Heroes to Hunters

Chapter 22

Now then, this one will be a bit more relaxed compared to the hectic chapters prior. And it might be a bit shorter given that. I'm going to focus on not just the Kamura fighters, but also go back to Astrea to see how everyone else is doing. So on with the show.

(Yui POV)

Talk about a crazy day! Not just one but two big fights back-to-back. Let alone having to battle a powerful wind dragon to keep it from destroying Kamura Village. Definitely not in Mustafa anymore. "You alright there Kodai?" Rin asks me as we are walking back. I just smile a bit before saying, "yeah. It just… well its been a crazy ride. I didn't expect this when we all went to celebrate at 1-A's dorm."

Rin gets a big laugh out of that before agreeing with me. "I know what you mean. It is definitely a different adventure from what we sign on for at UA." "But if we ever get back some of what we learned here could help us as heroes. At least that's what Midoriya believed," we both hear behind us from Mineta. Rin gets more of a laugh out of that than I do, but I don't disagree with the purple perv.

"So what are you guys planning to hunt next?" Mineta questions while we're walking back. My plan is to rank up enough to get approval to hunt a Mizutsune. "I want to get the pieces for a Kakaru Kumo Naki. That sword looks beautiful from the images I've seen." I say before we meet up with the rest from Kamura.

Rin smirks a bit before saying he'll be trying to get the pieces for a Carom Shot. "Stop 'em in place before blasting away. Especially with the wyvernheart." "Must be nice. I'd like to use some of that gear. But I can't," Mineta says while looking down. I guess he still feels like he can't do much given his stature here. The closest thing to his size is palico gear and having him wear that would just be a bit degrading.

But with a little sigh he moves past it and says he'll hope for a growth spurt while we're all here. When we meet up with the rest, Fugan congratulates and thanks all of us. "Luckily we should have a break for a few days. So when we get back to town, we'll celebrate!" Fugan says with a big laugh. And frankly that sounds really nice to me!

Once we get back, I help myself to whatever tempura and a local dish using their version of tomatoes and eggplants. While it isn't soy sauce, the flavor of the local Kamura sauce is great! "This meat is awesome! What's it from?" Tetsu calls out while munching on a big steak. One of the high rank hunters, Ayame I think tells him its from a Royal Ludros. "The hide is spongy but the meat itself is so tender." She says before taking bite of some sushi she got from the fishmonger.

I gotta say I prefer this to the panic and worry earlier. "As much as I'd like things to stay like this, sooner or later we'll have to head back to Astrea. Or we may hopefully find our way back." I think out loud. But then prez comes out of nowhere and slaps my back a bit hard. Then with a laugh and a strange flush to her cheeks she says, "don't get so down! We've got hic! Plenty of time to worry about that later! Hic!" Okay don't know what she got into, but it seems to be having some funny effects. Might want to make sure my own drink is fine.

(No POV)

"And just like after the fight with Zorah, we all came out fine." Izuku says to his girlfriends and a few of the others gathered by the tea house. He then takes a big drink of something Yomogi provided. Setsuna just gave him a smirk before saying, "are you sure that's not just because you want what happened after to happen again?"

Izuku then spit takes, as do a few others. With Ochaco blushing as well and Mineta off to the side muttering about Izuku's luck. Setsuna snorts before saying, "I'm kidding. I know what you were getting at. The fact that we all made it back alive, and with minimal injury. Though when that Ibushi showed up it was a bit terrifying." A few of the others from UA and their world agree. With Mirko coming behind them and mentioning that Rakna-Kadai was definitely the most terrifying for her.

All Might has a puzzled look on his face before asking why that was. "You went barreling into the thing to fight it." "Doesn't make me any less scared. Especially given I didn't have a quirk." Rumi says before taking a big drink of the local wine. Ryuko though rolls her eyes before telling her fellow pro to lay off the stuff. "Though I don't disagree with her. That thing was scary when we first saw it back in our world. Let alone the fact that we all got tangled up in its webs with no way out," the former dragon hero says while eating a bit of oden that was made using some various monster meats.

Hanenaga then comes up and agrees with her fears about the beast. "That is definitely one of the scarier monsters out this way. It, Magnamal and Khezu are terrifying to look at, let alone how they fight and eat." "Which is why prefer to fight those beasts from a distance," they all hear from the entrance to the gathering hub. Coming out of the entrance, was Han who had a drink of his own and a plate with yakitori on it.

"You know anymore I'm not surprised you and Amalee are the 'aces' to master Utsushi." Hanenaga says with a shake of his head. Then from behind Amalee appears as well and spooks the man. "Better believe it," she says with a smirk. She then asks to join Rumi and Ryuko, as the two were going to the gathering hub to eat.

Most of the hero students who had been in this strange world for a while were socializing and comparing with their fellow hunters. While the villains had a bit more trouble, some were managing to get close to everyone. Togo was just enjoying a rare steak of her own while sitting with Iguchi and the Big Three. "Hey Toga-chan? I was wondering, is there something going on between you and Iguchi-kun?" Nejire asks innocently.

While the former lizard villain is coughing and choking a bit on his meal, Toga simply looks back to the blue haired hero and says, "no. We're just good friends. Especially after what we've been through." Toga and Iguchi look down as she is saying that. Remembering what they lost. Nejire then comes over and gives the girl a hug, while Mirio pats Iguchi on the shoulder with a small smile. Tamaki though is just standing off to the side, while also questioning what would happen if he ate the foods in this world and could use them with his quirk.

Both former villains are surprised at the compassionate actions of the hero students. Mirio's especially confuses Iguchi. "Don't you dislike us? You'd definitely have a reason man. You lost your quirk because of the group we were pseudo working with at the time. Let alone everything else we've done." Iguchi says while looking at the refection in his drink. Mirio just sighs a bit before saying, "its true that we should have a reason. But honestly, if we constantly let what happened in the past define us… we'd never be able to move forward. I lost my quirk, but maybe I can find another way. Like what Midoriya and the rest found when the ended up here. Maybe I can still be a hero without my quirk."

Iguchi's eyes widen at hearing that, and then he chuckles a bit. "No wonder you were considered the person most likely to take the number one spot. It wasn't just your quirk that made you a hero. But your heart and drive." Iguchi says before offering a hand to shake with Mirio. The blonde hero on hiatus just smiles and shakes the former villain's hand.

Nejire meanwhile is just giving the former blood obsessed blonde a bigger hug. One while Toga reciprocates. "Thank Hado-chan. I'm okay though. Or I will be." Toga says before focusing back on the food. And her fellow heroes and villains turned hunters do just the same.

For Han and a few of the others, they each check in on some of the other worlders. With Sorek spending some time with Eri, and her loving the candy apples that Komitsu made. Tzaid and Kvuna made sure that the villains and heroes they brought to Kamura were doing okay, while Amalee was eating with the former numbers 10 and 5.

Han though found Hanai on the deck in the gathering hub. Overlooking the river and trees nearby. She had a pensive look on her face, while sipping some local brew. Han just smiled before saying, "you might want something to go with that. It'll make it go down better." He then offered up a skewer with yakitori, but Hanai refused with a small smile.

The moon was starting to come up and the stars were bright as the two looked out over the water. Han just sighed before asking if the former hero and villain was doing okay. Hanai looked down at her drink before talking about some of what she was thinking. "I don't know. I was sure that my life was set. Or that I was going to be stuck or trapped for the rest of my life. Now I'm out and I don't know the best thing to do. I know you said I could help those kids to move away from the brainwashing and everything that the public safety commission had set up. At the same time though, none of use even know if we can get back to our world. So, what could I really teach them?"

Han hums a bit before saying, "I think I was wrong. Especially in saying that you can teach them. Right now, you need to figure out who you are. And who you are going to be. Will you still be the former hero from your old world? Will you be more of a villain? Or are you going to stay here, and make a new name and life for yourself? I think you need to….." "Figure that out? I kinda had reached that point already. But maybe doing some more hunts and the like will help. Just staying still won't help me figure out if this is what I want to do." Hanai interrupts and finishes the thought for Han.

The hunter just has a smile before raising his glass to toast. "To finding new options and hopes," he says, while Hanai raises her own glass. They both finish their glasses and head back for some more. As well as Hanai taking Han suggestion about food to go with the drink.

"Hey, did I ever thank you for helping me after that Ibushi sent me flying?" Hanai asks after a few rounds. Han shakes his head before saying, "I didn't try to help you because I wanted thanks or anything. I'm pretty sure a few of the 'hero' students were thinking about doing it too. I just moved and reacted first." Hanai snorts before asking why he did it.

Han just looks down before saying, "I don't know. I just….. started moving without thinking. Because I knew I had to grab you." Hanai's eyes widen a bit, and she starts to laugh. When Han questions on what was so funny, Hanai just tells him he'd make a great hero. "You don't worry about yourself right away. You focus on others, even if you aren't intending to," she says before looking back to the man. She then holds up her drink and the two toast again.

Others around the village are celebrating, and just reveling in the victory against the Rampage. When the party winds down, a few end up going with others for the night. Which leads to some interesting reveals in the morning.

(Hanai POV)

Well, this could be bad. I didn't expect to end up in this place last night. Though I'm not complaining. I was the one who made the first move and took the lead. As Han starts to wake up, I'm just shaking my head. "So, was that planned? Or did you just react as well?" he says with a wry smirk. I just snort before smacking him with my pillow.

He laughs a bit himself before going over to get his pants. He then offers to cook, which again I'm not complaining about. While we're eating, I decide to ask about if this was the first time, he's done something like this. He clears throat, which just telegraphs that it wasn't. "So, this isn't the first time?" I asks with a little teasing lilt. It's kind of funny to see the big hunter of Kamura sweat like this. "Uh, no. The first was Minoto. After I found where Narwa was going, and then led the charge against her….. well, things kinda lead to one another." Han says with a slightly sheepish look.

I then ask if there is anything there, but he says they tried but it didn't work. "We both are too focused on our work. Me as a hunter and her as the second in command at the Gathering Hub." I hum a bit before saying, "well I guess there are two ways we can take this. One: we pretend it never happened and we move on with our hunts and lives. And two: we try to make….. whatever this is work." He just smiles at me and agrees, but then he perks up a bit. He has a strange smile, one that makes me think he's up to something. He then grabs his shirt before pointing outside.

(No POV)

Once Han and Hanai step outside, he points to the house two down from Hanai's. There they see his sister and Ryuko sneaking out of Rumi's house. "So, you had fun as well last night?" Han says with a shit eating grin. Upon hearing Han, Ryuko jumps a bit while Amalee winces. Said former dragon then blushes before trying to bury her head. Amalee though sighs before saying, "considering who you is next to you, I could already guess who you were with."

"Kinda like the Hinoa and Minoto thing with us huh?" Han says with a chuckle. Amalee though puffs up her cheeks with a pouting blush before punching her brother in the stomach. While he's coughing, Hanai is next to him shaking her head. "You walked into that one," she says with a little laugh of her own. After catching his breath, Han agrees with her. "Yeah, I know. But I couldn't resist. It's a sibling thing."

After Amalee and Ryuko calm down, they just say that no one says anything to anyone about what happened. Hanai and Han look to each other with the former shrugging as if to say she was okay with that. "For now, at least. I'd….. still like to see where this could go." "Yeah, so would I." Han says with a small smile.

Amalee though is just annoyed at seeing the two's reactions. "Well goodie for you. Rumi just kicked us out," the brunette hunter says while crossing her arms. Han and Hanai just give her nervous laughs before apologizing. Ryuko though is just constantly running her hands through her hair with a bit of worry. They all do agree to keep quiet for now.

Though Amalee does catch Hanai quick. "I was just kinda kidding when I said my brother had his eye on you. I mean we both were keeping an eye on the ones we saved out there but…. I didn't think you two would well get to this." Hanai just snorts before saying Amalee was in no place to talk. The hunter blushes before saying that Rumi had been a bit fired up after drinking and… "well I guess she still wanted a fight. Even with all the battles against the monsters, it wasn't enough and she….. kinda started in on both of us after we brought her back."

Hanai just gives a nervous laugh before changing the subject. While a few others also have some surprising wake up moments. Namely Midnight, with a few hunters from Kamura and maybe a former student of hers. Though Momo addressed her feelings for Kyoka and Shoto, they didn't act on them right away. Jiro just laughed a bit before saying, "yeah we don't need to copy Midoriya right away." While Setsuna is waking up with her head on Izuku's chest, and Ochaco is sleeping on her side nearby. 'Gotta wonder how things are going for everyone back in Astrea. Maybe some others have hooked up while we've been gone.' Setsuna thinks before getting comfortable and sleeping a bit more.

I'll leave it at that for now. Though next time will be going back to Astrea. Not everyone had moved to Kamura after all, so I'll focus on them a bit more next time. As well as maybe going into another set of fights with monsters back there. I hope some of you will give my other works a look. Please review!