Kyoka Jirou could honestly say she had no problem with Bakugo.

Sure, the guy was loud, and one of the biggest assholes she knew, but she couldn't deny the hardwork and dedication he put into training.

That's why she had agreed to go by the thrift store he had told her about at ten at night, seeing no harm in trying to find a lead on a missing person's. Sadly, the storefront had been destroyed; scorch marks covered the walls and glass and other debris littered the ground.

"Shame what happened," a passing man muttered to her, stopping beside her to look at the store, continuing, "not the first time it happened though. Mick's built this place up who knows how many times; life's not good for the Quirkless."

"The store owner was Quirkless?" Jirou asked.

"Yep, Ol' Mick's been around since the second gen Heroes. Glad he made it out of this, but-"

"-do you know if one of his regulars was a boy named Izuku Midoriya?"

The man looked confused for a moment, then asked, "Fluffy hair? Freckles?"

Jirou pulled up the picture that Bakugo had sent her. It was two years old, and she was almost sure Midoriya didn't look like this anymore, but the man slowly nodded.

"Inko's boy… haven't seen him in a few weeks, but if you wanna find him you should go to the old construction zone. Place was shut down years ago because of unsafe work practices and never started up again. Kids go there sometimes to hang out, smoke cigarettes, that kind of thing."

"Thank you, sir," Kyoka said, knowing exactly where he was talking about.

After all, she grew up in Shizuoka.

She was half way there when she saw something suspicious.

A guy in a slightly tattered leather trench coat was walking as fast as he could towards the construction site, looking like he was cradling something under the strained leather, "Excuse me, sir!" Jirou called, making the man quicken his pace, "hey, stop! I'm a Hero!"

The man took off running and Jirou immediately ran after him. She ducked through a gap in the fence as the man ran into the construction zone. Jirou, hot on his heels, was doing her best to keep up as they ran through half finished hallways and apartments.

Slipping on some gravel was the only thing that saved Kyoka from being knocked unconscious by a supersonic rock.

CRACK!

She rolled to some cover as another rock shot through the wall behind her, leaving a grapefruit sized hole where the small pebble had hit.

"You fuckin' like that, punk? Next one's going through your fuckin' eyes!" The man snarled out, making Kyoka look up. His voice sounded young, around her age maybe, so she took a risk.

"Izuku Midoriya?!" she shouted out.

There was a pause, then, "Who wants to know?"

"Earphone Jack," She called back, "Hero in training. Can we talk?"

A few more moments of silence. "Step on out, hands where I can see them."

Kyoka stood and hid her jacks behind her neck, the appendages going down to her boots discretely as she stepped out, only to immediately jump back when another pebble left a crater where her foot had been about to step.

"You think I was born yesterday?" he demanded, pointing the bat at her. "Let's see those jacks too."

Kyoka growled and stepped out, hands and jacks out where he could see them. Her eyes quickly scanned over the teen's face. It was scratched and covered in dry blood, the happy emerald eyes he had in the picture were now cold and hard, watching her every move as he held a bat protectively in front of him.

"What's a UA first year doin' out this far?" Izuku asked, chin jutted out.

"I was coming back from my work study when I got a call from our mutual friend, the angry pomeranian."

Izuku gave a disbelieving laugh. "Right, Bakugo sent you, and I'm a fairy princess."

"Should put your tiara on then, sister," Kyoka sassed, holding up her phone to show the old picture, "he said you hung out around Old Mick's when you were in trouble, figured I could check it out."

Izuku sighed, the tension in his arms slowly easing as he put the bat under his arm. "Sorry," he muttered as he turned and began to walk, "but we've been offered help by 'Heroes' before."

"We?" Kyoka asked as she followed him into another room, her eyes widening when a little girl came running out of the corner and into Izuku's arms.

They could almost be mistaken as a father and his daughter, and with the way he checked over her, quietly asking if she was injured, looking over the small child's clothes for any signs of tears or scrapes while doing his best to keep his voice light and trouble free, Jirou could believe it.

"Alright, angel?" Izuku asked the red-eyed child gently.

"Mhmm," the little girl nodded, beaming when Izuku bopped her nose gently before picking her up and turning to Kyoka. "We gotta go," he said, turning and beginning to walk, "been in one spot too long."

"Hold on!" Kyoka snapped, "we aren't going anywhere before you tell me what's going on!"

"We don't have time," Izuku argued, still striding down the hall, "they'll be on us soon."

"Who's they?"

"Walk and talk, Hero," Izuku finally snapped, making Kyoka jolt a bit, "I've been dodging these Yakuza bastards for the past week, I'm not about to get caught now because you can't read the fucking room."

The little girl suddenly flicked Izukus forehead, making him grunt and stop walking.

"Zuku, be nice," She ordered cutely. "No cussing."

"I'll try," Izuku said dryly, looking back at Kyoka, "We have maybe five minutes before the Yakuza know our location. Either we get out now, or we get screwed, your choice."

Kyoka glared at him, then quickly began speed walking over to him, his stride continuing as she got to his side, "why are Yakuza after you?" She asked, pulling her phone out.

"They're after Eri, tried to kill me when she ran into the laundromat I was in," he looked around the corner before continuing on, back out of the building as snow began to fall. "Destroyed an entire police precinct when we tried to get help. Heroes aren't to be trusted, half we've met so far are on their payroll. And one of them has a tracking Quirk, not sure about the range, but they've been a few steps behind us since we started running."

"That must've been rough," she said sympathetically as she pulled up Gang Orca's contact number, "let me call my boss, he might be able to help."

"Sure he can be trusted?" Izuku asked warily, Eri's arms tightening around his neck.

"With my life," She said firmly before calling.

"Hello?" a gruff, sleepy voice answered, "this better be worth it, Jirou."

"Does Yakuza hunting a teenager and a child sound worth it?"

"Speak." Orca ordered, sounding much more awake.

"Izuku Midoriya, the missing person out of Shizuoka. I found him thanks to a tip from my classmate, Bakugo. He's been protecting a little girl the Yakuza are after, we're not sure why, but he's been on the run this entire week."

"Understood. I'll contact a few heroes I can trust, can you reach the agency?"

"No, it's too far, and the last precinct they were in got attacked."

"This is dire indeed...try and reach UA, that may be our best bet-"

"GET DOWN!" Izuku shouted, tackling Jirou as the building beside them exploded.

"Are you alright?!" Izuku asked, already back on his feet. Eri clung onto his back as his bat flew back into his hands.

"Fine," Jirou snapped, standing as she looked at her now destroyed phone, "damn it. We needed that."

"Bill me later! Move!" Ixuku shouted, both teens jumping back to avoid a glowing rock that hit the pavement and exploded.

"Finally found you, Metal Bat!" The skinny Yakuza shouted, picking up rocks while the other thugs came running into the street, the rocks he picked up began to glow a dull orange, "Overhaul wants your head!"

"It ain't for sale, shitstain," Izuku sneered as Jirou stepped forward, her jacks plugging into the amps on . "Heartbeat Distortion!"

With a punch to the ground, a powerful soundwave shattered the pavement and the ground underneath, sending most of the thugs to the ground.

"My turn!" Izuku snarled, shooting forward, his bat flying out and sending two struggling goons skyward. An overhand swing had another sinking further into the already cracked ground before Izuku jumped back, dodging several explosive rocks as the skinny goon covered his friends. "Run!" Izuku shouted at Jirou, the two taking off down the street, a swing from Izuku sending two cars flying down the street towards the thugs. "That'll hold them up," Izuku said between gasps of air. Eri was once again cradled in his arms as they ran.

"Gang Orca knows we're in Shizuoka," Jirou said as they rounded a corner, not slowing down for a second, "he should send some trustworthy heroes to our area."

"Shizuoka's big, gonna be awhile 'til they find us," Izuku grumbled, eyes narrowing on a nearby truck, "carry Eri!" Izuku said, handing off the little girl to the Hero, she panicked for a split second before Kyoka let out a soft shushing sound, running a comforting hand over her back.

"It's alright, kid, I'll protect you." Kyoka gently reassured her, taking shelter behind the truck while Izuku popped the lock. "Are you stealing a car?!" she demanded to know.

"Appropriating without asking," Eri piped up, making Jirou look from the little girl, to the curly-haired teen who was currently trying to hotwire the car.

"Haven't had the cover to do this without getting found almost immediately," Izuku muttered as the truck roared to life, "get in!"

Kyoka quickly slid over the hood of the car, jumping into the passenger seat as bony spikes stabbed into the street and the truck. "Punch it!"

With a loud rev of the engine, the truck took off down the road, fishtailing as he swerved on the icy roads to avoid the ranged attacks of the Yakuza. "That was close," Izuku muttered, doing his best to stay on the street, "check around for a phone, maybe you can get back in contact."

Jirou began looking around the cab, being mindful of Eri as she opened the glove compartment and the center console.

"Got a flip phone!" Jirou cheered as she opened the old phone, "shit, it's dead."

Izuku's eyes darted to the dashboard. "Charger," he said, pointing to the plugged in chord.

Jirou quickly plugged the phone in, anxiously tapping her leg as it began to boot up. "Orca knows where we are, but we need some back up now, so when this thing turns on I'm gonna message a friend who should be in town."

"Sounds good to me," Izuku said, sparing a glance at Eri, "how you doin', princess?" he asked, his voice light.

"I'm hungry," she sniffled.

"We'll get food as soon as we're safe, okay?"

"Here," Jirou said, going into her jacket pocket and pulling out a candy bar, and handing it to the little girl. "Gotta keep your strength up kid."

"Thank you!" Eri breathed before opening the candy bar and happily munching on it.

"What's the plan after we call your friend?" Izuku asked, turning on a deserted road, eyes watching the side streets and dark corners. "Whatever tracking quirk these Yakuza have has a pretty good range, it'll take them some time, but they'll catch up."

"How long do we have?" Jirou asked.

"With the truck? Closer to an hour, maybe," Izuku said with a shrug, "with the length of time it takes to find us, as well as the fact that we don't have them continuously on our ass, I think our Tracker can only use it sparingly, but that doesn't mean these assholes won't grab their own cars once they realize we're in this truck."

"Don't worry," Jirou said as the phone finally turned on, "with your strength Quirk and Tokoyami's dark shadow, we should be able to get to UA - "

" - I'm Quirkless."

The simple statement made Jirou pause to look at the boy in disbelief. "You're kidding me."

"Nope, Quirkless all my life." He said, taking another hard right before immediately taking a left.

Jirou blinked. He's telling the truth, she realized, her Jacks picking up his steady Heartbeat. "You sent two guys into space, and buried another with a swing of your bat," Jirou accused.

"It's not my fault they're lightweights," Izuku said, refusing to look at her as Eri looked between them, "look, just get into contact with Bird Boy."

"How'd you know he was a bird?" she asked, mostly to annoy him.

"Sports Festival," Izuku said, "now call."

Jirou grumbled but quickly typed Tokoyami's number in. "You better answer, you Poe rip off."

"...who calls to disturb the darkness?"

"Tokoyami, you edgy bastard, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice!" Jirou sighed in relief, looking at Eri in amusement when the little girl mumbled 'no cussing'.

"Jirou? Whose phone are you using to call me?"

"Doesn't matter, look, Tokoyami, I'm in some shit, need help on a VIP escort to UA from Shizuoka."

"I am currently at my parents' dwelling. I'm assuming you are being chased?"

"One way to say it," Izuku grumbled, earning him a shush and a glare from Jirou.

"Your VIP?"

"One of them, you in?" Jirou asked.

"Meet me at Takoba Municipal Beach, we can head for UA from there."

"Do you know Takoba Municipal Beach?" Jirou asked Izuku.

"I should," he said flippantly. Turning onto the next street calmly now that there was some distance. "I'm the one that cleaned the dump!"

"That was you?" Jirou asked in surprise, visibly impressed.

"Heh, yeah," Izuku huffed with a reminiscent smile, "worked on it for a year and a half on my own to clean up three-quarters of it, my buddy John Henry helped with the last quarter."

"Aaaaand, you know John Henry, of course."

"Will you need any other assistance besides combat?" Tokoyami asked.

"Yeah, food," Izuku said, eyes darting to two trucks pulling up behind them, "been on the run for a week with nothing but trash."

"And that's icky!" Eri piped up, making Izuku chuckle.

"...did I just hear a child?"

"Just get there, bird brain!" Jirou snapped, "take care, most Heroes in the area aren't to be trusted."

"You may wanna end the call there, Rockstar," Izuku muttered as the trucks got closer, several Yakuza thugs in the bed of the trucks.

"You said we had an hour!" Jirou shouted, hanging up the phone as Izuku took a hard left onto a wide avenue, barely able to block several bone spikes as the trucks followed.

"I said an hour if they didn't grab trucks!" he snarled, "make one more call!"

"Number?"

"783-552-7674!" He shouted, taking a hard right, scraping the sides of the truck upon turning into a narrow alley, their pursuers hot on their tail.

The phone rang a couple of times before a tired, female voice drawled out, "This is Tokage, if you're a telemarketer I'm hanging up."

"SET!" Izuku shouted as the truck behind slammed into him. Eri let out a frightened cry while Jirou did her best to comfort the kid.

"Izuku?! Where the hell have you been!? Aki's been worried sick you asshole-'

"I'll apologize to Aki when I'm not about to be FUCKED IN MY A!" Izuku snapped, turning hard onto the next available street, "I got Yakuza on my tail for fucks sake!"

"No cussing!" Eri cried, making Izuku take a breath, reaching back and holding out his pinky, which Eri quickly hooked with hers.

"Sorry," Izuku said quietly to her, "didn't mean to...Set. if you're still in town, get to Takoba Beach, we need help."

"...Alright," Setsuna said softly, "stay safe Izu, please."

"No promises," Izuku growled, hanging up. "We gotta stall these guys or we won't get to Takoba alive," he undid his seat belt, "take the wheel, Rockstar."

"What the hell are you doing?!" Jirou yelped, grabbing the wheel as Izuku kicked the door off the driver's side, letting go of Eri's pinky to hang out the door. Jirou moved fully to the driver's seat, eyes wide. "I don't know how to drive!"

"You'll be fine! It's an automatic!" Izuku shouted over the icy blast of the wind, his trenchcoat whipping around him like a cape as he glared at the two trucks chasing them, his bat deflecting several long ranged Quirks. "When I jump, you keep going! Protect Eri, cause if I get to Takoba and she's not safe-"

"-are you fucking crazy? There's two trucks full of Yakuza back there!" Jirou screeched.

"Which means our Tracker is there," Izuku said, giving Eri a lopsided smile, "I'll be back, princess! Keep the Hero safe!"

"Kay!" Eri chirped, seemingly unfazed by Izuku's recklessness.

"As David Tennant said in Doctor Who, ALLONS-Y!" Izuku whooped, jumping out of the truck and landing on the street in a run as he chambered his bat at his side. "Smile, assholes!' He snarled, slamming his bat into the front end of the truck, crumpling it like a tin can and sending it crashing into the other truck, both careening into a cluster of trees.

"He's completely insane!" Jirou groaned, doing everything she could to keep the truck on the road.

"Papa will be fine!" Eri said, eyes shining with belief in her protector, "he never breaks a promise!"

"I hope so kid," Jirou sighed, looking in the rear view in worry, "I hope so."

Izuku strolled towards the trucks, bat resting on his shoulder.

"You...bastard…" one of the Yakuza that had been in the bed of the truck ground out as he got to his feet, bone plates sprouting out on his arms. "I'll kill-"

Izuku's bat smashing in his face cut off what he was gonna say, crumpling the back end of the truck further.

"Sure you will," Izuku sneered, reaching the other truck, where the passenger was yelling into a phone, trying to stop the bleeding on his forehead.

" - headed west out of the city. We need another - " the thug stopped talking as the door was ripped off its hinges and he was thrown out of the truck. He slammed into an adjacent building, his breath knocked out of his lungs.

"Tracker, what was that? Tracker, come in!"

Izuku looked down at the phone, then picked it up. "Thanks for telling me who he was," Izuku said, his voice cold as he brought the phone to his ear, watching while the tracker slowly sank to the ground, "I take him out, you won't be able to track us right?"

"...am I to assume this is Metal Bat?" The voice on the other end asked.

"That's a good name," Izuku scoffed, stomping his foot on a Yakuza trying to crawl towards a gun on the roadway, "mind if I run with it?"

"I'll cut to the chase. Give us Eri and we may just let you and the UA brat live."

"Yeah...see, that deal don't sit right with me," Izuku said, kicking the downed Yakuza in the face to knock him out, before strolling over to Tracker. "See, you assholes burned down Mick's store, you killed some good cops the other night, and what's worse, you've terrified and scared a little girl who I'm quickly starting to see as family; So, let me tell you this, bitch, if you keep coming after me, if you keep sending your little thugs after me and mine, then my bat will taste blood and I'll smash your little organization back to the Edo period. I will dismantle and tear down everything you've ever built, and I'll walk away laughing."

Tracker slowly looked up. "Overhaul - " he wheezed out before Izuku's knee slammed into his head, destroying the wall the injured man had been leaning against and forcing him into unconsciousness.

"Overhaul, huh? I've heard of that name," Izuku scoffed, "seeing what you've sent, I'm not impressed."

"Careful what you say next, boy." Overhaul growled, "it could get you killed."

"Hasn't so far," Izuku said flippantly, "do your worst, bitch boy." Izuku then tossed the phone in the air and whacked it with his bat, shattering the phone into a hundred little pieces. He looked back at the wreck. All of the thugs were either unconscious or so injured they could do nothing more but groan in pain. "Pathetic," he sneered, turning to walk away.

"He'll...he'll kill you…"

The words made Izuku pause, looking back to a familiar bomb creator, who was slowly pushing himself to his feet. Blood drenched his clothes and face, and his left leg was twisted sickeningly. He continued to glare at the teen, two rocks in each hand glowing a bright white. "Overhaul and his Eight Precepts will slaughter you!" Bomber spat, "you're a Deadman walking!"

"Not convinced," Izuku said as Bomber threw the rocks. Izuku dodged one as he brought his bat around in a lightning quick swing.

"After all."

PINK!

"I still have my bat."

The rock shot back towards Bomber, who screamed as the rock shot through the truck and exploded, smoke and flame spewing from what was left of the wreckage.

And Izuku walked away, the firelight flashing in his eyes and his bat chambered under his arm.

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVW

20 minutes later.

Jirou looked down at the little girl huddled up in her arms, snoozing quietly for the few minutes they had before they would be forced to run again.

It had stunned her how easily the girl had trusted her after Izuku had gone to stall, she had been wary, of course, but she didn't hesitate to follow Jirou's orders when the girl gave them. She hadn't even argued when Jirou had prompted her to get some sleep so she'd be well rested when Izuku returned.

It had been a surprise when the little girl had practically dragged Jirou into the back of the truck, curling up against the older teens chest.

"Papa says it's too cold to sleep alone," Eri had said before laying her head against the girl's chest and closing her eyes, "this way we can both be warm."

The girl's sweet innocence made Jirou's heart hurt and she couldn't bring herself to tell the girl no so she could stand guard; instead, she had put her coat over the both of them and held the girl in her arms. Her Jacks were stabbed into the truck to better hear anyone approaching.

Why would anyone want to hurt such a sweet child? she asked herself in her mind, absentmindedly, running a hair through the kid's soft white hair, smiling warmly when the sleeping child mumbled something incoherent before burrowing deeper into the crook of Jirous arm.

A set of footsteps broke her out of her drowsy reverie. Her eyes sharpened as she peered out of the back window, relaxing at the familiar silhouette carrying a metal bat.

"You two alright?" Izuku whispered, peering in through the driver's side and smiling when he saw Eri snoozing. "She got you, too, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Jirou asked softly, watching him put his bat in the passenger seat, then began to rummage through the center console, coming up with a lighter.

He didn't speak while he pulled a pack of cigarettes out, slipping one between his lips and lighting it.

"First night we had to crash outside," Izuku began, blowing a stream of smoke out of his nostrils while leaning back against the frame of the truck. "We huddled together for warmth, I stayed awake just in case...and I..heh, well, I spent some time looking at that pure little beacon of innocence, and I couldn't think of one reason anyone would think to hurt such a sweet kid...I haven't had a doubt about protecting her since."

"My thoughts exactly," Jirou mused, looking down at the little girl, then asked, "what happened with the Yakuza?"

"Well, I destroyed the two trucks. Tracker's knocked out, too, so we may be in the clear for a while, but we shouldn't get complacent. As soon as Set and Tokoyami get here, we'll need to leave. Is the truck still good to go?"

Jirou shook her head. "It's totaled." She sighed, "some of those bone spikes hit the engine, no way we can repair it."

"That's fine," Izuku said dismissively, "I didn't think it'd last. We can take the train, with back up we should be able to make it to UA no problem, unless you wanna grab another truck."

"Let's keep our grand theft auto down to one vehicle, please," Jirou grumbled, making Izuku laugh.

"We didn't steal anything, it's Appropriating Without Asking." He snickered.

"That's another thing, why are you teaching this innocent angel that stealing is okay?"

"Bite me, Rockstar, we've been on the run for the better part of a week," he flicked the cigarette out and stepped into the truck, using his coat to cover for the missing door. "Concessions had to be made."

"If it's only been a week, why does she call you Papa?" Jirou asked.

"Hell if I know." Izuku sighed, "started calling me that on the third day, after trying to get her to stop for four hours I figured I'd just roll with it." Izuku stared at the frozen beach, his eyes sharpening for a moment, "I don't care if she ain't my blood, I'll protect her just as fiercely."

"...oh my God, you're such a dad."

Izuku cringed as Jirou chuckled softly. "Yeah, Yeah, laugh it up Rockstar," he scoffed, "anything else we need to discuss before our reinforcements get here?"

"...how are you so strong?" she asked carefully, "earlier, you said you didn't have a Quirk. But Quirkless can't just bat trucks around like tin foil, or send full grown men flying."

Izuku tapped his fingers idly against the wheel, mulling over his response, "I honestly don't know…" he said quietly. "Eri ran into the laundromat terrified. And I had calmed her down, promised I'd protect her, then the Stone brothers came smashing into the place; sent me flying with one punch." He tapped his bat, "but I'd landed by my bat, and the only thing I could think of while lying in that rubble was how I was gonna break my promise to that little girl. So, I picked up my bat, and I sent one of those fuckers through the building across from us. The other I left in a crater in the middle of the room." He looked back at her and shrugged. "Since then, I've had this strength. Don't know where it came from or how I got it, but it's a welcome power up."

"...so why the bat?" Jirou wondered aloud, "if you're strong enough to send them flying, then why bother with the bat?"

Izuku chuckled. "That's easy," he said, "my fists have failed me before, but this bat?" He tapped the slab of dented and scorched aluminum. "Me and this bat have been through it. It hasn't failed me since I sent a baseball through the fence at the downtown batting cages, and I doubt it's gonna fail me anytime soon."

Jirou blinked, then shook her head in amusement. "You're one weird guy, Midoriya...but I dig it."

"Glad I got your seal of approval, Rockstar."

Jirou snorted. "Watch yourself Metal Bat. I can take it away whenever I want."

The two teens laughed quietly, enjoying the brief peace before it would ultimately be shattered by the sound of approaching feet

"Midoriya-" Jirou began.

"Protect Eri," he ordered, grabbing his bat and getting out of the truck, his coat unfurling as he threw it back on. "Stop!" Izuku commanded as he strode towards the approaching figures, bat in hand. "You got five seconds to tell me who the fuck you are, or else-"

"ZUZU!'"

"OOF!"

Jirou felt a twinge of jealousy as Setsuna Tokage practically tackled the taller teen, squeezing the life out of him before he pushed her off with a growl.

"Get off me, Set." He grumbled, "now is not the time."

"Not the time? I thought you were dead for the last week, dead Midoriya!" She exclaimed hotly, fists on her hips.

"Like it's my fault," he scoffed, looking over to Tokoyami. The bird-headed hero had a backpack in his hands, and gave Izuku a respectful nod when he met his eye. Izuku returned the nod before addressing Setsuna again. "Look, we can air out all that shit later, right now we need to get Eri to UA."

"Is that the little girl I heard calling you 'papa' over the phone?" She asked, looking at the truck.

"Yeah. Yakuza want her bad," he said, gesturing to Jirou to get out of the truck.

Jirou jumped a bit and gently shook Eri awake, "Eri, we gotta go."

"Hmm?" the little girl mumbled, head immediately shooting up as she looked around in a slight panic.

"It's okay!" Jirou shushed her soothingly, "you're safe, and your Papa is here with some friends to keep you safe."

"Papa?" She asked, her eyes lighting up. "I told you he keeps his promise!" She cheered before throwing the door open and running out. "Papa!" she exclaimed, coming to a quick stop when she saw Tokoyami and Set.

"It's okay, Eri," Izuku said gently, holding his hand out to her. She quickly ran to his side and grabbed his hand, hiding behind his leg while Jirou got out of the truck as well, fixing her coat.

"What's Jirou doing here?" Setsuna asked, bristling ever so slightly at seeing the rocker with Izuku.

"Bakugo sent me," Jirou said, returning the glare with one of her own. "You got a problem with me or something, Tokage?"

"No, not at all," she said shortly.

"Before we begin planning," Tokoyami interrupted, opening his bag and pulling out some gas station snacks, "I understand you two need nourishment."

"That we do," Izuku said thankfully, "Eri, why don't you go grab some food?"

"B-but...the beak…" she whimpered, looking at Tokoyami with fear.

"Aw shit. Forgot about that." Izuku groaned.

"If the young one does not appreciate my visage, I can step back." Tokoyami offered.

"No, it's not that, we've been chased by the Shie Hessaikai for the last week, all they wear is plague masks."

Tokoyami nodded in understanding, slowly kneeling down as he reached into the bag, "Do not worry young one," Tokoyami said, rummaging through the snacks in search of something. "I am to be a Hero, not Yakuza, and as proof of my dedication to the light - " he pulled out a bright red apple and held it out to Eri, whose eyes widened at the sight of the apple, drool slowly starting to pool at the corners of her mouth before she wiped it away. Slowly, she reached out, taking the apple from Tokoyami.

"Thank you," she whispered, staring at the apple in reverence before biting into it.

"Well, would ya look at that," Izuku chuckled, ruffling Eri's hair fondly, "you made a friend, kid."

"Mhmm!" She hummed happily.

"My heart lightens with your friendship, young Eri. I will command the darkness to protect you to the end," Tokoyami said seriously, handing the bag to Izuku so he could eat as well before turning to Jirou. "There's earpieces in the bag as well; also I took the liberty of contacting Hawks and Gang Orca," he said, "I've updated them on the situation and our plan. They'll be moving in fifteen minutes to hit known Yakuza strongholds in the city to give us a distraction." He smirked. "We also have Red Riot, Uravity, and Froppy on their way to back us up."

"Perfect," Jirou grinned, "those Yakuza won't know what hit them."

"Who's Red Riot?" Izuku asked around a mouthful of honey bun, "any relation to Crimson Riot?"

"Only in name and kind of in Quirk," Jirou said, "His real name is Eijiro Kirishima, Quirk: hardening. He's the most combat-oriented trainee we have in 1A besides Bakugo."

"He's a Tetsutetsu rip off," Setsuna said smugly.

"Or is Tetsu a rip off of him?" Izuku asked, making Set glare at him. "Either way, it'll be good to have them, they gonna be here soon?"

Tokoyami shook his head. "They will meet us enroute at the next bus stop. They were almost to UA when I made the call."

"Alright," Izuku sighed as he pulled a juice pouch out and popped the top, drinking it while he pulled the communicators out and distributed them. "This is how we're going to do it. Set, Jirou, you'll both be inside the train while we travel, you're the last line of defense for Eri. Me and Tokoyami will ride on the roof to ward off any attackers that are trying to board; with Orca and Hawks hitting the Yakuza tonight, we may have a chance to slip by quietly-"

"-sorry Izuku, but you're not the Provisional Heroes here," Setsuna said dismissively, pushing her ex back, making him glare furiously at her. "Your plan's good but you're a civilian, and Quirkless at that, you shouldn't - "

"He can hold his own," Jirou interrupted bluntly, "guy just took out two trucks of Yakuza on his own, after all."

"What?" Set asked dumbly, making Izuku snicker while Tokoyami just stared at the boy in surprise. "How?"

"I have a bat," Izuku said with a shrug.

"I'm gonna need better than that if-"

"Dear God, would you just shut up and listen to him?" Jirou snapped, making the other three look at her in surprise. "Just because you're a Recommendation student doesn't mean you're in charge. In fact, Midoriya's been out here for a week on his own, sticking it to the Yakuza and not getting caught, so I say we listen to him."

"Agreed," Tokoyami said, crossing his arms with a solemn expression, "Quirkless or not, his spoken feats are impressive, and we need every fighter we can get."

Setsuna grumbled something under her breath. "Fine, whatever, but if he dies I'm taking it out of your ass, Jirou."

"Noted," she said dryly, then turned to Izuku with a taunting smirk. "I hope you'll be able to keep up with us, Metal Bat."

"Heh, don't worry about it." Izuku said with a grin, "After all, I got a new reputation among these Yakuza bastards. Can't disappoint them now."

WVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVWVW

Overhaul looked over the wreckage that had once been his tracking team. Five were dead from what appeared to be an explosion, and the rest were refusing to continue the chase - they were physically more scared of Metal Bat then they were of Overhaul.

Only one Tracker was willing to continue, which was fine, he was the only one he really needed.

"Chrono," Overhaul said, making his lieutenant walk over.

"Yes, Overhaul?" He asked.

"I want Metal Bat found," he said as he turned and began walking back towards his vehicle, "Send in the Eight Precepts. Tell them I need him back alive. The little punk will regret the day he went against the Shie Hessaikai."

"My Lord Overhaul!" Nemoto called, running over, "our hideouts in Shizuoka are getting hit by the Heroes! It's Gang Orca and Hawks with their own backup from out of town."

"Damn it, the little brats must've finally made contact," He growled, frustration building to a boiling point. "I want them found. NOW!"