Chapter 35: (Episode 31: The Aftermath of the Hero Killer: Stain)
Silently watching Toshinori lead the greenet into the bathroom, when the door slid closed, Minoru locked eyes with the first person he saw, before asking them directly, "What's going on…?"
"Did you go somewhere?"
"I had to go to my room for a second, but I asked first, and I asked Yaoyorozu."
Placing her arms over her breasts, Momo blinked the tears from her soft gaze, as she began, "Well, I am unsure when you vacated the room… But after the music concluded, instead of the voice asking to move on, there was a picture of a boy named Tsubasa. And there were words that told us he had passed away…"
"What…?! Wait, I saw that, but why was Midoriya acting like that?"
"It's not obvious…?" Kyoka quirked an eyebrow at their confusion, getting a strange look from the two also, until she pointed out, "It's obvious that Midoriya knew who he was. Either personally, or a friend of a friend, but he knew Tsubasa. Or, at least when he was alive…"
Overhearing their conversation, and coming to his own assumptions, Hitoshi muttered under his breath, "Maybe Tsubasa was a friend of Midoriya's when he was younger…"
"True, but if that's the case, then wouldn't he also be friends with…" Mina shifted in her seat, sitting on her knees, as she glanced up toward the fourth row where he was sitting. When she eventually found the spiky-haired blond, her eyes widened at the haunted expression he wore, "Bakugo…?"
Katsuki couldn't believe this. Even if he wasn't close with Tsubasa, he remembered how the kid stuck around him like everyone else did when they were younger, yet he hadn't noticed when he left. He couldn't recall if it was elementary school, or the start of junior high.
But for him to be dead?
"Bakugo."
His red eyes flickered over to the man hovering above him, focusing to recognize Shota, who crouched down to his eye level.
"Do you want to come and speak with me in private…?"
"Why the hell would I want to do that?"
"Well, there are questions that need to be answered, and I offered in case you weren't comfortable in front of-"
"Yes, I knew the kid. No, I didn't know that he died. Yes, Deku knows him, too…" Katsuki wasn't sure what else he needed to know, while his throat went dry at his lack of information.
"Okay, that's good to know… I'm sorry for your loss."
"Don't need to fucking apologize- You didn't… You didn't kill him…" Katsuki clenched his fists when thinking about the way he was killed, swallowing the bile rising up his throat.
"Wait, so that Nomu… The- This Tsubasa was… that Nomu…? The one the hero killer killed?"
"It would appear so." Shota stood up as he went to address the question asked by Rikido, placing a hand on the ash blond's shoulder, until he shook it off. Closing his eyes as he sighed, he then directed this to all the students, "I understand this is difficult to process-"
"What the fuck is so difficult to process-"
"Dammit, Bakugo…! For once in your life, would you stop being a fucking asshole about everything! Someone's dead, and you're being insensitive about it- But what makes it worse is that you knew this Tsubasa, and you're not even mourning him!"
"And you're acting surprised?" Tomura scoffed in amusement at how angry the sparked blond yelled, further pointing out when they stayed quiet, "This is the same player who told the fucking Ass Might enthusiast to kill himself that you all were freaking out about."
Being reminded of that moment from yesterday, some tensed up, while others could understand what he was saying, with Denki throwing salt in the wound, "Right, what else should I have expected…"
"Hey, we do not talk like that to-" Shota paused when the sound of a door opened, looking to its source to watch Toshinori and Izuku come out of the bathroom.
"Deku-kun…?" Ochaco rose to her feet, furrowing her brow, as her eyes caught Toshinori's, who apologetically glanced her way, while leading Izuku to the end of the third row.
"All Might, is everything-"
"I promise to inform you all I know when the time is right, but for now, we should get back to the episodes, yes?"
Though he was worried about Izuku's emotional state and wanted to make sure he was okay as well, Shota could understand the urgency. The boy would want a distraction, he could only guess, and there would be time during the opening song to get a quick briefing between them.
Eventually getting to the voice's question, the screen went black, before showing Hosu City once more.
'I pray there isn't a recap of the events…' Toshinori worried for his student's well-being, and luckily, his prayers were answered, when a helicopter flew into frame, following the reporter inside.
"From the news chopper to the studio, I'm reporting live from the skies of Hosu City."
"She looks familiar…"
"She should- She's been trying to sneak into U.A. from day one…!"
Eijiro thought about his friend's words, then raised an eyebrow, as he asked for clarification, "Day one since the school opened, or from the day we started watching… this?"
"The second one- She asked us about All Might in that one episode, then the next day, was trying to get into U.A. for the Sports Festival." Hanta answered along with an explanation, clearing things up for Eijiro, who gasped, before throwing a thumbs up to show his understanding.
"Question is, why are we following the reporter…?" Mashirao hummed out loud, thinking to himself if there were still things from the attack that were left unresolved.
"Okay, cut." the cameraman called, giving the reporter the chance to scope out the scenario for herself.
As she gazed over the burning city below, observing what would need to be rebuilt, she instructed her coworker with no explanation, "Keep shooting."
"Yes, ma'am."
Spotting something in the distance, she gasped under her breath, "I wonder what that is…?"
"Where?"
"Over there. By the water tank on top of the highest building. Can you get it?" she pointed straight ahead, with the man aiming his camera in that direction.
Eventually landing on what she was referring to, he zoomed in to find two figures, informing the reporter, "They're people…! Two of them."
"Curious onlookers? In a place like that?"
What they didn't know was that they were the ones responsible for the sudden attack on Hosu City.
Looking through his binoculars, Shigaraki scratched at his neck vigorously from watching how the Nomu one by one were either killed off or arrested.
Izuku ducked under his mentor's arm for comfort, biting his lip when his tears resurfaced upon the winged Nomu lying in a pool of his blood. Whether he was Tsubasa or not, they were still once a person, like the other two.
"I hate the sound of Shigaraki scratching his skin…"
"Yeah, but the sound that his Decay quirk makes is worse…"
"-Shigaraki Tomura?" Kurogiri asked about the young man's satisfaction, while creating a portal behind them to escape.
"Idiot. That depends on tomorrow." Shigaraki spat back, before disappearing into the purple mist.
The opening song commences.
"Doesn't fucking matter, I hate how it's already gone down…!"
"What was Shigaraki trying to get out of this again…? I kind of forgot with everything that happened in the fight against Stain."
"He most definitely was hoping to rid the world of the hero killer…" Momo whispered back in response to the short-haired girl's question.
"He also just wanted to kill Stain because he hates him, and decided to also turn the city into a living hell while he was at it." Hitoshi added into the conversation, and what he said wasn't wrong either.
"Also, was it just me, or did anyone else notice the shock on Bakugo's face when he saw Tsubasa's… you know…?" Kyoka lowered her voice for the three to hear, Hitoshi and Mina exchanging looks, while Momo thinned her lip at the topic.
"I feel that it is an appropriate reaction to have when a friend passes, whether he knows him currently or not."
"Yeah, but at the same time, this is Bakugo we're talking about…"
"There might be more to him than we realize… I mean, I don't believe a person can change so easily, but on the other hand, we haven't really given Bakugo a chance to defend himself…"
"There's not much you can say to defend yourself when you tell someone to kill themselves." Hitoshi huffed at what the pink-haired girl was saying, Kyoka nodding her head in agreement.
"Well, you're not wrong there…"
"If anyone's giving Bakugo a chance at anything, it's Kirishima. I mean, I don't know if you heard me talking about this yesterday, but he flustered Bakugo with what he was telling him."
"Wait, really?" Mina widened her eyes in interest, leaning closer toward her, while Hitoshi pushed his body into the cushions to give her some space.
"To give you the gist of it, he basically asked Bakugo if he meant what he said to Midoriya, and said that he didn't think he actually meant it because he saved Midoriya during USJ - which Bakugo said he was stupid for asking. And also that Bakugo was trying to help Midoriya in his own way. The guy is a natural therapist, but not a good listener."
"Huh… That's an interesting way to look at it." Mina didn't know if she liked that lookout because it was messed up if it were true, but then again, Izuku and Katsuki's relationship was also messed up, so it could be true.
Everything about those two was complicated.
Title screen 'Episode 31. The Aftermath of the Hero Killer: Stain'
After the events of the Hosu City attack, the three students were transported to the nearest hospital, and had to stay overnight for their injuries to be fully assessed. Now into the next morning, they sat in their beds, pondering over last night's incident, and making sure they were okay and healing.
"Were you able to sleep, Midoriya?"
'I know I won't be able to tonight…' Izuku would forever be haunted by Tsubasa's death.
"No, not really."
"I didn't think so. Me neither."
Glancing up at the lit ceiling, Midoriya thought about what they went through last night, humming out loud, "Thinking about it now, we did something amazing, huh?"
"Yeah."
"You really think so?"
"We did play a part in the hero killer's arrest. So, yes."
'Remember Shota, you became a teacher for a reason…' he was starting to rethink that reason with each episode they watched.
"Tsubasa-kun should have lived, too…" Izuku whispered under his breath after his future self was glad to be alive, tightening his hold on Toshinori's clothing.
"-he probably could've killed us if he wanted to."
Raising his arm up, Todoroki looked at the bandages, before agreeing with his classmate, "Yeah. We were obviously left alive on purpose. You're amazing to have been able to face him after all the murderous intent directed at you."
"No, that's not it." Iida contradicted, bowing his head, before he glanced down at his arms in slangs, regretting the events of last night, as he began to say, "I-"
The door sliding open caught their attention, with Manual standing there along with Gran Torino, who remarked, "Oh, are you wounded kids awake?"
"Gran Torino!"
"I wouldn't be too thrilled seeing him after he kicked me like that…"
"It's okay, Iida makes up for it- He's not too happy to see the other hero."
"-you've got a visitor." Gran Torino informed the three after scolding his intern. Turning to the doorway, Manual stepped inside to allow room for their guest to enter, his presence causing Midoriya to gasp, while the older hero introduced him, "Hosu's chief of police, Tsuragamae Kenji-san."
"Oh, no- That can't be good."
"But what they did was good, right…?!"
"Not exactly." Momo replied to her horned friend's exclamation, whispering softly when Mina leaned toward her, "I am certain it will be explained soon as to why."
"Do you not know why?"
"Not… completely, no." Momo's parents worked in various careers dealing and helping with the heroes, but she didn't want to give out false information she only knew from childhood stories.
"Yes." Todoroki nodded at the chief's question of them defeating Stain, meanwhile having his own questions in his head, 'The chief of police came all this way… Why?'
"Regarding the hero killer we arrested… he had fairly serious injuries, with burns and broken bones, and is receiving treatment under strict guard, woof." Tsuragamae announced to the three students, with Midoriya gaping at what he was saying, and letting him continue to declare, "Since you are U.A. students, I'm sure you already know that when superpowers were still becoming the norm, the police attached high importance to leadership and standards and made sure quirks were not used as weapons."
"It sounds as if he's accusing you guys of vigilantism, kero."
Shoto took quite the offense to that, if what Tsuyu said is true to what the chief was getting at.
'We did what we thought was right- Who cares if it follows the law or whatever. Iida and that other hero would have died if he didn't step in.'
"-that gap, woof. For an individual's use of force and power that can easily kill others - actions that normally would be appropriate to denounce - to be accepted officially is thanks to early heroes who followed the ethics and rules of the profession, woof."
"I don't understand a damn fucking word this dog is saying-" Tomura grumbled, throwing his head back, as he wished this scene would move on faster. The aftermath of the Hosu City incident didn't just involve the brats, after all, loudly groaning, "Can't it just show the news already? Specifically the part where they talk about me? I want to hear what they have to say…!"
"Quiet, this is important for them to learn." Shota wasn't sure if his voice would reach the villain, or if he would listen, but thankfully, he couldn't hear Tomura say anything in response.
"Aizawa Sensei, if-"
"I understand you have concerns about what is being said, Shoto, but listen before you jump to conclusions." Shota tried to calm the child down, however, it was clear on the boy's expression that he didn't want to listen anymore, as Shoto's mind was already made up on what Kenji was saying.
Meanwhile, upon hearing about punishment toward him for his son acting out, Enji tightened his grip on his biceps, with his brow narrowing in anger. Clearly, he had taught Shoto nothing. He'd have no choice but to punish the boy himself for his behavior.
"-must receive strict punishment."
"Wait a minute-" Todoroki huffed, catching the other two off guard, as he reminded the chief of police, "If Iida hadn't done anything, Native-san would've been killed. If Midoriya hadn't come, the two of them would've been killed."
"Todoroki-kun…"
"No one realized that the hero killer had appeared. Are you saying we should've followed the rules and watched people get killed?"
"W-W-Wait…!" Midoriya raised his hand up to keep his friend from taking another step toward Tsuragamae.
"Are you saying that as long as it turns out all right, it's okay to bend the rules?"
At the hidden challenge in the chief's question, it took Todoroki by surprise, until he gritted his teeth, shouting, "Isn't it a hero's job to save people…?!"
"That is why you are not a full-fledged hero yet. Goodness, what are you being taught by U.A. and Endeavor, woof?"
"You dog!"
"Todoroki-kun, don't make this worse for yourself…!"
"It's not-" Shoto paused when they heard Sorahiko tell his future self to wait.
"Hear him out until the end."
"That was the official opinion of the police." Tsuragamae continued where he left off, however, he went back on his words when he told the three of them, "The real question is whether or not to deal with this issue publicly, woof. If we let the story out, you would probably be applauded by the public, but you would not be able to escape punishment. On the other hand, this is a bit underhanded, but if it's not made public, the burn scars would support Endeavor being the hero who saved the day, and it would end there, woof."
"WHAT?! This is obscure!" Enji would be engulfed in raging flames if their quirks weren't canceled out.
"At least Shoto isn't in trouble with the police." Shota didn't bother asking where the man's priorities were, knowing where his children sat on the list.
With that backhanded comment though, Enji could do nothing but be forced to take credit for something he didn't accomplish in this foreseen future. However, this timeline would be different, he only needed to defeat Chizome sooner rather than later.
"-crushed here, woof. But this would also mean no one would know about your good judgment or achievements. Which do you prefer?"
"I think the answer is obvious, kero."
"To take credit, but be in trouble… or to let the worst hero in the world get the credit, but not be in trouble…" Toru wasn't sure how her froggy friend saw this as an easy choice to make.
"Either way, we will need to take responsibility for being negligent in our supervisory duties." Manual was glad the kids could get out of this predicament, even if he, Gran Torino, and Endeavor had to get reprimanded for not taking charge.
Listening to this, Iida furrowed his brow in sympathy, before walking up to his mentor, bowing, as he said, "I am truly sorry."
"All right…! You'll cause enough trouble for others. If you understand, then don't do it again." Manual lightly tapped the boy on the head to make a mark on his words.
"I won't!" Iida swore on it.
Turning to his own teacher, Midoriya also dipped his head, as he apologized too, "I-I'm sorry."
"Please take care of it." Todoroki, even if still angry about the situation, agreed to keep the truth of the hero killer's arrest under wraps, and allow the police to cover for them.
"Because of the unfairness of adults, you will not be able to receive the praise you would probably have gotten. But at least…" Tsuragamae dropped his upper body toward the three boys who single-handedly defeated the hero killer, acknowledging their accomplishment, "...as someone who also protects the peace, I can say thank you."
Now ashamed of his former behavior, Todoroki looked away from his gesture, but not without mumbling under his breath, "You could've led with that."
"Todoroki-kun…" Midoriya bashfully smiled toward his classmate, while Iida was content with this decision.
"The fight in the alley that started in an unexpected way ended, and in the end, the world would never know what we had done. We couldn't tell at the time, but the implications were already gnawing away at us."
"The hell does that mean…?"
"Narrator Midori-kun, would you kindly stop talking about things so vaguely? It would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance." Mina placed her hands back in her lap after saying her piece, while both Hitoshi and Kyoka raised a brow, understanding that everything was vague for a reason to not ruin the element of surprise.
But they did agree that it was annoying to deal with.
"-but it's kind of unfortunate."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
Playing the news outside of their building, a reporter with a horn commented on the incident that happened a few days ago: "The three villains arrested and restrained during Hosu City's riots are all men with unknown addresses and identities."
'Tsubasa… kun…' Izuku buried his face into the hero's sleeve, trying to keep quiet, as tears fell from his eyes.
"Based on their distinctive appearance, and the presence of two people NHA filmed by chance, there are those saying they are connected to the League of Villains that attacked U.A. High School last month."
"Yes, keep it coming…" Tomura was bitter that the hero killer was being talked about, but as long as the news stirred away from the bastard and to him, maybe it would make up for it.
He spoke too soon.
"-since the appearance of All Might than any other individual criminal. With his arrest, everyone around Japan can rest a little easier."
While the sea of civilians passed by without much thought on the news, one particular man in dark clothing and hair paid attention.
Deep in a heavily fogged forest, a radio continued to play the broadcast for a silhouette figure.
"The seriously wounded hero killer, Stain, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital under police guard. The police are awaiting the recovery of the victims to investigate further into the motive behind the crime."
Skipping through a dimly lit warehouse, a light blonde girl with twin buns had her earplugs in to listen, grinning.
"This villain will certainly leave his mark in the history of crime in Japan - no, the world - Hero Killer: Stain…! Why did he keep committing crimes? What is he after?"
At the bar where the League was hiding, the small TV played a news report, with the reporter at the scene of the crime, "I'm reporting live from Ekou Street in Hosu City. Last night, just after 8 pm, Hero Killer: Stain was arrested by Endeavor on this street-"
The screen went black when Kurogiri turned it off, turning to Shigaraki, who was reading over the newspaper, before crumpling it up, while he scoffed, "It's all anyone's talking about. Are the Nomu's just secondary?"
As the paper turned to ash, running through his fingertips, the villain leader thought about the declaration he made last night.
'Once the night is over, the world will have forgotten about you…!'
"That's how it should have been…" Tomura grumbled under his breath, as he began to scratch at his neck again. What was so great about the hero killer, anyway? Why does Chizome get to be remembered when he was the bigger threat?
"-but we ended up being the side story…"
Elsewhere in Japan, at Best Jeanist's Agency, the number four hero gathered his sidekicks and intern for a quick lesson before sending them off to patrol.
"Shit…" Katsuki wasn't in the mood to be humiliated right now, nor did he have the drive to yell either.
"Do you think those people we saw earlier are other villains that might show up later, kero?"
"Do you mean like… in here…?!"
"Not exactly." Tsuyu turned to her invisible friend, explaining what she was asking, "If those people we just saw are villains, do you think they might join Shigaraki's League or be of importance later?"
"I was wondering the same thing, too." Shoto acknowledged the girl's concern, adding his own voice into the discussion, "They didn't appear to be known villains, if you go from how that first person was out in the open without causing alarm."
"Kero."
"Well if that's the fucking case, I want the big one!" Tomura yelled without warning, causing a few of the students to jump, while he analyzed the three of them, "The first one didn't look like shit, and the other one is maniac with that stupid grin of hers… But I don't want them if they're fucking influenced by Stain…! Listening to the stupid news-"
"That was another point I was going to make." Shoto was certain that the hero killer had some reason to make them come out of hiding, and start causing havoc.
"Whoever they are, I hope they stay right where they are…" Toru trembled in the greenette's arms, before going still when she asked, "Wait a minute, how could Shigaraki hear us all the way down here…?"
"I moved." Tomura replied, his voice sounding closer now, and making her jump when she realized he was on the front row on his side of the theater.
"Huh? I got Midoriya's message, too…?" Eijiro pointed to himself, blinking in shock, when the focus turned to him, and showed him talking about the location Izuku sent.
"Wait, did Bakugo also get it? I mean, I know he didn't say anything about it, but that was because he was getting lectured."
"It wasn't just me, you dimwit…!" Katsuki exclaimed when he overheard Denki's remark, however, his words lacked their usual fire to them, which Izuku noticed.
"Wait a sec…! I'm gonna reply." Kirishima responded to his friend's warning, looking back down to his phone, while Tetsutetsu froze up when he caught Fourth Kind.
Getting a smack to the head, like the silver-haired boy warned about, Fourth Kind held his interns by the back of their hair, as he addressed them, "Didn't I tell you that you must always be punctual…?!"
"S-Sorry, sir!"
"All right, we're going on patrol!
"Yes, sir!"
'God, I promise that I will never make another provocative comment toward a girl out loud if you please don't show my internship here…! I don't even know if you can hear me right now, but please…!PLEASE!' Minoru, finished with his prayer, opened his eyes again, only to blink when the start of a commercial played for a beauty product for women.
"No matter how damaged your hair, the new ingredient, U008 will penetrate deep into each hair."
After the woman on screen sprayed her long locks with the product, Itsuki appeared next, to which Momo brought her hands to her lips, fearing the worst, "Oh goodness… If Ken-"
Her words fell flat when she caught sight of herself posing, curls in her ponytail, while shame began to grow inside of her, as her face became warm.
"Curly hair isn't your style, Momo-chan, kero."
"But you still look great…!" Mina tried to stay positive, however, it was written very clearly on the other girl's expression that she hated the sight of it.
"Oh, this is humiliating…"
"Just try to remember that this isn't your future anymore now-"
"It most certainly is a future for another me!"
Faintly narrowing his gaze at the phrasing of her sentence, Shoto pondered quietly, "So the multiverse is real, then?"
"Oh my goodness." Ochaco gaped at what she heard, along with Tenya, who stared in silence at his friend, hoping to get an explanation for that question.
"You did question the logic of this theater, kero, so maybe we can ask the voice about this when the next break happens. I'm interested to see what the answer might be." Tsuyu didn't have many thoughts on the topic, but the theory of a multiverse being a reality was an intriguing thought by itself.
"I've noticed that only a few of us got to see where we chose to go for our internships." Mashirao pointed out, and while he refused to say this out loud, he had to admit that the ones chosen were definitely entertaining to watch.
"Now that you mention it, I think only half of us are shown… I mean, I understand Todoroki and Iida because of the fight with the hero killer, but why everyone else?"
"It could be diversity." Mezo hummed from his mask, coming up with his own answer for Rikido's question.
"I would have to say that among you twenty students, those few that were chosen have some relation to Midoriya." Shota inputted his thoughts into the conversation, with the three boys on his row straightening up, while he explained his answer, "A few of you have had the quote-on-quote, 'spotlight' during the USJ attack, then with the Sports Festival, and those few recognized students are acknowledged here."
"Maybe…"
"-starting basic training."
"Oh, right, sir…!" Uraraka waved her hand out to her mentor, asking for his patience, before placing the phone back to her ear, and quickly wrapped up her conversation with Midoriya, "Well, I'll see you at school. Sorry to bother you while you're busy…! Bye."
Though, getting curious about who was on the other line, Gunhead placed a hand over his mask, as he hummed in question, "Your boyfriend?"
"No- No…! That's not it!"
Izuku's eyes went wide, staring with a blank expression at the TV screen, as his mind came to a halt after what he had heard. Meanwhile, Ochaco blinked in thought about if that was meant to be a joke or a serious question, as her reaction to the question didn't give her much answer.
"I'm stammering for no reason… It's a genuine question, I guess?"
"Sounds like Uraraka's internship wants her with someone else…" Hanta lightly chuckled at his joke, before punching Denki's elbow.
Eijiro realized in an instant that their friend wasn't in a joking mood.
'Midoriya's not the kind of guy to do something like that… But I have to make sure he knows I like Uraraka so he doesn't try anything…!' Denki wasn't angry with the greenet, and he was going to do this in a way that wouldn't ruin their friendship.
"Midoriya-kun needs to talk with us more often…" Toru murmured under her breath, while Mina behind them was kicking her feet in the air at the adorable moment.
Sliding open the door to their hospital room, Midoriya called out with a smile to his friends, "Oh, Iida-kun, just now, Uraraka-san said-"
"Midoriya." Todoroki spoke over him, cutting off the rest of his sentence, as he gained his attention to say, "Iida just finished getting examined."
They both turned to look at Iida, who hung his head, with them patiently waiting to hear his results, "My left hand might have long-term damage…"
"Long-term… damage…?" Midoriya repeated, his eyes widening at this in horror.
"Both of my arms were pretty beat up, but it looks like the damage to my left arm was especially severe." Iida began to explain, lightly running his right hand across his wrist, showing he could at least move one of his arms for now. With his tone getting deeper as he spoke, he continued to say, "There was damage to my brachial plexus."
"What's that…?"
"It's the nerve that connects to your spinal cord from your arm. That kind of damage can make it hard to move…" Momo whispered in answer, with the girl who asked the question, Mina, who gasped in shock.
"-a possibility that it can be healed with a nerve transplant surgery."
"What is it with you guys and surgery…?!" Ochaco hiccuped, lightly punching her friend in the shoulder, before dropping her head there, with Tenya reaching over to run his hand through her hair.
"-I found the hero killer, I stopped being able to think. The first thing I should've done was tell Manual-san. But I forgot myself in my anger."
'Being taken in by the hatred before you and trying to fulfill your own desires… That is the furthest from what a hero should be.'
Even though it were the words of a criminal, Iida had to admit, "I hate him, but he spoke the truth. That's why… until I become a true hero, I think I want to leave my left hand as it is."
"Is that wise to do…?" Toru asked, with her friends glancing in her direction, as she elaborated, "I mean, if you like don't get the surgery as soon as possible, wouldn't that just damage your arm worse than it already is?"
"Not necessarily. As I stated, I still have function over the nerves in my arm currently. It is only numbness I will have to experience from time to time. And there are other treatments I can do to keep the numb feeling down, and stretching is always a good form of exercise."
"Oh, okay… Just be careful."
Tenya dipped his head at her concerns, appreciating it, along with being able to soothe her worry. He had been causing everyone to panic over his well-being, but being to reassure at least one of them made him feel better.
'I only wish I could help Midoriya-kun…'
Holding out his scarred fist to his friend, Midoriya declared a promise for both him and Iida, "Let's become stronger… together."
They had their own path of heroism, and even if they hadn't been at the same starting line, both Midoriya and Iida were now here to be there for the other. Despite their differences, they were friends and rivals alike, to push each other forward, and help one another improve.
Watching this silent interaction, Todoroki stared at them, before blinking, closing his jaw, as he hung his head, sweat running down his cheek, "I feel… kind of bad."
"About what?"
"I feel like whenever I'm involved… other people's hands get messed up…"
"It's just a coincidence-"
"It can't be…" Shoto interrupted the green-haired girl, his hands trembling at his side. It couldn't be a coincidence if it happened more than once.
"Is it a curse?"
'That has to be it… There's no other explanation.' Shoto hardened his fists, keeping them from shaking at this revelation. When soft laughter began to echo through the room, he spun around, as he openly asked, "What are you guys laughing at?"
"Shoto-kun, you're not cursed…!" Ochaco attempted to hold in her own giggles, but the sound of joy made her happy.
"You don't know that."
"No, I'm not joking. I'm like 'The Hand Crusher' or something."
Todoroki's response only made the two boys laugh harder, as they wheezed out their friend's new title, "'The Hand Crusher'!"
"Oh my god…! That could totally be Shoto's hero name!"
"It can?"
"NO- That's a horrible hero name!"
"It is?"
"Imagine-" Denki choked down his laugh to announce, "Hand Crusher! Save me from the terrible Shigaraki and all his hands!"
"Go fuck yourself. And get him off the screen…!"
As the episode continued, the scene moved onto the teachers at U.A., with Toshinori getting a phone call from Sorahiko, who gained the attention of the ninth user when he called his name in annoyance.
"Thanks to him, I'm getting a pay cut, and my teaching license is being revoked for six months."
"Sorry…"
"Do not worry about apologies now, my boy…" Toshinori recalled how he would usually be a stuttering mess in these kinds of scenarios. Tsubasa must have meant a lot to Izuku.
"The part where he just starts moving without thinking is just like you, Toshinori…!"
"I humbly apologize… It is because of my insufficient teaching… to cause you such trouble… Oh dear…" All Might whispered into the phone, sweating bullets, as he briskly left the room.
"I don't care about my teaching license anymore anyway. I only got it to teach you so I could keep my promise to your predecessor."
"And I truly appreciate what you did. I am who I am today because of your training."
"You say that, but you never come to visit…!"
'I am only saying that to please you… I assume I only sent that letter to you due to passing down One for All to Young Midoriya…' Toshinori would rather keep his communication with Sorahiko as far apart as possible, however, he was glad to know his chosen successor had made progress with the quirk thanks to his old teacher.
All Might panicked at his retort of visiting, trying to come up with a believable excuse while holding in his breakfast, "I-It's just that… my new life as a teacher is so busy…."
"All Might and Midoriya-chan also share the trait of being terrible liars, kero." Tsuyu commented, before she went dead quiet when the reason for the call came out: The Hero Killer.
"I only saw him in person for a few minutes, but even so, he had me shaking."
"To be able to frighten someone like you, Gran Torino…" All Might hummed into the phone, while entering the teacher's lounge, before surveying the hallways, and closing the door behind him, wondering in response, "But he had already been tied up, so what was it…?"
"The pressure I felt from him was probably his strong ideology… or the intimidation from his obsession."
"Well don't show the horrifying scene again…" Minoru would have to do laundry soon if he crapped his pants again.
"-but it's the same quality as that 'Symbol of Peace' thing you have."
"The same quality…?" All Might wasn't entirely sure what his old mentor meant by words.
"To put it simply, it's charisma." Gran Torino answered, then began to explain, "As the investigation continues, his ideology and opinion will be all over the media, online news, TV, magazines…"
Tomura's fingernails dug into his skin, ignoring the fiery pain, as he listened to the older hero's idiotic thoughts.
"The current age, for better or worse, is one of suppression. People influenced by his ideas will definitely appear."
"It's true that there will be those influenced by him, but they will probably appear sporadically." All Might added onto what he was hearing, while noting with a hopeful tone, "When they appear one by one, heroes will take care of them like they did this time."
"That's where the League of Villains comes in."
"No fucking hero killer worshipper is gonna join my League…! I'll kill them the instant they mention that wretched name!"
"Is there meaning in listening to all of this…?" Yuga trembled as he sat beside Mezo, who thankfully had an arm around his shoulder to steady and soothe his anxiety, while Fumikage hoped to find the answer to his worrying question.
"The corners of the dark grow when the light begins to fade… Infiltrating its evil claws into the dying star."
"It could be important." Mezo's response was more understandable.
When a zoomed in image of ants crawling across the screen showed, Koji squealed, before ducking his head into his hands, shaking in fear, while Rikido and Mashirao blinked at his reaction.
'Does… Is he afraid of ants?'
"Even if the malice of each individual is small, if all that evil gathers under one will, it will swell up to hundreds of times that. If the enemy general knew this would happen from the beginning… then he's pretty good. He's steadily getting rid of obstacles, trying to create conditions to further his own purpose."
All Might's eyes twitched at this realization, gripping his clothing, while he admitted, "When I heard from Tsukauchi-kun that Nomu had multiple quirks, I had a bad feeling…"
"The man who killed my sworn friend and your master, the previous One for All holder, and opened that hole in your stomach… All for One must be starting to move again."
'There's that name again…' Katsuki narrowed his eyes at the TV, already on edge when the word 'Nomu' had been mentioned.
Izuku attempted to hide his face behind his hero's arm again, but Toshinori wasn't budging in his seat, stiff, as he leaned into the cushions.
"For him to have survived after that injury… is a reality I don't want to believe."
Gran Torino regarded his old student's response, before giving him clear instructions, "Toshinori, that child admires you so bravely… You better find a chance to sit down and tell him everything concerning you and One for All."
All Might understood what he needed to do. But he didn't know if he had the strength to carry it through to the end.
"Two days after the Hosu Incident, the hero killer's identity started being exposed from various angles."
'Finally- This will be good to know now so we can capture him much earlier.' Shota leaned forward to hear better, the anticipation exciting him, as this would also help to stop the attack on Tensei, saving him and his career.
"Recently, there've been less people willing to break the law. My buddies are all complaining about not being able to sell anything. It's a pain."
In an underground bar, two men sat in a booth together, casually chatting, with the plump one taking a sip of his drink, while the slender gentleman stroked his gun.
"'Cause it's a serious crime to develop or sell support items and costumes without a license…"
"Aizawa-kun." Toshinori turned around in his seat as best he could, trying to be discreet, as he grabbed the hero's attention, questioning, "Should the students' be witnessing this…?"
"We don't have much of a choice… but I agree - they shouldn't be watching this."
"Why not?" Denki asked until he was hushed by his two friends.
"I miss the days back before All Might… I was still young back then, too."
"Why did I have to be born when the fucking Symbol of Peace was around…?" Tomura spat under his breath, envious of the two older men on screen.
It was a bit surprising for a few of the students to listen, but from a criminal's perspective, Toshinori would be considered their villain.
"The villains were wild and impulsive, and that turned into enthusiasm the whole country was teeming with. It was a good time."
'It most certainly was not.' Toshinori hated those days, not understanding how anyone could see the good in them.
"But when All Might appeared, everything changed. It's all thanks to the Symbol of Peace. Maybe it's time for me to retire."
After lighting his cigarette with a flame from his gun, the other man smirked, intrigued by his friend's words, "About that. Listen to this. Just between you and me, I know of a way to make some cash. I'm only telling you because I know you guys have quality goods. Have you seen this video?"
"Huh? What's this?" the rounder man eyed the phone in his hand.
"It's a video of the 'hero killer'. He's the man of the hour right now."
Hitting play on the screen, the video began to play the villain's life story.
"Hero Killer: Stain. Real name: Akaguro Chizome."
'Dammit- I should have been more prepared…!' Shota freaked out, hoping to keep that name to his memory, until he remembered the boy who carried his notebook around, calling, "Midoriya, hand me your notebook. Hurry."
Handing the book and a pencil over to Toshinori, he placed it in his outstretched hand, with Shota quickly writing this down on a new page. And any other information that might help track down Chizome.
"-deep impression on him, and he set his sights on becoming a hero."
"The hero killer wanted to become… a hero…?" Denki didn't believe that was possible, since all villains and criminals ever did was try and kill heroes. Then again, if he thought a hero could become a villain, why couldn't it be the other way around, too?
"-but was disappointed in the fundamentally depraved view of heroes taught by the education system. He dropped out in the summer of his first year. Until the end of his teenage years, he called for a return to the old idea of heroes, making speeches on the street until he realized resignedly that words had no power. For the next ten years, in order to fulfill his 'duty', he studied and trained in killing techniques on his own. During this time, his parents passed away, and that affair was considered non-criminal."
"Villains have parents, too…" Mina should have realized this sooner, but she had never thought about it before. Spotting Tomura in the corner of her eye, she wondered if his parents were still alive, wondering where he was, or if they knew, and condemned him.
"Heroes should not seek compensation. The title of 'hero' must only be granted to those who epitomize self-sacrifice."
'No fucking wonder the hero killer let Deku live…' Katsuki clamped his hands together, sweating profusely.
"The present day heroes are fakes who are all talk. He wanted society to realize this through his purges one after another."
'Someone must be dyed in blood…'
"Shit, not this again…!" Rikido's fists were shaking, while Koji covered his eyes, as the episode continued to show the villain's final words before arrest.
"-what it means to be a hero. Come! Try and get me, you fakes…! The only one I'll let kill me… is the true hero…! ALL MIGHT!"
The video ended, and while the other man couldn't believe his eyes, the one holding the phone grinned, as he stated, "This keeps getting uploaded and taken down online, like a game of cat and mouse. Both sides have realized - Especially the last part… This guy's way of life is infectious."
"Not really, kero."
"Yeah… I mean, killing heroes? To prove a point…?"
"He's not talking about people like us. It's villains like them that want to leave an impact." Shoto corrected the two girls, looking back to the screen to listen more, until he widened his eyes at the explosion of blood on a wall.
The blonde school girl had blood stained on her lips, blushing with glee at the dead body before her.
"Not that many people have noticed yet, but the evil that was scattered, hiding deep and quiet in places…"
The silhouetted beast in the forest rose to his feet, at the height of the trees surrounding him, his gaze glowing red.
"...where no one can see them…"
A purple haze engulfed a boy wearing a deep green military grade uniform, releasing his fumes.
"...has now been hit by a single fever."
Sleeking his magenta hair back, a man with a lizard quirk wore apparel to resemble the hero killer.
"To go to the organization the Hero Killer. Stain is part of."
Stalking through the back alleyways, he had his hands shoved deep in his pockets, with staples digging into his burnt skin, smirking.
"They have started heading to the League of Villains…"
"Not one of them is joining my League if they're all going to be stupid loyal hound dogs to that fucking Hero Killer!"
"God, I hope not…"
Blinking at his immediate rejection, Tsuyu pointed out with curiosity, "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted the big one of the ones that were shown, kero?"
"TSUYU-CHAN-"
"Fucking sure, but if he's a hero killer worship like the rest of 'em, he won't stand a chance against me once I get my hands on him…!" Tomura clenched his fists together tightly, as if imagining himself strangling the villains shown, despite needing to use his fingers to kill them.
"What about that one girl, though? She looked like she really knows how to kill someone, and make it look like it was an accident…"
"Kaminari, are you trying to help the enemy? Do you not think. About what you want to say first? Or is there not a thought behind that fucking head of yours?"
"The second one." Katsuki concluded before giving him a chance to defend himself, with Denki glaring at him.
Trembling in her place, while Momo gently held her hand, Kyoka breathed in, before she went on to say quietly, "One villain is more than enough, and I think we can all agree that we wouldn't want another here along with him…!"
"I would fear that Shigaraki would find a way to killthem…"
"Actually, do you guys think there might be other villains like Shigaraki who might enter the theater?" Hitoshi wondered since the focus of the episode had shifted, looking more into the villain side of society.
"Just for my own sanity, I'm going to say that Shigaraki better be the only villain to come into this theater… Too many of our secrets are being spilled right now…!" Mina squirmed in her seat, inching closer toward the purplenet, until she remembered personal space.
"But what about the number of couches? Shouldn't that be an indication that more will come?" Hitoshi wasn't too scared if more criminals came since there was the invisible boundary, but apparently his question only brought fear into the three girls.
Closing the notebook after he read over the information he had written, Shota crouched behind the couch in front of him, addressing the boy, "Midoriya, thank you for allowing me to borrow this. I have a feeling you might need it soon."
"Oh, thank you…" Izuku's tone lacked his usual spark.
Shota understood there might be nothing he could do to help the young boy, but he wanted to be there for him. Maybe it was also a selfish part of himself, but he hoped he had the right words to tell him. Words he wanted to hear in his own time of grief.
As the song was coming to a close, humming along with the music, Eijiro murmured under his breath, "I would kind of like to live a fantasy life…"
"Would you like to continue to the next episode?"