Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or Persona
Chapter 33
Izuku's day began rather oddly.
Instead of the usual morning class, a sudden assembly was called to the gym. Kobayakawa had called it as an 'acknowledgement' of the student's possible mental issues left by Shiho's attempted suicide. Izuku didn't buy that for a second, of course. He never liked to assume the worst in people, but Kobayakawa's neglect of the students in favor of the school's reputation disgusted him. Surprisingly enough, they had hired a seemingly kind, if a bit quirky, doctor to act in light of the possible problems that had risen around the school.
Ryuji seemed doubtful of his intentions, seeing the doctor only as a way for Kobayakawa to cover his ass. Izuku would have agreed at this point. But then the doctor, Takuto Maruki, reached out to he, Ryuji and Ann personally. Izuku's impression of him was the same, kind yet quirky. Maruki asked them all to try and speak with him with the offer of sweets and 'mental toughness' training as a deal sweetener. It was kind of funny, but at the same time Izuku found his words to be genuine. So he suggested that they give him a chance. Ann and Ryuji were reluctant but gave in, with Ann deciding to speak with him first. Maruki then asked Izuku if he would meet him after school, which he agreed to.
Oddly enough, just the simple agreement to meet Maruki-sensei had resulted in the forming of a Link between them. The Consultant link, to be precise. Izuku wasn't sure what to make of that, but he assumed that he would find out soon enough.
Ann: Hey, so I went to the counseling.
Izuku: Ah, good! How was it?
Ann: It wasn't as bad as I expected. Even though he's older, Maruki-sensei is easy to talk to.
Ann: You're going to meet him now, right?
Izuku: Yes, I am. I'm glad it wasn't bad. I'll see you tomorrow.
Ann: Right, see you then!
"Well, I guess you might as well get this over with." said Morgana from over his shoulder. "But at least Lady Ann didn't seem opposed to him. Maybe the doctor will be helpful?"
"Maybe. Though I'm not sure what to talk about." Izuku admitted with a nervous laugh.
"Well, whatever you do, don't talk about any Phantom Thief business!" Morgana pushed a paw against his cheek. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but sometimes you're a little too honest for your own good."
"I won't, I promise." Izuku waved his hands in reassurance. As he turned the corner to head to his office, Izuku raised a brow when he saw his newest classmate, Kasumi Yoshizawa, speaking with Maruki. He didn't want to interrupt, slowly moving off to the side and waiting.
Kasumi took notice of him though, turning and giving a curt smile. "Oh, hello Midoriya-san! Were you planning to meet with Maruki-sensei?"
"A-Ah, hi Yoshizawa-san!" Izuku greeted back awkwardly. "Yes, Maruki-sensei wanted to meet after school."
"I see. Sorry for taking up his time, then." Kasumi turned full to Izuku. "If it helps, you should know that Maruki-sensei is a good person. He helped me out before I came to Shujin Academy. Don't be afraid to speak openly with him."
"Really? I see…" Izuku mumbled, finding some reassurance in her words. While he and Yoshizawa hadn't been friends per say, she was kind to him every time they spoke in class.
"Oh, do you two know each other?" Maruki asked with a curious brow raised.
"A bit. He's in one of my classes and sits next to me." Yoshizawa said with a kind smile. "Well, I don't want to hold you both up. I'll be heading off now."
"Right. Take care, Yoshizawa-chan." Maruki waved.
"Goodbye." Izuku bowed his head politely.
Once Yoshizawa was gone, Maruki smiled at Izuku and waved for him to follow. "Come in!" Izuku propped his book bag over his shoulder, following the doctor into his office. "Welcome. And thanks for giving me the chance and coming by."
"I didn't see much reason to refuse." Izuku said as he spared a look around. From the looks of it, Maruki was taking up residence in one of the nurse's offices in the school, the usual resting beds and medicine cabinets spread across the room. The difference here was a leather couch and chair set at the center of the room with a coffee table in front of it.
"So, Midoriya-kun… I'll be honest and say that I was told about some of what happened before you arrived at Shujin." Izuku wasn't surprised to hear that, knowing that the school would likely inform the counselor of all people. "It seems like you went through a rough patch. How are you doing now?"
"I'm doing better now. It was tough at first, but…" Izuku felt a gentle smile spread across his lips. "But I've made good friends since coming to Shujin. What happened wasn't great, but… it ended up being okay in the end."
"I see. I'm happy to hear that. I don't know the circumstances of what happened, but I did hear that things got even more difficult for you when your record appeared online." Maruki smiled. "But seeing that look on your face, it looks like the best still came from it. I've also heard your grades are rather high. You've done well to adjust in the time you've spent here."
"Thank you…" Izuku didn't know what to really say to that, a shy grin on his face.
"Still, I can imagine that you've faced some adversity because of it. You live in a society that looks down on those it feels go against the grain. That's part of what I wanted to talk about." Maruki said, causing Izuku to raise a brow. "We live in a reality where we must live two lives. People want to do well in school. They want to get the job they want. They want to get a perfect score on their test. They want to help people who need it."
Izuku visibly tensed at that. Maruki noticed, but continued on. "But the reality of it is that not everyone can live up to those expectations. There are always those little gaps that exist that keep people's plans from going the way they want. Not everyone can ace a test. Not everyone can be a hero. What happened to you, the things you've suffered, it wouldn't be a surprise if it had distorted your reality, and..." Izuku's gaze trailed to the coffee table, causing Maruki to hesitate. "Um… Midoriya-kun? Did I say something wrong?"
Izuku looked back at Maruki and forced a smile. "N-No, it's not you, Maruki-sensei. It's just that… I wanted to be a hero. For the longest time." Izuku's expression sombered up, thinking of his friends and his work as a Phantom Thief. "I came to terms with the fact that it could never happen now, but… I still wanted to fight that 'gap' you mentioned. I knew about it a long time ago. Ever since I found out I was Quirkless."
I guess I'm still fighting it now, but… I'm being a different type of Hero.
"I see… you're amazing, Midoriya-kun." Izuku blinked, looking back at Maruki in surprise. "You've faced adversity that most your age can't even imagine. Yet you still manage to stand tall despite it all." Maruki let out a sheepish chuckle and smiled. "Sorry. It must be weird to hear that from an adult you just met, huh? Apologies if my questions were a bit too honest."
Izuku stared at Maruki-sensei in awe. Most of the adults around him, at least at the school, had brushed him off as a troublemaker. If his grades hadn't picked up, most of them would still view him as a nuisance. But Izuku found himself spilling more than he meant to with Maruki, finding a strange amount of comfort in someone who he barely just met.
It's strange, but… I feel like I can actually talk to him about this stuff. Was it his welcoming smile? Or perhaps clumsy demeanor that disarmed him? Izuku couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
"...I think it's fine, Maruki-sensei." Izuku said slowly, giving a gentle smile. "Sorry to burden you with my problems, though."
"No, no, no! Not at all, Midoriya-kun! That's exactly why I'm here!" Maruki shook his head in reassurance. "I'm glad you were able to open up to me the way you did! In fact, after hearing you talk, I have something I'd like to admit as well. If you don't mind me sharing, of course."
"Oh? What is it?"
"The truth is… I wanted to be a hero too."
Izuku's brow raised. "R-Really? You did?!"
"It's true. Initially, I wanted to help people in need by being a Pro Hero like most kids. But it sadly was a 'gap' I had to face, too. I'm not Quirkless, but mine isn't something impressive either. Watch," Maruki's hand began to glow as he held it out to a wide-eyed Izuku. From his palm, small spheres of sprouted out, hovering above like a small cloud of fireflies. As they spread throughout the room. Izuku watched in interest as Maruki flexed his fingers, making them move around at will.
"Amazing…" Izuku mumbled.
"It certainly looks cool, I suppose. But aside from being a good emergency light or a show for entertainment, my Quirk has no uses in combat. The lights dissipate once they hit something solid and have no weight." Maruki snapped his fingers, and the lights disappeared all at once. "Still, even knowing that, I searched for a wayI could make a use out of it. But in the end, it just wasn't meant to be."
"A Quirk that produces light… I could see how that wouldn't be very applicable in combat, but…" Izuku began to mumble, his gaze falling to the ground as his brow knitted. "But perhaps it could be used in rescue scenarios? It would also be good at distracting enemies in the midst of combat… but it would be a very brief use in combat. It would definitely serve better for a rescue hero… but a hero does have to be able-"
"Um… Midoriya-kun?" Izuku drew his eyes back to Maruki, the doctor giving an awkward smile. Izuku quickly understood, his cheeks flushing.
"S-Sorry, Maruki-sensei! I got lost in thought…"
"It's okay. I was just surprised," Maruki laughed, giving a more genuine smile. "I wonder if you would have found a more practical use for my Quirk. Still, what's done is done. The gap was too wide for me, and I decided to become a doctor. I can still help people this way and I've found it rather fulfilling. Still, I can't help but love Heroes and what they do." Maruki leaned forward, looking curious as well as a bit shy. "Sorry if this is a bit much to ask, but… from one fan to another, who's your favorite?"
"All Might, of course!" Izuku answered without hesitation, an almost childish like whimsy to his smile as he spoke. "I know he's everyone's favorite, but he's just so amazing!"
"Ha, don't worry about that. He's my favorite, too!" Maruki declared, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "It's kind of lame to admit, but as an adult it's hard to talk to others about it. Most of them see hero praising as a kid thing, now."
"Yeah, I can see how it might be like that." Izuku gave a sheepish laugh but smiled. "Still, I love Heroes, and not just All Might! If you ever want to talk about them again, Maruki-sensei, I'd love to!"
"Really? You'd listen to an old man like me gush?!" Maruki looked genuinely surprised, but also touched by the notion. He suddenly shook his head, snapping himself out of his momentary shock. "A-Ah, sorry. I think I lost track of our original discussion, huh? But it's getting late. I'm sorry that I took up so much of your time."
Izuku checked his phone, seeing that it was getting well past 5 by now. "I see. It's alright though, Maruki-sensei. I honestly thought that we had a good talk."
"The same to you. In fact, it felt like we both got to learn quite a bit about the other today, hm?" Maruki chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I find it very easy to talk to you, honestly… enough so that I have a request to make."
"A request?" Izuku parroted.
"Yes. You see, I would like for you to come back again. Not just for counseling, but also to help me with my research." Maruki's expression sobered, eyes firm as he spoke. "I'm doing a research project along with my counseling job, something called psychological therapy. It's a bit different than counseling. To sum it up, it's research to understand the people's hearts. If my research works, then… it can help a lot of people. That's what I think! What do you say?"
Izuku was taken aback by the determination in Maruki's voice and the conviction in his expression. He didn't quite understand what it is they would be doing or how he could help, but the doctor's desire to help others was admirable.
"I… I'd like to help, Maruki-sensei." Izuku gave a firm nod before a more sheepish look crossed his face. "Though… I'm not sure how based on what you've said…"
"O-Oh, forgive me! I guess I got ahead of myself, huh?" Maruki cleared his throat, his awkward demeanor returning. "What I mean is-I'm asking if you could just help me with my research. I just want to continue talking with you. I want to know how you see things and how you think. I'll even open up my schedule for us to speak. And you can have as much sweets as you want!" Maruki motioned to the bowl of candies that Izuku had left untouched.
"Y-You don't have to bribe me with candy, Maruki-sensei…" Izuku awkwardly laughed.
"Ha, sorry. Still, I'd like to pay you back for your help somehow…" Maruki stroked his chin. "Ah, that mental strength training I offered before was serious. If you help me out, I can really teach you a few things."
"Really? What exactly will it help me do?" Izuku asked, unsure what 'mental strength training' would even provide.
"Consider it a special course. I have a great deal of knowledge to share, and may help you tap into a wealth of potential mental ability you never knew you had. It might sound confusing right now, but it'll make sense once we begin."
"Well… if you think it will help with my school work…" And if it helps my mind, it may help my Personas, too… Izuku gave a smile. "I'd be happy to help, Maruki-sensei."
"Great! Then we have a deal, eh?" Maruki smiled back in relief. Izuku felt the bond between him and Maruki form, the doctor's winning him over without even realizing it.
*SMASH*
Consultant Confidant: RANK TWO
Is it because we're kind of similar that our bond formed so quickly? Izuku couldn't help but wonder, staring at Maruki for a moment.
"Ah, yes! We should exchange numbers since we'll be working rather closely together on this!"
"O-Oh, sure!"
"I'm never giving up M-moto! He belongs to me! It makes him happy!"
The Thieves had taken on several targets for Mementos that day to make up for lost time and help as many of the cases available to them. It was a chance to keep their skills sharp as well as practice their team attacks. It was difficult to find the best combos on the team, but right now his biggest concern was their current target. A girl at their school was pushing around and abusing a boy that 'worshipped' her, taking full advantage of his feelings to do as she pleased to him. She was the last on their list for the day, and they weren't letting her go unpunished.
Izuku stared down Shadow Shimizu as he dodged her attack, her form becoming that of one of his own Personas, Yaksini. He quickly returned the favor, summoning Carter to his side. "Kouga!"
Carter cocked its arm back and unleashed a fist of light, blasting it into Shadow Shimizu and knocking her back several meters. "GAH!"
"Panther! You're up!" Izuku called out to his teammate.
"You've got it, Hero! Dance, Carmen!" Ann chanted, her busty persona taking shape and unleashing a torrent of flames upon Yaksini.
"GRAAGH~! How dare you!"the Shadow cried as it was knocked on its ass. "Can't you see you're just getting in the way of love?!"
"Love? Bullshit!" Ryuji scoffed, speeding past Ann and swinging his barbed wire bat overhead. "All you're doin' is abusin' a guy!"
He slammed it down toward the Shadow's head, but Shadow Shimizu managed to put her guard up first. "When you're licking my boots, we'll see if you talk so tough!"
"Made ya look!" Ryuji grinned, causing the Shadow to flinch. It looked up, only to see Makoto flying through the air at her. Her gloves had been removed, and her fists glowed like hot red metal.
"You're done!" Makoto slammed her burning knuckles into the Shadow's jaw before unleashing a full barrage of fists with blinding fury, fire searing into the Shadow with each fist denting its body. Makoto threw one last punch, sending it sailing back into the ground. She landed on the ground with a not so graceful thud, lurching forward with one knee up and her fists at her side.
"Good goin', road warrior!" Ryuji grinned.
"Don't call me that!" Makoto glared back at him.
"Good job, you two. Looks like she's down." Izuku said, running over to join them with Ann and Morgana close at his heels. "Looks like our combo idea worked well."
"Your Quirk is so cool, Queen! I can't believe you were able to absorb the heat from Carmen's fire like that." Ann praised in her excitement.
"Thank you. I've been trying to think of more ways to work with my abilities on top of what we can already do." Makoto explained.
"Looks like our team is only getting stronger by the minute, huh?" Morgana rested his paws on his hips.
"It seems our opponent has yet to transform." Yusuke informed them, having been the one to keep an eye on Shadow Shimizu. The Shadow weakly attempted to sit up, groaning in anger and pain.
"Y-You monsters! I'll never… let go of M-moto!" it snarled, raising her sword.
"You're clearly outmatched. Give up!" Yusuke ordered, holding out his hand to the Shadow. To his surprise, he felt his magical energy flush, and suddenly he released a small Bufu spell. It struck the Shadow right in the face, causing it to whip its head back and fall once again. The others quickly rushed to his side, staring in awe.
"D-Dude! What did you just do?!" Ryuji asked in awe.
"I-I'm unsure… it seems that I-"
"Hey, she's transforming." Morgana pointed out, the teens looking up to see the Shadow shrink back into its human form once again.
"No… no, no, no! I don't want to lose him!" The shadow whined, assuming a more vulnerable stance as she hugged her arms together. "He's mine! Isn't he..?"
"If he's so important to you, then abusing him is a horrible way of showing it." Makoto declared, putting a hand on her hip.
"She's right. He'll hate you in the end if you stay that way." Izuku pointed out, shaking his head.
"I could never stand that…" Shimuzu's Shadow admitted, casting her gaze to the ground.
"Why did you mistreat him like that in the first place?" Asked Ann.
"He just went along with it one time, and I misunderstood and thought I could do whatever I wanted… Actually, I… wanted to be more than friends with him."
"'More'? So you actually wanted to be with him?!"
"Yeah. I had a crush on him, but I ended up becoming possessive, and my feelings got out of control." The Shadow sighed, understanding its own fault now.
"Well, you better stop now or you'll just make things worse for yourself! Tell him how you really feel, and don't abuse him anymore!" scolded Ann. Shimizu gave a weak smile and nodded before dissipating. Left behind was the small treasure, Izuku reaching forward and taking it in hand. He blinked when a whip sword solidified in his hands.
"W-Well, I guess I kind of get it…" He laughed nervously, scratching his cheek with his index finger before handing it to Ann. "I think you'll get the best use out of it."
"Oh~, this is nice! It's much cooler than a regular whip!" Ann smiled, swinging it around to get a better feel of it.
"Another case solved! Good job team, we really went on a roll today!" Morgana praised, turning to the others with pride.
"That's great and all, but can we talk about what Fox did?" Ryuji asked, turning the group's attention to the newest member of the Phantom Thieves. "How'd you shoot ice like that?! I thought you just make ink come outta your fingers!"
"I do. But that… that felt like when I summon Goemon," Yusuke muttered, extending his arm toward the empty train track. "I wished to summon him and deal out an attack, but that's what came out instead."
"So then… you think you used the power of your Persona without summoning it?" Izuku asked, intrigued by this development. "If that's true, then… maybe we all can."
"Whoa, for real?!" Ryuji blanched, head spinning on a swivel.
"It's not implausible. Personas are an extension of our being, after all." Morgana pointed out.
"Oh, then we should all try too!" Ann suggested, skipping to the front of the group and extending her arm out to the empty side of the tracks. Everyone gathered around, waiting as they watched Ann close her eyes to focus. "Come to me… Agi!"
Without much effort, a small ball of fire formed in her palm before shooting out, bursting against the opposite wall. Ann grinned brightly, turning to the others and doing a small hop of joy. "I did it guys! It works!"
"No effin' way! That's awesome! Lemme try!" Ryuji dashed up alongside her, extending his hand and taking a moment to focus. His face morphed a bit as he seemed to have trouble at first, but electricity soon sparked from his hand before crackling out and firing forward. He laughed like a child, turning to Ann and smiling. "This is effin' cool! It's like we got another Quirk or somethin'!"
"Yeah!" She and Ryuji high five'd, quickly turning back to the others. "You should all give it a shot, too! Come on!" Izuku shared a glance with Makoto and Morgana and nodded, the four quickly jogging up next to the blondes and raising their arms.
"Frei!"
"Kouha!"
"Garu!"
With a small amount of focus, the three soon released their desired ability, firing it out like a gun in their hands. Izuku's entire face lit up in awe, eyes shining as he felt the power that the others talked about. I thought a Persona was amazing, but this is… it feels so natural. Is this what it's like to have a Quirk..? If ever Izuku desired to have the ability to summon his Persona in the real world, now was one of those moments.
"How long could we actually do this for? Was it just because we didn't think about it or is it because we're stronger now?" Makoto drew Izuku out of his thoughts.
"I-I'm not sure myself. I hadn't realized we could extend the power of our Personas like that until now." Morgana admitted, looking down in minor shame for his naivete.
"It's like you said. As an extension of our inner selves, it is only natural that such is possible." Yusuke said, extending his hand and firing off another ice ball. "Still, something to note is that the strength of our attacks do seem weaker when used in this state."
"True, but they still have decent energy output…" Izuku mumbled, looking down in thought. "It feels less draining than when we use the spells through our Personas. If the output is proportionate to the amount of energy spent, the damage it does is probably low. But if we use to conserve energy against weaker Shadows, then-"
"Hero?" Izuku blinked before looking up at Makoto. "You're mumbling."
"A-Ah! Right! Sorry!" Izuku's face flushed as he rubbed the back of his head. "S-Still, this is a great discovery we've made. We'll be able to use our magic without having to summon our Personas while we're here. This will save us a lot of energy as we keep getting stronger."
"This will help the team dynamic of attacks, too. We've already been incorporating our strategies with our Personas, this will make things even easier." Makoto suggested with a hint of her own excitement.
"Man, this would be perfect for me!" Ryuji exclaimed, grim annoyance coloring his face as he let electricity crackle across his hands. "If my knee wasn't eff'd up, I'd be able to run top speed all the time! I could totally work with this! But-argh!"
"Hey, don't push yourself. It's not like you can help it." Ann reached a hand out in sympathy. Ryuji relaxed at her touch but still looked like a kicked puppy.
Izuku frowned at his frustration, but that was swiftly replaced with enthusiasm. "Actually, Skull. I think I have a way to help you with that!"
"You do? But our healin' stuff doesn't work on my knee." Ryuji looked back at him, half hopeful but half doubtful.
"Yes! Remember when I told you to give me the details about your injury and your measurements? Hatsume-san finally got back to me!" Izuku explained with excitement. "Tomorrow, come with me to U.A.!"
"Welcome back, my humble guinea pig! And just in time for a test!"
Izuku audibly gulped when Hatsume greeted him and Ryuji. She had informed him the night before that, in exchange for the knee brace, Izuku would definitely be participating in another 'test'. He wasn't looking forward to it, to say the least. But he wasn't going to back out now.
"And you brought your friend! So this is the one with the malfunctioning Quirk?" Mei's head snapped to Ryuji in a blink, causing him to minorly flinch.
"S-Sup. Yeah, that's me." Ryuji nodded, intimidated by Mei's eccentric gaze.
"Great! Go ahead and take a seat for me! You can either take off your pants or raise the pant leg above your knee. Up to you!" Mei turned back to Izuku. "As for you! I have one new item for you to test before we move onto your friend!"
"Okay. What exactly am I testing today?" Izuku asked. Mei quickly zipped her way over to him, shoving a small item into his hands. Izuku's eyes lit up. "Is this-"
"A grappling hook? Indeed it is!" Mei confirmed with a fervent nod. "It's definitely not my most original piece, but I was having fun watching some old spy movies! While the wire arrow is good for making quick turns and moving around on the fly, the grappling hook I've constructed is perfect for single place movement! It'll carry you to your desired position quite fast, and could even be used to snatch at the back of a target! Depending on their build, of course!"
"Holy shit! A grapplin' hook?!" Ryuji gawked, looking over Izuku's shoulder in awe. "That's effin' awesome! You could totally use that in a-" Izuku's eyes darted to Ryuji, the faux blond quickly getting the message. "In-in uh-your school! I-I mean, it'd be sweet as hell to whip out during big hero tests, right?"
"Y-Yes, but I'm just testing this out for Hatsume-san. I'm not taking it with me," Izuku explained, looking at Mei.
"Indeed! Speaking of, why don't we get started?!" Hatsume didn't wait for Izuku to answer, quickly shoving him back outside. She turned him back around to face the warehouse. "Alright! This test should be simple enough! All you have to do is take aim at the top of the roof and let it pull you up! Easy as that!"
"I see… okay." Izuku nodded in understanding, gripping the grappling hook in hand.
"H-Hey! Shouldn't you pad the ground or somethin'?!" Ryuji asked in exasperation. "What if he falls halfway up?!"
"Ah, yes! I suppose that is a safety precaution we should take! Sorry, I was simply excited to see the baby in action!" Mei laughed it off, causing Izuku to deadpan. "You! Guinea Pig Number 2! Go and retrieve the floor padding against the wall."
"H-Hey! When did I become your other guinea pig!" Ryuji complained, but quickly complied for Izuku's sake. After laying out the safety pad on the ground, Izuku quickly took position on top of it, looking up at the roof.
"Alright, Midoriya-kun! Anytime you want to start!" Hatsume encouraged.
"Be careful, dude…" Ryuji mumbled, still unsure.
"I-I'll be fine. Thanks," Izuku tried to reassure him. Izuku took a deep breath, looked up at the roof's edge and took aim. Finding his spot, he pulled the trigger The hook flew out of the gun and latched onto the edge without issue; as soon as Izuku released the trigger, the grapple gun tugged him forward. He nearly lost his grip on it as he was yanked off the ground. But as he was nearing the edge of the roof, Izuku felt his instincts kick in. He quickly pulled with both hands against the grappling gun, flipping upward to avoid hitting the edge of the roof and landing safely on top.
That… that was surprisingly easy. A month ago he probably would've broken his nose against the roof. His time in the Metaverse was paying off. "Hatsume-san! I think it works great!"
"Dude, that was sick! You looked awesome!" Ryuji cheered from below.
"A perfect result! Incredible!" Mei grinned ear to ear, eyes sparkling. "It looks like my baby is for action! Okay, you can come down now, Midoriya-kun!"
"Okay!" Izuku spared a look around, suddenly finding his lips tightening up. "Um… how do I get down?"
"...Guinea Pig Number 2! Retrieve the ladder from the garage!"
"You didn't think that part through?!"
It wasn't long before Ryuji came running back with a ladder, allowing Izuku to climb down safely from the roof. With that, Mei ushered them back inside the garage. "Alright! Now that my baby has been tested, it's time to try out your friend's baby!"
"So… how's this gonna help my knee?" Ryuji asked slowly, taking a seat on the bench inside, his pant leg rolled up for Mei to inspect.
"If the damage done to your knee is what you said… then the issue you're facing is likely a leakage of the energy stored within your knee!" Mei explained, her attention focused on something on her worktable, ratcheting away at something unseen. "If that's the issue, then the baby I've created will help keep the energy contained within your knee from leaking out!"
"If you say so…" Ryuji mumbled, unsure as he looked at Izuku. "She's not gonna blow my knee up with this thing, is she?"
"N-No! Of course not!" Izuku's eyes briefly drifted to the scorch marks that still stained part of the floor. "At least… I don't think so… I haven't blown up yet, at least…"
"You're really not fillin' me with confidence here…" Ryuji sighed, looking fearful as Mei walked back over to them, holding out a knee brace. "Here! Put this on!"
Ryuji took it in his hands for a moment, he and Izuku inspecting it. It wasn't as bulky as expected, a black brace with two miniature turbines on the side like an engine. "So… do I just strap it on, or…?"
"Allow me to show you!" Mei took it out of his hands before pressing a release on the brace that split it in half. "Now, just a quick heads up, you may feel a slight-not-so-slight pinch!"
"What do you mean not so sli-GAAGH!" Ryuji screamed as Mei locked it into place. It felt like his knee was caught in a press. The brace hissed and whirred, tightening and bending as it slowly conformed to the shape of his leg.
"R-Ryuji-senpai, are you okay?!" Izuku asked in worry.
"That was the pinch I told you about! For this to work, the brace has to perfectly fit around your knee! That way, your ligaments get maximum support and none of the energy will leak out. The brace's internal systems will control the heat and pressure so your knees won't burn out too quickly, allowing you to run as long as you want!" Mei explained, watching as Ryuji clutched his knee in agony.
"Are you… sure I can… even run with it like this..?" Ryuji groaned as he reached for the lock, tempted to rip it off.
"Of course! You just have to test it now!" Mei said, crossing her arms proudly. "Why don't you go for a quick run around to gather some of that energy up?"
"Sure, I guess… might take a while, though…" Ryuji admitted, slowly standing up and wiggling out his leg.
"Well~, considering your knees are basically batteries, we could always try and charge them up with outside sources!" Mei whipped out a rather dangerous-looking taser, letting it crackle for emphasis.
"W-Wait! I think he should just go with the jogging!" Izuku waved his arms urgently.
"...Actually, I wanna try that out." Izuku's head spun as he turned back to Ryuji. "I wanna find out if I can actually do that. 'Cause if I can, it'd be pretty useful."
"That's the spirit! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" Mei grinned ear to ear, holding the taser out. "Let me begin!"
"H-Hey! At least let me do it!" Ryuji huffed, not liking how she edged toward him with it. Mei's expression morphed into disappointment, turning the taser around for him to grab.
"When you go to charge your bad knee, put the taser to the brace. It should immediately redirect the electricity within and contain it in your knee." She said, taking a few steps back as she waited to watch her baby go to work.
"Are you sure about this..? It might just end up hurting you…" Izuku asked pensively.
"I gotta try it. Otherwise it won't be as useful down the line, y'know?" Ryuji declared, gulping as he held up the taser. "If I can make this work… it'll mean I can do even more for the gang. Besides," Ryuji turned a small smile his way. "If you're doin' her crazy tests for us, this is the least I can do, right?"
Izuku stood there for a moment, opening his mouth to say something before closing it and taking a step to the side. "I'll… try to catch you if this doesn't work."
"Thanks, bro." Ryuji took a deep breath before turning the taser down, holding the button and starting the current. He then pressed it against his left knee and winced as 50,000 volts flowed into his knee. To his surprise, the jolt was fleeting, like he'd been zapped with a joy buzzer. The feeling was replaced by a tingling surge that raced down his leg. "Haha! It's workin'! It's actually workin'! Hell yeah!"
"Wow… your Quirk is amazing, Ryuji-senpai!" Izuku grinned like a child, delighted and relieved to see that their idea worked.
"Now! Now try your knee brace! It should do the job!" Mei urged him, hopping up and down in uncontained excitement. Ryuji pulled the taser off his left knee before tentatively pressing it down on the brace. Starting it again, a charge gauge appeared on the side, filling up from red to yellow in seconds. Ryuji's knee tensed and quivered the way it always did when it gave out. But the brace held it together, allowing him to fully charge it up. Once the meter turned green with a satisfying ding, Ryuji pulled the taser off and jumped to his feet to get a feel for it.
"I… I feel pretty good!" Ryuji said, wiggling his right leg out. "It usually just hurt to charge it up before!"
"Perfect! Now, for the real test!" Mei said, taking several steps back. "Test out your speed! See if you can maintain it without hurting yourself!"
"Alright! Let's give this a shot…" Ryuji took a deep breath before crouching down into a runner's position. Izuku and Mei stood off to the side, waiting for him to start. The brace whirred to life as he charged up. In a flash, Ryuji dashed to the other end of the garage, stopping on a dime just before he could hit the wall. He nearly tripped as he slowed down, but found his footing and kept his balance. The grin he gave Izuku would put All Might to shame.
"Dude! It works! I can run without it hurting!" Ryuji exclaimed, laughing like a kid in a candy store. He crouched low again before bolting forward and back again, leaving the scent of ozone in his wake. "Dude, this effin' rocks! I can actually run again!"
Izuku beamed as Ryuji dashed around to his heart's content. He turned to Mei, giving her a deep bow. "Thank you, Hatsume-san! This is better than anything I could have imagined!"
"Yeah, thanks!" Ryuji dashed back over to them, giving Mei a deep bow of his own. "I haven't been able to run like this in years! It… It's awesome to be able to do it again! You're a genius, Hatsume!"
"I'm happy to hear it! Bringing this baby to life does make me feel quite proud of my work!" Mei crossed her arms over her chest. "Now, on top of the knee brace, you can feel free to keep the grappling gun as well!"
Izuku lit up in surprise. "Really? Are you sure? I didn't think you'd give it to me right after testing it…"
"That was just a project for fun! Consider it a gift for your help testing what I've made so far!" Mei dismissed, waving a hand. "The Sports Festival is coming up, and with your help I've made all the perfect adjustments needed to make sure my babies operate at full capacity!"
"I see… so you're going to participate in the Sports Festival." Izuku nodded in understanding.
"Wait, you can use that? I thought only Quirks were allowed," asked Ryuji.
"That's for the general education and Hero courses! Since we're devoted to support items, the support department is allowed to use whatever we've made!" Mei explained, holding an index finger up. "With the babies I've been making, I'll be sure to show off their stuff for the big corporations to see! Getting a sponsorship will be a cinch!"
"So that's why you wanted to get those items tested quickly…" Izuku muttered before smiling. "Then I'll accept the grappling gun. Thank you again, Hatsume-san!"
"Of course! Just see it as a sign of my appreciation as well!" Mei gave him a thumbs up.
*SMASH*
Fortune Confidant: RANK FOUR
"Besides, I'm sure if I give you a couple of toys like that, you won't be able to help yourself! You'll be begging to come back and test more of my babies! Maybe even take on some of the more dangerous ones!" Mei rubbed her hands together greedily.
Izuku paled. "P-Please keep those kinds of thoughts to yourself…"
"You really do got it rough, dude…"
"That was an amazing thing you did for Ryuji today." Morgana gave Izuku a feline smile, propped over his shoulder. Evening had fallen, and the two headed back home in Yongen.
"I don't know if I'd say something like that… I mean, if I have a way to help him, of course I would do it." Izuku shook his head, smiling. "Seeing how happy Ryuji-senpai was about it… I'm glad I took a chance with Hatsume-san."
"And~ we walked away with a new gadget on top of it!" Morgana reminded him. "Our little visit today was beyond beneficial! See? And you were afraid to go to her in the beginning."
"It… still gets rough, but at least it's really paid off." Izuku laughed, thinking of all of the bruises he's gotten from testing her gadgets. "She's been very helpful."
"Well, now that Ryuji's knee situation is handled and we have a new tool, we should start digging into-"
"Hello~!"
Izuku and Morgana blinked before looking to the sky, following the voice. From above, a young woman landed directly in front of them, causing Izuku to recoil slightly. It took him a moment to fully process her appearance, soon realizing that it was the illegal pop star that he and his friends had briefly helped some time ago. "P-Pop Step?"
"Phew~! Finally caught up to you! You really do keep busy, moving around all the time!" She spoke, wiping her forehead of sweat. "And that's right~! Pop Step, in the flesh! If you know me, then I assume that you're already a fan, hm~?" She asked, edging closer with an eager grin.
"A-Ah, no, I wouldn't say that…" Izuku held up his hands as he backed up a step. She seemed to take the hint, hopping back and giving him space.
"Well, even if you're not a fan, that's okay. What's important is this: I, Pop Step, would like to recruit you as a member of my team!" she exclaimed, causing Izuku to blink once. Then twice.
"E-Eh?! Wh-What?! Why?!"
"Why? Because of this!" Pop Step held up a piece of paper for Izuku to see. He immediately recognized his handwriting, and realized it was a page from his self-made schedule.
"Wha-how did you get that?!" Izuku asked, reaching out to grab it only for Pop Step to pull it away. He was only thankful that he hadn't written anything incriminating on the pages of his schedule.
"That's not important! What's important is that you've definitely got some organizational skills! And that's exactly what I need!" She continued to push, waving the paper around.
"Organizational skills..?" Izuku raised a brow at that, still confused on how they got to this point.
"That's right! I live a rather busy life, kinda like you! But I need someone's help to figure out a schedule and make sure my concerts are under control. And I think you're the guy to do it!" Pop Step gave him a wink.
Izuku could only stare at her for a moment, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "U-Um… I'm sorry, but… I've got a lot going on as is…"
"Come on, it's not like I'm asking the world of you! I just want you to help me keep my affairs in order! You clearly have a good handle on yours!" Pop Step pushed, taking a step closer and leaning forward, obviously emphasizing her 'assets' to look more appealing. "Please~?"
Izuku quickly averted his eyes. "S-Sorry, Pop Step. I don't really know if I can help you…"
"At least come look at what I'm planning! And we can go from there!" She persisted, trying to angle herself each time Izuku shifted his gaze away.
"I-I don't know… it's pretty late…"
Izuku couldn't fathom how exactly he had gotten into this situation. There were so many things wrong with this scenario that he couldn't help but wonder 'how'. That question alone was enough to keep him from accepting any sort of pleas from the freelance idol.
"Hm… I see… if that's how you feel…" Izuku's eyes trailed back up to Pop Step, her voice sounding defeated for a moment. Until she held up his schedule. "I guess I'll just have to toss this out. Into a copier. And share its contents with the school."
Izuku paled at that. "What..?"
"I mean, it does have some interesting stuff on it. Something about 'Untouchable air gun shop', and a 'doctor visit'? I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, right?" Pop Step waved the paper around again. "But I bet it would get people's attention to know what the new kid with a record is up to in his free time, huh~?"
"H-How do you know about that?!" He took a step back, clutching his bag tightly.
"That's a secret~!" Pop Step twirled on one foot, grinning in triumph.
"This conniving witch!" Morgana hissed, popping out from his school bag and glaring at Pop Step. "Let me at her, Izuku!"
"M-Morgana-san!" Izuku squeaked at the cat's sudden emergence.
"Oh~? You have a cat in your school bag? Don't tell me you carry him around school with you!" Morgana and Izuku froze when she said that, a devilish smile spreading across her lips. "What else could you be hiding?"
Izuku's shoulders slumped at his side, realizing that he was practically cornered now. Morgana gave him an apologetic glance, lowering his ears dejectedly. "S-Sorry, Izuku…"
"So~, problem kid! Would you be willing to squeeze me in your schedule?" Pop Step feigned innocence, wiggling her sides. Izuku opened his mouth as he attempted to think of a way out of this. Sadly, nothing came to him that he would ever agree to doing. With a sigh of defeat, he relented.
"What do you want me to do..?"
It was a short bus ride back to Tokyo before Pop Step led him the Naruhata district. Normally this area of Tokyo was quite busy, but the further they went in, the less populated it was.
"Um… Pop Step? How much further are we going..?" Izuku asked. He pulled his bag close to his chest as they ducked through an alleyway.
"Not long! I'm based at the top of one of these old buildings in a penthouse!" Pop Step informed him. "The place is a dump, I know, and it's kinda creepy. But it works for now!" Izuku wasn't feeling any more comfortable, the two soon entering an extremely old apartment complex.
"I really don't like where this is going…" Morgana whispered over his shoulder, dropping Izuku's collapsible staff into his hand. "Just in case. You should probably make sure the others know where you're at."
"I-I don't think we need to do all that… she's just an aspiring idol… right?" Despite Izuku's attempt at optimism, he gripped the collapsible staff and hovered a finger over the release. His eyes darted around each corner as they continued on.
"Alright, here we are." Izuku looked forward once they stepped onto the roof. Strangely enough, there was a modest penthouse just like she said. "The rest of our team is inside! Well, half at least. We'll see."
"Yeah…" Izuku trailed behind Pop Step with caution, keeping a hold on his collapsible staff. She opened the door to the penthouse with a hard shove, walking in like she owned the place. "I'm back! And I've brought our new team member!"
Izuku peered in behind her to get an idea of what to expect. To his surprise, it was a rather modest home setting as far as he could see. Even with the idol thing to consider, this was more like your average apartment than any sort of 'base'. Then again, we only make bases out of what's available…
"Could you at least knock before entering, Pop?" A tired voice echoed from inside. Izuku looked at the lone person that was waiting for them, a small sense of recognition crossing his mind.
"Forget that! Look! I've got our newest member!" Pop Step skipped inside, presenting Izuku like he was a prize hidden behind a curtain.
He awkwardly waved back. "Hi there…"
"Wow, you actually got him to come? What a shock…" The young man answered, standing from his seat on the ground before raising a brow. "Hey, have we met before..?"
"I… I think so…" It suddenly dawned on Izuku. "Oh, right! You were the guy acting as 'security' for her concert!"
"Hm..? Oh! I remember now!" The older teen put his fist in his palm. "You were with two other friends, right?"
"Huh? You two have met?" Pop Step raised a brow.
"Yeah! Remember when I got caught in that mob a few weeks back? He was with those kids who warned you about the police coming." The older teen answered with a small smile. "Thanks for helping out with that, by the way. That crowd sure had gotten rowdy."
"Yeah, you looked like you had your hands full," Izuku gave a short laugh before bowing politely. "I'm Izuku Midoriya, by the way."
"Ah, Koichi Himawari. It's nice to have you join us." The kind young man greeted back. He reached out his hand to shake before realizing Izuku had something in his. "Hey, what's that you got there?"
Izuku realized he was still carrying his staff. He hastily stuffed it back into his bag. "A-Ah, nothing important! It's nice to meet you!"
Koichi didn't push the subject, instead giving him a friendly smile."I see. So, Pop convinced you to help us out, huh? Much appreciated!"
"A-Ah, yeah… I wasn't really left much choice though…" Izuku trailed off, looking to the side.
"Ah, I gotcha. Pop tends to impose on people pretty hard, huh?" Koichi laughed until he was struck in the head by a flying soda can.
"Don't act like I'm some sort of devil! Sheesh!" Pop Step hissed before clearing her throat. "So, why don't you get relaxed so we can start? You can let your cat out if you want."
"There she goes, imposing again…" Koichi mumbled dejectedly before blinking. "Wait. Cat?"
"Ah-yeah, sorry if it's an inconvenience…" Izuku put his bag down and let Morgana out, the cat hopping out and shooting a glare his way.
"Try to be more careful next time! You hit my head!"
"Oh~! A cat! He's adorable!" Koichi grinned as he reached a hand out and rubbed Morgana's head. "But why was he in your bag?"
"Um, well… he's kind of needy…" Izuku laughed sheepishly.
"Needy?! How dare you! I am not-" Koichi scratched under his chin, causing Morgana to purr and lean into Koichi's hand. "I-I'm not… Oh… that's the stuff..."
"Anyways, let's get started, shall we?" Pop Step urged, taking a seat behind the round table at the center of the room. "It's getting late, so I imagine you'd rather we wrap this up now rather than later, right?"
"Oh, right…" Even though I was practically forced to come along... Izuku took a seat at the round table with Koichi, the college student picking Morgana up and seating him on his lap. "So… what exactly do you need me to do?"
"Just help me organize my schedule! Maybe even help me organize the way my concerts are set up!" Pop Step explained, leaning on her back hands. "I've got a lot on my plate! First, I have to turn up my current rate of performances. Before that, I need to start practicing more, as well as keep my school-work balance in check!"
"And don't forget our work as nightly heroes!" Koichi interjected, raising his index finger.
"Ugh, yeah, I guess we can still squeeze that in." Pop Step groaned, losing whatever grace and cuteness she had paraded around before.
"Nightly heroes?" Izuku blinked, looking between them in wonder. "But aren't you..?"
"Illegally operating? Yup. That goes for what 'hero' work we do on the side as well." Pop Step confirmed, causing Izuku to raise a brow in disbelief. "I sort of just went along with it, but him and this gramps we know like to run around like good samaritans. By the way, where is the old man?"
"He went out to 'look for suspects'," said Koichi, looking troubled. "I really hope he doesn't cause a problem by himself…"
"We'll have to let that old coot do his own thing for now. We've got more important things to attend to," Pop Step waved a hand in dismissal, looking back at Izuku. "So back to business…" She noticed Izuku staring, the green haired teen's eyes wide. "What's wrong?"
"Huh? O-Oh, nothing, I was just… surprised," Izuku admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I haven't heard about vigilantes running around in a long time. It kind of reminds me of the Phantom Thieves…"
"Ha, yeah, kinda like that. I gotta say, they're pretty damn cool from what I've seen!" Koichi grinned, eliciting a very pleased purr from Morgana as he scratched his head. "It makes me want to do even more than before!"
"I think I like this kid… right there, yes~..." Morgana continued to enjoy the attention that Koichi gave him.
"Gah! Can we not talk about the Phantom Thieves for five seconds?! That's all people talk about at school now!" Pop Step exclaimed, pulling at her poofy twin tails in frustration.
"Ah, sorry about that. It's just hard not to like them." Koichi raised his hands in surrender before leaning in toward Izuku to whisper, "She's upset that they stole attention away from one of her concerts."
"A-Ah, I see…" Izuku gave a quiet chuckle.
"Shut up! That's not important!" Pop Step hissed, pointing a finger at Koichi.
If she has my schedule and knows where to spread it… on top of people talking about us at her school… I'm guessing Pop Step goes to Shujin as well… Izuku thought but kept it to himself. But I don't think I've ever seen her around.
"Okay, enough side-tracking!" Pop Step huffed, leaning across the table between them. "Can you please help me organize what I have going on? It's been driving me nuts to balance everything out!"
Izuku scratched the back of his head before pulling out his notebook, drawing up a diagram of the week. "Okay, so since you're in school, we at least know what days and hours you're free… So you want to account for scheduling your concerts, practice, study time and 'night work', right?"
"Huh? O-Oh, yes. I think that about covers everything…" Pop Step nodded, minorly impressed by the speed that he started working at.
"Okay… Monday through Saturday, it's probably smart for you to devote your first hour or two off to studying and homework. Maybe stay at the library to avoid getting distracted. If that's not an issue and you'd rather be here to practice once you're done, that's your choice. It depends on what you want to prioritize that day…" Izuku scribbled in notes under each day. Koichi and Pop Step spared a look at one another before leaning over Izuku's shoulder, watching as he wrote.
"Once you've finished your school work, devote an hour to your performance practice. I can't give you advice on how to improve on that aspect, but it's best to make sure you have gotten the work in so you don't get rusty. Are you planning another concert soon?"
"Yeah, this week on Friday."
"How often do you perform?"
"I'm trying to go for twice a month right now… I might need to step it up with all the attention getting pulled away, though."
"Okay. Then maybe consider using the day before your concerts as a resting period so that you don't overwork yourself. That or the day after," Izuku suggested, holding his chin in thought. From there on, Izuku asked for detail after detail pertaining to Pop Step's current schedule, making sure not to miss a beat or leave anything out.
Izuju had to admit, Pop Step's schedule was just about as busy as his own. But thanks to all the work he had been doing the past few months, he had figured out how to juggle all of his appointments and was able to construct something similar for her.
"Okay, I think that covers everything. Here, take a look," Izuku handed Pop Step his notes, both her and Koichi leaning in to read them.
"It's kind of messy with all these notes, but… it looks good. I think I can work with all of this," she said with minor astonishment.
"You're really impressive, huh? And you're just a first-year?" Koichi seemed far more impressed, raising a brow in surprise.
"Hehe, if only they knew all of what you can do," Morgana puffed his chest out with pride.
"Well, I think that covers everything. You don't need anything else, right?" Izuku asked, leaning on the table to push to his feet.
"Yeah… wait, actually, I wanted help organizing my concerts!" Izuku nearly tripped over his own fight at Pop Step's request. "Come on, please? It gets so hectic sometimes, and Koichi's no help!"
"Hey, that's not fair! It's only me out there a lot of the time," Koichi complained, frowning. "But it's getting kind of late. Don't you think we should let him get home now?"
Pop Step simmered on the thought with a grumble before grunting in agreement. "Fine, you can go for now… but take my info so I can contact you about more help."
"Alright, then…" Izuku agreed, doing whatever he could to get out of this situation. He exchanged numbers and emails with Pop Step as well as Koichi, the kindly young man offering it out of kindness. "Um… can I get my schedule back now?"
Pop Step narrowed her eyes, holding up the piece of paper before tearing it down the middle in half, handing it to him. "You'll get the other half after you help me organize my concert."
"Sheesh! Talk about a devious woman!" Morgana hissed, narrowing his eyes at Pop Step.
"I… guess that will do for now," Izuku sighed, unzipping his bag and ushering Morgana inside. "I guess I'll see you later." He stood back up and headed for the door, only for it to open from the other side. Izuku's eyes bulged out of his head when a large, muscular masked man walked in casually before looking down at him.
"Oh hey, Sensei. Welcome back." Koichi called out casually.
"Huh? Who's the squirt?" The looming figure asked as he stared down at Izuku through white eye patches in his mask.
"Um…" Izuku opened his mouth to speak before Pop Step and Koichi walked up by his side.
"Oh, this is that organizer I was talking about! He'll be helping us from now on. So try not to scare him off, you old fart."
"Heh, poor sucker. So did she hold that schedule of yours over your head?" The gruff old man asked with a smirk.
"She definitely did," Koichi answered for him.
Pop Step clicked her tongue. "Oh, shut up! I wouldn't have to if you two were actually reliable!"
"Heh. Well, good luck kid. You'll need it. I'm Knuckleduster, by the way." Koichi's so-called Sensei chuckled, walking past Izuku casually before heading directly for the mini-fridge. "Anyway, I got some development on that case I was followin'. Gather 'round."
"Case?" Izuku asked, quickly turning his head back to them.
"Yeah. It's not something you'll see on the news, as of yet." Pop Step said, gathering with Koichi around the table as the older man walked back over, placing several beers on the table in front of him. "You should probably hear this so you can avoid trouble in the future."
Izuku stood at the door, sparing a look down at Morgana who had popped his head back out of his bag. Could this be a lead? Slowly walking back to the table, he took a seat and listened intently.
"So what'd you learn, Sensei?" Koichi asked as he folded his legs under the table.
"So I was out questionin' the usual suspects, and-"
"You mean beating?" Pop Step grimaced.
"Please tell me you didn't hurt too many people, Sensei…" Koichi asked hopefully.
"Beat? Hurt?" Izuku repeated, eyes darting around.
"Relax. I only beat about five or six punks before I got what I needed."
"Oh yeah? And how many of them were actually criminals?" Pop Step asked doubtfully.
"They were causin' plenty of trouble before I showed up. Now enough about that, I've got more important things to talk about." Knuckleduster waved off her concern. Izuku couldn't help but notice the man remove his bloodstained brass knuckles.
This man is definitely dangerous…
"We'll just have to hope Sensei was right…" Koichi sighed before motioning for him to continue. "So what'd you find out?"
"I caught one of the bastards selling Trigger on the street. It was some weak shit, though. Not the stuff we've been running into." Knuckleduster continued before downing a beer.
"Trigger? As in the Quirk enhancing drug?" Izuku asked, mildly shocked.
"Yeah. There've been a few cases of people getting injected at random with this really strong Trigger drug. We've been following it for a while but haven't come up with anything," Pop Step explained. "So if you see someone hulk out at random because of their Quirk, it's probably Trigger. This stuff also turns your tongue black when you take it. Do us a favor and text me if you see anything like that, okay?"
"Huh? Oh-sure." It was actually quite interesting to talk about a case like this so openly with people he had just met. It's nice to know other people are trying to do what they can, even if it means breaking the law.
"That's not the lead I got, though. I got a lead on those Quirk-erasing bullets."
Izuku's blood ran cold. "Quirk… erasing bullets?"
"Yup. We only recently got involved in this case." Koichi said, grimacing. "While we were out one day for our usual work, I got hit with this Quirk erasing bullet during a fight. It was pretty scary stuff…"
"At least it wasn't a real bullet…" Pop Step looked relieved as she said that before turning back to Knuckleduster. "So what did you find out?"
"I was able to get one of the asshole's bullets before he could use it. I couldn't take his whole case 'cause the cops showed up." Knuckleduster produced a single bullet casing, sticking it on the table. Looking closer, Izuku saw a needle protruding from the top instead of a bullet. "Apparently the guys sellin' Trigger on the streets have been gettin' asked to sell this too. Says it's some sorta 'test' that their providers want to use."
"Selling those bullets and Trigger? These guys are real serious…" Koichi shivered at the thought. "Any idea who the providers are?"
"Some yakuza types, I think. The seller described it as a guy with some kind of old time medicine mask."
"Yakuza?" Izuku repeated, his thoughts going back to what Iwai had mentioned. "I… heard they're still surviving, albeit barely."
"Heh. That means you know more than most, kid." Knuckleduster said with a grin. "That's right. Those old timers are still kickin'. In fact, they might be more than that. From what I hear, I think they're getting ready for a big move."
"Huh? What else have they been doing?" asked Koichi.
"This isn't the first time I heard about those 'medicine masks'. There was some local robberies I've heard talk about, caused by a group of men wearin' medical masks. We've got that link, at least." Knuckleduster explained.
"But why would the yakuza be committing some petty crimes like that?" Pop Step asked.
"Considering how much hiding they have to do, it's probably somethin' simple like needin' money." Knuckleduster shrugged. "If they're lookin' to make quick bucks, robberies and third-party drug dealers are probably the safest way for them to do it. And with these Quirk-erasing bullets hitting the streets, there's no way they're not planning something big."
Izuku looked down at his hands. This is serious. I knew the Yakuza might still be a problem, but… this could be worse than what I thought. His thoughts drifted again to Iwai. He had mentioned a group of dangerous yakuza. I… might have to ask him something about this.
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking…" Izuku's eyes drifted to Morgana next to him, who was giving him a knowing smile. "Then I've got an idea. You should get going. I'll meet you outside."
Before Izuku could say anything, Morgana crawled out from his bag and crept under the table. What's he going to do?
But he trusted Morgana knew what he was doing. "S-So, I think I'll be going now…" He snatched up his belongings and started moving for the door. " it's getting pretty late, and this all seems really… intense." .
"Ah, yeah. Sorry about that. Guess we weren't bein' too considerate of you." Koichi apologized, rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, I just thought it's best to warn you instead of leaving you in the dark," said Pop Step. "If you want to head off, go ahead."
"Okay. Thank you for telling me all of this, though. I'll keep an eye out." Izuku said, bowing gratefully before turning around and taking his leave.
Knuckleduster watched his back as he left before speaking again. "Strange kid. Wonder what he's hidin'."
"What makes you say that?" Koichi asked in wonder.
"He didn't react like most kids his age, at least not normal ones."
"Seemed like a normal reaction to me."
"Nah, he took it pretty well. But I get it," Pop Step shrugged. "He's the kid with a record at our school, so I bet this isn't the shadiest thing he's heard." She looked at Knuckleduster, the older man looking around the room in wonder. "What's wrong?"
"...I think the bullet disappeared."
"Huh?" Koichi and Pop Step balked, looking down at the table to see it had disappeared.
"How the heck did you lose it so fast, old man?!"
"Hm. Mighta been when I was downing some beer…"
"H-Hey! We gotta find it! It'll be bad if someone steps on the needle!"
None of them noticed as Morgana slipped out the window. The cat quickly caught up to Izuku, climbing up his back and leaning over his shoulder. "Got it!"
"Got what?" Morgana dropped the bullet from his mouth, Izuku barely catching it as it fell. "M-Morgana-san! Why did you take this?!"
"Because, I think we've found the Phantom Thieve's next lead." Morgana gave a feline smile. "You can't tell me you weren't thinking about it."
Izuku stared down at the bullet, swallowing a lump in his throat. "Yeah… I suppose you're right. This might be the perfect target for the Phantom Thieves to take on next." He nodded, looking back at the cat. "Tomorrow, we'll tell the others and start investigating."
It just wasn't Koga Masune's day, was it?
It was supposed to be a quiet day. He scoped out the scene, made sure there were no cops or rats, and met with his usuals. He tried to pawn off some of the Quirk-erasing bullets, but only one guy had made a purchase all day, and that didn't lead to anything out of the ordinary.
But then the old man showed up, swinging some brass knuckles around like some old time strong arm thug. Even after Koga had amped himself up with Trigger, the asshole wouldn't stop coming and beat his face in. To make matters worse, he made off with one of the bullets before leaving him behind for the cops.
Now he was being carted off by the cops, on his way to holding and likely to be questioned. The engine of the paddy wagon rumbled in his ears and the metal of his cage shook with every bump. Koga's heart beat a thousand miles an hour in his ear. This wasn't going to be a good day at all.
Shit, shit, SHIT! I this just isn't my day! Koga cursed, grinding his teeth into his bottom lip. If word gets out that I got pinched, I'm totally fucked!
Koga had been caught red handed, jacked on Trigger and unable to escape with the case of Trigger and Quirk erasing bullets. The cops had everything they need without having to ask to put him away for a while and then some. Now it was just a matter of whether he would snitch to get into protective custody.
Shit… do I even got a choice? I'll be stabbed in general pop! Koga thought fearfully, sweat trailed down his face. I-I'm not a snitch! But… I don't wanna die! I'm just small time! I ain't got no back up!
Koga had no choice. He was going to have to spill everything if he wanted to survive. He'd have to play hard to get though, otherwise they'll just short him on any type of deal. It was shameful for a man in his line of work, but it was better than being dead.
"H-How long until we get there?!" Koga asked, failing to hide the trepidation in his voice.
"Shut up. We get there when we get there." The cop drive scoffed back.
"Assholes…" Koga snarled, but could only lean his head forward. Okay, Koga. Don't act too nervous. Don't let 'em know what you're thinkin'. Make 'em try and sweeten the-
Koga's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the paddy wagon suddenly swerved back and forth, causing him to jerk back and forth, only saved from face planting into the surrounding cage by the straps holding him in.
"Hey! What the hell're you doin' up there?! You guys drunk?!" Koga snarled, trying to peer his head to look in the window between him and the drivers. Only to see both cops buckled over in their seats. "Wh-What the fu-"
The car swerved again, this time crashing the van. Koga bucked back and forth in his seat. He was lucky that the van seemed to run into something solid, the crash hard but not so violent that he or the drivers would be dead.
It rattled him enough though, Koga suffering from whiplash. He was dazed and in pain, groaning as he tried to find his bearings. He heard the van doors open, slowly trailing his eyes over to see two figures entering. As his vision began to steady, Koga soon realized that it was his suppliers, the Eight Precepts. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or completely terrified. One was fully cloaked in black with a wide brimmed black hat and a full face medicine mask. The other was dressed more relaxed and only wore the medicine beak over his mouth.
"Looks like he's still intact." Koga guessed the darker dressed of the two said, his voice muffled by his mask.
"Good. Let's get his cage open." the other said, eyes watching Koga coldly.
Sh-Shit! I can't believe these guys came to get me like this! Koga swallowed a lump in his throat but put on a confident smile. Gotta play it cool! Play it cool and I can make it out of this!
"M-Man, you guys work fast! Thank god you're here!" Koga said, struggling against his binds. "G-Get me outta here!"
"Quiet, we're getting to it." Koga's mouth never slammed close faster in his life. The darkly dressed one quickly opened his cage with the keys, undoing Koga's binds soon after.
"Th-Thanks." Koga rubbed his wrists as he was freed, grinning nervously as he stood from his seat. "Man, you guys work fast! Thanks for-"
Koga was cut short as a hand gripped around his neck and slammed him against the wagon's metal walls. Koga would have tried to fight back, but the barrel of a gun was quickly shoved in his face.
"Before we let you go, we have some questions…" The yakuza declared, the lack of expression or emotion from his mask only terrifying Koga. "First… What did you tell the police?"
"Nothing! They haven't questioned me yet!" Koga answered before he could stop himself. Wh-What the fuck?! That just came out! Was it his Quirk?!
"I see. That's good. Now, what did the police take from you?"
"A case of the Trigger I was selling and one case of the bullets!" Koga answered yet again, visibly shaking.
This is… this is good, right?! Koga thought, giving a trepid smile. I haven't sold anyone out yet! They can't hold anything against me!
"Sounds like what we collected was all of it, then." The other member standing idly by said, tapping his arm.
"Looks like the situation isn't beyond salvaging then." Koga felt his throat released, coughing for air and rubbing his neck. "You're lucky."
Th-Thank god! I'm in the clear!
"One last thing, though… What were you going to do when questioned?"
"I was going to play hard to get before giving up everything I had!"
Koga clapped his hands over his mouth, feeling a deathly chill running down his spine. The black lenses of the medicine mask stared into Koga's own. He did his best impression of a statue, but it was no use.
"I guess that's all, then." The yakuza turned around, lowering his gun without another word. Koga stood in place for a moment longer, watching him carefully. He slowly turned his head, only to see the other yakuza standing felt like a fly about to be swatted as the yakuza's hand reached between the bars and touched Koga's arm.
"We don't need flimsy guys like you."
The last thing Koga felt was his skin puffing up like a balloon seconds before his entire upper body popped like one.
Overhaul wiped at the blood staining his arm. Hives rose across his face and arm. "Tch… dirty." He took another glove from a zipped plastic bag and stepped out of the van. "Deidoro. Are the cops alive?"
"Yessir! They're out like lights but still breathin', just like you asked!" An eccentric voice echoed from above the paddy wagon.
"Good. We don't need vengeful cops getting on our case." Overhaul nodded, walking forward. "We're almost ready. And any bumps will be dealt with."
To be continued…
Thanks again goes to my beta reppuzan who works quite hard on this and many other tasks in his life.
Finally, we can really start getting into the next arc. Personally I'm very excited, especially after the amazing climax of the Eight Precepts arc. Bones really did a great job animating that final fight. Got me all kinds of emotional and reminded me why I love this show so much lol I have a lot to live up to in this coming arc, so I do hope you'll all look forward to it in anticipation! I'll be giving it my all!
With that said, I don't think there's much else to say. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, please leave a review, a follow and a favorite if you'd be so kind. And if you have the time, give the TVTropes page some love! I think it could use some updating haha