Chapter 12: After Destruction
All Might
"My apologies on not being by to visit you more often. We didn't even get a chance to catch up properly during the Sports Festival before this mess all happened." Toshinori sighs.
But Gran Torino waves him off, tired already of hearing regrets over things that have already come to pass. He should know by now such behavior is unhealthy, especially to his students and fans that seek to emulate his behavior.
"You're here now." He asserts.
Granted the rest of this conversation could be saved for after they got rid of whatever this creature was before them.
A Nomu.
"The lengths these League of Villain bastards will go to." Gran Torino grunts under his breathe before taking off ahead of him.
The force of his kick launches the four armed beast backwards, shattering glass and brick in its wake tumbling into the abandoned building. Even with shards of glass embedded and drawing blood along it's arms, it comes roaring back in their direction tossing wood and glass projectiles every which way.
"Pain isn't a factor to these beasts, they keep going until either they've killed their target or have been killed themselves." Toshinori states coming after him dodging the strewn shards of glass and metal, finishing him off with a Detroit Smash before he can wreak any more havoc.
It lets out a low screech, attempting to scratch off his skin as Toshinori launches another fist down cracking at bone and tearing away muscles until it's body goes completely still.
Sorahiko looks over the mangled body, sighing before stretching out his arms. "The League has become more active as of late, something or someones I should say has sparked their interest. Have any idea what's bringing more of them out of the woodwork now?"
Toshinori pauses, not wanting to say aloud his budding theory. However, it makes the most sense based upon the breach of the Sports Festival and the final reports from the officers who were on the scene.
"They're looking for more recruits, especially those at U.A. that are still young and can be influenced by their ideals and thoughts." He explains after a moment.
Sorahiko matches his frown, clicking his tongue. "I suppose that means your successor is included in the people they've been eyeballing..."
"Young Midoriya wants to be a Hero though in spite of what others may continue to whisper about him! I chose him for his spirit, his confidence even in the face of danger." Toshinori interrupts before he can speak of any negative points.
It only makes Sorahiko's frown deepen and he stiffens at his stare. "That's all well and good, however you didn't let me finish. He's still a teenager and I've seen what he can do with that quirk of his when he's mad."
They fall into silence then, late evening sun falling over them. They're lucky they caught this Nomu before it went into the main city center where the night markets to shows are just beginning.
The glow of sunlight focuses in particular on this Nomu's contrasting cobalt and hazel eyes now glassy and empty, arms modified with what looks to be tiny spikes. At one point this was a regular enough woman or man and now in death they are being used as the League's puppets until their bodies, their quirks are no longer of use to them...
A moment later a mix of officers and Heroes are upon the scene, taking the Nomu's body away for dissection and study.
Toshinori turns his attention back to Sorahiko before he can disappear into the crowds again, grabbing lightly at his arm.
"I know I may be overstepping here, but would you consider training with Young Midoriya the same way you trained with me?" He asks.
Sorahiko looks halfway back to him, smirking. "Of course I'll take him on..."
'I can sense a 'but' or some type of catch to this coming.' Toshinori muses.
Because sure enough, his grin widens, pointing back in the direction of U.A.
"But first he needs to spend a few weeks training with her to get that Infliction quirk of his better under control, I think you know who I'm referring to." He determines at Toshinori's nod.
-X-
Izuku & Ochako
'Why is nobody explaining properly who or whom could be the cause behind this?!' Ochako clicks her tongue, wishing she could push through this growing smog and crowds of people to check on Nishimura-sensei at least. He was the last person she just wanted to make sure was okay before heading back to her apartment.
To see that he's alive with her own eyes.
This is why they were let out of school early after all, to go check upon their loved ones while the faculty went to aid the Pro-Heroes already on the scene and find out the exact reason behind the explosion and if the criminals are still in the area.
But so far little to no news is being spread regarding any possible suspects. Reporters and journalists instead are focusing only on the victims, those that were directly in the building or within close range when the blast went off to stories on the Heroes who came to the scene within minutes.
Is the dojo okay? What if Nishimura had been in the middle of practice when the bombs had gone off? She should've been more open and honest with him about everything she was struggling through...
'Stop it. This isn't the time to be having regrets.' She reminds herself, focusing back onto her surroundings.
"Uraraka, this way." Izuku gestures, grabbing onto her hand before a swarm of people running from the area can trample her and push them further apart. He squeezes at her hand once he's sure they have a strong enough hold on each other, taking her into a maze of alleyways.
"This will give us a better vantage point to get a view of the dojo and surrounding areas." Izuku voices when they reach an open building a few blocks away from the commotion, taking to the stairs nearly two at a time until they are upon the rooftop.
The sky has gained a further haze of reds, yellows, and sickly grays blotting out the last bits of sunset and her stomach churns at the rising scent of blood and cries sinking into the air.
She gestures for Izuku to lower himself as well to ground better out of view in case of any villains are still hovering nearby. "We don't know what's in this air. As well, I'm sure there's at least one or two villains hanging back watching their handiwork in action. We can't stay here for long so we should do our best to stay out of view of any cameras or key witnesses that could risk us being seen or found out by someone from U.A."
'Uraraka's right. Aizawa-sensei did say we need to be on guard for anybody that could be waiting in the shadows heading home and not to loiter around. Just check on your loved ones and if they're already at home, you stay there too.' Izuku recalls from his earlier warning.
Their main priority was to head home and await feedback from Present Mic or another one of their teachers through a mass email or text on how they wanted them to proceed.
"Sorry, I didn't expect it would take this long to see if everything near the Dojo was alright." Ochako whispers, smiling weakly at this situation at hand.
Izuku shakes his head, looking back to her. "It's better with all that's going on right you didn't try to check on the Dojo alone; I'm glad you asked for my help."
And anyways, he couldn't just standby and do nothing while Musutafu is burning.
'I can use Infliction as soon as I know who my target is.' Izuku determines.
But through this sea of people it's impossible to know who is civilian and who is an enemy reveling in this chaos.
"See that guy on the left? Doesn't he look suspicious to you?" Ochako asks, cutting through his line of thoughts and he follows her eyes to the center square.
Just overlooking a pair of officers being bandaged up by medical personnel is a lizard-like man doing nothing to conceal his widening grin as he clings to the wall above them.
The cold pleasure of that smirk tells then all they need to know, he is the cause behind their injury.
"I have an idea Deku as a way to distract him from going after those officers again, back me up when I give the signal." Ochako whispers, slowly rising herself up into position.
"What signal?!" Izuku hisses back urgently.
"Just watch the movement of my hands and you'll know." She calls back.
And then she weaves herself across the rooftops using the fading sunlight and haze for cover until she is right behind the reptilian man.
With acting skills far better than him she molds anger and fire in her expression into a charming smile, getting his attention by launching a pebble at his back.
"Are you the cause of that?" Ochako questions, motioning to the officers as soon as he twists his head in her direction.
"Who wants to know?" He asks back, sharp eyes locking onto her. It was lucky they were in regular civilian clothes rather than U.A.'s trademark uniform or he would've instantly known who they were connected to and straight out attacked.
'Good, his focus is off the patrollers now.' Izuku breathes in relief.
However, now he is studying Ochako's figure up and down in a way that makes his skin crawl and it ignites a burst of rage that reminds him too much of when he gained enjoyment out of using Infliction for the first time...
He doesn't wait for Ochako's signal.
'Burn his eyes.'
-X-
Katsuki
"Where are you going?! You were told by your instructors to shelter in place until the all clear is given for each area of Musutafu!" Mitsuki snaps, tugging Katsuki back before he could dare step outside. The night feels even more somber with the moon obstructed by remnants of smoke, only the clear wails of ambulances and police cars flickering reds and blues brightening otherwise empty, dark roads.
His glare does nothing to dissuade his Mom, grip tightening on his arm until her nails are practically digging in as she forces him right back around into the living room.
'Damn it, what is that nerd doing?'
Seeing that freak lizard creature flailing about in an attempt get away from a barrage of Heroes circling him stream across the TV makes his hands spark, clenching his teeth not to set the screen ablaze just to get it out of his sight.
Those bloody and dark eyes tell him all he needs to know...
Deku was there.
He may have been out of sight of the cameras or any eyewitnesses this time, but it reeks of his quirk's handiwork.
Targeting one of the main senses.
The reporters on scene pick up on this fact too, wondering where he is amid the smoke and fire enveloping the area. He'd like to know as well, he didn't even take credit for his role in helping incapacitate that villain.
"You're phone's been buzzing since we finished up dinner. At least go check on it, you might have an update from one of your classmates!" Masaru points out from the kitchen, motioning to his left behind phone on the sofa lighting up again with another message.
It's probably just Kirishima.
But to appease his Dad's curiosity and his Mom's warning glare he heads over to his room to check on it.
As he expects there's a waiting text from Kirishima asking to see if his house is alright and if he's seen the news.
'That was Deku's Infliction being used right during that Breaking News segment, right?! Didn't get a chance to catch all of it before it went to commercial, did you?' He reads.
He blows out a scoff, he already knows the answer to that. Instead of responding he scrolls further down his phone, ignoring Iida's mass group text to the second pending unread message.
From Deku.
'Did you get that same email?'
Katsuki studies it for a long minute, whatever the hell he was talking about had to be important enough to bother with asking him. He doesn't even recall ever giving Deku his number, most likely the work of his Mom's interference.
Again.
There's no point in wasting time texting back and forth on whatever it is he wants, opting to call him directly.
He doesn't pick up until nearly the 4th ring.
"Kacchan?" Izuku answers as if he isn't even sure who else it could fucking be from his caller ID.
"What are you wasting my time with about some email?" Katsuki gripes, straight to the point.
He hears the rumble of a sigh on Izuku's end, edge of annoyance and impatience slipping into his voice then. "...You didn't even bother to read it, did you?"
"You'd just repeat it back to me anyways." Katsuki counters, he's the one who should be pissed here at his time being wasted like this. Perhaps once Mom and Dad were truly in bed he could get an idea of what happened that triggered that first explosion by checking out the area.
Surely All Might was still in the vicinity or at the very least Endeavor and a few other Pro-Heroes.
And one of them may let loose what's truly going on with the Number 1 hero.
"Listen Kacchan, you need to open it after you get off the phone with me. The objective of that earlier blast wasn't just to incite panic, it was a way to communicate they're searching for us." Deku explains quickly.
He hates to admit it, but he feels a twinge of dread at hearing the concern in his voice. Deku for all the suffering he's put him through never became truly bothered or worried without a good reason.
"Who is 'they'?" Katsuki finally asks.
"...The League of Villains. They're hunting for unique and strong quirks; quirks like ours."
-X-
Ochako
"I really am sorry." Ochako repeats, stomach forming another ball of knots, a mess of coils and loops not soothed by the tea and honey the nurse offered her. She blinks away the fresh sting of tears, Akemi's words cold and biting echoing back into her ears.
'Good job Uravity or whatever the hell Hero name you're going with. It's your little boyfriend that those creeps were looking for and you covered for him I bet even knowing something like this could happen. Who else fits those notes found near the sight of the detonation of "We're waiting for U.A.'s wonder boys to come to us or we'll come to them?" She growls.
For every day that passes without an answer, more destruction is sure to come...
That is until they truly decide to go with kidnapping.
And now Nishimura-sensei sits before her bloody and bandaged now a week after the explosion, nerves on his right hand and up lost to the flames that struck the dojo midway through the last sparring sessions of the day. The skin to most of his right arm is still an awful shade of deep violet to pink where dead and old tissue meet, wound care already having changed his wrappings twice now since she came in.
"Stop. I will not have one of my best students blaming themselves for an attack they were not the cause of." Nishimura states, eyes hardening before he gives her a soft smile.
He shouldn't be the one comforting her like this.
He is the one after all who may be unable to ever use his quirks properly again, to teach a fresh batch of students how to protect themselves...
The very thought leaves her spiraling again, burying her nails into her sides leaving thin scratches and crescent indents.
'Being near Deku brings you trouble, but you already knew that.' Her thoughts hiss.
Maybe so, though she can't help but want to be near him. If she had just an ounce of his same confidence and brightness even when the world is dark and bleak like this, it could've saved her from so much heartache...
When she goes home she must properly face Gamps and Gamma with the truth of all that she knows, finally return Dad's voicemail and go from there. It will hurt she knows at feeling her heart thrum anxiously at even the thought, however it will be one less burden weighing on her.
'They wanted what was best for you, not to worry or have this distract you.' Deku's reminder returns and briefly the swishing in her stomach calms.
"Are you eating properly? Want to take one of those apples from that fruit basket there? Even the food they're giving me here in the hospital has more taste than some of the supposed 'gifts' I've been getting." Nishimura chuckles.
And Ochako can't help but roll her eyes lightly, taking one of the shinier apples to appease him. 'He sounds just like Gamps or Gamma.'
"Don't say that! Anyways, the food can't be that bad if you're finishing off a majority of it!" She teases him back at his practically cleaned off plate, waving to dietary team as they take away his lunch.
The smile leaves his face as soon as the door is shut, leaving them properly alone once more.
"...So, what news have you heard? U.A. I'm sure have already gotten their best investigators studying into this latest attack." Nishimura questions.
Ochako plops herself back down into the chair nearest the bed, nodding. "Well, they aren't telling us much obviously. Though Deku mentioned something about receiving an odd email he's going to have Ectoplasm and All Might look into. Everything seems to point to the League of Villains scoping out new members they can take under their wing."
Nishimura nods in agreement, leaning his head back against his pillows. "Makes sense from what we've seen so far. It isn't just the League though to be concerned about if those rumors I heard from my friend in Hosu City are correct."
The confusion in Ochako's eyes makes him go on, pointing with his head to the front line news atop his table.
'Hero-Killer strikes again in what could potentially become his 20th victim?!' She reads, the description haunting and ominous of a bandaged man who struck from the shadows. The image of him is blurry, but his sharp eyes gleam out clearly properly back at her.
He's known for far more than just the murders on his hands, it is his victims that live...the ones he's paralyzed ending their careers and upending their lives forever that makes him so infamous.
"It's crazy how none of the experts have yet to figure out exactly how that quirk of his works." Nishimura clicks his tongue in disgust.
"Ah, I wonder if that friend of yours Deku, right? He could probably put him in his place...not that's a good idea to chase villains don't listen to me here!" He jokes stopping himself from going on.
Ochako only arches a brow, trying to picture it. "Why Deku?"
Nishimura snorts lightly, his expression becoming just a tad colder. Darker.
"Why not? It would give that guy a taste of his own medicine, of the pain he's caused to so many chasing this bizarre ideology of his. I'm sure nobody is going to cry or file a complaint if he gets killed himself."
'Revenge.' Ochako knows, gut tightening unsure what to say seeing this anger and upset burning in his eyes. She's seen it before in Deku's vibrant green eyes too before he calms himself down. Infliction can be used for murder she assumes, however would it need to be taken that far?
He lightens up his face seeing her concern, sighing. "Sorry, this pain and lack of sleep is getting to me..."
Ochako shakes her head as she follows his gaze out the window, sunlight gleaming off nearby buildings casting them in golds. His words stay with her though, an inkling of fear planted.
'Death. That comes with the territory of being a Hero.'
-X-
All Might
"I'm glad you brought this to our attention. Who else do you know received one of these emails?" Toshinori voices.
Izuku pauses, counting off his hand. "So far I'm only aware of Todoroki and Kacchan for sure."
Ectoplasm studies the email's contents once more, twisting his gaze back to them. "It's the work of a hacker, that much we know. Going by the fact that they went through the trouble to only contact certain individual students could be interpreted multiple ways from trying to scare us to at worse planning for a kidnapping."
'That's what I thought.' He sighs.
"Why would they announce it though?" Izuku questions making Ectoplasm merely shrug.
"Possibly to get a rise out of seeing your quirks in action or to prove they're going to be capable of carrying out their plans whether they keep it secret or not. This is all just speculation though." He reasons.
Toshinori frowns, they were going to have to put all of them under extra security.
And on top of dealing with this matter they now have to contend with this 'Hero Killer' becoming more and more prominent on the news, it didn't seem like he was working together with the League, but he was just as dangerous and cruel as them.
He reads back over the email once more, the sender's name merely a jumble of random letters and numbers.
'We like what we saw your quirk do back during that Sports Festival your school had. So much so that we think we could help you put it to far better use than anything a Hero could offer you. Consider this your formal invitation to join the League and even if you're not interested now, I'm sure once we meet face to face your mind can be changed.'
'What's making them so confident this time around?' He scowls.
If he had more time he could go out and face this apparent new budding leader of theirs', remind them why they've never prevailed despite the causalities and injuries they've caused over the years...
"They haven't given us an exact timetable on when they plan to truly strike again and it isn't like we can trust their word anyways. Principal Nezu still wants to go ahead with the internship plans for now with the additional safeguards around the school in place as discussed in the earlier meeting. This is the life our students have to expect after all. Times won't always be peaceful." Ectoplasm voices bringing him back to the situation at hand.
Toshinori nods, looking back to Izuku who seemed equally deep in thought. He'd already dealt with villains first hand, however those were only low rank ones who weren't even a blip on most Pro-Heroes' radars.
The League was a whole other challenge.
'It's time to push Young Midoriya's Infliction beyond it's current level and as much as we typically try to avoid it, we may need to use lethal force.'
"Come with me Young Midoriya, I want you to formally meet who I want you to do part of your work-study with!" Toshinori announces, beaming again in spite of all these circling thoughts as he guides them out of the private office.
They slip through the back hallways away from the crowds of the ongoing lunch rush, sunlight creating long shadows against old lockers and empty classrooms. It smells of dust and old paint in these areas seeing thin cracks along the fading white and tan walls, reminded that these wings were only built for emergency use in case U.A. was directly attacked.
That seems like it's becoming closer and closer to reality.
"So, my mentor is someone you used to work with and taught you as well, right?" Izuku asks behind him and he relaxes hearing the curiosity and interest in his tone.
"Yes, you've actually met her before plenty of times before though in this case she will be helping you use your Infliction in more ways than before. Especially in terms of analyzing and breaking down the Human Body. After this you'll meet with Gran Torino to better improve One for All, lucky you getting two mentors!" He explains.
Izuku pauses, questioning in his green eyes. "We've already met?"
Toshinori nods, stopping them abruptly as they arrive.
Izuku follows his gaze, looking around. The air has switched from cracked paint to disinfectant, of medicines and familiar chemicals and drips.
'This is the back of the nurse's office.' Izuku realizes.
And Recovery Girl moves to stand as soon as she notes their presence, nodding from All Might to him. A smile works it's way across her face, slamming her syringe cane down against tile letting it echo out across the room.
"About time you brought him here Yagi; we can't afford to waste anymore of this day!"
-x-
I know some of you wondered early on if Recovery Girl would play a role in helping Izuku with mastering Infliction in bringing out it's further use and here she is! I don't think I've ever seen Chiyo formally train Izuku in any story and considering how Infliction can affect the body, she is the perfect teacher for him in this regard I believe! (Plus it's fun to write about medical topics being a nurse lol).
I don't know how long this story will be, a story of mine is done when I've wrote all my ideas out for it covering the arcs I want weaved into the story. Just wondering, I hope I'm not moving at too slow of a pace or too fast, let me know your thoughts they're always appreciated or even just drop in to say hello!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!