Despite the flicker of joy Izuku feels when Katsumi frees the civilians from Dictator's mind control, he still isn't happy to see all of class 1-A here.
"Why are you all here?" Izuku asks, already knowing the answer, as Ururaka steps forward with a concerned face. "We're here because we're worried about you." Izuku shakes his head, "I'm fine, leave me alone and go home." His words cause the class to tense as Emery readies her quirk, hoping to immobilize him before he can run.
Suddenly, Katsumi starts to walk towards Izuku, scowling as she berates him. "That's a weak ass lie, and you know it, Deku! I bet you aren't even smiling under that mask anymore, are you?!" She demands as he shrugs, "I'll smile once everyone is safe again, so get out of my way so I can get back to saving people."
Katsumi doesn't budge as she keeps walking steadily towards Izuku, stopping right in front of him as he tenses, ready to jump away, when Katsumi does something no one expected. She hugs him, and Izuku freezes up in shock as Katsumi holds him tight, "We already lost Carter, we can't lose you too. Not just us, All Might, and your mom are worried sick about you. Come back to U.A. with us."
Seeing him not moving, the rest of class A closes in as they open their hearts to Izuku, telling him how much they miss him, and how he's changed their lives for the better, as some of them break into tears at the thought of losing Izuku the same way they did Carter.
"I can't go back." He finally chokes out as Katsumi glares at him. "Why the fuck not?!" "Because Tomura is still after my quirk, I'd be putting everyone taking shelter at U.A. at risk if I go back." Katsumi rolls her eyes, "If he attacks U.A. while you're weak, he'll hurt more people. Honestly, I thought you'd figured it out. They're letting you run yourself ragged so you can't put up a fight when they finally move in." Izuku blinks at that, somehow not having considered that as the mental and physical exhaustion start to catch up, and he falls unconscious.
As Nezu watched class 1-A bring Izuku back onto school grounds, he sighed in relief. Despite his general distaste for the race that had hurt him so long ago, there were always shining lights in the dark that reinforced his belief that Humanity is worth saving. Izuku and All Might were two of those people.
He watched as his classmates valiantly faced the crowd that was foolish enough to protest Izuku entering the school, despite him possibly being the only one who could save them. Returning to his work, he finished setting up the plan that would hopefully put Tomura in the ground before he could destroy Japan.
What was constantly on his mind, however, was a message sent by the Foundation only hours ago. Sent in one of the more secure ways he'd seen in a while was a file containing information on a creature they call, SCP-682 'The hard to destroy lizard.'
He'd been amused at first by the name, but that was quickly rectified by what he read about this monster. Resistant to most forms of damage, and what damage that can be done is healed disturbingly quickly. Not to mention the thing hates all life and wishes nothing more than the total annihilation of the Human race, and it was only 1,000 miles away from Japan.
What bothered him most was what the creature was doing in the water, fighting dragons. He read the reports submitted by their navy, of 682 fighting sea dragons by the dozens as submarines tried to kill all of them, only for the sea dragons to turn on them as they dragged 682 deeper under water in chains.
Now it had been sighted again, closer this time.
That isn't all he has to worry about, since another extremely dangerous person is on her way, Star and Stripe.
Due to the danger that Tomura will pose once he's finished fixing his body, All Might, Nezu, and the Japanese government have reached out to the United Natiosnasking for help to kill Tomura. Despite most expressing empathy, none commit 100%, fearing that AFO's connections in the underworld will cause chaos in their own countries if they send their strongest heroes.
None except the United States of America. Cathleen was personally present at the U.N. meeting in New York as she declared to the whole world that she would help.
"For too long now, Humanity has been held back by people like All For One, and now Tomura seeks to take up that mantle." She started as delegates from around the world listened.
"The inaction I see here today will be the cause of the very thing you fear. For too long, Humanity has tolerated these parasites that seek only to dominate and spread suffering. Now is the time to show them ALL that we will not tolerate it anymore.
I will stand by Japan in their time of need, regardless of what the government or what the pampered idiots in Congress and the Senate want. Not just because Tomura is a threat to Humanity as a whole, but for a more personal reason." She takes and holds up a picture of her and Carter, right as he was reaching her height.
"My son died fighting Tomura, All For One, and the League of Villains. I am going to make sure that my SON didn't sacrifice his life for NOTHING! If you spineless cowards want to let this threat to Humanity grow unchecked, I hope you enjoy the world burning from your little gilded cages, because I'll be out there fighting for everyone's freedom, not just hiding behind laws and bureaucracy."
She left amid cries of impotent outrage as Nezu and Toshinori grinned behind screens at her antics. Not long after the meeting, Star gave a solo press conference where she explained her plan.
"Star over here!" A reporter raised her hands as she was called upon, "Many people are wondering why you're leaving us to go fight some villain in Japan, it's not like he's going to come here!" Star glowers at the woman but still answers. "I am going because Tomura Shigaraki and his League of Villains are a threat to Humanity and freedom around the world."
Another hand raised, "Why did your son go to the hero school in Japan if we have plenty of good schools here in America. Were you trying to foster relations with Japan?" "What are your thoughts on your son dating Japanese girls while overseas? Are Americans not good enough for him!"
Faced with the flurry of idiotic questions, Star was glad she was only doing this once as she raised her voice, "QUIET!" As the reporters quieted down, she started to speak.
"I am going to stop Tomura. Nothing in the country or on this planet can stop me. I will be taking several other pro heroes with me that have proven again and again to be useful at doing what needs to be done, but you will not be left defenseless."
The people watching at home and those there in person are confused before Star's next words shock them.
"Starting today, by authorization of the President, Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Congress. Clause 58 of the Heroic Act will now be in effect. What does that mean?" She then stared straight into the camera.
"It means that all villains have now been declared terrorists and enemies of the United States. Lethal force has been authorized on all levels, from Pros to law enforcement. That doesn't mean it's open season on villains, but it sure is close."
As people across the country stared in shock at Star, she continued.
"For those of you who would bend this emergency to further your own agendas, when found, and we WILL find you. You'll be tried for treason and executed for defying an Executive and Congressional order."
She talked for another ten minutes, explaining a few things before she ended things, leaving amidst a wave of shouting and questions. The country hadn't even had time to think about what had just happened before ten minutes later, President Skyline himself addressed the country.
"Hello America, for those of you who would twist the words of Star and Stripe, let me make things very clear.
By the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act, the Insurrection Act, and applicable provisions of Title 10 and Title 50 of the United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:
I hereby find that:
The United States is facing an extraordinary and ongoing domestic threat posed by organized and individual super-powered actors engaging in acts of mass violence, infrastructure sabotage, and targeted assassinations.
These acts constitute domestic terrorism and armed insurrection, exceeding the response capacity of conventional civilian law enforcement.
Such actors have demonstrated the ability to: Cause mass civilian casualties, evade lawful arrest, overwhelm local, state, and federal authorities, and destabilize public order and national security. Immediate and decisive action is required to protect the lives of American citizens and preserve the constitutional order of the United States.
I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to the threat posed by designated hostile meta-human actors operating within the territory of the United States.
This emergency shall remain in effect until terminated by the President."
The country was in turmoil for days as people took to the streets in protest, only to get attacked by villains who saw a chance for chaos. Star and Stripe personally arrived to deal with them; not many protested in person after that mess.
For a month straight, Villains around the country were cut down as Star left nothing alive, going to each known Villain's hideout to cleanse everything. Craters were found in cities and in the wilderness as Villains with the power to destabilize the country were suddenly being targeted personally by Star.
Obviously, not every hero was in support of this, with many speaking out or even quitting as they refused to go along with such things, despite Star explaining that only the worst of the worst would get death. People still refused to listen as some states with hidden ties to villains tried to fight back against Star legally, only for the Supreme Court to declare that all those preventing the law from being enacted would be investigated.
Plenty more villains were found that way as people once again took to the streets, with even heroes joining them as they demanded that Star have her hero license taken away. To that, she did nothing but continue her grisly work to keep people safe, so that she could go after Tomura. Eventually, the protests started to get violent until the #2 hero, a known rival of Star, came to her defense.
"Shocking news tonight, #2 Pro Hero Defiant held a press conference earlier today, speaking out in favor of the new law passed. Let's listen in on what he has to say." The people at home watched as the new broadcasts showed a video of Defiant, a somewhat tall, if plain-looking man.
That didn't fool them, for almost twenty years now, Defiant had been seen doing the impossible, flying across the country in hours, lifting entire bridges and skyscrapers to safety, his feats of strength and durability were known across the country, and his voice had always been in opposition to Star, but not anymore.
"My fellow Americans, anyone who's followed my career knows I don't make a habit of agreeing with Star and Stripe. We've argued in private. We've disagreed in public, and more than once, I've told them exactly what I think of their judgment and where they can shove that insufferable smile.
"So if I'm standing here tonight, saying this country needs what's happening next, you should understand how serious things have become."
"For years, we told ourselves that villains were just criminals with bigger weapons. That if we caught them one more time, built one more prison, wrote one more set of rules, things would stabilize. They didn't."
Defiant glanced down at the script that his PR manager had given him. 'I don't wanna say half this shit!' He thought, glancing at it a few more times before tearing the paper to shreds.
"Alright, enough of that." He declared as he focused on what he actually wanted to say, pointedly ignoring the shouting his team was doing in his earpiece.
"Star is doing something right for once, plain and simple. For years now, I've had to bury friends, family, and fellow heroes because of the system that allows them to live despite all the things they do. Do I agree with how she did it? No. I've never been a fan of her, but I'm willing to put all of that aside for the greater good of this country.
For too long, we've coddled the scum of society, allowing them to plot the downfall of our country again and again. This is just logic. They want to plant bombs across the city? They get killed once the bombs are found."
More shouts are heard as questions are thrown left and right, but he pays them no mind.
"Despite what the media says, or what some hippie protesters say, this is what we need. I am willing to live with blood on my hands if it means that thousands of innocents never get harmed. So yes, living up to my name, I am Defiant, I will stand by Star and Stripe as she cleanses this country of the scum who have threatened it for too long.
I will also be joining Star and two more heroes to help Japan in their fight against Tomura. She has not asked, nor has anyone reached out. I am doing this because just like Star, I have lost a child to villainy, and I feel that if I don't go and help her stop the monster across the seas, more innocent children will die before there can truly be peace."
Now, as Star and Stripe, Defiant, and two other top U.S. heroes close in on Japanese airspace, Tomura closes in.