Chapter Text
There was a rumour of death haunting cities.
There was a rumour that plagued the nightmares of people worldwide. A rumour that could not be tracked, could not be predicted, and could not be stopped. There was a rumour that smelled of blood and carnage and bitter fear.
There is a rumour that haunts Japan. A rumour of a figure, clad in black, who kills without mercy, without sympathy. Men and women, they’ve hunted without order, without reason, leaving behind only a certificate of death.
They’ve cut down Villains and Heroes alike, civilians both good and bad, young and old. This is a rumour who figures in authority wished stayed as a whisper of gossip, of disbelief and hearsay. This is not that rumour. This is their reality.
The Grim Reaper had come to Japan.
When Aizawa Shouta was first assigned to The Grim Reaper’s case, he didn’t think much of it. At the time it was just a silly rumour the police and Hero Commission were trying to dispel.
A serial killer who flew all around the world, seemingly killing at random, now decided they would reside in Japan? It made no sense.
The only thing that immediately connected each victim was the tarot card of Death left on the scene.
Hence came their first name. ‘Death.’
A little on the nose, but whatever. Though more research showed there could be possible reasons behind many of the supposed murders (researchers, heroes, villains, people in depth, people who collected depth, a random coffee shop owner, that still made no sense to Shouta), the fact that there was only one person doing this, still seemed impossible.
Then came the witnesses.
Though each described him identically, none could actually see his face, just that he dressed in an all black, versatile body armour, clad with dark goggles and a hood. A group who wore a uniform was still their best bet.
That is until a rogue journalist, Tsutsumi Akito started tracking the killer and their murders. They were the first person who actually caught a picture of the assassin, and through looking at all their research, as well as some high-tech body scanners from the police force, Shouta and those on the case with him, had come to the conclusion that this was, in fact, the same person.
Akito was also the only person to catch a photo of the assassin head on, and remain alive.
Their quirk allowed them to meld with shadows, which made a job that involved watching without being caught ideal. It was because of his quirk that he escaped that night, providing the photo that gave way to Death's new name.
It showed the same dark figure, however, the only element not in black was the bottom half of a skull painted onto their mask.
Thus, The Grim Reaper was born.
That was just over two years ago. Since then, there have been a number of witnesses who have seen Reaper, but any who are seen by him are killed instantly, their remains left to rot without even a card to show for. The only reason they could connect those deaths to the Reaper was a body with a card nearby, or a blurred photo of the half skull mask.
So yes, when Shouta was first put on the case, he didn’t think much of it. Now, three years later, it haunted him that the Reaper was still out there, killing without remorse.
Though he used to have time to split his attention between school and the case, the past year dealing with his hell class of 1-A and all they’ve been going through had him neglecting the Reaper, thinking of him less and less.
He still of course helped out. When murders were nearby, he joined the team, along with bis own research. This class, however, was his immediate responsibility.
Although the threat of the League had not fully disappeared, All for One was buried deep within Tartarus, along with many of his other goons. The remaining League was thought to be separated for the moment, which Shouta wasn’t sure if he should be jumping for joy over, or taking cover.
Either way, his class were becoming second years, and he intended to see and teach them all the way to the end. He just hoped they manage to stay out of the Grim Reaper’s line of fire.
Then again, they are all problem children and trouble magnets…
Shouta startled awake as his phone rang, blinking rapidly in the darkness.
His husband groaned next to him shoving him away and pressing his face further into their pillows. A quick glance at the clock had Shouta groaning himself. Three in the morning. Who the hell was ringing him at three in the morning?
He fumbled for his phone and glared at the name that popped up in front of him.
KAMINARI DENKI
They hadn’t even moved back into the dorms, but Shouta swore the moment that child stepped into his classroom he was getting detention.
He took a deep breath before answering it, wondering why in gods name he decided to give his number to his class.
‘Kaminari, I swear to Kam-’ he started only to be cut off by frantic whispering.
‘Sir? Sir?! Oh, my LORD, Sensei, thank Kami you answered. Sir, I think- Kami- I think we found a body,’ Kaminari’s voice whisper screamed in his ears, the noise of a couple other voices coming through in the background.
This is why Shouta gave his students his number. Trouble. Magnets.
Shouta bolted straight up in bed, startling Hizashi beside him.
‘What do you mean you think you found a body? Where are you? I’m coming to get you,’ he demanded. All remanence of sleep was gone.
‘Oh, no, sorry. We definitely found a body, but Sensei? Um, there’s something else.’
Fantastic, Shouta thought, because this could get worse.
‘There’s a card, Sensei. Mina said it’s the tarot card of Death.’
And with that statement, Shouta felt ice in his lungs as his world froze.
‘Shit.’