Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona series
Chapter 21
(Persona 5 OST: Layer Cake)
"Are you sure we have enough money for more guns?"
"I'm positive. If Iwai-san hasn't increased the prices I saw in the catalog, we should at least be able to purchase Ryuji-senpai and Ann-senpai new firearms. We should also consider getting Koto-san a weapon in case she agrees to join us, too…." Izuku suggested, holding his chin in thought. He followed the alley to Untouchable, his gaze focused on the ground rather than ahead of him.
"I'm surprised you have the energy for that. You had a lot to put up with when you were helping Ryuji and Lady Ann study," Morgana chuckled, causing a small bead of sweat to form on Izuku's head.
As promised, Izuku met with Ryuji and Ann in the library after school to help them prepare for their upcoming exams. Looking over the material provided by their classes, Izuku thought it would be a simple review session for the both of them. Instead, he ended up teaching both of them all of the material they should have learned in class. While Izuku was happy to help, he would be lying if he said that the two hadn't made things difficult.
"W-Well, I think they learned a good amount. So long as they go over what I gave them tonight, tomorrow will just be review," Izuku said optimistically, silently praying that his friends would heed his advice and study when they got home.
"Lady Ann might try, but I don't know if dumb Ryuji will be committed enough."
"I… hope you're wrong," Izuku sighed. He knew Ryuji well enough by now to half-expect him to shirk his studies.
Izuku pushed the shop's door open, looking to the front display for the shop owner. He stopped to blink when he realized that Iwai wasn't lounging in his usual spot behind the glass case.
"Hello?" He called out, looking around the shop and noticing that it was empty.
"Uh oh. We should probably leave, Izuku," Morgana alerted him, the cat looking back at the door. "I'm pretty sure he's closed right now."
Izuku peered back, seeing that the open sign was facing in rather than out. "A-Ah, you're right. He might not be in right now. Strange since he's always open around this time," Izuku said, sparing one last glance at the display before beginning to turn back.
It was then that he noticed something on the counter covered by a loose cloth. Izuku stopped, raising a brow as he saw something stick out of the edge of the cloth. Judging from the small bit he could see, it looked like a model gun.
"Oh, was Iwai-san cleaning this?" Izuku muttered to himself, moving curiously to the display. If it was a model handgun, Izuku supposed that it wouldn't be bad to take a quick look at it since he was there to browse the inventory. Moving the cloth aside though, Izuku and Morgana inhaled a breath.
Resting on the counter was what looked like a real Colt 1911 semi-automatic handgun. It had a silvery gunmetal body and a surprising amount of heft when Izuku picked it up for closer inspection. The leather-decorated grip was also contoured and textured just like the pictures of real guns he saw online.
"Th-This is…" Izuku gasped, but a small etching on the side of the gun caught his eye. In small letters, he could see the common English inscription "made in China" engraved on the barrel. Izuku quickly pushed the magazine release button on the side to confirm his suspicions. He was relieved to find that the clip was only large enough to hold BBs.
"I-It's fake after all… what a relief."
"Don't you know how to read, kid?"
Izuku jumped when he heard Iwai's voice, panicking and setting the gun back down on the display case. Looking up at the back area entrance, he watched Iwai enter sporting a glare that bore into Izuku and made him sweat.
"S-S-Sorry! I-I wasn't paying attention when I walked inside a-and I just got curious wh-when I saw the gun! I-I thought it was real for a second, but-"
"Tch. I thought I locked the damn thing," Iwai growled, scratching under his cap in frustration. "Forget you saw this thing, got it?"
"H-Huh? But… it's just an airsoft gun, right?" Izuku said, looking back down at the model gun only for Iwai to quickly cover it back up. "It's not illegal to have one, even if it looks real."
"True, but that doesn't mean I want somebody spreadin' word that I got inventory like this. Some dumb kids might try and use 'em to rob people. Not to mention cops would try to use 'em against me like I'm aidin' the local villains and gangs."
Izuku might have denied the possibility of such happening if he hadn't experienced that kind of corruption for himself. "I… I understand. I won't tell anyone."
"Good," Iwai huffed. "Now, if you wanna buy somethin', go ahead. I was about to reopen once I'd gotten everything put away."
"Okay. Can I see the catalog?"
"Sure."
Izuku took the folder from Iwai, pouring over the pages as he looked for something suitable. Though looking at the quality of the pictured guns, it was hard to take his mind off the model gun he had seen.
The more realistic the gun, the stronger its cognition is and the more powerful it gets. If we got more weapons like that, we'd be at a huge advantage. I… I doubt I can afford it, but I have to try.
"Um… Iwai-san-"
"Trust me, Mumbles, you can't afford it."
Izuku's shoulders slumped at his didn't expect to be rejected so quickly. Still, for the sake of his team and their safety, he persisted.
"M-Maybe, but… I'd like to see more like it. What you had was top quality. It took me a moment to realize it was just a model, too," Izuku suggested, causing the shop owner to shift his gaze back to him. "I know this might be asking a lot, but… could I see more like it? E-Even if I can't afford it now, maybe in the future I could."
Iwai's eyes narrowed in suspicion, causing Izuku to twitch under his gaze. He then spared a glance at his door, making sure no one else was outside or close by.
"Alright, kid. Spill it. Who are you?"
"H-Huh?" Izuku blinked, confused by the question.
"Are you really just some gun enthusiast? You're pretty damn young for it. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. You even helped Kaoru out. Sure, you're pretty awkward and stuttery, but most kids your age are into Heroes rather than guns."
Izuku couldn't help but flinch at the accuracy of that statement.
"B-But I am! That's why I can't get that model gun out of my head! P-Please, let me see more like it, Iwai-san!" he exclaimed, bowing his head low in a desperate bid to win him over.
Silence was his only answer at first. Sweat trailed down Izuku's cheek as he quietly prayed that he wouldn't be shut down. His prayers were answered when he heard an amused chuckle from Iwai.
"Man, you are one weird kid. But…" Iwai stopped, eyes narrowing in thought as he looked down and rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Wait a sec… this might actually work for both of us."
"Huh?"
"Heh. Yeah. This might be perfect, actually," Iwai looked back up at Izuku with a smirk and a devious glint in his eye. It was disconcerting to see the normally aloof shop owner with that kind of expression. "Alright, kid. I believe you. If you're that set on seein' more like that, I'd be willin' show you. But affordability is still a problem, don't you think? What'd be the point in window shopping?"
"I-I suppose…" Izuku mumbled, unsure where Iwai was going with this.
"The prices are up in the hundreds of thousands of yen. Some even get in the million range, dependin' on how I feel," Izuku's eyes bulged out of their sockets. He knew they'd be more than he could afford, but that was far higher than what he ever would have guessed. "But I'm a reasonable man. I've been known to compromise from time to time. And if you were, say, an 'employee' of mine, I might just be willing to make quite a few exceptions."
Izuku's quirked an eyebrow as he followed Iwai's line of thought. "You… want me to work for you?"
"Not in the conventional sense, but yeah. I might not need help maintainin' the store, but there's plenty else you can do. Cleanin' the shelves when I don't feel like it, sortin' through inventory in the back…" Iwai began to list off before looking directly in Izuku's eyes.
"... helpin' me with personal errands, and coverin' up evidence on my custom models."
Those last two jobs were certainly suspicious.
"And in exchange for your work, I'll let you in on my special menu. And I'll give you a bargain deal on what I've got that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else," Iwai finished, crossing his arms over his chest. "Not a bad deal, eh? Whaddaya say?"
Izuku wasn't sure if he would call it a good deal. He had considered Iwai a bit shady as Ryuji had said before, but this sudden interest in hiring Izuku as his "employee" was beyond suspicious.
S-Still… Iwai-san doesn't seem like a bad person… I think…. And we will really need those kind of weapons when we infiltrate the next Palace. But…
"... Just tell me one thing."
"Hm? What?"
"I… I know you said this before, but… I need to hear it again. You don't sell your special inventory to criminals, right?" Izuku asked, meeting Iwai's gaze as he dared to show courage. "To people that would use them to hurt others? They might be fake, but they can obviously be used for intimidation. I… I wouldn't be able to work for you if you sold guns to people like that. But if you can tell me honestly that you don't… I'll take your deal."
Both of their gazes hardened as they scrutinized each other for any sign of weakness or hesitation. Izuku could feel his palms getting clammy and hear his heart pounding in his ears in this deafening silence. Even Morgana seemed to be holding his breath. But Izuku stood his ground. This was important. He couldn't work for Iwai with a clear conscience if he didn't.
The irony behind the demand wasn't lost on Izuku. Even if he and the Phantom Thieves wanted to do good, they'd always be Villains in the eyes of the law.
Finally, Iwai smirked. "You're a lot braver than I thought, Mumbles. Dealin' with punks below your grade was one thing, but I didn't think you'd have the balls to make a demand like that. But you don't gotta worry. I can honestly say that I don't sell my special inventory to some dumb street punks or high-class criminals. I vet everyone that I sell that stuff to. It's usually just high-rolling collectors or competitive airsoft players. The only reason I need you to hide evidence is like what I said before: police'll just find reasons to bust me even if I didn't do shit."
Izuku could see the honesty in Iwai's expression. The man was careful and shady, but honest. Besides, he of all people could understand the shopkeeper's concerns.
He released a deep sigh of relief before nodding. "Okay. I'll work for you."
"Heh. Then it looks like we'll be doing business together. Welcome aboard, Mumbles," Iwai chuckled, nodding in acceptance. Izuku was still on the fence about the conditions of this partnership, but for now, they were acceptable.
(Persona 5 OST: The Spirit)
*SMASH*
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Hanged Man Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
Izuku felt a faint sense of deja vu as the card materialized before his eyes. This was a lot like his deal with Takemi. Both were up to some rather dubious activities and were giving him deals on their inventory in exchange for helping them out. He wasn't sure how to feel about being used to these kinds of shady dealings, but they worked out for him all the same.
"This should be obvious, but just so we're clear: keep quiet about whatever we do here. Don't go runnin' off and tellin' people about this deal or your job. Got it? I don't want anyone else in on my personal business," Izuku nodded again. "Good. Then as a token of our partnership, feel free to take this gun."
"Wh-What? Really?"
"Yeah. The guy I was makin' it for took too long to come and pick it up, anyway. I'm tired of waitin' and I don't need to hold onto somethin' like this forever. Feel free to take it," Iwai uncovered the model gun and handed it to Izuku. The green-haired teen swallowed a lump in his throat before taking it, studying every nook and cranny to see all the fine details. "You do as I ask and work hard, you'll see more where that came from and then some."
Izuku felt himself beam as Iwai slid a case large enough to hold the gun towards him. "Th-Thank you, Iwai-san. This is a really good model…"
"Heh, nice to know you're grateful. I'm sure you're in school, so I won't go demandin' you show up every day. I'll shoot you a message whenever I feel like I need the help."
With that, Izuku and Iwai exchanged emails before heading out for the night. Izuku waited until he was out of the alleyway to lean against a nearby wall and breathe yet another sigh of relief, the tension of his encounter finally draining out of him.
"Man. I can't help but wonder if you're extremely lucky or unlucky," Morgana said, popping out of the bag once again.
"I… think it's a combination of the two."
Become a Phantom Thief, huh?
It had been a few days since Izuku made her the offer. When she couldn't decide after thinking on it all day, she thought a night's sleep would help her relax and make the right choice. Instead, she remained conflicted and indecisive. There were a number of reasons that doing so wouldn't be in her best interest. She had gone over them all one-by-one in an attempt to convince herself that rejecting the offer was the right choice.
But in her heart, Makoto couldn't help but tremble with anticipation. She desperately wanted to be one of them. To be able to act on her own justice. To be the hero that she always wanted to be. To stop the corruption that spat on the legacy her father left behind.
To be of actual use to somebody.
(Persona 5 OST: Days of Sisters)
"Are you alright, Makoto? You've been spacing out again."
Makoto was startled by her sister's voice, jumping before looking at Sae. There wasn't concern on her sister's face, just a moderate bit of confusion.
"Y-Yes, sorry. Just going over some of the material for my classes… in my head. Exams coming up soon, after all," Makoto replied, coughing into her fist.
"Ah, I see. Good," Sae nodded. "I'm glad that the incident at your school hasn't distracted you from what's important. Keep at it."
"R-Right…." Makoto was almost disappointed that her sister didn't push the subject harder. Sae was also so wrapped up in her work that it was nearly impossible to have a simple conversation. But the mere mention of the school incident made Makoto's thoughts drift back to the officers who spoke with Kobayakawa. Just the thought of it made a pit form in her stomach.
"Hey… Sis?" Sae looked up from her plate again. "Have you… spoken to any of dad's old police friends in a while?"
Sae tensed at the question, an irritated expression coloring her features. "Every now and then. Usually only in cases involving them that I'm presented with. Why?"
"W-Well, with the school incident happening and all, I was just curious if any of them were part of the investigation…" Makoto had to approach this carefully. If Sae sniffed even the slightest bit of suspicion, she would end the discussion in a heartbeat as a useless distraction.
"No. As far as I know, things are being left to the local precinct. None of them worked in that area."
"I see. That's good. I was a little worried," Makoto breathed out, causing Sae to raise a brow.
"Why would you be worried about that?"
"Oh, it-it's nothing. I just… heard a rumor that… some of the cops in that area might have been aware of Kamoshida's victims and-"
"How absurd. Do you really think something that egregious would be going on?" Sae snapped, narrowing her eyes at her sister.
"I-I'm just saying it's a rumor I heard! I-I mean I was suspicious because I would have thought at least one of the student's suffering might-"
"It's just another student trying to drum up needless amounts of drama. There's no need to turn this case into some grand conspiracy of corruption."
"B-But Sis, what if-"
"I think you need to leave the investigations to the adults. Focus on your studies. This entire debacle has nothing to do with you. Wasting time on wild fantasies like this won't get you into college!" Sae was now glowering at Makoto. It'd been ages since Makoto had seen her that heated about anything.
Makoto wilted under her sister's gaze, lowering her head and giving a slow nod. "Y-Yes, Sis. Sorry…"
"Good. No more talk about that, then. The sooner that case is handled, the better," Sae huffed, looking back down at her plate and forking the last bit of food on her plate into her mouth. With an unceremonious drop of her fork, Sae stood from the table, still heated from the exchange. "I'm taking a shower first. I have to go back to the office a little later."
"Okay…" Makoto mumbled, poking at the remaining bit of rice on her plate. It was pointless to fight back against her sister's onslaught of words. Even if Makoto explained what she heard, would Sae even listen? Sae only seemed to care about her job and getting a promotion.
But still… is that just how everyone else views this case? A distraction?
Aside from the blatantly obvious things that were being pointed out in Kamoshida's case, was there really anyone digging deeper into this? Kobayakawa would normally be considered an accessory to whatever crimes Kamoshida committed. Parents would be humiliated for their failure to protect their children by allowing it to continue.
But interviews with students and staff had already finished. And the only thing that could be called an "internal investigation" on the matter was assigned to her by Kobayakawa. And all he was looking for were the Phantom Thieves.
Midori... He and his friends really did end up being the only ones to care enough to fight back despite being ignored. And they're going to keep fighting for people who've fallen under the wayside.
So… maybe I should, too.
"D-Damn it… my legs are too damn tight… I ain't movin' like before…" Ryuji coughed, leaning on his knees as sweat trickled down his face.
"W-Wow… that's kind of hard to believe," Izuku huffed out, placing his hands behind his head. "You were running faster than the last time we worked out. I couldn't keep up this time."
Izuku and Ryuji rested in the shade of the faux blond's secret training spot. Izuku had moved their study session to lunch so that he could quickly drill his friends on the material they went over the previous day. Much to his chagrin, both teens only managed to sink in an hour of study in before letting themselves get distracted.
So, hoping to try and convince them to try harder, Izuku offered to do something with them in exchange for promising to study that night. Testing started tomorrow, after all.
Ann made it simple: buy her sweets from the cafeteria. She called them her "brain food". Ryuji, on the other hand, wanted to work out together again like before. Izuku had no problem with either task. In fact, he looked forward to hanging out with Ryuji one-on-one again.
"I've been doin' a bit of running on my own, but damn… I guess not enough yet," Ryuji said, pushing off his to stand up straight. "I used to be able to go for way longer than this and faster. I didn't use my Quirk or nothin', either. That woulda felt like cheatin'."
Izuku grinned. "That's pretty amazing. No wonder you were on the national level."
"Yeah, but I guess I let myself go for way too long. Might be awhile before I'm back in top shape. Especially with the way my knee acts up," Ryuji sighed in disappointment, rolling his shoulders.
"The hell do you need to get back into shape for?"
(Persona 5 OST: Suspicion)
Izuku snapped to attention and turned to see four students approach them. All of them were wearing Shujin tracksuits. Sparing a glance at Ryuji, he could see the faux blond shrink a little in their presence.
"Nakaoka… Takeishi…" Ryuji mumbled, taking a step back as they approached.
"Been a while, Sakamoto. Running again? We saw you from the second floor." The darker skinned boy, Nakoaka, asked. His tone was less than friendly as far as Izuku was concerned.
"Are you planning to try and crawl your way back to the track team?" Takeishi added with a bitter, resentful laugh.
Ryuji winced. "N-No! Hell no! I wouldn't try…"
So they're from the track team, too? Izuku looked at the boys, a worried frown crossing his lips.
"Yeah, sure," Nakaoka huffed before his eyes trailed to Izuku. "What're you doing hanging out with this first year? Then again, I guess no one who knew you before would still be hanging out with you, huh?"
"Careful, first year. This guy's known for flying off the handle. He'll punch you real quick if you make him mad." Takeishi spat.
Ryuji clenched his teeth. "Hey, come on, that's-"
"You're wrong," Izuku snapped, causing Ryuji to pause. "Ryuji-senpai has been looking out for me since I came to this school. He… he wouldn't do that to someone who didn't have it coming."
"Izuku…" Ryuji mumbled in surprise.
"Wait a sec, he's the transfer student…" Nakaoka pointed out, a small sneer on his lips. "No wonder you're hanging out with Sakamoto. I heard you were pretty violent yourself. Though you don't really look like it."
"Hey, that's enough," Ryuji growled, taking a step in front of Izuku. "You guys can talk all the shit you want to me. I deserve it. But don't go talkin' shit about my pal here. He ain't done nothin' to deserve that."
Takeishi and Nakaoka took a step back, surprised by his retaliation. The two quickly got over it, clicking their tongues.
"So what, you gonna hit us now? It must run in the family if you're that quick to get violent. Wasn't your dad the same way? Like father, like son, right?" Nakaoka laughed.
Ryuji trembled as he stamped on the ground with his good leg, his right hand already balled into a fist. "That's got nothin' to do with this!"
Izuku quickly moved between them, putting a hand on Ryuji's shoulder. "D-Don't let it get to you, Ryuji-senpai. Calm down."
Ryuji looked down at the green-haired teen and felt his head begin to cool, his shoulders relaxing and his curled fist loosening up.
"...You're right."
Izuku smiled up at Ryuji in relief before turning a stern glare back to Nakaoka. "That was crossing the line. Whatever happened in the past, that had nothing to do with it."
"You don't know anything about it! We were all suffering under Kamoshida like he was! He was the one who couldn't hold his shit together and fucked everything up!" Nakaoka snapped, glaring up at Ryuji again. "We could have been national champions if it wasn't for him!"
"Look, man… back then, I-"
"I don't wanna hear your excuses. We were in it together, but you let everyone down. Now we're stuck trying to pick up the pieces," Nakaoka huffed, taking a step forward. "I honestly thought you were our teammate. But you let us all down."
Ryuji didn't answer, each word Nakaoka spoke digging the pit of guilt in his gut deeper. Izuku wanted to speak on his behalf again, but wasn't sure what he could say. This all happened before they were friends. And it was personal for everyone involved. He wasn't sure he had a right to say anything here.
When Ryuji didn't answer the accusation, Nakaoka huffed and turned his back. "That's all I have to say to you. I'm out of here," he said, moving to walk off with his crew. "Oh, and by the way. We've been using this spot to work out. Because, you know, we can't do it in the field anymore."
"Thanks to a certain someone we know," Takeishi added with a glare.
"So stay clear of here. You don't really need it, anyway," Nakaoka spat before finally leaving with Takeishi close behind him.
Ryuji and Izuku watched them walk off, the faux blond releasing a tense breath once they were out of view. "Sorry you had to see that."
Izuku's gaze fell to the ground. "N-No, it's fine. I just… wished I could have done more for you."
"Nah, you did enough. If it wasn't for you, I woulda put Nakaoka on his ass for what he said about my dad," Ryuji admitted, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I really haven't changed since then, huh?"
"Ryuji-senpai…"
"Still, I gotta hand it to ya. You really helped me keep my cool. I'm glad I had you there with me to face those guys," Ryuji gave his friend a dumb grin. "Thanks for havin' my back."
Even if his contribution was weak, Ryuji's words brought some relief to Izuku. "We promised to have each other's backs, so I'll keep doing what I can!"
"Same here!" The faux blond laughed, raising a hand for a high five. Izuku quickly returned it, but was mildly surprised by how much force Ryuji put behind it, causing him to swing his arm back and blow on his now stinging hand.
But Izuku laughed along despite the painful high five. If he could help Ryuji just by being there so he wasn't facing his troubles alone, then he would be more than happy to do it.
*SMASH*
Izuku winced when he heard the chains snap in his ear.
Chariot Link: Rank 3
Despite the abrupt timing of the Link's appearance, Izuku smiled.
These kind of things shouldn't be made so obvious, but… It's nice to know we've become closer.
"Man, you shoulda said more!"
Ryuji and Izuku paused, looking back to see Nakaoka and Takeishi arguing further down the hall.
"Huh?! You got a problem now?!"
"I guess they're not as tight-knit as I thought. Now they're at each other's throats," Ryuji sighed, both amused and saddened by the scene. "Well, not my problem. I don't think I'd be able to help much, so I'll stay out of it."
"Y-Yeah, that might be best," Izuku chuckled sheepishly.
Three days of exams passed by slowly. With the amount of work and studying they had to do for each exam, Izuku and the others didn't try to waste time after school, instead using the time to study together. Izuku invited Makoto to join them as well. Considering her workload, she was only able to join them one of the days. Even then, they spent little time doing that, as the exams left them all mentally drained. Ann and Ryuji more so than their junior.
Izuku felt confident in the answers he filled in for each exam. They were more exhausting in length rather than difficulty for Izuku.
Ryuji on the other hand…
"Man~... I'm so tired… My brain hurts… I'm so glad today's the last day…"
"Only one more exam and then we have off tomorrow. Though I'll probably take the day to recharge and sleep," Izuku chuckled, smiling at the faux blond. "Did you get anymore studying in?"
"Ryuji? Still studying? I doubt that," Morgana teased, causing the faux blond to wince.
"Shaddap! I did a little bit… I was gonna stay up and play games instead, but I felt I woulda been wasting your help if I did that," Ryuji sighed, wearily rubbing his head before grinning. "Thanks for all the help, by the way. I don't know if I did good or not, but I made sure I got through each exam to the end."
"Same here. Thanks," Ann said, yawning as she approached the three. "I felt a little more confident during exams thanks to your notes. A lot of the work felt way less tedious to go over."
"O-Of course! I'm happy to help!" Izuku said, blushing in embarrassment at the praise as he rubbed his neck.
"Sadly, I don't think any amount of simplification would make it easier for Ryuji to remember," Morgana said, taking another pot shot at the faux blond.
"Hey, eff off! My brain is bigger than yours right now, you know?! You don't got room to talk!"
"Guys, stop it. It's a bit early to argue," Izuku said, once again playing peacemaker.
"Yeah, can it would you? I don't want to forget everything that I…" Ann trailed off, a small shiver going up her spine. She snapped her head around, searching the crowd warily.
Ryuji raised a brow. "Somethin' wrong? You look spooked.".
"N-No, just… I don't know. Nothing, I guess…" Ann muttered unconvincingly, causing her three companions to look at each other in confusion.
"If something's bothering you, you can tell us," Izuku suggested, his lip curling down in worry.
"Well… I'll tell you on the train, okay?" Ann said in a whisper, causing Ryuji and Izuku to blink but nod in agreement.
They didn't wait long for their line to pull into the station, the three piling on with the rest of the crowd. Izuku and Ryuji made sure to stay close to Ann, though Izuku struggled to keep his composure even though he was behind her. The fact that they had little room with so many people on the train didn't help.
"I think there's a guy stalking me," Ann whispered suddenly, causing Izuku to forget his current nervousness.
"What?! Who would dare stalk Lady Ann?! Though I suppose I can't totally blame them…" Morgana whispered, poking his nose out of Izuku's bag.
"Wh-Who is it? Have you seen them?" Izuku asked, taking the situation very seriously.
"Are you sure you're not just imaginin' things?" Ryuji asked with little interest, causing Ann to glare back at him.
"I don't know! But I could swear I've seen him around before. It feels way too weird to just be coincidence!"
"O-Okay. Do you see him now?" Izuku asked, trying to approach this with tact.
"He got on in one of the doors further down. You can't see him right now, but I know he's on."
"Okay. We'll see how far he follows you. If he follows us off the train, we'll decide what to do from there."
The train soon stopped at Shibuya station, letting the three off and head for the escalator. Ann kept an eye out for her supposed stalker, widening her eyes when she caught sight of him a ways back from them.
"He got off on our line too! Th-This is bad, right?" Ann asked, looking at Izuku for guidance.
"M-Maybe. It may just be coincidence, but we should find out for sure…" Izuku trailed off, tilting his head and holding his chin in thought. "We could-"
"Ahhh~..."
Izuku and Ann looked at the yawning Ryuji in clear disappointment. Despite their worries, he still seemed disinterested as before.
"At least act like you care!" Ann snapped, placing her hands on her hips.
"Ugh… fine…" Ryuji scratched the back of his head tiredly before suddenly walking ahead of Ann and Izuku. "Come on."
The two blinked in surprise but quickly followed after him.
Izuku waited around the corner of the tunnel exit, Ryuji on the opposite end with Ann standing alone as bait a few meters ahead of them. It was a simple plan by Ryuji: fish the supposed stalker out by leaving Ann in the open. Nothing complicated, yet as effective as it needed to be.
"I don't like leaving Lady Ann alone like this," Morgana whispered in Izuku's ear.
"We're right here, Morgana-san. Nothing's going to happen to her," Izuku reassured, keeping his eyes forward as he waited for anyone to approach the platinum blonde.
After another moment, a lone boy stepped off the escalator. They couldn't make out his full detail from their position, but his gaze was definitely set on Ann. He slowly began to step forward, a hand reaching out from his side toward the platinum blonde. Izuku spared a glance at Ryuji and the two nodded, quickly jogging up in front of him and cutting the teen off. Ann quickly whipped around, now taking a look at her supposed stalker with the other two.
Izuku couldn't help but raise a brow. When most people picture stalkers, they're usually older men or sweaty creeps who look like they hadn't left their house in weeks. Izuku knew this wasn't always the case of course, but looking at their perp, it was hard to picture him as a stalker.
He was a pale-skinned young man around Ann and Ryuji's age with slender, handsome features. He had short, dark blue hair that stopped at his neck. He wore a white uniform button-up shirt, though Izuku didn't recognize the emblem on his breast pocket. He wore black slacks and loafers, with a large ring of keys hanging from his belt.
Despite the situation, the pale skinned teen looked at Izuku and Ryuji in confusion, lowering his arm with a curious look on his face. Ryuji and Izuku took a moment to look him up and down, looking for any of the tell-tale signs stalker: aside glances, traces of drool, sweaty, anxious palms, conspicuous gloves, pictures, or cameras… but they found nothing.
Ryuji looked back at Ann. "Are you sure you're not just bein' insecure?"
"Wh-What?! I'm not that-"
"I'm sorry, but is something the matter?" The boy asked this time, causing the three to snap their eyes back forward. Irritated, Ann slipped past Ryuji and Izuku, pointing a finger in his face.
"That's my line! You're the one who's been stalking me!" Ann accused.
"Stalking you? Why, that's preposterous." The teen dismissed, pushing a strand of hair out of his face. His voice was silky smooth, without an inkling of guilt or apprehension.
"Then why are you following me?! I know I saw you trailing behind us ever since the first station!" Ann declared, gritting her teeth in irritation. Izuku and Ryuji moved to her sides, watching him in case he tried anything funny.
"Well, that's because…" He trailed off, his attention pulled away by the honking of a car's horn. The four turning to the street to see a black sedan pulling up next to them. The back passenger window rolled down to reveal an elderly gentleman. His hair was long in the back and tied in a unkept ponytail. He had an aged, wrinkled face with a thin, gray mustache on his lips and a puff of beard on his chin. He wore an olive-colored haori over a teal kimono.
"My, I was wondering why you left the car. So this is where your passion led, hm?" The elderly man said with a gentle smile.
"Ah, sensei," the strange boy called out to the elderly man with familiarity.
"At least you were able to catch her. Alls well that ends well, I suppose," The gentlemen laughed gently.
"S-Sensei?" Ann repeated in confusion.
"Ah, forgive me. You see, I saw you passing by from our car. I couldn't help myself and gave chase. I didn't even notice Sensei calling out to me. Thank goodness I was able to catch up to you," The strange teen explained, though it didn't help to explain why.
"Okay…" Ann mumbled, rubbing the back of her head.
"B-But why? Why are you so interested in Ann-senpai for?" Izuku asked, raising a brow in question.
"She is the woman I've been searching for all this time! She is the only one who can fill this void! I once saw her in a restaurant and felt my passion burn, but missed the chance to speak with her. But to have found her again so soon must be fate pushing us together!" He exclaimed passionately, taking a step closer to Ann. "Please, won't you…"
"W-Wait a minute! Thi-This is really-"
"-Be the model for my next painting?!"
That silenced the three, taking a moment to process his request.
"Huh?"
(Persona 5 OST: My Homie)
"M-Model?" Ann repeated.
"All that I've drawn up to this point has felt empty. I lack the proper inspiration to feel fulfilled as I work. But upon seeing you, I felt my passion return with a furious blaze!"
"T-This man is highly suspicious!" Morgana huffed, kicking around in Izuku's shoulder bag.
"Yeah… this seems like some sorta shady business recruiting…" Ryuji mumbled in suspicion.
"So will you aid me? Please, what do you say?" Yusuke asked again, ignoring Ryuji's presence.
"Hold your horses, man! Who're you, anyway?!" Ryuji snapped, stepping in front of Ann to put distance between them.
"Oh, where are my manners. I'm a second-year at Kosei High's fine arts division. My name is Yusuke Kitagawa," He explained, taking a step forward and nudging Ryuji out of the way. Ann took a step back despite this, still overwhelmed by his offer. "I am a pupil of Madarame-sensei's who is being allowed residence at his studio. I'm striving to become an artist."
Ann gasped. "W-Wait, do you mean THAT Madarame? The one who was on 'Good Morning Japan' the other day?"
"The very same," Yusuke confirmed.
"You know who that is?" Ryuji asked.
"He was introduced as a super-famous Japanese-style artist recognized around the world!" Ann explained, though Izuku felt a small sense of deja vu.
Madarame was the name of the man who destroyed our Mementos target's future… but that seems way too convenient to be the same person, right?
"Yusuke!" The elderly man in the car called out.
"I'll be right there!" Yusuke answered, suddenly looking a bit rushed.
"So that's Madarame?" Ryuji questioned, though Yusuke's focus was back on Ann.
"Madarame-sensei's exhibition will begin at the department store near the station starting tomorrow. I'll be there to help out on opening day. I'd like for you to come by. It'd be great if you could give me your answer in regards to being my model then…"
He spared a glance at Ryuji and Izuku, a more obligatorily courteous expression crossing his features. "I doubt either of you are interested in the fine arts, but I'll provide you with tickets as well. If only to help motivate her to accept my proposal."
That was really blunt… Izuku thought to himself, feeling a bead of sweat roll down his cheek.
"I do hope you'll come by. Please seriously consider my offer. Good day," Yusuke said, turning back to the car before sparing Ann a smile. She didn't answer immediately, the three watching as he climbed into the car and drove off with Madarame.
"Well that was strange…" Ryuji huffed, unsure what to make of the encounter. "You're not actually goin' tomorrow, are you?"
"Actually, I think I will…" Ann answered with a thoughtful hum.
"Huh?" Izuku and Ryuji blurted, shocked by her sudden interest.
"Oh crap, we've gotta go! We're gonna be late!" Ann exclaimed, looking at her watch before quickly running off.
"Ah-shit! She's right! We gotta hoof it!" Ryuji declared, seeing the time displayed on his phone before running after her.
"O-Okay!" Izuku quickly followed after.
"Are you guys seriously ignoring what just happened?! How dare this Yusuke Kitagawa pursue Lady Ann!" Morgana complained, poking his head out of the bag despite the fact that Izuku started running. "I'll remember his face!"
(My Hero Academia OST: Unwind)
"It's finally over~!" Ann stretched out, a relieved smile on her face.
"Finally over…" Ryuji grumbled, far less enthusiastic by comparison.
"I'm glad you both made it through. How do you think you did on the last exams?" Izuku asked, in good spirits considering what little trouble he had with his own.
"Not too bad. Thanks again for your help," Ann smiled, giving him a thumbs up.
"Great. I guess that means I'll be the only one who failed, huh?" Ryuji sighed, rubbing his neck tiredly. "Sorry if your help ends up goin' to waste, Izuku…"
"I'm sure Izuku wasn't expecting much. Don't worry," Morgana answered before the green haired teen could, immediately poking fun at the faux blond.
"Sh-Shaddap! What's done is done! Either way, our scores will be out next week. So instead of worryin' about what's done, why don't we focus on our next target?" Ryuji suggested, pulling out his phone.
"Oh! Anything new on the site?" Ann asked.
"No, not really… I've been browsin' it all week while studyin', but nothin' really big. People are startin' to post less, too," Ryuji admitted in disappointment.
"Well… we knew we wouldn't get a big target that easily," Izuku said, but kept an optimistic smile. "But we shouldn't let that stop us. Heroes do small jobs like cleaning up parks and helping out with smaller jobs all the time! We might not be able to become big yet, but we can work slowly with smaller Shadow cases in Mementos."
"That's the spirit! I won't see us become a one-hit wonder either. Even if we have to do a bunch of odd jobs before our big catch, we should!" Morgana encouraged.
"Yeah, you guys are right. No need to get worked up about it now," Ann agreed, giving a smile in agreement. "Hey, why don't we go get some lunch? We've got money left over from the medal, right?"
"Yeah, we still have plenty. I think lunch would be a good way to celebrate exams ending," Izuku nodded.
"Oh, then let's get some sushi! Or-wait! Some domestic-raised eel!"
"We don't have that much, Ryuji-senpai…" Izuku laughed sheepishly. He had to keep their inventory and medicine in mind for future Mementos and Palace visits, after all.
"Yeah, no kidding. It'll probably be a while before we eat like we did at that buffet again," Ann grumbled, the memory causing her to long for it. "Oh, plus we've got those tickets to Madarame's exhibit! Oh wait, that's tomorrow though."
"So you're really goin' to that, huh?" Ryuji asked, mildly surprised.
"Of course! We got free tickets, and this Madarame guy is supposed to have really amazing art!" Ann said, grinning with anticipation.
"W-Wait, don't tell me… you're really going there for that Yusuke guy! W-Was it love at first sight?!" Morgana gasped, fearing the worst had come to pass.
"No, it's nothing like that!" Ann dismissed, rolling her eyes.
"O-Of course! Wh-What a foolish thought, right?" Morgana laughed uneasily, feeling embarrassed.
"Smooth, dude," said Ryuji.
"Aside from the art, I wanna scope out this Madarame guy. We did hear his name in Mementos, after all," Ann pointed out, causing Izuku and Ryuji to raise a brow.
"You really think it's the same guy, though?" Ryuji asked curiously.
"It does seem hard to believe. If so, that would be awfully convenient," Izuku suggested, only for Ann to shrug.
"Who knows. It could just be a coincidence, but we might as well check it out. It's not like we have any other targets to look at, right?" Izuku and Ryuji looked at each other and shrugged. She wasn't wrong, after all.
"So~, you guys want to come along? He did give me two extra tickets," Ann asked, looking at the two expectantly.
"A fine arts exhibit, huh?" Ryuji drawled out, the idea sounding more boring than anything to him.
"I don't really know much about art, but I wouldn't mind going. And if it really does turn into a case, we should all work together on it," Izuku smiled, nodding in agreement.
"We should definitely have all hands on deck. I have a feeling that Lady Ann's intuition may be on the mark for us," Morgana chimed in. "Besides, appreciating the fine arts builds character. As Phantom Thieves, we should also be able to tell real art from fakes. Right?"
"Well, I guess if everyone's goin'..." Ryuji conceded in the end.
"Then it's settled! We'll meet at the exhibit tomorrow!" Ann declared, excitedly swaying her arms back and forth at her side. "Going to an 'art exhibit' really makes us sound mature though, huh?"
"Well, at least you're happy about it," Izuku laughed. "But before that, let's go get some lunch."
"Sounds good to me!" Ryuji agreed, the four moving to step back out of Shibuya station. After reaching the top entrance though, they could hear a commotion down the street, the cheers and woots of mainly men filling echoing in the distance.
"What's going on?" Ann asked, tilting her head in question.
"Well, it's on the way to the main street. Might as well find out," Ryuji shrugged, walking toward the crowd out of curiosity. Izuku and Ann followed, seeing no reason not to.
As they approached, the uproar of cheers grew louder. Accompanying it though, they could hear pop music playing over the crowd. It was similar to what most idols would play when performing live or online.
"Was there supposed to be a live event in Shibuya today?" Ann asked, raising a brow as they stopped just close enough to the crowd to not be caught up in the mass of fans.
"Not that I heard. Seems strange that there'd be one right on the sidewalk, too," Ryuji pointed out, scratching his head in wonder.
"We love you, Pop Step~!"
"You're so gorgeous!"
"Pop Step? That sounds familiar…" Izuku trailed off in thought, looking around to see if he could peek past the crowd. He soon noticed that their heads were tilted skyward, shifting his gaze up and widening his eyes. "L-Look! Up there!"
Ann and Ryuji looked up, widening their eyes as they saw a girl falling through the air.
"H-Holy shit she's falling!"
"Wh-What the heck is everyone just-"
As the girl fell past the crowd, they immediately saw her bounce back through the air. The three gawked at the display.
"Come on everybody, let's hear those voices~!"
"POP STEP~!" the crowd cheered as the Thieves jumped in surprise.
"W-Wait, what just happened?! She's completely fine?!" Ryuji cried out, a brow raised in confusion.
"I-It must be her Quirk that protects her. I guess it's not flight, but something that allows her to bound safely despite the height…" Izuku explained, watching the girl closer this time.
"Wow, that's pretty awesome. It certainly seems like a cool Quirk for an idol to use as a gimmick for their show," Ann praised, watching as Pop Step descended again before immediately bouncing back through the air.
"Interesting. So this is what an 'idol' is in Japan, huh?" Morgana said, popping his head out to observe for himself.
"A-Ah! Now I remember! I saw an article on her a while back!" Izuku said as the realization hit him. "She's actually performing illegally and using her Quirk without approval! She performs in a lot of random spots to avoid getting caught by the police."
"An illegal idol, huh? That's a surprise," Ann hmm'd, smiling up at Pop Step in admiration. "The idol scene is pretty tough, so I'm sure she's had trouble breaking into it on her own. Still, I have to give it to her. She hasn't let that stop her from being what she wants to be."
With their interest piqued and their fears washed away, the group stood closer to watch Pop Step's performance.
"You know, using her flashy Quirk as a draw is pretty smart, but… She's actually not that great of a singer," Ann declared with a bit of disappointment.
"Heh, no kiddin'. But check out her outfit and you'll see the actual draw," Ryuji said, a cheeky grin on his lips. Izuku took a closer look at Pop Step as she sailed through the air, getting a better look at her appearance.
She had long, poofy pink hair that was tied up in twin tails. She had a black painted mask over her eyes, likely to help conceal her actual identity. What stuck out though was her outfit, which made Izuku blush a bit. It was a revealing one-piece black leotard, her thighs and hips exposed under a black super miniskirt with knee-high black boots, elbow-length fingerless gloves and a heart-shaped breast window.
"Makes sense, don't it? Most of the crowd are guys, after all."
"Geez, don't get stuck being one of her fans, too," Ann grumbled, elbowing him in the side when she saw the smirk on his face..
"She's pretty good at drawing a crowd, at least. You have to give her that."
The three turned to see a young man approaching them. He looked a bit older than they were, in the face at least. He was around Ryuji's height, with tired eyes and short dark brown hair. He wore a yellow zip-up hoodie with the word "BLAST" plastered across the chest in big, bold letters along with a simple pair of black slacks and white tennis shoes.
He looked at the group before rubbing his head sheepishly. "O-Oh, sorry if I'm bothering you while you watch the show. I'm the… so-called bouncer and lookout for this concert. You guys seemed pretty chill so I thought I'd take a break by you."
"Don't worry about it. We just stopped by to take a look. This crowd does seem pretty rowdy," Ann said, glancing back at the crowd mostly populated by men. "How many bouncers do you guys have?"
"W-Well… technically two, but the other guy doesn't show up to these things that often. It's not like she pays us, after all…" He admitted, looking more run down as he talked about it. "Having to look out for rowdy fans and the cops can be pretty tiresome."
"S-Seems like you have your work cut out for you…" Izuku said in sympathy. It was hard not to feel bad for the lone bouncer given the size of the crowd.
"The favors you do for friends, right?" he laughed with little energy.
"Hey, watch where you're steppin'! I'm tryin' to get a good view of Pop Step!"
"How 'bout you don't trip over nothin', asshole!"
The bouncer looked ahead, grumbling as he saw two enthusiastic fans start fighting.
"Welp, back to work. At least I got a little break…"
"Good luck," Ann said, waving goodbye as he trotted toward the argument. "She should really find that guy help."
"Yeah, no kiddin'. He looks like he's barely standing," Ryuji huffed, raising a brow as he watched the bouncer get between the two fans.
"Huh?! You sayin' somethin' now, dead eyes?!"
"Pl-Please stop fighting. You're gonna ruin the event for others!"
"Hah~?! Just back off and get outta the way!"
Despite his title, the bouncer was having a lot of trouble handling the two fans, recoiling as their anger was directed toward him. Izuku soon realized that the bouncer wasn't the best at his job. But as he looked on, his attention was torn away by another interesting sight: several police cars fast approaching from the intersection. Their sirens were off, probably to catch Pop Step off guard.
"U-Um-Bouncer-san! Th-There are some police cars coming!" Izuku called out, causing Ryuji and Ann to look down the street in panic. Despite his calls, the bouncer was still preoccupied with the two fans shouting in his face.
"C-Crap, they're almost here!" Ryuji blurted, looking at Ann and Izuku. "Should we hightail it outta here?"
"Calm down, they're probably only after Pop Step. But we have to warn her before they get here!" Ann declared, looking up at the still bouncing "idol". "I don't want to see her get in trouble!"
"O-Okay! We'll get see if we can get her to look at us and the street! Start waving!" Izuku told them, the three spreading their arms and waving them as sporadically as possible. At first, Pop Step continued to fall and bounce without taking notice. But as she ascended once again, her eyes trailed to them for a brief moment. Seeing their chance, the gang immediately began to motion to the street, hoping that she would understand what they were trying to say.
Pop Step tilted her head in question before following their direction. She descended toward the ground again before bouncing back up. Looking at the three directly, Pop Step gave them a wink of appreciation.
"Sorry, my wonderful fans! It looks like we'll be cutting this short for today! Thank you all for coming and showing your support! Please try to watch out for my next show~!"
With that announcement, Pop Step bounded against the wall of a building close by, using it to bounce over the top and escape without another word.
"Hell yeah, we did it!" Ryuji cheered, turning to Ann and Izuku and giving them a high five.
"Good job, team! We helped save Pop Step's career!" Ann declared, pumping a fist in the air.
"W-We should probably get going too in case the police start questioning the crowd," said Izuku. He glanced back to see the bouncer looking around in confusion as the crowd began dispersing before beginning to take off as well. He then dropped on all fours, but his hands and feet didn't touch the ground, instead hovering a few inches off of it. He suddenly took off, evading the police by swerving through the fleeing crowd.
"Huh. That's a weird Quirk. But hey, at least it helps him get out," Ryuji laughed before pulling Izuku along. "This way, we'll cut through the alley!"
"A-Ah, right!" Izuku agreed, following close behind Ryuji and Ann.
That was a weird turn of events. Oh, well. It was interesting to see an event like that live, even if illegal. I doubt I'll see them again, though.
To be continued…
Thanks as always goes to my beta reppuzan for his quick work and help on the chapter!
Hey there, everyone! Long time no see, sorry for the delay! I was finishing out summer school classes and working on some other projects that needed my attention before this chapter. Thank you all for your patience!
A few things were accomplished this chapter. Iwai's confidant was finally started, Makoto's mind is finally starting to lean, and we finally introduced art boy Yusuke! Oh, and don't forget about the introduction of the Illegals! In case you're wondering, yes, they are going to be showing up again!
Something I want to clear up beforehand though, I am aware that the timeline for their story is somewhere before the start of the main series timeline of MHA. well, since this isn't the exact same universe, I decided to shift their timeline to match up with this story! I won't say as to why, but those who have read the Vigilante's manga will understand why. Which, if you haven't, you should as it's a fairly fun and enjoyable spin-off from the series! Definitely worth your time :)
Alright, that about does it for this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed, please remember to leave a follow, a favorite and a comment if you'd be so kind!