Season Two, Episode XIV

An Unexpected Detour

. . .

Shisui Adachi

. . .

Ever since I started working here, I was forced into strict training. My one command was protect this bar, continue my role as the bartender, and get back into fighting shape. I was basically just a guard dog, on a really short leash. But that was fine, they weren't making any real demands... Yet.

But things were happening, things that I didn't like. The boss, the man behind the screen, he wasn't focused on us anymore. He was giving this kid, Shigaraki, more free reign and letting him decide things. It was scary, because I could tell this brat was entitled, unhinged. If I annoyed him, he might try to kill me, and he'd likely face no repercussions for it... Who the hell am I kidding? He'd probably be complimented for doing it.

However, this morning was different. We had a guest that I... Wasn't ready for. I'd seen his face all over the news, and I remember hearing about Kurogiri making contact. And here he was, answering the call. Wearing body armor, covered head to toe in all kinds of blades and knives. With that mask and red scarf, there was no mistaking him.

"Hero Killer Stain," I muttered under my breath, swallowing nervously. "Great..."

"Good to see our guest has finally arrived." Shigaraki answered, turning full attention to him while sitting on a bar stool.

"Now I get it," He said suddenly, after eyeing us all over. "You must be the ones who attacked UA," He accused, "And now you want me to join up and help rebuild your little group again."

To which the blue haired boy shrugged, "Yeah, it'll be great, you've got so much experience..."

"And what's your mission?" Stain questioned, a damn good question actually.

"For now? I really just want to kill All Might," Oh, so an easy mission. "I like to destroy anything that pisses me off, like this little brat here, game over." He held up that picture, of that young man who competed in the Sports Festival, I remember seeing him and a lot of others on the news. Why did Shigaraki hate this kid so much?

Whatever the reason, that didn't sit well with Stain. "I was a fool to think you could offer me anything." It was subtle, but his stance shifted just barely, and I could see his body tense up. My instincts told me that something was coming, he was going to attack! "It turns out, you're the type of person I hate most in this world!" He began reaching for the blades strapped to his sides, "The goals of your League are those of a child!" Gripping the handles tightly, "What meaning is there to killing if you don't have real convictions?"

"Alright," I pushed off the wall in the back. "Don't do anything stupid here blade guy..." I didn't want to fight him, but if I let this kid get hurt... The boss might take it out on Kaiji.

"No," His voice came through the speaker of the TV beside me. "Let it happen, it's possible this is the only way he'll learn..." What? "He must think about the ways he must grow, only then will he reach his potential."

And then he attacked. Throwing a knife at both me and Kurogiri, the bartender getting a single cut across the shoulder. I evidently had better reaction time, and evaded the strike. Holding my position as Shigaraki was pinned to the floor, a blade in his arm keeping him down. The boy hadn't even come close to countering the Hero Killer's incredible speed.

"So you want me to be a part of your crumbling League?" He scoffed, glaring down at him. "But you won't accomplish anything if you don't have conviction, and desire." He scolded harshly, "Without those, you'll always be an aimless weakling, achieving nothing, that's how you got here."

The way he was talking to him... I think I was starting to understand why this meeting happened. This wasn't about getting the Hero Killer to join the League, it was to give Shigaraki a reality check, and maybe temper his impulsive, violent tendencies somewhat.

And in response, the boy chuckled even as the knife in his shoulder spilled blood onto the floor. "Heh, hey now, you're being a little rough aren't you?" He asked, "Kurogiri, send this guy back."

"I'm sorry," Kurogiri winced, and I noted that he was struggling to move position at all. "I-I can't move, it must be his Quirk at work."

"The word hero has lost all meaning in this society," The Hero Killer began, "The world is overrun by fakes, and criminals like you who chase petty dreams," Slowly moving the other blade closer to Shigaraki's neck, and consequently, also getting closer to the hand attached to his face. "They must all be purged."

Before the boy moved, grabbing the Hero Killer's serrated knife with his other hand. "What do you think you're doing? You touch this palm, and I'll kill you." The knife started to crumple to dust, taking Stain off guard. "You sure talk a lot... Conviction? Maybe I don't have something as loaded as that, but if I had to choose a desire? Yeah, it'd be killing All Might... If this world wants to worship trash like him, then I'll destroy their beloved symbol of peace and then crush them while they're in shock!" He sounded absolutely manic, excited by the idea, and it was enough to give the Hero Killer pause.

He jumped back, getting clear of Shigaraki's reaching hand and allowing the boy to get up. "Hmph, I see your nature... It seems our goals fundamentally oppose one another, but this wasn't in vain." He smirked suddenly, "We both agree that we must destroy the present."

"I thought I was the kind of person you hate most, remember?" Shigaraki replied sharply.

"I was testing your motives, people always show their true colors when on the verge of death." Stain retorted, "It's abnormal, but there is desire... And a warped sprout of conviction inside of you, how will it bloom I wonder?"

I rolled my eyes, "Great, he's a poet now..." I sighed, feeling the tension break, I reached over the counter for our on-hand medkit and pulled out two rolls of bandages. I threw one at Kurogiri, "Here."

It bounced off his smokey face, "Ngh! I still can't move..."

"Oh, I know." I replied with my own smirk.

"You, woman." I turned my gaze back to Stain as he addressed me. "You lack any sort of attachment to these two in your eyes... If I'd slit his throat, you wouldn't have batted an eye," I mean, he wasn't wrong. "Are you just a hired thug here for the money? Or you just don't care who's in charge... What are you?"

A hired thug? How insulting, my fists clenched tightly. "I'm a mother, and that's all you need to know."

He quirked an eyebrow, before nodding slowly. "Of course... My business here is finished," Stain continued, "You will return me to Hosu, there are still several false heroes I must attend to there..."

. . .

Kaiji Adachi

. . .

Aizawa had us up bright and early, where we met at the school before boarding the bus that would be taking us to our training camp. He spent some time telling us how this was going to be really hard and... Stuff. I don't know, I fell asleep pretty quickly once I was on board. I thought it was kind of excessive that we had an entire bus to ourselves. I was excited for the camp, but also nervous. Considering it was Aizawa giving us this training, along with some mystery guests... Well, I was bracing myself for the worst. And focusing on moving forward.

I had to focus on what was in front of, because looking back...

It was hard not to see her face.

"Hey! Adachi," I jolted slightly, eyes opening and adjusting to the lights outside our windows. "Wake up, something's going on."

"Hmm?" I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, realizing quickly that our bus had come to a stop. We were on a long winding road on the edge of a mountain. "What? Why have we stopped?" There wasn't anything here, we weren't even at a pull off spot.

Sen was watching outside as well, "Something's blocking the road, Mr. Aizawa went to go check it out."

I nodded slowly, moving to the front of the bus. And sure enough, through our large windshield I could see a number of boulders and large trees laid down over the road ahead. "What the... Come on, lets see what's up."

I lead the way off the bus, heading for Aizawa as he stood near the fallen debris. He was on the phone, but looked towards us as we approached. "Yeah... Okay, right... We'll be right here waiting." He said into the receiver, before pulling the phone away from his face and ending the call. "Just spoke with a local hero agency, they'll send someone out to clean this up within the hour."

Something about this felt off, I noticed he was tense. "What happened? Just a landslide?" I asked, though looking up the rest of the cliff side I didn't see any signs of that kind of natural event...

"No," Sen shook her head as she approached one of the boulders. "These markings... This didn't fall down a mountain side, this was ripped from the ground and put her on purpose."

"Very observant," Aizawa nodded, "Apparently criminals in these parts have been leaving blockades like this along the roads, and then stealing from the cars that get stopped once enough pile up." Before looking around at the roads, "Looks like we're the only one's here, but lets get back on the bus just to be safe..."

I swallowed nervously, "So, we might run into a real villain out here?"

"Criminals and villains are two very different things." He corrected, "This seems more like a group of thugs throwing some weight around with a strength quirk, if anything happens I'll handle it."

Right, he was the Pro Hero here after all. "Okay." I nodded, heading back to the bus with the others. Once inside, I moved back over to the seat where most of my things were stored for the trip. While Suru and Sen returned to their seats as well, the former kicking back to relax while Sen watched out the windows diligently.

Out of curiosity, I pulled out the regional map from my bag. It had our destination marked, and I blinked in surprise. "Oh, we're only about fifteen miles from the camp."

To which Aizawa sighed, "Yeah, we might even be there already if it wasn't for this..."

"H-Hey!" Sen exclaimed suddenly, rising from her seat. "Somebody is standing up the mountain!"

"What?" I blinked, starting to move as well.

"Everyone stay seated!" Aizawa ordered sharply, moving towards the window. "Where do you see- There, okay..." He narrowed his eyes, and I followed his gaze trying to get some kind of inclination as to who it was.

My eyes widened as I finally laid eyes on her, seeing a woman wearing what appeared to be baggy black and white pants and a tube top along with a white and black kabuki mask, bracers guarding her arms as well. The entire outfit, along with her hair, was divided down the middle with one side being black and the other white. Her feet were bare, as she finally reached the base of the mountain and stepped onto the road.

"So uh..." Suru even sounded nervous, "That wouldn't happen to be the heroes would it?"

Suddenly, the woman's body bulked up. Muscles forming on her once slender form, as long sharp bovine horns grew from her head. Without warning, she charged the broadside of the bus with surprising speed. "Dammit! My quirk is working on her!" Aizawa cursed, looking to the rest of us. "Everyone HANG ON!"

The entire bus rocked as she slammed into it. Metal screeching as her horns pierced it with ease, and after one lurch of the frame I could feel the entire vehicle being pushed! Sen seemed to realize what I did, as we started pushing against the guard rail. "She's trying to send us over the edge!"

I felt my heart clench with fear, eyes widening as the bus began to tilt and the guard rail gave way. My mind racing as we began to tip over the edge, "Suru!" I blurted out suddenly, "Can you teleport us out!?"

"N-Not while we're tumbling!"

"Brace yourselves!" Aizawa shouted, before we finally tilted too far. And with a violent, thunderous crash, we were sent tumbling over the edge. Our bus rolling down the cliffside into the forest below.