This chapter it sounds like I'm introducing ten OCs but there are only two. Don't believe me? Check the notes.
(xx)
Izuku was starting to get used to his new life. That should have been very worrying, but what could he do? Normalcy was what felt normal, not what was normal.
His weekly routine was always more or less the same. On Tuesday, he would wake up sore from his Monday training, go to school, watch in second-hand embarrassment has Kacchan hit on some other girl only to get brutally rejected – how there were still girls in the school for him to propose to was a mystery for everyone – and go on a rant, enter into class, spend a normal school day, go back home, and avoid Kacchan who apparently tailed him.
Oh right, Kacchan was following him after school every day. He was lucky that his meetings with All Might and his training were later in the day during school days, after lunch and homework, when his childhood friend was busy studying and exercising and couldn't follow him around. Still, for good measure, him and All Might had agreed to only meet while he was in his skeletal form. Bit of a bummer, but better that than Kacchan seeing him with the Number One.
Izuku had also decided to not mention the Yakuza, to avoid triggering the Hero's weird reaction to the term, which was another hit to his "Tell All Might" Plan. He was starting to feel rather guilty, but what was he supposed to do? As much as he hated to admit it, the idea of seeing is father and, more importantly, his mom getting involved with the mess he could cause was a huge deterrent. Not to mention, he just didn't know enough. His dad had mentioned a couple times that there were other people in the Clan. Could they take over after him? Would they go to war with All for One if they did?
Izuku felt like he would risk a lot by telling All Might, and not just for himself.
Two months after his first study Sunday, on the day, Izuku took a deep breath as he woke up and opened his wardrobe. Sure enough, there stood Kurogiri again. Izuku felt like bashing his head against the wall for the fact this was now something he had come to accept as normal.
'Yep, I have a fogman in my wardrobe, tell me something I don't know.' He sighed. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Izuku Midoriya. I shall wait for you to be presentable before taking miss Himiko and mister Masutaro here."
"Thanks." Izuku refrained from pointing out he could have just dropped them somewhere else in the house instead of his wardrobe. The last thing he wanted was opening his fridge one morning and find a partially frozen Kurogiri saluting him and passing him the milk.
Instead, he just picked a few clothes, closed the wardrobe, moved outside of the line of sight of it for good measure, and quickly got dressed with his favorite white shirt labeled as 'Shirt'. Sue him, he thought they were hilarious.
The rest of the house was silent. His mom was out with Kacchan's, and his dad had said he would leave early that morning to 'meet some upstart down in Tokyo'. He didn't want to know, so Izuku had just tuned out the conversation he had with his mom, something about some 'masked youngster'. Honestly, he knew a soon to be Hero should have found discussions about criminal gangs important, especially when he was also the son of a Yakuza leader, but he couldn't help but wanting to avoid the conversation entirely.
He sighed and knocked on the door of the wardrobe, opening it. "I am ready." He said, and at that a few people started streaming into his room. The first was…
"Izukun!" He saluted with a wave, "Good morning."
"Morning, Masuchan. Ready to study?" He asked back with a grin.
"Sure." He shook his head, "I just don't think you are."
"Why?"
Himiko soon walked through the portal. Her black hair and grey eyes immediately darted to Izuku, and she quickly looked away. "G-good morning, Izuku." She stammered.
Izuku raised an eyebrow. "Are you ok Himiko?"
"I-Is not like I like you or anything, stupid!" She shouted back, before turning again.
Izuku froze. "D-Did I do something?" He looked at Masutaro, who was doing his best to keep a calm expression, "Masuchan, w-what happened?" He felt tears swell in his eyes. Himiko and Masutaro were his first friends since Kacchan, and now one of them had just walked in like that.
Masutaro sighed and put an arm around his shoulder, "Izuku, are you familiar with the concept of a tsundere?"
"A… What?"
Masutaro took a deep breath. Then another one. "Alright. Alright. Me and you, we need to organize an anime night. You can't be fourteen and ignorant of how the world works. Himiko, abort the Tsundere Protocol."
"What?! But I spent the last two weeks days figuring out how to do that!"
"Your effort is admirable, but that archetype only works on people that are aware of the trope or that are masochists. Are you a masochist, Izukun?"
"What?! No!"
"Yeah, figured." He let him go, tapping him on the back, "Anyway, it was kinda rushed. You have a lot to study yet, Himiko." He shook his head, "That 'stupid' wasn't even well executed."
"I'm starting to think you might not know what you are talking about Masutaro." She replied, before shaking her head, "Anyway, sorry Izuku, ignore what just happened and let's move on, alright?"
Izuku wasn't sure what to say to that, but he felt relief wash all over him. He hadn't done something wrong, and the guys were still his friends. He smiled and they headed to the kitchen for a breakfast, talking about the day ahead.
He had to admit, even if they were… weird, having friends was amazing.
-x-
As he sat there, after they had finished and graded the Math tests, Izuku couldn't help but smile. Both Himiko and Masuchan were progressing fast in their studies. Himiko was consistently reaching the average grade, and while that by itself wouldn't guarantee she would pass the entrance exam it was a step in the right direction. Masuchan was doing better, now consistently getting a result in the eighty percent. While Izuku's ninety to ninety-five percent average across all subjects was maybe a high goal, he thought that his friend could reach him at least in English and Japanese.
Which left the practical.
Izuku scratched the back of his head. He had so far kept away from asking them because he knew they would answer back, but… he couldn't really wait anymore.
"So, guys…" He coughed, "Since we are going to UA, can I ask something?"
"Sure." Masuchan nodded, while Himiko just looked at him, his head tilted slightly to the side.
"Well, I was thinking… What are your Quirks?" Masuchan and Himiko looked at each other, and Izuku noticed a hint of… worry, on the girl's face? "Ah, o-only if you want to tell me! I just thought that, depending on what the exam is, we could start thinking about workingtogetherandtodothat…"
"Relax man, relax." Masuchan sighed, "Alright, let me show you. Open the window please, and then both of you walk to the door."
Izuku nodded, and Masuchan moved to the window and put on his gas mask. Then he extended his arms, and purple smoke started to pour out. No, not smoke, Izuku realized, gas. "My Quirk is Gas. I can create a large amount of this. It makes anyone that breathes it fall asleep." He closed his hands, and the gas immediately stopped, pouring out of the window, "But I can't control who it affects. Also, breathing too much makes people fall in a sort of coma, so I have to watch out for that too."
Izuku took note on everything, and then looked up. Judging by Masuchan expression, he looked as excited as he was. "How does the gas move? How much can you create at once? Does it have particular side-effects?"
"W-Woah, calm down. Yeah, I can also perceive anything within the gas like a sonar. It's more precise the denser it is."
Izuku nodded excitedly, "This is such a good Quirk, Masuchan! You can be a Hero like Midnight, who can stop large crowds of Villain with a single emission of her Somnambulism. And it's a radar too? That means you could identify and attack any Villain that has survived the gas. You'd need a support item though, to protect yourself."
"I have that!" He pulled out the item, and Izuku blinked.
"Uh, M-Masuchan, is that a gun?"
"T-This? Pffft. N-No. This isn't a gun, don't be ridiculous. This is a Projectile Launching Multifunctional Support Item."
Izuku groaned, "And is one of those projectiles bullets?"
"Maybeeee…"
"Masuchan you can't go around wielding a gun!" Izuku shouted.
"B-But it's not just bullet. Look!" He pulled out a small dart, "It's my gas compressed to become a liquid. If I shoot someone with it, I can put them to sleep!"
"Oh. Mh…" Izuku had to admit, that was useful. He could see the logic behind it.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to decide if the gun having an awesome Quirk application excuses the fact you are going around carrying a revolver." He sighed, "I can't believe this is my life now…"
"Izukun."
"Yes?"
"Please stop worrying. I have all the documents that say this is a Support Item and not a gun, you know?"
"Masuchan, this is a gun. Anyone with two brain cells can tell that's a gun-"
"Your teacher believed me."
"-But then again I'm sure I have context on your private life most people won't, and you do have a all that documentation, so of course they will be fooled." He coughed, "Of course. Definitely. So, we all agree that is not a gun."
"Yup." Masuchan grinned, "Glad we are on the same page."
They both turned to Himiko, who was looking away. She had been for the entire time actually. Izuku frowned, "Uhm, Himiko, are you ok?"
"S-Sure, it's just… I need to go to the bathroom!" She shouted, and left the room. Izuku looked at Masuchan, who just shook his head.
"Women." He said with finality.
-x-
'What do I do, what do I do?' Himiko Toga, once a serial killer and now… still a serial killer but on vacation, she supposed, was walking up and down the bathroom of her supposed boyfriend, more a friend really, that she had ran into the moment her turn to reveal her Quirk had come.
'Stupid Mustard and his stupid Quirk that is stupidly easy to explain. Oh, look at me, I fart sleeping gas from my arms, woe is me…' She sighed, "How do you tell someone 'Oh, I suck someone's blood and turn into them'?" She looked at herself in the mirror.
She saw a face that wasn't hers. Eyes, hair, nose. Wally the Noumu had done a good job, even if her dad had been the one picking her appearance. She wasn't looking at Himiko Toga, she was looking at Himiko Shigaraki, or Himiko Shimura.
She didn't know if she liked that. She had thought about it for two months, and she still wasn't sure. It felt too much like the mask of normalcy she had to wear had finally taken over and replaced Himiko Toga.
On the other hand, though, there were undeniable advantages at being Himiko Shigaraki-Shimura. She could walk around the streets without a care in the world, she could spend time with friends she hadn't had before.
It was a lie, but maybe she could lie a bit longer.
Suddenly, a knock at the door startled her. "Y-Yes?" She asked.
"Ah, Himiko, it's me." Izuku's voice said from the other side, "So… I… Well… Look, I wanted to say… You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just- I figured it would make sense for us to-to work together but i-if you don't feel like it, I-" He took a deep breath, "I'm Quirkless."
Toga blinked. Then she slammed the door open, "What?"
"It's true. I-I don't have a Quirk. I always wanted to be a Hero, but I was born without one s-so I've always been fascinated by them. Now my trainer has finally found a way for me to become a Hero, and I'm pursuing that, but… But I think whatever your Quirk is, it will be amazing." He grinned shakily, "It can't be worse than none, right?"
Toga looked at him, then at the wide-eyed Masutaro behind him. She sighed. Maybe they really were her friends after all.
"Alright. I… My Quirk allows me to transform into other people. But… To activate I need to… to drink their blood." She looked away, unsure what he would think. And then she heard Izuku squeal.
"That's… Amazing!" He shouted now, "Can you transform into anyone? Can you copy a Mutant including their general body shape? Does it transfer Quirk? How long does the transformation last?"
"I-Izuku, did you hear the part where I need blood?"
"Yeah, that makes it a bit harder to use legally." He admitted, "But there are a lot of legal uses for it! You could replace Pros that need to be seen in public while they conduct some secret investigation. Or you could use blood from a blood bank to infiltrate criminal organizations! I suppose legally there is also no law against people offering you their blood to transform into them, so maybe a collaborator could offer you a similar deal. There are a lot of options for an Underground Hero with a Quirk like that!"
"You don't… don't think it's evil?"
Izuku frowned, "Why? It's… cumbersome, certainly hard to use legally, but there is nothing wrong with it." He pointed to himself, "Again, Quirkless, one of my classmates can remove his eyes from the socket partially and I still wish I had that, let alone something useful like yours."
Toga blinked.
Blinked again.
And then started to tremble, as a few tears streamed to her face, and rushed forward, hugging him. "I-It's not like I like you or anything." She sniffled weakly, and Masutaro laughed while Izuku looked at him and back at her in confusion.
Then Toga felt that thud in the back of her mind. That primal need to taste Izuku's blood, growing stronger. She bit her lip and let him go, and with all her might pushed her hand away from the knife hiding in her sleeve.
She trembled again, while wiping away the tears. 'If you knew everything…' She thought, but then shook her head.
She was definitely not going to fall for him.
She was definitely not going to kill him.
-x-
Mustard sighed, his head propped on his hand as he slouched on the table in Izuku's living room. The three had moved there and decided to talk more about their Quirks.
Honestly, finding out Izukun was Quirkless and wanted to be a Hero had been a surprise. And the fact he was so excited about the flawed Quirks him and Toga had even more so.
He thought back to his older family. When he was really young, his mother had nagged him to become a Hero more than anything. But the moment his Quirk had come through, she had turned it up to eleven, especially when she realized how 'unsuited for heroics' his Quirk was. The continuous nagging for him to train his power daily had become such a burden because, in her words, 'A Quirk that can't discriminate Heroes and Villains'. Frankly, Mustard had mostly ran away because he wanted to escape a family that pushed him so much. They still had his older sister and her mist anyway.
And also because he thought that, since being a Hero wasn't something he wanted to pursue, he might as well become a Villain. Show back at those Heroes that they were just normal people like him.
"… and then, if it's about combat, we need to make sure that we can show what we can do. I think Masuchan can focus on debilitating the opponent, while me and Toga finish them off with what we have trained for. Uh, I wonder if you could ask in advance to someone for a few vials of blood." Izuku frowned, "If you managed to find blood of someone with enough natural strength, since you can't use your Quirk, you could use that strength." He turned to Masuchan, "You can use your g-your Support Item to shoot down a few opponents without damaging us, right? And if it comes to worse, you can always go all out. Better being slightly intoxicated than letting a Villain go, right?"
Mustard chuckled. "You know Izukun?"
"What is it?"
"I think you are a great friend."
Izuku blushed, and tears started pooling from his eyes, "Oh my god thank you so much Masuchan, nooneeversaidanythingsonice…"
Mustard and Himiko exchanged a glance, and it was full of meaning. Indeed, they both agreed Izuku would pass that exam.
-x-
Hisashi frowned. It hadn't been a good day. First that Chisaki upstart was getting a bit on his nerves. The man went around looking like a murderous toucan, refused to shake hands with people, and even used a villain name, calling himself Overhaul.
Which was also his Quirk by the way, so not even that good of a name.
He sighed. Back in America, there was a clear distinction between organized crime and Villains. Sure, some syndicates liked to work with Villains more, like he did with All for One, but the western groups, like the Green Valley Clan, were not interested in pretending to be Villains. It was bad publicity, and the Heroes were a lot more likely to single you out if you went around calling yourself "Satan McEvil Person" instead of Isaiah Greengrass.
Chisaki had ranted about some 'master plan to lead the Yakuza in full control' that would be ready in about a year, and offered a sample of the product. At first Hisashi had thought it was drugs, but instead the man had presented him a weird bullet, and informed him that this new compound could be shot into someone to stop their Quirk Factor for a while.
Hisashi hated to admit he was impressed. With something like this, his syndicate, that dealt primarily in smuggling guns and drugs to Japan, would have an easy time increasing its power. Still, he was hesitant for two reasons.
The first, of course, was that the producer was the Shie Hassaikai, and Chisaki. The golden eyed bird-wannabe was the kind of slimy bastard Hisashi disliked, even if he put up that façade of politeness. He wasn't sure what his Quirk did, but from what he had heard it was something akin to making people explode from the inside. There was probably a more nuanced facet, but Hisashi's humble opinion was that 'touch and go boom' was enough of an explanation for how a Quirk like that worked to know to stay away from Chisaki's hands.
The second, and more subtle, was that no one could claim Hisashi didn't have experience about what not having a Quirk meant for someone. Not only from his son, but also from a second cousin of his. Both Quirkless, both around the same age, and both not really doing that well. Granted, she had found a way to work it out, but still, he couldn't really say he liked the idea of making people's Quirk just disappear.
Which led quite neatly to his current and more pressing headache, the family kind that was coming from his phone as he spoke. "Yes, Aunt Nene, I get it, I will be there. And yes, I will bring Izuku too."
"Good. You should have done so from the start. I can't believe the heir of the Green Valley Clan has no idea of what the Clan even looks like."
"Izuku is a good kid."
"That's a problem."
"No, I meant- dammit auntie, you should know that children don't always want to follow their parents' footsteps." He bit his lip a second later.
Oh fuck, he had done it.
The answer was freezing cold, which was a bit in contrast with his aunt's Quirk. "Yes. I am well aware that my daughters were not up to my expectations, thank you for reminding me, nephew."
"I'm so-"
"Don't start apologizing. It's true that your cousins have both been a disappointment, but that's more reason for Izuku to be raised as a Clan member, instead of being raised by her."
Now it was his turn to retort with an angry look, "Inko was a great mother!"
"She shouldn't have been. Why, you could be the head of the Hassaikai now if you listened to me and married the daughter of the old boss. But no, you had to go and marry that… woman." She paused, then took a deep breath, "I expect to see him here. All your cousins will be around, this time, and they will drag their family there. Including their daughters. I hope you know why."
"Oh I know full well. I'm bringing Himiko for a reason."
"Good boy. They might not understand, but we know what All for One can do. Let them know that the arrangement is not up for debate." And with that she closed the call.
Hisashi looked at his phone for a moment, and then composed another number. "Hello, All for One? It's Hisashi."
"Ah, Hisashi. I was wondering when you would call. It's been a while since your wife called and threatened me, I was wondering when her boss would."
"Wait, she called you?" He paused, "Oh right, I gave her your number a month ago, but she said she just wanted to talk about Himiko."
"Yes, and it was terrifying. I don't know how you could marry her." All for One replied.
Hisashi chuckled. Pffft, terrifying. Terrifyingly beautiful, if anything. His dear Inko was the most amazing person he had ever… He refocused, "Ahem, anyway, no, I'm calling for a proposal."
"I'm listening?"
"What would you think of a date arrangement?"
-x-
Izuku and Masutaro were now almost finished watching the first episode of the anime Masutaro had insisted they watch, when Hisashi barged through the door. Right in the middle of the scene were the MC was getting a look at his love interest's lingerie, of course.
"Dammit!" Masutaro scrambled for the control, awkwardly turning off the tv, "This isn't what it looks like!"
"Kid, I watch anime in my free time, I know what you are doing. Where is Himiko?" Hisashi asked, "And Inko?"
"Mom said she was prolonging her day out with Mitsuki in a 'girls night out'." Izuku replied, and Hisashi nodded.
"Good, Himiko?"
"She is in the bathroom." Izuku explained.
Right on cue, Himiko opened the door and walked right back on her spot, with a quick wave to Hisashi, who didn't miss that she was sitting next to Izuku. He grinned. 'Nice.' He thought, 'Good job son. Knew you had it in you.' He coughed, "Well, I have an announcement kids. Today and on Tuesday you have plans now."
"We do?"
"Yep. Tonight, Himiko is coming with us as we go doing something that Izuku hasn't done in far too long. Thirteen years, actually."
"Dad, you are trying to be subtle, but I just don't remember what I was doing when I was three."
"Eh, I guessed. Well dear," He winked, "It's time to meet the family."
Izuku's face paled. Frankly, Hisashi agreed that was the correct amount of dread, especially when he turned to Himiko. "And you are coming too, Himiko, your father agreed."
-x-
"Are you nervous, Inko?" Mitsuki asked.
"No, what makes you think that?" Inko asked back, and her friend sighed.
"Well, for starters the fact you are at the third beer, and second the fact you dragged me to a girls' night out. You also chose to drag me, of all places, to a karaoke we haven't visited in fourteen years, and while this is making me feel younger I don't want to know what the receptionist thought of two women in their forties walking in like they were still in their mid-twenties." She grabbed a beer and took a sip. "Oh, and third, we haven't sung a single song and you are pacing up and down the room."
"I know. It's just…" She sat back down, "It's family night in the Green Valley Clan."
"Oh god, kill me, the worst night of the year for Hisashi." She took a drink, "Who gets the honor to accompany him this year?"
"It's Kuraudo, like every year since we retired."
"My prayers to him. I can't think it has become any easier to deal with. So what's the issue? You don't have to go." She replied, and took a long sip.
"No but… Izuku does."
Mitsuki choked on her beer and started coughing. Before the can touched the ground, her friend managed to catch it with her Quirk, dragging it back to her hand. "I thought you said Izuku could stay out of the family business!"
"Yes, but things have changed. Hisashi coming back and him finding a girlfriend…"
"Right, about that, she isn't…"
"No, she isn't Himiko Toga. Her name is Himiko Shigaraki." Inko replied, and Mitsuki nodded. Of course, her friend wouldn't let her son date a serial killer.
Well, not one that stabbed her boyfriends.
… Right? "Alright, just to make sure. Wonder why she went after Katsuki though. God knows his wonderful personality is not the kind of thing that makes him a chick magnet."
"Oh come on, I'm sure he will find a girlfriend eventually."
Mitsuki bit her lip. Yeah. A girlfriend. Sure. Oh, her son denied it, but she had figured out what he was going for with all that hyper fixation on Izuku. And she could guess why he was always late for school, especially because she had spotted him once following Izuku home. 'My son is a stalker in love with his childhood friend. I really need to teach him how to properly handle emotions or things might get weird.' She thought. They would have a talk when she made it back home.
-x-
Bakugo felt a shiver down his back. He shouted to his spine to grow a spine and stop doing that, and went back to training.
Stupid spine, acting like he was scared of anything.
-x-
"Yeah. I guess." She answered noncommittedly, "So, about your son. Really? The whole family? That's going to be one hell of a night. Especially because weren't a few of the branches considering marrying him to their daughters?"
"Yes, that's what I'm worried about. Hisashi took Himiko there too to discourage them, but his cousins aren't just going to lay low and say no. And I don't know their daughters, so who knows what they might think?"
"And I taky you didn't go with that?"
"That's right. I didn't want Izuku to get pushed into the Clan business so young." She shook her head, "I guess it's proof he loves me that he agreed to that. He even stopped bringing him there during the dinners. Though it might backfire. Well, at least he has Himiko."
"But why do it now then?"
"Nene."
"Oh my god you are serious. That old b…"
"That's my husband's aunt you are talking about." Inko replied, and Mitsuki stared at her for a long moment, "Please refer to her as wench."
Mitsuki laughed uproariously, "So what, is it some sort of 'I'm back and I want to see my nephew?'"
"More like 'I'm back, show me the next head of the clan, prove he is going to get married' and all that."
"Must be hard. You really didn't marry in an easy family." Mitsuki replied, before standing up, "Alright, enough of this. If you dragged me back to a karaoke, I know what to do. I'm calling the rest of the gang and we are having a reunion."
"You sure they will come?"
"Watch."
Inko sighed as her friend picked up the phone and started to call, feeling nostalgia mount. She didn't regret marrying Hisashi of course, but sometimes she wondered if something would have changed had she not married him and retired. She would have probably been in better shape for once.
Oh well. She might as well have enjoyed the night to come.
'I just hope Izuku has fun…'
-x-
Izuku was not having fun. He had just received a long lecture by his father about who he was about to meet. Some of those names had been quite life-shaking, to be honest. He couldn't believe his family relations went that far.
Then again, he supposed extended families could be quite weird. As he walked up to the elevator, he did his best to fix his tie – an exercise in futility, but maybe the starts would align for once – and looked at Himiko. She was wearing a black dress this time, and Izuku had to admit she looked really good. 'Especially her br… Shut up brain!' He grimaced, before shaking his head as his father and Kuraudo followed them and the elevator started to rise. Apparently, the entire building belonged to the Green Valley Clan, or more accurately to a subsidiary of a subsidiary of the Clan.
'Why do we even live in the apartment if… No, bad Izuku, stop trying to use Yakuza money to make your life better, it's blood money.' He thought, 'Uh, thinking about it, it's all blood money. Oh god, I've been spending blood money my entire life…'
Was it wrong to buy Hero merchandise with blood money?
He was returning it to a good industry, right?
Right?
His important questions received no answer as the elevator door opened on a single, enormous room. Izuku was fairly sure that the living room of the suite alone was worth more of their entire apartment. Elegant decorations filled the room, from a table that was probably expensive enough that damaging it with a fork was a criminal offense, to paintings that Izuku didn't want to examine up close because he thought he would find out they were stolen from some art museums, down to… well basically everything else in the room.
Sitting near the end of the table, to the left of the seat of honor, was a woman in her seventies. She was short, with green hair up to her shoulder and the same freckles he and Hisashi had. She was smoking from a cigarette holder, something Izuku never thought he'd see. And next to her…
"Cow Lady…" he said, stunned, and admittedly a bit sad. His dad had told him, of course, that a lot of American Pros were in the pocket of the Green Valley Clan. Still, seeing the famous Pro, still in activity in her late fifties, stand there was a really sad thing.
"Hey there!" She waved back.
Dammit, this was supposed to be a dramatic moment.
"U-Uhm, hi…"
"Don't stutter." The woman sitting said with a clear tone, "You are the heir of the Green Valley Clan. You are expected to always be in control." She sighed, "What has your father taught you?"
"Mostly how to ditch the family for ten years." He replied, and Himiko and the woman snorted in unison, while Hisashi looked livid.
"Well at least you have a sharp tongue on you." She nodded in approval, "I'm Nene Midoriya, your grandaunt. I expect you know who I am?"
-x-
'Aunt Nene is essentially my right-hand woman back in America. If you talk with her, show respect. And remember to never. Never. Bring up her family, especially her daughters.'
-x-
"Oh, yes, he told me about you."
"Good. I'm the easy one to work with, Izuku. You might be my grandnephew, but I expect you to show the proper respect to the family." She replied, before focusing on Himiko, "Is she the Shigaraki girl?"
Hisashi nodded, "Yes, this is Himiko Shigaraki." He put a hand on her shoulder, and the woman scanned her like a butcher judging a piece of meat, before shaking her head.
"I guess she will have to do."
"Hey!" Izuku shouted, before he could stop himself. The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Something the matter, dear?"
"D-Don't talk about her like that!" He argued, and she raised an eyebrow.
"Oh dear, you are already at that stage? That will make things a lot easier." She shook her head, "Well, then, I expect you two to keep up the lovey-dovey stuff even when your cousins show up."
Izuku was about to ask what she meant with 'lovey-dovey stuff' when the towering figure of Cow Lady marched up to him, having to bend her back to look at him in the eyes. "So, you're gonna be the next head, uh? Not gonna lie, you are looking kinda wimpy to me right now." She turned to Himiko, "Well, can't say anything about the missy over here, she do be looking like a snack. Why, my daughter is about the same age I reckon."
"Your daughter?"
"Aye, my sweety is gonna study over here in Japan, I bet you'll know her when you see her." She winked, "Treat her gently, boss."
"I…" He started, but before he could continue she gave him a pat on the back so energetic Izuku almost fell to the ground. The only reason he didn't was that Stain's training had given him a lot of tips on balance.
In that moment, the elevator dinged, and another family of three walked out. A large man with red hair, a girl with ash grey hair, and another, younger, with short red hair closer to the man that was clearly the father. Besides them there was also the guy that was supposed to be their bodyguard, a short, lanky man with a mutation that gave his face a billed appearance.
"Oh god…" His dad muttered, and Izuku realized why a moment later when the muscular man grabbed him with a arm around his neck.
"Well look here! If it isn't my dear cousin Hisashi! Back to Japan to remind us who's boos, uh?!" He started to ruffle his hair.
"Maguma… I can't breath…"
"I can't hear you over the sound of me choking you, speak louder!" The man shouted, with a hearty laugh, before his eyes refocused on Izuku and Himiko. They turned to slits as he looked at the girl, and Izuku felt the need to step forward, which made Maguma look back at him.
"Ah, and you must be Izuku, my cousin's little boy. I'm your uncle."
"First cousin once removed actually…" Hisashi managed to say from the chokehold he was still being held into. Izuku did wonder for a second if he should have intervened.
Nah.
"And you are… Maguma Iwata, right?"
"Right that is!" The man shouted, finally letting his father go – which made Izuku mildly disappointed – and then moving towards him. Izuku had exactly one second to pray any god that would listen before Maguma hugged him tightly. Up close, the man was scorching hot, like hugging a stove, and Izuku started to sweat.
Well, that was probably also the sensation of his back straining under the crushing hug.
"I'm so glad we finally meet, nephew."
"First cousin once removed…" Hisashi gasped, still recovering his breath.
"Whatever it is. So, have you met my daughters?" He asked turning around, and then turning Izuku around toward the two girl.
The eldest one, with her grey hair kept in a pony tail, was likely in her mid twenties, while the younger was still a teenager, and more interested in her phone than in anything else. "This is my eldest, Konako. She is married to the head of the Abegawa Tenchu Kai. Meanwhile, this is my younger daughter." He looked at her, but she kept her eyes focused on her phone.
He coughed.
She didn't give a sign to have even heard him.
"Yu…" He murmured.
No reaction.
"Yuyu!" He shouted. The girl's eyes snapped up from the phone, and she stared straight at Izuku.
"Hi." She said, then her eyes turned back down to the screen.
-x-
'Maguma Iwata is my eldest cousin, so he still feels like he got robbed of the Green Valley Clan since I followed my father. He has a power fire-related Quirk and is the chief of our operations here in Japan.
His oldest daughter Konako is married to an Haizono, the old leaders of the Abegawa Tenchu Kai. It was a good marriage until a month later a vigilante murdered every high-member of the clan. The group has never made it back on top, so Konako's marriage was a failure.
His youngest daughter is Yuyu Haya. Maguma's marriage was done with the deal his daughters would inherit the mother surnames. If he is going to try to make you marry anyone, it's probably her.
-x-
"Uh, hi?" He murmured, but there was no further answer by the girl. He felt Maguma's body temperature rise, and felt the sudden need to walk away fast.
He looked around. His aunt was casually litting a new cigarette, one of her fingers opening to reveal a small flame – cool, is that some sort of mutant fire-related Quirk or- no focus Izuku! - and Cow Lady standing next to her was just looking at the whole situation with an amused look on her face.
Gee, glad a Hero was present.
He turned to Himiko, whose expression was merely disinterested. He felt a twinge of disappointment. So far no one had really given her the time of day, had they?
He found himself wondering what her family was doing right now.
Probably something more fun.
-x-
"I don't see why we have to do this." Shigaraki pouted.
"The boss was clear. We are to scout for Tuesday's night out that he is organizing for Himiko and Izuku, so we are going to a few select locations." Compress explained, "Why, you shouldn't complain, Tomura."
"I will complain as much as I want."
"No doubt on that." Dabi replied, "So, we chose the restaurant, but what are they going to do afterward? Cinema? Walk in the park?"
"Why not an arcade?" Mustard asked.
Everyone turned to him, and he blushed, "I-I mean, that should work, right? Take her there, win a few prizes for her, maybe lock hands over a control stick…"
"And then get her hands over his stick?" Dabi snorted, "Clever."
"Gross. Ew." Mustard and Shigaraki groaned as one, before the latter continued, "But the arcade sounds interesting. I could also show a few noobs who the better gamer is. At least this would be worth the hassle."
"Whatever works. There is one nearby." Dabi explained, pointing to the left.
"Why do you know that?" Compress asked.
"I don't spend my whole day brooding in my room, you know?"
"Could have fooled me," The Villain-chauffeur said, "But alright."
The car turned left, and soon after they were parked in front of a building so brightly lighted looking at it was probably dangerous for their retinas. Compress decided to not go in, and handed them the money to play a few rounds, so they could 'properly scout the place'. Mustard didn't miss that he was looking at a few nearby places to drink, lounges and clubs. There was even a host club, and he really hoped the man didn't plan to go there. Fetching his 'father' from that place wasn't his plan for the night.
'Oh well, so long as he doesn't get drunk.' Mustard thought. They walked in, and were greeted with three floors of games. The map nearby showed the top floor was dedicated to slots and pachinko machines, so really only two were of interest for Izuku and Himiko's date.
"Alright, you two take this floor, I will go up to the next." Dabi decided.
"Why?"
"Because Tomura is already playing and someone has to make sure he doesn't dust a machine." Dabi replied, pointing to the twenty-something years old, who had swiftly changed his portions of money in arcade tokens and was already playing some shooting game.
"… Good point, but why me?"
"Because I say so. And I feel like I'm the one that calls the shots here."
Mustard had no argument for that.
He wasn't about to start arguing with the guy that could roast him literally and figuratively.
-x-
The elevator pinged again, and Izuku felt the need to hope this one was not going to be worse.
Sure enough, a man with black hair and his face half covered by a modified diving helmet walked in the room, followed by two teens and a large man with a Bear mutant Quirk. The eldest son, because that was who the two teens clearly were, had black hair and looked a lot like Izuku.
Like, a lot.
They were basically clones, the only difference was that the other guy was taller and didn't have freckles. He was saying something about 'that same old joke' when Konako Haizono turned around with a mischievous grin. "Yo, Shindo!" She shouted.
"I hate you!"
"No, Shindo…"
"Can you stop?"
"Sure. So, Shindo, I'm good, are You, Shindo?" She smirked as the teen groaned.
"Those jokes don't even make sense anymore!"
"What, did you change your name?"
"'You Shindo', really?" He asked.
"Why, don't you like it? Seriously, did you change name? Should I ask Who, Shindo?"
"They are actively becoming worse as you go, that one was painful." Yuyu mumbled, her eyes still glued to her phone, and Konako just shrugged.
"I'm not appreciated in my age." She pouted.
"I-I thought it sounded good…" The girl with white hair and light grey eyes that was hiding behind the large man mumbled, before hiding again when Konako's eyes turned to her.
"Oh, she is so cute! I'm so glad you adopted a daughter, Isana." Konako chuckled and glanced at Izuku, "I wonder why…" She added.
The man with the half-diving helmet didn't offer an answer, but simply walked up to Maguma and extended his hand toward Izuku, "My name is Isana Shindo. It was about time you started to get interested in the family business."
-x-
Isana Shindo is the other main leader of our family business here in Japan. He is the total opposite of Maguma, which is why they work together.
His older son is Yo. He is not that interested in the family business, and is actually training as a Hero in Ketsubutsu High. Honestly it's surprising that Isana let him, but more power to him.
And also… Isana recently adopted a girl named Hana Aoi and renamed her Hana Shindo. I don't know much about her, but given her age there isn't much of a doubt on why he did that.
-x-
Izuku shook his hand with a bewildered look on his face, wondering why his dad hadn't mentioned the helmet and why Isana was wearing it at a family dinner.
Meanwhile, the man turned to Himiko. "You must be Himiko. Nice to meet you. Your old man is an inspiration to all of us."
"My old man is a Villain."
"Did I stutter?" The man extended his hand and shook hers firmly. Izuku sighed in relief. At least he was polite, unlike Maguma's indifference and Nene's outright dislike.
"So, I guess only the American branch is missing, uh?" Isana asked.
"He is going to arrive soon. Just has to meet someone for a job he is planning in a few months."
"Wow, planning a job? That's very out of character, he is usually the 'let's not do that and send me more money for my work' kind of guy." The younger cousin turned to Maguma, "Speaking of which, did you take care of the Hassaikai encroaching?"
"I beat the shit out of their sellers, yes." Maguma responded proudly.
"Can you be a bit more refined when talking of the job?"
"Sure. 'I beat them all'. Is that better?"
"Acceptable."
"Wait, wait," Hisashi stormed into the conversation, "You did what?!"
The argument descended into a three way discussion that Izuku really didn't want to listen to, so he managed to wiggle himself out of his cousin's grip and stumble back toward Himiko. "I'm sorry about this." He whispered.
"Don't be. Your family is… fun, I guess. In some sort of weird, annoying way at least." She licked her lip, "Also your cousins are hot."
"W-What?!"
"Just an observation." She replied, her eyes jumping, Izuku noticed, through every single teen in the room, boys and girls alike.
'Oh boy…' He thought, patting his pants, to make sure nothing was noticeable.
What? He was still a teenager. He had hormones for days.
"The last one missing is the one that you got all worried, right?"
"I… Yeah, I suppose it did, didn't it? It's just… It's odd to think he is a distant relative. Or a criminal."
"I mean, everyone in my 'family' is a criminal, so I wouldn't know why that's weird."
"Even Dabi and Masutaro?" Izuku asked with a hint of surprise.
"I mean, Masutaro I guess not. Dabi… You know, maybe by association, but I have no idea what he does in his free time."
-x-
Todoroki Touya, the villain known as Dabi, smiled. Good. The brat and the manchild were stuck on the lower floors, and he had an unexpected chance to have some fun of his own. He finished changing his money, counting the tokens.
"Oh hello Dabi." The cashier said with a nod, "How are you?"
"Good enough Shinjo, good enough. Any news?"
"You are still at the top." He replied, "But I would go take a look upstairs, I've heard there has been some commotion earlier at your station. Someone is going up the ranks quickly."
Touya frowned, but walked up the stairs to reach the arcade's second floor. Here were more machines, mostly those of the toys and ticket-winning kind he didn't like but were probably the best bets for Himiko's date if Izuku wanted to give her a gift. However, this floor also had the only videogame Dabi had poured his heart and soul into mastering.
The Dance Dance Revolution platforms were right there, surrounded by a decent amount of people. Surprising, considering usually that happened only when he was around.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Oh, hi Dabi!" One of the teens around the machine, a guy that he had beaten a lot of times but was a good sport about it, said, "I think you have a competitor."
"Do I?"
"Yeah, a student from Chiba is here and has been kicking everyone's asses."
Dabi looked past the crowd and sure enough, a young teenage girl was dancing wildly on the left DDR platform, while a guy on the right one hopelessly tried to match her. He was doing his best, Dabi would give him that, but she was clearly the pro there. As soon as the song finished, the teen grinned, "Alright everyone, anyone wants to take on the DDR DDestroyeR of Chiba?!" A girl next to her shouted, with a smile, "Come on, I thought the Tokyo dancers were good."
"I'll do it." Dabi replied taking off his coat and stepping on the platform.
The crowd cheered. "Dabi! Dabi! Dabi!"
"You are popular." The girl replied with a smile, "It will be a pity to beat you."
"Keep dreaming." Dabi said, "I guess I can take that DDestroyeR title after this."
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
He looked at her. She couldn't be older than his youngest brother, with her pink skin, black eyes and yellow horns.
He smiled and extended his hand. "Alright. I'm Dabi, by the way."
"Mina. Mina Ashido." She grinned. "May the best dancer win."
He watched her pick the song. He personally was very fond of Possession, but since she was the one deciding he didn't want to butt in. As he watched her instantly choose Egoism, he grinned.
'Alright, so this is gonna be a challenge worth fighting.'
And with that, the greatest DDR match between future Heroes and Villains begun, neither side knowing who the other was.
-x-
Himiko and Izuku were still making small talk when the elevator pinged one last time. Izuku straightened his back as three people walked out. One was the American Pro Hero Pankration, though he wasn't wearing his usual getup but a more formal suit. Besides him.
"Ah, here you are!" Maguma greeted, "Been a long time, David."
David Shield greeted his cousin. Besides him, his daughter Melissa looked around.
Izuku sighed. Yeah, David Shield, the director of I-Island and All Might's first unofficial sidekick, being a member of the Green Valley Clan would have already been surprising, but knowing he was one of the heads?
Well that was certainly a surprise.
This was going to be a looooong dinner.
He really hoped at least Masuchan was having fun that night.
-x-
"Tomura, stop!"
"I will murder him!"
"He is a fictional character, you can't murder him!" He shouted, desperately holding the grey-haired man back by his shoulders.
"I can certainly try!" The manchild shouted, eyes blood red, "I will fucking murder you Kazuya, got it?! Murder you!" He shouted to the pixels on the screen.
Mustard sighed while the Villain wannabe ranted against the screen. What had he done wrong to deserve this?
Oh right, the Villain thing.
He sighed. 'Guess this is my life.'
(xx)
About the OC I meant.
So:
OC: Nene Midoriya (I'm sorry, I just needed the archetype);
From Two Heroes: Cow Lady, Pankration;
From the Japanese Arcades: Maguma Iwata, Konako Haizono, Gust Boy, Isana (Curator), Hana (Zookeeper) and Bearhead;
And well, Yo and Yuyu are from the main story.
... What, don't look at me like that, a Clan needs more members than Hisashi's immediate family. Also I can finally explain Yo looking like someone cloned Izuku in a vat.
Oh and if you are wondering what songs those two mentioned, you can find both on YT.
Sometimes DDR scares me.