Chapter Text
Heights Alliance, September 11th 2276
Knock! Knock! Knock!
1A had had – for the most part – an uneventful weekend.
Akira had gotten back from whatever it was he was doing late on Saturday but was happy about it, then fell asleep until early Sunday afternoon.
Momo and Kaminari tried sneaking back in from whatever they had on that Saturday with no one being the wiser, but they had left a small trail of debris and blood. Luckily for them, Shoji had been the first up and cleaned it before anyone else could see it.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Aside from those three, everyone else had a normal weekend.
Izuku and Mina had a beach date to themselves.
Ochako worked on the new functions of her quirk.
Ojiro, Sato, and Sero all hit the gym more.
Kirishima got to feel just how strong Tsu actually was.
Bakugou was only mildly annoyed after getting back from his Parents’ house.
Everything was fine.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
And now it was Monday, they were all trying to have breakfast before they split off for either Work Studies or Class…
Knock! Knock! Knock!
But none of them could really ignore that knocking.
“Of all the days Green could choose to sleep in…” Jirou said, a tired look on her face. “Togata’s been out there since six… He woke me up before my alarm could even try.”
Mina chuckled tiredly next to her. “Yeah… My bad, girl. Line dancing after two beach dates in a row probably wasn’t the best idea.” She just really wanted to spend as much time with him before he left again for the week. ‘…No regrets.’
“If I hear one more knock, I’m blowing up the door.” Now, contrary to belief, Momo was the one to say this, not Bakugou.
Bakugou was already at the door with his hands aimed and popping. “One more…”
DING!
“Oh, my stars, I’m so late!” Izuku’s shout echoed throughout the first level of the dorms as he exited the elevator, bag slung lazily across his left shoulder and blazer half put on his right side. “Hi, everyone!” His path led him to the kitchen bench where he grabbed a handful of bacon and shoved it into his mouth, chomping it down in less than five seconds. “Bye, everyone.” Before moving to his girlfriend to leave her a kiss. “Love you, Mimi.”
The pink girl just laughed and let him. “Love you, Izu.”
Then, with that done, he activated One For All and boost out the door. “Aaaaahhh!”
“Woah!” Completely missing Mirio about to knock again. “Oh, there he is!” And, as if he hadn’t just spent the last thirty minutes knocking on 1A’s doors, he turned around and began running as fast as he could to keep up with his junior. “Midoriya, wait up!”
Leaving behind an annoyed Bakugou who had gotten knocked to the floor and was staring at the ceiling. “I hate Mondays.”
Yamanashi Prefecture, Half an Hour Later
Izuku hadn’t meant to sleep in; he’d gone to sleep at a very reasonable time.
It’s just…
“-ust don’t get the point of staying in the damn corner when the whole reason they don’t show themselves isn’t a threat anymore.” Nana stated, floating around Izuku and ruffling his hair.
“Well, they don’t believe Izuku needs their quirks.” Yoichi countered, flying in front in a meditative position. “And it’s really just Niko. Soju isn’t actually-”
“That’s none of his business!”
“Sorry about her!”
“Don’t apologise for me!”
Izuku felt like he needed to interject there. ‘Uncle-’
“It’s not by fault of you, Izuku, just biology.” However, the man flicked his forehead as he stopped him. “You weren’t born quirkless, but you did have your quirk genes removed from you, which had the effect of ripping apart the limiter on your physical abilities. That being said, now that you have a quirk, your body’s slowly piecing together its limiters so that you don’t rip yourself apart with the higher outputs of One For All, as well as its other quirks.”
Daigoro appeared next to the white-haired man and nodded. “And since your strength is growing with your body at a normal rate instead of those first ten months of you having us, your growth is gonna correspond with how quickly your body goes through puberty.”
“We should all also remember that this quirks compounds strength; half of One For All is not half of our full power.” Hikage added in before turning to Nana. “Not to mention he’s only really mastered your quirk, Nana. He’s far from being one with Danger Sense, only just realised what Fumes is, and hasn’t even unlocked Blackwhip. Which is why the other two don’t offer-”
“Leave us out of this!”
“Again, sorry!”
Anyway, yeah, going to sleep while your quirk argues over itself was a bit of a hassl-
Oh, wait, shoot, Mirio’s talking to him.
“-and so, here we are!” The blonde said excitedly, bouncing up to his hero agency with a smile. “Welcome, Midoriya, to Jet Agency!”
When Izuku first learned how truly strong and impressive Gran Torino was, he wondered how he hadn’t been picked up by the mainstream media radar.
Looking at this old, somewhat rundown warehouse, that looked like it could double for a dump or an old mechanic shop… He understood. The ‘Jet Agency’ sign wasn’t even custom, it was two individual signs from what the teen guessed to be a plane advertisement, and an old law firm’s billboard.
“I see…”
He did see, but at the same time couldn’t help wondering how in the hell the HPSC could take a look at this building and decide that it classified as a legitimate agency.
“I know it looks a bit shabby.” Mirio started off with the understatement of the week. “But training can get really intense out of nowhere, so a clean building was never going to work. Especially given the area we’re in; don’t want to stand out too much.”
Weirdly enough, that part actually made sense to Izuku. “Yeah, I noticed…” Given the state of the buildings on the street alone, even reading the agency’s sign wouldn’t have convinced him it was a Hero Agency.
“Anyway, enough dilly-dallying.” Evidently, Mirio had had enough of standing around and kicked open the doors to the agency. “In you go!” Before picking the green-haired teen up and hoisting him right into the middle of the warehouse.
Izuku hadn’t even landed when Hikage’s quirk went off. “I know you know what’s coming.”
He did, and so was able to activate Float to sail safely out of the way of-
CRACK!
A large yellow boot smacking into the concrete floor as fast as lightning and cracking it open like a soda can.
‘Holy mackerel, that would’ve dented my head!’
“Well… Would you look at that.”
An old, rumbling voice followed like thunder and Izuku traced his eyes up the boot to the source of it. The voice of a man that could scare his predecessor. One of the fastest heroes on the planet.
Gran Torino.
‘… My stars, he’s huge.’
“I thought Mirio was pulling my leg when he said your instincts were golden.” Old grey eyes pierced green, and he lifted his foot out of the small crack he made in the floor with a smile. “Happy to see I was wrong, though.” Before offering his hand out to the teen. “Welcome to Jet Agency, kid.”
“Yeah!”
The man’s welcome was followed by a cacophony of voices, and Izuku realised that there were a few more people in the room than what he first thought.
“Mathematical, man! That was wizard!”
“None of us were able to dodge the old man.”
“Who the who is he though? Looks a bit small for a third year like Mirio.”
“Hey, isn’t he that takeout kid from down in Kyushu we saw on the news?”
If Gran Torino didn’t grab his hand to hoist him up to his feet, Izuku was sure that they would have seen his face drop flat from the last comment.
‘I really need to do something to get a new nickname.’
“Yeah, this is the takeout teen!” Mirio exclaimed excitedly as he grabbed his Junior by the shoulders, not noticing the look of death he got for it. “Midoriya, meet the team!”
Three other heroes, totalling five for the whole agency after including Miro and Torino – so far, at least – and Izuku couldn’t recognise a single one outside of his two Seniors, which was a real shocker for him.
“Um…” They all looked relatively young – around Hawks’ age, maybe? – and were a lot more like Mirio than they were Torino. “I’m Izuku Midoriya, nice to meet you all.”
And that was to say, they were all very…
Cartoonish.
“Nice to meet you, too, Midoriya!” The first to step up was a short, dark-skinned young man with dark-brown dreads that faded out to orange at the ends. “My name’s Daruwin Watason, but my hero name’s Next Step!” His green eyes were star-shaped and matched his combat pants and shoes, but not his jacket, which was a darker tone of orange and had a fish-motif to it. “And this is my Brother, G-”
“Zakku Watason!” This hero was taller than Daruwin, had light skin, and messy, dark blue hair, framing his face and complimenting his golden eyes. “Also known by my hero name, Gumball!” He had a blue tail wrapping around a pair of black combat pants – presumably keeping them up – and a dark purple jacket over top of nothing.
The last hero to walk up was easily in better shape than the other two, taller, buffer while still staying lean. “And I’m Fin Merutinsu!” His sun-kissed skin, majestic blonde hair that went to his chest, and heterochromatic eyes – green on the left, blue on the right – made him look like a prince you’d see in a movie, but one that came from the streets… If those streets were a forest. “My hero name’s Vanguard.”
Then, suddenly, a writhing mass of yellow stretched itself out from behind the young man and took the form of a yellow head with dog-like features.
“Uh…” It made Izuku confused.
“Oh, sorry, and this is my quirk.” Fin pointed to the yellow mass and pet its head. “Infinite Familiar Sovereign Guardian Deity Jeiku the Bloodhound.”
That definitely didn’t help. “Wha….”
“You can just call me Jeiku, man.” The quirk summon said, part of its body stretching out into a comically large thumbs up. “Makes it way easier.”
And confusion became replaced with wonder. ‘Just like Fumikage and Dark Shadow! I wonder if his summon is fully connected to his body or if it can run independently?’
However, before the teen could grab his notebook, Gran Torino’s gloved hand snatched him right back from Mirio. “Great, you’ve met everyone.” And began walking to a smaller garage within the warehouse haphazardly labelled – in spray paint, no less – Boss’ Office. “We’ll have a quick chat by ourselves and then I’ll get you patrolling with someone in the agency.”
And as the giant man slammed down the garage doors to his office, the other heroes in the agency only had one shared thought.
‘Poor kid.’
Gran Torino’s ‘Office’
The sound of the door slamming shut was almost enough to drown out the ping of Danger Sense that let Izuku nick out of the way of Gran Torino trying to deliver a flying roundhouse to his face.
“Hm.” And in less than a second after that, he was sitting in his much too small wheely chair readjusting a pair of reading glasses while holding… His transfer forms?
‘Did he grab those forms out of my bag while I was dodging his kick?’ The ninth holder didn’t know if he should think about the speed he needed to pull that off or how nonchalant the man was, as if he didn’t just try to kick his head in again. ‘He’s not slowing down, either! I could’ve been knocked ou-’
“I’ve been watching you, Midoriya.” Gran Torino’s gravelly voice made the teen shut his thoughts like he’d been saying them aloud. “Ever since Toshinori told me he’d taken a student; I’ve been making sure to watch the media for your name…” He went through a list of events in front of him. “Your performance at Yuuei during the USJ Incident and your performance in the Sports Festival was good to watch. I don’t have all your work with Hawks, but he’s said good things about you… Finding out who your Father was...” Then, taking off his reading glasses, he threw them into a bin and looked him right in the eye. “I’m sure there’s a couple things to add to this list, but the point I’m trying to make is that you’ve done well upholding the legacy of One For All.”
“Maybe a few more than a couple things…” Izuku said to himself before realising he said it louder than he meant. “Uh, I- Thank you, Gran Torino, sir!” Then, straightening himself, he quickly bowed and gave his best smile. “I hope to save as many people as I can with this power; as many as it’ll let me!”
The should-be-retired pro nodded with a small smile of his own. “Yeah, just like Toshinori…” Before leaning back in his chair. “Nana as well… She was the seventh-”
“Oh, yeah, I know all about her.” Izuku cut in, knowing it was a bit rude but not wanting to get caught in an emotional rehash of a woman that lived inside his head. “She talks about you a lot as well.”
This time, it was the old man’s turn to be confused. “She… Talks about me?” He thought his teachers were exaggerating when they said the boy needed a psychologist. ‘Hearing voices at such a young age…’ Not that he let it show on his face; he just nodded along. “Ah… I see.”
The green-haired teen nodded back. “Truth be told, before Yagi-Sensei, I thought you had One For All.”
“Ah, well…” At this, Gran Torino’s confusion disappeared, and he did a half-shrug half-nod. “You wouldn’t be wrong there.”
Then, holding out his hand, he focused.
Izuku felt it in his soul before his eyes caught it.
A spark.
Rainbow light, a small peek into a well of power as big as an ocean.
“Is that… One For All?”
The old man did a ‘so-so’ motion with his hands. “Yeah, I had it, only temporarily. Nana and I shared it together during a battle against Rakan, the-”
“The Elder Sovereign?!” Izuku’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he quickly closed the gap between himself and his temporary mentor. “He was alive all that time ago?!”
A small vein almost popped on Torino’s forehead and he lightly bashed Izuku’s head for the disrespect. “It was only forty-somethin’ years ago, you disrespectful sprite!” Before grabbing a taiyaki from a small plate and munching it down. “But, yes, we fought him. Wasn’t as powerful back then – obviously – as he was when the I.R.O.H put him away, but he was no slouch when we fought him off.”
“Yeah, that guy was one tough cookie.” Nana said, floating out from Izuku’s shoulders and leaning on his head. “I don’t even remember giving Sorahiko access to One For All, but even with both of us amped up we were barely able to-”
“Nana?” Gran Torino’s taiyaki fell from his mouth at the sudden appearance of his old best friend’s ghost and he started worrying for his own mental health. “Dear God, am I really that old?”
“What, Sorahiko, no-”
“Is this how I die?”
“How can you even see-”
“It really does just happen at any-”
“Sorahiko Torino! You are not dying!” Nana’s vestige flew up and smacked the back of her old friend’s head – surprising herself when she actually hit him – while shaking her own. “It’s me; part of me, at least.” Before waving her hand in front of him and watching his eyes track her movement. “Hm, alright, same as Toshi, then.”
Gran Torino – after regaining his bearings and putting away his will – straightened himself. “I’m afraid… I don’t understand.”
“Yeah, not surprised.” Nana nodded, ignoring the flat look she got in turn for looking to her latest successor. “Looks like anyone that’s had an interaction with One For All can see us.”
“I… It really is you.” The old man started scratching his head and let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “This makes no sense at all.”
“I mean...” Izuku shrugged. “I guess it makes sense?”
Again, Gran Torino had to right himself before nodding along again like he understood what was happening. “I, uh… As I was saying before… this. The spark of One For All that I got from Nana that day stayed in my body. I’ve never touched it – especially after you died – and the power left there bathed in my body and let me become…”
“A giant?” Nana started, floating around the old man’s head and poking it. “Seriously, you make Toshi look like skin and bones in comparison to all this.”
“That’s nothing new!” Laughter and joy erupted back onto Torino’s face at the compliment, and he slapped his knee. "Anyway, we’re getting away from what I’ve been trying to get to.” Then, pointing at Izuku, he gave him a hard look. “You’re already a pretty full package, kid. You know how to fight well, your experience with Hawks is enough to get by in most operations, and you’ve got power to boot. Hell, I reckon Nana’s not the only hero in that head of yours-” New understatement of the week. “So, you’ve also got the wisdom, even if you might not use it.”
“HA!” The other holders of One For All came out for a split second to laugh at that.
…
‘I guess I just have to pretend that didn’t happen.’ Gran Torino shook his head. “You’re all the potential to be something great, kid, maybe even one of the greatest in the world, and that’s where I’m worried.”
Izuku wasn’t sure what expression happened upon his face, but he was sure it was somewhere between bewilderment and puzzled. “I, uh… I don’t understand, sir.”
“Do you know who currently runs the HPSC?”
The teen’s expression remained the same, but he mentally started to guard himself. “… Yokumiru Mera?”
“Acting President of the Hero Commission and a good man, been in office for nine months now.” Gran Torino finished. “Do you know why his predecessor was let go?”
He didn’t. “No…”
“Because she was too merciful.” The old man dropped a file onto his desk, and it showed a number of heroes being arrested by other heroes and what looked like the HPSC’s personal Ethics Enforcers. “Whenever she found a hero that was too obviously corrupt, she had them audited, investigated, and then detained.”
Izuku still didn’t get it. “And that’s a bad thing?”
“For most people, no. For some people, yes. For certain other people, it was far too public for their likings. Three years of her in the chair pulling those stunts were enough for them to replace her.” Another file dropped onto the desk, and this time it showed a lanky, man in a suit and glassed sitting behind a desk. “Do you know who that is?”
This time, he was actually able to answer the question. “Eiichi Yuritsu.” He still didn’t understand, though. “He was President before-”
“Before Noriko and Yokumiru, yes.” Gran Torino kept going. “From the moment he was sworn in to his death four years ago, he kept at least twice the approval ratings that both of them have combined from Japan’s Hero Council Board Members, as well as the endorsements of two of Japan’s past Prime Ministers. Do you know why?”
Again, no answer. “No.”
“Because he wasn’t merciful.”
Thunk.
Another file hit the table, this one much fuller than the others, spreading several pictures all over the table and even spilt out over the old man’s desk onto the floor. One going so far as to reach Izuku’s feet.
The first thing his green eyes saw was the lifeless ones of a hero with what looked like a bullet hole in his head.
‘SHIT!’ The sight was enough to make him take a voluntary step back.
And, again, Gran Torino kept going. “If a hero was too publicly corrupt – enough so that the public would call the HPSC out for it – Yuritsu had them killed. If a high enough member or representative from the JHC thought a hero was getting too close to their private dealings, Yuritsu had them killed. If a hero with the wrong attitude or looks had the potential to be better than what the HPSC wanted-”
“Yuritsu had them killed.” Izuku got that but still didn’t understand why this was important to him. “What exactly does this have to do with-”
“I have two more questions, and then I’ll get to that.” The old man cut back in, deciding to let Izuku’s cut in slide. “Do you know who his most active assassin was?” As he asked, he held up a picture but faced it his way.
Reluctantly, the teen played along. “No.”
“Kaina Tsutsumi.” The picture Torino showed was of a beautiful young woman. Light skin, long deep indigo hair streaked with pink strands tied up into a ponytail, and piercing purple eyes. “Also known as-”
“Lady Nagant?!” Izuku’s eyes widened and he grabbed the picture out of Torino’s hands faster than he could react – and that was saying something. “No, no, no… She was one of my favourite heroes growing up. Even after she was sent to Tartarus for killing Presiden-”
…
“For what?”
Izuku swallowed something and took a breath. “Killing President Yuritsu.”
Sorahiko nodded his head. “President Yuritsu had Lady Nagant kill her fellow heroes whenever they stepped over his line as soon as she stepped out of High School. Then, four years ago, at the ripe old age of twenty-three, she cracked and killed him right in his office.” Then, he dropped the last picture, showing the crime scene that was Eiichi Yuritsu’s death. “Now, for my last question.” And looked Izuku straight in the eyes. “What do you think Kaina Tsutsumi was?”
“She… She was a victim in all of this, obviously.” Izuku started, sure in his thoughts but not on his delivery. “She was ordered to kill so many and couldn’t keep up with it an-”
Gran Torino held up a hand again, and – once more – Izuku went silent. “What she was… Was a full package.” He took back Lady Nagant’s picture, wiping all the other pictures on the table away with a breeze, and laid it down on his desk. “She could fight well, had the right experience from the right mentors, and she had power to boot.” Then, taking out another picture, he laid it down on top of hers. “Just like Hawks.” And, finally, one last picture laid over both of them, one of a green-haired teen in a Yuuei uniform. “Just like you.”
Izuku went silent at that and really had to stop to think.
Meanwhile, Nana cut back in and rested a hand on Izuku’s head. “Is this really all you brought him over here for, Sorahiko?” She asked, looking at him with new eyes. “A… I don’t even know what that was. A threat? A warning? A fun fact?”
“It’s what needs to be said.” The old man didn’t back down at all and moved Izuku’s picture over to tap on Lady Nagant’s. “Where she is now.” Then tapped on Hawks’ picture. “What he was, and what they both did.” Before settling back on Izuku’s. “Is what lies in his future if he’s not careful.”
“I…” Izuku rejoined the conversation, this time a bit more certainty in his eyes. “I would never do anything like that.”
Gran Torino just raised an eyebrow. “You’ve killed Nomu, haven’t you?” Then raised a hand when the teen tried to interject. “It doesn’t matter if they’re already dead, the point is that you’ve already killed something, and you’ve done it more than once. From there, all it takes is one person having to convince you a villain’s closer to a Nomu than it is a human – that person might even be yourself. And once that happens, the HPSC will know, then history repeats.”
“You say that like I’m being watched by the HPSC.”
Sorahiko just looked to his old friend at that, not saying a word.
So, Nana decided to deliver the blow, hoping she could soften it. “Ahh, Izuku…” She started, awkwardly patting his head. “You’re definitely being watched by them, sweetie. Moreso than they would most heroes on their payroll.”
Izuku raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
To which Gran Torino almost smashed his desk. “You’re everything Nagant and Hawks were at your age and more, you fool!” Before removing his fist from the small dent he made and leaning back again, taking deep breaths as he did so. “Your saving graces are that you have One For All, and from what my reports tell me, a bit of a rebellious streak. That’s more than what those two could say.”
“So, you’ve been watching me, too?”
“Of course I have, don’t be daft.” Gran Torino flipped his hand at that concern. “Look, when Mirio came to me and talked about a kid in his first year that could move well enough to give him trouble – after all the training I personally put him through – I wanted to meet him and shake his hand. But, after learning it was you, and who you currently work under, I needed to call you here to… Implore you… Be careful of governmental authority; there’s a reason the I.R.O.H exists. Yokumiru is in office right now, so you’re lucky on that front, but even he knows the JHC is waiting for him to slip up so they can put in someone more aligned with their principles.”
“I… I see.” Izuku nodded along, understanding why the old man would be so careful about this. “So… What’s the day plan look like then from here? Or was it just that?”
Sorahiko rolled his eyes at that. “No, of course you’ll be patrolling. I’d be an idiot not to use you while you’re here-not like that.” He pointed at Nana after she gave him a look. “I just won’t be seeing it over personally; I’ll be leaving that evaluation to a very important member of this agency; our Head of Logistics and Reports.” Then, suddenly, he threw his cane at a door to his left. “Mirai! Get in here, you lanky nerd!”
The cane didn’t even get halfway to the entrance before it shot open and a hand reached out to catch the staff from mid-air.
‘No way…’ The man who walked in was quite tall and had a sharp build. His dark green hair was smoothed down to his left, and it had three yellow streaks at the front that matched the colour of his eyes. ‘I thought he had gone completely underground when he closed down his own agency; of course he’d be working here!’
“Even without Foresight, deducing that you would choose a most vulgar and brash way to introduce me was child’s play.” All Might’s former sidekick, Sir Nighteye, said with a sigh to the old man, before turning to look at Izuku. “Izuku Midoriya, a pleasure to make your acquai-”
ZOOM!
The green-haired teen was in front of the man with Hero Signature Vol. 3 opened right to his page before he could finish speaking. “Can I have your autograph?” And a pen right in his face. “Your signature is the only one missing from this volume; I can finally put it in a sleeve after this!”
‘Where’d that notebook come from? There’s nowhere on his costume that could hold that.’ Thinking about that, Nighteye threw the staff back at the old man – not bothering to see if he would catch it – and tentatively grabbed the pen. “Not the first words I anticipated from you.” Before signing the page he was given. “There you ar-”
And the notebook was gone.
“… Right.” Gran Torino – having caught his staff – stood up. “Well, Midoriya, you’ll be moving with Mirai here and helping him on an investigation about some murders that’s been happening around the area.” Then went over to Nighteye and gave him a hefty pat on the back.
To his credit, the smaller man didn’t budge an inch. “I know investigation is not the norm for heroes, but I’ve been in contact with our prefecture’s police, and we have their permission to do so.”
Izuku nodded along. “Hawks does investigations as well, so I’ll be fine.”
“Great.” Gran Torino cut back in and grabbed the entrance to his ‘office’ before lifting it up. “Investigation aside, Mirai is going to be watching you to make sure you don’t show off any tendencies that the JHC would like in you.”
…
“Uh… Good to know?”
Sorahiko nodded before turning to the other heroes in his agency. “Fin, you patrol with the two idiots while Mirio and I-”
Clang! BOOF!
The sound of barrels crashing had the old man whipping his head around and he looked at the perpetrators furiously. “Never mind, Fin, take Mirio.”
The two blondes smiled nervously and booked it. “Gladly!”
“Watasons! Just for that, you’re patrolling with me today!”
Zakku and Daruwin both just let their heads hang. “Ah, man.”
Izuku smiled at the silliness of everything going on. ‘I think today is going to be great.’
Yamanashi Prefectural Police Precinct, An Hour Later
“So…” Izuku nervously started as he and Nighteye walked away from the station. “I think I did-”
“We just spent the last forty minutes on nothing but reports and paperwork since you – in your first ten minutes of patrol – managed to get involved in a street war between two local pubs because one side said All Might hasn’t been good since his Bronze Age.”
“But they were so wro-”
Nighteye held up a hand, quickly stopping the teen’s outburst, before laying that hand on his shoulder. “… I would have done the exact same to those blasphemers if I had gotten there first.” And giving it a few pats before continuing to walk. “You do the memory of Might Agency proud.”
“Uh…” Izuku wasn’t expecting that but quickly fell back into step with the man. “Thank you, Sir Nighteye.”
The man nodded and pulled up a holo-map as they went. “Now, back to our original case. Over the last week, a number of petty thieves and criminals from multiple unaffiliated gangs around the area have been found murdered. In just the month since your Father and All Might stepped out of their respective positions in Japan’s Hero and Villain scene-”
“Alleged position.”
“… Villain-on-Villain crimes and murders have gone up considerably, so we originally piled them all together. That was, though, until we noticed half of these deaths had a very similar nature – one that was a cause for concern.”
Izuku tilted his head. “What was it?”
Nighteye stopped walking and looked around for a second before pulling Izuku into the nearest alleyway. “This.” And pulling up a holo-image of one of the scenes.
“… Uh, Nighteye, Sir, there’s only a bloodstain on that screen.” The greenette pointed out as he looked at the image. Kind of looked like the alleyway they were in now, but with a giant bloodstain on the brick walls and a distinct lack of body. “There isn’t a body.”
The hero didn’t flinch. “That bloodstain is the body.”
“Oh.”
“Wow…” En came out at that moment, making sure to just appear as a vestige instead of his usual smoke avatar for Izuku’s sake, and whistled at the picture. “This has Yakuza written all over it; either that or you have a psychopath running around.”
Izuku mentally shook his head. ‘I don’t think we have to automatically assume that the Yakuza is invo-’
“The leading theory is that the Yakuza are involved.” Nighteye continued as he turned off the image, not noticing Izuku looking away from a smug En. “However, our problem is that there are no Yakuza groups in the area – that we know of, at least – that could pull off these murders in such a fashion. Most of them are borderline ancient groups that stick to the old Honour Code and settle their problems with duels within their homes.”
“Maybe it was one of their quirks?” Izuku shrugged. “With the diversity in quirks nowadays, there are plenty-Huh?”
Boof!
“Ah!”
The feeling of something small hitting his body and the sound of a soft, high-pitched voice rang out in Izuku’s ear, and he quickly looked down to see who just bumped into him.
Only to pause at what he saw.
It was a little girl.
A little girl with hair so white it looked like pure snow, but was messy and unkempt like his own, running all the way down to her waist. It wouldn’t be an understatement to say she was dressed in rags, as – aside from her plain tan dress – her arms and legs were completely covered by bandages.
Bloodied bandages.
But that wasn’t what got the teen to pause. No; that was because of her eyes.
He’d seen these eyes before.
Wide, round, innocent-looking eyes that made him feel like he was looking into a mirror. But their colour, a deep red that he could have confused for his Dad’s.
‘This is the same girl from the file in that warehouse last week!’ Izuku slowly knelt down to meet the girl at eye-level and gave his best reassuring smile. “… Hi there.”
He couldn’t scare her off, so he really hoped he seemed non-threatening.
“…” The girl didn’t respond immediately, but it was nice to see she looked less terrified than a second ago. “H-hello…”
Her soft, scared voice pulled a string in Izuku’s heart, and he completely forgot where he was and put out his hand. “I-” But paused when she pulled back from it. “I’m Izuku…” He tried again to reach out to her, albeit slowly this time around, and softened his smile.
Luckily for him, the small child didn’t shy away from his hand this time and actually reached out in kind. “… Eri…”
The progress widened Izuku’s smile, and he happily grabbed the girl’s hand.
BZZT!
But once he did, he again paused as he felt a jolt of energy run through his entire body. A feeling, multiple of them.
Pain.
Fear.
Sorrow.
Hope.
All of them rushed through every bit of his being as the little girl, Eri, took his hand, and his next move happened before his brain could finish processing it all.
He scooped the little girl up – gently but firmly – with one arm under her knees and the other cradling the back of her head. Even after he realised what he did, he didn’t loosen his hold. If anything, he only held onto her tighter, keeping her close to his chest like something would come snatch her at any moment.
“It’s… It’s okay, Eri.” Izuku didn’t really know if that’s what she needed to hear in that moment, but he felt like he had to say it. “I am here.”
Fortunately, her wrapping her arms around his shoulders and lying on him seemed to be a positive sign that it was. “… Please, help me.”
“…” Those words and the last minute confused Nighteye, who had just stood still as that all unfolded. “Well.” Being the mentor, he thought he’d let the student handle the new development, but now he thought he’d ought to interject. “Midoriya, I think we need to find this little girl’s- Oh- WOAH!”
The man didn’t get to finish his suggestion as Izuku – now holding Eri with one hand – used his free hand to grab him by the back of his suit and started flying straight up.
He did so at a moderate pace, not too fast, but he wasn’t taking his time, either, and didn’t stop until they had cleared the alleyway and made it to the rooftops.
Obviously, this confused Nighteye, but before he could question it, Izuku just put his hand to his mouth in a ‘shush’ manner and pointed straight back down to the alley’s floor. Doing so, they all watched as a well-built young man in an all-black attire and rushed outwards from inside the alley. A young man that they all could recognise quite easily, even though he no longer donned his mask or gloves.
Kai Chisaki.
Overhaul.
“No, no, no. No! NO! NO!” The man peeked his head out of the entrance to the alley and out onto the street, looking both ways. “… Damnit.” Before scowling at its emptiness. “She’s gone.”
Behind the young Yakuza Boss, another young man skidded to a stop and started breathing hard. “B-boss, I’m sorry! I checked the other alleys, but there’s no signs of her-”
“She’s…” Kai turned around and touched the man’s face with his quirk active. “GONE!”
SPLAT!
The effect was immediately turning him into a splatter of blood on the alley’s wall.
‘Oh my Stars!’ Izuku instantly covered Eri’s eyes at the sight of it.
‘… Shit.’ Nighteye did the same as he tried to keep his lunch.
Kai, however, seemed non-plussed as he walked up to the gory graffiti. “You had one job, Nao. One. JOB!”
Then, putting his hand to the blood, his hand glowed and the young man reformed back into a human, but he was half built into the wall.
“AAAAHHH!!!” It must have been painful, as the young man screamed as soon as he was reformed. “Oh, God-”
Only for Kai to put his hand to his mouth. “Enough of that.” Then, when he removed it, the subordinate’s mouth was completely gone. “Have you no shame?” Though, it seemed even the muffled cries of his worker was enough to anger him, as he slapped him in the face. “Eri never screamed that loud when I reconstructed her; take it like a man!”
‘… He did that to her?’ Izuku’s eyes had shadowed as Overhaul continued to rant to his lackey, and his face betrayed no emotion. ‘To a child?’
“Izuku. Izuku. Midoriya!” And this time, it was Nighteye who had to grab onto Izuku to pull him away. “Not right now.” He didn’t need his quirk to see what the teen wanted to do to that man, and even if he wanted to do the same, they had a brand-new priority. “We need to get this little girl as far away from here as we can.”
His suggestion seemed to ring in Izuku’s head and the boy nodded. “… Alright.” Before resecuring the little girl in his arms, hugging her tight, and starting to float. “I’ll fly us back to the agency, it’ll be faster.”
Jet Agency, Moments Later
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
Gran Torino wasn’t sure what he expected to hear from Izuku and Nighteye after he got called back early from his patrol.
Maybe a small bit of progress on the case; a clue to the culprit or culprits.
Perhaps a handful of villain encounters that ended nice and swiftly enough so that they didn’t have to write too long a report about it – no hero liked doing paperwork.
Surely, his teachers at Yuuei were exaggerating when they told him to ‘please keep an S-Class pair of eyes on him at all times’ after he requested a one-day transfer for him.
Watching Nighteye spread out files about some old Yakuza group and Izuku hold a passed out little girl in his arms made him realise they were not.
“No one here more than I wish that to be so.” Nighteye said to his old friend. “Unfortunately, while finding out the culprit behind the ‘Blood-Splat Murders’, we have also – technically – kidnapped a child.” He saw Izuku’s glare and suppressed the desire to roll his eyes. “I already told you, Midoriya, even though I have no intention of returning her, what we did is legally classified as kidnapping.”
“If they kidnapped her first – which I know they did – then I think what we did legally classified as our jobs.” Izuku replied with a straight face.
Nighteye nodded. “I’m just going to agree with you on the grounds that your heart is in the right place and I don’t want to argue over a girl we both agree is staying far away from that man.” Before turning around to face the boy fully. “I am curious, however, as to how you knew that you needed to grab her and fly us out of the alley?”
The green-haired teen looked around the room lightly, now grateful that Gran Torino sent Mirio and his other sidekicks out on a group patrol, then turned his head to the sleeping girl in his arms. ‘Perfect.’ Before readjusting her and smiling. “I have a quirk called Danger Sense that lets me feel ill intent and danger in a pretty large area around me.”
Gran Torino nodded, but Nighteye looked confused. “I thought you’re original quirk was flying?”
“Oh, I don’t have an original quirk… Technically.” Izuku said, pausing only when he remembered Sharing is Caring. “I was quirkless before I got One For All from All Might.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, the flying is Nana’s old quirk with a booster on it thanks to One For All; Danger Sense is from the quirk’s fourth user.” The greenette started counting them off on his fingers. “I have an engine quirk that lets me produce smoke as I increase my speed, the bestowal gift of the first – obviously – and…” He did a quick count in his head. “Three other quirks that are lying dormant until I unlock them.”
Nighteye looked at him like he was crazy. “I…” But quickly shook his head – his Dad is All For One, this shouldn’t surprise him. “Okay, Danger Sense let you feel a general danger coming, but is that the only reason?”
Izuku shook his head. “Oh, no. Of course not. Give me just one… Moment…” Before pulling out his phone and slowly – he looked like a Dinosaur trying to operate it – pulled up the I.R.O.H file containing the information about his warehouse find. “I recognised her from a photo I found in a warehouse that was filled with files on the Shie Hassaikai and getting her back from them.” Eventually, he was able to pull up the file and put his phone down to project the data out into the room.
The sheer amount of it made Nighteye wide-eyed. “This is… You found this?” His eyes darted around multiple pictures and skimmed reports – the ones with the legible writing, not the chicken scratch – about the Yakuza group, before they went back down to Izuku. “You have my respect, Midoriya, you just made the case I am about to make against this gang very easy.”
The teen just smiled. “Glad I could be of help to you.” Then looked down at Eri as she stirred in his arms. “So… What do we do about her?”
“Well…” Gran Torino started, sitting down as he thought. “With all the evidence laid out before us here, as well as you two bearing witness to Chisaki being the Blood-Splat Butcher, we can label our abduction of Eri as a rescue.” He stroked his beard lightly. “However, without an identifiable next of kin, we’d have to handover custody to the Police. From there, she’d eventually be remanded to a ward of the Prefecture’s Children’s Rehabilitation Facility.”
Nighteye’s gaze flicked over to Izuku again and he shook his head. ‘That’s not gonna go well with him.’
“Another option, of course, would just be to not tell anyone and look after her ourselves.” The old man continued, shocking both Izuku and Nighteye out of their thoughts. “Find someone to look after her, then we can work this case, finish off this threat to public safety, and then include her in the reports as a rescue. After that’s done, we can look into finding her a permanent guardian that would be good for her personally.”
The old man’s partner in heroics put his hands up and tilted his head. “I’m sorry; are you suggesting we just keep this child until we find out a better way to have her looked after?”
“No, of course not.” Gran Torino scoffed, tapping his cane against the man’s leg. “I’m saying we let someone else keep her until then. Someone we know that is powerful enough to keep her safe, preferably doesn’t have a job so they have the time to watch her, and isn’t at odds with going against the law.”
“I know several powerful people, but all of them work around the clock.” Nighteye said with a sigh. “They wouldn’t be able to watch after her properly, and she needs that.”
The three heroes all thought together in silence on who could possibly fit their criteria.
…
And the two older ones came to the same answer at the same time. “Got it.”
Izuku looked at them confused. “Really? Who?” They both just stared at the boy blankly. “What? Who is it?”
Midoriya Residence, An Hour Later
Hisashi Midoriya looked at the four people in front of him with an almost amused look. “You want me to what?”
Izuku readjusted the little girl in his arms – who was still curled up into a ball – and smiled awkwardly. “We, uh… You see, what happ-”
“We kidnapped a kid from a group of psychopath Yakuza.” Gran Torino cut in. “And we need you to watch her for us while we dismantle all their operations so that she doesn’t get stuck in an orphanage or facility that can’t cater for the amount of trauma she’s been through.”
Nighteye just stood there silently. “Mhm…” Half because he was afraid of the man in front of him and half because he didn’t really have anything else to add.
…
“… You look familiar.” Hisashi said after a small moment, eyes moving to Gran Torino. “Have we fough-”
“Three times.” The old man cut in again. “You almost took off my leg in ‘thirty-five when you-”
“Were testing out a tornado quirk! Yes!” The older man cut back, laughing. “Yeah… I was really depressed back then.” And there goes the laughing. “Didn’t really have the lack of heart for villainy anymore and missed my Brother.” Before looking up at the sky fondly. “I think that he-”
“Dad.” This time, it was Izuku who cut in, holding Eri out a little bit. “We really need someone to watch Eri for us. Can you? Please?”
“Izuku, I don’t know if I’m equipped to-” Before Hisashi could finish his answer, the little girl uncurled herself from her foetal position and looked up curiously at the man she was being presented to. “… Hello there.”
Eri tilted her head as she looked between Hisashi and Izuku for a minute, before settling on the older one. “… You look like Mr. Izuku.”
The Father laughed lightly. “I’d hope so. He’s my Son.”
“Son…” The girl was surprised at the lack of fear in her heart and continued to assess the man. “… Our colours match.” At this, she fumbled with her hair – which was the exact same white as Hisashi’s – and held it up to him. “See?” Before pointing at his eyes. “Those, too.”
Hisashi tilted his head back at that. “That…” He took in her white hair and red eyes, both almost exactly the same colours as his. Though, her round eyes and hair resembled Inko better than him. “That’s true, actually.” Before reaching out – slowly – to pick up the girl, surprised when she had no hesitation to reach out to him.
BZZZTT!
And when he did, he felt a wave of something pass through him. In the over one-hundred years of his life, he’d only ever felt this specific emotion once.
It was enough to make a tear drop from his eye.
“Mister?” Eri noticed the tear and reached out to grab it, wiping her hand across his face. “Are you okay?”
Hisashi looked at her with such wonder at the question and responded by holding her close to him. “Yes. I’m fine, little one.” Before holding her up in his arms and staring directly in her eyes – ones that looked so much like his. “You’re… You’re going to be safe here.”
It made Izuku smile. ‘Thank goodness! He’ll look after her!’
While Gran Torino and Nighteye both shared a look that Izuku would have been able to recognise from Todoroki. ‘… No…’
Hisashi ignored them and immediately walked back into his home, Eri held tightly in his arms. “Inko! Honey! We’ve got a Daughter now!”
“Wait, no-” Gran Torino tried to interject. “It’s only temporary-and the door’s shut.”
Jet Agency, Later
“Okay, now that we have that… Uh…” Gran Torino tried to get the image of Hisashi out of his head – seriously, it was uncanny how much they looked al-“Situation sorted, we can get down to business on what to do about the Shie Hassaikai.”
Mirio looked happily confused. “What situation?”
While Fin, Zakku, and Daruwin tilted their heads. “Who are the Shie Hassaikai?”
The old man looked at his sidekicks confusedly before nodding. “Right, you’re not caught up. Uh…” Before patting Nighteye on the back. “Go ahead, Mirai.”
The hero just rolled his eyes – he saw this coming – and stepped forward. “Midoriya and I were able to identify the Blood-Splat Butcher today and have linked him back to an organised crime group known as the Shie Hassaikai.” Just like they agreed, he decided to keep Eri’s existence secret. “An old Yakuza group led by a man named Kai Chisaki, better known as Overhaul.”
“Woah!”
“A Yakuza group!”
“We haven’t had one of those in months!”
“Does that mean we get to go on raids again?”
Nighteye tried to hide his disappointment from the excited group of young adults as best he could, but he was sure at least a smidge of it was showing. “Yes, Gumball, we will be going on raids again.”
The blue-haired young man nodded. “Nice.”
“Thanks to Midoriya, we have more than enough evidence and information to skip the usual weeks long investigation process and immediately begin contacting other agencies for assistance in the raids.” Nighteye continued, bringing up Izuku’s information from the I.R.O.H Files and projecting it out to the room. “Evidence shows that they’ve recruited heavily in the last few months. Villain gangs that they’d usually clash with over ethics and protection are now under their group committing the same crimes with their backing. This change has taken place since their current boss took over from the original, who remains unknown.” No one noticed Izuku shift slightly at that. “And they have mostly seemed to drop the honour code that most Yakuza adhere to. So, for all sakes and purposes, feel free to acknowledge this as a start-up criminal empire instead of an honourable brotherhood.”
Fin raised a hand. “Are all those flowers on the map there supposed to represent their compounds and bases?” And tilted his head. “Cause that’s a whole heap of bases right there, even for a start-up.”
Zakku nodded. “Yeah, man. The last Yakuza group we took on had like three bases in total – this guy’s almost got fifty!”
“I said they’re only a start-up since they’ve moved away from the title of Yakuza to Criminals.” The old seer stated. “But this group still has over one-hundred years of history and connections. Even with their new boss having burnt a lot of their bridges, they are by no means low on resources.”
Gran Torino nodded as he stepped in. “It’s Monday right now, and since we’ve got this much evidence, we can start the raids as early as Wednesday. However, even with that being the case, I have a feeling that this is going to take us all the way until next week.”
“Aw, man!” Mirio looked over to Izuku dejectedly. “But Midoriya’s only here for the day! Now we can’t-”
“Oh, no, I’m staying until this operation is dismantled.” Izuku cut in, smiling. “I already spoke to Hawks about it, and he wants me to see the operation through to see how I do without his ‘gentle guidance’ to help me along.” He air-quoted gentle guidance.
The old hero nodded. “Good. We’ll need the help and you need a serving of tough love.” Before turning to the rest of his sidekicks. “Now, let’s find out what agencies are available to help and discuss raid tactics.”
???, Days Later
‘Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!’ Kai suppressed the urge to reassemble the phone in his hands into a knife and settled on hanging it up. ‘It’s all falling apart!’ Then, carelessly throwing it straight to the goon behind him – must’ve hit him in the face if the sound was anything to go off – he ran his now free hand down his face and tried his best to look normal. “Stay here. Anyone you even think looks like trouble, shoot them, run inside, and warp us out of here.”
The young man – who was nursing a blooded nose – nodded quickly. “Y-yes, Boss!”
With that sorted, Kai stepped through the blood-red tassels of the entrance right into The Re-Bar. ‘… Sick degenerates.’ His eyes fought the impulse to roll and instead scanned the room for any potential threats – ‘Ha! Yeah, right.’ – before landing on the man he was looking for. “Giran.”
The Underground Merchant.
A well-known name in the underworld – one of the foremost information brokers and goods vendor in all of Japan. If there’s something to know, he knows it. If there’s something someone needs, he can get it. Many other brokers and exporters that are also famous in their own right are subsidiaries or workers of Giran, and he has dozens of cargo ships hauling illegal goods through and out of several ports all across the country.
That aside, with the number of connections the merchant holds, and the amount of muscles working for him, he’s a neutral major power for the villains. He walks the fine line between all sides of the proverbial dice of heroes and villains so well that no one can touch him without risking half of all they have.
Which is why Kai has to be careful here.
“Chisaki.” Giran’s face faded into view as the last puff of his cigarette dissipated into the air, and his pink eyes locked onto the young boss. “You’re late.” Before leaving that cigarette in the ash tray. “I managed to finish this sucker before you arrived – not a good look.”
“I’ll have to ask your forgiveness for that one, Giran.” Kai’s tone was level but firm, and he took a seat across from the man in their booth. “My driver was arrested yesterday, and the only worker I have with me that can warp has a few minutes of cooldown on his quirk when it comes to long distances.”
The grey-haired man looked mildly impressed at that. “A warper, eh? It’s good fortune when you can get one of them working in the underworld.” Then quickly sat himself up into business mode. “And better fortune, I’m free for the next hour since my next appointment cancelled, so it doesn’t matter that you were late.”
Kai almost wished he still had his mask on, if only to cover the relief that crossed his face at that. “Thank you, Giran. I appreciate that.”
“No problem.” Giran leaned forward. “So, tell me; what is it that you need?”
“I’ll be frank. I doubt that something as big as what’s happening to my empire would get past your eyes and ears.” Kai started. “Three days ago, I had forty-three compounds and thousands of men under my command; that number has since more than halved.”
The Broker nodded. “The amount of cells that have been filled in the last week haven’t gone unnoticed, yes.”
“I need something.” The young boss’ tone was teetering on desperate. “A strategy, a person, anything. I have two current S-Class heroes and a should-be-retired S-Class raiding me for all I’m worth. No one apart from me is S-Class and I can’t be everywhere at once.”
Giran listened to all this and decided to take out another cigarette. “You know, before this meeting, I thought you would have been coming here to ask for somewhere to disappear to, but you actually want to fight this.” He lit it, took another drag, and laughed. “Luckily, the man I brought with me can help with whatever option you choose.” Before looking at the bartender. “Isn’t that right, Dice?”
“That it is.”
A cold pressure took over the entire bar and every criminal, lackey, and boss stopped what they were doing. Not out of curiosity, but out of fear.
Fear that gripped Kai by his throat. ‘Not him!’ Because he could recognise that man – there’s not a man, woman, or thing in the criminal scene that doesn’t know him. “… Gambler.” He internally cursed. ‘The hell is he doing outside of Kyushu?!’
“Little Chisaki.” The dark man chuckled as he took off his cap and let his dreads fall down. “I was wondering when I was going to get to see you again.” Whatever pressure was in the air disappeared as he came out from the back of the bar and made his way over to his booth. “Especially since Naobito got out of the coma you put him in – he says hi, by the way.”
“You-”
Click.
Kai wasn’t even halfway standing when he was suddenly staring down the barrel of a golden revolver. “Sit down.” Which made it easier for him to follow that command. “Better.” After putting away his gun, The Gambler spread out his arms. “Now, usually, I would be against helping out direct competitors, but me helping you will help myself in this situation.”
Pacified, the young Yakuza boss just stared. “How so?”
“There’s a young hero student that’s been part of the raids that have been crushing your empire by the name of Izuku Midoriya.” The Gambler started, bringing out a folder and dumping it on the table. “Real difficult kid, that one. Has a single quirk that lets him pull off a lot of little tricks.”
Kai scoffed. “Like you?”
“Exactly.” And the Gambler nodded. “This Midoriya kid is also one of two interns that Hawks has taken under his blood-soaked wings.” He didn’t notice Kai’s look and confusion and kept going. “Originally, I didn’t really care whether he lived or died, but he’s been becoming a real thorn in the side of my operations, and I need him dealt with. However, with him out of Kyushu, I’ll have to outsource that to you.”
A few thoughts rummaged around in Kai’s head as he went through the file of his target-to-be. “So, you’re going to help me solve my issue of the raids, and in return, all I’m doing is killing some ki-” Only to stop when he got to a picture of him. “Hold on…” And, after staring at it intently, he slammed it down. “This is the Bogeyman’s kid!”
“Hm?” The Gambler just feigned confusion and looked at the picture before shrugging. “Oh, yeah, he is… But that’s besides the poin-”
“Like hell it is!” Kai snapped, slamming his hand into the table. “This kid’s probably got dozens of quirks from his old man, that’s why these raids keep-”
SLAP!
Dice’s hand flew across Kai’s face before the young man even realised the other was standing up, and he consequently became silenced out of shock.
“These raids keep working because you’ve split up your men disproportionately. You had thousands of your grunts clumped up in terribly guarded compounds with no means of escape; compounds which have since been raided. You didn’t prioritise balance between them, didn’t plan escape routes to the underground, and that has left you with not even a thousand men left. This Izuku Midoriya is not your problem; it is your inefficient management.”
‘… Just get through this meeting and you don’t have to see this son of a bitch again.’ Kai felt his cheek grow hot from the slap and tried his best to swallow down his embarrassment. “I spoke out of turn… My apolo-”
“Keep that fake shit to yourself, Son, I don’t need to hear it.” The Gambler waived him off with a scoff. “I just need your word that you’ll get me the kid’s head, and I’ll give you a way out of this shithole you’re in.”
…
Kai swallowed every screaming voice inside of him – from the back of his head to the pit of his gut – and nodded. “Very well… We’ll kill him.”
“Good.” The Gambler nodded. “Now, listen close…”
Jet Agency, End of the Week
Gran Torino stood in front of the gathered heroes, sidekicks, and interns that he had put together over the last few days in approval. He’d brought in a solid team of heavy hitters.
The Stone Hero: Kyomei, a genuine certified S-Class hero… As well as his three somewhat impressive interns – who happened to be Izuku’s classmates.
The BMI Hero: Fat Gum, a Special S-Class hero and one that was an expert in narcotics, drug busts, and raids… Who also had another pair of Izuku’s classmates.
As well as a numerous amount of solo heroes, both veterans in the business and younger talent, gathered from all over the regions where the Shie Hassaikai held their bases.
They had all had a great run in the past three days. Twenty-three compounds raided, hundreds of millions of yen worth of illegal artefacts, weapons, and drugs recovered, and over three thousand members apprehended awaiting what were sure to be swift trials.
Which made what he was about to say that much more difficult.
“Alright, you lot, listen up.” The old man started. “I know we’ve had a great number of successes in the last three days. Hell, we’re on track for one of the biggest busts of the year at the rate we’re going, but there’s an issue.” He sighed upwards and decided to just rip off the band aid. “We now need to reduce the number of heroes for our next batch of raids to the bare minimum with minor support and hold off on them until after the weekend.”
As expected, the gathered group of heroes didn’t respond positively to that, especially the solo heroes and work study students.
“But we’re on a roll here, we can’t stop that momentum.”
“What’s the point in reducing numbers? That’s too risky for no reason.”
“Seriously, old timer-”
Tap.
Gran Torino was behind the young hero who mentioned his age before anyone realised he had even moved, his giant glove landing gently on top of his head and wrapping around it like he was holding an apple. “What was that you said, young man?” His sweet tone and smile did nothing to hide the anger rolling off of him. “Repeat that for an old man’s ears.”
“N-n-nothing, sir.” The young hero didn’t move anything aside from his mouth as he answered, frozen still. “J-just curious… is all…”
“Hm.” The older man was suddenly back at the head of the table within a blink and folded his arms. “Again, I know it’s not ideal, but this is the situation we’ve been placed in; nothing we can do about it.”
Another young hero, Backup, put up his hand. “Why is that though? Why do we need to reduce numbers?”
“Because...” Nighteye cut in, moving up to stand next to Torino. “In our justified fervour to apprehend these criminals, we brought the bane of our work upon the raids.”
Everyone knew what that meant. “The Media.”
“Naturally.” The foreseer nodded. “We’ve been doing exceptionally well, and that’s put the media’s attention on us. As they always do, they have found out the position of the remaining Shie Hassaikai bases-”
“Wait, what?
“Really?”
“How?”
All the young heroes got was a shrug. “-and have been reporting about our previous raids and success. This has had the effect of significantly raising crime stats in other parts of the country.”
Sato was the one to put up his hand this time. “Uh, Nighteye, Sir? – Sir Nighteye? – how exactly does the news raise crime?”
“They’ve basically posted up a map of where we’re going to be.” One of the veteran heroes, Rock Lock, said, shaking his head in annoyance. “The news has somehow found out who is part of this raid and told the entire Criminal Underworld that those heroes are no longer in their usual areas and are now in a different area.”
“And those areas that don’t have their usual heroes are now facing a surge in crime because of it.” Gran Torino finished. “That means that we have to send back you solo heroes to coordinate with each other and your local Police to rectify that, and thus, our numbers for the raids are reduced.”
A number of the solo heroes, particularly the younger ones, looked disappointed, but nodded their heads.
“Additionally, the Shie Hassaikai has since compressed the number of their remaining compounds down in order to fortify them.” Nighteye said, cutting back in. “What was once twenty remaining compounds, is now five remaining fortresses, and the HPSC themselves have decided that there’s no need to concentrate the amount of heroes we have here into such a small number of bases, especially with Kyomei and Fat Gum present.”
No one felt like refuting that and nodded again.
So, one-by-one, the solo heroes all made their way out of the meeting room – Garage – and thanked Gran Torino for the work that he gave them.
Until all that was left was Jet Agency, Kyomei, Fat Gum, and their work study students.
“Uh… Mr. Torino, sir?” Sero put up his hand, shrinking just a little at the large man’s gaze. “Why exactly are you all waiting until Monday if you have everyone you need already here?”
“Because we need you all.” Gran Torino answered immediately. “Both Kyomei and Fat Gum aren’t willing to execute their raids without you all present. I feel the same about Mirio and Midoriya.”
…
…
…
“Wait, what?” The eight Yuuei students – both first and third years – tilted their heads in confusion.
“You lot have to return back to school now and have a weekend, and we can’t execute the raids without you.” The old hero continued. “So, we’ll delay the raid until the Monday. Simple as that.”
Nighteye nodded. “It also allows us all to rest ourselves since we have done non-stop raids for three days. Not to mention the Police are very grateful for the free time to spend on processing everyone.”
Akira tilted his head. “I don’t know if I believe that we’d be more essential than the already licensed solo heroes you just sent out of the room.”
Maybe they should call some back…
“Oh, no, can’t do that.” Fat Gum said with a laugh, patting his student on the back. “They have sectors to patrol and keep under control, so we can’t ask them to stay behind. You all, on the other hand, don’t, so having you is basically free support.”
“You are also all much stronger than you believe.” Kyomei said, hands clapped together in prayer. “If I am right, and I do believe I am, Midoriya has an equal level of destructive potential as myself.”
Gran Torino nodded. “Long story short, you’re part of this, and that’s final.” Before activating the updated map of the Shie Hassaikai’s bases and projecting it to the table. “Now, Chisaki’s made a pretty shit move if I’m being honest. He originally had twenty bases left for us to raid, but he decided – for whatever reason – to combine and move his resources from all of them into five across Central Honshu.”
“The only smart play about that move is that they are all in different prefectures, so we’re going to split the teams up in this room in accordance with the threat level of each of the compounds, and then hit all of them at the same time so that there is absolutely zero chance of escape.” Nighteye started, bringing up the first in his hand. “Kyomei, you and your work study students shall take this compound in the Aichi countryside. Overhaul is keeping his stronger men there, so your brute strength will be key to taking them down.”
Kyomei nodded. “My students and I shall be swift.”
The green-haired man nodded back. “Good.” Before picking up the next compound. “Fat Gum, you and your work study students are going to be taking a compound on the outskirts of Tokyo City. We’ve verified that this is their production warehouse, so we’ll have you working with Tokyo Police’s Narcotics Unit to help detain and determine what they’re all trying to produce.”
“No sweat, foresight!” The giant man said boisterously, bringing Kirishima, Akira, and Tamaki in with a headlock. “Me and these big guys here’ll definitely get it done!”
Gran Torino stood up at that and grabbed his own compound. “This one here is mine.” Then crushed it in his hands. “As far as our intel is concerned, that’s where the brat of a boss is going to be holding up in, so Mirio and I are going to take it together.”
The mentioned student looked perplexed. “W-what?! Sir, are you su-”
“This guy’s quirk works through touch, which he can’t do to you because of your quirk; I need you for this.” The old man’s tone didn’t allow for argument, and he got a nod from his mentee. “Good.”
Nighteye picked up a pair of building and spun them around. “This one here is technically two abandoned buildings on the outskirt of Shizuoka, but they serve as the Shie Hassaikai’s Fight Club. There are many strong quirk fighters there, so I myself shall be leading the entirety of Jet Agency there with multiple S.W.A.T Units to bring them in.”
“What about the last one?” Mirio asked, putting his hand up. “If we’re all split between these four, is the last one just going to be handled by the Police?”
“The last compound is a lot less of a hassle than these other four, yes.” Gran Torino said in agreement. “It’s built into a mountain in Hakuba and holds a lot of the ‘old guard’ of the Shie Hassaikai, so to say.”
Ojiro looked confused. “Old guard?”
“The Shie Hassaikai has only just recently fallen under the leadership of Kai Chisaki.” Nighteye explained. “Until now, it had been run by a long line of elderly, conservative – but honourable – men that stuck to the old ways of the Yakuza. Overhaul does not believe in those ways at all and has since placed these older members in the criminal equivalent of a retirement home.”
“We don’t think any of them will warrant a large striking force.” The older hero added. “So, for the most part, yes, the Police will be handling that last raid.” Before moving his eyes to Izuku and pointing at him. “He’ll be there, though.”
…
…
Once more, all the Yuuei students stopped at once and looked confused. “Wait, what?”
“Why me?” Izuku asked.
“Yeah! Why him?” His classmates had a similar query.
Gran Torino shrugged. “Extra muscle.” Before blinking behind the green-haired teen and giving him a few pats on the back. “Besides, he’s done plenty of raids by himself down in Fukuoka. Hawks said as much himself.”
“I… Really?”
“Look, kid, I’m sure you’ve heard this from Hawks and other teachers of yours already, but you are a genuine asset on the field.” The old man started, giving him one more pat before looking to the other students in the room. “And so are the rest of you. We aren’t giving these tasks to you just to include you and give you experience; this is serious, and we believe you are all up to the task.”
Fat Gum nodded. “Yeah, you guys are way stronger than I was at your age; we need you on this.”
The young hero students didn’t really have a rebuttal to that, and it’s not like any of them were adamantly against the idea.
Izuku took in a deep breath before nodding. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Great!” Gran Torino was once more back at the head of the table, and he clapped his hands together. “Us adults will still be patrolling over the weekends, but we’re used to it. You kiddos, on the other hand, I don’t want any of you to do anything strenuous – another word for stupid – at all for the next two days. Go out with your friends, go out on a date, whatever, just don’t do anything that will put out your back when you wake up on Monday.”
Nighteye sighed. “They’re sixteen, Sorahiko, their backs don’t do that yet.” Before looking at the students himself. “I agree with what he thinks he is saying, though; just have a weekend off.” Then, opened the garage door to their meeting room. “Now, off you go, everyone, the Watasons run a part-time mechanic service out of this part of the Agency, and their Father will be here any minute.”
Heights Alliance, Hours Later
As Friday night became very early Saturday morning, most of the students of 1A were either fast asleep in their beds or hard at work in the class’s Minecraft Server.
With the sole exception of Izuku Midoriya, of course, who was standing on the roof of their dormitory, staring up at the skies. The darkness of midnight helping the stars and galaxy clusters in the sky seem that much brighter.
He liked looking up at them whenever he could, it helped him think.
And right now, he was thinking about the raid he was supposed to take on Monday.
It’s not like he hadn’t done raids like the one he was tasked with back with Hawks in Fukuoka. If anything, he would be in his element going out to a countryside mountain where he doesn’t have to worry about collateral damage.
It was just…
“I can’t shake the feeling that the Hakuba compound is going to be more dangerous than what everyone else thinks.” Izuku said aloud, scratching the back of his head. “If the Shie Hassaikai’s ‘Old Guard’ is anything like the old man we fought back in Fukuoka, then they’d be the perfect pack of members to hide with. Unsuspected and not easily broken through. I think… No, I know Overhaul is there.” Before turning around. “Which is why I want you to join me.”
Fumikage Tokoyami silently stewed over his friend’s thoughts and question for just a moment. “… Before I give you an answer, friend.” Then looked him straight in the eyes. “Why do you not share these concerns with Gran Torino or Nighteye?”
There was an answer to that question.
Izuku was angry.
He had watched Overhaul turn his subordinate into a splash of blood on the wall before restructuring his entire body into the wall without any pause or hesitation. He then watched that same man admit that he had done the same thing to a little girl.
Izuku had poured himself into those files that he found at the warehouse all those nights ago and wanted to see just how much Eri had been put through.
Two pages of what they knew had been done to her was all he could get through before he just shut off the screen, lest he break it.
Gran Torino wouldn’t know this. Kyomei wouldn’t know this. And they were at the two most likely compounds for Overhaul to be hiding out at. If they found him, they would bring him in like any other criminal they’d find off the street.
But Izuku didn’t want that.
He needed that man to pay. Properly.
So, if there was even a smidge of a chance he’d be the one facing Overhaul, he was keeping that information to himself so that he could do what Justice demanded.
“There’s a good chance I’m wrong.” But, of course, Izuku kept that to himself and lied as best he could. “I don’t want to cause a stir on a hunch…” Before turning around and once more looking at the stars. “But I also want to have backup I know I can count on in the case I’m right.”
“I see…” Fumikage could still sense them, though. “I…” He, too, however, kept his thoughts to himself and nodded. “I will accompany you, then.”
Izuku smiled. “Thanks, Fumikage.”
The Re-Bar
Giran finished off another drink as his final client left for the day and immediately moved to pull another cigarette out of his pocket. “That guy was a complete sucker.” And as he lit it, he let out a laugh. “Not as much as that Chisaki kid, though. I’m surprised he actually took the ‘helpful suggestions’ you gave him.”
“I was really expecting him to call me out on my bullshit. Everyone knows trying for an all-out fight against the heroes never goes our way without some real power. Even then, it never lasts.” The Gambler admitted as he polished off a wine glass. “I’m still getting what I want, though.”
“What about that Midoriya kid?” Giran asked, taking a drag. “How do you know he’s going to be sent to that compound in Hakuba? And on top of that, are you even sure Chisaki could finish him off?” Smoke obscured his face as he let out a puff. “I’ve seen the kid in action; he has some serious power on his side.”
“Whether or not he ends up at the compound is really just a gamble. As for your second question…” The dark man held up his hands and let the rings decorating his fingers glow. “That’s why I gave him one of these.” Before going back to polishing. “With that evening the odds, adding on to the fact he actually knows how to fight, I’ll have killed the Son of the Bogeyman, and gotten rid of the Shie Hassaikai.”
“I suppose so…” Giran put out his cigarette early and held up another glass. “To beating the odds?”
Dice laughed in response as he picked up a whole bottle of whiskey from behind the counter and raised it. “Always.”
Omake – 1A Shenanigans: Super Speed
Heights Alliance
Being the weekend, a lot of 1A were out of the dorms at the moment.
Some went back home to see their family after a long week, some were out enjoying their lives while they still could, some were working on work they were supposed to have gotten done three days ago in the library, and some were slacking off on that work because that could be Monday’s problem.
That was not all of 1A though.
For Momo, Kaminari, Iida, Izuku, Katsuki, and Tsu, Saturday morning was a time to sit on the couch and talk to each other.
And currently, they had fallen onto a topic that actually concerned all of them.
“Well, I think pure speed wise, yes, I would be faster than all of you.”
Super Speed.
“Really?” Bakugou looked at Izuku with a raised eyebrow. “You actually believe that?”
“I don’t do the whole toot my own horn thing, but yes.” The green-haired teen nodded in response. “This is just pure speed I’m talking about. Free runway, all out power, I would outrun or outfly all of you.”
The blonde stirred for a moment before putting his hands up in defeat. “Alright I’ll give you that one.”
Kaminari looked perplexed. “You will?”
“But!” Ignoring the other blonde, Bakugou sat up on his seat and pointed at his friend. “I easily have you all beat in precise, omnidirectional bursts. I don’t care how much power you have now; I can measure the exact distance I need to cross with just my eyes and modulate my explosions perfectly to cover that distance – no matter what direction it’s in – in an instant. My perfect control beats out your raw power speed in almost every combat and rescue scenario you can think of.”
“I should like to throw my hat in that ring then.” Momo cut in, clapping her legs together in the air. “I may weigh a few hundred kilograms, but my compacted muscles let me perform a Flash Step whenever I want. Same as yours Kat, just less collateral damage.”
Tsu decided to join the conversation here. “Kero, my leg muscles and body let me jump at least three times higher than you at the same speeds and land much softer if I’d like to, Kero. Also, I can Flash Step, too… Kero.”
“I cannot do this ‘Flash Step’ you speak of.” Iida started, chopping the air as he joined in. “But I would like to think – after my latest upgrades – my engines could run at full throttle for longer than any of you could. Not to mention I have now four gears instead of three.”
Kaminari nodded. “He’s got a point there.” Before looking at the rest of them. “But, I have to ask…” And smiling. “Do any of you have enhanced perception?”
Izuku scratched the back of his head. “Ah…” There was Danger Sense, but that was more instinct than anything. “Actually, no, not really.”
“Nuh.” Bakugou didn’t need to think about it. “I trust myself to not need that safety net.”
Momo shook her head. “I do not.”
“Kero, neither.”
“Well, my family does have a minor mutation in our brains that allows us to perceive information faster than most others.” Iida stated with a nod. “But true enhanced perception…? No. I do not possess such an ability.”
Kaminari laughed. “Then I think I’ve got you all beat.” Before activating his quirk on his hands and playing with the lightning. “Aside from the fact that I can get rid of all that friction stuff around my body and supercharge my leg muscles to run super-fast, I can also turbocharge my noggin to slow everything down around me. I might not be the fastest with pure speed, but you all would look like you’re jogging to me in a battle simulation.”
Momo did not like the smug smile he had on his face. “And how long can you keep that enhanced perception active again?” At her best friend’s silence, she pretended to think. “What was it… half a minute? Just a little less?”
“…” Kaminari pouted. “Just a little less.”
“I thought as such.” The onyx-haired girl smiled and moved over to comfort the blonde by condescendingly patting his cheeks. “Still, we all have impressive speeds, and it is something to be proud of.”
“Sure, it is!” Hawks exclaimed, eating a bucket of chicken. “You can move real fast for your age.”
“Mah, they’re barely breaking Mach speeds.” Gran Torino countered, stuffing down a Taiyaki. “I was moving faster when I was twelve!”
Song Jin Woo – I.R.O.H Chief Monarch – shook his head. “I find myself agreeing with Gran Torino; I don’t believe they could even out speed Bedu, let alone any of us.”
The six Yuuei students just looked at the three fastest pro heroes in the world with confusion. “… Where the hell did you all come from!?”
To Be Continued…