Chapter 40's here! Here's a late Valentine's Day gift for all my readers out there. Now you'll finally get to see how the world's reacting in the wake of that battle-of-the-ages from the previous chapter! So enjoy!

Izuku Midoriya felt like his heart had gone through a wringer. After he and his friends had been put into police cars, they were taken to a police station. They had their wounds treated, but thankfully none of them had gotten anything more than a bruise. The police questioned them about what had happened, and so Iida stepped up and retold all the events that had transpired that night.

Needless to say, the police scolded the students for their reckless and brazen attitude, worsening the guilt that had already poisoned their hearts. Shortly after, the police called the parents of every student who'd partaken in the attempted rescue to inform them of what had happened to their children and where they were. Needless to say, when they arrived, none of them were happy with their children.

"Damn it, Katsuki! What were you thinking, doing something as reckless as this? Now you're in a police station in the middle of the night."

"I thought you knew better than to act so foolhardy, Tenya," his father said.

"Izuku, why do you keep scaring me like this? Why can't you just sit still for once?"

These were the kind of parental scolding they all received. None of them had the willpower or the stupidity to try and defend themselves, not even the usually defiant Bakugo. They fully understood their parent's worry, and they all were still shaken by their near-death experience at the hands of All For One.

When the parents arrived, the police told them to keep quiet about the incident and leave it to U.A. High to handle the situation. This was a perfectly acceptable arrangement for the parents, for they'd be uncomfortable trying to explain why their children nearly got themselves killed.

For every student, the car ride home was unbearable as the tension and guilt festered and stewed to combine into a disgusting poison that filled their cars. Izuku had been one of the students afflicted with this tension, unsure of what to say to his mother after doing such a dangerous mission. Inko was equally uncertain of how to proceed. She'd watched the fight between Mob and All For One and knew how close Shigeo was to her son, so she tried to go with a kinder approach.

"Well, at least Kageyama managed to make it out of that fight alive," she said, "And I'm sure he's going to be having the best doctors in the world treat him."

"I hope you're right..."

The silence continued for the rest of the car ride. When they returned to their apartment, Izuku felt just as dejected and hopeless as he'd been when he entered this apartment the night before. There was no doubt that he felt utterly relieved at Kageyama's victory: in fact, that was the only thing keeping him from being completely drowned by guilt. But he'd still failed in his objective. He'd gone to help his friend, and he'd only ended up getting in Mob's way while putting all his other classmates in danger and exposing them to the terror of All For One. It was absolutely unbecoming of a hero.

As with the night before, sleep did not come easy for Izuku. He was completely glued to his phone, checking for any information on Shigeo, but he only saw updates on the damage in Kamino. It took two hours before the teenager's nerves managed to calm down enough for him to close his eyes. His rest was short-lived, for his mind regained consciousness upon feeling a vibration in his hand. He opened his eyes and found All Might was calling him at six in the morning. It must've been urgent if he was calling so early in the morning. After the call, All Might sent a text message telling him to meet at Dagoba Beach.

Deku briskly put on his jacket and shoes and quietly tip-toed out of his apartment, not wanting to wake his mother up. Using One For All, the young teenager sprinted to the beach in practically no time at all. Once he arrived, he spotted All Might in his skinny form staring out into the ocean. The hero had spent several hours with the police and the other heroes, going over the details of what had happened at the warehouse before the heroes had made it to the scene. All Might wanted to go to the hospital to watch over Kageyama, but he felt he needed to speak to his other protege first.

"All Might!" The teenager called out to the hero before running over to his mentor. All Might ran toward his student as well, but rather than a heart-felt greeting, the hero decided to go with a more brass approach.

"Texas Smash!" The number one hero slugged his student across the face. As with the other parents, he was extremely displeased at the actions his disciple had taken. "You made a promise, but as it turns out, you can't keep your word. I was filled in on everything that happened while I wasn't there. If you kids had gotten killed, it would've all been for nothing. What were you thinking? You can't keep rushing head-first into danger like this, but no matter how many times we tell you, it never gets through! Why can't you understand what I'm telling you?"

All Might's temper began simmering when he saw his student's lips tremble while his eyes welled with tears. The number one hero sighed and took a seat on the sand. Izuku reluctantly sat beside him, student and teacher staring out into the vast ocean.

"Do you know how Shige's doing?" Izuku asked.

"They took him to a hospital in Musutafu. His injuries are being treated by top-notch doctors, including Recovery Girl. From what I know, they're in the middle of performing surgery."

"Surgery?" the student gasped, "So is he going to be ok?"

The hero smiled and placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Come on; he'll be fine. Recovery Girl's there and has plenty of experience healing your crazy injuries." This small joke managed to crack a smile from Izuku, but that smile disappeared almost immediately. The teenager's head pointed to the ground.

"I just... wanted to pay him back. He's done so much for me. He was one of my only friends, one who stuck by my side while I trained to get into U.A. High. He's always done his best to protect the rest of the class and me, even after I..." The young teenager's body lightly trembled. "I've never told you this, All Might, but all this time, I've been jealous of Kageyama."

All Might's eyebrows lifted in surprise. He'd never thought Izuku could be capable of jealousy. "He's always had more control over his power than me, and he could use that power so easily. He's gotten to live with you, and you've given him more attention. Even though he didn't do anything wrong, I just felt so... frustrated. And at the camp, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I lost my temper and yelled at him for taking his power so lightly. But despite that..." Izuku's lips curved upward, remembering the moment they'd shared at the camp as if it were yesterday.

"He didn't get mad at all. HE apologized for not noticing my insecurities sooner. As if that wasn't enough, he kept helping me during the invasion. He fixed my arms after I broke them fighting villains, then gave himself up to protect the rest of the class and me. I remember how scared he looked before he left with the villains, and I just felt it'd be cruel to leave him like that after everything he did." Izuku covered his eyes with his hand. "But all I did was force him to protect me AGAIN. I'm a failure, nothing but a joke."

The number one hero understood where Izuku was coming from. "To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure I've got the right to judge you for your actions at the warehouse." This statement brought Izuku's eyes back up to All Might. "I lectured you for getting yourselves into danger, but what'd I do that was any better? I'm supposed to be the Symbol of Peace, your teacher, but I ended up completely useless. I'm alive and talking to you right now because All For One let me live.

"You're not the only one who's been helped by Kageyama. I've been relying on him since I became a teacher at U.A.. I've been using him as a personal battery to keep myself in my hero form these past months. I used his energy to defeat the Nomu at the U.S.J. If it hadn't been for that power, I'm wondering whether I could've beat that monster myself. But, then, he lied to the entire world to protect my reputation and make the world keep believing I'm the indestructible Symbol of Peace with no equal. I'm an absolute disgrace."

The hero looked back at his pupil. "Midoriya, you need to remember: you're the one who inspired me. That day, when you tried to save Bakugo by yourself even after I'd told you that being a hero wasn't an option for you, it was a decision that reminded me what being a hero means: to protect others no matter the cost. I truly admire that fiery willpower and drive to help others, and I know Kageyama admires that drive, too. He's told me himself.

All Might placed his arm around Midoriya's shoulder. "I'm sorry for not treating you and Kageyama as equals. Both of you are special but know that I don't regret giving you One For All, and I never will. Even if you weren't the one who defeated All For One, I know you'll use this power to be a beacon of hope for the world one day."

The young teenager felt the weight of his mentor's words. Unable to hold back his emotions, Izuku wrapped his arms around the hero's chest while his teacher embraced him. All Might couldn't help but feel a tiny drop slide down his face: even if things didn't always go the way they'd hoped or they couldn't contribute the way they'd wanted, as long as Izuku knew that he was a worthy successor in All Might's eyes and that the hero would always have his back no matter what, then they'd be able to overcome any obstacle they might face.

Though the number one hero was sharing a tender moment with his protege, the number two hero had no such luck. In the aftermath of the battle at Kamino Ward, Endeavor had been caught to speed on the events that had transpired just as All Might had. He'd learned that his son and his friends had nearly been killed by All For One had Kageyama not acted quickly and protected them with a barrier. This was yet another debt that Endeavor owed Shigeo Kageyama.

After talking things over with the police, the number two hero was called and informed about where his son and the other students were being held. He decided to be the responsible adult and pick up his son. But whereas the other parents had greeted their children with harsh scolding and rebukes, Endeavor had approached his son with a reserved demeanor. He'd spent far too much of their time yelling and scolding his son, and he wanted to do his part to be better than the man he once was.

"I'll drive you home, son." These were the only words that the father and son exchanged. As their family car arrived at the station with their driver, the ride home was fraught with silence. Endeavor was utterly unprepared to handle his son's emotions. He'd been neglecting this side of Shoto for so many years, focusing only on honing his Quirk and his body to ensure they were as strong as possible to surpass himself and All Might. But Endeavor knew that his son was going through emotional turmoil. His hands at his sides, while his eyes stared at his lap, indicated a defeated, sad man.

When the father and son made it home, they entered their house to find Fuyumi to welcome them. "Shoto, where have you been? Why are you here so late?"

"Sorry, sis..." The teenager was in no mood to answer his sister's questions and explain his failure, so he took off his shoes and quietly went to his room.

"Shoto had gone with some of his friends to rescue Kageyama themselves. But, unfortunately, they were discovered by the villain you've undoubtedly seen by now. All of them would've died had Kageyama not reacted with his barrier in time."

"What?" The young woman clasped her hands over her mouth.

"Thankfully, neither Shoto nor any of his friends were grievously injured. Physically, at least. However..." The hero looked down the hall Shoto had walked through. "Mentally, it's clear Shoto, and the others did not leave that warehouse unscathed."

Fuyumi's eyes gazed down the hall, too, wondering what was going through her brother's mind.

The father walked to his son's room. He stood in front of the door in silence. He had to do something. His son was clearly suffering from the events that had transpired, and there was no one here he could talk to. This was his responsibility. He had to be there for Shoto now, to make up for all the time that Endeavor had never been there for him in the ways that counted. Even if he was completely inexperienced at speaking kindly and encouraging others, he had to try.

So with a deep breath, the hero steeled himself and opened the door. As he'd expected, he found Shoto sitting at the edge of his futon, his head facing down while his arms rested on his upwardly bent knees. The teenager gave the briefest upward glance before looking back down, not interested in acknowledging his father's presence. The number two hero slowly approached his son and sat beside him. Endeavor reached his hand to place it on his son's back but stopped himself. He wasn't worthy of giving his son that kind of affection after everything he'd done.

"Shoto... I'm not angry at you for what you did." Endeavor spoke, but Shoto did not turn to acknowledge his father's words. Still, Endeavor continued. "I know you were only trying to help Kageyama. I understand that feeling. It drove me to be a part of the operation without hesitation, to return the favor after everything he..." The hero's voice trailed off. He didn't know how his son would feel if he knew Kageyama had been responsible for changing Endeavor if he discovered his new behavior wasn't started by himself.

"I also understand your feeling of frustration. I, too, was completely helpless, forced to be protected by Kageyama against an attack I barely had time to react to. When he needed help, I was simply a spectator, just like you. And yet..."

The hero did his best to put a positive spin on his words, mustering up every bit of compassion in his heart he could. "You played a bigger role in Kageyama's victory than you realize. It was only because he knew you and your friends were cheering him on that he gained the strength to stand back up and fight. All the work you and the members of your club put, gave him the strength to fight as he shouted your club's mantra. Shoto, you must understand: he couldn't have won without you. Even if you couldn't save him the way you wanted, you were invaluable to that fight. You should be proud of everything you've done. I... I'm proud."

Endeavor hoped these words could get through to his son, but Shoto still had not moved an inch. Clearly, his words had no effect.

"I know my presence is no comfort for you, so I'll leave you be." The hero got up and left the room in defeat. But unknown to Endeavor, a hidden smile had formed under Shoto's downcast face.

"Thank you," the teenager whispered. Amidst a series of colossal failures as a father, Enji Todoroki had managed to gain one small victory.

While the number one and two heroes had tried to talk with their rebellious teenagers, the Symbol of Evil was on his way to Tartarus under the highest security. Even with his face healed, he'd still passed his body's limits during his fight with Mob, and he hardly had the energy to fight back. While he had been transported, he took his time getting reacquainted with his senses. After his fight with All Might, he'd gotten used to seeing the world around him vastly differently via sensory Quirks, silhouettes with colored outlines, and vague features. He'd forgotten what it was like to see the world through eyes. And it was only possible because of Kageyama...

These were the only thoughts racking the villain's mind. He'd been going through every scenario in his mind, and even with his decades of experience in planning, he could see no logical reason for that decision. Did he think this would convince All For One to join his side? What would put Shigeo under that delusion after everything he'd done to try and break him, after all the harm he'd done to his mentor and his friends? He should've been smart enough to see that. So why restore his body and make the villain an even more dangerous threat in the future?

Not only that, but he needed to understand where he obtained his powers. They weren't derived from a Quirk, yet the scope of what he could do with those powers was far greater than All For One had anticipated. So where did those powers come from?

But something weighing on him more significantly than anything else was... his brother. The Symbol of Evil remembered Kageyama's biting words at the end of their conversation at the warehouse, reminding All For One of his failure to bring his younger brother to his side. Somehow, that had been the argument that had left him feeling the most embittered. Kageyama had a younger brother, one without the talent he possessed. But he never mentioned what became of that younger brother, whether their relationship still held strong despite the difference in power. Did they manage to reconcile? Did Shigeo manage to keep what All For One could not?

All For One could not find the answers to these questions. Perhaps spending time in Tartarus with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company would allow him to reflect on everything that had happened properly.

Things in Japan were moving at an alarming intensity. Shigeo Kageyama had become the talk of the town. All across the country and the world, people were sharing stories, how they'd seen Mob fight against All For One in the sky, how they'd been part of the crowd that had cheered him on and inspired him to keep fighting. All of them were desperate to share their side of the story, where they'd been when Shigeo Kageyama had stood tall against evil and shined his light on the world.

In the headquarters of the police, the Commissioner General, Yamagata Yuu, and the heads of several divisions were gathered in a room. Among them were some of the top figures of the Hero Public Safety Commission, including the president of the Commission herself, Masa Hano. On the far right was the head of the Commission's public relations department, Makoto Nakatomi. Sitting next to him was a famous lawyer who handled several cases for the Commission, Tadashi Kamori. On the left-hand side of the Commission President sat the head of the Commission's investigative department, Nori Fujino.

With all of the commotion in Japan, they knew it was necessary to thoroughly review the events of the raid on the hideout and where they'd go from there. Standing in front of them was a worker giving them some details about the Nomu that had been captured.

"Have you gotten anything useful from the Nomu?" one of the officers asked.

"The Nomus we captured are just as unresponsive as the last one. They're basically mindless animals, so we haven't gotten any good info out of them. Unfortunately, the warehouse they were kept in was destroyed. We'll continue on our investigation, but we don't know how much data we'll be able to collect."

"And what about the bar?"

"Unfortunately, the villains had already disappeared when we stormed the bar. It seems they managed to find out about our plans in time.

"How frustrating..." Yamagata muttered.

"Still, it could've been much worse." From the other side of the room, another one of the police officers spoke up. "Though we didn't manage to arrest any villains at the bar, we could still capture their leader. Not only that, but Kageyama's barriers spared Kamino Ward from any catastrophic damage. So far, we've reported no deaths, and the only casualties are those with moderate injuries at worse, but nothing life-threatening."

"And what of the seven students from U.A. High?" a female division head asked, "What's the situation with them?"

"We escorted them all to a police station where they were briefed and treated for any minor wounds. Then, we notified their parents to pick them up from the station."

"Should we intervene?" a commission member wondered, "Those students violated U.A. High's policies and attempted to rescue Shigeo Kageyama by themselves. From their testimony, the villain nearly killed them with one of his air blasts, but Kageyama shielded them at the last second. If the public found out about this, they'd question U.A. High's ability to manage their students." Several of the individuals in the room pondered this.

"So far, we haven't seen anyone mention the students online or in the media. Since they were wearing disguises, nobody noticed them in Kamino Ward, and the police took them to the station before the media arrived at the scene. The police also made sure to have none of the students or parents say anything about the incident, so that gives us some breathing room to mull over our options. I'm unsure how to open that can of worms, especially knowing that many of the students who partook in that failed rescue operation are some of Class 1-A's best and some of the children of some prestigious heroes. The media response would greatly decrease the public's confidence in U.A. High and hero society. For now, we should let U.A. High decide. If they choose to expel the students, we'll publicly support their decision, but if they decide to let it go, it'd be best for us to ignore it. Does everyone agree?"

The police officers and members of the Hero Commission hesitantly nodded in confirmation.

"It's about time we discussed the biggest elephant in the room: Shigeo Kageyama." They'd been dodging this question for some time, but they could no longer ignore the topic, and the president of the Hero Commission decided she'd be the first to address it. "Since his climactic fight with All For One, his popularity has skyrocketed. People have been talking about him all across the country, praising him for his bravery. So many people have said he should already be a full-fledged hero with what he's accomplished, and others have even gone so far as to say he's the next Symbol of Peace."

"Yes, it's quite the outcry," The Commissioner General replied, "Not only that, but his presence had a massive sway in public opinion. Moreover, as was mentioned before, Kageyama managed to save his classmates from certain death, which would've spelled the end of hero society had he not been there."

"As if that wasn't enough, his words saved us the trouble of coming up with an explanation of what happened." Besides the president of the Hero Commission, Makoto was next to speak up. "From what we heard, All Might was easily defeated by the villain, who had the warp villain teleport him across Japan to prevent him from interfering. Had this truth come out, it would've shaken the public's trust in All Might. But thanks to Kageyama, he managed to preserve All Might's reputation as the strongest hero. He even went out of his way to defend the heroes who'd stood by during his battle with All For One and U.A. High."

"Yes. Even if the attack on the camp shook trust in hero society, Kageyama's words have been invaluable in regaining most of the public's trust in heroes," Masa said

In the room, another police officer expressed his concern. "And are we going to disregard his use of his Quirk? He broke the law and defeated All For One himself."

"Are you suggesting we punish Kageyama?" the Commissioner General asked, "Citizens are allowed to use their Quirks in cases of self-defense, and it is abundantly clear that Kageyama was forced to protect himself from All For One."

"Yea," added Makoto, "How would the public react if they found out we punished him after the bravery he displayed? Taking legal action would just be needlessly rocking the boat, so punishing Kageyama is out of the question."

Makoto leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table while his hands were held together, pressed against his mouth. "I'd say that this is a huge win. The battle was a perfect opening for Kageyama to make his debut as a hero. People are now looking to him as the next symbol of peace to take All Might's place once he retires in the future. He managed to restore the faith in heroes in spite of their limited involvement in the battle. Even if we didn't manage to get Tomura Shigaraki and his followers, we still managed to capture their boss, and the whole world saw it, too."

"So where do we go from here?" another worker asked.

"I think the first thing we need to do is get Kageyama's face in front of a camera, let the world know he's alright."

"Hold on." The Commisioner General objected to this. "The hospital is being kept on tight security. We don't want to risk any villains taking the opportunity to do something underhanded while he's weakened. Until he's fully recovered and out of the hospital, I don't want anyone who isn't a hero or officer near him."

Makoto sighed. "Fine. But the moment he's out of the hospital, we should get him in an interview with one of the top journalists. It'll give a chance for the people to get to know him better and build his reputation."

Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement. Though the League of Villains remained at large, the world had been shown the bravery and heart hidden underneath Mob's indifferent expression. The Heor Commission would be sure to do whatever they could to keep showing the world this side of him, to secure society's trust in heroes and pave the way for the next generation of heroes.

In Musutafu, Japan, Shigeo Kageyama lay unconscious in a hospital bed. When the paramedics took the esper onboard the helicopter, they quickly observed Mob's condition. As they lifted Mob's shirt, they grimaced at the growing discoloration spreading across the teenager's chest. They also took note of the swelling on Mob's arm and leg. It was clear that the villain's attacks had broken several bones. The fractures in his chest were impairing his respiratory system, so they hooked him up to life support to maintain his vitals.

Noting how severe the damage was, the paramedics decided to get in contact with the Hero Association. After being informed of his critical condition, they believed the proper course of action was to get the best doctors in the country and none other than Recovery Girl herself to oversee Shigeo. So while the paramedics kept monitoring the esper's vitals, the pilot directed the helicopter towards Musutafu, where Recovery Girl and several other doctors were waiting at a nearby hospital.

The doctors had done their best work, monitoring his vitals and performing x-rays. After a thorough examination, they could identify the full scope of the damage to Mob's body. All For One's attacks had left him with multiple fractures in his arm, leg, and ribcage, and it was apparent that the teenager had gone past his body's limit when he'd gotten his second wind. His spleen, kidneys, and a few other organs had been damaged and were causing internal bleeding. In addition, four of Mob's vertebrae had been fractured by All For One's knee attack. Thankfully, none of the fractures compromised the spinal cord, meaning there was no risk of paralysis.

Their first task was to stop the internal bleeding, so the doctors performed surgery to repair the damage to the organs and stop the bleeding. After several hours of intensive work, they managed to get Mob into a stable condition and fix the worst damage. Next, Recovery Girl used her Quirk on the damaged internal organs to speed up their healing process and ensure the wounds wouldn't open up. First, however, she administered a very low shot of her Quirk. His body had already been worn out from his fight with All For One, and they'd only just finished performing surgery, so healing his injuries immediately would be a death sentence. Such grievous wounds needed to be healed over several days.

So the night had passed. Within hours, the hospital was swarming with police officers and news crews desperate to get the scoop on Kageyama's condition. The police officers kept a tight watch on Kageyama's hospital room located on the hospital's first floor.

For three days, the esper remained unconscious. Recovery Girl had made sure to time the intervals for when she administered her Quirk. So far, the bones in his back and leg had been healed. However, his arm and ribcage were still damaged, and some of the internal organs needed time and another administration of Recovery Girl's Quirk to be restored to their original state. After meeting with Izuku at the beach two nights ago, All Might had spent the rest of his time waiting at the hospital. He was determined not to let the esper out of his sight again and to be there when Kageyama finally woke up.

He hadn't been the only one who'd wanted to see Shigeo. Outside the hospital, news stations from Japan and across the country had been waiting for the big moment when the esper woke up. Unfortunately, the police and the hospital had given tiny details regarding Kageyama's injuries beyond the fact that his condition was stable. No officer had let the news reporters step into the hospital. At the same time, every student of Class 1-A and the two members of the Body Improvement Club had rushed to the hospital, taking a back entrance away from the media. Sadly, they, too, had been restricted from visiting Mob. They'd tried to convince the police officers to let them stay, but none of them would budge. Hearing this, All Might had come to see them and assured them that once Kageyama woke up, he'd tell them they'd tried to visit. This managed to convince them to leave the hospital peacefully. In another section of the hospital, several top heroes were also waiting. Best Jeanist, Endeavor, and Edgeshot had wanted to see the esper, and even Hawks flew in to visit. Each of them wanted to be present when Mob regained consciousness.

After three long days of rest and recovery, Mob's eyes slowly fluttered open. While regaining his consciousness, with it came a pain in his chest, less than when he'd fought All For One, but still enough to make him wince. He also took note of the breathing apparatus that was strapped to his face.

"He's regained consciousness!" From the other side of the room, doctors rushed toward him. The esper glanced left and also noticed All Might sitting in a chair. The number one hero jumped out of his seat and toward his student, his trademark smile wider than ever.

"Kageyama! You've finally woken up! Thank god! You were starting to worry me there for a minute."

"Where am I?"

"You're in a hospital in Musutafu," one of the doctors replied, "You've been unconscious for three days now. The injuries you sustained during your fight with All For One were very severe. Multiple broken bones, ripped muscles, and internal bleeding. We had to perform surgery to stop the internal bleeding, and Recovery Girl's been giving you steady doses of her Quirk. You still haven't fully recovered, though. It'll likely take a few more days to get back in shape."

"And what about my classmates? Are they here?"

"Unfortunately, the hospital's been strictly monitored by the police, so none of them could be here. But make no mistake, they all wanted to see you. They even wrote a card for you." The hero took a card out of his pocket and handed it to the esper. "Every member of Class 1-A signed it, even the two students of Class 1-B from the Body Improvement Club." Mob opened the card and saw his friends' different signatures. Each of them used different colored markers, drew some cool symbols, and made their signatures special to make them stand out. They'd all left short messages above their signatures as well. Mob's heart fluttered when he saw what they'd all written for him.

"Dude, you were an absolute badass!"

"Sorry we couldn't see you in person, but I hope you read this!"

"You really showed us why you're the captain of the Body Improvement Club! Body Improvement! Fight on!"

As he went through the signatures and messages from his friends, he stopped when he looked at the signatures of Izuku and Yaoyorozu.

"Shige, you were absolutely incredible. I'm so proud of what you did that night. I wish I could tell you this in person, but I'll have to wait until we see you at U.A. High, just like you promised.

"Kageyama, there's so much that I want to tell you, but I can only write so many words on this card. Just know that I'm utterly relieved you made it out of all this alive, and our entire class is so proud to call you our friend."

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All Might could see the way the swirling look of emotion in Shigeo's eyes. "And that's not all. Remember the news crew you saved during your fight? Well, they decided to write you a letter of their own." The hero took another note from the opposite pocket. The esper opened the note to see what they'd said.

"Shigeo Kageyama,

The three of us have written this letter to you, and each of us did our part to make sure we got every word in this letter right. We all vividly remember the memory of that night: we were keeping our distance, watching the battle from afar, and before we knew it, that battle came charging right at us. We thought the three of us would be goners, burning in flames as the helicopter exploded, but you protected us. You left yourself defenseless to ensure the three of us made it out alive. And even when you were on the brink of death, you still held strong and fought for all of us. We can't thank you enough for what you did for us and know that we couldn't be more honored to be the ones who streamed your bravery to the rest of the world. We all know you'll make a spectacular hero, and whenever you need a news team, know we'll be there at the ready."

Mob took several seconds to absorb this. It was such a foreign feeling for the esper: he'd always been used to dealing with evil spirits and protecting people before, but with all the clients he'd helped, receiving words of thanks was a rarity. The only time he remembered being truly thanked and applauded was when he helped some female clients exorcise a spirit at an all-girls academy. That had felt good, but the sincerity in these words and how these men went out of their way to give such a detailed letter of gratitude was truly remarkable. Was this what it meant to be saved? Could it really elicit these kinds of emotions, the acts he'd always considered simply part of a day's work?

The number one hero could see the sparkle in his eyes and placed a hand on the esper's shoulder. "Now you see how your actions can inspire others. I was caught up to speed on everything I missed and the battle that this news team recorded. You protected that team of newscasters, leaving yourself vulnerable to All For One's combination of Quirks. But what I was even more amazed by... was this."

All Might took out his phone and pulled up a video to show Mob. This was when the crowd had begun cheering for him, except it was showing the footage the news crew had taken.

"All these people... they're cheering me on. None of them even know me, they see that I can barely stand, but none of them are running away. They're staying to cheer for me because they actually think I can persevere and win. My teacher, Mr. Aizawa, believes that too. He said so to the entire world 10 minutes ago. He's probably watching me right now, and I'm sure if he were here, he'd scold me because he knows I can do better than this. My classmates must be watching me, too. They're all counting on me to stay alive and fulfill the promise I made that I'd reunite with them at U.A. High. As if I'd ever let them down like that..."

"I WON'T LET IT END HERE! To everyone out there cheering me on, thank you for putting your trust in me, and I swear I won't betray that trust by losing now! Because I'm still standing, and as long as I'm standing, I'LL FIGHT TO THE VERY END!"

"BODY IMPROVEMENT! FIGHT OOONNNN!"

"To tell you the truth, Kageyama, I'd always wondered whether or not it was the right decision to enroll you at U.A. High. Though you possess a kind heart, I had never seen the burning willpower to push for the top the way Midoriya and Bakugo do. Those doubts were only compounded when you expressed your lack of drive just before the Sports Festival. But looking at this made me realize how much of a fool I was to have ever doubted your resolve. You were at death's door, at the mercy of the Symbol of Evil, but you remembered your origins, the people who'd helped you and the ones who were cheering you on, and you won with the entire world to see. I said this before, but I couldn't be more proud of your heroism."

Mob felt his heart flutter with joy. After all the work he'd been putting in to be a hero, he was finally beginning to see a payoff. Not only that, but he'd just figured out the secret to his healing abilities. Once he got out of the hospital, he'd heal All Might's internal organs and get him back to his healthy self. Then no one would have to know about All Might's weakened state, and his reputation as the Symbol of Peace would be secured. Once again, Mob was being reminded of the power of change. Thanks to everything he'd put into this path, he'd become better than the person he was and had actually started to help people instead of hurt them. Mob had truly changed yet again, and he couldn't be more proud of it.

From the door, Mob noticed several top heroes arriving, along with a few police officers. He counted most of the heroes he'd seen at the hideout raid: Endeavor, Edgeshot, and Best Jeanist, but he was shocked when he saw another top-ranked hero with them.

"Hawks? You're here?"

"You betcha!" The number three hero gave the esper a cheeky smile and rapidly approached his student, placing his hand on Shigeo's shoulder just as All Might had done moments before. "You think I would kick back at my agency while you're cooped up here? No way I'd miss the chance to come to visit you."

"Likewise, we felt it was appropriate that we come to visit you since we were there at the battle yet left you to fight alone," Edgeshot said.

"It's a relief to see you awake," Best Jeanist added, "Are your injuries still bothering you?"

"My chest hurts a bit, but I'm feeling much better than I did before. Thank you for asking."

The police officers who'd entered the room opted to speak. "Shigeo Kageyama, if it's alright with you, we'd like to ask a few questions about your kidnapping and the villains who held you captive."

"First question: how many villains were with you when you held hostage at the bar?"

"There were ten in total." One of the officers took a small notepad to begin jotting down Mob's story. "How many villains there did you not recognize as part of the group of villains that invaded the camp?"

"There were two villains. One of them had a mutant Quirk that gave him the appearance of a lizard, and another had red hair with an orange coat. I remember their names were Spinner and Magne. There was also Tomura and All For One."

"While you were held captive there, did they subject you to physical or psychological torture?"

"No, nothing like that."

"Therein lies the biggest question the police force and the hero commission need answering: what did the villains want with you? Why did they choose you as a target?" Every person in the room stared at Mob with focused eyes, each curious to know the answer to this burgeoning question.

"Tomura wanted to talk to me to get me to join the League of Villains."

"But why you?" asked Best Jeanist, "What qualities do you possess that made Tomura believe you'd be interested in becoming a villain?"

Mob deliberated in giving a response. He had to be careful not to reveal any information about himself that would reveal he's from a parallel world. So he needed to be as vague as possible when answering. "...Well, when Tomura and I talked at the mall, I told him a little bit about my past. There was a time in my life when I was in a really rough spot. I didn't have anyone to help me, and I was filled with anger and resentment against everything. Tomura thought it would be enough to get me to join the League of Villains."

Hawks smiled. "Clearly, it wasn't." The esper looked at his mentor and warmly smiled in return.

"Then what about All For One?" the other police officer asked, "If the objective was to have you join their ranks, why did he try to eliminate you?"

"After Tomura had talked with me for a bit, All For One decided to teleport me to him so he could try and convince me himself. When that didn't work, he tried to kill me."

"Did he tell you any of his plans for the future?" the officer asked.

"Not really. All I know is that he wanted to use his power to stand above everyone else, but that doesn't really amount to a plan."

"Did you get any clues as to where any other bases of theirs could be?"

The esper shook his head. "Unfortunate, but it can't be helped," Edgeshot said, "You've already done more than enough as it is."

"We'll relay this information to the upper division of the police force and the Hero Commission. We'll come back if we have any more questions." The two police officers got up and made their way to the door. But before they left, they bowed their heads toward the esper.

"It was an honor getting to meet you, Shigeo Kageyama." The other heroes in the room felt the smiles return to their faces.

"Your actions have really left a mark on people, Kageyama," Endeavor said.

"No kidding." The number three hero slyly smirked. "You're the talk of the town over at my agency. All my sidekicks and workers have been talking about is whether or not you'd be back so they could snatch a picture with you or get an autograph. On the streets, I hear people saying the same thing, wondering whether they'd see you flying around Fukuoka any time soon.

"I was also kinda surprised when I saw this." Hawks took out his phone and pulled up an image of Mob in his 100% Courage state. "I never knew you had an ace up your sleeve that changed your appearance like that. And the way you acted, it wasn't like anything I'd ever seen back at your internship. You were absolutely determined to finish that fight to the end, and it actually let you win. But..."

The hero placed his finger under his chin. "There's something I want to clear up. During the battle, All For One managed to get the edge over you. When you were knocked to the ground, your eyes had gone back to normal. It's as if something happened up there that caused your courage to waver."

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All the heroes in the room lifted their eyebrows when they saw Mob's body begin to shudder while his eyes looked to the ground. All Might placed his hand on the teenager's shoulder. "Kageyama, what's wrong?"

"I need to talk to All Might alone. Could all of you please leave the room?"

"Why do you want only All Might to remain?" asked Endeavor, "Why can't you tell the rest of us?"

Mob did his best to speak respectfully. "I can't explain it to anyone but him. Please, just leave. " The heroes all gave each other confused looks but decided to accept the teenager's request and quietly vacated the room.

"What's the matter, Kageyama?" All Might asked softly, "Is it something about One For All?"

"No..." The esper steeled his mind to prepare for what came next. "I nearly lost that battle because All For One told me the truth about who Tomura Shigaraki really is. All Might..."

Shigeo looked his mentor straight in the eye. "Tomura is the grandson of your master, Nana Shimura."

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The reaction was just as Mob had feared. All Might's breath was sucked out of him: his eyes widened, and the deep blue irises in his eyes which were usually absent while in his hero form now appeared. It took several seconds for the hero to regain his voice.

"What?"

"All For One told me what'd happened. When Tomura was a boy, his Quirk awakened. But he couldn't control it and he ended up... killing his entire family."

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Mob felt tears threatening to form in his eyes while he saw his teacher's body begin to tremble as Mob's body had trembled just a minute ago. "After that, Tomura wandered the streets. All For One found him and taught him to hate you and hero society.

"I wish I could tell you this was all a lie, but I don't think All For One made any of it up." The young teenager continued to observe the hero's reaction. All Might couldn't believe this was happening. All this was too much to take in. Without uttering a single word, the number one hero got up from his chair and left.

The heroes who Mob had asked to vacate the room were standing several feet away when they noticed All Might come out with a look of horror etched on his face

"All Might, are you alright? What happened?" Edgeshot asked. The symbol of peace didn't answer his fellow hero and walked down the hall hurriedly. The other heroes peeked their heads into Mob's room.

"Mob, what happened just now?" Hawks asked.

"Sorry, Hawks, but I can't explain it. It's something between me and All Might. If it's alright, could I please be alone for a little bit? I need to think about some things."

"If you say so." The number three hero quietly closed the door. Mob rested his head against his pillow. That had gone as badly as he'd been expecting. The look of horror and confusion on All Might's face had been just as heartbreaking as he'd envisioned it. What were they going to do with Tomura and the League of Villains now?

All Might had spared no time after Mob had told him Tomura's origins. He instantly called Tsukauchi, his friend in the police force, and Gran Torino, to the hospital. The three of them were all seated in a small room in the far right corner of the first floor. The news of Tomura Shigaraki had been quite unexpected. Gran Torino felt a pit of shame growing in his stomach.

"So Nana's family... they're all dead?" Gran Torino couldn't believe it. He'd been one of Shimura's closest friends and wanted to save her family from the dangers of hero life.

"Hold on, we don't know this for certain. The only proof we have is what All For One said. Did either of you have any interactions with Shimura's family? I'd think you would keep in touch if you were so close to her."

"No. Soon after Shimura's husband was killed, she decided to put her son in foster care to shield her from the hero world. She told Toshinori and me not to contact the kid, even if something horrible had happened to her."

"But to think your plan would backfire so horribly..." Tsukauchi muttered, "I'm truly sorry to hear this."

"There's still something I can do." All Might would not allow this to be how Nana Shimura's legacy endured. "I must track down Tomura Shigaraki, and then-"

"Then what? Give him a pat on the head?" said Gran Torino, "You're not thinking of him as the villain he is. That's dangerous. Remember that no matter his lineage, he's still a criminal." Gran Torino momentarily hesitated. Could he really say such a thing? He was there when the Chief of the Police Force revealed Stain's miraculous decision to surrender and repent for his crimes. Somehow, Mob had managed to get through a serial killer like him. Could they do the same with Tomura Shigaraki?

Gran Torino shook his head. His more realistic and slightly more cynical approach did not allow his mind to accept the possibility of resolving things with a simple conversation. "Tsukauchi and I will investigate Shigaraki and the League without you. You need to remain at U.A. High. Remember, you're still a teacher, and your students are counting on you."

The number one hero sighed. Though this news had struck him to his core, he needed to remain strong for the sake of his students waiting for him at U.A. High.

The students of Class 1-A were all convening back at their school. Each of them went through the city in a quiet, uneasy manner. They'd all received an email on their school email accounts from Mr. Aizawa. Their homeroom teacher had told them to come to the school to discuss an urgent matter. They knew it was never good whenever Mr. Aizawa used such serious words like that.

They had been utterly relieved when they'd heard that Kageyama had finally woken up from his coma, but sadly, the security had not dropped. For the few students who'd returned to try and visit Mob, they were still barred from entering the hospital. Nevertheless, it was extremely welcome news to hear that their friend would return to U.A. High soon. But now, they couldn't help but feel that this future of reuniting with Mob as a class at U.A. High was becoming more distant.

While they had made their way to U.A. High, several of the students met up with each other along the way. One of these groups consisted of Uraraka, Tsu, Jirou, Ojiro, and Mineta.

"What do you think Mr. Aizawa called us in for?" Ojiro asked.

"Who knows? Let's just hope it's not something serious," muttered Tsu. This possibility sent a wave of uneasiness throughout the group. However, Mineta tried to ease the situation.

"Come on, guys, I'm sure it's nothing huge. We should just be glad that Kageyama's finally gotten out of his coma."

"No kidding," Uraraka replied, "For a second, I was worried that he might not wake up. It's too bad that we still can't see him ourselves. Guess we'll have to wait until he comes to us."

"Guess so," said Ojiro.

After walking through the street, the groups of students continued to run into each other until all of them finally convened at U.A. High. They followed Mr. Aizawa's instructions and walked to an area several hundred feet away from the main U.A. Building. It was about a five-minute walk, but when they arrived, they noticed a large set of buildings that they'd never seen before. In front of them were large letters titled "1-A Alliance".

"What is this place?"

"It's the new school dormitories." They'd been too busy marveling at the new building to notice their homeroom teacher standing several feet from them. "After the attack on the camp, the principal decided that to best ensure the students were protected, the students would live on-campus where they could be protected and monitored by the teachers. These dormitories were built in just three days. But that's not why I've called you all here today."

"Bakugo, Midoriya, Todoroki, Iida, Yaoyorozu, Kirishima, Tokoyami. You seven are the ones who broke the rules and tried to rescue Kageyama that night." The other students gasped. They'd already known their friends had wanted to help Kageyama, but not all of them were sure they'd actually go out and do it. What's more, if Kageyama had fought against All For One, what had happened to the seven of them?

"Judging from your reactions, I'd say the rest of you were at least aware of their plan. I've already been informed of everything that happened that night. All seven of you attempted to save Kageyama yourselves, but the villain easily discovered you. He targeted you with a cataclysmic attack, but luckily, Kageyama saved you just in the nick of time."

The gasps only grew louder among the students while the seven rescue mission members lowered their heads in shame. "Not only did you break the rules and betray the trust of U.A. High, but you didn't even accomplish your objective and needlessly endangered your lives. Had Kageyama acted just a second later, all seven of you would've undoubtedly been killed. Then everything the heroes did to try and rescue Kageyama would've been for nothing."

"I can no longer tolerate this constant insubordination. The League of Villains has continued to grow in strength and numbers, and they've made it clear they're not going to stop targeting U.A. High. Your defiance of school rules will only make you easier targets for them. So I've decided that everyone except Kageyama, Jirou and Hagakure will be expelled."

The blood in every student present ran cold. The seven students who'd partaken in the operation had been worried it would come to this, but now their worst fears were confirmed. To make matters worse, their teacher was even expelling the ones who hadn't helped them. "The seven of you who went aren't the only ones at fault. The other ten of you were aware of their plan and didn't try to stop them. Even if it was to prevent your friends from getting into trouble, you also betrayed our trust. All of you had a part to play in this and allowed for what could've been an unfixable disaster to occur. I have already made up my mind about this. I'll send letters to every expelled student's parents later today. As for the three members of Class 1-A who weren't expelled, the teachers will be visiting your houses to inform you about the details regarding the new dormitory system."

The class couldn't believe this was happening. After all the time they'd spent together, all the memories they'd made as part of the Body Improvement Club and all the moments together at the camp, was it really going to end like this? Aizawa could see the faces of his students twisting in horror, but he showed no sympathy for their pain. "If you didn't want this to happen, then you shouldn't have broken the rules and done what you did. Every action has its consequences." The teacher turned his back to the students to enter the dormitory. "Now go home, all of you." With that, the homeroom teacher left his students to wallow in their collective misery. Eraserhead knew this was going to be painful for them. He knew that Kageyama would be horrified to know that most of the class he'd been fighting to return to wouldn't be there when he arrived to the dorm. But his mind was already made up. U.A High could no longer afford to have students who carelessly ran into danger like this.

The students of Class 1-A didn't even have the strength to look each other in the eye. All seven members of the rescue mission were hit with the greatest guilt. It was their choices that led to this. Now, not only had they gotten themselves expelled, but they'd even gotten the rest of their class stuck with the same fate. Each of them had worked so hard and spent so much time preparing to get into this school and be the best heroes they could be. But they'd thrown away all of their hard work, everything they'd strived to achieve. There were other hero schools, sure, but this was where they'd dreamed of graduating from. Now... it was over.

It was late afternoon. The sun was beginning to set. In the hospital room, the young teenager was in his room, flipping through channels on the television to see what was happening in the world. On every news channel, reporters were talking about him. Each of them wondered how Mob was doing after he'd woken up, how long he'd be in the hospital, and what the esper could be thinking after his monumental battle. It was so odd for the esper to see himself as the talk of the town. As he'd looked through the news stations, he'd also discovered that he'd amassed several fans. It seemed as though his ruby eyes and sharper features in his powered-up form had managed to get the attention of a particular section of the population.

Mob's face had stained red when he saw droves of young girls in the street with posters, cheering him on, expressing their love for the esper.

"Go out with me!" This was what was written on one of the girl's posters, and it had sent his heartbeat into overdrive.

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Mob didn't know how to feel about all this attention. It felt amazing to be popular with so many girls after everything he'd done to try and improve his social standing at Salt Middle School, but a small part of him felt this praise was being directed at his power and not his character. While he contemplated these emotions, the door opened, and in came the number two hero.

"Endeavor..."

"I hope I'm not bothering you, Kageyama."

"It's fine." Kageyama turned off the television. "Is there something you needed to ask me about the warehouse or the League?"

"No, nothing like that." Endeavor took a chair and placed it right beside the esper's bedside. Mob could see the softness in the hero's face. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it must have been personal.

"First, I need to thank you for what you did at the warehouse. Shoto would've been killed along with the rest of your friends if it weren't for you."

The teenager smiled. "I'm just happy I could help." The hero saw the way Kageyama smiled, and he couldn't help but smile with him. There was something about this boy, his empathy, humility, and kindness, all qualities he'd completely lacked for so many years.

"But there was something else I wanted to discuss with you. In our last conversation, you told me that instead of becoming the number one hero, I should work to become the number one father, but... how do I do that?" The esper's eyes softened, watching Endeavor lean his body forward while staring at the ground.

"For nearly all my life, I've focused only on my goal of reaching the top and being the strongest. And as you said, I neglected my family in order to achieve that goal. I always knew what to do and how to do things regarding heroism and increasing my power. But now that I've abandoned that goal to help my family... I'm completely lost. I'm not asking for any of my family to forgive me; I want to make up for my mistakes and give them the happy life they deserved. But what can I do? How can I possibly make up for the years lost?"

"Just be there for them. Show them that you love them."

"How could they truly believe that after everything I've done?" Mob could hear the hero's voice crack ever-so-slightly. "They all loathe me: my presence gives them nothing but pain and fear. These past few nights, I've been having the same dream. My wife and children are all sitting around the dinner table, but I'm never with them. Yet maybe... that's the best option. Perhaps the only way to give them the happiness they deserve is if I cut myself out of their lives, and give them a place to be together while I remain alone."

"No, don't take yourself out of their lives," Mob said, "You shouldn't have to be alone."

"Perhaps that's a fitting punishment: to spend the rest of my life in solitude, living alone in the house that brought my family so much pain."

"You can still be a family with them."

"But how?" The hero remembered his actions in the past, "I used my youngest son as a tool. I pushed him through rigorous training while ignoring my other three children. And whenever my wife tried to stop me from pushing Shoto so hard, I..." Endeavor shuddered in revulsion before regaining his composure, "I hit her. I'm nothing to them but a reminder of their painful past. What could I do to mend such trauma?"

As Endeavor finished speaking, he looked to the young teenager and bitterly laughed. "I truly am a pathetic excuse of father. To think that I'm relying on the advice of a child to fix my family. But... I'm talking to you because you're the only person who ever had the bravery to stand up to me. You were the one who spelled out the truths I'd been ignoring for so long, and you're the only person I know who will be completely honest with me. So tell me, what are your thoughts after hearing all this?"

Shigeo sat quietly in his bed. He'd known that Endeavor's treatment of his family was bad, but hearing it from Endeavor just emphasized what the Todoroki family had to endure. But what saddened him, even more, was that he was also aware of what it was like for a family member to be traumatized by his actions.

"You know, I hurt people in my family, too." Endeavor's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "It was my younger brother, Ritsu. When we were kids, we got picked on by some bullies. I lost control of my power and ended up hurting Ritsu badly." The esper shuddered at the memory of his unconscious brother. "Even now, I still remember the sight of Ritsu unconscious on the ground, covered with blood. For years, I was too blind to notice that my brother had been afraid of me, slowly distancing himself from me out of fear of what I'd do. But then... we talked. We told each other how we felt, and our mistakes.

Mob looked back at the number two hero. "So I'd say to tell your family what you told me. Show them how you feel and all your regrets. I think that would be a good place to start, and it would show you're willing to change for them." Endeavor stood baffled by what he heard. To think Mob would be so open with him, to think that he'd still be willing to talk and give such sincere advice despite knowing what he'd done, he couldn't believe it.

"If only I'd been as kind and empathetic as you are, Kageyama, then we wouldn't even have this conversation, and my family could be living their lives free of my mistakes."

From across the room, All Might, Best Jeanist, Edgeshot, and Hawks entered the room. Both Mob and Endeavor took note of the somberness in their faces, particularly in the face of All Might, who held his phone tightly in his hand.

"Kageyama, Endeavor, we were just looking for you," said Best Jeanist.

"What's wrong?" Endeavor asked, "Why do all of you look so sullen?"

All Might approached the pair. "I'm afraid I've just gotten word that... Mr. Aizawa has expelled almost every member of Class 1-A."

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Mob was surely mistaken about what he heard. All Might certainly had to be making another joke to try and get Shigeo to laugh. After all, he'd done it before, but as the seconds passed, no punchline came.

"He's ruled that the seven of your friends violated U.A. rules and needlessly risked their lives, while the other ten students who were with them when they made their rescue plan didn't do anything to stop them. Only you, Jirou, and Hagakure will remain as members of Class 1-A. I tried to convince him to reconsider, but he wouldn't listen."

Endeavor lowered his head in sadness. He'd been worried that his son would potentially be punished for his actions, but he'd never thought that their homeroom teacher would go so far as to expel them. But Endeavor's reaction was nothing compared to Shigeo's. The esper's pupils dilated, his lips trembling while he digested this. His friends... were going to be expelled? No, they couldn't leave! What kind of place would U.A. High be without them? They had only broken the rules in order to save Kageyama, because Kageyama had willingly chosen to go with the villains! If they were expelled, then it was his mess to clean up! Shigeo wouldn't accept it! He had to do something!

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Mob used his telekinesis and grabbed the phone from All Might. He quickly opened a maps application to get an idea of where and how far away U.A. High would be.

"Mob, I know this is a lot," said Hawks, "But try and stay calm." The number three hero approached the teenager, but before any of them knew it, Mob had already dashed out the door at blinding speed.

"Kageyama!" The heroes all got into the hallway and could only catch a brief glimpse of the esper before he sped through the hallway, leaving only a trail of doctors and nurses pushed off their feet from Mob's blazing speed.

"We need to go after him!" All Might said. The top five heroes all went with great haste through the hospital. Shigeo had read the hospital signs and navigated his way to the back exit of the hospital where there were no people. He remembered the directions and scenery from the map and made his way to the left. U.A. High was about ten miles down the road, through a large forest and downtown buildings.

The evening sun flashed gently on the esper. The streets were rather quiet as many people had already gone home. The few still roaming people could only feel a rapid gust passing through as Mob moved at speeds too fast for the normal eye to see. Shortly after, several more gusts came through, made from the heroes who were chasing after the esper.

Mob had just entered the forest, but before he could get any farther, All Might appeared and restrained him.

"Kageyama, calm down!" the hero said.

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"No, I can't!" he yelled. The other heroes were quickly arriving and did their best to ease the situation.

"Mob, don't get so worked up!" Hawks said.

"But they only went to the warehouse to try and save me, because I chose to go with the villains!" he said, "I can't let them get expelled because of my choices!"

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Mob's aura was coming to life around him. The ground beneath the heroes was beginning to shake and crack. The trees were floating in the air, and the animals fled in terror. All Might remembered the last time this had happened: when Mob had first come to this world, he'd lost control of his emotions and destroyed everything around him. Had All Might not shielded Izuku that day, he could've very well been killed. If something like that happened again, many more people could get hurt.

"Kageyama, please stop and regain your composure!" All Might begged.

But the esper would not budge. "Let me go, All Might!" The number one hero grimaced. He had no choice. Taking the safest approach, All Might chopped the esper on the neck, knocking the teenager unconscious. The tremors quickly ceased and the trees all fell back to the ground with a violent thud.

"Was that really necessary, All Might?" Edgeshot said.

The symbol of peace gently carried the esper in his arms. "Trust me, I take no pleasure from having to knock my student out. But people could get hurt if his powers were to go out of control. We need to take him back to the hospital and call Eraserhead right now. When he wakes up, he needs to talk to Mob to explain the situation. And make sure we avoid any reporters."

The heroes were beginning to make their way to the hospital, but... something was wrong. A large pressure was beginning to grow around them. The hairs on the necks of all the heroes stood up. Their senses were warning them that a danger was approaching.

The ground underneath fractured once again, and a tremor shook the ground. In the number one hero's arms, a dark red aura began forming around Shigeo. The heroes began to feel their bodies tense up. They could feel that the pressure surrounding them was coming from Shigeo himself. Something was happening to him.

Though All Might had wanted to spare the city from potential disaster, the hero had no idea the chain of events that he had just started. For more than a year, this creature had been lying dormant, locked away in the deepest recesses of Shigeo's mind. It had been undisturbed, lurking in the shadows and waiting for the opportunity to emerge as it had done before. But now, this slumbering entity had finally received its chance to emerge from the shadows and return to the real world.

After all this time, it had been awakened.

? ? ?%

Oh ma god! It's happening! It's actually happening! After 40 chapters, ? ? ? is about to show itself in all its glory! But... this wasn't supposed to come for a while! That's what I said? Well, guess what? I lied. Sorry. I can only imagine how exciting and nerve-wracking this must be. But you'll just have to wait and see how the top five heroes handle this when Chapter 41 comes, so until then, stay tuned!