Chapter 28: true intentions
Izuku took a few deep breaths. He felt free. He never thought he'd miss the street noise, the busy people crowding the pavement, the endless sensations stimulating his brain. He was out again. Out of U.A., back on the street. Togata-senpai was at his side, smiling.
A bit of unease was tingling in Izuku's finger tips, but he decided to ignore it. They split up from Sir Nighteye and Bubblegirl only a few minutes ago. Might and his mother wouldn't be happy hearing he went out patrolling on the street on his first day of the internship, despite being told he wouldn't do so unless necessary.
"Smile and wave when they look at you, the kids love that," Togata tipped him off. Izuku complied, although his smile looked forced. The excitement added a bit of a skip to his gait.
Of course, it didn't go well. Who was he to expect getting through one freaking day without any major incident? Never would he have thought he'd be staring into the face of the one man - aside from his father - Sir Nighteye had warned him about.
It all started with something crashing into his leg. He found a silver-white shock of hair at his side, tiny arms wrapped themselves around his hip. Reflexively he hunched up, letting the small figure he now identified as a little girl hold on to him. It took only few seconds to realize she wasn't just keen on a hug, but most likely grabbing on to him in fear for her life. He protectively wrapped his arms around her, when a voice spoke from the nearby ally, "My apologies, hero. My daughter surely didn't mean to startle you."
First, a beak came into view. It turned out to be a mask, covering the lower half of a cold-eyed man. A thick, furry collar framed his head, and he was wearing surgical gloves, not an everyday sight. The beak was enough, but after taking in his full appearance, there was no doubt; Tis man was Chisaki, the Leader of the Eight Precepts of Death, the Yakuza gang playing the most important role in Sir Nighteye's ongoing investigations.
That man wasn't supposed to be here. Izuku and Togata had purposely covered the area with the least chance of running into anything or anyone unusual. It was just Izuku's luck.
The little girl made itself small, almost disappearing in his arms.
"My daughter sometimes hurts herself, she's a real troublemaker. But don't be worried, she'll be treated accordingly."
Accordingly. What did that even mean? What did Chisaki mean he treated the little girl?
There was a slap on the back of Izuku's head. His own mask was pulled over his face as Togata reached his side.
"No, we should be apologizing, Sir!" Togata-senpai tuned in. After his initial shock, Izuku realized; without his mask on, Chisaki probably noticed his startled expression. Rookie mistake. He couldn't let the villain get suspicious, they weren't supposed to know him.
Izuku watched as Togata very skilfully talked himself out of the situation. The girl still clung to him, frozen in fear.
"Now, then, we've got to go! We're still little baby chicks, after all!" Togata waved and walked away.
Izuku couldn't believe it. How could he do that?! They couldn't leave this frightened girl behind, not in the hands of a villain, not when he knew exactly what villains were willing to do to their own family…!
Togata's hands landed on his shoulders.
"Let's get going." His voice was soft and friendly, but by the way his nails dug into Izuku's shoulders, it left no room for argument. But Izuku couldn't do it. He just couldn't. Pictures of arms littered with scars flashed before his inner eye, the prospect of what the little girl had to endure, what could happen to her if no one helped her…
"I'm sorry, but your daughter seems frightened," he heard his own voice say.
Chisaki sighed. He shrugged and turned his back to them. "Alright, heroes, I'll tell you about it. But it's a bit embarrassing. Why won't you follow me this way…?"
Togata-senpai desperately tried to talk his way out again, without success. The two U.A. students had no choice but to follow the villain into the alley, Izuku had to carry the little girl since she refused to let go of him. Chisaki stopped without another word and began taking one of his gloves of. Immediately, Izuku sensed the danger. Before he could react, the girl sprung from his arms, passed Chisaki and sprinted further into the dark alleyway.
"Done with your little tantrum, Eri?" he scolded the girl. They could almost feel the Yakuza grin under his beaked mask. "I'm sorry heroes, but she's always like this. Thanks for your time, I'm sorry for causing such a scene. And good luck with your hero work."
Paralyzed by the danger filling the air, Izuku couldn't move. Only as the villain and girl disappeared in the shadows, he was able to sprint after them. But Togata-senpai held him back just in time.
"Don't chase them. You noticed he was about to kill us, didn't you?"
He did.
"There's nothing we can do right now. Let's respect Sir's orders and go back. We need to inform him about this, whatever that just was."
All of this didn't feel real. They moved out of the alley, back to the rendezvous point.
"How's it going?"
Neko earned a grunt from her partner. Yotsune didn't turn, not even bat an eye. He stared at the screen in front of him, completely focussed. After working with him for the past few months, the girl had grown to seeing him like this. By now, she avoided the waste littering the floor with ease and even had a chair designated to her at his desk.
"You need to get a better camera. It's too dark, there's nothing I can do about the pictures."
"Duly noted." Neko turned on the desk lamp, much to Yotsune's dismay, and went over the list in her hands again. Deep down, she knew she was right, but not ready to accept it. Seeing her friend finally backing away from the screen, she spoke, "I know these names. They're all on our list of people still suspected of having a quirk."
"And they've repeatedly been seen hanging around in the basement?"
"Not just hanging around," she rubbed her throbbing front, "but literally disappearing for a few hours and returning with no valid excuse."
"So, they're really doing it, huh?" Yotsune closed a window on his screen, only to open three new ones. Neko watched him work, not really understanding what he was doing. But that was the exact reason she needed him.
"Heard anything new about the little girl?" the boy changed the subject. It woke a painful ache in Neko's chest.
"No, not a thing. Which only makes me feel like we're on to something. Something big, maybe too big for us to handle. We're talking about the effective removal of quirks here, this… This could change the world. End society as we know it." She desperately wished her best friend was still here. Yotsune was a pervert, but very useful, and she even grew to like him over the past few months, in a friendly way, obviously. But nothing could fill the void Hikari's absence left in her life. There was no one left she could discuss this matter with, no one to share her real opinions on the topic.
A sudden flash of insight. According to what Hikari said, the two of them would be able to meet soon. Even if this wasn't something they could discuss in broad daylight, especially not when hero watchdogs ensuring their safety were around, he had to let her know. And she knew how. Neko nudged Yotsune in the ribs.
"Hey! What was that for?!"
"I need an USB drive with all the data we've collected so far."
Her technically adept friend opened his mouth in shock. "Are you crazy?! What If someone finds it?! We'll be screwed, throwing us out will be the best-case scenario-"
"Listen," she took the list of names in front of her and tore it into tiny pieces, "we can't do this on our own. I'll get it to Hikari, she'll help us decide."
Yotsune grunted again. Of course, he would disapprove of the idea.
"She's with the heroes now. She's gonna show them and they'll destroy everything we've built here!"
"First of all, I dislike heroes as much as you do," Neko fetched a lighter from the top drawer of the desk, then a candle lying behind one of the three screens, "but I know Hikari. She won't show them if I tell her not to, not unless she thinks it's the only option."
Yotsune tore a face, not one bit more convinced. Still, he only struck a single, snarky comment, "Don't know about that, so much time huddled together with heroes changes people. But hey, I'm just the dumb computer guy. I wouldn't know what either of you are thinking, especially not after she ignored you for almost four days. But have it your way, I'll prepare the drive, even if it drives us into our graves."
Silence followed as Neko began burning the remnants of the list over the small candle fire.
Jogging?
Izuku sped up. He power-ran across the campus until he spotted familiar blonde hair on a lanky silhouette. "All Might!"
"Young Midoriya? Surprised to see me here?" His mentor smiled until he noticed that Izuku wasn't returning the gesture. "What's wrong?"
He didn't get an answer right away. Izuku jogged alongside his teacher for a moment before finding the right words, "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me Nighteye knew about One for All? Why didn't you tell me about Togata-senpai…?"
Silence stretched between them. It seemed neither of them really wanted to have this conversation, but they desperately needed to.
"I didn't think it would matter."
"You didn't think it would matter?! How could you think that?! Of course, it does! Did you expect me to never run into either of them?! I just- What else aren't you telling me? You passed down One for All to me without letting me know the truth behind it, now this? Are you expecting me to just quietly accept everything you throw at me?!"
Izuku was panting, but the exhausting wasn't physical.
"I don't know what it is you really want, All Might! What is your plan? What do you want from me? What else are you hiding? I'm not just a fan anymore, you made me your successor! How can I become what I have to if you don't tell me anything?"
Frustration, anger. Izuku felt tears clouding his vision, but he didn't let them fall. He wanted answers. All Might didn't spare him a glance. The man jogged on, taking his time until revealing, "I figured telling you would only make things harder. I didn't want to put you through that much."
"I've already been through enough. Whatever it is, I can deal with it! Getting to know the truth about my father didn't change how I feel, what I want to achieve. Whatever your intentions are, I won't stray from my path! Just… Please, please tell me." Izuku stood his ground. He wouldn't leave until his mentor told him the truth.
"You might regret it," the previous symbol of peace warned him. He was breathing heavily, not used to work out anymore.
"I will certainly not. I'm ready."
Despite being out of breath, All Might went on, not letting Izuku catch up to him.
"After my first battle against All for One six years ago… Nighteye and I fell out. He wanted me to quit when I got injured, but I refused. He confronted me about my future, he saw my demise, but I didn't listen. Ever since that day we went our separate ways. Principal Nedzu offered me a job here at U.A. to find a successor, and later recommended young Togata to me, but I had already chosen you… I didn't want you to live with this burden. You were my fan, after all."
Izuku stopped. "He saw your… Are you…? All Might, are you… Going to… Die?"
All Might went on, completely ignoring the realization hitting Izuku, "I contacted Nighteye the night I chose you, he wasn't exactly happy with my choice. We only drifted further apart."
"You're going to die."
"Young Midoriya, listen-"
"When," tears stung again, "Nighteye used his foresight, didn't he? When…?"
All Might finally came to a halt but didn't look at him. Not since their greeting. He clenched his fist, announcing in a whisper, "He gave me six or seven years."
Which meant All Might was going to die this or next year. It couldn't be. Horror crept up Izuku's body, causing his thoughts to go wild, his knees to shake, his world to crumble.
"This can't be, you can't… You- you need to live! We made a promise, remember? All Might, you need to live, you need to live to see the moment I'll tell the world that I am here, don't you? You promised… You can't… I can't do this without you…"
"Young Midoriya, I accepted my fate the moment Nighteye told me. I lived the life I yearned for. I became the symbol I promised to become. Even at the Kamino incident, I was ready to let go."
"No…" But Izuku wasn't. He couldn't accept it. He didn't want to.
"But," there was a tiny spark in All Might's voice. At last he turned to face Izuku, a smile on his lips. "There you were. You, a timid, quirkless boy who day after day, surpassed my wildest expectations. I saw you, and I knew I had to live on. If you could do it, I had to be there to see it. I promised your mother to 'live on and protect and nurture' you, and I will fulfil my promise. You have changed me, young Midoriya. I will not give up, I won't let go."
Smoke rose from All Might's twiggy figure, for a moment he muscled up. Just for a second, he rose to his earlier height and Izuku saw the hero he had worshipped all his life.
"With this hand of mine, I will twist fate into whatever shape I like!"
A wild array of emotions flooded through Izuku's systems. Before he knew it, he rose his own fist, blinking away the tears, and announced with all the force he had left, "No matter what happens, I will twist that fate with you!"
"One month after the disaster accurately renamed the 'Tragedy of Onderon' clean-up operations are still ongoing," the horned news reporter announced. "The number of casualties is still rising. What's even more concerning is the disappearance of the newly labelled supervillain 'Dragon'. He completely vanished after the incident, with no leads to follow. What do you have to say to this, Matsuda-san?"
The camera zoomed out, revealing a plain man in a dark grey suit sitting beside a reporter. He looked calm as he assured the audience, "The Public Safety Commission is doing everything they can to deal with the aftermath. Some of Japan's most renowned Heroes and investigators are working on the case. It will only be a matter of time until we catch him. And I assure you, what happened in Onderon will never happen again."
The news reporter nodded and readjusted his glasses. "Thank you, Matsuda-san, we're counting on the Commission. On another note, how are you dealing with the general distrust spreading throughout the hero society?"
"Distrust is a strong word. There is a tentativeness, we cannot deny that, but the hero society is still strong, and this tragedy has only made us stronger."
"Then how are you planning to make up for the losses within the hero community? What can you say us about the rising crime rates all over the country?"
The plain man didn't hesitate. "There is a new generation of heroes coming, and I dare to believe they will be even stronger than our current one. They are ambitious and carry all our hopes and dreams on their shoulders. And," he quickly added after almost being cut off by the reporter, "although you are right, the number of outlaws labelling themselves villains is rising, we are prepared. It had to be expected after All Might's retirement. While their numbers are growing exponentially, their power is not. Most of these newly registered crimes are identified as minor delicts like shoplifting. It's nothing we can't handle with our already existing forces. And with the right precautions, even those cases will be prevented in the future."
"Thank you for your most inspiring words, Matsuda-san. We place our trust in you and the Commission."
The two men got to their feet and bowed. The camera zoomed in on the news reporter again. "We will be back after a short break."
They were staring at each other, neither backing down. Tension filled the space between them. Unable to bear the awkward silence any longer, Hikari bowed.
"I'm sorry for last week. My actions were inappropriate. I hope you can accept this apology and we can set our differences aside to resume our training."
A sigh came from the boy in front. Shinsou Hitoshi scratched the back of his head. He was visibly just as uncomfortable as her with the situation. After Hikari rose back to her height he replied with a small bow of his own.
"I have to apologize as well. I let my emotions take the upper hand."
A heavy weight was lifted of Hikari's shoulders. She was finally able to breathe again. Just a few minutes ago, Aizawa-sensei had informed her about some of Shinsou's motives. She knew now that he was troubled by his quirk, since it was often labelled as being perfect for villainy. Also, it wasn't physical, and the boy had to make up for it by training twice as hard as everyone else. What exactly his quirk was, though, Aizawa-sensei didn't say, but it was enough for her to get a general understanding of the general department student's motivation. Hikari then wondered what her homeroom teacher had told Shinsou about her. Knowing Aizawa, it had to be as vague as the info he gave her about the boy.
Pushing her thoughts to the back of her head, she offered Shinsou a hand, "Starting over?"
He eyed it dismissively. "I'm not here to make friends."
So, he was one of those guys. Not much unlike her. The girl didn't retract her hand. She simply shrugged. "I wasn't talking about becoming besties. Sparring partners is fine. Or competitors, if you like, I really don't care."
One of the tired looking boy's eyebrows rose. Perplexed, he seemed to weight his options before giving in, but still not taking her hand, "Fine. This stays professional."
Hikari couldn't help but grin. She wasn't expecting anything else. "Perfect."
She finally retracted her hand and settled on her side of the matt while Aizawa, seemingly unmoved by the scene, ordered, "Now that things are settled, begin."
Both U.A. students got into position.
Her calves were burning. Although their sparring had been professional, everything hurt, and she could name at least six places that were going to bruise over the next few hours. The only visible one would luckily be hidden by her bangs. She rubbed her arms on her way, when she noticed someone standing in front of her room, almost as if they were waiting.
She carefully approached, "Momo? Is there something you need?"
The creation hero set on her friendly smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Hikari had a bad feeling about this.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take you by surprise. There was just something Iida-san and I would like to talk to you about."
The smile Hikari had tried to evoke disappeared in an instant. She remembered Midoriya's words. They knew. Not any details, but they knew.
