Cuha tries a...thing. Something tells me he'll come to regret his choice...

Standing tall, chest puffed up and his copy of All Might's smile on his face, Yuha, a few steps behind the bureaucrat droning on behind the podium, stared at the crowd.

Fuck, I'm bored!

Indeed. Were it not for his ability to offload part of his 'functions' to his computer, he was pretty certain that his facade would have cracked.

Chancing a glance to his right, he had to admit a slight amount of envy towards the mighty form of King. On the outside at least, for the man was the picture perfect image of the stoic badass.

Metal Bat, in between the two and with a mighty scowl and his arms crossed, made him feel a tad better. The man was even tapping his foot.

Oh, if only he hadn't decided to go all in on the 'noble hero' stick…

His eyes fell to his right and a silly grin spread across his lips.

Heh. At least the view is marvelous~!

As if hearing his thoughts, which she probably did, Tatsumaki glanced at him with a raised eyebrow and pink cheeks.

"Hmf!"

Even snorting cutely before turning her focus back to the crowd.

Finally, the bureaucrat stopped, turned and gestured towards Metal Bat, causing the crowd to clap, with Yuha joining in as the crumbling youth took to the stage.

"I'm not one for speeches, so I'll keep this brief—"

Miles upon miles below the earth she might be. Yet, her mind was vast, her will potent.

So, even with the great distance physically separating them, she, in a manner of speaking, was still there. Still present in the Association's hall. Watching through the eyes of her slave.

Giddiness bubbling in her breast.

Soon. Soon, the little bug will be gone alongside the bitch and the brat.

Oh, she couldn't wait~

"Psst! Reg!"

Startled, she turned to her left, ignoring Metal Bat for now. Blinking as a familiar face greeted her, and despite her…concerns, made her break out into a smile.

"Tabula! What are you doing here?"

The man snorted, and besides him a slim woman winked, clearly his camerawoman being a bigger professional than Hank, not that that was much of a challenge…

"Same as you, I imagine, and…" the man sighed, "let me guess, out partying again?"

"You know it."

Her friend snorted and shook his head.

"Figures, well, you can use our footage if you want, its not like anybody will be paying that close attention to all this," he said, waving an arm.

She couldn't help it. She snorted, but her mirth, and her smile did not last long.

"Reg?"

She winced.

Sloppy! Too sloppy, Reg! You got to do better, especially now!

"I-it's nothing. Just wondering if I'll ever get that promotion!"

Please don't pry. Please don't pry!

Her friend looked at her for a few moments longer, eyes narrowed.

"Hmm…" before shrugging and facing forward again. "Well, if you say so."

She let go of a silent breath. Trust Tabula to realize something was wrong.

Regina also faced forward and resisted the urge to glance to her side.

For her instincts might be wrong and end up with a nothing burger. And yet…she gulped.

Well, Reg, you wanted something interesting, did you not? Next time, be careful what you wish for.

After all, heroes always saved the day, yes. But that was of little help to the civilians caught at ground zero.

"—But enough about me," Metal Bat said, making Yuha blink. "I do believe its time we let the hero of the hour say a word or two don't you think?" the youth asked, turning to face him and flashing Yuha a grin as he stepped off the podium amidst the sound of cheers and clapping both, and striding up to him, patted Yuha on the shoulder.

"Go get em, Rookie," he said with a wink, and approached Tatsumaki, leaning in and speaking to the woman in a low voice.

Well shit.

Keeping his All Might smile plastered on his face, Yuha approached the podium with slow measured steps and a confident stride. Even if on the inside, he was anything but.

Now granted, both due to the experiences of his past life and the time spent getting the shit beaten out of him in basic, quite literally in some cases, he had little to no fear as far as public speaking was concerned.

But, be that as it may, that still didn't mean he knew what to say.

Grasping the sides of the podium, he smiled wider, even as his heart beat at steady sixty beats.

"People of earth! It is my honor and privilege to be able to address you here today. And I will admit that the thought that this grand ceremony is in part in my honor is humbling, for I'm in no way deserving of such praise. Still, it is the Association's wish and so I shall oblige. And so, as my great Senpai, Metal Bat did, I will do my best not to take up too much of your time and thus, rather than speak about boring old me…Let me answer your questions, and lets start with…you there my good madam!"

Still, his new physiology and powers conferred to him a cheat code, of a sorts. And no, it wasn't the computer. Or rather, not just the computer.

Namely, that a high enough powerlevel allowed one to experience the world at a different speed, and so, with his currently boosted by a stage five kaio-ken and Roshi's technique at half-mast, he could, at his choosing slow down time when compared to the 'normies', akin to a sandevistan.

His grin threatened to turn into something unbecoming of his facade for an instant as the urge to cackle grew. This was the perfect comeback tool! A set of responses flashed in his vision, courtesy of the vi. Oh, if only he had this in his old life…

Yuha blinked as he processed a reporter's question, and time slowed to a halt.

Should I do it? He fought the urge to chew on his lip as his mind worked furiously over the pros and cons. This would no doubt annoy a lot of people in the Association as well as the general public, and yet, it shouldn't be enough to have him kicked out or anything. After all, he was a 'young' and 'naïve' hero.

And when compared to the benefits. Namely potentially getting that asshole off his back, or at least end with him perhaps going a tad softer on Yuha? Yeah, it was worth it…That is, if his half-forgotten memories regarding a manga that he read years ago could be trusted…

Still, slowed time did not mean stopped time, and so.

He opened his mouth.

Throwing back another glass, he enjoyed the soothing burn for an instant before slamming the empty glass down on the counter-top.

The sound causing the idiot who'd dared to mock his hair to whimper as he lay crumbled on the wall behind him.

No, he used neither a gel nor a spray. His hair was simply naturally spiky and white damn it!

He glanced at his shirt.

"Tsk."

The bastard had spilled a bit of his cheap ass drink on his shirt too. Thankfully, with how dark it was, it was unlikely that it would stain…probably.

"Oi, you're paying for this," he growled, and the fatso whimpered again. Sighing, he faced the pale-faced man behind the counter. "Barkeep."

"That is a wonderful question my good sir," The tv was droning on, another day, another boring press briefing courtesy of the group of hypocrites.

He raised his glass, drawing the man's eyes to it.

"And yet, much as it saddens me, I feel I must correct you."

"Another—"

"For the Subterraneans, despite the brief and…somewhat unpleasant meeting between our races. Are not bad people themselves. Nay! They are not mere monsters to be vilified!"

He lowered the glass back on the table.

"Barkeep."

"Y-yes?"

"They were, nay, probably still are, a people merely doing their best to survive, even if that something was foolish and regrettable and we could have come to an understanding if but they reached out to us first with a hand extended in peace. In their hearts of hearts and despite how foolish it might be of me, I believe them to have the potential to be good people."

"Turn the volume up."

"Y-yes!" the man hastened to comply, and he ignored the nervous man. His focus now fixed entirely upon the no longer all that silly looking mutant.

"So, no, my good sir, despite it probably not being my place as a 'hero' to do so. I resent your accusation of the Subterraneans as mere monsters and villains due to their acts and physical appearance alone. They erred, yes. But, if we are truly heroes, then is it not our job to lift up and redeem our past enemies? For I truly believe that anyone can be good. Be a hero and fight for justice. No matter what their physical appearance or past actions may have been. If they but try."

Unconsciously, his hand sought and gripped the empty glass.

"I can see some of you scoffing, and indeed, I might be arrogant and wrong. But, if nothing else, please consider this before you hasten to judge others. In the eyes of the Subterraneans? It was we who are the villains. The villains won."

The glass shattered.

For a few moments, she stood transfixed in front of the flickering television. Her jaw agape as she watched, wide eyed.

Forgetting about the blood dripping down her limbs, managing to ignore the cackles of her…compatriots and the cries of their victims, cries that were now all too familiar and brought unwanted memories to light.

Not the fire! Not the fire!

She shook her head, eyes squeezing tight and taking a few rapid breaths as her heartbeat thrummed like a drum and she focused on the voice of her newest genetic donor and the reason for her recent physical changes. At least if the Doctor was to be believed. And after a few seconds, managed to turn her thoughts away from the fire.

And despite it all, the man's words made her heart skip a beat for they resonated with things she'd been wondering recently. Private thoughts she dared share with nobody.

For if she did…

"P-please!" a hand weakly grasped her calf, making her blink and gaze at a crawling old woman. "H-help—" But even as she opened her mouth to speak, to…to…she wasn't sure what. She never got the chance.

For a massive fur covered fist crushed down. Snuffing out the human's life.

"Enough lazying about, come, we're moving," the lion headed monster's growl caused her words to die in her throat. And whether they were words of protest or something else, she knew not.

"Y-yes, sir," she said with a meek nod as the rest of their…team landed about them.

For even if they were both Demon rank and her strength had grown after her return from the dead… Beast King's power was still much higher than hers.

"Keh-keh! Still unable to land the finishing blow, eh?"

She grit her teeth but said nothing. The King's toadies, on the other hand, she could do without. And if they kept trying her patience, well…

Well shit, now I'm really thankful for the computer and this body. For even if Yuha was normally inured to large crowds, the stares he was now getting would have been enough to at least make him gulp.

Which would have been counterproductive for his image.

Still, I hope it was worth it and Garou leaves me the fuck alone. But now…

"Thank you for your time, but I do believe I've fielded enough questions," he said with a smile.

Time to face the crowd that matters. He glanced behind him. King stared back at him with a stoic stare. Although, and it might've been his idea, in the man's eyes, approval shone.

Something which unexpectedly could also be found on Metal Bat's and Tatsumaki's faces. Even if the former had an expression that all but screamed, 'That was a bold move, Rookie.' As for the bureaucrat? A thin green aura blazed around the man, keeping him immobilized.

Sasuga Tatsumaki-sama!

"Hmf!"

Yuha started turning forward again, to give a bow, but then he caught two thin energy lines rushing towards—

His mind sped up, and before he knew it, his body moved on his own.

"Holy shit!" Tabula mumbled beside her, and Regina couldn't help but agree. For even if nothing else happened, this was already a juicy enough piece. Juicier than she'd been expecting when she woke up at any rate.

And even if she agreed with some of the man's points, she had to shake his head at his enthusiasm, for his inexperience showed and—

The rustle of clothes made her startle and turn, and watch through petrified eyes as the unwashed man that'd been siting beside her threw off his trench-coat, revealing that he was no man at all.

And Regina could only stare as the shiny black tall creature with a porcelain like face lifted what looked like a curving pipe made of liquid silver in one dark arm and—

Twin golden lances of death shot outwards and towards Tatsumaki and Metal Bat, and she didn't even have time to scream before suddenly Yuha was in the path of the beams, and for but an instant hope blossomed in her heart, which was immediately dashed.

For the beams did not stop.

And Yuha crashed into Metal Bat and Tatsumaki.

Digging a deep, dark hole into the wall.

Regina trembled as the monster beside her started to cackle, and her eyes landed on King.

King is unharmed and seems unafraid! King will save us!

She gulped.

…Won't he?

Was feeling particularly shitty today, headache, somewhat feverish etc. So, could the dialogue have been better/improved some other spot here and there? Sure.

Do I care? No. Its serviceable. Good enough to work with down the line even if a bit campy and over the top.

As always, comments are appreciated and welcomed, as the interaction with you guys is half the fun. Now I'm off to go die in my bed. Argh...