Izuku felt…drained, he didn't expect it, but yesterday hit him pretty hard. He felt his position shift upwards as Michiru sat up. She yawned as Jem continued his noise outside.
"Good morning Izuku!" She said trying to turn around to look at him. Izuku smiled from his position on her back and made a noise to let her know he heard her. They soon turned to the window, where they greeted Jem for the morning.
"Hey, M-Mr. Jem, wh-what's that b-big b-building?" Izuku said pointing to a tall building in the distance that has four protrusions pointing upwards.
"Oh, that would be the Medi-Cen. It's Sylvasta's medical center, a research center and hospital run by Sylvasta pharmaceutical." He explained to them.
"Sylvasta…have I heard that name somewhere?" Izuku wondered to himself. He leaned into head pat Michiru was giving him.
"Maybe they can help figure us out Izuku." She said. Just then a door was opened. They looked over to see Shirou. Then he picked up Izuku under his arm and dragged Michiru by the collar. They could only make confused noises as he brought them out of their room, across the roof, and back into their temporary room. He threw Michiru in and gently placed Izuku on her lap before exiting and closing the door, locking it. They took a second to process this.
"aaaAAAAHWAITWAITWAITLETUSOUT!" Izuku said as he started pounding on the door.
"SHIROU WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" She said trying the bash the door open. The sounds of more things being piled against the door could be heard as they continued to yell for their freedom.
"SHIROU COME ON LET US OUT!" She shouted from behind the barricade.
"Keep quiet." He told them. Michiru's student ID was slid back under the door. Izuku was about to congratulate her on finding her wallet before remembering they were still locked in a room.
"I realize you both may be human now." Shirou stated.
"D-Did you s-seriously l-lock u-us in h-here b-because of th-that!" The disappointment in Izuku's voice was audible, you could even tell he was on the verge of tears. Shirou quickly stopped himself when he saw that he was about to move the the objects used to barricade them. He recomposed himself before speaking.
"N-No, your existence is just dangerous." He heard Izuku make a whining noise and felt his heart twist into a knot.
"Don'tgiveindon'tgiveindon'tgivein"
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?!" Michiru shouted, currently trying to make Izuku feel better by hugging him.
"What do you think would happen if humans found out they might turn into beastmen. A panic, one that could put beastmen in danger. Don't come out of there until we can learn more. I'm sorry, but I'll bring your food to compensate." Shirou said. Izuku however still didn't like this. He didn't want to be trapped in this room! Even though Michiru was here, it was basically prison!
"T-That d-does n-nothing to m-make this b-better! T-This is i-insane! I-It's j-just p-prison f-for i-innocent p-people w-with the st-statement 'For the greater good' attached!" He cried behind the door.
"Please, just trust me. I'll protect the peace for all beastmen." He said.
"BEING COOL DOESN'T BRING TRUST, I'VE ALREADY MADE THAT MISTAKE!" Izuku screamed at the wolf, causing him to flinch. He didn't expect to hear that…distrust…from the tanuki. Michiru was stroking his head to calm him down, she knew Izuku was still sore from his experience but she didn't expect to see them manifest in anger. Has she even seen him angry before? He mostly didn't seem capable of it. Izuku stomped over to the door.
"W-We're…g-going…to that ho-hospital!" He said straining as he pulled against the door.
"No." Shirou stated flatly. Izuku then lost his grip on the door handle, causing him to fall on the floor and hit his head.
"Ow! C-C'mon! L-Let us o-out!" The small tanuki said trying to pull to door open again.
"No, and if you step a foot outside I'll just kill you." He stated firmly.
"Does our comfort mean nothing to you?!" Michiru said trying to find a way to pry the door off. Izuku was now punching the door. They paused at the sound of something else being moved.
"Wait-HEY DON'T PUT ANYTHING ELSE!" Michiru yelled behind the door.
"Rearranging furniture so early! It must be rough." A voice said behind Shirou. The Mayor.
"Mayor." Shirou said. Izuku and Michiru perked up, now leaning their ears against the door. Why was the Mayor here? Did Shirou know her?
"A Bombing? Again?" Shirou questioned upon being told a second ago.
"Yes, again." They mayor simply responded.
"The director of Sylvasta Medical Center reported to the police that they'd received a threat. Then earlier this morning a truck carrying Sylvasta drugs was blown up." The Mayor informed. Izuku and Michiru were shocked by this.
"Another bombing?" They thought, pressing closer to the door, Izuku wishing he could ask more questions. But if he tried to yell behind the door that would make Mr. Shirou look suspicious in front of the MAYOR and he didn't want to get him in trouble! Even if it was explained it could cause pro- Michiru lowered a hand to Izuku's head without looking. Izuku found himself calming down. Everything's okay, Mr. Shirou threw them in here to try and help everyone in the first place. He should apologize for yelling. But if only he could hear more. Michiru jumped as something long and fuzzy brushed against her torso, Izuku had rabbit ears. What the hell.
"'If you've got money to build a hospital and buy cutting-edge devices for beastmen, then use it for humans.' Those are the bomber's demands." The Mayor spoke. Izuku's face tightened, he could tell those kinds of words didn't do well with Shirou. Michiru had heard the same thing due to her ears mimicking Izuku.
"Are those Anti-Beastmen scum up to this again?" Shirou asked. His voice remaining calm, but had aggression in it.
"The police tried to trace the scent of the bomb, but the explosion erased it. They weren't able to find any leads either. That quirk-like sense of smell of yours would help us out a lot, more than the police investigators could. Please, find the bomb." She requested to Shirou. He lowered his head a bit.
"There are patients in the Medi-Cen. There's no time to lose." He said with a look of determination.
"I-If the hospital's blown up our disease may never get cured!" She felt a look of disappointment at her back and looked to see Izuku being to the one to give it.
"A-And people could be hurt. No one should be blown up." Michiru felt a spike of rage go through her as she watched Izuku shake in fear for a second at the word 'Blown Up,' definitely Kacchan's fault and another reason to kick her ass. She saw Izuku's face look conflicted.
"Hey, what's wrong." She asked him.
"W-Well…Mr. sh-Shirou s-sounded so c-c-cool and it m-makes me t-trust him…" he admitted looking sheepish, his face actually taking on characteristics of a sheep.
"You didn't learn that lesson at all." She deadpanned. Michiru then realized that to prevent the loss of a hospital, she needs to get out of here first. She took in a deep breath. Izuku quickly caught on.
"Wait M-Michiru n-no!-"
"HELP US MAYOR!" She shouted to Izuku dismay. He tried to tackle her but she just caught and and was now holding him up.
"M-Michiru! Th-Think about h-how this m-makes M-Mr. Sh-Shirou l-look!" He whisper-yelled at her. She would've responded if she wasn't so caught on caught on the fact that Izuku basically just jumped into her arms without hesitation.
"Buh…" was all she could really say. Suddenly the door opened.
"Mayor, this man tried to kidnap me and my lil' baby!" Michiru said pointing a finger at Shirou while holding Izuku. Izuku was currently freaking out because 1, this was the exact kind of situation Izuku wanted to avoid and Michiru was expressly furthering it along and 2…Michiru had his head against her chest so it's just AAAAA- but on the outside, his face could only portray a smile that hid tons of panic behind it.
"Hey-" Was the only thing Shirou got out before being interrupted.
"He said he'd kill us if we left! He's also a blackmailer!"
"It was to protect you two and all beastmen." Shirou argued. Izuku just made noises, one of them sounded like 'whey.' Michiru just growled at Shirou.
"So you two must be Kagemori Michiru and Midoriya Izuku." The mayor said to the tanukies. Izuku's brain rebooted at the call of his name as he turned as well as he could to face the mayor.
"Just by looking at you two I can see you're obviously beastmen. It's hard to believe that you were once human." She stated.
"You knew about her?" Shirou questioned.
"I need to know everything about Anima-City. That's the job of a mayor." She concluded.
"I see. It was Grand Grandma." Shirou deduced. Izuku looked at Michiru at the mention of the name. She gave him a look that meant 'tell you later.'
"Well…" Michiru interrupted.
"Please, let us help find the bomb." Izuku quickly jumped in. He left Michiru's arms to speak.
"Why?" The mayor asked.
"If the bomb wasn't found in time, people could get hurt. There's people who need that kind of technology here, and that would hurt them too! Michiru wants to find out how she turned into a beastman, and I kinda do too, so please let us help." Izuku said, bowing in front of the mayor.
Michiru couldn't help feel proud of Izuku's reasons and his clear speech that was free of stutters.
"I don't think it's safe to let them both out. If anti-beastmen humans found out about them, who knows what reactions they'll have?" Shirou stated.
"I'm not sitting still!" Michiru declared. Shirou looked at her surprised.
"Before I got here, I sat around holding my breath. I was just cooped up in my room, after I ran off I had to avoid beastman hunters and nearly got caught in a few villain attacks just to make it to this city. But now I have to hide again? I'm not doing that!" She spoke.
"Now you listen here." Shirou said in a low voice. Michiru just had a determined glare. Izuku felt inspired by Michiru. She's told him these things before, but seeing her will and determination always made him feel this way. There wasn't anything that happened to him that was that bad. Kacchan.
"We're short handed, let them help us." The mayor said with finality. The three looked over to her, Izuku actually did not expect to be allowed. He was fully prepared to just sneak there if he had to.
"They can communicate for Kuro. And one of them can look around and analyze what they can." The mayor said, pulling out a notebook from her clothes. Izuku checked his hair. Then his tail. WAIT, HOW DID SHE-huh.
"Communicate for Kuro?" Michiru asked, confused to what she meant.
"Just looking at the two of the wouldn't be able to tell they were human once. Going around Anima-City shouldn't be a problem. However, keep that fact you were once human a secret." She instructed. Izuku and Michiru nodded.
"I understand." Izuku answered.
"Also can you forget about being kidnapped and threatened?"
"Yes!" Izuku answered way to enthusiastically. He was all for not getting Mr. Shirou in trouble.
"Izukubabyno-" Izuku gave her a pleading look. She sighed.
"Fine. But only because he would get upset otherwise." She agreed as well.
"Then have these in exchange for your old phones." She said holding out white smartphones. Michiru took one inspecting it while pulling out her old one. She was about to question why the mayor needed her old phone, but then remembered how one time there was a villain with a technopathy quirk that spied on people and took personal information through certain types of phones. While in prison, her quirk mysteriously stopped working, as if it was just gone. But Izuku…he decided to lie.
"Thanks for the new phone! I lost my old one during something…unpleasant. But thank you for the new one!" He said bowing. He still had his phone. He just didn't want to get rid of it because it was the only way he could talk to his mother, and at least look at Kacchan's message notifications. One of the more recent ones saying 'Come back now' caused him to feel the need to block her and turn off all location settings he could.
"If Kuro finds anything, contact Ogami." The Mayor told the tanukies. She held a small object in her hand out to Shirou.
"This is a fragment of the bomb found at the scene." Shirou moved over to her, taking the fragment from her hand.
"Sylvasta Pharmaceutical is part of the Sylvasta conglomerate, a prominent, weathly, family. They support what the mayor says about "equal rights for beastmen and humans alike. They also provide massive funding for Anima-City. Lost of humans can't stand that. But there are rumors that Sylvasta Pharmaceutical is profiting from beastmen data. Not all beastmen are happy to have them around." Shirou informed them as they looked at the oddly-shaped building in the distance.
"Just the equal rights for human's thing is still struggling to be done." She grumbled, ruffling Izuku's hair. Izuku was quickly to change subject.
"Then why did you accept this job Mr. Shirou?"
"Hm?"
"I thought you only wanted to help beastmen." Izuku elaborated.
"I can't refuse the mayor." He responded. He emptied a small pouch onto his palm, metal fragments falling out. Shirou's transformed nose sniffed the scent of the pieces. He could smell something similar in another part of the city. Actually, multiple things in different parts of the city, six to be exact. He quickly pulled out his phone.
"Ogami here. I've located the bombs. There are six in total, send the bomb squad." He spoke to the police on the other side. He whispered to Kuro
"You go to Medi-Cen."
"There's one at the Medi-Cen?" Michiru asked, concerned.
"No, there isn't any scent of a bomb. This is just to be safe. The bomber's real target is Sylvasta after all." He said, walking down the steps of the roof.
"Mr. Shirou, wait! We're coming too!" Izuku said, quickly grabbing Michiru's hand and pulling her along.
Izuku from Michiru's shoulders watched Kuro's path to the Medi-Cen, their only guide. Soon they stood before it, looking up at the tall building that had been threatened. Hearing the sound of a vehicle, they saw a truck loaded with something pulling in. The gate opened for it almost immediately, they watched as Kuro perched atop the truck caught a ride in before they quickly tailed it, ducking down so the security officer who wasn't paying attention wouldn't see them.
"C'mon, hurry it up!"
"Oh relax, the cops are too busy dealing with the bomb threat." The commotion came from a group of thugs uncovering something to what looked like a worker at the Medi-Cen.
"At any rate, this is the last time!" The scientist spoke, although it didn't exactly sound like a solid command.
"Gosh, why so cold? You've profited plenty from this as well, you know." A thug in a blue suit with a crescent moon on the collar casually said, not worried at all. Unbeknownst to them, two tanukis had just snuck up behind the truck and were now eavesdropping.
"Profitted? Are these guys selling something? What could the Medi-Cen need from guys who look like that?" Izuku wondered. Not noticing that once again, he and Michiru's ears had lengthened to a rabbit's once again. The blue-clad thug sniffed the air. Something smelled wrong, like a rabbit. They didn't have any bunnies among them tough. He turned his head to the sourced seeing just a bit of a black and red shoe from behind the truck.
"Hey! Who's behind there! Come out!" He barked. Izuku quickly shifted away from the edge with Michiru. Shit they found out. Izuku quickly pointed to the other side of the truck for Michiru to hide, she quickly complied under the impression Izuku would follow. The thugs shifted into their beast forms as the once again ordered the perpetrators to come out. Izuku nervously stepped out from behind the truck, hoping his child-like appearance would drop their suspicions. He's even a cute bunny right now, they wouldn't hurt him, right? Izuku gave a sheepish smile, his hair unnoticeably becoming fluffier like a sheep. The thug gave a sweet smile back.
"Bring that little bunny to me." He then said in a threatening tone. Izuku yelped as they ran after him, as he ran away from the truck, he could see Michiru's panicked face, pleading for him to come to her, where it's safe. But he couldn't bring these guys to her, she could get hurt!
"He saw us! He could've heard something too!" The Medi-Cen employee complained to the suited thug.
"You think I'd let a little kid like that get away from me? Just relax, my boys'll bring him back and we'll scare him so bad he represses these memories." He said before transforming into a hyena and running after him. Not noticing another tanuki behind the truck watching him in fury. Luckily, she didn't run out. She instead turned her attention to the employee.
"Hold on, I think I've seen that boy before." He gasped in a panic. Michiru was now very suspicious of this man. He knew Izuku from somewhere, and was panicked about it upon remembering?
Izuku's shoes collided quickly with the floor as he ran faster than ever before, probably due to adrenaline. Actually, due to him developing rabbit legs which was letting him spring off the floor much quicker. He had the phone the mayor gave him and was dialing Shirou.
"C'mon, c'mon Mr. Shirou please! Where are you?!" He whined as the phone continued to ring. Meanwhile, Shirou was at the site of the last bomb, it having been cleared. Unfortunately, he left his coat and phone in a car, and left it on silent, where he couldn't see Izuku's calls.
In a room, two employees were searching through files until they found had they wanted.
"It's him!"
"Him?"
The footage of Izuku running off was played again, catching a frame where Izuku turned to look back, giving a clear view of his face. The second employee, a much wider man, was now sweating bullets.
"It is him!" Unknown to them, they had someone else in the room. She had managed to sneak in unseen completely, literally. Michiru copied camouflage and managed to be undetected in all her silent rage. She watched as they pulled up an image of Izuku, when he was human. His cream-colored face, diamond patterned freckles, green hair with a 5 o'clock shadow, wide eyes, all set into a look of fear in the photo of his mugshot in his school uniform. Michiru struggled to not strangle these two to let out her anger. Izuku probably wouldn't be too happy if he found out she did that. But she couldn't just attack these guys either, she needed a good opportunity. Who knows how long her invisibility would last?
Izuku cowered in fear against the wall.
Kacchan no Kacchan no Kacchan no –
"So, what were you doing back there little guy? A bit far from momma don't cha think?" The hyena thug spoke. Izuku gulped before responding.
"I-I-I w-w-was h-here w-w-with m-m-my s-sister…t-th-then I-I g-g-got lost…" Izuku said, seemingly trying to press farther into the wall.
"Oh? Well then kiddo, we can help ya get back to your sister, but first why don't you try and recall what your heard back there?" The hyena thug demanded from the scared boy. Out of fear, he yanked his phone out of his hair and threw it hard enough for it to go flying past the hyena's face and take a few strands of hair with it.
"What a bad-mannered kid you are. Looks like someone needs to teach you some manners." He growled as the other thugs moved closer. Izuku felt his legs give out as he balled up against the floor. A clawed hand reached out for him, but before it even touched him it was grabbed painfully and hoisted into the air. It was Mr. Shirou!
"Quit it, you're scaring him." He growled.
"I-It's Ogami!" The thugs started to freak out. Two others tried to make a jump for him but were easily batted out of the hall.
"Scram. I won't kill you. At least not today." Shirou ordered. The thugs were quick to pick up their friend and run off.
"Glad I made it in time." He looked over at the quiet, balled-up, crying tanuki with a look of horror etched into its face. He gently knelt down to Izuku.
"Hey." No response.
"Please. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." A shift of his tail.
"Please, I don't want to see any beastman like this. Michiru would especially be worried." Izuku's eyes shifted to look at him.
"M-Mr. Sh-Sh-Shirou!" Izuku whimpered out, slowly uncurling.
"I'm sorry I didn't get your calls sooner. Why were those guys after you?" He apologized to the fun-sized tanuki. Shirou picked up Izuku, holding in a cry of joy when Izuku threw his head to lean on his chest.
"I-I-I s-saw s-something sh-shady wh-when th-they we-were l-loading st-stuff- MICHIRU!" Izuku suddenly shouted, remembering where he left his mo- friend.
"Calm down, I'm sure Michiru can handle herself if you distracted all the thugs. Those guys were part of a gang, they work with Medi-Cen to divert goods." Shirou explained. Izuku took in the information. Then an explosion rocked them, making Izuku let out a scream. Izuku's fear was over-taken by panic. The Medi-Cen just blew up! Michiru was still there! Shirou quickly took off with Izuku in his arms. He looked down at the tanuki.
"I think you should get somewhere safer!" He spoke.
"I c-can't! M-Michiru is s-still there! W-What if Sh-she's hurt! I left h-her b-behind, I can't do it again!" he pleaded, having left Shirou's arms and was now keeping up with him.
"It's dangerous!"
"I don't care! That's what being a hero is about, facing danger in order to help those in need! That's what you are for beastmen right? Even though she won't admit, she's a beastman too right now! So, protect her and I!" Izuku said firmly without stutter. Shirou looked at him.
"You're such a pain…" He said before leading the way to the Medi-Cen, although he wouldn't admit it, he was proud of Izuku.
Izuku and Shirou looked inside a wrecked server room, full of various smoking objects and broken parts.
"Michiru?" He called into the room. He followed Shirou in as they stood next to the wide employee who was wiping sweat off his face and the police chief.
"Ogami. This is Mr. Yaba, the Medical Center director." The chief introduced. He turned to face them, masking his surprise to see Izuku by covering his nose as if the smell bothered him.
"This is the work of those bombers too. The police will pay for not preventing this." Yaba demanded. Izuku didn't know why, but this man seemed…off. He didn't look like he was sweat from heat, he was nervous. It seemed to get worse once he and Mr. Shirou arrived. Could he? No, he shouldn't jump to conclusions. Shirou stepped forwards.
"Allow me to investigate as well." Shirou requested. The chief explained Shirou to Yaba getting permission to help, but Izuku never took his eyes off Yaba. Soon he left the room, leaving Shirou to look for scents.
"I traced the bomb fragments perfectly, so how did I miss this one." Izuku wondered the same. Unless it was scentless, then there was no reason for Shirou to have missed it unless its scent was masked, or it was a recent explosion. Shirou stood up.
"D-Did you find something?" Izuku asked.
"It was scentless." So there's the reason.