A/N: And here, we have a new chapter, this time introducing a new villain soon to arrive near the end of this chapter. Maybe those of you who watched MHA know him.
BNA: The Beast Heroes Academia
Chapter 3: Rhino Melancholy
Later that night, a truck was driving by across the street when a bomb attached to it suddenly went down to 0 and exploded, the result of which can be seen from outside the city.
The morning after, Shiro was looking at Nazuna's student ID and smelled it, picking up Nazuna's scent in the process. When he did, he could see memories of her going all the way back to the 4-way accident with her, Kazuma, Sichiru, and her friend, Michiru involved. Sometime later after that, it showed Nazuna singing in a sort of concert for everyone, even their before later catching up to Michiru as well as her brother and her friend's sister.
"I really did it! I passed the audition!", Nazuna grinned.
"No way! You're gonna be great, Nazuna. You got thi…!", Michiru began before she suddenly started to convulse slightly.
"Michiru, are you okay?", Nazuna asked.
"I'm…I'm fine…!", Michiru spoke, trying to assure them, only for the convulsion to get worse in a couple of seconds before her hair turned blue while her skin darkened, her ears grew up from her hair, and her Tanuki tail popped out, much to the shock of Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru before later, Michiru was getting put in a van and dragged away as Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru looked on sadly.
Later, Nazuna was in a Glee Club room all by herself when she noticed that she was changing as well as her skin turned white, her hair turned pink, and her ears popped up on top of her head before later being forced to hide in her room for a whole year with only Kazuma there to accompany her as he, too, changed before the two then noticed a website regarding Anima City and later decided to head out there, but not without making a note and leaving it on the table.
"Mom… Dad…, instead of living all cooped up in my room, Kazuma and I are going to go live in Anima City. Please don't worry about us… Nazuna.", Nazuna spoke as she and Kazuma left the house.
Meanwhile, Gem was in his rooster beastman form crowing, waking Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru up.
"Good morning, Mr. Gem. What a beautiful day.", Nazuna greeted.
"What do you three think of your room so far? Our rooftop room is one of the best.", Gem spoke.
"It's actually a bit more comfy than the room we had to sleep in last night.", Kazuma grinned.
"Yeah. Thanks.", Sichiru asked before the trio noticed a sort of bulding nearby.
"Mr. Gem, what's that big building over there?", Nazuna asked before Gem turned to notice said building.
"Oh, that's the medical center. Sylvasta Medical Center. Directly operated by Sylvasta Pharmaceutical. It has a laboratory and a hospital.", Gem spoke.
"Sylvasta, huh?", Kazuma spoke.
"I wonder if they'll be able to fix what happened to us and treat this disease.", Sichiru spoke before Shirou then opened the door and grabbed all three of them with one hand.
Then, after walking up the stairs, he then tossed the trio into a closet and closed the door on them, locking them inside via barricade of several furniture.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!", Kazuma shouted before Sichiru then tried to break through the door, but had no such luck.
"HEY! You can't leave us in here!", Sichiru shouted., banging against the door.
"Would you two be quiet?", Shirou asked before then handing Nazuna back her ID with Nazuna picking it back up.
"I now believe that Nazuna used to be human.", SHirou spoke.
"So, why are you doing this?", Nazuna asked.
"The fact that you, your brother, and your friend exists, or that condition to be more precise, it's dangerous.", Shirou responded.
"What do you mean 'dangerous'?", Sichiru asked.
"If the humans find out they can turn into beastmen, they'd all panic and the Shie Hassaikai's presence in Anima City doesn't help matters either. Don't go out until we find out more. I'll bring you three some food.", Shirou responded as he stood up and went out to get some food for them.
"What are you talking about? This is crazy!", Nazuna exclaimed.
"No, it's a citizen's arrest, that's what it is!", Kazuma snarled.
"Trust me. I'm going to protect the peace of the beastmen.", Shirou spoke.
"I don't cool how cool you sound. I'm not going to trust someone who locked us in the closet!", Sichiru retorted before Kazuma then tried to open the door this time.
"Let us out right now! We're going to the hospital!", Kazuma growled only to break the doorknob, much to his puzzlement as well as annoyance.
"That's enough. You three take one step out of that room and I'll kill you three.", Shirou warned.
"You say you want peace for the beastmen, but what about us?", Nazuna asked before another table was then placed on top of the other furniture just as Mayor Rose came in.
"Are you rearranging your furniture this morning? Looks exhausting.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Mayor.", Shirou spoke.
"Wait, did he just say 'Mayor'?", Sichiru asked before Nazuna nodded.
"I wonder what that's all about…", Kazuma spoke before he, Nazuna, and Sichiru placed the sides of their head against the door.
"A bombing?", Shirou asked.
"Yes, that's right. The director notified the police that the Sylvasta Medical Center received a bomb threat. Then, today at dawn, someone bombed one of Sylvasta's trucks that was transporting medicine.", Mayor Rose reported.
"A bomb?", Nazuna puzzled before one of her ears pointed upward into a rabbit's ear.
"And now, my ears are changing, too? Aw…", Nazuna groaned.
"Well, at least you can hear better now.", Sichiru assured as Nazuna then placed her bigger ear against the door.
Meanwhile, the big 6 was walking across the hall on the lower level when one of them suddenlt stopped.
"Huh? What is it, Kegire?", Mirio asked.
"I thought I heard something from on the level above us.", Kegire responded.
"Huh. I wonder what that was about now that you mention it. Guess I'd better go check it out.", Mirio spoke.
"Just be careful up there, okay?", Miria asked.
"Yeah. You got it, sis.", Mirio nodded.
Meanwhile, Mayor Rose was continuing on the matter.
"'If you have the money to build a hospital for beastmen filled with cutting-edge equipment, that money should go to the humans instead.' That's what these criminals are saying.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"I take it that it's the anti-beastmen again?", Shirou guessed.
"The police did their best to track the scents left by the bombs. But the explosion ended up causing the smells to get mixed up. They weren't able to track it, unfortunately. I believe that with your sharp sense of smell, you would be able to do a much better job than the police. Please. Help me find any others.", Mayor Rose pleaded.
"A few patients are hospitalized there. We have to do this quickly.", Shirou spoke with Nazuna gasping in worry.
"Oh, no...! If the hospital gets bombed, there won't be anyone out there who can help treat our disease.", Nazuna spoke in fright.
"I already got into contact with UA High and right now, they're en route to Anima City to help as well with the Top Heroes holding a meeting while the best 6 hand-picked students ensure that no threats come to Anima.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"What? UA High, too?", Nazuna puzzled in surprise.
"Uh, Nazuna, are you done getting surprised here?", Kazuma asked.
"Oh. Yeah.", Nazuna responded before taking a deep breath and then shouting.
"PLEASE, HELP US! MS. MAYOOOOOOR!", Nazuna shouted.
"Did you hear something?", Mayor Rose asked.
"No.", Shirou fibbed.
"Seriously? He's lying about this?!", Sichiru exclaimed.
"Maybe you need to shout louder, Nazuna. I'll even cover my ears if it helps. Wanna do that, too, Shichiru?", Kazuma asked.
"Well, I guess if I don't want them ringing.", Sichiru responded before covering her own ears to be safe.
But just as Nazuna took a deep breath, Mirio suddenly emerged from the floor, going through it in fact right before Nazuna shouted.
"GET US OUT RIGHT NOW! WE'RE BEING LOCKED UP AGAINST OUR WIIIIIIL!", Nazuna shouted as her tail then perked up and became more like a mockingbird's tail and her muzzle became a beak as the shout not only echoed, but also caught Mirio off-guard as he reacted in exclamation and dropped back down to the lower level as he fell.
"Shirou, are you okay?", Miria asked.
"What happened up there?", Mejire asked.
"Well… that shouting really caught me off-guard… But it's obvious they need to be rescued. Mainly because they're locked up.", Mirio responded.
"We know. We heard that from below just before you fell down.", Kejire responded.
"I guess it was loud enough for us to here from down here.", Tamaki responded.
"The point is, we better hurry.", Miria urged before she and the others ran.
Meanwhile, Shirou spoke to Mayor Rose.
"It was Kurow. He just learned how to mimic voices.", Shirou lied before the Big 6 showed up.
"Excuse, me, mayor. We seemed to have notice a few beastmen locked up behind that closet. One of them seemed pretty panicked enough to shout that loud. It almost made me deaf.", Mirio spoke with slight, casual laughter, making even Shirou blanch before Kurow appeared and landed on Shirou's shoulder.
"Kurow, huh? Move all that.", Mayor Rose spoke with Shirou being adamant in his resolve not to do it while Kurow was just puzzled.
"Right now, Ogame.", Mayor Rose urged.
Moments later, the closet was un-barricaded and Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru were now free.
"I still can't believe that the Big 6 is actually here.", Nazuna spoke in surprise.
"Yeah, neither can I. I didn't expect to see them coming here of all places.", Kazuma agreed.
"Hey, I may be surprised, but anything can happen in Anima City.", Sichiru responded.
"All right, now that we're out of here, mayor…, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY SHIROU FLAT-OUT KIDNAPPED US AND LOCKED US UP?!", Kazuma shouted.
"Good question.", Mirio puzzled.
"Hey.", Shirou retorted.
"Well, it's true!", Sichiru snapped.
"Yeah! He even said he'll kill us if we leave! He's guilty for that, too!", Nazuna shouted.
"It's for your safety and the safety of beastmen.", Shirou responded.
"HOW IS ANY OF THIS FOR OUR SAFETY?!", Nazuna barked as a vein bulged in her head.
"Whoa, there, kid. If you're not careful, you could pop a blood vessel.", Kegire advised.
"Oh, all right. But I'm not a kid.", Nazuna responded.
"You must be Hiwatashi Nazuna, Hiwatashi Kazuma, and Kagemori Sichiru.", Mayor Rose guessed, puzzling them out of their anger.
"Yeah, we are. But…, how did you…?", Nazuna asked.
"From the outside, you three look just like beastmen.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Yeah, we get that a lot.", Kazuma responded.
"It's hard to believe that you 3 were human until recently.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"So, you knew?", Shirou asked.
"I stay on top of everything that happens in Anima City. That's my job as the mayor here.", Mayor Rose responded.
"I get it. It was Grand grandma?", Shirou asked.
"I protect the confidentiality of my sources.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Look, Mayor. We heard everything about the situation and we want to help with the bombs.", Nazuna spoke up.
"And why's that?", Mayor Rose asked.
"Sylvasta has cutting-edge equipment, don't they?", Nazuna asked.
"Yeah. Maybe they might know something about how we got this disease and whether or not it can be treated so we can go back to normal.", Sichiru added.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, disease?", Kegire puzzled.
"We're not sure it's a disease yet.", Shirou responded.
"But the fact that these three used to be human is the truth.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Hold on, you three suddenly turned into beastmen?", Mirio asked before Nazuna nodded.
"It's very possible that it could be a disease.", Mayor Rose added.
"Anyway, it's dangerous to let either of them go outside. If the anti-beastmen were to somehow find out about her, it could be trouble.", Shirou responded.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing!", Nazuna shouted.
"What?", Shirou puzzled.
"Before we even came to this city, ever since what happened to us, we were holed up in our house ever since. And we never even bothered to leave our room because of it. After we left, we spent all this time worrying about the beatsmen hunters after us. And now that we made it here, we're not gonna just hide anymore.", Nazuna spoke.
"It's not a good idea.", Shirou warned before Nazuna glared at him.
"We are short-staffed, you know.", Mayor Rose spoke, puzzling Nazuna.
"Why don't we let them help out with the Big 6? They can be the new go-t- contacts for Kurow.", Mayor Rose suggested.
"Contacts for Kurow?", Kazuma puzzled.
"No one will be able to tell they're beastmen just by looking at them.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Oh, yeah. That's actually kinda useful.", Sichiru grinned.
"They won't have any problems walking around Anima City. However, don't let anyone find out that you three used to be humans, understand?", Mayor Rose asked.
"Of course, Ma'am.", Nazuna understood.
"Can you three forgive him for locking you all up and threatening you?", Mayor Rose asked before Kazuma and Sichiru only glared at Shirou with pouts and puffing air out of their nostrils.
"Well, I guess we can try.", Nazuna responded.
"Here you go.", Mayor Rose spoke before handing Nazuna a sort of smartphone as well as Sichiru and Kazuma.
"A smartphone?! It's been so long!", Nazuna grinned excitedly.
"Who knew that beastmen would actually have smartphones as well?", Kazuma spoke in slight surprise.
"If Kurow finds anything, make sure you call either Ogame or one of the Big 6.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"Will do.", Nazuna responded with a nod.
"This is the piece of the bomb that was left in the crime scene.", Mayor Rose spoke while giving said evidence to Shirou, who then picked it up.
Later, the trio, Shirou, and the Big 6 gathered outside in the rooftop.
"That hospital is part of the Sylvasta Conglomerate, which belongs to the Sylvasta family, one of the richest families in the world. They support our mayor's vision of achieving equal rights for beastmen and humans. They've also supported Anima City with large amounts of funding. Some humans are unhappy about it, though.", Shirou stated.
"So, that's why the Anti-beastmen organization existed in the first place, isn't it?", Kegire guessed.
"Yes. However, rumors say that Sylvasta Pharmaceutical is profiting off their data on beastmen. As a result, not all beastmen have a positive view of them.", Shirou responded.
"Well, if that's true, then why did you agree to this job?", Kazuma asked.
"Hm?", Shirou puzzled.
"Don't you normally do things that benefit the well-being of beastmen?", Nazuna asked.
"Yeah, well, I can't say 'no' to the mayor.", Shirou responded before getting out the piece of evidence given to him, morphing into his wolf beastman form, and then gently sniffing it to pick up the scents and not only discover one of the bombs, but also the fact that five more like it are scattered across the city before opening his eyes while reverting back to human form and speaking over the phone.
"This is Ogame. I found the locations of the bombs. There are 6 of them in total. Send the bomb squad.", Shirou spoke before hanging up.
"You can really tell all that from that scent alone? That's amazing.", Mirio grinned.
"Maybe, but it's vitally important that the bombs are disabled, which is where you 6 come in. Meanwhile, Nazuna, you, Kazuma, and Sichiru will go to the hospital.". Shirou strategized.
"Could there be bombs at the hospital, too?", Nazuna asked.
"No. I didn't smell any there but go just in case. We suspect that Sylvasta are what the criminals are really after.", Shirou responded before walking down the stairs.
"Wait up! We're coming, too!", Nazuna shouted as she went after Shirou.
"Nazuna, wait!", Kazuma shouted as he and Sichiru went after her.
Meanwhile, the police officer spoke to the bomb squad.
"There are 6 bombs in total. Hurry.", the officer urged.
"Yes, sir.", the bomb squad agreed before then leaving the station to go after said bombs as meanwhile, Kurow flew across the air with Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru ran after him, following him toward the hospital before they arrived there and stopped to take a breather right before noticing Kurow on top of a truck en route to there.
"Kurow?", Nazuna puzzled before the truck continued with Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru then running alongside the truck to make it so that they don't get seen trying to enter, not knowing that a couple of henchmen were on the other side.
Meanwhile, inside the underground parking level, the doctor spoke frantically to Kusakabe and Chrono.
"Try to go faster!", the doctor urged.
"Don't be in such a rush. The police should have their hands tied up with the bombs right now.", Kusakabe assured.
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean that Ogame isn't. There's a good chance he'll come for us soon, so we shouldn't underestimate him. Remember what I told you last night about what happened with the Beastmen traffickers?", Chrono asked.
"And just like that, you're such a killjoy.", Kusakabe spoke with a sigh.
"Anyway, this is the last one, you hear me?", the doctor spoke.
"Hey, relax. You benefitted quite a bit from this, too, you know.", Kusakabe spoke, not knowing that Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru were catching up and hiding behind the truck.
"Benefitted? What do they mean?", Nazuna puzzled, not knowing that her ears pricked up into rabbit ears.
"We gotta figure out some way to get past them and investigate this.", Kazuma whispered.
"Yeah, but where do we start?", Sichiru asked just as Kusakabe suddenly sniffed for someone and turn to notice the long white rabbit ears behind the truck.
"Is someone here, Kusakabe?", Chrono asked.
"As a matter of fact, yeah. I'll go take care of this. Hey! I know you're eavesdropping over there!", Kusakabe shouted before Nazuna noticed her big ears.
"Oh, no! The big ears gave me away!", Nazuna gasped in exclamation.
"Wait a second. Nazuna, you're a genius!", Sichiru realized with a whisper.
"Huh?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Whatever you do, when they go after you, run and get them as far away from the hospital as you can. Call for help if you need to but just make sure you lead them away. Got it?", Kazuma spoke before Nazuna nodded.
"Who are you? Show yourself!", Kusakabe ordered before Nazuna then stepped out and giggled nervously.
"You. You're that girl that helped Ogame shut down the beastmen trafficking business. Take care of her.", Chrono spoke before both the crow beastman and the coyote beastman then went after Nazuna, who then had no choice but to run from them as Kazuma instructed.
"She saw us! Do you think she heard something?", the doctor asked.
"She's just a little girl. She's not gonna get away from us.", Kusakabe assured.
"That little girl is the same one who helped Ogame shut down the trafficking business last night. You'd do well not to underestimate her.", Chrono warned.
"All right, all right. Don't get yourself in a tizzy.", Kusakabe sighed before turning into a hyena beastman and going after her as well while Chrono stayed behind and then took his leave elsewhere.
"Full of yourself as usual, Kusakabe…", Chrono sighed.
"What the…? Where are you going?", the doctor asked.
"To deliver a message to Flip: He needs to prepare for this inevitable failure, because Overhaul would like to speak with him personally.", Chrono responded before he continued leaving.
"I've seen her face somewhere before. Where was it?", the doctor asked before gasping.
Meanwhile, Nazuna ran as fast as she could while trying to call for help.
"Hurry up and answer already!", Nazuna shouted in worry.
Meanwhile, the last bomb was just disabled.
"All right. This is the last one.", Shirou spoke before the captain brushed his forehead in relief with Nejire noticing that Shirou's phone was ringing inside the jacket pocket, puzzling her before she decided to answer.
"You found something already?", Nejire asked.
"Yeah! But I need your help! FAST!", Nazuna shouted.
"Don't worry, Nazuna. We're on our way.", Nejire responded before hanging up.
Meanwhile, Kazuma and Sichiru were looking around the laboratory.
"There has to be something there that can help point to a cure for what happened to us.", Sichiru spoke as she and Kazuma searched the laboratory but eventually found nothing.
"Aw. Nothing.", Sichiru groaned.
"Guess we'd better head back.", Kazuma spoke as he and Sichiru started to leave only to notice the doctor speaking with another.
"It's her!", the doctor spoke.
"Who?", another puzzled as he saw the video of what happened a moment ago before the video was paused and the camera zoomed in on Nazuna's face for a better look, making him gasp, not knowing that Kazuma and Sichiru were noticing it.
"Isn't that…?", the other doctor puzzled before he then looked up a photo of how Nazuna originally looked back when she was human.
"It really is her!", the doctor spoke.
"Yeah.", the other agreed.
"Oh, crap! They know about her now.", Sichiru whispered.
"And I have a bad feeling they're gonna find out about us, too.", Kazuma added.
Act II
Meanwhile, Kazuma and Sichiru snuck into the hospital as stealthily as they can when they caught sight of
"Tell me, sweetheart. What's a kid doing in a place like this?", Kusakabe asked.
"Well, I was, uh…", Nazuna began.
Play MHA Music: "Rampaging Evil"
"You know what? Don't bother. Chrono just told me you're the one that got Grand Grandma busted and shut down the trafficking business.", Kusakabe spoke, making Nazuna gasp in slight fright before then becoming determined, if not brave.
"So what if I am? They were selling helpless children as slaves! That's the only reason it was shut down.", Nazuna spoke.
"Really, now? Well, you certainly have a big mouth for a little kid. You've also overheard something important, didn't ya?", Kusakabe retorted.
"Would that even make a difference if I did?", Nazuna retorted.
"Actually, it would. According to Chrono, anyway. He sees you as a potential threat to whatever the Shie Hassaikai has planned, so I'm gonna teach you some manners, kid.", Kusakabe spoke before his henchmen growled and chuckled and moved in to attack as Nazuna braced herself only for Mirio to appear through a wall and grab one of them by the arm just as Shirou did the same thing to another.
"Enough.", Shirou spoke.
"It's important to give a lady some space.", Mirio added, making Nazuna beam brightly.
"Lemillion!", Nazuna grinned.
"Y-You must be Ogame… and one of the big 6, too?!", Kusakabe spoke before his henchmen ganged up on the two only for one of them to phase through the ground, making them miss before Shirou took care of one henchman while another grew puzzled as he gazed at the ground when suddenly, Mirio popped up from where he vanished.
"POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!", Mirio shouted at the top of his lungs before striking the henchman by the chin with a phantom uppercut, knocking him unconscious.
Then, at that point, Nejire arrived as well as Kegire, Tamaki, Mamaki, and Miria, subduing the henchmen before they were all thwarted with their quirks.
"Just leave and I won't kill you. Not today.", Shirou spoke.
"I'd take him up on his offer if I were you.", Nejire grinned.
"You'll all pay for this!", Kusakabe shouted before he ran away.
End MHA Music: "Rampaging Evil"
"I'm glad we all made it in time. Nejire told me about your call.", Shirou spoke as Kurow landed on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Nejire.", Nazuna grinned.
"Don't mention it.", Nejire responded as Shirou then took human form.
"Why were they chasing you?", Shirou asked.
"Those people in league with the Shie Hassaikai…? They were loading something onto the truck. Why do you ask?", Nazuna asked.
"They're from a gang.", Shirou responded.
"Gang?", Nazuna responded.
"They were hired by the Shie Hassakai to work with some of the staff in embezzling the hospital's assets.", Shirou responded before Kazuma and Sichiru caught up to Nazuna and the others.
"Nazuna!", Kazuma shouted before Nazuna turned to see him and Sichiru.
"Kazuma! What's going on?", Nazuna asked.
"This isn't good. One of the doctors in the hospital knows about you already. And there's a good chance he may very well know about us, too.", Kazuma responded, making Nazuna gasp just before an explosion occurred in the hospital.
"What was that?", Nazuna gasped.
"That came from the hospital!", Sichiru responded before 7 out of 10 of the group then ran toward the hospital, although Kazuma, Sichiru, and Nazuna ran to catch up with them.
"Wait at the Beastmen co-op!", Shirou urged.
"I can't! If the hospital gets destroyed, there's no hope!", Nazuna shouted.
"It's dangerous!", Shirou responded.
"So was the last time!", Sichiru retorted.
"Then, I'll admit it!", Nazuna shouted, making the group stop.
"I know that I was born a human, but I'll admit that right now, I'm a beastman.", Nazuna responded.
"Why do you say that?", Shirou asked.
"Well, you did say you'd protect the beastmen didn't you?", Nazuna asked.
"Oh, yeah. So, that means you'll have to protect us while we're at it.", Kazuma realized.
"Yeah. Because we're beastmen too, now.", Sichiru added with a smirk.
"Well, you gotta admire their ambition.", Kegire grinned to Shirou.
"You're such a pain.", Shirou sighed with a slight grin before heading out as Nazuna grinned as Kazuma and Sichiru chuckled and they all head out toward the hospital and arriving to notice the crumbled remains inside.
"This is horrible.", Nazuna spoke.
"Yeah. To think that used to be the laboratory we snuck in to see if there was anything that points toward a cure for us, not that we ever found any.", Sichiru added.
"Hm? Ogame, you and the others all made it.", the officer spoke.
"And who's this?", Mamaki asked.
"This is Mr. Yaba, director of the medical center.", the officer spoke before mr. Yaba sighed.
"This is clearly the work of the bomber as well. The police didn't stop this crime. The repercussions will be harsh!", Yaba threatened.
"Don't threaten them like that. If we knew there was a bomb there, we wouldn't have let this happen. But somehow this one got right under our noses.", Kegire retorted.
"Yeah. At least we managed to stop the other 6 bombs.", Nejire agreed.
"Allow me to investigate, too.", Shirou spoke.
"He's an advisor who's been helping us investigate the situation. Are you okay with that?", the officer asked.
"Hmph. Do whatever you want.", Mr. Yaba spoke before walking away.
"Not exactly a welcoming type of guy, is he?", Mirio asked.
"Yeah, he needs to chill out.", Miria agreed as Shirou then knelt on the ground.
"Even you missed this one Ogame…", the officer spoke.
"I traced all the bombs but this one didn't appear. How's that possible?", Shirou puzzled before then picking up at least a present scent and then flashing back to what happened before then, especially with Kazuma and Sichiru seemingly searching around backwards, before opening his eyes in human form.
"This is…", Shirou spoke before standing up.
"What is it?", Nazuna asked.
"It has no smell.", Shirou responded, puzzling her.
"So, that means someone used some kind of chemical to mask the scent so it wouldn't be tracked, right?", Tamaki asked.
"That's right. And I think I know who.", Shirou responded.
Later, Director Yaba went over to the doctor.
"Imura, it's that girl! She came back here!", Yaba shouted.
"She's back?", Imura puzzled.
"We have no choice.", Yaba spoke.
"Yes, I understand.", Imura agreed before the phone rang and Yaba then picked up the phone.
"Ch… Uh, chairman?", Mr. Yaba asked.
"I heard the medical center was bombed. The world is a scary place these days.", the chairman spoke.
"Y…Yes. The bombing happened at the laboratory's data management department. But the hospital's data is being managed at a different facility, so it's safe.", Yaba assured.
"I see. I'm very glad to hear that. Prepare the scene of the accident immediately. I don't care how much it costs. Just make sure you leave no trace of this horrible incident. And I mean none, Mr. Yaba.", the chairman spoke.
'Yes, sir.", Yaba responded before the chairman hung up.
"Well…, this is a problem.", the chairman sighed.
Meanwhile, Yaba sighed when the officer spoke.
"Director Yaba. Can I speak with you for a moment, please?", the officer asked.
"What do you want from me now? I hope you know I'm going to hold you responsible for this!", Yaba shouted, pointing at him when the group only stepped forward.
"Now, don't get yourself in a tizzy over this. We both know you aren't a victim here.", Kegire only responded.
"What…?", Yaba puzzled.
"We conducted an investigation at the crime scene, but we couldn't detect any traces of the criminal's scent.", the officer spoke.
"Is that an excuse?", Yaba responded.
"Not only the criminal, but there was a period of time during which no scents were found at the crime scene. It's impossible for scents to completely disappear unless you use a special chemical that's able to fully erase the scent.", Shirou stated.
"Oh. Now that you mention it, Shirou, that laboratory we were in a while ago looking for a cure… It might be capable of making something like that.", Kazuma guessed.
"This is outrageous! Are you actually holding yourself blameless and suspecting me?!", Yaba exclaimed.
"Don't act so surprised, Yaba. We saw one of your staff members speaking with Chrono and Kisakabe earlier.", Kazuma retorted.
"That means you're involved with them too, doesn't it?", Nazuna guessed.
"In order to eliminate all of the proof, you staged the whole thing and bombed the laboratory.", Shirou guessed.
"Seriously?! How can you even trust what a man like this says?!", Yaba exclaimed, pointing at him only to anger Kazuma as he snarled.
"How can we even trust everything you're saying?!", Kazuma snarled, taking Yaba aback.
"Whoa, there, bad cop. Easy.", Sichiru spoke.
"If you follow the scent left at the scene of the crime, it'll always lead you to the culprit. It's because every beastman has their own unique scent. However, there was a particular spot at the crime scene that had no smell at all. And you see, ever since this laboratory was bombed, your hands have had no smell to them either.", Shirou stated before Yaba smelled his hands and gasped upon finding out that he was right before the officer got out a paper.
"In accordance with the regulations of the beastmen special zone, the analysis of the scent is going to be used as proof. Mr. Yaba, why don't you and I have a long talk at the police station?", the officer suggested.
Play Twin Star Exorcists Music: "Impact"
But that didn't sit well with Yaba, who instead morphed into his rhino beastman form and then charged toward Shirou, who then grabbed him by the horn.
"Shirou!", Nazuna shouted before a chameleon tail suddenly grabbed her by the neck.
"Don't move! If you move even an inch, I'll kill her!", Imura threatened, making Kazuma growl angrily at him as he glared before Shirou was then knocked away by Yaba.
"Get out of here, Imura!", Yaba shouted before Imura understood and ran off.
"Nazuna!", Kazuma shouted before running off after Imura.
"Kazuma, wait!", Sichiru shouted while heading out after them as Yaba jumps off and went down toward a catwalk.
"We'll go after Imura!", Mamaki spoke.
"But what about Yaba?", Kegire asked.
"Leave that to me.", Shirou responded before jumping off in the same direction with Yaba taking notice only to have his horn grabbed by Shirou.
"Your claws will never be able to pierce through my skin!", Yaba discouraged.
"You attempt to cover up a crime in order o save yourself. You don't deserve my claws! The only thing you're getting is my bare hands!", Shirou shouted in response before then knocking Yaba back in one blow and then picking Yaba up by the horn.
"Now that you've abandoned your pride as a beastman, you have no need for your horn.", Shirou growled, starting to break his horn off as it cracked.
"Please, stop! Please, stop! Not my horn! Anything but my horn!", Yaba exclaimed before his horn was finally broken clean off with Yaba then landing on the ground of the catwalk with two guards running up to notice.
Meanwhile, the officer, his men, and the big 6 along with Kazuma and Sichiru caught up to Imura.
"Let her go right now.", the officer urged while in his dog beastman form.
"Don't move! If you get any closer, I'm going to throw her over!", Imura shouted.
"Whatever's going to happen, you won't get away with this!", Nazuna shouted.
"This is all your doing! If it weren't for you snooping around, none of this would've happened!", Imura shouted, puzzling Nazuna.
"Look, if you want to save her, then give me a hundred million yen and a helicopter to escape!", Imura bargained.
"That's impossible.", the officer responded.
Then, Kurow flew up and tried to dive in to attack him only for Imura to notice him via peripheral vision and knock him back with the back of his hand.
"Kurow!", Nazuna shouted.
"Don't underestimate the peripheral vision of a chameleon! Try anything weird and you'll die! Give me my money and my helicopter!", Imura threatened, making Kazuma's angry snarls worse than ever.
"He's serious…!", Nazuna thought before thinking back to a time when Sichiru's arms stretched to long heights back when she, Kazuma, and Nazuna were about to be sold by the Shie Hassaikai last night.
"There has to be something we can do.", Miria spoke.
"Actually, there is.", Mirio responded, puzzling his teammates.
"If Sichiru can stretch her arms like that…, I wonder if I can do it, too…", Nazuna thought before suddenly stretching her arms, catching Imura off-guard and slapping him in the face (one time per hand), even surprising the big 6, especially Kazuma and Sichiru, setting herself free only to fall off with a scream in the process.
End Twin Star Exorcists Music: "Impact"
"NAZUNAAAAAA!", Kazuma shouted before Mirio gave a determined look and phased through the ceiling, confusing Imura long enough for Nejire and Kegire to shock him unconscious as he then fell limply to the ground on top of the ceiling.
"That's for beastman endangerment.", Kegire spoke.
As Nazuna fell, she screamed up until Mirio reappeared from the side of the wall and caught her before then landing on top of a platform on top of the entrance.
"Phew! Nailed it…", Mirio sighed in relief before Nazuna then fluttered her eyes open and saw Mirio.
"Lemillion…!", Nazuna spoke in relief.
"Good thing I caught you, huh?", Mirio grinned before Sichiru shouted.
"Hey! You okay down there, Nazuna?!", Sichiru shouted.
"Yeah, I'm all right! Lemillion saved me just in time!", Nazuna shouted back in reply as loud as she can.
Meanwhile, Sichiru grinned from hearing that while Kazuma sighed in relief while Shirou caught up through the entrance.
"Heh. Would you look at that? A human saving a beastman.", Shirou grinned.
"Oh, hey, Shirou. Where's Yaba?", Mirio asked.
"Let's just say he's going to have some downtime and know what it means not to have any pride.", Shirou responded as it then showed Yaba getting taken away as he gave off sweat bubbles in shock.
"My horn! My horn!", Yaba practically sobbed.
"Well, that's kind of a strange way to say it, but okay.", Mirio responded.
"Hey, Lemillion?", Nazuna asked, puzzling him.
"Thanks for saving me.", Nazuna grinned.
"Sure. Happy to help. But you know? You were pretty awesome out there yourself.", Lemillion responded.
"Really?", the fox beastman puzzled.
"Yeah. I mean, the way you slapped that chameleon with those stretchy hands? Even I didn't see that coming.", Lemillion grinned, not knowing that the rest of the big 6 as well as Kazuma and Sichiru caught up.
"Looks like things turned out okay now.", Kegire grinned.
"Yep.", Nejire nodded.
Later, Mayor Rose was speaking with Shirou, Nazuna, Kazuma, Sichiru, and the Big 6.
"Yaba and Imura confessed to the crime. They were working together to embezzle assets from the medical center. When they found out that the upper management had noticed, they bombed the center's data system. They hired some criminals and staged a fake bombing so that they could erase all the data that exposed the embezzlement.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"I'm not exactly sure that's all.", Nazuna spoke.
"What do you mean?", Mayor Rose asked.
"Remember Imura? I only saw him today and he already had that much hate for me just because things went wrong today.", Nazuna spoke while flashing back to what Imura said earlier.
"This is all your doing!", Imura shouted.
"Don't remind me…", Kazuma groaned.
"But now that you mention it, I think it might have something to do with him finding out about you earlier.", Sichiru responded.
"But as far as we know, only they know about her. Guess no one asked about us yet.", Kazuma responded.
"Speaking of asking, why didn't you just ask them what they plan on doing instead of locking them up? Doesn't really make any sense when you get right down to it.", Mirio responded.
"I'm sorry. I won't lock them up anymore.", Shirou responded, surprising Nazuna.
"What?", Shirou puzzled.
"It's just that you were a pain about it before.", Nazuna spoke.
"I don't want you to think I'm like those guys. Just make sure you three don't tell anyone else about your Beastman-itis.", Shirou responded.
"Got it.", Nazuna responded.
"Ms. Hiwatashi, I'm going to investigate treatment methods for you four as well.", Mayor Rose spoke, puzzling her.
"She's an authority in Beastmen Genetic Research. She's the first beastman to ever earn a doctorate.", Shirou responded.
"Wow. You're really that smart?", Nejire gushed in surprise.
"That's true, but I'm a politician now. My research is how I was able to build a strong relationship with Sylvasta Pharmaceutical, which is why they also provided support for founding Anima City, next to UA High's tremendous support of course.", Mayor Rose responded.
"That's amazing.", Nazuna grinned.
"Be careful around Sylvasta Pharmaceutical. There's something suspicious about them.", Shirou spoke.
"What do you mean?", Kazuma puzzled.
"I don't have a reason. My nose just gives me that impression.", Shirou responded.
"Oh, so in other words, Animal Instinct, huh?", Kazuma smirked.
"Wait, are you mocking me?", Shirou asked as he stood up.
"Now, whatever gave you that idea?", Sichiru responded with Mayor Rose grinning.
Meanwhile, the chairmen spoke to his workers.
"Everyone! It looks like our research here is over.", the chairman spoke.
"Are we moving?", one of the workers asked.
"Yes. And I'll be going as well. The truth is, I've always wanted to see the homeland of the beastmen with my own eyes. The 10th anniversary of the founding of Anima City. It's going to be a big milestone.", the chairman spoke.
Back at UA High, in a meeting room, all the UA staff as well as the pro heroes, were having a meeting of sorts in a room.
"So, tell me. Have you heard about a group of extraordinary people called beastmen?", Nezu asked.
"Now that you mention it, I heard something about them.", Eraserhead responded.
"Not to mention that I remember something about the Shie Hassaikai attempting to sell off beastmen children for profit on the news about Anima City. Could it be the beastmen be that important?", Midnight pondered.
"Indeed. Just because beastmen don't necessarily have quirks like you doesn't mean that they aren't superpowered like you. Take Shirou Ogame for example. He single-handedly took out the Shie Hassaikai with help from a few more like him, but with 2 out of 3 being different animals.", Nezu explained.
"Whatever the case, they're definitely something.", Endeavor commented.
"And if what you say is true, then we could really use their help. With the villains getting more dangerous than ever, they could help make society even better if everyone were united as one and working in unison.", All Might responded.
"Hmph. Of course, you would say that. But given everything they might've gone through, even with Shirou Ogame backing us up if he can, what makes you think the other 3 would even think about lifting a finger to help us?", Endeavor asked.
"Because they happen to be his friends just as we are his. So, in a sense, we both have the same interests, or at the very least, we will in the future.", Nezu responded.
"And you're sure?", Eraserhead pondered.
"Yes. Even I don't need foresight to know that.", Nezu assured.
"I hope you're right...", All Might responded.
Meanwhile, a man with an imposing mask named All for One noticed the news about the top heroes being in Anima City.
"And for the first time in Anima City, the top heroes from UA High are now visiting our great city. Now, tell me, All Might. What is the reason for this visit?", the beastman reporter asked before All Might laughed.
"Funny you should ask. We couldn't help but hear there's trouble afoot somewhere in this city. A trouble some may say that may be going on right now and no one seems to notice. Whatever the cause of trouble, everything will be resolved. Because I... no. Because we, the top heroes of UA High, are here.", All Might responded, making the man in the mask growl.
"That's odd. Since when are the heroes suddenly interested in Beastmen's politics?", All for One puzzled before turning to a nearby doctor.
"Doctor?", All for One asked.
"Yes, sir?", the doctor asked.
"Contact Tomura and Kurogiri. They need to know that I'll be leaving for a temporary visit elsewhere.", All for One spoke.
"Of course. And what place are you visiting, sir?", the doctor asked before All for One turned to face him.
"A little place called Anima City.", All for One responded.
A/N: And there you have it. All for One is coming to Anima City. But for what reason, you say? Well, whatever the case, it won't be good. Looks like we'll have to find out what happens in the next chapter when it comes out later this June. There was an original plan for the whole meeting of the top heroes to be shown in this chapter, but I just didn't quite know how to go about it, but hopefully, I can be sure to add that in via update if you wanna see it soon. Until next time. :)