Welcome to the first chapter of Arc: II
I want to preface this chapter by reminding both new and old readers that you do not need to know anything about Etrian Odyssey to follow this story. While this story is inspired by elements of the game, there is very little from the story itself being used. At most, there are a few Easter eggs here and there. But again, anything story-related will be addressed directly by the text in due time.
My Hero Academia Untold: The Fafnir Knight (Remastered Edition)
Saga I: Dusk
Arc II: The Incident
Chapter XIV: The first move
"They say it is the first step that costs the effort. I do not find it so. I am sure I could write unlimited 'first chapters.' I have; indeed written many."
-J. R.R. Tolkien
Overhaul was being led by a squat seedy little man.
One of Giran's creatures, Overhaul, had reasoned with little doubt since the information broker himself has been notably scarce as of late in the Underworld. While the little man himself apparently didn't know who exactly had attacked his crew. He claimed to know the people that did as he led Overhaul to a warehouse on the outskirts of town in the dead of night.
"Right this way, Lord Chisaki." the short man wheezed, opening the warehouse door with the lowest bow his large stomach could allow. The inside of the warehouse was poorly lit. Yet, Overhaul already knew who was there, the heir-apparent to The Emperor: The Pale Prince, Tomura Shigaraki.
"Lord Shigaraki, I have brought your guest," the man called before taking a few steps back and closing the door behind him.
Overhaul wasn't afraid, and though their first encounter a couple weeks ago hadn't been the best, no fight had broken out. Yet, a line had been drawn in the sand representing the divide between the new and old guard of the Underworld. Although its name may have changed over the years. It was always the same organization led by the one the Yakuza referred to as The Emperor of Darkness.
An appropriate title as it was one that many Yakuza Lords believed he earned when he had surfaced all those years ago, usurping power from them in the Underworld. Becoming mightier than the Four Cardinal Kings, the greatest of Yakuza. However, no name was ever given from this Emperor, for he simply went by the name of his illness: All For One.
And as Overhaul stepped further into the large building, his beak mask helped filter some of the stale, dusty air of the warehouse. However, the germaphobe still couldn't help but feel just a bit more agitated the deeper he went inside of it. His golden eyes began to scan the room when he finally spotted him.
Tomura Shigaraki simply sat there, sporting his signature black-blue outfit with fake hands all over his body, sitting on a small wooden chair in the center of the warehouse with a small light that hung over his head like a spotlight. As Overhaul moved to face Tomura. He kept a respectful and healthy distance from the Hand-Covered man knowing one wrong touch from either could mean their untimely ends.
"Overhaul," said Tomura softly, addressing his guest as he leaned ever so slightly forward from his seat.
"Shigaraki," Overhaul answered back sharply and stood firm.
"Word is that you and your gang were recently attacked..." said Tomura with a teasing chuckle. "How very sad."
"Does this conversation have a point, Shigaraki?" Overhaul replied, annoyed by the man's taunting, "I'm here to talk business."
"Heheheh, it does indeed, my friend," Tomura continued as he then proceeded to get up to his feet.
"So, to start on our business, I'm aware that you are currently looking for three things, correct?" He added while holding up three fingers on his left hand. Overhaul remained silent as not to betray his own thoughts, trying carefully not to show weakness.
"The first is obvious; you want to know who attacked you and your little gang of bird boys. Luckily for you, I happen to know who did it." He started listing each answer with a finger as he paced around the room. Always making sure he kept a steady eye on Overhaul. Hidden behind the beak mask, Overhaul felt a twitch of anger run across his mouth.
"Second," Tomura continued lowering the second finger.
"I know from my own spies in the cops that you lost almost all of your main manpower. Save for a few grunts," Tomura looked over to Overhaul expectantly with a growing hidden grin. "I know that you really need some more "expendables" in your party, right?"
Overhaul's golden eyes narrowed. Tomura had been right on the money so far.
"And finally, the one that's made me the most curious. An albino girl with a small horn on her head," Tomura finished up as he lowered the last finger, the hidden grin on his face at its widest. "Is that right?"
Overhaul couldn't stop his eyes from widening.
No one was supposed to know about Eri.
"Now, I don't really care about the girl mostly because we're villains, and I don't kink shame here, but..."
Overhaul was about to step up and shut Tomura up for even implying that he would do something so disgusting, that was until he saw Tomura's eyes. Instantly his muscles tensed, unable to move closer when he looked into those ruby-red eyes that seemed to drill into the very depths of his soul. Eyes that chilled him to the very bone as they spoke only one word of warning.
Death
"Now, now, as I said, Overhaul," Tomura began speaking again, blinking and looking away from the Yakuza boss.
Overhaul felt his body return to normal but could also feel the minute shakes from whatever the hell that was. Yet it didn't make any sense; he knew that Tomura's Quirk involved using his hands, so why did he freeze when he looked into his eyes?
Tomura, however, didn't seem to care about Overhaul trying to figure out about his other Quirk. Instead, he continued his speech to not let the yakuza boss find out and keep him on his toes.
"I don't care about your lifestyle choices; we're villains, and you should be able to do whatever the hell you want. But...what I do care about is possibly..." Tomura breathed in before motioning with his hand as if he was reaching out.
"Lending a helping hand to you and," he withdrew his hand. "Before you even ask. Of course, I want something from you."
Tomura laughed as he could see the frustration furrow the man's face despite the mask.
"I know you are not stupid enough to believe that I would simply do this out of the goodness of my heart. No, I will need your help with something. Something I believe we can both come to some agreement, help me with this, and I will aid you: funding, spies, and revenge."
Overhaul looked at Tomura with gritted teeth.
Some of the other Yakuza clans had begun encroaching on his territory, like sharks who could smell blood in the water coming for a feeding frenzy. He knew that he didn't have many options, and he knew this could be his best opportunity here to get him back on course with his own pursuits and regain some of his lost strength. Even if it meant having to work with the wretched, then again, when seeking a cure for a plague, a good doctor would work with the sick.
Overhaul finally answered after a long pause and a small, silent sigh of defeat.
"I will hear what you have to say."
Tomura grinned under his hand mask.
"Good, I think you will come to agree with me on this...You'll see."
Ochako was deep in thought as she and her two new friends took the train to start their first school day. She watched as the two boys began catching up with each other. She was happy to see that Izuku seemed to be more relaxed with Katsuki than she often saw whenever she visited his house. The greenhead always seemed to be slightly more on edge in her presence and given what she observed herself. Izuku didn't seem to have any other friends except the explosive ash blond boy.
It often made her feel bad since Katsuki couldn't visit as often as he used to. Thankfully, the last few days have shown some real progress for Eri. She slowly managed to adjust to and not be overwhelmed by the number of visitors to Izuku's apartment. However, she still did struggle a bit more when they took her outside, but progress was being made.
As Ochako sat on the train across the two boys, her mind drifted to what Katsuki had said to her earlier, just before meeting up with Izuku at the train station.
"Uraraka."
She had heard a voice to her left as she arrived at the train station to wait for Izuku. Ochako turned to see that Katsuki was already there and had started walking up to her. It had only been a day or so since they last saw each other.
"Not 'Round face' anymore, Bakugou?" She asked with the faint hint of sass in her voice that made the ash-blond boy crack up.
"Nah, you earned my respect for placing third and saving that nerdy brother of mine," Katsuki answered with a slight grin that vanished into a frown just as quickly as it came.
"Be real with me for a moment, Uraraka. I'm not about to get into this whole business with you two. Especially since Izuku's been much happier now than I have seen him in years." Katsuki wore the strangest mask of anger that had carried a peculiar sense of calmness.
"Bakugou..." Ochako said, surprised at seeing this side of Katsuki given all that she had seen from the explosive boy.
"Look, I'll just say this. I can read the tea leaves and see that you like him already…ah! Stop it," He added, motioning Ochako not to interrupt as her face grew beet red.
"I already know that look on your face, and it's the same as his," he let out a low sigh. "Stop it. I mean, for fucks sake. You've basically adopted the Unicorn already and are calling each other by your first names, don't act like isn't anything there."
This proved to Ochako that Katsuki was not only intelligent but observant. He may be brash, but he is by no means stupid, nor was he wrong in this case. She had grown very fond of Izuku despite the relatively short time she had known him. She found him very sweet and earnest, but she also knew he held back on her. Something that prevented Izuku from being a hundred percent honest with her.
The explanation he gave to everyone about how he knew All Might after saving Katsuki felt rehearsed. Izuku said some things didn't add up; he was hiding something. Not because he wanted to lie, but because he felt that he needed to, that he had no choice but to lie.
"It's not that...I'm just not sure he trusts me all that much yet..." Ochako responded sadly.
"It's not that he doesn't-" The blonde shut his mouth. "Look, it's not my place to tell you why, but I know the reason why it seems like it. I've known the nerd since we were babies...which is why I'm only going to say this once," he said with a slight air of tension growing. "That nerd is basically my brother, and he's been through enough. I don't care how or why, but if anyone," he pointed at her. "ANYONE tries to make his life worse than it is now, they will deal with me...you get what I'm saying...right?"
Ochako looked at Katsuki in the eyes; it only made her wonder what must have the two gone through for Katsuki to be so protective of Izuku. She was glad that Izuku at least didn't suffer alone. Katsuki had been there for him, and she wanted to be there now too.
"I understand," Ochako said firmly. The tension broke in an instant, and Katsuki smiled at her.
"Good...now how is the Unicorn doing? I know that I can't visit as often as before, but it doesn't mean I still can't be the fun uncle without knowing her better, now can I?"
"Pffft," Ochako sputtered, caught off guard by Katsuki's sudden change in demeanor when it came to Eri. Remember the story of the candy apple he had gotten for her when Izuku told him that she loved apples.
"I didn't see her yesterday since I needed to get all my stuff ready for today, but I know they got her a brand-new bed the day before yesterday."
"Is that so? Oh, look who's here."
Ochako hoped Izuku would be more open with her in time, even if it was only as friends; the greenhead was nice enough to deserve that much. When the train stopped, the trio got up from their seats and promptly exited the train. The two boys continued their conversation about Katsuki's father, Masaru, who had recently recovered from his injuries.
"Nearly a month-long wait just for the specialist to fix his back in like eight minutes; what kind of bullshit is that?!" Katsuki complained loudly.
"I mean, healing quirks aren't universal, Kacchan; some work in precise ways, or some can even strain the practitioner if they use them without rest. I'm glad Uncle Masa is finally back on his feet properly."
"Yeah yeah..." Katsuki said dismissively.
"We're looking for Class 1-A, right? I'm glad we're all in the same class," Ochako added as the trio continued the search of the hallway for their new homeroom class. After a while, they found the sign that read: 1-A.
"Found it...holy shit…this bitch is huge!" Katsuki said upon seeing the door. "Why the fuck is it so big?"
"Quirks can make people come in all shapes and sizes, Kacchan, like big sis Yū or Kyū," Izuku answered casually. Making Katsuki click his tongue at the mention of his cousin and proceed to open the door for them.
The room was nearly full of students; it appeared to them that they may have been the last ones to arrive. The room was already buzzing with light chatter as some tried to get to know one another; others remained to themselves altogether. One pair, however, seemed to know each other well judging from their conversation.
'Ah...shit.' Katsuki thought as he spotted the familiar tall boy with blue hair that had called him and Izuku out during the exam. He was the only one standing, speaking to another boy with short red-white hair and flawless features on his sharp face. The two seemed to be in quite a conversation. The tall one was vivacious with his movements that punctuated his speech.
"So, she is getting trickier, huh," Shouto said as he looked at Tenya, who had tears streaming down his face. It sounded like the Iida heir had been struggling with some of Hikari's new methods of pranking him.
"I swear, I know Hatsume has something to do with it! The last time she came over with Yuno, she brought a box that disappeared when I looked away!"
"It doesn't mean she's involved..." Shouto continued in his deadpan fashion. He knew full well what the box contained. After all, he helped Mei find the perfect hiding spot within the Iida household.
"I mean, she could have just gotten part of my sister's ice Quirk to make the steam?"
"It was clearly a smoke bomb!" Tenya said, his voice strained with indignation.
"It sounds more like paranoia to me," Shouto answered with a slightly mischievous smirk.
Tenya was about to respond in frustration when he heard the door open. The two friends both turned to see three new students entering their homeroom. The trio was already familiar to Tenya; however, Shouto's eyes instantly drew to the green-haired boy. His father, the Pro-Hero Endeavor, had told him and Tenya everything vital they needed to know about him.
'Huh, so that's Draco Knight's son.'
"Ah, it's you! Good morning!" He heard Tenya say as he began marching up to the new trio snapping Shouto out of his thoughts.
"Wait, Ten-" Shouto began before he realized that Tenya's full attention had turned to the trio.
Izuku tensed up as Tenya grew close with a wary-looking Katsuki and confused Ochako.
"I am Tenya Iida from Somei Private Academy. And I must confess that I had completely misjudged you back at the examination; therefore, I apologize for my rudeness!" He said with a sudden deep bow in front of Izuku.
This completely threw the trio for a loop. Katsuki had remained quiet, ready to fire back for his earlier stunt at the entrance exam, but between his need to be more reserved and this sudden change in attitude. The ashy blonde wasn't sure how exactly to proceed from here.
However, once he figured that the tall boy was clearly speaking to Izuku, Katsuki used the moment to look over the rest of the class and scope out the rest of their competition. One student instantly caught his attention due to his appearance.
Katsuki almost felt his blood go cold as he looked at the boy seated at the back of the room.
Tall, with wild, jet-black hair and piercing golden yellow eyes.
'Uncle?' Katsuki thought briefly before shaking his head. 'No... he's different from Uncle.'
"If you're here to just socialize, you can get out now."
They heard a voice say behind them, snapping Katsuki out of his thoughts.
Everyone faced the doorway and found several students gathered outside who, in turn, were looking down on the floor. Katsuki followed their grazes down as well and saw a man dressed in what appeared to be a mustard yellow sleeping bag rapidly draining a juice box. He looked like a corpse.
"Good, now that you've all shut up, get dressed in your PE outfits; we're going out to the field." The zombieman ordered the class flatly.
"Umm, I can ask who you are first?" Ochako asked, being wary of the stranger.
"Shouta Aizawa," The man answered as he seemed to arise from the ground with little effort while still inside the sleeping bag. "Head of the Department of Heroics here at UA."
Katsuki flinched at this statement as he learned to whom he would have to report too soon.
"And I am here to assess all of you in both Class A and B," The man added, extending his arm out to point his thumb at the other students outside the classroom. "Now, I am not going to repeat myself again. Change out into your PE gear and head out."
Inko was cheerfully having tea with Mitsuki for the first time in weeks as they were seated at the kitchen table.
While Eri was trying her best to read a book, Ochako had left behind in the living room that had recently been used as a bedtime story. However, the young girl had been completely enthralled by the old tome. Now she was just trying to continue the story without waiting for Ochako to read it to her at bedtime.
"It's nice to have the place to ourselves and enjoy some quiet time, you know?" Inko said serenely as she enjoyed the warm cup of green tea.
"Eh, I still prefer my home to be a bit rowdy. It doesn't feel right without it," Mitsuki answered back with a small grin on her face.
"Did Yū finally move out?"
"Not yet, but you should have seen how happy she was after the recent elections. I hear they already began overturning some of the more damning bits of the "volatile" classifications," Mitsuki took a sip of her own tea. "But some of them are going take longer to change than others, so Yū should still be in our home for a little while longer."
"Well, that's good; a shame it couldn't happen before all those students got rejected from Hero courses in the country. I was so scared for Izuku when he went up for the evaluation," Inko said quietly as she refilled their cups from the pot next to them.
"Heh, you were scared? Trying having Katsuki as a son. That firecracker was rejected the first time before he agreed to go to that one month of counseling camp, remember? I knew those fights would come back to haunt him," Mitsuki sighed as she leaned her face against her hand. "Which brings to me to something important I wanted to talk to you about."
"And that is?" Inko said, concerned at seeing her friend's sudden change in tone.
"Your two guests," Mitsuki answered with a whisper while motioning her head to one of the said guests sitting in the living room. Although Mitsuki had noticed that every picture that featured Hisashi was still being hidden away.
"Ah," Inko said understandably.
"Do they know?" Mitsuki asked before leaning in and whispering, "About Hisashi?"
"I think Eri is a bit young to understand the situation since she hasn't asked about any father figure in Izuku's life. As for Uraraka," Inko hummed as she considered that possibility. "I've talked about it with Izuku, and we're both terrified about how she'll react if she found out."
"I can't blame you two, given the last few times people found out. Now, this next topic is… a bit harder for me to talk about, but," Mitsuki said with a touch of guilt in her voice, given her previous jokes about it. "I'm concerned about Eri's condition."
"What do you mean? We've been taking her to check-ups every week with both a pediatrician and a psychiatrist who specializes in children dealing with mental and physical trauma." Inko answered with a confused look on her face.
"She reminds me of a little boy I met back at the counseling camp when me and Masaru had to attend for Katsuki," Mitsuki answered back as she nursed her cup.
"He was there trying to cope with the removal of his foster family. He had heavily imprinted on them, and when it came time to separate them...Well, it was heartbreaking, to say the least," Mitsuki finished up with a look of both frustration and sadness.
Inko looked at her friend and began to think carefully about her response.
However, Mitsuki made a small assuring wave of a hand. "I'm not trying to ruin the little fantasy here, Inko. I think it's cute," she glanced over to the girl reading her book.
"But as far as you know, this is only temporary, and what if you ultimately have to separate? I'm just saying this because I don't want you, Izu, Pink cheeks, or Eri to be hurt should the worst-case scenario hits," she placed a hand on Inko's shoulder. "You know that, right?"
Inko looked down.
She knew that Mitsuki made a good point. It would have to be something they would need to discuss in more detail with the professionals, the two teens, and All Might, who had entrusted her with Eri. Inko began to frown the more she thought about it before looking at the snow-haired child again. She had already grown very fond of the sweet little girl that had clearly been through Hell, and she would be damned to let her go unless she knew that the child was going to be left in good hands.
Upon seeing her best friend's mood, Mitsuki tried to uplift her dampened spirits with a positive spin on the possibilities.
"But then again, Inko, maybe I'm wrong, and you'll get to keep her," Mitsuki said assuredly before another mischievous smirk grew on her face. "Then you can go and get bragging rights on being the sexist single grandmother available."
It was unfortunate that Inko happened to have been taking a sip during Mitsuki's comment. The fluids managed to both fly out of her mouth and go down the wrong pipe, causing her to cough violently as she tried to regain her composure.
"Mitsuki!" She managed to yelp out, her face heating up into a bright red as she nervously began reaching for a table cloth to clean the mess she had just made.
"What? It's true!" Mitsuki said with a laugh.
"You wouldn't have to worry so long about getting grandkids. I mean, my ass is either going to be very old or in the grave before my firecracker of a son finds a girl that meets his "High Standards" and brings me a grandchild." She laughed again though a bit bittersweetly. "Then again, I don't have to worry about a possible teen pregnancy."
Inko knocked on the table, shuttering at the thought.
"Shut your mouth and knock on wood, Mitsuki! That's how you get jinxed! I'm pretty sure Izuku and Uraraka aren't even together...officially…"Inko quickly shook her head of the thought. "And even then, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be that reckless."
Mitsuki, however, did not knock the table, opting instead to simply continue teasing her friend, "I'm just saying! I mean, I remember back in your third year when you and Hisashi..."
"MITSUKI!" Inko interrupted. Her flustered face was now completely red, much to her friend's amusement.
"I mean, I didn't blame you for doing so! He had almost died that time! It happens!"
"Inki? Miki? Are you mad?" They heard Eri ask innocently.
The two older women turned to face the young girl, eyes filled with worry. Inko, grateful for a chance to drop the subject, began to calm down and started speaking softly to ease the child's concerns.
"Oh, no! Dearie, we're just having a bit too much fun, and maybe we're a bit too loud in our girl talk. Isn't that right, Mitsuki?" Inko added with a touch of warning in her voice.
Nemuri Kayama, better known as the Pro-Hero Midnight, should have been over the moon. She should have been proudly standing in front of her Homeroom class as a newly minted Homeroom teacher at the start of the opening ceremonies. Instead, she and her fellow educator, Sekijirou Kan, also better known as the Pro-Hero Vlad King, stood there annoyed with their new boss's sudden impromptu change of plan with their students.
"Another logical ruse...my perfectly rounded ass, Shouta..." Nemuri growled quietly through gritted teeth.
Nemuri had been so giddy with delight earlier that morning when she was busy putting on her hero costume and making her way to work. Ever since she joined the UA teaching staff years ago. She had always wanted to have a chance to be a first-year homeroom teacher, applying for it every year. She still couldn't believe that she finally got the job, especially after all her previous rejections for reasons ranging from quote:
"Inappropriate."
To,
"We don't need another incident with your outfit. Once was enough, twice was bad luck, but thrice was too many."
And her personal favorite.
"A number of your last Sex Ed students needed therapy afterward."
Nemuri, however, had simply said boo to all of that and continued trying.
Applying for it, again and again, every year.
Now here she was, a first-year homeroom teacher...without her homeroom class.
So to say that Nemuri and Sekijirou were annoyed with their new boss was an understatement. As they stood at the opening ceremony without their students. They had been told that Shouta was simply going to lead them to the ceremony; sure, history wasn't on their side.
Still, he wasn't a homeroom teacher anymore, so they expected that he would go for his usual tricks. Now they stood there waiting for the ceremony to end. Ready to run to the field and go claim their students from the clutches of Shouta's vile dead-looking hands.
Finally, Principal Nezu clapped his hands with the remaining students concluding the opening ceremonies. The two Pros immediately began running toward the testing field with murder in their eyes. All Might, who knew of the plan ahead of time, decided to follow as well, albeit being far more subtle about it.
"Come on, everyone. You got this! Show the true passion in your hearts!" Inasa yelled out to most of Classes A and B as he zoomed by. Claiming another lap in the track test, using the powerful winds to propel himself further ahead of everyone else.
He was followed shortly by Shouto, using his ice to create a never-ending slide for himself, trailing behind the wind user.
Behind him, Tenya ran using his engine legs, only having to slow down for the corner turns or passing by other students repeatedly.
Behind him, Katsuki and Izuku were neck-in-neck in the running, with Katsuki using bursts from his Quirk and Izuku keeping a steady ten percent of his Quirk active. Finally, there was Momo Yaoyorozu. Who was using a bike she made for the test, ringing the bell as she rode, trying to encourage everyone else would find it as she looped past them for the second or third time.
Everyone else was spread relatively evenly throughout the track. Most of them, however, looked at the leading six with some manner of envy or awe or were left simply flabbergasted. Each of them made some sort of comment toward these individuals that overtook them by leaps and bounds.
"Damn, that is so manly!"
"Oh god. Someone just kill me already..."
"This so isn't lit, fam."
"Anyone else feel overwhelmed and outgunned?"
"We have the sword of Damocles named expulsion hanging over our heads, shut up and keep running!"
"What did you expect from a mix of the recommendation students and the top two from the entrance exam?"
"Oh god, that face is going to haunt me!"
"Hey, who are those two?"
"Is that Midnight?"
"And Blood King!"
"It's Vlad King, idiot!"
"Doesn't that mean the same thing?"
Shouta had been lying on the ground wrapped in his sleeping bag with the creepiest smile plastered on his face. He had given his usual threat of expulsion to the students, and while this time it was an empty threat, he was getting good results from both classes. Ironically, Nezu had reduced his trigger-happy expulsion powers with this promotion.
Besides, the students didn't know that fact, so he would milk it for all it was worth.
"Eraserhead!" He heard two familiar voices call out to him.
'Ah damn it.'
The fun was over as he saw his two co-workers, the classes' homeroom teachers Nemuri and Seikijirou, running in to rescue their students.
The two pros took a moment to catch their breath, having come all the way from the other side of the school to get to this specific field. Nemuri was incredibly out of breath due to running in those heels that must have been murder on her feet. When Sekijirou recovered, with the addition of a few veins now popping out in his face, he looked at Shouta with annoyance.
"Hello Vlad, Midnight, nice day we're having, right?" Shouta greeted them nonchalantly before asking. "How was the ceremony?"
"The ceremony would have been lovely...If Midnight and I weren't just standing there alone without our students looking like complete jackasses," Seikijirou snapped quietly as not to make a scene in front of the students. However, Nemuri had different plans. When she finally caught her own breath, she stood tall as she grabbed her whip from her hip and cracked it to catch everyone's attention.
"Everyone, please, gather up and divide yourselves by class!" She called out to the relief of every student.
Izuku was about to gather with the rest when he saw the shortest boy in their course, one who had purple orb-like hair, on the ground, struggling to get up. The little guy had collapsed in the middle of the track exam and fell far behind everyone else. Yet, Izuku could tell that he had tried very hard during the exam.
However, before Izuku could go up and offer any help to the purple boy, one of the girls from Class 1-B with what appeared to have green vines for hair went ahead and helped the boy up. The boy thanked her for her assistance but looked shaken up, not that Izuku could blame him. He had come dead last in almost every test as they had all taken their department head's threat very seriously.
Shouta sighed as the two homeroom teachers broke up his fun. It was the last test anyway, so it ultimately didn't matter as he still managed to get the results he needed to form this semester's teams.
As the students divided back into their respective classes, Shouta stood up and announced the exam results via the projection. Inasa Yoarashi from class 1-B, whom many had dubbed "The Windbreaker," placed first and dead last was the name Minoru Mineta of Class 1-A.
The short boy just went pale and looked as if he was ready to just keel over and die.
Nemuri saw that Shouta had indeed been up to his old tricks.
"Hello, everyone. I am Nemuri Kayama. Though you may know me better as the Rated-R Pro-Hero Midnight, and I am your 1-A homeroom teacher," she began to say to her new students. They looked at her in disbelief that a hero like her was going to be their homeroom teacher. "And don't worry, everyone, you're safe; no one is being expelled," She then let out an exasperated sigh. "At least not in my class."
That was the breaking point for Minoru. He finally did kneel over and pass out from the stress when the sudden relief that his career hadn't ended before it could even formally start overwhelmed him.
The same could be said for most of everyone taking the threat seriously.
"Clean up in aisle five!" Yelled a blond boy with a black lighting-shaped streak in his hair and bright golden eyes, eliciting a few laughs from both classes.
"I'm sorry, your name please?" Nemuri asked the boy with a false touch of sweetness in her voice.
"Denki Kaminari," the boy answered with a sly charming wink, getting some getting laughs. In contrast, others either cringed or mentally facepalmed themselves.
"Well then, Mr. Kaminari. I thank you very much for volunteering to carry your classmate to the nurse's office," Nemuri said with an innocent smile that seemed to contain a threatening aura behind her.
"W-wait, what?" Denki asked dumbfoundedly, which prompted almost everyone else in the class to laugh at him now. "Ah...crap." he finished, his shoulders slumping as he went to pick up his classmate.
"For everyone one else, please head back to homeroom. Once you get changed back into your normal uniforms, pick up a syllabus," Nemuri stated to the rest of the class. "We'll take care of proper introductions and seating arrangements when we get there...now let's go!" Nemuri said with another crack of her whip, making some of her students cringe with fear. Hoping to avoid getting on the wrong side of their homeroom teacher as they broke off and walked away.
"Good job so far, Midnight." She heard Shouta say. "You sounded like a real homeroom teacher there."
"Shove it, Shouta," Nemuri said, still annoyed at the man's growing grin, before walking away.
Shouta, however, lay there for a few more moments with his thoughts until he heard those familiar heavy footsteps.
"Hello, All Might."
Izuku and the rest of class 1-A finally sat in their temporary seats, refreshed and much calmer than they were earlier when Nemuri walked in with a calm smile.
"Alright, everyone, awkward introduction to the first day aside. It is very nice to meet you all. Now I think some basic introductions are in order so we can all get to know each other better," she said sweetly. "Come on now, don't be shy; I'll start picking people if I don't get any volunteers."
Tenya promptly stood up and started his introduction as though he had practiced it. "I am Tenya Iida, formerly of Somei Private Academy! I hope for a solid and productive year of training and education from the country's best hero course!"
"Thank you very much for being first, Mr. Iida," Nemuri turned to the rest of the class. "Now, does anyone have any questions for him?"
Shouto raised his hand, much to Tenya's confusion.
"Yes?"
"Why did you get nervous during the 50-meter dash?"
Tenya gave his longtime friend a strained look. 'Shouto, are you really my friend and not the Devil?'
"The voice from the robot reminded me of someone who scares me," Tenya said solemnly as he adjusted his glasses. His thoughts turned to that familiar pink hair and those cross-haired yellow eyes.
As the introductions continued without incident. At least until Katsuki had a need to learn something that had been bothering him for a while. Once, a tall boy with messy jet black hair and bright golden eyes began speaking; he struck.
"Hi everyone, the name's Ryu Kasei; it's very nice to meet all of you!" He cheerfully introduced himself with a wide smile.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Mr. Kasei. Does anyone have questions for him?" Nemuri asked the class.
Katsuki raised his hand with a neutral look on his face.
Ryu looked at Katsuki in surprise before saying. "What's up, buddy?"
"What's your quirk?" Katsuki asked, noting he didn't see this boy use his Quirk during the exam.
Ryu gave a look of surprise before answering.
"Oho! It's pretty sweet. I call it Dragon Slayer," He said with a crafty grin growing on his face before blowing a small puff of flames from his mouth that quickly dissipated in the air.
However, Katsuki saw a slight twitch run through Izuku when he heard the name of the Quirk. Add that Ryu's physical appearance did not help Katsuki's mood, which rapidly turned sour.
"Don't bullshit me. What kind of name is that?!" Katsuki growled out, sitting up straight to look at the boy right into his eyes.
"Hey, hey! Okay! It's really called Fire Eater, but Dragon Slayer sounds so much cooler, no?" Ryu said, trying to laugh off Katsuki's more combative tone. "I read a manga from ages ago where the MC* has a similar ability like my quirk, so I went with it," Ryu added. Hoping to quell this sudden aggression that left him a bit wary of the ash-blond teen now.
'Might have to keep an eye on this guy.' The two ironically thought at the same time.
"I like it!" Denki suddenly called out from his desk, distracting the two boys from each other.
Ryu, taking the opportunity, answered as Denki did earlier, "Eeeyyy~" which included a round of finger guns, much to the amusement or annoyance of the others in the classroom. With some now believing that the two were peas of the same pod.
The last student was a silver-haired beauty with blue eyes and glasses.
"My name is Kashiko Sekigai, and my quirk is called Sensor Chart; and I'm looking forward to working with all of you this year." The girl said with a confident smile.
And with that, introductions were completed just in time for the first-period bell to ring.
Most days went off like a typical first school day with their regular core classes. As their first day came to a close, Izuku received a text from All Might.
"Ochako, Kacchan, I need to go to the teacher's lounge for a minute. I'll be right back." Izuku told his friends.
"Make it quick, or we'll have to wait to catch the next train," Katsuki said while Ochako was busy texting a few old friends from Mie and her parents about how her first day at UA went.
When Izuku arrived in the lounge, he found All Might sitting calmly on the couch in his skinny form. It had been the first time they had really spoken since Eri came into his life.
"How have you been, young Midoriya?" Toshinori asked calmly as he motioned for the boy to sit opposite him.
"I've been well, sir," Izuku answered with a lot of questions swirling in his head at the moment as he eased into the soft couch.
"Life at home seems to have gotten much more interesting for you now, huh?" Toshinori coughed with a gentle smile.
"Yeah, it has been much more lively now, but...wait, how did you know that?"
Toshinori chuckled, "Well, since I do technically employ your mother now, I do expect progress reports to see how young Eri is doing. So I've spoken with your mother ever since I got settled into my role here."
"All Might about that...I've been feeling strange about what you did for us," The boy's eyes widened at how that sounded, "I mean, please don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. I truly am, but I can't help but feel like we are being given a handout for our struggles," Izuku managed to sigh out.
Toshinori coughed for a moment before answering. After speaking with Inko a fair number of times, he knew that sooner or later, Izuku would bring up this subject.
"I understand," Toshinori started. "It was a point of pride for me as well, young Midoriya, but here I am, the Number One Hero in the world. The Symbol of Peace, yet I couldn't do much to save the man who saved me from certain death and allowing his good name to be dragged through the mud while his family is persecuted."
Izuku forced himself to look down with his eyes suddenly burning as he did his best not to cry.
"I have all this money, young Midoriya," Toshinori continued, "and while I can and do donate to various charities often. I'm still left with far more than I could ever need. If I could, I would simply clear your father's name in a heartbeat, so your lives could return to a sense of normalcy, but it is beyond my power alone. "
"Instead, I can...no; what I want to do at the moment is to do my part to help you and your family out. I know your mother is a proud lady and like I said, we've been speaking at length about this very subject. You are my successor, and now, I'm your teacher; my main goal is to make sure you have all the tools to succeed, and one of those tools is peace of mind at home, but it seems I may have been wrong again, please forgive me."
"No, no, please, All Might, I didn't mean for it to sound like that!" Izuku pleaded to his longtime hero.
"I don't need an apology; I just wanted more clarity, I guess." He was feeling better about the subject now, but he needed to swallow the rest of his pride for the remaining thoughts of guilt.
"Now that I hope we got that out of the way. I wanted to speak to you about something important that came up regarding young Eri." Toshinori began after a brief moment of silence.
"And that is?"
"We need you to bring her here to UA for a proper evaluation of her quirk."
"Couldn't we do that with one of the pediatricians who specializes in that?" Izuku questioned, knowing that it could be difficult for Eri to be around so many strangers.
"We could, but the investigation about young Eri's past has made a small breakthrough, and we managed to recover quite of bit of information about her," Toshinori answered.
He recently received reports about new information regarding Eri found in the yakuza hideout that had been investigated after the fire.
"Really?!" Izuku said excitedly, hoping the information would help Eri.
"Yes...unfortunately, it was a mixed bag, however. Eri's parents aren't in the picture at all. The rest of the information, combined with the doctor's reports from her first physical that I have received from your mother, only confirmed some of our fears."
"What do you mean?" Izuku asked, face now full of concern.
"If the reports are correct," The older man grimaced. "She had been a test subject for a group of villains that spared her no mercy in their...horrific experiments."
At that very moment, Izuku could suddenly feel a wave of burning anger in the pit of his stomach as he processed those words.
'A test subject...a human test subject. Eri...a child had been used as a test subject. What kind of monsters could do that to such a sweet girl?'
He had seen the scars on her limbs so many times by now. The fear in her eyes and the screams when her night terrors got the worst of her. All Izuku could feel was pure anger twisting in his stomach. Katsuki's voice answered his thoughts.
'THOSE...BASTARDS! THOSE EVIL, SICK TWISTED MOTHERFUCKERS! IF I EVER CAME ACROSS THEM, I WILL-'
"Young Midoriya!" Toshinori suddenly called out.
"Huh?!" Izuku breathed out as he was suddenly snapped out of his dark thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Toshinori asked with a hefty look of concern on his face.
"Y-ye-yes, sir," Izuku responded as he relaxed back into his seat with a developing headache.
All Might looked at the boy, processing what he just saw.
'I swear I saw his eyes flash red for just a second...I pray it was just a trick of the afternoon light.'
"That aside," Toshinori decided to continue. "We found out that her Quirk could possibly be very dangerous. Enough that even with the looser reforms that are currently being proposed in the Diet, her Quirk could still be enough to place her into isolation."
"NO!" Izuku yelled, suddenly standing up as a mental image of Eri being left all alone crying again ran across his head. Only to realize how rude his outburst was; he quickly bowed and apologized to the man.
"It's okay young Midoriya. This is why we want to do the evaluation here at UA; she may have to attend with you here for a week or two. But I've already spoken about it with the staff here, and we've gotten the go-ahead."
"Okay...but is that really the best idea, All Might?"
"Given that you and young Uraraka have been able to deal with young Eri out in public. I don't see the harm in bringing her here as well; it will only be a short period if this all goes well. We can upgrade her status and can even get her formally enrolled in a school for herself." Toshinori responded warmly, trying to lift the mood.
"That would be good; mom and I have been thinking a lot about that for her, you know?"
All Might nodded before speaking up once again with a slightly related subject.
"Ah, that reminds, my dear young man...what exactly is your relationship with miss Uraraka?"
"W-w-what?" Izuku stuttered, his face turning red with embarrassment. "We're just friends...I think?"
"You two are on a first-name basis, and I did first meet the lass in her apartment with you. I hope that you haven't been exploring youth too much, my successor." Toshinori lightly teased his young apprentice.
"I swear, All Might! We haven't done anything like that!" Izuku said, hoping to drop the subject before he dropped dead from the sheer embarrassment.
"Good now...does she know anything critical?" Toshinori added, his tone turning serious.
A change that Izuku welcomed, "No sir. Nothing about my powers, and we've even managed to lay low about my father for the time being."
Toshinori relaxed his posture with Izuku's answer. "You're worried, aren't you, my boy? About how she might react about the truth."
"Yes, sir...history hasn't been the most kind to me when people discover the truth about me and connections with my father...I just hope with her that things will be different, if not for me, but for Eri."
Toshinori smiled. Izuku still placed others before himself.
"If you want and only if you really ever plan to tell her about your father. I can be there by your side to help explain anything and address any concerns she may have about you." He responded with gentle reassurance, knowing Izuku needed all of the support he could get.
"You would do that for me, All Might?" Izuku said, surprised by the offer.
"Of course, my boy. Now go on home; I'm pretty sure I've taken more than enough of your time already. Speak with your mother when you get the chance about the new plan. She knows most of the details already. But I think you and young Uraraka should make a basic plan with her about it, while I will make sure we will have a guest pass ready for young Eri here tomorrow.."
"Yes, sir, and thank you again, sir," Izuku said, bowing to Toshinori before heading out the door.
Toshinori sat there, his tired eyes looking at the setting sun. He still had more work to do before the day was finished.
Sir Nighteye sat with the most incredible look of annoyance on his face as he was basically forced to listen to the current Representative speaking before the Diet. Being forced to stomach the man's diatribe against foreign heroes in Japan and proposing new legislation to make it more difficult for said foreign heroes to get licensed in Japan. All in the efforts to promote a nationalist agenda under the guise of preserving a sense of quality and trust that only homegrown Pro-heroes could provide.
It didn't help that the man speaking, Representative Kimura headed the committee for HUC.
"Ever since the incidents with the "Hero" Captain Celebrity**" The man continued his rant, echoing throughout the grand stage that was the whole legislative body of the country.
Nighteye sighed as he fixed his glasses.
"Some people never let things go," he whispered as he rubbed his temples. Captain Celebrity had been a Pro-Hero in the US and was forced to come to Japan in disgrace due to several scandals that plagued his career. However, the man had seen real progress in trying to get his act together in the last few years.
"Hey, Sasaki," Nighteye turned to the young man next to him, another representative named Akihisa Yoshi, a member of his own coalition. However, Nighteye often found him to be a boorish, immature idiot and did not hold his breath when it came to his...commentaries. Nighteye still could not believe such a man could ever be voted into office.
"Yes, Yoshi?" Nighteye answered, knowing he would regret opening his mouth to the boyish man.
"Ya think Kimura's wife took a round with the big C? It would explain the hard-on he has for the guy." The man said with a perverted grin plastered on his face.
It took tremendous willpower for Nighteye not to smack his fellow Representative upside his head. His political allies weren't much better than those in the Neocon movement. Still, he ultimately needed to work with them. After a few more moments, he finally answered the boyish politician.
"I do not know if that would be the case, but even if it was, it does not reason to condemn other foreign pro-heroes who work here or foreign students with hopes here."
"Yeah, that would suck; there's this one pro that I met when I went on a tour of I-Island. An American Pro: Cow Lady II, lord have mercy the knockers on her. And she does a lot of joint work with our pros here. Be a real shame if she suddenly found herself not working here anymore."
Nigheye glared at the young man now, who, upon seeing Nighteye's face, finally seemed to get the message.
'Foolish boy.' Nighteye thought that he could barely stomach the life of politics, longing for his days of being a Pro-Hero; hell being All Might's sidekick was better than this. 'I miss my agency...I miss my old office...I miss Tickle Hell...'
"Thank you, Representative." The Speaker of the House spoke up as Representative Kimura took his seat with the rest of the parties allied with the Neocons. "The bill of that the Representative as proposed is now ready for a vote."
Nighteye looked down, seeing many in the Neocons already handing in their votes. He voted "No" and prayed that the votes would go his way, as some on his side agreed with the neocons on this topic. Still, he was biding his time, he had his own bills to propose, and the moment the committees get reshuffled. He'll be able to pounce and call for a vote to override the National Police Commission to set up a proper Internal Affairs investigation at the national level.
Sooner or later, Kai Doumeki and his suspected partners would have crosshairs squared directly on them.
Author's Commentary
*Fire-Eater: Ryu is a little cheeky, and yes, that was a reference to the anime/manga: Fairy Tail. There are some similarities between Natsu's Fire Dragon Slayer magic and Ryu's Quirk. But there...is more to it that I'm not revealing yet. However, if you look at the stories that inspired me. You might get a better idea of the full range of his powers.
**Captain Celebrity: Not an OC. He is an American Pro-hero who debuted in Vigilantes's My Hero Academia spin-off series. So he is entirely canonical and, like everything else in this story. There are a few changes from what happened in the vigilante's storyline to make sure things make sense for this story.
ZX