MY HERO ACADEMIA DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. BEN 10 DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. I'M CREATING A SECRET SOCIETY. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN, YOU MUST FIND THE LLAMA STATUE AND TAP ITS NOSE THREE TIMES. THAT WON'T ACTUALLY GET YOU IN, BUT SEEING PEOPLE DO THAT WILL MAKE ME LAUGH.
Okay, so the last chapter ended on sweetness. Let's start this one with more sweetness.
My Alien Academia
Chapter 42
Bright Shadows
When Midoriya woke up, the first thing he saw was his girlfriend's face. At first, he was confused—then he remembered last night, and briefly panicked, but when Eri yawned and cuddled even closer to him, he calmed down. This was, upon reflection, actually really nice.
Uraraka woke up next, and Midoriya could see the same confusion and panic in her eyes, followed by a shy smile.
"G-good m-morning," Midoriya whispered.
Uraraka blushed. "H-hi." She leaned closer and kissed him. "Thanks for letting us stay. This meant a lot to Eri." Her blush intensified. "And me. I liked this."
"M-me t-too."
"Your stutter is adorable." Then Uraraka's eyes went wide when she realized she'd said that out loud. "Um, I'm gonna take Eri back to my room and get ready for the day."
Midoriya gently grabbed her hand before she moved away. Without a word, he pulled her back for another kiss. Uraraka leaned into it, and they continued to kiss for several minutes, until another yawn from Eri got their attention.
"S-sorry," Midoriya mumbled.
"Don't be," Uraraka said, and scooped Eri into her arms. "Maybe… maybe we can do this again? If Eri needs it, I mean. Really."
Midoriya stared at her for a moment, and then nodded dumbly. He lay in bed for a while longer after Uraraka and Eri were gone, processing everything that had happened, both before and after he went to sleep. He spotted the picture of Ben on his desk; he knew it was his imagination, but it almost felt like Ben was laughing at him.
"Shut up," he muttered.
…
Uraraka knew her friends were suspicious of something that morning; she wasn't sure if they knew what had happened, but they knew something had happened. Thankfully, they were kind enough to wait until Eri went to stay with Nezu—because the students still had classes and work-studies, and couldn't take care of her all day—before confronting her.
"Okay, Ochako, spill," Ashido demanded, when the girls of the Rising Stars were eating breakfast. "You and Midori have been acting weird all morning."
Uraraka squirmed in her chair. "Is that really any of your business, Mina?"
"You're dating my twin, and you're one of my best friends," Ashido told her flatly. "You'd better believe it's my business."
"You're not really Izuku's sister," Uraraka muttered, a little petulantly.
"Just tell us, ribbit," Asui said, not looking up from her food. "If you don't, she'll just bug you forever. Or she'll go after Izuku, and he'll crack."
Uraraka sighed; she was about to say something, but then started looking all around, including up.
Yaoyorozu tilted her head. "Ochako, what are you doing?"
"Checking to see if Shoji or Jiro are close enough to hear," Uraraka explained absently. "And I'm pretty sure Hagakure was wearing clothes, but I'm just trying to see if she's close."
"And why would you look up?"
"Just in case Mineta was sticking to the ceiling to look down our shirts or something."
Yaoyorozu opened her mouth to protest, but she realized that the first three students Uraraka had mentioned did indeed pose a risk to any conversation that necessitated privacy. And Mineta was a scourge upon the entire female population, and should always be considered a risk.
"Okay, so we're good," Ashido said impatiently. "Tell us the goods!"
Uraraka gave them all a piercing stare. "You promise to keep this to yourselves?" After getting three nods, she sighed. "Okay, so last night, Eri was still… tense."
"Understandable," Yaoyorozu commented, but Ashido shushed her.
"Well, she was in my room, but she really wanted to see me and Izuku."
"Izuku and I," Yaoyorozu corrected, and then Ashido put a hand on her mouth.
"So… I took her to Izuku's room, and we stayed the night." Uraraka closed her eyes and braced for the inevitable.
Asui finally looked up; her eyes were comically large, even when counting her Quirk. "You stayed the night with Izuku."
"Yes."
"I'm guessing neither of you slept on the floor."
"Yes."
"So, you slept with him."
"Yes, but not like… that." Uraraka sighed. "Eri stayed with us. She needed us with her."
When Uraraka finally opened her eyes, she was surprised; rather than gleeful smiles, her three friends looked like they were about to cry.
"That is…" Ashido sniffled. "The absolute sweetest thing I've ever heard!"
Yaoyorozu wiped her eyes. "Will Eri need both of you with her to sleep for the foreseeable future?"
"Maybe?" Uraraka shrugged helplessly. "If she needs us, we'll do this again. I don't think Izuku and I are ready to take that step."
"Without a little girl as your chaperone," Asui amended.
"Right." Uraraka decided not to include that she had basically asked her boyfriend if she could spend the night with him again.
"You two are such good parents," Ashido said.
"We're not—" Uraraka stopped and dropped her head onto the table. "Oh, who am I kidding? If we weren't Eri-chan's parents before, we definitely are now."
Asui started counting on her fingers. "You've saved her from bad guys twice, you spend as much free time with her as possible, and now you help keep the nightmares away. Yeah, you're her parents, ribbit."
"Maybe you and Izuku should ask Tenya to put you in contact with his parents," Yaoyorozu suggested. "They were both Heroes, and they managed to raise a family."
"That…" Uraraka blinked. "That's actually a good idea. I'll talk to Izuku about that. Thanks, Momo."
Yaoyorozu smiled, then looked at her phone when it beeped. "Oh! Class is going to start soon! We need to get ready!"
Uraraka couldn't help but sigh in relief; compared to everything she'd been dealing with for the last few days, especially the last twenty-four hours, school sounded like a vacation.
…
After their usual classes, all the students who had participated in the Eight Precepts raid were driven to Nighteye's Agency, where all their mentors were waiting.
"First of all, I want to congratulate you on a job well done," Nighteye said, looking each student in the eye. "Your work-studies have another week to finish, but I sincerely doubt that you will be part of any further cases during that time. You can look forward to a week of training and light patrols."
"With the Eight Precepts effectively destroyed, Trigger production will cease," Ingenium said. "There's still some on the streets, but once it's used up, that drug will basically be extinct. Nice work."
"The only hiccup in the entire operation was the attack on the convoy," Endeavor added. "And that was something none of us could have foreseen, or had anything to do with. Regardless, if this is the kind of work you are willing to commit to, expect busy days as Pro Heroes."
No one mentioned that Sir Nighteye technically could have foreseen the attack, but only if he'd used his Quirk on anyone who was actually going to be there. Instead, the students all bowed respectfully.
"If it means stopping monsters like Chisaki," Togata said, "we'll do everything in our power to succeed."
Ryukyu chuckled. "Now that the formalities are out of the way, we'll leave you all to have some fun. We brought some food for you to enjoy; we'll join you once we handle some last-minute reports."
Ashido, Kirishima and Hado cheered, and the others shared smiles; even Amajiki looked happy to spend time with them all. By the time the Pros had left, the students had broken up into smaller groups to chat.
"Okay, so here's what's gonna happen," Hado said, grabbing Amajiki with one hand, and Midoriya with the other. "I promised that we'd have a double-date, and that's what we're gonna do!"
Midoriya shared a look with Uraraka; they hadn't spoken much since that morning, but that was mostly because they had been processing what had happened, not out of awkwardness.
"Sure," Midoriya said, answering for both of them once Uraraka nodded. "Did you have something in mind?"
Hado grinned. "Some of the third-year students set up a karaoke machine in our dorm."
Uraraka smiled back. "That sounds fun! When can we go?"
"Tonight!" Hado managed to snag all three in a group hug. "Ooh, this is gonna be so much fun!"
Hado had been far from quiet, so Ashido heard her. "Aw, they already set up a thing. Shoto, we need to go on a date."
Todoroki shrugged. "Can we do something a little… quieter? Karaoke isn't something I'm comfortable with."
Ashido considered that. "How about a movie, snacks, and cuddles?"
Todoroki did an admirable job of looking nonchalant. "That sounds fine."
Yaoyorozu watched with some bemusement as her friends chatted and planned dates. "It's almost like yesterday never happened."
Togata elbowed her; it was light by his standards, but it still almost knocked her over. "Hey, we all need ways to de-stress."
Iida shook his head. "Still, it feels like a disservice to those who died yesterday."
"Look at it this way: we could focus entirely on the work, and burn ourselves out looking for the League, and then we'll be totally useless if we're actually needed, or we could recharge, and look at the problem with fresh eyes." Togata shrugged. "Besides, as Nighteye keeps telling me, we're still students. We'll have to deal with all this dark stuff full-time when we're Pro Heroes, so let's enjoy ourselves while we still can."
"He has a point," Yaoyorozu admitted, then looked around. "Where did Hanta and Tsu go?"
Togata looked over his shoulder. "That corner."
Yaoyorozu turned, saw her two friends making out when they thought no one was looking, and quickly turned back.
"I… I see." Her blush was nearly as red as her costume, and went all the way to her hairline.
Togata sighed. "Dang it, that reminds me that I was gonna ask out Melissa, but after yesterday, I was so exhausted that I forgot."
Yaoyorozu grimaced at Iida. "Are we the only ones among our friends that aren't even considering finding a suitable partner?"
Iida adjusted his glasses. "I believe so."
"Mina is never going to leave us alone."
…
All Might waited patiently in front of what could charitably be described as the blandest building in Japan. You could walk by it a thousand times, and likely never be able to remember anything about it. It was barely bigger than a large house, with a 'For Lease' sign over the door that had long since faded. Its paint was well-maintained, but a mix of beige and grey, and the windows were tinted.
The phone number under the sign was completely false. There was someone who answered, but their job was to misdirect anyone who, for some reason, might be interested in such a boring building.
All Might nodded as his companion joined him. "Endeavor. I'm glad you made it on time."
"What's this about?" Endeavor crossed his arms. "I'm a busy man, All Might."
"I know, but this is important." All Might opened the door to the building. "Come with me. We can speak privately in here."
Like the outside, the inside of the building was bland, with grey tiles and grey ceiling. Even the lights felt like they had a grey tinge to them.
"You definitely want to talk about something secret," Endeavor grunted. "Not even Villains would spend time in a place so boring."
All Might chuckled. "That's kind of the point. Between this location, and my… condition…" He gestured to his skinny body. "Well, I wouldn't have to worry about people trying to listen in on these conversations."
Endeavor's interest was piqued, despite himself. All Might wasn't normally so… clandestine. "What sort of conversations?"
All Might led him to the far wall, and placed his hand over a seemingly random tile. There was a pulse of light as it scanned his handprint, and then a secret door slid open.
"You're about to be named the new top Hero in Japan," All Might said, ignoring Endeavor's question. "As such, you'll be entrusted with this country's safety. That's a lot of weight for one person."
"I can handle it," Endeavor growled.
"I'm sure you can, but I learned the hard way that there should be something to fall back on." All Might led him into an elevator, which started moving down. "When I fought All For One six years ago, I was convinced that I had to face him alone. I was… I was buying into my own hype, and it made me arrogant. If I had had help, from Heroes just as good as me, that fight would have been over much faster." He paused, lost in thought, then shook himself out of his memories. "After that fight, Nezu and I talked about a potential resource that Japan has been ignoring for years. This was the result of that."
Endeavor tensed as he entered a relatively small room, adorned only with seven machines shaped like rings, just large enough for someone of Endeavor's size to comfortably stand in.
"These are experimental," All Might said. "Nezu created them. Think of them like hologram projectors, combined with a video phone. You can speak to anyone in the system, as long as they're standing in a similar machine. Only thirteen people in the entire world even know this exists, and even fewer have access to it. You make number fourteen."
Endeavor frowned. "I think Nezu has been watching too much science fiction."
"I think he was inspired by Star Trek," All Might admitted, "but it works. Why don't I introduce you?" He stepped into the ring closest to the door; as soon as he was completely inside, the center was illuminated by blue light. "Authorization, All Might, conference mode."
"Authorization granted," a synthesized voice said. "Four guests waiting in lobby."
"Only four?" All Might muttered. "I was hoping everyone could be here for this."
Four of the rings glowed like All Might's did, and four holograms flickered into view. Endeavor raised an eyebrow; he knew these people, these Heroes, and had been aware of their exploits for years. All of them were the top Heroes of their respective countries, and one of them had been so for almost thirty years.
Gentleman Jack of the United Kingdom—an older man, with a white mustache, and a thinning hairline concealed by a bowler hat. His brown suit, Union Jack-themed tie and gold-topped cane suggested an aging businessman, not a Pro Hero, but his Quirk made him almost unstoppable. It was called Double Reflection; he used it to copy the abilities of anyone he could see, at double the power, and he could use it on up to three people at once. It wasn't just Quirks he could copy, either; Endeavor had read a report of Jack stopping a computer virus by copying a programmer's skills, and then being twice as good at it.
Panzer was the top Hero of Germany, and looked the complete opposite of Jack. He was even bigger than Endeavor, bursting with muscle that was barely contained by a simple white shirt, and black military pants with matching boots. His face was hidden by what looked like the front half of a tank, minus the barrel of the turret. His Quirk, called Machinist, allowed him to turn any part of his body into any machine, provided he knew how it worked. He could chase down fleeing criminals by turning his entire body into a Formula One racecar, or fly through the air as a helicopter. During serious fights, he preferred to turn his arms into various weapons that would normally be mounted on armored vehicles. Endeavor had a grudging respect for Panzer; a year ago, he had single-handedly brought down an entire arms-smuggling organization without ever stopping, and had then continued on to intercepting a stolen armored car fifteen minutes later.
Maccabee was a bit of a mystery; the Israeli government wanted as few people to know about their top Hero as possible, though that was their MO for most of their Heroes. He wore an olive-green uniform similar to those used by the IDF, accented with lightning bolts stitched into his shoulders. His face was concealed by a featureless white mask, and Endeavor wondered how he could see. Not much was known about his Quirk, only that it was called Heroism; as far as anyone knew, the longer Maccabee fought, the stronger and more durable he became, and that strength extended to those he trusted. No one was sure what his upper limit was, or even if he had one.
The last was Stars And Stripes, and Endeavor was reminded of why he disliked the American Hero so much. Everything about her, from her costume to her hairstyle, was a tribute to All Might; it was like someone had taken All Might, turned him into a woman, and then an American flag threw up on her. Her Quirk, New Order, was possibly the single scariest Quirk Endeavor had ever heard of—as long as she was in physical contact with something and said its name, she could alter its properties in any way she wanted. There was probably some kind of limit, but the United States wasn't going to be advertising its greatest Hero's weakness. Regardless, it was one of two Quirks that Gentleman Jack had publicly admitted he couldn't copy, the other being All Might's Quirk.
Endeavor had never liked Stars And Stripes; it just felt like she was trying too hard to be All Might, without ever trying to be her own person. That, and she had a flawless record, making it to the top of the American charts only a few months after her debut.
"Master!" Stars And Stripes smiled broadly. "It's so good to see you again! How have you been since that last fight? Recovering nicely?"
All Might smiled. "I'm getting there, Stripes, but I still had to retire. And you don't have to call me Master anymore."
Stars And Stripes shook her head. "You'll always be my inspiration… though I suppose I could call you sir?"
"Just call me All Might, if you can't bring yourself to use my real name." All Might shrugged. "Calling me 'sir' will just make me think you're talking to Nighteye."
Gentleman Jack scoffed. "The lad shouldn't have added 'Sir' to his name. I don't recall him ever being granted a peerage."
"You need to let that go," Panzer said with a booming laugh. "You've been going on about that for years!"
"He's right, I can practically see you winding up for a rant," Maccabee added.
Jack harrumphed loudly, then reached for something out of view, and brought back a steaming cup of tea.
"Ah, there it is," Stripes teased. "If he can't rant, he goes for the tea."
"Better I drink it than some Yank tosses it into a harbor."
"How are you still salty about that!? Your great-grandparents weren't even alive when that happened!"
Endeavor watched the byplay with some disbelief. He had been intrigued by the idea that top Heroes had a secret communication system—and it made sense to do so, if there was a crisis—but seeing them act so childishly was dumbfounding.
Part of him also felt betrayed by All Might; Japan had long held a belief that its Heroes were superior to those of other countries. It was why they rarely offered to join any multinational Hero teams, or why they didn't send representatives to any international conferences relating to Heroes. As far as the Japanese were concerned, their Heroes were the shining examples all others should follow. Endeavor wondered how some people might react if they knew that All Might was secretly communicating with foreign Heroes.
"Before we get down to business, I have a question." All Might gestured to the three dark rings. "Where are the others?"
"Geosynch is dealing with a massive oil spill off the coast," Maccabee said, referring to Russia's top Hero. "She wanted to keep it from reaching Japanese waters. She sends you her love, All Might."
Panzer burst out laughing again. "I can't believe she's still pining after you! She's, what, only twenty?"
"Twenty-two," All Might admitted, and Endeavor had the pleasure of seeing his former rival look decidedly embarrassed. "At least she's not sending me poems anymore."
"Monkey King sends his regards as well, but he wouldn't say why he couldn't make it," Stripes said. That, at least, Endeavor understood; China's top Hero was notorious for never being where people wanted, yet always being where he needed to be.
"And what about Ranger?" All Might paused, and all eyes turned to Jack.
The British Hero slowly and deliberately put his tea aside, and then rapped his can against the floor. "That criminal said he was busy."
Stripes rolled her eyes; Gentleman Jack usually lived up to his name, but he had a deep-seated hatred for anything regarding Australia, including its top Hero. "He told me he was visiting his mother. Her cancer is getting worse."
All Might winced. "I'll send him my best wishes after we're done here." He coughed, and quickly wiped away a dribble of blood. "I was hoping everyone would be here, but this will do. I'd like to introduce my replacement to our ranks."
Endeavor recognized his cue, and stepped into the ring that All Might vacated. "Greetings, everyone. I am Endeavor."
Gentleman Jack smiled genially. "You finally made it to the top, did you? Congratulations."
Maccabee snapped a formal salute. "Glad to have you with us, sir."
"Don't go saluting him yet, we might hate him." Panzer laughed. "I mean, probably not; after all, you put up with me, right?"
Stars And Stripes looked him up and down, then crossed her arms. "We'll see how you do."
Endeavor mirrored her. He knew she held All Might up to a standard that was impossible to match, so he wouldn't even try to please the American.
"Think what you want," he said. "I plan to let my deeds do the talking. Tell me, why did you all agree to this… club?"
Jack chuckled. "Oh, that was Nezu's idea, though he stopped attending these meetings a while ago. It's not boastful to say that the eight of us represent some of the most powerful Heroes on the planet. Every decision we make can have world-altering consequences. Look at All Might; he reduced crime in Japan to a fraction of what it was. We have a responsibility to stay in contact with each other; we made a pact to assist each other if a crisis arises that is too difficult for any one of us to deal with."
"This includes breaking international law regarding Heroes crossing borders," Maccabee added. "It's very much a case of asking forgiveness instead of permission."
"Sometimes, we don't have the luxury of letting the wheels of bureaucracy turn at their own pace," Stripes said. "It hasn't been necessary, thank god, but it's a good contingency."
Panzer nodded. "All Might isn't the first to bring in a replacement. Geosynch took Red Bear's spot when that old beast retired, and Ranger was given an entirely new spot two years ago." He pointed at Jack when the old man opened his mouth. "I don't want to hear it! You got outvoted."
"So, other than emergencies, what else would we use this system for?" Endeavor asked. "Surely not for social calls."
"We decided to have short meetings three times a year," Maccabee explained. "Just to give each other updates on anything big that might have happened, but didn't require backup. That business with All For One, for example, would have been brought up by All Might."
"Speaking of which, have there been any updates about that, what was it called, League of Villains?" Panzer leaned forward. "That Nine bastard is wanted in three countries, mine included."
"They made a move yesterday," Endeavor said, after a moment's consideration. "Two Heroes were killed, and nearly thirty police officers were injured."
"Son of a—" Stripes bit her lip to keep from finishing that curse. "Sorry to hear that. You should know, our governments are keeping an eye on things in Japan."
Endeavor tensed. "Are they planning an intervention?"
"More like they'll offer support if things get worse, but if it's refused…" Stripes trailed off.
"A forced intervention is possible," Gentleman Jack said gravely. "Perhaps even an occupation, until the situation is resolved."
Endeavor had to resist the urge to let his Quirk flare up. He couldn't allow such a thing to happen—not just because it would forever tarnish his reputation, but because it deeply offended his pride as a Japanese citizen.
"I swear, it will not reach that point," Endeavor promised. "If nothing else, that is incentive to keep me at the top of my game."
"That's a relief," Maccabee said. "Just remember, don't let anything said during these meetings get out. They're not endorsed by any government; we're just colleagues, having a private conversation."
Endeavor nodded; it wouldn't do to cause widespread panic and outrage over what was, for now, entirely hypothetical.
All Might, who had been silent for a while now, clapped his hands. "Well, it seems you're all getting along now. I suppose I'll take my leave; you can introduce Endeavor to Ranger, Geosynch and Monkey King during the next meeting."
"You don't have to leave!" Stripes whined. "Just because you're retired doesn't mean you can't still be a part of this group."
All Might asked Endeavor a silent question, and the new top Hero stepped aside for a moment; All Might stepped into the ring to let Stripes look him in the eyes. "I'm sorry, but that's exactly what it means. I'm not an active Hero anymore, and only active top Heroes can join. That's why Red Bear doesn't join us anymore."
"But…" Since no one could see him now, Endeavor didn't hold back a facepalm when Stripes actually teared up. "What will you do now?"
"I'm a teacher at UA," All Might reminded her. "And I've got a few things to take care of before my condition gets to the point of no return."
That got Endeavor's attention; he knew All Might had been hurt badly enough to retire, and should have retired after his first fight with All For One, but finding out he was getting worse was new to him.
"I came here today to bring Endeavor into the loop," All Might continued. "I would like you all to treat him with the same respect you gave me. If you need to speak to me, you'll have to go through official channels from now on." He glanced at his replacement, and nodded. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
The other Heroes nodded back—or, in Maccabee's case, saluted—and let All Might step out of the ring once more.
"I'll have your fingerprints entered into the security system before we leave," he whispered to Endeavor. "You should stay for a little longer, get to know these guys. I'll wait upstairs until you're done."
"Very well." Endeavor paused, then stopped All Might from leaving with a gentle—for him—hand on the skinny man's shoulder. "All Might. Thank you for entrusting me with this. I know that you and I have never gotten along, but I will not let this go to waste."
All Might just smiled, and left. Once he was gone, Endeavor stepped back onto the projector.
"All right, is there anything else I should know?"
…
Midoriya had faced quite a lot over the last few months, but for some reason, his last day in Nighteye's Agency had him nervous. Togata wasn't with him in the office, and Nighteye sat behind his desk, not looking up from his computer.
Finally, he could take the silence no longer. "Um, Sir, what are you doing?"
"Organizing efforts between various Agencies and the police to stamp out the last Trigger facilities," Nighteye said promptly. "Chisaki may not be here to create more, but there are still reserves in play. I would rather not let it fall into the hands of someone with the ability to recreate the formula."
"Oh. That makes sense." For some reason, Midoriya had thought that Trigger would just magically disappear without Chisaki, but he realized that he'd been naïve.
"I am also handling your discharge papers." Nighteye printed up several sheets of paper, signed them, and then stapled them together. "This shows that you completed your work-study under me, and it will also be entered into your professional record when you become a full-fledged Hero. If this is how you are starting your career, I expect great things from you."
Midoriya blinked, and accepted the paperwork. "Th-thank you! I won't let you down!"
"One more thing." Nighteye slid an envelope across his desk. "Your pay for this month's work. Upon review of your performance during the Eight Precepts raid, and the danger you faced, you were authorized to receive a bonus."
Midoriya opened the envelope and stared at the check. At first, he thought someone had accidentally added in an extra zero; there was enough money there to pay for his parents' rent five times over, with enough left to eat at a nice restaurant every day for a week!
"Now I know why so many Heroes are rich," he blurted out.
"Heroes are expected to face the most dangerous enemies, and react to the most extreme of emergencies." Nighteye allowed the tiniest of smirks. "The government isn't about to let such valuable assets go unrewarded."
Midoriya swallowed nervously; he suddenly wondered if all this money was why so many Heroes had been deemed corrupt by Stain. It was possible that some of them really were in it for fame and fortune.
I won't let that be me, he swore. I'm not going to prove Stain right about Heroes.
"One more thing," Nighteye said. "I am aware that your first internship was with Hawks, and that you respect him a great deal. I am sure that you would prefer an internship with him over me in the future." He held up a hand to stop Midoriya from protesting. "I am not offended. Still, if he is unavailable, my door will always be open—either for future internships, or simply for advice."
Midoriya processed that, and realized just what Nighteye could offer him. He bowed deeply. "Thank you very much, Sir Nighteye. I will take you up on your offer."
Nighteye nodded. "You are welcome. Now, you are dismissed, Midoriya-san; you have a train to catch."
…
As soon as Midoriya was gone, Nighteye took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Yes?"
"After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw any suspicions regarding Midoriya-san," Nighteye said evenly. "His motives are pure, his drive is righteous, and once he masters his abilities, I believe he will become one of the greatest Heroes in the entire world."
"That is possibly the highest praise I have ever heard from you. Does that mean you will continue to spy on him during training?"
"No, I do not believe that is necessary. Midoriya-san and Mirio will only push each other to greater heights, with no help from me."
"Then I suppose All Might is the last to convince."
Nighteye frowned. "He still suspects Midoriya-san of being connected to All For One? I thought we had agreed that he had just been trying to get under All Might's skin at Tartarus."
"I think he succeeded. He trusts my judgment, but he recently cleared some of his previous obligations, so he might start focusing on the boy. Can I count on your support, if it should come to that?"
Nighteye considered that for a moment. He had only recently repaired his relationship with All Might, and opposing him might tear down that mended fence. Still, Midoriya had proved himself…
"You have my support, Nezu-san."
…
Comet: aldjdahdsks
Dial: What?
Comet: ssmkaoid
Tape: Is she okay?
Frog: No, she's broken. She's been this way since we left Ryukyu's Agency, ribbit.
Crayon: y is she brokn?
Book: She saw how much Ryukyu paid her.
Comet: SO MUCH MONEY
Dial: I got paid too. It was a lot.
Book: Really? I got more for my birthday from my parents.
Tape: Thank you for reminding us that you're richer than some countries, Momo.
Glasses: I agree with Izuku and Ochako, the pay was considerable.
Snowflake: I had no idea Endeavor made this much. Actually, he makes a lot more, since I got a Sidekick's salary. Now I know how we can afford to replace the home gym every time he burns it down.
Dial: Does that happen a lot?
Snowflake: Every time he gets angry, and he works out when he gets angry. So, yes.
Comet: I'm sending most of this to my parents. If I get a few more paychecks like this, I can send them on vacation like I promised!
Dial: Where do they want to go?
Comet: Hawaii. I want to give them at least a week of doing nothing but relaxing on a beach with those coconut drinks with the little umbrellas.
Tape: If I make this kind of cash, can I go with them?
Frog: Same, ribbit.
Comet: No, get your own island getaway!
Tape: So, Tahiti is open?
Book: Can we please focus for a moment? I want to check when you are all getting back to UA.
Dial: 20 minutes. Mirio took the train before mine, so he should be at school by now.
Glasses: Hanta and I will be there in approximately 30 minutes.
Snowflake: Maybe an hour. Endeavor's fans got in my way, and I missed the first train.
Crayon: 10 min. ill probly be asleep when u get here, im still tird after yesterday
Frog: Momo, Ochako and I are on the same train with you. We're right in front of you. You don't need to ask when we will be back.
Frog: I know I could have just said it out loud, but I thought everyone else would laugh.
Frog: Ribbit.
Tape: I was laughing, and now I can feel my soul getting stabbed.
Crayon: ur dating her, so ur clearly into that
Tape: No comment.
Crayon: hey, i just thought of smthing
Snowflake: Should we be worried?
Crayon: mayB. Midori, u wer on the news, and Bakugo saw it. how mad is he gonna b?
Dial: Maybe you all should take cover.
Comet: I'm not that worried. He has to go through me to get to you, Deku-kun.
Book: That is both sweet and slightly frightening.
Crayon: aww
Frog: I almost want to see him try, if only to watch him get thrown into space.
Glasses: It would certainly be quieter.
Book: Now all we need is to find a way to get rid of Mineta.
Tape: Goooood… let the hate flow through you.
Snowflake: I missed you guys.
…
Dr. Garaki turned in his chair and smiled behind his bushy mustache. "Well, Shigaraki, how have you been?"
"Pretty good," Shigaraki admitted. "Word spread about what I did to Chisaki, and now people know what I do to rivals. I've already received pledges of loyalty, as well as money. We might not have what the Yakuza did, but we're growing in power."
"You're growing in influence," Garaki corrected. "That's not the same as power, but it's a useful tool."
"I have my own power, as well as Nine and Chimera."
"Your Quirk is strong, but it has its limits." Garaki shrugged. "You have allies like Nine and Chimera, but they have free will, and can disobey you at any time. What you need is a weapon that can overpower any obstacle, and will be completely devoted to you."
"And do you have that?" Shigaraki asked. "A new Nomu, maybe?"
"I have several such creations, but no, that's not what I'm talking about." Garaki held out a manila folder. "This is everything I have on one Gigantomachia. He was All For One's bodyguard, until he was sent away for his ow protection, and he is loyal beyond belief. You may be All For One's successor, but Gigantomachia won't accept you because you claim the throne. You have to earn his loyalty; challenge him to a battle, and don't stop until he yields. It will take time—months, maybe—but if you succeed, you'll not only have a powerful weapon, you'll be ready for the next stage of the project."
Shigaraki quickly flipped through the file; it contained a list of Gigantomachia's different Quirks, what they did, and a few other useful tidbits. Not enough to walk him through a fight, but enough to get him started on a plan.
"Fine, I'll do it if it means clearing the next level." Shigaraki turned to leave. "Send Kurogiri the location, and I'll go when I've prepared. Oh, and Doctor?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"How is the project going? Did those blood samples help?"
Garaki grinned. "Absolutely. The pieces are lining up nicely. I imagine it will be ready by the time you're done with Gigantomachia… assuming you survive."
…
To the Rising Stars' surprise, Bakugo did not react with violence, or even excessive profanity. Instead, he settled for doubling down on his studies and his training, intent on catching up as quickly as possible. That was perfectly fine for Midoriya; he was just happy to spend his days without plotting the downfall of a Yakuza boss.
The next week after the work-studies was mostly pleasant, even boring, but that was fine for most of the students. When they weren't doing homework or training, they were happy to have as little happen as possible.
That changed a full week after the raid, when Midoriya was heading out of his room; he had just been about to head downstairs, when he received a text from Yaoyorozu, telling him to come to her room as quickly as possible. It was terse, bordering on impolite, which was unlike her. Slightly alarmed, he headed for her room, where he found not just Yaoyorozu, but the other girls of 1-A as well. Worried as he was, he didn't quite register that all their clothes looked slightly rumpled.
"What's going—" Uraraka quickly shushed him, and he continued at a whisper. "What's going on?"
"Jiro-chan heard something in the ventilation," Yaoyorozu said, and Jiro waved one of her jacks with a grim expression. "She said it sounded like an animal. I don't suppose you could turn into something that could get rid of it?"
"Sure thing." Midoriya vanished in a flash of green light, and when it faded, it was almost impossible to see him. Upon looking closer, the girls saw what looked like a tiny metal fairy, with a single green eye. "I don't think you've seen Nanomech yet!"
The girls all had to stifle their giggles at Nanomech's adorably squeaky voice.
"No, I don't think we have," Uraraka said. "Good luck in the vents, Deku-kun!"
Nanomech spread his tiny wings and flew up to the vent above Yaoyorozu's room. As soon as he was gone, Jiro plugged one of her jacks into the wall.
"Do you think we should have told him it was Mineta?" Hagakure asked.
Ashido waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, he might decide to call Aizawa-sensei first. This way, Mineta can suffer."
Uraraka shifted in place. "I feel bad for lying to him."
"We didn't lie," Yaoyorozu said primly. "That little rat's panting did sound like an animal."
"Shh!" Jiro held up one hand. "I think I can hear them!"
…
"What the heck? Midoriya, is that you?"
"Mineta? Why are you in the vent? Actually… why do you have a camera… in the vent… connected to Momo's room?"
"You know, there's a perfectly good explanation for—hey! Ow! Don't transform in front of me, you almost blinded me! What the heck is that grey frog? No, wait, give me back my camera!"
"… Mineta, were you trying to take pictures of the girls in our class?"
"I, uh, heard they were going to Yaoyorozu's room to try on a bunch of clothes? Please don't hurt me."
"Too late."
…
When Mineta tumbled out of the vent, he had the beginnings of a black eye. He was slightly woozy, and didn't notice that he'd landed in front of the girls he'd been trying to spy on until Jiro lifted him up by the collar.
Mineta laughed weakly. "Hi?"
Five minutes later, Aizawa arrived on the scene and found Mineta beaten, tied up, and trying to keep Hagakure from kicking him in the groin again. Several other boys from the class, including Todoroki and Sero, were there to make sure the violence didn't escalate, though those with girlfriends looked ready to continue the beating. It took less than two minutes to explain the situation to Aizawa, and he was given the camera as evidence.
Aizawa sighed. "Okay, Mineta, detention for the next two weeks. You're also forbidden from coming within ten feet of any female student outside of class-related activities until further notice."
"Two weeks of detention!?" Yaoyorozu was outraged. "Aizawa-sensei, what he did is grounds for expulsion!"
"I want to agree with you, but…" Aizawa sighed and held up the camera. "He didn't actually take any pictures. It looks like he was stopped before he could do that, which means there's grounds for reasonable doubt as to his intentions. I think it's stupid, but that's what anyone appealing the expulsion will use, and it'll work." He glared at Mineta, who whimpered. "However, if he tries something like this again, and he's stopped in time… I might look the other way if you decide to inflict this punishment again." He sighed again. "Now, please untie him so that I can take him to Recovery Girl… and then detention."
To the surprise of everyone, it was Midoriya who moved first; rather than untie Mineta, he lifted him up by the ear.
"Try this again, and I won't hit you as Grey Matter," he said. "Next time, I'll use Rath."
Aizawa raised an eyebrow; Midoriya had had the courage to make that threat in front of a teacher. Moreover, that threat had been made in a perfectly even tone, something he had to have picked up from Nighteye.
When Aizawa and Mineta were gone, and the small crowd dispersed, Uraraka gave her boyfriend a kiss.
"Thanks for being so noble," she said.
"Screw that!" Ashido grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek. "That's for letting us beat him up!"
Yaoyorozu hesitated, then shrugged and also kissed Midoriya on the cheek. "I can't disagree."
Midoriya was too stunned to react, and the other three girls gave him a quick kiss as well. It was barely a peck, much faster than Uraraka's kiss, but it was still enough to leave him almost catatonic.
"On any other day, I think some of us might be jealous," Sero joked, "but I think you earned that, dude."
"Don't worry, ribbit," Asui said as she took Sero's hand. "I like you more."
"Good," Uraraka said, hugging Midoriya tightly and glaring at the other girls. "I'd hate to send you into space."
At that point, Midoriya's brain decided to completely stop working, and he passed out.
Todoroki cautiously poked him, then looked at Ashido. "Was all that worth it?"
His girlfriend grinned and held up her phone; she had taken more than a few pictures of her own during Mineta's beating. "Oh, definitely."
…
"The first round is just me," Shigaraki said. "No one else interferes during the first fight. I want to prove to him that I can stand on my own before I show that I can lead."
Twice shifted nervously. "You sure you don't want me to mix in some clones to let you rest?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. This isn't just proving to Gigantomachia that I'm ready; I'm proving it to myself."
"Okay, but just remember that we're here if you need us." Twice jabbed a thumb into his chest. "You brought me into the League, gave me people I care about. Whatever you decide, I'll back you."
Shigaraki was genuinely touched by the open display of loyalty, but didn't let it show. "All right, I'm off."
While Gigantomachia's location was hidden, once you knew where to look, it wasn't hard to find. Hiding a twenty-foot-tall monster was far from easy.
The first word that came to Shigaraki's mind when he saw Gigantomachia was big. He wasn't the largest being he'd ever met, but beyond just his physical size, there was an enormous aura that surrounded him that promised death should he be disturbed. The second word that came to mind was spiky; the giant's head, hands and back were covered in dull spikes, and the rest of his skin just seemed too angular, like it was halfway to becoming natural armor. Even his hair was spiky.
"Gigantomachia," Shigaraki called out as he made his way into the giant's sanctuary. "I've come to challenge you."
Gigantomachia stirred, and slowly turned to face him. "Why should I fight you?"
Shigaraki grinned. "Because I'll kill you if you don't. I have no use for a weapon that won't fight."
"Hrn…" Gigantomachia sneered. "And why would I be your weapon?"
"First, I'm the successor to your master, All For One." Shigaraki held his arms out. "And even if I wasn't, I'm going to create a world where someone like you doesn't have to hide, but I need your power to make it happen."
"You say you're Master's successor?" Gigantomachia reared up, and in Shigaraki's mind, it almost seemed like he grew bigger. "No! I don't believe you! Master would never choose a weakling like you!"
"Oh, I'm far from weak." Shigaraki crouched, and brought his hands up, ready to pounce. "Let me show you."
The two monsters, one in body and power, the other in spirit and deed, charged at each other.
…
Bakugo slammed his hand on the table, making both Midoriya and Ashido jump and look up from their homework.
"In your fucking face, Deku," Bakugo snapped, and drew his hand back, revealing the Provisional License he'd earned. "Now, I've caught up to you."
Ashido leaned over to look at the license; the picture of Bakugo had an arrogant sneer that annoyed her.
"Actually, you're still behind," she said, before she could help herself. "Midori finished a work-study, and you didn't. The only way you can catch up is if you do a work-study, and he doesn't do another."
"Shut up, Raccoon-Eyes," Bakugo snarled. "This is between me and Deku."
"She's right, though," Midoriya pointed out. "And I don't want to miss the next work-study…"
Ashido grinned triumphantly. "That means Midori is still gonna be ahead of you!"
Bakugo just scowled. "We both have Provisional Licenses, so we're both on the same level."
After he stormed off, Midoriya buried his head in his hands. "Why do you have to antagonize him? You're just making it worse."
"Hey, if he keeps making a big deal about this, I'm gonna mess with him."
"And what happens if he snaps and tries to blow you up?" Midoriya groaned again. "If you're so determined that we're twins, can I at least not have my sister get blown up?"
Ashido waved him off. "Eh, I'm sure you won't let him. Or Shoto won't let him. And even if he tries, I can take him."
Midoriya gave her a flat look. "Really?"
"Okay, maybe not, but I'll make it really hard for him." Ashido leaned back in her chair. "Besides, I think we proved that nobody messes with our family and gets away with it." She glanced over Midoriya's shoulder and grinned. "Speaking of family…"
Midoriya followed her gaze, and smiled when he saw Uraraka walk into the room with Eri. After that first night, Eri hadn't asked to sleep with both of them, and now seemed content with switching between them every other night. That was fine with the two teenagers; that night had, upon reflection by both of them, been far beyond what they were comfortable with. That didn't stop them from cuddling more than they used to, even without Eri.
"I think we need a break," Ashido declared, and put her homework away. "I'll grab some snacks for us."
"Thanks," Midoriya said, and got up to meet his girlfriend. "H-hey, Ochako. Hey, Eri-chan."
"Izu!" Eri hugged his leg and smiled up at him, something that continued to brighten the hearts of any who saw it.
Uraraka gave him a quick kiss. "I saw Bakugo a minute ago. Is everything okay?"
Midoriya shrugged helplessly. "Mina got under his skin. She really has it out for him."
"I don't blame her, he's a real…" Uraraka glanced down at Eri, who was following their conversation, and amended what she'd been about to say. "Jerk. He's a real jerk."
"At least he behaves around Eri."
Because he knows that everyone else in the class will kill him if he doesn't, they both thought. Even Mineta had given Bakugo a warning look the other day, which had taken him a step in the right direction of getting back into the girls' good graces.
"Moving away from that topic," Uraraka said, "did you and Momo tally up the suggestions for the school festival?"
Midoriya nodded; during homeroom the day before, Aizawa had announced that UA was hosting a school festival, in which every class would host an event. There would also be events created by the staff, along with stands for food and Hero merchandise. The school would allow the families of the students to enter the campus, giving everyone some much-needed time with their loved ones.
"We sorted the votes this morning," he said. "Looks like we're putting on a concert."
"Oh, cool!" Uraraka saw Ashido returning to the table with an armful of snacks, and waved. "I guess Mina decided to teach us all how to dance?"
"Not everyone," Midoriya said. "Some of the class has to help with the backstage stuff, so it'll probably be the ones who don't want to do the performing."
"Yeah, I can't really see Shoto or Tokoyami dancing and singing." Uraraka giggled at the mental image.
"Chako?" Eri tugged at Uraraka's hand. "What's a concert?"
Uraraka scooped the little girl into her arms. "It's a show, where people dance and sing in front of other people."
"Oh." Eri was quiet for a moment. "What's dancing and singing?"
With a jolt of horror, Midoriya and Uraraka realized that Eri had never been exposed to music before.
"You'll find out soon," Midoriya promised. "I bet this will be the best concert ever!"
…
Inko sighed as she dusted the shelves. The apartment had already felt empty without her husband, and it was even more so with Izuku in the dorms. Sometimes, she felt completely alone, and that only her work and her phone calls with Hisashi and her son kept her sane.
She had become so used to the silence in her home that when the phone rang, she jumped. She fumbled with the phone for a moment, and then brought it to her ear.
"Hello, Midoriya residence."
"Midoriya Inko?" The voice on the other end of the line cheerful, refined, and confident. "My name is Yotsubashi Rikiya."
Inko nearly dropped her phone; Yotsubashi was the CEO of Detnerat, one of the most successful businesses in Japan. He was also the man who quite clearly held Hisashi's fate in his hands, and Inko knew it.
"Y-Yotsubashi-san, this is unexpected! How can I help you?"
Yotsubashi chuckled ruefully. "Ah, how I wish my employees' families didn't always sound so nervous. Let me assure you, I'm not calling with bad news. The first thing I wanted to mention was that I saw your son on the news, and I wanted to congratulate you. It fills me with pride that the son of one of my most valued employees played a key role in bringing down those Yakuza thugs, though I'm sure that pride is nothing compared to your own."
Inko smiled. "Yes, he's becoming a wonderful Hero."
"I know that I mentioned this to Hisashi, but I would love it if your son considered letting my company sponsor him, even if it's just to help set up his Agency when he's a Pro. At the very least, I would dearly like to meet him in person. I'm something of a Meta-enthusiast, and your son's ability is possibly the most fascinating I've ever seen."
"Oh, really? Actually, that's the kind of topic Izuku loves to talk about." She was a little thrown off by Yotsubashi's use of the term 'Meta'. It was an old term, one that had been used before they were renamed to Quirks.
Yotsubashi laughed. "Another enthusiast like myself? I haven't even met the boy, and I already like him!" He paused, as if listening to someone else. "Ah, my apologies, I like to ramble sometimes. There was another reason why I'm calling, and it has to do with Hisashi."
"Y-yes?"
"After reviewing the work he's done for us for the last few years, we realized that he was gravely underappreciated. Someone of his talents should not have to be sent willy-nilly all over the world; he can be just as effective, if not more so, right here." Yotsubashi laughed again. "He'll still have to work away from your home, I'm sorry to say, but I've made sure that he'll be able to see you every weekend, and he'll have a substantial increase in pay. Is that acceptable?"
Inko didn't realize she'd lost strength in her legs until her knees hit the floor. She hurriedly wiped the tears from her face. "Y-yes! Thank you so much, Yotsubashi-san! Izuku will also be delighted!"
"I'm glad to hear it!" There was a slapping sound, suggesting that Yotsubashi had clapped his hands together. "Hisashi would have called you, but he's been delayed by some last-minute work in London. Consider my call to you on his behalf an apology."
"That is…" Inko was about to say 'unnecessary', but decided against it. "That is very much appreciated, Yotsubashi-san."
"Good! Now, I'll leave you to tell your son the good news. Have a wonderful day, ma'am."
Inko stared at the phone for a long time after Yotsubashi hung up. When she finally got back to her feet, she realized she was grinning wildly.
Hisashi was coming home.
…
"Are you sure we should do this, Gentle? Going after UA seems kind of risky, and there are lots of kids there."
"Not to worry, La Brava, I have no intention of causing harm to any children. This will only be to make a statement, a grand performance!"
"I trust you, Gentle, but the teachers might come after you, and some of the kids might get caught in the crossfire."
"And that, dear La Brava, is why our plan must be as thorough and meticulous as possible. Are you with me?"
"Always and forever, Gentle, you know that."
"Your loyalty is an inspiration all its own, my dear. Come, let us plan our invasion."
Okay, a lot happened this chapter, but I want to talk about two things. I'll start with the lesser of the two.
First, that stuff with Mineta getting the crap beaten out of him. Was it mean? Probably. Do I care? Not in the slightest. However, this was the last straw—well, no, the last straw would have had him expelled, so this is the second-to-last straw. Mineta has tried some scummy stuff in this story, but after getting stymied so often, he just grew so frustrated that he decided to do something stupid. I really don't know why he just doesn't use the internet, like everyone else, though he probably will after this. Actually, I think I'm done being evil to Mineta; this last scare was enough for him to get his act together. Just don't expect any girl to be nice to him. Ever.
And then there's the secret meeting All Might set up between Endeavor and other top Heroes. Other than Stars And Stripes (I know she's officially Star And Stripe, but that doesn't roll off the tongue as well), we don't know anything about other countries' top Heroes, so I made my own. I like the idea of the biggest names having private get-togethers that don't involve red tape. All of these OCs will be part of an original arc I have planned for later, and I liked designing them so much that I may use them again if I ever do another MHA story. Oh, and if you think that some of those Heroes' Quirks are broken, that's the point; we have people like All Might (in his prime) in Japan, and Stripes' Quirk is busted as hell, so why not give that kind of power to other top Heroes?
Anyway, Class 1-A is planning their concert, Shigaraki is gaining another powerful ally, Hisashi is coming home, and Gentle is planning his thing.
As always, please consider buying my book, Alpha Sanction, by Josh Gottlieb. You can find it on my website (link in my profile), or on Amazon as an eBook or physical copy. Sales haven't been good lately, and it's hard to be motivated to write the sequel when no one seems interested in the first part.
If that's not your scene, you could also donate via P-atreon (link in my profile). Running 3 jobs is hard, and your help would make it so much easier. Plus, top-tier patrons get a free PDF of my book!
Thanks again to the awesome Muffins who help me stay afloat:
Serious Muffins: Nimrod009, Anders Lyngbye, Matthias Matanovic, John Collins, Red Bard, Aaron Meek, killroy225, Lokthar, Hakuryuken
Incredible Muffins: RaptorusMaximus, michaelb958, Crazyman844, Ben Stueckle
Ultra Muffins: RangersRoll, Adam Costello
Next Chapter: The UA Festival is about to start, but Midoriya runs into someone who could derail the whole thing. Will he end it with the fist of justice, or the open hand of redemption?
Plus Muffin!
