Chapter 127:
"Hey Jirou, come over and watch for a bit," Sero called over his shoulder to the girl walking into the kitchen.
Kyoka Jirou looked towards the couch area and the boy who just called to her. There were a lot of other students in Class A gathered on the couches, and Jirou looked past them at the screen with a frown as she already knew what they were watching. "I'm busy studying for finals, like you all should be," Jirou said while washing off a plate she had just ate some snacks off of up in her room. It was the weekend before finals so she was using the whole day to prepare, and she started back for her room after her quick trip to the kitchen she was regretting already.
She started behind the couch closest to the stairs and she rolled her eyes at Mineta who looked back at her in a hesitant way. "I'm really just studying. If I get a lower score on the finals than you again," Jirou shook her head in annoyance at the short boy who had scored higher than her in the last two terms now on their final exams. Mineta started smirking proudly and making a cocky remark, one that Jirou ignored while turning and heading towards the stairwell again. I'll make some flashcards for now… and I'll just check the news later to see how it turned out.
"Speaking of class rankings," Mineta turned back from Jirou and looked next to him on the couch at a girl with green hair who was watching the tv closely. "I was only one spot behind you in the midterms Tsu, you better watch your back this time."
"It is a test, not a competition Mineta," Tsuyu replied without looking fully to her side at him. Her gaze stayed focused on the tv which got Mineta turning back to it too, then Tsuyu's lips dipped down a bit. I do not want a lower score than Mineta though. But, Tsuyu's eyes shifted back to her right at the shorter boy who was looking closely at the screen and watching in a serious way like the others around the couch. It would not be as bad, as losing to the Mineta of last year.
"Hey look," Sero leaned forward on the middle couch that he was sitting on with Sato and Todoroki. The fifth floor boys all looked close at the screen that a reporter was recording live images from in front of the Diet Building. The national assembly of Japan's legislature was deciding on a bill recently proposed, and the prime minister was there too in order to get it signed right away if it was passed. She claimed beforehand that she would sign it which left it up to the split legislature to decide how this was going to go. "It looks like something's happening," Sero said, and the camera zoomed in a second later as the reporter noticed the movement up near the top of the steps at the front of the building too.
There were huge crowds outside of the building, consisting not only of the press. Hundreds of people were gathered around in support of the bill, and when the camera had panned around them before there was no sign of any opposition protestors there. On the couch on the right side of the common area across from Mineta and Asui's, Ashido, Hagakure, and Ojiro looked closely at the screen too as they recognized the woman walking down the steps of the Diet along with a few others. "Prime Minister Ippo. She's so cool," Hagakure smiled and whispered the second part towards Ashido's left ear that had her pink friend smirking too.
The woman in charge of the country, Ashido watched her walk down those steps with grace yet power in every step. Behind her were the majority leaders of different parties, as well as a few top hero officials, and Best Jeanist and Kamui Woods were there too. The top three heroes might all be guys, but she's the one with the real power. And she's going to pass the bill! I hope…
Tenya Iida rushed over to the couch area and quickly sat on Mineta's other side as Tsuyu on the outer couch farther into the middle of the building. "Did I miss it?" Iida asked worriedly. He looked at the screen and relaxed as he heard the reporter talking about how the prime minister was coming down now to discuss the result of the vote.
"You almost did," Sero remarked on Iida's right. "What? Too busy studying?"
"Of course. As we should all be," Iida reminded the large group sitting around watching tv on finals' weekend.
"After after," Ashido waved a hand at Iida without really looking his way. "Now shush, she's starting."
Iida looked to the screen himself and the students all quieted down as the prime minister walked up to a podium waiting for her. Cameras started flashing and people started calling out asking what the verdict was. Prime Minister Ippo lifted her right hand and settled the crowd around her. Behind her, Best Jeanist and Kamui Woods' eyes were peeled in the crowd and out of it around Tokyo's surrounding area for any possible attackers. The opposition party that was more conservative was frowning a bit deeper than the majority's, which Ashido pointed at excitedly and tried saying something about only for her classmates to shush her this time.
"Today, after a long debate in the Diet, a bill was passed that I signed into law," Ippo said it and then held up a hand again to quiet the crowds who started cheering as she had suspected they might. She continued which did a better job at quieting everyone as they needed to hear what she was saying, "The Quirk Self-Defense Training Law, is composed of two parts. The first states that licensed heroes will from this point on be allowed to give regulated self-defense courses to civilians, and only during those courses are those civilians allowed to use their Quirks even if they don't have licenses of their own. This does not change when civilians are allowed to fight villains. This does not give permission to take part in villain fights, nor does it change what all of you are instructed to do if a villain appears. However, if the time comes that a villain attacks and a hero is not yet on the scene, I believe that each citizen has a right to be able to protect themselves in those instances. If there is no other option but to fight for the purpose of self-defense, alone, then our hope is that this law will assist in keeping civilian casualties minimized. If you feel the need to train your Quirk, do not attempt to do so on your own. Do not do so outside of these lawfully provided training sessions. Go to your local hero and sign up for a course in Quirk training so that you will have the means to protect yourself if the time comes that it becomes necessary."
Ippo paused for a moment and then she continued, "As for the second part of the law, I will be looking into cases of illegal Quirk training over the past two years. We believe it would be unfair to further punish those who did not have this method and felt the need to train to protect themselves before. However, illegal Quirk training from today onwards will be treated with harsher scrutiny than before as this legal method is now available to the public." Ippo's expression became more intense for a moment and she continued, "If you are currently training others in how to use their Quirks, stop. One reason we are enacting this law is because of the irresponsible uses of Quirks by people who believe themselves properly trained when they are not. Any damage or injuries they cause, will be considered your crimes as well."
After that very threatening warning to illegal Quirk-trainers out there, the prime minister's expression softened and a small smile actually lifted on the serious woman's face. "I do believe that the Quirk Self-Defense Training Law will be another step in pushing back the villains already starting to cower in our society. I hope there is never a cause for a Japanese person to need this law, but if it helps save the life of a single civilian I know it was the right thing to do." The crowds around the press started cheering for the prime minister. It was not everything all of them wanted or what they came out to support, but it was a step. It was the permission to use their Quirks again.
"Alright," Hagakure called out happily.
Ojiro smiled and he said to the invisible girl next to him, "That's great."
"You sure seem happy about this," Sato remarked over to the see-through girl on his right.
Hagakure made a blush noise and turned away. Ojiro put a hand on her shoulder though and then said to Sato with a smile on his face, "Toru's backup job was always being a teacher-"
"So now it's two in one!" Hagakure spun back and called out excitedly at the large boy with fat lips. Hagakure hummed while looking back at the tv, "I wonder… She didn't mention anything about age limits. I'd rather teach kids, than… ooh, that might be hard." She started thinking about a room full of adults looking towards her and asking how to use their Quirks. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her invisible face, but Ojiro squeezed the hand on her shoulder and she turned to him.
"You'll do great either way," Ojiro assured her.
"I'm hyped too though," Sero said while leaning back and putting his hands behind his head. "It felt like we were falling behind the rest of the world. Still not much," he added, but he grinned and finished, "but hey, at least it's something."
"Were you looking for more?" Todoroki asked the boy to his left.
"Eh, yeah I guess," Sero said, shrugging at first but then nodding at Todoroki's question. "You see that ocean clean-up charity, um-"
"Save the Seas Charity," Ashido called over with a grin. "The S.S. Charity. And yeah I heard about that too!"
"What happened with that?" Sato asked, looking back and forth between the two and then sweatdropping as they were looking at each other waiting to see if the other would start something up about it.
"Uh yeah," Sero started again, turning to Sato and away from his ex. "Well they hired this guy who lives in Finland, where they've started letting everyone get licenses for using Quirks at work outside of just heroes. And as long as they're in international waters he can keep using it, so he's been using his Quirk to separate trash from ocean water. He can, uh, it has something… Ashido?"
"He's got a Quirk that isolates the trash from the water and pulls it all over the surface! The different materials or something all have different like, make-ups that his Quirk separates from each other. People are even saying if there's an oil spill he could go there and clean it up pretty quick!"
Sero nodded as Ashido said that in an optimistic and excited tone. He turned back to Todoroki and finished, "So yeah, if that guy can use a Quirk like that for good non-hero work, I'm thinking there are probably a bunch of people here in Japan with Quirks as useful. We've got a lot more people than Finland, you know?"
Todoroki hummed and then looked back at the screen without responding since the news was talking about something again that caught his interest. Everyone in the common area looked back at the screen, as the female news anchor continued, "There was some controversy over it, but many heroes already gave their support for the bill and claimed that they would be offering the proposed training courses for free. While others, have agreed with the bill but said that they would be charging for classes."
"Isn't that a bit…" the other host started, holding up a hand and looking at his co-host with a skeptical look.
"Hey, heroes do need to make money too," the female anchor started back. "And the crime rate is down for another month in a row. Who knows how much longer they'll be busy with villains?" Her tone was optimistic and she laughed about it with her fellow anchor who nodded with her instead of countering that hope. "Besides," she continued, and she lifted up a hand to offer something else. "Some heroes, like Grappler, have said they would come out of retirement for this. I know people would love to learn the Boxing Hero's techniques, and I'm sure he's happy that he can keep helping us even though he can't fight himself anymore…"
Mineta stared at the screen and his eyes were wide there for a moment as they brought up Grappler. He pursed his lips and then shook his head once with a small smile breaking out over it. "Zach's report is coming true," he muttered. It was still loud enough that the others around him all heard it, and they thought about the same thing that he did. Zach had mentioned Grappler in his report, the hero who he had gone to intern with his first year. He had talked about heroes training the public, and though what his report said went further than what was currently happening, many people considered this the first step to more actions regarding Quirks.
Sero cracked a bigger grin after looking at Mineta in surprise for a second. "It's not that it's 'coming true,'" Sero started. Mineta looked at him and Sero continued, "It's that Zach made it happen."
"Sero-kun," Iida started, and Sero turned towards Iida with his smile dropping. Iida shook his head with a frown on his own face and he said, "This was the result of the actions of our legislature and government and the support of many people. Zach had nothing to do with it. He is a villain on the run." His voice was scolding and he shook his head as he said it.
"Nothing to do with it, huh?" Sero muttered back at him.
Ashido looked across the gap between couches with a hurt look on her face after what Iida just said. She started frowning at him deeper and she muttered while turning away, "Zach brought you back to life. Even though he had to die to do it," she whispered it quieter, but Iida stared across at her with wide eyes. Usually his classmates would just accept it and quiet down about Zach when he scolded them, as they had from the day after on the bus when he removed Zach from their class's group chat. Iida opened his mouth to give an excuse to Ashido who turned back his way as she saw him looking at her. He froze though, her words echoing in his head as well as his own.
I must be strict. I, as the class rep I must make sure… Yet I am so vehemently deriding Zach while he is missing, maybe dead, even though he saved my life. I know, Ashido- Iida's teeth clenched and he looked away himself, because even staring at Ashido across that gap which should have been so blurry for him without any glasses on was too difficult a thing to do. It is hard for me, to do this. But I must.
Ashido lowered her upset look and started to regret saying that to the class rep. She opened her mouth to say something to him, then she froze and turned to the screen as did everyone around the couch area. "The Law for, Quirk Defense and-"
"No, it's the Quirk Self-Defense Training Law."
"Well either way, it's too long to say each time and doesn't have a great acronym possibility."
"We could just call it what it's already being nicknamed. I'm sure you've heard it the last couple days."
"Hahaha, yeah, you're right. Well I for one, am going to sign up for one of those classes as soon as possible. Classes where heroes train citizens, haha. I'm looking forward to getting the most out of Lifebringer's Law."
In early April, U.A. ended its final term with a big graduation ceremony inside the old Sports Festival arena. The third years who were given the chance to speak all brought up the Sports Festival at the beginning of the year and the hardships that had faced their class, their school, and the country and world over the past year. The new heroes from the third year hero course had a representative speaker who was also their top hero recruit and the valedictorian of the entire class.
Fera Indago gave a speech on heroes, and villains, and about society as a whole changing around them. Then she brought up how only a few days after graduation, she would be going abroad to assist heroes in the parts of the world where crime levels are still at the rate that Japan was at months ago. She said that heroes had to work together to bring peace to the chaotic world, and that she was honored and grateful to U.A. for giving her the opportunity to do her part.
The principal of U.A., Principal Nezu had a long opening speech about the significance of them holding the graduation at the old Sports Festival arena. There were still sections of the bleachers that had never been repaired even for this ceremony, a chunk broken off of one upper wall, but away from those areas the entire stadium was as packed as it was on that day almost a year ago. After Nezu's long speech to start the ceremony, students had been given their diplomas and some other speeches were made. Indago's speech had been the one to end it, and the end of her uplifting speech had been a moment of applause and a standing ovation around the arena and down in the seats of her fellow students and the third years' families too.
After the ceremony was over, all the students got up from their seats and started mingling and talking to the students in other classes and years. They talked about finals and the graduation speeches, and about what their plans for over break were though the majority were just staying on campus. "It was fun?" Yaoyorozu asked the girl with wavy pink hair on her side who nodded back at her. Yaoyorozu glanced forward again and more towards the front of the field based on where the stage had been set up during the ceremony.
"Yeah, we had a great time. He told me he asked you first after I said yes, so don't think I didn't know that," Ashido added, leaning in towards her taller friend who smiled a bit as her friend said that. Not that I already didn't know, Ashido added to herself. Her smile lowered down a bit and she added, "Also, he wanted to apologize to you. Or, he said near the end of the night that he wanted me to apologize to you for him. Did he do something?" Ashido asked it worriedly at her friend who shook her head fast and held up her hands in front of her.
"No, no he didn't," Yaoyorozu lowered her hands slowly and frowned a bit again, but then she shook her head. "He was a little unhappy that I said 'no' to him, but I understand and I'm glad to hear he feels he acted wrongly. I will go talk to him later before he leaves. I do hope we can all stay friends. It will be better when we are all heroes together if we are on good terms."
Ashido smiled and started laughing at Yaoyorozu who glanced back at her in confusion. "It's nothing," Ashido said at Momo's inquiring look. "But you really should have come! I know a bunch of Nagiso's friends would have asked you too." Ashido said it and just smiled more at Yaoyorozu's hesitant look, then she continued right away though, "I didn't know like anybody there. There were even some girls and guys from Shiketsu who showed up, and that class rep from Isamu we trained with, Sekigai!"
"Sekigai-san was there?" Yaoyorozu asked in surprise. "I am surprised that a second year from another school would-"
"Her boyfriend's one of Nagiso's best friends! I had no idea how- but they apparently interned together last year and stayed in touch…"
As Ashido gossiped the juicy details of the prom she had gone to the other night, Katsuki Bakugo walked right past her back and towards a gate on the outside of the arena. He had his hands down in his pockets and a deep frown on his face, but he stopped and looked forward in a bit of surprise as the girl he was thinking about was leaning up against the wall of the gate he was heading towards. He kept walking her way and up to her instead of into the hallway to get him out of the stadium. It was not the main one, but one where he could avoid the most people so he could get out of there the quickest with less of a crowd to push his way through.
Bakugo walked up to the right side of the opening and he looked at the girl leaning on the wall just outside of the hall. "You really heading abroad?" He asked.
Fera Indago smirked and turned her head towards the spiky-haired boy who stopped there. His hair was dirtier-blond than her own that fell just to her shoulders. The top hero prospect who just gave a great speech said to her junior, "Yeah." She leaned her head forward off the wall and smirked some more, "You gonna miss me?"
"Ch, as if," Bakugo looked away and said.
"Don't worry," Indago said, leaning back on the wall and saying in a semi-confident tone, "I'm sure you'll make it without me, somehow." She grinned more and added, "Maybe when you graduate I'll come back and see if you can finally beat me."
"I'd crush you right now," Bakugo replied without hesitation, spinning back at her and giving her a competitive look. He wanted to go at it right then, go to a training ground or gym and fight it out, and Indago laughed as she could see it was the way he wanted to see her off.
She scoffed though and shook her head once at his serious challenge. "Head off in three days. Miruko and I are heading to Saudi Arabia for a couple weeks to start our trip." Indago looked back into Bakugo's eyes that had just widened there for a second. Annoyance covered his face and he tsked while turning away, as it was the first he was hearing about this. "Guess that means your internship's over, since you can't just skip out on a whole term and come with us."
"Whatever," Bakugo muttered, his frustration seeping into his generally angry tone.
"Hey, maybe you come abroad with us for a week or two during your third year when U.A. gives you the opportunity." Indago smirked again and pushed off the wall, "And if not, you can always come be my sidekick once you graduate."
Bakugo scoffed and he grinned back at the girl in front of him, "I'm no one's sidekick."
Indago sighed and shook her head. The girl Bakugo's height said while turning more towards him. "Get that explosive personality in check, Explosion King." She grinned more and Bakugo frowned for a second before opening his eyes wide as she continued and started walking towards him. "Don't know what the teachers had against it, I think it's a cool name." Indago was walking just to Bakugo's right side, and the surprised boy kept staring forward as she complimented a name everyone else had treated like a joke. And then his eyes darted to the right side of his face where Indago had just leaned in while walking past, and kissed him on the cheek.
Bakugo stumbled to the side and spun with his face covered in anger, "HEY! What are you doing?!"
"Haha, explosive as ever," Indago just kept walking past him after the peck. She walked into the tunnel and held up her right hand while Bakugo used his own to rub his cheek over and over again. Indago made a single waving motion which had Bakugo's annoyed look fading away. She never looked back, she just waved him goodbye as she headed off straight ahead. There was no hesitation in her steps, she walked confidently and Bakugo could feel while watching her how much confidence she had.
He lowered his lips down into a deeper frown for a second and then turned away too. He turned his back to her and walked the other way instead of heading down that same tunnel, deciding to go down the other one instead of following behind her. No more following her orders. Hmph, that's fine. Good. Bakugo grunted and he started turning his head back, but he stopped himself and then stared straight forward and continued to walk. His lips lifted up a bit at the corners after an initial look of annoyance as he realized what kept him going straight ahead. Who cares what Midnight-sensei says! That's right. She can't tell me what to do. It's a name I chose. Bakugo's rising smirk dropped down fast and he remembered the face of the girl behind him a minute ago. Shit. If I do stick with it now, I'll never hear the end of… No, it's my choice. I won't hear the end of it from her when she gets back, but who cares? It's the name I choose. What anyone else thinks doesn't mean shit.
Explosion King… I guess I'll leave out Murder.
"It feels strange, being third-years all of a sudden," Itsuka Kendo told the taller boy she was walking with down a road on U.A.'s campus. They were wearing their hero costumes and Kendo could not see the face of the boy next to her who was wearing full steel armor.
"Well until the first term starts we are not technically-" Tenya Iida started.
"Well, we're the oldest students on campus," Kendo countered with a sigh before he could get technical with her. "And the new first-years are already moving in, so I think at this point we have to start calling ourselves third-years."
"Hmm," Iida nodded in agreement as that made sense to him too. The two had just come from Training Ground Delta behind them, and they were both feeling tired as they took a slow walk back towards the school's building and the locker rooms where they had gotten changed into hero costumes. Iida frowned inside his helmet as he looked ahead and towards some younger students who looked like first-years to him, fresh out of middle school.
"What is it?" Kendo asked him.
"The first-years I have met so far," Iida began. He shook his head and then said while looking towards Kendo, "Two of them came up to me asking about Ingenium, and I was happy to answer. But then they were very quick to change the subject and ask me all about Zach. They were very excited and treated him like a celebrity, and a hero who they look up to." Iida frowned some more and he lowered his gaze down to the road in front of him as he kept walking. He continued without noticing that the orange-haired girl next to him had started lowering her expression down into a conflicted one and her lips were pursing hesitantly. "I told them not to look up to Zach. I think it is a dangerous thing for them to do, but with the Lifebringer's Law being so popular, I feel like it is making Zach once again popular by association."
"You don't think, maybe he never was unpopular?" Kendo asked.
Iida started shaking his head, not catching the tone in his fellow class rep's voice. "I am sure many people are forgetting the severity of what he did. In the immediate aftermath of the Lifebringer Incident there was much more outrage directed at him than I can see now. People have decided to only idolize the certain things about him that they liked and not what else he did-"
"Iida," Kendo started. She stopped walking and turned to the taller boy who stopped to face her as well. Kendo looked through her small black domino mask that only covered her eyes, and Iida saw in her big teal eyes a lot of apprehension to what she was about to say. He started to feel like this was not going to be what he wanted to hear come from her when he was looking for someone to back him up on the way he was feeling about this topic. Yet Iida was not prepared in the least for what the girl in front of her was about to tell him. "You remember how I, I had an internship in America this past year? I went to the U.S. with Sliding Queen, Foundry, and Serpentir."
Kendo paused for a second and Iida pulled back his head more at the look on Kendo's face. Her hands balled into fists at her sides and her eyes shook for a second as she bit down so hard behind her lips. "And, and when I was there I-" Kendo bit down harder and she pursed her lips before looking up into Iida's eyes with so much pain in her own. Iida's heart started racing and his breath caught in his throat as Kendo whispered, "I died."
Iida stared at Kendo, frozen in shock. Her eyes bulged after she said it, and then she looked down and bit down so much harder again with a look of sheer frustration covering her face. She lifted her head up again and started to the boy in front of her, "I thought it was a simple drug bust, but there was a meet going on between gangs trying to work together. We went in and, and they didn't try running. Their first reaction wasn't to run but to fight us. There were a bunch of American heroes there too, but the villains had guns. They had strong Quirks, and they had Trigger." Kendo shook her head once and her eyes were distant as Iida stared into them frozen where he was.
"And we died," she whispered. "All of those heroes couldn't beat them. There were sixteen heroes in total, and the ones on the perimeter moved in when they heard what was happening, but they all too… We got wiped out. And I was one of the last…" Kendo shook her head again and Iida stared in shock at the girl who had been acting like her normal self throughout their training session without showing any sign of all this weighing down on her. Kendo lifted her eyes back into Iida's and continued, "I remember being on the ground, bleeding out, and the villains all around started cheering as they killed Sliding Queen to finish us off. Everything was fading, and then I heard those cheering villains scream."
Kendo paused for a second, and she closed her eyes tightly. That was the last thing I heard. Her eyes opened again and her expression steadied, as she remembered why she brought this up in the first place. Kendo rose her head and said in a soft but stern tone, "When I opened my eyes, he was there-"
"Zach?" Iida asked quickly, leaning forward.
"No," Kendo replied in a softer voice. Iida's heart started racing faster, and his eyes shook as Kendo whispered, "It was Death." She looked into Iida's eyes through his metal helmet's visor and she continued in a low voice, "He was shaking me and saying in a deep, modulated voice, 'Battle Fist. Battle Fist.' And then he asked me in Japanese when I opened my eyes, if I was alright. He had a helmet on, his dark costume splashed in blood that scared me at first as I opened my eyes only to see this. But I looked down and saw, I saw that I was covered in blood too, and some of the blood on him was my own…"
Kendo paused for a second and she started shaking her head. "I tried to get up, but I was so tired. Yet I was conscious for a few minutes there and, and as I sat up and leaned against the wall I watched as he, as Death, went to the other heroes one by one. There were over forty dark soldiers in that warehouse. And all the villains were down. None of them had been killed, but they were all on the floor and unconscious, some with some pretty bad wounds but nothing…" Kendo paused and she grit her teeth. "Do you want some water? Here," she thought about the girl's voice she heard despite the tone modulation, and she had grabbed that canteen and drank the best-tasting water she had ever had in her life.
"I passed out again soon after," Kendo whispered. "I was so tired and there was, no need to get up. I didn't want to fight them." She paused and she clenched her teeth hard again, before adding in a strained voice, "But I remember as I sat there, the screams. Out of his dark helmet, how loud he was yelling almost every time he brought another hero back to life. Putting his hands down on them and yelling out, in agony."
"Zach…" Iida whispered. "That's, then he is almost definitely," Iida clenched his hands into fists. He looked harder at Kendo though softened his look after a second, but he still had to ask, "Why did you never tell us this? Why keep this from-"
"When I woke up in that warehouse," Kendo started. "We had to take credit for the Army of Death's deeds." Iida closed his mouth and stared at Kendo in confusion. She ground her teeth and shook her head again, but she continued, "The way, the Americans dealt with it. It was like they were used to, stuff like that. Or, maybe not everyone dying since that was… But, there was a system in place. Hero officials showed up and told us how we had to report this to the media. They wanted us to leave out everything about the Army of Death. And the Army of Death wouldn't take credit, and the villains wouldn't say that it was the Army of Death who beat them because apparently that would be the same as telling other villains that they had snitched."
Kendo paused again and then she whispered in a lower voice, "I woke up in the warehouse and had to get to work helping arrest all those villains left behind for us. We went on a raid, and we captured all the villains we fought. That was the official story. Even in America where vigilante justice is allowed sometimes, it's different with the Army of Death and their terrorist status. They can't accept that they're getting help from terrorists, but it is happening. And they all knew it. Everyone there, other than Sliding Queen and the others at her agency. It felt like they were used to taking their credit. And I, I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement when it was over to ensure that we kept what really happened under wraps."
"They made you sign an NDA? What would have happened if you declined?" Iida questioned.
"I don't know," Kendo whispered. "But, I didn't want to decline." Iida got confused again and Kendo said softer, "One, I didn't want- I didn't want everyone to know I had died. My parents… But also, those villains might have had to be set free if certain laws were mentioned, if it could be considered a miscarriage of justice. I, I didn't want them to go free. And, I had to ask what was more important. The truth? Or getting those murderers off the streets? So I agreed to not say anything."
Kendo paused again and then continued while looking into Iida's eyes with a desperate look, "But if heroes are willing to lie about that much, about the Army of Death coming in and helping stop villains we're already fighting, then it's not hard to imagine the next step isn't just as easy. That, the Army of Death captures villains and turns them over. If you think about it, and heroes are really willing to accept the villains they hand over, and those villains don't want anyone knowing that the Army of Death got them… And the Army of Death doesn't want the credit." She scrunched her face up after saying that part, because she was treating all this like a scary aspect up until then and now she just ground her teeth at the thought. The thought of the credit and praise she was given and had to accept for so long like she deserved it. "Iida, I told you all of this because, because I believe Death is Zach. And I also think, he's doing everything he can to help in an illegal, and secretive, and… and in the most heroic way."
Itsuka Kendo turned back forward and she started to walk slowly again. "That NDA doesn't count in Japan, or at least I don't think it matters. I won't say anything else about it but I know I'm not breaking our laws talking about this, because I don't think Japanese heroes let stuff like that slide. I don't know what's more common in the rest of the world though, the America way of thinking or Japan's. What I do know though, or what I believe at least, is that Zach is doing so much more good than bad. You say those people forgot about the bad things he did, but I think you're forgetting all the good, Iida." Kendo glanced over her shoulder sadly at her classmate, "We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for him."
Kendo turned away and kept walking, but Iida was stuck in place watching her go and unable to say anything to her. He was frozen where he stood and he balled his fists up so much harder at his sides before gasping and letting those fists unclench. He just ignores all the rules. Zach thinks rules don't matter. They don't matter to him and, and he can't just try to do good without following… He can't make his own rules and- They didn't kill the villains. They let heroes bring them in, which, which would make everyone look at the good heroes are doing and- Iida looked down at his hands he brought in front of his chest. He stared down at them and he closed his eyes for a second. That's not… What he's doing isn't… It isn't something, I understand.
Iida opened his eyes and stared at his hands that he had in black gloves sticking out from under his silver armor. I don't understand. If Zach is Death, which I always knew… I knew he could be. I thought he probably was. The Army of Death, that's his creation? He said he couldn't make it as a hero, nor as a villain trying to do good, nor an anti-hero. He said he was done trying to fit into societies, but instead of going off on his own he went and created his own. One where, he wouldn't have to compromise. He could do what he thought was right no matter what. Save that city in China from the flood and earthquake, bringing back over a hundred people. Dying like that, Iida clenched his teeth and his face covered in pain thinking about the day he watched Zach bring back Tsuyu, the day he had died himself. Fighting villains and bringing heroes back to life, and not taking the credit just like… like Stain thought made heroes fake. That's what you shouted in the training forest too. But, unlike Stain you didn't start a purge on heroes. You just, you stopped accepting recognition that you were being a hero by breaking the law? Or that was just a consequence of you doing whatever you please? I don't know. I don't, understand.
Iida lowered his hands down to his sides and he slowly started walking back to the U.A. main building. But if you are Death, and you saved Kendo and all those heroes, and you saved a hundred- probably hundreds more, just the ones you brought back to life alone. Then, isn't that better than if you were just sitting in a jail cell here? I'm not supposed to believe that but I do. That night I stopped believing in you. I told myself that I had to. That you were being irresponsible, foolish, selfish, and villainous by leaving and trying to escape the authorities. I convinced myself that I truly believed you would be caught, because I stopped believing in you. Your letter though… The regret you felt over not helping us fight Stain, something none of us blamed you for, or, or that I even realized you were thinking so much about. You called me your friend at the end of it, and I couldn't hand that letter over but- but I ripped it up to show my conviction to myself. That you were no longer a hero. That I believed, you were a villain.
But I was wrong. Iida's upset look started lifting, as much as he thought he should keep frowning at the thought of betraying his own conviction. He could not stop a small smile from lifting on his face, if only for a second. I will still do my duty as a hero and catch you if the time comes… But I trust you Zach. I believe in you, and that you will always do what you believe is right.
All Might was panting as he ran into the huge hospital with a rushed and disbelieving look on his face. "A-All Might!" A nurse near the door exclaimed in surprise as the former top hero ran inside. He was panting and hunched over a bit with his sunken cheeks pulling in farther and then pushing out with his long breaths. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, ah ha, ah, I'm fine," All Might started towards a hallway ahead of him.
"Do you know where you are going?"
"Yes, I know the way," All Might assured, and he kept speed-walking down the hall. I don't understand. Something must be… All Might stopped where he was as he heard a loud shout of annoyance far ahead of him. He started moving again, faster this time and he spun to corner and quickly moved for the room he had frequented many times in recent weeks and months. He was about to turn into it when he heard another annoyed bellow from farther down the hall, and he went past the hospital room he was heading towards to instead head to one for check-ups that he turned into and stared inside in shock.
"Ah, All Might," one of the two doctors in the room with the bald woman in a hospital gown turned to the wrinkled pro hero standing in the doorway. "I am glad you-"
"All Might," Wonderlass started, stepping aside and pushing the other doctor away from her with a light shove that was still too much that the man stumbled aside. "You look out of breath old man."
All Might kept panting while staring in at Wonderlass in shock. He looked her up and down, and when his eyes came back to her face she smirked at him, "Like what you see?"
The other two in the room were taken aback at the question. They spun to All Might who kept panting but stepped inside, an amazed look on his face as he looked into Wonderlass' red eyes with bright blue irises that had been so dim the last time he saw her only a couple of days ago. "I don't, believe it," All Might said.
"It is, unbelievable," the doctor who had turned to All Might near the doorway began. He had white hair and a pair of glasses on, and he reached to the side and grabbed a clipboard that he had been taking notes on for the past hour. "But we have been running tests and All Might, the results are remarkable."
"What was the treatment? Did you-" All Might looked back at Wonderlass who shrugged her shoulders at him. "You didn't do, anything?" All Might asked, getting more confused at that look on her face.
"Nope," Wonderlass replied. "But look," she lifted her right arm and flexed, and she shredded through the sleeve of her hospital gown with her bicep flexing like crazy. "Back to full strength."
"While she was sleeping," the younger doctor who had just frowned when Wonderlass ripped through her gown began. He looked towards All Might and continued with a look of awe on his face too, "She just, got better. And she looks younger too even."
"What was that?" Wonderlass asked, turning her dark eyes to her side and the younger doctor who dropped his jaw at how threatening she looked. She had been feeble and on her death-bed until the day before, but Wonderlass was feeling as strong as ever now and she gave the man a dark glare that had him gulping and stammering that it was a compliment. I've got it back, Wonderlass thought, turning away with a self-satisfied look on her face. She looked to All Might and she grunted at that look on his face, "Don't be so upset. Maybe you'll get a taste of this magical healing sleep someday too. Get you back to your prime old-timer." She smirked at All Might, but the doctors in the room spun to All Might with a lot more amazement on their faces.
"It is possible-"
"We need to run more tests and see what exactly made Wonderlass-"
"I'm tired of tests!"
"Please, we need to make sure that these effects won't suddenly reverse, and if it could help All Might…"
All Might started shaking his head and he tried to push the look on his face away that Wonderlass just mentioned. He smiled at her despite his confusion, and he tried to hold that look to tell her how glad he was that she was alright. His eyebrows furrowed though, I don't know what happened. I, just the other day I came in with Young Midoriya and we were told it would, it would be soon. A week to live and yet… suddenly, somehow, All Might pursed his lips and his expression covered in worry again. What happened?
Just off of U.A.'s campus, in an empty playground in the middle of Musutafu, Izuku Midoriya and Mirio Togata stood ten feet away from each other. They were wearing casual clothes with long sleeves as it was cold that night in early April. They faced each other and both had dark looks on their faces, their fists clenched at their sides as a gust of wind blew through the park and waved around their hair. Lemillion glared into Deku's eyes and took a step closer to him, "What did you do?"
A/N Thanks for reading! Lifebringer's Law, graduation and U.A.'s class A moving into their third and final years, Kendo reveals a secret, and Wonderlass is back to full health?! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Leave a review below telling me what you think or predictions/comments/questions for the story!
papaprep chapter 124 . Dec 19
Hey.. Never got to see anything about bakugou..
What is he doing now? Im just curious..
I wonder if u could make zach and bakugou fight each other..that'll be interesting
Bakugo gets a scene this chapter where we see him and Fera Indago parting. Bakugo decides on his hero name, and he learns Miruko's heading off on an abroad journey too with Indago leaving him internship-less. And we'll see about Zach v Bakugo... but no spoilers! Thanks for the reviews!
Big Fan of Death chapter 124 . Dec 19
Raijin is finally back.
Please let him and Zach fight it out, that would be so sick.
And I hope Deku and Zach fight sometime too.
or like all of class 2-AADTF VS AoD that would be so fk sick.
I absolutely love this story and Im so stoked that your uploading daily again.
Thank you for the great story 333
So much sickness! Haha thanks for the review and I'm really glad you're hyped on Death. Missed out on that daily post yesterday so I couldn't keep up the streak, but here's one early today since I already had it finished up and just needed to edit and write these responses (since I missed doing it on the last couple). Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter!
QuestingforBitches chapter 126 . Dec 21
Jelloman is jelly, who knew?
XD Nagiso did not take the rejection well. At least he got to go with his backup choice though and Ashido seemed to enjoy it... Thanks for the review!
Obakekarakasa chapter 126 . 23h ago
Hey it's the guy who used to be an anon who named himself 'yes'.And WOW this chapter is full of unexpected-yet-desired! Wasn't expecting this kind of chapter today. I wasn't even expecting a chapter today.. Darling still trying to seduce Zach (she went hard with the advances this chapter). Momo turns down Mr. Slick for reasons I think we all know. Zach and darling are a sort of thing, and I Fucking love the crazy bitch so yay. Then zach remembers momo (hasn't happened in a long while). The 'seeing the same moon/sun/sky' troupe has been used. This chapter was almost straight half-romance, and is therefore one of the shortest [insert ]
And I'm now seeing fish swimming around in the air I should sleep gbye.
Nice to see you Yes, cool you finally made an account. I'm glad you liked the sudden romance chapter thrown in out of the blue. Yeah... I know the looking at the same sky thing had been done before but I tried to imagine the chapter almost like I was writing out a comic strip at the end there which is why the scenes were getting shorter and closer together. Tried to have both of the rejections near the end at the same time kind of difficult while writing two diff scenes... but I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! Also for your review on the one before still as Yes, I imagined the 420 thing as Rebel or Access' doing as it was hacking the bank's sensors' settings. And yeah writing is pretty tough, I'm glad you're writing your own right now! I write so fast because I try not to overthink each of the chapters I've got small summaries planned out for, that way when I actually do get to writing it it's still fresh and exciting to me and makes writing the chapter out fun, whereas if I spend too long thinking about exactly what I'm doing then when it comes to actually putting it down I'm no longer living out that scene in the moment but rewatching something I've seen a hundred times and wondering if this is actually the way I imagined it. Most of the stuff I write is first draft what came off my mind as I was writing the chapter... Anyway! Getting kind of long, but just wanted to tell you how I do it. Thanks for all the reviews and I hope you liked the newest chapter!
Guest chapter 126 . 17h ago
Fuck that ending
Well, can't please everyone.
diddles321 chapter 126 . 3h ago
Ya know, I've noticed you've never made an omake/side story before. Can ya do one for fun? Keep up the grind! .
I feel like after bumping this up to M I've taken a bit more of a serious take on Death, and making a filler episode feels like I'll be taking away from the current suspense and questions of what's coming. Or at least, it would just seem strange to me to jump from brutal near rape, torture, human experiment scenes to jump back to a non-canon mindset... Really, these are just excuses, but mainly I'm trying to keep up update speeds on Death's canon while also working on my thesis and enjoying my winter break so not much time for side stories. Sorry ;(