Chapter 2

Tsukaeru goes about his school day quietly and without difficulty. He was one of the brightest in his class and thanks to the protection of his friends, anyone who would bully him for his apparent Quirklessness would meet the bad end of their Quirks. While he's thankful for their protection, he also wishes he had a Quirk so he didn't have to worry about the bullies anymore. Midday came and he and his friends saw that there were reports of activity in Uravity's patrol area. Tsukaeru wasn't too worried about them, knowing that his mother could handle whatever was going on. As the day went on, the reports had quieted, but there was no mention of his mom solving the mysterious occurrences. They were about attacks taking place in the shadows of her patrol area, with a stabbing weapon involved. With his mom's mix of her Quirk and the use of Gunhead Martial Arts, he knew that it should be easy for her to find the villain behind the attacks and take them out.

Katai: Anything on your mom yet?

Tsukaeru: Not yet. Sounds like whoever this is will be keeping her out for a while.

Katai: Wanna stay over at my place tonight, then?

Tsukaeru: Will your parents be home?

Katai: Of course they would be. Why? Were you hoping for some alone time with me~?

She wiggles her pink brows at him, causing him to blush heavily and cover his cheeks. After school let out, they walked home together, though something at the back of their heads warned them to make it home quickly. Once they were at Katai's house, they entered and found that they WERE alone.

Katai: Mom? Dad? You here?

No response. She sends a text to them, curious. They may have been heroes, but usually one of them would be back to make sure she had gotten home safely. In the words of Red Riot, "A manly hero should be there to make sure their manly kids are safe". They set their bags down and prepare a few snacks as they wait for a response.

Tsukaeru: Maybe they're responding to a rescue?

They look online to see reports that both Red Riot and Pinky have been seen together on patrol… but in Uravity's area. This began to raise red flags for Tsukaeru. Raising them further was when a knock was heard on the door a few hours later. Behind it was the Koda, the Animal Hero Anima, along with a few birds and a pair of trained police dogs. The dogs acted as protection against lower level villains in case of emergencies, and the birds acted as his eyes and ears around the city. Usually, he would be out on assignment for Search and Rescue, but when their parents were busy, he would be called to watch them. He seemed nervous today, more so than usual. They were suspicious of what was going on, especially when he continuously spoke to birds that would come and go from the window. They knew better to ask about it, since they shouldn't know anything about any hero missions that may be taking place. It was for their safety and the safety of others. By this time, there were still no reports or texts from Uravity and Tsukaeru was starting to worry, even as he had retrieved stuff to spend the night.

Tsukaeru: Where are you mom? No reports, no texts, and Anima watching us can only mean something big is going down… are you about to bust a group of villains? Are you on a stealth mission? No, you usually tell me you'd be phone silent if you were planning on a stealth mission. If it were search and rescue, there would already be reports on where and who are involved… the same would be said about a villain attack…

Checking his phone again, as he lays down on the couch to sleep, he sees that the heroes Cellophane, Ingenium, Tentecole, and Earphone Jack have gathered in his mom's patrol area as well.

Tsukaeru: Heroes known for search and rescue and for moving across large areas in short periods of time… they're searching for someone, but…

He slowly starts to put the pieces together. No signs of his mom, Red Riot and Pinky taking over her patrol route, he and Katai being watched by another pro, several heroes searching through her area.

Tsukaeru: … Mom's missing…

The reports were revealed to the public the next day. The Pro-Hero Uravity has gone missing while investigating attacks by an unknown villain, presumed armed and dangerous. Other heroes have come to help with the search efforts, even if their Quirks weren't suited for search and rescue. It was practically a Class A reunion as the heroes scoured all over the area for their missing friend. Another day of searching came and went, followed by another. 3 days of searching, and yet nothing can be found. All the while, her son does investigating of his own, even at school.

Hackira: This is a VERY bad idea! You know I can get sent to prison for this, no matter who my parents are!

Tsukaeru: Then we go down together, just DO IT.

They were in the school library, using the computers to hack into the Hero Commission's file on Uravity's disappearance, joined by their friends. Tsukaeru had become obsessed with trying to find her the moment he pieced together that she was missing. He hasn't slept well, he's barely eaten, and he's become more desperate to find some clue of her whereabouts. Today's desperate attempt involved illegal use of his friend's Quirk, "Hacker". Using his earphone jacks, he can hack into and command machines, either giving them orders or forcing them to give him information. If he uses it too much, however, his brain can fry like his dad's.

Hi: Uraraka, even if he can open the file, I'm not sure how much information will be available. There's been no reports on who the attacker was before her kidnapping and from what the press can see of the crime scene, there's little physical evidence to go on.

Tsukaeru: There's plenty to go on, if you're looking at the right pieces of information. My mom was specifically targeted by this villain.

Meinai: How can you tell?

Tsukaeru: The murders and assaults with this specific MO only occurred in mom's patrol area, she was cornered, alone, in an alleyway with little to make float within confined corners, there have been no recent copies of this type of crime, and since her disappearance, the specific type of attack used on citizens has completely stopped. The only thing the surviving victims had in common was that they were on her route. They had different lives, some average, even a few small-time crooks, and at least 1 other hero who occasionally sidekicks with the Uravity Agency.

Hackira: Ok, I'm in.

The information on the screen flashes by quickly, but Tsukaeru and Hackira were the only ones able to read it all at the speed they were scrolling through. The signs of a struggle were present, which was obvious, but there was no sign of any DNA from the killer, only spots of blood are recorded to be present that belong to Uravity. Investigations came up with very little as well as interviews with survivors usually said that the attacker stayed out of sight and never made a noise, but they had several knives. There are some investigations looking into people who might be trying to copy the old hero killer, Stain, but the fact that random citizens were involved didn't support the theory.

Katai: … Anything useful?

Hackira: I don't-

Tsukaeru: NO… There are no clues to where she went, who the killer is, or why my mom was taken…

He felt like he was going to break the computer as he clenched his fists.

Tsukaeru: A whole class of heroes and not 1 can find out what happened to her…

The bell rang, signaling the end of the free period they had, and Tsukaeru grabbed his bag, leaving his friends in his tailwind.

Katai: Kae-

She tries to reach out to him supportively, but is stopped by Hi.

Hi: He needs some time… he's overloading himself with the worry for his mother.

Katai: Well, wouldn't you?

Hi: Of course, but you need to keep in mind, his mother has been a constant in his life. When she wasn't around it was either our parents or their friends who would be there to support him as she would…

Kori: But because they're all out looking for her, they aren't there for him… He's practically alone.

Katai: He's not alone though, he has us-

Hackira: C'mon, Kirishima… Do you really think we can take her place?

It's with that thought that made the group decide to leave their troubled friend alone, to give him time to collect his thoughts. When he returned from school, Tsukaeru went to his and his mom's apartment alone. He had set up a corkboard of red yarn and pictures with scattered notes in his room, so any hero who would come to check up on him wouldn't see his own ongoing investigation. He paced his room as he stared at it frustratingly, before letting out a growl and slapping it. Several tacks and pictures fall, including one of his mom, to which he held in his hand with a degree of jittering. He tears up a little as he looks at it. It was of the 2 of them, floating over the city, with her in her hero suit and him at age 5. He sighs as he pockets the picture, going to his mom's room. He felt more at ease inside as familiarizes himself with the recognizable smells and sights. There was a certain sweet smell, like mochi, inside the room, as well as tea. The room had pictures of the 2 of them, her friends, and fan mail she's gotten from people she's saved as thanks. On her night stand was a lamp and another picture of herself and him, in which he was just born. He crawls onto the bed, leaning up against the headboard with a feeling of uselessness.

Tsukaeru: All of the best heroes are out looking for her and they can't find anything… If they can't find her… what chance have I got?

He wracks his brain as he tries to think, bumping his head against the back of the bed and wall to try to get his brain to work. As he does, he notices an odd, hollow sound. He pulls away and knocks at different parts of the wall behind him, having to struggle and push the bed out of the way. Once he did, he saw a small, rectangular section of the wall had been cut, nearly unnoticeable until he got closer.

Tsukaeru: What is this?

He has to use his fingernails to pull out the piece of wall, showing that inside was a simple flip phone attached to a charging cord inside. He unplugs it and pulls it out, looking it over. It looked like some sort of burner phone. As he opened it and turned it on, he saw that there was barely anything on it, save for a single contact labeled "I.M". Taking a chance, he pressed the call button and waited. 1 ring… 2 rings… 3-

Robotic Voice: Greetings Uravity, please hold while your number is verified and your contact is established.

Tsukaeru: What? Who-

A new voice, masculine, takes the line.

?: Hey, Ochako. How's Tsukaeru?

Tsukaeru: Um… Hello? How does he know mom? He called her by her first name… are they close?

?: … Who is this?

Tsukaeru: Uh…

?: How did you get this number? How did you get Ochako's phone? I swear if you don't answer-

Tsukaeru: How do you know my mom?

The voice was intimidating as he realized it wasn't Ochako, but after a sudden pause, it sounded more concerned.

?: Are you… Tsukaeru?

Tsukaeru: Y-yes… I… I found this phone in the wall… who is this? How do you know-

?: It doesn;t matter. You shouldn't be snooping around your mother's room. This is a private phone and a private line-

Tsukaeru: She's missing…

Another pause.

Tsukaeru: Some unknown villain took her… the Pro's can't find her anywhere… I…

He sniffles, trying to hold back tears.

Tsukaeru: I can't do anything about it… I don't have a quirk… I'm not a hero… and I'm all alone… I'm useless…

He's met by silence, before the voice becomes more firm and authoritative.

?: How long has she been gone?

Tsukaeru: A-about 3 days now… She was taken by some unknown villain who uses a bunch of knives. No identification, no clues to her location-

?: Listen carefully. You need to pull together everything you have on this. Witness testimonies, records, news feeds, everything you can, make a complete file of everything. Make sure you know everything about this case, front to back. Can you do that?

Tsukaeru: Of course, I have journals made on it already-

?: Perfect. I'll see you soon. I swear… I will help you find her…

The line goes silent as the mysterious man on the other end hangs up. The mysterious man looks down at the landline in his hand, past his gray jumpsuit and Quirk Supressing cuffs. On his uniform was a set of numbers, with "I. Midoryia" printed out below it. His hair was still curly and disheveled and his eyes still held the same kind of bags and tiredness, but the moment he heard the call, something within him turned on. A pair of guards walk up behind him.

Officer 1: Alright Deku, your call is done. Time to go back to your cell.

The cell they referred to was made of plexiglass and placed a few stories beneath Tartarus Prison, where he has been living and serving his sentence for the past 13 years. He was a model prisoner, staying quiet unless spoken to, doing as ordered, and even given the opportunity to help with police cases sent to him… but now, he was about to break his good prisoner streak.

Officer 2: Deku, did you hear us?

Izuku: Officers?

They raise their eyebrows at him, slowly moving to grab their taser and nightstick.

Izuku: Sorry in advance.

His movements were inhumanely fast, especially for a prisoner who hasn't been on a regular workout schedule for a decade and change. His feet swung upward at the 2nd guard, as he performed a backflip, knocking the nightstick from his hands. As he lands back on his feet, he rushes the 1st guard, making him flinch as he barrels into him. The taser is knocked from his hand and he's sent sliding across the floor as Izuku grabs the falling, airborn nightstick, starting to strike at the 2 officers several times to render them unconscious. He grabs the taser and angles it at his Quirk Suppression cuffs, turning the taser to its highest level.

Izuku: This will only hurt for a moment.

He fires and the 2 shocking strings of the taser shoot into his arm and the cuffs. He yells in pain as several bolts of electricity are blasted into him and the cuffs, frying them from the inside out. As soon as they released him, several alarms went off, signaling the unauthorized release. He rubs his wrists as he can feel power coursing through him with a certain familiarity. As 20 riot officers rush in, they freeze in place as an aura of great power exuded from the criminal before them. The lights turn red as Izuku's gaze snaps towards them. His body flashes a glittering gold as he appears in another spot nearby in a burst of sudden speed.

Izuku: Quick Surge- Not precisely superspeed, but close. With it, I can basically slingshot around an area like Gran Torino.

He surged again, appearing on the other side of the room.

Riot Guard: Restrain Him!

They raise their riot shields as they try to box him in, but his right arm suddenly begins to grow as muscles start appearing. Snapping over each other.

Izuku: Pump Up- The only good thing Muscular had to offer this world.

With a powerful swing, he punches the wall of shielded guards back, forcing them to slam into their compatriots and the wall behind them. With them out of the way, Izuku reverts his arm to normal, while pumping up his body to only minimal degrees, making him look like he had been attending a gym for the last 13 years instead of being in the solitude of a cell. He uses Quick Surge to zig zag between the toppled bodies and out the door, making it to the hallway and going from wall to ceiling to wall to floor as he starts to make his way out. More guards block his path, pulling out stun guns and taking aim. He lands back on the floor and waves his hand as they fire. 3 yellow, circular walls form in front of him, stopping the stunning bulles.

Izuku: Air Wall- Not only good for defense, but perfect for mobility.

He dissipates the walls in front of him, back flipping into 3 behind him and using Quick Surge to bounce off of them like a bounce board, soaring over the heads of the guards as he continues to make his way out. They give chase, and Izuku finds himself at a junction of 3 hallways, all with guards closing in. He slaps his hand down and once all 5 fingers were down, the halls suddenly closed off from him.

Izuku: Overhaul… It has its uses aside from murder and torture… sickening monster…

Before he can think too much about the Quirk's original owner, he hears slamming from one of the hallways. A large fist, in the shape of a hammer, comes through, and the guard it was attached to starts to come in.

Hammer Fist Guard: Give up, Deku! You're surrounded inside the greatest prison the world has ever created! No one has ever escaped from here!

Izuku: Guard, I promise I'll be back, but there's something I have to do.

He raises his fingers to the air and small openings on his fingertips form before purple laser beams shoot out and through the ceiling, like a laser drill.

Izuku: I didn't think Bullet Laser could be used for digging purposes. Thanks, Nine.

As soon as a hole is made, he uses Pump Up on his legs as he leaps clear through his new exit. He's met with fresh air and spotlights from guard towers hitting his face. Using Air Wall with Quick Surge and Pump Up, he easily avoided the gunfire going his way, but as he uses all of the Quirks at once, he can feel strain starting to grow in his body.

Izuku: Too much at once… I have to get out of here now!

He deactivates Pump Up and Quick Surge, allowing one of the Air Walls to bounce him into the water. His eyes glow green, yellow, and red as he looks up, seeing the heat signatures of the guards above him on the surface.

Izuku: I'll use Heat Detection to avoid the guards and make my way to land.

He held his breath for as long as he could as he made his way to the nearest shore. Once there, he used Overhaul to turn his prison uniform and the clothes underneath into a hoodie, t-shirt, and sweats… or as close as he could manage with the material he had. With only a little bit more of Pump Up, he ran like a track runner into the city, not wanting to risk exposure with Quick Surge.

Tsukaeru stares down at the phone in confusion.

Tsukaeru: Who was that? … Why does mom even have this phone? …

The moment his thoughts returned to his mother, he remembered what the stranger on the phone said about gathering all the information on her disappearance. An hour passes as he gathers all he has in the living room, reading through everything, scouring over every last detail. As he was finishing reading the reports on the blood spatter analysis, there was a frantic knocking at the door. Tsukaeru nearly jumped as he was disturbed from the sudden knocking, but tried to collect himself. Cautiously, he approaches the door, grabbing a nearby umbrella, in case he needs to defend himself.

Tsukaeru: Ka… Katai, is that you?

?: You're the one who called, right?! Tsukaeru?!

He was shocked to hear the voice from the phone outside the door and, while still cautious, kept the umbrella out in front of him as he unlocked the door locks. He pushed the door open with the umbrella's tip, looking up to see a large man with an unusual hoodie up. He pulls it down, looking at Tsukaeru, with worried, vibrant green eyes. There was an unusual familiarity in them and in the stranger's face.

Izuku: Everything will be ok, Tsukaeru… Because I am Here.