- HOSU ROOFTOPS, FRIDAY -
There was an eerie calm over Hosu. While every civilian could feel the tension in the air, they were not as on edge as the Heroes patrolling the streets. The Heroes had reason to be.
And that's just what the Hero Killer wanted.
Stain watched on as the Heroes of Hosu made their routes, some going the extra mile to help any civilian who needed it or just ensuring that their presence helped put people at ease. He was fine with that. That's what he wanted after all.
But no, the Hero Killer's eyes were looking for others. The Heroes who were only doing more to avoid his ire. The ones that would end up as one of his targets. He could see the difference between those sorts of individuals compared to others. Ones that were simply putting on an act to save face. Liars. False Heroes.
No. They would be tested. To see if their ideals matched up with his. To see if they were worthy of being a Hero. Some could be saved. Others couldn't.
As Stain continued his vigil, he felt a presence appear behind him, breaking him out of his musings. He never took his eyes off the streets. This newcomer wasn't a Hero, but they certainly weren't a friend. But he would be ready to deal with this person as soon as they showed their true colors. His hand was already on one of his knives, ready to strike.
"I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion, but I have been searching for you," Stain's new rooftop companion said.
The Hero Killer grunted and turned slightly to look at the newcomer, seeing a well-dressed man made of a purple mist. His instincts were telling him that this man was simply a messenger. The tension in Stain's body lightened slightly but he was still on guard.
"I make it a point not to be found," Stain said.
Kurogiri let out an amused hum. "A rather good point, considering your... Profession." Kurogiri's yellow eyes narrowed slightly. "Which makes it odd that you are currently out in the open. If this were the case several days ago, it would have made my search for you much simpler."
Stain didn't answer right away, choosing to look down at the streets once more. His eyes tracked a pair of Heroes, one he recognized as the Pro Hero, Manual, and one he assumed was a student by how new and stiff they seemed to be.
"To keep them guessing. While I have a pattern, how I go about my work is random." Stain told Kurogiri. The Misty Villain listened intently, giving the Hero Killer his full undivided attention. "Heroes are creatures of habit. My presence breaks them of their habits. The strongest Heroes are the ones that can adapt. But my targets are those that simply wear the title of Hero as a badge they can show off. Once their habits are threatened, they will do whatever they can to return to normalcy while panicking."
Kurogiri could feel the blood lust coming from the man in front of him. It was suffocating, but nothing that the Misty Villain hadn't seen before. But to say he wasn't impressed would be a lie.
"And when their paranoia reaches a boiling point, I strike." Stain ended his speech with a manic grin on his face. His expression shifted to one full of curiosity as he studied the well-dressed Villain. "So, what do you want from me?"
"I simply wish to extend an invitation to talk. Your work has impressed my companion and he wishes to learn more about you. And to make an offer." Kurogiri explained as he began to form a portal.
The Hero Killer didn't move from his perch. He eyed the Misty Villain intently. After a tense moment, he moved from his perch and approached Kurogiri. "Fine," Stain answered, "Then let's hurry this up. I still need to learn more about my target."
Kurogiri gave him a bow and held out his arm, gesturing to the portal. Stain ignored him and stepped through the dark purple mist, a feeling disorientation filled him as his body seemed to shift. As if the world moved around him. When his foot finally met solid ground once more, Stain found himself in the middle of a dimly lit bar. Its only occupant was a shaggy-haired individual who sat at the bar, watching the television.
The Misty Villain emerged next and immediately walked behind the bar to prepare a drink for his companion.
"So, you're the Hero Killer, huh?" Shigaraki said, turning around in his stool just enough to spare a glance at his guest. "I've been wanting to meet such a high-level player like you."
"Tell me," The shaggy-haired villain said as he turned to look at a photo on the wall, his red eyes glaring at the person in the picture, "How would you like to join a guild?"
Stain didn't answer right away. He focused on what had the shaggy-haired man's attention. A picture of Izuku during the sports festival with multi-class written in red on it. Surrounding the picture of the verdette were several other members of 1-A with labels of their own: Shoka, Demi-Fighter. Bakugo, Bombardier. Shoto, Elementalist with the word "Fire" being added recently. Tokoyami, Summoner. And then one of Shinso with a question mark on his. Stain didn't know if the man couldn't figure out a label for the indigoette on the picture or was unsure of his Quirk.
It was evident to the Hero Killer that these six were singled out. He could recognize the signs the red-eyed man was giving off. So far, Stain already knew that the young man's sales pitch wouldn't be worth the time.
But he was willing to listen. While he focused on Heroes these days, he still went out of his way to take care of villains that caught his eye. The Hero Killer would just have to test this man's beliefs.
- PRESENT MIC'S STUDIO -
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH! I hope you listeners are doing alright today!" Present Mic cheered into the microphone; a wide smile plastered on his face as Kyoka watched from the side.
The punkette did her best not to make a sound, opting to watch and listen to her supervisor as he worked. The blonde Hero was more than willing to let his new protégé ease into this aspect of showmanship and the pressures of being a Limelight Hero, understanding her initial hesitance. That didn't mean he would just let her sit on the sidelines not do something with her time.
"I'm sure all of you know, but the time has come for Hero Universities to undergo their internships, much like my alma mater. In fact, yours truly has his own rock star willing to learn the ropes." Present Mic looked to Kyoka, giving her a proud smile and a thumbs up. The violette got the message and got to work on a laptop next to her. "And she's got us a kickin' soundtrack for us Heroes to bop to on our patrols. So, get ready to hit the streets! IT'S TIME TO START THE SHOW!"
Kyoka clicked her mouse as the first track began to play, filling the air and waves with music.
- LUNAR BURROW, TOKYO -
Mirko smirked as the music began to play, hearing the guitar start with an energetic riff, followed by a bass adding some backup as a set of drums kicked in and with vocals that brought it all together. While she didn't understand why Shoka wanted some music, she didn't regret giving the ravenette the aux chord.
"So, you ready to start?" The tanned woman asked.
Shoka finished stretching her body, popping several stiff joints, the tail of her battle coat stiffened as she did and gave the Rabbit Hero a challenging smirk. "Let's do it!"
The slender ravenette was given no time to ready herself as Mirko shot out at her like a bullet, lashing her leg out and nearly slamming it into Shoka's head. The gray-eyed cat girl managed to dodge in time, using that moment to activate her Quirk. Shoka's coat lost a small amount of its abyssal black sheen, her skin and hair becoming paler as her arms and legs were covered in segmented armor, her coat's tail adopting a similar appearance with her hoodie's ears now doing the same.
Shoka was forced to roll out of the way as her instincts blared. Mirko quickly rebounded and took to the air, raising her leg up high and bringing it down hard. The ravenette slid across the mat on all fours right as the Hero's heel just missed her. As soon as Mirko's heel smashed into the padded floor, Shoka pounced, pushing off with all her limbs as she rocketed towards the Pro Hero with a punch.
Mirko easily dodged Shoka's attack, kicking off the ground and away from the hoodie-wearing young woman. She began to grin as Shoka went on the offensive, trying her best to keep the Rabbit Hero on the back foot.
"That's more like it!" Mirko declared as she effortlessly weaved through a flurry of kicks and slashes from Shoka.
The Rabbit Hero blocked a kick from Shoka with a raised leg, quickly planting it back to the ground and spinning on her heel to strike back at the ravenette. Shoka raised her arms to block the kick, only to feel her bones rattle from the force of the blow.
Shoka wasn't deterred, even as Mirko shifted the flow of battle to benefit her. The Rabbit Hero seemed to bound across the training area in single leaps, each time striking out at the ravenette Hero student and landing several that nearly brought her to the ground. Shoka struggled to keep moving in order to dodge her new mentor's attacks.
Her instincts, amplified by her Quirk drove her actions when she felt them call out to her. The ears on the top of her head twitched every time Mirko launched an attack from her rear. As the Pro Hero missed, Shoka stuck back with kicks or punches, or even her tail, but failed to score a hit on the whitette.
As Mirko sailed over Shoka with a spinning kick, the ravenette overextended one of her attacks, giving Mirko a chance to counter. The Rabbit Hero gripped the arm of the Hero student, twisting her body, and flinging Shoka to the ground. The slender ravenette felt the wind get knocked out of her as a gasp of air escaped her lips. As she struggled to catch her breath, her ears stood up as she picked up the sound of Mirko bounding around her.
"Get up! A Villain isn't going to just give you a break!" Mirko yelled as she rushed the Hero student once more. "Fight back! Use your damn instincts and don't just react!"
Shoka gritted her teeth, the feeling of frustration building up within her. She stood up on shaky legs, her breathing beginning to steady as her gray eyes narrowed at the Rabbit Hero across from her. The black and white ears on the top of Shoka's head twitched, her tail going ramrod straight as there was a shift in the air.
Mirko closed the distance between them quickly, planting a foot onto the ground with a heavy thud that seemed to shake the room. A flurry of kicks rained down on Shoka, forcing the slender ravenette to dodge.
Shoka winced, feeling the force behind each kick that landed a hit. Every time she pulled away, Mirko would simply push forward, switching feet as she kept up the pressure. The gray-eyed cat girl began to let her body move on its own. For every ten kicks, she managed to dodge two to three. Behind her lensed mask, Shoka's eyes focused. As Mirko went for another quick kick, Shoka met it head-on with one of her own.
The Rabbit Hero's smile grew when her leg slammed against Shoka's, a smile that the ravenette returned wholeheartedly. An exchange of blows was had over the next few minutes, though the ravenette was still on the back foot for the majority of it. As Mirko called the match, Shoka immediately fell to the ground, breathing heavily as she gulped for air. She shot a dirty look at the whitette, noting that her newest mentor wasn't even winded.
Shoka figured that would make sense. Mirko wasn't one of the Top Ten Heroes for nothing. She struggled to prop herself up and rubbed the numbness from her legs as her Quirk's transformation faded, color returning to her form.
Her mind raced as she ran through the spar. While Shoka wished she could have done better, she pushed it to the back of her mind. Instead, the ravenette focused on how her Quirk began to force itself past her limits. Her instincts had always been there, and Aizawa had been the first to work with them. But against Mirko, they had never been forced like that.
Her thoughts were broken up when she spotted a bottle of water being handed to her by the Rabbit Hero. The gray-eyed cat girl accepted it graciously, taking small sips as the cool water raced past her deep-red lips. She removed her mask, blinking rapidly to let her eyes adjust to the light as Mirko began to speak.
"You got spunk. Glad to see that your match with the exploding blonde wasn't a fluke." Mirko said.
"We like to 'affectionately' call him Sparky, Pomeranian, or Nitrogremlin," Shoka replied with a smirk.
"Ha! Nice. I'll keep that in mind." Mirko took a swig from her own water bottle. "Still, your instincts aren't up to my standards. That's one thing we'll work on while you're interning with me."
"Sounds like a plan. I don't really like getting my ass kicked that easily." Shoka said with a small laugh.
"You want to be a Hero. You damn well better be willing to give as good as you get when you fight Villains." Mirko's mood shifted as she finished, focusing on drinking the rest of her water as the two rested.
Shoka was fine with the small break. She had a feeling that today would be full of fights and bruises. Most likely from the Hero in front of her. As the ravenette rested, she bobbed her head to the music coming from the speakers, not even realizing that their fight track had long since finished.
"So, why did you want to be a Hero?"
The question caught Shoka off guard. She shot Mirko a confused look, seeing the curious one the rabbit-eared Hero was giving her.
Mirko elaborated. "Your matches during the festival showed me that you were a fighter. Kinda like me back in the day. Everyone has their reasons. Mine was pride, and mostly wanting a good fight."
Shoka listened intently, her gray eyes never leaving Mirko's form as the Rabbit Hero spoke. "Saw that you had something to prove. And I want to know what that is."
Shoka shrugged. "I didn't want to be one at first. Didn't see the appeal in it. That," The ravenette's mood soured a little, "and when you see the person who you thought was your Hero get thrown in Tartarus, it kinda ruins your perception of it all."
It was Mirko's turn to listen. She didn't interrupt the Hero student, letting Shoka take her time to say what she needed to.
"My boyfriend was the one who told me something I needed to hear. He said it was my choice what I wanted to be." Shoka said, her deep red lips forming a soft smile as she remembered that day before they made it into U.A. How he smiled when he told her that she wouldn't be alone. That he would be there for her. "So, I choose to be the best me I can be. And if I can help out a few people here and there, then that's a pretty good bonus."
The Rabbit Hero let out a hum. As Shoka finished her water, Mirko held her hand out and picked up the Hero student from the mat. Shoka gave her a thankful nod as the whitette returned to her starting position, with the ravenette following her example.
Mirko gave her a predatory grin. "Then let's get started. I'm gonna mold and kick your ass into shape. I'm gonna turn you into a Hero that can stand at the top of the top. Each day you're gonna be a better you. Each fight with a Villain will end with a better you. Saving some civilian's life will end with you becoming a better you. And if you even so much as slip up, then I'm gonna hop on over and beat these lessons back into you." The Rabbit Hero began to bounce on her feet. "But first comes the ass-kicking though. Get ready, Kittykat!"
Shoka took in a deep breath as her Quirk triggered, her segmented armor forming on her body as a pair of ears and a cat tail emerged. She placed the lensed domino mask back on her face, the lenses narrowing as if answering the Rabbit Hero's challenge. "Let's get started, Cottontail!"
- SCRAMBLE CROSSING, SHIBUYA -
Izuku listened to the song that began to play on his phone, the synth beats sounding out from its speakers so Beat and Rhyme could also enjoy it. An effort that was well received if the way Beat bobbed his head in tune with the song with a wide smile on his face was anything to go by.
The three stood outside Justice Burger, enjoying a quick lunch before Beat and Rhyme gave him a tour of the city they protected. The older Bito also wanted to use this as an opportunity to get to know their new intern.
"Aight, Phones. Time to meet 'n' greet." Beat said as he finished off a couple of fries. "Tell us a bit about yourself."
Izuku brought a hand to his chin as he considered what to share with them, only to draw a blank as he did. "Well, what do you two want to know?"
Rhyme was the first one to respond. "Well, I want to know more about your Quirk, so let's save that for later. How about what made you want to be a Hero?"
Izuku nodded, understanding the younger blonde's point. "Well, I always wanted to be a Hero since I was a kid. You can thank All Might for that. He was one of the main reasons. Something to aspire to. My dad was another reason." There was a small, rueful smile on his face as he began to get lost in old memories. "He and my mom were the only ones who believed in me. I actually didn't even start using my Quirk until a few years ago because the activation trigger was extremely specific."
"Oof. Dat's rough, bud." Beat said as he bit into his burger. "But gotta say, pretty impressive that you only got a few years' experience with your Quirk. Musta had a good teacher."
"I did. Mr. H really helped me figure things out." Izuku said with a bright smile. "He has a way of really getting you and knowing how to help you when you need it."
Rhyme nodded sagely at the verdette's words. "It's what he does. He helped me when I thought I couldn't be a Hero. Helped me see that there was still something I could do with what I had. And I always like helping people. A Hero was just someone who helped as best they could. So, being a Hero just seemed like something worthwhile to be, so that's what I wanted to be."
Rhyme's words struck a chord in Izuku. It was a simple reason, but a powerful one. After growing up idolizing All Might and learning from Mr. H, simple reasons like that were often the best ones.
"Coffee Man's got good advice, yo. I didn't even think I could be a Hero. I was rough 'round the edges." Beat said, gesturing to himself with a smirk.
Rhyme shook her head with a fond smile. "Pretty sure the word 'delinquent' was used more times than I could count, Beat."
The taller blonde playfully acted like he was shot through the heart, earning a small laugh from Izuku and Rhyme. "Aight then, Sis. I was a delinquent, sue me." He looked at Izuku. "I was pretty much the furthest thing from being a Hero growing up. I cared more about going with my own flow, ya dig?"
"What changed?" Izuku asked.
"R got into U.A. My sis was on her way to livin' her dream." There was a proud smile on the older Bito's face. He ruffled his sister's hair, careful not to bump the headset sitting on her head. Rhyme gave him a mock pout when he let up on his teasing. "Kinda put things into perspective for me, ya know? And, well... I got charged with vigilantism. Some punk was makin' a mess of things a few years ago. No Heroes were 'round to help. So, I started to think, what would my sister do if she were here? She's the one wanting to be a Hero."
"Then, I thought about what kind of guy would I be if I just stood by and did nothin'. Would Rhyme be ashamed of me if I did nothin'? So, I did somethin' about it." Beat stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Got it trouble with the cops and Heroes when they finally decided to show up. Mr. H pulled some strings. Got me community service while working with a retired Hero."
Izuku saw Beat shiver at the mention of the Hero he worked with. He honestly didn't know what to think about that but it was obvious that Beat had mixed feelings about them, if the involuntary shiver his body underwent was anything to go by. The verdette watched as Rhyme pat her brother on the shoulder, giving the older blonde moral support, though the amused expression on her face told him something else.
"Anyway," Beat said, his mood shifting quickly, "I impressed the Hero enough I interned with him and he helped me get a license. Now, I get to be a Hero alongside my lil' sis. Make sure she stays outta trouble, yo."
Rhyme gave him a flat look. "Yes. Because I'm the troublemaker."
Beat laughed at his sister's reply. Rhyme rolled her eyes and looked at Izuku, "Just keep in mind, while you're with us, we go by our own code."
"What's that?" Izuku asked.
Beat and Rhyme shared a smile as they spoke in unison, ""As Heroes, we're just people helpin' people.""
The freckled verdette couldn't help but smile at that. It was a genuine statement that spoke volumes to him. His internship had just begun, but already he was glad that he chose to work with Beat and Rhyme.
"Well," Rhyme said as she looked at Izuku. "We should give you a quick run-down of our Quirks and then you can do the same." Earning a nod from Izuku, she continued. "Mine's called Encoded. It's an Emitter type that gives me full control of the code and software of any tech in my line of sight. I can even affect hardware itself to a degree."
Beat quickly cut in. "Mine's called Flow Rider. It uses the kinetic energy I build up with my movements. Once I get a good flow goin', I can use it to pull off some sick stunts." Izuku saw Beat shiver once more, no doubt due to reminiscing about his past training. "Had to get good with havin' to use it for hero work. Much better for skatin' than fightin', but I make it work, yo."
The younger blonde spoke up, moving the conversation along so she and her brother could learn more about their intern. "So, Izuku. What's your Quirk? Mr. H gave us a quick rundown, but said to leave it up to you to explain."
Izuku let out a playful huff, one of his hands subconsciously reaching up and tapping Ego. "Sounds about right. Probably said something like, 'His Quirk, his work', right?"
"Eyep," Rhyme answered with a knowing smile.
"Alright. So, my Quirk works with pins, that I call Psychs, I make myself," Izuku began digging through his bag, taking out a set of his completed pins for the pair of blondes to look at, "and each one gives me an ability I apply to them as I design them." He unclipped Ego from the lapel of his school jacket, showing off the stylized skull to the blonde pair, noting the pleased smiles on their faces as they shared a look, "But none of them work without this one. Ego is the key pin."
Beat picked up Excalibur and held it up, inspecting it as if it were a jewel. Rhyme took Orbit and Blink to look over them herself, her blue eyes taking in every detail as they lit up in recognition.
"I think I know which powers these two had," she said as she held up Blink. "Obviously this one let you teleport," Rhyme then held up Orbit, "and this one gave you telekinesis, right?"
"That's right," Izuku said.
Rhyme smiled brightly at that. "Sweetness. So, give us a rundown then. What are we working with?"
Beat set Excalibur back down, adding it to the small pile of pins as Izuku began his explanation, pointing to each one as he did, "Well, going from oldest to newest, we have Verdant Orbit which is a Psychokinesis type. Vitali-Tea which is a Cure Drink type. Emerald Pyre is Pyrokinesis. These were the first three pins I made around the same time."
Beat and Rhyme followed along easily enough. The pair held back their questions until Izuku was finished.
The freckled Hero student then focused on the next four pins in the lineup. "Next would be Excalibur and Buster-Shot, a Blade and Shooter type. Resolute came next and is my only defensive pin. It's a Barrier type. And Scratch Rhapsody, my Jammer type, is the last one I made before U.A."
"Rock on. Already got my fave," Beat said, earning a laugh from Izuku and Rhyme.
"The last two," Izuku continued, "are Blink, a Jumper type, and Breaker Force, a Doom type."
"I take it you made your own classifications?" Rhyme asked as she still focused on the pins.
Izuku nodded. "Yeah. It helps me by giving them a classification I can work with. Something that gives them more flavor, in a way."
It was something he and Mr. H had spent plenty of time thinking about when he first determined how his Psychs worked. Izuku made the system in order to keep things organized. If he ever needed to, he could make a new Shooter type or a new Blade type that worked differently from Buster-Shot or Excalibur, but those new Psychs would still work within the confines of those types.
Izuku was considering a new Psych type to work with. He hadn't had time to think over what that Psych would do but did conclude that it should work in tandem with his other Psychs.
"Sounds like a game, yo," Beat stated bluntly.
The verdette nodded at the Bito's statement. Shoka was the first to point it out to him during their training for U.A.
"Still, it's nice to know you have things figured out. Sometimes, people don't rea-" Rhyme was cut off as a beeping came from her headset.
Izuku watched as the two Hero siblings' moods shifted, their eyes giving a hardened look as they stood up from their seats. Rhyme pulled a device from one of her leg pockets, her thumbs gliding across the touch screen as it came to life. The verdette noticed that, like Beat, Rhyme had her own skull design printed on the back of her device.
"Alright. Word on the streets is we have an individual going wild with his Quirk. No theories as to why, but initial reports from police on the scene say he was fine one moment, and a second later something was wrong." CodeR said, her tone becoming professional as she relayed information to Beat.
"Got it, R. He close by?" Beat asked. The blonde placed his skateboard on the ground, planting a foot on the deck as he readied himself to move at her word.
Izuku watched on, impressed by the quick shift into Hero Mode the two blondes went through. CodeR wasted no time in providing real-time data for her brother, while Beat focused on the information he needed to know.
It was obvious to Izuku that this was a skill the two had worked on to cooperate so seamlessly.
"Yeah. The suspect is coming down from Miyashita Park. His Quirk lets him control small wind and air currents. He injured several civilians and caused some damage to the park when he went out of control." The younger Bito listed off as she flipped down the band sitting on her head, revealing them to double as a visor.
Above their heads, several of the digital signs and banners changed. Instead of their product placements and sales ads, there were now several warning and caution messages that caught the attention of the large crowd of citizens populating the Scramble. Izuku could see a flash of recognition from the people, smiles forming on their faces as they saw CodeR's skull appear.
"Got it! Movin' to intercept!" Beat called out as his foot pushed off the ground.
As the blonde built up his momentum, he weaved through the crowd with practiced ease, avoiding those who stood still, unsure of what was happening while others noticed him and moved out of his way. Some even cheered as they saw him skate past them.
"Izuku," CodeR called out to the verdette, "you're not in costume so I can't give you too many orders, but keep up with Beat and help keep the crowd safe. I'm giving you permission to use your Quirk for defense only. I'm right behind you."
"Understood!" Izuku answered immediately. He grabbed his pins, setting Orbit, Blink, and Resolute to his jacket as he raced after Beat, hearing CodeR speak to who he assumed were other heroes and nearby police.
The freckled Hero student followed his second supervisor's literal trail. Beat seemed to emit a trail of golden light that trailed after him like a comet as the blonde Shibuya Hero picked up more and more speed. His mind raced with questions and theories about Beat's Quirk when Izuku watched him jump into the air and manage to perform a second jump midair. The front flip he pulled off was just for style at that point.
What was amazing was that Beat never lost his momentum. Each trick and maneuver flowed together as the blonde sped through the dense crowd as if they weren't even there.
Izuku saw Beat hop onto a handrail, grinding his skateboard across the metal bar when he felt the wind begin to shift and go wild.
Stumbling down the pathway from Miyashita Park was the suspect. He was an adult man who looked to be in his late 20s, short black hair and fair skin. His casual appearance didn't make him seem like he would be a random Villain, but the lessons from Aizawa reminded him that it is always a person's actions that are the determining factor.
But even then, something seemed off to the verdette. The man had a panicked look on his face. His eyes appeared to be distant. Dull. Like he wasn't entirely there.
But that didn't matter to Beat. The Trasher Hero needed to subdue the suspect to prevent him from hurting himself or others any further. Even with the wind picking up around him, Beat began to skate with the slipstreams in order to get close to the suspect. As the older Bito got to work, Izuku got in front of a group of civilians who were close enough to the action, sending his energy into Resolute just in case.
No sooner had Izuku done so, CodeR had run up behind him, ready for action. The slim blonde was typing away in the air, the electric blue of her gloves glowing as the digital signage once again turned into warning and caution messages.
"YO! Slow your roll, bro!" Beat called out to the wind manipulator. "You gotta calm down before you hurt any more people!"
"SHUT UP WITH THE NOISE! WHY IS IT SO NOISY!?" The man cried out, completely ignoring Beat.
The wind picked up at the man's distress, knocking back several civilians who didn't manage to brace themselves. Izuku quickly reacted, using Orbit to grab them for a split second to cushion their falls. The throbbing in his head was the least of his worries though.
The distressed man continued to ignore the world around him as he tried to flee when Beat moved in front of him. The blonde Hero held his hands up in a calming manner, hoping to mollify the man as he spoke, "Yo, you need to calm down. If you don't calm down, you're gonna hurt people, and then I'll have to hurt you to get you to stop."
"The noise. The noise! WHY IS THERE SO MUCH NOISE?!" The man cried out.
A strong gust of wind slammed against the blonde, his clothes whipping and billowing wildly as he braced himself. Beat clicked his tongue, unhappy that he would have to incapacitate the suspect. It was obvious, even to him, that the man was not in his right mind. It wouldn't surprise the Thrasher Hero that the unstable man might be under the effects of another person's Quirk.
He pushed those feelings to the side for now. People were in danger should the man escape while in this state. He and Rhyme can look into the matter once the suspect and civilians are safe.
The blonde Hero pushed his leg off of the ground and shot out at the distressed man. The man himself didn't even pay attention to Beat. His head swiveled, desperately searching for something. He screamed, bringing his hands to his head as the winds grew turbulent.
Izuku quickly used Resolute, pushing out his arms as he generated a large dome of energy to shield the civilians behind him from the strong gusts of winds that buffeted and carved the street around them. He could feel the strain on his mind. To create a shield the size he did, and to maintain it against a constant barrage of wind was pushing his limits. He could see his barrier falter as cracks and scratches formed along the outer layer.
The verdette dropped to a knee, his arms still held out as he kept up his shield, intent on doing his best to protect the people behind him. He felt a slender, gloved hand on his shoulder. Izuku didn't turn to look, but he knew that CodeR was giving him a small show of support. The freckled Hero student kept his eyes on Beat as the blonde seemed to ride on the wind.
Beat weaved through the erratic gusts, encircling the suspect, looking for a gap to shoot through. A strong air burst erupted from the man, nearly knocking the Thrasher Hero from his board. It was only through his skill and training that Beat maintained his control, flipping onto his hand as the other held the board, and back into an encircling maneuver by using the man's winds to build up his own speed.
Izuku's mind raced with ideas on how Beat could reach the suspect. This was mostly to ignore the pounding headache that was forming as he continued to maintain the barrier despite it nearing its time limit. The winds still blew around the area at high speeds, meaning that if his shield dropped, people would get hurt. That's why the verdette focused on what to do and what could be done.
His worries were unfounded as Beat ollied into the air and seemed to skate along the erratic winds. The Thrasher Hero flowed, every movement done perfectly in order for him to reach the Wind user as he moved with the winds. As the distressed man began to flee out of desperation, Beat switched to another stream and launched himself forward, his speed carrying him through the wild gusts and straight at the suspect.
With a flip in the air, Beat pulled his board into his hand and slammed the bottom of the deck into the back of the man's head. Despite his simplistic and violent action, Beat managed to knock the distressed man unconscious. As his limp body began to fall, the winds died down to gentle breezes before fully dispersing. The blonde Hero caught the man before he fully faceplanted onto the hard, unforgiving ground, setting him down gently and on his stomach.
CodeR made her way to her brother, a pair of Quirk suppressant cuffs emerged from the tech bag on her back and she placed them on the suspect's wrists. As the sibling Heroes made sure the man was secured and upright, Izuku took a second to catch his breath and checked on the group of civilians that witnessed the event. It didn't take long for police officers to arrive on the scene.
Izuku stood close to Beat and CodeR, watching the two interact with the officers as they gave a report of their actions. He picked up on some of the intricacies the pair of Heroes had while working alongside law enforcement and mentally filed it away so that he could ask them about it later. The verdette, along with the pair of blondes and officers, turned their attention to the stirring suspect.
Beat was the first to reach him, with CodeR not far behind when the confused and injured man reacted to the unfamiliar setting.
"Hey, hey! Take it easy, yo." Beat said to the man. The blonde planted his hands on the man's shoulders in order to keep him steady. "We got a few questions we need answered. First, let's start with a name. Can you do that for me?"
The man's breathing was erratic, but at the calm tone from the older Bito, he began to slow down enough to answer, "Hamada Shiro. Where am I? What happened?"
CodeR leaned down, placing her hands on her knees, and she looked the now identified Hamada in the eyes, "Mr. Hamada, that's what we need to figure out. Please, remain calm." Hamada finally noticed the pair of cuffs on his wrist. After a brief moment of panic, the man looked back at Beat and CodeR and gave them a shaky nod. "Thank you, Mr. Hamada. You're currently detained because you began using your Quirk at Miyashita Park and hurt several people before making your way here to the Scramble. Do you remember any of that happening?"
Hamada's eyes widened at CodeR's recounting of the last few minutes. Izuku could see the utter confusion and guilt in the man's eyes after hearing he ended up hurting others. Hamada shook his head when he finally found his voice again, "No. I don't remember much of anything. The last thing I remember was going to one of those junkpiles because of a stupid bet with my friends." He panicked once more, looking back and forth between Beat and CodeR. "My friends! Are they alright!?"
Beat looked over his shoulder at one of the officers. The man went through several notes that he pulled up from his department's database before giving the Hero a grim nod. "Witness statements are already on file. Two of Mr. Hamada's friends were hurt after he got close to the junkpile and began to go on a frenzy," the officer replied. "They weren't heavily injured but they were admitted to the hospital for treatment."
Izuku watched as Hamada gave a resigned sigh at the news. The verdette couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. And it seemed Beat and codeR felt the same.
"Mr. Hamada," CodeR softly called out the man. He slowly lifted his head to look at the small blonde. "I think you were under the influence of a Quirk that caused you to act the way you did. You said you went over to a junkpile, right?" Hamada gave her a nod. "You remember absolutely nothing after you got close to it?"
"That's right. Everything just went blank for me. That only thing I do remember is fuzzy, but it was like I was next to a speaker that just kept making noise at me." Hamada answered.
Izuku and Beat shared a look with CodeR. It was obvious to them. This was something they were going to have to look into later. Beat turned his attention to the officers behind them, "Hey! You guys got that area on lockdown, right?"
"Yes," said an officer. She stepped closer to the group, speaking to Beat and CodeR but giving Izuku a few looks to make sure he was following along. "We have a pair of agents from the HPSC working with some of our colleagues and cordoning off the area."
"This is the first time one of these junkpiles has affected someone, right?" Izuku asked.
The officer nodded. "That's correct. It's why we haven't begun to dismantle the pile and dispose of the junk like the other times."
Beat and CodeR noticed the thoughtful look on Izuku's face as he took in that information. The verdette ran through what he already knew. They were considered art pieces that seemed to pop up at random. Each time they were placed throughout Shibuya but there was always just one pile.
"Whatchu think?" Beat asked.
Izuku finished mulling over his thoughts when he looked back at the officer. "Did each pile seem similar to each other? Like having pieces of junk that were the same in each one. A special type of television, a speaker, anything?"
The officer shook her head. "Unfortunately, I can't tell you. I don't think we ever took note of what we pulled from those piles."
"You're thinking that something in the pile either amplified or acted as a conduit for someone's Quirk, right?" CodeR asked the Hero intern.
"Possibly," Izuku replied. He looked to both his supervisors and the officers as he spoke, "People originally thought these were pieces of art. Just by that idea alone, they could all be similar. An artist's style or signature. The best we can do is to see this latest pile and take note of anything that stands out."
"Then what are we standin' around for? Let's get you in costume and get goin', yo." Beat said with a wide smirk.
As the older Bito helped Hamada up to his feet, CodeR addressed the officer, "You don't need us for anything else, right?"
"No. We got it from here. You three just need to head to our department to make the usual report. Thanks for the assist, CodeR." The female officer shot Beat a smile and stifled a laugh as the older blonde had the wind knocked out of his sails at her statement. "Same to you, Beat. Make sure you take care of yourselves."
"Ain't got nothin' to worry 'bout," The older Bito replied confidently.
As Izuku followed the sibling Heroes as they rode along with the police officers to their department, a pair of golden eyes kept track of the trio with a keen interest.
After completing their reports, Izuku donned his Hero costume and followed Beat and CodeR through the streets of Shibuya. It was a rather abridged tour of the city, going against the Hero siblings' original plan for their intern, but they needed to play catch up.
It wasn't long before the trio arrived at Miyashita Park.
The first thing they saw was a pile of junk, each piece placed in such a way that gave the pile a sturdy structure as it towered over the officers that stood several feet away. As the three made their way over to the police line, Izuku couldn't help but stare at the mish-mash of trash that made up the tower, his eyes tracing over each and every piece he could as he studied it.
"Finally!" Izuku slightly jolted at an annoyed voice. He shifted his focus, seeing a pink-haired agent standing next to who he assumed was her partner. "You've made us wait long enough, Beat."
"Oh, hey Pinky," Beat said in a friendly enough tone, not noticing the twitch in the pinkette's eye as he did.
"Oh, don't you start with that, Daisukenojo!" The woman responded.
"The name's Beat, yo! And I'll call you whatever I want, Pinky! You ain't the boss of me!" Beat said aggressively.
Before the pinkette could retort, her partner strolled up to the group, speaking in a much calmer tone, "Relax you two. And sorry to say, Skulls, but we kinda are this time. Or at the very least partners in this investigation."
"What do you mean, Kariya?" CodeR asked the orangette.
"Uh-huh," the man wagged his finger playfully, "First comes introductions." He turned to look at Izuku, giving him a once over before offering the verdette his hand, which Izuku took into his own and gave a firm shake. "How's it going? The name's Kariya Koki, but just call me Kariya. And this," Kariya gestured to his partner who was still in the middle of a stare-down with Beat, "is my partner, Yashiro Uzuki. We're with the HPSC."
"Uh, hi. I'm Midoriya Izuku. But my Hero name is Link." Izuku said to the man.
"Nice to meet you, Link. Sorry about them. They get along like cats and dogs." Kariya explained, with CodeR nodding at his assessment. "So, R. How's it going with you?"
"It's been good. But you mentioned we're going to be partners?" The slim blonde asked the agent, trying to get to the meat of the matter.
Kariya's eyes gained a serious edge to them as he turned to look at the junkpile. "Yeah. Orders from the boss. We were going to get in touch with you and your brother tomorrow, but..."
"Things escalated?" Link finished Kariya's sentence.
"Got it in one." The agent replied grimly.
His words seemed to cause Link to look back at the pile with renewed interest. It seemed as though his internship wasn't going to be a quiet one. The verdette just hoped his friends' internships wouldn't be as crazy as his was shaping to be.
- U.A. UNIVERSITY -
Shinso stared at his phone, at the message he sent to Himiko earlier today. The indigoette released a heavy sigh at the lack of a reply. Even though he knew she wouldn't respond until she was done with her patrol, he couldn't help but get frustrated.
He wanted to make sure she was okay. Maybe even convince her to not go out tonight.
But Aizawa's earlier words hung heavily over him. After all, he couldn't fault his mentor for being angry with him. He aided and abetted a vigilante. It wasn't working alongside one because the situation called for it. Shinso had helped Himiko become a vigilante.
Or rather, he helped her become a better vigilante.
And now, he and Aizawa are about to perform their first night patrol after the Underground Hero finishes his talk with Nezu. Shinso put away his phone and began to run through their objectives for the night.
The first and most important point was to locate Himiko. He didn't know what came after that.
The second was going after who Aizawa believed was Himiko's next target. A man that is known as Saizo the Bone Breaker. A rather well-known Villain who had managed to avoid capture due to his connections in the underworld. Based on the file Shinso read, Saizo had started to work alongside some yakuza group that was trying to build up their power base. Aizawa mentioned that he pissed off the right kinds of people by doing so and was getting desperate.
"Shinso." The ever-tired Hero student jolted, looking up to see Aizawa standing in the doorway to Nezu's office. "Time to go."
Shinso nodded, quickly standing up and double-checking his costume and gear as he followed after Aizawa. His capture scarf hung around his neck in several loops, loose enough for him to use it against criminals and for traversal, but tight enough to hide his vocal mask from anyone's sight. Attached to two slots on his back were the pair of Escrima sticks that Mei had made for him. They were in a comfortable spot on his back, out of the way from his scarf but accessible enough for him to grab the grips without issue.
"So, what's our first step, sensei?" Shinso asked.
"First, we're heading to the police department. As Underground Heroes, we will work with the police more often than Daytime Heroes, whether for ongoing investigations or simple night patrols." Aizawa answered his student. Shinso nodded along as the two continued to make their way to the staff parking lot. "We'll be working with Detective Tsukauchi on our hunt for Saizo." The Underground Hero shot a glaring look at the indigoette. "And our search for Toga."
Shinso kept quiet at that part. He continued to follow after Aizawa in silence as he ruminated over his thoughts on the matter. Shinso was so lost in his thoughts that the journey to the Musutafu Police Department went by like a blur. He didn't even realize that the sun had already set past the horizon. His concentration was only broken when Aizawa spoke to him again inside the detective's office.
"Shinso. I'm not entirely angry with you. Disappointed, maybe, but that is because you and your friend seemed to think this was the right idea." Aizawa locked eyes with his student, seeing the small amount of guilt flash through Shinso's eyes. "Granted, you thought you were helping your friend. And while I only know some things about Toga from records Tsukauchi managed to get for us, it doesn't paint the best picture."
Aizawa looked at Shinso expectantly, waiting for his student to help fill in some blanks in the information he had. The caffeine-dependent student sighed, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before answering.
"Himiko has an issue with how she sees herself. Her Quirk is a blood-based one," Shinso looked up and saw Aizawa's blank stare, "which you already knew. Right... She hasn't told me everything about her past but I know her parents did their best to suppress her body's biological needs because of her Quirk. The fact that they kept using words like normal and monster based on their mood doesn't help her mindset."
"That matches up with my theory." Detective Tsukauchi said as he entered his office. "Made a trip over to the Togas a day ago. I wanted to get a read on them."
"How bad?" Aizawa asked.
The dark-haired detective grimaced, his voice laced with a budding rage as he answered, "Bad. I already have their arrest warrants ready to go but I still need Himiko's testimony. I want to make sure we don't miss anything on this. How are things on your end?"
"Nezu has things ready. Now all that's left is to find her before she gets into more trouble." The sleep-deprived Hero replied.
Tsukauchi seemed to relax but just barely. "Good." The detective handed Shinso and Aizawa a folder, gesturing them to read the files. "We need to move fast though. Saizo and his crew are on the move last we heard."
"And knowing her, she'll move just as fast to catch them," Shinso remarked. He looked at the two older men, his confusion apparent as he questioned the two for more information. "How do we know Himiko will go after them?"
Aizawa was the first to answer. "Her MO. The past criminals and Villains he went after were rather diverse but she kept her eyes on traffickers and kidnappers. Specifically, those that went after unique Quirks. Guess who specializes in that."
"Saizo." Shinso's eyes narrowed as he answered. He looked down at the file and read through Saizo's profile. His lips formed a thin line the more he read. There was something that Aizawa and Tsukauchi missed when they profiled Himiko. She had a tendency to hurt some criminals more than others. Ones she saw as monsters.
And Saizo was a monster. That thought alone caused him to grow more concerned for Himiko.
"Then we better get a move on. Do we have a general location where Saizo might be operating from?" Aizawa asked.
Tsukauchi moved over to a board hanging on his wall with a map of Musutafu pinned to it. Several colored pins marked various areas across the city. The detective pointed to three areas in particular. "We believe he is hiding in the Mon Cala Dockyards, the old Dantooin Apartments, or the Bespin Industrial Park."
"That's a pretty big area to cover," Shinso stated as he studied the board carefully.
"Yeah. I suggest we split up and search each one and meet up at the final location if the other two are a bust. Sansa and I will search the apartments." Tsukauchi pointed to the area on the map he specified as he spoke, "Where do you want to search?"
Aizawa studied the last two locations on the map, taking his time to come to a decision. Shinso left it up to him, not having much input on the matter. "We'll take the docks. Bespin is the largest area to search and could take up valuable time. Better we save that for last and handle it together."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll be sure to keep in touch. You and Whisper stay safe," Tsukauchi replied. The detective made his way to his desk, grabbed his coat from the back of his chair, and made his way out of his office. He gave the caffeine-dependent pair a nod and left.
Aizawa turned his head to look at Shinso, giving him a look the young man recognized. Shinso nodded, returning the look with one of his own. "I'm ready, Eraser Head."
"Then let's get to work, Whisper." The Hero student followed after Eraser Head as the two left the police department. Following, his mentor's example, the indigoette grabbed his capture scarf and took to the rooftops.
"I know you've gotten more practice with your maneuverability with your scarf, but it's time to put that practice to work. Follow my lead and copy my movements. I'll make sure to stick to safer paths. Keep your breathing level. If you need a second, call out to me." Eraser Head said to his student, his voice carrying absolute authority.
"Got it," Shinso replied.
With a nod, Eraser Head began to run across the roofs, Shinso tailing closely behind him. The Hero student felt the wind rush by him as he used his scarf to swing from building to building. There was a sense of freedom by doing so. It was one of those things he did talk with Sero about quite a bit. It was something that only the Tape user could understand.
Shinso needed to only take a couple of quick breaks during their rooftop marathon. While he was used to free-running thanks to Izuku's insistence during the early days of their friendship, this was different. The docks were far from the central area of Musutafu, and Eraser Head wanted to be sure that Shinso got the experience he needed while ensuring his student wasn't exhausted.
After twenty minutes of uninhibited running, the two had arrived at the docks. Perching themselves along the edges of the building they stopped on, Eraser Head scanned the area below. Shinso followed his example. Darting his eyes from warehouse to warehouse, the Hero student looked for any signs of activity.
He noted five warehouses for them to search. It seemed like a manageable number, but that was discounting what could be inside the buildings.
"I don't see anyone moving around. And no lights on either." Shinso said.
Eraser Head hummed in agreement. "We'll still need to search. We need to be sure Saizo doesn't use this place as a base of operations for his crimes."
"Got it. Which one do we start with?" The indigoette asked as he looked at his mentor.
Eraser Head pointed to the warehouse that was furthest away from the main gates of the docks, with a faded number five painted on the side. "The one that isn't as noticeable from the streets."
With their plan of attack set, Eraser Head and Shinso descended to the building below them, using it to leap onto a stack of metal shipping containers that lined the walls of the dock. Eraser Head did another visual sweep of the area, noting they were still in the clear. The two continued to advance to the warehouse and clambered up the side.
Making as little noise as possible, they crossed the metal roof to one of the skylights. Eraser Head and Shinso peered inside before opening the window enough for them to rappel down with their scarves.
"We'll spread out. Search whatever you can and any room you find." Eraser Head said, getting Shinso's attention. "This one doesn't look like it's been used but let's make sure just in case."
"Got it." With that, Shinso and Eraser Head separated, with Eraser Head making his way to the north side of the warehouse while Shinso went south.
The Indigoette passed by several empty shipping containers and ducked his head into each of them, only to find dust and cobwebs inside. He shook his head and continued with his search. It was the faint sound of metal scrapping across the floor that got his attention. Shinso whipped his head up, seeing a glimpse of movement in the window of the office above him.
Shinso looked at the old stairs that lead up to the office. He saw the wear and tear the metal steps had undergone over the years. If he attempted to climb them up, he would be giving away his position. An idea came to the Hero student and his eyes darted up to the rafters above him. Grabbing his scarf and snapping his wrist, the indigoette climbed up and stealthily crossed the beams.
He noticed the door was slightly ajar, giving him only a tiny glimpse of the darkened room. When Shinso didn't see the form of a person or their shadow, it put him on edge. He debated whether or not to call out with his Quirk and trap them, but he considered that if he was on edge, the person inside the room might be as well.
With his options limited, Shinso reached for his Escrima sticks. With his equipment in hand, and careful not to trigger the stun feature lest the sound of flowing static give him away, Hero student stood ready. When the door slowly opened, his body tensed up, ready to spring into action.
Only to stare at the open air.
Shinso's senses triggered, causing him to raise both sticks up. He heard a feminine hiss of pain as an arm wielding a knife slammed into the crossed bars.
"Himiko?" Shinso took in the sight of his ash-blonde friend. His surprise was matched by Himiko as she stared directly into his eyes.
"Hi-Hitoshi? What are you doing here?" She asked in a hushed tone, her words slightly muffled by the mask covering her mouth.
The indigoette slowly lowered his Escrima sticks, Himiko doing the same with her knife. As she switched the knife to her other hand to shake her stinging arm, Shinso responded to her question, "First night of my internship with Eraser Head. I sent you a message earlier hoping to reach you but-"
"Well duh. You know I don't answer when I'm working." Himiko stated matter-of-factly.
"Himiko there's more to it than that. I was tryi-" The indigoette tried to explain to his friend when another person joined the conversation. Shinso couldn't help but cringe at his mentor's sudden appearance, something Eraser Head noticed but chose to ignore.
"Trying to get you to not go out tonight. Or at the very least try and get you to meet up with us." Eraser Head interrupted. Himiko tensed up, bringing her knife up and ready to strike at the Underground Hero. Eraser Head just stared at her, a dull expression on his face, and brought his hands up to calm the ash-blonde down. "Easy, Toga."
"Himiko. I don't like that name." Himiko stated through gritted teeth.
The dark-haired Hero nodded. "Okay, Himiko. To give context, you've been making waves in the Underground. Where I can respect that, I would rather you not do so."
The ash-blonde's head tilted at his words, her mind working through the situation she found herself in. She pulled down her mask, giving Shinso and Eraser Head a good look at her face. "But, I'm good at what I do. I'm taking care of the monsters out there, just like you."
Eraser Head quirked a brow at Himiko's word choice while Shinso shot her a saddened look.
"You're doing alright but you're still an amateur. You're risking both your life and your potential future by continuing this vigilante work. When I figured out one of my Problem Children was helping you, I decided to involve myself." The Underground Hero said to the young woman.
Himiko pouted, not too happy with what she heard. She shot Eraser Head a distrusting look. "So? What are you gonna do? Arrest me?"
"No. At least not unless you give me a reason to." Eraser Head replied. Shinso and Himiko looked at each other, confusion apparent on their faces. "What happens tonight is up to you, Himiko. For now, Whisper and I have a job to do here."
"You guys after Saizo?" Himiko asked, already having an idea as to why Shinso and his mentor were there. "He should be here tonight if you are. Him and his crew like to switch up where they crash. This week, it's here."
"How did you figure that out?" Shinso asked, genuinely interested in how she learned this.
Himiko gave him a playful shrug. "I lucked out. Ran into one of his goons a couple of nights ago. Dumbass was pretty talkative after some alcohol. And that was before I even found him!" She pouted once more as she fiddled with her knife. "I didn't even get to bring out my knife."
The Underground Hero pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm going to ignore that for the time being." Eraser Head said after already dreading the headache coming his way. "Do you know what Saizo will be doing here?"
The cat-eyed young woman nodded. "Yep. Something about medical supplies for the yakuza group he's working with now. His goon didn't say who. He just kept calling them those masked freaks. I figured I could come in and mess with Saizo's supplies and get him in trouble with them."
Shinso was confused by that remark. "Why only do that? You usually get the criminals you go after arrested."
"Saizo's too big for me to handle by myself. Figured if I couldn't get him in trouble with the police and Heroes, I can make his work life hell." Himiko answered.
Shinso and Eraser Head shared a look. That wasn't a bad plan. Saizo had a habit of dodging the police and jail time, even if the odds were against him. Eraser Head had an idea that someone Saizo worked for did their best to keep Saizo on the streets.
A flash of light passed the windows, startling the trio and forcing them to hide. Shinso and Himiko ducked beside some open shipping containers while Eraser Head sidled against the wall. The Underground Hero slowly peeked out the dirty window to see who entered the dockyard.
From his spot, Eraser Head could see twenty men and women, some with notable Heteromorphic Quirks, exiting several vans and trucks near the third warehouse. He watched as some of them paired up and took up positions nearby, most likely acting as sentries, the Hero figured. His attention was brought back to the vehicles when he spotted the one person he was looking for.
Saizo's pictures in his file didn't do him justice. Eraser Head could clearly see the large man's Heteromorphic Quirk as thick, hardened, and bony protrusions that lay just under his skin. The Quirk itself was basic but would be a pain to deal with since it provided him extra protection from attacks. If that wasn't enough, the angry sneer that seemed to be fixed permanently on his face, coupled with a multitude of scars along his body showed that he wasn't above getting into a fight.
Eraser Head pulled away from the window after Saizo barked out a few orders to his group and entered the warehouse. The Underground Hero called over his student, with Himiko trailing after her friend. Eraser Head was about to say something about that but brushed it aside. He needed to know more about the ash-blonde that his student hung out with and she already has shown that she knows what she's doing. That, and he knew a problem child when he saw one. She would get involved even if he and Shinso asked her not to.
The fact that he felt a growing headache was just something the Pro Hero would have to deal with.
"Alright. Saizo is here. He just went inside the third warehouse near the docks. Aside from him, I counted around twenty members of his group, with four groups of two patrolling the area." The Hero recounted. He watched as the two young adults began to work through a plan of attack, seeing the gears turn in their heads as they seemed to consider one or two options before rethinking some.
Shinso was the first to speak up, "We should take care of the ones patrolling first. I can use my Quirk to make sure they won't be a problem."
"How many can you keep a hold of?" Eraser Head asked his mentee.
Shinso grimaced, his lips forming a thin frown. "Six at most before I get some sort of feedback issues."
"Why don't we just make sure you stay under that limit? If they're working in pairs, you only have to control one of them. Knock out the other and there shouldn't be any issues, right?" Himiko stated. Eraser Head conceded that would work. They just had to hope that Saizo wouldn't catch on. That would cut down on their numbers which was something he worried about.
"It's a good plan. Let's work around that. How would you go about taking down the extra guard?" Eraser Head asked, genuinely curious how the two would go about enacting their plan.
"Himiko can easily blindside them. She was the one who helped me with my reaction and awareness." Shinso looked at the ash-blonde who preened at his words. "She's probably stealthier than you are, Eraser. She can knock out one of the guards while I quickly follow up and get the other under my control."
Eraser Head didn't answer right away, causing Shinso and Himiko to worry for a moment that their initial plan would get thrown out.
"Alright. I'm going to trust you both on this then. I'll stick close and provide you cover if you need it. Whisper, you have full permission to use your Quirk as needed." The Pro Hero shot the two a sharp look, one that caused both of them to stiffen. "I will handle the major fighting. Don't rush in like a pair of idiots, understood?"
"Got it," The indigoette replied with a nod. Eraser Head was glad to see his mentee was taking this as seriously as he could.
"Fine." Himiko's reply was much less enthused but showed some professionalism.
"Good. Let's work out the rest of our plan." Before the Underground Hero could continue, Himiko raised her hand to get his attention.
"Um. I should..." She paused. Eraser Head could see the fear and hesitation in her eyes. It wasn't until Shinso placed a hand on the ash-blonde's shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze that she calmed down enough. Himiko let out a heavy sigh as she spoke again, "I should tell you about how my Quirk works."
Eraser Head stood atop the stationary crane between warehouses three and four, giving him an aerial view of the docks. The Hero kept his eyes on the patrolling Villains when he spotted Shinso and Himiko nearing the first group. He donned his goggles and kept his eyes on the pair.
When Himiko seemed to have disappeared from view, Eraser Head blinked a few times before scanning the area again. She reappeared a few seconds later, right behind an unsuspecting when she slammed the butt of her knife against their temple. Their partner barely had time to react when Shinso called out to him, getting a reaction out of the man.
As the indigoette began to give orders to the enthralled man, Eraser Head nodded in approval at Shinso and Himiko's teamwork. As the two moved on to the next pair of guards, Eraser Head tailed them, making sure to stay out of sight of the other Villains. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Saizo directing his group to start loading the vans they arrived in.
Knowing time was now of the essence, Eraser Head texted Tsukauchi, trying to get an ETA on his arrival. He took his eyes off his phone as Shinso and Himiko engaged the second pair of guards. Just like the first one, his student and their friend took down the Villains with relative ease. The Underground Hero noticed the two tense up for a second and he directed his attention to the main group of Villains.
Eraser Head spotted Saizo speaking into a radio. It was obvious to the Hero that Saizo was checking in with the patrol groups. He didn't want to admit it, but Eraser Head was worried that he would have to engage the main group. As Saizo seemed pleased with what he heard and returned to his operation, Eraser Head let out a held breath and returned his attention to Shinso and Himiko, seeing the pair have relieved looks of their own.
It was a comfortable pattern the trio found themselves in. Eraser Head continued to provide overwatch for the two, evaluating their performance and keeping an eye on Himiko. So far, he was impressed by her, as well as his student. The two worked well together and a part of him wanted to see that partnership flourish.
He just hoped Himiko would be receptive after this was all over.
As the two finished with the last pair, the Pro Hero called them over his comms, making sure to use Himiko's temporary call sign as he did. "Come in, Whisper. You and Huntress head to our meet-up point. It's time to start the next phase of our operation. Over."
"Understood, Eraser. On our way. Over."
Eraser Head gripped his capture scarf and lashed it against a lamppost, swinging from his vantage point to the ground. Releasing his hold, the Underground Hero hit the ground, shifting into a roll as he moved behind a pile of crates. Waiting a moment to listen for any Villains who might have caught a glimpse of him, the scruffy man moved on silently.
As he turned the corner, he saw Shinso and Himiko waiting for him. He was about to speak to them when he noticed Himiko was rather fidgety.
"Himiko, you need some blood. You've starved yourself again." Shinso said in a hushed tone.
"I'm fine, Hitoshi. I-I don't need it right now." She turned away from the indigoette, doing her best to avoid his gaze. "I can handle it."
"Both of you need to remember to avoid using your real names while on the job." The two young adults jumped slightly at Eraser Head's words. "And Huntress, you need to ensure you're healthy."
Himiko's head dropped at his words, not wanting to argue with the Hero. When she did speak again, her tone was quiet. "You're right. I just... I don't want you to see it happen."
"Himiko," Eraser Head said in a soft, understanding tone, "one of my colleagues requires blood for his own Quirk. You're not alone in needing something specific for your Quirk, let alone your body."
The ash-blonde vigilante was quiet for a moment before giving him a nod. "Okay." She turned to Shinso, her eyes still focused on the ground when she spoke to him. "Whisper, can you-"
"You already know you don't have to ask." Himiko was surprised when Shinso's arm appeared before her, the sleeve of his Hero costume rolled up revealing his pale skin.
Himiko gave him a faint smile as she grabbed his arm. She was still hesitant to quench her building thirst in front of Eraser Head, but the Hero gave her an understanding nod. The ash-blonde took a deep breath and ran her tongue along Shinso's arm before biting into it.
Shinso didn't even wince as Himiko drank from him. Unlike the other times she fed from him, Himiko made it quick, not wanting to cause the indigoette trouble as the night went on.
Eraser Head saw a wave of calm wash over the young woman when she pulled away from Shinso. There was a level of focus that returned as her body seemed to become more stable. His student flexed his arm before rolling down his sleeve and spoke up.
"So. We're going to trim down the rest of their numbers before engaging Saizo?" The indigoette asked.
"Yes," the Hero replied, "Saizo has two groups loading up their vans. The rest are inside the warehouse with Saizo. You and Himiko will handle one group while I handle the other. That's thirteen people, including Saizo, for us to deal with."
Himiko looked slightly hesitant when she joined the conversation. "What about your police friends?" She asked.
Eraser Head dug through his pocket and checked his phone, seeing a message from Detective Tsukauchi that was received a few minutes ago. "They should arrive in fifteen minutes." As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, he gave the two a determined look, though it looked like his main expression. Even Shinso had difficulty differentiating it from the usual looks he had seen from the Hero. "Let's make their job a little easier."
"Remind me why we're doing work for those masked freaks?" A dark-haired man asked his partner as they loaded another crate into their van.
"Because Saizo made a deal with them. And what the boss says, goes," Replied a woman with red scales lining her body.
The man groaned. "I still think we should stay away from them. We get good work from our usual contact. If they find out we're doing double dealings, it's on all our heads. I say we find some suckers with interesting Quirks, put a nice bow on them, and hand them off to one of our old contacts. That way they don't come looking for us." As the man worked, he didn't notice a strip of cloth loop around his head until it was too late.
"That's why we're being extra careful, dumbass. So they don't find out what we're up to," The red-scaled woman didn't even realize her partner was dragged off into the shadows. Even when she noticed his absence, she simply continued to work, happy that she didn't have to listen to him complain.
As she clambered out of the van, she started to look around. "Ken?" Not getting an answer, the red-scaled woman clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Fucker just left me to deal with this while he went off for a smoke break I bet."
She failed to notice Himiko sneak up behind her. The last thing the woman saw before she blacked out was a set of white fangs and a pair of golden cat-like eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight.
"Hurry up! Those bird fuckers are wanting this shit by tomorrow. The sooner we handle it, the sooner we don't have to deal with them for a while," Saizo said to the rest of his crew as they placed the rest of the supplies into crates.
So far the night was easy for them. They managed to get the medical supplies his contact with the yakuza needed without issue. Granted, Saizo did end up stealing it from one of his other contacts but he was sure he could smooth things over if need be.
After all, business was business in the underground and anything goes there. That is, as long as you didn't cross too many lines or were willing to take such risks.
The Villain was brought out of his thoughts when he heard one of his crew members from outside the warehouse.
"Where did those fuckers go!? We still got shit to load!"
Saizo let out a groan. The night was going so well. The Villain looked at the rest of his crew and nudged his head, signaling them to follow him. As he stepped outside, the hairs on the back of his head stood on end. He looked at the person who was venting out her frustrations.
"Hey! Red! What the fuck is going on out here?" Saizo called out.
"Don't know, boss. Ken and the others seemed to fuck off for a smoke break or something. They fucking left me with all the work." The red-scaled woman replied.
There was a feeling in Saizo's gut that something was wrong. He took his radio and called out to his patrols. "Hey, you guys seeing anything out there?"
"No, boss."
"No, boss."
"No, boss."
"No, boss."
That didn't sound right to the Villain. Each of his crew seemed to have the same bland voice as they spoke. Red flags began to pop up in his mind when he quickly turned to the rest of his crew.
"Alright, on your toes! We got a Hero sticking their nose in our business!" Saizo barked out.
The nine remaining members of Saizo's crew tensed up immediately. Several of them panicked slightly, their eyes darting across the dockyard, chasing any shadow that seemed to move.
"Group up dumbasses! Don't go off alone!" The Villain grit his teeth at the few of his crew that had to be ordered to do so. He shook his head at their incompetency and started to roll his shoulders as he scanned the area.
As one group of Villains passed by a large stack of shipping crates, they heard Saizo giving them an order, "YOu thREE. ChEcK Out THOse crATEs."
The trio looked at each other and shrugged. They turned the corner, one was caught by a capture scarf without so much as a sound. The other two continued to search, Shinso quietly dropped in behind them. Equipping his Escrima sticks, the Hero student triggered the stun guns built into them and jabbed them into the backs of the Villains.
The pair convulsed as their bodies tensed and spasmed as electricity danced through them. There was a slight reprieve when it stopped suddenly, only to feel metal slam into the sides of their heads, knocking them out completely.
"So glad to be on the other side of that for once," Shinso said to himself as he switched to his scarf and climbed up the shipping crates.
"Hey, you two!" A pair of Villains looked at the red-scaled woman as she called out to him. "I think I saw something. Back me up real fast."
They watched as she quickly disappeared behind a foreman's shack but followed after her. They turned the corner and saw how far ahead she was as she already made her way past a pile of wooden crates.
"Ken! What happened to you?" They heard her cry out in alarm.
"Hey! Red! Wait up!" One Villain called out to her.
They rushed after her, expecting to see her and Ken as they rounded the next corner, only to find no one there. Before either could call out to their crewmate, one was knocked into a stack of crates. As his body crashed into it, several tumbled down on top of him, burying him in a pile of broken wood.
His partner tried to call for help when a knife suddenly appeared, the blade pressing up against his throat. He turned his head enough to see a gray ooze fall from Red, revealing a pair of golden eyes.
Saizo was pissed. Someone was making a fool of him and his crew and he wasn't going to have that. As he turned to address the remaining members of his crew, his eyes widened in surprise as Eraser Head leaped into the middle of them. Saizo watched as the Underground Hero managed to weave through them with ease. Even with a small numbers advantage, they were no match for the Hero as he took them out one by one.
The lead Villain growled out in anger and rushed the Hero. "THAT'S IT! FIRST I'M GOING TO RIP OFF YOUR HEAD!" His fist slammed into the ground, causing the pavement to break up into a series of spider-web cracks from the impact. Saizo flexed his hands, his skin tightening around his extra bony knuckles as he stared down Eraser Head. "THEN I'M GOING TO MOUNT IT ON THE WALL OF MY BASE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE!"
Eraser Head dodged a sloppy tackle, looping his capture scarf around Saizo's legs, and yanked hard. The Villain's momentum shifted and he suddenly found himself falling face-first into the pavement. Eraser Head didn't follow up, choosing instead to study Saizo for any weak points in his body's natural armor that he could exploit.
The Villain pushed off the ground, his voice laced with anger as his eyes narrowed on the Hero. "You're going to need to do more than that you fucker."
Eraser Head simply deadpanned at the Villain. "So you can take a hit. Doesn't even make you special among all the Villains I've taken down."
"I didn't get this far because I can take a hit, Eraser Head. I did it because I'm smart." Saizo grinned, showing off a series of sharpened teeth. "Like how your Quirk is fucking useless against me."
The Underground Hero couldn't help but sigh at that. "And that makes you the fifty-third Villain to tell me that. Apparently, you all think that my Quirk is all I'm good for. Not like I need it to capture you."
Saizo broke off into a sprint that Eraser Head easily dodged. Saizo didn't stop and continued his charge until he was next to a pile of wooden crates. The Villain picked one up and launched it at Eraser Head. The Hero ducked in time as the crate sailed over his head and slammed into the wall behind him, shattering into a flurry of splinters that littered the ground.
He was given no time to rest as Saizo flung another crate his way. As the Hero dodged it, a voice cut through the air, gaining the Villain's attention.
"Saizo!" The Villain in question turned his head and saw Shinso. As his eyes locked on with the Hero student's, Saizo missed the smug look forming on his face. "Duck."
Something drove Saizo to do so as if he was warned of an impending attack. He dropped to a knee, expecting to dodge a hit, only to see a flash of a knife. He felt the blade dig into his brow, cutting a fine line across his skin when the blade snapped in two against his hardened bone.
"You fuckers!" He cried out as blood dripped down his face, blocking out his left eye. For the first time in a long while, Saizo suffered a rather deep cut.
Eraser Head quickly acted. Staying within the Villain's new blindspot, the Hero whipped his capture scarf around a small metal crate sitting outside one of the vans and spun on his heel. As he picked up speed, Eraser Head launched the crate with extreme accuracy, striking Saizo in the head.
The villain grunted in pain as the metal case fell to the ground. He was in a daze, his vision becoming blurry as Shinso moved to strike. Saizo laughed as he saw the indigoette charge at him with a pair of metal sticks in his hands.
"Like that's gonna do much." Saizo stood tall, taunting the Hero student as he lunged. "Gonna need more than that, dumbass!"
"Well then, you're in for a shock, dumbass," Shinso stated as he avoided the wild lunge and brought the ends of his Escrima sticks against Saizo's body.
Saizo was confused before a torrent of electricity traveled throughout his body. His body tensed up and prevented him from moving. Even with his natural defense, his skin was still susceptible to other kinds of damage.
As soon as Shinso let go of the triggers, Eraser Head wrapped Saizo up in his capture scarf, preventing the Villain from moving an inch. Saizo felt his body lose its tension, only to immediately struggle to free himself from Eraser Head's hold. Despite being caught, the Villain had plenty of fight left in him and the strength to catch the Hero off guard.
Saizo grunted and jerked his body, nearly causing Eraser Head to lose his grip and footing. The Pro Hero struggled to maintain his grip, doing his best to wrangle the Villain. Saizo twisted his body left and right in an attempt to throw off the Hero. Eraser Head felt his arms nearly rip out of their sockets because of the Villain's wild movements.
Amidst Saizo's continuous attempts to free himself, he failed to take notice of Shinso and Himiko running at him. Or the ends of the indigoette's capture scarf in their hands as they rushed the Villain.
"Hey, dumbass!"
"Mind your head!"
Shinso and Himiko leaped into the air, holding the scarf with enough slack to catch Saizo's face. Their momentum carried through, bringing the Villain down with a heavy slam. Saizo's head smacked down on the hard pavement, cracking both the ground and his skull as Shinso and Himiko both landed in a crouch.
The Villain laid on the ground in a daze, his vision swimming as his head throbbed with pain. Eraser Head loosened his grip and let his sore arms go slack. He watched as his student and his vigilante friend shared a victorious smirk.
Their budding celebration was cut short as a dazed Saizo began to stir. Eraser Head tightened the capture scarf that entangled the Villain, making sure that he couldn't move or pick himself off of the ground. Saizo didn't struggle though. It seemed like that last hit caused more damage than the three thought.
Saizo craned his neck to look at the group, his unblinded eye looking over the three until it landed on Himiko, flashing with some recognition. "Heyyyyy!" The downed Villain said with a slow slur. "You're that bitch that fucked over my business. HAAAAaaa! I was asked to grab you. Something about your Quirk being perfect for something, I don't know."
Himiko tensed up at that. Saizo didn't seem to notice and just kept talking, his delirious mind removing whatever filter he once had. "Yeah. I remember now. Your Quirk was reeeeeeeal special to one of my contacts. Probably why we never could find you. Must have drained a lot of people to hide away from someone like me."
"Shut up." Himiko's eyes narrowed as she looked at the captured Saizo. Shinso stood next to her, his presence helping calm her down until Saizo continued to speak.
"Yeah. I know those eyes. That mask around your neck tells me everything~." The Villain began to laugh, the slur in his speech growing more and more pronounced. "You're that vigilante I've been hearin' about! Yeah, you've been cutting up plenty of Villains. Man, between that and a Quirk like yours, you must be a real monster. Makes you wonder what your parents think of you."
"Shut up!" Himiko quickly drew one of her knives and lunged at the downed Villain.
"Himiko!" Eraser Head rushed to stop the ash-blonde from assaulting Saizo.
The knife-wielding vigilante was mid-swing when Shinso caught her arm. Himiko struggled in his grip, being careful not to hurt her friend as she continued to lash out at the downed Villain. Shinso didn't let go though.
Himiko began to tire out after a while. Her knife dropped to the ground as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"I don't want to be a monster." She said. Shinso couldn't help but hear the defeat in her voice. "I'm not normal. I tried to be normal but I can't."
Himiko felt a pair of arms wrap around her, bringing her in close. She started to nuzzle into Shinso's body, her tears beginning to stain his costume. He spoke softly to her, doing his best to calm her down. "Himiko, you aren't a monster. You aren't a Villain either." He let out a playful huff. "Taking a page from my friend's playbook, until you believe that yourself, just remember I don't think you're a monster. You're still Himiko to me. That weirdo who likes to get her caffeine fix from my blood."
"Besides... normal is kinda overrated. We're all a little weird." Shinso nudged his head in Eraser Head's direction. "My mentor and I are like three-fourths coffee at this point. Do you think that's normal?"
That got a laugh out of the ash-blonde young woman, one that Shinso welcomed. Eraser Head watched the two with a concerned eye while he pulled Saizo to the side and added several loops of his scarf around the Villain's mouth to silence him. As Himiko began to calm down, the Underground Hero spoke up.
"Himiko." The ash-blonde young woman turned to face him, her golden eyes still wet with tears, though there was a flicker of life returning to them. "I have an offer for you. Would you be willing to listen after we finish up here?"
Eraser Head could see the young woman debate the idea with herself while Shinso seemed to be shocked, having an idea as to what this offer could be.
"Just think on it." The Underground Hero said, getting the two young adults to focus on him. "For now, let's get these Villains rounded up for when Tsukauchi and the others get here."
Shinso and Himiko gave him a nod and the two began to canvas the area, bringing over the bodies of unconscious Villains to be rounded up.
Eraser Head just watched and let out a heavy sigh. He knew a problem child when he saw one. How did he know this?
Because ever since he first met Midoriya and Shinso, he knew he was a magnet for them.
And Nezu seemed to relish that fact with all the extra work he made the Underground Hero do in order to make sure they each had a chance in life.
And a choice.