MHA

Chapter-10

It's been a year since I started working solo again. My report about Kaina's promotion was finally accepted and passed, she was becoming more and more popular these days. She was already the highest-ranking female hero of the time. But unfortunately, we seemed to have become out of touch.

She seems to be busy all the time and running around that she doesn't even call or come see me. Which is good, I suppose after all the capable are the ones who are the busiest. I mean, look at All Might he gets called to beat crime all over Japan and the absolutely ridiculous new system called Might Signal. When I first heard about on the news, I though it was a joke and the government would dismiss it.

But it seems I was the fool; I thought an emergency signal or a number which directly connects to Might Tower would suffice. The government wants approval ratings to be high and want to be seen doing things, so that completely unnecessary system was put in place instead.

Hah, I miss Kaina at least there is someone who would listen to my criticism of the government, guess I was really used to have someone else around. Being back alone was something which I was getting used to again.

But I smiled anyway. The idiots at the HPSC had finally taken my opinion seriously for once when I was able to take a look at the missions assigned to Kaina by charming a female employee, I saw none of the missions which were more ambiguous in nature were given to her. It was the usual mix of villains and corrupt heroes.

As I napped in a park near my house, enjoying the sun, breeze and the smell of flowers, I soon fell into a trance, which was abruptly broken up by my phone ringing.

I immediately jolted upright and pulled out my phone and saw it Yamato calling,

I accepted the call, "Moshi Moshi, Yasu here."

"Yo, Yasu. I have some news about the big bad."

I was immediately alert, the big bad could only mean one person and that was All for One. He had been too quiet recently and I was becoming impatient waiting for something to occur.

I waited for him to continue, "One of the drug labs under him, seems to working again. We didn't shut it down and instead just tried to track their supply routes. It's all heading to an underground fighting ring called Underground Masquerade. One guess as to why he has a fighting ring."

I was not an idiot, and even a fool could guess the reason behind this "He is scouting for quirks."

Yamato laughed, "Give yourself a cookie. That was the correct answer."

I frowned, "So, why call me? Close the lab down and send All Might and the others to bust his ass."

Yamato's voice became uncertain then, "Well, here's the thing. We are actually not certain; it's linked to All for One. I gave my info to the Chief but he denied passing the information to All Might till we are completely certain something about him being too busy. He passed the case to the Osaka branch instead."

I sighed at the stupidity of the higher ups and said, "Give it to Nezu. He will pass it along."

Yamato chuckled, "Nezu is busy as well. Recently, one of his students died in Hero-Work Studies and his body was stolen as well. His family is raising a ruckus and Nezu is dealing with the press fall-out and lawsuits against him."

I massaged my brows, "So, I guess I am your last option and are unable to contact All Might for whatever reason and you don't trust those Osaka men to do a competent job."

"Nailed it in one. It's not like the guys in Osaka are bad at their jobs. It's just they won't take it as seriously as is required. All for One is not a small-time crook after all. All Might has been working straight for the past 72 hours and the fools in Osaka are going to do a raid tomorrow. We don't have time."

"Fine, send me the details and I will head over to Osaka. If I see even a trace of him, then I will call in the cavalry."

"You're the best, Yasu."

"Was there ever any doubt about that." I said and cut the call.

I sighed and stood up dusting the stray pieces of grass off my attire. I started meandering my way back home to pack my stuff for a stay in Osaka.

I made my way into the building where the underground brawling matches were occurring. I had scoped out the place and other than an extensive network of security cameras on the perimeter, the security was pitiful.

Even the guards were only equipped with batons and riot shields at best. So, I put on a casual attire which would fit into the crowd wore a masquerade mask as was required and grabbed a violin case with my new collapsible energy rifle in it. I was assured, it would obliterate any of my enemies leaving only smoke behind.

I don't usually carry something like this but if All for One was inside. I wanted to something to shoot at him which would actually cause damage while running away like bat out of hell. As, I was walking into the building, I couldn't help but notice the odd groups of men standing around the area and what looked like a police van hidden just around the corner.

I shook my head; it seems like the Osaka Police was going to be doing the raid. Well, they might mess things up enough that I should be able to break into the bosses' office and gather some information. And if All for One was there, then they would be useful meat shields, while I called All Might and got out of there.

I headed inside the building after paying a small fee and grabbed a drink while moving around the ring, the atmosphere was electric with people cheering looking at two men trying to beat the hell out of each other.

I was sipping my drink while making note of the locations of the guards and the security cameras. I needed to break into the back area and I needed to come up with a plan for that. I stood behind a pillar hiding behind two cats who were making out with each other, no jokes two humanoid cats were mauling each other's faces and honestly it was a little weird to look at.

My mind couldn't help but wander and I remembered the 21st century term furry. I knew, it was a niche genre and kink which seemed to attract a lot of hate. I chuckled thinking how quirks were the best thing ever for those furries and what people would say if they knew furries were a significant chunk of the population now. After all, if you don't become one when a majority of the population looks like one animal or other then humanity would go extinct because of falling birth rates.

I pulled out my cigarette looking at the stage where a fight between two guys named Ripper and Rapper was taking place. They both were saying something to each other and then the fight began.

I looked at them and assessed them. They were honestly quite good, though something was wrong with that Ripper dude.

It was an instant but I caught it, Ripper threw the fight, that punch didn't connect properly. I chuckled as expected in an underground fighting ring, you see all kinds of things.

Rapper was declared the winner and medics headed towards Ripper, I followed the stretcher and saw it heading to the back from a door. More importantly, a door with only one guard and no cameras with a direct angle.

I started moving towards the guard leaving behind the two cats in heat. I walked towards the guard full of confidence.

"Only fighters and staff beyond this point." He pointed his baton at me,

I raised my hands, "Come on, man. I am Ripper's friend. I just wanted to take a look at him."

The guard didn't budge, "You can wait for him here. He will be out after they heal him."

I was about to make a move to incapacitate him when a huge arm fell on my shoulder.

"You Ripper's friend little guy."

I looked behind me and saw the fighter of the last match Rapper with his lucha libre mask standing behind me,

"That's right, amigo. I am his friend, got a problem with that?" I knew his type they don't like the meek types. You need to stand your ground and give as good as you get.

He looked at me and smiled, "Hell no. I ain't got a problem with you. But I do have one with your friend."

He looked at the guard, "Let him come with me. I will keep an eye on him."

The guard looked he wanted to say no but moved aside when he took a look at Rapper's muscles and wisely decided to move aside.

We moved in together and I nodded to Rapper, "Thanks for your help. I was thinking, I would have to rough him up a bit to be let in."

Rapper just laughed it off, "No problem."

I smiled and said, "You want to know why he threw the fight. Don't you?"

Rapper looked at me and assessed me from top to bottom, "Caught that did you?"

"I did, that's why I came to talk to him. It didn't make any sense for him to give up on his win streak."

"Hell yeah. He gave up just when the fight was getting good, I was about to express my passion and emotions with my punch but he chickened out. I was planning on giving him half of the money I earned from the fight."

I raised my brow, that was surprisingly nice of him

"Well, let's find him then."

I said and as he turned the corner, I slowed down and immediately ran into another doorway stealthily.

I heard him pause and call out for me. He seemed to be walking back looking for me. I entered the room and hid out while waiting for him to go away.

The rooms were full of drugs, I could see the capsules with a liquid inside and knew it was a quirk enhancer drug. They would sell it to the fighters and the audience to earn money, after all using these drugs was said to make you feel all-powerful and that was an addictive feeling.

I heard his footsteps leave and decided to get out of here and look for the office of somebody important. I walked through the corridors snooping into open rooms and walking into closed rooms full of confidence, the guards and others walking around seemed to treat me as part of the staff after seeing my body language of confidence. This is was the height of incompetence but I knew this was just how humans worked, one guy even stole the Mona Lisa this way.

I was slowly getting frustrated, the rooms were full of drugs and medical supplies like syringes, bandages with an occasional doctor's office. I was beginning to feel this was not the correct place to look at.

Suddenly, I heard a cacophony from outside and knew the time was up, I needed to get out while the police were conducting their raid. I ran towards the ring just like all the other guards and staff members as I made it out, I was looking at an odd site of one girl in the school uniform of the Hiroshima Hero School wearing a mask and with bunny ears kicking random people in what looked to be an all-out brawl.

I noticed Ripper and Rapper hiding behind a wall and talking and made my way there,

"Ripper, Rapper my dear friends. I was looking for you."

Rapper pointed at me, "You, Ripper's friends. Where the hell did you go?"

Ripper looked to me, "I have never met you before in my life."

I chuckled raising my hand, "You got me. I am a private investigator looking for a missing person, last seen here." I pulled out a fake card and a fake ID showing it to them, "But don't worry Ripper when I saw you for the first time, I knew we would be good friends."

Rapper looked at me and the IDs and shrugged while Ripper sighed, "Great, another crazy one to babysit."

I crouched down next to them, "So, what's up with the chick?"

Rapper looked at her, "Hell if I no. We were talking and came out hearing the noise, to see bunny girl over there jumping around kicking everyone's ass."

Ripper just said, "We need to slip away while everybody is distracted."

Before he could do anything though, the entire place was flooded with a white gas and as we looked around, I saw the effects. It was a quirk enhancer released in gaseous form.

I whistled, "Looks like somebody decided to make this a drugs party. Don't want to smoke that stuff though. It looks like it's nasty."

Rapper agreed with me, "Yeah, it look bad. Don't want to smell that."

While I was looking for a way to escape, I saw it a black smoke and a hand coming out of it, A man with a heteromorphic quirk who was rampaging immediately came to his senses and looked like a completely normal human. I sucked in a breath, 'Shit, All for One was here.'

Before I could enlist some help to get out of here and call in the cavalry,

Ripper moved and grabbed bunny girl, getting her near us.

Rapper asked, "Why did you get the chick?"

Ripper spoke up, "She can help."

I cut in, "Nice save or else tiger bunny girl here would have been quirkless in a moment."

Ripper looked at me and appraised me, "You noticed that did you? "

I shrugged, "I have eyes."

Bunny girl decided to speak up, "Hey, what's the big deal? I was enjoying the fight there."

I smiled, "Now now Usako-chan, this is not a brawling ring anymore. Somebody is planning something nefarious with that gas."

She looked away from me, "Usako-chan, who is that? Never heard of her, I am Tiger Bunny."

I smiled, "Oh Usako-chan is beautiful girl with rabbit ears, I saw her when she was fighting in a ring with blood all over her legs and the sweat glistening over beautiful brown skin. Ah, she is my first love, what I wouldn't give to have a chance to meet her and talk to her."

The bunny girl immediately lost her confident attitude and was blushing up a storm while I said my words, "Uhhhh" before she kicked towards me, "You are a fucking pervert." I dodged the kick which cracked the cement wall.

While Rapper laughed his ass off, I put my head up again and scouted an exit path,

"I don't know what you are talking about. I know what type of girl I like. Why are you so angry anyway? You are not Usako-chan after all."

I noticed a pattern in the black smoke, it could only form in places with cameras pointing at them, I smiled and pulled out two handguns from my coat and fired multiple shots destroying all the cameras, I could see from here.

I ducked down and saw Ripper smiling appreciatively at me while Rapper just looked miffed,

"I thought you were a cool guy, but then you pulled out those guns. Don't you know a man only needs punch power to solve all his problems."

I didn't bother replying as bunny girl, "Hell no, all problems in life can only be solved by Kick Power."

As they got into an argument about Punch Power vs Kick Power, I saw Ripper blitz past us and come back with 4 gas masks.

I picked one up and put it on, "Well, this will certainly help us out."

Ripper spoke up showing us an ID, "I am Pro Hero O'clock. I am enlisting your help to deal with the situation. There is a squad of police outside, which I don't want to involve for now. Instead, we will take out the fighters."

He looked at us, "Take it easy on them. They are innocent victims."

Bunny girl, "Hell yeah, I am Hero-in-training, this is nothing for me."

I snarked from the side, "I will be sure to let your school in Hiroshima know about your performance."

She raised her hand in surrender, "There is no need to do that."

I smirked, "I have a better plan. It's time to call in the cavalry."

O'clock looked at me, "I just told you the police force can't handle this. My Plan B is simple, we will send one person out to activate the Might Signal and call All Might if we can't handle it."

I looked at him in shock, "Why don't you just call your buddies on your phone?"

Ripper looked to the side, "I didn't carry it with me."

Rapper shook his head and Bunny girl looked embarrassed again with one of her ears drooping.

"What kind of people are you three? Who doesn't carry a phone with them these days."

"Don't be stupid, look I will call in All Might."

Bunny girl looked offended and snarked back, "How will you do that, genius? All Might's number is not given to anybody except his closest confidants and if you tell the police to do it, they will just blow you off."

I pulled out my phone, scrolled through my contacts and tapped on All Might simp.

I showed them the screen and said, "Like this." The phone rang and was answered, "Sleeper, I don't have time for your nonsense right now. I am busy finishing my paperwork."

"Nighteye, a displeasure to hear your voice as usual. But this is serious. I need All Might; I found the big bad in Osaka. Put him on the phone, so I can give you the address."

Immediately, all the noise from his side fell and he said, "You are on speaker."

"All Might. He is here in Osaka; I can see people's quirks being taken away from them. I am in the Super Minami Ward, look for a building with a lot of noise and police gathered outside. Wear a gas mask, the air is filled with quirk enhancers."

I could hear the deep voice of All Might say, "I see, Osaka needs me, Young Sleeper needs me. I will be there immediately. MIGHT JUMP!" I could hear the sounds of gas breaking.

"He didn't collet a gas mask did he?" I asked

The sigh, I heard in response was all the answer I needed, "Okay, bye. I got to go there are people going crazy here."

"Stay safe, Sleeper." Was all I heard before I cut the call.

I looked up and my 3 allies were looking at me completely gobsmacked,

Bunny girl pointed at me, "You, you, you know All Might." With a feminine squeal which was grating to the ears.

Ripper looked at me, "Who are you?"

Rapper also spoke up, "What the hell? How do you know All Might?"

I shrugged, "Yes, I know All Might. Like I said, just an average private investigator and I know him because I worked with him before."

I pointed out towards the exit, "Now, we need to get out of here before our quirks are stolen as well. You 3 move out, I will cover you."

Ripper was the first to come to his senses and nodded, "Can you pass me one of those?"

I nodded and held out my gun to him and looked at the other two, "Do you need one as well?"

Rapper hit his hands together, "A real man only uses his fists."

Bunny girl, "My kicks are enough." I looked at her knowingly, "You don't know how to use one, do you?"

She squawked indignantly and looked at O'clock, "You should support the big babies. They will kill themselves, if you leave them alone."

He sighed and nodded and all three of them entered into the fray while I stood up and pulled out a gun from near my ankle and started shooting everybody in the legs, arms, shoulders where they were unlikely die immediately. If they did die though, nothing I could about that.

I shot the cameras which were still active looking towards the trio who was dominating everyone.

Finally, everyone was down and the cameras shot while a hooded man was all that stood in the way.

He pointed at O'clock, "You, you are to stay here. Give us your quirk."

I saw a hand come behind him and shot it immediately while shooting the camera used as well, I heard a gasp of pain from the portal and the hooded man glared at me with visceral hate,

"You, how dare you? You will die first."

I looked at him and shrugged, "If he wants the quirk so badly. Ask him to get his ass down here and take it."

The hooded man went berserk and immediately moved to attack me, but Rapper blocked him, "Not so fast, you have to fight a death match with me first."

Bunny girl jumped into the fray with a scream of delight, and kicked him in the face.

O'clock moved between them as though he knew exactly what each of them would do and slashed the man's hand. I observed the fight, not bothering to shoot in case I hit them instead looking for cameras and shooting them and incapacitating any guards who were still around.

I glanced back and saw his hand was back to normal, a regeneration was always a pain to deal with, I shouted out loud, "Oi, guys duck."

All of them listened to me and ducked and I fired multiple shots into the man's face, he was still standing, so I kept firing until I was out of ammo. I hurriedly tried to reload but the man fell down and stopped moving,

Bunny girl started celebrating, "Hell yeah. You got him.", she was suddenly yanked back as O'clock pulled her back and a huge hand fell where she was standing previously.

I clicked my tongue looks like All for One's weapon creation had produced results,

I shouted at them, "You will have to keep him busy. While I set things up?"

Rapper laughed, "Got it, this is the most fun I have had in a while."

Hooded man looked at us and suddenly became a mountain of muscles,

"Four of you. If I kill the four of you, I will be the strongest."

I ignored him and ran to the wall where we were hiding and picked up my case, opening it, I assembled the rifle and put in maximum setting,

It slowly started charging up, I braced myself against a pillar and put the rifle over the broken wall aiming carefully,

I saw the indicator light up, and shouted, "All of you dodge if you don't want to be atomised."

I didn't wait for them to say anything and fired at the monster, immediately there was a flash of light and heat, I narrowed my eyes trying to see anything but it was futile.

I waited for the light to die down and looked in the front, the monster was gone and, in his place, there was only a scorch mark, I looked around and saw O'clock holding both Rapper and the girl hiding behind a pillar. Good, like I though his quirk allowed him to dodge.

I stood up and looked at the rifle which had melted in my hands, figures it was never meant to be used at this level. I had been told, the maximum setting was a proof of concept, about how high the energy levels could be taken. I placed the smoking rifle in its case and picked it up on my back and walked towards my allies.

O'clock looked at me and screamed, "Are you mad? We could have died. And you just killed that man."

Rapper looked at me and the scorch mark on the floor not saying anything, while the girl seemed to have never been happier with a grin that cut her face in half.

"That's so cool. Ray guns actually exist or was that your quirk. No way, that was so awesome."

I chuckled at that reaction; the girl honestly didn't care that she almost died.

"I noticed your quirk O'clock. I knew you could dodge and save everyone. As for that attack, that was a support item, a specially made prototype. I was given it for a test run, don't think you will get one though, I heard you can build 10,000 regular rifles for the cost of one and this one is busted, so I don't think anybody will give them the budget to make another one."

O'clock still seemed pissed off, "You are gambling with our lives here." While the girls' ear drooped to show her disappointment

I shrugged and looked around when I heard a sound of applause as I looked towards it, immediately all my senses went into overdrive.

It was a man with a weird mask covering his face dressed in a fine suit and next to him stood a thing which seemed to be composed of black gas.

"Bravo. Bravo, you heroes have triumphed over my creation with just your wits and strength without even calling for backup."

I crouched down and said, "We all have to run. Do it in different directions to avoid the portals of the smoke guy. We can't win this fight."

Rapper looked at me, "Huh, what cowardly stuff are you saying? We beat the previous guy, we sure as hell can take him on."

All for One just smiled, "Ah, the folly of youth. They never realise the vastness of the world. Thinking they can do anything, be anything and nothing can stop them."

Rapper smiled angrily at All for One's mocking and the idiot just ran straight ahead. I saw the girls leg twitch to jump and immediately grabbed her, "Don't be an idiot. Rapper is dead, we have to leave."

She gave me a look, but thankfully stopped her struggle, Rapper had reached All for One and pulled his hands back for a punch barrage

I don't know what happened, but all I know is one moment Rapper was moving to punch him and the next he was on the ground with craters around him.

All for One brushed some non-existent dirt off his shoulders, "There, that should teach him a lesson."

He looked at me, I fought to keep my face neutral but I think he still sensed my apprehension.

He smiled like a shark, "Pro Hero Sleeper. A supposedly no-name incompetent hero. What was your rank again?"

I looked at him and affected nonchalance, "Oh, you know last I checked maybe it was 367 or something. I hardly keep track of useless things like that."

All for One put on a thinking posture while humming, "Yes, I suppose a hero like you doesn't care about ranks. After all, you sold a lie to the world about yourself and it was so successful, it even fooled me."

He bowed to me in a mocking manner, "I commend you for that. Not many have managed to do that."

I asked him another question just to keep him talking, "How do you know about me?"

He raised an eyebrow, "I suppose as the host, it would be gracious to answer my guests' questions."

He put his hand behind his back, "All Might returned to Japan and promptly became the number 1 pro hero. Then, he made a move on me along with his old mentor Gran Torino. They were slowly dismantling my criminal enterprises. It was to be expected in the war between the two of us."

He raised a finger to the ceiling, "But then, one day something changes. Bases were attacked out of nowhere, money started running dry and there was even a coordinated assault on my labs. Day after day, my pawns were being destroyed at an unprecedented pace. I couldn't figure it out, I thought Nezu was the one who helped All Might after all, he visited UA quite often."

He brought his finger down and pointed to me, "But to my surprise, I was wrong. Nezu did help but all my investigations in the information leaks and attacks had one commonality your presence. So, I looked into you an orphan from the slums struggling to survive from childhood, picked up by a rookie police officer and then became a Pro Hero and even worked for the HPSC. That was impressive indeed, but I noticed other things, you have been in contact with many high-ranking heroes including the number 1 and 2. Your hidden sidekick, was even more impressive."

He tapped the chin portion of his helmet, "What was her name again? Ah yes, Lady Nagant Rank 10 with a very impressive quirks and even more impressive skills. After seeing the results of the investigation, how can I not find you impressive. You are truly a model hero complete with a tragic background."

I sighed in relief, he didn't know about my other work for the HPSC, all of this was easily discoverable if someone ever paid a little attention to me.

O'clock and the girl looked at me with shocked expressions on their face, I ignored that and whispered, "Run away, leave me here. He is only interested in me."

They looked at me and I hated the determined expressions on their faces, this damn hero society which made self-sacrifice sound like a good option. Wasn't it obvious from a cost-benefit analysis, to leave me behind with my weak quirk, if my death allows these 2 to escape, their impressive quirks and skills would save many more lives.

All for One had only expressed his interest in me and didn't even bother to glance at the others.

All for One laughed while I cursed the two numbskulls next to me, "I am interested in them too, Sleeper. After all, their quirks are impressive as well. But you are right, you are a much more interesting specimen. Let me make you a deal."

'Of course, he had super hearing as well.'

I felt my body going numb, it will be impossible to escape the portal guy if All for One wanted all of us to be here. I kept quiet waiting for him to continue and hoping that All Might could reach here quickly.

"If you come close to me and then take a single punch from me. I will let the others leave for today. You have my word." He said with a smile that was as evil as it could get

I looked at him and the two next to me, "That's it. Nothing else."

He spread his arms, "That's it. I have given you a promise after all. Kurogiri."

The black smoke surrounding the venue was pulled back instantly and the way out was clear,

I looked at him and swallowed while standing up, but the girl grabbed my hand, "Don't be an idiot. We can take him together."

O'clock nodded as well, "Villains can't be trusted. You will die and so will we."

I couldn't help but feel bitter, I knew villains couldn't be trusted but other than All Might there were no other options.

"We can't take him even if there were more of us. All the quirks, he stole today are only a fraction of how many he owns. He can't be beaten without All Might." I said to the girl.

While looking at O'clock, "There is no other option, once I reach him start running."

I looked at All for One and said, "I accept."

I stood up with my back straight and handed over my case to the girl and started walking slowly, this totally felt like I was walking towards my execution. As I walked my heart was trying to burst out of my chest and I couldn't help but curse the police chief and Nezu, if Yamato had been able to get All Might from the start, then I wouldn't be dying today.

I walked and the short distance seemed to be even more shorter than usual, I passed by Rapper's prone body and stood in front of All for One with my back straight with a confidence I didn't actually have.

He chuckled and immediately grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up. "Heroes are the most entertaining kind of people."

He waved a hand to the side, "You two can leave. Maybe, we will see each other some time later. But Sleeper here has bought you your freedom. Relish it."

I couldn't breathe and I was in pain because of the way I was held but I could hear screaming and the pitter patter of feet.

'Good, finally they see some sense.'

All for One looked at me, "I thought your quirk was faked too to hide your real one. But this is just disappointing, a quirk which cuts down sleep to 2 hours. It's so useless that even I am shocked that you are such a thorn in my side. It looks like intelligence trumps quirks after all."

He smiled and raised his fist aiming it at me, "Rejoice, I won't even bother to take your quirk. Now, for me to get my part of the deal."

At that time, I was ready to die and unsurprisingly the movies were wrong, other than fear I had no flashbacks nor did I see any loved ones faces or even a movie reel of my life. I was just scared and angry.

Then, too many things happened, I could hear a crash and I was electrocuted and as I was in agony, I was thrown away. I flew for what felt like a mile and hit a wall and the last thing I heard was

"I AM HERE"