So, here's what I decided to do! I'll keep on posting new chapters and will now follow the manga. So, if you follow the anime and don't want any spoilers, well, you might just want to stop reading this story altogether until new episodes come out. Of course, since the manga updates more slowly, I won't be able to post very often, so please bear with me, 'kay?
Warning: Kira's language, Kira's will and Kira's determination.
I'll say this only once: SPOILERS ALERT! NOW ENTERING MANGA TERRITORY!
Enjoy!
In the following week, Kira had been refused by exactly thirteen Hero Agencies. One would think they would be more open-minded, but it would seem her reputation had preceded her. Hell, those thirteen were those she actually went to in person. She received a dozen more refusals by mail, and even two by phone calls.
No one wanted to risk having a mole in their ranks.
Damn it, Ren… Why are you doing this to me?
The ginger didn't want to give up but, frankly, she was growing desperate. If she didn't take an internship, then she wouldn't be able to prove her loyalties through her actions. She could decide to drop it and keep on working as a student, be more patient, but she was worried. Ren surely had more tricks up his sleeve, and she needed to establish a firm ground first if she wanted to be able to advance towards her goal.
"Oi, Kira!" Kirishima suddenly showed up, slamming his hands over her desk. "You're still looking for an internship, right?"
"Err, yeah?"
He grinned at that. "Then how 'bout joining Fatgum's? I bugged Amajiki-sempai long enough for him to agree to introduce us. You can come with us!"
"Seriously?" It was too good to be true. "You think it'd work?"
"Well, Amajiki-sempai told me Fatgum was a really open Hero. I'm sure he'll give you a chance! And, well, you've got nothing to lose trying, right?" he pointed out.
"Then count me in. Thank you so much!" She rose to her feet and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She knew it might very turn out as all the others did. Hell, she knew that too well. Hoping too much would only end up in disappointment. However… maybe this once, she'd get somewhere.
.
.
Kira was twisting her hands nervously. Kirishima was just beside her, apparently relaxed, and Amajiki was ahead of them, leading them to the Agency he was enlisted into.
My heart's beating too fast… Is he going to refuse too? She gulped a little. I can't assume things. Amajiki-sempai said he was nice, right? Maybe we'll be able to work things out…
Kirishima placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Red One. I'm sure it'll be fine."
He was so sincere, she simply had to smile back. "Right. Thanks, Red Two. And thank you too, Amajiki-sempai!"
The older boy simply grumbled something under his breath, as shy as ever.
"Well! Never thought I'd see da day ya'd bring people along! I saw ya two in da Sports Festival! I welcome kids with can-do energy with open arms!"
Fatgum… was gigantic. Seriously, he was twice her height, and she couldn't even begin to describe his size. Then again, he was a strong Hero. She read about his exploits a few times over the years, she knew he truly was a Pro and a damn good one at that.
"I'm Kirishima Eijiro, a first-year student of U.A.!"
"Suttoki Kira, a first-year student of U.A."
The ginger awaited the glare, the step back, the flinch, whatever reaction others had given her over the past few days each time they heard her name.
Fatgum barely even blinked, still smiling while he enjoyed his meat buns.
"And ya want ta join ma Agency? Why?"
The two teens exchanged a glance, before the red-haired boy stepped forward, slamming a fist over his heart.
"During my workplace experience, Fourth Kind said the same thing. He said 'having a rambunctious guy in the office raises morale'… But… that's all I have. And… I want to be more than that. I want to be a Hero like Crimson Riot, who can protect other people for real… I want to change! That's why I asked Tamaki-sempai such a ridiculously huge favor and had him introduce me to you, sir. I don't want to be the kind of person that simply stands by and watches when others are in danger! I… don't want to be that kind of person, anymore."
The Pro stared at him for a moment, before nodding. "I see. I like your spirit, kid. What about ya, though?" He turned to Kira. "You've already got a certain reputation thanks ta da Sports Festival. Why not join a more renowned Agency?"
"They won't take me," she admitted bluntly. "The offers I received before… have been withdrawn. Up until now, I've been refused by every Agency I came in contact with."
"Seriously?" He looked startled by the news.
"My brother is a Villain, a member of the League that has caused the destruction of Kamino Ward," she scoffed, too used to the speech by now. "People are suspicious. They think I'm going to turn traitor, and so they already treat me as the enemy."
He gave her an appraising look. "And what's your take on da situation?"
"I'm… angry. Not at them, though, not really. They're looking for people to blame, and I'm the easiest target in their reach," she shrugged. "I'm angry at my brother, for betraying everyone… But… I intend to prove myself. I've always wanted to become a Hero so that I could help people, and that hasn't changed at all. I wish to take an internship so that I can prove, through my actions, that I am worthy of becoming a Hero. So, I beg of you…" She bowed deeply, tensed. "Grant me this chance to prove myself!"
There was a moment of silence, during which she didn't dare move a muscle. Then, a large hand fell on her head, patting it.
"You're an honest kid. Those other Agencies? They're idiots, for not seeing your potential." She looked up at that, her heart beating in anticipation. Does this mean… "I like ya! Ya and da boy both!" Fatgum grinned widely. "Welcome ta ma Agency, kids!"
The ginger almost stumbled back in relief, but she refrained the urge and simply straightened her spine. A smile was now splitting her lips, so wide it almost hurt. Seeing that, Kirishima let out a small breath. His friend hadn't smiled too brightly in a while, so he was glad she wasn't all gone yet.
They bumped fists, and Fatgum clasped his hands together. "So! What shall we call ya from now on?"
Our Hero names! They hadn't really gotten the chance to use them since they chose them.
"Red Riot!"
"Spitfire!"
"Fitting names indeed." Fatgum's grin only widened, if possible. "Come back tomorrow with your costumes. We'll get started right away."
"Hai!"
That's it. I've got the internship.
And now? The real work could begin.
.
.
The next day, as told, they headed back to the Agency with their costumes. They changed quickly, and Kira checked three times to make sure Deku hadn't followed her. She loved him, she really did, but the first day wasn't exactly the best day to bring her cat to work.
"Ready to rock, Red One?"
"You bet, Red Two!"
"Such energy!" beamed Fatgum, joining them. Amajiki was behind him, he too in his costume. "Ya should show some more of it, Tamaki!"
The black-haired boy flinched, not appreciating to be called out.
Kira sweatdropped. Wow, he's really sensible, uh?
They finally left the Agency, heading for downtown. It wasn't as prone to being attacked by Villains, so it'd be a good, gentle start for the two first-years.
"Alright, so here's ma first advice," started Fatgum as they started patrolling. "If your guts are telling ya ta do something, then do it. I'm here ta help and supervise, but I ain't gonna be giving ya orders. Ya might still be students but, in da streets, you're Heroes too. We're partners in this, okay?" He pulled out a stack of takoyaki from nowhere and started eating. "However, if I do give ya instructions, then please follow them."
The two newbies nodded firmly.
Do what we feel is right unless he says the contrary. I like that!
"Also, if da people come ta talk ta ya, then take da time ta talk back," he added. "They're da reason why we, Heroes, are here, after all."
"Fatgum! Catch!" An apple was suddenly sent flying their way, which the Pro easily caught.
It was a man in his forties, who had a stand of fruits. Fatgum thanked him and waved cheerily until the man was out of sight.
"You're fairly well-known around here, uh?" mused Kira. "Well appreciated too."
"The Agency isn't all that big, so we're really close ta da people," confirmed the Hero.
"Help! Thief!"
At the cry, the little group stopped. A second later, they spotted a masked man, running towards them with a purse in hands. He obviously hadn't seen them yet.
"… you wanna go, Red One?"
"With pleasure."
Looking all innocent, the ginger started walking towards the man. His eyes widened when he finally saw her but, by then, it was too late. Her staff already in hands, she swung it in his legs, making him fall harshly to the ground. He groaned in pain as she picked up the purse.
The woman who it had been stolen from suddenly appeared.
"Thank you so much!" she sighed in relief as Kira handed her back her purse. "I'm…" She trailed off as she finally realized who she was talking to. "I- I'll be going!"
She spun on her heels and was gone in the blink of an eye. The ginger lowered her eyes to the ground, clenching her fist. Then, she spun her staff in her hand and slammed it harshly in the thief's guts as he tried to get back to his feet. Down for the count, he didn't get back up again.
Fatgum picked him up, grinning. "Well handled, Spitfire. Ya didn't go overboard, a mistake most newbies usually make. Ya have a good grasp of your abilities."
"Thanks." The praises couldn't really reach her, though, to be honest.
She retracted her staff and put it back to her belt.
Fatgum sighed, but smile reassuringly. "Don't worry, Kira-chan. By taking ya in, I've acknowledged ya and showed them that I trust ya. Otherwise said, they'll warm up ta ya soon enough."
"I don't expect their trust to come so easily," she admitted, shaking her head. Taking a short breath, she then grinned up at him, determination steeling her gaze. "I'll earn it, simple as that!"
Laughing, Fatgum slapped her back, making her stumble. "Well said!"
"R- right…" she coughed, the breath knocked out of her.
They patrolled for the following hour. There wasn't any other incident, though, and they soon started making their way back to the Agency to give their report, and also release the thief into police custody.
On their way back, though, they stumbled upon a child. He was alone, obviously lost, and his eyes were shining with barely restrained tears.
"Hey there! You okay, buddy?" Kirishima went to him, grinning.
The kid took one look at him… and started crying.
Kira rolled her eyes while her friend tried to calm the little boy, to no avail. Kirishima was a really nice guy, always eager to help, but…
He sure can scare some people with his enthusiasm, sometimes.
"Okay, okay, stop making the kid cry already," Kira finally stepped in. "Don't you know your way around children?"
"I think it's da teeth," mused Fatgum.
The red-haired boy shot him a betrayed look, making Kira laugh. She then pushed him aside a little and kneeled before the crying boy. Seeing as he wasn't about to stop anytime soon, she shoved her hand into one of her pockets, and pulled out a lollipop, before handing it over.
That made him stop. He took one wary look at the smiling girl, then glanced back to the candy in her hand.
"… my mom told me not to take candies from strangers."
"Your mom's completely right," nodded the ginger, unperturbed. "But you see our costumes? We're actually Heroes, and we're here to help."
"A- anyone can say they're Heroes!" he protested. He had stopped crying, though, and was now rubbing his eyes. "There's no proof you're the real deal!"
She sweatdropped at that. Kind of a precocious brat, isn't he?
Shaking her head, she pulled out her provisional license from her belt and showed it to him.
"You're right again. But you know what that is, don't you?"
"A- a license. I know. So you're really Heroes, uh?" He looked at the two boys and the Pro behind her. "That pointy-teethed guy looks more like a Villain."
Kirishima slumped in defeat at that, while Fatgum laughed, and Amajiki simply murmured under his breath about how the truth always came out of the children's mouths.
Kira, though, wasn't laughing. She lightly flicked his nose.
"Ow!"
"Don't judge people by their appearance, kid. You'll grow blind if you do that."
He gaped at her, startled. Behind her, her three companions had fallen silent. The boy then lowered his head, shame written over his features.
"Sorry."
"As long as you understand," she replied, smiling again. She offered him the lollipop once more. "Feeling up for rotting your teeth?"
The child laughed at that, finally taking it. Kira sighed in relief. Now that he was reassured and calmer, it'd be easier to help him find his parents.
"So, what's your name, kid?"
"Why don't you tell me yours first?" he replied, somewhat cheekily. "Never heard of you before. You're a Hero, aren't you? So why aren't you know?"
"I'm actually studying to become one," she relented. She extended her hand to him. "I'm Spitfire. Nice to meet you!"
He grabbed her hand and shook it as firmly as he could, mustering a serious expression. It was rather cute, considering how young he actually was.
"I'm Tenji! Kinaki Tenji! And I'm gonna be the greatest Hero!"
"Ooh?" she smiled a little at that. "And with whom was the future greatest Hero before he got lost?
He flushed a little in embarrassment. "My mom. She was in the shop, and I wanted to go look at the comic store in front, but when I came back, she wasn't there anymore…"
"And so you went looking for her?"
He simply nodded at that, now a little embarrassed.
"Do you know where the comic store is?" she then asked. "We should go back there and see if your mom's still around. We'll help you find her, don't worry!"
"Actually… Da ya think ya can handle da situation on your own, Spitfire?" then asked Fatgum, gesturing at his stomach into which had disappeared the thief from earlier. "We still have ta drop this guy ta da police station. Ya up for a solo mission?"
"Err…" She glanced at Kirishima, who simply offered her a thumbs up. "Sure! I'll come back as soon as I'm done here."
"Great! Boys, let's go."
Her and Tenji simply watched them go, the ginger barely able to wrap her mind around what had just happened.
Wait… I got my first solo mission! Yes!
She beamed to the kid. "So, ready to look for your mother, lil' buddy?"
"Yes!"
"Then up you go." She picked him off the ground and placed him on her shoulders. "I think you'll see better from up there. So, what's your mom like?"
"Ne, Spitfire, why are they looking at you like that?"
Kira glanced at the few passersby who simply couldn't stop glaring at her.
Hell, it's as if they think I actually kidnapped the kid.
"… someone in my family did some bad stuff," she admitted. She never liked lying, even to kids. "And now, people think I'll do bad stuff too."
"Because someone in your family did?" He frowned a little. "Is that like what you said earlier? People judging other people because of their a-ppear-ance?"
She chuckled a little as he tried not to butcher the word. "A little like that, yes."
"Then they're dumb," huffed Tenji, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're a Hero, right? Then that means you help people, right? Why would they think you'd do some bad stuff just 'cause someone from your family did?"
"People will be people, I guess. Still comfortable up there?"
"Yeah. But we're back to the shop where I left my mom, and I can't see her…"
"She's probably looking for you," pointed out the teen, looking around. She was trying to find a woman fitting the description the boy had given her earlier. "She must be worried sick, uh? You should probably apologize for running off when we find her."
"Yeah…" He trailed off. "Hey, that's her!"
"Uh? Where?"
"There! Mom! MOM! Over here!"
"T- Tenji-kun, be careful!"
The little boy was waving his arms and screaming over the crowd to try and get his mother's attention. After a few seconds, Kira managed to regain her balance, just in time to see a woman with two pink horns running their way.
"Tenji! Thank God!" Kira gently put the boy back on the ground, and he instantly ran back to his mother. She hugged him tightly, relief obvious on her traits. "Thank you so much for finding my son! I was so worried when I realized he was gone…"
"I'm sorry mom!" he instantly apologized. "I promise I won't leave without warning you again!"
The brunette seemed somewhat startled by that. She obviously hadn't been expecting an apology, of all things. Rising back to her feet, she then finally faced the Hero who had brought her son back to her.
She stiffened when realizing who it was.
"You…"
It was the same look as all the others she had been getting ever since they started patrolling.
Of course. How could I forget?
Kira lowered her head. "I'll be going now, then. Take care."
She spun on her heels, now eager to escape to the stares. It was becoming a little too much to handle for a single day, and she was done with people backing away when she only tried to help them. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but it still hurt—
"Wait!" Tenji grabbed her skirt before she could leave. He was frowning again as he turned back to his mother. "Mom! You can't judge people by their a-ppear-ance! She's a Hero and she's cool and someone from her family did bad stuff but she's not like that 'cause she helped me find you and she even gave me a candy! Spitfire's a really nice person, and she's my friend, so don't be mean to her!"
The ginger gaped at the child. She hadn't expected him to stand up for her, and even less for her simple scolding to struck such a chord in him. His mother was simply shocked, not expecting such a strong reaction either.
Kira shook her head, placing her hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Tenji-kun. Don't start a fight with your mother, okay? It's not worth—"
"But you helped me!" he protested, louder now. People were starting to stop on the sidewalks. Listening. Watching. "It's not fair! I was lost and you helped me! You made me laugh and- and I wasn't scared anymore and it's not- it's not fair! IT'S NOT FAIR! Why are they mean to you? You didn't do anything, right? You're not a Villain, right!? So why… why are they treating you as if you were? WHY!?"
"Tenji-kun…" Unable to help it, she kneeled and hugged him tightly. He was shaking now, failing to understand what was going on. "Thank you. Your words… you have no idea what they mean to me. You're a very kind boy, you know?" She pulled away and smiled. "You'll become a great Hero, one day."
On that note, she fully let him go and rose back to her feet. Handing him another lollipop, she patted his head, before spinning on her heels and walking away.
The people wouldn't accept her so easily. It'd be a tough trip, but she was ready to face any challenge thrown her way.
Because… there are still some who believe in me.
There are those who are ready to learn.
Just like a single spark was all she needed for her Quirk, a single believer was all she needed to keep moving forward. For as long as she had people by her side who believed in her, then she wouldn't let go.
For them.
For herself.
And, despite the stares and the whispers and the fingers all directed her way as she headed back to the Agency… she simply couldn't stop smiling.
.
.
"You're looking better."
"I feel better!" Kira admitted, beaming to her friend. "Today was my first day at the internship, and it was great!"
Shoto searched her eyes for a lie.
All he found was a burning determination.
"What happened?" he simply asked, now curious.
"Well… I helped a kid. The kid helped me. It was a rather weird situation, to be honest. But…" Her eyes softened a little. "It was worth it."
The dual-haired boy stared at her for a moment, before nodding, accepting her words. He knew she didn't have it easy, but she'd pull through.
She always did, after all.
"I was wondering…" He had to ask. He really, really had to. "Do you have another… date, planned with that other guy?"
"That other guy… You mean Shindo?" She blinked in realization, before chuckling sheepishly. "Nan, not really. It's just… with everything that just happened, I thought it better not to get involved with any more people than I had to. Knowing him, Ren would have found a way to use him against me. And… well, I'd rather train than try my luck at a romantic relationship right now. You understand, right?"
"Of course."
Internally, though, Shoto was conflicted. He was definitely relieved that this whole dating mess was over and done with, but… now what? She had made it very clear she didn't want a relationship at the moment, and himself still wasn't sure of his own feelings. What exactly was involved in a more romantic relationship to begin with? He honestly had no clue.
Let's focus on training for now, he relented. I still have to catch up to everyone else, after all. I'll think about this later.
"Oh! I just remembered, but you went to the special lessons for the provisional license, didn't you?" then remembered the ginger. "How'd it go?"
Shoto stopped in his tracks, and she stopped next to him. She then took a better look at his face and cringed. It was covered in bandages, and there were a few rather ugly-looking bruises blooming on his usually pale skin.
"Right. Rather rough, uh?" She then grinned. "But you'll make it! I know you can."
Those words echoed for a few seconds in his head, and he quickly looked away, coughing in his fist as he started walking again.
She… really had no idea, how difficult she made the situation for him.
.
.
The next day, they were done with their patrol when a familiar voice called out to the fiery ginger.
"Spitfire! Spitfire!"
"Tenji-kun?" She turned around, surprised. It really was the little boy from the day before. "What are you doing here? Did you get lost again?"
"Nu-uh! I promised, didn't I?" he huffed, finally reaching her. "It's just that my mom—"
"Tenji! I told you not to run off like that!" And there was the mother.
Kira shifted uncomfortably as the woman's eyes landed on her. Her three companions were simply watching it happen, unsure if they should interfere.
But then, to everyone's great surprise, the woman bowed deeply before her.
"Thank you, for helping my son. And… I apologize, for yesterday. It was unbecoming of me to act so ungratefully when you brought me back my son, and I'm truly thankful for your help."
"J- just doing my job, ma'am… I was happy to help, seriously."
The brunette straightened up at that and, surprising Kira again, she smiled softly. "I know. Tenji… told me everything. Thank you very much."
At that, she could only smile back. "Anytime."
Nodding, the woman then grabbed her son's hand, before they started walking away. Tenji waved to the fiery Hero until they were completely out of sight and, as soon as the two civilians disappeared, Kira let out a heavy breath.
"Wow, that was kind of stressful…"
"See?" grinned Fatgum. "Told ya they'd warm up ta ya!"
At that, Kira's smile simply widened.
.
.
Two more days passed. She had her normal classes during the day, and her patrols with Fatgum, Red Riot and Suneater right after. She trained in the morning, in her free time, and after the patrols too. The students of U.A. were also, finally, getting over the whole revelation, and she could finally breathe again.
When on patrols… things had gotten better, somewhat. A lot of people had seen the little scene on her first day, and it would seem Tenji's words had reached out to more than she first believed. Plus, they had started growing used to her presence. A few were now greeting her in the street, some simply offered her smiles –which she quickly returned-, and others gave her encouragements. Of course, there were still many who didn't believe in her innocence, but it was a start.
Half believes in me, the other half doesn't. But hey, that's better than none, right?
Kira felt good. Kira felt great, even. Things were starting to come together again, slowly but surely.
They were now patrolling in the Esuha Market. Fatgum was eating yet again, and not all that cleanly, while Red Riot kept trying to cheer up Suneater, who was a naturally negative person, it would seem.
"If only you guys had followed Mirio or something…" he muttered. "The way you came after me so forcefully was scary."
"Tamaki, we've gotta do something about that cruddy mentality of yours. You've got so much talent too!"
Suneater flinched. "That kind of pressure will only bring me down further. It's always like this! The only reason he scouted me was so he could torment me! This is workplace harassment! I want to go home!"
"No! It sounds to me like he's trying to encourage you!" corrected Red Riot.
"Yeah, he just wants you to have more confidence!" agreed Spitfire.
"I can't become one of those bright-eyed, optimistic types like you two and Mirio…" he mumbled.
"I'm not like that either," however assured the red-haired boy. "It's just that there have been so many times when everyone was desperate, but I wasn't able to do anything. After seeing the differences in ability and ability between me and the people in my class… At the very least, I want to be able to stand among them. I want to close the gap!"
"That's the very definition of optimistic, you first-year!"
"No, he's simply determined," replied the ginger. "And Red Two, you're not that weak, you know? In fact, I'd say your one of the strongest in the class. Just because you don't have a flashy Quirk doesn't mean you're weak."
"… thanks!" He chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "But I still feel like there's such a huge difference… I mean, just look at you! Every time I think I may have caught up, you suddenly show off a new move or a new ability, and we're back to zero again!"
"That's because I'm a training addict, and it's bad for my health," she retorted, quoting her friends' everyday statements.
That made him snort. "Right, when you put it that way—"
"A fight! Somebody, help!"
They all tensed at that, ready to move in. A few seconds later, three men suddenly appeared, running straight into Fatgum. He instantly trapped them, but the third one managed to escape by using a Quirk similar to Edgeshot's. He was however caught by Suneater, whose fingers had turned into tentacles.
"What the hell is this octopus!?"
"What an awful thing to say…"
"No, no, he's not badmouthing you!" protested Red Riot. "He's just telling it like it is, seriously!"
Nodding imperceptibly, Suneater then knocked out the guy with his hand, which had turned into a clam. Spitfire and Red Riot simply watched from the sidelines. They hadn't really gotten the chance to see their senior in action before, after all, and the ginger seriously loved his Quirk.
"Did I… do a good job…?"
"You were awesome!" instantly assured the red-haired boy. "You were so quick to make use of your Quirk too…"
"If we're talking 'bout ability alone, Suneater's already outclassing most Pros!" praised Fatgum as the police officers took the misfits away. "He just needs mental training!"
As if on cue, the crowd that had gathered around them started cheering, and Suneater instantly started to shake, unable to handle the attention. As it got louder and louder, though, Spitfire couldn't shake off the feeling that a threat was still very much present.
Was there truly only three of them? She frowned, scanning the crowd. I can't see anyone suspicious…
There was a glint of light to her right.
"Get down!"
Not really thinking, Spitfire jumped before her senior. Pain flared in her neck as she collapsed to the ground under the strength of the blow. There was another gunshot, which hit Suneater this time around. As he fell, a third shot got the redhead in the forehead, though he hardened his body just in time to deflect the bullet.
"Spitfire! Suneater! Red Riot!"
At first panicking a little, it took the ginger a few more seconds to realize that it wasn't actually hurting all that bad.
In fact, it was barely bleeding.
What… But my neck…
"It hurts less than I thought it would…" remarked Suneater, getting back up. He faced the shooter. "I'll handle this."
He lifted his hand, ready to capture the guy like he had done with the other one… but his Quirk failed to activate.
No.
No, that can't be right.
Spitfire slammed her fists together. The fire that would usually encase them… didn't appear. Shaking a little, she snapped her fingers, but she couldn't grab the sparks that flew off.
No!
My Quirk…
"I'm giving chase!" And on that, Red Riot dashed after the shooter.
"Wait, don't rush! If ya blindly go after your prey, you're just gonna get bitten!" exclaimed Fatgum, rushing after him. "Suneater, Spitfire, if you're alright, then I'm leaving this area ta ya! Other Heroes should be here soon. Join up with them!"
"I- I'm fine, but my Quirk won't activate!" exclaimed Suneater.
"Mine either!" added Kira, fighting back the panic that was trying to take over.
"They have a Quirk eraser!?"
Now was not the time to linger on this, though. The Pro Hero instantly disappeared from sight. As soon as he was gone, the fiery teen looked back at her hands, trying her hardest not to give in to despair.
Her Quirk… had been erased.
"Shoot, they're escaping!"
She snapped her eyes to the criminals they had stopped earlier, and who were now trying to make a run for it.
Oh no, they don't!
She'd deal with the Quirk issue later. Right now, they had a job to finish.
"Let's go!"
"Wait, our Quirks—"
But she was already gone, staff twirling in her hands. She moved fast and, not five seconds later, she caught up to the three who had managed to slip through the police's fingers. She knocked out the nearest one with a clean blow behind the end. His companions stopped in their tracks as they heard him collapse.
They paled when seeing her.
"I don't know what you guys have done…" Her red eyes flashed dangerously. "But it better not be a long-term deal, you hear me!?"
She engaged the first one. A simple blow under the chin and another in the guts, and he was out like a light. Before she could react, though, the third one had grabbed a civilian who had yet to reach safety.
"Fucking Hero…" He spat on the ground as the woman started whimpering in his grip. "Drop your weapon!"
She did as told, not wanting to risk the woman's life.
"What's a Hero without a Quirk, uh?" He tightened his grip. "You better let me go if you don't want me to break her neck! You can't save her as you are right now! You're just worthless without your powers!"
At that, though, Spitfire offered a feral grin. "Well then. I guess it's a good thing I learned not to rely on them, uh?"
"Uh?"
She pounced. He didn't even have the time to understand what was going on, she was before him and had already head-butted him harshly. Then, she pulled the civilian out of his grasp as his grip loosened, and she punched him right in the face. His nose cracked as he stumbled back, before collapsing.
"That'll teach ya…" She muttered, before glancing at the woman in her arms. "Are you all right?"
"I- I'm fine. Thank you!"
"Of course."
The civilian quickly left after that, still somewhat under shock, and Spitfire quickly tied the three guys with a special rope that Hatsume had included in her belt. It was something the ginger had asked for after the exam since that was kind of why she lost her points.
"Well, let's get you back to the police." Just hope Red Riot and Fatgum are okay.
Spitfire soon met up with the police officers. A few familiar faces greeted her warmly, and they quickly put the three she had re-captured under tighter binds, and Suneater soon joined them.
"You've saved us quite a bit of time, you know? These guys are smugglers of illegal drugs and black market items, so we've been waiting for a chance to take them in," explained one of the officers.
Suneater turned to one of the criminals. "… that thing that stopped the activation of our Quirks. That… was just one of your wares?"
"… eat shit and die, asswipe."
Suneater instantly went to brood against a wall. The ginger sighed, understanding they wouldn't get anything else out of them. As the police took them away, she glanced back to her hands. No fire came out, making her chest tighten painfully.
What am I going to do…?
.
.
Kira spent the night at the hospital, and so did Amajiki. They did several tests to understand what exactly had happened to erase their Quirks and, needless to say, the ginger had grown quite agitated. They gave her a sleeping pill when realizing she was still too shaken to sleep properly.
When she woke up the next morning, she instantly lifted her hand.
In her palm, a small fireball was now twirling happily.
Thank God…
The nurses made some more tests and took some blood to check its contents and analyze the drug she had been administered before she was finally released. As she stepped out of the hospital, though, she stumbled upon Amajiki.
"Oh, Amajiki-sempai!" He barely glanced her way, though he slowed his pace, a sign he wasn't against the company. She quickly caught up to him. "Are you feeling better?"
"… Aa. My Quirk was back when I woke up this morning."
She exhaled in relief. "Same! I'm so glad it was only temporary…"
"You could still fight despite not being able to activate your Quirk, though…"
"Uh?"
"And I… didn't do anything…"
"Amajiki-sempai!" She cringed as he started brooding again. "You were amazing out there! You're really strong, you know? You shouldn't doubt that strength."
"… you're like Mirio, always trying to cheer me up…"
"Well, can't have everyone sulking either, you know?" she teased, trying to lighten his mood. "Plus, I like cheering people up. Makes me feel better, you know?"
He stared at her for a second. "You're a very strange girl, Suttoki."
"Meh, I've heard worse."
He hummed at that, and they turned the corner, heading for U.A., which they could now see in the distance. As they walked, though, the ginger easily caught the passerby's attention.
"—can't believe it."
"But it was in the article!"
"Her? Saving people?"
"—another ruse, obviously."
"We can't-"
"—trust her? Not happening."
She ignored them. She had grown rather used to it by now.
"How do you deal with it?" She glanced Amajiki's way, who seemed troubled. "They're insulting you. They're saying all these awful things, and yet… you're still here, walking with your head held high. How do you do it…?"
"I tell myself that it could be worse," she shrugged, twirling her braid between her fingers. "That if I give up now, then everyone who has believed in me up until now would be disappointed. That I can't show weakness because that's all they're waiting for. That I can't give in because that's what my brother wants, and I'll be damned if that happens."
"But their words—"
"They hurt, but I try to stay positive. If I give in to my anger and my frustration, then it won't take me anywhere. If I give in to despair or pain, then I'll only sink lower and lower until I'm unable to climb back up." She sighed, raising her eyes to the sky. "It's just… pushing through seems easier than giving up. For me, at least."
"… I see."
They finally reached the school gates. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by the other two members of the Big Three.
"Hey, hey! Suttoki! Did you really take them out by yourself!?" Hado instantly assaulted her with questions. "Did you really handle those guys without your Quirk? They say you saved a hostage, is that true? Tell me, tell me!"
"I- I guess…? How'd you know about that anyway?" replied the ginger, confused.
"They posted an article this morning," answered Mirio, showing her his phone. She easily spotted her Hero name and Kirishima's. "Pretty cool for a first time in the news, if you ask me."
"Not a first for me, sorry," she deadpanned, thinking back to the leaked information.
"Right, right…" They started heading back towards the school. "How're you handling it, by the way?"
"As well as I can, I guess. I'm gonna show everyone that I can be a Hero," she assured, pumping her fist in the air. "And if they still can't see it… well, I'll just have to work harder!"
"Yeah!"
They high-fived, and Hado and Amajiki had to shield their eyes as the other two started sparkling, a sunset blooming in the background and some random birds chirping along.
The bell then rang, and Kira paled.
"Fuck! I'm late!" She instantly took off. "See you guys later!"
She was gone in the blink of an eye. The three seniors blinked at her sudden disappearance before Mirio glanced to his friends.
"… she does know it's lunchtime, right?"
The other two simply shrugged.
"Kira-chan! Kira-chan! Over here!"
"Coming!"
When she arrived in class, it was only to find Aizawa-sensei gathering his papers. He kindly informed her she was excused this time around, but that she'd better not let the internship interfere with her studies again.
After what, she quickly went to find her friends, who were now eating.
"Yo!" she grinned, sitting down beside Uraraka, in front of Izuku. "What'd I miss?"
"Saved for your sudden rise in popularity?" replied Denki, raising an eyebrow. He pulled out his phone and showed her the article she had seen just before. "Look! 'Spitfire saved a hostage without the use of her Quirk'! How cool is that, seriously?"
Without the use of my Quirk? Then that means no one knows about the drug that was involved…
"Yeah, I'm just that awesome!" It made them laugh.
I'll keep it quiet, then. Better not worry them for nothing.
.
.
Several days later, Kirishima and Kira were finally called back on the field. Fatgum hadn't contacted them until that morning, but he told them to come without their costumes, so the ginger guessed they wouldn't go on patrol that day.
As the two of them stepped out, though, they were joined by Izuku.
"'Morning, Izuku!"
"Good morning, Kicchan, Kirishima-kun," he greeted, letting the ginger hug him to her heart's content.
"Good morning, Midoriya. You're going today too? What a coincidence!" remarked the red-haired boy.
"Yeah, well, it's been a while since they called me, but they finally did today. They told me I wouldn't need my costume, though…"
"Eh? Good morning!" The three of them turned to see Uraraka and Tsuyu, apparently also ready to depart. "You three are also going today?"
"Yup! Let's go!"
They ended up going in the same direction. When they stopped to the same station, Kira realized that they were more than probably going to the same destination. Maybe the Heroes from their respective Agencies were having a meeting together?
But what about? She wondered as they started walking down the street. Is it just a regular meeting? Or maybe it's about that drug that erases Quirks…
When they arrived at the meeting point, they were greeted by none other than the Big Three. They entered, somewhat puzzled, and found numerous Pros already inside, including Fatgum and Aizawa-sensei.
"This big of a crowd… This is crazy! What's going on?" gaped Izuku.
"Amajiki-sempai," Kira called, turning to the black-haired senior. "Could this be about the drug…?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
Understanding he didn't have any more answers than she did, she simply decided to wait like everyone else. They were bound to get an explanation in the following minutes anyway. And, as thought, minute or so later, a tall man entered the room. He was rather slim, with slicked black hair and glasses. He had a stern look on his face, and it took Kira a few seconds to recognize him.
The sole sidekick All Might ever had, uh…? Izuku told me about how he got the internship… So that's the guy who wants him to give up One For All?
"Thanks to all of the information you supplied, the investigation has progressed considerably," he started. "The small organization, the Eightfold Cleansers… What exactly are they plotting? Along with the sharing of acquired information, I would like to consult with all of you today. I shall explain this step by step."
He then gestured for everyone to follow him into the meeting room. As the Heroes started to move, Kira exchanged a glance with Izuku. There were Pros from the top of the chart, but also minor, local Heroes. For such a crowd to gather…
"I'm a little out of the loop," frowned Kirishima, confused. He turned to Fatgum. "Eightfold Cleansers? What's that?"
"They've probably been thinking up something terrible, so it's time for everybody ta talk it out," answered the Hero. "You've also got quite da connection with them."
Kira instinctively brought her hand to her bandaged neck, where she had been hit by the bullet… drug… Anyway, whatever took away her Quirk.
So it really is about that…
Shaking her head, she followed everyone into the meeting room. They'd get their answers soon enough. Once everyone was settled down, Bubble Girl began the meeting.
"Since about two weeks prior, we at the Nighteye Offices have been independently observing a certain Villain group known as the Eightfold Cleansers," she started.
"What was the hook?" inquired one of the local Pros.
"There was an accident involving a thief gang known as the Reservoir Dogs. The police cleaned everything up as just an accident, but there were many points that made no sense and we began to track them," resumed Nighteye's sidekick.
"I am a sidekick, Centipede. I have been conducting the tracking and observation as per the instructions put forth by Nighteye," announced another sidekick. "Within this one-year period that I have been investigating, there has been a rapid increase in contact both between members of the underground organization, as well as people outside of the group," he explained. "They appear to be an organization moving with the intent to expand and accumulate funds. Also, shortly after the commencement of the investigation, he made contact with one Bubaigawara Jin, Villain name: Twice."
Kira stiffened at that. If the League of Villains was involved in this mess… then she honestly feared what her brother might have done.
"They were particularly cautious of being followed and I was unable to continue tracking them, but here I was able to cooperate with the police. They were able to confirm that during this meeting, some kind of skirmish had occurred."
"So it's related to the Villain Alliance, uh…?" Gran Torino leaned back in his seat. "That's why you called me and Tsukauchi."
"And where is Tsukauchi?"
"There was other information from witnesses, so he's checking on that." The old Hero then sighed heavily, turning to Izuku. "Listen, boy. I never thought it would come to this… You've been dragged into quite an annoying situation…"
"I don't think any part of this is annoying," assured seriously the teen.
"So you know each other!?" exclaimed Mirio, surprised.
"From my workplace experience, yeah…"
"Moving on," pressed Nighteye, replacing his glasses.
"Uh, we have this kind of process!" announced Bubble Girl. "We wanted to request everyone's cooperation on HN."
"You can skip that," proposed Centipede.
"Ok!"
"HN?" echoed Tsuyu, confused. "What is that?"
"That's short for the Hero Network," answered Kira. "It's an internet service that only people with a Pro license can use. You can see activity reports, and you can also request help from specific Heroes for specific missions, or stuff like that."
"How'd you know that?" blinked Uraraka.
"I was raised by a police officer, who kind of has access to this sort of stuff. I saw it a few times."
"Oi, oi, oi… " One of the Heroes suddenly spoke up, apparently annoyed. "Even if they're U.A. students, what's with the brats? Can't talk with them around. We're burning daylight just getting to the real issue of what they're plotting!"
Kira glared a little at him. They hadn't asked to be here to begin with and, even if they were losing some time explaining everything, it was better to have everyone in the loop than having a few lagging behind. In the long run, it would only be detrimental to the capacity of the group itself.
Fatgum suddenly knocked down his chair. "Enough out of ya—these three here are super important witnesses!"
"The three… of us…?" repeated Kirishima.
"Enthusiasm… smothering…" mumbled Amajiki.
"Besides, I think there's a ton of people who're meeting for da first time, so better get ta it! Da name's Fatgum, pleasure ta meet ya! Oh, here's some candy!"
"We have reason to believe that the Eightfold Cleansers have made the dispersal of unlicensed goods part of their livelihood," informed Nighteye, bringing back everyone's attention. "As such, I have requested help from Heroes familiar with that line of work."
"Long ago, we smashed those kinda things ta pieces!" Fatgum suddenly crushed the candies in his hands. "A few days ago, during Red Riot and Spitfire's true first battle, Kira and Tamaki were shot by something new, da likes we ain't never seen! A drug… that erases Quirks."
Kira rubbed her neck as everyone present stiffened. From what she understood, only Aizawa-sensei knew of what exactly had happened. Saved for Kirishima, none of her friends knew what really had happened to her, and the same went for the Big Three.
"What!? Tamaki, you're okay, right!?" panicked Mirio.
"Yeah… After sleeping, it came back," answered Amajiki, his hand transforming into a cow hoof.
"Kicchan—"
"I'm fine too," she assured, a flame twirling around her fingers. "The effects were immediate but only temporary."
"If it recovers, then there's no need to worry," shrugged the Hero who had called them out earlier. "Nothing fatal."
"No… I'll leave that explanation to Eraser Head," announced Nighteye.
Nodding, the U.A. teacher rose from his feet, gaining all's attention.
"It's a bit different from my Erasure Quirk," he started. "That's because I'm not attacking the Quirk itself. A special mechanism, Plus Alpha, is added to a basic human body. That is a Quirk. These Plus Alpha are collectively called the Quirk-Factor. Ultimately, I can only temporarily halt that Quirk-Factor. I can't cause damage to it."
"Right after they were shot, we took Kira and Tamaki to the hospital to get a look-see," pursued Fatgum. "That Quirk-Factor had taken damage. Luckily, it recovered naturally and has returned to normal, now."
"And the analysis of the thing they were shot with?"
"There were no other abnormalities in Kira and Tamaki's bodies! It was only, I mean only, da Quirk that was attacked! Not a peep from da gang that shot him! Da gun's in pieces too!" Fatgum exclaimed. "Plus, they had no other bullets in their possession besides da ones they fired! However…" He suddenly beamed at Kirishima. "Thanks ta Eijiro risking his life ta deflect da bullet, we were able ta obtain da contents of that one shot!"
The boy was obviously startled, not thinking his spur-of-the-moment reaction would actually help in any way.
"As for what was inside…" The mood suddenly became somber. "Something truly sickening came out. It… contained human blood, and human cells."
The fiery ginger paled at that, her hand flying to her bandaged neck yet again.
I have someone else's blood in me!?
"In other words, that effect is derived from a person," resumed Ryukyu. "Or, a Quirk. A Quirk to destroy other Quirks…"
"Ahem, I'm afraid I've not really been seeing it for a while now, but how is this linked to the Cleansers exactly?" inquired one of the minor Pros.
"Da guy Eijiro captured! And da illegal substance he was using," answered Fatgum. "That drug's distribution web's really complicated. It's gotten curtailed heavily nowadays, but it's sold wholesale across all levels by many different people, groups and organizations. And now, we can finally reach da source of it all! There's no evidence da Cleansers themselves are dealing da stuff, but there's been contact between them and a middleman organization selling it."
"That's it!?"
"Recall the clash between Villain groups that Ryukyu and her team cleaned up a few days ago," replied Nighteye. "The boss of one of those gangs was with one of those middleman groups."
"One of the Villains who gigantified only maintained it for a short while," added the woman in concern. "They must have been inferior goods."
"I guess that of the acts of organized crime that have been on the rise lately, the lion's share… seem to be traceable back to the Eightfold Cleansers, if you think about them in that light," confirmed a minor Hero. "The connection's still a little hazy, though. It can maybe be construed that we're twisting things to make the Cleansers the culprits at any cost. I wonder if there's anything more conclusive to clinch the link?"
At that, Kira clenched her fists. If there was one thing she liked less of the Hero work, it was how they always needed proof. She understood that one couldn't simply do whatever they wanted whenever it felt right, but could they actually allow this whole mess to go on when they had suspicions? They didn't have any actual proof, any actual link, but they had doubts. Wasn't that enough to at least dig in a little deeper?
A picture suddenly appeared on the screen before Nighteye. It was a man with black hair, and a mask Kira recognized as one people used back in the days of the black plague.
She scowled a little. Fitting the theme, uh?
"The Quirk of the capo, Chisaki, is named Overhaul," informed Nighteye. "It's a power that can disassemble and reassemble any target. A Quirk that can dismantle… To destroy and repair at once. That, along with the bullets that can destroy Quirks." With a small sigh, the lanky Hero glanced to Mirio and Izuku, who were frozen in place. "Chisaki has a daughter… though one without a birth certificate, so the particulars aren't clear. When these two encountered her, her arms and legs were wrapped in a great many bandages."
The ginger stiffened, suddenly feeling very sick.
He can't mean…
"It can't be…" Ryukyu lowered her gaze. "To do something so hideous…"
"What did you expect of this world of super-humans?" scoffed Gran Torino, disgusted. "All it takes is the thought and any son of a bitch can do anything."
"What… are you talking about…?" asked Kirishima, nervous.
"See? We don't need any damn kids around," grunted the black Hero. "Slow on the uptake much?"
"They're making bullets out of her body," bluntly answered the ginger, her fists clenched tightly.
Her friends paled at that, and Kira felt some regrets grip her heart. They were still so innocent despite having faced Villains already… They were starting to understand the disgusting truth about the world they were living in, and in the worst way possible.
"We don't know if they're trafficking them for profit. At their current stage of development, they're not very close to completion. Be that as it may… If, hypothetically, they were using them as a testing phase, and using them as samples for presentations to gather comrades…" Nighteye's eyes narrowed. "There's no definitive proof. However, say they gathered allies all across the country and amassed the funds—what if the completed bullets could take Quirks themselves and completely eradicate them…? Many dark, dark ideas spring to one's mind."
"Just imagining it makes ma bowels seethe with rage!" growled Fatgum. "Come on, we gotta look for their hideout!"
"So you're saying that if these dudes had been able to take the girl under protection, then this whole problem would've been resolved right then and there!?" snapped the still-unknown, but kind-of an asshole Hero.
"I take responsibility for all of it, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't put the blame on them," retorted more coldly Nighteye. "Even though they didn't know about her predicament, they both tried their best to save her. Midoriya stuck his neck out and tried to protect her there, while Mirio made sure to think ahead in order to secure her safety at a sounder juncture. Trust me, right now, the ones who are the most frustrated… are these two."
As if on cue, the two in question shoved their chairs aside, jumping to their feet with sorrowed determination in their eyes.
"We won't fail you this time, Eri!" assured Izuku.
"We'll protect her!" agreed Mirio.
"Yes," nodded Nighteye. "And that will be our goal."
"Tche. It's fine and all that the kid's alive," grunted Mr. Grumpy Pants. "But if one were to guess, the boss would want to hide the girl, who is core component to his plan, right? And after all that trouble, she still somehow makes it outside! And on top of that, to be spotted by these little brats Heroes! Do you think he'd honestly keep her tucked away at the headquarters after all that? If it were me, I wouldn't. Because, even if we were to attack, as long as the girl isn't there, then it doesn't matter. Have we been able to specify her exact whereabouts?"
"He's right," nodded Ryukyu. "What do you think, Nighteye?"
"That's exactly the problem. We don't know how far ahead he's planned," admitted the bespectacled Pro. "If we don't finish them with one blow, they'll probably get the chance they need to launch a counterattack. And so, we've looked at groups and organizations that have ties to the precepts, as well as all of the known locations under the precept's control." On the screen, a map now appeared. "We've left no stone unturned coming up with this list. And so, we'd like everyone here to assist in searching one of these locations. Let's find it and wring it out!"
"I see, and that is how we minor Heroes come into play…" mused one of the… well, minor Heroes. "Look. The Heroes who are present are clearly tied to the list somehow. They've selected people who have familiarity with the area."
"Ya were All Might's sidekick, weren't you!?" exclaimed Fatgum, somewhat angry. "You've been awfully thorough tiptoeing about! All da while, that Eri-chan girl has probably been crying da whole time!"
"Fatgum, we don't know what kind of forces are at play right now," however pointed out Kira, startling everyone. She had been rather quiet all along, after all, and none had really expected one of the students' to actually join the conversation. "We have little to no information, and rushing in blindly would only hinder our chances of success. For all we know, that Chisaki guy has already planned everything in anticipation of the move we're preparing right now. He knows Heroes found Eri and, frankly, I doubt he doesn't know you've been following him around."
At that, Nighteye's eyes sharpened slightly. "What makes you say that?"
Kira bit her lower lip, before sighing. There was no way out of it anyway, so might as well give away everything she had.
"They have been sighted with the League of Villains, have they not?" The man nodded in confirmation at that. "Seishin no Hagane is a member of this group. As most of you should know by now, he was also the Archivist until we discovered his true agenda. Otherwise said, they've got an informant on their side and a damn good one at that. I've got fairly good proofs that Hagane actually has a whole information web spread all over the city, if not the entire country. He's spent years building it, and he has placed his people where we expect them the less." She thought back to all of those that had been arrested, like Shinomiya-sensei or Miss Komori. They had been helping him all along, after all. "In other words, while you've been watching them, they've probably been watching you. Since the League of Villains and the Eightfold Cleansers seem to try themselves at an alliance, it's pretty safe to assume that Hagane gave them some of that information—a trade between tentative friends, if you will. Thus, considering all of this, I simply think we have to plan everything while having in mind that our enemy probably knows more than we do."
There was a moment of silence as all took in what she had just said. Most Pros present could only agree, and assuming they were ahead of their enemy when themselves actually barely knew anything was dangerous.
"And how the hell do you know that?" It was the Hero that kept insulting the students ever since the meeting began. "I get that you're from U.A. and all, but that's not the kind of information a mere student would simply come across. Who're you?"
"Suttoki Kira, aka Spitfire," she answered without missing a beat. She offered him a wry smile. "I can guess you've heard of me?"
He gaped for half-a-second before a sneer settled on his face, and he turned to Nighteye. "So what, now we allow potential moles to come to secret meetings?"
The ginger didn't even flinch, having expected that reaction. From his attitude, she could tell it would have come sooner or later. Plus, while it was starting to get annoying, she knew she wasn't alone into this. People had her back. She could take whatever the rest threw her way, easy-peasy.
Her friends weren't as comprehensive, though.
"Kicchan isn't a mole!"
"She's not her brother-"
"—don't know what you're talking about!"
"She's had it harder than anyone else—"
"Don't you think you're going overboard?"
"—Kira hasn't done anything wrong!"
"Kids, calm down," snapped Fatgum.
They instantly fell silent at that, and the Pro slowly sat back down… only to knock his chair back again, eyes wide with rage.
"DA HELL DA YA THINK YOU'RE TALKING 'BOUT!? KIRA'S NOT ONE O' THOSE DIPSHITS AND SHE SURE AS HELL AIN'T HELPING THEM! DA KID'S LOYAL AND SHE'S ALREADY GOT A LOT ON HER PLATE, TRYING TA DEAL WITH JERKS LIKE YA WHO CAN'T SEE FARTHER THAN THEIR DAMN NOSES—"
Kira groaned softly, her hands over her ears as Fatgum kept on ranting, really angry now. It was sweet and all but, right now, it wouldn't help anyone.
"Enough!" Nighteye's sharp exclamation managed to stop the other Hero's outburst, though he was still fuming silently. "Everyone here has been trusted with this information not on blind faith, but on simple facts. The case of Suttoki Ren and his affiliation with Suttoki Kira is not to be debated here nor now."
"I ain't risking this shit," growled the man, glaring at her. "We can't formulate a safe plan if we can't trust the people involved in it!"
That sent Fatgum into another verbal rampage and, next thing Kira knew, everyone started arguing. Some agreed with the guy, others protested and insisted that Nighteye wouldn't have been so blind, and the most level-headed simply stated that it shouldn't even be an issue, considering herself hadn't done anything.
This isn't getting anywhere… "Sir Nighteye?" The man glanced her way, obviously annoyed at wasting his time. "Your Quirk allows you to see the future, does it not?" At that, everyone calmed down, wondering where she was going with it. "Then please… look into mine! I've got nothing to hide and if it's the only way to prove to everyone here that I am trustworthy, then I'll do it."
A heavy silence followed. She held Nighteye's gaze, unflinching. Frankly, she didn't want to know her future. It wasn't something she wanted to play with. However, if it was the only solution to the problem at hands…
"That… I can't do."
"… What?"
"Once I activate my foresight ability, it needs a twenty-four-hour interval before it can be used again," he explained. "In other words, every day, for one hour, I can see one person's future. When I do, it's like a series of flashbacks. It plays in my head, frame by frame. Once activated, for an hour's time, I can see the film of an individual's life… That's how you can think about it. However, all of that film is from a perspective that very closely follows the person. All I can see are their actions and their immediate surroundings."
"Then that's perfect!" assured the ginger. "It should be enough information to prove my word, right?"
"And what if, in your immediate future, I see death?" he snapped. "What could I do, then?"
The ginger's excitement fell at that. It truly wasn't the kind of information she wanted to hear, ever. She bit her lower lip, lowering her eyes, before hardening her resolved and looking back at him.
"Even death is information. If it ever comes to it, then I'm sure we can find a way to avoid it," she pointed out. "I'm not… comfortable, with the idea. I won't lie about that. However, if it can prove my loyalty—"
"It's not like I'm telling a fortune, girl," replied sharply the man. "There's no evidence to show that you can avoid the outcome. And, while I do admire your tenacity… I simply can't grant you this request. We will simply have to trust you on this."
Understanding she shouldn't push him any further, Kira backed down. She was somewhat relieved, to be honest, even if it would have been rather helpful for her current situation.
It would seem that the Heroes would have to simply deal with it.
"In any case, let's proceed with the plan. Don't forget there's a kid in trouble, here," suddenly remarked Ryukyu.
At that, Nighteye suddenly rose to his feet. "Locating the girl and securing her rescue. Our goal is to resolve the situation as quickly and effectively as possible! Thank you all for your cooperation."
"So that's what happened…"
Kira, Kirishima, Izuku, Uraraka, Tsuyu, Mirio, Hado and Amajiki were now all gathered at the entrance of the Agency, taking the time to understand fully the situation at hand. Izuku and Mirio had explained what had happened exactly when they confronted Eri and Chisaki, and the ginger could only understand their frustration.
'DING'
The elevator opened, letting out a familiar face. "Are you guys holding a wake or something?"
"Aizawa-sensei!"
"Just call me Eraser Head outside of class, please," asked the man, reaching them. "Oh, however… I had originally planned to suspend all of your internships today."
"What!? Why now, of all times!?" protested Kirishima.
"You all heard that more possibly than not, the League of Villains is involved in this," replied their teacher. "That changes things."
The ginger looked down at that. She knew they were only students… but was there really nothing they could do?
And Izuku, who just swore to save Eri…
"But you know… Midoriya… You still haven't restored my trust in you yet," he then pointed out. "And you got in that fight too… Unfortunately, I have every reason to believe that if I were to stop you right now…" He crouched before the boy so that their eyes could meet. "You'd just jump out in the midst of things again. I'm watching you. If you act again, we'll go by the formal procedures this time around, Midoriya. Got it, problem child?"
He's letting us fight, Kira understood, eyes widening. We're allowed to go!
"Let me tell you something… That hand of yours that just barely missed rescuing her… I'll bet that she felt something other than despair. So, keep looking forward and go on… Is what I'd like to say. But, aside from the Big Three, whose abilities are equivalent, or even exceed a Pro's, I think your roles will be fairly small. And Asui, Uraraka, Kirishima, Suttoki… You four aren't even exactly here of your own free will. What do you want to do?"
"Aiza—Eraser Head!" Uraraka got up. "After hearing that kind of story, you can't tell me I can't go!"
"If you're not going to say I can't, Eraser Head, then I would like to be allowed to assist," agreed Tsuyu. "We can't let those who would hurt a little girl get away with it."
"They've already let us participated to the meeting," pointed out Kira. "It'd be kind of a waste to stay put after that. Plus, what kind of Hero would I be if I refused to help when I could do so?"
"If my strength will help that kid, even a little, then I'll do it, Eraser Head!" assured Kirishima.
"I simply wanted to confirm your convictions. As long as you understand, that's fine," their teacher appeased them. "This time, our goal is ultimately the liberation and protection of the child, Eri. Don't overstep that boundary." He glanced at Kira. "Our greatest concern is the shadow of the League. From the police's observations as well as those from Nighteye and his staff, they don't seem to have a particularly cooperative relationship. Judging by the recent search of the premises, it looks like the possibility of them being in the same place is low. However, in the worst case scenario, if they were off the mark… If, like Suttoki pointed out, they're already anticipating what we're about to do because of their informant… If that ends up with them being present and stopping us from completing our objective, then you'll stop right there. Is that clear?"
"Yes!"
As the students started talking with more and more animation about the mission that they were about to undergo, the Pro went to Kira and crouched next to her.
"Aiza—Eraser Head?"
"There's a very high risk that your brother shows up," he put bluntly. "But I know that it won't be enough to convince you not to go. In fact, I'd guess it'll do the contrary. And, while I just said that you had to stop if the League ever showed up, we have to take in consideration the possibility that he might try to target you again and single you out. If that is the case, then you are allowed to defend yourself, of course." She nodded at that, and his eyes sharpened a little. "However, you have to remember two things: one, the mission passes first, no matter what. And second, you have to understand that no one will force you to fight him. He's not your responsibility. Do you understand that? If you can't fight him, then leave him to one of us."
"I've already made up my mind, Eraser Head," she however assured. "What he did… I can't forgive that. And I can't- I can't let him go down that path any longer. I know he's not a victim, but I can't help but want to save him from that darkness that seems to be consuming him. Is that wrong of me?"
"No. Heroes save people, after all," he replied, rising back to his feet. "Kind of their job, really. However, do understand… that it might already be too late for that."
Her eyes hardened at that, a familiar fire swirling brightly in them. "If it is… then I'll at least stop him from hurting any more people. I'll stop him from sinking any lower. That's… the least I can do, for the sake of the brother I once knew."
Her teacher simply nodded at that, giving her a simple, encouraging pat on the shoulder, before moving away.
Ren… She exhaled deeply. I won't run again. Next time we meet…
Next time we meet, I'll try my damn hardest to end this sick mess, once and for all.
I swear I will.
Well, that happened. We're now officially entering the Eightfold Cleansers Arc, yay! On a side-note, I've received numerous positive answers about my idea of a Reverse Fanfic of Just A Spark, and I think I'll try it out. I make no promises though, since nothing's written yet, but I promise I've started making plans and gathering my ideas.
Again, thank you all SO MUCH for your reviews! You guys are amazing and I don't think I would have been able to get this far without you. Also, a special thanks to Naruffoku for being so involved in my story ;-) and another special thanks to Guest, who offered me the link for the movie. Unfortunately, the link wasn't entirely copied, so I haven't be able to use it, but the thought it very much appreciated!
And YES, I WILL include the movie. I just have to wait for the subbed version to be released.
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A special tribute to Stan Lee, one of the greatest geniuses to have walked this Earth (in my humble opinion). He'll be deeply missed.
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Anyway, I'll see you guys around. Have a nice day!
Plus Ultra!