Epilogue: An end to things?

(Shinso's pov)

I never understood Monoma's obsession with our rival alumni. Even in school when I made my own declarations (which Kaminari and a few others refuse to let me forget about to my embarrassment), I never became so obsessed, nor spouted the hate the blonde pretty boy did. Sure, I sillily resent many for their easier upbringings and heroic quirks, but I never took time out of my day to just hate on them. Still, I guess old habits do die hard, as Monoma seemed almost giddy as he pressed for details on Mineta's unfortunate end and to confirm the rumors of his terrible secret. It was funny at first but after twenty minutes or so, well, let's just say I was tempted to wipe his mind with my quirk.

Still he did his job as escort well enough leaving me in front of the Commission tower, with enough time to bask shrouded inside its massive looming shadow. A message for Japan saying 'don't worry, we're here'. The most powerful heroes of Japanese society all in one location, with all the administrative support that entails. I shuddered remembering the day Gigantomachia attacked it, sort of a last ditch effort by the League to avoid all out war with the Yakuza for control of the underworld. Considering everything since, I'd call it a gamble that failed to pay off. Heroes, villains, and gangsters all took a big hit especially with how Overhaul got rid of the League's biggest hitter. Not sure if I should thank him or not, still just like Endeavor said 'we were still standing, so get back to work.'

I shook my head, getting myself back on track as I made my way inside, pushing past mourners and hero groupies before scanning my ID and entering the lobby. I spoke to the receptionist and was told where the debrief was, I then quickly made my way up in the elevator. In the silence I felt my mind wander towards the investigation, Chiako's story was… tragic and it made me wonder if each of Mineta's other victims were going through something similar. How many ended up like… I shook my head again. Aizawa would tell me to think rationally; this was just another murder case, they happen all the time. But I couldn't help but remember her crying form, how Midoriya didn't hesitate to try and comfort her even knowing she was a killer. I wonder, if we were switched, if I would have been able to do that? Probably not, hopefully? I sighed, clearing my head as I opened the doors and made my way inside.

Aizawa once said that in a hero's line of work only two things come close to hell, failure being the first and the second being bureaucracy. After the two hours of nonstop, repetitive, asinine, questioning that I just went through, I'm inclined to agree with the second one. Perhaps it's just frustration at the decision they came to however, upon discovering Midoriya's lack of a quirk, they were quick to disregard any aid he gave, instead choosing to give me and the police all public credit for Chiako's capture. As if I could come close to Midoriya's capability. I argued he should at least be given a financial bonus for the speed he completed the investigation but was denied. Quirkist bastards. After that, they ran through what was to be put out to the public via press conference, hearing Midoriya be right again that Chiako would be held as a villain in Tartarus only proved to me that Midoriya deserved all credit possible and then some. Hell,make him a hero just to handle investigations for the Commission, better than just picking random heros to do it. I sighed again as I was dismissed and given the next few days off.

I made my way out of the tower and towards the station to head home. Hopefully Midoriya was having a better time than me.

(Midoriya's pov)

I looked at the door to my apartment and immediately felt the day's exhaustion hit me. The graffiti was nothing new, after sixteen years of it I'm more upset at the lack of originality than the words themselves. 'Quirkless freak' in bright red that contrasted extremely well against my white door. I'd give compliments for the barest of artistic inclination the person had, but I'd have to be impressed to do so. No, at the moment, all I could think of was the amount of time it would take to clean up this little…art project and wait for the next. I put my key in the lock and entered, I could see my fish tank and terrarium were as lively as ever and went over to inspect them. Once satisfied I went towards my kitchen and reheated the container of Katsudon my mother had made during my last visit and turned on the tv.

I wasn't surprised at what I saw, the Commission's press conference as headed by the creation hero Creati (so underutilized in my opinion) over Mineta's death had already begun. I was saddened when it was announced Chiako would be sent to Tartarus while awaiting trial (I deduce it wouldn't happen for quite a while) and all credit was to be given to the police and the hero Mindwipe who led the investigation, to which I smiled. I preferred it when my name was anonymous as it made certain facets of my profession easier, even if it made cases harder to come by. As for the revelation of Shinso's hero name, I was happy to file the information for later use and research. I sat on my couch and ate for a bit, before going to grab one of my many hero notebooks. The nostalgia of continuing this act of analysis filled me inside with bittersweet memories of years past. Even if it's changed from ideas of a heroic future to just an exercise to keep the mind sharp.

As I went about my mental exercise I heard a knock on the door, when I stood up I looked at the time and smiled.18:30. Right on schedule.

I opened the door and saw the wide gapped tooth smile of what is probably my best agent, still in his middle school uniform and covered in dirt all over. "Heya Mister Midoriya, you know for a thousand yen I could clean that whole door up for ya!"

I laughed a bit. "Maybe next time Takuto." I motioned for him to enter which he happily did putting his book bag on the couch. "Brought your homework I see?"

"Yea figured I could get ya to take a real quick look at it since I was coming over anyway hope ya don't mind."

I shook my head. "I don't, you're always more than welcome to ask me for help." I closed the door. "But I believe you have something for me?"

He smiled excitedly as he reached into his bag and pulled out a Manila folder and rushed to hand it to me. "Did everything exactly as you asked, unlocked the door and everything." I nodded as I opened the folder, inside were an exact replica of Mineta's photos, courtesy of Takuto's replication quirk. I admit to some guilt at having him break into a hero Commission car to do this but I'd also argue it was a necessary evil, if only to have the chance to expose the truth. "The radio fetched a fair price, about the same you'd normally give Mister Midoriya."

I shook my head, reaching for my wallet. "Regardless, a job well done like this deserves payment in full." I took out twenty two thousand yen and handed it to the boy. "Thank you again Takuto, your services as always were perfect." He brightened at the praise and began to excitedly babble to me over the task and his day. I often thought it odd how he seemed to look up to me, regardless of our first meeting when I helped him from bullies. I fully expected him to lose his excitement and almost reverence over me once he discovered my quirk status, yet for once I deduced wrong. Ever since, he insisted on aiding me in anyway, going so far as to try and learn from me. An odd sensation, which made me wonder if I was like that with my hero obsession at one point. Still, I smiled and responded to his excited speech when appropriate and eventually motioned for the table telling him to show me how I could help his school work.

An hour after we started our impromptu tutoring session Takuto yawned and stood informing me that he ought to return home and to contact him should another case arise. I offered to walk him home but he insisted that he was fine and with that I bade him farewell. In the cold silence of my apartment I turned towards the Manila folder and reached out, opening it confirming that the dreaded contents were indeed there. After confirming their existence I reached for my laptop and prepared to send out each photo to trusted contacts in various news agencies, yet before I could send them I paused.

I hadn't realized that I had begun to take each photo out of the folder and placed them face down, nor had I realized the police had written the name of each victim on the back. In a haze I began to type the name of each woman, committing each one to memory. Each a failure. I began analyzing each woman, the signs of trauma were easy to identify if one knew what to look for. The subtle distancing from friends and family, the change from sleeveless shirts and dresses to now baggy and long sleeve outfits, the bags under eyes due to restless nights. Children that look more like their father than to her husband. Each further damning evidence. I paused when I reached an obituary, yet another death at Mineta's hand.

In this moment my mind raced, hundreds upon hundreds of scenarios played in my mind. In this moment Japan mourned for the death of a hero, yet in my desk in finger's reach laid evidence that would damn him to be a monster, in a perfect world he'd face trial and be condemned his victims blameless. Justice.

This is not a perfect world. Once released the darkest moment in the lives of these women would be exposed to all Japan, the vultures would descend sensing a prime opportunity for ratings. They're be harassed by victim blazers and online ingrates. They'd never have a moment's peace. The commission I deduced in this very moment would be searching for these women to buy their silence and if that failed discredit them. Their efforts would increase tenfold. All to maintain their image. It wasn't just these women that I'd expose either, no It'd be their family and friends, coworkers and children. A tangled web of interconnected people who's lives now lay on my desk.

Mineta was a hero, one that used his station to manipulate and take women so he could feel powerful and adequate, killed by the sister of his first victim. Was that justice enough? I looked at the women again. It didn't feel good enough. Yet to expose the truth would only bring them more pain more heart ache.

An eternity of contemplation followed, it wasn't until the sun rose it's light filling the room that my decision was made.

(Shinso's pov following morning)

I woke up to a swiping paw hitting my face and sat up launching the furry offender into the air with a hiss. When I discovered Aizawa's obsession with cats it surprised me a bit, but not as much as his graduation gift to me. Yoshi is a little brown short haired tabby that has woken me up every day for the last two years by swiping my face with his claws demanding I feed him. I stood groggy and went to the living room of my apartment groaning as I stretched. As I grabbed the cat food I heard a faint buzzing on the counter and reached over realizing I was getting a message. I blinked at the screen, corrections, twenty one messages, ten calls and four voicemails. I looked at the date and made sure I hadn't forgotten anything important today, realizing I hadn't. I unlocked my phone and saw what Monoma had been gleefully sending for the past thirty minutes or so. It was a news article, while that by itself wouldn't have dropped my jaw. What did was it's headline. 'Grape Juice hero or rapist?' And below that? One of the photos that the Commission tried to bury, the ones Midoriya found. The article said at least twenty of these photos were sent out by anonymous sources and that inquiries into their validity were being made as well as the hero Commission's handling of the evidence.

I blinked, stunned. Who could have leaked it? How, why? My mind raced, yet came out empty. Yoshi cried out but I was frozen. Who leaked the photos? And should I be pissed or ecstatic that they did?