Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona series.

Chapter 28

Yusuke's eyes were glued to the painting in his hands. He hadn't realized the Treasure from the Palace would materialize in the real world like this. He barely paid any mind to the others, inspecting the woman and child with great fixation. "The true Sayuri…"

"You're not gonna get all teary-eyed and say stuff like 'mom', are ya?"

Yusuke pulled his gaze away from the painting, sparing a glance at Ryuji.

"Ow!"

Just in time to see Makoto give him a swift kick in the side. Yusuke couldn't stop a small smirk from playing on his lips, watching as Makoto glared down at Ryuji while he could only pout silently.

"To think this painting would be the cause of his distortion," Yusuke said, his eyes trailing back to the true Sayuri. "The only saving grace is that my mother won't know what transpired."

"Considering that the original painting has been altered back at Madarame's atelier, this is now the last real self portrait of your mother, ironically enough," Morgana said, Yusuke hearing the sympathy in his voice.

"It might have taken some time, but… it's finally back in your hands, Yusuke," Ann said, giving a kind smile.

"I'm thankful for it," Yusuke said, giving his own gentle smile as he stared down at the painting. "However, it's impossible for this painting to be acknowledged by society, now."

"That's a shame… but maybe that's not so bad," Izuku said this time, his expression thoughtful. "After all, your mom made it for you. Not for anyone else."

It was difficult for Yusuke to reconcile to the two sides of Izuku Midoriya. In the Metaverse, he was a fearless leader who commanded unquestioning loyalty. But in the real world, he was soft-spoken and considerate.

"You're right… perhaps having this painting to myself is for the best," Yusuke nodded, looking at the woman. "So, this is my mother… there's no way I would remember her face clearly, but I was right about that rush of emotion I felt when looking upon it."

The others remained silent, giving Yusuke a moment as he cherished the painting. He stroked his fingers across the woman's face, doing his best to recall his mother. But no matter how hard he tried, it seemed to be-

*burp*

The quiet peace Yusuke had was rudely interrupted by a belch. Yusuke's eyes trailed back up, looking to see Ann grimacing.

"Stop that!"

"I will smack you again," Makoto threatened, her red eyes narrowing at Ryuji. Yusuke hadn't known the third year student long, but he was quite aware by now just how scary she could be.

"S-Sorry. So, what are you gonna do now?" Ryuji asked, trying to avoid eye contact with Makoto. "We're gonna keep goin' after bad guys like Madarame from here on out.

Yusuke tucked the painting under his arm. "Why do you pursue villains like Madarame?"

"To get back at shitty adults and… society in general, I guess," Ryuji admitted. "And to give courage to people who're sufferin' 'cause of selfish adults."

"Heroes do everything they can to save people, but sometimes it isn't enough," Izuku said this time, his brow knitting seriously. "People sometimes get overlooked. They lose the courage to stand up for themselves because they feel like they've been forgotten or ignored. We want to save people who feel that waythat and give them the strength to move forward."

"Courage, hm? You mean courage to stand up for themselves?" Yusuke asked, holding the tip of his chin in thought. "Will that make them happy?"

"Maybe not right away. If it was that easy we'd all be happy," Makoto shook her head, standing next to their leader. "But giving them that courage is the first step towards letting them seek it for themselves."

"Yeah. Who knows if it'll turn out good for everyone," Ryuji nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "But we won't know until we try."

"In other words, it all depends on the person…" Yusuke muttered, a satisfied smile spreading across his lips. "The same could be said about myself. I also suffered at the hands of a selfish adult. Moreover, if we investigate these Palaces, it may expand my artistic repertoire."

"You really do only think about art, huh? You're impressive," Ryuji smirked at him.

"So, you'll stay on the team with us?" Ann asked with some eagerness.

"Yes, if you'll have me. I won't take part in any inelegant plans, though."

"Don't worry! Makoto and Izuku have got us covered on that front," Ann giggled, causing Ryuji to roll his eyes. "Besides, we have a rule that says we decide on targets unanimously."

"We'd be happy to have you stay on the team, Kitagawa-san. If that's really what you want to do," Izuku said, giving the artist a dazzling smile.

"No complaints on my end. We'll be counting on you, Kitagawa-kun," said Makoto.

"We'll definitely be able to give our calling cards some extra oomph with Yusuke's help." Morgana nodded in agreement.

"I will try and live up to those expectations," Yusuke said, giving a short bow of his head. The smile he had fell for a moment, his eyes falling to the ground. "I… I wasn't able to do much against Madarame's Shadow in the end. I promise to improve."

"Huh? W-What do you mean? You did-"

"No. As his former student, I should have played a much larger role in his defeat. Part of me feels I was unable to contribute as much as I should have," Yusuke cut Izuku off, shaking his head. "But I lacked the strength and wit to make much of a difference in the fight. It was thanks to all of you we succeeded."

"It wasn't all on you, Yusuke. It was all of us, working together," Ann said with concerned eyes.

"I'm aware. And don't worry, I won't dwell on this for long. Instead, I will push myself to improve so I might be able to change the tide of battle if need be." Yusuke declared, surprising the others with his conviction.*

The others looked at one another, sharing small smiles of understanding before Izuku spoke first. "I understand, Kitagawa-san. I look forward to seeing how you improve!"

"I will do my utmost to stand by those words.".

"Hey, since you're officially a member of the team, we all need to exchange contacts with you!" Ann pointed out.

"That makes sense to me. Let's." Yusuke pulled out his phone along with everyone else, using their infrared sensors exchange their contacts in an instant. "There. I'll be ready for a call whenever you need me."

"I'll be sure to add you to the group chat whenever I get the chance." said Izuku with a nod. There was the enthusiasm that Yusuke also saw in their leader from time to time. He was still a bit of a quandry to Yusuke, even though they already trusted each other with their lives.

Perhaps a chance will arise to change that.

"Setting that aside, the thing Madarame said about another intruder is still bugging me…" Morgana sighed, bring Yusuke out of his thoughts.

"The only clue we have was that they wore a black mask. For all we know, there could be more than one person, too." Ann pointed out.

"And with the Palace gone, there's no way for us to find out more." Ryuji sighed, kicking the ground beneath his feet.

"Perhaps I can find something out," Yusuke volunteered, giving a hopeful smile. "If Madarame knows anything, I'll be sure to try and find out about it."

"Are you sure?" Ann said with a sympathetic frown, but Yusuke shook his head.

"It'll be best if I keep an eye on him until his confession, either way." He shook his head. "I'd like to help in any way I can."

"Considering it only happened in the Palace, I doubt Madarame knows about it, but… maybe there's a chance he does know something," Izuku gave a brisk nod of approval. "We'll leave it to you, Kitagawa-san."

"I'll see what I can discern." Yusuke said, smiling at his trust. "Still, it seems I'll be a man of two trades from here on… an artist and a phantom thief. Well, you only live once, after all."

Ryuji and Ann gave him odd looks while Makoto and Izuku laughed a bit sheepishly.

"What is it? Was it something I said?"

"You have expelled one who was once stained in vanity. You are now one step closer to completing your rehabilitation. This is a delightful thing, indeed."

"Th-Thanks…" Izuku nodded. It had been some time since he was last summoned to the Velvet Room through his dreams rather than walking in of his own volition. So when he woke up in the cell, he was admittedly a bit surprised and somewhat out of it.

"Speak louder when showing gratitude, inmate! You just received praise from our master!" Caroline snapped, putting her knuckles on her hips.

"Th-Thank you very much!" Izuku squeaked, giving a deep bow.

"It is of little importance. What is troubling is the information you learned," Igor said, causing Izuku to look back up at him with wide eyes. "It seems another has found their way into the Metaverse. This is troubling news, indeed."

"You know about that..? Can you tell me who it is?!" Izuku asked.

"That is beyond my knowledge," Igor's denial immediately caused Izuku to deflate. "But what is for certain is your rehabilitation is progressing smoothly. May your devotion to your rehabilitation grow even deeper. I have high hopes for you."

Izuku could only sigh, disappointed he couldn't learn more regarding the 'black masked' intruder. Still, it was undeniable that Igor was putting more trust in him, now.

*SMASH*

Fool Confidant: RANK FOUR

"So… nothin' outta Madarame yet?"

"No… not yet."

Izuku and Ryuji slurped up piping hot ramen noodles. Ryuji had offered to take Izuku out, wanting to take a load off and relax after their taxing days spent closing up the Palace. He was surprised that they were going all the way to Ogikubo for a bowl of ramen, but Izuku now understood why, his taste buds being taken for a ride. Ramen was a common commodity around Shibuya, but this little shop seemed to make a particularly flavorful broth.

"Man, I love me some good noodles! Ramen's perfect after a workout!" Ryuji grinned as he leaned back in his seat. "Light soup is perfect after a run, y'know?"

"I never would have thought about having ramen after working out, to be honest," Izuku smiled back, slurping up another bundle of noodles. "This place really is something special."

"Right?! It's far as hell, but it's totally worth it!" Ryuji gave a fervent nod. "We used to come here after practice sometimes and…" Izuku frowned as Ryuji hesitated, the joy gone from his expression. "Uh. I guess that's all in the past." An awkward silence followed, Ryuji scratching at his chest.

"Is everything okay?" Izuku asked, unsure what he could do to fix the mood.

"Nah, it's fine, just… I've seen Nakoaka and the others a few times after that whole thing." Ryuji bit his bottom lip. "But for some reason, it don't look like he's gettin' along with the others great."

"I see… are you worried about him?"

"Yeah… kinda." Ryuji glumly admitted. "I've been thinkin' about everything he said, about how the whole track team were puttin' up with Kamoshida's shit. And how I 'effed it all up for 'em. I think they're right." Izuku's eyes trailed to his bowl, his stomach twisting in conflict as he recalled their tongue lashing. It still upset him deeply. "They don't even got a locker room. They stash their stuff behind the gym, now. They can't even use any of the school gear, so they just jog around the block for practice… I-"

"Ryuji-senpai." Izuku found his courage, meeting the faux blond's eyes. "You shouldn't have to carry that guilt."

Ryuji bristled at Izuku's words, blinking. "What do you mean?"

Izuku's lips formed into a thin line. He hadn't wanted to intrude on the topic, but Ryuji was honestly his best friend. If he was going to meddle, it would be for him. "You might have been the one to get the team in trouble, but… the team should have supported you."

Ryuji's breath caught in his throat for a moment, looking for the right words as he scratched his head. "I… guess, but you know what it was like bein' under Kamoshida. No one could stand up to him."

"You did." Izuku's eyes hardened. "When everyone else was scared, you stood up to him. Not just when you were in track, but even when our lives were at stake."

Izuku never forgot the awe he felt when Ryuji had taken a stand to save him. A complete stranger, and Ryuji had acted without hesitation to put himself out there for Izuku. He had failed to think up a real escape, but Ryuji's actions spurned him into acting. They had both moved without thinking, hoping to save the other. It was another trait that Izuku felt they shared, even if not mentioned.

"A lotta good that did me, though. They woulda just got the same treatment." Ryuji denied, looking away as the guilt mounted.

"Maybe… but-"

"Look, it's okay man. I gotta live with their hate and I don't blame 'em for it." Ryuji dismissed his words but gave Izuku a smile. "Still… thanks for tryin' to make me feel better about it."

Izuku opened his mouth but closed it silently. It didn't look like he was going to convince Ryuji anytime soon to not bear that guilt. Ryuji was stubborn like that, and would take all blame rather than rightfully point out their own failings as a team.

I might not be able to convince him now, but…

"Ryuji-senpai." Izuku met his eyes again, giving him a confident smile. "If we ever have to face a problem like that again, we'll take whatever consequences on together."

Ryuji's eyes turned wide as plates. "Where'd that come from?"

Izuku suddenly felt flustered, realizing that it might have sounded like he was trying to be cool. "W-Well, I'm just saying that if you run into trouble like that again, I'll support you no matter what." Izuku readjusted in his seat and smiled again. "We're all outcasts in one way or another… and we stick together. We're your team now, after all."

Ryuji looked stumped by his words, briefly silent before grinning bashfully. "Hehe, you're pretty good at makin' little speeches like that now, ya know?" Ryuji punched his shoulder lightly. "Thanks, leader. You're right. We met everyone 'cuz we're outcasts, so it ain't so bad! Let's get into all kinds of crazy shit together!"

"Right!" Izuku felt truly close with Ryuji. He had become the one person he felt he could do anything with. The first person, aside from Makoto, that Izuku felt like would go through hell and back with and for him. And he would do the same.

*SMASH*

Chariot Confidant: RANK FOUR

"Ah, this is perfect! I think big places like this are just what I need for my training!"

"O-Okay, then. T-Though I'm still not sure what kind of training this is…" Izuku laughed sheepishly, sitting in front of Ann. She had asked to go out after school, mentioning something about 'training her heart' before taking Izuku to Inokashira Park.

"Well, like I said, we're gonna work on the strength of my heart!" Ann declared. She put her hands on her hips as she straightened out. "Morgana said that Personas grow stronger when our hearts do, right? Well, I think I've figured out the perfect way to do it!"

"O-Oh? How's that?" Izuku asked, unsure of what Ann might have cooked up for them.

"I think having a strong heart means not letting anything get under your skin." Ann raised her index finger. "So basically, I want you to say stuff to me, and I'll try and not be fazed by it!"

"O-Oh… I guess that… makes sense…" Izuku's eyes trailed to the side, a bead of sweat trailing down his cheek.

I think she's on the right track, but… I doubt this will help.

"Right? Okay, Izuku. Hit me with your best shot!" Ann said, puffing her chest out as she waited for him to start.

"O-Oh, right now?! Um-okay, uh…" Izuku fished for the worst insults he could muster. "Yo-You're um… n-not very smart!"

"Come on, you can do better than that!" Ann said, giving him a soft glare. "Make it hurt!"

"Y-You're a… a d-dumbass!" Izuku visibly cringed after saying the word. "S-Sorry! I-"

"No, that's better! Keep it up!" Ann encouraged.

"Y-You're… not dressed… properly?"

"Okay…"

"A-And you're t-too… pretty?"

"Oh, why thank you-wait, that's not what you're supposed to be doing!" Ann complained, stomping a foot as she caught herself. Izuku threw his arms up in surrender, looking away from Ann in shame. "You're supposed to bring on the insults!"

"I don't think I'm… very good at that…" Izuku admitted with a shy laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Ryuji-senpai would probably be better for this…"

"Ugh. Knowing him, he'd probably take it too far and piss me off." Ann hugging her arms around her chest. She blinked, holding her chin in thought. "Wait, maybe that's a good thing for this training? Still… every time we hang out, he likes to push my buttons. Oh, I know! You'll basically be the first level of training to beat before moving onto Ryuji at level two!"

"Um…" Izuku finally sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Sorry, Ann-senpai, I'll be honest. I don't think this will help your heart get stronger."

"You don't think so?" Ann bit her bottom lip, giving it some thought. "Well… now that you mention it, maybe it's not. I've got no idea how to strengthen my heart. Guess I'll have to stick to taking Ryuji's offer..."

"You guys have been hanging out when I'm busy, right?"

"Well, yeah, I guess we have. Every now and then we'll go shopping together or grab a bite. He can be a jerk, but… he can be pretty fun, too," Ann smiled, looking at Izuku again. "Plus, he did mention helping me work out at the gym, sometime. Now that we're phantom thieves, I figured I might take him up on it sometime."

"Maybe we can all go together. Ryuji-senpai already works out sometimes after school, so it'd be fun to do it together." Izuku smiled as he said that.

"I'd totally be down for that. It's been a while since I worked out though, so try and go easy on me." Ann giggled a bit. Suddenly, her phone rang. She pulled it from her jean pocket, taking a look at the message displayed.

"Sorry, I just got an email from my agency. The next shoot is… really far," Ann sighed in disappointment before raising a brow. "Huh. Looks like they wanted to make sure I knew exactly where…"

"What do you mean?"

"They sent me a reminder to pay exact attention to when and where the shoot will be. Apparently, a few models have been missing shoots lately. Then, when asked, they said that they heard there was a change in schedule. It sounds like a bunch of shoots have been hectic with all the scrambling they've had to do for substitutes."

"That's not good. Have you had it happen to you yet?" Izuku asked.

"Nope, I haven't missed a single shoot yet!" Ann said with a bit of pride, pushing some hair out of her eyes. "It confuses the staff to see a sub show up. Hopefully that doesn't happen to me. Though, ironically enough, that's how I got my start in modelling."

"Oh? How'd that happen?"

"It was when I was living in Finland with my parents. They were running a big event when they ended up not having enough models."

Izuku raised his brow in surprise. "Your parents work with models?"

"Oh, I haven't told you? My parents are both fashion designers who put on some seriously extravagant shows. They jump from country to country, so I only see them for half a year." Ann explained.

"Oh, I see. I kind of know what that's like," Izuku nodded. "My dad is overseas for a lot of his work, so it was just me and my mom at home most of the time. He probably won't be home for a while, either. I can't imagine what it's like with both parents gone."

"I've gotten used to it now. It was tough when I was younger, as it was me and my live-in caretaker most of the time. And because we moved around, I didn't have a lot of friends…" Ann said, scratching her cheek awkwardly. "Sorry, that got dark fast, huh?" She laughed.

"It's okay. I think that's something we have in common, too…" Izuku laughed awkwardly. He brushed the topic aside with a wave of his hand. "That said, you really like modeling, huh?"

"It can be pretty fun… and honestly, when I'm doing it, I feel a bit like I'm connecting with my parents. It's definitely a fun hobby to have, but… I don't think I'd want to make a living off of it." Ann admitted, her expression becoming somewhat conflicted.

"Why's that?"

"Because that's where Kamoshida first spotted me. Then the rumors started and you know..." Izuku winced at the thought. "Don't worry, it doesn't bother me like it used to. Besides, the phantom thieves are my top priority now! Nobody can be my substitute there, and that's why I want to get stronger!"

Izuku smiled at Ann's reassurance, giving a brisk nod. "I understand. I'll help you get stronger however I can then, Ann-senpai!"

"Thanks! I'll be counting on you, Izuku!" Ann said, pumping her fist at her side. It might have seemed small, but Izuku felt closer to Ann. He couldn't lose to her enthusiasm if he was going to lead everyone.

*SMASH*

Lovers Confidant: RANK THREE

"You know… while I have some mixed feelings about my phantom thief suit, there is one thing that kind of bums me out about it," Ann said, leaning on one leg and putting a hand under her chin.

"Oh, what is it? The fact that it's so… um… s-sexy?"

"N-No! W-Well, yes, but not that. I kind of wish it was… bunny themed." Ann explained, her cheeks turning a bit rosy. Izuku's pupils shrank, his face suddenly becoming red. "N-Not in that way! M-More like… I-I don't know, sort of like… you're into Heroes, right?"

"Y-Yeah, a bit…" Izuku's gaze drifted to the side, not wanting to say exactly what extent he was.

"You know that famous female hero lately? Miruko?" Ann asked, causing Izuku to snap his attention back up in alert.

"Oh, the current number 6 Hero?! Of course I know her! She's a rising stars from the last generation, having climbed into the top 10 in just three years!" His eyes sparkled as he described the Pro Hero.

"I think I underestimated how much you were into Heroes," Ann giggled after seeing his enthusiasm. "But yeah, that's her! To this day, she's definitely my favorite hero. When I was younger, I first saw her on TV when she made her debut. Even though she's new, she's so confident and tough. She says whatever's on her mind and acts as the kind of hero she wants to be. She dished out justice her way. I… I wanted to be like her, someday. I guess… I kinda am now, even if it's on the opposite side of the law, huh?"

Izuku's eyes shined at her words, never realizing that even Ann wanted to be a hero as a child. He gave an earnest smile, nodding his head briskly. "Yeah! Even though we're doing things differently, I think you are! We're dealing out justice our way!"

Ann smiled back and giggled. "Yeah, you're right. So let's keep it up! Maybe one day, we'll even get Miruko to acknowledge us, too!"

"Yeah!"

"It's been so long since I was last here…"

The two had arrived at the gym in t-shirts and sweats. The facilities were tailor-made for mixed martial artists. Cracked punching bags hung from the ceiling on one side of the room and a red mat was spread across the entirety of the floor. A boxing ring sat at the center of the establishment. There were quite a few other people working out already, music echoing across the gym as the familiar scent of sweat wafted through the chilled air.

"I'm surprised, Koto-san. I thought you would train at a dojo to practice your aikido," Izuku admitted, though was no less interested in all of the possible workout equipment available.

"I used to, but I haven't been able to visit in a long time," Makoto said, twisting her upper body to loosen it up. "I haven't worked out here often considering all the studying I've been doing. But since Sis still has our memberships here, I figured it would be a good place to take you for some training."

"Seems like everyone wants to train together now," Izuku laughed, giving Makoto a determined smile. "Okay! What should we work on?"

"It's good to see you're excited," Makoto said, smirking as she placed her hands on her hips. "For today, I think working on your stance and footwork is essential."

"Is it that bad?"

"Not really. You seem natural when you're fighting." Makoto shook her head. "But it does look a bit rough at times. You'll be able to put more force behind your attacks and react faster if we clean it up a little."

Izuku gave a quick nod. "O-Okay then! Let's do it!"

"First, assume your usual fighting stance for me. Just pretend you have the staff in your hand since we don't have anything to emulate it." Izuku nodded, squaring his feet up and imagining that his bo staff was in his grip.

Makoto walked around, inspecting his stance and giving a quiet hum. "Your legs are too wide. Tighten it up just a little bit. You want a strong base to stand on while also being able to move when you need to. If your feet are too wide, you'll easily be knocked off balance." She gave him a quick shove to illustrate this, sending him a few steps backward.

"Okay!" Izuku tried to picture Makoto's old aikido stance, narrowing his legs more and holding the imaginary staff closer to his body.

"Better. Now, do a forward strike."

Izuku did as ordered, doing a quick shuffle forward and jabbing at air.

"You're taking too long to plant your front foot. Do it in one fluid motion. Again!" Makoto demanded, her voice becoming stern.

"Yes!" Izuku repeated the action, trying to pay more mind to the timing of his steps.

"Better! Again!"

"Alright, that was pretty good! Let's take a break." Makoto said, handing Izuku a clean white rag. Both of them were dripping with sweat after practicing their form and technique for close to an hour

Izuku hunched over and panted while wiping the sweat from his brow. "I forgot how… intense you can be while training…"

"I can't cut corners in training you considering dangerous the Metaverse is. Even with our Personas to protect us, we need to be in top shape," Makoto pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for taking the time to train with me, Koto-san. I know I've got a lot of room for improvement," Izuku admitted, flexing his hands in front of his face. "I'm glad to have you as my teacher."

"Teacher might be pushing it. I may have earned my black belt in aikido, I still had a lot to learn before I dropped it," Makoto said. She took a seat at a bench by the lockers. Izuku moved to sit next to her, the brunette handing him a water bottle. "It's a shame, too. Because I didn't have time for full lessons, I've mostly just been working out and practicing what I know."

"Still, you're so good. What's wrong with the level you're at?" Izuku asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Well, simply put, it's just not good enough. At least not good enough for what I want to do." Makoto said, looking up in thought. "After all, I've still never been able to beat Sis."

When they were younger, Makoto often challenged Sae to spars. Despite Makoto's constant training, Sae always stayed one step ahead of her.

"I forgot all about that… Does Sae-oneesan still take kickboxing?"

"That's right. Despite her busy schedule, she still squeezes in a few kickboxing classes here and there. Even when she can't, she trains at a small gym at her office," Makoto explained, releasing a sigh. "I'm a bit ashamed that I've let my own practice fall to the wayside."

"I see… So you're still trying to beat her?"

"Yep. I mean, I haven't really been pursuing that thought lately, but now that I'm back at the gym training with you… it makes me want to try again," Makoto said, a small smile spreading across her lips. "I want my sister to acknowledge me, after all. So even though I'm helping you, you're still helping me, too. So thank you, Midori."

Izuku opened his mouth to respond, but he couldn't think of anything to say. Memories of training side-by-side with Makoto began to play in his head. She was instructing him then just as she was doing now. One thought from back then continues to ring true now.

I want Koto-san to acknowledge me, too.

Izuku felt a deeper understanding begin to build between him and Makoto. It seems that, even as old friends, there were still things they could learn about each other.

*SMASH*

Priestess Confidant: RANK THREE

Izuku hopped to his feet, startling Makoto.

"Come on! Let's do a few more drills! I want to work on my form some more!" Izuku said, giving a dazzling smile to the older girl. Makoto raised a brow before smiling.

"That's the spirit. Alright, let's go over your defensive stance again!" Makoto said, crossing her arms.

"Right!" Izuku inhaled a breath as he imagined a staff in his grip, positioning his feet the way Makoto told him to. The older girl watched him with a small smile, nodding.

"Perfect. Although… more hands-on training would be nice," Makoto put a hand to her chin in thought. "Maybe… we should try going to my old dojo sometime…"

"Will they let us train there?" Izuku asked, eyes perking up curiously.

"My master doesn't mind having former students coming in and using the dojo for training. So long as we get permission in advance, I think we should be fine," Makoto said with reassurance. "It'll give us a chance to use your staff in a safe environment without having to worry about hitting other people."

"I see… Well, even if we can't, maybe we can go to the park sometime and train there, instead." Izuku suggested.

"That's not a bad idea either. But we'll leave that thought for next time. Back into your defensive stance!"

"Right!"

"Alright. I want you to make a pot of coffee by yourself."

Izuku blinked owlishly when he heard that, his eyes darting to the assortment of coffee jars sitting on the bar shelves. He had spent a good portion of the night helping Sojiro in the last hours of work at Leblanc. Now that the store was empty, it seemed that Sojiro had plans for him.

"Really? Which one would you prefer?" Izuku said, putting a finger on his chin.

"Try something you like this time. If you can make a cup you enjoy, you'll be able to make a cup others enjoy." Sojiro was tending to a pot of curry in the kitchen. "It doesn't have to be complicated. Give any one of them a try."

Izuku bit his bottom lip, narrowing his eyes at the different labels. Sojiro had shown him that making good coffee was a lot more than picking a grind and throwing it in a filter. Sojiro was laid-back, but he meant business when it came to his brew.

Izuku walked along the rows of bean jars behind the counter and stopped on the Brazilian beans. It was a bittersweet, almost chocolaty variety he had become accustomed to drinking whenever Sojiro offered him a cup that wasn't the house blend. He scooped out some beans and put them into the hand-cranked grinder.

After soaking the filter for five minutes and heating up the water, he poured the grind into the hopper and gently pushed down on it with a bamboo paddle the way Sojiro had done before. He waited exactly 70 seconds before removing the hopper from the flame and giving the coffee ten stirs.

"Okay… I think that's good…" He waited another minute to let the coffee drain into the bulb and poured it into a white cup. With a shaky breath, Izuku took a short sip. It scalded the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it nonetheless. A small smile spread across his face, pleased with the result.

"You break a sweat there?" Izuku jumped when he heard Sojiro's voice, the coffee shop owner giving a small chuckle as he stepped around the bar and sat in one of the stools. "Relax. I'm not making you serve the coffee to anyone but me. Pour me a cup, would you?"

"Right, one second!" Izuku quickly did as asked, pouring another cup and passing it to Sojiro on a small saucer. The barista took a quick sip, giving a somewhat satisfied hum.

"Brazilian, huh? Good choice. A bit on the dark side but with its own distinct flavor…" Sojiro smacked his lips, giving Izuku a critical gaze. "The flavor's a bit bland, and could use a little less heat on the beans, but… not bad. I'll acknowledge your effort, especially for your first time brewing on your own."

Izuku gave a relieved sigh. "I'll try to make a better cup next time."

"Good. Here, now that I've seen what you can do, I'll go over what's needed to make it just right," said Sojiro, setting the cup down and stepping behind the bar. "There are three factors when it comes to making a good cup of coffee: grind, heat, and time."

"Grind, heat, and time…" Izuku whipped out a small pocket notebook labeled 'Coffee Brewing 101'. Sojiro raised a brow and gave a short chuckle before continuing.

Such a strange kid. Not that he's the first I've taken care of.

"For the siphons we have here, we're aiming for a medium-fine grind. We'll go over the specifics later, so just keep those words in mind… or written down." Sojiro watched him dot away at the notebook like his life depended on it.

"Medium-fine, got it." he replied, not looking up form the pages.

"Heh. Good to know you're actually taking what I'm giving you to heart," Sojiro said, leaning a hand on the bar. "The money we make doesn't seem like much considering the effort we put into it. But hey, money is money. If you learn as quickly as you take notes, then you'll be making good coffee in no time. Just remember, I'll have your ass if you serve a bad cup of coffee to customers."

"Right! I'll keep that in mind," Izuku gave a firm nod in understanding.

"Good. Now-"

*RING RING*

Sojiro pulled out his phone, his brow crinkling as he turned away to answer it. "Who could this be..? Hello?". Izuku raised his head when he saw the barista snap his head up. "How did you get this number?... Now? Where?... Fine." Sojiro hung up the phone with a tired sigh. "Sorry, something just came up. We'll continue with the lessons later."

"Is everything alright?" Izuku asked.

"Nothing for you to be concerned about. But… thanks for asking." Sojiro said, giving a small smile. "Just wash the dishes for me while I'm gone. Oh, and remember to shut off the gas before closing up shop."

"Okay. Leave it to me," Izuku quickly picked up their used cups, taking them to the sink.

"Heh. You turned out to be a damn diligent worker. It's nice to have you around for moments like this," said Sojiro. "I appreciate your help. Keep it up."

"I will. I hope everything goes well," Izuku said, giving a kind smile. He could see Sojiro beginning to trust him more and more, and their relationship deepened yet again.

*SMASH*

Hierophant Confidant: RANK THREE

"I was wonderin' when you'd be back."

Izuku swallowed a lump in his throat, slowly walking through the front door to Untouchable. Iwai sat behind the counter with his feet kicked up and a magazine in hand, watching him with a sideways glance.

"Y-Yeah. Sorry for taking a while, I had a few things of my own to deal with," Izuku said, pulling on his bag strap as he moved to stand behind the glass next to him. "So… about before-"

"Not now." Was Iwai's immediate answer, tilting his head pointedly toward the customers standing by. Though Izuku did notice that it was a bit quiet for this time of day, even for Iwai's shop.

While Izuku was eager to learn more, he wasn't stupid. Pushing for it now would only make Iwai less likely to talk. So Izuku gave a nod, putting his bag behind the display case. "I'll go check on the inventory."

"Sounds good." Iwai nodded, shifting his attention back to the magazine in hand and flipping the pages. Izuku couldn't stop a sigh, walking past the shop owner and heading into the back room. He spent some time going over the list of goods shipped in and reorganizing the shelves. Iwai hadn't said a word in nearly an hour.

"Alright, we're good. Come back up," Iwai said from the front. Izuku set down duster in hand, walking to the front and seeing Iwai set the front door sign to closed. "Don't need anybody comin' in while we're chattin'... not that I've been super busy."

"What do you mean?" Izuku asked, raising a brow.

"While you were off doin' what your thing, customers have been dryin' up. Apparently, someone's been sayin' my stuff is phoney online. Been scarin' off typical customers." Iwai sighed, moving to the display case and leaning back on it.

"Why would someone do that to you? Does it have to do with… what we did?"

"It might be related. Pretty sure it's Tsuda postin' about my stuff, in fact." Iwai explained, crossing his arms. "He's probably trying to get me desperate. Get me to lose some money so I'd consider whatever offer he's got. After all, once you get a bad rap, it's tough to shake."

Izuku's jaw fell a little, his eyes sympathetic before looking away from Iwai. "I know what you mean…"

"Huh? What would you know about that?" Iwai raised a brow curiously. Izuku only rubbed his arm in response. Thankfully, Iwai spoke again, "Well… I guess a kid like you wouldn't be doin' stuff for a guy like me if that weren't the case… Don't tell me any details. I don't wanna know."

Izuku felt some relief not having to talk about his record. "Okay… but now about what we talked about."

"Right. I did say I'd explain," Iwai sighed, grabbing the lollipop stick hanging out of his mouth. "So that guy I mentioned, Tsuda, used to be a close friend of mine. We used to work together, and now… he's the patriarch of the Hashiba Clan."

"Patriarch? So you were…" Izuku's eyes widened as the truth came out.

"Yup. Me and him were sworn brothers back in my heyday. I broke ties a long time ago. Which ended up bein' convenient, 'cause that was right before yakuza started becomin' a rare commodity once the Hero boom hit." Iwai gave a small smirk as he saw Izuku's face. "If that info is too much for you to handle, tell me now. I'd rather not waste my breath if you've already decided to leave."

Izuku's jaw clenched. Even though Iwai was a former yakuza, Izuku wasn't as unnerved as he thought he'd be

He might be a former criminal, but… I'm technically one now.

"I'm not bothered by it." Izuku admitted, meeting Iwai's gaze with stern eyes. "But… that still doesn't explain why you would want to spy on your old friend."

Iwai smirked, giving a nod. "Heh. You've got skeletons of your own, huh? Well then, let me fill you in: I'm sure you're aware that any yakuza still out there are in hidin', right? Well, Tsuda and my old clan've been makin' lots of moves. I may not be involved with my old clan since leavin', but I keep tabs on what they're up to. I need to know if they're gonna try and use me for some dumb plan or not… and to see if they're still survivin'."

Izuku sensed a bit of hesitance in his last words, his eyes softening. "You… care about this Tsuda person, huh?"

"Tch. 'Care' might be a strong word for it," Iwai denied, pulling on the brim of his hat to cover his eyes. "But… we were still sworn brothers. So I guess I get… concerned. Though more about the idea of him involvin' me in his schemes."

"I see… but why spy on your friend after your talk?" Izuku asked.

"Like I said, they've been makin' a lot of moves lately. I wanted to know just how much. As it turns out… they made a really big one without me realizing." Iwai sighed, pulling the lollipop out of his mouth. "Goin' under the Eight Precepts is a big deal… especially with their batshit crazy leader."

Izuku's brow knitted. "W-Who are the Eight Precepts?"

"Nothin' for you to be concerned about. The less you know about them, the better," Iwai huffed, pushing off the glass. "But now you know what's goin' on. I need your help to keep an eye on Tsuda and his people when they try anything. Plus the usual stuff. Now that you know everything, are you still willin' to be a part of this?"

Izuku held his chin in thought, assessing everything that Iwai had told him. It was all rather sketchy, of course, but with the trouble he has faced in the Metaverse, Izuku found that this work wasn't as concerning for him as it should have been. "And… you promise that you're trying not to get involved with them?"

"Yep. That's the main reason I got you workin' for me, kid. I need whatever intel I can get in case somebody comes knockin'. So long as I'm ready, I won't need to get into bed with those guys at all. That life… it's a long way behind me." Iwai declared, crossing his arms. "So? You in or you out?"

Izuku was silent for a moment, closing his eyes before giving a firm nod. "If that's the truth… I'll keep working for you, then. We had a deal, after all."

"Heh. Good. I'm expectin' big things, Mumbles." Izuku visibly stumbled at the nickname, having not heard him use it in some time. "And as a little bonus, I'll expand a bit of the inventory available on my special menu and give you a bit of a discount. Consider it a thanks for helpin' me out with that first job."

"That'd be great." Izuku said, feeling a deeper understanding build between him and Iwai.

*SMASH*

Hanged Man Confidant: RANK THREE

Before the two could continue, the front door bell rang, the two snapping their heads up in alarm. They immediately relaxed when they saw it was Kaoru standing there, poking his head in hesitantly.

"Hey, Dad…"

"Oh, Kaoru, it's you. What'd I tell you about comin' by here after school?" Iwai said, his voice stern as he addressed him.

"I-I know, I was just-"

"Go and head home, already. You've got entrance exams to focus on, don't you?"

Kaoru's eyes fell to the ground meekly. "W-Well, yeah, but I just-"

"Look, I've got a part-time worker now. You don't gotta worry about how I run things," Iwai said, motioning to Izuku, who remained silent. It wasn't his place to butt into this.

Kaoru's gaze shifted to Izuku, his eyes widening in surprise. "Wait, you're that guy who…"

"H-Hey there," Izuku said with a hesitant wave and smile.

"Yeah, it's him. Forget that, though. You said your thanks before, so head home and get to studyin', alright? I'll be back later." Iwai quickly said, causing his son to frown.

"Okay... I'll see you later, then." Kaoru looked at Izuku and smiled. "It was good to see you again. Please… take care of my dad."

" I will," Izuku nodded. With that, Kaoru slowly took his leave. Iwai finally relaxed, releasing a heavy sigh and shaking his head.

"I'm happy he's worried about me, but he's gotta worry about his own problems, right now…" Iwai mumbled, though Izuku could tell it was more of a thought said aloud rather than directed his way.

"I'm… guessing he doesn't know?" Izuku asked.

"About me bein' ex-yakuza? No, he doesn't. And it's stayin' that way, got it? I don't want him gettin' involved in any of this." Iwai said, furrowing his brow.

Izuku quickly nodded. "I understand. I won't say anything."

"Good. With that, you can head home for the day. Drop by again when you want some work or tools. I'll be sure to text you if I need help with somethin', too."

"Thanks for taking the time to meet us, Midoriya!" Mishima said, he and Shiho sitting across from Izuku. The three sat inside the comfortable diner in Shibuya, the two having invited him there for a 'business' meeting.

"Sorry for not meeting you guys sooner. A lot's been happening in the past couple of weeks."

"Don't sweat it. We know that you guys are doing important work. All while trying to maintain a regular school life, too," Shiho smiled. "By the way, Mishima-kun told me you guys even had to meet with someone in person. How did that go?"

"It went well. He gave us all the info we needed," Izuku said, his brow furrowing seriously. "For now I'll keep quiet on what, but I think you'll be seeing results from our latest 'job' soon."

"Man, you guys aren't letting up, huh? Just what I'd expect from the Phan-" Shiho nudged him gently, her eyes glazing across the restaurant still packed with people. "Ehem, I mean… just what I'd expect from you guys. Sorry."

"It's okay. Just look forward to it," Izuku smiled. "So how has the site been going?"

"It's going great! Honestly, it's a lot more work than I thought it'd be, but Shiho has helped lighten the load for me," Mishima explained, sending a smile Shiho's way.

"It took a little time, but… while I'm out of school, I was able to learn everything I needed to manage it just right." she explained, her expression brightening at the thought. "In fact, it's nice to have something to do while at home. Especially if it means helping the heroes who saved me."

"Shiho helps a lot by wading through the requests and managing the forums while I handle the PR stuff. Dividing up the work has really saved me from doing one too many all-nighters working on it," Mishima chuckled.

"I'm happy to hear that. You guys are being a huge help," said Izuku, leaning forward on his elbows.

"Of course! We want you guys to be as popular as possible!" Mishima grinned in excitement. "The more we get your name out there, the more people will believe in you and ask for help! Just leave it to me and Shiho! We'll get you guys the attention you deserve."

"Still, weeding out trolls on the Phan-site can be pretty tiring. Some people like going on there just to poke fun at people for supporting the idea." Shiho sighed, rubbing her neck. "What's wrong with wanting to believe in a group that helps people that can't be heard by others? It makes me sick…"

Her eyes became distant and her gaze fell to the ground. Izuku and Mishima's smiles vanished, the two sparing a silent exchange before looking back at Shiho.

It's still bothering her...

Izuku looked to the side in thought for a moment before straightening out. He put on a confidant smile and dared to reach out and gently touch Shiho's hand.

"It's okay. People can say what they want. We're helping people, and we'll keep helping people. As we keep going and take down more villains, we'll show them that we're the real deal." Izuku said, his voice firm. Her eyes met his, her expression brightening.

"You're right. Thanks. Sorry if I…" Shiho rubbed her neck, looking around at the two shyly.

"Don't worry about it. We've just gotta do our part in things and make sure trolls like those don't control the conversation, right? We do our part and they'll do theirs," said Mishima, giving her shoulder a light bump.

Shiho gave a reaffirming nod. "Yeah… right."

"I'll leave our publicity in both of your hands. Thank you, again," Izuku said, giving them a gentle smile. He was happy to finally have this talk with Mishima and Shiho. It helped him see where she was at after everything that happened. And he trusted that they would do the Phantom Thieves justice online.

*SMASH*

Moon Confidants: RANK THREE

Now that the air was cleared, another thought came to Izuku. "By the way, you guys had a couple requests for us to take, right?"

"Oh, yes, let me get them for you," Shiho said, digging into her pocket and fishing her phone out.

"You can take requests right now?" Mishima asked with a bit of awe.

"Yeah. We shouldn't keep people who need help waiting, after all. We won't be able to do all of them, at least not as quickly. But some requests should be easier than others," Izuku explained for him.

"You're still helping little guy even when you're dealing with the big problems. It shows how genuine you all are," Shiho remarked, scrolling down on her screen.

"And the more good press you get from it, the better," Mishima agreed with a chuckle.

"Okay, so this one's close to home. A student at Shujin named Daisuke Takanashi. He's been taking his bullying too far and hurting a lot of students in his class." Shiho read aloud.

"Ah, yeah, I've heard about that one. I felt bad for the students being hurt, but this wasn't something I could stop personally." Mishima sighed, looking at Izuku with pleading eyes "Sorry if I jumped the gun, but I said you guys would take care of it on the Phan-site. Is that okay?"

"It's fine. We'll be sure to handle it."

"Still, we should try and give our heroes more of a heads up rather than speak on their behalf, Mishima-kun." Shiho said, giving him a somewhat scolding glance.

"Y-Yeah, sorry about that. I'll be sure to do that next time… " Mishima laughed sheepishly. "Anyway, we should get going. I wanna get home and check up on the Phan-site."

"Same. You guys keep doing your job, and we'll keep doing ours," Shiho said with a smile, standing from her seat and letting herself and Mishima out of the booth.

"Okay! I'll let you know when we've handled things with Takanashi!"

"We're looking forward to it!" Mishima gave a thumbs up, he and Shiho turning to take their leave. Izuku watched them, feeling a boost to his spirits. Seeing Shiho walk around, smiling and active after everything she had been through, made all of their hard work up to this point worth it.

And we're just getting started.

To be continued...

Thanks as always goes to my beta reppuzan for his diligence!

Alright, that's another chapter knocked out! Happy to finally have that one and the aftermath of the battle settled. That part ended up being much easier to get through as opposed to Kamoshida's, but a lot of things were made easier after his defeat. Now, as I said before, this chapter and the next are all about the confidants. Though that Mementos request will be added to the mix for next chapter as well.

I just wanted to say, in regards to the scene in which Yusuke speaks about his failure to do much during the Madarame fight, that's more my words than his. After the climactic battle, a few readers pointed out some of its failings, such as its far too involved dialogue and the fact that Yusuke's role in the fight was rather minimal. It was more personal for him than anyone else, but his own part in the fight was overlooked in favor of a more tactical approach by Izuku. I'll be the first to admit that it wasn't the best way to approach the fight, looking back on it. And in the future, especially with the Palace Ruler fights, I hope to do better and really sell the personal conflicts of those involved deeply with it. It wasn't my best writing, but it is still a learning experience I will try to improve upon.

Anyways, with that out of the way, I do have one more announcement… I'm going to be taking a break next month. I've been hitting the writing hard lately, updating a story per week, and think now's a good time to recharge my batteries. Don't get me wrong, I'm not running out of steam and haven't had too many problems when it comes to updating each of my stories. But I don't want to push things and overload myself. I think now's a good time to try and take a moment to relax and come back stronger and ready to write.

To those who are also readers of a few of my other monthly updated stories, don't worry. I'm planning to update A Devil's Diamond, The Gunslinger and The Shield's Dragon before the month is out. So look forward to that!

Anyways, with that all done, I think I'll call it here. By the way, be sure to check out the TVTropes page for the story and maybe even add to the content! It's really fun to read through what people put! Anyways, self-promotion aside, I do wish you all a good day. Please be sure to leave a review, a follow and a favorite if you'd be so kind :)