Thank you to all who have come back and welcome all the new readers! XD This story is moving into the Overhaul Arc and let me tell you... There is a lot of plot to work with! I think, in my not so humble opinion, that this is one of the better (if not best) arcs of the anime so far! Pumped for the rest of season 5 and then 6 though!
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Call Me... Deku
Chapter 57
"Perhaps I am misunderstanding, Deku. Was the plan not to retrieve Mrs. Todoroki?" Compress questioned as he scoured the file he'd been given. It had maps and notes with all the details he needed, but it was not for the institution the widow was locked in. "Is this change to prevent the police and heroes from seeing a pattern to our tricks?"
The young villain leader leaned back in his chair while flipping through the non-compartmentalized file, weighing his words. Without a quirk, he'd been up against odds that even seasoned Pro's wouldn't have gambled with. All For One had been ruthless in his instruction, pitting Midoriya against multiple desperate, quirk-enhanced prisoners.
Their situation now was comparable. The League was fledgling and minuscule, a few small ants against the giant boot of the world. Losing Dabi hampered their capabilities even more, especially since the outcome of that deadly encounter had left Shoto's sanity violently scrambled.
Every action they took had to be planned meticulously and backed by analysis if they intended to win this war. This was no David and Goliath scenario and there would be no simple rock throw to miraculously defeat their enemy.
"We do want to keep our motivations and strategies as hidden as possible, Compress, so you aren't wrong. As you can see, Toga's intel suggests that, for whatever reason, there has been no increase in security around Mrs. Todoroki, but we can't know that for sure. A fully equipped hospital is going to be much easier for heroes to secure than a single dwelling in a public apartment complex." Deku explained, avoiding the disheartening truth that their organization needed more time to grow. "Not to mention they're still licking their wounds from our last 'kidnapping' and won't underestimate us nearly as much. That's why we—"
'Knock, Knock'
The room froze immediately.
With Shoto's quirk and emotional state so unstable, Deku had ordered everyone to keep assignments that were directly related to the members of the Todoroki household under wraps. Pitifully attempting to look inconspicuous, the group stuffed their packets anywhere they could fit them as if they could hide the fact that they were in the middle of a meeting Shoto wasn't invited to.
Breaths were sucked in, cheeks reddened, and eyes darted around the room the moment the door was pushed inward. But it wasn't Shoto who'd found his way to their covert gathering, it was Inko. She backed into the conference room, shuffling slowly while dragging what sounded like a cart jostling on uneven brick with her.
"Who wants a snack?" she sang, joyous and proud as she presented all manner of sandwiches and chips, sodas and special-occasion punches, even the favorite candies of every single League member.
Midoriya was quick to sweatdrop. His inner circle was comprised of thieves, murderers, and individuals that could successfully plead insanity for their crimes. But now they were acting like excitable children; some hardened criminals they were...
"Oh, don't look so embarrassed, 'Zuku!" Inko scolded, noticing his exasperation. She picked up two pre-made plates and scurried over while the others pillaged the cart. "You can't take over the world on an empty stomach!"
Sheepishly, Midoriya accepted the personalized meal, soon reeling from the intensity of its nostalgia. His mother had prepared it in the same way she had when he was a little kid, right down to the loving note written on a tiny hero-shaped post-it. The only difference he could find was that the hero's face had a big 'X' covering it, proof of her support of his conquest. Maybe he wasn't such a hardened criminal either. "T-thanks mom."
"You're welcome, son," Inko responded happily as she rounded the table to get to Toga. "And this plates for you and the baby."
Midoriya couldn't help but smile even more lovingly when some horrendous-looking concoction was set out for the expectant mother; Toga's cravings had become astonishingly odd and eccentric as her pregnancy progressed. The morbid fascination with her eating habits quickly became a favorite pastime for the rest of the League, everyone taking bets on what bizarre combination would be created next.
Inko always won, of course. Sometimes her predictions were so accurate that she'd make a dish that Toga didn't even know she wanted until the first bite. "Mothers intuition," she'd hum with satisfaction, collecting her winnings like some kind of professional gambler.
"No Shoto today?" she questioned once everyone had settled back into their chairs. "Even if he doesn't have a role in your schemes, he's always invited to the briefings."
Deku nodded, offering his mother a chair beside him as he reopened the packet he'd dropped under his chair earlier. "We do want him here, but our discussion today was about his mother. I didn't want to risk him getting upset around Toga and the baby."
The woman sat slowly and flickered her eyes over the plans her son was working on, sighing slightly. "Izuku, son, I've been thinking about this, and I'm concerned. Shoto's quirk is still behaving volatilely and we already know that he was the child she was most concerned about becoming like her husband. Then there's the possibility that she doesn't know her eldest son has been murdered—by the man that hurt them so badly— and that he has also been killed, even if Shoto hadn't meant to do it. Coming here might be too much for her... and Shoto as well."
"You're completely right, mom. I had honestly expected Shoto to be more in control of himself by now and I'm not sure how she'd react to his meltdowns, especially if his left side activates. Since Shoto and his mother are so unpredictable, I've amended the original plan." Midoriya explained, flipping through the pages until he found the addendum.
"Oh, I see!" Inko exclaimed. "You're going to start with Shoto's sister instead!"
"Fuyumi would be the best source of information on Mrs. Todoroki and her stability. She also appears to be the most adjusted and levelheaded of all of her siblings and should be able to handle seeing her brother so unraveled." Midoriya explained. "If all goes well, Shoto's mindset may improve enough for us to include him on the next big assignment."
"I concur! His sister would indeed be a much safer first bet." Compress agreed. "Never fear, for I will not fail; The Todoroki children will be reunited!"
~Flashback~
*The Afternoon Shoto Was Taken From School*
"Thank you for coming, Kirishima. Please, take a seat." Aizawa sighed as his ex-student nervously entered the meeting room he'd been sent to, already squirming under the gaze of the entire UA staff. "I'd like to preface this gathering by making it clear that you aren't in trouble."
"O-oh... Th-that's good. Heh... Erm, why am I here then, sir?" the redhead questioned, peering around at the faces staring at him.
Nezu smiled encouragingly from his chair. "For simplicities sake, all you need to know is that while you are still to remain in the Support Course, for the time being, we've amended our previous decision regarding hero-study-related extracurricular activities."
Kirishima floundered, shaking his head when words failed to breach his lips. Time being? hero-study-related extracurricular activities? What in the world were they talking about?
intended on keeping you in the Support Course. That being said, your fighting style relies on your quirk which, unfortunately, has been taken from you. The original consensus was for me to teach you the combat and capture techniques I use and then—"
"That doesn't make any sense!" Kirishima exclaimed once his thoughts reconnected with his tongue. "If you were always going to teach me to be a hero, then why transfer me at all? I'm falling behind now; Class 1-A just took their Provisional License Exam; they're learning ultimate moves! How am I supposed to catch up to them now?"
"I understand that you're frustrated but pay attention to what I'm saying to you. As I just explained, you've made a habit of relying on your quirk, Kirishima. In combat, whether a real threat or simply training, the odds of you attempting to use a power you no longer have rather than dodge or counter are too high to ignore. If we'd disregarded rationality and kept you in the hero course, we would not only have been setting you up to fail but would have also been inviting injury." Aizawa replied with stern calmness.
Kirishima wasn't entirely convinced, his frown heavy and full of disappointment. Sure, that sounded logical, but UA had never shied away from potentially injuring students during training before. Hell, the entrance exam was arguably one of the tamer exercises and they hadn't even been students then. He decided not to argue though... not yet at least.
"This concern was why we thought it best to put you in the Support Course rather than Hero, General Studies, or Business Courses. In this way, you'd be surrounded by students whose professional goals revolve around support items for heroes. We'd hoped that, in addition to retraining your body outside of class, you'd be more able to determine what tech could assist you to reach your dream of becoming a hero." Midnight added, nodding to Powerloader. "From what I understand, Mei Hatsume has taken a liking to you and has issued a challenge to every support course student in our school; they've all pledged to come up with a specialty item just for you."
Kirishima's face darkened until it matched his hair. He'd heard rumors that Hatsume was recruiting classmates to help him, but he hadn't realized it was to that extent; man, he was really starting to fall for that girl, crazy and all. "Uh... I don't know about everyone in the support course..." he mumbled, all too aware of the wink Midnight gave him. "But, uh, why bring this up now?"
"Indeed, this new plan of action regarding your studies at UA is far more accelerated than the original. It isn't ideal and there are still aspects that need to be further reviewed, but the truth is, our enemy appears to be ready even if we are not." Nezu explained, his eyes wandering to Aizawa since the burden of getting Kirishima prepared would fall to him.
Aizawa held his hand up before Kirishima could respond, a very clear warning in his expression. "Don't forget that this does not mean that you are readmitted to the hero course yet, Kirishima. For now, we are simply going to petition for you to be added to the remedial courses being provided by the Provisional Licensing Exam as we all agree you have the potential to become a hero despite having lost your quirk. In addition, your lessons with me will begin immediately so that if you are asked to go on an internship or work-study, you'll be ready."
"Uh..." Kirishima drawled, mouth hanging open as he tried to take in all the information being thrown at him. "I don't get it... I'm still in the Support Course so, why add me to the Provisional Exam remedial courses? It's not like I'm going to be recruited anytime soon..."
"That isn't necessarily true. You were scouted after the Sports Festival which means you've had agencies already considering you for a sidekick." Snipe responded. "Your quirk was a factor, but it was your attitude during the competition that was most important. As long as the agency agrees to work with you while knowing your new situation, we intend to allow you to go on work studies and even the more advanced internships just like any other hero course student."
Doubt and Certainty. Fear and Assurance. Anxiety and Calmness. Rage and Peace. Indignity and Justice.
"Really?" Kirishima gasped breathlessly, roller-coasting through conflicting emotions. This couldn't be happening, but it was! He was still going to be a hero!
~End Flashback~
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Shinso questioned as he and Kirishima walked to Fatgum's agency for the first night of their work-study, both having been accepted thanks to Tamaki's recommendation.
"That's the big question, isn't it?" Kirishima snorted, thinking back to his meeting with the UA staff. "When I told you about getting to go on a work-study, I didn't mention being added to remedial classes for the licensing exam or the possibility of internships because I was so sure I wouldn't pass or be recruited. Now though, I have to prove myself and I'm worried that I won't be able to. I really appreciate you getting Amajiki to bring me along, but, maybe I shouldn't have accepted the offer from Fatgum..."
"UA wouldn't have agreed to this and lobbied so hard with the hero licensing board unless they thought you could really do it." Shinso offered, wishing he could say something more comforting. "I'm sure between Fatgum and Amajiki we will avoid any real danger anyway."
Kirishima sighed, adjusting the new upgrades to his costume. As he shifted the suit he wore around, his fingers grazed one of the items Hatsume had added. The hopeful flame in his chest, dimly lit and close to being blown out, was sparked once again from what had been done on his behalf.
Mei and everyone in the Support Course had rallied behind him, working around the clock to submit various items to help him keep moving forward on the hero path. All of the hero course students and Aizawa had worked with him for hours upon hours so that he could relearn combat. Shinso had even gone completely out of his way to convince Amajiki and Fatgum that he was an asset that couldn't be passed up.
Everyone at UA had been Plus Ultra from the moment they'd learned of his plight. He wouldn't dishonor their efforts and let them down when they'd gotten him this far.
Color flooded across his ashen cheeks, chest puffing back out strong and proud. "You're right, this isn't how a man should act! Let those villains do what they want; I'm not going to back down from a fight ever again!"
"That's the spirit. You're sounding like Red Riot again already." Shinso hummed with relief. "You took the medicine though, right?"
Kirishima nodded as they approached the entrance of the agency, taking in a deep breath. "Yeah, I even tested it out to see if anything would activate and it won't; I'm effectively quirkless for the next twenty-four hours."
"You sure you'll be good on patrol tonight then? I overheard Mr. Aizawa protesting your internship since it happened so quickly; he was telling Principal Nezu you weren't ready." Shinso stated, eyeing his partner warily. "You can't just jump in front of something and not take damage right now."
Kirishima just smiled boldly, however, pressing a button on his hand with pride. In an instant, his whole body was covered with bright red armor. "Sure I can, bro! Mei said that 'Red Riot will debut with technology that mimics his original quirk'."
Shinso couldn't help but chuckle at the pose Kirishima struck with his statement, making a mental note to do something special for Mei; she really had outdone herself this time.
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Lol sorry for the retcon, but it's pretty easy to get ahead of the anime (which is where my inspiration comes from) and I wasn't aware of some things. I hope this doesn't seem out of nowhere or anything!
Let me know what you think and check out some of my other MHA stories if you're interested.