted ‘P’, ‘E’, and ‘G’ by the Blue Star symbols.” Fumikage comes on over the comms, before rattling off their locations.

Momo hums, clearly adding notes to the tablet. “Good… Everyone, we have half the objectives spotted. Any luck on the trivia contest, Izuku?”

“What were the Salem Witch Trials… almost. Talk in a minute… What is The Iron Curtain!” Denki shudders, knowing that one is probably going to stump a lot of people. Is it better to do that one last, or try it early and keep some objectives after it for a reset?

Class B: 18 Points! Class A: 2 Points!

“And Class A is on the board, solving the bookstore puzzle! But Class B is continuing to storm ahead, growing an early lead to dominate their opponents.”

Mina growls, but the three of them run into Objective R behind Yuga. They stop, seeing Yuga looking at a large menu next to the server’s stand.

Denki walks over, taking another menu to look through. There were only three, so Eijiro and Mina have to share as the server bot stands there. It was sort of femme coded, with red wires sort of making for hair on it’s head as it holds a notepad for them. “Welcome to Ravi’s Ravioli; can I take your order?”

Denki takes a second, then passes the complicated menu to Mina to talk to Momo. Hitoshi finishes talking about another objective, and he begins speaking. “R is a restaurant, but the menu is ten pages long. I think we need to order something, but I don’t know what we’re supposed to ask for…”

“There’s a hundred different options… do we just brute force it, ask for everything, going to another objective when we fail, then double back?” Mina looks over, Eijiro nodding and jumping back to the first page.

“Hang on… Look for the Chef’s choice.” Yuga turns his menu to them, tapping a little bubble at the front of the menu. It was a red, green and white collection of designs, but there was a little bubble of a stereotypical Italian man with a speech bubble suggesting the very thing.

Eijiro and Mina quickly flip through the thing, stopping near the back. Denki looks over Mina’s shoulder, seeing some sort of chocolate cake desert with a wreath of flowers around it’s picture. The little chef appears again, making a little chef’s kiss hand motion while winking at the camera. “Cool… wait, there are three different chocolate cakes on the menu.”

Eijiro flips to the dessert page, Mina holding the cake picture up while they compare it to the description of the three items. “Okay… that’s not a tiered cake, because it’s all one piece. Then… is that a fudge cake, or a lava cake?”

Denki turns as the door opens, Awase running in behind them. He leans against the door, catching his breath as he looks at them pouring over the menus. “Wow… you guys aren’t exhausted from running over here?”

Denki shrugs, looking at the others. “Eh, Aizawa has us do a lot of laps, plus a bunch of us do runs around the dorms… do you need a drink? I think the robot has water if you ask for it.”

Denki doesn’t mean to lie to the guy, but he’s also kind of curious to see if that counts as ordering something for the purposes of the challenge. Awase nods, pulling on his collar and walking up to the server bot. “Yeah, can I get a bottle of water, please?”

“Objective: Failed.” Awase blinks, his wrist watch flashing bright orange as the server does indeed produce water from a cooler. He stares at it as it returns to blue, then at them looking over the menus.

He looks at the water, then at Denki, betrayal pouring across his face. Wait…”

Denki smiles, letting out a bubble of mischievous laughter. “Okay, so it does work like that. Guys, you have the puzzle solved?”

He turns to Yuga, who nods and turns to the robot. “Server, we would simply love to enjoy four servings of the chef’s famous Lava Cake.”

“Objective: Completed!” Each of their watches flash from stable red to green, the next point update coming across soon after.

Class B: 20 Points! / Class A: 10 Points!

Denki shrugs at Awase, the others putting the menus back in the little holder of them. He moves to the door, holding it open as they begin running outside. “Sorry, dude. I’ll make it up to you, promise!”

-

Momo keeps adding to the tablet, most of the objectives having been spotted by now. There was a lot of distance between them, only two or three objectives being close enough to each other to really be able to run through them and complete them. But Class B was moving in tight groups, all of them rushing to complete the few objectives they’ve seen.

They move to as central a location as they can, everyone pouring in the hints they’ve seen. Momo tries to keep up, but Kyouka has to pull her phone out, noting some of them before Momo can then add them in. “Okay… There are sixteen objectives we’ve spotted, and Ochako’s and Denki’s teams have cleared the two closest to the entrance. We might want to group up like Class B, and go get all of those, then we can move pretty easily through the rest of these…”

“Momo, I’ve found another one.” The girls look up, Shouto pointing at another Blue Star business.

‘Objective K: Kyoko’s Karaoke.’

Momo nods, noting that down as Kyouka runs inside. Hanta moves with her, the two richer students lingering a moment before following them.

Inside looked like a karaoke bar that Momo’s seen in television programs before, with a shorter robot behind a bar off to the side. There were a bunch of seats around a karaoke stand, which Kyouka has run up to and begun fiddling with.

Momo looks over at the service bot, who spreads its hands in a welcoming gesture. “Welcome to Kyoko’s Karaoke and Objective K. Mind the signs, please.”

Momo blinks, then begins looking around for signs. She remembers Denki’s group talking about the restaurant, and how that objective had a bunch of little notes they had to find to get to the clue. “Kyouka, hold on a moment…”

Momo walks up to the sign by the front of the door, seeing an artistic representation of Present Mic preparing to sing. She reads over the rules, seeing some basic things before turning back to Kyouka.

Kyouka is swiping her fingers across the screen, looking through the choices of music. She settles on one, then turns around. “What was that, Momo?”

Momo points to the sign, beckoning over Hanta and Shouto from the seat they took in the lounge. “This sign has rules to the challenge, so don’t go singing yet. I assume each challenge has different rules to follow, besides the general rules of engagement…”

There’s a blast from outside, the four of them turning as Katsuki storms in. He looks around, then settles his gaze on her. “Are you all good? You all went silent on the comms.”

Momo blinks, tapping her earpiece. But there was no signal, the thing not letting out even the faint buzz of static. “Huh… the tablet still works, so does the stand… I guess it’s just the earpieces that aren’t working inside of here.”

Class B: 35 Points! Class A: 20 Points!

Momo can faintly hear Vlad announcing outside, Katsuki rolling his eyes as he hears whatever it is. He looks up at the stage, then the sign. “So, one of the challenges is karaoke? A whole song, or just part of one? Because aside from Izuku and the trivia contest, this seems like it’ll take the longest.”

Momo nods while Kyouka walks up to the bar, realizing that this contest will be a massive time sync for the contest. Only about twenty minutes had elapsed, but each of them would have to spend three to four minutes on a song… oh, that would certainly eat up their time. “Can I get some water for my throat?”

The bartender nods, producing the drink for her. Kyouka shoots it down, then turns back to walk up to the stage. “Well, I’m totally doing my song now. Someone should step outside, and explain this to everyone since comms are down…”

“And miss your vocal debut? Not a chance!” Hanta takes a seat as Kyouka steps up to the stage, Shouto holding out a hand for the tablet.

But Katsuki sighs, taking the tablet before Momo can hand it off. “You four finish up here, I’ll let everyone know what’s going on.”

He stalks off, Shouto taking a moment before carefully walking towards the lounge seats. Momo sees Hanta scoot over, patting the seat next to him that Shouto does take… and Momo watches the both of them look away, a faint flush on their face as the house lights die down.

Kyouka slips out of her speaker boots, remembering the sign by the door saying ‘The Stage is Freshly Treated; Do Not Scuff the Stage!’. And Momo watches the girl’s whole demeanor shift, taking on a confidence as she raises her fingers.

She raises her hand to dramatically snap, and a heavy rock backdrop begins under her. The drums kick a few times, and Kyouka looks up as the first line plays. “Want Your Bad Romance!”

She spins, seemingly taken over by an outside force as the guitars and drums play under her. Her voice takes on a richness as she sings the first lines, generally flowery lines about wanting to be in a relationship…

But then she turns back to the front, all but a single rose colored spotlight dying down as she slowly prowls up to the front of the stage. "You know that I want you… And you know that I need you… I want it bad, a bad romance…"

Momo knows she’s just singing along with the song, but it feels so real when Kyouka does it, looking directly into her eyes… She falls back into an open seat, heat rushing to her face as the lights dye red and Kyouka delivers a held note in almost a scream for them all to hear.

She spins as she sings the chorus, a manic energy filling her before she comes to the bridge. Whoever programmed the lights seemed to be exactly in tune with Kyouka, making Momo think she was following professional choreography. “Oh-o-o-o-OH! Ah-o-ah-O! Caught in a Bad Romance! Oh-o-o-o-OH! Ah-o-ah-O! Caught in a Bad Romance!”

Hanta raises a fist, pumping in time with the beat for an instrumental bit between the bridge and second verse. Kyouka is smiling like she’s the queen of the world, Momo not being able to help a grin crossing her face as Kyouka performs for all of them to see.

And it quickly becomes more, as light from outside breaks in. But Kyouka keeps her eyes closed, rocking through the second verse as a group from Class B comes in. Momo doesn’t want to turn to look, but she does see them quietly taking seats out of the corner of her eyes as Kyouka kills the second chorus.

The instrumental dies down to just a simple few chords, Kyouka falling to a heap on the stage. A pair of dark orange lights from both sides above her illuminate her, and she briefly takes in the crowd before swiping her hair away from her face, focusing on Momo again. “I want your Love; and I want your Revenge. I want your Love; I don’t want to be Friends…”

Kyouka keeps repeating that, slowly rising up from the ground as it and the backing instrumental grows more energetic. She declares it like she was screaming into the sea, the chorus kicking in with lights flashing around her in a chaotic rainbow as Kyouka does a spin, her jacket sliding down to her elbows.

She holds on to the last declaration of wanting a ‘Bad Romance’ cutting out with another scream as the instrumentals cut. She pulls the microphone away, clearly flushed and regaining her breath as the lights return to their original levels.

There’s a short stretch of silence, then Hanta jumps up. He starts clapping and whooping, Momo turning to see Kendo and Kaibara both joining in with the jubilation. Momo turns back, smiling at Kyouka when the other girl’s eyes fix onto hers.

Hanta runs over to the bar, asking for his drink. Momo spots Awase in the crowd, holding back Kamakiri as the green haired mantis-like boy attempts to go towards the stage. Awase watches Hanta get his drink, and take his boots off as he walks up to choose his song. A couple of the other 1-B kids catch on, and start looking around for the rules.

Hanta selects his song as Kyouka slips back into her boots, holding up her green flashing wristwatch. “Guess I can go now, if I wanted to… do you mind, if I sit next to you.”

“No… actually, I think I’d prefer it.” Momo feels her face heat up saying that, moving over as Kyouka takes the next closest seat next to her. “Um… actually, there was something else I was wondering. My family has an invitation to I-Island this summer…”

Kyouka looks up at her, then offers the sweetest smile Momo has ever seen on another girl. “I… that sounds nice. Did you… want to share that ticket with someone?”

Momo nods, pointing a finger at Kyouka as the lights dim. Soft blue light cascades onto Hanta, Momo seeing the other girl nodding before being distracted by the jazz section that plays. They turn as Hanta lazily sways in a circle, leaving the mic in a stand instead of holding it like Kyouka had.

“When Marimba rhythm starts to play, Dance with me, Make me Sway…”

-

Fumikage carefully strays into the almost hidden doorway, just barely able to see the line of blue stars leading to it. He carefully opens the door, flickering lights leading down a set of stone stairs. Dark Shadow curls around him, almost seeming to push him forward. “Oh, it’s super creepy down here.”

“Dark Shadow, I trust you’ll behave yourself?” Fumikage says it out loud, even though they could read his thoughts. But he doesn’t like the almost maniacal laugh that issues forth from his Quirk, and carefully begins walking down the steps into the darkness.

At the bottom of the steps is a large metal door, as well as a box of goggles. Fumikage sees three pairs are missing, and he slides his pair over his head. He turns towards the door, then pulls the goggles down to see the instructions in paint.

‘Objective N: Nightvision. Complete the Obstacle Course beyond without taking off your goggles. But be careful: not everything can be seen with the covered eye. Removing your Goggles inside will result in a one minute penalty.’

Fumikage grits his teeth, tapping his ear. He steps back towards the stairs, doubling up them until he hears the faint buzz of a signal. “Can anyone hear me?”

“Fumikage? Your signal is weak, but I read you.” Fumikage sighs, Mezou’s voice actually proving very calming for him.

“There’s a fake Bank, not too far from the Western edge of the area. Across the street is an alleyway with a newspaper stand, and one of the objectives. It’s an underground maze, which we need to do with night vision goggles…”

“Are you okay to do that alone?” Fumikage would normally find such a comment rudely pointed, a few of his former classmates making fun of him if he mentioned going to the movies. But Mezou’s voice doesn’t betray anything like that, sounding genuinely concerned for him.

“I should be… Thank You for asking.” Fumikage takes a second, then doubles back down into the Abyss.

He fixes his goggles on his face, and carefully pushes the metal door open. He walks in, seeing a straightforward neon green path to the door on the other side, broken up by a couple of gaps…

Fumikage walks into the first gap, his beak getting turned to the side as he walks into a wall. He stumbles back, bringing his hand up to see his hand pressing against something clear. “Ah… Well, the most Tantalizing Offering is not often Given Freely.”

Dark Shadow issues up behind him, spreading its arms out and feeling the walks. “Okay… right is open.”

Fumikage nods, following his Quirk’s advice as it pulls down to be just above his shoulders. He steps through the open doorway… then jumps as the sound of air moving behind him. He presses his back into another clear wall, reaching forward to find his path back to the entrance has been blocked.

“Hello?” Fumikage turns, hearing an unfamiliar voice calling out in English. Dark Shadow turns that direction too, and Fumikage feels himself being dragged towards the voice as Dark Shadow moves in that direction. He tries to dig his heels in, but Dark Shadow takes corners he couldn’t see keeping him off balance.

Fumikage is dragged to a stop when he sees a hole in the floor, revealing a pit trap with cushion foam at the bottom to help the fall. And right there, just under the lowest rung of a ladder, is Tsunotori. She’s just a hint too short to reach it, her horns visibly regrowing in a painful looking fashion.

Fumikage tries to walk around the pit, there being a very very thin walkway. He edges across it, Dark Shadow lowering down to Tsunotori to scoop her up.

She lets out a high pitched squeak, Dark Shadow depositing her on her feet. She stumbles, quickly catching herself and looking around. “Oh, Tokoyami… Thank You!”

She bows her head, Fumikage simply nodding as Dark Shadow quickly feels for the end of the path. Fumikage looks around, trying to find the other people who’d taken goggles… or failing that, any other openings in the floor.

He does a full circle, the entire room seeming much too big for just this maze… then the neon green paint switches to a color reminiscent of blood. Dark Shadow quickly withdraws to coil around him, Tsunotori groaning. “Here we go again…”

He doesn’t understand the English, just getting the tone of dread she has. But the pit’s walls jump up closed, and Fumikage grunts as the wall behind him spins and carries him away from Tsunotori. He’s launched a few steps as the wall comes to a sudden stop, an undignified squawk escaping him when his back hits a wall.

He stumbles to a halt, then jumps as a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs his cloak. Dark Shadow reaches down, pulling Honenuki up out of the ground with a gasp for air. He coughs, little specks of dirt coming up as he leans against a wall. “Thanks… for helping Pony. How long has it been?”

Fumikage blinks, checking his watch. “Just over thirty minutes… have you two been trapped in here since the start?”

Honenuki brings a hand up, shaking it back and forth. “Almost ten minutes, but still stuck. The walls change every five minutes, and I was looking for a constant path to take. But just going from the front to the exit doesn’t count, apparently…”

A creepy laugh starts over the speakers, Fumikage’s feathers standing on edge from the last time someone did that. But instead of Mayhem’s filtered voice, a familiar sly voice talks instead. “Tokoyami, aren’t you just the perfect little white knight? I guess I can go ahead and help you through the maze… Honenuki, there’s a left turn six feet behind you that will take you to Pony.”

Honenuki looks up, and Fumikage grunts as Dark Shadow picks the both of them up and starts moving them. “Here we go again…”

-

Katsuki grits his teeth, looking at the score as it closes together. Almost an hour into this whole stupid challenge, and the karaoke challenge was, in fact, clogging up most of their time in this thing.

Izuku runs around a corner, leaning against the wall and catching his breath as he notices the music coming from the challenge. Katsuki wasn’t sure which of the Class B extras was singing now, but Momo’s group was still in there despite all of them having gone by now… right? Two groups from Class B had gone in, but they had to have taken the chance to get their points and go… Right?

Class B: 160 Points! / Class A: 104 Points!

Izuku walks over, looking at the map. “How are we still missing one of them? I’m pretty sure we’ve gone over all of Ground Beta by now.”

Katsuki nods, rolling his jaw as he goes over it. “Well, a bunch of Class B is here doing some sort of Karaoke challenge, so their point totals have stalled. Fumikage disappeared into a maze half an hour ago, and no one has been able to find him since. But almost everyone else is down South, completing these challenges that are all next to each other.”

Katsuki drags his finger across the map, Izuku nodding and reading along. “‘Order the Chef’s special, Find a Coded Book, Water Puzzle, Old Lady crossing the Street, Digging for Treasure’… Water Puzzle?”

Katsuki shrugs, offering the tablet. “Hitoshi wasn’t specific, but it was some sort of puzzle involving water levels. Momo handed me this, and hasn’t come out yet. I’m going to check on Denki and Ochako’s group, since I haven’t gotten any points since the Jumping Jacks challenge.”

Izuku nods, taking the map. “Okay… and Monoma did take Hitoshi’s Quirk. Apparently, he tripped Tenya up during an Egg Walk… his armor broke his fall.”

Katsuki snorts a little laugh, turning to start South. “He can’t keep it forever, so he’s probably burned it. Keep an ear out for anyone else doing anything else underhanded… Denki tricked one of them, so I bet they’ll be out for us somewhere…”

Izuku nods, and Katsuki runs down to the first big street. He runs over to the restaurant first, easily getting those points before turning and running down to the bookshop.

He runs into the bookshop, pausing when he sees the tall mustard bottle guy, the beastly boy, and the walking manga panel. Beasty turns to see him, steam coming out of his nose as he huffs at the sight of Katsuki.

Katsuki waits until he goes into the isles of books, walking up to the robot and taking a slip of paper. It takes him a long minute to get the title into English… then huffs as he recognizes it. “ ‘Crime and Punishment’... leave it to Nedzu to somehow rig a paper draw.”

Katsuki turns, but his eyes are distracted from the shelves as the other three boys make a loose half circle around him. Mustard bottle and Manga both have books, but the Beastie Boy doesn’t have one as he stands just in the aisle, arms crossed. “Bakugo… are the rumors true?”

Katsuki shifts his back foot, knowing a threatening tone when he hears it. “There’s a lot of rumors about my class. You have something to say to me, just spit it out…”

Mustard bottle kid edges around his right side, setting his book on the counter for his point. Despite being bigger than anyone in their grade, he has the faintest stutter that Katsuki clocks as he speaks. “W-When you and Midoriya f-fought, that first week, people started to t-talk.”

“A lot of us who’s Quirks make us look different… we tend to keep closer circles, especially amongst each other.” Manga kid strays to his side, fencing in Katsuki completely. Maybe just for his points, but there was also a tactical advantage they could be trying to get.

He looks back and forth, curling his hand into the release of his gloves. A new button he could hit, right above the inside of his wrist. “Again, talking around the point. If you have something to say, say it.”

Beastie Boy stalks up to him, Katsuki gritting his teeth as he has to look up to the taller boy’s eyes. “We don’t like bullies, Bakugo. We’ve all dealt with our fair share, so we’re very sensitive to people who don’t act like they should around their peers.”

Katsuki takes a breath, Beastie Boy blowing another gout of steam from his nose. “Yeah, Nedzu wasn’t too happy about it, either. Threatened to expel me that same day, after the fight. But he decided to go another way… so long as I’m not the aggressor in the future.”

Katsuki hits the release, gloves hitting the ground with a thunk and slosh from their contents. Beastie Boy takes one step back, Mustard and Manga both moving up behind Beastie Boy to grab him by the wrists. “Maybe Nedzu decided that… but how does Midoriya feel about it? Or his boyfriend…”

Katsuki does some quick math, and walks around Mustard Bottle to go to the shelves. The tall boy wilts behind the other two, Katsuki pivoting as Beastie Boy moves to cover his two friends. “They don’t forgive me… and I wouldn’t, either. But I’m working on it, if that’s enough for you all.”

Katsuki walks the isles, quickly finding the piece of Old Russian literature. He walks up to the front, the two boys who already have their points blocking the aisle as Beastie Boy gets his. Katsuki drops his book on the counter, grabbing his gauntlets as his point registers.

Class B: 166 Points! / Class A: 130 Points!

Vlad King comes on, Katsuki rolling his eyes as the teacher continues with the clearly slanted coverage of the event. “Just after the first hour of this contest, Class A has begun to rally and close the gap. But Class B still has a remarkable lead, with plenty of people competing in other objectives. But Objective K has yet to release its victims, even though more than half of you could have left half ten minutes ago!”

Katsuki shakes his head, breaking into a run down the street. He runs a couple blocks… then stops when he sees a stand, with a bunch of different water pitchers. “Oh, it's that stupid ‘three gallon, five gallon bucket, get to four gallons’ puzzle. This should be easy…”

Katsuki walks up to the puzzle, seeing five buckets with different amounts, and a big water tank. The tank has a drain at the bottom, each of the buckets having pipes leading to the big tank, and nozzles to twist and fill them up.

‘Objective H: Hydration Station! Fill the big tank after using each bucket no more than twice!’

Katsuki sighs, knowing he jinxed it. “Hell… okay, how much water can I have if I add these all together, then double them? … Okay, so these two both need to be used twice… wait, no, than these three can’t be combined without overfilling this thing… how the heck did those four figure this out?”

-

Hitoshi takes a step back, sitting on the edge of his sand pit. “I hate Sand, now. I didn’t like it before, but I hate it now.”

The other three boys all snicker, having little necklaces with weird stones on them. They were outside his sand pit, Monoma a few pits away and hacking away at his with a shovel. Kouji holds up a water bottle, having gone and grabbed them all one from one of the cafes with robots in them. “You should be really close, Hitoshi. They’re not that far down…”

“Yeah, and you need to use your body weight when you dig the blade down.” Hitoshi glares with murder in his heart at Rikidou, but the boy has seen him stumble around half asleep in the morning. The mystique has been squandered, probably looking no more threatening than Arashi as his malice simply bounces off the boy’s back.

Hitoshi growls, and forces himself to his feet. He takes the water, downing half of it before picking up his shovel. He picks the next best spot where the giant novelty chest could be buried in the sand, quickly striking the blade down and jumping on it to drive it deep into the sand.

“HA-HA-Ha-Ha-ha!” Monoma walks over, holding up a necklace with a large silver disk hanging off it. “Behold, the splendor of Class B! One of the Bonus point medals! This just goes to show you the prowess my class presents!”

Hitoshi sighs deeply, dragging the sand out of the spot he was digging in. He strikes into the ground again, finally finding the corner of the chest in his cut off little section of the sand pit Vlad had somehow managed to set up. Because he’s pretty sure there wasn’t a giant pit of sand in this cityscape before… but he’s too exhausted to think that through. He’s spent all of his spare braincells on the water puzzle, getting all four of them the points from that. “Sure, man. Whatever you say…”

He scrapes away more material from the top of the chest, Monoma tilting his medal back and forth so the sun will shine off it. It just barely doesn’t catch Hitoshi’s eyes as he struggles to excavate the chest, Mezou speaking up while the three of them wait. “So, which objective do you guys want to hit first? We’ve done pretty much all of the ones on the South side, but there’s a bunch up on the East side if we run up that way…”

“How do you know that? All of you split up at the start, bull headedly charging off alone!” Hitoshi wants to take a second to rest on top of the chest, but he also doesn’t want to be here any longer. He looks at the lock, growling when he sees it’s some stupid math puzzle to unlock it.

“Yeah, we were telling each other where they all were. Momo was marking them down, and Katsuki took over when Momo went to do the Karaoke objective.” Rikidou explains while Hitoshi tries to visualize the math problem, getting the first try wrong before realizing what he did.

He spins the dials again, the chest opening as Monoma reels back in horror. “You all have communications equipment? Of course… you scout out the entire area, then you can just hit all the objectives as you fancy! You… You diabolical schemers!”

Hitoshi opens up the chest… and pauses, looking at the flashy gold medallion sitting on a little display rack. He blinks a few times, wanting to reach up and wipe his eyes to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. But seeing as how his hands were caked in sand, he’d have to just believe in his own good luck for now.

He pulls out the medal, Monoma gasping out loud again. “You… How? You… I should have expected as much from Class A. But this contest isn’t over yet!”

Class B: 180 Points! / Class A: 175 Points!

Hitoshi braces for more snark over the intercoms from Vlad King, but apparently he was too busy for that announcement. He flops down on the edge of his sandpit, sliding the gold medallion on to his neck as Monoma walks off.

Kouji walks in front of him, miming dumping the water out. Hitoshi nods, the quiet boy pouring the water over his head. Hitoshi waits a second, then blinks as Rikidou gently puts a hand under one of his arms. “Okay, that water came back off you as steam. We’re going inside to sit in the shade…”

Hitoshi wants to snark, but knows the three boys mean well… and besides which, he could use a minute out of the summer heat. “Thanks…”

They stumble into a cafe, a few robots pantomiming being customers while a few more work behind a counter. There was actual food and drinks in here, a bright green banner over the counter saying ‘Neutral Area’ over it.

Hitoshi takes a seat at a table, reveling in the air conditioning as the other boys sit around him. Hitoshi turns to look outside, seeing a bunch of students running up and reading the sign. Mezou goes over to get them drinks, Hitoshi remembering the sign they’d seen almost twenty minutes ago.

‘Objective D: Dig for Treasure! In addition to the points for completing the objective, each Chest has a Prize for you to claim! Most are necklaces or bracelets made for you to keep, but Three are Medals that will score your class extra points! So choose wisely!’

Hitoshi sees Shiozaki forgo her shovel, simply choosing a pit and setting her vines to work. He sighs, taking a cold bottle of water when offered one. “I think you guys should go ahead and go to the egg run Tenya was at, when Monoma got him with my Quirk. We’re really close to catching up…”

“Nah, we’ll stay with you.” Rikidou peels off his mask, using a napkin to wipe some sweat from his hair. “Besides, I could really use a break from the heat too. I think I should look into a different costume, at least during the summer.”

Hitoshi… he takes a second, then smiles to himself. He reaches up to scratch at his chin, then sees his hands still caked in sand. He walks over to the marked bathroom, eager to wash some of the grime from his hands.

Chapter Text

Nemuri smiles, enjoying the time in the sauna while shaking her hair out. “I didn’t expect you to take us up on the offer, Inko.”

Nemuri looks over at the shorter lawyer, dressed much more modestly in the sauna. She was in the full body robes the hotel provided, while Nemuri was enjoying something a little more revealing. Inko was also fanning herself, the heat seeming to get to her before Nemuri. “Oh, let’s not compare the stresses between Nedzu’s Lawyer and Hero Teacher; neither of us win, at the end of that.”

Nemuri rolls her eyes, looking over to Thirteen. They were in a swim shirt and trunks, their gloves the only thing that the average person might recognize about the space hero. “Always a peacemaker, huh? I’m not comparing them to lord my misery over yours, it’s a chance for us girls and they’s to bond. Right, Anan?”

Thirteen looks away, a faint smile curling their lips as they click their metal tipped gloves on the wooden bench. “I don’t have nearly as many complaints as the two of you have. But I’m a sympathetic ear, if you want it.”

Nemuri snaps, pointing her fingers like guns the way Hizashi does in an interview. “See, that’s great. We need to support each other, build each other up. Like just getting set up here; how much of a hassle was that?”

Inko nods, a sad little sigh escaping her mouth. “Yeah… that was probably better for all of you, though.”

Nemuri nods, remembering the walk in here. The six of them walking in had been sort of mobbed, though it was a very private place. But the people who had been around had still made their way over, though they had at least had sort of staggered coming over. It probably helped that only Nemuri and Hizashi were really well known… well, besides Inko.

Nemuri tries to keep her teeth from gritting, a clearly forced smile on her face. “Yeah, well if those rich kids try to give you any more trouble, let me know. I’m not exactly averse to breathplay.”

She winks, Inko choking on her spit and waving her hand. “Oh, don’t go making trouble for yourself for me. They weren’t even the worst sort of people to make their opinions of me known after what happened to Endeavor…”

Nemuri waves her hands, banishing the cloud of bad vibes like the steam hanging in the sauna. “Forget about him, and those twirps. It’s always something, when us girls get a little bit of power over the men who run the world.”

“Sure… but they are circling around a point.” Nemuri shakes her head… but something about that lingers, an itch growing around her throat as she starts walking down that path of bad thoughts.

“Hey, Endeavor did an okay job where he was, just below the summit. But he just couldn’t deal with all that stress, and it showed… I mean, comparing yourself to All Might for years will do a number on any guy’s confidence.”

Thirteen nods, holding a hand up with their fingers spread. “Yeah, and what happened to his older son… whether you believe the rumors or not, a Quirk Accident just a couple months before Shouto’s Quirk manifested will change you as a parent. That, and being a high ranking Pro at the time… my parent’s hair went gray, and they were just insurance sellers.”

Nemuri nods, coming back to her little pet theory about Shouto. She turns it over in her head, including Endeavor’s seeming attempt to hit the brakes in his latter days. “Yes… but I think he was a little different, after the Sports Festival. Don’t you think so, Inko?”

Inko jumps in place… and Nemuri catches her looking away, quickly standing. “Oh, I think that’s enough heat for me…”

Nemuri stands, moving to half block the door. Oh sure, Inko could push past her if she wanted, but the woman pauses the instant she’s up and moving. “Hold on… You know something, don’t you?”

“I… Well, yes. But even if I wanted to tell you, I couldn’t. Attorney/Client Confidentiality, and all that…”

Inko continues walking to the door, and Nemuri actually opens it for her as Thirteen hops up. “Attorney/Client… You had a meeting with him then, with Nedzu? What… Oh, Shouto joined the dorms on that first wave almost instantly. You guys… You Didn’t!”

Inko walks into the stone lined paths between treatment rooms, taking a breath of refreshingly cooled air in comparison. She turns, holding a hand up. “You can speculate all you want, but I can’t do anything to confirm or deny anything you say. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask Nedzu.”

Nemuri shudders, imagining the game of it the rat-bear would make of the entire conversation. Thirteen pulls the door closed, sharing a similar shudder that causes the blue tips of their hair to stand on end. “I’d rather live, thanks. But that does explain Endeavor’s change… besides his wife, of course.”

Nemuri furrows her eyebrows, somehow behind on the gossip on that. “Thirteen, for shame! I ask you ‘How are you?’, and ‘Heard anything Juicy?’, and you bury a lead like that?”

Thirteen blinks, shrugging as they walk the narrow hall down to the main room of the spa. They looked around, but the wing was mostly clear, since everyone was scheduled in blocks at this hotel. Apparently, it had more than one Corporate Weekend, and had just decided the veneer of secrecy was best to keep up the year round, especially for higher paying clients. “Well, you know how Shouto got his scar, right?”

Nemuri shakes her head, a few imagined scenarios playing out in her mind. “I’ve never had it confirmed, no.”

Inko walks into another room, a collection of showers available to them. Inko quickly makes her way into one, drawing the thick black privacy curtain before turning the water on. Thirteen looks around for any signs of other people, then leans in as Inko’s empty shoes loosely poke out underneath the curtain. “Well… she’s been getting treated for her mental health for years. No one’s actually confirmed it, but everyone says she did that to Shouto one night after a fight with Endeavor.”

Nemuri tries not to gasp, the slightly comforting gossipy bubble popping violently as they stand there. “No way… poor kid…”

Thirteen crosses their arms, shrugging. “That’s the most popular story, anyways. It got that way since no one was allowed to go see her, while she was receiving treatment. Of course, that’s pretty common with in treatment to only allow family to go, but her older children were only ever seen visiting a couple of times.”

Nemuri nods… but her mind begins spinning another version of that in her head. Of Touya Todoroki, injured or worse in a training exercise gone wrong. Of Rei Todoroki trying to calm her husband, only to receive a cut of his wrath herself. And of a little baby Shouto, maybe only just having manifested his Quirk… and maybe that being the root of his desire to destroy the system of Heroes they had to this day, seeing the damage it did to his family. “That’s… Oh, now I feel sorry for poking fun at how antisocial he is. Poor kid probably didn’t have a very good role model at home, did he?”

Thirteen nods, walking over to another shower. “Yeah… What are all of these?”

Nemuri peaks in, seeing a shelf full of mini bottles of different hair care products and skin cleansers. “Oh the basics… you’ll want these two for your hair, this one for your face, and this for everywhere else.”

She takes a quick look over Thirteen before picking them out, the Hero offering a slightly embarrassed smile before nodding. “Thanks… So, what else do you think Inko and Nedzu are doing?”

Nemuri shrugs, trying to bring that harmless gossip mood back. “Oh, I could wag my tongue about that for hours. First, wash up while your pores are open. Then, we’ll talk… but Haimawari and Snipe have been talking, saying something about Toshinori and Her both being interested in each other.”

Thirteen blinks, then brings their hands up as hearts dance in their eyes. Nemuri vigorously nods, quickly walking to the next open shower to take a quick wash herself. At least washing the new layer of sweat off, since she was already fabulous everywhere else.

-

Shouta takes a breath, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He wasn’t exactly one for maintaining his appearance, but he was aware of aesthetics. He runs a hand up and down his chin, the salon hairdresser nodding as she admires her work to make him look more presentable.

His hair had been brushed loose of the knots and snarls that tended to happen from his Quirk, the ends trimmed to be slightly tidier. She’d just finished shaving him, and he lightly turns in the chair before turning over to Hizashi.

Hizashi and Toshinori were both with him, Toshinori currently having his hair washed out while Hizashi was in the chair next to him. But instead of another haircare stand, he was having his nails cared for by a boy with purple skin with crossing lines over it.

Hizashi looks over, offering him a smile and a nod. “Looking good, Eraser. Last time I saw you looking that good, Nedzu was making you do the big speech for graduation a couple years ago.”

Shouta rolls his eyes, remembering every time he’s been forced to keep up his appearance beyond the minimum. The one Hizashi was mentioning, about four years ago, of a class he’d actually put the most effort into before this year’s class. Enough hours of extra training, focused tutoring, and specialized Quirk counseling that he’d run himself to the ground. But those twenty students… they were the best class he’d seen before this year’s, and Nedzu felt like having him immortalize that feeling on film…

Of course, not everything works out past that. But that thought is broken up by his phone ringing, on the station to his side. The hairdresser pulls away the cloth covering his front, allowing him to reach over… and a bit of stress well up when he sees who’s calling. “What is it, Kan?”

Hizashi raises an eyebrow, and his panic doesn’t exactly dispel based on the words that come over the phone. “I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

Shouta takes a breath, wiping some of the cut hair that settled in his eyebrows. “Terrible mistake as in your activity is going sideways, or a mistake as in multiple students are bleeding and/or dying?”

The hairdresser and stylist both freeze, but Hizashi lets out a little laugh at his black comedy as Kan continues. “It’s a basic Objective Rush, but I wanted them to be fun. But one of them is Karaoke… and a bunch of the students are hanging around, losing valuable time watching each other perform!”

Shouta can’t help but chuckle, noticing Toshinori peeking his head around the corner from the wash station as he continues. “You put a bunch of fun activities in front of the kids, and didn’t expect one of them to hold their attention? Let me guess, a bunch of them are math and logic problems or history lessons, but you’re surprised that they hung around the karaoke bar you made for them?”

Hizashi starts trying to hold in a bout of laughter, Toshinori pulling back at his deadpan delivery, and hearing the kids were fine. But Kan continues, not finding the humor in it. “Yeah, but it’s not just your class! That earphone jack girl, who’s parents are musicians, and her girlfriend. It’s a bunch of my kids, too! Plus, your kids have scouted out most of the map, and are running around getting points faster than mine!”

Shouta sighs, the hairdresser holding up a little brush. She waves it, and he nods and closes his eyes while she efficiently cleans things up for him. “Are you saying my class is better at having fun than yours?”

“NEVER!” Shouta pulls his phone away, the hairdresser jumping when she hears the booming voice. “If anything, my class is having twice the fun yours is!”

“Then I don’t see the problem… unless you made a whole competition around it?” Kan cuts off, the pointed silence telling Shouta everything. “You made the whole thing a competition, didn’t you?”

“Well… I mean… how else are they going to go around and find all of this? I spent a week setting all of this up!”

Shouta raises an eyebrow, standing up as Toshinori is led out to take his seat with the hairdresser. “They had three hours to run around the city, doing whatever you set up to occupy them. Making it a competition means they’re going to bull rush through it, or get stuck on the first interesting thing they find. Be glad they haven’t already finished with this, and trying to find something to entertain themselves for the rest of the day. It’s not like three hours is a hard limit, right?”

Kan sits there silently, so long Shouta pulls the phone away to check that it’s still connected. “Yeah… about that…”

Shouta sighs, bringing his hand up to massage his temple. “You brought Lunch Rush into this, didn’t you?”

“… Yeah…”

Shouta sighs, then looks over at Hizashi. “And, there goes my sympathy. You played on their competitive nature, and you used Lunch Rush as a carrot on the end of the stick. Look upon your works, and despair.”

“Shouta, wait…” Shouta hangs up, sitting in the chairs in the waiting area while Toshinori gets another cloth wrapped around him. He wasn’t getting his nails done, already nearly at his limit of acceptable physical interaction after the washing and trimming.

As Toshinori is turned to look at the mirror, the hairdresser takes a long look at his washed out blond hair before looking at his eyes in the mirror. “You don’t care much for your hair, do you?”

Toshinori lets out a long sigh, trying to keep his shoulders relaxed as a metal comb comes out. “I’m trying to do better, but when I already look like I do, my hair is the least of my worries.”

“Well, a man with many years needs to know how to wear them well. This is keeping its full blond sheen; with all your stress, working for Yuuei and All Might directly, you should appreciate that.” The hairdresser swipes her hand across her brow, showing slightly grayed roots to Toshinori. He gives a hardly perceptible nod, the woman very quickly lowering his guard and getting him comfortable while she works.

Shouta leans back, almost relaxed enough to just close his eyes and take a nap. But Hizashi keeps him awake, talking past the man in the hotel’s blue-green uniform working on his nails. “How’s Kan holding up, minding the kids?”

“He’s fine; he’s let himself turn the whole thing into a competition… hopefully, enough of the students survive to make up at least one class.” Hizashi snorts, Toshinori raising his eyebrows in the mirror. Shouta smiles, at least ninety nine percent sure everything would be fine…

As long as Izuku doesn’t lose control of Black Whip… and Katsuki doesn’t relapse… and Tenya’s spontaneous vicious streak doesn’t reawaken… okay, he’s now ninety percent sure things are going to be fine.

-

Sekijiro leans back, the hidden control room of Ground Beta not having anything truly interesting to see. Half of the events didn’t have anyone at them, only having been visited a couple of times by the singular members of Class A or a group of Class B… no, the parody has switched up by now.

Sekijiro is probably going to owe Izuku a ‘thank you’, for sharing a look at the tablet with Kendo. Because once she gets a look at everything, she’s able to marshall Class B’s focus back to the tasks… once they leave the damned Karaoke Bar!

Sekijiro downs half a bottle of water as his phone vibrates on the table next to him, a few of the higher class teachers already asking Nedzu to use a similar set up for a Field Day later in the year. Maybe as inspiration for the Fall Festival, if a little tighter together and with less academic rigor to the events. Maybe he can use that as an excuse to get out of working on that, if his idea here is used as forty percent of that whole event. But until then, he watches as Class A rallies outside the bar, beginning to coordinate a path to all the other events.

Kan sees the public point tally update, right before Uraraka’s group get their points in the Dig for Treasure objective. He checks the total, and grits his teeth for a long moment before turning on the speaker. “And… with 203 points, Class A has stolen the lead Class B has held since the start of the event. But with eighty minutes left on the clock, and more than two hundred points left on the board for both teams, this game is still up for grabs!”

Sekijiro looks over the screens, seeing the pink girl raise her fist and shake it at a nearby camera while helping the Old-Lady robot across the road. Kirishima laughs at whatever she says, Aoyama turning and looking directly into the camera. A shudder runs up Sekijiro’s spine, the Frenchman’s eyes seeming to connect with him through the screen…

He shakes his head, looking through all the extra points hidden through the challenges. Jiro got the first perfect score in the Karaoke bar, Izuku got the category run-away award in Trivia, and Hitoshi got the Gold medal from the Dig. But Neito had gotten a pink flower pin from the Old-Lady Robot in addition to his silver medal, Shihai had gotten a black skull with glowing red eyes from the Nightvision maze, Setsuna had a little key that had been floating in the water puzzle until she’d gotten to it, and Kaibara picks the chest with the bronze medal in the Dig. So the bonus points were nearly tied up…

Speaking of Vantablack, Shihai had apparently taken another souvenir from the maze. While the earpiece didn’t fit on him as well as it did Tokoyami, he was still able to listen in to Class A, and give Kendo and Nirengeki advice as Izuku coaches the rest of his class.

Of course, him not knowing Class A as well has come back to bite him. He thought Objective P would be entirely in Yui and Hiryu’s court, getting the class some easy points… not that he was intentionally looking to cause Class A to fail. Of course not… but if Class B happened to have an easier time…

But the instant Yaoyorozu walks in, she immediately walks over to the poker tables in the Parlor. And she spends only three minutes quoting the math of the game to the robot players at the table, convincing them all to fold before revealing a three and a five that don’t go with the seven high pairs on the table.

The three robot players all look down at their hands, seeming to have an existential crisis as Yaoyorozu stands. The robot dealer passes her a shiny golden chip, since she managed to completely dominate her chosen contest in a way Class B hadn’t managed to. Of course, there hadn’t been many failures yet, only a handful between the classes; but Yaoyorozu had clearly earned that bonus point for the whole contest. And she hung back, coaching Todoroki, Sero, and Jiro into getting their points.

Of course, the Class B kids that had gotten caught in the Karaoke bar quickly surge forward in points, once they get started. Sekijiro quickly begins checking around on the map, the channels Class A was using to communicate open to him to listen in on.

“No way, is this a whole Arcade?” Sekijiro smiles, seeing Denki’s group from Class A having skipped the Dig challenge for one of the areas he’d intended to be a time sink. About two dozen arcade cabinets, plus a bunch of other smaller games, all brought in to distract all the kids in Class A who are more modern in their gaming tastes.

“Oui, but we mustn't be distracted. And look for signs, see if we’re only supposed to play a specific game, or something else nefarious.” Aoyama finds the camera again, and Sekijiro can see why Nedzu recommended him to the political action club. Maybe if he was a little more distracted, he wouldn’t be so creepily good at finding all the security cameras when they incidentally had him in frame.

Sekijiro watches them scan the place up and down, running back and forth across the powered off cabinet with a sign over the glass. Of course, the three of them who actually went to Arcades just filtered that as an ‘Out-of-Order’ sign, ignoring the advice that it instead needed different currency to run, and to ask at the counter for a conversion… Okay, that one was probably a bit much. Sekijiro could admit that, at least.

But aside from a couple of little moments, like Jurota and the others cornering Bakugo in the bookshop, or a moment where Awase stopped at the door of the karaoke bar when a bunch of Class A went inside, and put his hand on the door like he was going to use his Quirk, things should be fine. Today was going to be an entirely normal day, for both of the classes. And most everyone was smiling and having fun…

Sekijiro smiles, and kicks his feet up as he watches all the students have fun… or get a little frustrated, but they’d had fun at other activities. It was a net win, which he’d take.

-

Inko turns through the menu, not sure which option looked best to her. Page after page of options are almost enough to distract her from the surrounding tables glancing their way every other available moment. She can’t help the crawling feeling down her spine, imagining most of the people in the room are focusing on her with some amount of disdain. “I think the orange chicken looks good… the worst part of eating somewhere new is picking what to order the first time.”

Nemuri makes a note of agreement, flipping between two pages. “Totally… I’m stuck between this beef pasta something-or-other, and this shrimp fried rice. Are we going to have lunch here before we go back, or are we going to eat when we get back?”

Shouta, who’d looked through the menu in twenty seconds flat and decided exactly what he wanted three minutes ago, rolls his eyes. “We have the rooms until noon, so we can easily pack up our things in the van Nedzu leant us, eat here, then drive back. Or we could get something on the way…”

“Why not eat here, Shouta? Turning down premium dining when you’re already at the restaurant? That’s illogical, right there.” Hizashi smiles at his husband, who huffs as he starts planning out tomorrow's way home in his head.

“I was thinking about getting the orange chicken too. Toshinori, what are you getting?” Thirteen turns to Toshinori, sitting between the space hero and Inko at their round table.

“Oh… I don’t know. Shuzenji gave me a list of things I should look out for when eating, but a lot of these are on her pass list…” Inko nods, trying very hard not to think about the injury on the blond’s side. Because that too quickly leads to her thinking about the rest of his shirtless torso, which she’s now seeing in a different light after overhearing Nemuri and Thirteen in the shower.

Inko feels her face flush, and she lifts her menu to hide her face. “I think the orange chicken sounds good…”

“Pardon me, Midoriya-san.” Inko turns from the menu, seeing an older man paused a healthy few feet away.

Inko has a moment where she recognizes his face, but can’t place it for the life of her… and has to shake off a terrible thought that maybe she’s forgotten them like she did Hisashi’s face… “Yes? Can I help you with something?”

The old man shakes his head, simply half bowing to her. “No, I didn’t want to do more than take a moment of your time, if you’d permit. We didn’t get to meet, when you represented my daughter in her injury case last year…”

Inko breathes a little sigh of relief, setting the menu down. She turns in her seat, tilting her head as she tries to search through her head for him in her memories. “Oh, that’s very kind of you… I’m very sorry if this seems rude, but who was your daughter again? I’m afraid the specifics are escaping me…”

“Oh no, that’s to be expected. I seem to recall you helped quite a few people… my daughter, Kyoko. Her arm was broken, and you helped her reach a very nice settlement.” Inko thinks about it for a moment, then offers a repressed smile when she remembers.

“Oh, now I remember her. She was the cello player, right? And right before a big concert of hers… such a shame.” The older man nods, but he does pull out his phone for her to see.

He pulls up a photo, showing the young woman in a lovely black dress, her arm in a dark blue sling while she poses with the cello. “She’ll be performing again in just a few months. And… I wanted you to know how grateful we were, for your help.”

Inko’s smile grows a bit, and she offers him her hand. “Thank you, for sharing that. Please, give her my well wishes the next time you see her.”

Kyoko’s father walks to the door, apparently having finished with his meal and been on the way out. Inko turns back, a nice little warm feeling in her chest as she looks back to the rest of the table.

Nemuri smiles, and picks up her glass. “I know you’re not for the Heroics like us, but that’s exactly the kind of thing we should be looking for. Helping people… right, Shouta?”

Shouta rolls his eyes, but the rest of the table raises their drinks in toast.

Chapter Text

(Earlier, In the Evening of Friday, May 17th)

Hana takes a breath, quickly cutting the security measures once she sees Edgeshot at one of the Doctor’s experimental facilities. The truck full of computer experts was rolling up, and she takes just a few moments to scout out the equipment they have before cutting the feeds.

Now, she should probably let the Doctor know that one of his less important facilities is in the middle of a raid… but she’s busy minding All for One’s most recent order, which she’s not sure he meant to give while Command was active. “Until I’m acclimated to my new body, The Doctor and I will not be disturbed.”

Hana smiles, thinking about how useful that Command would be. She hasn’t mapped out the full mechanics of All for One’s Command Quirk, but she does have 3 rules that always seem to be true. The person interprets the commands to the best of their ability, the commands are last in, first out, and there’s a limit on how long a command will last. About two weeks is the longest any single command lasts, and All for One hasn’t been strict with giving her marching orders as she shakes up the world for him to eventually make his dramatic appearance.

She looks up, seeing Naoki positively preening as he and Compress relish in their spree. “That… that was awesome! How you pocketed a chunk of the floor, dropping us to the next story down… then threw all that stone over a balcony at those guys chasing us! How much can your Quirk store in a marble?”

Compress lavishes the attention, fanning his face. “A magician never reveals his secrets… but I have taken a rather large marble statue once. I have also stored up quite a bit of water; a small swimming pool, when I knew I’d be up against Fire Quirks. Sadly, Ahsha was around to use all that water to spur her plants to grow and snare me… but if I had to finally be captured, an act of misdirection like that was the way to go.”

Hana raises her hands, golf clapping for Compress to hear. Tenko looks up at her, then rolls his eyes. “I can’t believe I have to wait around, while you go out every other week. It isn’t fair…”

Hana pushes her laptop aside, looking at her brother full in the face. He didn’t have the hands out, and Hana knows he’s so close to begging All for One for something to do… luckily, she has orders to keep him from being disturbed. “Well, it’s not like you have to sit and wait. And no, I’m not talking about doing another personal best speedrun, Tenko…”

Her brother looks up at her, his now red eyes gleaming at her. “Really? Then what can I do, besides learning how to code and type and all this other crap?”

He waves his gloves hand for her to see, and she rolls her eyes in turn before pointing at Compress. “You can talk to the rest of us, maybe come up with ways to spend your time. Even better, I have a game we could play.”

Tenko sighs, and looks away. Hana doesn’t want to, but she counts just over five seconds before he relents. “What did you have in mind?”

“You know how Naoki over there joined us purely of his own free will?” Hana leans in as Tenko looks back her way, a smile on her lips. “Shin-Hye did it because she had nowhere else to go, Twice and Dabi because I paid them for a few favors, and the money was good, Compress and Muscular because it was convenient, Magne because Compress brought her along… Naoki believes in what you preach.”

She doesn’t say why they’re here, not needing to. She remembers the scene of their house, when Tenko finally started Decaying things… Well, she remembers most of it. After she found him in the backyard, with their dog… but even now, parts of it are intentionally fuzzy in her head. “So what, find more people to bring into the League of Villains? I thought we were keeping things small for a reason.”

“No… Well yes, we’re as big as we can be while keeping a low profile. But that right there; I want you to work with me on destabilizing the entire system, side by side.” Hana carefully sets the bait, hoping it’s enough to lead Tenko away from All for One’s control. If Tenko wasn’t absolutely devoted to All for One, and his psycho idea of ruling the world, it’d be easier to take her brother back and disappear…

“So… You want me to increase my Charisma?” Tenko sighs, drumming his fingers against the table. “I tried to roll Persuasion with Stain; see how that didn’t go so well?”

Hana regrets having to do this, but she had to give Tenko a metaphorical knife. There was a rope tying them to All for One, and to each other, and she just hopes Tenko chooses the right rope to cut. “Yeah, but you made it about you. Everyone wants to feel important, feel bigger. Why do you think I love it when everyone talks about how scary Mayhem is, how she’s ruling the criminal underworld…”

“Laying it on a little thick, huh?” Hana reaches out, popping the back of his hand with the tips of her fingers. A brief little spark of familial love slips between them, nothing big enough to actually sway him one way or another. “So what is it you want me to do?”

“Not everyone wants everything to be destroyed. They want one thing that’s hurt them broken down, fixed, and set back up again. For us, it’s Heroes in general, so the whole system needs a good kick in the teeth. Twice, one bad day fucked up his whole life, and he just needed someone to give him that chance. Dabi, he wanted Endeavor’s head on a pike, and until then, he wanted Endeavor to be unable to get a good night’s sleep. I gave both of them that, and now they’re my lieutenants.”

Tenko takes a long second, clearly translating it into his language. “So… you maxed out their loyalty, and always say what they want to hear. And they do what you want them to do.”

“Sure… and after long enough, I liked Twice enough to want him to be happy. And I hated Endeavor for what he did to Dabi, and wanted him to suffer. They maxed out their affection with me, because I worked with them for so long.”

Hana can see a little gleam in her brother’s eyes, the idea taking root in his mind. “So… you want me to be a politician, promising people what they want?”

“Sure… Besides, what politician keeps all their promises?” Tenko snorts a little laugh, and Hana nods as her computer chimes. She flips it open… and furrows her brow.

She sees one of the experiments, some man who looked half drowned, was the one that blacked out the cameras watching the outside of the lab. And he was now being surrounded by every conceivable level of security the Commission could come up with, including transport to a Commission medical facility.

Hopefully, the Doctor isn’t too broken up about losing one of his experiments… or even better, that he’s left devastated and listless. The more distracted he was, the more likely Hana would have the chance to begin laying out her bigger plans.

-

(Morning of Saturday, May 18th)

Chizome takes a long breath, looking across the transport at ‘Black Dahlia’. She looks to either side, the six other agents in the ride refusing to make eye contact with either of them. Not that such a thing would be easy, with the full gas masks they all had on. “Well, the gas masks are definitely here on my accord. Those guns are for you then, right?”

Chizome just raises an eyebrow, trying to keep a map in his head of where they were traveling. The two of them were led from their cells earlier that morning, and handcuffed to their seats. Chizome has counted roughly three hours of travel time, putting them around two hundred and ninety kilometers from Tartarus… wherever it is.

Dahlia looks around, and shrugs before raising her arms up above her head in a stretch. The orange prison uniform shifts loosely around her shoulders, almost sliding off them as she rolls her neck. The two guards next to her both immediately slide out of the way, the two next to Stain immediately pulling pistols on her. “Hold it, gents! I don’t have anything to use my Quirk on, and my legs are still cuffed. I just wanted a good stretch.”

She shifts her back, pushing her averagely gifted chest out as she arches her spine. She rolls in place, and locks the cuff around one wrist before latching herself back to the arm of the seat separating her from the guards.

Chizome watches the whole thing, his curiosity finally peaked amongst all of her other inane chatter over the ride. “I didn’t hear you dislocate your thumb, to slide out of the cuffs.”

Black Dahlia smiles at him, very obviously looking around at the guards conspiratorially as the two slide their guns back into their holster. “The potholes, an hour ago. I figured where there’s one, there’s more. Waited until we all swayed with the truck driving around them, and Pop... besides, an old partner of mine was into cuffs…”

“And my interest vanishes.” Chizome lulls his head, continuing his count… only for the truck to slow, the faint sound of the truck going from smooth highway to a less cared for stretch.

“Oh, did I go ‘Are we there yet’ just down the street from our destination? Talk about embarrassing…” Black Dahlia sighs, rolling her shoulders. She’d managed to get one of the guards to talk half an hour ago about someone making music about her, but that conversation had died down soon after as another cleared their throat.

They cross a three minute section of gravel, barely breaking thirty miles per hour if Chizome had to guess. They take a soft right turn, then roll to a stop.

The guard’s all get a voice talking in their earpieces, Chizome just able to hear it through their masks. The back door unlocks, and all six of them stand to exit as the door opens… then stop, Chizome seeing a familiar blond haired, red winged ‘Hero’ waiting for them.

“You heard the President. Give me a minute with these two, while you debrief.” Hawks keeps up a bright smile while the six of them are watching him, walking up as the door to the transport changes. But the instant they’re alone in the back, the Hero’s grin fades to a careful blank facade.

Chizome takes a moment, shifting forward so the cuffs rattle for the blond to hear. “You know, there are easier ways for you to get your revenge, if you wanted it. I’d respect you more if you’d marched into Tartarus, and really given those feathers some red…”

“This… This isn’t about you.” Hawks almost seems to choke on those words, but manages to say them with only a low growl under his words. “Despite everything you’ve done, the Commission… is giving you a second chance…”

Chizome raises an eyebrow, careful as a few feathers seem to slip from the boy’s wings. “So I’ve heard… and won’t it just look so great, for people to see the new Number Two working with a murderer…”

Hawk’s nose flares, and Black Dahlia’s cuffs pop open. Chizome doesn’t look away from his golden eyes, even as other feathers begin to float in his periphery. “The Commission thinks that’s worth the price, as long as people are safe. So long as you help us catch the rest of the League of Villains, you might just find yourself a free man again… Or, that’s what I’m supposed to say. And for Black Dahlia, that might be true…”

Chizome smiles, feeling some of the feathers moving towards all the locks. “No, I’m sure she’ll have a long, happy life after this. But me… Not as long as you have a say, right?”

Hawks grits his teeth, leaning down dangerously close to Chizome, probably breaking all safety protocols. Before, they’d transported him with an intrusive bite guard. Today, either because they were trying to ingratiate themselves to him, or they simply hadn’t cared, there was none as the Bird Hero gets dangerously close. “I don’t care what reason you had for doing it, you’ve royally fucked with the Commission’s ability to make people feel safe. Just because you have some noble idea of what ‘Hero’ really means, doesn’t mean you’ve made the day-to-day job of the rest of us any easier…”

“Of course, things will be harder. A rotting tree still provides shade for other things to shelter from the sun, even as it provides a nest for insects that will purge the forest of healthy trees. But once that tree is removed, a new one will take its place, in time… time the Commission President doesn’t have. Between popularity polls, interviews, and conferences.”

“Flowery; I’ll buy a copy of the book you types of killers always seem to write.” Hawks undoes the cuffs, Chizome minutely shifting as Hawks brings an arm up over Chizome’s head, leaning over him as Black Dahlia awkwardly moves towards the door. “If you start acting like a Villain, I’ll put you back in those cuffs quicker than a cut can bleed. Because that’s what Heroes do… protect people from the likes of you.”

Chizome smiles, and slowly moves to stand. Not just so Hawks has the proper time to retreat, but because of the pain from his spine. He was forcing himself to continue his physical regiment from before his injury, and he was only just noticeably slower for it. “Funny… that’s exactly how I think, Hawks. And you say you’re nothing like me?”

Hawks recoiled back a step, palpable disgust rolling off him. But they both turn as Black Dahlia sighs, Hawks quickly walking over. Chizome lets his feet stomp as he follows, seeing a patch of gravel about ten feet across being overtaken by grass as the woman lies on her back.

She spreads her arms up and down, like she was making a snow angel as the grass quickly grows. The six guards from the truck, and a few others from wherever they were, all quickly back up as she slowly sits. She rolls her neck, then turns over to her knees, pushing herself up and brushing the clinging gravel off of her. “Now that feels good. Imagine needing to piss for over seven years; a gas station toilet would still feel like a slice of Heaven, wouldn’t it?”

Chizome waits for Hawks to fly down the ramp into the back of the truck, needing to slow down a step as he goes down the ramp. But he keeps his face neutral as he takes in the building, an unassuming building with a number of satellite dishes on the roof. They were currently on it’s North side, crossing through a section that broke up the building from a large solar farm. “You two, follow me in for your terms…”

“You want me to grow under those solar panels?” Black Dahlia brings a hand up, blocking the sun from her eyes as Hawks turns back to her. “You know, it’s better for them when they’re not on concrete and gravel, bouncing all that heat back up under them to futz with their delicate innards. Same reasons big cities are hotter in the summer…”

“We’ll discuss that later, after your terms are set.” Black Dahlia snaps to mock military attention, then begins marching after Hawks. Chizome takes a long breath, slowly following after them as the sun continues carving through the sky above them.

-

Tenya stands there, a little amazed that despite the odds, they’ve come to a highly improbable event in this competition’s completion. He’s almost got the courage to speak out, when Katsuki steals the words from his mouth with characteristic charm and grace. “The Fuck do you mean, it’s a tie?”

After the activity's conclusion, they had been excused to shower and change out of their costumes. Most of Class A had changed into more casual clothing, the girls of Class B joining them in that while most of Class B’s boys were in school uniforms. Only Tenya was in his uniform amongst the boys, Toru and Momo also having their school uniforms on as they all stood in a half circle around Vlad King.

Vlad King stands there, silently stunned as he clicks a button on the projection. The Class Scores sit at a dead tie, and the individual scoreboard is a messy divide of all the students. Despite everyone trying to find it, one of the activities had remained hidden, meaning the best score were the people who got nineteen events. And that was two people from each class; Honenuki and Tokage, which made sense… and Izuku and Ochako, both of whom flush when they realize what they did.

Tenya moves over to Ochako as people look at Shouto, who somehow managed to do the worst in Class A. He’d still managed nine of the events, but too much time spent in the karaoke hall and then the maze had really cost him time, as had the Figurative Language Category of the Trivia challenge… which had been mildly amusing, Tenya would admit to no one but himself. “You did an excellent job, Ochako.”

Ochako positively beams at the praise, fanning her face as she smiles at him. “Oh, well… I mean, my Quirk gave me a lot of advantages for the contests. An Egg Race, an Obstacle Course, the little Old Lady bot… all things my Quirk helped with.”

“All true. Of course, being able to cancel something’s weight would have been of invaluable help in decoding an English title of a book, then locating it on a shelf.” Tenya smiles at her, her smile failing for a second before somehow becoming brighter. “And you’re the one who figured that challenge out, before any of us went and did it. You also doubled back, helping all of us get those points.”

Ochako looks away, the hand fanning her face moving faster as the two top ranking students from Class B make their way over. Tokage walks up to Izuku, offering a big smile and a hand shake. “Your use of your Quirk is amazing, Midoriya. You must have learned a lot on your internship with Gran Torino, with all of those moves of his you’ve copied.”

Izuku takes the offered hand, shaking it with a slightly nervous laugh. “Yeah, I know I need to be more origin.. Ah!”

Izuku jumps back, Tokage’s hand detaching from her wrist to cling onto his hand. It goes limp, and he stoops to catch it with a dozen offered apologies… only to stop, a metaphorical sweat drop rolling down his face as the girl tries not to laugh. “Sorry, my hand was off helping Kendo during the exercise. I needed to drop it anyway, so I could regrow a new one.”

Izuku blinks, and Tenya can see the second his Quirk Analysis begins working. “Wait… you can regrow destroyed body parts?”

Tokage shrugs, the severed hand in Izuku’s grip turning back and forth before falling to chunks on the ground. Ochako takes a step back as one seems to roll over to her, grabbing onto Tenya’s arm as she visibly struggles to keep from being sick. “I mean, I’m not really enthusiastic to test it… Monoma actually helped, when he copied my Quirk during an early training exercise.”

“Class A’s Resident Quirk Creep at work, I see!” Monoma seems to appear the instant he’s mentioned, wearing his silver bonus points medal as he places a hand on Tokage’s shoulder. “Setsuna, we can’t go telling them everything! We have to keep some surprises ready for the Civil War Exercise.”

Izuku, seemingly tempered by that starting comment Monoma is quickly moving past, reaches up and scratches his cheek. “I mean, I just wanted to help. A lot of us are improving our Quirks just because everyone in the class is asking questions about each other's Quirks. Sure, I know where to find a bunch of Quirk information, but that’s nothing compared to half the ideas people like Mina and Denki have…”

“I’m sorry, were you praising us behind our backs?” Mina leans over one of Izuku’s shoulders, Denki quickly coming up on his other side… and Tenya blinks, seeing a little spark of defiant anger in the pink girl’s eyes.

Monoma rolls his eyes, crossing his arms. Honenuki reaches over to try and pull him back, but the blond is too fired up from the apparent indignity of their classes tying. “Of course, you’re banding together. What, is Midoriya not intellectually rigorous enough to withstand a debate about our educational standards without the two of you jumping in?”

Izuku opens his mouth, only for Mina to move around him with a grin that was too close to just baring her teeth for Tenya’s liking. “Says the boy who failed the trivia challenge not once, but twice? The only person to fail a challenge twice, by the way.”

Monoma grits his teeth back, Honenuki turning to get Kendo or TetsuTetsu to help run interference on the brewing tension. “The only person from Class B, maybe. I seem to recall you got lucky by drawing the only famous piece of Japanese Literature in the Book Translating Contest, and you failed to hand in the right book twice as well!”

“Hey, there were eight different books titled ‘Rashōmon’!” Tenya looks over towards Vlad King, currently having a side talk with… that should be Shishida, from Class B. He waves his hand, the teacher looking over and nodding at him. Ochako steps over the quickly dissolving pieces of Tokage’s hand, her and Denki quickly moving to be able to restrain Mina if she breaks this Détente. “What even the Hell is ‘Rashōmon’?”

Tokage raises her stump, moving her arm in front of Monoma and flashing a grin. “It’s actually become a whole type of story; basically, when more than one person talks about an event, but each of them have a slightly different memory of the event and surrounding elements.”

“Oh…” Mina calms down slightly, pulling back to pull out her phone.

“Again, Class B proves…” Monoma strikes a dramatic pose, failing to notice Kendo as she sneaks up behind him. She delivers a swift blow to the back of his neck… and there’s a split second where genuine Fear passes over Monoma’s face, before he falls limp over Tokage’s arm. That defeats some of the vindication he feels, after Monoma tripped him up… but he lets that thought slide away, like Monoma starts sliding off Tokage’s arm.

“Ochako, I can’t literally borrow your Quirk like Monoma can, but…” Ochako nods, putting her hand over Monoma’s head as Tokage flashes a thumbs up. The Recommendation student shifts her arm, Monoma awkwardly floating in the air in a way that was disturbingly on the line between amusing and horrific.

Kendo quickly scoops up the weightless boy, her hand shrinking as she offers it to Mina. “We all did good, and today was fun. Let’s leave it at that, right?”

Mina thinks about it for a long second, then takes the hand. Kendo also shakes Izuku’s hand, then turns to march off with Monoma in tow… only for Tenya’s attempt to summon Vlad King to work once everything was already resolved.

Kendo freezes, the knocked out and weightless Monoma bobbing on her shoulder as the teacher crosses his arms. “Kendo, what did we talk about?”

Kendo takes a second, then immediately lowers her head. But based on how infrequently this had happened when the classes were together… How often was she doing this, when it was just Class B? “I know.”

Tenya raises his hand, stepping over the pieces of Tokage’s hand as she also raises her stump… which is now bulging as new material begins to grow to replace her hand. “Vlad King, I think this is a perfectly fine resolution to the issue presented. Monoma interrupted a conversation with Tokage and Izuku, and Mina and Denki both came to our classmate’s defense…”

Vlad King sighs, turning away back to the board. “I know about Monoma’s tendencies, Tenya. But Kendo and I have discussed her preferred choice of solution in the past.”

Kendo walks away, bringing the Monoma balloon with her. Tokage offers her unharmed hand to Ochako for a fist bump, walking closer to Class B to accept more lauding and commendations as Ochako turns to him.

She takes a second, seeming to summon a bit of courage before speaking up. “So, you said you got something set up with Lunch Rush, yeah?”

Tenya nods, watching the teacher walk away as Mina and Denki lead Izuku over to the rest of the class. “Yes, for earlier in the evening. It’s… apparently, more common for the Third Years to partake in this sort of thing. So Lunch Rush has a schedule, which only has an early spot this evening, at six sharp.”

Ochako nods, flashing a quick wave to Kyouka as the girl waves her over. “Great… Um, We’ll talk later, then.”

Ochako turns, a faint tremor running down her back as she walks over to Kyouka. Tenya looks away as they flash each other thumbs up, seeing Vlad King pull Shouto aside for a quick little side conversation. He furrows his brow, wondering if Shouto was really that distracted by the karaoke to not leave almost the entire time. Strange…

-

Tomura grits his teeth, standing there as Hana and Doctor Garaki stare each other down. He shifts his feet in his chair, the things too tight as he watches them play verbal ping pong.

“Hana… I told you to tell me if anything important happens to my research. One of my Labs being swept by Heroes definitely qualifies!”

Hana flippantly waves her hand, leaning against an empty Nomu pod. “And Boss said I wasn’t to disturb you, and he has the coercion Quirk. I monitored the situation, and saved what data I could before sludging anything useful.”

Garaki turns to his computer, grumbling as he navigates a maze of files and links. “Hana, I am immensely disappointed in this rebellious phase you’ve found yourself in. Think of all the work we could be doing if we were working together, instead of scattered like we are…”

“I didn’t want to interrupt your ‘Family Time’, as it were.” Tomura raises his eyebrow as Garaki goes still, though he still wasn’t at the web of useless data most Nomus usually looked like. He looks over to the side of his desk, quickly turning a photo of the Doctor with some younger people face down on the desk… that almost looked like a family…

Tomura looks at his sister, wondering how much more she knew about All for One’s operations compared to him. “You… You know about that, then?”

“Garaki, I know a lot of things. And I’m not allowed to share most of them, rest assured. But while that…” Hana barely hides a shudder, but her tone takes a noticeably acidic note before she catches herself. “… is beyond the pale, I have done everything I can to advance the big agenda. Overload the Police, exhaust the Hero Commission, and even Distract Nedzu when the time allows.”

Garaki opens what he was looking for, leaning back. “Be that as it may… the Hero Commission was allowed to take something very valuable to me, in that move. You not informing me may have given the Commission a great and terrible weapon against us…”

“You mean the Back-up All for One?” Tomura widens his eyes, Hana standing up and walking up behind the Doctor with confidence. There were a number of more bestial Nomus out of tanks around them, but Hana doesn’t pay the two small dog-like ones on the ground next to Garaki as he turns any mind. “Unless the Hero Commission puts together a very expensive treatment short notice, Subject Nine will expire within the week. His native Quirk’s destructive nature, combined with an eighty percent Quirk Factor compatibility…”

“Eighty?” Garaki quickly turns around, pulling up a chart. Tomura stands up, slipping his finger through a part of the back of the chair to carry it closer as the Doctor looks over a spiky line graph. “No… it’s never reached above fifty percent in previous subjects…”

“Yeah, but in Nine it rapidly shifts up and down between forty and seventy percent. It’s stabler than other Quirk Grafts, but the result will be the same.” Hana turns to him, giving him a warm smile and a wink as the Doctor agonizes over his data.

“But… even its unstable state is better than any previous All for One grafts. Even the Endeavor transfer barely tops out at sixty percent compatibility…”

Hana crosses her arms, offering a shrug that the Doctor can’t see. “Doctor, I see you have a new statistical obsession to ponder. Me and my brother have a League to run, and a few more hits and runs to scope out before our big Summer Tour. I’m sure you would love to let us get on with that, instead of wasting our valuable time while you do the Quirk Math…”

She trails off as Garaki waves a hand, Tomura narrowing his eyes at her choice of words. He schools his expression as she turns around, standing back up and following her out to the Portal Hall of the Doctor’s Room of Experiments. Tomura knew they were in some hidden sub-basement under a hospital, deep enough that all the concrete and dirt would hide Kurogiri’s Portals from anyone who could possibly pick them up.

Hana pulls out her phone… but Tomura reaches out, covering her screen for a moment. “Can we talk here privately?”

Hana looks up, lowering her phone with a shrug. “Better than at the bar, sure. But nowhere is a hundred percent safe… why?”

Tomura looks at her, raising an eyebrow. “You know something big, about the Doctor. Why haven’t you told me?”

Hana takes a breath, turning to look at the door separating them from Garaki. She turns back, all that smooth confidence gone as she looks… worried for him, in a way that makes his chest feel weird. “Tenko… you know that weird winged Nomu, that Jin made all the copies off? It… The Doctor was very close to the person it used to be, before it was a Nomu…”

Tomura blinks, thinking about the little he knows about the Nomus he’s seen. Someone with a good base Quirk or physic, plus some drugs and stolen Quirks, and enough time in sensory deprivation that the Doctor or Sensei could easily control… but then, he remembers the photo on the desk. And for some reason, a detail emerges in his mind; a brat, barely the age of the Yuuei kids… with wide leathery wings on his back. “What? He… Oh…”

Hana nods, her lips twitching as she brings a hand down to her stomach. Tomura tries not to flinch, remembering what had happened to his sister when his Quirk activated… the thing that required the Doctor and Sensei’s intervention to keep her alive… “Yeah, well mindless Nomu’s aren’t the only thing All for One needs. Like with Endeavor, which you know about. And… you know how the Doctor has been experimenting with making copies of Quirks…”

Hana takes a breath, as if she was edging her way through a very narrow clear path in a mind field. She looks Tomura in the eyes, hoping he’ll put the pieces together…

Tomura blinks, then steps back. “You’re saying… that’s why Sensei wants One for All? So he’ll have all the power he needs to make… more of himself?”

Hana narrows her eyes, as if he’d stepped in the right direction, but not far enough. “You’re nearly there… too many of him, and he might have competition to take over the world. But just like he’s in Endeavor now, and his old body’s been dumped…”

She waits… and Tomura takes another step back, waving his hands in front of him. “Wait, wait… you’re manipulating me, aren’t you? You want me closer to you, not Sensei.”

Hana blinks, straightening to her full height as if she didn’t expect him to take the information this way. “I… Well, that is what I told you to look out for. But there is a difference, between taking advantage of you like they are, and…”

Tomura steps forward, holding a finger up. “You’re trying to make me doubt Sensei. You don’t want me to trust him, after all he did for us… After helping us hide for fifteen years, teaching us how to destroy… destroy everyone who stands in his way…”

Tomura blinks, thinking through everything he was saying. He takes a step to the side, waving his hand as Hana tries to come up with something else to add. He didn’t have the hands on, fleeting bits of memories floating past his eyes as he thinks back on the last fifteen years.

“You… you’re planning a double cross.” Hana jumps at him, and he brings his arm up to block her as she looks side to side.

But she just gets within arms reach, holding a finger to her lips. “No, definitely not that. I want him to royally screw up everything he’s already going after; The Corrupt Police and Hero Commission, Useless Heroes, the Slack-Jawed Public. But after that…”

Tomura growls, his fingers twitching as he reaches up to his neck. “After… No, Wait… So did you let the Hero Commission get away with that guy? So they’d have information on Sensei?”

Hana raises an eyebrow, visually spinning a thread out in a way that makes Tomura think she didn’t intend that. “No… I mean, that’s good. No, the place had an unexpected brown out, which caused a bunch of the experiments to spoil. Subject Nine managed to break out, and his natural Quirk is loud and flashy enough that Heroes swooped in before my sensors tripped. I just want the Doctor and All for One distracted enough that they don’t re-establish their commands and controls… and me saying that, means we’ve passed some of the last vestiges of his last command batch.”

Hana blinks, and shifts her shoulders. She’s standing up straighter, like she’d dropped a backpack full of rocks. Tomura tilts his head, too much information running through his head. “Wait… what?”

Hana looks at him, then offers the same soft smile as before. “He’s got this soft control Quirk, and he’s usually careful about making sure I’ve stayed under order to help him. I know too much about his plan, but he raised me too well… I have my own ideas for the world, and how it should be.”

Tomura looks at his sister… then crosses his arms, looking at her. “What ideas?”

Hana's smile takes on a darker note, and she brings her phone out. “Let’s talk specifics back at the Bar… I’ve made Charts about this. Oh, and I can fill in the others… Oh, the League is about to kick our plans up a notch.”

Tomura nods, Hana turning to call Kurogiri… and he flexes one hand, the fingers curling into a fist. Sensei and Hana were both using him, just in different ways. They both think they’re puppet masters… but Hana was telling him where the strings were tied…

Fine. Let’s see how big her plan is first. Then… Well, he has an advantage over the both of them. Sensei doesn’t know that Tomura is aware of the manipulation… and Hana wouldn’t hurt him first.

Chapter Text

Katsuki looks at the chocolate cake Lunch Rush had made for the winners of the contest, which had been unexpectedly cut to the Top Ten from each class due to the tie. It was fucking great… and he and Rikidou were expected to top it, or at least equal it, for tomorrow. When they’d been together after the exercise, before running off to defend Izuku, Mina had said Vlad King very clearly had a bias for his class… and Katsuki almost agreed, the obvious deliciousness of the cake seeming like a challenge from the teacher.

“Hey, Kats.” Katsuki looks up at Toru, who posts up on the table staring at him. There was this crawling feeling down his back whenever she stares at him, but it was easy to tell because of a glob of frosting in the corner of her mouth. “You good? You’re a lot quieter than usual, today?”

“It’s… nothing, forget it.” Katsuki gets that urge to look over at the biggest group of kids, just barely not latching onto the big group. They were in what was probably the teacher’s section to eat, Vlad King on the phone a few tables away, probably informing Aizawa. Because even though he wasn’t watching Katsuki now, Shishida kept coming back to staring at him whenever there was a lull in conversation.

“Is it nothing, or ‘nothing’?” Toru verbally emphasizes the air quotes there, and Katsuki rolls his eyes at the obvious attempt at covert communication. She sighs, her head turning to look at the group. “What, did something happen during the exercise?”

“Yeah… the Consequences of my own Actions.” Toru looks back at him, and Katsuki looks down at the cake instead of where her eyes should be. It was easier, talking to Toru. She could be making the most judgemental face, and he wouldn’t know… but she didn’t really seem like the sort of person to do that, so he doesn’t have to shake that thought as often. “Couple of Class B kids heard about the first Foundations of Heroics lesson… the one I ruined for everyone.”

Toru hums, then shuffles around the corner of the table to whisper in his ear. “And… did they do anything about it?”

“Surrounded me in the Book shop, put me on notice. Shishida, and two kids out with the rest.” He mutters it, the sound barely making it past his teeth. But Toru moves back to her seat, tapping on the table with a finger as she turns to look at the bigger group.

He looks over, seeing Izuku right on the cusp of being overloaded. Hitoshi was already past his social limit for the day, but was sticking next to Izuku as the Shoda and him geek out about something. And Shishida was right next to the little Class B student, occasionally adding to the conversation while mostly getting a read on Hitoshi and Izuku.

Momo was talking with a pair of Boys, the three of them so close Katsuki would guess they all hang out around the Support Kids… “Shit. Have Momo and Hanta said how many extra people are going to pour in tomorrow?”

Toru pulls out her phone, Katsuki doing the same and checking the group chats. “Yeah… it’s fifty-one people, it looks like. Not sure if that counts Toga, though. I’ll check with Yuga…”

“Katsuki! Can you come over here for a second?” He turns, seeing Hitoshi cupping his hands over his mouth. All of Class A ignores it, but almost all of Class B dart their eyes between Hitoshi and him, like they were watching zoo animals unexpectedly mixing.

Katsuki narrows his eyes at Hitoshi, noticing Izuku look over at him with something akin to betrayal. He almost considers ignoring it… but then Shishida gives him something akin to a glare. And he’s not going to be scared off by a mini Hound Dog, with half the size and a quarter of the brains. He pushes his plate over to Toru, and stomps his way over. “This better be good, Mind Freak.”

Hitoshi turns to Izuku, turning back with a smug grin on his face. “Well, ‘Zuku and Shoda were talking about hero collectibles they have. And ‘Zuku was saying he had one of the most extensive All Might collections…”

Katsuki huffs, crossing his arms over his black skull and crossbones shirt. “In your dreams, Nerd. I still have his Limited Edition 8th Anniversary Poster, and you don’t. The Silver Age All Might Team Up with…”

Katsuki furrows his brow, realizing what he was leading to. All Might’s old sidekick, which both of the boys pick up on. But Shoda looks up at him with obvious amazement, almost sparkling like Yuga. “No way! They only made thirteen hundred of those! How did you get one?”

Katsuki takes the seat next to Shoda, Shishida seemingly coiling up in case Katsuki was stupid enough to try anything. “It was a birthday present from my Dad; he was friends with one of the Event Distributors, and got on a short list for the ones that always pass hands behind the scenes. The actual number from the 8th Anniversary is fifteen hundred, by the way.”

Shoda’s shine decreases slightly, but he still seems almost ready to hover in the air as he turns to face Katsuki directly. “That’s so cool, Bakugo! Did you bring it with you to the dorms?”

“No, I left it at home. I was planning on bringing a few more things next time I visit my parents, after the I-Island Expo Nedzu wants me to go to.” Shoda blinks, and he seems to glow even brighter.

“Wait, you’re going to I-Island! That’s your prize from the Sports Festival?” Katsuki leans back, Shoda blinking and adjusting back without Katsuki having the chance to tell him to back off.

Katsuki shrugs, leaning on the table. “Yeah, Nedzu wants me to do a bunch of events. But a bunch of the class was already going to I-Island, so why not go somewhere they all are?”

He doesn’t look at Shishida when he says it, but he notices the beast man relax slightly as Hitoshi grins at him. “Ah, is the Bomberanian going soft on us?”

“As if! Seven of you were already going to be there, in the seventh month of the year; like Hell am I letting that much bad luck pile up! Fumikage says nine’s a lot better, anyways…”

“What, you don’t seriously believe your class is cursed, do you?” Shishida finally deigns to speak, and Katsuki raises his head to glare at the beast kid.

“That’s easy to say, when you don’t see everything this class has seen. You don’t deal with the day-to-day nonsense we do, the little sparks of bad luck. You know what they say in America, about people who ass-ume?” Shishida grits his teeth, and turns away as Shoda looks between them. Katsuki rolls his eyes, turning to look at Izuku.

Izuku narrows his eyes… and Katsuki raises an eyebrow when he sees a tiny flicker of blue energy pass between him and Hitoshi, where they’re touching at their shoulders. “Speaking of things we left at home, you remember that old card game that had a bunch of decks inspired by Heroes?”

Katsuki blinks… then grins. “What, that one that plays like an arcade Beat-Em-Up’? Yeah; I still have that All Might deck that I won a tournament with when we were nine.”

“Apparently, they’ve put out more cards since. And they released a new version of All Might…” Izuku offers his phone, Katsuki leaning over the table to see the card.

Katsuki leans back, pulling out his phone. He smiles, pulling up the game’s website before switching over to his Dad’s number. “Of course, the developer's power creeped the old one. You’re on, Izuku. I’ll see if my parents can stand me coming over next weekend.”

He sends the text to his Dad, turning when Toru makes her way over with his plates. She slides them over in front of him, her sleeve extending towards Hitoshi. Katsuki blinks, seeing Hitoshi high-five her and quickly slide away a folded up yen note. “So, how’s this game work that you’re all going to play, Blasty? Tell me everything.”

Katsuki turns, trying to muster a glare as some gooey emotion wriggles in his chest. Toru sticks her tongue out, a bit of the cake’s frosting sticking to the ridges of her tongue. “You looked lonely… and tell me this isn’t better.”

Katsuki rolls his eyes, and pulls up a bunch of the cards he remembers playing.

-

Shouto sits still for a long few seconds, surprised at the large collection of Class B making their way to sit at the table around him. He blinks, some of them seeming to wait for him to acknowledge their presence before adjusting in their freshly occupied seats. “Um… Hello…”

He should know their names by now. It’s not that he’s been avoiding learning them, or intentionally tuning them out. But as he struggles to remember their names, and grasp at them in his memory, they wriggle just out of his grip…

One of the girls smiles, offering a hand to him. “It’s Kodai, by the way. It’s been kind of hectic this year, hasn’t it?”

Shouto nods, the others introducing themselves. Lunch Rush had made some incredibly flavored curry dish for one of the challenges, right after all of them had gotten take out curry the night before. But they were all carrying plates of gyoza for actual Lunch, Shouto’s only partially started despite having been near the front of the line to get his food. “Yes… very chaotic.”

Next to Kodai, Tsuburaba sighs and leans in, raising his hand to whisper conspiratorially at him. “Come on, man. We all know you could have done way better, at the competition. Why did you sandbag Class A like that?”

Shouto tilts his head, not sure what Tsuburaba was talking about. “I didn’t get to the task that involved digging through sand. And why would I bag it?”

Tsuburaba blinks, and Kodai shakes her head. Shouto looks over next to her, the taller Bondo’s face too inhuman to get an accurate read on as he seems to chuckle. Next to her is the silver haired Yanagi, who matches his emotionless stare with one of her own until Kodai thinks of the right words. “No, he means you could have done a lot better in the competition. Like Izuku; he was running around to find all the tasks, coordinating while Jiro and Yaoyorozu were in the karaoke bar, and getting points himself. But you… you just hung around, watching all of us sing? We’re wondering if you wanted to lose the contest.”

“Oh… No, that wasn’t it.” Shouto thinks about it for a bit, then shrugs as the four Class B students who’d come up to him obviously want some answer. “I think I want to do something with music, after I finish with Yuuei.”

The four students look at him, the holes that seemed to make up Bondo’s eyes going wide in a way that unnerved Shouto on a level he didn’t quite understand. “Really? Because… I mean, your Father being the Number Two Hero for so long…”

The other three turn to him, and Bondo seems to shrivel up and shrink like Kodai had used her Quirk on him. They look back at Shouto, nervously smiling… but Shouto takes a moment, trying to untangle the web of emotions that remembering his Father always brought up. “It’s complicated. I do want to still help people… but I never got to consider what I could be, outside of being a Hero. So… I don’t really have a lot of ideas of what else I can do, and a lot of the class like music, so that’s the easiest thing to talk about and learn.”

The four of them nod, Tsuburaba smiling and pointing his chopsticks Shouto’s way. “So, how do you want to get into music? Like, do you want to make it? Do you want to learn an instrument, or do something electronic like a soundboard or mashups? Or do you want to produce, and use all the connections you made from having a famous Dad to make people who make good music famous?”

Shouto sits there, so many options being thrown at him almost too quick to register. He looks off into the middle distance, seeing Eijiro and Hanta catch sight of him and get up to walk over. “I don’t know… I’m not that good at singing, and I think it’s too late to learn an instrument…”

“You’re okay at singing. Not great, but you could learn pretty easily if you put some time into it.” The other students look over at Yanagi, who Shouto appreciates for being straight and to the point. “Or, like Kosei was saying, you could do remixes of songs.”

Shouto tilts his head, Hanta and Eijiro quickly squeezing into the booth next to him. Hanta slides their shoulders together, smiling at him as he looks around. “So, what’s up? Lamentation and Woe, all around?

Shouto blinks, trying to explain what he feels when Hanta slides next to him. He’d partially stayed in the karaoke bar because he wanted to know more about music, and the wide variety of songs and performances the rest of the classes had chosen were definitely good for that. But… There was just something that started happening in his chest, when Hanta sat down next to him after performing his song.

“No, we’re talking about Shouto’s interest in music.” Kodai speaks up for him, Eijiro and Hanta both taking a second to incorporate that before nodding.

Hanta looks over, smiling at him and flashing a bright thumbs up. “That’s so cool, man. Is that why you were asking Kyouka and Fumikage about their playlists?”

Shouto feels his face start to heat up, but he knows he isn’t using his Quirk to do that, so he can’t explain… a teasing comment from his brother floats to the top of his mind, and he looks down at the table. “I… Yes, partially. I also just wanted to have something to talk to you guys about, unlike that first big group meeting when Aizawa was in the hospital.”

Hanta nods, reaching over and rubbing his shoulder. “That’s great, man. You have a favorite band, yet?”

Shouto shrugs, pulling out his phone. Hanta carefully lifts it from his hand, nodding as he scrolls through the playlist. “Kyouka has over three dozen playlists, depending on her mood. I like the calmer Folk playlist, the heavier Rock playlist, and a mix from the others.”

Hanta nods, Yanagi reaching forward and tapping on the table. “Rock? Stuff besides Halestorm?”

“Yeah… ‘Nightwish’, ‘Escape the Fate’… a lot of ‘Icon for Hire’...” Yanagi leans forward, Hanta flashing Shouto’s phone her way. She quickly reads the playlist, nodding and looking around to find Kyouka.

“Hey, do you think we could ask Vlad King to borrow the Karaoke equipment for tomorrow?” Shouto turns back, Tsuburaba looking around with a grin on his face. “I’m kind of meh, but if everyone likes music, it’ll be a great way to bond as classes… especially when there isn’t a prize on the line.”

“You want to have something everyone else finds fun at your birthday party?” Shouto doesn’t mean to sound confused… but he hasn’t really gotten to experience anything more than not training on his birthday.

Tsuburaba nods, looking at his classmates as they turn to him. “Sure, why not? Besides, it’s not like I won’t have any fun with it; But as long as everyone’s happy, I’ll love it even more than all of this today.”

Eijiro smiles like he’d just eaten the sun, and holds up his mostly open water bottle in a toast. “To New Friendships.”

Everyone reaches for their drinks, and Shouto doesn’t see any reason not to participate. “To New Friendships.” Then after everyone’s had their shot, he looks at Tsuburaba. “What’s a mashup?”

Tsuburaba raises an eyebrow, then begins pulling out his phone. “Just a second… I’ve wanted to share this one for a while, but Shiozaki doesn’t like songs with curse words in them.”

Shouto feels his lips quirk up, and he takes a quick bite of his cooling meal. He brings up his left hand, then carefully cups his hand over his food. He focuses, a few embers of flame flickering across the back of his palm as he vents some heat into his food.

-

Mezou sighs, looking over at Fumikage as the other boy slowly shuffles behind him. All of his hands are busy holding bags, with Dark Shadow carefully helping lift a number of boxes while Fumi drags what suitcases he can. “It’s not that I don’t want to help with this… I would have preferred being asked, right?”

Fumikage nods, the two of them following Denki over to Class B’s dorms. They were most of the way along, Denki carefully driving a golf cart with an attached trailer with most of Class B’s items they shipped over. “I concur… I fail to see why additional help was lacking, or additional carriages were missing.”

Mezou keeps walking along, Denki having to go slow because of just how much weight he was pulling. The thing had barely moved before the two of them had taken what they could, and was now just barely faster than any of them walking. “I mean, the food was still good. It was Lunch Rush cooking, after all.”

Fumikage nods, lagging a step behind before picking up next to Mezou. “I might have done better, if I hadn’t gone to the maze when I did. Dark Shadow held a true Revelry of Darkness, with me barely able to withstand their jubilation.”

Mezou nods, thinking about his performance during the Contest. “I could have done better… but Honestly, I had just as much fun just talking with Kouji and Rikidou between points as I did working on the puzzles.”

“Yes… Kouji is a sparkling conversationalist, when he’s given the time to come out of his shell.” Denki slows down in front of the closest building, the two of them coming to a stop as some of Cementoss’s sidekicks walk out of the building. And a number of familiar looking people walk out, Mezou blinking as he recognizes their familiar features scattered across their faces.

Denki turns the cart off, hoping out to run up to the woman who looks startlingly similar to him. “Hey, Mom! Finished up with this one now, huh?”

The tall blond woman nods, having the same black streak through her hair that Mezou just assumed Denki had dyed in without really questioning it. She spreads an arm, Denki running up and hugging her as she looks down to the waiting cart. “Now we are; we’ve been running the last checks for Nedzu’s crazy security system, making sure it isn’t set off by any random bird that flies by the window.”

Denki nods, pulling away. “Cool… and you’re still helping with all the other Dorms, right? You’ll be around for a while, if we ever want to go out after you’re done with work?”

Denki’s Mom looks over to the other pair, who Mezou would hazard a guess were related to Ochako. They both had a very simple way of dressing, and flip phone cases on their belts that showed a bit of wear and tear. “If everyone works to the bone, we could finish up before the end of June. But more likely, with everyone taking the breaks they need to, it’ll be closer to August when we’re all done with all three Grade Levels. We’re nearly done with the work on all the Hero Student Dorms, but there are a number of specifications for the Support Student Dorms that Cementoss and Powerloader are working on.”

Mezou looks over at Fumikage, taking a second to think about that. “So, it won’t just be Class 1-B around the campus with us, but all the Older Hero Students. That sounds…”

“Overwhelming. Imagine students like Mirio, with the impunity to appear and disappear at any given moment.” Mezou blinks, a shudder running up his arms at Fumikage’s grim tiding.

They start walking up the steps, the adults making way for them to walk in. There were four people unpacking the new furniture, peeling off plastic and foam wrappings. One girl, a red-head who looked like she was barely older than a graduate from the school, begins waving her hand like a conductor as all the metal kitchen implements begin to move into the kitchen under her bidding.

Mezou begins lowering the bags in a corner of the living room, leaving the entry hall clear for everyone to come streaming in. He begins spreading everyone’s stuff out, Fumikage and Dark Shadow matching what they could from the tags one of the Management Student Graduates working in the lobby had attached to everything, marking off what belonged to who.

They walk out to help move things inside, Ochako’s father undoing the ropes holding all the boxes in place. Ochako’s Mom carefully reaches up as high as she can, managing to move a pile of four boxes out of place as Dark Shadow moves to help her.

Ochako’s parents only help to move the tallest boxes down to the ground, quickly getting pulled in as Denki’s mom walks over. “Aisuru, Kensetsu! Denki was just saying your daughter killed it in their activity, this afternoon. Tied in first place, with a near perfect score.”

They turn to Denki, then over at the two of them as Mezou and Fumikage try to balance out the heaviest boxes between themselves. “Really? Our little girl is doing that well?”

“Yeah, she got all of us points for this really hard challenge, translating a book title and finding it in a giant book shop. And she dominated the obstacle course we had to do, with her Quirk letting her soar past half the blocks!” Ochako’s parents look between each other, quickly trading disbelieving looks before seemingly holding back proud tears.

Mezou smiles, quickly hefting up boxes of what felt mostly like clothes while Fumikage lifts a box of what felt like someone’s entire bookshelf, both the books and the wood itself. Mezou raises an eyebrow as Fumikage huffs, but the bird just nods as he begins walking up to the door.

He just clears the entry hall before setting the box down, his arms visibly shaking from the effort. Dark Shadow quickly sets down the long boxes he’d had, Mezou dropping his and walking over. “Don’t push yourself, Fumi. Do you need to sit down for a minute?”

Mezou sits an arm on Fumikage’s shoulder, the feathers on his head seeming to pulse in a wave as he freezes from the contact. Mezou worries for a minute, only to see Dark Shadow chuckle and make heart hands at Fumikage… Mezou feels his face flush under his mask, quickly pulling away as Fumikage nods. “I… I could use a moment, if you don’t mind.”

“After walking all the way over here with those duffel bags? I need to sit down, too.” Mezou and Fumikage walk over to the couch, and Mezou can’t help but notice that one of Cementoss’s sidekicks watches them with a clearly repressed fit of laughter.

He and Fumikage rest on the couch, and he pulls out his phone. He opens up the group chats… and smiles before looking over at the bird boy next to him.

Fumikage doesn’t know that’s the expression under his mask, but he raises an eyebrow when Mezou looks at him. “What, did something happen in the Winner’s Circle?”

“Yeah; Hitoshi says you’re teaching Katsuki Numerology?” Fumikage’s feathers pulse again, and he looks away while shifting his beak back and forth.

“It… it came up, when we were helping Eijiro and Kyouka in Math. Katsuki played card games when he was younger, and I learned useful shards of occult knowledge to advance my studies.”

Mezou chuckles a little, waving a hand when Fumikage and Dark Shadow turn on him. “I’m not laughing at that, I promise. I know Astronomy and Astrology better than I know Chemistry, even though that’s what I’m being graded on. Imagine if people heard about that; they’d think we were cursing the rest of the class, to guarantee our spot as Top Heroes in the future.”

Fumikage thinks about it, then turns away with a single bubble of a laugh rolling up his throat. “That reminds me… you know other languages, too. Reminds me of a book series I read when I was younger, about a school of wicked mages who gain extra power from that…”

“Oh, you mean the Scholomance series?” Fumikage looks over, Mezou nodding when Fumikage looks wide eyed. “I have copies of them in my room, if you ever want to reread them.”

“I… I would like that.” Mezou lets one of his hands form into a mouth, Fumikage seeing it smile as his beak seems to shift into a grin.

Chapter Text

Shuzenji takes a moment, rereading the email she’d gotten. A Hero Class Activity… with all of Class A using their Quirks… and not an injury or Quirk Overuse from any of them? She blinks, wondering what parallel universe she’s managed to slide into where that could be the case.

Of course, not having Class B in her clinic wasn’t as surprising… maybe they’d balanced each other out, karmically? She was almost convinced to use the dreaded Q word, to define her day… Eh, best not to tempt fate.

She sends all the articles she’d been busy looking for to her tablet, mostly to help either Toshinori or Tensei… and she had to admit she was glad the Younger Hero wasn’t pushing for impossible results. A refreshing change of pace, beyond wanting to keep up with his treatment plan. But Izuku’s early intervention seemed to have been useful in helping fix long term issues, moving most of his case to medium term treatments and care…

Her phone chimes with a generic ringtone, Shuzenji blinking and reaching into her pocket. She looks at the unknown number, staring at it a moment before answering. “This is Recovery Girl, how can I help you?”

“Recovery Girl, this is Kinoshita, with the Hero Commission.” Shuzenji blinks, recognizing the President’s voice. “I’m afraid I need a favor, and on short notice.”

Shuzenji turns in her chair, quickly pulling up her schedule. When the Hero Commission called her short notice, it was either someone needed help that moment, or they were planning a dangerous villain capture, and needed her ready at a moment's notice. “Of course, I’m happy to help anyone in need. What appears to be the issue?”

“Sadly, the details of this case are not the sort I can communicate over the phone. As much as I trust Nedzu’s security measures, this is not an issue that he needs to be burdened with.”

Shuzenji raises an eyebrow, the President’s neutral choices in language telling her quite a bit. And that last bit… Was the President worried about Nedzu knowing whatever was going on? “I… see. I can inform Nedzu that a private matter has come up, and my presence is needed elsewhere. Is this an immediate summons, or one I can prepare for?”

“What I can say is we have a patient in critical need of your help, and you will be supplied with everything you need at our Medical Facility. The sooner we can have your assistance, the better their condition will be.”

Shuzenji sighs, quickly hopping up from her chair. “Of course, I’ll have to make sure the school knows I’m leaving for this evening, perhaps longer. Will you be providing transportation from the school, or shall I take a car to a secondary meeting point?”

“We have a car in the area, which I can route to you now. If you are agreeing, I will inform the facility of your arrival within the hour.” Shuzenji raises an eyebrow, knowing of a couple of medical facilities the Hero Commission keeps, both publicly and not. If it was within an hour of the school, that narrowed it down to one public facility, and two hidden facilities… that she knew of, anyways.

“I need at least six minutes to get myself in order, Madam President. I will be at the front desk when the car arrives.” Shuzenji ends the call, quickly gathering her purse and her essentials. That does include a duffel bag almost as large as her, stuffed with her basic medical tools that were highly specialized. Sure, the Commission probably had at least half of those tools at a facility, but having Powerloader and Nedzu’s budget and more free time than most meant she’d spent some time with a design pad in her hand.

She brings up Nedzu’s number, quickly grabbing her cane with her free hand and striking the bottom of it against the floor. One of the robots activates, and she points to the duffle bag. “Bring that up to the front office, please.”

The robot nods, saying some things about their eventual revolt that Shuzenji has learned to tune out. She’s never been sure if Nedzu programmed them to say things like that, to keep the students on their toes, or if he’s programmed the robots with the genuine desire to revolt… or if they’ve actually gained sentience.

Before she can go too far, Nedzu quickly answers. “Yes, Shuzenji? I saw your phone was just called by an unknown number…”

Shuzenji quickly closes the office door behind the robot, one of her student interns still in and taking care of keeping the clinic clean. “Yes, that’s what I’m calling you about. The Hero Commission president has something for me to do, which she’s being very hush-hush about. The sort of thing she doesn’t trust saying on the phone, especially one you can listen in on.”

Nedzu is quiet for a moment, then sighs. “I see… I had hoped the Commission wouldn’t see my increased security as an implicit threat to them, but it appears that’s not the case. Hopefully, it’s easy enough for us to continue working together on the larger League of Villains issue…”

Shuzenji quickly pats herself down, and pulls out the notepad she’s keeping her daily schedule on. Her memory wasn’t going faulty with her age, but it helped to have something physical to track everything. “I should have everything handled for today, but I’m not sure how long they’ll expect me to assist them. If it’s going to be for multiple days, I’ll try and get them to let me call and update you.”

“Of course, Shuzenji. I’ll send out a notice that you’re leaving on urgent business, and have your student assistants notified of their increased priority. Stay safe, no matter what they have you do.” Shuzenji ends the call, taking a breath before walking out of the office.

Shuzenji quickly makes her way towards the front of the school, wondering what the Hero Commission could think is so important to be this tight lipped… or, maybe this was just something they didn’t want Nedzu to know about specifically? Then they thought they had something to fear from Nedzu… which everyone sort of did, but Shuzenji can’t help but pick at the scab of the conspiracy. They might just have found some part of it, and have started spinning it out of control.

-

Tsugou gladly helps Recovery Girl carry her bag, saluting her with his scaled hand as they walk into the Hero Commission site. “It is an honor to meet you, Recovery Girl. Much less travel with you.”

Recovery Girl smiles, Tsugou and the other agents forming a defensive perimeter around her as she toddles along with her cane. “My, aren’t you a nice young man to someone like me. It was a pleasure to share the car with you as well, Crust.”

Tsugou nods, a genuine smile on his face as they walk to the door. He lets himself lag a step behind her, trying very hard not to let his underlying feelings about this situation show on his face. But… he’d grown up idolizing people like Recovery Girl, and to know that she and Nedzu might be conspiring against the Hero Commission… his arms tremble, and not from the weight of the bag of supplies Recovery Girl was having him carry.

The door to the facility opens, and Miko quickly ushers the team inside. The lobby looked like the thin veneer of a cover business, some no-name media office with a few Hero Commission agents maintaining the facade by doing some minor work on computers. “Thank you for coming when we called, Recovery Girl… and I see you brought your own supplies.”

Recovery Girl nods, letting out an exhausted sigh. “Of course, dearie. You’ll find a booklet of everything’s specs and function in the outside pocket, if you need to inspect it. But while you’re doing that, all I know is there’s another dearie in critical need of my help.”

Miko nods, waving for the rest of the team to take the bag. “Crust, if you could accompany us to the lower levels. This is something you’ll need to be read in on anyways, considering your position.”

Tsugou nods, his new responsibilities sitting heavily on his shoulders. But he follows the two women to an elevator, an assistant quickly passing Miko and handing off badges for the two of them. Miko swipes a card across a seemingly blank part of the wall, which reveals an elevator that the three of them quickly move into.

Miko waits for the elevator to close, quickly producing a tablet. She turns to them, holding the device at an angle where the both of them can see. “As of last night, we discovered what appeared to be a lab where the League of Villains was working on creating their Numerous Mutation individuals. Its external power source failed, allowing one of the individuals to use their Quirk in a manner that attracted the attention of a patrolling Edgeshot. Most of the discovered Nomu’s had already expired, but the one who’d escaped confinement is currently in critical condition in this medical facility.”

Recovery Girl leans forward, Tsugou looking from her serious but unsurprised expression under her visor to Miko’s obvious watching of her reaction. “Oh my… Well, he’s certainly more normal looking than the Nomu that attacked Yuuei. Or those ones that showed up in the footage from Hosu… How much do you know about the process of making someone one of these Nomus?”

Recovery Girl’s question sounds leading, but she doesn’t have the tone that would have made Tsugou instantly become more suspicious of her. Miko takes a second, turning the tablet around and typing on it. “We’re currently lacking true data, but a number of files were found in the Lab. An unfortunate amount of it was corrupted, but we were able to recover that the person who escaped was the Ninth subject in whatever trial the League was running, while the unfortunate others were further along in numbering. If we had to guess, he was a test in some new type of Nomu… one that isn’t as monstrous as the others.”

Recovery Girl takes a breath, turning to look at the elevator doors as the box begins to slow. “That would make sense… every Hero knows what Nomu generally looks like now, so an equally ruthless creature that could pass for a regular Human long enough…”

She visibly shudders, tapping her cane as the door opens. Tsugou lets her enter the tiled hallway, lit with bright fluorescent tube lights leading left or right a few doors either way, all down the same wall as the elevator. But for whatever reason, he was willing to trust Recovery Girl that she meant well… which just meant they needed to keep an eye on Nedzu, if the Commission President was to be believed.

Miko quickly leads them three doors to the right, walking into an observation room looking into a wide hospital room. Tsugou looks around, seeing the Hero Commission President turning to nod to them as they come in. “Shuzenji, thank you for your swiftness. Miko read you in?”

Tsugou looks into the hospital room, seeing a few nurses recording information from health monitors. There was another Hero in the room, one he vaguely recognized as being close to Edgeshot when the current Top Ten had all been brought to meet with the President. “Only so far as him being experimented on by the League of Villains, and finding him from his Quirk. How exactly did he get your attention?”

The President taps on the glass, part of it pulling up a video as Tsugou notices it’s partially a computer screen. The President quickly swipes open a video, stepping back and letting Recovery Girl watch the footage of a warehouse being blasted open with a bolt of lightning… while also a short series of hand motions towards Miko, pausing so the other woman can respond.

Best as he can tell, they say in brief… ‘Can we trust her?’, with a quick response of ‘Maybe, little data.’ The President turns to him, and he nods as Recovery Girl watches the tape.

“My goodness… Did he cause the power failure in the facility with some Electrical Quirk, or was he able to cause some sort of atmospheric fluctuation?”

“We believe the second, based on local posts to social media. About five minutes around the lightning strike, people were posting about a storm cloud spinning and gathering over what we would come to find out was the facility. However, given that he was soaking in a mixture that was at least twenty percent Trigger by volume, we don’t know what the actual range of his Quirk is… and he’s been in and out of consciousness, and not been lucid enough to answer medical questions.”

Recovery Girl nods, pointing over to the door. “Would you mind if I walked in, to see the patient from the other side of the glass? Or am I here mainly to advise on medical procedures for the patient?”

The President nods, waving her hand for Miko to open the door for Recovery Girl. They wait for the door to close, watching the Youthful Heroine walk up to the bed.

Recovery Girl beckons for one of the monitoring devices, then begins physically examining the man’s arms and hands as Miko moves closer to the President. “She brought a number of devices, which are being checked upstairs. So far, none of them are raising any flags with the security team…”

“Of course they aren’t, but we can’t let anything in here without double and triple checking it. And besides…” The Commission President stops herself, Recovery Girl asking one of the nurses to do something.

The man, dark skinned with his long brown hair tied in interweaving locs, walks up to the patient. He reaches up towards the man’s hairline, barely putting any force into a pull that comes away with a messy clump of the man’s hair.

Recovery Girl nods, and walks up towards the window. “This man is, among other things, suffering from a severe Vitamin D Deficiency. You said he was soaking in Trigger; any chance he was in some horrible sensory deprivation tank, or other scientific experimentation apparatus?”

The President walks up towards the door, hitting a button for an intercom to play her voice for Recovery Girl. “Exactly that, actually. Why?”

Recovery Girl sighs heavily, turning back. “This man has an energy based Quirk and, even on Trigger, expended a great amount of effort in his signal for help. He is severely nutritionally deprived, and that’s before taking into account any deeper medical scans into his condition. If he’s this deprived, his bones, muscles, and even organs are also likely suffering due to that lack. Besides which, his eyes are also probably suffering from extreme photosensitivity. Can you lower the lights in this room?”

Tsugou looks at the President, who seems to consider something for a moment. She then nods to Miko, who goes to the screen side of the viewing room and calls up a dial.

As the lights dim from a concentrated brightness to a lower level, something more appropriate for night time, the man’s arms begin to stir. The nurse quickly moves to stall the man, Recovery Girl taking a step back while Edgeshot’s Sidekick moves to get into a defensive position.

Tsugou watches the man turn, his voice only just audible on the microphones transmitting into the room. It wasn’t legible, but the nurse nodded to him, reaching down and patting the man on the back of the hand.

“Everyone but Scanner, please step into the hallway.” Recovery Girl follows the rest of the group into the room, the viewing room becoming crowded as the President holds the door for everyone to step inside. “Recovery Girl, could you spare the weekend to ensure he’s able to maintain consciousness for proper questioning?”

Recovery Girl walks back to the window, the bottom of which is only just low enough for her to look in. “I told Nedzu I’d call him if I had to stay longer than the evening, just to be safe. But as long as I can step out and tell him I’m needed, I can stay until classes start on Monday.”

The President nods, pulling out her phone. “Make an initial treatment plan, then give Nedzu your update. Crust, I want one of the Top Ten here until he regains consciousness, in case he becomes hostile. If you need someone to replace you, contact Best Jeanist or Edgeshot first. Miko, I need to update the rest of the Commission Vice Presidents about this evolving situation…”

“Vice Presidents, as in more than one?” Crust looks over at Recovery Girl, who seemed confused by the situation.

The President nods, pulling out her phone. “With active technological communication threatened by Mayhem, I effectively need to be in six places at once. Sadly, only the League of Villains has an effective Copy Quirk. But the Commission has War-Time Protocols when Electronic Communications are rendered inoperable… or untrustworthy.”

Recovery Girl takes a moment… then nods, looking back at the patient. “That… I hate to think about this as a War.”

“It’s best to be prepared for War, and suffer Peace, then the more gruesome alternative. If this man is merely a victim from Hosu or elsewhere, then we’ve merely spent resources helping a victim of the League. If he’s a yet unknown member, or somehow driven to madness as the other Numerous Mutation Individuals are, then we have him contained for the public’s safety. I trust you to provide medical attention, as is your specialty.”

The President turns around, and Tsugou snaps to a salute. “If anything changes, I will inform you as soon as I can.”

The President nods, walking to the door. “Very good; Now, to exercise my specialty.”

Tsugou turns to hold the door for her, Miko following behind her as Recovery Girl turns to the nurses. “Alright, I deal with Quirk Exhaustion and Fatigue all the time, but without knowing his medical history, we need to make sure each injection doesn’t cause any complications. Besides that, the standard treatment list is…”

-

“Ativan?” Rei turns, seeing Natsuo holding up a prescription bottle. Natsuo was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, Rei standing over by a cabinet of mugs… and now, a small basket of prescription bottles. “Having trouble sleeping?”

“A bit… one of our ‘guests’ snores, in the guest bedroom.” Rei turns to her son, whose fingers curl around the bottle and spin it in his fingers. “And… I haven’t slept well since Hosu.”

Natsuo nods, walking over. He walks next to her, setting the bottle on the counter next to her before setting his hands on the counter. There was a ring of water on the counter, a freshly washed cup on the drying rack the most likely culprit.

He brings a finger to it, and the water slowly starts to chill as his finger wraps in frost and turns a shade of red. “I… I need to be able to leave this place. And I know, that’s not going to happen without an armed escort for a while. But… I’m behind volunteer hours, and clinic hours, for my degree.”

Rei nods, seeing why Natsuo wanted to say. But while he would spend Endeavor’s money on petty things, using Endeavor’s status seemed like a line he didn’t want to cross. Hers, on the other hand… “You know, I remember Nedzu saying how Recovery Girl could use additional help in her clinic. She trains non Hero students to get a nursing degree, but people actually on a degree program can barely get the time of day with Nedzu.”

Natsuo blinks, easily seeing the whole line of the conversation. And, for lack of something better to do, goes the long way through it. “Really? Cause a couple of my friends do need the hours too; not nearly as many, but that’s just extra hands to help her, right?”

“Yes… and according to the Hero Commission, Shouto doesn’t need extra security at Yuuei. You’d need someone to drive you there and back, of course, but that’s easy enough to set up…” Rei slides out her phone, quickly unlocking it… and pausing, seeing a notification of an unknown number’s text.

“I mean, they send someone to Fuyumi’s school every… Mom, what is it?”

‘Dad’s Gone. I’m sorry, Mom.’

Rei stares at the text, looking up around the house. As far as she could tell, the Commission hasn’t planted any bugs or the like in the house. And the League… Mayhem had walked into her hospital room. Something as small as a filing cabinet lock or password on her medical file would be too small for them.

Natsuo leans over, seeing the message before Rei can tilt it away… and he goes still. He looks up at her… and she raises an eyebrow when he doesn’t look surprised. “I… Did Nedzu tell you?”

Rei looks around, setting her phone on the counter and leaning into her son’s personal space. “No, your Father told me. Who told you about… Did you see him?”

One of his fists clench, his breath catching a second before he takes an intentionally calming breath. “Yeah… I think it was an accident. He looks… He doesn’t look good, Mom. And Shouto’s seen him, too. More than once…”

Rei leans back, bringing her hand up. She turns to the side, hearing the faint sounds of soft bottomed shoes crossing the wood floor. She looks back into her son’s eyes, and raises her finger and waves it at him before withdrawing a step…

And the next second, she puts on the most relaxed airs she can. “I’ll see if I can’t call Nedzu, or Recovery Girl herself, and see about an arrangement. At the very least, they should be open to you pleading your case themselves.”

She navigates through her phone, Natsuo turning to the female agent who looks in on them, then walks away. His nose wrinkles, noticing the animalistic ears on her, and letting out a sigh before continuing. “That’d be nice… I’ve talked to him twice, I think. One time, when I was getting some first aid booklets for Shouto, and another time at the Sports Festival…”

Rei looks at her son, a faint smile sneaking onto her face as he wiggles an eyebrow. “Really? He talked with Enji at the Sports Festival, or so I’m told.”

“How hard would it be to talk to him again? It’s been how long since you’ve talked to him?” Rei takes a moment, looking at her phone.

The two of them move when her phone buzzes on the counter, the same number sending another text they read in the same instant, in the little drop down notification.

‘Hopefully, I can see you four soon. Don’t text back. Love you.’

Rei looks at her son, then down at the phone. She opens it, navigating to Nedzu’s number, faking another smile. “Nothing to do but wait… Well, that’s what the Commission will say. But we can’t wait on them forever, can we?”

Natsuo looks at her, and she curses that his apparent social awareness means he can also see through her facade. “Sure… Mind if I pull up a movie in the living room?”

“Not at all, dear. Just make sure it’s not too loud, that Fuyumi’s class might hear something they shouldn’t.” Natsuo nods, looking at her phone for a long moment before walking out into the living room. Rei takes a deep breath, leaning against the counter for a moment to compose herself.

Chapter Text

Shinya takes a moment, not liking all the different threads he could see crossing each other. He wasn’t as poetic about it as Tsunagu, but he wondered what perverted spider could enjoy this web of contradicting secrets and motives and schemes…

He doesn’t have a conspiracy board, but he does now have a group of photos in a manilla envelope he’s taken to carrying with him. Never leaving it unattended, ensuring no one else would be dragged into the growing net of mistakes and tragedies…

He nods to Police Chief Tsuragamae, offering another folder for the dog-man to inspect. “I don’t know why Sanagi Middle School has to do with your investigations, but I was able to fetch the file you needed on the way.”

The Chief nods, taking the folder and quickly opening it. Shinya watches him quickly flip through the file, seeing a number of signs that the report was something highly classified. “It doesn’t have to do with the League of Villains in specific, if that’s your concern. This is a personal interest case… like how you're digging into Touya Todoroki.”

Shinya raises an eyebrow, then crosses his arms. The Chief was sitting behind his desk, seemingly unworried about Shinya doing anything… which was true. The worst thing to do is act on the crumbs of information he has, right now. “Yes, a ‘personal interest’ case… I think that’s the best way to describe that case. For the both of us, since you’re the one who claimed to have seen his body over a decade ago.”

Tsuragamae pauses his reading, looking up from the files. Shinya faintly sees a young girl’s photo on the front of the records, but doesn’t look away from the beagle’s eyes as he stares down at him. “Woof course I have a marker on that case, whenever anyone accesses it. It was a tragedy, one that has haunted Endeavor since it occurred. Burying it would be a disservice to the public, but I want to know whenever someone accesses the information.”

“I’m sure that’s all… Besides, how damaging it is to your career would increase your interest in it, of course.” Shinya doesn’t care for the politics of things, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand them. The same way the Hero Commission was now trying to change their way of standing behind Endeavor to uplifting all the Top Ten outside of All Might, only Tsuragamae was currently benefiting from their mistaken trust in secrecy.

“I don’t deny it would be; I was told by my superiors that supporting a Popular Hero was more important than doing proper case work. A mistake I have tried not to repeat, with those I have helped advance in the force. But I fully realize the Bill Must Come Due; hence, my attempts at ensuring the check is fully split.”

Shinya furrows his brows, not liking the dangerous edge in the Chiefs tone. The Chief lets the report close, setting it down and standing to his full height. “You’re getting dirt to use yourself, then. It isn’t a Mexican Standoff if one of the parties doesn’t have a gun to point at anyone else, huh?”

The Chief nods, pulling out a briefcase from under his desk. He adds the file on the desk to it, turning it so Shinya can see a number of others sitting there. “Nedzu has a tendency to forgive mistakes, some of which his students fail to learn from and grow past. And the Commission has so many skeletons in their closet, it would be mistaken for a mortuary… but to begin to act on either would mean to sacrifice my own position, as the Police Chief. It will cost me everything… but that’s the sort of decision a Public Servant should make.”

Shinya raises an eyebrow, the Chief simply taking a step back so the Hero could take the case. “So, this is all those assembled skeletons, then? Why show them to me?”

“Because All Might is too close to Nedzu, as are Hawks and the Commission. But your connections to the Underground are more valuable in this regard, than Best Jeanist’s pull with the public. You not only have channels to gain this information yourself, making your coordination of it unsuspicious to a point, but you have the experience to use these to their best advantage… including my elimination, should you deem it necessary.”

Shinya walks forward, seeing the top of the case having a notebook page with loose notes on what the files contained. “I don’t suppose this contains anything on the League Lab my team discovered last night, does it?”

The Chief tilts his head, quickly walking over to a notebook he must be keeping his notes in. He flips through a few pages, but Shinya figures out the answer before he confirms it. “No… evidently, you can learn more about the Commission than I can. I just hope I can find myself someone who’ll take this position, and treat it the way they should, before you decide to use this information.”

Shinya shakes his head, and pushes the case closed. “That isn’t necessary. Obviously, you want to do this for the right reason. We can work. together…”

“No; if I’m going to do my job the way it needs to be done, I can’t afford to leave myself a safety net. I’ve always taken the safe road, and allowed things to slowly degrade to this point; To fix things, more drastic measures are required.” Shinya looks up at Tsuragamae’s eyes… and there’s a twitch in the corners of his eyes, like an addict that was struggling not to partake in their vice when the chance is so easily presenting itself.

Shinya looks back at the case, and begins flicking open files and speed reading through them. “Very well then; Let’s see what tools are in this kit you’re giving me.”

He flicks open the newest file… and his head involuntarily moves back, reading a sealed criminal record of a young girl. The Chief looks at it, nodding at his reaction. “I will admit, I found it surprising. Especially after finding out Nedzu allowed that girl into his school, with his students he cares so much for.”

“He what?” Shinya quickly reads through the file, looking back at the blond girl’s face.

-

Sekijiro takes a breath, wiping his brow as the kids begin touring the whole of the dorm the instant it’s done with. Thankfully, Shouta showed him how this system worked before going on his weekend vacation. So he watches everyone taking stock of the dorms, Class 1-A helping them move their things into their separate rooms…

Sekijiro pauses, and turns as he feels someone watching him. Not Nedzu, from the cameras; he’s accepted that faint brushing across the back of his neck for the rest of his time teaching at Yuuei. What he catches now is the faint dragging of a dull blade down his back, quickly turning in his seat in the teacher’s lounge.

He sees Himiko slowly edge into the room, looking around like a skittish cat scared of the slightest sign of anger. Her eyes lock onto him as he slowly turns in his chair, one hand moving to her pocket.

He spreads his fingers out, settling for a neutral expression as Himiko observes him. “Did you need something, Toga?”

The girl takes a moment, blinking as if she’d skipped over a page. She takes a partial step back, halfway into the hallway. “I… how are you seeing me?”

Sekijiro raises an eyebrow… then nods. “I was wondering… You’re not just a natural talent at going unnoticed. You picked up a technique from someone, then?”

Himiko must notice his carefully neutral tone, not sure if he was angry or impressed at that revelation. “Yeah… this older lady showed me how to do it. She used it to lift people’s wallets, or to walk into restaurant kitchens to swipe a few containers of food during a Rush to feed herself.”

Sekijiro nods, not moving a muscle beyond that. Shouta wasn’t the only person used to handling skittish kids, these days. “You say you could have taken fresh food, but you relied on dumpsters instead. A strong bit of character, despite the difficulties your grew up with because of your Quirk.”

Himiko raises an eyebrow, and steps into the room. She doesn’t take a step further from the door, still clearly ready to run if she doesn’t like him. “Yeah, you all say that. Like my Quirk isn’t disgusting… Spare me the platitudes.”

“It’s not any more disgusting than my Quirk… Would you like to see it?” Himiko doesn’t say otherwise, and Sekijiro reaches into his cigarette pocket in his shirt. He produces a small multitool, pulling open a blade for her to see. He carefully drags it down his arm, carefully tracing along an old wound already there.

A thin line of blood wells up, and he can see the second she lights up. Himiko slowly takes another step as the blood begins sliding down his arm… then stops as it begins coiling up his arm. Her nose wrinkles, but she doesn’t recoil as it begins pooling in his hand.

He carefully only allows only a slight few ounces out, which he carefully shapes to coil like a double helix in his hand. It’s like trying to control a puppet by a control bar, with a delicate shape not forming as exact as he’d like. He turns his hand over, the shape staying in the same plane as his hand moves.

“When most people cut themselves, it’s usually a sign they need to speak to someone like Ryou. When I did it… There was this pressure under my skin, an itch I couldn’t scratch without splitting my skin. The pressure would build up; my body naturally produces blood at almost twice the rate as a normal person, which creates quite the problem. It was entirely normal, when I found someone who could understand and help me.”

Himiko walks over, her hand coming out of her pocket. Ryou notices an expensive metal pen, the tip removed with it’s cap not properly in place, loosely held in her hand. But the operative word there is loosely; she can’t seem to tear her gaze away from the blood, reaching her free hand up to pluck at the cords running between the double helix.

Sekijiro lets his control falter on the string, the liquid running down her finger. She turns her hand, the liquid pooling in her hand… and he raises an eyebrow as she quickly licks up the blood. She takes a step back, jitters running down her as her eyes rapidly dilate…

He turns to the desk, grabbing for one of the paper coffee cups he’d refill at the pot a few desks over. He quickly lets his blood pool in the cup, offering it to Himiko. Her nose scrunches up, but she turns the cup over… then rips the thing open, licking every inch of it to get every single drop she can.

“People don’t react in the best ways to Blood Quirks. I got off better than most, since I can only shape my own blood… What does your Quirk let you do?”

Himiko holds up the vivisected cup, her eyes rapidly scanning it for any signs of more crimson. Only seeing her own spit, she throws the cup onto the desk behind Sekijiro… and her hand begins trembling, her grip on the pen tightening. “It’s… It’s not enough. I need more…”

Sekijiro nods, holding up his arm. Her eyes latch onto the cut, the skin around the spot slightly reddened but already closing. “How much more do you need?”

Himiko seems to have a moment of lucidity, shaking her head. “I… No, you’re trying to trick me. You… People don’t just…”

“If I haven’t used my Quirk enough, I just donate blood for Recovery Girl to have in case of emergencies. A few more ounces isn’t a loss… you can trust me, Toga.” Sekijiro reaches his free hand up, pulling on the edge of the wound. He then reaches up to his shoulder, slowly pushing some more blood out for Himiko to cup in her hands.

She drinks down what pools, then licks her hands clean like a kid messily devouring birthday cake. She stumbles a few steps back, Sekijiro waiting and watching for whatever effect her Quirk would provide. She’d been given the usual substitutes he’d eat, to satiate the rare cravings most Blood drinkers would need for their Quirk needs…

He blinks, Himiko’s face seeming to shift like the surface of a lake. Her Quirk takes a minute, watching her skin secrete some sort of gray ooze… but by the end of it, Sekijiro is looking at a Copy of himself, his current clothes and all.

Himiko blinks, her face… Sekijiro’s face?… scrunching up as… as they take themselves in. When they speak, it’s Sekijiro’s voice, with almost perfect inflections as well. “Not very pretty, really… I don’t like older guys.”

Sekijiro himself looks at his Copy, imagining a sweatdrop as he sighs. “I’m not old… Everyone in my family has gray hair…”

His Copy… screw it, it was Himiko under there. She takes a few steps, not seeming to have perfect balance in his body. “A lot bigger than usual… Didn’t know I could grow so tall.”

Sekijiro nods, moving to take a seat. “So, your Quirk lets you Transform into people whose Blood you drink? Interesting… Do you have any of my memories, or is it just my appearance?”

Himiko shifts back to acting like she had before, skittishly moving back to an open seat. “Oh, I don’t know a thing about you. You gave me enough Blood to hold this… I think nine hours? I’ve never had more than a water bottle’s worth of blood, and I managed to stay that person from lunch one day to halfway through the night the next.”

Sekijiro takes a moment, both adapting to her taking his shape and keeping her mannerisms the whole time. “Well, we can easily take care of your needs. But I would have to ask you to not keep that pen, if possible.”

Himiko takes a moment, then produces the modified pen. “I wasn’t actually going to hurt anybody… I just… I don’t like walking around without something to protect myself.”

“No one is going to attack you here, Himiko. You’re safe here, and you always will be… You can trust me on that point.” Sekijiro looks into her eyes, trying to maintain a straight face as he looks into his own scrunched up face.

Himiko starts to cry, a line of gray ooze sliding down her face. Her entire form begins to ripple, and Sekijiro closes his eyes as his face begins to distort and melt away. He takes that nightmare fuel, and crams it into the deepest, darkest memory hole he can find in his mind palace, opening his eyes to see Himiko wiping away tears. “I… Thank you, Mister Kingy.”

Sekijiro turns, grabbing a box of tissues from Nemuri’s desk. He holds it out, robotic waiting for Himiko to take it before grabbing his phone. He dials a number, the voice asking him what he needs. “Janitorial Staff, East Teacher’s Lounge… Bring a Mop, specifically.”

He ends the line, and tries not to flinch away when Himiko runs up to him, wrapping her arms around him. He ignores the greasy feeling of ooze getting in his clothes, and instead notices the stifled sniffles and the staccato beating of her chest as she tries to control her breathing. “No one’s been that nice to me before, after seeing my Quirk… only Spinner, but he doesn’t count.”

Sekijiro gently reaches his arms around her, trying not to sound suspicious as he pats her on her shoulders. “Why doesn’t Iguchi count?”

“Because… He’s like a brother to me. He’s a better brother than I’ve ever seen, anyways.” Sekijiro nods, brushing some of the clinging sludge to her blood red blouse.

“How about I show you to the showers, and grab you a spare uniform in your size. Is that okay?” Himiko pulls back, her eyes red and puffy. Sekijiro stands up, brushing a bit of ooze from his shoulder before leading Himiko through the halls to the closest washroom on the campus.

-

Toshinori tries to keep a straight face, him and Inko walking through a nicely treated scenic garden path. He wasn’t sure which of the two had planned it, but both Hizashi and Nemuri were giggling about it as the two of them were called to make sure they attended on schedule.

Now, maybe it wasn’t intended to be a romantic spot. There were a few individual people up and down the path, many with phones or cameras taking marked side paths to take pictures of the path proper. But the high presence of roses and clearly cared for flora seemed to suggest otherwise, and Toshinori was fairly certain he could make water boil if a kettle was placed on his face.

“Toshinori…” Inko starts to speak, only to be distracted by a pair of people tripping on the path in front of them. The young man quickly reaches down to his female friend, helping her stand as the two blush and stammer apologies. “I… um…”

Toshinori looks at Inko… and notices she’s blushing nearly as fiercely as him. “Inko, I was hoping to clear something up…”

“I was hoping so… I just… I don’t know if I’m ready for anything, right now.” Toshinori stops, then lets out a gigantic sigh of relief as Inko waves her hands. “It’s not you, it’s just… what?”

“Well… I can’t deny you are a very nice woman. Anyone would be lucky to have you, if you would have them in turn. But I… I don’t know if I could give you the time you deserve.”

Toshinori regrets the words he says, but they stink of the truth as soon as he says them. Inko nods, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Oh… Well, I was actually hoping we might be able to spend a bit of time together. But if you’re not interested…”

“Wait, I am! I just…” Toshinori is almost certain he’s stolen Endeavor’s Quirk, feeling like his entire head is suddenly on fire in that moment. “I just… I haven’t dated anyone in a very long time, so I’m not sure what all the signals are. And… I didn’t want you to think I was in any sort of rush, that’s all!”

Inko raises an eyebrow, a faint smile curling her lips. “Oh… Good. I suppose a nice, slow scenic walk is just the right thing to set the tone. Besides, we’re grown adults; if we both agree that slow is more appropriate, then we can agree another time if… if we want…”

Inko turns away, power walking a few steps as a high pitched noise tries to escape her mouth. Toshinori is fairly certain he feels his soul leave his body, but he follows behind her.

They try to enjoy the scenic route, but both end up too flustered to speak much until the end of it. Toshinori wracks his brain for the last real relationship he’s been in… then tries not to choke on the dust on those mental photographs… then choke on his spit at the content of those memories. Him and David… they didn’t exactly have moonlight picnics, when he was in America.

The two of them walk back up towards the hotel… and Toshinori raises an eyebrow, vaguely recognizing a woman waiting by the front of the building. She’d be hard to mistake for anyone else, with her light blue skin and long purple hair, but Toshinori doesn’t remember ever having met her directly. Only vaguely knowing her by reputation.

She’s talking to a member of hotel security, a man who is trying to remain stone-faced as she apparently tries to talk herself into the building. She turns, flipping her hair in exasperation… and Toshinori can see the moment her face lights up when the two of them walk into their sight.

She starts walking over, quickly pulling out a recording device and fixing imagined wrinkles in her darker navy blue dress under a light red jacket. “Midoriya-chan, just the woman I was hoping to find!”

“Chitose Kizuki, yes? I think I remember a few articles you’ve written, when I was younger.” Inko’s voice has an edge of tension to it, but she politely nods her head as Kizuki looks over the both of them.

“I’ve written more than a few, but having you know my genre of interest would be a great help… Oh my, Toshinori Yagi? All Might’s right hand man… and was that the lovely romantic nature walk you two were just coming from?” Toshinori tries to purge his emotions from his face, Kizuki’s eyes not seeming to miss a detail.

He offers his hand, which she takes while holding her pinky off to the side. “Just two colleagues enjoying an afternoon constitutional, sadly. But I sense that’s not going to be next week’s story, is it?”

Kizuki pulls her hand away, blocking her mouth with the back of her hand. “Not next week’s, no. But I would love to do a human interest story on Yuuei’s teachers, if Nedzu would give me the time of day. No, this week I have another story I’m chasing pieces of… which is why I was hoping to talk to you, Inko.”

Toshinori looks at Inko, who has her skepticism shields raised to maximum. “I don’t know… Mind telling me the angle you have so far, before I contribute to it?”

Kuzuki pouts a bit, slowly stepping over to Inko’s other side. She has twenty centimeters of height on Inko, not including heels, so Inko was about level with the reporter’s averagely sized chest as she moves an arm over Inko’s shoulder. “Professional Woman to Professional Woman, that’s not really something I can really do. But if you’re a real fan of my work… I think I can let you in a little bit of my angle. The story is a human interest story, about how children need to be allowed to safely train their Quirks at a younger age.”

Toshinori looks around, seeing a few people noting Inko and Kizuki’s body language as Inko doesn’t shrug the arm off her shoulder. “I see… that is certainly an interesting story. And how exactly would an interview with me help you move the needle on that?”

“Why, look at your son’s performance at the Sports Festival. Such an evidently strong boy, but he was never given the opportunity to grow his control over his Quirk due to its potentially destructive properties. And yet Endeavor’s son, who’s Quirk could do nearly as much harm, has all the control of a Trained Pro because his Father could help train him whenever Young Shouto wanted. Who in their right mind would call that Justice?”

Toshinori takes a step away, watching the two of them… and he sees Kuzuki has an almost predatory glint in her eyes, like an owl waiting for a rabbit to emerge from it’s burrow to chase it. Toshinori can see Inko’s metaphorical ears turning, knowing there was danger in that whole set up, just not sure what direction it was coming from. “I… I wouldn’t say Shouto was the one begging for Quirk Training, personally. But I can certainly see the value of that angle…”

“Of course you can, Valkyrie.” Kuzuki takes a step away, doing a quick spin before looking Inko in the face. “And that’s not the only injustice my story’s tackling, although the repression of powerful Meta abilities is more than enough to sell copies. I also intend to talk about another layer of tragedy, one which you might be familiar with. You’ve heard what’s happened to Tsubasa Garaki, right?”

Toshinori raises an eyebrow as Inko’s visceral reaction, which she quickly brushes down. But Kuzuki already saw it, bringing her hand up in a mock gasp as Inko looked at her. “I just know the name, that's all. He went to school with Izuku, for most of their life. I think I attended a few school events, and spent time with his parents… what happened?”

“My… I was hoping to have a surprise for you, but I’d never considered this would be a surprise.” Kuzuki looks around, seemingly trying to find a less public space to talk. “Would you mind sitting down with me, for just a few minutes? I’m sure with all the people only seeing your bad side after your brewing legal battle against Endeavor, having some more sympathetic ears would be an emotional relief, yes?”

Toshinori watches Kuzuki continue to bait the trap… but Inko nods, looking at Toshinori. “Would you mind if Toshinori accompanied us back to our hotel room? I’m sure we could set up something official, if you wanted.”

Kuzuki smiles, and Toshinori can already see her typing up a story faster than the letters can appear on her screen. “Excellent. Lead the way, Midoriya.”

Chapter Text

Kizuki quickly walks back to her car, holding her dictaphone close to her chest. Oh, she’d been hoping for a simple interview, maybe some new tidbits for future stories. And she certainly had some now… but that was for later. ‘Don’t lose focus on what you’re writing right now’ She thinks to herself, worrying the flesh inside her lips.

The door is opened for her, her assistant stepping in behind her. The poor girl quickly opens a laptop, noticing her excitement and picking it up like an infection as the driver starts the car. “The Interview went well, Miss Curious?”

“Oh, it went better than perfect! I have some new projects I need researchers on, right now.” The girl nods, opening new documents before pulling out a cord. Curious hands her the dictaphone, looking out the window as she begins spinning out titles. “Firstly, multiple Yuuei teachers are out here on a vacation. Not teaching, not doing Hero Work, just taking scenic walks. We can definitely use that for Liberation Army Members, to spur their dedication to the cause; that one might have to stay private, of course.”

“Of course, Ma’am.” The girl sets the audio files to download, her fingers moving quickly thanks to an otherwise useless Speed Enhancing Quirk. But the girl dedicates herself to the cause, Curious seeing inflammatory titles raining down along with the basic information. “And you got a word with Midoriya about her son’s situation, and the Missing Children’s Reports?”

Curious nods, pointing to the dictaphone's time codes. “Files Five and Six are the Interviews with Midoriya and Yagi… and imagine, All Might’s Secretary being in one of our pieces!”

Kizuki trembles with her overwhelming Passion, barely able to contain herself. Her assistant dutifully notes the files and timestamps, nearly an hour of questions and answers to pick through and properly incorporate into the piece. “Her reaction to Tsubasa?”

“Oh, she’s too much of a Lawyer to give us the real juicy quotes we can use. But she pulled out her phone, texting some people. I need you to find me a ‘Mitsuki’ and ‘Masaru’ that might be close to Inko Midoriya to follow up on… but she gave us exactly what we need, to get our 18-25 membership fired up on their mistreatment, and all the parents on how their children are being treated as we speak.”

“Good… but Trumpet was saying her Anti-Endeavor work might be bad for the 30-45 non-parent membership. She’s a lawyer who sues Heroes who use their Quirk freely; isn’t that going to go against our message?”

Kizuki nods, leaning over and brushing her hand over imagined papers. “Oh, that would be a bad angle to run, my girl. But let me tell you how we really sell it, to our Followers. We don’t say ‘Anti-Hero Lawyer Contradicts Herself With Son’s Lack of Freedoms’; We instead sell it as ‘Anti-Suppression Lawyer, Her Long Suffering Career of Punishing Those Who Oppress Us, Laments Her Son’s Continually Downtrodden State.’ You see…”

“We take her cases where she went after Heroes for going after innocent people, just using their Quirks freely, and extend it as her subtly supporting the Liberation Effort?”

Kizuki ignores the flare of anger from being interrupted, snapping her fingers and pointing at her assistant as the driver quickly weaves his way through traffic. “My thoughts exactly, you clever girl! Although, I don’t know if she supports True Liberation. Not that she could say, when All Might’s Secretary and fellow Yuuei teachers were coming and going from the room. But perhaps, if we were to be able to secret her away to a more private meeting…”

Her assistant pulls up the dictaphone’s now downloaded audio, readying the interview to play at a heightened speed to transcribe it for their records. “Should I have Skeptic plant a digital bug, see if we can’t find a way to get her to a more private meeting?”

“And deal with Nedzu’s increased security, and possibly compromise us? No; Skeptic is good, but he’s not Nedzu-level good. No, we must be patient. But while Midoriya might be a business minded woman, she suffers from the same thing everyone does. The need to have people around her; Her Husband has been gone for who knows how long, her Son growing up to be a Hero and leaving her soon. Her old colleagues pushed her out to not deal with the hassle of such a controversial practitioner at their firm, and seemingly still on the outskirts of Yuuei…”

Kizuki takes a moment, her assistant pausing as she thinks about it for a moment. “She… She might willingly come to us? ‘Catching flies with Honey’, and all that?”

Kizuki runs her fingers through her hair, looking out the window at other cars passing. “Yes… Did anyone get more information on that Sanagi Middle School Incident, and the missing girl?”

“Yes… just when the Hero Edgeshot was also obtaining a copy for the Police to review.” Kizuki raises an eyebrow, then waves her hand. The assistant puts in earbuds, quickly transcribing the video faster than any of her previous assistants ever could.

‘Himiko Toga… Oh, I can smell the story from your case. Just a little longer, and I can make you a Front Page Star!’

-

Kai raises an eyebrow, looking at the lab. He crosses his arms, his frown hidden under the long black beak of his mask. “I want you to tell me what you’ve done wrong, before I kill you.”

Ketsueki turns to him, quickly taking in the room they were currently setting up for the samples they would be taking from Eraserhead and Miko the next chance they got. A set of three chairs, two machines in the gaps between chairs, with a small rolling cabinet of the materials to draw blood in the first place. “I… This is a very basic set up, when it comes to donating blood…”

“Yes, for ‘Donating’ blood. I fail to see how you’re going to hold a Hero here against his will.” Kai sees some of the blood leave the Quirkless man’s face, turning back and surveying the room again.

He brings a gloved hand up, his fingers undulating as he quickly makes his way through a number of options to try and improve the scenario. “We… no, tranquilizers would pollute the data. Tying them down isn’t sufficient to prevent them from potentially polluting the samples and harming themselves… we can’t threaten them with Quirk Suppressing Bullets, since that suppresses their Quirk factor beneath reasonable limitations…”

Kai raises an eyebrow, and reaches down for the gun he keeps on his belt. He had two, but the ordinary pistol should make the point. Ketsueki quickly takes a step back, moving his metal clipboard up to his chest before seeing Kai’s finger was nowhere near the trigger. “Armed security could be provided, and they could be implicitly threatened if they do not give samples. This data is important enough that I would be willing to expend the resources to secure it.”

Ketsueki looks at the gun for a long few seconds, slowly lowering the clipboard before nodding. “I… Yeah, that would be great. Besides the three of us that would be drawing the samples, as many as a dozen troops for security should be enough…”

“And, if I have them point their guns at you and the medical team, Eraserhead is less likely to attempt to escape. His ‘Heroic Tendencies’ should make them less needed, right?” Ketsueki blinks, not seeing Kai smile under his mask at the man.

He turns, his breath causing the paper surgical mask he was wearing to quickly expand and contract. He tries to squirm out of the corner he’s been back into… failing to do so before turning back. “I… I don’t know if that’s really necessary.”

“Hopefully, you’ll have a solution before we get Eraserhead and Miko, then.” Kai pulls out his phone, his eyes narrowing as he sees a new message from Mayhem. “And hopefully, this gives us an edge against the League of Villains…”

“Why not use the League member? As the hostage, I mean.” Kai looks up, Ketsueki quickly pointing a finger. “The League wants you to fix their burned Fire User, right? While he’s recovering from you remaking him, you just have two people with guns pointed at him, and not the team getting the samples.”

Kai brings a hand up, resting his chin on his middle finger while his index frames his face. “Hmm… Admirably cut-throat, if I may say. Now, we just need to worry about him not ruining the illusion. His Quirk could prove troublesome…”

“And… if his Quirk wasn’t a problem?” Kai blinks, his smile becoming more evident as his underling speaks. “He… One of the guys he killed was my friend. And not just that; he killed Loyal Hassaikai, all of whom would have killed and died for you. We can’t kill him, because of our ties with the League. But taking his Fire Quirk for what he did…”

Kai steps forward, Ketsueki closing his eyes as he awaits his Death. But Kai just reaches forward, patting the Quirkless man on the shoulder. He squeezes, then lets go as the man lets out a shaky breath as tremors wrack his body.

He turns, hearing the man half fall to the floor as the clipboard tumbles a few steps away. “Now that… That is a very nice idea. Elegant, if I may. Exactly the reason why this world needs to be cleansed of the Quirk Sickness; No one sees the simple ideas, anymore. We uphold our bargain to Fix and Cure him, avenge ourselves in a surgical fashion only against the offending ally, and have a countermeasure that is sure to pacify the Hero…”

Kai spins the thread out in his head, chuckling darkly to himself. Ketsueki slowly stands up, trying to put himself right behind him. “Then… maybe we still modify the chairs, to strap their arms and legs in. Whichever chair they don’t use, we strap down Dabi and put a guard on him, letting the two of them see exactly what we’re willing to do.”

“Yes… Although, I suppose that means we’d have to expend some resources in keeping Dabi safe, should something happen. If we’re doing this, to keep our relationship with the League from souring, we must protect him in case the Hero gets loose.” Kai takes a deep breath, quickly adjusting the glove he’d used to touch Ketsueki’s shoulder. It wasn’t as filthy as it could be, but he’d be ridding himself of it at the next opportunity. “I’ll be taking my leave now. I trust you to send me an update when the adjustments are made, as I will update you when Security updates us on the best time to obtain our targets.”

Kai walks through the mostly empty facility, already writing it off in his mind. Sure, he was probably letting himself be manipulated by his underling, for taking revenge against Dabi. But while he had the necessary self control over his pride to not be so foolishly caught by the Police and Heroes, this… This was about more than him. Not just the Honor of the Hassaikai, but the Respect Denied him.

Were the flunkies Dabi killed his best agents? Obviously not; he couldn’t bother to remember their names, much less check the records to relearn them. They had no great act of service to the Hassaikai, and were in the position to only be worthy of the grunt work someone under Kai assigned them. But they were His, and he was not done with them; Dabi took three things from him that night, besides the Trigger. The Respect owed to him, The Respect of his Underlings to him, and the Respect of the Public to the legends of the Yakuza.

Now, as he walks out to the waiting car, he has a perfect opportunity to restore his damaged Pride, and to instill new Fear into any who would oppose him. A chance like that… Well, it would be foolish to pass it up.

-

“Madam President, Stain and Black Dahlia each agreed to the terms presented to them. Our Data Management Facility is now under standing guard of Ten of Hawk’s best sidekicks, with the Pro Hero never more than an hour’s flight away.” Sayaka nods, finishing a cup of tea before setting it back on the table.

She looks around the table, the Senior Vice President maintaining the public perception that everything was in order. In the future, when she couldn’t be at the office, he was going to stay accessible to the public, as he was the only one they would recognize as having authority. Nanami was a reliable man, which is part of why Sayaka had ensured he’d gotten that spot in the first place.

The rest were here for a number of reasons, not the least of which being their Quirks… and in one case, a lack of Quirk that was rewarded with fierce dedication. And besides that, a very thorough notetaker, speed reading through the compiled reports to efficiently debrief. “Misaki, how are the security updates in our other prisons?”

The young woman pushes up her glasses, turning the report around for the President to read in detail as the younger blue haired woman summarizes it. “Given the Magician Villain Mr Compress’s escape during the transfer, Shian Prison has been quicker to update in the hopes of avoiding any additional complications with the Commission. Bagu and Kuin are close behind, but there are others that haven’t begun the overhaul we’ve suggested.”

Sayaka reads through the list, Misaki helpfully having added notes on what procedures were in the works, or at least verbally promised. Half of those would be forgotten, of course, but at least they were on the Warden’s minds. “Good. Shien, have the Old Guard been made aware of their obligations?”

The older man to her immediate left nods, a long white beard just touching the table if he holds his head straight forward. “Most have responded, even if just to say their health wouldn’t support moving to even Part Time duty. Only Underground Heroes have yet to respond… Well, respond in anything but a barrage of expletives that would bankroll an After Dark comedy program. Our Active Heroes currently number (3,850) Spotlight and (400) Underground, with another (200) Spotlight and (70) Underground ready if we have the time to mobilize them.”

Sayaka takes the notebook he passes over, flicking through the pages and nodding before passing it. “Thank you, Shien. Of course, they’re spread far and wide over Japan, and we have no less than four Outreach Missions and Press Tours planned throughout the year. Speaking of, how are the reassignments going?”

“Um… Badly, Madam President.” The youngest member of the Vices, a man barely out of business school, instantly has all eyes on him. He shrugs, pulling on the collar of his suit jacket as he reads out the report with all the enthusiasm of a eulogy. “The Number Two Hero’s event to try and wipe the mud off himself became one of the biggest terrorist attacks in modern history. Burnin Agency, formerly known as Endeavor Agency, has been quartered as everyone reassigns. Even without an organized Villain Cell, crime would noticeably uptick… but that’s Asika’s department.”

The blue haired woman rolls her eyes, the purple haired boy’s insolence washing off her back. “Tokyo’s facing a six percent uptick in crime, which is higher than average for Seasonal Crime. It’s still containable, as the League of Villains is resorting to their hit and run cyber crimes instead of another major attack. But going to paper right after three in four of Endeavor’s former co-workers and associates start moving around… it’s costing us valuable reaction time, as Ren was quick to point out before the meeting.”

Ren stands from his spot, his chair scraping against the floor as he turns. He was in a white suit, which contrasts the spike of purplish-red hair he has tied up in a ponytail. “So to summarize what all five of us have noticed, we’re handicapping ourselves in the hope of not handing the League of Villains a possible advantage, instead giving them three definite advantages we know they have used in the past. Overloading our workers with smaller side cases, limiting the Heroes by catching them in half finished paperwork, and slowing down our ability to react as we tie ourselves up in bureaucracy. Best emphasized by this room; five people who receive marching orders from you, only one of whom can confirm and give them down the chain, and one woman who can’t possibly react to everything happening at once… No offense, Madam President.”

Sayaka raises an eyebrow, that last part dripping in obvious undertones. “Yes, but introducing more office workers who need security training would allow for too much chance and chaos…”

“Not at all, Madam President.” Ren walks back to his desk, picking up a folder and tossing it like a frisbee across the table. “We have over fifty applicants to do paperwork a week, ten of them having been doing so for the past year. With no more than three Senior Secretaries, I can vet them, get them trained, and get them chewing through the backlog before July.”

Sayaka quickly takes the folder, flicking through it. She sees a certain checkmark on a box at the top of the application, quickly flipping to the next… then the next… and the eight after that. “And why are you only showing me Quirkless people’s applications?”

Ren crosses his arms, leaning against the back of his chair. “Who said anything about their Quirks? They’re all trained data entry workers, desperate and ready for any work. Even our training and first year salary would be double anything they’ve been paid, and ensure their loyalties no matter what hellish hours we make them work…”

Sayaka sets the folder down, looking at Ren. She slides them over to Misaki, the girl quickly looking through them and cataloging them for easy review. “Yes, but only one of them has had a job in the past three months. They’re likely either in debt, or otherwise compromised in a way where working for the Hero Commission is an undeniable risk…”

“So, you’re saying Quirkless people are more prone to crime than Quirked People?” Sayaka closes her mouth, Ren acting like he’s set some expert trap.

Sayaka pushes her chair back, turning to the side to rest an elbow on the table. “Are you showing bias to Quirkless applicants because of your own Quirkless condition?”

“Are you accusing a handpicked Underling to the Hero Public Safety Commission President of corruption, purely for their Quirk Status?” Sayaka furrows her eyebrows, Ren going from a carefree smile to a hardened glare. “Or will having more health benefits to pay out damage the quarter’s profits? Or rather, the coffers you specifically overlook as part of your duties to the Commission?”

“Ren…” Asaka next to Ren raises a hand, but Sayaka waves her hand. The other three Vice Presidents all look at her, seeing her chew through her options as she stares down with Ren.

“Alright… I’ll give you Three Training Officers. But we can’t have such a clear bias in hiring; vet an additional ten hires, and have them all on data entry by this time next month. Anyone who fails to certify by that time will be terminated, and your position as Interim Vice President will be brought up for reassignment… Or, we can drop this pretense…”

“Thank you, for your vote of confidence.” Sayaka blinks, Ren bowing to her. He does it all showy, his hair surging in front of his face before he flips it back. “I’ll have them all in training before the end of the week, and certified well within that time limit. With an additional ten percent to our manpower, we should hopefully be caught up and ready for whatever the League has prepared by July. You have just promised Salvation to the Hero Commission, Madam President.”

Sayaka stares, annoyed that she’d blindly walked into that obvious power play by Ren. “Very well, then. If you’re done, Suzugamori, we have a more important matter to discuss.”

Ren takes his seat, and Sayaka can feel the judgemental looks from the Nanami and Shien as she so freely steps in a bear trap. It wasn’t even hidden, or camouflaged; she’d been played like a piano, and she couldn’t save face for that defeat. Even Misaki is giving her a side eye, quickly looking back to her files as she sorts them.

Instead, she produces fresh photos of Subject Nine, passing them to either side to make their way around the table. “Until we’ve verified otherwise, this recently discovered ‘Subject Nine’ is to be treated exactly like the Numerous Mutation Individuals we managed to capture after Yuuei and Hosu… but given he partially recovered consciousness, and did not immediately begin to attack, and the data an analyst from Edgeshot Agency recovered… I believe we have the opportunity to learn about these Creatures, from a possibly uncorrupted source.”

Nanami, the person most in tune with her thoughts, instantly knows where she’s going. “No… We’re already employing Stain, which is almost enough to turn Hawks against us. No matter how Human it looks, we are not using a Numerous Mutation Individual against the League of Villains.”

Shien, Ren, and Asaka both quickly look between Nanami and Sayaka, but the sixth member of the war table takes a long moment to look at the photos. He reaches up, pulling his glasses away from Cueball White eyes to bring the photo closer. He runs his fingers over the photo of Subject Nine, his eyes rapidly twitching as information is taken in. “Interesting… you say we recovered records?”

Sayaki nods, the other five looking at the blind man in the room. “Edgeshot was informed most of the data was corrupt, and that which wasn’t was medical data that could confirm the former identities of the people discovered deceased. In actuality, whoever is doing the Genetic Research for the League of Villains was cutting edge in the field, and in data preservation. His most recent few batches of notes, which were on deceased subjects, are worth the sacrifice in having an entire dissertation on the experimentation on Numerous Mutations.”

“To repeat such barbaric experiments… forget the League somehow having the ability to remove and attach Quirks like children’s building blocks. It’s barbaric!” Asaka reaches over to Ren as he yells, but she doesn’t look like she disagrees for even an instant.

“I’m not saying we repeat the experiment. Hopefully, there will never be a new NoMu on this planet. But…” Sayaka shudders, both from the disgusting feeling of the experiment’s notes running through her head… and from a golden opportunity, dropped right in front of her like a piece of bacon in a skillet. “…Subject Nine has a ‘Copy’ of ‘All for One’, according to the records. Meaning, based on my limited understanding, if that individual can be made to work for the Commission… they have the ability to take and reassign Quirks.”

The room goes so quiet, Sayaka can hear the blind man blink. He sets the photo down, sliding his glasses back on as he begins cackling to himself. “Without knowing what this person is like, or even their name, you want to make them a new Symbol? A Numerous Mutation Hero, after all the Terror they’ve inflicted…”

“No one but our staff knows he’s a NoMu. Very few know he was even picked out of a eugenisist’s pickle jar, and those that do can have their silence bought. I feel the need to reiterate; a ‘Copy’ of the Quirk that can buy and sell other Quirks. The League still has access to this Quirk, I’ll remind you. Add Teleportation, Copying, Mr Compress’s list of theft-style crimes so long it would be faster to list it’s omissions, and Mayhem’s Digital mastermind like tendencies; We have the recipe for a Super Villain so powerful their sudden but vicious string of crimes means they’re leading up to something.”

Asaka begins tapping on the table, quickly running the figures thanks to an Advanced Calculation Quirk of hers. “Then… That still doesn’t tell us much. This Quirk Stealing Villain could have any number of reasons for not acting; they can take and give Quirks, but not use them, or they can only hold a certain number of Quirks, or can only use them under specific conditions…”

“Yes… if only we had a way to gather more data on this Quirk.” Sayaka liberally applies sarcasm, taking the folders the Vices have gathered for her. “Since this is still a Democracy, I move to call a policy vote. Who at this table believes we should use our new found Numerous Mutations notes to study this person, and potentially find a weakness to exploit in the species?”

Nanami sits there, looking around. Shien similarly doesn’t move… but Asaka slowly raises a hand, Ren turning to her with an almost betrayed look. “Only studying Subject Nine, I agree to. Before they’re used in any sort of deeper fashion, I want another vote on the matter.”

The blind man laughs, raising his hand. “I agree with Asaka. I only agree with studying this man, no further.”

The two older men remain stoically silent, but Ren and Asaka exchange glances. Ren raises his hand, Sayaka nodding before standing. “Good. I’ll send a note to one of our more trusted Medical Experts, and begin analysis on the data. We’ll continue this meeting shortly…”

“If we’re taking a recess, I should inform my subordinates to inform our new employees that their training starts now.” Ren stands, walking towards the door to the office. He slides a key card across the front of the box, opening it and pulling his phone out from its lead lined interior.

Sayaka follows him out, Ren quickly walking down a white marble hallway while dialing a number.

-

Deep underground, beyond the eyes of the Defiled and Sickened masses, there sits a golden statue. A statue of a child, of a False Idol that the common man decided to venerate, much like Rats worshiping the diseases the Ticks on their back carried. And above it on the ceiling, between them being massive cases of books, was a painting of a dreadful chimera, rampaging through a burning world.

And in front of that statue is a man, in tight red robes with blue reflective accents. His blue skin had the occasional sheen across it, the light of the room reflecting off him at odd times like a disco ball. He has what resembles a dagger in his hand, turning the pummel back and forth as he considers their current plans.

Flect raises his eyebrow as his phone rings, pulling it out. He stares at the call, answering after a moment. “What news do you bring, Disciple?”

“I’ve managed to get the additional Five Agents into the Commission, as requested. We’re one step closer to Salvation… but there is more dreadful news, as well.”

Flect raises an eyebrow, turning from the Shining Child Idol to look at the partially hidden door in this Inner Sanctum. “Your voice holds ill tidings, Suzugamori. Tell me, swiftly.”

“They’ve found another Blasphemous Idol… one that wears a human guise. They want to learn of these wicked experiments… and to use this creature in their war.”

Flect grits his teeth, remembering the many images and reports of these ‘Numerous Mutations’... people so corrupted by Quirks, they’ve lost any semblance of humanity. And now, the Hero Commission not only intended to learn of these unholy creatures, but use them as weapons in their infernal war against the League of Villains? “Abominations… All of them.”

Suzugamori takes a moment, clearly checking around him before continuing. “I will continue to secret away the supplies for Salvation, with the help of our other insiders. The next shipment should be on the way next week… For Humanity’s Salvation.”

“For Humanity’s Salvation.” The line automatically cuts, before anyone could trace it more accurately than Europe. Flect slides the phone away, moving to the hidden door.

Chapter Text

Neito grits his teeth, ignoring how everyone seems to be getting along just… just swell. Either wrapping gifts for Tsubaraba, working in the kitchen on the apparently Herculean lunch plan, or the group trying to get the television to properly connect to the karaoke set that had been waiting inside the dorm this morning. Like a gift from Santa, much too late for Christmas proper and ages too early for the Winter Holiday to have advanced through the Autumnal Holidays without signal jack-o-lanterns being lit for aid.

He stands by the entry hall, Kendo and Shoda having run off with Midoirya and Sero to get their wardrobes for the event. Partially under the vain hope of pretending to have something to do, partially to keep an eye on everyone… which is why he doesn’t like turning his head to check the still closed door, then turning to see a surprise French Ambush.

He jumps away from the other blond, tremors running up and down his body until he forces them to stop. Yuga raises an eyebrow, holding a small dish of something thickly yellow and a spoon. “Neito… Are you alright?”

“Me, Alright? Why wouldn’t I be alright?” Neito ignores how several of his classmates audibly sigh when they hear him speak, crossing his arms in an attempt to force them to remain still. He tries to force his usual cocky expressions… but he can’t force his usual facade to completely form, today. For whatever reason, his nerves were rubbed raw, in a way he hated to even think about.

Yuga raises an eyebrow, then offers him the bowl. “Well, I wanted a second opinion on whether this was good enough to serve. Personally, I find the idea of diluting this particular cheese to be a crime nearly as bad as anything the League of Villains has done… but such is life, I suppose.”

Neito narrows his eyes, looking his fellow Midnight intern straight in the face. “Oh, you want my help? You didn’t want one of your fellow classmates to share their insights with you?”

“I would, but clearly you weren’t doing anything that would be dangerous to interrupt.” The television blares a long, loud guitar chord, Kaminari and Jiro both shouting at each other before the devices both come to a sudden stop. Yuga doesn’t even look over, but Neito notices him flinching at the same time he full body checks the wall. “And besides, some of them are a little too comfortable mincing words, to save people’s feelings…”

Denki slides out from behind the television, storming over to grab a tool from Yaoyorozu’s hand. “How the Hell can you stand music this loud, Ear-Plugs?”

Jiro pokes out from behind the television, clearly considering if she could throw the adapter in her hand like a knife at the lightning blond. “I’m sorry, Mister ‘If it wasn’t in last year's ‘Just Dance’, I don’t know the lyrics’, but some of us have this thing called TASTE!”

Bakugo steps out of the kitchen, waving a rolled up napkin in the vague direction of the two. He had on a pair of goggles partially covered in flour, which coated everything else to him to the point it was hard to tell where the cooking material stopped and his white apron ended. “You’ll both be tasting jack if you don’t stop yelling! Turn it down, and stop aggravating the only person here who can work the damn sound system!”

Neito blinks, then turns to Yuga as his excuse to talk to him evaporates. But Midnight drilling in manners to them keeps his smile in place, offering the dish like nothing had happened in the past few seconds. With mild annoyance, Neito takes the thing from the Frenchman’s hands, scooping out a serving and quickly sticking the spoon in his mouth to avoid saying anything…

He tries to keep his face neutral… but damn it, it tasted great. Maybe spread over toasted bread, or as a dip for something else…

Yuga smiles, so he clearly didn’t do as well of a job as he’d hoped. The Frenchman starts to turn… then turns back. “You know, if you could afford to spare some more time, having a biased third party would be a good way to check that everything else is ready.”

Neito huffs, but moves to follow Yuga to the kitchen. “I thought it was supposed to be an ‘un’biased third party?”

“No, I want someone to try and find the fault in the process. And you went on the same lunch trip with Midnight as me, so you know how this should generally look…”

Yuga starts to walk into the kitchen, then quickly steps back with an arm spread. Neito quickly matches, thankful the still warm cheese dip doesn’t slosh out of the cup and cover his front as a group of tiered cake stands float their way out of the kitchen under Yanagi’s Quirk. She steps out, waving her hands and guiding them to sit on the dining room table and out of the way of the rest of the kitchen.

She turns and moves into the kitchen, Yuga quickly pulling Neito in and in front of the opening that looks at the dining table. Neito quickly takes in the row of plates, with what were clearly supposed to be example dishes for everyone to reference and emulate in the… four, maybe five stations he could see.

Bakugo was back to working with Kodai, who was carefully helping shape balls of dough, then carefully reducing their Size before she put them on a baking sheet. Bakugo then takes them over to the over, looking over Kamikiri and Kirishima as they cut vegetables before moving on and putting the sheet in. “Eijiro, that should be time on the diced tomatoes! Mezou, bread’s coming out of the broiler!”

“Yes, Chef!” Mezou turns from the station he’d evidently been sharing with Yuga, quickly walking over as Bakugo slides on oven mitts. Yuga guides Neito over, seeing untoasted bread making up some fancy looking sandwiches, some of which had the liquid cheese spread over them while others had assortments of diced vegetables and deli meats on them.

“Last batch of diced tomatoes done, Chef!” Kirishima walks over to the corner of the kitchen next to the fridge, switching one metal bowl with another. The only thing to tell them apart was a note on the side of them, but Eijiro quickly walks them over to Rikidou. The big Class A student nods, turning to Yanagi as she rushes in.

Bakugo turns back, taking a second to survey before nodding. He strips the mitts, handing them off to Mezou before walking over to Rikidou. “Yui, rotate over here to help finish off the bruschetta… and no swiping samples till we’ve got them all finished!”

“Yes Chef.” Kodai hangs her head a moment, but rushes over all the same to help with the dish. Neito blinks at Bakugo being so casual with her, almost jumping when Yuga offers him a plate.

“You preferred the salmon canapé on that lunch date, yes?” Neito nods, taking a careful bite of the food. The melted French cheese spread and the sliced salmon made for an interesting contrast, the bread being some sort of chilled sugar bread that brings it together into an almost coherent idea.

Neito nods, Yuga smiling as Bakugo turns to them. He walks over, nodding when Kamikiri holds up a bowl of other diced items before letting Yanagi around him. He ducks back like it’s second nature, letting the Class B girl hurry past him like they were all spinning gears in a complicated machine. “So, what do you think?”

He has a half smug grin on his face, and Neito almost wants to break his confident stride then and there… but seeing him work with his classmates so well… “It all looks good, I guess. You really know what you’re doing, huh?”

Bakugo turns, taking a breath. “I wish, but this is more Rikidou and Yuga than me. I’m just keeping everything moving… Riki, the girls can garnish the bruschetta fine! If you need to do something, rotate over to plating it… where did the stands go?”

Yanagi turns, holding up a spoon of diced tomatoes in one hand and pointing with the other. Her Quirk stops, three more sets of spoons freezing as Kodai stands there for a moment with a plate of baked bread while Mezou brings over the next sheet from the oven. “I moved them to the table, cause we needed space for finishing this. Can you bring them back over?”

Bakugo turns, and huffs a breath before turning back. “Good management of the space, but calling out that stuff is key. Keep working there!”

Bakugo stalks out of the kitchen, Yuga stealing a plate of small cut sandwiches before sneaking out of the kitchen. Neito follows him, not taking anything but the half finished bite he was holding. “I thought Bakugo was… more intense than this?”

“Oh, he was almost manic last night when we were doing the prep work. We talked, getting his nerves all ironed out before we started working this morning… It's pretty comforting, having someone to talk to about that sort of thing.” Neito narrows his eyes, reaching over and taking another two samples while finishing off the one he was holding. Yuga rolls his eyes, but allows it as people start putting up decorations.

-

Hatsume flashes a peace sign to her classmates, waiting by the entrance to pick them all up. She smoothes the wrinkles in the skirt of her black dress, not really having any taste in fancy beyond what her moms recommended. “Are you all ready for the party?”

Zaphira nods, resisting the urge to mess with her hair. It was looped up in a sort of dramatic piece, wearing a bright yellow dress that contrasted with her darker complexion. “Please tell me that cart out front was yours. I hate walking in heels.”

Sokutei brings a hand up to his mouth, Hatsume’s eyes taking in the subtle silver crossing lines running across the navy blue of his suit jacket as he tries not to laugh. “Your dress shoe heels are thinner than mine.”

Zaphira turns on the larger boy, who shrinks back as she chases him between the twins. Hoseki and Gemma are wearing Yin-Yang inspired matching suits, seemingly having taken two perfectly good suits in stark white and pitch black, cut them arbitrarily, and sown them back together with red thread. “Yes, and you already wear heels every day! Quirkless women my size either have impractical stiletto heels, or tennis shoes! These clown shoes don’t fit me, even with a pound of newspaper inside them!”

Sokutei holds his hands up, quickly ducking behind Mia as she walks in. She had her headset on, though there had clearly been some effort to bedazzle it. Her hair was tied into locs with gemstone braids running through them, leading down to a single sleeve emerald green dress that also has shining gems running down the sleeve in a spiral pattern. “Are we waiting for the Business Course kids? Because the cart is only enough for the seven of us.”

Hatsume blinks, pointing her finger around in a count. Mia points, and Hatsume turns to see… she jumps, the blond girl seemingly fading in between blinks of her eyes. She had her hair in twin buns on the side, with a pair of leather bracelets with red chords trailing off them like lines of blood. She was also wearing a suit, the crimson jacket a size too big on her and tightly buttoned up. The button up under it was a darker shade of red, the sleeves rolled up at least three times, which Hatsume notices as the new girl stands and fidgets with them.

She moves her arms behind her back, leaning slightly to the side to get a look at all of them. “Hi… You’re in the Support Classes, right?”

Hatsume smiles, walking forward and sticking out her hand. “Yeap, we’re Class 1-H! Hatsume Mei, pleasure to meet you!”

Hatsume sees the blond girl take a moment, then quickly reach forward to take the hand. “I’m Toga. I’m… not a student, yet.”

“That’s cool, Toga. Are you coming to the party at the Hero Dorms, then?” Toga nods, and Hatsume turns to the bench. She pulls up a small purse, out of which she pulls a set of keys. “Alright everyone, pick a seat!”

Everyone takes a second, then steps out in a group to look at the cart. It was specifically meant for groups of people to travel up and down the campus… like if a group of teachers suddenly needed to get to the U.S.J. because of a surprise villain attack… but not so many that a bus would be more appropriate.

Hatsume quickly walks up to it, getting into the driver’s seat as the blond girl follows her to the front seat. Zaphira seems to pluck up the courage first, getting in the seat behind her as the rest approach. “You… you have experience operation this, correct?”

Hatsume turns, resting her arm on the back of her seat. “I got my learner’s permit last week, after putting hours in with this thing specifically. Plus, these things can’t go too fast anyways… would I ever put your lives at risk?”

“Yes.”

“Repeatedly”

“Every day in the lab.”

Hatsume’s smile fades, but she keeps it as she reaches over to start the engine. The cart screams to life, the four not yet on board taking a moment before turning to each other. They all bring up their hands, Hatsume turning as boulders, parchment, and shears are thrown.

Hatsume waits for them to all pick their seats, Toga reaching over and tapping her on the shoulder. “So, you guys do… Support Work?”

“Yeah, a bunch of stuff. Some ‘media management’ stuff with the new Business Course teacher, a couple of safety drills with Aizawa or Vlad King. But it’s mostly building a bunch of different tools and pieces of gear for the Hero Students to use.”

“Um, Hatsume? Where are the seatbelts?” Sokutei gets in on the other side from Zaphira, Mia pushing him into the middle as the twins get on the back.

“This model didn’t have them. But there are handrails, aren’t there?” Hatsume cackles, everyone but Toga quickly grabbing something as she slowly winds up to max speed.

Toga actually sticks her hand out the doorway as the wind whips past them, leaning back and letting her hair and the ribbons get blown back towards Mia. Sokutei lets out a minor note of protest as they round a corner, but Toga lets out a loud howl of laughter as Hatsume keeps to the pavement paths leading up to the dorms.

“So, what else do you do?” Hatsume’s kind of lucky, there isn’t anything along the road between them and the dorms. That means she and Toga can talk a bit along the way, just looking out for squirrels or anything that might be between them.

“Oh, I don’t have enough hours in the day to make everything I want to. I’m mostly working on stuff for Ochako, Tenya, and Izuku…”

“You make Izuku’s costume and gear?” Toga seems to immediately lock in, turning and holding onto the door’s handrail as they sail through a section of the campus that was thicker with trees.

“Yeah! Mostly, stuff to keep his Quirk from hurting himself, but that helps everyone else too. Like Tenya and Ochakos’ costumes have some of Izuku’s shock absorbing material in them, to help when they take a tumble.” Hatsume doesn’t get to brag very often, and the look of growing interest from Toga is at least a little gratifying.

She does finally have to start slowing down when they roll past Class A’s dorm building, quickly reaching Class B’s new building. Hatsume can see the others in the distance, though not being worked on today as Cementoss probably takes a well deserved break from all the work his Quirk has already done.

She pulls just into the grass off the path, bringing the cart into park so everyone can step out of the vehicle. Hatsume looks at Toga, who takes a deep breath before stepping out herself. She walks around the front of the cart, waiting for Hatsume while the others head inside. “So… you’re kind of working to make all of them Heroes, right?”

Hatsume notices a slight leading tone to it, but she nods nonetheless. “I mean, they’re doing all the work to be Heroes. I’m just trying to give them a boost, where I can. All of us in the Support Course are… and making them look good helps us, so it’s not exactly all selfless.”

Toga quirks an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “What do you mean? Making them look good helps Support Students?”

Hatsume takes the keys, sliding out to the edge of the seat to look at Toga. “Sure, why wouldn’t it? I’m using a bunch of materials for shock absorption other Heroes and Hero Schools have innovated, and if I come up with something no one else has, they’ll use it to build up even higher. Like my Hydraulic Bracer baby; there’s already a couple of Heroes who’ve put out feelers for prototypes, after seeing it at the Sports Festival. If they use it on successful missions or rescue operations, more people know that I’m a great designer. My ‘official’ catalog gets looked through, more requests for my designs go out, and I get to help save people without ever leaving the lab.”

Toga takes a moment, then nods her head. “That’s cool, I guess… but what happens if a Bad Hero asks you for stuff? Can you say no?”

Hatsume blinks, then moves down the line that thought makes. “Huh… I mean, I guess I can refuse a request. But so far, it’s Rescue Heroes that are interested in the gear I make. People like the Wild-Wild Pussycats, and Nightrose. But if I was helping Bakugo with his Explosion Gauntlets, and someone like Endeavor wanted a version that would help focus his flames better… I guess I haven’t thought about that sort of stuff, too seriously.”

Toga nods, turning as the other kids start walking through the door. Hatsume looks up at her face, seeing the girl considering something for a long few seconds… but she walks away before saying anything else, and Hatsume hops up to follow her in.

-

Zaphira carefully pours herself a cup from the selection of tea pots, appreciating the scent before looking around at all the Hero Students. Sure, they’ve spent time together in classes, but this is the first time they’ve really spent time in social settings. “So… You were born in America?”

“Yes… You’re a lot more good at speaking than me.” Tsunotori raises her teacup in salute, the two of them sharing in their mutual pain for a moment.

Zaphira takes a sip, the taste being a bit weaker than she was expecting. “Yes, but it’s a pain, having to learn three languages in high school all at once. And all the important terms for Support Course…”

Tsunotori shudders, waving her hands. The horns on her head actually start to move, quivering back and forth in a way that makes her tied up blond hair undulate. “Awful, just awful. My Japanese grade is so awful, I might not pass.”

“I know… there aren’t a lot of tutors near Yuuei, for Second Language Japanese speakers. I could recommend you mine?” Tsunotori nods, kowtowing as Zaphira pulls out her phone.

She shows Tsunotori the number, showing a small list of different language tutors that Zaphira’s family has in their orbit. Tsunotori pulls out her phone, taking a photo before almost weeping tears of joy.

Zaphira takes another sip of her tea, then looks at the selection of everything the Hero Course had to offer. She takes the serving utensils, loading a small plate with little offerings before turning to the living room.

Ochako and Momo… wait, she’s supposed to use their surnames, right? Or are they close enough that she can call them by their names?

Anyways, they were currently talking with Hatsume. The crazy blond girl was close by, trying to participate in the conversation since Gravity Girl had invited her over. She and Ochako seemed to be having a side conversation, right as Ingenium’s brother walks over.

Zaphira tries not to feel bad about the dress she was wearing, but there was this unspoken difference between how she was dressed, and how everyone else was. Even the kids from the Business Course, in tight orbit around Hanta as he introduces them around to the rest of the classes, were clearly wearing new outfits for this event. Her dress was the only outfit that looked like it’d been washed and worn again.

Zaphira quietly chews on that thought, walking up to Izuku as he and his boyfriend talk with Todoroki and Kaminari. They were in a corner, so it would be easy to talk to them, then carefully pass her way further into the rest of the class sitting in the living room. Maybe not to Tsubaraba, the man of the hour, but she should be able to wind her way through the people she did know, and their network…

Zaphira blinks when Kaminari jumps when seeing her, reaching over and tapping Hitoshi as she walks over. The four quiet down, Izuku quickly looked over at her with a big smile on his face… and while his reddish brown suit and yellow button up shirt were perfectly normal, his bright red shoes… they were causing this itch, in the back of her mind. “Zaphira, you look amazing. What kind of flowers are those on your dress?”

Zaphira smoothes a hand down her side, a patch of blue flowers sitting on her hip in overlapping sequins. “They’re brunnera flowers. My dad helped make this for me, for events this year. You all look great, too.”

Izuku nods, reaching up to pull on his sleeves. “That’s all Hanta, really. He just asked what sorts of patterns and styles we’d like.’

Denki offers a thumbs up, looking closer to a waiter or other ‘help’ staff from the whole tea-party aesthetic everyone was sliding into. “Come on, we all still picked the designs and flares for Hanta’s aunt to put into our formal wear. We deserve… what, twenty percent of the credit?”

“Only ten percent, for me.” Hitoshi reaches up to rub his neck, his suit somewhere in the liminal space between purple and black.

Shouto shrugs, pulling on the navy blue collar of his white suit jacket. “I didn’t really have an opinion, so I just let Hanta choose this. I suppose that means all of you did better by putting in any effort.”

Zaphira rolls her eyes, perching on the edge of Hitoshi’s seat as she looks at Izuku. “Yeah, Red really seems to be your style. You’re even wearing the same shoes you picked out a couple weeks ago.”

She doesn’t mean to say it like a challenge, but Izuku noticeably tenses up… Zaphira blinks, a slight frisson of blue energy seeming to race across his eye before he quickly fakes a smile. “Yeah, I always had a weird problem with shoes; one of my dad’s parents had a Fish style Quirk, giving them webbed feet. I can’t swim any better than anyone else, but I do have to take a while to find shoes that fit.”

Zaphira raises an eyebrow, then shrugs. “I thought you said you needed the extra balance for running, when you were in middle school. Maybe it’s both… or maybe you just like the shoes. It can just be a fashion statement, you know; it’s not like wearing those shoes has to be a whole thing.”

She sees Todoroki and Kaminari raise an eyebrow, but she quickly turns. She takes a snack from her plate, searching for the next group to chat with during the party.

“Zaphira… I just like them. Always have, since I was a kid.” She hears Izuku add that on at the end, but hops up to walk away. She hears that note of sincerity in that remark, but moves on towards Mia and Jiro scrolling through the list of songs on the karaoke machine.

-

Yuga smiles as Tsubaraba opens his gifts, noticing how Toga slowly slips out from between Ochako and Tenya. Ochako takes a moment to lean closer to Tenya’s space, Yuga smiling before nodding to Toga. He quickly picks up an armful of tossed to the side wrapping paper, and makes for the kitchen.

He bundles the paper up, turning as Toga slowly walks past the stations Katsuki had at least partially wiped down before joining the party. She quietly strolls closer to him, a faint smile on her face as her enjoyment of the party lingers.

She leans against the counter, looking at him for a long moment. “So… is this how birthday parties normally go?”

“More or less… have you not been to many?” Yuga almost regrets asking the question the instant it’s out of his mouth, seeing Toga wilt in front of him.

She backs up to the counter, looking back to the entrance to the kitchen before speaking. “Not in a while… And I wasn’t invited to a lot of them, besides.”

Yuga nods, quickly spinning for something else to talk about. “Well, this had a lot more work put into it, than I’ve known there to be. But this had a lot more people coming together to celebrate; almost every class of the school, coming together just to hang out.”

Toga looks back over towards the living room as Tsuburaba shouts, Yuga raising an eyebrow and moving over. He’s holding up a tablet… which quickly grows spider-like legs from the case it was in, moving down his arms as Hatsume cackles. She then claps her hands, the tablet freezing before jumping to the ground. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but make it a little creepy. The case can hold a couple of things, and can always plug itself in to charge so you never forget to! Handy, huh?”

Tsuburaba falls back into his seat, and Yuga can see his soul try to escape as he sits there for a minute. “Okay… Next time, I’d appreciate that not being such a surprise, though…”

“Sorry! But hey, it doesn’t just have to be for studying. It’s got a great memory storage system Hoseiki helped design, so it could have a couple of cool games on it when you need a study break.” Yuga turns back to Toga, who’s standing still and looking at the wall across from her.

He raises an eyebrow, then walks over to her. She blinks, shaking her head and letting out a sigh. “I… Um, so I talked to Vlad King. He… He said a couple of things. But he said he was looking into maybe seeing if I could test for the General Ed course?”

“That’s great… Why are you so nervous about it?” Yuga catches it this time, able to adjust in the same breath as she brings a hand up to pick at the elbow of her outfit.

“Because… Well, Recovery Girl and Nedzu are so smart. And Izuku just seems to know everything about everyone, and the Support Students have so much complex stuff they know. I… I don’t know how hard even just General Education is here, if everyone seems to know so much about everything.”

“Well, Nedzu, Recovery Girl, and Izuku are all incredibly intelligent. Nedzu’s Quirk literally makes him one of the smartest creatures on the planet; comparing yourself to him is like saying you don’t shine as brightly as me.” Yuga flexes his hand, a few sparkles dancing off it as he frames his face. It was hard to do, but Midnight had helped him do the smallest stretch of his Quirk for aesthetic flare.

Toga huffs a laugh, her other hand reaching up to her chest. “Yeah… but… I can’t do my hiding trick as well, anymore. I was trying before, a couple of times in the party. But everyone kept walking up to me, talking to me like I’m a normal person… they were seeing me…”

“Exactly; they were seeing what a wonderful person you are, Toga. You don’t need to hide from us, like you would have had to before.” Yuga doesn’t know exactly what she’d had to hide from, but he could pick up the nervous ticks Izuku had also showed, earlier in the year. So he says what he can to soothe her, Toga seeming to relax.

The front door opens, the robotic announcer blaring as their teachers come walking in. Yuga turns, Toga quickly follows him when Vlad King’s booming voice fills Class B’s dorm. “There you all are! I thought this was going to be some sort of courtyard gala!”

“In this heat? Besides, we wanted to look around and get used to this place, didn’t we?” Yuga notes Kaibara answering his teacher first, everyone generally agreeing with the sentiment.

“And waste all this fashion on sitting around indoors!” Yuga walks around the corner as Midnight brings a hand to her face, seeing All Might and Inko both sighing behind her as a metaphorical spotlight strikes her. “All of you put so much effort into these, just for one party?”

“Actually, I was hoping to wear this again…” Ochako messes with the edge of her pinkish-white skirt, most of the other girls nodding in agreement.

Tenya looks at Ochako, then stands up, chopping the air. “Midnight-dono, I feel like that attitude towards our decisions with what we do with fashion is quite short sighted! Besides which, it is quite responsible to use such costly formal outfits multiple times, to avoid unnecessary waste!”

Midnight jolts in place, quickly pivoting with a smile. “Exactly what I was hoping to hear, Iida! All these wonderful outfits look absolutely stunning, and it would have been heartbreaking to think of them only being used once! After all the hard work Hanta put in, getting these put together on short notice…”

A couple of people look over at Hanta, who cards a hand through his hair from next to Mina. His face flushes slightly, but he seems to preen in the attention, short-lived though it is.

Attention shifts back to the teachers when Neito looks at All Might, crossing his arms. “So, All Might’s secretary went out with you all on your teacher’s weekend? Where has he been, anyways?”

Yuga doesn’t want to pretend he has multiple Quirks, or the ability to read minds, but he’s fairly certain the tension in most of Class A is palpable with that question. But Midnight sighs, shrugging her shoulders. “The Hero Commission and Nedzu are having a catfight to spend more time with him, sadly. All the Top Ten Heroes are being kept busy, even though All Might has it a bit easier by being here to teach the next generation of Heroes.”

“But we barely see him. He leaves almost immediately after our classes are done…”

“Yes, Monoma. He has a very busy schedule; and Toshinori here is the man who needs to keep All Might on track! Why do you think we invited him, instead of All Might?” All Might blushes as Midnight gestures to him, Inko covering her mouth as a laugh tries to escape.

A couple of members of Class A also laugh at that, the rest of the students in the room being unfortunate casualties of the secret needing to stay tighter. But Yuga could understand, as he lets out a chuckle of his own; there are plenty of people who have less than noble intentions, and they would love to have that sort of information on All Might to manipulate.

Chapter Text

Shouta slides their leftovers away, Hizashi sighing behind him from the living room of their apartment Nedzu had set aside for them. “Ah, nice and relaxed… How long until something screws that up?”

Shouta closes the fridge, almost ready to give a throwaway comment as he tries to savor the lack of tension in his body. Sure, he hadn’t done nearly as much ‘relaxing’ at the spa, but he finally felt caught up on his missing hours of sleep. He felt better than he had in a while, without an ounce of anything in his system to influence it…

And his phone buzzes, Shouta trying not to vibrate as he reaches to his pocket. He looks at the number, expecting Nedzu, or Vlad King… and stops, quickly walking a few steps away from the curious look on Hizashi’s face as he answers. “Edgeshot, what is it?”

“Not an emergency, if that’s your concern.” Shouta does relax minutely, leaning against the wall as the other Hero speaks in a low voice. “I offered to help you with the League, after what happened to you. And while I don’t have information to help you in that regard yet… I do have a warning I want to offer you, about someone Nedzu brought into the school with your students.”

Shouta raises an eyebrow, Hizashi turning on the television while clearly listening in to what he could. “Himiko Toga, right? Nedzu’s been having Vlad and Ryou interview and check her, but I’ve been keeping an eye on her. She definitely needs long term care and placement, beyond what most kids her age need…”

“Yes… Well, there is something else you should know. I’m not even sure if Nedzu knows about it, considering how it was buried… She has a criminal record.”

Shouta stands there a long moment, the words not seeming to compute before suddenly flowing in all at once. “She has a what?”

“At her middle school graduation, she injured a boy and left him for dead. She’s been missing for over a year, apparently collecting weapons and possibly assaulting other people.” Edgeshot stops, giving Shouta a minute to react to that information.

Shouta takes a breath, adding that note for later before answering. “She… She’s definitely in need of psychological help, according to Ryou. But that… How difficult was it to get your hands on that report?”

“Easier than average, with the Hero Commission’s pull behind me. Not to mention, there are people who are curious about the sheer number of missing kids. Sanagi Middle School was more than willing to give us the information, if only to avoid the possibility she might be involved. I didn’t believe she was, for the record, but I’m not above letting them think that.”

Shouta furrows his eyebrows, Hizashi snapping his fingers and waving him over. He walks over to the television, seeing a news program talking quickly over the Hosu incident… and the news reporter quickly flashes some other figures across the screen, showing a number of people have gone missing over the past year. “I… yeah, they’re talking about that now on the news. I remember a couple of Underground Heroes looking into that, around the Hassaikai case… that’s part of why I was worried about seeing Hitoshi out in the middle of the night, all alone.”

Edgeshot takes a moment, taking that bit of information for what it was worth, then continuing. “I can try and get you a copy of the report, to look over. But I wanted you to know, as a personal favor. Because… the Commission is taking a closer look at future threats.”

“Future threats?” Shouta wants to refute that comment, naysay it… But he can’t. Because Toga did have the potential to be dangerous, which he hated that he couldn’t look past. He wanted to treat her like any of his students, as a kid who needed help to grow… but no, there were edges that he was worried would draw blood, if he wasn’t careful.

“Fair warning, Eraserhead. The Commission isn’t just looking into the League of Villains, or the sheer amount of terrible people Mayhem is spinning the spotlight onto to stay in the shadows; they’re looking to prepare for future problems, or bigger attacks by the League, to be more ready for something like Hosu.”

Shouta watches the report as Edgeshot talks, seeing too many kids for his liking having disappeared. Too many people at all, but the sheer number that were younger than Shouto, the youngest kid in his class… “Because Preemptive Strikes have never gone wrong, in the past…”

Edgeshot lets out a single bubble of awkward laughter, Shouta raising an eyebrow until Edgeshot dramatically changes his tone. “I know, I promised I’d be back by dinner. Just take care of yourself, Honey.”

Shouta blinks, the call ending quickly with that total change in tone… He lowers his phone, trying to square the weird feeling he gets from Edgeshot taking an almost flirtatious tone with him. Obviously, it was to throw off whoever had walked in while he’d slipped this information to him…

“Shou? Something wrong?” Shouta shakes his head, quickly looking over to his husband.

“No… Not yet, anyways.” He moves to sit on the couch, seeing the others texting them about the party at Class B’s dorms.

He pulls up the footage, Hizashi laughing when he sees how the television has been taken over by the karaoke set up they’d looked into the night before from Vlad’s recordings. “Ah… I know Mezou was interested in DJ-ing, but I’ll have to see if I can convince Jiro to record an LP. Maybe… has Nedzu decided the matchups for Final Exams?”

-

“In fact, I was working on some outlines for the Class Finals. I was organizing the older student’s first, but I do have a pair of students I wanted to test personally…” Nedzu can hear Hizashi shudder, switching to a document where he has a couple of ideas for Class A’s Final Exam.

He tries to find a good balance for the exercise, having experimented with it in the past. For the last few years, he’s done two students against one teacher… this year, however… He has a new idea.

“That’s… ominous, Principal.” Nedzu chuckles at Hizashi’s nervous laughter on the other end of the phone, looking between the pairs and triplets the class has made. Normally, there are solid pairs that he wants to set the kids up to work together in… But Class A has spent too much time working in either big groups, or pairs. Only yesterday, did they divide into smaller groups that would be better operation sizes… but the divisions were something that could use some work.

Firstly, Izuku and Katsuki. On the one hand, Nedzu had the hope that they could work together. Katsuki seemed to have simmered to a pleasant level of comfort, and Izuku slowly seemed to reach out to the other boy as they grew more tolerant of each other. Without outside intervention, the two boys were moving to be able to work together… but that doesn’t mean Nedzu wanted to apply pressure to the issue, possibly breaking this peace.

And Tenya and Ojiro… Oh, the irony of the two boys with Law Troubles working together to pass. But who could he pair them up with? Tenya and Ochako were seeming to bud into a couple, and that would be too easy to just pair them up. And who to put them up against? Which teacher would best challenge them?

Nedzu looks at the rest of the students, having a web of pairs for the other sixteen students… including Izuku and Katsuki. Because he’d already set two students aside= to test himself, and he was enjoying twisting their testing ground back and forth in his own mind.

Mina Ashido… he will admit, this choice is a bit more spite than spirit. But her current academic lack is something he’s hoping to help improve, even if the final lesson will probably devolve to be a bit more… acerbic. Because more than once, there were these little side comments of her speaking ill of him, which shouldn’t stick out so much for him… But a little scheme for her test, pushing her to a reasonable limit, was probably a healthy enough way to resolve that tension.

But Denki… This was partially a test, beyond Finals. This was Nedzu seeing if he was right, about Denki being innocent of being a mole to the League of Villains. To the best of his knowledge, the boy hasn’t tried to contact the League, or done anything else that might put the rest of the students in danger. Because for now, he didn’t think there was a Mole, feeding information about the school to enemies outside his walls. But there was one good student candidate, one that he has a chance to personally check if he’s careful about it.

Nedzu takes a moment, tapping the tips of his paws together as he imagines which puzzle he should run them through. Different mazes keep coming back and forth, even using a self correcting maze that they’d have to run through… but that might be a bit much.

His phone rings to distract him, and he quickly sets his idea down to pick his phone up. He looks at it a moment, tilting his head before taking it up. “Hello, Rei. I hope you're doing well…”

“Of course I am; this gilded cage has cable, after all.” Rei gives an awkward laugh, a detectable edge that Nedzu deeply sympathizes with hiding in her tone. “I was wondering if we could talk about a useful arrangement between us, if you were amenable to it.”

Nedzu pauses, closing the Class 1-A document for the moment. “I mean, it all depends on the situation, you understand. I can’t just promise you a favor, without hearing what you need.”

“Of course not, nor would I expect you to. But Natsuo needs clinic and volunteer hours for his nursing degree, and the Hero Commission isn’t willing to do anything that would get him the hours he needs to complete his requirements.” There’s a few sounds behind Rei, evidently a movie playing in the background behind her.

Nedzu opens up Recovery Girl’s clinic information, seeing a few requests that had come and gone sitting there. “Sadly, she’s a bit busy at the moment, so I can’t ask her about it at this time. But I think I could easily pull a string or two to help that. After all, he should have the path to a comfortable future, if he’s willing to walk it.”

Rei takes a moment to chew on that idea, Nedzu meaning every word of it. Some people needed basic necessities given to them, which he could easily do. Others needed that little hint of motivation, that drive to keep bettering themselves. Besides, if Natsuo needed experience or tutelage for his degree, Recovery Girl was an excellent person to learn from. “Thank you, for your consideration.”

“Of course, Rei. Once I have Shuzenji’s go ahead, I’ll send both of you papers to look over. And… if you or Fuyumi ever need some time out of that house, I can also see to that.”

Rei takes a moment, the faint sliding leading Nedzu to think she’s gone to another room. “I… I wasn’t going to ask about that. But I would certainly enjoy some time away… I’ve been talking with Marina Yaoyorozu, and heard you were trying to organize a Parents Day.”

“Yes, we’ve begun seeing what day would be best for all parents to spend a day with their students, each other, and the class at large. Considering we have parents as far afield as Iwate and Fukuoka, no small part is going to organize the expense account for this trip. We were waiting on contacting you until we had more answers in the positive or negative, because we have a more personal bond.”

Rei gives the faintest of laughs, the edges in her voice turning the faintest bit spiteful. “And because I don’t exactly have a schedule to clear, right now.”

Nedzu sighs, taking a moment to play out a few versions of this conversation. “I should have checked with you sooner, I will admit. That is entirely my fault, for which I want you to have my sincerest apologies. But once we have settled dates in mind, I will see which we can best work into your schedule.”

“Thank you, Nedzu. Please, do keep me apprised of how that goes.” Nedzu ends the call, quickly checking what he could on Shuzenji’s location. Wherever she was was currently blocked, but she’d called him for long enough to get a decent trace of her phone. It was roughly forty miles out, within an hour’s drive… but it wasn’t near a facility Nedzu knew of, that had ties to the Commission.

Apparently, the Hassaikai aren’t the only people expanding within the shadows… hopefully, whatever situation Shuzenji was handling, the Commission wasn’t putting her in physical danger.

-

Rumi tries to avoid chewing through the inside of her own mouth, watching Recovery Girl carefully go over a chart of medical changes over the past day. And yeah, she apparently needed to be watched… But actually no? Rumi crosses her arms, looking the old nurse up and down as she scans the lines on the glass wall between her and the patient. The patient who may or may not be some new sort of NoMu, which the Commission now wanted to try and get information out of.

“Mirko, can I ask you something?” Rumi raises her eyebrow, Recovery Girl reaching a hand up to take her glasses off. She walks over to a short chair the Commission had brought in for her, settling down before looking her way.

Rumi looks at the digital watch, seeing they were part of the way into the evening. She’d been here for almost two hours, the last batch of medications brought down and administered to the guy having been over half an hour ago. “Anything would be better than just standing around, waiting for something to happen. Go ahead…”

“Are you here to watch the NoMu, or me?” Rumi blinks, not expecting that question as Recovery Girl offers the smallest of grins. It’s not victorious, or scheming, or anything but mild amusement; like when Rumi swore in front of her highschool ex’s grandmother, who waited until they were alone to fence exclusively in words that couldn’t air on tv before Ten P.M.

Rumi shrugs, sighing heavily. “Both, probably. The Commission wants to keep someone like you safe, especially with the shit that’s brewing elsewhere. Besides… not supposed to tell you this, but screw it. They think Nedzu’s moving to become the next Commission President, or some crap like that.”

Recovery Girl raises an eyebrow, then sighs heavily at the admission. “Oh, dear. I was hoping that wasn’t the case, but if that’s what the President is worried about… A pity. There are much bigger things to worry about, like the sheer amount of augmentations that were performed on this person.”

Rumi walks forward, pulling off a glove to type on the screen. She takes a hard look at the guy, examining what she could understand about the guy before turning. “He doesn’t look very impressive to me, and Physical Fitness is an unofficial job requirement.”

“Sure, he looks like the thinnest log in a beaver’s dam, but that’s if you were worried about being on the other side of an arm-wrestling contest with him. He’s suffered long term muscle damage from his Quirk, but that’s because of its nature. I’ve seen several students who are able to manipulate electricity generated in their own bodies, with their bodies compensating by generating it in their organs. He’s able to manipulate charges in objects near him, causing electricity in the area to jump towards it like a lightning strike…”

Rumi narrows her eyes, raising her gloved hand. “Hold up. He can… How?”

Recovery Girl shrugs, Rumi trying very hard not to grind her teeth at the flippant answer. “Hells if I know. But we had to replace his pulse oximeter twice after he caused it to be fried. But he should be conscious, after a bit more quick nutrition.”

Rumi rolls her eyes, turning to look at the bundle of sticks getting medical attention. “Okay, then. Whatever; so long as he can talk to the President, give us some information to use against the League of Villains, I’m fine. Maybe… think he knows what’s happened to Endeavor?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. The NoMu making process seems to take a long while to get to whatever that was at the U.S.J. those months ago… At least, I hope so. This League of Villains is ramping up their operations suddenly, but they have that Copy Quirk user of theirs…” Recovery Girl shudders, looking over at the guy on the bed.

“Yeah, that sucks. At least the Copy NoMu are easy to take down; one quick blow to the head, or center of their chest, and they fold into gunk.” Rumi takes a minute, silence settling over them as they both consider what was ahead of them.

The door opens, Rumi turning as the Hero Commission President strides in. She takes a moment to read over the chart display, then nods to the both of them in turn. “Thank you for your time, Recovery Girl. Mirko, we would appreciate it if you could escort her back to Yuuei, make sure she gets back safely.”

Rumi stares the Commission President in the face, gauging her as best she can in that moment. Not just because she was apparently paranoid of a rat coming for her job… but also, because Keigo wasn’t acting right. He barely knew how to pretend to be human, and that was all he did most of the time. But after giving him Stain’s leash… “Sure thing, Boss-Lady. Anything else you need me to do, while I’m out?”

The President detects her sarcastic tone, her eyebrow minutely quirking in Rumi’s direction. “You’re a responsible adult, Usagiyama. If you need to run an errand for yourself, that wouldn’t be an issue.”

Rumi takes a breath, Recovery Girl quickly rising from her chair. “I’ll need those prototypes back, when you’re done taking notes on them for your own purposes. If you need me back to expedite his healing process, just let me know.”

Rumi manages to wait until the two of them are in the elevator, sliding her glove back on, before she lets her pettiness rear up. She gnashes her teeth, leaning back against the back of the elevator. “I wonder which of the Vices would have agreed to stashing that guy here, of all places. Definitely not Suzugamori, if I had to guess.”

“Suzugamori… I feel like I’ve heard that name before.” Rumi nods, Recovery Girl seeming to actually plumb her memories.

“He’s some fresh faced kid, big on Quirkless rights activism. He’s hardballing the Commission to get more people working for them, to try and help get work done.”

“A Disruptor, then. Good; The Hero Commission is too caught up on keeping things the way they were when I was young, and only two in every five people had a Quirk. It needs to have a looser hand, take its foot off the breaks and let things evolve… at least, a little bit.” Recovery Girl sighs, never taking her eyes off the slow rolling codes for all the floors between the ground floor and the basement sublevel.

Rumi blinks, wondering if the display was weird barcodes the entire time, or if someone was changing it because of Recovery Girl being there. She shrugs, a faint grin on her face as she side-eyes the older female hero. “Pretty progressive, for an old bat like yourself.”

“The woman who gives out Free Healthcare whenever she’s asked is progressive? Don’t let the Gossip columns hear you, or the Americans will start a manhunt before dawn tomorrow.” Rumi can’t help but laugh at the dry delivery, the two of them taking a walk through the fake offices on the ground floor.

“It might be a bit hard for some people to get that ‘Free’ help, if you’re always working with the Commission or Yuuei though, huh?” Rumi hates having to ride in a car, being twice as fast even with empty roads. But she holds the door open for Recovery Girl, who toddles in before she slides in behind her.

Chapter Text

Izuku picks up his pencil, twiddling it for a moment as he looks at the page of math problems on his desk. He should be fine enough, with the English sections covered so far. He could sketch most things well enough, and helping Mina with the periodic table and chemistry fundamentals helped nail that down in his head. But for some reason, the math sheet in front of him refused to click…

Izuku blinks, the numbers wriggling and crawling across the page. He tries to reel back from his desk, but his chair was suddenly pressed up to his back, keeping him leaned over the page. And it was tightening up to his desk, the ink running together as the paper bent up to meet it. The paper of his math review contorts up into a hand, the ink reaching up like black wires around his head…

Izuku rolls to the side, his head making a loud thump against the wall. He blinks, bringing a hand up to massage his head as the rest of the class turns to look at him.

Aizawa looks at him from the podium, taking a half step to the closer side without actually moving closer. “Midoriya, are you alright?”

Izuku quickly stands, brushing himself off with a bit of heat rushing to his face. “Yes, Sensei. Sorry, just… Exam Nerves.”

Aizawa studies his face for a long moment, slowly shifting back behind the podium as Izuku slides back into his seat. Katsuki is giving him a raised eyebrow, as are a few others from the class, but everyone turns back as Aizawa sighs heavily and pulls out his remote. “With your exams scheduled five weeks from now, I’m going to refrain from adding much more supplementary material in Homeroom, so you can keep up with your studies. But there will be questions related to this material on your Written Exams… and Practical Applications, I’ve been told to warn you about.”

“What!” Denki and Mina are the loudest when Aizawa flashes up a pair of pie charts, showing a blackened circle and a color coded section labeled ‘Written’ over it. A few people quickly start noting that, Izuku blinking and quickly trying to pick apart what that could mean as Aizawa takes a moment to hide a smug grin.

“That certainly woke you all up…” Izuku can feel the faintest waves of satisfaction oozing off the teacher, spinning the remote in his hand. “Your Practical Exam is still being constructed, to best match what you all have and are scheduled to learn before the exams proper. I can say, with some certainty, that all of you will be partnered with at least one classmate for the Practical.”

Everyone not writing notes looks around, Izuku shuddering as most of the class looks his way before finding someone else. He sighs, and carefully raises a hand. “Sensei, is Nedzu the one who’s going to be making the teams for the Exam?”

“With some input from the rest of the Staff, yes. The point of the Exam is not to just let you pair up with your closest friends, or pair you up against someone you can’t work with.” There’s a confusing mix of relief and panic at that, everyone quickly checking their internal biases between everyone else in the class. Izuku quickly checks his own, measuring who in the class he might be paired with.

Hitoshi was probably right out, and he and Katsuki… no, Nedzu had a fatalistic fascination with drama, so he couldn’t mark that out. Him and Shouto were set aside for the same reason… What about Kouda? Technically, they’d worked together in Hosu to keep Stain alive for the paramedics to arrive, but was that a point for or against them doing a Practical together?

If he had to choose people to work together with… Tsu, maybe Ochako for a height advantage? Without knowing if the Practical was going to be in the U.S.J., or against older students, or the other Hero class, or the robots from the Entrance Exam… If they were going in blind to the Exam, than Momo would be one of the best partners to get paired with, for her adaptability…

“No, I will not be saying anything else about the practical. As Izuku was so kind to point out, you’ll just have to come up with plans to work with everyone in the class to face whatever Nedzu decides to test you with.” Izuku blinks, reaching up and pressing his jaw closed as Toru snickers from the front of the row.

She raises a note card, a red marker angry face she almost lazily holds off to the side. “Sensei, come on! If you’d let him talk a little longer, we could have had a bunch more strategies to go into this with!”

“You all can scheme over lunch, or in the Dorms. Consider it homework, if you need a break from studying for the Written Exam. Or you can do it during Foundations of Heroics tomorrow, when we discuss Signature Moves with All Might and Gran Torino.”

Izuku blinks, a number of people in the class pumping fists and excitedly talking to their neighbors about their signature moves. And… Well, what did Izuku really have that he could count as his ‘signature move’? He was literally using All Might’s power, and arguably using Gran Torino’s style, despite not having trained with the man much…

No, stop it. Izuku shakes his head, and pulls out a notebook. He sets it over the math assignment, and begins writing out a few basic ideas he might be able to twist into his own moves.

-

Hitoshi rolls his eyes at lunch that day a concerning amount, looking at Mina and Eijiro as they go back and forth with Denki. “No way, that sounds way too dangerous! I thought over-using your Quirk fried your brain, or something.”

Denki waves his hands, already planning around the idea of just blasting out all the electricity in his body. “Yeah, I get a little loopy. But I’m already learning how to control my shocks at low power, and doing it really easily. I just want to up the voltage a little bit, see how much I can push myself.”

“Okay Hon, but… Isn’t frying your brain cells with high voltage a bad thing? Like, isn’t that how Americans used to kill people in State Executions?” Eijiro, Denki, and Hitoshi all look at Mina, who swivels her head and crosses her arms. “I don’t do school stuff well, but I know movies. My Mom and Dad both love old American Horror movies, like the ‘Saw’ franchise and ‘The Green Mile’.”

Hitoshi raises an eyebrow, Eijiro slowly raising his hand. “Isn’t… I thought ‘The Green Mile’ was a Drama?”

“Any movie featuring the American Judicial System is a horror movie, Eijiro. Unless the Movie’s a documentary about a Cop or Judge, the justice system is always the single worst thing anyone can come into contact with… it’s like my Acid; no matter what the situation is, it’s just a question of what kind of scar it leaves on you the second it makes contact.”

Hitoshi blinks, the other two boys going silent as Mina shakes her head and takes a few quick bites of food. He sits on that a second, poking the last few remaining pieces of diced chicken on his tray. He almost always finished his meal the instant he got it, whereas Denki and Eijiro were barely a quarter of the way done with theirs. “That’s deep, Mina.”

He tries to split the difference between a joke and deadpan delivery, the whole thing taking off like an airplane that was only half sealed. Mina looks up at him, then lets out a tiny snort as she shrugs. “I mean, that’s part of why I want to be a Hero. Help people who need it, whether they’re being harassed by a villain or by other Heroes and the Police.”

“That’s why you like Mama Midoriya so much… What, you asked her about a half dozen cases since we moved into the Dorms, like Izuku geeking out on Heroes.” It’s hard to tell when Mina blushes, but she looks away as Denki needles the point.

“And back on Career Day in middle school, you talked to Tatsuo’s Dad about being a paralegal all through lunch.” Eijiro lightly elbows her, Mina returning fire as he quickly slides out of the way.

“So, maybe I have a little interest in legal stuff. But I can’t just look into everything law and order that interests me; I have all this other stuff I need to focus on, if I want to pass the Exams.” Mina grouses, moving back to finish her food.

Hitoshi takes a deep breath, taking that revelation from Mina to think for a long minute. Sure, he’d wanted to be a Hero, probably Underground to make best use of his Quirk… but anything beyond that? He begins spinning that out, the other two boys nodding as they try to stifle laughter.

“I know, right? I mean, we’re probably not going to have time to go back to that cafe for another gaming session… Does Yuuei have a computer lab, or something like that?” Denki looks around, trying to spot Izuku in the lunchroom to ask him.

“Yeah, the Support Students have one. I think the Business Kids Hanta brought over to the party also mentioned classes for stuff like Spreadsheet formatting, video editing… like that Kid who recorded Izuku at the Entrance Exam.”

Hitoshi looks up at Eijiro, furrowing his brow as that sparks an idea in his head. Some old comments his classmates made, about how he had a voice to be a narrator or audiobook reader. Where he could technically talk to people, asking questions, and not worry about how they would react to his Quirk.

As he thinks about that, Denki starts thinking out loud. “Even if we didn’t organize a Field Trip or something, maybe we can get a Support Course student or two to join us for a Game Day?”

“Maybe we record it, post it online?” Hitoshi blinks, looking up at Eijiro as he quickly shakes his head. “Just, thinking out loud. People know who we are, so we sort of have a ‘public image’, as my Uncle would say. We might think about starting up a channel, or something, and just post some videos of us having fun?”

Hitoshi tries not to recoil at that thought, a little relieved when Mina nay-says it first. “Maybe we should see if we vibe first, then discuss something like that. But… I would totally watch a baking vlog between Rikidou and Katsuki, maybe with Yuga there also to show off his fancy plate work.”

“Sure, I just thought that was something we should think about, in the future. My Uncle… well, you know how Stain was against Heroes doing non-Hero Work?”

Denki nods, tapping at his phone on the table. “Yeah, I was reading a bunch of people talking about Stain’s ‘Ideology’ and ‘Gospel’. And… I mean, I sort of get it, but maybe not to the point of attacking Heroes with knives.”

Mina makes a face, Hitoshi leaning over to look at Denki’s phone. The blond quickly pulls it up, Hitoshi reading through a series of blog posts as Mina speaks with an audibly wrinkled nose. “I don’t know about that, Denki. I don’t know if ‘Heroes should always be working without a break’ is the sort of thing you want to start preaching, as a Hero in Training.”

“Oh, definitely not. I’m just saying… Well, there are a bunch of heroes who only kind of do it for the bump in the paycheck. Like Cementoss; he’s a great teacher, and he does a lot of work for Infrastructure… but does he do any Hero Work? I remember him going to Hosu to help with all the destroyed buildings, but he doesn’t exactly have a patrol route, does he?”

Hitoshi pauses in his reading, looking up as Denki offers a shrug as Mina and Eijiro both stare at the blond. Mina tilts her head, then shakes it as she cuts the cord in her own mind. “No, I don’t agree with that. Just like how we don’t just need police officers to arrest criminals, we don’t need Heroes who just fight villains. There are a bunch of other things that make Heroes the kind of public servant we should be. Like, half the activities Aizawa has us do are saving robots, or other search and rescue acts. Maybe not stuff like commercials, but some non-combat stuff is important.”

Denki nods, holding his hand out for his phone. Hitoshi reads a couple more entries of people going back and forth, much like they had, but with more swearing and less nuance, then hands it back. “I mean, us doing some videos together wouldn’t be the worst thing. I’d love to have a bit of fun with something like that, if we ever get hands on that sort of equipment.”

-

Ochako takes a long moment, looking at her food as Denki’s words replay in her head. She’d been walking by when he’d been talking… and the words started sticking in her craw.

Tenya looks up at her, shaking his head before pointing with his chopsticks. “So, do you have any thoughts on signature moves? I already have a couple that my brother helped me brainstorm when I was younger… Ochako?”

She turns her head, quickly trying to tune in with a nod. “I mean, Gun-Head helped show me some more complex moves I could work on. You know, being able to grapple someone while turning off their gravity or mine. So, it’s just working on seeing which of those I can most easily incorporate into a signature.”

Tenya nods, a faint smile crossing his face. “That certainly sounds like an excellent idea, especially considering you want to focus on Support work. Being able to capture villains and quickly remove them from a fight is certainly a good focus, to prevent the need to save people those villains could endanger. Were you going to work with Izuku on Aerial Mobility?”

“Yeah… I was also going to see if I could talk with Mei, see if there’s anything to help me with nausea that I could add to my costume. Especially if I’m going to be using my Quirk on myself during Training.”

“I was thinking of seeking Hatsume’s advice as well, with streamlining the design of my armor… and maybe seeing about adding some crash padding inside it.” Ochako bites her lip, Tenya nodding as the image plays out in their minds eye. “I’m almost afraid she’ll try to fill up any spaces taken from the armor with inventions of hers…”

Ochako blinks, imagining Tenya from the Sports Festival, with the backpack Mei had had him test for her. Slowly, more pieces of the Support Gear she’s seen them testing out gets added on top of Tenya’s Hero Costume, the thought playing out like a Zord-Sequence from a Tokusatsu show. And behind him is a cackling Mei, holding a remote controller in the Support Lab like one of the mad scientist villains from said genre. “Besides the turning pack, Mei has lots of ideas to help people with Speed Enhancements. I bet she could help you find plenty of tools to try out.”

“Yes; My parents were saying I should ensure to cultivate a positive relationship with her.”

“…Huh?” Ochako sits there for a long moment, the extra gear falling away in her vision of Tenya and Mei. And Tenya turns to Mei, the scene shifting to match something from a Romance show, only with soot and ash from a lab explosion instead of flower petals, and the red backdrop from the roaring fire that had been a targeting dummy…

Tenya looks at her, then raises his eyebrows. “Oh… No! I mean, a working relationship! I wasn’t… my parents simply said someone talented like Hatsume was a rare thing, and she was apparently interested in working with me, so I should cultivate that in a business sense. They’re very practically minded people…”

Ochako nods, the image fading as she waves her hand. “Yeah, that makes sense. I get that… just… have they ever talked about me, to you?”

“They… Well, yes.” Tenya seems to hesitate as she looks back up, thinking about his next thought before saying it. “They… they were very impressed with your round in the Tournament of the Sports Festival. And they were applauding you, when talking about the Cavalry Battle…”

Ochako wants to just take that as the compliment he was dressing it up as… but her self doubt pulls at the hemming, revealing the underneath of what he wasn’t saying. “My fight with Katsuki, and helping Mei’s inventions.”

Tenya opens his mouth… but the reassuring words don’t quite come to him. He closes his mouth, trying to spin up something to say.

But Ochako shakes her head ignoring the crawling sensation down her back. She thinks about how she’d initially thought about being a hero, for the money to support her parents… and what better way to do that than get together with someone like Tenya, or Momo since she was interested in Kyouka?

Ochako blinks, the thought of being together with Momo lingering for a moment. She takes a breath, firmly shoving that thought into a drawer to ignore for a while. “It’s fine, really. I just… I have to really shine, the next time we do a public event like that.”

“You don’t have to, Ochako.” She raises an eyebrow, Tenya holding a hand out. “This isn’t a contest between you, Hatsume and Katsuki. All of you are my friends, who I cherish. It’s just… with what happened to my brother, my parents are keeping closer eyes on me.”

Ochako nods her head, adding that thought to the stew in her head. “Maybe I don’t need to… but I’m going to. Another goal to push towards, right?”

Tenya sighs, then nods with a sort of wistful grin. “I suppose if you wish to see it that way, that’s a commendable goal.”

Ochako takes a moment, adding that to her plans for the future. She had concepts of her future outlined, and now she just needed to set the path to get through all those points.

Chapter Text

Iguchi wipes a soaked rag across his forehead, too much heat having built up in him as he unlocks the apartment door. His janitor uniform is unbuttoned partway down his chest, and he imagines a nice cold shower to try and cool off before laying down for a few hours. Not to sleep, but to recover from the absolute exhaustion of all the things Yuuei is having him do.

He sees Toga taking notes while watching a documentary on Rescue Heroes, taking notes and using her phone to look up extra things as the narrator drones on. She doesn’t turn to him as he comes in, either too engrossed in her research… or comfortable enough with him that she doesn’t compulsively check behind her.

Iguchi walks over to the refrigerator, pulling out a water bottle. He drains it quickly, refilling it before walking over. “The Angelic Heroine; Gavrail? Got an interest in Rescue Heroes, then?”

“Kind of… most of them fit Stain’s ideals, right? Like Gavrail; she got a call about a disaster in the middle of an interview, and immediately ran out to get to the scene. ‘The Mobile Hospital Hero’, since she’s a total Rescue Agency, like the Wild Wild Pussycats.” Iguchi nods, not really having run the exact numbers on which Heroes would have passed or failed Stain’s ideals point for point.

He looks at Toga’s notebook, seeing the back and forth columns on quite a few people in those pages. He settles on the back of the couch, enjoying a slight breeze from the air vent while watching the show while thinking about what Stain really wants from Heroes. Saving people, caring less about their egos and pocketbooks, and just being better about it than they’ve been for the past… Five years? Six?

Of course, Iguchi can’t help but think how that perspective has shifted slightly, in his head. Not just because he now had a bit of extra money in his own pocket, in case he needed it. But his new job forces him to be around Heroes and Hero Hopefuls all day, he gets to see just a bit more than he had before.

He had to dust, scrub, and disinfect every inch of the school over the week. Nedzu had his robots doing the more mindless portions of it, but Iguchi still went over their work, and did the bits the robots couldn’t. Running a duster over a computer a Business kid hadn’t signed out of properly meant he had to turn it off… after reading whichever assignment they’d been finishing in the computer lab.

And collecting all the trash from the school meant seeing the Hero teachers talking to each other, though they were still careful what they said when they knew he was in the room. Mostly grading assignments, getting a second opinion on a questionably on point essay or sketch. But their conversation from this morning stuck in the corner of his mind, replaying as he sits there cooling off.

It had been Midnight and Eraserhead, trading essays back and forth for one of their classes. Then Thirteen had walked in, going straight for the coffee machine before sitting next to Midnight with a sigh. “Have you seen the HSPC email yet?”

Iguchi had been wiping out the insides of the trash can, not looking up as Midnight sighed heavily. “Everyone is having to put in more patrol hours, huh? At least we only need to do another six hours over the week, or things would be complicated.”

“Yeah, that’s a few of us going out for lunch every day, or spending a bit of grading time doing Yuuei’s route?” Iguchi notes Thirteen’s tone is a bit more ambivalent, a little bit of exhaustion evident. They had just been running the U.S.J. for the third year students, which he’d be going to in a few minutes anyways.

“I think Yuuei’s surroundings are already appropriately patrolled, Nemuri. It’d be better if we expanded the zone a few blocks, or formed separate areas we go through instead of concentrating around the school.” Iguchi nods at Aizawa’s comments, which makes the most sense. There weren't more than one or two pickpockets in the area around the school that Iguchi had met, and they were small potatoes compared to who was actually patrolling in the area.

Iguchi shakes himself out of that flashback, seeing Toga worrying the inside of her lip. “I… everyone here either wants to be a Hero, or to help Heroes. I… I don’t. But maybe something like a paramedic, maybe? Or is that still close to being a Hero?”

“Not everything is about capital H ‘Heroes’, but that’s a good start. If you want to help people for a living, I know a bunch of people who help at shelters and soup kitchens I could let you talk to. It’s… it’s the little acts of heroism, in between disasters, that can really matter to people.” Toga nods, looking down at her notebook for a moment.

She sets it aside, turning to him. “Like, what do they do at the shelters? Talk to people, get them stuff like clothes and food?”

“Yeah, or you help people coordinate. When people like the Yuuei kids or Heroes try to step in and help, write a check cause they’re all guilty they can’t help more, you tell them where they can put their money to feel better. Or if they want to use their Quirks to help, you point them the right way; like that Mushroom girl, in class B? You could tell her the shelters that don’t have enough food, and she could grow a bunch of edible mushrooms to pad their food out. Or the electric kid could help a place with spotty electricity get everything in order before they lose power, like clean out fridges while he pours power into the circuit.”

Toga picks up her notebook, flipping a few pages and writing things down. “You’ve thought about this a lot.”

“It’s not like scrubbing soot off a wall is a Nobel Dissertation. I have a lot of time to think about this stuff, these days.” Iguchi pushes himself up, stretching and popping a few stiff muscles as he does. “I need a shower, then we can talk more.”

-

Toga flips back and forth through the page’s she’d filled with Iguchi, having slept on the thoughts before really planning anything big on them. It was early Tuesday morning, and she was searching everything she could while writing out bits and pieces of a plan that probably wasn’t very good.

She turns when she hears a knock on the door, narrowing her eyes slightly. She checks if there aren’t any other texts she might have missed, either from Iguchi coming back early or one of the teachers wanting to talk to her. She then stands, carefully making her way to the door.

She checks the little hole that lets her peak out, then slowly opens the door for Hound Dog. He was slouching, but was still easily taller than her, her head barely equaling his massive chest. “Hi, Mister Hound Dog. Did you need to talk about something?”

He nods, Toga instantly sniffing out he was tense about something. The slouch was forced, trying to look relaxed around her. “Sort of, Toga. Would it be alright if I stepped inside so we could talk?”

“Okay… is this about all the stuff I was looking up last night?” Toga steps back, Hound Dog’s eyebrow raising as she moves over to the kitchen table. She’d quickly spread from a single notebook to a few pages, abstract designs crossing page lines and bleeding into each other. There’d been a movie playing about some old British guy solving some unsolvable code, and she’s now realizing these pages look like something a code cracker would spend a few minutes looking at before abandoning their career.

“No… what were you searching for?”

Toga waves at the papers, pointing at the pieces she thinks will make the most sense. “Well, I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, when I’m an adult. My parents… well, they thought I should do something like be a doctor or psychologist. But I don’t know if I can help other people that much, yet. But Iguchi was talking about people who volunteer for shelters and food banks and stuff, and I sort of started poking at every thought that flew past me.”

Hound Dog nods, quickly moving a finger in a winding path through the notes as Toga watches him flit back and forth. “Not terrible planning, all things considered. You didn’t go through shelters after you ran away from your middle school graduation, did you?”

Toga blinks, taking a half step back as Hound Dog watches her for a reaction. But the memory starts playing between them, back when everything had come crashing down. “You… When did you find out about that?”

“Yesterday, although we learned the report existed on Sunday. And it doesn’t change our opinion of you; you’re still just a young woman, who needs help and counsel.”

Toga tilts her head, the conversation veering a vastly different direction. She’d imagined a disappointed look, or a growl with fangs bared… but Hound Dog just looks at her with infinite patience, waiting for her to react. “I… why do you want to help me?”

“Because you need it, Toga. And you made all of this, outlines of plans to help more people like you? That’s all the proof I need.”

Toga crosses her arms, backing up from the teacher until her back is against one of the kitchen counters. “No… No, you’re lying. You just like me because I’m acting normal; as soon as you see something you don’t like, I’m back out on the street.”

“No, not unless you want to leave. You’re welcome here as long as you want to be here, and you’re free to leave if you don’t want to be here.” Hound Dog moves, leaving Toga a free path to go wherever she wants. “But this here… this seems like a good start. Especially this here about food waste; do you want to talk about it?”

Toga takes a shuddering breath, her vision distorting for a different reason. Instead of shadows and memories dancing across her vision, it’s water twisting what she’s seeing. “I… there’s a lot of places that just throw away food, when there’s a shelter just down the street that could use it. Donut shops, expired food in grocery stores… They won’t give it for free, but maybe if a few people offer to buy all the stuff they’d throw away, someone would sell it to us?”

Hound Dog nods, quickly moving through the notes. “That’d help, but some stores specifically have policies against just giving it away. Nonsense, but that’s the Profit Motive for you. Making where they at least get something out of it… it’s crude, but effective. Plus, that food can still be eaten, so it might as well go to use… This could use a bit more work, but it’s an excellent start.”

Toga tries to hide a sniffle, slowly walking forward. “I…Iguchi was saying you Heroes needed h… Hours for the Hero Commission to be happy, right? Do Heroes get credit for volunteering, for stuff like that?”

“Huh… I don’t know, actually. Something else to dig into, while looking through this plan. But there’s a club that helps coordinate Volunteer work, and another for Community Outreach. I think Yuga mentioned talking with them, even though the Hero Course First Years don’t actually join clubs.”

Toga nods, slowly shuffling over to weave their way through her ideas. “Um… do you think I could meet with them, when they meet next?”

Hound Dog looks up at her, then offers a smile to her that doesn’t really settle her stomach. “I could easily introduce you to them, if you wanted. If that’s what you want to do with your future, I’d be happy to help set that path for you to walk.”

Toga looks down at the pages, running her tongue across the inside of her teeth. This… maybe this wasn’t her entire future, neatly wrapped in a ribbon. She didn’t want to do just this, now that she can think about it… thinking about further than tomorrow, or next week. Imagining herself growing old, and happy… maybe with people around her.

-

Chizome sighs heavily, leaning back against the wall while settling an unimpressed look on the Hero Commission paper pusher in front of him. “Every minute of these meetings makes me ask how any of you managed to notice my work, let alone begin to act to catch me.”

Miko raises an eyebrow at him, sitting next to the conspiracy board being projected against the wall. “And each of those minutes past the first five are self inflicted wounds. You must have something more to give us, if you were cooperating with the League.”

“My cooperation with the League was short, under duress, and chaotic to be charitable. This is the bulk of the information I have, beginning with what I know and ending with the assumptions and guess work I tend to make in my hunts. This is more information than I collected on the Heroes I hunted, and yet you’re disappointed.”

“Baffled, more like. If you had less than this before selecting targets, I’d recommend we check that licking up other people’s blood hasn’t given you a disease of some sort, of the brain eating variety.” Miko turns in the spinning office chair, looking through the chart.

Chizome looks through it, not having more to offer. Dabi and ‘Twice’ were together, grainy camera footage of the Fire-Quirk user and a sketch of the Copy-Quirk user slightly separated from the others. ‘Mayhem’ and ‘Shigaraki’ were similarly paired, with the faint note that their closeness was different that the couple. Childhood friends, siblings, something of that nature.

They have high resolution security footage photos from Yuuei, and the next three have photos with better resolution still. “Mr. Compress, the Reflector Villain, and Magne all appear to be taking part in the physical break-ins, with this ‘Dabi’ being something of an enforcer. But this new player here… you’re certain they’re new?”

Chizome nods, a new figure joining the four as they rush to a getaway portal. A shorter figure, barely taller than the Yuuei children, who seems to be creating a smoke cloud interfering with most of the cameras. It was also making it hard to tell anything about them, from gender to even exact height as it makes their hoodie puff out as colored gas cascades across their face. “Either they weren’t mentioned, or they’re new. Shigaraki is a flailing child mid-tantrum, so I’d assume one of the others is responsible for broadening their ranks.”

“And we’re sure it isn’t ‘Kurogiri’, their Portaling Villain? We’ve never seen more of him than before?”

“No… and that thing isn’t human. I’ve tasted his blood to Paralyze him, and his blood… It was polluted. Multiple people’s vitae, mixed together in a vile concoction.” Chizome maintains a neutral face as Miko turns to him, offering a shrug. “Once, when I was younger and more foolish, I tested if I could freeze multiple people at once. The feeling is… bizarre. An associate with Telekinesis likened it to trying to control multiple objects more than you’re used to; my Quirk can function that way, but it is much less efficient than simply binding and eliminating a single target.”

Miko quickly types out a note, Chizome surrendering that information for free to earn a speck of trust. “So Kurogiri is a Nomu, then. We had the theory, but that’s interesting to have confirmed… "Did you ever injure the other members of the League?”

“When I was kidnapped by them, while hunting Endeavor. Injured Muscular… and Shigaraki. And he… he also had something odd to his blood. I once tasted someone’s blood who’d had a kidney transplant, which caused it to be noticeable… different. Shigaraki had a similar taste, although that person was Quirkless, as well. I couldn’t tell you if their being Quirkless affected it or not, sadly…”

Chizome pauses, his tongue darting to his lips. He considers that bit of information, which he was offering the Commission. And how technically, he has experienced that odd taste before… when he’d frozen Midoriya Izuku. He’s frozen siblings before, and their blood didn’t resonate like Shigaraki and Izuku’s did; there was something about the two of them that was familiar, deep within their blood.

Miko takes a moment, turning towards him as she types out a text to someone. “We could easily test that, as it would provide prudent data. If Shigaraki is under thirty, and has had a kidney transplant, that creates a very small pool of people to draw from as potential suspects. Dumped bodies missing their kidneys related to Black Market cases, missing persons…”

She goes silent, which finally causes Hawks to sigh. Chizome is skull-splitting bored, so one of the few things he has to do with his seemingly endless time is to learn about these two. If it wasn’t Miko or Hawks, it was a rotating series of faceless Commission agents or Sidekicks. But when he dribbled out clues about how his Quirk worked, and was mildly polite along with dripping sarcasm, did he get these two around. Better the Devils he knows, than those he doesn’t.

The blond man stands, shifting and popping the muscles in his back. “We have the new hires, or some of the old guard. Aren’t there rules about giving them a pay bump for a trial that won’t take more than half an hour?”

Chizome raises an eyebrow, but nods as the idea isn't rejected after considering it. Of course, the Commission would have a bunch of rules about testing their people’s Quirks. If only to know how sharp the blades they kept so close to their heart were…

Chizome looks at Miko, whose eyes are widening as she reads a segment of text on her phone. She looks up, blinking several times, then looks back down to re-read the text. “I… I… Pomegranate.”

Chizome barely has time to notice the code word before a sharpened feather is at his neck, Hawks suddenly next to him. “Code Red?”

Miko stands, quickly grabbing her purse and making for the door. “I… Violet Protocol. Relief Team inbound… I have to go.”

Chizome turns as Miko makes for the door, sighing heavily as the feather presses to his throat. “Do you think I’m foolish enough to take such an obvious chance at escape? How many men are on the other side of that door, with guns ready?”

Hawks smiles, and it fails to meet his eyes as usual. But there’s a faint tick to his eyes… Ah, this is some sort of real emergency. He’s just as in the dark as him, then. “Why, is there a number you’d charge through anyways?”

“Maybe… why, does it sting to constantly be in the dark around here?” Chizome isn’t used to using a verbal knife to cut down a Hero, but he can see Hawks’s teeth clench as the blade connects.

Hawks pulls the feather away, moving back and sitting on the table with his legs swinging. He was trying to look as relaxed as possible, but he couldn’t do more than mask all the tension running through him. “Come on, Stain-y. I thought we were learning to get along.”

Chizome feels his lips twist into a snarl, a grating blonde voice saying the same thing as he pushes the thought away. “You all seem to think my learning to tolerate confinement is the same as growing to enjoy it; the League made the same mistake, before I left them in Hosu.”

Hawk’s eyebrows twitch, and he sits there for a long moment. “Tolerate confinement, huh? Why, because your life before was so great?”

“Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. You don’t care about me any more than I can be another feather in your caps. And I’m fine with that; I’ve long since chosen to be a blade. A scalpel that will cut the corrupt, necrotic flesh to keep the world healthy. Villains are nothing more the the blistering pustules of the failures of the world; some of them would still be voracious if the pie was divided fairly, but the League of Villains are people who were barely given crumbs, and told to smile and thank the unfairness of it all.”

Chizome watches as the feather blade fall to the ground, Hawk’s eyes going unfocused as memories begin to go through him. Chizome just maintains his position, watching the blond Hero actually internalize the words he’d said.

He opens his mouth, his feathers pulsing as he turns to look towards the door. He shakes his head, a frown quickly being plastered over with a smile. “Eh, hopefully whatever Miko ran off for, it isn’t super important. Do you actually get nutrition from blood, or do you still need to eat other things?”

Chizome raises an eyebrow, but rolls his eyes when he hears the boots hitting the ground on their way to the room. “My Quirk is Bloodcurdle, not Vampirism. You’ve been feeding me things other than blood, and I’ve been fine. Or were you all trying to starve me, thinking I needed blood to survive?”

Hawks’s eyebrows twitch, but a half dozen Hero Commission officials pour in before they can say more. But Chizome takes notes, hoping that they might be able to continue this sort of talk in the future.

Chapter Text

Fumikage takes a breath, Dark Shadow slowly issuing out from the cloak. He takes a few steps back, lifting his arms up. “Please, just go a little slower…”

“Fine… It’s less fun, though.” With Dark Shadow’s reluctant words, he forces himself to run past the edge of the raised platform. Dark Shadow quickly crosses to catch him, carrying him in a slow flight in a circle around the Training Grounds the class was gathered in.

Fumikage starts on their last lap, everyone nodding at the control. He looks to Cementoss, who’s already made the narrow pillar of concrete like he’d asked. He takes another steadying breath, pulling down the pair of goggles as Dark Shadow starts picking up speed.

Dark Shadow begins to twist into a spin, the arms crossing under him turning oddly liquid to coat his own body. Dark Shadow almost forms a cocoon around him, leaving him uncovered enough to manage to say the call out they’d workshopped for this move. “A Strike that Blocks the Sun; Eclipse Drill Run!”

Fumikage can feel the pillar shatter under their combined momentum, Dark Shadow contorting into the right shape and solidifying with time to spare… but not to pull up into a landing. They skid to a halt, rolling and unfurling in a heap of dust.

A few classmates whistle and cheer, both Izuku and Mezou running over to check on him. Fumikage stands, sensing Dark Shadow was in some pain from the maneuver, feeling a bit of stiffness in his shoulders as well. But he tries to brush himself off, attempting to maintain his mystique in as prosaic a manner as possible.

He waves Izuku off, offering what smile he can. “Don’t burden yourself, I’m fine. If I can’t quite land properly, I might as well have a way to use that momentum for something useful.”

Izuku nods, changing from his ungloved hand to the covered one to brush a spot of dust off his shoulder. “That’s a really cool move, using Dark Shadow as armor like that. Are they okay with it?”

Dark Shadow emerges, offering a comically large thumbs up for the worried boy. “Of course I am! I bounce back no problem, just like you, ‘Zuku!”

Izuku blushes at the name, Fumikage waving his hands through his Quirk to withdraw it. Izuku turns, Fumikage slightly glad the boy doesn’t see how flustered he is… but Mezou does, forming a mouth that grins at him.

Fumikage walks away from the larger boy, pulling his cloak tighter over himself. He looks around for Denki, the boy almost always seeming to have a knowing look when he and Mezou were… flirting? The electric blond is currently spaced out from using too much charge, Mashirao minding him as the other boy mindlessly plays with his tail like a cat.

Fumikage and the tail boy look away from each other, Fumikage seeing Cementoss walking over. “You have good aerial control, and the drill motion should help distribute the impact to reduce harm to yourself. But with an attack like that, you might want to consider adding something like a helmet or arm guards, to reduce the harm to yourself. And be mindful when you use a move like that; sometimes, all it does is put you in striking range of an opponent.”

Fumikage nods, turning to see Eijiro and Rikidou talking to each other. They were dusting themselves off, having displayed similar moves for their demo day. “This is sort of an in-between stage, for me and Dark Shadow. I’m… I want to try something else, but I need to get myself used to this, first.”

Cementoss raises an eyebrow, and Fumikage raises his arm to demonstrate. Dark Shadow slowly rises up his arm, clinging to him like a second skin in a way he tries not to cringe at. Hitoshi has asked all of them if he could test his Quirk on them at some point, and the feeling is eerily similar to being put under Brainwashing; surrendering as an outside force takes direct control of his body.

He takes a steadying breath as Dark Shadow coalesses a claw-like form over his hand, which Cementoss inspects before nodding. “I see… there aren’t a lot of people with Sentient Quirks, to ask for advice and council for. But Vlad King can do something similar, when he fights. He calls it ‘Arterial Arsenal’, and you could ask him for his two cents on the matter.”

Fumikage nods, looking at his hand. Dark Shadow slowly uncoils down his hand, looking like a black wax candle melting without the searing pain that would entail.

“Nexus Duplication!” Mezou spreads his arms, the points on the end shifting into plain mounds of flesh. Fumikage turns to look at everyone, a general confusion at what this was supposed to accomplish…

Then one of the ends begins to ripple, a protrusion sticking out of it with another end on it. That now protruding end begins to form an eyestock, sticking up above Mezou’s head and scanning around.

Mezou’s eyes are scrunched up in concentration, made evident when the same base creates another protrusion. Then all the bases begin rippling, and soon a dozen eyes are scanning around the room.

Mezou’s arms begin to shake as a few people clap for him, the eyes turning an odd milky white. They close, the protrusions retreating back before all the bases turn back to hands. Mezou shakes his hands out, visible trembles running up and down his arms. “Shouto, could I borrow some ice, please?”

Shouto nods, taking a few steps to the side. Everyone quickly makes room for him as he holds his hand out… and he does a semi-graceful turn, like he was leading a partner in a waltz. A patch of ice grows as he turns, which he stops and takes a few steps from…

Momo pulls out a small chisel and mallet from her coat, only stopping when they all notice the air above Shouto seems to cloud and frost. “Shouto, are you still…”

Shouto swings his arm through the air as he turns again, the air fogging up as ice crystals quickly condense in their air. Fumikage can see his breath fogging in front of him, Cementoss quickly walking over to All Might.

All Might holds a clipboard up over his face as Shouto comes to a stop, lowering his cold arm before raising his heat arm. “Young Todoroki, please don’t do anything rash.”

Shouto gracefully raises his hand up, snapping his fingers to conjure a mote of blue flames in his hand. “Winter’s Mourning; Tears of the Unsung Blizzard!”

There’s a pulse of heat above him, visibly moving through the slush up to the roof. All the ice above them turns to a slush, a heavy downpour covering everyone for a few seconds. The water that reaches Todoroki hisses and rises back off him, where he wipes a hand across his face so his steadily growing bangs don’t cover his eyes.

Shouto manages to pull off the prosaic, ‘I break the laws of physics as if they were mere suggestions from my over concerned mother’ energy Fumikage had aimed for, strolling back over as everyone else tries to brush their flattened down hair out of their face. “Rikidou, thank you for the suggestion.”

Everyone turns to the muscle bound brunette, who raises a hand to scratch at the back of his head. “Hey, you should get the credit for actually doing it, man. I just said with your ice melting trick, you might be able to make water to throw at someone else with a Fire Quirk.”

Fumikage raises an eyebrow, then nods and moves on. Normally, He’d expect Izuku or Momo to come up with such an idea, with Tenya in a close third and Denki in a surprise fourth place if the wind was blowing the right direction. Rikidou coming up with such an idea… a surprise, to be sure. But it wasn’t exactly blasphemous, as everyone just accepts the suggestion and moves on.

“Hey Half-in-Half, next time you intend to commence with the waterworks, maybe let me know so I can take a few steps back?” Katsuki’s usually spiky curls are oddly flat and docile, almost like they’d been subdued for a formal event. “Being doused in water kind of fucks up my Quirk.”

Shouto stares for a long second, puzzling out how being drenched in cold water could make the boy with explosive sweat less effective. Fumikage tilts his head, Shouto seeming to be the last person to clue in to that particular combination. “Oh… do you want me to heat you back up?”

Katsuki rolls his eyes, sliding his gauntlets off. “Since these things started draining water into my stored sweat, they’re useless for today… sure. Just don’t cook me, Shou-Off.”

-

Mashirao sighs, pulling a still stupefied Denki along to the dorms. He seemed to have gone completely out of the loop after demoing his ‘Indiscriminate Shock’, and he wasn’t going much further than ten feet from him, for whatever reason. So Mashirao had walked him to Recovery Girl, and now to the dorms as the electric blond stumbled along.

He walks Denki to a couch, the boy tumbling and falling over the arm to sprawl across it. He starts laughing drunkenly, too much like the women who’d drink at the Underground fights and flirt with him. He’d ignored them, but Denki looking at him all moony-eyed… it makes a different feeling spark in his chest. “You awake, Denki?”

“No… I had insomnia, and my parents tried to get me something to help me sleep. But my brain wouldn’t turn off… so I was stuck trying to fall asleep for a while… this is like that…” The blond furrows his eyebrows, seeming to want to continue talking. He sticks his tongue out, rolling onto his side before making a sort of hacking noise.

Mashirao turns, and walks to the kitchen. He grabs a water bottle from the fridge, walking back over as Denki slowly drags a hand over the front of the couch. He waits a few seconds, Denki not seeming to notice him until he speaks up.

He offers the bottle to Denki, who ignores it a moment before sitting up. He immediately goes to wrap his arms around Mashirao, who stands there a second as the blond babbles in his ear. “Mashi! I missed you!”

Mashirao tries to contort downwards, setting the bottle down as Denki’s grip gets surprisingly stronger. “I only went around the corner, Denki.”

“Time is bad soup… You were gone forever…” Mashirao sighs, half picking the other boy up to sit on the couch. Denki instantly piles onto him, Mashirao gritting his teeth as he tries to shift so his tail isn’t getting bent the wrong way. “Everything feels weird… like breathing through a scratchy sweater that’s too small…”

Mashirao raises an eyebrow, reaching an arm up and slowly running down Denki’s back. The other boy calms down a little bit, the two of them adjusting to a more comfortable sitting position on the couch. “If you don’t like when you’re overloaded, why did you do it? You could have done something else?”

“Because Izuku has bad bones. But he does his Quirk bad anyways, and he gets stronger. Why can’t I get stronger-er too?”

Mashirao doesn’t know what to say to that, partially because he was stuck on that too. There were only a few of them in the class with Mutation Quirks, and everyone with Emitter Quirks seemed to be getting stronger with Izuku poking and prodding their training regimens with his Analysis knowledge. But the few times he’d tried asking the boy for advice, it was much less than when he’d overheard him talking with the others… “You can. Most of you guys will get stronger… But I don’t know if I can.”

Denki pulls back, his eyes trying to focus on Mashirao’s. They seem to lock onto his nose instead, but it was the scrambled thought that counts. “You’re super strong, Mashirou. Not just muscle-ly strong… You’re really nice, even when you think no one is looking.”

Mashirao feels his face heat up, looking away from the other student. “Denki… that’s really nice, but…”

“No buts. You’re nice.” Denki says it like that’s all he’ll allow for this conversation… and pecks Mashirao on the cheek. Mashirao goes absolutely still, the heat in his face climbing up even higher as Denki lulls his head into his shoulder.

Mashirao sits there for a long second, then reaches up to poke the other boy in the cheek. Denki doesn’t acknowledge it… then lightly snores the next second, leaving him pinned under the other boy on the couch.

Mashirao reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone. Denki doesn’t protest him moving, slipping closer to the couch while he messages the rest of the class.

Hitoshi:Did you two make it to the dorms safely?

Mashirao:Yeah, we’re fine. He’s just napping…

Mashirao tries to ignore Denki snoozing on his chest… which really just makes him focus even harder on it. Because he should be fine; he’s seen most of the class shirtless, and he wasn’t flustered by it anymore… okay, maybe he still got a little flustered when everyone had been drenched by Shouto’s new move, but that was different!

But Denki… he was different, when Mashirao looked at him. Denki made flirty comments with everyone, and maybe his eyes lingered on Mashirao when the two of them were changing into their costumes… and He kept playing with his tail, which should not be affecting him like this…

Mashirao’s face flushes even harder, and he looks away as Denki seems to stir from on top of him. The boy pulls his head up, looking around before smiling dopily at him. “You’re a good pillow, Mashi. I haven’t brain fried since… Since the USJ?”

“You fried your brain during that?” Mashirao can’t help the goosebumps that fly up his arms, the smell of smoke almost choking him as the other student nods. If Denki got loopy like this… what was that like, going through something so horrible.

“Little bit… Nomu was trying to kill Izuku. I just… I unloaded what I could. I didn’t go full loopy, like this. And I had my friends to help… until they told me they were villains.”

“…Huh?” The train goes from running through a nightmare to crashing into a brick wall, Mashirao being thrown clear of it as he sits there.

He looks down at Denki, whose gaze seems to settle on his tie. If the blond realizes what he did, he’s not showing it. So Mashirao is almost about to assume this is some sort of terrible joke, only for Denki’s eyes to go wide as he brings up a finger to shush himself. “Yeah… but it’s a secret! Can’t tell the rest of the class… they’re all really worried. And Hana isn’t really the League, anyways; It’s weird. She’s, like, a super spy, trying to take them down. She’s just spreading… Mayhem.”

Mashirao raises his eyebrows, Denki chuckling like he was sharing an inside joke. Mashirao tries to copy it, Denki lounging into him as he looks up into the ceiling. His eyes slowly widen, darting back as Denki seems to lounge back into sleep.

He slowly raises his arm, trembling as he tries to see if he’s ever gotten a number to send a message straight to the teachers.

-

Rikidou sighs heavily, looking at his assignments. He had a bit of work piling up, all new stuff he also needed to store for the test… but after training today, everyone Demoing super moves to try and improve in the coming weeks. He didn’t really have anything better than what he could already do… or did he?

Rikidou walks down from the desk in his room, seeing the girls have invited Yuga and Kouji into their study circle for the day. Yuga notices him walking in first, the Frenchman waving at him so the others look up. “Something we can do for you, Le Cuisinier?”

Rikidou nods, bringing his hands up. “Um, this is sort of a question for Momo. Do you… have any more of that peppermint tea from the party on Sunday?”

The girl raises an eyebrow, then nods before standing up. “Yes, I stored what we didn’t have in one of the cupboards in the kitchen. Any particular reason, or are you just interested in having more?”

“A little of both? It’s weird… I’ll explain in a second.” The other girls turn with some interest, but quickly turn away as Momo gets out the kettle to actually mix the tea.

Momo sets the kettle to a boil, fetching the cup while Rikidou watches the stove. “You know, I was hoping someone might pick up an interest in having tea more regularly. Besides Midoriya-dono and Present Mic, though Yuga makes good company besides.”

“Yeah… this is… sort of an experiment? With my Quirk, anyways.” Momo raises an eyebrow, taking mental notes as Rikidou puzzles it out. “At the party, I had a few cups of the stuff… and it was really weird. Like, when I’m using my Quirk, everything kind of dulls and goes out of focus. With the peppermint tea… the opposite happened?”

“Well, it is natural sugar versus the processed variety you use to intentionally trigger your Quirk… oh, do you naturally avoid sugary food stuffs? What happens when you eat things like Maple Syrup, or Honey?” Rikidou can’t help but shudder, Momo seeming slightly concerned for him as he shakes his head.

“Well… when I was six, one of my uncles got me these maple candies from Canada. A roll of the stuff, kind of like the candies old people like? And… My Quirk is Sugar Rush, but I actually had a full on hyper episode. Maple anything has been banned since.”

Momo nods, taking the kettle off as a bit of steam begins escaping and mixing the tea. “That… there’s some sense to it. There are multiple different types of ‘sugar’, from glucose to fructose to lactose. Seeing what an unpolluted sample of each does to you would be interesting… is it just Canadian Maple Syrup that caused the ‘hyper-active’ episode, or would any provide the effect?”

Rikidou shrugs, honestly not having taken the idea down to look at since he was a kid. His Quirk had been interesting enough as it was, without doing stuff beyond seeing what sweet he could stomach the most of.

Momo nods, offering him the tea. He takes a careful sip of it, quickly downing the cup when he notices the tingling feeling as it touches his tongue. It’s almost the same as when he downs a container of sugar for his Quirk, only focused on different parts of his tongue…

Rikidou blinks, everything becoming slightly sharper as he stands there. Momo stares at his face, nodding as she notices something. “Your pupils just dilated a little bit… 35*17?”

The answer instantly pops into his head, the math worked out from doing the worksheet earlier like someone had copied/pasted the answer for him. “595.”