I will admit the lackluster response to the last chapter was discouraging, to say the least. Still, I know not everyone can give a proper review.

I hope this one will be different, considering what this chapter contains.

That being said, enjoy the chapter.

My Hero Academia Untold: The Fafnir Knight (Remastered Edition)

Saga I: Dusk

Arc III: The Sports Festival

Chapter XXXVII: A Fork In the Road

As you go through life, there are thousands of little forks in the road, and there are a few really big forks-those moments of reckoning, moments of truth.

-Lee Lacocca

'I wonder if this is what dad meant when it comes to how friends could drift apart?' Izuku wondered as he sat alone, looking over his notes.

It was simply another day for Class 1-A.

They carried on their routine of chatter, reviewing notes or homework, and for those assigned, cleaning duty. For Izuku Midoriya, it used to be a great way to catch up with Katsuki since Tenya had left to get the daily planner. While Ochako helped clean the room with Rikidou and Shouto before class started, Eri was currently being doted on by Mina, Momo, and Kashiko. However, ever since Katsuki was defeated by Alex. The bomber had taken more time to hang out with the members of his own team rather than hanging out with Izuku as he had used to do.

It had even reached the point that Team 2 of Class 1-A had been dubbed the Bakusquad. Occasionally, however, people would cycle in and out, like when Mina would eat with the girls rather than the Bakusquad. Or when Denki would still hang out with Ryu and Minoru rather than the Bakusquad. But, it got weird when Kyouka would join the Bakusquad instead, though she seemed more attentive when speaking with Denki.

It was strange how the lives of these two best friends, who were once considered inseparable, had changed since the day they first stepped into UA to take the entrance exam. The day, Izuku and Ochako saved each other during that same exam. The day, Eri came into their lives shortly afterward. Though they were on the same career and classroom track, their path together had come to an impasse.

Of course, they remained on good terms, still teasing and encouraging each other on different things.

Yet, the rift was there as clear as day, and Izuku wasn't sure what to do. Should he try to make a better effort to spend more time with his brother in all but name and blood? Or should he simply let nature run its course and simply let them continue on these separate paths? Of course, before he could ponder these questions further, Tenya entered the room as the first bell rang out.

As everyone took their seats, Mina returned Eri to Izuku while Tenya cleared his throat at the podium.

"I've been informed by Mr. Aizawa that Ms. Kayama will not be here today," Tenya stated clearly, making the class whisper to each other. Wondering if their homeroom teacher was alright. "It is best not to speculate as they are plenty of valid reasons for one to miss class as both a student and teacher. Our substitute should be here momentary."

With that, Tenya placed the planner on the podium and took his seat as the second bell rang and the classroom door opened. Eraserhead entered with a grinning Alexander Springfield in his trainer's outfit following shortly behind him. As their department head arrived at the podium, Momo made to call everyone to attention but was motioned not to by the Eraserhead himself.

"As you should have heard shortly before we arrived. Midnight is absent due to an urgent unavoidable appointment," Eraserhead stated calmly in his typically bored-sounding voice. "She's fine and will return tomorrow, in her place, given that you will have another joint free training day with All Might. I have requested Springfield to simply fill in as a supervisor for you along with Vlad King. Please cooperate with his instructions."

"Morning, guys!" Alex said with a cheerful wave.

"Any questions before I leave Springfield here with you?"

Momo quickly raised her hand.

"Yes, Yaoyorozu?"

"Should we refer to you as Mr. Springfield for today, Ummm...sir?"

"Nope! I do not feel right about that," Alex was quick to answer with an uncomfortable laugh. "Spring and or Alex is just fine, please."

"Very well, Spring."

"Any other questions? No? Very well," Eraserhead said to Alex with a bored nod before exiting. "Don't blow up the place and get them to Site Delta with All Might once the bell rings."

"No problem, sir," Alex said with a rare hint of seriousness. Once the veteran teacher was gone, Alex relaxed and started logging the attendance sheet and daily announcements. "Alright, I count twenty-one heads, so I assume everyone is here."

Alex looked up at the polite unicorn sitting on Izuku's lap. "Hi, Eri!"

"Hi, Spring!" Eri answered with a happy wave.

"I'm glad you're still here! I heard that you liked apples, so I brought you a really yummy treat today," Alex continued with a smile. "It's called an apple pie, and I have a lot of tasty toppings for you. And I should have enough for everyone to try a slice if you're interested during lunch."

If Eri had appeared happy moments earlier, she now looked beyond excited at mentioning such a tasty-sounding treat.

"Moving on," Alex followed as he quickly read over the next announcement. "Ah, I was wondering when they would make this official. Man, I am so jealous of you guys. So, remember how all of you submitted your costume updates last week?"

The class collectively nodded, wondering where Alex was going with this.

"So, while the official reason to have you all make costume modifications was to help prepare you for your internships after the Festival. Today, however, I can announce there was actually a second reason. For the first time in the history of the Sports Festival, you will be permitted to wear your costumes for the entire duration of the event."

The reaction was instantaneous, yet thanks to careful practice for Eri's sake. The class broke into a fervor of excited whispers and raised hands.

"Before I answer any questions," Alex motioned everyone to put their hands down and looked down to continue reading the details of this announcement.

"This is to account for the changes announced earlier. The number of Non-Hero Course students expected to participate has made the idea of costumes giving the Hero Course an advantage irrelevant. In addition, starting today, Non-Hero Course students will be starting brand new projects to account for their lack of participation in the Festival. Hero Course students, expect some students from other courses to potentially request a meeting with you regarding these projects. Examples include, but are not limited to: Business Course students wishing to market you to the audience; Support Course students providing additional support gear; and General Studies students to provide moral support. Again, these are only examples of what is possible."

'Wow...they're really changing things up this year, huh?' Izuku pondered as he recalled watching the Festival every year for as long as he could remember. Meanwhile, the rest of the class was asking Alex questions left and right, with the American doing his best to answer them as thoroughly as possible.

"Phew! Sorry, I wasn't able to answer every question," Alex said with nervous relief. "But that should cover the basics; any further questions should be covered by Midnight when she returns. Or, if you feel that it's urgent, you can ask Vlad King when we arrive for the joint training."

With that, Alex closed the log book and looked at the class.

"Alright! That covers the general announcements. Does anyone have other questions before we set to Site Delta? Nope? Alright! Set suited up and have some fun!"

"In other developments, today marks the start of Anima's temporary departure as one of the two Co-Hosts of the ever-popular Television program: Animal Buddies! With Anima and Comicman. While neither Anima nor his manager has been any direct statements regarding why the Pro-Hero is taking this sudden leave of absence. There have been rumors of him simply taking a much-needed personal holiday. Meanwhile, Comicman has announced that until his co-host returns, Animal Buddies will have a weekly rotation of special guest co-hosts..."

Tensei sat in careful contemplation as he reread the previously collected reports. At the same time, the radio news continued its coverage of Anima's rather sudden departure from Japan. However, it was merely background noise while Tensei focused on his notes. The speedster felt like there could have been another clue he had missed somewhere along the way to bring them closer to solving this ever-growing case. It had helped him last time he had done this; maybe doing it again will help him get all of the facts straightened out.

"Sorry it took me a while," said a familiar voice, making Tensei turn his head and spot his guest entering through the opposite window.

"Wish these windows were bigger, but it's the price to pay when you're trying to be incognito," Hawks added as he slid inside. Painfully forcing his wings to bend awkwardly to even fit.

"You're the one who never comes through the front door," Tensei answered with a chuckle. He placed down the files and went up to the third-ranked Pro-Hero, to shake hands with him. Once the pleasantries were done, Tensei motioned him to sit by his desk. "Got any updates for us?"

"Bits and pieces, but nothing too concrete that we can work with," Hawks said with a long, drawn-out sigh as he sat down. "At least think...My contacts in the HPSC are keeping everything under very tight wraps regarding the breakout. The only thing I learned was that they have Police Internal Affairs working on it like the last breakout."

"Currently, the rumors that one of the Wild Wild Pussycats would be serving as the first guess co-host..."

Tensei's brow furrowed together as he took his own seat and turned the radio off. "Why is Internal Affairs looking into this breakout? Are they suspecting sabotage again?"

"Not a clue, but if I had to take a guess given recent history, I suspect that's exactly what happened," the golden-eyed Pro answered with a sideways look. "And given our general suspicions, I think Doumeki is behind it again."

Tensei leaned forward, looking down at his desk.

Upon rereading everything collected on Kai Doumeki, Tensei had developed strong, personal doubts about the man's supposed ties to the League of Villains via the Neocons. Then, there was the report he was still waiting to get from Hajime, which left him nervous. The Detective's coded text informed him that Kai had discovered his friend's involvement in the case. Yet, it was followed shortly by another coded text that read false alarm.

However, after over a week and a half without a word from Hajime, Tensei only grew worried about his friend's fate. Especially since even the Hero network was silent on the details, which only happened in extreme cases. Which lined up with Hawks' comment on HSPC being involved with the investigation.

"Is there any word on the rest of the people involved?" Tensei asked, hoping to find out about his reliable contact with the police. "The news mentioned a lot of police casualties."

"Nothing, same with the other Pro-Hero on that was supposed to be on duty with Gang Orca. They only revealed Gang Orca and Doumeki's statuses because both are well known to the public. The tenth-ranked Pro-Hero and the Chief-Superintendent of Kantō's Police Force," Hawks answered lazily as he felt his stomach rumbling. "Hey, you gotta any food to spare? I had to skip breakfast to get here before it got too bright out."

"We have some leftovers from dinner last night," said Tensei with a forward tilt of his head and a light chuckle as he pondered his next move. He knew Nezu had looked into Draco Knight's school records, which revealed quite a few interesting details. Namely, Hisashi had been in trouble with the law as a young boy and had even needed a character witness to be permitted the chance to take UA's entrance exam.

The person for provided the testimony on Hisashi's behalf? A police officer from Hosu City named Kai Doumeki.

However, the crimes that had initially barred Hisashi from UA had apparently been permanently expunged upon successfully becoming a fully licensed Pro-Hero. With no way to recover the previous charges and everything else under tight lock and key. It only deepened Tensei's suspicions that everything regarding Hisashi's past before UA had been hidden on purpose.

The reason for this secrecy only drew uncomfortable questions regarding who Hisashi Kasei was before becoming Hisashi Midoriya?

The irony was strong since he had Inko living here now; Tensei knew he could ask her if she knew anything about Hisashi's past before UA. But those were difficult questions to ask without revealing his true intent. Which left him with Ryūkyū and Edgeshot to question for more information as Hajime had suggested.

The hard part with that route was making time with all of their resources spread out, between protecting witnesses, acting as security for his guests, guarding his home, and protecting the private school that his daughter attended. And by extension, where Eri would start attending next week due to a few delays in the re-certification process for possible volatile quirk users. The Idaten and Endeavor Agencies had pooled their collective resources just to break even on their patrol routes and still permit an average work-life balance for their employees.

'If only we can stop Stain... that would free us up to do so much more...'

Tensei's attention now turned to black file before looking back at Hawks. "Any word from our friend on the inside?"

Hawks answered by nodding as he pulled something from his jacket.

"He left us this," he said, handing Tensei the small paper card.

"You spoke with him?" He asked as he studied the card carefully. It was nothing more than a dirty tarot card of a King wearing a scarlet robe patterned with Lions and Salamanders. The King was seated on his throne with a magic wand in his right hand and a fireball in his left. The King of Wands* with the Kanji for East and South scribbled in it.

"It was brief, but we managed to talk for a little bit, mostly just asking how you and the family were doing. He did tell me that he's no longer babysitting. He's mostly been on standby," said Hawks giving him a knowing look. "But he confirmed our suspicions regarding the Southern Yakuza."

"I see..." said Tensei looking up at Hawks' face, who nodded. "So a new Phoenix King of the South has finally been crowned?"

"Here's the kicker," Hawks followed as he leaned forward. "It seems this new guy has also been crowned Dragon King of the East. Even that was a surprise to almost everyone in the underworld, according to our friend.

It kind of has me worried. Since it means that the balance that the Four Great Lords of the Underworld has been lost. Given their history, I wouldn't be surprised if an all-out Yakuza civil war will break out soon."

"It would seem like the balance was lost long ago," Tensei sighed as he put down the card and began rubbing his forehead. Rereading the reports had just paid off; this partly explained the strange South-East Alliance.

'It was all preemptive then; this had been planned out by the South-East Yakuza gangs before the breakout. The Eight Precepts of Death were among the few remaining Yakuza clans independent from the Four Cardinal Kings.'

He remembered when the reports of about both when Eight Precepts of Death had been all but annihilated. Which led several underworld factions to start fighting for the scraps. Then, without warning, it stopped just as the East had made a hard push into Overhaul's territory with little resistance.

'Overhaul must have made contact from The League of Villains. No question, despite their villainous status, the League and Cardinal Kings would naturally rival each other. Yet something or someone in the League must've had the influence to stop the East from gobbling everything up.'

Then Overhaul was captured after the USJ. The battles in the underworld started again, only to be silenced just as quickly.

'Overhaul lost the League's protection, and others began making grabs for territory again. Then lo and behold, a new and powerful player appears on the board. He saves Overhaul, makes a mockery of the police, and defeated Gang Orca. The newcomer had effectively used the stunt to not only establish himself to the world at large. But he effectively gained all of the remaining territories in one fell swoop after being named boss of two of the most infamous gangs in Japan.'

It had been an immaculate operation, all things considered. But what did it all mean? From the outside, this should have nothing to do with the Draco Knight case. Yet, for this newcomer to not only be the supposed successor to the Phoenix King. A villain who last appeared thirteen years ago –killed personally by Draco Knight in a case that interlinked every major party involved in the investigation.

But he also becomes the next Dragon King of the East?

Succeeding the longest reigning Cardinal King despite having several capos under him ready to take the reigns? And for how long had this alliance been placed? Clearly, it must have been before the last Phoenix King had met his untimely end at the hands of Draco Knight thirteen years ago. Otherwise, why didn't the Dragons just step in and take over everything?

Instead, they protected the South for all of these years. As if they, too, were waiting for this new Cardinal King.

There was no way it would just be a coincidence. Every instinct in Tensei was screaming at him that there had to be something to tie it all together. Some missing piece of the puzzle that would only be obvious in hindsight; the only problem was that they didn't even know what piece they needed.

'How exactly does it all together? Tanaka was investigating Hosu...is that where the missing link is? Is what's at Hosu the key to figuring out this puzzle?'

There was another theory that had been brewing in the back of Tensei's mind. However, he hesitated between the lack of hard evidence and knowing that even the suggestion could hurt the investigation. The worst part about the theory? It was starting to make sense, and that idea terrified him.

To say that Inko Midoriya was nervous was an understatement. Each second of waiting made her more anxious as she waited for the elevator to reach her destination. It had taken her a very long time to do this –primarily out of respect for Hisashi's wishes. Yet, the irony of this request would make delivering Hisashi's final message to its intended recipient almost impossible, at least until now.

However, Inko had another reason to come personally to make this vital delivery.

As Inko also came with a request, an urgent request to safeguard a child's future. As the elevator came to a stop with its trademark clime, opening its doors to the white halls of Saitama General Hospital. Inko took a deep breath and began her final length of the journey; she walked by several grim-faced medical staff. It was understandable considering their current duties and not helped by the stony-faced SWAT officers standing by each room that still housed an injured officer.

Inko slowly walked past each SWAT officer, knowing their eyes were following her. She hoped that the Saya had notified the staff that she had planned to visit, but given the cold, suspicious glares, that wasn't the case. Regardless, she had her answer once she arrived in front of the door to Kai Doumeki's private hospital room.

"Halt," barked the taller of the two SWAT officers as Inko made to knock on the door. "Identify yourself and state your business. You are currently in a highly restricted area of this hospital with limited visits permitted."

"My name is Inko Midoriya," Inko answered, keeping her voice steady. But she was still shaken by the man's loud voice. "I'm here to see Kai and Saya Doumeki...I have an urgent delivery for them."

"Only family, medical, government, or legal representatives are permitted beyond this point," the senior officer continued sternly. "Unless your delivery is a legal document such as a court order, you will not be permitted beyond this point."

"I'm..." Inko hesitated, but given her shared past and knowing what was at stake. Inko was more than willing to gamble. "I'm their daughter-in-law."

The hall went silent as the officer in front of her went from looking stern to confused. However, another officer behind her snorted after trying to suppress his laughter at Inko's comment. Finally, the senior officer, now irritated, returned to his earlier demeanor.

"Ma'am, it's a serious offensive to lie to an investigating police officer, especially considering the circumstances," the man warned, motioning to the other officers in the hall. "Now, I will give you one last chance to leave without placing you under arrest. However, if you continue to waste our time. Then you will leave us with no other choice."

Inko faltered for a moment, especially as she heard the other SWAT officers getting closer, making her regret not bringing her Hero Escort. Yet, she also knew that all she needed was Saya to confirm her story. Inko knew Saya had to be in that room; it was the only reason she had been permitted to visit in the first place. Again, given everything she knew and how important it was to get this message through, Inko remembered the courage of her husband and son.

This was for family. So with the bravery to match both, Inko was ready this time.

"If you do that, you will have to explain to Kai why you not only prevented my visit. But arrested me under false pretenses," Inko retorted, knowing Kai would hate to see his men ganging up on someone posing no visible threat. "If I am actually lying to you as you claim I am, then simply check with Saya. I know she's here, and the easiest way to solve this would be to ask her, right?"

The senior officer was suddenly taken back by Inko's newfound confidence. The same could be said with the officers surrounding her as they all came to a stop as they listened. Slowly but surely, Inko could see the doubt creep into the senior officer's face. Finally, the man turned around to speak with the second officer standing by the door.

"Get, Master Saya," he spoke up after a moment's hesitation and in a much softer tone.

"Ask her to please come and verify..." he turned around again to face Inko. "Our guest's story."

"Ah...yes, sir," the second SWAT officer answered after a brief hesitation.

The young man quickly opened and slid into the room. As he did, the other SWAT officers started to back off, and Inko smiled upon hearing the words, Master Saya.

With those words, Inko knew she had already won the battle.

A little-known fact about Saya Doumeki was that not only was she the owner of several martial arts dōjōs that had been passed down in her family for generations. She was also a multi-tier Black Belt in several martial arts disciplines taught across her schools. A fact shared by Hisashi, who had been trained by Saya while still in school.

Another fact Hisashi shared with her was that ever since Kai earned a commanding rank in the Police Force. The man had required everyone in his staff to be trained personally by Saya –for free to avoid issues with conflict of interest, of course. This was to instill the skills, discipline, –and fear; that would only benefit those under his command into being one of the best-performing police units in the country.

Needless to say, despite Saya's usually kind, loving demeanor.

That woman can and has put the fear of God into countless students that had walked the halls of her dōjōs. These officers being no different, would be unwilling to incur the master's wrath. Because it was said that once Saya Doumeki was on the warpath, the offending party would end up either in the hospital or off the next census, whichever came first.

"Umm...Miss?"

Inko looked at the second officer who had stepped into Kai's room and was poking his head out.

"I'm sorry, miss; what was your name again?"

"Inko Midoriya."

Inko watched as the man slid back inside, most likely relaying her answer.

SLAM!

Not even a nanosecond later, the door blew open as an excited-looking Saya Doumeki stepped out with the previous officer. All of the SWAT officers immediately stood stiffly at attention as the older woman drew closer to Inko, eyes squinting as she looked upon Inko's face.

"Is it really you, Inko?" Saya said in a low voice as if she couldn't believe what seeing in front of her.

"Hello, mother," Inko answered with a warm smile. "Long time, no see."

Instantly Saya had the biggest smile on her face and scooped Inko into a tight hug. "Oh my goodness! I'm so happy to see you!"

"Cann' breaaaeee, sa'a," Inko wheezed as she felt her back popping due to Saya's bone-breaking embrace.

"Oh shit! So sorry, Inko! I forgot my own strength there!" said Saya as she released the greenette from her grasp and began to drag her into the room for privacy. Leaving the nervous SWAT officers back in the hall, still at attention, unwilling to draw attention to themselves out of fear. "Please come in! We have so much to catch up on!"

As Inko was welcomed into a brightly lit hospital room. It would have been a far more pleasant atmosphere until she was greeted with the sight of a heavily injured Kai Doumeki hooked up to life support systems. It had been made years since she had personally seen the man, and found it hard to believe that the giant had been left in such a vulnerable state. Kai was still heavily bandaged and bruised, silent save for the hisses and beeps of the machines keeping him alive.

And yet, there was hopeful warmth coming from Saya, as if she hadn't lost hope that her husband would reawaken someday.

"As much as I'm happy to see you, Saya," Inko started as the older woman guided her to a comfortable seat and pulled up another chair. "But I don't have much time to talk."

"Fair enough. I'm sorry that I forgot to tell the guards that you were coming. I had a lot on my mind and just got back from a lunch run," Saya replied with an understanding nod and pulled out a large bag of mochi chips to snack on. "Anyway, I'm so happy to see you're doing well. How's Izuku doing? Better after the whole USJ fiasco, I hope?"

"Izuku's been doing great," Inko answered with a proud smile. "Though it's been a rough few years since Hisashi passed, but I like to think that we both came out stronger in the end. How's Kai doing?"

"Ah..." Saya breathed out as she remembered something she's wanted to do for years. Bowing her head low and grabbing her husband's hand. "I'm so sorry, Inko. I've wanted to see you both...but...well, I have a stubborn husband that I was obligated to stand behind. But it's no excuse for leaving you out to dry, as for Kai. The doctors found that he's healing normally. Still, he might have permanent nerve damage in his legs due to some of the more serious injuries he sustained during the fight."

"I was surprised to see Kai on the news," Inko followed up. "For the Chief-Superintendent of Kantō to take an active combat role...it's unheard of...and the footage of him and his team attacking that large purple creature."

"I couldn't help but be a little peeved that he'd be involved in such a dangerous mission! Especially at his age!" Saya fumed with a childish pout, only to deflate into a somber look. "Then again, I hate to think how many more men we would have lost had he not stepped in to fight. For him to stand alongside his troops, my students, rather than just leaving them alone to deal with those monsters also makes me so damn proud of this...stubborn old fool!"

"We both have stubborn loves, Saya," said Inko, reaching for Saya's free hand and gently holding it. "Hisashi likely got his stubbornness from Kai."

"Sounds about right..." Saya whispered with a faint chuckle before looking up to Inko. "Did...Hisashi ever tell you what happened between them?"

Inko shook her head but pulled out Hisashi's final letter from her purse.

"On the night that he left us for the last time. I had finally convinced him to try and bridge what had happened between them. I remember his tears and fears; he never once spoke a single ill word against Kai. Hisashi might have never told me what happened, but he always took the blame for whatever happened between them on himself only."

Saya put aside the mochi chips and took the letter. She saw the aged, yellowed paper and faded ink added with Kai's outdated rank. The classic wax seal with Hisashi's stamp had remained unbroken despite all these years. It was difficult to hold the final words of the man she considered her son in all but name and blood.

"He always wrote a letter like this every time he went on a dangerous mission, always addressed to Kai. In case he never came back," Inko explained as she began pulling out the second and arguably more critical document she needed to deliver. "I'm so sorry it took so long to finally get it to him."

"I suppose this would make it us even then, huh?" Saya teased as she put the letter away.

"I swear I'll ensure he reads it once he wakes up. Maybe we can finally know what drove the wedge between them at last...though I have my suspicions if I'm being honest," she added, putting a hand to her belly.

'The Hosu clinic bombing,' Inko thought after taking an educated guess from Saya's gesture.

'I remember the trauma that Hisashi felt. But it wasn't his fault for Saya's miscarriage. He saved her and several other patients from the blaze. It was the fault of the devil who blew the place up. It's a shame they never found out who did it.' Inko paused as she remembered something else about the clinic. 'Didn't Mitsuki do her internship there while still studying medicine? Oh right, she dropped out a few months before the bombing...talk about lucky timing.'

"Yet, I had already forgiven, Hisashi," Saya continued with a tired sigh. "Even though I never once blamed him, nor did Kai. This is why I'm still not convinced if I'm right or if there was something else. Perhaps, once Kai reads this. He'll finally tell me the truth."

"There is something else," Inko spoke up awkwardly, seeing the chance to present her case, and handed the paperwork needed to expedite Eri's adoption. "I know it's asking a lot, but I would also greatly appreciate it if you could give him this as well."

Saya accepted the documents with curiosity until she saw the cover letter heading. "You're adopting?!"

"It's a long story," Inko said with an awkward laugh. "But if I'm being fair, I'd be the mother in name only. Izuku's actually the one being the parent for her."

"Please don't tell me Izuku got a girl pregnant this early, and you're adopting his love-child to cover for him?" Saya asked in a low, worried voice. "I'm too young to be a great-grandmother!"

"No, no, no!" Inko exclaimed with embarrassment. "Heaven forbid that Izuku gets Ochako pregnant this early! Again, it's a long story, and there are things I can't talk about yet. But Eri –the little girl we're taking in is such a sweetie who has been through so much. We just want to make sure she has a good home. And besides...I'm the one who is too young to be a grandmother, Saya."

Saya studied Inko's face, looking not for a lie but at something she had recently seen in herself.

"If there is anyone on this earth I know that could have a home full of love and support a child needs, it would be yours, Inko," Saya said with a serene smile before looking back at her husband. "And Kai knows this too. I'll make sure it gets done."

"Oh, thank you, Saya!" said Inko breathing a massive sigh of relief; she knew that Saya could be trusted to keep her word.

"You're welcome," said Saya as a crafty grin formed on her face. She wasn't finished with Inko as she was a little curious regarding a particular detail Inko let slip. "Sooo...who's Ochako, and why are you so concerned about Izuku getting her pregnant?"

"Oh! Umm...she's one of Izuku's newest friends!" Inko explained quickly, making Saya lean with that grin growing wider as now she could detect the hesitation in the younger woman's voice. "Who...moved in with us..."

"Go on."

"I've already caught them in bed together..."

"Oh la la...Izuku moves fast!" Saya said in a scandalous faux form. "Already breaking his father's record by scoring in the first year! Instead of his third."

Inko's face became beet red, forgetting that Saya had little shame left when discussing subjects like this. As she had learned when asking her advice about dating Hisashi back during their third year. However, that being said...the number of things Inko learned about intimacy in a relationship from Saya had served her well when it came to quote, "taming the Dragon."

"They only slept in the same bed, Saya! They haven't had sex!" Inko quickly answered before, looking a little unsure. "At least I hope not..."

"How long have they known each other?" Saya followed her voice going back to normal as she was satisfied with her teasing and now more curious about Izuku.

"Just a few months," Inko responded as she fanned herself. "Again, Saya. As far as I know, they're still just friends, but I do know that the two are already smitten with each other. So I think it's only a matter of time before they end up in a relationship."

"A mother can always tell about these things, or so the saying goes, right?" Saya followed up, wondering if Ryu would develop feelings for anyone one day and if she'd be able to tell if and or when the time came.

"Well, it helps that both wear their hearts on their sleeves," said Inko with a smile as her face finally cooled down. "Honestly, while I'm a little afraid that their relationship progressing too rapidly since love takes time. I'm also a little relieved that there is someone who could love my son despite his reputation."

"I'm glad, Izuku was an adorable baby," said Saya, pausing to give Inko a thoughtful look. "Though I suppose that's another thing we have in common."

"What do you mean?"

Saya paused again, this time to look at her sleeping husband. "We adopted a son a little over a year ago...and recently, I've been thinking about having us adopting a few more soon."

"You did?" Inko questioned, knowing they had spoken about this topic many years ago, before the schism between Hisashi and Kai. "After all this time?"

Saya nodded.

"After Kai got promoted to Chief-Superintendent, we knew about the social pressure for high-ranking civil servants to look good. Including being a good family man, but I'd like to think that even without that expectation. Kai had us adopt to finally have a child of our own. Though I will always consider Hisashi to be my son."

"I see...congratulations," Inko's voice dropped off.

It made sense for them to move on. Inko remembered that Hisashi once considered getting adopted by the Doumeki family when he came of age. But that plan changed after the Hosu bombing, and once Hisashi asked to marry her. He could only do it under the condition that he would take her last name.

"So what makes you want to adopt more children, Saya?"

Saya nodded with a sad smile, looking towards at ceiling as if she was carefully thinking about her answer. "Our son is a good boy, and I've learned a lot in the short time we've had him. However, the most important lesson was something I had to relearn: the meaning of home."

Inko could see the familiar look of nostalgia on Saya's face. It was the same she would see on Hisashi's face when he reminisced about days gone by. It was the look that only those who had been outcasts could relate to, as they had to find their way and make homes on their own terms.

Often rejecting the original home, they came from.

"I'd forgotten that a home isn't just the place you live in. It's where you pour all of your love into; my house is my home, and it's Kai's home. But it's not my son's home, not yet, because his true home is with the family he left behind at the orphanage we got him from. He might not share a drop of blood with any of those kids. But they meant everything to him, and...we selfishly took him away from them."

Saya looked back at Inko with a somber look, making her look much older than she was.

"He calls, visits, and tries to be with them every chance he could just to spend time with them. Despite the distance and his busy schedule," Saya continued as a warm smile grew on her face. "After some serious self-reflection and double-checking our finances, I found that we have the money and the room to take them all in. I reasoned that I could finally retire and just settle to have a family. At this point, I've lived a long time, gotten to travel, and experienced so much that life has to offer. But, honestly, right now, I just want the family I've always wanted, even if I'm fashionably late to the party."

"He sounds like a good son. If you're willing to go so far, just make a true home for him," said Inko, returning the smile and looking at the sleeping giant. "You think he'd approve?"

Saya laughed.

"Age be damned, I can still be quite convincing when I need to be..." she added with a waggle of her eyebrows. "I've still got a figure that has young men looking my way. Though I only have eyes for Kai. Even if I didn't use my womanly charms. Those kids would still be the perfect fit for people like us, and Kai knows this."

"What do you mean?" Inko looked up as she watched Saya gently rub Kai's hand.

"The children are quirkless," Saya answered with a sad smile and shake of her head.

"Even though being Quirkless was far more common during our time growing up," Saya continued, lowering her voice. "There was already a growing sentiment of what the future held in the world with Quirks. After the social war during our high school years, the term Meta Abilities became Quirks. I can only imagine how much more difficult it is to deal with it today."

"We've both know the horror stories," Inko interjected with a shudder. Remembering the news of the quirkless boy who committed suicide a couple months ago.

"I just have to remember all of the trials Kai had to overcome in life," Saya said darkly with a flash of anger in her eyes.

"From my parents refusing to accept him. To every time, he was denied promotion due to his lack of a Quirk. Every challenge, every trial, every time. Kai would just bear it, hoping he would still earn his advancements by merit, thanks to his years of spotless service and seniority. Yet, it would always take him longer to get promoted since he didn't have a Quirk to help with investigations like his old partner, Kaoru. Never mind the junior officers or screw-ups that still got bumped up over him thanks to their specialized Quirks."

'I remember Hisashi saying something similar,' Inko thought regarding one of the few times Hisashi ever got a drunk. The man went on one hell of a rant regarding the injustices of Quirkless discrimination. 'Considering that his father figure and one of his best friends were both quirkless, it was no wonder why Hisashi was always willing to speak up about it during interviews.'

"Much like the shallow relationships that married only for looks or wealth in the Pre-Quirk days. There were those in my time who would willingly marry just for strong Quirks. The Quirkless often made due with each other, lest they rocked the boat that society placed them on. Of course, Kai refused to follow that trend. I think that's how he caught my attention in a sea of suitors. Since most people attended my family's dōjō not to learn martial arts, but to view what my parents were selling...Me."

'Quirk marriages...' Inko thought, knowing that particular shame in Japan had only been formally outlawed less than forty years ago. 'Even now, I have no doubt that quirk marriages continue under the guise of traditional arranged marriages just to produce strong heirs...such a disgusting practice. '

"Then there was Kai. This tall, lanky, awkward boy who had attended to actually learn so he could be the best officer he could be," Saya spoke with a warm reverence. "He had once been told harshly that he could never be a Pro-Hero since he lacked a Quirk. So Kai settled to become the best cop he could be instead. Thankfully, at least Kai had good parents, but those poor kids only had my son. And we took him away from them."

"Saya..." Inko tried to reassure her old friend, but she wasn't having any of it.

"As I said, I made mistakes," Saya shook her head with a guilty look. "Without realizing it, I briefly inherited the worst aspect of my parents. We picked a child with a strong Quirk, and I didn't even realize we had done it until it was too late, just like my parents wanted to marry me off to someone with a strong Quirk. Adopting children because they have a strong Quirk is no better than arranging a Quirk marriage. So...once Kai wakes up, I'm doing everything possible to bring those kids into my household. I'm going to make that house a proper home for everyone."

'Saya...' Inko thought with a sad smile. She was about to ask for more details when a familiar rumble came from her purse.

"Ah, excuse me, Saya." Inko automatically pulled out her phone and checked the text message from her Hero Escort. Her time had run out, and as much as she wanted to stay and catch up, Inko had other essential errands to follow up on.

"I'm sorry, Saya, I did say I only had a short amount of time," Inko spoke up before giving her kind elder a polite and sincere bow.

"Ah, yes, and here I am rambling knowing you had limited time," Saya responded, chiding herself. "I'm the one who's sorry, Inko."

"Don't be," Inko retorted, getting to her feet with Saya doing the same. "I'm just grateful to be able to catch up and for your help."

"I still consider you family, Inko," said Saya with a warm smile as she enveloped Inko into another much gentler hug.

"I'm just glad to be able to help you. I have to make up for lost time. Ah!" She interrupted Inko's chance to protest. "Like I said, I have no defense for not being there, but I want to be there for you now, and I'll start by helping you with this, okay?"

"Alright," Inko reluctantly agreed before returning the hug. "Thank you, mother."

"Oh, you," Saya said gently, giggling and patting Inko's back.

"Take care, and let me know when Kai wakes up," Inko followed up once the two let go of each and she made her way to the door.

"I'll keep you posted," Saya answered as she stood beside her husband with a slight hand wave.

Once, Inko was outside, she breathed a long sigh of relief, only to be startled by the sudden uniform clack of heavy boots coming together. Inko turned to see that every single SWAT officer from earlier had come to stand at attention and saluting. The poor woman stood still, unsure of what to do until, at last, she began walking towards the elevators. However, she noted from the corners of her eyes that each officer relaxed as she walked past them.

'They saluting me? Well...it's better than how I was being treated earlier...'

Nemuri Kayama remained lying down with her eyes closed and focused on her Therapist's voice.

"Alright, focus now," the woman said gently as she activated her Quirk. "Focus on what you believe is the source of your stress."

Nemuri did as she was told and began to consider precisely what was haunting her. What was triggering her nightmares and causing her to lose so much sleep. As she continued sorting through memories as if she were flying through windows of the past, she found the pulsing window in her mind's eye that seemed to ooze darkness.

Midnight knew precisely where that memory led. Nemuri knew it as well, but unlike Midnight, Nemuri didn't want to face it again. She hadn't done enough yet to atone for her greatest failure. Midnight could continue because others needed to be saved, but Nemuri had to stay and remember it every day.

The night that changed everything.

Midnight walked alongside a squad of SWAT officers that stood in a fire team formation. Their squad commander led from the front with a long riot shield that primarily covered her as she continued her work. Her job was simple; she could emit a misty cloud of pinkish-purple gas that seeped into the air systems of the facility. Thankfully, the police had gas masks to filter her Quirk without concern as it made their job infinitely more manageable. They took their time breaching into multiple rooms, finding several potential opponents unconscious before they even had a chance to respond.

"Secure the scumbags; we need to find those kids," ordered the SWAT commander as half his men began handcuffing the unconscious and armed suspects. "Ms. Midnight with you would please continue with us."

"Of course, Commander," she had answered with a confident sway of her hair and bounce to her step. Making the police trailing behind her and allowing her to continue working room to room. At last, they arrived at a narrow threshold leading them down a long staircase.

"I think this is it," the Commander spoke as he slowly and meticulously led the SWAT team downwards. He turned to the Pro and gestured with his weapon. "Our subjects should be inside here. Ms. Midnight, if you'd please."

Midnight moved in with a playful shimmy as she had to slide against the wall to reach down the stairs, giving several SWAT officers quite a view of her rather… bold costume. Even behind their gas masks, The Rated-R Heroine could tell that many of the men were quite bashful at the sight. Which included the poor Commander, who was well-known to be quite the dedicated husband.

As Midnight reached the door, she began to focus on allowing her Quirk to go through the cracks and seams of the doors. With any luck, the hostages they were looking for should be beyond this door. After a minute or two, the commander tapped her shoulder, signaling they were ready to breach the door. Midnight silently nodded and leaned back again, allowing the team to set themselves up and bring up a portable battering ram that could be operated with only one person.

BAM!

With a skillful deployment of the battering ram, the final room was breached, and the team entered. There were no guards in the room but plenty of small beds with unconscious children. Thankfully, Midnight's Quirk served to place them to sleep, avoiding the chances of scared children running and accidentally being marked as hostile.

"Clear! You two! Guard the door! Honda! Secure whatever material evidence you can find and mark it for the Detectives, Medic! Help Midnight check the vitals of the children on the other side of the room," The commander ordered out as he lowered his gun and allowed Midnight to pass along with the team's medic. Midnight gasped as she finally got a good look at the room. They found their hostages.

Eight sleeping children were strapped to hospital beds; next to each were various sets of scattered medical equipment.

Midnight was no longer playing around; her smile and bounce to her step were gone. Now, Nemuri had taken over as she went to the closest child. A boy with messy jet-black hair looked malnourished to the point he was nearly skeletal but was still breathing. Carefully, the young woman opened the boy's left eye with one hand as she held a flashlight with her right. The inspection revealed a bright golden eye that shrunk when exposed to the brightness.

He was still alive.

"We found them!" Nemuri sighed with relief as she embraced the poor boy, her eyes beginning to burn as she could almost feel the pain and fear this child must have gone through.

"This is Doumeki. We found the subjects; send in the rescue squad to begin extraction," she heard the Commander radio in his report. "We need full medical transport for eight subjects. Priority One."

"This is Draco Knight. No additional guards have been found around the perimeter, sir. My team will regroup for Rescue Team security."

"Commander Doumeki, we are moving the medical transports as close to the entrance as possible. ETA 5 minutes, we are to extract the subjects first, with the suspects second; head up back to provide cover for the extraction."

"Understood," Kai answered as he continued to patrol the room's perimeter. He was checking for any signs of secret passages or hidden rooms that would have been hidden from the blueprints they had been provided. He marked two spots on the walls where he suspected they could have been, but he could not confirm yet.

Meanwhile, Nemuri continued her part in the investigation by using the flashlight to look for additional evidence around the boy's bed, taking an extra careful look at the medical tray next to him. Dried blood still coated some of the surgical instruments. The young woman could also feel the bile rising in her throat as she looked at the items with disgust. However, something else caught her eye; a piece of paper was barely sticking out of the bottom of the metallic tray.

Nemuri gently took a few steps so she could reach for it; she gently lifted the tray and extracted the paper. It was a document with the heading marked as The Crowning Project: Phoenix Cell, 4th Generation: Egg Donor, Take~~~~ (9 of 12) 4G-9. She noticed that there was an ill-placed splotch of dried blood that covered the remaining Kanji.

'Wait, ninth of twelve?' Nemuri looked around, double-checking the headcount of children strapped to their beds. 'But, I only see eight kids here...'

Nemuri looked at the file again. Only having enough time to skim through it, however, with every detail she read, the more Nemuri wanted to see the monsters who set this up behind bars. She simply wanted to scoop the children up and take them back to their homes. When she could finally read no more, she placed the file on top of the tray and, with tears in her eyes, calling out to the SWAT commander who was about to leave.

"Commander Doumeki?"

The man turned to see the young woman holding the skinny boy, who couldn't be younger than four, in her arms. Even from here, he could the Pro-Hero was doing everything in her power to remain strong and not break down. It wasn't unheard of for recently licensed Pro-Heroes and new SWAT troopers to almost break down during a high-stakes operation, especially when it involved crimes against children.

"What sort of people could do this to children?" Nemuri asked as her voice broke. The commander paused before turning around and walking towards her, taking a knee as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Thankfully, the man came from the point of understanding and knew she needed support.

"The worst kind, my dear," the man answered solemnly. "The very worst kind...but thankfully, that is why people like us are here. To save them from this gods' forsaken nightmare."

"Sir?"

The commander looked over toward his subordinate, the medic who had been helping check on each of the children.

"None of these kids are the ones we've been looking for."

"What?" Nemuri questioned as she felt her mouth dry and looked at the boy in her arms again. She gently laid him down and gave him a quick brush of his hair as she got up.

"See for yourselves, they have the telltale red and gold eyes, but these aren't the children we're looking for..."

Midnight and Kai followed suit and looked at all the children again, using their flashlights to get a better view.

All of the children here were alive. However, upon a closer inspection, they noticed something strange about each child as they got a closer look at them. They all looked very similar, save for the odd feature and their hair color ranging from jet black, red, blue, white, and even a range of dirty blond to ash-blond. It was as if they were all siblings, or half-siblings, to say the least. But none of them were of the actual children that had been missing.

The Medic was right. None of these children looked like the ones who had been kidnapped in the past few months.

"It doesn't matter. These are still children that need to be rescued. Hopefully, the evidence we collect today will lead them to the others," Kai said, motioning for the rest of the SWAT team to follow him. "We will continue as planned and take care of the finer details when the children are safe. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," the remaining SWAT members echoed in response.

"Standby for the extraction team..."Kai nodded, only to turn and whisper to the Medic. "Keep an eye on, Ms. Midnight."

"Yes, sir."

Though it was spoken quietly, Nemuri still managed to hear the exchange. Midnight had felt insulted; yes, she was only a year out of UA, but she was a Pro-Hero! Nemuri, however, was grateful that the man was simply looking out for her. She knew there was only so much she could do as an inexperienced Pro-Hero.

"Ms. Midnight, the extraction team is here. We've been ordered to head back to the surface," The medic gently said to her as new people arrived to prepare the children to be evacuated. Nemuri looked at the man's gentle brown eyes and nodded.

"Very well, lead the way," said Midnight as she cleared her throat.

The trip back was much faster as the cops had marked and sectioned off the areas to make navigation of this labyrinthine facility. However,

as Midnight and the Medic almost made it to the surface was is when everything changed. An explosion was off in the distance, and the radio came to life.

"Contact made! They coming, south by south-east!"

"Who's attacking?!"

"Unkno-ARGHHGHH!"

The two saw a massive column of hellish flames reaching into the night sky, making them stop in their tracks.

"GET OUT OF THE LAB! HURRY!" Draco Knight's voice roared as he seemed to be in the middle of a running. "IT'S WIRED TO BLOW! RUN! RUN, GODDAMN IT!"

There was another rumble; this one made the floor underneath shake violently. The Medic acted without another word, grabbing Midnight and slinging her over his shoulder as he sprinted up the entrance. At the same time, more explosions and shakes could be felt. Several officers still underground had followed suit. Midnight wanted to fight back but couldn't as she knew she wouldn't be able to make a difference. Nemuri, however, roared and thrashed against her companion as she remembered the children were still there back there. The Medic had barely reached the surface with Midnight when the underground bunker collapsed with a massive explosion that could rival the fires of hell.

Burying all of the poor souls who remained inside alive.

Nemuri Kayama's eyes snapped open as she awoke from her daze.

"We both know about the night of the incident," her therapist spoke calmly as she observed her patient's body language. "And I know due to the classified nature of the event, little can be said to highlight what most affected you that night. However, do you feel you understand why that night haunts you? Why have those memories resurfaced? "

Nemuri blinked a few times, feeling the tears running down the sides of her face.

"It was the day of my greatest failure, as a Pro-Hero and as a person," Nemuri answered with a soft sob. "The USJ...was the closest I've come to losing another child under my care."

"He survived, Ms. Kayama," The therapist reminded her gently as she handed her patient a box of tissues.

"I know..."Nemuri answered after taking a few tissues and blowing her nose.

"When they caught the lousy bitch who almost whipped him to death," Nemuri growled as she balled up her fists. "Wanted nothing more than to have a minute alone with her and show what a real whipping looks like..."

"Ms. Kayama," the doctor said sternly, knowing her patient was going into a dark corner.

Nemuri breathed in deeply as she had been taught.

"I understand I cannot control everything," Nemuri followed up as she continued her breathing exercises, carefully thinking about every student in her class. "I know I won't be able to protect my students forever, especially in this career path that they've chosen. But as long as I can, I will do everything in my power to protect and teach them so they won't repeat my mistakes."

The therapist nodded slowly with approval.

'I failed those poor children that were burned alive by the Devil who called himself a King,' Nemuri thought to herself. 'I won't fail again. So long as I'm here, I swear to be there for all of them.'

Mimicry arrived at the hideout to find Tomura in a surprisingly good mood today.

He could tell since Tomura had not only set up his high-end PC to play online but was wearing his full headset and artist gloves. Wholly immersed in the game without a care except for playing one of those strange strategy games that Tomura used to talk about when they were younger to Mimicry's disinterest. But still humored the Pale Prince to keep him in those rare good moods. While Mimicry had a report to deliver, it wasn't worth risking making a foul of his leader's mood, so he opted to speak with Kurogiri instead.

"Hit me with my favorite, Uncle Kuro," Mimicry requested with a sigh as he gently set aside his report and took a seat at the bar. His longtime guardian and favorite smoky bartender gave his adopted nephew a short bow. He silently began setting up to make Mimicry's favorite beverage with one of his only personal possessions. A high-grade stainless steel bartender's mix kit. "So what's the skinny on Tomura's mood? Did he finally get laid?"

"Tomura received an interesting update from The Master," Kurogiri answered as he set a glass in front of the young man and placed a brown sugar cube inside. "It seems like the next set of Noumu are ready for future missions."

"Hmmm...really now?!" Mimicry hummed with a low cackle. "Well, that might just come in handy for some of my near future plans."

"Your plan in Hosu?" Kurogiri questioned as he began adding dashes of different bitters and topped with a splash of soda water.

"Yep. Tomura's already had Stain move his operations there for my plans," Mimicry answered while watching Kurogiri making the paste with a muddler, mashing the ingredients thoroughly. "Now, I just need to get my targets in place, which should be easy enough once I make a few phone calls."

"Do be careful, Mimicry," Kurogiri cautioned as he finished making the paste and began pouring a few ounces of his best bourbon. "Even with your scapegoat in place, all it would take is one slip up for your cover to be blown."

"Oh, I'm well aware that I've already overplayed my hand one too many times," Mimicry answered. Smacking his lips with anticipation as he watched Kurogiri stir his drink while putting in a few ice cubes. "Once I make my last gambit in Hosu, I'm to pull out of being Ganji Nishimoto and take another identity we have ready. Hopefully, if I play my cards right, I can convince Tomura to let me borrow a Noumu or two for a different plan I have cooking up."

"Is this why you have come?" Kurogiri questioned as he finished by garnishing the drink with two finely cut citrus rinds. Completing the Old Fashioned Mimicry had come to enjoy after a day of drinking with Giran a few years back.

"Well, I didn't know about the new Noumus," Mimicry answered as he took a short sip of the bittersweet cocktail and pulled a vial of thick dark blood. "Ahhh...that burns sooo right! Actually, I was hoping to see if we could try and borrow Himi for a while. To serve as the Pièce de réstistance for my plans at Hosu as my voice can only get me so far."

"FUCKING HACKER! YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE ONLINE; OTHERWISE, I'D TURN YOU IN DUST!" Tomura suddenly raved, seemingly furious at another player.

"That may be difficult," Kurogiri replied calmly as he began making another cocktail. Preparing for when Tomura would ask for it as was routine when it came to days like this. "Himiko Toga still with the Yakuza posing at Overhaul when he needs to make public appearances."

"I'd only need her for maybe two-three hours tops if you help me with transportation," Mimicry followed up as he nursed his drink, taking his time to enjoy it.

"You have a particular date for the execution of this plan?" Kurogiri inquired as he continued making Tomura's drink.

"OH, HOW ORIGINAL! MY MOM'S FUCKING DEAD!" Tomura spat into the microphone. "THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A CORPSE FUCKER! YOU FUCKING CORPSE FUCKER!"

"The day of the Sport's Festival, since even other villains tend to watch it to learn about the best of the best of Japan's future heroes," Mimicry retorted with a grin. Ignoring Tomura's outbursts and remembering the times when the violence and mission between all of their siblings would cease to watch every Sports Festival so they could learn and grow. "Even the Yakuza should be preoccupied watching the Festival. From that point, it would simply be a matter if Tomura was going to do something that day."

"We will not," Kurogiri answered on behalf of Tomura. "He plans on watching the Festival and see how we might learn from our invasion attempt...I see the merit of your plan."

"As I knew you would, my dearest, Uncle Kuro," Mimicry said with a lopsided grin. "Shame I won't be here to keep the family tradition of watching the festival, but duty calls!"

"KUROGIRI! BRING ME A SCOTCH AND SODA!" Tomura yelled out from his desk, refusing to take his eyes from the screen. "ALSO, CHECK OUT THIS IP ADDRESS AND FIND OUT THE LIVE COORDINATES! I'M GOING TO DUST THIS CORPSE FUCKER IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"

Kurogiri, with the drink already in hand, silently moved to Tomura's position, making sure to serve the drink at an angle visible to the Pale Prince's vision. The last thing anyone wanted was for Tomura to accidentally kill their beloved uncle by instinctively attacking whoever came up behind him. Mimicry, however, remained seated, finishing his drink as he checked the hour on his phone. Once Kurogiri returned to tend to the bar, the bard rose from his seat.

"Welp, I think it's time for me to hit the old dusty trail," Mimicry spoke with a slight yawn. "Just give Tomura my report, all of the new details about my plans regarding Hosu. The last thing I want to do is get in the middle of Tomura's monthly dusting of an internet troll. I mean, it was funny the first few times, but now it's just sad that he keeps doing it."

"Very well, it will be done," said Kurogiri as he grabbed the report. "I'll make sure Tomura reads it."

"Great! Now, do you mind making me a portal back to my hideout?"

'Never again...once I'm out of this office, never again.' Sir Nighteye pleaded with himself as he rubbed his tired eyes before he continued to type away a comprehensive report on their current progress. Knowing that Tensei and Nezu were doing similar reports for their sides of the investigation. They had a shared hope that in compiling the information in the future, they might be able to see something that could have fallen by the wayside and get everyone up to speed.

However, given all the chaos and the Gang Orca's current status, any meeting would likely have to occur until after the Sports Festival. Speaking of chaos, thanks to Overhaul's breakout. The government had gone into a full-scale panic mode. This left the hero turned politician to run everywhere from The Diet, where he was forced to listen to several long boring speeches from politicians without an ounce of humor or humanity. Then to double back to his voting distinct, which included several meetings with local officials, and finally back to The Dietto get the audit update. All in all, the man had the bare minimum amount of sleep in the last week and a half to just function.

'Yoshi's a shameless flirt, but let no one say that the man cannot get results,' He thought with some amusement as he looked over the latest results of the audit. This included some fascinating details that he wasn't expecting to see. Still, it proved that the Neocons had been very clever in how they could hide the deficit from scrutiny for so long. The irony was they had taken over the supposed loophole that the late former Representative Takumi Saito had once used.

'And he's not even done, at the rate he's finding holes. We'll be able more than just clear Draco Knight's name, but hopefully, mitigate the expected backslash towards the government.'

As history had proved time and time again, governments came and went alongside varying levels of corruption. The best simply did what they could to reduce said corruption. Considering that only a tiny fraction of the government was in the scam, it made it much more critical for when the dust settled. The shaken trust in the government will be easier to repair. Not just with society at large. But both on the international and heroic sides of the aisle, considering the damage it has done to both.

'No doubt some Pro-Heroes and Hero Students will resign when they hear about the cover-up. Even if the promise that such a thing will never happen again was issued.'

Knock, knock, knock.

"Yo, Sasaki! I've got an update I think you'll wanna hear about!" Said the muffled voice of Akihisa Yoshi from his closed office door.

"Speak of the Devil," Sir Nighteye groaned under his breath as he checked the All Might clock on his desk.

7:36 pm

'Where does he find his energy?' The man wondered as he spoke his answer. "Enter."

His office door opened, revealing Representative Akihisa Yoshi with a small stack of paperwork in his arms and a bright grin on his face.

"How's it going, bossman?" The man asked as he placed the stack on Sir Nighteye's desk.

"Hellish," Sir Nighteye replied in a deadpan voice, still typing away while eyeing the new stack of papers on his desk. "Another audit update?"

"Huh? Oh, this?" Akihisa questioned, looking at the new stack while sitting across from the skinny former Pro-Hero. "Nah! Just a side thing I'm working on for the agricultural committee."

Sir Nighteye quickly became annoyed. "You just said you had an update..."

"I do!" The boyish man laughed, only to shrink under the man's suddenly murderous glare. "Heheh...eh. It's about a recent rumor I overheard from some Neocon aides."

"Is this during or after you tried flirting with them?"

"Nah, both of them were old dudes, so I wasn't interested," Akihisa replied dismissively.

"Say..." he added, looking around the office. "Where is your hottie assistant? The one with the blue sk-"

He stopped when he could almost feel an invisible set of hands reach towards his neck as Sir Nighteye's glare loomed ever stronger.

"GET... TOO...THE...POINT." The man whispers through gritted teeth, beyond done with the young man.

"Alright, alright!" Akihisa replied, sitting straight up out of fear from the former Pro. "I overheard the reps making new proposals to try and boost their popularity."

"Only logical for them to go the populist route when things go wrong," Nighteye commented with an annoyed sigh. "Trying to play down all the bad things happening under their watch. That is nothing new and rather disappointing, really."

"Well, did you know that the Minister of Education had secretly sent several of his subordinates to UA and Shinketsu last week? To speak with the staff regarding whether or not to suspend their policies regarding students with volatile quirks?"

Sir Nighteye froze as he had heard nothing of the sort. "What?"

"Yeah, I think they want to make sure that the top schools don't get rid of it," the young man responded grimly. "I'm sure the Neocons want to reintroduce the harshest restrictions on quirks as soon as they have the numbers again."

Nighteye recovered as he responded by scoffing at the idea. "It wouldn't get past the Lower House. The restrictions proved very unpopular and only grew further unpopularity again thanks to the effects it had recently."

'Nonetheless, I should contact Nezu and see what the ministers were trying to do,' Sir Nighteye mentally added.

"They could try adding it to other, more popular bill," Akihisa suggested. Knowing that adding amendments to a popular bill was an excellent way to slide something unpopular.

"Even if the primary bill had major bipartisan support, adding an amendment like that would stop it dead in its tracks. Only to be replaced quickly without the amendment. Besides, if they pulled that move too many times. They risk the Prime Minister dissolving the House again, leaving the Neocons vulnerable to losing more seats like the last time," Sir Nighteye leaned back into his chair.

"Well, then our seats would be in danger too," Akihisa complained. "Man, that would suck...I'd hate to lose my job because of a damn filibuster."

"Indeed, but I doubt it would happen unless something terrible happened for the Neocons to re-justify their policies and sway public option. Something public that couldn't be swept under the rug, or vague enough that the media could be able to twist to fit their narrative."

"So something to re-justify the volatile quirk categories," Akihisa wondered aloud.

Sir Nighteye paused to ponder, remembering some recent details shared between the investigators. Such as Izuku's quirk defect and even the disturbing idea that there was a spy at UA. Tensei wanted him to investigate further into Ryu Kasei due to his possible Neocon connection. This is something that the audit is supposed to assist in. Still, so far, they only found additional details regarding the scandal that led to the boy's biological father, Takumi Saito's subsequent disgrace and suicide.

The charges had been brought by Hideyoshi Anno himself, which would beg the question.

If Ryu was a spy, why would he help the man that basically ruined his father's life? Logically speaking, Ryu would have no reason to help the Neocons, at least nothing they could see at the surface. All the donations towards the orphanage had been made legally, as far as they could tell. When exploring that avenue, nothing remotely illegal had been found, leading to a dead end.

Kai Doumeki's adoption of Ryu wasn't an uncommon case, especially when it came to a family without a proper heir.

He could have looked further into the late Representative Saito, but again, the breakout had made things more complicated. With all the Pro-Heroes and allies of the investigation tied up in doing security or other things critical to the investigation, they found themselves being spread too thin again.

All he had was the information already publicly available when it was presented as evidence for the man's corruption case. Takumi Saito had been a medical doctor before turning to politics. Using his connections with government-run clinics to launder dirty money while funneling drugs and expensive medical equipment into the black market. But nothing there seemed helpful in the investigation beyond that the Neocons now used the same loophole with other government projects. So it could be used as evidence against them when the time came to bring them to justice for their corruption and Hisashi.

'Iida hasn't heard from his Police Contract. Gang Orca is still in a coma, and Gran Torino is helping the police investigate the breakout. Then there's Chief Kiriyūin, who is currently petitioning to replace Tsuragamae as the Chief-Superintendant if Kai should pass away or be forced to retire because of the breakout.'

Sir Nighteye yawned as he looked at his laptop screen.

'All we can do in the meanwhile is continue working as hard as we can.'

Ryu had been dreading this meeting for weeks.

He knew it was only a matter of time before he received the call from his civilian patron, especially now that Kai was temporarily out of the picture. The old man could make moves without attracting Kai's ire, for example, making Kai's former superior officer. Hosu City's Chief of Police, Kenji Tsuragamae, the acting Chief-Superintendent, was one of them. A move that turned several heads among the Police Force. Even those who were Anti-Kai were angry that such a relatively small-time cop would be appointed as supposed to say Kai's second-in-command or another big-time city Police Chief.

'No doubt the old man is hoping Doumeki croaks to replace him with that mutt,' Ryu thought as he walked in disguise towards Hideyoshi's law firm in Chiba. While he may have a cover story as simply being a "helpful volunteer." The last thing Ryu and Hideyoshi wanted was to be seen together, as watchful eyes could accidentally expose the former as the latter's spy in UA. Thankfully, it seemed like the coast was clear at night. Ryu proceeded to enter and check in with the receptionist without incident. However, it was instantly apparent that this meeting was far more urgent than expected. When the receptionist informed him that Hideyoshi was waiting for him now and wouldn't be forced to wait.

'Ah fuck...' Ryu thought as he arrived at the old man's private office, knocking gently on the door. 'I have a really bad feeling about this...'

"Come in," said Hideyoshi's muffed voice.

Ryu entered with all the practiced grace and courtesy one was forced to give to keep up appearances.

"I'm here as requested, sir," Ryu said by the entrance with a deep bow.

"Close the door and come here," Hideyoshi said dismissively, waving his arms in much the same manner. "I have something I believe you would like to see."

The Fire-Eater did as he was told and joined the old man at his desk.

However, Ryu remained standing across from the old politician. He had learned before that the old man was very methodical in doing things just to prove he was in control. Given the man's legendary temper, Ryu didn't feel like giving the old man a reason to blow a gasket. Hideyoshi, however, surprised him as the ancient politician handed Ryu a large stack of papers and motioned him to sit down.

Ryu did as he was silently told, accepting the papers and taking a seat to look over them. However, the smile on the elder's wizened features unnerved the young spy; his eyes quickly looked towards the heading of the stack. The boy began reading as quickly as he could; he realized these weren't just papers but bills that could become law.

"Wait, this is..." Ryu looked up with wide eyes, barely able to hide his excitement at the old man who was slowly nodding his head.

"The bills needed to overhaul the system for the Quirkless," Hideyoshi stated clearly with a sly grin that showed his sharp yellowed teeth. "While this long-standing campaign promise took years of research to try and make this bill not just possible, but to begin the transition into the new system as quickly and as smoothly as possible."

'This is it...at last...' Ryu thought as he saw the new measures that would be proposed for not just adoption reforms but to re-do the entire system for orphans. So even if none of his siblings got adopted, they were guaranteed additional assistance for housing, education, and inheritance protections. The last one was a particularly sore spot for Ryu on behalf of Maki, whose parents had been killed during the Draco Knight incident. All of her inheritance was essentially stolen by her surviving blood relatives. They dumped her at the orphanage at the first chance they got.

"However," Hideyoshi spoke up in an icy tone, making Ryu's usually hot blood run cold. "We've hit a snag with the number of votes we will need to pass these bills."

"What do you mean?" Ryu questioned with narrowed eyes, remembering Kai's warning before he had set out on the Overhaul transport mission. "Last I checked, you still had control of the House of Representatives and Councilors."

"The Neocon control of The Diet has been shaken with the loss of several allied parties," Hideyoshi admitted with a growl. "And there lies the issue with these bills. Among the parties who remain in the Neocon Alliance are those who would shoot down these proposals."

"Despite that, they would come from within the alliance?" Ryu questioned, barely keeping calm by the idea of these moronic politicians being so damn petty. What was the point of alliances like this when they couldn't cooperate on something so important?

"We're not a hive mind, boy," Hideyoshi sneered at the boy's naivety. "There are plenty of things we can compromise on, but those who like the current order would refuse to sign off on these purely on principal. While reaching across party lines now would be political suicide."

"So, is this you asking me to kill these guys?" Ryu joked as he looked at the bills again. "I wouldn't blame you, considering your so-called allies are being useless."

"Do not get smart with me, boy," Hideyoshi spat angrily, clearly finding no amusement in Ryu's comment. However, the man stopped to take a deep breath before looking at the boy with a renewed smile that unnerved the fire-eater. "Now that you understand the issue about keeping my word to you. We have to talk about your lack of progress on your mission."

"What do you want from me?" Ryu retorted incredulously as he placed the bills back on the desk. "You have my reports! I've done exactly what you wanted! I've been looking for violations of teaching standards and all the other shit you asked me to look for on that damn list! UA has been doing things by the damn book!"

"I DON'T WANT YOUR EXCUSES!" Hideyoshi roared, his eyes instantly becoming bloodshot as his Quirk became active.

"What do you want me to lie?!" Ryu mocked, refusing to cower from the man's hateful glare. "Oh yeah! That'll go great when you try to bring UA to court only to have it thrown back at your face!"

The two stared each other down. The old man breathed in again, his bloody eyes turning white again, while Ryu slowly leaned back in his seat. Finally, Hideyoshi pulled out a pair of white gloves from his pocket, put them on, and opened his desk, searching for something. After a few seconds of rummaging, the man pulled out a small vial containing what looked like a fine white powder.

"Your mission has changed," Hideyoshi finally spoke up as he gently placed the vial on top of the stack of bills on his desk and looked at Ryu expectantly.

Ryu looked at the man and then at the vial with a sinking feeling developing in his chest. "What the hell is that?"

"A new variation of the drug, Trigger," Hideyoshi answered calmly.

"You can't be serious..." Ryu questioned flatly as he looked at the vial.

The meeting had been awkward enough, but this was the next level.

"Oh, I am quite serious about this," Hideyoshi replied gravely as his mud-brown eyes stared down Ryu's golden-yellow eyes. "We need something big to restore faith in the movement, and last I checked: the Sports Festival has always been a big event. And if some of those students with volatile quirks happened to...go beyond what is expected of them. It would prove our case about the need for the volatile quirks laws to remain in place. "

Ryu's eyes went wide as he realized what the man was asking. "You want me to use this on Draco Knight's kid, don't you?"

"I never said such a thing," Hideyoshi said with a wide smile. "But I cannot think of anyone better to go Plus Ultra during one of the year's biggest events."

'Sly bastard, not saying out loud in case he got questioned, and I get caught,' Ryu thought with a deep frown. "I didn't agree to do this...I agreed to be your spy! Not your goddamn poisoner!"

"I AM DEMANDING THAT YOU DO YOUR JOB, BOY!" The old politician spat with a hateful sneer as he stood up and slammed his fist on his desk. "YOU WORK FOR ME AND AT MY PLEASURE! THUS FAR, YOU AND YOUR PARASITES HAVE ONLY BEEN A DRAIN ON OUR COFFERS AND HAVE SHOWN ZERO RESULTS! THE MOVEMENT IS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING WHEN WE ARE SO CLOSE TO ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS! SO NOW EXTREME MEASURES HAVE TO BE DONE!"

"Don't you dare call my siblings parasites, you old fuck!" Ryu snarled out as sparks and smoke came from his mouth, losing his cool and slamming his hands on the desk. "I can't get results that don't exist! But now you're asking for a fucking bloodbath! Have you actually

gone senile to think this is even a remotely good idea?!"

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME IN SUCH A MANNER!" Hideyoshi answered by grabbing his cane and slamming it hard on Ryu's head. Repeatedly striking the boy until a thick trail of blood ran from the top of the fire-eater's head. The fire-eater couldn't or wouldn't fight back as doing so would have spelled his doom. "REMEMBER YOUR PLACE, YOU WORTHLESS SHIT!"

The old man put away his cane only to then reach for the scuff of the boy's shirt and drag him closer.

"Listen here, you son of a whore," The elder said, breathing hard through gritted teeth. "We had a deal, while that fool Doumeki almost killed himself by playing cowboy. I remember that I'm not a young man. My time on this earth is limited. I will do whatever is possible to secure the future from the plebs who foolishly worship heroes and forget who really keeps society in place. SO IF YOU CAN'T GET RESULTS. YOU WILL MAKE THEM INSTEAD!"

"With this?" Ryu questioned, still baring his teeth and pointing at the tiny vial, ignoring the blood dripping down his head and on the man's desk. "Between figuring out how to even get someone to take it. What if they do a drug test on my victim? UA will know that someone spiked them, and then they'll do an investigation..."

"Oh, don't you worry about that," Hideyoshi responded before slamming Ryu's head on the desk next to the vial. Knowing that the boy dared not to harm him despite his threatening tone. "As I said, this is a new variation of Trigger. It is odorless and tasteless, easy to spike someone's food or drink. It also has an extremely short half-life in the human body, with the drug often expelled from the user's sweat. Unless they did a drug test within half an hour of its effects, it won't show up in urine or blood analysis. So...it simply seem as if one just...lost control of themselves."

"All you need to worry about is getting the right person a much-needed boost! That and remain undiscovered," Hideyoshi continued as he ground the boy's face against his desk. Not caring about the blood and simply wanting to remind the fire-eater of his place. "Did you forget who paid for all the new things your 'siblings' received? I can resend my gifts. I can have that dinky little place shut down and make sure you never see them again...am I understood?"

Ryu looked at the vial, thinking not only about his siblings but a snow-haired child who had only recently learned how to smile.

"AM I UNDERSTOOD?" Hideyoshi repeated in a dangerous tone.

"Yes, sir," Ryu answered in a soft, defeated tone as he reached for the vial.

"Good," the old man finally let the fire-eater go with a satisfied smirk.

Carefully removing his now bloody gloves so he could dispose of them later. On the other hand, Ryu slowly stood straight and bowed again to his patron with the vial in hand, ignoring the blood running down his face. "There is one last thing I want to discuss with you."

"Yes...sir?"

"I received an interesting bit of news about your exploits during the USJ."

Ryu kept his head bowed, gritting his teeth.

"Since you've been doing a good job playing hero," The old man mocked. "You will continue to do so by placing high in the Sports Festival. Best way to show the world that even the bastard son of a whore can rise up. Maybe it could convince a family to look into adoption..."

"Wouldn't it be smarter for me to get out earlier, sir?" Ryu asked carefully, trying to make the man see reason. "To avoid prying eyes and give me more time to prepare...the medicine?"

"It would have been smart for you to avoid doing stupid things, to begin with," Hideyoshi replied with narrow eyes, yet kept his mocking grin. "So, you will reap what you sow. Now, you've made quite a mess of my office with your foolishness. I have no more time for your stupid questions. Simply get me the results, and hopefully, if you do your job right. The movement will be strengthened again, and then I can have these bills made law. Otherwise...well, I don't have to tell you what's a stake here, now do I? Dismissed."

"Yes, sir..."

Author's Commentary

*The King of Wings. While I'm personally not interested in tarot, but I do find the symbology interesting. Without going to spoilers, the card's meaning (Both versions of the reading for those inclined in tarot) almost perfectly foreshadows the new Phoenix King's character and role. As such, I decided to include it here as an Easter egg.

Here are some fun facts about the chapter.

Most of these scenes were initially written for earlier chapters, but between pacing, length and timing. I was forced to remove them, adjust them slightly to account for the time change, and simply placed them here. Those with solid memories may have also noticed the new version of Midnight's scene was, in fact, a modified scene I removed from Part 3 of the per-remastered Golden Week Chapters.

The next chapter was originally going to be a half-chapter. But after some careful consideration, I've decided to make it into a whole chapter.

(But I know for a fact it won't be that long.)

Chapter XXXVIII: Farewell to a friend.

This is Alex's official departure from the main storyline. I hope you look forward to it.

Until next time,

with love,

ZX