There was a strange feeling hanging in the air of Tsukauchi's office. Toshinori looked around the once familiar room that now felt so foreign. He slumped down into the chair and sighed, his eyes looking on the framed photograph on Tsukauchi's desk. "What happened to you?" Toshinori refused to believe the official story. He knew Tsukauchi. He knew that the detective had from time to time worked with people outside the law, but he would never try to lead a coup.

Toshinori ripped his gaze away from the photograph and opened the laptop that still remained. To his surprise there was already a text file opened up labelled 'answers'. Curiosity gripped Toshinori and he began reading the short text.

Answers

I hope the right person is reading this. Firstly I've already taken all the data present on this laptop. The only reason I'm leaving this behind for you is because of the respect I had for Tsukauchi.

You're probably wondering what happened to your friend. Don't believe Zankoku. Tsukauchi and I only ever worked on two things together. The first one you should know, All for one. The other and more relevant one was in connection to the bombing of Yokosuka. I never played any part in that attack. We cooperated to find out who was behind it. Long story short Tsukauchi found the final piece of evidence showing that it was a false flag attack orchestrated by Zankoku. My best guess of what happened afterwards is that Tsukauchi went to inform minister Yowai, which made Zankoku execute his coup.

That's the story. Now I would recommend resting, because your time will soon come All Might.

-The kid who's dreams you crushed

Toshinori contemplated as he read through the text several times. He could feel tears building up. "I guess you chased the truth to the end my friend." He wiped his eyes and closed the laptop. "I'll wait for us to meet again."

"How certain are you we can trust these two?" Deku said, his back leaning against the alleyway wall. "Because if I remember correctly you didn't spend much of your time at UA socializing. And one of them took your spot after you left."

"I can't speak much for Discord, but he did mention something about those blessed by heroic quirks during the sports festival. So he might have been discriminated based on his quirk" Todoroki said. "As for Tsukuyomi I don't know much. I think he interned under Hawks. So we should be careful to not repeat that failure."

"Hawks' intern you say?" Deku rubbed his chin. "Hawks mentioned him once while I was in Tartarus. Said he shared a lot of our ideals back then. Hopefully that hasn't changed."

The sound of footsteps interrupted Deku's thinking. He quickly recognised the two figures. One cloaked with a bird shaped head, and another with messy purple hair and a familiar grey cloth on his shoulders. Deku straightened up and walked over to the duo, Todoroki following close behind. "Discord, Tsukuyomi, it's good to see some heroes have a sense of morality." Deku stopped and looked straight at Tsukuyomi. "But forgive for being cautious given my former trust in the one you interned under. He claimed that you shared my ideals many years ago, but didn't think much of my methods."

"Hawks only ever did what he thought was right at the time, same for me. Now with the choice between two quirkless dictators I'd rather pick the more consistent one. No matter how dark the path is," Tsukuyomi said.

"Choosing the lesser of two evils. A logical decision, though morally ambiguous. You're quite a high-ranking hero, why not convince your colleagues and form a new path? I doubt Zankoku could survive losing the support of heroes."

"What difference would it make?" Discord said. "You won against heroes before Zankoku and would have afterwards. At this point it's just about choosing the side that can bring actual change to us who needs it."

"So you consider yourself a part of the oppressed yet became a tool for the oppressor?" Deku turned towards Discord. "If I remember correctly you joined the hero course after the revolution was formed."

"People has called me a villain for my quirk for as long as I've lived. I was more focused on my own need to prove them wrong than. It's only recently I've begun to look for more systematic ways of helping others like me. You seem like the only way right now."

Deku took a few steps back and pondered. "You both have good reasons, and I have nothing much against you two as heroes. But I thought the same of Hawks for a while. I let him in and he betrayed me. Why are you two different?"

"There is another reason for why we're joining you," Discord said. "We both have a someone we want to keep safe seeing as you've incinerated all heroes so far."

"You want to save someone you care about, so heroic." Deku smirked. "Who?"

"Eraserhead," Discord said.

"Hawks," Tsukuyomi said.

Deku took a moment to ponder. "Eraserhead is easy, he won't face any punishment. He's one of the good ones." Deku clenched his fists. "As for Hawks you better have a really good reason for me to spare that backstabbing traitor."

"Hawks only did what he thought was right at the time. He's an optimist to a fault and thought the hero commission could change. He would have chosen differently now," Tsukuyomi said.

Deku walked closer to Tsukuyomi "If you are so sure of that then why don't we test it? If he really would have chosen differently now, he'll live. And if the opposite is the case he'll go through the process same as everyone else."

"Fine, if that is what it takes."

"Great, then you can begin immediately. I already have something in mind for both of you. To test you both," Deku said.

"What exactly?" Discord said.

"Tsukuyomi here will have an important task ahead of him." Deku then smirked as he looked over to Discord. "And you'll be helping me hijack a certain plane."

President Elson looked out the windows of Air Force One as his Secretary of Defence updated him on the situation in Japan. "So we still don't know how he made that demon?" Elson said.

"Zankoku's agents have given us some theories, but the most the only thing they can conclude is that its' a nomu. Our own agents know even less," The Secretary said.

Elson looked over to his laptop showing the burning creature Deku had made. "Well we need to find out. I can't allow another moment of such a weapon being in the hands of a green-haired psychopath." Elson rubbed his temples. "How's preparations for the next attack going? I hope we can handle the giant burning abomination this time."

"The preparations are on schedule and the nuke is ready. We can go ahead next week with your approval."

"Good. The last thing I need before the primaries is another embarrassment. If I lose to that damned quirk activist I might as well-" A gunshot interrupted him. "What was that?"

Two bodyguards approached the President and quickly escorted him away from the growing sound of fighting. "Unknown attackers have boarded the plane. You'll be kept secure until they're dealt with," One of the guards said. They pushed Elson into a smaller meeting room, closing the armoured door once he was inside.

The President took a few steps away from the door, waiting for the commotion to calm down. Instead it got louder and closer before it suddenly got very quiet. All he could hear was someone talking outside, but he didn't understand the language.

Without a warning, the door opened and three people stood before him. One of them was his body guard, but he had a blank distant look on him, like he wasn't fully there. The other Elson didn't recognise, a purple-haired man who seemed to say something to the body guard before they both walked away from the room, leaving the third with Elson. And the last person Elson did recognise. A man with unmistakable green hair, uncharacteristically dressed in a suit with a mess of a tie and carrying a suitcase.

"A pleasure to meet you President Elson. Apologies if this meeting interrupted any schedules you had," Deku said, keeping up a polite façade. "Perhaps we should take a seat? I think this might take a while."

Elson clenched his fist at the person in front of him, but reluctantly sat down by the table as Deku did the same. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Deku, leader of the Phoenix revolution," Deku said, keeping up his smiling façade.

Elson scoffed. "My reports describe you as an intelligent fellow." He slammed his hands into the table. "But you must be the biggest idiot I've ever met if you think that you can get away with this! Hijacking Air Force One and holding me for hostage, and then try to brush it off with a joke. I'll make sure your little insurgency is removed from the face of the Earth."

"No you won't. Because by the end of the week you will be in Iowa giving a great speech about how you made peace with the Phoenix Revolution. As for the hostage taking, you didn't give me much of a choice. I contacted you a few days ago to set up a proper meeting, but got no reply. And now we're here," Deku said.

"You still hijacked my plane," Elson said.

Deku leaned forwards and gave another smirk. "It was either this or invading the White House. This seemed like the more reasonably alternative."

"The more reasonable…" Elson cut himself off. "Alright, I'll play along. I'll get out of this either way."

"Great, then we can get this over with and I'll never have to see you again." Deku rummaged through a suitcase and pulled out a small folder. "My terms are simple. I want all your military personnel and equipment out of Japan. In return all prisoners of war will be returned and any American heroes captured will be freed. All seized equipment will be given back, and when the war is over you will be allowed to retrieve any remaining equipment or sensitive information that may be left behind in your military bases."

"A white peace?! After so many deaths you expect me to show up back home with a white peace. It will get killed in the Senate. Not to mention the public outcry from the families that have lost their-"

"Oh save me the campaign speeches," Deku said, cutting off the President. "It's an election year, I know what you really care about."

"Maybe, put my point still stands. I would need two thirds of the Senate, and one third is up for re-election along with me. So if you want any realistic chance of a peace then you have to give something more." Elson leaned into his chair with a thoughtful expression. "Perhaps some of your research documents. I'm sure that you have found breakthroughs that could help the medical field jump decades into the future." He leaned forwards, something glinting in his eye. "Or perhaps that creature of yours. You won't need it when-" Elson was then cut off by his face being slammed into the table.

"Really, trying to use your quirk on me? A simple persuasion quirk like your won't cut it." Black whips twirled around Deku's arm, his expression dark. "I've spent almost my entire life on my research, and I'll spend the rest of my life ensuring that it follows me into the grave." Elson glared at Deku as he rubbed his face. "As for Gothmog, I can hardly see him being of any use to you once he's dead. I only made him to live long enough to serve a purpose. After that he will die and his body burn up. I couldn't give him to you even if I wanted to," Deku said.

"Then we don't have anything more to discuss other than how I'll destroy your insurgency," Elson said

"Wong, I still have this to show you." Deku pulled out a laptop and opened it to a paused security footage. "Pay attention now because someone I worked with died for this video." Deku pressed play. "This video was taken near where Osugi Sakae lived 6 days before he allegedly bombed your naval base. Interestingly it also shows him being detained in an unmarked van that I've found out belongs to the Japanese army. Which seems to collide with the whole narrative Zankoku is-"

"Alright I get it. That random guy didn't do it and you've been framed in a false flag attack. I've seen that footage already. You've got anything else?" Elson said.

Deku froze, his mouth hanging open for a moment. "What?"

Elson chuckled. "You've been on our list of severely dangerous individuals ever since you killed All for one. Not to mention the dangerous ideals your movement has. So ever since you came back we've looked for any excuse to get rid of you and your revolution. Zankoku offered a solution and in return we helped him up the ladder." Elson slowly stood up and leaned over Deku. "And the good thing about quirk is they offer a great excuse for documents that are not so pleasing in the public eye. You can leak that footage, I'll just claim it is the work of some quirk."

Deku's head hung low, his hair blocking Elson's view of his face. "So what you're saying is that you helped kill Tsukauchi," Deku said quietly.

"Who?"

"A man of truth. Doesn't really matter to you anyways." Deku laughed and looked up, his expression carrying an edge of craziness. "It just means I have more reason to go ahead with my nuclear option."

Elson scoffed. "And who would give you nukes? The Chinese?"

"It was more figuratively speaking, but may have the same result on your popularity in the end." Deku grabbed the laptop and began typing. "You see in my efforts to find out about the true nature of the Yokosuka bombing I had someone look through your classified databases. One person turned into a group which then turned into a small warehouse of nomus with technology-based quirks. Anyways, what I'm saying is that I have full access to every single secret that the US has stored on a computer. From classified operations to your personal calendar." Deku then locked eyes with Elson. "I hope your daughter's school presentation goes well tomorrow."

Elson slammed his fist into the table. "If you as much as touch her I will make sure everything you've built burns!"

"Don't worry, I won't make a direct move against her. I just want you to realise what I can do against you. Because with a single press of a button I can make it all public. Spread everything across all corners of the internet and let it be downloaded by everyone within minutes. I'm sure your geopolitical opponents would love to get their hands on the locations of your secret bases, missile silos, access to launch codes, convoy schedules and a full list of all undercover agents. Not to mention the media getting their hands on enough dark secrets of black-site quirk camps and human experimentation to fuel the entire news cycle to way past the election."

The President slid back into his chair, taking deep breaths. "I'm listening."

"Great. Obviously there can be no mention of this meeting or what happened here, that should go without saying. Other than that, agree to my terms and end all hostilities with the Phoenix revolution as well as withdrawing all support from Zankoku's regime within a week. I don't care what excuse you give the public, but I would recommend framing Zankoku for everything and deny involvement. Beyond that I don't care what you do." Deku slid a sheet of paper over to Elson along with a pen. "Once you hold up your end of the deal I will hold up mine and return all equipment and personnel. And as long as the deal holds I won't take any actions towards you or the US."

Elson picked up the pen and quickly signed the paper. "Understand this Deku. I will sign this agreement and follow it, but not one inch more. You will receive to sympathy or help from the US. And if you win there will be no trade deals coming from me."

"I wouldn't expect otherwise. Not that I need your false sympathy." Deku took the signed paper and began packing his suitcase. "And just a little piece of advice if you do survive your re-election. History has shown that some revolutions, and especially successful ones tends to spread. Like sparks from a fire trying to ignite nearby powder kegs. Your own independence war for example pretty much led the French peasants to chop of their kings head." Deku stood up and began walking out of the room. "I can't predict what will happen, but you shouldn't be surprised if you start seeing trouble back home," He said before leaving the smouldering President alone.

The sound of a chair being thrown could be heard from the room as Deku walked away. "You will never escape the consequences of what you did today Deku!" The shouting echoed down the corridors of the plane. "Your revolution and it's rule will die out before I leave office!"

Deku laughed. "Go ahead Mr. President. You can even try to assassinate me if you wish. I might even beat Fidel Castro's record." Deku ignored the following threats coming from Elson as he walked away, eventually meeting up with his fellow hijackers.

"How did it go?" Shinsou said.

"He will do what we want. I just had to threaten the most powerful individual on the planet along with his family. Not to mention challenging him to assassinate me." Deku opened a portal. "And I might just have slammed his face into the table at one point."

Dabi burst out laughing. "You should have brought a camera in there. I would watch it on repeat."

Deku smirked "They have cameras in every room, so that might be arranged."

Bakugo lingered in front of the door, doubt seeping into his mind. He took a deep breath before knocking. After a few moments Toshinori opened the door. "You look like shit," Bakugo said.

Toshinori rubbed his sunken eyes. "I haven't slept well."

"That doesn't seem to be your only problem." Bakugo walked past Toshinori and into the dark apartment. The dust had started gathering on the shelves and a quick peak into the kitchen revealed a pile of dirty dishes. "You've really let this place go."

"Age is taking its' hold on me." Toshinori slumped down into the sofa. "My conditions have gotten worse and I can barely eat. Especially since Tsukauchi…"

"And you haven't called Uraraka for help?" Bakugo said.

"I don't want to burden her. Things are complicated enough for her."

"Have it your way," Bakugo said and sat down.

"Why did you visit me Bakugo? Things must be busy for heroes right now?"

"I'm not a hero anymore. Handed in my license once that bastard Zankoku decided to militarize us." Bakugo glanced at the news footage being played in the background. "It's just that with the US pulling out we all know who will win. And that person will come for me and kill me and I can't do anything." He looked back towards Toshinori. "All I want is to live with Eijiro and raise Fumiko. But karma is a bitch."

"Contemplating your own mortality?" Bakugo nodded. "I've done the same for a while now. It's a difficult thing to come to terms with."

"I'm not going to come to terms with anything." Bakugo stood up. "I've worked so hard since UA to make up for what I did to him! I've used every opportunity to help those like him. Climbing so high up on the hero rankings as I could just to use that attention to bring attention to quirkless rights. I've thrown away so much money just to help one more. I'm even raising someone who was abandoned by her parents because of something outside her control. And I would give everything to keep being with her! And if…" He as shaking as he sat back down. "And if that's not enough I don't know what is."

Toshinori sighed "I didn't say you had to come to terms with anything, only that I have." Bakugo looked up. "There once was a time when I could change the world by saying three words. And now I can't change the mind of a single man who once adored me to save my life. But I think I might still be able to save someone else's this one last time."

"What do you mean?"

"Deku used to be a forgiving kid once right?" Bakugo nodded. "Then call me a naïve and dying old man, but I think a part of that still lives in him. But I suspect that his want for revenge overshadows it. And while revenge is a powerful motivator, it is a hollow one. Once you reach your goal you're left empty, there is nothing gain from it. Maybe if someone gives him a taste of that emptiness he will see that more revenge isn't the answers."

Bakugo looked at Toshinori with a shocked expression "You're not saying that you're going to…"

"Turn myself in? I am," Toshinori said.

"You can't. He's going to destroy you and everything you built up," Bakugo said.

"I am already dying. My doctor is surprised that I've even been alive for so long. As I said, I've come to terms with it. Either I die quietly and some resemblance of a false legacy will live on, or I hand myself over." Toshinori places his hand on Bakugo's shoulder. "And maybe save you in process."

"Have you told Uraraka?

"If I did she wouldn't let me go through with it. She's too similar to me that way," Toshinori said.

"And what makes you think I will let you?" Bakugo said, his voice uneven.

"Because deep down I think you understand it is necessary," Toshinori said.

Bakugo began fighting back his tears. "After all this time and you still manage to be a hero."

"I guess it's my way of making up for the one time I failed to be one."

A/N: Don't mind me and my box of All Might death flags. Struggled a bit with that final scene, but it's good enough for now and I need to get this chapter out. Speaking of which, sorry for the wait. Long story short, life's been a bitch and I've had to prioritize. Not much I can do about it. As for the story onwards, we're closing in on the final stretch. Major plot points that I've worked on for a long time are a coming. Still have a lot to figure out, especially when it comes to the ending. I know exactly where I want to go, it's just getting to that point that's difficult. I have an idea for what must be done, but we'll see. I'm hoping you're all having a wonderful day. Goodbye.