Chapter sixteen - Lo! and behold, he is here.
Every since the meeting, All Might had been wallowing in his own guilt and needed someone to tell about his encounter with Izuku. But..if he did that then wouldn't people hate him? Wouldn't the crown of the 'Symbol of Peace' be knocked off his head? He then remembered.
"Naomasa!" he said aloud, clicking his fingers. He rung him to come to his house so that he could talk about what had happened.
"I wonder what'll happen. What will his reaction be? He might be horrified or indifferent but..he is my closest friend. He will understand.." thought All Might.
"Toshinori! Open the door!" called out a familiar voice. All Might was so deep in contemplation, that he didn't realise that Naomasa was banging on the door. He quickly got up and timidly unlocked the door.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you.." said All Might in his shrivelled form, before sitting on the sofa. "Please, sit.."
Naomasa was getting a little suspicious to All Might because of his strange behaviour.
"He is never usually like this. What is it, I wonder." thought Naomasa.
"It's about Izuku Midoriya." said All Might and Naomasa immediately widened his eyes in curiosity. "I encountered him ten months ago, a bit before he disappeared."
"I see. Tell me anything, I also have something to tell you about him afterwards." replied Naomasa with a serious expression. All Might nodded.
"I was out catching the sludge villain and he went under a bridge, which so happened to be where Young Midoriya was walking by. I assumed he was getting home but then the villain enclosed himself upon Midoriya and it looked like he was suffocating. I, of course, saved him and bottled up the villain. Then.." All Might sighed. "I was about to jump up again to leave once he was okay but then he grabbed onto my leg and I had not noticed he did that until I was in the air. I leaped onto a nearby building and let him catch his breath. He then asked me a question.."
All Might looked like he was about to faint of his guilt and sadness. Naomasa furrowed his brows in concern.
"He then..?" asked Naomasa softly.
"He asked me if it was possible to become a hero without a quirk. I-I said he couldn't and he looked absolutely distraught. I then insensitively leapt back into the air, as if I had not just crushed a young boy's dream. I did not see what happened to him after that." All Might buried his face in his hands in shame and grief. He truly did believe he was the reason for Izuku's disappearance.
Naomasa blinked and had a pitiful look on his face. Whether the look of pity was for All Might or Izuku, that was something nobody knew. After a brief moment of silence, All Might spoke again.
"Did I do the right thing? Tell me the truth, Naomasa. Give me something to work with here." said All Might who was clearly upset and low.
Naomasa gulped. "I..You.." then he sighed a shook his head. "Toshi, you did the right thing as you had good intentions and didn't want him hurt but you did it harshly and you were quite wrong. Quirkless people are not useless or weak by nature. It is their actions that determine their strength. I'm sure you remember where you came from." All Might looked away as he remembered how he used to get bullied for his lack of quirk.
"You always know what to say, huh, Naomasa. Thank you. I will apologise to him next time I see Faceless." said All Might. Naomasa scoffed.
"You know, it's nice and all to get hopeful but there isn't any confirmation of Faceless' identity. But yeah, you can try." said Naomasa. His gaze then got serious again.
"W-What is it?" worryingly asked All Might. He had a gut feeling that the next piece of news wasn't going to be good.
Naomasa cleared his throat. "I heard of Faceless from a secondary source, a thug. The thug told me that because Faceless was provoked by his friends, they got..killed. Please keep in mind, that those three deceased thugs were grown adults and had dangerous quirks. They were single handedly slaughtered by Faceless."
All Might's eyes widened so big that they looked as though they might jump out of their sockets. His mouth went dry and emitted incoherent croaky noises form it. His hands and body as a whole were still as ice.
"Killed?" shouted All Might, standing up from his seat. "Killed, did you say? Naomasa, you're kidding. Are we entirely sure that a quirkless, small 15 year old boy KILLED three grown quirk-armed men? Alone? Haha..I've seen it all now." All Might was frantically rubbing his mouth and looked really angry with himself. As if he was directly responsible for the murders.
"Those three killed thugs will make the whole 'saving Faceless' idea harder. The world isn't pretty, Toshinori. I want to help Faceless as much as the next guy does, but let's be realistic. Faceless is an SS rated villain who has matched your speed, is responsible for three deceased people, is with the League and has severely damaged one of 1-A's students. The string of redemption for the youth can only go on for so long before it snaps and he ends up in Tartarus." said Naomasa sorrowfully. All Might calmed down a bit before speaking again.
"I still can't believe it! He is the age of our students, for Christ sake! What messed him up this bad- no, WHO messed him up this bad? I will never forgive them." said All Might clenching his fists. He just couldn't understand it.
"Well, I can't understand it either but I would like to see him again soon. Maybe talk to him." Naomasa said.
"That's a bit naive, Naomasa." laughed All Might.
"Maybe so, but look who's talking." replied Naomasa. They laughed off the subject because they didn't believe it would happen. They were quite incorrect.
"Midoriya, you're going to meet with Sensei now."
Izuku's heart beated nineteen to the dozen just as he was typing out some documents. It was early evening and the first thing he hears is seeing Sensei? Sensei's presence is prominent enough through a monitor, but seeing him? That was a different story.
"I wonder what he wants." thought Izuku. He was more than scared as to what he would see or hear when meeting Sensei, but regardless, he got up and went through the portal in his room.
When Izuku arrived, he first heard the sound of heart monitors and the humming of different machinery. Then he looked around. He couldn't see much due to the lack of light but he walked forward.
"Midoriya, thank you for coming to see me." boomed a commanding voice. The second that voice spoke, it was as if gravity weighed down Izuku as he dropped to his knees and his eyes widened in fear. His skin went pale and he couldn't utter a word.
"Shit. That's..Sensei's voice." Izuku had never been so scared in his life and he would give anything in the world to run out of the room and never return. Then, the chair spun around slowly and Izuku's eyes matched the speed of he it to see who it was behind the chair in curiosity. But he knew. He knew Sensei was behind that chair but he wished and wished and hoped and hoped that it would just be anyone else. He was already scared of his voice, but seeing him would kill him.
"I look quite hideous at the moment, Midoriya. I'm sure you know why." said Sensei. His 'face' was exposed. Izuku's mouth widened along with his eyes and his seat was cold. Izuku saw that Sensei didn't have any facial features except from a mouth. That face killed his parents and he never stopped thinking about them. He even had dreams about them. Sensei had contorted tissue on his face and he had a malicious grin. For a second, Izuku couldn't even breathe.
"My, my. You're being a bit melodramatic but it is to be expected, considering your past. However, I'd like to quicken up the pace of our conversation. Get up." demanded Sensei.
Izuku, who had no strength in his muscles, somehow found the energy to get up. It was like Sensei was controlling him like a marionette.
"Am I in trouble? This aura...so damn deadly.. it's so suffocating..but I will have to get used to it." thought Izuku.
"I bet you think you are in trouble. You are not. In fact, it is the opposite." said Sensei. That made Izuku relax a bit more, though he was still afraid.
"I'm offering you a quirk."
"Eh?"
Izuku knew about Sensei's quirk about how he could give and take quirks but he never expecting this. He thought about it. It was his dream to get a quirk since he was a kid, he idolised quirks and analysed them like they were the bible. He used to love them so much. Yet..yet he just didn't have the same desire for them anymore. He was already strong enough to fight off quirk users so he felt no need for it.
"S-Sensei.." croaked out Izuku it was the first time in months since Izuku had stuttered. "I am truly grateful a-and honored for the offer. However, I don't want one and I feel as though I don't need one."
"I see. Why is that?" Sensei asked.
Izuku then spoke with disgust and confidence. "Because if I do accept the quirk, I feel as though I am succumbing to the superficial ideal of this unfair world. I am even stronger than most quirk users, thanks to the aid and guidance of yourself and Tezobi."
"He really is an interesting boy." thought Sensei.
Sensei then chuckled. That sent a shiver down Izuku's spine.
"I understand and I respect your choice. The offer is still up, though." And with that a black portal opened up to leave and Izuku stood in it and left. He felt very relieved to leave, but that free feeling had dispersed when he went to the bar to see Tomura clutching his shoulder in pain. Tezobi just shook her head in disappointment.
"You deserved that, Tomura. Lord, you just keep stacking up our enemies." said Tezobi.
"Kurogiri, please explain what the fuck happened." said Izuku.
"Samurai bastard…" growled Tomura. He held his shoulder. "I'll fucking kill him!"
"Midoriya, Tomura was trying to form an alliance with Stain and their ideals clashed and Tomura became aggressive, only to get stabbed in the shoulder." explained Kurogiri.
Izuku just shook his head and rolled his eyes. Then he suddenly remembered his Hosu dream that happened twice.
"Kurogiri...I want to destroy all of Hosu because of that Stain bastard..He will not get away with stabbing me in the damn shoulder!" snapped Tomura angrily as he stood up.
"Sensei, give me your strength.." Tomura said. Sensei replied through the monitor saying,
"Smart decision, Tomura Shigaraki. They will be there waiting for you."
"Then, lets go." Kurogiri replied and sent Izuku his clothes through a portal. Izuku quickly changed near the bar's sofa and was ready to go.
They quickly arrived in Hosu in an alley because of Kurogiri's quirk.
Tomura laughed in sadism.
"Let's cause great chaos, everyone." said Tomura. Then, Tezobi killed numerous thugs and nuisances in her way somewhere else, while three Nomu roamed about causing destruction everywhere it went. Within minutes, cars were flipped over, building were falling, fires were breaking out, people were screaming. Complete and utter hell. Izuku jumped up onto a roof squatting, to observe the happenings but then somebody tried to sneak behind him and strangle him. He swiftly drew his sword and slashes his throat without even looking at the person he killed. Some blood got on his mask, but he then wiped it off so it was clean again. He didn't like how it got dirty so easily.
"How boring. I could have slept during this time.." thought Izuku and he rested his hands on his cheek innocently. He looked around and saw that Ingenium was walking up to Stain, who was about to kill Native. Izuku decided he would get a good view from the roof and told himself he wouldn't interfere unless he helt it as necessary. It wasn't his business.
Tenya Iida walked up to Stain with confidence and rage in his eyes. He was so blinded by rage, he failed to see the injured hero in front of him.
"Hero Killer! You villainous vagabond!" shouted Iida to Stain who turned to face him.
"You, get out. I'm not here to kill dumb brats." replied Stain in an irritated tone. This angered Iida.
"You left my brother, Iida Tensei, unable to walk or use his quirk ever again! You are evil and I'm here to get revenge for what you did!" shouted Iida. Stain was disgusted.
"You are the reason I kill these fake heroes. A hero out for revenge? That doesn't and shouldn't exist but look at yourself, here to kill someone." Iida's eyes widened in realisation and fear. "And would you look at that! You were so selfish and indulged in hatred that you didn't even think to help the hero before you."
Iida glanced at Native and was saddened and angered with himself that he didn't think to help the hero. Stain inched closer to Iida and raised his blade near his throat.
"I-"
"Don't worry, though. You will be a good sacrifice to this world of corrupted heros, who flaunt their wealth and popularity."
"The difference in skill is too great. Well, show's over." thought Izuku, who then jumped down gracefully from where he was sitting on the roof to stop Stain's blade from killing Iida.
"You.." said Iida in shock. "You're.."
"This might be the guy that Bakugou was ranting about all day…" thought Iida.
"Faceless...you scum. You're with the League, aren't you?" spat Stain with venom. He moved his blade from Iida's throat and pointed it towards Izuku. Izuku, was unfazed but kept up his guard.
"The League? Then..why did he save me..? It doesn't make sense.." thought Iida. Native was confused at what was happening. Stain's quirk had worn off from Native but he was still frozen in place.
"I will kill you too, since you delayed my crusade." said Stain as he slashed his own blade near Izuku's face. Izuku was quicker and he dodged the blade and cut Stain's stomach, but not enough to kill him. Stain was stunned that somebody could even land a scratch on him while he couldn't do anything to stop Izuku.
"To think he tried to kill an ignorant kid like that..disgusting.." thought Izuku. He was not interested in killing Stain, but he would do what he had to. Just because Izuku was somewhat cold-hearted and indifferent did not mean eh killed the ignorant and good-doers. Izuku carried on landing slashes from his sword onto Stain's body as quick as lightning and didn't give Stain any chance to dodge. He didn't hit any vital areas, though.
"What the hell is this guy's quirk..fuck. It's so annoying that I can't even land a dent on him.." thought Stain. Iida thought that the way Izuku used his blade was magical and the way his haired flowed with his movements was hypnotizing. Native was very interested but terrified of Izuku's movements.
"Faceless.." they both whispered. Izuku was starting to lose interest in playing with Stain.
So, he knocked Stain unconscious, but not dead. He placed him beside Native, who looked like he had just witnessed something that would scare the devil.
Izuku walked up to Iida, who was shaking in fear and angst.
"Learn from this." was all Izuku said before jumping up from the alley way to meet up with Kurogiri and Tomura. The police, Naomasa, Aizawa and All Might met with Native and Iida to check on their well being. Aizawa was purely furious with Iida and gave him a scary scolding.
Iida continued to bow his head and said the occasional 'yes'. Native and Iida were told they would need to give accounts on what happened and who did this to them and they did. Iida told some of it and Native gave his own bits of the story and they both finished telling it within a matter of minutes. They forgot to give the name of the villain who did the damage to Stain.
"Is Stain okay?" asked Aizawa from a distance. All Might was confused to how Stain was rendered unconscious on the floor.
"I thought he was the one who attacked Iida and Native initially, but now I'm sure it's someone else." suggested Naomasa. All Might and Naomasa nodded in agreement, along with other policemen.
"But look at the wounds on Stain, though. Who would be able to do this damage to the damn Hero-Killer? They must be extremely quick." said Aizawa with a confused look.
"U-Uhm, Mr. Aizawa..Stain said his name was 'Faceless' a few moments before they fought. Faceless didn't talk at all during the fight and even before the fight. All he said to me was 'Learn from this'." said Iida. Naomasa and All Might exchanged looks of despair and hope. Faceless was in Hosu.
Many policemen gasped at the news as they kept hearing of Faceless' name all the time. Everyone was quite curious.
"Learn from this? Isn't he a villain? He has quite the nerve." commented Aizawa to All Might.
"Maybe..but he saved Iida. " All might replied.
"Well, we lucked out didn't we. It's nice to know he is still a merciful human being under all that villainous costume." said Naomasa. All Might, Aizawa and Naomasa dashed towards where a huge fire was, in hopes of finding Faceless and speaking with him.
"Faceless..Are you Izuku Midoriya..?" thought Naomasa. He was getting quite hopeful but knew it was stupid to get his hopes up. All three of the heroes arrived at the scene and looked around, only to see the same three villains about to step into a portal. Izuku was the last to try and get in.
"Here goes nothing.." thought All Might.
"Izuku!" he shouted so that Faceless could hear him and he did. When Izuku heard his name being called out he flinched. It had been so long since somebody called him by his name. He turned his head to where the voice came from. Izuku saw it came from All Might and his blood started pumping with anger. He froze and didn't attack All Might because it wouldn't be good for the League in the long run, instead, his murderous aura increased. This caused the police Aizawa to narrow his eyes in slight nervousness, something that rarely happened.
"Come back to us, Izuku! You don't have to keep suffering, damnit!" shouted Naomasa. He knew about the boy's life from his files and knew how melancholic he was.
"Save me, huh. You're a bit late, Detective.." thought Izuku. It was true. He didn't have anything to live for, until the League brought him in. They saw potential in him and understood his hardships, something nobody else did. But he didn't particularly have a desire to be there. He honestly didn't want to be anywhere. His heart ached for simplicity and undisturbed tranquility.
"It's not that simple." was all Izuku replied with before stepping into the portal. Naomasa, Aizawa and All Might were now in the midst of a chaotic scene of fear and destruction. Aizawa couldn't help but notice the sorrow and despair in Izuku's voice. It wasn't like he was being held captive or being forced..nor was it a cry for help. It sounded like a person who just didn't care anymore.
"Something is up..there's something I'm not being told about this boy." thought Aizawa.
"You both have explaining to do tomorrow." said Aizawa in a curious and annoyed voice. He left to help Native and Iida.
"I guess now we know..we now know..our suspicions are confirmed. Toshinori.." quietly said Naomasa.
All Might just dropped to his knees and looked up to the sky.
"What I would give for time travel..the things I would give to save you, Young Midoriya..."