Chapter 31: The Vampire's Wrath/First Battle's End
Himiko watches helplessly as the Noumu charges her brother. Time almost seems to slow to a crawl. Izuku realizing the danger he's in but he can't move fast enough. Uraraka shoving him, trying to get him out of the way. The Noumu barreling down on him, dragging its knuckles against his chest. Izuku flying back like a rag doll in a hurricane. She sees it all in horrifying detail.
"Hi, I'm Midoriya Izuku! It looks like you may be living with me for a bit!"
No.
"I'm Quirkless. I'll never judge you for your Quirk."
No.
(Her heart beats harder in her chest)
"Wow! Elongated canines on the top and bottom! Like a cat! You have such a cool Quirk, Himiko!"
No, no, no.
"Give the word, and you'll officially be part of the family."
No, no, no, no, no!
(She can't breathe)
"You're going to be the best hero, Himiko!"
No! No! No!
(She can't breathe she can't breathe she can't breathe she can't breathe she can't—)
Something deep inside Himiko pulls taut. Too taut. It snaps. Everything burns. Her skull hurts. Her heart aches. She tries to take a step forward towards the thing that dared hurt Izuku, but her legs spasm and give out. Her body feels wrong somehow, waves of incorrect wash over her.
Use your Quirk.
She clutches her chest, gasping. She feels the air going in and out, why can't she breathe? Why isn't it getting in her lungs?
Use your Quirk use your Quirk use your Quirk use your Quirk.
She fumbles for the case in her pocket. She doesn't know what she's doing but she needs to do it.
"Get away from him," she mutters. She fiddles with the case in her pocket, pulling out a capsule. She knows from muscle memory it's Inazuma's. Himiko places the capsule between her teeth and bites. The blood flows down her throat. Her Quirk reacts instinctively. It feels different to how it used to, but the gray slime comes out all the same. It wraps around her, molding into a perfect copy of her friend and classmate.
"I said," she yells in Inazuma's voice, "Get away from him!" She throws her hand in front of her.
The air buzzes, then a loud cracking echoes through the entire forest as a bolt of lightning sparks from her outstretched hand to the monster's spine.
The Noumu screams a horrible, pained screech. It convulses, staggering. Sparks flicker across its skin, the smell of ozone thick in the air. She just used Inazuma's Quirk? She just used Inazuma's Quirk.
Himiko snarls.
She just used Inazuma's Quirk!
Himiko screams, running towards the Noumu, firing off bolt after bolt of lightning into the monster. Every time it tries to recover, she fries it again, taking sick pleasure in the pain it expresses as she burns its nerves over and over.
"The hell? The rogue just changed characters! That's cheating!" Tomura screams, but Himiko can't even process the words.
Himiko bites into another capsule, remaking herself into Utsuwa. The Noumu rushes towards her only to impale itself on eight spears, jutting out in front of Himiko. As the spears fade, she hurtles daggers and swords into the beast's flesh. Every tear heals in moments, but she doesn't care.
All Quirks have a limit.
She's going to kill this thing.
She summons a sword into her hand and swings it, cleanly slicing off the Noumu's arm. It screams, falling to its knees. As the flesh around the missing limb grows and twists into a replacement, she swings again. This time she takes the leg.
As it writhes on the ground, remaking its lost limbs, Himiko swallows another capsule. Heakiru. She forms the long hair into an arm and grabs the thing's exposed brain, tearing chunks of it out. It collapses on the ground, twitching.
And still, the Noumu regenerates.
Himiko keeps switching through her classmates, using as many Quirks as she can against the behemoth.
Wani. Tears into its flesh with claws and teeth. She bites down heard into its shoulder. Her teeth hit bone. She rends pieces of flesh off of its torso, throwing them aside and plunging claws into the regrowing muscle.
Fumen. She blasts sonic waves against the Noumu. It shrieks as blood trickles from its ears. She forces herself to keep up the waves. The loose ground under the monster crumbles little by little, and the Noumu itself barely keeps standing.
Shiazu. Her firebolts burn against its skin until it sizzles. The scorched flesh marks the monster like patchwork. The Noumu tears the cauterized flesh off its body and regrows the roasted areas. Himiko shoots a burst of flame straight into its eyes. The monster howls, clutching its face as it stumbles past her.
Hari. He was right. Now that she can feel it properly, the energy isn't subtle. She pulls the needle and thread out of the air and moves. Gracefully dancing around the Noumu, she plunges the indestructible needle through its limbs and chest until the monster is wrapped in invincible string. The thread pierces through its skin dozens of times over, leaving the Noumu bundled in a bizarre pose.
Himiko staggers back, breath haggard, and falls. The slime dissolves, leaving her in her normal form with her tattered uniform.
"It can't break the string," she hears Tomura say. She knows he's scratching his neck again. "In that case, just tear yourself out!"
The Noumu flexes, ripping deep gouges in its flesh as it tears the thread out through its body. Himiko groans. What does it take to stop this thing?
And then Uraraka runs out of the foliage, pressing her hand into the Noumu before it can finish freeing itself.
"Kendo! Now!" Uraraka yells. The girl from 1-B appears, her hands expanding rapidly until they're larger than her torso. She smashes a fist into the free floating Noumu.
The beast flies. It's massive bulk blurs as it speeds away over the trees, over the wall, into the horizon.
"No! No! My Noumu! You brats weren't supposed to beat it! It was supposed to kill All Might!" Tomura scratches at his neck.
A deep, rhythmic rumbling echoes out of the thick of the forest. As the sound approaches, Himiko finally recognizes it.
Explosions?
"Don't forget about me, asshole!" The boy from the other day—Bakugou? –yells, bursting out of the forest, using his Quirk to propel himself, tackling Kurogiri.
"Bakugou?" the fog man says and Tomura bellows "Traitor!"
"Yeah, what did you think was gonna happen when you tried to recruit someone who wants in the Hero Course? Move and I blow you to hell!" Tomura scratches harder.
"And you took out my escape route too. I need that back."
"Huh?" Bakugou says. Himiko doesn't know how to feel about his presence after seeing him and Izuku talk. "I see you cradling that hand. But your Noumuis nowhere around! You think your injured ass can take me without your pet?"
"What're you talking about, traitor," Tomura snarls, sprinting towards where Bakugou has Kurogiri pinned. "I still have one good hand!"
Five minutes. They're still five minutes away. Shouta can't keep his leg from bouncing nervously in his seat in the transport. He told his class during the Quirk Apprehension Test that in fifteen minutes hundreds of civilians could die.
And here he is, too far away to help them. Too late. Again.
Hizashi places a comforting hand on his knee and smiles at him. But Shouta's known him long enough to see the strain.
The Third Years have their Provisional Hero Licenses. They've had two years of Work Study, three of Internships. They can probably handle themselves. But they shouldn't have to. Not at UA. This was supposed to be a safe place to learn.
And now those kids are fighting for their lives.
And it's not just Third Years.
Two of his students were kidnapped while he was supposed to be watching them! And Shouta knows Izuku. He knows that he could escape using Uraraka's Quirk, or his own parkour skills. But he won't. Because if there's a chance he could save someone, he'll take it. He's said as much during their training sessions.
Especially with his sister in there with him. Shouta doesn't doubt that death itself could stop Midoriya from being there for the poor girl. He prays he doesn't have to be proven right.
He knows Midoriya will be in the thick of the action. He can only hope Uraraka has the sense to get herself to safety.
(He already knows the answer)
Bakugou throws himself back, exploding off his own rapidly disintegrating shirt. He's been forced to abandon Kurogiri to avoid a direct hit from Tomura's Quirk. With the warper free, the two of them quickly prove a deadly combination.
Tomura shoves his arm through another small portal and Himiko throws herself down, avoiding the similarly sized portal by her. No hand emerges. Another feint! Kurogiri keeps opening decoy portals so they can't predict who he's targeting.
It's infuriating.
And Himiko's body is barely responding.
Whatever she did, she pushed her limits too far. She's running purely on adrenaline and spite right now. And she's long overdue for the adrenaline crash.
Kendo and Bakugou charge Kurogiri. Dozens of small portals open around them. The two weave their way through, Bakugou dropping low to avoid a swipe from Tomura's arm. Tomura's hand retracts suddenly so he can swipe at Togata, forcing him back.
Himiko feels something on her back. She forces herself to look over. It's Uraraka. Himiko floats gently off the ground.
"We're in the way here," Uraraka says. "You can barely move, and I don't have a way to avoid his Quirk." Himiko hums in agreement, putting up no fight as Uraraka carries her weightless form out of the immediate battlefield.
"Where's Izuku?" she mumbles.
Katsuki is getting really sick of this fucker.
He propels himself forward with an explosion, swiping a blast directly at fog bastard's head. The fog billows, but the villain doesn't appear to react.
"My, how perilous. How prestigious UA's golden eggs must be for one with such strength to be relegated to General Education."
"Shut up!" Katsuki spins around, aiming a kick at where the villain's head should be. His leg slams into the villain's metal brace and fog bastard reels. Ponytail slams her shoulder into the villain from behind, staggering him.
"Isn't it weird?" Bakugou grins ferally. "I can pin you, Ponytail can smack you around, but my blasts don't have any effect. But you said just now they were dangerous. You've got a real body in there somewhere; I just have to find it!"
Katsuki pulls his arms back, preparing the strongest explosion he can manage. He doesn't have the costume he wants, but he's been fighting in this forest for a while. He's built up sweat along his arm naturally. Much weaker than he'd like, but strong enough. He'll finish the bastard once and for all.
"Eat this, fucker!" Katsuki thrusts both his hands forward. The air distorts a moment before the blast. And Katsuki sees it, just for a nanosecond. A portal opening in front of his hands.
Shit.
Crushing force slams into his spine. Katsuki screams. His sweat ignites, popping across his entire body. He's flung forward, his skin burning. He smacks against the ground and rolls, each time his exposed skin touches the dirt his body lights in new agony.
He rolls to a stop, twitching involuntarily. Forcing his eyes open, he sees bright red sneakers walking towards him.
Deku…? No… it's the hand fucker.
"Ahh… I just can't understand you…" Hand Man says, crouching down to be at level with Katsuki's prone body. "Don't you like winning? Haven't you too been crushed by society? Told how to act and behave? Don't you want to use your Quirk whenever you want, for whatever you want? Don't you want to be the strongest? Have everyone walking by on the street see you and know fear? Aren't you also shackled by the expectations of Heroes? I don't understand… why didn't you join us?"
"Idiots like you never know when to shut up… you just keep rambling," Katsuki stops to cough haggardly. "It's pointless. See… I've been won over… by the way All Might looks… when he wins. Talk all you want… you can't change my mind." Katsuki wheezes. "Only thing that kept me from kicking your pasty ass these last few days… is you had your whole gang of misfit murderers with you. Knew if I waited long enough, you'd leave yourself open."
Hand Man scratches silently at his neck for a minute, unperturbed any time Katsuki starts wheezing again.
"So that's how it is… All Might again… why is it always about him, huh? That's why we're gonna kill him." The scratching abruptly stops. "But I don't need you to do that." Hand Man reaches out with his uninjured hand towards a helpless Katsuki.
Move! Move, goddammit! Move!
Ponytail is suddenly there, grappling Hand Man's arm. Katsuki can tell from her movements: she's aiming to shatter bone. Brutal. Effective.
Black smoke twirls around her arm. Katsuki's eyes widen. What happens if he closes a portal while something's in 'em?
"Ponytail, move!" he barks. She blinks, seeing the danger and shoves Hands off her. She stumbles back before she can lose the arm.
Katsuki forces himself to stand again.
He's getting really sick of this fucker.
Himiko drags herself to her feet, using the tree trunk as a support. Uraraka's too busy watching the fight to notice. She hobbles forward, her right leg sore from her last fall. It's a step over her other leg. At least she can feel it. But that doesn't matter right now. In this moment, Himiko only cares about one thing.
Izuku.
At times like these, Mirio wishes he'd trained more with Sir. He hasn't mastered that new trick yet, where he adjusts which part of his arm is intangible mid-swing so he can punch through any defense.
The hand villain swipes at Mirio, striking a tree. The tree crumbles into a fine ashy powder.
It's an ability that would be very useful against this villain. He can't afford a single mistake here. The explosion kid is trying, but that hit to the back took him out of this fight, even if the kid doesn't want to admit it. He's still trying to fight, covered in burns, his back raw.
Midoriya's down too. He hopes he's okay. That thingthat hit him is seriously powerful. It absorbed all of his hits without so much as flinching. Mirio isn't sure he could've beaten it without the other Midoriya pulling out that new trick of hers to give those First Years an opening. He's certain she couldn't do that before. Did she go through a Quirk evolution?
A familiar buzzing sound catches Mirio's ear, and he grins.
Yellow spiraling energy smacks into the hand villain, sending him flying back.
"Hey, Mirio? Why's that guy covered in hands, huh? Think it's a Halloween costume or something?" Nejire says, descending from above. Tamaki, thank God,comes running out of the forest seconds behind her. "Maybe Yuyu knows, but she's still catching up. I forgot how much faster I am in the air again." She pretends to pout. "Or the teachers? Are they coming?"
"A few more minutes!" The red-headed First Year calls out. "They managed to get a text out!"
"They what!" the hand villain yells, pulling himself off the ground. "That bastard's supposed to be jamming the signal!"
"Shigaraki Tomura," the mist villain says, "If I may. You are wounded, we have lost the Noumu, and more Pro Heroes are coming. All Might is not here. We should withdraw."
"Damn," the hand villain—Shigaraki—scratches at his neck. "Don't want to risk a TPK. Round up any of the useful ones you can."
"Of course, sir." A portal opens behind Shigaraki, and he steps back carefully through it, followed by the mist villain.
The portal closes, leaving only empty air. Shigaraki's intense glare lingers long after the man himself vanishes.
Mirio pants, chest heaving, as he looks around. The explosion kid fainted at some point. The other First Years collapse to their knees. From exhaustion, relief, or both, he can't tell. Thirteen is still down; his classmate's field aid seems fine at a glance. They'll need an ambulance though.
"Where're the Midoriyas?" Nejire says. "Oh, Yuyu!" her girlfriend runs out of the woods.
"What happened?" Haya asks.
"They left," Mirio says slowly. "Tamaki, help me with his burns!"
It's only minutes later the teachers and UA staff break open the doors to Ground Omega, rushing in to see the battle already over. Mirio slumps in relief.
"S-sir!" One of the kidnapped First-Years, the brunette, approaches Eraserhead.
"Uraraka, what happened? Are you alright?" Eraserhead drops to be at height with her. Uraraka starts crying, pulling her teacher into a hug. Mirio looks away. He remembers how he was after his first big brush with death. He doesn't mind giving her some privacy.
"I can do this," Tamaki whispers. "You're the best suited to give the report."
"Alright," Mirio nods. He turns to the teachers. "Provisional Hero, Lemillion, reporting on scene. Technically, the events started at 0825 hours, when we noticed classmate Haya Yuyu was not present for homeroom…"
Himiko staggers, breath ragged. She barely avoids tripping on a root. Izuku couldn't have been launched that far, could he? She shakes the thought out of her mind. It's too horrible to consider.
There!
She sees his form lying limp on the forest floor.
"Izuku," she breathes. She rushes to her brother's side, stumbling all the way. "Izuku, please." She falls to her knees beside him. "Please, be okay. You can't leave me. You can't."
Izuku doesn't respond. Himiko sobs, large ugly tears pour down her face. She hugs her brother gingerly. She doesn't want to—to hurt him further.
"Please, please be okay, Izuku. Don't leave me. Please don't leave me." Himiko closes her eyes, but the tears keep streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto Izuku. An eternity she sits there crying alone, or maybe just a few seconds. Then she feels a weight on her back. A familiar weight. She opens her eyes. Izuku has wrapped his arm around her. He's squinting at her, eyes unfocused.
"Himi," he rasps, trying his best to smile. "Not gon' leave you. Can't. Mom an' I promised. Wouldn' abandon you. Can't die yet."
Himiko sobs harder. Her wailing voice carries over the now-silent forest.
"Don' cry, Himi," Izuku exhales. "Can't die yet. Can't die yet. Can't die yet."
They are still there, one crying, the other delirious, promising to survive like a mantra when the teachers find them.
Chapter 32: Hospital Visiting Hours/Aftermath of Assault
The first thing Izuku registers is the pain. It's not sharp or burning, it's a lingering soreness. He's used to this kind of pain. It's what happens every time he wakes up the morning after one of Kacch—Bakugou's bad days. He wonders what it was that set him off this time.
Then Izuku remembers he's not in Aldera anymore. That Aldera was shut down.
He's a UA Student, in the Hero Course.
And then he remembers. The attack! The villains!Himiko! Uraraka! He goes to sit up, but his body fails and he falls back again, groaning. Now a little more aware, he hears a beeping noise to his left. A heartrate monitor? A hospital?
A faint dry chuckling draws him out of his thoughts.
"You really are just like him, aren't you?" someone says. Izuku recognizes the voice, but he can't place it. He cracks his eyes open. Of all the people he expects to see, Sir Nighteye is not one of them. The Hero is sitting in a chair against the wall. Izuku groans faintly.
"I suppose I deserve that," Nighteye says. He sighs. "I'm here because Togata is here. Nothing serious, don't worry. Just exhaustion." Izuku blinks, lowering himself again. He hadn't noticed himself react to news about his friend. "I heard you were here and decided to check up on you. And," Nighteye clears his throat, "and apologize."
Izuku opens his mouth, but only a dry rasp comes out. Nighteye hurriedly pours him a cup of water and helps him drink.
"I…" Nighteye starts. "I've been. Afraid. Of losing All Might for some time. And I was so desperate to have a replacement that I thought— I thought it was my responsibility to find the next Symbol of Peace. And you didn't fit my own idea of what that meant. So I decided that made you unworthy. I discarded you without a thought. And I am sorry." Nighteye runs a hand through his hair. "I didn't care about your strengths, only your shortcomings. I compared you to someone with significantly more training and experience to justify myself. I have no excuse."
Izuku stares at the hero for several seconds.
"You know," Izuku says, voice still hoarse, "not counting family, you are the first adult who's ever apologized for hurting me." Nighteye winces.
"I was aware of the Aldera and MLA investigations, but I was not part of them," Nighteye says. "I didn't know just how terrible what you went through really was until after our—our talk."
"Nedzu ripped you a new one, didn't he?"
"I suspect he's already dug my grave wherever it is he intends on hiding my body." That gets a genuine laugh out of Izuku before he starts coughing.
"How long was I out?"
"You were awake but nonresponsive when the EMT arrived. After Recovery Girl used her Quirk on you, you passed out. That was a few hours ago."
"My injuries?" he asks. Nighteye grimaces.
"Nothing permanent, thankfully," Nighteye pushes the button on the bed controls alerting the staff that Izuku is awake, "but when you were brought in you were in serious condition. Recovery Girl could only do so much with your stamina so low. I don't know the specifics. You're lucky it wasn't worse." Izuku frowns.
"Wasn't luck."
"Hm?"
"Wasn't luck," he repeats. "Uraraka shoved me out of the way. That's why the Noumu only grazed me." Nighteye blinks, clearly pondering.
"I see."
"The others?"
"As I stated, Togata was admitted for mild exhaustion. He's resting now, he should be discharged soon. Most of his classmates made it out with just scratches. Of the other kidnapped students, Kendo and Uraraka both suffered from exhaustion as well. They'll likely be discharged along with Togata."
"And Himiko?" Izuku can't hide the desperate edge to his voice.
"Her Quirk spontaneously evolved. Togata stated in his report it's the only reason there were no fatalities. However, she pushed herself too far. She's currently being treated for Quirk overuse and strain."
Izuku lets himself digest that information. Quirk evolutions are rare. Most Quirks develop as you grow older and as you train with them. But, rarely, when someone is pushed to their absolute limit, their Quirk drastically changes, becoming far more powerful. There are theories comparing it to the Hysterical Strength phenomenon, although Quirk evolutions permanently alter the Quirk's nature in some way.
"There was the matter of that other First Year, but according to Togata he appeared after you… after you were injured."
"Other first year?"
"Yes. Apparently, he knew the villains somehow. He attempted to fight the warper, but one of his attacks was redirected back at him. The two of you were the most seriously injured, but he's expected to recover as well."
Before Izuku can ask anything else, a nurse comes in, shooing Nighteye out. The Hero quickly says his goodbyes on his way out.
Nedzu's teacup trembles in his paws. Six of hisstudents had been abducted on their way to school. Someone dared hurt his students! And, judging from Togata's summation of the event, this so-called League of Villains had attempted to outright recruitBakugou. He wonders idly if even the Meta Liberation Army had made him so furious.
He sets his teacup down before he drops it.
He's been watching Bakugou; of course he has. The boy has an undeniably powerful Quirk and comes from the Aldera district. Even if Aizawa hadn't explicitly warned him all those months ago that the Aldera staff groomed him, Nedzu would've known.
But Bakugou is a child raised in a system that encouraged his cruel behavior. Nedzu would love nothing more than to bring karmic punishment upon Bakugou for what he's done to Midoriya, the possibility of the young man's improvement is far more enticing.
True, the boy displayed no signs of self-reflection during the entrance exam when he abandoned his teammates to claim as many points as possible, but Nedzu has three years with him.
When he failed to arrive to class, Nedzu worried something could be wrong. When his parents reported him missing, he feared the worst.
But not even he could've predicted a villain apparently learned Bakugou's address and took him from his room. At least, that's the logical assumption from Togata's report and description of the villains involved.
An enemy force recruiting Meta Liberation Army sympathizers, in possession of engineered bio-weapon soldiers, with a warper. Nedzu could not imagine a more dangerous combination. Well, there was one, but he's six years dead now.
Nedzu's only consolation in this disaster is that the doctors assured him there would be no lasting injuries.
Once the doctors and nurses finish looking Izuku over, they finally let in his visitors. His mom hurries in first, of course.
"Izuku, oh Sunshine," she whispers, running a hand through his hair. "When Nedzu called and said you and your sister never arrived, I was so worried!"
"I know mom, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. You didn't ask to be kidnapped. This wasn't your fault."
"How's Himi?"
"She's still resting," mom sighs, "The doctors say she woke up for a few minutes once or twice and asked for you, but she passed out again before they could tell her anything."
"Do you know what happened? I heard her Quirk evolved."
"I think it best we hear it from her. But she's expected to make a full recovery soon."
Izuku falls back into his bed and groans.
"I missed a whole day of school!" he says. Mom sputters a laugh.
"You were abducted by villains, held hostage, and nearly died, and that's what you're worried about?" She ruffles Izuku's hair. "Please don't scare me like this again."
"I won't," Izuku promises, and despite the dangers of his chosen career path, he means it. "I uh, I heard someone else was badly hurt." Mom looks suddenly pained. "Mom? Do you know something?" She sighs.
"It was Katsuki."
Izuku's mind halts.
"What? How?" he says. Mom sighs again.
"I don't know," she says. "He's not awake yet. The doctors assured Mitsuki that he would make a full recovery, but until he wakes up we don't know what he was doing there."
The door opens again, and Uraraka slips into the room. Her hair is frazzled, and her muscles are loose. Izuku manages to smile at her, which she returns. His mother follows his gaze to see her.
"Hello, Mrs. Midoriya," Uraraka says.
"Hello, dear. You must be Uraraka." His friend nods, then turns to Izuku.
"This is the second time you've saved my life," she says.
"You can thank Himiko," Izuku says. "The knife was hers. Besides," he smiles, "you saved me from the earth villain and the Noumu. Thank you, Uraraka."
"Ochaco."
"Huh?" Izuku blinks.
"Call me Ochaco. If being held hostage together isn't a good enough reason to use my first name, I don't know what is."
"Call me Izuku, then," he says. Mom smiles softly. "Have you heard anything from our classmates?"
"School was called early, but the teachers haven't said anything about what they'll do going forward yet. I think Mr. Aizawa wanted to wait for you to wake up."
"Ah, I received an email from Nedzu," mom says. "You have tomorrow off, as well as Monday and Tuesday while the staff rework security."
"And there's no school on Sundays," Izuku says.
"Long weekend!" Uraraka—Ochaco—cheers.
"And I suggest you use your extra time wisely," Mr. Aizawa drawls from the doorway as he steps into the room. Ochaco jumps, which gets a chuckle from mom. "Hello again, Mrs. Midoriya. I'm your son's homeroom teacher."
Behind Mr. Aizawa walks in a plain-looking man holding a hat to his chest.
"Hello, I'm Detective Tsukauchi," the main introduces himself, "Now that you're awake, do you mind if I get your statement about today's events? Ah, yours too, Uraraka."
"Should I leave?" mom says. Izuku reaches out and grabs her hand. She looks from the detective to Izuku and nods in understanding.
"First, there's something I need to say," Mr. Aizawa says, bowing deeply towards the small group. "Uraraka, Midoriya, Mrs. Midoriya. On behalf of UA, I apologize for allowing this to happen to you. You placed your trust in us as an institution to keep you safe, and we failed."
"Please, raise your head Mr. Aizawa," Mrs. Midoriya says. "Both of my children returned to me in one piece. I cannot blame you when you all did as much as you could." Mr. Aizawa shakes his head.
"We at UA grew complacent. We believed ourselves untouchable. And six students suffered from our arrogance. I sincerely apologize."
"Nedzu has already told me he's reworking the security at UA. I've been assured this will not happen again. So there is nothing to forgive."
Aizawa hums, straightening out again. He moves back to one of the chairs in the room and sits down. The detective takes a step closer, removing a recording device from his pocket and fiddling with it.
"Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa, taking the statement of Midoriya Izuku and Uraraka Ochaco. Can you two tell me what happened starting from when you left for school this morning?" Ochaco fidgets in place, her eyes flicking to Izuku's chest before she wrenches them away.
"I…" she starts "I live alone in a small, rented apartment near UA," she says. "My parents live pretty far away, so it's easier if I live nearby. I left around 7:20 this morning. As I got close to UA, the ground fell out under me, and I landed in a bar…"
Ochaco recounts her morning to the detective. Izuku interjects occasionally, mainly to provide his own perspective, but he adds certain observations she missed. Ochaco hadn't noticed the lack of windows in the bar, among other small details.
Recounting the events of the day felt like it took weeks but in reality was no longer than an hour. To his side, his mom tried her best to maintain her composure as Izuku and Ochaco spoke about their abduction, the bar, Tomura's threats, being held at Quirk/knifepoint, the forest, fighting villains, texting Eraserhead, and the final battle in the clearing. Finally, the two exhausted teens finished their stories.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the detective says, swallowing. He smiles. "You both will be wonderful heroes someday." The detective puts his hat back and strides out the door. A silence hangs over the room until their teacher speaks.
"'Someday,'" says Mr. Aizawa. "Not today. Not yet. You both are First Years. We are days into the school year. You both had a chance to escape and did not take it. Why?" Izuku and Ochaco squirm.
"You were too far way," Izuku says quietly. "We heard the Noumu, and you were still a lifetime away. We had to do something. Besides, even if we made it out of Ground Omega, they had a warper. He could've just warped us back for all we knew." Mr. Aizawa sighs.
"I've seen your Quirk analysis before, Midoriya. I know you already have theories about the limitations of that warp Quirk. Can you honestly tell me you had no way of escaping it?"
"…I'd have to break line of sight," Izuku says, breaking eye contact. "I don't think there's enough cover outside Ground Omega to pull that off."
"You know why I expel students, right?"
"It's because you want them to understand that it's not a game, right? Take Heroics seriously?" Izuku says.
"It's because I don't want students to die," Mr. Aizawa says. "And you both came far too close for my liking." Izuku clutches his sheets so hard, his knuckles are the same shade of white. He keeps his head bowed. He doesn't want Mr. Aizawa to see the tears forming in them, or his trembling lower lip. "So, you two had better prove to me in class that you won't do something that stupid again."
"Yes, sir," Ochaco says softly. Mr. Aizawa takes his leave as well, stopping briefly at the door to shoot a single glance over his shoulder at the chastised children.
"It seems you have more guests, Problem Children." He opens the door wider and slips past the small crowd pushing their way into the room. Izuku and Ochaco blink, his mom standing in surprise, as most of Class 1-A push their way into the room calling their names.
"Hope you aren't sick of us yet, captain," Shinsou drawls.
Tsuyu hurries forward, tears forming in her eyes, and pulls Izuku and Ochaco into a tight hug.
"We didn't know what happened, kero," she says. "Mr. Aizawa just left and we got dismissed and then we were told there was a villain attack and, kero, kero," she squeezes them both. "We could've lost both of you and we wouldn't have known anything was wrong for hours, kero." She loosens her grip on them, wiping the tears from her face, hiccupping and ribbiting.
"I guess we should've been prepared for this," Yaoyorozu says. "But to hear our classmates were in such danger so soon… I think it took us all by surprise."
"Oh dear," mom places a gentle hand on Tsuyu's shoulder, "They didn't say anything to you?"
"Ma'am!" Iida says, moving to the front of the group, the rest spreading out to avoid blocking each other. "Mr. Aizawa received a message and immediately moved to alert Principal Nedzu of the danger! I believe he and the rest of the staff were preoccupied from then on."
"Knowing Mr. Aizawa, he probably thought telling you was a waste of precious seconds," Izuku says sheepishly.
"Yeah, that sounds like him," says Joyato.
"So you two are gonna be fine?" Jiro says, twirling one of her jacks. She bites the corners of her mouth.
"I've been discharged already," says Ochaco. "I think it's just Izuku, Himiko, and that other boy still being treated."
"Izuku, huh?" Ashido says, leaning forward and waggling her eyebrows.
"Of course," says Izuku, as deadpan as possible. He reaches an arm around Ochaco. "We've bonded over our shared trauma. Ne'er shall we be the same again." Shinso snorts.
"Hey Dark Shadow," Joyato says, "Wanna go have a near death experience?" The shadowy bird pops out of Tokoyami without hesitation.
"Oh boy, do I!"
"At least wait until the Midoriyas are out of the hospital," Shinsou says, ignoring Tokoyami's protests. "Gotta leave room for you." While Iida chops his arms and sputters about appropriate behavior in a hospital environment, the door to the room opens again. From where he is on the bed, Izuku can't see the door through all his classmates.
"Ah, is this the Midoriya room?" a voice asks. It's a higher, vaguely familiar voice.
"Hello?" Izuku calls out. His classmates shuffle around to make room for the newcomer.
"Izuku!" Melissa Shield calls, moving through the crowd. "They wouldn't tell me anything! Are you okay?"
"Melissa? I thought you were on I-Island?"
"I transferred! I'm doing my last year of high school at UA's Support Course. But enough about me! You were in a villain attack!"
"I'm fine," Izuku assures her. "Recovery Girl's gonna swing by tomorrow morning and then I'll be free to go." Melissa sags in relief.
"So, uh," Shinsou rubs the back of his neck. "Who're you?" Melissa blinks, seemingly noticing Izuku's classmates for the first time despite having to navigate them only seconds ago.
"Pleasure to meet you all! I'm Melissa Shield. I'm a Third Year in the Support Course."
"Oh, are you by chance related to David Shield?" Yaoyorozu asks. Melissa nods.
"That's my Papa!"
"You were the friend who made Midoriya's support gear, weren't you, kero?" Tsuyu says. "Mr. Aizawa said a Third-Year made his costume, too. Was that also you?"
"I didn't expect them to agree and let me make it," Melissa admits. "But I want to support Izuku as much as possible. It means a lot to me to see a Quirkless Pro Hero."
"And you're both already on first name basis?" Kaminari says.
"I'm American," Melissa deadpans. Kaminari shrugs.
"It's not like blonde hair is rare here anymore."
Eventually a passing nurse chases everyone out. They had far exceeded the room occupancy limit. Melissa promises to swing by and see Himiko in the morning. As Ochaco moves to leave, mom stops her.
"You mentioned earlier you're living by yourself right now," she says. "I'm not letting you spend tonight alone. Not after what you went through."
"I—I wouldn't want to intrude—"
"Nonsense!" mom says. "I'm used to my two hellions running amok. It's going to be quiet in there with just me." Ochaco sputters but can't seem to think of a rebuttal as mom all but drags her away.
Izuku leans back in the bed and tries to sleep. He needs his rest.
When Shouta saw the text from Nedzu, he'd been surprised. He's still expecting a War Meeting. Six of his students were kidnapped. Calling a Staff Meeting is an underreaction, if anything.
He slips into his chair at the conference table. As always, he is the last to arrive, though at least this time he has an excuse.
"Ah, Aizawa! How are our students?" the Rat asks.
"About as well as can be expected," he grunts. "I'm sure Recovery Girl gave you the details already, but for the benefit of everyone else: none of the Third-Years suffered substantial harm. Midoriya Himiko is being treated for Quirk overuse and monitored to see if her Quirk evolution will result in any significant changes. As for the other students who were taken, Haya Yuyu is a bit shaken, but unharmed. Uraraka Ochaco and Kendo Itsuka both needed rest but have already been discharged. The only two serious injuries are Bakugou Katsuki, whose entire body was burned by his own Quirk being used against him, and Midoriya Izuku, who had several ribs cracked by the Noumu, as well as severe bruising on most of his body. Thanks to Recovery Girl and the hospital staff, both are expected to make full recoveries. There may be scarring on Bakugou's back, but we won't know for sure until tomorrow."
"Of the villains that attacked Ground Omega, the police apprehended a total of 134. Of these, 72 were various street thugs out for a quick score. The remaining 62 villains appear to be Meta Liberation Army sympathizers. We also know that several of the stronger villains escaped with the help of the warper, Kurogiri. Speaking of him, he and their leader, Shigaraki Tomura escaped as well. We are currently attempting to learn more about the villains still at large."
"Thank you, Aizawa." Nedzu says. "Our next order of business is using the next few days to increase our security. I've done some research into teleportation and portal Quirk theory. I believe I know how we can secure the campus against such a threat. Maijima, I trust you will assist me?"
"Of course," Maijima says without hesitation.
"I was kinda expecting a War Meeting, to be honest," Hizashi says.
"Oh, make no mistake, Yamada," the Rat says. "I have every intention of finding this League of Villains and performing an unpleasantness." Aizawa swallows. He's heard Nedzu refer to his activities using that specific phrasing only once before. It was the head scientist who had experimented on him back in the day. They never found all of his body. What they did find had been left out deliberately. Inside the lab that held Nedzu. A message sent and received. No one could prove it was Nedzu, but everyone knew. Nedzu continues, dragging Aizawa out of the memory.
"But that comes later. We must focus on ensuring the safety of our students first. One student taken from his room. Five students taken on their way here. It's clear this League of Villains intends on targeting students while they're vulnerable."
"We can't ask Heroes to patrol the areas around our students," Kan says thoughtfully. "The kids are too spread out; there would always be gaps."
"I doubt many Heroes would like being told who they had to prioritize either," Kayama says.
"Indeed!" the Rat says. "So, I have proposed an alternative solution. How do you feel about UA becoming a boarding school?"
Chapter 33: The Home Visits/The Next Steps
Izuku takes a deep breath, focusing on his five senses to ground himself.
"Sunshine, you don't have to do this," his mother says. Izuku swallows.
"I know," he says. He was discharged less than half an hour ago. But there is someone he wants to see before he leaves.
He opens the door.
The boy who was once his best friend lies on a hospital bed covered in bandages. Bakugou moves his head slightly to see the door.
"Deku," he says, but there's none of the malice Izuku is used to. Just confusion. Izuku walks slowly to the middle of the room, keeping his eyes on Bakugou the whole time. "Never thought you'd come."
"Just because we haven't been friends in a decade doesn't mean I wasn't worried."
"I know. That's the problem. You shouldn't have been." Bakugou looks away. "You were right, you know? About me being some thug. That's why they wanted me." Izuku stays quiet. He knows Bakugou well. There's more he wants to say and Izuku isn't about to interrupt.
"That fog bastard opened a portal to my bedroom," Bakugou says. Izuku pales. "Yeah. He knew everything about me, including our history. Offered me revenge against you." Bakugou laughs. It's a harsh, broken laugh. "Can you believe it? I was always going to be the Best, the next Number One Hero, and the villains swing by my house asking for help killing All Might." He raises his head to meet Izuku's gaze. "And I couldn't do a damn thing about it. Not without risking pops and the hag."
"So that's why they took me? To offer me to you?"
"I don't think those dumbasses even know who you are. They sure as hell didn't act like they knew what you look like. You just had shit luck like usual."
"I think you had the worse luck of the two of us."
"Probably," Bakugou admits, to Izuku's surprise. "I had to hang out with them for more than a whole day. Didn't even have anything to do. Couldn't say anything either. Not that it fucking mattered. That portal bastard is how we got anywhere. Couldn't tell you where we were if I tried." Bakugou huffs. "Not that I brought my phone with me. Can you imagine that conversation? 'Sure, I'll join your secret murder brigade. Just let me grab my GPS, long-range communications, and recording device before we leave.' That would've gone well."
"They had a jammer wherever it was they took us," Izuku says. Bakugou clicks his tongue.
"So it didn't even matter. Should've figured as much."
"I'm just glad you're alright.
"What, you thought those weaklings could hurt me? Don't insult me." Bakugou snorts, the corners of his lips turning. "Just got some fucking sweet battle scars showing just how strong I am."
"Guess I'll see you around UA then," Izuku says, turning to leave.
"Wait," Bakugou says. He doesn't shout, but there's an intensity to it. Izuku stops. "Do you have scars?"
"I haven't looked under the bandages yet, but the doctors told me that I probably didn't get any," Izuku says. Bakugou shakes his head.
"No, I meant—" Bakugou clenches his jaw. "Did I ever give you scars?" Izuku blinks. Never in a million years did he expect to hear that. Izuku stands there debating responses for a while.
"Not physically," he settles on. Bakugou hums and turns away in a clear dismissal. Izuku isn't particularly eager to stick around himself. He slips out into the hall and rejoins his mother. They've got to go meet up with Himiko and Melissa.
Nedzu is thankful they chose to remodel the on-school dorms the previous year. The revisions lasted months, but resulted in Himiko's adoption, and now meant constructing new dorms would take mere days. Quite the net gain, in Nedzu's not-so humble opinion.
From his office, Nedzu watches each building rise from its foundation. Ishiyama, alongside the same contractors who helped with the previous remodeling, are already nearly finished with the entire set of First-Year dorms. Seeing such an obvious sign of progress reassures him. Especially compared to his current project. Progress on designing is frequently invisible. Repeating calculations and measurements drain even someone with Nedzu's intelligence after enough time.
Luckily, with Maijima's assistance, the new security systems are coming along just as well as the new dorms. Researching spacial manipulation Quirks turned out to be a fascinating rabbit hole for Nedzu to peruse. In better circumstances, he would've anticipated a lively discussion with Midoriya about it. As it turns out, warping and teleportation Quirks cannot pass through radioactive or electromagnetic materials. He and Maijima are currently devising a specialized structure at the center of campus that will produce an electromagnetic dome around the campus. It won't interfere with any possible students' teleportation Quirks on campus, but the barrier will prevent teleporting to or from the school.
Making UA a mandatory boarding school has other benefits Nedzu is excited to explore. He knows several students— including Uraraka, who suffered enough as it is—struggle with finances. Housing them on campus will drastically reduce housing and food expenses for such students. He has his concerns about the lives of certain other students outside campus as well. Keeping everyone here is an elegant solution, solving multiple problems.
Including the problem Nedzu dreads addressing.
Bakugou Katsuki. Taken from his room. Once he woke in the hospital, he confirmed the villains possessed intimate knowledge of him and his past.
The League of Villains. They knew exactly where All Might was supposed to be. Where he would've been had he not been called away at the last minute. The League had been prepared.
(Yagi clearly still blames himself, even though he had no way to predict the attack, nor could he shirk his responsibilities elsewhere.)
Somehow, the League of Villains had acquired a substantial wealth of knowledge regarding UA's functions, staff, and students. Nedzu doesn't want to acknowledge the possibility, but no matter how much he loathes it, it is very real.
There could be a traitor in their midst.
He can rule out the staff. Descriptions of Shigaraki's Quirk indicate he's the one who destroyed the UA barrier, meaning the press break-in was a distraction to steal the information. A staff member wouldn't have needed such tactics. Unless Shigaraki knows I would think that and is deliberately trying to draw suspicion away—no. He can't think like that. He can't fall into the endless spiral of 'he knows I know he knows.'
(He'd like to say he trusts the staff, because he does. But there are mind-altering Quirks out there. Quirks that could allow an imposter to pose as his faculty. There is also the possibility of some form of blackmail.)
Additionally, all reports of Shigaraki's behavior indicate he doesn't possess such foresight. The man doesn't appear to be stupid, per say, but childish. Sheltered. Inexperienced.
Nedzu shudders to consider that someone could be nurturing such evil. Or what he would become in time.
Nedzu turns his attention back to the matter at hand. He has an electromagnetic dome to design, after all.
Shouta isn't looking forward to this conversation. His previous conversations have all gone well. Better than he allowed himself to hope, in fact. But those were the families of students who weren't impacted by UA's failures.
He takes a deep breath, glancing at the nameplate on the door as though it may have changed in the past five seconds.
It still says 'Midoriya.'
With Thirteen still recovering, and Nedzu, Maijima, and Ishiyama working, he, Kayama, Hizashi, Yagi, and Kan are the only teachers available for these meetings. And, as Midoriya's homeroom teacher, asking this of them is his responsibility.
Shouta knocks on the apartment door.
There's a few seconds of shuffling on the other side before a familiar homely-looking woman opens the door.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Mrs. Midoriya," he says.
"Ah, Mr. Aizawa. I believe I know what this is about. Do come in," she holds the door open for him, gesturing down the hall.
A news report plays on TV. The sound is down, so it just provides ambient white noise to the apartment. Footage shows off Endeavor's latest criminal takedown, captioned his 47th this week. Something last year, pardoning the expression, lit a fire under him. Shouta's never been one for gossip— outside of Underground Hero business, of course— but he's beginning to wonder if there's any truth to the rumor that he sleeps at his agency more than his own house nowadays.
He isn't expecting to see both of the Midoriya children sitting on the floor with Uraraka and Melissa Shield playing a card game. While the three girls gawk at him, Midoriya Izuku sets a card down on the pile.
"Draw two, Melissa," he says. She snaps out of her stupor, grumbling in English as she pulls the top two cards off the deck.
"Would you like any tea?" Mrs. Midoriya says over her shoulder from the kitchen.
"No thank you," Shouta says, taking a seat at the table. He waits for her to finish making herself a cup. Once she's done, she sits down across from him. She looks at him expectantly, taking a sip.
"I believe Nedzu already told you this," Shouta begins, "but I'd like to speak with you about our plan to move the students to the new UA dorms."
"This is to make the students harder to target, yes? What about their families? I happen to be friends with the Bakugous. I know that Katsuki feared the villains who took him might hurt them if he didn't comply."
"The Bakugous are all currently on UA campus. We are attempting to determine a way to keep them all safe. As for you and the other families—"
"They don't know where you are," Midoriya Izuku calls from the floor. "If they did, they wouldn't have bothered waiting to take us until we were close to UA. They were watching the gate." Shouta blinks before remembering that it was the boy's analytical abilities that earned him the Rat's attention.
"Outside campus, our resources are limited. We can't enforce local Heroes to patrol near the homes of our students' families. But as your son pointed out, we currently believe Bakugou was taken specifically, and that the locations and identities of other student families are still safe." He pauses. Complacency cost them greatly before. "Nedzu himself is keeping an eye on the situation. If we have any reason to suspect you or the others are in danger, we will have accommodations available." Mrs. Midoriya nods slowly as he speaks, clearly paying close attention to what he says. When he finishes, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Nedzu told me in his email that he had found a way to prevent something like this from happening on campus." Her gaze sharpens, intensifies, as she meets Shouta's eyes. He feels himself being dissected. "Do not let this happen again." Shouta give a curt nod.
"Guess I get to live in the dorms after all," Himiko says, playing a card from her hand. Uraraka groans, pulling cards from the deck.
"Why did it have to be green?"
"I'm a Midoriya," Himiko responds. She suddenly shoves herself up to look at Mrs. Midoriya, nearly scattering the cards. "Can I dye my hair green like you and Izu?" Mrs. Midoriya softens instantly, smiling gently at her daughter.
"Of course, dear. I'll look into brands tonight." Himiko squeals, practically jumping up and down.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Um, Mr. Aizawa?" Uraraka says. He tilts his head slightly to show that he's listening. "Will you be meeting my parents too? Or…?"
"Eventually. I have a few more families to visit here in Shizuoka first," he says. Uraraka nods.
"I'm sure they'll agree," she says. "I should go pack…"
"I can help!" Melissa offers.
"Don't you have to pack too, Melissa?" Mrs. Midoriya says. The Support student shakes her head.
"I already live in the dorms as an international student," she says. Mrs. Midoriya nods.
"Thank you for your time, Mrs. Midoriya. We will not let you down."
Chizome scoffs. He keeps the news on while doing his daily workout and isn't surprised they are still discussing the recent attack on UA High School.
"This should teach them a lesson they'll not soon forget," he murmurs. "Lowering the guard, growing arrogant. Maybe they'll learn. If not, well…" His eyes flick to where his sword leans against the wall. His ramshackle apartment isn't what he would call the height of luxury, but the landlord doesn't ask questions. He can vanish in under an hour if he has to.
"The problem is worse than I thought," Chizome muses to no one in particular, switching from curl-ups to push-ups. He balances himself on his hands so that he's perfectly straight, then pulls his left arm up so only his right arm supports him. A year ago, The One True Hero, All Might, once again opened his eyes. Deika City. The Meta Liberation Army. There are villains out there who hide in the shadows, growing in strength.
Killing false Heroes has always been a means to an end. And Chizome is willing to put that means on hold. There is another way he can strengthen society, draw ire upon the False Idols that plague society.
If the fakes won't do anything about villains who conceal themselves, who make for bad TV to fight, then Stain will have to stop them himself. And the public will question why he, the Hero Killer, is their savior.
And if that doesn't work, he can just start killing them again.
So far, he hasn't made much progress. Smaller gangs aren't exactly the nebulous entity of evil like the Meta Liberation Army or this new 'League of Villains.' As such, public awareness of his actions is… limited. But finally, Chizome found the perfect target.
He plants his left hand back on the floor so he can move his right up to his side. The UA Sports Festival should be coming up. His new target could possibly generate even more press than the monumentous event. Provided you've destroyed them by then.
As Stendhal, he'd faced a threat of this size before, but he'd only nipped at the edges. A few of the grunt members here and there. That would've been right before abandoning the identity, actually. He tenses at the memory of his battle with Knuckleduster.
Chizome lowers himself back down to the floor. This time, he will strike at the heart. Or perhaps, not the heart, but a tumor that has replaced it. Rumor has it in the underground that a rather important criminal's recent coma was no medical condition. He's being drugged. A power play. Someone stole the man's entire criminal empire out from under him.
Stain won't steal it back, no. But he will kill the usurper.
Chizome smiles. What a wonderful power vacuum that will cause.
Katsuki grimaces as he slowly lowers himself into the chair. He's not in pain, but he is sore. The hospital had released him into UA's care, under Recovery Girl's supervision. He's not surprised that UA has a Hero for a nurse, but she's certainly older than he would've guessed.
His parents sit down on either side of him. Across from him stands the Principal of UA, Nedzu.
"Greetings, Bakugou family! Am I a stoat, a wolverine, or Midoriya's Rat Friend?" Katsuki flinches at the reminder of his conversation with Deku. He flinches again at the realization that Nedzu heardthat conversation. "It doesn't matter, what's important is that I'm the Principal!"
"Thank you for speaking with us," dad says.
"So your plan to keep the brat safe is these dorms, right?" says mom. "And how are you gonna keep that teleporting bastard away from my son?"
"An excellent question!" Nedzu claps his paws together. "I have devised a method that prevents teleportation in or out of UA. Our Support teacher, you may know him as Power Loader, is now constructing the device!"
"I can take care of myself," Katsuki says. He ignores the glances from his parents, or the pain in his back.
"Indeed, I'm afraid the real risk is to the two of you," Nedzu says. "We have reason to believe the League might target you as retribution for your son's actions."
"So what? You want us to stay here too?"
"Yes, actually." Nedzu takes a sip of his tea. Katsuki doesn't think that cup had been there a second ago. "I do apologize for the inconvenience of being forced to work remotely from here in UA, but the danger cannot be ignored."
"I understand," dad says, ever the people-pleaser. Mom waves her hand.
"Yeah, yeah, terrorists want us dead. I can handle working remote. I want to make sure Katsuki here will be fine."
"I assure you, our new security measures are designed with the League's abilities in mind. UA is a veritable fortress," says Nedzu. "Are there any other concerns?"
"Nothing comes to mind," dad says. Katsuki clenches his fists on his lap.
"If you say he'll be safe, I'll beli—"
"Therapy," says Katsuki. His parents blink owlishly at him while Nedzu takes another sip of tea.
"What?" mom says.
"You said, last year, you said I should get therapy," Katsuki says slowly. "And I told you to piss off. And that's why the murder brigade thought I was a good pick." Katsuki looks up for the first time this entire meeting. "So I'll do it. I never want some shitty murderer thinking I'm anything like him again."
"That can be easily arranged," says Nedzu. "Inui, our counselor, is excellent. And if you find he isn't a good fit for you, he has a list of recommendations."
"Alright," Katsuki rasps. He finds, to his surprise, that he means it.
Toshinori eyes Mirai warily. He's sitting in his ex-sidekick's office, powered down. The seconds tick by, loudly marked by the clock on the wall. Toshinori is no Underground Hero, and he's no detective, but he's pretty sure he can taste how awkward the silence between them is. He looks up to the ceiling and prays that the person they're expecting arrives soon. He's not sure how much more he can bare.
And perhaps there is a God listening after all, because moments later a young man opens the door and strides purposefully into the room.
"Hello, Sir!" says the boy, who hasn't recognized his civilian persona as one of his Heroics teachers. "Sorry I'm late. I got caught up reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down!" It takes Toshinori a moment to process what Togata just said. By the time he's understood the atrocious pun, Mirai is supporting himself on his desk, roaring with laughter.
"Thank you, Togata," Mirai says. "I needed something to break the tension."
"It's no problem, Sir! But why did you call me down here so suddenly? Did something come up?"
"Not quite. This is actually something that has been under consideration for quite some time."
"Indeed," Toshinori says. "Both Mirai and Nedzu have pointed out to me that you are one of the most promising students UA has had in some time. And I heard about your excellent handling of the situation at Ground Omega."
"Thank you, mister, ah…"
"You can call me Yagi, but you might know me better as another name." Toshinori calls on the power of One For All, feels it flowing through his veins as his body swells with muscles. He laughs, echoing out deep from his diaphragm. "You see, Young Togata, I am here!" The young man in question stumbles back in surprise.
"It's no trick," Mirai says before Togata can say anything. "Unfortunately, around six years ago, To—Yagi was in a battle against perhaps the most dangerous villain who ever lived."
"I won, but at a great cost," Toshinori says, choosing to politely ignore how Mirai seems to believe he needs to distance himself. It hurts more than he expected, but he was the one to burn that bridge in the first place. Perhaps they can talk after this? "I was severely injured, and now I can only use my Quirk for a few hours a day." Togata swallows.
"That's… that's awful," Togata says.
"There's more," says Toshinori. "You see, my Quirk happens to be very special…"
Togata listens with rapt attention as he and Mirai explain the history of One For All. He gasps with shock when Toshinori lifts his shirt and gives him the details on his missing organs.
"So now, I am asking you if you would like to be the Ninth Bearer of One For All." Togata stands there, eyes wide, mouth agape. Eventually, the young man recollects himself.
"I'm honored, I truly am… but…"
"'But?'" Mirai tenses slightly. Togata nods.
"I've spent so long making Permeation my own, you know? I don't want to just throw all that away. And it's a hard Quirk to control. Having to manage another Quirk on top of that? I'm not sure I could do that in the heat of the moment. So, thank you, All Might, but I don't think I'm the one."
"That's quite alright, my boy," says Toshinori. "We have a promising selection of students at UA. I'm sure I'll find my successor soon."
After Togata leaves, Toshinori deflates—ha—in his chair. He glances over at Mirai.
"That's two rejections now. I never would have dreamed anyone would turn down such an opportunity even just over a year ago."
Mirai laughs a quiet, bitter laugh. "For a man with Foresight, I certainly am taken by surprise rather frequently."
Chapter 34: Move-In Day/Heights Alliance Dorms
Izuku looks around his room. Even with some of his Hero merchandise still there, the room feels emptynow. A lot of his stuff is in boxes now, stacked out in the hallways. He and Himiko labeled their stuff to avoid confusion, but the hallway still looks like a cardboard castle.
He does one last sweep over the room. Satisfied he hasn't missed anything, Izuku retreats out to the hallway. His sister is nowhere to be seen, so he heads to her room.
"Izu," she whines. Her newly green hair sticks up wildly in places despite his mother's attempts at braiding it. He has to admit the new color suits her. "I don't know which posters to bring and which to leave!" Izuku chuckles, looking around. It looks like she's finished packing too, with the exception of her current problem. "If I take my favorites, is that saying I don't want them near mom?"
"You know that's not true," Izuku says, wrapping an arm around her. "You're just keeping them where you can see them."
"I know, but…" she trails off, glancing at Izuku like he has all the answers. In this case, he actually might though.
"You feel like you're leaving her behind. Why don't you talk to her?" he says. Himiko nods slowly with a soft hum and pads out of the room. Izuku leaves to sort his boxes by weight. He doesn't want to accidentally have a heavier box crush something because they aren't stacked properly.
The voices of Himiko and mom carry into the hall. They're speaking softly, but if Izuku really wanted to, he could listen in. But he won't. Himiko deserves to feel safe here, and sometimes that means he has to back away and give her privacy.
By the time he's sorted his boxes properly, Himiko seems to have calmed down. She returns from the kitchen looking much better, cradling a cup of tea in her hands.
"Mom left you a cup on the table," she says, smiling softly. Izuku beams at her.
The tea is delicious as always.
It's a bright Tuesday morning. The sky is a beautiful, clear blue. Large, fluffy clouds meander across of the horizon. The weather is perfect. It's almost enough to make Izuku forget that just four days ago he had to fight for his life. That he's here, standing before the impressive building labeled 'Heights Alliance,' because he and several dozen other students could have died.
Heights Alliance, like basically everything else about UA, is over the top. It would be more accurate to call the building two parallel five-story apartment complexes connected on the ends up to the third floor.
All twenty students of Class 1-A stand on the path leading to the dorms. In front of them, Mr. Aizawa emerges from the building and comes to a stop a meter or so in front of the assembled students.
"First of all, Class 1-A," drawls their homeroom teacher, "The most important thing is that you're all gathered here together safely."
"So everyone got permission huh?" says Sero.
"I'm a little surprised to see you here, Midoriya," says Ojiro. "You and your sister were the most directly affected." Izuku rubs the back of his head.
"Yeah, mom wasn't happy about that. But she doesn't blame the school. We hadn't even made it here yet when…" he looks away, clearing his throat.
"Secondly," Mr. Aizawa says, "We'll be doing a tour of the new facilities."
Mr. Aizawa turns and starts walking back into the dorms, waving for the class to follow. After a moment's hesitation, they all quickly head in after him.
"Right. Well. I'm going to give you a quick briefing on the new dorms. Each class gets its own building. The first floor has most of your utilities. Common area, kitchens, laundry room, baths, courtyard…"
Courtyard?
The common room is pretty straightforward. There are windows to both the outside of the dorms and to the inner courtyard. In one corner, couches and chair surround a coffee table, overlooked by a large television. Across from it is a well-equipped kitchen area. Bakugou would love it. Or, will love it. Izuku assumes whatever class he's in has the same basic layout. Between the kitchen and the television set up is the dining area, a set of tables and chairs.
"There's so much space! It's so pretty! There are sofas!" Mina cheers, pumping her arms. Hagakure is right there with her.
"It's a mansion," Ochaco swoons. Sero presses against the glass looking at the courtyard. Mr. Aizawa casually moves over to the elevator, calling it down to shepherd the class up to the next floor.
"The actual rooms start on the second floor and go all the way up to the fifth. There are four rooms per wing on each floor. The left wing is for the males. The right wing is for the females."
Izuku wonders where Ekitai and Kakubyoga are rooming over in the 2-A and 2-J dorms.
Mr. Aizawa opens the first door, one without a nameplate on the door, showing off the room inside.
"Your individual rooms all have the essentials. Air conditioning, personal bathrooms, beds, closets, desks, and a balcony."
"Oh, it's about the size of a closet back at the estate," Yaoyorozu says nonchalantly, as though this is the average size of someone's closet. Ochaco nearly faints.
"She really does live in a mansion," she says, voice filled with awe.
"The luggage you sent ahead has already been delivered to your room. Take the rest of the day to get unpacked and set up your rooms. Here's the room assignments."
Mr. Aizawa pulls out a holographic disc like the one used to send the entrance exam results. It lights up with a map of Heights Alliance, each room marked with the name of its occupant or a large X for the empty rooms.
Izuku is on the second floor with Aoyama and Tokoyami. Interesting combination. Izuku memorizes the location of his room and starts looking for his friends. Jiro, Joyato, and Iida are all on the third floor. Uraraka, Kirishima, Shinsou, and Ashido are all on the fourth. Tsuyu and Yaoyorozu are on the fifth.
"Sir!" Iida says, raising his hand. "Why is the Second Floor's Right Wing unoccupied?" Mr. Aizawa shrugs.
"I didn't choose the rooms," he says. Iida balks at the response, but Mr. Aizawa ignores him and turns back to the rest of the class. "Tomorrow, I'll explain how things are going to be from here on out. I'll have a few other school-related announcements, too. Go unpack, or whatever. That's all. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
It took hours to pack everything Izuku brought with him to the dorms. It takes even longer for him to take it all back out and get everything set up. Meeting All Might hadn't quite curbed his fanboy tendencies, but training with Mr. Aizawa and Nedzu, getting to know Mr. Yagi outside of costume, seeing the UA staff around over the summer? It felt weirdhaving merchandise of people he knew.
He still has his merchandise. He has quite a lot of Hero merchandise, actually. But he'd put away some of his All Might merch even before moving out of the house. And he hadn't brought all of it with him. It still feels weird staying in a room that isn't completely covered in All Might posters with All Might curtains and bedding and All Might figures posed on every available surface.
Now his room has a wider variety of Hero representation. Alongside All Might, he has posters of Miruko, Ryukyu, and other Heroes prominently displayed. Some of his figurines are still out, but only a handful. He might need the space for his research materials now. Maybe he should get a Go set? But who would play with him? Would any of his friends even know how to play?
Yaoyorozu probably would. He makes a mental note to ask Nedzu where he can find a good set.
Izuku drops onto the couch in the common area. He's finally unpacking. It looks like most of the others are finishing up too. Everyone looks about as tired as Izuku feels. Kirishima barely avoids sinking into his seat by using his arms as supports.
"Hey guys!" Ashido calls with far too much enthusiasm. Some of the girls follow close behind her. "Finish setting up yet?"
"Yep!" Kaminari give a half-wave, almost a salute. "We're just relaxing now."
"Great! I'm starving!" Ashido. "Who's cooking?"
The kitchen is kept well stocked. Apparently, they upped the grocery delivery usually meant for Lunch Rush's meals, so they'd be able to eat in the dorms.
"I'll do it, kero," says Tsuyu. "I'm used to helping my parents cook for my siblings."
"I've helped out around the kitchen before," Izuku says. "Just let me know what you need!" Tsuyu isn't the most expressive with her emotions, (Izuku suspects its part of her Quirk), but he can see the gratitude in her eyes.
"Curry should be easy enough, kero. Can you cook the meat and vegetables while I prepare the seasonings?"
"Sure thing! Does anyone have any allergies?"
No one does. The others are content to leave the kitchen to Izuku and Tsuyu. There's only so much floor space. It's hard for more than a few people to move around in the kitchen space with the counters in the way.
Izuku hums mom's lullaby under his breath as he chops the onions, celery, and carrots. Tsuyu hands him the meat and potatoes from the refrigerator. He cubes them both (using separate knives and cutting boards, of course). He sautés the pork, letting it slide around in the vegetable oil in the pot. Once the meat starts to brown, he uses his knife to add the onions to the pot.
Tsuyu carefully shakes a spice container, adding a dusty-red coating over the rest of the seasonings she's combining in her measuring glass. She adds a small amount of Worcestershire sauce to her concoction so she can pour it over Izuku's ingredients.
"Mom always adds a drop of honey, kero," she explains as she does the same. "For just a touch of sweetness." She sniffs quietly.
"I'm sure it's hard, being away from your family," Izuku says softly. "I have Himiko just down the road, but I miss mom, too. I'm sure Himiko does as well."
"I have two younger siblings," Tsuyu says. "I've—kero—I've never been away from them for so long. I know we promised to make video calls, kero, but I miss them. And I won't see them unless I get permission to leave for a weekend, kero."
Izuku steps aside so Tsuyu can add her seasonings. She slowly drizzles her sauce over the meat and onions, moving the measuring glass to evenly spread her seasoning. As she moves away, he stirs the meat and onions around until they're all well coated. Izuku pours in water, covering the mixture, then drops in the carrots.
Izuku lets the food simmer, skimming off the fat from the surface as he needs to. Tsuyu places two small pans on the burners next to him. In one, she places a stick of butter, in the other, she toasts a handful of seasonings. Turmeric, curry powder, and garam masala.
"Making your own curry roux?" he asks.
"Mhmm," Tsuyu says. "What're you humming, kero?"
"It's a lullaby mom learned from her mother. She taught it to me when I was a kid, and Himiko learned it a bit back." He skims some more fat from his pan. "It's nice, having something to focus on while working." Tsuyu nods.
"We sing along to the radio at my house, kero." Tsuyu takes her toasted spices and moves them off to the side. "Samidare likes pop songs, but Satsuki will sing to anything, kero." It's subtle, but Izuku can see the corner of her mouth rise into a smile.
Tsuyu adds flour to the now-melted butter and stirs it around until it browns. Izuku hears footsteps behind them as Ochaco leans against the counter, cradling her head in her hands. When Izuku meets her eyes, an emotion flickers across Ochaco's face for a moment. Izuku could swear it looks like guilt, but that can't be right. It's gone in an instant anyway.
"Smells great in here! What's cookin'?"
"We're making curry, kero," says Tsuyu.
"Did you know she knows how to make her own curry roux?" Izuku asks. "Tsuyu's great!"
"Kero," Tsuyu manages intelligently, blushing. Ochaco laughs good naturedly.
"Looks like some people are still unpacking. Most of the class is arguing about what to watch on TV."
Ochaco, Izuku, and Tsuyu fall into comfortable small talk as Tsuyu works on the curry roux and Izuku manages the simmering meat and vegetable mixture. The curry roux is done first, as Tsuyu knew it would be. She stirs in her spice mixture to the flour and butter before removing it from the heat.
"All that's left is the salt and pepper, kero. Would you like to do that, Uraraka?" Tsuyu says, placing the pan on the countertop, using a square oven mitt to keep it from burning the new surface.
"Sure thing, Tsuyu!" Ochaco beams. Izuku trusts her enough to not over-season the roux and turns back to his task. Eventually, Tsuyu comes over and looks at the mixture.
"I think it's time to add the potatoes, kero. I'll grab the roux from Uraraka." Izuku nods, grabbing his vegetable cutting board and using his knife to scrape the cubed potato into the curry. He steps to the side, setting the cutting board back down, as Tsuyu adds the curry roux.
"Once that's dissolved, we'll stir it for another thirty minutes or so to make sure everything's tender, kero."
"And then it'll be ready to serve?" Ochaco says, eyeing to pot with a ravenous gleam in her eye.
"Yes," says Tsuyu, getting out a pot for the rice.
"Something smells good," Joyato says, waltzing out of the elevator. "Oh, wow. If I'd known you'd start cooking I'd have come down sooner. Tomorrow's dinner is on me!"
"You know how to cook?" Kirishima says, coming over from the tv area with Kaminari. "That's pretty cool!" Joyato shrugs.
"I had a lot of energy as a kid. Eventually, Mama realized she could just point me in the direction of some chores and they'd get done."
"Wow, you willingly did chores as a kid?" Kaminari says.
"After Mom married Mama, I just wanted to be useful I guess," says Joyato. Kirishima nods sympathetically as Kaminari slips around the counter.
"You see?" Kaminari grabs some glasses from the cupboard. "I know the circumstances kinda sucked, but it's cool we're all living together and learning things about each other," Kaminari says. He fills them with water and hands one to Kirishima. "Oh! We're gonna watch a movie after dinner, but we haven't decided what yet." Izuku tunes in to the impassioned argument coming from the lounge.
"But she fucks the werewolf onscreen!"
"It's not explicit! And that's just the prologue! It's about the kids! It's so emotional!"
"You want to talk emotions? What about the earthquake scene at the space movie?"
"So you're just gonna spoil your whole film, huh?"
"What about Golden Bat?"
"Shinsou, there are three people in the world who know what that is and you're lucky I'm one of them!" Kaminari calls out from the kitchen.
"At least they're picking classics," Izuku says. The small gang of students laugh at that. Kirishima and Kaminari chat amicably as they head back over to the lounge with Joyato.
They're still debating what to watch when the curry finishes cooking. Ochaco and Joyato help him and Tsuyu serve up all twenty bowls. Most of the class take a seat in the dining area. A couple eat in the lounge despite Iida's protests. Todoroki takes a bowl and leaves for his room.
Izuku sits down next to Shinsou. Tsuyu and Ochaco are across from him. They've kept a chair for Iida once he's done admonishing everyone who's eating on the couches.
It's nice, eating together like this.
After everyone finishes eating, Jiro, Sero, and Iida volunteer to clean up. While they clean the dishes and wipe down the counters, everyone else (sans Todoroki who came down to hand off his own dishes before retreating to his room again) gets the film ready in the lounge.
"Thank you, kero," Tsuyu whispers, leaning in close so he can hear.
"It was my pleasure. You're a great cook, Tsuyu," Izuku replies. She shakes her head subtly.
"For letting me talk about my family. For understanding, kero. Thank you."
"You listened to me talk about mine. It's only fair."
"You really are a kind person, kero."
They settle onto the couch next to their friends as Kirishima pulls up the movie.
While the students of 1-A celebrate their first evening in the dorms with a movie night, Toshinori deals with business of his own. Far less pleasant business. He'd be happier to know the students wouldn't be watching this.
Once more, Toshinori finds himself wearing a suit and sitting in at a press conference with Nedzu.
By now, the public was well aware of what had happened last Friday. The news went crazy of the first successful infiltration of UA by villains. That a staff member and several students ended up hospitalized only served as fuel for them to sensationalize the attack. Nedzu responding with Heights Alliance got a lot of attention. Some stations are reporting as though the new dorms are proof that UA is incompetent.
Toshinori isn't terribly surprised. He's spent his entire career dealing with mudslingers. Not even he is loved universally. Plus, controversy sells. It's easy to get good rating by trying to tear down beloved people or institutions. This isn't the first time UA has dealt with bad press either.
But that isn't what this conference is about.
This is about him.
Once the reporters are seated, cameras and microphones at the ready, Toshinori leans forward into his microphone.
"As you are all no doubt aware," he begins, "Last Friday, a class of Third-Year UA students found themselves besieged on campus. What has not yet been made public is that I was scheduled to be there at that time." The crowd roars with questions. Toshinori allows them for a few seconds, before raising his hand to bring quiet. "I, of course, was not there. I was called in to deal with a situation in Tokyo. This is a failing of mine. I allowed myself to be split between two responsibilities. I am a Hero, but I am also now a teacher. The staff here at UA have had years to learn that balance, and none of them wield the influence I have in their Heroic careers." Toshinori sighs. "I can think of no less than three dozen Heroes who could have handled that particular issue just as well as I. But I was the one called in."
Toshinori straightens again. This is it. The is probably the biggest announcement of his career.
"I intend to focus on my new teaching position," he says.
There's a moment's pause where an uneasy silence hangs over the room. Then, predictably, the shouting begins. Reporters leap out of their seats, shoving one another out of the way, hurling questions at the Symbol of Peace. Once more, Toshinori raises a hand and silence falls over the room. He waits for them to return to their seats.
"I am not retiring," he says firmly. "I have been a Hero for a long time, yes. And I will likely retire sooner than later, but I have a good few years in me yet. But until I know how to best strike a balance between my responsibilities, I must prioritize. And, simply, there are more Heroes than there are teachers."
The reporters break out into another shouting match. As Nedzu finally steps in to deal with them, Toshinori sighs.
This is going to be a long conference.