"...Yes, that's him."
Toshinori Yagi felt numb as he stared at Mirai's corpse on the metal slab with only a thin white sheet covering everything from the neck down. The refrigerated air of the morgue wasn't affecting him, nor was the clinical stare of the medical examiner and morgue technician. It surprised him how they weren't treating the man once known as Sir Nighteye any different from the bodies of the other five Heroes and civilians they had in storage.
"Maybe that's better. Heroes shouldn't be treated as better than others. All are equal in death."
Still, it did bother him on some level. Perhaps it was due to his relationship with Mirai, strained as it was.
He had been in the middle of helping Mirio Togata get a grip over his newfound strength. The Quirk wasn't tearing his body apart as he had expected from experience, but it was still tough on the young man. Suddenly gaining the ability to smash through a building with a single punch was tough to grasp even after ten months of one-on-one sessions together.
He was getting better, but managing fine control over One For All alongside his already complex natural Quirk was more difficult than even Mirai had expected.
They had received the video over their phones like everyone else and had been devastated.
Toshinori didn't know how to respond at first, but Mirio had burst into tears, which was understandable. His friend had been cruelly tricked into fighting the police, which prevented their mentors from receiving support. Mirio had talked about Amajiki numerous times during their training sessions and he knew this would devastate the young man.
"And Mirai is dead."
He tried to comfort Mirio despite being in a daze himself, but Mirio had run off to find where Tamaki and his fellow sidekick Bubble Girl were being held. The young man was too fast for him, and Toshinori had used his muscular form to its limit for the day.
Then he had gotten the call to help identify his friend's body.
"Mirai's dead…"
"...Yagi-san?"
The friend he kept at an arm's length over his breach of trust.
"Yagi-san…"
The young man who admired him, who pushed himself forward and believed wholeheartedly in his dream.
The man who pushed him into giving away One For All out of fear and concern for Toshinori's future…
"Yagi-san!"
"Hm?" He looked up at the examiner who was pulling the sheet over Mirai's head. "I-I'm sorry. My mind is…"
"I understand that this is a difficult time for you." The man said politely, but Toshinori could feel no warmth in the tone. These were just lines the guy had parroted to hundreds of grieving people before, and to him, Toshinori was no different.
It wasn't like he could tell the gaunt, skeletal figure before him was the Symbol of Peace.
"If you need help, we have grief counselors in room…"
"It's fine." Toshinori gave a stiff nod and turned around. "I'll… just be on my way.""
"Yagi-san, it would give you at least some peace of mind if you were to talk things out with another…"
He shut the door behind him.
Toshinori stumbled down the hallway following the signs for the exit. He didn't even notice that he was drawing closer to the wall with each second.
"Mirai's dead… he's dead just like… like…"
Flashes of his mentor, Nana Shimura, came to mind. The last time he saw her, she continued to wear that beautiful smile that represented a noble dream snuffed out cruelly by their hated enemy. He could see it almost melting away, shifting to Mirai being flung off a roof and falling to his death unnoticed until it was far too late. His murderer smirking triumphantly at his horrible deed, acting as if he had tossed aside some action figure for a home movie rather than one of the finest Heroes he'd ever known!
Toshinori's vision swam in tears but the rage within caused his body to shake.
"And once again…" He punched the wall, ignoring the pain that seeped through his body and the trickle of blood that came from the corner of his mouth. His wound seemed to throb as if All For One was still sticking his hand through it, gloating over getting another chance to hurt him. "...I couldn't do a thing!"
He coughed into his hand and could smell the familiar scent of blood. He knew it was bad for his health to become agitated in this state, but he didn't give a damn. He was angry at Mysterio, at the Enforcers who enjoyed themselves assisting in the deaths of five good men, at All For One for having a hand at this, and at himself.
"I figured you would be here."
Toshinori turned around to see the familiar face of Sorahiko Torino, known to most as Gran Torino. The short old man was in plain clothes consisting of a walking cane, a white t-shirt, a denim jacket, jeans and his cane. But the spiky grey hair and scraggly beard were unmistakable.
He wiped his eyes and whispered, "I… I was his emergency contact, apparently. He was an only child and his relatives are dead, so it was up to me to…"
Sorahiko sighed. "Yeah, I had to do that a couple of times too. It never gets easier, especially if they die in the line of duty."
"Why are you here?" he asked despite knowing the answer.
"To make sure you're doing alright, you damn idiot." The old man hobbled forward, his cane making sharp, staccato noises every time the bottom hit the floor of the hallway. "Come on, let's walk."
At first, the conversation was mostly a silent one. Toshinori didn't really know what to say or where to begin. His mind was a mess, his emotions making it worse. He couldn't say he was fine and make the man leave him alone. Sorahiko knew him too well to let that slide. But he wasn't in a talkative mood either.
Thankfully, Sorahiko decided to take the first plunge. "It wasn't your fault, you know."
It was as if something had loosened the valve. "I should've been there! If I had, then Mysterio wouldn't have…"
"Toshinori, you are many things but you aren't a god." The old Hero let out a weary sigh. "This was his mission. He didn't consult you because he didn't think you needed to be disturbed, especially since he wanted you to devote all your attention to training that Togata kid."
Toshinori knew it was true on an intellectual level, but his despair continued to boil. If he hadn't been teaching class, if he hadn't been preparing for Mirio's training course, and if he had instead been out on patrol like usual then maybe he would've noticed the signs of battle. He would've stumbled on Amajiki battling the police in his confused and blinded state before putting a stop to it. The entire thing would've been resolved in seconds before he moved into the warehouse.
All the Villains would've been rounded up and the day would've been saved.
"It doesn't make it better."
"No, it doesn't. But it's the truth and the same truth I told you when Nana died." Sorahiko motioned to the small coffee kiosk. "Come on, let's get something to drink. I could go for some overpriced coffee on your dime."
"Don't you have money?"
"Treat your elders with respect, boy."
After getting their drinks, they sat at an empty table away from off-duty doctors and nurses. Sorahiko was calmly sipping his americano while Toshinori just stared at the milky foam film floating atop his steaming coffee mug.
"What makes it worse…" Toshinori said dejectedly. "...is that we never buried the hatchet." The old man said nothing so he continued. "Mirio's a great kid and I could see why Mirai thought he would make a great successor. He's bright, strong, and his personality… it's like looking at a mini-me and Sensei if she were a teenage boy."
"You still didn't like how you were forced into picking him, right?"
He nodded sadly. "I… I don't know. Mirio's certainly what I would've envisioned my successor to be, but the way Mirai pushed me into choosing him. It was like a constant reminder of when he used Foresight on me."
He still remembered that day. The feeling of anger and sadness that coursed through his body as he stumbled out of the hospital. Mirai shouting at his seemingly hopeless fate, reminding Toshinori yet again that his days were numbered. Part of him hated Mirai's prodding because the man couldn't seem to accept how he felt about things. Each call and email reminded him about a death he never wanted to know in the first place.
His mind flashed to Midoriya, the young boy with the heart of a true Hero and a determination to match. He remembered his fight against Bakugou and the thought that went through his head when Midoriya won.
"If I hadn't met Mirio, I probably would've chosen this young man as my successor."
And that would've been his choice. A successor in preparation for an ending that he could've accepted.
But he had chosen Mirio, and while he kept in contact with Mirai, their conversations were always brief and to the point.
"We were talking more in the past few months, but we never tried to hash things out." Toshinori watched the last of the bubbles pop and stared at the glorified coffee with milk. "And now we'll never be able to talk like old times."
He did consider Mirai his friend, albeit their relationship was a strange one. They were peers, teacher and student, and idol and follower all at the same time. The young man had practically worshiped the ground Toshinori stood on despite his calm demeanor, which weirded him out more often than not. And yet, he couldn't help but see Mirai as his equal, no matter how much the man protested at the idea.
Mirai had believed in the World of Smiles that Nana passed onto him. He wanted to turn that dream of a world where everyone could be happy and free from fear or regret into a reality.
But now he was gone and there was no going back.
"There are a lot of friends that I drifted away from." Sorahiko set down his cup and looked solemnly at Toshinori. "Some of them were great friendships that ended badly. There was so much that I wished I could've said or done differently, but this world is all we've got. We can't just keep bemoaning what could've been, but rather strive towards tomorrow with our heads held up high."
In a surprising show of gentleness, the old man placed his hand on Toshinori's.
"I'm sad they're gone too, but Mirai and Nana would never have wanted to see you like this and there's still a gaggle of kids that need your help while you've still got time. That includes your successor."
Slowly, Toshinori nodded and wiped the tears that had formed in his eyes.
This talk didn't get rid of the sadness in his heart and he didn't think it would go away for a long time.
But he felt it lighten just a bit.
"That's right. For now I'm the Symbol of Peace, and that means I can't give up even in the face of tragedy."
With that thought Toshinori asked, "What are the police doing about Mysterio and his men?"
"For now, they are still trying to find where the guy went and who that Rei Narukami boy had been meeting with." The old man took a sip of his drink. "And I heard from your boss that there'll be some changes to the lesson plan to show kids what they might expect on the field. Better late than never."
Toshinori nodded. Today had been a tragedy. Not only for the lives lost, but because it reminded them that the darkness from years past hadn't truly gone away. If anything it had simply been hibernating.
"But next time… we'll be ready."
Tamaki fiddled with the remote in his hands, surfing through the the streaming services provided by the television in front of his office bed.
He couldn't decide on one. He just kept flicking through programs from the Wee Free Men to the Bobverse. He was in the mood for anything and nothing. "I have to choose something. I'm acting like a crazy person."
But wasn't he already that to everyone outside?
"I'm the crazy intern who attacked the police." Tamaki set down the remote and looked at his legs which were under the bed's blanket. He had passed out after seeing the carnage and woke up in the hospital. The doctors assured him that he and the police were fine, nothing more than some minor surgery and stitching at most. There was a detective and a cop there too and they asked him questions regarding what he saw and why he attacked everyone. He told them as best he could and they nodded while writing his statement down.
They had tried very hard to not show it, but he could see it in their eyes.
The hospital staff and even the police that questioned him were giving each other glances. Their bodies were stiff, prepared to either pin him down or bolt if he made a wrong move.
They treated him like a ticking time bomb rather than a Hero's intern.
"And can I blame them?" He felt tears well up in his eyes. "I hurt the police! I never even stopped to think about what I was doing while Mysterio and his men killed Fat Gum and the others! All of them… all of them are dead because of me!" He slammed his fist into the bed. "Stupid! I'm so stupid and… and weak! I just screwed everything up and I'll never be a Hero!"
That was probably why Mysterio had been able to pull the illusion off. He knew Tamaki was the weakest link, a useful tool not even worth trying to kill. He was just good enough to fight the police while Mysterio killed the real Heroes.
"Mirio would've been able to see through it. If Mirio had been there instead of me, Fat Gum, Sir Nighteye, and the others would've never died! Damn it!"
That was what hurt him the most. Fat Gum had spent most of their time together doing nothing but encouraging him. Saying that he was going to become a great Hero, trusting him wholeheartedly no matter what they did together, be it fighting Villains or filing paperwork. The Hero corrected Tamaki's mistakes when they popped up and gave him helpful advice.
But now he was dead, and Tamaki's own incompetence resulted in five Heroes getting killed.
"Hey, Tamaki!"
He looked up to see the familiar figure of his best friend, Mirio Togata. His blond hair, usually in-place thanks to that styling gel he liked, was disheveled, the top cowlicks frayed on the sides. His U.A uniform was drenched in sweat, the sleeves sticking to his muscular arms.
But what stuck out the most with Mirio was the slight red marks around his eyes.
Mirio gave a cheerful grin as he gave a little wave. "Man, those doctors did a heck of a good job! I mean you looked like hell, but now you're probably ready to jump out of bed and do a marathon!"
"M-Mirio…" Tamaki looked away, staring out of the window to the trees that swayed in the wind.
He couldn't bear to see his friend. It was plainly obvious that Mirio had been crying before he came over, and why wouldn't he? It was because of him that Sir Nighteye and Centipeder were dead while Bubble Girl was under surveillance.
He heard a chair being dragged next to his bed and creaking when Mirio sat down. "Nejire was here trying to see you, but they wouldn't let her in. I got permission because… well, we're friends and I am… was…" He was silent for a second before continuing. "Saw Bubble Girl before coming here and she's still processing everything. Happy to see me, though."
The silence hung in the air for a minute.
"She doesn't blame you, you know."
He let out what was practically a whisper. "She should."
"Tamaki, that's crap and you know it."
"Stop it. Stop trying to make me feel better." Mirio was just lying to make him feel better, burying his own hatred of Tamaki's failure for the sake of his friend. Everyone hated or feared him and he deserved it.
"Look at me, please."
Slowly, Tamaki turned his head to look at his friend. The normally ever-present smile was gone and his eyes were narrowed.
"What Mysterio did to you…"
"No, it was my fau-." His apology was cut off when Mirio raised his hand.
"It was Mysterio who did this." Mirio said firmly, his tone left no room for argument. "He was the one who set up the illusions. He was the one who preyed on you and made you feel cornered. All you did was try to be a Hero and fight against impossible odds and still came out on top. Nobody should blame you for the crap he pulled. I don't."
"But you should!" Why? Why was Mirio like this!? Why couldn't he see the truth!? "Damn it, Mirio! It was because of me they're dead!" He let out a sob. "I was the one who fought the cops! It doesn't matter if Mysterio was the one who set them up, I'm the one that attacked first! If I had just sat down to think or… or just stood down and let that Villain attack me, it wouldn't have worked and Fat Gum, Sir Nighteye, Rock Lock, Centipeder, and...!"
The bed rattled when Mirio's hands came down on the railing. Tamaki finally looked up to see Mirio leaning closer to him with that same determined expression on his face.
"Don't say that. Don't even think that. Blaming yourself and tearing yourself apart like this will mean that Mysterio really has won!" Mirio put his finger on Tamaki's chest. "You're my best friend, Tamaki, and you're going to become a great Hero."
"But after this…!"
Mirio shook his head. "Doesn't change a thing. If anyone talks crap about you then it means they don't know a real Hero when they see one." A sad grin formed on his face. "I'm… I'm sad Sir is gone. He was strict and kind of a buzzkill at times, but he really believed in me. He believed in me so much that he helped me get something."
Mirio raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. Tamaki watched as he stared at it, his eyes filled with determination and clouding with memory.
"Sir Nighteye gave you something?" Was that why Mirio was out more often? Why he barely had time to hang out with him and Nejire?
"Part of me is still unsure whether I deserve it or not." His best friend whispered. "But I made a promise to honor it, to make Sir proud for believing in me and become the best Hero I can be."
He grabbed Tamaki's hand and held it, the serious expression melting away as a confident grin formed on his face.
"Sir's gone. Nothing's going to bring him back. But the guy who did all this is still out there."
Mirio clutched it harder.
"He's so warm…"
"And I'm going to help bring him in. For you, Sir, Fat Gum, Centipeder, Rock Lock and Snatch. For all those who couldn't fight back against them and the people still out there. People who really need to remember to smile because Heroes are still here." Something in Mirio's eyes glittered. "And when I do that, I want you to be there with me. Me, you, and Nejire. We're gonna take these creeps down together as Heroes."
Tamaki couldn't help but stare at his friend. Someone who had every right to hate him for what happened, who lost just as much as Tamaki if not more. There was pain in his eyes, yes, but that didn't seem to diminish the hope within him.
"You're still the sun, Mirio…"
Tamaki felt more tears roll down his cheeks as he nodded, gripping Mirio harder.
"Right… together."
"So you had no idea about Mysterio's little cronies?" The superhero with the flame "mask" and "beard", Endeavor, asked while crossing his arms. "You knew nothing at all?"
"If you're asking if I thought Quentin had henchmen, then yeah I suspected." Peter shrugged. "I mean, you kinda expect it with supervillains. Plus, Quentin's running some big operation so he had to have someone helping him out. Never expected Clash, Vulture, Boomerang, and Shocker Two: Electric Boogaloo though."
Endeavor glared at him in a way that reminded Peter of Daredevil. "Cut the crap. Four Heroes and a sidekick are dead, one sidekick is screwed up in the head, and an intern got tricked by Mysterio into attacking the cops. We've got no time for your jokes."
"Sorry." Peter raised his hands in supplication. Not that they could go far since they were still cuffed to the bed. "I tend to wisecrack when I'm processing stuff like this."
Peter had gotten wind about Quentin's latest stunt from the news. The local newscasters didn't show all the video footage, but it was enough to show that Quentin had put together a montage of him and his cronies beating the tar out of the Heroes before killing them. Adding insult to injury, he drew out the death of that superhero named Sir Nighteye just to rub in how serious he was in this new world.
"You really have lost it, haven't you, Quentin?"
Even in his world, the people who liked to post videos of how badass they were for street cred tended to be lumped into two categories: the extremely cruel and the profoundly stupid. Sometimes they overlapped. There was that mob guy who decided it would be a fantastic idea to dig up the bodies of Frank Castle's wife and kids before pissing on them and sending the footage to every news network in America.
Needless to say, the guy didn't make it past a week.
There was also that one time Arcade, in a desperate bid to recapture his popularity in his old age, decided to kidnap a bunch of Avengers Academy kids, throw them on an a deserted island, and have them murder each other in a bad Battle Royale ripoff that was streamed on an underground website. One call from Victor Mancha and an investigation headed by Vision later, they rescued the kids before kicking the ever-loving crap out of Arcade.
The last Peter heard about the guy, he was drinking his meals through a straw in a minimum security prison.
"The problem is that most don't do that stuff in my world because it's a surefire way to get a butt-kicking courtesy of the superhero community. Quentin's probably the first person to do something like that in a while and the superheroes here don't have Avengers-level resources." They were treating Mysterio's tape like some kind of terrorist video. The cops and Heroes were likely furious as hell and turning over every stone to find him.
But the superheroes here were government employees. They and the police had to go through the channels of bureaucracy before they could do anything.
"Well, I guess that's just one of the downsides of going all-in with the Superhuman Registration Act Lite."
Endeavor grunted as he took out his phone and held it towards Peter. "You know any of the gear these people are using?" It was a photo of Clash and three more swipes revealed the other members of the new Enforcers. "We looked into those web-shooters of yours and some of it is crap our people have never even seen before."
"Alternate universe shenanigans strike again." While his gear was made of regular metals and plastic from his perspective, it was likely they had a different chemical structure in this universe. "Thank god I didn't bring along any adamantium or vibranium. These guys would be freaking out trying to make sense of it."
Peter shook his head. "Sorry, can't help you much."
"Oh? I thought the great 'Spider-Man' managed to beat all these guys."
"Your doubt wounds me." Peter put a hand over his heart. "Can't help because that gear is probably modified. The stuff that new Clash girl did is a lot more versatile than what Clayton used to sling around. I managed to disable Toomes' flying harness once, but after that he kept making upgrades and even added turbines to act as a backup and reduce wind resistance. I don't know what I can do without actually getting a good look at them."
"Flying harness…?" Endeavor huffed as he pointed at Peter. "Look, while the police might be willing to humor you, I won't. I think you're a nutjob and should be put into an asylum as soon as possible."
"Well, at least you're honest." Peter leaned back on his bed. The hospital pillows were a lot more comfy than he had been expecting. "So why aren't I in one?"
"Because you're a useful nutjob. Your 'Ludwig Rineart' tip helped to cinch that the warehouse those guys were heading into was Mysterio's." He stomped to the door to look impressive while making it clear the conversation was over. "The only reason we don't think you set us up for Mysterio and his men is because Nighteye was already getting ready to raid the place. All you did was speed up the signing of the warrants. But when you're all healed…"
"Yeah, yeah. We'll shoot the breeze over coffee." Peter waved after Endeavor. "See ya, Flamebeard!"
Endeavor slammed the door hard enough to shake Peter's bed.
"Touchy…" He moved his hand under the blanket and snaked under it, lifting the blanket by his wrist just a bit to reveal the disassembled remote and broken-off fork tine.
His utensils were still metal since the cops and Heroes didn't think he was suicidal and the hospital staff wouldn't really notice or care that a single tine was missing from a fork. It was pretty easy to acquire with a twirl of the fork and a twist of his fingers.
Picking up the tine with his thumb and index finger, he slowly took out the red wire from the remote's Bluetooth radio.
He wasn't a locksmith, so he wouldn't even try unlocking his cuffs. Plus it would be a moot since he could easily break them with a tug. However, the Heroes would hear it and they could see him 24/7 with the camera they had installed in the room.
He wouldn't make it five feet without getting tackled from all sides.
Peter knew he could probably break out in spite of those odds, but without his web-shooters it would be tough. So he would have to rely on his second-greatest strength: his smarts.
It was painstakingly slow work since lifting the blanket completely would reveal his handiwork to the camera, but when he was finished, he would have a remote that would mess with the video feed with the push of a button.
He would be free but a wanted criminal, likely with Izuku as his accomplice if they didn't play things carefully in their search for Quentin Beck.
Before, Peter just wanted to find his old foe just to punch the guy and get back home.
Now though? Quentin changed the game. Kid gloves were off, and Peter had no intention of playing around the next time they met.
"Hang tight, Izuku. From here on out, things are gonna get a hell of a lot more complicated."
Nezu stared at the three teachers in front of him. "Thank you all for meeting with me so early in the morning. I hope you know that I wouldn't have called you here unless it was important."
"It's no trouble at all, Nezu-san." Hirooki Anakuro, known as the Hero Thirteen, raised her hands to assure him. Due to her expressions being impossible to tell thanks to the nature of her Quirk, she had become a master of non-verbal communication and tone to get her points across. "I was up early anyways going over the class schedule."
"I could have gone with some more beauty sleep." Nemuri Kayama leaned back and stretched her arms, the act emphasizing her chest despite practically everyone in the room not being the type interested in things like that. "But it sounded important so I rushed over here!"
Aizawa rubbed his eyes. If he were tired more than usual, his face didn't show it. "I guess it's got something to do with the whole Mysterio thing."
"Straight to the point as usual, Aizawa-kun." Nezu steepled his paws. "Indeed. Due to recent events, I have decided it's in the school's best interests to alter certain courses a bit."
The three teachers exchanged a look, but only Aizawa and Anakuro had an idea where this was heading. They had arranged a training session at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint for Class 1-A to get them better prepared for rescue operations. It was standard procedure for U.A to have the students get their feet a bit wet with combat and rescue courses in their first week.
However, things were going to change.
"Aizawa-kun. Anakuro-kun." He raised three pamphlets with his right paw. The three Heroes took them and began to scan the contents. "I have, as principal of U.A, decided that your rescue course will include the scenario of a surprise Villain attack. Kayama-kun will be there as well to help you observe the students and teach them how to quickly incapacitate Villains without causing serious ha-."
"Forgive me, sir." Anakuro pointed to the pamphlet, her tone shifting slightly to emphasize her apprehension. "But isn't this extreme? I planned this class with Aizawa-sensei months in advance and I think just preparing the students for rescue operations is sufficient."
"While I am for seeing those young boys really show their passion, I have to agree with her." Kayama put her hands on her hips. "Preparing the students for the possibility of a surprise Villain attack so early in their curriculum is…"
"You're both thinking like teachers." Aizawa butted in, his eyes not leaving the pamphlet. "That's well and good, but remember you're Heroes and think about the mood of the people right now."
Well, count on Aizawa to be blunt about things. "Indeed. It's not ideal, but it is necessary." Nezu sighed. He hated throwing these students struggles before they were ready, but it needed to be done. "With the executions committed by Mysterio and his Enforcers, Heroes, law enforcement, and the civilian population have seen something that has never been experienced since the Dark Age. Villains working together in an organized fashion laying a trap for Heroes… and managing to fulfill their goal."
He turned his chair to the window and pointed at the city skyline. "Right now, the parents of the children in our care are nervous. They are wondering if their children are safe, whether we are preparing them for the world they have been reminded is cruel and filled with uncertainty. The last thing they want are for their children to become Heroes and be blindsided by another attack from Mysterio and his ilk."
"Which is where alterations like this come in, correct?"
Nezu turned to face the three teachers but looked at Aizawa in his eyes. "That's correct. I'm trying to get it into the first-year students' heads that there is the possibility a group of Villains could take advantage of them in the middle of a rescue operation. Robots are a poor substitute, I know, but they will get the job done. The added condition that the students are to only restrain the "Villains" will also save material."
A few seconds of silence passed, the teachers reading through their material carefully before Anakuro spoke up.
"I'm not a fan of interference this late in the game, but I do see your point, Principal Nezu." Turning herself to Aizawa and Kayama she motioned to the door. "Mind if we discuss our plan for the class some more over coffee?"
"Sounds good to me." Aizawa yawned loudly. "I think they're selling that special African brew today."
"Count me in." Kayama smirked as she elbowed Aizawa. "Plus, I would love to see some photos of the boys and girls of your class! Need to make a good first impression for my impressionable students, after all!"
"Give it a rest, Midnight…"
When the teachers said their goodbyes and left, Nezu took out the list of the classes for the month. New notes from the past night covered the calendar covered practically every inch from a blue ballpoint pen, but only one note was written in Sharpie.
GIVE ALL MIGHT TIME OFF.
He knew that Sir Nighteye was a dear friend to Toshinori Yagi, and it wouldn't be healthy for the man to go back to work immediately after such an emotional blow. "Plus, Sir's death will be the only thing the students will talk about in the hallways. It might be a bit much for him…"
Nezu took another look outside to a world that he always knew was dangerous.
"It's only unfortunate that everyone else had to realize it so cruelly…"
"Man, did you see those videos?"
"Crazy, right!? Since when did Villains have that kind of firepower!?"
"I heard that it's Mysterio that's supplying all those copycat Villains that are out on the street. If that's the case, I can't say I'm surprised he saved the best for himself and his elite cronies."
"I read up on Nighteye after seeing it! The dude could predict the future, so how the hell did Mysterio get the jump on him?"
Izuku knew what to expect when he went back to school, but it was still a shock to actually see his suspicions were confirmed. "The death of Nighteye and the other Heroes… it's all everyone is talking about."
He and the others had watched the video Mysterio or one of his flunkies had sent. It was the most horrible ten minutes he'd ever seen, but much like a car crash, he couldn't look away. Eight minutes of the Villains managing to defeat experienced Pros, the Heroes falling to the Villains' sheer brutality thanks to being caught off guard.
The last two minutes were the worst. Mysterio bragging about his victory and launching Sir Nighteye off the building as if he had done something clever.
"And worst of all it was all done so he could become famous." Izuku didn't realize that his hands were clenched into fists until he felt his nails digging into his skin. "Fame! Like that's more important than the lives of other people!"
They shut off the video before Mysterio brought the camera up to show Nighteye's corpse. He and Uraraka had been crying when their screens went dark while the others just stared in shock. Sero had tried to insist, both to himself and them, that it had to be something Mysterio cooked up to screw with everyone's heads. That there was no way he had managed to kill the Heroes, pointing out that the battle footage was obviously edited in certain parts.
Oh, how Izuku wanted to believe that.
None of them were in the mood to hang out after that and went their separate ways after calming Uraraka down. But as he trudged home more news reports came out confirming that the video was in fact real.
All those Heroes, one of them being All Might's former sidekick, were dead. The profiles he had written about them in his notebooks were now bitter reminders of that fact.
"And I don't think I can even look at them without feeling sick." Izuku looked ahead to his classroom door as other students passed him. "I hope that All Might will be alright…"
Everyone was feeling the impact of Mysterio's broadcast and it didn't help that all news coverage was devoted to it, but U.A was especially somber over it. All Might was, after all, one of their teachers now. Everyone was speaking about the video in hushed whispers as if they were afraid All Might would drop in at any moment. There were a few who tried to dismiss the video, saying that now that Mysterio killed Sir Nighteye, the Symbol of Peace would track him down and defeat him.
"I mean, it probably will happen. Or Peter will get to him first…" Izuku's dour mood sunk even more at the memory of his mentor. "Peter… I hope he's alright. I can only guess how he feels about this."
Peter was a man all about responsibility. To him, Mysterio was one of his Villains and should be beaten and taken back home. But now it was over ten months with no progress on finding Mysterio, and in that time the supervillain had managed to spread chaos and kill five skilled and powerful Heroes.
"But he shouldn't blame himself! He couldn't have known!" Izuku placed his hand on the door and looked down with closed eyes. "Though I'm not one to talk. Not when I…"
Izuku opened the door and saw his classmates talking to each other at their seats. Well, all except Kacchan and Todoroki, who kept to themselves as usual. Yaoyorozu glanced at him and he already felt embarrassed. His first full day as vice-class representative and he was here later than he should've been.
"I-I'm really sorry!" Izuku bowed to Yaoyorozu. "I-I just lost track of time and… and…!"
"Midoriya-san, please calm down." Yaoyorozu raised her hand and gave a small smile. "I know that the… incident is affecting everyone differently, and I don't begrudge you for forgetting. I had to remind myself that I was class representative this morning too."
"Wow!" Ashido leaned forward and grinned from ear to ear. "Who would've thought that one the cool and responsible Yaoyorozu-chan would forget something that important!"
"Not as surprising as Midoriya getting here after everyone else!" Kaminari pointed out. "I mean other than Iida, he's the one most psyched about being here!"
"Nah, the only one that would want to get here first would probably be Iida." Kirishima and the others laughed at their commentary, bringing everyone's attention to them.
Both he and Yaoyorozu blushed at the comments and Izuku couldn't help but notice Iida was stiffening a bit. "Did he overhear that?" He really hoped the guy didn't take it seriously.
"Deku-kun!" Uraraka got up from her desk and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Not that great. I'm still trying to process that five Heroes were killed by Mysterio who is actually the real deal and worrying that my mentor is blaming himself. My mentor's the real Spider-Man by the way. He's from another world and has no way to get back to his friends and family. Oh, and that one Enforcer is Quirkless like I was only ten months ago so I'm starting to worry about what you guys would think of me if you found out. How are you?"
"I'm managing. Just trying to treat this like a brand new day, y'know?" he lied through his teeth to the cute girl in front of him. "I'm glad you're doing better!"
"Sorry about yesterday." Uraraka scratched the back of her head while laughing nervously. "I kinda overreacted to that video. I probably looked like a crybaby just bawling like that."
"D-Don't feel that way!" After all, she cried watching five people get murdered! He cried for anything and everything! "I-I was crying too!"
"Yeah. My mom and dad kinda put it into perspective when I got home." Uraraka smiled while looking down. "Those guys that died… they were Heroes, but they were also people like you and me. They can die like police officers and firemen, trying their best to save other people. Just focusing all my attention on their deaths would be the wrong way to remember them, y'know?"
Izuku stared at her. "I-Is that true? Am I dishonoring them by only remembering their deaths and not the people they were?" He supposed he was. If he remembered them as just the Heroes who were killed by Mysterio, then the Villain will have truly won. He needed to remember their exploits, the stories they left behind by the lives they saved, and the words they said to inspire the next generation. "Yeah, I get it. Thanks, Uraraka-san!"
"Well, you two seem to be chipper this morning." Jirou was walking toward them with Sero in tow. "Glad to see it, too. The morning would've been a real drag if the two optimists of the school were down in the dumps."
"Yeah!" Sero motioned with his thumb to Todoroki and Kacchan. "I mean, those two bring down the spirit of the class enough by acting like something crawled up their butts all day every day!"
"Hey, Sero-kun! Don't say mean things like that!" Uraraka huffed. Sero just laughed it off
Izuku felt his dour mood return as he watched them. "Would this end if I told them I used to be Quirkless?"
That had troubled Izuku the most during the broadcast. That Villain, Clash, said she was Quirkless with the microphones picking it up for all to hear. The news that covered the video didn't bring her up much, but when they did it was always in worried tones.
They talked about the disenfranchisement of the Quirkless, how the powerless minority was treated in a world that idolized the powerful, and how said treatment would drive the most bitter towards revenge. Before there was nothing to worry about, because at most the Quirkless could cause harm only by procuring firearms or a knife while Quirks would provide their would-be victims a means of defense. Clash's existence proved that the Quirkless could master gear that evened the playing field. Some commentators feared what would happen if Mysterio sold similar gear to them.
One of them even suggested compiling a public database for Quirkless individuals so citizens can keep an eye on them.
"She killed two Heroes… and she sounded so angry and bitter about wanting to be one." It was like staring at a dark mirror of the person he used to be. One with dashed dreams he knew were impossible and deciding the world was to blame for his troubles. "But I never would have become like that! Never!"
Despite this, Izuku's skin crawled as a single question shot up from the farthest recesses of his mind.
"Are you sure?"
"My mom was freaking out when I got back," said Sero, bringing Izuku back from the edge of his thoughts. "She kept the news on all day after that video came out. Asked me if I really wanted to be a Hero and stuff… lemme tell ya Uraraka, you got it easy."
"My folks were pretty weird about it too, but not that much." Jirou confirmed with a nod. "Not exactly the kind of thing parents whose kids are a couple of days into Hero school expect to see. Things were pretty awkward at dinner and they didn't want to talk about it. How about you, Midoriya?"
"My mom? She was… worried." They didn't talk about it that much when he got back home, either. However, there were questions Mom asked him that came very close to talking about Mysterio.
"Were you alright on your way back?"
"You didn't see anyone strange following you, Izuku?"
"Are you sure your Hero name is going to be Spider-Man?"
It worried him how much this was messing with his mom. She was worried enough about him after some of his lies had been exposed, but constantly worrying about Villains roaming the streets?
"This is going to be the new normal, isn't it? Everyone looking over their shoulder, worrying about the Villains who showed they can beat and kill Heroes. Feeling like nobody is safe…"
"Everyone!"
Everyone went quiet and looked to see Iida sitting up, a determined look in his eyes as he scanned the room.
"Please, forgive the interruption!" Iida put his right hand over his heart and raised his left. "I know that we are all reeling from the video that Villain sent to us! All of us watched as five noble Heroes were cruelly cut down for little more than attention! I understand that you are all worried, even if you do not verbalize or show it!" Iida nodded. "However… we are students of U.A! We are meant to become the next generation of Heroes, sworn to protect our fellow man against Mysterio and his ilk! We cannot bring back the lives lost, but we need to learn to strive and stand strong so that we may inspire our fellow man to not give into fear!"
Iida bowed stiffly. "Thank you for listening and I apologize for the outburst! I merely wanted to say something that would lift your spirits!"
They were silent for a few seconds, nobody knowing what to say.
Then there was some clapping from the likes of Ashido and Kirishima. Most of their fellow classmates laughed, but no mocking in their voices.
"Wow, Iida-chan sure knows how to grab attention. Ribbit." Tsuyu placed her index finger on her chin.
"To give a speech that would capture the hearts of an army… he really is formidable with words." Tokoyami nodded while crossing his arms.
Aoyama dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief. "Incroyable. It was not elegant, and yet the words managed to reach into my soul!"
"Great job, Iida-kun! We really needed that!" Uraraka pumped her fist into the air. "Now I'm ready for anything!"
"Yeah! Screw Mysterio and his flunkies!" Kirishima shouted, his fists hitting the table. "We're not scared! Once we've graduated, his number is gonna be up!"
"Iida…" Izuku knew that the tall boy was smart, however his speech managed to dredge up thoughts that were buried under layers of depression. "He's so passionate about becoming a Hero. Not even Mysterio's video could bring him down."
He needed to follow his example. He had to stay strong, not just for himself but for his mom and others.
That was what Heroes did.
"Oh will you shut up and sit down! You got your five minutes of glory so stop it with that stupid-ass grin!"
"Count on Kacchan to kill the mood."
Despite the rude words, Iida did as he was told but with a blush and a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He'd probably never been praised so much before.
On cue, the door opened and Aizawa entered. "Okay, all of you settle down. Class is going to start."
Izuku looked to Yaoyorozu and they both nodded.
As they led the classroom to begin, Izuku thought one thing.
"Today is a brand new day…"
"Onii-chan, is it time yet?"
Tomura scratched his neck as the annoying voice of Mysterio's flunky reached his ears. "Can't that brat shut up?"
"Not yet, but it will be. You just need to be patient Ichi-."
"Onii-chan! You promised you would stick to our names! Why aren't you playing the game right?"
"Alright, settle down Kangaroo. It's not that big of a deal. The ambush… game… hasn't begun yet. Can't you go back to reading Shonen Jump?"
"But I'm booored! All the chapters are just talking and planning and setup! There aren't any good gory bits!"
Tomura glared at the two cronies that Mysterio sent along. Kangaroo and Frog Man, two snot-nosed brats no older than the drooling little degenerates who followed All Might's every word in this school. Kangaroo was the youngest, her tanned legs showing from beneath the skirt of the U.A uniform she wore. Thankfully she also wore bloomers, but they along with the loose white socks emphasized the gleaming hard plastic dome on the side of her thighs that had steel wires underneath. A sign of Mysterio's "improvements" to her body.
Her older brother, Frog Man, was little better. He went along with his sister's demand that they wear the "cool" U.A uniforms along with their dorky masks. The only alteration he made was the small frog pin on the collar and the frog-like gloves that covered his hands. He held some stupid space-age rifle, the 'barrel' having air holes that let off some kind of glowing blue steam and "AIM" emblazoned along the stock.
"It would be so easy. It would solve all my problems if I could just reach over and eliminate them. It would end this stupid itch and I will feel absolutely freakin' giddy when I get out of here."
But no, he had to be "polite" to Mysterio's flunkies. They were gold-star members of his stupid app and were better than most of the pawns he brought along.
"But did you read them all?" Frog Man asked his sister, who was rocking on her heels.
"Yes, I did…" Kangaroo looked hopefully at her brother. "Does that mean I get a reward?"
Frog Man chuckled and reached into his pocket. "Yup, that's right! You read all by yourself and kept reading until the end, so…" He took out a box of candy and tossed it towards her. "...I got you your favorite!"
"Yay! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She opened the box and lifted her mask to free her mouth to the cool air. "Bottoms up!"
She began devouring the candy, munching and chewing and slobbering! It was echoing inside their hiding spot and getting on his last nerve…!
Tomura scratched harder. Nothing was going right in the past two days.
For starters, Mysterio had made his move and the sheep were actually buying into it! They were quaking in fear alright, and Mysterio had mentioned the League of Villains as promised, but all they were talking about were Mysterio and the Enforcers!
"I don't get it…" Tomura took out his phone and scrolled through the news articles. Mysterio this, Mysterio that, Mysterio everywhere! "That bastard kills a bunch of nobodies and suddenly he's this big deal! The sheep will just eat anything up!"
He didn't get it. Mysterio and his flunkies kill All Might's sidekick and a bunch of second-stringers, not Endeavor and other members of the Top Ten!
This was supposed to be his time! He was supposed to be the one to bring Sensei's message to the world!
"Instead I'm playing babysitter to a couple of brats and the little shits I'm going to kill are just going to know us as that group Mysterio mentioned!"
And there was the way Mysterio forced his two flunkies on him. He was acting as if it were some grand freakin' gesture even though he had Nomu and Kurogiri!
The words he said made the itch grow worse.
"If you have these two by your side, your little plan might have a greater chance to succeed."
"Bullshit! It's all bullshit! He thinks he's so tough because he's got a bunch of no-names that kill second-stringers!"
But he didn't have anything under his belt. At least not yet.
He needed to prove himself. He needed some way to show Mysterio that he wasn't playing his tune.
"Mysterio is just another tool for you to use as you see fit."
That he didn't need him but "appreciated" his help.
"He needs to believe he is in control of his actions, and if you can use that then he will help you rise."
Tomura wanted to do what his Sensei said. To make Mysterio believe that he was more than just another tool in the toolbox. A disposable ally who they can take from with a few words and dispose of at any time.
"But I need men. Not just cannon fodder who buy what that bastard is saying. I've got Kurogiri and Nomu, but I will need more. Enough so that I can utterly destroy that bastard!"
His eyes caught the site of an article that was surprisingly not about Mysterio. That alone made the itching subside, so he clicked on it and read.
Mysterious "Spider-Man" Death!
The body of noted biochemist Ryuko Ozaki was found dead earlier today in her hotel room following her attendance at the Allied Genetics Conference. Her body was discovered by the hotel staff during their cleaning rounds and notified police immediately. Investigators are stumped at the cause of death, as her remains had been completely drained of their blood and organs. Independent sources confirmed that her hotel room was littered with various webs, however these webs did not dissolve within an hour and are supposedly organic.
With the Spider-Man vigilante under intense watch by Heroes in Poli Mana Hospital and the police confirming time of death happening at one in the morning, we have to ask ourselves… has this Spider-Man inspired a serial killer?
Tomura stared at the article, his interest rising as he read it again. A serial killer with webs like Spider-Man and who could drain people? But why hadn't he heard of this person before? Why hadn't Mysterio brought it up? Surely something like that would make the loser rage a bit.
"And this guy managed to stay hidden from Heroes…"
More words from his master echoed in his head.
"And if you're upset about having to rely on Mysterio's men… perhaps a way to alleviate this feeling is to try and recruit your own followers yourself."
Something to consider…
"Oooh! I can feel the rush coming on!" Kangaroo tossed aside her candy box and was hopping from foot to floor, shadowboxing the air. "That's the stuff! Candy and bloodshed are such a great mix, Onii-chan! I wanna get started right away! I wanna kick and punch and make them barf out their organs to see all the pretty colors! It's going to be so much fun! I want the game to start right now!"
"Kangaroo, please stop talking like that!" Frog Man whined. "You know I hate it when you talk like that!"
"Sorry Onii-chan, but I just wanna play the game so badly!"
Kurogiri came to his side and leaned down. "The bus is approaching. Our time to strike is near."
"Great… we'll wait until they get inside before starting the show."
Patience wasn't one of his strong suits, but he managed to stay calm and keep the itch down by imagining two things.
One, All Might gasping and dying in the middle of a bloody massacre where all his precious students and Heroes were nothing more than stains.
Second, Nomu tearing Kangaroo and Frog Man limb from limb like a child would do with a pair of tweezers to a spider.
They were nice thoughts.
"Hello Class 1-A!" Midnight strutted in front of the bus, holding her riding crop across her shoulders. She swung her hips with every step she took, drawing attention to all her curves. "I must say, I love it when little boys and girls show how disciplined they are! It makes future lessons easier and makes you less prone to receive punishment!"
Izuku looked to the ground, his cheeks burning as he tried to think of anything but Midnight. "That new chapter of Left Hand of Darkness in Shonen Jump was really something! Man, I never would've thought that Genly would be able to beat Admiral Le Guin after surviving crashing his starship on the planet Gethen!"
It did not help.
"Midoriya-san, please keep your head up." Yaoyorozu whispered to him, ending his attempt at calming himself. Luckily, Midnight was now standing straight and looking at them with an amused smirk on her face. The fact that she wasn't moving anymore made things slightly better for him.
"Cool! It's Midnight!" Sero giggled from behind. "I heard that she was a teacher here, but I had to see it to believe it!"
"I love this school…" Kaminari and Mineta moaned at the same time, and Izuku could only guess that they were practically drooling as they ogled at Midnight.
"Midnight will be assisting me in this rescue course." Aizawa explained, motioning to the bus. "You'll get further details once we get to the facility. It's about ten minutes away, so I want you all to not cause any trouble on the bus."
"Yes sir!"
"Okay, everyone!" Yaoyorozu shouted as she turned to face the class. "Line up single file so we can get on with minimum fuss!"
As they followed instructions with him and Yaoyorozu leading the pack, Izuku thought about the rescue course.
As Heroes, it was their responsibility to be one of several first responders during natural disasters, fires, and even a riot. They needed to be taught to move efficiently through uneven and dangerous landscapes to rescue civilians who were trapped inside without injuring them.
"But three Heroes? It must be because of the break-in and Mysterio's video." The school wanted to keep them safe in case something happened. Not that Izuku expected much. U.A was, after all, heavily guarded and the teachers wrapped up the break-in within a few moments. "This is just a precaution. Nothing more."
He sat down in the seat closest to the driver while the teachers remained standing. Across from him was Yaoyorozu who had her hands on her lap while Aoyama sat to his left.
"Still, I'm pretty excited!" For years he'd admired seeing All Might in action, diffusing crisis after crisis with that fearless smile of his. Helping the needy and desperate, facing off against nature itself to save everyone! "I'm going to be like him, and with powers like Peter's I should be just as effective!"
"Excusez-moi!" Izuku turned his head to Aoyama, who was staring at him with his chin resting on his hand. "I couldn't help but notice that you're wearing your costume!"
"Yeah, that's pretty surprising!" Ashido shouted from the opposite side of the bus. "You and Bakugou were really going at it, and he's the only one who got seriously messed up!"
"Y-Yeah…" Izuku looked down and fidgeted. "It's just luck, really. My phasing Quirk helped me out a lot, so there wasn't much for the Support Department to fix."
He needed to talk to them regarding his web formula though. Having it melt in high heat would cause problems in the future.
"Y'know, I can't help but notice that you've got a pretty wide variety of powers from your Quirk, Midoriya-chan." Tsuyu mentioned, her eyes boring into him. "You're tough, you can climb up walls, you can phase, and even have a lot of strength… But you don't look like a mutant-type Quirk like me or Shoji-chan. I've also never heard of spiders passing through walls."
"I-I just got lucky is all!" Izuku tried to play it cool but he was already feeling flustered. "It's a mutation!"
"Oh yeah…" Sato muttered while looking up in wonder. "I think I read about those somewhere. It's when members of a family get a Quirk that's totally different or more powerful than what's usually passed around."
Izuku let out a breath of relief. He only found out about mutations while surfing the web last night to take his mind off of Sir Nighteye. "Who knew it would be so useful?"
"So it's not just luck, it's a freakin' jackpot." Jirou pointed towards a fuming Kacchan. "Well, figures you need one genetic jackpot to beat another."
"Shaddup!" Kacchan barked out. "Who asked for your opinion, Headphones!?"
"I'm entitled to one since I helped beat you."
"Gah!" Kacchan looked away. "Well, it doesn't matter! I'm going to ace this course so hard that Deku's gonna be left in the dust!"
"Well, at least Kacchan wants to beat me in a rescue course." Part of him was relieved that his childhood friend was no longer trying to beat him through just brute force. Now he was channeling his strength toward become a better Hero! "Though I wish he wouldn't treat everything like it was a no-holds barred fight."
"Well, I think that's great!" Uraraka peeked her head up from her seat and smiled at him. "With all those powers it's no wonder why you decided to make your costume like Spider-Man's!"
"Yeah!" Hagakure leaned past Todoroki and waved her hand. "Had to admit, I had my doubts about that since I thought it was kinda lazy but after seeing you move it totally fits!"
"I dunno. I think there's probably a ton of different styles he could've chosen without the Spider-Man one." Ojiro shrugged. "But I'm not one to judge."
"No kidding, Skywalker!" With Sero's crack everyone on the bus except for Kacchan and Todoroki burst into laughter.
It was really nice heading to their next class, laughing without any worries in their hearts.
"I wish I had this in my old school…"
"Alright, pipe down all of you!" Aizawa glanced at them while raising his voice. "We're here, so get ready."
Izuku pressed his face against the glass as USJ pulled into view. It was one of the many special facilities U.A built to train the next generation of Heroes. This one specialized in replicating disaster zones for classes to practice rescue operations.
"And that's where we're going to train…" Izuku felt his excitement return. "I wonder who our third teacher will be?"
The bus stopped in front of the gate and Yaoyorozu got up. "Be sure to leave the bus one at a time, everyone!" Everyone followed her lead and headed outside one by one with Izuku directly behind her.
But the moment he set foot outside the bus he felt his head begin to throb.
"What?" He placed his hand on his forehead. The throbbing, tingling sensation was low but unmistakable. "Spider-Sense? Here of all places?"
"Are you okay?" Izuku looked back to see Aoyama, his usual smirk now having a raised eyebrow added to it.
"Y-Yeah! Fine!" Izuku continued to follow Yaoyorozu. He took a quick look around, but all he saw were passing cars. "Nothing's happening… maybe it's just picking up the disaster zones inside the USJ? Any of those can be dangerous if we're not careful."
Before he could think about it anymore, a voice caught his attention.
"I'm glad to finally meet you all!"
Izuku looked up and saw before them the Space Hero, Thirteen. The Pro was standing casually in front of the USJ, raising her hand and waving at them.
"OHMYGOSH!" Izuku's fanboy side overcame him as he began to mutter. "That's the Space Hero, Thirteen! The chivalrous Pro who helps out with disaster relief across the world!"
"This is awesome! Totally awesome!" He heard Uraraka shout from behind him. "Thirteen's one of my favorite Heroes! I always wanted to meet her!"
"Well, now we're getting taught by her so I think that's a step up for year." Jirou drawled, but the grin on her face showed that she was psyched for this lesson too.
"Follow me, everyone! I can't wait to show you all what's inside!"
They followed Thirteen further inside where she began to explain the USJ to everyone that wasn't aware of its function, even noting how she helped to build it with rescue classes in mind.
"Now, before we begin I must state a few things." Thirteen raised her hands and said, I'm sure you're all aware of the nature of my Quirk, Black Hole."
"Yeah!" Izuku shouted with glee as he continued. "You use it to suck in debris that civilians are trapped under so they can be treated for their injuries by professionals!"
"Yes, but it can easily be used to kill."
Everyone grew silent at that.
Thirteen continued, her voice growing firm. "Many of you have Quirks that can be considered dangerous. Many forget this fact, but Quirks are stringently monitored and regulated so we overlook this. All of you need to remember that if you lose focus, even for a second, you can injure the very people you are trying to save!"
That sobering reminder caused Izuku to look down at his hands. He'd spent last spring treating everything from doorknobs to people's hands like wet cardboard. Even then, he flattened an alarm clock while trying to hit the snooze button one morning. What would happen if he ever punched someone with all his might?.
"Because of Aizawa-sensei's fitness test, all of you have a good idea about your Quirk's potential while All Might's combat training showed you how dangerous they can be when used against other people." Thirteen motioned to the inside of the USJ. "Carry those lessons to this class! Today, you will be using those Quirks to help people on the field!"
"Unfortunately, we cannot just let you use those Quirks solely for rescue today." Midnight strolled up and stood beside Thirteen. "We live in a dangerous world, as such you must be prepared for any eventuality! At a certain point, you will be required to battle against enemies during your rescue operations within the environments. You will need to restrain them without damaging your surroundings and with as little force as possible! I will be watching and grading you all. So remember…"
She winked at them.
"Performance is key, boys and girls!"
"Doing both is essential to becoming a Hero. The only thing you need to prioritize is the safety of others!" Thirteen bowed. "Thank you all for listening!"
Everyone clapped and cheered at Thirteen and Midnight's speeches. Izuku's excitement rose even more.
This was it! This was what being a Hero was all about!
Izuku's elation evaporated as agony tore through his brain. It was like someone had rammed an ice pick through his skull. He doubled over and screamed while clutching his head. If his Spider-Sense had been a warning bell before, this was a blaring siren.
"Midoriya?" Aoyama caught him before he collapsed. The other students crowded around them. "What's wrong? Are you getting a migraine?"
"N-No! Something's wrong!" His Spider-Sense wouldn't let up. Danger could be anywhere. It could be everywhere.
The lights began to turn off one by one, the fountain flickering as if something was disturbing its flow. Izuku could feel everyone's apprehension grow with each passing second.
"D-Danger! We're all in danger! We have to get out of here now!" he screamed, looking desperately at his teachers for instructions.
None of them responded. Their gazes were fixed on something further into the USJ. Midnight's seductive smirk and Aizawa's perpetual bored expression were gone, their eyes narrowing in the distance.
Izuku looked past them to see what had grabbed their attention.
The fountain was now completely obscured by a ghastly cloud of smoke. Two yellow eyes were on top, seeming to look at them impassively.
"What the heck is that?" Kirishima scratched his head in confusion. "We're doing the combat portion already?"
"All of you, stay behind us!" Aizawa barked as he put on his goggles. "This isn't part of the course!"
Then they saw figures crawl out of the darkness.
The first was a gray-haired man with a disembodied hand covering his face and hands gripping his body. He seemed to look up at them, and although he couldn't see it, Izuku could feel the evil smirk.
One by one, other figures began to crawl out. Men and women with varying degrees of Quirk mutations, some dressed in spandex while others wore civilian clothes. A few carried weapons, some wore suits that Izuku could recognize.
"S-Stilt-Man armor!? Rocket Racer rollerskates!? W-Wait, is that the first Spider-Slayer!?
When most of the force was out of the portal, three other figures stood beside the leader. One was a large, black humanoid monster with a hulking, scarred body. Its brain was exposed, while its large, lidless eyes were embedded on either side of it. Its mouth had bird-like beak that did little to obscure the many rows of sharp teeth.
The other two were shorter and wore U.A uniforms. A boy and girl, who Izuku could only guess were his age. The girl had darker tanned skin with red sparring gloves, but sticking out of her thighs was the smooth metal casing of some kind of machine. The boy had lighter skin and no obvious implants, but wielded a large gun slung over his left shoulder.
There were also the masks they wore, which covered their whole faces and were ridiculously cartoonish. The girl wore what vaguely looked like a kangaroo head while the boy wore the head of a frog, the light reflecting off of the dumb, googly eyes.
"Thirteen, keep the students behind you!" Midnight stood beside Aizawa, taking a whip off her belt and glaring down. "All of you, these are Villains! This is not a drill, so stay back and be ready for anything!"
"V-Villains!? Here!?"
Izuku didn't want to believe it, but his Spider-Sense and his eyes didn't lie.
Villains had managed to break into U.A.
His mother's fears were confirmed.
Nowhere was safe.
To be Continued...
Note: Holy crap, this came out pretty damn quick! Special thanks goes to reppuzan for his work!
Part of the reason why I got this out so fast was because, like you guys, I thought last chapter was unbelievably dark. I still planned it, and I expected a lot of backlash from it because nobody likes seeing heroes being beaten by the villains. Especially in gory detail like that, though blame the influence of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman on that who are awesome writers and you should read all their work. Several people gave up on this fic or suggested I put in trigger warnings.
I'm sorry if the last chapter disturbed anyone, and I honestly never wish to harm people emotionally. However, when it comes to the topic of trigger warnings I follow Neil Gaiman's advice in that we have to find our comfort zones and limits somewhere and we can't do that if we're warned all the time. Part of the joy of reading is discovering through the story.
I thought this chapter was pretty therapeutic because I got to look into the various characters processing the events and deciding to keep moving forward. And man, we're already at the USJ! Expect some awesome action and a few laughs along the way!
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