Chapter 1: Day 1 Resurgance: Earphone Jack

At twenty-six years old Kyoka Jiro was a woman who had many things.

She not only had a useful quirk perfect for both fighting off villains and rescuing civilians, but that same quirk had gotten her into the top twenty. She had the privilege to be a part of a group of graduates of U.A that had each in their own way taken the hero industry by storm with their debuts, she had a very close group of friends and one good, albeit loud and arrogant, boyfriend.

One would think that a boy with an explosion quirk and a girl with a hearing based quirk wouldn't go well together but Katsuki had proved that notion wrong time and time again. Yes he was an arrogant asshole, but her and the rest of the Bakusquad had somehow wormed their way into the blondes small circle of trust. When it became apparent after the Culture Festival and the battle trial with 1B that she'd somehow developed feelings for him, it took her till halfway through their second year before she could confess. Even then it wasn't until two months later that her explosive blonde had taken her out on their first date.

She really needed to appreciate Eijiro and Mina more.

Still, it wasn't as if the two were a perfect couple. Despite her usual chill attitude Kyoka wasn't one to back off when she thought someone was in the wrong and Katsuki nearly always was. She didn't know what happened to him before he came to UA, but the blonde seemed adamant in proving that he was number one to the world. She could still remember the fit he'd thrown when Todoroki took his spot as the number two hero last year.

Of course, he reclaimed his position but not before going over to the bi-haired boys' home and nearly getting into a fight with him. Then there was that time when Tsu had rescued more people than him during a flood and the other time when Ochaco had finally beat him in their last Sports Festival and that other time when Momo had taken the position of number one of the big three from them in their final year.

Each time this happened he'd train and study even harder and Kyoka soon came to realize that it wasn't jealousy that drove him, okay so maybe it was a little jealousy, but stubborn pride and his own self-doubts that did. Katsuki Bakugou was a man who didn't stop until he got what he wanted not caring who thought people thought of him or who how many 'extras' he had to step over and if you were in his circle of people, he respected he expected you to do the same.

Most of the time she found that trait of his endearing he pushed both her and the rest of the Bakusquad to keep on their toes.

Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those times.

"Katsuki for the last time fuck off! I told you I'm fine!"

" That's bullshit and we both know it Ears!"

"It's none of your business!" Kyoka yelled as she stormed out of their bedroom. "It's too early for this shit I'm going out."

"God damn it will you fucking listen to me Kyoka!" Katsuki yelled, grabbing her arm. "You've been doing this shit since UA but you're a hero now you can't just take fall off the grid for an entire fucking month!"

Onyx eyes glared defiantly into red ones. "You also know that in UA I always got sloppy during this month, I couldn't concentrate. I could barely sleep and I barely passed combat class. Now, and I want you to use that brain that I know you have, I'm pretty sure that isn't good for my hero standing either which I couldn't give a damn about being number one is your obsession not mine!"

"What's the point of being a hero if you're not aiming to be the best!?"

"What's the point of being a hero if you prioritize being on top!?

"Will you just listen to-!"

"Not when you won't listen to me!" Kyoka yelled, jamming her ear jack into his arm.

Ignoring his curse of pain the punk rocker flipped up her hood and stormed out of their shared apartment into the bustling streets of Musutafu. Where does that asshole get off telling her what she gets to do with her life or her career!? Heroes weren't immortal they weren't gods among the earth they could die and get injured just as easily as anyone, hell one a look at All Might would've told you that much but noooo Mr. King Explosion Murder thought himself invincible.

'Where does that asshole get off?' Kyoka thought. 'What makes him think he can dictate when I take break, it's not as if being a hero has to define our lives hell, I'm in the top twenty and I still have my music career going strong.'

The purplenette continued to curse the thought of the boy even as she entered the busy streets of Musutafu. She just didn't understand why now of all times that he'd decided to confront her about this now he hadn't done it when they were at UA, nor had he done it the years after. She growled startling the people around her as she turned the corner coming across a large building sporting a red, blue and tallow color scheme she said nothing as she stormed through the buildings front doors ignoring the cries of the secretary at the front desk and making her way up the stairs to the second floor. Flinging open the doors Kyoka stared at the woman currently staring back at her in shock with a stack of papers in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.

The woman blinked before letting out a sigh. "Hello Kyoka."

Kyoka simple grumbled at the greeting causing the other woman to sigh. "I assume you got into an argument with Bakugou-kun again?"

Kyoka nodded.

"And judging by the face your making I'm assuming you won't leave until you finish yelling about him at me will you."

Another nod.

The woman sighed again before making a 'go ahead' motion with her hands and thus Momo 'Creati' Todoroki would spend the next thirty minutes listening to the rants of her best friend about her love life. When the hearing hero was done Momo simply got up and handed her a cup of herbal tea having gotten used to moments like this enough to know exactly what Kyoka'd need after venting about her day.

"Yes, although I can't say I completely disagree with Bakugou." Momo said causing Kyokas eyes to narrow dangerously.

"What…?"

Momo shuffled nervously in her seat. "While he could've worded it better, I do think you should talk to someone about why you just…shut down during this month."

"And I always bounce back when it's over." The purplenette said crossing her arms. "None's had a problem with it before, sure Aizawa-Sensei pulled me aside a few times but none of you have ever had a problem before."

"But that doesn't make it any less worrying Kyoka!"

She was getting frustrated now, first Katsuki and now Momo? She didn't see what they were worried about, to her it was ridiculous for them to worry like this when they hadn't before. It's not like she was dying or anything, she was just taking a break to deal with stuff that's personal to her. It's not like Momo doesn't keep things hidden and god forbid Katsuki ever open up about his problems.

"You wouldn't understand!"

"Then help me understand!" Momo yelled. "Kyoka please, I'm worried about you. I'm…I'm worried about what you might do to yourself."

She recoiled. "You…you think I'd…I….I have to go."

"Kyoka, Kyoka wait I didn't mean-!"

"I'll see you later Yaomomo." With that she walked out slamming the door behind her.

Momo Todoroki would be the first to admit that she did not fully understand the woman who'd become like a sister to her, sure she knew her better than the rest of her classmates and was even willing to bet that Kyoka had more trust in her than her boyfriend but there were still so many things she didn't know about. It worried her that even after so many years he purplenette would keep a secret that was obviously hurting her to herself. Her and the rest of their former classmates had tried everything from Denki trying to make jokes about her sudden mood change to Tsuyu just directly asking about it and every time she'd either redirect the conversation or would give them the cold shoulder for the day.

Sighing the creation hero returned to her paperwork if Kyoka didn't want her help, then she wasn't going to force the issue and make it worse by confronting her during the month she'd at least wait till the month was over to bring it up again.

For now, she had a stack of ridiculous requests to get through.


"Fuck, I shouldn't' have walked out like that."

Kyoka ran a hand through her hair in frustration, she'd let her emotions get the better of her leading her to point her jack at Momo of all people. Oh sure she could threaten most of her friends with them but not her, never Momo. Was the black haired beauty right? Was she getting worse with each passing year? With each anniversary of-

She stopped.

She had to calm down, she couldn't think about that. Not here, not out in the open where a villain attack could happen and people could need her at any second. She had to breath, nice and slow.

'Okay,' She thought. 'Now I just have to figure out where I stormed off too.'

It was part of the less well off portion of the city, 'round here there were a lot more sketchy people mingling with the normal folk. Then again, she supposed she couldn't judge. After all she was one clothes change away from looking like them too. Putting her hands in her pockets she walked with renewed attentiveness, recognizing more and more places as she did so.

She cursed as she rounded the corner to a familiar café, well at least she had an idea of where she was but-fuck had she dissociated? For how long was her body on autopilot to walk all the way here?

'Green Music Café.'

She hadn't been here in years, she'd stopped when-when—

Anyway, the café always played songs form new artists trying to make an impact on the scene. It's whys he always enjoyed coming here and the person she brought with her always enjoyed the green theme to it. It fit him a bit too well.

She let out a chuckle. "I wonder if anything's changed."

She brought out her phone, aside from a couple messages from Katsuki there didn't seem to be anything that needed her attention right now. She sure as hell wasn't in the mood to talk to her boyfriend and as long as she was here why not right?

"Nothing ventured nothing gained right Green?" She whispered to herself, mustering up her resolve and walking forward.

Walking into the café felt like meeting up with an old friend she hadn't seen for a long time. Everything was virtually the same from the green wall paint to the green and mint checkered floor. The place was busy yet quiet, kids running around or waiting and she saw a few teenagers hanging out in booths waiting for their order.

She couldn't help the smile that came to her face as she walked too the counter. Things hadn't changed at all had they.

"Welcome to the Café, can I get you anything?"

Okay maybe some things had changed, if her memory served her correctly the original owner was Japanese not Vietnamese. Said Vietnamese woman had long black hair done up in a ponytail with two bangs hanging on the sides of her face, other than a pair of plump lips her facial features were mostly hidden by the red cap she wore. Casting her eyes downward Kyoka noted the brown hoodie that was left open to show off a white tank top and although she couldn't see it fully, she recognized the brand of jeans hidden by the counter.

By those abs on display the hero assumed that she must do a decent amount of exercise, most people would assume that those type of toned muscles usually came from parkour or flexible exercises, but she knew better. This woman was a fighter but if so, why was she working here? Was this just a side gig or-

"Earth to fisheyes? You gonna order or…?"

The sound hero blinked back into the present, flushing a little as the woman she was analyzing seemed to stare back at her in annoyance.

'Damn hero instincts.' She thought, clearing her throat. "Sorry just—haven't been here in a while. It's a lot to take in."

"Yeah, friend of my runs the place, the old manager handed it over to him when the guy retired."

"Really?" She asked surprised. "Old Man Akobe retired? Thought he'd never give this place up."

"Let's just say he couldn't refuse when he realized who wanted to buy the place." The cashier chuckled.

Well, that wasn't ominous at all.

She'd ask more about it if her phone didn't go off, she cursed when she pulled it out to see that it was a notification from the HeroNet because of course there was a hostage situation nearby.

'Aaand I'm the closest one to it. Great.' She thought, quickly rushing out the door. 'Really wished some of that luck of yours didn't wash onto me over the years.'

The cashier watched her go, amusement on her features bust notable not surprise. Underneath the counter she sent a quick text before smiling and getting ready to take the next customers order.

Thankfully it only took her thirty minutes to arrive, she was even more thankful that she didn't need to help direct the police to shove reporters and civilians back the idiots that they were. She ignored the media on her best days and unless they were young adults or kids she tended to avoid getting stuck talking to civilians too.

She didn't exactly have the best track record when it came to adults.

Then again, she'd rather deal with all of that at once than the other hero she caught sight of on the scene.

"Earphone Jack."

"Mindjack." Kyoka nodded back barely suppressing the groan of frustration as she walked up to her fellow graduate. "What d'we have?"

"Robbers are held up inside the bank, hostages in full and we got negotiators trying to stall while we work out a plan."

The music artist raised an eyebrow and motioned to their immediate space, Shinsou scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"I told them I could handle this myself; I don't need their help for this. Yours either."

"Yeah, well that's not how this works." She adjusted her equipment on her wrists and looked towards the bank. "We don't know what their quirks are or how many are in there. We want to do this we gotta see if we can get in there and figure that out first."

Before he could get a retort out they were both distracted by gunshots ringing out and people screaming both inside and outside the bank. They bolted forward, any thoughts of planning going out the window as they geared up to rescue whatever civilians had been injured. Luckily for them the villains wouldn't be hard to find.

Unluckily for the villains the person that found them wasn't a hero.

Earphone Jack and Mindjack both slid to a stop when the doors to the building burst open, a single villain running out with a terrified look in his eyes. He didn't have any money nor a hostage but instead a single wound that was bleeding profusely.

Another gunshot rang out and the villain screamed as the bullet ripped through his knee, Kyoka moved to help him and was rewarded with a bullet aimed at her feet.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Wouldn't want you getting injured."

Kyoka froze.

That voice-she knew that voice. She and her classmates would never forget that voice.

Walking out of the bank was a man wearing green military camo pants tucked into black combat boots. A silver utility belt held it up and above that he had on a black short sleeved muscle shirt, as he spun his handgun Kyoka was able to identity red wrappings going up to his forearm along with fingerless combat gloves.

But above all of these features was the red hoodie he wore to hide his identity.

The exact same one she last saw him in…when he died.

"Red Hood?"

"Hey there Earphone Jack." The man chuckled, turning his attention to her as he drew his other gun and aiming it at the downed villain. "Nice to see you still alive and kicking."

A single pull of the trigger ensured that the bank robber wouldn't be and from there all hell would break loose across Mufustafu. It had been ten years since anyone had seen the man known as Red Hood, ten years since his war on crime and Heroism.

Ten years since his supposed death.

Ten years of peace-all shattered with a single gunshot.

The man in question wouldn't have had it any other way.