Green Scale
Chapter 22 ~ Across The Sea
Rated M
I Don't Own MHA...Yet (͠≖ ͜ʖ͠≖)
Hello everyone and welcome back to the story!
This will be the beginning of the All Might vs All For One arc that will cover the events of the Training Camp and Kamino Ward, but with a big twist. I've been saying that this arc will be the one to kick off the main story and make all the characters come together, and this chapter will be the first glimpse into how that will come to pass.
Since I'm not doing the Final exam arc because it bored me to death, I'll be going straight into the start of S3 with the Training Camp Attack, and just so I don't make the jump too abrupt, I'm gonna do this chapter as a calm before the storm type thing, if you get me.
Any fans of Momo out there? No? *Cries*
Well anyway; this chapter is for those people… I decided to go with Yaoyorozu as the main focus of this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy it… Since I've been cucking you for the past 10 chapters with no real payoff for Momo's inner feelings, I have this chapter for those people.
Keep in mind that romance isn't my speciality in the story, and it will probably make you cringe. Don't flame me bois (ಥ ͜ʖಥ)
Also, I've re-read the story and noticed that the first 12 chapters were kinda bad when compared to the recent ones, so I'm considering re-writing them. Let me know if you're interested in that.
RESPONSES!
Bio RL ~ Oh there are no higher powers in this version of MHA. Quirks originated from man, and that's all I can say for now. I already have the whole thing planned out for the far future where you learn all about the labs, but for now all I can say is that someone definitely was responsible for creating these powers, and it isn't a god.
9Fiction9Addict9 ~ haha, I found them pretty neat myself, though I did spend hours deciding what to name my protag and main villain, so don't give me so much credit.
zorgon873 ~ For real tho… Bitches get stitches, and Rachel can just delete herself at this point…
9Fiction9Addict9 ~ All criticism is welcomed, my friend, as long as it's polite. I completely agree with your view on the first few chapters and how I make some people have seizures over Izuku's strength. I'm still struggling with that, but I do hope that it's improved since then. I laughed at that jab at Inko lol, and Midoriya can't tell anyone about it because Red Scale (and by extension Green Scale) is the opposite of All Might as a symbol of fear to the public, and his mom was directly involved with the incident in Musutafu. He can't really leave out the dragon part because he knows that it'll be revealed already, but I understand you've probably reached that point anyway. Feel free to voice any concerns you have!
Guest ~ Yup...as you can see in this chapter, the american heroes are looking far more like villains than the actual villains… Good observation there!
Desropter ~ Michael and Akira do care for him and they are his blood family, but that relationship and the emotions they have in his presence are exclusive to him, as you'll find out soon enough. That is a pretty amazing theory and almost an entire story idea in itself, but you are incorrect on some points. Izuku is a legitimate child born from Inko and while Red Scale does have a parental feeling towards Izuku, it isn't just because they are the same. Very interesting point of view there, and you weren't too far off the mark ;)
IG-11 ~ Well I'm granting you one of those wishes this chapter ;)
HI SHIN ~ Interesting prediction, but my lips are sealed…
Justsomereader ~ Oh I've decided that cheeks will most definitely be clapped my friend. It was a hard choice, but our boy needs some action right? Melissa getting OFA is something I've considered for a long ass time, but I've decided against it, since I think it would be way cooler for her to complete the dream that izuku couldn't and be a quirkless hero. And I'm probably gonna leave 1-B out for the most part, only covering the major members like Monoma and Kendo.
LuluViBritania ~ Comparing this to the best fic in the fandom is actually a compliment, even if you meant it as an insult, so good job buddy. Also, I never even mentioned his dad being a villain, so that must just be your imagination speaking for you, and everyone is wary of Izuku because...I dunno...they have a brain? He has fire that can melt concrete in seconds, and people think it's safe to let him roam free? He's the next version of the world's strongest villain for god sake… Please at least read the next chapter to confirm the legitimacy of the insults you fire.
Wet noodle ~ Ah yes, they will be reuniting soon, but not until the business in Kamino is done. The first few were rocky, I'll be the first to admit, but I'm glad you're enjoying yourself man!
(Hosu City Hospital)
Izuku entered the place without much resistance, mainly because the people of Hosu had seen him as the main contributor to the extermination of the Nomu and the arrest of Hero Killer Stain. He'd saved hundreds of people on the bullet train and taken down almost half of the flying monsters in the area.. To top it all off, he'd actually managed to defeat an S rank villain in single combat, and that was someone who lived his life by killing pros and being feared by every location he appeared in.
He had also noticed that most people around Hosu had slightly warmed up to him. Of course he knew that just killing a bunch of mindless lab failures and beating up an elite criminal wouldn't make people forget that he was directly linked to the very villain that took nearly everything from them, but nevertheless; he was seeing changes, and even if they were as small as a single kid's smile, he could see that his actions were taking effect and his goal of being Japan's next symbol wasn't unachievable.
It was refreshing to see some people actually consider him a real person, and not some monster anymore. It was fulfilling and made him feel proud of himself for getting as far as he did, because only a few months ago, he was a powerless kid that was thrown down the gutter in life. He knew that the discrimination wouldn't go away so soon, but it was a start, and that was what was important...
Perhaps he could use his quirkless story to inspire others...and sway even more people to his cause…
He wasn't thinking of starting some sort of cult…oh no...but he knew that support was essential for heroes around the world, irrelevant of how much strength they had. The JP Hero Billboard Charts were a great example, as heroes like Wash and Hawks managed to boost their status by boasting incredible rescue numbers and having an insane amount of fans. Sure, both of them were strong and reliable in their own right, but a large contributor to their rankings was their approval rating, and they got that from being favoured by the people…
He could be as strong as Red Scale and people would still think he's some mutant…so making Japan believe that he was really aiming to protect them was the best move right now. He'd promised at the award ceremony that he'd be the shield that protected Japan from Red Scale, and he vowed that he'd be someone that the people could rely on, like All Might, but without actions, those were just empty words. He needed to build up a great record and partake in some of the biggest villain takedowns in Japan to slowly whittle down the hate he was getting… By doing that and continuing to prove that he was Japan's best, he would amass a following, and after that; a huge amount of fame… He hoped that they could look past his quirk and see that he really was the person to lead them into a bright future...
The Quirkless folk were now a minority and had been discriminated against long before Izuku was born, and he could relate to their struggles with everyday life and society, so in a way...he could be something like a people's champion…
Suddenly, an old character from a wrestling show popped up in his head...
"IF YOU SMEEEEEEEEEELL...WHAT THE ROCK-"
No…
Not that kind of people's champ…
The door slid out smoothly and revealed Iida and Shoto, both lying in their beds and looking down about the whole thing…
As soon as he made it into the place, he was almost weighed down by the gloom of it all…
Both of them looked completely spent and riddled with regret as they scowled to themselves. By the looks of it, they hadn't said a single word to each other and just decided to brood, but their injuries weren't too severe if an infection hadn't begun…
They both saw him come in and their eyes seemed to finally come to life, like the darkness of last night vanished from their minds…
But then they remembered how they got there and dulled the mood again…
"Hey...I brought some stuff for you guys..." He smiled lightly as he pulled the curtains away and let the sun shine through into the room. "So what got the two of you so down all of a sudden?"
He played the oblivious card as he peeled a banana in front of them and began eating.
Todoroki stared at him blankly but tried to ignore the loud chewing. "How did you find us…"
"Well, my heightened senses have something to do with it, but it was mostly because Stain couldn't control his own blood fetish and got too excited...exposing his aura to the surrounding area, and since I'm more skilled than any other hero in sniffing out power, I was the first to know."
"And...the Nomu? Were they strong?" Iida shakily asked; guilt leaking from his voice.
"They had the same level of strength as Bakugou and Todoroki, but no skill or control over their quirks, so it was pretty simple tracking them all down and clipping their wings. Instead of sending out another one of those beak fuckers...they pummeled the city with weaklings… I'm not sure if their objective centred around me, or if they desired something in the city…"
While Midoriya was thinking about what happened; Iida spoke up in an uneven tone…
"M-Midoriya…"
Izuku looked back at the class rep and saw his eyes overflowing with grief… It seemed like playing the fool for their benefit wouldn't work anymore…
He knew exactly what those two guys just went through, and just like when he first used his powers, they were doubting everything they'd ever done…
He'd seen this in Yaoyorozu, and it reminded him of himself when he was at rock bottom…
This feeling was seriously bothering him, and when he tried to forget about it, the thing would just come back around in a different form...
"This should be obvious, but I want to apologize…"
Todoroki sighed sadly to himself. "Iida, there's no need to dwell-"
"No, I want to apologize to both of you…" He clenched his shaking fist. "I went after Stain, not knowing his power or skills, and I was punished for it… I knew that it'd cost me my life, but at the time, I thought that avenging my brother was well worth it…"
"And how do you feel now?" The green haired boy asked as he handed Iida a pain killer.
"I regret it, not just because I ended up involving you guys, but because it wasn't what Tensei would have wanted. I went out there for two reasons… One was to restore the honour of the Iida name by bringing in the man that tarnished it, and the other was for my own personal grudge that I couldn't let go of… I-I don't know how to explain it properly, but no matter what I did or said to myself, I'd always have this burning desire for revenge, and this hate that would never be drowned out…"
Midoriya eyed him closely and sighed. "I'm certain all the people in this room are going through the same thing Iida. I have issues with Bakugou, the Fangs and many more people, and Todoroki has his father to hate… Don't worry about us judging you, because as Todoroki said before; we're all in the same boat…"
Izuku wasn't lying, because those negative emotions had been amplified since he activated his fire and killed the sludge villain… He was dealing with that anger daily and knew how hard it was to live a normal life with such resentment flowing through you. He understood Iida, and could even pity him to an extent...
Iida looked up in surprise, looking at Izuku and Todoroki for confirmation. "But all the things I did! I let both of you risk your very lives-"
"Are you just looking for reasons to hate yourself now?" Izuku narrowed his eyes.
"N-No… I just-"
"Then stop…" He said simply. "Don't you realise what we have ahead of us now?"
Todoroki also looked at Midoriya curiously.
"Sure, we have our exams coming up soon and our provisional licence after that, but we're in a much bigger game now…"
Todoroki remembered what Midoriya said outside UA, about his family returning. "Do you mean that the elites from America are gonna play a role?
Iida blinked in shock, having completely forgotten that Izuku was also the blood relative of the west's two greatest treasures, and weapons… "Doesn't your brother have...300 or so heroes under his name?" Just thinking about pros in those numbers made him shudder when he realised that it was only under a single man...
"Yeah, and he's probably gonna arrive here in Japan within the next month…" Izuku smiled, unable to hide his anticipation while the two boys gulped. "I don't know what their intentions are with this nation, or why he choses now to insert himself into my life, but I know that we as a group have bigger things to worry about than him…"
"The Fangs…" Shoto immediately caught on.
Izuku's brows furrowed as he recalled the night. "Correct… Prism was at the USJ in hopes of taking me back to wherever his master is hiding, and when things didn't go his way, he even chose not to kill anyone excluding the Nomu…"
"He's clearly plotting something around you, and it seems that we are all pieces that work into his scheme…" Iida cut in.
"That's not all though… Unlike you guys with your work studies, I've been free for most of the month and had time to think all this through. Originally, their objective was to just take me away by force, but now they're opting for a more strategic approach…"
"How so?"
"Prism only worked with the league in order to get to me, and when that didn't work, he completely abandoned them in the middle of the raid, only doing the courtesy of embarrassing the pros before he left. Now though, it's been quite a while since then, and we haven't had anything on the same scale of the USJ till now. The league is the only organisation known to possess these gross Nomu things, and they sent over 100 out last night in a place that only housed three major people being me, Todoroki and his father… If we assume that the Fangs are still in contact with the league...then it's not impossible to assume that one of them was present among the flames…"
A cold breeze came through the window as the three boys became silent…
"I'm not completely certain, so this is just speculation, but I believe that crippling Tensei Iida was a way to attract me over to Hosu. Your brother's hospitalization triggered you to come and hunt the Hero Killer, and that then led me to follow you out of concern for your safety… I could sense that something was wrong, but if I didn't go and instead assisted Endeavor in killing all the Nomu, both of you would be in a tomb, and not this squeaky clean hospital… I haven't got a clue why I wasn't attacked...but I'm sure I'll be finding out soon. Once someone fails so many times, they become desperate, so I think we're looking at only a few weeks till the next incident...and I'm unsure whether or not I'll make it out again..."
"So then...disguised bait…" Iida cursed himself. "How could I have been so foolish! I should have turned away once I saw the League's minions!"
"But you didn't, and you faced the Hero Killer head on…" Izuku smiled. "That man has a twisted understanding of the word hero. Even though I also detest those that pursue heroism with the hopes of gaining wealth and fame, I can't agree with him just blurring the lines between what a hero is...and basic human emotions…
"He attacked you because you wanted revenge, and if he stopped right after paralysing you, he would have been fine in my eyes, but he chose to kill you for just expressing a basic human emotion… Wanting to pursue revenge is detached from being a hero, and he probably doesn't care that that's the case. I don't care who you are; each one of us has experienced envy, resentment, and greed before, but most only do when it's justified. You can't just call someone scum for expressing how they feel, can you? You wanted to avenge your brother, and he saw you as someone putting desires above your duty. You did that once though, and it was a justified reaction…
"He idolizes All Might deeply, thinking that he's the perfect hero, but I can bet that even the symbol of peace has someone that he hates and wants dead…" Izuku thought back to his brief talk with Hoshino, and how All For One was All Might's nemesis… "Sure, you wanted to kill him, which goes against the moral code of heroes, but you were up against a man that does that stuff on a weekly basis, so really...the outcome would be the same if Todoroki didn't step in. One of you would have been killed even if you weren't after his head. It's an honest mistake..."
Iida was shocked, but wanted to deny his friend.
"Don't bother trying to refute it… That man thought he was doing god's work by eliminating people that didn't meet his standards, and while I do understand his rage and loathing of the pros, I can't get behind killing someone just because they have a flash of emotion that blurs the lines between real and fake… He could kill all the greedy pros he wanted and I wouldn't oppose him, but when he targets people just for showing a glimpse of falsehood? That is where I take action… Its like punching your friend because they got angry, and then killing them for it… That anger will soon pass, and then you would have no reason to harm them… This is just my view on the whole thing, but showing negative emotions as a hero doesn't make you a failure..."
"But I-I got you and Todoroki involved-"
"That was inevitable Iida… Todoroki was already in the city and I was actively searching for you. The only person you should be apologizing to is yourself, because Todoroki is the only reason you're alive. Moving forward...you should probably take Tensei's name…"
That seemed like something Iida had really been considering, as they could see the struggle on his face. "I-I can't… Not after what I've done to his legacy…"
"Take the damn name…" Izuku deadpanned. "The name Ingenium belonged to a great hero, and you've just begun your time at UA, so you can still rise to his level and even surpass it. This is only your first year, and at the rate you're improving, you'll be a stellar pro by the time you leave school. Don't think its the end just because you made one mistake and lost one fight. From where me and Todoroki are standing, you're still our class rep, and our feelings haven't changed… You should go see your brother to confirm my thoughts, and decide with him."
"But what about Native? I let him die because of my selfishness…"
"So?" Iida's eyes snapped open. "Do you seriously believe that Stain would have just let him live when you realised? Okay, so you didn't notice him at first, but once that happened, he was doomed…"
Todoroki watched Izuku with an uneasy look, knowing that his classmate was speaking from personal experience. He didn't know what he was hinting at, but he knew not to mention it…
"You made an honest mistake Iida, and no one but the Hero Killer blames you…"
Tenya looked at Midoriya with wide eyes, as if he was looking for any falsehood in any of his statements...but tears came when he failed to locate any…
"T-Thank you...Midoriya…"
Izuku looked at the lightly sobbing kid in pity. 'This took a toll on them both, but I'm not sure if a simple talk will help them recover…' He remembered watching the fights from the top of the alley, waiting for the moment to step in… 'Todoroki used his fire to save his friend, and even though he failed in that regard...he still won the Hero Killer's respect… It seems that actions will have to suffice...but what would it take to make them come out of this as better heroes?'
Izuku still had to take care of Yaoyorozu and make sure that Uraraka's money troubles were eradicated...but now he had his two new friends to deal with…
The student didn't mind… In fact; he actually found a strange sense of joy when helping people, but these things were starting to stack up… He wanted to figure out how he was gonna approach his relationship with Yaoyorozu, and whether or not it would lead anywhere, but these two might have to take priority...
He was wondering what would make them recover...but he'd already realised that both of them thought of him as somewhat of a mentor now...or a superior student…
They'd somehow have to return the favour…
But how could you pay back a life debt without saving that person's life?
"Todoroki…"
The ice and fire user looked over to him from his bed…
"You used your fire, didn't you?"
It seemed like the student wanted to deny it, or even ignore the question, but he took a deep sigh of grief as he held his head in his hand.
'He bottled all this up huh…' Izuku noticed immediately.
Todoroki looked back at the kid that demolished him at the sports festival, and he couldn't seem to shut him out. "It was a complicated thing… A mistake…"
"Well, that mistake saved our class rep…" Izuku smirked. "Like it or not...you saved Iida with your own power…"
"I had nothing left to fight with...and if I didn't use it, we would have died…"
"But you had known you were using-"
"I was forced!" he spat out…
Iida flinched from the outburst and looked over to Izuku. "I-I think it's best if you and I give him some time Midoriya…"
"Sure, but I'd like to leave him something…"
Todoroki tried to refuse, but Izuku walked over and stood next to his bed. "Wanna hear something pretty unbelievable?"
The boy scowled, but gave in. "Humour me…"
"What would you do if you didn't have your ice, and were only left with fire?"
…
…
…
"Would you quit your dream of being a hero just because your father left a scar on your childhood? You hate that side of you, and think that he lives through you in that form...but what if that's all you had?"
"Midoriya...you shouldn't be asking this right n-"
"Silence…" the green-haired youth coldly hissed as his muscles tensed. He knew better than anyone that questioning Todoroki wasn't a good idea, since he lashed out last time, but he wouldn't let his friend trash a hospital in a temper tantrum. "I'd like to hear his answer right now…"
Todoroki didn't like Izuku's tone one bit, finding it almost dangerous, but he couldn't refuse someone he owed his life to… He had his secrets and his scars, but Midoriya was the one person in his life that finally made him look past his hatred… He'd been the only person to understand and listen to him...and when things went wrong, he'd always been the one protecting everyone, not asking for anything in return…
In a way...he owed this to him…
"I'd have to keep pushing forward, and drown out his influence all together…"
The kid looked indifferent at that, like he was disappointed with the answer.. "Imagine if you didn't have your fire back then? How would things have turned out? The Hero Killer would have still spared your life, but you wouldn't have been able to look past your hatred…"
"Are you saying-"
"Yeah, I am…" his classmate replied instantly with a reassuring smile. "You can tell yourself all kinds of fairy tales, but the truth will remain the same. You looked past your hatred and attempted to save Iida's life with the power you'd sworn to never use. You think of your father as some sort of despicable demon, and because of your fire quirk, you think of yourself in the same way, but let me pose you one last question… Would a demon act the way you did? Would he care to save the life of a friend in exchange for his own? You had no idea that Stain would spare you, so it was life or death from your view...and yet you still did everything you could to save your classmate… You have my respect for that Shoto…"
Todoroki froze in place…
He could now remember every detail of the fight…
"I-I…"
"Calm down…" Izuku jokingly patted him on the head. "I was asking at this moment because I want you to think hard about it… I owed both of you an explanation for my late arrival, but I wanted to at least patch up some wounds that opened up that night…"
He walked back over to the door and threw Shoto a bottle of chilled water. "Stay hydrated Icy-Hot…"
Iida still had much to say, but he knew he wouldn't get the chance. "Where are you heading Midoriya? The teachers say that we have some sort of training camp that's top secret. Even the rest of the school doesn't know about it…"
Izuku's eyes narrowed again… "Yeah, that's more than just suspicious… After the League of Villains somehow knew our timetable for the USJ and had info on all our quirks, the school's been more cautious. A mole is probably hiding amongst the staff, or even our own class, so you both should stay sharp…"
"But what are all those things for?" Tenya pointed to the large grey rucksack on his back…
A smile spread across the young man's face as he remembered what he'd be doing for the rest of the day… "They're for a special someone…"
(Yaoyorozu Mansion)
"Honey? Are you still worrying about those boys in Hosu?" The lady of the family rested a hand on her daughter's head as she kept her eyes fixed on the news… She'd been in the living room for over 4 hours now and was still waiting for info of how her classmates were. She knew that they'd somehow managed to beat the Hero Killer, but she recognised that the villain was stronger than most pro heroes in the nation, and that victory must have come with a price.
Hosu was all over the headlines, and now this stood as the first time that Izuku Midoriya, now going by the ominous alias Green Scale, had done something for the public. Of course, his physical abilities were off the charts even for a UA student, but he couldn't garner support with just his strength. Like All Might; he would have to prove to the people that he was reliable and trustworthy, and that all would begin by amassing a long list of achievements and showing that he cared enough to protect the people of Japan…
"I'm sure your friend is doing just fine. If he has any shred of his father in him, he'll not even be phased by backlash of any kind…" The woman smirked. "We were all blown away by his speech at the award ceremony. For a child that young, in front of people that hate him for the blood in his veins, it was incredible that he was even able to utter a word. Your father just wouldn't shut up about it…"
The Yaoyorozu family was the leading group in the Japanese quirk industry and were respected across the globe. Just like David Shield and Michael Midoriya, the head of the creation family was a titan in the industry. Although he wasn't as decorated as the other two scientists, he was known as the greatest in Japan, leading several hero support rings and providing over half of the greatest support items in the nation…
They all had powers that enhanced their creative abilities, and they utilized those powers to their full extent. While Michael wanted to control and collect quirks, and David wanted to empower them for the good of his friend; the Yaoyorozu family wanted to contain and stabilize them with the aim of making a safer society that lacked quirks with dangerous levels of power...
Even though Momo's father was recognised as one of the great pioneers of history, the man heavily admired the Midoriya scientist, stating that he would lead the world into a new age. When it was revealed that Izuku was related to him, the family began trying to get the boy interested in their daughter, and over the past month, they'd become his biggest supporters…
"Have you taken a liking to the boy?"
Momo blushed slightly...finding the atmosphere awkward all of a sudden. "W-Well, he's helped me understand things about myself...and he's always putting me before his goals at UA… There's nothing to be concerned about mother…"
The woman's eyebrows rose slightly. "Understand things about yourself? Don't tell me the two of you have already-"
"I said there's nothing going on!" her cheeks turned rosey. "A-And I wouldn't' commit such an act at this age…"
The mother sighed. "Well, your father will want to meet him as soon as possible, and he'll be overjoyed that his greatest inspiration's son has wormed his way into your innocent little heart!"
"Do I have to say it again?"
"Ah...young love~" she teased with a bright smile as she left the room. "You should think about securing him quickly, daughter… A man of that calibre won't remain single for long~"
Yaoyorozu sighed as she buried her face in her pillow. 'He doesn't even see me in that way...so how would any of that even happen?'
She'd seen nothing but the Hero Killer on the news since last night, and while she was overjoyed that Midoriya managed to beat him, she had been worried about him the entire night. Even though he was more than capable as a student, she knew that he was facing someone at the very top of the villain world with strength that could match or even surpass a top hero. If she was strong enough to stop him, she would have, but there was no way that Izuku would back down from saving his friend.
She found it moving and respected him even more because of that, but her worries for him overwhelmed any kind of emotion that could look on the bright side. If she lost him, she would have lost the guy that helped her get over her loss, and the guy that still wanted to help her grow even after all this time…
It was horrible…and she wanted to help him, but she knew that she was too weak for the Hero Killer to even consider as a threat, and her presence would have only been a hindrance… She wanted to get stronger not just to break into the top hero rankings, but to be of use to her fellow classmates...and to him. She had the foresight to know that these forces would keep coming after Midoriya until they got him, and if he alone fought them, he'd eventually lose no matter how strong he got. That's when he needed her…
She had a strong quirk, and even Midoriya acknowledged that, but she was a complete novice when it came to how she used it. She knew the makeup of hundreds of things and could make almost anything she wanted, but what would that do in a fight? She could make weapons and even artillery, but they lacked the necessary firepower to be considered dangerous. Things like cannons and metal pipes would work on small time criminals if she improved her fighting skills, but against her fellow students, they were next to useless.
Midoriya was right… She had tons of potential in that quirk of hers, but she had yet to utilize it…
If she got stronger and managed to reach the top of class A...maybe she could finally-
*Ding…*
She turned her head slowly to the bell near her door. It was an alarm to tell her that someone was outside her front door, presumably wanting to get in…
But that was strange…
'A visitor?'
Her mother had just gone to her chambers, her sisters were working in one of the main quirk labs in Deika, and her father was on a business trip...so her family shouldn't have been outside her door…
But who could actually want a visit here?
Her family was feared across Japan for their influence, and the fans they had didn't know where their home was, so who was it? The school? Or someone else?
She was both nervous and excited to open the door, but knew that her father did have a great deal of enemies, so she slowly made a metal pipe in her free hand…
She was greeted with the sound of a young man's voice, and she was in disbelief when she saw green hair waving on his head.
"We're going shopping…"
(Yokohama Shopping District…)
Yaoyorozu was standing in the middle of the mall plaza as Izuku caught up to her. She was just dragged out of her house with no time to change, so she only wore a colourful sweater and some jeans. If her friend actually gave her more than a few seconds to get ready, she probably would have worn something more visually appealing...not because she wanted him to look more of course.
Her hero costume was revealing enough, but she wasn't allowed to wear it under normal circumstances, and she also didn't want Izuku getting the wrong impression of her...
Izuku, on the other hand, had come prepared and genuinely looked like some sort of fuckboy in a korean manhwa; not that she was complaining... He had the Fang & Blade agency hoodie on to cover the plate armour underneath, and wore tight sweatpants probably just to show off his physique. She should be mad that he was acting like a fashion mannequin, but he was certainly appealing to look at.
"You look great Yaoyorozu." he smiled. "Sorry about not giving you any warning. I just wanted to see you again after last night…"
Did he have to make that sound sexual?
Well, considering that he had this playful smile on, that was the intention…
Again...not that she was complaining…
In truth, she herself wanted to take him to the movies or a high class restaurant in hopes of building some sort of emotional connection, but she'd known by now that Izuku was well aware of how she felt, and still didn't act on it… She wanted to be assertive and just make a move before another girl stole him away, but after being so close and friendly with him; this change of setting embarrassed her...
That's why she was so overjoyed to have this invite. Even if he was doing this out of consideration, or he was morally obligated, she could still hope that he at least had some spark of affection for her…
"Why here? I thought you didn't like going places?"
"I heard from Jiro and Mina that you liked to spend your money… I mean...its kinda weird when you have a quirk that can literally make anything...but…
Momo pouted slightly. "It helps the econamy...and how did you get them to tell you!? It was a secret!"
"Oh… I said it was a date…"
…
"Eh?"
"That was their reaction too, but they got over it… I mean...who wouldn't want some of thi-"
"Stop it…"
"Right…" his smile widened, which only served to make Momo even more embarrassed...
They stood in silence for a second...
The teen looked around and saw people whisper around them as they walked, and some assholes even tried to record the couple before his glare caught up to them. It pissed him off, since he wanted to dedicate this time to the girl in front of him…and utilise all of the top-tier romantic tips his mom gave him before he left… He wanted to question how she knew so much about what women liked and how a man should flirt, but he could just about chalk that up to his father being a Chad in his youth...as off-putting as that thought was…
"Don't worry about them. If my knowledge stands correct, your family would sue anyone into the dirt if they tried using our little moment for clicks, and mine would do worse…" He was thinking his brother would do something found on a gore sight to the people responsibe, but he wouldn't disclose that info to someone like Momo
"I'm fine, and thanks for inviting me…" she looked away. "But why me?"
Izuku seemed kinda confused by the question, but one look at the girl's unsure and worried face made him understand. "It's a reward…"
"Huh?"
"You heard me. I'm rewarding you…" He smiled. "You were the special someone that contacted almost everyone in our year and convinced them that my speech at the award ceremony wasn't just for show. Thanks to your actions, I received a full inbox of people praising and comforting me. These days my emotions have slowly begun to dull, so I don't work the same way most people do, but I felt really happy that so many people would give me a chance. People all over the year group contacted me, and it's all thanks to you Yaoyorozu…"
He suddenly grasped her hand, but made sure to be gentle. He looked into her eyes as he smoothed the skin with his thumbs, heating them up to give a warm feeling to her. "If things played out without your interference, everyone would have been confused and I would be misunderstood as a bloodthirsty psychopath... I was bullied as a kid in elementary and middle school, and if the same happened at UA, I think I'd lose faith in my life… You stopped people from treating me like trash, and this is my gesture of thanks…"
It seemed almost hard for him to say it, since he was a Midoriya and they were known for their arrogance, but he smiled with genuine happiness. "I'm grateful…"
Yaoyorozu had no idea that any of this stuff happened in his childhood, but her heart seemed to throb when faced with his smile. "A-Anyone could have done it…" She stopped herself from gripping his hand tighter, and only noted how soft it was in her mind.
She'd realised that he was making them feel a certain way, but that only served to make her even more invested in what he was saying.
"But you were the one." he flicked her shoulder lightly to make her focus solely on him. "You didn't have any debt to repay, and you didn't need any kind of forgiveness… You just came to my aid because you cared about me...and that felt good…"
He looked around the mall and found a section dedicated to fashion. "I wanted to treat you to the nicest things around and make you enjoy your time with me, so I took you to the place with the best quality." he could almost see her eyes soften as she took her time composing herself.
She really didn't care about the shopping and was just enjoying being this close to him. How a girl like her had become so infatuated with a single guy was beyond understanding, but she just couldn't get enough of him. Whether it be words or actions… It just made her react. The shopping would just allow for windows where they could talk, and that was the icing on the cake for her.
"In truth...I also invited you here in order to prove some of my own issues…"
Yaoyorozu looked up at him, almost breaking her stoic mask and letting slip a face of hope...
Izuku let go of her hand and walked ahead, keeping his smile as he walked over to the fountain. "Things have been getting pretty hectic, right?"
"You can't lump me in with you and Todoroki… You guys had it way worse than the rest of the class this year…" she modestly shook her head.
He ignored her and sat on the fountain wall. "First we had the USJ raid where I got folded by a Nomu and met one of the strongest villains in the world, and then I won the sports festival and almost got creamed by Todoroki… You saw all that, and got exposed to all my worst qualities, and yet you still stick by me."
"That's because of what you said after my match! I thought you were some kind of stuck up prodigy that viewed me as dirt, but you turned out just the opposite…"
"I'm not as innocent as you think… Putting on a respectful front is far easier when there are nicer people around you." his eyes darkened slightly.
"I see it differently… You might have exposed your worst attributes to me…" Momo rubbed her hands awkwardly. "But you didn't hide anything, and you spoke to me with nothing but your own thoughts and feelings. It made me think of the person that I wanna be."
She remembered the thing that Izuku said before his match with Tokoyami, and how it pushed her to be more independent...
"Someone confident?"
"Someone free…" she smiled.
Izuku smiled back. "Then...how about we work on that?"
Yaoyorozu laughed a little when she saw the faintest amount of a blush on his face. "I thought we were gonna go shopping?"
"That can wait. I think we both need to talk about this, and see what it means… For all my genius, I'm a ball of cringe when I show my emotions, but I'm willing to share them with you, if you're brave enough...
Hold on…
"Midoriya… Are you-"
"If you say you wanna be a free spirit and break free of the status you have, then you have to remove those burdens of yours…" He pointed at her.
"Burdens?"
"Meaning me…" his smile faded as the air around them became serious. It seemed like the stares from the people passing by had drifted into the background and weren't an issue...or was it that she only wanted to hear him right now?
"I've known about your affection for me since the festival, and it's bothered me for so long. At first, I passed my emotions off as being caused by your beauty and tried to focus on what was ahead, but that just didn't work...and then I began thinking that the two of us were just friends, and those were the emotions that friends shared, since I've never experienced them before…"
She seemed to get an uncertain vibe from him, and she could tell at a glance that he wasn't joking at all. Midoriya had always been cocky and menacing when he was around her, and only showed a soft side when she needed to see it...but now he looked doubtful and seemed to be carefully measuring her reactions, like he would in a fight...
"I didn't know what to think at the time, and as the days rolled by, I thought about it more and more. Seeing you made me feel at ease, and it would always calm me down when you smiled… A part of me didn't want to lose that to someone else…
"I originally thought that you were just stupid for thinking too much of yourself, but I spent time with you and realised that we're both going through the same thing. I pitied you; saw myself in you as you suffered...and I became attached to you without even realising it…"
She could only stand there as her heartbeat quickened in pace. She could feel that he was going to say exactly what she wanted, but she couldn't believe the reality that was in front of her… Her chest was burning from his touch, and she was resisting the urge to just spill every word she'd been holding in...
"You're kind and don't fall flat in intelligence, and you're hot enough to make me question what league I'm in… Every time I even show the slightest shade of weakness, you're there to comfort and aid me, even when I'm not in need of it. Small things like that make me happy…" he smiled as he held her hand in his palm gently. "I don't ever want to lose that feeling, and envy eats away at me when I imagine you with someone else… It's a feeling I've never found with another woman, and it's something I wanna keep with me…"
"Izu-"
"Momo…" he smiled bitterly as he called out her first name. "These next months are gonna be rough to say the least, but I'm fearing that the biggest disaster will come about really soon, so I took the opportunity and asked you now. I chose this moment because I don't know what's gonna change in the next month, and I don't know if I'll get the chance again…"
Yaoyorozu stood frozen in the middle of the plaza as a strange warmth covered the hand she gave the boy. These were the word's she'd wanted to hear for a month now…
He stood up to meet her again...
"I've fought battles that would make most pro heroes develop trauma and came out relatively unscathed, and yet the feeling of losing you hurts me more than any one of the injuries I've sustained… I met Prism, but there's a whole world of villains out there… Orochi and the rest of the fangs have yet to appear, and it seems like I'm fated to fight Red Scale when I get strong enough...but I'm still more concerned about this…"
She felt a friendly arm wrap around and embrace her as they stood there in the middle of the mall, not caring who saw them. "Let me ask you something Momo…"
"I want to get this over with, because it's been hindering me as much as it has you… I want this to happen...but I would be liberated of these feelings if you walked away. We both have our futures, and we both want to be the best heroes we can be...but this is standing in our way. If this happens to turn out the way we want and we keep this a secret...we could live our lives with these shackles around us…"
The vice president didn't hesitate to rest the side of her head on his chest; savouring how it felt, how it sounded, and how it smelt. She was craving every moment with him, and now that he'd recognised her emotions, there was no need to hide it…
She knew exactly how she felt, and any amount of embarrassment and pride would fail to hold her back now. It was just impossible to fight against it...
"How do you feel about me?"
His eyes didn't falter as he said that, and his posture didn't change… He wasn't nervous and he'd not even seemed awkward at all leading up to this… He had been calm and playful as a way of buttering her up, and now he was dead serious, as if he was almost demanding an answer…
He meant everything he'd said before, and he would really abandon whatever connection they had if she chose to stay the same… If they went through with it, the whole thing could hinder their careers as heroes and paint a bright target on Momo's back…
But…
It was worth all that for her...
Her heart was thumping inside her chest, and she'd never been more nervous in her life… She knew her choice, but she didn't know what consequences they would have…
But either way, if she got what she truly wanted now, she doubted any drawback would make her regret it...
It was clear that he'd planned this for a while now...and that was something that made Yaoyorozu fill with pride...
His smile was kind, but his whole body exuded a feeling of focus as he looked into her eyes...
Just seeing him like this as he said that made her swell with a feeling she'd never felt before…
"I love you…Izuku..."
Izuku flinched from the answer, but a smile broke out shortly after. He pulled her in and hugged her for the first time since the sports festival, but the difference this time was that it was warmer than anything she'd ever felt, and she could feel all his emotions flowing into her as his eyes lost their doubt… "I'm glad…"
Momo couldn't help the pink hue that was now spread across her face. She was embarrassed that she'd said it, but after hearing his reply, there was no way she'd ever regret it…
"I took you as one of those arrogant people gifted with an insane power, not knowing how lucky they are, but all that doubt was washed away when we spoke. My family is preparing me to be the next head of the labs, and they have almost made me into this machine that represents ideal beauty and stunning genius, but you saw through that facade and were the first person to ever understand me… I thought that I'd never find someone that could truly relate to my problems, but you came through when I needed it the most…"
She squeezed his body and returned the hug. "You saved me from wasting my talent, and you've indirectly been my inspiration all this time… I don't care what nasty demons you have… You're still the guy I've fallen for, and you're still the guy I wanna spend the rest of my life with…"
Izuku looked at her seriously; tightening his embrace… "Do you realise what we have to face in the future? We have an enemy stronger than we can imagine, and we only have a few years to rise to their level… I'm the guy they want, and everyone else is expendable… If you really do want me, then you should know that you'll become a target as well… Following me is almost guaranteeing danger…"
"Do you think I care?" she boldly asked as she sunk into his arms. "I worked up the courage to confess to you, and now you think I'm afraid of some villains? I'm weak, but I'll get stronger for you…"
"Momo…"
"I'll say it as many times as you want, and I'm not gonna run away from this…"
"Then…" Izuku took her by the arm and started walking again, feeling like both of them had released a huge weight of their shoulders… "How about we make this a date?"
And so…
The two of them joined hands…
Not knowing that they were being watched...
(Washington DC / Blazing Fang Labs Underground Section)
Down below the huge skyscraper that covered up the location of the labs was a short collection of granite paths that lead to various places in the labs. The huge tower known as the symbol of quirk science was nothing but an empty shell and a nice viewing point for the CEO…
This dark passage was just bursting with evil…
And it was the location of the real labs…
Where all sorts of horrors took place…
In one area of the underground, there was a long corridor that led to a battle zone where Akira and Michael would use test subjects and see what their quirks could do against various things...
At the very beginning of this pathway, there was a single door…
The door was 10ft tall and made from an extremely hard wood that wouldn't shatter to any form of physical damage. It was an unknown substance and one that only the Midoriya elder had complete access to, but even this piece of revolutionary wood was used as a mere decoration…
Outside the door was a woman…
She was dressed in a black business uniform with a white shirt and red tie. It was different from the normal female lab uniform, as most women wore white lab coats with pure black suits underneath, and this one in particular was woven with a substance that granted an ease of movement…
Her name was Elizabeth Waver… Akira Midoriya's personal assistant…
She was extremely beautiful even able to pass as a supermodel in any country. Her figure was slim, but she had curves in all the right places and streamlined muscles that hinted at her elegant fighting style… Her hair was strawberry blonde and was styled in a bob as it flowed down to her collarbones, and her eyes were a stunning grey that never lost the cold glare…
Not much about her hinted to her being strong, but a weakling was something alien to her…
Even among the demonic 9 heroes that served Akira exclusively, she was near the top… Every one of them were arrogant and could probably fight one of the Fangs without much fear, but they obeyed every order she gave them, both in fear of their master, and of what she could do to them…
Her quirk was a mystery even to them, and the only two that knew about it were Akira and his father. It was weak, but with her strength and speed, it was almost unstoppable, and the reason she hadn't taken the nation by storm was because she needed to cover up her master's tracks…
She didn't even show signs of annoyance as the hours ticked by, and almost seemed to be more alert when alone…
The large door slowly opened as she bowed slightly at the man that came out…
Among everyone in the world, she was one of the few that didn't instantly perish when she stood next to the black aura that flooded the air…
The man was standing at a fearsome 6'6ft and was built like a lean wrestler despite his age and lack of feats on the battlefield, and even though everyone knew him as a scientist that only had allies and his genius as weapons, he looked to be the most dangerous to her…
He was wearing a stylish business suit that looked to be all for show, but due to her being a leading member of the research team and the closest person to Akira besides him, she knew that it was anything but… It was made to look stunning as a way to hide its true value, which happened to be the thing's incredible defence… It could absorb any physical attack and send it back to the opponent while also providing resistance to his own quirk, which severely damaged his body…
Though when she remembered the extent of that quirk's power, she really didn't see why he'd even need it…
His hair was black like a ravens feather and reached his shoulders in a loose but clean way that made him look not only intimidating, but exceptionally stylish as well… His eyes were the same colour...being completely black without pupils…
He was aged far over the limit of humans, but had the appearance of someone under 40, being almost as dashing as his son…
Though again...that hid a different side of him...
"Sir, everything is in order…" She barely even flinched from his appearance, but the man could instantly tell that she only just managed to save herself from falling unconscious from it… Even though the action was barely even visible, the powerful scientist could see her legs buckling under the immense pressure…
He admired the fact that she hadn't died, but was also thankful, because he didn't want to get on his son's bad side after all these years…
"Everything? Then why exactly do I hear those loud impact booms from the combat zone?" He challenged as they started walking towards the mysterious location.
Elizabeth blinked in surprise. She had no idea that he had similar levels of sense… Those huge blasts were covered up by layers upon layers of thick soundproof material, and she was certain that only her and two other heroes possessed the skill to sniff it out… She had always thought that Michael fought with supreme control and outrageous power, but now she was questioning if she even knew the first half of his abilities...
"Master told me that all his men needed hardening before they arrived in Japan. He didn't elaborate, but I assume that they're having a spar in there…"
"And when did this all begin?"
"Just as you entered…" She managed to keep the shudder out of her voice, but she'd just realised that he'd been testing her skills in detection; not hiding his own...
Michael smiled coldly. "Very good. I see it wasn't a mistake to let you tend to my son…"
Well...that was obvious…
She would have been killed if expectations weren't met…
"I'm just about done with my research here, and the elixir has been contained in the blade base outside Washington. It's already completed and ready to be released to the outside world, but all that would go down the drain if we happened to encounter any...other enemies…"
"Yes sir…" She nodded stiffly. "Somehow, we haven't been able to track the Fangs' movements on our own, and only Master Akira has access to where they are thanks to his time spent in their company, but their defeat is very probable…"
"Since you've been with us for a while now; how do you think his troops will measure up to our own?"
"I'm uncertain… We have strong pawns in this silent war, and we also hold an advantage in intelligence, but I still don't see our enemies being so easy to destroy."
"Orochi?" Michael's pitch black eyes slowly turned to her, lingering menacingly as she gulped.
"Yes… That man is the only one that knows of your power...and the only member of that group that follows Red Scale from pure respect and admiration alone. He remembers how he was defeated that night, and how he came into that man's service, and his state of mind is unquestionably clear…"
"So in other words, he's just as dangerous as back then?"
Waver nodded…
They could both see the huge blacksteel doors that barred them from the combat zone now… It was just under two minutes since they'd begun discussion, and now those booms had come to a grinding halt… It made Elizabeth slightly fearful of what the outcome of this "sparring session" would be…
"His quirk is even stronger than the ones possessed by our top men, and is so powerful that it rivals even my own...but he's only one man…"
"Do you think Andre and Hoshino could take him?"
"I'm confident that those two are the best we have when I exclude you, but I doubt even they could best him… If they happen to have us beat in strength, we still have Akira to clean everything up…" his smile widened slightly
"Y-Your planning is immaculate as always sir…"
"Though not everything is set in stone, young one…" The scientist lectured as they both approached the combat zone security system. "Izuku could well surpass all these heroes in 3 years and become a threat to us on his own, and we also have to ensure that Akira's quirk is hidden from the world this whole time… If Izuku somehow decides to travel down his own path without us, or Akira's power is exposed...I will have to take matters into my own hands…"
Michael glanced down at the controls and pressed down on the small touchpad in the middle of the door as it scanned his fingerprint…
To the surprise of no one...it opened without delay…
However…
What Elizabeth saw in there was more shocking than any little secret she'd been told by her master…
Her colourless eyes shook as she scanned her surroundings, and her whole body trembled from the power of the person inside…
All nine of them…
All nine of them had been defeated by that one man...
…
…
...
Number 10: Purity
Real Name: Carla Smith
Quirk ~ Divine Touch ~ The user can restore anything to its highest state simply by touching it, and once the object has been touched, it can be restored for up to 5 minutes before the effect wears off. If the user activates the quirk on too many people, or uses it for too long, they will suffer internal bleeding.
...
Number 9: Core
Real Name: Jhon Rover
Quirk ~ Eruption ~ The user can generate huge underground explosions by hitting the ground with any part of their body; the power of the explosions varying from how hard they hit the earth, and they can easily control where they detonate by focusing their mind on a location. Their speed is annihilated after using the quirk for too long, so they can only attack and defend using the power they have.
...
Number 8: Aqua
Real Name: Roman Sinclair
Quirk ~ Hydro Cannon ~ The user can shoot incredibly strong jets of water from their fingers. The quirk boasts no defensive abilities, making the user vulnerable to attack, but the water is pressured enough to shoot through even the thickest of metals.
...
Number 7: Cyclone
Real Name: Samuel Reed
Quirk ~ Air Force ~ The user can shoot huge blasts of air from their hands and feet, and are also able to manipulate the air they shoot. The winds gradually weaken in strength as the user sustains damage.
...
Number 6: Gigas
Real Name: Byron Mantle
Quirk ~ Amplify ~ The user boasts a high offence and defence stat for a human, but gradually gets stronger with every action it takes. Whether it is attacking or defending, their overall power will explosively rise until they are either defeated or they defeat their opponent.
...
Number 5: Exo (Changed from Pincer)
Real Name: ?
Quirk ~ White Death ~ The mutation quirk transforms the user into a white and turquoise humanoid ant standing at 8ft tall with two sets of slim turquoise wings and 6 slender arms. The ant can expand its mass to increase attack and defence, while it can also shed its armour to drastically boost its speed, and when it needs to, it can shoot out its tongue that is coated with a lethal poison. The only fault that the ant has is its crippling weakness to fire.
...
Number 4: Fume
Real Name: Zack Lee
Quirk ~ Fume ~ The user can produce a burning smoke from any area of their body, and the smoke can easily kill from its high temperature. The quirk is commonly used in assassinations and tactical missions, but the user can also use it in combat to suffocate opponents and hide themselves from view. This quirk can only be countered by strong winds, or an attack strong enough to knock it all away…
...
Number 3: Volt Break
Real Name: Minoru Hoshino
Quirk ~ Thunderclap ~ The user claps their hands together to create an electric wave. The user can then choose to either manifest their body into a lightning bolt, or use the lightning around them and amplify their physical capabilities. When in bolt form, the user is far faster and deals more damage, but is more vulnerable, and when being powered by the electricity, the user lacks strength but gains control. Overuse of this quirk will severely damage the users vision until they are blind, but the effects wear off when they rest.
...
Number 2: Regulus Nemea
Real Name: Andre Wilson
Quirk ~ Lion of Nemea ~ The user expands its body and muscle while replacing its human skin with the hide of a golden lion. The hide is resistant to physical attacks and the transformation drastically increases strength and durability, but the user becomes more mentally unstable as they fight, until they lose all control and go on a rampage. This effect wears off when the quirk is deactivated.
…
…
…
America's top heroes were lying on the destroyed floor of the combat room with not even an ounce of fight left in them… They were on death's door...
And this was all done in 2 minutes…
Elizabeth could hold her own against even the top members of the squad, but against more than one, she'd be quickly annihilated, and yet all of them were sprawled out on the ground…
But this was the perfect line up created by the combat genius Akira himself…
"W-What the hell happened here…" she unsheathed both of her black straight swords and whirled them around in a defensive stance, knowing that any enemy even approaching this level of strength would have to be exterminated immediately…
However, it seemed like the CEO had other plans…
As if he didn't even consider her dangerous...Michael put a single finger above the blade in her right hand as she span it faster than the speed of sound, and it stopped instantly…
When he lifted his unharmed finger, not a drop of blood leaked out…
"Please relax… I'm sure not even you knew about the power he holds…" Michael's eyes had no interest in her anymore, and were now solely focussed on the man in the centre of the arena. "If you think this is scary, then you should probably use that blade on yourself and spare the fear you'll feel later…"
His dark eyes didn't lie, and she quickly became neutral…
All around her were America's top heroes, ranging from rank 10 to 2…
All of them had been beaten within such a short space of time, and from the look of the victor, it wasn't even a challenge…
"These guys are the strongest around, and all of them together could perhaps even rival me...but in the end...they are still weak, just like you and I, and just like all our enemies…" Michael didn't hesitate in moving forward and was seemingly unfazed from the power of the...creature...in front of him. "He and I trained you heroes to be the things that filled in the gaps of our plan. You'd be nothing compared to us, but far stronger than anything else in the world… We gave you the greatest quirks possible and enhanced the ones you already had, but we made a flaw in our testing...resulting in you all being a risk to our vision…"
The woman looked back in distress while she checked if Fume was even breathing… He'd taken one of the worst beatings and had his face half-caved in… "What are you talking about…"
"Akira wished for some company over in the states to make up for the absence of Inko and his brother, so he asked me to keep your personalities and not alter a thing in your minds, making you all free to think what you will, but that was a mistake…" The man's stare darkened… "You couldn't bring a fraction of the joy he had when he was with his family, and you all developed egos that varied in size from person to person…"
"Then this is…" She shook with dread as all of the heroes laid down, barely clinging to life…
"Yes, we're making sure to stamp out any pride they once had… They'll remain the same after this, but those heroes will take their missions with much more caution from now on…" The Midoriya stepped over the body of Cyclone and his foot crushed the man's rib cage as he passed through. "Pride is a strength, but also a deadly weakness. Hoshino's ego nearly exposed our presence in Japan...and now he's paying the price for that… He managed to send Violet Marsh away, but at the cost of revealing a fraction of his strength… Because of that, the Fangs will be more cautious when moving forward, and even I can admit that it's a grave misstep…"
The man in the centre was looking around; his red eyes desperately searching for any hero that could still have the will to oppose him…
"Also, I let this happen in consideration of my son…" he smiled. "He's been getting far more agitated over the past couple of months and resorted to massacring villain groups from other nations to keep his bloodlust in check… My poor child has been suffering because of those imbeciles in Japan, and that can't be forgiven…"
Miss Waver had safely confirmed that everyone was still alive and able to be healed by Carla, but now she could only watch as the man came forward.
"I'll eradicate them soon enough, but Izuku's trust and the Fangs' annihilation takes priority… This 10 year wait has taken its toll on both of us, but while I have Inko to cope...my son can use nothing but the memory of his brother to put him at ease. I made seals that drastically decrease the power of quirk cells, and its what I use to conceal my strength in public even to people like you...but his quirk is too powerful for them…"
The girl paled…
"They are little rings located around his body and can be removed with the click of a button. He could remove 1 of them and only give you a glimpse of his strength, or all of them and kill you with his presence alone...but those rings are slowly beginning to degrade and rust away. I tried getting replacements and putting more on him, but it seemed that he'd reached the limit that his body would allow. Now, with his power slowly flowing over the limiter I made...he's slowly growing more stressed and frustrated…" Michael scowled to himself. "I'm disgusted in myself… I've allowed both of my precious children to suffer unimaginable trauma and pain…"
Elizabeth slowly looked into his bottomless eyes and actually found a genuine feeling of pity and remorse inside…
He really did care about his sons…
Michael looked across the room and saw Hoshino imbedded in a wall with his legs twisted badly… His right eye was missing and he only watched the two of them with his left that was filled with blood…
"Pathetic…" the scientist smirked as he continued to advance towards the man in the centre… "I thought that they'd all last at least a few minutes...but my estimations were blown out of the water…"
Then, Elizabeth noticed the man's hands begin to tremble as he got closer…
The hero in the middle of the room stopped his searching and let out a quiet and cold sigh…
"Have you seen the news in Japan?"
The man flinched slightly…
"They say that crime has suddenly skyrocketed in the east...for an unexplained reason…"
His eyes slowly narrowed…
"All For One is making his return…"
Akira looked towards his father...blood dripping from his fingers and feet…
The founder of the labs could feel just a tinge of his son's strength, but even that was enough to make him uneasy… "How do you feel, my boy?"
"I'm running out of time, and this form is slowly fading away… Before long, I'll have to take action myself and put those fangs out of commission...and drive my sword through the heart of that cursed Red Dragon…" He felt his right eye crackle with red sparks…
Michael nodded, showing a level of respect he'd never shown anyone else… These two thought of each other as equals… "I'm sorry for all you've been through…"
"That doesn't matter… We must put an end to them and reunite what we lost 15 years ago… I must endure this pain for the sake of my brother…"
"No…"
Akira's eyes widened slightly at his father's words. "What?"
"That's not necessary… You can stop that power from going wild by killing, correct?"
"Your point?" he asked, wanting to get out and continue his work.
"You'll happen to find plenty of villains to slaughter in Japan…" The scientist smiled as he put a hand on his son's shoulder…
…
"You couldn't be-"
"Gather the elites and have all 291 of the others triple their efforts to make up for our absence…
…
"We're moving out…"
Core ~ Sung Il-Hwan (Solo Leveling)
Cyclone ~ Choi Jong-In (Solo Leveling)
Elizabeth Waver ~ Cha-Hae-In (Solo Leveling)
Gigas ~ Kenzo Tanaka (Solo Leveling)
Aqua ~ Atsushi Kumamoto (Solo Leveling)
Fume ~ Ippei Izawa (Solo Leveling)
Exo ~ Beru/Ant King (Solo Leveling)
A/N: Remember to search these character names to see the appearances of the OCs. I'd suggest the Solo Leveling Wiki, but use whatever is easiest!
