Chapter Text
Shouto trailed the rest of the class on the way to the the first assembly of the new semester, stifling a yawn. His and All for One's debate had stretched until two in the morning, and it was only after a promise to keep him updated (and essentially roping him into playing a far more benign spy, despite his admittedly lacklustre attempt at turning down the old man's quote-unquote 'job offer') that All for One allowed Shouto to tap out. Not that Shouto had any regrets. For one, it was nice to have someone who understood and even carried on with the references and jokes and stuff he'd carried over. For another, having the insight of one of the most infamous and powerful villains was a chance he couldn't pass up, even if just to sate his curiosity on how villains operated.
But, of course, he had to keep it tightly under wraps. If anyone found out he was in contact with All for One... His non-existent status as traitor would be immediately (falsely) confirmed and he'd be kicked out and thrown into jail faster than he could blink.
As Nedzu chattered away up on stage, Shouto slipped his phone from his pocket and opened his list of manga arcs. Now that he had his provisional licence, the next arc was...
He stiffened, breath catching in his throat. The work studies arc. Otherwise known as the Overhaul Arc, the arc where Eri was first introduced.
This would probably be... the arc with the biggest changes, outside of all the arcs which used to feature Enji. After all, Eri was safe. He'd rescued her a year or so ago, she was out of Overhaul's clutches and in UA's care. There was no tiny, adorable damsel in distress to save any more. And if the Shie Hassaikai didn't have Eri, then what happened to their quirk erasing drug manufacturing efforts? Were they dying a slow, painful death? Or had they managed to find a new source?
And what of the other side of the arc? What would happen to Togata, since he'd had his quirk erased by... one of the yakuza, Shouto couldn't remember exactly who. What about Toga and Twice, were they still going to 'join' the Hassaikai for the League? Were the League even going to play a part in the arc at all now? Hell, what about Sir Nighteye? He died in this arc. Would he die now? Or would he manage to survive?
Shouto tapped a finger against the edge of his phone, considering. He might just have to try and find a way to worm himself into the arc somehow. Partly to see any changes first hand, yes, but... But also to finish what he had effectively started when he'd rescued Eri. For her sake, at the very least, he needed to see this through. But how?
Tucking his phone away, Shouto began to think.
He still didn't have a good answer by the end of the day. Taking part in the work studies was the obvious answer, yeah, but that just led to the next set of questions. Who should he go to? Would the agency he studied at even take part in the new Overhaul Arc? If they did, would they be a part of the main raiding party? Or would they be focused on one of the secondary branches of the family? And, of course, the biggest question of all: how, if at all, would his potential presence change things? Because up until now, manga Todoroki had had a part to play in every arc. Except, during the Overhaul Arc, manga Todoroki was off retaking his provisional licence exam alongside Bakugou, Shishikura, and the real Camie. So this was uncharted territory for him, and he wanted to be cautious.
A bump against his shoulder drew his attention to Izuku, who was looking at him curiously. "Where did you go, Shouchan? You kinda spaced out for a while, there. More than usual, I mean."
"Just thinking about the work studies Nedzu mentioned."
Izuku nodded, his attention then drawn away by Iida asking him a question.
And that's when Shouto did a double take, staring at the head of deep green curls leaning against his shoulder. He'd been distracted by his and Izuku's talk/mutual love confession, and then by All for One texting him, but... Last night was supposed to be Deku vs Kacchan round two, wasn't it? Where Izuku and Bakugou fought over several things, but most obviously the results of the licensing exam, the two of them got put under house arrest, and Izuku met Togata for the first time. That... hadn't happened.
He really should've expected that, shouldn't he? Bakugou had undergone early character development, and as a result he'd calmed down enough to get his licence first try like everyone else. There was nothing for the inferiority complex to spark against now and no need for the catharsis of their brawl.
The question now, he supposed, was if Izuku would still meet Togata before the work studies discussion or not.
"'Rokiiiiii..." someone whined from the direction of the common room table, snapping Shouto from his thoughts. Looking over, he blinked. Hagakure was cupping Kaminari's chin in one hand, squishing his cheeks into a pout as Kaminari beamed his best 'sad, wet, pathetic cat' eyes Shouto's way.
"English is your best subject, right?" Hagakure went on now that she had Shouto's attention. "Could you help? We thought we understood what Mic-sensei was talking about in class earlier, but..."
"Ah, yeah, be there in a sec," he replied, Hagakure and Kaminari 'woo!'ing in the background as Shouto lightly tapped Izuku's arm to alert him. Izuku briefly glanced up at him from his discussion with Iida, then at the table, then nodded and lifted his head off Shouto's shoulder.
Released from his fluffy prison, Shouto gathered his books and joined the pair at the table, settling into the spot they'd cleared for him as he shifted into tutor mode. "Alright, so, which bits are you getting stuck on?"
Shouto stared blankly at the pages of his journal, pen held loosely in his hand. He'd written it all out - his realization over what arc was next and just how changed it would be from the version he'd read in the manga, his worries and anxieties over what those changes would be and what they would mean, his desire and need to play a part in taking Overhaul down, his dread and fear over what would potentially happen with his potential presence, all of it - and for the first time since he'd started journaling... it hadn't helped.
His brain was still going several million miles an hour, restlessly pacing paths that were already deeply entrenched and well worn for how new they were. Because, in a way, this felt like it. The culmination of everything he'd done since he'd first woken up five years ago with memories of another life rattling around in his head.
Getting Enji arrested had opened the path to his brief vigilante turn to rescue Eri. Rescuing Eri had (hopefully) dealt a lethal blow to the Shie Hassaikai, crippling them enough that whatever operation Nighteye would most likely lead against them would finish them off for good. And with All for One out of the way permanently and the League's entire existence up in the air... Things were feeling surprisingly final.
There were still threads hanging, of course: the vestiges hiding within One for All, waiting for whatever spurred them into waking in the first place; Detnerat and the Meta Liberation Army still lurking in the shadows, veiled behind the facade of a regular support company; whether or not Gentle Criminal and La Brava would try their 'breaking into the UA school festival' stunt; the whole 'suspected traitor Todoroki' thing All for One had told him about. But, aside from Gentle and La Brava and the suspected traitor thing... The threads felt... distant, somehow. Like they'd rear their heads eventually, one way or another, but not right now.
He didn't know how to explain it, really, even in his own head, it just... it just was. It ran in his veins, it paced through his head, it echoed in every beat of his heart, in every breath he took. Maybe it was nothing but wishful thinking on his part. Maybe it was the first and only direct declaration he'd ever received from the universe. Whatever it was, it was solid, and it was immovable, and it was there, had been ever since he'd first touched pen to journal page.
This is the last. Once Overhaul is gone and Eri is truly safe, we can rest. The plot will be over, and we can live out our life as a regular hero student.
And that was why he was staring blankly at his journal, pen in hand and thoughts still racing. Because if this was the last, if this was the end of this changed, but still familiar story, then... what of him? Would he be gone? Would the universe pluck him out of Todoroki's head and send him to whatever afterlife he'd been destined for before all this? Or worse better worse better worse better WORSE BETTER Ẅ̸̮̙͍̺͑͌Ò̵̞R̵̢̧̟̻̝̈́̅̽̇S̵̖͕̱͂É̷̡̯̝͐̀́, would he be sent back? Back to whoever he'd been before all this, living with his brother, alive and fine and stuck with memories of five years of an entirely different life in a world that was supposed to be nothing more than lines on paper happy?
if it was going to send him back could it please erase those five years his mind was torture enough as is don't give it more ammunition
Or would he still be here? Would this be where he spent the rest of his days, breathe the last breath he'd ever take, say the last words he'd ever say? And if it was, then... then what of who he'd been before? With the brother he couldn't remember but still loved desperately and with every inch of his heart? With the parents he didn't want to remember but who still haunted the back of his head as prowling shadows somehow much more terrifying than Enji on his worst days? With... With... With... Wi-
He was spiralling.
He was treading down a path that was familiar, yet not.
A path that would lead to a worse outcome than his episode after Kamino.
A path that would lead to his ruin.
He couldn't think about this.
He didn't want to think about this.
So he desperately flailed for anything that could pull him free.
A part of him wanted to text All for One, vent his worries and fears and everything to someone other than his journal. The old man would know what he was talking about, and while he probably didn't have a reassuring bone in his decrepit body, he'd probably find a way to kick Shouto out of his own head. Probably by starting another debate or dragging him into another conversation on some manga or game or anime they'd both enjoyed.
But despite the level of trust Shouto had placed in him, they weren't at that stage in their whatever-the-fuck-this-was yet. Talking about feelings and shit like that was at least a rank 6 confidant, and they were barely at rank 2.
Instead, he turned to the only other thing he could think of.
ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ/Shouchan: you up?
After a couple of moments, during which the identical text he'd sent Momo never once gained so much as a read notification, his phone buzzed with a reply.
Izukun: yeah.
Izukun: why?
Shouchan: be right there
Izukun: what
Slipping his phone into the pocket of his pyjama pants, Shouto snuck out of his room and made for the stairs. Taking the elevator would be faster, true, but it would also be more noisy. And since students were supposed to be back in their own rooms by eleven and Iida was on Izuku's floor...
He entered Izuku's room with a quiet knock, saying as soon as the door was closed "Just pretend I'm not here," to a startled Izuku before dropping face first onto the bed.
After a moment, Izuku lowly said "Okay..." and returned to the homework he'd been doing. The only acknowledgement Shouto got after that was Izuku switching from using his headphones to listen to music to hooking his phone up to a Bluetooth speaker to quietly play the shared playlist they'd made after their playlist swap. Otherwise? It was like he wasn't even there.
It was... relaxing, sharing a space with a calm, steady presence that wasn't demanding anything of him. The scratch of pen on paper layered under the quiet music (with the occasional mumbling accompaniment) and the general sounds of Izuku existing soothed his unsettled nerves and quieted the racing thoughts in his head, allowing him to organize them and set them to one side. The questions wouldn't go away until they got their answers, he knew that much, but that didn't mean they had to take up his every waking moment until then.
He had no idea how long he'd been lying there, but he was interrupted in his organizing by the sounds of Izuku finishing up for the night. Papers were packed away, music was shut off, whatever else Izuku's night routine included. Before long, though, the mattress dipped and shifted as he finally joined Shouto in bed, clambering over him so he wasn't squished against the edge.
And as Izuku's breathing deepened and steadied, Shouto felt himself begin to drift off after him. The answers would come, but until then, he had his goal. Find a way into the Overhaul Arc, and free Eri from the shackles still binding her. Everything else could wait.
Over breakfast the next morning, while he reassured both Izuku and Momo that he was fine and that last night was just a case of his brain not being able to shut up, he turned his thoughts plotward.
How best to get into the Overhaul Arc? The only heroes he solidly remembered taking part in the main raid were Nighteye, Rock Lock, Fat Gum, and Ryukyu, and none of them had sent him an offer after the Sports Festival, meaning he was shit outta luck on that end. And since his shoddy memory was turning up blanks on every other hero on the raid, trying to get in that way was probably not going to work.
So then what if he went to Nedzu? Asked the rat directly if he could join the raid party? Except no, that wouldn't work either, not without raising several questions in Nedzu's genius little rat-bear-cat-thing brain. Because back then, back when Shouto had rescued Eri and taken her to UA, Nedzu hadn't mentioned which group he'd suspected Shouto of rescuing Eri from. Not by name, at least. And considering Nighteye's raid was top secret, the fact that Shouto knew about it at all would raise so many red flags that would not combine well with the whole 'suspected traitor' thing he had to contend with. So asking Nedzu was off the table.
He ended up chewing on that pretty thoroughly over the next day and a half, thinking it over from any angle he could think of. But, frustratingly, none of them bore any real fruit. They were all too risky, too uncertain, too liable to raise questions he couldn't answer, the list went on.
He even ended up asking All for One for help, the old man's advice - 'Why not wait and see if the universe simply hands you the solution? After all, I doubt it would let you do something as major as rescuing Eri early without also giving you the chance to see your actions through' - sounding so appealing after so much nothing that Shouto ended up taking it. Shoved all his half-baked schemes and ideas to one side and simply let whatever would happen happen. It was still nerve wracking, don't get him wrong, but leaving his potential presence up to the universe did take some of the weight from his shoulders.
And then, finally, it was the day Aizawa finally told them about the work studies Nedzu had mentioned.
"Morning," Aizawa drawled once they were all in their seats. "Nedzu's finally given us the go ahead, so we'll go into more detail about the work studies." He turned to the door. "Please come in."
Togata, Hado, and Amajiki marched in, Aizawa continuing at the same time "We'll have people who experienced it first hand tell you how these are different from the internships. Listen carefully."
Shouto liked the Big Three. Granted, he didn't remember much of their appearances beyond the Overhaul Arc and Togata hanging out with Eri during the school festival, but he still liked them. Their designs were neat and their quirks were cool, especially Amajiki's.
"Okay, can you introduce yourselves briefly?" Aizawa asked, gesturing to the trio. "Let's start with Amajiki."
Ah, Amajiki. His favourite of the three, and the most relatable. Shouto watched, amused and sympathetic in equal measure, as Amajiki absolutely failed to introduce himself, too spooked by the eyes watching him. A mood back in his past life and still a mood now.
"Oh, listen, Amajiki-kun!" Hado chirped, turning to the cowering Amajiki with a bubbly smile. "That's called having the heart of a flea! Even though you're human! It's so weird!" She turned to the class, holding out a hand towards Amajiki as she said in his place "This is the flea, Amajiki Tamaki. And then I'm-" she placed a hand on her chest "-Hado Nejire. We were asked to talk to you guys about the work studies." And then, as she had in the manga, Hado got distracted, asking anyone that caught her eye whatever question popped into her head.
She was interrupted by Togata, not that she really noticed as she kept chattering at Ojiro. Shouto's nose wrinkled slightly as Togata's call and response failed miserably, the distant pangs of second hand embarrassment making him want to hide his face. He liked Togata, he really did, but god his sense of humour was...
"Well," Togata finally said once he'd settled, taking Aizawa's place behind the desk, "you guys look like you're not sure what's going on, right? We're third years who suddenly appeared to talk about work studies that aren't even required. That's confusing, right?" He hummed to himself, one hand resting on his chin. "You guys got your provisional licenses as first years, right? This year's first years are really... energetic, right? Besides, it looks like my jokes didn't land earlier, right?"
After a moment, during which both Hado and Amajiki looked at him, Togata punched an enthusiastic fist into the air. "Why don't you all fight me at once? It's the most rational way to have you all experience our experience first hand, right?" he asked, turning to Aizawa. "How about it, Eraserhead?"
Aizawa stared for a moment, before shrugging a shoulder. "Do what you want."
Hoo boy. This would be an experience.
Once everyone had changed into their gym uniforms, they gathered at Gym Gamma, Sero asking if Togata was serious as Togata got warmed up. Shouto nibbled at his lip, silently agreeing as both Amajiki and Hado warned the class - in their own ways - that this would be unlike anything else they'd faced so far. Togata was a monster, one who'd gotten to that state through sheer determination and a shit ton of hard work. He'd made Permeation work for him, turning it from nothing more than a real life Bethesda glitch (down to the inconvenience and potential danger) to a genuine threat in combat. After all, how could you really beat a guy you can't hit?
Once the rules were set, the class prepared. And Shouto silently slipped to the back, not stupid enough to try and fight Togata. If it came to it, he could probably ward him off, yeah, but actually fighting? Haha no thanks. He'd rather not find out what punching Permeation felt like.
Izuku burst forward in a flare of lightning, the rest of the close combat fighters close behind. Only for them all to screech to a halt and stare as Togata activated his quirk, his clothes sliding through and off him. Unconsciously, Shouto's gaze tracked them, watching dumbly as they... fell... to...
...
oh my...
He ripped his gaze away, hiding his burning face behind his hands as he scrubbed the image from his mind. He did not need that lingering in his head at all, thank you!
By the time he'd purged his head of any and all images of naked Togata, said Togata had taken out most of the class' long range fighters. He had also disappeared, glitching into the floor to pop up behind some other unsuspecting fool.
A shadow fell over him from behind. Ah. He was the unsuspecting fool.
He panicked, letting his quirk flare to the surface and shroud him in blistering heat and burning cold. It was a desperate move, one he wasn't even sure would work, but by all mercies Togata actually retreated, leaping away with a startled yelp. Shouto couldn't quite believe that had actually worked, but whatever. He wasn't going to push his luck.
Forcing Half-Cold Half-Hot back beneath his skin, Shouto was about to drop to the floor in surrender when he sensed Togata lunge for him again. Moving on newly trained reflex, he dodged as gracefully as possible with his eyes squeezed shut. That was probably stupid, considering he really didn't want to fight Togata, but at the same time, those punches of his looked like they hurt.
A surprised noise from Togata - as well as the sudden weight of the attention of everyone still standing, Aizawa, and Hado and Amajiki - told him just how close he'd actually been to feeling a Togata punch, but he couldn't linger on that thought. Togata was giving chase, trying his damndest to land a punch and take Shouto out. Shouto, meanwhile, was utilizing every scrap of gymnastic and acrobatic skill he had to dodge, relying desperately on every other sense than sight so he wouldn't be met with a close up faceful of Mirio Junior.
It probably looked like a weird dance from the outside: Togata lunging and punching and chasing, Shouto twisting and flipping and twirling and leaping. It was also most definitely unexpected, even Shouto himself getting surprised by just how long he was managing to survive without a hit. But he couldn't keep it up forever. He'd get distracted, or Togata would pull a move Shouto hadn't expected, or something else that would throw off the strange rhythm they'd found themselves in. So it was better to quit while he was ahead.
Another punch was thrown, Shouto dodging with a cartwheel that smoothly shifted into a backflip into a handspring, taking him away from Togata. He balanced on a heel for a second, waiting, and when Togata punched at him, he dropped into a seated position and raised his hands in surrender. "I'm tapping out."
Togata paused, and then laughed, boisterous and free. "Really? That's a shame. I don't think I've had that much fun sparring with anyone in a while. You're pretty skilled for a first year, too. But-" he - gently - punched Shouto on the top of his head "-if that's what you want, Todoroki-kun." And then he was gone, glitching into the floor to take out the close range fighters.
Afterwards, as Togata explained his quirk and how he'd had to put in so much work to get to the level he had with it, Shouto bit the inside of his cheek. He hoped Togata didn't lose Permeation now. It was a fun quirk, and one that he should (and probably did) take pride in mastering as he had. He'd be a fantastic hero after graduating, especially if he put even a fraction of the effort and work he put into training his quirk into everything else.
"Oh, Todoroki," Aizawa called as the rest of the class headed out after Togata's speech. "Nedzu wants to talk to you once you get back."
Shouto nodded, even as he asked "Did he say why?"
"No, just that you should meet him in his office as soon as possible."
"Got it."
Once he'd changed back into his regular uniform, Shouto took a breath and headed out, walking the familiar halls to Nedzu's office. He felt weighted down with dread, every step feeling like it was taking him closer and closer to an unseen execution block.
Shaking his head, he pulled his phone from his pocket and opened his chat with the reason he was dreading this.
Todoroki Shouto: nedzu's asked to meet with me and i don't know why
Todoroki Shouto: if i don't text you again by the end of the day, it's cause i'm coming to join you in the depths of tartarus
foxy grandpa: I wish you luck, then.
foxy grandpa: But don't fret. If you /do/ end up down here, I'll just enact my breakout plans and take you with me.
foxy grandpa: We can disappear to a place no-one will ever find us.
Todoroki Shouto: my knight in shining life support gear
Todoroki Shouto: can i take izukun?
foxy grandpa: You can take whoever as long as you believe we can trust them.
Todoroki Shouto: nice
Todoroki Shouto: gotta go i'm almost at his office
Todoroki Shouto: also i give you permission to change my chat name to whatever
Todoroki Shouto: just to give me something to look forward to in case this goes bad
foxy grandpa: i will abuse this power immediately o7
With a snort, Shouto locked his phone and tucked it away into his pocket, then took a deep, preparatory breath before rounding the last corner to Nedzu's office. Almost instantly, the door swung open, forcing him to hide his shaking hands in his pockets. He'd rather not show any overt weakness, even if he suspected the rat could scent fear anyway.
"Ah, Todoroki-kun!" Nedzu said as soon as Shouto stepped in the doorway. "Come in, have a seat. I'll be with you in a moment."
Shouto complied, glancing as subtly as he could around the office as he settled on a couch. There was no sign of Tsukauchi or any other police officer. He had no idea if that was a good sign or a bad one.
A few minutes later, Nedzu finally joined him, resting a tray of tea things on the table between them. They took a moment to pour and doctor their drinks to their taste and take a sip before Nedzu sighed and lowered his cup onto its saucer. Shouto tried not to tense.
"Todoroki-kun." Nedzu fixed keen eyes on him, Shouto unconsciously sitting straighter. "I take it Aizawa-kun has already explained the work studies?"
"He has, yes," Shouto replied, keeping on alert. He still had no clue where this conversation was going.
"Good. While we're still figuring out how things are going to work for the other first years, we will most likely be granting you all the opportunity to take part, even if only for a short while. But while that's going on, I have been working on something on the side, specifically for you."
Shouto blinked. "For... me?"
"Yes. It's related to the work studies Aizawa-kun told you about." He picked up a thick file folder that had been sitting beside him, continuing "Before I explain any further, I must ask that you do not mention this to anyone. This is top secret, and the only reason I have permission to tell you any of this is because the hero in charge of this is an old colleague of mine and he has accepted your taking part, contingent on your acceptance of the offer."
"Understood."
Nedzu nodded, pleased, and pushed the folder across the table to Shouto. Picking it up, he opened it. And immediately froze, for staring up at him was a picture of a smiling Eri and, beside her, a discreetly taken picture showing a man in a green jacket with a purple fur collar, his hands covered by gloves and his face disguised by a plague doctor's beak.
Overhaul.
"My colleague has been investigating a yakuza family known as the Shie Hassaikai for a while now, primarily focused on rumours that they had managed to develop a drug that could be used to erase quirks. But while the drugs themselves were concerning, it was the method of manufacture that was most worrying, because nobody had any idea how they managed to make it. Not until..."
"Eri," Shouto breathed, finally letting out the horror and pain he'd felt when he'd first seen her that day. "They were using her quirk somehow, weren't they?"
"Indeed," Nedzu grimly said, a deep scowl on his face. "And through her sessions with Inui, we finally know how. According to Eri-chan, the man in the second image - her foster father Chisaki Kai, villain name Overhaul - was harvesting her blood to use in the drug, using the quirk factor within it to weaponise Rewind and enable whoever uses the drug to erase quirks without her even having to be there."
"Harvested her blood?" Shouto rasped, clenching the folder in his fists.
"Yes. According to Eri-chan, Chisaki... Chisaki used his quirk on her, to enable the amount of harvests they needed for the manufacturing process. As for how that works... Chisaki's quirk, Overhaul, allows him to disassemble and reassemble anything he touches. Including people."
Shouto already knew that, and how it related to Eri, but hearing it again, having it confirmed that the bastard bird was just as vile as he had been in the manga... "He used it on Eri." It wasn't a question.
Nedzu nodded. "Repeatedly. It was apparently the only way they could harvest the amount of blood needed for the drug."
Shouto took a moment to breathe and settle his rage, taking a sip of tea to soothe himself before turning to Nedzu. "I see. But what does this have to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you, Todoroki-kun. Without you, we wouldn't have the information on how the Shie Hassaikai manufacture the quirk erasing drug. Without you, we wouldn't be able to start researching potential cures for those who have lost their quirks. Without you, Eri-chan would still be suffering, still being used by people who only see her as a means to an end, not a precious child to raise and love. Without you, Eri-chan would still be that scared, traumatised girl I met that day.
"And that is why I invited you here today. My colleague is planning the final stage of his investigation, which will involve raiding the Shie Hassaikai's bases all across the country and taking them down once and for all. The loss of Eri has weakened them severely, crippling their organisation and destroying their drug manufacturing efforts. They are dying, Todoroki-kun. Don't you want to be there to land the killing blow?"
Shouto's eyes widened. "You're offering me a place on one of the raid parties?"
"Not one of the raid parties. The main raid party, who will strike at the Shie Hassaikai's headquarters, the place you rescued Eri-chan from. You will be there on the front lines, tearing down the yakuza and clearing the path so we can punish them for their crimes. But more importantly, you can finish what you didn't even know you started. You can rescue Eri one last time, save her from the threat of them finding her and allow her the opportunity to live outside UA's walls, free and happy and safe.
"So what do you say, Entropy? Are you in?"
Was that even a question? "I accept."
"Good." Nedzu's eyes twinkled, like he already knew what Shouto's answer would be and had just been proven right. "That leads us into why I brought up the work studies. While your provisional licence will grant you the rights and authority of a fully fledged hero during situations like this, and while you will be considered a full member of the raid team in your own right, for your protection and for the sake of keeping this all as airtight and above board as possible, you will be - on paper, at least - down as a hero student participating under a work study."
Yeah, that made sense. The entire operation was huge and involved, and any potential sticking point would probably have to be taken care of before anything could happen. Sticking points like potentially having a random first year hero student with no discernible ties to any other hero there taking part. Best to put him under a working agency's name, just in case. "Okay. Will I actually have to take part in the work study, or is it just for the raid?"
"That will be up to you. If you only want to take down the Shie Hassaikai, then just show up on the days you're summoned. But if you want to actually take part in the work studies, then you can negotiate that with the agency you'll be under."
"And who will I be working with?"
Nedzu gestured to the folder lying in Shouto's lap, saying "The second page is a list of all the participating agencies, with agencies that sent you offers after the Sports Festival highlighted. Simply pick one of them and I'll handle the rest."
Shouto flipped the page, scanning the list. There were a surprising amount of highlighted names, underground and limelight alike, but naturally he gravitated towards the underground heroes. And then his attention snagged on one name. He read it. Then again.
He smiled.
Turning the page over to Nedzu, he pointed to his chosen agency and said "Then, I'll go with them."
"Understood. I'll contact them immediately. As for you, keep the file and read it over. Familiarise yourself with the wider case, even if you are only there for Eri-chan. You cannot go into this blind. The Shie Hassaikai, even as weakened as they are, are still dangerous. If you underestimate them or allow them to catch you unawares, they will not hold back."
"I understand."
"Good. I will be keeping you updated until such time as the first year work studies are approved, after which the agency you'll be working with will take over. And remember, you cannot tell anyone else what we've just discussed."
Shouto nodded, packing the file into his bag. And with that, his meeting with Nedzu drew to a close, the principal wishing him a good evening as he took his leave and headed for the dorms. Now he just had to figure out what to say the meeting was about to everyone.
"So," Sero drawled as soon as Shouto returned to the dorms, him and the rest of the class looking over from where they were gathered in the common room, "what did the principal want to talk about?"
Shouto shrugged, flopping into the empty space beside Momo and resting his head on her shoulder. "He was giving me an update on Eri's case, since I involved myself with it when I rescued her."
Immediately, everyone was leaning in, invested, as Iida asked "And? What did he say?"
"Well, I can't say anything specific, cause it's classified. But it's pretty close to wrapping up. They just need to take down the organisation her dad's a part of and everything will be over. She can leave UA, go live a normal life, be a regular girl."
And as the class began to chatter, exclaiming their happiness for Eri and pre-emptively planning a celebration for when Eri got her clearance to safely leave UA and begin the rest of her life, Shouto relaxed. Telling a version of the truth had been the right call, then.
He retreated to his room early after dinner, intent on reading through the file Nedzu had given him and refreshing his scattered memories of the Overhaul Arc. But as he trotted up the stairs, he abruptly remembered the other person he had to inform and fished his phone out.
fujo bait: you were right
Shouto paused for a moment, just staring. That's what he'd gone with?
fujo bait: you weren't kidding about abusing the power i gave you, huh?
foxy grandpa: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
foxy grandpa: i probably could've done a lot better
foxy grandpa: i just went with that for now because you look like the type of character that would be paired off with every guy in fanfics
fujo bait: lol
fujo bait: i'm flattered, but no
fujo bait: the true heroaca fandom bicycle is actually midoriya
foxy grandpa: ...
foxy grandpa: seriously?
fujo bait: yup
fujo bait: from what i remember of the fandom, pretty much every character was shipped with him by /someone/
fujo bait: and i'm not just talking about the obvious, like everyone in class
fujo bait: i'm talking seeing fics shipping him with aizawa, with shigaraki, with mandalay, with toga
fujo bait: you name a character, there's probably a fic pairing them with midoriya out there somewhere
foxy grandpa: huh
foxy grandpa: ...
foxy grandpa: i'm probably going to regret asking, but
foxy grandpa: even me?
fujo bait: i mean, never say never
fujo bait: but tbh the most common fic type i remember featuring you two were the dad for one fics
foxy grandpa: dad for one?
fujo bait: yeah
fujo bait: essentially, there was a pretty popular theory running around that you were midoriya's dad
fujo bait: because his dad didn't actually show up in the manga
fujo bait: (as far as i remember)
foxy grandpa: huh
fujo bait: before you ask why, i can't remember what started the theory
fujo bait: i just remember liking it and the fics it spawned
foxy grandpa: well, sorry to disappoint
foxy grandpa: but i can pretty conclusively debunk it
fujo bait: yeah i figured
fujo bait: it was kinda a cracky theory, anyway
fujo bait: i don't think anyone took it too seriously
foxy grandpa: and todoroki?
foxy grandpa: who was he shipped with?
fujo bait: the main three i remember are midoriya (duh), bakugou, and yaoyorozu
foxy grandpa: bakugou?
fujo bait: yup
fujo bait: tbh i don't get it either, but whatever floated their boat
foxy grandpa: so who did you prefer?
Shouto snorted.
fujo bait: gee i fucking wonder
fujo bait: couldn't be the guy i'm currently dating, could it?
foxy grandpa: yeah i walked into that didn't i
foxy grandpa: but beyond that?
foxy grandpa: any preferences?
fujo bait: ehhh
fujo bait: for todoroki? no
fujo bait: for /me?/
fujo bait: yeah
foxy grandpa: oh?
fujo bait: well, aizawa for one
fujo bait: overhaul, despite everything he did to eri
fujo bait: hawks, shigaraki, compress, geten from the meta liberation army, amajiki, monoma, mirko
fujo bait: and...
He bit his lip, entering his room and padding over to his desk. Should he...?
Eh, fuck it.
fujo bait: and, uh
fujo bait: and you
For almost an entire minute, the chat was silent, Shouto taking the time to get out the file and a notebook so he could make notes. And then his phone buzzed.
foxy grandpa: me?
fujo bait: uh huh
fujo bait: a nice voice can do a lot imo
fujo bait: and your voice is /very/ nice
fujo bait: but also
fujo bait: from what i remember seeing in the manga's flashback bits, you were pretty damn good looking before you got pulped
foxy grandpa: ...huh
fujo bait: would i ever act on any of this?
fujo bait: no, obviously
fujo bait: i'm very happily taken, and i'm underage besides
fujo bait: plus now that i'm actually here a lot of my attraction towards the people on my list's shifted
fujo bait: aizawa's more hero worship than attraction, shigaraki sucks, i look up to compress as a magician and no more, monoma's annoying as all get out, amajiki's way too relatable to crush on, and overhaul can fuck off and die, preferably as slowly and painfully as possible
fujo bait: as for you...
fujo bait: your voice is still /really/ nice, but i am /not/ into the whole pulped look, thanks
fujo bait: but hawks, geten, and mirko?
fujo bait: yeah, they could still get it
foxy grandpa: ah
foxy grandpa: wait, mirko?
foxy grandpa: isn't she a woman?
fujo bait: yeah, and?
fujo bait: i'm 99.9% gay
fujo bait: she's the .1%
foxy grandpa: pfft
foxy grandpa: but to get back on track
foxy grandpa: (because my god did we divert)
foxy grandpa: i was right?
fujo bait: mm
fujo bait: the meeting with nedzu was because he was offering me a place on the team that's going to raid the shie hassaikai's headquarters so i could finish what i started, take overhaul down, and rescue eri fully and finally
fujo bait: so you were right
fujo bait: the universe /did/ hand me the solution
foxy grandpa: Good.
foxy grandpa: Some jobs shouldn't go unfinished and this is one of them.
fujo bait: he also gave me a file with everything nighteye has on the yakuza, so i'll using that to refresh my memory of what might happen during the raid
fujo bait: but since you're here
fujo bait: any insight?
foxy grandpa: Hm.
foxy grandpa: Give me a minute.
Setting his phone to one side, Shouto settled in for a long night of reading.