CHAPTER 13:

A MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE

To win second place at an event as prestigious as the UA Sports Festival is no small feat, and neither is third place. It took time for this notion to sink into Izuku and Himiko's minds. Victory, after all, is a heady draught that can have varying effects, depending on the one affected by it, and their circumstances. Sometimes, it produces elation and carelessness. Other times, it produces a kind of serene disbelief, a fugue state.

The break of a couple of days were a much-needed respite, then. They didn't know it, but Stain's activities heralded an oncoming storm. One that would begin to shake the foundations of society, and embolden the League of Villains…

Izuku and Himiko were having an outing the next day. Izuku felt a little uncomfortable with the attention on them. They had won the runner-up positions at the UA Sports Festival, and people were watching them in the streets.

The others were mostly spending time with their respective families. Shouto and Tenya had gone to visit their respective hospital-bound family members. Hitoshi wanted to spend time with his own family, and the other members of their small social circle had other reasons.

As they sat down on a park bench, Himiko smiled gently. "Do you remember this place, Izuku?"

Izuku looked around, and it took him an embarrassingly long time before it clicked. "This is the park where I met you after you had that appointment with Janos at the hospital, where you learned about your Quirk."

Himiko nodded, her smile becoming morose. "…They congratulated me on getting third place yesterday, you know. My family. But…I feel an increasing distance with them, Izuku. My mother, my father…even my siblings. Inko feels more like a mother to me than my own mother." She looked at her hand. "I just…don't feel like part of that family. I really haven't since my urges began showing. You can't even call it abuse or neglect, because they try…they're not bad people. It's not like they don't love me, they just…I didn't ask for my Quirk. To see blood as something beautiful. To want to drink it. My urges to become someone, to become their everything…it's not normal, I know."

"Himiko…in a world like ours, with so many superpowers…what's normal?" Izuku asked.

"It's easy for you to say that, to say such trite things, Izuku," Himiko said. "And I know you mean them. But…without you, without Janos…what would have happened to me? That haunts me every day. Sometimes, when I look at a crime scene photo on the news, or watch a horror film with lots of blood…where others see horror and gore, I see something beautiful. That's not normal. I mean, I care about people, I'm not a psychopath or a sociopath, but I'm not wired up like most people. How much of that is from Kain?"

"I don't know," Izuku said. "But…you're not him, Himiko. And I accept that part of you, as long as it doesn't overwhelm you. People accept you. I mean, did you see the way people look at you? It wasn't looking at you like you're a freak or something. No, they were in awe. You got in third place without relying on your Quirk. That's a major achievement. And you know what? You're a Symbol of Hope, I guess."

"A Symbol of Hope?"

"For every child that has a Quirk people think is a Villain's, or even the Quirkless. Anyway, who do you want to intern with?"

"Depends on who sends me offers," Himiko remarked. "I'll ask Janos for advice, as well as Vlad King. Hell, I'll even ask you. I mean, you've got a good handle on many Pro-Heroes, and even if you might not know of their characters, you'd probably know who'd be good for me, right?"

"Well, you've already got a good handle on hand-to-hand combat thanks to Janos," Izuku mused. "But maybe it's either trying to improve your Quirk usage or working better against certain Quirks like Tenya's. Speaking of…I hope he's all right."

"He isn't," Himiko said bluntly. "I saw the news. I'm surprised you didn't. Ingenium got gutted like a fish, and his spinal cord was severed. It's doubtful he'll ever walk again. And Tenya…he was devastated. Even though he kicked our arses handily, he was still distracted by the whole thing. And I can't blame him. The times we met Ingenium, he was a decent guy. And Stain…" Himiko's face twisted into a snarl. "I'll be honest, I'd have no problems whatsoever with Stain going after the Pro-Heroes who abuse their positions. But Ingenium was a damned good Pro-Hero. And Tenya is our friend. If he ever came across me, I'd make. Him. Bleed."

"…If you can hit him, Himiko," Izuku said. "If he could get the drop on so many Pro-Heroes, would you have a chance? Would anyone in our class?"

Himiko, after a moment, shook her head. "You're right, Izuku. I don't like it, but you are. And I hope Tenya realises that too."

"As do I," Raziel said, appearing. "I saw in his eyes the despair and anguish that could easily lead him down the path to revenge. Revenge has a bad habit of blinkering one to the true threats. Izuku, when class reconvenes, please, let me speak to him. I have a feeling that it may be necessary."

"…Okay, but you might be worrying too much," Izuku said. "Tenya may be a bit stiff, but he's not stupid."

"Grief and anger can be blinding," Raziel said solemnly. "I speak from experience. Even the noblest of souls can be turned to darkness by the desire for vengeance, especially if it's well-deserved. I'll take my leave, as you doubtlessly wish for me to stop being an intrusion."

As Raziel faded, Izuku said, "I hope Raziel is wrong. Tenya seems like he wouldn't go that far."

"You never know," Himiko said. "Don't get me wrong, I hope he doesn't, but…when I heard about what happened at the USJ, I wanted nothing more than to track down Shigaraki and Kurogiri, to say nothing of All for One, and bleed them out. And, of course, you know how I reacted when Bakagou beat the shit out of Hitoshi yesterday. But…I'm me. Tenya is another matter. Normally, he shouldn't do it…but what happened to Ingenium was a big shock to the system."

"Hmm. And that's another thing that worries me. Not Tenya, but…Stain. Remember when Hitoshi got us that manifesto posted by Stain online? It's extremist, and yet…you can't help but agree with some of the points. If he ever got on TV or something…how many people would flock to his banner?"

"A lot," Himiko said. "Same with that book Destro wrote. After Hitoshi told us about it, I actually went and found it in the library. It's mostly crap, but…some of it resonated with me. How people can become outcasts with the wrong Quirk, and that Quirk usage should be free. But…I'm not stupid. That'd cause a lot of chaos, and in any case, what he wrote about Quirkless…well, I can see why Hitoshi said it was basically an updated version of Mein Kampf. The way Destro spoke of the Quirkless…ugh, it makes me sick."

Izuku nodded. He hadn't actually read the book, but the way Hitoshi spoke of that, Destro had viewed the Quirkless with contempt, even suggesting they become a new underclass, at best. Not that they weren't already: the Quirkless, at best, were considered a disabled minority, to be pitied. Suicide rates for the Quirkless were higher than the norm, but especially in Japan. They were frequently the victims of ostracism and abuse. Hell, the Quirkless were an anonymous minority: the only other Quirkless people Izuku could name off the top of his head were Toshinori Yagi (and even that was formerly Quirkless for the current bearer of One for All) and Melissa Shield, the daughter of Professor David Shield, the famous inventor. Only people with seemingly dark Quirks, either by their effect or by what they did to the body, got treated worse.

Izuku remembered Iguchi's tales of his life prior to meeting Janos. Iguchi's family were relatively normal, having some reptilian traits to their Quirks, but Iguchi had been born almost wholly lizard-like. While his parents loved him, he was tormented mercilessly at school, and barred from work. It didn't help that his parents were killed during a clash between a Pro-Hero and a Villain that went badly wrong. If Janos hadn't found him, the gecko-like man might very well have gone down a dark path.

"I guess that's the hardest thing for a Pro-Hero to fight," Izuku mused. "Not Villains…but the way society thinks. Ideas and preconceptions. And you can't kill an idea, not easily."

"Hmm. That's why I said what I did yesterday," Himiko said. "You know, when I beat Ochako. I knew people were looking at me like I was a Villain, a freak. Ochako was a good fighter. So was Yaoyorozu. And I beat them through hard work. Hmm, maybe you're right, I should try being a Symbol of Hope. Then again, you and Janos…you were my Symbols of Hope. Without you…I don't want to think about what I would've become. I'll be honest, once we graduate, I'm seriously considering joining the Fallen. Iguchi, Jin, Janos, we can all do some major good. Of course, if you don't want to join the Fallen…well, wherever you go, I go, Izuku."

"…Oh," Izuku said, before he looked up at the sky. "You know, I never really thought about which agency or group to join, or at least I didn't narrow it down to a single one. All Might's was one I wanted to, obviously, as was Sir Nighteye's. I even considered the agency the Wild Wild Pussycats head up. But the Fallen…I guess we owe Janos something, if not that much."

"Wait, you considered the Wild Wild Pussycats?" Himiko asked.

"Sure. Actually, I'd just met them at an event shortly before I met you here years ago," Izuku said. "Most people think of crime-fighters when it comes to Pro-Hero work, but the Wild Wild Pussycats are known for their rescue work, vital work when no other first responders can be there. They broke the mould, as did Thirteen and other Pro-Heroes specialising in rescue work. I can see Ochako and Tsuyu specialising in that sort of thing. I could certainly help with shifting between the Material and Spectral Realms."

"Well, we've got a few more years to consider that, I reckon." She giggled. "Third place, and you got second place. It hardly seems real."

"I know, right? And yet…I still feel like…well, not like I didn't earn it, but rather…it's like it doesn't matter. What matters is that we become the best Pro-Heroes we can be, not get first place or something in some arbitrary competition. I mean, half of that seemed like something out of a manga or something. How many have a tournament arc?"

"Too many. It's such a cliché," Himiko said. "Then again, we're living a cliché, a world filled with superheroes. Half the powers in our classes are like ripoffs from pre-Quirk comics. And yet, here we are." She then leaned against Izuku. "…Izuku…thanks for being my friend. I literally don't know what I would have done without you."

Izuku blushed somewhat from her close contact, but he knew she was a very affectionate person. A little abnormally so, given her obsessive tendencies, and yet, he gently hugged her to himself. "Himiko…thanks for being my friend. After Bakugou broke things off with me…you pretty much were my first real friend anyway. And now, I have more. Many more. That means as much to me as being a Pro-Hero does, no, more so."

Himiko giggled. "Hmm. We've come a long way. And it's nice having friends who don't fear me that much. And a caring boyfriend. C'mon, let's go and see if there's any good movies on. I want this to be a proper date…"

Janos Audron stared at the crime scene photos in horror. "Do you see why we called you in, Dr Audron?" Tsukauchi asked.

"…Yes, I see," the Ancient Vampire said quietly. "But why would Stain write of such things? And with a Detnerat employee, of all people? I mean, I have heard rumours about them, but nothing that would have a bearing on…this."

"That's what I want to know. I admit, I was sceptical when you told me of where you came from, this…Nosgoth place, even with my Quirk, but…if the Hylden have a foothold in this world, how bad is it?"

"It would be like an alien invasion, by your terms, one carried out through subversion and secrecy," Janos said. "But it may be that Stain himself is a victim of the Hylden. The Hylden can possess minds that are receptive to them, and Stain may be fighting back. Or maybe they are influencing him to commit these crimes. I do not know. I generally leave investigative duties to you, Tsukauchi."

"Either way, it's a disturbing thought. Ingenium's in a bad way too," Tsukauchi said. "He's a paraplegic, though considering that Stain rarely leaves survivors, he's lucky. His younger brother is devastated."

"Yes, young Tenya," Janos mused. "A young man of considerable resolve…but with his brother in this state thanks to the Hero Killer…I fear what he may do. Japan is a country of high expectations, and the boy feels the burden his family, through their reputation and service, have placed on him."

"You think he may do something…drastic?"

"A possibility that I hope will not eventuate," Janos said. "Mayhap his gaining first place in the UA Sports Festival may temper any desire for vengeance, for the eyes of Japan are upon him, and for an aspiring Pro-Hero to attempt a lethal revenge…if he survives, he may end up disgraced. Then again, in his anger, he may consider that a pittance to pay."

"I hope you're wrong."

"So do I. But…I have an idea to potentially mitigate such issues. Whether it works or not…well, we shall see…"

CHAPTER 13 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Izuku and Himiko have spent some time together, while Janos has learned something very disturbing indeed.

I have three more chapters to go, but the latest chapter had something I need to fact-check, so this or the next chapter will be the last I upload for the year, probably for any story too.

Review-answering time! LoamyCoffee: Hopefully, the fact that Himiko got into the top three of the Sports Festival will give Vlad King enough of a boost that he will encourage them a little more normally. Keep in mind that her achievement was particularly impressive because she only used her Quirk for one fight of the tournament.

RonaldM40196867: Hmm, a difficult question to answer. On the Heroes side, it'd be Izuku, All Might, and Tsuyu. On the Villains side, it'd be All for One, Himiko, and the duo of Gentle and La Brava.

No numbered annotations this time.