Commence the Raid
Hello everyone and welcome to this, slightly late, chapter of Hailstorm! No guest review questions to answer this week so let's get the show on the road!
U.A. Gym Gamma
Even though a few days had passed since the meeting at Nighteye's agency, it was more than a little obvious that what was discussed still lingered in the minds of the work study students. All of them had been put on standby while the pros narrowed down the number of locations where the girl, Eri, was being kept. In the meantime, none of them were allowed to discuss what was happening with their other classmates. A fact which was more than a little ironic for Clay and Slade given that they'd already spilled the beans to Jirou and Momo before the meeting.
It still made for a daily tension of sorts as each of them checked their phones hourly or sometimes even more often than that for any kind of update on the situation. Clay did his best to pry information out of his Uncle, but the man was sticking by what he'd told them that day.
Flashback: Nighteye Agency
"Try not to get too worked up about this," said Aizawa, causing Midoriya to pause for a moment, "the big three are capable of holding their own out there with the pros, but the rest of you will have to be minimally involved. In fact, Uraraka, Asui and Kirishima, since you didn't really volunteer for this you're under no obligation to participate so it's your call if you want to continue."
"Mr. Aiza-I mean Eraser Head," said Uraraka as she got up from her seat, "after everything we just heard I can't see any reason why I shouldn't at least try to help."
"And I want to pitch in too," said Tsuyu, "I'll help however I can."
"I'm pretty sure the pros already recognize your abilities," said Tamaki in his usual withdrawn tone, "they wouldn't have asked you to be in that meeting otherwise. I've seen for myself that a first year can shine much brighter than me."
"You know you're gonna have to let that go at some point," commented Nejire as she leaned forward in her seat.
"Well if I can use my power to help that girl even a little bit," said Kirishima as he slammed his hardened fists together, "then you can count me in Eraser Head!"
"Just so long as you remember that our only goal is to rescue Eri," said Aizawa, "we're not stepping in further than that. The chances of the league and Shie Hassaikai cooperating are pretty low at the moment given the recent altercation. But if the police happen to be mistaken about that assessment and they are working together, then we're pulling you out immediately, understood."
"Yes sir!" exclaimed everyone with varying degrees of determination.
U.A. Cafeteria: Now
Clay and Slade knew something was up with Midoriya. Their friend was ready and more than eager to jump in and help Eri, but despite that he'd been acting down. Currently, said green-haired boy was just staring as his katsudon as if he was looking through it. "Are you not hungry Midoriya," asked Todoroki suddenly, causing the U.A. student to almost jump from his seat.
"What, oh yeah sure," said Midoriya as he made a show of putting some of the food in his mouth.
"Are you feeling alright lately," asked Iida, who was sitting next to him.
"You've been on edge and rather depressed ever since you started your work study," noted Todoroki.
"Oh, uh, have I been acting that way?" Asked Izuku innocently as he went back to his food.
"Big time," said Slade, "I'm half convinced you'd still be moping even if Uraraka was holding your hand right now."
"You don't really think it's that bad do you?!" exclaimed Midoriya, likely embarrassed by the image he now had in his head.
"Well if something is troubling you just remember," said Iida with his classic air chopping maneuver, "we're friends and we're here if you ever want to talk. I seem to recall you saying something similar to me when I was heading off to my own internship and acting like a fool." That was the straw that broke the camel's back as tears started flowing from Midoriya's eyes, and Iida's hair stood on end. "AAAAH! Oh dear, was it something I said?"
"No, it's all okay," said Izuku as he ate the rest of his lunch before trying to wipe the tears from his eyes, "I just, heroes aren't supposed to cry."
"Who told ya that?" Asked Clay, "Despite their outward appearances heroes are still people in the end. And every so often, people need to cry if for no other reason than to let out some pent up feelings. Even my Uncle has cried a time or two?"
"So tears can form even in Aizawa sensei's dry eyes," noted Todoroki.
"Yeah, but don't tell him I told you that," said Clay, "If you think the class work load sucks now just wait 'til you see what he does to students who think he's getting soft."
"Agreed," said Iida, "our sensei is a master of discipline and won't hesitate to use it on us!"
"But it does give me an idea," said Slade as he looked at Midoriya, "Let's talk later. I think I might know how to help."
U.A. Heights Alliance: That Evening
"So what is it you guys wanted to talk about?" Questioned Midoriya as the group sat out on the lawn in front of the dorms.
"Well it's obvious the whole 'Eri' situation has been eating at you the last couple of days," said Clay, "but you have a small group of friends you can still talk to about that. Given the breakdown you had earlier today I gotta ask, is something else bothering you?" Midoriya looked unsure for a moment as to whether or not he should answer.
"If it's an All Might thing, remember we pretty much know as much about it as you," Slade pointed out, "so you shouldn't need to keep it a secret from us-."
"All Might could die this year!" Izuku suddenly blurted out, really getting their attention. "The reason Sir Nighteye and All Might parted ways in the first place is because All Might refused to retire and find a successor sooner." This information actually stunned his two friends as both of them tried to figure out what exactly to say to that. Both knew it must not have been good news but to hear that the idol of their friend could die at some point, it was more than a little to take in.
"What did he say?" Questioned Clay suddenly, making Midoriya look up at him, "How exactly did Nighteye word his explanation to All Might?"
"H-He said All Might would do battle with an incredibly powerful villain and meet an unspeakably gruesome death," explained Midoriya with a few tears coming to his eyes.
"So," said Slade, "It sounds like he might've actually been wrong on that one."
"What, but Sir Nighteye can see the future," said Midoriya, "how could he be wrong?"
"Well what Nighteye sees is only a narrow vision of a person's future decisions," Clay reminded him, "Or are you thinking about what he said when he suggested his vision of someone's death was unavoidable?"
"Well, All Might said that he ended up exactly how Nighteye said he would," explained Midoriya, "and if he's not wrong about that then what about his death?"
"If I might play the optimist for a moment," said Slade, "All Might did in fact fight an incredibly fierce villain, but he won and now he's retired with very little reason to be anywhere near a fight again. And the way you phrased it, 'could die this year' I think you said, makes it sound like the supposed event could've already passed."
"W-well it's true that Nighteye's vision might be slightly less informative the further he looks into the future," admitted Midoriya, "but why would he say the death he sees is unavoidable?"
"Because that is what he himself likely believes," said Clay. "It's possible after years of peering into other's futures he's formed a preconceived notion that some of the things he sees in the future are unavoidable, or that because he sees them they'll come true."
"Are you suggesting he's afraid to use his quirk?" Questioned Midoriya.
"The future can be a scary thing," said Slade, "take right now for instance. Everyone who grew up seeing All Might in their lives is now asking the question of what tomorrow will bring now that the symbol of peace is gone. Many expect it to be a dimmer future, but that doesn't mean it's what's going to happen. I believe Sir Nighteye is overestimating himself and putting too much value in his quirk, which is likely why he thinks what he sees will always come true."
"But as they like to say in time traveling Sci Fi," Clay picked up, "the future is ever-changing. In my opinion, the true outcome is only really determined when it reaches that moment. Nighteye might believe what he sees will come to pass but if he was one hundred percent sure of it then why would he even bother warning All Might?"
"I, that makes a certain bit of sense in a weird way," said Midoriya with a hand on his chin, "He doesn't like using his quirk when he thinks death is possible, but he's got no way of actually knowing that him seeing something causes it to end up that way. He wants to be wrong about it, he wants fate to change!"
"And I'm certain All Might thinks the same," said Slade, "So fight fate with him and show his former sidekick that no future is written in stone."
"I will!" Said Midoriya with his fists clenched, "You're both right, there's no sense in moping around waiting for the inevitable, not when something can still be done! So I'll show All Might and Nighteye that someone can fight fate and I'll start by rescuing Eri!" The three friends cheered excitedly at this prospect as they bumped fists, the somber atmosphere completely gone as a weight was lifted from their friend's mind. It was two days after this little chat, when they finally got the call.
Sir Nighteye's Hero Office
"They're keeping her where?!" exclaimed Rock Lock as he heard the report from All Might's former sidekick.
"The main headquarters of the Shie Hassaikai," Ryukyu answered for him, "Kai Chisaki's residence."
"So what was the point of all that investigating in the first place?!" Questioned Rock Lock.
"We managed to gather a variety of new information," answered Nighteye, "including some of the layout of the facility beneath the residence."
"What's our confirmation that she's even still there?" Questioned Fat Gum. Nighteye's answer to this was to, surprisingly, pull out a pink box containing a magical girl action figure of sorts. "One of the Shie Hassaikai members purchased a toy like this the other day at a local department store. This item is typically favored by young girls."
"But what proof do you have that he's not some weirdo who's into cutesy stuff," objected Fat Gum.
"Because I was there when he purchased the item," explained Nighteye, "I employed my quirk to see what he planned to do with it and my assumption was correct. He took it to where the girl is being held."
"So after all that talk about being afraid to use your quirk you go ahead and use Foresight anyway!" Exclaimed Rock Lock. 'Probably because he gives a lot less of a damn if death is near in a villain's future,' thought Clay.
"I recall saying that I would use my quirk when our path was more clear," replied Nighteye.
"But it does mean we finally have all the information we need for a raid, right," said Fat Gum.
"Correct," said Centipeder, "we already have a time selected thanks to the information from our stakeouts."
"And we've already obtained a search warrant from the police," Added Bubble Girl happily, "So all that's left now-."
"Is to go barging right in!" Said a determined Fat Gum.
"Hey that was supposed to be my line," whined Bubble Girl at having her thunder stolen.
"Yeah let's do it!" Yelled Mirio as he waved his arms around animatedly, "We're gonna rescue that girl, are you all with me!" He continued to repeat this and a number of other lines, signifying how pumped up he was about the whole thing. 'Guess he's back to normal,' thought Slade, having heard about the Big Three member's recently depressed state.
It was good news at this point as everyone changed into their costumes and put on their game faces, more than ready to take down anyone that got in their way. "Now then," said Nighteye, "Let the operation begin!"
In Front of the Police Station: 8:00 am
More than a couple dozen officers all decked out in tactical gear with riot shields stood at attention while the pro heroes recruited by Nighteye stood in their own group. Currently, a police sergeant was going over the details of the operation including what little they knew of the underground facility. "It's all moving pretty fast now," said Kirishima as he and the U.A. students stood to the side either making final adjustments to their costumes or going over the handouts of the known Hassaikai members and their quirks.
"You're surprisingly energetic for this hour of the morning," noted Amajiki.
"Yeah but I'm pretty nervous," said Uraraka as she fidgeted.
"It all feels pretty official now that we're working with the police," noted Tsuyu as Ryukyu approached.
"It takes time to adjust at first," she said, "school can teach you a lot but there are some things you only learn from experience."
"I guess that explains how all the pros are so calm about this," said Kirishima as he tried to keep himself from shaking in excitement and nervousness.
"Speaking of the pros, has anyone seen Gran Torino," questioned Midoriya.
"According to Uncle," said Clay as he checked the valves on his sleeves, "the League of Villains is on the move, so he was sent to investigate."
"Maybe we'll get lucky and take both the League and Hassaikai down in one fell swoop," said Kirishima with a clenched fist.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves," said Aizawa, causing some of the students to tense up with his sudden appearance, "remember what you promised. If things get out of hand, you take cover, understand?" The U.A. students all answered in the affirmative as the police sergeant spoke up.
"To all the heroes gathered here," said the Sergeant, "the situation could become violent quickly, so if you encounter even a hint of suspicious behavior or resistance, signal for back up immediately. Remember, it is imperative that each of you carry out your respective assignments so stay sharp!" The gathered officers saluted then as the Sergeant gave out his final orders. "The raid shall commence at 08:30 hours, now move out!"
Shie Hassaikai Main Stronghold: 08:30 am
The residence of Kai Chisaki was a rather large estate that more or less resembled a fancy bunker on the outside. It's courtyard was surrounded by a large wall with the traditional style one would expect from a Japanese roof. The main force of police officers as well as the pro heroes were all situated outside the main entrance with the sergeant poised to press the button for the estate's speaker system. "Once we've read the warrant," said the Sergeant, "you'll all be free to move. So act swiftly."
'Don't gotta tell me twice,' thought Clay as he generated his cloud gauntlets and greaves while Slade picked out a higher density. The gathered students all tensed as the Sergeant reached for the intercom switch. But just as he was about to press it, Slade heard a slight noise which he'd come to recognize. "GET BACK!" yelled the density shifter upon realizing what was about to happen.
No sooner did he say this than the front gate was busted open by the massive fist of Rikiya Katsukame. The impact was so strong it sent a number of officers flying into the air. Acting quickly, Midoriya leapt up and snatched one out of the air while Clay and Aizawa used a combination of his scarf and cloud cushions to catch the remaining officers. "It's too early in the morning for visitors," said the massive, bird-masked Hassaikai member as he used his quirk to buff up his muscles even more.
"How in the world do they already know we're here?" Questioned Rock Lock.
"Doesn't matter," said Ryukyu as Rikiya lifted a muscled up arm and threw a powerful blow. The resulting impact sent out a shockwave which forced everyone to back up a little as a dust cloud temporarily covered the affected area. When it cleared, Ryukyu had grown to several times her regular size as her body took on a much more dragon-like shape. "We can't afford to split up too many forces now," she said as she held their enemy's fist back, "So you all go ahead and let the Ryukyu agency handle this!"
She then proceeded to slam a clawed hand down on the Yakuza member, immobilizing him for the moment. Uraraka, Tsuyu and Nejire split off to back her up while the main force rushed head long into the compound to face the foe awaiting them. 'Don't worry little one,' thought Clay, 'this time, you will be saved!'
The raid has begun at last! But what awaits our heroes beneath the layer of the Hassaikai? Before we get to all that, though, I'd like to give out a quick apology for this being a little late. I was rather burned out after the latest posting of Armory of the Forgotten Hero. Despite that, I hope you all were still able to enjoy this chapter and as always feel free to leave a comment or review about what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters. Be sure to stop in next time as our heroes come face to face with the Eight Expendables! 'Til then.
