My Hokuto Academia
I DO NOT own Hokuto no Ken or My Hero Academia, they belong to their respective creators, Tetsuo Hara, Buronson, and Kohei Horikoshi. Support the official releases, especially of Souten no Ken. Oh, someone's already translating Souten no Ken: Regenesis [manga version] already!
Italics = Flashback
"Italics" = Speaking in a Different Language
'Italics' = Inner Thoughts
Italics = Flashback
"BOLD" = All-Might's tone or Present Mic [excited]
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Yaoyororzu Residence
A young girl woke up from her lavish bed, mainly to turn her alarm clock off. "Oh, right. School resumes tomorrow," she said to herself. "All that information about the Chishi-Rengou and the Death Arms Murder...
Who. Exactly. Are. You?"
However, Izuku Midoriya was a bigger enigma to a degree. All-Might seemed to be on edge whenever speaking to Midoriya, especially when talking about her classmate's mentor. It seemed weird, she thought, the boy was plain, if not a bit awkward. However, he was harmless. Very.
"Shichisei himself is a mystery; Expert martial artist, tracker, and a strange Quirk: able to implode enemies internally. At least that's what it appears to be. I mean, they captured him and all. But that's where it ends... all that's known after the trial is that he served house arrest...
Why. Why did a vigilante dodge punishment?"
She had to make some calls.
Ashido Residence
Ashido was playing a game, a fighting game of all things, Magan Ares. "This is actually good for an anime tie-in," the girl said to herself. "Usually tie-ins tend to be mediocre, bad, or RARELY actually be good."
She was unusually focused because she was at the final boss... Takeru Aratsuki AKA Tiger Hurricane. Oh boy! She did not expect him to hit that hard or be cheap with his stun-inducing over-the-shoulder throws.
"Dammit..." Mina muttered through gritted teeth. The only hope she had with the fighter she playing with was his super-move which was a fucking counter and that one-inch punch she considered game-breaking.
KO!
"Gamebreaking...finisher...fucking...Godkiller," Mina said through gritted teeth. "There's gotta...be...some...fucking...gap."
It's no surprise that she lost. Again. The Tiger Hurricane was a far tougher challenge than she initially thought, especially with those Judo throws that barely had delays. If anything, it forced her to think creatively, especially when exploiting the final boss's shortcomings: he's a close-range fighter with not many ranged specials.
"Okay, one more time. I'll have to choose a different team of three altogether."
Say what you will about Mina as a student, but put her in the gamer's seat, she becomes a different person.
"This time, I'll beat you, you cheapshot-inducing boss!"
Team Idaten
It was a depressing day for the Hero Agency but some managed to raise their spirits for a bit. It was from Bigshot of all people, considering he was recently mutilated but said: "The Boss may be out of commission, but that's more reason for us to still work as hard! Show him we're still damn capable!"
The staff perked up a bit, especially for a case of small-time robberies.
However, Bigshot believed that the Hero Killer was too dangerous for Team Idaten, even if they sent two-three squads of Pro Heroes, he was that dangerous in his eyes. On top of that, the strangest part was this: he didn't use a blade for the boss, he used his bare hands.
SLASH!
That moment sent shivers into Bigshot. However, he had a job to do.
Blade's Nest
Keigo was taking a small break but got a small souvenir, courtesy of Bladefowl. With a cross-shaped scar on his back, he couldn't really blame anyone else, his master was fast and more agile than he admitted.
"You know, Sensei. You could have held off on that move..."
"Nonsense, you were able to handle a majority of Nanto Suicho Ken," responded Bladefowl. "The more advanced techniques like the one that resulted in your cross-shaped scar actually was assimilated from another martial art."
Keigo had to a spit-take, wondering what type of-
"As a form of irony, it was derived from Nanto Seiken's rival school, Hokuto."
"Wait, what?" Keigo said, forming an are-you-kidding-me look.
"Kyokujuji Seiken. I'm surprised by how similar its techniques were to Nanto Seiken, even to the point of being following a similar constellation."
"Again... you could have held off on using that move. You got a good cover story for it?"
"An edgy tattoo to enhance your image?"
"...Close enough."
Crested Ibis Studios
"So... it has begun," said the lithe instructor. "Now let's see how much you learned."
"Yes, Master," replied a girl with bluish-lavender hair but there was a hint of a smirk there.
Legend Thrust Split Wave!
She held her hands up, then sent multiple chops, but there's a twist: the instructor was getting hit from a distance!
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
"Good!"
Crimson Dispersal!
In a cross-style slash, the attack was instantly stopped, all those hits coming at him were but the soft wind now.
"Good... you have an excellent handle on Nanto Kokaku Ken's techniques. Excellent work, Intelli."
"Master, do you think-"
"I hate to say this... but it seems the murderer utilized a branch of Nanto Seiken. However, that's the issue: narrowing it down."
"The official reports did say it was an ambush," responded Intelli. "However, there's something I don't understand...why the calling card?"
"Perhaps to differentiate himself from the Hero Killer," the instructor suspected.
Haruunkaru Municipal Park
It was a small park, located upwards from where the Todoroki Abode was, mainly resembling a small hill to a degree. It is where a bicolor-haired boy was working out, mainly throwing punches at an outdoor punching bag.
"What am I missing...?" said Shoto.
"Truthfully, they're good... for an amateur," said a very masculine voice. The bicolor-haired boy immediately turned around, seeing a man sitting on a bench, now getting a good look at him: swarthy skin, a mountain of bone and muscle, and also some scars on his hands.
"Who are you?" said Shoto, albeit defensively.
"Oh, just a friend. You might have recognized my cousin from the Apex Fist Royale. The guy with brown hair and..."
"Kensei Kasumi? My classmate's teacher, right?" said the boy, wondering what there is leading to.
"Ryuki. Ryuki Kasumi," said the man.
"Wait a minute, you're related-"
"Cousin and also his rival in terms of physical power."
"Wait...do you-"
"Well, yes. But it's a bit different..." Ryuki said with a smirk. "Question is, are you able to handle it?"
Shoto had a questioning look on his face, wondering if he can truly trust him... "Before we go further, can you provide a demonstration?"
Ryuki responds with a grin, going into a boxing stance.
Demonfire Breath!
Shoto was astonished by the sheer speed of Ryuki's jabs! The punching bag was looking more and more torn-up, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.
BLAM!
The final strike was an overhand punch, sending the punching bag fly for a brief period of time.
"W...W...Wh...What the!?" sputtered Shoto. "H...How?"
"I'll give you the name, Hokuto Ryuken. You got some skill, but it needs...refinement. Alongside improvement. What do you say?"
"I accept. When do we-"
"Right. Now."
Ryuki was already setting up a punch, forcing Todoroki to put up his guard as quickly as he could, but oh boy...he did not prepare for how potent that punch was gonna be.
SLAM!
GRHHH!
Shoto grit his teeth, feeling his arms rattle, was this guy that strong?
"Welcome to Lesson One, Icy-Hot."
"Icy-Hot?"
"It's a better name than Peppermint."
"Icy-Hot it is..."
"Besides, it's better to train you in other styles, versatility, and all the shit that goes with it.
Now... ready to continue?"
Shoto responded by taking his stance, Ryuki responding with a grin that's somewhat feral, saying: "Excellent!"
Inferno Street Gym
A purple-haired boy was exhausted after the final workout of the day, but thankfully sparring would be tomorrow. The whole gym was a bit of a misnomer, it was the basement of his current mentor, Martin Jovanovic.
"You know, how long did you have a gym like this?"
"About five years, Shinsou. By the way, you heard of-"
"Death Arms? Yeah... that was...that was...sick," said Shinsou, disturbed at the pro hero's death. "Wait, you-"
"I never met the guy but I heard of him," responded Martin. "He's known to be quite vicious, but that got worse once he got disfigured."
"Holy..."
"I know it seems gruesome, but let's be honest here. You're gonna go up against psychos one way or another," responded Martin as he helped up Shinsou.
"Wait a minute! It sounds like you-"
"A story for another time, Shinsou."
Shinsou nodded in understanding, knowing more things would be revealed. He had to respect him, Jovanovic was an expert in the field of martial arts, firearms [he had to ask], and also combat tactics [he had to ask about that too]. How he acquired those skills, that was the million yen question.
Yaoyorozu Residence
"Thousand Man-Slayer? Bloodstar? Strong Fist Demon? Massacre Fist? W...W...What the fuck?!" sputtered Yaoyorozu as she found out some of the epithets used to describe Shichisei. That was it, she thought this was a normal vigilante, but he just upgraded from lucky vigilante to clear and present danger. The worst part? She legitimately had suspicions about Kensei Kasumi.
The mindset and the skills that Izuku demonstrated... it was too circumstantial. However, there was one definite conclusion: The newly-named Constellation Killer and Shichisei were not the same people.
"Could Kensei be Shichisei? But it's too circumstantial. But... if it is true, that means Midoriya's an accomplice..." Yaoyorozu said with some sadness in her voice. "I have to steer him away from HIS influence."
Yaoyorozu had a heavy decision.
A. Tell 1-A, but it could potentially alienate Izuku.
B. Confronting Izuku if he truly knows the identity behind it.
Kaminari Residence
It was a fairly simple house in a relatively safe neighborhood, but... not for Kaminari.
SLAM!
"Ah, fuck!"
SLAM!
"How-"
He was getting thrown onto the ground by his sister, Nariko, and he wasn't enjoying one second of it. At all.
SLAM!
"Okay, I think we're done for today," said Nariko who helped her brother up. Denki was gonna feel that one in the morning, but it didn't help that his parents actively encouraged Nariko to train him.
"Ow...ow...ow... it hurts to walk for a bit. Is that what happened to you, sis?"
"Oh, definitely. I was barely able to walk after the first week!" said Nariko with a smile on her face. "But it was worth it, strengthened my endurance, and in a way, helped me understand Judo better."
"Did you really-"
"Considering how that pro was murdered, you really don't have the luxury of time."
"So... you're gonna cover unarmed combat with me?"
"Considering how your school is gonna focus on Quirk control, it's a fucking necessity."
"Is throwing me onto the ground really that necessary?" said Kaminari, sardonic about the situation.
"That's key in Judo, building up your endurance,"
said Nariko in a matter-of-fact tone. "Tomorrow, we're moving onto striking. And well, no offense, your arms are straight-up noodles."
"...thanks for the vote of confidence, really doing wonders for it," Denki sardonically responded.
"Hey, little bro, it's just day one. I don't expect you to absorb everything all at once. However, I do expect one thing."
"Yea?"
"We're doing 10km runs-"
"To where?!"
"That old traditional-style city, I think it was called Meeko City. Either way, we're gonna start this Sunday," finished Nariko, mainly with a small grin. That smile unnerved Kaminari, it was a smile that promised pain, and worst of all: it's on a Sunday, the one day he's off from school.
"U...U...U...Uh, sure. You need me to-"
"Just a pair of spare clothes to change into."
Hero Public Safety Commission
A whole board-room was in a stir, but the president was in the center of it all.
"It seems we have the first confirmed case of a Pro Mercenary on the streets of Japan; Tokyo of all places," said the president. "According to some reliable sources, he's likely from the Golden Triangle."
"Madam President, do you think there's a possibility of a possible wave of mercenaries coming into-"
"It's still too soon to confirm that. On top of that, there's a possibility that this new group, the League of Villains, and this merc could be collaborating."
"Ms. President, I don't want to come off as blunt-" said a red-haired official.
"Just say it, Muryu."
Muryu sighed, but said: "Do you think any of the Pro Heroes out there can handle a Pro Mercenary?"
The board-room was rendered silent, only for the president to answer with resistance. "I...I'm not sure. There are some articles in Maishu Shimbun that paint some of them as skilled enough to level a small city by themselves. However, there's a twist to it: they utilized their Quirks in tandem with high-grade firearms."
"W-W-Wait, are you implying that this Pro Mercenary can turn one part of Tokyo into a warzone? A fucking war-zone?!"
"Muryu, I understand your concern-"
"Hero teams won't be enough...you'll need the SDF in on this! Let alone the fucking Police Force!"
"Muryu, take it easy!" said an older colleague who had a German Shepherd head. "Sorry, Madam President. He's a bit sensitive about these matters because of his...previous occupation."
"And that would be, Inugawa?"
"A photojournalist. Overseas to be specific."
'So that's why he went into a panic, Muryu must have seen first-hand accounts of how these mercenaries work. OR worse, he was a witness.' the president thought.
"I'll call this meeting to adjourn. We will resume tomorrow, 10 o'clock sounds right?"
The rest nod in agreement.
Ninth Sister's Rose
It was a small pool/bar place, mainly for the gov't types needing to de-stress after a long day, and it's where two HPSC employees are trying to unwind.
"Fuck... fuck, President's gonna have my head."
"Muryu, take it easy. Seriously. However, the talk of pro mercs... that's what worries me," said Inugawa as he finished his drink.
"Go to the Golden Triangle, trust me, those guys are lethal as fucking advertised," Muryu responded. "It's not just those places. You got places like the Middle East and some parts of Latin America that are a fucking breeding ground for mercs."
"You forgot Eastern Europe."
"Oh, fuck. You're right. But last I checked, a substantial Pro Hero presence has been establishing themselves," Muryu said. Right before gulping his second drink.
"Better late than never...you're thinking this merc, the 'Constellation Killer' could be the first of many?"
"A fucking beacon would be an understatement."
Yaoyorozu Residence
"Now... I know what needs to be done," Yaoyorozu said. "Oh, I still need to make some calls."
The heiress was on her phone now...
Jirou: Yea?
Yaoyorozu: I need a favor.
Jirou: Wait, what do you mean?
Yaoyorozu: I need to talk to Midoriya. Preferably without interference.
Jirou: Okay!? I'm getting-
Yaoyorozu: No, I need to get him alone. It's a matter of utmost importance.
Jirou: How serious is this?
Yaoyorozu: I hope you're ready for it...
Yaoyorozu: {screenshotA_png}
Yaoyorozu: {screenshotB_png}
Yaoyorozu: {screenshotC_png}
Yaoyorozu: {screenshotD_png}
Jirou: Tomorrow...you're explaining the entire thing after your meeting with Midoriya. But why do you need my help?
Yaoyorozu: If I came up to him, he would be suspicious right off the bat.
Jirou: What did you say to him exactly?
Yaoyorozu: I went overboard a bit when it came to questioning him...
Jirou: This will be a long talk...will it?
Midoriya Apartment
Inko was now considering the following: pulling Izuku out of UA High. However, the nagging thought was this: is she being overprotective at this point? Yes, it's true that Izuku was able to defend himself...but the death of Death Arms nullified that. She saw the scarring pattern on the deceased hero, it made her sick for a bit. If there was a killer out there, how long would it be after he/she went after hero students instead?
"But is it right?" Inko said to herself. "My baby has finally got into his dream school...and from what I hear, he's got a few new friends. Should I really? I mean, my baby's happy. Actually happy."
However, her thoughts went to Kensei, he was a bit of an enigma. On the other hand, he was a great teacher, and even she had to admit...he was slowly becoming a father figure to her son.
Iida Residence
"Please...Tenya...are you feeling fine?" said a worried Mrs. Iida.
No response.
"Please, Tensei will be fine, but I know he won't be able to walk again..." Mrs. Iida responded, but she was tearing up. "Tenya, please talk to me!"
No response.
The inside of Tenya's room was the blue-haired boy still shadowboxing, even beyond what's healthy.
"I'll... find... you..." the boy muttered between panting. "I'll...avenge...you...brother..."
The boy finally collapsed from exhaustion, but he struggled to get to his bed, still muttering his mantra.
Author's Notes: Magan Ares is basically a name parody of Kengan Ashura, plus the final boss... think a combo of Takeshi Wakatsuki and Jurota Arashiyama [Omega]. Judo + Full-Contact Karate + Superman Syndrome. Haruunkaru Municipal Park is a big reference to Mace Windu's homeworld; Inferno Street Gym is referring to Inferno Squad; Ninth Sister's Rose refers to the Ninth Sister.
Demonfire Breath: A ten-punch combo composed of jabs with the final strike being the overhand punch. The enhanced version has Matouki powering its damage output. [Kien no Kokyu]
Legend Thrust Split Wave: A series of vacuum waves that tear along the ground from long-range. It can be spammed repeatedly. Its original name in Japanese is Densho Reppa.
Nanto Crimson Dispersal: A defensive technique that's meant to block, or outright nullify projectile attacks. All with a cross-style slash. The user has personally tested himself against bullets and it worked. Its original name in Japanese is Nanto Kusan [characters for 'crimson', 'disperse'].