"Just give up already; you know you're never going to beat me at this game." Tomura sighed as Izuku looked at him with a giant grin on his face.

"But if I did that, you'd get mad that I didn't challenge you!"

The villain clicked his tongue in annoyance as he restarted the fighting game. They would always be neck-and-neck, right up to the end, before Tomura would pull one over the green-haired kid.

"So what did you do in school today?"

"Hmm... nothing really. We were told to think about our hero names. And we have to submit our final decision for our field internships."

"Are you going to stick with Endeavor?"

"Yeah... I mean, I'm practically obligated to. That being said, if I can get an opportunity to get into his computer systems like we did with Sir Nighteye, we may get some good intel!"

"Then what about your hero name?"

"...I dunno. I'll have to think of something. I don't want it to be too aggressive. After all, heroes are supposed to inspire hope, right?"

Tomura hummed in response.

"Player One wins!" The saccharine announcer called out. Tomura always insisted on being 'Player One,' though Izuku never minded that.

"Oh, come on! You know I will beat you one day. Just you wait!"

"In your dreams."

Tomura moved to restart the game once more, but froze at the familiar sound of the Sensei's monitor flickering to life.

"Greetings Tomura, Izuku." Sensei nodded.

Izuku jumped to his feet.

"So it seems our prodigious Yuuei student is going to begin his internship... and that means Stain is finally going to play his piece for us. You both will help him." There was a pause as Sensei shifted in his seat. "Now, Izuku... if you don't mind, we need to have a private conversation."

The people's awe from sports festival wore out quickly enough. After a few days, no one called him out on the train like they had before. The congratulations ceased and the hum-drum ride to school became the same monotonous journey it had always been.

Izuku caught the early train, and as a result arrived at school before any of his peers. He didn't have to wait long, though. Iida was only minutes behind the boy. He walked into the classroom, silently nodding; his boisterous greeting noticeably absent.

Izuku opened his mouth to say something to the class representative, but closed it as he heard the familiar voices of his classmates nearing. The words he wanted to say would have to wait.

The other students poured through the doors, everyone murmuring as they hinted at their prospective hero names. Bakugou seemed moody, as usual. Mineta was positively radiant that day. Izuku learned why thanks to the boy's proud gloating: not only had he found the perfect hero name for himself, but learned an internship option included the opportunity to work for Mount Lady herself.

Aizawa strode through the door, Midnight in tow.

"All right, you were warned this day was going to come. I don't have much to say that I haven't said already; today, you will be selecting your first hero name. Midnight will be observing the naming process and will have veto power over your choices. Anyone who has not turned in their internship applications, and you know who you are, I expect your completed forms turned in by the end of the day. When you leave class, make sure you take your costume with you. Now, unless any of you have questions, homeroom is dismissed."

Aizawa turned to leave, lightly tapping Midnight on the shoulder as he did so. True to her character, she smirked as she pushed her glasses up. She cracked her whip, emphasizing her excitement.

"Now," Midnight began, "Aizawa isn't exactly the type of teacher to go over the fine details with his students, so allow me to fill in the gaps; for those of you who have not decided on your hero names, you have fifteen minutes to make one up. Afterwards, you will present them to the class. I will obviously have veto power over the names should you make one that is... unsavory. Your time begins now!"

Izuku hunched over in his seat, pulling his notebook close as he began scribbling names down. He was frustrated at the lack of a choice that screamed "Midoriya Izuku, the Hero!"; he already had a villain name, and it encapsulated him perfectly. How could he ever hope to find a match for that? He stared at the list again.

'Too aggressive. Too cutesy. Hard to pronounce. Doesn't say a thing about me.'

As he looked at the bottom of his list, he stared in half-surprise: he had been subconsciously writing while ruminating over the names. Some words were just chicken scratch, but there was one that was just written was clear as day:

Deku.

He snorted at the notion. Sure, it would pull one over Katsuki, and he could easily find some way of making it into something more meaningful... but...

It still hurt.

He envisioned a kid calling him that name in joy. A streak of panic rushed through his chest as he began thinking back to everything that name came with. The bruises, scars... burns...

He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on his present state. 'Deku' was no good.

He looked at the clock. Less than a minute remaining. His gaze returned to the list. He quickly marked the ones that were the worst (starting with Deku), then worked his way back. It wasn't long before he settled on one final name. It wasn't very special, and it didn't evoke any powerful imagery... but it would do.

"Time's up, everyone!" Midnight called. "Now, do we have some brave volunteers who would like to share their names with us?"

Mineta was the first to jump to his feet. He practically skipped to the front of the classroom.

"I will be... The Freshly Plucked Hero: Grape Juice!"

No one seemed particularly surprised at the choice of name, but it suited him well. Midnight congratulated him for his optimism and creativity as the boy returned to his seat.

Most of the class went up one-by-one, most of them getting their names accepted on the first pass. Mina was sent back, since her name "Alien Queen" was considered both too frightening and a possible copyright infringement. Bakugou slapped "King Explosion Murder" down on the podium, which was just as quickly slapped down by Midnight and half the class.

Ochako was slightly nervous as she revealed "Uravity" to the class. Izuku made a concerted effort to smile, giving a light applause as he praised the her creativity. She visibly relaxed after the compliments.

Iida was even more stilted than usual when he walked up to the front and quietly revealed his own name. Izuku was surprised by his choice to not take up his brother's name; the looks of his classmates suggested they had similar thoughts.

"Are you sure you want to just use your name?" Midnight asked, placing a finger delicately on her lip. "It'll make having a private life much more difficult, from both the press and villains."

The boy shook his head. "I've made my decision. Furthermore, it wouldn't be the first time villains knew our name."

Silence loomed over the class as the boy sat back down at his desk.

"Well, it seems we saved Midoriya for last!" Midnight declared over the whispers of his classmates, looking for a way to stifle the unpleasant mood. "Please come up and show us your name!"

Izuku swallowed as he stood at the podium. Many of the class members stared at him in silence. Tenya was giving him a harsh stare, but once the boy with the engine quirk realized they had made eye contact, his glare softened. Izuku walked behind the podium, and to his expectant classmates pulled up the whiteboard showing his hero name.

Midorikaze. Greenwind.

"Well," Midnight commented, "improper grammar aside, it does roll rather nicely off the tongue. I'll allow it!"

Izuku nodded, smiling at his satisfied peers. He walked back to his seat.

"Alright, Bakugou!" The pro hero called out. "Have you thought of a new name?"

The blond sauntered up to the front, before showing his board for a second time.

Lord Explosion Murder.

"That's basically the same thing!" Midnight slapped her own face. "Alright, I'm vetoing that one as well! You're going to officially be registered as Bakugou Katsuki."

He snorted at the teacher's declaration.

"Come on, you're smarter than this." Izuku muttered under his breath.

When lunch break was called, Iida sauntered out the door. Izuku rushed to catch the boy's arm.

"Hey, Iida. Let's go to the roof." Izuku calmly suggested.

"I'm sorry, Midoriya. I don't feel like-"

The grip on his arm tightened. "Come on. We need to have a chat."

Tenya relented, silently following Izuku up the stairwell. When they got to the roof, the green haired boy was relieved to see that the other Yuuei students who spent their time here had yet to get their lunch from the cafeteria. It was just him and his friend.

The door closed itself behind them and they stared at each other in awkward silence. The boy with glasses was the first to speak.

"I know you must be worried about me, because of the attack on my brother." He blankly stated. "I assure you, Midoriya, that I'm-"

"You're going to choose Hosu City Hero Office as your field training location, aren't you?"

The words froze in Iida's throat. Izuku had phrased his words as a fact, not a question.

Izuku continued. "That's what I thought. I know that Hosu was where your brother was injured by Stain, or at the very least someone claiming to be him. Do you intend to go after him?"

Iida turned around to leave, but Izuku grabbed his arm once more.

"Just answer me, Iida."

"It's none of your business. I will deal with my problems myself." He tugged himself free, walking to the door.

"I don't plan on stopping you."

Tenya froze in his tracks, his hand hovering just above the door knob.

"What? Why?"

"Because... well, if he attacked my family, I would lose it. I wouldn't rest until Stain was little more than a beaten pulp on the floor. And you feel the same, don't you?"

Iida turned back around, staring straight at Izuku. "I... I do. I wasn't expecting any of my friends to feel the same."

Izuku walked over to the boy, putting his hand on his shoulder and rubbing it comfortingly. "You just want to protect the ones you love the most, right? Any true friend could see that. Now, I won't say this in public, but... I hope you find him. He needs to be taught a lesson on what happens when you mess with family."

Izuku could see the flames of anger rise in Iida's eyes. It wasn't aimed at him, of course, but in this one moment he could see the full extent of the boy's rage. Izuku gave him a friendly smile.

"Now, let's get lunch. You won't be able to get the Hero Killer on an empty stomach."

"So, where do you intend to work for your week in field training, Hagakure?" Sensei asked the invisible girl standing before him.

She extended her arm out, acting as if she was inspecting the back of her hand.

"Mount Lady. I doubt she'll care if I'm really there or not."

"She won't, I assure you. I'll intercept the letter confirming your choice once it's sent out to her. Once your week is over, the necessary reports will be forged for you."

The invisible girl sighed. "What, do you plan on having me do something else?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Sensei shifted slightly in his seat. "It seems young Midoriya managed to land himself a spot in Endeavor's office. That will provide us with plenty of opportunities to gather intel on him, as well his underlings. You will be considered on-call, in case he requests your assistance."

"I thought you were going to have me do something interesting." She folded her arms. "If I'm just going to follow Tomura's lapdog around, then I'm going to be bored out of my mind."

"Do not worry about that, Touru." Sensei chided. "There will be plenty of opportunities for you to exercise."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Well, it appears that both you and Midoriya will be busy during your week. I've come across some interesting information while going through the deluge of Sir Nighteye's communications. I doubt that he realizes that the Hero Network is not as secure as he thinks it is; not to mention his conservative nature with the use of his quirk has clouded his judgement."

Sensei pulled a file from his desk, sliding it towards the girl. She approached the desk, took the file, and opened it.

"Is this an assassination target?"

"Yes. While you are more skilled in the art of deception, Izuku will be invaluable in the disposal of this troublesome asset. You are to work together in taking this particular individual out."

"Fine." She sighed. "I understand why you want us both on this guy. Taking him out won't be easy."

"I appreciate your honesty with me, Touru. In light of that, would you be so kind as to elaborate on your disdain for Midoriya?"

"The brat is smart, I'll give him that. I slipped up for one moment, and it was enough for him to catch on. That being said... he's a terrible spy. He's got much of the class on his side, but he is consistently in the spotlight. When he fights, he uses his full set of skills, and if the teachers were any more attentive they'd notice that he should have been trained. He's gotten by because everyone likes to tiptoe around him because of his past. If he acts like he did during the Sports Festival again, he'll be caught."

Sensei hummed at her appraisal. "I see. I have to agree with much of what you said. I shall consider pulling him out of Yuuei in the future. But for now, he will remain."

"Alright, but he needs to get out soon. He's not going to last acting the hero."

Izuku made it home with little fanfare. The lights were off; his mother had not made it home from work yet. He rushed to his room, dropping his bag by the door and throwing himself on the bed. He pulled his gaming system out from under the pillow: it had become much more beaten up over the years, but it was proving to be indestructible.

He reached under his bed, pulling out a large container filled to the brim with cartridges. He had collected quite a number of them since he first got it, to the point that he couldn't remember which ones he had and which ones he had yet to buy. As his hand reached into the large pile of games, he felt his active consciousness slip away. It didn't matter which one he picked, he could play it without even realizing which game was the one he chose.

Izuku wasn't sure how much time had passed, but his attention snapped back to reality as he heard the front door open and close. He shut off the game, walking back out to the hallway with a smile plastered on his face.

"Hi, Mom!" He greeted his stout, green haired mother.

"Hey, sweetie!" She smiled back. "I'm surprised you're home this early, you're usually out with your friends."

"Well, I've got to prepare for my internship. I'm going to work for Endeavor, starting Monday."

"So that's what you chose? Well, he is the highest-ranked hero... Will you be working with his son? He's in your class, right?"

Izuku shrugged. "Yeah, he's my classmate. I don't know if he'll be working with me, to be honest. We don't talk much."

"Well, if you do, I hope you two become good friends!"

"Yeah, we might." The boy mused. His gaze wandered to a large paper bag behind his mother's back. "What's that?"

"Well, since you went through the effort of getting a medal, I thought I would splurge a little..." She smiled, holding the bag out for her son.

Izuku grabbed the bag, surprised at the weight. He pulled out the contents, eyes widening.

"I got you a glass case for your medal! Now you can show it off in your room."

He smiled affectionately at his mom. "Thanks! I'll set it up now."

"Alright! I'll go ahead and start dinner now. I have all the ingredients for oden!"

The two split up. Izuku spent his time assembling his new case, pulling the medal out of his desk drawer to drop it on the stand inside the glass box. Once it was finished, he brought it out and placed it on top of the mantle in the living room, next to some family pictures.

His mom was still working on supper, happily humming in the kitchen. Izuku decided to spend the rest of the time watching the news, his notebook out and ready for any new notes. It had been a while since he wrote down anything, if only because the news stories didn't really show much if it wasn't a live story, and Yuuei had kept him too busy to go to fights in person.

He sighed as he watched the broadcast. It was focused on the rumors of Stain's arrival and the hospitalization of Ingenium. What little footage they had of heroes was clipped down to only a few seconds, and none of it yielded any discernable information about how they operated. Annoyed, he tossed his notebook aside as he shifted on the couch to lie down. Staying at home was boring compared to Kurogiri's bar, but he promised that he wouldn't do anything suspicious while on his field study, unless he was asked to. If that meant being bored at home, then he would just have to put up with it for now.

"Sweetie, dinner's ready!"

Izuku hopped off the couch, the delicious smell of the oden filling the hallway. His mother was already sitting at the kitchen table, a bowl of the soup already poured for the both of them.

"I finished the case; the medal is in the living room now." He told her.

She nodded and smiled. Izuku sat down, happily exclaiming "Let's eat!"

The two of them were silent for a while. Izuku bit into his takarabukuro, feeling the broth run down his chin. He noticed his mom would occasionally flash her eyes up to him, only to bat them away immediately. He swallowed.

"Is something wrong, mom?"

"Well, no..." She trailed off. "...I'm just thinking back to the sports festival."

"Oh? Are you still worried? I'm sorry for making you faint so much!"

"No, no! That's not the problem, dear. It's just... well, I didn't realize that the hero course was that violent! You- There was a lot of vicious fighting in the field."

Izuku put his spoon down. "Mom, what are you saying?"

"I'm just concerned about your future, Izuku. I mean, you're going to work for Endeavor, and just a week ago you fought his son! You even threw a chunk of ice right at his head. I was worried he was going to have a concussion from that, when I saw you threw hard enough to draw blood."

"I was just doing what I had to do to win, mom." Izuku gripped his pants under the table.

She sighed. She looked like she had more to say, but she cut herself off. "You're right, sweetie. Forget I said anything about it. I'm proud you got first place."

Izuku nodded, before he dug back into his meal.

Monday rolled around too quickly. Izuku left for Endeavor's office, his suitcase with his costume in-tow. It was significantly heavier than he remembered.

The train itself was nearly empty. While he told Inko that Endeavor had many offices throughout the entirety of Japan, he neglected to mention that he was specifically told to report to his Hosu office. It was clear from the start why he would chose that location: it was the same reason he didn't tell his mom. The hunt for Stain was on.

The train slowed to a stop, with only one person boarding. Izuku's eyes widened as he recognized who it was.

"Hey, Iida!"

Iida's head snapped around. His eyes were clearly bloodshot and baggy. He quietly walked over to where the green haired boy was sitting, taking a seat next to him.

"Greetings, Midoriya. I take it you're going to Hosu as well?"

"Yeah. Are you still...?"

Tenya looked down at him. The rage he witnessed boiling beneath the skin of the student a few days ago had not left; if anything, it had amplified.

"I am."

Izuku nodded. "Well, I won't stand in your way. But knowing Endeavor..."

The normally uptight student closed his eyes. "I understand. I won't be happy, but I am glad that you are honest with me. And Midoriya?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you. Normally, someone would be doing their best to dissuade me, but you accept my feelings for what they are. Not many people would have the ability to do that, even in private."

Izuku shook his head, smiling. "Don't worry, Iida. If I didn't do that for you, I couldn't really call you my friend, now could I?"

"...No, I guess you couldn't." He concluded.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Izuku reached his stop first, bidding farewell to his peer with the budding vengeance in his heart.

Izuku wasn't sure what to expect when he reached his mentor's office, but he surely didn't expect it to be so... business-like. The building itself was unmarked, but when he approached the doors slid open automatically. A secretary was hard at work in the lobby, typing down something in a short hand he couldn't decipher. When she finally noticed the boy, she curtly barked: "He's waiting for you in the main office. Take the elevator to the top floor."

The boy bowed before following her instructions. When he finally stepped out from the elevator, he was greeted by a small antechamber that consisted of a few tables and some chairs. At the end stood a large door, made of some thick wood. Whereas Nedzu's door inspired comfort, this one loomed over Izuku, filling him with a sense of dread.

He gulped, then rapped his hands against the door before opening it slowly. It opened up to reveal a rather large room, devoid of any sort of embellishments. A single table with four chairs sat in the middle of the room, and beyond that lied a desk with a workstation computer on it. Sitting behind the desk was Endeavor, looking as calm but threatening as ever.

"Well, it seems at least someone has some backbone." He grunted. "I take it that the trip was uneventful, Midoriya Izuku?"

"Yes, Endeavor."

"That is good." He extended his hand outward. "I hope this internship experience proves invaluable for you."

Izuku grabbed the offered hand, shaking it. "I hope so, too. Thanks for-"

His words were cut off as the grip on his hand tightened. Endeavor yanked the boy forward, grabbing his shoulder with an iron grip. Before Izuku even realized it, he was face down on the desk, his arm twisted behind his back.

"I forgot to mention, we begin the day with physical exercise and combat training." He relinquished his grip on the boy. Izuku scrambled off the desk, but calmed down as he realized Endeavor didn't actually hurt him.

"Get your outfit on." Endeavor barked. "After that, report to the third floor gymnasium."

The pro hero left promptly afterwards. Izuku grabbed his briefcase, setting it on the table and opening it. A note was neatly settled on top of the costume.

We're sure that a homemade costume was something you valued, but the support department concluded that it was inappropriate for hero work. We've revamped your loadout and designed it to benefit both your combat and maneuvering abilities. We've included a manual that details your new outfit's specifications.

Izuku pulled his main jumpsuit out of the container. It was a darker shade of green, and the material was a lot... stiffer and heavier than he was used to. He realized why as he put it on: there was some sort of metal padding layered around his abdomen and thighs. Similar, but lighter padding protected his arms and calves, though it was absent from his joints to improve mobility. Upon closer inspection, he saw that there was a set of very small metal fins that started on his shoulder blades and ended on the sides of his waist. He looked back at his case and noticed a larger stack of papers at the bottom. He picked it up, glossing over the manual.

The main piece, the jumpsuit, has been retrofitted with shock absorbing padding, along with a secondary layer of impact resistant metal. It should prove useful in both combat situations and when you use your quirk to maneuver in the air. Using your quirk for movement left you with serious contusions in both the sports festival as well as the entrance exam. This can now be mitigated, though it should be noted you may have to use extra power to move with the same speed and mobility due to the added weight. In addition, we have added small apparatuses to the back of the outfit, which can be used to facilitate a corkscrew motion when flying through the air. Simply use a single implosion between a single fin and your back to spin through the air in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion.

Keep in mind your points of weakness: should any of the metal pieces in your outfit rupture, we advise shedding the outfit as soon as possible to avoid puncturing yourself. Also, your joints may be considered weak spots in your armor.

Izuku nodded at the instructions, setting them aside as he began assembling the rest of his outfit. His gloves were white, but he noted that the backs of his hands were padded with more metal. He pulled out his shoes, which were still red. He tapped his fingers on the front of the shoes, and noted they were steel toed. A quick glance at the manual confirmed this observation.

He pulled out his headpiece, and looked at it curiously. It certainly was different that what he expected. It came in two pieces, which were like two halves of a strange helmet split down the middle. He noted that it extended far beyond the head, down to the base of his neck. A metal mouthpiece extended the bottom half of his face. There was a visor, but it was extended backwards, likely to avoid restricting his vision. Two pieces of metal extended out from the top, curving along the same arc as the helmet. Izuku pushed both pieces onto his face. As they clicked together, he felt a soft material expand around his head and neck. He moved his head around, noting that he could still turn his neck.

Finally, the helmet is probably the most complex piece of equipment available to you. Once it is assembled, a soft foam material expands to mould to the shape of your head. This material is extremely flexible and will absorb most heavy impacts. As a result, repeated use of your quirk to move around will not cause unnecessary concussions or other head trauma. Please note there is no hard covering over the material covering your neck, which will allow you to move it with little resistance.

The mouthpiece and visor are designed to be permanent fixtures, however a spring system is in place, which will pop the pieces off if they are damaged. The mouthpiece includes a passive filter that will scrub most gasses. We've also integrated a microphone and speaker that will prevent the helmet from muffling your voice. We've included a small set of "ears" on the back of your helmet, designed to press into your head while flying to give you a rough indication of wind speed and direction.

There are two main weaknesses with your helmet; firstly, the neck, when turned, while stretch the shock absorbing material, making it less effective. The neck area will also be vulnerable to blades or other piercing weapons, though not to the degree that your joints are. In addition, it can take up to one second between significant damage to the visor and the spring system kicking in to remove it automatically. Your vision may be obscured during that time.

Izuku furrowed his brow. "A full second of blindness is a pretty glaring weakness... Ah. I shouldn't keep Endeavor waiting."

He hurried over to the elevator, entering pressing the button for the third floor. When the doors reopened he had to keep his mouth from dropping to the ground.

To say that the gymnasium "was on the third floor" was a little disingenuous. The truth was that the ceiling opened up at least three or four stories above his head, with each opening to the elevator shaft above him leading to a small observation deck. No one was there at the moment. The gym itself was entirely hardwood, with equipment and machinery lined up neatly along the walls. The central area was wide open, and in the middle stood the flaming pro hero.

"Your outfit looks... adequate. In the future I expect you to get in on as soon as possible."

Izuku nodded.

"For now we're going to establish a baseline for your performance. Stay right where you are, beside the elevator." Endeavor stepped to the side, clearing a path for the boy. "Now, I want you to get to the other side of the room as quickly as possible. Begin!"

The green haired boy crouched low, gathering his focus as he began compressing the air around him. He noticed his mouthpiece allowed him to continue breathing, despite the lack of air around his body. Within a few seconds, he had concentrated enough air that the resulting bomb was comparable to the one he used in the entrance exam. He jumped and released the bomb. He felt his body rush forward as he was flung from one end of the room to the other. He collided with the wall, leaving a small crater as he fell to the ground, landing on his feet with all but the grace of a cat.

Endeavor snorted. "You need work on your speed and fine control over your quirk. Heroes like you won't last if you leave holes wherever you go."

Izuku performed a quick one-over of his body. The shock absorbing material was doing its job. He didn't feel any sort of pain from both the shockwave or the impact.

"Now, hit me as hard as you can. If you can use your quirk to augment your attack, do it."

He was caught slightly off guard by the demand, but complied nevertheless. He launched himself once more towards the pro hero, foot outstretched as he spun in a mid-air roundhouse kick. Endeavor didn't make any move to dodge.

Whatever thoughts were going through Izuku's head froze as soon as his body did. It took a moment to process what had happened, though it all became clear as his mind registered his foot, an inch away from Endeavor's chest, held tightly in the large man's hands. By the time he realized that, he was spinning through the air, flung wildly by the larger man. He collided with a rack of weights, which dug into his stomach. He resisted the urge to vomit from the jab.

"Pathetic." He sneered. "Your form was horribly off. What were you expecting to accomplish with such a poor attack?"

Izuku grunted as he shakily pushed himself to his feet. He was more preoccupied with using only the techniques he learned in Yuuei, but it was clear that he wasn't as good with the traditional attacks taught at the academy. He could use some of the moves he learned from Kurogiri, but... he promised that he would more effort into hiding his associations with the League of Villains, and that included the training he received. He'd just have to suffer a few bruises from a man who clearly didn't know when to pull his punches.

"I'll do better, next time." Izuku grimaced. "After all, you're here to make sure that I do."

Endeavor hummed in response. Izuku couldn't tell if the expression the man gave was a slight smile or a frown, but it was clear that he pulled some response from the pro hero.

Izuku had once called Kurogiri's training regimen "brutal." He made a mental note to apologize to the bartender once he got back from field training.

At the end of the three-hour hell, Endeavor directed him to the top floor and told him to wait as he went to get something. Izuku was almost afraid to take his helmet off, should the number two hero suddenly launch into another one of his surprise attacks.

Izuku sighed, rubbing out his aching muscles. His head snapped to the door when he heard it open. He was expecting to see the already familiar glare of Endeavor bearing down on him.

Instead, he got the blank stare of the hero's son.

"Ah, Todoroki!" Izuku greeted. "I wasn't expecting you to be here."

The other student gazed back. "Ah, I didn't recognize you, Midoriya. New costume?"

"Yeah."

"It seems..." He trailed off, looking at the many scorch marks along the outfit. "...durable."

The green-haired boy nodded. Before they could say anything further, Endeavor appeared behind the boy standing in the doorframe.

"Ah, it seems you came right on time." Endeavor smiled.

Izuku tilted his head. "But it's about noon. You told me to report to you at 7AM."

"Yes, I did, didn't I?" Endeavor hummed. The conversation was dropped.

The hero walked over to the table, dropping a thickly packed envelope in front of Midoriya.

"This money should prove sufficient for your food allowance for the week. Spend an hour getting lunch, Shouto and I have some... family business to attend to. After that we will patrol the streets, and you will be shown your living quarters at the end of the day."

Izuku nodded, leaving without uttering another word. On the elevator trip down, he opened the envelope and balked at the staggering amount of money inside.

"This is almost two months' rent!"

In the end, Izuku settled on a small fast food restaurant. He wasn't in the mood to get anything expensive, and he needed calorie dense food anyway. He settled on a bowl of rice with beef and egg. He sat in a booth and eagerly wolfed it down, despite the bland taste.

"Izukkun!" A voice from the other side of the table chirped. He nearly jumped out of his skin at the suddenness.

"Hagakure?!" He stifled his voice. He turned his head towards the source of the voice, but of course only saw empty air where the girl should be.

"The one and only." She cheered. "So how is your first day with Shouto's daddy dearest? Is he anything like your other... friends?"

Izuku narrowed his eyes. "He's rough."

"Rougher than Tomura's eyelids?" Izuku choked on his food.

"Watch your mouth!" He angrily whispered.

"Can't, it's invisible. Besides, no one's listening in. You think anyone's going to care here?"

Izuku didn't respond, opting to continue eating his rice bowl.

"Sensei gave us a job. There's a mosquito that needs swatting two days from now."

"He waits until now to tell me this?"

"Well, he just finished compiling all the information we need. And as it turns out, something very special happens in two days, and we need to be done right before that happens."

"I'm aware. He assigned me to take care of that 'special event.'"

"Oh my, you've got quite a busy night ahead of you, then?"

"Don't remind me." He muttered.

A messenger bag floated up above the table, before settling down. It opened up, and a file slid in front of Izuku.

"Here's the person we're going after. Sensei said our cooperation is essential, so please don't let me down!" She laughed.

He opened the file, staring at the large picture that covered the rest of the documents. It was a strange looking boy, with golden hair and a smile that seemed reminiscent of All Might. His eyes were very peculiar, lacking any sort of whites or pupils and instead consisting of giant blue irises. Izuku removed the picture, looking at the file beneath.

Mirio Tougata. Third year Yuuei student, currently interning at Sir Nighteye's Hero Office.

"I remember Sir Nighteye." Izuku mused. "He had a lot of All Might memorabilia in his office. It set me on edge. I didn't see Mirio, though. I think I left before he came back."

"Well that's a relief!" She exclaimed. "He's the number on student at Yuuei, according to his file. If you had met that night I doubt you'd be here right now."

Izuku's food caught in his throat. He didn't consider how dangerous that could have been. And now they're going to attack this person?

"Why... why is Sensei asking us to take care of this problem?"

The paper showing Mirio's face floated upwards, stopping an inch from Izuku's face. The third year's eyes bored into him, almost as if challenging him.

"He's the top candidate to be the next successor. It seems All Might has been dragging his feet on accepting Sir Nighteye's recommendation, which gives us a perfect opportunity to strike before One for All gets its ninth user."

"Why is All Might not passing it down?"

"Well, supposedly he's found someone else that he is considering passing the quirk along to."

"Do we know who that is? I don't feel comfortable leaving someone like that out in the wild."

Izuku heard Hagakure stutter. After a moment, he felt something... pat his head?

"Oh, Izukkun... do me a favor and don't change, okay?"

"I... I don't... what?"

The invisible girl laughed. "Oh, nothing! Don't worry about the other successor, they're already taken care of."

"Oh, okay. So how do you want to tackle this guy, then?"

"Hey, now! I went through all the trouble of getting you the file, and you're going to shift the thinking onto me? This is your specialty, after all!"

Izuku nodded, reading through the very detailed file he was given.

"Lemillion, huh?"

"He was inspired by All Might's debut, and chose the name because he wants to save a million lives by the time his career is over."

Izuku hummed.

"Well, I can see why Sensei wants us to work together." He muttered. "His Permeation quirk is going to be a pain to get past if either of us were working alone, however our chances of success are increased if this becomes a team effort. Direct confrontation is a definite impossibility. It doesn't matter what we throw at him if he just phases through it. Perhaps a more covert operation is needed? Yes, that will definitely ensure the best outcome. But if that's the case, how should we approach?"

He looked back up at where Hagakure should be.

"Does he need to... be gone that same day?"

"Yep! Sensei wants that special event to be used as cover. We don't want them suspecting that we knew he could have been a successor. Ideally it should look like he was an unfortunate victim."

"Hmm... that complicates things. If that is the case, then... I think I have an answer. It's a little risky, but I think we can pull it off. We're going to need a few things from Sensei."

As soon as Izuku re-entered the office, he was promptly ushered out by Endeavor. "Showing how a real hero spends their day" is what he called it. The pro hero walked out of the office, followed by Izuku and Shouto, both in full costume. Izuku noticed that the other student had changed his outfit. Where his entire left side would have been covered in faux ice, he had opted for a jumpsuit that seemed more reminiscent of his father's costume.

Despite his stoic demeanor, Endeavor almost strutted down the streets. He could tell that the pro despised his position as the second-best hero, but at the same time it was a source of pride.

Eventually the group crossed paths with a familiar face: Iida Tenya, tagging along with the hero Manual. Izuku waved slightly to the student, who didn't recognize him for a moment. Eventually Iida realized who it was, returning a smile.

Few words were spoken between the two pros; their personalities certainly didn't mesh. Manual seemed much more preoccupied with the general safety of the populace, while Endeavor had made it clear that he was only here for the Hero Killer. When Stain was brought up, Izuku glanced at Shouto; the boy remained stoic for the most part, but he couldn't hide the small grimace that formed at the corner of his lips. Something was bothering him.

The two groups split up once more, but as he walked away Izuku looked back to Tenya and Manual. The pro hero was facing him, with a stern but calm face. They were too far away to tell what exactly was being said but it wasn't all that hard to guess as to what the subject of their conversation (more of a lecture, really) was about.

They spent the next few hours walking in silence. Neither Todoroki was one for conversation, and that was fine with Izuku.

Eventually, Endeavor got bored with the patrol and herded them back to the office. The sun had sank beyond the horizon long ago, and Izuku underestimated how weary the weight of his uniform made him. They switched back into their civilian outfits. Izuku and Shouto were each given a card key and an address to where they would be staying for the night. Before he left, Endeavor got the boy's phone number and told him that he would answer the phone call no matter where he was or when the pro hero called. Izuku accepted those terms.

As the two boys left the office Shouto pulled Izuku to the side, clearly looking to talk about something.

"Why did you take my father's offer?"

"He's the number two hero, I'd be an idiot not to take him up on his offer."

Shouto didn't move, unconvinced. "You'd be an idiot to take him up on his offer. I told you how he treated me; you think that solo training session was a fluke?"

"Of course not, he made that pretty clear."

"...You're after Stain, aren't you?"

"What?" Izuku gave him an incredulous look. "Shouldn't you be asking Iida that? I'm not after him."

"Well my father is, and you're smart enough to know that. If someone doesn't get to him first, we will be meeting him at some point. Are you prepared for that?"

"About as much as you are."

Todoroki sighed. "Then so be it. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"We're in this together." Izuku rebutted. "If we do meet the Hero Killer, I'll be counting on you and Endeavor."

Shouto nodded, turning around to leave.

"Hey, Todoroki. There's something I wanted to ask you."

He stopped moving. "What is it?"

"What changed? It wasn't long ago that you would have refused to show off your fire side, let alone work for your father."

"...You asked if I really wanted to be a hero before our fight. I'm still trying to find the answer to that question. However, I realized... if I really do want to be a hero, then I can't hold myself back. I can't be chained down to my family forever. During the Sports Festival, you were nothing less than vicious... but you had the resolve that I lacked. I still believe in terms of power, I am stronger than you. But you knew how to use what you were given, and I faltered in the moment. If we meet again during the next festival, I hope I have that same spirit."

Izuku wasn't sure how to respond to that declaration. Todoroki didn't seem to want a response anyway, and they split up.

The boy wasn't sure where Shouto was staying, but it seemed that Endeavor had relegated him to a small business hotel a few blocks away from the office. It wasn't terrible; it was definitely better than a capsule hotel, or (god forbid) a hostel.

He threw his Yuuei suitcase down on the floor as he flung himself on the bed. It was at that moment he heard the worst possible noise.

"Ooooh, doesn't this look all nice and posh, Izukkun!" An invisible girl exclaimed. "Endeavor sure has some taste, doesn't he? Of course, I think you'd enjoy a love hotel much more!"

"Touru!" Izuku moaned in exasperation. "What are you here for? And..." He sat up glaring at here he thought the girl was. "...Why aren't you ever wearing clothes?!"

"I mean, that answer is obvious! I can't wear clothes and sneak around. Just wearing a bag is enough to tip some people off if they pay enough attention. Of course, with your second quirk, you'd know all about scrubbing yourself from people's attention."

He glared back. The girl sighed.

"Oh relax, Izukkun! This place is private and bug-free! We can say whatever we like in here." A chair pulled itself out from the small desk, and it creaked from the invisible weight placed upon it. "Speaking of which... I placed a backdoor into Endeavor's computer while you were out playing heroes. Those USB sticks Sensei gave us really do wonders breaking into computers."

"Was there anything interesting in his Hero Network account?"

"Not that I know of. We did just break into the account a few hours ago. Honestly seeing how many emails that man gets on an hourly basis seems annoying. How can you even sleep when you never stop getting people asking for your help?"

Izuku sank his head back into the pillow. "Not my problem. Was that all?"

"Nope. I came to give you this as well." She placed a small vial of liquid on the desk. "Alkyl Nitrite. You didn't ask for it, but Sensei thought it would be prudent to give us both one. Don't drink it."

"What is it for?"

"Well, we'll be using it in case those nasty chemicals you asked for gets on us. If you think you are poisoned, open it up and huff the vapor for a few seconds at a time. It's an antidote of sorts."

"What's with the way you said the first part? Is it used for something else?"

The girl giggled. "I'm not sure if I should tell you, to be honest. After all, if Tomura's little lapdog knew what else they were used for... well, you might get some weird ideas."

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"It means you're too innocent for this world, Izukkun. Despite what you make others believe you are, you're still a little child starved for affection. Tomura isn't that different, to be honest."

Izuku rolled over, tired from both the past day and this girl who insists on teasing him. "I don't have the energy to be mad at you right now. Unless you have anything else to tell me, I'd like to get some sleep."

That same grating, cheerful voice rang in his ear. "Well, I don't have anything to say to you anymore. That being said, I'm sure Sensei would appreciate an update on your other mission."

"I haven't met him yet. Endeavor is driving me like a draft horse! I'll take care of him when he actually decides to show up."

"We're already tracking him. That's why we're taking out Lemillion the day after tomorrow. We know he'll start attacking then, if he doesn't start his 'sacred mission' sooner."

"How do you know that?"

"Sensei managed to convince him to have a face to face meeting. He peered into his mind and managed to get a rough idea of what Stain wants. He intentionally let Ingenium live so that rumors could spread about him being in Hosu- he wants more heroes on the streets."

"So he's getting more potential targets."

"Mmhmm!" Touru chirped. "You're a smart cookie! He'll start attacking Wednesday at the latest. That's when Sensei's little plan goes into action. Speaking of which... you did take his advice about Ingenium's little brother, right? What should I tell him about that?"

"Tell him I barely needed to push him in that direction. He's already set on killing him."

"That's good. Things are going smoothly, then. Have you thought of a plan to take care of Lemillion? You ordered some pretty potent stuff."

"Where is he patrolling? I know the report said he typically goes alone."

"He's been meandering through the Shinjuku Ward and Hosu City border. He won't be too far away."

"That's... perfect, actually. If he stays in that area, then we'll be set."

The second day of field training ended up being not very different from the first. Izuku awoke to the sound of his phone buzzing at 6:30 AM on the dot. When he opened it, a single text message greeted him.

'Be here in 30 minutes.'

Izuku grunted, annoyed. "He couldn't have told me that last night?"

He quickly sent back an 'Ok.'

Almost immediately, his phone buzzed again. 'Make sure you are wearing your costume before you come into the door.'

'That's illegal.'

'Good, it seems you didn't forget. Use the locker rooms on the second floor to change before you report to me in the gym.'

'Yes sir.'

Izuku sighed, pulling himself out from under the covers, conducting his morning routine before heading out to the office. True to form, he spent the next few hours getting beat up by the pro hero. He was lucky that he was wearing his costume; otherwise, he'd be sporting some nasty bruises along his chest and face.

A kick from the pro hero sent Izuku flying into the gym wall, leaving a large crater from the grunted as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Did Shouto go through this every day?" He muttered. Endeavor's mouth twitched.

Izuku blasted forward, sailing over the older man's head. The pro hero wasn't having it, though. He jumped up, using the power of his flames, and grabbed the boy by the ankle. Izuku found himself getting slammed to the ground with a force he didn't even know the man had. He bounced off the floor a few times before slamming into a rack of weights. He felt bile rise in his throat from the abuse his body had taken.

"I wouldn't worry about what Shouto went though." Endeavor calmly replied. "He's not here right now, and even if he was he would tell you he went through worse."

Izuku swallowed thickly. He really needed to work on keeping his thoughts in his head.

A timer buzzed in the corner of the room. Endeavor walked over to it, turning it off.

"Shouto should arrive any minute now. Let's go to my office."

The student shuffled into the elevator, with the faint hope that the doors would close before the pro hero could make it there. However, such niceties would never happen. Endeavor walked into the small box, standing behind Midoriya, towering over him.

Izuku felt like the elevator couldn't move any more slowly. After what felt like ten minutes, a hand firmly planted itself on his shoulder, causing him to jump.

"I will admit, when we first met, I acted arrogantly. As a result, you've managed to worm your way into my agency. I won't make the same mistake twice." Endeavor droned on. His hand squeezed Izuku's shoulder, and a massive amount of weight nearly forced the boy to his knees. "My Shouto will beat you one day, and he will become the hero to surpass All Might. He was created for that reason alone."

Izuku nodded. Now was not the time to challenge the man.

Endeavor snorted, though the student was too nervous to turn around and see what expression the man had on his face.

The doors opened; Izuku saw Shouto standing in the antechamber of the top floor. The boy's heterochromatic eyes widened for a moment when he saw the way Endeavor held the green haired student, but said nothing.

Endeavor reached into a small duffel bag sitting on the counter. He tossed the other two kids some protein bars and bottles of water.

"That's your lunch for today. You've got fifteen minutes to eat before we go out on patrol."

It was the evening of the third day. Izuku paced nervously in his hotel room, waiting for the familiar voice of Hagakure Touru.

Instead, he got a text on his phone from a number he didn't recognize.

'I'm outside the hotel, Izukkun! I hope you didn't fall asleep.'

He sighed, grabbing the sealed bottle of Amyl Nitrite. It felt heavy in his pocket. He exited the building, looking around for his partner. All he could see was a floating messenger bag.

"You know, I'm starting to wonder if you even wear clothes at all."

"Aww, I wouldn't say things like that. You're going to make a certain someone jealous... unless... you want them to be jealous?"

Izuku snorted. "What- No. Let's just get this over with. Do we know where Lemillion is?"

"Yep! Stain, too. But we'll worry about that one when we get there. Tougata is actually not too far away, perhaps a thirty-minute walk? He's decided to saunter around the more deserted areas, no doubt looking for the Hero Killer."

"Then that is where we'll meet him. Did you bring it?"

"Yep. Now we just need to get in position."

There were a few things that Izuku had learned about his second quirk, Obfuscate. It wasn't true invisibility; he would worm his way into the minds of those around him and wipe his presence from his mind. Because of this, he could get a rough idea of how many people were around him while activated, and he could be selective about who was under its effects and who wasn't. On top of that, he could control how much of his presence he obfuscated from others; Sensei trained him well to fine-tune his control over his quirk. Should he wish it, he could scrub just enough of himself from the minds of others that the can notice him, but not be able to identify him. Again, if someone who wasn't under its effects was watching from a distance or viewing a photograph or camera feed, it wouldn't work.

Izuku was currently mulling over the expansion of his new abilities as he got himself into position. He was situated on the rooftop near a relatively empty street. Most of the shops, clubs, and arcades were far away from this area. It was mostly abandoned tenements and hollowed out buildings. Naturally, villain activity would be higher than normal here, but it seemed tonight was just as quiet as the others. Perhaps it was due to Stain's arrival; the only villains who liked him were those who called themselves his disciples. The rest treated him as a threat: not only does he attack those who get in his way, but there always seems to be a rise in hero activity once the killer leaves.

Izuku stayed on the phone's line with Hagakure. She hadn't said anything yet, but that was to be expected: they agreed to not say anything until the target had arrived. The young villain was happy for the reprieve.

Izuku once again reached into his pocket and felt for the vial. The two were playing a very dangerous game. It wasn't a mistake to think that a literal slip-up could end with either one of them dead.

He breathed in deeply and steeled himself. He was the one who created this plan, so he would have to bear responsibility for any mishaps that occur.

"He's on his way." Touru whispered into her phone. Izuku hung up, and activated his quirk. He could tell that roughly five or so people were affected, two of which being his partner and his target. The other three were inside the building, but they didn't seem to be moving. Perhaps they were asleep; Izuku hoped so. Witnesses could complicate things.

Izuku himself was standing a good distance into the alleyway. He could see the street outside, though, which was invaluable in timing when to commence the assassination attempt.

His eyes caught a figure walking down the street, approaching the alleyway he was in. His outfit was almost... gaudy. A visor surrounded the top half of his face, ending in a concave opening that gave him enough room for his small faux hawk. His torso was covered in a gold armor plating, with a large, blocky "1000000" emblazoned over his chest.

It was Lemillion. Just from the way he carried himself, Izuku could see why Sir Nighteye positioned him to become All Might's successor.

Izuku forced his fists to uncurl as he pulled Obfuscate's influence from Hagakure and Tougata. As soon as he did, the boy picked up an empty glass bottle, throwing it towards the ground. It shattered on the floor of the alley, causing the third year student to reel around and investigate the noise. It wasn't long before he saw Izuku standing up on the roof. The green haired boy wasn't looking back, though. He was staring intently at the ground some stories beneath him.

"Hey, kid... are you alright?" Lemillion called out.

Izuku didn't answer. Instead, he calmly walked off the edge of the building.

"NO!" The blonde student rushed forward. For a moment he sank into the ground, but immediately launched upwards, sailing in an arc towards the silently falling boy. He quickly took him into his arms, before settling back down onto the ground.

Izuku scrambled out of Mirio's grasp. He did a once over of his own body before popping open the vial contained in his pockets. He put it under his nose, lightly huffing the vapors. It made him slightly dizzy, and he felt blood rush into his head. For a while, it seemed like his heart was beating inside his skull. After a few moments, he sealed the bottle again.

"I'm sorry..." Izuku trailed off.

"No, don't apologize to me!" The other student replied, reassuringly. "I'm just glad I saved you in time. I'm surprised, you managed to get me to sweat a little. He turned around, pointing to the liquid that was coated on the back of his exposed neck. Mirio's nose crinkled up. "Sorry if it smells bad, it usually doesn't stink."

After a moment of silence, he crouched down a little, looking to the younger kid at eye level. "Hey, I know you probably have some problems with your life, and I won't try to get you to tell me if you're really uncomfortable, but... if there's something wrong, that... jumping off a building isn't the answer, okay? There are plenty of people who would be more than willing to help you out, including me."

Izuku nodded, before taking another huff of his bottle of Amyl Nitrites.

Mirio pointed to it. "What's that?"

"Medicine." Izuku quietly answered.

"What medicine is it for? Is it related to your quirk?" He stood back up. "I've noticed a garlic taste in my mouth... is that part of your quirk, too?"

Izuku nodded.

"I see. Well, I'm glad to see that you're focused on your health right now." He placed a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. Almost immediately, his smile dropped into an expression of confusion.

Mirio slapped his hand over his mouth. Something was wrong. He couldn't quite place it, but...

He couldn't breathe.

He uncovered his mouth again, before grabbing Izuku by both shoulders. Mirio fell to his knees, his mouth open wide in a desperate mix of trying to draw breath in and tell him something was terribly wrong. Izuku's face contorted into one of pure horror at the scene. The older boy fell forward, collapsing onto Midoriya and trapping him underneath the weight of a hero who had started convulsing, seizure wracking his body.

"No, no, that won't do." Hagakure's voice echoed somewhere above Izuku. He felt Tougata get roll off of him, with the sounds of some feminine grunting that suggested the invisible girl was the one doing the rolling. "I'd start using those nitrites again, if I were you."

Izuku nodded, sitting up and putting the vial back up to his nose. The vapors stung at his nostrils and throat, but he did his best.

Hagakure's tone had switched drastically from its idle playfulness. It became darker and much more serious. "You know, if Yuuei had any sort of chemistry course, he probably would have realized something was wrong. He literally listed off every symptom he should have been worried about."

Mirio's eyes widened, staring back at the two villains: the one he could see, and the one he could hear. He tried to reach out, but his hands convulsed too much to make any sort of meaningful movement. Foam poured out from his mouth, and a small trail of blood fell from his nose.

"I have to commend your choice of poison, Izuku. DMSO is a powerful chemical. It can basically drag anything mixed into it through the skin and directly into the bloodstream. I'm not sure if you knew this, but the nickname given to cyanide mixed with DMSO is 'Liquid Death.' Unless you're prepared for it, once enough of it hits your skin, you're done for."

Mirio had stopped struggling to move. Aside from an occasional twitch, he was completely still.

"I'm surprised how well this worked out." Touru pulled a half empty squeeze bottle from her bag. It smelled rank, almost like cabbages that were a few days old. "You knew the only way to administer a fast acting poison was to put him in a situation where he couldn't make himself intangible. I think throwing yourself off the edge of a building was a bit much, but it provided me ample time to run up behind him and squirt a large dose of Liquid Death onto his back without needing to worry if he would activate his quirk. He was so distracted he thought he was just sweating really badly!"

Izuku was staring, wide eyed at the body in front of him.

"He's still alive, you know." Hagakure noted. Izuku looked back at her, trembling. "Cyanide basically prevents cells from making the energy needed to do anything. First, his diaphragm gives out, then his heart. All other muscles slowly lose function. However, the true cause of death is in the brain. With no working heart to pump blood, the brain slowly suffocates. It's one of the most agonizing deaths possible, both in terms of pain and mental trauma. Yet... once it's settled in, you can't even scream. Izuku, you can put the antidote away now." [1]

Izuku nodded, putting it back into his pocket.

"You don't have to tell me about how much it shocked you to see it, Izuku. Your reaction isn't hidden at all. Kurogiri and Sensei taught you well on how to kill, but this is the first time you've seen someone die slowly without having any sort of wish to harm them personally. If you want to survive longer in the League, you should learn quickly how to suppress that part of yourself."

He felt Hagakure gently pulling him onto his feet.

"Now, my job is almost done, but you still have work to do. I'll stay here and make sure this body looks like something Stain would have left behind. It should keep Sir Nighteye or All Might from suspecting that we got him because he was the next successor in line. That way, we have the best chance of keeping out backdoor into the Hero Network up and running. Now, go ahead and get back to your room. When the time comes, we'll provide you with a distraction to separate you from the Todoroki family and get to Stain on your own. Sound good?"

Izuku slowly nodded.

"Hey, look alive Izukkun!" She cheered. "Tomura would be super proud of what you just did! Just think about it; we didn't just get rid of One for All's potential successor, but we also made sure they won't rush into giving it to someone else!"

The boy smiled slightly, gripping the sides of his arms.

"We just showed All Might that he can't have his way with everyone. Tomura will be ecstatic when he finds out, and it's all thanks to your planning!" She turned the boy around, lightly prodding him away from the body. "Now go on and get ready. I'll do what I can here."

Izuku muttered a small "Okay" before moving out of the alley. Hagakure walked back to the body, pulling a serrated hunting knife from her messenger bag.

"You know, I really hate doing this sort of dirty work. Sensei can be a real slave driver, you know? But I guess it's the price for playing the game. You win some, you butcher some."

Izuku paced around in his room. He had already done a number of light exercises to keep his nervous energy at bay, but it did little to help. Every stretch he did made his muscles tighten, and every crunch made his abdomen feel like it was on fire. He wanted to punch something, but at the same time he felt like he couldn't lift his finger to hurt a fly. Everything about his body felt wrong.

His antics were cut off by the sound of an explosion in the distance. Almost immediately afterward, his phone buzzed.

'Get your costume on and get here NOW. We don't have time to squabble over the law.'

Izuku didn't bother arguing with the man. He threw open his suitcase, pulling on his jumpsuit and placing the halves of his helmet over his head. Once he made sure everything was in order, he sent Endeavor a confirmation text and bolted out the door. The pro hero was waiting impatiently outside of his office.

"Where's Shouto?"

"He's on the way. We'll wait here for now."

"What happened?"

"Unidentified villains began causing large-scale destruction around Hosu city. Heroes better suited for support and rescue are currently on the case; since all three of us are more geared towards apprehension we have the luxury of waiting to group up."

Izuku nodded. "We'd only get in their way now if we caused more damage with civilians about."

"Precisely, Midoriya. As much as we all would like to jump in, it would be foolish and possibly deadly." He pointed at Izuku's chest, in an almost accusatory manner. "Restraint, Izuku, is perhaps one of the most important lessons a hero must exercise. I'm sure you've heard stories where someone asks why the heroes never stepped in. That is because putting the wrong hero in the wrong scenario would most likely end in pain and misery. You will never catch me going into a place with unstable explosives, or a place in the middle of the ocean."

"It would hurt you or others to do so."

Endeavor nodded, a small smile perking at the edges of his lips. He placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder, though unlike yesterday his grip was much softer and almost... comforting?

Izuku saw Shouto turn the corner, sprinting towards the pair. He stopped immediately upon seeing the strange display the two had. An expression flashed across his face, something Izuku didn't recognize. Almost immediately, that expression disappeared into his normal monotonous stare.

"Ah, my son, it's nice of you to finally join us."

"I came here as soon as I could." He replied, devoid of emotion.

"Noted." A screech rang in the distance, setting them all on edge. Endeavor's phone buzzed: he gave an expedient glance. "Our help has been requested. We're moving out."

Shouto spoke up. "What do we know about the threat?"

"Multiple mutants that have begun wreaking havoc. We're not getting much on their quirks, but they all seem to have exposed brains."

Both students were taken aback from the last statement.

"Noumus?!" Izuku forced out. "There was one just like that at the USJ attack!"

"Is that what they're called?" Endeavor asked.

"Yeah... that's what the guy with the hands called it."

"I see. Well, we'll begin taking care of them immediately-"

The pro hero's voice was drowned out by a loud shriek that forced them to cover their ears in pain. When they managed to regain their composure, they were greeted with the sight of a winged Noumu carrying a struggling Midoriya off in its clutches. Shouto took off after the creature, but he couldn't match the creature's speed. Endeavor himself didn't fare any better.

"Damn it!" The hero shouted. "What the hell was that?!"

Shouto looked back down to the ground, clenching his fists. "I can't... Why can't I do anything?"

"What did you say?"

"That damn monster was in front of us, and I couldn't even catch up to him! He was right there!" Shouto tried his best to calm his shaky breathing. "I've excelled in schoolwork and tests, but the moment I ever do anything remotely out of that I can't seem to a single thing... I couldn't beat Midoriya, even after challenging him. And now when the perfect opportunity to even save someone was in front of me... is it my lack of resolve again?"

Endeavor was silent for a moment, before walking up behind his son. "I can't train you to have the will to become a hero, Shouto. I've done everything else for you. That being said, you weren't suited to rescue Midoriya. Neither of us are. I'll contact the hero network and we'll let the heroes better suited take care of it. Focus on helping me right now. Moping around won't do you good."

"But...!" The student protested, but he cut himself off. He relaxed his shoulders turning back to his father. "Fine. But if he is harmed because we failed to rescue him... I won't forgive you for keeping me by your side."

Izuku didn't even realize what had happened when he initially got kidnapped. Luckily his helmet had cut off the high pitched noise, but that didn't mean that he wasn't surprised when a Noumu dive-bombed him. Next thing he knew, he was being carted off by the creature, which had already gained a considerable distance between them and the two heroes he was taken from.

He put up a token effort to struggle, but even if he did actually try he doubt he would be getting anywhere. The creature had a vice like grip on his torso, and they were moving too fast for his quirk to be effective. By the time he made one of his air bombs, they would have flown past it.

Enji and Shouto disappeared from view. Izuku turned his gaze to where the creature was headed. They were soaring quite quickly over the buildings, and it was hard for Izuku to even keep track of his location. After some time flying, the Noumu dived once again into a small alley, unceremoniously dumping Izuku onto the ground before jumping up and flying away. When Izuku got to his feet, he was greeted with the sight of Kurogiri in front of him, composed and carrying a set of folded clothes.

"You know," the boy grunted, "I was told a distraction was planned to separate me from the Todorokis. I think what happened counts as something a little more than a distraction, wouldn't you think?"

Kurogiri chuckled slightly. "Well, it certainly got the job done, didn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose." Izuku sighed.

"I brought you your second costume. It'll fit over what you're wearing now. Speaking of which... I have to say your costume is rather... heroic?"

"You don't have to compliment it if you dislike it. I didn't design it."

"I see, that makes sense. Considering how your Rogue outfit is rather simplistic, this seems almost pretentious for you to wear."

"You know, with your villain costume, I wouldn't be surprised if people accused you of being a nudist." Izuku looked down, and glanced at his arms and legs. "I'm a green space bunny. You think I'll star in an anime next season?" [2]

"Complete with two spin-offs." Kurogiri deadpanned. "Now please put on your costume, Midoriya. Stain isn't too far, and you've got a mission to fulfill."

The boy grabbed the garments of clothing the older villain provided. The first piece was a pair of sweatpants that slid easily over the shoes and costume he was wearing. The second thing was his infamous Rogue hoodie. It was completely black, without markings. As he put on the top, he pulled his hood over his head and extended the piece of cloth that hid his face.

"Are you ready, Midoriya?" Kurogiri asked as he handed Izuku his baton and knife.

"Ready as ever. Sensei wants Stain to become the ideal stepping stone for Brother. I have no choice but to see this through."

Kurogiri paused before agreeing. "Then it is time. I'll create a warp gate behind you. When you exit, you should be on a rooftop near the Hero Killer. I don't think this needs reiterating, but... he does not approve of us, despite the minimal interest he's taken in you. Don't do anything that would get yourself killed."

The moment Izuku stepped through the gate, he activated Obfuscate. He wasn't sure where to go at first, but the sounds of a blade clinging against a solid object and an body slumping to the floor gave him the information he needed.

He ran to the side of the building, just in time to witness Stain pull his blade out from a familiar pro hero's arm. 'Native,' the voice in his head identified. Stain was monologuing to the person bleeding out in front of him.

"It's despicable," He growled to Native, "that fakes like you get to roam the streets, looking for petty glory! I will send the dregs of the hero world like you into the ending they deserve."

The pro hero did not rise. Izuku doubted that he could, seeing as Stain had already stabbed him. Nevertheless, Stain pulled his katana skywards, ready to strike. Just as he was about to swing downwards, a stern and booming voice caused him to freeze.

"YOU!" Iida screamed, rushing forward. "Hero Killer Stain! I have come to defeat you!"

"Oh?" Stain turned around, his focus shifted to the armored kid in front of him. "Someone like you? You've yet to reach maturity, child. Come back when you are a grown-up."

The student used his engines to burst forward, shoving the killer back into a wall.

"Don't underestimate me, Stain! My name is Iida Tenya, and you destroyed my brother's life!"

"Ah... I knew you looked familiar. So the little brother of Ingenium has embarked on a one-man crusade of revenge? Take of your helmet, I want to see your face."

Iida backed up a few steps before pulling his helmet off his head. "Remember this face well, then. It's the face of the man who's going to end you!"

Stain chuckled. "Face of the 'man?' You're like, what, fourteen? Fifteen? That being said, if you truly wish to fight me as a pro hero, then I will judge you as one. Tell me..." He pointed his katana down to Native, who was still slumped over against the brick wall. "Does a true hero threaten a villain while he could be saving an injured comrade? Is abandoning helpless victims the mark of a hero who is pure of heart?"

"I don't care! My brother has done nothing but be a kind hearted and benevolent hero! He told me..." He paused as his voice cracked. "When I was a kid he told me that he did this job so he could see children safe and happy... Why would you harm someone like that? You can't even adhere yourself to your own principles, and you think you have any right to judge me?!"

Stain paused, lowering his blade. "Perhaps I harmed a hero who didn't deserve it, but I never intended to kill him, you know."

The young student's face darkened. "What?"

"You see, Ingenium was never going to die. I left him alive with a few injuries specifically so he could tell everyone that I was here." Stain moved away from the wall he was pushed against. "Leave one little straggler to tell the other heroes who did them in, and suddenly they all rush here like termites crawling from the woodwork. And you... you're one of those termites, through and through! I hate to kill a child, but I can tell just by looking at your eyes that you are beyond salvation."

"I've heard enough out of you!" Iida yelled. The rage that burned behind his eyes had spilled out through his mouth, culminating in a battle cry that echoed throughout the alleyway. He rushed forward, hands outstretched. Tenya never carried weapons; he was going to use his bare hands.

Iida came excruciatingly close to the Hero Killer's face, but just as his fingers were about to reach the villain's eyes, he seemingly disappeared. The student stopped, looking around wildly, trying to figure out where the man ran off to...

As it turns out, Stain was right behind him. It was only then that the sting of a cut made itself known on the back of Tenya's knee. He spun around, only to see the killer lick his katana. He crashed to the ground.

"What?" He forced out of his mouth. "No... I can't! I can't... lose to you!"

"I'll hand it to you, you're even faster than your brother." Stain grunted. "But that doesn't mean you're fast enough."

Stain brought his foot down on the Tenya's hand, which caused him to cry out in pain. The killer raised his blade once more, ready to plunge it down onto the prone body of the kid.

"Time to step in, I suppose." Izuku murmured to himself. He let Obfuscate's cloaking slip out from Stain's mind. He instantly e had to dodge as a blade launched at his head.

"You know, I didn't think I'd have to tell two people that they didn't belong here." Stain quipped.

"Who are you..." Iida grunted. He was cut off by the hero killer.

"Quiet, boy." He paused. "I take it that this kid's inability to see you is your quirk?"

Izuku nodded. "You know, I knew you were very set in your ways. But... killing students?"

"That voice... It's you!" He exclaimed. "You're the brat that hangs around with the League. You know, I considered asking you to work with me before."

"We have no reason to."

"You really think that? Can you honestly say that working to purify the ranks of heroes is truly irrelevant from your ideals? Your precious Sensei paid me a personal visit and filled me in on Tomura's past; I'm sure you're aware of it as well." He sheathed his blade, stretching his arms out to his sides. "He was abandoned by the heroes who couldn't care less for a crying child on the street. Do you think a society filled with heroes who live to serve others would let that happen?"

Izuku clenched his fists, shaking in anger. "No... No! You don't understand! You'll never get it!"

"What the hell are you talking about-"

"Tomura wasn't just stuck on the street! His family was stolen from him, and he was left alone and abandoned for days! You can't pin that on heroes alone... No, the worst offenders..." He paused, then spoke his next words with a venom unmatched by anything the killer had heard before.

"Bystanders. They are the true problem with this messed up world. How many times do you think someone walked by that small, crying child without a care in the world? Do you think they thought differently when his tears dried up permanently? How many people walked by him every day and decided that any sort of good will would be done by a far away hero? You can bet they didn't even bother telling those heroes, too!"

Stain paused, taking the boy's words into account. Izuku continued.

"They don't deserve the happiness they receive. They get to sleep safely at night, knowing someone will be there for them. They get to ignore the calls and cries of others who need help. Like a housepet with a spoiling owner they have grown lazy and complacent. The world needs more than kind hearted heroes. The so-called 'innocents' need to be dragged in front of a mirror, kicking and screaming if need be. They are the true monsters of society, and once they begin to realize that perhaps the world will become one that my brother could have been happy in!"

Stain released a hearty laughter, before licking his lips in anticipation.

"You're damn right, we don't agree. What you wish for... can you imagine the mountain of bodies you'll leave behind... the amount of innocents you'll destroy to achieve that goal? Are you prepared to ruin the lives of those who have nothing to do with your end-game?"

"They deserve their fate because they do their best to have nothing to do with the people who suffer. And I don't think you of all people get to criticize me for aiming for a large victim count."

Izuku crouched to his knees, before jumping down the fire escape. He quickly descended, hopping in front of the hero killer. Stain raised his blade once more, which prompted the hooded student to pull out his baton and knife.

"My victims actively neglect their duty. It's different when there's concrete evidence of neglect."

The Hero Killer rushed forward, thrusting his blade forward. Izuku batted the katana to the side with his baton, before closing the distance and swiping with his knife. Stain was quick to respond, jumping back and throwing a knife from its sheathe. Izuku felt the knife collide with his chestplate, bouncing off with a loud klang! Stain's eyes widened at the sound. Immediately, he jumped towards the wall of the alley, running along it and jumping back to Izuku's side, katana at the ready.

Izuku rolled out of the blade's swing, twisting around and swinging his baton to clock the killer on the side of the jaw. He yelped, backing up from the hit.

"You're packing quite the punch. But that wasn't enough to do any damage."

"Believe it or not, I'm not here to kill you."

Stain stood straight, his blade dropping to his side. "Tsk. If it weren't for your disgusting ideology, I wouldn't be fighting you in the first place."

"We don't have to fight, then."

"No, we do." Stain stared the boy down. "You said that they don't deserve the happiness they get... now that I think about it, it's a motivation perfectly suited for you. What kind of fool thinks that happiness is ever deserved? Someone as corrupt and despicable as you... It's downright hilarious to think that someone like you deserves happiness, let alone your brother! The idea of someone like you finding solace in anything is ludicrous!"

"And you are any better, Stain?"

The serial killer laughed, licking his lips again. "Of course not. But I accepted that when I took this job. I will never find happiness in what I do. Even if my job is complete it will be because I am either killed or captured, and the only person allowed to do that is All Might!"

"All Might, huh? You wish for that slimeball to do you in?"

"He's the only true hero out there in a sea of fakes! Of course I would."

Izuku began to shake in frustration. "That... that man is little more than a fake himself. You seriously expect me to believe that you think the person who earns the most money of any hero, has the most showtime of any hero, and is the one who makes all of his rescues into some ridiculous fanfare is the 'truest' hero of them all?!"

"He is the symbol of peace for a reason, kid."

"Does the symbol of peace tell children that they just need to deal with abuse? Do they try to shift their problems off onto other people because they can't deal with their own insecurities?"

"Of course not!"

"You're worshipping an effigy!" Izuku yelled. He felt his control over his quirk waver. He collected himself, breathing deeply in a slow fashion. "The person you admire doesn't exist. All Might is more human that you make him out to be."

"Perhaps, but he is the one who inspired me. Do I not get the luxury of picking an idol?"

Izuku waved his hand, as if deflecting the man's words. He walked past him, standing next to the still-downed body of Iida Tenya. He breathed in deeply, before dropping his quirk and using his baton to hit the boy's head with a sickening crack! The force of the blow caused the armored teen to roll over, face upwards, though unconscious. Native's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the hooded figure and the subsequent attack. Before he could force anything out his mouth, the villain rushed over, delivering an equally hard blow.

"They'll be out for a while... that's good. It means I can attack you without restraining myself."

Stain brandished his blade once more, crouching low to the ground. He smiled and licked his lips. "So you wish to fight to the end?"

"No."

The hero killer was confused at the response. He tensed his legs, ready for Izuku's attack.

But... the other villain didn't move. Time seemed to slow as Stain considered his options of attack. He could try to close the distance between the two of them, but considering the other's stance and stillness it could be a trap. It could also be a bluff, and he could be attempting something from a distance-

Stain had realized at this point that his breath was caught in his throat... no, he couldn't breathe-

The man didn't have time to react as a blast rocketed him into the wall headfirst. Just as he collided with the brick building, he was blasted away. Every time his body (mostly his head) collided with an object, he was sent flying elsewhere. In the tempest of blasts, he couldn't even get orientated correctly, much less figure out where in the alley he was at the time. Through the blur of movement he could swear he could see streaks of red coat the walls. He vaguely realized that blood was rushing down his head. He flew into the wall once more before everything went dark.

Iida's vision returned slowly. His ears rang as he pushed himself to his wobbly knees. He could only discern shades of colors and indiscriminate blobs, and the ambient noises sounded as if he were underwater. After a minute or two, he was able to regain most of the function in his senses. He smelled something that was unfamiliar to him. When his eyes slowly focused on the source of the metallic smell, he realized what it was.

Blood. A lot of blood. It coated the walls in thin streaks, and in the center of the alley lay Stain, unconscious but still visibly breathing. He saw a figure at the other end of the alley, but he just couldn't make out the features of the person. Even when he heard the hooded person's voice he could understand him clear as day, but his mind stopped short of being able to recognize or identify anything about the voice. He couldn't even tell if it was masculine or feminine.

"There's a knife in front of you, Iida. Take it."

The student looked down, and sure enough a clean, serrated hunting knife was placed in front of him. He reached out with his uninjured hand, grasping the hilt tightly. He looked back up to the body of Stain in front of him.

"You've wanted to kill him for a while now, haven't you? I can see it in your eyes."

The armored hero-in-training nodded, pulling himself up to his feet. He stumbled over to the body, and stared the unconscious man down.

"This will be your one opportunity to do so. Heroes will be here any moment. If you don't do it now, he'll be carted off to prison... and you'll never be able to avenge your brother."

Iida fell to his knees, next to Stain. His grasp shook as tears formed at the edges of his eyes.

"You..." He half growled, half whined to the bloody killer. "You took away the one I looked up to the most. You destroyed a true hero's life... just for some petty bait? You expected me to toss those concerns aside... what did you expect me to do? You think I can just swallow these feelings?!"

He raised the knife, poised straight for Stain's chest. "I can't... I can't let this go."

The hooded figure spoke up once more. "Just let gravity do the work. The knife is sharp enough to pierce his ribcage."

He looked back up to the figure. "Why are you telling me this? Why are you helping me?"

"Stain is a threat to everyone, but... I can't do anything to him aside from knock him out. I felt you should at least get the opportunity to take revenge. After all, it was your brother whose life was ruined, not mine."

Iida looked back down at the hero killer. He couldn't stop shaking: his hand was jittering, and despite the raw anger, the tears pouring down his cheeks refused to cease.

He couldn't bring the blade up any higher. He felt the world close in around him. Everything but himself, the Hero Killer, and the knife in his hand turned to nothingness. And with a sharp intake of breath, he screamed as he brought the blade down upon the murderer.

He felt the blade slide into the muscles of the man. It almost felt as easy as sliding a hot, dull knife into butter. His motion was stopped as the blade caught upon a rather thick bone, jamming the blade in place. He fell back onto his behind, crawling away frantically as he clutched his head. The voice of the hooded figure spoke to him once more.

"You struck him in the shoulder."

Iida gasped as he cried in earnest, sobs wracking his body. "I can't..." he whispered. "I just... I can't do it..."

The other person didn't respond at first. He slowly walked towards the student, stopping at their feet. The armored boy kept his head down, doing his best to choke the cries and stop the shivers that wracked his body.

"I guess it can't be helped. At least it means you didn't ruin your hero career."

When Iida looked back up, the person at the end of the alley was gone.

When Izuku stumbled through the portal back to Kurogiri, he lost all semblance of composure. He was desperately fanning himself, despite the fact that any airflow he could make was blocked by both his hoodie and his helmet. He paced around the room, with Kurogiri calmly trying to walk after him to stop the boy.

"Kurogiri, I- just what the hell?!"

"Midoriya, please calm down-"

"I just saw someone die of cyanide poisoning and I can't get their face out of my head!"

"Midoriya, I understand that-"

"And then I have a freaking one on one with Stain of all people- I could have been slaughtered!"

"Midoriya, just take a deep-"

"Kurogiri, I can't!" The boy was hiccuping now, and even as he stood still his body seemed to vibrate of its own accord. "How am I supposed to calm down after what happened?! I just told someone to kill a person!"

"Did they?" The black misted man grabbed the boy by the shoulders, rubbing slowly in small circles. It calmed him down, somewhat.

"Well, no. Stain is going to get captured by the heroes." Izuku paused. "It wasn't quite what Sensei wanted, but he said this was acceptable as well."

"That is true. It is unfortunate that Iida Tenya couldn't follow through with his desires, but Sensei never had the chance to peer into his mind and see if he would actually kill Stain if he was given the chance. That's why he told you that if you couldn't get the boy to kill him, that you should focus on getting him captured. You performed exceptionally well, given the circumstances, Midoriya."

Izuku looked down, his mouth open but no words flowing out. Eventually, he managed to muster up the courage to ask the bartender.

"Why can't I be like you and Tomura?"

Kurogiri kneeled down, looking the boy in the eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I... Tomura doesn't freak out like I do when someone dies... and neither do you. I feel so weak compared to you two."

The man sighed, looking for the right words. "Midoriya, the truth is... Tomura doesn't feel things the way most people do. He's not like us. Things that would scar most people he doesn't pay attention to because there are certain... feelings and emotions that he isn't capable of. It comes with its own set of problems. He's not better than you or me, he's just... different."

"And you, Kurogiri?"

"I've been doing this for a long time. There's certain things you grow numb to. I admit, I was probably as anxious as you, perhaps even more than you, when I was younger. But... you get used to it. It doesn't go away; there are times even I feel sick to my stomach... but it gets easier. You watched someone, a teenager no less, fall to cyanide. That isn't something you'll ever get out of your head. Trust me, I've seen the same and thinking back I still feel my insides twist up."

"You did this a lot, didn't you?"

Kurogiri nodded. "I was working for Sensei long before Tomura came into the picture. Together, we did some... less than savory deeds."

The villain clearly didn't want to go into detail and the boy wasn't going to push it further.

"If it helps, Midoriya, when you feel overwhelmed, just think of us. Tomura might not understand what you're going through, but that doesn't mean that he won't help you. And I've always been here for you as well."

Izuku pulled back his hood and split his helmet in two. He looked at Kurogiri, with sparkly tears in his eyes and a crooked smile on his face.

"I don't know where I'd be without you guys." He whispered.

"It's best not to think about that. Now let's get you back out there, hero. We've got to make your costume look like you were in a big fight."

Izuku nodded. "Thank you. For everything."

The bartender sighed, contented.

"Oh, and before I forget... I never said it out loud, but I always thought your training was over the top and brutal. Endeavor showed me what that really means. I'm sorry."

Kurogiri's laugh was quiet, but smooth and deep.

Izuku walked down the street, though he found it hard not to stumble around in the new, tattered state of his wardrobe. His steel toed shoes had been warped inwards, giving him an awkward limp. The outer layer of his arms and legs were torn, exposing the rubbery shock material and metal underneath. His helmet was missing its visor, and the material around the next was scratched but not broken.

He sighed in relief and shouted as the familiar sight of the fiery Endeavor came into view. Both father and son reeled at the state of their partner. Shouto rushed over almost immediately, checking to see if there were any serious injuries.

"Are you okay?"

Izuku waved his hands, telling him not to worry. "The noumu gave quite a fight, but I managed to pull through! It managed to escape, and my outfit is barely usable anymore..."

Shouto paused, and in that moment Izuku realized that the heterochromatic boy was intentionally averting his gaze. "I was too slow, Midoriya. I did my best to rescue you, but it wasn't enough."

"There wasn't anything you could-"

"Don't." He cut the other student off. "I've made up my mind, Midoriya, and I don't intend to make excuses. When I saw you disappear in the clutches of that Noumu, I was terrified that you would die. I felt nothing but despair over my own failures. But... I realized something at that moment. I wasn't sure if I should become a hero, but when I imagined myself being on the sidelines... I realized I couldn't just watch something like that happen. I've found my resolve. I will become a hero, and when I do, I will not allow a single person to suffer if I can't help it."

"You sound a lot like All Might."

"Perhaps. The man is quite influential in his ideals. I don't think there's been a single hero who hasn't considered being like him at some point."

Izuku winced at the last statement. Even if he didn't want to think it, Shouto wasn't wrong. When he was young and still wanted to be a hero, he adored the great All Might. His skin crawled as he remembered how much memorabilia was stacked along his walls.

Eventually, Endeavor walked up to the boy, staring him down with his signature demeanor. After a moment, he spoke.

"Good job. After we wrap up you're going to the hospital. Should you get checked out before the end of the week we'll supply you with a training outfit and you'll finish up your field study."

Izuku nodded.

"It seems your timing is impeccable. We've received a report from Manual that Stain was found heavily injured and unconscious nearby. It seems a classmate of yours is there, too, though he seems unresponsive."

As if on cue, an armored transport vehicle parked itself near where the trio was standing. Endeavor guided the two to the scene of the fight. Stain was being dragged by Manual and one of his sidekicks towards the vehicle. Native was trying to comfort Iida, but the boy refused to leave his curled up position against the wall. He made no noise.

Stain was pulled to the street, but the sound of the killer rousing made everyone freeze. Manual did a quick one over to make sure that his restraints were secure and that he didn't have any hidden weapons leftover. When the villain came to, the first thing he did was lock his eyes onto Izuku's.

He realized he wasn't wearing his visor.

Stain screamed in an inarticulate rage, thrashing against his restraints. Endeavor stepped in to help, holding him down. That was when the man's head piece slipped, revealing to the world his true face.

The first thing Izuku thought of was the pictures of skulls in his anatomy textbook: the man had a sharp jagged cut in place of a nose. Izuku felt his feet lock into place, as did everyone else in the vicinity. The news helicopter overhead seemed to freeze in the middle of its course.

"I won't... be stopped... by some petty... childish temper tantrums! The hero society must be cleansed! I won't allow... I won't allow corruption to take it over! The fake heroes must be purged and the truly despicable villains must be eradicated!"

Whatever else the killer had to say was halted by a heavy strike to the back of his head, courtesy of Endeavor. With little to say, the heroes regained their composure and threw him into the back of the transport.

Sensei never laughed hard. It was extremely painful, and if it got too unruly he risked accidentally disconnecting the tube running through his throat. But what had happened on live television just now... he couldn't help but give a hearty, deep laugh that rocked the chair back and forth.

"I had thought that the ideal outcome would be a Yuuei student killing the Hero Killer Stain. I had even found the perfect candidate in Iida Tenya. But this... this outcome is even better than I had anticipated!" The man gasped as he steadied the tube in his throat, but his dry peals of laughter didn't stop.

He immediately captured the news feed, uploading the video to any website he could. No doubt it would be taken down in a day or so, but by that time the meme propagation would have run its course. Those who needed to see it would have viewed it, and many of those would spend their time making sure as many people as possible saw the glorious final flicker in the anti-hero that was Stain.

It turned out the bruising to Izuku's body was drastic enough for him to be kept for two days in the hospital. He passed by Iida's door occasionally, but every time he approached, the door was locked from the inside.

A police officer came to notify him that Endeavor was taking credit for the capture of Stain. The officer noted that an investigation determined that Iida was responsible for saving the hero Native and incapacitating the Hero Killer. Because he acted on his own, he was technically acting illegally. A deal was struck between the police chief and Iida to ensure that he could continue studying at Yuuei at the cost of sweeping the true events under the rug. Izuku was being notified so that all involved parties could keep their stories straight.

Endeavor was remarkably lighter on his training when Izuku came back. He gave the boy a later start time, and the training sessions were shorter and lighter on their physical impact. He wasn't about to ask the hero outright, but he suspected the change in attitude was due to his perceived abilities in "fighting" the Noumu. The green haired boy heard from word of mouth that Endeavor was forced to incinerate one with the full extent of his powers, carbonizing the cells and preventing regeneration. Endeavor may be abusive but he respected the ability and power of others when they proved themselves. Izuku would like to think he did the same.

When he returned from the field training at the end of the week, he was greeted with the cries and sobbing of his mother, who berated him for not telling her that he was working in Hosu City of all places. He apologized, telling her that he didn't want to worry her, which only made her even angrier. She told him if he pulled another stunt like that again, she'd pull him from Yuuei entirely.

School began again the next week. Before classes began, everyone was herded into the gymnasium for a special assembly. Class 1-A was unexpectedly worried about it; usually when these things were called, Aizawa would forego school tradition and tell his students to meet on the field for training. However, the teacher was quiet on this issue, telling his class to meet in their assigned location in the gym. The students took their seats in the massive gym, waiting for the announcement.

The purpose of the gathering was made clear the moment the main stage was revealed. Tougata Mirio's face was sitting in a picture frame on the front of the podium, with a swathes of flowers and ribbons flowing around and underneath it. Nedzu gave a calm and reassuring speech to the students, though Izuku didn't listen to a word of it.

His mind was blank, the only thing he could envision was the frothy and red face that barely resembled the photo displayed for all to see. Nedzu told the student body that it was the result of a fight with Stain, and that the killer was already being held accountable for his actions. Izuku was snapped out of his trance by the sound of someone wailing. He turned his head to see that someone in the third year hero course students had collapsed, curling into a ball and sobbing uncontrollably. He sounded more like a lost puppy. A teacher tried to escort him out, but he refused to move where he lay. He eventually quieted down, and when the classes were dismissed to leave, he walked to the vigil, knelt down in front of it, and refused to move for the rest of the day. After many unsuccessful attempts to coax him out of the gym, they decided it was best to leave him there and grieve for his lost friend.

It wasn't long, and to some no surprise, that he stopped showing up to school. Rumors flew around school, no one knowing exactly what happened to Amajiki Tamaki, the rising hero known as Suneater.

Within one week, the "Big Three" of Yuuei had been reduced to one.

Class 1-A had never been the same since that week. The media invasion told them that the school wasn't safe. The USJ attack told them that the villains knew who they were, and knew where they lived. The field training week and the death of Tougata, then, told them that they weren't immortal. In essence, Lemillion was now their memento mori.

Iida had changed from his experience. He told everyone that he was "going to walk the hero's path again." He was certainly less outgoing in and out of class, but he had also seemed to warm up to Izuku considerably. The green haired boy noticed that the class representative asked him to sit next to him more often at lunch, and whenever a partner class activity happened, he would go to Midoriya first. It was subtle, but noticeable.

Izuku hadn't slept well since the field training week. He could still see Mirio's face in his head, and seeing the anguish that Tamaki underwent when he found out that his friend had died... his mind trailed back to what Stain had told him during their fight.

"Someone as corrupt and despicable as you... It's downright hilarious to think that someone like you deserves happiness, let alone your brother! The idea of someone like you finding solace in anything is ludicrous!"

He shoved his face into his pillow, trying his best to force the images and thoughts out of his head. The truth was... everything about that fight scared him. Stain was intimidating, yes... but Izuku couldn't believe the way he acted at the time. It was like he was a completely different person. He was so focused on the mission, trying to get the images of the recently deceased Lemillion out of his head...

The images flashed again. He did his best not to scream in anger and fear. He tossed around in his bed, pulling out his phone. He called the first number on his speed dial.

The recipient picked up on the second ring.

"Ah, Midoriya. You usually don't call this late, is everything alright?"

"No." He whispered back. He couldn't think of anything more to say.

"Would you like me to open a portal in your room for you?"

"Please."

The line disconnected, and in the corner of Izuku's room a purple and black portal opened up. He jumped through it immediately.

The bar was just as empty as usual, with the normal fixture that is Kurogiri sitting behind the bar, mindlessly polishing glasses.

"Unfortunately, Tomura is already asleep... What's bothering you, Midoriya? Are you still thinking of Lemillion?"

"No- well, yes, but that's not..." He paused, breathing deeply. "Uh... Kurogiri..."

"Hmm?"

"Do I... Do I deserve to be happy?"

Izuku flinched at the sound of a glass hitting the floor and shattering. The bartender remained frozen in place, staring at the boy. Before either one could say anything further, the familiar buzz of a TV monitor behind them clicked to life.

Sensei's voice echoed throughout the silent room. "I think it is best that I answer that question for you, Izuku. Kurogiri, would you mind opening a portal to take him to me?"

The villain in question didn't move.

"Kurogiri." Sensei repeated, gently trying to catch the bartender's attention. His misty head snapped to the monitor.

"Right. Forgive me, I'll open it immediately."

A portal opened behind Izuku, and when he entered, he was greeted to the familiar sight of Sensei's dark room. The man sat behind his desk, with the quiet thrum of his ventilator working in the background.

"That's a new question from you, Midoriya. Why are you asking that?"

The boy shuffled around, looking down at his hands. "Stain said some things during his fight, and... I don't know if he's right or not."

"I know there is more to it than that. Come now, I am willing to listen."

"Seeing how Lemillion died was bad enough, but..." Izuku choked on his own breath. "There was another student, Amajiki, who was so distraught over his death. I... I caused that. I asked around at school, and apparently he was very close to Tougata. I took someone's happiness away to prevent One for All from being passed down..."

Sensei remained silent.

"I just... I just want Tomura to be happy. That's all I truly want- you can look into my mind, I swear it's the truth! But I can't help but look back and see the destruction I caused in my wake... I don't know if I deserve this."

"What do you mean by 'this?'"

"Everything!" Izuku half yelled, waving his arms out in exasperation. "Your quirks you gave me, the praise and help I get from you and Kurogiri... Tomura... he's the only thing I can think of that truly matters to me, and I feel like I don't deserve any of it. I don't know if I should be allowed to be happy!"

Sensei didn't move from his seat, though he did shift around before responding.

"Midoriya, I don't know if you'll fully understand what I'm saying to you, but I want you to do your best okay?"

He nodded.

"Good. Now, Stain told you that you don't deserve to be happy. To be quite frank, he's right. You don't deserve anything."

Izuku felt himself bite back a whimper.

"Now, listen to me, Midoriya. I'm not finished. You don't deserve anything, but neither does anyone else in this world. There's no pre-determined set of rules one must follow to obtain happiness. You found that happiness in us, the League of Villains. Had Tomura not found you that fateful day, you would never have discovered that. Think back to when you initially met Kurogiri. You knew that you were going to be associating with villains. In any normal circumstance, a person would abandon Tomura. But you didn't, did you?"

Izuku shook his head.

"That's right, you took the opportunity by the horns and begged to stay. You knew you found happiness in your big brother, and you decided to throw away and forsake all the societal norms you were taught in order to obtain happiness. You didn't deserve it, but instead you took it, because you wanted it and knew it could be yours. No one deserves the boons granted to them, but there are a few who have the resolve to make their own happiness. You've demonstrated that same resolve a few years ago. I know you have it in you."

Izuku looked conflicted, but definitely didn't seem as downtrodden as before.

"We both know that Tomura's happiness is your happiness. So when you work towards that future where Tomura could live happily, it means that you are taking that opportunity for happiness for yourself. Other people be damned, do they matter as much as Tomura does?"

The boy shook his head.

"Does it make you happy when you make Tomura happy?"

Izuku didn't say anything for a while. Eventually, he responded with a faint "Yes."

"Then you have your answer, don't you? Remember, Izuku; as long as you pursue your own happiness, you can clear any obstacle; even these mental ones will eventually be little more than background noise. Do you think that helped?"

There was a long pause. "Yeah, I think so. Thank you, Sensei."

"You are welcome, Midoriya. Now, I believe it is time for you to go to bed. You've got a long day ahead of you at Yuuei." He looked towards a monitor placed on his desk. "Kurogiri, if you would, please open a portal from here to Izuku's room."

A portal opened up behind the boy. "Goodnight, Izuku. Sleep well."

The boy nodded, bowed and exited. After the portal closed, All for One looked back at the monitor.

"You seem more agitated than usual, Kurogiri."

"Forgive me, Sensei. There's just a lot running through my brain as of recently."

"You are concerned for the boy."

"He keeps coming to me for help. I'm happy to, but..." A sigh crackled over the speaker. "...this isn't healthy for him. I will continue to do as you ask of me, but I am worried."

"I have done nothing but use a little applied psychology theories on the boy, Kurogiri. We designed him to be Tomura's little servant for years now, I fail to see what has changed."

"A child should not have to ask if they deserve to be happy!" Kurogiri angrily quipped back. "How many children must I help corrupt before you are satisfied?"

Sensei didn't respond.

"I am deeply sorry, Sensei. I should not have spoken out like that. I lost my composure."

"Do not apologize for speaking your mind. You have been my trusted partner and confidant for a long time now."

"No, that wasn't acceptable." Kurogiri insisted.

"Even so, it goes to show that the child is rubbing off on you."

"...He relies on me too much for that not to happen. I can't count the number of times the boy has used me as an emotional pillar. He's got no one in school, and even you have to admit that Tomura is anything but an empath. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only thing he has, aside for his affection for his brother."

"It has been brought to my attention that our secondary contact at Yuuei suggests extracting Midoriya from the school. What are your thoughts on this?"

"Well, it certainly would relieve a lot of the tension back here. Midoriya has been visiting less and less due to his busy schedule, and it tends to make Tomura a little more than irritable. I don't know how Midoriya would take it... he is suffering from low self-esteem already, taking him out of the school may disrupt his confidence even further. I assume this isn't going to be an immediate decision."

"Of course not. However, the possibility of his return to the League as a full time member does introduce some interesting possibilities. It is only a matter of time before the heroes begin lashing out at the shadows, and it stands that they may end up striking us at the worst time..."

"Sensei, what are you planning?"

"For now? Nothing. It's too early to see what could come of the future. At the very least, it seems that we've delayed the passing on of One for All. Sir Nighteye was at the center of a media frenzy ever since he lost his student intern. He's closed down his agency as a result and now works as a consultant for other hero firms. In his correspondences with All Might, he said he wouldn't be recommending any more candidates for a while."

"I'm not surprised. When you last spoke about him, you mentioned his aversion to using his quirk. I wonder if he'll start using it more often when he tests candidates. Of course, in the case of Lemillion, it wouldn't have helped much. He knew the boy was going to die. The only thing he could have done was apprehend the killers after the fact. But he couldn't do even that; due to the number of cuts on his body they immediately deemed it a result of Stain and didn't perform an autopsy. His body was cremated recently, too. No one will know what exactly happened outside of the League."

"All Might had said he intends to focus on a candidate he found personally."

"He doesn't mean...?"

"He's likely referring to Midoriya. It's a shame he would never take the hero up on his offer, though."

"Perhaps if he could ever find the right words to say to Midoriya, that could have happened. But as it stands, the boy could barely speak about him without going into a nervous breakdown. He may be the Symbol of Peace with his power, but when it comes to his choice of words the man is a buffoon."

"That is true. I knew Yagi for quite a while, and it's just a shame that the man was cursed with a poor tongue. He's nothing like Nana. Of course, it doesn't help that his sense of self worth took a hit after our last battle. The sap can't help but feel guilty over every mistake now. Izuku may feel distraught by All Might, but the hero absolutely languishes every time he fails to make Izuku forgive him."

"Well, it doesn't matter. Izuku was lost to the hero world before All Might even entered his life. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when he finds out that his most recent failure is directly related to his biggest failure."

A/N: HOOOLY SHIIIIIT I'M ALIVE

Sorry about the ridiculous wait, there was... a lot that happened in the chapter. Well, hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a comment and thanks for your support!