Beta'd by kylekatarn 77 and Poliamida
31. The Grand Illusion
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
-Yiddish Proverb
With the footage of their exploits at Kamino still vivid in their minds, Izuku and Class 1A could only sit and try to understand just what was happening to them. Heroes? It felt as though they should be arrested, not lauded. Even if they had managed to save Mei and All Might.
"So, what? You're not expelling us?" Kaminari asked, sounding hopeful.
Mr. Aizawa sighed heavily. "No, you're not being expelled."
"Wait, so, what exactly is going to happen to us?" Hagakure asked. "I mean, the paperwork might say we didn't break any laws, but you still know we did."
"Unfortunately, you're all about to be punished far more harshly than even the law could manage, woof. What we're going to ask of you is something I feel uncomfortable asking of such young people, even those who have proven themselves to be capable heroes," Chief Tsuragamae told them.
"We'll go over later just how reckless you all were, and the several dozen ways you could have gotten yourselves killed," Mr. Aizawa added. "But right now, what matters is, in the eyes of the public, you're not reckless highschoolers, you're the heroes who saved All Might."
"And me!" Mei added.
The police chief nodded. "Indeed. You have all proven that you're capable, if reckless, heroes, woof. However, there is still the small matter of the fact that none of you actually have hero licenses. But that's an issue for later, woof. For now, I think it best to brief you on what comes next."
"First things first: in a few minutes, you'll all be participating in a press conference," Mr. Aizawa informed them. "We've held them off as long as we can, but the media and public are in a frenzy to get to know all of you. So, we're going to give them what they want. Your costumes are in the other room, repaired and restored for you to change into."
"What about Mei?" Izuku asked.
"She's taken care of. The media...well, let's just say you're about to get a rude introduction to the world of celebrity, Midoriya," Aizawa informed him.
"Fine, we have to talk to the press," Shinso said with a shrug. "But you made it sound like there was something else?"
"Society now is on the brink, woof," the police chief informed them. "Villain groups, like the League of Villains, have gone quiet for the moment, but they're still out there. And you have all just become priority targets, woof. As such, you'll all be living at UA from now on."
"What?! Are you crazy? Our parents will never agree to that!" Ashido protested.
"They already did," Mr. Aizawa informed them. "We talked to them while you were all in the hospital, recovering. Some of them weren't exactly thrilled, but they all agreed that it's safest for you and for your loved ones if you stay in a secure location. I hate to tell you this, but that's how it is for a lot of heroes. We're always a target."
"Does that mean I can live in the workshop?!" Mei demanded eagerly, leaning forward.
"I have been informed by Mr. Maijima that you are, under no circumstances, allowed to live in the workshop," Mr. Aizawa stated. "You'll be living with your sister."
"What?! I still have to live at home when they all get to live at UA?!" Mei demanded.
"Sorry sis, not quite." Izuku turned to see Hari entering the room from the far door, from which the loud buzz of conversation came until she shut it behind her. Instead of her normal grungy mechanics clothes, goggles, and ballcap, she was dressed in formal office wear; a blouse, skirt, stockings, no eyewear and her hair done up neatly in a bun. Izuku realized she was even wearing heels and some jewelry, which was highly unusual for her. "Um, Mr. Aizawa? They're getting kinda restless out there. Might want to hurry things up…"
"Hari!" Mei said, jumping up and running over to her sister to give her a big hug.
"Hey sis," Hari said, kissing the top of Mei's head. "Guess you're stuck with me. I'll be living on campus as well. I um, well, I maybe talked to a few reporters and got myself affiliated with you hooligans, and then this weird guy came after me, and well, here I am."
"A member of a militant villain group tried to assault your sister. Fortunately, there was an officer nearby to prevent the incident, woof," the police chief told Mei.
"You're working at the school now?" Jiro asked, smiling broadly. "That's cool!"
"Yeah, thankfully I only have to play dress-up like this today," Hari said, making a face. "Mr. Aizawa? We really should get them changed."
"Fine. Boys through that door, girls over there," Mr. Aizawa said, nodding towards two doors to the side. "You've got five minutes."
Izuku and the rest of the boys piled into the dressing room, where they found their costumes neatly hung in a row for them. There was even one for Izuku that had a pink and green pattern on it that strongly resembled the Power Suit from the Sports Festival. There was a note pinned on it in Hari's blocky and cramped hand. "Best we could do on short notice. Hope it fits! Your mom made it special for you. -HH"
It took only a short time for everyone to get changed, then they hurried back out to the conference room. Izuku saw Mei standing by her sister, and it made his breath catch in his chest. Mei was dressed similarly to Hari, though she had apparently insisted on wearing her goggles which were grossly out of place with the rest of her stylish ensemble.
"Mei, you look great!" Izuku said, going over to her with a wide grin.
"Well I don't like it, it's not comfortable," Mei grumbled, tugging at her stockings until Hari touched her arm. "I don't like dresses."
"Hey, Hatsume, looking good!" Ashido said, coming over and giving her a big thumbs up. "Midoriya looks impressed too! You should wear skirts more often, they suit you!"
"No, they don't, I like pants," Mei declared. She frowned at Izuku. "I want a costume like Izuku and the others have."
"You're not a hero sis, so you're stuck like I am," Hari informed her.
Mei harrumphed. "Well maybe I SHOULD be a hero, if it means I don't have to wear dresses. Jiro and Ashido don't have to wear dresses! Invisible Girl doesn't have to wear anything at all! That looks much more comfortable!"
"As much as Midoriya might appreciate that, the rest of us wouldn't," Mr. Aizawa said, which made Izuku go bright crimson. "All right, let's get this over with."
As soon as Mr. Aizawa led them out the rear of the conference room, Izuku was nearly blinded as dozens of cameras flashed, and deafened as reporters from across the nation and world stood and started yelling questions. He glanced at Mei, but she simply looked irritated at her clothes still. They were led to a row of chairs, and where Togata was already waiting dressed in his Lemillion costume.
"About time you guys showed up! They've been grilling me for hours!" he laughed.
"It's been only 10 minutes," All Might said from his seat next to the young hero. He smiled and waved at the others, which was slightly creepy considering he was still in his near skeletal state. "Good to see you all again. And thank you. You really did save my life. I don't know if what you did was brave or crazy, but-"
"What?" Mei half shouted. "I can't hear you, it's too loud!" She suddenly turned to the reporters, sticking both fingers in her mouth and letting out a piercing whistle. The questions suddenly died, the press looking shocked. "Hey, be quiet, All Might's trying to talk!" Mei barked.
To Izuku's amazement, the reporters muttered a few apologies, but did in fact fall silent.
"Um, thank you, Hatsume," All Might said. "Togata, if you would."
"Sure, All Might," Togata agreed quietly. He got up, pushing All Might's wheelchair to the center of the stage.
"Thank you all for coming here today," All Might said, his voice weak and slightly breathy, as if he couldn't get a lung full of air. "I'd like to open this with a very sincere thank you to all these young heroes." Togata turned All Might, who gave the 1st years a seated bow. "Without all of you, I'd be dead now. And the League of Villains and their master would still be loose, doing who knows what. You've done what I had only dreamed you could: You've grown into fine young heroes, and you've stepped up to take my place."
Slowly, Togata turned All Might back around. The old hero sighed heavily. "I hate to start what should be a celebration of these fine young men and women out on a sour note, but well, it has to be this way. As many of you have suspected since the Kamino Incident, I'm officially retiring. I can no longer fulfill my duties as a hero. This...this is hard for me to admit, but my time as the Number 1 Hero is at an end. However, I haven't given up the fight completely. I may no longer be able to be an active hero, but I will be working alongside these young heroes, and the rest of UA School's Hero Courses to prepare them for their own futures as heroes."
Izuku felt tears welling up in his eyes, and wiped at them, sniffling. He glanced at his classmates, and saw that they too were all emotionally wrought. Even Bakugo was looking down, a tear trickling down his cheek, while others like Uraraka and Kirishima were openly weeping. Tears were streaming silently down Togata's cheeks, his lips trembling as he attempted to maintain a stiff upper lip, and Hari was blowing her nose loudly into a stained hanky she'd pulled from somewhere. The only one who appeared to be relatively unconcerned was Mei, who simply appeared worried for Izuku.
"Are you OK?" Mei asked, touching Izuku's arm. "Do you need a hug?"
"Yeah, yeah maybe I do," Izuku admitted, closing his eyes as more tears fell. Mei's arms wrapped around him, and for a moment Izuku let himself mourn the passing of the greatest hero the world had known.
The entire press conference came to a grinding halt, as even the reporters were overcome. None of them were dry eyed, and several were crying even harder than the teens on stage. Even the normally stoic Aizawa looked deeply disturbed, and Izuku saw him wipe away a stray tear or two. After a few minutes, Togata wheeled All Might back off to the side.
"Well, um, I think all we can say is thank you, All Might," Present Mic said from the MC's podium, sounding far more subdued than he usually did.
"You can count on us sir!" Iida said, suddenly standing and applauding. "Thank you, All Might!"
Izuku surged to his feet as well, clapping his hand against his leg for the beaten but not defeated former hero. All Might bowed his head as the rest of the class cheered and whooped, giving one last standing ovation for the man that had inspired them all. The reporters joined in as well, their tears forgotten as they celebrated the life of the man who had given everything for the common good. All Might bowed his head, weeping openly and unashamedly. After another minute of cheers, the students quieted themselves, sitting back down.
"Thank you," All Might said, his voice cracked and broken. "It...it means a lot. I know people appreciate what I've done, but...but it does this old man's heart good to see you smiling again. But please, this isn't my day. Your sun is rising, and we're here to celebrate you. Now, I think these fine ladies and gentlemen had some questions?"
The reporters broke into shouts again, only for Mei to stand and whistle again. She glared at all of them as they abruptly fell silent. "Do you not have any social skills!? Raise your hands! Have none of you been at a school before!? You raise your hands and wait for the teacher!"
Sheepishly, one of the reporters raised their hand, and Mei pointed at them. "Yes?"
"Um, well, I just wanted to ask, how did you do it? How did you all save All Might?"
"I don't know that. Izuku! How did you save me and All Might?" Mei demanded.
Izuku stood shakily, and Present Mic gestured for him to come up to the microphones. Nervously, Izuku gripped the side of the podium, looking out at the reporters.
"Well, um, you see, it was what we had to do," Izuku said nervously. "I, um, I think maybe Bakugo could answer that question the best?"
"You were the first one to charge, du-Midoriya," Bakugo said, folding his arms over his chest. "Why'd you jump out like an id-like that?"
"W-well, I mean," Izuku looked down, swallowing, but then he glanced to the side at Mei, who was smiling at him. "I saw Mei. And I saw All Might, trying desperately to save her. And...and he was alone. He was fighting against some of the strongest villains I've ever heard of, and he was doing it alone. I couldn't just sit there and watch him die. Watch Mei die. So...so I did what I had to. And I charged in. And then...and then everyone else followed me. Um, why did you guys do that?"
Kirishima stood up, stepping up to the microphone, and Izuku gratefully stepped aside and sat back down.
"The fact is, we all admire All Might," Kirishima said, putting his hand to his heart. "We all look up to him. I mean, who doesn't? The man's a legend! To finally get to see him in action myself, it was awesome! But then, well, you all saw what happened. That big villain, All For One? Well, he'd be enough for anybody to handle! But All Might had him! But then there were all those other guys! Moonfish, Shiguraki, Dabi, Twice, Compress, you know, some of the scariest villains ever! And I'm not gonna lie to you: I was too scared to move."
"But then, well, I saw Midoriya charging. You guys might not know this, but well, he's kinda crazy. Crazy brave and awesome! But anyway, when I saw him charging, I knew we had to do something. And Iida was the man with the plan! You tell them what happened, class rep."
"Um, well, it was quite simple," Iida explained as he came forward. "We've practiced together before, you know. And fought together, at the USJ and at the Training Camp. We knew each other's abilities, and Midoriya had formed the basis of a plan already, I simply modified it. I would rush in to save Midoriya and All Might, while those with ranged quirks laid down suppressing fire on the enemy, and then our frontline fighters would advance, forming a screen while we fell back. We'd strike hard, then retreat, falling back until reinforcements arrived. And everyone performed most admirably!"
Iida started to go on at length, until Mei cut him off and pushed him away from the mic. "That answered your question! Next! Yes, you!"
"How confident are you in UA's ability to see to your own personal safety, and those of other students?"
Mei shrugged. "Well, I didn't die, and Izuku and everyone else rescued me and beat up the bad guys, so pretty good. I don't know, what do you think, Jiro and Ashido?"
"UA is totally badass!" Ashido declared, jumping up to the mike. "They've taught us so much in only a semester! I'm ten times the fighter I used to be!"
"It's not UA's job to keep us safe. We're not china dolls or some crap like that they're gonna set on a shelf and keep safe or whatever," Jiro added, leaning against the podium. "We're going to be heroes! They don't keep us safe, they teach us how to keep ourselves safe. You saw us in action! You think we can't handle ourselves?"
"'Cause if you do you're totally blind!" Ashido added with a wide grin. "Yo, you're up again Mei!"
"How do you feel about the fact that Izuku Midoriya was originally barred from attending the hero course?"
"That's a stupid question," Mei said. "Obviously our super cute babies would have smashed all those robots and Izuku would have been in the hero class. But! I got to have a friend in class and that was nice. Hey! Shinso wasn't in the hero course either! Shinso, come tell them why that was so dumb!"
Shinso slouched up to the mic, his hands in his pockets. His hero costume was a dark jumpsuit with a hood and mask with Mei's voice modulator built in, though he had both lowered at the moment. "Look, it is what it is. What matters is that UA recognized Midoriya's talent, and mine. Like they say, don't judge a book by its cover. And they're not the only one's who've screwed up along the way. I've managed that myself. So I can't blame them too much. Besides, it worked out. Just imagine what would have happened if that insane suit of his was a little less powerful? His time in the support class did us all good. So quit whining about the past. Just focus on the future."
"Yes, no whining! My dad hates that! Right Hari?" Mei said.
Hari hid her mouth behind her hands, though Izuku could tell she was grinning widely.
"Anyway, I want a better question. You!"
"Is it true you and young Midoriya are lovers?"
"We do play baseball sometimes. It's pretty fun, everyone should try it once or twice," Mei said. "Right Izuku?"
"Um, s-s-sure," Izuku stammered.
That answer left all the reporters looking mystified, which made Izuku feel grateful.
"That was also a dumb question. No one has asked a single one about my babies! I am very disappointed in all of you. You'd better start asking better ones or we're all going to get bored. We're still hurt and stuff. So, anyone have any good questions?"
"How exactly did you create that robotic suit and the rest of that support gear?"
"Finally! A good question! Izuku! Tell them about how we make all our babies!"
"Um, well, Mei's always been a really good inventor," Izuku said, feeling nervous now that everyone was looking at him again. "And well, she made some cool gear for everyone else. Kaminari! You tell them."
"What, me?" Kaminari shrugged and stood. "Look, Hatsume's like, crazy smart. I talked to some of the other kids in the support course, and she totally built the original version of that thing in her garage or something with just Midoriya and a box of scraps! I can't even figure out how to put together lego sets unless I read the directions like five times, so how does she do it? Heck if I know! But they made this totally awesome collar for me, see?"
Kaminari took off his capacitor band and held it up. "So, like, when I use my electricity and stuff it's pretty random, and it can actually fry my own brain, makes me dumb, ha ha Kirishima, dumber, for a while. But Midoriya and Hatsume whipped this up in their spare time between making missiles and lasers and I don't even know what else. It's pretty sweet. Oh! And this!"
Kaminari held up a device that appeared to be some sort of disc launcher. "This thing shoots out like, magnets or something. I dunno. But when I fire off my electricity it's totally attracted to it and I don't just zap people all over the place. Neat huh! Anyway, Hatsume and Midoriya are totally geniuses and that's how they make all the stuff, cause they're awesome. And yes, they're cute or whatever, Hatsume would probably make me explode or something if I didn't say that."
"Just for that, I'm going to make you some even cuter babies to make your quirk even more awesome, Kalimari!"
"It's Kaminari? Or Denki, we're friends now and stuff," Kaminari told Mei.
"Right, Kaminari. I am very bad with names! Ok, I am very tired, so you get one more question."
"This one's for Todoroki. How does your father, Endeavor feel about this?"
"You should ask him," Todoroki said. Then he stood and stretched. "I am tired, and hungry. Let's go."
"Bye everybody!" Urakara said, jumping up and waving. "Thanks for coming! And don't worry, we'll all be super awesome heroes and stuff! Oh, and a big hand for Togata, he totally saved the day for us!"
The class clapped politely for Togata, who smiled and flexed. "It was all in a day's work for me, Lemillion, the man who will save a million lives! But I agree, it's time to eat! Let's go!"
"Wait, we have more questions!" one of the reporters called. "We were promised a full press conference!"
"I think they're done here," Aizawa said, coming over to the mic. "You can ask the teachers here any questions if you still have them. They're all still recovering, and need to settle into their new living arrangements."
The students quickly piled out of the conference room and headed for the cafetiera, laughing and chatting.
"Hatsume that was so great how you handled all of them!" Hagakure said, coming up and giving Mei an enthusiastic thumbs up. "I would have been so nervous to have everyone looking at me!"
"Why? They can't see you," Mei pointed out.
Hagakure laughed. "I know, but I forget that sometimes! Just having everyone staring at me makes me think my invisibility would just turn off, and then I'd be standing there with no clothes on but these gloves and boots!"
"Alright kiddos, listen up!" Hari ordered once they were all outside. "You've all been assigned to dorm 1A. I know, I know, we worked very hard to be creative with the names and stuff. I get to be your 'dorm mom' or whatever."
"Big sis Hari!" several of the girls cheered, which made Hari blush.
"Hey, just remember, the only reason I took this job is it beats prison," Hari scolded, which got quite a bit of laughter. She cleared her throat to get everyone to calm down, then continued. "Right, so, your parents are here for the day to help you move in and stuff. We'll talk about visiting hours and stuff later, but for now, you're restricted to campus until we figure out what to do with you all."
"Zis eez impossibuhl! How can ai dény ze rest of le whirld of moi?" Aoiyama demanded.
"Listen Princess Sparkles, it's either that or face the threat of having some rando bust into your house in the middle of the night and attack you and your family, or getting jumped on the street. Maybe a tough kid like you can handle it but it scared the hell out of me," Hari stated. She sighed. "Look, I know, it sucks and all. And...and I have to say thank you, because you kids did save Mei. I owe you one for that. But don't think that means I'm going to let you sneak out or whatever! Now come on, I want to get changed out of this monkey suit."
Their new dorm was situated in a cluster of such buildings, all identical and built primarily from cement that looked nearly fresh. Izuku guessed that Mr. Ishiyama had been busy over the past two weeks. Outside of their dorm, the students spied their parents and other relatives gathered, and ran over to meet them. Izuku hurried towards his mother, who nearly tackled him in a tight embrace as she wept.
"Izuku, I was so, so worried about you," she cried, sniffling loudly. She reached a hand up, cupping Izuku's face. Her eyes darted towards his empty sleeve, but then jerked away, as if seeing that were too painful. "It's good to see you up and about."
"Mom, you saw me this morning before I left the hospital," Izuku said, giving her an awkward one armed embrace.
"Yes, well, I mean, you're finally up and about. But...but you can't come back home. I...I wanted to tell them you were being withdrawn, that there was no way you could become a hero now, not with...well, with how hurt you got."
"It's OK, mom," Izuku said. He wiggled the stump of his arm slightly. "I'm going to have to live with it. But, it was worth it. I would have given up a lot more to save Mei."
"There wouldn't be much of you left if you did," his mother sighed. "But, well, it wasn't the teacher's arguments that made me change my mind. Here." Digging in her purse, his mother pulled out several letters. A few of them were slightly rumpled and had water stains on them, which Izuku knew meant his mother had been crying as she read them. They were all addressed to him, but Izuku didn't mind the thought that his mom had looked at them first.
Awkwardly, Izuku took a couple in one hand, trying to figure out how to read them.
"Oh, here, um, let me," Inko held up the first letter, spreading it out so Izuku could lean down and read it. It was scrawled awkwardly in hiragana, and a picture of the Power Suit flying through the air with All Might and Mei riding on it was included in bright crayon, and was smudged in many places with water stains.
"Dear Mr. Super Robot Hero Midoriya,
Thanks for saving All Might. He's my favorite Hero! I have loved him very much since I was a baby. I was very scared when he was hurt on TV. My mommy almost made me turn it off. But then you came! You were super cool and saved him and the girl! Thank you so much! You are now my favorite hero. Please get action figures soon.
Shinji Yamamoto"
"That one reminded me of you, when you were still this big," Inko said softly, making a gesture next to her hip.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she sniffed, but she showed Izuku the next letter. This one was painted in kanji, a beautiful work of calligraphy on expensive paper that had been neatly folded, though it too bore several blotches at the edges. There was a photograph attached, a girl a few years younger than Izuku, standing beside a science fair project poster and smiling to show her braces, the project appearing to be some sort of chemistry experiment.
"Dear Mr. Midoriya,
Words cannot express how much it meant to me when you won the UA Sports Festival, or when you showed up in Kamino Ward and led the charge to save All Might. You see, I am quirkless too. I am in Year 7, and I've always dreamed of being a hero. Everyone tells me I can't do it, that it's too dangerous, or too hard, or that I should just do something else. But I refuse to back down! I was nearly going to give in, until you stood up on that podium and told the world that I too could be a hero!
And then there was the Kamino Incident, as the news stories are calling it. I watched along with the rest of the nation, terrified that All Might, the Symbol of Peace and the hero I once admired most stood there, beaten and battered, nearly dead. Then you came in! You flew through the sky, not with a quirk, but with something you had made yourself. And you stood there, against the most terrifying villain I've ever seen, and you didn't back down! I saw what happened to your arm, and I was horrified, but still you didn't back down. You fought! You saved All Might, you saved Ms. Hatsume, and you proved to the world that quirkless people can be heroes too!
Please, please, don't give up! I don't know what or how you can do it, with your terrible injuries, but I'm begging you, as your biggest fan, please don't give up! Show the world that quirkless people can be heroes too, and that they can do anything if they set their minds to it!
Your biggest fan,
Hana Kenishiro"
"There's more," Inko whispered. "A lot more. I left...I left them in a box in your room. I set it up just the way it was back home! If you need anything, please, let me know. I-I can only stay for a few more hours, then they want us to go home. But...but I'll visit as often as I can! Hari says she'll be around, she seems like a wonderful young woman who can take care of you. Just...just be careful, OK Izuku? I...it tore my heart out, to see you hurt like that. After reading these letters though...I won't stop you. I'll continue to support you, for all those years I didn't, no matter what you decide. OK, Izuku?"
"Thanks, mom," Izuku said, his own voice hoarse as tears ran down his face. He hugged her as tightly as he could, careful not to crumple those precious letters.
Authors note:
Welcome to Book 2. This is the middle of the story, and it's going to be a bit darker and mature than the more innocent days back when Izuku and Mei were just starting off with their dream. This is also the point where we wave a fond farewell to canon, as events will not be playing out in the order you might be familiar with.
I hope you enjoy reading this part of the story as much as I did writing it. Thanks again for reading and reviewing.