Azur Heroes

Chapter 7

Okay this chapter will be a bit more relaxed compared to the last few. Not to mention we'll be looking at things from the heroes side now. It might not have been obvious, but from the first attack to Izuku's counterattack, only about three days passed. Not a lot of time for the government to really get situated. Same for most on the west coast. So this will be more about what has been happening since then. On with the show.

(No POV)

"Alright. We've got our fleet. Now we need to start hitting the Sirens again. I know you only had yesterday to celebrate….. But we've already lost so much. We need your help to take back the west coast." The newly promoted Rear Admiral Lower Half Apgar said to the gathered shipgirls. Next to him stood Star and Stripe along with John. Now dressed in a proper commander's uniform. While he still only had one leg, he could at least address his troops in proper uniform.

With Apgar's address done, John outlined the plan he, Star, and Apgar had put together in the morning. It was simple in essence; send the fleet of shipgirls out and engage Siren forces still stationed around the besieged cities. But John had a special set of orders for the girls. "First of all: I want all of you to come back alive. No going on suicide charges. And it's not just because you're all we have right now. I don't….." "We understand commander. And we'll do our best to follow that." Yorktown said with a smile directed her commander's way.

He returned the smile and gave his next few orders. Namely to aid any civilians or heroes that were still alive, and to gather up whatever materials they could find to summon more allies. With the orders given, the fleet of US navy shipgirls saluted and leapt out into the Pacific. The rigs gleaming in the sun.

Once they had left, the commanding officers adjourned to the command center. On the way, Star was questioning how much longer Pearl Harbor could hold out. "If need be…. We might want to call our allies in Japan. See if they have forces to spare….. Wonder what's going on back there?"

Turns out not much at the moment. After the call from Star and Stripe, there had been little Siren activity so far around the nation of Japan. All they had done for two days was patrol, with little event. "Haaaa….. I'm bored! Seriously. You summoned me because you needed replacement forces. But right after I get here, nothing happens. What the Hell?" Kawakaze says disgruntled after another uneventful patrol of Suruga Bay and the surrounding seas.

Izuku just chuckles nervously before asking, "isn't it a good thing if its peaceful?" "Normally commander; yes. But this is kind of unsettling…. Like the calm before a storm." Kii commented while watching over from her position as flagship. Izuku hummed a bit before asking what Sugita thought. "I would agree with her. But for now….. perhaps we can do something different for the next few days. We'll discuss it when the fleet returns."

Izuku nods before signaling the fleet to return. Once back Sugita brings up that they all could use a break. "It is true that the Sirens are still out there. And are still a threat. But frankly you all could use a little time off. Nagara is the only one of you who has had any time to relax. Admittedly that is due to injury, but I digress. If you all can work out a schedule, I think we could allow for one day off a week or so." It surprises the shipgirls, but they are willing to agree when Izuku puts in his own thoughts.

"I kind of want to see what is happening in Mustafa. We've been focused on the ocean and base. Besides, I think a few of you could stand to see what it is and who it is you are fighting for." Izuku says with a smile. A few of the others agree and say that they'd like to go into town as well. With Kii volunteering to stay behind for the time being. As she was the flagship of the fleet.

The rest go back and forth on how to decide who gets the day off (Ayanami suggesting a game tournament), when Inko puts forth the idea of deciding with Rock, Paper, Scissors. After a few rounds, Atago comes out the winner. She is given a day pass, but she then wraps Izuku in a hug. Saying, "I'd be more than happy to take you into town Izuku. You need a break too. You're still just a child and I'm sure there are things you'd like to do."

Izuku blushes a bit but does agree with his 'onee-san's' suggestion. The next day while the rest of the fleet is on patrol, Izuku and Atago spend time in Mustafa. Atago had changed from her usual crisp white uniform to a pink sweater and plaid skirt combination with black pantyhose and black loafer shoes. Izuku meanwhile just had a simple t-shirt, sweatshirt, and jeans outfit with his usual red tennis shoes.

For the most part the day goes easy. Not a single villain attack occurs during their transit and initial walk around the city. Which surprises Izuku as there seemed to be at least three incidents a day before the Siren attacks. Atago enjoys walking around and enjoying some of the sights and sounds her crew would talk about while aboard her. "I doubt I'll be able to enjoy the other things they would talk about in the current company. But perhaps someday. Perhaps even with you commander~." Atago says with a smile then a coy smirk directed Izuku's way. He doesn't understand what she is getting at, but he does say he hopes she gets her fill of living now.

At one of the shopping centers, the pair take their time wandering around. Stopping to shop at a few stores. Even picking up some hero and All Might merchandise from one store. Though Izuku blushes bright when Atago makes for a lingerie shop. And then teasingly asking the boy to come in with her. He refuses at first, but Atago quickly grabs his arm and drags the boy into the shop.

While inside the other women in the store can't help but gossip. "How cute. A brother and sister pair out shopping. He's so embarrassed, its adorable! The two are quite the pair of snacks." Izuku shivers at that last statement as he looks around nervously. And who would stand before him but a pro hero from the area.

She had long raven hair which is tied back in a ponytail. She had glasses on and was wearing a sweater like dress. But the boy could recognize her based on her voice and the look in her eyes. "Um you're Midnight, right? The umm…." Izuku started but started blushing more as he tried to say her title.

Kayama Nemuri could tell that the boy was uneasy, so she shied away from her usual teasing and toying. Rather than her usual teasing grin, she put on a more relaxed and relatable face. "I am young man. But it is my day off, so its just Nemuri right now." Nemuri says with a gentle pat to the boy's head. This helps Izuku relax a bit.

And Atago ruins it by bursting out of the changing room to say, "I am his big sister! Don't you dare horn in on the commander madam!" Nemuri looks up in a bit of annoyance to Atago, while Izuku turns back in surprise. Only to quickly blush and have a massive nosebleed. Atago had come out of the dressing room in just a black bra and panties.

But that wasn't what sent Izuku over. That would be due to the fact that Atago failed to properly fasten her new acquisitions. And she promptly spilled out of the bra for all of the shop to see. "Ahem. While I want to be angry at you using the term madam with me, perhaps you should focus on fixing your appearance." Nemuri said while cradling Izuku's head and adjusting her glasses.

Atago looked down and realized what she meant and quickly turned back into the changing room with a blush of her own. Nemuri chuckles a bit and then offers to treat the sibling pair as she saw it to a drink. Atago accepts, and Izuku groggily does once he has recovered from the nosebleed. Atago pays for her new underwear, and the trio head out to the food court.

"So, you two are out shopping? Any particular reason?" "Kind of. We've been away from the city for a while and… we'll I lived around here. I just wanted to know what had been happening after the Siren attacks." Izuku says after sipping his cola. Nemuri sighs before acknowledging the reason the two were displaced.

She then notes that things have changed a bit for the heroes now. "It used to be straightforward with what we did. Fighting villains, rescuing civilians, and patrolling. Or even in my case teaching the next generation of heroes. But….. those aliens have changed everything." Nemuri explained that most heroes had been regulated to rescue work and their patrols did nothing to put civilians at ease.

"So many saw the videos of All Might getting knocked around by the Sirens. People have lost almost all faith that heroes can keep them safe. Heck even some villains started helping us. Saying it was their world and country too. I don't disagree but….. it does make you wonder what our purpose could even be anymore. Do we even have one?" Nemuri says while looking into her coffee. Izuku isn't sure on how to answer, so Atago speaks her own mind.

"I don't think it is as cut and dry as you want to believe. Though some of the fault may come from all of your reliance on you strange powers. You are all so focused on those alone that you have forgotten some of the essence of battle and what it means to protect something. At least that is how I see it." With her piece said, Atago takes a drink of her tea. Nemuri meanwhile is a bit confused by the way Atago phrase her points. Especially with calling their quirks 'strange powers'. As if the girl didn't understand or accept the term.

All of the sudden, a crash is heard as a man is floating above the center of the shopping center on a glass ball. He reaches his hands out and pulls the glass from the various shops to himself. "The end has come! The beings who have appeared are the first step toward the end! We must find a way through the mirrors and away from our doom!" the strange man rants before attacking some of the civilians.

A few he simply strikes with the glass orbs. Others he traps in glass, with the people pounding on it. Hoping to be freed. "This is bad! You need to get out of here. I'll try to-" "Atago. Ready for combat." "Aye, commander." All of the sudden, Atago's clothing changes to her standard uniform. She then summons her rigging and katana to her side, with a smile on her face.

Izuku on the other hand steps forward to survey the situation. He hums before saying to Nemuri, "Miss Midnight. I know you were planning to distract him, but your quirk won't be very effective in this situation. He's floating high enough away to be out of your range. Unless we have a different set of ways to get it too him." Nemuri is shocked at the way Izuku took charge, so she numbly nods along.

He then tells Atago to keep the villain busy for a bit and free some of the civilians. "Back of the blade. Understood." Atago says before leaping down and freeing some of trapped people. Meanwhile, Izuku directs Nemuri to a maintenance section nearby. Once there, he tells the hero to use her quirk full blast.

"Are you nuts?! What good would that-" "Please. Just trust me." Izuku has a determine look upon his face that surprised Nemuri again. She sighs before saying he shouldn't blame her for what happens next. Right as she pulls up her sleave to release her Somnambulist mist, the fans in the room start sucking the mist out. Izuku had turned on the system after he noted it was controlled from the room they were in.

While this is happening, Atago has been deflecting or breaking the glass orbs sent her way by the now introduced Starservant. Before he can start on a rant about her being a part of the end of the world, Midnight's quirk starts to fill the area. Some of the mist blasts down right down upon the villain.

But he doesn't fall. "It's working but it is slow. We need more concentration!" Nemuri says after the two had returned. Izuku hummed before putting together the rest of his plan. "Atago! Fire at the four shops we visited earlier with HE rounds! Then shoot above the villain." While Nemuri thinks the boy is ordering for collateral damage, Atago can see what her commander is getting at. She fires away, and the resulting blasts push the mist away and closer around the enemy.

Izuku then tells Atago to leap into the mist and break the glass. Nemuri again is confused as she is sure that her quirk got the job done. Atago does as instructed, and leaps into the mist cloud. And breaks the glass bubble helmet that Starservant had formed to keep from breathing in the mist as he started to feel the effects. But with that gone, and Atago kicking the man in the stomach hard enough to knock the wind out of him, he gets a deep breath of the Somnambulist power.

Atago starts to feel a bit drowsy herself, but she shakes out of it as the two fall to the ground. Starservent is fast asleep, with a bit of a lump on his head. And Atago is smiling before sheathing her katana. Nemuri meanwhile is a bit shocked. As are a few of the others who were still around and watching.

"Glad that worked. Too bad we had to damage the shops." "I would say the damages are minimal. Especially given this maniac did some of the damage himself." Izuku and Atago say before the police start swarming in. And the media right behind them.

While the media first give credit to Midnight for the defeat and capture of Starservant, the pro hero rejects the claim. "I only let out my quirk. The two who did all of the defeating and saving…. Was this brother and sister pair. Or at least that is what I thought you were. Who are you really?" Atago and Izuku look to each other, with the former looking at her commander like she wants him to take credit. But the latter is nervous for the whole idea of speaking in front of others and the media.

But Atago doesn't give him a choice and bumps the boy toward the press. All of the cameras and reporters look to the boy with intent. Izuku gulps before saying, "it is true I put together a plan to defeat Starservant. But it wouldn't have worked were it not for the efforts of these two. Miss Midnight, and…." "IJN heavy cruiser Atago. I was simply following my commander's orders. As he was the one who summoned me to protect this nation from the Sirens." Atago said with a smile directed at Izuku.

Who was internally freaking out as the reporters started to swarm the boy. Asking questions ranging from who he was, and how he summoned Atago. To questions about the Sirens and what kind of hero he was. After a minute or so, Atago tossed a few of the reporters aside and grabbed her commander. She then leapt away leaving everyone there in confusion. Especially Nemuri who was impressed by the planning skills a child barely into the double digit age range had come up with.

Meanwhile in a different city, the boss of the Shie Hassaikai is meeting with his daughter and her husband. They were spending time in their little home and playing with their infant daughter Eri. "She's growing quickly." "She is dad. I wonder what her quirk will be like?" The boss looks down at this and sighs. His daughter notices and asks what was wrong.

"I just wonder what I can do now. Due to quirks and the rise of the heroes and villains… we yakuza have nowhere near the presence or respect we once did." The old man goes on to say that the chivalry and honor that their organizations were known for has no place. Noting that it is all about quirks and showing off that way. "There's no honor. No respect. Just groups of fools looking for the next challenge or…."

Right as he was talking, Boss could sense something. He reached for the tanto in his obi and drew it with a reverse grip. When his son in law asked what was going on, he quickly silenced the young man. "Come out! I know you are there!" he shouted while looking toward the tree line and bushes.

Suddenly, a rush of white and black bursts out of the bushes. It runs right at the old man, who takes a swing with his tanto. But the figure easily spins over and dodges the strike. The parents in the yard though quickly cover up their infant girl to protect her from whatever animal was now in their backyard.

Turns out it was an animal like girl. She had long white hair, pink eyes, and white dog ears coming from the top of her head and a fluffy white dog tail coming from her back. She was dressed in a skimpy white and black school uniform. She was currently staring down the boss of the Shie Hassaikai, growling all the while. Said boss though feels a bit silly for being so warry of what appeared to be nothing more than a runaway girl.

Though he also knew she was quite skilled from the way she reacted to his attack. "Let's take it easy little one. I'm not going to hurt you." He says before setting his tanto down. The dog girl looks at him with a tilt of her head. But after the man sits down away from his weapon she relaxes as well.

At least until everyone hears a loud grumbling coming from the little girl. The boss's daughter laughed a bit before saying, "are you hungry little one? We were just about to have dinner. We're having yakiniku." Upon hearing that, the dog girl perks up and her tail starts wagging wildly. The boss laughs at this before offering to watch Eri while the two made dinner.

The dog girl watches the parents walk off to the kitchen, leaving her with the old man and the infant Eri. When Eri starts to fuss a bit, her grandfather leans over to lend his finger to the girl. The dog girl meanwhile is curious and eases her way over to the infant and old man. When she gets close enough, she starts to sniff at the little girl, cocking her head back and forth a few times. The old man isn't sure how safe this could be given how the girl acted earlier, but he allows it for the time being.

Suddenly, Eri reaches out and pats the dog girl on the head. The dog girl is surprised but doesn't react aggressively. Instead, she relaxes a bit at the gentle patting the infant girl is giving her. Her grandfather is astonished by the reaction, and he also tries to pet the strange dog girl. She eyes the man warily again, but when he eventually places his hand on her head she relaxes even more.

The old man just smiles before saying, "maybe I'll be taking in another stray today. Wonder if you've got a name." The dog girl looks up at the man and seems to be contemplating. After about five minutes, the little dog girl seems to remember something. "I… Yuudachi." She says roughly. As if not used to speaking. The old man hums before saying, "well then: hello Yuudachi. It's nice to meet you." He then puts his hand down, and Yuudachi playfully puts her own paw in his to shake.

Sorry this took a while, but I had a lot going on with Christmas and New Year's. Let alone the trouble that we had after some storms and fires swept through my home region. That aside, I wanted to set up Yuudachi in a different place for a side or other story. And being like a guardian dog to Eri seemed perfect. Also, Izuku will have to deal with the press asking a lot of new questions now. Please review.