THEN

LAST SUMMER

Let it never be said that Julie Yamamoto was incapable of inspiring her nephew Neito Monoma to pick himself up and get work done. A younger Neito may have once erroneously viewed her kind heart and caring nature as too free-spirited to demand dedicated discipline, but he has since learned better. She had been a professional athlete once upon a time, which had taken a serious commitment and work ethic trailing back from her high school days to accomplish. Though she has since shifted her career to a mentoring role rather than that of an active player in the court, she could still flawlessly play the role of a coach galvanizing the troops for a killer performance.

That was why, despite Neito being utterly exhausted, he was digging through and examining the pod from which that weird watch had landed on earth in. Between accidentally causing a forest fire and battling a giant robot from outer space after transforming into those strange abnormal bodies, Neito just wanted to go to bed, sleep, and then wake up rejuvenated and out of this truly unusual fantasy.

But alas, there was more work to be done.

"Neito!"

And that was his aunt's voice. So sharp and stringent, so much like Neito's mother in her fouler moods. Neito cringed and looked behind him. Aunt Julie was frowning at him as she slid down into the crater.

"Why did you use another transformation?" she questioned, which was more a demand than anything.

"These transformations have done more to help me than harm me," he said, his voice notably altered from his normal one, as was his body. Instead of a walking piece of magma or a carved out block of green diamond, Neito was in the tiny body of a gray, frog-like humanoid. "I thought it would be prudent to use another one while investigating the pod. I just didn't expect it to be so small."

Aunt Julie continued to show her disapproval, but she soon shook her head and shifted her gaze to the pod itself. "What have you found so far?"

With both of diminutive hands, Neito lifted up a piece of – well, it wasn't paper since it was nearly transparent, but the texture was the same and the scribbles were too structured to not be some type of readable characters.

She squinted her eyes at the paper equivalent. "In case of emergency..." she read.

"Galvan text," Neito noted, tossing the sheet to her. "Whoever compiled that message forgot to get a Mechamorph to encrypt or preserve it. Those markings obviously list it as top secret, but I'm surprised you can even read the text considering the atrocious handwriting."

"I recognize it," she muttered.

Aunt Julie's Quirk was called Multilingual. When activated, she was able to speak and read any language without having to personally know it. She could also understand expressions given through body language, which particularly helped her communicate with animals or recognize the subtleties conveyed by an otherwise expressionless individual. Multilingual extended to the written word, though Neito was unsure to what extent since penmanship in any language could muddle the message trying to be communicated.

Her Quirk apparently worked on written text of alien origin, too.

Wait. How did… "How do I know that was Galvan text?" he asked aloud. Then he raised his voice. "How do I know this is Galvan technology? I didn't quite realize it until now. Auntie, for that fire form and the crystal transformation, generating those flames and diamond shards just came naturally, all instinct, but this body is different. My brain – I can see the possibilities of what this probe can do. Transport, like for the watch. Independent scout bot. A janitorial pod unit. If I just salvaged some of that giant robot's instruments and inner-workings, I could make a fully autonomous, battle-ready–"

Aunt Julie cut him off. "It's not you thinking up those things," she said, gently pressing her fingers around Neito's shrunken body to pull him away from the pod. "It's Grey Matter."

Grey what? "But I'm a Galvan… My intelligence has been enhanced, and I can picture how to accurately analyze technology and even foreign objects and entities that I've never seen before. Or, or was this information implanted in the watch? And taking this form has uploaded this knowledge into a body with the right processing power for me to make sense of. Or maybe–"

"Not the worst," aunt Julie said. She was staring at the pod, ignoring Neito. "Just different, and being different… is fine."

Up from the small container, a holographic image appeared before them. Neito jumped away from the pod in surprise.

"If you're seeing this message," spoke the hologram, "then that must mean you cracked the code."

It was the visage and form of a well-built man, bearded, and clearly a human. The entire image was in a green tint.

"It's been a long time Julie," the man said, staring blankly forward. This must be a recording. "I hope you're doing well for yourself, and that the Omnitrix isn't giving you any undue trouble. It's an older model, the prototype. That's why it looks different than the watches you've seen before, but the base feature of transformation is still the same. Only the classic ten are currently available, and only one alien per transformation. There are instructions on how to unlock the rest in the pod. I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much right off the bat."

Growing somber, the man went on, "I would have come back in person, but honestly, things have gotten bad out here. Bad. The Highbreed Invasion was a cakewalk compared to this.

"Don't get me wrong. We're going to win this. I believe that, but to get it done, I have to stay here. So does the rest of the team – Gwen says hi, by the way. The reason I sent the Omnitrix back to Earth is because I've received word that the old one's followers might be sending some of their forces to Earth. Probably not enough for a full invasion or a whole planetary occupation, especially considering that there has to be more pro heroes at work than the last time I was on Earth, but enough to do plenty of damage that I'm sure the villains will have a field day with.

"That's why I want you to have the Omnitrix, the original one." Now that the man mentioned it, Neito looked between his own alien watch and another device on the stranger's holographic wrist. His was slimmer, more streamlined than Neito's slightly bulkier Omnitrix. "In the beginning, it was meant to be a tool of peace. To unite the people of the galaxy with compassion and understanding. With your Quirk, it's only fitting that you should wield it. It also can't be denied that the watch is a useful weapon, but that's the nature of a tool. It matters how you use it, and I believe that it will come naturally for you. Talk down any aliens who wind up on Earth, or if they give you any trouble, show them why our home is off-limits for creeps and criminals.

"Of course, using the Omnitrix is a huge commitment. I've been gone a long time, so I can understand if things have changed too much for you, if you have other responsibilities. I rigged the Omnitrix to find you to make sure it was in safe hands once it got to Earth. It's entirely your choice if you want to keep it.

"In the probe are some files of some old Plumber bases and contacts. They can help. If you want to remove the Omnitrix, go to one of them. I made the process for detaching it more complicated as a contingency. I only ask that if you do remove the watch, you find someone else to wield it. Someone you trust, that you believe can learn how to use it right. You've always been a good judge of character, so I leave it to you to decide who gets dumped the job title of Protector of Earth."

The man cracked a grin. "I'll warn you. The pay sucks, the hours suck, and the publicity is either too much or not enough depending on who your target audience is, but the adventure and the thrill of saving the world, or just lending a helping hand to someone who needs it, just might make it all worth the trouble."

Neito heard a beeping sound. There was a flash of red light. He found himself back to his normal height, back to his normal human body.

"If nothing else, just know that I think you'd make a great hero. Goodbye, Julie."

The man's image disappeared.

Neito turned to his aunt. He stepped back, startled by the tear flowing down from her eye.

He had no idea what to say.

"Ben told me about how he first got the Omnitrix," she eventually said, her voice breaking. "He eventually learned that it was originally meant for his grandpa Max, but it recognized Ben's DNA as close enough and latched onto him instead. I suppose Ben keyed the watch to target my DNA, but it found you first."

So that man was named Ben. "Who… is he?"

"The greatest hero Earth never knew." When aunt Julie looked back at Neito, her lips widened in a bittersweet smile. "And now you have the greatest power in the universe on your wrist."

Again, Neito was unsure on what to say.

He stared down at the watch, the hourglass symbol on the dial now a dark red instead of its usual color. As the silence hung between himself and aunt Julie, the Omnitrix eventually began to glow green once more.

Neito grinned.

NOW

Neito resisted the urge to scratch his face again. The pain had subsided for the most part, but the itchy sensation the bandages induced had not.

He took solace in being able to stand without any assistance instead of being confined to further bedrest. He rested his hands behind his back as he started out of his hospital room window, out to the cityscape with UA's signature buildings visible in the distance.

"You up for more visitors, Neito?"

He craned his head over his shoulder. Though it could not be seen, he beamed at her. "As long as you won't try accidentally smothering me to death like my mother."

"Don't worry. Your parents already left. Someone else is here to see you."

His aunt Julie opened the door fully. She pushed in Kendo, who wore her own share of bandages and was confined to a wheelchair. Kendo weakly smiled at him.

"You look like how Eraserhead was during the Sports Festival," she commented.

"I think I pull it off better," Neito said, sliding open his window and striking a pose, letting the wind flow throw his air and rustle his looser bandages. "Imagine me in my hero suit instead of these hospital garbs. I'd be the very image of a gallant professional nursing wounds yet still ready for battle."

"Just because Eraserhead always looks like he's down on his luck, it doesn't make your suit any less gaudy."

Aunt Julie snickered. "Good to see you're both in good spirits."

Of course. Now was a good time as any to embrace the reprieve.

Neito was aware of the ongoing drama outside of his hospital room: the public reveal of All Might's apparent scarred body and his retirement, the rising rates of crime alongside the decrease in public faith in heroes, the injuries sustained by those who had accompanied Kendo to the Nomu factory, the punishments no doubt to be carried out for all of them because of their vigilante actions…

Neito has been through enough to know when to seize the opportunity to take a step back and breathe. So Neito did just that, disconnected himself from the noise, and devoted himself to rest and recuperation. Neito assumed Kendo had done the same during her recovery, following the lessons taught by their illustrious homeroom professor Vlad King. Neito also had some of the words of wisdom and advice aunt Julie had departed to him last summer to fall back on while resting.

There were things that Neito didn't want to think about either. He can… remind himself about them later.

"Ben 10 isn't still in Japan, is he?" asked Kendo. "I was wondering if I could meet the big man himself, the original wielder of the watch and all."

Aunt Julie shook her head. "He had to leave. I asked him to stay, but..."

"Another galactic crisis caught his attention, I imagine," said another voice.

There was All Might, walking into the room while dressed in casual attire. He was far shorter and skinnier than his signature figure. Seeing the acclaimed Symbol of Peace like this, carrying himself in such a frail body… Off-putting was a mild way to describe it.

With All Might were Principal Nezu, the resident rodent ruler of UA, and following after them was the pro hero that Neito had met in the immediate aftermath of his battle against Muscular. Currently, Ryuko Tatsuma, the Dragoon Hero Ryukyu, was also in casual clothes and wore a courteous smile.

Kendo sharply sucked in a breath. "Why are–"

"We have a lot to go over," Principal Nezu said, "but Monoma, Kendo, if you feel that you need more rest–"

Neito resisted from making a move. Instincts had kicked in to avoid being seen or overheard when discussing the Omnitrix, but aunt Julie wasn't reacting with panic. She was perfectly calm.

There was only one explanation for this. Neito's memories were a bit hazy between his last conversation with Tennyson and when he woke up in the hospital, but he did recall his parents telling him that aunt Julie's visits to his room were fairly sporadic. She must have been busy discussing things with these heroes.

"Who else at UA knows about aliens?" Neito asked. Kendo looked between him and everyone else in the room, catching on to the fact that they needn't have to hide anything.

"Only myself and All Might," Principal Nezu answered. Usually, his smile was nothing but amiable, but after witnessing him so sadistically carry out the first term final exam for Neito and Komori, Neito hasn't been able to get a good read on the true feelings behind the principal's facial expressions. "I wish I was informed of your status as holder of the Omnitrix sooner, Monoma. We would have made the proper accommodations for you at UA."

Ryukyu introduced herself to Kendo, who was too shocked to do more than shake the offered hand without a word. "So, I believe that everyone in this room is aware of… the fact that we are not alone in the universe?" Ryukyu rhetorically asked. Neito couldn't stop himself from snorting.

"That's putting it lightly," he said. "I assume with your Quirk, the Dragoon Hero has run afoul the Forever Knights."

"You assume correctly," she answered approvingly. "When I first debuted as a hero, the Knights mistook me as one of the alien dragons from their lore. That was my first step into the world of extraterrestrials." Ryukyu gestured toward Neito's wrist. "I never thought I would be able to see the Omnitrix in person."

"It's an Omnitrix," aunt Julie corrected, "but it is the original model that I'm sure was the one involved in all the stories you've heard."

"I see." Ryukyu regarded aunt Julie with deference. "We didn't get to talk in length before, but you were among the first in the Alien Force, yes? You fought in the Highbreed Invasion."

Aunt Julie nodded, looking away from Ryukyu. "I ended up helping out and fighting with Ben and the others, but I'm… retired, I guess you would say. Or supposed to be at least." She flashed a smile at Neito. "That is, if my nephew hadn't decided to play hero with the watch."

Neito smirked and folded his arms. It was just as much his aunt's choice for Neito to take on the role of wielder of the Omnitrix and Protector of Earth as it was his. Without her support and guidance, his whole life might have taken a drastically different turn from the road it has taken to today. For all the struggles that have come with Omnitrix, Neito wouldn't trade it for anything.

No one would ever take away the gift bestowed on him.

"Aliens kidnapped me in my youth," said Principal Nezu, in such a relaxed tone that made Neito mighty curious about the circumstances behind the kidnapping. "I have since looked into the presence of aliens on Earth over the years, but my connections and knowledge are likely not as expansive as your own. I hadn't realized the Forever Knights had established a large presence as they had in Japan, for example, to make them bold enough to cooperate with the League of Villains."

"I first learned that aliens were real," All Might said, "during the Highbreed Invasion. I met Miss Yamamoto during that ordeal, along with Benjamin Tennyson. He was an extraordinary hero, but I admit we had our disagreements. Still, we respected one another, and I agreed to keep the existence of aliens out of the public's ears."

"But… why?" That was Kendo. All eyes darted to her. She squirmed in her wheelchair before steeling her nerves. "What good does it do if we hide information about alien life from people? If more people knew about them, then maybe the pros would've been better prepared during the villain hideout raid. Prepared against Muscular and his alien upgrades."

Maybe people wouldn't have gotten so badly hurt as they did, went unsaid but Neito was certain was what Kendo was thinking.

All Might looked at her carefully. "How much do you know about the Highbreed Invasion?"

"Honestly? Not a lot. Only that it was a secret war where the whole Earth was in danger, and over ninety percent of Earth's population haven't got a clue about it."

"If the world had known," Nezu chimed in, "the political disposition of the world governments at the time would have led to infighting over the spoils of war. Which nation receives which piece of alien technology to study? Who is responsible for humanely overseeing and meeting the needs of alien prisoners of war? How do we assemble diplomatic parties to meet with other alien emissaries? And if any governments found severe military action as a reasonable solution for alien threats, that would resurface the age-old discussion on the role of pro heroes in a nation's armed forces."

"People would figure things out eventually," Kendo insisted. "Earth's a big place, but people would have to make peace with all those issues whether they liked it or not if it meant finding our planet's place in an even bigger galaxy."

"And all the while," said All Might, leaning forward, "villains like All For One would work tirelessly to steer the situation to their advantage. I have already seen it happen during the Highbreed Invasion. Necessity forced heroes and villains to work together in order to defeat an alien foe, but the villains betrayed the heroes, and I'm ashamed to admit that even the heroes lost common ground once the ordeal was over. There was very real risk of either the aliens wiping out the world or the villains taking countless lives in their quest to instead conquer the world."

Ryukyu nodded in agreement. "Similar scenarios would play out now if alien life was revealed to the world. There are too many villains and too many rivalries. If Muscular was able to become as strong as he was from salvaged alien technology, imagine if the League of Villains had instead been directly supplied and supported by alien engineers instead of the Forever Knights' second-rate mechanics."

"But," Kendo said, getting desperate to give a rebuttal, "couldn't the Public Safety Commission and the Plumbers, and world governments and hero agencies all work something out? So that the heroes and police have direct help from alien engineers, too?"

"We do have that," Ryukyu clarified, "to an extent. Heroes like myself work double time to battle conventional villains and to covertly handle alien-related threats. We make our own contacts and relationships in the world of aliens, trade favors and technology, all in order to keep the peace and to limit the access villains have to that alien technology. Of course, to our shame, groups like the Forever Knights manage to slip by us more often than we like, but they are threats we acknowledge and are actively pursuing."

Neito thought it over, then placed a gentle hand on Kendo's shoulder. "It's all very political," he said, "but the point is that we keep aliens a secret to protect people. It's supposed to deter escalation, prevent an already less than ideal situation from getting worse."

"It's not a perfect situation," aunt Julie spoke up. "Not at all, but it's the best compromise we've made. We tell others the truth only if there's no way to avoid it."

Kendo clearly still had her thoughts, but she had no more counters to offer. She gripped the armrests on her chair tightly before leaning back, sighing. "Okay. Aliens have to stay a secret. That's why you're all here? Go over how we're going to keep everything a secret?"

"Exactly," said Ryukyu. Pulling two identity cards out from her pocket, she held them between her fingers and smiled at Neito and Kendo. "Congratulations. You two have earned your Provisional Hero Licenses."

It took a second for Neito to process and respond to this information. "We what?" he asked, equal parts elated and confused. He was thankful for the bandages since he would likely have his jaw hanging otherwise.

"Approximately one year ago, Dragoon Hero Ryukyu recruited two promising young souls, eager to enroll at a hero school, to infiltrate the criminal underworld," Nezu began to explain as Ryukyu handed the cards to Neito and Kendo. "However, rather than join a gang or become employed at a criminal syndicate, they took on vigilante names and disguises. Itsuka Kendo became the second Lucky Girl. Neito Monoma became the Protector. With Ryukyu as their handler, the two provided intelligence on the goings of crime and the activities of the Hourglass Vigilantes, the infamous group who seemed to have migrated from America to Japan. The Protector attempted to discover their secret identities while Lucky Girl developed a comradery with them as a fellow crime-fighting vigilante."

"Are minors allowed to become police informants?" Kendo asked. "Or double agents?"

"If you have a Provisional Hero License," All Might said, "then technically, yes. And, technically speaking, a minor is able to receive a Provisional License so long as the Public Safety Commission approves it, which Ryukyu's contact in the Commission has already seen to."

Neito was getting a clearer inclination of what their plan was. "You're giving us licenses now that we pretend were given to us before we became vigilantes. In the eyes of the law, this excuses us, or at least gives us some leeway, for our street extracurriculars, especially if we were working for a top-ranking hero like Ryukyu."

"There's going to be controversy regardless," Ryukyu pointed out, "and there will be eyes on you two even in the midst of All Might's retirement, but these licenses will be easier to explain than the Omnitrix."

Kendo frowned as she stared at her card. "But… these things are totally fake, right? We aren't really licensed."

"I've actually gone over all of your known vigilante cases, including the recent hideout raid, with my Commission contact. We agreed that, while unconventional, these licenses are legitimately earned and recognized."

"It just… feels kinda wrong, skipping the exam for them entirely."

"Think of it as a field promotion," aunt Julie suggested. "And a proof of amnesty, to reward all the good you've done in spite of breaking the law to do it."

Kendo let out a humorless laugh. "I didn't really do anything to warrant a promotion that night."

The night of the villain hideout raid in Kamino. Neito wished he could find the words to make her stop kicking herself for, as she saw it, not doing enough to help their classmates and friends.

"You may still have the opportunity to take an exam," said Principal Nezu, "in order to renew your licenses. That can easily be accommodated, though for the cover story to follow as planned, you would have to wait until next year for the renewal."

Aunt Julie gripped Neito's arm. She steadied it, and he realized he had been shaking his arm along with the license in his hand. He gave a thankful nod toward her before returning his attention to the heroes.

"Don't forget that you'll still need to study for the exam," All Might said resolutely. "You still need training. Both of you. For young Monoma, you need to train all of your abilities, not just your Quirk, and there's no better place to realize the full extent of your skills and power than at UA."

Neito blinked. Training with his aliens at school? Kendo asked the obvious question before he could. "How are we going to explain the watch and the fact that he turns into aliens? It's going to be pretty weird to explain how he can turn into exact copies of those infamous 'vigilantes' any time he wants."

"I… am still deliberating on a good explanation," All Might said with a nervous smile.

"Miss Yamamoto proposed an idea to me the other day I think would work swimmingly," Principal Nezu announced. Everyone turned to her.

"Ben had to leave again," aunt Julie said. "Off to save the galaxy and beyond, but before leaving, he unlocked a new set of the aliens in the Omnitrix. The Alien Force Set, he called it."

Indeed, Neito recalled Tennyson doing just that, though Neito has yet to transform into any aliens in this new set. Healing took priority over experimentation.

All Might raised an eyebrow. "So Monoma can now also transform into any of the aliens Tennyson had used during the Invasion."

"Yes. Most of them, anyway. The story can go like this: the Hourglass Vigilantes have decided to retire, or that's what the people and media will think because Neito won't use them in public again until he graduates from UA. Or he'll use them if he has to during an appropriate emergency. For school and his public hero career, Neito will use the Alien Force forms. Because All Might has worked with or fought against them before, he can also help with Neito's training."

"It has been a long time," All Might began as he turned to Neito, "since I have seen those aliens in battle, and I have… your classmates to also teach and mentor, but even so, I vow to help you master your alien transformations as best as I can. The same goes for you, young Kendo, and harnessing your own capabilities."

Neito felt it to be proper to bow, so he did. "I am honored, All Might."

"Yes," Kendo added. "Me, too. Thank you."

"There's no need for that," All Might said, laughing softly, before turning back to aunt Julie. "But precisely how do we explain Neito's new power of transformation? It's a bit too different from his Copy Quirk to call it a natural evolution."

Aunt Julie took in a deep breath. "All For One can give and take Quirks," she said. At the mention of the name, All Might stood straighter and frowned. "Neito was imprisoned personally by him. His Quirk wasn't stolen, but we can run the story–"

"–Monoma was given Quirks," Kendo finished, staring openly between Neito and his aunt. "You want to tell everyone that Monoma's new aliens are Quirk mutations made by that villain?"

Admittedly, it sounded like a solid plan to Neito. "And my body is well suited to different Quirks because of Copy," he muttered aloud, working through the details in his head, "so we can say my body and mind would not be so adversely affected like a Nomu."

"There will be the question of the nameless people whose Quirks were stolen by All For One," aunt Julie continued, "and given to Neito. Police and hero resources might be wasted on investigating that."

"We can ensure the authorities prioritize real leads," Principal Nezu said to Kendo and Neito. "There will be countless questions for you from the media, your curious classmates at UA, or outspoken passerby in your daily life concerning your licenses, your undercover vigilantism, and Monoma's new abilities, but if you managed to remain vigilantes in Japan for so long without anyone catching on to your trail, then I'm sure you can navigate through these obstacles until the interest dies down.

"Make no mistake about these licenses," Nezu went on. "The subterfuge and secrecy we maintain with aliens are not practiced lightly. I expect both of you to work within the confines of the law when engaging criminals and participating in investigations as heroes. If you catch wind of alien activity, it must be reported to Ryukyu, All Might, or myself."

"We understand," Kendo said with a nod. Neito did the same. "But… Okay, we have these licenses and a cover story for them and Monoma's alien forms. Monoma and I are still hero students. What about everyone who went with me to the warehouse? Are they being punished?"

All Might sighed. "There will be disciplinary action taken, but the media fortunately failed to capture any footage of Midoriya or your other classmates. There was too much smoke and debris from all the fighting, and the heroes who evacuated them were moving too fast and quietly so as to not attract the attention of the villains. Any reporters that snoop into how they were injured should only learn that they were in the vicinity of the initial explosion without any proof of them having fought the Forever Knights."

"The Knights that were arrested won't be talking either," Ryukyu said, distaste on the tip of her tongue. "Their supposed code of honor also forbids them from talking about aliens to the conventional authorities."

"Your friends' status as UA students will remain intact," said Principal Nezu, "so long as they behave themselves for the remainder of their attendance, the same as for you two. The rest of the faculty at UA, including your homeroom professor Vlad King, will be made aware of their presence at the Kamino incident, but we will maintain our cover story for the alien-related details."

Aunt Julie put a hand on Neito's back and jostled Kendo's chair. "How much do your classmates know anyway?" she asked.

"I didn't tell them anything," Kendo said. "They saw me as Lucky Girl, and they were unconscious after All For One blew up the warehouse. Bakugo saw Cannonbolt, but Monoma's identity should be safe. So… we're not telling them about the Omnitrix? Doing that will just put them in more danger?"

All Might awkwardly coughed into his fist. "Yes, we should keep them in the dark. It will minimize the risks and dangers for them."

"But it's fine for me to know everything."

"You can always walk away," aunt Julie said. Neito's heart skipped a beat. "I might have been pulled back into this life, but never forget that staying in it is your choice."

Neito's breathing returned to its steady pace when Kendo quickly shook her head. "I can't exactly walk right now," she said dryly, "and there's no way I'm turning my back to Monoma and all this. What I'm worried about – well, one of the things I'm worried about – is if the villains, whether it's the League or the Knights or someone new, tries to kidnap Monoma again. It never really hit me before that the Omnitrix and alien technology could be used as weapons. Weapons used by villains, I mean, instead of just Quirks or regular guns. I know UA must be doing something to prepare against more attacks, but if there's one thing I've learned ever since I learned about the Omnitrix, it's that anything alien always throws you a curveball when you least expect it."

"I'm touched," Neitio said, placing his hand over his heart. Kendo rolled her eyes. "But in all seriousness, all throughout last summer, a variety of villains have been trying to steal the watch from me. This last year has been a reprieve. This recent kidnapping…"

It was perfectly reasonable to conclude that Neito had been kidnaped so that the League of Villains and the Forever Knights could use the Omnitrix for their own ends.

But that wasn't the only reason.

All For One had a personal stake in the matter that went beyond the Omnitrix.

"... is simply back to basics for me," Neito finished. "Now that we have the explicit support of our most esteemed elders here, I'm sure the proper safeguards can be made."

"Indeed," said Principal Nezu.

As they all continued to discuss alien business – more particulars on the Provisional License and Quirk mutations cover story, how to break down things to Neito's and Kendo's parents, their current knowledge and contacts in relation to aliens on Earth – Neito found himself more often than not looking at All Might.

The great hero obviously needed his rest. For the body as well as for the mind. The Symbol of Peace was retiring despite his victory over All For One, the Symbol of Evil. It simply did not sound fair at all to Neito.

All Might surely had other matters to settle aside from Neito's and Kendo's plight. Neito wanted more time to gather his thoughts anyway, so after today's talk, he didn't ask All Might to stay behind for them to speak privately.

They can unravel that can of worms later.

For now, while the heroes left, Neito held his license in his hand and asked aunt Julie to take a picture of him with it. He pointedly ignored Kendo's snort.