Hell yeah! Longer chapter! Halfway point(ish) of this fic? Heading into a mini arc before the next arc? 15th chapter on the 15th? Which is Izuku's birthday? Planting seeds for later chapters, as well as using some of my OC's? I am super happy to get this chapter out and have already started working on chapter 16, which I can hopefully get out on the 30th, which is Mina's birthday.
Thanks again to g-viral, AnnieRosa, and Galileo, among others, for helping me proofread and flesh this chapter out.
For those worried I will make Izuku super emo and unlikably ooc, nah. I'm making sure I do this right. We'll see some highs and lows and some divergences from Canon. Stay tuned and as always, feedback is appreciated. Happy Goblin Dance Day, y'all!
—-
After the fight against All-Might, Izuku had left the hospital setup where Bakugou was still unconscious.
It took gentle coaxing, but he was eventually led to the observation room. He found himself unable to resist as his girlfriend took him by the hand. He sat on the floor almost immediately, having lost the will to even stand.
Mina bit her thumb, trying not to cry. Izuku looked utterly dejected, barely paying attention to the remaining fights. His spark was fizzled out at the moment, with any attempts by Mina to get him invested falling short.
"Water whip girl is kinda in over her head, dontcha think? Her attitude isn't helping anything."
"Yeah…" Izuku half heartedly responded, slumping against the wall like an old doll.
Tsuyu commented as well, noticing something peculiar about the match. "Kind of a weird match. Her quirk is not as effective on women, right? Maybe they are stretched thin, ribbit. What do you think, Izuku?"
He muttered to himself, nobody understanding exactly what he was saying. They all just looked at each other, then the screen.
The fight played out like an entrance exam for Togeike and a final for Kodai. It was certainly an interesting juxtaposition, as Izuku would say.
He sat silently, looking at the floor while the action took place. Midnight was on screen, facing Kodai and Togeike as they put a plan into action. It seemed as though, even with one girl being silent and the other being so cold and rude, they were able to execute a plan to wash the experienced pro away. The idea of using a nutshell as cover and water to dispel the pheromones was certainly not a bad one.
Mina was enamored at seeing one of her favorite heroes in action, but still felt compelled to cheer her schoolmates on. Granted, Togeike did not leave a good first or even second impression, and she didn't really know Yanagi, but wanting others to do their best trumped that.
She looked over to see if Izuku was scribbling notes or making commentary. Instead, he merely sat against the wall, watching the screens in silence. His gaze was affixed to the monitors, but almost seemed to look through them, as if his mind was elsewhere.
The fight with Momo and class 1B's Honenuki was also quite the interesting team-up, with them managing to snag a win thanks to quick, flexible thinking and a solid plan from 1A's class president. Izuku watched as his fellow class rep struggled with her own insecurities about failure. He wondered if he could find a way to overcome it. Was he jealous? He didn't want to believe he was, and yet there it was. He felt pathetic.
Izuku had seen the whole battle. It was like an inverse of his own: a class rep from 1A going in with confidence issues and coming out the other end more successful. They worked out a plan to get Aizawa to blink, then knocked the underground hero off balance and coaxed him onto the ground.
It took a while, with neither student having much chemistry with each other at first.
X
When they returned to class for the final time before Summer break and the trip, Izuku felt determined. At least, he was in one regard: he needed on-site therapy.
He set out to ask his homeroom teacher for advice. Naturally, the man assumed it was something else, bristling as he denied his student in advance.
"Midoriya, I can't just allow a retest, nor can I waive the results, even if you did win the Sports Festival." Aizawa stated, shuffling some papers as he headed to the Teacher's lounge to grab some juice.
The green-haired teen objected, barely able to look his teacher in the eye. "That's not it, sorry. I actually want to start seeing the school counselor when we return to class. I have…I have a lot to work through. I thought I had it handled but this exam made it quite clear how untrue that is…If I need to do remedial classes during my trip to I Island…or even give up my plane ticket so I can focus on studies, I will. I need to do better."
The exhausted teacher looked his student over, seeing the remorse on the boy's face, alongside a sort of desperate resolve that was trying and failing to keep itself together.
With everything this problem child had been through, alongside his other classmates after USJ, he couldn't help but sympathize. And yet, the teacher could not let his student know that. Class was about to start soon, plus he had to meet with the student he had been tutoring before a quick meeting about the Training Camp.
"Pick your head off the floor. We have class soon. I want you to pay attention during the start of class. That will be a start. As for your other requests, approved and denied. Now sit down. Class will start soon. I'll be back."
Mina watched sadly as her boyfriend slumped to his seat. Kaminari, Ibara, and Sato were among the other failing students and had done their best to provide comfort through solidarity.
As always, however, Mina tried to console her boyfriend, with their usual circle of friends doing their best too.
"It's ok, Zuzu! The Green team is here to make you beam!" The pink girl cheered before realizing that at least two other green beans were missing as they were in another class.
"I thought we agreed on Fun Gang, ribbit!" Tsuyu croaked, adding levity despite her reputation for being more blunt and less jovial. Even still, her friends were tense and she wanted them to smile.
Mina watched it all nervously. She didn't want her boyfriend to be overwhelmed.
"Feels more like a Dekusquad…because I'm a loser. Sorry for bringing you all down. I shouldn't have insulted you all like that. I let you all down already."
Tsuyu eyed her friend with worry, as did Ochako and Kirishima. He was like a completely different person at that moment. Someone had heard enough, however.
"No. None of that!" Mina proclaimed, pointing at her dejected boyfriend before she bent over onto his desk and pushed her curly hair into his. Normally, she would rain tiny blows upon her boyfriend or tickle him, but this seemed the more appropriate tactic.
The bell rang and Aizawa snapped into action, grabbing everyone's attention. Class could begin properly.
"Everyone is here, so stop the nonsense. The bell rang so go sit down. Now, unfortunately, some of you failed. One of you is actually one of our best students and vice president. I expect more of you and disciplinary action will be discussed. As such…"
Eyes fell upon Izuku, who was too deflated to even shrink in his seat. He merely cringed with regret and watched his teacher with a glassed-over gaze. That was about to change, at least a little.
"Everyone is going to the Forest Lodge. Everyone had already passed the written exam. As for the Practical, four of you failed in this class. Class 1B is getting a similar rundown, even if their fail rate for the practical is less than ours. Those who failed will be taking remedial classes, going over their weak points and improving them until they can't stand anymore."
"So this was all," Tsuyu piped up, wondering out loud if this was all a lie.
"It was a logical ruse. If we just told you that the practical had no bearing, you wouldn't have taken things as seriously. Besides, as laid out in the practical themselves, you will encounter surprise situations in the field without prior knowledge. USJ cemented that lesson and some of you have had encounters beyond that."
"With all due respect, with repeated lies coming from you, trust is starting to erode." Iida raised his hand in polite objection, followed by Yaoyorozu.
"I must similarly object. While I can understand the motive was to light a fire under us and force us to take it more seriously, the fact remains that trust is an important factor in all this, as well as communication. Sorry for speaking out of line, but it must be said," The class president finished. Izuku was mostly silent, but there were a few mutterings in agreement towards that end.
"That may be. I will consider that. Anyway, this will be a bootcamp, so don't expect all campfires and cookouts. I'm going to lay out what you should all be bringing on the trip. Yaoyorozu, hand out these checklists please. After this is over, you'll have swimming exercises to help with endurance."
Everyone quieted in their seats, with many feeling relieved by both the realization that they could go on the school trip, and that they would get to beat the heat today. Izuku, however, was still locked in his own mind.
X
The pool training came and went, with Togeike opting out to say goodbye to her Gen Ed friends. The rest of the class had engaged in some spirited races using their quirks.
Izuku, however, hung back, half heartedly kicking his feet in the shallow end of the pool. After a while, he had gone into the locker room to change back into his uniform and meet Aizawa, who had already been waiting.
"Thanks for meeting me after class, Mr. Aizawa. You said we had to talk about my student leadership?" Izuku asked flatly, the life gone from his voice. It had returned as a spark when he found out he would still get to go to the training camp. And yet his failure still weighed him down.
Just as Aizawa was about to discuss the repercussions of the test results with his student, Mina opened the door and allowed 1A in.
"We can't allow this." Momo interrupted. "Sorry for the rudeness. I felt the need to embody the urgency of the situation."
Aizawa stood up, as if he was about to say something or send his class out of the room. Instead, he listened, his body language speaking something Izuku was barely able to make out.
"I agree with the class president. In the past, I would have been more staunch in my respect for such positions. Representatives must embody the best of us and showcase all the qualities a good leader must have. You showed me, however, that even the best can falter but that they are not out of reach. It's for this reason that, as honored as I am, I cannot accept the position, nor can I accept resignation." Iida raised his voice to speak, throwing in his thoughts on the matter.
Izuku shook his head. He would have felt touched by everything being said in his defense, but unfortunately he was too numb to feel it. "You heard, Aizawa. Besides, I can't set a good example after this. I failed so many people."
Kaminari chimed in. "Hey, I'm not a class rep. Nobody would vote for me if I paid them."
"You said it, Jamming whey, not me." Jirou teased, gently elbowing her friend. She couldn't resist the urge to tease her friend.
"Shush. Continue, Kaminari" Momo pressed a finger to the punk girl's lips to silence her.
"Thanks, Yaomomo. But yeah, Midoriya failed. So what? The fact that he is here with us, feeling the pain makes me support him more. If he had passed, he would probably be obnoxiously cheerful, but supportive. And I think he's still got it "
"Are you all finished interrupting a private conversation or do I have to expel you?" Aizawa stated harshly, shutting everyone else up. He set his eyes upon Izuku again and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Clearing his throat, 1A's homeroom teacher resumed speaking. "Anyway, listen. Your fears are understandable but unfounded. If you're a leader among your peers, it's true that more is expected.
However, even leaders fail. Heroes are not infallible and even if there is a certain amount of societal pressure, it's how we respond and grow that matters. Midoriya will stay as vice president but he will be on thin ice. Just because leaders aren't infallible doesn't give them liberty to keep messing up. Now if everyone can clear out..."
As everyone started to disperse, they muttered amongst themselves. As always, Aizawa was gruff, but not monstrous.
"Thanks…All of you. I really wish this provided more comfort, but I need to think a bit." Izuku bowed tearfully and made his way out the door.
"Jeesh. He's really taking it hard. I know he failed but so did I and you don't see me-" Kaminari rubbed the back of his head, gaining a punch in the arm from a very disgruntled pink girl. She soon settled down and explained.
"They have…a bad history. Him and Bakugou. I… I'm going to go talk to him." Mina rushed off after the green-haired boy, who had walked slowly towards All-Might's office.
X
The pink girl kicked herself. She almost went off on Kaminari. He didn't know. How could he? But it still pissed her off. And yet, as much as she wanted to defend her boyfriend's honor, it was not her secret to tell or her baggage to air. She might have been involved after a certain point, and even been privy to stories her boyfriend was not quick to share with anyone else.
But that was just it. They were his stories to tell and she would not tell them without his consent.
"I am here…to check on my boyfriend."
"Hey babe. Sorry for worrying you." Izuku smiled weakly, trying to appear strong.
"Welcome, you two. I had actually wanted to talk to Midoriya. I suppose I should let you in too."
"Is that ok, Izuku?" Mina asked.
The green-haired boy nodded silently and exhaled. It was admittedly a relief that things would work out in a way, and yet he still felt deflated. Sure, it all worked out. He should have realized that Aizawa would do something like this. Why did he feel so hollow?
"Sorry, Mina. If I had just tried to keep it together better or had even just had Bakugou expelled..."
Mina said nothing as she flicked her boyfriend's nose, then pulled him into a big hug. Finally, she spoke.
"It'll be OK. We're still spending a couple days on I Island for I Expo, then headed back to Japan for the training camp, right? That's like a whole mess of fun we're gonna have. "
When Izuku didn't respond, the pink girl paused for a moment, then spoke again. She knew from his face that he had acknowledged her. He was just still feeling down.
"You and I are going to come out of this so much stronger, we'll be pros before you knows!" Mina gently punched her boyfriend's arm; then stretched out lethargically. "Man, I am going to be so jetlagged but it's going to be so worth it. And then we can check out the fireworks festival"
"Yeah…" Izuku said silently, not looking up from his phone. He had asked for his strategies to be reviewed and for a full analysis of his practical exam so he could figure out what to improve. In the end, he already knew the answer.
"Izuku…" Mina whispered sympathetically.
"I should be relieved I get to still go to the training camp, right? That I still get to spend time with you there and at I Island. So why do I still feel so…disappointed in myself?"
All-Might took a seat next to his young ward, deciding to step in and give guidance.
"She's right. You should relax a bit. Aizawa and I spoke with Vlad King and we are working something out. We have to remain impartial, especially as nobody else is getting such a chance. But I wanted to ask you: What is it that made it hard to work with young Bakugou?"
"I TRIED! YOU SAW! I…Sorry. I…I can't though. God, I'm still defending him even after all this time. Things truly haven't changed. If I had just come clean. I was worried about denying someone's potential or…or somehow him becoming a villain…"
"Midoriya…"
"Did you know he once told me to take a swan dive off the roof and hope I was born with a quirk in my next life? Or that he beat me up constantly and the teachers did nothing? Neither the police. I mean, I didn't really go to them except once but they didn't exactly take it seriously then."
All-Might winced, then softened. That explained what they were arguing about. He knew that the boy had trauma but had admittedly not asked about it very often. Hound Dog was more qualified for that sort of thing, but the point still stood. As a mentor, he had to do better.
"I could have saved myself and everyone the trouble. Maybe I would have passed. Doesn't matter though. I am still allowed to participate in the training camp. I'm just going to be stuck behind with him. And then, when classes resume, I'm going to see Hound Dog."
All-Might gritted his teeth. He knew the option that was already floated around was for the two boys to be paired up in remedial studies in the hopes of reaching understanding. And yet, based on what he had heard, that would just exacerbate things.
"I hoped that maybe…getting to go to UA and meeting people who could temper him and get him to chill out would help him. I really am a bone head. I rewarded him for past behavior because I thought 'it would be a shame for him to not get a chance. He has potential to be a hero', as if heroism is all about strength or badassery… It's just…so ironic. He was my vision of what victory looked like for so long and then I ended up failing while working with him. I should have just punched him out and dragged him to the exit."
"Midoriya…I know you're feeling down on yourself. You failed the practical test, true. But do not get discouraged."
"..."
Mina helped Izuku up, leading him out of the office. Meanwhile, All-Might sat in silence, contemplating what he had learned. He knew he wasn't doing the best job as a mentor, but he wished to improve.
"Can't even inspire and uplift anymore. I really am losing my touch."
X
The entirety of Class A arrived at the Kiashi Ward Mall, though Togeike opted to wander off on her own. She wasn't here to socialize. Still, if she was to be part of this class, she supposed she should acclimate. Mina had suggested the idea, and Yaoyorozu had put it to a vote as to whether or not to invite their new classmate. While some were hesitant, including Togeike herself, it was decided that she would come to the Mall with them.
"You're new, right? This training camp will be useful for you as well." Yaoyorozu offered a hand of welcoming to the cold-eyed girl. She shrugged and stepped away from the offered hand.
"I'm actually going to be in the remedial classes with the failures. It's embarrassing, but I suppose that's what happens when I enter the hero course at the end of the term. They want to break me in since I'm not a danger magnet yet." The girl spat coldly. She coughed into her hand. "At least It's just catching me up on things. Anyway, I will go off on my own and get what I need. I know the way. I work here."
Mina frowned at that, then noticed as everyone started doing their own thing. She felt like she was in her element and would love to plan something else like this one day. For now, there were other priorities. Looking at her boyfriend, who was still feeling down, she remembered something.
"Hey Izuku, you want to come with me to pick up our games?"
"I'm actually going to grab us some food. We can split up and I'll find a table. It will be kind of crowded there anyway."
"The whole mall is kind of crowded though," Mina pouted. "Are you sure?"
"I know. I'll be fine. I promise. I'll meet you at the food court. I just…"
"It's ok. I got you. Everything is gonna be OK. Because I am here."
Izuku gave a sad smile to the pink girl. He had felt like he let her down, as if her support right now was masking disappointment and shame. He knew better, but his guilt and frustration were not making it easy.
As he headed for the food court, he could feel eyes on him. He figured it was just anxiety exacerbated by the situation.
His intuition was correct, however. A familiar presence had set out that day to clear his head. He did not seek the heroes out, but serendipity had other plans. The hooded figure locked eyes upon his prey and approached.
"Oh hey, get out! It's one of those UA kids! I think it's the one who won the Sports Festival! Can I get your autograph?"
Izuku said nothing, not in the mood for such discussions. He was still getting used to attention after the Sports Festival, but today, he had shut down. The hooded man had other plans, however. As he wrapped an arm around the teen boy's shoulder, the figure gripped him by the neck.
"No wait…Come to think of it, I remember you from someplace else. This can't be a coincidence, no. I think, actually, it just might be fate," The villain grinned malevolently. "Let's have a nice chat. I want to ask you some questions."
"Is…is it about chapstick?" Izuku spat morosely.
"I literally have you by the throat and can turn your skin to ash. Don't fuck with me." Shigaraki snarled, not in the mood for bullshit.
"Why not?" The green-haired boy deadpanned, not in the mood to fight anyway. Shigaraki's grip tightened, with his index finger hovering just above the boy's skin.
"What's with you, kid? I would advise you to listen or I'll dissolve your throat, then the rest of you." The villain growled, getting rather fed up with the responses he was getting. He was already pent up to begin with. This was making it worse.
"Do it then. What's stopping you?"
The villain grinned in a haunting manner, his immensely chapped lips giving off the vibe of an undead ghoul. "Morbid. But you know I could probably kill 20-30 people before anyone stops me. Would you really let all those people die because of some tough guy death wish?"
Izuku hesitated, then listened reluctantly to his captor. He was tense, but he had little choice at the moment. "S-Spit it out," the green-haired boy choked as he humored his would-be kidnapper.
"That's a good little hero I knew you'd see it my way. Let's find a nice quiet place to talk in private, shall we?"
Shigaraki escorted his erstwhile hostage to one of the planter benches nearby, then sat them both down. Once he felt secure, he continued.
"There we go. Now, as for what's bothering me, well, I just don't get it. Everyone obsessed over All-Might, then the hero killer. I'm doing pretty much the same thing as Stain, right? Killing and destroying shit I don't like. What separates him from me? I brought the Nomu, they set Hosu on fire and spread chaos through the city. We even ended up on the news and yet all everyone talks about is Stain. People show up at my door. Stain Stain Stain. I turn on the TV or the radio or go to the mall and I see the same shit. It pisses me off." The wiry framed madman ranted, slowly starting to lose it.
Izuku waited for the villain to stop, then when he was certain it was his turn to speak, he did.
"I don't agree with the hero killer…in fact there was something I wanted to say to him and I couldn't get the words out. Probably for the best. But you, you're just kind of angry and ranty and you act like a child with all this power and no direction. Nobody will remember you after the novelty wears off."
Shigaraki moved his finger closer to Izuku's throat. The Green-haired boy continued, nonplussed.
"Stain has conviction though, a creed. He has a code and an endgame and that resonates with people, even if it scares them. It's like a dark charisma. All-Might is the pillar of our society. Stain believes that society needs to be purged in order to strengthen that pillar. To kill those he sees as corrupting the ideal. You get what I'm saying?"
"Yes. I think I see it all clearly."
"Good. I just want to eat lunch with my girlfriend and go home after she picks our games up.."
"Fine by me. I wanted to kill her too…wait. What game?"
"It's called 'Lay a single dusty finger on her and one of us will be down a hand 64'. You better get out of here. I gave you what you want, now go."
"I see I struck a nerve. See, that helped cheer me up a bit. Glad to know that something can get under your skin. Good to know when I rot it away."
"I see it all now. I get why you and Stain piss me off so much, and why these people are so careless and complacent in their little world, despite the threat my Nomu posed. It all goes back to All-Might. Thanks for listening. And for the advice. I don't need you anymore.."
X
Moments earlier…
Mina waited in line, eager to get the games so that she could eat lunch with Izuku and resume shopping. Normally, she would want to reconvene with the whole gang, or as much of it as possible. She might even comment on how close Momo and Jirou seem, especially after she and Izuku gave the former some advice.
And yet, now, she was worried. Izuku was not exactly in high spirits, even after finding out he could go to the training camp. Shoes could wait, as could gossip and adventure. Her boyfriend needed her. What would her aunt do? Or her big sis? Granted, they were both gay, but it still felt like a valid question to ask herself.
"But maybe he also needs space…Ugh. I wish I knew what to do." Mina ruffled her hair in frustration, hoping to jostle a few brain cells into action.
"You can start by moving in line before people just step around you. There's a huge gap. Jeez."
"Oh, right. Sorry." Mina blustered before heading up in line. It had escaped her gaze, with everything that was on her mind, that a significant portion of the customers had moved up.
"He gets it. Heroism doesn't mean anything anymore. It's oversaturated with people only in it for money and glory. It's a cancer and he was the one who set out to cut it out like a devil's surgeon…You look familiar by the way"
"Oh…um, yeah. I was at the Sports Festival. Might have seen me there, or in the background on the news with Airjet."
"Pathetic. Posers and corporate whores, all of you. At least Stain looks to change it, to be that domino that falls and shakes society to its core."
"Oh, um…ok, dude. Sorry. I think you mixed up your metaphors?" Mina moved up in the line, slightly unnerved by the way this young man was speaking. He had to have been in his early to mid 20s.
"Society is a facade. Do you know it still treats heteromorphs with suspicion and disdain?"
Mina paused, feeling those words hit close to home. She hadn't encountered a lot of it growing up, but a few anti-mutant types had given her shit in her life, enough to stick with her. "Then I'll change it with a smile."
Mina did her best All-Might impression, though it was nowhere near as good as Izuku's yet. She would get there eventually.
"How naive…but commendable. I like the All Might impression. It's a shame he is involved in helping guide the next generation of such a phony institution like UA."
Mina made it to the counter and picked up her game, as well as Izuku's. "Thank you for the talk, dude. Don't badmouth my school, though. All-Might has been a great teacher, and I'll show you what a great hero my boyfriend and I will be."
The young man thought for a moment, then addressed his fellow gamer. "That's right. He was the green-haired boy, right? The one who faced Stain. He was acknowledged as a true hero."
"I'll be sure to tell him. I gotta go meet up with him. I'm famished. Later, man." And thus Mina left the young lizard man to pick up his game, further pulling up his hoodie so that he could go incognito.
X
Back near Izuku's predicament…
Ochako watched as her friend was held by the throat by a creepy guy in a hoodie. She had just gone off to buy a suitcase. She needed a new one and was on a budget, but luckily Tsuyu had helped her find one.
"Is that…Please let go of him." Her voice got shaken and dark for a moment. Before she could approach further, a familiar blur of pink zoomed past and latched onto Izuku. Ochako smiled, knowing her friends had reunited, but still had to call the Police, just to be safe.
Mina, however, had glomped onto Izuku's arm. "Babe! There you are. Was wondering where you got off to. Thank goodness."
"Mina…Please…Call…"
Her eyes met Shigaraki's and she could feel her blood run cold. Sweat started to sizzle in her palms as she contemplated her next move carefully. She could not use her quirk like this without licensure, lest she end up in the back of a cop car. Nobody but her and Izuku suspected who the hooded man was, save for possibly Ochako.
"Hey, do I know you from somewhere?" Mina narrowed her eyes at the pale young man who had her boyfriend by the neck. "You kind of have a grip on his throat."
The girl grabbed the man's arm, melting small holes in the fabric as she tugged on the sleeve. She didn't want to get in trouble, but also wanted to get the point across. Either way, it was risky.
While all this was happening, the reptilian man from earlier was walking by up above, watching intensely as he saw a standoff occur while everyone else went about their day oblivious. He looked upon the shock of hair peeking out from the hoodie and narrowed his eyes in contemplation before walking off with his goods. He didn't want to get caught if the cops were called.
"Oh. I see. He's your boyfriend, and your friend?" Shigaraki put on an act, speaking to both Mina and Ochako loud enough for everyone to hear. He was right. He could have killed all three, as well as a few dozen more. However, he was here to clear his head, not bring the cops down on him while he was out for a walk. He had a lot to think about, either way. "My apologies. Was just asking him directions. I'll be on my way."
"Jeez, guys. What was up with him." Ochako blinked. "Was that really…that guy?" The brunette whispered the last part, as if it was forbidden knowledge.
"Yeah. But he's gone now. Thanks for calling the police. They'll be able to handle it. Kind of a bummer that the trip ended prematurely. Did you get everything you need, Chako?"
"What I could on a budget. Had to dip into my food budget a bit. Iida helped me pay for some things."
"Oooo. Rich nerdy boyfriend?" Mina teased, unable to resist. As expected, her friend took the bait and wriggled awkwardly.
"W-wait, what? No, it's not like… s-shut up." Ochako turned as red as a tomato and felt herself start to float a little.
"Hey, no worries. Just messin' around, right, Izu? Izu?" Mina smiled and turned to face her boyfriend, but he had already had a head start, walking past Iida and Kaminari on the way.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to be rude. The cops will probably want to talk to us. We should go." Izuku turned around to address the two girls he had been with before. They hurriedly ran towards him to keep up.
While the cops were called and friends gathered around Izuku, Shigaraki walked briskly and discreetly towards an alternate exit where he could make it back to base. He was caught off guard by an unfamiliar voice.
"Hey…You're the guy who released those things in Hosu, right? The one who is in league with the Hero Killer?"
"What if I am?" The villain looked over at the reptilian man, wearing a similar hoodie and trying to keep a low profile.
"I want in. With the League…if you'll have me that is." The young man requested, his voice brimming with conviction.
"And why should I?" The other man raised an eyebrow in irritation. He could kill this idiot and be on his way, and yet he was curious. Perhaps they did need allies, but he at least wanted a say in who joined, even if they were similarly inspired by that pious jackass, Stain.
"I got the game. Not only that, but I will be an asset in battle. I'll tell you my experience in battle on the way." The nameless youth patted his guitar case, jostling the contents inside with a metallic clang.
"Fine. Whatever. Follow me and stay close." Shigaraki growled, leading his new recruit into the darkness as they evaded police.
X
Following the encounter, the mall was evacuated and temporarily closed down while the police did a full sweep. Izuku and Mina were brought in for questioning at the police station, having been the ones to last see Shigaraki. There had also been Ochako, but she had only seen the tail end and called the cops.
Izuku sat in a folding chair as he contemplated what had occurred. He still couldn't believe that he was so bent out of shape, he was willing to die. His senses felt dulled, where normally he would have so many questions about it.
Instead, he promptly answered all of Tsukauchi's questions, leaving nothing out. He recounted everything, at least the relevant bits in regards to the investigation. He didn't need to vent his frustrations to the detective. He would go to therapy for that.
Next it was Mina's turn. Given that she had used her quirk slightly, she felt a bit anxious, but otherwise happily complied.
"We got Midoriya's testimony. It wasn't much we didn't already know, but it still helped clarify some things. You arrived on the scene after, but did you notice anything?" Tsukauchi stated calmly, handing Mina a small cup of water. She looked up, having been distracted by her own thoughts.
"Not really, aside from him glaring daggers at Izuku and I. He really wanted us dead. I think Izu mentioned afterwards that he said 'people at my door'?"
"He mentioned that too. It's not much, unfortunately but it's something."
"I figured. I wonder if the dude I met at the game store was one of those folks. He looked like he had a guitar case on him but it sounded like it was filled with knives. He was talking about the Hero Killer a lot but I feel like that isn't much to go off of."
"Hmmm. Unfortunately, it's not. Even regular citizens are buying merchandise based on the hero killer in light of current events. And he could have just had money on his guitar case"
"Maybe. We did talk about games a bit and anti-heteromorph sentiment. He was pretty into the Stain stuff though."
As Mina and Izuku exited the Police station, they were greeted by All-Might, who had come to speak to the detective anyway.
"You kids must be famished. How about I take you out for a meal, My treat."
"No thanks. I'm not hungry…" Izuku looked aside, sorrowful. His stomach told another, louder story however. "...I'll help you with the tip."
As the three of them entered All-Might's car, the two teens piled into the back seat to sit next to each other. For a moment, Izuku considered sitting shotgun. However, he felt almost unworthy in the moment. That and Mina felt like his emotional tether at the time.
He hesitated before exhaling a haggard breath. "Hey, All-Might? Have you ever failed to save someone?"
"Yes, of course. There are places and times I couldn't have been there to help. I'm only one person. Even I can fail sometimes."
Izuku should have felt comforted, knowing that even his idol was a human who made mistakes. Nobody was perfect, after all. Plus, both were born quirkless, another point of similarity.
But instead, all he felt was an intense pressure to do better and not to mess up. Logic was screaming at him that the point wasn't to strive for perfection. And yet, it's all he could focus on.
Mina patted his knee and looked into his eyes. "Zuzu… It's ok."
The boy started to feel a wave of emotion come on, but he merely sighed as he rested his head on the car door. "No it's…Sorry. I'm sorry. I was out of line. I'm just feeling kind of empty right now. Might not even be up to play the game when I get home."
"Well hopefully some food will help. You've got good company, babe. We'll take care of you."
"Thank you…I appreciate you both, so much. I'm blessed…Sorry for taking you for granted."
"Don't sweat it, kid. You'll bounce back. These trips will help with that." All-Might gave a thumbs up to his student before turning back around to start the car. With a hum of the engine, the party drove out onto the road, headed for a family restaurant.
Mina nudged her boyfriend and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You heard the big guy, Izu. We've got you."
Izuku rested in his seat, trying not to let his insecurities and depression consume him before he could consume something himself.
The three eventually pulled up in front of a fancy looking eatery, like the one you would find in an American postcard, except it seemed to have been housed within an old movie theater. The sign above the door read "Blue Harvest".
As the trio entered, All-Might introduced the place to his young wards. Mina's eyes twinkled as she looked at all the film props and theater style decorations. Even Izuku couldn't help but smile, seeing her excitement on full display. "This place is great. Thought you might enjoy it. I actually come in here when I run out of steam in my muscle form.
The three were seated almost instantly. Mina opened the menu and was in awe of both the American style foods and Japanese classics, all named after various movies.
Mina opted for a dish called "My Neighbor Natto-ro", which was showcased in the menu as being her favorite food in the shape of a whimsical creature. Izuku ordered a spider-man themed burger called the "Kobe Maguire". It was just within the limits of the diet All-Might had set for him when he had first started, but the pro was still concerned for his young ward.
The man himself ordered the "Francese Ford Coppola", having had a craving for Italian out of nowhere. I can't eat as much because of what happened to my stomach, but I can still enjoy a good meal. Plus they have a lot of film memorabilia. It's got a nice atmosphere. You should come here on Weekends, they have film screenings of some of the classics."
"Like the Alien series!" Mina squeaked excitedly. She was always looking for fun things to do and this definitely fell within that category.
"Only the good ones," All-Might winked, happy to be the cool teacher.
The two spoke the entire time, with Izuku mostly keeping quiet, wondering if it would be better if he wasn't there. He was happy they got along, and he supposed he could just chime in as well, but his heart just wasn't in it.
The boy was instantly jostled out of it by the warmth of Mina's hand over his. He really needed to take her on another proper date to show how much he appreciated her right now. Maybe the two of them could go here for their anniversary, or to celebrate their birthdays.
As the food arrived, so did a strange girl from a few tables over. She had been likely sitting with some classmates. Izuku noticed the other teens looking at their table out of the corner of hisceye but was too tired to care. They seemed to be from another school, but he couldn't tell without their uniforms.
What was hard to ignore was the large, green skinned girl with yellow eyes and sharp teeth running towards their table like an excitable puppy.
"You're Midoriya, right? The one who won the Sports Festival right?"
He still felt exhausted, and yet the hairs on Izuku's arm stood on end. He had already been recognized today and that had gone poorly. At least he wasn't alone. He would humor them for now.
"I guess? Who are you?" Izuku asked cautiously, raising an eyebrow.
"Emi Waniago. I go to Ketsubutsu. One of your former classmates transferred into my class. Mineta." The girl stated in a cheery manner, contrasting with her large frame. She looked like she could break his arm like a twig, but with the kind of personality where she would apologize right after.
Izuku looked up from his meal. He was wondering what the other boy had gotten up to. Hopefully nothing too obscene. "Oh. Is he doing well?"
Emi slumped a little and rubbed the back of her head. "Well…He's a nasty little pervert, but I've been keeping him in check. Someone's gotta! My girlfriend went to junior high with you. Anyway, we should fight?"
"Sounds about right. Also, no thank you." Izuku took a bite of his burger, chewing it quietly as he looked the green girl over. "Not in The best mood. Sorry."
Emi laughed softly and shook her head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Hey. No worries. Not like we can use our quirks without licenses. Plus we don't go to the same school. But yeah, I thought I should ask. I just saw how cool you were in your fights and I was like `I wanna tussle with him'. Sorry for interrupting your meal. I must seem weird. Enjoy the food." The girl motioned to leave but snapped back around, as if she had just remembered something. "Oh right! You did pretty great too, Ashido right?"
Mina gaveca peace sign and smiled brightly. "Yep yep. That's me! You heard of me?"
"I mean, you were at the Sports Festival, plus on TV with Airjet." Emi responded with equal energy.
The pink girl pondered as she took another bite of her meal. "Yeah…Wait, was your girlfriend the messy brunette with the wind quirk?"
Emi grinned even brighter. "Got it in one. Glad to know you've heard of me. Hopefully only good things. Anyway, I should let you go..sorry to bother you. Enjoy the food. My friends are probably going all 'What is she doing? Is she bothering those people?' and I don't want to worry them."
The hulking green girl spun around and headed back to her friends, leaving Mina amused and Izuku perplexed. Before they could ask each other what just happened, the green girl spoke once more, this time in a more serious tone.
"Hey…one more question…When you were attacked at USJ, was there a big guy who was kinda green and scaley like me, but kinda sharply dressed?"
All-Might spoke up this time, remembering his last talk with Gran Torino, as well as that day at USJ. "I see…I thought I recognized that name. You must be the daughter of the notorious Gang boss, Crocodile King."
"Yeah…I don't like letting people know that though. I mean, I haven't changed my name, so it's inferred, but I still keep it low key. Sorry for getting weirdly personal to strangers," Emi looked at the ground, as if lost in thought. It caught Izuku's eye, as if behind her goofy and brash behavior was a mission. He could admire that. The girl's demeanor once again shifted to a more casual tone. "Wait…Skinny dude…Are you Ashido's dad? You have similar eyes kinda."
All-Might laughed softly and held up a hand. "No, no. I'm…a family friend. I drove these two here to celebrate the end of their first term at UA. The name's Yagi Toshinori."
"I see. Awesome! Well, anyway, see ya later, alligators. I mean, I'm the alligator here I guess but, um. Yeah. Right. Sorry. Bye."
Izuku sat on that revelation, thinking of his own father at that moment. He wondered if the man would be proud, or if he would even care.
Once the girl had left, he ate the rest of his burger slowly while Mina and All-Might finished their meals as well.
Unbeknownst to the group, a large imposing man watched from across the street, incognito in a black trenchcoat and Fedora, as well as a scarf to hide his face. It was sweltering, but he could take it.
"Well now. That's convenient." The man grinned to himself, then took out his phone and made a call. He was here on personal business, but was due to report to the League soon. He decided to check in with what was left of his empire, so that he could rebuild.
"Hello, boys? I'm back in business. Meet me at the usual spot. We'll discuss things there."
"King! It's good to hear from you...We might have a problem, though. Some of our main officers are behind bars, plus the business just isn't what it used to be."
Waniago scoffed. "Typical, but I can fix this," he thought to himself, then answered his subordinate.
"You leave that to me. Hold on. I'm getting another call." Waniago hung up and answered the call he had on hold, having heard the beep in his ear while he spoke. He switched to the other line and heard a familiar voice.
"Enjoying your little mission?"
"I was keeping an eye on my legacy, but I also have eyes on some people we know."
"Leave the girl. It's the man I'm after. As for the boy, I have plans for him too. Further down the line. Report to Shigaraki when you finish up. He may appreciate your intel." All-For-One spoke casually, as if speaking to an equal. Waniago could tell it was an act, but he would play along for now.
"I suppose I don't have much choice, do I?" The crime boss sighed, reclining in his seat as he watched the scene across the street. He paused when he saw the girl who had talked to them, taking care to remain inconspicuous.
"Of course you do. You can choose to humor an old man, or you can go back to prison. Can't have competition but I can have the best in my corner. I can always get that old campy has-been, Origin on the phone, but if I wanted a pale imitation, I would just clone myself."
"Fine. I'll play along. You don't scare me."
"Oh, of course. Aren't you a brave one?"
"Don't patronize me. Alright. I'll play along for now. I'll use my connections to help out as payment for my freedom. You might have a Broker, but I can get things that even he can't. "
"Intriguing. Assuming this isn't a bluff from an utter relic, I'll hold you to that." The other voice scoffed calmly from wherever it was holed away.
"That's rich coming from you…" The reptilian crime boss gave a bemused hiss over the phone. He did not like being condescended to. For better or worse though, it wasn't that different from other conversations with rivals, only this one gave the veteran villain chills he was unwilling to admit to as he gripped his burner phone.
"Enough wealth for a king?" All-For-One's voice purred malevolently over the phone, like that of a lion toying with a mouse. In this case, it was a lion and a crocodile.
"Perhaps." Waniago pondered aloud. "I'm going to resume surveillance. I'll keep you informed."
"See that you do. Goodbye, Mr. Waniago." And with that, the voice on the other line hung up. Waniago pocketed his phone and surveyed the situation until All-Might, Mina, and Izuku left the restaurant and drove away.
He got up from his seat and headed around the corner, where a nearby limousine was waiting. As soon as he entered, the car drove off for parts unknown. There was much work to be done. He remembered some intel he had gleaned from a conversation between All-For-One and an unseen informant. Once more, Waniago took out his phone and dialed a mysterious number.
"Burma, how fast can you get to I Island?"
X
Back at the mysterious Villain bar, Shigaraki had returned from his excursion, head fully cleared. His guests were still there: The villainous broker, the overly excited school girl wanted on charges of border by bloodletting, and the young man with burnt patchwork skin. He was hoping they had left, but he supposed it was better they didn't. Kurogiri greeted the head of the Villain League with much abplom.
"Welcome back, young Tomura. I trust you had a good walk?"
"Yeah. It helped me put things into perspective. Where's the croc guy?" Shigaraki looked around, finding one of his assigned chaperones to be missing.
"He's serving in another capacity right now. Said he had personal business, then was going to look into other prospects. For now, it's just me and our guests." Kurogiri answered his ward, shaking ice for some beverages to keep the others refreshed.
"What a pain. Either way? We have work to do. We're going to bolster our numbers, starting with you four," Shigaraki pointed at an old man, a young man, and girl, all of whom had showed up prior to his excursion.
"Leave me out of the action. I'm just a liaison, kid…Wait, did you say four?" Giren held up his hands in protest, then halted, zeroing in on the math of the situation.
"Don't have a heart attack over it. You won't do much in a fight but we need your connections. I was referring to the Stain fanclub. Come on in," the young leader of the League gestured to the entrance as footsteps could be heard.
The girl, named Toga, and the guy, named Dabi, looked on as a young man with reptilian features entered the establishment.
"I forgot to ask. What do I call you?"
"Call me Spinner. I'm ready to make Stain's will a reality."
"So luckily, thanks to my teacher, we have some inside Intel. We should find out where the UA students are going for their little training camp and teach them a real lesson. However, there are also some targets you'll be after. Tell me. Who here watched this year's Sports Festival?"
On the bar were two photos of UA students, taken from screenshots of the Sports Festival. One was an angry blonde with hair like a hedgehog. The other was a pink girl with horns and dark eyes. Spinner looked at the photo in surprise, then nodded.
"I spoke to one of the targets…"
"Having second thoughts?"
"No. None at all. Say the word and I'm ready to give these fake heroes a wakeup call. Her boyfriend will probably come to us."
"Good. I can offer him as a bargaining chip to our potential recruit."
A voice came on over an old TV, sat in the corner of the room. "Don't be too hasty, young Tomura. That boy has something that belongs to me."
"Fine, but I get to kill him after." The young man seethed silently.
The TV was silent for a moment before All-For-One's voice spoke again. "As you wish, my pupil. That can be arranged."
Shigaraki nodded his head in satisfaction, then addressed the villainous broker nearby. "Thank you. Giran, keep scouting new members. We'll need them soon. Blood girl, hand me a knife. I'll give it back so don't whine about it."
Toga narrowed her eyes, not trusting the villain leader just yet. "You're just gonna disintegrate it, aren't you?"
Before Shigaraki could respond, he heard Spinner speak up, accompanied by the sound of a guitar case opening. "I have plenty. Think fast!"
The villain caught the knife with surprisingly good dexterity.
"Thank you. Also, fucking warn a guy next time. Anyway, as I was saying, When their guard is down during their little class trip…" Shigaraki raised the knife and stabbed it into the bar counter. "We strike."
Everyone grinned as they readied themselves for attack. The heroes would not know what hit them until it was too late.
X
Izuku had arrived home after dinner with All-Might and Mina, having parted ways with both. All-Might dropped Mina off first, then his pupil, telling him he would pick them up in the morning to go to the airport.
"Welcome home, Izuku. You were out all day. Everything ok?" Inko asked, walking over to greet her son.
"Yeah. It was…eventful. We stopped to pick up some extra stuff after they shut down Kiashi Mall for the day, so I'm set for my trips. Gonna go pack." The boy droned lifelessly, showing signs of exhaustion. This did not escape his mother's notice.
"I saw on the news. I hope they catch that villain soon. I almost fainted while watching."
She expected some sort of reaction out of her son, maybe words of reassurance and a little smile. But there was none. She stopped her son gently and spoke again.
"Izuku, are you sure you're ok?" Inko looked on with concern as her son headed towards his room to pack for his trips.
He took a deep breath and exhaled. He wanted to say he would be fine. However, he felt guilty enough about keeping One for All and all the details surrounding it a secret from her. He couldn't rack up lies. Besides, she would have figured it out, this at least.
"No…I'm not. I let everyone down…" Tears started to hit the floor as it finally started to leak out. Inko gazed at her son with concern and led him to the couch where they could speak. When he was comfortable enough, the boy continued.
"It was Bakugou…We were teamed up for the practical exam and we failed. I wish I could have gotten along with him. I hate that I'm even thinking that. I have every right to be upset, I know. But if I had only gotten along with him earlier, we could have passed. Or maybe if I just punched him out and dragged him to the exit…"
Inko continued to listen before putting a hand on her son's knee to reassure him. He placed the bags he was gripping on the floor and finished, being careful not to reveal his connection to All-Might's legacy, as heavy as that was. "It shouldn't matter, as I still passed the written exam and I can still go on the camping trip. I just…I should have done better and I failed."
"Izuku…I'm sorry. I know when I said that before and cried instead of supporting you as a child, it hurt. You don't have to shoulder everything alone, though. I know talking to Mitsuki won't help, but know that your mama will support you. Whether it be designing your costume for you or cheering you on, just know I believe in you, and I am here."
Inko looked upon her son with eyes filled with tears and kindness. He wanted to break down so much, but he was exhausted. His mother continued.
"I want you to call me before bed on your trip to I Island. Reception will probably be bad in the woods, so stay safe at the camp too, ok?"
"I promise, mom. Thanks. I appreciate you a lot." Izuku felt like crawling into a hole somewhere, and yet his mother's words were incredibly important. "I just need time."
"Well, I'm here if you need me. I'm very proud of you. You made it to UA, you're training to be a hero, and you have friends, as well as a girlfriend. I hope that counts for something."
"It does…I just wonder if it will all fall away."
"It won't. Call it mother's intuition."
"I hope you're right." Izuku mumbled. "I should get some rest.
"Well, before you go to bed, give your mother a hug. I'm not going to see you for 5 days."
Obliging her, the young man wrapped his arms around his mom and embraced her. She did the same, doing all she could to comfort her son. Eventually, they released each other.
"I'll be back after I Expo before we head on the class trip." The teenager spoke to his mom reassuringly, or at least as reassuring as he could be in his current mental state.
"You'll still be gone for almost a week, young man. I'm not exactly used to that." Inko gently bopped her son on the head, in awe of how much her son had grown, even if he couldn't see it right now.
"Fair. Good night, mom…and thank you." Izuku bowed and picked up his purchases from the day before walking quietly to his room. He resumed his packing until he had enough for both I Expo and the camping trip, leaving his essentials for the latter to the side for now.
He was surprised he had the energy to bother, but perhaps throwing himself into preparations would distract him long enough until he could fall asleep. Unfortunately, that didn't work.
He collapsed face first onto his bed and waited for sleep to take him. His phone chose that moment to vibrate, which he was tempted to ignore but ultimately chose not to. After some effort, the boy felt his way towards his phone and answered it.
"Hey…"
"Hey babe. Just wanted to check in on you. See how you're holding up before we leave in the morning!" Mina's voice really was salve for his heart, even if they had just been with each other all day. He hoped to make it up to her one day.
"Still about the same. Sorry. Thanks for checking on me," Izuku muttered, moving his head so his chin touched the mattress and his words were more intelligible
"Of course. What kind of hero would I be if I didn't check on my number one fan?~" Mina smiled through the phone, the playful lilt of her voice caressing Izuku's ears. He could tell she said those words with a wink. He could also tell she was hurting for him. What kind of hero, no, what kind of boyfriend was he to make her worry so much?
"What did I do to deserve you?" He finally answered, voice shaking a little.
"By existing…aaaaand by being smart and cute and friendly and the most heroic person I know. Even if things look dour, I know you'll be there with a smile. And when you can't smile, I'll be there smiling enough for the both of us until yours returns. Try to get some rest and dream of me. I'll see you in the morning, ok?"
Izuku smiled, feeling a spark again. He wasn't there yet, but he would get there again, he hoped. "Thank you. You're a queen."
"An Alien Queen. I don't care what Midnight says…Goodnight, Izuku. See you in the morning," Mina spoke softly over the phone as she rested in her bed.
Izuku smiled weakly, taking small comfort in the people who cared for him. He truly was blessed, even if he didn't feel like he necessarily deserved it.
"You too, Mina. Good night."
The boy hung up and put his phone on the nightstand before rolling over and falling asleep. He had a big day ahead, and he was unsure of so much right now. There were two things he was sure of though.
He was grateful for his support structure and he loved his girlfriend.
X
It was around 5:30 the next morning. All-Might arrived at the airport, bringing his luggage to bag check alongside his two young wards.
"This should be fun. I hope you're excited." Mina cheered, barely able to contain herself. If it weren't for the energy drinks Izuku had seen her pound in the car, he would be surprised by how chipper she was in the morning.
"Yeah..." Izuku stated unconvincingly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but his insecurities were back and the sting of defeat had not yet healed. A small cup of coffee had kept him going as well, but only barely.
A warm hand grabbed his, prompting him to look up with tired eyes at the smiling face next to him. "I know you feel all gloomy and dead inside, but dontcha worry, Emodoriya. I'll be your lifeline."
"Thank you, Mina. That means a lot…Sorry I'm like this." He offered a weak smile back, the best he could muster at the time.
"Hey, no worries. Just focus on feeling better and we can take in the sights after, ok?" Mina gripped his hand tightly and smiled. She was like hot pink sunshine, radiating warmth outward.
In the line next to them, a lady with dark skin, a cowboy hat and a trenchcoat stood by, clutching a lead lined briefcase. "Check her out. I wonder if she's going to I Island too…"
Those thoughts were interrupted as All-Might hurried her and Izuku along in a different direction.
"Sorry. My nerves are frazzled. Our bag check is over here."
Izuku looked confused. He saw the line for flights to I Island and they were just in it. "Wait, are you sure?"
"Of course, my boy. Afterall, you think the Number One Hero wouldn't have a private flight?" The man winked. "Follow me."