The pieces were moving on the board. While Wu Xuan was forging an alliance with a man as shady as Giran, another destiny was being fulfilled under the dying light of the setting sun.
On a quiet seaside path, All Might—in his skeletal, fragile form—stood before a weeping Izuku Midoriya. The golden rays of the dusk framed the hero, lending him an almost divine aura as he spoke the words Midoriya had waited his entire life to hear:
"You can become a hero!"
Everything was clicking into place. All Might had found his successor. The legendary power of One For All was now destined for the young Midoriya—a power that Wu Xuan had coveted but was never meant to hold.
The Yaoyorozu Mansion
In the world of high finance, Momo's parents rarely had the luxury of being home before dark. When Wu Xuan returned to the estate, the maids informed him that Momo had been locked in the study since the morning.
She finally emerged at dinner time, looking exhausted and rubbing her temples.
"Xuan-kun, welcome back," she said with a weary but graceful smile, the perfect picture of a poised young lady.
"Yeah," Wu Xuan grunted.
Over dinner, Momo talked animatedly about her progress, explaining the molecular structures she had been memorizing to decrease her creation time. Wu Xuan listened in silence, neither interrupting nor showing annoyance. Whether it was out of genuine interest or simply a growing habit, he stayed until she finished.
"Can you lend me some money?" Wu Xuan asked eventually, his voice calm.
"Money?" Momo blinked. Without a second thought, she ran to her room and returned two minutes later, sliding a sleek gold card across the table. "This is the allowance I've saved up. There should be... a bit in there."
In the dictionary of the ultra-wealthy Yaoyorozu family, "a bit" was likely a fortune. It would be more than enough to cover Giran's "brokerage fees."
"I'll pay you back," Wu Xuan said, tucking the card away.
"It's fine," Momo smiled gently, clasping her hands together. "I'm the one who should be thanking you for the training. I haven't found a way to repay you yet."
"Then hurry up and fix your weaknesses," Wu Xuan replied. By accepting the card and giving her advice, he had officially moved past being a bystander; he was now her mentor.
Momo's smile brightened, and she nodded firmly.
The Next Day: Two Paths of Training
At 4:00 AM, Izuku Midoriya arrived at Dagobah Municipal Beach Park.
"Come on, Midoriya! This is your 'Pass the Torch' training schedule for the next ten months!" All Might, now in his hulking Muscle Form, slammed a dense booklet into the boy's hands.
Midoriya swallowed hard as he looked at the grueling, minute-by-minute regimen. But instead of fear, he felt a massive surge of adrenaline. "Please train me! I want to be a hero just like you—saving everyone with a smile!"
All Might flashed his signature teeth and gave a thumbs-up. "PLUS ULTRA!"
The Underground Bar
"I didn't expect a deposit so quickly, Mr. Wu Xuan. For our first real job, I'll give you the 'friends and family' discount."
Giran grinned as he swiped the gold card. Wu Xuan watched him coldly. "A few million yen is your idea of a 'discount,' you vulture?"
"Oh, don't be like that. The cost of acquiring high-level intel is steeper than you'd think." Giran turned his laptop around. "Per your request: a target with combat power comparable to a Pro Hero. These aren't street thugs; these are predators. If you aren't careful, you won't walk away."
Wu Xuan ignored the warning, sipping his whiskey. "Cut the chatter. Show me."
Giran hit the enter key.
WANTED POSTER
Name: Moonfish
Status: Escaped Death Row Inmate
Crime: Psychopathic Serial Murder
Quirk: Blade-Tooth
Capability: Can transform teeth into powerful, extending blades for long and short-range combat. Extremely high combat experience. Recommended for Pro Heroes ranked 30 or higher. Warning: Citizens should not approach.
The image showed a man encased in a black, straitjacket-like suit, bound by leather straps. Only his mouth was visible, pulled open into a terrifying, toothy grin.
"Rank 30 or higher, huh?" Wu Xuan stood up, finished his drink, and wiped his mouth. "Where is he?"
"He's been active in the Aichi mountainous region lately," Giran said, his fingers flying across the keys. "He has a recurring bloodlust. He's been hunting at night. He's likely still in the area."
Wu Xuan didn't say another word. He turned and walked out of the bar, his silhouette vanishing into the night.
"Such an impatient customer," Giran murmured to the empty room. He leaned back, the blue light of the laptop reflecting in his glasses. "He's a live wire, isn't he? Mr. Kurogiri."
From the shadows of the bar, a misty, dark purple portal began to swirl.
A single relevant follow-up question:
Do you think Wu Xuan is ready to face an S-rank villain like Moonfish alone, or should he have spent more time training with Momo to test his Stand's defensive capabilities first?