Disclaimer: I own neither My Hero Academia or the Persona series. Please support the official releases.
Chapter 34
What a pain in the ass...
Katsuki Bakugou gnashed his teeth as he walked through the Musutafu streets, stomping toward home after school. It was becoming an infuriatingly common occurrence of late for him to be haunted by his missteps during class. And worst of all to be scolded by Amamiya of all people..
That fake glasses bastard… Where does he get off telling me what I did was wrong?!
It had been a simple training exercise. Not unlike the first exercise of Heroes vs Villains. Only this time, Bakugo played the role of hero, and the objective was to escort the civilians to safety.
Of course, he had his own way of doing things. The easiest way to ensure a civilian's safety was to kick the ass of whatever was threatening them . So rather than let the villain hunt him, he hunted the villain. And of course he was going against Amamiya again today of all days.
The fight had been going well. Fake Glasses was fast, but Bakugou was faster. The black mist that snuffed out his explosions had been a pain to get around, but once he'd gotten his hands on Fake Glasses, there was no way he was ever letting go. They traded blows for what felt like hours, but Bakugou had clearly come out on top. There was no way he was ever losing to him again. That first loss was a fluke, nothing more.
But then that infuriating smirk appeared on his face. And before Bakugou knew it, the match was over. Fake Glasses had done his job and led him away from the 'civilians'. Round Cheeks had seized victory for them after disabling Earphones.
Bakugo had cost them the match. Again.
"Strength doesn't mean everything." He said in that irritatingly monotone voice of his. "You need to figure out everything it takes to be a hero."
Who was Amamiya to judge him with that?! Did he think Bakugou wasn't smart enough? Wasn't fast enough? It drove him up a wall. He had done exactly what others had been praising his whole life. Fighting with ferocity, moving with purpose. To put the 'villains' down and win the day!
So why the fuck do I keep losing to that bastard?!
Bakugou literally bit the graded paper he got in half, shaking it in his mouth like a rabid dog. "Screw his shit advice!" He turned a corner and crumpled the rest of it into a ball, tossing it into an alley trash can before turning back.
"Heh. Looks like you've finally been getting the reality check you deserve, huh?"
Bakugo's ears grated when he heard that, craning his neck around slowly as he gave a death glare. "Who said that?"
"Aren't you scary?" A man materialized from the shadows of a nearby alleyway. He looked to be in his early twenties, and was dressed in ragged clothing. His face was pale and his hair unkempt. No matter how you looked at him, the man looked like a bum. "But I've seen how you've been goin' home like a wounded pup. It's pretty pathetic."
Bakugou's hands were already starting to sweat, little explosions going off as he turned to look him in the eye. "You stalking me, hobo?"
"I've been watching you. I know what path you take to get to school. To U.A. It pisses me off that the brat from so long ago got into that school when I couldn't." The man snarled bitterly.
Bakugo quirked a brow. "Hah? The hell are you rambling about, hobo? Am I supposed to know you?"
"You may not remember, but I do! Me and my pals ruled the neighborhood, but then your little punk ass stood up to us!" He snarled, kicking a nearby trash can. "You were just some kindergarten brat and you beat us?! Just how fuckin' blessed could you be?!"
"Kindergarten?" It suddenly dawned on Bakugou. He was among the group of grade school students who had picked on him. Tried to, at least. But Bakugo kicked their asses instead. Never again did they come around his neighborhood.
Remembering that, he cackled like a villain. "Hah! Serves you right, asshole! Someone who had to pick on kindergartners to feel superior are just trash in the first place! You were trash then and you're trash now!"
The former bully's jaw dropped upon hearing that, but his expression quickly morphed to fury, reaching into his tattered coat. "I'll show you who's trash, you little bastard!" Bakugo's eyes shot open in alert when he saw a gun being drawn. "Now eat this!"
*BOOM*
As the man had fired the pistol though, Bakugo had made an explosion in his palm, launching him to the right side and avoiding the bullet. With gritted teeth, Bakugo launched himself forward with an explosion in his right hand, rocketing toward the bully turned bum.
"DIE!" Bakugo let loose a quick concussive explosion off in his face, causing the man to whip his body back and fall flat on the ground. Bakugo stooped over him, grinning maniacally as he held a hand over his throat.
"Moron. You couldn't beat me as a kid. Even with a gun, you can't beat me now!" Bakugo snarled, hand latching across his face and covering his mouth and nose, pulling him up to eye level. "And now you're gonna go to jail because you couldn't let some dumbshit from childhood go. What a fuckin'-"
*BOOM*
Bakugo cursed as he let go of the man, recoiling back in horror as he felt his skin pierced by something. But to his minor relief, there was no blood in his hip where he felt the impact. But upon closer inspection after pulling it out, it was a needle inside of a casing. "The hell..?"
"Hehehe… hahaha~!" Bakugo snapped his head back to the battered hobo, who smiled and laughed despite his soot covered face. "You're finished now, kid! You feel any different? Maybe like you're missing something?"
Bakugo clicked his tongue, raising his right hand to blow away the gun he held. "Shut the hell… up..?" he tensed, looking at his hand when no explosion came out. He tried to unleash another, this time with the opposite hand. "What the fuck did you do?!"
"Hahaha~! Look who's the big man now!" It was the former bully's turn to cackle,pointing at Bakugo tauntingly. "Not so tough without your Quirk now, are you?! How's it feel to be powerless?!"
"Without my… Quirk?" Bakugo's eyes went wide as plates. As he turned to snarl at the hobo, he was clocked across the face with the butt of the gun. Bakugo fell to the ground, gripping his cheek as his former bully stooped over him.
"Don't worry. After some time, it'll apparently come back. Not that I wanted it to, but that's the best I could get." The former bully grinned ear to ear, rearing his leg back to kick Bakugou. "But it's certainly enough time for me to enjoy myself!"
As he brought his leg forward, he was surprised when Bakugo caught the kick. Leering out from underneath his dirty blond hair, Bakugo peered into the man's soul with a scathing glare.
"Moron. Just because I don't have my Quirk…" Bakugo twisted his weight into the man's leg, throwing him on his ass. "Doesn't mean I'd lose to some shit-for-brains like you!"
"Y-You little-" His attacker drew the gun up, taking aim at Bakugo's head. But the hero-in-training acted swiftly, grabbing the lid off a nearby trash can and holding it up as a shield. The needle-tipped bullets bounced off harmlessly, allowing him to swing the lid and knock the gun out of his hand.
"Now DIE!" Bakugo followed this phrase up with a swift hook to the man's jaw. The man's head whipped back into the cement with a loud smack. Bakugo secured him on the ground by digging his knee into his sternum and shifting his weight on top of him. "You're even more spineless than when we were kids. Scum." Bakugo spat to the side.
"Wh-What the fuck… even without your Quirk, you still…" THe man cursed through a bloodied mouth, tears trailing down his cheeks. "Shit… Shit!"
"That's right. And now you're gonna go to jail after fucking up! Use real bullets next time, asshole." Bakugo sneered, eyes drifting to the gun. He looked at his hand, urging it to spark. But nothing came out.
Still… What the fuck was that? And how the hell'd it take away my Quirk?
It had completely slipped Izuku's mind that his class, among many other classes ranging from first to third years, would be taking a trip to clean up Inokashira Park. The previous day had been cloudy with on and off showers. Most expected it to be canceled. All hopes of that were dashed when the clouds parted. Izuku didn't mind, but he had gone to school and realized they were supposed to meet at the park instead. Now he was running a bit behind schedule.
"Just when we have a lead to follow for our next target, we get pulled into a long day," Morgana complained from his bag, Izuku dodging other pedestrians as he made his way to his transit.
"It can't be helped. We have time to look into it though, so I'm not worried," Izuku reasoned. "Once we're done, we'll meet with the others at Shibuya to talk about it."
"Maybe, but the sooner we get our names back out, the better." Izuku didn't completely disagree on that front, but he wasn't going to rush into their next potential target without careful consideration. Unlike their previous targets, these yakuza could attack them both in and outside of the Metaverse.
If we end up getting caught or seen like with our past targets… it could be a lot more dangerous for us.
"Sorry, I'm busy right now. Please excuse me…"
Izuku came to a brief stop when he heard a familiar voice, eyes trailing up to see his classmate, Kasumi Yoshizawa, speaking with some strange middle-aged man. She tried to walk away from him, but the man snatched her wrist.
"Come on, now~! Don't be rude! I just want to talk!" Kasumi winced in his grip, her legs shaking beneath her.
"Pl-Please let go… I'm in a hurry."
"Well, if that's the problem, you should give me your number. We can talk about it later."
"Stop…"
Izuku had a momentary flash of memories to that fateful night, the drunken man wrestling with a woman who clearly wanted nothing to do with him. Yoshizawa was in that same position now, once again facing Izuku with a potentially similar situation. He looked around at other pedestrians, hoping one would intervene on her behalf. But to his dread, every other witness simply proceeded to ignore it, turning away and acting as if they never saw a thing.
How can they just let this happen?
Izuku looked back at Yoshizawa, her expression nervous and uncomfortable. Damning the consequences, Izuku approached without another thought.
"Sir... " Izuku swallowed a lump in his throat, assuming a more neutral expression as the stranger and Yoshizawa faced him.
"Midoriya..?"
"What do you want?" The middle-aged man huffed.
"You're making her uncomfortable, sir. Please, let her go." Izuku mustered up, not wanting to repeat his mistake . But his intent remained the same.
"You're being disrespectful! I'm just trying to look out for her since she's a Shujin student!" The man straightened out, imposing the few inches of height he had over Izuku. Thankfully he released her wrist, which is all Izuku wanted. Though he wasn't expecting her to dash to his side, hiding behind Izuku's shoulder.
"I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I want you to understand her feelings."
"Tch. What are you even talking about? It's not even that big of a deal. Kids these days, acting like white knights for no reason…" The middle aged man looked flustered, glaring at Izuku before leaving.
Izuku breathed out in relief, glad that the situation hadn't escalated. He looked back at Yoshizawa in concern, his eyes softening. "Are you okay?"
Yoshizawa took a moment to relax before looking up at Izuku. Her eyes shot wide open, taking several steps back from him and bowing her head. "I'm sorry! Thank you for helping me, Midoriya-kun! I'm very grateful!"
"Y-You don't need to worry about that. I'm glad you're fine." Izuku waved off awkwardly, offering a smile.
"Yeah, I'm okay now. It was kind of scary though…" Yoshizawa's eyes fell to the side, looking somewhat nervous.
"I see. I'm sorry that happened." Izuku frowned in sympathy. "What was he asking for?"
"He said he wanted to know about the stuff happening at Shujin, but… that seemed like an excuse." Yoshizawa rubbed her arm, looking at the ground. "Um… can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Why did you help me?" Izuku raised a brow, feeling it a somewhat odd question.
"Well… you looked uncomfortable and he was being forceful. I couldn't stand by and do nothing," Izuku rubbed his neck, hoping he didn't sound patronizing.
"I see…" Yoshizawa distractedly pulled at her ponytail, unable to meet his eye.
She's still pretty shaken by what happened… Izuku felt better about stepping in, seeing her shift back and forth in place. Izuku didn't know Yoshizawa well, but he knew she was pretty high-spirited in class.
"W-Well, sorry for the weird question. Are you going to the clean-up event too? Well, of course you are, we're in the same class, hehe…"
"Yeah. I'm heading to the transfer now." Izuku nodded, unsure about his next question. "Should we go together?"
"Sure… wait," Kasumi inhaled a breath. "I almost forgot why I was going back! I forgot my jersey at school!" Kasumi pulled out her phone, wincing. "Oh no, the time! I've got to go!"
"O-Oh, okay then." Izuku watched as Kasumi sped past him but stopped a few feet away.
"Sorry, I haven't properly thanked you yet, but I need to get running! I'll see you at the park, okay? We'll talk then!" Kasumi said, bowing again.
"Y-You don't really need… to…" Yoshizawa was already skipping off, likely not hearing Izuku's last words. "At least things turned out okay."
Izuku leaned back into the park bench he was seated in. He had only been able to briefly meet up with Ryuji and the others before they were all divided into random groups. It certainly didn't leave him enough time to explain that he found a potential target, but he wanted to wait until they could meet Yusuke anyway.
"A-Ah, by the way everyone! Once we've finished our miso soup, we can head home!" Izuku heard his group leader say, he and the others avoiding eye contact with him.
"Oh, th-that's great! Let's hurry and get our bowls then!" Without hesitation, the three quickly shuffled off, not once giving Izuku a moment to speak. Izuku simply sighed, not at all surprised by their reaction.
"You've got it pretty rough, huh?" Morgana poked his head out of his book bag. "I thought most of your classmates were over that."
"I guess. But they weren't from my class, so they probably only know what they've heard," Izuku put on a reassuring smile. "It doesn't really bother me anymore."
"Oh, there you are!" Izuku pulled his gaze away from the cat, surprised to see Kasumi Yoshizawa approaching. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Oh, Yoshizawa-san. Is everything alright?" Izuku stood from his seat to greet her.
"I'm alright now, really. I just wanted to properly thank you for earlier." She smiled before looking around. "Oh, where are your team members?"
"Ah, they... went off to get the miso soup. I was just resting a bit." Izuku wasn't sure if he should flat out admit that they abandoned him entirely.
"I see. The same happened to me. Would you like to have some miso soup together?"
Izuku nearly jumped at her offer. "A-Ah! I wouldn't want to impose on you or anything!"
"It's fine, really! Let's eat together!" Yoshizawa's smile was cute enough to fluster him, his head filling with steam as he attempted to respond.
"O-Okay…" He slowly stood up, following her to the line. A-A girl wants to eat lunch with me! O-Okay Izuku, it's not a big deal! T-Treat it like you would Ann-senpai or Koto-san!
Izuku figured that spending so much time with two older, and obviously attractive, girls like his two teammates would have neutralized his nervousness around women by now. While it did seem to help a little, spending time with a girl he'd just barely met, especially one as cute as Yoshizawa, was still nerve-wracking. He wasn't blind to the fact that she was the prettiest girl in his class.
With shaky hands, Izuku took his bowl from Maruki-sensei, who helped with the meal prep for the trip, before following Yoshizawa back to the bench. Izuku tried to keep a moderate distance away from her that wouldn't seem rude but also wouldn't feel too close to her at the risk of his burning face.
"Thank you for the food!" Yoshizawa said before picking up a piece of tofu and nibbling on it. "And again, thank you so much for earlier."
"A-Ah, you don't have to keep thanking me!" Izuku shook his head. "I really didn't do much…"
"No, you did! I was really scared when that guy cornered me." Yoshizawa's eyes drooped to the ground, shame and anxiousness leaking in her expression. "It was honestly scarier than I thought a situation like that could be." But her frown formed back into the kind of grateful grin you'd see in movies or on magazine covers. "That's why I'm so thankful. So thank you very much!"
Izuku fought the urge to scrunch up his face to shield his eyes from that blindingly brilliant smile. "I-It's fine, really… I'm glad things turned out okay…"
"Me too. And… one other thing…" Izuku was surprised when he saw shame return to her expression. "After I started at Shujin, I started to… hear a few rumors about you. You seemed nice enough in class, but… I was keeping a small distance because of it. I'm sorry about that."
Izuku's expression mellowed out, but he gave an understanding smile. "It's okay. You were new to school, and I don't blame you for being cautious. Besides, you still treated me well enough in class."
"I don't like assuming the worst of others. So I'm sorry for not giving you a chance until now." Kasumi bowed her head in apology before letting out a sheepish giggle. "Besides, I don't think you're anything like what the rumors say. I know that's weird to say after just meeting you, but I can tell you're not like that."
Her words filled Izuku with warmth. He was happy with the friends he had in the other Thieves, but it was disheartening that none of them were in his year.
"Thank you, Yoshizawa-san. I know the rumors are still out there about me…"
"Yeah. Some of them are pretty crazy, too. Stuff like theft, homicide, ivory smuggling…"
"How did it turn into all of that?!"
"Yeah, they seem to have really gone off the rails," Yoshizawa giggled again. "They couldn't be further from the mark, yet people still get really tense around you. Our class seems used to you by now, but the rest of the first years around us still get pretty quiet."
Izuku couldn't stop a tired sigh from escaping his mouth. "Well… I'm glad to hear you don't think that way, at least."
"Of course. It might be kind of soon to jump to conclusions, but I believe you're nothing like any of those rumors." Yoshizawa's tender smile was all the reassurance that Izuku needed, feeling his face warm up again. "So, why don't we start over and introduce ourselves?"
"Ah, okay then. I'm Izuku Midoriya. Nice to meet you." he said, welcoming her idea.
"And I'm-" Something seemed to catch Yoshizawa's eye, the girl looking away before springing from her seat. Izuku blinked as he watched her move with a swiftness, eyes wide as plates when she performed an expertly executed spring jump in the air, grabbing a balloon by the string. Yoshizawa rolled as she landed before springing up to stand.
"W-Wow…" Izuku mumbled in awe.
"Talk about some moves! She has crazy flexibility!" Morgana made himself known, the cat gawking from his bag. They watched as she returned the balloon to a small child, waving them off before walking back to Izuku.
"Sorry about doing that while we were talking. I was-"
"That was amazing, Yoshizawa-san! You looked like an expert!"
Kasumi's face flushed, giggling bashfully as she rubbed her head. "Thanks… I actually do rhythmic gymnastics. It's honestly pretty easy once you get the basics down, really. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!"
"Ah, I see. That's really impressive, Yoshizawa-san." Izuku continued to praise her.
"It's nothing, really…" She waved her hand as she failed to hide a pleased smile.
"Rhythmic gymnastics, huh?" Izuku spared a side look at Morgana. "That could be useful for you to learn, don't you think? A phantom thief has to be light on their feet. Think of how much faster you'd get around if you could move like that."
Izuku hesitated a moment, giving Morgana's idea some thought. I guess that would be useful… Koto-san says that I'm still pretty stiff when I'm fighting. Maybe that's what I need to loosen up…
"Is everything alright, Midoriya-kun?" Izuku was pulled from his thoughts, Yoshizawa's head tilted to the side. "Also, I thought I heard a cat…"
"A-Ah! Yoshizawa-san! I have a request!" Izuku tried to pull attention away from Morgana as the cat hid in his bag.
"O-Oh, yes?"
"Would you be willing to teach me how to move like that?" Kasumi's eyes lit up at his request.
"You want to learn about rhythmic gymnastics?" Kasumi's lips curled up in excitement. "Of course! I'd love to help teach you about it!" Her expression suddenly fell, her eyes cast to the side. "Well… I'd like to, but there's something I'd like to ask in return… if that's alright."
"Oh, of course. What is it?" Izuku wondered why her mood had suddenly soured.
"Lately, I've been lacking in my performances. It's been making me think about a lot of stuff." She admitted, rubbing her arm shyly. "So I was wondering, whenever you're free, if you'd be willing to give me advice."
Izuku blinked owlishly at her request. "I mean… I wouldn't mind, but I don't know if I can give you much advice…"
"Of course you can! Rather than giving me advice on technique, I just think it would be nice to have someone to talk to from time to time. I have a friend that used to always help me like that, but he goes to a different school. On top of that, right now he's working hard for the Sports Festival."
"Eh? Your friend goes to U.A.?" Izuku couldn't hide his interest in hearing that.
"Yup. He's in the General Department, but he really wants to join the Hero Course." Kasumi smiled at the thought. "I want to support him as much as possible, but I don't want to distract him either. But if you were able to help me the way he used to, I'd really appreciate it."
She doesn't want to get in the way of her friend's hard work. Even if it means being alone. Izuku smiled, admiring Kasumi's selflessness. "I see. Okay then. I'd be happy to help you, Yoshizawa-san!"
"Thank you so much! We have a deal, then! Just kidding," Kasumi's laughter was contagious, bringing a smile to Izuku's face as he felt a new bond form between them.
*SMASH*
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Faith Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
"But you know, Midoriya-kun. You can address me with 'chan' instead of 'san'. It makes me feel old hearing you say 'san'." Kasumi put her hands on her hips, putting on a cute pouty lip as Izuku tensed up.
"Um… okay. I-I guess I'll call you Yoshizawa-ch-chan then…" Izuku coughed, his cheeks reddening.
"Good!"
"Attention, everyone. The cleaning-event is coming to an end. Please collect your trash and bring it to the designated spots." Izuku heard Makoto's voice over the loudspeakers. She'd been put in charge of leading the other students.
"Looks like we can go home now. Hey, why don't we start right now?" Kasumi suggested, putting her hands together.
"O-Oh! I would, but I have to meet with my friends soon after. We made plans to meet." Izuku felt a little bummed to have to say no so soon after making their deal.
"Oh, I see. No problem, then! We'll meet up again later and work on it, okay?" Yoshizawa's smile was reassuring at least. "I'm going to head home and clean up. Let's exchange numbers so that we can chat about meeting up later, though!"
"O-Okay." Izuku was glad that he had gotten several numbers from different girls by now, his hands would be shaking too much to put another one in.
"Great! Well, I'll see you later, Midoriya-kun! Hope to work with you soon!" Kasumi flashed a kind smile before skipping off. Izuku waved his goodbye, taking a breath as he finally relaxed.
"Hey~, bro!" Izuku nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt an arm wrap around his shoulders. He relaxed when he saw Ryuji's dumb grin mext to his face. "Look who's real popular with the ladies all of a sudden!"
"Wh-What?! N-No, that's not how it is…"
"I guess there is a charm to the whole 'shy but brave' guy thing you've got going," Ann giggled from the opposite side, plopping down on the bench next to him.
"Midori has his moments. Not that he would know what to do in those moments," Makoto circled around the bench sporting a teasing smile.
"Careful, man. You're gonna make me all jealous," Ryuji laughed as he slapped his shoulder. "So, you wanted to talk about somethin' for the Phantom Thieves?"
"Could you be any louder?!" Morgana hissed.
"Yeah, Morgana-san and I think we have a lead on a new target." His friends simultaneously brightened in interest. "Let's head to Shibuya and see if Kitagawa-senpai is ready to meet us."
"You wanna go after yakuza?!"
"SHHH! Shut up, will you?!" Ann muffled Ryuji's mouth with her hands, glaring at the faux blond.
"This is certainly an interesting course to take," Yusuke hummed in interest, holding his elbow in his palm as his other hand stroked his chin. "But I was under the impression that the yakuza were more or less nonexistent."
"There are some small crime families floating around, but for the most part they've been suppressed. Most of those left are usually just yakuza in name rather than practice," Makoto explained, shifting her gaze back to Izuku. "But how did you come across the yakuza for our target?"
"Well… I met some people yesterday that told me about this." Izuku held up the Quirk-erasing bullet, the others leaning in to inspect it. "Whoever's left in the yakuza is dealing out this stuff, supposedly for 'testing'. It temporarily erases Quirks of whoever's hit by it."
"No 'effin' way! Is that possible?!" Ryuji gaped in disbelief.
"Apparently. Our new friends had a run in with someone who used it and lost their powers for a time." Morgana spoke up. "I don't know what these yakuza are after making a bullet like this, but we've got to stop them before they grow their stock. A perfect job for the Phantom Thieves."
"A bullet that can erase someone's Quirk… That is insane." Ann bit her bottom lip.
"And if this is just for testing, who knows if they'll come up with something that can permanently erase a Quirk or not." Makoto held the tip of her chin, eyes narrowed. "Even for yakuza, this is ambitious. A weapon like this could change the world. If they were to get rid of the Quirk of someone like All Might, then-"
"We won't let it get that far." Izuku's voice was firm, a fire stoked in his eyes. "We'll put a stop to the yakuza doing this before it's too late."
"Whoa, someone's fired up…" Ann raised a brow in surprise.
"You bring All Might into the equation and Midori's more than ready to jump," Makoto smirked, her words deflating Izuku's intensity.
"Still, you're right either way. The entire foundation of heroes that has kept villainy in check could crumble should these bullets go into circulation. While we're all aware it's not perfect, we don't want it to change in such a way." Yusuke pointed out. "This is truly a job for the Phantom Thieves."
"Hell yeah! It's like we'll be the ones savin' the heroes this time! Maybe show 'em you can't ignore us or the guys lurkin' in the shadows anymore," Ryuji gave a toothy grin of approval.
"I'm in. So many people will lose courage if this stuff gets out. We can't let that happen!" Ann's eyes burned with determination.
"Looks like we're all in agreement. Our next target will be these yakuza." Morgana nodded his head in approval.
"Before we begin investigating, we should all keep something in mind." Izuku looked at the others in concern. "Kamoshida and Madarame still had to play by certain rules so that they could keep up their images. They weren't nearly as dangerous in the real world as their Shadows were. But our target right now is a criminal organization. We can't slip up and let ourselves be caught by the yakuza. It could end horribly for all of us. And not just us, but our families."
Looks were exchanged between each member, realizing the gravity of his words. Kamoshida and Madarame weren't allowed to dispose of them even when they were caught red handed at times. They had to keep up facades. But a yakuza clan who is actively committing crimes? That was a completely different beast.
"We'll play things closer to the chest this time, then." Makoto said in understanding. "None of us can get caught like we have before."
"Right… play it safe this time." Ann cast a stern gaze toward Ryuji. "So try not to be so loud, will you?"
"H-Hey! Don't look at me like that!" Ryuji recoiled in offense. "I-I won't get us in trouble, I swear!"
"Caution must be exercised to the extreme. I believe we all understand that." Yusuke gave his confirmation. "So, what leads do we have to follow?"
"From what they were telling me, a lot of the people involved with these yakuza wear full-face medicine masks. They've also been committing small crimes like stealing money from local shops and dealing Trigger for money on the side. We should look for where crimes like that most occur that have been stopped." Izuku explained.
"Medicine masks? That's rather specific. There must be something we can find online about it," Makoto suggested.
Ryuji gave a thumbs up. "I'll get to searchin' around. We should be able to pick somethin' up. Maybe people complainin' online about it."
"I'll do the same. Maybe people have heard about it around school, too." Ann offered.
"I'll do the same. But again, we must approach with caution with who we ask." Yusuke reminded them.
"Right. I have a… friend who I can talk to as well. I'll have to wait until tomorrow night though, as he says he's busy." Izuku's thoughts went to the gruff owner of Untouchable. He wasn't sure how comfortable he was asking about it and would have to approach it carefully. But at the moment, he was the only person he knew who had ties to that world.
"You have a friend who can tell us about the yakuza?" Makoto's brow raised in wonder. "Who exactly have you been buddying up with lately?"
"Huh? O-Oh, well-"
"Izuku has been making all sorts of connections lately. All for the benefit of the Phantom Thieves," Morgana said with confidence, puffing his chest out. "You all would be impressed by some of the people he's gotten help from."
"Oh yeah, like that Hatsume chick that helped me out, right?" Ryuji shivered at the thought. "If any of 'em are half as odd as she was, I really feel for ya'. You're really takin' one for the team, that's for sure."
"Haha, they're not all that bad…" Izuku tried to defend them. Though his thoughts couldn't help but stray to the several experiments that both Takemi and Mei had put him through, as well as the shady business Iwai had involved him in. It was probably best not to tell his friends all the details.
"Helped you out? What do you mean by that?" Ann asked.
"Heh, you'll see! Once we go into a Palace, I'll show everyone." Ryuji grinned eagerly as he slapped a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "So trust me, our leader's doin' fine."
"Well... so long as you know what you're doing…" Makoto rubbed her arm in worry.
"Well, if Ryuji's backing him, I guess he should be fine.." Ann reassured her with a smile. "So, is there anything we can do aside from asking around?"
"No, that's it for now. Once I've talked with my friends, I'll let you know how much more we'll need to do." There was no use running in circles with so little information to go on.
'Sounds good to me. Guess we'll call it with that?" Ryuji pushed off the rail.
"Yup. We'll update everyone tomorrow about the next step," Morgana said.
"Just be sure to tread carefully, whatever you're planning to do." Makoto gave a concerned side look to Izuku before leaving ahead of the others.
"I promise, I'll do my best…" Izuku scratched the back of his head before following the others. He stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, looking back to see Yusuke just behind him.
"SInce you're not meeting with your contact today, might you have some time to help me with something?"
"Oh of course, Yusuke-senpai. What is it?" Izuku turned back to him.
"Sorry to take up your free time. You see, my problem is that I've been having a lot of trouble of late finding inspiration to draw. I plan to enter an art competition in hopes of finding my previous flame. If I could just find something to inspire me, it would be of great help…"
"O-Oh, I see…" Izuku's lips fell into a frown as he held his chin in thought. "I'd like to help you Yusuke-senpai, but I don't know what I could do to help with this…"
"A place, an object, an idea… anything would be helpful. The theme of the contest is 'desire'. What can we think of that represents 'desire' in aesthetics alone?" Yusuke asked, placing his elbow in his palm, his eyes trailing to the side in thought.
"Let's see… desires…" Izuku tried to mull through what ideas he could muster, an idea springing forth in his mind. "Oh, what about Mementos? It is a representation of everyone's desires and other selves."
"Mementos… of course!" Yusuke's eyes shined with awe. "It never would have occurred to me to use such a place for inspiration! You have a truly perceptible mind, Izuku."
"I wouldn't say that… we've just spent a lot of time there is all." He waved shyly.
"Come. We cannot waste another moment. To Mementos!"
"W-Wait, right now?!"
"Well, I'll let you two have quality time together. Good luck in Mementos!"
"W-Wait, Morgana-san!"
I hope this doesn't drag too much attention to us.
Izuku and Yusuke hadn't delved too deep into Mementos. They were on foot, so they remained on the first level and stuck to observing one of the first rooms. Despite Izuku's own concerns, Yusuke seemed positively excited to be able to use the cognitive world as his reference.
"The distorted realm, teeming with shadows… The physical embodiment of the desires of the human heart…" Yusuke was lost in his own world as he drew inspiration from their surroundings, a sketch book and pencil in his hands. "The same thing that brought forth the Sayuri can also produce such morbid fabrications. But I find that aspect to be fascinating. The heart is akin to an abyss... "
"Is this helping you-"
"Shh! I am focusing…" Izuku deflated after being cut off. "But yes, I find myself compelled to draw. This might be exactly what I needed. Thank you again for this idea, Izuku."
"I'm glad I could help…" Izuku soon heard a wail in the distance, sweat trailing down his brow. "But… maybe we should try and hurry, Yusuke-senpai?"
"Please, do not rush me. I must take in every detail." Yusuke urged, causing Izuku to sigh. "It has been some time since I've been able to draw like this… after learning of Madarame's true nature, I began to question my drive as an artist. The world of art itself had become distorted by his perversions of greed and unchecked desires."
Yusuke's pen strokes slowed, his eyes falling away from the scenery. "That was when the world's true ugliness became clear to me. And from then on, my brush has been stayed by crippling hesitation." Yusuke let out a deep sigh, shaking his head."Does pure beauty truly exist? And if so, can hands tainted by Madarame's depravity capture it? The more I questioned such of myself, the more I distanced myself from reality. Doubt filled my mind… and even still, I have yet to find my answers."
"Yusuke-senpai…" Izuku couldn't find the words. They had known Kamoshida to be a scumbag from the start. But Yusuke had lived under Madarame for years and considered him his father, only to have the man betray all of the ideals he'd instilled in him.
"It's alright. While I continue to struggle with my drive to paint and motivations, it is still better than living under the shroud of ignorance I cloaked myself in for so long." Yusuke turned his head to look at Izuku, his gaze soft. "And I have you and the others to thank for that. I am still ever grateful."
Izuku, touched by his words, smiled back at the artist. "Of course, Yusuke-senpai. I'm glad we-"
"Wait, a moment of silence." Izuku blinked as he held up a hand. "I believe inspiration has struck. I must capture this moment!" Izuku felt the moment slip away, watching as Yusuke began to move his arm with a newfound ferocity. He could only let out a hollow laugh, remaining silent as he waited for Yusuke to finish.
"Yes, yes… wait, not quite, but… perhaps a softer stroke… yes, yes! My heart is racing! This was what I have been looking for."
I guess… Yusuke-senpai mumbles to himself too… Izuku wasn't sure if that was the greatest thing to have in common, but it did make him feel a little better about his own habits. His eyes drifted to the empty space before them, relieved that they had yet to encounter any Shadows so far.
And almost as if willing it into existence, a Slime appeared before them in a plume of black ooze.
"Y-Yusuke-senpai!"
"Hmph! How inelegant!" Yusuke glared at the Shadow. "You dare interrupt my work?! I will cut you down for such impudence!"
So we're fighting after all?!
Slimes were relatively weak compared to the strength that Izuku and Yusuke now wielded, so it wasn't long before their enemies had been disposed of. Izuku had been at least prepared to engage an enemy, but was still exacerbated by the experience.
"It seems I've become a tad too passionate…" Yusuke tapped his elbow as the Shadows were finished off, looking at Izuku somewhat guiltily. "I'm glad you were here. You have my thanks."
"I-It's alright. At least we're still on the first level where weaker Shadows are." Izuku laughed, stroking the back of his head.
"Yes, but your presence and support are much appreciated. You are like Theo."
"Who?"
"I am referring to Van Gogh's brother, Theo. Van Gogh did not achieve fame in his lifetime, but he found an admirer and supporter in his brother. I see you in the same way," Yusuke explained.
"Ah, I see. Well, we're friends now. So I'll support you however I can."
"Heh, it is much appreciated. After all, there aren't many who can deal with my… eccentricities." Yusuke said with an appreciative tone, but his eyes fell to Izuku's hand. "By the way, did the Shadow drop that?"
"Yeah, but It's just a blank card… don't Shadows normally drop valuables?" Izuku wondered to himself.
"Hm… might I see that?" Yusuke extended a hand. "When I see blank paper, I feel a need to draw something on it."
"Oh, sure."
Izuku handed it over, the artist quickly sketching away. "Hm… yes, yes… would that work? No, impossible… Heh, yes, that will do…" Izuku felt awkward watching Yusuke fiddle away at the paper. So is this what it's like to watch me mumble? The thought was both amusing as well as embarrassing for Izuku to think about.
"A fine result, if I do say so myself." Yusuke held the paper to Izuku. He took it, his eyes bulging as he saw what he'd drawn up. It was a spitting image of a skill card, with Yusuke's own artistic twist to it. Izuku had only found a few of the skill cards during their escapades in Mementos and Palaces. Sometimes Shadows would drop them or randomly be found inside of treasure chests. They were incredibly useful, granting Izuku the ability to change the powers of his Personas. But the others couldn't use them at all for some reason.
"This looks amazing, Yusuke-senpai." Izuku admired his work.
"Your compliment is appreciated. If I can continue like this, my slump will be a thing of-" The card suddenly began to glow, causing them to watch in confusion and awe. The painting shimmered, the word Recarm etching itself into the bottom. "Impossible… it seems that my drawing has transformed into a real skill card."
"Wh-What?! No way!" Izuku's jaw hung low, inspecting it closely. "That's amazing, Yusuke-senpai… you have an incredible ability…"
"Ability, you say? I suppose that is what I've gained…" Yusuke stroked his chin in interest, taking the card and inspecting it. "Izuku, perhaps you wouldn't mind helping me further? If I can continue to draw like this and overcome my slump, I can be of aid to our group with this ability. Perhaps even more so."
"If you think I can help you, then I'll do my best!" Izuku smiled before rubbing his neck sheepishly. "And… maybe you can help me out by showing me how to draw like you? I um… like to draw now and then… in my notes"
"Heh. You should be careful what you ask for. I may be a strict teacher." Yusuke smirked, causing Izuku to sweat. "I only jest. I certainly don't mind giving such aid to you. We'll call it a deal, shall we?"
"Of course. I'll be counting on you, Yusuke-senpai." Izuku smiled, bowing his head in appreciation.
"Yes, you can rely on me. And I you."
*SMASH*
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Emperor Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
Izuku appreciated knowing that their relationship had taken the next step. It had struck him as strange that they hadn't forged a bond yet, especially before others he'd connected with. But he settled the idea in his mind that they only needed to have a more personal discussion between them.
"I think we've done enough for today. I have enough of a rough sketch, and will finish it back at my dorm. I'll contact you once it's done."
"I look forward to seeing it."
"Glad you could make it! I'm going to be starting pretty soon!"
Izuku sighed as he met with Pop Step and Koichi in Shinjuku. This was his first time in the undeniably shady red district. He originally planned to visit Iwai right after school, but a text from Pop Step quickly shuffled that to the end of the day.
The concert hadn't been something he was particularly excited to show up for, but he did feel some obligation toward Pop Step's group., They had essentially given his team their next possible target. Not to mention she still clung to the second half of his awkward schedule.
"Thanks again for the help, Midoriya-kun." Koichi smiled at him. "Sorry again about how Pop got you involved in all this."
"I-It's alright. I can at least see this through." Izuku gave a curt smile in response.
"Yeah yeah, I'm terrible. Back to our schedule!" Pop Step broke into the conversation. "I've never performed in this area, and while I'm sure my usuals are on their way, I don't know if I can grab everyone's attention in a place like this. Can you organize something to get everyone's eyes on me?"
"Why'd you pick this spot anyways? Isn't it real shady?" Koichi asked as he scanned the red district with some caution.
"Because everyone knows that talent scouts and other people in the business love to hang out in areas like this! If I'm gonna get noticed anywhere, it'll be here!" Pop Step pointed out.
"I don't know if those are the kind of people you want to get in with…" Izuku quietly mumbled before stroking his chin. "Still, if that's what you want… we should probably pick a specific spot where you want to perform. A place that won't disrupt the surrounding business but is in sight of their customers."
"Maybe right at the edge of the shopping district? Plenty of places on that side in view of it and not a lotta apartments." Koichi pointed out for them, the three peeking their heads out to see the area he mentioned.
"That's perfect. If we need to make a quick escape from the police, that will help, too." Izuku looked up in thought, trying to think of further details. "We could pass out flyers… but people might not have time to come over if we pass them out right before a performance. It's probably better to just rile up a crowd through an announcement or something, but how…"
"Oh, I know! We've got two loud but helpful fans that will come running when I ask!" Pop held up her index finger. "I'll give them a call and see how close they are!"
"Oh, that's good! And if they don't mind, maybe they can help with security?" Izuku suggested hopefully.
"They are pretty strong… even though they're just middle-schoolers," Koichi tapped his chin in thought.
"Ah, if they're that young, maybe not…" Izuku wasn't sure, strong or not, if he wanted to get younger kids involved with keeping a belligerent crowd back. "Maybe… instead of performing from the ground, you can keep on a higher place? Somewhere close to the ground, but high enough that people can't reach you? It'll take off tension from Haimawari-san and I while we keep the crowd back."
"Alright, maybe I'll find an awning to perform from, and I'll jump a bit down lower now and again to keep the crowd going!"
"That's good, just don't do it too often in case any fans get a little too close." Izuku tapped his chin, looking around for anything they could use to make the situation easier. "Maybe you could start by jumping from further down the district to draw more attention to yourself?"
"Oh? Like a hop around to get people to notice I'm around?"
"Right. We'll start it off by getting the people already gathered hyped up with your friends. Then, once they give the signal, you start jumping through the district between the crowds and pull their attention to where the stage is set. That should help get more eyes on your concert."
"Hey, that's a great idea!" Kouchi smiled in agreement.
"I like it! An idol is supposed to get her fans excited. A dramatic entrance seems perfect for what we want," Pop Star grinned in anticipation. "Alright, let's get everything ready! Hope you two are ready for some work!"
"Not like we have much choice…" Koichi sighed, voicing a small part of Izuku's own thoughts. But the grateful smile that Koichi gave him was at least encouraging. "I'll be counting on you, Midoriya-kun."
"Same to you, Haimawari-san."
"Ah, Koichi's alright by me. No need to be so formal."
"Alright, we get it! Let's get started, boys~!"
Izuku wiped his head of sweat as he and Koichi took a breath. The crowd had been a bit rowdy and their attempts to pull attention had gone well, but they didn't get out of hand thanks to keeping her out of arm's reach. She had riled her fans up a bit when she hopped down to engage them, nearly leading to some exchanges, but Pop Step had helped get their attention back by scolding them in a cutesy way. Izuku and Koichi had managed the crowd well and for the most part, Pop Step's performance went without a hitch. The only reason he was sweating at the brow right now was the sudden arrival of the police which shut down the concert. Izuku and Koichi bolted down the same alleyway before the cops could get a good look at either of their faces.
"Phew~! I'd say that went well, all things considered!" Koichi smiled as he pressed his back against the brick wall behind him. "You okay, Midoriya-kun?"
"I'm okay, thanks." Izuku breathed out, returning the smile. "I think we're safe here. Where is-"
"That was fantastic~!" Izuku drew his gaze up to see Pop Step soaring through the air, landing between them. "We got such a big crowd! And we didn't have any fights break out, either! Talk about a big debut!"
"No kidding. You did really well today ."Koichi agreed. "Still, I think you owe Midoriya-kun thanks. He gave us a lot of solid ideas."
"A-Ah, right!" Pop Step tensed up, coughing into her hand as she turned to Izuku and drew out a crumpled piece of paper. "Thank you again, Midoriya! That was a lot of help. You can have this back."
"Ah, it's fine. I'm just glad it's…." As Izuku reaches to grab it, Pop Step pulled it back.
"But but bu~t, before you go running off, I thought that I'd ask once more if you'd become a permanent member of our team as the manager!" Izuku nearly fell over at her sudden change of heart. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to be so easy.
"Hey, Pop. We talked about this," Koichi's words drew Izuku's gaze up, noticing illegal idol stiffening. "If you're going to ask for his help, you gotta do it right."
Izuku's gaze trailed back to Pop Step, the pink haired girl grinding her teeth in frustration. "Fine! Fine…" she took a deep breath, her expression became shy. "Look… Midoriya-kun… I know that we got off to a… rocky start. But you proved to be very helpful today. And I…" She looked back at Koichi momentarily, the plain college student nodding in affirmation. "I-I'm really sorry about it, okay?!" She suddenly bowed in apology, Izuku recoiling. "I-I was really desperate and I didn't know how to approach you any other way! I thought about it for a while and realized that it might have been… kind of dirty, the way I got your help. And I just want to say sorry and… I hope you'll keep helping me out."
Izuku couldn't say he didn't feel like he was owed an apology, but the tone of her voice was genuine and she was swallowing a bit of pride at least. He could appreciate her doing this much. And if he was being honest? He admired the passion Pop Step had put into her performance. She wasn't that great of a singer or dancer, but it was clear as day that she took this business seriously and felt strongly about her performance. As much trouble as he got from being forced into it, he couldn't say he was still upset.
"It's alright. Thank you for apologizing. Seeing you perform, I was happy to help you get so much attention." Pop Step's expression suddenly lit up, but Izuku had to be quick on the rebound. "B-But to be honest, I wouldn't be available all the time to help…"
"That's alright! I can get by with Koichi most of the time, we could just use your help every now and then!" Pop Step pleaded, holding her hands together. "Please? I can't really pay you, but… there's got to be some way we can make something work!"
Izuku could only laugh sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "Well…" His thoughts suddenly went to the crowd that had gathered. While Pop Step didn't make any headlines, she did get mentioned now and again in local news. While it might be a small following, Pop Step certainly did attract attention.
And one of the things we want to do is attract more attention… and if it helps on a local level, people might feel like they've been more personally heard.
"... I would be willing to help out now and then… but in exchange…" Pop Step's face lit up with a hopeful smile. "I would like for you to help promote the Phantom Thieves."
Pop Steps face twisted in disgust at that. "Why does that disgust you?!"
"No! I don't want to give those guys more attention! They're already huge!" Pop Step crossed her arms over her chest, turning away.
"Why do you wanna promote the Phantom Thieves anyway?" Koichi asked, interested.
"They… I think what they're doing is important work. I want more people to support them and see that they're trying to do good. For their message to reach everyone, big or small!" Koichi and Pop Step spared a look at one another before she let out a sigh.
"Of all the things… isn't there anything else you want?" Pop Step asked with a dash of desperation.
"No, there isn't. This is all I want in exchange."
She groaned. "So… if I… I don't know, mention them now and again, you'll keep helping me out?"
"Yes. I won't be available all the time, but I'd be willing to help you out whenever I can." Izuku offered a hand to seal the deal. Pop Step grumbled a bit, looking back at Koichi for a moment before letting out a resigned breath.
"FIne… I'd appreciate the help." Pop Step extended her hand, shaking it in agreement. While things had certainly started off strangely between them, Izuku couldn't complain too much about their arrangement.
*SMASH*
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Devil Persona,
I have obtained the winds of Blessing
that shall lead to freedom and new power…
"Alright, I guess we're good with that." Pop Step sighed, handing him the rest of his crumpled schedule.
"Thanks. I look forward to working with you." Izuku smiled back, despite her obvious resignation.
"Happy to have you join us, too! A lot less stress on my part, too," Koichi laughed before looking down the alley. "But anyways, we should get going now. I think we should be in the clear of the cops."
Okay…. I can do this… just have to ask…
It had probably been the tenth time izuku had repeated those words in his head, his hands stiffly dusting the shelves around Untouchable. He had gone in there planning to ask him about the masked men. But it was easier said than done. Iwai was a guarded man who usually kept to himself about the strange 'business' he participated in. Izuku wasn't sure whether to try to coax it out of him or to ask him outright.
Iwai-san is pretty perceptive. He'll see that I'm beating around the bush. He has been honest when I've asked him straight out, but then again he still doesn't admit to everything, I think. Maybe… Maybe-
"Mumbles." Izuku jumped when he heard the shop owner behind him. "If you've got somethin' to say, just say it. You've been walking around like a stiff and constantly mumbling. More so than usual. It's drivin' me nuts."
"A-Ah, sorry about that!" Izuku waved his arms at his side. He swallowed the lump in his throat and the sweat already leaking from his palms. "S-So, recently…"
"Yeah?"
"I've been hearing some stories about… yakuza causing a ruckus around town. In a couple different areas…" Iwai's eyes began to narrow as he spoke, but Izuku dared to continue. "I-I know you're not involved with them anymore, but-"
"What exactly makes you think they're yakuza?" Iwai interrupted, sounding suspicious.
"Apparently they're a little… known, I guess. But I don't know their names, People picked them out because of these old medicine masks they wear."
Iwai's lollipop fell from his mouth. He rushed towards Izuku and clamped a hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"Don't ever go near any of those monsters again! If you don't wanna die, Mumbles, you'll stay out of their way!" Izuku could only stare up at Iwai in shock, his jaw slacking as Iwai gave him the fiercest look he'd ever seen from him. He hadn't been expecting a reaction like that out of the stoic and prickly store owner. In fact, this was the first time he'd ever seen the man afraid before.
It was a long, quiet moment before Iwai realized what he did, quietly loosening his grip and walking back to the glass counter. Izuku rubbed his arm, unsure if he should push any further.
"Look, kid… those men you saw…" Iwai began, eyes trailing back to Izuku with a new sternness. "Those were the Eight Precepts of Death."
The name instantly brought the conversation Iwai had with his old associate to mind. "So… they are the people your old friend is working for…"
"Yes, and they're incredibly dangerous. Not a group you wanna mess with." Iwai explained, leaning back against the glass and crossing his arms. "While the yakuza have been mostly underground, the Eight Precepts have been acting a bit lately, ever so quietly. Their new leader is some young and ambitious kid. I don't know what he's trying to do, but he's been around for some time. He came into power over the group after their former boss got sick."
"Have you met him?" Izuku asked, undeniably curious,
"No. He was after my time. but no doubt he's more dangerous than most. Got a Quirk that can obliterate a man in the blink of an eye." Izuku felt the hair on his neck stand on end, hoping that Iwai was only being facetious. "Look, my point is, stay away from any assholes in that group. you don't wanna see a Quirk like his or any of the Eight up close. If they're active like you say, then stay out of Asakusa."
"Asakusa?"
"That's where they're based. I don't know where exactly, not that I'd tell you. All you need to do is keep out of their business."
"How do you know that?" Izuku asked, surprised to hear him say something similar to what Koichi's master had.
"Like I said, the kid's ambitious. I don't know what he's building toward, but it's clear that he's got something big in mind. He's methodical, and won't risk pulling a ton of attention his way right now. If he does, he could end up bringing the Heroes to his doorstep." Iwai moved back around the counter, taking a seat and picking up the magazine he was often found reading. "Just keep what I've told you in mind, kid. Stay outta Asakusa until things cool off."
Izuku nodded in understanding, his eyes drifting to the ground. Asakusa… so that's where we'll have to look. Sorry that I can't listen to you, Iwai-san. Still, one thing continued to bug him.
"O-One last thing-"
"I'm not saying anymore about this, so can it."
Izuku's hopes were dashed before he could even try.
Izuku: I'm going to take a trip to Asakusa today for our investigation.
Ryuji: Oh! Did you find out somethin about the case?
Izuku: Maybe. I want to confirm if they're in the area. Have you guys heard anything?
Koto-san: No more than what you mentioned. Some local thefts and drug deals were the most of what i found.
Yusuke: No one at my school really believed the idea that yakuza still exist.
Ann: I did hear some things. There were reports of random people being mugged and shot with something that stopped their Quirks from working. It's actually really scary considering the number of cases like that suddenly building up.
Ryuji: No effin way! Its definitely those guys then right?
Izuku: it just might be. I'll try and scope out Asakusa and see if I can find anything related to that.
Koto-san: Do you want us to come along? It might be safer to travel in a group than walk around with just you and Morgana…
Ryuji: Yeah, we should all meet up there! Can't just leave it all to the leader!
Izuku: I don't want to put anyone out. I was just going to snoop around...
Ann: Agreed! We'll all meet there ASAP!
Yusuke: I'll be sure to keep a watchful eye out once I've arrived.
Izuku: Alright, I'll see you all there!
Izuku smiled, happy to be able to depend on his friends. It was Sunday and they were all off, so Izuku wanted to take the chance and check out Asakusa now when nothing was there to distract him. He pulled his backpack tight to his shoulder, allowing Morgana to hop inside.
"You know, it might be a little conspicuous if you guys are all moving around as a group. Then again, you could all blend in more by moving as a group on a Sunday." Morgana weighed in on their plans, tapping his paw.
"We're just going to do some looking around. We probably won't see anything big today, but it's worth taking a look." Izuku said, stepping down the stairs from his room. Sojiro was standing by the counter, a hat on his head but no apron on his front. Izuku spared a look around and took note of how empty it was.
"Good morning, Sakura-san. Why is it so quiet today?"
"Quieter than usual you mean? I'm actually closed right now." Sojiro jerked his thumb toward the 'open' sign on the door. "I'm about to head out to pick up some coffee beans since my guy missed his delivery. What about you?"
"Oh, I'm heading out to Asakusa to meet my friends."
"Asakusa? Funny, that's where I'm going. Want to go together? Traffic isn't too bad heading that direction right now."
"Oh, I don't want to impose, Sakura-san!"
"You're not. We're going in the same direction anyways. I can drop you off wherever." Sojiro suggested with a wave of his hand.
"Oh, well…" Izuku didn't see much reason to say no. In all likelihood, Sojiro would leave him be once they arrived and he met his friends. So he smiled and said, "Alright, I'd appreciate it, Sakura-san."
"Alright then. Let's head out." Izuku walked alongside Sojiro, the two piling into his old yellow car. They took to the road, the traffic heading out was much lighter than the last time they drove together. "Sheesh. I hate having to pick this up myself…"
"They couldn't reschedule?"
"The soonest they could reschedule was Thursday. They're giving me a discount on the order at least, but it's still a pain. Let's just hope traffic lightens up on our way back." Sojiro put a cigarette in his mouth, opening his window before lighting it. "So how's school been going for you? I haven't heard anything after your tardy first day."
"Oh, it's going well. I've gotten my grades back up to where I want, so nothing to report."
"Good to hear. In fact, that reminds me; here," Sojiro fished into his pocket, pulling out a stack of yen. "Take it. I meant to give it to you after receiving your test scores. I was impressed."
"O-Oh, you don't have to do that!"
"Don't be modest and just take it, kid." Sojiro smirked at him. "You're doing good and keeping out of trouble. It's made my life easier and your mom's as well. Think of it as a reward for good behavior."
Izuku somewhat reluctantly took the money, knowing Sojiro wouldn't take no for an answer. He couldn't complain though, the team needed some more funds as it was. "Thank you, Sakura-san. It means a lot."
"Well, keep it up. This school year won't last long and your probation will be over before you know it." Sojiro blew a cloud of smoke out the window.
Izuku smiled down at the yen in his hand, putting it away before suddenly hesitating. I… feel like I shouldn't be accepting this. I have been actively working as a vigilante, after all…
While it didn't feel wholly deserved, Izuku decided against explaining why he thought so and kept the money.
"Alright, here should be good." Sojiro pulled up next to the curb, allowing Izuku to get out. "Thank you for the ride, Sakura-san."
"No problem. Enjoy yourself with your friends and as always, stay out of trouble." Sojiro nodded, looking out to the street to watch out for oncoming cars.
"I'll see you later!" Izuku waved, turning to head toward the shopping center close by. He was stopped when he felt something bump into the side of his leg.
"Ah!"
He looked down to find a young girl fall to the ground at his feet. She had snow white hair that went to her knees and wore what looked like a hospital gown. A horn protruded from the top edge of her forehead.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Izuku quickly knelt in front of her, offering a hand. "Are you alright?"
Her eyes went wide like a deer in headlights, staring at Izuku in utter horror. "I'm so sorry. Can you stand?" Izuku asked, his hands reaching under her arms. He paused momentarily as he felt a sense of fear in her. She's trembling…
"Hey, is she okay?" Sojiro got out of his car, looking at them both in concern. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure… she came out of the alley, I think." Izuku said, focusing on the girl in front of him. She seemed to tremble less once he pulled his hands away, staring up at him with the same puzzled look on her face. "Are you okay? I'm sorry that I bumped into you. Do you need any help?"
He offered his hand to help the girl up. She stared at it like a scared rabbit. But she slowly began to reach out, putting her tiny hand in his palm. At his touch, Izuku felt the trembling fade ever so slightly, smiling as he gently clasped her hand in his. "That's good… come on, I'll help you up."
Izuku slowly pulled the girl up when he noticed that her feet were bare. Not only that, her arms were wrapped in bandages. "Are you okay running around without any shoes? You'll hurt yourself like that."
"Hey." Sojiro approached from behind, having parked his car along the street. As soon as she saw him, the girl curled up against Izuku's chest, a single eye peeping over his shoulder. "Is… she okay?"
"She seems frightened, Sakura-san… She's shaking." Izuku wrapped his arms around her back, rubbing it tenderly.
Sojiro raised a brow, looking at the girl closely. She watched him with fearful eyes, gripping into the fabric of Izuku's shirt. So the coffee shop owner slowly knelt next to them, putting on the warmest smile Izuku had seen him wear.
"Hey there, little lady. You don't have to be afraid. We're a couple of nice guys." Sojiro's voice was soft, speaking with a disarming warmth. Eri must have felt it, as she slowly lifted her head to look into his eyes. "I'm sorry if we come off as scary. We just want to make sure you're okay."
"... Really..?" Her voice was as shaken as her body had been, like she had just been crying.
"Really. Tell me, what's your name?"
"... Eri."
"Eri-chan, huh? That's a cute name. I'm Sojiro Sakura, and this is Izuku Midoriya. You can call me Boss, though." Sojiro looked at the teen for support.
"It's nice to meet you, Eri-chan." Izuku smiled, slowly unwrapping his arms around her to give her space. Eri still clung to his shirt, but she was visibly relaxing. Sakura-san seems really good with kids. He's making her comfortable. He thought, surprised by just how well Sojiro was handling the situation.
"So tell me, Eri-chan. Are your parents nearby? You shouldn't be running out here by yourself." Sojiro retained his gentle tone. But something about the question made Eri tense up. She shook her head furiously, trembling in place again. "That's okay, Eri-chan. That's okay. Why don't we get you somewhere safe and maybe something to eat? We'll go from there."
Eri relaxed again, soothed by his voice. Izuku stood up, offering a hand for her to take. "Come on, Eri-chan. Let's get some food, okay?"
Eri slowly reached for his palm, but panic flashed across her face. "N-No, I… I can't…" She stepped back, trembling again.
"Is it because we're strangers? I understand if that's it." Sojiro knelt down, approaching the situation with caution equal to his kindness.
"N-No… I…" Tears welled up at the edge of her eyes. Izuku exchanged a look with Sojiro before leaning forward on his knees, offering a smile.
"You can trust us, Eri-chan. We won't hurt you. We'll take you somewhere safe. Okay?" He offered his hand again. She continue to hesitate, but slowly she came out of her shell. Slowly, she reached out her hand and placed it in his palm, her hand still shaky at the touch. She stared at their hands as if waiting for something to happen, Izuku wasn't sure what, but she seemed to relax after a moment of waiting. Her fingers started to relax and clasp against his palm. Seeing it as her approval Izuku wrapped his fingers around hers.
"That's a good girl. Now why don't we get something to eat?" Sojiro offered kindly, winking at Izuku in approval.
"Okay…" Her voice remained hesitant, but she stuck close to his side.
"Alright then. Let's get going." Sojiro smiled, pulling out his phone as he started to lead them. "I'll make sure that the police meet us at one of the local shops."
"No need. I can take her off your hands."
Eri's fingers dug into Izuku's hand as her trembling returned in an instant. Izuku slowly craned his neck toward the alley she came from, unable to stop his face from mirroring the horror he felt and his stomach twisting. As if materializing from thin air, a man with an unmistakable medicine mask on his face stood in the alley.
"No way…" Izuku thought for a moment he was the one who said that. But he soon realized the words had come from Sojiro's mouth. Izuku's eyes snapped to his guardian, Sojiro's face drained of blood as he stared at the yakuza.
"Sorry for the trouble she caused you both." The man wore what appeared to be a friendly smile, but the mask made it seem more sinister than anything. "Thank you for looking out for her, but I can take Eri-chan."
Eri's shaking intensified as she hugged closer to Izuku's side. "Don't go."
Izuku swallowed a lump in his throat, instinctively wrapping an arm around her. As he prepared to speak, Sojiro grabbed his shoulder and shoved him and Eri behind him.
"You're from the local yakuza, right? I recognize the mask." Sojiro's voice remained even despite his grave expression and the sweat trailing down his scalp. "What's does the yakuza want with a little girl?"
"Ah, this mask is because of some allergies I have, please ignore it." The yakuza's voice was positively even, almost unnaturally so. "As for the girl, she's my daughter. I'd appreciate it if you returned her to me."
"Daughter?" Izuku mumbled, looking down at Eri. The girl continued to tremble in silence, neither confirming nor denying his words.
"Funny. I don't see a resemblance." Sojiro didn't dare take his eyes off the man as he squeezed Izuku's shoulder cautiously.
"She gets her looks from her mother. Sadly, she's no longer with us." The yakuza's voice remained even, giving no hint of agitation or concern. He extended a rubber gloved hand. "Now, please. Would you mind returning her to me? I appreciate your concerns, but she'll be fine with me."
Izuku felt Sojiro look at them from the side, conflicting emotions of horror and caution coloring his face. Izuku found his strange amount of caution as surprising as it was unsettling. He… knows who he is… or at least how dangerous he is.
Something that only further justified Izuku's fear of the situation. But at the same time, made him think of Eri's safety over his own.
"Your daughter…" Izuku swallowed the gathered spit in his mouth as he summoned the strength to speak. "She's shaking really bad. Like she's afraid."
The politeness in the masked yakuza's expression fell for a quick moment. "I just gave her a scolding. She runs off on her own quite a bit and gets mad when I tell her no."
"Maybe you should try and be a little more gentle with her." Sojiro seemed to find his own courage, glaring at the man. "She's just a little kid, after all."
"... I don't mean to be rude, but I will discipline my daughter how I see fit." The politeness in his expression had disappeared, and a minor hint of annoyance leaked into his voice. "Now, while I appreciate your concern for my daughter's well-being, I'd appreciate it if you gave her back. Now."
The venom in his voice was unmistakable. Izuku felt his chest tighten as he thought of what they could do. We could try to run, but… I don't know what kind of Quirk he has! And if he's the boss, then… Izuku looked at Sojiro in fear. He didn't want to risk the life of the man looking after him. Sakura-san has nothing to do with the case! I can't risk his life like this! But Eri-chan… He looked down at the girl, who continued to cling to him like a raft in churning waters.
"Kid…" Sojiro's voice snapped Izuku's attention back up. "Tell your mom… I'll need her to do me the favor of looking after her."
Izuku felt his eyes turn wide as plates, only understanding half his meaning. Her? No… Sakura-san, you…
"Is it really coming to this?" Izuku's gaze snapped back to the yakuza. The man wasn't looking at them as people, but as ants to be crushed or flies to be swatted. "I swear… the sickness has infected even regular citizens. How disgusting."
The next moment remained a standstill. Neither Sojiro or the yakuza made the first move. And just when the atmosphere became dense enough to poke a needle through it...
"Good evening, everyone!"
Izuku and Sojiro's head snapped to the side, relief filling the teen as a young man skipped down the sidewalk. He was tall with blond hair and clad in a skintight Hero suit, a yellow visor over his eyes and a red cape flapping behind. The number 1,000,000 was emblazoned across his chest.
"I hope there's no trouble going on here! Is there a problem that needs reporting?" he asked with a can-do smile.
"Not really. These two gentlemen were looking out for my daughter." Izuku's head snapped to the yakuza, his voice returning to the polite tone it carried before with the gentle expression. "Are you from a local hero agency?"
"No, sir! I'm just a hero-in-training! It'd be presumptuous of me to claim an agency!" The young man waved a hand in front of him. "I'm simply on patrol as part of my internship!"
"I see. Then could you help us sort out this situation? I didn't want any trouble with these gentlemen, but my daughter's frail disposition has led them to believe she's in some trouble."
"She's shaking like a leaf." Sojiro narrowed his eyes from behind his glasses.
"And like I said, she just received a scolding. She can be a little dramatic, and falls quite a bit on her own." The yakuza kept up his facade well. Izuku was well past believing it was genuine, but the supposed hero-in-training didn't seem to doubt it at all.
"I see! Well, I can understand the want to protect a young girl in need. But if that's all this is, we can settle things real quick!" The young hero skipped up to Sojiro, placing his fists on his hips. "Thank you for acting out of compassion for this young girl, mister! But we'll have to give her back to her father."
"What?" Sojiro's jaw hung from his head. "Th-That's it? You're just going to hand her over like that?"
"Those are the rules we must abide by. I understand your concern, but the parent takes priority in this situation." The hero-in-training placed a hand on Sojiro's shoulder, keeping up his smile.
"But… But we don't have any proof that he's her father!" Sojiro his gaze alternating between the hero and the yakuza.
"Well then, why don't we ask Eri?" The yakuza said with the pretense of a smile. "Come on, Eri. Enough playing around. Come to papa."
Izuku barely noticed the small tug at the edge of the yakuza's glove. In an instant, Eri pulled away from him, running toward the waiting arms of the masked gangster.
"N-No-" Sojiro was stopped short as the hero-in-training held an arm up in front of him, his expression hardening for a brief moment at both Sojiro and Izuku.
"There we go. You really need to stop causing so much trouble for others, Eri." The yakuza said, his voice conveying a more relaxed tone.
"I'm… sorry…" Eri mumbled as she moved to his side.
"'I'm sorry' what?"
"... I'm sorry… papa."
The yakuza pat her head gently, ignoring the small twitch she made at the physical contact. "That's better. If you're done throwing a tantrum now, we'll get going." The masked man bowed his head toward the three. "Sorry again for the trouble. You all have a nice day."
"You as well, sir!" The young man answered with a salute. Izuku watched helplessly as the yakuza and Eri disappeared into the shadows of the alley, looking up at Sojiro in regret.
Sweat trailed down Sojiro's face as he struggled to find the words to express himself. His face cycled between disbelief, horror, and despair, before finally settling on anger.
"Sir-"
Sojiro pushed the young man's arm away. "Why didn't you do anything?!"
"Sir, please calm down-"
"Calm down?! After you let that little girl just walk away with that monster?!"
"Sir, please. You have to understand, the situation is more complicated than that," The young hero's smile fell away as he took a step back from Sojiro.
"Complicated?! What's so complicated about keeping a young girl away from that trash?!" Sojiro was seething. It almost scared Izuku how furious he was. He knew that the serious face that the coffee shop owner could put on when needed, but this was a whole other level.
"I… I can't disclose anything, but know that this isn't the end of it."
"It could be for that girl! You don't know what's going on with her!" Sojiro growled. Izuku didn't want him to do anything he would regret, and quickly put a hand on his chest to hold him back. "What hero agency are you a part of?! If you're on an internship, you're definitely in an agency."
The young man looked around, almost as if afraid someone would hear. He let out a deep sigh, his expression sullen. "I'm Lemillion… with the Nighteye agency."
"Nighteye agency?" Izuku repeated, the name immediately familiar to him. "As in All Might's former sidekick?"
Sojiro scoffed. "Of course. Sasaki always played the long game. For a world of smiles he said..." Izuku turned a shocked glance up at Sojiro, surprised by the familiarity as well as disdain in his voice. "Well, give him a message for me."
Lemillion pursed his lips. "... What is it?"
"Tell him that he needs to send your ass back to school, and to take his plans and shove them up his ass!" Sojiro jerked away from Izuku, storming off to his car. "Go and see your friends, kid. I'm heading off."
Izuku stood silently with the now named Lemillion, the two watching as Sojiro drove off in his car. Lemillion hung his head in shame, unable to meet Izuku's eyes when he looked at him. Izuku opened his mouth to apologize for Sojiro's words. But another part of him agreed with his guardian, silencing any consolation he might have offered.
Instead, he turned around, his body shaking as he walked toward the shopping center.
"It's not for nothing." Izuku stopped, sparing a glance back at Lemillion. The hero-in-training looked at Izuku with frustrated, almost desperate eyes. "I promise, whatever is happening is not for nothing! I…" He stopped, likely wanting to say something he couldn't. "It won't be in vain."
Izuku found himself trembling as he dug his teeth into his lower lip. It was so tempting to walk up to Lemillion and deck him in the face. To grasp him by the collar and demand a real explanation as to why a hero, someone with the power to help anyone in need, couldn't save a little girl. If it weren't for his probation, he might have done just that. Instead, Izuku met Lemillion's words with silence, allowing his expression alone to show his doubt.
Izuku read the hero's face, and it was clear that it was enough. Sweat beaded down his chin and neck, and he once again hung his head low. Izuku rubbed his arm, unsure if he should feel some remorse. But he couldn't find it in him and left without another word.
His phone had gone off several times, and he easily guessed that it was his friends trying to get a hold of him.
"Are you okay?" Izuku had practically forgotten Morgana was in his shoulder bag, the cat popping onto his shoulder.
"I… I'm not." Izuku admitted, gritting his teeth. "I felt so helpless."
"There was nothing you could do. That hero certainly didn't help, but I got the feeling that he knew more than he let on." Morgana tapped his paw in thought.
"He's just an intern, a sidekick, but… yeah." Izuku couldn't defend him. Not at this moment. He was too angry for that. Angry at the hero for not doing anything to help. And at himself for being powerless to do anything about it.
Sakura-san… Izuku's hand balled into a fist, frustration building up in his gut as he grit his teeth. I feel the same.
To be continued…
Finally, got this chapter done! Been had this one in progress for a bit, but due to some circumstances at work, it took quite a bit longer for me to finish it. Add this whole virus going around to the mix, and you've got a positively strange mix of events! But now, we've finally got our real start!
I was honestly worried about how I handled the Chisaki meeting more than anything else. It was a hard scene to write, as I didn't want to just rewrite it the same way it was done in MHA. But after constant debate with my beta, there really was no way to avoid having the meeting play out close to the same way. But with Sojiro being there, I was able to have it play out differently in that part, and him being involved will definitely play a role in the next chapter.
And now, Bakugo has been brought into the mix! Perhaps you know where this is going, perhaps not! But I guess you'll all have to wait and see just what kind of involvement he'll have in the story from here on!
Oh, and for my FFN followers, you should check out the latest chapter of the Side Stories on FFN! I've released a one-shot that is considered canon to the plot and relates to one of the minor points made during the chapter.
With that, we'll wrap things up on this chapter. Thank you all for reading and please, everyone stay safe and keep social distancing in mind when going outside. Avoid going out when you can, but be mindful of those around you if you do. Anyways, thank you all for reading, please leave a follow, a favorite and a review if you'd be so kind! And hey, add to the TVTropes page too if you want!