I'm leaving the Endeavor Hero Agency after staying a couple of extra hours to finish some documents as a favor for Enji. I'm wearing my casual outfit which is a black long sleeve shirt, a high waist maroon skirt that reaches my knees, grey tights, and black ankle boots. I adjust the long strap of my purse on my shoulder as I make my way down the streets.
'It's Friday night,' I think. 'A drink or two would be nice. I'll enjoy the quiet bar before the drunks pour in.'
I head to the bar I frequent some blocks close to my apartment. The bells of the door ring as I enter.
"A shot of vodka, please," I tell the bartender as I sit at the counter.
He pours me a shot and I down it.
"I'll have another," I say.
The bartender pours me another shot and I down it quickly.
"Wow," A voice says. "Hard day at work?"
I turn to my left and see a familiar man sitting some seats down at the bar. He's wearing the black hooded jacket with the collar that reaches just before his nose. His black sunglasses hide the rest of his face. A beer bottle sits in front of him on the counter.
"Long day," I reply.
"I hear ya," he responds.
I glance up at the television and see the news headline. It says something about the League of Villains possibly being on the move.
"They're at it, huh?" I say.
"Seems you were right," the man says.
"I wonder what cause the League has."
"Does it really have a just cause?"
"If the League becomes more active, then those smoldering in the dark will start to move as well. I have no doubt that they already have. The cause is still not clear. And I have no idea what they'd be up to."
"It seems they may have a clearer cause."
"What makes you think that?"
"It's like you said before. The League is attracting those smoldering in the dark. After the Hosu incident, I'm sure society was unnerved. With Stain's ideology spreading, there's no doubt people are questioning if the heroes of today are truly as heroic as they seem… Perhaps the League plans to have those empty heroes be pulled off their pedestals...to create a brighter future."
"A brighter future?" I'm intrigued.
The man stands and sets cash underneath the empty beer bottle. He then passes me, his hands tucked away in the pockets of his jacket. I watch him from the corner of my eye as he exits the bar.
'A brighter future?' I think to myself. 'What does he mean?'
I sit on my stool, intrigued at this mysterious man's way of thinking. I wonder if I'll see him again.
"Damn," I say. "I didn't catch his name."
I wake up with a slight jolt. I palm my face, trying to get to my senses. My phone then rings on my nightstand.
"Enji," I answer.
"Akira," he says. "We've found him."
"Bakugo?" I'm surprised. "Where is he?"
"I'm outside your apartment. Suit up and meet me downstairs and I'll explain the rest."
"Right. I'll be down soon."
I hang up and jump out of bed and rush to change into my hero suit. Once I'm ready, I head down and Enji is standing ready beside his black limousine.
"Let's go," he opens the door.
He lets me climb in first and follows.
"From my understanding," I say. "The League of Villains kidnapped Katsuki Bakugo a couple of nights ago during the attack at the training camp."
"Yes, one of the students managed to attach a tracking device on one of the villains," Enji replies. "Tsukauchi from the police gathered with other pro heroes and discussed a plan for a rescue and clean up mission. And I'm having you come with me."
"I'll do whatever you need me to."
"We're heading to Kamino Ward. There, we'll support the other pro heroes."
I turn my gaze in front of me, prepared for what's to come.
'It's possible…' I think to myself. 'That this incident will become the impetus for the destruction of hero society.'
Enji and I are standing outside a vacant building along with other pro heroes, including All Might. I stand ready to engage as Edgeshot enters the building to cause a diversion.
"Prepare for breach," All Might informs.
All Might charges at the brick building.
"Smash!" he shouts as he breaks through the brick wall.
The heroes storm in, catching the villains inside by surprise. Kamui swoops in to use his branches to subdue everyone. Enji and I stand outside in the street ready for support with the rest of the police and heroes. We watch the best we can from our perspective.
"Did they get them?" I intently watch.
"Tsukauchi!" Enji calls. "Why does that American get to rush in while we're out here holding the perimeter?"
"In case we miss catching them in there," Tsukauchi replies. "You've got a wider field of vision."
"Fine!" Enji pouts.
I scoff a bit, finding Enji's reaction humorous. Tsukauchi reports into his radio while Enji and I are ready to engage if need be. We don't see any movement or struggle up in the building.
"Seems they have it under control," Tsukauchi says.
'No…' I think to myself. 'This is...too easy…'
Suddenly, we hear commotion from the hole in the building. Just when we're about to move in, mysterious portals open and transfer many nomu through them all around us. Police begin to shoot.
"I thought the nomu hangar was seized!" I exclaim as I blast a nomu.
"Tsukauchi, expand the evacuation area!" Enji shoots fire at a nomu.
"There should be two hideouts…" Tsukauchi is confused. "That's what our investigation results said...Jeanist, didn't you take control over there?" he says into his radio. "Jeanist?!"
It appears there is no response from Jeanist. We have nothing else but to fight off the nomu. I charge my fists with nuclear energy, punching nomu after nomu, blasting a larger one in the face. Enji is burning up nomu while the police fire rounds at them. I stop when I see a blast at the top of the building we breached. Multiple nomu are flying through the walls of the building, crashing all over the place.
"These guys…" Enji says. "Did they come from the nomu hangar?"
"I can't get a hold of Jeanist and the others!" Tsukauchi responds. "It's possible that we failed on the Nomu factory side!"
"What a mess!"
"Endeavor!" All Might calls out.
Enji and I gaze up at the hole of the brick building where we see All Might coughing into his hand.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
"What're you looking at to ask a question like that?" Enji retorts. "Even though you're at the top, will you need bifocals soon?"
Enji and I turn our attention to Nomu flying above us. He and I take aim and blast them in midair.
"If you're gonna go, then hurry up and go!" Enji shouts at All Might.
All Might nods and disappears in a split second.
"Good luck, All Might!" I mutter.
I crash land on a large Nomu, pinning it into the ground. I then heat up the soles of my feet with nuclear energy, melting the Nomu under me. Enji incinerates the last of the Nomu, turning to me some feet away. Police are apprehending other Nomu and are neutralizing them.
"That's the last of them," I say.
"The Nomu here look like they've all been rendered harmless," Tsukauchi says. "Please go and help All Might!"
We nod, all of us swarming to All Might's location. After a few minutes, we arrive at the scene. My eyes grow wide at the surrounding area. Blocks of buildings are completely destroyed. In the middle of a wrecked area is a man in a black suit, floating in midair. He has some sort of apparatus on his head.
'Who is he?' I think to myself. 'And...is he able to match All Might's power?'
Some yards away in front of him stands a man of a much thinner build with sunken eyes. I recognize the blue and red hero suit he wears and that signature blond hair.
"All...Might?" I stare in shock.
Enji sees that the man in the black suit is about to attack All Might and blasts a stream of fire at him.
"What bastard…" Enji stomps on a piece of concrete under him. "What is that form of yours, All Might?!" he shouts at him.
"Looks like we made it in time somehow…" Edgeshot appears nearby. "Tsukauchi knew…that it would turn out like this."
"Oh?" the man in the black suit turns his attention to us. "Even though they were all mid-rangers, I didn't think you'd be able to suppress them so soon. As expected of the man who climbed his way to the number two spot," he refers to Enji.
"All Might…" Enji is focused on him.
I look up at Enji, his shocked expression at All Might. I know he's worked so diligently to surpass All Might. All those years of his obsession to surpass him, the actions he took that ultimately affected his family...and for him to see All Might in such a weak form.
"What's with that pitiful back?!" Enji is enraged.
"If you just came to cheer him on," the man in the black suit says. "Then be quiet and watch like a good audience!" he aims his expanding hand in our direction.
"Quiet, you destroyer!" Edgeshot appears by the suited man. "We have come to help!"
Kamui uses his branches to retrieve Jeanist, Mt. Lady, and Gang Orca from the rubble.
"That is our job!" Kamui adds.
I watch as Kamui holds Mt. Lady close to him, concern in his eyes. This inspires me more to take action, charging up energy in my fists and feet. I launch myself through the air toward the suited man, shooting beams of energy at him. I'm about to launch a blast at him, but he subdues me with stiff black and red appendages from his arm. It wraps around my neck and he brings me closer to him.
"Ah, Akira," the suited man smirks. "How wonderful of you to join us."
'How does he know my name?' I think.
"There's a chance I may not be able to work with you directly, but I'll have my successor approach you at a later time."
Enji and Edgeshot launch attacks, and I manage to break free. We continue the assault on the suited man, all of us showing support to All Might. Our resistance annoys the man, making him attack with a massive shockwave. I'm blown away with Edgeshot and Enji, along with the other heroes nearby. I crash land in the rubble, trying to gain my balance using the energy at my feet. I eventually do, but another shockwave disturbs the area. This time, I'm able to hold my ground.
"Akira," I hear Enji approach.
"Enji," I turn to him.
Just then, another massive shockwave hits. Enji quickly towers over me to shield me from the blast, rubble flying everywhere. After some seconds, the shockwave dies down, leaving only a cloud of dirt. Once it's calm, Enji unshields me, both of us looking at where the shockwave came from. Edgeshot and the yellow suited elder hero known as Gran Tarino also stand by, peering through the cloud of dirt to see the outcome. The dirt clears, revealing the suited man lying unconscious on the ground in front of All Might.
"He...did it…" I'm in awe.
All Might holds his left fist up in victory, returning to his muscular form.
"Hey, he shouldn't push himself right now…" Edgeshot is concerned.
"Let him be," Gran Torino says. "He's still working."
I understand. It's All Might's last job as the Symbol of Peace, and the number one hero. I turn my gaze to All Might, seeing him stand in victory. My eyes tear up in awe and joy. He's reaffirming the faith in heroes for the common people. To let them know that we heroes are there to make the world a better and safer place. This is why I became a hero.