"No. No. Absolutely not."
Izuku Midoriya was pissed. Ever since the fire man…thing…incident, he had been swarmed with news reporters left and right to explain why "he almost killed a man", as they say. The buzzing of the masses were growing just enough for a need for a press conference about it.
Although, Izuku had his suspicions that the reporters just wanted to dive just a wee bit deeper into the mystery that was Quirkless.
"Izuku, listen to me. We both knew that a press conference was bound to happen. Ever since the sports festival, you've been a nonstop topic in the papers and sites. You've avoided the press for what, two years?" Naomasa Tsukauchi cried out indignantly. "Face it big shot, your Tower of Babel has fallen."
"I'm not sure that's a phrase."
"You know what I mean." The detective waved him off. "You're scheduled for Thursday at four. Meet at UA. don't be late."
Izuku rose a brow. "Since when are you my agent?"
"Since when have you ever taken the girls out on a date?"
"I'm gonna. I'm just busy." Was all that the greenette mumbled. He left as he heard the echoes of the snickers that resonated in the empty hall.
As he left the building he smiled at the prospect of seeing the students again. He walked down the street, all sense of joy dissipated in what felt like steam. The hairs on his neck stood still, and he had a feeling that he was being watched.
As he looked around, a tuft of blueish grey hair caught his attention.
"I told you that i would most likely have to kill you the next time we meet, Quirkless." The figure rasped.
Izuku's eyes narrowed. "It's you!"
The man cackled. "I see you remember our special connection. How did you like my assailant? His mana was literally on fire!"
Izuku ignored the video game banter. "So that fire man was your doing. Why did he attack my house and children?"
"He's a nomu. Technically they're not even human, but close enough." The grey haired man shrugged. "My question is: what are you going to do about it?"
Izuku grit his teeth. "Shigaraki, I'm warning you."
Shigaraki waved his hand. "I know, I know. You'll kill me, maim me, throw me in jail, I get it." After a second his malicious grin shot up.
"You really want to know why I sent my nomu after you?"
Izuku stilled at the question. He eyed his enemy, his mouth forming a scowl but his eyes brimming with curiosity. "Go on."
Shigaraki nodded, taking his time to walk circles around the vernadette. "Many generations ago, the people of the world were of one kind. Quirkless. Aside from the colour of our skin, and religion, everyone was the same! No powers; the real heroes were the ones risking their lives, saving others from natural disasters and from home brewed wars, violence, and plagues. Doctors worked endlessly to fight infections, firefighters waged wars against forest fires and explosions. Policemen were the dirtiest of them all, being bought to fight against civilians, attacking even each other. Disgusting, really."
Izuku's scowl increased. "Your point?"
"I'm getting there, don't worry."
Shigaraki smiled, a crude grin started to form as he spoke. "Our society, the one I crave to destroy, the one you strive to protect, isn't any different from the one before quirks! You and I, pre-quirk and the quirks of today, are the same. Despite this society having all the power in the world, still faces the same computers. Now tell me, Quirkless, why is that?"
"We're not the same, Shigaraki."
The villain stood, unfazed. "Oh, I highly doubt that. I believe we are. Although, I'll give you a hint as to how so."
The grey haired man walked ever so closer to Izuku. "We despise how our societies work."
And with that, he turned. "I do hope we run into each other again, hopefully on much worse terms. I can't wait for the opportune time to kill you." He walked off. "Ta Ta!"
Izuku couldn't respond, couldn't find the will to shout anything. He just watched the man leave. Except he had one tiny burst left. "Wait!"
Shigaraki stopped.
"What is your endgame, Shigaraki? Why do all this? What's next?"
The villain turned, his mouth growing into something maniacal.
Izuku shuddered at the sight.
Shigaraki's raspy answer would haunt him for days.
"To kiss and tell would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it, Izuku Midoriya?"
It was quiet, oddly peaceful for the likes of Izuku Midoriya. He often utilized the late hours for patrols, for work.
Tonight, he just used the dark to think.
His mind wandered to his work life, the life at the school. He found that he felt at home at UA. He felt that he was making a difference.
However, that difference was interfering with his work outside of the high school. He really had no idea how Eraserhead managed.
"Eventually I might even start looking like him, eyebags and all." He snorted, a soft laughter following. "Should I buy a sleeping bag while I'm at it?"
He continued gazing upon the busy streets. His smile widened, his eyes shining. The vernadette thought about Momo, Yui, Jirou, Tsuyu. He sighed. A big issue was balancing his work and home life on top of the girls. He hasn't met the girls' parents, save Tsuyu's.
He frowned. He had to fix that.
He walked past an alley, freezing when he felt a light breeze by him.
"Stain. Good to see you."
The masked vigilante grunted.
Izuku turned his head, his eyes meeting the killers. "Why are you here?"
Stain continued to stare into the streets.
The silence lasted a long while, Izuku forcing himself to think about his evening plans, his lessons for the future, and midterms. He had plenty to do, but couldn't do anything with Stain here.
"Why did you kill that man?"
The question caught Izuku off guard. His eyes widened ever so slightly, the memories of the odd pyromaniac creature circling a mile a minute. "Where are you going with this?" He shot back.
Stain finally spared a glance towards the vigilante. His mouth deepened its scowl, his eyes narrowing. "I believed your cause to include no murder, yet you ignore your compass when convenient."
"you're one to talk."
Stain growled at the retort.
Izuku scoffed. "I didn't have a choice in the matter. My children were at stake. I couldn't have cared less if I died. I just needed my kids away from the fire."
He chuckled darkly. "I'm not even sure if I want to call that thing human."
The masked vigilante peered towards the vernadette. "Explain."
"Do you know of anyone who can survive with their brain exposed while constantly lit on fire with no signs of pain?" He didn't wait for Stain to answer. "Shigaraki spoke to me earlier today. He revealed that those things aren't human, but what's stranger is that he didn't seem to want to kill me."
"It's almost like he believes you're a pawn on the chessboard, ready to become the queen."
"But why? What reason does he have to keep me on the board?"
Stain shook his head. "He did approach me weeks ago. Wanted me in the league. I declined, but he did try to fight me. They kept me alive, not that I would have died, but he did want to meet with me soon."
Izuku looked at the vigilante in slight confusion. "And you're telling me this, why? Seems awfully kind for you to spare me for this long."
At this, Stain's lips crooked up, if only for a moment. "Convenience. You just so happen to fall in line with what I call tolerable. Keep watch, Shigaraki might not be so kind next time he meets."
Izuku nodded as he started walking past the alley. He paused as Stain left some parting words.
"And neither will I."
My apologies on the long wait. This will be the last chapter before delving into the lives of the other students, so sorry for making this one short! I've been neglecting the other characters, so that's what I wanna focus on!
Thank you all for sticking by this story! As always, read and review, and I'll catch you next time!
