Location: High-end Restaurant, Tokyo
Date: Tuesday | 07:30 PM
CLINK.
A waiter set two tall wine glasses down on the white tablecloth and quietly walked away.
The restaurant was located on the top floor of a high-rise building. It was quiet, private, and very expensive.
Kaito sat on one side of the table. He was wearing a dark suit, but he had taken off his tie and unbuttoned the collar of his shirt. He actually looked relaxed.
Sitting across from him was Nemuri Kayama.
She wasn't wearing her Midnight hero costume.
She wore a beautiful, dark red evening dress. Her hair was down, and she looked completely stunning.
Nemuri picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip. She looked at Kaito over the rim of her glass.
"You know," Nemuri smiled, setting the glass down. "I honestly expected you to show up with a clipboard and a list of patrol routes. It is nice to see you acting like a normal guy for once."
Kaito picked up his own glass.
"I know how to take a night off, Nemuri," Kaito said. He took a drink of the wine. It was good. "I just finished a three-month job down in Kyushu. I think I earned a good dinner."
"You earned a long vacation," Nemuri teased, resting her chin on her hand. "You spend all your time running around the country, fixing everyone else's problems. You never let anyone take care of you. You must be completely exhausted."
Kaito looked out the large window at the glowing Tokyo skyline.
He didn't put up his usual perfect, professional wall. He let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair.
"I am," Kaito admitted honestly. "Managing these heroes is a lot of work. Dealing with massive egos all day really takes it out of you. But seeing the results makes it worth the headache."
Nemuri smiled warmly. She liked this side of him. The calm, confident manager was great, but the tired, honest guy sitting in front of her was much more relatable.
"Well, speaking of results," Nemuri said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Since you were sitting right next to us at the Takoba arena, you saw what happened there. But did you see the national numbers?"
Kaito looked back at her. "The other venues?"
"It was a complete sweep," Nemuri laughed loudly. "I mean it. The Ketsubutsu students at the Shikoku and Hokkaido venues did the exact same thing. They used the hit-and-run tactics you gave them and completely broke the five percent passing limit nationwide. One hundred percent pass rate across the board."
Kaito smirked. "So they listened to instructions."
"Listen, the whole industry is in a panic right now," Nemuri said, grinning. "All the average hero schools across Japan saw the broadcast. They are scrambling to copy the Ketsubutsu playbook. They realize they don't need giant, flashy quirks to pass the exams anymore if they just play smart."
"And the elite schools?" Kaito asked.
"Oh, it's total chaos," Nemuri chuckled. "Shiketsu High and Seiai Academy are holding emergency faculty meetings right now. They have too much pride to just copy your methods directly. But they saw the writing on the wall. They are forcing their students to learn how to counter stealth and tactical traps. You basically forced the entire next generation to get smarter."
"If the heroes get smarter, fewer people will be implicated," Kaito said, picking up his fork. "It's a simple fix."
Nemuri shook her head, still smiling. She reached across the table and lightly tapped her finger against the back of his hand.
TAP.
"Okay, penalty flag," Nemuri said playfully. "I'm calling it. No more shop talk. Tonight is supposed to be about relaxing, not grading high schoolers."
Kaito smiled back. He actually felt the tension leaving his shoulders.
"Fair enough," Kaito agreed. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Normal things," Nemuri said, leaning back and cutting into her steak. "I already know how Kaito Arisaka the Golden Manager thinks. I want to know what Kaito the regular guy does when he isn't barking orders at Endeavor or Hawks. What do you actually do for fun?"
Kaito thought about it for a second.
"I read," Kaito said simply. "I cook sometimes. And I spend a lot of time trying to dodge my grandma."
Nemuri raised an eyebrow, laughing a little. "Your grandma?"
"Grandma Saki," Kaito nodded, taking another bite of his food. "She means well, but she is relentless. She constantly nags me to settle down and give her great-grandkids. It's her favorite topic."
Nemuri's eyes practically sparkled. She set her fork down and leaned across the table, fully turning her charm on.
"Oh, really?" Nemuri teased, a very wicked, playful grin spreading across her face. "And how is that going for you? The guy who knows exactly how to fix everyone else's life... does he even have time for a dating life?"
Kaito didn't get flustered. He saw the trap coming a mile away.
"I manage my time very well," Kaito said smoothly, looking right back at her.
"That's not an answer," Nemuri laughed, resting her chin on her hands again. She was enjoying this way too much. "Come on. You're sitting at a romantic, high-end restaurant with a beautiful woman. You can't just dodge the question. Who has caught the Golden Manager's eye?"
"I think the wine is going to your head, Nemuri," Kaito smirked, taking a slow sip from his glass.
Sip.
"Don't change the subject," she pushed back, her smile growing wider. "I'm an excellent profiler now, remember? I can read you. You're completely dodging."
Kaito just chuckled, swirling the dark red wine in his glass.
"I'll tell you what," Kaito said, a playful glint in his eye. "If you can get Principal Nezu to give you a raise by next month, I'll let you profile my private life."
"..."
Nemuri gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Oh, you are terrible," she laughed loudly, the sound carrying over the quiet music of the restaurant. "You really know how to ruin a girl's fun."
"I try my best."
_-_-_-_-_-_
Location: Private Penthouse, United States
Date: Tuesday | 01:00 PM (EST)
BEEP.
All For One stood by the massive glass window of a luxury penthouse.
He was thousands of miles away from Japan. He wore a perfectly tailored, dark grey three-piece suit.
He looked like a wealthy corporate boss enjoying the afternoon view.
BZZT.
BZZT.
He held a secure satellite phone to his ear.
"Speak," All For One said calmly.
"Master," Dr. Garaki's raspy voice came through the speaker. "The vault is totally secure. The empty clone body is in perfect condition. It is completely ready for the usage. Are you sure you don't want to come back and prepare more? We have plenty of time to do this."
All For One looked down at the busy American streets below him.
The cars moved slowly in the afternoon traffic. The people looked small and completely unaware.
"It's okay, Doctor," All For One replied, his voice smooth and polite. "I have waited a century. I can wait another year if I really have to. But the board is shifting. That reality-bending quirk... New Order... it has become a necessity for me to proceed further."
Garaki sighed heavily over the line.
"I understand wanting it," Garaki said, sounding very nervous. "But did you remember the leaked footage from their Atlantic Wargames? She isn't just throwing giant air punches anymore. It's completely different."
"I remember it," All For One smiled.
"It is totally insane now," Garaki pressed, his voice getting a little frantic. "She is using nested logic loops. She reflects kinetic energy and makes the air unbreakable without even draining her stamina. Getting close enough to touch her bare skin in a direct fight is going to be incredibly difficult. Maybe even impossible."
"Heh!"
All For One let out a low, dark chuckle.
"That is exactly why I need it," All For One said, leaning closer to the glass. "It is a true masterpiece. To think a simple woman could develop such a clever application of her power. If I possess that quirk, I can command my stolen quirks to stay intact while I rot the vestiges away."
"But how do you even plan to get close to her?" Garaki asked, tapping something on his desk in the background. "She is heavily guarded at the military base. She has an elite flight squad surrounding her at all times. They will just shoot you from a mile away. Do we need to mobilize the members and our people there in America?"
All For One turned away from the window. He walked toward the heavy mahogany desk in the center of the room.
"No, I will handle it personally, Doctor... Tell the others to stand down... Just let them continue what they're doing and remain hidden... I don't want any mishaps right now just like the global raid that happened last time"
"I understand master."
"And besides I don't go to the base," All For One said easily. "I make her come to me."
"How?"
"She is a hero," All For One smiled, a chilling and dark expression crossing his face. "If I attack her at the base or in the open sky, I will have to play tag with fighter jets. I won't do that. I will strike the one place she will abandon her military escort to protect. The softest target on the board."
"....."
Garaki went quiet for a second. The line was dead silent as the doctor put the pieces together. Then he realized it.
"Her family," Garaki muttered.
"Yes," All For One said. "I will force her into a close-quarters ground fight. I will draw her out of the sky, and I will take the quirk directly from her."
CLICK.
All For One hung up the phone. He adjusted his expensive watch and walked toward the penthouse door. It was time to pay a visit.
_-_-_-_-_-_
Location: The Bate Family Home, New York Suburbs
Date: Tuesday | 06:00 PM (EST)
DING DONG.
The front doorbell chimed through the quiet house.
Mr. Bate stood up from the dining table, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I'll get it. Probably just a package."
He walked down the short hallway and pulled the front door open.
Standing on the porch was a tall, incredibly handsome man.
He wore a dark suit that looked perfectly tailored. His hair was neat, and he had a polite, charming smile on his face.
He was holding a beautifully wrapped box tied with a silk ribbon.
"Good evening, sir," the man said. His voice was deep and very respectful.
"Oh, hello," Mr. Bate blinked, a bit surprised by the expensive suit. "Can I help you?"
"I hope I am not intruding on your evening," the man smiled warmly. "My name is Shigaraki. I am an investor visiting from Japan. I am a massive admirer of your daughter, Cathleen, and I simply had to stop by."
Mrs. Bate peeked her head around the corner from the dining room.
A wealthy, handsome, polite businessman asking about her daughter? This was exactly what she had been praying for.
"Oh! Well, Cathleen isn't here right now, Mr. Shigaraki," Mrs. Bate said, hurrying over with a bright smile. "She is stationed at the base. But please, come inside! It is freezing out there. We just finished dinner. Would you like to join us for some tea in the living room?"
"You are too kind," All For One said, bowing his head slightly. "I would love some tea."
He stepped inside the warm house.
Mrs. Bate led him into the living room. Sarah, the youngest daughter, was sitting on the couch scrolling through her phone. The evening news was playing softly on the television in the corner.
"Paul, Sarah, this is Mr. Shigaraki from Japan," Mrs. Bate introduced him proudly. "He came all this way to ask about Cassie."
"Nice to officially meet you," Mr. Bate said, offering his hand.
All For One smiled and shook the father's hand firmly. "The pleasure is mine. You have a lovely home. I brought some traditional sweets from Tokyo as a small gift for intruding."
RUSTLE.
He handed the wrapped box to Mr. Bate, who looked genuinely impressed by the gesture.
All For One took a seat on the comfortable armchair. Mrs. Bate hurried into the kitchen and quickly returned with a steaming cup of tea, setting it on the coffee table in front of him.
"So, what kind of business do you run, Mr. Shigaraki?" Mr. Bate asked, sitting down next to Sarah on the couch.
"I run a very vast, very old enterprise," All For One replied smoothly, taking a slow sip of the tea. "I deal in acquisitions. When I see something truly unique, something with limitless potential, I bring it under my management."
"That sounds like a lot of work," Mrs. Bate smiled, taking a seat.
"It can be," All For One chuckled softly. "I have lived a very long, eventful life. I have seen a lot of competitors come and go. Sometimes you have to deal with very stubborn individuals who refuse to see your vision for the future. But the end result is always worth the effort."
Sarah stared at the man from the couch.
He was smiling. He was polite. He answered all of her parents' questions. But something felt off. The air around him felt strangely heavy.
"So," Mrs. Bate leaned forward, totally charmed. "You said you admire our Cassie. How did you two meet?"
All For One set his teacup down gently on the saucer.
"We haven't been formally introduced yet," All For One answered, looking right at Mrs. Bate with a warm expression. "I saw her from a distance. She is incredibly dedicated. She carries a massive burden on her shoulders, fighting for this country. But she shouldn't have to carry the weight of the world all by herself."
Mrs. Bate crossed her arms. "Cassie is tough. She can handle herself."
"I know she can," All For One agreed politely. "But I truly want to possess her incredible potential. I want to help her reach her absolute peak. By my side."
Mrs. Bate melted entirely. She pressed a hand to her chest. "Oh, Paul. Isn't he just wonderful?"
All For One looked directly at Mr. Bate.
"I am a very traditional man, Mr. Bate," All For One continued smoothly. "I know Cathleen is heavily guarded by the military. Before I even attempt to approach a woman of her standing, I wanted to do things the right way. I came here to introduce myself to her parents, and ask for your blessing."
Mr. Bate dropped his arms. He actually smiled. Nobody ever asked for permission anymore. It was a dying breed of manners.
"Well," Mr. Bate cleared his throat. "You definitely have some old-school respect, son. I like that."
Sarah frowned. The cold chill running down her spine was getting worse.
"Hold on a second," Sarah spoke up, cutting through the warm mood. "Cassie's home address is highly classified military information. It's totally off the public records. How did a foreign investor find our house?"
All For One slowly turned his head and looked at Sarah.
He smiled warmly, completely unfazed by the sharp question.
"When a man with my corporate resources finds an asset he truly desires, he spares no expense to locate the foundation of it," All For One said calmly.
Mrs. Bate waved a hand at her daughter. "Oh, stop being a detective, Sarah. He is just determined. It's romantic."
All For One picked up his teacup and finished the last drop.
CLINK.
He set the cup down on the saucer. He let out a small, polite sigh.
"This tea was wonderful, Mrs. Bate," All For One said. "You have been incredibly hospitable. I really appreciate it."
He crossed his legs, glancing at the news playing on the television, and then looked back at the parents. He didn't drop his smile. He didn't raise his voice.
"You see," All For One continued, his tone smooth and conversational. "In my line of work, the most hostile acquisitions require undeniable leverage."
Mr. Bate frowned, tilting his head. "Leverage? What do you mean?"
"To acquire Cathleen's power, I need to break her spirit first," All For One stated calmly, looking Mr. Bate right in the eyes. "And your lives are the perfect collateral for that transaction."
"....."
"....."
The warm atmosphere in the living room vanished instantly. It was replaced by a suffocating, heavy dread.
The realization hit Mr. Bate like a truck. The man sitting in his armchair wasn't a suitor. He was a villain.
"You son of a bitch!" Mr. Bate yelled.
He leaped off the couch. His skin instantly shifted, turning a dull, heavy metallic gray. His civilian quirk, Density Shift, hardened his body like solid iron. He charged straight at All For One, raising a heavy fist to protect his wife and daughter.
All For One didn't stand up. He didn't even flinch.
Sigh.
He just let out a small, disappointed sigh.
He raised his right hand, pointed a single finger at the charging father, and fired. Just enough to incapacitate all of them.
BOOM.
A massive, compressed shockwave of pure lethal force erupted from his fingertip.
The exact moment the deadly blast ripped through the air toward Mr. Bate, the small talisman hanging around Sarah's neck flashed with a blinding blue light.
FWOOSH.
The IF/ELSE logic loop triggered instantly.
A massive, glowing dome of solid air snapped into existence, expanding outward and catching Mr. Bate just before the blast hit him.
The shockwave slammed into the blue barrier. The force was violently deflected outward.
CRASH.
The wooden walls of the living room shattered. The ceiling caved in.
The entire roof of the Bate family home was blown completely off, raining debris and shattered glass out into the quiet suburban street.
When the thick dust finally settled, the evening sky was visible right above them.
Inside the glowing blue dome, Mr. Bate, Mrs. Bate, and Sarah were huddled together on the floor. They were completely untouched.
Outside the dome, All For One was still sitting in his floral armchair amid the rubble.
He didn't look angry that his attack failed. He looked mesmerized.
He stood up, walking over to the edge of the blue air barrier. He knocked his knuckle against it.
TAP. TAP.
"Incredible," All For One muttered to himself, his red eyes scanning the solid air. "A nested logic loop. She programmed the atmosphere to respond to lethal force. It functions almost exactly like reality warping."
Inside the barrier, Mrs. Bate was screaming in pure terror. Sarah clutched the glowing amulet, staring at the villain in horror.
All For One ignored their panic. He just smiled, looking at the shield.
"If I possessed this quirk," All For One whispered, clenching his fist. "I could even do wonders with it."
_-_-_-_-_-_
COUGH. COUGH.
Thick grey dust filled the air.
Inside the glowing blue dome, Mrs. Bate dropped to her knees. She stared at the completely destroyed living room. Her hands were shaking violently.
"We invited him in," Mrs. Bate sobbed, covering her face. "We opened the door and brought a monster into our house. I poured him tea! I just wanted Cassie to meet a nice guy..."
"Hey, stop that," Mr. Bate said, pulling his wife into a tight hug. "You didn't know, Martha. None of us knew. He tricked us."
Sarah sat on the floor, gripping the glowing blue talisman around her neck. Her knuckles were completely white.
She looked past the edge of the barrier. The handsome guy in the suit was sitting casually in the rubble.
"He isn't even trying to break in," Sarah whispered, her voice shaking. "Mom, Dad, look at him. He's just waiting."
Mr. Bate held his wife tighter and glared at the man outside.
"He wanted hostages," Sarah realized, the horror finally sinking in. "If Cassie hadn't given me this necklace... he would be holding a gun to our heads right now. He would use us to force her to surrender. He is using us as bait."
Mrs. Bate cried harder into her husband's shoulder. They were safe, but the trap was already set.
Outside the destroyed house, the whole street was completely losing its mind.
WEE-OOO. WEE-OOO.
Car alarms screamed up and down the block. The shockwave had shattered the front windows of every house for three streets in every direction.
Normal people stumbled out onto their front lawns, coughing on the dust, totally confused and terrified.
Small fires burned on the grass where pieces of the roof had landed.
Weee-wooo.
Weee-wooo.
The response time of the American heroes was incredibly fast. In less than three minutes, police cruisers and local pro heroes swarmed the neighborhood.
"Everyone clear the street!" a loud, amplified voice yelled.
Siren, a local hero with speakers built into her hero suit, stood on top of a police car. "Do not panic! Move toward the elementary school at the end of the block! Keep moving!"
A few houses down, an old man was stuck under a fallen tree branch.
"I got you!"
Lifeline ran across the yard. He shot thick, glowing pink threads from his hands.
The threads wrapped around the heavy branch, lifting it off the man easily. Lifeline pulled him up and guided him toward the paramedics.
While the rescue team handled the civilians, the heavy combat heroes pushed straight toward the center of the blast.
Aegis and Trench sprinted across the ruined Bate lawn. They stopped right at the edge of the crater.
They saw the blue dome protecting the family. And then they saw the guy in the grey suit sitting in the floral armchair.
"You! Hands in the air right now!" Aegis yelled, stepping forward.
All For One didn't stand up. He had his legs crossed. He took a slow sip from the teacup in his hand.
"Take him down!" Trench yelled. He slammed both of his hands into the dirt.
RUMBLE.
The ground beneath All For One violently erupted. Four huge pillars of solid rock shot out of the earth, curving inward like a giant claw to crush him.
Sigh.
All For One let out a small sigh. He didn't even look at the rocks. He lazily swiped his free hand through the air.
CRASH.
An invisible wave of raw force shattered the stone pillars into powder instantly. The blast didn't stop. It slammed right into Trench's chest.
BAAAM.
"Ughh!"
Trench flew backward like a ragdoll. He crashed straight through a wooden fence and landed hard on a parked car in the neighbor's driveway. He didn't get back up.
"LIFELINE!"
Aegis roared in anger. He charged forward. A glowing yellow forcefield formed in front of his body like a massive riot shield.
"You're not going anywhere!" Aegis screamed, throwing his entire body weight forward to ram the guy.
All For One looked annoyed. He pointed a single finger at the charging hero.
SNAP.
A concentrated beam of black lightning shot from his fingertip.
It hit the yellow forcefield and pierced right through it like it was made of wet paper.
CRACKLE-BAAM.
The beam struck Aegis in the shoulder, spinning him around and throwing him face-first into the street.
All For One took another sip of his tea. The local heroes were a complete joke to him. He just sat there in the rubble, waiting for the main event.
_-_-_-_-_-_
Location: Star and Stripe HQ - Military Base
Time: 06:06 PM (EST)
Back at the base, Cathleen was standing near the training mats, talking to Ethan.
Suddenly, she stopped talking. She grabbed her chest.
"WHAT? What happened? It triggered?"
Because New Order was her quirk, she physically felt the exact moment her rule activated miles away.
Someone had just used lethal force against her family.
"No," Cathleen whispered. All the blood drained from her face. She felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Cassie? What is it?" Ethan asked. He stepped closer, seeing her face go totally pale. "What's wrong?"
"My house," Cathleen said. Her voice shook.
She looked up at Ethan. The terror in her eyes instantly vanished. It was replaced by a blinding, unhinged rage.
"Someone attacked my family," Cathleen growled.
Ethan didn't ask questions. He didn't call the Pentagon for clearance. He knew exactly what was on the line.
"Scramble the jets!" Ethan roared at the top of his lungs, turning toward the hangar bay and sprinting. "Get the X-66s in the air right now! Move! Move! Move!"
The entire military base exploded into action. Mechanics dropped their tools and rushed to pull the fuel lines.
VRMMM.
The heavy hangar doors dragged open, groaning loudly.
Cathleen didn't wait for the boarding stairs.
She leaped high into the air and landed heavily on the metal hull of Ethan's jet as it rolled out onto the runway.
VROOOM.
The jet engines screamed. Ethan slammed the throttle forward as hard as it would go
.
They didn't wait for the tower to give them a flight path.
The X-66 jets shot into the evening sky.
BOOM. SWOOOOSH.
They broke the sound barrier immediately, tearing a massive hole through the clouds.
Cathleen stood on top of the lead jet, her boots planted firmly on the metal.
The freezing wind whipped past her face. Her fists were clenched so tight her leather gloves were creaking.
"Hold on, Mom... Dad... Sis..." Cathleen whispered into the roaring wind. "I'm coming."
_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Time: 06:12 PM (EST)
WHIRRR.
Three news helicopters circled high above the suburban neighborhood, shining massive spotlights down onto the ruined house.
The cameras were broadcasting live to millions of televisions across the country.
The country was watching.
Inside the blue air barrier, Mr. Bate held his wife and daughter tightly.
They were safe, but they were trapped in the center of the wreckage.
All For One stood up from the chair. He carefully set the empty teacup down on a broken piece of wood.
He looked up at the night sky.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Massive sonic booms echoed across the neighborhood, rattling the windows of the surviving houses.
The heavy X-66 jets tore through the airspace above them.
A figure dropped from the sky like a meteor.
WHUMP.
Star and Stripe landed right in the center of the ruined lawn.
The impact cracked the pavement and kicked up a massive cloud of dust and dirt.
Cathleen slowly stood up. Her cape blew heavily in the wind. She saw the destroyed house. She saw the glowing blue barrier.
She saw her family inside, terrified but completely unharmed.
A massive wave of relief washed over her chest. The logic loop worked.
'Thank you Kaito.'
Then, she looked at the man in the grey suit standing ten feet away. Her eyes burned with absolute, unhinged fury.
"You," Cathleen growled, her voice vibrating with power.
All For One smiled. He casually brushed the dust off his sleeves.
"Good evening, Cathleen," All For One said politely. He turned slightly and looked at the blue barrier. "And thank you again for the tea, Mrs. Bate. You have a lovely family."
"You stay away from my daughter, you psychotic monster! Don't you ever come near us again!" Mrs. Bate screamed from inside the barrier, slamming her hands against the solid air.
She was terrified, but her motherly instinct made her completely fearless in the moment.
"Cassie, kick his ass!"
All For One ignored the yelling mother. He turned his attention back to the Number Two Hero in America.
News cameras above them were recording every single word.
"I must admit, I am a very big fan of your work," All For One declared. "Your quirk is a true masterpiece of reality. It is far too beautiful to be wasted on a government soldier."
Cathleen stepped forward. The air around her began to hum with heavy pressure.
"You made a mistake coming to my house and touching my family," Cathleen stated coldly.
"I don't make mistakes," All For One smiled, opening his arms in a theatrical, mocking gesture. "I came here to offer you a position. Join me, Cathleen. Or simply hand that wonderful quirk over to me. I will put it to much better use."
Cathleen clenched her fist.
"I'm going to rip your head off,"
"NEW ORDER!"
...
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(9 Advanced Chapters)