Due to current complications caused by the pandemic, this chapter's pre-chapter extra will be postponed until further notice. In the meantime, please enjoy our selection of bootleg royalty free songs as you will be shortly guided to the actual chapter.
-Australia by Tutu (Sample: I bless the weather of Austraaaaalia )
-Victorian Rhetoric by King (Sample: Papaaaaaa just killed some guyyyyy ... stabbed his torso with a knife, did it 12 times and then he died )
- Sweet home West Virginia by John Skynyrd (Sample: Sweet home West Virginia! Where Mountain Mama is so green!)
"Suspended!? Both of you!?" Exclaimed Ochaco and Toga in unison as the two waited for Izuku at the exit of the principal's office.
"Yup, for about 3 days." Replied Izuku, "5 for Katsuki."
"But he actually tried to kill you! This isn't fair!" Exclaimed Ochaco, "Had All Might not intervened, there's be a chance you'd not even come back alive!"
"Well, I'm alive, aren't I?" Asked Izuku.
"You seem awful fine with the news." Said Toga, surprised at how nonchalant Izuku was about the whole situation.
"To be honest, I was getting tired of seeing that annoying ear to ear grin from All Might anyways." Replied Izuku in a tone such that only Toga was able to hear, "3 days should be enough for me to get some fresh air."
As Izuku walked towards the school's exit, Toga gazed at him as his figure got more and more distant. Deep down, despite the front he puts up, the girl could tell that he was forcing himself to smile at every occasion. While she herself has no direct grudge against the pro heroes of the school, she knew that the boy currently walking off must've been exhausted in such an environment. And Katsuki knowing him and constantly antagonising him, perhaps this whole infiltration plan was coming apart faster than the two had anticipated.
This was especially hard on Toga because, in the months she spent working with Izuku, she knew what he was like when it came to his work. He worked best when he was in charge of his own plans and hated working under someone. This infiltration plan was not only not something he thought up of, but it was also one he relunctantly joined because the end result appealed to him. If he wasn't gonna perform with 100% of his effort, the chances of their operation getting exposed was ever so more likely.
While she trusted All For One, being that he does seem to have far more experience than Izuku, whom was less experienced than even her considering how long she had been avoiding the law, her loyalties, much like most of the current League of Villains members, still lie with Izuku, so if he wanted to pull back from a plan before it crashed and burned, they would follow suit. Because of this, she knew she get Izuku to either fully commit to the plan or pull back before it was too late.
Quickly running up to Izuku, Toga made sure no one was in hearing distance, and started to express her concerns.
"Are you sure we can really pull this off?" Asked Toga, cutting right to the chase.
"What do you mean? I've act as the 'innocent boy who can do no wrong' all the time when I'm at home, it's not much different here." Replied Izuku.
"I know, but look at you! Only a week in and you already got a broken hand, burns and even bitten! Not only that, but All Might, being the one who personally imposed this suspension on the two of you, sees you as one of the main troublemakers now instead of the ideal host for his quirk! Don't you think it's time we... pull back?" Asked Toga, "I fear that if this keeps up, not only will our plans be exposed, but the fate of the entire league will be jeopardized!"
However, that was when Izuku flashed a confident smile.
"Tell me Toga, what will me and Katsuki be missing in the following 3 days?" Asked Izuku out of the blue.
Toga, giving him a confused look, decided to respond anyways, as the confidence in his voice was something she had become familiar with over the past months during missions.
"Well, nothing much, a few lectures here and there, a pop quiz the day after tomorrow and the school trip to the Unforseen Simulation Joint." Replied Toga, until something hit her, "The... Unforseen... Simulation Joint..."
"A villain attack staged on such a secure location requires several days of planning ahead, Toga-chan." Said Izuku, "Something I wouldn't have the luxury of having if I had so much schoolwork ahead of me. Since I'm suspended, I'll have the perfect alibi on the off chance someone does suspect me, and as a bonus, I'd be able to personally oversee the entire operation from my own home via video cameras, ditching the need for you serving as my body double or the risk of using Twice Clones."
"And since Katsuki's also suspended..." Toga realized.
"The only person that could possibly recognize me will not be present at the event, not to mention that since our fight lead to a suspension, the school board will most likely keep the two of us as separate as possible for the rest of the school year, eliminating any future disruption on his part." Izuku finished his explanation.
Looking over to Toga, he could see the astonished look on her face.
"Toga, you seem to be misunderstanding me when you claimed I'm not taking this mission seriously." Said Izuku, towering over her, "So I'm gonna clarify this to you, I'm always serious when it comes to getting the job done."
Izuku walked off after giving his explanation, leaving Toga stunned with astonishment as she gazed at him with newfound admiration.
"I really wish I could see that side of him more often." She said to herself, blushing.
Meanwhile, with Izuku, the boy called to the rest of the league on his phone, informing them of the change of plans. The field trip was next Monday, and with his suspension's tail end being Friday, it gave him a solid 5 days worth of planning time, which was perfect, as all the pieces were already set for him. He had the manpower with the leftover villains from the entrance exam, the location and data on all heroes thanks to Toga and three different layers of precaution under the form of Shigaraki, Twice and Toga. All he had to do was play them correctly to checkmate the heroes.
"There's only one loose end to tie up now..." Izuku said to himself.
"I can't believe this!" Exclaimed Inko as soon as she was made aware of the news, "Barely a week in and you already got into a fight!? With Katsuki of all people!?"
"He had it coming." Grunted Izuku, "You should've been there, said some of the most horrible stuff to me."
"But still! Wasn't he your childhood friend!? How could you do such a thing to him?!" Asked Inko, "Rather, how could he do such a thing to you!?"
"He hasn't been my friend for years, mom." Answered Izuku in a frustrated tone, agitated to hear Katsuki being brought up as his friend, "We... we don't get along anymore."
Despite this being fact for over a decade now, the news hit Inko hard, as her eyes widened in shock of the revelation Izuku brought upon her.
"But you never told me..." Said Inko, "But I thought... then again... all those times you... you said you were just clumsy and tripped."
"I'm sorry mom..." Apologized Izuku, "I know how much you and auntie Mitsuki got along and I didn't want your problems to mess with your friendship."
Inko looked down, her face giving off a saddened expression.
"Izuku, I'm worried." She said in a concerned tone, "I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a while now, this feeling I've got. You've been going out more and more now Izuku and I just feel as though we're growing more and more distant."
Izuku nodded, understanding very well what his mom must've been feeling at this very moment.
"Isn't it good though?" Asked Izuku, "You've always looked at me with sorry eyes whenever you see me play alone at playgrounds, when you'd have to be the one to push me on the swings because no one ever does, and it's not like you've never met my friends either, heck, you've shown one of them my baby pictures."
"That is true." Said Inko, "I've kept telling myself to chin up and be happy that my baby boy is finally making friends, finally happy. Yet, I can't stop shaking off this feeling that something just isn't right, like you're hiding something you can't share with me, doing something behind my back."
"Maybe that's all there is to it, unnecessary fears." Reassured Izuku, "Maybe you're just not used to me being with other people because I've been such a loner all these years."
"Perhaps." Inko replied with a solemn tone, "Still, for you and little Bakugo to be on such bad terms. And here I thought you would have been excited to have him be in the same class as you."
"I'm sorry for hiding that fact from you mom, I... I didn't want you to feel bad about me." Said Izuku, his voice wracked with guilt.
"I'm your mother for crying out loud!" Exclaimed Inko upon hearing this, "There's nothing to feel good about in lying about your happiness! How do you think I feel now that I know you two aren't friends and haven't been friends for years!? What happened between the two of you?! Why has he stopped liking you?! Did it have anything to do with the fight the two of you just got into?"
"Kacchan despises the fact that I'm quirkless." Answered Izuku, "He doesn't think highly of me because I lack powers."
"That's it!? The two of you got into a spat because you're quirkless!?" Inko exclaimed, "How could he?! I knew he was a highly competitive kid but I never pictured him as a bully! Oh please don't tell me he bullied you."
Izuku gave no response. Inko knew exactly what that meant.
"How long?" She asked in a soft tone, "How long has he been hurting you?"
No response.
"Izuku, I'm begging you, I'm trying to help you! Tell me how long!" She begged.
"Ever since I discovered I had no quirk." Izuku relunctantly answered, unable to withstand the agony behind her pleas, "He's been picking on me ever since I was diagnosed as Quirkless."
Inko went silent. Biting her lower lips, her eyes anxiously quivering over the news, Izuku lowered his head in shame.
"All this time..." She suddenly spoke up, "All this time you were suffering and you just hid it from me."
No response.
"I thought I made it clear Izuku, I thought I was the one you would always rely on whenever you felt down, the person who believed in you and supported you no matter what!" She exclaimed, "How could you!? How could you hide such a thing from me!?"
"Because you wouldn't understand!" Izuku exclaimed, "I can't rely on you forever! Kacchan's my problem and thus I should be the one to deal with it! There are simply things in life that can't be solved by more than one person!"
"But I could have helped you! I could have talked to Mitsuki about this! We could have worked something out!" Exclaimed Inko.
"I don't need your damn help!" Izuku growled, slamming his palm on the table, "We got into a fight and both got suspended, end of story!"
A shadow loomed over Inko's eyes. All of a sudden, she got up and, in a fraction of a second, slapped Izuku across the face. The sound reverberated across the room and Izuku keeled over from the pain, looking at his mother in shock.
"Don't talk to me with that tone, young man." said Inko, her eyes lighting up with anger.
"M-Mom?" Izuku uttered out in pure shock.
"You're the same as him..." She muttered, clenching her fist.
"W-what are you talking about?" Izuku asked, confused.
"Always turning away help, as if you trusted no one, not even your own loved one, always hiding things behind their back..." Inko continued.
"Mom, tell me what's going on?" Izuku asked again, placing his palm on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" She suddenly snapped, giving Izuku a backhanded slap that was so strong, it knocked him into a nearby coffee table several feet away.
Suddenly, Inko snapped out of her anger, realizing what she had done, as she quickly ran towards Izuku, who got up rather quickly despite the hit being much stronger than most punches he had taken.
"Oh my god Izuku, my baby, I'm so sorry!" Inko exclaimed in a apologetic tone, her eyes tearing up as she approached him.
Izuku on the other hand rubbed his lip around the spot where he was hit, as blood flowed steadily out of a freshly inflicted wound.
"So it's like that huh?" Izuku muttered.
"Izuku, I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me, please..." Inko pleaded.
Izuku looked at her for a brief moment with apathetic eyes, before walking past her without saying a single word.
"Izuku, where are you going?" Inko asked, trying to catch up to him as he got to the door.
"I'm heading out for a long walk" Replied Izuku, "Don't bother following me, you'll only make things worse."
However, before Izuku could make it past the door, Inko said something that caught his attention.
"Have I ever told you about your father?" Asked Inko, "About who he really was? What he did?"
Izuku quickly turned around, intrigued to know more about him, as his name has been popping up more and more ever since he became a villain. Returning inside, the two sat down as Inko wasted no time to tell him what she knew about him.
"Hisashi was a brilliant man, absolutely genius, but what really drew me to him was his determination." Inko started, "When we met, he was a student at U.A, in the support department, top of his class even, and when he graduated, he had started "Bluejay", one of the most successful companies in all of Japan."
Inko's eyes lowered for a brief moment, as if some horrid memories had just sprung to mind.
"However, something he was also known for was his stubborness. He was notorious in his class for not viewing anyone as his equal, not even his own teacher. He'd often work alone and anyone who ends up as his partner he'd essentially treat them as though they worked for him or if they were mindless drones. Simply put, he wasn't the most pleasant person to work with." She continued to explain, "It was as if he believed that the world was out to get him or something, he just didn't trust anyone."
"Then why did the two of you get together then?" Asked Izuku.
"Because I thought it was just his work." Replied Inko, "I thought he was the type of person who keeps his work life and family life separate, the kind of person that loves his family more than anyone else. Little did I know, he hid things behind my back as well, things that, in the end, became his own downfall."
Izuku clenched his fist in frustration.
"Could you maybe elaborate?" Asked Izuku, "I was hoping you'd tell me about my dad, but all you're doing is giving vague answers! What did he hide from you!? What killed him!?"
"I... I can't say..." Replied Inko, "Not now Izuku, you're not ready..."
"I need to know mom! Please!" Exclaimed Izuku, "You just got mad at me for hiding stuff from you, why can't you open up to me then!?"
"Because I don't want you to suffer from the truth!" Inko exclaimed, before realizing her own hypocrisy, "I... I hid your father's truth because... I didn't want to hurt you..."
"I guess we aren't so different after all." Said Izuku solemnly, "So please tell me! Tell me what happened to my father."
Letting out a sigh, Inko gave him info that she had been holding on for nearly a decade.
"Your father's company became successful because he consorted with a powerful villain leader." Explained Inko, "A person named All For One."
Izuku's eyes widened in shock. He knew that whatever his father did, there must've been something shady going on in the backdrop, but this reveal changes everything. Did All For One know he was the son of a man who used to work for him? Was he being used? Was his father being used?
"Don't tell me... my dad was killed by this... All For One?" Asked Izuku, feigning ignorance.
Inko shook her head.
"I'm not sure what really happened the day your father died." Said Inko, "Memories of that day are... fuzzy, like a dream I only recently woke up from. Nothing is really known about what happened that day on Miyako island."
"Miyako island? What was dad doing there?" Asked Izuku, "And were you there when it happened?"
"I was." Replied Inko, "He was hosting a congratulation party for All Might, who had just reached the rank of number 1 hero at the time. I recall many heroes attending, even some of teachers from U.A. However, because Hisashi had been working with All For One behind everyone's back, it had turned out that the party was actually a ploy to lure all heroes to that secluded island to be taken out all at once. Mass fighting insued and... well after that, it was all a blur for me. I can't recall much, but..."
She lifted her sweater up, showing Izuku the massive scar on her belly.
"I woke up in a hospital with a hole in through my stomach. The doctors say I barely made it out alive. I was only about 1 week pregnant with you at the time, so my womb hadn't fully developped yet. The fact that I had you at all was a miracle." she explained, "As for your father, no one knows how he died or who killed him. The news and media for whatever reason covered up both the incident and the company's entire existence shortly after. There were barely any survivors from back then, but the ones who are still alive will all give you a different answer as to who exactly killed Hisashi. Some say he died in the crossfire, other say it was All Might, others All For One, no one knows for sure."
Clenching her fist, Inko looked at Izuku with eyes full of resolve.
"I trusted Hisashi, loved him, and in return he ends the lives of hundreds behind my back and puts both my life and yours in danger in the process." She said, "That is why I don't want it happening again with you. Please, Izuku, if there is anything else you're hiding from me, please tell me, I won't let anyone else know, I promise."
Hearing this story, Izuku almost told her everything he had done in the past year. However, despite it all, he stood true to his friends and, with a heavy heart, lied once more.
"No, there's nothing." He answered.
A look of relief washed over Inko as she spoke in a calmer tone.
"I know that this is a lot to process." She said, "Take your time, ask me as many questions as you'd like, you deserve to know that much."
"No..." Replied Izuku, "I'm just going to bed. It's been a long day."
"Alright..." Replied Inko, "Goodnight, my baby boy..."
"Goodnight mom..." Said Izuku, as he walked off to his room.
However, as soon as he was gone, Inko walked towards the wall, as she pressed into it, revealing a secret compartment which opened, presenting her with an old hero license.
"I still didn't have it in me..." She said to herself, "I still couldn't tell him the full truth."
On the license, it read "Holder's name: Inko Hanayuki (This was before she got married)"
"But maybe it's for the better." She said, as she started to take the other contents of the safe out one by one, most of them being photos, "Maybe it's time to let go of the past."
Walking towards the drawer, she took out a lighter and started to set fire to the photos one by one. One by one, they begun to burn to ash. Photos of Hisashi, of their honeymoon, of the house they bought in Tokyo and, lastly, the ones that she owned from the Miyaki island incident. One by one, they begun to burn to ash.
After a long day of running his ramen shop, Tom had finally reached closing hour after sitting through nearly an hour of a certain blond haired U.A student ranting at how he was suspended after getting into a fight while scarfing down his "Hell's kiss" bowl, which was the spiciest item his restaurant offered, with the smell alone scoring a 3.7 million on the Scoville scale. After closing hours, he would usually head out to a nearby convenience store and buy a cheap beer and some dried squid jerky and head back home and fall asleep watching weird Japanese game shows.
However, this time around, he found after arriving to the doorstep of his house his door swinging wide open, the lock having been smashed open. While normal people would try to signal the police when something like this happened, Tom simply let out an annoyed sigh, as he walked into the house as if nothing happened.
"Alright, come out whoever you are, if you put everything back in it's original place you'll only spend 1 week in the emergency room." Threatened Tom as he walked in, ready to beat up whoever was foolish enough to break into his house.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard from his kitchen, as he quickly rushed in to check out on the possible intruder. As he got to the kitchen, he saw the silhouette of a rather bulky man, attempting to escape through this window. However, as soon as he turned on the lights, his eyes widened for a split second, surprised by who it was, before a sigh of disappointment followed.
"What the hell are you doing?" Asked Tom.
As the man, a lad aged around his late twenties with a strong, bulky frame and short spike blond hair, realized he was caught, he closed the window and turned around with an annoyed look on his face.
"Hey dad." The man muttered.
Taking notice at his face, Tom walked up to him.
"Keiji, what in the world happened to your face?" He asked, gazing at the massive scar and fake eye that decorated the man's face.
"It's nothing." Keiji muttered.
"You go missing for nearly 10 whole years and the day you decided to come back you show up with a missing eye and a scarred face?" Asked Tom, "That's clearly not nothing!"
"I got into a little brawl with some heroes, that's all." Replied the man, trying to hide the duffel bag stuffed with money behind his back.
Tom gave him a concerned scowl.
"Son, please, you can't keep doing this." Said Tom, "You can't make the same mistakes I've made..."
"Mistakes!? What mistakes!? Because as far as I can tell, you seem to be living the good life as it is right now!" Exclaimed Keiji, "So what, you can be an infamous villain that basked in the glory of his accomplishments and then retire to a quiet life as a shop owner and I can't!?"
"We've been over this, Keiji, times were different back then." Reasoned Tom, "Things were more chaotic, more disorganized, most people like me chose this retired life because we knew times were changing and our old lifestyle wouldn't be able to hold up. You can't seek out the glory we obtained because there's none left to earn."
"Speak for yourself dad!" Exclaimed Keiji, "In case you haven't noticed, I've been classified an A-rank criminal just like you! They call me the Carnal Murderer: Muscular!"
"Oh Keiji, oh god no..." Tom said in a muffled voice, as he dug his face into his hand in shame, "Please, you have to understand that this isn't the right path you're taking. Please, I'm begging you, stop before it's too late..."
Muscular gave him a scornful face.
"Oh I see, you don't think I'm strong enough to live up to your infamous reputation." Said Muscular, "Makes sense, you used to trade blows with All Might after all."
"Keiji, whatever it is you think you're doing, don't do it." Warned Tom.
"Hey! I know, I'll just have to pick a fight with the old bear." Muscular declared, slamming his fist into his palm, "Trust me dad, you're gonna cry of envy when you see my face on the news!"
"Keiji Takaguchi! Stop right there and listen to me for one god damn second!" Yelled Tom, losing his patience.
"Listen to what!?" Muscular yelled back, "Listen to what dad!? Listen to you judging me and my interests!? Listen to you pretending to be ashamed over your past!? I thought parents were supposed to support their child no matter what! So what have you been doing instead of telling me no!?"
"I'm trying to keep you safe!" Tom yelled back.
"Then tell me what you want me to do!" Muscular exclaimed, "Tell me what I, the son of an infamous villain with an extensive criminal history, should be doing with this life you claim I'm wasting!"
Tom went silent.
"Come on! I'm all ears right here." Muscular continued to exclaim.
"I... I don't know." Tom muttered out.
"Oh, I'm sorry, come again?" Said Muscular, leaning in with a passive aggressive voice, "Tell me how I SHOULD be spending this life of mine."
"I DON'T KNOW OKAY!?" Tom exclaimed, "But not this... Not this..."
Hearing this, Muscular walked right past him, not even looking back.
"How pathetic you're become dad." He said, walking out the front door.
However, on his way, after about 5 minutes of walking, he came across a shadowy figure in the street. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the man had a disembodied hand on his face.
"I overheard your conservation with pops." Said the man.
"Who the fuck are you?" Asked Muscular, "You got a fucking problem?"
Looking up at him, the man flashed a psychotic smile under his mask.
"So I heard you wanted a shot at All Might, correct?"
To Be Continued...
